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| Trump's Federal Reserve pick withdraws from consideration – live | Trump's Federal Reserve pick withdraws from consideration – live |
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| One more healthcare item lost in the morning’s hectic news is the Trump administration’s new conscience “protections”. | |
| In conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, the Trump administration finalized religious exemptions for healthcare providers, which allow workers to refuse to provide care if it violates their religious beliefs. For example, a worker could refuse to provide a woman with an abortion. | |
| The rules are important to Trump’s conservative, religious political base, many of whom oppose abortion and gay marriage. | |
| “This rule ensures that healthcare entities and professionals won’t be bullied out of the health care field because they decline to participate in actions that violate their conscience, including the taking of human life,” said Roger Severino, director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Health and Human Services administration. | |
| Civil liberties groups and physicians have criticized the rule as allowing healthcare workers to discriminate, for example gay or transgender patients. | |
| “Once again, this administration shows itself to be determined to use religious liberty to harm communities it deems less worthy of equal treatment under the law,” said Louise Melling, deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Denying patients health care is not religious liberty. Discriminating against patients based on their gender or gender expression is not religious liberty. Medical standards, not religious belief, should guide medical care.” | |
| Media friends, can you stop writing credulous pro-Trump headlines?The new orders from HHS do not provide new "religious and moral" protections for healthcare workers. They strip protections from patients. | |
| While Trump has often claimed to want to provide Americans healthcare, his administration has been pushing to gut the Affordable Care Act, best known as “Obamacare”. | |
| The law provided health insurance to more than 20 million people by expanding social safety nets. | |
| Today, the Department of Justice filed an important brief arguing the law is unconstitutional. It joined Republican-led states, who have tried to overturn the law since Republicans passed a tax overhaul last year. | |
| The law touches nearly every part of the American health system, from providing popular consumer protections to requiring calories counts on some restaurant menus. | |
| Here is more about the court filing from the Associated Press: | |
| The remaining provisions of the ACA should not be allowed to remain in effect again, even if the government might support some individual positions as a policy matter,” the administration wrote in its court filing. | |
| The Justice Department’s legal brief also seemed to be trying to carve out some exceptions. For example, the administration said the ACA’s anti-fraud provisions should remain in effect. | |
| The White House announced today that golfer Tiger Woods will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. | The White House announced today that golfer Tiger Woods will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. |
| Woods is a Trump business partner. | Woods is a Trump business partner. |
| .@realdonaldtrump is giving the pres. medal of freedom to @TigerWoods, who’s a Trump biz partner. Here’s Trump Org’s magazine for 2018. pic.twitter.com/NRFWDTejtl | .@realdonaldtrump is giving the pres. medal of freedom to @TigerWoods, who’s a Trump biz partner. Here’s Trump Org’s magazine for 2018. pic.twitter.com/NRFWDTejtl |
| Oh boy pic.twitter.com/2yqT0mfkjM | Oh boy pic.twitter.com/2yqT0mfkjM |
| More info on the Facebook ban on Alex Jones – Facebook announced a ban against Jones in 2018 August. The “permanent” ban comes six years after Jones first falsely claimed the massacre of 26 children in Sandy Hook, Connecticut was staged. Jones started making the claim in 2013. | More info on the Facebook ban on Alex Jones – Facebook announced a ban against Jones in 2018 August. The “permanent” ban comes six years after Jones first falsely claimed the massacre of 26 children in Sandy Hook, Connecticut was staged. Jones started making the claim in 2013. |
| Jones is now being sued by parents of children killed in the massacre, some of whom had faced death threats and harassment. | Jones is now being sued by parents of children killed in the massacre, some of whom had faced death threats and harassment. |
| Here is the full text of White House attorney Emmet Flood’s letter to Attorney General Bill Barr, criticizing the Mueller report and asserting executive privilege. | Here is the full text of White House attorney Emmet Flood’s letter to Attorney General Bill Barr, criticizing the Mueller report and asserting executive privilege. |
| This is the passage where he asserts the president can tell advisors not to appear before Congress: | This is the passage where he asserts the president can tell advisors not to appear before Congress: |
| It is one thing for a President to encourage complete cooperation and transparency in a criminal investigation conducted largely within the Executive Branch; it is something else entirely to allow his advisors to appear before Congress, a coordinate branch of government, and answer questions relating to their communications with the President and with each other.” | It is one thing for a President to encourage complete cooperation and transparency in a criminal investigation conducted largely within the Executive Branch; it is something else entirely to allow his advisors to appear before Congress, a coordinate branch of government, and answer questions relating to their communications with the President and with each other.” |
| Instagram and its parent company Facebook banned a group of far-right extremist individuals and extremists, in an attempt to contain misinformation. InfoWars, the conspiracy theory website headed by Alex Jones, has the strictest ban. | Instagram and its parent company Facebook banned a group of far-right extremist individuals and extremists, in an attempt to contain misinformation. InfoWars, the conspiracy theory website headed by Alex Jones, has the strictest ban. |
| This from the Atlantic: | This from the Atlantic: |
| Any account that shares Infowars content will see the content removed; if an account violates terms on multiple occasions it will be banned. Facebook and Instagram will remove any content containing Infowars videos, radio segments, or articles, and Facebook will remove any Groups set up to share Infowars content and Events promoting any of the banned extremist figures, according to a company spokesperson. (Twitter, YouTube, and Apple have also banned Alex Jones and Infowars.) | Any account that shares Infowars content will see the content removed; if an account violates terms on multiple occasions it will be banned. Facebook and Instagram will remove any content containing Infowars videos, radio segments, or articles, and Facebook will remove any Groups set up to share Infowars content and Events promoting any of the banned extremist figures, according to a company spokesperson. (Twitter, YouTube, and Apple have also banned Alex Jones and Infowars.) |
| A letter from White House lawyer Emmet Flood argues the administration has the right to tell advisors not to testify before Congress. | A letter from White House lawyer Emmet Flood argues the administration has the right to tell advisors not to testify before Congress. |
| White House lawyer Emmet Flood argued in a letter obtained by Reuters that the administration could exert executive privilege to prevent staff from testifying before Congress. | White House lawyer Emmet Flood argued in a letter obtained by Reuters that the administration could exert executive privilege to prevent staff from testifying before Congress. |
| Congressional investigators are especially interested in the testimony of former White House lawyer Don McGahn, who became an important voice in the Mueller report. | Congressional investigators are especially interested in the testimony of former White House lawyer Don McGahn, who became an important voice in the Mueller report. |
| From the Reuters report: | From the Reuters report: |
| It is one thing for a president to encourage complete cooperation and transparency in a criminal investigation conducted largely within the Executive Branch. It is something else entirely to allow his advisers to appear before Congress...” the letter said. | It is one thing for a president to encourage complete cooperation and transparency in a criminal investigation conducted largely within the Executive Branch. It is something else entirely to allow his advisers to appear before Congress...” the letter said. |
| The letter also criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller for declining to conclude whether Trump obstructed justice, which he said should be left up to Congress. | The letter also criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller for declining to conclude whether Trump obstructed justice, which he said should be left up to Congress. |
| Moore’s withdrawal letter to Trump said, “unrelenting attacks on my character have become untenable for me and my family and 3 [sic] more months of this would be too hard on us.” | Moore’s withdrawal letter to Trump said, “unrelenting attacks on my character have become untenable for me and my family and 3 [sic] more months of this would be too hard on us.” |
| He also said: “Trumponomics has been VINDICATED.” | He also said: “Trumponomics has been VINDICATED.” |
| Text of Moore’s withdrawal letter to Trump pic.twitter.com/QnULvf6KdR | Text of Moore’s withdrawal letter to Trump pic.twitter.com/QnULvf6KdR |
| Foxconn CEO Terry Gou just met with Wisconsin Governor Toney Evers, according to the Associated Press. The executive met with President Trump earlier today. | Foxconn CEO Terry Gou just met with Wisconsin Governor Toney Evers, according to the Associated Press. The executive met with President Trump earlier today. |
| The company promised to build a $10bn manufacturing plant in Wisconsin, but tried to change its agreement with the state to focus on a “research hub” since it was announced. Taxpayers in Wisconsin are on the hook for $4bn worth of local and state tax credits. | The company promised to build a $10bn manufacturing plant in Wisconsin, but tried to change its agreement with the state to focus on a “research hub” since it was announced. Taxpayers in Wisconsin are on the hook for $4bn worth of local and state tax credits. |
| In February, Gou said he was considering changing the project, but reversed course after a discussion with the president. Neither Evers nor Trump commented on the substance of their conversations with Gou. | In February, Gou said he was considering changing the project, but reversed course after a discussion with the president. Neither Evers nor Trump commented on the substance of their conversations with Gou. |
| Even though the new climate bill is expected to die in the Senate, environmentalists lauded the vote. | Even though the new climate bill is expected to die in the Senate, environmentalists lauded the vote. |
| “Nothing better demonstrates the newfound climate leadership in Congress than today’s vote,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. | “Nothing better demonstrates the newfound climate leadership in Congress than today’s vote,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. |
| “The House is responding to the rising calls, from every quarter, for action to combat the soaring costs and the mounting dangers of climate change. And it’s signaling to the country, and the world, that Americans intend to keep the promises we made in Paris. | “The House is responding to the rising calls, from every quarter, for action to combat the soaring costs and the mounting dangers of climate change. And it’s signaling to the country, and the world, that Americans intend to keep the promises we made in Paris. |
| “Today’s vote also sends a strong message to the GOP-led Senate: blocking this long overdue climate progress would recklessly put the health and future of our children at risk.” | “Today’s vote also sends a strong message to the GOP-led Senate: blocking this long overdue climate progress would recklessly put the health and future of our children at risk.” |
| The House just passed the first climate bill in a decade – an effort to keep the US in the Paris Climate Agreement. The Trump administration pulled the US out of the accord in 2017. | The House just passed the first climate bill in a decade – an effort to keep the US in the Paris Climate Agreement. The Trump administration pulled the US out of the accord in 2017. |
| The bill is expected to die in the US Senate. Republican majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell said the bill, “doesn’t even pass the laugh test.” | The bill is expected to die in the US Senate. Republican majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell said the bill, “doesn’t even pass the laugh test.” |
| At the same time, the Trump administration worked to remove references to climate change from an international statement on Arctic policy, expected to be endorsed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo next week, according to the Washington Post. | At the same time, the Trump administration worked to remove references to climate change from an international statement on Arctic policy, expected to be endorsed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo next week, according to the Washington Post. |
| Just two hours ago former Federal Reserve board pick Stephen Moore said he was “all in” on the position. | Just two hours ago former Federal Reserve board pick Stephen Moore said he was “all in” on the position. |
| “My biggest ally is the president,” he told Bloomberg News. “He’s full speed ahead.” | “My biggest ally is the president,” he told Bloomberg News. “He’s full speed ahead.” |
| More of the Guardian’s reporting on Moore... | More of the Guardian’s reporting on Moore... |
| The @guardian's series of scoops on the legal and financial problems of Stephen Moore, who will no longer be nominated to the Federal Reserve board1.https://t.co/RzQpocuJ0a2. https://t.co/2WiFN640nF3. https://t.co/tICxfuhpAX4. https://t.co/Bij8L8M1xp | The @guardian's series of scoops on the legal and financial problems of Stephen Moore, who will no longer be nominated to the Federal Reserve board1.https://t.co/RzQpocuJ0a2. https://t.co/2WiFN640nF3. https://t.co/tICxfuhpAX4. https://t.co/Bij8L8M1xp |
| From Guardian reporter Jon Swaine’s story on Moore this morning: | From Guardian reporter Jon Swaine’s story on Moore this morning: |
| Stephen Moore, Donald Trump’s embattled pick for the Federal Reserve board of governors, has underpaid his ex-wife’s alimony bills for years, leaving her out of pocket by tens of thousands of dollars. | Stephen Moore, Donald Trump’s embattled pick for the Federal Reserve board of governors, has underpaid his ex-wife’s alimony bills for years, leaving her out of pocket by tens of thousands of dollars. |
| Moore has continued paying Allison Moore significantly less than required under their 2011 divorce settlement, according to a source familiar with the arrangements. | Moore has continued paying Allison Moore significantly less than required under their 2011 divorce settlement, according to a source familiar with the arrangements. |
| The underpayment persisted even after Moore was found in contempt of court in Virginia in 2012, and came close to having his home seized, after he failed to pay Allison Moore more than $300,000 he owed her at the time. | The underpayment persisted even after Moore was found in contempt of court in Virginia in 2012, and came close to having his home seized, after he failed to pay Allison Moore more than $300,000 he owed her at the time. |
| A spokeswoman for Moore said he declined to comment. | A spokeswoman for Moore said he declined to comment. |
| ... | ... |
| A source familiar with the Moores’ arrangements, who declined to be identified discussing personal matters, said Stephen Moore had since then frequently paid Allison Moore about $12,000 monthly – a shortfall of about $8,000 per month. | A source familiar with the Moores’ arrangements, who declined to be identified discussing personal matters, said Stephen Moore had since then frequently paid Allison Moore about $12,000 monthly – a shortfall of about $8,000 per month. |
| Previously, Moore owed the IRS more than $75,000 in federal taxes. He paid the bill while he was still under consideration for the Federal Reserve. | Previously, Moore owed the IRS more than $75,000 in federal taxes. He paid the bill while he was still under consideration for the Federal Reserve. |