;)
The Commentariat -- July 9, 2020
Late Morning/Afternoon Update:
Trump, et al., v. the Law Is Not Going Well:
Maggie Haberman, et al., of the New York Times: "Michael D. Cohen, President Trump's onetime lawyer and fixer, was taken back into federal custody on Thursday after being furloughed from prison in May, federal officials said. 'Today, Michael Cohen refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result, has been returned' to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility, the bureau said in a statement. The bureau's statement did not elaborate on what specifically Mr. Cohen had done, but one person briefed on his legal status said he had refused to sign papers agreeing to certain conditions related to media appearances and writing books." A CNN story is here.
Spencer Hsu & Ann Marimow of the Washington Post: "The Justice Department said Thursday that Roger Stone should report to prison next week as ordered by his sentencing judge despite his concerns about the deadly novel coronavirus.... The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit gave Stone until Friday to respond to the government.... The filing came one day after an interview in which Attorney General William P. Barr defended Stone's prosecution and prison sentence. 'I think the prosecution was righteous and I think the sentence the judge ultimately gave was fair,' Barr told ABC News." The Week has an item here. An ABC News report on the Barr interview is here. ~~~
~~~ Jerry Lambe of Law & Crime: "... Roger Stone, 67, appealed directly to ... Donald Trump, telling a news organization that the president should pardon him or commute his sentence in the interest of justice. 'I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life!' Stone, said in a Tuesday text message to Bloomberg." Mrs. McC: Actually, that's an indirect appeal; Stone made it through an intermediary.
Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal court judge is putting up a highly unusual fight against an appeals court ruling seeking to immediately shut down the prosecution of former national security adviser Michael Flynn for making false statements in the FBI's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Lawyers for U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan filed a petition Thursday asking the full bench of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review a 2-1 decision a panel of that court issued last month, directing Sullivan to cancel his plans for a hearing and instead grant the government's request to drop the case."
Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for prosecutors in New York to see President Trump's financial records, a stunning defeat for Mr. Trump but a decision that probably means the records will be shielded from public scrutiny under grand jury secrecy rules until after the election, and perhaps indefinitely.In a separate decision, the court ruled that Congress could not, at least for now, see many of the same records."
Robert Barnes of the Washington Post: "The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President Trump's assertion that he enjoys absolute immunity while in office, allowing a New York prosecutor to pursue a subpoena of the president's private and business financial records. In a separate case, the court sent a fight over congressional subpoenas for the material back to lower courts because of 'significant separation of powers concerns.' 'In our judicial system, "the public has a right to every man's evidence,"' Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in the New York case, citing an ancient maxim. 'Since the earliest days of the Republic, 'every man' has included the President of the United States.' In both cases, the justices ruled 7 to 2, with Trump nominees Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh joining the majorities. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented. Trump reacted angrily, and inaccurately, on Twitter: 'Courts in the past have given "broad deference". BUT NOT ME!'"
Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney of Politico: "The Supreme Court has delivered a split decision on subpoenas for ... Donald Trump's tax returns and financial records, unanimously rejecting his broadest claims of 'absolute' immunity in a New York state criminal investigation, but ruling that lower courts did not do enough to scrutinize congressional subpoenas for similar records. The pair of highly-anticipated decisions likely mean more delays and court proceedings on both subpoenas, increasing the odds that Trump makes it to the November election without the tax and financial details he has long resisted disclosing being turned over to the prosecutors and Congressional committees demanding them." This is all there is (as of 10:30 am ET) to an update of an earlier story that anticipated release of the decisions. The report has since been updated.
Mrs. McCrabbie: Per Pete Williams of NBC News, Supremes have ruled 7-2 in favor of Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr. against Trump. They're sending it back to trial court, though, (Mrs. McC: so Trump may be able to run out the clock). Sounds like in the 2nd case, the Supremes, 7-2, have also sort of ruled in favor of Congress. This is not likely to be cut-and-dried, either. More when reporters & analysts have had a chance to read & write about the decisions. In any event, Trump/Barr's argument for "presidential categorical immunity" is dead. Jeff Toobin calls the rulings "a legal defeat" for Trump but "a practical victory" since Trump can delay release of the returns (none of which would necessarily have become available to the public anyway). CJ Roberts wrote both opinions. Trump is irate. Good.
Axios. "President Trump fired off a series of tweets on Thursday morning after the Supreme Court upheld a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney for his financial records -- attacking the Obama administration, the Mueller investigation, the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee and others for allegedly undermining his presidency." The report cites the tweets -- so far.
Here's a much calmer report on Trump's reaction to the rulings. He had a very civil conversation with Bart:
Mrs. McCrabbie: Apparently Biden put out a statement -- which I can't find online yet -- to the effect that, "I put out 20-some years of my tax returns. What has Trump got to hide?" Severe, possibly inaccurate, paraphrase.
Nicholas Fandos & Benjamin Weiser of the New York Times: "Geoffrey S. Berman, who was abruptly dismissed by President Trump last month from his post as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, told lawmakers on Thursday that Attorney General William P. Barr tried unsuccessfully to pressure him to resign voluntarily, warning that a firing could ruin his career. Testifying before a closed-door hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, Mr. Berman recounted being summoned with no warning in June to a meeting with Mr. Barr at the Pierre Hotel in New York, in which the attorney general asked him to step down. Mr. Berman said he rebuffed Mr. Barr time and again during a tense, 45-minute discussion, telling him he would not resign and did not want to be fired, according to copies of his prepared statement obtained by The New York Times."
Adam Liptak & Jack Healy of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled by a 5-4 margin that nearly half of Oklahoma is an Indian reservation in the eyes of the criminal-justice system, preventing state authorities from prosecuting offenses there that involve Native Americans. The decision was potentially one of the most consequential legal victories for Native Americans in decades. It was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Westerner who has sided with tribes in previous cases and joined the court's more liberal members." A Hill story is here.
The New York Times' live updates of coronavirus developments Thursday are here: "As President Trump continued to press for a broader reopening, the United States set another record for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with more than 59,400 infections announced, according to a New York Times database. It was the fifth national record in nine days.... On Thursday, cases were decreasing in only two states -- Vermont and New Hampshire. In 14 states and territories, the number of cases was mostly the same. And in the rest of the country new cases were on the rise." ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live updates for Thursday are here: "Anthony S. Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease official, is advising that some states seriously consider 'shutting down' again if they are facing major resurgences of the virus -- a warning that conflicts with President Trump's push to reopen the country as quickly as possible.... A record 62,751 new infections were reported across the United States on Wednesday, including 9,979 in Texas and 11,694 in California. The total number of cases has surpassed 3 million in the United States, where the death toll is approaching 130,000."
Here's a Change/Correction/"Clarification." Alex Harring of CNBC: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will soon issue additional safety guidelines on reopening schools this fall, but the agency doesn't plan to change its original recommendations that... Donald Trump criticized as too tough and expensive, CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday. Redfield said in an interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America' the additional documents don't ease the CDC's recommendations. He said the agency is providing more information for communities, care givers and schools on how to reopen safely. Vice President Mike Pence indicated Wednesday the agency would soften its recommendations. But when asked about the possibility, Redfield said there would be no changes."
Jeff Cox of CNBC: "Weekly jobless claims were lower than expected last week as workers slowly returned to their jobs in the wake of rising coronavirus cases. Claims for the week ended July 4 totaled 1.314 million, compared with the 1.39 million expected from economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The total marked a decrease of 99,000 from a week earlier, according to the Labor Department."
Casey Smith of the AP: "An Indiana woman was arrested in a hit-and-run crash that sent one woman to the hospital and caused minor injuries to a man during a southern Indiana protest over the assault of a Black man by a group of white men, sheriff's officials said Thursday. Christi Bennett, 66, was booked into the Monroe County Jail early Thursday on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of an accident, Deputy Barry Grooms said. She was released a couple of hours later on $500 cash bond."
** Hyung-Jin Kim & Kim Tong-Hyung of the AP: "Police say the body of the missing mayor of South Korea's capital, Seoul, has been found. They say Park Won-soon's body was located in hills in northern Seoul early Friday, more than seven hours after they launched a massive search for him. Park's daughter had called police on Thursday afternoon to report him missing, saying he had given her a'will-like' message before leaving home. A police officer said Park's body was found near a traditional restaurant and banquet hall located in the hills.... News reports say one of Park's secretaries had lodged a complaint with police on Wednesday night over alleged sexual harassment. Kim Ji-hyeong, a Seoul Metropolitan Government official, said Park did not come to work on Thursday for unspecified reasons and had canceled all of his schedule, including a meeting with a presidential official at his Seoul City Hall office."
~~~~~~~~~~
Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "Around 10 a.m. Thursday, the Supreme Court is set to decide whether President Trump can block the release of his financial records. The ruling, concerning tax returns and other information the president has fought hard to protect, is likely to yield a major statement on the power of presidents to resist demands for information from Congress and prosecutors. Here is a look at the two cases, one concerning subpoenas from House committees, the other a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat." Mrs. McC: The lede is not strictly true, of course. The Supremes have already decided and today they will let us know what their decisions were.
The Trumpidemic, Ctd.
You might be a sociopath ~~~
~~~ if you decide it's worth killing off teachers and children in hopes that will help you do a little better in an election you're losing.
The New York Times' live updates of coronoavirus developments Wednesday are here: "Hours after President Trump assailed guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reopening schools, Vice President Mike Pence, appearing with the White House coronavirus task force, announced..., 'Well the president said today, we just don't want the guidance to be too tough.... That's the reason why next week, the C.D.C. is going to be issuing a new set of tools, five different documents that will be giving even more clarity on the guidance going forward.'... Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the C.D.C. director, said Wednesday that the agency's guidance should not be used to justify keeping schools closed.... Mr. Trump's threat comes as scientists grapple with rising concerns about transmission of the coronavirus in indoor spaces. Most public schools are poorly ventilated and don't have the funding to update their filtration systems.... Mr. Trump's funding threat carries real weight. When it passed its $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus law, Congress gave enormous latitude to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to decide how to parcel out tens of millions of dollars in relief to school districts." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live updates for Wednesday are here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Go to School & Get Sick, You Ungrateful Brats! Brett Samuels of the Hill: "President Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut off federal funding for schools if they do not resume in-person learning this fall and criticized a top government health agency for being too tough with its guidelines to aid that process.... Trump said he disagreed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!'" (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Update. Peter Baker, et al., of the New York Times: "President Trump on Wednesday pressured the government's top public health experts to water down recommendations for how the nation's schools could reopen safely this fall and threatened to cut federal funding for districts that defied his demand to resume classes in person. Once again rejecting the advice of the specialists who work for him, Mr. Trump dismissed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 'very tough & expensive guidelines.'... Within hours, the White House announced that the agency would issue new recommendations in the days to come.... Mr. Trump expressed no concern about the health implications of reopening in person and no support for compromise plans that many districts are considering." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. Bea McCrabbie: As MSNBC host Chris Hayes & a guest pointed out, school administrators all over the country have been working for months on plans to re-open their schools in a fashion that will accommodate health & safety concerns for students and staff in accordance with CDC guidelines. In addition, many school districts have made investments in materials to effect those plans. In one intemperate tweet, Trump threw all that planning & investment out the window. ~~~
~~~ Laura Meckler of the Washington Post: "The administration is finding it nearly impossible to control the situation, with the president's views often at odds with those of his health advisers, and decision-making resting with 50 states, more than 1,300 school districts and thousands of colleges and universities.... Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said schools 'must fully open and they must be fully operational,' and she singled out plans in Fairfax County, Va., for a hybrid system as a failure... .On Wednesday, New York City schools, the nation's largest school system, announced a plan that will have most students in school two days a week and learning from home the other three. Many other systems have announced or are considering similar plans.... Trump has no power to cut federal funding already allocated to states and districts, but the vice president suggested the administration would seek to tie any future aid to opening of schools."
Another TrumperWhopper. Ben Gittleson of ABC News: "As of Tuesday, the United States had the ninth-worst mortality rate in the world, with 39.82 deaths per 100,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University.... The U.S. finds itself on a shortlist of countries that have the most coronavirus deaths proportional to both its total population and to its confirmed cases. In absolute terms, the United States also has the greatest number of overall deaths from coronavirus, with nearly twice as many as Brazil, which ranks second, according to Johns Hopkins.... Donald Trump and his White House have repeatedly claimed this week, falsely, that the United States has the lowest novel coronavirus mortality rate in the world.... Trump tweeted Monday that 'we now have the lowest Fatality (Mortality) Rate in the World' and that the coronavirus mortality rate in the United States was 'just about the LOWEST IN THE WORLD.' He tweeted on Tuesday, 'We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World' and said 'The Fake News should be reporting these most important of facts, but they don't!'... Trump repeated his claim about the U.S. mortality rate at the Whit House on Tuesday afternoon, saying it was 'the lowest anywhere in the world.'... Trump's series of tweets on the matter -- and his press secretary's insistence to reporters -- reflected an attempt to explain his comment during a speech over the weekend that 99% of coronavirus cases are 'harmless,' which received significant blowback." (Also linked yesterday.)
Susan Svrluga & Nick Anderson of the Washington Post: "Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration Wednesday over an order that would require international students to take classes in person this fall, despite rising coronavirus caseloads that are complicating efforts by colleges and universities to offer in-person learning. The lawsuit represented a swift response to an unexpected order issued this week by the federal government, as universities rush to protect the status of thousands of international students. It also represents a new battle line in the war between Trump and education leaders over how to safely reopen schools in the midst of his reelection bid." (Also linked yesterday.)
Andrew Jacobs of the New York Times: "... hospitals, nursing homes and private medical practices are facing ... a dire shortage of respirator masks, isolation gowns and disposable gloves that protect front-line medical workers from infection.... The soaring demand for protective gear is now affecting a broad range of medical facilities across the country, a problem public health experts and major medical associations say could have been avoided if the federal government had embraced a more aggressive approach toward procuring and distributing critical supplies in the early days of the pandemic.... The inability to find personal protective equipment, known as P.P.E., is starting to impede other critical areas of medicine too. Neurologists, cardiologists and cancer specialists around the country have been unable to reopen their offices in recent weeks.... In a coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence downplayed the shortages, but said the government was preparing to issue new guidance on the preservation and reuse of protective gear. 'P.P.E., we hear, remains very strong,' he said." Emphasis added. ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Trump has erased mike pence. There is no longer a mike pence; there is only a little machine that says Donald's best words when Donald is otherwise occupied watching Fox "News."
The Coronavirus Ate Trump's Homework. Steve Eder & Ben Protess of the New York Times: "President Trump's annual financial disclosure report was due to be released more than a week ago. But the filing, the only official public document detailing his personal finances, was not published.... The White House addressed the issue on Wednesday night. An official said Mr. Trump had requested a deadline extension because the report was 'complicated' and the president had 'been focused on addressing the coronavirus crisis and other matters.'"
How a Whistleblower Complaint Is Supposed to Work. Ian Duncan of the Washington Post: "The head of the Transportation Security Administration ordered new coronavirus safety precautions last week after meeting with a whistleblower who alleged that the agency wasn't doing enough to protect employees and travelers, according to the whistleblower's attorney. The new measures require officers to wear eye protection when they are in close contact with travelers and aren't protected by a plastic screen, the attorney said. Officers must also change their gloves or sanitize them after patting down passengers, handling identification documents or checking in luggage. The Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal watchdog, had ordered the Department of Homeland Security last month to conduct an investigation into the whistleblower's allegations. The complaint was filed by Jay Brainard, the TSA's director in Kansas."
California. Madison Pauly of Mother Jones: "San Quentin [State Prison] is currently the site of one of country's worst COVID-19 clusters, with 1,300 prisoners and 184 staff having tested positive for the coronavirus as of July 7. At least six prisoners have died from the virus. Sick prisoners are being put in isolation or treated in tents, while those who have not fallen ill are locked down in crowded dormitories and cell blocks where fear of the coronavirus is sometimes overwhelming.... On May 30, the prison of about 3,500 people on the edge of San Francisco Bay had zero coronavirus cases. Then California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials transferred 121 people to San Quentin from the California Institution for Men in Chino, which was struggling with a fierce outbreak. Some of the men, who had medical risk factors and hadn't been tested for up to four weeks, were packed onto buses where a handful fell ill even before they arrived at San Quentin."
Ryan Goodman of Just Security: "First, President Trump decided not to confront Putin about supplying arms to the [Taliban]. Second, during the very times in which U.S. military officials publicly raised concerns about the program's threat to US forces, Trump undercut them. He embraced Putin, overtly and repeatedly, including at the historic summit in Helsinki. Third, behind the scenes, Trump directed the CIA to share intelligence information on counterterrorism with the Kremlin despite no discernible reward, former intelligence officials who served in the Trump administration told Just Security." Emphasis original. (Also linked yesterday.)
John Santucci of ABC News: Pam Shriver, the former tennis star & the widow of Joe Shapiro, says her late husband was a casual friend of Donald Trump's but she does not believe he could have taken Trump's SAT tests as she believes Trump & Shapiro didn't meet until after they were both students at UPenn, contrary to the assertion Mary Trump makes in her book.
Bonfire of the Vanities. Marja Novak of Reuters: "A wooden sculpture of U.S. first lady Melania Trump was torched near her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, on the night of July Fourth, as Americans celebrated U.S. Independence Day, said the artist who commissioned the sculpture." Mrs. McC: It was kind of an ugly statue, IMHO, so Melanie probably isn't upset.
Missy Ryan & Shane Harris of the Washington Post: "An Army officer who played a high-profile role in President Trump's impeachment proceedings is retiring from the military over alleged 'bullying' and 'retaliation' by the president, his lawyer said Wednesday. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who served as a national security aide at the White House until earlier this year and was up for promotion to colonel, will leave the military instead, his attorney, David Pressman, said in a statement. 'Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the president of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,' Pressman said. 'LTC Vindman's patriotism has cost him his career.'" CNN's story is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Eric Schmitt & Helene Cooper of the New York Times: "... the White House had made clear to officials in the Pentagon ... that Mr. Trump did not want to see Colonel Vindman promoted.... On multiple occasions, including this week, the White House pressed the Pentagon to seek witnesses who would come forward and say that Colonel Vindman acted improperly, the officials said. But Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy have been unable to produce such evidence, largely because it does not exist.... A person familiar with Colonel Vindman's decision said he decided to retire after more than 21 years in the Army when it became apparent he would not be able to serve in a useful capacity in his area of specialty, Eurasia affairs."
Minnesota. Richard Oppel & Kim Barker of the New York Times: "... newly released evidence reveals an even more desperate scene than previously known in the moments before an officer pressed his knee into [George] Floyd's neck. Mr. Floyd uttered 'I can't breathe' not a handful of times, as previous videotapes showed, but more than 20 times in all. He cried out not just for his dead mother but for his children too. Before his final breaths, Mr. Floyd gasped: 'They'll kill me. They'll kill me.' As Mr. Floyd shouted for his life, an officer yelled back at him to 'stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.' The chilling transcripts of Minneapolis police body camera footage, made public on Wednesday, were filed in state court as part of an effort by one of the officers on the scene, Thomas Lane, 37, to have charges that he aided and abetted Mr. Floyd's murder thrown out by a judge."
California. Actual Hate Crime. Ella Torres of ABC News: "A white California couple has been charged with a hate crime after they were seen on video defacing a Black Lives Matter mural, according to a statement from the Contra Costa District Attorney's office. Two people, identified by the district attorney as Nicole Anderson, 42, and David Nelson, 53, were seen on July 4 painting over the B and L in the word 'Black,' which had been painted in yellow, with black paint.... When a woman could be heard asking, 'What's wrong with you?' the ma replied, 'We're sick of this narrative, that's what's wrong. The narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism. It's a lie.' He was wearing Trump 2020 garb and yelled 'Make America Great Again.'" Emphasis added. ~~~
~~~ New York Traffic Report. What Trump Thinks Is a Hate Crime. Jonathan Dienst, et al., of NBC 4 New York: "New York City will start painting 'Black Lives Matter' on Fifth Avenue directly in front of Trump Tower on Thursday, picking up a delayed project that President Trump blasted as a 'symbol of hate.' City workers began closing the street Thursday morning and Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to take part in the mural some time Thursday afternoon, sources tell NBC New York. A police official said that the street could be closed for a couple of days to do the work."
Washington State. Allyson Waller of the New York Times: "A Seattle man who the authorities said drove into a protest on a closed section of Interstate 5 over the weekend, killing one demonstrator, was charged on Wednesday with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and reckless driving. The man, Dawit Kelete, 27, is being held with bail set at $1.2 million and is expected to remain in jail, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said.... The authorities said that Mr. Kelete was driving a white Jaguar XJL when he drove into the protesters 'at a high rate of speed' early on Saturday morning, striking two protesters."
Elections 2020
Bernie Sanders, Pragmatist. Will Weissert & Bill Barrow of the AP: "Political task forces Joe Biden formed with onetime rival Bernie Sanders to solidify support among the Democratic Party's progressive wing recommended Wednesday that the former vice president embrace major proposals to combat climate change and institutional racism while expanding health care coverage and rebuilding a coronavirus-ravaged economy. But they stopped short of urging Biden's full endorsement of policies that could prove too divisive for some swing voters in November, like universal health coverage under 'Medicare for All' or the sweeping Green New Deal environmental plan. The groups, formed in May..., sought to hammer out a policy road map to best defeat ... Donald Trump."
Maggie Haberman & Annie Karni of the New York Times: "Mr. Trump's campaign is planning an event at an airport hangar in Portsmouth, N.H. But the state's governor, Chris Sununu, a Republican, has said he will not be attending. It isn't clear how many other Republican elected officials will come. The number of attendees could be low, or it could be expansive.... 'It's not what we need right now in terms of Covid,' said Tom Rath, a Republican former New Hampshire attorney general. 'We have been very, very fortunate -- our number of deaths are quite small.' Mr. Sununu, in particular, is threading a needle in a year when he is up for re-election in a swing state, and has gotten praise for how he has handled the coronavirus crisis, Mr. Rath said." Mrs. McC: I can tell you that after the local paper published my open letter to Sununu asking him to prevent Trump from landing in New Hampshire, strangers phoned me at home to thank me. People do not want the Orange Monster & his fan club of mouth-breathers gathering here. ~~~
Justine Coleman of the Hill: "A group of attorneys in Jacksonville, Fla. filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block the Republican National Convention from taking place in the city next month. The lawsuit, filed in Duval County, points to several arguments why the city should not host the event as Florida's case numbers continue to spike, saying the convention would be 'a nuisance injurious to the health (and) welfare' of the community.... The attorneys filed the lawsuit days after Florida set a record for the most COVID-19 cases confirmed in a single day in a state during the pandemic, with 11,458 cases on Saturday."
Mixed Messaging? Nah. Totally Conflicting Messages. Andrew Kaczynski of CNN: "While ... Donald Trump has continuously railed against voting by mail, a Republican National Committee robocall in April voiced by his daughter-in-law Lara Trump said voting by mail could be done 'safely and securely.' The call was sent in support of Republican Mike Garcia in California's 25th US House District special election, the race for the seat previously held by Democratic Rep. Katie Hill. California's election was done almost entirely by mail after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in March that required every voter to be mailed a ballot. It was one of three RNC robocalls identified by CNN's KFile in which Lara Trump and the President's son Donald Trump Jr. urged voters to vote by mail in special elections since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic[.]" (Also linked yesterday.)
Mrs. McCrabbie: Here's the Lincoln Project ad that P.D. Pepe mentions in today's Comments thread. It is pretty stunning that conservative Republicans are going after not just Trump but also Republican senators who have enabled him. Most of the senators the ad highlights are up for re-election this year: ~~~
New Jersey. Paul Kane of the Washington Post: "Amy Kennedy planted a flag Tuesday for her family's political dynasty along the Jersey Shore, winning a heavily contested Democratic primary against an establishment favorite to advance to a general election race against an ex-Democrat [-- Jeff Van Drew --] who pledged his loyalty to President Trump rather than vote to impeach him. Shortly after the polls closed, Kennedy, the wife of former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), received a concession call from Brigid Callahan Harrison, a college professor and political commentator who had the support of most local party chairs, according to a senior Kennedy campaign adviser. With 30 percent of the votes in, Kennedy led 55 percent to 32 percent over Harrison, according to the Associated Press, which projected Kennedy as the winner." (Also linked yesterday.)
Texas. Summer Concepcion of TPM: "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday afternoon said that city officials are canceling the Texas Republican Party's in-person convention originally scheduled for next week. The cancel[l]ation came on the heels of Turner saying earlier Wednesday during a virtual city council meeting that his administration was investigating ways to cancel it. Turner added that he directed the city's legal department to work with the Houston First Corporation, which operates the convention center, in reviewing the contract with the state's GOP.... The event was originally scheduled to take place July 16-18 and would potentially draw about 6,000 attendees."
John Cruzel of the Hill: "The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a pair of Los Angeles-area Catholic schools are immune from discrimination suits brought by two former teachers in a decision that expands the scope of First Amendment safeguards for religious employers. DEVELOPING" More on this later. Apparently the vote was 7-2, with Justices Ginsburg & Sotomayor dissenting. The Washington Post's brief breaking story is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Update. Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Trump administration regulation that lets employers with religious or moral objections limit women's access to birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act. As a consequence of the ruling, about 70,000 to 126,000 women could lose contraceptive coverage from their employers, according to government estimates. The vote was 7 to 2, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Adam Liptak: "The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that federal employment discrimination laws do not apply to teachers whose duties include instruction in religion at schools run by churches. The vote was 7 to 2, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor in dissent. (Also linked yesterday.)
Capitalism Is Awesome, Ctd. Mike Isaac of the New York Times: "Auditors handpicked by Facebook to examine its policies said that the company had not done enough to protect people on the platform from discriminatory posts and ads and that its decisions to leave up President Trump's inflammatory posts were 'significant setbacks for civil rights.' The 89-page audit ... gave fuel to the company's detractors, who said the site had allowed hate speech and misinformation to flourish. The audit also placed the social network in the spotlight for an issue it had worked hard to avoid since the 2016 election: That it may once again be negatively influencing American voters." ~~~
~~~ Craig Timberg & Isaac Stanley-Becker of the Washington Post: “Facebook took down a network of more than 100 pages and accounts on Wednesday it said was affiliated with felon and former Republican operative Roger Stone for 'coordinated inauthentic behavior,' taking the company's campaign against disinformation closer to the heart of the nation's political establishment. The offending activity on Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram dated as far back as 2015 but was particularly active during the 2016 presidential election season, when Stone was advising Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and in 2017, as federal investigators were scrutinizing his activities. Facebook officials said Stone, a longtime friend of Trump's, used fake accounts and other deceptive measures to manipulate public debate." A Politico story is here.
Share Article
Reader Comments (18)
A morning dream:
Because it was a "regulation," altho' the Supremes upheld it, the stupid idea that some silly religious impulse can protect an employer from the horrors of contraception complicity can be "cancelled" by a new administration.
I'd guess someone in the Biden campaign is in charge of the list of Pretender crimes against the nation, the internationnal order, the environment and humanity in general that should be cancelled posthaste immediately followeing the inauguration.
As the Pretender has proven, there's a lot to be said for the cancel culture.
@Ken Winkes: Yes, that was my understanding, too. It seems Roberts is taking the proverbial "boiling frog" approach to cancelling women's reproductive rights.
LEARN THEIR NAMES:
The new video from the Lincoln Project featuring the faces of many of the republicans who chose Trump over country: Remember their actions.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lincoln-project-targets-gop-senators_n_5f0647e8c5b63a72c33cb982
Those that are against abortion and also against contraception must be in the rhythm section of the band or perhaps play solo in the dark recesses of their cozy cornered minds. I find it ironic that we find ourselves in a killing field––so many deaths a day––and yet there are those that want to up the ante on women all in the name of some religious mumbo jumbo or/ and once again sticking it to Obama's health care.
PBS' two part series on the Suffragette movement this week brought back in stark reality the horrendous struggle women have had to endure–-no wonder certain kinds of men (and some women) want to keep us at the stove stirring the pots of broken dreams while they dictate the way of the world.
@PD - Been watching the women's voting show too. Has been both fascinating and disheartening to think that something that I take for granted was so strongly opposed by so many on such bogus grounds for so long.
Can anyone explain why professional medical experts, doctors no less, at the CDC would adjust their health advice at the behest of someone who knows less than nothing about medicine and has repeatedly demonstrated on national TV that ignorance and his vast indifference to the nation's health?
What happened to "do no harm?"
Do they all need back braces? More PPE in short supply?
Johnny and the Dwarfs should be very shortly announcing that their fealty to the Party of Traitors and their support for the criminal and head traitor in the White House is much stronger than their supposed concern for the United States, the Constitution, the rule of law, and basic human decency.
It might be okay to throw a bone (a very brittle bone) to the pains in ass in the LGBTQ community and the DACA whiners, but they’ve worked too hard for too long, as has their party, which pulled out all the stops to shove a lying rapist onto the court, to ensure their anti-American, anti-democratic, authoritarian political dominance to throw it all away by allowing Nosy Parker prosecutors and do-gooders in Congress to think that they can peek under the little king’s skirts.
Trump might still steal this election and four more years of fascism will guarantee that confederate wet dreams of total control will be within reach. There’s too much at stake to allow something as inconsequential as him (And them) pissing on the Constitution to become an issue that might swing things in favor of the hated Democrats.
Of course, this latest bit of hyper-partisan jiggery-pokery, as the Dark Lord Nino used to call it, will be accompanied by the usual pomp and phony proclamations of honor and the glory of American law (which, under Republican guidance, has become synonymous with stand up comedy). As has often been the case with Little Johnny, the cases will be “decided” (nudge-nudge) in Fatty’s favor by relying upon razor thin, picayune legalistic mumbo-jumbo.
On the other hand, the confederates might allow the cases to go forward with the caveat that Trump gets to decide what-all everyone can see. Gee, that’d be fair, no?
It should be the usual casuistry shit show.
But @Ken, they've all been given free lifetime passes on the Trump Shuttle, as well as free tuition at Trump University. They're riding the coattails of success!
Message to unwashed: I sent your comments from yesterday re: 10cc's to my son in Germany who, like me, were/are heavy into the seventies' sounds. Here is his reply:
"Funny - I was just listening to 10cc yesterday…
As we witnessed with George Floyd’s death, the connection of principles with actual events can have powerful effects. The assertion of general principles in the absence of a direct connection to events often fails to find resonance and can actually result in the opposite of the intended effect. The fundamental problem at the moment is the complete absence of leadership, which could set an example and generate a climate of informed, intelligent and respectful discussion. "
by the way––clicked on "I'm not in Love" piece and was thrilled with the lead singer's voice––gorgeous! So I thank you again for introducing me to a group I never knew.
@Ken Winkes: Back braces, for sure. My guess is the docs' rationalization goes something like this: "Trump, with help from frightened state-level Republicans, is going to force schools to re-open, and he's going to do it, as he already has said, by suggesting the schools ignore the CDC re-opening guidelines as 'too tough.' So, to get at least some minimally-safe recommendations to school boards across the country, we'll ease off the sensible, responsible guidelines and put out something that's a bit short of 'Go to school, get sick, and die for Trump.' I can save more lives that way than sticking to my principles."
** Update: BUT see Redfield's change/"clarification" outlined in Alex Harring's CNBC post linked in this morning's updates.
Yes-- the schools must open, regardless of circumstances and lack of resources, because the administration is in charge of making pronouncements, and then going out for lunch when push comes to shove. The director of CDC is a milquetoast. Why someone who probably is rolling in money and prestige is afraid of losing his or her job if disagreeing with the rats is beyond me. But the media holds a big part of the blame. This morning it was said that Pence "suggested" that things were all hunky-dory with regard to opening schools-- what coronavirus? No. He lies like his boss/leader. But the media says "suggested." And the CDC will move the goalposts again. Fear of this conman/psychopath rules the day.
Disappointment in the SC festering wounds... today they sent it all back so the preziDUNCE gets to kick the can down the road until death, I guess. But not surprised. The shitweasel has not had to pay for any transgression in his whole miserable life, so this is no different.
Add that to the lovely news eeking out about how so many "businesses" managed to snarf up the hairdressers' money as usual. The haves win yet again. Oh, and Bart says no one is above the law. Hells bells. Irony in spades.
Re revisionist CDC guidance, it is probably just like last year's Sharpiegate:
-- DiJiT says something harmful ("Look out 'bama!")
-- professionals responsible to the public say nuh-uh
-- White House puts the arm on the pros' political boss
-- that boss puts out a bullshit correction to his pros' guidance
-- the pros agree to try to make it work, but reserve the right to protect the public
-- public says "look, a squirrel" and moves on
-- when people die WH blames the pros.
@PD, how coincidental, or, it's a small world after all. If you/he has an hour to spare watch the documentary that I linked yesterday.
If the justice wheels grind so slowly as to be imperceptible, are they in fact grinding at all?
Love these oh-so-principled decisions that neatly avoid practical effect.
And Alito and Thomas? What are they even doing on the Court? Or is it a case of emptily demonstraring their bona fides, like Senators who vote "no" to register their purported virtue when they know the awfulness they really support will pass anyway?
And on the Oklahoma case, I'm guessing (will check later) it was Gorsuch in the narrow 5-4 decision who struck again. Native Americans have found a "conservative" they can count on.
Well knock me down.
The Supremes (some) went against Trump.
I think this is a sign that they (and a few other Republicans) believe that he’s bad for the party and that he’s gone. Might as well kick him to the curb to make room for Trump 2.0, a smarter and cagier fascist.
This should be fun, but Fatty has told courts to pound sand before. I’ll believe this when I see it.
Every day, I thank my lucky stars that the Oval Office Occupier is such a moron. He has exposed how much an evil person can get away with in our current system. An evil smart person could do so much more damage.
unwashed,
Halfway through the docu, I’m discovering that I’d been boppin’ - ‘n bongin’ - to the beat of 10cc inspiration. Their overlapping with familiar singers and musicians is “blowing my mind”.
The music “vid” of “I Wanna Rule The World” is sheer genius.
Love Steely Dan.
And infinite thanks for ‘splainin’ the significance of 10cc:
To think that all this time my calculus had suggested . . .
Back in 2016, somebody else thought Trump fit the profile of "I Wanna Rule the World."
Mrs McC: Help may be on the way. I see the track for TS Fay puts it around northern VT/NH after noon Saturday. Maybe it will frighten the big baby away.