Daily Archives: June 5, 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why are Republicans trying to cut opportunities to vote in the November election?

Were discussing how the House has a swift set of hearings scheduled for a bill that would make it harder to cast a ballot, on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform.

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Here are the questions were answering today:

1. Will Ohio Governor reopen schools this fall? Gov. Mike DeWine intends to open schools in the fall to students across the state, though school districts will make the call about the start date for students, as well as for how to keep students and staff safe.

2. Whats the latest on the Cleveland curfew following Saturdays downtown riot and looting? Mayor Frank Jackson has extended the civil emergency proclamation restricting access to downtown Cleveland and parts of Ohio City through Wednesday morning, and will prohibit overnight access through Friday morning.

3. What do downtown business owners say they think the future is for downtown Cleveland? Theyre bullish, saying the damage from riots Saturday is temporary, but that the change in behavior because of the coronavirus is a steeper, longer-lasting challenge as downtown office workers continue to stay home.

4. What are Republicans in Columbus rushing to do to reduce our opportunities for voting in the November presidential election in Ohio? A House elections bill would make this years presidential election the first since 2008 without mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications to all registered voters -- and would eliminate in-person early voting on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before the election.

5. How long before we see any kind of surge in coronavirus infections because of the thousands of people who gathered in downtown Cleveland Saturday for a protest that evolved into a riot? If the protests spike coronavirus cases, deaths will likely show up in late June or early July, because of the incubation period of the virus and the time it takes for severe symptoms to develop.

6. Where are all the state troopers? The Ohio State Highway Patrol is being deployed to Cincinnati, Cleveland and other cities where protests are being held to set up roadblocks, as well as protect the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus from vandalism.

7. What did Ohios two senators have to say about President Donald Trump handling of protests and the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters in Washington so the president could have a photo op holding a Bible at a church? Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown on Tuesday excoriated President Donald Trumps actions, while Republican Sen. Rob Portman said Trump can and should do more to bring our country together right now.

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Why a Republican bill would make it harder to vote in Ohios November election: This Week in the CLE - cleveland.com

It is the voters who dont turn out like clockwork, many of whom have weak partisan identities, who can make a crucial difference in close-fought races. Those are the voters some Republicans fear will be lost to the party if mail voting is not embraced.

The president has his viewpoint and we have ours; were trying to win elections, said Dave Millage, the Republican chair of Scott County in Iowa. He anticipated that mail voting would also be popular in November, when Iowa Republicans will be defending a vulnerable senator, Joni Ernst, as well as trying to flip a congressional seat in the Second District, which includes Scott County.

We will call everybody to request an absentee ballot and make sure they get them in, Mr. Millage said. You bank that vote, you dont have to spend money to get them out to vote. You can cross them off the list.

But so far, Mr. Trumps disparagement of mail voting is winning out in Scott County, which encompasses Davenport. As of Monday, 10,344 Democrats had voted by mail, or 66 percent of the total, compared with 5,342 Republicans. Only 54 percent of county voters who are registered with a party are Democrats. Moreover, Republicans have a contested primary for the open House seat while Democrats do not.

Before Mr. Trump made mail voting toxic to many of his grass-roots supporters, it was widely used in many states, including some in which more Republicans than Democrats tended to vote absentee.

It was Republican majorities in the Pennsylvania Legislature that passed a bill last year expanding no-excuse mail voting to any registered voter. It was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat.

Mr. Trump, who has voted by mail in Florida, has weaponized the issue recently as polls showed him falling behind in battleground states. He falsely claimed a Democratic secretary of state in Michigan had illegally sent absentee ballot requests for the November election, and he threatened to hold back federal funds to Nevada if its Republican secretary of state went ahead with plans to send mail ballots directly to registered voters before its June 9 primary.

See the article here:

Republicans Fear Trumps Criticism of Mail-In Ballots Will Hurt Them - The New York Times

Faced with staggering unemployment numbers that are likely to remain elevated through the election, Senate Republicans are reversing their positions on ending a federal increase of state unemployment benefits after July.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump vows to campaign against Murkowski after senator's criticism Senate advances conservation fund bill, House introduces companion Paul clashes with Booker, Harris over anti-lynching bill MORE (R-Ky.) vowed in a conference call with House Republicans last month that Senate Republicans would block the $600 weekly boost to state unemployment benefits from the federal government.

Also last month, GOP senators involved in planning for a phase four coronavirus relief bill said there was overwhelming support for entirely ending the federal enhancement of state unemployment benefits.

Now with the national unemployment rate projected to hit or exceed 20 percent, the highest number since the Great Depression, a growing number of GOP senators say the federal government should continue to augment weekly unemployment benefits in some form though most want it lower than the $600 figure.

GOP senators fear that the wave of protests, riots and other forms of social unrest that has rocked major cities around the country is linked to the bleak economic picture and that their majority is on the line.

Theres broad agreement within the Senate GOP conference that the $600 per week federal enhancement of state unemployment benefits a core element of the $2.2. trillion CARES Act is too generous and provides a disincentive for returning to work.

But many Republican senators, including members of the leadership, now say the federal government should continue to enhance state unemployment benefits or provide a back-to-work bonus of $450 per week for laid-off workers who return to their jobs.

One Republican senator familiar with the negotiations said GOP lawmakers have changed their mind on ending the $600per week federal benefit entirely because they are starting to realize once the money is out there in the economy its hard to take it back and that that the nation may be saddled with long-term unemployment.

Republicans worry that high unemployment numbers heading into the November elections will make it tougher for incumbents, putting the GOP majority at risk. Republicans have to protect Senate 23 seats while Democrats only have to defend 12.

Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyGOP shifting on unemployment benefits as jobless numbers swell Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony Republicans turning against new round of ,200 rebate checks MORE (R-Mo.) warned on Tuesday: I dont think we can ignore the fact that this civil unrest is happening against a backdrop of 20-plus percent unemployment."

Some economic experts, including the Congressional Budget Office, now project that the nation could have double-digit unemployment into 2021.

Senate Republican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneOVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump| Esper orders hundreds of active-duty troops outside DC sent home day after reversal | Iran releases US Navy veteran Michael White Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump GOP shifting on unemployment benefits as jobless numbers swell MORE (S.D.) on Wednesday said Republicans are discussing how to handle the looming expiration of the federal augmentation of unemployment benefits.

There are several ideas out there, said Thune.

Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanOVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump| Esper orders hundreds of active-duty troops outside DC sent home day after reversal | Iran releases US Navy veteran Michael White Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump Portman: Trump should shift 'tone' amid criticism over response to protests MORE (R-Ohio) has proposed providing a temporary $450per week bonus on top of regular wages for people who leave the unemployment rolls and find a job.

Another idea, Thune said, would be some sort of ramp down, gradual glide path that reduces the amount over time, depending on how long all this lasts.

Thune said the federalincrease of weekly unemployment benefits could last until the end of the year in some amount or form.

Asked if Republicans would now support ending the federal enhancement entirely, Thune said, I dont see how that works.

I think the unemployment rate is going to be pretty high maybe for some time, he said.

Thats a shift from where Senate Republicans were a few weeks ago.

Last month, Portman was pushing a plan to provide workers a $450per week federal benefit on top of wages if they returned to work before July 31, when the federal add-on to unemployment benefits is set to expire.

Now Portmans proposal is a leading contender to provide additional federal weekly assistance after July 31.

Proponents say it would give laid-off workers strong incentive to return to lower-wage jobs.

The fact that its under serious consideration is an acknowledgement that Republicans will be under heavy pressure to continue helping laid-off workers past July.

Republican senators now say the question isnt whether the federal government will continue to supplement weekly state unemployment benefits or provide a weekly wage bonus to laid-off workers who find new jobs, but how far they will have to go to reach a deal with Democrats.

One Republican senator familiar with the internal discussions said were probably closer to unifying around continuing the added weekly federal unemployment benefit at an amount less than $600 than Portmans idea, which the senator described as the idea we pay people to go back to work.

This senator added: Those are the two ideas out there.

Whether or not we can get to a number that Democrats could also support, I dont know, the senator said.

A growing number of Republicans now say that Congress needs to appropriate more money to enhance weekly unemployment benefits beyond July.

I think we ought to have an additional plus-up, said Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyOVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump| Esper orders hundreds of active-duty troops outside DC sent home day after reversal | Iran releases US Navy veteran Michael White Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump Romney: Mattis statement 'stunning and powerful' MORE (R-Utah). I think it should be limited, however, in some way to the wages people had prior to becoming unemployed, which is currently not the case. But I would extend it beyond the current time period.

Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoGOP shifting on unemployment benefits as jobless numbers swell Senate Republicans urge Trump to tone down rhetoric on protests Trump tries to soothe anxious GOP senators MORE (R-W.Va.) said theres going to have to be some adjustments at the end of July because we expect [unemployment numbers] to go up.

What those will look like, I couldnt predict right now, she added.

Sen. Thom TillisThomas (Thom) Roland TillisGOP Sen. Murkowski 'struggling' with whether to vote for Trump Poll: Biden leads Trump, Cunningham neck and neck with Tillis in North Carolina Scaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach MORE (R-N.C.), who faces a competitive reelection in the fall, said the enhanced unemployment benefits shouldnt be continued in its current form.

But he said he is looking at some measure of federally enhanced benefits.

He said Congress may tune the federal benefit to make sure it doesnt exceed regular wages and provide a disincentive to returning to work.

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamBill aims to help farmers sell carbon credits Graham postpones Russia probe subpoena vote as tensions boil over Graham pushes back on Mattis criticism of Trump: 'You're missing something here, my friend' MORE (R-S.C.), who was one of the biggest critics in March of the CARES Acts $600 weekly boost to unemployment benefit, on Wednesday said he supports providing federal benefits to people accepting unemployment benefits past July.

Unemployment benefits can be enriched, but you dont want to destroy the incentive to participate. Six hundred dollars is a 50 percent pay raise for a lot in the hospitality industry, he said. I dont know if you reduce the amount [or] do what Portmans talking about.

Im very open-minded about how to supplement unemployment benefits, he added.

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GOP shifting on unemployment benefits as jobless numbers swell | TheHill - The Hill

Class Of 2020: 10PM June 4Class Of 2020: 10PM June 4

The Heat Is Here!It's dangerously hot in North Texas again.

JCPenney Shrinking: Closing 154 Stores Next Week Including 4 In North TexasFour of those stores are in North Texas.

Dallas Hosting 'Mourning At The Plaza' Friday In Memory Of George FloydThe city of Dallas will hold a George Floyd remembrance ceremony for Friday, June 5 at 8:00 a.m. outside Dallas City Hall.

Protesters Arrested On Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Monday Night Will Not Be ChargedPolice Chief Renee Hall made the decision after consulting with City Manager T.C. Broadnax and other city leaders as well as police department leadership.

Dallas County Leaders Warn Protesters Pandemic Not Over"Its not lost on me as Im up here talking about the risk of COVID, the risk that a lot of them are taking," Judge Clay Jenkins said.

Thursday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Thursday, June 4.

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Texas Ranger Statue Removed At Dallas Love FieldA statue of a Texas Ranger inside Dallas Love Field airport was removed Thursday due to an excerpt from an upcoming book, officials said.

Several North Texas Cities Cancel July 4th Events Due To Coronavirus PandemicEven with social distancing and masks, some area cities did not want to take the chance.

Dallas County Hits Single-Day High For New Coronavirus Cases With 285"Weve seen a significant increase this week for the average number of daily cases from last week," said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

Wylie ISD Trending On Social Media For All The Wrong ReasonsA teacher has been placed on leave for liking a Twitter post that uses the N-word and refers to black people as" subhuman animals."

Fort Worth City Council Allows 8 PM Curfew To ExpireDuring a city council meeting Thursday afternoon, the decision was made to withdraw a resolution that would have extended that curfew.

Dallas Could Be In Running To Host Republican National ConventionNow that the Republican National Convention won't be held in North Carolina, the party's national committee is looking into other potential sites, including Dallas.

2020 Graduates: 5PM Segment June 42020 Graduates: 5PM Segment June 4

Texas Arcades Allowed To Reopen During PandemicArcades have been shuttered for nearly three months in Texas while almost every other business has been allowed to reopen.

Fort Worth Clergy, Civil Rights Activists Demand Change In Wake Of George Floyd's DeathFort Worth clergy and civil rights activists held a joint news conference Thursday to call for change at the city's police department following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Celebrating The Class Of 2020Congrats graduates and good luck!

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City Summer Camp Options For Kids In DallasA lot of working families depend on city summer camps for their children.

Curfew Threatens Future For Small Businesses Recovering From COVID-19 ShutdownThe curfew represents the latest hurdle for businesses, especially in Deep Ellum, where vandals and looters hit several storefronts last weekend.

COVID-19 Summer GuideClub SciKidz offers virtual summer camps for the next generation of coders.

Celebrating The Class Of 2020Congrats seniors and good luck!

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Dallas Could Be In Running To Host Republican National Convention - CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

"I think the country is definitely looking for healing and for calm, and I think that's the tone the President needs to project when talking about what is happening around the country," Senate Majority Whip John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told CNN. "I think he needs to strike a tone that fits the level of frustration country's experiencing right now, and I hope in the future, he'll do that."

Sen. John Cornyn, also a member of Senate GOP leadership, told CNN that "I think it's important" for Trump to offer more of a unifying message in the midst of the deep unrest across the county.

"I presume at some point he will address the nation," said Cornyn of Texas. "If I were advising him I would say we need it sooner rather than later."

At a time when Trump could be consoling the nation, Republicans -- who rarely break from Trump -- are voicing their disapproval that the President has offered little in the way of condolences and instead taken to Twitter to incite divisions and cast blame.

"Some of his tweets have not been helpful," Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican from Pennsylvania, said at a news conference Monday. "It would be helpful if he would change the tone of his message."

The message from his own party comes as protests have grown and spread throughout the country from Los Angeles to Washington with no end in sight.

"We are obviously in a divisive situation right now that is escalating. ... He needs to make more unifying comments," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from West Virginia.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, speaking on the Senate floor, called on Trump "to help heal the racial division."

"The President should help to heal the racial divisions in this country," Collins said. "It is at times like this that a President needs to speak to the nation, to pledge to right wrongs, and to calm inflamed passions."

Asked later if she thinks the President needs to offer a unifying message, Collins said: "I do."

Sen. Cory Gardner, who like Collins is facing reelection next year, didn't criticize Trump directly but added: "We all have to do better every day -- we have to."

"Those are not constructive tweets without any question," Sen. Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the US Senate, told Fox on Sunday. "I will say this, I spoke with the President (Saturday) morning, and he and I had a good conversation about the next steps. I told him, what I am going to tell you. I told him 'Mr. President, it helps us when you focus on the death, the unjustified in my opinion, the criminal death of George Floyd.'"

On Monday during a private call with governors, the President continued to blast others for what has unfolded, accusing some states of being weak and arguing that law enforcement needed to "dominate" protestors in order to contain the demonstrations in cities across the country.

"You have to dominate or you'll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people," the President told the governors in a call from the basement White House Situation Room, according to an audio recording of the call obtained by CNN.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn't answer questions Monday about whether he believed Trump had struck the appropriate tone in his handling of the unrest. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn't answer questions Monday about whether he believed Trump had struck the appropriate tone in his handling of the unrest. Others also declined to comment about Trump's tweets, including Sen. David Perdue of Georgia, who faces voters in the fall.

"Well, obviously this is an evolving situation -- I think this is a difficult position the President is in," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida when asked if Trump should shift his tone to emphasize unity.

On Monday, McConnell demonstrated a starkly different tone from the President from the floor of the Senate.

"In no world, whatsoever, should arresting a man for an alleged minor infraction involve a police officer putting his knee on a man's neck for nine minutes while he cries out 'I can't breathe' and then goes silent," McConnell said. "To me, to a great many of my fellow Kentuckians and to many outraged Americans, these disturbing events do not look like three isolated incidents, they look more like the latest chapter in our national struggle to make equal justice and equal protection of the law into facts of life for all Americans."

This story has been updated with additional developments Monday.

Read more here:

GOP senators critical of Trump's response to unrest following Floyd's death - CNN

President TrumpDonald John TrumpFederal plan to contain Washington protests employs 7,600 personnel: report GOP Rep calls on primary opponent to condemn campaign surrogate's racist video Tennessee court rules all registered voters can obtain mail-in ballots due to COVID-19 MORE is strengthening his grip on the Republican Party as they head into the heat of an election season that Democrats want to make a referendum on Trump and his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Trump flexed his muscle on Capitol Hill last week by scuttling bipartisan legislation to extend the intelligence surveillance powers that had passed the Senate easily and was expected to pass the House.

Once Trump threatened on Wednesday to veto the measure, Republican support in the lower chamber fell away quickly, forcing Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi: 'Scary' to see uniformed troops on steps of Lincoln Memorial Pelosi: Democrats to unveil sweeping criminal justice proposal Monday Pelosi demands Trump clarify deployment of unidentified law enforcement in DC MORE (D-Calif.) to pull the bill from the schedule.

The president sent a warning a week ago that disloyalty will be punished by scorching former Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMcCabe, Rosenstein spar over Russia probe Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony Rosenstein defends Mueller appointment, role on surveillance warrants MORE (R-Ala.) on Twitter. Sessions is running to win back an Alabama Senate seat.

Trump lambasted Sessions, his former attorney general, for recusing himself from the investigation into alleged collusion between Trump advisers and Russia. The president also gave Sessions primary opponent, former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, a ringing endorsement.

Hes gotten increasingly bold in asserting his will in the Republican Party, said Vin Weber, a GOP strategist. He doesnt seem reserved about exercising influence. Theres just no question the party is dominated by the president and his supporters and his backers and his organization.

Trump is facing huge challenges in his presidency, from the coronavirus and an economic crisis to the violence that broke out in cities across the country over the weekend sparked by the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd.

Trump's bellicose tweets about looting leading to shooting has earned criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, showing once again that GOP lawmakers will break with the president when they think he goes too far.

Those are not constructive tweets, without any question, Sen. Tim ScottTimothy (Tim) Eugene ScottPaul clashes with Booker, Harris over anti-lynching bill Rand Paul holding up quick passage of anti-lynching bill With capital, communities of color can lead our economic revival MORE (R-S.C.) said Sunday during an appearing on Fox News Sunday.

Yet overall, Republicans are reluctant to break with the president and are in many ways taking their cues from him.

Its not a Washington phenomenon, its a grass-roots phenomenon, Weber said. His support is out in the countryside, in the Republican Party, and I think if not for that there would be at least some brake on the presidents actions in Washington. But theres not because [lawmakers] go back home and find the party wants to back the president almost without restraint."

I think thats going to be become more the case, not less the case, as we go forward, he added.

Another sign of Trumps imprint are the investigations moving forward in the Senate, where the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are now probing the origins of the FBI investigation of Trumps 2016 campaign, Hunter Bidens business dealings in Ukraine and the prosecution of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.

These are all subjects that many Senate Republicans had shown little appetite to delve into, but they are now moving forward in large part due to Trump.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamBill aims to help farmers sell carbon credits Graham postpones Russia probe subpoena vote as tensions boil over Graham pushes back on Mattis criticism of Trump: 'You're missing something here, my friend' MORE (R-S.C.) announced on May 18 that his committee would vote in June on authorizing a subpoena covering an array of former Obama administration officials, including former FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyGraham postpones Russia probe subpoena vote as tensions boil over GOP votes to give chairman authority to subpoena Obama officials GOP chairmen stake out turf in Obama-era probes MORE, former Director of National Intelligence James ClapperJames Robert ClapperGraham postpones Russia probe subpoena vote as tensions boil over The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump tweets as tensions escalate across US Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE and former CIA Director John BrennanJohn Owen BrennanGraham postpones Russia probe subpoena vote as tensions boil over GOP votes to give chairman authority to subpoena Obama officials Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony MORE.

Graham made his announcement days after Trump tweeted that Congress should call on former President Obama to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, referring to the FBIs investigation of his 2016 campaign. The president singled out Graham, tweeting, Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk!

Graham, who is up for reelection this year, has declined to ask the former president to testify, but hes moved forward aggressively with the probe.

Weber said the unsuccessful effort by Democrats to remove Trump from office after impeaching him only solidified the presidents support among Republicans.

The whole effort to impeach the president by the Democrats has strengthened him in his ability to go to his own base and say, My detractors have been lying to you and the country the last three years, he said.

Trumps approval rating in the Gallup tracking poll hit the highest point of his presidency, 49 percent, during the Senate impeachment trial in January. It has since hit 49 percent in four subsequent Gallup polls.

Trumps approval numbers within the party are through the roof and have been through the roof since weve tracked him, said Chip Saltsman, a Republican strategist.

Trump actually does stuff as the titular head of the party, not just show up on the convention stage, he added. Hes not afraid to get involved in primaries for his friends or be against people he doesnt like and that what weve really seen as different than most."

Most of the Republican presidents weve seen would be hesitant to get in and support the people that supported them earlier, Saltsman added.

Trump will, he said, and hell put his name and endorsement and money and Twitter followers behind those he wants to help.

Saltsman pointed to the role Trump played in helping Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRonald Dion DeSantisDeSantis pushing to host Republican National Convention in Florida Florida bars and theaters to reopen starting Friday, DeSantis says DeSantis says he's sending 500 National Guard troops to DC MORE and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp win competitive primaries and then general elections in 2018.

DeSantis was trailing his Republican opponent, former Rep. Adam Putnam, by double digits in the polls until Trump endorsed him.

On the other side of the coin, Trumps public attacks on past critics such as former Sens. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeKelly holds double-digit lead over McSally in Arizona: poll Trump asserts his power over Republicans 'Never Trump' Republicans: Fringe, or force to be reckoned with? MORE (R-Ariz.) and Bob CorkerRobert (Bob) Phillips CorkerTrump asserts his power over Republicans Romney is only GOP senator not on new White House coronavirus task force McConnell, Romney vie for influence over Trump's trial MORE (R-Tenn.) drove down their popularity among Republican voters, and they both eventually retired from Congress.

Trumps job approval rating among Republicans stood at 92 percent in the last Gallup tracking poll conducted from May 1 to May 13. It has bounced between 91 percent and 94 percent since mid-January, according to Gallup.

The president has asserted his power over fellow Republicans from the macro to the micro level.

His nominee to serve as director of national intelligence, John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeTrump official criticizes ex-Clinton spokesman over defunding police tweet Trump gives Grenell his Cabinet chair after he steps down Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE, withdrew his name from consideration for the job in August of 2019 amid tepid support from Republicans and charges that he had exaggerated his national security credentials.

When Trump nominated Ratcliffe a second time for the nations top intelligence job, Republican lawmakers such as Graham, then-Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrTrump asserts his power over Republicans FISA 'reform': Groundhog Day edition Rubio: Coronavirus conspiracy theories could be used in foreign election misinformation campaigns MORE (R-N.C.) and Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioIf we seek resilience, we need liberty, not nationalism GOP senator blocks bill giving flexibility to small-business loans but says deal near GOP senators dodge on treatment of White House protesters MORE (R-Fla.) expressed stronger support for him, leaving observers baffled as to what had changed.

Im anxious to talk to my Republican colleagues who expressed serious concerns about him prior. I dont know what in his background or his rsum puffing has gone away, said Sen. Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerVirginia senator calls for Barr to resign over order to clear protests Trump asserts his power over Republicans Expanding tax credit for businesses retaining workers gains bipartisan support MORE (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, who has had a good working relationship with Republicans on his panel.

The Senate voted to confirm Ratcliffe May 21 on a party-line vote.

Despite many signs that Trump is strengthening his grip on the party, theres evidence that a sizable minority of Republicans continue to have doubts about his leadership style.

An analysis of polling by FiveThirtyEight, a website that tracks and analyzes data, found that on average 82 percent of Republicans approve of the presidents handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The data is more worrisome for Republican lawmakers in swing states, as polling averages show that only 38.5 percent of independents approve of Trumps response to COVID-19.

Yet Trump has received little to no criticism from Republicans in Congress as he has moved to oust watchdogs within his administration who have pointed out or threatened to point out mistakes.

The president has moved to remove four inspectors general within the last several months, including Christi Grimm, the inspector general of Department of Health and Human Services, after her office published a report on hospitals around the nation facing a critical supply of testing and personal protective equipment during the pandemic.

Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyOVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump| Esper orders hundreds of active-duty troops outside DC sent home day after reversal | Iran releases US Navy veteran Michael White Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump Romney: Mattis statement 'stunning and powerful' MORE (Utah), one of the presidents few outspoken Republican critics in Congress, said Trumps personnel moves hadthe potential of sending a chilling message.

After Trump announced his decision to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on May 15, a Friday, Senate Republicans said they wanted a detailed explanation from the president of his reasons.

But when Trump met with GOP senators for lunch a few days later on May 19, he dominated much of the discussion, and the subject of Linicks firing didnt come up.

Trump urged Senate Republicans at the time to get tough with Democrats and stay unified over the summer and into the fall campaign season.

Read this article:

Trump asserts his power over Republicans | TheHill - The Hill

Kirk Brown, Anderson Independent Mail Published 6:38 a.m. ET June 5, 2020

Voters in Anderson and Oconee counties will see changesfrom past elections when theytake part in South Carolina's primaries Tuesday.

Some polling places have moved. Visitscvotes.org for information.

And because of the coronavirus pandemic, poll workers will be wearing masks, face shields and gloves, according tostate Election Commission spokesperson ChrisWhitmire. Sneeze guards are being placed at check-in stations, and voters will be provided with a cotton swab for making selections on voting machines' touch screens. Hand sanitizer will be available.

Who's running for office: 2020 voter guide covers elections for county government, SC General Assembly, Congress

Voters will be encouragedbut not requiredto:

Wear face masks

Bring their own pen to sign in before voting

Hold up their photo ID instead of handing it to poll workers

Observe social distancing by staying at least sixfeet from others

"Be patient and understanding withpoll managers on election day. They are being asked to do a lot to facilitate voting under the current conditions," Whitmire said in an email. "We are all in this together."

The pandemic has led to a shortage of poll workers and a surge in absentee voting. In-person absentee voting will be available on Friday and Monday at the Anderson County Voter Registration and Elections office at 300 NorthMain Streetin downtown Anderson. In-person absentee voting also will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Oconee County Voter Registration and Elections office at 415SouthPine Streetin Walhalla.

Some things will be the same Tuesday as in past elections:

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters should remember to bring a photo ID

There will be two advisoryquestions on Republican primary ballots throughout South Carolina. Theresults of that voting will not directly affect state law, but the questions were added to ballots by party leaders seeking to survey the Republican voters.

The first questionasks whether voters should register to vote with the political party of their choice. South Carolina does not currently register voters by party affiliation, which means that they can choose to cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primaries.

The second question asks whether candidates for office should be limited to having their names appear only once on a ballot. Under current state law, candidates' names can appear more than once for the same office if they are backed by multiple political parties. For example, state treasurer candidate Rosalyn Glenn appeared on the ballot twice in 2018 on behalf of the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party.

Democratic voters in Anderson and Oconee counties will cast ballots in a single race. They will choose between Mark Welch and Hosea Cleveland in South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, with the winner advancing to meetU.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan in the November general election.

Hear from the candidates: Who is running for US House in South Carolinas 3rd Congressional District?

Republican voters in the counties will participate in the U.S. Senate primary. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is being challenged by Duke Buckner, Michael LaPierre andJoe Reynolds.

Who is running for US Senate in SC?: Here are the 2020 candidates and what's important to them

In Oconee County, Republican voters will decide the race forsheriff, too, as well as three County Council contests featuring GOP candidates.

In Anderson County, Republican primaries will be held for a state Senate seat and two seats in the state House of Representatives. Voters also will cast ballots in GOP primaries for sheriff and county treasurer, as well as contests involving a pair of County Council seats.

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM

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Republicans face ballot questions: What to know for voting in Anderson and Oconee counties - Anderson Independent Mail

In times of crisis, our country has been fortunate to have leaders of quality, among them George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Confronted with war, economic collapse and deep societal divisions, these leaders and others spoke with compassion and foresight. Projecting confidence they may not have felt, they reinforced the will of the American people to work collectively, to face the issues together.

Unfortunately, we now have a president whose instincts are the exact opposite of those great leaders. Instead of promoting unity through open dialogue, Trump has rubbed rhetorical salt in our countrys open wound of racism. Instead of praying for justice and peace, Trump had peaceful protesters gassed so he could pose for a photo-op. Instead of fostering collaboration, he criticized local leaders and reiterated the dangerous idea that he has absolute power.

Trump is not the leader our nation needs, and it is time he got out of the way so true leaders can move our nation forward.

When Trump focuses on rioting and looting, he draws attention away from the heart of the protests. The protesters, mostly peaceful, are responding to our nations systemic racism and mourning the all-too-frequent loss of black life at the hands of police. Racism is an undeniable, shameful part of Americas legacy, and it is one in which we all participate. On a personal level, we all however unintentionally make judgments about people based on their appearance. Stereotyping is not right, and yet it is what our president has modeled. With inflammatory rhetoric about black and brown Americans, Trump has shamelessly participated in and exacerbated our nations original sin of racism.

Leadership means toning down the rhetorical temperature and moving toward healing.

And just as he did with the protesters at the White House, he is escalating violence around the country. It is frankly ridiculous for Trump to threaten to override state and local officials by deploying the U.S. military. He is trying to solve a complicated, deep issue by metaphorically waving a gun around, and if the military is needed, governors can ask.

Setting aside how terrifying it is that the man who has been our president for 3 years does not appear to know how government works in this country, his threats to use the U.S. military against civilian protesters is the stuff of despots.

Read:If Trump does use the military to quell protests, hell likely rely on the same law used to aid the Civil Rights movement

Also:Military show of force at Lincoln Memorial draws outrage online

While Trumps recourse to violence is disturbing, so is his continued disrespect for the leadership and authority of state governors and city mayors.

Just as he did during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when he claimed he had total authority and dismissed governors responsibility to lead their states, Trump is again disregarding the work of local leaders during this crisis. Governors are not standing idly by they are acting, trying to reduce tensions and help their communities, sometimes calling on the national guard and state police for support. Governors have a vital role in helping their communities heal, and Trumps goading them into dominating their people will only deepen wounds.

Americans also deserve leaders who can draw on our faith traditions to promote peace and justice. After using tear gas and riot police to clear a path outside the White House, Trump walked across the street to St. Johns Church and awkwardly hoisted a Bible in his hand and posed for photos.

While the moment seemed designed to appeal to his Christian supporters, it was devoid of genuine faith activity. He did not enter the church, he did not say a prayer or even bow his head in reverence, he did not call for peace he simply waved the Bible as a prop. Americans deserve better.

As the former governor of New Jersey, I know that calm, measured leadership is essential to solving any crisis. Leadership means toning down the rhetorical temperature and moving toward healing. We need leaders to bravely address immediate problems, including the destruction of businesses, the use of excessive force by police, and the continued devastation of Covid-19. The vast majority of police officers are good people, but we need to do a better job with training and recruitment.

Trump is trying to solve a complicated, deep issue by metaphorically waving a gun around.

But governors and mayors cannot stop with the immediate issues. We need leaders who acknowledge the need for reform to address racism at all levels: policing, education, housing, health care and more. And while addressing systemic racism, our leaders must look to the future in other areas: economic growth, climate change, and more.

Real leaders acknowledge the issues instead of condemning people for speaking up. Trump needs to stop talking and let our mayors and governors pave the way to a more perfect union.

Christine Todd Whitman was governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001 and headed the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. Follow her on Twitter @GovCTW.

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Trump needs to get out of the way former Republican governor of NJ - MarketWatch