You don't have to leave (yet), but you can't stay here...
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has extended the foreclosure and evictions moratorium for another month, but will this be the last extension?
DeSantis won’t be able to lift the ban on evictions anytime soon if he hopes to win re-election in 2022. Too many Floridians have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
Florida Democrats are waiting to pounce on any move DeSantis makes that they feel could be used against him politically.
Remember, no matter what DeSantis does, good or bad, Democrats will find some way to politicize his actions against him.
READ MORE about DeSantis’ new executive order.
Crossing Out God
Progressive Democrat Pam Keith may have hurt her campaign with this little meme she put out against Rep. Brian Mast. READ MORE
The Miami Boogie Down Election
County Commissioner Esteban Bovo has garnered the endorsement of his former mayoral opponent Xavier Suarez. Bovo faces Progressive Daniella Levine Cava in the 2020 general election.
“It must be a person that knows how to govern, that has the experience, that understands the economy, and I believe in this case Bovo is much better than Daniella Levine.” - Xavier Suarez
Debbie Wasserman Schultz @DWStweets-Every time I see @KamalaHarris speak I’m more and more excited to have her on the ticket. #BidenHarris2020 can’t come soon enough!
Rick Scott @SenRickScott-China has turned a once thriving city into a prison as brave Hong Kongers attempt to flee the oppression resulting from China’s crackdown on freedom and human rights. The new security law is only the latest act of aggression from the Chinese Communist Party.
Rep. Michael Waltz @RepMichaelWaltz-Small businesses make up 95% of total businesses in our community and are essential to our local economy and way of life. Thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program, nearly 80% of these businesses received loans, saving 83,000 jobs in our area. Proud to support the PPP.
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell @RepDMP -The president is trying to undermine free and fair elections by sabotaging mail-in voting during a pandemic. This is right out of the authoritarian playbook. We must ensure Americans who need to vote by mail can do so in a safe way and know their ballot will be counted.
Rep. Lois Frankel @RepLoisFrankel -The new @CDCgov guidelines on #COVID19 testing are gravely concerning. This pandemic is very real--it's killed +180,000 Americans & we're still struggling to get it under control. Testing for asymptomatic cases is CRUCIAL to tracking its spread.
Commissioner Nikki Fried @NikkiFriedFL -???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????: If you suffered timber loss or damage as a result of #HurricaneMichael, you may be eligible for the Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant Program.
“Obama: Biden/Harris Ticket Will Bring “Equality and Justice”” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – With the 2020 election less than 3 months away, key battleground states are up for grabs as Vice President Joe Biden (D) plans to hit the campaign trail. Republicans are also warning of what’s at stake in a state like Florida. “Polls show that Florida is within the margin of error,” warned the Republican Party of Florida in an email to supporters. “Now that Kamala Harris is officially Joe Biden’s vice-presidential pick, Democrats are going on a fundraising blitz to take the lead in this MUST-WIN state,” the message continued. Warning that “our state WILL win the election,” the Party noted that “every action you take right now is critical to President Trump’s future.” This future is something that President Obama (D) is hoping to cut short as he has also sent out words of encouragement to supporters that will be voting for Biden in the November election. In a message that highlight’s how vital Democrats see Senator Kamala Harris (D) in the Biden administration, President Obama explained that “Biden showed me how critical a vice president is to leading this country,” adding that “it’s the first truly important decision a president makes.” In turn, Obama argued that “their capacity for empathy and sincere faith in the American people will not only guide us through the multiple crises we face today but help our country move closer to fulfilling its founding promise of equality and justice.” Last month, when President Trump (R) was asked to share his thoughts on the criticism he’s received from President Obama, Trump did not hold back from saying how he felt.
“House Democrats demand investigation into Muslim detainees being forced to eat pork” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Lawmakers were outraged last week when it was alleged that ICE agents at Miami’s Krome Detention Center were forcing several dozen Muslim detainees to eat pork. Allegations made by some of the inmates state that because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the facility has been serving pre-plated meals as opposed to allowing inmates to choose their meals. According to a CNN report, the change in policy “has meant that detainees either had to choose between a spoiled halal meal or a meal with pork, according to the letter.” This is all they had to choose from on a daily basis? Regardless of whether the allegations are baseless or not, ICE has opened an investigation into the specific complaints. “ICE’s Performance-Based National Detention Standards cover all aspects of detention, to include reasonable accommodation of religious dietary practices. Any claim that ICE denies a reasonable and equitable opportunity for persons to observe their religious dietary practices is false,” said an ICE spokesperson.
“League of Women Voters of Florida Create Process For Felon Sentence Modification” by WFSU’s Blaise Gainey – Whether a felon can vote in Florida depends on several factors; type of crime committed, whether they’ve finished their sentence and if they’ve paid their financial debt accrued from court fees, fines, and restitution. The latter part is at the center of an ongoing lawsuit. But the League of Women Voters of Florida is promoting an alternate option: sentence modification. Prior to 2019, felons could have their financial debt moved to a civil lien so it wouldn’t count against them when they attempt to restore their voting rights. But that changed when the legislature approved Senate Bill 7066. "So what 7066 did is it opened up that gate and said literally we don’t care if a judge converted it to a civil lien you’ve got to pay it as if it were on the criminal side," said Cecile Scoon the First Vice President for the League. Scoon is also the chair of their efforts on the restoration of rights. "We were very unhappy with 7066 because it did limit opportunities, and it did take away the impact of the civil lien which was a very big negative, but there was something in there that we said we could try to use," said Scoon. That something was a provision within the bill that allowed for felons to ask the court to modify their sentence, which could result in fines, fees, and even restitution being removed.
“Florida Men Charged With Using 700 Synthetic Identities To Exploit Covid-19 Relief Programs” by CBS Tampa Bay – According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Miami federal prosecutors charged two Florida menwith bank fraud conspiracy for allegedly using synthetic identities to commit crimes, including defrauding banks and stealing over $3 million from COVID-19 relief programs. According to the criminal complaint affidavit, beginning around 2017, Jean Fleuridor, 41, of Broward County, Florida and Hasan Brown, 44, of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and their co-conspirators schemed to defraud a bank located in San Antonio, Texas. They allegedly used approximately 700 synthetic identities, in addition to stolen identities, to create bank accounts and shell companies. According to the criminal complaint, fraudulent payments were made from accounts registered to these synthetic identities to accounts registered to defendants Brown and Fleuridor. Charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty. From about April through July of 2020, members of the conspiracy allegedly utilized the already-established synthetic identities and associated shell companies and accounts to fraudulently apply for assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a program established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to help small businesses financially survive the pandemic. According to the complaint, defendants Brown and Fleuridor fraudulently sought and received over $3 million dollars in PPP relief, paid into accounts associated with the synthetic identities.
“Buchanan and Good launch first 2020 campaign ads as Florida congressional battle begins” by Tampa Bay Times’ Christopher O'Donnell – It almost certainly wasn’t planned, but GOP incumbent Vern Buchanan and his Democratic challenger Margaret Good both choose Monday to unveil their first campaign videos as they vie for the 16th U.S. Congressional District. Buchanan, a congressman since 2007, released a 60-second digital ad highlighting his work reforming military training following the death of Spc. Nicholas Panipinto, a Bradenton soldier killed in South Korea after his vehicle rolled over during an exercise. In it, Panipinto’s father, Anthony Panipinto, praises Buchanan for taking action after the tragedy. Buchanan got an amendment added to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring a review of emergency medical services at U.S. bases. Good, who is giving up a seat in the Florida House of Representatives to challenge Buchanan, also debuted ad on Monday, a 30-second TV spot called “Anyone.” It touts her as someone who will work with politicians from both sides of the aisle to get results. “Right now, nothing is getting done because our politicians are more concerned with their party than with the people they serve,” she said in the video. The 16th Congressional District covers Manatee County, Sarasota and southern Hillsborough, including Sun City Center and parts of Fish Hawk, Gibsonton and Riverview.
“Appeals court in Florida backs the state's back-to-school order that requires an in-person instruction option” by American School & University’s Mike Kennedy – In a victory for state of Florida education leaders, an appeals court says that the state’s school reopening order did not force students back to campus, nor teachers back into classrooms, and should remain in effect while the lawsuits challenging its constitutionality move through the court system. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the ruling by the First District Court of Appeal put on hold a decision issued last week by a circuit court judge in Tallahassee. That judge ruled in favor of teachers who argued in a lawsuit said that the state’s July reopening order was unconstitutional because it required Florida’s public schools to open “brick and mortar” campuses five days a week starting in August. But appeal court judges say they expect the state will win the case eventually, so they put the lower court’s ruling on hold during appeals, saying it had “caused confusion and uncertainty for students, parents, and teachers.” Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who signed the reopening order, says the appeal court ruling is a “great decision.” His reopening order, he says, gave parents choices, and more than 40% opted for online options. The Florida Education Association — the statewide teachers union and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits — called the appeal court ruling disappointing but says it will continue to press its case. “The reopening order is still unconstitutional, and local districts still should be allowed to make the best and safest decisions for everyone in their schools,” says Andrew Spar, the union’s vice president.
“Florida's Guardian program short $5 million for school security” by WTSP’s Beau Zimmer – After the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, state lawmakers allocated $67 million to make sure every school had armed security as part of the statewide Guardian program. Money not spent the first year was carried over to 2020, but then came COVID-19, and unspent funds intended for future training and to keep the program running this year and beyond suddenly disappeared. “It was on the governor’s veto list,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chairs the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission. “There was about $41.5 million dollars of the initial $67 million that was still sitting there on June 30 of this year and the state took that money back and, in essence, defunded the Guardian Program.” So what does that mean for keeping school campuses safe this year? Many like Polk County got their training done early so officers would be ready for the upcoming school year. But, other districts were so focused on figuring out the COVID-19 crisis and hadn’t yet trained their Guardians or bought them equipment. Gualtieri says he expects this year’s Guardian Program to be short around $5 million statewide. “We’re going to try to look for money and see if there are any funding sources out there or available,” Gualtieri said. “If not, and there are no funding sources available anywhere at the state level, then it’s really going to fall back to the individual school districts.”
“‘Antifa hunter’ in Florida gets 3 years for online racist threats” by Orlando Sentinel – A Florida man who called himself “the Antifa hunter” as he waged an online campaign to terrorize and harass those who opposed his white supremacist ideology was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday. Daniel McMahon, 32, of Brandon pleaded guilty in April to using social media to threaten a Black activist to deter the man from running for office in Charlottesville, Virginia. McMahon also admitted that he threatened to sexually assault the young autistic daughter of a woman who protested against white nationalists. A federal judge in Virginia sentenced McMahon to three years and five months in prison. McMahon declined an opportunity to make a public statement beforehand. When FBI agents searched the home that McMahon shared with his parents, they seized his computer and several loaded guns from his bedroom. On his computer, investigators found folders filled with evidence of his harassment campaigns and tokens of his obsession with racially motivated killings, prosecutors said. Most of McMahon’s cyberstalking victims knew him as “Jack Corbin.” Under that pseudonym, he posted social media messages intended to deter a Black activist, Don Gathers, from running for a seat on Charlottesville’s city council. He called himself “the Antifa hunter,” a reference to anti-fascist, leftist militant activists who confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.
“Florida’s DEO Chief resigns over botched unemployment system” by Associated Press – Florida’s director of economic opportunity, Ken Lawson, resigned Monday, after complications with the state’s unemployment system. This decision comes months after being stripped of his oversight of the state’s glitch-ridden unemployment system, which left hundreds of thousands of people waiting weeks — and sometimes months — for benefits after losing their jobs during the coronavirus outbreak. Ken Lawson said in his resignation letter that he was leaving his post “in the spirit of turning the page and moving forward.” Florida’s balky unemployment system was among the slowest in the country to respond to the surge in unemployment as the pandemic sidelined key sectors of the state’s economy, including bars, restaurants and huge swaths of the tourist industry. The number of unemployed overwhelmed the state’s benefits system, preventing many applicants from filing claims online because of glitch-ridden servers and phone lines. The debacle prompted widespread complaints and put Gov. Ron DeSantis under political duress. With public anger welling, Gov. Ron DeSantis yanked Lawson from his oversight role in April. Lawson remained as director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, but management of the unemployment system was given to Department of Management Services Secretary Jonathan Satter. Florida’s unemployment system became fodder for state and national Democrats, who pushed for investigations into the failures, including an explanation of why the state could not deliver timely benefits.
“Atlas makes Florida swing, backing DeSantis on schools and sports” by Politico’s Arek Sarkissian and Andrew Atterbury – President Donald Trump’s newest Covid-19 adviser on Monday traveled to the swing state of Florida, where he said there is no need to test healthy people for infection and urged the state not to fear the virus, which has killed more than 182,000 people nationwide and infected more than 6 million. Scott Atlas, who Trump named to the White House coronavirus task force this month, said people who are asymptomatic don’t require testing for Covid-19. Backing the Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis at a briefing in Tallahassee, Atlas said schools should be open to classroom instruction and college athletes should take the field. “There is no need to fear at this point,” Atlas told reporters. “We are the only country of our peer nations in the western world who are this hysterical about opening schools.” Atlas’ visit to the political battleground state two months before Election Day comes as Trump and DeSantis take heat for their light-touch approach to coronavirus safety. Both Republicans were slow to endorse mask use and have taken a hard line on opening schools and businesses. DeSantis has also heard criticism from business leaders saying the coronavirus restrictions could lead to massive layoffs by the end of the year. Atlas has painted a rosier picture of the pandemic and his comments Monday give political cover to the president in a must-win state. Atlas and DeSantis later today are scheduled to visit The Villages, a heavily Republican central Florida retirement community.
“Florida reports lowest single-day increase in cases since June” by WFLA – Florida health officials reported fewer than 2,000 new cases of coronavirus Monday. While it was after a slower weekend of testing, it’s the fewest daily case increase since mid-June. The state verified 1,885 new positive cases from Sunday testing. Health officials reported a 5.52% positivity rate. Percent positivity for new cases is the number of people who test PCR (nose swabs) or antigen-positive for the first time divided by all the people tested that day. Of all test results received Sunday, 8.03% were positive. The state counted 3,172 total positive results and 36,335 negatives. This includes people who have been tested previously and are getting retested. The state reported 68 total virus fatalities in the latest update. The report does not mention the exact date of death, therefore the deaths announced may not be from the past 24 hours. It can sometimes take weeks for fatalities to be logged. The state has tallied a total of 623,471 infections, and 11,187 resident deaths since the pandemic began. The state also reported 85 new COVID-related hospitalizations Monday. The total hospitalizations now stand at 38,495.
“Florida Law Enforcement Honoring Fallen Heroes in September” by Bay News 9’s Erin Murray – For the month of September, expect to see many members of Florida law enforcement wearing their mourning bands over their service badges. The Florida Sheriff's Association and the Police Chief's Association are remembering all members of Florida law enforcement killed in the line of duty this year. The majority of those who have died passed away because of COVID-19. The announcement was made in an official proclamation. “It’s a dangerous job to begin with," Tempe Terrace Police Chief Ken Albano said. “When we go about doing our job, on a normal day-to-day basis, the threat to that we face before COVID was we might not make it home. Now, during COVID we make take something home that could harm our families.” Ask any patrol officer, coronavirus is definitely in the back of their mind at every single call. “It’s a weird time, we are in weird times right now," Officer Hector Torres said. He contracted COVID-19, and he believes he got it during a traffic stop. “It really freaked me out. But it was, it was, it was crushing to be honest with you," he recalled. "Hearing the doctor say, ‘Hey, ya know, you have tested positive. Here are the measures you have to take.’ Quarantine, and obviously coming home notifying my wife, notifying my kids, notifying my job. It was rough.” Torres recovered. He is one of the lucky ones.
“Gov. Ron DeSantis extends Florida's foreclosure and eviction moratorium” by WTSP’s Andrew Krietiz – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis extended the state's eviction and foreclosure moratorium until Oct. 1 through an executive order late Monday. It was set to expire on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Originally issued toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the moratorium is an effort to provide some relief to people who are struggling to remain in their homes because of a sudden loss of income. There have been changes with how property owners can initiate a foreclosure or eviction, however. Landlords still can begin the process, but the executive order stops the final action. People are only protected if they have been affected by the pandemic, not if their lease expires or because of non-payment for an issue not related to the virus. Click or tap here to view the executive order with the recent changes.
“Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity Chief Ken Lawson resigns” by Fox 35 Orlando’s Jim Turner – Ken Lawson, pushed aside in April from heading the state’s unemployment system after it was overwhelmed by coronavirus-caused job losses, announced his resignation Monday as executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Lawson, who also ran agencies during former Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, advised Gov. Ron DeSantis that he was stepping down from the $142,000-a-year job in the “spirit of turning the page and moving forward.” “Over the last nine years, it has been my honor to serve the people of Florida,” Lawson wrote. “I am grateful for the privileges I have been given at DEO, Visit Florida and (the Department of Business and Professional Regulation). With deep love and loyalty for my home state, I have given my all to Florida and thank everyone I have worked with over the years.” The resignation is effective after the close of business on Tuesday. Lawson did not note future plans. Asked about Lawson’s resignation during an appearance in Tampa, DeSantis, replied, "We have a replacement, and we’ll give you that name very soon.” “There are some things that need to change in that agency, and we want to make sure that we can,” said DeSantis, who indicated the replacement could be named Tuesday. DeSantis picked Lawson to lead the Department of Economic Opportunity in December 2018. At the time, Lawson was part of DeSantis’ pre-inauguration transition team and helped author a memo that warned of the “capabilities” of the unemployment system.
“Wisconsin's Gov. Tony Evers tells Trump not to visit Kenosha” by Fox News’ Frank Miles – President Trump is not welcome in Wisconsin, at least not if you're asking Gov. Tony Evers. Evers, a Democrat who has been critical of Trump, urged the president to reconsider traveling on Tuesday to Kenosha, where recent protests against police brutality have exploded into deadly riots in recent days. “I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state," Evers wrote in a letter to Trump. "I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together,” Evers wrote in the letter, obtained by The Associated Press. Trump announced he would head to Kenosha to inspect the damage caused by riots. Several businesses have been vandalized and some buildings and multiple car lots burned during the unrest. Trump will be meeting with law enforcement officers, White House spokesman Judd Deere announced. "The White House has been humbled by the outreach of individuals from Kenosha who have welcomed the President’s visit and are longing for leadership to support local law enforcement and businesses that have been vandalized," Deere wrote in reply to Evers. "President Trump looks forward to visiting on Tuesday and helping this great city heal and rebuild."
“Top intelligence office informs congressional committees it'll no longer brief in-person on election security” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Zachary Cohen – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has informed the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence that it'll no longer be briefing in-person on election security issues, according to letters obtained by CNN. Instead, ODNI will primarily provide written updates to the congressional panels, a senior administration official said. The official added that other agencies supporting election security, including the Department of Justice, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, intend to continue briefing Congress. Still, the abrupt announcement is a change that runs counter to the pledge of transparency and regular briefings on election threats by the intelligence community. It also comes after the top intelligence official on election security issued a statement earlier this month saying China, Russia and Iran are seeking to interfere in the 2020 US election, a warning that prompted some backlash from Democrats on Capitol Hill who have continued to push for the public release of more information about the nature of those efforts. US officials charged with protecting the 2020 election also said last week that they have "no information or intelligence" foreign countries, including Russia, are attempting to undermine any part of the mail-in voting process, contradicting President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pushed false claims that foreign adversaries are targeting mail ballots as part of a "rigged" presidential race.
“TikTok Deal Talks Are Slowed Over New China Rules” by WSJ’s Georgia Wells and Cara Lombardo – Plans to quickly complete a deal between the Chinese parent company of TikTok and suitors for the app’s U.S. operations have been thrown off track as the parties huddled over the weekend to weigh new Chinese restrictions that appear designed to affect a potential sale, according to people familiar with the discussions. China late on Friday issued new restrictions on the export of artificial-intelligence technology that forced ByteDance Ltd., TikTok’s parent, to slow down talks with companies including Microsoft Corp., Walmart Inc. and Oracle Corp. for a portion of the social-media app, according to people familiar with the matter. ByteDance, which had received the broad outlines of bids on Friday for the TikTok assets, had been expected to enter into exclusive discussions with one group of suitors over the weekend, the people said. The Trump administration in early August set a mid-September deadline for ByteDance to sell its American operation. Microsoft and Walmart have been working together, and Oracle also has been joined by ByteDance investors General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital and Coatue Management LLC. “We are studying the new regulations that were released Friday,” ByteDance General Counsel Erich Andersen said. “As with any cross-border transaction, we will follow the applicable laws, which in this case include those of the U.S. and China.” The talks are far from being scuttled, but the latest developments do make clear that China plans to keep as close a watch on any potential deal as the Trump administration. President Trump and other U.S. officials have raised the specter of privacy and national-security concerns over TikTok’s data collection in demanding that its U.S. operations be sold or that it face a ban. TikTok has said it hasn’t and won’t share data on U.S. users with the Chinese government.
“Ken Buck doubles down on Rand Paul's call for investigation into funding of violent protests” by Fox News’ Nick Givas – Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., on Sunday called for a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the funding of recent violent protests that have sprung up across the country, echoing statements made by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was recently attacked while with his wife during the Republican National Convention. "The Justice Department needs to open an investigation into who is funding these violent riots," Buck tweeted. Buck had first addressed the issue after Paul and his wife Kelley were accosted while returning from the RNC, on the way back to their hotel. "If the Tea Party threatened a Democratic Senator and assaulted police officers like this, it would be leading CNN," the Colorado Republican wrote on Friday. "Every conservative politician would be asked to condemn it. Where is the outrage?" Paul commented on the issue in an opinion piece for Fox News published on Saturday. He revealed some of the protesters were actually staying in the same hotel -- and on the same floor -- as he and his wife. Some were even as close as the next room. "They were talking about their mob activities and even saying they thought we were here on this floor," Paul wrote. "We had to develop a 3 a.m. plan with Capitol Police to get to safety." "My question is: Who are these people?," he continued. "Who paid for their hotel rooms? Who flew them in? Law enforcement needs to look at the funding of violent criminal activity like this. And national Democrats need to confront it. It’s organized. It’s paid for. It’s violent. It’s not about Black lives or any lives; it’s about anarchy and destruction."
“Twitter removes QAnon supporter's false claim about coronavirus death statistics that Trump had retweeted” by CNN’s Daniel Dale and Jamie Gumbrecht – Twitter on Sunday took down a tweet containing a false claim about coronavirus death statistics that was made by a supporter of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory -- a post that President Donald Trump had retweeted earlier in the day. The tweet -- which has been replaced with a message saying, "This Tweet is no longer available because it violated the Twitter Rules -- from "Mel Q," copied from someone else's Facebook post, claimed that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had "quietly" updated its numbers "to admit that only 6%" of people listed as coronavirus deaths "actually died from Covid," since "the other 94% had 2-3 other serious illnesses."
That's not what the CDC said. As of Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, Twitter had not removed a second tweet, also retweeted by the President on Sunday, that spread the same false claim. The second tweet, by Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis, linked to an article on the right-wing website Gateway Pundit that was based on the QAnon supporter's tweet. CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on Trump's retweets. The CDC's latest regular update to a public statistics page on the pandemic -- there was nothing especially "quiet" about it -- said that for 6% of the deaths included in its statistics, "Covid-19 was the only cause mentioned" on the deceased person's death certificate. That is not at all the same thing as saying only 6% of reported Covid-19 deaths "actually died" from Covid-19. It simply means that the other 94% were listed as having at least one additional factor contributing to their death.
“Protests Dominate Presidential Race as Candidates Visit Battleground States” by WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus and Eliza Collins – Issues of racial justice, protests and urban violence have taken center stage in the presidential campaign as President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden enter the final sprint to Election Day. Amid recent unrest in Wisconsin and Oregon sparked by police shootings of Black people, Mr. Trump has accused Democrats of fostering an environment of lawlessness that has led to recent incidents of violence. He has sought to make the November election a referendum on the question: Who will keep the nation safe? Mr. Biden meanwhile has accused the president and his allies of inflaming tensions, focused on racial injustice and police misconduct that catalyzed the protests and sought to align his campaign with peaceful protesters while condemning violence. The debate intensified after a man was shot and killed late Saturday in another night of violent turmoil in Portland, Ore. City police said a caravan of Trump supporters took to the streets and clashed with protesters. Separately, in Kenosha, Wis., a 17-year-old was charged Thursday with six counts including first-degree intentional homicide after prosecutors said he opened fire on protesters, killing two people and wounding another. That followed the police shooting in Kenosha on Aug. 23 of Jacob Blake—a Black man who remains hospitalized and paralyzed—and several nights of violence and destruction of property in that city.
“'Modern-day minstrel show' insult of RNC speakers draws harsh reaction to MSNBC guest host” by Fox News’ Peter Aitken – An MSNBC guest-host turned heads on Sunday when she labeled the Republican National Convention, which featured several Black speakers, a “modern-day minstrel show.” Subbing in for Joy Reid on her Sunday show “AM Reid,” Tiffany D Cross dedicated a portion of her show to commenting on this past week’s RNC. “That was not a Saturday Night Live sketch,” Cross said to start off her piece. After noting that the RNC hosted at least a dozen African American speakers alone, she went on to say "I watched the Republican convention, and seeing the slew of black speakers that they had, it really did look like a modern-day minstrel show to me." The reference to minstrel shows – in which people wore black-face to imitate African Americans in song and dance numbers and variety acts – provided her statement with an uncomfortable tone. As “Newsbusters” contributing editor Mark Finkelstein noted, Cross effectively labeled Sen. Tim Scott and football great Herschel Walker – among others – as “minstrels,” which would almost imply that they were merely pretending to be African American. “Cross, I assure you that none of the BLACK Patriots that were speaking great about President Trump & his accomplishments were not wearing Black-Face!” one user, John E, tweeted in response to the clip. “Well, clearly “they ain’t black” As if people of different races aren’t allowed to have diverse opinions!” another user, Baroness Mom, tweeted, making reference to former Vice President Joe Biden’s comment in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God.
“Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf defends naturalization ceremony that aired during the RNC” by CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez and Chandelis Duster – Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Sunday defended the naturalization ceremony that took place at the White House and was later aired during the Republican National Convention, calling it a "legitimate role for the department to do." "It was an official event by the White House uploaded to a public YouTube channel. Anyone, any individual, organization, or political party can pull down that video and do with it as they wish," Wolf told ABC's Jonathan Karl on "This Week." Wolf also said he was not aware that footage of the ceremony would be aired during the Republican convention -- an act that flexed the powers of the incumbency during the highest-profile political event of the calendar. "No, what I knew is again participating in a naturalization ceremony -- we had a number of USCIS employees there, as they do every naturalization ceremony making sure that that ceremony goes off without a hitch," he said. "They were giving that oath of allegiance to those individuals there. Again, we'll continue to do that because that's our mission at the department." During the convention, the White House was used as a backdrop for other programming, including the immigration naturalization ceremony. Video of President Donald Trump overseeing the naturalization ceremony for five new US citizens at the White House was shown at the convention and later posted to YouTube. Trump emphasized the achievements of each of the citizens, and congratulated them on coming to the country legally. "You followed the rules, you obeyed the laws, you learned your history, embraced our values and proved yourselves to be men and women of the highest integrity," the President told the participants.
“U.S. to Cut Troop Presence in Iraq by About One-Third, Officials Say” by WSJ’s Gordon Lubold and Michael R. Gordon – The Pentagon is cutting the U.S. force in Iraq to about 3,500 troops, U.S. officials said, a roughly one-third reduction that President Trump is expected to tout as progress toward winding down what he has described as endless wars. The U.S. and Iraq refrained from publicly setting a schedule for reducing the approximately 5,200 American troops now in the country when Iraq’s prime minister visited Washington last week. Several American officials said the Pentagon is cutting troop levels by roughly one-third over the next two to three months. That would bring American force levels roughly back to where they were in 2015 when the U.S. was in the early phase of its campaign against Islamic State. The Pentagon confirmed The Wall Street Journal’s report late Friday. “We are reducing troop levels as the Iraqi capability to defeat ISIS remnants and prevent its resurgence improves, said Navy Commander Jessica McNulty, a Pentagon spokeswoman. “Any reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq will be determined through careful coordination with the Government of Iraq, as well as with our Coalition and NATO partners, and calibrated to our shared security interests and progress in the campaign against ISIS.” The Iraqi Embassy didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Pentagon has long-sought to shrink the U.S. footprint in the Middle East as it focuses its efforts on China, even as some military commanders worry about thinning out a force in the region while at the same time maintaining the administration’s so-called maximum pressure campaign against Iran. The troop reduction also comes as clusters of Islamic State fighters remain active in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump-People are tired of watching the highly political @NBA Basketball ratings are WAY down, and they won’t be coming back. I hope football and baseball are watching and learning because the same thing will be happening to them. Stand tall for our Country and our Flag!!!
Rep. Nadler @RepJerryNadler -On October 2nd, @USCIS will make history. For the first time, asylum seekers will be charged a fee to file for asylum & apply for a work permit. This class-based, soulless rule is not only another repulsive effort by the Trump Admin to restrict immigration—it violates int'l law.
