democracynow--2020-02-03--ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
I ’ m Amy Goodman , as we move on now to the new travel ban .
That ’ s right .
The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries , most of which are African nations .
Under the new restrictions , nationals of Nigeria , Eritrea , Burma , Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S. , while nationals of Sudan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in the diversity visa lottery .
The ban , commonly referred to as the “ Muslim ban , ” already affects citizens from Iran , Libya , Syria , Yemen , Somalia , Venezuela and North Korea .
The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people .
Democrats say they will challenge the new ban and are expected to introduce the NO BAN Act in Congress soon .
The latest travel ban takes effect February 22nd .
For more , we ’ re joined by Omar Jadwat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immigrants ’ Rights Project .
The ACLU has been challenging the Trump administration ’ s Muslim ban since the first ban was announced in January 2017 .
The ACLU won rulings against all three prior versions of the ban , blocking it until the Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect .
They ’ re still litigating against it today .
The Fight , a Sundance Film Festival film , also chronicles the fight of the ACLU around the travel ban .
Omar , it ’ s great to have you with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
OMAR JADWAT : Thanks for having me .
AMY GOODMAN : Explain what the Trump administration just laid out , as people are hardly paying attention .
AMY GOODMAN : Between the impeachment , between the Iowa caucuses , what ’ s just happened ?
OMAR JADWAT : So , essentially what ’ s happened is they ’ ve taken the Muslim ban , they ’ ve doubled down on that Muslim ban by extending it further .
Right ?
Remember , this was supposed to be a temporary measure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was supposed to be until they figured out what the hell was going on .
Well , they still haven ’ t figured it out three years later , right ?
So , we have that original Muslim ban continuing , and we ’ ve essentially added on top of it a ban on Africans .
A quarter of the people who live on the African continent are now — live in countries that are now subject to the expanded ban .
And so , what we see here is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , say that again .
A quarter of the African continent , of the population of Africa — AMY GOODMAN : — will now be under — OMAR JADWAT : Live in a country where they ’ re going to be affected in one way or another by the ban .
And so , you know , and remember , President Trump , we all recall the things he said about Muslims in the election campaign .
AMY GOODMAN : And we all recall what he said about Africa , African countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ group affected by the expansion of the ban , he said , would never “ go back to their huts ” if we allowed them to come to the United States , right ?
And so we just see him going from one prejudice to another , from one racist version of this ban to an expanded racist version of this ban .
And that ’ s where we are today .
AMY GOODMAN : So , how does it affect countries and people who have already received visas ?
OMAR JADWAT : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now are kind of grandfathered in .
They can use that visa .
But it affects , going forward , people who may have been in the process of waiting in line for visas for years , right ?
So you have people — and we ’ ve seen this with the existing ban — people who have family members , people in the United States who have family members abroad — spouses , fiancés , brothers , sisters , grandmas — who can ’ t come , even though they qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMY GOODMAN : So , let ’ s take a country like Burma .
You have the international Court of Justice that has just ordered Burma to take all measures within its power to protect Rohingya Muslims from genocide .
The court issued the ruling last week — the week before , calling the 600,000 Rohingya remaining in Burma extremely vulnerable to military violence .
Now no one from Burma can seek political asylum in the United States ?
OMAR JADWAT : Well , if they manage to get here , they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the way many people come to seek asylum in the United States is they come on a visa , and then they seek asylum .
So , parts of that route will no longer be available to people from Burma .
But again , I mean , if you look at the numbers and you look at the way that this ban has currently shaped , it ’ s very much a reflection of the president ’ s prejudice , specifically against Muslims and Africans .
AMY GOODMAN : Nigeria has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It also has the fifth-largest Muslim population .
So , how is the ACLU — how is this being dealt with ?
OMAR JADWAT : Right .
So , we have an ongoing case against the ban , as it stood or as it continues to stand , the core of the ban that ’ s been in place for three years now .
And so , we are continuing — we actually just had an argument in that case last week .
Even though the Supreme Court obviously dealt us a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward , that case is still ongoing , and we will continue to litigate that case vigorously .
And it ’ s our view that at the end of the day we will be able to establish that , notwithstanding everything that ’ s happened today , notwithstanding the fact that we ’ ve had to live under this ban for years , that we will show at the end of the day that it ’ s unconstitutional .
OMAR JADWAT : Well , their rationale is that these countries , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough information with the United States so that we can vet their citizens when they come .
And before the first ban came into place , sure , there were countries where we vetted people more strongly because we didn ’ t necessarily think the countries sent enough information , but we did the vetting , and we never had these per-country bans on this kind of a basis , right ?
And it ’ s clear that the ban — this whole rationale was reverse-engineered to fit what the president wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ Muslim ban , let me tell you how to do it legally.
” Right ?
And so , he said he wanted a ban .
They came up with this basis .
And now they ’ re using that same basis to expand it and go after other groups .
AMY GOODMAN : Omar , can you explain the NO BAN Act in Congress ?
OMAR JADWAT : Sure .
So , the NO BAN Act would really strict the ability of this president or any other president to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in the law to go after groups of people .
And so , it ’ s an important reform to our immigration laws , because the way that the Supreme Court understood the law is giving the president great power to basically enact whatever he thinks the restrictions ought to be on people who can come to the country .
AMY GOODMAN : Omar Jadwat , we want to thank you for being with us .
We will continue to follow this .
Director of the ACLU ’ s Immigrants ’ Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration ’ s Muslim ban since the first ban was announced January 2017 , winning rulings against all three prior versions of the ban , blocking it until the Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect .
They ’ re still litigating against it today .
This is Democracy Now !
When we come back , the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett joins us .
She has written a new piece about the coronavirus .
Stay with us .
AMY GOODMAN : “ To Hell with Poverty ” by Gang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andy Gill died in London Saturday at the age of 64 .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman, as we move on now to the new travel ban. That’s right. The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries, most of which are African nations. Under the new restrictions, nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Burma, Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S., while nationals of Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be able to participate in the diversity visa lottery. The ban, commonly referred to as the “Muslim ban,” already affects citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people. Democrats say they will challenge the new ban and are expected to introduce the NO BAN Act in Congress soon. The latest travel ban takes effect February 22nd.
For more, we’re joined by Omar Jadwat, the director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. The ACLU has been challenging the Trump administration’s Muslim ban since the first ban was announced in January 2017. The ACLU won rulings against all three prior versions of the ban, blocking it until the Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect. They’re still litigating against it today. The Fight, a Sundance Film Festival film, also chronicles the fight of the ACLU around the travel ban.
Omar, it’s great to have you with us. Thanks so much for joining us.
OMAR JADWAT: Thanks for having me.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain what the Trump administration just laid out, as people are hardly paying attention.
OMAR JADWAT: Sure.
AMY GOODMAN: Between the impeachment, between the Iowa caucuses, what’s just happened?
OMAR JADWAT: So, essentially what’s happened is they’ve taken the Muslim ban, they’ve doubled down on that Muslim ban by extending it further. Right? Remember, this was supposed to be a temporary measure. Even when he promised the Muslim ban, it was supposed to be until they figured out what the hell was going on. Well, they still haven’t figured it out three years later, right? So, we have that original Muslim ban continuing, and we’ve essentially added on top of it a ban on Africans. A quarter of the people who live on the African continent are now — live in countries that are now subject to the expanded ban. And so, what we see here is the president going —
AMY GOODMAN: Wait, say that again. A quarter of the African continent, of the population of Africa —
OMAR JADWAT: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: — will now be under —
OMAR JADWAT: Live in a country where they’re going to be affected in one way or another by the ban. And so, you know, and remember, President Trump, we all recall the things he said about Muslims in the election campaign.
AMY GOODMAN: And we all recall what he said about Africa, African countries.
OMAR JADWAT: Right. Nigerians, right?
AMY GOODMAN: “Those” — I won’t say it — “s—hole countries.”
OMAR JADWAT: Who are the biggest group affected by the expansion of the ban, he said, would never “go back to their huts” if we allowed them to come to the United States, right? And so we just see him going from one prejudice to another, from one racist version of this ban to an expanded racist version of this ban. And that’s where we are today.
AMY GOODMAN: So, how does it affect countries and people who have already received visas?
OMAR JADWAT: So, people who have a visa right now are kind of grandfathered in. They can use that visa. But it affects, going forward, people who may have been in the process of waiting in line for visas for years, right? So you have people — and we’ve seen this with the existing ban — people who have family members, people in the United States who have family members abroad — spouses, fiancés, brothers, sisters, grandmas — who can’t come, even though they qualify entirely for visas under the law.
AMY GOODMAN: So, let’s take a country like Burma. You have the international Court of Justice that has just ordered Burma to take all measures within its power to protect Rohingya Muslims from genocide. The court issued the ruling last week — the week before, calling the 600,000 Rohingya remaining in Burma extremely vulnerable to military violence. Now no one from Burma can seek political asylum in the United States?
OMAR JADWAT: Well, if they manage to get here, they can seek asylum. But, of course, the way many people come to seek asylum in the United States is they come on a visa, and then they seek asylum. So, parts of that route will no longer be available to people from Burma. But again, I mean, if you look at the numbers and you look at the way that this ban has currently shaped, it’s very much a reflection of the president’s prejudice, specifically against Muslims and Africans.
AMY GOODMAN: Nigeria has the sixth-largest Christian population in the world. It also has the fifth-largest Muslim population. So, how is the ACLU — how is this being dealt with?
OMAR JADWAT: Right. So, we have an ongoing case against the ban, as it stood or as it continues to stand, the core of the ban that’s been in place for three years now. And so, we are continuing — we actually just had an argument in that case last week. Even though the Supreme Court obviously dealt us a significant setback when it allowed the ban to move forward, that case is still ongoing, and we will continue to litigate that case vigorously. And it’s our view that at the end of the day we will be able to establish that, notwithstanding everything that’s happened today, notwithstanding the fact that we’ve had to live under this ban for years, that we will show at the end of the day that it’s unconstitutional.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain the Trump administration’s rationale here.
OMAR JADWAT: Well, their rationale is that these countries, they say, do not adequate — share enough information with the United States so that we can vet their citizens when they come. And before the first ban came into place, sure, there were countries where we vetted people more strongly because we didn’t necessarily think the countries sent enough information, but we did the vetting, and we never had these per-country bans on this kind of a basis, right? And it’s clear that the ban — this whole rationale was reverse-engineered to fit what the president wanted to do, right? As Rudy Giuliani said, “Muslim ban, let me tell you how to do it legally.” Right? And so, he said he wanted a ban. They came up with this basis. And now they’re using that same basis to expand it and go after other groups.
AMY GOODMAN: Omar, can you explain the NO BAN Act in Congress?
OMAR JADWAT: Sure. So, the NO BAN Act would really strict the ability of this president or any other president to use the power that he’s relying on in the law to go after groups of people. And so, it’s an important reform to our immigration laws, because the way that the Supreme Court understood the law is giving the president great power to basically enact whatever he thinks the restrictions ought to be on people who can come to the country.
AMY GOODMAN: Omar Jadwat, we want to thank you for being with us. We will continue to follow this. Director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. The ACLU has been challenging the Trump administration’s Muslim ban since the first ban was announced January 2017, winning rulings against all three prior versions of the ban, blocking it until the Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect. They’re still litigating against it today.
This is Democracy Now! When we come back, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett joins us. She has written a new piece about the coronavirus. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “To Hell with Poverty” by Gang of Four. Founding member and guitarist Andy Gill died in London Saturday at the age of 64.


democracynow--2020-02-03--"A Grand Tragedy": Democrats Slam Republican Stonewalling in Senate Impeachment Trial

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump in just the third impeachment trial in U.S. history .
The Senate scheduled a final vote on the two articles of impeachment for Wednesday .
On Friday , the Senate voted 51 to 49 against calling witnesses to be in the Senate trial .
Just two Republican senators supported calling for witnesses and collecting new evidence : Senator Mitt Romney of Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the vote , President Trump ’ s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow said there was no need to call witnesses .
AMY GOODMAN : After the vote on witnesses , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate did not live up to its responsibilities .
AMY GOODMAN : The Senate trial will resume today at 11 a.m. Eastern for four hours of arguments .
The final vote is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday , a day after President Trump gives his State of the Union address .
Democracy Now !
will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial .
Still with us , John Nichols of The Nation , author of many books , including The Genius of Impeachment : The Founders ’ Cure for Royalism .
John , respond to the latest .
So , the vote has taken place .
You even had Lamar Alexander , who supposedly was on the fence , the Republican from Tennessee .
He said that he thought the House managers did prove their case .
He just felt that this was not the way to remove the president ; the election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s about to happen and if you could see anything unpredictable taking place .
JOHN NICHOLS : I am not expecting a lot of unpredictable developments today .
Obviously , what we ’ re looking for in these speeches might be an indication from the two Republicans who voted for hearing witnesses , of what they ’ re thinking .
You also want to look at a couple of Democrats who might split their vote on impeachment , vote for one article , vote against another , because they come from more conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns in there that might arise .
But at the end of the day , we , by all accounts , appear to be heading toward a Senate vote to acquit Donald Trump , and it will probably be quite overwhelming in the context of the thing , because the Republicans will hold together .
We ’ ve learned a lot from this .
We ’ ve learned that the Republican Party has really become pretty much a pure reflection of Donald Trump .
There ’ s a little bit of dissent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not what we had in , say , the Watergate days , for instance .
And this is a big deal , because impeachment is supposed to be this , in my opinion , wonderful tool that allows us to hold presidents account in the midst of their terms .
And it ’ s clearly undermined when you have such a high level of partisanship that the chamber that ’ s supposed to try the impeached president , really , effectively , won ’ t do so .
The other thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that — don ’ t look for too many unpredictable things in the next day or so , but do understand that impeachment has multiple meanings and multiple layers .
And while we have never , ever had a president convicted at trial , in an impeachment trial , we have often had presidents who are held to account by popular opinion , by elections — not their own elections ; Trump will be the first to run for re-election as an impeached president — and also by history .
And so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story is done , by any means .
But I do think that the formal structures of it will be done in a few days .
And I encourage people to keep watching it and paying close attention , because this is really an exercise of the people ’ s constitutional authority , even if some of their politicians may thwart it .
AMY GOODMAN : John , it ’ s interesting that you ’ re watching the impeachment from the beginning of the elections — right ?
— the first caucus state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece was headlined “ Donald Trump ’ s 'Defense ' Would Make the President a King.
” Explain .
JOHN NICHOLS : Sure .
I was really , really troubled by a lot of the arguments made by the president ’ s defense team , not the kind of over-the-top things you might hear from a Ken Starr or an Alan Dershowitz , but the arguments made by , you know , the more suit-and-tie , formal , lawyerly members of the team .
And what was incredibly troubling to me was that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an abuse of power charge against the president , that somehow you were extending the meaning of impeachment , that somehow you were making it into something it wasn ’ t intended to be .
That was exactly the wrong argument .
That was false .
And the truth is that impeachment was created specifically to address abuses of power .
They were also suggesting that somehow the authority to impeach , the power to do so , you know , didn ’ t really rest fully with the House .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they really should be going to the courts and doing other things.
” Again , that ’ s not — that ’ s not how this has been understood historically .
And so , what was troubling to me was that they were arguing for a new definition of impeachment that essentially makes impeachment impossible .
And if impeachment is impossible , if it really is something that will never happen , then we get to a point where future presidents will not cooperate with the Congress in any way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where they will feel an immense amount of freedom to do as they please , because they genuinely believe , there is a precedent that says , they will never be held to account .
That gets us to exactly what the Founders of the American experiment , imperfect as they were , feared the most , and that was that a president might serve as a king for four years and that that king for four years might abuse his position to win a second term .
And so , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at which to be , because so much of what was put forward by the Trump defense team really attacks not just the arguments against Trump , but attacks the basic concept that we can hold presidents to account .
AMY GOODMAN : John Nichols , I want to thank you for being with us , The Nation 's national affairs correspondent , on the ground in Iowa , and just wrote the piece , which we will link to , “ The DNC 's Move to Accommodate Bloomberg Stirs Outrage in Iowa.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon , The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party .
We will also be live-streaming the impeachment Senate trial today starting at 11 Eastern and also on Wednesday .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman. The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to acquit President Trump in just the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Senate scheduled a final vote on the two articles of impeachment for Wednesday. On Friday, the Senate voted 51 to 49 against calling witnesses to be in the Senate trial. Just two Republican senators supported calling for witnesses and collecting new evidence: Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine. Prior to the vote, President Trump’s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow said there was no need to call witnesses.
JAY SEKULOW: So, this idea that they haven’t had witnesses is — that’s the smokescreen. You’ve heard from a lot of witnesses. The problem with the case, the problem with their position is, even with all of those witnesses, it doesn’t prove up an impeachable offense. The articles fail. … The record that the managers told us was overwhelming and complete, Mr. Schiff went through every sentence of the articles of impeachment just a few days ago and said, “Proved, proved, proved.” The problem is, what it “proved, proved, proved” is not an impeachable offense.
AMY GOODMAN: After the vote on witnesses, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate did not live up to its responsibilities.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER: To not allow a witness, a document — no witnesses, no documents — in an impeachment trial is a perfidy. It’s a grand tragedy, one of the worst tragedies that the Senate has ever overcome. America will remember this day, unfortunately, where the Senate did not live up to its responsibilities, where the Senate turned away from truth and went along with a sham trial.
AMY GOODMAN: The Senate trial will resume today at 11 a.m. Eastern for four hours of arguments. The final vote is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, a day after President Trump gives his State of the Union address. Democracy Now! will be live-streaming at democracynow.org the Senate impeachment trial.
Still with us, John Nichols of The Nation, author of many books, including The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders’ Cure for Royalism.
John, respond to the latest. So, the vote has taken place. You even had Lamar Alexander, who supposedly was on the fence, the Republican from Tennessee. He said that he thought the House managers did prove their case. He just felt that this was not the way to remove the president; the election is. Talk about this and what’s about to happen and if you could see anything unpredictable taking place.
JOHN NICHOLS: I am not expecting a lot of unpredictable developments today. Obviously, what we’re looking for in these speeches might be an indication from the two Republicans who voted for hearing witnesses, of what they’re thinking. You also want to look at a couple of Democrats who might split their vote on impeachment, vote for one article, vote against another, because they come from more conservative states. There are some twists and turns in there that might arise. But at the end of the day, we, by all accounts, appear to be heading toward a Senate vote to acquit Donald Trump, and it will probably be quite overwhelming in the context of the thing, because the Republicans will hold together.
We’ve learned a lot from this. We’ve learned that the Republican Party has really become pretty much a pure reflection of Donald Trump. There’s a little bit of dissent. You mentioned it. But it’s not what we had in, say, the Watergate days, for instance. And this is a big deal, because impeachment is supposed to be this, in my opinion, wonderful tool that allows us to hold presidents account in the midst of their terms. And it’s clearly undermined when you have such a high level of partisanship that the chamber that’s supposed to try the impeached president, really, effectively, won’t do so.
The other thing, though, is that I always remind people that — don’t look for too many unpredictable things in the next day or so, but do understand that impeachment has multiple meanings and multiple layers. And while we have never, ever had a president convicted at trial, in an impeachment trial, we have often had presidents who are held to account by popular opinion, by elections — not their own elections; Trump will be the first to run for re-election as an impeached president — and also by history. And so, I don’t think this story is done, by any means. But I do think that the formal structures of it will be done in a few days. And I encourage people to keep watching it and paying close attention, because this is really an exercise of the people’s constitutional authority, even if some of their politicians may thwart it.
AMY GOODMAN: John, it’s interesting that you’re watching the impeachment from the beginning of the elections — right? — the first caucus state, and that is Iowa. Your piece was headlined “Donald Trump’s 'Defense' Would Make the President a King.” Explain.
JOHN NICHOLS: Sure. I was really, really troubled by a lot of the arguments made by the president’s defense team, not the kind of over-the-top things you might hear from a Ken Starr or an Alan Dershowitz, but the arguments made by, you know, the more suit-and-tie, formal, lawyerly members of the team. And what was incredibly troubling to me was that they were arguing that if you agreed to an abuse of power charge against the president, that somehow you were extending the meaning of impeachment, that somehow you were making it into something it wasn’t intended to be. That was exactly the wrong argument. That was false. And the truth is that impeachment was created specifically to address abuses of power. They were also suggesting that somehow the authority to impeach, the power to do so, you know, didn’t really rest fully with the House. “Yeah, the House could do it, but they really should be going to the courts and doing other things.” Again, that’s not — that’s not how this has been understood historically.
And so, what was troubling to me was that they were arguing for a new definition of impeachment that essentially makes impeachment impossible. And if impeachment is impossible, if it really is something that will never happen, then we get to a point where future presidents will not cooperate with the Congress in any way, as this president essentially did not, and where they will feel an immense amount of freedom to do as they please, because they genuinely believe, there is a precedent that says, they will never be held to account. That gets us to exactly what the Founders of the American experiment, imperfect as they were, feared the most, and that was that a president might serve as a king for four years and that that king for four years might abuse his position to win a second term. And so, this is a very, very unsettling point at which to be, because so much of what was put forward by the Trump defense team really attacks not just the arguments against Trump, but attacks the basic concept that we can hold presidents to account.
AMY GOODMAN: John Nichols, I want to thank you for being with us, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, on the ground in Iowa, and just wrote the piece, which we will link to, “The DNC's Move to Accommodate Bloomberg Stirs Outrage in Iowa.” His new book, coming out soon, The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party.
We will also be live-streaming the impeachment Senate trial today starting at 11 Eastern and also on Wednesday.


democracynow--2020-02-03--As Bernie Sanders Surges Ahead of Iowa Caucus, DNC Under Fire for Changing Rules to Help Bloomberg

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : We begin with the Iowa caucuses , the official start of the 2020 presidential election season .
Candidates spent the weekend making last-minute pitches to voters .
On Saturday , Senator Bernie Sanders addressed 3,000 people at a rally in Cedar Rapids , in one of the largest rallies of the election season in Iowa .
AMY GOODMAN : On Saturday , former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in North Liberty , Iowa .
AMY GOODMAN : In more news about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming under fire after overhauling debate requirements to eliminate the need for candidates to obtain a significant number of small donations , allowing billionaire Mike Bloomberg to take part in upcoming debates .
Bernie Sanders ’ senior adviser Jeff Weaver , on DNC debate rules , said , “ To now change the rules in the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg , who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination , is wrong .
That ’ s the definition of a rigged system , ” Weaver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing among some Democrats that Bernie Sanders might win the nomination .
Politico reports a small group of DNC members have begun discussing a proposal to increase the role of superdelegates to give the party establishment more say in who becomes the nominee .
We go now to Des Moines , Iowa , where we ’ re joined by John Nichols , The Nation 's national affairs correspondent , host of the podcast Next Left .
He 's on the ground covering the Iowa caucus , just wrote the piece , “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stirs Outrage in Iowa.
” His forthcoming book , The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party : The Enduring Legacy of Henry Wallace ’ s Antifascist , Antiracist Politics .
John , it ’ s great to have you on the ground in Iowa .
So , talk about this latest move of the DNC , the changing of the rules for who can participate in the debate .
JOHN NICHOLS : Yes .
The DNC set up some pretty strict rules last year .
And there was a structure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a little bit of poll position , and then you had to raise a substantial number of small contributions , in order to get on the debate stage .
And with each step of the process , they raised the number of contributions you needed , and also raised the threshold for polls .
That was what all the candidates who got in last year or earlier last year accepted .
It ’ s what they dealt with .
Sometimes they complained about it , but those were the rules .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNC signaled that they want to get rid of the small donor rules and set a couple of poll thresholds , around 10 % , or to say if you got delegates in Iowa or New Hampshire , that you have to meet one of those standards to get into the Nevada debate and the debates going forward .
Well , what ’ s interesting about that is that in the past , when climate activists asked for a climate debate , they were told , “ Well , you can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules.
” When folks who wanted a poverty debate asked for a poverty debate , they said , “ No , you can ’ t .
That ’ s not in the rules.
” When Cory Booker really challenged this process and said , “ Look , you ’ re going to end up with the potential of all-white debates , in a party that has relied very heavily on African-American and Latino support , ” again , he was told , “ You can ’ t change the rules.
” But now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules in a way that a lot of activists and , frankly , other candidates believe benefits Michael Bloomberg , the former mayor of New York , who got in the race late and who skipped — who is skipping Iowa and New Hampshire in the early contests .
And there ’ s a tremendous amount of frustration with this , because to an awful lot of folks it looks like the rules are being changed to accommodate a billionaire , especially at a point when one candidate , Bernie Sanders , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class , seems to be rising .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to turn to Oscar-winning filmmaker , activist Michael Moore , speaking at a Bernie Sanders rally Friday night .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Michael Moore speaking on Friday night in Clive , Iowa .
The next night was the massive rally in Cedar Rapids of thousands .
John , you were at both .
Talk about his point and these rallies , the significance of what ’ s happening with — and we don ’ t usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does look like Bernie Sanders is at the top .
JOHN NICHOLS : Yeah .
I mean , there ’ s an incredible enthusiasm in Iowa , and also there ’ s an incredible depth of awareness of the race .
And so , you saw at that rally , the mention of the DNC rule change , which maybe be a lot of folks around America aren ’ t following all that closely , in Iowa , it was not just a line that drew passionate responses , I mean , literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicative of how seriously the people are taking this race and how seriously the Sanders people are .
Sanders is running very well .
I would always caution , and I know you sort of referenced it a moment ago , that polling of the Iowa caucuses is really hard , because of the dynamics of the caucuses .
So , be very cautious about saying who ’ s up or who ’ s in front .
But it ’ s clear that Bernie Sanders is going to do very , very well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the enthusiasm that ’ s built up , you see it at those rallies , of course .
And the rally in Cedar Rapids , with the band Vampire Weekend , just drew a massive crowd .
And there were a lot of other speakers .
Sanders spoke , but also Cornel West and others .
The rally in Clive that you saw , with Bon Iver , a very popular singer , very popular band , also had a lot of speakers .
It was full of energy .
It really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And these are big-deal events getting coverage .
But , Amy , I ’ ve been around the state the last week a lot , and I ’ ve gone to small — what should be small events at Sanders ’ field office , you know , in some small town in the basement of a building or something like that , and there will be 100-150 people at those events .
And so , there ’ s clearly incredible grassroots energy here .
And to tie it back to the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of those grassroots activists get very , very frustrated by the notion that the rules might be changed in the midst of the game .
And they don ’ t just talk about Bernie Sanders .
I ’ ve been struck .
I was at an event in Grinnell , Iowa , the other day and talking to a whole bunch of people and brought up the rule change .
They were aware of it , and they all brought up Cory Booker .
There was a real sense that while Cory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he really worked hard in the state .
And he won a lot of interest , sympathy and support .
And he did drop out at a point where it was clear he wasn ’ t going to get on those debate stages anymore .
And there ’ s a real consciousness that an African-American candidate , who worked hard in Iowa , wanted to keep going , wanted to be in the debates , couldn ’ t get an accommodation , but Mike Bloomberg , who has not campaigned in Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AMY GOODMAN : And , of course , even Democrats who raise the issue of Bernie Sanders being a Democratic Socialist , who is raising the issue of Bloomberg switching from being a Republican to a Democrat ?
AMY GOODMAN : But let me ask you about what actually is happening tonight , for people to understand what caucuses are , why people might go in and caucus with someone they might not necessarily support , someone who is not going to win , to then be freed up to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top candidate , to go over to that person ’ s caucus .
JOHN NICHOLS : Yeah , caucuses are complicated for people who don ’ t live in Iowa and a couple other states that use them .
Iowans really understand them quite well , so it ’ s a kind of fascinating thing .
And there ’ s a lot of reasons to criticize caucuses ; we may talk about that in a little bit .
But the way a caucus works is this .
At 7:00 tonight — actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you go to a library or a school or a community hall in towns across Iowa , you know , every little , tiny town , the smallest place , and in precincts throughout cities .
And you go with the people who live in your area , in your voting district .
Some of these caucuses are huge .
They will get hundreds of people in a college town , a place like that .
Some of them are rather small .
They ’ re almost like in a living room or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open the caucus .
A caucus chair calls it into session , if you will .
They close the door , so more people can ’ t come in .
And they ask people to kind of go to a corner in the room with the other folks that you — that are for your candidate .
So , if you ’ re for Sanders , you go to your corner .
If you ’ re for Warren , you go to your corner .
If Biden , Buttigieg , etc .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner or who ’ s in each place .
You have to have 15 % of the people in the room to meet the so-called threshold for , you know , kind of getting delegate — ultimately , getting the delegate equivalents at this level .
And if you don ’ t have 15 % , then you ’ ve fallen below what ’ s referred to as viability .
Now , the people who are with a viable candidate — say , you ’ re in a room where there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you ’ re in your Bernie Sanders corner — you ’ re locked in there .
You can ’ t move around to other candidates .
But if you ’ re with a nonviable candidate , somebody who didn ’ t get to that threshold , then you become the most popular person in the room , because the other campaigns all want you to come over .
They get a higher level of delegate strength , ultimately , if you come to them .
Or you can coalesce with other nonviables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bottom line in the room is that everybody wants to come out with the most support .
And frankly , nobody wants to leave without supporting somebody .
So there ’ s a lot of interest in , or at least a lot of attraction to , joining a campaign that you might not have backed .
And , Amy , the best way to understand this is , let ’ s say you show up , and you ’ re really excited about Andrew Yang , and you ’ re excited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal basic income .
You ’ re excited that he ’ s talking about automation in ways that the other candidates aren ’ t .
But he doesn ’ t get to the threshold in your room .
So then you look around , and maybe candidate — people from the other campaigns come up to you and say , “ Hey , you know that Andrew Yang said something nice about Bernie Sanders , ” or “ You know that Elizabeth Warren is talking about big structural change , and that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re discussing , ” etc .
And so you go with one of the others .
Let ’ s say you go with Sanders .
You and other people from that Yang group going with Sanders could really boost Sanders to an even stronger position coming out of your caucus and ultimately statewide .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , didn ’ t Yang say that supporters can — didn ’ t Yang say supporters can move to Bernie Sanders if their caucus sites don ’ t meet the threshold for Yang ?
JOHN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although he ’ s sort of , you know , pulled back and forth on that , because one of the challenges on this thing is you don ’ t want — you do want your backers to get there , and you do want them to be as strong for you as possible .
But yeah , Yang has said some nice things .
And frankly , there has been speculation that Amy Klobuchar , who has a substantial amount of support but might not meet thresholds , that her people might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a Biden or a Buttigieg .
And so , all of the campaigns have trained their caucus leaders to work that angle , to work really , really hard .
And to give you a sense of how much this has moved up the political ladder , yesterday I was with Elizabeth Warren at an event in Ames , and she opened up with a very long soliloquy about how much she liked the other candidates and how much she had learned from them and how much they had contributed .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show up at a caucus and maybe your candidate ’ s not doing very well , Elizabeth Warren really likes your candidate or really is sympathetic and will listen .
That was a very smart thing for Elizabeth Warren to do .
And you ’ re hearing it from other candidates , as well .
They really do want to kind of pull these folks together , at least in the caucus .
AMY GOODMAN : Very quickly , John , could there be multiple winners tonight ?
JOHN NICHOLS : Absolutely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when they do that initial count in the room — right ?
— that will — you ’ ll get a report on that .
And so , somebody might do pretty well in the initial counts but not meet the threshold , so they will point to that .
But ultimately , the big thing people will look at is the delegate equivalents , what it comes out at the end , who ’ s kind of moving up that ladder .
And so , that will probably be the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy , that in Iowa , coming in second can mean a lot .
If Bernie Sanders comes in first and Elizabeth Warren comes in second , that ’ s going to be very powerful for Elizabeth Warren , because she drifted down a little in the polls .
If somebody unexpected — let ’ s say Buttigieg , who has had big rallies and big events — let ’ s say he comes in first .
That ’ s huge for him , and then it might be rough for Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in first .
So , there ’ s a lot of tea leaf reading as you get late into tonight and early tomorrow morning .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , of course , we ’ re going to be bringing people results tomorrow on Democracy Now !
John Nichols , please stay with us , because we want to ask you about impeachment .
You wrote a book about it .
What ’ s next ?
John Nichols is The Nation 's national affairs correspondent .
Then we 'll talk about the expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s approach to the coronavirus ?
Stay with us .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We begin with the Iowa caucuses, the official start of the 2020 presidential election season. Candidates spent the weekend making last-minute pitches to voters. On Saturday, Senator Bernie Sanders addressed 3,000 people at a rally in Cedar Rapids, in one of the largest rallies of the election season in Iowa.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: We are taking on the entire political establishment, both the Republican establishment and the Democratic establishment. We are taking on Wall Street and the insurance companies and the drug companies and the fossil fuel industry and the military-industrial complex and the prison-industrial complex and the whole damn 1%.
AMY GOODMAN: On Saturday, former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned in North Liberty, Iowa.
JOE BIDEN: Several of my colleagues in this race think it’s naive of me to think we can bring the country together. I refuse to accept the notion that it’s a forever war between Democrats and Republicans. It’s not impossible. I’ve done it my whole career. They say I don’t understand the new Republican Party. Well, you just got a glimpse of it. I understand the new Republican Party. I’ve been the object of their affection for a long while now. I wonder why. I wonder why. Oh god love them, as my mother would say. … Folks, I think it’s pretty simple. They don’t want me to be the nominee because they know I’ll beat him like a drum. We will beat him.
AMY GOODMAN: On Sunday, Senator Elizabeth Warren campaigned in Indianola, Iowa.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN: Look, I get it in America. There are rich people. There are people who aren’t rich. And rich people, they may own more shoes, they may own more cars, they may own more houses. But they’re not supposed to own a bigger piece of our democracy. If we want to change that, we’re not going to be able to do it with just a little nibble around the edge, one little statute over here, a couple of regulations over there. No, we want to beat back the influence of money. We want to save our democracy. We want to save our country. It’s going to take big structural change. And I got a plan for that.
AMY GOODMAN: In more news about the 2020 elections, the Democratic National Committee is coming under fire after overhauling debate requirements to eliminate the need for candidates to obtain a significant number of small donations, allowing billionaire Mike Bloomberg to take part in upcoming debates. Bernie Sanders’ senior adviser Jeff Weaver, on DNC debate rules, said, “To now change the rules in the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg, who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination, is wrong. That’s the definition of a rigged system,” Weaver said.
This comes as fear is growing among some Democrats that Bernie Sanders might win the nomination. Politico reports a small group of DNC members have begun discussing a proposal to increase the role of superdelegates to give the party establishment more say in who becomes the nominee.
We go now to Des Moines, Iowa, where we’re joined by John Nichols, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, host of the podcast Next Left. He's on the ground covering the Iowa caucus, just wrote the piece, “The DNC’s Move to Accommodate Bloomberg Stirs Outrage in Iowa.” His forthcoming book, The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party: The Enduring Legacy of Henry Wallace’s Antifascist, Antiracist Politics.
John, it’s great to have you on the ground in Iowa. So, talk about this latest move of the DNC, the changing of the rules for who can participate in the debate.
JOHN NICHOLS: Yes. The DNC set up some pretty strict rules last year. And there was a structure to it, but essentially you had to have a little bit of poll position, and then you had to raise a substantial number of small contributions, in order to get on the debate stage. And with each step of the process, they raised the number of contributions you needed, and also raised the threshold for polls. That was what all the candidates who got in last year or earlier last year accepted. It’s what they dealt with. Sometimes they complained about it, but those were the rules.
Now, suddenly, on Friday, the DNC signaled that they want to get rid of the small donor rules and set a couple of poll thresholds, around 10%, or to say if you got delegates in Iowa or New Hampshire, that you have to meet one of those standards to get into the Nevada debate and the debates going forward.
Well, what’s interesting about that is that in the past, when climate activists asked for a climate debate, they were told, “Well, you can’t. That’s not within the rules.” When folks who wanted a poverty debate asked for a poverty debate, they said, “No, you can’t. That’s not in the rules.” When Cory Booker really challenged this process and said, “Look, you’re going to end up with the potential of all-white debates, in a party that has relied very heavily on African-American and Latino support,” again, he was told, “You can’t change the rules.”
But now, suddenly, they have changed the rules in a way that a lot of activists and, frankly, other candidates believe benefits Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, who got in the race late and who skipped — who is skipping Iowa and New Hampshire in the early contests. And there’s a tremendous amount of frustration with this, because to an awful lot of folks it looks like the rules are being changed to accommodate a billionaire, especially at a point when one candidate, Bernie Sanders, who’s been campaigning against the billionaire class, seems to be rising.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to turn to Oscar-winning filmmaker, activist Michael Moore, speaking at a Bernie Sanders rally Friday night.
MICHAEL MOORE: The fact that I have to wake up this morning and realize that we have to fight the corporate Democrats, the 1% of the Democratic Party, who are thoroughly [bleep] that Bernie Sanders is now number one, that Bernie Sanders might win this primary season, that Bernie Sanders might be the next president of the United States! Oh, they’re so upset! They’re like asking each other, “How the hell did this happen? Bernie wasn’t supposed to win!”
And so, today they announced, in this “Hail Mary” pass of theirs, to try to undo the people’s movement, they are removing the rule to be on the debate stage where it says you have to have so many people donating to you. You know, otherwise, instead of 27 people on the stage, there’d be 227 people on the stage. So you had to show — you had to have a certain number of Americans that would give you a buck. That’s all the rule said. But it would — to show that there’s support. And that’s how they determine who would be on that debate stage. Today they removed that rule, because Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire, the Republican mayor of New York City —
CROWD: [boos]
MICHAEL MOORE: They’re backstage, going, “Oh god, what’s he going to say?” They removed it so that he could be in the next debate. He doesn’t have to show he has any support amongst the American people. He can just buy his way onto the debate stage. And I’ve got to tell you what’s so disgusting about this! I watched the debate in Iowa here two weeks ago — the all-white debate — and the fact that the Democratic — the DNC will not allow Cory Booker on that stage, will not allow Julián Castro on that stage, but they’re going to allow Mike Bloomberg on the stage, because he’s got a billion [beep] dollars!
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Michael Moore speaking on Friday night in Clive, Iowa. The next night was the massive rally in Cedar Rapids of thousands. John, you were at both. Talk about his point and these rallies, the significance of what’s happening with — and we don’t usually cite polls, but right now it does look like Bernie Sanders is at the top.
JOHN NICHOLS: Yeah. I mean, there’s an incredible enthusiasm in Iowa, and also there’s an incredible depth of awareness of the race. And so, you saw at that rally, the mention of the DNC rule change, which maybe be a lot of folks around America aren’t following all that closely, in Iowa, it was not just a line that drew passionate responses, I mean, literally sustained booing and angry responses, is indicative of how seriously the people are taking this race and how seriously the Sanders people are.
Sanders is running very well. I would always caution, and I know you sort of referenced it a moment ago, that polling of the Iowa caucuses is really hard, because of the dynamics of the caucuses. So, be very cautious about saying who’s up or who’s in front. But it’s clear that Bernie Sanders is going to do very, very well here. And he could win.
And the enthusiasm that’s built up, you see it at those rallies, of course. And the rally in Cedar Rapids, with the band Vampire Weekend, just drew a massive crowd. And there were a lot of other speakers. Sanders spoke, but also Cornel West and others. The rally in Clive that you saw, with Bon Iver, a very popular singer, very popular band, also had a lot of speakers. It was full of energy. It really was a mix of politics and culture. And these are big-deal events getting coverage. But, Amy, I’ve been around the state the last week a lot, and I’ve gone to small — what should be small events at Sanders’ field office, you know, in some small town in the basement of a building or something like that, and there will be 100-150 people at those events. And so, there’s clearly incredible grassroots energy here.
And to tie it back to the debate rule change, I think an awful lot of those grassroots activists get very, very frustrated by the notion that the rules might be changed in the midst of the game. And they don’t just talk about Bernie Sanders. I’ve been struck. I was at an event in Grinnell, Iowa, the other day and talking to a whole bunch of people and brought up the rule change. They were aware of it, and they all brought up Cory Booker. There was a real sense that while Cory Booker never led the polls in Iowa, he really worked hard in the state. And he won a lot of interest, sympathy and support. And he did drop out at a point where it was clear he wasn’t going to get on those debate stages anymore. And there’s a real consciousness that an African-American candidate, who worked hard in Iowa, wanted to keep going, wanted to be in the debates, couldn’t get an accommodation, but Mike Bloomberg, who has not campaigned in Iowa, appears to be getting an accommodation.
AMY GOODMAN: And, of course, even Democrats who raise the issue of Bernie Sanders being a Democratic Socialist, who is raising the issue of Bloomberg switching from being a Republican to a Democrat?
JOHN NICHOLS: A Republican mayor, yeah, yeah, yes.
AMY GOODMAN: But let me ask you about what actually is happening tonight, for people to understand what caucuses are, why people might go in and caucus with someone they might not necessarily support, someone who is not going to win, to then be freed up to go to see who’s going to be the top candidate, to go over to that person’s caucus.
JOHN NICHOLS: Yeah, caucuses are complicated for people who don’t live in Iowa and a couple other states that use them. Iowans really understand them quite well, so it’s a kind of fascinating thing. And there’s a lot of reasons to criticize caucuses; we may talk about that in a little bit.
But the way a caucus works is this. At 7:00 tonight — actually, people line up around 6:30 — you go to a library or a school or a community hall in towns across Iowa, you know, every little, tiny town, the smallest place, and in precincts throughout cities. And you go with the people who live in your area, in your voting district. Some of these caucuses are huge. They will get hundreds of people in a college town, a place like that. Some of them are rather small. They’re almost like in a living room or something.
But at 7:00, they open the caucus. A caucus chair calls it into session, if you will. They close the door, so more people can’t come in. And they ask people to kind of go to a corner in the room with the other folks that you — that are for your candidate. So, if you’re for Sanders, you go to your corner. If you’re for Warren, you go to your corner. If Biden, Buttigieg, etc. And then you count who is in each corner or who’s in each place. You have to have 15% of the people in the room to meet the so-called threshold for, you know, kind of getting delegate — ultimately, getting the delegate equivalents at this level. And if you don’t have 15%, then you’ve fallen below what’s referred to as viability.
Now, the people who are with a viable candidate — say, you’re in a room where there’s a lot of Bernie Sanders backers, and you’re in your Bernie Sanders corner — you’re locked in there. You can’t move around to other candidates. But if you’re with a nonviable candidate, somebody who didn’t get to that threshold, then you become the most popular person in the room, because the other campaigns all want you to come over. They get a higher level of delegate strength, ultimately, if you come to them. Or you can coalesce with other nonviables to form your own group. But the bottom line in the room is that everybody wants to come out with the most support. And frankly, nobody wants to leave without supporting somebody. So there’s a lot of interest in, or at least a lot of attraction to, joining a campaign that you might not have backed.
And, Amy, the best way to understand this is, let’s say you show up, and you’re really excited about Andrew Yang, and you’re excited that he’s brought up a universal basic income. You’re excited that he’s talking about automation in ways that the other candidates aren’t. But he doesn’t get to the threshold in your room. So then you look around, and maybe candidate — people from the other campaigns come up to you and say, “Hey, you know that Andrew Yang said something nice about Bernie Sanders,” or “You know that Elizabeth Warren is talking about big structural change, and that might fit with some of what you’re discussing,” etc. And so you go with one of the others. Let’s say you go with Sanders. You and other people from that Yang group going with Sanders could really boost Sanders to an even stronger position coming out of your caucus and ultimately statewide.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, didn’t Yang say that supporters can — didn’t Yang say supporters can move to Bernie Sanders if their caucus sites don’t meet the threshold for Yang?
JOHN NICHOLS: Yeah, he has, although he’s sort of, you know, pulled back and forth on that, because one of the challenges on this thing is you don’t want — you do want your backers to get there, and you do want them to be as strong for you as possible. But yeah, Yang has said some nice things. And frankly, there has been speculation that Amy Klobuchar, who has a substantial amount of support but might not meet thresholds, that her people might go with another so-called moderate candidate, like a Biden or a Buttigieg.
And so, all of the campaigns have trained their caucus leaders to work that angle, to work really, really hard. And to give you a sense of how much this has moved up the political ladder, yesterday I was with Elizabeth Warren at an event in Ames, and she opened up with a very long soliloquy about how much she liked the other candidates and how much she had learned from them and how much they had contributed. And the telegraphing there was, if you show up at a caucus and maybe your candidate’s not doing very well, Elizabeth Warren really likes your candidate or really is sympathetic and will listen. That was a very smart thing for Elizabeth Warren to do. And you’re hearing it from other candidates, as well. They really do want to kind of pull these folks together, at least in the caucus.
AMY GOODMAN: Very quickly, John, could there be multiple winners tonight?
JOHN NICHOLS: Absolutely. The rules are complex. And so, when they do that initial count in the room — right? — that will — you’ll get a report on that. And so, somebody might do pretty well in the initial counts but not meet the threshold, so they will point to that. But ultimately, the big thing people will look at is the delegate equivalents, what it comes out at the end, who’s kind of moving up that ladder. And so, that will probably be the main winner.
But remember something else, Amy, that in Iowa, coming in second can mean a lot. If Bernie Sanders comes in first and Elizabeth Warren comes in second, that’s going to be very powerful for Elizabeth Warren, because she drifted down a little in the polls. If somebody unexpected — let’s say Buttigieg, who has had big rallies and big events — let’s say he comes in first. That’s huge for him, and then it might be rough for Sanders, because many people expected him to come in first. So, there’s a lot of tea leaf reading as you get late into tonight and early tomorrow morning.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, of course, we’re going to be bringing people results tomorrow on Democracy Now! John Nichols, please stay with us, because we want to ask you about impeachment. You wrote a book about it. What’s next? John Nichols is The Nation's national affairs correspondent. Then we'll talk about the expanding Muslim ban, and what is Trump’s approach to the coronavirus? Stay with us.


democracynow--2020-02-03--Headlines for February  3, 2020

Headlines for February  3, 2020

Voting in the 2020 presidential election kicks off today with the Iowa caucuses .
Candidates spent the weekend making last-minute appeals to voters in what appears to be a tight race .
This is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addressing his supporters on Sunday .
Sen. Bernie Sanders : “ We are taking on the entire political establishment , both the Republican establishment and the Democratic establishment .
We are taking on Wall Street and the insurance companies and the drug companies and the fossil fuel industry and the military-industrial complex and the prison-industrial complex and the whole damn 1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 elections , the Democratic National Committee is coming under fire after overhauling debate requirements to eliminate the need for candidates to obtain a significant number of small donations , allowing billionaire Mike Bloomberg to take part in upcoming debates even though he does not have widespread grassroots support .
Meanwhile , Politico is reporting DNC members are discussing rule changes that are designed to stop Bernie Sanders from clinching the Democratic nomination by giving superdelegates even more power .
We ’ ll have more on the Iowa caucuses , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s John Nichols .

Voting in the 2020 presidential election kicks off today with the Iowa caucuses. Candidates spent the weekend making last-minute appeals to voters in what appears to be a tight race. This is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addressing his supporters on Sunday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: “We are taking on the entire political establishment, both the Republican establishment and the Democratic establishment. We are taking on Wall Street and the insurance companies and the drug companies and the fossil fuel industry and the military-industrial complex and the prison-industrial complex and the whole damn 1%.”
In more news about the 2020 elections, the Democratic National Committee is coming under fire after overhauling debate requirements to eliminate the need for candidates to obtain a significant number of small donations, allowing billionaire Mike Bloomberg to take part in upcoming debates even though he does not have widespread grassroots support.
Meanwhile, Politico is reporting DNC members are discussing rule changes that are designed to stop Bernie Sanders from clinching the Democratic nomination by giving superdelegates even more power. We’ll have more on the Iowa caucuses, as well as impeachment, after headlines with The Nation’s John Nichols.


democracynow--2020-03-30--"Housing Is Health": Calls Grow for California to Give Vacant Homes to Unhoused People Amid Pandemic

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : We turn now to California , where the number of cases has passed 6,000 with 132 COVID-19 deaths .
The entire state has been ordered to shelter in place as California braces for a surge in cases , but more than 100,000 people are still living on the streets .
A recent study estimates nearly 2,600 unhoused people will need to be hospitalized for the virus in L.A. alone , and nearly a thousand will need intensive care .
Governor Newsom has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he will open recreational centers to shelter the unhoused .
And San Francisco is looking to convert churches and schools into shelters .
But calls are growing for the state to use vacant homes to shelter the unhoused and employ other more drastic measures to protect people without homes .
For more , we ’ re going to Oakland to Carroll Fife , the director of the Oakland office for Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment , key organizer in the Moms 4 Housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mothers occupied a vacant Oakland house until they were eventually able to win its sale .
In a minute , we will also go to a mom in Los Angeles , who has joined a new movement to occupy empty houses .
Carroll Fife , we begin with you in California .
Lay out the issue in Oakland right now .
The moms movement , that we covered so extensively , has taken on new , urgent meaning right now , when people are trying to shelter at home , if they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And thank you for the coverage , the intensive coverage that you all did .
And just like the speaker from New York said , the situation in Oakland , California , is exactly the same .
There are still vacant properties that are going unlived in , and people still are living on the streets .
Mothers and children are still living on the streets .
Moms ’ House is still vacant .
And we have a pandemic , that is supposed to — well , the governor has said that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you don ’ t have a place to shelter in , then you can ’ t do that , and it really puts everyone in jeopardy .
So , if they ’ re as serious as they say they are , they will immediately open up these hotels , open up spaces .
There are still luxury units all over the city of Oakland that have like huge vacancy rates .
And we need to get people in them for the sake of everyone , for the sake of every single resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to bring in — I want to go to Los Angeles .
We ’ re joined by Martha Escudero , who is a mother of two and Reclaiming Our Homes member .
She was the first to reclaim an empty house owned by California earlier this month .
If you can start off by talking about the group of unhoused mothers , elders and families that are occupying 13 vacant homes to stay safe during the pandemic , Martha ?
MARTHA ESCUDERO : Hello , Amy Goodman .
Thank you so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re part of a group called Reclaiming Our Homes .
I , myself , as a mother of two , Victoria and Meztli — they ’ re 10 and 8 years old .
We became aware of these houses being empty .
There ’ s 40 in El Sereno , where I ’ m at .
And counting Alhambra and South Pasadena , there ’ s about 200 that are owned by the California state and are still sitting vacant while we ’ re in a crisis .
The whole state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so high in these last few years that it ’ s become Skid Row .
And it ’ s really immoral for us to be — for the state to be hoarding these empty houses while there are so many people on the streets , especially during this pandemic .
So we feel that it ’ s really important for the most vulnerable people to be able to be housed and be able to keep up their hygiene , so that we don ’ t spread the virus .
So we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacant homes open immediately to be housed by the most vulnerable — the elderly , the ones that are chronically ill. And we believe that housing is a human right and should be affordable and equitable for everybody .
And if the government ’ s not working fast enough , it comes to the power of the people to be able to love and protect each other and finding solutions for our government that ’ s not doing its job .
AMY GOODMAN : Can you talk , Martha , about the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response to your whole movement ?
You ’ re speaking to us from one of the houses that your group is occupying , from where you ’ re living .
He announced Los Angeles would use rec centers to shelter the unhoused , and Governor Newsom has announced the state will use hotels .
What are you saying ?
MARTHA ESCUDERO : Regarding the Caltrans homes , I know the mayor has no jurisdiction .
However , there ’ s also county-owned , city-owned , and the school district owns a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are ready .
These homes , for example , a lot of the people are saying they were not properly taken care of .
They had minor issues , some of them , and we were able to fix them — we , the people , the community , Reclaiming Our Homes .
The government could do the same .
They ’ ve been hoarding these for like 30 years , 20 years .
They need to act faster , especially during this pandemic .
This is immoral and unjust to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , they ’ re not doing enough .
So we need to take that power within our own hands .
We ’ re forced to do that .
AMY GOODMAN : Carroll Fife , in Oakland , we just did a segment on health justice and what that looks like in a pandemic .
Can you talk about the issue of racial justice in this pandemic , in unhoused people finding safe spaces to be in , not to infect themselves , their families and the overall community ?
CARROLL FIFE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s foundational to health .
And without it , you can ’ t actually have the things that you need in order to thrive , in order to live .
And it ’ s a death sentence in Oakland for Oakland ’ s unsheltered population and for our seniors and for the people who don ’ t have access to the resources that our mutual aid organizations have been providing .
Our hospitals are overstaffed , are just running over .
They haven ’ t seen the whole — the curve actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t seen an onslaught of the patients that they will probably get over the next few days or next few weeks .
But they are not prepared .
None of us were prepared for this .
And just like our family down in L.A. said , if the government is not doing what they need to do , then we will be forced to do it ourselves .
And so , it ’ s a racial — it runs along racial lines like every other issue in our country , that it impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Right now our population of homeless folks in Oakland is 70 % .
So that means that if you ’ re unsheltered and it ’ s predominantly black , then it ’ s a death sentence for you .
There are people on the streets that are frightened that their lives are going to end , because no one cares about them .
AMY GOODMAN : And , Carroll , can you talk about Oakland just passing a two-month freeze on evictions ?
And also , for those who have lost their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that Americans are going to get a check in the mail , how do people who are unhoused get a check in the mail ?
CARROLL FIFE : You just — you don ’ t .
It ’ s a farce .
It ’ s a farce .
And it is designed to make it appear that our government is doing something .
But that ’ s still because of community pressure of groups like ACCE Action and Protect Oakland Renters , the group that worked together with our city councilmember , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moratorium , which is stronger than any other moratorium in our region , in the state , that it was because of community pressure that these things happened .
And that is unfortunate .
In the situations we ’ re living in right now , it really is life or death for so many people and marginalized people .
We have to do better .
AMY GOODMAN : Carroll Fife , I want to thank you so much for being with us , Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment , speaking to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and stop community spread .
And Martha Escudero , mother of two and Reclaiming Our Homes member , speaking from the first Reclaiming Our Homes house , speaking to us , again , from home to protect the whole community .
Democracy Now !
is produced by Mike Burke , Deena Guzder , Nermeen Shaikh , Carla Wills , Tami Woronoff , Libby Rainey , Sam Alcoff , John Hamilton , Robby Karran , Hany Massoud , Charina Nadura , Tey-Marie Astudillo , Adriano Contreras , María Taracena , Julie Crosby .
@ @ @ @ @ @

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We turn now to California, where the number of cases has passed 6,000 with 132 COVID-19 deaths. The entire state has been ordered to shelter in place as California braces for a surge in cases, but more than 100,000 people are still living on the streets. A recent study estimates nearly 2,600 unhoused people will need to be hospitalized for the virus in L.A. alone, and nearly a thousand will need intensive care. Governor Newsom has pledged thousands of hotel rooms for homeless people. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he will open recreational centers to shelter the unhoused. And San Francisco is looking to convert churches and schools into shelters. But calls are growing for the state to use vacant homes to shelter the unhoused and employ other more drastic measures to protect people without homes.
For more, we’re going to Oakland to Carroll Fife, the director of the Oakland office for Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, key organizer in the Moms 4 Housing movement earlier this year, when unhoused mothers occupied a vacant Oakland house until they were eventually able to win its sale. In a minute, we will also go to a mom in Los Angeles, who has joined a new movement to occupy empty houses.
Carroll Fife, we begin with you in California. Lay out the issue in Oakland right now. The moms movement, that we covered so extensively, has taken on new, urgent meaning right now, when people are trying to shelter at home, if they had one.
CARROLL FIFE: Correct. And thank you for the coverage, the intensive coverage that you all did. And just like the speaker from New York said, the situation in Oakland, California, is exactly the same. There are still vacant properties that are going unlived in, and people still are living on the streets. Mothers and children are still living on the streets. Moms’ House is still vacant. And we have a pandemic, that is supposed to — well, the governor has said that we have to shelter in place. But if you don’t have a place to shelter in, then you can’t do that, and it really puts everyone in jeopardy. So, if they’re as serious as they say they are, they will immediately open up these hotels, open up spaces. There are still luxury units all over the city of Oakland that have like huge vacancy rates. And we need to get people in them for the sake of everyone, for the sake of every single resident in our city.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to bring in — I want to go to Los Angeles. We’re joined by Martha Escudero, who is a mother of two and Reclaiming Our Homes member. She was the first to reclaim an empty house owned by California earlier this month. If you can start off by talking about the group of unhoused mothers, elders and families that are occupying 13 vacant homes to stay safe during the pandemic, Martha?
MARTHA ESCUDERO: Hello, Amy Goodman. Thank you so much for this coverage. Yes, we’re part of a group called Reclaiming Our Homes. I, myself, as a mother of two, Victoria and Meztli — they’re 10 and 8 years old. We became aware of these houses being empty. There’s 40 in El Sereno, where I’m at. And counting Alhambra and South Pasadena, there’s about 200 that are owned by the California state and are still sitting vacant while we’re in a crisis. The whole state of California’s rent has gone so high in these last few years that it’s become Skid Row. And it’s really immoral for us to be — for the state to be hoarding these empty houses while there are so many people on the streets, especially during this pandemic. So we feel that it’s really important for the most vulnerable people to be able to be housed and be able to keep up their hygiene, so that we don’t spread the virus. So we’re asking the governor to have all these vacant homes open immediately to be housed by the most vulnerable — the elderly, the ones that are chronically ill. And we believe that housing is a human right and should be affordable and equitable for everybody. And if the government’s not working fast enough, it comes to the power of the people to be able to love and protect each other and finding solutions for our government that’s not doing its job.
AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk, Martha, about the city’s response, Mayor Garcetti’s response to your whole movement? You’re speaking to us from one of the houses that your group is occupying, from where you’re living. He announced Los Angeles would use rec centers to shelter the unhoused, and Governor Newsom has announced the state will use hotels. What are you saying?
MARTHA ESCUDERO: Regarding the Caltrans homes, I know the mayor has no jurisdiction. However, there’s also county-owned, city-owned, and the school district owns a lot of vacant homes that are livable, that are ready. These homes, for example, a lot of the people are saying they were not properly taken care of. They had minor issues, some of them, and we were able to fix them — we, the people, the community, Reclaiming Our Homes. The government could do the same. They’ve been hoarding these for like 30 years, 20 years. They need to act faster, especially during this pandemic. This is immoral and unjust to have — they want us dead. You know, they’re not doing enough. So we need to take that power within our own hands. We’re forced to do that.
AMY GOODMAN: Carroll Fife, in Oakland, we just did a segment on health justice and what that looks like in a pandemic. Can you talk about the issue of racial justice in this pandemic, in unhoused people finding safe spaces to be in, not to infect themselves, their families and the overall community?
CARROLL FIFE: Well, housing is health. It’s foundational to health. And without it, you can’t actually have the things that you need in order to thrive, in order to live. And it’s a death sentence in Oakland for Oakland’s unsheltered population and for our seniors and for the people who don’t have access to the resources that our mutual aid organizations have been providing. Our hospitals are overstaffed, are just running over. They haven’t seen the whole — the curve actually hit right now. They haven’t seen an onslaught of the patients that they will probably get over the next few days or next few weeks. But they are not prepared. None of us were prepared for this. And just like our family down in L.A. said, if the government is not doing what they need to do, then we will be forced to do it ourselves.
And so, it’s a racial — it runs along racial lines like every other issue in our country, that it impacts black folks and brown folks the most. Right now our population of homeless folks in Oakland is 70%. So that means that if you’re unsheltered and it’s predominantly black, then it’s a death sentence for you. There are people on the streets that are frightened that their lives are going to end, because no one cares about them.
AMY GOODMAN: And, Carroll, can you talk about Oakland just passing a two-month freeze on evictions? And also, for those who have lost their jobs and this $2 trillion bill saying that Americans are going to get a check in the mail, how do people who are unhoused get a check in the mail?
CARROLL FIFE: You just — you don’t. It’s a farce. It’s a farce. And it is designed to make it appear that our government is doing something. But that’s still because of community pressure of groups like ACCE Action and Protect Oakland Renters, the group that worked together with our city councilmember, Nikki Fortunato Bas, to pass this moratorium, which is stronger than any other moratorium in our region, in the state, that it was because of community pressure that these things happened. And that is unfortunate. In the situations we’re living in right now, it really is life or death for so many people and marginalized people. We have to do better.
AMY GOODMAN: Carroll Fife, I want to thank you so much for being with us, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, speaking to us from her home to keep the community safe and stop community spread. And Martha Escudero, mother of two and Reclaiming Our Homes member, speaking from the first Reclaiming Our Homes house, speaking to us, again, from home to protect the whole community.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Deena Guzder, Nermeen Shaikh, Carla Wills, Tami Woronoff, Libby Rainey, Sam Alcoff, John Hamilton, Robby Karran, Hany Massoud, Charina Nadura, Tey-Marie Astudillo, Adriano Contreras, María Taracena, Julie Crosby. I’m Amy Goodman.


democracynow--2020-03-30--Housing Not Shelters: Amid Pandemic, Homeless New Yorkers Demand Refuge in Vacant Apartments, Hotels

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
We ’ re broadcasting from the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States , New York City .
Here in New York state , the death toll has surpassed 1,000 with more than 60,000 cases .
Of course , that is a serious underestimate because of the lack of access we have to tests .
In New York City , which accounts for more than half the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wailing around the clock as New York scrambles to treat the growing number of critically ill patients .
But as New Yorkers and people around the world are told to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus , tens of thousands of unhoused people here in New York City shelters and on the streets have been left with no way to safely shelter in place .
The virus is also spreading through the city ’ s shelter system , where at least 70 cases have been reported in 45 shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlet The City reported Saturday four unsheltered , unhoused people have also tested positive for COVID ; three are still hospitalized .
Advocates for the unhoused say these numbers will get far worse if the city continues to fail to provide adequate bathrooms , public sanitation stations , proper shelter for homeless New Yorkers living on the street .
Democracy Now !
reached Charmel Lucas , a member of Picture the Homeless who has lived in the shelter system for five years , reached her on the phone last week .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the streets amidst this pandemic .
AMY GOODMAN : Meanwhile , those living in New York ’ s packed shelter system say it ’ s too crowded to allow for safe social distancing .
This is Bernard Ward , who was living in a New York City shelter in downtown Brooklyn ’ til last week .
We reached him on the phone .
AMY GOODMAN : All the while , New York City is continuing to break up homeless encampments , despite the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sunday residents who don ’ t adhere to strict social distancing rules can be fined up to $ 500 — a rule that advocates warn will disproportionately affect unhoused people .
For more , we ’ re going to Kiana Davis , advocate , policy analyst with Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center .
Kiana , welcome to Democracy Now !
Lay out the issue here in New York , and then we ’ ll go to L.A. and to Oakland .
KIANA DAVIS : Sure .
Here in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing is the city continue to disregard an deprioritize the needs of people both living on the street and in our shelter system .
We know that there are enough vacant spaces in the city , both hotels and apartments , where the city could be housing people .
We know that folks on the street are continuing to be heavily policed .
The city relies on the police force to manage and monitor homeless folks , instead of offering actual services in the way of housing or bathrooms or hand-washing stations or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the street .
We ’ ve seen the police continue to conduct street sweeps of homeless folks who are on the street , despite CDC and the HUD guidance advising cities that that is not what they should be doing , that that is a risk to further spreading coronavirus and COVID-19 .
We know , as you heard from Bernard , that in the shelters there are inadequate cleanings happening , lack of basic sanitation supplies , a lack of ability to social distance .
And as you mentioned , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re now going to start fining people for not complying with social distancing rules , when people who do not have a home , who are on the street or in congregate settings , do not have a way to socially distance .
AMY GOODMAN : So , talk about what your demands are now .
And how many people are we talking about in New York City ?
KIANA DAVIS : Yes .
So , we know that there are over 17,000 adults in shelter , many of whom — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom are in these congregate setting , dorm-like shelter spaces , and about 3,500 — a little more than 3,500 folks on the street , as an estimate .
So , our demands , what we are prioritizing at this point , is that the city should be using vacant hotels to ensure the safety for people who are on the street and who are in the shelter .
We know that there are over 100,000 vacant hotel units right now in New York City that they — that could be being used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want that .
We also , of course , always want to tie it to a longer demand to house the homeless people , homeless folks in our city now .
Everyone who needs a home should be able to access one .
We know that there is a huge vacant housing stock in our city that could be being offered to folks on the street and in shelters , which would allow folks to , of course , socially distance , self-quarantine , take care of themselves .
We know that housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased services for people on the street and in shelters , so some of the things I mentioned , like increasing hand-washing stations , having more access to drop-in spaces for homeless folks , increasing distancing in shelters and cleaning in shelters .
Another important demand is , of course , around policing .
We believe that there should not be ongoing policing that targets homeless people , such as the street sweeps , such as fining people who are — for socially distancing , when we know that that will inevitably directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street , who do not have a place to go .
And the last one is access to food and access to healthcare .
About a third of food pantries in New York City have had to shutter their doors as a result of COVID-19 .
We want to make sure that people have access to food that is both accessible and meets their needs and accommodates whatever dietary restrictions , as well as access to healthcare for all .
AMY GOODMAN : Kiana , we ’ re going to certainly continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you for being with us , Kiana Davis of the Urban Justice Center here in New York City .
We ’ re going to move on to Oakland and L.A. , but I want to end with this New York comment of Charmel Lucas , who ’ s been in the city ’ s shelter system for five years .
CHARMEL LUCAS : My message is , as always , housing not shelters .
Housing not shelters .
And that ’ s one of Picture the Homeless ’ biggest messages : housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now you done have all these people in these shelters all these years , and now you ’ ve got a pandemic , and they don ’ t have their own apartment to lock down , cook food .
So , what is the city going to do differently after we get through this ?
What are they going to do differently for people that ’ s in the shelter ?
Are you going to get them into the apartments faster , before another pandemic happens ?
What are they all going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next time ?
What ’ s the plan ?
AMY GOODMAN : “ What ’ s the plan ?
” asks Charmel Lucas , who ’ s been in the New York City shelter system for five years .
Special thanks to Democracy Now !
’ s Libby Rainey .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman. We’re broadcasting from the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, New York City. Here in New York state, the death toll has surpassed 1,000 with more than 60,000 cases. Of course, that is a serious underestimate because of the lack of access we have to tests. In New York City, which accounts for more than half the state’s cases, sirens can be heard wailing around the clock as New York scrambles to treat the growing number of critically ill patients.
But as New Yorkers and people around the world are told to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus, tens of thousands of unhoused people here in New York City shelters and on the streets have been left with no way to safely shelter in place. The virus is also spreading through the city’s shelter system, where at least 70 cases have been reported in 45 shelters. Two people have died. The news outlet The City reported Saturday four unsheltered, unhoused people have also tested positive for COVID; three are still hospitalized. Advocates for the unhoused say these numbers will get far worse if the city continues to fail to provide adequate bathrooms, public sanitation stations, proper shelter for homeless New Yorkers living on the street.
Democracy Now! reached Charmel Lucas, a member of Picture the Homeless who has lived in the shelter system for five years, reached her on the phone last week. She expressed concerns about unsheltered homeless people left on the streets amidst this pandemic.
CHARMEL LUCAS: The bathroom situation, now, Starbucks was a big hub for homeless people to use the bathroom. So how are they washing their hands? The mall is closed, no bathroom. And there’s a 24-hour bread and butter, but they’re not letting people use the bathroom. So how is people supposed to wash their hands?
AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, those living in New York’s packed shelter system say it’s too crowded to allow for safe social distancing. This is Bernard Ward, who was living in a New York City shelter in downtown Brooklyn ’til last week. We reached him on the phone.
BERNARD WARD: When the virus first hit and people — I was requesting for gloves and masks, and they said that we are not able to — it wasn’t in their budget. I said, “Wasn’t in your budget?” That didn’t make no sense. I mean, this is an epidemic. The maintenance personnel wasn’t there. I’ve been cleaning up the dining area, the hallways, my dormitory myself. It was 20 or more people in the dining area closed up together with no protection, serving meals that wasn’t — you know, they didn’t cover it. You know, it was ridiculous.
AMY GOODMAN: All the while, New York City is continuing to break up homeless encampments, despite the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday residents who don’t adhere to strict social distancing rules can be fined up to $500 — a rule that advocates warn will disproportionately affect unhoused people.
For more, we’re going to Kiana Davis, advocate, policy analyst with Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center.
Kiana, welcome to Democracy Now! Lay out the issue here in New York, and then we’ll go to L.A. and to Oakland.
KIANA DAVIS: Sure. Here in New York, what we’re really seeing is the city continue to disregard an deprioritize the needs of people both living on the street and in our shelter system. We know that there are enough vacant spaces in the city, both hotels and apartments, where the city could be housing people.
We know that folks on the street are continuing to be heavily policed. The city relies on the police force to manage and monitor homeless folks, instead of offering actual services in the way of housing or bathrooms or hand-washing stations or even basic supplies and necessities for people on the street. We’ve seen the police continue to conduct street sweeps of homeless folks who are on the street, despite CDC and the HUD guidance advising cities that that is not what they should be doing, that that is a risk to further spreading coronavirus and COVID-19.
We know, as you heard from Bernard, that in the shelters there are inadequate cleanings happening, lack of basic sanitation supplies, a lack of ability to social distance. And as you mentioned, just this weekend, the mayor announced that they’re now going to start fining people for not complying with social distancing rules, when people who do not have a home, who are on the street or in congregate settings, do not have a way to socially distance.
AMY GOODMAN: So, talk about what your demands are now. And how many people are we talking about in New York City?
KIANA DAVIS: Yes. So, we know that there are over 17,000 adults in shelter, many of whom — single adults in shelter, many of whom are in these congregate setting, dorm-like shelter spaces, and about 3,500 — a little more than 3,500 folks on the street, as an estimate. So, our demands, what we are prioritizing at this point, is that the city should be using vacant hotels to ensure the safety for people who are on the street and who are in the shelter. We know that there are over 100,000 vacant hotel units right now in New York City that they — that could be being used to offer isolation spaces to people who want that. We also, of course, always want to tie it to a longer demand to house the homeless people, homeless folks in our city now. Everyone who needs a home should be able to access one. We know that there is a huge vacant housing stock in our city that could be being offered to folks on the street and in shelters, which would allow folks to, of course, socially distance, self-quarantine, take care of themselves. We know that housing is healthcare.
We also are demanding increased services for people on the street and in shelters, so some of the things I mentioned, like increasing hand-washing stations, having more access to drop-in spaces for homeless folks, increasing distancing in shelters and cleaning in shelters.
Another important demand is, of course, around policing. We believe that there should not be ongoing policing that targets homeless people, such as the street sweeps, such as fining people who are — for socially distancing, when we know that that will inevitably directly target homeless folks who are on the street, who do not have a place to go.
And the last one is access to food and access to healthcare. About a third of food pantries in New York City have had to shutter their doors as a result of COVID-19. We want to make sure that people have access to food that is both accessible and meets their needs and accommodates whatever dietary restrictions, as well as access to healthcare for all.
AMY GOODMAN: Kiana, we’re going to certainly continue to cover this issue. I want to thank you for being with us, Kiana Davis of the Urban Justice Center here in New York City. We’re going to move on to Oakland and L.A., but I want to end with this New York comment of Charmel Lucas, who’s been in the city’s shelter system for five years.
CHARMEL LUCAS: My message is, as always, housing not shelters. Housing not shelters. And that’s one of Picture the Homeless’ biggest messages: housing, not a shelter. So, now you done have all these people in these shelters all these years, and now you’ve got a pandemic, and they don’t have their own apartment to lock down, cook food. So, what is the city going to do differently after we get through this? What are they going to do differently for people that’s in the shelter? Are you going to get them into the apartments faster, before another pandemic happens? What are they all going to do? What is the plan for the next time? What’s the plan?
AMY GOODMAN: “What’s the plan?” asks Charmel Lucas, who’s been in the New York City shelter system for five years. Special thanks to Democracy Now!’s Libby Rainey.