talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-12--DOJ: Courts Can’t Hold DOJ Accountable If It Drops A Case For Corrupt Reasons

The Justice Department defended its decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn at the D.C .
Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday , arguing broadly that any scrutiny of its decision would wreak havoc on the department .
U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Jeff Wall cast the argument in stark constitutional terms , suggesting that the judge in the Flynn case had already damaged both the Justice Department and the judiciary by subjecting the DOJ ’ s decision to move to drop charges against Flynn to public examination .
“ This has already become , and I think is only becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wall said of actions by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan for the District of Columbia .
Wall repeatedly expressed worry at the idea that Sullivan would attempt to conduct some kind of discovery at the DOJ through affidavits or declarations .
Sullivan has yet to suggest that he would do so , and has yet to rule on the DOJ ’ s motion to dismiss .
“ You ’ ll have a proceeding forcing us to explain ourselves , ” Wall said .
“ The district court has left itself room not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses ; that is going to intrude on our deliberative process.
” He added that the “ spectacle ” would end up “ impugning the motives of the Attorney General of the United States.
” Wall described the amicus brief of John Gleeson — the outside attorney Sullivan appointed to oppose the DOJ request to dismiss the case — as a “ polemic ” alleging “ gross misconduct.
” Broadly , though , Wall focused on the idea that court proceedings were not the forum for handling allegations of corruption against the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he maintained , is a political question to be handled away from the courts .
The Flynn case is just one example of what has become a pattern of DOJ actions that appear to have been bent to the whims of President Trump .
Wall ’ s claims are also in line with the aggressive arguments the Justice Department has made in supporting Trump in cases where Trump is resisting oversight .
The DOJ has argued that those disputes should be resolved by the political process , rather than settled by courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson for the special counsel investigation into the Valerie Plame leak , told TPM that Wall ’ s arguments were “ frightening ” because “ absent any judicial inquiry , it may be impossible to determine whether there was any misconduct , bad faith , or other improper motive , and courts must maintain their inherent authority over cases and the conduct of parties before them.
” However , other legal experts acknowledged that on the merits , whether a judge has the ability to second guess the Justice Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case is a “ harder ” question than the one technically before the appeals court Friday : whether it needs to now intervene in Sullivan ’ s handling of the Flynn matter .
“ It is a dangerous area , for the courts to begin inquiring the reasons behind a prosecutorial decision , ” Barbara McQuade , a former U.S. Attorney , told TPM .
She said she had worked on cases where there was classified evidence motivating decisions to bring or not bring a case .
But , she added , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record evidence that its conduct was “ irregular ” ( courts typically give the federal government the presumption of regularity ) and that separated this case from the Supreme Court decision that weighed most heavily in Flynn and the DOJ ’ s favor .
“ There ’ s important language in that case [ U.S. vs. Fokker Services ] that says in the absence of evidence to the contrary we should presume regularity , ” McQuade , who now teaches at Michigan Law , said .
“ There is a lot of evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samborn meanwhile argued that “ It would be different if Flynn was never charged.
” But because the case had progressed past the guilty plea , the judge should have the authority to “ to independently determine if there is a reasonable , good faith basis ” for the prosecution to now “ sweep the case away , ” Samborn said in an email to TPM .
“ And if the Government ’ s motives are pure , it should have no hesitation about confessing error or disclosing its reasons , unless there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samborn said .
“ The government ’ s claim of unquestionable authority only lends suspicion to its motives .
”

The Justice Department defended its decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, arguing broadly that any scrutiny of its decision would wreak havoc on the department.
U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Jeff Wall cast the argument in stark constitutional terms, suggesting that the judge in the Flynn case had already damaged both the Justice Department and the judiciary by subjecting the DOJ’s decision to move to drop charges against Flynn to public examination.
“This has already become, and I think is only becoming more of, a public spectacle,” Wall said of actions by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan for the District of Columbia.
Wall repeatedly expressed worry at the idea that Sullivan would attempt to conduct some kind of discovery at the DOJ through affidavits or declarations. Sullivan has yet to suggest that he would do so, and has yet to rule on the DOJ’s motion to dismiss.
“You’ll have a proceeding forcing us to explain ourselves,” Wall said. “The district court has left itself room not just for documents of that kind or witnesses; that is going to intrude on our deliberative process.”
He added that the “spectacle” would end up “impugning the motives of the Attorney General of the United States.” Wall described the amicus brief of John Gleeson — the outside attorney Sullivan appointed to oppose the DOJ request to dismiss the case — as a “polemic” alleging “gross misconduct.”
Broadly, though, Wall focused on the idea that court proceedings were not the forum for handling allegations of corruption against the Justice Department in making prosecutorial decisions. That, he maintained, is a political question to be handled away from the courts.
The Flynn case is just one example of what has become a pattern of DOJ actions that appear to have been bent to the whims of President Trump. Wall’s claims are also in line with the aggressive arguments the Justice Department has made in supporting Trump in cases where Trump is resisting oversight. The DOJ has argued that those disputes should be resolved by the political process, rather than settled by courts.
Randall Samborn, who served as a spokesperson for the special counsel investigation into the Valerie Plame leak, told TPM that Wall’s arguments were “frightening” because “absent any judicial inquiry, it may be impossible to determine whether there was any misconduct, bad faith, or other improper motive, and courts must maintain their inherent authority over cases and the conduct of parties before them.”
However, other legal experts acknowledged that on the merits, whether a judge has the ability to second guess the Justice Department’s reasons for seeking the dismissal of a case is a “harder” question than the one technically before the appeals court Friday: whether it needs to now intervene in Sullivan’s handling of the Flynn matter.
“It is a dangerous area, for the courts to begin inquiring the reasons behind a prosecutorial decision,” Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. Attorney, told TPM. She said she had worked on cases where there was classified evidence motivating decisions to bring or not bring a case.
But, she added, the DOJ had already put into the public record evidence that its conduct was “irregular” (courts typically give the federal government the presumption of regularity) and that separated this case from the Supreme Court decision that weighed most heavily in Flynn and the DOJ’s favor.
“There’s important language in that case [U.S. vs. Fokker Services] that says in the absence of evidence to the contrary we should presume regularity,” McQuade, who now teaches at Michigan Law, said. “There is a lot of evidence to the contrary in this case.”
Samborn meanwhile argued that “It would be different if Flynn was never charged.”
But because the case had progressed past the guilty plea, the judge should have the authority to “to independently determine if there is a reasonable, good faith basis” for the prosecution to now “sweep the case away,” Samborn said in an email to TPM.
“And if the Government’s motives are pure, it should have no hesitation about confessing error or disclosing its reasons, unless there is something nefarious to hide,” Samborn said. “The government’s claim of unquestionable authority only lends suspicion to its motives.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-12--Bolton Accuses House Dems of ‘Impeachment Malpractice’ In Forthcoming Book

In his tell-all memoir finally set for publication later this month , former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton alleges that House Democrats failed to look at other transgressions made by the president that went beyond the scope of Ukraine during their impeachment inquiries last year .
Bolton accuses House Democrats of committing “ impeachment malpractice ” by limiting their investigation to Ukraine , according to a statement by the book ’ s publisher Simon & Schuster .
They say Bolton alleges “ Ukraine-like transgressions existed ” in other foreign policy decisions as well .
The autobiographical account , titled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : A White House Memoir , ” was originally scheduled for release on March 17 and but was then delayed until June 23 due at least in part to objections from the White House .
The book comes after the ex-Trump official refused to testify in the House ’ s impeachment investigation , and avoided divulging information regarding Trump ’ s efforts to apply pressure on Ukraine for help against political rivals .
Instead , the former national security adviser , who resisted Trump ’ s push on Ukraine , took the investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plug for his book .
Bolton also alleges that Trump ’ s every decision was a calculated play for reelection — a concern that becomes increasingly evident in the lead-up to Election Day in November .
“ I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn ’ t driven by reelection calculations , ” Bolton writes , according to his publisher .
The Trump campaign announced plans to restart in-person rallies amid ongoing concerns about the safety of large gatherings due to the risk of coronavirus infection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be required at the event — a waiver for participants not to sue should they become infected at his upcoming rally in Tulsa .

In his tell-all memoir finally set for publication later this month, former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton alleges that House Democrats failed to look at other transgressions made by the president that went beyond the scope of Ukraine during their impeachment inquiries last year.
According to the press release for Bolton’s new book, Bolton documents Trump’s other “Ukraine-like transgressions” and accuses the House of committing “impeachment malpractice” by only focusing on Ukraine. Bolton refused to testify in the impeachment investigation. pic.twitter.com/nfxCUnY18D — Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) June 12, 2020
Bolton accuses House Democrats of committing “impeachment malpractice” by limiting their investigation to Ukraine, according to a statement by the book’s publisher Simon & Schuster. They say Bolton alleges “Ukraine-like transgressions existed” in other foreign policy decisions as well.
The autobiographical account, titled, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir,” was originally scheduled for release on March 17 and but was then delayed until June 23 due at least in part to objections from the White House.
The book comes after the ex-Trump official refused to testify in the House’s impeachment investigation, and avoided divulging information regarding Trump’s efforts to apply pressure on Ukraine for help against political rivals. Instead, the former national security adviser, who resisted Trump’s push on Ukraine, took the investigations as an opportunity to make a not-so-coy plug for his book.
Bolton also alleges that Trump’s every decision was a calculated play for reelection — a concern that becomes increasingly evident in the lead-up to Election Day in November.
“I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations,” Bolton writes, according to his publisher.
The Trump campaign announced plans to restart in-person rallies amid ongoing concerns about the safety of large gatherings due to the risk of coronavirus infection, supplying — instead of masks which likely won’t be required at the event — a waiver for participants not to sue should they become infected at his upcoming rally in Tulsa.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-12--CDC Finally Releases Guidance For Minimizing COVID Risk In Everyday Life

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Take the stairs , not the elevator , down from your hotel room .
Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout .
Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM .
Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings .
And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym .
These are some of the tips in long-awaited guidance from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday , along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts , sporting events , protests and political rallies .
But the guidelines are “ not intended to endorse any particular type of event , ” the CDC ’ s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters .
The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising , based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long overdue , some health experts say .
Julia Marcus , an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School , has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “ abstinence-only ” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk .
She said she was delighted by the CDC ’ s tips .
“ I think it ’ s a huge step in the right direction , ” Marcus said .
“ These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.
” But there are notable omissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take before going to church , no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time : Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents ?
“ Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week , “ said Dr. William Schaffner , a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert .
“ My empathy goes out to the CDC .
It ’ s very , very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases .
In recent weeks , many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again .
And cases are rising in nearly half the states , according to an Associated Press analysis .
The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines , including some for churches , camps , schools and transit agencies .
But until now , the organization hasn ’ t offered specific advice to people trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get their nails done , host barbecues , visit a bank or library , go out to eat or exercise at a gym .
The CDC ’ s director , Dr. Robert Redfield , called the new guidelines “ common sense suggestions , ” not mandates .
State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur , but that ’ s a call for them to make , CDC officials said .
The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings , especially if it ’ s difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from other people .
They also offers a list of questions people should consider before going out , and some things to think about in particular situations .
For example , it suggests that house parties be held outside , guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks .
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 .

NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.
These are some of the tips in long-awaited guidance from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as includes concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.
But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.
The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.
The guidelines are long overdue, some health experts say.
Julia Marcus, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard Medical School, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.
“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”
But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?
“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.
“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.
Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.
The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.
The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings, especially if it’s difficult to keep at least 6 feet away from other people.
They also offers a list of questions people should consider before going out, and some things to think about in particular situations. For example, it suggests that house parties be held outside, guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks.
___
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.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-12--Man Accused Of Killing A Cop Scrawled Message In Blood Referring To ‘Boogaloo’

A man charged yesterday with the ambush killing of a police officer also appears to have scrawled a reference in blood to a second Civil War .
On the hood of a car at the scene of Steven Carrillo ’ s arrest , witnesses took photos of phrases the alleged killer had apparently written , including the term “ Boog.
” Given the context , “ Boog ” is likely short for “ Boogaloo , ” which in recent years has been adopted by extremists on the internet as shorthand for an armed conflict against the government .
NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday after local outlet KRON4 published a witness ’ s photos of the scene earlier this week .
Carrillo was charged with 19 felonies Thursday including of murder , attempted murder , various explosives charges , carjacking and other offenses .
The active duty Air Force staff sergeant , who was part of an elite security force at Travis Air Force Base , is set to be arraigned Friday .
According to police , they were first alerted to Carrillo when someone reported a suspicious parked van in which guns and bomb-making materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with the vehicle and followed it to Ben Lomond , a mountainous area north of Santa Cruz where Carrillo had been living with his father .
Carrillo ambushed deputies , police say , shooting at them and throwing explosives .
Sgt .
Damon Gutzwiller was allegedly killed by Carrillo in the exchange and another deputy was critically wounded .
The spree ended , according to authorities , when Carrillo attempted to carjack a Ben Lomond resident who managed to tackle Carrillo to the ground .
Though not currently reflected in the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the gunman who shot dead a Federal Protective Services officer , Dave Patrick Underwood , in Oakland in late May , The Mercury News reported , citing an unnamed law enforcement source .
The FBI has acknowledged it is investigating whether Carrillo can be linked to the Oakland drive-by killing , which also left another federal officer wounded .
Other phrases written in blood at the scene of Carrillo ’ s arrest may paint a picture of his worldview : One , “ end the duopoly , ” is commonly used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic and Republican parties .
“ I became unreasonable , ” another phrase spotted at the scene and reported by NBC News , is a reference to a quote from Marvin Heemeyer , a folk figure of sorts in the Boogaloo movement who in 2004 killed himself after going on a rampage .
Heemeyer , angry about disputes with his neighbors and local government officials , used a heavily armored modified bulldozer to destroy the town hall , the former mayor ’ s home and several other buildings .
The vehicle became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the years , Heemeyer ’ s bizarre rampage went from the Discovery Channel fodder to inspiration for further attacks .
The “ Boogaloo ” reference is associated with a recent trend in which armed extremists carry out violence against authorities or government institutions , such as power stations and courthouses , in an attempt to sow violent insurrection .
The origin of the term is a bit convoluted , and starts with the movie “ Breakin ’ 2 : Electric Boogaloo.
” The film , which followed 1984 ’ s “ Breakin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoddy sequels .
And on 4chan and other online communities , “ Boogaloo ” eventually evolved into a meme about a second Civil War .
In recent years , violent extremists have used the word to refer to taking up arms against the state .
A derivation , “ Big Luau , ” explains why many followers of the movement , sarcastically or not , wear Hawaiian shirts to protests .
In Nevada in late May , three men with military backgrounds were arrested and accused of planning attacks in hopes of fomenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men were affiliated with the Boogaloo movement and wanted to capitalize on the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality in light of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Online , scores of Boogaloo-focused groups add to an ecosystem of extremist content , some of it explicitly affiliated with neo-Nazis and white nationalists .
Carrrillo ’ s politics aren ’ t fully known : NBC News reported that his since-removed Facebook presence reflected support for a libertarian presidential candidate as well as anti-police and pro-gun sentiments .
Once of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report , was on a group called “ A Gun Page for Poors Who Know They Are Poors , ” NBC News reported .
It showed the video of Buffalo police officers shoving the 75-year-old peace activist Martin Gugino .
A former friend of Carrillo ’ s , Justin Ehrhardt , told The Mercury News that Carrillo had posted “ Boogaloo ” memes on Facebook and considered himself a libertarian .
“ Excessive use of force on unarmed civilians — that was a huge thing for him , ” Ehrhardt said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him.
” KRON4 reported , based on video of Carrillo ’ s arrest , that the alleged killer screamed “ stop the duality ” and , referring to the deputies arresting him , “ This is why I ’ m sick of these god d**n police .
This is what I ’ m sick of .
”

A man charged yesterday with the ambush killing of a police officer also appears to have scrawled a reference in blood to a second Civil War.
On the hood of a car at the scene of Steven Carrillo’s arrest, witnesses took photos of phrases the alleged killer had apparently written, including the term “Boog.”
Given the context, “Boog” is likely short for “Boogaloo,” which in recent years has been adopted by extremists on the internet as shorthand for an armed conflict against the government.
NBC News reported Carrillo’s purported Boogaloo reference Thursday after local outlet KRON4 published a witness’s photos of the scene earlier this week.
Carrillo was charged with 19 felonies Thursday including of murder, attempted murder, various explosives charges, carjacking and other offenses. The active duty Air Force staff sergeant, who was part of an elite security force at Travis Air Force Base, is set to be arraigned Friday.
According to police, they were first alerted to Carrillo when someone reported a suspicious parked van in which guns and bomb-making materials were visible. Deputies said they caught up with the vehicle and followed it to Ben Lomond, a mountainous area north of Santa Cruz where Carrillo had been living with his father.
Carrillo ambushed deputies, police say, shooting at them and throwing explosives. Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was allegedly killed by Carrillo in the exchange and another deputy was critically wounded.
The spree ended, according to authorities, when Carrillo attempted to carjack a Ben Lomond resident who managed to tackle Carrillo to the ground.
Though not currently reflected in the charges against Carrillo, he is also believed to be the gunman who shot dead a Federal Protective Services officer, Dave Patrick Underwood, in Oakland in late May, The Mercury News reported, citing an unnamed law enforcement source. The FBI has acknowledged it is investigating whether Carrillo can be linked to the Oakland drive-by killing, which also left another federal officer wounded.
Other phrases written in blood at the scene of Carrillo’s arrest may paint a picture of his worldview: One, “end the duopoly,” is commonly used by supporters of political parties other than the Democratic and Republican parties.
“I became unreasonable,” another phrase spotted at the scene and reported by NBC News, is a reference to a quote from Marvin Heemeyer, a folk figure of sorts in the Boogaloo movement who in 2004 killed himself after going on a rampage.
Heemeyer, angry about disputes with his neighbors and local government officials, used a heavily armored modified bulldozer to destroy the town hall, the former mayor’s home and several other buildings. The vehicle became known as “Killdozer” and, over the years, Heemeyer’s bizarre rampage went from the Discovery Channel fodder to inspiration for further attacks.
The “Boogaloo” reference is associated with a recent trend in which armed extremists carry out violence against authorities or government institutions, such as power stations and courthouses, in an attempt to sow violent insurrection.
The origin of the term is a bit convoluted, and starts with the movie “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.” The film, which followed 1984’s “Breakin’,” became a reference for shoddy sequels. And on 4chan and other online communities, “Boogaloo” eventually evolved into a meme about a second Civil War.
In recent years, violent extremists have used the word to refer to taking up arms against the state. A derivation, “Big Luau,” explains why many followers of the movement, sarcastically or not, wear Hawaiian shirts to protests.
In Nevada in late May, three men with military backgrounds were arrested and accused of planning attacks in hopes of fomenting an armed rebellion. Prosecutors say the men were affiliated with the Boogaloo movement and wanted to capitalize on the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality in light of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Online, scores of Boogaloo-focused groups add to an ecosystem of extremist content, some of it explicitly affiliated with neo-Nazis and white nationalists.
Carrrillo’s politics aren’t fully known: NBC News reported that his since-removed Facebook presence reflected support for a libertarian presidential candidate as well as anti-police and pro-gun sentiments. Once of his last Facebook posts, according to the report, was on a group called “A Gun Page for Poors Who Know They Are Poors,” NBC News reported. It showed the video of Buffalo police officers shoving the 75-year-old peace activist Martin Gugino.
A former friend of Carrillo’s, Justin Ehrhardt, told The Mercury News that Carrillo had posted “Boogaloo” memes on Facebook and considered himself a libertarian.
“Excessive use of force on unarmed civilians — that was a huge thing for him,” Ehrhardt said. “It was a mental tipping point for him.”
KRON4 reported, based on video of Carrillo’s arrest, that the alleged killer screamed “stop the duality” and, referring to the deputies arresting him, “This is why I’m sick of these god d**n police. This is what I’m sick of.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-12--Hawley Decries ‘Historical Revisionism’ Of Stripping Confederate Names From Bases

A Republican senator opposed to re-naming military installations honoring Confederate generals says doing so would be “ historical revisionism.
” Sure , the Civil War was terrible , Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) said Thursday on the Senate floor .
But it also “ gave us heroes and a more perfect union to love !
” And , by Hawley ’ s logic , replacing those Confederate names with others who didn ’ t fight on behalf of a slavocracy would be an affront to Americans ’ history of “ shared struggle.
” Hawley was raging against new legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-year timeline for the military to change its Confederate-named bases and other assets .
It won the approval of the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday with a voice vote and bipartisan support .
The Federalist published Hawley ’ s speech as an op-ed Friday .
In the wake of the recent police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and subsequent nationwide upheaval , the Defense Department signaled a new willingness to consider changing the names — only for President Donald Trump to flatly refuse the consideration .
The Senate legislation , penned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put his veto pen where his mouth is .
But to Hawley , some Black Lives Matter protesters and reform-minded legislators don ’ t want racial justice .
According to the senator , protesters who say “ systemic racism ” was the cause of Floyd ’ s death at the hands of police are agitators , as are those who call for defunding police departments .
“ There is no scab they will not pick at , no divide they will not exploit , no controversy they will not gin up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The same applied to Confederate names on government assets , he argued .
Those in favor of a change , Hawley said , want “ to erase from history every person and name and event not righteous enough , and to cast those who would object as defenders of the cause of slavery , to reenact in our current politics that Civil War that tore brother against brother and divided this nation against itself.
” Hawley announced Thursday morning that he was against the amendment to rename the bases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would introduce an amendment to reverse it .
Hawley didn ’ t actually mention in his speech any of the Confederate generals whose names currently adorn American military installations .
Rather , he danced around the issue , noting that the battlefield at Gettysburg contains monuments to both Union and Confederate soldiers .
At places like Gettysburg , he said , we teach Americans “ how we became a better nation through the crucible of that terrible war .
And we teach them there to be proud that we did so.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared struggle that unites us , is now fading , ” Hawley said .
“ That story is being erased .
A nation united in the cause of justice is dividing .
And we are increasingly at war with ourselves.
” Hawley asserted that he was not celebrating the “ cause of the Confederacy , ” but rather embracing “ the cause of union , our union , shared together as Americans .
”

A Republican senator opposed to re-naming military installations honoring Confederate generals says doing so would be “historical revisionism.”
Sure, the Civil War was terrible, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said Thursday on the Senate floor. But it also “gave us heroes and a more perfect union to love!”
And, by Hawley’s logic, replacing those Confederate names with others who didn’t fight on behalf of a slavocracy would be an affront to Americans’ history of “shared struggle.”
Hawley was raging against new legislation in the Senate that would create a three-year timeline for the military to change its Confederate-named bases and other assets. It won the approval of the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday with a voice vote and bipartisan support. The Federalist published Hawley’s speech as an op-ed Friday.
In the wake of the recent police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and subsequent nationwide upheaval, the Defense Department signaled a new willingness to consider changing the names — only for President Donald Trump to flatly refuse the consideration. The Senate legislation, penned by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, would force Trump to put his veto pen where his mouth is.
But to Hawley, some Black Lives Matter protesters and reform-minded legislators don’t want racial justice.
According to the senator, protesters who say “systemic racism” was the cause of Floyd’s death at the hands of police are agitators, as are those who call for defunding police departments.
“There is no scab they will not pick at, no divide they will not exploit, no controversy they will not gin up to make us hate each other,” he said.
The same applied to Confederate names on government assets, he argued.
Those in favor of a change, Hawley said, want “to erase from history every person and name and event not righteous enough, and to cast those who would object as defenders of the cause of slavery, to reenact in our current politics that Civil War that tore brother against brother and divided this nation against itself.”
Hawley announced Thursday morning that he was against the amendment to rename the bases. He added in his floor speech that he would introduce an amendment to reverse it.
Hawley didn’t actually mention in his speech any of the Confederate generals whose names currently adorn American military installations. Rather, he danced around the issue, noting that the battlefield at Gettysburg contains monuments to both Union and Confederate soldiers.
At places like Gettysburg, he said, we teach Americans “how we became a better nation through the crucible of that terrible war. And we teach them there to be proud that we did so.”
“That hard-fought pride, in the shared struggle that unites us, is now fading,” Hawley said. “That story is being erased. A nation united in the cause of justice is dividing. And we are increasingly at war with ourselves.”
Hawley asserted that he was not celebrating the “cause of the Confederacy,” but rather embracing “the cause of union, our union, shared together as Americans.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Biden Calls Trump’s Handling Of Coronavirus ‘Almost Criminal’

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden called President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic “ almost criminal ” at a Friday town hall .
“ This is almost criminal , the way he ’ s handled this , ” he said , per the Washington Post , at an event for the American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees .
He added that “ there ’ s going to be some form of second wave , I hate to tell you this.
” “ You have Trump saying , ‘ Open up , open up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open up ?
” Biden said .
“ He does not care about the public health .
He wants to open up because he wants to say the economy ’ s growing and the stock market ’ s going up.
” Biden introduced a multi-part plan to reopen the economy this week , including extensive testing .
He also wants to increase the health care workforce with 100,000 new contact tracers , later to be shifted to other jobs in the industry .
Trump is holding a rally in Tulsa in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sign a waiver promising not to sue the President if they catch the disease .
The rally was initially planned for Juneteenth but was moved “ out of respect .
”

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden called President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic “almost criminal” at a Friday town hall.
“This is almost criminal, the way he’s handled this,” he said, per the Washington Post, at an event for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
He added that “there’s going to be some form of second wave, I hate to tell you this.”
“You have Trump saying, ‘Open up, open up, open up.’ Why do you want to open up?” Biden said. “He does not care about the public health. He wants to open up because he wants to say the economy’s growing and the stock market’s going up.”
Biden introduced a multi-part plan to reopen the economy this week, including extensive testing. He also wants to increase the health care workforce with 100,000 new contact tracers, later to be shifted to other jobs in the industry.
Trump is holding a rally in Tulsa in June, for which all prospective attendees had to sign a waiver promising not to sue the President if they catch the disease. The rally was initially planned for Juneteenth but was moved “out of respect.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--MS Flag Under Renewed Debate Amid Movement To Scrub Confederate Iconography

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) — The young activists who launched a protest movement after George Floyd ’ s death are bringing fresh energy to a long-simmering debate about the Confederate battle emblem that white supremacists embedded within the Mississippi state flag more than 125 years ago .
Anti-racism protests have toppled Confederate statues and monuments across the United States in recent days , and even NASCAR banned the display of the rebel flag .
But Mississippi has been a holdout for years in displaying the emblem in the upper-left corner of its banner .
Republican Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative vote on erasing the symbol .
If the flag is to be redesigned , “ it should be the people who make that decision , not some backroom deal by a bunch of politicians in Jackson , ” Reeves said this week .
The mere mention of removing the Confederate emblem from the Mississippi flag stirs anger in its defenders , who tell people to leave the state if they don ’ t like it .
The issue has gained new momentum since Floyd was killed last month by Minneapolis police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in downtown Jackson for a protest organized by Black Lives Matter .
One of the organizers , 18-year-old Maisie Brown , read a list of demands that started with “ the removal of all Confederate symbols and memorabilia.
” A loud cheer rose from the racially diverse crowd on a street outside the Governor ’ s Mansion .
Reeves was not home to hear it .
He was out of town with his family .
Mississippi , with a 38 % black population , still has dozens of rebel soldier statues outside courthouses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state with a flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem — a red field with a blue X dotted by 13 white stars .
Reeves has repeatedly refused to answer reporters ’ questions about whether he thinks the flag properly represents the state .
The first-year governor declared April to be Confederate Heritage Month .
Mississippi has used the Confederate emblem in its flag since 1894 , when white supremacists in state government adopted it after Reconstruction .
Georgia put a large Confederate battle symbol on its state flag in 1956 , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That state purged the symbol from its banner in 2001 — the same year Mississippi voters chose to keep it on their flag .
During two news conferences this week , Reeves would only repeat what he said during the 2019 governor ’ s race — if the flag is going to be changed , it should be done by a statewide election .
He said any Mississippi resident can start a new ballot initiative , which requires signatures from more than 100,000 voters .
“ When the people believe it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the flag will be changed , ” Reeves said Monday .
Brown , who was born several months after the 2001 Mississippi flag election , said she has little patience for the governor ’ s position .
“ I feel like it ’ s a cop-out to say ‘ I ’ m going to let Mississippi decide ’ instead of righting a wrong , ” Brown said Tuesday .
“ For Mississippi to show that it cares about its citizens who are not white , they have to take down the flag.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag would take a veto-proof two-thirds majority in a Republican-led Legislature .
Some legislators said this week that they were trying to build a bipartisan coalition to reach that margin , but they acknowledge it ’ s tough .
Several lawmakers embrace the flag , and many think their political careers would be ruined by a vote for change .
George C. Bond , leader of the Mississippi Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans , said legislators should not engage in political deals to change the flag .
He said hate groups have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mississippi National Guard soldiers have carried the state flag into battle beginning with the Spanish-American War and continuing to the current war on terrorism .
“ That flag , to them , represented home , represented Mississippi , ” Bond said .
The 2001 flag referendum included a proposal to replace the Confederate emblem with a blue rectangle topped by circles of white stars to represent Mississippi as the 20th state .
Critics derided it as a “ pizza flag.
” A different design has been gaining traction the past few years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes and businesses .
The “ Stennis flag ” has red bars on either end and a white center topped with blue stars — 19 small ones encircling a large 20th one .
The flag was designed by Jackson artist Laurin Stennis , granddaughter of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis , who served 41 years before retiring in 1989 .
The elder Stennis was a segregationist much of his career .
His granddaughter rejects that mindset , saying she wants her design to unify the state .
Critics say Mississippi should not adopt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former senator .
Brown said Mississippi leaders of Black Lives Matter want public discussion about a possible new flag design , drawing ideas from diverse groups of people .
All eight of Mississippi ’ s public universities stopped flying the state flag years ago because of the Confederate symbol .
Many removed it after a white supremacist shot and killed worshipers at a church in Charleston , South Carolina , in 2015 .
Black and white religious leaders in Mississippi issued a statement Thursday calling the flag “ a major source of disagreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a news conference , urging legislators to remove the Confederate symbol .
They said a statewide vote would be divisive .
Ronnie Crudup Sr. , administrative bishop for the Fellowship of International Churches , said that when his father and other black soldiers were together in their dress uniforms after returning to Mississippi from the Korean War , a white man used a racial slur against them and told them nothing had changed .
“ By not changing the flag , ” Crudup said , “ we ’ re saying to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ”

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The young activists who launched a protest movement after George Floyd’s death are bringing fresh energy to a long-simmering debate about the Confederate battle emblem that white supremacists embedded within the Mississippi state flag more than 125 years ago.
Anti-racism protests have toppled Confederate statues and monuments across the United States in recent days, and even NASCAR banned the display of the rebel flag. But Mississippi has been a holdout for years in displaying the emblem in the upper-left corner of its banner.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves rejects the idea of a legislative vote on erasing the symbol. If the flag is to be redesigned, “it should be the people who make that decision, not some backroom deal by a bunch of politicians in Jackson,” Reeves said this week.
The mere mention of removing the Confederate emblem from the Mississippi flag stirs anger in its defenders, who tell people to leave the state if they don’t like it.
The issue has gained new momentum since Floyd was killed last month by Minneapolis police. Thousands of people turned out June 6 in downtown Jackson for a protest organized by Black Lives Matter. One of the organizers, 18-year-old Maisie Brown, read a list of demands that started with “the removal of all Confederate symbols and memorabilia.”
A loud cheer rose from the racially diverse crowd on a street outside the Governor’s Mansion. Reeves was not home to hear it. He was out of town with his family.
Mississippi, with a 38% black population, still has dozens of rebel soldier statues outside courthouses. It’s also the only state with a flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem — a red field with a blue X dotted by 13 white stars.
Reeves has repeatedly refused to answer reporters’ questions about whether he thinks the flag properly represents the state. The first-year governor declared April to be Confederate Heritage Month.
Mississippi has used the Confederate emblem in its flag since 1894, when white supremacists in state government adopted it after Reconstruction. Georgia put a large Confederate battle symbol on its state flag in 1956, during a backlash to the civil rights movement. That state purged the symbol from its banner in 2001 — the same year Mississippi voters chose to keep it on their flag.
During two news conferences this week, Reeves would only repeat what he said during the 2019 governor’s race — if the flag is going to be changed, it should be done by a statewide election. He said any Mississippi resident can start a new ballot initiative, which requires signatures from more than 100,000 voters.
“When the people believe it’s time to change the flag is when the flag will be changed,” Reeves said Monday.
Brown, who was born several months after the 2001 Mississippi flag election, said she has little patience for the governor’s position.
“I feel like it’s a cop-out to say ‘I’m going to let Mississippi decide’ instead of righting a wrong,” Brown said Tuesday. “For Mississippi to show that it cares about its citizens who are not white, they have to take down the flag.”
Enacting a law to change the flag would take a veto-proof two-thirds majority in a Republican-led Legislature. Some legislators said this week that they were trying to build a bipartisan coalition to reach that margin, but they acknowledge it’s tough. Several lawmakers embrace the flag, and many think their political careers would be ruined by a vote for change.
George C. Bond, leader of the Mississippi Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans, said legislators should not engage in political deals to change the flag. He said hate groups have “misused” the Confederate symbol and that Mississippi National Guard soldiers have carried the state flag into battle beginning with the Spanish-American War and continuing to the current war on terrorism.
“That flag, to them, represented home, represented Mississippi,” Bond said.
The 2001 flag referendum included a proposal to replace the Confederate emblem with a blue rectangle topped by circles of white stars to represent Mississippi as the 20th state. Critics derided it as a “pizza flag.”
A different design has been gaining traction the past few years, with people flying it at their homes and businesses. The “Stennis flag” has red bars on either end and a white center topped with blue stars — 19 small ones encircling a large 20th one. The flag was designed by Jackson artist Laurin Stennis, granddaughter of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis, who served 41 years before retiring in 1989.
The elder Stennis was a segregationist much of his career. His granddaughter rejects that mindset, saying she wants her design to unify the state. Critics say Mississippi should not adopt a flag with any connection to the former senator.
Brown said Mississippi leaders of Black Lives Matter want public discussion about a possible new flag design, drawing ideas from diverse groups of people.
All eight of Mississippi’s public universities stopped flying the state flag years ago because of the Confederate symbol. Many removed it after a white supremacist shot and killed worshipers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
Black and white religious leaders in Mississippi issued a statement Thursday calling the flag “a major source of disagreement and discontent.” Two dozen took part in a news conference, urging legislators to remove the Confederate symbol. They said a statewide vote would be divisive.
Ronnie Crudup Sr., administrative bishop for the Fellowship of International Churches, said that when his father and other black soldiers were together in their dress uniforms after returning to Mississippi from the Korean War, a white man used a racial slur against them and told them nothing had changed.
“By not changing the flag,” Crudup said, “we’re saying to the world: ‘Nothing has changed.'”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Protests In Trump Country Test His Hold In Rural White Areas

In the lake country 200 miles ( 320 kilometers ) northwest of Detroit , hundreds danced , prayed and demanded racial justice in Cadillac , a Michigan town that was long home to a neo-Nazi group .
It was not an isolated scene .
In eastern Ohio , even more demonstrated in rural Mount Vernon , a town with its own current of racial intolerance , just as others did in Manheim , Pennsylvania , a tiny farming town in Lancaster County , with its small but active Ku Klux Klan presence .
The protest movement over black injustice has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small-town America , notably throughout parts of the country that delivered the presidency for Donald Trump .
Across Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , more than 200 such demonstrations have taken place , many in cities with fewer than 20,000 residents , according to local media , organizers , participants and the online tracking tool CrowdCount .
“ That ’ s what ’ s so striking , that these protests are taking place in rural places with a white nationalist presence , ” said Lynn Tramonte , who grew up near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter demonstrations around Ohio .
The protests in these Republican-leaning areas offer a test of the president ’ s ability to reassemble his older , white voting bloc .
If he can not replicate that coalition , it would leave Trump with few options , especially since he continues to lose support in suburbs .
“ If President Trump can not hold onto white , working-class voters in rural , small-town Michigan , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Ohio , I don ’ t know how he wins the election , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College , in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
“ Can you rule out he won ’ t have that same level of enthusiasm ?
No , you can ’ t. ” Trump carried Pennsylvania by about 44,000 votes in 2016 , in part with overwhelming support from a patchwork of rural , white counties .
The pattern also played out in Michigan and Wisconsin , where he won by even fewer votes .
In Ohio , that coalition propelled him to an easy victory .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online outreach to hold onto his largely white base and to identify new voters in rural areas as a defense against inroads by presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Some polls suggest that , while white voters without college degrees are still a strong group for Trump , they could be more open to supporting Biden than they were to supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton four years ago .
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh did not directly address the protests taking place in counties won by the president , but said more generally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ President Trump expressed disgust and shock over what happened to George Floyd and praised the peaceful demonstrations , but also knows that Americans can not live with riots and lawlessness in cities nationwide.
” But the pace of change over racial justice after Floyd ’ s death last month by police in Minneapolis has quickened and has sparked protests in hundreds of communities in every state , on a scale rarely , if ever , seen before .
It is not that Biden will necessarily win rural counties that Trump carried easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut into Trump ’ s margins enough to bring those states back to the Democratic column .
In Cadillac , branch home of the National Socialist Movement — among the nation ’ s prominent neo-Nazi groups as recently as 2007 — black organizers were undeterred in staging their event at a lakeside pavilion even as armed opponents associated with the white nationalist group Michigan Militia parked nearby as a show of force .
Trump won Wexford County , home to Cadillac , with 65 % of the vote , similar to neighboring counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment has run higher than average in Michigan .
In neighboring Grand Traverse County , which Trump won by a smaller margin , more than 2,000 packed Traverse City ’ s Lake Michigan shoreline park to hear protest organizer Courtney Wiggins .
The 38-year-old black woman listed demands , including that police in the 95 % white town of 14,000 end racial profiling , as armed protesters affiliated with the far-right Proud Boys dotted the perimeter .
Though similar events popped up in exurban Cedarburg and Grafton , keys to Ozaukee County in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more have materialized many miles from the major metropolitan areas in these four pivotal states , according to organizers and advocates who have tracked the protests .
In Mount Vernon , Ohio , the seat of Knox County where Trump received 66 % of the vote , 700 people turned out on June 6 despite threats from opponents , who staged an impromptu rally later that day .
It ’ s the same small town where two years ago the local Christian college was vandalized when leaders put on a racial justice program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been active in the area over the past century .
Dozens of protests have taken place in counties in these four battleground states that Trump flipped from Democrat to Republican .
Among them were Macomb County outside Detroit , Portage and Mahoning counties in northeast Ohio , and — perhaps most notably — Luzerne County , Pennsylvania , where voters swung dramatically from President Barack Obama in 2012 to Trump four years later .
Still , the vast majority have taken place in more than 200 small cities and towns across these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Marietta , Ohio , and Meadville , Pennsylvania , all with populations under 20,000 and in counties Trump carried with at least 60 % of the vote .
And while the battle for the White House will likely be waged most intensely in these states ’ diversifying suburbs , where Democrats made gains in 2018 , even a slight uptick among Democrats or a softening of Trump support in the vast spaces between could be enough to alter the election .
If Biden carries every state Clinton did in 2016 and reclaims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would win a majority of the Electoral College votes .
Of those states , none was as close as Michigan , which Trump won by 10,704 votes out of more than 4.7 million ballots cast .
A little more than 11,000 voters backed Obama in 2008 and either didn ’ t vote or supported Trump in 2016 in Grand Traverse County and the five counties surrounding it , including Cadillac ’ s home in Wexford County , according to state voting records .
“ These marginal numbers , a few extra votes here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like , a handful of votes per county , and they exist in my six-county region , ” said Betsy Coffia , a Democratic Grand Traverse County commissioner .
“ This can make a difference .
”

In the lake country 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, hundreds danced, prayed and demanded racial justice in Cadillac, a Michigan town that was long home to a neo-Nazi group.
It was not an isolated scene. In eastern Ohio, even more demonstrated in rural Mount Vernon, a town with its own current of racial intolerance, just as others did in Manheim, Pennsylvania, a tiny farming town in Lancaster County, with its small but active Ku Klux Klan presence.
The protest movement over black injustice has quickly spread deep into predominantly white, small-town America, notably throughout parts of the country that delivered the presidency for Donald Trump. Across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, more than 200 such demonstrations have taken place, many in cities with fewer than 20,000 residents, according to local media, organizers, participants and the online tracking tool CrowdCount.
“That’s what’s so striking, that these protests are taking place in rural places with a white nationalist presence,” said Lynn Tramonte, who grew up near Mount Vernon and is monitoring the Black Lives Matter demonstrations around Ohio.
The protests in these Republican-leaning areas offer a test of the president’s ability to reassemble his older, white voting bloc. If he cannot replicate that coalition, it would leave Trump with few options, especially since he continues to lose support in suburbs.
“If President Trump cannot hold onto white, working-class voters in rural, small-town Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio, I don’t know how he wins the election,” said Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Can you rule out he won’t have that same level of enthusiasm? No, you can’t.”
Trump carried Pennsylvania by about 44,000 votes in 2016, in part with overwhelming support from a patchwork of rural, white counties.
The pattern also played out in Michigan and Wisconsin, where he won by even fewer votes. In Ohio, that coalition propelled him to an easy victory.
Trump’s reelection campaign is working chiefly through online outreach to hold onto his largely white base and to identify new voters in rural areas as a defense against inroads by presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Some polls suggest that, while white voters without college degrees are still a strong group for Trump, they could be more open to supporting Biden than they were to supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton four years ago.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh did not directly address the protests taking place in counties won by the president, but said more generally in a statement to The Associated Press, “President Trump expressed disgust and shock over what happened to George Floyd and praised the peaceful demonstrations, but also knows that Americans cannot live with riots and lawlessness in cities nationwide.”
But the pace of change over racial justice after Floyd’s death last month by police in Minneapolis has quickened and has sparked protests in hundreds of communities in every state, on a scale rarely, if ever, seen before. It is not that Biden will necessarily win rural counties that Trump carried easily, but he may be able to cut into Trump’s margins enough to bring those states back to the Democratic column.
In Cadillac, branch home of the National Socialist Movement — among the nation’s prominent neo-Nazi groups as recently as 2007 — black organizers were undeterred in staging their event at a lakeside pavilion even as armed opponents associated with the white nationalist group Michigan Militia parked nearby as a show of force.
Trump won Wexford County, home to Cadillac, with 65% of the vote, similar to neighboring counties in the lightly populated region, where unemployment has run higher than average in Michigan.
In neighboring Grand Traverse County, which Trump won by a smaller margin, more than 2,000 packed Traverse City’s Lake Michigan shoreline park to hear protest organizer Courtney Wiggins. The 38-year-old black woman listed demands, including that police in the 95% white town of 14,000 end racial profiling, as armed protesters affiliated with the far-right Proud Boys dotted the perimeter.
Though similar events popped up in exurban Cedarburg and Grafton, keys to Ozaukee County in the GOP-leaning suburbs of Milwaukee, far more have materialized many miles from the major metropolitan areas in these four pivotal states, according to organizers and advocates who have tracked the protests.
In Mount Vernon, Ohio, the seat of Knox County where Trump received 66% of the vote, 700 people turned out on June 6 despite threats from opponents, who staged an impromptu rally later that day. It’s the same small town where two years ago the local Christian college was vandalized when leaders put on a racial justice program, and where the Ku Klux Klan had been active in the area over the past century.
Dozens of protests have taken place in counties in these four battleground states that Trump flipped from Democrat to Republican. Among them were Macomb County outside Detroit, Portage and Mahoning counties in northeast Ohio, and — perhaps most notably — Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where voters swung dramatically from President Barack Obama in 2012 to Trump four years later.
Still, the vast majority have taken place in more than 200 small cities and towns across these four states, like Oconto, Wisconsin, Marietta, Ohio, and Meadville, Pennsylvania, all with populations under 20,000 and in counties Trump carried with at least 60% of the vote.
And while the battle for the White House will likely be waged most intensely in these states’ diversifying suburbs, where Democrats made gains in 2018, even a slight uptick among Democrats or a softening of Trump support in the vast spaces between could be enough to alter the election.
If Biden carries every state Clinton did in 2016 and reclaims Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, he would win a majority of the Electoral College votes.
Of those states, none was as close as Michigan, which Trump won by 10,704 votes out of more than 4.7 million ballots cast.
A little more than 11,000 voters backed Obama in 2008 and either didn’t vote or supported Trump in 2016 in Grand Traverse County and the five counties surrounding it, including Cadillac’s home in Wexford County, according to state voting records.
“These marginal numbers, a few extra votes here and there, we’re talking, like, a handful of votes per county, and they exist in my six-county region,” said Betsy Coffia, a Democratic Grand Traverse County commissioner. “This can make a difference.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Fox News Manipulates Pictures Of Seattle Protests Then Lies About It

Fox News spliced together different photos to accompany pieces on the Seattle protests and Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ( CHAZ @ @ @ @ @ look much more violent and destructive than they are .
When the Seattle Times asked @ @ @ @ @ Fox News spokesperson lied about it , saying that the pictures had been taken this @ @ @ @ @ in one instance , a photo of a gunman from June 10 was superimposed on @ @ @ @ @ May 30 .
Fox News also ran a picture of a burning scene from May @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota with a story about Seattle ’ s protests .
That image has also been @ @ @ @ @ disclaimer on the now-removed photos indicating that they were edited , or melded together from @ @ @ @ @ ’ s note has since been added .
Protesters occupied about six city blocks on @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Hill ’ s East Precinct building .
President Donald Trump has called on the @ @ @ @ @ take back ” the area .

Fox News spliced together different photos to accompany pieces on the Seattle protests and Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), making the scenes look much more violent and destructive than they are.
When the Seattle Times asked about the pictures, a Fox News spokesperson lied about it, saying that the pictures had been taken this week. In actuality, in one instance, a photo of a gunman from June 10 was superimposed on pictures of shattered storefronts from May 30.
Fox News also ran a picture of a burning scene from May 30 in St. Paul, Minnesota with a story about Seattle’s protests. That image has also been removed.
There was no disclaimer on the now-removed photos indicating that they were edited, or melded together from weeks-old photos. An editor’s note has since been added.
Protesters occupied about six city blocks on June 8 after police abandoned Capitol Hill’s East Precinct building. President Donald Trump has called on the mayor and governor to “take back” the area.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Jones: Tough For Sessions To Be On The ‘Right Side Of History’ On Confederacy

Sen. Doug Jones ( D-AL ) roasted Jeff Sessions Saturday after Sessions criticized the senator for voting to change the names of military bases currently named for Confederate soldiers .
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday to require the Pentagon to strip bases and equipment of any Confederate names or monuments within three years .
Sessions once spoke out about attempts to remove Confederate flags from pubic buildings .
“ This is a huge part of who we are and the left is continually seeking , in a host of different ways , it seems to me , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paranoid about this , but they seek to delegitimize the fabulous accomplishments of our country , ” he said as a senator in 2015 .
Jones is still waiting to see who he ’ ll face in the general election for what ’ s widely considered Democrats ’ steepest climb of a Senate seat to hold this cycle .
In a 2017 special election , Jones beat Roy Moore in an upset after allegations came out about Moore ’ s misconduct with underage girls .
Sessions and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 after Tuberville got 33.4 percent of the vote to Sessions ’ 31.6 in the March 3 primary .

Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) roasted Jeff Sessions Saturday after Sessions criticized the senator for voting to change the names of military bases currently named for Confederate soldiers.
Delete your account Jeff. This came out of a Republican controlled Senate committee on a strong bi-partisan vote. I know it’s tough for you to be on the right side of history when it comes to the Confederacy, but you should give it a try. https://t.co/Nuhl5LW9dx — Doug Jones (@DougJones) June 13, 2020
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday to require the Pentagon to strip bases and equipment of any Confederate names or monuments within three years.
Sessions once spoke out about attempts to remove Confederate flags from public buildings.
“This is a huge part of who we are and the left is continually seeking, in a host of different ways, it seems to me, I don’t want to be too paranoid about this, but they seek to delegitimize the fabulous accomplishments of our country,” he said as a senator in 2015.
Jones is still waiting to see who he’ll face in the general election for what’s widely considered Democrats’ steepest climb of a Senate seat to hold this cycle. In a 2017 special election, Jones beat Roy Moore in an upset after allegations came out about Moore’s misconduct with underage girls.
Sessions and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville will meet in a runoff on July 14 after Tuberville got 33.4 percent of the vote to Sessions’ 31.6 in the March 3 primary.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Perkins Says She’s ‘Happy’ To Have Another Candidate Who Reads QAnon Posts

Republican candidate for Senate in Oregon Jo Rae Perkins told TPM that she ’ s “ happy ” to have another candidate in the mix who reads QAnon posts , after Marjorie Greene became the presumptive next congresswoman in Georgia ’ s 14th district .
Both Greene and Perkins have expressed support of QAnon , a conspiracy theory that centers on a supposed secret battle between President Donald Trump and a “ deep state ” working to destabilize him .
“ Most of the people who read Q Posts , are people who want to make sure they are fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Many do their own research on what is posted .
They don ’ t just accept as fact what is shared .
We have learned to either use or improve our critical thinking skills.
” “ So , yes , I am happy to see another candidate that reads the Q posts as part of her pool of research and information source to have won the Georgia primary , ” she added .
Perkins ’ social media is littered with references to QAnon , and she held a sticker bearing the acronym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ where we go one we go all ” ) after winning the Republican primary to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley ( D ) this fall .
After attracting a flurry of attention after her primary win , she walked back her support , saying that her words were being “ spun ” by the “ fake news machine.
” Soon after though , she admitted that her campaign advisers had talked her into disavowing her beliefs and that she wasn ’ t happy about it .
Regardless , as a Republican competing statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to actually win the seat are slim .
Greene , on the other hand , came out the strong leader in the first round of the Republican primary .
If she wins the runoff in August , a likely scenario as her next closest competitor was more than 20 points behind her , she ’ ll almost certainly win the seat due to the strong Republican lean in the district in which she ’ s running .
That would make her the first open QAnon supporter in Congress .
She has expressed interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the umbrella of the conspiracy theory .
“ I ’ m very excited about that now there ’ s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out , and I think we have the president to do it , ” she said in a 2017 video .
It was a reference to a coming final judgement-like event , sometimes called the “ Storm ” in QAnon-speak , during which prominent Democrats and figures in popular culture will be tried and executed , or possibly sent to Guantanamo Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseless accusation of Trump ’ s political enemies being pedophiles and Satan worshippers .

Republican candidate for Senate in Oregon Jo Rae Perkins told TPM that she’s “happy” to have another candidate in the mix who reads QAnon posts, after Marjorie Greene became the presumptive next congresswoman in Georgia’s 14th district.
Both Greene and Perkins have expressed support of QAnon, a conspiracy theory that centers on a supposed secret battle between President Donald Trump and a “deep state” working to destabilize him.
“Most of the people who read Q Posts, are people who want to make sure they are fully informed,” Perkins told TPM. “Many do their own research on what is posted. They don’t just accept as fact what is shared. We have learned to either use or improve our critical thinking skills.”
“So, yes, I am happy to see another candidate that reads the Q posts as part of her pool of research and information source to have won the Georgia primary,” she added.
Perkins also tweeted her congratulations.
Perkins’ social media is littered with references to QAnon, and she held a sticker bearing the acronym for the group’s logo (“where we go one we go all”) after winning the Republican primary to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) this fall.
After attracting a flurry of attention after her primary win, she walked back her support, saying that her words were being “spun” by the “fake news machine.” Soon after though, she admitted that her campaign advisers had talked her into disavowing her beliefs and that she wasn’t happy about it.
Regardless, as a Republican competing statewide in very blue Oregon, her chances to actually win the seat are slim.
Greene, on the other hand, came out the strong leader in the first round of the Republican primary. If she wins the runoff in August, a likely scenario as her next closest competitor was more than 20 points behind her, she’ll almost certainly win the seat due to the strong Republican lean in the district in which she’s running. That would make her the first open QAnon supporter in Congress.
She has expressed interest in some of the more extreme beliefs under the umbrella of the conspiracy theory.
“I’m very excited about that now there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it,” she said in a 2017 video.
It was a reference to a coming final judgement-like event, sometimes called the “Storm” in QAnon-speak, during which prominent Democrats and figures in popular culture will be tried and executed, or possibly sent to Guantanamo Bay. She also echoes the frequent and baseless accusation of Trump’s political enemies being pedophiles and Satan worshippers.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-13--Trump Campaign Manager Says 300K Registered For Rally Tickets For 19K Seat Arena

President Donald Trump ’ s campaign manager tweeted Friday that 200,000 people — soon revised up to 300,000 people — registered for tickets for Trump ’ s June rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
He did not explain , however , what 280,000 of them will do after the just over 19,000-people BOK arena is filled to capacity .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM ’ s questions .
The registrants had to sign a waiver upon buying their tickets , promising not to sue the President in case they get COVID-19 .
“ By clicking register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present , ” a notice at the bottom of the registration form warns attendees .
“ By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. ; BOK Center ; ASM Global ; or any of their affiliates , directors , officers , employees , agents , contractors , or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 — also known as Juneteenth , or a day marking the official outlawing of slavery in the United States .
It also comes just weeks after the anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 , during which white mobs murdered inhabitants of Greenwood , a majority-black community in Oklahoma .
They also destroyed 35 blocks of what was , at the time , the wealthiest black community in the United States .
Reverend Dr. Robert Turner , pastor of a historic church that was burned down during the Tulsa massacre , expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s event Friday on MSNBC .
“ I ’ m highly disgusted that this president of ours , 45 , has the audacity on Juneteenth , the day we celebrate our liberation from chattel slavery , he chooses that day to relaunch his reelection campaign , ” he said .
“ It is disgusting , because this is the same president that has sympathized with neo-Confederates .
”

President Donald Trump’s campaign manager tweeted Friday that 200,000 people — soon revised up to 300,000 people — registered for tickets for Trump’s June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He did not explain, however, what 280,000 of them will do after the just over 19,000-people BOK arena is filled to capacity.
Correction now 300,000! Going to be epic! https://t.co/36wBjA7duT — Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 12, 2020
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s questions.
The registrants had to sign a waiver upon buying their tickets, promising not to sue the President in case they get COVID-19.
“By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” a notice at the bottom of the registration form warns attendees. “By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.”
The rally is scheduled for Friday, June 19 — also known as Juneteenth, or a day marking the official outlawing of slavery in the United States.
It also comes just weeks after the anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, during which white mobs murdered inhabitants of Greenwood, a majority-black community in Oklahoma. They also destroyed 35 blocks of what was, at the time, the wealthiest black community in the United States.
Reverend Dr. Robert Turner, pastor of a historic church that was burned down during the Tulsa massacre, expressed his “disgust” with Trump’s event Friday on MSNBC.
“I’m highly disgusted that this president of ours, 45, has the audacity on Juneteenth, the day we celebrate our liberation from chattel slavery, he chooses that day to relaunch his reelection campaign,” he said. “It is disgusting, because this is the same president that has sympathized with neo-Confederates.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-14--GOPers Aren’t Fazed By The High Risk Of COVID-19 Spread At Trump’s Tulsa Rally

Three Republicans on Sunday appeared to be full-steam ahead when asked about President Trump ’ s first re-election campaign rally in three months amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Trump is scheduled to travel to Tulsa , Oklahoma next Saturday in what will be his first rally since early March .
The President delayed his upcoming rally by a day after facing backlash for originally scheduling it on Juneteenth , a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S .
Backlash over the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the Tulsa rally remains , however .
On Saturday , Tulsa city-county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the spread of COVID-19 at the upcoming rally in an interview with Tulsa World , saying that he wishes “ we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn ’ t as large a concern as it is today.
” “ I think it ’ s an honor for Tulsa to have a sitting President want to come and visit our community , but not during a pandemic , ” Dart told Tulsa World .
“ I ’ m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m also concerned about our ability to ensure the President stays safe as well.
” The Trump campaign has yet to outline coronavirus safety measures ahead of the rally set for next weekend , which will be held indoors at a 19,000-seat arena despite Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale boasting in a Friday tweet that 300,000 people registered for tickets to Trump ’ s Tulsa rally .
CDC guidance places large gatherings without social distancing measures in the category of “ highest risk ” of spreading COVID-19 .
Here ’ s how three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Tulsa rally : Asked by ABC News ’ George Stephanopoulos about whether it ’ s time for the President to postpone his upcoming rally in Tulsa in light of Dart ’ s remarks , Lankford said he does not believe so due to declining numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Oklahoma .
“ Our deaths continue to decline and we encourage people that are high risk not to get involved in any location , whether that be a rally or other higher risk locations , ” Lankford said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to step back and everybody needs to be able to take responsibility for their own health.
” After conceding that he ’ s unsure of how social distancing will work at the Tulsa rally — saying that it “ will up to be the city of Tulsa , this will be the governor of Oklahoma and the Trump team itself ” to figure out how safety measures will work — Lankford said that he will “ absolutely ” be in attendance .
Pressed also by Stephanopoulos about Dart ’ s remarks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how he ’ s a medical doctor .
After claiming that he was “ pleasantly surprised ” by how much Trump knew about Juneteenth , Carson said that the President ’ s re-election rally can be “ quite acceptable.
” “ I think if it ’ s done in conjunction with the public health experts — which it is being done in conjunction with them — that ’ s quite acceptable , ” Carson said .
“ We do need to always , all of us , need to do what we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it is very important that we utilize what we have learned about the disease so that we can live with it , rather than allow it to dominate us and determine how we ’ re going to live.
” After agreeing with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper that people need to continue practicing safety guidelines such as social distancing and face covering in light of the rise of coronavirus cases in several states , Kudlow — who falsely asserted that COVID-19 was “ contained ” in early March — was asked whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s upcoming rally in Tulsa .
“ Well , OK , probably so , ” Kudlow said , before speculating that the rise of hospitalizations related to the novel coronavirus are due to how elective procedures now being permitted .
“ And maybe , most importantly , Jake , although the case rate has increased a bit , we ’ re not talking about a second round here , ” Kudlow said .

Three Republicans on Sunday appeared to be full-steam ahead when asked about President Trump’s first re-election campaign rally in three months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump is scheduled to travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma next Saturday in what will be his first rally since early March. The President delayed his upcoming rally by a day after facing backlash for originally scheduling it on Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
Backlash over the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the Tulsa rally remains, however. On Saturday, Tulsa city-county health department director Bruce Dart expressed concerns over the spread of COVID-19 at the upcoming rally in an interview with Tulsa World, saying that he wishes “we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn’t as large a concern as it is today.”
“I think it’s an honor for Tulsa to have a sitting President want to come and visit our community, but not during a pandemic,” Dart told Tulsa World. “I’m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and I’m also concerned about our ability to ensure the President stays safe as well.”
The Trump campaign has yet to outline coronavirus safety measures ahead of the rally set for next weekend, which will be held indoors at a 19,000-seat arena despite Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale boasting in a Friday tweet that 300,000 people registered for tickets to Trump’s Tulsa rally. CDC guidance places large gatherings without social distancing measures in the category of “highest risk” of spreading COVID-19.
Here’s how three Republicans downplayed COVID-19-related concerns ahead of Trump’s Tulsa rally:
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)
Asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos about whether it’s time for the President to postpone his upcoming rally in Tulsa in light of Dart’s remarks, Lankford said he does not believe so due to declining numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Oklahoma.
“Our deaths continue to decline and we encourage people that are high risk not to get involved in any location, whether that be a rally or other higher risk locations,” Lankford said. “So, high-risk folks need to be able to step back and everybody needs to be able to take responsibility for their own health.”
After conceding that he’s unsure of how social distancing will work at the Tulsa rally — saying that it “will up to be the city of Tulsa, this will be the governor of Oklahoma and the Trump team itself” to figure out how safety measures will work — Lankford said that he will “absolutely” be in attendance.
Watch Lankford’s remarks below:
JUST IN: Sen. James Lankford backs Trump rally in Oklahoma as Tulsa health director warns of health risks. “I don’t know how they’re going to handle that,” Lankford tells @GStephanopoulos when pressed on how a rally of thousands can be held safely. https://t.co/31ntAhvi0W pic.twitter.com/TigkYvvbxb — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 14, 2020
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson
Pressed also by Stephanopoulos about Dart’s remarks, Carson was asked about his reaction given how he’s a medical doctor.
After claiming that he was “pleasantly surprised” by how much Trump knew about Juneteenth, Carson said that the President’s re-election rally can be “quite acceptable.”
“I think if it’s done in conjunction with the public health experts — which it is being done in conjunction with them — that’s quite acceptable,” Carson said. “We do need to always, all of us, need to do what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it is very important that we utilize what we have learned about the disease so that we can live with it, rather than allow it to dominate us and determine how we’re going to live.”
Watch Carson’s remarks below:
HUD Secretary Ben Carson tells @gstephanopoulos that he spoke with President Trump about the campaign rally initially scheduled in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Juneteenth: “It’s probably good to have moved it.” https://t.co/av1o0DGeWq pic.twitter.com/sytFderS0n — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 14, 2020
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow
After agreeing with CNN’s Jake Tapper that people need to continue practicing safety guidelines such as social distancing and face covering in light of the rise of coronavirus cases in several states, Kudlow — who falsely asserted that COVID-19 was “contained” in early March — was asked whether people should be wearing masks at Trump’s upcoming rally in Tulsa.
“Well, OK, probably so,” Kudlow said, before speculating that the rise of hospitalizations related to the novel coronavirus are due to how elective procedures now being permitted.
“And maybe, most importantly, Jake, although the case rate has increased a bit, we’re not talking about a second round here,” Kudlow said.
Watch Kudlow’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-14--Carson Won’t Back Trump’s Claim That He’s ‘Done More For Black Community’ Since Lincoln

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Sunday wouldn ’ t say whether he agrees with President Trump ’ s claim that he ’ s “ done more for the black community than any other president ” since Abraham Lincoln left office in 1865 .
When asked by ABC News ’ George Stephanopolous about Trump ’ s claim — which was aired on Fox News on Thursday and echoed his tweet earlier this month — Carson touted what he views as accomplishments by the Trump administration regarding opportunity zones , prison reforms and increased funding for HBCUs .
Carson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has “ done the most ” is “ not productive.
” “ So to get into an argument about who ’ s done the most probably is not productive , ” Carson said .
“ But it is good to acknowledge the things that have been done.
” Stephanopoulos then pressed on Carson on whether Trump should stop making his claim .
The ABC News anchor mentioned how former President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act , Ulysses Grant sent in troops to take on the Ku Klux Klan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Board of Education .
“ All of which is a significant part of our history , ” Carson said .
“ And that ’ s an important thing for us to acknowledge — what has happened in the past .
And , you know , we should be willing to look at what we ’ ve done together collectively to make progress .
”

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Sunday wouldn’t say whether he agrees with President Trump’s claim that he’s “done more for the black community than any other president” since Abraham Lincoln left office in 1865.
When asked by ABC News’ George Stephanopolous about Trump’s claim — which was aired on Fox News on Thursday and echoed his tweet earlier this month — Carson touted what he views as accomplishments by the Trump administration regarding opportunity zones, prison reforms and increased funding for HBCUs.
Carson went on to say that debating about who has “done the most” is “not productive.”
“So to get into an argument about who’s done the most probably is not productive,” Carson said. “But it is good to acknowledge the things that have been done.”
Stephanopoulos then pressed on Carson on whether Trump should stop making his claim. The ABC News anchor mentioned how former President Lyndon B. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, Ulysses Grant sent in troops to take on the Ku Klux Klan and Dwight Eisenhower dispatched troops to enforce Brown v. Board of Education.
“All of which is a significant part of our history,” Carson said. “And that’s an important thing for us to acknowledge — what has happened in the past. And, you know, we should be willing to look at what we’ve done together collectively to make progress.”
Watch Carson’s remarks below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-06-14--Tim Scott: Ending Qualified Immunity In Police Reform Bill Would Be ‘Poison Pill’ For GOPers

Sen. Tim Scott ( R-SC ) on Sunday warned that limiting qualified immunity for police officers would be a “ poison pill ” for Republicans as congressional efforts to pass police reform legislation continue in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
Changing qualified immunity , a legal doctrine that shields police officers from being held personally liable for conduct unless they violate “ clearly established ” constitutional rights , has become a Democratic priority as Congress begins working on legislation aimed at reforming policing .
Scott , who is taking the lead in the GOP-led Senate ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an interview on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” that from the Republican perspective , which includes President Trump , qualified immunity is “ off the table.
” “ They see that as a poison pill on our side , ” Scott said .
“ We can use the decertification of officers , except for the law enforcement unions say that ’ s a poison pill.
” Scott added that Congress needs to find path that would help reduce misconduct in law enforcement while getting rid of “ any poison pill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ nothing done.
” “ That sends the wrong signal , perhaps the worst signal right now in America , ” Scott said .
“ I think we ’ re going to have legislation that can be negotiated that gets us to the place where something becomes law that actually makes a difference .
That ’ s got to be our goal.
” Sen. Cory Booker ( D-NJ ) , however , disputed Scott ’ s claim during his appearance on “ Face the Nation ” later Sunday , saying that Sen. Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified immunity is “ on the table.
” “ I know the heart of Tim Scott , and senators like Sen. Braun , who said to me ‘ qualified immunity ’ s on the table , ’ ” Booker said .
“ We are one body in the United States Senate , and people of good heart and good spirit , regardless of what the President does .
He can veto a bill , but we should come forward in this moment in history.
” Last week , House Democrats unveiled a landmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no-knock warrants in drug cases as a response to nationwide protests calling for widespread changes in police departments across the country .

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on Sunday warned that limiting qualified immunity for police officers would be a “poison pill” for Republicans as congressional efforts to pass police reform legislation continue in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Changing qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields police officers from being held personally liable for conduct unless they violate “clearly established” constitutional rights, has become a Democratic priority as Congress begins working on legislation aimed at reforming policing.
Scott, who is taking the lead in the GOP-led Senate’s efforts for police reform, said during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that from the Republican perspective, which includes President Trump, qualified immunity is “off the table.”
“They see that as a poison pill on our side,” Scott said. “We can use the decertification of officers, except for the law enforcement unions say that’s a poison pill.”
Scott added that Congress needs to find path that would help reduce misconduct in law enforcement while getting rid of “any poison pill in legislation” that leads to getting “nothing done.”
“That sends the wrong signal, perhaps the worst signal right now in America,” Scott said. “I think we’re going to have legislation that can be negotiated that gets us to the place where something becomes law that actually makes a difference. That’s got to be our goal.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), however, disputed Scott’s claim during his appearance on “Face the Nation” later Sunday, saying that Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) told him that qualified immunity is “on the table.”
“I know the heart of Tim Scott, and senators like Sen. Braun, who said to me ‘qualified immunity’s on the table,’” Booker said. “We are one body in the United States Senate, and people of good heart and good spirit, regardless of what the President does. He can veto a bill, but we should come forward in this moment in history.”
Last week, House Democrats unveiled a landmark police reform bill that includes banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases as a response to nationwide protests calling for widespread changes in police departments across the country.
Watch Scott’s remarks below: