buzzfeed--2020-09-30--A Member Of Congress Is Facing Death Threats After QAnon Went After Him

Malinowski received multiple death threats on Tuesday after the Q post went up , he and his office told BuzzFeed News .
The NRCC ’ s press release — as well as a TV ad the group is running against the New Jersey Democrat falsely accusing him of “ helping sexual predators hide in the shadows ” — echo a baseless conspiracy theory frequently used by QAnon followers that powerful Democrats and global elites are engaged in child trafficking .
The ad , which has been repeatedly debunked , includes a narrator saying , “ Tom Malinowski chose sex offenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan resolution last month that would have the House formally condemn QAnon and on Tuesday he was the subject of a “ Q drop ” — conspiracy-filled , false messages posted to message boards from the self-proclaimed US government insider to their followers .
The post included a screenshot of Malinowski ’ s resolution , but it also capitalized on a press release from the National Republican Campaign Committee that falsely alleged that Malinowski “ lobbied to protect sexual predators , ” along with the message , “ Those who scream the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QAnon — a collective delusion that alleges President Donald Trump is fighting a Satanist cabal of elites who abuse children — targeted him , leading to death threats .
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In an interview with BuzzFeed News Tuesday night , Malinowski said the NRCC bears responsibility for playing into QAnon ’ s hands and inspiring the violent threats against him .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were doing .
They knew they were playing with fire , ” he said in a phone interview .
Malinowski ’ s campaign , as well as six current and former Republican officials in his district , have called on the NRCC to take the ad down .
The group has refused .
The New Jersey Star-Ledger has twice called the ad a lie .
Malinowski told BuzzFeed News that he has also personally confronted Rep. Tom Emmer , who chairs the NRCC , about the attacks , pointing out their connections to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I don ’ t know what Q is ’ and walked away .
… He said , ' I can ’ t be responsible for , you know , how people use our stuff and I don ’ t know what that is , ' ” Malinowski said .
Emmer ’ s office did not respond to BuzzFeed News ’ request for comment for this story .
Both the ad and the press release were still live at the time of publication .
After this story was published , the NRCC retweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims about Malinowski , without addressing the death threats against him .
Later , the NRCC sent BuzzFeed News a statement again repeating the false claims and adding that Malinowski `` must live with the consequences of his actions . ''
Malinowski told BuzzFeed News he hadn ’ t expected to be the target of a Q post , but “ it makes sense now.
” The post linked his anti-QAnon resolution with the NRCC attacks , he said , “ in ways that from a QAnon-conspiracy-minded point of view are obvious and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crazy , anti-Semitic cult to come after me.
” QAnon followers have followed through on threats of violence , including a man who blocked off the Hoover Dam with an armored vehicle and was arrested after an armed standoff .
The FBI has labeled the group a domestic terror threat .
President Donald Trump has praised it .
The NRCC has run several ads against Democrats during this election cycle that play on QAnon ’ s sex trafficking conspiracy theories , Yahoo News reported , including calling a gay Democratic candidate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in campaign materials .
The NRCC denied to Yahoo News that it was trying to reach QAnon followers .
The NRCC ’ s ad and press release against Malinowski are based on an article from the conservative Washington Free Beacon , which draws a line between the New Jersey Democrat ’ s work for Human Rights Watch and that group ’ s opposition to a 2006 crime bill , in part because it expanded the registration requirements for sex offenders , including low-level and misdemeanor offenders “ regardless of whether they have lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not oppose the national sex offender registry .
Malinowski was registered as a lobbyist for the group at the time , but both he and Human Rights Watch said he did not work on the bill and his job focused instead on foreign affairs .
A letter the group wrote to Congress opposing the bill is written by another staff member .
( The Washington Post has a great breakdown of the facts . )
A Malinowski spokesperson said their office has received “ hundreds of harassing messages ” and that “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disturbing.
” The office has reported “ explicit death threats ” to the Capitol Police , they said .
A spokesperson for Capitol Police declined to comment for this story , saying the agency does not comment on “ ongoing investigations.
” “ The combination of [ our House Resolution and ] the NRCC ad is like perfect fuel for the paranoid mind of a member of this cult .
And they knew it , ” Malinowski said .
Malinowski ’ s office provided BuzzFeed News with some of the threats the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a DM that read in part , “ Hope I turn on the news there at your door and put a bullet in your head and 20 fucking illegals raped your ugly ass wife.
” A man who left the office a voicemail , which was also shared with BuzzFeed News , told Malinowski that he will soon be arrested , and “ if you ’ re not rotting in a prison cell somewhere , you ’ ll never be safe on the streets , mark my words .
You will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of your life and there ’ s nothing you can do about it .
Fuck you , die , rot in hell .
We can not wait to destroy you .
Fuck you and your families .
Fuck you.
” Malinowski ’ s Facebook page was also filled with comments from QAnon supporters spouting hate and accusing him of protecting pedophiles .
“ So that ’ s it .
They ’ ve done what they ’ ve done and these are the consequences , ” Malinowski said of the NRCC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August along with Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman .
Riggleman was not mentioned in the Q post on Tuesday and his office didn ’ t respond to a request for comment about whether they ’ ve encountered similar threats .
Malinowski and his office said they had received threats and vitriol from QAnon supporters since he introduced the resolution , but that it “ didn ’ t seem like an organized effort ” at the time .
The volume of hate and violence increased massively after the Q drop on Tuesday .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday night , Malinowski said that since reporting the threats to law enforcement , he and his staff “ haven ’ t really had any conversations about the implications .
It ’ s all just starting to happen right now.
” “ I ’ ll handle whatever comes my way , ” he said .
“ What I find really troubling here is that the Republican Party is amplifying QAnon-style messaging , and now QAnon central is amplifying one of their press releases and they don ’ t seem to care.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countering extremism since joining Congress in 2018 , noting that the Department of Homeland Security has recently listed the threat of white supremacist and other domestic extremist groups as the greatest threat to the US .
That ’ s what got him interested in countering QAnon , he said .
“ QAnon encompasses and amplifies all of that .
There ’ s a central conspiracy theory , but it brings together every conspiracy theory , it ’ s kind of a do-it-yourself conspiracy theory making kit .
And that makes it very dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen the FBI express growing alarm about the potential of these conspiracy theories to inspire acts of violence , there have been acts of violence committed by people radicalized by QAnon.
” The Anti-Defamation League has said most QAnon followers are not violent , and some sincerely , credulously believe that QAnon is combatting rampant child sex trafficking across the globe .
“ But then again , ” Malinowski said , “ I suppose if you hear the anti-Semitic blood libel that Jews are drinking the blood of our children and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of children and you believe that , what does that make you ?
” And the movement is widespread .
One avowed QAnon believer is already poised to enter Congress next year — Marjorie Taylor Greene won the Republican primary for a seat in Georgia earlier this year .
Earlier this month , Greene posted a photo of herself with a gun next to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Ilhan Omar , and Rashida Tlaib , calling herself the “ Squad ’ s worst nightmare.
” “ I ’ m concerned about what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories are spreading to the point where millions of Americans are losing the capacity to distinguish truth from falsehood , ” Malinowski said .
“ Political candidates getting elected is just a symptom of that.
” Malinowski and Riggleman ’ s anti-QAnon resolution has four other cosponsors , evenly split between Democrats and Republicans , and Malinowski said Tuesday he expects that it will pass with a “ strong , bipartisan vote ” if it gets to the House floor .
After briefly being interrupted by colleagues on Capitol Hill Tuesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , Malinowski concluded the call .
“ So there it is .
Fun , fun stuff .
… You know , this is the profession we have chosen .

In an interview with BuzzFeed News Tuesday night, Malinowski said the NRCC bears responsibility for playing into QAnon’s hands and inspiring the violent threats against him. “I think they knew exactly what they were doing. They knew they were playing with fire,” he said in a phone interview.
Malinowski’s campaign, as well as six current and former Republican officials in his district, have called on the NRCC to take the ad down. The group has refused. The New Jersey Star-Ledger has twice called the ad a lie.
Malinowski told BuzzFeed News that he has also personally confronted Rep. Tom Emmer, who chairs the NRCC, about the attacks, pointing out their connections to QAnon theories. “He said, ‘I don’t know what Q is’ and walked away. … He said, 'I can’t be responsible for, you know, how people use our stuff and I don’t know what that is,'” Malinowski said.
Emmer’s office did not respond to BuzzFeed News’ request for comment for this story.
Both the ad and the press release were still live at the time of publication. After this story was published, the NRCC retweeted it, doubling down on the false claims about Malinowski, without addressing the death threats against him. Later, the NRCC sent BuzzFeed News a statement again repeating the false claims and adding that Malinowski "must live with the consequences of his actions."
Malinowski told BuzzFeed News he hadn’t expected to be the target of a Q post, but “it makes sense now.” The post linked his anti-QAnon resolution with the NRCC attacks, he said, “in ways that from a QAnon-conspiracy-minded point of view are obvious and sent his millions of people who follow this crazy, anti-Semitic cult to come after me.”
QAnon followers have followed through on threats of violence, including a man who blocked off the Hoover Dam with an armored vehicle and was arrested after an armed standoff. The FBI has labeled the group a domestic terror threat. President Donald Trump has praised it.
The NRCC has run several ads against Democrats during this election cycle that play on QAnon’s sex trafficking conspiracy theories, Yahoo News reported, including calling a gay Democratic candidate in Michigan a “pedo sex poet” in campaign materials. The NRCC denied to Yahoo News that it was trying to reach QAnon followers.
The NRCC’s ad and press release against Malinowski are based on an article from the conservative Washington Free Beacon, which draws a line between the New Jersey Democrat’s work for Human Rights Watch and that group’s opposition to a 2006 crime bill, in part because it expanded the registration requirements for sex offenders, including low-level and misdemeanor offenders “regardless of whether they have lived offense-free for decades.” The group did not oppose the national sex offender registry. Malinowski was registered as a lobbyist for the group at the time, but both he and Human Rights Watch said he did not work on the bill and his job focused instead on foreign affairs. A letter the group wrote to Congress opposing the bill is written by another staff member. (The Washington Post has a great breakdown of the facts.)
A Malinowski spokesperson said their office has received “hundreds of harassing messages” and that “the vast majority of them are just threatening and disturbing.” The office has reported “explicit death threats” to the Capitol Police, they said. A spokesperson for Capitol Police declined to comment for this story, saying the agency does not comment on “ongoing investigations.”
“The combination of [our House Resolution and] the NRCC ad is like perfect fuel for the paranoid mind of a member of this cult. And they knew it,” Malinowski said.
Malinowski’s office provided BuzzFeed News with some of the threats the Democrat has received since the Q post, including a DM that read in part, “Hope I turn on the news there at your door and put a bullet in your head and 20 fucking illegals raped your ugly ass wife.” A man who left the office a voicemail, which was also shared with BuzzFeed News, told Malinowski that he will soon be arrested, and “if you’re not rotting in a prison cell somewhere, you’ll never be safe on the streets, mark my words. You will have a target on your ass for the rest of your life and there’s nothing you can do about it. Fuck you, die, rot in hell. We cannot wait to destroy you. Fuck you and your families. Fuck you.”
Malinowski’s Facebook page was also filled with comments from QAnon supporters spouting hate and accusing him of protecting pedophiles.
“So that’s it. They’ve done what they’ve done and these are the consequences,” Malinowski said of the NRCC.
The Democrat introduced his resolution condemning QAnon in August along with Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman. Riggleman was not mentioned in the Q post on Tuesday and his office didn’t respond to a request for comment about whether they’ve encountered similar threats.
Malinowski and his office said they had received threats and vitriol from QAnon supporters since he introduced the resolution, but that it “didn’t seem like an organized effort” at the time. The volume of hate and violence increased massively after the Q drop on Tuesday.
Asked if he feared for his safety on Tuesday night, Malinowski said that since reporting the threats to law enforcement, he and his staff “haven’t really had any conversations about the implications. It’s all just starting to happen right now.”
“I’ll handle whatever comes my way,” he said. “What I find really troubling here is that the Republican Party is amplifying QAnon-style messaging, and now QAnon central is amplifying one of their press releases and they don’t seem to care.”
The Democrat said he’s focused on countering extremism since joining Congress in 2018, noting that the Department of Homeland Security has recently listed the threat of white supremacist and other domestic extremist groups as the greatest threat to the US. That’s what got him interested in countering QAnon, he said. “QAnon encompasses and amplifies all of that. There’s a central conspiracy theory, but it brings together every conspiracy theory, it’s kind of a do-it-yourself conspiracy theory making kit. And that makes it very dangerous,” he said. “You’ve seen the FBI express growing alarm about the potential of these conspiracy theories to inspire acts of violence, there have been acts of violence committed by people radicalized by QAnon.”
The Anti-Defamation League has said most QAnon followers are not violent, and some sincerely, credulously believe that QAnon is combatting rampant child sex trafficking across the globe. “But then again,” Malinowski said, “I suppose if you hear the anti-Semitic blood libel that Jews are drinking the blood of our children and you’re concerned about the safety of children and you believe that, what does that make you?”
And the movement is widespread. One avowed QAnon believer is already poised to enter Congress next year — Marjorie Taylor Greene won the Republican primary for a seat in Georgia earlier this year. Earlier this month, Greene posted a photo of herself with a gun next to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib, calling herself the “Squad’s worst nightmare.”
“I’m concerned about what it means for the country … that these conspiracy theories are spreading to the point where millions of Americans are losing the capacity to distinguish truth from falsehood,” Malinowski said. “Political candidates getting elected is just a symptom of that.”
Malinowski and Riggleman’s anti-QAnon resolution has four other cosponsors, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, and Malinowski said Tuesday he expects that it will pass with a “strong, bipartisan vote” if it gets to the House floor.
After briefly being interrupted by colleagues on Capitol Hill Tuesday night who were “commiserating” with him, he said, Malinowski concluded the call. “So there it is. Fun, fun stuff. … You know, this is the profession we have chosen.


buzzfeed--2020-09-30--India Is Shocked Over The Rape And Killing Of A Young Dalit Woman

The family of a 19-year-old woman in India accused the police of forcibly cremating her body after she died of injuries as a result of rape .
The victim was allegedly raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh , a state in North India , on Sept. 14 .
She died two weeks later at a hospital in New Delhi .
She was Dalit , a still-marginalized caste in India known historically as `` untouchable . ''
Gut-wrenching details about the woman 's injuries have been widely reported in the Indian press , as well as on social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pervasive rape culture , particularly against Dalit women .
Before she died , the woman named four men from her village as her rapists .
All four men were reportedly arrested on Sept. 27 .
In the early hours of Sept. 30 , the woman 's body was brought back to her village from New Delhi .
Her family alleges that police officers refused to hand over her body so that they could perform final rites , instead forcibly — and hurriedly — cremating her in the middle of the night .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Indian Express at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday .
“ It appears that my sister has been cremated ; the police are not telling us anything , '' the brother told the Express .
`` We begged them to let us bring her body inside the house one last time , but they didn ’ t listen to us.
” Video footage from the cremation ground , which has gone viral on Twitter , shows a lone pyre burning in the dark with no family members present , while police officers push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers from the city of Hathras did not respond to calls from BuzzFeed News .
In a tweet on Wednesday , the department said members of the woman ’ s family were present at the cremation ground .
The horrific incident has outraged Indians , with activists and students gathering to protest the police 's actions in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh , and leaders of the opposition party asking for the resignation of Uttar Pradesh 's chief minister .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly asked the state to ensure that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman 's rapists .

The family of a 19-year-old woman in India accused the police of forcibly cremating her body after she died of injuries as a result of rape.
The victim was allegedly raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh, a state in North India, on Sept. 14. She died two weeks later at a hospital in New Delhi. She was Dalit, a still-marginalized caste in India known historically as "untouchable."
Gut-wrenching details about the woman's injuries have been widely reported in the Indian press, as well as on social media, drawing new attention to the country's pervasive rape culture, particularly against Dalit women.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--26 Costco Snacks Nutritionists And Dietitians Actually Swear By

`` My clients love the Bare Organic Apple Chips because they ’ re crunchy , sweet , and satisfying .
@ @ @ @ @ – as pure as you can get !
Apples are often overlooked in terms of @ @ @ @ @ ’ re a great source of prebiotic fiber ( pectin ) , and are delicious @ @ @ @ @ with some nuts . ''
—Rachel Beller , MS , RDN , CEO of Beller @ @ @ @ @ Transformation Masterclass

To help guide you through the aisles of your fave bulk store, we reached out to several nutritionists and dietitians to ask them which snacks they buy and love at Costco. Here's what they said!


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--This Son Made His Mom An Instagram Account Full Of Her Advice, And The Messages Are So Important

Poonam said that her messages are so important because young people are listening , and the postings allow her and @ @ @ @ @ right kind of messages .
`` I want to share things that are super important @ @ @ @ @ get enough importance in the hustle and bustle of the day — things like mental @ @ @ @ @ , our environment , and so on .
There 's so much to say , @ @ @ @ @ space where everyone is willing to listen and contribute , '' she said .

Poonam said that her messages are so important because young people are listening, and the postings allow her and her son to spread the right kind of messages. "I want to share things that are super important and things that do not get enough importance in the hustle and bustle of the day — things like mental health, posture, equality, our environment, and so on. There's so much to say, and what better than a space where everyone is willing to listen and contribute," she said.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--A Psychologist Shared Photos From A Phenomenon Called The Thatcher Effect And It's Wild

`` This is thought to happen because our brains are so finely tuned to recognizing faces in the upright position @ @ @ @ @ identify many faces that are very similar as unique individuals very easily .
It has @ @ @ @ @ processes involved in face recognition rely as much on the structural relationship between features as @ @ @ @ @ example , the configuration between eyes , nose , and mouth , '' she explained @

"This is thought to happen because our brains are so finely tuned to recognizing faces in the upright position. This enables us to identify many faces that are very similar as unique individuals very easily. It has been hypothesized that the cognitive processes involved in face recognition rely as much on the structural relationship between features as the features themselves. For example, the configuration between eyes, nose, and mouth," she explained.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--27 Hacks, Tips, And Habits To Help You Get Better Sleep Over Time

Here 's more about each : White noise is most popular when it come to falling asleep .
It includes all frequencies at equal intensity — so you wo n't hear one sound more than another , which makes it good at masking loud sounds that stimulate the brain .
Examples of white noise include radio or TV static , vacuum cleaners , or a fan .
Pink noise also contains all frequencies but not at equal intensity .
Lower frequencies are stronger in pink noise , making it more rumbly and deeper sounding than white noise .
Pink noise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , steady rain , wind , waves , and rustling leaves .
Brown noise is even deeper than pink noise .
The lower frequencies in brown noise are stronger than in pink noise .
Think waterfalls or thunder .
P.S .
If you 're on the market for a noise machine , you can get one that has 20 unique sounds from Amazon for $ 49.95 .
There are also playlists on Spotify , like this white noise one , or apps , like the myNoise app ( which is free for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube channel ) .

Here's more about each:
White noise is most popular when it come to falling asleep. It includes all frequencies at equal intensity — so you won't hear one sound more than another, which makes it good at masking loud sounds that stimulate the brain. Examples of white noise include radio or TV static, vacuum cleaners, or a fan.
Pink noise also contains all frequencies but not at equal intensity. Lower frequencies are stronger in pink noise, making it more rumbly and deeper sounding than white noise. Pink noise happens a lot in nature — for example, steady rain, wind, waves, and rustling leaves.
Brown noise is even deeper than pink noise. The lower frequencies in brown noise are stronger than in pink noise. Think waterfalls or thunder.
P.S. If you're on the market for a noise machine, you can get one that has 20 unique sounds from Amazon for $49.95. There are also playlists on Spotify, like this white noise one, or apps, like the myNoise app (which is free for iOS and Android and has its own YouTube channel).


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--16 Funny Vagina Tweets That You'll Probably Only Laugh At If You Have A Vagina

Hey , hi , hello .
If you have a vagina and like to laugh , then you 've come @ @ @ @ @ Because these funny tweets about vaginas , vulvas , and more are A+++ .
BTW @ @ @ @ @ you read , why not give some of these clever Twitter users a follow !

Hey, hi, hello. If you have a vagina and like to laugh, then you've come to the right place. Because these funny tweets about vaginas, vulvas, and more are A+++. BTW, if you like what you read, why not give some of these clever Twitter users a follow!


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Is Closing All But One Dropoff Location For Mail-In Ballots In Each County

In an election year when polls show Texas is more politically competitive than it has been in decades , Gov .
Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on Thursday that would make it far harder for residents to vote by mail in the 2020 election , setting off widespread criticism and accusations that state Republicans are engaging in voter suppression .
Abbott 's proclamation , which he framed as an effort to enhance election security , will shutter all but one drop-off location for completed mail-in ballots in each of Texas 's 254 counties , severely limiting voters ' access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties .
In addition to sending their votes via the US Postal Service , Texas voters can drop off their completed mail-in ballots at multiple satellite locations so they immediately and securely reach the county clerk .
But Abbott 's latest move will likely overwhelm not just the single drop-off site in each county but also force voters to travel farther to deliver their ballots .
In Harris County , the state 's most populous county and a Democratic stronghold , 11 of 12 of its drop-off locations will close .
In Travis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three of four of its drop-off sites will close .
The fight over voting access in Texas comes as polls show it as a potential swing state this year , with Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's chances of winning almost equal to President Donald Trump 's .
Abbott 's proclamation is likely to face legal challenges .
Marc Elias , a lawyer representing the Democratic Party , said in a tweet they `` will explore ALL legal options to ensure voting rights for all Texans . ''
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjust the rules last minute , '' calling the governor and state Republicans `` cheaters . ''
Wesley Story , a spokesperson for the progressive group Progress Texas , said there is `` no legitimate reason '' to shut down satellite drop-off locations .
`` This is a blatant attempt by Gov .
Abbott to suppress voters because the Texas GOP is afraid of the ballot box , '' Story said .
`` Harris County alone has close to five million residents , and to suggest that one drop-off site is sufficient is @ @ @ @

In an election year when polls show Texas is more politically competitive than it has been in decades, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on Thursday that would make it far harder for residents to vote by mail in the 2020 election, setting off widespread criticism and accusations that state Republicans are engaging in voter suppression.
Abbott's proclamation, which he framed as an effort to enhance election security, will shutter all but one drop-off location for completed mail-in ballots in each of Texas's 254 counties, severely limiting voters' access to the polls in many large and populous counties.
In addition to sending their votes via the US Postal Service, Texas voters can drop off their completed mail-in ballots at multiple satellite locations so they immediately and securely reach the county clerk.
But Abbott's latest move will likely overwhelm not just the single drop-off site in each county but also force voters to travel farther to deliver their ballots.
In Harris County, the state's most populous county and a Democratic stronghold, 11 of 12 of its drop-off locations will close. In Travis County, another predominantly Democratic county, three of four of its drop-off sites will close.
The fight over voting access in Texas comes as polls show it as a potential swing state this year, with Democratic nominee Joe Biden's chances of winning almost equal to President Donald Trump's.
Abbott's proclamation is likely to face legal challenges. Marc Elias, a lawyer representing the Democratic Party, said in a tweet they "will explore ALL legal options to ensure voting rights for all Texans."
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa also accused Abbott of "trying to adjust the rules last minute," calling the governor and state Republicans "cheaters."
Wesley Story, a spokesperson for the progressive group Progress Texas, said there is "no legitimate reason" to shut down satellite drop-off locations.
"This is a blatant attempt by Gov. Abbott to suppress voters because the Texas GOP is afraid of the ballot box," Story said. "Harris County alone has close to five million residents, and to suggest that one drop-off site is sufficient is complete nonsense."


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--The Trump Administration Lost Millions of Dollars of Food and Water Meant For Puerto Rico After Hurr

The Trump Administration Lost Millions of Dollars of Food and Water Meant For Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

Puerto Ricans protest on January 23 , 2020 , after a warehouse full of relief supplies , reportedly dating back to Hurricane Maria in 2017 , were found having been left undistributed to those in need .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has , in recent weeks , claimed that he is “ the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico , ” in an effort to win over Puerto Rican voters in Florida .
But a new government report shows his administration lost track of hundreds of millions of dollars ' worth of potentially lifesaving food and water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hurricane Maria .
“ FEMA lost visibility of about 38 percent of its commodity shipments to Puerto Rico , worth an estimated $ 257 million .
Commodities successfully delivered to Puerto Rico took an average of 69 days to reach their final destinations , ” the report from the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Office of the Inspector General found .
For the past three years , Trump has consistently blamed local authorities for the inadequate response to Puerto Rico ’ s devastating hurricane .
Some FEMA supplies intended for Puerto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the report .
Most of those supplies consisted of food and water deliveries , in addition to blankets , cots , tarps , and sheeting .
The inspector general ’ s findings , released Thursday , are in line with what BuzzFeed News and others reported seeing on the ground in Puerto Rico after the hurricane : inadequate federal deliveries of basic supplies , long waits for any supplies at all to arrive , and a lack of accountability at every level on how those supplies were being distributed .
FEMA shipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rico between September 2017 , when Hurricane Maria made landfall , and April 2018 , according to the report .
Of that 97 million liters , just 36 million liters definitely reached local distribution points .
In those first eight months following the hurricane , FEMA shipped 53 million meals to Puerto Rico .
Just 24 million verifiably reached local distribution points .
“ The remaining commodity shipments for both water and meals that arrived in the Commonwealth either remained in FEMA ’ s custody were in contractor facilities , or had unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island , Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover .
In the months following the storm , at least three thousand Puerto Ricans died , many from a lack of access to clean water , food ( harder to store because electricity on most parts of the island was down for several months ) , shelter , and timely medical care .
Some residents of Puerto Rico lived with open roofs on their houses for months after the hurricane because emergency tarps had not reached them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional funding to help Puerto Rico recover from the disaster , repeating false claims that the island had already gotten more money than for any previous hurricane and blamed local officials for the US territory ’ s slow recovery .
Trump claimed in 2018 that Puerto Rico ’ s death toll had been faked to make him look “ as bad as possible.
” According to the report , FEMA knew from a 2011 exercise that Puerto Rico would need extra support from the federal agency to get supplies distributed throughout the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report says , the agency failed to prepare .
The agency also failed to follow the regular standards of tracking deliveries and holding contractors to account by asking for documented proof of deliveries , the inspector general found .
“ Given the lost visibility and delayed shipments , FEMA can not ensure it provided commodities to Puerto Rico disaster survivors as needed to sustain life and alleviate suffering as part of its response and recovery mission , ” the report says .
The issue was not just tracking the shipments after they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report found that for these supplies , “ FEMA headquarters did not record customer orders in a timely manner , or did not record them at all , ” which lead to confusion and backing up of deliveries at the deployment point in Jacksonville , Florida .
“ In response to the large volume of commodities ordered , FEMA had to open up two overflow sites in Jacksonville to store commodities awaiting shipment , as well as divert a significant amount of commodities to other locations , ” the report says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacksonville , some commodity shipments intended for Puerto Rico likely never left the continental United States.
” The supplies that did make it to Puerto Rico “ sat in FEMA ’ s custody at various locations on the island approximately 48 days , ” followed by another week of delivery time on average before reaching local distribution centers , according to the inspector general .
“ Water and food , two of the most important life-sustaining commodities , experienced average shipping delays of 71 and 59 days , respectively , ” the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortfall in supplies and some of the available supplies never arriving was that after waiting at least ten days for any kind of assistance to arrive , just 20 % of municipalities on the island received enough food and only 27 % of municipalities received enough water to supply survivors of the hurricane .
There were also problems with the food that did arrive — 40 % of the municipalities said they received expired food and some “ ‘ meal ’ boxes ... included junk food such as Oreos , candy , cereal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacked sufficient nutritional value.
” Some of the inspector general ’ s findings repeat what FEMA ’ s own internal post-disaster report revealed in 2018 .
The agency ’ s resources were already drained and in a state of disorder from responding to other high-intensity hurricanes that hit the US in 2017 by the time Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico , from Hurricane Harvey in Texas to Hurricane Irma , which hit the Florida panhandle and Puerto Rico .
Compounding the breakdowns in federal record-keeping and accountability , the inspector general found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records haphazardly filed in random locations rather than having a formal system to keep track of food , water , and other supplies received from FEMA and distributed to local authorities .
“ For example , we requested supporting documentation to verify commodity distribution numbers in the Puerto Rico government ’ s summary reports provided to FEMA , ” the inspector general wrote .
“ Puerto Rico government officials could not provide the supporting commodity distribution records because they were dispersed throughout various locations on the island , including a personal residence .
@

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has, in recent weeks, claimed that he is “the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico,” in an effort to win over Puerto Rican voters in Florida. But a new government report shows his administration lost track of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of potentially lifesaving food and water, as thousands died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
“FEMA lost visibility of about 38 percent of its commodity shipments to Puerto Rico, worth an estimated $257 million. Commodities successfully delivered to Puerto Rico took an average of 69 days to reach their final destinations,” the report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General found.
For the past three years, Trump has consistently blamed local authorities for the inadequate response to Puerto Rico’s devastating hurricane.
Some FEMA supplies intended for Puerto Rico never even left Florida, according to the report.
Most of those supplies consisted of food and water deliveries, in addition to blankets, cots, tarps, and sheeting. The inspector general’s findings, released Thursday, are in line with what BuzzFeed News and others reported seeing on the ground in Puerto Rico after the hurricane: inadequate federal deliveries of basic supplies, long waits for any supplies at all to arrive, and a lack of accountability at every level on how those supplies were being distributed.
FEMA shipped 97 million liters of water to Puerto Rico between September 2017, when Hurricane Maria made landfall, and April 2018, according to the report. Of that 97 million liters, just 36 million liters definitely reached local distribution points. In those first eight months following the hurricane, FEMA shipped 53 million meals to Puerto Rico. Just 24 million verifiably reached local distribution points.
“The remaining commodity shipments for both water and meals that arrived in the Commonwealth either remained in FEMA’s custody were in contractor facilities, or had unknown destinations,” the report found.
Three years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover. In the months following the storm, at least three thousand Puerto Ricans died, many from a lack of access to clean water, food (harder to store because electricity on most parts of the island was down for several months), shelter, and timely medical care. Some residents of Puerto Rico lived with open roofs on their houses for months after the hurricane because emergency tarps had not reached them.
Last year, Trump fought against additional funding to help Puerto Rico recover from the disaster, repeating false claims that the island had already gotten more money than for any previous hurricane and blamed local officials for the US territory’s slow recovery. Trump claimed in 2018 that Puerto Rico’s death toll had been faked to make him look “as bad as possible.”
According to the report, FEMA knew from a 2011 exercise that Puerto Rico would need extra support from the federal agency to get supplies distributed throughout the island in an emergency. Despite that, the report says, the agency failed to prepare. The agency also failed to follow the regular standards of tracking deliveries and holding contractors to account by asking for documented proof of deliveries, the inspector general found.
“Given the lost visibility and delayed shipments, FEMA cannot ensure it provided commodities to Puerto Rico disaster survivors as needed to sustain life and alleviate suffering as part of its response and recovery mission,” the report says.
The issue was not just tracking the shipments after they’d reached the island — the report found that for these supplies, “FEMA headquarters did not record customer orders in a timely manner, or did not record them at all,” which lead to confusion and backing up of deliveries at the deployment point in Jacksonville, Florida.
“In response to the large volume of commodities ordered, FEMA had to open up two overflow sites in Jacksonville to store commodities awaiting shipment, as well as divert a significant amount of commodities to other locations,” the report says. “According to [FEMA] personnel in Jacksonville, some commodity shipments intended for Puerto Rico likely never left the continental United States.”
The supplies that did make it to Puerto Rico “sat in FEMA’s custody at various locations on the island approximately 48 days,” followed by another week of delivery time on average before reaching local distribution centers, according to the inspector general.
“Water and food, two of the most important life-sustaining commodities, experienced average shipping delays of 71 and 59 days, respectively,” the report says.
The end result of a shortfall in supplies and some of the available supplies never arriving was that after waiting at least ten days for any kind of assistance to arrive, just 20% of municipalities on the island received enough food and only 27% of municipalities received enough water to supply survivors of the hurricane.
There were also problems with the food that did arrive — 40% of the municipalities said they received expired food and some “‘meal’ boxes ... included junk food such as Oreos, candy, cereal bars, and other similar items that lacked sufficient nutritional value.”
Some of the inspector general’s findings repeat what FEMA’s own internal post-disaster report revealed in 2018. The agency’s resources were already drained and in a state of disorder from responding to other high-intensity hurricanes that hit the US in 2017 by the time Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, from Hurricane Harvey in Texas to Hurricane Irma, which hit the Florida panhandle and Puerto Rico.
Compounding the breakdowns in federal record-keeping and accountability, the inspector general found that Puerto Rican government staff used manual records haphazardly filed in random locations rather than having a formal system to keep track of food, water, and other supplies received from FEMA and distributed to local authorities.
“For example, we requested supporting documentation to verify commodity distribution numbers in the Puerto Rico government’s summary reports provided to FEMA,” the inspector general wrote. “Puerto Rico government officials could not provide the supporting commodity distribution records because they were dispersed throughout various locations on the island, including a personal residence."


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Ukraine Is Investigating The Killing Of A US Embassy Employee In Kyiv

The passerby who discovered the American woman shows investigators how and where he found her on Wednesday .
Ukrainian police are investigating the killing of an American woman who was employed at the US Embassy in Kyiv , a police spokesperson told BuzzFeed News Wednesday .
The woman , who had suffered a large head injury , was found by a passerby on a street near Kyiv ’ s Nyvky Park outside the city center , Artem Shevchenko , a spokesperson for Ukraine ’ s Interior Ministry , said .
The US Embassy sits on the eastern edge of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where the woman was found .
Shevchenko said police were working to track down at least one male suspect they believe to be responsible for what he called a `` deliberate murder . ''
Shevchenko said the woman , who has not yet been officially identified , was wearing jogging clothes and earbuds when she was found .
“ The unconscious woman was admitted to a hospital where she subsequently died .
During the examination of the victim ’ s belongings , an identity card of an employee of the US Embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Kyiv Police statement said .
The embassy confirmed the death but said it did not have any new information about what had happened .
“ We are heartbroken to report the death of an American member of the U.S. Embassy Kyiv community .
Officials from U.S. Embassy Kyiv are currently working with authorities to determine the circumstances of the death , ” the embassy said in a statement to BuzzFeed News .

Ukrainian police are investigating the killing of an American woman who was employed at the US Embassy in Kyiv, a police spokesperson told BuzzFeed News Wednesday.
The woman, who had suffered a large head injury, was found by a passerby on a street near Kyiv’s Nyvky Park outside the city center, Artem Shevchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, said. The US Embassy sits on the eastern edge of the park and is only a half-mile away from where the woman was found.
Shevchenko said police were working to track down at least one male suspect they believe to be responsible for what he called a "deliberate murder."
Shevchenko said the woman, who has not yet been officially identified, was wearing jogging clothes and earbuds when she was found.
“The unconscious woman was admitted to a hospital where she subsequently died. During the examination of the victim’s belongings, an identity card of an employee of the US Embassy in her name was found,” a Kyiv Police statement said.
The embassy confirmed the death but said it did not have any new information about what had happened. “We are heartbroken to report the death of an American member of the U.S. Embassy Kyiv community. Officials from U.S. Embassy Kyiv are currently working with authorities to determine the circumstances of the death,” the embassy said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Even Trump Diehards Thought The Debate Was A Mess

Rosales told BuzzFeed News she loves the president and does hope he wins , but she thought “ there were times he went overboard.
” “ I was praying , ” said Betty Rosales , who had been clutching her head as she looked onto the two jumbo screens on stage .
“ I expected it to be heated but not to the extent that it was .
I 'm disappointed as an American voter.
” But as people sat and listened attentively to a 90-minute debate that careened out of control very early on , attendees cringed at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new visual on the typically raucous Trump campaign .
By the start of the debate , the patches of grass under the tent had become a mass of slippery mud from a sudden downpour .
The sea of red MAGA hats mixed with Amish straw hats and kapps — a sheer bonnet worn by Amish women .
The crowd had dwindled to half its size from an hour before , when hundreds more had cheered on Vice President Mike Pence who visited to pump up predebate excitement .
“ I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the lack of civility between both gentlemen , ” said Joseph Madagan of Coatesville , Pennsylvania , who attended the watch party here during Tuesday night ’ s presidential debate .
“ The overtalking was unproductive and was , I believe , certainly counterproductive.
” LITITZ , Pennsylvania — Hundreds of Trump supporters came out to a watch party in Pennsylvania to witness the first debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden , and what they got was two men “ bickering.
” Attendees raced out of the tent after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ponchos and Trump/Pence signs for cover .
It was a contrast from earlier in the day , when people on the farm waiting for the main event lined up in front of trucks that sold barbecue and milkshakes in what looked like a county fair .
Those who stayed for the debate cheered at the president ’ s zingers and booed Biden .
And while folks at the start of the evening said they were looking to see Biden stumble , by the end of the night , no one that BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity , but rather the chaos between the two men .
“ I know President Trump interrupted a lot , ” Priti Shukla told BuzzFeed News .
But the 37-year-old from Tampa , Florida , who says she follows the president throughout the country , is sticking by her candidate .
“ I mean , I 'm still supporting him .
I ’ m still behind him.
” “ I tried to get as much as I could , but it was a little bit of a challenge with the president speaking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of both talking over each other sometimes .
It was hard to understand.
” Maryanne Yackel made the trip from Philadelphia to support the president .
“ There was a lot of back and forth bickering in their own way , ” Yackel said .
But the hostility between the two candidates didn ’ t change her mind and she came to see what she wanted to see — “ a very current and on the ball ” Trump .
Like others BuzzFeed News talked to , the sense of camaraderie and meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip , even through a torrential rainstorm .
Some of the hundred or so stragglers who braved the chilly night said they didn ’ t learn anything new , and some seemed annoyed at Biden ’ s suggestion that Trump was handed a good economy .
But even those diehards , like Tim Pastula , 54 , said the candidates “ should stop interrupting each other.
” “ I knew that Trump would come out kind of bellicose and interrupting a lot , ” Warne said .
“ We knew that going in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Edward X .
Young , who traveled about 140 miles from New Jersey , called it “ the most unusual presidential debate ” he 'd ever seen .
Young — who sported a white MAGA hat and several pro-Trump pins , including one that said “ BARRON 2052 ” — likened the debate to a professional wrestling match .
“ At times it seemed more like WWE , ” he said .

LITITZ, Pennsylvania — Hundreds of Trump supporters came out to a watch party in Pennsylvania to witness the first debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and what they got was two men “bickering.”
“I think that the American people were greatly disserved tonight by the lack of civility between both gentlemen,” said Joseph Madagan of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, who attended the watch party here during Tuesday night’s presidential debate. “The overtalking was unproductive and was, I believe, certainly counterproductive.”
By the start of the debate, the patches of grass under the tent had become a mass of slippery mud from a sudden downpour. The sea of red MAGA hats mixed with Amish straw hats and kapps — a sheer bonnet worn by Amish women. The crowd had dwindled to half its size from an hour before, when hundreds more had cheered on Vice President Mike Pence who visited to pump up predebate excitement.
But as people sat and listened attentively to a 90-minute debate that careened out of control very early on, attendees cringed at the uncomfortable jabs thrown by both candidates, a new visual on the typically raucous Trump campaign.
“I was praying,” said Betty Rosales, who had been clutching her head as she looked onto the two jumbo screens on stage. “I expected it to be heated but not to the extent that it was. I'm disappointed as an American voter.”
Rosales told BuzzFeed News she loves the president and does hope he wins, but she thought “there were times he went overboard.”


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Trump Always Finds A New Way To Remind You Of The Amorality Of The Trump Era

President Donald Trump during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland on September 29 .
Except for one part , where the two strategies gradually combined into one and blossomed into a driveby nightmare moment : Trump attacking Biden ’ s living son , while Biden spoke about his late son .
And for the disorienting bulk of that debate , with the exception of the occasional direct-to-camera appeal from either candidate , Trump ’ s constant weaving in and out of his own questions and Biden ’ s answers created a chaotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying keen attention , you might have only caught fragments of words and phrases and subjects swarming by .
Beyond his emphasis on law and order and the booming economy of last year , he also seemed to come in with a specific personal approach : Get Joe Biden to pop off and shout , something he was once known for as a younger politician .
Trump drove repeatedly at Biden ’ s intelligence ( a historic popping off point ) and his younger son ( a more recent occasion for the defensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came into the first presidential debate with a cogent strategy : dominate questions and answers with interjection until he could control the rhythm of what was being said .
“ My son was in Iraq .
He spent a year there .
He got the Bronze Star .
He got the Conspicuous Service medal .
He was not a loser .
He was a patriot— ” Biden said while talking about the late Beau Biden , referencing the recent Atlantic reporting in which anonymous officials alleged Trump called various kinds of vets names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were heroes , and I resent— ” “ Oh , really ?
You talking about Hunter ?
” Trump cut in .
“ I don ’ t know Beau .
I know Hunter , ” Trump cut in again .
“ Hunter got thrown out of the military , he got dishonorably discharged for cocaine use , and he didn ’ t have a job until you became vice president .
He made a fortune in Ukraine , China , in Moscow , and various other places .
He made a fortune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job , ” Trump went on as Biden repeated that it wasn ’ t true .
“ My son , my son , my son , ” Biden finally cut back in , “ like a lot of people , like a lot of people we know at home , had a drug problem .
He ’ s overtaken it , he ’ s fixed it , he ’ s worked on it , and I ’ m proud of him.
” Then they went back and forth a bit more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last decade , and family ethics .
Hunter Biden , who primarily worked as a lobbyist in Washington while his father was a senator but before his father became vice president , was administratively discharged from the naval reserves after testing positive for cocaine in 2013 ; he ’ s dealt with serious drug and alcohol addiction , and spoke about that , and the overseas work , last year in a bracing New Yorker interview .
But the collision of what Trump kept trying to do ( disorient and upend ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this all to someone speaking about his adult child who is no longer living surfaced a jarring moment of amorality .
Trump ’ s ability to shock , dodge , and weave never ends , and it ’ s almost always about reaction or provocation , with flexibility in target and substance , rather than an underlying central argument .
His genius in this way is a selling point to defenders — that he will drive at any exception to own and overcome — and to others , a point of overwhelming bleakness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s always like this with Trump .

“My son was in Iraq. He spent a year there. He got the Bronze Star. He got the Conspicuous Service medal. He was not a loser. He was a patriot—” Biden said while talking about the late Beau Biden, referencing the recent Atlantic reporting in which anonymous officials alleged Trump called various kinds of vets names.
“Oh, really?” Trump cut in.
“—and the people left behind there were heroes, and I resent—”
“Oh, really? You talking about Hunter?” Trump cut in.
“I’m talking about my son, Beau Biden. You’re talking about—”
“I don’t know Beau. I know Hunter,” Trump cut in again. “Hunter got thrown out of the military, he got dishonorably discharged for cocaine use, and he didn’t have a job until you became vice president. He made a fortune in Ukraine, China, in Moscow, and various other places. He made a fortune. And he didn’t have a job,” Trump went on as Biden repeated that it wasn’t true.
“My son, my son, my son,” Biden finally cut back in, “like a lot of people, like a lot of people we know at home, had a drug problem. He’s overtaken it, he’s fixed it, he’s worked on it, and I’m proud of him.”
Then they went back and forth a bit more about the work Hunter Biden did overseas during the last decade, and family ethics. Hunter Biden, who primarily worked as a lobbyist in Washington while his father was a senator but before his father became vice president, was administratively discharged from the naval reserves after testing positive for cocaine in 2013; he’s dealt with serious drug and alcohol addiction, and spoke about that, and the overseas work, last year in a bracing New Yorker interview.
But the collision of what Trump kept trying to do (disorient and upend) with the grim reality that he put this all to someone speaking about his adult child who is no longer living surfaced a jarring moment of amorality.
Trump’s ability to shock, dodge, and weave never ends, and it’s almost always about reaction or provocation, with flexibility in target and substance, rather than an underlying central argument. His genius in this way is a selling point to defenders — that he will drive at any exception to own and overcome — and to others, a point of overwhelming bleakness and damage.
Either way: It’s always like this with Trump.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Scars, Tattoos, And License Plates: This Is What Palantir And The LAPD Know About You

Newly revealed documents show how Los Angeles police were trained to use the flagship product of the most secretive company in law enforcement .
Ahead of its Sept. 30 public listing , Palantir , a secretive data analytics company with ties to the defense and intelligence communities , has been touting itself as a tool that can “ target terrorists and keep soldiers safe.
” With an expected valuation of about $ 22 billion , it will become one of the biggest surveillance companies in the world .
Palantir promises that where “ technological infrastructure has failed , ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver , its software needs data — lots of it .
Now , two never-before-seen documents , “ Intermediate Course ” and “ Advanced Course ” training manuals , reveal how the Los Angeles Police Department has taught its officers to use Palantir Gotham , one of the most controversial and powerful law enforcement tools in the world .
Much of that LAPD data consists of the names of people arrested for , convicted of , or even suspected of committing crimes , but that ’ s just where it starts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement activity .
Maybe a police officer was told a person knew a suspected gang member .
Maybe an officer spoke to a person who lived near a crime “ hot spot , ” or was in the area when a crime happened .
Maybe a police officer simply had a hunch .
The context is immaterial .
Once the LAPD adds a name to Palantir ’ s database , that person becomes a data point in a massive police surveillance system .
Palantir — which takes its name from the all-seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and the LAPD argue that these documents show how the system protects the public .
It allows the police to quickly find criminals by plumbing a vast amount of personal information — plucking a suspected killer from a haystack .
But to critics , these documents show something vastly different .
At great taxpayer expense , and without public oversight or regulation , Palantir helped the LAPD construct a vast database that indiscriminately lists the names , addresses , phone numbers , license plates , friendships , romances , jobs of Angelenos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in between .
LAPD ’ s Palantir database includes information from the DMV , meaning people with a California driver ’ s license can be swept into Palantir .
It also includes 1 billion pictures taken of license plates from traffic lights and toll booths in Los Angeles and neighboring areas .
If you ’ ve driven through Los Angeles since 2015 , the police can see where your car was photographed , when it was photographed , and then click on your name to learn all about you .
Palantir is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost 5,000 people , more than half of all LAPD officers had accounts on Palantir , according to an “ LAPD Palantir Usage Metrics ” document .
The same document says that in 2016 , those officers ran 60,000 searches in support of more than 10,000 cases .
Dozens of California police departments , sheriff 's offices , airport police , universities , and school districts signed onto data-sharing agreements with the LAPD between 2012 and 2017 .
Contractually , these entities had to send daily copies of their own police records ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plate readings , and dispatch information so that the LAPD could put that data into Palantir .
The Los Angeles School Police Department , Compton Unified School District Police Department , El Camino College , Cal Poly University Police Department , and California State University all signed these agreements .
For activists like Jamie Garcia , an organizer with the advocacy group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition , the LAPD 's well-established history of over-policing Black and brown communities means the department simply should n't be trusted with this kind of technology .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , '' she told BuzzFeed News .
Jacinta González , an organizer with Latinx advocacy group Mijente , said that Palantir gives police an opportunity to expand their power and reinforce the over-policing of Black and Brown communities .
“ [ Palantir ] is not actually improving things , ” she said .
“ It 's expanding the power that police have .
And it ’ s minimizing the right that communities have to fight back , because many times , the surveillance is done in secretive ways .
It 's ridiculous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing in their city , and we have to wait until you get FOIA documents to actually understand.
” The police and their critics do share one point of view , however : They both believe Palantir is working as intended .
Obtained by BuzzFeed News through a Freedom of Information Act request , the “ Intermediate ” and “ Advanced ” training guides comprise two eight-hour courses explaining to LAPD Crime Intelligence officers how to use Palantir on the job , revealing the granular level of detail the software brings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police can search for people by name .
But , as you 'll see in the slides below , they can also search by race , gender , gang membership , tattoos , scars , friends , or family .
According to the training manuals , searches like these will return a list of names along with associated home addresses , email addresses , vehicles , warrants , and mugshots .
If Palantir finds related surveillance pictures , it will offer those up as well , along with any personal connections it might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , neighbors , and coworkers .
LAPD officers can use this information as leads or to generate lists of people who the system believes are likely to commit a crime in the future .
Created in 2004 , Palantir was designed to solve a problem : Information about the same people is spread between multiple databases — and even when it ’ s all compiled , it can be hard to interpret .
The company ’ s law enforcement software , Gotham , has also been used by the Northern California Regional Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments in the state access to Palantir ’ s powerful , expensive software .
And big metropolitan police departments — like those in New Orleans , New York City , and Chicago — have used Palantir .
The US Department of Health and Human Services has used its enterprise product , Palantir Foundry , to organize information about the coronavirus pandemic .
Palantir CEO Alexander Karp didn ’ t major in engineering or computer science .
He received a PhD in philosophy from Goethe University in Frankfurt in 2002 .
In an analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher and Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society faculty associate Moira Weigel argues that Karp sees big data analytics as an example of “ incontestable self-evidence ” that treats correlations “ simply as given.
” This can be seen in Palantir ’ s design .
When the software maps relationships from person to person , person to car , person to home , or person to crime scene , those relationships are treated as fact and presented without caveat , though they are determined by an algorithm and not guaranteed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who embedded with the LAPD for two years to study its use of Palantir , told BuzzFeed News that when a system like this is designed this way , people using it can easily interpret results as evidence that someone may be or may become a criminal .
“ If there 's somebody who the cops have been interested in 10 times throughout the course of your life , the idea is basically , where there 's smoke , there 's fire , ” Brayne said .
“ There 's probably a reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this particular person.
” The LAPD started pursuing data-driven policing strategies as a way to respond to scandal .
Following the Rampart scandal in the late 1990s , which involved corruption , abuse of suspects , and evidence theft in the LAPD ’ s gang unit , the federal Department of Justice placed the LAPD under a consent decree , which forced the department to institute reforms and comply with federal audits .
So the department tried something new .
In 2002 , James Hahn , then the mayor of Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD .
Bratton came from the New York Police Department , where he introduced CompStat , a program that mapped crime .
Among his tasks at the LAPD were to introduce new data-driven strategies and get the department out from under the consent decree .
Andrew Ferguson , American University law professor and author of The Rise of Big Data Policing , said that at the LAPD , data-driven policing does n't just mean using evidence to go after crimes .
It means part of the police 's job is to conduct more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Palantir is a data-driven surveillance system more than a data-driven policing system , ” Ferguson said , meaning that Palantir helps the police watch people , rather than keep people safe .
And by design , it 's infinitely expandable .
“ It can be a platform for whatever sources of surveillance data they want to bring into the platform.
” The problem with data-driven policing , according to Ferguson , is that it does n't solve underlying problems within policing like concerns about misconduct or racism .
Although data-driven policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not .
The LAPD has used Palantir for more than a decade — first , as part of an initiative called the Los Angeles Strategic Extraction and Restoration ( LASER ) , which ran from 2009 to 2019 .
Currently , Palantir is used in a program the department calls Data-Informed , Community-Focused Policing .
Palantir is expensive , and police departments often struggle to afford it .
Between 2015 and 2016 , the LA Mayor ’ s Office of Public Safety got the money to pay for Palantir from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Emergency Management Agency ’ s Urban Areas Security Initiative ( UASI ) Program , which gives cities technology to `` prevent , protect against , mitigate , respond to , and recover from acts of terrorism . ''
It ’ s unclear if the LAPD always used federal UASI money to pay for Palantir , or if it only used federal money in those years .
But purchase orders show that Palantir software upgrades and user licenses cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars .
Senator Ron Wyden ( D-OR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the LAPD has used federal money in order to finance Palantir .
`` The federal government should n't be spending money on unproven surveillance software or crime prediction programs that target Black and Hispanic Americans and do n't actually reduce crime , ” he said .
“ The Justice Department has an obligation to make sure taxpayer money actually makes all of us safer while protecting the rights of every American.
” The LAPD also received federal money to design LASER , although it never directly funded payments to Palantir .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Justice Assistance started the Smart Policing Initiative to provide grants to organize data-driven programs at police departments .
The LAPD was one of the first departments to receive a Smart Policing Initiative grant for creating a `` place- and offender-based policing '' for gun violence .
Using that money , the LAPD and contractor Justice and Security Strategies devised LASER .
LASER promised “ precision policing.
” Police would reduce crime by preemptively targeting the people and areas that presented the highest risk .
It involved two main pieces of software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a company that makes a predictive policing software , was supposed to help the LAPD identify crime hot spots by looking at time , weather , and location where a crime has been reported in the past .
Academics have criticized the company for sending police to the same places where crime has already been reported , rather than identifying areas where crime is underreported .
( The LAPD ended its use of PredPol in April , citing the cost . )
Palantir was used to identify crime hot spots by allowing police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were displayed on a timeline or a map , showing the concentration of which crimes have been reported where .
For the LAPD , Palantir swallowed up the contents of several major databases that were previously spread across public safety agencies throughout Los Angeles and the state , including incident reports , arrests , citations , license plate reader data , field interviews , recovered vehicles , warrants , booking photos , and data from the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System , and the county ’ s Community Health Services data .
Palantir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links between the people within it ( e.g.
, “ Sally was interviewed by police in a report about Fred ” ) and makes it searchable .
Palantir also took in much of the data collected during the LAPD 's own policing activities .
Field interviews include information that police collect from civilians , including family members , neighbors , lovers , friends , and coworkers .
Their notes can also include descriptive information like race , height , weight , eye color , hair color , scars , nicknames , or tattoos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as suspected gang affiliation .
In 2014 , five years into using Palantir , the LAPD paid $ 2.9 million to update its existing system to include “ Thunderbird , ” a software that organizes license plate data , using its Urban Areas Security Initiative Grant money from FEMA .
Palantir also analyzed data obtained from private sources .
In one exercise in the Advanced Course training manual , police officers were asked to import telecom data from Verizon .
( One file is called “ Verizon — Phone Source Destination.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's phone number , the recipient phone number , the date , duration of the call , and the latitude and longitude of all the cell towers used .
Brayne told BuzzFeed News that technologies like Palantir are part of a larger trend of data-driven policing .
In an ideal world , data-driven methods would push police to rely on evidence .
But in practice , she said , it often results in officers using the veneer of objectivity to back up their hunches .
“ What 's going on in the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brayne said .
“ It 's like , ‘ Okay , now let 's rely on fancier stuff like AI or machine learning or predictive algorithms rather than just historical crime data to identify hot spots or heat density maps.
’ ” Gonzalez said it ’ s concerning that Palantir , which was designed to be used for military intelligence in war zones , is being handed to local police departments using federal money .
“ The federal government does this , knowing that there are not adequate legal protections for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ You 're seeing a whole parallel system of information gathering ... being used to police communities and to criminalize communities.
” According to activist group Stop LAPD Spying , the most controversial aspect of LASER was its “ Chronic Offender Bulletins.
” Every day between 2011 and 2019 , police officers patrolling one of 40 “ LASER Zones ” — areas that police determined to have a high risk of crime — used Palantir to rank the top 12 “ Chronic Offenders ” thought most likely to commit a violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also had to choose five to ten “ backup ” people . )
The top twelve Chronic Offenders were determined using a point system .
Officers were told to look at arrest reports , investigative reports , and field interview cards .
Each violent crime arrest over the past two years was worth five points .
Being on parole was worth five points .
Gang membership earned five points .
An arrest for a violent crime or for being in possession of a handgun was worth five points .
“ Quality police contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but which Brayne said were probably “ gesturing at legal thresholds around reasonable suspicion ” — over the past two years were worth one point each .
The LAPD told BuzzFeed News that it no longer creates Chronic Offender bulletins .
From the training guide , it ’ s unclear if these people were suspects , gave an interview to police , were associated with a suspect , or just happened to be the area .
In the training manuals , police aren ’ t taught to analyze how those names were extracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and move on with their work .
But according to critics like María Vélez , a criminologist at the University of Maryland , the LAPD 's predictive policing overtargeted Black and Latino Angelenos .
In Los Angeles , 52 % of the population is white , 49 % is Latino , and 9 % is Black .
Those singled out by the Chronic Offender Bulletins were 53 % Latino and 31 % Black , according to an LAPD inspector general report .
The LAPD inspector general report argued that since the racial percentages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those of arrest rates , it was n't evidence of a problem .
But Vélez said that the Chronic Offender Bulletins should be compared to the community demographics rather than those of arrests .
“ That ’ s disproportionate , ” she said .
“ The focus of a data-driven surveillance system is to put a lot of innocent people in the system , ” Ferguson said .
“ And that means that many folks who end up in the Palantir system are predominantly poor people of color , and who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police.
” In the eyes of the LAPD inspector general , LASER 's flaws outweighed its benefits .
In a report published in 2019 , the office laid out its concerns .
Often , police didn ’ t have reliable information about who was in a gang and who wasn ’ t .
( This year , California ’ s Office of the Attorney General found that LAPD officers falsely added dozens of people to the state 's gang database . )
The inspector general also found major inconsistencies in how police selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chronic Offenders “ based on verbal or informal referrals from field personnel , ” the inspector general report says .
Two reporting districts “ did not use the point system at all.
” Out of the 637 Chronic Offenders identified by the LAPD , 44 % were never arrested for a violent or gun-related crime , despite LASER 's attempt to target violent crime .
And 10 % of Chronic Offenders had zero contacts with police — meaning zero arrests and zero mentions in field interviews .
Per LASER ’ s guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been arrested for a violent crime .
“ The database included people who were in custody , who had been arrested for only non-violent crimes and whose points were either not entered or appeared to be over- or under-stated , ” the report said .
People might or might not have found out that they were a Chronic Offender .
Sometimes the police sent a warning letter , and other times police found the person and spoke to them directly .
But there was no easy way for someone to appeal their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove themselves from surveillance .
The only way for a person to remove their information from Palantir , according to the LAPD , is to get a court order .
The inspector general report also said that “ one of the primary areas that lacked clarity was the overall goal of the [ LASER ] program itself.
” Was the goal to “ extract ” violent people from the community ?
To deter crime ?
What are marks of success ?
The report could not determine .
It also could n't find evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that in 6 out of the 13 LASER Zones , violent crime rates were “ the same as , or worse than , those for non-LASER Zones.
” Although the department had argued that the program had reduced crime , citing a 23 % drop in violent crime in the Newton reporting division in a federal grant application in 2016 , the inspector general report and activist pushback were too much a deterrent to continue the program .
And so , in April 2019 , the LAPD ended the program .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Introduced this year , the Data-Informed , Community-Focused Policing program was supposed to be a more ethical iteration of LASER , but it works largely the same way : Police use Palantir to ingest large amounts of data , identify crime hot spots on map , and create lists of people ( largely based on parole data ) who might commit a crime in the future .
Brayne said that even LAPD officers don ’ t know how Data-Informed , Community-Focused Policing is different from LASER .
“ I am tentatively viewing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningful shift in practice , ” she said .
There is one difference : The new plan formally expands the surveillance that began under LASER .
Under LASER , the LAPD said people who were arrested for violent or gun-related crimes could be surveilled .
Now , people suspected of nonviolent property crimes can also be .
The outline for the initiative also talks about preventing crime through “ the physical maintenance or general upkeep of a place.
” The idea that police should pursue property crime and property damage as a mode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broken windows ” policing , which critics have said pushes police to overreact to nonviolent crimes .
For people like Stop LAPD Spying 's Garcia , these police tactics are more of the same , even if they are packaged as new and scientific .
“ All that stuff is very old .
It 's not anything new , ” Garcia said .
“ The only thing that 's fairly new about it , that they want to hide and bury , is the use of algorithms.
” ●

Ahead of its Sept. 30 public listing, Palantir, a secretive data analytics company with ties to the defense and intelligence communities, has been touting itself as a tool that can “target terrorists and keep soldiers safe.” With an expected valuation of about $22 billion, it will become one of the biggest surveillance companies in the world.
Palantir promises that where “technological infrastructure has failed,” it can create clarity and order. But to deliver, its software needs data — lots of it.
Now, two never-before-seen documents, “Intermediate Course” and “Advanced Course” training manuals, reveal how the Los Angeles Police Department has taught its officers to use Palantir Gotham, one of the most controversial and powerful law enforcement tools in the world.
Much of that LAPD data consists of the names of people arrested for, convicted of, or even suspected of committing crimes, but that’s just where it starts. Palantir also ingests the bycatch of daily law enforcement activity. Maybe a police officer was told a person knew a suspected gang member. Maybe an officer spoke to a person who lived near a crime “hot spot,” or was in the area when a crime happened. Maybe a police officer simply had a hunch. The context is immaterial. Once the LAPD adds a name to Palantir’s database, that person becomes a data point in a massive police surveillance system.
Palantir — which takes its name from the all-seeing stones in The Lord of the Rings — and the LAPD argue that these documents show how the system protects the public. It allows the police to quickly find criminals by plumbing a vast amount of personal information — plucking a suspected killer from a haystack.
But to critics, these documents show something vastly different. At great taxpayer expense, and without public oversight or regulation, Palantir helped the LAPD construct a vast database that indiscriminately lists the names, addresses, phone numbers, license plates, friendships, romances, jobs of Angelenos — the guilty, innocent, and those in between.
LAPD’s Palantir database includes information from the DMV, meaning people with a California driver’s license can be swept into Palantir. It also includes 1 billion pictures taken of license plates from traffic lights and toll booths in Los Angeles and neighboring areas. If you’ve driven through Los Angeles since 2015, the police can see where your car was photographed, when it was photographed, and then click on your name to learn all about you.
Palantir is no small thing within the LAPD. Almost 5,000 people, more than half of all LAPD officers had accounts on Palantir, according to an “LAPD Palantir Usage Metrics” document. The same document says that in 2016, those officers ran 60,000 searches in support of more than 10,000 cases.


buzzfeed--2020-10-01--Presidential Debates Rarely Matter. The Biden-Trump Debate Is Different.

You probably know how you feel about President Donald Trump .
He has been the emcee of the last five years of American life .
Depending on your view , he ’ s either the protagonist of your daily story or the uninvited guest who has been squatting in your one-bedroom apartment for years .
It is a fun little joke to have with yourself to try to imagine the likely voter who just hasn ’ t heard enough about Donald Trump to have an opinion about him one way or the other .
So what is there to gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Trump and Joe Biden ?
Polling and reporting this summer showed an electorate that appears to have largely made up its mind .
National and state polls have been remarkably stable through a series of crises and changed campaign messages .
Trump ’ s approval rating of around 44 % has been basically steady across his presidency .
The number of voters considering a third-party candidate or who are still firmly undecided is not what it was in September 2016 .
It ’ s basically impossible to imagine the person who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump insisting Tuesday night that Biden is on drugs .
This dynamic , even if it ’ s more obvious this year , isn ’ t unique .
There ’ s a compelling reason to think general election presidential debates don ’ t move voters much even in a normal time .
John Sides , a political scientist who has written loads about American elections , wrote in a 2012 survey of the research that “ presidential debates have rarely , if ever , mattered.
” Republicans typically believe the Republican candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat won , at most a candidate sees a slight polling bump and some days of positive or negative media attention , we all march on .
That said !
I here propose why it makes sense to go through with this exercise anyway , even if it doesn ’ t all-caps MATTER for the election itself .
And not just because of America ’ s pandemic-starved need for new television or our ever-accelerating drive toward masochism .
One thing that has been distinctly different about this year and election is just how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidates outside of highly controlled environments .
The debates are very possibly going to be the only exception to that until deep into next year , well after one of the two is inaugurated .
Biden has rarely appeared in front of a group of more than a dozen people since March , always careful to role-model safe public behavior during the pandemic .
Unless you ’ re diligently watching his livestreams , the most you ’ ve seen of the Democratic presidential nominee has been in his own ads or when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with national press have been rare .
He ’ s not , as Trump would have it , hiding in his basement , but he ’ s also not the constant fixture in public life you ’ d expect a presidential candidate to be this close to an election .
And even though Trump is everywhere , he ’ s really only in the places he wants to be , speaking about the things he wants to speak about .
Trump does regular news conferences , but still in an environment he controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwanted question and move on to whatever One America News wants to ask him about .
He has spent the vast majority of his presidency gliding from White House bubble to campaign rally bubble to Fox News bubble with only rare interruptions .
It ’ s what made his interviews this summer with Chris Wallace and Jonathan Swan so compelling — in his nearly four years as president , we ’ ve barely ever seen Trump somewhere where he is not in charge .
The reasons each candidate has for being cloistered are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pandemic protocol , Trump with a strict adherence to ego maintenance .
But you learn something to actually see what a president or candidate is like when they ’ re directly challenged and can ’ t easily change the subject or leave the room .
It is rare to see either Biden or Trump forced to deal with discomfort .
It ’ s probably not going to change your vote this year .
But as we work and live through a pandemic without a known end , seeing a candidate in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in reveals something about how that person actually is — how this year , or the last four , may have changed them .
The debates are still an opportunity to learn a little more about these very sheltered men .
That should still matter .

You probably know how you feel about President Donald Trump. He has been the emcee of the last five years of American life. Depending on your view, he’s either the protagonist of your daily story or the uninvited guest who has been squatting in your one-bedroom apartment for years. It is a fun little joke to have with yourself to try to imagine the likely voter who just hasn’t heard enough about Donald Trump to have an opinion about him one way or the other.
So what is there to gain from the beginning of the presidential debates between Trump and Joe Biden?
Polling and reporting this summer showed an electorate that appears to have largely made up its mind. National and state polls have been remarkably stable through a series of crises and changed campaign messages. Trump’s approval rating of around 44% has been basically steady across his presidency. The number of voters considering a third-party candidate or who are still firmly undecided is not what it was in September 2016. It’s basically impossible to imagine the person who is going to be swayed in their vote by Trump insisting Tuesday night that Biden is on drugs.
This dynamic, even if it’s more obvious this year, isn’t unique. There’s a compelling reason to think general election presidential debates don’t move voters much even in a normal time. John Sides, a political scientist who has written loads about American elections, wrote in a 2012 survey of the research that “presidential debates have rarely, if ever, mattered.” Republicans typically believe the Republican candidate won the debate, Democrats believe the Democrat won, at most a candidate sees a slight polling bump and some days of positive or negative media attention, we all march on.
That said! I here propose why it makes sense to go through with this exercise anyway, even if it doesn’t all-caps MATTER for the election itself. And not just because of America’s pandemic-starved need for new television or our ever-accelerating drive toward masochism.
One thing that has been distinctly different about this year and election is just how little we’ve seen of the presidential candidates outside of highly controlled environments. The debates are very possibly going to be the only exception to that until deep into next year, well after one of the two is inaugurated.
Biden has rarely appeared in front of a group of more than a dozen people since March, always careful to role-model safe public behavior during the pandemic. Unless you’re diligently watching his livestreams, the most you’ve seen of the Democratic presidential nominee has been in his own ads or when he reads a speech. His interactions with national press have been rare. He’s not, as Trump would have it, hiding in his basement, but he’s also not the constant fixture in public life you’d expect a presidential candidate to be this close to an election.
And even though Trump is everywhere, he’s really only in the places he wants to be, speaking about the things he wants to speak about. Trump does regular news conferences, but still in an environment he controls, where he can safely disregard an unwanted question and move on to whatever One America News wants to ask him about. He has spent the vast majority of his presidency gliding from White House bubble to campaign rally bubble to Fox News bubble with only rare interruptions. It’s what made his interviews this summer with Chris Wallace and Jonathan Swan so compelling — in his nearly four years as president, we’ve barely ever seen Trump somewhere where he is not in charge.
The reasons each candidate has for being cloistered are different — Biden with a strict adherence to pandemic protocol, Trump with a strict adherence to ego maintenance. But you learn something to actually see what a president or candidate is like when they’re directly challenged and can’t easily change the subject or leave the room. It is rare to see either Biden or Trump forced to deal with discomfort.
It’s probably not going to change your vote this year. But as we work and live through a pandemic without a known end, seeing a candidate in a position they don’t want to be in reveals something about how that person actually is — how this year, or the last four, may have changed them. The debates are still an opportunity to learn a little more about these very sheltered men. That should still matter.


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