talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-20--Hogan Defends Fauci Amid WH Attacks: ‘Never Let Me Or People Of Maryland Down’

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) on Monday threw his support behind Dr. Anthony Fauci following recent efforts by the White House to discredit the infectious disease expert .
In a USA Today op-ed published Monday , Hogan recalled the difficulty he experienced while trying to get a hold of Trump and Pence as his state emerged as a coronavirus hotspot at the beginning of the outbreak in March .
However , the Maryland governor claimed that top health experts such as Fauci were more responsive to his state ’ s coronavirus-related needs .
Hogan recalled how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone with Fauci , Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health ; Assistant Health Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir ; Defense Secretary Mark Esper ; and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy .
Hogan wrote that Fauci , specifically , vowed to speak with his fellow White House coronavirus task force members soon after their call .
“ And Dr. Fauci never let me or the people of Maryland down , ” Hogan wrote .
“ I shudder to think where our country would be today without him.
” Hogan then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ clear-eyed view of the evidence as we know it at the time — even if we don ’ t always want to hear it ” amid surging cases of COVID-19 throughout the country .
“ With some states experiencing massive spikes , we need to know the science to help contain the spread , ” Hogan wrote .
“ As the public experiences fatigue from months of social distancing , we need steady and reliable voices who can remind us to stay vigilant.
” Hogan doubled down on his defense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs him “ more than ever ” as schools begin to navigate reopening in the fall safely and will need the guidance of public health experts to do so .
Hogan ’ s op-ed was published a day after Trump maintained that he has a good relationship with Fauci , despite how he feels that the top infectious diseases expert can be “ a little big of an alarmist , ” during a lengthy Fox News interview that aired Sunday morning .
The President ’ s interview on Fox News came amid reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets a list of Fauci ’ s past remarks on the coronavirus that later turned out to be inaccurate .
Trump aides Peter Navarro and Stephen Moore launched their own efforts last week to discredit Fauci as well .
Navarro published an op-ed in USA Today criticizing Fauci , which the White House claimed was unauthorized .
Moore told The Daily Beast that a policy memo going after Fauci is currently in the works .

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Monday threw his support behind Dr. Anthony Fauci following recent efforts by the White House to discredit the infectious disease expert.
In a USA Today op-ed published Monday, Hogan recalled the difficulty he experienced while trying to get a hold of Trump and Pence as his state emerged as a coronavirus hotspot at the beginning of the outbreak in March.
However, the Maryland governor claimed that top health experts such as Fauci were more responsive to his state’s coronavirus-related needs. Hogan recalled how he spent the first weekend of April on the phone with Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health; Assistant Health Secretary Adm. Brett Giroir; Defense Secretary Mark Esper; and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.
Hogan wrote that Fauci, specifically, vowed to speak with his fellow White House coronavirus task force members soon after their call.
“And Dr. Fauci never let me or the people of Maryland down,” Hogan wrote. “I shudder to think where our country would be today without him.”
Hogan then argued that health experts like Fauci provide a “clear-eyed view of the evidence as we know it at the time — even if we don’t always want to hear it” amid surging cases of COVID-19 throughout the country.
“With some states experiencing massive spikes, we need to know the science to help contain the spread,” Hogan wrote. “As the public experiences fatigue from months of social distancing, we need steady and reliable voices who can remind us to stay vigilant.”
Hogan doubled down on his defense of Fauci by pointing out that the country needs him “more than ever” as schools begin to navigate reopening in the fall safely and will need the guidance of public health experts to do so.
Hogan’s op-ed was published a day after Trump maintained that he has a good relationship with Fauci, despite how he feels that the top infectious diseases expert can be “a little bit of an alarmist,” during a lengthy Fox News interview that aired Sunday morning.
The President’s interview on Fox News came amid reports of an unnamed White House official sending news outlets a list of Fauci’s past remarks on the coronavirus that later turned out to be inaccurate.
Trump aides Peter Navarro and Stephen Moore launched their own efforts last week to discredit Fauci as well. Navarro published an op-ed in USA Today criticizing Fauci, which the White House claimed was unauthorized. Moore told The Daily Beast that a policy memo going after Fauci is currently in the works.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-20--Surgeon General Promotes Masks On Fox: ‘We’re Not Trying To Take Away Your Freedoms’

U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams begged those who were watching him on “ Fox and Friends ” on Monday morning to wear masks as President Donald Trump , who enjoys a friendly audience at Fox News , constantly dismisses the importance of mask-wearing .
Adams told the co-hosts of “ Fox and Friends ” that the pandemic could be brought to heel within two months if everyone wore masks and followed social distancing guidelines , but “ it relies on the individual people of America doing the right thing.
” “ And that ’ s why I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m begging you , please understand that we are not trying to take away your freedoms when we say wear a face covering , ” the health official said .
“ We ’ re not trying to take away your ability to go out when we say keep restaurant capacity under 50 percent.
” “ We ’ re saying if we do these things , we can actually open and stay open , ” he continued .
“ We can get back to school , to worship , to jobs .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of damage control after President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that a presidential mandate requiring Americans to wear masks would infringe on their freedoms .
“ I want people to have a certain freedom , ” Trump told Fox News host Chris Wallace , adding “ I don ’ t agree with the statement that if everybody wore a mask , everything disappears .
”

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams begged those who were watching him on “Fox and Friends” on Monday morning to wear masks as President Donald Trump, who enjoys a friendly audience at Fox News, constantly dismisses the importance of mask-wearing.
Adams told the co-hosts of “Fox and Friends” that the pandemic could be brought to heel within two months if everyone wore masks and followed social distancing guidelines, but “it relies on the individual people of America doing the right thing.”
“And that’s why I’m pleading with your viewers, I’m begging you, please understand that we are not trying to take away your freedoms when we say wear a face covering,” the health official said. “We’re not trying to take away your ability to go out when we say keep restaurant capacity under 50 percent.”
“We’re saying if we do these things, we can actually open and stay open,” he continued. “We can get back to school, to worship, to jobs. We can do this.”
Adams’ plea smacks of damage control after President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that a presidential mandate requiring Americans to wear masks would infringe on their freedoms.
“I want people to have a certain freedom,” Trump told Fox News host Chris Wallace, adding “I don’t agree with the statement that if everybody wore a mask, everything disappears.”
Watch Adams below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-20--Early Trial Of Coronavirus Vaccine In UK Shows Positive Results

LONDON ( AP ) — Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot .
British researchers first began testing the vaccine in April in about 1,000 people , half of whom got the experimental vaccine .
Such early trials are designed to evaluate safety and see what kind of immune response was provoked , but can ’ t tell if the vaccine truly protects .
In research published Monday in the journal Lancet , scientists said that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55 that lasted at least two months after they were immunized .
“ We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody , ” said Dr. Adrian Hill , director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University .
“ What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system , ” he said .
Hill said that neutralizing antibodies are produced — molecules which are key to blocking infection .
In addition , the vaccine also causes a reaction in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight off the coronavirus .
The experimental COVID-19 vaccine caused minor side effects like fever , chills and muscle pain more often than in those who got a control meningitis vaccine .
Hill said that larger trials evaluating the vaccine ’ s effectiveness , involving about 10,000 people in the U.K. as well as participants in South Africa and Brazil are still underway .
Another big trial is slated to start in the U.S. soon , aiming to enroll about 30,000 people .
How quickly scientists are able to determine the vaccine ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more transmission there is , but Hill estimated they might have sufficient data by the end of the year to decide if the vaccine should be adopted for mass vaccination campaigns .
He said the vaccine seemed to produce a comparable level of antibodies to those produced by people who recovered from a COVID-19 infection and hoped that the T-cell response would provide extra protection .
“ There ’ s increasing evidence that having a T-cell response as well as antibodies could be very important in controlling COVID-19 , ” Hill said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be boosted after a second dose ; their trial tested two doses administered about four weeks apart .
Hill said Oxford ’ s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission .
It uses a harmless virus — a chimpanzee cold virus , engineered so it can ’ t spread — to carry the coronavirus ’ spike protein into the body , which should trigger an immune system response .
Hill said Oxford has partnered with drugmaker AstraZeneca to produce their vaccine globally , and that the company has already committed to making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion doses may not be enough , ” he said , underlining the importance of having multiple shots to combat the coronavirus .
“ There was a hope that if we had a vaccine quickly enough , we could put out the pandemic , ” Hill said , noting the continuing surge of infections globally .
“ I think its going to be very difficult to control this pandemic without a vaccine.
” Numerous countries including Germany , France , the Netherlands , Italy , U.S. and the U.K. have all signed deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine — which has not yet been licensed — with the first deliveries scheduled for the fall .
British politicians have promised that if the shot proves effective , Britons will be the first to get it .
Chinese researchers also published a study on their experimental COVID-19 vaccine in the Lancet on Monday , using a similar technique as the Oxford scientists .
They reported that in their study of about 500 people , an immune response was detected in those who were immunized .
But they noted that because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus afterwards , it wasn ’ t possible to tell if they were protected from the disease .
CanSino Biologics ’ vaccine is made similarly to Oxford ’ s except the Chinese shot is made with a human cold virus , and the study showed people whose bodies recognized it didn ’ t get as much of the presumed COVID-19 benefit .
Still , China ’ s government already gave special approval for the military to use CanSino ’ s vaccine while it explores final-stage studies .
In an accompanying editorial , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health called both the Oxford and Chinese results “ encouraging ” but said further judgment should wait until the vaccine is tested on much bigger populations .
Bar-Zeev and Moss also called for any effective COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed equitably around the world .
“ Global planning is underway , but should be underpinned and informed by specific local realities , ” they wrote .
“ Only this way can these very encouraging first earlyphase randomised trial results yield the global remedy for which we all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that the first COVID-19 vaccine tested there boosted people ’ s immune systems just as scientists had hoped and the shots will now enter the final phase of testing .
That vaccine , developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna , produced the molecules key to blocking infection in volunteers who got it , at levels comparable to people who survived a COVID-19 infection .
Nearly two dozen potential vaccines are in various stages of human testing worldwide , with a handful entering necessary late-stage testing to prove effectiveness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed a deal to buy 90 million doses of experimental COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and others .
In a statement , the British government said it had secured access to a vaccine candidate being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech , in addition to another experimental vaccine researched by Valneva .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at @ @ @ @ @ @ @

LONDON (AP) — Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot.
British researchers first began testing the vaccine in April in about 1,000 people, half of whom got the experimental vaccine. Such early trials are designed to evaluate safety and see what kind of immune response was provoked, but can’t tell if the vaccine truly protects.
In research published Monday in the journal Lancet, scientists said that they found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55 that lasted at least two months after they were immunized.
“We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody,” said Dr. Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. “What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system,” he said.
Hill said that neutralizing antibodies are produced — molecules which are key to blocking infection. In addition, the vaccine also causes a reaction in the body’s T-cells which help to fight off the coronavirus.
The experimental COVID-19 vaccine caused minor side effects like fever, chills and muscle pain more often than in those who got a control meningitis vaccine.
Hill said that larger trials evaluating the vaccine’s effectiveness, involving about 10,000 people in the U.K. as well as participants in South Africa and Brazil are still underway. Another big trial is slated to start in the U.S. soon, aiming to enroll about 30,000 people.
How quickly scientists are able to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness will depend largely on how much more transmission there is, but Hill estimated they might have sufficient data by the end of the year to decide if the vaccine should be adopted for mass vaccination campaigns.
He said the vaccine seemed to produce a comparable level of antibodies to those produced by people who recovered from a COVID-19 infection and hoped that the T-cell response would provide extra protection.
“There’s increasing evidence that having a T-cell response as well as antibodies could be very important in controlling COVID-19,” Hill said. He suggested the immune response might be boosted after a second dose; their trial tested two doses administered about four weeks apart.
Hill said Oxford’s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission. It uses a harmless virus — a chimpanzee cold virus, engineered so it can’t spread — to carry the coronavirus’ spike protein into the body, which should trigger an immune system response.
Hill said Oxford has partnered with drugmaker AstraZeneca to produce their vaccine globally, and that the company has already committed to making 2 billion doses.
“Even 2 billion doses may not be enough,” he said, underlining the importance of having multiple shots to combat the coronavirus.
“There was a hope that if we had a vaccine quickly enough, we could put out the pandemic,” Hill said, noting the continuing surge of infections globally. “I think its going to be very difficult to control this pandemic without a vaccine.”
Numerous countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, U.S. and the U.K. have all signed deals to receive hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine — which has not yet been licensed — with the first deliveries scheduled for the fall. British politicians have promised that if the shot proves effective, Britons will be the first to get it.
Chinese researchers also published a study on their experimental COVID-19 vaccine in the Lancet on Monday, using a similar technique as the Oxford scientists. They reported that in their study of about 500 people, an immune response was detected in those who were immunized. But they noted that because the participants weren’t exposed to the coronavirus afterwards, it wasn’t possible to tell if they were protected from the disease.
CanSino Biologics’ vaccine is made similarly to Oxford’s except the Chinese shot is made with a human cold virus, and the study showed people whose bodies recognized it didn’t get as much of the presumed COVID-19 benefit. Still, China’s government already gave special approval for the military to use CanSino’s vaccine while it explores final-stage studies.
In an accompanying editorial, Naor Bar-Zeev and William Moss of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health called both the Oxford and Chinese results “encouraging” but said further judgment should wait until the vaccine is tested on much bigger populations.
Bar-Zeev and Moss also called for any effective COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed equitably around the world.
“Global planning is underway, but should be underpinned and informed by specific local realities,” they wrote. “Only this way can these very encouraging first earlyphase randomised trial results yield the global remedy for which we all yearn.”
Last week, American researchers announced that the first COVID-19 vaccine tested there boosted people’s immune systems just as scientists had hoped and the shots will now enter the final phase of testing. That vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna, produced the molecules key to blocking infection in volunteers who got it, at levels comparable to people who survived a COVID-19 infection.
Nearly two dozen potential vaccines are in various stages of human testing worldwide, with a handful entering necessary late-stage testing to prove effectiveness.
British officials said Monday they had also signed a deal to buy 90 million doses of experimental COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and others.
In a statement, the British government said it had secured access to a vaccine candidate being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, in addition to another experimental vaccine researched by Valneva.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-20--Pelosi To Trump: You’re Getting Kicked Out If You Lose The Race Whether You Like It Or Not

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) on Monday morning wasn ’ t having it with President Donald Trump ’ s refusal to say whether he ’ ll accept the election results in November should he lose to his Democratic rival Joe Biden .
“ The fact is , whether he knows it yet or not , he will be leaving , ” Pelosi told MSNBC “ Morning Joe ” co-host Mika Brzezinski .
“ Just because he might not want to move out of the White House doesn ’ t mean we won ’ t have an inauguration ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
The House speaker pointed out that winning an election goes beyond literally living in the White House .
“ There is a process , ” she said .
“ It has nothing to do with the certain occupant of the White House doesn ’ t feel like moving and has to be fumigated out of there.
” On Sunday , Trump told Fox News host Chris Wallace that mail-in voting will “ rig ” the election ( in reality , voting by mail does not lead election fraud ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race if Biden beats him .
“ I have to see , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ m not going to just say yes .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Monday morning wasn’t having it with President Donald Trump’s refusal to say whether he’ll accept the election results in November should he lose to his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
“The fact is, whether he knows it yet or not, he will be leaving,” Pelosi told MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski. “Just because he might not want to move out of the White House doesn’t mean we won’t have an inauguration ceremony to inaugurate a duly elected president of the United States.
The House speaker pointed out that winning an election goes beyond literally living in the White House.
“There is a process,” she said. “It has nothing to do with the certain occupant of the White House doesn’t feel like moving and has to be fumigated out of there.”
On Sunday, Trump told Fox News host Chris Wallace that mail-in voting will “rig” the election (in reality, voting by mail does not lead election fraud) and hinted at rejecting the outcome of the race if Biden beats him.
“I have to see,” Trump said. “I’m not going to just say yes.”
Watch Pelosi below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--MO Guv Vows To Pardon Gun Couple After Prosecutor Slaps Them With Criminal Charges

Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson ( R ) pledged on Monday night to pardon St. Louis couple Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who were both charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon earlier that day for pointing their guns at nonviolent Black Lives Matter protesters walking past their home last month .
“ Without a doubt , Sean , ” Parson replied when Fox News host Sean Hannity asked if he would pardon the couple if they were convicted .
“ I ’ ll do everything within the constitution of the state of Missouri to protect law-abiding citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re law-abiding citizens.
” “ And they ’ re being attacked , frankly , by a political process that ’ s really unfortunate , ” the governor added .
“ It ’ s a sad day for us here in Missouri.
” Parson repeated his previous defense of the McCloskeys , arguing that the couple “ had every right to protect their property , their home , just like any of us would.
” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed the charges against the couple earlier on Monday over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force , this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis.
” “ We must protect the right to peacefully protest , and any attempt to chill it through intimidation will not be tolerated , ” Gardner said .
The prosecutor also stated that she was “ open ” to recommending that the McCloskeys participate in a diversion program , such as community service , instead of jail time .
Al Watkins , a lawyer representing the couple , told TPM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Parson “ knows there will be no need to pardon Mr. or Mrs. McCloskey because the law simply will not permit a conviction.
” TPM has reached out to Gardner ’ s spokesperson , Allison Hawk .

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) pledged on Monday night to pardon St. Louis couple Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were both charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon earlier that day for pointing their guns at nonviolent Black Lives Matter protesters walking past their home last month.
“Without a doubt, Sean,” Parson replied when Fox News host Sean Hannity asked if he would pardon the couple if they were convicted. “I’ll do everything within the constitution of the state of Missouri to protect law-abiding citizens, and those people are exactly that. They’re law-abiding citizens.”
“And they’re being attacked, frankly, by a political process that’s really unfortunate,” the governor added. “It’s a sad day for us here in Missouri.”
Parson repeated his previous defense of the McCloskeys, arguing that the couple “had every right to protect their property, their home, just like any of us would.”
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed the charges against the couple earlier on Monday over the incident, asserting in a statement that “while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis.”
“We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation will not be tolerated,” Gardner said.
The prosecutor also stated that she was “open” to recommending that the McCloskeys participate in a diversion program, such as community service, instead of jail time.
Al Watkins, a lawyer representing the couple, told TPM in an emailed statement on Tuesday morning that Parson “knows there will be no need to pardon Mr. or Mrs. McCloskey because the law simply will not permit a conviction.”
TPM has reached out to Gardner’s spokesperson, Allison Hawk.
Watch Parson below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--‘F*ck Them Over Later’: Inside The Massive Alleged Bribery Scheme Rocking Ohio

Several Ohio politicos — including the speaker of the Ohio statehouse — were arrested and slammed with federal charges Tuesday with a massive bribery scheme .
In an affidavit released Tuesday , an FBI agent spelled out how the men , working with and through the dark money group Generation Now , allegedly pushed legislation last year to bail out two aging and financially troubled nuclear power plants in exchange for millions of dollars of bribes and political support .
The alleged criminal enterprise is “ likely the largest bribery–money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ohio David DeVillers said at a press conference Tuesday .
The scheme was allegedly fueled by $ 60 million from a company identified as “ Company A ” in the affidavit .
From the affidavit ’ s description , that company appears to be FirstEnergy , the owner of the power plants at the time the legislation passed last year .
The bailout legislation ultimately showered more than a billion dollars in bailout cash on the power plants .
“ Everyone in this room knows who Company A is , ” Devillers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the scheme started in early 2017 , when Householder took a trip on Company A ’ s private jet .
Shortly thereafter , he allegedly began receiving quarterly $ 250,000 payments into a 501 ( c ) 4 that he himself secretly controlled : Generation Now .
Over the years , Company A allegedly spent more than $ 60 million on the so-called “ Householder Enterprise , ” funding pass-through groups and politicians in pursuit of the bailout it ultimately got last year .
Through Generation Now , Company A allegedly spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio statehouse who would support Householders ’ bid for speaker .
Householder and most of those candidates subsequently supported House Bill 6 — the Company-A-supported — legislation to prop up the power plants , and defended it against a referendum aimed at reversing it after the bill passed .
“ We ’ re not done with this investigation , ” DeVillers said Tuesday .
“ There ’ s going to be a lot of busy FBI agents and AUSAs here in the Southern District of Ohio.
” The affidavit quoted several of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP chairman Matt Borges , lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes , and an adviser to Householder , Jeff Longstreth — speaking about Company A like a piggy bank .
The millions of dollars that Company A “ donated ” to Generation Now , the affidavit said , “ are akin to bags of cash.
” In recorded phone calls , the defendants allegedly discussed the advantages of bankrolling their operation with a 501 ( c ) 4 .
“ You don ’ t have to be afraid of anyone , ” Clark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , discussing the advantages of a group that didn ’ t have to disclose its donors to election authorities .
And , lest there was any doubt that Company A was heavily invested in Householder ’ s scheme , Borges — a lobbyist for the company and alleged “ key middleman ” in the scheme — spelled it out in yet another recorded call , according to the feds .
Though the scheme allegedly culminated in the 2019 passage of HB6 , which bailed out FirstEnergy ’ s power plants , it went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get Householder the speakership .
After being term-limited in the early aughts and leaving the legislature , Householder was reelected as a state representative in 2016 .
But before he was even elected that year , he allegedly already had his eyes set on another run as speaker .
A document created in October 2016 and found in the possession of his top adviser , Jeff Longstreth , allegedly showed the plan for 2018 : Use a 501 ( c ) 4 as the “ recruitment and fundraising arm ” in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Householder loyalists .
According to the affidavit , the Householder Enterprise backed 15 candidates ( including Householder ) in the 2018 primaries and added six more candidates in the general election .
Most of these candidates won their races , the affidavit said .
All who won voted for Householder to become the speaker , and all but two voted for the FirstEnergy bailout .
Informed that some people had opted to help another representative ’ s bid for the speakership , Householder allegedly replied in a recorded conversation : “ Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over and over , bank records show Company A allegedly wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars into Generation Now , as well as pass-through companies , at crucial moments — such as days before the November 2018 elections .
“ The volume and timing of the payments from Company A proved crucial to the Enterprise ’ s success , ” the affidavit asserted .
According to the feds , the scheme heated up once the bailout package was up for a vote , in mid-2019 .
As Householder herded the legislation through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign allegedly funded by Company A — he allegedly applied pressure to lawmakers to get on board .
In the middle of an interview with an FBI agent , in fact , one unnamed representative allegedly received a text message from Householder asking for their support .
When the legislator refused , Householder allegedly responded : “ I just want you to remember — when I needed you — you weren ’ t there.
” The affidavit said that Householder , through an unnamed intermediary , later instructed the legislator to delete the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the legislation .
The legislator informed the FBI .
As the legislation moved to the state Senate , texts obtained by authorities show Householder ’ s deep involvement in Generation Now : In one series of texts with Longstreth , his top adviser , Householder allegedly complained about seeing the same Generation Now ad over and over again — or , in Householder ’ s words , “ that poor sum bitch drive that pickup truck down the road and cry about losing his job.
” The ad , Householder allegedly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s just get all the signature firms hired tomorrow ’ The fight against HB6 continued even after Gov .
Mike DeWine ( R ) signed it into law in July 2019 .
At that point , a group of Ohioans launched a signature drive to get a referendum on the next ballot to reverse the law .
Even then , the feds said , Householder ’ s scheme tried to stay one step ahead .
Responding to the signature-gathering effort , Cespedes , the lobbyist and alleged middleman , talked strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the competent signature-collection companies , so that anti-bailout activists couldn ’ t .
In addition to supporting Company A , Householder and his crew also opposed the referendum effort because its success would undermine Householder ’ s power , the affidavit alleged .
At a dinner with Householder in September last year , Clark allegedly said that legislators needed to know : “ If you attack a member , we ’ re going to fucking rip your dick off.
” However , as the anti-bailout effort gained steam , the Householder Enterprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , per the affidavit , Householder ’ s crew allegedly offered bribes to the opposing side ’ s signature-gathering operation to switch sides .
The Householder Enterprise also allegedly offered $ 15,000 to a manager for the other side ’ s operation , in exchange for information .
That was a mistake .
The affidavit didn ’ t name the manager who accepted a $ 15,000 bribe from Borges — because they were working with the FBI .
Instead , the affidavit refers to them as CHS 1 — the confidential human source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest bribery scandal in Ohio history .

Several Ohio politicos — including the state’s House Speaker Larry Householder (R) — were arrested and slammed with federal charges Tuesday over a massive alleged bribery scheme.
In an affidavit released Tuesday, an FBI agent spelled out how the men, working with and through the dark money group Generation Now, allegedly pushed legislation last year to bail out two aging and financially troubled nuclear power plants in exchange for millions of dollars of bribes and political support.
The alleged criminal enterprise is “likely the largest bribery–money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of Ohio,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers said at a press conference Tuesday.
The scheme was allegedly fueled by $60 million from a company identified as “Company A” in the affidavit. From the affidavit’s description, that company appears to be FirstEnergy, the owner of the power plants at the time the legislation passed last year. The bailout legislation ultimately showered more than a billion dollars in cash on the power plants.
“Everyone in this room knows who Company A is,” Devillers said Tuesday.
According to the affidavit, the scheme started in early 2017, when Householder took a trip on Company A’s private jet. Shortly thereafter, he allegedly began receiving quarterly $250,000 payments into a 501(c)4 that he himself secretly controlled: Generation Now.
Over the years, Company A allegedly spent more than $60 million on the so-called “Householder Enterprise,” funding pass-through groups and politicians in pursuit of the bailout it ultimately got last year.
Through Generation Now, Company A allegedly spent cartloads of money supporting candidates for the Ohio statehouse who would support Householders’ bid for speaker. Householder and most of those candidates subsequently supported House Bill 6 — the Company-A-supported legislation to prop up the power plants — and defended it against a referendum aimed at reversing it after the bill passed.
“We’re not done with this investigation,” DeVillers said Tuesday. “There’s going to be a lot of busy FBI agents and AUSAs here in the Southern District of Ohio.”
‘The Speaker’s (c)(4)’
The affidavit quoted several of the other men arrested Tuesday — former state GOP chairman Matt Borges, lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes, and an adviser to Householder, Jeff Longstreth — speaking about Company A like a piggy bank. The millions of dollars that Company A “donated” to Generation Now, the affidavit said, “are akin to bags of cash.”
In recorded phone calls, the defendants allegedly discussed the advantages of bankrolling their operation with a 501(c)4. “You don’t have to be afraid of anyone,” Clark allegedly told Householder in one recorded call, discussing the advantages of a group that didn’t have to disclose its donors to election authorities.
And, lest there was any doubt that Company A was heavily invested in Householder’s scheme, Borges — a lobbyist for the company and alleged “key middleman” in the scheme — spelled it out in yet another recorded call, according to the feds.
Though the scheme allegedly culminated in the 2019 passage of HB6, which bailed out FirstEnergy’s power plants, it went back years — starting with an effort to get Householder the speakership.
After being term-limited in the early aughts and leaving the legislature, Householder was reelected as a state representative in 2016. But before he was even elected that year, he allegedly already had his eyes set on another run as speaker.
A document created in October 2016 and found in the possession of his top adviser, Jeff Longstreth, allegedly showed the plan for 2018: Use a 501(c)4 as the “recruitment and fundraising arm” in order to fill the House of Representatives with Householder loyalists.
According to the affidavit, the Householder Enterprise backed 15 candidates (including Householder) in the 2018 primaries and added six more candidates in the general election. Most of these candidates won their races, the affidavit said. All who won voted for Householder to become the speaker, and all but two voted for the FirstEnergy bailout.
Informed that some people had opted to help another representative’s bid for the speakership, Householder allegedly replied in a recorded conversation: “Yeah, we can fuck them over later.”
The ‘Company A’ Piggy Bank
Over and over, bank records show Company A allegedly wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars into Generation Now, as well as pass-through companies, at crucial moments — such as days before the November 2018 elections.
“The volume and timing of the payments from Company A proved crucial to the Enterprise’s success,” the affidavit asserted.
According to the feds, the scheme heated up once the bailout package was up for a vote, in mid-2019. As Householder herded the legislation through the House — helped by a hefty ad campaign allegedly funded by Company A — he allegedly applied pressure to lawmakers to get on board.
In the middle of an interview with an FBI agent, in fact, one unnamed representative allegedly received a text message from Householder asking for their support.
When the legislator refused, Householder allegedly responded: “I just want you to remember — when I needed you — you weren’t there.” The affidavit said that Householder, through an unnamed intermediary, later instructed the legislator to delete the texts he’d received from Householder about the legislation. The legislator informed the FBI.
As the legislation moved to the state Senate, texts obtained by authorities show Householder’s deep involvement in Generation Now: In one series of texts with Longstreth, his top adviser, Householder allegedly complained about seeing the same Generation Now ad over and over again — or, in Householder’s words, “that poor sum bitch drive that pickup truck down the road and cry about losing his job.” The ad, Householder allegedly said, was “burnt in.”
‘Let’s just get all the signature firms hired tomorrow’
The fight against HB6 continued even after Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed it into law in July 2019. At that point, a group of Ohioans launched a signature drive to get a referendum on the next ballot to reverse the law. Even then, the feds said, Householder’s scheme tried to stay one step ahead.
Responding to the signature-gathering effort, Cespedes, the lobbyist and alleged middleman, talked strategy with Longstreth. The plan? Hire all the competent signature-collection companies, so that anti-bailout activists couldn’t.
In addition to supporting Company A, Householder and his crew also opposed the referendum effort because its success would undermine Householder’s power, the affidavit alleged.
At a dinner with Householder in September last year, Clark allegedly said that legislators needed to know: “If you attack a member, we’re going to fucking rip your dick off.”
However, as the anti-bailout effort gained steam, the Householder Enterprise appeared to grow desperate. And so, per the affidavit, Householder’s crew allegedly offered bribes to the opposing side’s signature-gathering operation to switch sides.
The Householder Enterprise also allegedly offered $15,000 to a manager for the other side’s operation, in exchange for information.
That was a mistake. The affidavit didn’t name the manager who accepted a $15,000 bribe from Borges — because they were working with the FBI. Instead, the affidavit refers to them as CHS 1 — the confidential human source who helped document what may be the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--Trump Goes All In On Rigging The System To Advance White Rural Political Power

President Trump ’ s new census memo is both a shameless power grab and an almost unbelievable Hail Mary .
With the flick of his pen , he is seeking to undercut the growing political power of immigrant communities — with an approach that could boost the electoral power of whiter , red states , while diminishing the representation given to more diverse , bluer parts of the country .
The policy being announced Tuesday will spark a major legal battle , and whether it is even feasible is still in doubt .
But for now , the gambit will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s base , as he faces a difficult reelection .
Trump explained in a statement that he was standing up to attempts by the “ the radical left ” to “ erase the existence of this concept ” of “ citizenship.
” Trump is instructing his Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , who is overseeing the 2020 census , to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count used to dole out U.S. House seats among the states — a practice known as apportionment .
That count also determines how many Electoral College votes each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at best , legally dubious , as the Constitution mandates that the “ the whole number of persons ” in each state be enumerated in the count .
But in the context of conservatives ’ years-long crusade to limit the political representation for communities with growing immigrant populations , the policy the President unveiled Tuesday is the the equivalent of the whole hog .
Excluding undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count will likely affect the states with the largest numbers of unauthorized immigrants , according to Jeff Passel , a senior demographer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , Florida and Texas , he said .
But how many seats they ’ d lose , and whether more states could also lose House representation is unclear , he said , due to the intricacies of the apportionment process .
It ’ s also unclear , he said , which states would gain those seats .
But the political ramifications are only one aspect of understanding how monumental this shift would be .
There are long-held philosophical underpinnings to the idea of politicians representing not just who can vote for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the jurisdictions that they serve .
Trump doesn ’ t employ much nuance to get around this idea .
“ Just as we do not give political power to people who are here temporarily , we should not give political power to people who should not be here at all , ” his statement said .
The memo itself claimed the new approach was legal because already excluded from the count are people like tourists or business travelers , who are in the U.S. temporarily , while included in the count are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like federal workers overseas .
Notably , Trump ’ s statement connected this new gambit to his failed effort to put a citizenship question on the census .
That move was blocked by the Supreme Court because the administration ’ s stated rationale — to enhance enforcement of the Voting Rights Act — was bogus .
The memo Tuesday only further proves the majority ’ s conclusion .
The ACLU , which led one of the lawsuits challenging the citizenship question , has already vowed to sue over this new policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several other voter advocacy and immigrant rights groups .
In defending the policy , the administration will not only have to contend with the Constitution but other federal laws that speak to the idea that all people in a state should be counted , according to Justin Levitt , a law professor at Loyola Marymount who worked in Obama ’ s Justice Department .
Furthermore , there ’ s some questions about the legality of the approach the administration would have to take to pull the policy off , because the Census Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unauthorized immigrants .
Rather it appears that the administration will try to derive who those people are based on existing government records on citizenship .
“ There is no count of the undocumented population ( and federal law is abundantly clear that what ’ s required for apportionment purposes is a count ) , so it ’ s not practicable , ” Levitt told TPM in an email .
Tuesday ’ s memo pointed to the 2019 executive order Trump signed , after he lost the Supreme Court battle on the citizenship question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizenship data using existing government records .
Until Tuesday , the most likely use for the data had seemed to be for states who wanted to do redistricting — i.e .
the process of drawing the legislative maps — using data that excluded non-citizens .
The Census Bureau has said it plans to release that data around the time it releases the typical redistricting data that counts the total population .
But the Bureau hasn ’ t yet given a full picture as to how it ’ s assembling the data .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the citizenship data the Bureau will produce is useable for that purpose , given the accuracy issues that have been raised .
Tuesday ’ s memo made clear that the administration wants it to be used for apportionment purposes as well — something that had only been hinted at in 2019 when the citizenship data executive order was announced .
The Census Bureau was already facing considerable challenges in implementing the census during the pandemic .
The in-person activities the Census Bureau conducts to complete its count have been hobbled , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect communities of color and lower-income people , according to experts .
Those consequences will be amplified if Tuesday ’ s policy is allowed to be implemented .

President Trump’s new census memo is both a shameless power grab and an almost unbelievable Hail Mary.
With the flick of his pen, he is seeking to undercut the growing political power of immigrant communities — with an approach that could boost the electoral power of whiter, red states, while diminishing the representation given to more diverse, bluer parts of the country.
The policy being announced Tuesday will spark a major legal battle, and whether it is even feasible is still in doubt.
But for now, the gambit will serve has pure red meat for Trump’s base, as he faces a difficult reelection. Trump explained in a statement that he was standing up to attempts by the “the radical left” to “erase the existence of this concept” of “citizenship.”
Trump is instructing his Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is overseeing the 2020 census, to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count used to dole out U.S. House seats among the states — a practice known as apportionment. That count also determines how many Electoral College votes each state gets.
The idea is, at best, legally dubious, as the Constitution mandates that the “the whole number of persons ” in each state be enumerated in the count.
But in the context of conservatives’ years-long crusade to limit the political representation for communities with growing immigrant populations, the policy the President unveiled Tuesday is the the equivalent of the whole hog.
Excluding undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count will likely affect the states with the largest numbers of unauthorized immigrants, according to Jeff Passel, a senior demographer at Pew Research Center. Those states include California, Florida and Texas, he said. But how many seats they’d lose, and whether more states could also lose House representation is unclear, he said, due to the intricacies of the apportionment process. It’s also unclear, he said, which states would gain those seats.
But the political ramifications are only one aspect of understanding how monumental this shift would be. There are long-held philosophical underpinnings to the idea of politicians representing not just who can vote for them, but all of the constituents living in the jurisdictions that they serve.
Trump doesn’t employ much nuance to get around this idea.
“Just as we do not give political power to people who are here temporarily, we should not give political power to people who should not be here at all,” his statement said.
The memo itself claimed the new approach was legal because already excluded from the count are people like tourists or business travelers, who are in the U.S. temporarily, while included in the count are some persons not physically in the U.S., like federal workers overseas.
Notably, Trump’s statement connected this new gambit to his failed effort to put a citizenship question on the census. That move was blocked by the Supreme Court because the administration’s stated rationale — to enhance enforcement of the Voting Rights Act — was bogus. The memo Tuesday only further proves the majority’s conclusion.
The ACLU, which led one of the lawsuits challenging the citizenship question, has already vowed to sue over this new policy, and it will likely be joined by several other voter advocacy and immigrant rights groups.
In defending the policy, the administration will not only have to contend with the Constitution but other federal laws that speak to the idea that all people in a state should be counted, according to Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount who worked in Obama’s Justice Department.
Furthermore, there’s some questions about the legality of the approach the administration would have to take to pull the policy off, because the Census Bureau is not explicitly doing the counting of unauthorized immigrants. Rather it appears that the administration will try to derive who those people are based on existing government records on citizenship.
“There is no count of the undocumented population (and federal law is abundantly clear that what’s required for apportionment purposes is a count), so it’s not practicable,” Levitt told TPM in an email.
Tuesday’s memo pointed to the 2019 executive order Trump signed, after he lost the Supreme Court battle on the citizenship question, instructing the Census Bureau to compile citizenship data using existing government records.
Until Tuesday, the most likely use for the data had seemed to be for states who wanted to do redistricting — i.e. the process of drawing the legislative maps — using data that excluded non-citizens.
The Census Bureau has said it plans to release that data around the time it releases the typical redistricting data that counts the total population. But the Bureau hasn’t yet given a full picture as to how it’s assembling the data.
Meanwhile, outside redistricting experts were already questioning whether the citizenship data the Bureau will produce is useable for that purpose, given the accuracy issues that have been raised.
Tuesday’s memo made clear that the administration wants it to be used for apportionment purposes as well — something that had only been hinted at in 2019 when the citizenship data executive order was announced.
The Census Bureau was already facing considerable challenges in implementing the census during the pandemic. The in-person activities the Census Bureau conducts to complete its count have been hobbled, and the resulting undercount is most likely to affect communities of color and lower-income people, according to experts.
Those consequences will be amplified if Tuesday’s policy is allowed to be implemented.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--Gaetz Demands Cheney’s Ouster After She’s Piled On At House GOP Meeting

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) on Tuesday went after Rep. Liz Cheney ( R-WY ) following a reportedly heated exchange during the House GOP ’ s first in-person meeting in months due to coronavirus-related restrictions .
Gaetz accused the GOP conference chair of working against President Trump behind the scenes and publicly before calling for her removal in a Tuesday tweet .
Gaetz ’ s public call for Cheney ’ s ouster came after Politico reported on Tuesday that a heated exchange ensued during a House GOP conference meeting .
Reps. Gaetz , Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massie ( R-KY ) , Chip Roy ( R-TX ) and Louie Gohmert ( R-TX ) reportedly piled on Cheney for breaking with the President numerous times in recent months regarding his response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
During the meeting , Gaetz went after Cheney for backing Massie ’ s Republican primary challenger , according to Politico .
Massie and several other House Republicans reportedly joined in on criticizing her for her involvement in the race .
According to Politico , Cheney hit back at Massie by telling him that he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because the President openly called for Massie ’ s ouster in the past — which Massie vehemently disagreed with .
Cheney reportedly also took a sarcastic swipe at Gaetz by telling him that “ she looks forward to seeing his HBO documentary.
” Tensions in the meeting escalated when Roy took Cheney to task for her support of Dr. Anthony Fauci amid recent White House efforts to discredit him .
The nation ’ s top infectious disease expert has faced the ire of the Trump administration as he warns the public about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the country .
Politico reported that Cheney was then scorned for not supporting the President enough and supposedly undermining her fellow House Republicans .
Cheney reportedly continued defending Fauci and urging House Republicans to focus on defeating the virus instead of launching attacks against people who are trying to accomplish that .
According to Politico , Cheney told reporters after the meeting that “ we ’ re all unified ” and did not respond when asked whether anyone apologized to her after the reportedly heated exchange .
Cheney said that the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dangers if Joe Biden is elected president.
” Politico noted , however , that Cheney was later seen on the House floor talking to Massie .
Both Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) backed Gaetz ’ s call by quote-tweeting the Florida Republican shortly after .
While Trump Jr. tweeted that the GOP doesn ’ t need “ the endless wars ( Cheney ) advocates for , ” Paul argued in his tweet that Cheney is “ leading the fight to stop ” the President from getting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cheney ’ s office did not immediately respond to TPM ’ s request for comment .

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Tuesday went after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) following a reportedly heated exchange during the House GOP’s first in-person meeting in months due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
Gaetz accused the GOP conference chair of working against President Trump behind the scenes and publicly before calling for her removal in a Tuesday tweet.
Liz Cheney has worked behind the scenes (and now in public) against @realDonaldTrump and his agenda. House Republicans deserve better as our Conference Chair. Liz Cheney should step down or be removed. #MAGA — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) July 21, 2020
Gaetz’s public call for Cheney’s ouster came after Politico reported on Tuesday that a heated exchange ensued during a House GOP conference meeting. Reps. Gaetz, Jim Jordan (R-OH), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Chip Roy (R-TX) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) reportedly piled on Cheney for breaking with the President numerous times in recent months regarding his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting, Gaetz went after Cheney for backing Massie’s Republican primary challenger, according to Politico. Massie and several other House Republicans reportedly joined in on criticizing her for her involvement in the race.
According to Politico, Cheney hit back at Massie by telling him that he has an issue with Trump, not her, because the President openly called for Massie’s ouster in the past — which Massie vehemently disagreed with. Cheney reportedly also took a sarcastic swipe at Gaetz by telling him that “she looks forward to seeing his HBO documentary.”
Tensions in the meeting escalated when Roy took Cheney to task for her support of Dr. Anthony Fauci amid recent White House efforts to discredit him. The nation’s top infectious disease expert has faced the ire of the Trump administration as he warns the public about the severity of surges of the coronavirus throughout the country.
Politico reported that Cheney was then scorned for not supporting the President enough and supposedly undermining her fellow House Republicans. Cheney reportedly continued defending Fauci and urging House Republicans to focus on defeating the virus instead of launching attacks against people who are trying to accomplish that.
According to Politico, Cheney told reporters after the meeting that “we’re all unified” and did not respond when asked whether anyone apologized to her after the reportedly heated exchange.
Cheney said that the meeting consisted of discussions “at length about the dangers if Joe Biden is elected president.”
Politico noted, however, that Cheney was later seen on the House floor talking to Massie.
Both Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) backed Gaetz’s call by quote-tweeting the Florida Republican shortly after. While Trump Jr. tweeted that the GOP doesn’t need “the endless wars (Cheney) advocates for,” Paul argued in his tweet that Cheney is “leading the fight to stop” the President from getting the country out of “our endless wars.”
Cheney’s office did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--Rep. Karen Bass Says Yoho ‘Cannot Get Away’ With ‘Verbal Assault’ Against AOC

Rep. Karen Bass ( D-CA ) said on Tuesday that a report that Rep. Ted Yoho ( R-FL ) had used offensive language in an altercation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Monday amounted to a “ verbal assault , ” and there would “ be a response.
” When asked about the confrontation on Tuesday , Bass said told MSNBC ’ s Andrea Mitchell that it was “ unacceptable ” and said it was wasn ’ t the first time .
The California lawmaker added that she had already spoken with the Democratic Women ’ s Caucus Co-Chair Brenda Lawrence ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to come together.
” “ We just can ’ t have this , and I know , we ’ re going to be putting our heads together and figuring out how we respond but there will be a response , ” said Bass , who is reportedly under consideration to be former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
The congresswoman ’ s remarks follow news that a reporter from The Hill overheard Yoho approach Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps Monday and call her “ disgusting ” for her stance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York lawmaker responded by saying that Yoho was being “ rude.
” After parting ways , Ocasio-Cortez headed into the building , while Yoho , joined by Rep. Roger Williams ( R-TX ) , descended the Capitol stairs .
A few steps down , Yoho was heard by the reporter saying , “ Fucking bitch.
” “ Something like that should never happen , ” Bass said .
“ I do understand he ’ s not running for reelection , but he can not get away with behavior like that .
@

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) said on Tuesday that a report that Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) had used offensive language in an altercation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Monday amounted to a “verbal assault,” and there would “be a response.”
Rep. Karen Bass called a report of offensive language used by Rep. Ted Yoho against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "verbal assault." "He cannot get away with behavior like that," Bass told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday, adding that there would "be a response." pic.twitter.com/ncIeWeCb8D — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 21, 2020
When asked about the confrontation on Tuesday, Bass said told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that it was “unacceptable” and said it was wasn’t the first time. The California lawmaker added that she had already spoken with the Democratic Women’s Caucus Co-Chair Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), saying that “we need to come together.”
“We just can’t have this, and I know, we’re going to be putting our heads together and figuring out how we respond but there will be a response,” said Bass, who is reportedly under consideration to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate.
The congresswoman’s remarks follow news that a reporter from The Hill overheard Yoho approach Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps Monday and call her “disgusting” for her stance on issues of crime and policing.
The New York lawmaker responded by saying that Yoho was being “rude.”
After parting ways, Ocasio-Cortez headed into the building, while Yoho, joined by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), descended the Capitol stairs. A few steps down, Yoho was heard by the reporter saying, “Fucking bitch.”
“Something like that should never happen,” Bass said. “I do understand he’s not running for reelection, but he cannot get away with behavior like that.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--White House Bashes ‘Absolutely Absurd’ Criminal Charges Against Gun Couple

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday attacked St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner ’ s decision to file @ @ @ @ @ Patricia McCloskey for pointing their firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters in their neighborhood .
@ @ @ @ @ absolutely absurd what is happening to the McCloskeys , ” McEnany said during a press @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump ’ s response was to Gardner charging the couple with unlawful use of @ @ @ @ @ the charges are “ an extreme abuse of power , ” the press secretary told @ @ @ @ @ the McCloskeys were “ defending themselves ” and “ completely within their right ” to @ @ @ @ @ protesters .
McEnany did not indicate whether Trump would get involved , as Missouri Gov @ @ @ @ @ ) said last week .
Al Watkins , a lawyer for the McCloskeys , told @ @ @ @ @ had been in contact with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , though he @ @ @ @

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday attacked St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s decision to file criminal charges against Mark and Patricia McCloskey for pointing their firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters in their neighborhood.
“He said it is absolutely absurd what is happening to the McCloskeys,” McEnany said during a press briefing when asked what President Donald Trump’s response was to Gardner charging the couple with unlawful use of a weapon.
Trump believes the charges are “an extreme abuse of power,” the press secretary told reporters.
She argued that the McCloskeys were “defending themselves” and “completely within their right” to wave the guns at the protesters.
McEnany did not indicate whether Trump would get involved, as Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) said last week. Al Watkins, a lawyer for the McCloskeys, told TPM last week that he had been in contact with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, though he did not elaborate.
Watch McEnany below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-07-21--Trump Makes Huge New Long-Term Power Grab For GOP

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE SUBJECT : Excluding Illegal Aliens From the Apportionment Base Following the 2020 Census By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America , it is hereby ordered as follows : .
.
In order to apportion Representatives among the States , the Constitution requires the enumeration of the population of the United States every 10 years and grants the Congress the power and discretion to direct the manner in which this decennial census is conducted ( U.S. Const .
art .
I , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The Congress has charged the Secretary of Commerce ( the Secretary ) with directing the conduct of the decennial census in such form and content as the Secretary may determine ( 13 U.S.C .
141 ( a ) ) .
By the direction of the Congress , the Secretary then transmits to the President the report of his tabulation of total population for the apportionment of Representatives in the Congress ( 13 U.S.C .
141 ( b ) ) .
The President , by law , makes the final determination regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each State , ” which determines the number of Representatives to be apportioned to each State , and transmits these determinations and accompanying census data to the Congress ( 2 U.S.C .
2a ( a ) ) .
The Congress has provided that it is “ the President ’ s personal transmittal of the report to Congress ” that “ settles the apportionment ” of Representatives among the States , and the President ’ s discretion to settle the apportionment is more than “ ceremonial or ministerial ” and is essential “ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franklin v. Massachusetts , 505 U.S. 788 , 799 , and 800 ( 1992 ) ) .
The Constitution does not specifically define which persons must be included in the apportionment base .
Although the Constitution requires the “ persons in each State , excluding Indians not taxed , ” to be enumerated in the census , that requirement has never been understood to include in the apportionment base every individual physically present within a State ’ s boundaries at the time of the census .
Instead , the term “ persons in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean that only the “ inhabitants ” of each State should be included .
Determining which persons should be considered “ inhabitants ” for the purpose of apportionment requires the exercise of judgment .
For example , aliens who are only temporarily in the United States , such as for business or tourism , and certain foreign diplomatic personnel are “ persons ” who have been excluded from the apportionment base in past censuses .
Conversely , the Constitution also has never been understood to exclude every person who is not physically “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the census .
For example , overseas Federal personnel have , at various times , been included in and excluded from the populations of the States in which they maintained their homes of record .
The discretion delegated to the executive branch to determine who qualifies as an “ inhabitant ” includes authority to exclude from the apportionment base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status .
In Executive Order 13880 of July 11 , 2019 ( Collecting Information About Citizenship Status in Connection With the Decennial Census ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share information with the Department of Commerce , to the extent permissible and consistent with law , to allow the Secretary to obtain accurate data on the number of citizens , non-citizens , and illegal aliens in the country .
As the Attorney General and I explained at the time that order was signed , data on illegal aliens could be relevant for the purpose of conducting the apportionment , and we intended to examine that issue .
.
.
.
For the purpose of the reapportionment of Representatives following the 2020 census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States to exclude from the apportionment base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status under the Immigration and Nationality Act , as amended ( 8 U.S.C .
1101 et seq . )
, to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the discretion delegated to the executive branch .
Excluding these illegal aliens from the apportionment base is more consonant with the principles of representative democracy underpinning our system of Government .
Affording congressional representation , and therefore formal political influence , to States on account of the presence within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the steps to secure a lawful immigration status under our laws undermines those principles .
Many of these aliens entered the country illegally in the first place .
Increasing congressional representation based on the presence of aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status would also create perverse incentives encouraging violations of Federal law .
States adopting policies that encourage illegal aliens to enter this country and that hobble Federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws passed by the Congress should not be rewarded with greater representation in the House of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State is home to more than 2.2 million illegal aliens , constituting more than 6 percent of the State ’ s entire population .
Including these illegal aliens in the population of the State for the purpose of apportionment could result in the allocation of two or three more congressional seats than would otherwise be allocated .
I have accordingly determined that respect for the law and protection of the integrity of the democratic process warrant the exclusion of illegal aliens from the apportionment base , to the extent feasible and to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discretion under the law .
.
.
.
In preparing his report to the President under section 141 ( b ) of title 13 , United States Code , the Secretary shall take all appropriate action , consistent with the Constitution and other applicable law , to provide information permitting the President , to the extent practicable , to exercise the President ’ s discretion to carry out the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum .
The Secretary shall also include in that report information tabulated according to the methodology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criteria and Residence Situations , 83 Fed .
Reg .
5525 ( Feb. 8 , 2018 ) .
.
.
.
( a ) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect : ( i ) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency , or the head thereof ; or ( ii ) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary , administrative , or legislative proposals .
( b ) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of appropriations .
( c ) This memorandum is not intended to , and does not , create any right or benefit , substantive or procedural , enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States , its departments , agencies , or entities , its officers , employees , or agents , or any other person .

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
SUBJECT: Excluding Illegal Aliens From the Apportionment
Base Following the 2020 Census
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . Background . In order to apportion Representatives among the States, the Constitution requires the enumeration of the population of the United States every 10 years and grants the Congress the power and discretion to direct the manner in which this decennial census is conducted (U.S. Const. art. I, sec. 2, cl. 3). The Congress has charged the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) with directing the conduct of the decennial census in such form and content as the Secretary may determine (13 U.S.C. 141(a)). By the direction of the Congress, the Secretary then transmits to the President the report of his tabulation of total population for the apportionment of Representatives in the Congress (13 U.S.C. 141(b)). The President, by law, makes the final determination regarding the “whole number of persons in each State,” which determines the number of Representatives to be apportioned to each State, and transmits these determinations and accompanying census data to the Congress (2 U.S.C. 2a(a)). The Congress has provided that it is “the President’s personal transmittal of the report to Congress” that “settles the apportionment” of Representatives among the States, and the President’s discretion to settle the apportionment is more than “ceremonial or ministerial” and is essential “to the integrity of the process” (Franklin v. Massachusetts, 505 U.S. 788, 799, and 800 (1992)).
The Constitution does not specifically define which persons must be included in the apportionment base. Although the Constitution requires the “persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed,” to be enumerated in the census, that requirement has never been understood to include in the apportionment base every individual physically present within a State’s boundaries at the time of the census. Instead, the term “persons in each State” has been interpreted to mean that only the “inhabitants” of each State should be included. Determining which persons should be considered “inhabitants” for the purpose of apportionment requires the exercise of judgment. For example, aliens who are only temporarily in the United States, such as for business or tourism, and certain foreign diplomatic personnel are “persons” who have been excluded from the apportionment base in past censuses. Conversely, the Constitution also has never been understood to exclude every person who is not physically “in” a State at the time of the census. For example, overseas Federal personnel have, at various times, been included in and excluded from the populations of the States in which they maintained their homes of record. The discretion delegated to the executive branch to determine who qualifies as an “inhabitant” includes authority to exclude from the apportionment base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status.
In Executive Order 13880 of July 11, 2019 (Collecting Information About Citizenship Status in Connection With the Decennial Census), I instructed executive departments and agencies to share information with the Department of Commerce, to the extent permissible and consistent with law, to allow the Secretary to obtain accurate data on the number of citizens, non-citizens, and illegal aliens in the country. As the Attorney General and I explained at the time that order was signed, data on illegal aliens could be relevant for the purpose of conducting the apportionment, and we intended to examine that issue.
Sec . 2 . Policy . For the purpose of the reapportionment of Representatives following the 2020 census, it is the policy of the United States to exclude from the apportionment base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the discretion delegated to the executive branch. Excluding these illegal aliens from the apportionment base is more consonant with the principles of representative democracy underpinning our system of Government. Affording congressional representation, and therefore formal political influence, to States on account of the presence within their borders of aliens who have not followed the steps to secure a lawful immigration status under our laws undermines those principles. Many of these aliens entered the country illegally in the first place. Increasing congressional representation based on the presence of aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status would also create perverse incentives encouraging violations of Federal law. States adopting policies that encourage illegal aliens to enter this country and that hobble Federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws passed by the Congress should not be rewarded with greater representation in the House of Representatives. Current estimates suggest that one State is home to more than 2.2 million illegal aliens, constituting more than 6 percent of the State’s entire population. Including these illegal aliens in the population of the State for the purpose of apportionment could result in the allocation of two or three more congressional seats than would otherwise be allocated.
I have accordingly determined that respect for the law and protection of the integrity of the democratic process warrant the exclusion of illegal aliens from the apportionment base, to the extent feasible and to the maximum extent of the President’s discretion under the law.
Sec . 3 . Excluding Illegal Aliens from the Apportionment Base . In preparing his report to the President under section 141(b) of title 13, United States Code, the Secretary shall take all appropriate action, consistent with the Constitution and other applicable law, to provide information permitting the President, to the extent practicable, to exercise the President’s discretion to carry out the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum. The Secretary shall also include in that report information tabulated according to the methodology set forth in Final 2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations, 83 Fed. Reg. 5525 (Feb. 8, 2018).
Sec . 4 . General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.