Tulsa officials ask Trump not to hold his rally

He won’t care.

NEW: Lawyers sue to stop President Trump's Tulsa campaign rally over coronavirus fears https://t.co/SM9pl3Z2mJ pic.twitter.com/XdbDsAGgz5
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 17, 2020

"Pence said Monday that cases of the virus there had dropped 'precipitously' and that the state had 'flattened the curve.'

But data compiled by The New York Times shows an obvious and steep rise following the state’s reopening."https://t.co/spvDwO7473
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 16, 2020

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith says it's "not the right time" for President Trump to hold a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"We'll have a whole lot of folks who are coming in from areas … We don't know if they're from a hotspot. We've had a spike."https://t.co/4Y7Flr2YpQ
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 16, 2020

Despite new coronavirus cases surging in Oklahoma, President Trump is holding an indoor rally in Tulsa this weekend — where he said he expects "a record-setting crowd."

There will not be room for proper social distancing, and face masks are not required.https://t.co/uNjKGxotVa
— NPR (@NPR) June 16, 2020

My story tonight from Tulsa: https://t.co/5f19YW2Qwo
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) June 15, 2020

Dear @VP #MikePence — you literally couldn't be more inaccurate. These two charts from the #Tulsa health dept. reveal the truth as #Trump plans a masks-optional campaign rally there in 5 days. https://t.co/A8QPGgmb8G pic.twitter.com/eL7LKooBOm
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) June 15, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence blatantly lied to reporters about the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma, where President Trump is scheduled to hold a large campaign rally on Saturday https://t.co/iPKd0NLVRC
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 15, 2020

There is no plan to test any of Trump's supporters who attend the mega-rally in Oklahoma, where cases have spiked in recent days and the sweltering heat may complicate temperature readings. https://t.co/UrgNjpHlFt
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) June 15, 2020

TODAY: "Tulsa County sees highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since pandemic began" https://t.co/NjU5xrltRF
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 15, 2020

There's simply no reason — beyond his own desire to hear crowds chanting his name again — for Trump to return to the campaign trail this week.

Not with 18 states reporting increases in the number of cases, including Oklahoma.https://t.co/AjQVn7UUjD
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) June 15, 2020

Oklahoma Dept of Health suggests Trump rally goers seek out Coronavirus testing both before and after the event.https://t.co/KG5pYbjKXt
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 16, 2020

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues, Dr. @JReinerMD says Trump's planned campaign rally in Tulsa amounts to criminal endangerment.

"He's intentionally exposing people to the risk of acquiring a deadly virus just for a photo op." pic.twitter.com/2F99lm3rHM
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) June 17, 2020

More on the Trump campaign attack on CNN over a poll

Here's how I opened the @ReliableSources segment: "If President Trump loses in November, his divorce from reality will be one of the reasons why." Did the interview demonstrate this "unreality?" You decidehttps://t.co/NRaE1ZJzDT
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 14, 2020

Brian Stelter's interview with Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis was a cage match pic.twitter.com/uPYZPXg21j
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2020

The Hendrix College poll of Arkansas–the one cited by a Trump lawyer to dispute the last CNN/SSRS poll–is the single worst poll of the cycle for the president
(it is the one on the veryyy bottom-right corner) pic.twitter.com/Oe9LOMU8be
— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) June 14, 2020

Tulsa venue for Trump rally won’t hold any other events through July

This is obviously a bad idea and people will get sick. Trump cares more about his ego than the health of his cult members.

Record increase in COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County, where President Trump will hold a rally next week. https://t.co/q0Yh4fKPUR
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) June 12, 2020

President Trump’s rally in Tulsa,
Oklahoma—now the day after Juneteenth—will be held at an indoor arena that has canceled all other events through the end of July because of coronavirus.

https://t.co/9MelDFEoF6
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 14, 2020

Trump said the rally would be in a “beautiful new venue, brand new,” which was just announced by the White House as being the 12-year-old BOK Center in downtown. https://t.co/Fq8OyLlbu6
— tulsaworld (@tulsaworld) June 11, 2020

#MAGA rallies are about to become the biggest COVID-19 super spreader events in the country. https://t.co/KmkfuBdH2t
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 14, 2020

"An extraordinarily dangerous move." President Trump's planned indoor rally at a 19,000-seat arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma next week poses risks as virus cases rise in the region, some health officials warn. They would like to see the rally postponed. https://t.co/Oc72DlN4ci
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 14, 2020

OAN poll showed Trump and Biden tied in Florida

The Trump campaign attacked CNN for a poll showing Trump was behind but his favorite network had him tied in Florida with Biden. Then they took the poll down. Lol!

So OAN promised a pro-Trump poll to counteract the CNN one. It published the poll. It had bad numbers. It tried to frame them in remarkably bad ways. It then unpublished the poll. https://t.co/trjWtZ3Skb
— Philip Bump (@pbump) June 11, 2020

Official response from CNN General Counsel to @TeamTrump‘s letter demanding CNN apologize for a poll that shows @JoeBiden leading. pic.twitter.com/pQaGPxsA0y
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 10, 2020

The Georgia primary voting fiasco

a preview of problems we could have in November

Republicans and Democrats demand investigations after major voting issues in Georgia @abbydphillip reports pic.twitter.com/i5jguHg9sh
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) June 10, 2020

Voter disenfranchisement has been a GOP strategy for decades.

Mitch McConnell wants people to wait in long lines, and choose their health or their vote.

Well, not everyone— just those in poorer communities.

For him, it’s not a flaw. It’s a feature.

And it must not succeed. https://t.co/bxBC7UBnn8
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 10, 2020

After watching the election in Georgia today it’s clear the GOP wants to pick their voters instead of letting the voters pick their leaders.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) June 10, 2020

Someone called the police on black Americans trying to make sure that other black Americans exercised their right to vote … https://t.co/n5UA0DDezn
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) June 10, 2020

Imagine an election meltdown like today's in Georgia, except in November (with twice the turnout rate), in a state poised to tip the presidential race & where non-white turnout is poised to decide the winner.

Goodnight.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) June 10, 2020

Absentee ballot mystery: Georgia says 96% of ballots that were requested were delivered. Voters and local officials report many people did not receive them so they showed up in person. Vendor used by state says they sent out 100% of ballots. What happened? No one seems to know
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) June 10, 2020

Polls in Georgia were supposed to have closed 3 hours ago and there are still hundreds of black voters in line. This is a travesty https://t.co/QjVOP93B6b
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) June 10, 2020

I did some digging to find out why Georgia's election today was such a catastrophe. The problem goes much deeper than malfunctioning voting machines. https://t.co/Qhs5SpaUDE @Slate
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) June 9, 2020

#Trump is resisting mail voting to push as much of the vote as he can into Election Day. Why? Because the lines tend to be a lot longer in crowded cities that tilt Democratic than in rural areas that lean Republican.
Look at what’s happening in #Georgia. https://t.co/TFaJXmJttu
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) June 10, 2020

As I said, the lines in Georgia today lead directly to John Roberts' door. https://t.co/ZBH8IvQUam
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) June 9, 2020

“I have never seen the scale of election failures happening in Georgia today,” McDonald said. “This does not bode well for November.” Unless it's your goal, that is. https://t.co/NowWU8BPDd
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) June 10, 2020

https://t.co/nHLzE07BKF via @AsteadWesley and Stephanie Saul
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 9, 2020

After waiting 3 hours, Ron Clark said he was unable to vote in Atlanta because poll workers didn't know how to use new machines. “Right know I just feel like a lot of people are doubting the strength and the effectiveness of democracy in our country.” https://t.co/Zu2V93iMEX
— Matea Gold (@mateagold) June 9, 2020

Democracies don’t collapse all at once. Leaders who don’t want to give up power don’t just announce democracy is over.

It often starts by making it impossible for anyone who wants to change the status quo to vote. https://t.co/zy56YdvItg
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 9, 2020

This doesn’t happen by accident. It’s by design https://t.co/pTCtMNJq9a
— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85) June 9, 2020

Voting shouldn’t be this difficult for anyone, but Trump has made clear that placing obstacles to voters is a Republican electoral strategy. https://t.co/tERICb1p3X
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) June 9, 2020

If any place in this country screams out for U.N. monitors, it’s Georgia. https://t.co/l4Vk8PPjSU
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) June 9, 2020

While you watch Georgia today, read @markniesse and @jackgillum on how Gov. Kemp, then the state's chief elections officer, launched a last-minute investigation of Democrats for a "hacking attempt" that didn't happen. https://t.co/nyXGG9SD5E
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) June 9, 2020

Georgia closed 214 polling places after Supreme Court gutted Voting Rights Act

There were 80 fewer polling places for June primary in metro Atlanta, where majority of black voters live

Mitch McConnell is blocking legislation passed by House Dems to restore the VRA
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) June 9, 2020

This is not a democracy. It's also the Republican strategy for November. https://t.co/ijvFH7HiHI
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) June 9, 2020

These reports out of Georgia that reek of voter suppression are a bitter irony on the very morning George Floyd is laid to rest, his brother having urged people to vote for change. They’re stealing our votes while we bury our martyrs. https://t.co/SxxfxD0GWD
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) June 9, 2020

Texas Republican Party racists

All Republicans aren’t racists but there sure are lots of them. Disgusting!

A dozen Texas GOP county chairs shared George Floyd conspiracy theories and racists memes https://t.co/3tpcmgoybu
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 6, 2020

The Republican chairs of four Texas counties are sharing unfounded conspiracy theories about George Floyd's death https://t.co/UFQtvNqoys pic.twitter.com/tws3FhDAm5
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 6, 2020

Sid Miller falsely says George Soros orchestrated George Floyd protests | The Texas Tribune https://t.co/QTS3QJPQ6f
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 6, 2020

A Texas Republican county chair-elect won't assume office amid backlash for posting a controversial image of an MLK quote with a banana https://t.co/G0Jg4CV8Bl pic.twitter.com/HrLr9ARWZx
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 7, 2020

Does suburban white collar Texas look at this and say: yes these are the people I belong with! https://t.co/2goGNJILDv
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) June 6, 2020

Trump in May

To some of the senators, Trump seemed obsessed not with saving lives but with appearing politically strong… But resigned to their belief that his conduct could not be changed, they did not share their unease with Trump or with the public. https://t.co/Q5T9BUYMKN
— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 31, 2020

Trump threatens to move the Republican convention

He is using it to attack the governor of North Carolina who is concerned about the health and safety of the residents there.

Party committees announce location site, etc., two years in advance because it takes that long to plan a full-scale convention. Trying to this is 2-3 months? Just not possible. https://t.co/kfIfnJjUUF
— Doug Heye (@DougHeye) June 4, 2020

Trump is reportedly insisting the Republican National Convention be held without face masks or social distancing measures https://t.co/a8D7NDgqQQ pic.twitter.com/sTUHhYW2Bu
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) May 31, 2020

Trump just gave the governor of North Carolina a week to come up with a plan for the Republican convention.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 26, 2020

The Republican National Convention, such as it will be, is going to be held at Mar-a-Lago, right? https://t.co/xrcZSkTfYr
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 25, 2020

Amusing that Trump is now threatening to pull the Republican National Convention from Charlotte.

Apparently, it was the only city that submitted a bid.

Good luck finding a new location with three months to go. https://t.co/Cgy7fs89ye
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) May 25, 2020

The President began a solemn Memorial Day railing against North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ahead of the 2020 Republican National Convention. Trump threatened to pull the event out of Charlotte, where it's expected to be held August 24 to 27. https://t.co/dZZrAL5vhW
— CNN (@CNN) May 25, 2020

President Trump threatens to move the Republican National Convention from Charlotte if North Carolina’s Democratic governor doesn't immediately sign off on allowing the event to go ahead in August with full attendance despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/CSJshLDsRy
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 25, 2020

Trump threatens to move convention elsewhere if NC Gov doesn’t immediately guarantee Charlotte will be fully open for 50,000 visitors.

(Gov Cooper has been following a three phase reopening model based on health metrics, as the WH advised) https://t.co/57QZUV5Uxw https://t.co/uawxKyiWqc
— Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) May 25, 2020

With the health and safety of our residents and visitors being the top priority, the city of Charlotte will continue to follow guidance from Governor Cooper and public health professionals in determining the best and safest way to host the Republican National Convention.
— Mayor Vi Lyles (@CLTMayor) May 25, 2020

Trump’s threat to pull the convention from Charlotte unless the gov allows for attendees to attend in full (and risk mass infection) raises the tantalizing prospect that this year’s RNC gathering will end up at… Doral.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) May 25, 2020

President Trump threatened to pull the Republican National Convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, where it is scheduled to be held in August. He said the state’s governor needed to “guarantee” that the event would take place. https://t.co/yLDoUrEX2Z
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 25, 2020

. @NC_Governor understands that our state isn’t out of the woods.

Holding a major convention in Charlotte wherein most attendees would refuse to wear masks/social distance would be catastrophic.

Thank you for continuing to protect North Carolinians, Governor Cooper! https://t.co/z1a07oRjaD
— Susan Ryan (@zuzanryan) May 25, 2020

How can you run a nation when you can't run a convention for fear of empty seats?https://t.co/BEGZrhlSbA
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) May 25, 2020

It’s worth noting President Donald Trump is not a party in the #RNC2020 contract. It’s an agreement between the city of Charlotte and RNC Host Committee.
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 25, 2020

Again, at odds with the experts – Trump is threatening to move August’s Republican National Convention from Charlotte if the state won't commit to "full attendance".
NC currently limits indoor gatherings to ten.
— Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) May 25, 2020

Here’s what we actually reported. If the president is interested in hosting the RNC at Doral, it would be news to us! (And news). Florida is a state that’s further along in its reopening plants > https://t.co/cO8FE904O6
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 25, 2020

Actually no one reported that, sir. As always appreciate you checking to see what was what before you tweeted. https://t.co/Q6z64qBIJj
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 25, 2020

Trump continues to use official events for political purposes

His campaign should pay when he turns a presidential event into a rally. Reelection is his top priority.

Trump tells veterans he got Choice (created in 2014); claims he inherited no ventilators (thousands); claims he never had an empty seat (sure has); says Clinton got 223 electoral votes (232); adds new false element to false story about Pelosi; jabs "fake news," "sick" opponents.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 22, 2020

Washington Post article

To spell it out: when a prez and staff are on “official” WH trips, they are NOT ALLOWED to turn them into campaign events. (If they do, they’re supposed to charge AIr Force One costs to the campaign; WH staffers can’t participate; etc.)

Or, that is how it was, when rules applied https://t.co/Ji42hvGYcm
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) May 21, 2020

Trump has completely obliterated the line between taxpayer-funded White House events and campaign events. He's delivering a slightly watered down version of his rally speech. pic.twitter.com/jMVQpSdoNu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 21, 2020

Trump in an official speech at a Michigan auto plant: "I don't know how the hell these unions aren't endorsing Trump instead of the standard Democrat. A Democrat that doesn't even know where he is."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 21, 2020

I asked the WH about this once. I got a shrug and this response: “So sue us.” https://t.co/j6PI7W5Wnv
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) May 21, 2020

Trump turns photo op at Ford factory into a mini-political rally: "I don't know how the hell these unions aren't endorsing Trump instead of the standard Democrat," he says. "A Democrat that doesn't even know where he is." Also says Hillary made a bad trade deal w/South Korea.
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) May 21, 2020

Trump’s lies about Michigan voting by mail

He’s stirring up nonsense about voter fraud. He wants voter suppression and doesn’t care about the health of voters.

1. Michigan sent out applications, not ballots.
2. Republicans in other states did the same.
3. It’s not illegal. It’s not illegal to send out applications or ballots.
4. The RNC chair said Monday she doesn’t have an issue with sending out applications. https://t.co/HvmYyTuCTG
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 20, 2020

I will summarize: Trump lied.https://t.co/nPX4NXjJoE
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) May 20, 2020

Republicans can wave goodbye to Michigan. Forget it. Up and down the ballot. R's are thugs ready to harm voters who don't help suppress the vote. https://t.co/uarAU9CdYn
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) May 20, 2020

Hi again. Still wrong. Every Michigan registered voter has a right to vote by mail. I have the authority & responsibility to make sure that they know how to exercise this right – just like my GOP colleagues are doing in GA, IA, NE and WV. Also, again, my name is Jocelyn Benson. https://t.co/deZJwbMlT0
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) May 20, 2020

President Trump lashes out at officials in Michigan and Nevada over their moves to make it easier for more voters to cast their ballots by mail ahead of the November election https://t.co/5Uog4dFeKs pic.twitter.com/W9GpKNAEu1
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 20, 2020

This tweet has now been resent to say "applications" were sent to all voters. But it's still not true that this was done illegally. All Michigan voters are, by state law, entitled to vote by mail. Applications are sent out all the time, including before the coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/cbhKY3pr4L
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) May 20, 2020

In real life, President Trump tweeted that Michigan's disaster relief depended on branding his opponent's POTENTIAL VOTERS as criminals. https://t.co/wapZIbJJpO
— David Frum (@davidfrum) May 20, 2020

1. Michigan sending absentee ballot applications not ballots to voters

2. @JocelynBenson one of best Secretaries of State in country & has authorization to do so

3. Threatening to block funding to sway election outcome exactly what Trump impeached for https://t.co/okDRAgc6uV
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) May 20, 2020

Just wanted to thank Senate Republicans for pre-approving all of the authoritarianism. https://t.co/fZxnNMvf8z
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) May 20, 2020

Correction: @MichSoS @JocelynBenson is in compliance with all laws. Michigan voters approved no-excuse absentee voting in November. She is the elected official in charge of elections, and she is sending applications, not ballots, to all voters. https://t.co/uXsJBv0nAd
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) May 20, 2020

On Trump's corrupt and deranged threat to cut off aid to Michigan:

* During impeachment, Dems raised this exact scenario

* What he's threatening is illegal

* Trump is a clownish autocrat: House Ds tell me Michigan has already gotten its $$$

New piece:https://t.co/gsV4WJytF1
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) May 20, 2020

Threatening to defund one of the most important battleground states and one of your party’s few Senate pickup opportunities because 5D chess https://t.co/kXL3GmIwrJ
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) May 20, 2020

I assume Senate Republicans, defenders of federalism, will hurry to explain Michigan has the right to run its own elections. And as defenders of the rule of law, they'll remind Trump he doesn't get to hold up funding because he doesn't like something a state is doing. https://t.co/tBK9Zd9Qa2
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 20, 2020

In the middle of a pandemic, and during a massive flood in Michigan, @realDonaldTrump wants to cut funding to the state because voters were legally sent applications to vote by mail by a Republican Secretary of State.

Donald Trump is unfit to be President.#WednesdayWisdom https://t.co/y5cmKCwbxi
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 20, 2020

In other words, the president has continued to allege illegality even though he has substantially changed the allegation. https://t.co/xTe92gNGqL
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 20, 2020