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Six states go to polls as Sanders hopes to close gap with Biden – live Six states go to polls as Sanders hopes to close gap with Biden – live
(30 minutes later)
Michigan and Washington among states voting as markets await details of Trump’s coronavirus economic planMichigan and Washington among states voting as markets await details of Trump’s coronavirus economic plan
Donald Trump retweeted a false claim blaming Barack Obama for delays during the swine flu epidemic
Mark Meadows joined the growing list of CPAC attendees in self-quarantine
A coronavirus scare temporarily closed Washington HQ of Securities and Exchange Commission
Joe Biden told a Detroit autoworker that he’s “full of shit.”
Donald Trump awarded another closed friend with a presidential honor
Enjoy the midday reprieve. We’ll have updates from primaries and caucuses across the country and more news after the break. Stay tuned.
Donald Trump has paid tribute to Jack Keane, the retired general whom he will today award the presidential medal of freedom – the highest US honour which Trump recently gave to the rightwing shock jock Rush Limbaugh and will soon bestow upon two leading golfers. Retweeting Keane’s thoughts on the ceremony, Trump said the honour was “well deserved”.
Keane and Trump go back a long way, the four-star general and Fox News analyst, another New Yorker, having twice turned down offers to be Trump’s secretary of defense but having served as an informal adviser.
Keane is a named source for Trump and his Generals, a recent book by Peter Bergen, who writes that the general became “almost a shadow national security adviser” to Trump at a time when the president was notably failing to get on with HR McMaster, the general who officially filled that role.
Bergen, a CNN analyst, recounts Keane telling Trump one way to signal to North Korea he was serious about possible military action over its nuclear weapons programme would be “to stop sending military families to South Korea”. Trump, Bergen writes, subsequently ordered an evacuation of US civilians, sending official aides into a panic.
The order never went through.
Bergen also writes that Keane has not only offered Trump only positive advice. Keane blasted Trump’s infamous summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July 2018 as “stunning and disapponting”; supported the maintenance of a small US force in Afghanistan, against the president’s wishes; and stood against Trump’s urge to pull US troops out of Syria.
Keane seems to have been of more use to Trump than another retired general the president has liked to have around. Keith Kellogg joined the national security council but, according to Bergen, was found to be “lazy, uninformed and not smart”, more likely to be found taking a nap or watching Fox News than doing any foreign policy work.
Should Trump read Bergen’s book, which would admittedly seem unlikely, he might not like one paragraph in particular:
“In the end,” Bergen writes, “the real ‘Deep State’ – retired senior generals such as Keane and officials at the Pentagon and state department – managed to keep many hundreds of American soldiers in Syria.”
The Deep State theory holds that unelected officials are working in concert to thwart Trump’s agenda. Aides to the president and supporters in the media regularly refer to it and it is reportedly one motivation for an attempted political purgeof the federal government.
As another author, James B Stewart, recently wrote, former White House counsellor and Trump campaign chief Steve Bannon, a prime mover in the invention and propagation of the Deep State line, says it is “a conspiracy theory for nut cases”.
During a visit to an auto plant, currently under construction in Detroit, Joe Biden rejected a worker’s claim that the Democratic presidential hopeful is “actively trying to end [the country’s] second amendment right”.During a visit to an auto plant, currently under construction in Detroit, Joe Biden rejected a worker’s claim that the Democratic presidential hopeful is “actively trying to end [the country’s] second amendment right”.
In a sharp retort, Biden told the worker: “You’re full of shit.”In a sharp retort, Biden told the worker: “You’re full of shit.”
“I support the second amendment,” Biden added.“I support the second amendment,” Biden added.
After a bit of back and forth, the plant worker was then jeered and dismissed by colleagues, who told him let it go. Not before the vice president could tell the man not to “be such a horse’s ass”, of course.After a bit of back and forth, the plant worker was then jeered and dismissed by colleagues, who told him let it go. Not before the vice president could tell the man not to “be such a horse’s ass”, of course.
“#BidensCognitiveDecline”: opponents take aim at Biden’s vitality“#BidensCognitiveDecline”: opponents take aim at Biden’s vitality
It the latest (perhaps ageist/ableist) attempt to thwart Joe Biden’s surging poll numbers and mounting endorsements, both progressives and Republicans are ramping up their criticism of the democratic frontrunner’s cognition.It the latest (perhaps ageist/ableist) attempt to thwart Joe Biden’s surging poll numbers and mounting endorsements, both progressives and Republicans are ramping up their criticism of the democratic frontrunner’s cognition.
On Twitter, some progressives, including former 2016 third-party candidate Jill Stein took aim at the former vice-president’s many gaffes. Stein went as far as to question why Biden’s team limits his availability and scheduling.On Twitter, some progressives, including former 2016 third-party candidate Jill Stein took aim at the former vice-president’s many gaffes. Stein went as far as to question why Biden’s team limits his availability and scheduling.
The attacks come from all sides as the Trump campaign and RNC ramped up their own mockery of Biden.The attacks come from all sides as the Trump campaign and RNC ramped up their own mockery of Biden.
From Politico:From Politico:
The president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr. later joined in the ridicule with an offensive* tweet alluding to Biden possibly having Alzheimers or dementia.The president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr. later joined in the ridicule with an offensive* tweet alluding to Biden possibly having Alzheimers or dementia.
*Side note: As someone who’s parent-in-law just passed away from a 10-year-battle, it’s fair to assume that Biden likely doesn’t have the disease. At 77, a person with dementia/Alzheimers would have already begun losing motor functions.*Side note: As someone who’s parent-in-law just passed away from a 10-year-battle, it’s fair to assume that Biden likely doesn’t have the disease. At 77, a person with dementia/Alzheimers would have already begun losing motor functions.
Supporters don’t appear concerned, however. Biden continues to do well among early caucuses and primaries and is expected to increase his delegate lead after tonight’s races.Supporters don’t appear concerned, however. Biden continues to do well among early caucuses and primaries and is expected to increase his delegate lead after tonight’s races.
Andrew Cuomo bashed by justice groups for sanitizers made with prison laborAndrew Cuomo bashed by justice groups for sanitizers made with prison labor
New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, is getting pushback for the state’s plan to produce more than 100,000 hand sanitizers in response the coronavirus update.New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, is getting pushback for the state’s plan to produce more than 100,000 hand sanitizers in response the coronavirus update.
Organizations including Citizen Action of New York, Release Ageing People in Prison Campaign, and the Parole Preparation Project excoriated the governor for what they called a treatment of “incarcerated people with complete disdain”.Organizations including Citizen Action of New York, Release Ageing People in Prison Campaign, and the Parole Preparation Project excoriated the governor for what they called a treatment of “incarcerated people with complete disdain”.
“We are disgusted at Governor Cuomo’s decision to exploit prison labor to push back the imminent public health crisis presented by Covid-19 while doing absolutely nothing for incarcerated people across the state,” the groups said in a joint statement released late Monday.“We are disgusted at Governor Cuomo’s decision to exploit prison labor to push back the imminent public health crisis presented by Covid-19 while doing absolutely nothing for incarcerated people across the state,” the groups said in a joint statement released late Monday.
The governor announced in a press conference Monday that the production of the hand sanitizer is in response to price gauging from major producers. New York state is the country’s current center of the novel coronavirus, with more than 100 confirmed cases and 4,000 people under strict quarantine.The governor announced in a press conference Monday that the production of the hand sanitizer is in response to price gauging from major producers. New York state is the country’s current center of the novel coronavirus, with more than 100 confirmed cases and 4,000 people under strict quarantine.
The groups also noted that while prisoners will manufacture the hand sanitizer, it would likely be considered contraband for incarcerated people to use.The groups also noted that while prisoners will manufacture the hand sanitizer, it would likely be considered contraband for incarcerated people to use.
Election officials across Washington are instructing staff to wash their hands frequently and cough into tissues as they work to limit the spread of coronavirus in the state at the epicenter of the US outbreak, Hallie Golden reports from Seattle.Election officials across Washington are instructing staff to wash their hands frequently and cough into tissues as they work to limit the spread of coronavirus in the state at the epicenter of the US outbreak, Hallie Golden reports from Seattle.
Anyone handling ballots is being told to wear gloves and masks too, and voters have been warned not to lick the envelopes on their postal ballots. The state is holding its primary elections on Tuesday, and is the second most delegate-rich state at stake.Anyone handling ballots is being told to wear gloves and masks too, and voters have been warned not to lick the envelopes on their postal ballots. The state is holding its primary elections on Tuesday, and is the second most delegate-rich state at stake.
Washington now votes by mail for the Democratic primary instead of holding a caucus, which Tina Podlodowski, the chair of the Washington State Democrats, said is extremely positive given the outbreak, and should help prevent disruption. Washington now votes by mail for the Democratic primary instead of holding a caucus, which Tina Podlodowski, the chair of the Washington state Democrats, said is extremely positive given the outbreak, and should help prevent disruption.
“Folks don’t have to worry,” she told the Guardian. “Folks who are older don’t have to worry, they don’t have to be waiting in line for hours and hours.” “Folks don’t have to worry,” she said. “Folks who are older don’t have to worry, they don’t have to be waiting in line for hours and hours.”
She said they’ve already seen good voter turnout. As of Monday, 1.5 million people had voted, which is already higher than the 2016 Republican primary. She said they have already seen good voter turnout. As of Monday, 1.5 million people had voted, which is already higher than the 2016 Republican primary.
For Republicans, President Donald Trump, who does not face any serious challengers, is the only candidate to appear on the party’s primary ballot. For Republicans, Donald Trump, who does not face any serious challengers, is the only candidate to appear on the party’s primary ballot.
For Democrats, however, the primary is a crucial test of support for the two frontrunners, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, though other candidates who have dropped out in recent days, such as progressive senator Elizabeth Warren, still remain on the ballot. For Democrats, however, the primary is a crucial test of support for the two frontrunners, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, though other candidates who have dropped out in recent days, such as the progressive senator Elizabeth Warren, still remain on the ballot.
Kim Wyman, secretary of state of Washington, told the Guardian that if the outbreak does suddenly take a turn on Tuesday and post offices have to close or huge numbers of election staff get sick, officials are ready to respond accordingly by working together.Kim Wyman, secretary of state of Washington, told the Guardian that if the outbreak does suddenly take a turn on Tuesday and post offices have to close or huge numbers of election staff get sick, officials are ready to respond accordingly by working together.
For example, she said, if a county auditor’s office were to get shut down because an employee is diagnosed with coronavirus, that would impact voting and results being released. In response, officials may need to contact the National Guard to have a temporary facility set up or have everyone move to a satellite space at a separate office. For example, she said, if a county auditor’s office were to get shut down because an employee is diagnosed with coronavirus, that would impact voting and results being released. In response, officials may need to contact the national guard to have a temporary facility set up or have everyone move to a satellite space at a separate office.
Wyman said it’s important to remember that ballot processing and other work will continue for the next 10 days. So staff will need to be prepared to respond to any potential impacts of coronavirus on counting long after Tuesday.Wyman said it’s important to remember that ballot processing and other work will continue for the next 10 days. So staff will need to be prepared to respond to any potential impacts of coronavirus on counting long after Tuesday.
Good morning!Kenya Evelyn here taking over the live blog and right at the top: it’s all about primaries and caucuses in Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, Michigan and Washington as former US vice-president Joe Biden looks to repeat his strong showing Super Tuesday.Good morning!Kenya Evelyn here taking over the live blog and right at the top: it’s all about primaries and caucuses in Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, Michigan and Washington as former US vice-president Joe Biden looks to repeat his strong showing Super Tuesday.
We’re also covering the latest in Washington as the Trump administration faces increasing backlash for its response to the coronavirus.We’re also covering the latest in Washington as the Trump administration faces increasing backlash for its response to the coronavirus.
Stay tuned as we update you throughout the day.Stay tuned as we update you throughout the day.
AP are reporting that Securities and Exchange Commission employees have been told to work remotely for the foreseeable future after a coronavirus scare at the agency’s Washington headquarters.AP are reporting that Securities and Exchange Commission employees have been told to work remotely for the foreseeable future after a coronavirus scare at the agency’s Washington headquarters.
The agency, which oversees the financial markets, said it was informed Monday afternoon that a headquarters employee had received medical treatment for respiratory symptoms earlier in the day. The employee, who was not identified, was informed by a doctor that they may have been infected with the coronavirus and was referred for testing, the SEC said in a statement.The agency, which oversees the financial markets, said it was informed Monday afternoon that a headquarters employee had received medical treatment for respiratory symptoms earlier in the day. The employee, who was not identified, was informed by a doctor that they may have been infected with the coronavirus and was referred for testing, the SEC said in a statement.
Among other precautions, the agency “is encouraging headquarters employees to telework until further guidance,” it said. The SEC is the first major federal agency to employ teleworking in an effort to contain the virus’ spread.Among other precautions, the agency “is encouraging headquarters employees to telework until further guidance,” it said. The SEC is the first major federal agency to employ teleworking in an effort to contain the virus’ spread.
It said the scattering of headquarters employees to work from their homes or other remote locations will not affect operations. “Even with increased telework, the SEC remains able and committed to fully executing its mission on behalf of investors, including monitoring market function and working closely with other regulators and market participants,” said the agency.It said the scattering of headquarters employees to work from their homes or other remote locations will not affect operations. “Even with increased telework, the SEC remains able and committed to fully executing its mission on behalf of investors, including monitoring market function and working closely with other regulators and market participants,” said the agency.
Appealing to individual demographics of voters has been an increasingly important part of election strategy over the last couple of decades as black and Latino voters begin to make up larger proportions of the voter base in key battleground areas.Appealing to individual demographics of voters has been an increasingly important part of election strategy over the last couple of decades as black and Latino voters begin to make up larger proportions of the voter base in key battleground areas.
Holly Otterbein and Laura Barrón-López have been looking at what is described as a Sanders’ “blind spot” for Politico:Holly Otterbein and Laura Barrón-López have been looking at what is described as a Sanders’ “blind spot” for Politico:
They conclude that “Just as in 2016, Sanders’ inability to secure the backing of most African-American voters — particularly those who are middle-aged and older — is suffocating his campaign.”They conclude that “Just as in 2016, Sanders’ inability to secure the backing of most African-American voters — particularly those who are middle-aged and older — is suffocating his campaign.”
Read it here - Politico: ‘There’s a blind spot’: Sanders reboots black voter outreachRead it here - Politico: ‘There’s a blind spot’: Sanders reboots black voter outreach
For another view of how the Democrats are - or aren’t - reaching out to the Elaines of 2020, and how Donald Trump is taking advantage of that, here’s Steve Phillips:For another view of how the Democrats are - or aren’t - reaching out to the Elaines of 2020, and how Donald Trump is taking advantage of that, here’s Steve Phillips:
Phillips, the host of the Democracy in Color podcast, has written for us about how Trump works harder than the Democrats to reach black voters.Phillips, the host of the Democracy in Color podcast, has written for us about how Trump works harder than the Democrats to reach black voters.
Strong words from Fox Business host Trish Regan last night, as my colleague Martin Pengelly in New York reports.Strong words from Fox Business host Trish Regan last night, as my colleague Martin Pengelly in New York reports.
Barry Eichengreen, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley has written for us about what the G7 and G20 economies needs to do to combat economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. We are expecting to hear details on Donald Trump’s plans today. Eichengreen says:Barry Eichengreen, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley has written for us about what the G7 and G20 economies needs to do to combat economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. We are expecting to hear details on Donald Trump’s plans today. Eichengreen says:
Yesterday Trump said his administration and Congress would be “discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief, thats big, thats a big number. We’re also going to be talking about hourly wage earners getting help so that they can be in a position where they’re not going to ever miss a paycheck.”Yesterday Trump said his administration and Congress would be “discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief, thats big, thats a big number. We’re also going to be talking about hourly wage earners getting help so that they can be in a position where they’re not going to ever miss a paycheck.”
Read Eichengreen’s argument here - Fighting coronavirus’s economic effects will take more than interest rate cutsRead Eichengreen’s argument here - Fighting coronavirus’s economic effects will take more than interest rate cuts
Incoming White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is among six US lawmakers now in self-quarantine after contact with people carrying the coronavirus. Republicans Meadows, Ted Cruz, Paul Gosar, Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz are all believed to have come into contact with an infected person while attending CPAC last week. Trump named Meadows his new chief of staff on Friday evening, replacing Mick Mulvaney.
Last night Ben Schreckinger wrote for Politico about the criticism CPAC’s organisers have been receiving for the way they have handled the situation.
One of those affected, Gaetz, was pictured last week wearing a gas mark in what was widely perceived to be a dig at the way media were reporting the extent of the threat of the virus. Gaetz was also on a flight yesterday with the president.
Separately, Democrat Julia Brownley of California is said to have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, and has accordingly closed her Washington office.
The mechanics of voting in November always get a lot of attention – long lines can make it seem like more of a chore than a democratic opportunity.
A new campaign is launching, USA Today reports, to make Vote Early Day on 24 October an event that can increase voter participation, especially among young people.
Vote Early Day was started by MTV, and has more than 60 partners on board to help promote it.
Chris McCarthy, president of ViacomCBS’ Entertainment & Youth Brands, told USA Today that young voters are often ignored by politicians. “It was really important for us to begin to build something that ritualizes this around their existing habits and takes advantage of social media so that they feel they can have a moment celebrated with their friends,” he said.
Figures suggest that in the 2016 election nearly 40% of people either voted early, absentee voted or voted by mail.
So writes Caitlin Conant for CBS News, in an overview of what is at stake today in the six primary contests between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Technically Tulsi Gabbard is also still running, but she is unlikely to secure enough votes anywhere to claim delegates.
It is Michigan that offers the most delegates today - 125 - and it is the state that many people feel Sanders has to win in order to continue to have a serious path to winning the nomination.
It could be a tough ask. Conant reports that “A new poll from Monmouth University released on Monday showed Biden with a commanding lead over Sanders. Fifty-one percent of likely Democratic primary voters said they planned to support Biden compared to 36% for Sanders.”
Read it here - CBS News: What to know about Tuesday’s primaries in 6 states
And Donald Trump is up and tweeting, and its a familiar refrain. He’s just retweeted Charlie Kirk comparing the current president’s response to the coronavirus outbreak with how president Barack Obama responded to swine flu in 2009.
This is a claim that has already been rated as false by Politifact.
Their verdict: “In October 2009, after more than 1,000 people in the United States had died of swine flu, also known as H1N1, Obama declared a national emergency. But six months earlier, his administration declared H1N1 a public health emergency. At that point, no deaths in the United States had occurred.”
With the Democratic nomination down to a two-horse race between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, it has become easier for pollsters to try and tease out what that might mean for November. Newsweek have had a look at what the latest polling figures say about the potential match-ups.
This paragraph gets to the nub of the tactical battle currently going on for the nomination:
What the polling numbers show overall though, is that although Biden might have a slight edge over Sanders in the head-to-head against Trump, November currently looks like it is going to be a close call.
Read it here - Newsweek: What the polls say about a Donald Trump vs Bernie Sanders election
“Right now we’re in the spaghetti-on-the-wall phase of this conversation” is a colourful way to put, but that’s what David French, senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation has told Bloomberg about the kind of help businesses are looking for from the federal government.
There’s a good breakdown here of some of the measures that industry sectors are looking at, whether it is tax breaks, credit leniency for small and medium-size businesses, or grants to states and municipalities to support tourism.
Read it here - Bloomberg: Business groups to press Trump for virus response to curb damage
We are expecting more today from the Trump administration on their economic package to help the country cope with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Tax breaks and small loans might be part of the measures. They aren’t going to any help for some people though.
Sam Levin has been out for us in Los Angeles looking at the impact the outbreak could have on homeless communities. Eve Garrow, the homelessness policy analyst with the ACLU of Southern California, told him:
Read it here - ‘We’re not prepared’: coronavirus could devastate homeless communities
The Associated Press have been having a look at what they describe as the “quirk” of the math in today’s races that make this Tuesday more of a chance to catch up or pull away than any other day of primary and caucus battles.
As the AP explains it, most delegates awarded on Tuesday will be won based on how the candidates perform in individual congressional districts. Think of each district as holding a bucket of delegates. There are also two buckets of delegates in each state awarded based on the overall statewide vote.
On Tuesday, that makes for 51 buckets of delegates across the six states. Party rules say each viable candidate wins a proportion of the delegates in each bucket based on their share of the votes cast for the viable candidates in that bucket. Viable means they have past a 15% support threshold - almost certainly completely putting Tulsi Gabbard out of the equation.
Buckets that have an odd number of delegates are impossible to split evenly, meaning either Sanders or Biden is guaranteed to win at least one more than the other.
Say, for example, there are seven delegates in a bucket, and Sanders gets 51% and Biden gets 49% of the viable votes. In delegates, that’s 3.57 to 3.43 a difference of just 0.14 delegates. But thanks to rounding, Sanders gets four and Biden gets three. If it was an even bucket with six delegates at play, they’d get three each.
Nearly two-thirds of the 352 delegates at stake on Tuesday are in buckets with an odd number of delegates more than on any other night with more than one primary. Getting narrowly ahead in a tight race in those odd buckets is much more rewarding in terms of delegates.
Easy, eh?
Is it all over for Bernie Sanders if Joe Biden wins in Michigan? That’s the key question that Chris Cillizza, CNN editor-at-large, has been asking this morning. His reasoning:
If he can’t get enough of them out to beat Biden today, Cillizza says: “Sanders’ fundraising ability and the loyalty of his core supporters mean he can stay in the race as long as he wants. But hanging on is very different from having a chance to win.”
Read it here - CNN: If Biden wins Michigan, is it all over?
Good morning, it’s not Super Tuesday, but it could be a super important Tuesday, as six states – including Michigan – hold their primaries. Millions get to vote, and we are set to discover whether Bernie Sanders can haul himself closer to Joe Biden in the race for the Democratic nomination. It is the first time it has been a straight two-horse race between them. Sanders needs to win Michigan, which he did sensationally in 2016, but recent polling suggests Biden is firmly ahead. Washington, Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho and North Dakota are also going to the polls.
Here’s our scene-setter for the day from Daniel Strauss in Washington DC:
Both Sanders – fresh from being endorsed by rocker Neil Young – and Biden will be out campaigning in Ohio, which votes next Tuesday.
It’s going to be a super important day for the administration on the coronavirus too. After the turmoil of yesterday, world markets seem to have rallied. Yesterday the White House promised that testing for the virus would ramp up quickly, and Trump said his administration would ask Congress to pass payroll tax relief and other quick measures to mitigate the economic fall-out.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) director, Dr Robert Redfield, testifies to Congress this morning. Federal health officials testify on the coronavirus before the House oversight committee this afternoon, and members of the coronavirus taskforce will hold a press briefing at the White House at 5.30pm.
One thing is for sure, Trump probably won’t want to rewatch this clip of Bernie Sanders provoking laughter about the president’s supposed natural ability to understand the coronavirus.