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      in US Politics

      The fight for Florida's Latino voters: Biden courts Puerto Ricans as Trump rallies Cubans

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      Every Saturday for several months, Abel Iraola has kept track of the boisterous crowd of Donald Trump supporters that gathers near an exit ramp of the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah, the city with the highest concentration of Republican Cuban Americans in Florida.A 28-year-old Democrat, Iraola lives two blocks away from the spot where the impromptu gathering gives him a sense of what his party’s presidential nominee, Joe Biden, is up against in the race to win Florida’s Latino vote.“He and everyone in the Democratic party should be concerned about turning out more Hispanic voters than Trump until the final results come in,” Iraola said. “We shouldn’t have to be worrying about the Hispanic vote in Florida.”Yet recent polls show Biden has lost ground among Florida’s Latino voters compared to his predecessors Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both of whom outperformed their Republican rivals among this key voting bloc in the last three presidential elections.Trump and Biden are virtually tied in Florida, prompting the former vice-president to make his first campaign trip as his party’s nominee to the Sunshine State earlier this week when he touched down in Kissimmee, a central Florida city with a huge population of Puerto Rican voters.Around the same time, former New York City mayor, ex-presidential candidate and multi-billionaire Mike Bloomberg announced he was committing $100m to turn this crucial swing state blue on 3 November. The “never-Trump” Republican outfit the Lincoln Project also announced it would produce ads targeting Florida’s Latino voters. More

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      in US Politics

      Trump says he wants supreme court seat filled 'before the election' – live

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      President hopes nominee will be confirmed by 3 November
      Biden blames Covid death toll on Trump’s ‘lies and incompetence’
      Whether vote will occur before election remains unclear
      Ginsburg to lie in repose Wednesday and Thursday
      Who is Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s likely court pick?
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      2:38

      Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer clash on supreme court nomination – video

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      4.30pm EDT16:30
      Today so far

      4.13pm EDT16:13
      Trump says he wants supreme court confirmation to happen before election

      3.43pm EDT15:43
      Biden blames coronavirus death toll on Trump’s ‘lies and incompetence’

      3.30pm EDT15:30
      Senate will vote on Trump pick ‘this year’, McConnell says

      3.25pm EDT15:25
      McConnell promises a vote on Trump’s supreme court nominee

      2.45pm EDT14:45
      McConnell signals Republicans will oppose stopgap funding bill

      1.51pm EDT13:51
      CDC removes information on airborne transmission of coronavirus

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      5.39pm EDT17:39

      A preemptive state of emergency has been declared ahead of an announcement regarding the Breonna Taylor case
      The police in Louisville, Kentucky have declared a state of emergency for the department ahead of an announcement from the state’s attorney general in the Breonna Taylor case regarding police who fatally shot a 26-year-old black woman in her sleep during a drug-related raid.
      Many have said the declaration seems to anticipate violent protests, suggesting an unfavorable ruling for those seeking justice in the case. Officials have also closed two federal buildings in anticipation of the announcement and the police force has prohibited officers from taking time off work.
      The family of Taylor has also received a settlement from the city of $12m in a civil suit stemming from the incident, in which Taylor was mistaken for a suspect in a drug raid. The incident has called into question “no-knock” warrants, in which police enter a home without announcing or identifying themselves.

      5.21pm EDT17:21

      One more Senator comes out against a Trump supreme court nomination
      US Senator Joe Manchin, the only Democrat who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh despite party objections in 2018, said the vote on a new Supreme Court nominee should be delayed until after the November 2020 presidential election “for the sake of the integrity of our courts and legal system”.
      “For Mitch McConnell and my Republican colleagues to rush through this process after refusing to even meet with Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 is hypocrisy in its highest form,” he said. “The US Supreme Court is the highest court int he land and it is ismply irresponsible to rush the adequate and proper vetting required of any new candidate for the bench.”
      The reactions of Manchin and several Republican senators have been closely watched in recent days to see if a justice nominee from Donald Trump would have enough votes to be comfirmed before the 2020 elections. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said the next judge should be nominated by whomever is elected in November. Trump has said he intends to pick a woman for the seat and will announce the nomination this week. It is speculated that US circuit court judge Amy Boney Barrett, a fervently anti-abortion Catholic, is at the top of Trump’s list of nominees.

      Updated
      at 5.22pm EDT

      4.57pm EDT16:57

      Chuck Schumer honors the legacy of RBG in Senate speech
      Chuck Schumer made remarks on the floor of the Senate on Monday honoring the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg days after her death.
      Schumer noted that in Jewish tradition only the “most righteous” people die on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, calling Ginsburg “a woman of great righteousness and valor”.
      “She might be the only justice to become a meme,” the New York senator said, citing the “Notorious RBG” meme, which likened the octogenarian judge to famous rapper Notorious BIG. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was, in fact, a rebellious force to be reckoned with.”

      NowThis
      (@nowthisnews)
      Sen. Schumer honors RBG’s immense legacy: ‘She might be the only justice to become a meme’ pic.twitter.com/YtwSW1S3l9

      September 21, 2020

      Schumer outlined many of Ginsburg’s life accomplishments, including her making the court enforce the constitutional idea that people cannot be discriminated on the basis of sex. He said if Donald Trump is able to replace the late Supreme Court justice, reproductive rights, workers’ rights, and voting rights will be imperiled. He also said RBG’s dying wish was that a justice not be picked until after the 2020 elections.

      Updated
      at 5.22pm EDT

      4.38pm EDT16:38

      Hello! Kari Paul here in California taking over for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates.

      4.30pm EDT16:30

      Today so far

      That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague. Kari Paul, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
      Here’s where the day stands so far:
      Trump said he wants to have his supreme court nominee confirmed before election day, on November 3. In a floor speech this afternoon, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell signaled the vote would take place “this year,” but he did not specify whether it would happen before or after election day.
      Trump said he would “probably” announce his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday, following ceremonies honoring the legacy of the late supreme court justice. The president said he has narrowed his list of potential nominees down to five candidates, all of whom are women.
      Ginsburg will lie in repose at the supreme court on Wednesday and Thursday. House speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced Ginsburg will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday.
      House Democrats released their stopgap government funding bill, which would keep the government open until December 11. But McConnell quickly signaled he would not support the bill because it does not include bailout funds for farmers, which Trump has demanded. The government is currently set to close on September 30 if a bill is not passed.
      The CDC removed information on the potential airborne transmission of coronavirus from its website. The agency had posted an update on Friday to warn Americans that the virus can spread over a distance beyond six feet, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. The CDC removed the guidance today, claiming the update was posted in error. The news follows reports about Trump administration officials trying to interfere with CDC reports to paint a rosier picture about the pandemic.
      Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

      4.24pm EDT16:24

      Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, said the panel would move “expeditiously” to advance Trump’s supreme court nominee.
      In a letter to the Democratic members of the committee, Graham said his view of the judicial confirmation process had changed after witnessing the treatment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault but was ultimately confirmed by the Senate.
      “I therefore think it is important that we proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy,” Graham told his Democratic colleagues. “I am certain if the shoe were on the other foot, you would do the same.”

      4.13pm EDT16:13

      Trump says he wants supreme court confirmation to happen before election

      Speaking to reporters before leaving for Ohio, Trump said that he hoped his supreme court nominee will be confirmed before election day, on November 3.
      “I’d rather see it all take place before the election,” the president said.
      Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said moments ago that a confirmation vote would occur “this year,” but he did not specify whether it would take place before or after election day.
      Trump also confirmed the announcement of his nominee will likely come on Saturday, following this week’s ceremonies honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the supreme court and at the Capitol.
      Echoing his previous comments to Fox News, the president said he was considering five women for the seat.

      Updated
      at 4.14pm EDT

      4.03pm EDT16:03

      Joe Biden has now concluded his speech at an aluminum plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
      The Democratic nominee criticized the president for previously suggesting the US coronavirus death toll would be much lower if Americans who died in blue states weren’t counted.
      Biden promised to act as a unifying figure to help bring the country together during this time of national crisis.
      The presidential candidate also took a moment to address those who voted for Trump in 2016, saying he knows they felt like they weren’t being heard by Democrats.
      “It will change with me,” Biden said. “You will be seen, heard and respected by me.”

      3.51pm EDT15:51

      Joe Biden argued Trump had failed in his response to coronavirus because he “panicked” rather than confronting the crisis head-on.
      “Trump panicked. The virus was too big for him,” Biden said in Wisconsin. “All his life Donald Trump has been bailed out of any problem he faced.”
      The Democratic nominee dismissed the president’s claim that he downplayed the threat of the virus because he wanted to help Americans remain calm.
      In reality, Biden said, Trump “just wasn’t up to” the challenge of handling the crisis.

      3.43pm EDT15:43

      Biden blames coronavirus death toll on Trump’s ‘lies and incompetence’

      Joe Biden is delivering remarks on the country’s coronavirus death toll at an aluminum plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
      The Democratic nominee noted the country is about to hit the “tragic milestone” of recording 200,000 deaths from coronavirus.
      Biden said that number represented many “empty chairs” for families who had lost loved ones to the virus.
      The presidential candidate emphasized Americans could not allow themselves to become “numb” to the mounting death toll.
      “We can’t let the numbers become statistics and background noise,” Biden said.
      Biden specifically blamed Trump’s response to the pandemic for causing tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the country.
      “Due to Donald Trump’s lies and incompetence over the last six months, we have seen one of the greatest losses in American history,” Biden said.

      3.30pm EDT15:30

      Senate will vote on Trump pick ‘this year’, McConnell says

      Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would vote on Trump’s supreme court nomination “this year”.
      But the Republican leader did not provide much clarity on whether the confirmation vote would occur before or after election day, on November 3.
      Democrats have a chance to flip the Senate in November, but even if they do, that seems unlikely to change McConnell’s plans to move forward with a nomination.

      Updated
      at 3.36pm EDT More

    • 138 Shares109 Views

      in Elections

      Trump doubts Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish, claiming Democrats wrote it

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      Donald Trump has attempted to cast doubt on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish, baselessly claiming a statement released by the supreme court justice’s family was written by Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer, prominent Democrats in Congress.The move is likely to anger many who will see it as disrespectful to the millions of Americans mourning Ginsburg’s death, as well as a tasteless attack on the legacy of the pioneering woman justice.Ginsburg died on Friday, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87. NPR reported that she had dictated a statement to her granddaughter.“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” it said.Trump and Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell have vowed to press on with a nomination to replace Ginsburg before the election on 3 November or the inauguration on 20 January, even should Trump lose the presidency to Joe Biden and the Democrats retake the Senate.This is low. Even for you. No, I didn’t write Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish to a nation she served so wellAdam SchiffOn Monday morning, Trump told Fox & Friends he would announce his nominee, a woman, on Friday or Saturday, after services in memory of Ginsburg.He also called Ginsburg a “legend” who “represented something different than you or I”, and said of her statement: “I don’t know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff or Pelosi?“I would be more inclined to the second, OK – you know, that came out of the wind. That sounds so beautiful, but that sounds like a Schumer deal, or maybe Pelosi or for Shifty Schiff. So that came out of the wind, let’s say. I mean, maybe she did, and maybe she didn’t.”Schiff, the chair of the House intelligence committee, and Pelosi, the House speaker, played prominent roles in Trump’s impeachment. Schumer, the Senate minority leader, will lead efforts to defeat Trump’s nomination. He has promised that in terms of tactics, “nothing is off the table”.Schiff responded with a tweet, writing: “Mr President, this is low. Even for you. No, I didn’t write Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish to a nation she served so well, and spent her whole life making a more perfect union.“But I am going to fight like hell to make it come true. No confirmation before inauguration.” More

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      in Elections

      Democrats smash fundraising records after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death

      by

      As Democrats and Republicans braced for a supreme court nomination fight that has upended the November presidential election, Democratic donors smashed fundraising records, funneling more than $90m to candidates and progressive groups after the death on Friday of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.As Senate Republicans prepared to push through Ginsburg’s replacement, politicians on both sides of the divide, from the presidential candidates to senators running for re-election, House candidates and more, used the situation to appeal to supporters for funds.One Republican senator, Joni Ernst of Iowa, apologised for a fundraising email that was sent out shortly after Ginsburg’s death was announced.On the other side of the aisle, the online fundraising organization ActBlue said grassroots donors gave $91.4m to Democratic candidates and causes in 28 hours after 8pm on Friday, around the time of the news of Ginsburg’s death.That figure, coming from 1.5 million donations, broke records for dollars raised in one day and dollars raised in one hour, said Erin Hill, the non-profit’s executive director.Donors gave $70.6m on Saturday alone, and $6.3m in one hour on Friday, Hill said, beating previous records of $41.6m in one day and $4.3m in one hour.If Donald Trump is able to install a conservative replacement for the liberal Ginsburg, the move would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the court. Democrats will seek to defeat the nomination, over which two Republican senators have already said no vote should be held until after the election.Much of the Democratic money will be poured into key Senate races, as the party seeks to retake the chamber, and also to pressure vulnerable Republican incumbents into opposing the move to install a new justice before the election.“BREAKING: the future of the supreme court is on the line,” said a fundraising email from Republican senator Ernst’s Iowa campaign, shortly after the justice’s death was announced. Ernst is in a close race.“Our conservative values and constitutional rights are now on the line,” the email said. “The next supreme court nominee will shape major decisions for decades to come.”Ernst later issued an apology.“This email never should have gone out,” she said in a statement. “Though I never saw it, it was sent out under my name and I take responsibility for it. Tonight, my prayers are with the family of Justice Ginsburg.”On Saturday, Trump’s campaign also texted out a fundraising solicitation.“President Trump will fill the supreme court vacancy with a conservative justice,” the message read. “Make America Great Again!”The Biden campaign also appealed for funds.One group of Democratic strategists is raising money through an effort called “Get Mitch or Die Trying”, named for Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, the man who will steer the nomination process.The effort, which shares donations among Democratic Senate contenders, reported that within hours of Ginsburg’s death it more than doubled what it had previously raised.“In tribute to the extraordinary life of Justice Ginsberg, I’m matching donations to this fund up to $10,000 tonight,” tweeted Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff.Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii included a link to the fundraising effort in a tweet: “Don’t pick your favorite candidate or the one you’ve heard of. Give here. I repeat, this money goes directly to the most competitive races, not just the most famous candidates.”An ActBlue Senate-focused Democratic fundraising push specifically mentioned Ginsburg’s legacy.“In this moment it is vital to give to Senate candidates,” read a fundraising page called “Protect RBG’s Legacy”.“Time to apply maximum pressure so that they do the right thing and refuse to vote to confirm before the 2020 election.”A representative for ActBlue did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for WinRed, Republican’s ActBlue counterpart, also did not respond. More

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      in Elections

      Climate takeover: meet the first-time voters guest editing the Guardian US

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      Climate countdown

      Climate takeover: meet the first-time voters guest editing the Guardian US

      ‘We want to highlight environmental justice during this election season.’
      Composite: Courtesy climate editors

      Seven Generation Z climate activists from across the United States come together to curate a special edition of the Guardian US. Read their section here
      by Guardian guest editors

      Main image:
      ‘We want to highlight environmental justice during this election season.’
      Composite: Courtesy climate editors

      Generation Z didn’t cause the climate crisis, but we’re paying for it. The damage caused by global heating is already doing untold damage to the entire planet, disproportionately hurting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color). For our generation, the toll isn’t just physical, but mental: solastalgia, the stress caused by environmental changes to one’s home, is on the rise.
      We are seven first-time voters from diverse backgrounds across the United States who have come together to curate a special climate edition of the Guardian. We want to bring attention to the physical and mental burdens that our generation is saddled with due to the negligence of past generations. We want to highlight environmental justice during this election season. And we will be keeping environmental issues in mind when we all vote. – Alice Shinn
      Alex Perry, 18Atlanta, GeorgiaFreshman at Northwestern University
      [embedded content]
      My Chinese Singaporean and African American heritage inspired me to constantly consider the global implications of local actions. I’m double majoring in journalism and international affairs, with a minor in economics. Post-college, I’m interested in writing about international politics with the goal of motivating others to be aware global citizens.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberI believe the climate crisis is the link that connects all countries. Setting our differences aside, we collectively exist in a bubble with finite resources, meaning that our actions at home have global implications. When I vote in November, I’ll support a candidate who forwards policies that mitigate climate change, making our home a safer and sustainable place to live.
      Twitter: @WhoIsAlexPerry Instagram: @alex.perr.y
      Cora Dow, 18Sitka, AlaskaFreshman at Bowdoin College
      [embedded content]
      I’m never not thinking about the climate crisis. It’s something that guides the decisions I make, from whether I take reusable silverware with me, to which classes I take in college. I discuss it with friends, advocate for its solutions at work, read about it in my free time. I’m interested in environmental studies and history. In the future, I hope to move back to Sitka and continue advocating for the rainforest I grew up in.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberThis November, I want candidates who live this issue as much as so many young people have been forced to. I don’t want the responsibility of fixing the climate crisis after it’s already too late. I don’t want sympathy from older generations, and I don’t want to be told again “I have so much hope for today’s youth.” I just want someone who hasn’t given up yet, who is willing to recognize the problem and take responsibility – and now I finally have a chance to vote.
      Instagram: @ak_c.d
      Jessica Díaz, 21Houston, TexasSenior at Michigan State University
      [embedded content]
      As a descendent of P’urhépecha people, I have seen the strong connections between cultural identity and the environment. I advocate for communities on the frontlines of climate change, such as in Houston, which is in the heart of the petrochemical industry. I’m majoring in fisheries and wildlife, and in the future want to support community initiatives to restore damaged ecosystems and correct environmental injustices.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberOur past leaders failed to be proactive when it came to the climate crisis, instead, they loosened environmental restrictions and allowed for BIPOC communities, like my own, to be unequally burdened with toxic air and water. I am voting with the climate crisis as my top issue because we can no longer afford a president and leaders who don’t believe that all people, regardless of their identities, deserve clean air, clean water, good jobs, healthy food, and a livable future.
      Twitter: @buenoss_diazzInstagram: @buenoss_diazz
      Devin Mullins, 19Boone, North CarolinaJunior at Appalachian State University
      [embedded content]
      I credit my passion for climate advocacy to attending a university with a reputation for sustainability. At school, I study political science and sustainable development, while staying actively involved in politics and advocacy. After college,I will be seeking an MPP or JD program that will prepare me to work on economic and environmental public policy that creates a more just and sustainable society for all.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberI’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in November because I have no other choice. Climate change is the most existential threat to a healthy and prosperous future for myself, my peers
      and the family I’d someday like to have. There are leaders in or running for office who are committed to that future, but they need our votes and our voices to be successful. Our future is on the ballot.
      Instagram: @mullins_dt
      Sofia Romero Campbell, 21Denver, ColoradoSenior at Smith College
      [embedded content]
      I’m a senior at Smith College studying government and Latin American studies with a concentration in sustainable food. After graduation, I plan on pursuing a career in environmental policy.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberMy generation is hungry for change and when I vote for the first time in the 2020 presidential election I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis because it illustrates the structural inequities within our government. This is a pivotal moment in history and by prioritizing environmental issues at the ballot box we can address a plethora of other pressing social, political, and economic struggles. Our future wellbeing depends on it and I can’t think of a better framework to enact the most meaningful and lasting change.
      Instagram: @goodmojo99
      Alice Shinn, 20Claremont, CaliforniaJunior at Pomona College
      [embedded content]
      I was born in Tokyo and raised in New York City. I am double majoring in english and environmental analysis, and have no idea what I want to do after graduating. But I plan to further pursue my interests in writing and reading creative non-fiction, and making sustainability not just a buzzword but something that is accessible to all.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberClimate change is the worst problem facing the world. Not racism and police brutality, the wealth gap or late-stage capitalism (although all exacerbate the effects of climate change). The climate crisis impacts all industries, all lifestyles and has a profound mental impact. Encouragingly, youths have been radicalized after George Floyd’s murder, but now we must ask ourselves: which candidate will respect and comply with climate accords? Who will crack the door open for decades of work by activists and scientists? We must – reluctantly or enthusiastically – vote for the candidate who is willing to even acknowledge the climate crisis.
      Instagram: @aliceshinn
      Allyson Smith, 19Memphis, TennesseeSophomore at Howard University
      [embedded content]
      I am an activist, poet, all-around creative and political science major. I am heavily involved with politics and am a firm believer in youth political participation. I say “no” to the status quo and use my voice as a stepping stone to an equal society that reflects the people’s interest.
      Why I’ll be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in NovemberI will be thinking about the climate crisis when I vote in November because I look at all the people in my hometown who are in proximity to chemical plants and not heard due to the greed of capitalism. I think about how the sole resources of water worldwide are drying up and people are severely dehydrated due to this. This is an intersectional issue, this is racial justice. I have no other option than to think about the climate crisis because my life and wellbeing are at stake.
      Twitter: @senpaiversesInstagram: @allyn.smith

      Photograph by Sabrina Lucas

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