buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Mike Bloomberg Once Again Called Transgender People “It” And “Some Guy Wearing A Dress”

“ And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from , ” Bloomberg said at the forum last year .
“ You can understand when you look at the Democratic Party , they are so far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions , and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive .
I don ’ t know what progressive means.
” The video was posted to YouTube shortly after the March event , but has received few views .
Bloomberg was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , but announced his campaign just eight months after he made the remarks .
Bloomberg made a similar remark about a “ man wearing a dress ” in 2016 , but his comments uncovered Tuesday — remarks he made less than a year ago — came amid the early stages of the 2020 Democratic primary .
“ If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she , or it can go to the locker room with their daughter , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Bloomberg ’ s sensitivity was far less apparent at a forum hosted by the Bermuda Business Development Agency on March 21 , 2019 , in Manhattan , where Bloomberg derided Democratic candidates for talking about transgender protections .
And yet , Bloomberg ’ s campaign published a new video on Tuesday that pledged the former New York City mayor believed in “ inclusivity ” for “ LGBTQ+ youth , ” featuring fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi declaring , “ Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Bloomberg in 2019 describing transgender people as “ he , she , or it ” and “ some guy in a dress ” who enters girls locker rooms — invoking a conservative cliché as he argued that transgender rights are toxic for presidential candidates trying to reach Middle America .
A Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday , `` Mike understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights has not been equal .
In April 2002 , during his first year as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights bill into law .
His company provides comprehensive health care coverage for his transgender employees .
As president , he has a comprehensive plan to secure rights for transgender Americans , including passing the Equality Act , ensuring transgender people have access to affirming health care and working to end the crisis of violence against transgender women .
Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community . ''
His company Bloomberg LP joined a court filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a North Carolina law that banned transgender people from using restrooms that matched their gender identity in government buildings .
The spokesperson did not directly respond to BuzzFeed News ’ questions about whether Bloomberg thinks a transgender woman is “ a guy wearing a dress ” or an “ it , ” if transgender rights are a liability for Democratic presidential candidates , or how his campaign video on LGBTQ+ rights squares with his comments less than a year ago .
When Bloomberg raised a similar talking point in 2016 , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti–transgender rights law .
According to reports that emerged earlier this month , Bloomberg said , `` If you want to know if somebody is a good salesman , give him the job of going to the Midwest and picking a town and selling to that town the concept that some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter . ''
After those first comments were reported , a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told NBC News that the billionaire signed a gender identity nondiscrimination bill in 2002 when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community , '' the spokesperson told the network .
But the latest video shows that he was still deploying this idea three years later , in 2019 , as the primary started to unfold .
A former Republican , Bloomberg has emerged as contender in the Democratic primary after he doused the nation with a $ 400 million ad buy — enough to boost his poll numbers to 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released Tuesday and to qualify for Wednesday ’ s debate in Nevada .
At the same time , he ’ s faced a lash of criticism for his past positions on race and gender .
The Washington Post reported on several lawsuits that allege discrimination against women , including in one case in which he allegedly told a pregnant employee to “ kill ” her fetus .
Bloomberg also defended the New York City Police Department 's stop-and-frisk policy — which targeted people of color for searches — in a 2015 speech at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods .
Yes , that 's true .
Why 'd we do it ?
Because that 's where all the crime is .
And the way you should get the guns out of the kids ' hands is throw them against the wall and frisk them.
” Bloomberg tried to distance himself from those comments this month , telling NPR , “ I regret that and I have apologized.
” Bloomberg has also tried to reach LGBTQ progressives .
In the campaign video released Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ” emblem in the corner and was retweeted by his campaign , Mizrahi , a designer and entertainer , begins , “ My thing is LGBTQ+ youth.
” “ As a kid you feel completely ostracized , completely on the outside of everything , but then as an adult you see there is a whole bunch of inclusivity , ” Mizrahi continues .
“ Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue .
Having lived in New York for a number of years that Mike was mayor and seeing him enact these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ populations but also the kids , the thing I like about Mike is that he ’ s really proactive.
” “ There is no one more perfect than Mike , ” he concludes .
Back at the March 2019 forum , Bloomberg said he ’ d largely ruled out running for president this year due to his political views , saying in a video , “ It ’ s just not going to happen on a national level for somebody like me starting where I am , unless I was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what CNN calls an apology tour.
” This is Bloomberg ’ s full quote from the forum : “ 'Throw the bums out , they have n't delivered , they did n't listen to us . '
If you go to the middle of the country , people would say .
If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he , she , or it can go to the locker room with their daughter , that ’ s not a winning formula for most people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they care about education , they care about safety , and all of those kinds of things .
And some of these social issues — and not just the American government , the EU government does as well — we are focusing on a lot of things that have little relevance to people who are trying to live in a world that is changing because of technology and communications and things like that .
And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from ; you can understand when you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions , and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive .
I don ’ t know what progressive means .
They are in a place where some of the American public is , and it remains to be seen if the remainder of the electorate is .
”

A Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday, "Mike understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights has not been equal. In April 2002, during his first year as mayor, Mike signed a sweeping transgender civil rights bill into law. His company provides comprehensive health care coverage for his transgender employees. As president, he has a comprehensive plan to secure rights for transgender Americans, including passing the Equality Act, ensuring transgender people have access to affirming health care and working to end the crisis of violence against transgender women. Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community."
His company Bloomberg LP joined a court filing with several dozen other corporations to oppose a North Carolina law that banned transgender people from using restrooms that matched their gender identity in government buildings.
The spokesperson did not directly respond to BuzzFeed News’ questions about whether Bloomberg thinks a transgender woman is “a guy wearing a dress” or an “it,” if transgender rights are a liability for Democratic presidential candidates, or how his campaign video on LGBTQ+ rights squares with his comments less than a year ago.
When Bloomberg raised a similar talking point in 2016, he was discussing the fallout of the North Carolina anti–transgender rights law. According to reports that emerged earlier this month, Bloomberg said, "If you want to know if somebody is a good salesman, give him the job of going to the Midwest and picking a town and selling to that town the concept that some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter."
After those first comments were reported, a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told NBC News that the billionaire signed a gender identity nondiscrimination bill in 2002 when he was the mayor of New York City.
"Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community," the spokesperson told the network.
But the latest video shows that he was still deploying this idea three years later, in 2019, as the primary started to unfold.
A former Republican, Bloomberg has emerged as contender in the Democratic primary after he doused the nation with a $400 million ad buy — enough to boost his poll numbers to 19% among Democrats in a national poll released Tuesday and to qualify for Wednesday’s debate in Nevada.
At the same time, he’s faced a lash of criticism for his past positions on race and gender. The Washington Post reported on several lawsuits that allege discrimination against women, including in one case in which he allegedly told a pregnant employee to “kill” her fetus.
Bloomberg also defended the New York City Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy — which targeted people of color for searches — in a 2015 speech at the Aspen Institute, saying, “We put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods. Yes, that's true. Why'd we do it? Because that's where all the crime is. And the way you should get the guns out of the kids' hands is throw them against the wall and frisk them.”
Bloomberg tried to distance himself from those comments this month, telling NPR, “I regret that and I have apologized.”
Bloomberg has also tried to reach LGBTQ progressives. In the campaign video released Tuesday, which features a “Mike Bloomberg 2020” emblem in the corner and was retweeted by his campaign, Mizrahi, a designer and entertainer, begins, “My thing is LGBTQ+ youth.”
“As a kid you feel completely ostracized, completely on the outside of everything, but then as an adult you see there is a whole bunch of inclusivity,” Mizrahi continues. “Mike is so incredibly sensitive to this issue. Having lived in New York for a number of years that Mike was mayor and seeing him enact these incredible programs that helped both the adult LGBTQ populations but also the kids, the thing I like about Mike is that he’s really proactive.”
“There is no one more perfect than Mike,” he concludes.
Back at the March 2019 forum, Bloomberg said he’d largely ruled out running for president this year due to his political views, saying in a video, “It’s just not going to happen on a national level for somebody like me starting where I am, unless I was going to change all my views and go on what CNN calls an apology tour.”
This is Bloomberg’s full quote from the forum:
“'Throw the bums out, they haven't delivered, they didn't listen to us.' If you go to the middle of the country, people would say. If your conversation during a presidential election is about some guy wearing a dress and whether he, she, or it can go to the locker room with their daughter, that’s not a winning formula for most people. They care about health care, they care about education, they care about safety, and all of those kinds of things. And some of these social issues — and not just the American government, the EU government does as well — we are focusing on a lot of things that have little relevance to people who are trying to live in a world that is changing because of technology and communications and things like that. And so you can understand where somebody like Trump comes from; you can understand when you look at the Democratic Party, they are so far left that two years ago there was nobody on their side who would take these positions, and today virtually all the candidates for president of the Democratic Party are so progressive. I don’t know what progressive means. They are in a place where some of the American public is, and it remains to be seen if the remainder of the electorate is.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-05--Live Results: Super Tuesday Democratic Primaries

It ’ s Super Tuesday , when one-third of the total delegates are up for grabs in 15 states and @ @ @ @ @ be updated as results come in .

It’s Super Tuesday, when one-third of the total delegates are up for grabs in 15 states and territories. This post will be updated as results come in.


buzzfeed--2020-03-06--What Happened To The Women Of 2020? Fears Of “Electability.”

Elizabeth Warren ’ s exit leaves the presidential race primarily between two old white men .
“ All those little girls , ” she said , “ are gon na have to wait four more years.
” The image began to circulate again on Thursday , this time with a very different sentiment behind it : five Democratic women photographed at the height of last summer , back when it seemed like one of them might have a chance at making history .
They were all high-fiving , all laughing .
The caption : “ Madam President ?
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren , dropped out of the presidential race , Democrats are mourning what could have been — and wondering what happened .
“ Every time I get introduced as the most powerful woman , I almost cry , because I wish that were not true , ” said Nancy Pelosi , the speaker of the House , in the wake of Warren ’ s exit .
“ I so wish that we had a woman president of the United States , and we came so close to doing that .
I do think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misogyny.
” It had started with a `` blue wave '' midterm election in 2018 , where being a woman was seen , for the first time , as a distinct advantage , and where candidates of color won even in white-majority districts .
Then , in 2019 , a slate of historically diverse presidential candidates came together , including six women .
After everything , the last two candidates left in the race with a shot at the nomination are two white men in their late seventies : Joe Biden and Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early after a campaign that tried to center women voters simply never took off .
Kamala Harris left after a formidable start and rapid rise ended with a just-as-rapid fall .
Amy Klobuchar , who spent much of the race fighting for any shred of voters ’ attention , dropped out to endorse Biden mere weeks after she finally , unexpectedly , surged .
Warren ’ s exit Thursday , after a disappointing string of losses in early-voting states , was perhaps the starkest reminder of the realities facing women candidates vying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren stuck closely to a popular message , raised huge sums of money , and built a formidable grassroots organization across the country .
Like the other candidates who dropped out of the race , she had hardly run a perfect campaign .
But it was also unquestionable that , after what seemed like an unstoppable rise in the polls last summer , Warren ’ s candidacy had become mired down in voter fears about electability — and , inextricably , her gender .
Polling from a progressive firm showed , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , some one third , held sexist beliefs — and that almost none of them backed Warren .
Other figures showed Warren ’ s support among male voters declining sharply as the campaign went on .
As she addressed reporters Thursday in front of her home in Cambridge , Warren was unflinching about the role that sexism had played in her campaign .
“ Gender in this race , you know , that is the trap question for everyone , ” Warren said .
“ If you say , ‘ Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ everyone says , ‘ Whiner !
’ And if you say ‘ No , there was no sexism , ’ about a bazillion women think , What planet do you live on ?
“ I promise you this , I ’ ll have a lot more to say on that subject later on.
” The drive to beat Donald Trump was all-consuming in the 2020 primary .
From the beginning , it also led many voters to simply count women candidates out .
Across early states , voters said they found women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too inexperienced .
Their dislike of women candidates ’ policies or ideologies mixed frequently with their feelings about their gender .
“ She ’ s a firecracker , but she doesn ’ t have all that experience that Biden does , ” Mary , a voter in tiny Blue Grass , Iowa , said of Warren in January .
Then , almost as an aside , she added : “ And I don ’ t think she can win , because she ’ s a woman , dang it , and they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guess.
” Mostly , voters said , they saw women candidates as too risky — especially in the wake of the 2016 election , when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump .
Peggy Hendrix , a Memphis resident who voted early for Michael Bloomberg in Tennessee , was unflinching last week about her belief that Klobuchar and Warren should drop out .
“ I think the two women in the race should jump out , because America would never elect a woman president .
They did n't elect Hillary , who has been senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all her life , ” Hendrix said .
“ I know these other women do n't have a chance .
I think they should get out.
” Gillibrand , Harris , Warren , and Klobuchar all ran vastly different campaigns , and all had issues that were entirely separate from their gender .
At one point or another , though , all of them were forced to make the same choice : to address the issue of sexism head-on .
Male candidates never faced the same questions , or the same necessity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Harris ’ s communications director .
“ They all had to take it on directly , this issue of electability — no ‘ wink-wink , nod-nod , ’ ” Adams said of women candidates .
“ You had to define what it is , call out the problem , and explain how you can solve it .
We realized , ‘ We ’ re going to have to call out this elephant in the room in a far more explicit way.
’ ” For Harris — who was contending doubly with racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate since Shirley Chisholm — that effort began in earnest in a speech in May of 2019 at an NAACP convention in Detroit .
There , she explicitly challenged media-driven notions of “ electability ” that favored white men .
She wove efforts like the Detroit speech into the fabric of her campaign , frequently referring to hypothetical leaders with female pronouns — hoping to challenge voters ’ ideas , she said , of what a president looked like .
Harris told BuzzFeed News in October that such efforts were necessary “ especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ electability , ’ which drives me bananas.
” “ It ’ s important for people to understand that they have to really check how they 're thinking about these things , ” she said .
“ But we have to help along the way.
” Klobuchar , who found herself losing voters to Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of a small city , addressed the issue directly on the debate stage , after she was asked about her comments that a woman with so little experience would not be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
Women are held to a higher standard , ” she said .
“ Otherwise we could play a game called ‘ Name Your Favorite Woman President , ’ which we can ’ t do because it has all been men , including all vice presidents ... And I think any working woman out there , any woman that ’ s at home , knows exactly what I mean.
” For Warren , that moment came in January , when CNN first reported that Sanders had told her in a private meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could win against Trump .
She put out a statement confirming her side of the story , which Sanders denied , and spoke of it briefly in the next debate — before pivoting to an explicit defense of women ’ s electability , a topic she had so far mostly avoided .
It had , her campaign believed , become untenable to not address the issue of gender in the race .
But her campaign was also careful to tell key supporters not to accuse Sanders of sexism , largely because they knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held among Democratic voters .
“ I would be careful with the ‘ sexism ’ angle when it comes to the Bernie/Warren exchange individually — that ’ s not what this is about and I think it ’ ll be really bad news for us if that becomes what this is about , ” a Warren aide wrote to a group of supporters in a private Twitter group as the story about Sanders ’ comments reached its height .
“ Claiming you ’ re worried a woman can ’ t win/flagging that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many , many people feel.
” Ultimately , the story appeared to do little to damage Sanders , who continued to rise in the polls , and went on to a near-win in Iowa and victories New Hampshire and Nevada .
Though she avoided speaking explicitly about sexism in the race for much of her campaign , Warren often built her speeches around prominent women in history , and her policies centered issues like universal child care .
In her famous “ selfie lines , ” which could stretch for hours , Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children to go first and providing coloring paper for children to use as she spoke .
It was an environment where , unlike other candidates ’ rallies , many families felt comfortable bringing their children — and each time Warren encountered a young girl in line , she knelt and made them a pinky promise : “ I ’ m running for president because that ’ s what girls do.
” As she addressed reporters in front of her house Thursday , after she had left the race , Warren ’ s voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ One of the hardest parts of this is all those pinky promises , ” she said .
“ And all those little girls who are gon na have to wait four more years .
That ’ s gon na be hard .
”

The image began to circulate again on Thursday, this time with a very different sentiment behind it: five Democratic women photographed at the height of last summer, back when it seemed like one of them might have a chance at making history. They were all high-fiving, all laughing. The caption: “Madam President?”
As the last major woman candidate, Elizabeth Warren, dropped out of the presidential race, Democrats are mourning what could have been — and wondering what happened.
“Every time I get introduced as the most powerful woman, I almost cry, because I wish that were not true,” said Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, in the wake of Warren’s exit. “I so wish that we had a woman president of the United States, and we came so close to doing that. I do think there’s a certain element of misogyny.”
It had started with a "blue wave" midterm election in 2018, where being a woman was seen, for the first time, as a distinct advantage, and where candidates of color won even in white-majority districts. Then, in 2019, a slate of historically diverse presidential candidates came together, including six women.
After everything, the last two candidates left in the race with a shot at the nomination are two white men in their late seventies: Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.
Kirsten Gillibrand left the race early after a campaign that tried to center women voters simply never took off. Kamala Harris left after a formidable start and rapid rise ended with a just-as-rapid fall. Amy Klobuchar, who spent much of the race fighting for any shred of voters’ attention, dropped out to endorse Biden mere weeks after she finally, unexpectedly, surged.
Warren’s exit Thursday, after a disappointing string of losses in early-voting states, was perhaps the starkest reminder of the realities facing women candidates vying for the country’s highest office.
She stuck to a popular message, raised huge sums of money, and built a formidable grassroots organization across the country.
Like the other candidates who dropped out of the race, she had hardly run a perfect campaign. But it was also unquestionable that, after what seemed like an unstoppable rise in the polls last summer, Warren's candidacy had become mired down in voter fears about electability — and, inextricably, her gender.
Polling from a progressive firm showed, for example, that a large swath of Democratic voters, about one-third, held sexist beliefs — and that almost none of them backed Warren. Other figures showed Warren’s support among male voters declining sharply as the campaign went on.


buzzfeed--2020-03-05--Congress Quickly Passed An $8.3 Billion Spending Package To Fight And Treat The Coronavirus

WASHINGTON — Congress will send President Donald Trump an $ 8.3 billion emergency spending package to help combat the coronavirus , as the virus continues to spread in the United States .
The Senate voted 96–1 to fund the package .
The bulk of funding is designated to agencies responsible for prevention and care .
The amount is more than three times the original $ 2.5 billion that Trump requested from Congress last week , but he is expected to sign the bill .
Republican Sen. Rand Paul was lone vote against the spending package .
More than $ 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , including $ 2.2 billion allocated to the CDC to contain the outbreak and $ 3 billion toward research and development of vaccines and other treatments .
More than $ 1 billion will fund State Department operations abroad and humanitarian assistance .
The bill comes as the international death toll related to the infection reaches 3,286 people , 11 of which were in the US .
More than 95,000 people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus , according to a Johns Hopkins University website mapping the spread of the infection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plummeted to its lowest since 2008 .
The FDA is closely monitoring potential shortages in critical medical products .
To mitigate the issue , Congress ’ s bill provides nearly $ 1 billion to state and local agencies for medical supplies , including masks and protective equipment .
Small businesses suffering financial losses as a result of the outbreak will have access to $ 1 billion in loan subsidies .
On Wednesday , the House approved the package 415–2 ; Republican Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona and Ken Buck of Colorado voted against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , House Democrats and Republicans attended separate closed-door briefings with Vice President Mike Pence and Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Trump put Pence in charge of the coronavirus response , much to the chagrin of health experts who cited the vice president ’ s lack of medical experience .
Members leaving the briefing said Pence and Fauci gave the same public health recommendations that health experts have circulated since the outbreak ; Pence and Fauci also announced new guidance for nursing homes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to those who attended the briefing .
“ On travel , Dr. Fauci said there wasn ’ t an official directive but 'just use common sense , ' ” Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York told BuzzFeed News upon exiting the briefing .
“ The people that are elderly , that have preexisting conditions — with respiratory or heart — they should not be domestically traveling , ” she added .
Maloney , chair of the House Oversight Committee , said she invited Fauci to appear before the committee next Wednesday for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Massachusetts said Pence told Democrats “ that the risk for the average American that ’ s in good health was still small , ” also adding that their concerns were more centered around the “ frail elderly.
” The average age of a US senator is 62.9 years old ; several of them are over the age of 80 .
Still , many senators said they weren ’ t worried about contracting the infection .
Some of their House counterparts seemed rattled when they joined hundreds of their colleagues on the floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tennessee wore a blue rubber glove on his right hand during a vote series , and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida sat in the House chambers wearing a gas mask .
So far , Congress is moving forward with normal in-person voting and is expected to return to the Capitol next week .
When reporters asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if the Capitol would remain open , she responded , “ At this time , yes , without question , ” as she walked into a briefing on the coronavirus .

WASHINGTON — Congress will send President Donald Trump an $8.3 billion emergency spending package to help combat the coronavirus, as the virus continues to spread in the United States.
The Senate voted 96–1 to fund the package. The bulk of funding is designated to agencies responsible for prevention and care. The amount is more than three times the original $2.5 billion that Trump requested from Congress last week, but he is expected to sign the bill. Republican Sen. Rand Paul was lone vote against the spending package.
More than $7 billion will be dispersed among government health agencies, including $2.2 billion allocated to the CDC to contain the outbreak and $3 billion toward research and development of vaccines and other treatments. More than $1 billion will fund State Department operations abroad and humanitarian assistance.
The bill comes as the international death toll related to the infection reaches 3,286 people, 11 of which were in the US. More than 95,000 people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus, according to a Johns Hopkins University website mapping the spread of the infection. Earlier this week, the stock market plummeted to its lowest since 2008. The FDA is closely monitoring potential shortages in critical medical products.
To mitigate the issue, Congress’s bill provides nearly $1 billion to state and local agencies for medical supplies, including masks and protective equipment. Small businesses suffering financial losses as a result of the outbreak will have access to $1 billion in loan subsidies.
On Wednesday, the House approved the package 415–2; Republican Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona and Ken Buck of Colorado voted against the measure.
Prior to the vote, House Democrats and Republicans attended separate closed-door briefings with Vice President Mike Pence and Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Trump put Pence in charge of the coronavirus response, much to the chagrin of health experts who cited the vice president’s lack of medical experience.
Members leaving the briefing said Pence and Fauci gave the same public health recommendations that health experts have circulated since the outbreak; Pence and Fauci also announced new guidance for nursing homes to minimize the spread of the virus, according to those who attended the briefing.
“On travel, Dr. Fauci said there wasn’t an official directive but 'just use common sense,'” Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York told BuzzFeed News upon exiting the briefing. “The people that are elderly, that have preexisting conditions — with respiratory or heart — they should not be domestically traveling,” she added.
Maloney, chair of the House Oversight Committee, said she invited Fauci to appear before the committee next Wednesday for a public briefing.
Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts said Pence told Democrats “that the risk for the average American that’s in good health was still small,” also adding that their concerns were more centered around the “frail elderly.”
The average age of a US senator is 62.9 years old; several of them are over the age of 80. Still, many senators said they weren’t worried about contracting the infection. Some of their House counterparts seemed rattled when they joined hundreds of their colleagues on the floor to vote Wednesday. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee wore a blue rubber glove on his right hand during a vote series, and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida sat in the House chambers wearing a gas mask.
So far, Congress is moving forward with normal in-person voting and is expected to return to the Capitol next week. When reporters asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if the Capitol would remain open, she responded, “At this time, yes, without question,” as she walked into a briefing on the coronavirus.


buzzfeed--2020-03-05--Andrew Yang Is Launching A Political Group To Cement His Ideas Into The "Mainstream"

Three weeks after ending his presidential bid , Andrew Yang is starting a new group to cement his ideas about 21st-century work and technology firmly into the political “ mainstream , ” with an ambitious goal of advancing “ a wave of new thinking in American politics , ” his advisers said .
The group will both support Democratic candidates who embody Yang ’ s vision , in the style of a more typical political group — such as Bernie Sanders ’ Our Revolution or Pete Buttigieg ’ s Hitting Home — while also embracing more unconventional aims and methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out by his advisers earlier this week , will support “ projects and pilots that demonstrate the power and practicality of our ideas in real life ” through grants across spaces in tech and media .
He will also host his own long-form podcast and a “ Future of Work ” conference in Washington , DC , to discuss his vision for a “ human-centered economy.
” The 45-year-old entrepreneur got in the race early , in November 2017 , and rose from a political nobody to a candidate who outlasted governors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to imagine a campaign that started with my Google contact list and now has over 400,000 donors and millions of Americans who support us , ” Yang said in an interview on the night he ended his presidential campaign in New Hampshire .
During his two-plus years in the race , Yang popularized a message about individuals redefining their worth as more than economic metrics , building his campaign around a singular policy idea : a monthly payment to every American , known as universal basic income , or UBI .
Part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , will be centered on making UBI a reality , partly through the “ grants , ” which he and his team are calling “ ‘ Forward Thinking ’ seed funding.
” These could include pilot programs for universal basic income — something he tried in miniature during his presidential campaign .
Humanity Forward is also pledging to give $ 500,000 in universal basic income to residents in one town in New York state .
“ It 's still me .
It 's still what we do .
It 's still about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve our problems , ” Yang said in an interview last week .
“ In some ways , it ’ s easier to do independent from the political cycle.
” Yang believes his campaign advanced a conversation about poverty and technology , and perhaps changed the way candidates can talk to voters in the 2020s .
His plainspoken style on the campaign trail , professed affinity for many of the other candidates , and easy jokes made him popular among Democratic voters , from his many online supporters to his own rivals on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak at an event and some of my fellow candidates speak at an event , I feel like we ’ re sometimes speaking different languages .
And the language that I speak is just English , ” he said , laughing .
“ With some numbers thrown in , too.
” Yang ’ s success has also led to some speculation that he might run for office in New York , where he and his family live in Manhattan .
Asked this week about a run for mayor in 2021 , Yang said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His new group , which would allow him to build on his political platform until another campaign , will be structured as a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization , meaning it can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money and is not obligated to disclose its donors .
Zach Graumann , Yang 's former campaign manager , said they plan to disclose major donors voluntarily but had not landed on the details .
`` In true AY style , ” he said , “ we ’ ll be really honest @ @ @ @

Three weeks after ending his presidential bid, Andrew Yang is starting a new group to cement his ideas about 21st-century work and technology firmly into the political “mainstream,” with an ambitious goal of advancing “a wave of new thinking in American politics,” his advisers said.
Yang started the organization, a political nonprofit called Humanity Forward, on Thursday.
The group will both support Democratic candidates who embody Yang’s vision, in the style of a more typical political group — such as Bernie Sanders’ Our Revolution or Pete Buttigieg’s Hitting Home — while also embracing more unconventional aims and methods.
Yang, according to plans laid out by his advisers earlier this week, will support “projects and pilots that demonstrate the power and practicality of our ideas in real life” through grants across spaces in tech and media. He will also host his own long-form podcast and a “Future of Work” conference in Washington, DC, to discuss his vision for a “human-centered economy.”
The 45-year-old entrepreneur got in the race early, in November 2017, and rose from a political nobody to a candidate who outlasted governors and senators. “It’s amazing to imagine a campaign that started with my Google contact list and now has over 400,000 donors and millions of Americans who support us,” Yang said in an interview on the night he ended his presidential campaign in New Hampshire.
During his two-plus years in the race, Yang popularized a message about individuals redefining their worth as more than economic metrics, building his campaign around a singular policy idea: a monthly payment to every American, known as universal basic income, or UBI.
Part of Humanity Forward’s work, advisers said, will be centered on making UBI a reality, partly through the “grants,” which he and his team are calling “‘Forward Thinking’ seed funding.” These could include pilot programs for universal basic income — something he tried in miniature during his presidential campaign.
Humanity Forward is also pledging to give $500,000 in universal basic income to residents in one town in New York state.
“It's still me. It's still what we do. It's still about proving that we're the best to solve our problems,” Yang said in an interview last week. “In some ways, it’s easier to do independent from the political cycle.”
Yang believes his campaign advanced a conversation about poverty and technology, and perhaps changed the way candidates can talk to voters in the 2020s. His plainspoken style on the campaign trail, professed affinity for many of the other candidates, and easy jokes made him popular among Democratic voters, from his many online supporters to his own rivals on the debate stage.
“When I speak at an event and some of my fellow candidates speak at an event, I feel like we’re sometimes speaking different languages. And the language that I speak is just English,” he said, laughing. “With some numbers thrown in, too.”
Yang’s success has also led to some speculation that he might run for office in New York, where he and his family live in Manhattan. Asked this week about a run for mayor in 2021, Yang said he is “looking at it.”
His new group, which would allow him to build on his political platform until another campaign, will be structured as a 501(c)(4) organization, meaning it can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money and is not obligated to disclose its donors.
Zach Graumann, Yang's former campaign manager, said they plan to disclose major donors voluntarily but had not landed on the details.
"In true AY style,” he said, “we’ll be really honest about everything.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-05--Elizabeth Warren Is Ending Her Presidential Campaign

Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign , a dramatic if expected turn after a disappointing stretch of primaries for someone who was once seen as a leading contender for the Democratic nomination .
She announced her decision on a call with staff on Thursday .
`` I know that when we set out , this was not the call you ever wanted to hear , '' she said .
`` It is not the call I ever wanted to make .
But I refuse to let disappointment blind me , or you , to what we ’ ve accomplished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal , but what we have done together , what you have done , has made a lasting difference .
It ’ s not the scale of the difference we wanted to make , but it matters — and the changes will have ripples for years to come . ''
`` We ran from the heart , '' she said .
`` We ran on our values .
We ran on treating everyone with respect and dignity . ''
Warren soon after addressed reporters outside her home in Cambridge , Massachusetts , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I will not be running for president in 2020 , but I guarantee I will stay in the fight for the hard-working folks across this country who 've gotten the short end of the stick over and over , '' she said .
It is not yet clear whether Warren plans to endorse either of the remaining top candidates , Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden .
Her endorsement would be undoubtedly influential , but she is in a difficult position , with a raft of supporters who are likely to split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren allies , there has been disagreement in recent days about whether she should endorse Sanders , with whom she is closely aligned ideologically , or try to extract policy commitments or a possible cabinet position from Biden , who for now looks most likely to capture the nomination .
Biden and Warren spoke on Wednesday night , a Biden campaign official said .
Sanders ' deputy campaign manager Ari Rabin-Havt said on MSNBC soon after Warren 's decision broke that Sanders would `` welcome '' an endorsement from her , but `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Warren campaign . ''
Asked what she would tell her supporters about who to back now , Warren said , `` Let 's take a deep breath and spend a little time on that .
We do n't have to decide right this minute . ''
She added that she would not be making an endorsement on Thursday .
Warren had said often that she cared more about enacting her agenda than becoming president herself .
And she and her once-ascendant campaign shaped the 2020 primary in that sense , introducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainstream intended to reshape the American economy and curb the influence of money in government .
She made a wealth tax — 2 % on fortunes over $ 50 million , a policy that even Sanders had shied away from in 2016 — into a progressive rallying cry , with people at her rallies who dressed as two pennies .
With the funds from the wealth tax , Warren said she would put in place a series of plans focused on education , another departure from many presidential campaigns — enacting universal childcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student debt , another idea that had barely been considered among Democrats even two years before .
Her campaign itself broke new ground .
She made a rejection of high-dollar fundraisers a central tenet of her campaign .
Instead of calling important donors , Warren made it a point to call up people who had donated small sums instead , and she spent hours after her events taking photos with every single attendee who wanted one — a “ selfie line ” tradition that is likely to endure in American politics .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fans , who took to covering everything in the campaign 's signature color , `` liberty green . ''
`` You know liberty green everything was key here , '' Warren said on the call with staff Thursday .
`` My personal favorites included the liberty green boas , liberty green sneakers , liberty green makeup , liberty green hair , and liberty green glitter liberally applied .
But it was so much more.
” Despite weak showings in early states , Warren had vowed at the start of March to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic convention this summer , hoping to rekindle a campaign whose momentum had once looked unstoppable .
She went as far as to reverse course and choose not to disavow financial help from a super PAC .
But she continued to struggle to pick up delegates into Super Tuesday as Biden stormed to a comeback and consolidated the moderate wing of the party .
Even Warren 's blockbuster debate performance a few weeks ago that brought in tens millions of dollars — and almost singlehandedly crushed the candidacy of Michael Bloomberg — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator 's campaign .
She continued to struggle to win over people of color , particularly black voters , as well as moderate and working-class white voters .
Warren 's departure from the race makes it almost certain that a woman will not be at the top of the ticket — which some Democrats had hoped for after Hillary Clinton 's 2016 loss .
Tulsi Gabbard is the lone remaining woman running for president , and her campaign has not gained any traction .
Asked outside her home what she thought it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left deciding between Sanders and Biden , Warren said `` one of the hardest parts of this is all pinky promises , and all those little girls who are gon na have to wait four more years .
That 's going to be hard . ''
Arguably , Warren shaped the presidential primary four years ago , as well , with her decision not to run .
Though two separate draft movements called on Warren to run for president in 2015 ( and dozens of reporters asked her if she would ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Warren pressured Clinton on policy and personnel , while Sanders ran and captured the hearts of many young progressives .
He succeeded beyond everyone 's — including his — wildest expectations in 2016 , and his `` political revolution '' shifted the discourse about what is possible in US politics .
His ascendancy , rather than Warren 's , has set the contours of the rising left in American politics .
Warren and Sanders , however , go back much further than that .
In the 2000s , when Sanders was still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared common goals and sometimes appeared together .
They share a lot of the same issues and a general attentiveness to structural changes to taxation and regulation in the United States .
In 2020 , they both ran .
Their dual candidacies put at the center of the primary this question : Should the United States move to a single-payer system , if so , how quickly ?
As the race went on , Warren found herself enmeshed in the horserace bind , appealing to both the kinds of voters who went for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pete Buttigieg — but not quite succeeding as a unity candidate , either .
After an ascendant summer , it was Warren ’ s stance on health care that created the first cracks in her campaign , as she struggled to answer questions about whether Medicare for All would increase middle-class taxes .
She eventually put forward a plan that would first have the Senate vote on a more moderate public option before pushing for full-fledged single-payer health care .
`` So if you leave with only one thing you leave with , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told staff on the Thursday call .
`` Choose to fight only righteous fights , because then when things get tough , and they will , you will know that there is only option ahead of you : nevertheless , you must persist . ''

Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign, a dramatic if expected turn after a disappointing stretch of primaries for someone who was once seen as a leading contender for the Democratic nomination.
She announced her decision on a call with staff on Thursday.
"I know that when we set out, this was not the call you ever wanted to hear," she said. "It is not the call I ever wanted to make. But I refuse to let disappointment blind me, or you, to what we’ve accomplished. We didn’t reach our goal, but what we have done together, what you have done, has made a lasting difference. It’s not the scale of the difference we wanted to make, but it matters — and the changes will have ripples for years to come."
"We ran from the heart," she said. "We ran on our values. We ran on treating everyone with respect and dignity."
Warren soon after addressed reporters outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband Bruce Mann by her side.
"I will not be running for president in 2020, but I guarantee I will stay in the fight for the hard-working folks across this country who've gotten the short end of the stick over and over," she said.
It is not yet clear whether Warren plans to endorse either of the remaining top candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. Her endorsement would be undoubtedly influential, but she is in a difficult position, with a raft of supporters who are likely to split between the two candidates.
Among close Warren allies, there has been disagreement in recent days about whether she should endorse Sanders, with whom she is closely aligned ideologically, or try to extract policy commitments or a possible cabinet position from Biden, who for now looks most likely to capture the nomination.
Biden and Warren spoke on Wednesday night, a Biden campaign official said.
Sanders' deputy campaign manager Ari Rabin-Havt said on MSNBC soon after Warren's decision broke that Sanders would "welcome" an endorsement from her, but "I think we have to leave that to the Warren campaign."
Asked what she would tell her supporters about who to back now, Warren said, "Let's take a deep breath and spend a little time on that. We don't have to decide right this minute." She added that she would not be making an endorsement on Thursday.
Warren had said often that she cared more about enacting her agenda than becoming president herself. And she and her once-ascendant campaign shaped the 2020 primary in that sense, introducing a slate of policies into the Democratic mainstream intended to reshape the American economy and curb the influence of money in government. She made a wealth tax — 2% on fortunes over $50 million, a policy that even Sanders had shied away from in 2016 — into a progressive rallying cry, with people at her rallies who dressed as two pennies.
With the funds from the wealth tax, Warren said she would put in place a series of plans focused on education, another departure from many presidential campaigns — enacting universal childcare to forgiving huge swaths of Americans’ student debt, another idea that had barely been considered among Democrats even two years before.
Her campaign itself broke new ground. She made a rejection of high-dollar fundraisers a central tenet of her campaign. Instead of calling important donors, Warren made it a point to call up people who had donated small sums instead, and she spent hours after her events taking photos with every single attendee who wanted one — a “selfie line” tradition that is likely to endure in American politics.
And she inspired deep loyalty from her staff and fans, who took to covering everything in the campaign's signature color, "liberty green."
"You know liberty green everything was key here," Warren said on the call with staff Thursday. "My personal favorites included the liberty green boas, liberty green sneakers, liberty green makeup, liberty green hair, and liberty green glitter liberally applied. But it was so much more.”
Despite weak showings in early states, Warren had vowed at the start of March to stay in and fight for the nomination through the Democratic convention this summer, hoping to rekindle a campaign whose momentum had once looked unstoppable. She went as far as to reverse course and choose not to disavow financial help from a super PAC. But she continued to struggle to pick up delegates into Super Tuesday as Biden stormed to a comeback and consolidated the moderate wing of the party.
Even Warren's blockbuster debate performance a few weeks ago that brought in tens millions of dollars — and almost singlehandedly crushed the candidacy of Michael Bloomberg — wasn’t enough to revitalize the senator's campaign. She continued to struggle to win over people of color, particularly black voters, as well as moderate and working-class white voters.
Warren's departure from the race makes it almost certain that a woman will not be at the top of the ticket — which some Democrats had hoped for after Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss. Tulsi Gabbard is the lone remaining woman running for president, and her campaign has not gained any traction.
Asked outside her home what she thought it would be like for women and girls now left deciding between Sanders and Biden, Warren said "one of the hardest parts of this is all pinky promises, and all those little girls who are gonna have to wait four more years. That's going to be hard."
Arguably, Warren shaped the presidential primary four years ago, as well, with her decision not to run. Though two separate draft movements called on Warren to run for president in 2015 (and dozens of reporters asked her if she would), she declined to do so.
Instead, Warren pressured Clinton on policy and personnel, while Sanders ran and captured the hearts of many young progressives. He succeeded beyond everyone's — including his — wildest expectations in 2016, and his "political revolution" shifted the discourse about what is possible in US politics. His ascendancy, rather than Warren's, has set the contours of the rising left in American politics.
Warren and Sanders, however, go back much further than that. In the 2000s, when Sanders was still a near-pariah in Washington, the pair shared common goals and sometimes appeared together. They share a lot of the same issues and a general attentiveness to structural changes to taxation and regulation in the United States.
In 2020, they both ran. Their dual candidacies put at the center of the primary this question: Should the United States move to a single-payer system, if so, how quickly? As the race went on, Warren found herself enmeshed in the horserace bind, appealing to both the kinds of voters who went for Sanders and the ones who went for Pete Buttigieg — but not quite succeeding as a unity candidate, either.
After an ascendant summer, it was Warren’s stance on health care that created the first cracks in her campaign, as she struggled to answer questions about whether Medicare for All would increase middle-class taxes. She eventually put forward a plan that would first have the Senate vote on a more moderate public option before pushing for full-fledged single-payer health care.
"So if you leave with only one thing you leave with, it must be this," Warren told staff on the Thursday call. "Choose to fight only righteous fights, because then when things get tough, and they will, you will know that there is only option ahead of you: nevertheless, you must persist."
Henry J. Gomez contributed reporting.


buzzfeed--2020-03-05--Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Endorsed Joe Biden Ahead Of Her State's Big Primary

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer — a rising prospect in national politics who has given Democrats hope in a big Midwest state that Donald Trump flipped in 2016 — is backing Joe Biden for president .
Whitmer announced her support Thursday on MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe .
Biden is expected to campaign Monday in Detroit ; it would not be a surprise to see Whitmer by his side there .
`` I think that the blueprint from 2018 about showing up , focusing on the dinner table issues , and getting things done is exactly what Joe Biden represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 Democratic wave that helped sweep her into office , `` and that 's why he 's got my enthusiastic support and my vote on Tuesday . ''
Whitmer tweeted after her announcement that she would also be joining the campaign as a cochair .
She joins Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester , Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond , and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in that role .
The endorsement could be a boost for the former vice president in his battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders , who beat Hillary Clinton in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Sanders endorsed Abdul El-Sayed , a Whitmer rival two years ago . )
Michigan ’ s primary next week will test the coalition Biden has built in the last few days by running up the score with black voters in the South while also winning in the Midwest ( Minnesota ) , Northeast ( Massachusetts ) , and Texas .
Whitmer had been under increasing pressure to pick sides , the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday .
A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll this week found Biden leading Sanders in the state by about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that politics can change fast , '' Whitmer said on MSNBC .
`` A few days can be a lifetime .
What we 've seen in terms of the ability to coalesce and build a coalition that really has diverse representation — that is reflective of who we are as a party and what we need as a nation — has really started to show that Joe Biden is our strongest candidate going into the fall .
I believe that .
And I am excited about his candidacy . ''
Biden campaigned for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she won convincingly .

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — a rising prospect in national politics who has given Democrats hope in a big Midwest state that Donald Trump flipped in 2016 — is backing Joe Biden for president.
Whitmer announced her support Thursday on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Biden is expected to campaign Monday in Detroit; it would not be a surprise to see Whitmer by his side there.
"I think that the blueprint from 2018 about showing up, focusing on the dinner table issues, and getting things done is exactly what Joe Biden represents," said Whitmer, referencing the 2018 Democratic wave that helped sweep her into office, "and that's why he's got my enthusiastic support and my vote on Tuesday."
Whitmer tweeted after her announcement that she would also be joining the campaign as a cochair. She joins Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in that role.
The endorsement could be a boost for the former vice president in his battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who beat Hillary Clinton in Michigan’s primary four years ago. (Sanders endorsed Abdul El-Sayed, a Whitmer rival two years ago.)
Michigan’s primary next week will test the coalition Biden has built in the last few days by running up the score with black voters in the South while also winning in the Midwest (Minnesota), Northeast (Massachusetts), and Texas. Whitmer had been under increasing pressure to pick sides, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday. A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll this week found Biden leading Sanders in the state by about 7%.
"You all know that politics can change fast," Whitmer said on MSNBC. "A few days can be a lifetime. What we've seen in terms of the ability to coalesce and build a coalition that really has diverse representation — that is reflective of who we are as a party and what we need as a nation — has really started to show that Joe Biden is our strongest candidate going into the fall. I believe that. And I am excited about his candidacy."
Biden campaigned for Whitmer during her 2018 race, which she won convincingly.


buzzfeed--2020-03-06--Elizabeth Warren Is Ending Her Presidential Campaign


buzzfeed--2020-03-06--Tulsi Gabbard's Tweet About Anti-Hinduism In The West Is Stoking Anti-Muslim Sentiment In India

The tweet comes at an extremely tense time in India after a week of horrifying communal violence .
NEW DELHI — A tweet by Tulsi Gabbard , the only woman remaining in the US presidential race , about experiencing “ Hinduphobia ” in the US has added fuel to escalating communal tensions in India .
“ Unfortunately , Hinduphobia is very real , ” Gabbard wrote , “ I 've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress & in this presidential race . ''
Gabbard quote-tweeted a US-based psychiatrist from Kashmir , who shared a screenshot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Blatantly biased news & anti-Hindu propaganda has real-world consequences for innocent people.
” The anonymous Facebook post described an alleged encounter between two women and their Uber driver , who blamed Indian Hindus for “ killing Muslims in New Delhi , ” when he learned the women were Hindu .
The driver then allegedly asked the women to get out of his car .
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Gabbard and the woman she retweeted to find out more about the Facebook post , which could not be independently verified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet has since been shared on right-wing news websites in India and discussed on news channels .
It comes at an especially tense time in India , which has witnessed a week of horrifying communal violence in its capital , New Delhi .
The violence began as a series of skirmishes between Hindus and Muslims on Feb. 23 , a day after a member of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) , India ’ s Hindu nationalist ruling party , threatened to displace a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women were protesting a discriminatory new citizenship law passed by the BJP .
On Feb. 24 , as Modi welcomed Donald and Melania Trump for a 36-hour visit , entire neighborhoods of northeast New Delhi were burnt down , and at least four mosques desecrated .
The number of people killed as a result of the rioting is still rising — a hospital in New Delhi estimated the death toll was over 50 .
As of last week , bodies are still being recovered from of a drain in the neighborhood where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Monday , these skirmishes had escalated into an attack on northeast New Delhi ’ s Muslim residents .
A growing body of evidence — including video footage of police rioting alongside Hindu men — suggests members of New Delhi ’ s police chose to side with the Hindu community .
Indian Twitter has been deeply divided over whether the violence was in fact anti-Muslim , or a spontaneous outburst that affected “ both sides.
” Hindu and Muslim lives have been lost in the violence .
But the the footage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impunity stemming from the belief that they had the support of the state .
In recent weeks , BJP leaders appeared to prepare the ground for precisely such a confrontation , making several speeches across New Delhi asking citizens to “ shoot the traitors.
” Stories like the one Gabbard retweeted , where Hindu or Muslim working-class people enact a kind of “ revenge ” on their employers or customers , abound on Indian Twitter .
On Feb. 7 , an Uber driver took a poet who had protested the citizenship bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual destination , where he was interrogated for two hours .
The driver was suspended but then reinstated by Uber — before that he was given an “ Alert Citizen Prize ” prize by the BJP .
This week , another alleged report about a “ Muslim maid ” mixing spit and urine into her employers ’ food went viral on right-wing Twitter , but it was later discovered that the video was nine years old and the woman in the footage was not Muslim .
These stories are frequently accompanied by calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gabbard was raised in Hawaii by a Catholic father and a Hindu mother .
She has said she was immersed in the Hindu holy book , the Bhagavad Gita , and reportedly kept her childhood copy of it with her when she was deployed as a medical administrator to Iraq .
Later , she gifted the same copy to Modi himself .
While Gabbard has some progressive domestic politics , these views are at odds with her support for authoritarians , including Modi , Egyptian President Fatth El-Sisi , and Syrian President Bashar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of courting the right wing in India , profiled extensively in the Indian magazine Caravan .
Ram Madhav , then a BJP spokesperson but previously a longtime executive of a paramilitary Hindu supremacist group that is widely regarded as the parent organization of the BJP itself , the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , delivered gifts to Gabbard from Modi on her wedding day in April 2015 .

It comes at an especially tense time in India, which has witnessed a week of horrifying communal violence in its capital, New Delhi.
The violence began as a series of skirmishes between Hindus and Muslims on Feb. 23, a day after a member of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s Hindu nationalist ruling party, threatened to displace a group of Muslim women protesters by force. The women were protesting a discriminatory new citizenship law passed by the BJP.
On Feb. 24, as Modi welcomed Donald and Melania Trump for a 36-hour visit, entire neighborhoods of northeast New Delhi were burnt down, and at least four mosques desecrated.
The number of people killed as a result of the rioting is still rising — a hospital in New Delhi estimated the death toll was over 50. As of last week, bodies are still being recovered from of a drain in the neighborhood where the worst of the violence occurred.


buzzfeed--2020-03-08--Bernie Sanders Scrapped A Planned Speech On Race

FLINT , Mich. — It was a rare move for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign .
As the candidate prepared to fly to a town hall in Flint , Michigan — a state whose diverse working-class electorate could decide his future in the Democratic primary — an aide gathered reporters to make an announcement : Sanders would “ directly address the African-American community and make the case for why black voters should support him over Joe Biden . ''
Everyone took note , tapping furiously on their iPhones .
It 's not often that Sanders deviates from his core message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily to thousands of people across the country at rallies that clock in , as if by science , at 47 minutes .
He hardly ever directs a speech to a specific demographic .
And he almost never asks his campaign team to preview a major address to reporters in order to ensure coverage .
But a couple hours later , when Sanders stepped to the podium in Flint , he did not give his prepared remarks on race — instead delivering his familiar stump speech , making only brief mention of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that , he said , has “ failed African-American communities.
” After the event , as the campaign ’ s press bus idled outside the venue , Sanders communications director Mike Casca told reporters that the candidate scrapped his prepared remarks after discussing the event backstage with panelists , including community leaders in Flint and one of his top supporters , Dr. Cornel West .
The crowd in Flint , a majority black city affected by a horrifying lead-water crisis , was mostly white on Saturday .
“ It was a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , describing the decision as both a deliberate one by Sanders and an “ one of those on-the-fly backstage moments.
” “ They wanted to lift up the panelists ’ stories . ''
According to Casca , Sanders worked on the speech on plane rides between campaign events in Michigan and Illinois , two states that will vote in the Democratic primary on Tuesday after a disappointing finish for Sanders against Biden last week in Southern states where black voters made up the majority in Democratic primaries .
“ They talked over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better to let the people of color who were on the panel discuss instead of him giving a traditional speech , ” said Casca .
“ He does not have those experiences , ” he added .
“ He is a white Jewish man.
” Casca said the drafts of the original speech aimed to contrast Sanders and Biden ’ s record on racial justice — but he declined multiple times to say on which policy areas or votes .
Asked whether the candidate will eventually deliver the speech , Casca said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , designed as a platform for individual stories of the working class , became an unexpectedly emotional centerpiece of his second presidential campaign through the summer and fall .
Although he has largely held traditional rallies since voting began in February , he has said he believes voters ' stories can be a more effective tool than any speech .
The campaign billed Saturday 's event as a town hall on `` racial and economic justice . ''
All week , at campaign stops across Arizona , Michigan , and Illinois , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on trade , economic issues , foreign policy , abortion , and LGBT rights .
But he stopped short of doing the same with racial justice issues on Saturday night .
Sanders , a 78-year-old independent from the mostly white state of Vermont , has struggled to attract , especially , middle-aged and older black voters to his coalition of young people , Latino voters , and white working-class voters .
`` He did n't want to speak on behalf of people of color when there were people of color on the panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 30-minute speech at the start of the event , the six panelists spoke more than the candidate himself .
Only at one point on Saturday night did Sanders attempt to create an explicit contrast with Biden , teeing up a lengthy question for West , the famed scholar and progressive activist .
`` Dr. West , there was a headline in today 's Detroit News , '' he said , picking up a copy of the newspaper .
`` And the headline said , 'Biden sees advantage with Michigan back voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing West , began to list off a litany of statistics about black Americans : a larger wealth gap , a higher poverty rate , a higher rate for the uninsured and under-insured , lower life expectancies , lower pay rates .
Do you think , he asked West , given “ the reality of the condition of the African-American community right now that supporting a status quo , same old , same old type of politician is going to address these issues ?
” Sanders effectively asked West to make the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the mic , praising Sanders as an exemplar of “ integrity , honesty , and decency '' who is `` never up for sale '' — before describing Biden as a `` neoliberal centrist.
” “ The neoliberalist who all of a sudden now is coming back to life — and the catalyst was my own black people .
Oh , I 'm so disappointed .
Oh , I 'm so upset , ” West told the crowd in Flint .
“ Skin pigmentation does n't determine your moral and spiritual formation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are.
” Four years ago , Hillary Clinton effectively ended Sanders 's first presidential campaign in the South , where black voters generally make up a majority of Democratic primary electorates and heavily favored her candidacy .
Sanders , at times , struggled talking about race during the campaign , showing early frustration when he was interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters and had occasionally uncomfortable interactions with activists .
“ His framework is income inequality and economic justice .
He sees that as the all-inclusive tent , ” Curtiss Reed Jr. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Fairness and Diversity , said in a 2018 interview .
In the intervening years , Sanders has more often brought racial justice more to the fore of his campaign ; he speaks often of wanting to build a multi-racial coalition .
His theory of the 2020 campaign involved a massive turnout operation , in which working-class voters of all races would find common cause in issues like ending medical and educational debt , and along the way , convert non-voters into voters .
The Sanders campaign heavily organized on the campuses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like South and North Carolina , hoping to capitalize on his support among younger black voters .
But over the last two weeks , in exit polling and in the returns , Sanders has still struggled to make substantial gains with black voters , particularly those in the South and those who are over age 30 .
What message did they hope Saturday night delivered to black voters ?
`` That Sen. Sanders stands with them , '' Casca said , `` and his agenda would bring the most powerful change to their @ @ @

FLINT, Michigan — It was a rare move for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign.
As the candidate prepared to fly to a town hall in Flint, Michigan — a state whose diverse working-class electorate could decide his future in the Democratic primary — an aide gathered reporters to make an announcement: Sanders would “directly address the African American community and make the case for why black voters should support him over Joe Biden.”
Everyone took note, tapping furiously on their phones.
It's not often that Sanders deviates from his core message about social and economic injustice, delivered daily to thousands of people across the country at rallies that clock in, as if by science, at 47 minutes. He hardly ever directs a speech to a specific demographic. And he almost never asks his campaign team to preview a major address to reporters in order to ensure coverage.
But a couple hours later, when Sanders stepped to the podium in Flint, he did not give his prepared remarks on race — instead delivering his familiar stump speech, making only brief mention of “a same old, same old status quo politics” that, he said, has “failed African American communities.”
After the event, as the campaign’s press bus idled outside the venue, Sanders’ communications director, Mike Casca, told reporters that the candidate scrapped his prepared remarks after discussing the event backstage with panelists, including community leaders in Flint and one of his top supporters, Cornel West.
The crowd in Flint, a majority-black city affected by a horrifying lead-contaminated water crisis, was mostly white on Saturday.
“It was a change they thought was important,” Casca said, describing the decision as both a deliberate one by Sanders and “one of those on-the-fly backstage moments.”
“They wanted to lift up the panelists’ stories.”
According to Casca, Sanders worked on the speech on plane rides between campaign events in Michigan and Illinois, two states that will vote in the Democratic primaries in March after a disappointing finish for Sanders against Biden last week in Southern states, where black voters made up the majority in Democratic primaries.
“They talked over the idea and decided it was probably better to let the people of color who were on the panel discuss instead of him giving a traditional speech,” said Casca.
“He does not have those experiences,” he added. “He is a white Jewish man.”
Casca said the drafts of the original speech aimed to contrast Sanders’ and Biden’s records on racial justice — but he declined multiple times to say on which policy areas or votes.
Asked whether the candidate will eventually deliver the speech, Casca said, “TBD.”
Sanders' town halls, designed as a platform for individual stories of the working class, became an unexpectedly emotional centerpiece of his second presidential campaign through the summer and fall. Although he has largely held traditional rallies since voting began in February, he has said he believes voters' stories can be a more effective tool than any speech.
The campaign billed Saturday's event as a town hall on "racial and economic justice."
All week, at campaign stops across Arizona, Michigan, and Illinois, Sanders has laced into Biden's decadeslong record on trade, economic issues, foreign policy, abortion, and LGBTQ rights. But he stopped short of doing the same with racial justice issues Saturday night.
Sanders, a 78-year-old independent from the mostly white state of Vermont, has struggled to attract, especially, middle-aged and older black voters to his coalition of young people, Latino voters, and white working-class voters.
"He didn't want to speak on behalf of people of color when there were people of color on the panel," said Casca.
Aside from a 30-minute speech at the start of the event, the six panelists spoke more than the candidate himself. Only at one point Saturday night did Sanders attempt to create an explicit contrast with Biden, teeing up a lengthy question for West, the famed scholar and progressive activist.
"Dr. West, there was a headline in today's Detroit News," he said, picking up a copy of the newspaper. "And the headline said, 'Biden sees advantage with Michigan black voters.' OK?" Sanders, still addressing West, began to list a litany of statistics about black Americans: a larger wealth gap, a higher poverty rate, a higher rate for the uninsured and underinsured, lower life expectancies, lower pay rates. Do you think, he asked West, given “the reality of the condition of the African American community right now, that supporting a status quo, same old, same old type of politician is going to address these issues?”
Sanders effectively asked West to make the case on his behalf.
The professor stood with the mic, praising Sanders as an exemplar of “integrity, honesty, and decency" who is "never up for sale" — before describing Biden as a "neoliberal centrist.”
“The neoliberalist who all of a sudden now is coming back to life — and the catalyst was my own black people. Oh, I'm so disappointed. Oh, I'm so upset,” West told the crowd in Flint.
“Skin pigmentation doesn't determine your moral and spiritual formation. You gotta decide who you are.”
Four years ago, Hillary Clinton effectively ended Sanders' first presidential campaign in the South, where black voters generally make up a majority of Democratic primary electorates and heavily favored her candidacy. Sanders, at times, struggled talking about race during the campaign, showing early frustration when he was interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters and had occasionally uncomfortable interactions with activists.
“His framework is income inequality and economic justice. He sees that as the all-inclusive tent,” Curtiss Reed Jr., the executive director of the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity, said in a 2018 interview.
In the intervening years, Sanders has more often brought racial justice to the fore of his campaign; he speaks often of wanting to build a multiracial coalition. His theory of the 2020 campaign involved a massive turnout operation, in which working-class voters of all races would find common cause in issues like ending medical and educational debt, and along the way, convert nonvoters into voters.
The Sanders campaign heavily organized on the campuses of historical black colleges and universities in states like South and North Carolina, hoping to capitalize on his support among younger black voters.
But over the last two weeks, in exit polling and in the returns, Sanders has still struggled to make substantial gains with black voters, particularly those in the South and those who are over age 30.
What message did they hope Saturday night delivered to black voters?
"That Sen. Sanders stands with them," Casca said, "and his agenda would bring the most powerful change to their lives."


buzzfeed--2020-03-09--Bernie Sanders Scrapped A Planned Speech On Race

FLINT , Mich. — It was a rare move for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign .
As the candidate prepared to fly to a town hall in Flint , Michigan — a state whose diverse working-class electorate could decide his future in the Democratic primary — an aide gathered reporters to make an announcement : Sanders would “ directly address the African-American community and make the case for why black voters should support him over Joe Biden . ''
Everyone took note , tapping furiously on their phones .
It 's not often that Sanders deviates from his core message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily to thousands of people across the country at rallies that clock in , as if by science , at 47 minutes .
He hardly ever directs a speech to a specific demographic .
And he almost never asks his campaign team to preview a major address to reporters in order to ensure coverage .
But a couple hours later , when Sanders stepped to the podium in Flint , he did not give his prepared remarks on race — instead delivering his familiar stump speech , making only brief mention of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that , he said , has “ failed African-American communities.
” After the event , as the campaign ’ s press bus idled outside the venue , Sanders communications director Mike Casca told reporters that the candidate scrapped his prepared remarks after discussing the event backstage with panelists , including community leaders in Flint and one of his top supporters , Cornel West .
The crowd in Flint , a majority black city affected by a horrifying lead-water crisis , was mostly white on Saturday .
“ It was a change they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , describing the decision as both a deliberate one by Sanders and “ one of those on-the-fly backstage moments.
” “ They wanted to lift up the panelists ’ stories . ''
According to Casca , Sanders worked on the speech on plane rides between campaign events in Michigan and Illinois , two states that will vote in the Democratic primaries in March after a disappointing finish for Sanders against Biden last week in Southern states where black voters made up the majority in Democratic primaries .
“ They talked over the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the people of color who were on the panel discuss instead of him giving a traditional speech , ” said Casca .
“ He does not have those experiences , ” he added .
“ He is a white Jewish man.
” Casca said the drafts of the original speech aimed to contrast Sanders and Biden ’ s record on racial justice — but he declined multiple times to say on which policy areas or votes .
Asked whether the candidate will eventually deliver the speech , Casca said , “ TBD.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a platform for individual stories of the working class , became an unexpectedly emotional centerpiece of his second presidential campaign through the summer and fall .
Although he has largely held traditional rallies since voting began in February , he has said he believes voters ' stories can be a more effective tool than any speech .
The campaign billed Saturday 's event as a town hall on `` racial and economic justice . ''
All week , at campaign stops across Arizona , Michigan , and Illinois , Sanders has laced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , economic issues , foreign policy , abortion , and LGBT rights .
But he stopped short of doing the same with racial justice issues on Saturday night .
Sanders , a 78-year-old independent from the mostly white state of Vermont , has struggled to attract , especially , middle-aged and older black voters to his coalition of young people , Latino voters , and white working-class voters .
`` He did n't want to speak on behalf of people of color when there were people of color on the panel , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech at the start of the event , the six panelists spoke more than the candidate himself .
Only at one point on Saturday night did Sanders attempt to create an explicit contrast with Biden , teeing up a lengthy question for West , the famed scholar and progressive activist .
`` Dr. West , there was a headline in today 's Detroit News , '' he said , picking up a copy of the newspaper .
`` And the headline said , 'Biden sees advantage with Michigan black voters . '
OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , began to list off a litany of statistics about black Americans : a larger wealth gap , a higher poverty rate , a higher rate for the uninsured and underinsured , lower life expectancies , lower pay rates .
Do you think , he asked West , given “ the reality of the condition of the African-American community right now that supporting a status quo , same old , same old type of politician is going to address these issues ?
” Sanders effectively asked West to make the case on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mic , praising Sanders as an exemplar of “ integrity , honesty , and decency '' who is `` never up for sale '' — before describing Biden as a `` neoliberal centrist.
” “ The neoliberalist who all of a sudden now is coming back to life — and the catalyst was my own black people .
Oh , I 'm so disappointed .
Oh , I 'm so upset , ” West told the crowd in Flint .
“ Skin pigmentation does n't determine your moral and spiritual formation .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four years ago , Hillary Clinton effectively ended Sanders 's first presidential campaign in the South , where black voters generally make up a majority of Democratic primary electorates and heavily favored her candidacy .
Sanders , at times , struggled talking about race during the campaign , showing early frustration when he was interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters and had occasionally uncomfortable interactions with activists .
“ His framework is income inequality and economic justice .
He sees that as the all-inclusive tent , ” Curtiss Reed Jr. , the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Diversity , said in a 2018 interview .
In the intervening years , Sanders has more often brought racial justice to the fore of his campaign ; he speaks often of wanting to build a multiracial coalition .
His theory of the 2020 campaign involved a massive turnout operation , in which working-class voters of all races would find common cause in issues like ending medical and educational debt , and along the way , convert non-voters into voters .
The Sanders campaign heavily organized on the campuses of historical black colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina , hoping to capitalize on his support among younger black voters .
But over the last two weeks , in exit polling and in the returns , Sanders has still struggled to make substantial gains with black voters , particularly those in the South and those who are over age 30 .
What message did they hope Saturday night delivered to black voters ?
`` That Sen. Sanders stands with them , '' Casca said , `` and his agenda would bring the most powerful change to their lives . ''


buzzfeed--2020-03-09--The Coronavirus Quarantine Has Officially Hit Congress

WASHINGTON — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz jokingly wore a large gas mask on the House floor when the chamber voted on a coronavirus spending bill last Wednesday .
By Monday , his office announced the Florida lawmaker was in self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus at CPAC , a conservative political conference , almost two weeks ago .
“ Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19 , ” his office tweeted Monday afternoon .
“ Congressman Gaetz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact , and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor.
” Gaetz doesn ’ t have any symptoms of the coronavirus , his office said on Twitter , and he has been tested for the virus , but the results haven ’ t come back yet .
He will remain in self-quarantine until later this week , after a two-week period since coming in contact with the person expires .
Gaetz also said on Twitter that his DC office will be closed while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his district office in Pensacola , Florida , will remain open .
One person from Gaetz ’ s district died from COVID-19 over the weekend .
Gaetz is one of four members of Congress currently in self-quarantine after interacting with a person diagnosed with the virus at CPAC last month .
Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona announced Sunday night that they were going into quarantine , and Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia announced he was going into quarantine Monday afternoon .
The CDC has recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid shaking hands .
Last week , after the CPAC conference , Collins visited the CDC with President Donald Trump and shook hands with the president Friday .

WASHINGTON — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz jokingly wore a large gas mask on the House floor when the chamber voted on a coronavirus spending bill last Wednesday.
By Monday, his office announced the Florida lawmaker was in self-quarantine after coming into contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus at CPAC, a conservative political conference, almost two weeks ago.
“Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19,” his office tweeted Monday afternoon. “Congressman Gaetz had expected COVID-19 to impact Congress, given the elevated frequency of travel and human contact, and demonstrated his concern last week on the House Floor.”
Gaetz doesn’t have any symptoms of the coronavirus, his office said on Twitter, and he has been tested for the virus, but the results haven’t come back yet. He will remain in self-quarantine until later this week, after a two-week period since coming in contact with the person expires. Gaetz also said on Twitter that his DC office will be closed while the member is in quarantine, and that his district office in Pensacola, Florida, will remain open. One person from Gaetz’s district died from COVID-19 over the weekend.
Gaetz is one of four members of Congress currently in self-quarantine after interacting with a person diagnosed with the virus at CPAC last month. Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona announced Sunday night that they were going into quarantine, and Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia announced he was going into quarantine Monday afternoon.
The CDC has recommended that, as coronavirus spreads, people avoid shaking hands. Last week, after the CPAC conference, Collins visited the CDC with President Donald Trump and shook hands with the president Friday.


buzzfeed--2020-03-09--Former Bloomberg Backer Rep. Gregory Meeks Will Now Endorse Joe Biden

WASHINGTON — Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York , who was previously one of Michael Bloomberg ’ s prominent supporters on Capitol Hill , will now endorse and back Joe Biden .
The move is not entirely shocking , given that Bloomberg endorsed Biden as he dropped out of the presidential race .
Meeks joins dozens of Congress members backing Biden .
Biden has strong support on Capitol Hill — especially among members of the Congressional Black Caucus .
`` We are grateful for the support of Congressman Meeks as we continue to build a broad and diverse coalition that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Biden adviser Andrew Bates .
Meeks told BuzzFeed News last week that Biden had not reached out to him , as did Rep. Bobby Rush , both CBC members .
The campaign , however , told BuzzFeed News the campaign reached out to both members and “ asked for their support previously during this election.
” A source with knowledge of the situation said that the group of Congressional Black Caucus members who had previously backed Bloomberg would be announcing their support for Biden later Monday .
Meeks , while poised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BuzzFeed News last week he would stand behind Sanders should he become the nominee .
But he also denounced Sanders ’ allies , saying he remains concerned about Justice Democrats , a group closely aligned with Sanders ’ surrogate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the fact they were launching primary challenges to several members of the CBC .
The endorsement speaks to the considerable shift in Biden ’ s campaign following the South Carolina primary , who up until then trailed Bernie Sanders in early primaries and caucuses .
Two presidential candidates exiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host of congressional members who were either supporting another candidate or had been silent , including Reps. Val Demings and Bennie Thompson .
And Sens .
Cory Booker and Kamala Harris , two prominent black senators who had both run for president , came out in support of Biden and planned to rally with him in Michigan on Monday night .
Rep. Terri Sewell who helped deliver Alabama for Biden told BuzzFeed News “ We brought it for Biden , ” last week .
Those gestures haven ’ t gone unrecognized .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crediting his new frontrunner status to the African American community .
“ You ’ re the reason I ’ m back , no one else .
”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who was previously one of Michael Bloomberg’s prominent supporters on Capitol Hill, will now endorse and back Joe Biden.
The move is not entirely shocking, given that Bloomberg endorsed Biden as he dropped out of the presidential race. Meeks joins dozens of Congress members backing Biden. Biden has strong support on Capitol Hill — especially among members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
"We are grateful for the support of Congressman Meeks as we continue to build a broad and diverse coalition that will defeat Donald Trump this fall," said Biden adviser Andrew Bates.
Meeks told BuzzFeed News last week that Biden had not reached out to him, as did Rep. Bobby Rush, both CBC members. The campaign, however, told BuzzFeed News the campaign reached out to both members and “asked for their support previously during this election.”
Sources with knowledge of the situation said that the group of Congressional Black Caucus members who had previously backed Bloomberg would soon be announcing their support for Biden. (Two sources had originally believed it would happen on Monday but was unsure of the cause of the delay).
Meeks, while poised to support the more moderate candidate, told BuzzFeed News last week he would stand behind Sanders should he become the nominee. But he also denounced Sanders’ allies, saying he remains concerned about Justice Democrats, a group closely aligned with Sanders’ surrogate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the fact they were launching primary challenges to several members of the CBC.
The endorsement speaks to the considerable shift in Biden’s campaign following the South Carolina primary, who up until then trailed Bernie Sanders in early primaries and caucuses. Two presidential candidates exiting the race backed Biden, as did a host of congressional members who were either supporting another candidate or had been silent, including Reps. Val Demings and Bennie Thompson. And Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, two prominent black senators who had both run for president, came out in support of Biden and planned to rally with him in Michigan on Monday night.
Rep. Terri Sewell who helped deliver Alabama for Biden told BuzzFeed News “We brought it for Biden,” last week.
Those gestures haven’t gone unrecognized. Biden thanked a Mississippi congregation on Sunday, crediting his new frontrunner status to the African American community.
“You’re the reason I’m back, no one else.”