vox--2020-02-07--How Hong Kong’s protests are shaping the response to the coronavirus

A 39-year-old man died this week from the coronavirus in Hong Kong , one of just two deaths that have occurred from the virus outside of mainland China .
The death , along with about two dozen confirmed cases of the virus in the city-state , is fueling fears in Hong Kong over the potential spread of the coronavirus from mainland China , where more than 28,000 cases have been reported so far .
But anger is also brewing at the government ’ s handling of the crisis — specifically its refusal to close Hong Kong ’ s borders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular : Chief Executive Carrie Lam , who is facing widespread criticism for what many see as her failure to protect the public safety and health of Hongkongers .
Lam has resisted completely sealing off Hong Kong ’ s borders with mainland China , having closed all but three of Hong Kong ’ s 14 crossings .
Lam has said that the “ almost unique ” relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China would make a total shutdown too disruptive and discriminatory .
The government has also instituted a 14-day quarantine on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been under serious pressure for months , even before the coronavirus hit .
She attempted to push through a controversial extradition bill in June that led to sustained protests in Hong Kong against the growing interference from Beijing in Hong Kong ’ s affairs .
Lam withdrew the bill in September , but the pro-democracy demonstrations continued over the government ’ s response and the police ’ s treatment of protesters .
Now , Lam ’ s reluctance to take more aggressive measures against the coronavirus has provoked widespread pushback from hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government critics and allies alike .
Thousands of newly unionized health care and hospital workers went on strike this week , stressing that Lam ’ s inaction threatened to overwhelm the territory ’ s health care system , especially if mainland Chinese visitors sought medical care in Hong Kong .
C.L.
, a 40-year-old drama teacher in Hong Kong I spoke with , told me he ’ s frustrated that Lam is keeping the doors wide open .
“ Look , I never thought I would say this , but Trump saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — I kind of agree with him right now .
That actually makes some fucking sense now , because our chief executive isn ’ t doing shit to protect our people.
” In Hong Kong , politics has intensified mistrust of government Hong Kong ’ s pro-democracy protests have quieted down in recent weeks , in part because of arrests and injuries .
But the months of unrest have colored Hongkongers ’ reactions to the coronavirus .
Mass protests have intensified distrust of Lam ’ s government , especially among the pro-democracy activists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to Beijing , and her government ’ s crackdown on the demonstrators convinced protesters that China , not Lam , was making the decisions for Hong Kong .
Lam ’ s reluctance to take more proactive measures against China in the wake of the coronavirus has further hardened the opinion that she ’ s taking orders from Beijing , and doing so at the expense of Hongkongers .
“ Many of us feel like Lam ’ s priority is Beijing ’ s government ’ s feelings , rather than the feelings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28-year-old Hongkonger who works in media , told me via WhatsApp .
“ She didn ’ t make a prompt decision to stop the virus spreading in our city.
” The skepticism about Lam ’ s motives has also fueled a more general mistrust among Hongkongers that could make it harder for the government to deal with an emergency like the potential spread of the coronavirus .
“ The way I see it , she just doesn ’ t have any control over the situation in Hong Kong ; Beijing is actually controlling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the puppet , ” C.L .
said .
“ There ’ s been conspiracy [ theories ] going around the reason why she doesn ’ t close borders.
” Hongkongers I spoke to , mostly via text or phone calls over encrypted messaging apps , cited multiple conspiracy theories that have taken hold .
Some have suggested Lam might be using the coronavirus to punish Hongkongers for months of protests or to distract from the still-simmering anti-government sentiment .
Another theory is that Lam is keeping the borders open so that Chinese officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong — like the rest of the world — is also dealing with a face-mask shortage , and Hongkongers have criticized Lam ’ s lackluster response there , too .
“ We feel like Lam has done NOTHING to solve the problem of the lack of face masks , ” Yvonne texted via WhatsApp .
“ Elderlies have to queue overnight [ to buy ] a box of face masks.
” Lam was criticized for instructing civil servants not to wear face masks unless they were visibly sick , insisting she wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later apologized , but some suspected that Lam had discouraged their use because the face masks had become such a prominent symbol of the protest movement .
The Hong Kong government is now allowing female inmates at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution to volunteer to make face masks in an effort to increase production , but questions remain on how those masks will be distributed .
And some Hongkongers doubted Lam ’ s claims that masks were prioritized for health care workers , with reports that masks are going to groups and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a rumor spread online that claimed Hong Kong would face an imminent toilet-paper shortage .
It caused a massive run on bath tissue , leaving store shelves empty .
One Hongkonger told me he believes pro-Beijing forces spread the misinformation online to trick Hongkongers into believing there would be supply shortages if the city sealed its borders with China .
This mistrust of the government makes it easy for misinformation to spread — all of which is exacerbated by genuine fears over the coronavirus .
Victoria Hui , an associate professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me there ’ s a new joke going around : that the coronavirus mutated and is now causing people to stop using their brains .
Unlike the pro-democracy protests , which have split the city into the “ blue ” ( supporters of the police ) and “ yellow ” ( supporters of the protesters ) camps , concerns over the coronavirus have transcended politics .
As Samuel , a 37-year-old medical worker in Hong Kong , told me : “ It doesn ’ t matter the political view.
” Hong Kong ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many worry that the coronavirus will further isolate the city-state , deepening its economic woes .
Businesses already struggling worry that even more people will stay home and that tourism and business travel to the territory will slow further , making the situation worse .
Several airlines , including American Airlines , United Airlines , and Virgin Australia , have canceled flights to Hong Kong over coronavirus concerns .
Schools in Hong Kong are also closed until March 2 , leaving students and teachers stuck at home and causing child care problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard hit by the SARS coronavirus in 2003 , with nearly 300 Hongkongers killed .
Citizens do not want a repeat with this new coronavirus , and it ’ s why even those who ’ d normally be sympathetic to Lam have opposed her measures .
“ When it comes to politics , some people may understand and stand with you , but when it comes to heath , and when people can actually die from this — and also because Hong Kong went through SARS — this goes way beyond frustration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are angry , ” she said .
The pro-democracy protests have given citizens a blueprint for pushing back against the government The evolution of Hong Kong ’ s protest movement has made citizens better equipped to challenge the government ’ s policies on the coronavirus .
More than 6,000 hospital workers went on strike this week to protest Lam ’ s decision not to close Hong Kong ’ s borders .
On Friday , the union finally agreed to end a week-long strike after it failed to generate enough votes to continue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t mean we are giving up , ” Winnie Yu Wai-ming , who leads the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance ( HAEA ) , said Friday .
But before then , the strike had swelled to more than 6,000 workers and hundreds of doctors and nurses occupied some floors of the Hospital Authority , which manages Hong Kong ’ s hospitals .
This strike has its roots in the anti-government protests .
The Hospital Authority Employees Alliance is a newly formed union that grew out of those demonstrations .
As Timothy McLaughlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained demonstrations have led to a surge of interest in organized labor : Numbers from the city ’ s labor department show that one dozen unions were established in the final two months of 2019 , the HAEA among them.
” “ This is why forming unions is such a big deal , ” Hsui told me .
“ To stay on the street is not the most effective way ...
Organizing boycotts and strikes — these are actually the most powerful tools that any opposition movement can use , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works in financial services , told me that the health care workers strike adds to the pressure on Lam , and unlike the protests she can ’ t use police force or threaten anything other than their jobs .
But he added , “ I don ’ t know whether this changes anything in terms of administration at this point.
” So far , Lam hasn ’ t budged .
That , of course , has merely intensified the outrage against her government .
Fury , not fear , is what Hong Kongers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As C.L .
said , “ You ’ re so angry , you don ’ t scare easy anymore .
”

A 39-year-old man died this week from the coronavirus in Hong Kong, one of just two deaths that have occurred from the virus outside of mainland China.
The death, along with about two dozen confirmed cases of the virus in the city-state, is fueling fears in Hong Kong over the potential spread of the coronavirus from mainland China, where more than 28,000 cases have been reported so far.
But anger is also brewing at the government’s handling of the crisis — specifically its refusal to close Hong Kong’s borders.
Fury is being directed at one person in particular: Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who is facing widespread criticism for what many see as her failure to protect the public safety and health of Hongkongers.
Lam has resisted completely sealing off Hong Kong’s borders with mainland China, having closed all but three of Hong Kong’s 14 crossings. Lam has said that the “almost unique” relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China would make a total shutdown too disruptive and discriminatory. The government has also instituted a 14-day quarantine on all visitors from mainland China.
Lam has been under serious pressure for months, even before the coronavirus hit. She attempted to push through a controversial extradition bill in June that led to sustained protests in Hong Kong against the growing interference from Beijing in Hong Kong’s affairs. Lam withdrew the bill in September, but the pro-democracy demonstrations continued over the government’s response and the police’s treatment of protesters.
Now, Lam’s reluctance to take more aggressive measures against the coronavirus has provoked widespread pushback from hospital workers, business leaders, and both government critics and allies alike.
Thousands of newly unionized health care and hospital workers went on strike this week, stressing that Lam’s inaction threatened to overwhelm the territory’s health care system, especially if mainland Chinese visitors sought medical care in Hong Kong.
C.L., a 40-year-old drama teacher in Hong Kong I spoke with, told me he’s frustrated that Lam is keeping the doors wide open. “Look, I never thought I would say this, but Trump saying he would build a wall on the border — I kind of agree with him right now. That actually makes some fucking sense now, because our chief executive isn’t doing shit to protect our people.”
In Hong Kong, politics has intensified mistrust of government
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests have quieted down in recent weeks, in part because of arrests and injuries.
But the months of unrest have colored Hongkongers’ reactions to the coronavirus. Mass protests have intensified distrust of Lam’s government, especially among the pro-democracy activists and their supporters. Lam has close ties to Beijing, and her government’s crackdown on the demonstrators convinced protesters that China, not Lam, was making the decisions for Hong Kong.
Lam’s reluctance to take more proactive measures against China in the wake of the coronavirus has further hardened the opinion that she’s taking orders from Beijing, and doing so at the expense of Hongkongers.
“Many of us feel like Lam’s priority is Beijing’s government’s feelings, rather than the feelings of HK citizens,” Yvonne, a 28-year-old Hongkonger who works in media, told me via WhatsApp. “She didn’t make a prompt decision to stop the virus spreading in our city.”
The skepticism about Lam’s motives has also fueled a more general mistrust among Hongkongers that could make it harder for the government to deal with an emergency like the potential spread of the coronavirus.
“The way I see it, she just doesn’t have any control over the situation in Hong Kong; Beijing is actually controlling Hong Kong, and Carrie Lam is the puppet,” C.L. said. “There’s been conspiracy [theories] going around the reason why she doesn’t close borders.”
Hongkongers I spoke to, mostly via text or phone calls over encrypted messaging apps, cited multiple conspiracy theories that have taken hold. Some have suggested Lam might be using the coronavirus to punish Hongkongers for months of protests or to distract from the still-simmering anti-government sentiment. Another theory is that Lam is keeping the borders open so that Chinese officials can easily flee to the city.
Hong Kong — like the rest of the world — is also dealing with a face-mask shortage, and Hongkongers have criticized Lam’s lackluster response there, too. “We feel like Lam has done NOTHING to solve the problem of the lack of face masks,” Yvonne texted via WhatsApp. “Elderlies have to queue overnight [to buy] a box of face masks.”
Lam was criticized for instructing civil servants not to wear face masks unless they were visibly sick, insisting she wanted them saved for medical professionals. She later apologized, but some suspected that Lam had discouraged their use because the face masks had become such a prominent symbol of the protest movement.
The Hong Kong government is now allowing female inmates at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution to volunteer to make face masks in an effort to increase production, but questions remain on how those masks will be distributed. And some Hongkongers doubted Lam’s claims that masks were prioritized for health care workers, with reports that masks are going to groups and people who are notably pro-government.
This week, a rumor spread online that claimed Hong Kong would face an imminent toilet-paper shortage. It caused a massive run on bath tissue, leaving store shelves empty. One Hongkonger told me he believes pro-Beijing forces spread the misinformation online to trick Hongkongers into believing there would be supply shortages if the city sealed its borders with China.
This mistrust of the government makes it easy for misinformation to spread — all of which is exacerbated by genuine fears over the coronavirus.
Victoria Hui, an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, told me there’s a new joke going around: that the coronavirus mutated and is now causing people to stop using their brains.
Unlike the pro-democracy protests, which have split the city into the “blue” (supporters of the police) and “yellow” (supporters of the protesters) camps, concerns over the coronavirus have transcended politics. As Samuel, a 37-year-old medical worker in Hong Kong, told me: “It doesn’t matter the political view.”
Hong Kong’s economy is also in recession, and many worry that the coronavirus will further isolate the city-state, deepening its economic woes. Businesses already struggling worry that even more people will stay home and that tourism and business travel to the territory will slow further, making the situation worse.
Several airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Australia, have canceled flights to Hong Kong over coronavirus concerns. Schools in Hong Kong are also closed until March 2, leaving students and teachers stuck at home and causing child care problems for working parents.
Hong Kong was hard hit by the SARS coronavirus in 2003, with nearly 300 Hongkongers killed. Citizens do not want a repeat with this new coronavirus, and it’s why even those who’d normally be sympathetic to Lam have opposed her measures.
“When it comes to politics, some people may understand and stand with you, but when it comes to heath, and when people can actually die from this — and also because Hong Kong went through SARS — this goes way beyond frustration,” Hui told me.
“People are angry,” she said.
The pro-democracy protests have given citizens a blueprint for pushing back against the government
The evolution of Hong Kong’s protest movement has made citizens better equipped to challenge the government’s policies on the coronavirus.
More than 6,000 hospital workers went on strike this week to protest Lam’s decision not to close Hong Kong’s borders. On Friday, the union finally agreed to end a week-long strike after it failed to generate enough votes to continue the stoppage into next week.
“It doesn’t mean we are giving up,” Winnie Yu Wai-ming, who leads the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance (HAEA), said Friday.
But before then, the strike had swelled to more than 6,000 workers and hundreds of doctors and nurses occupied some floors of the Hospital Authority, which manages Hong Kong’s hospitals.
This strike has its roots in the anti-government protests. The Hospital Authority Employees Alliance is a newly formed union that grew out of those demonstrations. As Timothy McLaughlin wrote in the Atlantic, “The sustained demonstrations have led to a surge of interest in organized labor: Numbers from the city’s labor department show that one dozen unions were established in the final two months of 2019, the HAEA among them.”
“This is why forming unions is such a big deal,” Hui told me. “To stay on the street is not the most effective way ... Organizing boycotts and strikes — these are actually the most powerful tools that any opposition movement can use,” she said.
Jason, a 30-year-old Hongkonger who works in financial services, told me that the health care workers strike adds to the pressure on Lam, and unlike the protests she can’t use police force or threaten anything other than their jobs. But he added, “I don’t know whether this changes anything in terms of administration at this point.”
So far, Lam hasn’t budged. That, of course, has merely intensified the outrage against her government. Fury, not fear, is what Hong Kongers are increasingly feeling about the coronavirus. As C.L. said, “You’re so angry, you don’t scare easy anymore.”


vox--2020-02-07--Donny Deutsch said Elizabeth Warren wasn’t the target of sexism — while being sexist

In a stunning segment on MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe , commentator Donny Deutsch argued that sexism wasn ’ t a factor in how voters were evaluating Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s candidacy — while simultaneously making a series of sexist statements about her .
“ Is it a woman or is it her ?
” he asked .
“ There ’ s a certain stridentness to her that , do we want to invite her into our bedrooms and our living rooms every day for four years ?
” Deutsch ’ s critique about Warren came amid a conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s emerged about whether a woman can beat President Trump in the wake of Hillary Clinton ’ s loss in 2016 .
It ’ s a question that rests on the faulty assumption that Clinton ’ s gender was the central factor in her defeat — and that it would be the deciding factor , once again , in the candidacy of any other woman that comes after her .
Deutsch , however , took the conversation in an entirely different direction that also managed to play up several sexist tropes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had , ” Deutsch said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s a gender issue — I think it ’ s a likability issue.
” Deutsch ’ s framing of his statements ignores the obvious subtext : Comments about a candidate ’ s “ strident ” behavior and “ likability ” have long predominately been used in attacks against women candidates .
“ Strident , ” for one , much like the terms “ shrill ” and “ abrasive , ” is a word that ’ s developed a gendered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is levied in ways to criticize women on a personal level , suggesting that they ’ re difficult to be around .
As one linguist and tech entrepreneur found in a 2014 study of workplace reviews , an overwhelming number of women received critical feedback on their personality including similar terms , while very few men garnered such comments .
Likability , too , is a litmus test that ’ s predominantly applied to women .
According to research from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation , people are less likely to vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll still back a man they don ’ t like as long as they think he ’ s qualified .
Deutsch ’ s comments are the latest to hold women to a different standard than their male counterparts , while promoting troubling stereotypes about how women in power can be perceived .
If all that wasn ’ t enough , Deutsch rounded out his commentary by making a statement about Warren that ’ s so comically overused it ’ s the subject of a cutting McSweeney ’ s parody .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great anecdote ... a different definition of strength , if you will , ” he said .
“ Strength to strength but a different way .
But I don ’ t think Elizabeth Warren ’ s problem has been she ’ s a woman.
” Effectively , Deutsch said : I ’ d support a woman — just not that woman .
It ’ s a statement we ’ ve all heard before .
Deutsch ’ s comments capture the biases that women are still up against — and the bind it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustrate , in a nutshell , the constant sexism that women candidates deal with — and how it puts them in an impossible bind .
If a candidate acknowledges sexism , for example , it can feel like they ’ re opening the door to critics arguing that sexism will hurt and doom their campaign .
“ We have to acknowledge that the biases really make this tough for women , but not impossible , and that there may be female candidates who are really worth fighting for , and then we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think it works to just live in denial about the biases.
” Deutsch appears to deny the role that sexism continues to play , while contributing to its pernicious effects himself .

In a stunning segment on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, commentator Donny Deutsch argued that sexism wasn’t a factor in how voters were evaluating Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy — while simultaneously making a series of sexist statements about her.
“Is it a woman or is it her?” he asked. “There’s a certain stridentness to her that, do we want to invite her into our bedrooms and our living rooms every day for four years?”
Deutsch’s critique about Warren came amid a conversation about electability, and a debate that’s emerged about whether a woman can beat President Trump in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016. It’s a question that rests on the faulty assumption that Clinton’s gender was the central factor in her defeat — and that it would be the deciding factor, once again, in the candidacy of any other woman that comes after her.
Deutsch, however, took the conversation in an entirely different direction that also managed to play up several sexist tropes.
“She has the same issue Bernie had,” Deutsch said. “I don’t think it’s a gender issue — I think it’s a likability issue.”
Donny Deutsch’s Elizabeth Warren comments on Morning Joe made me question, as I do again & again,how he has the platform to continue to spew such nonsense. As if a man who said a viable woman candidate must be sexy can be trusted to tell us the role sexism is playing in the elect https://t.co/6RCUZoq1v4 — Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) February 7, 2020
Donny Deutsch on @Morning_Joe saying the problem for @ewarren is not misogyny (because we've had so many women presidents...) but--wait for it--SHE'S NOT LIKABLE ENOUGH. — Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) February 7, 2020
Deutsch’s framing of his statements ignores the obvious subtext: Comments about a candidate’s “strident” behavior and “likability” have long predominately been used in attacks against women candidates.
“Strident,” for one, much like the terms “shrill” and “abrasive,” is a word that’s developed a gendered connotation — and more often than not is levied in ways to criticize women on a personal level, suggesting that they’re difficult to be around. As one linguist and tech entrepreneur found in a 2014 study of workplace reviews, an overwhelming number of women received critical feedback on their personality including similar terms, while very few men garnered such comments.
Likability, too, is a litmus test that’s predominantly applied to women. According to research from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, people are less likely to vote for women they do not like, though they’ll still back a man they don’t like as long as they think he’s qualified. Deutsch’s comments are the latest to hold women to a different standard than their male counterparts, while promoting troubling stereotypes about how women in power can be perceived.
If all that wasn’t enough, Deutsch rounded out his commentary by making a statement about Warren that’s so comically overused it’s the subject of a cutting McSweeney’s parody.
“I think an amazing woman would be a great anecdote ... a different definition of strength, if you will,” he said. “Strength to strength but a different way. But I don’t think Elizabeth Warren’s problem has been she’s a woman.”
Effectively, Deutsch said: I’d support a woman — just not that woman. It’s a statement we’ve all heard before.
Deutsch’s comments capture the biases that women are still up against — and the bind it puts them in
Deutsch’s comments illustrate, in a nutshell, the constant sexism that women candidates deal with — and how it puts them in an impossible bind. If a candidate acknowledges sexism, for example, it can feel like they’re opening the door to critics arguing that sexism will hurt and doom their campaign.
It’s a fine line to tread, philosopher Kate Manne told Vox’s Sean Illing last year.
“We have to acknowledge that the biases really make this tough for women, but not impossible, and that there may be female candidates who are really worth fighting for, and then we have to go out and do that work,” she said. “I don’t think it works to just live in denial about the biases.”
Deutsch appears to deny the role that sexism continues to play, while contributing to its pernicious effects himself.


vox--2020-02-09--Final Iowa caucuses results expected just before New Hampshire begins voting

The Iowa Democratic Party is currently reviewing caucuses results from 95 precincts called into question by Democratic presidential candidates and will announce its findings on Monday , the party said in a statement on Saturday .
These final results are expected to come in before before 1 pm ET Monday , less than 24 hours before polls open in the New Hampshire primary , and should close the books on caucuses marred by a chaotic election night and lengthy results delays .
However , while the review may bring more clarity , it may not change the actual results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times ’ Trip Gabriel , an Iowa Democratic Party lawyer said the party can not change the voting records even if blatant mistakes are found , because doing so would violate of election law .
The lawyer said the only way to correct mistakes would be a formal recount .
That would require checking individual voter “ preference cards ” — cards on which caucus-goers recorded who they were caucusing for — but all of those cards aren ’ t believed to be accounted for .
Any recount would have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
After all of the precincts finally reported their results Thursday , presidential campaigns were allowed to contest those tallies by submitting evidence of inconsistencies between the reported results and official records .
The state party reportedly received challenges from the campaigns of Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders , as well as former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
The 95 precincts the campaigns challenged make up 5 percent of the state ’ s precincts .
While 5 percent may not seem like a lot , any changes made due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results .
At the moment , preliminary results show Buttigieg in first place in the state delegate equivalent count , with Sanders of Vermont close behind in second place — in fact , they are separated by just 0.09 percentage points .
First round caucus vote totals , reported this year for the first time , show Sanders in first place by a larger margin — around 6,000 votes — and Buttigieg in second .
Warren is in third by both counts .
“ They screwed it up badly is what the Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CNN ’ s State of the Union Sunday morning , adding later , “ The incompetence there in Iowa was just extraordinary.
” Buttigieg ’ s campaign has said the Iowa Democratic Party “ did the right thing ” in delaying results to ensure they ’ re accurate , but was quick to claim victory heading into the New Hampshire primary .
The Iowa caucuses “ represent an astonishing victory for our movement , ” he said on Tuesday .
While the caucuses are run by the Iowa Democratic Party , Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perez also expressed his frustration with state leaders Sunday , and suggested Iowa ’ s struggles may change how the DNC conducts elections going forward .
“ I ’ m frustrated , I ’ m mad as hell , everybody is , ” Perez said told CNN Sunday .
“ I think what we ’ re going to do at the end of this cycle is have a further conversation about whether or not state parties should be running elections.
” State party chair Troy Price has agreed “ an independent investigation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , the review of the results needs to be completed and a winner formally declared .
The Iowa caucuses are usually massively important to presidential primaries , whether you like it or not .
Nearly every Democratic presidential nominee of the last 40 years began their rise by winning the Iowa caucuses .
The contest has a huge effect on a candidate ’ s chances going into all of the primaries that follow , increasing media coverage and oftentimes fueling donor support , which can snowball into further popularity .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa results are a major kick in the gut for Democrats seeking to fire up voters .
So why did this happen ?
It comes down to a potent mix of technical problems and human error .
For the first time , precincts were tasked with reporting multiple results : the actual number of votes each candidate received in both the first and second rounds of caucusing and the amount of state delegates each candidate was to receive based on those second-round vote totals .
Those results were be reported through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People had trouble using the app , and phone lines used to call in results as a backup option were jammed for hours — in part thanks to trolls .
The party also instituted some rules changes around how caucus-goers were allowed to switch their support in an attempt to streamline the process and to make it less confusing .
However , all of these changes introduced more opportunity for human error .
The Iowa Democratic Party said when results started coming in , “ it became clear that there were inconsistencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communications Director Mandy McClure said afterward that the party could resolve these inconsistencies , but needed time to review photos of the results and “ a paper trail ” to do so , noting that there was no malicious intent that affected totals : “ This is not a hack or an intrusion.
” That review took time , and led to results being released in batches over much of last week .
And that led to Perez called upon the state party to immediately begin “ recanvassing ” — or auditing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first expected to be released in full .
“ Enough is enough , ” he wrote Thursday on Twitter .
The chaos has put some extra oomph behind calls to strip Iowa of its first in the nation status ; before the snafu , those in favor of changing state voting order argued Iowa doesn ’ t represent the diversity of the US and uses an inaccessible voting system .
Perez said Sunday those calls for change will be taken seriously — just not yet : “ That ’ s a conversation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said on State of the Union .
If new concerns should emerge following this latest review , it remains to be seen whether any candidates will request a formal recount .
Even if a campaign were to do so , how much of a difference those changes would make for any one individual candidate is not clear .
Buttigieg and Sanders , the men fighting over first place , have each already declared victory .
And most contenders — including those presidential candidates still grumbling over the opaque results — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire , whose citizens have their primary on February 11 .

The Iowa Democratic Party has completed its review of caucus results from 95 precincts called into question by Democratic presidential candidates, and has made a preliminary announcement of how many national delegates each candidate can expect.
Should these results be made final, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Buttigieg would receive 14 of 41 delegates, Sen. Bernie Sanders would receive 12, Sen. Elizabeth Warren would get eight, former Vice President Joe Biden would be awarded six, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar would get one.
Again, these numbers are preliminary. Candidates have until 1 pm ET on Monday to challenge them, and to request a formal recount.
The review that concluded Sunday was requested by the Warren, Buttigieg, and Sanders campaigns over concerns of inconsistencies between the reported results and official records. It did not involve recounting any results.
According to emails reviewed by the New York Times’s Trip Gabriel, an Iowa Democratic Party lawyer said the party could not change the voting records tallied on caucus worksheets even if blatant mistakes were found in the review, because doing so would violate election law. The lawyer said the only way to correct mistakes — other than those made in the reporting of the worksheets — would be a formal recount.
Such a recount would require checking individual voter “preference cards” — cards on which caucus-goers recorded who they were caucusing for — but not all of those cards are believed to be accounted for.
These preliminary delegate totals come nearly a week after the caucuses themselves, and ahead of their release, a number of candidates and party officials expressed frustration with how the process has unfolded.
“They screwed it up badly is what the Iowa Democratic Party did,” Sanders said on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning, adding later, “The incompetence there in Iowa was just extraordinary.”
“The incompetence there in Iowa was just extraordinary,” Sen. Bernie Sanders says about the delay in results from the Iowa caucuses. https://t.co/HmJeBCBgzD #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/57xfPWehTi — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 9, 2020
Wednesday, Buttigieg’s campaign said the Iowa Democratic Party “did the right thing” in delaying results to ensure they’re accurate, but was quick to claim victory heading into the New Hampshire primary. The Iowa caucuses “represent an astonishing victory for our movement,” he said on Tuesday.
While the caucuses are run by the Iowa Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Tom Perez also expressed his frustration with state leaders Sunday, and suggested Iowa’s struggles may change how the DNC conducts elections going forward.
“I’m frustrated, I’m mad as hell, everybody is,” Perez said told CNN Sunday. “I think what we’re going to do at the end of this cycle is have a further conversation about whether or not state parties should be running elections.”
State party chair Troy Price has agreed “an independent investigation of what happened is necessary” — but first, the party needs to ensure no campaign will challenge its results and formally declare a winner.
Technical problems and human error highlighted a messy electoral system
The Iowa caucuses are usually very important to presidential primaries, like it or not. Most Democratic presidential nominees in the past 40 years began their rise by winning the Iowa caucuses. The contest has a huge effect on a candidate’s chances going into all of the primaries that follow, increasing media coverage and oftentimes fueling donor support, which can snowball into further popularity.
That’s one reason why the unusual delay in Iowa results is a major kick in the gut for Democrats seeking to fire up voters.
So why did this happen? It comes down to a potent mix of technical problems and human error.
For the first time, precincts were tasked with reporting multiple results: the actual number of votes each candidate received in both the first and second rounds of caucusing and the amount of state delegates each candidate was to receive based on those second-round vote totals. Those results were be reported through a new smartphone app — also a first. People had trouble using the app, and phone lines used to call in results as a backup option were jammed for hours — in part because of trolling efforts.
The party also instituted some rules changes around how caucus-goers were allowed to switch their support in an attempt to streamline the process and to make it less confusing.
However, all of these changes introduced more opportunity for human error.
The Iowa Democratic Party said when results started coming in, “it became clear that there were inconsistencies with the reports.” Iowa Democratic Party communications director Mandy McClure said afterward that the party could resolve these inconsistencies, but needed time to review photos of the results and “a paper trail” to do so, noting that there was no malicious intent that affected totals: “This is not a hack or an intrusion.”
That review took time, and led to results being released in batches over much of last week.
And that led to Perez called upon the state party to immediately begin “recanvassing” — or auditing the results for accuracy days after they were first expected to be released in full. “Enough is enough,” he wrote Thursday on Twitter.
The chaos has put some extra oomph behind calls to strip Iowa of its first in the nation status; even before the snafu, those in favor of changing state voting order argued Iowa doesn’t represent the diversity of the US and uses an inaccessible voting system.
Perez said Sunday those calls for change will be taken seriously — just not yet: “That’s a conversation that will absolutely happen after the election cycle,” he said on State of the Union.
If new concerns should emerge following this latest review, it remains to be seen whether any candidates will request a formal recount. And even if a campaign were to request a recount, how much of a difference it could make for any particular candidate is not clear.
Buttigieg and Sanders, the candidates fighting over first place, have each already declared victory. And most contenders — including those presidential candidates still grumbling over the opaque results — have already turned their attention to New Hampshire, whose citizens have their primary on February 11.


vox--2020-02-09--Trump allies plan to keep investigating the Bidens — both officially and unofficially

Now that the President Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial has concluded , White House officials and administration allies are signaling readiness to move forward with investigations into the Biden family — the very thing that sparked the impeachment inquiry roughly half a year ago .
One of the main fronts in this process is set to take place through a backchannel , according to Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , a staunch Trump ally and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee .
On CBS ’ Face the Nation on Sunday , Graham , said Attorney General William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for receiving information about the Bidens from Ukraine , using Trump ’ s personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , as an intermediary .
This revelation came shortly after Giuliani claimed to have a uncovered a “ smoking gun ” involving former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter , that would legitimate Trump ’ s request last July for Ukraine ’ s then-new president to investigate him and his father .
Giuliani made the claim on Fox News ’ Watters ’ World Saturday night , saying that he and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share evidence of Biden ’ s son having engaged in corrupt activities .
“ I want to prove what happened , ” Giuliani told host Jesse Watters , “ Because I believe if we prove what happened , [ Trump ] will be totally vindicated.
” The lawyer then made a public request of the South Carolina senator , calling for him to begin an official Senate investigation into Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings in Ukraine .
Sunday , Graham affirmed that the Hunter Biden investigation would be “ explored , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Giuliani requested .
Instead he said it would take place within an information pipeline between Department of Justice , the White House , and Ukraine .
“ I ’ m not going to be the Republican Christopher Steele , ” Graham said , referring to the ex-British spy who compiled a dossier featuring salacious allegations against Trump .
“ If Rudy Giuliani has any information coming out of the Ukraine , he needs to turn over the Department of Justice because it could be Russian propaganda.
” He added , “ Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any American , Republican or Democrat , need to be looked at by the intelligence services , who has expertise I don ’ t because Russia is playing us all like a fiddle.
” Instead of following through his committee , Graham said , “ The Department of Justice is receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy .
...
They ’ ve created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it ’ s verified.
” It is not clear whether the president is on board with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message with an opaque meaning , he responded to a CBS Twitter advertisement for the interview with Graham by tweeting , “ DeFace the Nation will tell [ Graham ] that he must start up Judiciary and not stop until the job is done .
Clean up D.C. now , last chance !
” He followed that with a clearer message 20 minutes later , tweeting , “ Yes !
!
!
!
!
” in response to a conservative reporter ’ s tweet calling for a Senate investigation .
While it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for such an investigation — particularly since Trump ’ s opponents have argued he now feels unrestrained rather than chastened by the impeachment process — it would seem that the president ’ s desire for such an inquiry has materialized : Alongside the unofficial investigation that is evidently running between Giuliani and the DOJ , an official one appears to be underway on the Hill as well .
The Bidens also appear to be under investigation in the Senate Thursday , one day after Trump was acquitted , the New York Times reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs had requested documents related to Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings in Ukraine last year , a request that the Treasury Department has complied with .
The request suggests Republican senators are looking into Hunter ’ s finances using standard protocols for Senate investigations .
But some Democrats are accusing the administration of complying with this investigation in a way that it refused to in the impeachment inquiry .
“ Applying a blatant double standard , Trump administration agencies like the Treasury Department are rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoenas necessary — and producing ‘ evidence ’ of questionable origin , ” a spokesperson for Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee , said in a statement .
“ The administration told House Democrats to go pound sand when their oversight authority was mandatory while voluntarily cooperating with the Senate Republicans ’ sideshow at lightning speed.
” The Senate Finance Committee chair , Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa , pushed back on this allegation , according to the New York Times : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve kept in the loop on our investigations would recklessly seek to interfere with legitimate government oversight , ” said his spokesperson ; Grassley also reportedly confirmed the investigation is ongoing .
Hunter Biden sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company at the same time that his father , then the vice president , was overseeing policy in the region on behalf of the Obama administration .
His detractors — like Trump — have pointed to this as evidence of corruption within the Obama White House .
Trump and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden used the power of his position to help Hunter Biden and his business interests in both Ukraine and China .
Trump ’ s calls for those countries to investigate these allegations kicked off the impeachment inquiry that ended on Wednesday with acquittal .
Now that Trump is in the clear , and as the Democratic primary campaign ramps up — with Joe Biden still in the race — this administration has made clear it will continue looking into the Biden family indefinitely .

Now that the President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial has concluded, White House officials and administration allies are signaling readiness to move forward with investigations into the Biden family — the very thing that sparked the impeachment inquiry roughly half a year ago.
One of the main fronts in this process is set to take place through a backchannel, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch Trump ally and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
On CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, Graham, said Attorney General William Barr has set up a “process” for receiving information about the Bidens from Ukraine, using Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, as an intermediary.
This revelation came shortly after Giuliani claimed to have a uncovered a “smoking gun” involving former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, that would legitimate Trump’s request last July for Ukraine’s then-new president to investigate him and his father.
Giuliani made the claim on Fox News’ Watters’ World Saturday night, saying that he and his team now have three witnesses ready to share evidence of Biden’s son having engaged in corrupt activities.
“I want to prove what happened,” Giuliani told host Jesse Watters, “Because I believe if we prove what happened, [Trump] will be totally vindicated.”
The lawyer then made a public request of the South Carolina senator, calling for him to begin an official Senate investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine.
“Lindsey, get started,” Giuliani said.
Sunday, Graham affirmed that the Hunter Biden investigation would be “explored,” but expressed discomfort with leading it, as Giuliani requested. Instead he said it would take place within an information pipeline between Department of Justice, the White House, and Ukraine.
“I’m not going to be the Republican Christopher Steele,” Graham said, referring to the ex-British spy who compiled a dossier featuring salacious allegations against Trump. “If Rudy Giuliani has any information coming out of the Ukraine, he needs to turn over the Department of Justice because it could be Russian propaganda.”
Remarkable. Sen. Graham says he talked to AG Barr this morning and they have set up a "process" by which Rudy Giuliani will now send his Biden "dirt" directly to AG Barr. pic.twitter.com/gteVz53jIG — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 9, 2020
He added, “Any documents coming out of the Ukraine against any American, Republican or Democrat, need to be looked at by the intelligence services, who has expertise I don’t because Russia is playing us all like a fiddle.”
Instead of following through his committee, Graham said, “The Department of Justice is receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy. ... They’ve created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it’s verified.”
It is not clear whether the president is on board with this plan, however.
In a message with an opaque meaning, he responded to a CBS Twitter advertisement for the interview with Graham by tweeting, “DeFace the Nation will tell [Graham] that he must start up Judiciary and not stop until the job is done. Clean up D.C. now, last chance!”
He followed that with a clearer message 20 minutes later, tweeting, “Yes!!!!!” in response to a conservative reporter’s tweet calling for a Senate investigation.
While it’s questionable whether now is the time for such an investigation — particularly since Trump’s opponents have argued he now feels unrestrained rather than chastened by the impeachment process — it would seem that the president’s desire for such an inquiry has materialized: Alongside the unofficial investigation that is evidently running between Giuliani and the DOJ, an official one appears to be underway on the Hill as well.
The Bidens also appear to be under investigation in the Senate
Thursday, one day after Trump was acquitted, the New York Times reported that Senate Republicans on the Finance Committee and Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs had requested documents related to Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine last year, a request that the Treasury Department has complied with.
The request suggests Republican senators are looking into Hunter’s finances using standard protocols for Senate investigations. But some Democrats are accusing the administration of complying with this investigation in a way that it refused to in the impeachment inquiry.
“Applying a blatant double standard, Trump administration agencies like the Treasury Department are rapidly complying with Senate Republican requests — no subpoenas necessary — and producing ‘evidence’ of questionable origin,” a spokesperson for Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement. “The administration told House Democrats to go pound sand when their oversight authority was mandatory while voluntarily cooperating with the Senate Republicans’ sideshow at lightning speed.”
The Senate Finance Committee chair, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, pushed back on this allegation, according to the New York Times:
“It’s unfortunate that Democrats whom we’ve kept in the loop on our investigations would recklessly seek to interfere with legitimate government oversight,” said his spokesperson; Grassley also reportedly confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
Hunter Biden sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company at the same time that his father, then the vice president, was overseeing policy in the region on behalf of the Obama administration. His detractors — like Trump — have pointed to this as evidence of corruption within the Obama White House.
Trump and others alleged, without evidence, that Joe Biden used the power of his position to help Hunter Biden and his business interests in both Ukraine and China. Trump’s calls for those countries to investigate these allegations kicked off the impeachment inquiry that ended on Wednesday with acquittal.
Now that Trump is in the clear, and as the Democratic primary campaign ramps up — with Joe Biden still in the race — this administration has made clear it will continue looking into the Biden family indefinitely.


vox--2020-02-09--Joaquin Phoenix wore the same tux all awards season

It ’ s a rare moment when a celebrity steps onto the red carpet in an outfit they ’ ve worn before .
In recent awards ceremony history , only a few brave souls have done so .
In 2018 , the practice had a moment : Tiffany Haddish ’ s $ 4,000 Alexander McQueen gown became her punchline during the awards cycle , Cate Blanchett was praised for recycling her 2014 Armani gown that same year , and Rita Moreno wore her 1962 Oscars dress for the Academy Awards .
In January , Joaquin Phoenix announced that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 awards red carpet to promote sustainable fashion .
For the Joker star — an awards favorite — this move fits in with other aspects of his moral philosophy ; he ’ s an outspoken environmentalist and animal rights supporter .
The red carpet has increasingly become the place for celebrities to make bold political ( if not performative ) statements in favor of causes like climate change and Me Too .
Because it ’ s 2020 , the urgency of the impending climate crisis hasn ’ t escaped Hollywood .
Celebrities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause ( looking at you , Leonardo DiCaprio ) , but relatively few have cut back on new awards attire .
Phoenix ’ s decision makes a statement about waste in the fashion world and on the awards season ’ s many red carpets , but it also highlights an awkward reality about expectations for male and female stars in Hollywood ; namely , do most people even realize that these men were picking up new tuxes for every show ?
And if not , does that undercut his message ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Phoenix ’ s choice are not what one might call supportive : her claim that he ’ s a “ winner ” is met with responses ranging from a sarcastic “ how brave !
” to an equally flip reminder that firefighters and charity workers exist .
As a regular person who enjoys awards shows , it ’ s surprising to me that male actors don ’ t have just one or two tuxes they rotate throughout the season .
It ’ s a widely shared opinion that — other than Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attire stylistically pales in comparison to women ’ s .
Phoenix ’ s 2020 re-wearable ’ fit is a simple and classic well-tailored black tux topped up with a bow tie .
Fashion-wise , it isn ’ t a red carpet highlight , but it fits with his history of red carpet looks ( mostly : more black tuxes ) .
That ’ s a strange thing about red carpet fashion : These outfits are intended to be worn once by celebrities , whether they ’ re very expensive or time-consuming to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , Phoenix really is bucking the status quo .
However , it might be more difficult for an actress to repeat a gown , according to Moya Luckett , a media historian at New York University .
With modern red carpet attire , most high-profile celebrities are at the whims of their stylists , management companies , and the fashion houses they ’ re contracted under .
“ With the end of the studio system in the 1960s , actors and actresses became free agents , signing with talent agencies who then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with publicity , ” Luckett told me .
Prominent actresses could be restricted from repeating an outfit due to promotional contracts with designers , she added .
They ’ re also likely to be subjected to harsher fashion scrutiny than their male peers .
“ The red carpet revolves around fashion so much more than the film , ” Luckett said .
“ Even with very popular male stars like Phoenix , Timothee Chalamet , or Jared Leto , they ’ re given far less attention [ by the press ] than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lately , social media has turned the red carpet into a spectacle , where the celebrities ’ appearances are sometimes more important than the films themselves , Luckett said .
“ The idea of wearing the same dress multiple times is difficult , especially if a star is contracted with a designer to promote their work throughout that year , ” she added .
Actors and their styling teams need publicity , and the red carpet is often the easiest way to get that attention .
“ The red carpet revolves around fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phoenix , however , has garnered attention by promoting the causes he cares about this awards cycle .
The actor ’ s acceptance speech for best actor in a motion picture drama at this year ’ s Golden Globes put his fellow celebrities and their private jets in the spotlight , and he recently participated — and even got arrested — at a climate change protest .
According to the Hollywood Reporter , Phoenix is responsible for the plant-based menus debuting at several award shows .
Similarly , McCartney , the actor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of working with sustainable design choices — not using animal skins , recycling textiles , and being somewhat transparent with her company ’ s sustainability efforts .
As Luckett explains , “ the decision fits in perfectly with both of their brands.
” The concept of sustainability on the red carpet isn ’ t new .
Some celebrities at the Met Gala in years past have participated in the Green Carpet Challenge by wearing sustainably sourced goods or rewearing a certain accessory .
The practice is still niche among most celebrities , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public ’ s eco-friendly sentiments , Cate Blanchett ’ s stylist told the Hollywood Reporter in 2018 .
“ We need to get the word out to get rid of this ridiculous notion that dresses can not be worn twice , ” she said .
For now , Joaquin Phoenix appears to be the only popular outfit-repeater on the 2020 red carpet .
Unless , that is , you count the red carpet itself at the Golden Globes , which the Hollywood Foreign Press Association wants to use again .
Sign up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week , we ’ ll send you the best Goods stories exploring what we buy , why we buy it , and why it matters .

It’s a rare moment when a celebrity steps onto the red carpet in an outfit they’ve worn before. In recent awards ceremony history, only a few brave souls have done so. In 2018, the practice had a moment: Tiffany Haddish’s $4,000 Alexander McQueen gown became her punchline during the awards cycle, Cate Blanchett was praised for recycling her 2014 Armani gown that same year, and Rita Moreno wore her 1962 Oscars dress for the Academy Awards.
In January, Joaquin Phoenix announced that he would wear only one Stella McCartney tuxedo on the 2020 awards red carpet to promote sustainable fashion. For the Joker star — an awards favorite — this move fits in with other aspects of his moral philosophy; he’s an outspoken environmentalist and animal rights supporter.
This man is a winner… wearing custom Stella because he chooses to make choices for the future of the planet. He has also chosen to wear this same Tux for the entire award season to reduce waste. I am proud to join forces with you... x Stella#JoaquinPhoenix #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Ymbkl78ecN — Stella McCartney (@StellaMcCartney) January 6, 2020
The red carpet has increasingly become the place for celebrities to make bold political (if not performative) statements in favor of causes like climate change and Me Too. Because it’s 2020, the urgency of the impending climate crisis hasn’t escaped Hollywood. Celebrities have spearheaded fundraisers and founded charities for the cause (looking at you, Leonardo DiCaprio), but relatively few have cut back on new awards attire.
Phoenix’s decision makes a statement about waste in the fashion world and on the awards season’s many red carpets, but it also highlights an awkward reality about expectations for male and female stars in Hollywood; namely, do most people even realize that these men were picking up new tuxes for every show? And if not, does that undercut his message?
The replies to Stella McCartney’s tweet about Phoenix’s choice are not what one might call supportive: her claim that he’s a “winner” is met with responses ranging from a sarcastic “how brave!” to an equally flip reminder that firefighters and charity workers exist.
As a regular person who enjoys awards shows, it’s surprising to me that male actors don’t have just one or two tuxes they rotate throughout the season. It’s a widely shared opinion that — other than Billy Porter — men’s red carpet attire stylistically pales in comparison to women’s. Phoenix’s 2020 re-wearable ’fit is a simple and classic well-tailored black tux topped up with a bow tie. Fashion-wise, it isn’t a red carpet highlight, but it fits with his history of red carpet looks (mostly: more black tuxes).
That’s a strange thing about red carpet fashion: These outfits are intended to be worn once by celebrities, whether they’re very expensive or time-consuming to make or even totally forgettable. Within this system, Phoenix really is bucking the status quo.
However, it might be more difficult for an actress to repeat a gown, according to Moya Luckett, a media historian at New York University. With modern red carpet attire, most high-profile celebrities are at the whims of their stylists, management companies, and the fashion houses they’re contracted under.
“With the end of the studio system in the 1960s, actors and actresses became free agents, signing with talent agencies who then partnered them with stylists and designers to help with publicity,” Luckett told me. Prominent actresses could be restricted from repeating an outfit due to promotional contracts with designers, she added. They’re also likely to be subjected to harsher fashion scrutiny than their male peers.
“The red carpet revolves around fashion so much more than the film,” Luckett said. “Even with very popular male stars like Phoenix, Timothee Chalamet, or Jared Leto, they’re given far less attention [by the press] than their female counterparts.”
Television and, lately, social media has turned the red carpet into a spectacle, where the celebrities’ appearances are sometimes more important than the films themselves, Luckett said. “The idea of wearing the same dress multiple times is difficult, especially if a star is contracted with a designer to promote their work throughout that year,” she added. Actors and their styling teams need publicity, and the red carpet is often the easiest way to get that attention.
“The red carpet revolves around fashion so much more than the film”
Phoenix, however, has garnered attention by promoting the causes he cares about this awards cycle. The actor’s acceptance speech for best actor in a motion picture drama at this year’s Golden Globes put his fellow celebrities and their private jets in the spotlight, and he recently participated — and even got arrested — at a climate change protest. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Phoenix is responsible for the plant-based menus debuting at several award shows. Similarly, McCartney, the actor’s partnered designer, has a history of working with sustainable design choices — not using animal skins, recycling textiles, and being somewhat transparent with her company’s sustainability efforts. As Luckett explains, “the decision fits in perfectly with both of their brands.”
The concept of sustainability on the red carpet isn’t new. Some celebrities at the Met Gala in years past have participated in the Green Carpet Challenge by wearing sustainably sourced goods or rewearing a certain accessory. The practice is still niche among most celebrities, although Hollywood stylists are becoming more aware of the public’s eco-friendly sentiments, Cate Blanchett’s stylist told the Hollywood Reporter in 2018. “We need to get the word out to get rid of this ridiculous notion that dresses cannot be worn twice,” she said.
For now, Joaquin Phoenix appears to be the only popular outfit-repeater on the 2020 red carpet. Unless, that is, you count the red carpet itself at the Golden Globes, which the Hollywood Foreign Press Association wants to use again.
Sign up for The Goods’ newsletter. Twice a week, we’ll send you the best Goods stories exploring what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters.


vox--2020-02-09--The campaign ad dispute between Buttigieg and Biden, briefly explained

Tensions between former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden , both of whom are working to cultivate a base of moderate Democratic voters , are heating up .
On Saturday , Biden released a biting ad that is openly dismissive of Buttigieg ’ s record as a small city mayor , unfavorably comparing Buttigieg ’ s efforts to improve South Bend ’ s infrastructure with Biden ’ s accomplishments in the Senate and White House .
The ad also highlighted controversies Buttigieg has faced with South Bend ’ s black community .
The message of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive branch work can ’ t be compared to the frivolity of small-city governance , and voters should choose the candidate with experience with the former .
The Buttigieg campaign responded to the ad shortly after its debut .
Chris Meagher , Buttigieg ’ s national press secretary , said in a statement that residents of small cities like South Bend “ don ’ t think their lives are a Washington politician ’ s punchline.
” “ The Vice President ’ s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Pete ’ s perspective as a mayor and veteran , ” Meagher added .
Senior Biden campaign adviser Symone Sanders replied , “ Joe Biden started life as an elected as a county councilman .
He knows the power of local government .
So he knows what mayors CAN do .
The question here is what HAVE you done and are you ready to be commander in chief on day one ?
” From there , the rhetoric between the candidates only intensified , with both men attacking each other in interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed his secretary , telling Jake Tapper on CNN ’ s State of the Union that communities like his are tired of being “ punchlines ” in Washington .
“ We know we might look small from the perspective of Washington , but to us what ’ s going on in Washington looks so small or small-minded , ” the former mayor said .
“ And communities , whether they ’ re my size , or rural communities , or even neighborhoods in our biggest cities that feel completely left behind , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Washington politicians.
” On ABC ’ s This Week , Biden underscored that he believes Buttigieg is “ a smart guy ” who is simply too inexperienced to be president , and tried to explain how he sees the former mayor ’ s limited record as being different that Barack Obama ’ s in 2008 .
“ Who has he pulled together ?
Does he know any of the foreign leaders ?
” Biden asked .
“ Barack Obama came from a large state .
He was a United States senator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d been involved in international — he had a clear vision of what he thought the world should look like and so on.
” It ’ s a point Biden has made more succinctly before , saying Saturday , “ This guy ’ s not a Barack Obama , ” a statement Buttigieg was asked about on CNN Sunday .
“ He ’ s right , ” Buttigieg said when asked about the quote .
“ I ’ m not .
And neither is he.
” The Biden-Buttigieg dispute helps to clarify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden and Buttigieg campaigns have always been in tension , but that those differences appear to now be boiling over reflect a changing dynamic in the presidential race .
Biden has been the national frontrunner since before he began campaigning , and while he still leads in averages of national polls , his standing has been damaged by a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa as well as New Hampshire polls that suggest he ’ ll do poorly there as well .
And amid all of the chaos and confusion in Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of Biden ’ s rivals who surged past him , to finish something like first .
That momentum does not appear to be limited to Iowa , either .
According to the most recent polls out of New Hampshire , Buttigieg has picked up substantial support there — support that seems to come directly out of Biden ’ s camp .
And the two have always vied for the same sort of voters , courting independents , centrist and conservative-leaning Democrats , and older voters .
Biden , of course , polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color ; Buttigieg consistently receives 2 percent or less support from African American voters , while Biden typically leads the pack among that group , with support hovering around 25 percent .
Black and Latinx voters will play a much larger role in upcoming contests in South Carolina and Nevada , and in many of the states participating in Super Tuesday , which is less than a month away .
It is thanks to poll results in more diverse states like South Carolina and Nevada that Biden remains in the lead nationally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races , he needs to finish the primary in New Hampshire — and could use a better than expected finish to pick up some momentum .
The fact that the two campaigns have begun to engage more directly suggests each has begun to view the other as its primary competition for votes , and that they hope to be able to win over New Hampshire voters in the eleventh hour — a strategy that may bear fruit given a recent CNN poll found nearly half of New Hampshire voters to be uncommitted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make up their minds , the dispute between the campaigns should help to sharpen the contrast between them .
Buttigieg and Biden share a fairly similar —and progressive — approach to policy .
All of this weekend ’ s rhetoric , then , clarifies the choice voters considering both men have to make : Whether they want a familiar candidate with lots of Washington experience , or a fresh face with no federal government experience , but a strong connection to the Midwest .

Tensions between former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden, both of whom are working to cultivate a base of moderate Democratic voters, are heating up.
On Saturday, Biden released a biting ad that is openly dismissive of Buttigieg’s record as a small city mayor, unfavorably comparing Buttigieg’s efforts to improve South Bend’s infrastructure with Biden’s accomplishments in the Senate and White House. The ad also highlighted controversies Buttigieg has faced with South Bend’s black community.
The message of the commercial was clear: Serious, executive branch work can’t be compared to the frivolity of small-city governance, and voters should choose the candidate with experience with the former.
Former Mayor Pete doesn’t think very highly of the Obama-Biden record. Let’s compare. pic.twitter.com/132TB7MHaq — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) February 8, 2020
The Buttigieg campaign responded to the ad shortly after its debut. Chris Meagher, Buttigieg’s national press secretary, said in a statement that residents of small cities like South Bend “don’t think their lives are a Washington politician’s punchline.”
“The Vice President’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran,” Meagher added.
Senior Biden campaign adviser Symone Sanders replied, “Joe Biden started life as an elected as a county councilman. He knows the power of local government. So he knows what mayors CAN do. The question here is what HAVE you done and are you ready to be commander in chief on day one?”
From there, the rhetoric between the candidates only intensified, with both men attacking each other in interviews broadcast Sunday.
Sunday morning, Buttigieg echoed his secretary, telling Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union that communities like his are tired of being “punchlines” in Washington.
“We know we might look small from the perspective of Washington, but to us what’s going on in Washington looks so small or small-minded,” the former mayor said. “And communities, whether they’re my size, or rural communities, or even neighborhoods in our biggest cities that feel completely left behind, are frustrated with being made into a punchline by Washington politicians.”
On ABC’s This Week, Biden underscored that he believes Buttigieg is “a smart guy” who is simply too inexperienced to be president, and tried to explain how he sees the former mayor’s limited record as being different that Barack Obama’s in 2008.
“Who has he pulled together? Does he know any of the foreign leaders?” Biden asked. “Barack Obama came from a large state. He was a United States senator, he had run before. He’d been involved in international — he had a clear vision of what he thought the world should look like and so on.”
It’s a point Biden has made more succinctly before, saying Saturday, “This guy’s not a Barack Obama,” a statement Buttigieg was asked about on CNN Sunday.
“He’s right,” Buttigieg said when asked about the quote. “I’m not. And neither is he.”
“He’s right, I’m not, and neither is he,” Pete Buttigieg tells @jaketapper when asked to respond to Joe Biden’s comment that “this guy's not Barack Obama” https://t.co/H9i18W6F1H #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/wEqM5SbQDi — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 9, 2020
The Biden-Buttigieg dispute helps to clarify the differences between them
The underlying philosophies of the Biden and Buttigieg campaigns have always been in tension, but that those differences appear to now be boiling over reflect a changing dynamic in the presidential race.
Biden has been the national frontrunner since before he began campaigning, and while he still leads in averages of national polls, his standing has been damaged by a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa as well as New Hampshire polls that suggest he’ll do poorly there as well.
And amid all of the chaos and confusion in Iowa last week, it was Buttigieg of all of Biden’s rivals who surged past him, to finish something like first.
That momentum does not appear to be limited to Iowa, either. According to the most recent polls out of New Hampshire, Buttigieg has picked up substantial support there — support that seems to come directly out of Biden’s camp. And the two have always vied for the same sort of voters, courting independents, centrist and conservative-leaning Democrats, and older voters.
Biden, of course, polls far better than Buttigieg with voters of color; Buttigieg consistently receives 2 percent or less support from African American voters, while Biden typically leads the pack among that group, with support hovering around 25 percent.
Black and Latinx voters will play a much larger role in upcoming contests in South Carolina and Nevada, and in many of the states participating in Super Tuesday, which is less than a month away. It is thanks to poll results in more diverse states like South Carolina and Nevada that Biden remains in the lead nationally, but before he can get to those races, he needs to finish the primary in New Hampshire — and could use a better than expected finish to pick up some momentum.
The fact that the two campaigns have begun to engage more directly suggests each has begun to view the other as its primary competition for votes, and that they hope to be able to win over New Hampshire voters in the eleventh hour — a strategy that may bear fruit given a recent CNN poll found nearly half of New Hampshire voters to be uncommitted.
And for those voters who have yet to make up their minds, the dispute between the campaigns should help to sharpen the contrast between them. Buttigieg and Biden share a fairly similar —and progressive — approach to policy. All of this weekend’s rhetoric, then, clarifies the choice voters considering both men have to make: Whether they want a familiar candidate with lots of Washington experience, or a fresh face with no federal government experience, but a strong connection to the Midwest.


vox--2020-02-09--Irish election yields a three-way tie — and a Sinn Féin surge

Exit polls show Ireland ’ s three major political parties are virtually tied after Saturday ’ s general election , a result that revealed waning support for center-right ruling party Fine Gael and dramatic gains for the left-wing party , Sinn Féin , which has seen its fortunes rise after successfully tapping into public frustrations over health care and skyrocketing housing prices .
The votes will be counted throughout Sunday and official results are expected early this week .
Exit polls indicate the leading center-right party Fine Gael has 22.4 percent of the vote , Sinn Féin has 22.3 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main opposition party has 22.2 percent .
However , given those exit polls have a margin of error of 1.3 percentage points , all three parties are essentially tied .
Ireland ’ s Green Party is believed to lead a second tier of parties , receiving 7.9 percent of the vote , with Labour winning 4.6 percent , the Social Democrats taking 3.4 percent , and Solidarity People Before Profit winning 2.8 percent of the vote .
“ It may be many days before we know fully what Saturday ’ s vote means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats in the Irish legislature , wrote Irish Times columnist Fintan O ’ Toole .
“ But this we know and know full well : that old system is finished and it is not coming back any time soon.
” We also know that the fact that no party will win an outright majority means the leading parties will be forced to negotiate a coalition government — which is likely to be a lot trickier than it seems .
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have maintained a fragile coalition since 2016 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t work with Sinn Féin to create a coalition .
But with Sinn Féin ’ s massive surge in the polls ( they got 13.8 percent of the vote in the 2016 general election ) , excluding the party may not be an option .
Ireland uses a type of ranked-choice voting system , which means it ’ s still up in the air how many seats in the legislature each party will get .
It is also important to note Sinn Féin ran in about half as many races as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may limit its representation , even if it becomes a coalition partner .
Sinn Féin tapped into young voters ’ frustration with economic issues , housing and healthcare Fine Gael has held power over Irish politics since 2011 , and has maintained that position with the help of Fianna Fáil , since 2016 .
Fine Gael ’ s leader , Leo Varadkar , came to power in 2017 in a historic victory as the country ’ s first openly gay and youngest-ever prime minister .
In the Brexit negotiations , he secured an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU to stand behind the country ’ s interests — victories he hoped would carry his party through the general elections spurred by the crumbling of the party ’ s coalition with Fianna Fáil .
But that message didn ’ t seem to have much impact with Irish voters , who were concerned with record high levels of homelessness , rising housing costs , and a health care system many see as inadequate .
“ Change has been the dominate theme , ” Gary Murphy , a professor of politics at Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jen Kirby .
“ Many people don ’ t see a huge change in their own circumstances on the ground , and if you ’ re a governing party in the Irish system when the narrative goes against you , it ’ s very difficult to rein it back in.
” Sinn Féin , framing itself as an agent for change , seemed to tap into those frustrations , especially among young people .
The party received the largest number of first-choice votes , 31.8 percent , among people aged 18 to 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party has struggled with its past association with the Irish Republican Army ( IRA ) during the Troubles , a violent , three-decade-long conflict in Northern Ireland .
That ’ s one of the reasons the leading parties have pledged not to form a coalition with Sinn Féin , despite the party ’ s political status changing in the Republic of Ireland over the last few years .
Experts predicted the general election results would be extremely close between the three parties .
That turned out to be true , with Fine Gael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s sworn off a relationship with the far-left Sinn Féin party and struggled to maintain its longtime coalition with Fianna Fáil , so it ’ s unclear how a coalition government will be formed .
But one thing is clear : The country ’ s two-party system has been upended .

Exit polls show Ireland’s three major political parties are virtually tied after Saturday’s general election, a result that revealed waning support for center-right ruling party Fine Gael and dramatic gains for the left-wing party, Sinn Féin, which has seen its fortunes rise after successfully tapping into public frustrations over health care and skyrocketing housing prices.
The votes will be counted throughout Sunday and official results are expected early this week. Exit polls indicate the leading party Fine Gael has 22.4 percent of the vote, Sinn Féin has 22.3 percent, and Fianna Fáil, the center-left main opposition party, has 22.2 percent. However, given those exit polls have a margin of error of 1.3 percentage points, all three parties are essentially tied.
Ireland’s Green Party is believed to lead a second tier of parties, receiving 7.9 percent of the vote, with Labour winning 4.6 percent, the Social Democrats taking 3.4 percent, and Solidarity People Before Profit winning 2.8 percent of the vote.
“It may be many days before we know fully what Saturday’s vote means in terms of the allocation” of seats in the Irish legislature, wrote Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole. “But this we know and know full well: that old system is finished and it is not coming back any time soon.”
We also know that the fact that no party will win an outright majority means the leading parties will be forced to negotiate a coalition government — which is likely to be a lot trickier than it seems.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have maintained a fragile coalition since 2016, and leaders of both centrist parties said they wouldn’t work with Sinn Féin to create a coalition. But with Sinn Féin’s massive surge in the polls (they got 13.8 percent of the vote in the 2016 general election), excluding the party may not be an option.
Ireland uses a type of ranked-choice voting system, which means it’s still up in the air how many seats in the legislature each party will get. It is also important to note Sinn Féin ran in about half as many races as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, which may limit its representation, even if it becomes a coalition partner.
Sinn Féin tapped into young voters’ frustration with economic issues, housing, and health care
Fine Gael has held power over Irish politics since 2011, and has maintained that position with the help of Fianna Fáil, since 2016. Fine Gael’s leader, Leo Varadkar, came to power in 2017 in a historic victory as the country’s first openly gay and youngest-ever prime minister.
In the Brexit negotiations, he secured an open border with Northern Ireland and got the EU to stand behind the country’s interests — victories he hoped would carry his party through the general elections spurred by the crumbling of the party’s coalition with Fianna Fáil.
But that message didn’t seem to have much impact with Irish voters, who were concerned with record-high levels of homelessness, rising housing costs, and a health care system many see as inadequate.
“Change has been the dominant theme,” Gary Murphy, a professor of politics at Dublin City University, told Vox’s Jen Kirby. “Many people don’t see a huge change in their own circumstances on the ground, and if you’re a governing party in the Irish system when the narrative goes against you, it’s very difficult to rein it back in.”
Sinn Féin, framing itself as an agent for change, seemed to tap into those frustrations, especially among young people. The party received the largest number of first-choice votes, 31.8 percent, among people aged 18 to 24, according to exit polls.
The party has struggled with its past association with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Troubles, a violent, three-decade-long conflict in Northern Ireland. That’s one of the reasons the leading parties have pledged not to form a coalition with Sinn Féin, despite the party’s political status changing in the Republic of Ireland over the last few years.
Experts predicted the general election results would be extremely close between the three parties. That turned out to be true, with Fine Gael retaining its narrow lead. It’s sworn off a relationship with the far-left Sinn Féin party and struggled to maintain its longtime coalition with Fianna Fáil, so it’s unclear how a coalition government will be formed. But one thing is clear: The country’s two-party system has been upended.


vox--2020-02-09--Desperate candidates toss out memes, new taglines, and #whiteobama in SNL’s Democratic debate

After a week so full of political news your head could spin — remember , we ’ re less than six days out from State of the Union drama , a messy Iowa caucus , the impeachment acquittal , and Trump ’ s post-impeachment victory speech — Saturday Night Live kept its focus narrowly on the 2020 Democratic primary candidates in its cold open this weekend .
It did so by featuring a New Hampshire debate stage full of candidates skewered along lines that ought to now be familiar to regular SNL viewers in a sketch that saw the return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , bitter Amy Klobuchar ( Rachel Dratch ) , robotic Pete Buttigieg ( Colin Jost ) , and sassy Andrew Yang ( Bowen Yang ) .
Kate McKinnon and Larry David revived their popular Warren and Sanders impressions , and Pete Davidson rounded out the cast as Tom Steyer , recognizable only because of his tartan tie .
The debate , moderated by ABC News ’ George Stephanopoulos ( Mikey Day ) , and , “ for optics , ” David Muir ( Alex Moffat ) and Linsey Davis ( Ego Nwodim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how candidates were feeling following the chaos at the Iowa caucuses .
“ I ’ ll be honest , losing Iowa was a real kick in the nuts , ” said Sudeikis ’ Biden .
“ But I ’ m not worried at all , because by the time we get to South Cackalackee , Joe Biden ’ s gon na do what Joe Biden does best : creep up from behind.
” Biden finished a distant fourth in Iowa , and indicated at the real-life New Hampshire debate that he didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s first primary , either .
“ I took a hit in Iowa , and I ’ ll probably take a hit here , ” the real Biden said on Friday .
The moderators then asked a question referring to the unclear outcome in Iowa , where both Buttigieg and Sanders claimed victory .
“ I still can ’ t believe all this mess happened in Iowa because of an app , ” said David ’ s Sanders .
“ Hey .
I have an idea for an app .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ No apps , no computers , no gadgets , no gizmos.
” McKinnon ’ s Warren , who finished third in Iowa and is hovering around third in the most recent polling for New Hampshire — two days out from that state ’ s primary — said she was “ very confident ” about her odds in that state .
“ I tend to really connect with New England moms who own big dogs and rock a fleece vest seven days out of the week , ” she said .
Noting that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she continued by urging the state to “ come on over and sit on momma ’ s lap.
” The moderators then interrupted the sketch to present a word from the debate ’ s sponsor : Mike Bloomberg 2020 .
“ Try Bloomberg , ” was the tagline .
“ He ’ s not as short as Trump is fat.
” Former New York Mayor Bloomberg who entered the race in November — and has been rising in national polls — has , of course , traded sophomoric insults with Trump in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s weight .
He has also been attacked by his fellow Democrats for having spent more than $ 200 million on his campaign — a fact that David ’ s Sanders latched onto .
Decrying billionaires , David ’ s Sanders admitted that he does take private planes himself , but added , “ I do that for my fellow passengers .
Believe me , you don ’ t want to sit next to me on a plane.
” The round of questioning then transitioned to how candidates would do among African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg has continued to poll poorly among Black voters .
His record as mayor includes the controversial firing of a black police chief as well as anger over how the former mayor handled the death of a black resident at the hands of a white police officer .
And he was most recently criticized by activists for answer he gave at the real New Hampshire debate in which he appeared to blame gang participation for the disproportionate arrest rates black people face compared white people in his hometown of South Bend .
SNL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not popular among people of color .
“ They ’ ve been referring to me as Mayo Pete , but I assure you I ’ m not that spicy , ” he said .
Davidson ’ s Steyer jumped in to say he ’ s “ 100 percent for reparations.
” When the moderator asked what that looks like , Davidson pointed to an incredulous Kenan Thompson sitting in the audience , saying , “ I don ’ t know , but that guy ’ s with me !
” Then it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Klobuchar wondered aloud why she was not doing better , before offering a new campaign slogan : “ I ’ m here , I ’ m square , get used to it !
” McKinnon ’ s Warren pointed to the question of her electability .
“ I know a lot of people like me but they worry about if I ’ m electable .
I have a great solution for that : Elect me , ” she said .
“ You can trust this face — this is me on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ com.
” But it was Jost ’ s Buttigieg who wrapped up with perhaps the most successful plea of the night .
“ I know that I sound like a bot that has studied human behavior by watching 100 hours of Obama speeches , ” he said .
“ So let ’ s get # whiteobama trending , and please , please not ironically.
” Ironically or not , that phrase was , in fact , trending by Sunday morning .

After a week so full of political news your head could spin — remember, we’re less than six days out from State of the Union drama, a messy Iowa caucus, the impeachment acquittal, and Trump’s post-impeachment victory speech — Saturday Night Live kept its focus narrowly on the 2020 Democratic primary candidates in its cold open this weekend.
It did so by featuring a New Hampshire debate stage full of candidates skewered along lines that ought to now be familiar to regular SNL viewers in a sketch that saw the return of creepy Joe Biden (Jason Sudeikis), bitter Amy Klobuchar (Rachel Dratch), robotic Pete Buttigieg (Colin Jost), and sassy Andrew Yang (Bowen Yang).
Kate McKinnon and Larry David revived their popular Warren and Sanders impressions, and Pete Davidson rounded out the cast as Tom Steyer, recognizable only because of his tartan tie.
The debate, moderated by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos (Mikey Day), and, “for optics,” David Muir (Alex Moffat) and Linsey Davis (Ego Nwodim), kicked off with a question about how candidates were feeling following the chaos at the Iowa caucuses.
“I’ll be honest, losing Iowa was a real kick in the nuts,” said Sudeikis’s Biden. “But I’m not worried at all, because by the time we get to South Cackalackee, Joe Biden’s gonna do what Joe Biden does best: creep up from behind.”
Biden finished a distant fourth in Iowa, and indicated at the real-life New Hampshire debate that he didn’t foresee doing too well in the nation’s first primary, either.
“I took a hit in Iowa, and I’ll probably take a hit here,” the real Biden said on Friday.
The moderators then asked a question referring to the unclear outcome in Iowa, where both Buttigieg and Sanders claimed victory.
“I still can’t believe all this mess happened in Iowa because of an app,” said David’s Sanders. “Hey. I have an idea for an app. It’s called No Apps! No apps, no computers, no gadgets, no gizmos.”
McKinnon’s Warren, who finished third in Iowa and is hovering around third in the most recent polling for New Hampshire — two days out from that state’s primary — said she was “very confident” about her odds in that state.
“I tend to really connect with New England moms who own big dogs and rock a fleece vest seven days out of the week,” she said.
Noting that she represents an adjacent state in Congress, she continued by urging the state to “come on over and sit on momma’s lap.”
The moderators then interrupted the sketch to present a word from the debate’s sponsor: Mike Bloomberg 2020.
“Try Bloomberg,” was the tagline. “He’s not as short as Trump is fat.”
Former New York Mayor Bloomberg who entered the race in November — and has been rising in national polls — has traded sophomoric insults with Trump in recent weeks about his height and the president’s weight. He has also been attacked by his fellow Democrats for having spent more than $200 million on his campaign — a fact that David’s Sanders latched onto.
Decrying billionaires, David’s Sanders admitted that he does take private planes himself, but added, “I do that for my fellow passengers. Believe me, you don’t want to sit next to me on a plane.”
The round of questioning then transitioned to how candidates would do among African American voters.
Notably, IRL Pete Buttigieg has continued to poll poorly among black voters. His record as mayor includes the controversial firing of a black police chief as well as anger over how the former mayor handled the death of a black resident at the hands of a white police officer. And he was most recently criticized by activists for an answer he gave at the real New Hampshire debate in which he appeared to blame gang participation for the disproportionate arrest rates black people face compared to white people in his hometown of South Bend.
.@LinseyDavis on racial disparity in marijuana arrests in South Bend: You called it "evidence of systemic racism” … weren’t you the head of the system?
Buttigieg: “Systemic racism has penetrated to every level of our system and my city was not immune.” https://t.co/Rhy9aOaDTU pic.twitter.com/j8NgS1CS77 — ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020
SNL’s Buttigieg admitted that he is not popular among people of color.
“They’ve been referring to me as Mayo Pete, but I assure you I’m not that spicy,” he said.
Davidson’s Steyer jumped in to say he’s “100 percent for reparations.” When the moderator asked what that looks like, Davidson pointed to an incredulous Kenan Thompson sitting in the audience, saying, “I don’t know, but that guy’s with me!”
Then it was time for closing statements. Dratch’s Klobuchar wondered aloud why she was not doing better, before offering a new campaign slogan: “I’m here, I’m square, get used to it!”
McKinnon’s Warren pointed to the question of her electability.
“I know a lot of people like me but they worry about if I’m electable. I have a great solution for that: Elect me,” she said. “You can trust this face — this is me on Facebook, LinkedIn, IG, and michaelscraftstore.com.”
But it was Jost’s Buttigieg who wrapped up with perhaps the most successful plea of the night.
“I know that I sound like a bot that has studied human behavior by watching 100 hours of Obama speeches,” he said. “So let’s get #whiteobama trending, and please, please not ironically.”
Ironically or not, that phrase was, in fact, trending by Sunday morning.