talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-10--Pelosi: Trump’s Deception About Deadliness Of COVID Exposes ‘Contempt For His Supporters’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) on Thursday condemned President Donald Trump ’ s efforts early on to downplay the impact of the coronavirus pandemic , saying that it unmasked his “ contempt ” for the American people and for his own supporters .
“ This is a tragedy beyond words , ” Pelosi said in a news conference Thursday morning , adding : “ He showed his contempt for the American people and their health , contempt for science .
Contempt for any real effort to crush the virus .
Contempt for his supporters — their children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s refusal to take the threat of coronavirus seriously when he was briefed on how devastatingly deadly it was back in January left the entire country “ exposed and unprepared.
” The comments follow revelations Wednesday from investigative journalist Bob Woodward ’ s forthcoming book , “ Rage , ” that quote President Trump in audio-recorded interviews as saying he knew the coronavirus was “ deadly stuff ” even though for months he has painted the pandemic as a nonthreatening non-issue that was “ going to disappear.
” Hours after the remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments to Woodward saying on Wednesday he sought to be a “ cheerleader ” as he blew smoke and the country flailed — leading to massive spread of the disease in the U.S. , which has killed close to 200,000 people in the United States since March .
“ Nobody wants to cause panic , ” Pelosi said , castigating the President ’ s justification for his failure to paint a genuine picture for what was at stake .
“ You want to show leadership , show a strategic plan , following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to get the job done.
” But as Pelosi tore into Trump , conservative commentators have continued to defend a defenseless President — rushing to Trump ’ s aid as he fails to justify his own deception .
Early Thursday , Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy likened Trump ’ s vast understatement of the virus to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression hosting “ fireside chats to calm America.
” Another Fox News host , Stuart Varney , said he thought it was “ fine and dandy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth to the public .
The comments and complicity appear to echo those of Republican lawmakers who have largely declined to condemn the move — either claiming ignorance about the book or pointing fingers .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) told CNN he “ didn ’ t look at the Woodward book.
” House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) remarked during an MSNBC interview Thursday that Republican leaders have been “ amazingly silent ” on a number of troubling issues , including Trump ’ s comments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Andrea Mitchell that GOP leadership in Congress and “ all too much of its membership has become a cult of personality around the President.
” Early Thursday , Trump falsely stated that Woodward agreed with his decision to downplay the severity of the virus , saying that if the journalist believed otherwise he would have released his findings sooner .
Woodward has attributed the delay in his reporting to checking the veracity of Trump ’ s claims as the President is known to distort information .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday condemned President Donald Trump’s efforts early on to downplay the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that it unmasked his “contempt” for the American people and for his own supporters.
“This is a tragedy beyond words,” Pelosi said in a news conference Thursday morning, adding: “He showed his contempt for the American people and their health, contempt for science. Contempt for any real effort to crush the virus. Contempt for his supporters — their children, their parents.”
Pelosi said that Trump’s refusal to take the threat of coronavirus seriously when he was briefed on how devastatingly deadly it was back in January left the entire country “exposed and unprepared.”
The comments follow revelations Wednesday from investigative journalist Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book, “Rage,” that quote President Trump in audio-recorded interviews as saying he knew the coronavirus was “deadly stuff” even though for months he has painted the pandemic as a nonthreatening non-issue that was “going to disappear.”
Hours after the remarks came to light, Trump defended his comments to Woodward saying on Wednesday he sought to be a “cheerleader” as he blew smoke and the country flailed — leading to massive spread of the disease in the U.S., which has killed close to 200,000 people in the United States since March.
“Nobody wants to cause panic,” Pelosi said, castigating the President’s justification for his failure to paint a genuine picture for what was at stake. “You want to show leadership, show a strategic plan, following the science, allocating the resources — in order to get the job done.”
But as Pelosi tore into Trump, conservative commentators have continued to defend a defenseless President — rushing to Trump’s aid as he fails to justify his own deception.
Early Thursday, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy likened Trump’s vast understatement of the virus to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression hosting “fireside chats to calm America.”
Another Fox News host, Stuart Varney, said he thought it was “fine and dandy” that President Trump had avoided revealing the truth to the public.
The comments and complicity appear to echo those of Republican lawmakers who have largely declined to condemn the move — either claiming ignorance about the book or pointing fingers. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told CNN he “didn’t look at the Woodward book.”
House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) remarked during an MSNBC interview Thursday that Republican leaders have been “amazingly silent” on a number of troubling issues, including Trump’s comments in the Woodward book.
Schiff told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that GOP leadership in Congress and “all too much of its membership has become a cult of personality around the President.”
Early Thursday, Trump falsely stated that Woodward agreed with his decision to downplay the severity of the virus, saying that if the journalist believed otherwise he would have released his findings sooner.
Woodward has attributed the delay in his reporting to checking the veracity of Trump’s claims as the President is known to distort information.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-10--‘Saved His Ass’: Trump Reportedly Bragged Of Protecting Saudi Prince After Khashoggi Killing

President Donald Trump reportedly bragged about getting Congress to lay off of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi .
Or , in Trump ’ s words , “ I saved his ass.
” “ I was able to get Congress to leave him alone , ” reporter Bob Woodward quotes Trump as saying in 2018 , after Khashoggi was dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that October .
“ I was able to get them to stop.
” Woodward , in a passage from his upcoming book quoted by Business Insider , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he knew “ everything ” about the “ whole situation ” of Khashoggi ’ s death .
The CIA reportedly assessed within months of the killing that bin Salman had ordered it .
But Trump contradicted that assessment , calling it “ very premature.
” Since then , he ’ s repeatedly emphasized the price tag of American weaponry purchased by Saudi Arabia .
The same month of Khashoggi ’ s killing , Trump said the Saudi government had committed to a $ 110 billion arms deal with the United States — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such deal existed .
Speaking to Woodward in January , Trump emphasized that bin Salman “ will always say that he didn ’ t do it.
” “ He says that to everybody , and frankly I ’ m happy that he says that.
” Trump dodged Woodward ’ s attempts to clarify his own beliefs about the killing , instead saying , “ Bob , they spent $ 400 billion over a fairly short period of time.
” It ’ s not clear what he was referring to .
“ And you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Middle East , ” Trump continued .
“ You know , they ’ re big .
Because of their religious monuments , you know , they have the real power .
They have the oil , but they also have the great monuments for religion .
You know that , right ?
For that religion.
” “ They wouldn ’ t last a week if we ’ re not there , and they know it , ” Trump added , according to the passage of Woodward ’ s book quoted by Business Insider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its neck out for Saudi Arabia .
The State Department , for example , used an emergency declaration in 2019 to circumvent congressional notification for an $ 8 billion arms sale package to Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates and Jordan .
Later , Trump fired the inspector general investigating that arms transfer after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked that he do so .

President Donald Trump reportedly bragged about getting Congress to lay off of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Or, in Trump’s words, “I saved his ass.”
“I was able to get Congress to leave him alone,” reporter Bob Woodward quotes Trump as saying in 2018, after Khashoggi was dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that October. “I was able to get them to stop.”
Woodward, in a passage from his upcoming book quoted by Business Insider, reports that Trump told him in January that he knew “everything” about the “whole situation” of Khashoggi’s death.
The CIA reportedly assessed within months of the killing that bin Salman had ordered it. But Trump contradicted that assessment, calling it “very premature.” Since then, he’s repeatedly emphasized the price tag of American weaponry purchased by Saudi Arabia.
The same month of Khashoggi’s killing, Trump said the Saudi government had committed to a $110 billion arms deal with the United States — except, as TPM reported, no such deal existed.
Speaking to Woodward in January, Trump emphasized that bin Salman “will always say that he didn’t do it.”
“He says that to everybody, and frankly I’m happy that he says that.”
Trump dodged Woodward’s attempts to clarify his own beliefs about the killing, instead saying, “Bob, they spent $400 billion over a fairly short period of time.” It’s not clear what he was referring to.
“And you know, they’re in the Middle East,” Trump continued. “You know, they’re big. Because of their religious monuments, you know, they have the real power. They have the oil, but they also have the great monuments for religion. You know that, right? For that religion.”
“They wouldn’t last a week if we’re not there, and they know it,” Trump added, according to the passage of Woodward’s book quoted by Business Insider.
The Trump administration has repeatedly stuck its neck out for Saudi Arabia. The State Department, for example, used an emergency declaration in 2019 to circumvent congressional notification for an $8 billion arms sale package to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Later, Trump fired the inspector general investigating that arms transfer after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked that he do so.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-10--GOP’s Skinny COVID Relief Bill Fails, Another Indicator Of Bleak Outlook For Economic Help

Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) was the one defection on the 52-47 vote , a move he previewed , announcing his objection to government spending .
In that small way , it was a win for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) who successfully wrangled a splintered caucus into line to stand behind the legislation .
Democratic leadership was vocal about their opposition to the legislation , which they view as pathetically paltry and far less than what the battered country needs .
“ Today , the Senate will take a rather pointless vote on the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) said this morning from the Senate floor .
“ This bill is not going to happen because it is so emaciated , so filled with poison pills , so partisanly designed — it was designed to fail.
” “ Let ’ s not have tokenism when we have a major disaster , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) added later in the morning .
“ Let ’ s not have a ‘ skinny bill ’ when we have a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
“ Every Senate Democrat just voted against hundreds of billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief , ” he said .
“ They blocked money for schools , testing , vaccines , unemployment insurance , and the Paycheck Protection Program .
Their goal is clear : No help for American families before the election.
” While Democrats would likely counter with their months-long argument that the House passed the HEROES Act in May , a comprehensive relief package ridiculed as a “ liberal wish list ” by McConnell , the leader is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood of any COVID-19 relief coming from Congress before the election is very remote .
Talks between Pelosi , Schumer , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have been stagnant for months .
Most recently , Pelosi and Mnuchin agreed to try everything in their power to avoid a government shutdown when the budget expires at the end of September .
That translates to a continuing resolution , a measure to keep government spending at current levels for a still-undetermined number of months .
Pelosi confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean , ” lacking any COVID-19 relief .
“ I have said publicly that I ’ m for a clean CR , Mr. Mnuchin — Mr. Secretary has said he ’ s for a clean CR , so we ’ re down that path , ” she said .
“ We are now looking at anomalies and the rest and will figure out the timing when we do.
” “ ‘ Clean ’ meaning no additional things , ” she later emphasized .
“ COVID would not meet that definition and those negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure from an impending shutdown leaves no natural junctures for the two sides to come together on COVID-19 relief in the two months until the election .
They ’ re still trillions apart and guided by wholly different approaches — Democrats insist on a comprehensive package , while Republicans balk at the price tag .
Barring major concessions from either side , it ’ s hard to see a path to compromise .
“ My guess would be that if we leave in September with a CR , we will not come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-MO ) .

As predicted, Senate Republicans’ “skinny” COVID-19 relief package fell Thursday along party lines.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the one defection on the 52-47 vote, a move he previewed, announcing his objection to government spending. In that small way, it was a win for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who successfully wrangled a splintered caucus into line to stand behind the legislation.
Democratic leadership was vocal about their opposition to the legislation, which they view as pathetically paltry and far less than what the battered country needs.
“Today, the Senate will take a rather pointless vote on the latest, highly partisan Republican emaciated COVID relief bill,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said this morning from the Senate floor. “This bill is not going to happen because it is so emaciated, so filled with poison pills, so partisanly designed — it was designed to fail.”
“Let’s not have tokenism when we have a major disaster,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) added later in the morning. “Let’s not have a ‘skinny bill’ when we have a massive problem.”
McConnell tweeted soon after the vote.
“Every Senate Democrat just voted against hundreds of billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief,” he said. “They blocked money for schools, testing, vaccines, unemployment insurance, and the Paycheck Protection Program. Their goal is clear: No help for American families before the election.”
While Democrats would likely counter with their months-long argument that the House passed the HEROES Act in May, a comprehensive relief package ridiculed as a “liberal wish list” by McConnell, the leader is probably right on one count: that the likelihood of any COVID-19 relief coming from Congress before the election is very remote.
Talks between Pelosi, Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have been stagnant for months.
Most recently, Pelosi and Mnuchin agreed to try everything in their power to avoid a government shutdown when the budget expires at the end of September. That translates to a continuing resolution, a measure to keep government spending at current levels for a still-undetermined number of months.
Pelosi confirmed Thursday that the CR would be “clean,” lacking any COVID-19 relief.
“I have said publicly that I’m for a clean CR, Mr. Mnuchin — Mr. Secretary has said he’s for a clean CR, so we’re down that path,” she said. “We are now looking at anomalies and the rest and will figure out the timing when we do.”
“‘Clean’ meaning no additional things,” she later emphasized. “COVID would not meet that definition and those negotiations are separate from this.”
Alleviating the pressure from an impending shutdown leaves no natural junctures for the two sides to come together on COVID-19 relief in the two months until the election. They’re still trillions apart and guided by wholly different approaches — Democrats insist on a comprehensive package, while Republicans balk at the price tag. Barring major concessions from either side, it’s hard to see a path to compromise.
“My guess would be that if we leave in September with a CR, we will not come back to do anything before the election,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Wisconsin Court Sets Up Possible Delay For Absentee Ballots One Week Before Mailing Deadline

The Wisconsin Supreme Court told state election officials on Thursday that they can ’ t mail out absentee ballots until the court decides whether to add the Green Party ’ s presidential ticket to the ballot .
The 4-3 decision was split across partisan lines and comes just a week before Wisconsin ’ s Sept. 17 deadline to mail the roughly 1 million absentee ballots to voters that have already made requests for ballots by mail across the state .
As the Wisconsin court ’ s four conservative justices agreed that ballot mailing should be stalled , the three liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ given the breadth of the information requested and the minimal time allotted to obtain it.
” Liberal justices on the bench argued the court is “ asking the impossible ” of the state ’ s approximately 1,850 municipal clerks .
The possible inclusion of Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins on the general election ballot could impact what will likely be a very tight race between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The court ’ s decision to delay ballot mailing is further complicated by a separate case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to get on the ballot after the commission voted that his nomination papers arrived too late .
A Brown County judge said he planned to make a ruling on West ’ s lawsuit within a few days , potentially further delaying an already fraught ballot-mailing process with a looming deadline of just one week .
In 2016 , Green Party presidential candidate , Jill Stein , won 31,006 votes in the state , which exceeded Trump ’ s 22,177-vote margin over Democrat Hillary Clinton .
The inclusion of West , could further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be a slim margin between Trump and Biden .
While Sept. 17 is the deadline for clerks to mail absentee ballots voters with existing requests on file , those making later requests can still receive a ballot by mail .
Oct. 29 is the deadline for most voters to request a mail-in ballot .
Returned ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day .
Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Meagan Wolfe said Thursday , that some clerks may have already mailed ballots without West ’ s and Hawkins ’ names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many went out before the court ’ s order .
She said “ it would be incredibly complicated and difficult , ” to begin printing and mailing new ballots with additional names .
The court on Thursday asked for the names and addresses of all voters who have been mailed an absentee ballot , as well the date the ballot was mailed .
The court has also ordered the commission to provide a list of the names of officials who requested that ballots be printed as well as details about when those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wisconsin Republicans successful blocked Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers ’ bid to delay the state ’ s primary elections until June .
The US Supreme Court also reversed a lower court ’ s ruling that gave voters a six-day cushion to return their ballots by mail .
At least 19 people in Wisconsin who reported voting in-person or working at polling stations in April tested positive for coronavirus , according to the state health department data later that month .

The Wisconsin Supreme Court told state election officials on Thursday that they can’t mail out absentee ballots until the court decides whether to add the Green Party’s presidential ticket to the ballot.
The 4-3 decision was split across partisan lines and comes just a week before Wisconsin’s Sept. 17 deadline to mail the roughly 1 million absentee ballots to voters that have already made requests for ballots by mail across the state.
As the Wisconsin court’s four conservative justices agreed that ballot mailing should be stalled, the three liberal justices pushed for mailing to go forward “given the breadth of the information requested and the minimal time allotted to obtain it.”
Liberal justices on the bench argued the court is “asking the impossible” of the state’s approximately 1,850 municipal clerks.
The possible inclusion of Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins on the general election ballot could impact what will likely be a very tight race between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The court’s decision to delay ballot mailing is further complicated by a separate case from rapper Kanye West who is also trying to get on the ballot after the commission voted that his nomination papers arrived too late. A Brown County judge said he planned to make a ruling on West’s lawsuit within a few days, potentially further delaying an already fraught ballot-mailing process with a looming deadline of just one week.
In 2016, Green Party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, won 31,006 votes in the state, which exceeded Trump’s 22,177-vote margin over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The inclusion of West, could further shave votes away from what polls show could be a slim margin between Trump and Biden.
While Sept. 17 is the deadline for clerks to mail absentee ballots to voters with existing requests on file, those making later requests can still receive a ballot by mail. Oct. 29 is the deadline for most voters to request a mail-in ballot. Returned ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day.
Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Meagan Wolfe said Thursday, that some clerks may have already mailed ballots without West’s and Hawkins’ names on them, though it was unclear how many went out before the court’s order.
She said “it would be incredibly complicated and difficult,” to begin printing and mailing new ballots with additional names.
The court on Thursday asked for the names and addresses of all voters who have been mailed an absentee ballot, as well the date the ballot was mailed. The court has also ordered the commission to provide a list of the names of officials who requested that ballots be printed as well as details about when those requests were made.
Earlier this year, Wisconsin Republicans successfully blocked Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ bid to delay the state’s primary elections until June. The U.S. Supreme Court also reversed a lower court’s ruling that gave voters a six-day cushion to return their ballots by mail. At least 19 people in Wisconsin who reported voting in-person or working at polling stations in April tested positive for coronavirus, according to the state health department data later that month.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--‘I Love This Guy’: Trump Eager To Talk To Woodward For Validation Among Washington Elite

President Donald Trump was reportedly thrilled to have the opportunity speak to famed journalist Bob Woodward , seeing it as a way to boost his standing among the Washington establishment .
The New York Times reports that Trump ’ s staggering 18 interviews with Woodward , who was working on his upcoming book about Trump titled “ Rage , ” came from both a desire to spin himself in a positive light and to find validation in having someone from the Washington elite profile him .
“ Go ahead , ” Trump reportedly told Woodward when worried White House staffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I find it interesting.
” “ I love this guy , ” he added .
“ Even though he writes shit about me.
” According to the Times , Trump called Woodward for the 19th time in mid-August to try to get the reporter to mention his administration ’ s successful deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
However , it was too late to do so .
Ever since excerpts of Woodward ’ s book , due for publication on September 15 , revealed that Trump knowingly lied about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in early 2020 , the President has tried to deflect the scandal onto Woodward .
“ If Bob Woodward thought what I said was bad , then he should have immediately , right after I said it , gone out to the authorities so they can prepare and let them know , ” Trump said during a press conference on Thursday .
However , the President still admitted that Woodward “ is somebody that I respect .
”

President Donald Trump was reportedly thrilled to have the opportunity speak to famed journalist Bob Woodward, seeing it as a way to boost his standing among the Washington establishment.
The New York Times reports that Trump’s staggering 18 interviews with Woodward, who was working on his upcoming book about Trump titled “Rage,” came from both a desire to spin himself in a positive light and to find validation in having someone from the Washington elite profile him.
“Go ahead,” Trump reportedly told Woodward when worried White House staffers tried to cut the interview short. “I find it interesting.”
“I love this guy,” he added. “Even though he writes shit about me.”
According to the Times, Trump called Woodward for the 19th time in mid-August to try to get the reporter to mention his administration’s successful deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. However, it was too late to do so.
Ever since excerpts of Woodward’s book, due for publication on September 15, revealed that Trump knowingly lied about the severity of COVID-19 all the way back in early 2020, the President has tried to deflect the scandal onto Woodward.
“If Bob Woodward thought what I said was bad, then he should have immediately, right after I said it, gone out to the authorities so they can prepare and let them know,” Trump said during a press conference on Thursday.
However, the President still admitted that Woodward “is somebody that I respect.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Marjorie Greene’s Opponent Drops Out, Leaving Her Unopposed In November

Marjorie Greene , the QAnon-supporting Republican nominee for Georgia ’ s 14th congressional district , is now running unopposed this November .
Her opponent , Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal , dropped out on Friday citing life changes taking him out of the state .
The Van Ausdal campaign did not immediately respond to TPM ’ s questions .
In a response to his post , Van Ausdal said that his team “ believes ” there ’ s still time for someone else to take his place .
In Georgia ’ s deep red 14th district , Ausdal was a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reason next to Greene ’ s headline-grabbing sensationalism .
Greene garnered national attention over the campaign with her unapologetic interest in the dark themes of the QAnon conspiracy theory — like a Satan-worshipping cabal secretly pulling the levels of power in this country — and racist and anti-semitic beliefs as recorded in videos on her social media pages .
Since winning her primary , she ’ s done little to soften her tone .
She called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) a “ bitch ” during her celebration speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump , for his part , has welcomed his soon-to-be-newest ally with open arms .
He called her a “ rising star ” on Twitter , and invited her to his acceptance speech during the Republican National Convention where he used the White House as a backdrop .
Other Republicans — notably outgoing Rep. Denver Riggleman ( R-VA ) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( R-IL ) — have been more willing to push back against Greene , who some fear could be a Steve King-like albatross slung around the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) has vacillated between silence and assertions that he has a good relationship with Greene .
He has denounced QAnon in general .
And for most in the party , Trump ’ s warmth and McCarthy ’ s compliance have set the tone .

Marjorie Greene, the QAnon-supporting Republican nominee for Georgia’s 14th congressional district, is now running unopposed this November.
Her opponent, Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal, dropped out on Friday citing life changes taking him out of the state.
A message from Kevin Van Ausdal pic.twitter.com/Y5LtVcpK2B — Kevin Van Ausdal (D) (@KevinVanAusdal) September 11, 2020
The Van Ausdal campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s questions.
In a response to his post, Van Ausdal said that his team “believes” there’s still time for someone else to take his place.
In Georgia’s deep red 14th district, Ausdal was a significant underdog who positioned himself as a voice of reason next to Greene’s headline-grabbing sensationalism.
Greene garnered national attention over the campaign with her unapologetic interest in the dark themes of the QAnon conspiracy theory — like a Satan-worshipping cabal secretly pulling the levels of power in this country — and racist and anti-semitic beliefs as recorded in videos on her social media pages.
Since winning her primary, she’s done little to soften her tone. She called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) a “bitch” during her celebration speech, and kicked reporters out of the event.
President Donald Trump, for his part, has welcomed his soon-to-be-newest ally with open arms. He called her a “rising star” on Twitter, and invited her to his acceptance speech during the Republican National Convention where he used the White House as a backdrop.
Other Republicans — notably outgoing Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) — have been more willing to push back against Greene, who some fear could be a Steve King-like albatross slung around the party’s neck. But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has vacillated between silence and assertions that he has a good relationship with Greene. He has denounced QAnon in general.
And for most in the party, Trump’s warmth and McCarthy’s compliance have set the tone.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--FBI Forced To Debunk Conspiracy Theory That ‘Antifa’ Extremists Set Fires In Oregon

The FBI ’ s Portland field office was forced to debunk rampant conspiracy theories Friday that left-wing extremists had set the wildfires currently engulfing hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon .
“ FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon , ” the office wrote on Twitter .
“ With our state and local partners , the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue.
” “ Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” it added .
“ Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources.
” Other local law enforcement apparatuses have also had to quash rumors about arsonists this week as thousands were evacuated under an eerie orange sky .
The false theories seem largely to be originating from and spreading on social media platforms .
On Thursday , the sheriff ’ s office of Douglas County , located in the southwest part of the state , posted on Facebook to debunk a rumor that members of Antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has become a boogeyman to many on the right , had been arrested for setting fires .
“ Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in DOUGLAS COUNTY , OREGON , ” the post read .
“ THIS IS NOT TRUE !
Unfortunately , people are spreading this rumor and it is causing problems.
” About two hours south , police in Medford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look like it came from their department .
“ This is a made up graphic and story , ” the post said .
“ We did not arrest this person for arson , nor anyone affiliated with Antifa or ‘ Proud Boys ’ as we ’ ve heard throughout the day .
Also , no confirmed gatherings of Antifa which has also been reported.
” It ’ s not the first time baseless rumors of invading extremists — a specter actively promulgated by Trump — have overwhelmed police departments .
In towns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and incensed by social media posts , have flooded their law enforcement centers with warnings about impending doom .
In a New Jersey suburb , Antifa extremists were supposedly coming for a shopping center .
In Sioux Falls , South Dakota , they were coming by the “ busload.
” Rural Payette County , Idaho was convinced it was next on the list to be invaded .
In Forks , Washington , the Antifa mania grew to such a fever pitch that heavily-armed locals harassed a visiting family , ultimately trapping them at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bewildered family was rescued by golden-hearted teenagers with chainsaws .
The Trump administration eagerly fans the flames of Antifa hysteria , with the President frequently using the shadowy ( and mostly fabricated ) figures to redirect attention from the protests over police brutality and systemic racism that have intermittently broken out across the country since late May .

The FBI’s Portland field office was forced to debunk rampant conspiracy theories Friday that left-wing extremists had set the wildfires currently engulfing hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon.
“FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon,” the office wrote on Twitter. “With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue.”
“Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control,” it added. “Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources.”
Other local law enforcement apparatuses have also had to quash rumors about arsonists this week as thousands were evacuated under an eerie orange sky. The false theories seem largely to be originating from and spreading on social media platforms.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office of Douglas County, located in the southwest part of the state, posted on Facebook to debunk a rumor that members of Antifa, an umbrella name for anti-fascist groups that has become a boogeyman to many on the right, had been arrested for setting fires.
“Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON,” the post read. “THIS IS NOT TRUE! Unfortunately, people are spreading this rumor and it is causing problems.”
About two hours south, police in Medford had to disown a Facebook post fashioned to look like it came from their department.
“This is a made up graphic and story,” the post said. “We did not arrest this person for arson, nor anyone affiliated with Antifa or ‘Proud Boys’ as we’ve heard throughout the day. Also, no confirmed gatherings of Antifa which has also been reported.”
It’s not the first time baseless rumors of invading extremists — a specter actively promulgated by Trump — have overwhelmed police departments. In towns across the country, inhabitants, terrified and incensed by social media posts, have flooded their law enforcement centers with warnings about impending doom. In a New Jersey suburb, Antifa extremists were supposedly coming for a shopping center. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, they were coming by the “busload.” Rural Payette County, Idaho was convinced it was next on the list to be invaded.
In Forks, Washington, the Antifa mania grew to such a fever pitch that heavily-armed locals harassed a visiting family, ultimately trapping them at a campsite with felled trees. The bewildered family was rescued by golden-hearted teenagers with chainsaws.
The Trump administration eagerly fans the flames of Antifa hysteria, with the President frequently using the shadowy (and mostly fabricated) figures to redirect attention from the protests over police brutality and systemic racism that have intermittently broken out across the country since late May.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--House Intel Expands DHS Probe After Whistleblower Allegations About Disinfo, ‘Antifa’

The House Intelligence Committee is expanding an existing investigation into the Department of Homeland Security to address a whistleblower ’ s allegations that top officials politicized intelligence to aid President Donald Trump .
The whistleblower complaint , written by the department ’ s former top intelligence official , alleges that Trump administration higher-ups pressured him and others to distort intelligence products on Russia , white supremacists and “ antifa ” in order to reflect Trump ’ s priorities .
The White House and DHS have denied the allegations made in the complaint .
“ Based on information that has recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s investigation must now encompass and review a wider range of reported abuses , deficiencies , and problems , including allegations of improper politicization of intelligence and political interference in [ the Office of Intelligence and Analysis ’ ] mission and activities , ” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) wrote in a letter to Joseph B. Maher , the DHS official now performing the former job of the demoted whistleblower .
The whistleblower , Brian Murphy , alleges he was demoted from his position as acting undersecretary for Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with department higher ups — including Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and his top deputy , Ken Cuccinelli — who Murphy said sought to manipulate intelligence analyses .
Notably , the committee was already investigating the Office of Intelligence and Analysis .
That investigation began after news broke last month that , among other things , the office had collected information on journalists who were reporting on the federal presence in Portland .
Murphy was overseeing the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the time , and his whistleblower complaint addresses that scandal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flawed.
” The complaint asserts that “ DHS I & A never knowingly or deliberately collected information on journalists , at least as far as Mr. Murphy is aware or ever authorized.
” Murphy ’ s complaint alleges that , though Wolf “ knew ” there was no merit to the press about the scandal , “ the removal and reassignment of Mr. Murphy would be politically good for Mr. Wolf , who wanted to be officially nominated as the DHS Secretary.
” Schiff ’ s letter Friday significantly expands the scope of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For one thing , Murphy ’ s allegations go back to 2018 , when he alleges that then-DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and others misled Congress about the threat of known and suspected terrorists crossing the southern border .
Murphy also alleged that Cuccinelli wanted to retaliate against DHS staff whose work on Central America he considered to be the product of “ deep state intelligence analysts.
” What grabbed headlines , though , was Murphy ’ s claim that Wolf and Cuccinelli pressured him to alter an intelligence document to downplay the threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antifa.
” Separately , Murphy alleged , he was excluded from the drafting process of an intelligence notification on Russian disinformation efforts after Wolf told him the notification should be “ held ” because it “ made the President look bad.
” In his letter to Maher , Schiff listed several DHS officials with whom the committee would request transcribed interviews .
And he said he appreciated the department ’ s pledge to “ cooperate with the Committee ’ s expanded investigative focus .
”

The House Intelligence Committee is expanding an existing investigation into the Department of Homeland Security to address a whistleblower’s allegations that top officials politicized intelligence to aid President Donald Trump.
The whistleblower complaint, written by the department’s former top intelligence official, alleges that Trump administration higher-ups pressured him and others to distort intelligence products on Russia, white supremacists and “antifa” in order to reflect Trump’s priorities. The White House and DHS have denied the allegations made in the complaint.
“Based on information that has recently come to light, the Committee’s investigation must now encompass and review a wider range of reported abuses, deficiencies, and problems, including allegations of improper politicization of intelligence and political interference in [the Office of Intelligence and Analysis’] mission and activities,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote in a letter to Joseph B. Maher, the DHS official now performing the former job of the demoted whistleblower.
The whistleblower, Brian Murphy, alleges he was demoted from his position as acting undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis for refusing to go along with department higher ups — including Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and his top deputy, Ken Cuccinelli — who Murphy said sought to manipulate intelligence analyses.
Notably, the committee was already investigating the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. That investigation began after news broke last month that, among other things, the office had collected information on journalists who were reporting on the federal presence in Portland.
Murphy was overseeing the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the time, and his whistleblower complaint addresses that scandal, calling press reporting on it “significantly flawed.” The complaint asserts that “DHS I&A never knowingly or deliberately collected information on journalists, at least as far as Mr. Murphy is aware or ever authorized.”
Murphy’s complaint alleges that, though Wolf “knew” there was no merit to the press about the scandal, “the removal and reassignment of Mr. Murphy would be politically good for Mr. Wolf, who wanted to be officially nominated as the DHS Secretary.”
Schiff’s letter Friday significantly expands the scope of the committee’s investigatory work.
For one thing, Murphy’s allegations go back to 2018, when he alleges that then-DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and others misled Congress about the threat of known and suspected terrorists crossing the southern border. Murphy also alleged that Cuccinelli wanted to retaliate against DHS staff whose work on Central America he considered to be the product of “deep state intelligence analysts.”
What grabbed headlines, though, was Murphy’s claim that Wolf and Cuccinelli pressured him to alter an intelligence document to downplay the threat of white supremacist violence and emphasize “antifa.”
Separately, Murphy alleged, he was excluded from the drafting process of an intelligence notification on Russian disinformation efforts after Wolf told him the notification should be “held” because it “made the President look bad.”
In his letter to Maher, Schiff listed several DHS officials with whom the committee would request transcribed interviews. And he said he appreciated the department’s pledge to “cooperate with the Committee’s expanded investigative focus.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--POTUS Threatens Aggressive Crackdown On Any Anti-Trump ‘Riots’ Spurred By Possible Reelection

President Donald Trump threatened militaristic crackdowns on any potential “ riots ” that break out on November 3 if he were to win reelection .
In a preview clip of Fox News host Jeanine Pirro ’ s interview with Trump set to air in full on Saturday , Pirro asked the President what he would do if his victory sparked an uproar among the anti-Trump crowd on Election Day .
“ We ’ ll put them down very quickly if they do that , ” Trump responded .
“ We have the right to do that .
We have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want.
” He described the potential protests as would-be “ insurrection.
” “ We just send in … and we do it very easy , ” Trump said without specifying what agencies or enforcement would be dispatched .
“ I mean , it ’ s very easy.
” “ I ’ d rather not do that because there ’ s no reason for it , but if we had to , we ’ d do that and put it down within minutes .
Within minutes , ” he added .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims of having the “ right ” to exert strongman tactics against dissidents , from protesters to states that don ’ t reopen as quickly as he demands amid COVID-19 .

President Donald Trump threatened militaristic crackdowns on any potential “riots” that break out on November 3 if he were to win reelection.
In a preview clip of Fox News host Jeanine Pirro’s interview with Trump set to air in full on Saturday, Pirro asked the President what he would do if his victory sparked an uproar among the anti-Trump crowd on Election Day.
“We’ll put them down very quickly if they do that,” Trump responded. “We have the right to do that. We have the power to do that, if we want.”
He described the potential protests as would-be “insurrection.”
“We just send in … and we do it very easy,” Trump said without specifying what agencies or enforcement would be dispatched. “I mean, it’s very easy.”
“I’d rather not do that because there’s no reason for it, but if we had to, we’d do that and put it down within minutes. Within minutes,” he added.
Trump’s warning fall in line with his past claims of having the “right” to exert strongman tactics against dissidents, from protesters to states that don’t reopen as quickly as he demands amid COVID-19.
Watch the President below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Report: Prosecutor Resigns From Durham Probe Citing Concerns About Political Pressure

There ’ s one less investigator investigating the investigators .
The Hartford Courant reports that Nora R. Dannehy resigned from the Durham investigation this week .
That decision , the paper says , was at least partly motivated by alleged attempts at speeding up the investigation for political reasons by Attorney General Bill Barr .
The report cites colleagues of Dannehy ’ s , who told the paper that , in the Courant ’ s words , she “ has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from Barr — who appointed Durham — to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same anonymous colleagues , the paper also reports that Dannehy has been considering resignation in recent weeks amid “ concern about politics.
” The report offered few specifics about the reasons for Dannehy ’ s concerns .
But it notes that other “ Durham associates ” believe that Barr has been pressuring him to produce some sort of result before the November election .
It also offers this fairly detailed insight into the life of a Durham investigation prosecutor , as it stands today : Dannehy was told to expect an assignment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she agreed to join Durham ’ s team in Washington , colleagues said .
The work has taken far longer than expected , in part because of complications caused by the corona virus pandemic .
In the meantime , team members — some of whom are current or former federal investigators or prosecutors with homes in Connecticut — have been working long hours in Washington under pressure to produce results , associates said .
TPM left a message at a phone number listed for Dannehy , and also emailed a spokesperson for Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neither have replied to the requests for comment .
But the report comes amid unprecedented politicization of the Justice Department .
The DOJ has shown extreme leniency towards friends of the President , asking for a lighter-than-first-recommended sentence for Roger Stone and dropping charges against Michael Flynn , after the former National Security Adviser had already pleaded guilty then withdrew his plea to those charges .
Dannehy is a former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut , and was appointed in 2008 to investigate the firings of U.S .
Attorneys under the Bush administration .

There’s one less investigator investigating the investigators.
The Hartford Courant reports that Nora R. Dannehy resigned from the Durham investigation this week. That decision, the paper says, was at least partly motivated by alleged attempts at speeding up the investigation for political reasons by Attorney General Bill Barr.
The report cites colleagues of Dannehy’s, who told the paper that, in the Courant’s words, she “has been concerned in recent weeks by what she believed was pressure from Barr — who appointed Durham — to produce results before the election.”
Citing the same anonymous colleagues, the paper also reports that Dannehy has been considering resignation in recent weeks amid “concern about politics.”
The report offered few specifics about the reasons for Dannehy’s concerns. But it notes that other “Durham associates” believe that Barr has been pressuring him to produce some sort of result before the November election.
It also offers this fairly detailed insight into the life of a Durham investigation prosecutor, as it stands today:
Dannehy was told to expect an assignment of from six months to a year when she agreed to join Durham’s team in Washington, colleagues said. The work has taken far longer than expected, in part because of complications caused by the corona virus pandemic. In the meantime, team members — some of whom are current or former federal investigators or prosecutors with homes in Connecticut — have been working long hours in Washington under pressure to produce results, associates said.
TPM left a message at a phone number listed for Dannehy, and also emailed a spokesperson for Attorney General Barr about the Courant report. Neither have replied to the requests for comment.
But the report comes amid unprecedented politicization of the Justice Department. The DOJ has shown extreme leniency towards friends of the President, asking for a lighter-than-first-recommended sentence for Roger Stone and dropping charges against Michael Flynn, after the former National Security Adviser had already pleaded guilty then withdrew his plea to those charges.
Dannehy is a former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, and was appointed in 2008 to investigate the firings of U.S. Attorneys under the Bush administration.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Fauci Dismantles Trump’s Latest End-In-Sight Rhetoric On COVID: Statistics Are ‘Disturbing’

Leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday disagreed with President Donald Trump ’ s claim at a news conference just a day before that the country is victoriously winding down in its battle with coronavirus .
“ We have rounded the final turn , ” Trump told reporters on Thursday as he fended off questions about revelations that he had intentionally misled the American public about the deadliness of the coronavirus in Bob Woodward ’ s forthcoming book , “ Rage.
” President Trump made the remarks hours after Fauci urged Americans to “ hunker down and get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not going to be easy.
” Fauci pushed back on Friday afternoon telling MSNBC ’ s Andrea Mitchell in an interview that contrary to Trump ’ s insistence that outbreaks are subsiding , the real-time statistics are “ disturbing.
” “ We ’ re plateauing at around 40,000 cases a day , ” Fauci said bluntly , adding that he had hopes that a surge in cases wouldn ’ t trail the Labor Day weekend as it did following July 4th .
Fauci who directs the National Institute of Allergy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current high baseline of infections and threats of “ increased test positivity ” in certain parts of the country needed to be addressed heading into the fall season as people spend more time indoors .
“ You don ’ t want to start off already with a baseline that ’ s so high , ” Fauci said , adding that his warning about reducing baseline infections were not new .
“ I ’ ve been stressing this over the last few weeks to a month or more , ” Fauci said .
Unsurprisingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not help to lower that baseline .
The public health expert said that crowded areas outdoors “ absolutely ” bear risk of transmission of coronavirus when he was asked about Trump ’ s crammed campaign events , including one in Michigan Thursday , where thousands gathered at an aircraft hangar and many of his supporters proudly flouted masks .
“ You ’ re crowded together and you don ’ t have a mask , the chances of a respiratory transmission of a virus clearly are there , ” Fauci said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors does not mean you ’ re protected , particularly if you ’ re in a crowd and you ’ re not wearing masks.
” As the President continues unblinkingly to deceive the public amid a deadly health crisis — by pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be approved ahead of the presidential election — Fauci also said that even if a vaccine is developed later this year or early next year , it ’ s overly optimistic to suggest that the nation will achieve vaccination of a majority of the population before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
“ If you ’ re talking about getting back to a degree of normality which resembles where we were prior to COVID , it ’ s going to be toward the middle of 2021 , maybe even the end of 2021 , ” Fauci said .
He maintained however , that he feels “ really quite confident ” that in spite of public concerns over the politicization of the vaccine approval process , “ this is going to be done correctly .
”

Leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday disagreed with President Donald Trump’s claim at a news conference just a day before that the country is victoriously winding down in its battle with coronavirus.
“We have rounded the final turn,” Trump told reporters on Thursday as he fended off questions about revelations that he had intentionally misled the American public about the deadliness of the coronavirus in Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book, “Rage.”
President Trump made the remarks hours after Fauci urged Americans to “hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy.”
Fauci pushed back on Friday afternoon telling MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell in an interview that contrary to Trump’s insistence that outbreaks are subsiding, the real-time statistics are “disturbing.”
“We’re plateauing at around 40,000 cases a day,” Fauci said bluntly, adding that he had hopes that a surge in cases wouldn’t trail the Labor Day weekend as it did following July 4th.
Fauci who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease also warned that the current high baseline of infections and threats of “increased test positivity” in certain parts of the country needed to be addressed heading into the fall season as people spend more time indoors.
“You don’t want to start off already with a baseline that’s so high,” Fauci said, adding that his warning about reducing baseline infections were not new. “I’ve been stressing this over the last few weeks to a month or more,” Fauci said.
Unsurprisingly, packed rallies — even outdoors — do not help to lower that baseline.
The public health expert said that crowded areas outdoors “absolutely” bear risk of transmission of coronavirus when he was asked about Trump’s crammed campaign events, including one in Michigan Thursday, where thousands gathered at an aircraft hangar and many of his supporters proudly flouted masks.
“You’re crowded together and you don’t have a mask, the chances of a respiratory transmission of a virus clearly are there,” Fauci said, adding: “Just because you’re outdoors does not mean you’re protected, particularly if you’re in a crowd and you’re not wearing masks.”
As the President continues unblinkingly to deceive the public amid a deadly health crisis — by pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be approved ahead of the presidential election — Fauci also said that even if a vaccine is developed later this year or early next year, it’s overly optimistic to suggest that the nation will achieve vaccination of a majority of the population before close to the middle or end of 2021.
“If you’re talking about getting back to a degree of normality which resembles where we were prior to COVID, it’s going to be toward the middle of 2021, maybe even the end of 2021,” Fauci said. He maintained however, that he feels “really quite confident” that in spite of public concerns over the politicization of the vaccine approval process, “this is going to be done correctly.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--Is Your State Ready For The Pandemic Election? A Look At IA, KS, ME, MT, OH

Our journey through America ’ s varying levels of pandemic-voting preparedness continues this week with looks at Iowa , Kansas , Maine , Montana and Ohio .
Every week , we ’ re looking at what states have done — or not done — to make voting easier during the coronavirus outbreak , where the fights over those moves have been the most contentious , and which states feature the kind of competitive races that could make things extra messy and volatile come November .
Here ’ s this week ’ s installment of our survey , and check out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , sure , we all remember the disaster that was Iowa ’ s first-in-the-nation presidential contest : The Democrats ’ third-party app for processing caucus results “ was not ready for primetime , ” one expert told TPM then .
Conflicting , late results left voters outraged for weeks .
Iowa ’ s state-run primary was a different story : The June elections , in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , smashed previous primary turnout records .
And though Iowa has long had no-excuse absentee voting , this time voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballots .
But within a few days of the primaries , the state ’ s Republican legislature inserted language into the a budget bill tying election officials ’ hands when it came to absentee ballot applications that contained minor errors .
Whereas before June election officials could use their voter database to correct incomplete or incorrect information , they ’ re now required to reach out to voters — first by phone and email , then regular mail — to have the voter fix it themselves .
“ When it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the professionals to do what needs to be done … that creates problems , ” David Becker , the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research , told TPM at the time .
And it did : Election auditors in three counties , after the new restrictions were passed , sent ballot applications to voters with their personal information pre-filled , an attempt to avoid any errors .
The Trump campaign has sued , successfully , to void these pre-filled applications in two counties so far , meaning tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their requests .
Democrats have since sued over the secretary of state ’ s directive prohibiting county auditors from pre-filling the ballot information .
Though absentee ballots in Iowa must be postmarked by the day before Election Day , Nov. 2 , the state still counts ballots that are received up to a week after Election Day — a useful precaution as mail delays threaten to disenfranchise voters .
Gov .
Kim Reynolds ( R ) signed an executive order last month restoring voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions ( except for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve completed their sentences .
Iowa had been the last state in the nation to permanently disenfranchise felons unless they personally got the governor ’ s approval .
In addition to the presidential race — polls say it ’ s pretty close — the state offers a few notable contests : Randy Feenstra , after defeating Rep. Steve King ( R-IA ) in the Republican primary , will face off against Democrat and retired pro baseball player J.D .
Scholten .
And Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) , a top target for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger Theresa Greenfield .
The Cook Political Report calls that race a toss-up .
Kansas has been the breeding ground for some of the most restrictive voting measures in the country .
Yet , when it comes to the pandemic , local officials and advocates have some workarounds in place to help keep voting safe during the outbreak .
Absentee voting in the state has long not required an excuse and some of Kansas ’ most populous counties are proactively mailing out applications to all voters .
The state ’ s somewhat onerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , though it is somewhat more expansive in what forms of identification are acceptable than other states ’ .
Kansas further relaxed it in the pandemic so that expired IDs can be used .
Furthermore , election officials in some counties are willing to come to voters , take their picture , and print them out a free voter ID card .
Even in counties where so-called “ advanced ballots ” ( the term used in Kansas for absentee voting ) were commonly used before the pandemic , August ’ s primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots absentee .
Elsewhere , the number of absentee voters doubled what ’ s usual for that election , and turnout generally was higher than in a typical August primary .
“ Those are all good indicators ” for voter access , Cille King , the head of the Kansas chapter of the League of Women Voters , told TPM .
Yet the challenges that the pandemic is causing elsewhere in the country are visible in Kansas as well , with polling places being consolidated due to locations bailing and the recruitment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election officials heading into the fall .
Kansas counts mailed-in ballots postmarked by Election Day as long as they ’ re received by the following Friday , meaning reporting final results will take that long as well .
However election officials are hoping that the vast majority of ballots will be counted by the night of Nov. 3 , given that they provide plentiful options for voters to turn in their absentee ballots in-person by Election Day , including drop boxes and at polling places themselves .
Democrats saw their chances for snatching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the August primary , when the GOP establishment favorite beat out former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach , who previously lost a 2018 gubernatorial race to a Democrat .
The race is still considered one to watch , in addition to two U.S. House races that stand to be competitive .
Vacationland has high political stakes this year : the electoral vote from Maine ’ s second congressional district is up for grabs , polling suggests , as is the seat of Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) .
Campaigns are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a conservative legal group suing the state to gain access to its voter rolls .
But in spite of the state ’ s consistently low COVID-19 infection rate , it has to contend with an unprecedented number of absentee ballot requests and last-minute strategizing over how to plan for the November election .
Earlier this year , the state moved its primary from June to July .
That election went off relatively uneventfully , with ballots being counted on time , though with a major caveat — the state overlooked 11,000 ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any single contest .
Litigation over the state ’ s switch to ranked-choice voting — Maine is the first state in the country to fully implement it — worked out .
So , amid all that , it looks as if November is set to go fairly smoothly in Maine , albeit amid a ferocious contest both for the Senate and one of the state ’ s four electoral votes .
More than 120,000 Mainers have requested absentee ballots for the November election .
State officials are moving forward with a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the state .
Maine Governor Janet Mills ( D ) has helped the situation by issuing an executive order extending the number of days that officials can count votes received before Election Day to up to one week .
But unfortunately , the state only accepts ballots that have arrived by Election Day , meaning that postal delays could leave reams of votes uncounted .
Montana had a comparatively smooth primary because all 56 counties chose to take advantage of Gov .
Steve Bullock ’ s ( D ) directive allowing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Almost all Montanians vote by mail already — 73 percent of them did in the 2018 midterms — so it was an easier lift for the well-practiced state .
Still , the shift made for Montana ’ s largest primary turnout in nearly 50 years , since 1972 when the state ’ s current constitution was ratified .
Bullock issued a similar directive in early August , giving counties permission to choose to conduct their elections by mail and to send out ballots to all registered voters .
The counties would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person voting , but the directive would also give them leeway to expand the early voting period .
As of late August , nearly three-fourths of Montana ’ s counties had chosen to go that route , with seven of the eight largest choosing to take advantage of the governor ’ s directive .
But last week , a potential wrench was thrown into the works courtesy of the Donald Trump campaign , the Republican National Committee , the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Montana Republican party .
The group filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state legislature can allow all-mail federal elections and that his directive is in violation of the U.S. and state constitutions .
Bradley Seaman , election administrator of Missoula County , the state ’ s second most populous county , told TPM in an email that the GOP group prevailing in the lawsuit would be a “ VERY LARGE change ” to how the county is gearing up for the election .
“ Depending on the timeframe of any decision , it could have a large impact , ” he added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contingency plan.
” While the outcome of the presidential election is a foregone conclusion in Trump-supporting Montana , the Republican lawsuit may be intended to shake up Bullock ’ s attempt to unseat incumbent Sen. Steve Danies ( R-MT ) , a critical race that could determine which party controls the Senate .
The contest to replace Bullock in the governor ’ s mansion is also highly competitive , with Republicans trying for a success that has eluded them since 2004 .
If at-large congressman Greg Gianforte ( R-MT ) can best Bullock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D ) in that race , Republicans will have a trifecta in the state .
The race to fill Gianforte ’ s seat is also fairly competitive — Democrat Kathleen Williams , who lost to him by five points in 2018 , is trying again .
Less of a swing state than it once was but still crucial to the presidential election in 2020 , Ohio faces a complicated November .
That ’ s something of a surprise to both outside observers and those within the state : Ohio has been running elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a potentially deadly combo of under-resourced precincts , sometimes lackadaisical efforts at addressing COVID-19 , and confusion over how to request and use mailed-in ballots could result in extensive delays and uncertainty over the result .
Take a look at the state ’ s primary .
Delayed from mid-March to late April , Ohio held its primary with nearly all voters mailing in their ballots .
The result was complicated by onerous red tape involved in requesting an absentee ballot , including an ID requirement .
Voters were met with confusion over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were stymied by extensive delays in mail .
These problems — combined with capacity issues in ballot-counting — meant that the state was unable to announce official results on election night .
For November , the picture is mixed .
Secretary of State Frank LaRose directed $ 25,000 in CARES Act funding to each county board of elections in the state — a sum some experts say is not enough .
LaRose has also warned that in spite of the 10 days after Election Day under which the state can receive eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote as early as possible due to delays .
It ’ s a similarly mixed picture when it comes to setting up the physical and personnel infrastructure to administer the election .
Each county , for example , is required to have one drop-off box for absentee ballots , but is barred from having more — a limit that is subject to another lawsuit .
And to top it all off , projected lower-than-usual turnout of poll workers in a year where even more people will be voting-by-mail suggests the possibility of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Our journey through America’s varying levels of pandemic-voting preparedness continues this week with looks at Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana and Ohio.
Every week, we’re looking at what states have done — or not done — to make voting easier during the coronavirus outbreak, where the fights over those moves have been the most contentious, and which states feature the kind of competitive races that could make things extra messy and volatile come November.
Here’s this week’s installment of our survey, and check out the other states we’ve examined.
Iowa
So, sure, we all remember the disaster that was Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential contest: The Democrats’ third-party app for processing caucus results “was not ready for primetime,” one expert told TPM then. Conflicting, late results left voters outraged for weeks.
Iowa’s state-run primary was a different story: The June elections, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, smashed previous primary turnout records. And though Iowa has long had no-excuse absentee voting, this time voters used it: Nearly 80% cast absentee ballots.
But within a few days of the primaries, the state’s Republican legislature inserted language into the a budget bill tying election officials’ hands when it came to absentee ballot applications that contained minor errors. Whereas before June election officials could use their voter database to correct incomplete or incorrect information, they’re now required to reach out to voters — first by phone and email, then regular mail — to have the voter fix it themselves.
“When it comes to legislators trying to restrict the ability of the professionals to do what needs to be done … that creates problems,” David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, told TPM at the time.
And it did: Election auditors in three counties, after the new restrictions were passed, sent ballot applications to voters with their personal information pre-filled, an attempt to avoid any errors. The Trump campaign has sued, successfully, to void these pre-filled applications in two counties so far, meaning tens of thousands of voters will have to re-do their requests. Democrats have since sued over the secretary of state’s directive prohibiting county auditors from pre-filling the ballot information.
Though absentee ballots in Iowa must be postmarked by the day before Election Day, Nov. 2, the state still counts ballots that are received up to a week after Election Day — a useful precaution as mail delays threaten to disenfranchise voters.
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed an executive order last month restoring voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions (except for homicide and related crimes) who’ve completed their sentences. Iowa had been the last state in the nation to permanently disenfranchise felons unless they personally got the governor’s approval.
In addition to the presidential race — polls say it’s pretty close — the state offers a few notable contests: Randy Feenstra, after defeating Rep. Steve King (R-IA) in the Republican primary, will face off against Democrat and retired pro baseball player J.D. Scholten. And Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), a top target for Democrats, could end up losing to challenger Theresa Greenfield. The Cook Political Report calls that race a toss-up.
Kansas
Kansas has been the breeding ground for some of the most restrictive voting measures in the country. Yet, when it comes to the pandemic, local officials and advocates have some workarounds in place to help keep voting safe during the outbreak.
Absentee voting in the state has long not required an excuse and some of Kansas’ most populous counties are proactively mailing out applications to all voters. The state’s somewhat onerous photo ID mandate still applies to absentee voting, though it is somewhat more expansive in what forms of identification are acceptable than other states’. Kansas further relaxed it in the pandemic so that expired IDs can be used. Furthermore, election officials in some counties are willing to come to voters, take their picture, and print them out a free voter ID card.
Even in counties where so-called “advanced ballots” (the term used in Kansas for absentee voting) were commonly used before the pandemic, August’s primary brought a notable increase in voters casting ballots absentee. Elsewhere, the number of absentee voters doubled what’s usual for that election, and turnout generally was higher than in a typical August primary.
“Those are all good indicators” for voter access, Cille King, the head of the Kansas chapter of the League of Women Voters, told TPM.
Yet the challenges that the pandemic is causing elsewhere in the country are visible in Kansas as well, with polling places being consolidated due to locations bailing and the recruitment of poll workers being a key focus for election officials heading into the fall.
Kansas counts mailed-in ballots postmarked by Election Day as long as they’re received by the following Friday, meaning reporting final results will take that long as well. However election officials are hoping that the vast majority of ballots will be counted by the night of Nov. 3, given that they provide plentiful options for voters to turn in their absentee ballots in-person by Election Day, including drop boxes and at polling places themselves.
Democrats saw their chances for snatching a U.S. Senate seat diminished a bit after the August primary, when the GOP establishment favorite beat out former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who previously lost a 2018 gubernatorial race to a Democrat. The race is still considered one to watch, in addition to two U.S. House races that stand to be competitive.
Maine
Vacationland has high political stakes this year: the electoral vote from Maine’s second congressional district is up for grabs, polling suggests, as is the seat of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Campaigns are pouring resources into the state accordingly, with a conservative legal group suing the state to gain access to its voter rolls. But in spite of the state’s consistently low COVID-19 infection rate, it has to contend with an unprecedented number of absentee ballot requests and last-minute strategizing over how to plan for the November election.
Earlier this year, the state moved its primary from June to July. That election went off relatively uneventfully, with ballots being counted on time, though with a major caveat — the state overlooked 11,000 ballots whose counting did not change the result of any single contest. Litigation over the state’s switch to ranked-choice voting — Maine is the first state in the country to fully implement it — worked out.
So, amid all that, it looks as if November is set to go fairly smoothly in Maine, albeit amid a ferocious contest both for the Senate and one of the state’s four electoral votes. More than 120,000 Mainers have requested absentee ballots for the November election. State officials are moving forward with a plan to add drop-off boxes for absentee ballots around the state. Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) has helped the situation by issuing an executive order extending the number of days that officials can count votes received before Election Day to up to one week. But unfortunately, the state only accepts ballots that have arrived by Election Day, meaning that postal delays could leave reams of votes uncounted.
Montana
Montana had a comparatively smooth primary because all 56 counties chose to take advantage of Gov. Steve Bullock’s (D) directive allowing them to conduct elections by mail amid the pandemic. Almost all Montanians vote by mail already — 73 percent of them did in the 2018 midterms — so it was an easier lift for the well-practiced state. Still, the shift made for Montana’s largest primary turnout in nearly 50 years, since 1972 when the state’s current constitution was ratified.
Bullock issued a similar directive in early August, giving counties permission to choose to conduct their elections by mail and to send out ballots to all registered voters. The counties would still have to provide some option for in-person voting, but the directive would also give them leeway to expand the early voting period. As of late August, nearly three-fourths of Montana’s counties had chosen to go that route, with seven of the eight largest choosing to take advantage of the governor’s directive.
But last week, a potential wrench was thrown into the works courtesy of the Donald Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Montana Republican party. The group filed a lawsuit against Bullock, claiming that only the state legislature can allow all-mail federal elections and that his directive is in violation of the U.S. and state constitutions. Bradley Seaman, election administrator of Missoula County, the state’s second most populous county, told TPM in an email that the GOP group prevailing in the lawsuit would be a “VERY LARGE change” to how the county is gearing up for the election. “Depending on the timeframe of any decision, it could have a large impact,” he added. “We are currently looking into a rough contingency plan.”
While the outcome of the presidential election is a foregone conclusion in Trump-supporting Montana, the Republican lawsuit may be intended to shake up Bullock’s attempt to unseat incumbent Sen. Steve Danies (R-MT), a critical race that could determine which party controls the Senate. The contest to replace Bullock in the governor’s mansion is also highly competitive, with Republicans trying for a success that has eluded them since 2004. If at-large congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) can best Bullock’s Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney (D) in that race, Republicans will have a trifecta in the state. The race to fill Gianforte’s seat is also fairly competitive — Democrat Kathleen Williams, who lost to him by five points in 2018, is trying again.
Ohio
Less of a swing state than it once was but still crucial to the presidential election in 2020, Ohio faces a complicated November. That’s something of a surprise to both outside observers and those within the state: Ohio has been running elections with no-reason-needed absentee voting since 2005, but a potentially deadly combo of under-resourced precincts, sometimes lackadaisical efforts at addressing COVID-19, and confusion over how to request and use mailed-in ballots could result in extensive delays and uncertainty over the result.
Take a look at the state’s primary. Delayed from mid-March to late April, Ohio held its primary with nearly all voters mailing in their ballots. The result was complicated by onerous red tape involved in requesting an absentee ballot, including an ID requirement. Voters were met with confusion over when the deadlines to submit ballots were and were stymied by extensive delays in mail. These problems — combined with capacity issues in ballot-counting — meant that the state was unable to announce official results on election night.
For November, the picture is mixed. Secretary of State Frank LaRose directed $25,000 in CARES Act funding to each county board of elections in the state — a sum some experts say is not enough. LaRose has also warned that in spite of the 10 days after Election Day under which the state can receive eligible ballots, Ohioans should make sure to vote as early as possible due to delays.
It’s a similarly mixed picture when it comes to setting up the physical and personnel infrastructure to administer the election. Each county, for example, is required to have one drop-off box for absentee ballots, but is barred from having more — a limit that is subject to another lawsuit. And to top it all off, projected lower-than-usual turnout of poll workers in a year where even more people will be voting-by-mail suggests the possibility of a chaotic election in the Buckeye state.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-11--‘Evacuate Now’: Hundreds Of Thousands Ordered To Flee Oregon As Fires Engulf State

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing , with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses .
The number of people ordered to evacuate statewide because of fires rose to an estimated 500,000 — more than 10 percent of the state ’ s 4.2 million people , the Oregon Office of Emergency Management reported late Thursday .
The number was calculated by determining how many people live in mandatory evacuation zones , said agency spokeswoman Bobbi Doan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buildings being transformed into shelters for wildfire evacuees .
One fire approached Molalla , triggering a mandatory evacuation order for the community of about 9,000 located 30 miles ( 48 kilometers ) south of Portland .
A police car rolled through the streets with a loudspeaker blaring “ evacuate now.
” Inmates were being moved from a women ’ s prison less than a mile ( 1.6 kilometers ) from Interstate 5 in Portland ’ s southern suburbs “ out of an abundance of caution , ” the Oregon Department of Corrections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to merge , some firefighters in Clackamas County , which includes Molalla , were told to disengage temporarily because of the danger .
Officials tried to reassure residents who abandoned their homes and law enforcement officials said police patrols would be stepped up to prevent looting .
The local fire department said on Twitter : “ To be clear , your firefighters are still working hard on the wildfires in Clackamas County .
They are taking a ‘ tactical pause ’ to allow firefighters to reposition , get accountability & evaluate extreme fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Phoenix near the California state line walked through a scene of devastation after one of the state ’ s many wildfires wiped out much of their community .
A mobile home park , houses and businesses were burned , leaving twisted remains on charred ground .
Many of the residents were immigrants , with few resources to draw on .
Artemio Guterrez stood helplessly next to his pick-up , surveying the rubble of his mobile home .
His children sat quietly in the truck bed and waited for him to salvage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceramic pot with a smiley face on it , some charred miniature houses from a Christmas-themed village and a cross that formed when two pieces of glass melted together .
Guterrez , a single father of four , had been at work at a vineyard nearby when he saw thick smoke spreading through Rogue River Valley .
He raced home just in time to snatch his kids from the trailer park where they live alongside dozens of other Mexican families .
They got out only with the clothes they were wearing .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over again .
It ’ s not easy but it ’ s not impossible either .
You have to be a little tough in situations like this , ” said Guterrez , who had just returned from his mother ’ s funeral in Mexico .
Entire mobile home parks with many units occupied by Mexican immigrants who worked in nearby vineyards or doing construction were reduced to ash in Phoenix and nearby Talent .
“ We ’ re kind of like a family .
We ’ ve known each other for years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , ” Guterrez said of his neighbors at Talent Mobile Estates .
“ We ’ re living day by day.
” As the fire approached Phoenix , Jonathan Weir defied evacuation orders , even as flames 30 feet ( 9 meters ) high shot from trees .
Fearing for his life , he drove his car to the entrance of a nearby mobile home park , where his tires began melting .
His home was destroyed as the fire hopscotched through the town of 4,000 residents .
“ There were flames across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right of me , flames to the left of me .
I just watched everything burn , ” Weir told a reporter .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that 600 homes were burned by the fire that started in Ashland and tore through Phoenix , the Mail Tribune of Medford reported .
Oregon officials haven ’ t released an exact death count for the wildfires but at least four fatalities have been reported in the state .
One person was killed in wildfires in Washington .
Oregon officials said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which stood at 37 Thursday , according to the state Office of Emergency Management .
Gov .
Kate Brown said more than 1,400 square miles ( 3,600 square kilometers ) have burned in Oregon over the past three days , nearly double the land that burns in a typical year in the state and an area greater than the size of Rhode Island .
The Pacific Northwest fires fueled unsubstantiated social media posts blaming coordinated groups of arsonists from both the far left and far right for setting the blazes .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narratives .
Journalists have captured searing , intimate images of active and dangerous wildfires burning in California , due in large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access to disaster sites in evacuated areas that are off-limits to the public .
The access isn ’ t as open in other states prone to wildfires .
Back in Phoenix , Marty Curtis considered herself lucky .
Her house was spared and she escaped with her cat , Louie .
“ You could see the flames .
You could hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tanks exploding , ” she said .
“ I have my house .
I have my life .
I have my cat and I have my job — and right now , that ’ s all I need.
” Selsky reported from Salem , Oregon .
Associated Press writers Gillian Flaccus in Phoenix , Oregon ; Nick Geranios in Spokane , Washington ; and Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report .
AP freelance photographer Paula Bronstein also contributed to this report from Talent and Phoenix , Oregon .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing, with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses.
The number of people ordered to evacuate statewide because of fires rose to an estimated 500,000 — more than 10 percent of the state’s 4.2 million people, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management reported late Thursday. The number was calculated by determining how many people live in mandatory evacuation zones, said agency spokeswoman Bobbi Doan.
The Oregon Convention Center in Portland was among the buildings being transformed into shelters for wildfire evacuees.
One fire approached Molalla, triggering a mandatory evacuation order for the community of about 9,000 located 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Portland. A police car rolled through the streets with a loudspeaker blaring “evacuate now.”
Inmates were being moved from a women’s prison less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Interstate 5 in Portland’s southern suburbs “out of an abundance of caution,” the Oregon Department of Corrections said.
With two large fires threatening to merge, some firefighters in Clackamas County, which includes Molalla, were told to disengage temporarily because of the danger. Officials tried to reassure residents who abandoned their homes and law enforcement officials said police patrols would be stepped up to prevent looting.
The local fire department said on Twitter: “To be clear, your firefighters are still working hard on the wildfires in Clackamas County. They are taking a ‘tactical pause’ to allow firefighters to reposition, get accountability & evaluate extreme fire conditions.”
“We haven’t abandoned you,” the fire officials said.
Residents of the small Oregon town of Phoenix near the California state line walked through a scene of devastation after one of the state’s many wildfires wiped out much of their community. A mobile home park, houses and businesses were burned, leaving twisted remains on charred ground.
Many of the residents were immigrants, with few resources to draw on.
Artemio Guterrez stood helplessly next to his pick-up, surveying the rubble of his mobile home. His children sat quietly in the truck bed and waited for him to salvage what he could. He found a ceramic pot with a smiley face on it, some charred miniature houses from a Christmas-themed village and a cross that formed when two pieces of glass melted together.
Guterrez, a single father of four, had been at work at a vineyard nearby when he saw thick smoke spreading through Rogue River Valley. He raced home just in time to snatch his kids from the trailer park where they live alongside dozens of other Mexican families. They got out only with the clothes they were wearing.
“I’m going to start all over again. It’s not easy but it’s not impossible either. You have to be a little tough in situations like this,” said Guterrez, who had just returned from his mother’s funeral in Mexico.
Entire mobile home parks with many units occupied by Mexican immigrants who worked in nearby vineyards or doing construction were reduced to ash in Phoenix and nearby Talent.
“We’re kind of like a family. We’ve known each other for years, since we came here or even before then,” Guterrez said of his neighbors at Talent Mobile Estates. “We’re living day by day.”
As the fire approached Phoenix, Jonathan Weir defied evacuation orders, even as flames 30 feet (9 meters) high shot from trees. Fearing for his life, he drove his car to the entrance of a nearby mobile home park, where his tires began melting. His home was destroyed as the fire hopscotched through the town of 4,000 residents.
“There were flames across the street from me, flames to the right of me, flames to the left of me. I just watched everything burn,” Weir told a reporter.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that 600 homes were burned by the fire that started in Ashland and tore through Phoenix, the Mail Tribune of Medford reported.
Oregon officials haven’t released an exact death count for the wildfires but at least four fatalities have been reported in the state. One person was killed in wildfires in Washington.
Oregon officials said they were shocked by the number of simultaneous fires, which stood at 37 Thursday, according to the state Office of Emergency Management.
Gov. Kate Brown said more than 1,400 square miles (3,600 square kilometers) have burned in Oregon over the past three days, nearly double the land that burns in a typical year in the state and an area greater than the size of Rhode Island.
The Pacific Northwest fires fueled unsubstantiated social media posts blaming coordinated groups of arsonists from both the far left and far right for setting the blazes. Officials turned to Facebook to squash the competing narratives.
Journalists have captured searing, intimate images of active and dangerous wildfires burning in California, due in large part to a decades-old state law that guarantees press virtually unfettered access to disaster sites in evacuated areas that are off-limits to the public. The access isn’t as open in other states prone to wildfires.
Back in Phoenix, Marty Curtis considered herself lucky. Her house was spared and she escaped with her cat, Louie.
“You could see the flames. You could hear things popping — gas tanks and propane tanks exploding,” she said. “I have my house. I have my life. I have my cat and I have my job — and right now, that’s all I need.”
___
Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. Associated Press writers Gillian Flaccus in Phoenix, Oregon; Nick Geranios in Spokane, Washington; and Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report. AP freelance photographer Paula Bronstein also contributed to this report from Talent and Phoenix, Oregon.