thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--How Some Mississippi Teens Are Saving Their Town From Climate Change

The group is called the ASEEDS Creek Rangers program ― ASEEDS stands for Achieving Sustainability Through Education and Economic Development Solutions ― and it includes about 20 kids between the ages of 12 in 18 , led by local leaders and funded through grant money .
Its goal is to build a more sustainable future in the area .
But it has also managed to foster a new generation of climate experts in a state where politicians continue to push climate change denialism and where science education on the topic is decidedly light .
Flooding in the area periodically causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding in the Delta region continues apace , students will only miss more and more days of school .
At the same time , the COVID-19 crisis has revealed how utterly unprepared the community is for remote learning .
A survey of the group ’ s students found that nearly 90 % didn ’ t have reliable internet access or devices .
When Climate Disasters Are A Fact Of Life They designed a way to revamp the town ’ s antiquated drainage system , mitigating the effects of floods , in part through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men helped build the plan into action .
Duck Hill is a poor , rural town , primarily composed of African American residents .
The group tackled some of the issues that had long challenged political decision-makers .
The youth got involved later on , helping to build out a green space on the town ’ s most problematic street corner .
The idea is for students to see climate change as not just an environmental issue , but also one of economic and racial justice .
Group leaders are under no impression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devastation of climate change .
They are trying to prepare students to save their communities themselves .
“ I feel like some people don ’ t think it affects them.
” Now , Watkins is working with the group to expand its impact on the community .
The Creek Rangers have held workshops with local pastors about the realities of climate change .
Residents are starting to realize that some of the respiratory issues they face may be related to the mildew infesting their homes , a result of the constant flooding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like enough .

Illustration: Luke Waller for HuffPost
This story about climate change and education was produced as part of the nine-part series “Are We Ready? How Schools Are Preparing — and Not Preparing — Children for Climate Change,” reported by HuffPost and The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
The teens of Duck Hill, Mississippi, aren’t the teens you see on television protesting the impact of climate change. They’re not missing school to rally in the streets. But they know better than most how climate change is affecting the world.
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Their tiny, rural town of just over 1,000 people suffers from severe flooding, made worse by climate change. The Black side of town hasn’t had a proper drainage system for decades, either, leaving up to 15 inches of rainwater to linger on street corners for days after storms.
Or, at least, it never had an adequate system until recently, when the teens helped work on one.
Since 2018, a group of Duck Hill teens and community leaders have been tackling the climate-related problems that their state and local government neglect or haven’t had the capacity to fix. In the process, they have worked to change how their tiny town views climate change.
Right: A street in the town looked like after a storm before it had an updated drainage system. Left: Kids in Creek Rangers helping to build a green space where flooding once was. Courtesy Romona Williams
The group is called the ASEEDS Creek Rangers program ― ASEEDS stands for Achieving Sustainability Through Education and Economic Development Solutions ― and it includes about 20 kids between the ages of 12 in 18, led by local leaders and funded through grant money. Its goal is to build a more sustainable future in the area. But it has also managed to foster a new generation of climate experts in a state where politicians continue to push climate change denialism and where science education on the topic is decidedly light.
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The issue feels especially urgent now.
Flooding in the area periodically causes schools to cancel classes. If the flooding in the Delta region continues apace, students will only miss more and more days of school. At the same time, the COVID-19 crisis has revealed how utterly unprepared the community is for remote learning. A survey of the group’s students found that nearly 90% didn’t have reliable internet access or devices.
“There are issues small communities face, and a lot of it is rooted in structural racism,” says Romona Williams, volunteer executive director of Montgomery Citizens United for Prosperity, the umbrella group that developed the Creek Rangers program. “They don’t receive the funding that other areas receive.”
When Climate Disasters Are A Fact Of Life
Until joining Creek Rangers, many of the group’s members had accepted the floods and other extreme weather events, like tornadoes, as a fact of life. They didn’t see them as part of a larger, systemic crisis. Clawing to survive amid weather-related disasters had become normal.
They learned, through Creek Rangers, that it didn’t have to be.
“They don’t talk about that kind of stuff in school,” says 15-year-old Keyunna McCaskill, a member of the group.
“Mississippi is a climate-denying state. It’s a Trump state. There’s not a policy infrastructure in place, so we have to look at how we can empower small communities.” - Romona Williams, executive director of Montgomery Citizens United for Prosperity
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Adult leaders associated with the group first designed a system to fix the town’s drainage system, consulting with local experts like professors. A build-up of water would sit on street corners after storms, causing mosquito infestations. It would seep through the floorboards of homes, attracting snakes and mildew.
They designed a way to revamp the town’s antiquated drainage system, mitigating the effects of floods, in part through green infrastructure. A group of local men helped build the plan into action. Duck Hill is a poor, rural town, primarily composed of African American residents. The group tackled some of the issues that had long challenged political decision-makers. The youth got involved later on, helping to build out a green space on the town’s most problematic street corner.
“Mississippi is a climate-denying state. It’s a Trump state. There’s not a policy infrastructure in place, so we have to look at how we can empower small communities and the residents who live in those communities in order to build power,” says Williams.
When Williams first started working with students, she says they relayed feeling detached from the idea of climate change, which was mentioned as an aside in earth science or biology class. It was taught abstractly, as a scientific phenomenon that is happening — but not to people.
The students said they didn’t realize they could already see the consequences of climate change right outside their windows.
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“Before I was in Creek Rangers, climate change was the last thing on my mind,” said 16-year-old Mersie Watkins. “I never thought about it. I knew about it. But I never thought about it on a personal level and what it was doing to me.”
The idea is for students to see climate change as not just an environmental issue, but also one of economic and racial justice. Group leaders are under no impression that policymakers will save them from the devastation of climate change. They are trying to prepare students to save their communities themselves.
Indeed, Taylor notes that “more affluent communities have been working toward sustainability for decades.”
Through their participation in Creek Rangers, students travel to civil rights museums and conferences in between working on local sustainability projects and tackling a bespoke science and technology curriculum. Some participants participate in a larger youth leadership training institute. They’ve attended a National Geographic photo camp focused on how climate change affects Indigenous coastal communities.
“There is also a life-threatening aspect to this,” says Williams. “We’re being hit with tornadoes, the flooding is just unbelievable, and there’s no task force. There’s no action around why is this happening?”
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“I feel like some people don’t think it affects them.”
While COVID-19 has confined students around the country to their homes, some Mississippi kids would have likely stayed home in the last few months even without the pandemic. The area has recently faced an onslaught of flooding.
Watkins had long accepted the flooding as an inevitable part of her community. It had happened her whole life, making it so her family couldn’t leave the house after storms to go to the store.
Watkins joined Creek Rangers in 2018 through her grandmother, a local organizer and alderwoman. She says it was eye-opening.
In school, she says, teachers broadly tell students that climate change is “affecting people” all over the globe. But it didn’t feel real, “because those people have nothing to do with you,” says Watkins.
“Once you look at it from a perspective that it’s around you, and people you care about, and people you love … it makes you want to build something to make it better.”
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But since joining the program, Watkins has run into community members who don’t share her view. When she’s out in the community working on gardening projects, she’s been questioned about her interest in the group and the realities of climate change.
That started to shift once the group successfully built a system to stem the flooding. The Creek Rangers started to receive more respect after that, she said.
“Once you look at it from a perspective that it’s around you, and people you care about, and people you love … it makes you want to build something to make it better.” - Mersie Watkins, 16
Now, Watkins is working with the group to expand its impact on the community. The Creek Rangers have held workshops with local pastors about the realities of climate change. Residents are starting to realize that some of the respiratory issues they face may be related to the mildew infesting their homes, a result of the constant flooding. But it still doesn’t feel like enough.
“When it began, people didn’t really care what we was doing ― they always questioned it. When we would try to tell them, they didn’t really care, because for one, they didn’t know what climate change was,” says Watkins. “I feel like some people don’t think it affects them.”
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Building Hope
The group’s floodwater mitigation project took two years in all.
The first time it stormed after leaders had finished the project’s initial portion, they didn’t know if it would work. The rain pounded down with enormous force. They waited with bated breath to see if their efforts were in vain. They watched as the town’s main street turned into a river.
Then, within a half-hour, the water receded. The system had worked.
“It was relief. It was gratification. We were thankful. And the community, they just ... they just felt hope,” says Williams. “They knew that something had happened and something was different in their community now. Now, when it rains, they’re not all panicked.”
But the group’s work has just begun. Adult leaders in ASEEDS have developed a long-term climate resiliency plan for the town. They expect the plan to pass, and they hope it will be a model for small, rural towns across the country.
Before, the town’s residents knew things were happening to them; they just didn’t know why.
“But now our children know why it’s happening,” says Williams. “This is their future.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--How Will Flooding Affect Your School?

How Will Flooding Affect Your School?

This story about climate change and education was produced as part of the nine-part series “ Are We Ready ?
How Schools Are Preparing — and Not Preparing — Children for Climate Change , ” reported by HuffPost and The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit , independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education .
Last year was the second wettest on record for the contiguous United States .
Climate change is one factor that ’ s exacerbating flood risks across the country , and the damage is adding up : The 2010s saw twice as many natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in damage as the previous decade .
As part of our reporting on climate change and America ’ s education system , we wanted to see how vulnerable schools are to extreme weather .
We wondered : Which schools are at risk from worsening floods ?
In the above graphic , we use hazard maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow you to search for your school and see its potential exposure to flooding .
Severe weather poses all sorts of challenges for educators and students .
It can force schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home ( which , as we ’ re seeing now with coronavirus-related closures , is very disruptive to learning ) .
It can cause infrastructure damage , which has been happening in coastal Louisiana .
There , job losses , coastal erosion and floods caused people to move away , leading to diminishing school enrollment and , in some cases , permanent school closures .
Those population changes , sometimes called “ climate migration , ” starve some schools of resources and lead to overcrowding in others .
When kids return to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lingering stress and trauma .
Because many schools are local hubs , offering meals , counseling and other services beyond academics , damage to them can have a disproportionate impact on their communities .
And flooding can lead to health problems , by causing mold that contributes to respiratory issues as well as unearthing toxic chemicals .
“ Floodwaters can bring a whole host of issues , ” said Perry Sheffield , an assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and lead author of a study on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No region of the United States is immune , but this isn ’ t a problem that hits everyone equally .
Schools in low-income communities may be disproportionately affected , since they are more likely to be in low-lying areas and have limited access to adaptive technology , said Joseph Kane , an associate fellow at the Brookings Institution .
Public awareness of flood risks tends to be low , Sheffield said , which can dampen emergency preparedness efforts .
If you find that your school is located within or near FEMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your school district to ask what it is doing to prepare for potential flooding .

This story about climate change and education was produced as part of the nine-part series “Are We Ready? How Schools Are Preparing — and Not Preparing — Children for Climate Change,” reported by HuffPost and The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
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Swollen rivers swamping entire towns in Iowa. People piloting boats through deluged streets in southern Illinois. Surging floodwaters from Hurricane Dorian overtaking North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Last year was the second wettest on record for the contiguous United States. Climate change is one factor that’s exacerbating flood risks across the country, and the damage is adding up: The 2010s saw twice as many natural disasters causing at least a billion dollars in damage as the previous decade.
As part of our reporting on climate change and America’s education system, we wanted to see how vulnerable schools are to extreme weather. We wondered: Which schools are at risk from worsening floods? In the above graphic, we use hazard maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow you to search for your school and see its potential exposure to flooding.
Severe weather poses all sorts of challenges for educators and students. It can force schools to shut temporarily and keep kids at home (which, as we’re seeing now with coronavirus-related closures, is very disruptive to learning). It can cause infrastructure damage, which has been happening in coastal Louisiana. There, job losses, coastal erosion and floods caused people to move away, leading to diminishing school enrollment and, in some cases, permanent school closures. Those population changes, sometimes called “climate migration,” starve some schools of resources and lead to overcrowding in others.
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An elementary school in in Lumberton, North Carolina, is inundated with floodwaters from the Lumber River on Oct. 12, 2016. Sean Rayford/Getty Images
When kids return to school after severe flooding, they sometimes struggle with lingering stress and trauma. Because many schools are local hubs, offering meals, counseling and other services beyond academics, damage to them can have a disproportionate impact on their communities. And flooding can lead to health problems, by causing mold that contributes to respiratory issues as well as unearthing toxic chemicals.
“Floodwaters can bring a whole host of issues,” said Perry Sheffield, an assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and lead author of a study on the environmental hazards of climate change and schools.
No region of the United States is immune, but this isn’t a problem that hits everyone equally. Schools in low-income communities may be disproportionately affected, since they are more likely to be in low-lying areas and have limited access to adaptive technology, said Joseph Kane, an associate fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Public awareness of flood risks tends to be low, Sheffield said, which can dampen emergency preparedness efforts. If you find that your school is located within or near FEMA’s 100-year flood zone, contact your school district to ask what it is doing to prepare for potential flooding.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--Tearful Republican Governor Attacks Political Fight Over COVID-19 Face Masks

North Dakota ’ s Republican governor issued a heartfelt plea to state residents not to turn wearing face masks to protect public health amid the COVID-19 crisis into a “ senseless dividing line.
” “ We ’ re all in this together , and there ’ s only one battle we ’ re fighting , and that ’ s the battle of the virus , ” Gov .
Doug Burgum said at a press briefing Friday .
“ I would really love to see in North Dakota that we could just skip this thing that other parts of the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading a divide , either it ’ s ideological or political or something around mask vs. no mask , ” he added .
“ This is a ... senseless dividing line.
” There is no state requirement to wear a face mask , but Burgum urged empathy for those who choose to wear the protective gear .
“ I would ask people to dial up your empathy and your understanding , ” said the governor .
“ If someone is wearing a mask , they ’ re not doing it to represent what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or what candidates they support .
They might be doing it because they ’ ve got a 5-year-old child who ’ s been going through cancer treatments [ or ] have vulnerable adults in their life , ” he added , his voice breaking .
Burgum said “ there should be no mask shaming.
” He urged North Dakotans to assume people wearing masks face extra health risks in their lives , or are “ trying to take care ” of people they love , adding : “ Let ’ s just start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burgum ’ s sense and empathy .
He has an 80 % approval rating in the state for how he has dealt with COVID-19 .
But others called out the usually staunch supporter of face mask-averse President Donald Trump for failing to point out the party and leaders who are turning a safety issue to protect health and lives into a “ senseless dividing line.
” As of Saturday 2,365 people in the state had tested positive for the coronavirus , resulting in 52 deaths .
I grew up in North Dakota and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family still lives there , including my 90-yr old dad .
Like he says ... this not about political affiliation .
It ’ s about being a human that gives a sh ?
@ about other humans .
— Pam Sydelko ( @ psydsys ) May 22 , 2020 Thank you for being a voice of reason , Governor .
I always assumed if we were faced with a pandemic , our biggest enemy would be the illness itself , not my fellow Americans .
No one should be harrassed or attacked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
— ThatDarnShrink ( @ that_darn ) May 23 , 2020 @ DougBurgum ( R-ND ) needs to talk to the POTUS & tell the POTUS what he just told the voters of ND .
Because the number one reason that wearing/not wearing a mask has become politicized is Donald J. Trump & his efforts to pretend that covid-19 is not a real threat to real Americans — Robin Sue Sanders ( @ robbysue1 ) May 22 , 2020

North Dakota’s Republican governor issued a heartfelt plea to state residents not to turn wearing face masks to protect public health amid the COVID-19 crisis into a “senseless dividing line.”
“We’re all in this together, and there’s only one battle we’re fighting, and that’s the battle of the virus,” Gov. Doug Burgum said at a press briefing Friday.
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“I would really love to see in North Dakota that we could just skip this thing that other parts of the nation are going through where they’re trading a divide, either it’s ideological or political or something around mask vs. no mask,” he added. “This is a ... senseless dividing line.”
There is no state requirement to wear a face mask, but Burgum urged empathy for those who choose to wear the protective gear.
“I would ask people to dial up your empathy and your understanding,” said the governor. “If someone is wearing a mask, they’re not doing it to represent what political party they’re in, or what candidates they support. They might be doing it because they’ve got a 5-year-old child who’s been going through cancer treatments [or] have vulnerable adults in their life,” he added, his voice breaking.
“Be North Dakota kind, North Dakota empathetic,” he said.
Burgum said “there should be no mask shaming.” He urged North Dakotans to assume people wearing masks face extra health risks in their lives, or are “trying to take care” of people they love, adding: “Let’s just start there.”
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In a tearful speech, Gov. @DougBurgum (R-ND) asks residents to skip the “ideological and political” debate on face masks. pic.twitter.com/BkTEDWxuYg — The Recount (@therecount) May 22, 2020
Moved followers on Twitter hailed Burgum’s sense and empathy. He has an 80% approval rating in the state for how he has dealt with COVID-19.
But others called out the usually staunch supporter of face mask-averse President Donald Trump for failing to mention GOP party leaders who are turning a safety issue into what Burgum called a “senseless dividing line.”
As of Saturday, 2,365 people in the state had tested positive for the coronavirus, resulting in 52 deaths.
I grew up in North Dakota and this makes my heart swell. My family still lives there, including my 90-yr old dad. Like he says... this not about political affiliation. It’s about being a human that gives a sh?@ about other humans. — Pam Sydelko (@psydsys) May 22, 2020
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Thank you for being a voice of reason, Governor. I always assumed if we were faced with a pandemic, our biggest enemy would be the illness itself, not my fellow Americans. No one should be harrassed or attacked for protecting themselves, their loved ones & others. — ThatDarnShrink (@that_darn) May 23, 2020
@DougBurgum (R-ND) needs to talk to the POTUS & tell the POTUS what he just told the voters of ND. Because the number one reason that wearing/not wearing a mask has become politicized is Donald J. Trump & his efforts to pretend that covid-19 is not a real threat to real Americans — Robin Sue Sanders (@robbysue1) May 22, 2020
Time to switch parties dude. — Kelly C 🇨🇦🐘🐾🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 (@kellycorfe) May 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--Trump Used To Tee Off On Obama For Golfing During Ebola Outbreak That Killed 2 In America

President Donald Trump spent a day at the links Saturday at his Virginia golf course as the nation careened toward 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
It was his first time golfing in more than two months since declaring the pandemic a national emergency .
The tee-time scenes couldn ’ t help but recall those times Trump slammed Barack Obama for golfing when he was in the White House during the Ebola outbreak — which claimed two lives in the U.S. Trump complained after the second confirmed case of Ebola on “ Fox and Friends ” in 2014 that Obama shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There are times to play and times that you can ’ t play .
It sends the wrong signal , ” Trump declared .
“ You know when you ’ re president you sorta say , like , ‘ I ’ m gon na give it up for a couple of years and I ’ m really gon na focus on the job , ’ ” he added .
Trump couldn ’ t help noting : “ Golf is a great game ; nobody likes it more than me.
” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox and Friends he criticized Obama for golfing when there were *two cases* of Ebola in the United States saying , `` it sends the wrong signal '' and he should have given up golf as president `` to really focus on the job . ''
https : //t.co/br8jLwVLts pic.twitter.com/Jmh5CSt2mp — andrew kaczynski🤔 ( @ KFILE ) May 23 , 2020 President @ realDonaldTrump waved at my camera on Saturday while golfing at his Virginia club .
His first visit to one of his golf properties since March amid the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 265th visit to one of his golf clubs since becoming President .
# cnn pic.twitter.com/NBHofTOAnt — Khalil Abdallah ( @ abdallahcnn ) May 23 , 2020 Trump claimed in February that the 15 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. “ within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.
” By early April he predicted a COVID-19 death toll would be “ substantially under ” 100,000 , citing 60,000 in late April .
On May 3 he conceded the total death toll could reach 90,000 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m saying 80 [ 000 ] or 90 [ 000 ] , ” Trump said .
That same day coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx told Chris Wallace on Fox News : “ Our projections have always been between 100,000 and 240,000 American lives lost and that ’ s with full mitigation [ protective measures ] and us learning from each other of how to social distance.
” Trump wasn ’ t wearing a face mask while golfing Saturday , nor did he appear to be maintaining social distancing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention .
After three years in office , Trump had already spent two-and-a-half times as many days on a golf course as Obama chalked up at the same point in his first term , according to an analysis by HuffPost .

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President Donald Trump spent a day at the links Saturday at his Virginia golf course as the nation careened toward 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. It was his first time golfing since declaring the pandemic a national emergency.
The tee-time scenes couldn’t help but recall those times Trump slammed Barack Obama for golfing when he was in the White House during the Ebola outbreak — which killed two in the U.S.
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Trump complained after the second confirmed case of Ebola on “Fox and Friends” in 2014 that Obama shouldn’t be spending any time golfing.
“There are times to play and times that you can’t play. It sends the wrong signal,” Trump declared.
“You know when you’re president you sorta say, like, ‘I’m gonna give it up for a couple of years and I’m really gonna focus on the job,’” he added. Trump couldn’t help noting: “Golf is a great game; nobody likes it more than me.”
Trump is golfing today.
In 2014 on Fox and Friends he criticized Obama for golfing when there were *two cases* of Ebola in the United States saying, "it sends the wrong signal" and he should have given up golf as president "to really focus on the job." https://t.co/br8jLwVLts pic.twitter.com/Jmh5CSt2mp — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) May 23, 2020
Trump also posted about it on Twitter in 2014, lashing Obama for golfing during the Ebola outbreak.
President Obama has a major meeting on the N.Y.C. Ebola outbreak, with people flying in from all over the country, but decided to play golf! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2014
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President @realDonaldTrump waved at my camera on Saturday while golfing at his Virginia club.
His first visit to one of his golf properties since March amid the coronavirus pandemic.
By CNN's count, this is his 265th visit to one of his golf clubs since becoming President. #cnn pic.twitter.com/NBHofTOAnt — Khalil Abdallah (@abdallahcnn) May 23, 2020
Trump claimed in February that the 15 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. “within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.”
By early April he predicted a COVID-19 death toll would be “substantially under” 100,000, citing 60,000 in late April. On May 3 he conceded the total death toll could reach 90,000. “I used to say 65,000 and now I’m saying 80[000] or 90 [000],” Trump said.
That same day coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx told Chris Wallace on Fox News: “Our projections have always been between 100,000 and 240,000 American lives lost and that’s with full mitigation [protective measures] and us learning from each other of how to social distance.”
Trump wasn’t wearing a face mask while golfing Saturday, nor did he appear to be maintaining the social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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After three years in office, Trump has already spent two-and-a-half times more days on a golf course than Obama had by the same point in his first term, according to an analysis by HuffPost.
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--The New York Times Fills Entire Cover With Names Of Coronavirus Victims  In The U.S.

When readers across the country pick up a copy of the New York Times on Sunday , they will be confronted with an extraordinarily grim sight .
They will see the names and a peek into the lives of the people who died in the U.S. as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
The nearly one thousand obituaries , which fill the entire front page , represent only an estimated 1 % of the death toll .
As of Saturday , more than 97,000 people in the U.S. had died from complications with COVID-19 .
The victims ’ stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country .
Simone Landon , the Times ’ graphics desk assistant editor , came up with the idea to honor the victims in a way that would allow readers to see the gravity of the pandemic ’ s impact in the country , according to the paper .
Landon told the Times that there was “ a little bit of a fatigue with the data ” on deaths in the U.S. , which is being tracked daily by Johns Hopkins University and followed closely by the media .
“ We knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Landon told the Times .
“ We knew that there should be some way to try to reckon with that number.
” The shortened obituaries are displayed one after the other and fill six tall columns that stretch across a majority of the Times ’ front page .
In a preview of the paper published Saturday , viewers can zoom in on each name to read about the victims ’ lives :

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When readers across the country pick up a copy of the New York Times on Sunday, they will be confronted with an extraordinarily grim sight.
They will see the names and a peek into the lives of the people who died in the U.S. as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The nearly one thousand obituaries, which fill the entire front page, represent only an estimated 1% of the death toll.
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As of Saturday, more than 97,000 people in the U.S. had died from complications with COVID-19.
The front page of The New York Times for May 24, 2020 pic.twitter.com/d14JhFp4CP — The New York Times (@nytimes) May 24, 2020
The victims’ stories were pulled from obituaries published in newspapers across the country.
Simone Landon, the Times’ graphics desk assistant editor, came up with the idea to honor the victims in a way that would allow readers to see the gravity of the pandemic’s impact in the country, according to the paper.
Landon told the Times that there was “a little bit of a fatigue with the data” on deaths in the U.S., which is being tracked daily by Johns Hopkins University and followed closely by the media.
“We knew we were approaching this milestone,” Landon told the Times. “We knew that there should be some way to try to reckon with that number.”
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The shortened obituaries are displayed one after the other and fill six tall columns that stretch across a majority of the Times’ front page.
In a preview of the paper published Saturday, viewers can zoom in on each name to read about the victims’ lives:
“Lila Fenwick, 87, New York City, first black woman to graduate from Harvard Law School.”
“Mike Field, 59, Valley Stream, N.Y., first responder during the 9/11 attacks.”
“Jessica Beatriz Cortez, 32, Los Angeles, immigrated to the United States three years ago.”
With the obituaries, the Times reminds readers who these people are.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Washington Bishops Continue To Suspend Masses Out Of 'Respect For Human Life'

All five Catholic bishops in Washington state have issued a statement in response to comments by President Donald Trump which explains that public masses were suspended “ out of our deepest respect for human life and health ” amid the COVID-19 crisis .
The statement was a stunning rejoinder to Trump ’ s demand Friday that all houses of worship be reopened “ right now ” for religious services , which he has deemed “ essential.
” He called it an “ injustice ” that churches , synagogues and mosques aren ’ t open .
Trump vowed to “ override @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders .
Trump didn ’ t say what he would do if religious leaders ignored his demand .
“ In response to President Trump ’ s statement ... we want to let you know that public celebration was suspended , not out of fear , but out of the deepest respect for human life and health , ” the bishops wrote Friday .
“ As disciples of Jesus , we are called on to be instruments of God ’ s protection for the vulnerable and the public good.
” “ Our love of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not partisan , ” the statement added .
” While we share the desire to bring people back to Mass as quickly as possible , we will wait to schedule our public worship when it is safe and we are prepared to do so.
” The statement followed several criticisms from other faith leaders Friday saying that Trump ’ s insistence on restarting religious services failed to recognize the fundamental tenet of loving — and protecting — your neighbor as yourself .
There is no date set yet for restarting Catholic Masses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are working with health experts to establish safety guidelines and protocols .
“ It is our hope that our right to responsibly and safely gather for worship will soon be honored so we can collaborate in a manner that respects both our Catholic tradition as well as our civic responsibilities , ” the statement concluded .
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said Thursday that churches within his jurisdiction will slowly re-open and in different manners “ region by region , parish by parish.
” New protocols will include smaller services with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of churches , a ban on physical contact , hand sanitizer stations at entrances , and the temporary cessation of all non-essential gatherings , The Crux reported .
Sources told Politico that Trump ’ s sudden announcement about reopening houses of worship was driven by recent polls showing that the president ’ s support among white evangelicals and white Catholics was eroding .
Legal experts say Trump has no authority to override governors ’ decisions on when to allow house of worship to reopen .

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All five Catholic bishops in Washington state have issued a statement in response to comments by President Donald Trump which explains that public masses were suspended “out of our deepest respect for human life and health” amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The statement was a stunning rejoinder to Trump’s demand Friday that all houses of worship be reopened “right now” for religious services, which he has deemed “essential.” He called it an “injustice” that churches, synagogues and mosques aren’t open.
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Trump vowed to “override governors” who failed to follow his orders. Trump didn’t say what he would do if religious leaders ignored his demand.
“In response to President Trump’s statement ... we want to let you know that public celebration was suspended, not out of fear, but out of the deepest respect for human life and health,” the bishops wrote Friday. “As disciples of Jesus, we are called on to be instruments of God’s protection for the vulnerable and the public good.”
“Our love of God and neighbor is always personal and not partisan,” the statement added. ” While we share the desire to bring people back to Mass as quickly as possible, we will wait to schedule our public worship when it is safe and we are prepared to do so.”
The statement followed several criticisms from other faith leaders Friday saying that Trump’s insistence on restarting religious services failed to recognize the fundamental tenet of loving — and protecting — your neighbor as yourself.
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There is no date set yet for restarting Catholic Masses in Washington, the bishops said. Catholic officials are working with health experts to establish safety guidelines and protocols.
“It is our hope that our right to responsibly and safely gather for worship will soon be honored so we can collaborate in a manner that respects both our Catholic tradition as well as our civic responsibilities,” the statement concluded.
Responding to Trump, @AbpEtienne and WA state bishops say “the public celebration of Mass was suspensed, not out of fear, but out of our deepest respect for human life and health.” pic.twitter.com/iZx2ST4l37 — Christopher White (@cwwhite212) May 23, 2020
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said Thursday that churches within his jurisdiction will slowly re-open and in different manners “region by region, parish by parish.” New protocols will include smaller services with spaced seating, regular sanitation and disinfecting of churches, a ban on physical contact, hand sanitizer stations at entrances, and the temporary cessation of all non-essential gatherings, The Crux reported.
Sources told Politico that Trump’s sudden announcement about reopening houses of worship was driven by recent polls showing that the president’s support among white evangelicals and white Catholics was eroding.
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Legal experts say Trump has no authority to override governors’ decisions on when to allow house of worship to reopen.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--Ex-Congressman Allen West Of Florida Injured In Motorcycle Crash

WACO , Texas ( AP ) — Former U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida was injured in a motorcycle crash @ @ @ @ @ former congressman was in stable condition after having been airlifted to a hospital , according @ @ @ @ @ on West ’ s Facebook page .
The Facebook post said West was on his @ @ @ @ @ him off , causing him to collide with another motorcyclist .
West ’ s wife @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Facebook that the crash occurred outside Waco .
The Dallas Morning News reported @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning at the Texas Capitol that was focused on reopening the state amid the @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Don Huffines told the newspaper West got in the accident on the way back @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican , moved from Florida to Texas after leaving Congress in 2013 .
@ @ @ @ @ once called for then-President Barack Obama ’ s impeachment .
West is running for chair @ @ @ @ @ Texas .

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WACO, Texas (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida was injured in a motorcycle crash Saturday in Texas.
The former congressman was in stable condition after having been airlifted to a hospital, according to a Saturday night post on West’s Facebook page.
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The Facebook post said West was on his motorcycle when a car cut him off, causing him to collide with another motorcyclist.
West’s wife, Angela Graham-West, earlier wrote on Facebook that the crash occurred outside Waco.
The Dallas Morning News reported that West attended a rally Saturday morning at the Texas Capitol that was focused on reopening the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Former state Sen. Don Huffines told the newspaper West got in the accident on the way back from the rally.
West, a Republican, moved from Florida to Texas after leaving Congress in 2013. He served one term and once called for then-President Barack Obama’s impeachment.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--Elizabeth Warren To Host Private Online Fundraiser For Biden: Report

WASHINGTON , May 23 ( Reuters ) - Democratic U.S .
Senator Elizabeth Warren has agreed to host a high-dollar @ @ @ @ @ ’ s presidential campaign , the New York Times reported on Saturday , citing three @ @ @ @ @ .
Warren will host the online event on June 15 , reported the Times , @ @ @ @ @ condition of anonymity .
The senator ’ s promise to abstain from private fundraising events @ @ @ @ @ with wealthy contributors - was a key feature of her own campaign to become the @ @ @ @ @ to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election .
The lawmaker from @ @ @ @ @ of kowtowing to rich donors and “ selling access to their time for money.
” @ @ @ @ @ last in the previously wide field of Democratic candidates to drop out of the race @ @ @ @ @ ’ s presumptive nominee .
A spokesman for Biden declined to comment .
A spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment on Saturday night .

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WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has agreed to host a high-dollar fundraising event for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the plans.
Warren will host the online event on June 15, reported the Times, saying the three spoke on condition of anonymity.
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The senator’s promise to abstain from private fundraising events - or even phone calls with wealthy contributors - was a key feature of her own campaign to become the Democratic Party’s nominee to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election.
The lawmaker from Massachusetts frequently accused other candidates of kowtowing to rich donors and “selling access to their time for money.”
Warren was one of the last in the previously wide field of Democratic candidates to drop out of the race before Biden became the party’s presumptive nominee.
A spokesman for Biden declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Warren did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday night.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-23--Joe Biden Wins Hawaii Democratic Primary In A Delayed, Mail-In Election

HONOLULU ( AP ) — Joe Biden won the Democratic Party of Hawaii ’ s party-run presidential primary on Saturday , which was delayed by more than a month because of the coronavirus .
Biden won 16 of Hawaii ’ s delegates and Sanders will take eight .
Biden has a total of 1,566 delegates to the party ’ s national convention , according to the count by the Associated Press .
He needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination , a threshold he is projected to reach in June .
The party had initially planned to hold the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party members would vote by mail and some would cast ballots at about 20 in-person polling sites around the state .
It began mailing ballots to registered party members in early March back when Sanders and Biden were the two front-runners and Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was still maintaining her long-shot bid for the nomination .
But concerns about the spread of the coronavirus forced the party to announce on March 20 it would cancel plans for in-person voting and allow only mail ballots .
To give those who expected to vote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast a ballot , the party said it would mail another round of ballots to members and wait until late May for them to be returned and counted .
Only candidates receiving at least 15 % of the votes cast in a given congressional district were to be allocated delegates .
Votes for candidates who didn ’ t receive at least 15 % were redistributed to voters ’ second-ranked choices , starting with the candidate who received the lowest number of votes .
Gabbard represents Hawaii ’ s second congressional district in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in the first round of voting .
She was absent from the district during much of the year while she campaigned for the presidency in Iowa and New Hampshire .
State Sen. Kai Kahele , a fellow Democrat , fiercely criticized her for neglecting her constituents and mounted a campaign for her seat , which covers suburban Honolulu and the more rural islands of the state .
Not long after , Gabbard said she wouldn ’ t run for reelection and would focus on her presidential bid .
Hawaii Democrats hired a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle aspects of the election , including designing the vote-by-mail package and safely keeping returned ballots .
The company has experience running elections for labor unions and organizations such as the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative , the electric utility on Kauai island .
The Republican Party of Hawaii canceled its presidential caucus after President Donald Trump was the only candidate to declare for the ballot by the Dec. 2 deadline .
The party is committing its national convention delegates to Trump .

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HONOLULU (AP) — Joe Biden won the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s party-run presidential primary on Saturday, which was delayed by more than a month because of the coronavirus.
Biden defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 63% to 37%.
Biden won 16 of Hawaii’s delegates and Sanders will take eight. Biden has a total of 1,566 delegates to the party’s national convention, according to the count by the Associated Press. He needs 1,991 delegates to win the nomination, a threshold he is projected to reach in June.
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A total of 35,044 voters cast ballots in the party-run primary. All ballots were cast by mail.
The party had initially planned to hold the primary on April 4 and had expected most party members would vote by mail and some would cast ballots at about 20 in-person polling sites around the state.
It began mailing ballots to registered party members in early March back when Sanders and Biden were the two front-runners and Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was still maintaining her long-shot bid for the nomination.
But concerns about the spread of the coronavirus forced the party to announce on March 20 it would cancel plans for in-person voting and allow only mail ballots. To give those who expected to vote in person on April 4 a chance to cast a ballot, the party said it would mail another round of ballots to members and wait until late May for them to be returned and counted.
Amidst these shifts, Gabbard dropped out and endorsed Biden. Sanders ended his bid and endorsed Biden on April 13.
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Voters were instructed to mark their top three choices on paper ballots.
Only candidates receiving at least 15% of the votes cast in a given congressional district were to be allocated delegates. Votes for candidates who didn’t receive at least 15% were redistributed to voters’ second-ranked choices, starting with the candidate who received the lowest number of votes.
Gabbard represents Hawaii’s second congressional district in Congress, and got 4% of the vote in the first round of voting. She was absent from the district during much of the year while she campaigned for the presidency in Iowa and New Hampshire. State Sen. Kai Kahele, a fellow Democrat, fiercely criticized her for neglecting her constituents and mounted a campaign for her seat, which covers suburban Honolulu and the more rural islands of the state. Not long after, Gabbard said she wouldn’t run for reelection and would focus on her presidential bid.
Hawaii Democrats hired a contractor, Merriman River Group, to handle aspects of the election, including designing the vote-by-mail package and safely keeping returned ballots. The company has experience running elections for labor unions and organizations such as the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the electric utility on Kauai island.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Trump Spreads Baseless Conspiracy Theory Accusing MSNBC Host Of Murder

President Donald Trump over the weekend used his massive platform on Twitter to again spread the outrageous and unsupported insinuation that Joe Scarborough — one of his most vocal critics on TV —murdered someone .
Trump fired off multiple tweets suggesting Scarborough , a co-host of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe , ” might have killed Lori Klausutis , who died in 2001 while working as an intern in Scarbrough ’ s congressional office .
Scarborough served as a U.S. congressman from Florida between January 1995 and September 2001 .
Authorities determined Klausutis , 28 , died after suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition , hitting her head on a desk as she fell .
No foul play was suspected and her death was ultimately ruled an accident by the medical examiner .
″A blow to her head ?
Body found under his desk ?
Left Congress suddenly ?
Big topic of discussion in Florida ... and , he ’ s a Nut Job ( with bad ratings ) , ” the president tweeted Saturday .
“ Keep digging , use forensic geniuses !
” Trump on Sunday shared with his 80 million Twitter followers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed to have evidence of “ foul play ” in Klausutis ’ s death .
“ A lot of interest in this story about Psycho Joe Scarborough , ” the president tweeted .
“ So a young marathon runner just happened to faint in his office , hit her head on his desk , & die ?
I would think there is a lot more to this story than that ?
An affair ?
What about the so-called investigator ?
Read story !
” Earlier this month , Trump questioned whether Scarborough got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he left Congress “ quietly and quickly ” because of it .
He also called on Comcast , which owns MSNBC , to look into the matter .
During previous administrations , a president insinuating , without evidence , that someone had committed murder would undoubtedly dominate cable news programs and garner condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats .
But for a president who routinely peddles misinformation , mocks women ’ s appearances and downplays the threat of a global pandemic , it ’ s possible the claim failed to garner much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump ’ s claim was reminiscent of the Seth Rich conspiracy theories pushed by some Fox News hosts and Trump allies , which falsely suggested a Democratic National Committee staffer was murdered in 2016 as part of an effort to cover up alleged crimes committed by Hillary Clinton .
But a Yahoo News investigation determined Russian intelligence agents secretly planted the fake report that alleged Rich was gunned down by assassins working for Clinton .
In reality , authorities believe Rich was fatally shot during a suspected robbery in Washington .
Rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-wing activists for years over the baseless conspiracy theory .
CNN ’ s Brian Stelter said Saturday that conspiracy theorists are now going after Klausutis ’ family because of Trump ’ s tweets .
Brzezinski scolded Twitter last week for failing to remove Trump ’ s reckless tweets or suspend his account .
She announced Wednesday that the “ wheels are in motion ” for a meeting between her and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey .
In response to a tweet suggesting Twitter wouldn ’ t take action against Trump , Brzezinski said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway .
“ It ’ s just crazy that Trump , the chief law enforcement officer of the US is using the power of the presidency to harass someone who is a critic , ” Brzezinski wrote .
“ Nuts that this is accepted .
Nuts .
”

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President Donald Trump over the weekend used his massive platform on Twitter to again spread the outrageous and unsupported insinuation that Joe Scarborough — one of his most vocal critics on TV —murdered someone.
Trump fired off multiple tweets suggesting Scarborough, a co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” might have killed Lori Klausutis, who died in 2001 while working as an intern in Scarbrough’s congressional office. Scarborough served as a U.S. congressman from Florida between January 1995 and September 2001.
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Authorities determined Klausutis, 28, died after suddenly collapsing due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition, hitting her head on a desk as she fell. No foul play was suspected and her death was ultimately ruled an accident by the medical examiner.
But that hasn’t stopped Trump from fueling baseless conspiracy theories claiming otherwise.
″A blow to her head? Body found under his desk? Left Congress suddenly? Big topic of discussion in Florida...and, he’s a Nut Job (with bad ratings),” the president tweeted Saturday. “Keep digging, use forensic geniuses!”
A blow to her head? Body found under his desk? Left Congress suddenly? Big topic of discussion in Florida...and, he’s a Nut Job (with bad ratings). Keep digging, use forensic geniuses! https://t.co/UxbS5gZecd — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020
Trump on Sunday shared with his 80 million Twitter followers a story from a notorious misinformation website that claimed to have evidence of “foul play” in Klausutis’s death.
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“A lot of interest in this story about Psycho Joe Scarborough,” the president tweeted. “So a young marathon runner just happened to faint in his office, hit her head on his desk, & die? I would think there is a lot more to this story than that? An affair? What about the so-called investigator? Read story!”
Earlier this month, Trump questioned whether Scarborough got “away with murder,” suggesting he left Congress “quietly and quickly” because of it. He also called on Comcast, which owns MSNBC, to look into the matter.
Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, his wife and co-host on “Morning Joe,” have denounced Trump’s suggestions, calling the president “unwell” and sick.”
During previous administrations, a president insinuating, without evidence, that someone had committed murder would undoubtedly dominate cable news programs and garner condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats.
But for a president who routinely peddles misinformation, mocks women’s appearances and downplays the threat of a global pandemic, it’s possible the claim failed to garner much more than an eye roll from most Americans.
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Trump’s claim was reminiscent of the Seth Rich conspiracy theories pushed by some Fox News hosts and Trump allies, which falsely suggested a Democratic National Committee staffer was murdered in 2016 as part of an effort to cover up alleged crimes committed by Hillary Clinton.
But a Yahoo News investigation determined Russian intelligence agents secretly planted the fake report that alleged Rich was gunned down by assassins working for Clinton. In reality, authorities believe Rich was fatally shot during a suspected robbery in Washington.
Rich’s family has been harassed by right-wing activists for years over the baseless conspiracy theory. CNN’s Brian Stelter said Saturday that conspiracy theorists are now going after Klausutis’ family because of Trump’s tweets.
Brzezinski scolded Twitter last week for failing to remove Trump’s reckless tweets or suspend his account. She announced Wednesday that the “wheels are in motion” for a meeting between her and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
In response to a tweet suggesting Twitter wouldn’t take action against Trump, Brzezinski said she agreed but felt it was worth trying anyway.
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“It’s just crazy that Trump, the chief law enforcement officer of the US is using the power of the presidency to harass someone who is a critic,” Brzezinski wrote. “Nuts that this is accepted. Nuts.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Arkansas Gov. Defends Easing COVID-19 Rules After Largest Single-Day Case Rise

Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson ( R ) defended his state ’ s easing of social distancing restrictions despite its largest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases coming just a few days ago .
“ We take the virus very seriously .
It ’ s a risk , it causes death , but you can ’ t cloister yourself at home , that is just contrary to the American spirit , ” he said on “ Fox News Sunday.
” Hutchinson , who has encouraged Arkansas residents to wear face masks in public , compared mask wearing and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can be in an automobile and that is very risky , but you can manage the risk by wearing a seatbelt , ” he said .
The governor ’ s assurance follows his state reporting 455 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday , marking the single biggest increase that the state has seen thus far .
It also follows reports of dozens of Arkansas residents spreading the virus at a church and at a high school pool party .
Three people died as a result of the church infections .
By allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in cases , Arkansas is not following the White House ’ s guidelines that advise against easing restrictions until there has been a two-week decline in new reported cases , Fox News host Chris Wallace noted .
“ Which raises the question , do you really have the virus under control in Arkansas ?
” Wallace asked him .
“ You manage the risk by increasing the testing , ” Hutchinson said , while arguing that the recent rise in cases is not because of lifted restrictions but instead due to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution , he said , is to educate the public about how to avoid infection .
“ To me it ’ s a matter of self-discipline and that ’ s why I talk about the swim party and the fact that you can pass the virus at a swim party .
I don ’ t think we ’ re going to say you can ’ t invite anyone over to a pool in the backyard of your home .
I think you have to exercise discipline and have the right restrictions in place @ @ @ @ @

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Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) defended his state’s easing of social distancing restrictions despite its largest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases coming just a few days ago.
“We take the virus very seriously. It’s a risk, it causes death, but you can’t cloister yourself at home, that is just contrary to the American spirit,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
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Hutchinson, who has encouraged Arkansas residents to wear face masks in public, compared mask wearing and social distancing to buckling up while driving.
Asa Hutchinson said people staying at home is “contrary to the American spirit." Fox News
“You can be in an automobile and that is very risky, but you can manage the risk by wearing a seatbelt,” he said.
The governor’s assurance follows his state reporting 455 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, marking the single biggest increase that the state has seen thus far. It also follows reports of dozens of Arkansas residents spreading the virus at a church and at a high school pool party. Three people died as a result of the church infections.
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By allowing the state to reopen despite the recent rise in cases, Arkansas is not following the White House’s guidelines that advise against easing restrictions until there has been a two-week decline in new reported cases, Fox News host Chris Wallace noted.
“Which raises the question, do you really have the virus under control in Arkansas?” Wallace asked him.
“You manage the risk by increasing the testing,” Hutchinson said, while arguing that the recent rise in cases is not because of lifted restrictions but instead due to an increase in testing capabilities.
The other solution, he said, is to educate the public about how to avoid infection.
“To me it’s a matter of self-discipline and that’s why I talk about the swim party and the fact that you can pass the virus at a swim party. I don’t think we’re going to say you can’t invite anyone over to a pool in the backyard of your home. I think you have to exercise discipline and have the right restrictions in place,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Bots Are Likely Responsible For Nearly Half Of COVID-19 Tweets, Say Researchers

Nearly half of some 200 million tweets about COVID-19 likely came from bots , with many of them plugging false cures , peddling conspiracy theories and clamoring for the U.S. to drop safety measures in order to re-open America , researchers have found .
Ongoing research by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University indicates that a significant portion of the social media conversation about COVID-19 is likely automated amplifications of political perspectives and do not represent individual human authors .
The study has reached no conclusion about which interests may be primarily responsible for the bots , but many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chinese state media .
During the 2016 presidential election , computer operations linked to the Kremlin were found to be responsible for campaign tweets and other messages that further divided the American electorate by amplifying controversy .
With coronavirus , “ We do know that it looks like it ’ s a propaganda machine , and it definitely matches the Russian and Chinese playbooks , but it would take a tremendous amount of resources to substantiate that , ” lead researcher Kathleen Carley , a computer science professor and head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Social Cybersecurity , said in a Carnegie Mellon report last week about the research .
“ We do see that a lot of bots are acting in ways that are consistent with the story lines that are coming out of Russia or China , ” Carley told VICE .
Researchers said that the sophisticated bot campaign concerning COVID-19 is also aimed at exacerbating divisions in the U.S .
Messages peddling conspiracy theories “ increase polarization in groups .
It ’ s what many misinformation campaigns aim to do , ” Carley said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and the economy , and people are preying on that to create divides.
” But she also said that because the pandemic is global , it ’ s also likely being used by “ various countries and interest groups as an opportunity to meet political agendas.
” Carley ’ s team identified more than 100 inaccurate narratives about COVID-19 , mostly involving fake cures ( like drinking — or not drinking — Corona beer ) and scores of conspiracy theories .
Those conversations also included a push to re-open America .
Carley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hate speech is growing in the social media debate about COVID-19 , and it ’ s “ forming hate communities.
” The team looked at several factors to determine what likely constituted a bot , such as “ tweeting more frequently than is humanly possible or appearing to be in one country and then another a few hours later , ” she said .
“ When we see a whole bunch of tweets at the same time or back to back , it ’ s like they ’ re timed , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for use of the same exact hashtag , or messaging that appears to be copied and pasted from one bot to the next.
” Jevin West , who runs the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington , told Vice last month that the “ real goal ” of COVID-19 disinformation campaigns is “ about creating distrust in the overall ecosystem and institutions .
It ’ s not so much about picking a side as it is about creating confusion and doubt and distrust of authority .
”

Nearly half of some 200 million tweets about COVID-19 likely came from bots, with many of them plugging false cures, peddling conspiracy theories and clamoring for the U.S. to drop safety measures in order to re-open America, researchers have found.
Ongoing research by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University indicates that a significant portion of the social media conversation about COVID-19 is likely automated amplifications of political perspectives and do not represent individual human authors.
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The study has reached no conclusion about which interests may be primarily responsible for the bots, but many of the messages are repeating information from Russian and Chinese state media. During the 2016 presidential election, computer operations linked to the Kremlin were found to be responsible for campaign tweets and other messages that further divided the American electorate by amplifying controversy.
With coronavirus, “We do know that it looks like it’s a propaganda machine, and it definitely matches the Russian and Chinese playbooks, but it would take a tremendous amount of resources to substantiate that,” lead researcher Kathleen Carley, a computer science professor and head of the university’s Center for Informed Democracy and Social Cybersecurity, said in a Carnegie Mellon report last week about the research.
“We do see that a lot of bots are acting in ways that are consistent with the story lines that are coming out of Russia or China,” Carley told VICE.
A European Union study concluded that the Kremlin and pro-Kremlin groups have launched a “significant disinformation campaign” about COVID-19 to sow panic in the West, Reuters reported earlier this year.
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Researchers said that the sophisticated bot campaign concerning COVID-19 is also aimed at exacerbating divisions in the U.S. Messages peddling conspiracy theories “increase polarization in groups. It’s what many misinformation campaigns aim to do,” Carley said. “People have real concerns about health and the economy, and people are preying on that to create divides.”
But she also said that because the pandemic is global, it’s also likely being used by “various countries and interest groups as an opportunity to meet political agendas.”
Since January, CMU researchers have collected more than 200 million tweets discussing the coronavirus or COVID-19. They estimate that 45% to 65% are generated by bots.
Carley’s team identified more than 100 inaccurate narratives about COVID-19, mostly involving fake cures (like drinking — or not drinking — Corona beer) and scores of conspiracy theories. Those conversations also included a push to re-open America. Carley said in a video lecture last month that hate speech is growing in the social media debate about COVID-19, and it’s “forming hate communities.”
The team looked at several factors to determine what likely constituted a bot, such as “tweeting more frequently than is humanly possible or appearing to be in one country and then another a few hours later,” she said.
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“When we see a whole bunch of tweets at the same time or back to back, it’s like they’re timed,” Carley said. “We also look for use of the same exact hashtag, or messaging that appears to be copied and pasted from one bot to the next.”
Researchers have been seeing “up to two times as much bot activity as we’d predicted based on previous natural disasters, crises and elections,” said Carley.
The study is ongoing and is now also examining messages on Facebook, Reddit and YouTube.
Jevin West, who runs the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington, told Vice last month that the “real goal” of COVID-19 disinformation campaigns is “about creating distrust in the overall ecosystem and institutions. It’s not so much about picking a side as it is about creating confusion and doubt and distrust of authority.”
For a deeper dive in what Carley’s team is doing, check out the video below based on research gathered through early April:
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Trump Hotel Rates Climb For July 4 Weekend As He Plans Bash On National Mall

Nightly rates for President Donald Trump ’ s Washington hotel are up for the Fourth of July weekend , during which Trump has claimed he ’ ll again host an Independence Day bash in the National Mall .
Trump sparked controversy last year when he turned the national celebration into an event featuring himself at tremendous cost .
Last month he said he plans to do it all over again .
“ Despite the public health concerns raised by hosting a huge public gathering in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic , Trump has made it clear that he plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington .
Trump announced his plans at a coronavirus task force briefing on April 22 .
“ On July 4 , we ’ ll be doing what we had at the Mall .
We ’ re going to be doing it , ” he said .
“ Last year was a tremendous success , and I would imagine we ’ ll do it — hopefully I can use the term — ‘ forever.
’ That was a great success as you remember.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 % and said , “ Most likely we ’ ll be standing 6 feet apart ” in a “ very , very interesting way.
” Meanwhile , a 4-night stay at Trump International beginning July 3 ranged from $ 562 ( without taxes and fees ) to $ 2,257 .
Rates for available rooms the last weekend in May started at just $ 395 .
Throughout his presidency , Trump has repeatedly been accused of using his position to enrich himself and his business .
In 2018 , he made more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , D.C .
The National Park Service confirmed to DCist in April that officials were still expecting to hold an Independence Day event on the Mall this year .
“ As President Trump mentioned , the Department of the Interior and NPS are continuing to plan for a Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall , ” NPS spokesperson Mike Litterst wrote in an emailed statement .
The website for the Mall said that there are “ site closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak , ” following guidance from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The CEO of Garden State Fireworks , which put on Trump ’ s show last year at the Mall , told The Washington Post he ’ s not sure what ’ s happening in a few weeks .
“ We don ’ t know what ’ s going on , ” said August Santore .
“ Everything is up in the air right now .
.
.
.
We ’ ve been talking and negotiating .
Nothing cut in stone — just be on standby .
I can say if they do have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company doing it .
”

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Nightly rates for President Donald Trump’s Washington hotel are up for the Fourth of July weekend, during which Trump has claimed he’ll again host an Independence Day bash in the National Mall.
Trump sparked controversy last year when he turned the national celebration into an event featuring himself at tremendous cost. Last month he said he plans to do it all over again.
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“Despite the public health concerns raised by hosting a huge public gathering in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has made it clear that he plans to charge ahead” with his party, said watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Trump announced his plans at a coronavirus task force briefing on April 22. “On July 4, we’ll be doing what we had at the Mall. We’re going to be doing it,” he said. “Last year was a tremendous success, and I would imagine we’ll do it — hopefully I can use the term — ‘forever.’ That was a great success as you remember.”
He said attendance might be cut to 25% and said, “Most likely we’ll be standing 6 feet apart” in a “very, very interesting way.”
Meanwhile, a 4-night stay at Trump International beginning July 3 ranged from $562 (without taxes and fees) to $2,257. Rates for available rooms the last weekend in May started at just $395.
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Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly been accused of using his position to enrich himself and his business. In 2018, he made more than $40 million from his hotel in Washington, D.C.
The National Park Service confirmed to DCist in April that officials were still expecting to hold an Independence Day event on the Mall this year.
“As President Trump mentioned, the Department of the Interior and NPS are continuing to plan for a Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall,” NPS spokesperson Mike Litterst wrote in an emailed statement.
The website for the Mall said that there are “site closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak,” following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The annual July Fourth parade in Washington was called off earlier this month.
The CEO of Garden State Fireworks, which put on Trump’s show last year at the Mall, told The Washington Post he’s not sure what’s happening in a few weeks.
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“We don’t know what’s going on,” said August Santore. “Everything is up in the air right now. . . . We’ve been talking and negotiating. Nothing cut in stone — just be on standby. I can say if they do have it . . . we will be the company doing it.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--FDA Chief Warns Coronavirus 'Not Yet Contained' As U.S. Begins To Reopen

Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , warned Sunday that the coronavirus is “ not yet contained ” as the United States began to reopen over Memorial Day weekend .
“ It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community , ” Hahn tweeted .
“ Social distancing , hand washing and wearing masks protect us all.
” With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend , I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained .
It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks protect us all .
— Dr. Stephen M. Hahn ( @ SteveFDA ) May 24 , 2020 As of May 20 , all 50 states have begun reopening in some form amid the ongoing pandemic .
Photos showed crowds of people without masks gathering in various parts of the country over Memorial Day weekend as the death toll from the virus neared 100,000 in the U.S .
Photos of some beaches , boardwalks and bars showed people , many without masks , flouting the federal government ’ s 6-foot social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in pools and on yachts at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri , garnering heated criticism from many Twitter users .
Dr. Deborah Birx , an infectious disease expert on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , told “ Fox News Sunday ” that she ’ s “ very concerned ” about people ignoring the social distancing guidelines .
“ We now have excellent scientific evidence of how far droplets go when we speak , ” Birx said .
“ We know being outside does help .
We know sun does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that doesn ’ t change the fact that people need to be responsible and maintain that distance.
” President Donald Trump has long pushed for states to reopen , even when they don ’ t meet the criteria for doing so as laid out by his own guidelines last month .
On Friday , Trump demanded governors allow houses of worship to reopen , calling them “ essential places that provide essential services.
” “ If they don ’ t do it , I will override the governors , ” the president threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say he has little formal power to force governors or businesses to do what he wants , however .
As coronavirus cases continued to rise in some states , Trump tweeted Sunday that “ cases , numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country !
”

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Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, warned Sunday that the coronavirus is “not yet contained” as the United States began to reopen over Memorial Day weekend.
“It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community,” Hahn tweeted. “Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all.”
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With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all. — Dr. Stephen M. Hahn (@SteveFDA) May 24, 2020
As of May 20, all 50 states have begun reopening in some form amid the ongoing pandemic. Photos showed crowds of people without masks gathering in various parts of the country over Memorial Day weekend as the death toll from the virus neared 100,000 in the U.S.
Photos of some beaches, boardwalks and bars showed people, many without masks, flouting the federal government’s 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Viral videos showed people partying in pools and on yachts at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, garnering heated criticism from many Twitter users.
No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks😳 #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u — Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020
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Dr. Deborah Birx, an infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, told “Fox News Sunday” that she’s “very concerned” about people ignoring the social distancing guidelines.
“We now have excellent scientific evidence of how far droplets go when we speak,” Birx said. “We know being outside does help. We know sun does help in killing the virus. But that doesn’t change the fact that people need to be responsible and maintain that distance.”
President Donald Trump has long pushed for states to reopen, even when they don’t meet the criteria for doing so as laid out by his own guidelines last month. On Friday, Trump demanded governors allow houses of worship to reopen, calling them “essential places that provide essential services.”
“If they don’t do it, I will override the governors,” the president threatened during a news briefing. Legal scholars say he has little formal power to force governors or businesses to do what he wants, however.
As coronavirus cases continued to rise in some states, Trump tweeted Sunday that “cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Trump Doubles Down On Fact-Free Fraud Theory About Mail-In Voting

President Donald Trump on Sunday posted on Twitter alleging that mail-in ballots allow for widespread election fraud , despite widespread evidence to the contrary .
Trump — who has previously voted by mail employing the very process he now decries — has railed against states offering mail-in voting leading up to this year ’ s national elections at the same time millions of Americans worry about voting in person during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The United States can not have all Mail In Ballots , ” Trump tweeted Sunday before making the unsubstantiated claim that people steal the ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of forgeries and “ force ” others to sign them .
The United States can not have all Mail In Ballots .
It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history .
People grab them from mailboxes , print thousands of forgeries and “ force ” people to sign .
Also , forge names .
Some absentee OK , when necessary .
Trying to use Covid for this Scam !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 24 , 2020 Meanwhile , National Security Adviser Robert O ’ Brien told CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that U.S. national security agencies have a “ very strong infrastructure ” to combat election interference and to “ make sure we have a free and fair election ” in November .
Several states with both Republican and Democratic leadership already allow voting by mail .
Others have sought to expand voter access to mail-in ballots as public health officials continue to discourage large gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Trump has openly mused that higher “ levels of voting ” would mean “ you ’ d never have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He argued Sunday that efforts to make voting easier during the pandemic were part of a scam to rig the election , again without offering any evidence or substantiation .
Trump on Wednesday threatened to withhold funding from the state of Michigan because the state sent voters applications to vote by mail .
He issued a similar threat to Nevada .
Both Michigan and Nevada are widely considered swing states heading into this year ’ s presidential election .
But a number of Republican lawmakers have publicly distanced themselves from Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mail-in voting is ripe for corruption .
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” on Sunday that absentee voting should be allowed “ as long as you can do it safely , as long as you can make sure there ’ s no fraud.
” “ We ought to be able to do absentee ballots like we do it in Florida , ” Scott said .
“ I think as long as you can do it safely , as long as you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ought to be able to do absentee ballots like we do it in Florida , ” Sen. Rick Scott says about mail-in voting as President Trump criticized the system .
# CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/y7XEaz7NBH — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) May 24 , 2020

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President Donald Trump on Sunday posted on Twitter alleging that mail-in ballots allow for widespread election fraud, despite widespread evidence to the contrary.
Trump — who has previously voted by mail employing the very process he now decries — has railed against states offering mail-in voting leading up to this year’s national elections at the same time millions of Americans worry about voting in person during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots,” Trump tweeted Sunday before making the unsubstantiated claim that people steal the ballots from mailboxes in order to print thousands of forgeries and “force” others to sign them.
The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and “force” people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien told CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday that U.S. national security agencies have a “very strong infrastructure” to combat election interference and to “make sure we have a free and fair election” in November.
Several states with both Republican and Democratic leadership already allow voting by mail. Others have sought to expand voter access to mail-in ballots as public health officials continue to discourage large gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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Trump has openly mused that higher “levels of voting” would mean “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” He argued Sunday that efforts to make voting easier during the pandemic were part of a scam to rig the election, again without offering any evidence or substantiation.
NEWS: The Trump Administration is looking at cutting off travel from Brazil amid #coronavirus pandemic, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien tells @margbrennan. See more of O'Brien's interview at 10:30 am EST today on @FacetheNation pic.twitter.com/IUo21QeYob — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 24, 2020
Trump on Wednesday threatened to withhold funding from the state of Michigan because the state sent voters applications to vote by mail. He issued a similar threat to Nevada. Both Michigan and Nevada are widely considered swing states heading into this year’s presidential election.
But a number of Republican lawmakers have publicly distanced themselves from Trump’s and the party’s unfounded arguments that mail-in voting is ripe for corruption.
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Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that absentee voting should be allowed “as long as you can do it safely, as long as you can make sure there’s no fraud.”
“We ought to be able to do absentee ballots like we do it in Florida,” Scott said.
“I think as long as you can do it safely, as long as you can make sure there’s no fraud, we ought to be able to do absentee ballots like we do it in Florida,” Sen. Rick Scott says about mail-in voting as President Trump criticized the system. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/y7XEaz7NBH — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 24, 2020
Earlier this week, GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told HuffPost he expects “90%” of Utahns to submit mail-in ballots, rebutting Trump’s claim that voting by mail hurts Republicans.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--Michigan Gov. Whitmer Says She Censors Herself On Trump To Keep Federal Aid

ASSOCIATED PRESS Protesters at the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing , Michigan .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer said that she feels the need to censor herself when it comes to public comments about President Donald Trump , fearing it could jeopardize her state ’ s receiving federal assistance .
Whitmer told Axios in an interview scheduled to air on Monday about the difficulty of juggling Trump ’ s emotions with ensuring that Michigan residents receive adequate help amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The worst night ’ s sleep that I ’ ve got in the last 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter , ” Whitmer , a Democrat , said in an interview clip released Sunday .
.
@ alexi : Do you feel like when you 're talking about the president publicly , you have to censor yourself for the sake of continuing to receive federal assistance ?
@ GovWhitmer : Yes .
Watch the full # AxiosOnHBO interview Monday at 11pm ET/PT on all HBO platforms .
pic.twitter.com/vosJ9e00cd — Axios ( @ axios ) May 24 , 2020 Whitmer was asked if she feels that she has to censor herself when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to receive federal assistance.
” Trump has publicly labeled Whitmer a “ big problem ” after she expressed concern that the federal government may be blocking her state ’ s requests for personal protective equipment and other needed resources for health care workers .
Similar allegations have been made by hospitals across the country .
Trump blasted the first-term governor as being “ way in over her ” head and said she “ doesn ’ t have a clue.
” Whitmer and Trump were later able to smooth out their differences behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Axios is scheduled to air Monday at 11 p.m. on HBO .

Protesters at the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said that she feels the need to censor herself when it comes to public comments about President Donald Trump, fearing it could jeopardize her state’s receiving federal assistance.
Whitmer told Axios in an interview scheduled to air on Monday about the difficulty of juggling Trump’s emotions with ensuring that Michigan residents receive adequate help amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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“The worst night’s sleep that I’ve got in the last 10 weeks is when he has attacked me on Twitter,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said in an interview clip released Sunday.
.@alexi: Do you feel like when you're talking about the president publicly, you have to censor yourself for the sake of continuing
to receive federal assistance?@GovWhitmer: Yes.
Watch the full #AxiosOnHBO interview Monday at 11pm ET/PT on all HBO platforms. pic.twitter.com/vosJ9e00cd — Axios (@axios) May 24, 2020
Whitmer was asked if she feels that she has to censor herself when discussing Trump “for the sake of continuing to receive federal assistance.”
“Yes,” Whitmer readily replied.
Trump has publicly labeled Whitmer a “big problem” after she expressed concern that the federal government may be blocking her state’s requests for personal protective equipment and other needed resources for health care workers. Similar allegations have been made by hospitals across the country.
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Trump blasted the first-term governor as being “way in over her” head and said she “doesn’t have a clue.” Whitmer and Trump were later able to smooth out their differences behind the scenes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-24--White House Press Secretary: Golf Is Not OK While U.S. Mourns  (Trump Exempt)

She was complaining in 2017 about former President Barack Obama golfing after the murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 .
Obama was a state senator in Illinois when Pearl was kidnapped and later beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan .
“ I think when we ’ re in a state of mourning , you should take time off from the golf course , ” McEnany said on CNN , where she was a commentator at the time and already a staunch Trump defender .
She claimed Obama expressed how upset he was at Pearl ’ s killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf game.
” She criticized Obama as she defended frequent golfing by Trump , who had bashed his predecessor for spending too much time on the links .
McEnany later apologized for attacking Obama about Pearl .
She insisted she had confused names and meant to refer to James Foley , a freelance American journalist who was kidnapped in Syria and beheaded by the Islamic State militant group in 2014 .
She said both men “ should be honored by our leaders , ” which apparently means not golfing like Trump is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Foley was killed , Obama was on vacation in Martha ’ s Vineyard .
The president held a news conference and played golf that day .
Obama acknowledged weeks later in an NBC interview that he realized what a mistake it was to golf after talking to the families and “ listening to the pain that they were going through.
” Trump referred to one of the victims when attacking Obama ’ s golfing in 2014 on “ Fox and Friends.
” How about “ right after the beheading ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obama “ walks over , has a news conference , then walks right outside and tees it up , ” Trump said .
Trump also lashed out at Obama for playing golf during the Ebola outbreak in the U.S. , in which two people died , adding that it “ sends the wrong signal.
” Trump called for Obama to stop playing entirely while president .
“ You know , when you ’ re president , you sorta say , like , ‘ I ’ m gon na give it up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m really gon na focus on the job , ’ ” Trump said .
Trump is golfing today .
In 2014 on Fox and Friends he criticized Obama for golfing when there were *two cases* of Ebola in the United States saying , `` it sends the wrong signal '' and he should have given up golf as president `` to really focus on the job . ''
https : //t.co/br8jLwVLts pic.twitter.com/Jmh5CSt2mp — andrew kaczynski🤔 ( @ KFILE ) May 23 , 2020 After three years in office , Trump has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf course than Obama had by the same point in his first term , according to an analysis by HuffPost .

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany once weighed in on an American leader golfing while Americans are mourning: It’s inappropriate.
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She was complaining in 2017 about former President Barack Obama golfing after the murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. Obama was a state senator in Illinois when Pearl was kidnapped and later beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan.
“I think when we’re in a state of mourning, you should take time off from the golf course,” McEnany said on CNN, where she was a commentator at the time and already a staunch Trump defender. She claimed Obama expressed how upset he was at Pearl’s killing, then “rushed off to a golf game.”
WATCH: Kayleigh McEnany: Obama rushed off to golf after Daniel Pearl was beheaded.
Pearl was killed in 2002. Obama was a state senator. pic.twitter.com/5QkFRgjoR4 — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 28, 2017
She criticized Obama as she defended frequent golfing by Trump, who had bashed his predecessor for spending too much time on the links.
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McEnany later apologized for attacking Obama about Pearl. She insisted she had confused names and meant to refer to James Foley, a freelance American journalist who was kidnapped in Syria and beheaded by the Islamic State militant group in 2014. She said both men “should be honored by our leaders,” which apparently means not golfing like Trump is doing this weekend as people fall to COVID-19.
When Foley was killed, Obama was on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. The president held a news conference and played golf that day. Obama acknowledged weeks later in an NBC interview that he realized what a mistake it was to golf after talking to the families and “listening to the pain that they were going through.”
Trump referred to one of the victims when attacking Obama’s golfing in 2014 on “Fox and Friends.” How about “right after the beheading?” Trump said, without mentioning a name. Obama “walks over, has a news conference, then walks right outside and tees it up,” Trump said.
Trump also lashed out at Obama for playing golf during the Ebola outbreak in the U.S., in which two people died, adding that it “sends the wrong signal.”
Trump called for Obama to stop playing entirely while president. “You know, when you’re president, you sorta say, like, ‘I’m gonna give it up for a couple of years, and I’m really gonna focus on the job,’” Trump said.
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Trump is golfing today.
In 2014 on Fox and Friends he criticized Obama for golfing when there were *two cases* of Ebola in the United States saying, "it sends the wrong signal" and he should have given up golf as president "to really focus on the job." https://t.co/br8jLwVLts pic.twitter.com/Jmh5CSt2mp — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) May 23, 2020
After three years in office, Trump has already spent 270% more days on a golf course than Obama had by the same point in his first term, according to an analysis by HuffPost.