Republicans are preventing action on guns

Trump won’t even go for universal background checks which are supported by 90% in polls. McConnell won’t hold hearings or votes on gun safety bills passed by the house. Republicans won’t do anything to stop mass shootings. This is a partisan issue. Scott (see tweet below) is wrong. Republicans are wrong. Sad!

As I was saying a few hours ago…and now more shootings in Texas. Always tragic, never surprising because Republican policymakers have made the political choice to allow frequent mass shootings to be a normal part of life in the United States. https://t.co/VMh2jDXZfF
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) August 31, 2019

Democratic leadership is again calling for immediate action on gun control legislation after another mass shooting in America left at least seven people dead https://t.co/Ib5chKjtIs
— CNN (@CNN) September 1, 2019

Sen. Rick Scott on how to explain to the American people why Congress isn’t acting toward mass shootings: “This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue about how do we keep Americans safe. I’m going to do everything I can” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/Gyzf1CntpK
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 1, 2019

6 months ago today, the House passed the bipartisan universal background check bill.

Over 90% of Americans support this policy.

Why isn’t it law yet? Because @senatemajldr refuses to allow a vote.

If this saves even 1 life, isn’t it worth it, Sen. McConnell? @realdonaldtrump?
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) August 27, 2019

Today, the President said background checks would not have prevented shootings:

“For the most part, sadly, if you look at the last four or five, even going back further five, six, seven years… As strong as you make your background checks, they would not have stopped any of it.”
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) September 1, 2019

Trump: “I've had a great relationship with the NRA, and I will always have a great relationship. I've been very good for the NRA.”
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 19, 2019

Indexing capital gains to inflation would benefit the rich

Another Republican scam like their tax cut

As he tries to compensate for his own mishandling of the economy, Donald Trump appears to be floating a tax giveaway that would go almost entirely to the wealthy. He has no plan except more looting to reward his rich buddies. https://t.co/oLJtiN31qr
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 30, 2019

Trump spending the morning touting a proposal to index capital gains to inflation

Apart from just sending millionaires checks, it’s hard to think of a tax cut more targeted to the ultra rich
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 30, 2019

Take it from the conservative think tank economist. https://t.co/DpMblVzKmq
— Slate (@Slate) August 31, 2019

Trump last week on indexing capital gains to inflation: “I think it will be perceived if I do it as somewhat elitist. I don’t want to do that.”
Trump tweets today: pic.twitter.com/HBMEyLAMfY
— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) August 30, 2019

Trump's proposal to index capital gains to inflation — even aside from giving the vast bulk of the benefits to the wealthy — falls into that category. Bc capital gains would be indexed, but other things not, huge possibilities for tax arbitrage 4/
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) September 1, 2019

1/3
Trump is looking at bypassing Congress to do ANOTHER giveaway to the wealthiest 1%.

This new #GOPTaxScam is illegal & here’s why it wouldn’t help the economy, either:https://t.co/HXNSvJoEB2
— Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) August 30, 2019

Trump lies update – 9/1/19

The most notable thing to me about Trump's dishonesty this summer: immigration, usually by far his #1 subject of false claims, has been only #5. #1 has been the economy — mostly trade-related claims. https://t.co/AUApkQ5r1q pic.twitter.com/rV8ZYl8ezZ
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 31, 2019

Trump has been saying since 2017 that he doesn’t know if he’s heard of a Category 5 hurricane, even as he’s heard of additional Category 5 hurricanes. https://t.co/4TEY2GDFU5
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 1, 2019

NEW: Trump misleads about NC Democratic candidate Dan McCready's immigration stances. https://t.co/LmvDsp2vuB
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) August 31, 2019

But okay—how about when he claimed that he didn’t say “Tim Apple,” but actually said “Tim Cook Apple,” really fast, which, of course, he didn’t, and then when everyone laughed at him because it was on tape, he said he intentionally said “Tim Apple” to save time.
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 31, 2019

The dollar is not the strongest in history. There’s a measure, the broad, nominal trade-weighted index, where it’s around a high, but experts say it’s meaningless given how it’s affected by inflation in Venezuela etc. Other indices (https://t.co/jWVqssQSKK) nowhere near a high. pic.twitter.com/2HkY1sCHRU
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 30, 2019

President Trump's aides said he lied about calls from China in order to manipulate the markets, according to CNN. Wow. https://t.co/oYyxKVmmc2
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) August 30, 2019

There was the insane lie Trump told in front of the Pakistani PM that PM Modi of India had asked Trump to mediate Kashmir, which no Indian gov’t would ever do. India flipped out, basically calling Trump a liar. https://t.co/hkLCigD8rE
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 31, 2019

Americans support gun safety but Republicans will block bills

The NRA-supported Republican party won’t allow the passage of meaningful gun safety laws. It’s so frustrating that there’s about 90% support for universal background checks but McConnell won’t even allow a hearing on the issue. Mass shootings don’t matter – Republicans will just offer thoughts and prayers. Sad!

Why don’t these numbers move the political dial?

New Quinnipiac poll:

93 – 6% support for universal background checks
82 – 16% support for requiring a license to purchase a gun
80 – 15% support for a “red flag” law
60 – 36% support for a ban on assault weapons
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 29, 2019

Quinnipiac poll this week:
– 93% support universal background checks
– 82% support requiring licenses to buy guns
– 80% back “red flag” law – 60% back assault weapons ban
– 46% back mandatory assault weapon buyback https://t.co/rIm2dikiJD
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 1, 2019

Do you think Congress is doing enough to reduce gun violence, or do you think Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence?
Doing enough 21%
Needs to do more 72%
(Quinnipiac U. Poll, RV, 8/21-26/19)
trend: https://t.co/bJH1AgxG9N
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) August 29, 2019

That’s because We’re treating an epidemic with a bandaid. Hey, have you seen the latest poll before #Odessa?

Looks like it’s more than Liberals that want Ur guns regulated. pic.twitter.com/DLAsWzCiEI
— HaveRodWillTravel (@ThisMuchMadness) September 1, 2019

Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States?
ALL
Support 60%
Oppose 34%
REP.
Support 30%
Oppose 62%
DEM.
Support 89%
Oppose 9%
IND.
Support 61%
Oppose 33%
(Quinnipiac U. Poll, RV, 8/21-26/19)
trend: https://t.co/w8yT5dzmoM
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) August 30, 2019

Is being the victim of a mass shooting something you personally worry about?
ALL
Yes 41%
No 58%
Rep.
Yes 24%
No 75%
Dem.
Yes 58%
No 41%
Ind.
Yes 37%
No 62%
(Quinnipiac U. Poll, RV, 8/21-26/19)
more: https://t.co/bJH1AgxG9N
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) August 31, 2019

NBC/WSJ poll on guns: Americans support universal background checks (89%), red flag laws (76%), voluntary buybacks (75%), banning assault weapons (62%) — and oppose banning handguns (25%). pic.twitter.com/Qutmbyi5kn
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 18, 2019

A private poll conducted by a top GOP firm discovered that passing stricter gun laws is the NO. 1 priority for suburban women in swing House districts right now, eclipsing health care. Moderate Republicans are sounding the alarm that action is needed. https://t.co/BYAZ6NuDG8
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) August 19, 2019

in NBC/WSJ poll, 46% of Americans say someone in their household owns a gun

most likely to have a gun:

evangelical Christians 64%
Republicans 64%
rural residents 62%
white men 58%

least likely:

African-Americans 24%
Democrats 33%
Northeasterners 33%
women college grads 38%
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 18, 2019

Republican New Hampshire governor vetoed a bill for non-partisan election maps

Most gerrymandering is done by Republicans. Why would anyone oppose a non-partisan map? Are they afraid of fair elections?

It's up to lawmakers to try and override the veto, explains our expert @yurijrudensky. “Both parties are willing to disarm and commit to not using the redistricting process to bake in a partisan advantage, it’s a really good time to pass the reform." https://t.co/rpp9Y7aSMv
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) August 18, 2019

No, no, nothing to see here, please move along.

“We should all be proud that issues of gerrymandering are extremely rare in New Hampshire.” – @GovChrisSununu HB 706 veto message #NHPolitics pic.twitter.com/Tn0xSoxBV5
— Rep. Laura Telerski (@LauraTelerski) August 10, 2019

“It is shortsighted of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu to veto this bipartisan bill that would end partisan gerrymandering in New Hampshire. Now it’s up to the legislature to override the veto of HB 706," explains Brennan Center expert @yurijrudensky. https://t.co/gV4vv5qYl1
— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) August 9, 2019

Climate update 9/1/19

How Extreme Weather Is Shrinking the Planet https://t.co/8skAC05n81 @getmixapp
— John Wrenn ✊️ (@jdwrenn) August 31, 2019

This is a very important thread. Climate change is making hurricanes much worse. https://t.co/Tyx6ncxgjL
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 31, 2019

There’s been a startling jump in deaths from heat in some parts of the U.S.

It raises this question: Is the climate already changing more quickly than we can adapt in these places.

By @cflav + @PopovichN https://t.co/KIYQGTcNrh pic.twitter.com/sGcs03cUY2
— Jesse Pesta (@JessePesta) August 27, 2019

Facts first: the hurricane-climate crisis connection👇 pic.twitter.com/teoG7b7zTc
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) September 1, 2019

2020 battlegrounds

The election is decided in the Electoral College. I want to see polls on the key swing states, not national polls. It matters where the support for a candidate is, not just overall popularity.

Essential reading from @danbalz —> Just four states– Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida — are likely to determine the outcome in 2020. Each flipped to the Republicans in 2016, but Trump won each by only a percentage point or less. https://t.co/5fuGF2YtDw
— Peter Wallsten (@peterwallsten) September 1, 2019

AZ is the only one of the shifting Sunbelt states Ds need to win in 2020. But TX is the big prize that sometime in the 2020s could remake the balance of power in American politics if its metro areas continue to grow more like metros elsewhere. https://t.co/iJP5sCJoO4 https://t.co/pmK71WQh4x
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) September 1, 2019

Democrats need to net only 4 seats to get to a 51-49 majority in the Senate, and the list of seats that Republicans need to defend is growing. https://t.co/9zwdHbaUok
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 1, 2019

Who is winning the generic congressional ballot? https://t.co/1x0kd4MKiy
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) September 1, 2019

Trump’s plan to help poor communities is a bonanza for the rich

Just another Trump scam

How @realDonaldTrump's signature initiative to help poor communities is fueling a once-in-a-generation bonanza for the wealthiest Americans — including Trump's family and advisers. with @JesseDrucker https://t.co/zfZQkP89pA
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) August 31, 2019

Worth remembering that the tax bill was rushed through without hearings or any time for analysis, and it was widely — and correctly — predicted that this would create huge loopholes 2/ https://t.co/GVn47qOGQ6
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) September 1, 2019

Comments by Paul Krugman

The 2020 election will be terrible

Neither side will have confidence in the results. I blame the Republicans for their voter fraud lies, voter suppression, and McConnell’s unwillingness to act on election security. This is going to divide the country even more. Sad!

Why November 4, 2020 could be a very bad dayhttps://t.co/oZjGPjzHLr pic.twitter.com/BPS3XQlrMG
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 28, 2019

Nearly 40% of registered voters are concerned about the integrity of the results of the 2020 presidential race, a new polls shows https://t.co/WQW5dYZfXV
— POLITICO (@politico) August 28, 2019

"Intelligence officials are concerned that foreign hackers in 2020 not only will target the databases but attempt to manipulate, disrupt or destroy the data, according to current and former U.S. officials."https://t.co/cZjbunoXNv
— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) August 27, 2019

There is no U.S. law that prevents candidates or parties from launching disinformation campaigns, so long as foreign money isn't involved.

Axios reached out to the Republican and Democratic parties to see if they're taking active stances on the issue. https://t.co/HZVKxhD9Md
— Axios (@axios) August 24, 2019

USA TODAY/Suffolk poll: Americans dread the 2020 election

The FEC was already struggling to police the flood of money in our elections.

Effectively shutting it down in the midst of the 2020 elections is the worst form of malpractice.

This will only benefit those who use money to corrupt our politics, both foreign and domestic. https://t.co/TmOb1LwAZn
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) August 31, 2019

More of a preview of Trump’s ugly re-election tactics

He will lie about Democratic positions on guns. They are not trying to repeal the Second Amendment.

Trump says Democrats want criminals and open borders. Another lie.

Trump will try to make the ‘squad’ (four liberal Democratic freshmen congressional representatives who aren’t white) the face of the Democratic party. In fact, the Democratic base is more moderate than the extremely conservative Republican base.

Trump is already making personal attacks on leading Democratic contenders Biden and Warren. He will try to do what he did in 2016. He will never be popular so he will try to destroy his opponent and make them more unpopular than him. He will not run on the issues.

He’s making phony fraud claims about the 2016 election to set his cult up to believe the results are wrong if he loses.

GOP attacks on the ‘squad’.

This Trump Facebook ad is absolutely false but it must be working because the campaign keeps running it

No Democratic prez candidate supports repealing the 2nd Amendment, no Dem in Congress supports it, it is not part of the Democratic platform

In other words, it's a lie pic.twitter.com/8wizfpgJVI
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 30, 2019

The NRA is going to accuse the Democratic nominee of wanting to take people's guns no matter what policy they support. They did this in 2000, 2004, 2008, 20012, and 2016.

There is zero reason to shy away from the right policy when it comes to weapons of war on our streets. https://t.co/Nk16iSJ6Hf
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) September 1, 2019