vox--2020-08-11--Joe Biden chooses Kamala Harris as his running mate

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has officially chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
Harris , who ran for the presidency herself , is a historic choice : She ’ s the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to be a major-party nominee for the vice presidency .
Among the candidates favored by Democratic voters in recent polls , Harris brings extensive governing experience to the position , though aspects of her record have long prompted progressive criticism .
Harris has been in public service for decades ; she was elected to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s attorney general and San Francisco ’ s district attorney before that .
A former candidate in the Democratic primary , she ’ s known as a charismatic campaigner .
And she and Biden are fairly close ideologically : Both staked out more moderate positions during the party ’ s presidential contest , though Harris has a liberal record in the Senate .
Harris ’ s nomination , which followed a lengthy vetting process , sends a message about the future of the Democratic Party — and its commitment to women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great honor to announce that I ’ ve picked @ KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy , and one of the country ’ s finest public servants — as my running mate , ” Biden wrote in a series of tweets on Tuesday .
“ Back when Kamala was Attorney General , she worked closely with Beau .
I watched as they took on the big banks , lifted up working people , and protected women and kids from abuse .
I was proud then , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my partner in this campaign.
” Harris ’ s profile has risen substantially since her election to the Senate : She ’ s known for her pointed — often viral — questioning of Trump administration officials as a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees , as well as her leadership on issues including police reform and immigration policy .
Her run in the primary began with yet another viral moment — an electric confrontation of Biden over busing and school segregation at a Democratic debate last June — though her candidacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging and critiques of her criminal justice record .
Now she ’ s the third woman in US history to hold the vice presidential spot on a major-party ticket ( joining Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin ) .
If Biden wins , she ’ d be the first woman ever to hold that office .
As Biden ’ s running mate , Harris is poised to be a powerhouse campaigner and an important influence on racial and economic justice policies , two issues she focused on extensively in her own campaign .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about her record , too , as the campaign seeks to unite and energize Democrats to defeat President Trump in November .
Harris is widely seen as the future of the Democratic Party — though her record has prompted pushback Harris ’ s selection as VP is a statement about the future of the Democratic Party .
Biden had already pledged during the primary that he would choose a woman as his vice president , signaling the importance of women voters to the party .
Then , as uprisings in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of police took place across the country this summer , Biden was under enormous pressure to pick a Black woman as his running mate .
Harris quickly rose to the top of the list .
As the first Black woman selected to become a major-party VP nominee , she brings a new perspective to a role that ’ s often been held by older , white men .
“ I feel seen and heard , ” Howard University political science professor Keneshia Grant told Vox .
“ I think the choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Vice President Biden is committed to an administration that will commit to doing real , substantive work on the problems we face ” with policing and racial inequities .
Harris ’ s public service record , which includes four years in the Senate , six years as California attorney general , and two terms as the San Francisco district attorney , is seen by some as a key strength .
It ’ s a career Harris began after graduating from Howard University in 1986 and University of California ’ s Hastings Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s built on the idea of changing the system from within .
As the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants , both of whom were civil rights activists , Harris has said that combating racial disparities has been a central focus of her career .
During her time as attorney general , for example , she established the nation ’ s first state-led database tracking police killings and racial bias .
As Vox ’ s German Lopez has written , however , her broader prosecutorial record as attorney general and district attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on uncovering wrongful convictions , as well as a program that threatened parents whose children were truant with prosecution , were among the efforts that spurred criticism .
During her presidential campaign , the statement “ Kamala Is a Cop ” was used frequently to question her views on criminal justice reform .
“ It was a mixed bag , ” says Melina Abdullah , a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles , regarding Harris ’ s record as attorney general .
“ Her willingness to prosecute corporate criminals is really encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predatory lending .
... [ But ] there was an unwillingness to take on independent investigations around police killings.
” Harris has acknowledged some of her office ’ s shortcomings and emphasized that she pursued her career as a prosecutor so she could be in the room to implement changes — and push back on existing abuses .
“ There have been prosecutors that refused to seat Black jurors , refused to prosecute lynchings , disproportionately condemned young Black men to death row and looked the other way in the face of police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 2019 event , Politico reported .
“ It matters who is in those rooms .
I knew I had to be in those rooms .
We have to be in those rooms even when there aren ’ t many like us there.
” Activists argue that Harris could have challenged the system more in that role , while her supporters suggest that her prosecutorial experience , in general , could add to Democrats ’ appeal to moderate and swing voters in November .
Harris ’ s public service experience speaks to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Brokaw , a former adviser for Harris ’ s attorney general and Senate campaigns .
“ She ’ s somebody who would absolutely satisfy what the voters look for in a vice president , which is someone , who can , herself , step up if the situation arises for any reason , ” he told Vox .
“ She ’ s served as an executive and as a legislator.
” Biden knows that his choice of vice president weighs heavily in any future presidential primary , especially because it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2024 if elected in 2020 .
By choosing a younger , dynamic politician who can appeal to two important Democratic constituencies , women and Black voters , he is potentially setting up Harris as his successor .
In the short term , however , both Biden and Harris now face the challenge of uniting and energizing disparate segments of the Democratic Party .
Historically , the vice presidential choice has not led to a major change in the electoral outcome , but Harris ’ s presence is history-making and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with voters .
Biden has struggled with enthusiasm in polling — just 31 percent of his supporters said they were excited about the election in a July AP-NORC survey — and some Democrats have argued that choosing a Black woman as his vice president could help energize Black voters .
( While Biden performed well with Black voters in the Democratic primary , political observers point to Hillary Clinton ’ s run in 2016 and note that high support numbers shouldn ’ t be conflated with excitement for his candidacy . )
Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate hearings , as well as her longstanding skill as a campaigner , could be an important boost on the now-virtual campaign trail as well as in upcoming debates with Vice President Mike Pence .
“ She ’ s someone who can throw punches when she needs to , ” says Brokaw , who adds that she can leave people “ quaking in their boots.
” Harris — who also served as one of President Barack Obama ’ s top surrogates — has already played an active role in fundraising events for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Biden and raising $ 3.5 million in a virtual gathering in June .
As a chief author of Democrats ’ police reform bill , Harris could also influence the Biden campaign ’ s policy agenda on this issue area , and several others she ’ s worked on , including immigration reform .
“ .
@ JoeBiden can unify the American people because he ’ s spent his life fighting for us .
And as president , he ’ ll build an America that lives up to our ideals , ” Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m honored to join him as our party ’ s nominee for Vice President , and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.
” Will you become our 20,000th supporter ?
When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions , we weren ’ t sure how it would go .
Today , we ’ re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in .
The reason is both lovely and surprising : Readers told us that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they value that other people can access it , too .
We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy .
That ’ s never been more important than today , during a public health crisis , racial justice protests , a recession , and a presidential election .
But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive , and advertising alone won ’ t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has officially chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
Harris, who ran for the presidency herself, is a historic choice: She’s the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to be a major-party nominee for the vice presidency. Among the candidates favored by Democratic voters in recent polls, Harris brings extensive governing experience to the position, though aspects of her record have long prompted progressive criticism.
Harris has been in public service for decades; she was elected to the Senate in 2016 and served as the state’s attorney general and San Francisco’s district attorney before that. A former candidate in the Democratic primary, she’s known as a charismatic campaigner. And she and Biden are fairly close ideologically: Both staked out more moderate positions during the party’s presidential contest, though Harris has a liberal record in the Senate.
Harris’s nomination, which followed a lengthy vetting process, sends a message about the future of the Democratic Party — and its commitment to women and Black Americans.
“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden wrote in a series of tweets on Tuesday. “Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”
I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020
Harris’s profile has risen substantially since her election to the Senate: She’s known for her pointed — often viral — questioning of Trump administration officials as a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees, as well as her leadership on issues including police reform and immigration policy.
Her run in the primary began with yet another viral moment — an electric confrontation of Biden over busing and school segregation at a Democratic debate last June — though her candidacy ultimately fizzled in the wake of inconsistent messaging and critiques of her criminal justice record. Now she’s the third woman in US history to hold the vice presidential spot on a major-party ticket (joining Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin). If Biden wins, she’d be the first woman ever to hold that office.
As Biden’s running mate, Harris is poised to be a powerhouse campaigner and an important influence on racial and economic justice policies, two issues she focused on extensively in her own campaign. She’ll likely have to navigate outstanding questions about her record, too, as the campaign seeks to unite and energize Democrats to defeat President Trump in November.
Harris is widely seen as the future of the Democratic Party — though her record has prompted pushback
Harris’s selection as VP is a statement about the future of the Democratic Party. Biden had already pledged during the primary that he would choose a woman as his vice president, signaling the importance of women voters to the party. Then, as uprisings in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police took place across the country this summer, Biden was under enormous pressure to pick a Black woman as his running mate. Harris quickly rose to the top of the list.
As the first Black woman selected to become a major-party VP nominee, she brings a new perspective to a role that’s often been held by older, white men.
“I feel seen and heard,” Howard University political science professor Keneshia Grant told Vox. “I think the choice of Sen. Harris is important to signal that Vice President Biden is committed to an administration that will commit to doing real, substantive work on the problems we face” with policing and racial inequities.
Harris’s public service record, which includes four years in the Senate, six years as California attorney general, and two terms as the San Francisco district attorney, is seen by some as a key strength. It’s a career Harris began after graduating from Howard University in 1986 and University of California’s Hastings Law School in 1989, and one she’s built on the idea of changing the system from within.
As the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, both of whom were civil rights activists, Harris has said that combating racial disparities has been a central focus of her career. During her time as attorney general, for example, she established the nation’s first state-led database tracking police killings and racial bias.
As Vox’s German Lopez has written, however, her broader prosecutorial record as attorney general and district attorney has put off many progressives. Policies on uncovering wrongful convictions, as well as a program that threatened parents whose children were truant with prosecution, were among the efforts that spurred criticism. During her presidential campaign, the statement “Kamala Is a Cop” was used frequently to question her views on criminal justice reform.
“It was a mixed bag,” says Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, regarding Harris’s record as attorney general. “Her willingness to prosecute corporate criminals is really encouraging, especially around the mortgage crisis and predatory lending. ... [But] there was an unwillingness to take on independent investigations around police killings.”
Harris has acknowledged some of her office’s shortcomings and emphasized that she pursued her career as a prosecutor so she could be in the room to implement changes — and push back on existing abuses.
“There have been prosecutors that refused to seat Black jurors, refused to prosecute lynchings, disproportionately condemned young Black men to death row and looked the other way in the face of police brutality,” Harris said at a January 2019 event, Politico reported. “It matters who is in those rooms. I knew I had to be in those rooms. We have to be in those rooms even when there aren’t many like us there.”
Activists argue that Harris could have challenged the system more in that role, while her supporters suggest that her prosecutorial experience, in general, could add to Democrats’ appeal to moderate and swing voters in November. Harris’s public service experience speaks to her readiness as a VP candidate, says Brian Brokaw, a former adviser for Harris’s attorney general and Senate campaigns.
“She’s somebody who would absolutely satisfy what the voters look for in a vice president, which is someone, who can, herself, step up if the situation arises for any reason,” he told Vox. “She’s served as an executive and as a legislator.”
Biden choosing Harris sends a signal about the party’s future
Biden knows that his choice of vice president weighs heavily in any future presidential primary, especially because it’s not clear if Biden would run again in 2024 if elected in 2020. By choosing a younger, dynamic politician who can appeal to two important Democratic constituencies, women and Black voters, he is potentially setting up Harris as his successor.
In the short term, however, both Biden and Harris now face the challenge of uniting and energizing disparate segments of the Democratic Party. Historically, the vice presidential choice has not led to a major change in the electoral outcome, but Harris’s presence is history-making and it’s hard to say how that will factor with voters.
Related Kamala Harris is the choice Joe Biden needed to win over Silicon Valley
Biden has struggled with enthusiasm in polling — just 31 percent of his supporters said they were excited about the election in a July AP-NORC survey — and some Democrats have argued that choosing a Black woman as his vice president could help energize Black voters. (While Biden performed well with Black voters in the Democratic primary, political observers point to Hillary Clinton’s run in 2016 and note that high support numbers shouldn’t be conflated with excitement for his candidacy.)
Harris’s charismatic and commanding presence in Senate hearings, as well as her longstanding skill as a campaigner, could be an important boost on the now-virtual campaign trail as well as in upcoming debates with Vice President Mike Pence.
“She’s someone who can throw punches when she needs to,” says Brokaw, who adds that she can leave people “quaking in their boots.”
Harris — who also served as one of President Barack Obama’s top surrogates — has already played an active role in fundraising events for Biden, headlining numerous calls led by Women for Biden and raising $3.5 million in a virtual gathering in June.
As a chief author of Democrats’ police reform bill, Harris could also influence the Biden campaign’s policy agenda on this issue area, and several others she’s worked on, including immigration reform.
“.@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he’ll build an America that lives up to our ideals,” Harris wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. “I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.”
.@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he'll build an America that lives up to our ideals.
I'm honored to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2020
Will you become our 20,000th supporter? When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions, we weren’t sure how it would go. Today, we’re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in. The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it, too. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy. That’s never been more important than today, during a public health crisis, racial justice protests, a recession, and a presidential election. But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive, and advertising alone won’t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Contribute today from as little as $3.


vox--2020-08-11--Live results for the August 11 primaries

Despite five states having down-ballot primaries and runoffs Tuesday , it will be a relatively quiet election day .
Nevertheless , there are several intriguing races to keep an eye on in Minnesota , Wisconsin , and Georgia .
In Minnesota , one of the most progressive Democrats in the House , Rep. Ilhan Omar , faces a well-funded primary challenger .
Across the state , five Republicans are facing off to compete against perhaps the most conservative Democrat in Congress , Rep. Collin Peterson .
A QAnon supporter , Marjorie Taylor Greene , is favored to win a runoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 14th District , joining several other followers of the conspiracy theory who have real chances of getting elected to Congress .
There are several key congressional races in Wisconsin as well .
Democratic Rep. Ron Kind in Wisconsin ’ s Third District faces a primary challenge from the left , while the district ’ s pro-Trump lean in 2016 has drawn several potential Republican challengers .
The retirement of longtime incumbent Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner opened up a safe Republican seat for which state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald is favored in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering the results live , with our partners at Decision Desk HQ .
Many political eyes will be on Omar ’ s race in Minnesota ’ s Fifth District , which consists of much of Minneapolis .
Her primary opponent , lawyer Antone Melton-Meaux , isn ’ t doing well in the Omar campaign ’ s internal polls in early July .
But he has raised a staggering $ 3.2 million in the second quarter amid a national anti-Omar backlash that many characterized as racist and sexist .
Omar boasts endorsements from several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , and Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz , but the Minneapolis Star Tribune endorsed Melton-Meaux last week .
Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson ’ s Seventh District in the westernmost part of the state has continually turned redder since he was first elected in 1991 , and went for Trump by 30 points in 2016 .
His House seat is one of the most coveted by the National Republican Congressional Committee ; the primary to determine his challenger features a five-way race .
Air Force veteran Dave Hughes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — against Peterson twice before , and he again seeks the party ’ s nomination .
But he faces stiff competition this year primarily in the form of former Lt. Gov .
Michelle Fischbach , who has won endorsements from President Trump , the NRCC , and the Minnesota Seventh District Republican Party .
Polls close in the state at 9 pm ET ; mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day and received before the county canvass , which is usually two or three days after election day .
The general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates who follow the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory to varying degrees , and some of them have a real shot at winning in safe Republican districts .
One of those is business leader Marjorie Taylor Greene , a candidate in Tuesday ’ s runoff in Georgia ’ s 14th Congressional District .
Greene nearly won her June 2 primary outright and is favored in the runoff .
In a 2017 video first reported by Politico in June , Greene was open about her QAnon support , telling supporters , “ there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out , and I think we have the president to do it.
” House Republican leaders denounced the videos but haven ’ t done much to stop Greene ’ s candidacy .
She faces neurosurgeon John Cowan in a race she will likely win .
That would make her an odds-on favorite in the safe Republican district to get elected to Congress .
Polls close in the state at 7 pm ET ; absentee ballots must be received by 7 pm on election day to be counted .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye on November , when Republicans in Wisconsin will try to win a supermajority in the state legislature — which would allow them to override vetoes from Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers on redistricting — two key congressional races are also taking place .
The state ’ s Third District is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Ron Kind , a moderate who has treaded carefully on issues involving Trump , especially impeachment , in a district that went for the president by 4.5 percent in 2016 .
That has opened the doorway to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the form of former missionary and pediatrician Mark Neumann , but also to two potential Republican opponents , retired Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden and public relations professional Jessi Ebben .
While Kind is favored in the Democratic primary , Neumann has criticized him for not supporting Medicare-for-all .
On the Republican side , Van Orden has raised more money and boasts endorsements from former Gov .
Scott Walker and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , while Ebben has the support of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus ’ s political arm as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep an eye on several key state legislature races that Republicans are hoping to flip , including state Senate districts 10 , 30 , and 32 and Assembly District 14 .
Polls close in the state at 9 pm ET ; mail-in ballots must be received by 8 pm on election day .
New England ’ s Connecticut and Vermont are also holding primaries today .
Vermont ’ s governor , Republican Phil Scott , is heavily favored for reelection to his third consecutive term in November , but he faces off against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several Democrats are competing to challenge him in the general election .
If you want to follow along with races in both states , we ’ ll be carrying results here .
Polls close in Vermont close at 7 pm ET and in Connecticut at 8 pm .
Will you become our 20,000th supporter ?
When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions , we weren ’ t sure how it would go .
Today , we ’ re humbled to say that nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason is both lovely and surprising : Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it , too .
We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy .
That ’ s never been more important than today , during a public health crisis , racial justice protests , a recession , and a presidential election .
But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive , and advertising alone won ’ t let us keep creating it at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will help keep Vox free for all .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Despite five states having down-ballot primaries and runoffs Tuesday, it will be a relatively quiet election day. Nevertheless, there are several intriguing races to keep an eye on in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Georgia.
In Minnesota, one of the most progressive Democrats in the House, Rep. Ilhan Omar, faces a well-funded primary challenger. Across the state, five Republicans are facing off to compete against perhaps the most conservative Democrat in Congress, Rep. Collin Peterson.
A QAnon supporter, Marjorie Taylor Greene, is favored to win a runoff race for the Republican nomination in Georgia’s 14th District, joining several other followers of the conspiracy theory who have real chances of getting elected to Congress.
There are several key congressional races in Wisconsin as well. Democratic Rep. Ron Kind in Wisconsin’s Third District faces a primary challenge from the left, while the district’s pro-Trump lean in 2016 has drawn several potential Republican challengers. The retirement of longtime incumbent Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner opened up a safe Republican seat for which state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald is favored in Tuesday’s primary.
Vox is covering the results live, with our partners at Decision Desk HQ.
Minnesota
Many political eyes will be on Omar’s race in Minnesota’s Fifth District, which consists of much of Minneapolis. Her primary opponent, lawyer Antone Melton-Meaux, isn’t doing well in the Omar campaign’s internal polls in early July. But he has raised a staggering $3.2 million in the second quarter amid a national anti-Omar backlash that many characterized as racist and sexist.
Omar boasts endorsements from several key Democratic players, including Sen. Tina Smith, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune endorsed Melton-Meaux last week.
Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson’s Seventh District in the westernmost part of the state has continually turned redder since he was first elected in 1991, and went for Trump by 30 points in 2016. His House seat is one of the most coveted by the National Republican Congressional Committee; the primary to determine his challenger features a five-way race.
Air Force veteran Dave Hughes has already faced off — and lost — against Peterson twice before, and he again seeks the party’s nomination. But he faces stiff competition this year primarily in the form of former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach, who has won endorsements from President Trump, the NRCC, and the Minnesota Seventh District Republican Party.
Polls close in the state at 9 pm ET; mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day and received before the county canvass, which is usually two or three days after election day.
Georgia
The general election this fall features at least nine congressional candidates who follow the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory to varying degrees, and some of them have a real shot at winning in safe Republican districts. One of those is business leader Marjorie Taylor Greene, a candidate in Tuesday’s runoff in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Greene nearly won her June 2 primary outright and is favored in the runoff.
In a 2017 video first reported by Politico in June, Greene was open about her QAnon support, telling supporters, “there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it.”
House Republican leaders denounced the videos but haven’t done much to stop Greene’s candidacy. She faces neurosurgeon John Cowan in a race she will likely win. That would make her an odds-on favorite in the safe Republican district to get elected to Congress.
Polls close in the state at 7 pm ET; absentee ballots must be received by 7 pm on election day to be counted.
Wisconsin
While much of the state is keeping an eye on November, when Republicans in Wisconsin will try to win a supermajority in the state legislature — which would allow them to override vetoes from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on redistricting — two key congressional races are also taking place.
The state’s Third District is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Ron Kind, a moderate who has treaded carefully on issues involving Trump, especially impeachment, in a district that went for the president by 4.5 percent in 2016. That has opened the doorway to a primary challenge from the left in the form of former missionary and pediatrician Mark Neumann, but also to two potential Republican opponents, retired Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden and public relations professional Jessi Ebben.
While Kind is favored in the Democratic primary, Neumann has criticized him for not supporting Medicare-for-all. On the Republican side, Van Orden has raised more money and boasts endorsements from former Gov. Scott Walker and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, while Ebben has the support of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus’s political arm as well as Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.
Also keep an eye on several key state legislature races that Republicans are hoping to flip, including state Senate districts 10, 30, and 32 and Assembly District 14.
Polls close in the state at 9 pm ET; mail-in ballots must be received by 8 pm on election day.
Connecticut and Vermont
New England’s Connecticut and Vermont are also holding primaries today. Vermont’s governor, Republican Phil Scott, is heavily favored for reelection to his third consecutive term in November, but he faces off against four lesser-known candidates in a primary while several Democrats are competing to challenge him in the general election.
If you want to follow along with races in both states, we’ll be carrying results here.
Polls close in Vermont close at 7 pm ET and in Connecticut at 8 pm.
Will you become our 20,000th supporter? When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions, we weren’t sure how it would go. Today, we’re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in. The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it, too. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy. That’s never been more important than today, during a public health crisis, racial justice protests, a recession, and a presidential election. But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive, and advertising alone won’t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Contribute today from as little as $3.


vox--2020-08-11--Twitter is finally helping people shut out “reply guys”

If you ’ re on Twitter — and especially if you ’ re a woman on Twitter — you ’ re probably well aware of the “ reply guy ” phenomenon .
It goes something like this : You post something on Twitter — a joke , a fact , a personal story — and you get a bunch of unhelpful , distracting , and sometimes hateful replies alongside the thoughtful responses to your original tweet .
Twitter is rolling out a new feature today that it has been testing since May to help people shut out reply guys and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , when you tweet , you can limit who can reply to either the people you follow or the people you mention ( by tagging their handle with the @ tag ) in the tweet .
People who can ’ t reply can still view , share , and “ like ” the tweets you limit replies on .
Here ’ s what it looks like : As for those who feel left out of the conversation — reply guy or otherwise — they can still quote and retweet these limited-reply tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it ’ s designed to help some people who may otherwise feel bombarded with harassment on Twitter be more comfortable posting on the platform .
According to Twitter ’ s internal research , people who submitted abuse reports are three times more likely to use these settings .
The reply-limiting feature is also useful for people who are trying to have a focused conversation in a small group , like a virtual panel discussion or a 1:1 interview .
Take , for example , the interview that Recode co-founder Kara Swisher had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in February .
The Q & A between Dorsey and Swisher was nearly impossible to follow because they were both bombarded with distracting replies that cluttered the discussion .
( Dorsey joked about the event when Twitter first announced the reply-limiting feature in May . )
Since Twitter has been testing this feature , the company says it ’ s seen some solid progress , as detailed in a blog post by Twitter director of product management Suzanne Xie .
Xie wrote that people who tested the feature are seeing positive results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from spam and abuse and are more comfortable sharing their thoughts freely as a result .
“ These settings help some people feel safer and could lead to more meaningful conversations , while still allowing people to see different points of view , ” wrote Xie .
And , mercifully , Twitter says that “ reply guys ” aren ’ t blasting people ’ s DMs instead — for now .
It ’ s too soon to tell how this feature will be received now that it ’ s being rolled out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it will make the platform a little less awful for some people .
Will you become our 20,000th supporter ?
When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions , we weren ’ t sure how it would go .
Today , we ’ re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in .
The reason is both lovely and surprising : Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy .
That ’ s never been more important than today , during a public health crisis , racial justice protests , a recession , and a presidential election .
But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive , and advertising alone won ’ t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will help keep Vox free for all .
Contribute today from as little as $ @ @

If you’re on Twitter — and especially if you’re a woman on Twitter — you’re probably well aware of the “reply guy” phenomenon.
It goes something like this: You post something on Twitter — a joke, a fact, a personal story — and you get a bunch of unhelpful, distracting, and sometimes hateful replies alongside the thoughtful responses to your original tweet.
Twitter is rolling out a new feature today that it has been testing since May to help people shut out reply guys and other unwanted interactions on the platform. Now, when you tweet, you can limit who can reply to either the people you follow or the people you mention (by tagging their handle with the @ tag) in the tweet. People who can’t reply can still view, share, and “like” the tweets you limit replies on.
Here’s what it looks like:
As for those who feel left out of the conversation — reply guy or otherwise — they can still quote and retweet these limited-reply tweets.
Limiting replies is an important feature because it’s designed to help some people who may otherwise feel bombarded with harassment on Twitter be more comfortable posting on the platform. According to Twitter’s internal research, people who submitted abuse reports are three times more likely to use these settings.
The reply-limiting feature is also useful for people who are trying to have a focused conversation in a small group, like a virtual panel discussion or a 1:1 interview. Take, for example, the interview that Recode co-founder Kara Swisher had with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey via Twitter back in February. The Q&A between Dorsey and Swisher was nearly impossible to follow because they were both bombarded with distracting replies that cluttered the discussion. (Dorsey joked about the event when Twitter first announced the reply-limiting feature in May.)
Since Twitter has been testing this feature, the company says it’s seen some solid progress, as detailed in a blog post by Twitter director of product management Suzanne Xie. Xie wrote that people who tested the feature are seeing positive results: They said they feel more protected from spam and abuse and are more comfortable sharing their thoughts freely as a result.
“These settings help some people feel safer and could lead to more meaningful conversations, while still allowing people to see different points of view,” wrote Xie.
And, mercifully, Twitter says that “reply guys” aren’t blasting people’s DMs instead — for now. It’s too soon to tell how this feature will be received now that it’s being rolled out on a wider scale. But the hope is it will make the platform a little less awful for some people.
Will you become our 20,000th supporter? When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions, we weren’t sure how it would go. Today, we’re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in. The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it, too. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy. That’s never been more important than today, during a public health crisis, racial justice protests, a recession, and a presidential election. But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive, and advertising alone won’t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Contribute today from as little as $3.


vox--2020-08-11--Why Democrats are holding out for more comprehensive stimulus

President Donald Trump waded into stimulus discussions this weekend , signing a bevy of executive orders meant to mitigate the economic fallout from Covid-19 and put pressure on Democrats .
Democratic lawmakers , however , haven ’ t been deterred by his actions , which they ’ ve deemed “ paltry ” and “ narrow.
” Instead , they ’ ve remained steadfast in their position on the next stimulus bill , a measure Republican opposition previously hindered progress on for months .
Recently , the expiration of the enhanced unemployment insurance ( UI ) program has thrown the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewing pressure on both parties .
Given the dynamic in Congress and the context of this fall ’ s elections , experts say Democrats have the leverage to keep pushing for a more comprehensive proposal that could help address significant gaps left by Trump ’ s actions .
As of this week , Congress is still at an impasse : While Democrats have urged more funding for expanded UI , Republicans have been reluctant to maintain the benefit that gave more than 30 million unemployed people $ 600 per week above what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , the GOP has proposed a smaller long-term benefit , as well as short-term extensions of the existing program .
The two parties , too , continue to differ significantly on the scope of the bill and the degree of support it will provide for struggling states and other overwhelmed social insurance programs such as food aid .
Trump ’ s executive actions — to extend UI benefits , defer payroll taxes , and freeze student loan payments — attempted to shift the pressure to act off Senate Republicans , a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
But with the exception of the measure on student loans , his efforts are widely viewed as insufficient and difficult to implement .
It could be weeks , for example , before anyone sees the UI assistance he ’ s proposed , and the funding could run out quickly — and that ’ s if states agree to implement it .
As a result , Congress is still seen as playing a key role in approving more substantive support , though it ’ s unclear whether the two parties will actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , talks between negotiators were at a standstill as both Democrats and Republicans pushed the other party to compromise .
“ I hope saner voices in the Republican Party will prevail and say , ‘ Sit down with Pelosi , sit down with Schumer , and meet them in the middle , for God ’ s sakes , ’ ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday during an appearance on Morning Joe .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re willing to do .
And we ’ ve said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to come back and say yes.
” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , one of the chief negotiators for the White House , called on Democrats to adjust their demands .
“ If we can get a fair deal , we ’ re willing to do it this week , ” he said in a CNBC interview on Monday .
Negotiations over both a broader package and any short-term UI extension have stagnated thus far .
And while Republicans have argued that Congress could approve a short-term UI bill for now , Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP would likely walk away without passing more comprehensive stimulus .
“ We ’ re not doing short-term action , because if we do short-term action , they ’ re not going to do anything else , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the New York Times this weekend .
In a press conference on Friday , Pelosi emphasized that Democrats were willing to compromise , noting that she offered to reduce their more than $ 3 trillion proposal by $ 1 trillion , if Republicans were willing to increase their $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans rejected the offer , according to Pelosi , who cited the disagreement as a sign of how the GOP has stalled progress .
Repeatedly , Democrats have emphasized they ’ re interested in backing a bill that matches the scale of the current problem .
At this point , Democrats have the leverage to keep pushing for a more generous package : Since the Senate Republican conference is split , any bill will need a solid chunk of Democratic support in order to pass , giving the party more sway to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Republicans bearing more of the electoral fallout in November ’ s elections if the economy continues to struggle , meaning they should be more open to a potential deal .
Democrats have the numbers in Congress A key reason Democrats aren ’ t backing down is that the numbers in Congress are on their side .
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has emphasized repeatedly , his conference is currently fractured , with as many as 15 to 20 Republicans poised to vote against any new stimulus , including the HEALS Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks ago .
“ If you ’ re looking for total consensus among Republican senators , you ’ re not going to find one , ” McConnell said last Tuesday .
That split means that Republicans will need substantial Democratic support for any compromise to pass the Senate .
Were the 53-person Republican conference to stay united , they would typically require seven Democrats to join them in order to avoid any filibuster and approve a bill in the upper chamber .
Because of the anticipated GOP defections , they ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so on this legislation .
Schumer alluded to this dynamic while addressing the factors at play last Friday .
“ The House doesn ’ t have the votes to go south of $ 2 trillion ; the Senate Democrats don ’ t have the votes to go south of $ 2 trillion , ” he said .
Since the 2018 midterms , Democrats have been able to use their majority in the House as a key pressure point in negotiations about the government shutdown and earlier stimulus packages .
Due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time around , they have even more leverage in the upper chamber .
Republicans are set to bear more of the political backlash , for now In addition to the advantage they have in Congress , Democrats are also set to face less political backlash than Republicans are — for now .
That dynamic enables them to push the GOP to consider a more comprehensive package , since it ’ s in Republicans ’ political interest to take action on the matter as well .
Because they are the party in power in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans are seen as the ones who are most likely to get the blame in this November ’ s elections if Congress doesn ’ t approve more stimulus and the economic fallout persists , experts say .
“ Voters are likelier to hold the incumbent presidential party more responsible for the state of the economy , and the country as a whole , ” says Kyle Kondik , the managing editor of Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia .
“ From a purely political perspective , Republicans should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the Democrats.
” Recent polling , after all , shows that a majority of voters on both sides of the aisle support additional stimulus .
A Reuters/Ipsos poll fielded in mid-July found that 76 percent of voters back an extension of enhanced weekly UI .
Vulnerable Senate Republicans , as well as Trump , could see serious electoral fallout in November if Congress doesn ’ t act and the economy is still struggling .
“ Depending on how popular stimulus is in some of these states , how many people are fearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Republicans ” if nothing gets done , Brian Riedl , a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute , previously told Vox .
Democrats , too , could face some of that blowback if this impasse continues , though they have the advantage of being able to point to actions they ’ ve already taken .
This past May , Democrats passed the HEROES Act , their attempt at another round of stimulus , which would extend enhanced UI through the end of January and provide more than $ 900 billion in funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think Democrats should feel like they are in a pretty good position right now , ” says Jim Manley , a staffer for Harry Reid during his tenure as Senate majority leader .
“ The speaker came down and Republicans refused to make a commensurate move.
” The ongoing impasse between the parties , though , means that millions of Americans on unemployment insurance are waiting to see what comes next , even as many have already seen a sharp drop in their weekly benefits .
Will you become our 20,000th supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions , we weren ’ t sure how it would go .
Today , we ’ re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in .
The reason is both lovely and surprising : Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it , too .
We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy .
That ’ s never been more important than today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial justice protests , a recession , and a presidential election .
But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive , and advertising alone won ’ t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will help keep Vox free for all .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

President Donald Trump waded into stimulus discussions this weekend, signing a bevy of executive orders meant to mitigate the economic fallout from Covid-19 and put pressure on Democrats.
Democratic lawmakers, however, haven’t been deterred by his actions, which they’ve deemed “paltry” and “narrow.” Instead, they’ve remained steadfast in their position on the next stimulus bill, a measure Republican opposition previously hindered progress on for months.
Recently, the expiration of the enhanced unemployment insurance (UI) program has thrown the need for more aid into sharp relief, renewing pressure on both parties. Given the dynamic in Congress and the context of this fall’s elections, experts say Democrats have the leverage to keep pushing for a more comprehensive proposal that could help address significant gaps left by Trump’s actions.
As of this week, Congress is still at an impasse: While Democrats have urged more funding for expanded UI, Republicans have been reluctant to maintain the benefit that gave more than 30 million unemployed people $600 per week above what they received from their state unemployment programs. Instead, the GOP has proposed a smaller long-term benefit, as well as short-term extensions of the existing program.
The two parties, too, continue to differ significantly on the scope of the bill and the degree of support it will provide for struggling states and other overwhelmed social insurance programs such as food aid.
Trump’s executive actions — to extend UI benefits, defer payroll taxes, and freeze student loan payments — attempted to shift the pressure to act off Senate Republicans, a number of whom are up for reelection in November. But with the exception of the measure on student loans, his efforts are widely viewed as insufficient and difficult to implement. It could be weeks, for example, before anyone sees the UI assistance he’s proposed, and the funding could run out quickly.
As a result, Congress is still seen as playing a key role in approving more substantive support, though it’s unclear whether the two parties will actually be able to overcome their differences. On Monday, talks between negotiators were at a standstill as both Democrats and Republicans pushed the other party to compromise.
“I hope saner voices in the Republican Party will prevail and say, ‘Sit down with Pelosi, sit down with Schumer, and meet them in the middle, for God’s sakes,’” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday during an appearance on Morning Joe. “That’s what we’re willing to do. And we’ve said it: We’re waiting for them to come back and say yes.”
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, one of the chief negotiators for the White House, called on Democrats to adjust their demands. “If we can get a fair deal, we’re willing to do it this week,” he said in a CNBC interview on Monday.
Negotiations over both a broader package and any short-term UI extension have stagnated thus far. And while Republicans have argued that Congress could approve a short-term UI bill for now, Democrats emphasize that doing so would mean the GOP would likely walk away without passing more comprehensive stimulus.
“We’re not doing short-term action, because if we do short-term action, they’re not going to do anything else,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the New York Times this weekend.
In a press conference on Friday, Pelosi emphasized that Democrats were willing to compromise, noting that she offered to reduce their more than $3 trillion proposal by $1 trillion, if Republicans were willing to increase their $1 trillion one by a comparable amount. Republicans rejected the offer, according to Pelosi, who cited the disagreement as a sign of how the GOP has stalled progress. Repeatedly, Democrats have emphasized they’re interested in backing a bill that matches the scale of the current problem.
At this point, Democrats have the leverage to keep pushing for a more generous package: Since the Senate Republican conference is split, any bill will need a solid chunk of Democratic support in order to pass, giving the party more sway to determine what it includes. Additionally, experts see Republicans bearing more of the electoral fallout in November’s elections if the economy continues to struggle, meaning they should be more open to a potential deal.
Democrats have the numbers in Congress
A key reason Democrats aren’t backing down is that the numbers in Congress are on their side.
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has emphasized repeatedly, his conference is currently fractured, with as many as 15 to 20 Republicans poised to vote against any new stimulus, including the HEALS Act, the piecemeal counterproposal Republicans rolled out two weeks ago. “If you’re looking for total consensus among Republican senators, you’re not going to find one,” McConnell said last Tuesday.
That split means that Republicans will need substantial Democratic support for any compromise to pass the Senate. Were the 53-person Republican conference to stay united, they would typically require seven Democrats to join them in order to avoid any filibuster and approve a bill in the upper chamber. Because of the anticipated GOP defections, they’d likely need a much higher number to do so on this legislation.
Schumer alluded to this dynamic while addressing the factors at play last Friday. “The House doesn’t have the votes to go south of $2 trillion; the Senate Democrats don’t have the votes to go south of $2 trillion,” he said.
Since the 2018 midterms, Democrats have been able to use their majority in the House as a key pressure point in negotiations about the government shutdown and earlier stimulus packages. Due to the divides in the Senate GOP conference this time around, they have even more leverage in the upper chamber.
Republicans are set to bear more of the political backlash, for now
In addition to the advantage they have in Congress, Democrats are also set to face less political backlash than Republicans are — for now. That dynamic enables them to push the GOP to consider a more comprehensive package, since it’s in Republicans’ political interest to take action on the matter as well.
Because they are the party in power in both the White House and the Senate, Republicans are seen as the ones who are most likely to get the blame in this November’s elections if Congress doesn’t approve more stimulus and the economic fallout persists, experts say.
“Voters are likelier to hold the incumbent presidential party more responsible for the state of the economy, and the country as a whole,” says Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia. “From a purely political perspective, Republicans should have more incentive to stimulate the economy than the Democrats.”
Recent polling, after all, shows that a majority of voters on both sides of the aisle support additional stimulus. A Reuters/Ipsos poll fielded in mid-July found that 76 percent of voters back an extension of enhanced weekly UI. Vulnerable Senate Republicans, as well as Trump, could see serious electoral fallout in November if Congress doesn’t act and the economy is still struggling.
“Depending on how popular stimulus is in some of these states, how many people are fearing unemployment, it can certainly cost votes for Republicans” if nothing gets done, Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, previously told Vox.
Democrats, too, could face some of that blowback if this impasse continues, though they have the advantage of being able to point to actions they’ve already taken. This past May, Democrats passed the HEROES Act, their attempt at another round of stimulus, which would extend enhanced UI through the end of January and provide more than $900 billion in funds to state and local governments.
“I think Democrats should feel like they are in a pretty good position right now,” says Jim Manley, a staffer for Harry Reid during his tenure as Senate majority leader. “The speaker came down and Republicans refused to make a commensurate move.”
The ongoing impasse between the parties, though, means that millions of Americans on unemployment insurance are waiting to see what comes next, even as many have already seen a sharp drop in their weekly benefits.
Will you become our 20,000th supporter? When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions, we weren’t sure how it would go. Today, we’re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in. The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it, too. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy. That’s never been more important than today, during a public health crisis, racial justice protests, a recession, and a presidential election. But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive, and advertising alone won’t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Contribute today from as little as $3.


vox--2020-08-11--Tuesday’s Georgia runoff could help launch the Congressional QAnon Caucus

Marjorie Taylor Greene , currently the leading candidate in the race for Georgia ’ s 14th Congressional District seat , has a campaign that marries two powerful political forces : conspiracy theories and racism .
In doing so , Greene could give new energy to Trumpism in the next Congress .
Like President Donald Trump , Greene has played on racist tropes , anti-Semitism , and conspiracy theories to amass a reputation for repudiating political correctness in favor of “ truth-telling.
” She has , for instance , called Q , the purported leader of the QAnon conspiracy theory — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from “ deep state ” pedophiles and other malcontents — a patriot .
She ’ s called George Soros , a Jewish Democratic donor , a Nazi .
And she boasts a long history of decrying Islam , denying racial inequality , and defending Confederate memorabilia .
Now Greene seems poised to win a seat in Congress .
She leads the Republican field in Tuesday ’ s runoff election against John Cowan , a local neurosurgeon , for the US House of Representatives seat representing the 14th District in Georgia .
The 14th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s northwest corner .
More than 85 percent of its constituents are white .
It is a conservative , deep-red district that is rated Solid Republican by the Cook Political Report .
And nationally , the race has garnered attention as one of a number with prominent QAnon candidates that , together , seem indicative of Republican Party ’ s future — and how much sway Trump ’ s controversial political style may hold over the party ’ s direction in the years to come .
Establishment Republicans have struggled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico published an exposé featuring videos of Greene making antagonistic and xenophobic comments .
In one clip , taken from the candidate ’ s YouTube page , Greene says : “ Let me explain something to you , Mohammed !
Let me explain .
We already have equality and justice for all Americans .
Muslims are not being held back in any way ... what you people want is special treatment , you want to rise above us , and that ’ s what we ’ re against !
After the story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rep. Steve Scalise , the House Republican whip , called her statements “ disgusting ” in the New York Times , and a spokesperson for House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney called the comments “ offensive and bigoted ” in Politico .
However , while House leadership rebuked her comments , these types of statements were not without precedent — particularly at the top of the Republican ticket .
President Trump has built his political career levying similar racist and xenophobic statements , like insinuating that Barack Obama was not a citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were violent criminals , and telling female Congress members of color to return to their home countries .
Beyond racism , Greene also supports , and has promoted , QAnon .
It is a conspiracy theory that believes a pedophilic “ deep state ” of federal officials is working against Trump — and that he has a secret strategy to defeat them .
Greene has previously said on YouTube that she ’ s “ very excited about that now there ’ s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president to do it.
” This adherence is concerning in part because believers in conspiracy theories like these have shown themselves to act erratically , if not violently , in recent years .
For example , in 2016 , a man fired gunshots into a pizza restaurant in Washington , DC , because a similar conspiracy theory had suggested there was a secret pedophile ring connected to Hillary Clinton being run from the basement .
Some experts , like Media Matters president Angelo Carusone , fear bringing this type of fringe thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theorists , including those with a willingness to attempt dangerous attacks .
Greene ’ s racist comments and her naked embrace of fringe conspiracy theories appear to have won her support in her district , but threaten to undermine the more tempered political vision of some moderate Republicans seeking to realign the party for a potential Trump loss .
Rising Republican star Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan recently argued in an Atlantic interview on the future of the party that “ successful politics is about addition and multiplication , not subtraction and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the goal of the GOP to build “ a big tent.
” Likewise , last month , Oren Cass , a former staffer for Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , critiqued the Trumpism and the Republican orthodoxy of the past 20 years , arguing their limited scope will increasingly make it difficult for Republicans to hold on to power : “ The kind of coalition that those ideas were built for does not seem to have any potential as a majority coalition , ” Cass told Vox ’ s Ezra Klein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s presidency looms , many in the GOP disagree on the direction for a post-Trump norm .
Some , like Hogan , push for a moderate vision ; others , like Sen. Ben Sasse , have taken up the cause of fiscal conservatism ; and still others , like Rep. Doug Collins , advocate for a focus on “ law and order.
” Meanwhile , Republicans like Greene and fellow QAnon-aligned candidate Lauren Boebert are pushing to take Trumpism to its logical end — with more racism and conspiracy theories .
Strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for a transition to a more approachable , pluralistic , economically populist Republican Party .
This year , several Republican candidates have successfully campaigned for office by tapping into conspiratorial thinking .
According to the Media Matters QAnon tracker , “ Nineteen candidates — 18 Republicans and one independent — have already secured a spot on the ballot in November by competing in primary elections or by fulfilling other requirements needed to get on the ballot.
” If these candidates win in November , experts fear it will institutionalize fringe thinking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with having a potential for a popularly elected caucus that has no basis in fact , or as untethered by campaigning on evidence , ” Graham Brookie , a specialist in disinformation and the director of the Atlantic Council ’ s Digital Forensic Research Lab , told Vox .
“ It would be dangerous to have a cadre of elected officials in the House ’ s representatives that believes the federal government is trying to overthrow itself violently.
” And it is dangerous in part because , although 18 members would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the Tea Party have caused the GOP trouble — and transformed it — in the past .
QAnon candidates have been so successful , in part , due to institutional distrust endemic in the GOP caucus .
Many “ elements of the worldview underpinning QAnon don ’ t look all that different from what ’ s coming from the top of the ticket , ” Vox ’ s Cameron Peters writes in explaining the group ’ s electoral popularity .
Peters notes that a Yahoo News/YouGov poll from late May found “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News as their primary TV news source believe the conspiracy theory ( that Bill Gates wants to use mass vaccination to implant microchips ) , and 44 percent of voters who cast ballots for Trump in 2016 do as well.
” This success , which includes Greene ’ s lead in her conservative Georgia district , offers a preview for how party grassroots elected officials with a strong affinity for Trump and his style may proceed in his absence .
With Trump trailing in national polls , a second term in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the presence of Greene and other QAnon supporters in Congress would ensure , at the very least , the continued projection of virulent racism and misinformation into the national discourse .
Will you become our 20,000th supporter ?
When the economy took a downturn in the spring and we started asking readers for financial contributions , we weren ’ t sure how it would go .
Today , we ’ re humbled to say that nearly 20,000 people have chipped in .
The reason is both lovely and surprising : Readers told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value explanation and because they value that other people can access it , too .
We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy .
That ’ s never been more important than today , during a public health crisis , racial justice protests , a recession , and a presidential election .
But our distinctive explanatory journalism is expensive , and advertising alone won ’ t let us keep creating it at the quality and volume this moment requires .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free for all .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Marjorie Taylor Greene, currently the leading candidate in the race for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District seat, has a campaign that marries two powerful political forces: conspiracy theories and racism. In doing so, Greene could give new energy to Trumpism in the next Congress.
Like President Donald Trump, Greene has played on racist tropes, anti-Semitism, and conspiracy theories to amass a reputation for repudiating political correctness in favor of “truth-telling.” She has, for instance, called Q, the purported leader of the QAnon conspiracy theory — which claims Trump will save the US from “deep state” pedophiles and other malcontents — a patriot. She’s called George Soros, a Jewish Democratic donor, a Nazi. And she boasts a long history of decrying Islam, denying racial inequality, and defending Confederate memorabilia.
Related Trump just embraced followers of the QAnon conspiracy movement
Now Greene seems poised to win a seat in Congress. She leads the Republican field in Tuesday’s runoff election against John Cowan, a local neurosurgeon, for the US House of Representatives seat representing the 14th District in Georgia. The 14th stretches from the Atlanta suburbs to the state’s northwest corner. More than 85 percent of its constituents are white. It is a conservative, deep-red district that is rated Solid Republican by the Cook Political Report.
And nationally, the race has garnered attention as one of a number with prominent QAnon candidates that, together, seem indicative of Republican Party’s future — and how much sway Trump’s controversial political style may hold over the party’s direction in the years to come.
Establishment Republicans have struggled to manage bigotry and conspiracism
In June, Politico published an exposé featuring videos of Greene making antagonistic and xenophobic comments. In one clip, taken from the candidate’s YouTube page, Greene says: “Let me explain something to you, Mohammed! Let me explain. We already have equality and justice for all Americans. Muslims are not being held back in any way ... what you people want is special treatment, you want to rise above us, and that’s what we’re against!
After the story, mainstream Republicans rebuffed Greene’s campaign. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip, called her statements “disgusting” in the New York Times, and a spokesperson for House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney called the comments “offensive and bigoted” in Politico.
However, while House leadership rebuked her comments, these types of statements were not without precedent — particularly at the top of the Republican ticket. President Trump has built his political career levying similar racist and xenophobic statements, like insinuating that Barack Obama was not a citizen, insisting that broad swaths of Mexicans were violent criminals, and telling female Congress members of color to return to their home countries.
Beyond racism, Greene also supports, and has promoted, QAnon. It is a conspiracy theory that believes a pedophilic “deep state” of federal officials is working against Trump — and that he has a secret strategy to defeat them. Greene has previously said on YouTube that she’s “very excited about that now there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it.”
This adherence is concerning in part because believers in conspiracy theories like these have shown themselves to act erratically, if not violently, in recent years. For example, in 2016, a man fired gunshots into a pizza restaurant in Washington, DC, because a similar conspiracy theory had suggested there was a secret pedophile ring connected to Hillary Clinton being run from the basement. Some experts, like Media Matters president Angelo Carusone, fear bringing this type of fringe thinking to Congress would amplify the number of conspiracy theorists, including those with a willingness to attempt dangerous attacks.
Greene’s racist comments and her naked embrace of fringe conspiracy theories appear to have won her support in her district, but threaten to undermine the more tempered political vision of some moderate Republicans seeking to realign the party for a potential Trump loss.
Rising Republican star Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently argued in an Atlantic interview on the future of the party that “successful politics is about addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division,” and that it should be the goal of the GOP to build “a big tent.” Likewise, last month, Oren Cass, a former staffer for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), critiqued the Trumpism and the Republican orthodoxy of the past 20 years, arguing their limited scope will increasingly make it difficult for Republicans to hold on to power: “The kind of coalition that those ideas were built for does not seem to have any potential as a majority coalition,” Cass told Vox’s Ezra Klein.
As a potential end to Trump’s presidency looms, many in the GOP disagree on the direction for a post-Trump norm. Some, like Hogan, push for a moderate vision; others, like Sen. Ben Sasse, have taken up the cause of fiscal conservatism; and still others, like Rep. Doug Collins, advocate for a focus on “law and order.” Meanwhile, Republicans like Greene and fellow QAnon-aligned candidate Lauren Boebert are pushing to take Trumpism to its logical end — with more racism and conspiracy theories.
Greene epitomizes the potential peril of a “Congressional QAnon Caucus”
Strong support for candidates like Greene undermines this push for a transition to a more approachable, pluralistic, economically populist Republican Party. This year, several Republican candidates have successfully campaigned for office by tapping into conspiratorial thinking. According to the Media Matters QAnon tracker, “Nineteen candidates — 18 Republicans and one independent — have already secured a spot on the ballot in November by competing in primary elections or by fulfilling other requirements needed to get on the ballot.”
If these candidates win in November, experts fear it will institutionalize fringe thinking. “There’s a huge concern with having a potential for a popularly elected caucus that has no basis in fact, or as untethered by campaigning on evidence,” Graham Brookie, a specialist in disinformation and the director of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, told Vox. “It would be dangerous to have a cadre of elected officials in the House’s representatives that believes the federal government is trying to overthrow itself violently.”
And it is dangerous in part because, although 18 members would be a small caucus, small but vocal caucuses like the Tea Party have caused the GOP trouble — and transformed it — in the past.
QAnon candidates have been so successful, in part, due to institutional distrust endemic in the GOP caucus. Many “elements of the worldview underpinning QAnon don’t look all that different from what’s coming from the top of the ticket,” Vox’s Cameron Peters writes in explaining the group’s electoral popularity. Peters notes that a Yahoo News/YouGov poll from late May found “half of all Americans who name Fox News as their primary TV news source believe the conspiracy theory (that Bill Gates wants to use mass vaccination to implant microchips), and 44 percent of voters who cast ballots for Trump in 2016 do as well.”
This success, which includes Greene’s lead in her conservative Georgia district, offers a preview for how party grassroots elected officials with a strong affinity for Trump and his style may proceed in his absence. With Trump trailing in national polls, a second term in the White House is not a sure thing — but the presence of Greene and other QAnon supporters in Congress would ensure, at the very least, the continued projection of virulent racism and misinformation into the national discourse.
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