talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-29--Carlson Swears He Had ‘Damning’ Biden Docs…Until They Vanished From The Mail

Fox News host Tucker Carlson pulled back the curtain during his Thursday night show to give viewers a peek at a highly suspicious caper that thwarted his ongoing , all-encompassing effort to embarrass Hunter Biden , and by extension , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Of course , the package was later located by UPS employees , but not before Carlson made heavy insinuations that foul play was involved .
It went a little something like this .
In between filming BOMBSHELL interviews with a businessman no one outside the Fox News bubble has ever heard of , Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ confidential documents related to the Biden family.
” He asked a New York producer to send the documents to him in Los Angeles via a “ brand-name carrier ” that we ’ ve all used “ countless times with never a single problem.
” But — dun , dun , DUN — the documents never arrived .
Per Carlson , the package had been opened and documents spirited into the night , forcing the company ’ s employees to comb the “ cavernous ” sorting facility and stops along the package ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Carlson intoned , “ the company has no idea and no working theory about what happened to this trove of materials , documents directly relevant to the presidential campaign six days from now.
” On Thursday , UPS confirmed that workers actually found the package Carlson so heavily hinted had been stolen , according to the Daily Beast .
Those in the Fox News ecosystem have become especially fixated on the younger son of Joe Biden in recent weeks , as President Donald Trump ’ s reelection chances look increasingly slim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very difficult to follow , a recent one includes Rudy Giuliani getting his hands on a laptop — with a “ hard drive from hell ” — that he claims shows the elder Biden tied up in some corrupt business dealing .
Real news outlets have passed on the story since it ’ s not clear that the documents are real at all , with a lingering possibility that they are foreign disinformation .
Trump , classically , loves the story and spent the two debates casting sinister , if convoluted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more viciously , going after Hunter Biden ’ s history of drug addiction .
It seems to be a last-gasp attempt to make dirt stick to Biden , a feat Trump has struggled to do all campaign long , and to rattle the former Vice President who has already lost two children and is very protective of his family .
To its credit , the Biden campaign responded to Carlson ’ s latest attempt to smear Hunter Biden with a dose of humor .
“ We disagree with Tucker Carlson on the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mail , ” the campaign tweeted .
“ Joe will make sure the USPS receives the funding it needs to prevent this from happening , and end Trump and DeJoy ’ s efforts to sabotage it so that people like Tucker can get their mail on time.
” This post has been updated .

Fox News host Tucker Carlson pulled back the curtain during his Thursday night show to give viewers a peek at a highly suspicious caper that thwarted his ongoing, all-encompassing effort to embarrass Hunter Biden, and by extension, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Of course, the package was later located by UPS employees, but not before Carlson made heavy insinuations that foul play was involved.
It went a little something like this.
In between filming BOMBSHELL interviews with a businessman no one outside the Fox News bubble has ever heard of, Carlson got his mitts on a collection of “confidential documents related to the Biden family.” He asked a New York producer to send the documents to him in Los Angeles via a “brand-name carrier” that we’ve all used “countless times with never a single problem.”
But — dun, dun, DUN — the documents never arrived.
Per Carlson, the package had been opened and documents spirited into the night, forcing the company’s employees to comb the “cavernous” sorting facility and stops along the package’s journey.
“As of tonight,” Carlson intoned, “the company has no idea and no working theory about what happened to this trove of materials, documents directly relevant to the presidential campaign six days from now.”
Tucker Carlson claims that he had “damning” information on Hunter Biden…but that it mysteriously vanished from the mail pic.twitter.com/q2OmjjnGuq — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 29, 2020
On Thursday, UPS confirmed that workers actually found the package Carlson so heavily hinted had been stolen, according to the Daily Beast.
Those in the Fox News ecosystem have become especially fixated on the younger son of Joe Biden in recent weeks, as President Donald Trump’s reelection chances look increasingly slim. While the various conspiracy theories can be very difficult to follow, a recent one includes Rudy Giuliani getting his hands on a laptop — with a “hard drive from hell” — that he claims shows the elder Biden tied up in some corrupt business dealing. Real news outlets have passed on the story since it’s not clear that the documents are real at all, with a lingering possibility that they are foreign disinformation.
Trump, classically, loves the story and spent the two debates casting sinister, if convoluted, allusions to the situation and, even more viciously, going after Hunter Biden’s history of drug addiction. It seems to be a last-gasp attempt to make dirt stick to Biden, a feat Trump has struggled to do all campaign long, and to rattle the former Vice President who has already lost two children and is very protective of his family.
To its credit, the Biden campaign responded to Carlson’s latest attempt to smear Hunter Biden with a dose of humor.
“We disagree with Tucker Carlson on the issues, but no one should ever lose their mail,” the campaign tweeted. “Joe will make sure the USPS receives the funding it needs to prevent this from happening, and end Trump and DeJoy’s efforts to sabotage it so that people like Tucker can get their mail on time.”
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-29--Trump Admin Aimed To Create Taxpayer-Funded COVID PSA Based On Pro-Trump Politics

Documents obtained by the House Oversight Committee show that the Trump administration tried to create a $ 250 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign on COVID-19 , which was supposed to “ defeat despair , inspire hope ” on the pandemic , based on President Donald Trump ’ s politics .
House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney ( D-NY ) , COVID-19 select subcommittee Chair Jim Clyburn ( D-SC ) , and Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi ( D-IL ) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday sounding the alarm over the documents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who serves as assistant secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) for public affairs , had proposed “ Helping the President will Help the Country ” as a theme for the campaign .
“ Of course , it is completely inappropriate to frame a taxpayer-funded ad campaign around ‘ helping ’ President Trump in the weeks and days before the election , ” Maloney , Clyburn , and Krishnamoorthi wrote .
“ This theme also ignores the reality that more than 220,000 Americans have died from coronavirus—a fact that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health message.
” Additionally , other documents show that the Trump administration had vetted potential celebrity spokespeople for the campaign based on whether they ’ d criticized Trump in the past and/or espoused “ liberal ” beliefs on issues such as LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights .
In one instance , the “ PSA Celebrity Tracker ” notes that actress Jennifer Lawrence is “ not a Trump supporter , but supporter [ of ] Hillary Clinton.
” It also mentions that actress Kerry Washington “ wants to defeat Trump and his political agenda ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voiced her liberal opinions including legalizing marijuana , Hillary Clinton ’ s run for president , and NFL protests.
” Plans to start the campaign before Election Day ultimately fell through , and it is now under review by Azar .

Documents obtained by the House Oversight Committee show that the Trump administration tried to create a $250 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign on COVID-19, which was supposed to “defeat despair, inspire hope” on the pandemic, based on President Donald Trump’s politics.
House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), COVID-19 select subcommittee Chair Jim Clyburn (D-SC), and Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday sounding the alarm over the documents, one of which reveals that Michael Caputo, who serves as assistant secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for public affairs, had proposed “Helping the President will Help the Country” as a theme for the campaign.
“Of course, it is completely inappropriate to frame a taxpayer-funded ad campaign around ‘helping’ President Trump in the weeks and days before the election,” Maloney, Clyburn, and Krishnamoorthi wrote. “This theme also ignores the reality that more than 220,000 Americans have died from coronavirus—a fact that should not be whitewashed in a legitimate public health message.”
Additionally, other documents show that the Trump administration had vetted potential celebrity spokespeople for the campaign based on whether they’d criticized Trump in the past and/or espoused “liberal” beliefs on issues such as LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.
In one instance, the “PSA Celebrity Tracker” notes that actress Jennifer Lawrence is “not a Trump supporter, but supporter [of] Hillary Clinton.” It also mentions that actress Kerry Washington “wants to defeat Trump and his political agenda” and that singer Kelly Clarkson “has voiced her liberal opinions including legalizing marijuana, Hillary Clinton’s run for president, and NFL protests.”
Plans to start the campaign before Election Day ultimately fell through, and it is now under review by Azar.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-29--Loeffler Makes Baffling Claim She Is ‘Not Familiar’ With Trump Access Hollywood Tape

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) said Wednesday that she was “ not familiar ” with a widely-cited Access Hollywood tape where President Donald Trump can be heard talking about sexually assaulting women .
“ I ’ m sorry , I ’ m not familiar with that , ” Loeffler told local NBC-affiliate 11Alive , pleading ignorance about the 2005 tape that revealed Trump bragging that his fame enabled him to kiss and grope women .
“ It ’ s like a magnet .
Just kiss .
I don ’ t even wait , ” Trump can be heard saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made headlines weeks before the 2016 presidential election .
“ And when you ’ re a star they let you do it .
You can do anything , ” Trump bragged before boasting about grabbing women by their genitals .
The senator ’ s apparent ignorance about the famed tape comes after Loeffler suggested during a debate earlier this month that she doesn ’ t disagree with anything Trump has said or done — boasting that she is the Senate ’ s most reliable Trump supporter .
According to The Hill , Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher — donated $ 1 million in April to America First Action , a group supporting President Trump ’ s reelection .
The couple has also funneled millions in loans and contributions to GOP races this year .
The Georgia lawmaker , who was appointed to her Senate seat earlier this year , is trying to hold off challenges from , among others , Rep. Doug Collin ( R ) and Democrat Rev .
Raphael Warnock , who is currently leading in polls by a narrow margin .
Loeffler came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock trades worth millions of dollars before the public was made aware of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic .
When asked directly about the tape on Wednesday , Loeffler deliberately ignored the question , deciding instead to tout the President for a series of unspecific accomplishments like “ being a conservative champion for Georgians.
” “ Look , I agree with the approach President Trump has taken since day one to put America first .
What I am focused on is working for Georgians in Washington and being their voice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Loeffler said .
When pressed further , Loeffler remained evasive , pledging that she would always stand by President Trump .
Trump previously dismissed the remarks caught on the Access Hollywood tape as “ locker room talk .
”

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) said Wednesday that she was “not familiar” with a widely-cited Access Hollywood tape where President Donald Trump can be heard talking about sexually assaulting women.
“I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that,” Loeffler told local NBC-affiliate 11Alive, pleading ignorance about the 2005 tape that revealed Trump bragging that his fame enabled him to kiss and grope women.
The video of @KLoeffler saying she's "not familiar" with the infamous Access Hollywood tape of Donald Trump bragging about groping women has to be seen to be believed https://t.co/26PqXK26WS pic.twitter.com/gtjClBVwbj — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 29, 2020
“It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait,” Trump can be heard saying in the 2005 tape, which first made headlines weeks before the 2016 presidential election. “And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything,” Trump bragged before boasting about grabbing women by their genitals.
The senator’s apparent ignorance about the famed tape comes after Loeffler suggested during a debate earlier this month that she doesn’t disagree with anything Trump has said or done — boasting that she is the Senate’s most reliable Trump supporter.
According to The Hill, Loeffler’s husband — New York Stock Exchange Chair Jeffrey Sprecher — donated $1 million in April to America First Action, a group supporting President Trump’s reelection. The couple has also funneled millions in loans and contributions to GOP races this year.
The Georgia lawmaker, who was appointed to her Senate seat earlier this year, is trying to hold off challenges from, among others, Rep. Doug Collin (R) and Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is currently leading in polls by a narrow margin.
Loeffler came under scrutiny in the spring for making stock trades worth millions of dollars before the public was made aware of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked directly about the tape on Wednesday, Loeffler deliberately ignored the question, deciding instead to tout the President for a series of unspecific accomplishments like “being a conservative champion for Georgians.”
“Look, I agree with the approach President Trump has taken since day one to put America first. What I am focused on is working for Georgians in Washington and being their voice. And being a conservative champion for Georgians,” Loeffler said.
When pressed further, Loeffler remained evasive, pledging that she would always stand by President Trump.
Trump previously dismissed the remarks caught on the Access Hollywood tape as “locker room talk.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--As U.S. Hits 87,000 Daily COVID Cases, Trump Claims ‘You’re Gonna Get Better’

The nation broke a previous record for the most coronavirus cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began with more than 87,000 new positive tests for COVID-19 reported on Thursday , as infections surge in many parts of the country .
The number of new cases shatters a record that was set just last week , when roughly 83,700 new infections were reported for the day on Friday — a total that held steady on Saturday according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The staggering total comes as the number of COVID-19 cases approaches a new milestone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic began .
Just 15 days after the tally hit 8 million .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration and a Trump appointee , told CNN he believes 100,000 new cases per day in the US is just about guaranteed .
“ We ’ ll cross 100,000 infections at some point in the next couple of weeks , probably .
We might do it this week , if all the states report on time , ” Gottlieb said .
Leading infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of adherence to public health guidelines about curbing the spread of coronavirus had attributed to the ballooning of cases .
During a panel interview at the University of Melbourne Fauci doubled down of the importance of mask-wearing , social distancing , avoiding crowds , and regular hand-washing .
“ If everybody had done that uniformly , I don ’ t think we would ’ ve been in the position we ’ re in right now , ” he said .
The comments come as President Donald Trump in his closing arguments ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the virus — instead conveying a kind of resignation .
“ You know the bottom line , though ?
You ’ re gon na get better , ” Trump told a crowd at a Florida rally on Thursday , touting his own recovery and severely undercounting the number of people who have died from coronavirus .
“ 210,000 lives , ” he said of the COVID-19 death toll on Thursday — a milestone that the United States hit more than three weeks ago — as more than 228,000 people have perished from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden meanwhile accused President Trump of “ doing nothing , ” to get the virus under control during a dueling rally in the sunshine state on Thursday .
“ We ’ re learning to die with it and Donald Trump has waved the white flag , abandoned our families and surrendered to the virus , ” Biden said .

The nation broke a previous record for the most coronavirus cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began with more than 87,000 new positive tests for COVID-19 reported on Thursday, as infections surge in many parts of the country.
The number of new cases shatters a record that was set just last week, when roughly 83,700 new infections were reported for the day on Friday — a total that held steady on Saturday according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The staggering total comes as the number of COVID-19 cases approaches a new milestone of 9 million total infections since the coronavirus pandemic began. Just 15 days after the tally hit 8 million.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration and a Trump appointee, told CNN he believes 100,000 new cases per day in the US is just about guaranteed.
“We’ll cross 100,000 infections at some point in the next couple of weeks, probably. We might do it this week, if all the states report on time,” Gottlieb said.
Leading infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday said that a lack of adherence to public health guidelines about curbing the spread of coronavirus had attributed to the ballooning of cases. During a panel interview at the University of Melbourne Fauci doubled down of the importance of mask-wearing, social distancing, avoiding crowds, and regular hand-washing.
“If everybody had done that uniformly, I don’t think we would’ve been in the position we’re in right now,” he said.
The comments come as President Donald Trump in his closing arguments ahead of Election Day has appeared to abandon leadership on the virus — instead conveying a kind of resignation.
“You know the bottom line, though? You’re gonna get better,” Trump told a crowd at a Florida rally on Thursday, touting his own recovery and severely undercounting the number of people who have died from coronavirus.
“210,000 lives,” he said of the COVID-19 death toll on Thursday — a milestone that the United States hit more than three weeks ago — as more than 228,000 people have perished from the virus to date.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden meanwhile accused President Trump of “doing nothing,” to get the virus under control during a dueling rally in the sunshine state on Thursday.
“We’re learning to die with it and Donald Trump has waved the white flag, abandoned our families and surrendered to the virus,” Biden said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Don Jr. Falsely Claims COVID-19 Death Rate Is ‘Almost Nothing’

President Donald Trump ’ s eldest son , Don Jr. , tried to falsely downplay the COVID-19 death rate in @ @ @ @ @ .
During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham , Trump mocked critics of @ @ @ @ @ , mostly mask-free campaign rallies as “ truly morons ” and claimed that the critics @ @ @ @ @ rates instead of the death toll .
“ Why aren ’ t they talking about @ @ @ @ @ is almost nothing , ” Trump told Ingraham .
“ Because we ’ ve gotten @ @ @ @ @ We understand how it works.
” More than 1,000 Americans died on Thursday , according @ @ @ @ @ ’ COVID-19 tracker .
The virus has killed more than 228,000 Americans overall .

President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., tried to downplay COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. on Thursday night.
During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump mocked critics of his father’s crowded, mostly mask-free campaign rallies as “truly morons” and claimed that the critics were only focusing on infection rates instead of the death rate.
“Why aren’t they talking about deaths? Because the number is almost nothing,” Trump told Ingraham. “Because we’ve gotten control of this thing. We understand how it works.”
More than 1,000 Americans died on Thursday, according to the New York Times’ COVID-19 tracker. The virus has killed more than 228,000 Americans overall.
Watch Trump below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

ICYMI: Your TPM Weekend News Roundup

Courts Inject Politics Into Final Days Of Campaign • Courts handed down a number of decisions this week related to voting rights .
On Monday , the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a restriction on absentee ballot counting in Wisconsin .
• TPM ’ s Tierney Sneed detailed how two Trump-appointed justices , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , used the ruling to lay out their hardcore approach to voting rights cases .
• Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence in the Wisconsin case , which contained a number of errors and misrepresentations .
Hey , everyone could use an editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s secretary of state requested Kavanaugh correct the order , which Kavanaugh did — kind of .
• On Wednesday , the Supreme Court declined to weigh in before Election Day on a Republican request to impose a Nov. 3 deadline for mail-in ballots in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania .
However , three of the high court ’ s justices signaled they were eager to rule in favor of the GOP effort , potentially imperiling thousands of ballots if they are received after Election Day .
• Also on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in North Carolina to reinstate a tight deadline for mail-in ballots .
• On Thursday , a federal appeals court issued a ruling that signaled a seven-day grace period for mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day in Minnesota was kaput .
The order has injected chaos and confusion in the final days of the campaign in the midwestern state , which Trump lost narrowly to Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Notes From The Campaign Trail • The TPM staff has been busy live-blogging the final stretch of the campaign .
One theme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of early votes cast .
In Texas , for instance , early vote numbers have already eclipsed the state ’ s total turnout in 2016 .
• In Minnesota , a record 1.5 million absentee ballots have been accepted as of Friday .
• Trump and Biden have been criss-crossing the country for their final campaign blitz .
Trump on Friday made fun of Fox host Laura Ingraham for wearing a mask at one of his rallies .
Classy .
• In Georgia , Sen. David Perdue , who is facing off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of their final scheduled debate .
Ossoff had absolutely roasted Perdue during their debate on Wednesday , calling Perdue a “ crook ” to his face .
• More than one Trump rally this week resulted in people needing hospital treatment .
On Tuesday night , many supporters were stranded in the cold after a rally in Omaha , Nebraska .
Seven people were taken to the hospital , according to local reports .
On Thursday , the heat at a Trump rally in Tampa caused several people to pass out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital , according to NBC News .
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talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Wohl, Burkman Ordered To Make Remedial Robocalls After Misinfo Spree

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman , the bumbling duo facing legal trouble in multiple states for sending out robocalls that were allegedly intended to intimidate minority voters , informed a federal judge Friday that they have complied with his order to send out some remedial robocalls to correct the false information .
Judge Victor Marrero from the Southern District of New York gave them a script to follow : “ At the direction of a United States district court , this call is intended to inform you that a federal court has found that the message you previously received regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information that has had the effect of intimidating voters , and thus interfering with the upcoming presidential election , in violation of federal voting-rights laws.
” The pair initially tried to fight the order by saying that it forces them to incriminate themselves , and that , because of separate state charges over the misleading robocalls they ’ re facing in Michigan , they are currently banned from making any robocalls at all before the election .
Marrero was not swayed , saying that he is not “ persuaded ” that the Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls , and that federal court orders supersede state ones anyway .
Wohl and Burkman also tried to duck out of the remedial calls by making the wild claim that the content of their original robocalls — which warned people that if they voted by mail , their information would be used by debt collectors , police officers to serve warrants and the CDC for “ mandatory ” vaccinations — was true .
Marrero swatted down all of those arguments as well .
And so Wohl and Burkman ’ s counsel informed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retained the services of DialMyCalls ” to correct the record , and that the service had completed all of the calls just before the judge ’ s deadline .
According to the letter , the call went out to 29,117 unique numbers .
The two were indicted earlier this week for the calls in Ohio ’ s Cuyahoga County .

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, the bumbling duo facing legal trouble in multiple states for sending out robocalls that were allegedly intended to intimidate minority voters, informed a federal judge Friday that they have complied with his order to send out some remedial robocalls to correct the false information.
Judge Victor Marrero from the Southern District of New York gave them a script to follow: “At the direction of a United States district court, this call is intended to inform you that a federal court has found that the message you previously received regarding mail-in voting from Project 1599 contained false information that has had the effect of intimidating voters, and thus interfering with the upcoming presidential election, in violation of federal voting-rights laws.”
The pair initially tried to fight the order by saying that it forces them to incriminate themselves, and that, because of separate state charges over the misleading robocalls they’re facing in Michigan, they are currently banned from making any robocalls at all before the election.
Marrero was not swayed, saying that he is not “persuaded” that the Michigan ruling was intended to prohibit the corrective calls, and that federal court orders supersede state ones anyway.
Wohl and Burkman also tried to duck out of the remedial calls by making the wild claim that the content of their original robocalls — which warned people that if they voted by mail, their information would be used by debt collectors, police officers to serve warrants and the CDC for “mandatory” vaccinations — was true. Marrero swatted down all of those arguments as well.
And so Wohl and Burkman’s counsel informed the court Friday that the two had “retained the services of DialMyCalls” to correct the record, and that the service had completed all of the calls just before the judge’s deadline. According to the letter, the call went out to 29,117 unique numbers.
The two were indicted earlier this week for the calls in Ohio’s Cuyahoga County.
Read their lawyers’ letter here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Judge Orders USPS To Follow Its Own Plan For Getting Ballots In On Time

A federal judge on Friday ordered the U.S .
Postal Service to follow its own purported plan to get ballots delivered to election officials in time .
In a lengthy written order , U.S. District Judge Judge Emmet Sullivan laid out a series of instructions for the Postal Service aimed at areas of the country where completed ballots were taking too long to reach elections offices .
In those areas , he said , USPS “ shall implement the ‘ Delivery ’ measures outlined in USPS ’ s ‘ Extraordinary Measures Memorandum ’ ” unless those measures themselves risked slowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memo lays out steps to speed up the transfer of ballots from collection boxes and local offices to election officials before Election Day deadlines .
It was just the latest example of Sullivan putting his foot down : On Wednesday , in yet another lawsuit against USPS , he ordered the Postal Service to make clear to employees that they should ignore since-blocked policies from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that slowed mail delivery , such as eliminating late and extra trips .
Friday ’ s order specified nearly two dozen USPS districts — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network — that fell below the 90 % on-time processing target for completed ballots in on at least days days from Oct. 26-28 .
They included crucial areas of swing states in the presidential contest , such as Atlanta , Greater Michigan and Central Pennsylvania .
Sullivan also ordered USPS to share data on the “ extraordinary measures ” it was instituting , as well as daily reports explaining which districts had fallen below the 90 % target on the previous two days or below 80 % on the previous day — as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now being implemented.
” But that all covered barely half of Sullivan ’ s lengthy order : He ordered USPS to make a representative available on Friday to answer questions from the lawsuit ’ s plaintiffs , a collection of individuals , advocacy groups and the voter turnout-focused group Vote Forward .
He also ordered the USPS to submit daily data on the total number of inbound and outbound ballots , as well as daily excel files showing performance figures8 .
On top of all of that , he ordered the Postal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expertise in the data processing scores for Election Mail ” to answer his questions — by 5 p.m. on Friday .
Read his order in full below : MINUTE ORDER .
In view of 46 joint proposed order , it is hereby ORDERED that United States Postal Service ( USPS ) facilities in the following Districts , whose Election Mail processing scores for completed ballots returned by voters ( Inbound Ballots ) were below 90 percent for at least two days from October 26 to 28 , shall implement the “ Delivery ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Extraordinary Measures Memorandum ” dated October 20 , 2020 unless the implementation of any of the extraordinary measures , at a district or facility level , would create a significant risk of reducing the timely delivery of Inbound Ballots : Alabama , Alaska , Appalachian , Atlanta , Central Pennsylvania , Colorado/Wyoming , Detroit , Ft. Worth , Greater Indiana , Greater Michigan , Greater S. Carolina , Greensboro , Gulf Atlantic , Kentuckiana , Lakeland , Louisiana , Mid-Carolinas , Mississippi , Northern New England , Oklahoma , Rio Grande , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement to the relevant managerial and supervisory personnel within these Districts .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants shall provide Plaintiffs available data from the nationwide survey of “ extraordinary measures ” being undertaken for Election Mail at USPS facilities , as it becomes available during the day on October 30 , 2020 .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that beginning October 30 , 2020 and until further order of the Court , by 3:00 PM each day , Defendants shall file with the Court a document explaining , for each USPS District whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were below 90 percent on each of the previous two days or below 80 percent on the previous day , Defendants ’ understanding , based on all reasonably available information , of potential explanations for the current level of service and any corrective measures that are now being implemented .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that on October 30 , 2020 , Defendants shall make a USPS representative with expertise in postal operations available to speak with Plaintiffs and at the Conference before the Court to discuss and answer questions about the Postal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they relate to the processing of Election Mail .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that beginning October 30 , 2020 , and until further order of the Court , Defendants shall file with the Court data by 10:00 AM each day ( except for October 30 , 2020 , in which case it shall be filed at the earliest reasonably available time and , in any event , no later than 3:00 PM ) data on the absolute number of Inbound Ballots and Outbound Ballots captured in the Election Mail processing scores data produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , 2020 Minute Order .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that beginning October 30 , 2020 , and until further order of the Court , Defendants shall provide to Plaintiffs by 11:00 AM each day native versions of the excel files of service performance data produced pursuant to this Court ’ s October 27 , 2020 Minute Order .
It is FURTHER ORDERED that at the conference before the Court at 5:00 PM on October 30 , 2020 , Defendants shall make a USPS representative with expertise in the data processing scores for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including expertise with respect to the data and issues identified in paragraphs 3 through 5 above , available to answer questions from the parties and the Court about the data .
This representative shall also be available to describe and answer questions related to : ( a ) the methodology used to calculate processing scores for “ Inbound Ballots , ” “ Outbound Ballots , ” and “ Outbound Non-Ballot Election Mail , ” as those terms are used in Defendants ’ submission ; and ( b ) a detailed and specific explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Defendants contend those processing scores are unreliable .
Signed by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on 10/30/2020 .
( lcegs3 ) ( Entered : 10/30/2020 )

A federal judge on Friday ordered the U.S. Postal Service to follow its own purported plan to get ballots delivered to election officials in time.
In a lengthy written order, U.S. District Judge Judge Emmet Sullivan laid out a series of instructions for the Postal Service aimed at areas of the country where completed ballots were taking too long to reach elections offices.
In those areas, he said, USPS “shall implement the ‘Delivery’ measures outlined in USPS’s ‘Extraordinary Measures Memorandum’” unless those measures themselves risked slowing the mail any more. That USPS memo lays out steps to speed up the transfer of ballots from collection boxes and local offices to election officials before Election Day deadlines.
It was just the latest example of Sullivan putting his foot down: On Wednesday, in yet another lawsuit against USPS, he ordered the Postal Service to make clear to employees that they should ignore since-blocked policies from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that slowed mail delivery, such as eliminating late and extra trips.
Friday’s order specified nearly two dozen USPS districts — one third of those in the USPS network — that fell below the 90% on-time processing target for completed ballots in on at least days days from Oct. 26-28. They included crucial areas of swing states in the presidential contest, such as Atlanta, Greater Michigan and Central Pennsylvania.
Sullivan also ordered USPS to share data on the “extraordinary measures” it was instituting, as well as daily reports explaining which districts had fallen below the 90% target on the previous two days or below 80% on the previous day — as well as “any corrective measures that are now being implemented.”
But that all covered barely half of Sullivan’s lengthy order: He ordered USPS to make a representative available on Friday to answer questions from the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, a collection of individuals, advocacy groups and the voter turnout-focused group Vote Forward.
He also ordered the USPS to submit daily data on the total number of inbound and outbound ballots, as well as daily excel files showing performance figures8.
On top of all of that, he ordered the Postal Service to provide an “representative with expertise in the data processing scores for Election Mail” to answer his questions — by 5 p.m. on Friday.
Read his order in full below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--McConnell Vows To Keep Confirming Judges Right Up Until January

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) vowed Friday that he would continue his full-court press to remake the judiciary up until January 3 , when Democrats may take over the Senate , depending on the outcome of next week ’ s election .
“ We ’ re going to run through the tape .
We go through the end of the year , and so does the President , ” McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt .
“ We ’ re going to fill the 7th Circuit .
And I ’ m hoping we have time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The seat on the 7th Circuit opened when Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was elevated to the high court .
McConnell is clearly , and unsurprisingly , dispensing with the Thurmond rule , an unwritten practice for the Senate to stop confirming a President ’ s nominees to the federal judiciary at some point during an election year .
“ We ’ re going to clean the plate , clean all the district judges off as well , ” McConnell said .
After years of blocking President Barack Obama ’ s judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court nominee , McConnell has gleefully rammed through rafts of judges at all levels .
He has said that he considers his efforts in remaking the federal judiciary his greatest legacy .
He carried the same philosophy into the Barrett ’ s confirmation , sprinting it through no matter the previous rationale he deployed to block Obama ’ s nomination of Merrick Garland : that it was too close to the election .
Garland was nominated 237 days before the 2016 election ; Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before this one .
“ A lot of what we ’ ve done over the last four years will be undone sooner or later by the next election , ” McConnell said on the Senate floor just before Barrett ’ s confirmation .
“ They won ’ t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.
” The calls for Democrats to expand both the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary — should former Vice President Joe Biden win the White House and Democrats take the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death .
Many in the party are incensed at McConnell ’ s hijacking of the judiciary , and Democratic senators spent the Barrett hearings pounding the alarm on the now-even more present risks to the Affordable Care Act , abortion access and LGBTQ rights .
Biden announced that , as President , he would stand up a blue ribbon commission to examine the court expansion question .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) has said that “ nothing is off the table .
”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) vowed Friday that he would continue his full-court press to remake the judiciary up until January 3, when Democrats may take over the Senate, depending on the outcome of next week’s election.
“We’re going to run through the tape. We go through the end of the year, and so does the President,” McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. “We’re going to fill the 7th Circuit. And I’m hoping we have time to fill the 1st Circuit as well.”
The seat on the 7th Circuit opened when Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was elevated to the high court.
McConnell is clearly, and unsurprisingly, dispensing with the Thurmond rule, an unwritten practice for the Senate to stop confirming a President’s nominees to the federal judiciary at some point during an election year.
“We’re going to clean the plate, clean all the district judges off as well,” McConnell said.
After years of blocking President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees, including, famously, his Supreme Court nominee, McConnell has gleefully rammed through rafts of judges at all levels. He has said that he considers his efforts in remaking the federal judiciary his greatest legacy.
He carried the same philosophy into the Barrett’s confirmation, sprinting it through no matter the previous rationale he deployed to block Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland: that it was too close to the election. Garland was nominated 237 days before the 2016 election; Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death left her seat open a mere 46 days before this one.
“A lot of what we’ve done over the last four years will be undone sooner or later by the next election,” McConnell said on the Senate floor just before Barrett’s confirmation. “They won’t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.”
The calls for Democrats to expand both the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary — should former Vice President Joe Biden win the White House and Democrats take the Senate — have been growing louder since Ginsberg’s death. Many in the party are incensed at McConnell’s hijacking of the judiciary, and Democratic senators spent the Barrett hearings pounding the alarm on the now-even more present risks to the Affordable Care Act, abortion access and LGBTQ rights.
Biden announced that, as President, he would stand up a blue ribbon commission to examine the court expansion question. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said that “nothing is off the table.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--How A Last-Minute Appeals Court Order Has Injected Mass Voter Chaos Into A Swing State

A Thursday court order that indicated a U.S. appeals court was likely to reject ballots that arrived within Minnesota ’ s post-election grace period has injected chaos and a potential for major disenfranchisement into a state that President Trump has long been trying to flip .
Under a consent decree that Minnesota had reached in state court litigation , election officials would count ballots that were postmarked by Election Day as long as they arrived within the week after Nov. 3 .
That message has been broadcast far and wide to voters , including in pamphlets they received with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those ballots are in jeopardy after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit — citing an extremely controversial legal theory that has not been endorsed by a majority of the Supreme Court — ordered them segregated from those that come in by Election Day .
The appeals court made clear that it was likely to order those ballots rejected at a later stage in the judicial proceedings .
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon ( D ) said in a press teleconference Thursday night after the order came down that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now seek the Supreme Court ’ s intervention .
In the meantime , Minnesota election officials and their partners are launching a desperate public messaging campaign stressing to voters that — despite the instructions that came with their ballots — it is now too late to use mail delivery to submit ballots .
The order not only disrupted the voting plans of those who had not yet submitted their ballots .
Given that the U.S .
Postal Service has advised voters that they give their ballots no fewer than seven days to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who put their ballots in the mail earlier this week — when the extended deadline was still firmly in place — may also see their ballots in jeopardy .
Secretary of State Simon is encouraging those voters to monitor their ballots ’ delivery on the ballot tracking technology service the state offers .
If it looks like the ballot will not arrive by Election Day , they should vote in-person ( or request and submit in person another absentee ballot ) instead , he said .
The amount of confusion the court has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the election , is the exact scenario the U.S. Supreme Court has said federal courts should avoid , beginning with a 2006 order that put on hold a lower court decision that changed the rules of an election .
The 2006 Supreme Court order , in a case called Purcell v. Gonzales , discouraged federal courts from taking actions that “ themselves result in voter confusion and consequent incentive to remain away from the polls.
” It ’ s hard to think of a decision that turns that guidance more on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handed down on Thursday evening , disrupting on Oct. 29 a policy that had been put in place in July .
State officials had agreed to the extensions and the state ’ s Democratic legislature has not challenged their move to do so .
As part of the state court litigation , the Trump campaign agreed to not challenge the consent decree the state officials had reached extending the ballot deadlines .
But two of Trump ’ s electors sued in federal court to challenge the decree .
Addressing Purcell , the appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put “ voters on notice now while they still have at least some time to adjust their plans and cast their votes in an unquestionably lawful way.
” The mess the court has made for election officials is extensive .
Simon on Thursday said the order was not “ a model of clarity ” as he struggled to answer reporters ’ question on what will happen next .
His office could not figure out from the order the answers to basic questions like whether the tallies that are released after the polls closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if not , should only the presidential results from those ballots be separated out .
The timing of the order also present unique challenges — beyond the obvious scrambling its asking of voters .
A Facebook policy on late-in-the-cycle political ads prohibits the state from running new ads on the social media platform , restricting one pathway for the state to emphasize the need to avoid the mail at this point .
Simon said the state ’ s ad agency was looking for ways around that ban , while noting the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters .
“ We ’ ll do what we can with the channels available to us to get the message out , ” he said .
Here is his office ’ s guidance for voters :

A Thursday court order that indicated a U.S. appeals court was likely to reject ballots that arrived within Minnesota’s post-election grace period has injected chaos and a potential for major disenfranchisement into a state that President Trump has long been trying to flip.
Under a consent decree that Minnesota had reached in state court litigation, election officials would count ballots that were postmarked by Election Day as long as they arrived within the week after Nov. 3. That message has been broadcast far and wide to voters, including in pamphlets they received with their mail ballots.
It’s vitally important that people reporting on the MN court ruling note that it CONTRADICTS THE INSTRUCTIONS MAILED WITH THE BALLOT. See for yourself: here’s a photograph of my ballot, which I have not submitted. pic.twitter.com/ukf0EloW4a — Will Stancil (@whstancil) October 30, 2020
But now, many of those ballots are in jeopardy after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit — citing an extremely controversial legal theory that has not been endorsed by a majority of the Supreme Court — ordered them segregated from those that come in by Election Day.
The appeals court made clear that it was likely to order those ballots rejected at a later stage in the judicial proceedings.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon (D) said in a press teleconference Thursday night after the order came down that the state had not decided whether to now seek the Supreme Court’s intervention.
In the meantime, Minnesota election officials and their partners are launching a desperate public messaging campaign stressing to voters that — despite the instructions that came with their ballots — it is now too late to use mail delivery to submit ballots.
The order not only disrupted the voting plans of those who had not yet submitted their ballots. Given that the U.S. Postal Service has advised voters that they give their ballots no fewer than seven days to make it through the mail service, voters who put their ballots in the mail earlier this week — when the extended deadline was still firmly in place — may also see their ballots in jeopardy.
Secretary of State Simon is encouraging those voters to monitor their ballots’ delivery on the ballot tracking technology service the state offers. If it looks like the ballot will not arrive by Election Day, they should vote in-person (or request and submit in person another absentee ballot) instead, he said.
The amount of confusion the court has thrown at voters, just five days before the election, is the exact scenario the U.S. Supreme Court has said federal courts should avoid, beginning with a 2006 order that put on hold a lower court decision that changed the rules of an election.
The 2006 Supreme Court order, in a case called Purcell v. Gonzales, discouraged federal courts from taking actions that “themselves result in voter confusion and consequent incentive to remain away from the polls.”
It’s hard to think of a decision that turns that guidance more on its head than the one the Eighth Circuit handed down on Thursday evening, disrupting on Oct. 29 a policy that had been put in place in July. State officials had agreed to the extensions and the state’s Democratic legislature has not challenged their move to do so.
As part of the state court litigation, the Trump campaign agreed to not challenge the consent decree the state officials had reached extending the ballot deadlines. But two of Trump’s electors sued in federal court to challenge the decree.
Addressing Purcell, the appeals court claimed that it had at least put “voters on notice now while they still have at least some time to adjust their plans and cast their votes in an unquestionably lawful way.”
The mess the court has made for election officials is extensive. Simon on Thursday said the order was not “a model of clarity” as he struggled to answer reporters’ question on what will happen next. His office could not figure out from the order the answers to basic questions like whether the tallies that are released after the polls closed next week should include the segregated ballots and if not, should only the presidential results from those ballots be separated out.
The timing of the order also present unique challenges — beyond the obvious scrambling its asking of voters. A Facebook policy on late-in-the-cycle political ads prohibits the state from running new ads on the social media platform, restricting one pathway for the state to emphasize the need to avoid the mail at this point.
Simon said the state’s ad agency was looking for ways around that ban, while noting the other ways his office will be communicating with voters.
“We’ll do what we can with the channels available to us to get the message out,” he said.
Here is his office’s guidance for voters:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Only Way Dems Win Is Through Election Theft, Texas Lt. Gov Says

Texas ’ lieutenant governor on Thursday and said Democrats ’ only chance at electoral success this year is through outright theft of the vote .
The comment from Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick ( R ) echoed the line from President Donald Trump , who ’ s said that the only legitimate outcome of the election is his own reelection .
“ The Democrats have just decided this election , Mark , we don ’ t have to pay attention to any laws , ” Patrick told radio host Mark Davis in an interview Thursday flagged by the Texas Tribune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use COVID as an excuse to steal the election , and that ’ s what they ’ re trying to do everywhere , ” he added .
“ If the president loses Pennsylvania or North Carolina , Mark , or Florida , they ’ ll lose it because they stole it.
” Trump has similarly said that Democrats will only win through fraud : “ The only way we ’ re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged , ” he said in August , one of a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the democratic process .
Despite those comments , polls have shown a relatively tight race for the presidency and U.S. Senate in Texas .

Texas’ lieutenant governor on Thursday and said Democrats’ only chance at electoral success this year is through outright theft of the vote.
The comment from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) echoed the line from President Donald Trump, who’s said that the only legitimate outcome of the election is his own reelection.
“The Democrats have just decided this election, Mark, we don’t have to pay attention to any laws,” Patrick told radio host Mark Davis in an interview Thursday flagged by the Texas Tribune.
“We’re gonna use COVID as an excuse to steal the election, and that’s what they’re trying to do everywhere,” he added. “If the president loses Pennsylvania or North Carolina, Mark, or Florida, they’ll lose it because they stole it.”
Trump has similarly said that Democrats will only win through fraud: “The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged,” he said in August, one of a number of lines undermining voters’ faith in the democratic process.
Despite those comments, polls have shown a relatively tight race for the presidency and U.S. Senate in Texas.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Carlson Now Claiming He Wants To Lay Off Hunter Biden After ‘Damaging’ Docs Suddenly Reappear

Fox News host Tucker Carlson presented a bizarre new development on Thursday night in the mysterious case of his allegedly “ damaging ” documents on Democratic candidate Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , that Carlson previously claimed had disappeared in the mail when a producer sent them from New York to Carlson in Los Angeles .
Carlson opened the story with a claim that the producer who shipped the lost documents via UPS had put them on a flash drive , which was allegedly missing from the package when it arrived in L.A .
However , Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the documents before they were sent “ because we ’ re careful , ” the Fox News host said .
According to Carlson , UPS said an employee had found the flash drive on Monday night .
Then the Fox host hinted at a conspiracy theory surrounding the incident .
“ How did our flash drive get separated from the package that we sent it in ?
” Carlson asked .
“ That seems like something worth knowing .
The envelope was securely sealed , and we know that .
UPS does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torn open accidentally by a machine ?
That seems unlikely and UPS says that almost never happens [ … ] We got our flash drive back today and that ’ s great , but what we ’ d really like are some answers.
” However , Carlson declined to say what was actually on the flash drive , and he also claimed to have “ a lot of documents about Hunter Biden ’ s personal life ” that he would not share , supposedly out of concern for Biden , whom Carlson called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Probably too strong to say we feel sorry for Hunter Biden , but the point is pounding on a man , jumping on , and piling on when he ’ s already down is something we don ’ t want to be involved in , ” said Carlson , who has been relentlessly attacking Biden for weeks , as have his colleagues at Fox .
Carlson ’ s sudden about-face came not long after NBC News published a report revealing that an intel document supposedly detailing Biden ’ s corrupt business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among conservative circles online , was created by a fake persona at a fake intelligence firm .

Fox News host Tucker Carlson presented a bizarre new development on Thursday night in the mysterious case of his allegedly “damaging” documents on Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, that Carlson previously claimed had disappeared in the mail when a producer sent them from New York to Carlson in Los Angeles.
Carlson opened the story with a claim that the producer who shipped the lost documents via UPS had put them on a flash drive, which was allegedly missing from the package when it arrived in L.A. However, Carlson’s team had made a copy of the documents before they were sent “because we’re careful,” the Fox News host said.
According to Carlson, UPS said an employee had found the flash drive on Monday night.
Then the Fox host hinted at a conspiracy theory surrounding the incident.
“How did our flash drive get separated from the package that we sent it in?” Carlson asked. “That seems like something worth knowing. The envelope was securely sealed, and we know that. UPS does not dispute that. Was a package torn open accidentally by a machine? That seems unlikely and UPS says that almost never happens […] We got our flash drive back today and that’s great, but what we’d really like are some answers.”
However, Carlson declined to say what was actually on the flash drive, and he also claimed to have “a lot of documents about Hunter Biden’s personal life” that he would not share, supposedly out of concern for Biden, whom Carlson called “a fallen man at this point.”
“Probably too strong to say we feel sorry for Hunter Biden, but the point is pounding on a man, jumping on, and piling on when he’s already down is something we don’t want to be involved in,” said Carlson, who has been relentlessly attacking Biden for weeks, as have his colleagues at Fox.
Carlson’s sudden about-face came not long after NBC News published a report revealing that an intel document supposedly detailing Biden’s corrupt business dealings in China, which had spread among conservative circles online, was created by a fake persona at a fake intelligence firm.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Strong Earthquake Rocks Turkey And Greece

ISTANBUL ( AP ) — A strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea has shaken Turkey and Greece .
Several buildings were wrecked in Turkey ’ s western Izmir province , according to officials , but there was no immediate information on casualties .
Turkey ’ s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said Friday ’ s earthquake was centered in the Aegean at a depth of 16,5 kilometers ( 10.3 miles ) and registered at a 6.6 magnitude .
The emergency authority said it sent search and rescue teams to Izmir .
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicenter 13 kilometers ( 8 miles ) north northeast of the Greek island of Samos .
The United States Geological Survey put the magnitude at 7.0 .
Turkish media showed wreckage of a multiple-story building in central Izmir , with people climbing it to start rescue efforts .
Turkish media showed at least one woman being helped from the rubble of a collapsed building .
Smoke was filmed in several spots in central Izmir .
Izmir mayor Tunc Soyer told CNN Turk that about 20 buildings collapsed .
The city is the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents .
Turkey ’ s interior minister tweeted six buildings in Izmir were destroyed .
He said there were small cracks in some buildings in six other provinces .
Izmir ’ s governor said there was no immediate information on casualties .
Turkish media said the earthquake was felt across the regions of Aegean and Marmara , including Istanbul .
Istanbul ’ s governor said there were no reports of damage in the city .
The quake was felt across the eastern Greek islands and even in the Greek capital Athens .
Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other islands fled their homes , while some rockfalls were reported .
There were no immediate reports of injuries .
Turkey and Greece reported aftershocks .
The quake was also felt in Bulgaria .
Greek seismologist Efthymios Lekkas told Greek state television ERT that it was still too early to say whether this was the main earthquake , although he said it was likely it was .
“ It is an event that is evolving , ” Lekkas said , adding that some damage had been reported in parts of Samos .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Samos area told to stay away from the coastline .
Water rose above the dock in the main harbor of Samos and flooded the street .
The regional governor of the Samos region , Yiannis Stamoulis , said no injuries had been reported on the island .
Residents have also been told to stay away from buildings , as aftershocks continued to rattle the area .

ISTANBUL (AP) — A strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea has shaken Turkey and Greece. Several buildings were wrecked in Turkey’s western Izmir province, according to officials, but there was no immediate information on casualties.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said Friday’s earthquake was centered in the Aegean at a depth of 16,5 kilometers (10.3 miles) and registered at a 6.6 magnitude. The emergency authority said it sent search and rescue teams to Izmir.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9, with an epicenter 13 kilometers (8 miles) north northeast of the Greek island of Samos.
The United States Geological Survey put the magnitude at 7.0.
Turkish media showed wreckage of a multiple-story building in central Izmir, with people climbing it to start rescue efforts. Turkish media showed at least one woman being helped from the rubble of a collapsed building. Smoke was filmed in several spots in central Izmir.
Izmir mayor Tunc Soyer told CNN Turk that about 20 buildings collapsed. The city is the third biggest in Turkey with about 4,5 million residents. Turkey’s interior minister tweeted six buildings in Izmir were destroyed. He said there were small cracks in some buildings in six other provinces.
Izmir’s governor said there was no immediate information on casualties.
Turkish media said the earthquake was felt across the regions of Aegean and Marmara, including Istanbul. Istanbul’s governor said there were no reports of damage in the city.
The quake was felt across the eastern Greek islands and even in the Greek capital Athens. Greek media said the residents of Samos and other islands fled their homes, while some rockfalls were reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Turkey and Greece reported aftershocks. The quake was also felt in Bulgaria.
Greek seismologist Efthymios Lekkas told Greek state television ERT that it was still too early to say whether this was the main earthquake, although he said it was likely it was.
“It is an event that is evolving,” Lekkas said, adding that some damage had been reported in parts of Samos.
A tsunami warning was issued, with residents of the Samos area told to stay away from the coastline. Water rose above the dock in the main harbor of Samos and flooded the street.
The regional governor of the Samos region, Yiannis Stamoulis, said no injuries had been reported on the island. Residents have also been told to stay away from buildings, as aftershocks continued to rattle the area.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-30--Trump Cancels Plans For Election Night Party At His Washington Hotel

President Donald Trump was expected to appear at the Trump International Hotel on election night but has cancelled those plans and will likely to be at the White House instead , The New York Times reported on Friday .
Advisers told the Times that Trump was originally going to appear at the hotel in Washington for an election night party — his campaign had even distributed multiple fundraising solicitations to his supporters .
At least one of the solicitations included an image of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump , and the words : “ Join us on election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 3rd will go down in history as the night we won FOUR MORE YEARS .
It will be absolutely EPIC , and the only thing that could make it better is having YOU there , ” it read .
The Times pointed out that the gathering could potentially violate crowd size restrictions in the nation ’ s capital which limits gatherings to 50 people in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus .
Trump has previously touted his well-attended rallies where few wear masks and which have at times preceded fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump held a ceremony for then Supreme Court nominee , Justice Amy Coney Barrett , that public health experts called a “ superspreader event ” after a number of attendees including the President reported contracting COVID-19 within days of the ceremony .
The change of election night plans also comes as some Democrats have raised questions about the intermingling of Trump ’ s business with his office as president — and the move to host an event at his Washington hotel would likely reinforce those concerns , the Times points out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , Trump called his private Mar-a-Lago club “ the Southern White House , ” per the Washington Post .
An investigation earlier this month by The Times also revealed that more than 200 companies , special-interest groups and foreign governments that patronized Trump ’ s properties also raked in benefits from Trump and his administration — nearly a quarter of which had not been previously reported .

President Donald Trump was expected to appear at the Trump International Hotel on election night but has cancelled those plans and will likely to be at the White House instead, The New York Times reported on Friday.
Advisers told the Times that Trump was originally going to appear at the hotel in Washington for an election night party — his campaign had even distributed multiple fundraising solicitations to his supporters. At least one of the solicitations included an image of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, and the words: “Join us on election night.”the Times reported.
“November 3rd will go down in history as the night we won FOUR MORE YEARS. It will be absolutely EPIC, and the only thing that could make it better is having YOU there,” it read.
The Times pointed out that the gathering could potentially violate crowd size restrictions in the nation’s capital which limits gatherings to 50 people in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Trump has previously touted his well-attended rallies where few wear masks and which have at times preceded fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 infections.
Last month, President Trump held a ceremony for then Supreme Court nominee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, that public health experts called a “superspreader event” after a number of attendees including the President reported contracting COVID-19 within days of the ceremony.
The change of election night plans also comes as some Democrats have raised questions about the intermingling of Trump’s business with his office as president — and the move to host an event at his Washington hotel would likely reinforce those concerns, the Times points out.
The concerns are not unfounded — in 2018, Trump called his private Mar-a-Lago club “the Southern White House,” per the Washington Post.
An investigation earlier this month by The Times also revealed that more than 200 companies, special-interest groups and foreign governments that patronized Trump’s properties also raked in benefits from Trump and his administration — nearly a quarter of which had not been previously reported.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-31--Report: Probe Finds Low-flying DC National Guard Choppers Broke Army Regs

The National Guard helicopters that few low over Black Lives Matter protestors in June in Washington , D.C. were being ordered by an officer as he drove on his way home , and lacked authorization to be there , according to a new report .
News outlet Defense One got exclusive details about the D.C. National Guard ’ s investigation into the matter , revealing a battle between the National Guard and the Pentagon ’ s inspector general over who will be held accountable for the incident , which sparked a massive outcry among former helicopter pilots who said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disperse protestors was unsafe and reckless .
The potential for blame , the report says , appears to focus on two officers : Lt. Col Jeffrey Wingblade , who oversaw the choppers while driving home , and Brigadier General Robert Ryan , Wingblade ’ s superior .
The night that the downwash event took place , the Secret Service had given the D.C. National Guard special permission to fly helicopters over the normally restricted airspace above downtown D.C. Ryan called Wingblade that evening to tell him to put five helicopters in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Ryan said that he told Wingblade to use the helicopters to collect observations , deter criminal activity , and provide medical evacuation if needed .
Wingblade remembered it differently .
He told investigators that Ryan had said “ I need you to orbit around the cross to disperse any type of looting , mayhem , whatsoever , ” though a third person present on the call denies that account .
Wingblade , who was driving home during all of this , declined to return to his base and instead called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him “ to orbit around the crowds.
” After the uproar , the report notes , Ryan defended the maneuver in texts by saying that he had received “ presidential approval.
” The Defense One report suggests that while the National Guard investigation blames Wingblade , the Pentagon Inspector General wants to further scrutinize Ryan ’ s role .

The National Guard helicopters that few low over Black Lives Matter protestors in June in Washington, D.C. were being ordered by an officer as he drove on his way home, and lacked authorization to be there, according to a new report.
News outlet Defense One got exclusive details about the D.C. National Guard’s investigation into the matter, revealing a battle between the National Guard and the Pentagon’s inspector general over who will be held accountable for the incident, which sparked a massive outcry among former helicopter pilots who said that using the downwash from helicopter rotors to disperse protestors was unsafe and reckless.
The potential for blame, the report says, appears to focus on two officers: Lt. Col Jeffrey Wingblade, who oversaw the choppers while driving home, and Brigadier General Robert Ryan, Wingblade’s superior.
The night that the downwash event took place, the Secret Service had given the D.C. National Guard special permission to fly helicopters over the normally restricted airspace above downtown D.C.
Ryan called Wingblade that evening to tell him to put five helicopters in the air above the National Mall, the report said. Ryan said that he told Wingblade to use the helicopters to collect observations, deter criminal activity, and provide medical evacuation if needed.
Wingblade remembered it differently. He told investigators that Ryan had said “I need you to orbit around the cross to disperse any type of looting, mayhem, whatsoever,” though a third person present on the call denies that account.
Wingblade, who was driving home during all of this, declined to return to his base and instead called the pilot of a UH-72 Lakota helicopter and told him “to orbit around the crowds.”
After the uproar, the report notes, Ryan defended the maneuver in texts by saying that he had received “presidential approval.”
The Defense One report suggests that while the National Guard investigation blames Wingblade, the Pentagon Inspector General wants to further scrutinize Ryan’s role.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-31--National Guard Taps Units To Respond To Potential Civil Unrest

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The National Guard has designated military police units in two states to serve as rapid reaction forces so they can respond quickly to any potential civil unrest around the country , following violent protests that rocked the nation ’ s capital and several states this summer .
Military leaders don ’ t explicitly tie the changes to concerns about possible election-related violence , but the nation is bracing for unrest surrounding the tumultuous presidential campaign , particularly if voting results are not known for days or weeks because of the increase in mail-in ballots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops — 300 in both Alabama and Arizona — will be ready to deploy within 24 hours if requested by a governor in another state .
And Guard leaders have also bought more than $ 200,000 in new protective equipment , and have increased troop training on proper procedures in dealing with protests .
The moves come as Defense Department and National Guard leaders work to address shortfalls that were identified in the military response to the June protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Military reviews of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordination between various state and federal government and law enforcement agencies — which at times slowed down troop movements .
“ Coordination and communication were the probably the things that we ’ ll look back on and see very challenging , ” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in an interview with The Associated Press .
He said that as the protests escalated in D.C. , and the call for help went out to governors around the country , 11 states said they were willing to provide support .
“ But the problem with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them together , ensure they have the appropriate training , ensure they have the appropriate equipment , understand the task you ’ re going to give them ?
” said McCarthy .
“ It ’ s American streets .
It could turn violent .
It was an incredibly challenging thing.
” Governors can use National Guard troops for a variety of things , ranging from natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires , to assisting with border security and civil unrest .
If a governor needs additional help , they can request troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement system that details how the forces will be used and what they can and can not do .
Lt. Gen. Mark Sasseville , vice chief of the National Guard Bureau , said the Guard employs a graduated approach , with states using their own troops first , and then , if more help is needed , they request forces from other states within their region .
If more support is needed , then governors reach out to states further away .
“ That makes sense because typically the states have good relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sasseville in an interview with The Associated Press .
“ Speed becomes an element of this discussion.
” The problem , however , is that some states couldn ’ t free up troops to send to others because they also were dealing with protests or other emergencies .
The Guard ’ s decision to formally designate troops in Alabama and Arizona as quick reaction forces will help because those units have aircraft that will allow them to rapidly deploy to another state within 24 hours of a governor ’ s request .
Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond in the eastern half of the country , and those in Arizona would respond in the west , and their deployment window at this point extends through the end of this year .
“ A big thing that we ’ ve done differently is being able to move faster , ” said Sasseville , adding that the Guard also had to buy equipment to replace protective gear for some units .
Military police from the Arizona National Guard were mobilized at least twice this year in support of law enforcement , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Phoenix in the wake of Floyd ’ s death .
During the June protests , governors used their own Guard troops and , in some cases sought and received forces from other states .
At the peak , in early June , there were more than 43,000 Guard forces deployed across 34 states and the District of Colombia to help with civil unrest .
That number has now plunged to about 3,200 across 10 states .
In extreme cases , the president can invoke the Insurrection Act and use active duty troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist law enforcement .
President Donald Trump pushed for that to happen , but senior defense and military leaders opposed it .
During the June protests , Defense Secretary Mark Esper drew the ire of the president when he told reporters that the Insurrection Act should be invoked in the United States “ only in the most urgent and dire of situations.
” He added , “ We are not in one of those situations now.
” Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Guard has designated military police units in two states to serve as rapid reaction forces so they can respond quickly to any potential civil unrest around the country, following violent protests that rocked the nation’s capital and several states this summer.
Military leaders don’t explicitly tie the changes to concerns about possible election-related violence, but the nation is bracing for unrest surrounding the tumultuous presidential campaign, particularly if voting results are not known for days or weeks because of the increase in mail-in ballots.
According to the Guard, about 600 troops — 300 in both Alabama and Arizona — will be ready to deploy within 24 hours if requested by a governor in another state. And Guard leaders have also bought more than $200,000 in new protective equipment, and have increased troop training on proper procedures in dealing with protests.
The moves come as Defense Department and National Guard leaders work to address shortfalls that were identified in the military response to the June protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Military reviews of the response to the protests found problems with coordination between various state and federal government and law enforcement agencies — which at times slowed down troop movements.
“Coordination and communication were the probably the things that we’ll look back on and see very challenging,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in an interview with The Associated Press. He said that as the protests escalated in D.C., and the call for help went out to governors around the country, 11 states said they were willing to provide support.
“But the problem with that is how quickly can you marshal them together, ensure they have the appropriate training, ensure they have the appropriate equipment, understand the task you’re going to give them?” said McCarthy. “It’s American streets. It could turn violent. It was an incredibly challenging thing.”
Governors can use National Guard troops for a variety of things, ranging from natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires, to assisting with border security and civil unrest. If a governor needs additional help, they can request troops from other state governors through a compact agreement system that details how the forces will be used and what they can and cannot do.
Lt. Gen. Mark Sasseville, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, said the Guard employs a graduated approach, with states using their own troops first, and then, if more help is needed, they request forces from other states within their region. If more support is needed, then governors reach out to states further away.
“That makes sense because typically the states have good relations with the neighboring states,” said Sasseville in an interview with The Associated Press. “Speed becomes an element of this discussion.”
The problem, however, is that some states couldn’t free up troops to send to others because they also were dealing with protests or other emergencies. The Guard’s decision to formally designate troops in Alabama and Arizona as quick reaction forces will help because those units have aircraft that will allow them to rapidly deploy to another state within 24 hours of a governor’s request.
Guard officials said the forces in Alabama would respond in the eastern half of the country, and those in Arizona would respond in the west, and their deployment window at this point extends through the end of this year.
“A big thing that we’ve done differently is being able to move faster,” said Sasseville, adding that the Guard also had to buy equipment to replace protective gear for some units.
Military police from the Arizona National Guard were mobilized at least twice this year in support of law enforcement, including to Wisconsin and in response to protests in Phoenix in the wake of Floyd’s death.
During the June protests, governors used their own Guard troops and, in some cases sought and received forces from other states. At the peak, in early June, there were more than 43,000 Guard forces deployed across 34 states and the District of Colombia to help with civil unrest. That number has now plunged to about 3,200 across 10 states.
In extreme cases, the president can invoke the Insurrection Act and use active duty troops on domestic soil to quell riots or assist law enforcement. President Donald Trump pushed for that to happen, but senior defense and military leaders opposed it.
During the June protests, Defense Secretary Mark Esper drew the ire of the president when he told reporters that the Insurrection Act should be invoked in the United States “only in the most urgent and dire of situations.” He added, “We are not in one of those situations now.”
___
Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-31--WaPo: National Guard Preps For Election Unrest

The National Guard has mustered a new unit to respond to election-related unrest , the Washington Post reports .
The new units were first created in September as a “ rapid reaction force.
” But that militaristic phrasing has been exchanged for the less belligerent “ regional response units.
” The Post ’ s story suggests that the regions in which this unit will respond is disparate .
It is reportedly composed of 600 national guard members between Alabama and Arizona .
Though the units could be deployed to the federally controlled District of Columbia , other states would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac , adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard , said that the states “ determine how we are used in support of their efforts to address those kinds of situations , ” “ The bottom line here is we are not in charge , ” he added .
Some states have already begun preparations for using the National Guard to supplement their own police forces in anticipation of unrest around the election .
The Tennessee National Guard has said that it would use its soldiers as “ backfill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin National Guard has said that its members will only be used as supplemental poll workers , and that any civil unrest “ will go through the normal 911 channels .
”

The National Guard has mustered a new unit to respond to election-related unrest, the Washington Post reports.
The new units were first created in September as a “rapid reaction force.” But that militaristic phrasing has been exchanged for the less belligerent “regional response units.”
The Post’s story suggests that the regions in which this unit will respond is disparate. It is reportedly composed of 600 national guard members between Alabama and Arizona.
Though the units could be deployed to the federally controlled District of Columbia, other states would need to request their presence.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac, adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, said that the states “determine how we are used in support of their efforts to address those kinds of situations,”
“The bottom line here is we are not in charge,” he added.
Some states have already begun preparations for using the National Guard to supplement their own police forces in anticipation of unrest around the election.
The Tennessee National Guard has said that it would use its soldiers as “backfill” for local police, while the Wisconsin National Guard has said that its members will only be used as supplemental poll workers, and that any civil unrest “will go through the normal 911 channels.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-31--Medical Community Slams Trump For Pushing COVID Cash Conspiracy

President Trump elicited disgust and anger from nearly the entire medical community this week , after he said that doctors were over-counting COVID-19 deaths to rake in piles of cash .
Trump called American doctors “ smart people ” at a Michigan rally on Friday , saying that “ what they do is say , ‘ I ’ m sorry , but you know , everybody dies of COVID . '
” “ Our doctors get more money if someone dies from COVID , ” Trump said , adding that a death due to the virus was “ like $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical community expressed revulsion at the remarks .
“ Throughout this pandemic , physicians , nurses , and frontline health care workers have risked their health , their safety and their lives to treat their patients and defeat a deadly virus .
They did it because duty called and because of the sacred oath they took , ” Dr. Susan Bailey , president of the American Medical Association , said in a statement .
“ The suggestion that doctors — in the midst of a public health crisis — are overcounting COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a malicious , outrageous , and completely misguided charge.
” Bailey alluded to the record spike in infections , saying that the country ’ s leadership was “ attacking us and lobbing baseless charges at physicians ” instead of “ following the science and urging adherence to the public health steps.
” The American College of Emergency Physicians said that it was “ appalled ” by Trump ’ s “ reckless and false assertions ” in a statement .
“ These baseless claims not only do a disservice to our health care heroes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which continues to hinder our nation ’ s efforts to get the pandemic under control and allow our nation to return to normalcy , ” the group said .
Others reamed Trump for the remarks .
Sam Ghali , an ER doctor at the University of Kentucky , reminded everyone who needed to be reminded that “ doctors do NOT get more money if somebody dies from COVID.
” Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding , a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists , told Trump to “ go to hell.
” Dr. Leana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington University ’ s School of Public Health , described the remarks as “ beyond insulting.
” Trump ’ s statement appears to have been inspired by a long-debunked narrative on the right that a large proportion of COVID-19 deaths are actually due to separate , unrelated causes .
There ’ s never been any evidence to support that notion .
Career government officials like chief of mortality statistics at the CDC Bob Anderson have said that 92 percent of deaths where COVID-19 was present are due to the virus .
Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks Friday , noting that “ our doctors are putting their lives on the line , busting their necks.
” “ He said they ’ re making up deaths from Covid-19 because they get more money , ” Biden added .
“ My lord .

President Trump elicited disgust and anger from nearly the entire medical community this week, after he said that doctors were over-counting COVID-19 deaths to rake in piles of cash.
Trump called American doctors “smart people” at a Michigan rally on Friday, saying that “what they do is say, ‘I’m sorry, but you know, everybody dies of COVID.'”
“Our doctors get more money if someone dies from COVID,” Trump said, adding that a death due to the virus was “like $2,000 more.”
Large swaths of the medical community expressed revulsion at the remarks.
“Throughout this pandemic, physicians, nurses, and frontline health care workers have risked their health, their safety and their lives to treat their patients and defeat a deadly virus. They did it because duty called and because of the sacred oath they took,” Dr. Susan Bailey, president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement. “The suggestion that doctors — in the midst of a public health crisis — are overcounting COVID-19 patients or lying to line their pockets is a malicious, outrageous, and completely misguided charge.”
Bailey alluded to the record spike in infections, saying that the country’s leadership was “attacking us and lobbing baseless charges at physicians” instead of “following the science and urging adherence to the public health steps.”
The American College of Emergency Physicians said that it was “appalled” by Trump’s “reckless and false assertions” in a statement.
“These baseless claims not only do a disservice to our health care heroes but promulgate the dangerous wave of misinformation which continues to hinder our nation’s efforts to get the pandemic under control and allow our nation to return to normalcy,” the group said.
Others reamed Trump for the remarks.
Sam Ghali, an ER doctor at the University of Kentucky, reminded everyone who needed to be reminded that “doctors do NOT get more money if somebody dies from COVID.”
Hi ER Doc here, I can’t believe this needs to be said but doctors do NOT get more money if somebody dies from COVID. RT so people don’t believe this made up BS https://t.co/7wuEuFbAOX — Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) October 31, 2020
Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, told Trump to “go to hell.”
FOR F*CK SAKE!!! Trump just picked the wrong goddamn fight trying to blame doctors for “phony” #COVID19 diagnoses and deaths. Here are over 20+ doctors who have **DIED ON THE FRONTLINES** among almost 2000 healthcare workers who have died. Trump—you can goto hell after we #VOTE https://t.co/2ldjuspWxa — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 31, 2020
Dr. Leana Wen, a visiting professor at George Washington University’s School of Public Health, described the remarks as “beyond insulting.”
This is beyond insulting. Healthcare professionals have been risking their lives. We're doing everything we can to address this public health crisis, one made worse because of Trump admin's lack of action. We need support, not false accusations.https://t.co/Yj47xLfKbH — Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) October 30, 2020
Trump’s statement appears to have been inspired by a long-debunked narrative on the right that a large proportion of COVID-19 deaths are actually due to separate, unrelated causes.
There’s never been any evidence to support that notion. Career government officials like chief of mortality statistics at the CDC Bob Anderson have said that 92 percent of deaths where COVID-19 was present are due to the virus.
Vice President Joe Biden also homed in on the remarks Friday, noting that “our doctors are putting their lives on the line, busting their necks.”
“He said they’re making up deaths from Covid-19 because they get more money,” Biden added. “My lord.