| Seattle's first Black female police chief announced her resignation after the city council voted to cut the department's budget and ax dozens of jobs Posted: 11 Aug 2020 03:12 AM PDT  Carmen Best announced her resignation hours after the city council voted to reduce the department's $409 million budget by $3.5 million on Monday.
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| US Border Patrol agent arrested and charged with trafficking over 350,000 pills believed to be fentanyl Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:00 PM PDT  The suspect drove to the airport and unloaded two duffel bags into another vehicle. Officials later found nearly $330,000 in his home.
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| 'Terror crocodiles' with teeth the size of bananas once roamed North America preying on dinosaurs Posted: 11 Aug 2020 10:12 AM PDT  "Terror crocodiles" which had teeth the size of bananas and could reach 33 feet in length once roamed North America preying on dinosaurs, according to a new study. Researchers say the Deinosuchus, which means "terror crocodile", was the largest predator in its ecosystem when it roamed the earth between 75 to 82 million years ago, outweighing the largest predatory dinosaurs which existed at the same time. The new study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, revisited fossil specimens of the gigantic creatures and found the Deinosuchus had teeth "the size of bananas", capable of taking down even the very largest of dinosaurs. It also confirmed that the predators grew to as much as 33ft in length, making them nearly as long as some city buses. Researchers also found that there were at least three species of Deinosuchus, two of which lived along western America from Montana to northern Mexico.
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| Map: State-by-state breakdown of coronavirus travel restrictions Posted: 11 Aug 2020 11:25 AM PDT  U.S. states and territories are making new rules for travelers. Find which ones across the United States have implemented travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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| Trump campaign tweets mugshots of alleged criminals, all of them Black, to claim Biden is pro-crime Posted: 11 Aug 2020 12:10 PM PDT  Trump campaign Twitter account @TrumpWarRoom has tweeted and retweeted some questionable things in the past. Lately, it's been all systems go against former Vice President Joe Biden, who is set to oppose President Trump in November's election.The latest effort to bring down Biden is a series of tweets that seem to claim Biden is pro-crime. In a blog post, the campaign points to Biden staffer's donations to bail funds amid the nationwide protests against police brutality. The campaign highlighted four alleged "regular criminals," all of them Black, who were supposedly freed from jail thanks to Biden.> Remember Willie Horton? > > President Trump's campaign is tweeting mugshots of black people to attack Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/ursYZoXv5b> > — Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 11, 2020The mugshots were posted alongside rhetorical questions like "Does Joe Biden regret his campaign putting women in danger?" The donations to the bail fund were made by individual staffers, not by the Biden campaign as a whole. Still, the post asserts the streets are now less safe "thanks in part to the Biden campaign."The Trump campaign's strategy was quickly denounced as racist fearmongering. The Washington Post's Philip Bump pointed out that Biden himself is only loosely connected to the bailouts, and that it's not clear those pictured have been convicted of the crimes listed. Given Trump's insistence on respecting "due process," it seems like a significant oversight.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election 4 ways Kamala Harris just made history Obama on Harris pick: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision'
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| Drones reveal shark fests, though US bites remain rare Posted: 11 Aug 2020 06:24 AM PDT  It's shark week. While you're watching sharks on Discovery, scientists are using drones to watch how they really interact with people.
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| Louisville police said protesters, who have been marching against Breonna Taylor's death for more than 70 days, can no longer use public roads Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:46 AM PDT  A handful of people have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and blocking a roadway since the ban started, local media reported.
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| German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas confronts Pompeo over pipeline sanctions Posted: 10 Aug 2020 10:07 AM PDT  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday he has personally told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of his "dismay" over a warning by three Republican senators who threatened sanctions against a German port operator for its part in a pipeline project with Russia.
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| Appeals court seems wary of ordering dismissal of Flynn case Posted: 11 Aug 2020 11:21 AM PDT  A federal appeals court in Washington appeared inclined Tuesday to let a judge decide on his own whether to grant the Justice Department's request to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn. Many members of the court expressed repeated skepticism at arguments from the Justice Department and Flynn's attorneys that a judge was not empowered to probe the motives behind the government's decision to abandon the prosecution of Flynn, who pleaded guilty as part of the special counsel's Russia investigation to lying to the FBI. The case will almost certainly persist for months if the court rejects Flynn's efforts to get a speedy dismissal and returns it to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who refused to immediately grant the department's request to drop the prosecution.
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| Who owned the chemicals that blew up Beirut? No one will say Posted: 11 Aug 2020 03:20 AM PDT  In the murky story of how a cache of highly explosive ammonium nitrate ended up on the Beirut waterfront, one thing is clear -- no one has ever publicly come forward to claim it. Clear identification of ownership, especially of a cargo as dangerous as that carried by the Moldovan-flagged Rhosus when it sailed into Beirut seven years ago, is fundamental to shipping, the key to insuring it and settling disputes that often arise.
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| Trump claims he would have beaten George Washington in election while bragging about non-existent poll numbers Posted: 11 Aug 2020 09:45 AM PDT  If Donald Trump were to square off with US founding father George Washington in an election, the current president would have had a leg up — so says Mr Trump."I don't know if you've seen, the polls have been going up like a rocket ship. George Washington would have had a hard time beating me before the plague came in, before the China plague. And then, you know, like every other nation, like other countries, when you get hit, it affects you, and we went down a little bit," Mr Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
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| Ex-Rep. Katie Hill notes 'misogyny and double standards' in scrutiny of Joe Biden's VP Posted: 11 Aug 2020 11:05 AM PDT  Former Rep. Katie Hill, who resigned last year amid an ethics probe, says she's concerned about how Joe Biden's potential VP picks have been treated.
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| Police probe claims that Indian army faked Kashmir gunbattle Posted: 11 Aug 2020 01:00 AM PDT |
| Fauci has questioned whether Russia's coronavirus vaccine is safe amid concerns nations are cutting corners to win the vaccine race Posted: 11 Aug 2020 06:00 AM PDT  President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had approved a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday. Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke of his concerns on July 31.
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| Top Navy official: Sailor burnout a concern amid COVID-19 crisis Posted: 10 Aug 2020 02:53 PM PDT  Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told NBC News the pandemic has forced ships to remain at sea for longer periods of time.
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| Coronavirus found on frozen seafood in China Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:43 AM PDT |
| Georgia school moves online after COVID-19 infections reported Posted: 09 Aug 2020 06:14 PM PDT  A Georgia high school plans to start the week with all classes moving online after nine students and staff tested positive for the coronavirus when the school year opened last week with most students attending classes in-person.
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| QAnon supporter could become Republican candidate in tight Georgia race Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:43 PM PDT  Marjorie Taylor Greene could replace retiring incumbent Tom Graves as the Republican candidate in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, despite having a history of bigoted remarks and publicly supporting the QAnon conspiracy theory.Ms Greene is running against neurosurgeon John Cowan to be selected as the Republican candidate in the 14th District for November's election, with the primary runoff taking place on Tuesday.
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| Fossil of fearsome 'hell ant' that used tusk-like jaws to hunt its victims discovered in amber Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:39 AM PDT  A 99-million year old fossil of a "hell ant" is giving researchers a glimpse into the behavior of these fearsome ancient insects, a new study reports.
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| Sen. Sasse Tells Trump ‘America Doesn’t Have Kings’ in Response to Recent Executive Orders Posted: 10 Aug 2020 05:20 PM PDT  Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) doubled down on his criticism of President Donald Trump's recent executive orders in a tweet on Monday afternoon, saying "no president" has the power to make such unilateral policy decisions."No president — whether named Obama or Trump or Biden or AOC — has unilateral power to rewrite immigration law or to cut taxes or to raise taxes," Sasse said. "This is because America doesn't have kings."> Mr. President- > I understand that you're mad. A few thoughts…. > ⁰⁰(1) As we've discussed before, I don't think Twitter is the best place to do this. But, since you moved our conversation from private to public, here we are. > (2)…https://t.co/AYF2ApdRR2 pic.twitter.com/2rtiPuhJJB> > -- Team Sasse (@TeamSasse) August 10, 2020Sasse's comment was the latest in a war of words between the pair that played out on Twitter after the senator called Trump's executive orders "unconstitutional slop." "The pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop," Sasse said earlier.The orders, which Trump signed in response to legislative gridlock over additional Covid relief legislation, extended the expanded unemployment benefits Congress approved in March, deferred payroll taxes and extended rent and student loan payment assistance."President Obama did not have the power to unilaterally rewrite immigration law with DACA, and President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law. Under the Constitution, that power belongs to the American people acting through their members of Congress," he continued.The president shot back at Sasse's initial criticism, calling the senator a "Republican in Name Only" or RINO."RINO Ben Sasse, who needed my support and endorsement in order to get the Republican nomination for Senate from the GREAT State of Nebraska, has, now that he's got it (Thank you President T), gone rogue, again. This foolishness plays right into the hands of the Radical Left Dems!" Trump wrote in a Monday morning tweet, branding Sasse as a "Republican in Name Only" or RINO.In his latest response, Sasse accused the president of being "frustrated I didn't join your re-election committee & that I ran a primary ad admitting to Nebraskans that we sometimes agree and sometimes disagree.""You also know I never asked for your endorsement nor did I use it in the campaign," he added. "I have pleaded with you but for bigger things like better U.S. policy on the Chinese Communist Party — and on this, you've done a very good job." Sasse then offered to "move the conversation back to a private channel" if Trump so desires.The senator's criticism of Trump's executive action put him at odds with GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called the orders a necessary action."Struggling Americans need action now. Since Democrats have sabotaged backroom talks with absurd demands that would not help working people, I support President Trump exploring his options to get unemployment benefits and other relief to the people who need them the most," McConnell said.
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| Photos show the oil spill in Mauritius that's leaking 4,000 tons of fuel into the pristine, azure waters of the Indian Ocean Posted: 10 Aug 2020 03:18 PM PDT  More than 1,000 tons of oil has leaked into the Indian Ocean, and environmentalists worry it may be too late to undo the damage.
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| The Perseid meteor shower, which NASA says is the best of the year, peaks Tuesday night. Here's how to catch it. Posted: 11 Aug 2020 12:40 PM PDT  The Perseids meteor shower, considered the year's best, peaks Tuesday night. Here's how to watch the show.
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| Mark Meadows is reportedly the bad cop of coronavirus relief negotiations Posted: 11 Aug 2020 08:27 AM PDT  Negotiations for the next coronavirus relief bill have not been going well, to say the least, and each side is eager to blame the other for the breakdown.But White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who has been representing the Trump administration alongside Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, is emerging as a particularly thorny player in the saga, as The Washington Post reports Meadows is the one drawing a "hard line" as negotiations continue. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is also leading talks, even reportedly calls Meadows "The Enforcer." Publicly, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said Meadows' views "are quite hardened and non-compromising, more so than Mnuchin."The good cop / bad cop dynamic is apparently starting to wear on Democrats. But Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who presumably worked with Meadows back when he was a representative for North Carolina, seemed to think his stubbornness came as no surprise. Meadows was "well known on Capitol Hill for sabotaging negotiations," wrote Beyer on Twitter.> White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, well known on Capitol Hill for sabotaging negotiations, helped prevent a deal from being reached on an economic relief package.> > Now, as millions struggle to pay for housing, food, and health care, Meadows is "out for the week." https://t.co/4hwClxvC6S> > — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 11, 2020The stalled negotiations have led to a lapse in unemployment aid for millions of Americans who were previously receiving $600 per week as the pandemic keeps many out of work. While Mnuchin has seemingly been optimistic the two sides can make a deal, Meadows hasn't budged on insisting Democrats lower their demands and "come back with a counterproposal." Talks could be further delayed, in part because Meadows is reportedly "out for the week." Read more at The Washington Post.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election 4 ways Kamala Harris just made history Obama on Harris pick: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision'
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| Israel closes Gaza goods crossing after balloon attacks Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:21 PM PDT  Israel will close its goods crossing with the Gaza Strip, authorities said Monday, after militants in the Hamas-run territory fired rockets into the Mediterranean and launched incendiary balloons towards the Jewish state. The Kerem Shalom crossing will be closed to all traffic except humanitarian equipment and fuel from Tuesday, COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees the crossings, said in a statement. The move comes in response to the "continued launching of incendiary balloons" from Gaza, it added.
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| China reinstates tourist visas to Macau from September 23 in boon for casinos Posted: 11 Aug 2020 02:02 AM PDT  Macau, the world's biggest casino hub, is set to welcome an influx of gamblers after China on Tuesday announced that tourist visas, through which the majority of visitors enter the Chinese territory, would be reinstated for all provinces from Sept. 23. Casino executives and investors have been eagerly awaiting the announcement as a catalyst to reviving gaming revenue, which has slumped since February due to coronavirus travel restrictions. China's National Immigration Administration said, provided the domestic coronavirus situation continued to improve, residents would be able to apply for individual and group travel visas to enter the special administrative region located on the country's southern coast.
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| Willie Brown urges Kamala Harris to decline offer to be Joe Biden’s VP Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:05 AM PDT  Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown has advised senator Kamala Harris to "politely decline" if Joe Biden makes her an offer to be his presidential running mate.The former mayor wrote in an opinion article for The San Fransisco Chronicle that the vice presidency is a "dead end" and "not the job she should go for".
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| Here's how parents can protect their kids from coronavirus as schools reopen Posted: 10 Aug 2020 09:01 AM PDT  Packed lunches? The perfect mask? Here's what parents can do to ensure kids stay safe as they return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Florida reports record COVID-19 hospitalizations Posted: 10 Aug 2020 02:59 PM PDT  Team Trump's conflicting messaging on mask led to preventable deaths, 100,000 children caught Covid-19 in July
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| It's time to implement a 4-day workweek, Andrew Yang says. The pandemic has made it important now more than ever. Posted: 10 Aug 2020 11:36 PM PDT  As health experts project that normalcy may not return until next year, Yang said a four-day work week could be imperative now more than ever.
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| The Federal Government Must Stop the Deadly Abortion Pill Posted: 10 Aug 2020 03:30 AM PDT  While COVID-19 dominates the news cycle, a battle is being fought over a deadly drug that has killed over 3.7 million children and at least 24 women. The drug is Mifeprex — commonly known as the abortion pill. On July 13, an Obama-appointed federal judge enjoined the Food and Drug Administration requirements governing the prescription of Mifeprex. He ruled that requiring pregnant women to complete an in-clinic appointment to procure the drugs was a "substantial obstacle" to abortion and was to be suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ruling suspends, for the abortion pill, the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), the FDA's rules for "certain medications with serious safety concerns to help ensure the benefits of the medication outweigh its risks." Women procuring abortion drugs without proper education or evaluation are at greater risk of complications and death due to undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, hemorrhaging, infection, and more. This dangerous judicial activism should compel elected officials, entrusted with the care of their constituents, to take a stand when federal agencies jeopardize public health and safety.The first drug in the abortion-pill regimen, Mifeprex was approved by the FDA in 2000 after a highly politicized scramble within the Clinton administration. Beverly Winikoff is the founder of one of the abortion pill's loudest proponents, Gynuity Health Projects. Winikoff claimed that the September 11 terrorist attacks "saved" Mifeprex because the nearly 3,000 Americans killed that day overshadowed news of a woman killed by the abortion pill a day prior. Mifeprex was designed specifically to kill the developing child and is approved for use up to ten weeks, at which point a child has arms, eyelids, toes, fingers, and organs.Since the drug's approval, over 4,000 adverse maternal reactions have been reported to the FDA. The FDA acknowledges that adverse reactions are notoriously underreported, and most women experiencing hemorrhaging and severe infections will seek follow-up care at emergency rooms instead of returning to the abortion clinic. Yet emergency rooms are not required to report adverse reactions. And as of 2016, the Obama administration changed the requirement so that abortion-pill manufacturers must report only maternal deaths to the FDA. The number of women seeking blood transfusions and emergency intervention is likely much greater than 4,000.The Mifeprex regimen has unleashed horrors on America's women and children while providing no medical benefit. Killing innocent children, endangering mothers, and abusing the health-care system to do harm is tragic. And as long as this deadly drug remains on the U.S. market, it will pose a serious health risk.Pregnancy is not a disease and abortion is not health care. The abortion pill is not medicine. No child deserves to be killed by a drug, and pregnant women deserve better. FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn should acknowledge the subversion of the abortion industry and its allies, which are using a national pandemic to instigate abortion expansions that could remain long after the pandemic is over. The FDA should protect the public health of Americans and pull this lethal drug, Mifeprex and its approved generics, from the market immediately.Ted Cruz is a U.S. senator from Texas and a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Lila Rose is the president and founder of Live Action, a nonprofit human-rights organization educating on abortion and the abortion industry.
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| Mississippi's new flag won't have Elvis on it, but it could feature a mosquito Posted: 10 Aug 2020 07:53 PM PDT  Despite the best efforts of some creative residents, Mississippi's new flag will not feature Elvis Presley, Kermit the Frog, or beer cans.Mississippi's old flag — the last one in the U.S. to feature a Confederate battle emblem — was retired in late June amid public outcry and anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. A nine-member commission appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and state House speaker was tasked with selecting a design for a new flag. There are just two rules: It cannot include the Confederate battle emblem and it must have the phrase "In God We Trust."The public was invited to send in designs, and nearly 3,000 were submitted; the 147 that made it to the second round were posted Monday to Mississippi's Department of Archives and History website. Designs with food and famous people and characters were rejected, The Associated Press reports, but many with magnolias and stars — and in one case, a mosquito surrounded by stars — made the cut.On Friday, the commissioners will meet to pick their top five choices, and by early September, they will narrow it down to one; if they can't choose one, they do have the option of creating their own design. It will then be up to the people of Mississippi, who will vote either for or against the final design on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot.More stories from theweek.com Donald Trump is trying to steal the election 4 ways Kamala Harris just made history Obama on Harris pick: 'Joe Biden nailed this decision'
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| Trump’s attorney general under fire for calling Black Lives Matter a ‘Bolshevik organisation’ with ‘fascistic’ tactics Posted: 11 Aug 2020 01:01 AM PDT  US attorney general Bill Barr made waves with a Fox News interview this weekend in which he called the Black Lives Matter movement "Bolshevik" and "fascistic" – and the fallout is still simmering.Host Mark Levin, who conducted the interview, is now pushing back against the mainstream media's coverage of the segment, accusing newspapers' fact checkers of lying about Black Lives Matter's true nature and declaring that journalists are in cahoots with "violent Marxists".
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| 100 arrested, 13 officers injured after Chicago crowds clash with police Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:33 PM PDT  Hundreds smashed windows, stole from stores and clashed with police in Chicago's Magnificent Mile shopping district and other parts of downtown.
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| Apt Bible passage at Catholic Mass coincides with earthquake Posted: 10 Aug 2020 04:01 PM PDT |
| Sen. Kamala Harris Tapped as Joe Biden’s VP Posted: 11 Aug 2020 01:17 PM PDT  WILMINGTON, Delaware—Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden selected Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Tuesday to be his running mate, a historically unprecedented choice that promotes a Black woman and former rival to the Democratic Party's presidential ticket.Biden announced he chose Harris, a 55-year-old freshman senator from California and that state's former Attorney General, in a text message to supporters shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. "Joe Biden here. Big news: I've chosen Kamala Harris as my running mate," the text said. "Together, with you, we're going to beat Trump."In a Facebook post, Biden extolled Harris as "smart, tough, and ready to lead" and applauded her work in the Senate to "hold the Trump administration accountable for its corruption, stand up to a Justice Department that's run amok, and be a powerful voice against their extreme nominations.""She's been a leader on criminal justice and marriage equality. And she has focused like a laser on the racial disparities as a result of the coronavirus," Biden wrote. "Her record of accomplishment—fighting tooth and nail for what's right—is why I'm choosing her."Harris was chosen after a lengthy deliberation process by the members of Biden's small vetting committee. While the details of the search were primarily kept close to the higher ranks of the campaign, tidbits about the selection process occasionally came into public view, at times even from the loquacious candidate himself. Biden declared in mid-March during the last Democratic debate that he would narrow down his list of possible contenders to only include women, on stage saying that "there are a number of women qualified to be president tomorrow." While Biden more than occasionally veers off script to share his candid thoughts, the pronouncement was not spur of the moment. After the debate wrapped up, senior campaign officials convened a call with political reporters to pitch the significance of the moment on stage. Harris had been dropping what appeared to be subtle clues in the days leading up to the announcement, posting a picture of herself with Biden on her widely followed Instagram account, sending a fundraising email on his behalf, and stating the importance of the country competently battling three simultaneous crises at once—economic, health, and "systemic racism"—a sentiment that Biden uses on the virtual stump. Harris is the first Asian-American vice presidential nominee in history. Before the announcement on Tuesday, rumors had already started swirling in political circles. Reporters tracked private planes online and monitored the movements of potential picks. One Democratic source close to the vice president's inner circle said that preparations had been in the works for several days to arrange for a private plane owned by a wealthy donor in Chicago to fly to California. The source said the plan had since changed, and Harris would remain in Washington. When contacted, the donor denied having any knowledge of the plan. Biden's decision to choose Harris delighted many activists of color who had mounted a vocal, public-facing campaign through the media on the impact that nominating a Black woman could have towards progress against President Donald Trump. A letter circulated on Monday signed by "more than 100 Black male leaders" starkly declared, "[f]ailing to select a Black woman in 2020 means you will lose the election." In April, The Daily Beast reported that discussions had even reached the highest levels of Biden's campaign, where at least two of his top advisers had expressed preferences for a Black female running mate as early as the spring. One of the most well-regarded figures in Democratic politics, Majority Whip James Clyburn—who was credited with helping Biden score his campaign-reviving win in his home state of South Carolina—said in an interview with NPR back in March that "I really believe that we've reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they've given to this party," adding that "I would really be pushing for an African American female to go on the ticket."Kamala Harris Was in Biden Circle of Trust. Then Came Debate Night.While Clyburn and other prominent Black politicians never formally expressed a personal candidate preference, Harris had displayed reassuring qualities of preparedness early on. Although she wasn't from a battleground state like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Florida Rep. Val Demings, or Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms and former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, both from Atlanta, Harris offered a stacked legislative and legal resume that, in Biden's eyes, would translate well to the White House.In Washington, Harris drew the public's close attention as a high-profile member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Biden previously chaired. Harris, a trained prosecutor, made former Attorney General Jeff Sessions "nervous," in his own words, during a Senate hearing on election interference. She also made news for her steady interrogation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing. Outside of the Beltway, Harris and Biden shared a personal familial connection. Harris had a deep bond with Biden's son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer five years ago. In 2016, she said, "It is through my friendship with Beau that I truly came to know Joe Biden, not just as a leader but as a person" during a speech at the California Democratic Convention.Biden made note of this connection in his statement announcing Harris on Facebook. "He had enormous respect for her and her work. I thought a lot about that as I made this decision," Biden wrote. "There is no one's opinion I valued more than Beau's and I'm proud to have Kamala standing with me on this campaign."Harris' selection also shows a willingness of the Biden campaign to move past what some allies considered a proverbial punch to the presumptive nominee during the early days of the primary. At one point during a debate in Miami, Harris seemed to stun Biden when she accused him in no uncertain terms of being on the wrong side of history on desegregation. "As the only black person on this stage, I would like to speak on the issue of race," Harris said at the time, as her white rivals debated the role race plays in daily life. "So on the issue of race, I couldn't agree more that this is an issue that is still not being talked about truthfully and honestly," she said. Harris took issue with Biden's past positions, including his opposition to busing, as she recalled being bused as a child. "There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day," Harris said before concluding "that little girl was me." Harris told Biden, "I do not believe you are a racist," but the debate strategy left a mark among some close to the former VP.Biden and Harris each set their sights mostly on South Carolina during the primary, with hope of gaining traction in the later contests that followed on Super Tuesday, including Harris' native California. The two also competed to earn the most support from the Congressional Black Caucus, the powerful body in Washington that has tremendous influence among elected officials. But as the primary process showed Biden's enduring strength as a national frontrunner, it exposed Harris' deficiencies in other aspects. She struggled for money (after regularly making the rounds at fundraisers) and dipped in polls ahead of the Iowa caucus. She also endured months of right-wing attacks, shared at times among progressives in her own party, on her record as California's top prosecutor. In early December, Harris abruptly ended her bid before the first votes were cast. While the Biden campaign officially moved beyond the temporary sting of Harris' tough political critique on stage, others in his network attempted to knock her in the days leading up to the announcement, offering at times anonymous critiques that had gender implications about female leaders. CNBC reported that some Biden donors were starting a "shadow campaign" to stop her traction. Meanwhile, two longtime Biden confidants, former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, went on the record to criticize Harris. In a report by Politico, Dodd said "she had no remorse" about her early debate tactic against Biden, a move that led to further discord among Harris' allies, the outlet also reported. In a separate report by CNN, Rendell, in an apparent effort to boost Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), told the outlet that "Kamala can rub some people the wrong way. Karen Bass is not likely to do that." The nature of Harris' exit, after months of early anticipation and ultimate defeat in her first bid for the nomination, makes Biden's choice even more significant. And it comes as Trump continues to fall consistently in areas where he was once poised for success. With that, Harris has kept up her criticism of the president. In late July, after Trump floated an unconstitutional thought about delaying the election, Harris turned to Twitter herself. "Donald Trump is terrified. He knows he's going to lose to @JoeBiden. It will require every single one of us to make that happen," Harris tweeted, pinning it to her page just days before Biden officially announced her as his running mate. "We will see you at the ballot box on November 3rd, @realDonaldTrump."Immediately after Biden announced his selection, only a small group of people and a few local news affiliate trucks were gathered outside of Hotel Du Pont, the posh location here in Wilmington where Biden gave a speech in March addressing coronavirus. Inside, the chandelier-clad lobby was almost completely empty, with several rooms on the same level locked. Jazz music played softly in the background, which is customary for the venue's day-to-day operations, an employee told The Daily Beast. Plush, jewel-toned furniture went unoccupied, as did a large wood desk that comfortably fits six. The main event, Biden's campaign announced, would be on Wednesday.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| A California judge ruled that Uber and Lyft have to classify their drivers as employees, not contractors Posted: 10 Aug 2020 01:49 PM PDT  Uber and Lyft are expected to appeal Monday's ruling, and have argued that reclassifying drivers as employees could wreak havoc on their businesses.
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