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PBC News & Comment: Trumpocalypse Darkness Covers Midterm Elections

Trump is king of wedge politics, promotinging fear and division over any kind of positive, forward-looking message…will it succeed?…–on eve of midterms, many races are tied and Trump’s brutal campaign based on lies and hate—coupled with voter suppression schemes—are likely to hold Senate

–from her perch at WashPost, Margaret Sullivan gives MSM C- grade for midterm coverage, accurately notes how they are routinely baited by our Dear Tweeter

–and her colleague Phillip Rucker captures this noir moment

–Trump claims ignorance of racist, deceitful ad he tweeted to 6 million

–61% of midterm campaign ads are negative

–MAGA? Farmers in North Dakota have a million bushels of soybeans that may rot, because Trump’s trade war led China to reduce imports by 94%

–Georgia is focus of GOP voter suppression, and Brian Kemp makes desperate attack on Dems with “hacking investigation” after major vulnerability revealed by WhoWhatWhy

–NextGen America predicts young voters will increase participation by 14% compared to 2014

–Kris Kobach, running for Kansas governor, has many ties to white sumpremacists, reports The Guardian

–Assange Watch: Joe Lauria breaks the news of attempted break-in at London embassy of Ecuador, visitor found front door open, no security

–Iran vows to break US sanctions and resist “psychological warfare”

–in interview, Trump blames Saudi fighters for “user error” in bombing of school bus in Yemen that killed 51, including 40 children

–fallout from Saudi assassination of Khashoggi hasn’t led to any change for US contractors who run Saudi Navy, help with surveillance of regime critics

–under Trump, corporate wrongdoers get love—and reduced fines– from regulators

–Amazon is being boycotted by rare book dealers after sudden cut off of 5 countries; Saudis threaten boycott over WashPost coverage of Khashoggi affair