Tally of children split at border tops 5,400 in new count | PBS NewsHour
GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Democrats Push Candidates To Fully Commit to 2020 Nominee
Perez is asking all candidates to commit, like Obama, to serve as surrogates, with a focus on battleground states in the weeks after the July 13-16 nominating convention in Milwaukee. And Perez wants each campaign, as candidates drop out, to designate a senior adviser to serve as a liaison to help the national party use the vestiges of individual candidates’ campaigns to build out Democrats’ general election campaign.
….Democratic power players have lamented the bitterness that lingered among many supporters of Bernie Sanders after he lost the nomination to Hillary Clinton. Sanders endorsed and campaigned for Clinton, but some of his supporters never fully embraced her candidacy, and some Clinton loyalists blamed them for her narrow losses in key states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
…Sanders, Warren’s chief rival for the Democrats’ progressive faction, has sent a fundraising email but hasn’t yet hosted a DNC fundraiser. Sanders’ campaign says he is willing to attend such events provided they are open to low-dollar donors.
…The data requirements, meanwhile, are part of Democrats’ attempts to catch up to a Republican data operation that surprised the Clinton campaign in 2016 and to avoid the scenario under Obama, whose campaign ran its own sophisticated data operation but never fully integrated it with the party. Sanders also never turned over his voter data after ending his 2016 bid.
Democrats Push Candidates, Gabbard Included, To Fully Commit to 2020 Nominee | Hawaii Public Radio
mmmhmmm
Castro, now a ‘big fan’ of O’Rourke, leaves fellow Texan a voice mail
Castro, now a ‘big fan’ of O’Rourke, leaves fellow Texan a voice mail – POLITICO
Oy…. The Peanut Gallery just rolled their eyes so hard it hurt.
Andrew Yang: Impeachment probe could hinder Democratic nominee
Andrew Yang: Impeachment probe could hinder Democratic nominee – POLITICO
Sit down and STFU, Andrew. It’s not the general election yet, you need to stop short of outright pandering to republican-libertarian Sanders-Trump voters. Ya think impeachment might be divisive? How do you think talking smack after the Dems in the House voted to go forward with it reads?
Why is Katie Hill resigning? Democrats continue to hold themselves to a higher standard
If it weren’t for Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand pre-running for president and the Democrats’ desire to be holier-than-thou — and certainly holier than Donald Trump — Franken might be marking up bills today.
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When is it legal for a police officer to kill
The key to both of the legal standards — defense of life and fleeing a violent felony — is that it doesn’t matter whether there is an actual threat when force is used. Instead, what matters is the officer’s “objectively reasonable” belief that there is a threat.
…There are plenty of cases in which an officer might be legally justified in using deadly force because he feels threatened, even though there’s no actual threat there.
…That puts a lot of weight on an officer’s immediate instincts in judging who’s dangerous. And those immediate instincts are where implicit bias could creep in — believing that a young black man is a threat, for example, even if he is unarmed.
When is it legal for a cop to kill you? – Vox
hmmm
New California law allocates $10 million for police use-of-force training
A month after signing one of the most sweeping use-of-force laws in the country, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a companion measure on Thursday …Senate Bill 230.
New California law allocates $10 million for police use-of-force training
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Newsom signs ‘Stephon Clark Law’ AB 392, covering police use of force
After an emotional fight that laid bare the chasm between California’s communities of color and police, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed Assembly Bill 392, creating what some have described as one of the toughest standards in the nation for when law enforcement officers can kill.
…Language requiring deescalation and a definition of what “necessary” force means were removed, along with passages about potential “criminal negligence” of officers involved in lethal incidents.
…Though the final bill doesn’t go as far as some wanted, supporters say it’s a first step in changing the culture of policing in California.
“The bill is watered down, everybody knows that,” said Stevante Clark, brother of Stephon Clark, who was shot by Sacramento police in March 2018. “But at least we are getting something done. At least we are having the conversation now.”
…[Newsom] acknowledged the bill’s intent to change police culture would be determined by how it’s implemented.
…The new language will require that law enforcement use deadly force only when “necessary,” instead of the current wording of when it is “reasonable.” In large urban law enforcement departments that already train for deescalation and crisis intervention, day-to-day policing will probably not noticeably change.
The law also prohibits police from firing on fleeing felons who don’t pose an immediate danger.
…Nationwide, a recent study found that about 1 in 1,000 black men and boys can expect to die at the hands of law enforcement, and that people of color regardless of gender are killed by police at higher rates than their white counterparts.
…Racial bias in policing is not directly addressed by AB 392, but implicit-bias training will probably be a part of new training standards.
Supporters argue that more emphasis on nonlethal practices will reduce lethal use-of-force incidents overall.
Newsom signs ‘Stephon Clark Law’ AB 392, covering police use of force – Los Angeles Times
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Police shootings: California could limit when officers shoot to kill
At issue is Assembly Bill 392, known as the California Act to Save Lives, which would put the onus on officers to justify discharging their weapon, shifting the standard from “reasonable” – as defined by the Supreme Court’s Graham v Connor ruling in 1989 – to “necessary.” That means that, under the proposed bill, police must feel confident it is necessary to shoot to protect themselves or others from danger, or they could be prosecuted for killing a person.
Instead of reaching for their guns, officers would be pressed to engage in de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce tension between officer and suspect. Experts said these include listening to the suspect’s story, explaining the actions an officer is about to take and ensuring that the suspect’s dignity is preserved throughout the interaction.
Police shootings: California could limit when officers shoot to kill
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Police can use deadly force if they merely perceive a threat
The key to both the legal standards — defense of life and fleeing a violent felony — is that it doesn’t matter whether there is an actual threat when force is used. Instead, what matters is the officer’s “objectively reasonable” belief that there is a threat.
,,,Officers couldn’t justify their conduct just based on whether their intentions were good. They had to demonstrate that their actions were “objectively reasonable,” given the circumstances and compared with what other police officers might do.
And what’s “objectively reasonable” changes as the circumstances change.
Police can use deadly force if they merely perceive a threat – Vox
This.
Cops are almost never prosecuted and convicted for use of force
The low conviction and incarceration rates have fed into the idea among critics of law enforcement that police can get away with using deadly force even in situations that don’t call for it. This poses concerns for those who want to hold police accountable, but critics also worry it has fostered a police culture that’s too lenient in using force because cops believe there most likely won’t be legal consequences even if they make a bad call.
Cops are almost never prosecuted and convicted for use of force – Vox
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The federal government has helped the militarization of police
The 1033 program …transferred surplus military-grade equipment from the Pentagon to police, [and] didn’t require any training or oversight for the equipment’s use. …Police had to deploy the equipment at least once within a year to keep it, [providing the motivation] to use the gear when it wasn’t necessary.
Police often deployed military-grade equipment …sometimes agitating the situation and causing demonstrations to unnecessarily escalate into tense and even violent conflicts.
The federal government has helped the militarization of police – Vox
hmmm
Army begins unearthing remains of children who died at Carlisle Indian school
Army begins unearthing remains of children who died at Carlisle Indian school
Jeezus… Interested to know if this has continued.
Kamala Harris closes campaign offices and fires staff in New Hampshire
Asked by reporters on Wednesday in Iowa how she plans to stay competitive in New Hampshire if she’s pulled all her resources, Harris said, “We are still committed to New Hampshire.”
Kamala Harris closes campaign offices and fires staff in New Hampshire – CNNPolitics
- She was never committed to NH.
- If the Senator thinks firing her staff is how to show commitment, she’s not much of administrator
- When you are committed to something, you show up.
Kamala Harris shutters offices throughout New Hampshire
“The campaign has made a strategic decision to realign resources to go all-in on Iowa, resulting in office closures and staff realignments and reductions in New Hampshire,” said spokesman Nate Evans.
…The campaign’s field organizers working in the state were all laid off Thursday, per a campaign source. The remaining skeletal staff will work out of Manchester.
The office there appeared closed and empty during two visits in the morning, but a light was on later in the day. A man walked out in the early afternoon and said the campaign was going well. There were still dozens of bright yellow lawn signs, a big drawing of the phonetic pronunciation of “Kamala” and information about how to receive text messages from the campaign.
New Hampshire has never been seen as a priority for Harris, though until this week she had insisted that she intended to compete vigorously here.
…The top-tier Democratic candidates have dozens of staffers on the ground here, some over 60, with offices in each of the ten counties throughout the state.
Kamala Harris shutters offices throughout New Hampshire – POLITICO
hmmm
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office sued after video shows inmate being tasered while strapped down
Sgt. Chris Reiss can be heard on body cam footage telling Gotthelf, “Based on your suicide statements, you’re going on suicide watch.”
Gotthelf is heard denying she made any suicidal statements but there is no body cam that recorded what she may have said [earlier.]
…”You guys are nuts,” is what Gotthelf is heard saying to deputies when told she has to strip and put on a suicide smock.
…Deputies determined Gotthelf was not cooperating even though she can be seen on body cam following orders to place her hands behind her back.
According to the lawsuit, multiple deputies strapped “her into a restraint chair, and inflicting multiple pressure point pain compliance techniques, and culminating in Sergeant Reiss tasing her despite the fact she was fully retrained and could not move.”
…”That’s just sadistic,” said attorney Mari Newman, who represents Gotthelf and filed the lawsuit claiming excessive force and disability discrimination.
…”She was fully restrained, handcuffed behind her back and strapped into a restraint chair with somebody’s hands around her neck. I mean, she could not move if she wanted to and yet, they tased her,” said Newman.
The lawsuit states after Gotthelf was tasered, she was forced to remain in the restraint chair for four more hours.
Remorseless sadism.
Former CIA director: secure US elections with open-source voting machines
In the case of voting, open-source software systems would be overseen by public-private partnerships between counties and vendors.
Open-source systems are tried and tested. A majority of supercomputers use them. The Defense Department, NASA and the United States Air Force all use open-source systems, because they know this provides far more security. Every step in our voting process should use software that follows these examples.
Former CIA director: secure US elections with open-source voting machines / Boing Boing
hmmmm
Missouri officials tracked patients’ periods in abortion clinic battle
At the St. Louis Clinic, four out of more than 4,000 patients who received abortions remained pregnant after the procedure, according to the data made public at the hearing. There’s no reason such a rate — less than one in 1,000 — should have concerned state officials, Brandi said: “It sounds, actually, like a quite safe facility.”
Failed abortions have become a focus of abortion opponents around the country in recent months, with President Trump and others claiming that infants are being born alive after abortion attempts and doctors are killing them (which experts say does not happen). But by using the narrative of abortion failure as an excuse to create a spreadsheet with patients’ periods, the health department is dragging their medical data into a larger effort aimed at shutting the clinic down, Planned Parenthood says.
…The health department director had previously not said much publicly about his position on abortion but at the hearings this week, he said he is “pro-life,” the Star reported on Tuesday.
…The fact that Missouri state officials were analyzing patients’ period data has inspired shock and concern among many. “State law requires the health department director to be ‘of recognized character and integrity,’” Democratic state Rep. Crystal Quade told the Star in a statement. “This unsettling behavior calls into question whether Doctor Williams meets that high standard.”
Meanwhile, Yamelsie Rodriguez, president of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, called the news of the spreadsheet “deeply disturbing” in a statement to media. “Missouri’s top health official, Randall Williams, scrutinized menstrual cycles of women in this state in order to end abortion access,” she said.
Missouri officials tracked patients’ periods in abortion clinic battle – Vox
hmmm
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