buzzfeed--2020-01-07--Michael Bloomberg Is Making A Big Bet In Ohio

Michael Bloomberg is doing something other Democratic candidates for president aren ’ t as they prepare for next month ’ s Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary : camping out in later-voting states such as Ohio .
And the strategy is yielding some early results .
Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan , who leads the kind of modernizing industrial city that can fit neatly into a campaign message , told BuzzFeed News that he will endorse Bloomberg this week .
“ Whether its gun violence , or opiates , or equity , all those things a mayor has to tackle on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Horrigan said of the billionaire business magnate and former New York City mayor .
“ The platform is literally a metro dream .
We ’ re looking for partners in the White House.
” The endorsement coincides with a Wednesday night event scheduled in Akron , where Bloomberg will visit an old tire factory that ’ s been turned into a business incubator for entrepreneurs .
Bloomberg also will announce a proposal to use federal money and resources to promote “ growth hubs ” in cities across the country , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local economy has transitioned from rubber making to polymer engineering .
Bloomberg advisers believe his emphasis on Ohio , which has a March 17 primary , and other states that hold nominating contests after February shows he is making more of an effort to reach voters in general election battlegrounds and in states and regions where Democrats have lost ground to Donald Trump Republicans .
In recent weeks Bloomberg has been to California , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Tennessee , Virginia , and Wisconsin .
And besides Akron , Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Future Jobs Plan will take him to Illinois , a Democratic gim me , and Minnesota , an increasingly competitive state that Trump is targeting .
These places also could be decisive in picking the Democratic nominee if the field remains unsettled after the first four contests — a scenario Bloomberg is banking on .
“ The Bloomberg campaign is focusing on communities Democrats have lost touch with over the past few election cycles , ” said Erin McPike , a spokesperson for the campaign .
“ We 're showing up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trip will be Bloomberg ’ s second to Ohio in less than three weeks .
In December he visited Chillicothe , a town of about 21,000 that ’ s been somewhat of a bellwether in an otherwise deeply Republican part of the state .
He was joined for a roundtable discussion on the opioid crisis by that city ’ s young mayor , Luke Feeney , who spoke at the 2016 Democratic convention and is viewed as a rising star in state politics .
Feeney , who has not yet endorsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg .
“ The conversation bounced around but it was a good one , ” Feeney told BuzzFeed News in a telephone interview .
“ The roundtable that we did — it was an interesting experience .
By and large he did a lot of listening .
It was a room that was a little bit difficult to be in , because you had people who had been through a lot .
People who had lost a spouse , a child.
” Feeney also introduced Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at an event she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the difference between her visit and Bloomberg ’ s was striking .
“ Hers was closer to — not a rally , but felt more like a campaign event.
” Despite entering the race late , Bloomberg , with his personal fortune , already has hired an Ohio staff of about 50 .
State director Aaron Pickrell is one of Ohio ’ s most experienced operatives in recent presidential cycles , having helped run Barack Obama ’ s winning campaigns there and Hillary Clinton ’ s eight point loss to Donald Trump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked alongside Pickrell in 2012 , is Joe Biden ’ s national campaign manager . )
“ It ’ s really cool because Bloomberg is committed to running a campaign that you need to win in Ohio , ” Pickrell told BuzzFeed News .
“ You have to run in every corner of the state .
It ’ s great to do these campaigns where you really have the campaign and the infrastructure to win.
” The Horrigan endorsement is helpful , Pickrell said , because it gives Bloomberg a prominent supporter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market with Cleveland .
And Horrigian , recently elected to a second term as mayor , was previously an elected countywide official in a county — Summit — that is split among four congressional districts in northern Ohio .
“ Mayor Horrigan is a very pragmatic , very progressive , very aggressive mayor , ” Pickrell said .
“ To have him as a validator and as an advocate is great for us.
” Horrigan had previously endorsed Rep. Tim Ryan , whose district stretches into Summit County .
Horrigan said he heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan dropped out of the presidential race in October .
He was already familiar with Bloomberg ’ s work as a mayor and in philanthropy and said his choice is not a slight against anyone else running .
“ I will carry his message across Akron and the state of Ohio if I can be a useful messenger , ” Horrigan said .
“ I think it ’ s a great message for cities across the country.
” Other Democratic candidates are courting Ohio mayors .
Dayton ’ s Nan Whaley and Cincinnati @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana .
Youngstown ’ s Jamael Tito Brown and Parma ’ s Tim DeGeeter have endorsed Biden .
The Akron visit is tied to this week ’ s unveiling of Bloomberg ’ s Future Jobs Plan , a component of which focuses on promoting entrepreneurship in depressed agricultural and manufacturing regions .
In his remarks at the old B.F. Goodrich tire factory that ’ s now home to the Bounce Innovation Hub , Bloomberg is expected to pledge more investment for research and development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic sectors and more support for public/private partnerships like those that have worked in Akron .
Under the program , cities would compete to be designated growth hubs by an independent commission .
Bloomberg ’ s program would prioritize infrastructure upgrades , direct research grants , early-stage financing , and initiatives to address wealth disparities .

Michael Bloomberg is doing something other Democratic candidates for president aren’t as they prepare for next month’s Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary: camping out in later-voting states such as Ohio. And the strategy is yielding some early results.
Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan, who leads the kind of modernizing industrial city that can fit neatly into a campaign message, told BuzzFeed News that he will endorse Bloomberg this week.
“Whether its gun violence, or opiates, or equity, all those things a mayor has to tackle on a daily basis, he has done,” Horrigan said of the billionaire business magnate and former New York City mayor. “The platform is literally a metro dream. We’re looking for partners in the White House.”
The endorsement coincides with a Wednesday night event scheduled in Akron, where Bloomberg will visit an old tire factory that’s been turned into a business incubator for entrepreneurs. Bloomberg also will announce a proposal to use federal money and resources to promote “growth hubs” in cities across the country, particularly those similar to Akron, where the local economy has transitioned from rubber making to polymer engineering.
Bloomberg advisers believe his emphasis on Ohio, which has a March 17 primary, and other states that hold nominating contests after February shows he is making more of an effort to reach voters in general election battlegrounds and in states and regions where Democrats have lost ground to Donald Trump Republicans. In recent weeks Bloomberg has been to California, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. And besides Akron, Bloomberg’s travels this week to introduce his Future Jobs Plan will take him to Illinois, a Democratic gimme, and Minnesota, an increasingly competitive state that Trump is targeting.
These places also could be decisive in picking the Democratic nominee if the field remains unsettled after the first four contests — a scenario Bloomberg is banking on.
“The Bloomberg campaign is focusing on communities Democrats have lost touch with over the past few election cycles,” said Erin McPike, a spokesperson for the campaign. “We're showing up, not writing them off.”
This week’s trip will be Bloomberg’s second to Ohio in less than three weeks. In December he visited Chillicothe, a town of about 21,000 that’s been somewhat of a bellwether in an otherwise deeply Republican part of the state. He was joined for a roundtable discussion on the opioid crisis by that city’s young mayor, Luke Feeney, who spoke at the 2016 Democratic convention and is viewed as a rising star in state politics. Feeney, who has not yet endorsed a candidate, also had coffee with Bloomberg.
“The conversation bounced around but it was a good one,” Feeney told BuzzFeed News in a telephone interview. “The roundtable that we did — it was an interesting experience. By and large he did a lot of listening. It was a room that was a little bit difficult to be in, because you had people who had been through a lot. People who had lost a spouse, a child.”
Feeney also introduced Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at an event she held last year in Chillicothe but said the difference between her visit and Bloomberg’s was striking. “Hers was closer to — not a rally, but felt more like a campaign event.”
Despite entering the race late, Bloomberg, with his personal fortune, already has hired an Ohio staff of about 50. State director Aaron Pickrell is one of Ohio’s most experienced operatives in recent presidential cycles, having helped run Barack Obama’s winning campaigns there and Hillary Clinton’s eight point loss to Donald Trump in 2016. (Greg Schultz, who worked alongside Pickrell in 2012, is Joe Biden’s national campaign manager.)
“It’s really cool because Bloomberg is committed to running a campaign that you need to win in Ohio,” Pickrell told BuzzFeed News. “You have to run in every corner of the state. It’s great to do these campaigns where you really have the campaign and the infrastructure to win.”
The Horrigan endorsement is helpful, Pickrell said, because it gives Bloomberg a prominent supporter in a city that shares a large media market with Cleveland. And Horrigian, recently elected to a second term as mayor, was previously an elected countywide official in a county — Summit — that is split among four congressional districts in northern Ohio.
“Mayor Horrigan is a very pragmatic, very progressive, very aggressive mayor,” Pickrell said. “To have him as a validator and as an advocate is great for us.”
Horrigan had previously endorsed Rep. Tim Ryan, whose district stretches into Summit County. Horrigan said he heard from a couple of other candidates after Ryan dropped out of the presidential race in October. He was already familiar with Bloomberg’s work as a mayor and in philanthropy and said his choice is not a slight against anyone else running.
“I will carry his message across Akron and the state of Ohio if I can be a useful messenger,” Horrigan said. “I think it’s a great message for cities across the country.”
Other Democratic candidates are courting Ohio mayors. Dayton’s Nan Whaley and Cincinnati’s John Cranley have backed Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Youngstown’s Jamael Tito Brown and Parma’s Tim DeGeeter have endorsed Biden.
The Akron visit is tied to this week’s unveiling of Bloomberg’s Future Jobs Plan, a component of which focuses on promoting entrepreneurship in depressed agricultural and manufacturing regions. In his remarks at the old B.F. Goodrich tire factory that’s now home to the Bounce Innovation Hub, Bloomberg is expected to pledge more investment for research and development in cities looking to grow into new economic sectors and more support for public/private partnerships like those that have worked in Akron. Under the program, cities would compete to be designated growth hubs by an independent commission. Bloomberg’s program would prioritize infrastructure upgrades, direct research grants, early-stage financing, and initiatives to address wealth disparities.


buzzfeed--2020-01-07--Trump Is Running Hundreds Of Facebook Ads Praising Himself For The Killing Of Iranian Gen. Qassem So

Trump Is Running Hundreds Of Facebook Ads Praising Himself For The Killing Of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani

President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign is wasting little time capitalizing on the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
Just three days after the death of the head of Iran ’ s Quds Force , the president ’ s reelection campaign began to run hundreds of ads praising Trump for ordering the killing — a decision that had been declined by presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama .
As of Tuesday , Facebook had taken down a few dozen of the ads , some of which appeared to violate the site ’ s policy against using fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for clarification .
“ Thanks to the swift actions of our Commander-in-Chief , Iranian General Qassem Soleimani is no longer a threat to the United States , or to the world , '' read one ad .
“ Take the Official Trump Military Survey TODAY to let me know what you think of my leadership as Commander-in-Chief.
” The survey , meant to collect contact information for future outreach , contained questions like “ Do you stand by President Trump in his decision to take out the very dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” At the end , it asks respondents for their name , zip code , email , and phone number .
Those who provided their phone number , according to a footnote , consented to receive texts , automated calls , and phone calls from the president ’ s reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee .
The Trump campaign did not return a request for comment .
It is typically very active on Facebook , having spent $ 2.3 million on more than 33,000 different ads over the past 30 days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Active ads about the Soleimani killing , as of Tuesday , made up 590 of those placements at an undetermined cost .
Over the past 30 days , the Trump campaign has far outpaced its Democratic rivals in terms of the number of ads placed on Facebook .
The nearest challenger is Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , who has paid for approximately 14,000 ad placements , followed by billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer .

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is wasting little time capitalizing on the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Just three days after the death of the head of Iran’s Quds Force, the president’s reelection campaign began to run hundreds of ads praising Trump for ordering the killing — a decision that had been declined by presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
As of Tuesday, Facebook had taken down a few dozen of the ads, some of which appeared to violate the site’s policy against using fake buttons in ads. Facebook did not respond to a request for clarification.
“Thanks to the swift actions of our Commander-in-Chief, Iranian General Qassem Soleimani is no longer a threat to the United States, or to the world,'' read one ad. “Take the Official Trump Military Survey TODAY to let me know what you think of my leadership as Commander-in-Chief.”
The survey, meant to collect contact information for future outreach, contained questions like “Do you stand by President Trump in his decision to take out the very dangerous Iranian terrorist leader, Qassem Soleimani?” At the end, it asks respondents for their name, zip code, email, and phone number. Those who provided their phone number, according to a footnote, consented to receive texts, automated calls, and phone calls from the president’s reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The Trump campaign did not return a request for comment. It is typically very active on Facebook, having spent $2.3 million on more than 33,000 different ads over the past 30 days, according to the Facebook ad library report. Active ads about the Soleimani killing, as of Tuesday, made up 590 of those placements at an undetermined cost.
Over the past 30 days, the Trump campaign has far outpaced its Democratic rivals in terms of the number of ads placed on Facebook. The nearest challenger is Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who has paid for approximately 14,000 ad placements, followed by billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer.


buzzfeed--2020-01-07--A Facebook Executive Said The Platform Is Responsible For Trump’s Election

The 2,500-word memo from longtime Facebook executive Andrew “ Boz ” Bosworth , which was first obtained by the New York Times , outlined how the company views President Donald Trump ’ s success in the 2016 election as a result of a highly effective digital advertising campaign , and not of any untoward influence .
Citing the Cambridge Analytica scandal , Bosworth described the notion that Facebook data was misappropriated to sway voters as “ one of the more acute cases I can think of where the details are almost all wrong ” but “ the scrutiny is broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its role in the 2016 election as it heads into a contentious 2020 presidential race , according to a newly leaked executive memo and a shifting set of policies around manipulated content issued Tuesday .
`` He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I ’ ve ever seen from any advertiser . ''
“ So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected ?
” Bosworth wrote on Dec. 30 in a post that was viewable only by Facebook employees .
“ I think the answer is yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks .
He didn ’ t get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica .
He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I ’ ve ever seen from any advertiser.
” On Monday , President Trump made an appearance on Rush Limbaugh ’ s radio show claiming that during a dinner in October , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told him that he was “ number 1 ” on the platform .
While a Facebook spokesperson declined to comment on what was discussed at the dinner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views the 2016 Trump campaign as a very well executed , if not ideal , Facebook marketing campaign .
Bosworth , one of the most outspoken and trusted of Zuckerberg ’ s lieutenants , is no stranger to controversy .
In March 2018 , BuzzFeed News obtained a post of his from 2016 in which he suggested Facebook ’ s mission was to connect the world , regardless of the positive or negative implications that came from that work .
“ We connect people .
Period .
That ’ s why all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All the questionable contact importing practices .
All the subtle language that helps people stay searchable by friends .
All of the work we do to bring more communication in .
The work we will likely have to do in China some day .
All of it , ” Bosworth wrote in June 2016 .
“ Maybe someone dies in a terrorist attack coordinated on our tools.
” Bosworth subsequently claimed he didn ’ t agree with what he wrote and had posted it to provoke debate within the company .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` wasn ’ t written for public consumption , ” one Facebook insider told BuzzFeed News a leak was likely expected given current turmoil within the company .
Bosworth ’ s comments on the Cambridge Analytica scandal , in which a political consulting firm that was eventually hired by the Trump campaign gained unauthorized access to the data of more than 50 million Facebook users , also echoed what many company insiders have thought for months about the firm ’ s impact .
While some reporters and former political operatives have claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in elections around the world , much of that has been unproven .
Bosworth called the scandal , which led to government inquiries and investigations around the globe , “ a total non-event.
” As for 2020 , the Facebook vice president , who did not respond to a request for comment , wrote that despite his liberal leanings , he has resisted the urge to “ pull any lever ” to favor of the political outcome he wants , citing the work of political philosopher John Rawls and the fantasy novels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment , ” he wrote .
“ Specifically when Frodo offers the ring to Galadrial and she imagines using the power righteously , at first , but knows it will eventually corrupt her .
As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome , I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.
” As Facebook ’ s communications team grappled with the fallout of its executive ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage control on the clumsy rollout of a new policy regarding manipulated media , or more specifically altered video known as deepfakes .
On Monday night , the company announced a new policy in which it said it would ban all content that had been edited by artificial intelligence to superimpose one video on top of another and would likely mislead an average person into thinking that a subject said something they actually had n't .
The policy would not cover videos that were deceptively slowed down or “ edited solely to omit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In May , a video of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that had been artificially slowed down to make her appear to slur her words was viewed millions of times on Facebook .
Having faced previous criticism for creating a policy that allowed politicians and political candidates to lie in ads , Facebook , through a spokesperson , initially told BuzzFeed News and other outlets that it would allow deepfakes in political advertisements .
About an hour later , that spokesperson said they misspoke , saying that deepfakes would not be permitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still the possibility , however , that a political figure would be allowed to post deepfake or manipulated content if Facebook were to deem that content to be newsworthy .
Facebook ’ s executives have long said they do not want to be arbiters of newsworthiness , and a spokesperson declined to say who would be making judgment calls on a political figure ’ s postings of manipulated content .
Instead , he pointed BuzzFeed News to a 2016 policy that did not directly address posts from politicians .

“So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected?” Bosworth wrote on Dec. 30 in a post that was viewable only by Facebook employees. “I think the answer is yes, but not for the reasons anyone thinks. He didn’t get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica. He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I’ve ever seen from any advertiser.”
On Monday, President Trump made an appearance on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show claiming that during a dinner in October, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told him that he was “number 1” on the platform. While a Facebook spokesperson declined to comment on what was discussed at the dinner, Bosworth’s memo suggests Facebook leadership views the 2016 Trump campaign as a very well executed, if not ideal, Facebook marketing campaign.
Bosworth, one of the most outspoken and trusted of Zuckerberg’s lieutenants, is no stranger to controversy. In March 2018, BuzzFeed News obtained a post of his from 2016 in which he suggested Facebook’s mission was to connect the world, regardless of the positive or negative implications that came from that work.
“We connect people. Period. That’s why all the work we do in growth is justified. All the questionable contact importing practices. All the subtle language that helps people stay searchable by friends. All of the work we do to bring more communication in. The work we will likely have to do in China some day. All of it,” Bosworth wrote in June 2016. “Maybe someone dies in a terrorist attack coordinated on our tools.”
Bosworth subsequently claimed he didn’t agree with what he wrote and had posted it to provoke debate within the company.
While Bosworth has said that his December post "wasn’t written for public consumption,” one Facebook insider told BuzzFeed News a leak was likely expected given current turmoil within the company.
Bosworth’s comments on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a political consulting firm that was eventually hired by the Trump campaign gained unauthorized access to the data of more than 50 million Facebook users, also echoed what many company insiders have thought for months about the firm’s impact. While some reporters and former political operatives have claimed that Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data to manipulate voters in elections around the world, much of that has been unproven. Bosworth called the scandal, which led to government inquiries and investigations around the globe, “a total non-event.”
As for 2020, the Facebook vice president, who did not respond to a request for comment, wrote that despite his liberal leanings, he has resisted the urge to “pull any lever” to favor of the political outcome he wants, citing the work of political philosopher John Rawls and the fantasy novels of J.R.R. Tolkien.
“I find myself thinking of the Lord of the Rings at this moment,” he wrote. “Specifically when Frodo offers the ring to Galadrial and she imagines using the power righteously, at first, but knows it will eventually corrupt her. As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome, I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear.”
As Facebook’s communications team grappled with the fallout of its executive’s memo, it was simultaneously doing damage control on the clumsy rollout of a new policy regarding manipulated media, or more specifically altered video known as deepfakes. On Monday night, the company announced a new policy in which it said it would ban all content that had been edited by artificial intelligence to superimpose one video on top of another and would likely mislead an average person into thinking that a subject said something they actually hadn't.
The policy would not cover videos that were deceptively slowed down or “edited solely to omit or change the order of words.” In May, a video of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that had been artificially slowed down to make her appear to slur her words was viewed millions of times on Facebook.
Having faced previous criticism for creating a policy that allowed politicians and political candidates to lie in ads, Facebook, through a spokesperson, initially told BuzzFeed News and other outlets that it would allow deepfakes in political advertisements. About an hour later, that spokesperson said they misspoke, saying that deepfakes would not be permitted in any type of ad.
There was still the possibility, however, that a political figure would be allowed to post deepfake or manipulated content if Facebook were to deem that content to be newsworthy. Facebook’s executives have long said they do not want to be arbiters of newsworthiness, and a spokesperson declined to say who would be making judgment calls on a political figure’s postings of manipulated content.
Instead, he pointed BuzzFeed News to a 2016 policy that did not directly address posts from politicians.


buzzfeed--2020-01-07--Republicans Will Set The Rules Of Trump’s Impeachment Trial Without Democratic Support

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday he has the 51 Republican votes needed to design the impeachment trial , striking down any chance of a bipartisan agreement on how the trial will be structured .
Democrats have been pushing for weeks to guarantee that witnesses will testify as part of the Senate trial , and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far refused to send over the articles of impeachment until she gets such assurances .
But McConnell said Senate Republicans will defy that demand .
“ We have the votes , ” he said after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plan essentially punts on the question of witnesses .
The trial would start with House managers making the case for impeachment and White House lawyers arguing the defense case .
Then senators , who serve as the jury , will be able to ask questions in writing .
At that point , the Senate could agree to call witnesses , but it would require 51 votes .
All 47 Democratic senators are likely to support that , but they ’ ll need help from four of the 51 Republican senators .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion of witnesses , ” said McConnell .
“ There will be , I ’ m sure , intense discussion.
” McConnell has openly coordinated with Trump ’ s legal counsel regarding crafting the impeachment trial , even boasting on Fox News that he is working closely with Trump ’ s team .
His announcement comes in the same week that former national security adviser John Bolton said he would agree to testify before the Senate if subpoenaed .
Bolton would be a star witness , as he could testify directly to whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange for the country announcing an investigation into the Biden family .
But several Republican senators have said they have no interest in hearing from Bolton and that the trial should be strictly limited to information gathered in the House inquiry .
“ It ’ s not the Senate ’ s job to do the House ’ s job , ” said Sen. Ron Johnson .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to the Republican-designed process as a “ cover-up.
” “ Who ever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
All eyes now turn to Pelosi , who is still holding on to the articles of impeachment .
There is no time limit for the speaker to send over the articles after they are approved by a House vote .
McConnell has said it is preordained that Trump will be acquitted in the Senate .
The threshold to remove a president from office is 67 votes , which would require at least 20 Republican votes .
So far no Republican has signaled they are leaning toward convicting the president .

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday he has the 51 Republican votes needed to design the impeachment trial, striking down any chance of a bipartisan agreement on how the trial will be structured.
Democrats have been pushing for weeks to guarantee that witnesses will testify as part of the Senate trial, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far refused to send over the articles of impeachment until she gets such assurances. But McConnell said Senate Republicans will defy that demand.
“We have the votes,” he said after a closed-door GOP conference meeting.
McConnell’s plan essentially punts on the question of witnesses. The trial would start with House managers making the case for impeachment and White House lawyers arguing the defense case. Then senators, who serve as the jury, will be able to ask questions in writing.
At that point, the Senate could agree to call witnesses, but it would require 51 votes. All 47 Democratic senators are likely to support that, but they’ll need help from four of the 51 Republican senators.
“We’ll get around to the discussion of witnesses,” said McConnell. “There will be, I’m sure, intense discussion.”
McConnell has openly coordinated with Trump’s legal counsel regarding crafting the impeachment trial, even boasting on Fox News that he is working closely with Trump’s team.
His announcement comes in the same week that former national security adviser John Bolton said he would agree to testify before the Senate if subpoenaed. Bolton would be a star witness, as he could testify directly to whether Trump withheld military aid from Ukraine in exchange for the country announcing an investigation into the Biden family.
But several Republican senators have said they have no interest in hearing from Bolton and that the trial should be strictly limited to information gathered in the House inquiry. “It’s not the Senate’s job to do the House’s job,” said Sen. Ron Johnson.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to the Republican-designed process as a “cover-up.”
“Who ever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents? It’s unprecedented,” he said.
All eyes now turn to Pelosi, who is still holding on to the articles of impeachment. There is no time limit for the speaker to send over the articles after they are approved by a House vote.
McConnell has said it is preordained that Trump will be acquitted in the Senate. The threshold to remove a president from office is 67 votes, which would require at least 20 Republican votes. So far no Republican has signaled they are leaning toward convicting the president.


buzzfeed--2020-01-07--The Potential For War With Iran Is Driving The Fight Between Joe Biden And Bernie Sanders

Joe Biden is repeatedly leaning into his own experience as vice president to criticize President Donald Trump ’ s decision to kill Iran ’ s Qassem Soleimani .
In the process , he ’ s engaging in a new conflict with Sen. Bernie Sanders , who is highlighting his own anti-war stance in contrast to Biden ’ s record .
The Democratic presidential field , to varying degrees , has attacked Trump ’ s decision to approve a drone strike last week against the Iranian official in Iraq , which candidates say could destabilize the Middle East and push the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message is becoming central to Biden ’ s leading campaign — and to Sanders ’ criticisms of the former vice president — as he works to keep and add support with less than a month until the Iowa caucuses .
In a statement in New York on Tuesday , Biden told reporters that Trump had made the United States an “ international outlier ” and that the president had planted “ the seeds of these dangers ” when he backed out of the Iran nuclear deal and “ decided it was more important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Obama-Biden administration.
” “ There ’ s a smart way to counter Iran and a self-defeating way .
Trump ’ s approach , in my opinion , is demonstrably the latter , ” Biden said during the press statement .
“ Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and thousands of innocent lives throughout the region .
He was the mastermind but he was not the whole regime or its capacity to strike back .
So the question is was the reward of removing a bad actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” In a fundraising email to supporters soon after the press event , Biden 's campaign said the US `` could be on the brink of war , and Trump ’ s impulsive decision may well do more to strengthen Iran ’ s position in the region than any of Soleimani ’ s plots could have ever accomplished . ''
Biden has also been speaking at length about Iran during recent fundraising events , seeing the primary ’ s pivot to foreign policy as a place of strength .
“ No president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consent of the American people .
Whether or not this ends up in war remains to be seen , ” Biden told the audience at a private fundraiser in Manhattan on Monday night .
“ It ’ s becoming frighteningly close to getting this engaged in a war in the region.
” Over the past month , Biden has highlighted his experience and has contrasted himself against Trump ’ s approach to international relations .
Biden released an ad in early December which centered around a viral video of world leaders including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Boris Johnson , and French President Emanuel Macron seemingly making fun of Trump during a NATO summit .
During the Monday night fundraiser in Manhattan , Biden pushed further on that contrast in relation to the situation developing in Iran .
“ In the process of this whole episode going on right now , we have alienated our allies , ” Biden told the audience .
“ It ’ s the first time I ’ m aware of that all of our NATO allies are making the moral equivalence between us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying ‘ we ’ re with the United States of America.
’ ” Sanders , who is neck-and-neck with Biden in recent early state polls , has spent the days after the strike highlighting his anti-war stance while criticizing both Biden and Trump .
“ Joe Biden voted and helped lead the effort for the war in Iraq .
The most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history in this country , ” Sanders said on Anderson Cooper 360 on Monday night .
During a speech at a campaign event in Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 2002 opposition to the Iraq War when he was in the House of Representatives , and he said that the country was heading in a similar direction now .
“ When I voted against the war in Iraq in 2002 , I feared that it would result in greater destabilization in that country and in the entire region .
At that time I warned about the deadly so-called unintended consequences of a unilateral invasion , ” Sanders said .
Biden voted in favor of the 2002 resolution in the Senate .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraiser that “ things [ are ] about to get pretty rocky , ” said at the press event that Americans don ’ t want a president that “ demands obedience ” and reminded reporters of his years of service as vice president and in the Senate .
“ I understand better than anyone that the system will not hold unless we find ways to work together to advance our national interests — not the political interests of one person or one party , ” Biden added .
Sanders , in his speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning about the future .
And , like Biden , he used his past to argue why his words should carry weight .
“ It gives me no pleasure to tell you that at this moment we face a similar crossroads , fraught with danger .
Once again we must worry about unintended consequences , and the impact of unilateral decision-making , ” Sanders said .
“ Let me repeat a warning I gave in 2002 , during the debate over the war in Iraq , quote , this is what I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last recourse in our international relations .
”

Joe Biden is repeatedly leaning into his own experience as vice president to criticize President Donald Trump’s decision to kill Iran’s Qassem Soleimani. In the process, he’s engaging in a new conflict with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is highlighting his own anti-war stance in contrast to Biden’s record.
The Democratic presidential field, to varying degrees, has attacked Trump’s decision to approve a drone strike last week against the Iranian official in Iraq, which candidates say could destabilize the Middle East and push the United States into war. But that message is becoming central to Biden’s leading campaign — and to Sanders’ criticisms of the former vice president — as he works to keep and add support with less than a month until the Iowa caucuses.
In a statement in New York on Tuesday, Biden told reporters that Trump had made the United States an “international outlier” and that the president had planted “the seeds of these dangers” when he backed out of the Iran nuclear deal and “decided it was more important to him to destroy any progress made by the Obama-Biden administration.”
“There’s a smart way to counter Iran and a self-defeating way. Trump’s approach, in my opinion, is demonstrably the latter,” Biden said during the press statement. “Soleimani is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and thousands of innocent lives throughout the region. He was the mastermind but he was not the whole regime or its capacity to strike back. So the question is was the reward of removing a bad actor worth the risk of what comes next?”
In a fundraising email to supporters soon after the press event, Biden's campaign said the US "could be on the brink of war, and Trump’s impulsive decision may well do more to strengthen Iran’s position in the region than any of Soleimani’s plots could have ever accomplished."
Biden has also been speaking at length about Iran during recent fundraising events, seeing the primary’s pivot to foreign policy as a place of strength.
“No president can take the nation to war without the consent of the American people. Whether or not this ends up in war remains to be seen,” Biden told the audience at a private fundraiser in Manhattan on Monday night. “It’s becoming frighteningly close to getting this engaged in a war in the region.”
Over the past month, Biden has highlighted his experience and has contrasted himself against Trump’s approach to international relations. Biden released an ad in early December which centered around a viral video of world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and French President Emanuel Macron seemingly making fun of Trump during a NATO summit.
During the Monday night fundraiser in Manhattan, Biden pushed further on that contrast in relation to the situation developing in Iran. “In the process of this whole episode going on right now, we have alienated our allies,” Biden told the audience. “It’s the first time I’m aware of that all of our NATO allies are making the moral equivalence between us and Iran. No one’s saying ‘we’re with the United States of America.’”
Sanders, who is neck-and-neck with Biden in recent early state polls, has spent the days after the strike highlighting his anti-war stance while criticizing both Biden and Trump.
“Joe Biden voted and helped lead the effort for the war in Iraq. The most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history in this country,” Sanders said on Anderson Cooper 360 on Monday night.
During a speech at a campaign event in Iowa following the attack, Sanders spoke about his 2002 opposition to the Iraq War when he was in the House of Representatives, and he said that the country was heading in a similar direction now.
“When I voted against the war in Iraq in 2002, I feared that it would result in greater destabilization in that country and in the entire region. At that time I warned about the deadly so-called unintended consequences of a unilateral invasion,” Sanders said.
Biden voted in favor of the 2002 resolution in the Senate.
Biden, after predicting at a Tuesday morning fundraiser that “things [are] about to get pretty rocky,” said at the press event that Americans don’t want a president that “demands obedience” and reminded reporters of his years of service as vice president and in the Senate.
“I understand better than anyone that the system will not hold unless we find ways to work together to advance our national interests — not the political interests of one person or one party,” Biden added.
Sanders, in his speech after the attack, had a similar warning about the future. And, like Biden, he used his past to argue why his words should carry weight.
“It gives me no pleasure to tell you that at this moment we face a similar crossroads, fraught with danger. Once again we must worry about unintended consequences, and the impact of unilateral decision-making,” Sanders said. “Let me repeat a warning I gave in 2002, during the debate over the war in Iraq, quote, this is what I said back then: War must be the last recourse in our international relations.”


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--A Weird Night In Brooklyn With Elizabeth Warren

“ We have to start on a very sober note , ” Elizabeth Warren began Tuesday night , unusually late and standing between two risers , filled mostly with young women holding glitter-trimmed cutouts that read “ PEOPLE ” ( left ) and “ FIRST ” ( right ) .
An errant “ WE LOVE YOU !
” rang out , capturing the vaguely lit ethos of the Brooklyn crowd that came out to see Warren .
The news we couldn ’ t even see while we awaited the candidate for 40 minutes inside the giant Kings Theatre — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cinema with a spectacular roof where now , deep in the heart of Brooklyn , you might see Sufjan play — was that the Iranian government launched missiles at a U.S. military facility in Iraq , the promised retaliation for the death of Qassem Soleimani .
“ This will be !
” blasted the Warren campaign music throughout the ornate Kings Theatre , “ an everlasting love !
” This set up a weird vibe , which could not exactly be helped .
Warren , joined by Julián Castro ( here to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate ) had addressed the thousand people standing outside .
So each appeared before the long waiting and vaguely lit crowd thrilled , and performed a small dance , then immediately addressed missiles in Iraq and earthquakes in Puerto Rico .
“ This is a reminder of why we need to de-escalate tension in the Middle East , ” Warren said , offering her heart and prayers to our service members in Iraq , and noting her own brothers served in the military .
“ The American people do not want a war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not like there was much obvious to add circa 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night , when early reports were already being complicated and nobody knew much of anything about what actually happened and what will next .
Within a few minutes , Warren was already talking about bankruptcy and structural inequality to a crowd primed to hear it .
As she said , “ We ’ re going to have some fun tonight !
”

“We have to start on a very sober note,” Elizabeth Warren began Tuesday night, unusually late and standing between two risers, filled mostly with young women holding glitter-trimmed cutouts that read “PEOPLE” (left) and “FIRST” (right).
An errant “WE LOVE YOU!” rang out, capturing the vaguely lit ethos of the Brooklyn crowd that came out to see Warren.
The news we couldn’t even see while we awaited the candidate for 40 minutes inside the giant Kings Theatre — a burgundy-and-gold tribute to a bygone era of cinema with a spectacular roof where now, deep in the heart of Brooklyn, you might see Sufjan Stevens play — was that the Iranian government launched missiles at a US military facility in Iraq, the promised retaliation for the death of Qassem Soleimani.
“This will be!” blasted the Warren campaign music throughout the ornate Kings Theatre, “an everlasting love!”
This set up a weird vibe, which could not exactly be helped.
Warren, joined by Julián Castro (here to make the case that she is the unity candidate), had addressed the thousand people standing outside. So each appeared before the long-waiting and vaguely lit crowd thrilled and performed a small dance, then immediately addressed missiles in Iraq and earthquakes in Puerto Rico.
“This is a reminder of why we need to de-escalate tension in the Middle East,” Warren said, offering her heart and prayers to our service members in Iraq, and noting her own brothers served in the military.
“The American people do not want a war with Iran,” she added emphatically.
It’s not like there was much obvious to add circa 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, when early reports were already being complicated and nobody knew much of anything about what actually happened and what will next.
Within a few minutes, Warren was already talking about bankruptcy and structural inequality to a crowd primed to hear it. As she said, “We’re going to have some fun tonight!”


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--Trump Is Running Hundreds Of Facebook Ads Praising Himself For The Killing Of Iranian Gen. Qassem So


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--Disinformation For Hire: How A New Breed Of PR Firms Is Selling Lies Online

One firm promised to “ use every tool and take every advantage available in order to change reality according to our client 's wishes.
” This story was reported in partnership with the Reporter , an investigative news site in Taiwan .
Peng Kuan Chin pulled out his phone , eager to show the future of online manipulation .
Unseen servers began crawling the web for Chinese articles and posts .
The system quickly reorganized the words and sentences into new text .
His screen displayed a rapidly increasing tally of the articles generated by his product , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ System . ''
With the articles in hand , a set of websites that Peng controlled published them , and his thousands of fake social media accounts spread them across the internet , instantly sending manipulated content into news feeds , messaging app inboxes , and search results .
`` I developed this for manipulating public opinion , ” Peng told the Reporter , an investigative news site in Taipei , which partnered with BuzzFeed News for this article .
He added that automation and artificial intelligence “ can quickly generate traffic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32-year-old wore Adidas Yeezy sneakers and a gold Rolex as he sat in a two-story office in the industrial part of Taichung that was filled with feng shui items such as a money frog and lucky bamboo .
A riot gun , which uses compressed air to fire nonlethal projectiles , rested on his desk .
Peng said he bought it for “ recreational purposes.
” In the interview , he detailed his path from sending spam emails as a 14-year-old to , being recruited to help with the 2018 reelection campaign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Malaysia .
Peng ’ s clients are companies , brands , political parties , and candidates in Asia .
“ Customers have money , and I do n't care what they buy , '' he said .
They ’ re purchasing an end-to-end online manipulation system , which can influence people on a massive scale — resulting in votes cast , products sold , and perceptions changed .
Peng ’ s product is modeled on automation software he saw in China , which he believes no one else outside the mainland has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique , his company , Bravo-Idea , is not .
There is now a worldwide industry of PR and marketing firms ready to deploy fake accounts , false narratives , and pseudo news websites for the right price .
If disinformation in 2016 was characterized by Macedonian spammers pushing pro-Trump fake news and Russian trolls running rampant on platforms , 2020 is shaping up to be the year communications pros for hire provide sophisticated online propaganda operations to anyone willing to pay .
Around the globe , politicians , parties , governments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the industry as “ black PR ” firms to spread lies and manipulate online discourse .
A BuzzFeed News review — which looked at account takedowns by platforms that deactivated and investigations by security and research firms — found that since 2011 , at least 27 online information operations have been partially or wholly attributed to PR or marketing firms .
Of those , 19 occurred in 2019 alone .
Most recently , in late December , Twitter announced it removed more than 5,000 accounts that it said were part of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia carried out by marketing firm Smaat .
The same day , Facebook announced a takedown of hundreds of accounts , pages , and groups that it found were engaged in “ foreign and government interference ” on behalf of the government of Georgia .
It attributed the operation to Panda , an advertising agency in Georgia , and to the country ’ s ruling party .
Nathaniel Gleicher , Facebook ’ s head of cybersecurity policy , told BuzzFeed News “ the professionalization of deception ” is a growing threat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence operations has been around for some time , but over the past several years , we have seen [ ... ] companies grow up that basically build their business model around deception , ” he said .
Although Peng may be one of the most sophisticated black PR practitioners , he is far from the only one .
The Saudi and Georgian revelations followed a drumbeat of similar takedowns of and investigations into marketing and PR firms in countries such as Israel , Egypt , the United Arab Emirates , Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cindy Otis , a former CIA officer and the author of True or False : A CIA Analyst 's Guide to Spotting Fake News , told BuzzFeed News that information operations by nation-states like Russia and Iran have provided “ a playbook for individuals and groups that are financially motivated to delve into this space.
” The emergence of black PR firms means investigators at platforms , security firms , and within the intelligence community are “ spending increasing amounts of time looking at the disinformation-for-hire services that are out there , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Israeli black PR firm , created networks of hundreds of Facebook pages , accounts , and groups around the world , boasting on its website that it would “ use every tool and take every advantage available in order to change reality according to our client ’ s wishes.
” For an election in Mali , it managed a fake fact-checking page that claimed to be run by local students .
In Tunisia , it ran a page titled “ Stop à la Désinformation et aux Mensonges ” ( “ Stop Disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ran pages advocating for and against the same politician , former vice president Atiku Abubakar .
Researchers postulated that the pro-Abubakar page “ was likely designed to identify his supporters in order to target them with anti-Abubakar content later.
” In Ukraine , the PR firm Pragmatico employed dozens of young , digitally savvy people to pump out positive comments on fake Facebook accounts about clients .
In Poland , Cat @ Net managed networks of fake Twitter accounts operated by staffers with disabilities working from home , whom the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates while they received government subsidies .
Reporting by Investigate Europe also found Cat @ Net performed work for one of Poland ’ s most prominent PR agencies , Art-Media .
( The company denied working with Cat @ Net . )
In Puerto Rico , journalists revealed that former governor Ricardo Rosselló was an administrator of a Telegram group chat where a consultant from marketing firm KOI appeared to plan and direct social media campaigns to push pro-government messages and attack rivals .
In August , Rosselló resigned , in part over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s career is a road map of how online manipulation services evolved from solo operations to agencies that openly advertise their services and employ large staffs .
At 14 years old , he wrote an email spam program to stuff mailboxes of people in Taiwan .
“ Using 30 computers I had in a room , I became a very big player in sending spam , ” Peng said .
“ I think 1 of every 2 people in Taiwan has received junk mails that I was responsible for.
” In high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular internet message boards with offers , labeling the product as an `` Automatic Bulletin Posting Kit.
” One ad asked visitors to porn sites , `` Do you know that excessive masturbation can cause impotence and premature ejaculation ? ''
Peng said the fearmongering ad helped drive sales for male enhancement pills he was promoting .
Peng created thousands of fake accounts on popular Chinese message boards to promote his and his clients ’ products .
He soon began making and selling websites and counseling via Skype on how to make money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I even lost my voice !
I was a high school student then , and my mother was wondering what I was doing speaking on the phone all day , ” he said .
In 2011 , singers from schools across Taiwan competed in a popular TV competition .
Peng ’ s alma mater won ; its performer received more than 41 million online votes , almost twice the Taiwanese population .
A school official confirmed to the Reporter that the school had requested help from Peng in the competition but declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peng has been developing his “ Content Farm Automatic Collection System.
” His clients use his system to overwhelm their chosen corners of the internet with torrents of AI-generated text that influence search results .
Peng perfected the system by buying the services of every social media and SEO manipulation offering he could find on Taobao , a huge Chinese e-commerce site owned by Alibaba .
“ I was scammed a few times in the beginning because I didn ’ t really understand the software , ” he said .
“ Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructed his six developers to build a system inspired by the best of what he saw .
“ This marketing logic is in response to China ’ s huge population of 1.4 billion people , [ where content ] only gets eyeballs when there is volume , ” he said .
“ In comparison , there are only 23 million people in Taiwan .
Applying this logic , I will create the largest volume in the shortest amount of time , and the information I spread will reach everyone ’ s eyes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PR firms elsewhere rely on manual labor , using brute force with what he does with code .
For investigative reporter Vasil Bidun , that meant an eight-hour shift in the trendy Podil neighborhood of Kyiv .
He would log on to different fake Facebook accounts to comment in favor of candidates , criticize their opponents , or steer conversations in specific directions .
Ukraine ’ s presidential election was underway , and he said his employer , Pragmatico , seemed to have secured contracts with several people running for office .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have denied involvement . )
“ The aim is to get an emotional reaction from a person , ” Bidun said in an interview .
“ If they read a comment , even [ if they understand ] that it was written by a bot , it could have affected them emotionally and it becomes more difficult for them to control themselves.
” But Bidun wasn ’ t just punching the clock at the agency .
After three months working undercover at the agency , he published an in-depth investigation .
He and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single apartment , rotating in three shifts .
It was mostly students trying to earn extra money , just over $ 300 per month , he said .
No one talked about the ethics of the work — they just did what they were told , promoting the candidacies of both conservative and progressive politicians , including popular musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk .
“ It was the summer break and it was a method to earn a bit of money , ” he said .
“ Most don ’ t think much about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they just write.
” Two days before Bidun ’ s investigation was published in September 2019 , Facebook announced the removal of the firm 's assets on the platform , which amounted to 168 accounts , 149 pages , and 79 groups .
The social media giant also revealed that Pragmatico had spent $ 1.6 million on ads , a significant sum for the Ukrainian market .
But black PR continues to flourish on social media in other parts of Eastern Europe .
This year , while reporting for Investigate Europe , Katarzyna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cat @ Net , a Polish company that describes itself as an “ ePR agency comprising specialists who build a positive image of companies , private individuals and public institutions — mostly in social media.
” “ Cat @ Net said it was a PR company , but in reality it was [ a ] troll farm .
They did fake accounts , ” she told BuzzFeed News .
( The company denied it was a troll farm in a statement posted to its website . )
Pruszkiewicz said she and her colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver work for the firms ’ clients .
This meant promoting Polish state media , pumping up the left-wing politicians who hired them , or attacking the government ’ s decision to place an order for American F-35 fighter jets .
Cat @ Net ’ s staffers worked remotely , congregating in Slack to receive their assignments .
Sometimes a professional copywriter would provide them content , but many times it was up to employees to come up with messages for the fake accounts .
Team members would celebrate each other ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important like a politician answered a comment from the fake accounts , ” Pruszkiewicz said .
Cat @ Net focused on hiring people with disabilities because they could be paid less and qualified for government subsidies , according to Pruszkiewicz .
“ They are in a wheelchair and have bills to pay .
They are often without professional skills , and Cat @ Net gave them work and got from the state a lot of money for [ employing ] these people , ” she said .
After her reporting was published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polish government opened an investigation into the company for the disability benefits it received .
However , Twitter accounts run by Cat @ Net are still online , Pruszkiewicz said .
“ The fake accounts still exist today and are writing on Twitter like nothing happened , and every day I can see what they are writing on Twitter and Facebook .
It ’ s really frustrating , because I spent six months [ investigating ] and the company still exists , ” she said .
Nowhere is the rise of black PR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in the Philippines .
Many legitimate-seeming agencies here offer black PR services that include fake social media accounts , websites , and coordinated harassment campaigns .
This year , Facebook announced takedowns of properties attributed to Twinmark Media Enterprises , a digital marketing company in the Philippines , and Nic Gabunada , the social media director for Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte ’ s 2016 campaign .
In both cases , Facebook said the operations were engaged in “ coordinated inauthentic activity.
” Gabunada previously insisted in an interview with BuzzFeed News that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign had been “ organic ” and “ volunteer-driven.
” As previously reported by BuzzFeed News , some politicians who had decried Duterte ’ s use of fake Facebook accounts and trolling in 2016 had used social media manipulation services in their own campaigns .
Black PR services have become so lucrative in the Philippines that many PR firms feel pressured to offer them .
One agency director told BuzzFeed News it ’ s “ tempting ” to offer black PR services because of the potential profit .
It ’ s difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she added .
“ We 've had several campaigns where we were up against other firms that were willing to employ any kind of tactic to combat whatever we were putting out there if we were promoting a candidate and they were promoting an opposing candidate , for instance , ” said the agency director , who asked not to be named in order to speak freely about the industry .
Jonathan Corpus Ong , an associate professor of global digital media at the University of Massachusetts Amherst , has been studying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philippines for years .
“ The Philippines offers a cautionary tale for other countries for what happens when disinformation production within the PR industry has become so financially lucrative that they have moved from shady black market transactions to the professional respectability of the corporate boardroom , ” he told BuzzFeed News .
Ong said PR firms use industry jargon while communicating with clients to help “ neutralize the stigma of the real disinformation work that they do.
” “ For instance , they would use the terms ‘ supplemental pages ’ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is otherwise known as ‘ fake news sites ’ or ‘ paid trolls ’ when they pitch their services to prospective clients .
This lends an aura of respectability to the transaction and — crucially — gives politicians a level of plausible deniability , ” he said .
The rise of black PR firms is on the radar of the global PR industry , which has long battled problems of its own making .
In 2017 , the industry took a stand against social media manipulation when the Public Relations and Communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London-based PR firm , after investigating its work in South Africa , where the firm stoked racial tensions in service of a billionaire client .
Bell Pottinger previously received a $ 500 million contract from the Pentagon to execute a top secret propaganda program in Iraq , according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism .
Global agencies often look to industry rules .
Jill Tannenbaum , the chief communications and marketing officer for PR giant Weber Shandwick , told BuzzFeed News that the company must “ engage audiences with campaigns that are rooted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ compete [ s ] in markets where dishonest tactics take place.
” “ We have a process in place to assess any client engagements that might not adhere to our values or include tactics that are not truthful or transparent , so we can counsel our teams and our clients accordingly , ” she said in a statement .
“ Our local leaders – in the Philippines and around the world – are empowered to turn away work that is of concern or that does not adhere to our values.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the International Communications Consultancy Organisation , an umbrella organization representing PR trade groups around the world , established 10 principles known as the Helsinki Declaration .
They require communication professionals to “ be aware of the power of social media , and use it responsibly ” and to “ never engage in the creation of or knowingly circulate fake news.
” Francis Ingham , director general of the PRCA and chief executive of the ICCO , told BuzzFeed News that black PR firms give ethical practitioners a bad name .
“ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tainted with the stain of these people who operate outside of [ the industry 's ] ethical parameters , ” he said .
In spite of the increasing number of information operations being attributed to PR or marketing firms , Ingham said , these firms are the exception .
“ I recognize there will always be a tiny percentage of people who call themselves PR or marketing practitioners who operate in the gray or black area , ” he said .
While the legitimate PR industry works to differentiate itself from these practitioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prune black PR from their ecosystems .
“ If the company is working on multiple platforms and has a wide range of business interests , we might not be able to completely destroy them , ” said Facebook ’ s Gleicher .
He said Facebook ’ s approach is to remove assets involved in a specific operation and ban the entire organization .
In some cases , Facebook also bans key employees from the platform .
“ The reason we do that is making it very clear that it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our platform , ” Gleicher said .
“ You build a business around this , we will remove you.
” Peng , however , is undeterred .
He said it ’ s easy to evade Facebook ’ s controls , and that demand for his services remains strong .
“ I think cracking Facebook is quite easy .
My software is developed to constantly fight against Facebook , ” he said .
“ This is done because there are markets , customers , and needs , and people have money to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there is a demand.
” ●

This story was reported in partnership with the Reporter, an investigative news site in Taiwan.
Peng Kuan Chin pulled out his phone, eager to show the future of online manipulation.
Unseen servers began crawling the web for Chinese articles and posts. The system quickly reorganized the words and sentences into new text. His screen displayed a rapidly increasing tally of the articles generated by his product, which he dubs the “Content Farm Automatic Collection System."
With the articles in hand, a set of websites that Peng controlled published them, and his thousands of fake social media accounts spread them across the internet, instantly sending manipulated content into news feeds, messaging app inboxes, and search results.
"I developed this for manipulating public opinion,” Peng told the Reporter, an investigative news site in Taipei, which partnered with BuzzFeed News for this article. He added that automation and artificial intelligence “can quickly generate traffic and publicity much faster than people.”
The 32-year-old wore Adidas Yeezy sneakers and a gold Rolex as he sat in a two-story office in the industrial part of Taichung that was filled with feng shui items such as a money frog and lucky bamboo. A riot gun, which uses compressed air to fire nonlethal projectiles, rested on his desk. Peng said he bought it for “recreational purposes.”
In the interview, he detailed his path from sending spam emails as a 14-year-old to, being recruited to help with the 2018 reelection campaign of Najib Razak, the former prime minister of Malaysia.
Peng’s clients are companies, brands, political parties, and candidates in Asia. “Customers have money, and I don't care what they buy," he said. They’re purchasing an end-to-end online manipulation system, which can influence people on a massive scale — resulting in votes cast, products sold, and perceptions changed.
Peng’s product is modeled on automation software he saw in China, which he believes no one else outside the mainland has. But while his technology may be unique, his company, Bravo-Idea, is not. There is now a worldwide industry of PR and marketing firms ready to deploy fake accounts, false narratives, and pseudo news websites for the right price.
If disinformation in 2016 was characterized by Macedonian spammers pushing pro-Trump fake news and Russian trolls running rampant on platforms, 2020 is shaping up to be the year communications pros for hire provide sophisticated online propaganda operations to anyone willing to pay. Around the globe, politicians, parties, governments, and other clients hire what is known in the industry as “black PR” firms to spread lies and manipulate online discourse.
A BuzzFeed News review — which looked at account takedowns by platforms that deactivated and investigations by security and research firms — found that since 2011, at least 27 online information operations have been partially or wholly attributed to PR or marketing firms. Of those, 19 occurred in 2019 alone.


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--The White House's Iran Briefing Won Over Most Republicans, But Rand Paul And Mike Lee Are Calling It

The White House's Iran Briefing Won Over Most Republicans, But Rand Paul And Mike Lee Are Calling It A Disgrace

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans came out of a classified briefing on the Iran situation describing two totally different worlds Wednesday .
Democrats said the senior Trump administration officials who briefed Congress would not explain the supposed imminent threat posed by Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani that justified the need to kill him , and they called for Congress to seize back its constitutional authority to sign off on new military escalations .
“ It is abundantly clear they have no strategy for what comes next , ” said Rep. Seth Moulton , who said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspecific ” in their briefing .
Rep. Gerry Connelly said he came away utterly unconvinced there was any new or imminent threat to America .
“ There was no rationale beyond a graduate school thesis text , ” he said .
But Republicans left the briefing saying they were confident the killing of Soleimani was justified because he was planning new attacks on American personnel beyond his usual work crisscrossing the region .
“ We have to speak very carefully on this , but I can tell you with assurance this was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been seeing for the past few years .
This was something different , ” said Rep. Chris Stewart .
But in the Senate , there were two loud exceptions to the partisan split , as Republican Sens .
Rand Paul and Mike Lee emphatically denounced the briefing as inadequate .
Lee said the White House officials refused to provide details while warning senators that publicly debating the president ’ s decision would only embolden Iran .
“ They ’ re in the process of telling us we need to be good little boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
I find that absolutely insane .
I think it ’ s unacceptable , ” said Lee .
Paul said it is egregious that the administration is using a 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force ( AUMF ) against Saddam Hussein after 9/11 to justify attacks on Iran in 2019 .
“ That is absurd .
That ’ s an insult , ” he said .
Both senators said they would support some form of war powers resolution limiting the president ’ s ability to take action without congressional approval @

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans came out of a classified briefing on the Iran situation describing two totally different worlds Wednesday.
Democrats said the senior Trump administration officials who briefed Congress would not explain the supposed imminent threat posed by Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani that justified the need to kill him, and they called for Congress to seize back its constitutional authority to sign off on new military escalations.
“It is abundantly clear they have no strategy for what comes next,” said Rep. Seth Moulton, who said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper were “grossly unspecific” in their briefing.
Rep. Gerry Connelly said he came away utterly unconvinced there was any new or imminent threat to America. “There was no rationale beyond a graduate school thesis text,” he said.
But Republicans left the briefing saying they were confident the killing of Soleimani was justified because he was planning new attacks on American personnel beyond his usual work crisscrossing the region.
“We have to speak very carefully on this, but I can tell you with assurance this was not the same thing that we’ve been seeing for the past few years. This was something different,” said Rep. Chris Stewart.
But in the Senate, there were two loud exceptions to the partisan split, as Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee emphatically denounced the briefing as inadequate. Lee said the White House officials refused to provide details while warning senators that publicly debating the president’s decision would only embolden Iran.
“They’re in the process of telling us we need to be good little boys and girls and not debate this in public. I find that absolutely insane. I think it’s unacceptable,” said Lee.
Paul said it is egregious that the administration is using a 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Saddam Hussein after 9/11 to justify attacks on Iran in 2019. “That is absurd. That’s an insult,” he said. Both senators said they would support some form of war powers resolution limiting the president’s ability to take action without congressional approval.


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--The House Will Vote This Week To Limit Trump In Iran

WASHINGTON — The House will vote this week on a war powers resolution to limit President Donald Trump ’ s actions against Iran , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday afternoon .
Pelosi ’ s announcement was a sudden departure from what members of her caucus were saying earlier Wednesday morning .
While many were pushing for a war powers resolution , lawmakers said ahead of an all-members briefing with Trump administration officials on conflict with Iran that if and when they would move forward with one remained an open question .
“ Members of Congress have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward .
Our concerns were not addressed by the President ’ s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration ’ s briefing today , ” Pelosi said in her statement .
“ Today , to honor our duty to keep the American people safe , the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President ’ s military actions regarding Iran.
” The House will vote tomorrow on the resolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a first-term lawmaker who previously served in the CIA and with the Department of Defense .
The move comes just over a week after the United States killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani without congressional authorization , which Trump and his allies argue was necessary in the face of an “ imminent threat.
” “ There was no rationale beyond a graduate school thesis text , ” Rep. Gerry Connolly told reporters as he left the Wednesday afternoon briefing .
“ I was utterly unpersuaded about any evidence of a threat that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack on Soleimani Tuesday night , striking Iraqi air bases housing US troops , but in an address to the nation Wednesday morning , Trump said he believes Iran “ appears to be standing down.
” In her statement Wednesday , Pelosi said the House will also consider other bills “ to keep America safe , ” including Rep. Barbara Lee ’ s resolution to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force ( AUMF ) — which the Trump administration has said was the legal basis for Soleimani ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress .
“ The Administration must work with the Congress to advance an immediate , effective de-escalatory strategy that prevents further violence , ” the speaker said .
“ America and the world can not afford war.
” Sen. Tim Kaine has introduced a similar war powers resolution in the Senate , which is likely to get a vote next week .

WASHINGTON — The House will vote this week on a war powers resolution to limit President Donald Trump’s actions against Iran, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Pelosi’s announcement was a sudden departure from what members of her caucus were saying earlier Wednesday morning. While many were pushing for a war powers resolution, lawmakers said ahead of an all-members briefing with Trump administration officials on conflict with Iran that if and when they would move forward with one remained an open question.
“Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward. Our concerns were not addressed by the President’s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration’s briefing today,” Pelosi said in her statement. “Today, to honor our duty to keep the American people safe, the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran.”
The House will vote tomorrow on the resolution, which is led by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a first-term lawmaker who previously served in the CIA and with the Department of Defense.
The move comes just over a week after the United States killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani without congressional authorization, which Trump and his allies argue was necessary in the face of an “imminent threat.”
Democrats aren’t buying the argument.
“There was no rationale beyond a graduate school thesis text,” Rep. Gerry Connolly told reporters as he left the Wednesday afternoon briefing. “I was utterly unpersuaded about any evidence of a threat that was new or imminent.”
Iran responded to the attack on Soleimani Tuesday night, striking Iraqi air bases housing US troops, but in an address to the nation Wednesday morning, Trump said he believes Iran “appears to be standing down.”
In her statement Wednesday, Pelosi said the House will also consider other bills “to keep America safe,” including Rep. Barbara Lee’s resolution to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) — which the Trump administration has said was the legal basis for Soleimani’s killing — and Rep. Ro Khanna’s legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress.
“The Administration must work with the Congress to advance an immediate, effective de-escalatory strategy that prevents further violence,” the speaker said. “America and the world cannot afford war.”
Sen. Tim Kaine has introduced a similar war powers resolution in the Senate, which is likely to get a vote next week.


buzzfeed--2020-01-08--Joe Biden’s New Plan To Win Iowa Voters: Gun Control

Joe Biden is accentuating his decadeslong push for gun control in a new series of digital ads aimed at motivating voters to support him in next month ’ s Iowa caucuses .
In “ Classroom , ” Jayne Lyons , a teacher from Denison , Iowa , explains how she prepares her fourth-grade students for the possibility of a school shooting — the book she reads to them and the bat she keeps in her closet — as footage from an active shooter drill plays .
“ This is not something an educator should have to be talking about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two versions of the ad .
“ I shouldn ’ t have to do this .
When I found out that Joe Biden was going to run for president , I was excited , because I trust Joe Biden with gun issues .
He ’ s brought both sides together .
He will fight the NRA , and he knows how to get things done.
” Another spot , titled “ Troubled Soul , ” features a clip from a Biden speech in which the former vice president laments children being taught how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
The effort , details of which were shared with BuzzFeed News , is part of the Democratic presidential candidate ’ s $ 4 million advertising plan for Iowa .
The ads , according to the Biden campaign , will narrowly target potential caucus-goers who might be moved by gun safety messaging , including teachers , parents of school-aged children , first responders , and those who follow gun control groups such as Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety .
Spots will be seen on Hulu , YouTube , Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantages in calling attention to his gun control record at a time when the issue has receded from national headlines .
As a senator , he supported pivotal laws such as the Brady Bill , which instituted a five-day waiting period for gun purchases , and the assault weapons ban .
As vice president , Biden led a task force that recommended 23 executive actions after the 2011 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut .
Though gun violence remains an epidemic — several high-profile mass shootings commanded the attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admirers note that it ’ s a policy area where Biden has been consistently progressive .
“ He ’ s got a real credible case to be made that he ’ s the candidate in this race that has the record of fighting the NRA and winning , ” said Peter Ambler , executive director of the gun safety advocacy group launched by Gabrielle Giffords , the former Arizona lawmaker severely injured in a 2011 mass shooting .
The organization has not yet endorsed a 2020 candidate .
In the gun plan he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among other things , a new assault weapons ban — the one he pushed in the ‘ 90s expired in 2004 — and for enhanced background checks .
There are few substantive differences among the candidates when it comes to gun control , but with the departure of Beto O ’ Rourke , who centered the final months of his candidacy on aggressive gun control measures , Biden is one of few candidates positioned to make it a signature issue in Iowa .
A poll ordered by the Giffords group last fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary voters considered guns a top priority .
“ I think we are facing a different landscape for gun safety today than we were in 2013 , ” Stef Feldman , the Biden campaign ’ s policy director , said in an interview with BuzzFeed News .
“ I think the sentiment around the country has grown with respect for more gun laws.
” The choice to highlight Biden ’ s role in crafting gun control legislation and pushing for more restrictions also allows the campaign to lean into a “ commander-in-grief ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in his third run for president .
Biden , whose first wife and infant daughter died in a 1972 car crash , often calls back to his struggles after that tragedy .
“ He is a man who understands grief and loss in a way that only people who have experienced it can , ” said Feldman , a longtime Biden aide dating to the post-Sandy Hook task force who has sat in on meetings between him and survivors and the families of victims .
“ I think it ’ s visible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these families.
” Biden also has developed a relationship with Fred Guttenberg , who has been a prominent gun control advocate since his 14-year-old daughter was killed in the 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Florida .
Guttenberg starred in a Biden campaign video produced last fall but has not officially endorsed his candidacy .
“ I am very appreciative for the personal support and guidance provided to me from VP Biden , ” Guttenberg said in a statement provided by Biden ’ s campaign .
“ His advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ever know and has helped me to heal and move forward .
With regards to the presidential race , I am thankful for the VP ’ s commitment to a strong stance on gun safety .
His plan is a very good plan .
For the time being , I plan to not make any endorsements as I want to give all the candidates a chance to put forward the strongest possible plan on gun violence before doing so.
” The focus on gun policy could invite contrasts Biden won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont are among the top polling Democrats in Iowa .
Sanders in his 2016 presidential bid had to answer for a moderate record that included votes against the Brady Bill and in favor of a law that protected gun manufacturers from liability lawsuits .
Sanders ' allies have explained his votes as reflective of gun rights sentiments in Vermont , and he since has adopted more progressive positions .
In an open message to Sanders on Twitter last week , Guttenberg wrote he does not believe the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety ” and that Sanders ’ supporters had responded to Guttenberg ’ s earlier criticism with “ vile attacks.
” Ambler , the head of the Giffords group , said Sanders deserves credit for being “ someone who ’ s clearly evolved on this issue.
” Then there ’ s Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire former mayor of New York City and the founder and funder of Everytown .
Bloomberg ’ s organization hosted the Democratic candidates , including Biden , for a forum on gun violence last summer in Iowa before jumping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He plans to skip the first caucus state and the other early nominating contests but could emerge as a Biden rival on the issue .
“ There ’ s no question that Mr. Bloomberg is going to want to talk about it , ” Carol Moseley Braun , a former Illinois senator who has endorsed Biden , told BuzzFeed News , “ because he ’ s been throwing money around on this .
”

Joe Biden is accentuating his decadeslong push for gun control in a new series of digital ads aimed at motivating voters to support him in next month’s Iowa caucuses.
In “Classroom,” Jayne Lyons, a teacher from Denison, Iowa, explains how she prepares her fourth-grade students for the possibility of a school shooting — the book she reads to them and the bat she keeps in her closet — as footage from an active shooter drill plays.
“This is not something an educator should have to be talking about,” Lyons says in the longer of two versions of the ad. “I shouldn’t have to do this. When I found out that Joe Biden was going to run for president, I was excited, because I trust Joe Biden with gun issues. He’s brought both sides together. He will fight the NRA, and he knows how to get things done.”
Another spot, titled “Troubled Soul,” features a clip from a Biden speech in which the former vice president laments children being taught how to “duck and cover” at school.
The effort, details of which were shared with BuzzFeed News, is part of the Democratic presidential candidate’s $4 million advertising plan for Iowa. The ads, according to the Biden campaign, will narrowly target potential caucus-goers who might be moved by gun safety messaging, including teachers, parents of school-aged children, first responders, and those who follow gun control groups such as Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. Spots will be seen on Hulu, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Biden allies see advantages in calling attention to his gun control record at a time when the issue has receded from national headlines. As a senator, he supported pivotal laws such as the Brady Bill, which instituted a five-day waiting period for gun purchases, and the assault weapons ban. As vice president, Biden led a task force that recommended 23 executive actions after the 2011 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Though gun violence remains an epidemic — several high-profile mass shootings commanded the attention of presidential candidates last summer — his admirers note that it’s a policy area where Biden has been consistently progressive.
“He’s got a real credible case to be made that he’s the candidate in this race that has the record of fighting the NRA and winning,” said Peter Ambler, executive director of the gun safety advocacy group launched by Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona lawmaker severely injured in a 2011 mass shooting. The organization has not yet endorsed a 2020 candidate.
In the gun plan he released last year, Biden called for, among other things, a new assault weapons ban — the one he pushed in the ‘90s expired in 2004 — and for enhanced background checks. There are few substantive differences among the candidates when it comes to gun control, but with the departure of Beto O’Rourke, who centered the final months of his candidacy on aggressive gun control measures, Biden is one of few candidates positioned to make it a signature issue in Iowa. A poll ordered by the Giffords group last fall found that 59% of uncommitted Democratic primary voters considered guns a top priority.
“I think we are facing a different landscape for gun safety today than we were in 2013,” Stef Feldman, the Biden campaign’s policy director, said in an interview with BuzzFeed News. “I think the sentiment around the country has grown with respect for more gun laws.”
The choice to highlight Biden’s role in crafting gun control legislation and pushing for more restrictions also allows the campaign to lean into a “commander-in-grief” persona that has helped him connect with voters in his third run for president. Biden, whose first wife and infant daughter died in a 1972 car crash, often calls back to his struggles after that tragedy.
“He is a man who understands grief and loss in a way that only people who have experienced it can,” said Feldman, a longtime Biden aide dating to the post-Sandy Hook task force who has sat in on meetings between him and survivors and the families of victims. “I think it’s visible that he was able to connect with these families.”
Biden also has developed a relationship with Fred Guttenberg, who has been a prominent gun control advocate since his 14-year-old daughter was killed in the 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Guttenberg starred in a Biden campaign video produced last fall but has not officially endorsed his candidacy.
“I am very appreciative for the personal support and guidance provided to me from VP Biden,” Guttenberg said in a statement provided by Biden’s campaign. “His advice to me was more meaningful than he will ever know and has helped me to heal and move forward. With regards to the presidential race, I am thankful for the VP’s commitment to a strong stance on gun safety. His plan is a very good plan. For the time being, I plan to not make any endorsements as I want to give all the candidates a chance to put forward the strongest possible plan on gun violence before doing so.”
The focus on gun policy could invite contrasts Biden won’t mind seeing at a time when he and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont are among the top polling Democrats in Iowa. Sanders in his 2016 presidential bid had to answer for a moderate record that included votes against the Brady Bill and in favor of a law that protected gun manufacturers from liability lawsuits. Sanders' allies have explained his votes as reflective of gun rights sentiments in Vermont, and he since has adopted more progressive positions.
In an open message to Sanders on Twitter last week, Guttenberg wrote he does not believe the senator is the “best candidate for gun safety” and that Sanders’ supporters had responded to Guttenberg’s earlier criticism with “vile attacks.” Ambler, the head of the Giffords group, said Sanders deserves credit for being “someone who’s clearly evolved on this issue.”
Then there’s Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City and the founder and funder of Everytown. Bloomberg’s organization hosted the Democratic candidates, including Biden, for a forum on gun violence last summer in Iowa before jumping into the race himself several months later. He plans to skip the first caucus state and the other early nominating contests but could emerge as a Biden rival on the issue.
“There’s no question that Mr. Bloomberg is going to want to talk about it,” Carol Moseley Braun, a former Illinois senator who has endorsed Biden, told BuzzFeed News, “because he’s been throwing money around on this.”