talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Trump Suggests He Will Move On Supreme Court Nomination ‘Without Delay’

President Donald Trump indicated early Saturday that he will quickly move to nominate a replacement to the Supreme Court bench , hours after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday .
“ We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us , ” Trump tweeted , adding that the most important of those decisions has long been the selection of Supreme Court justices .
The President urged GOP lawmakers to join him in fulfilling their obligation — “ without delay ” — even as prominent Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick vote on the Senate floor to confirm an eventual Trump nominee when early voting in the November presidential election is already underway .
The President ’ s comments come after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday issued statement vowing that Trump ’ s nominee to the court would “ receive a vote ” on the Senate floor .
McConnell ’ s talk of a swift replacement is a staggering turnaround from his stance four years ago , when he refused a hearing on Merrick Garland — Obama ’ s nominee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice Antonin Scalia .
Former President Barack Obama was quick to remind McConnell and GOP lawmakers of the apparent reversal , urging the Senate in a statement to apply rules with “ consistency ” and not according to convenience .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany declined to weigh in during a Fox News interview on Saturday about the President ’ s timeline for nominating a new Supreme Court justice .
She said more details about it could be expected during a campaign rally later in the day in North Carolina .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get ahead of the president on that , ” McEnany told Fox News .
Per the Washington Post , the press secretary later told reporters at the White House that she was not aware of any recent conversations between Trump and McConnell about filling the vacancy .
Asked about guiding criteria for Trump ’ s potential new nominee , McEnany said that a nominee ’ s attitudes toward protecting life and the Second Amendment were among his considerations .
“ This president has always been squarely focused on putting people on the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ textualists , who are originalists , who believe that the words on the pages of the Constitution are a statute , are the plain meaning of what they are , ” she said .
“ Someone who protects the right to life , someone who protects the Second Amendment .
”

President Donald Trump indicated early Saturday that he will quickly move to nominate a replacement to the Supreme Court bench, hours after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.
“We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us,” Trump tweeted, adding that the most important of those decisions has long been the selection of Supreme Court justices.
.@GOP We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2020
The President urged GOP lawmakers to join him in fulfilling their obligation — “without delay” — even as prominent Democrats have pushed back on calls for a quick vote on the Senate floor to confirm an eventual Trump nominee when early voting in the November presidential election is already underway.
The President’s comments come after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday issued statement vowing that Trump’s nominee to the court would “receive a vote” on the Senate floor.
McConnell’s talk of a swift replacement is a staggering turnaround from his stance four years ago, when he refused a hearing on Merrick Garland — Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court — following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Former President Barack Obama was quick to remind McConnell and GOP lawmakers of the apparent reversal, urging the Senate in a statement to apply rules with “consistency” and not according to convenience.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany declined to weigh in during a Fox News interview on Saturday about the President’s timeline for nominating a new Supreme Court justice. She said more details about it could be expected during a campaign rally later in the day in North Carolina.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the president on that,” McEnany told Fox News.
Per the Washington Post, the press secretary later told reporters at the White House that she was not aware of any recent conversations between Trump and McConnell about filling the vacancy.
Asked about guiding criteria for Trump’s potential new nominee, McEnany said that a nominee’s attitudes toward protecting life and the Second Amendment were among his considerations.
“This president has always been squarely focused on putting people on the court who are Constitution-abiding judges, who are textualists, who are originalists, who believe that the words on the pages of the Constitution are a statute, are the plain meaning of what they are,” she said. “Someone who protects the right to life, someone who protects the Second Amendment.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Obama Calls Out McConnell’s Sudden Reversal Amid Talk Of Ginsburg Replacement

Former President Barack Obama urged Senate Republicans late Friday following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to wait to fill the late liberal justice ’ s seat until after inauguration day .
“ Four and a half years ago , when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or an up-or-down vote on Merrick Garland , they invented the principle that the Senate shouldn ’ t fill an open seat on the Supreme Court before a new president was sworn in , ” Obama wrote in a statement .
“ A basic principle of the law — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply rules with consistency , and not based on what ’ s convenient or advantageous in the moment , ” he said , adding that the legitimacy of American courts and democracy depend on the equal application of this standard .
“ As votes are already being cast in this election , Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard , ” Obama said .
Remembering Ginsburg who died Friday , Obama praised the “ warrior for gender equality ” who he said battled to the end with cancer and demonstrated “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideals.
” NPR reported that days before her death , Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera , saying , “ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.
” Obama , perhaps referring to the dictated statement , noted that Ginsburg had left clear “ instructions ” about how she “ wanted her legacy to be honored.
” The questions before the nation ’ s highest court now and in coming years “ are too consequential to future generations for courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unimpeachable process , ” the former president said .
Hours after news of Ginsburg ’ s death on Friday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) said in a statement that Trump ’ s nominee to the court would “ receive a vote ” on the Senate floor .
“ Americans re-elected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary , ” McConnell said .
“ Once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” The comments are a stark reversal from his position four years ago , when he refused a hearing on Garland — Obama ’ s nominee for the Supreme Court — following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia .
At that time , McConnell suggested that only the incoming President selected by the American people , should decide who would fill the vacant seat .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday lauded Ginsburg as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successor should be a choice nominated by whoever wins the presidential election in November .
“ Let me be clear : The voters should pick a President , and that President should select a successor to Justice Ginsburg , ” Biden tweeted .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , ( D-NY ) also tweeted McConnell ’ s own words from 2016 verbatim on Friday .
“ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice .
Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
The biting repetition of McConnell ’ s earlier claim reflected what appeared to be an effort to press McConnell to hold true to the precedent of his own standard from years before .

Former President Barack Obama urged Senate Republicans late Friday following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to wait to fill the late liberal justice’s seat until after inauguration day.
“Four and a half years ago, when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or an up-or-down vote on Merrick Garland, they invented the principle that the Senate shouldn’t fill an open seat on the Supreme Court before a new president was sworn in,” Obama wrote in a statement.
“A basic principle of the law — and of everyday fairness — is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on what’s convenient or advantageous in the moment,” he said, adding that the legitimacy of American courts and democracy depend on the equal application of this standard.
“As votes are already being cast in this election, Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard,” Obama said.
Remembering Ginsburg who died Friday, Obama praised the “warrior for gender equality” who he said battled to the end with cancer and demonstrated “unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals.”
NPR reported that days before her death, Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera, saying, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Obama, perhaps referring to the dictated statement, noted that Ginsburg had left clear “instructions” about how she “wanted her legacy to be honored.”
The questions before the nation’s highest court now and in coming years “are too consequential to future generations for courts to be filled through anything less than an unimpeachable process,” the former president said.
Hours after news of Ginsburg’s death on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement that Trump’s nominee to the court would “receive a vote” on the Senate floor.
“Americans re-elected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary,” McConnell said. “Once again, we will keep our promise. President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
The comments are a stark reversal from his position four years ago, when he refused a hearing on Garland — Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court — following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. At that time, McConnell suggested that only the incoming President selected by the American people, should decide who would fill the vacant seat.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday lauded Ginsburg as a hero and said that Ginsburg’s successor should be a choice nominated by whoever wins the presidential election in November.
“Let me be clear: The voters should pick a President, and that President should select a successor to Justice Ginsburg,” Biden tweeted.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) also tweeted McConnell’s own words from 2016 verbatim on Friday.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” Schumer wrote.
The biting repetition of McConnell’s earlier claim reflected what appeared to be an effort to press McConnell to hold true to the precedent of his own standard from years before.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-19--Evangelicals Fuel Trump’s Hopes For Pennsylvania Victory

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s homestretch push to repeat his razor thin victory in Pennsylvania four years ago won ’ t happen without white evangelicals , and there are signs that critical component of his coalition hasn ’ t lost the faith .
It ’ s a group that has often made the difference for Republicans on the Pennsylvania ballot .
And while some born-again voters had misgivings about Trump in 2016 , they helped him eke out a 44,000-vote margin of victory in the pivotal swing state .
This time around , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting their agenda .
Trump ’ s policies have helped keep in the fold evangelicals who otherwise might have been discomforted by his style .
Their opinions on a range of political issues make them among the least likely voters to jump to former Vice President Joe Biden , the Democrat .
A recent NBC News/Marist poll in Pennsylvania found 79 % of white evangelicals saying they will vote for Trump in this year ’ s presidential election .
But Biden ’ s campaign hopes to make some inroads , with plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort next week , according to Josh Dickson , the campaign ’ s national faith engagement director .
“ In this moment , there is a stark moral contrast between the common good values of the Biden-Harris agenda , which deeply aligns with the values of people of faith , and the agenda of the current administration , which is based in divisiveness and fear , ” Dickson said in a statement .
The Biden campaign frames “ the real religious issue ” at stake as systemic racism , while evangelical Trump voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including like-minded judicial appointees , along with school choice , religious freedom and the movement of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem .
“ Many of us who support the president wish sometimes he didn ’ t say the things he did , wish he had a character more in line with scriptural teachings , ” said Laszlo Pasztor , a retired military officer from Carlisle who organizes evangelicals politically .
“ Many of us say he ’ s a work in progress .
However , his policies , nevertheless , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies of any president in my lifetime.
” Evangelicals , Christians who generally have had a “ born again ” personal religious conversion or awakening , form a significant slice of the electorate .
They believe in the Bible as God ’ s literal word and embrace an activist aspect to their faith .
Trump was raised as a Presbyterian , a mainline Protestant denomination , and Biden is a practicing Catholic .
White evangelical voters made up 17 % of the 2018 midterm electorate in Pennsylvania , according to an AP VoteCast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis found 20 % of voters nationwide in the 2016 election were white evangelicals ; 77 % of them backed Trump .
Black Protestant voters often share religious views with white evangelicals , but they largely vote Democratic .
While evangelical voters are scattered across Pennsylvania , they are most concentrated in the vast T-shaped swath of farm and forest land outside the greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions .
“ It ’ s a strong , quiet undercurrent that will sweep the T again in huge numbers , ” said state Senate President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who represents a sparsely populated district along the New York border .
Larry Denver , who helped found the Faith and Freedom Coalition state chapter , said his enthusiasm for Trump has grown since 2016 .
Like many other evangelicals , Trump was not his first choice four years ago — he favored U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the Republican primary .
“ Throughout the scriptures , God has done most of his work through the most unlikely people , ” said Denver , a retired veteran from the Philadelphia suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not normally the ones you ’ d think would be involved.
” Trump is “ using white evangelicals , he ’ s playing on their anti-intellectualism , ” said John Fea , an American history professor at Messiah University outside Harrisburg and an evangelical churchgoer who has written extensively about evangelicals in politics and public life .
“ I feel that most white evangelicals who support Trump are often sacrificing the integrity of the office of the president , ” Fea said .
“ They ’ re supporting a person — the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has constantly played with racist language.
” Fea said Biden may be able to reach enough evangelicals to make a difference in a close race , particularly around Philadelphia , but he sees in evangelicals devotion to a political effort that has been entrenched for decades .
“ Is the political playbook going to hold up even with a corrupt guy who doesn ’ t hold our values ?
The answer is yes , the political playbook is the most important thing , ” Fea said .
Evangelicals often cite Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who championed evangelical issues while an Indiana congressman and governor , as a turning point in getting behind Trump .
They ’ ve noticed when Trump and Pence have brought up faith and made other religious references in public remarks .
“ We have a vice president that not only speaks our language but has shown day in and day out that he is a man of God , ” said Justin Behrens , an evangelical Christian who chairs the Republican Party in Luzerne County , which Trump flipped in 2016 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s reelection .
Trump needs his appeal to evangelicals to pay off ahead of the Nov. 3 election with campaign help , donations and the type of energy that makes someone persuade fence-sitting friends and neighbors .
Pasztor has been volunteering with the Trump Victory Faith Coalition ’ s local organization and organizing voter registration drives , poll workers and neighborhood networks within the evangelical community , to reach those who did not turn out for Trump in 2016 .
What remains to be seen is how the evangelical vote will play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic is limiting the informal Sunday political talk at churches .
Trump needs to energize that evangelical , churchgoing part of his base to claim Pennsylvania ’ s 20 electoral votes .
Evangelical voters “ tend to be competitive , they tend to be out front , they tend to be more involved , they go to rallies , ” said veteran Pennsylvania pollster Terry Madonna , a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College .
“ They are critical.
” ___ Associated Press polling reporter Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to @ @ @

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s homestretch push to repeat his razor thin victory in Pennsylvania four years ago won’t happen without white evangelicals, and there are signs that critical component of his coalition hasn’t lost the faith.
It’s a group that has often made the difference for Republicans on the Pennsylvania ballot. And while some born-again voters had misgivings about Trump in 2016, they helped him eke out a 44,000-vote margin of victory in the pivotal swing state. This time around, they sound eager to repay him for supporting their agenda.
Trump’s policies have helped keep in the fold evangelicals who otherwise might have been discomforted by his style. Their opinions on a range of political issues make them among the least likely voters to jump to former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrat.
A recent NBC News/Marist poll in Pennsylvania found 79% of white evangelicals saying they will vote for Trump in this year’s presidential election.
But Biden’s campaign hopes to make some inroads, with plans to launch an “evangelicals for Biden” effort next week, according to Josh Dickson, the campaign’s national faith engagement director.
“In this moment, there is a stark moral contrast between the common good values of the Biden-Harris agenda, which deeply aligns with the values of people of faith, and the agenda of the current administration, which is based in divisiveness and fear,” Dickson said in a statement.
The Biden campaign frames “the real religious issue” at stake as systemic racism, while evangelical Trump voters point to his support for anti-abortion efforts, including like-minded judicial appointees, along with school choice, religious freedom and the movement of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
“Many of us who support the president wish sometimes he didn’t say the things he did, wish he had a character more in line with scriptural teachings,” said Laszlo Pasztor, a retired military officer from Carlisle who organizes evangelicals politically. “Many of us say he’s a work in progress. However, his policies, nevertheless, have probably been more Christian than the policies of any president in my lifetime.”
Evangelicals, Christians who generally have had a “born again” personal religious conversion or awakening, form a significant slice of the electorate. They believe in the Bible as God’s literal word and embrace an activist aspect to their faith. Trump was raised as a Presbyterian, a mainline Protestant denomination, and Biden is a practicing Catholic.
White evangelical voters made up 17% of the 2018 midterm electorate in Pennsylvania, according to an AP VoteCast survey. And a Pew Research Center analysis found 20% of voters nationwide in the 2016 election were white evangelicals; 77% of them backed Trump. Black Protestant voters often share religious views with white evangelicals, but they largely vote Democratic.
While evangelical voters are scattered across Pennsylvania, they are most concentrated in the vast T-shaped swath of farm and forest land outside the greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions.
“It’s a strong, quiet undercurrent that will sweep the T again in huge numbers,” said state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Republican who represents a sparsely populated district along the New York border.
Larry Denver, who helped found the Faith and Freedom Coalition state chapter, said his enthusiasm for Trump has grown since 2016. Like many other evangelicals, Trump was not his first choice four years ago — he favored U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the Republican primary.
“Throughout the scriptures, God has done most of his work through the most unlikely people,” said Denver, a retired veteran from the Philadelphia suburbs. “The people he picks are not normally the ones you’d think would be involved.”
Trump is “using white evangelicals, he’s playing on their anti-intellectualism,” said John Fea, an American history professor at Messiah University outside Harrisburg and an evangelical churchgoer who has written extensively about evangelicals in politics and public life.
“I feel that most white evangelicals who support Trump are often sacrificing the integrity of the office of the president,” Fea said. “They’re supporting a person — the list goes on — a liar, someone who has constantly played with racist language.”
Fea said Biden may be able to reach enough evangelicals to make a difference in a close race, particularly around Philadelphia, but he sees in evangelicals devotion to a political effort that has been entrenched for decades.
“Is the political playbook going to hold up even with a corrupt guy who doesn’t hold our values? The answer is yes, the political playbook is the most important thing,” Fea said.
Evangelicals often cite Trump’s vice presidential selection of Mike Pence, who championed evangelical issues while an Indiana congressman and governor, as a turning point in getting behind Trump. They’ve noticed when Trump and Pence have brought up faith and made other religious references in public remarks.
“We have a vice president that not only speaks our language but has shown day in and day out that he is a man of God,” said Justin Behrens, an evangelical Christian who chairs the Republican Party in Luzerne County, which Trump flipped in 2016 with a 25-point swing from President Barack Obama’s reelection.
Trump needs his appeal to evangelicals to pay off ahead of the Nov. 3 election with campaign help, donations and the type of energy that makes someone persuade fence-sitting friends and neighbors.
Pasztor has been volunteering with the Trump Victory Faith Coalition’s local organization and organizing voter registration drives, poll workers and neighborhood networks within the evangelical community, to reach those who did not turn out for Trump in 2016.
What remains to be seen is how the evangelical vote will play out at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is limiting the informal Sunday political talk at churches. Trump needs to energize that evangelical, churchgoing part of his base to claim Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes.
Evangelical voters “tend to be competitive, they tend to be out front, they tend to be more involved, they go to rallies,” said veteran Pennsylvania pollster Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College. “They are critical.”
___
Associated Press polling reporter Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this story.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-20--How Arizona’s Senate Race Could Impact SCOTUS Confirmation Fight

PHOENIX ( AP ) — If Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly wins a seat in the U.S. Senate , he could take office as early as Nov. 30 , shrinking the GOP ’ s Senate majority at a crucial moment and complicating the path to confirmation for President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee .
Kelly has maintained a consistent polling lead over Republican Sen. Martha McSally , who was appointed to the seat held by John McCain , who died in 2018 .
Because the contest is a special election to finish McCain ’ s term , the winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results are officially certified .
Other winners in the November election won ’ t take office until January .
Trump has pledged to nominate a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a liberal icon who died Friday , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed that Trump ’ s nominee “ will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” If Kelly wins , the timing when he formally takes office could be crucial in determining who replaces Ginsburg .
It could eliminate a Republican vote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP currently has 53 seats in the 100-member chamber — or require McConnell to speed up the nomination process .
With McSally in the Senate , four GOP defections could defeat a nomination , while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence .
McSally quickly laid down a marker , declaring on Twitter within hours of the announcement of Ginsberg ’ s death that “ this U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump ’ s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
” She has not elaborated on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or after the election .
But she highlighted the renewed stakes of her race in a fundraising pitch on Saturday .
“ If Mark Kelly comes out on top , HE could block President Trump ’ s Supreme Court Nominee from being confirmed , ” she wrote .
Democrats in 2018 found success in Arizona , a state long dominated by the GOP , by appealing to Republicans and independent voters disaffected with Trump .
The Supreme Court vacancy could shake up the race and boost McSally ’ s lagging campaign by keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said late Saturday that “ the people elected to the presidency and Senate in November should fill this vacancy.
” “ When it comes to making a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court , Washington shouldn ’ t rush that process for political purposes , ” Kelly said in a statement .
Arizona law requires election results to be officially certified on the fourth Monday after the election , which falls this year on Nov. 30 .
The certification could be delayed up to three days if the state has not received election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mary O ’ Grady , a Democratic lawyer with expertise in election law , said the deadlines are firm and there ’ s little room for delay .
“ I don ’ t see ambiguity here , ” said O ’ Grady , who was Arizona ’ s solicitor general under two Democratic attorneys general .
Arizona law allows recounts and election challenges only under very limited circumstances , she said .
“ Usually , the Secretary of the Senate ’ s office goes out of its way to accommodate the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Historian Don Ritchie told The Arizona Republic , which first reported on the prospect for Kelly taking office early a day before Ginsburg ’ s death .
“ The old senator is out of their office there .
I mean , they actually literally put a lock on the door so their staff can ’ t go in .
”

PHOENIX (AP) — If Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly wins a seat in the U.S. Senate, he could take office as early as Nov. 30, shrinking the GOP’s Senate majority at a crucial moment and complicating the path to confirmation for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.
Kelly has maintained a consistent polling lead over Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat held by John McCain, who died in 2018.
Because the contest is a special election to finish McCain’s term, the winner could be sworn in as soon as the results are officially certified. Other winners in the November election won’t take office until January.
Trump has pledged to nominate a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon who died Friday, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed that Trump’s nominee “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
If Kelly wins, the timing when he formally takes office could be crucial in determining who replaces Ginsburg. It could eliminate a Republican vote in favor of Trump’s nominee — the GOP currently has 53 seats in the 100-member chamber — or require McConnell to speed up the nomination process.
With McSally in the Senate, four GOP defections could defeat a nomination, while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence.
McSally quickly laid down a marker, declaring on Twitter within hours of the announcement of Ginsberg’s death that “this U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump’s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.”
She has not elaborated on whether the confirmation vote should come before or after the election. But she highlighted the renewed stakes of her race in a fundraising pitch on Saturday.
“If Mark Kelly comes out on top, HE could block President Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee from being confirmed,” she wrote.
Democrats in 2018 found success in Arizona, a state long dominated by the GOP, by appealing to Republicans and independent voters disaffected with Trump. The Supreme Court vacancy could shake up the race and boost McSally’s lagging campaign by keeping those voters in her camp.
Kelly said late Saturday that “the people elected to the presidency and Senate in November should fill this vacancy.”
“When it comes to making a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, Washington shouldn’t rush that process for political purposes,” Kelly said in a statement.
Arizona law requires election results to be officially certified on the fourth Monday after the election, which falls this year on Nov. 30. The certification could be delayed up to three days if the state has not received election results from any of the 15 counties.
Mary O’Grady, a Democratic lawyer with expertise in election law, said the deadlines are firm and there’s little room for delay.
“I don’t see ambiguity here,” said O’Grady, who was Arizona’s solicitor general under two Democratic attorneys general.
Arizona law allows recounts and election challenges only under very limited circumstances, she said.
“Usually, the Secretary of the Senate’s office goes out of its way to accommodate the new senators coming in,” former Senate Historian Don Ritchie told The Arizona Republic, which first reported on the prospect for Kelly taking office early a day before Ginsburg’s death. “The old senator is out of their office there. I mean, they actually literally put a lock on the door so their staff can’t go in.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-20--Trump Pledges To Nominate A Woman Next Week To Fill Ginsburg Seat

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump is promising to put forth a female nominee in the coming week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay .
Taking the stage Saturday night at a North Carolina rally to chants of “ Fill that seat , ” the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats ’ objections .
And , after conducting what he joked was a “ very scientific poll ” of the Fayetteville crowd as to whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he declared the choice would be “ a very talented , very brilliant woman.
” He added that he did not yet know whom he would choose .
“ We win an election and those are the consequences , ” said the president , who then seemed to signal that he ’ d be willing to accept a vote on his nominee during the lame-duck period after the election .
“ We have a lot of time .
We have plenty of time .
We ’ re talking about January 20th.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranks .
Maine ’ s Susan Collins , who is in a tough reelection battle , said earlier Saturday that she believed replacing Ginsburg should be the decision of the president who is elected Nov. 3 .
Three more defections from the GOP ranks would be needed to stop Trump ’ s nominee from joining the court .
At stake is a seat held by a justice who was a champion of women ’ s rights and spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell , R-Ky. vowed to call a vote for Trump ’ s nominee , but Democrats countered that Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to consider a Supreme Court choice in the run-up to an election .
The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — scrambles the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people , left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call Friday night to bring the choice to a vote though he has not said if it would be before the election .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said any selection should come after Nov. 3 .
“ Voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider , ” he said .
Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance , but he has said he will not release names of possible nominees before the election .
Trump this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of potential court nominees , and aides in recent days have focused on a short list heavy on female candidates , according to four White House aides and officials close to the process .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations .
Those under close consideration for the high court include three women who are federal appeals court judges : Amy Coney Barrett , beloved among conservatives and an early favorite ; Barbara Lagoa , who is Hispanic and comes from the battleground state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and for Neil Gorsuch , when the current Trump-appointed justice was an appeals court judge .
At least one man , appeals court Judge Amul Thapar , has also been under consideration .
A McConnell ally from Kentucky , he has been screened by Trump ’ s team for past openings and he would be the first Asian American on the high court .
McConnell , who sets the calendar in the Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority , declared unequivocally in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confirmation vote .
In 2016 , McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama ’ s nominee months before the election , eventually preventing a vote on Judge Merrick Garland .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York convened a conference call with Democratic senators at midday Saturday , according to a person on the private call who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
He told senators the “ No .
1 goal ” must be to communicate the stakes of the confirmation vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push through the nominee , “ nothing is off the table ” for Senate rules changes to come , the person said .
Ginsburg ’ s death seemed certain to stoke enthusiasm in both political parties as the election could now be viewed as referendum on the high court ’ s decisions , including the future of abortion rights .
Democrats raised more than $ 71 million in the hours after Ginsburg ’ s death , indicating her passing has already galvanized the party ’ s base .
Hundreds of mourners gathered for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building , holding candles in honor of Ginsburg and listening to a succession of testimonies and rallying speeches .
Among the speakers was Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, who eulogized Ginsberg as “ an icon , a trailblazer and a friend ” and accused McConnell of seeking to cynically hijack the confirmation process .
“ Today Mitch McConnell and his henchmen think they can ram through a Supreme Court justice only 45 days before the election , ” Warren said .
“ What Mitch McConnell doesn ’ t understand is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in the Senate is not guaranteed , even with a Republican majority .
McConnell has launched a risky , unprecedented strategy .
It could motivate conservative voters to rally behind Trump and GOP senators or it could push away moderates who prefer to see the Senate stick to norms or are fearful of a right-leaning court stripping away women ’ s right to choose an abortion .
Typically , it takes several months to vet and hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee , and time is short before November .
Key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so close to the election .
With a slim GOP majority , 53 seats in the 100-member chamber , Trump ’ s choice could afford to lose only a few .
McConnell did not specify the timing .
But trying for confirmation in a lame-duck session after the Nov. 3 election , if Trump had lost to Biden or Republicans had lost the Senate , would carry further political complications .
Democrats immediately denounced McConnell ’ s move as hypocritical , pointing out that he refused to call hearings for Garland 237 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election is 46 days away .
The average number of days to confirm a justice , according to the Congressional Research Service , is 69 , which would be after the election .
But some Republicans quickly noted that Ginsburg was confirmed in just 42 days .
Obama waited more than a month to nominate Garland after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016 .
John Fischetti , who waited in line more than two hours to enter Trump ’ s Fayetteville rally , said replacing Ginsburg would inflame tensions but was within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would assume it would make everyone more energized , ” Fischetti said of the political repercussions .
“ Trump ’ s people want him to always press forward.
” Four GOP defections could defeat a nomination , while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence .
After Collins ’ decision , focus grew on Sens .
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah , who have been critical of Trump and protective of the institution of the Senate .
And because the Arizona Senate race is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be filled as early as Nov. 30 — which would narrow the window for McConnell if the Democratic candidate , Mark Kelly , wins .
The next pick could shape important decisions beyond abortion rights , including any legal challenges that may stem from the 2020 election .
In the interim , if the court were to take cases with eight justices , 4-4 ties would revert the decision to a lower court ; for instance , the Affordable Care Act could then be struck down by a lower Texas court .
Lemire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Montclair , New Jersey .
Additional reporting by Darlene Superville , Alexandra Jaffe and Ashraf Khalil in Washington and Kevin Freking and Bryan Anderson in Fayetteville , North Carolina .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is promising to put forth a female nominee in the coming week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay.
Taking the stage Saturday night at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat,” the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. And, after conducting what he joked was a “very scientific poll” of the Fayetteville crowd as to whether supporters wanted a man or a woman, he declared the choice would be “a very talented, very brilliant woman.”
He added that he did not yet know whom he would choose.
“We win an election and those are the consequences,” said the president, who then seemed to signal that he’d be willing to accept a vote on his nominee during the lame-duck period after the election. “We have a lot of time. We have plenty of time. We’re talking about January 20th.”
But one Republican senator had already broken ranks. Maine’s Susan Collins, who is in a tough reelection battle, said earlier Saturday that she believed replacing Ginsburg should be the decision of the president who is elected Nov. 3. Three more defections from the GOP ranks would be needed to stop Trump’s nominee from joining the court.
At stake is a seat held by a justice who was a champion of women’s rights and spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court’s liberal wing. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. vowed to call a vote for Trump’s nominee, but Democrats countered that Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to consider a Supreme Court choice in the run-up to an election.
The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — scrambles the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.
McConnell pledged to Trump in a phone call Friday night to bring the choice to a vote though he has not said if it would be before the election.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said any selection should come after Nov. 3. “Voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider,” he said. Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance, but he has said he will not release names of possible nominees before the election.
Trump this month added 20 more names to his roster of potential court nominees, and aides in recent days have focused on a short list heavy on female candidates, according to four White House aides and officials close to the process. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations.
Those under close consideration for the high court include three women who are federal appeals court judges: Amy Coney Barrett, beloved among conservatives and an early favorite; Barbara Lagoa, who is Hispanic and comes from the battleground state of Florida; and Allison Jones Rushing, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and for Neil Gorsuch, when the current Trump-appointed justice was an appeals court judge.
At least one man, appeals court Judge Amul Thapar, has also been under consideration. A McConnell ally from Kentucky, he has been screened by Trump’s team for past openings and he would be the first Asian American on the high court.
McConnell, who sets the calendar in the Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority, declared unequivocally in a statement that Trump’s nominee would receive a confirmation vote. In 2016, McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee months before the election, eventually preventing a vote on Judge Merrick Garland.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York convened a conference call with Democratic senators at midday Saturday, according to a person on the private call who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. He told senators the “No. 1 goal” must be to communicate the stakes of the confirmation vote.
Schumer also warned that if Republicans push through the nominee, “nothing is off the table” for Senate rules changes to come, the person said.
Ginsburg’s death seemed certain to stoke enthusiasm in both political parties as the election could now be viewed as referendum on the high court’s decisions, including the future of abortion rights. Democrats raised more than $71 million in the hours after Ginsburg’s death, indicating her passing has already galvanized the party’s base.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for a second night outside the Supreme Court building, holding candles in honor of Ginsburg and listening to a succession of testimonies and rallying speeches. Among the speakers was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who eulogized Ginsberg as “an icon, a trailblazer and a friend” and accused McConnell of seeking to cynically hijack the confirmation process.
“Today Mitch McConnell and his henchmen think they can ram through a Supreme Court justice only 45 days before the election,” Warren said. “What Mitch McConnell doesn’t understand is that the fight has just begun.”
A confirmation vote in the Senate is not guaranteed, even with a Republican majority.
McConnell has launched a risky, unprecedented strategy. It could motivate conservative voters to rally behind Trump and GOP senators or it could push away moderates who prefer to see the Senate stick to norms or are fearful of a right-leaning court stripping away women’s right to choose an abortion.
Typically, it takes several months to vet and hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee, and time is short before November. Key senators may be reluctant to cast votes so close to the election. With a slim GOP majority, 53 seats in the 100-member chamber, Trump’s choice could afford to lose only a few.
McConnell did not specify the timing. But trying for confirmation in a lame-duck session after the Nov. 3 election, if Trump had lost to Biden or Republicans had lost the Senate, would carry further political complications.
Democrats immediately denounced McConnell’s move as hypocritical, pointing out that he refused to call hearings for Garland 237 days before the 2016 election. The 2020 election is 46 days away.
The average number of days to confirm a justice, according to the Congressional Research Service, is 69, which would be after the election. But some Republicans quickly noted that Ginsburg was confirmed in just 42 days. Obama waited more than a month to nominate Garland after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016.
John Fischetti, who waited in line more than two hours to enter Trump’s Fayetteville rally, said replacing Ginsburg would inflame tensions but was within the president’s rights.
“I would assume it would make everyone more energized,” Fischetti said of the political repercussions. “Trump’s people want him to always press forward.”
Four GOP defections could defeat a nomination, while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. After Collins’ decision, focus grew on Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah, who have been critical of Trump and protective of the institution of the Senate.
And because the Arizona Senate race is a special election, that seat could be filled as early as Nov. 30 — which would narrow the window for McConnell if the Democratic candidate, Mark Kelly, wins.
The next pick could shape important decisions beyond abortion rights, including any legal challenges that may stem from the 2020 election. In the interim, if the court were to take cases with eight justices, 4-4 ties would revert the decision to a lower court; for instance, the Affordable Care Act could then be struck down by a lower Texas court.
___
Lemire reported from New York. Peoples reported from Montclair, New Jersey. Additional reporting by Darlene Superville, Alexandra Jaffe and Ashraf Khalil in Washington and Kevin Freking and Bryan Anderson in Fayetteville, North Carolina.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Vance: We Could Also Investigate Trump For Tax Fraud

The Manhattan district attorney suggested Monday that a wide-ranging probe of President Trump and the Trump organization may include tax fraud .
Tax fraud adds to the list of crimes that Cyrus Vance has suggested could be the focus his probe of the Trump organization .
A New York state grand jury issued a subpoena last year for financial records to Mazars USA LLP , the longtime accountant for President Trump and the Trump organization .
Vance wrote in a brief before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that there were more than enough public reports and allegations of wrongdoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal probe .
“ In particular , if misstatements about business properties , wherever located , were conveyed from that business ’ s headquarters in New York to New York-based business partners , insurers , potential lenders , or tax authorities , those misstatements could establish New York crimes such as , ” scheme to defraud , falsifying business records , insurance fraud , and criminal tax fraud , Vance wrote in the filing .
Vance had previously suggested that the probe covers allegations of insurance fraud .
In raising the possibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that President Trump ’ s former attorney Michael Cohen had testified that his old boss would alter the book value of his properties to receive tax benefits .
The admission came as the legal fight over the grand jury subpoena for President Trump ’ s financial records drags on into its second year .
President Trump has been wildly successful in preventing anyone from gaining any level of access to his financial records , deploying squads of private attorneys and the Justice Department to fend off requests from Congress and New York state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump sued in August 2019 to block Mazars from complying with the subpoena .
After the Supreme Court struck down Trump ’ s first bid to throw out the subpoena ( in which his attorney famously argued that the NYPD could not investigate Trump for shooting someone on Fifth Avenue while in office ) , it gave the President leave to file further arguments at the district court level .
Those arguments are now winding the familiar path back up to the Supreme Court .

The Manhattan district attorney suggested Monday that a wide-ranging probe of President Trump and the Trump organization may include tax fraud.
Tax fraud adds to the list of crimes that Cyrus Vance has suggested could be the focus his probe of the Trump organization. A New York state grand jury issued a subpoena last year for financial records to Mazars USA LLP, the longtime accountant for President Trump and the Trump organization.
Vance wrote in a brief before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that there were more than enough public reports and allegations of wrongdoing at the Trump Organization to justify a criminal probe.
“In particular, if misstatements about business properties, wherever located, were conveyed from that business’s headquarters in New York to New York-based business partners, insurers, potential lenders, or tax authorities, those misstatements could establish New York crimes such as,” scheme to defraud, falsifying business records, insurance fraud, and criminal tax fraud, Vance wrote in the filing.
Vance had previously suggested that the probe covers allegations of insurance fraud.
In raising the possibility of a tax fraud probe, Vance noted that President Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen had testified that his old boss would alter the book value of his properties to receive tax benefits.
The admission came as the legal fight over the grand jury subpoena for President Trump’s financial records drags on into its second year. President Trump has been wildly successful in preventing anyone from gaining any level of access to his financial records, deploying squads of private attorneys and the Justice Department to fend off requests from Congress and New York state prosecutors.
Using personal attorneys, President Trump sued in August 2019 to block Mazars from complying with the subpoena.
After the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s first bid to throw out the subpoena (in which his attorney famously argued that the NYPD could not investigate Trump for shooting someone on Fifth Avenue while in office), it gave the President leave to file further arguments at the district court level.
Those arguments are now winding the familiar path back up to the Supreme Court.
Read the filing here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--DeSantis Unveils New Legislation Cracking Down On ‘Scraggly-Looking Antifa Types’

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) put on an elaborate display of chest-thumping on Monday , announcing a legislative proposal to protect his state from the “ lawlessness ” he said was on display around the country .
Flanked by a pack of sheriffs and police chiefs , DeSantis said the proposal was meant to send a message : “ We are not going to let Florida go down the road that some of these other places have gone.
” Among other things , according to a summary of the proposed law , protesters who obstruct roadways could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any drivers that run them over won ’ t be held liable for injury or death if they are “ fleeing for safety from a mob.
” Toppling monuments would be a 2nd degree felony under the new law , and harassing someone at a public accommodation , such as a restaurant , while part of a disorderly assembly would be a 1st degree misdemeanor .
The law would require the state to withhold funds from any locality that , in the summary ’ s words , “ slashes the budget for law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion at who the proposal targeted , the governor criticized “ lawless jurisdictions ” around the country and referred to “ scraggly-looking antifa types ” who ’ d been arrested at protests in Portland and then released .
“ Antifa ” refers to anti-fascist protesters .
“ Are you going to stand with victims , are you going to stand with law enforcement , are you going to stand with law and order and safe communities ?
” he asked separately , referring to candidates for office .
“ Or are you going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state ’ s incoming House speaker , Rep. Chris Sprowls ( R ) also referred to the purported “ lawlessness ” in some of the country ’ s largest cities .
“ Downtown Manhattan looks more like an illustration of Gotham City than it does the heartbeat of America ’ s financial center , ” he said .
Perhaps most elaborate in the “ Law and Order ” -branded package was a proposal to pursue “ RICO liability ” for “ anyone who organizes or funds a violent or disorderly assembly.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law used to go after organized criminal enterprises , the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act .
DeSantis didn ’ t provide much detail on that aspect of the proposal at his press conference , but he pointed to “ people that will come from all across the country ” to be violent at protests .
“ We ’ re going to figure out who ’ s organizing and who ’ s funding that , and we ’ ll hold them accountable , ” he said , later referring to unproven and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategically placing pallets of bricks near protests in order to encourage violence .
“ There are cities where there are just bricks , just dropped off , like on a city corner , ” DeSantis said , without specifying further .
“ Where ’ s that coming from ?
Where are you getting — Who ’ s funding just dropping bricks so people can go grab bricks ?
It seems like an odd thing to do.
” FactCheck.org , Snopes and other fact-checkers found no evidence of bricks being staged for protest violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity in June , in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd .
DeSantis pitched the proposal as a blunt instrument to support law enforcement .
Pointing over his shoulder to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd , the governor said “ we ’ ll back up the law enforcement because we know that they ’ re going to be the first one on the call when somebody is in jeopardy.
” Judd was a curious example , given the video clip that shot him to viral stardom this summer : At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that citizens would take matters into their own hands if they encountered “ criminals ” in their neighborhoods .
“ The people of Polk County like guns , ” he said .
“ They have guns .
I encourage them to own guns .
And they ’ re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded .
And if you try to break into their homes to steal , to set fires , I ’ m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically Judd was referring to at the time — he referred only to “ information on social media ” — but news broke the same day that Identity Evropa , a white nationalist group , had posed as an anti-fascist group on Twitter and threatened to “ move into the residential areas ” and “ the white hoods ” to commit violence .

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) put on an elaborate display of chest-thumping on Monday, announcing a legislative proposal to protect his state from the “lawlessness” he said was on display around the country.
Flanked by a pack of sheriffs and police chiefs, DeSantis said the proposal was meant to send a message: “We are not going to let Florida go down the road that some of these other places have gone.”
Among other things, according to a summary of the proposed law, protesters who obstruct roadways could face a 3rd degree felony — and any drivers that run them over won’t be held liable for injury or death if they are “fleeing for safety from a mob.”
Toppling monuments would be a 2nd degree felony under the new law, and harassing someone at a public accommodation, such as a restaurant, while part of a disorderly assembly would be a 1st degree misdemeanor. The law would require the state to withhold funds from any locality that, in the summary’s words, “slashes the budget for law enforcement services.”
Lest there be any confusion at who the proposal targeted, the governor criticized “lawless jurisdictions” around the country and referred to “scraggly-looking antifa types” who’d been arrested at protests in Portland and then released. “Antifa” refers to anti-fascist protesters.
“Are you going to stand with victims, are you going to stand with law enforcement, are you going to stand with law and order and safe communities?” he asked separately, referring to candidates for office. “Or are you going to stand with the mob?”
The state’s incoming House speaker, Rep. Chris Sprowls (R) also referred to the purported “lawlessness” in some of the country’s largest cities.
“Downtown Manhattan looks more like an illustration of Gotham City than it does the heartbeat of America’s financial center,” he said.
Perhaps most elaborate in the “Law and Order”-branded package was a proposal to pursue “RICO liability” for “anyone who organizes or funds a violent or disorderly assembly.” RICO is a reference to the federal law used to go after organized criminal enterprises, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
DeSantis didn’t provide much detail on that aspect of the proposal at his press conference, but he pointed to “people that will come from all across the country” to be violent at protests.
“We’re going to figure out who’s organizing and who’s funding that, and we’ll hold them accountable,” he said, later referring to unproven and in some cases debunked theories about bad actors strategically placing pallets of bricks near protests in order to encourage violence.
“There are cities where there are just bricks, just dropped off, like on a city corner,” DeSantis said, without specifying further. “Where’s that coming from? Where are you getting — Who’s funding just dropping bricks so people can go grab bricks? It seems like an odd thing to do.”
FactCheck.org, Snopes and other fact-checkers found no evidence of bricks being staged for protest violence back when rumors were swirling about such activity in June, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
DeSantis pitched the proposal as a blunt instrument to support law enforcement. Pointing over his shoulder to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the governor said “we’ll back up the law enforcement because we know that they’re going to be the first one on the call when somebody is in jeopardy.”
Judd was a curious example, given the video clip that shot him to viral stardom this summer: At a June 1 press conference, he warned that citizens would take matters into their own hands if they encountered “criminals” in their neighborhoods.
“The people of Polk County like guns,” he said. “They have guns. I encourage them to own guns. And they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded. And if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.”
It wasn’t clear what specifically Judd was referring to at the time — he referred only to “information on social media” — but news broke the same day that Identity Evropa, a white nationalist group, had posed as an anti-fascist group on Twitter and threatened to “move into the residential areas” and “the white hoods” to commit violence.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Sen. Loeffler Has A Weird New Ad Bragging She’s ‘More Conservative Than Attila The Hun’

One of history ’ s most brutal conquerors has nothing on Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) , the Republican @ @ @ @ @ in a new 30-second TV spot released on Monday .
In the ad , a @ @ @ @ @ at Loeffler ’ s credentials as the “ the most conservative senator in America.
” @ @ @ @ @ conservative than Attila the Hun , ” a man declares .
Cut to the inside @ @ @ @ @ a sword-wielding Attila the Hun is dictating a fearsome to-do list in a series of @ @ @ @ @ scribe .
“ ‘ Fight China.
’ Got it , ” the scribe says aloud @ @ @ @ @ Eliminate the liberal scribes , ' ” he writes , then slowly turns to look @ @ @ @ @ Uh oh.
” Caitlin O ’ Dea , the press secretary for the Loeffler campaign @ @ @ @ @ a “ statewide TV buy !
” ( emphasis hers ) in an email to @ @

One of history’s most brutal conquerors has nothing on Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), the Republican senator’s campaign boasts in a new 30-second TV spot released on Monday.
In the ad, a pair of modern-day Americans marvel at Loeffler’s credentials as the “the most conservative senator in America.”
“She’s more conservative than Attila the Hun,” a man declares.
Cut to the inside of a war tent where a sword-wielding Attila the Hun is dictating a fearsome to-do list in a series of unintelligible grunts to a behatted scribe.
“‘Fight China.’ Got it,” the scribe says aloud while writing.
Grunt.
“‘Attack big government,'” the scribe writes.
More grunting.
“‘Eliminate the liberal scribes,'” he writes, then slowly turns to look at the camera. “Uh oh.”
Caitlin O’Dea, the press secretary for the Loeffler campaign, described the spot as a “statewide TV buy!” (emphasis hers) in an email to TPM.
Watch the ad below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--DeJoy’s ‘Institutional Confusion’ Could Undermine Election, Judge Says In Order

The United States Postal Service has been so severely mismanaged that a federal judge said Monday that he needs to step in and make sure voters aren ’ t negatively impacted .
In a preliminary injunction order Monday , U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero , of the Southern District of New York , called out “ a stunning lack of uniformity and a high level of confusion at various points in the USPS hierarchy regarding the standards to be followed by USPS employees on the ground.
” Rather than focusing on guaranteeing Americans ’ right to vote , Marrero wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump “ have not provided trusted assurance and comfort that citizens will be able to cast ballots with full confidence that their votes will be timely collected and counted.
” At issue are a series of polices from DeJoy , such as cutting back on overtime and late trips , that have slowed mail delivery and , according to the August lawsuit from a group of voters and political candidates , threatened the integrity of the 2020 elections .
Marrero ordered both sides to come to a settlement consistent with his opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose the order himself .
The court ’ s order that the Postal Service halt certain policies follows another order out of Washington last week , in which U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian asserted that “ at the heart of DeJoy ’ s and the Postal Service ’ s actions is voter disenfranchisement.
” Though not as fiery as Bastian ’ s , Marrero ’ s order added additional constraints on the Postal Service .
For example , Marrero wrote that USPS would need to pre-approve all overtime requested for Oct. 26 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivering ballots to election officials .
It also needs to clarify to employees that , contrary to one high-profile policy of DeJoy ’ s , “ late and extra trips are not banned , do not require pre-approval , and will not result in disciplinary action.
” In fact , Marrero wrote , DeJoy needed to clarify to USPS employees that late and extra trips to deliver election mail are “ encouraged.
” “ If the Postal Service ’ s mail delivery levels remain at current levels or continue to decline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such curtailed performance would put the ability of voters to timely cast their ballots at risk , ” he wrote .
DeJoy last month tried to calm the panic his policies created by saying he was pausing some of them .
But as Judge Marrero wrote , “ USPS ’ s purported rollback of ‘ nearly all ’ policies linked to mail delays is either incompletely implemented , inadequately communicated throughout the organization , or unreliable.
” “ The institutional confusion in Postal Service communications , operations , and practices that Plaintiffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .

The United States Postal Service has been so severely mismanaged that a federal judge said Monday that he needs to step in and make sure voters aren’t negatively impacted.
In a preliminary injunction order Monday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, of the Southern District of New York, called out “a stunning lack of uniformity and a high level of confusion at various points in the USPS hierarchy regarding the standards to be followed by USPS employees on the ground.”
Rather than focusing on guaranteeing Americans’ right to vote, Marrero wrote, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and President Donald Trump “have not provided trusted assurance and comfort that citizens will be able to cast ballots with full confidence that their votes will be timely collected and counted.”
At issue are a series of polices from DeJoy, such as cutting back on overtime and late trips, that have slowed mail delivery and, according to the August lawsuit from a group of voters and political candidates, threatened the integrity of the 2020 elections.
Marrero ordered both sides to come to a settlement consistent with his opinion by Friday, or else he would impose the order himself.
The court’s order that the Postal Service halt certain policies follows another order out of Washington last week, in which U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian asserted that “at the heart of DeJoy’s and the Postal Service’s actions is voter disenfranchisement.”
Though not as fiery as Bastian’s, Marrero’s order added additional constraints on the Postal Service.
For example, Marrero wrote that USPS would need to pre-approve all overtime requested for Oct. 26 through Nov. 6 — crunch time for collecting and delivering ballots to election officials. It also needs to clarify to employees that, contrary to one high-profile policy of DeJoy’s, “late and extra trips are not banned, do not require pre-approval, and will not result in disciplinary action.”
In fact, Marrero wrote, DeJoy needed to clarify to USPS employees that late and extra trips to deliver election mail are “encouraged.”
“If the Postal Service’s mail delivery levels remain at current levels or continue to decline, under operational policies apparently still in place, such curtailed performance would put the ability of voters to timely cast their ballots at risk,” he wrote.
DeJoy last month tried to calm the panic his policies created by saying he was pausing some of them. But as Judge Marrero wrote, “USPS’s purported rollback of ‘nearly all’ policies linked to mail delays is either incompletely implemented, inadequately communicated throughout the organization, or unreliable.”
“The institutional confusion in Postal Service communications, operations, and practices that Plaintiffs have identified can serve no legitimate purpose,” he said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Judicial Crisis Network Seeks To Bolster Vulnerable GOP Senators With SCOTUS Ad Buy

The Judicial Crisis Network announced Monday that it will spend $ 2.2 million on an ad campaign in support of President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) attempts to ram her confirmation through the Senate .
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday , stoking Democratic panic and leaving an open seat less than two months before Election Day .
According to a release , the ads will run in Colorado , Iowa , Maine , North Carolina , Utah and Washington D.C. Unsurprisingly , those states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neck-and-neck races and who may have the most to lose politically from joining in the confirmation effort — think Sens .
Cory Gardner ( R-CO ) , Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) and Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) .
They also include Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) and Susan Collins ( R-ME ) who some Democrats are holding out hope will block the confirmation process altogether .
The Judicial Crisis Network spent millions on ad buys supporting the nominations of Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch as well .
Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , though White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said it could be announced as early as Tuesday .
Trump has announced that he will pick a woman to be his nominee , and much early buzz is swirling around Amy Coney Barrett , a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge from Indiana .
Based on the record-breaking influx of donations to Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue , Democrats are responding strongly to Ginsburg ’ s death , which left McConnell free to enable a 6-3 conservative majority on the Court , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trapped in the Senate minority , leaving them limited tools to stop Republicans from sprinting through the confirmation before a potential President Joe Biden could hypothetically take over .
McConnell wasted little time in shrugging off accusations of hypocrisy and showing that he has no qualms about breaking his own excuse of proximity to the election that he used to thinly cover the power play of blocking President Barack Obama ’ s nominee , Merrick Garland , from the bench in 2016 .
“ Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary , ” McConnell said in a statement .
“ Once again , we will keep our promise.
” Some are suggesting that Democrats ’ only remedy would be to add seats to the Supreme Court in the case of a Biden win , a move taken in the 19th century and floated in the 1930s that would help balance out the conservative power .
Democratic leadership is considering the tactic .
“ We basically have kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dick Durbin ( D-IL ) told CNN .
“ We ’ d rather see this go through the regular process that Senator McConnell announced four years ago and that all of the Republicans stepped forward and said that we believe in this approach : We don ’ t fill vacancies on the Supreme Court in the last year of a president ’ s term .
”

The Judicial Crisis Network announced Monday that it will spend $2.2 million on an ad campaign in support of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) attempts to ram her confirmation through the Senate.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday, stoking Democratic panic and leaving an open seat less than two months before Election Day.
According to a release, the ads will run in Colorado, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Utah and Washington D.C. Unsurprisingly, those states cover many vulnerable Republicans who are in neck-and-neck races and who may have the most to lose politically from joining in the confirmation effort — think Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). They also include Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) who some Democrats are holding out hope will block the confirmation process altogether.
The Judicial Crisis Network spent millions on ad buys supporting the nominations of Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch as well.
Trump said that he will unveil his nominee late this week, though White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said it could be announced as early as Tuesday.
Trump has announced that he will pick a woman to be his nominee, and much early buzz is swirling around Amy Coney Barrett, a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge from Indiana.
Based on the record-breaking influx of donations to Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, Democrats are responding strongly to Ginsburg’s death, which left McConnell free to enable a 6-3 conservative majority on the Court, which could potentially endure for decades. Democrats are trapped in the Senate minority, leaving them limited tools to stop Republicans from sprinting through the confirmation before a potential President Joe Biden could hypothetically take over.
McConnell wasted little time in shrugging off accusations of hypocrisy and showing that he has no qualms about breaking his own excuse of proximity to the election that he used to thinly cover the power play of blocking President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, from the bench in 2016.
“Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary,” McConnell said in a statement. “Once again, we will keep our promise.”
Some are suggesting that Democrats’ only remedy would be to add seats to the Supreme Court in the case of a Biden win, a move taken in the 19th century and floated in the 1930s that would help balance out the conservative power. Democratic leadership is considering the tactic.
“We basically have kept options open,” Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told CNN. “We’d rather see this go through the regular process that Senator McConnell announced four years ago and that all of the Republicans stepped forward and said that we believe in this approach: We don’t fill vacancies on the Supreme Court in the last year of a president’s term.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Judge Throws Out Trump Camp Lawsuit To Stop NV From Sending Mail-In Ballots To Voters

U.S. District Judge James Mahan on Monday threw out the Trump campaign ’ s lawsuit over Nevada ’ s vote-by-mail measure that directs all local elections officials to send mail-in ballots to all of the registered voters in the state .
Mahan ruled that the Trump campaign , along with the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) and the Nevada GOP , “ make no showing ” of an unfair advantage against GOP candidates caused by the measure , known as Assembly Bill 4 ( AB 4 ) .
The judge described the plaintiffs ’ claims–that voting by mail hurts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote count–as “ generalized and speculative.
” “ Plaintiffs never describe how their member voters will be harmed by vote dilution where other voters will not , ” Mahan wrote .
Republican candidates “ face no harms that are unique from their electoral opponents.
” The lawsuit was filed against Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske , who oversees the mail-in voting process and is also a Republican .
In his repeated attacks against AB 4 , Trump has falsely claimed that Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak , who signed the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The President has repeatedly peddled debunked conspiracy theories about mail-in voting , alleging that it allows Democrats to cheat elections .
“ I ’ m pleased to see a federal court judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block AB4 , a measure passed to expand options for Nevadans and provide for safe , fair & accessible elections during the pandemic , ” the governor tweeted .
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II said the dismissal was a “ win for democracy ” in a statement .
“ Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting voting options for one clear reason : Republicans will lose if more Nevadans vote in this election , ” McCurdy said .
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment .

U.S. District Judge James Mahan on Monday threw out the Trump campaign’s lawsuit over Nevada’s vote-by-mail measure that directs all local elections officials to send mail-in ballots to all of the registered voters in the state.
Mahan ruled that the Trump campaign, along with the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Nevada GOP, “make no showing” of an unfair advantage against GOP candidates caused by the measure, known as Assembly Bill 4 (AB 4).
The judge described the plaintiffs’ claims–that voting by mail hurts Republicans and that mail-in ballots illegally distort the vote count–as “generalized and speculative.”
“Plaintiffs never describe how their member voters will be harmed by vote
dilution where other voters will not,” Mahan wrote. Republican candidates “face no harms that are unique from their electoral opponents.”
The lawsuit was filed against Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, who oversees the mail-in voting process and is also a Republican.
In his repeated attacks against AB 4, Trump has falsely claimed that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, who signed the measure, is in charge of the ballots. The President has repeatedly peddled debunked conspiracy theories about mail-in voting, alleging that it allows Democrats to cheat elections.
Sisolak praised Mahan’s ruling on Twitter.
“I’m pleased to see a federal court judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block AB4, a measure passed to expand options for Nevadans and provide for safe, fair & accessible elections during the pandemic,” the governor tweeted.
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II said the dismissal was a “win for democracy” in a statement.
“Donald Trump and Republicans have been hell bent on limiting voting options for one clear reason: Republicans will lose if more Nevadans vote in this election,” McCurdy said.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--CDC Abruptly Yanks Long-Awaited Guidance That COVID Spreads Via Air

After briefly acknowledging that the virus which causes COVID-19 spreads via the air , the Centers for Disease Control abruptly took down the post .
In a section of the agency ’ s website titled “ How COVID Spreads , ” the CDC acknowledged for the first time that “ droplets and airborne particles ” can stay in the air and infect others – a mode of spread that has been supported by widespread evidence for months , and which President Trump acknowledged in a February phone call with Bob Woodward .
“ In general , indoor environments without good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance read .
But on Monday , the CDC removed the guidance , saying that it had been “ posted in error.
” “ CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 ( the virus that causes COVID-19 ) , ” the note reads .
The sudden veering away from widely accepted scientific guidance comes after months of scandal at the CDC , revolving around various episodes in which Trump administration appointees have contorted the agency ’ s recommendations to match political exigencies .
In fact , this is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s website has played a role in these scandals .
The agency took down guidance on its website last week which advised against testing asymptomatic people who had been in close contact with those infected , a piece of faulty advice that was widely seen as an effort to dampen testing numbers in the run-up to the presidential election .
The role that aerosol transmission plays in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 is extremely important .
Whereas droplets can only spread short distances , viruses that transmit via smaller , lighter aerosols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some researchers have argued that this mode of transmission partly explains how and why the disease has spread so quickly .
But the significance is not limited to scientific understanding alone .
The recommendations that come with aerosol transmission are far more restrictive , including the closure of many indoor activities where masks are impossible to wear .
The now-removed CDC guidance cited “ choir practice , in restaurants , or in fitness classes ” as situations that were particularly dangerous .
Beneath the message claiming that the post had been made in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggesting that the virus “ is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person ” and that “ we are still learning about how the virus sreads and the severity of illness it causes.
” The official U.S. death toll from the virus passed 200,000 this weekend .
The change also comes after the departure of GOP operative Michael Caputo from the post of assistant sectary for communications at Health and Human Services , which oversees the CDC .
Caputo took a 60-day leave after reporting showing that he and an aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the spread of COVID-19 and after he ranted on a Facebook Live broadcast that the CDC was composed of leftist hit squads .
Aerosol transmission also means that social distancing and extensive ventilation would be required before opening indoor establishments like schools , restaurants , and gyms to allow enough airflow and separation to diminish the likelihood of catching the deadly virus .
Experts in epidemiology and infectious disease have argued for months that COVID-19 spreads via the air , citing case studies of outbreaks in which unmasked people fell ill with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who was infected .
The CDC itself has published much of the evidence to that effect , including a notorious case involving a choir rehearsal in Washington state in which case half of the 61 people at the practice were infected .
The World Health Organization acknowledged that the virus spreads via aerosol in July , in a move that was widely panned for being far too late and behind the science .

After briefly acknowledging that the virus which causes COVID-19 spreads via the air, the Centers for Disease Control abruptly took down the post.
In a section of the agency’s website titled “How COVID Spreads,” the CDC acknowledged for the first time that “droplets and airborne particles” can stay in the air and infect others – a mode of spread that has been supported by widespread evidence for months, and which President Trump acknowledged in a February phone call with Bob Woodward.
“In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk,” the guidance read.
But on Monday, the CDC removed the guidance, saying that it had been “posted in error.”
“CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19),” the note reads.
The sudden veering away from widely accepted scientific guidance comes after months of scandal at the CDC, revolving around various episodes in which Trump administration appointees have contorted the agency’s recommendations to match political exigencies.
In fact, this is not the first time that the CDC’s website has played a role in these scandals. The agency took down guidance on its website last week which advised against testing asymptomatic people who had been in close contact with those infected, a piece of faulty advice that was widely seen as an effort to dampen testing numbers in the run-up to the presidential election.
The role that aerosol transmission plays in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 is extremely important. Whereas droplets can only spread short distances, viruses that transmit via smaller, lighter aerosols can infect people much further away. Some researchers have argued that this mode of transmission partly explains how and why the disease has spread so quickly.
But the significance is not limited to scientific understanding alone. The recommendations that come with aerosol transmission are far more restrictive, including the closure of many indoor activities where masks are impossible to wear. The now-removed CDC guidance cited “choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes” as situations that were particularly dangerous.
Beneath the message claiming that the post had been made in error, the CDC added more language suggesting that the virus “is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person” and that “we are still learning about how the virus sreads and the severity of illness it causes.”
The official U.S. death toll from the virus passed 200,000 this weekend.
The change also comes after the departure of GOP operative Michael Caputo from the post of assistant sectary for communications at Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC. Caputo took a 60-day leave after reporting showing that he and an aide demanded editorial control over weekly CDC reports on the spread of COVID-19 and after he ranted on a Facebook Live broadcast that the CDC was composed of leftist hit squads.
Aerosol transmission also means that social distancing and extensive ventilation would be required before opening indoor establishments like schools, restaurants, and gyms to allow enough airflow and separation to diminish the likelihood of catching the deadly virus.
Experts in epidemiology and infectious disease have argued for months that COVID-19 spreads via the air, citing case studies of outbreaks in which unmasked people fell ill with COVID-19 after spending time indoors and nearby someone who was infected.
The CDC itself has published much of the evidence to that effect, including a notorious case involving a choir rehearsal in Washington state in which case half of the 61 people at the practice were infected.
The World Health Organization acknowledged that the virus spreads via aerosol in July, in a move that was widely panned for being far too late and behind the science.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Ginsburg To Lie In Repose Outside SCOTUS Building On Wednesday And Thursday

Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose outside the Supreme Court in Washington , D.C. on @ @ @ @ @ court announced on Monday morning .
According to SCOTUS spokesperson Kathleen Arberg , there will @ @ @ @ @ service inside the building for Ginsburg ’ s friends and family , along with her @ @ @ @ @ morning .
After the ceremony , Ginsburg will be brought outside to lie in repose @ @ @ @ @ top of the steps on Wednesday through Thursday .
She will be buried during a @ @ @ @ @ Arlington National Cemetery , the court stated .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) @ @ @ @ @ late justice will lie in state in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol @ @ @ @ @ will be held that morning , which will be limited to invited guests only due @ @ @ @ @ of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87 on Friday night .

Late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday and Thursday, the court announced on Monday morning.
According to SCOTUS spokesperson Kathleen Arberg, there will first be a private memorial service inside the building for Ginsburg’s friends and family, along with her fellow justices, on Wednesday morning.
After the ceremony, Ginsburg will be brought outside to lie in repose for public viewing at the top of the steps on Wednesday through Thursday.
She will be buried during a private service next week at Arlington National Cemetery, the court stated.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Monday that the late justice will lie in state in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol on Friday. A ceremony will be held that morning, which will be limited to invited guests only due to COVID-19.
Ginsburg died of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87 on Friday night.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--NYC, Seattle, Portland Are ‘Permitting Anarchy’ Because They Snubbed Feds, Barr Whines

In the latest episode of President Donald Trump ’ s months-long effort to paint liberal cities as violent , lawless hellholes , Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday declared that New York City , Seattle and Portland were “ permitting anarchy.
” The new label from Barr came three weeks after the President ordered the attorney general to identify local governments “ that are permitting anarchy , violence and destruction in American cities.
” Trump ’ s order itself also singled out New York , Portland and Seattle .
In a statement , Barr made a vague threat about stripping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though it ’ s still not clear what form that would take .
The U.S. Conference of Mayors said in a letter earlier this month that Trump ’ s order “ has no legal standing ” and that any move to defund cities would be challenged in court .
“ We can not allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance , ” Barr said , accusing local leadership of impeding law enforcement .
“ It is my hope that the cities identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens , ” he added .
In Trump ’ s Sept. 2 order to Barr , instructing him to identify cities that were “ permitting anarchy , ” the President said his administration would seek to strip funding from cities “ that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones.
” Trump was more direct on Twitter , calling out “ weak mayors ” that “ let anarchists harm people.
” But the administration ’ s criteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction disempowers or defunds police departments ” and whether a jurisdiction “ unreasonably refuses to accept law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government ” — as well as “ any other related factors the Attorney General deems appropriate.
” For now , Barr said , New York , Seattle and Portland fit the bill .
He ticked through each city ’ s sins .
New York , the attorney general noted , “ transfer [ red ] of certain police functions , including school safety , out of the NYPD.
” And Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) , Barr whined , “ have forcefully rejected federal law enforcement support.
” In Portland , where this summer ’ s surge in federal forces came despite local opposition , Barr noted the city council ’ s June vote to slash $ 15 million from the police budget .
( The current police budget is more than $ 240 million , and COVID-19 has gutted tax revenue . )
Barr cited the short-lived “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ” as partial grounds for condemning Seattle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ( D ) and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D ) “ publicly rejected federal involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle.
” Correction : This article originally misstated Jay Inslee ’ s title .
He is the governor of Washington , not Oregon .

In the latest episode of President Donald Trump’s months-long effort to paint liberal cities as violent, lawless hellholes, Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday declared that New York City, Seattle and Portland were “permitting anarchy.”
The new label from Barr came three weeks after the President ordered the attorney general to identify local governments “that are permitting anarchy, violence and destruction in American cities.” Trump’s order itself also singled out New York, Portland and Seattle.
In a statement, Barr made a vague threat about stripping federal funds from the cities as punishment, though it’s still not clear what form that would take. The U.S. Conference of Mayors said in a letter earlier this month that Trump’s order “has no legal standing” and that any move to defund cities would be challenged in court.
“We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance,” Barr said, accusing local leadership of impeding law enforcement.
“It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens,” he added.
In Trump’s Sept. 2 order to Barr, instructing him to identify cities that were “permitting anarchy,” the President said his administration would seek to strip funding from cities “that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones.”
Trump was more direct on Twitter, calling out “weak mayors” that “let anarchists harm people.”
But the administration’s criteria were scattershot and included “whether a jurisdiction disempowers or defunds police departments” and whether a jurisdiction “unreasonably refuses to accept law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government” — as well as “any other related factors the Attorney General deems appropriate.”
For now, Barr said, New York, Seattle and Portland fit the bill. He ticked through each city’s sins.
New York, the attorney general noted, “transfer[red] of certain police functions, including school safety, out of the NYPD.” And Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), Barr whined, “have forcefully rejected federal law enforcement support.”
In Portland, where this summer’s surge in federal forces came despite local opposition, Barr noted the city council’s June vote to slash $15 million from the police budget. (The current police budget is more than $240 million, and COVID-19 has gutted tax revenue.)
Barr cited the short-lived “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” as partial grounds for condemning Seattle. And, of course, he noted that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (D) and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) “publicly rejected federal involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle.”
Correction: This article originally misstated Jay Inslee’s title. He is the governor of Washington, not Oregon.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-09-21--Trump Warns GOP Senators Who Oppose Him On SCOTUS Will Pay A Steep Political Price

President Donald Trump predicted on Monday morning that Sens .
Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , who is up for reelection this year , and Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) will be hurt politically by their pledge to hold off on approving a new Supreme Court justice before Election Day .
“ I think Susan Collins is very badly hurt by her statement yesterday , and I think Murkowski is very badly hurt , ” Trump said during a phone interview on “ Fox and Friends.
” The President told the Fox News hosts that Murkowski ’ s decision will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when her term is up .
Trump also complained that the Alaska Republican hadn ’ t worked enough for him , grousing that “ nobody ’ s ever done so much more for so little.
” “ And I think that Susan Collins is going to be hurt very badly , ” the President said again .
“ Her people are not going to take this.
” On Saturday , Collins announced that whoever wins the presidential election should choose the successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ In fairness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd , ” she stated .
Murkowski joined Collins the next day , stating that “ for weeks , I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election.
” “ Sadly , what was then a hypothetical is now our reality , but my position has not changed , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP would block Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) efforts to replace Ginsburg .

President Donald Trump predicted on Monday morning that Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), who is up for reelection this year, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will be hurt politically by their pledge to hold off on approving a new Supreme Court justice before Election Day.
“I think Susan Collins is very badly hurt by her statement yesterday, and I think Murkowski is very badly hurt,” Trump said during a phone interview on “Fox and Friends.”
The President told the Fox News hosts that Murkowski’s decision will “follow her” come 2022, when her term is up.
Trump also complained that the Alaska Republican hadn’t worked enough for him, grousing that “nobody’s ever done so much more for so little.”
“And I think that Susan Collins is going to be hurt very badly,” the President said again. “Her people are not going to take this.”
On Saturday, Collins announced that whoever wins the presidential election should choose the successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd,” she stated.
Murkowski joined Collins the next day, stating that “for weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election.”
“Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed,” she continued.
Two more defections from the GOP would block Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) efforts to replace Ginsburg.
Listen to Trump below: