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“Lawmakers passed judgment before the trial so this outcome was expected,” said Faisal Khan, a Pakistani-Canadian and a restaurateur from Karachi. “Things like the evidence and presenting the case seem like a formality then.” 

The final Senate vote  on Saturday was 57 guilty and 43 not guilty, falling 10 votes short of the two-third majority requirement, acquitting the former President. 

The House impeachment managers presented videos and tweets of the Capital riots on Jan. 6 which left 5 people dead and more than 140 injured. They alleged that Trump had incited the riot to stop the confirmation of the electoral votes. For weeks Trump told his supporters the election was stolen.

Many Pakistanis believe that Trump was directly responsible for the insurgency. 

“Former President Donald Trump motivated this attack,” said Muhammad Ali Mustafa, a former political activist from Karachi, based in New York. “He should have been impeached and convicted.”  

According to Khan, the arguments presented by the House managers were convincing. The Republican senators who voted guilty have been the center of attention. 

“What surprises me though is the half a dozen senators who broke from the party and voted in favor of convicting Trump,” he said. 

Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania voted to convict the former president. The Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who lambasted the former President, voted not guilty.

 “It’s a shame that McConnell chose the party over the country,”  he said.

The Republicans and Trump’s defense lawyers Bruce L. Castor and Michael van der Veen used the First Amendment as a qualifying argument for the basis  of acquittal. Veen said that Trump is deserving of First Amendment protection as an elected official. 

Hasan Jamshed, a corporate banker from Karachi believes that the Republican argument regarding the constitutionality of putting a former president on trial exposes a glaring weakness in their accountability framework. 

“If we are to accept that Trump is now a private citizen and should not be tried in the Senate, it would set a precedent,” he said. “This means any future president could technically commit crimes before the end of their term and get away with it.” 

U.S . politics has always been the focal point of discussions in the global arena. Mustafa said, this attempt at coup d’etat will be remembered for years to come regardless of the verdict of the trial. 

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“My mother had a health complication and my dad who was living in Florida, in Orlando, he got us a ticket for our entire family to leave the island,” said Nava Alsina. “We couldn’t stay in the island if my mom was not able to get the medicine she needed.”

Nava Aslina still remembers the day Trump visited the island and threw rolls of paper towels to hurricane survivors, an action that has snowballed along with the various negative comments Trump has said about the island, which left many Puerto Ricans unhappy with the Trump administration.  

“For us, it was a complete lack of respect to the people,” said Nava Alsina “It’s just something that you don’t do. I wasn’t expecting him to go that low.” 

The Category 5 hurricane tore through the island leaving it without electricity or water for months and an estimated death toll of 1,427.  But Hurricane Maria was just one of the many disasters the island has confronted in the past years. In 2019, the island was hit by governmental corruption and underwent a tumultuous transition in  after people took to the streets to protest against then governor Ricardo Roselló. Throughout the beginning of 2020, earthquakes began shaking different parts of the island, destroying homes and damaging an already fragile power grid.

With the Puerto Rican population on the island shrinking dramatically since the landfall of Maria, Florida has become a key battleground state for the 2020 presidential election. Both candidates have been competing to win over the Latino vote in the state and Puerto Ricans have proven to be a key demographic there, making up 27% of the overall eligible Latino voters in the state.  

Nava Alsina has been working with the Florida Democratic Party to mobilize the Puerto Rican vote in the state. As part of a group called Boricuas con Biden, Nava Alsina has helped make over 60,000 calls to Puerto Rican voters. The group, which is led by volunteers, has also relied on text messaging initiatives, zoom calls and Puerto Rican artists to motivate voters. 

While working on this initiative, Nava Alsina has had the chance to listen to what many Puerto Ricans have to say about Hurricane Maria and  the Trump administration handled the aftermath of the storm on the island. 

Natascha Otero, founder of Boricuas con Biden, said  that Florida is a key state for the Puerto Rican vote because most  have close ties to the island. Some have  family members who still live on the island or they fled to the state  after the hurricane. Otero said  these Puerto Ricans still recall what the island went through the past four years.

As part of the  group’s initiative, Puerto Rican voters speak with fellow Puerto Ricans who are still on the island over the phone. This process has been a key element when campaigning. Especially now that their efforts are limited to social media, texts and phone calls due to Covid-19. 

“As opposed to other groups, we know what Puerto Rico has suffered because of the Trump administration,” said Otero. “We don’t want four more years of that for the island.” 

But there’s still a group that favors president Trump’s reelection. Among them are top officials that form part of Puerto Rico’s local government.  The island’s appointed governor, Wanda Vázquez Garced, endorsed Trump during an interview with Telemundo. Nayda Venegas Brown, a conservative senator who’s a member of the New Progressive Party (PNP) on the island, participated in a caravan to support president Trump in Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Ricans participate in a “Puerto Ricans for Trump” rally held in Puerto Rico. Photo provided by Nelson Albino

But the efforts from the island to try and branch out to Puerto Rican voters in the diaspora has been from both sides. For the first time in 50 years, the island’s main newspaper, El Nuevo Día, endorsed a presidential candidate; it was Joe Biden. The editorial piece highlighted Biden’s plans for the island if elected and condemned the way President Trump has behaved towards the island describing the way Puerto Rico has been treated by his administration as, “an overwhelming amount of inattention, disdain and prejudice against our people.” 

But there is not much either of them can do except hope that the message gets through to Puerto Ricans who live on the mainland. Why? Because Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote in the presidential elections due to the island’s territorial status.  However,  that  has not discouraged Puerto Ricans on the island to stand behind the candidates they support, especially in an election that puts so much at stake.

Nelson Albino, a co-founder of Puerto Ricans for Trump, has been clear in his support for president Trump’s reelection even though he cannot vote for him. Albino was also one of the organizers of the Puerto Ricans for Trump caravan in which Venegas Brown participated.

“I wanted to send a message to the political establishment in the island that there are Republicans in Puerto Rico who no longer believe the lies of the establishment and the media, and also to send a message to the national Republican leadership that there are conservatives in Puerto Rico,” said Albino.  

For Albino, the way the Trump administration managed the aftermath of Hurricane María was mostly influenced by  the island’s history with corruption, an ongoing problem. He said  that many politicians on the island have an axe to grind with president Trump because of the way he “drained the swamp” in the Puerto Rican government. Albino also believes that statehood for Puerto Rico is not an option for the island in the foreseeable future because Puerto Rico is simply not ready to become a state. 

But regardless of the opposition many Puerto Ricans have shown against the Trump administration, Albino is optimistic that president Trump will win the reelection and continue to do the work that he believes has helped the island progress and move forward. 

“I believe he will be elected,” said Albino

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Haley Schulman, 29, a Jewish professional in New York City was “appalled” by Pence’s comments. 

Haley Schulman, 29, is “appalled” by Mike Pence’s assertion that Trump is incapable of prejudice because his grandchildren are Jewish. Photo courtesy of Haley Schulman.

“It feels like blatant pandering and treating Jews as if the only thing we care about are other Jews,” she said. “Treating Jews as a monolith is offensive, especially because those values that I care about as a Jew are not values that are being expressed or embodied by this current administration.” 

President Trump was recently reported as having stated that Jews are “only in it for themselves” — a commonly employed antisemitic trope used to conjure suspicion toward the Jewish community. 

At the debate Pence tried to deflect Harris’ charge that Trump did not condemn white supremicists during the September 29th debate.

“The President has Jewish grandchildren,” said  Pence. “His daughter and son-in-law are Jewish. This is a president who respects and cherishes all of the American people.” 

Lucy Greenbaum, 23, a Jewish musician from St. Louis, Missouri, sees a disconnect

Lucy Greenbaum, 23, does not feel recognized as a Jewish person by the Trump administration. Photo by Zack Dalin

between the Trump administration’s eagerness to appear close to the Jewish community and its actual relationship with Jewish Americans. 

“I was just really taken aback by that comment,” she said. “My immediate reaction was that I don’t feel seen by [Pence], by Trump, by the Trump administration, as a Jewish person. I do not feel represented by them.”

Greenbaum is concerned about the impact of Trump and Pence’s rhetoric on the Jewish community. 

“Trump had the opportunity to condemn white supremacy as a whole and did not do so [during the presidential debate]… I feel that this administration is a direct threat to Jewish people in this country,” said Greenbaum. 

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States have risen under Trump’s presidency, with a 12% increase from 2018 to 2019. 

Jonah Rothstein, 25, described Pence’s comments as “laughable.” Photo courtesy of Jonah Rothstein.

Jonah Rothstein, 25, a member of the Jewish community in Encinitas, California, rejects Pence’s assertion that Trump supports the Jewish community. He described Pence’s comments as “laughable.” 

“This administration throws dog whistles to white supremacists, including the Proud Boys, who are recognizable antisemites… it’s baked into their ideology,” said Rothstein. “Just because you have a relationship with someone who’s Jewish does not mean you are not antisemitic.” 

Although originally a Bernie Sanders supporter, Rothstein will be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 

“It’s the only option we have to preserve a semblance of American democracy,” said Rothstein. 

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The rally’s attendance was limited to members of the press, a few essential workers and a COVID-19 survivor. 

That Biden is delivering his entire speech in Grand Rapids with a mask on speaks volumes more than any remarks he’s delivering, and he knows it.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 2, 2020

Matt Hoffman, a grocery worker and resident of Imlay City, Michigan stood at the  podium  and urged people to vote Biden for a better America regardless of their political party. He also spoke about the impact of the pandemic on essential workers.

“I live in a small town and our community has been devastated by COVID-19 and the damage it has done to our economy,” he said.“Over these many months, there is not a day that goes by where workers like me are not putting our lives on the line.”

Across Michigan, essential workers have been at the forefront of the pandemic with very few receiving hazard pay. 

Biden’s trip to Grand Rapids, was his second visit to the state in less than a month. Before he commenced his  20 minute speech, he confirmed that he had been tested twice for COVID-19, and received negative results on both occasions. He also sent well wishes to Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, who had recently tested positive for the virus.  

“I hope that all of those fighting the virus, including the first family, rapidly recover,” said Biden.

The rally  comes on the heels of his abrasive debate session with the President. Biden, who tested negative, urged Americans to be patriotic and wear masks. 

“It’s not about being a tough guy,” he said.

Biden said that the President’s diagnosis showed the importance of taking the virus more seriously.

Trump, who tested positive for the coronavirus after months of downplaying its danger, aroused confusion in the political world and fears among his aides that his diagnosis would backfire among voters and result in a political disaster, further dampening his chances of winning.

Biden sounding like a President-in-waiting at Grand Rapids. Not since Zorro has anyone drawn so much power from wearing a mask.

— Matthew d’Ancona (@MatthewdAncona) October 2, 2020

Biden currently leads Trump in the Michigan polls by 6.7 points as of today.

The primary goal of his rally was to discuss his “Build Back Better” economic plan, and his target audience was the middle class as well as essential workers who were on the frontlines of the workforce during the pandemic. Acknowledging the turbulence of the current times, Biden urged all Americans to unite.

“This cannot be a partisan moment. It must be an American moment. We have to come together as a nation,” said Biden. “Let’s get the heck up, and remember who in God’s name we are. This is the United States of America. There is nothing beyond our capacity.”

The rally was held in Kent County which is a suburban area  and a former republican stronghold that is turning democratic because of its increasingly growing and diverse population.

During his rally, Biden touched on familiar themes of   taxes, job creation, medicare, social security, child care and the economy. He also referenced the recently released job report, acknowledging that the jobs  created were insufficient.

“I do understand that this is a scary time, an uncertain time. I understand and I see you because I see the world from Scranton Pennsylvania where I grew up. A lot like Grand Rapids,” said Biden. 

Biden addressed essential workers again and promised them an increase in their wages if he won the presidency.

“For essential workers, we are not just going to praise you, we are going to pay you,” said Biden to the audience of frontline workers.

Hamadi Baccar, a democrat  and Michigan resident  said that Biden would make good on his promise by creating jobs through his economic plan.

“Increasing the pay to $15/hr will go a long way for people to lead better lives,” said Baccar. 

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“Is it terrible that I felt a little happy? I mean, I know that’s not a very nice thing to say, but given how belligerent Trump has been about downplaying the seriousness of Covid-19, I feel like this is divine irony,” Sara Ahmed, of Houston, Texas said. “ If it were anyone else, I would be hopeful that this experience would change the way he governs during the pandemic, but knowing Trump’s record, I can’t be optimistic that he will learn anything from it.” 

In Portland, Oregon, Victoria Alexandra, a Trump supporter, disagreed and said that she only wishes that the president takes the time to rest while he quarantines for 14 days. 

“I believe this will be a time of mental clarity and insight for Trump in the midst of mocking, finger pointing, and torment,” Alexandra said. “ This is not the time to come under fear, but to be positioned, sober-minded and ready to watch and see how God will reveal himself to America. Join me as we pray for our president’s wellbeing.” 

Hours before Trump annuonced his diagnosis, he traveled to a fundraiser he held at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Elizabeth Meyer, a Democrat, said she and her daughters watched Marine One, the helicopter that carries the president fly over her  house in Branchburg, New Jersey en route to Bedminster. This morning, she said , that event took on a different perspective for her. 

“Learning that the president knew he was exposed, and yet, was flying to a fundraiser, consciously putting his supporters, staff and reporters at risk is indicative of his apathy, placement of profit over people and his intentional ignorance towards COVID-19,” Meyer said. “This is another distressing twist in the run up to an already tumultuous and unprecedented election day.”  

According to The New York Times, Trump has repeatedly downplayed the risk of the virus and behaved in ways that public health experts have said risked spreading the virus. He has refused to wear a mask in public and questioned its effectiveness. He has held crowded rallies where attendees did not wear masks. 

Initially, Democratic Mayor Mohamed Khairullah of Prospect Park, New Jersey  said he didn’t believe that President Trump contracted COVID. It was only after he went to his twitter account  that he was able to confirm it was true. 

“In my opinion, the president has never taken the virus seriously,” Khairullah said. “ He thought he was immune to the virus since he was constantly accompanied by staff that made sure his surroundings were safe and sanitary.”  

Dylan Ward, a student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, fears that the country will  go into chaos if Trump dies. 

“We are already divided as a nation at this time,” Ward said. “The passing of Trump will only widen it and lead to civil unrest.” 

Eight out of every 10 deaths attributed to the virus in the United States have been among those   65 and older. This puts President Trump, who is 74, at a high risk.

Khairullah hopes that President Trump will now set a better example for fellow Americans who haven’t done so yet, to take the virus more seriously.

“I urge everyone to be careful and follow proper precautions to slow the spread of the virus,” Khairullah said.“If you feel that the virus won’t harm you, think about a loved one that you might transmit the virus to–that you might lose– if they catch the invisible enemy.” 

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The 90-minute debate, now dubbed by millions of news consumers across the nation as the worst of its kind in American history, is receiving unprecedented press coverage for unprecedented reasons, but the question of whether the outcome of the debate swayed voters across the country remains. 

Residents of Michigan, a major swing state, had a few thoughts on the debate, the candidates and the upcoming election.

Butch Johnson, a mechanic shop owner in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a Trump supporter said that he was not swayed by the outcome of the debate. He maintained that he would still vote for Trump, his candidate of choice.

“I would choose Trump for sure,” said Johnson. “You always go with the current president. They usually know what’s best.”

Although Trump may have a solid Republican following, election results are often unpredictable and even the strongest Trump supporters know that. 

According to a recent poll carried out by the Morning Consult,  voters beleive that Biden performed  better than Trump, by 50% to 34%.

Biden supporters in Michigan took to Twitter to denounce Trump and highlight problematic aspects of his behavior during the debate.

Nothing has changed. We still have over 207,000 people dead of coronavirus. We still have a president that locks children in cages, guilty of tax evasion. One that called our military “losers and Suckers. The same President that told Proud Boys, a hate group to “Stand By”.

— Sherrie (@kitnlov1) October 2, 2020

The debate, which initially began with subtle passive aggressive comments, swiftly devolved into direct insults and personal attacks, with Trump interrupting Biden at least 128 times. This was much more than he interrupted Hilary Clinton in the first  2016 debate. 

“It would be hard not to interrupt someone when they are saying negative things about you,” said Johnson. “If you know the truth, you’ll try to defend yourself.”

According to fact-checkers at news outlets, Trump was caught in numerous peppered lies during the raucous debate.

Despite the chaos of the debate, Michiganders seemed to concede, based on recent post-debate poll reports, carried out by Public Policy Polling, that Biden had a lead over Trump.

In recent politically polarized times, when members of the left and the right don’t seem to agree on anything, just about anyone who rendered their opinion agreed that the debate was an unparalleled disaster.

Mike Hanrahan, a Michigan resident said he was disappointed that there were not more questions or answers directed at policy. 

“Although I understand the moderator’s questions and the need to ask specific questions about our current environment, it would have helped to hear responses directed at where our country is headed over the next four years and how the respective candidates would use their policies to guide our nation,” said Hanrahan.

Chris Wallace of Fox News , the debate moderator, failed at attempts to maintain the decorum of the debate. Trump continued to interrupt both he and Biden multiple times, and then made  snide remarks under his breath.

Biden’s acrid dislike for Trump came to a heightened climax when he made the now famous “Will you shut up, man?” demand of Trump.

“I think it was just disrespectful,” said Johnson. “I don’t think it was appropriate. That’s not how you treat the president of the United States.”

Although some Michiganders were unimpressed with Biden’s remark, he received support from others.

While Trump made last night’s debate about himself, @JoeBiden looked directly in the camera and spoke to the American people.

It’s made a difference with Michigan voters like Katey Morse, who regrets voting for Trump in 2016. https://t.co/hrc82dgIgr

— Michigan Democrats (@MichiganDems) September 30, 2020

Biden is set to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 2. His strategy, which is to win over Republican heavy areas for the election, could significantly influence the outcome of his voter results.

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Now some Democratic voters fear what will come next. 

“The future of this country is at stake,” Mohammad Sikandar, a young voter and the Political Director of Progressive Democrats of New Jersey said. “This includes the potential dismantling of Roe v. Wade, reinforcement of Voter ID Laws and racist bannings, as seen with Mr. Trump’s Muslim ban. One Supreme Court Nominee could impact decades of work that our communities have put into various movements.” 

Democrats were hoping that the Republican majority would follow the precedent they set when they blocked President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick B. Garland, from receiving a hearing with eight months left in his term.  They said it was too close to Election Day. But now with a Republican president at the helm, the majority has changed its mind.

Daniel Brown, a New Jersey prosecutor said that the rushed nomination is being politicized and the outcome should be based on the law and concepts of justice. 

 “The Republican party ought to follow precedent and there are several reasons for this,” said Brown.“ This is at best a 25th hour appointment. When Mitt Romney said that the confirmation will move ahead because both the President and the Senate are from the same party, to me, that translated to: we are proceeding because we have the political power to do so.”

Dr. Elizabeth Hull, Chair of the Political Science Department at Rutgers Newark, said if the Supreme Court confirmation occurs, the decisions that will be made moving forward will not serve as a “neutral empire”  worthy of the public’s support.

“In the past, most of us have accepted the court’s decisions, however much we may have disagreed with them,” said Hull. “ I am no longer convinced that will be the case now.”

Two Republican senators who have broke ranks with President Trump on a Supreme Court confirmation are Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Ruth Weinar Sherman Ross of West Orange, New Jersey,  said that they aren’t withholding their votes to go against their party, but because they are prioritizing different interests.

“Susan Collins is in a tough spot. She is running against a very strong young woman [Sara Gideon] who also happens to be a Democratic contender in Maine’s Senate Race,” said Ross. “Murkowski is a different story. She has shown herself willing to follow—if only sometimes—principle.”

Dylan Terpstra, the student body president at Rutgers University–Newark, said he does not see any hope of  delaying  a confirmation. 

“I think procedurally Democrats can’t really do anything about it,” Terpestra said. “The Republican party has the majority votes, which gives them the  power to set the agenda. They can decide what to delay. He can’t be stopped at this point. There is no doubt in my mind that America will have a conservative court. ” 

But there is still hope that Romney may change his mind.

On Wednesday, when Trump was asked whether he would commit to a peaceful transition, he said he needs to see what happens and believes he would win  the election without the expansion of mail-in voting during the pandemic. His comment prompted Romney to speak out, once again, against the president. 

 “Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,” Romney said. 

Despite the potential outcome, Brown still has trust in the institution. 

“There are so many examples of people growing, evolving and surprising us with their positions,” Brown said. “One of my favorite Justices on the Supreme Court is Hugo Black.  He was prior to that a member of the Ku Klux Klan who then became a great protector of individual rights and individual liberties. I will continue to have faith in the Supreme Court. I will continue to have faith in the law as a whole.” 

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Physician’s Assistant student, Paige Bowser, questions President Trump’s commitment to the safety of the American people after holding a large in-person, indoor rally in Nevada on September 13, 2020. Photo by Paige Bowser

“He [Trump] knows exactly what is going on,” said Paige Bowser, 26, a physician’s assistant student at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. “If he can’t put above his own wants and needs for this next election, then he doesn’t have the country’s best interest in mind.” 

Trump has rarely been seen in public wearing a mask, although the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the practice as crucial to slowing the spread of coronavirus back in March. It was reported that President Trump had expressed concerns of appearing “ridiculous” if he was to be seen masked — a sentiment which Leah Wainstock, 26, a registered nurse in Olathe, Kansas, took issue with. 

“In my mind, I say, ‘well Mr. President, I wear a mask and it makes me strong so that I can do my job and take care of people,’” said Wainstock. “As the president, he should be setting an example, and I think he hasn’t…” 

President Trump has not followed CDC guidelines for face-covering, and social-distancing measures by holding large in-person, indoor campaign rallies, such as the September 13th rally in Henderson, Nevada. The rally brought together over 6,000 attendees, most of whom were unmasked and in very close proximity to each other. 

Paige Bowser has little faith that the President’s intentions were good. 

“It makes it hard to believe that he truly cares about the wellbeing of the citizens of the United States if he is holding a rally like that,” she said. 

Registered nurse, Leah Wainstock, sees Trump’s intentional downplaying of the coronavirus as cowardly. Photo courtesy of Leah Wainstock

Trump has also chosen to intentionally downplay the coronavirus to the American public which was recently exposed by journalist Bob Woodward. This has also affected his reputation among healthcare workers. 

“If American people are dying, wouldn’t you as the sitting president want to do everything you could to protect your country?” said Wainstock. “I think it shows he’s a coward.” 

Xavier Bledsoe, 26, a medical student currently pursuing a double PhD and MD degree in Tennessee, believes Trump’s intentional deception stemmed from apathy toward the nation’s most vulnerable. 

Xavier Bledsoe, a student pursuing a double phD and MD degree, views the Trump administration’s dissemination of misinformation as comparable to the misinformation spread by anti-vaxxers. Photo by Xavier Bledsoe

“There are a couple of reasons…one of which is a lack of concern for the disenfranchised, the poor, and minorities…when the research came out that those are the groups that are predominantly harmed by Covid, the push from the White House came to open things back up again, against the CDC’s recommendations,” said Bledsoe. 

Bledsoe also expressed disdain for Dr. Scott Atlas, President Trump’s newest Coronavirus Taskforce Advisor.

“I am really disappointed that someone who is a member of this profession that carries a tremendous amount of responsibility, would use that responsibility poorly, in supporting policies that are not in the best interest of the people,” he said. 

Dr. Atlas, while highly praised by Trump, has been criticized by the scientific and medical communities for perpetuating falsities about coronavirus and the pandemic. He has, against expert consensus, proposed herd immunity as a possible solution to the rapid Covid spread, advocating for states to further open. 

For Bledsoe, the handling of the virus by the Trump administration is comparable to anti-vaxxer parents. 

“These are victims of misinformation, both in the case of children contracting preventable illnesses [from not being vaccinated], and also patients who contract covid,” he said “….they have heard misinformation and believed it and acted in a way that they thought was ideal but actually was not. So the people who are disseminating this information are responsible for those outcomes.” 

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