thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-05--Tennessee Justices Say Voters Can't Request Mail-In Ballots Due To COVID-19 Fears

Tennessee ’ s Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the option for all eligible voters to cast their ballots by mail due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
In a 4-1 decision , the state ’ s high court said voters ’ fears of COVID-19 could not be cited as a reason to request an absentee ballot after a judge said in June all of Tennessee ’ s 4.1 million registered voters should be given the option to vote by mail .
“ With respect to those plaintiffs and persons who do not have special vulnerability to COVID-19 or who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 , we hold that the trial court erred in issuing the temporary injunction , ” the state Supreme Court said in its ruling .
Absentee ballots filed for a primary election on Thursday remain valid .
The decision came the day before voters could begin requesting absentee ballots for November ’ s general election .
Tennessee requires voters to provide one of 14 excuses to request an absentee ballot .
They include provisions for voters 60 and older , those outside the country during early voting periods and Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voters had filed lawsuits asking the courts to expand the medical excuses to include concerns about their safety amid the pandemic .
Although that expansion was overturned , the court did say that voters with “ a special vulnerability to COVID-19 ” or their caretakers do satisfy the requirements to request an absentee ballot .
Justice Sharon Lee was the lone dissenting voice , saying the ruling didn ’ t go “ far enough ” to safeguard voters in the state .
“ All qualified Tennessee voters — like voters in forty-five other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote by absentee mail ballot during the unprecedented and deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is gripping our community , state , nation , and world , ” she said in her opinion .
The state ’ s Republican secretary of state , Tre Hargett , cheered the news after local lawmakers initially opposed lawsuits meant to expand vote-by-mail earlier this year as the pandemic first began to spread across the nation .
“ I appreciate the Tennessee Supreme Court agreeing with our analysis of Tennessee election law , ” Hargett , said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare for a massive volume of absentee ballots , The Associated Press noted , saying election officials should assume all registered voters 60 and older — about 1.4 million people — will cast mail-in ballots .

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Tennessee’s Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the option for all eligible voters to cast their ballots by mail due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In a 4-1 decision, the state’s high court said voters’ fears of COVID-19 could not be cited as a reason to request an absentee ballot after a judge said in June all of Tennessee’s 4.1 million registered voters should be given the option to vote by mail.
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“With respect to those plaintiffs and persons who do not have special vulnerability to COVID-19 or who are not caretakers for persons with special vulnerability to COVID-19, we hold that the trial court erred in issuing the temporary injunction,” the state Supreme Court said in its ruling.
Absentee ballots filed for a primary election on Thursday remain valid. The decision came the day before voters could begin requesting absentee ballots for November’s general election.
Tennessee requires voters to provide one of 14 excuses to request an absentee ballot. They include provisions for voters 60 and older, those outside the country during early voting periods and Election Day, and those hospitalized or physically disabled. Voters had filed lawsuits asking the courts to expand the medical excuses to include concerns about their safety amid the pandemic.
Although that expansion was overturned, the court did say that voters with “a special vulnerability to COVID-19” or their caretakers do satisfy the requirements to request an absentee ballot.
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Justice Sharon Lee was the lone dissenting voice, saying the ruling didn’t go “far enough” to safeguard voters in the state.
“All qualified Tennessee voters — like voters in forty-five other states — should be allowed to apply to vote by absentee mail ballot during the unprecedented and deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is gripping our community, state, nation, and world,” she said in her opinion.
The state’s Republican secretary of state, Tre Hargett, cheered the news after local lawmakers initially opposed lawsuits meant to expand vote-by-mail earlier this year as the pandemic first began to spread across the nation.
“I appreciate the Tennessee Supreme Court agreeing with our analysis of Tennessee election law,” Hargett, said on Twitter.
I appreciate the Tennessee Supreme Court agreeing with our analysis of Tennessee election law. I am also grateful for the excellent representation provided by the Office of the @TNattygen #TrustedInfo2020 #GoVoteTN https://t.co/gEQAQfq4LX — Tre Hargett (@sectrehargett) August 5, 2020
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Hargett has advised his office to prepare for a massive volume of absentee ballots, The Associated Press noted, saying election officials should assume all registered voters 60 and older — about 1.4 million people — will cast mail-in ballots.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Reality Winner's Mom Says Daughter Got COVID-19 As Convicted Trump Aides Went Free

The former U.S. Air Force linguist and intelligence specialist who worked as an NSA contractor was denied compassionate release from a Texas medical prison in April .
She tested positive for the coronavirus last month , along with at least 510 female inmates at the Federal Medical Center , Carswell in Fort Worth .
The facility has one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the nation , with some 40 % of the prison population infected .
Winner-Davis called her daughter ’ s treatment “ cruel ” and “ vindictive ” in contrast to former Trump aides who sparked national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have since been released from prison or have avoided it altogether .
“ They didn ’ t want that information out there ; they wanted to set an example to others , ” she said of the White House ’ s interest in keeping her daughter behind bars .
Trump ’ s former campaign manager Paul Manafort , who owed at much as $ 17 million to pro-Russian interests while working on the campaign , was released in May to home confinement to serve out his 7.5-year sentence because of the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 30 % of his sentence for conspiracy , fraud and tax evasion behind bars .
The U.S. Department of Justice is also currently battling to dismiss a case against Trump ’ s former national security adviser Michael Flynn , even though he pleaded guilty — twice — to lying to FBI agents about his secret negotiations with Russia ’ s ambassador to the U.S. Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates testified Wednesday before a Senate committee that Flynn undermined U.S. interests in calls shortly before Trump took office as he assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The purpose of the sanctions was both to punish and deter ” Russia from interfering in U.S. elections , Yates testified .
When Flynn said “ nevermind on those sanctions , ” it undercut that message , said Yates .
And Trump just weeks ago commuted the 40-month sentence of longtime adviser and felon Roger Stone , who communicated with Russian intelligence officers during Trump ’ s presidential campaign , according to the FBI .
Those officers were linked to the publication of Democratic emails hacked in a Kremlin-backed operation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSA document Winner leaked has been linked to a story in The Intercept about a monthslong hacking effort by Russian military intelligence to undermine the election .
It included details about a cyberattack on at least one U.S. voting software supplier and phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials .
Winner-Davis said her daughter believed getting the document out was the right thing to do at the time .
“ She felt like the truth had to be told , and she ’ s not the type to walk away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spotted the document she later leaked as she was reading classified information sent to workers with top security clearance , according to a transcript of her FBI interrogation in 2017 at her home in Georgia , where she was working at the time .
The word-for-word transcript has since been made into a play ( check out the video up top ) .
“ Reality Winner ’ s long prison sentence is proof that the U.S. government cares more about hiding information from the public than it does about its citizens ’ rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ewen , the North America bureau director of Reporters Without Borders , said in a statement at the time .
Those with COVID-19 are considered “ recovered ” after 10 days at the prison , though they ’ re not tested again , Winner-Davis said .
But newly ill inmates are mixed in with the rest of the population , risking more contagion , she said .
The Federal Medical Center , Carswell has been locked down since early April because of COVID-19 .
Inmates are not allowed to go outside and typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winner-Davis .
It ’ s no longer possible for her daughter to work outside her cell or to participate in extra programs , such as taking college classes , she said .

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Reality Winner’s mom is blasting the fact that felons who worked for President Donald Trump are free while her daughter is still behind bars and caught COVID-19.
Winner, 29, was sentenced in 2018 to five years in federal prison for leaking a classified National Security Agency document to the media that exposed Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
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The former U.S. Air Force linguist and intelligence specialist who worked as an NSA contractor was denied compassionate release from a Texas medical prison in April. She tested positive for the coronavirus last month, along with at least 510 female inmates at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth. The facility has one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the nation, with some 40% of the prison population infected.
Winner appears to be doing better now after suffering significant pain from the virus, her mom, Billie Winner-Davis, told HuffPost in an interview Wednesday.
Winner-Davis called her daughter’s treatment “cruel” and “vindictive” in contrast to former Trump aides who sparked national security concerns over their links to Russia and have since been released from prison or have avoided it altogether.
“They didn’t want that information out there; they wanted to set an example to others,” she said of the White House’s interest in keeping her daughter behind bars.
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“This has really opened my eyes to how very corrupt our government is, and it’s way worse under Trump,” she told HuffPost.
Reality Winner and her cat before her arrest in 2017. Courtesy Billie Winner-Davis
Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, who owed at much as $17 million to pro-Russian interests while working on the campaign, was released in May to home confinement to serve out his 7.5-year sentence because of the risks of COVID-19 in prison. He served less than 30% of his sentence for conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion behind bars.
The U.S. Department of Justice is also currently battling to dismiss a case against Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, even though he pleaded guilty — twice — to lying to FBI agents about his secret negotiations with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S.
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates testified Wednesday before a Senate committee that Flynn undermined U.S. interests in calls shortly before Trump took office as he assured the ambassador not to worry about sanctions. “The purpose of the sanctions was both to punish and deter” Russia from interfering in U.S. elections, Yates testified. When Flynn said “nevermind on those sanctions,” it undercut that message, said Yates.
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And Trump just weeks ago commuted the 40-month sentence of longtime adviser and felon Roger Stone, who communicated with Russian intelligence officers during Trump’s presidential campaign, according to the FBI. Those officers were linked to the publication of Democratic emails hacked in a Kremlin-backed operation to manipulate the U.S. presidential election.
The NSA document Winner leaked has been linked to a story in The Intercept about a monthslong hacking effort by Russian military intelligence to undermine the election. It included details about a cyberattack on at least one U.S. voting software supplier and phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials.
Winner-Davis said her daughter believed getting the document out was the right thing to do at the time. “She felt like the truth had to be told, and she’s not the type to walk away,” her mom told HuffPost.
Winner spotted the document she later leaked as she was reading classified information sent to workers with top security clearance, according to a transcript of her FBI interrogation in 2017 at her home in Georgia, where she was working at the time. The word-for-word transcript has since been made into a play (check out the video up top).
“Seeing that information that had been contested back and forth and back and forth in the public domain for so long, trying to figure out, like, with everything else that keeps getting released and keeps getting leaked, why isn’t this getting out there? Why can’t this be public?” Winner told an agent.
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“To sit back and watch ... and think, ’Why do I have this job if I’m just going to sit back and be helpless? … I just thought that it was the final straw.”
Winner’s penalty for leaking a classified document was the longest known sentence in American history for leaking a document to the press under the Espionage Act, sparking outrage from First Amendment advocates.
“Reality Winner’s long prison sentence is proof that the U.S. government cares more about hiding information from the public than it does about its citizens’ rights to the First Amendment,” Margaux Ewen, the North America bureau director of Reporters Without Borders, said in a statement at the time.
PEN America said that Winner’s sentence had “troubling ramifications for national security whistleblowers and the public’s access to information.”
Winner-Davis is relieved her daughter is doing better after her COVID-19 diagnosis. “She sounded much better this week and started to laugh again,” she said.
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Those with COVID-19 are considered “recovered” after 10 days at the prison, though they’re not tested again, Winner-Davis said. But newly ill inmates are mixed in with the rest of the population, risking more contagion, she said.
The Federal Medical Center, Carswell has been locked down since early April because of COVID-19. Inmates are not allowed to go outside and typically eat in their crowded cells, said Winner-Davis. It’s no longer possible for her daughter to work outside her cell or to participate in extra programs, such as taking college classes, she said.
“Reality, like many other non-violent first offenders, doesn’t deserve this,” Winner-Davis told CNN last month. “This is torture. This could possibly even be a death sentence.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Fox Host Puts Kellyanne Conway In The Hot Seat Over Trump's COVID-19 Mistruths

White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway attempted on Thursday to spin President Donald Trump ’ s false claim that children are “ nearly immune ” to the coronavirus — but met repeated pushback from Fox News host Sandra Smith .
That claim earned Trump a long-overdue rebuke from Facebook , which removed the post in question from his profile .
Twitter , too , penalized the president ’ s campaign for posting a clip from his Wednesday morning “ Fox & Friends ” interview in which he claimed , “ If you look at children , children are almost ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost immune from this disease.
” “ There is a debate happening whether or not Facebook and Twitter should be arbiters of truth and decide what is fact and fiction , ” Smith began .
She then pulled up figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
According to those figures , children under the age of 18 account for 7.4 % of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. , a figure that ’ s been rising over the past month , Smith told Conway .
Conway sidestepped , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing out that some states , counties and school districts have different numbers .
She then pivoted to discussing how some parents want their kids back at school , but Smith redirected her back to the issue at hand ― Trump ’ s claim .
“ The debate right now is over the spread of misinformation by the president about children being ‘ nearly immune , ’ ” she interrupted .
“ Having under-18 kids in this country get the disease 7.4 % of the time is not ‘ nearly immune.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to specific states and districts where schools are reopening , ” Smith added .
“ I spoke to the governor of Mississippi last night and he said , ‘ The kids are spreading it.
’ ” She showed a clip of Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves ( R ) , who delayed the reopening of schools and introduced a mask mandate earlier this week .
A school in Corinth , Mississippi , that reopened last week announced Wednesday that over 100 students were sent home to quarantine after several tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the president to tell parents that children are nearly immune from this and then have it factually spreading child to child in places like Mississippi where they ’ ve opened the doors to their schools ?
” Smith asked .
Conway insisted Trump was referring to children being less susceptible to dying from the virus , which is very different from having immunity .
After that , she pivoted to attacking Twitter and tech companies for “ election interference , ” but again , Smith pressed Conway to respond to Trump ’ @ @ @

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White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway attempted on Thursday to spin President Donald Trump’s false claim that children are “nearly immune” to the coronavirus — but met repeated pushback from Fox News host Sandra Smith.
That claim earned Trump a long-overdue rebuke from Facebook, which removed the post in question from his profile. Twitter, too, penalized the president’s campaign for posting a clip from his Wednesday morning “Fox & Friends” interview in which he claimed, “If you look at children, children are almost ― and I would almost say definitely ― almost immune from this disease.”
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“There is a debate happening whether or not Facebook and Twitter should be arbiters of truth and decide what is fact and fiction,” Smith began. She then pulled up figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to those figures, children under the age of 18 account for 7.4% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S., a figure that’s been rising over the past month, Smith told Conway.
“So kids are getting this disease, Kellyanne,” she added.
Conway sidestepped, noting that 7.4% is a national figure and pointing out that some states, counties and school districts have different numbers. She then pivoted to discussing how some parents want their kids back at school, but Smith redirected her back to the issue at hand ― Trump’s claim.
“The debate right now is over the spread of misinformation by the president about children being ‘nearly immune,’” she interrupted. “Having under-18 kids in this country get the disease 7.4% of the time is not ‘nearly immune.’”
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“And you want to dial down to specific states and districts where schools are reopening,” Smith added. “I spoke to the governor of Mississippi last night and he said, ‘The kids are spreading it.’”
She showed a clip of Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R), who delayed the reopening of schools and introduced a mask mandate earlier this week. A school in Corinth, Mississippi, that reopened last week announced Wednesday that over 100 students were sent home to quarantine after several tested positive for the coronavirus.
“So is it helpful for the president to tell parents that children are nearly immune from this and then have it factually spreading child to child in places like Mississippi where they’ve opened the doors to their schools?” Smith asked.
Conway insisted Trump was referring to children being less susceptible to dying from the virus, which is very different from having immunity. After that, she pivoted to attacking Twitter and tech companies for “election interference,” but again, Smith pressed Conway to respond to Trump’s misinformation.
Watch the interview below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Mike Pence: Supreme Court Chief John Roberts Is A 'Disappointment To Conservatives'

Vice President Mike Pence offered a withering take on Chief Justice John Roberts this week , urging conservative Americans to consider the “ destiny ” of the Supreme Court as they cast their votes this November .
Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network ’ s David Brody in an interview that aired Thursday , Pence took Roberts to task over the fact that the chief justice sided with the high court ’ s liberal members several times in recent months .
“ Look , we have great respect for the institution of the Supreme Court of the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Chief Justice John Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives — whether it be the Obamacare decision or whether it be a spate of recent decisions all the way through Calvary Chapel.
” In the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley decision last month , the Supreme Court rejected a Nevada church ’ s emergency plea to strike down the state ’ s temporary 50-person cap on worship services .
Roberts , a nominee of former President George W. Bush , has come to be seen as the Supreme Court ’ s key swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirement in 2018 .
This year , he sided with the four liberal justices in extending workplace protections to LGBTQ employees .
He also wrote the 5-4 decision that blocked the Trump administration from rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , keeping nearly 650,000 undocumented young people safe from deportation for at least a while longer .
In his chat with Brody , Pence pointed specifically to the chief justice being the swing vote in a June ruling that struck down a Louisiana law that could have left the state with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have mandated that doctors providing abortions obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital ― a requirement that the court had rejected four years earlier in a Texas case .
“ I think it ’ s been a wake-up call for pro-life voters around the country who understand , in a very real sense , the destiny of the Supreme Court is on the ballot in 2020 , ” the vice president said .
Many observers interpreted Pence ’ s remarks as an effort to refocus voters on the courts .
Recent polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the COVID-19 crisis , but his conservative overhaul of the federal judiciary has been touted by his supporters as an enduring achievement .
I will be releasing a new list of Conservative Supreme Court Justice nominees , which may include some , or many of those already on the list , by September 1 , 2020 .
If given the opportunity , I will only choose from this list , as in the past , a Conservative Supreme Court Justice ... — Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) June 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to issue a short list of prospective Supreme Court nominees ahead of the November election .
It ’ s a repeat of a 2016 campaign tactic that helped win over many Republican voters , according to exit polls .
“ He kept his word , ” Pence said .
“ He ’ s going to do that in the fall of 2020 , and in the next four years , he ’ ll keep his word and appoint more principled conservatives to our courts .
”

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Vice President Mike Pence offered a withering take on Chief Justice John Roberts this week, urging conservative Americans to consider the “destiny” of the Supreme Court as they cast their votes this November.
Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody in an interview that aired Thursday, Pence took Roberts to task over the fact that the chief justice sided with the high court’s liberal members several times in recent months.
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“Look, we have great respect for the institution of the Supreme Court of the United States,” the vice president said. “But Chief Justice John Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives — whether it be the Obamacare decision or whether it be a spate of recent decisions all the way through Calvary Chapel.”
EXCLUSIVE: Vice President Mike Pence calls out Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts by name. He says, "Chief Justice Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives." Watch from my interview with @VP in Florida today. Full report on @700club Thursday + clips on @CBNNews pic.twitter.com/z6IANVONr5 — David Brody (@DavidBrodyCBN) August 6, 2020
In the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley decision last month, the Supreme Court rejected a Nevada church’s emergency plea to strike down the state’s temporary 50-person cap on worship services.
Roberts, a nominee of former President George W. Bush, has come to be seen as the Supreme Court’s key swing vote since Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement in 2018.
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This year, he sided with the four liberal justices in extending workplace protections to LGBTQ employees. He also wrote the 5-4 decision that blocked the Trump administration from rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, keeping nearly 650,000 undocumented young people safe from deportation for at least a while longer.
President Donald Trump, along with multiple Republican lawmakers, has publicly denounced Roberts for his role in those decisions.
In his chat with Brody, Pence pointed specifically to the chief justice being the swing vote in a June ruling that struck down a Louisiana law that could have left the state with only one abortion provider. The law would have mandated that doctors providing abortions obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital ― a requirement that the court had rejected four years earlier in a Texas case.
“I think it’s been a wake-up call for pro-life voters around the country who understand, in a very real sense, the destiny of the Supreme Court is on the ballot in 2020,” the vice president said.
Many observers interpreted Pence’s remarks as an effort to refocus voters on the courts. Recent polls indicate widespread disapproval of Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but his conservative overhaul of the federal judiciary has been touted by his supporters as an enduring achievement.
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I will be releasing a new list of Conservative Supreme Court Justice nominees, which may include some, or many of those already on the list, by September 1, 2020. If given the opportunity, I will only choose from this list, as in the past, a Conservative Supreme Court Justice... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2020
In June, Trump pledged to issue a short list of prospective Supreme Court nominees ahead of the November election. It’s a repeat of a 2016 campaign tactic that helped win over many Republican voters, according to exit polls.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Over 100 Mississippi Students Forced To Quarantine After Returning To School

The confirmed cases involve six high school students , a middle school student and an elementary school staff member in the Corinth School District , just south of the Tennessee border , where classes resumed on July 27 .
The quarantined students make up about 4 % of the district ’ s population , according to figures the district provided to HuffPost .
“ This pandemic is not going to go away within the next several months , ” Childress said while emphasizing the need to return to “ some sort of normalcy ” for the sake of students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents the option of having their children either take classes remotely or follow the “ traditional model , ” in which classes function in person while adhering to guidelines set by the state ’ s health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Under these guidelines , teachers and students are required to wear masks in common areas , including classrooms , and to undergo daily temperature screenings .
Lunch is also being served in classrooms instead of school cafeterias , and students who ride on school buses have assigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , elementary school students use hand sanitizer before entering their classroom in Godley , Texas , on Wednesday .
Schools across the country have grappled with the issue of whether to resume in-person classes or conduct them online amid the pandemic .
Childress applauded his district ’ s handling of the school season thus far and said the confirmed cases only prove that the district ’ s contract tracing system works .
He also shared his belief that those who contracted the virus likely did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But either way , it doesn ’ t matter if you get the COVID-19 at school or the community .
It ’ s something that we have to deal with and it ’ s something that we have to recognize is going to continue , ” he said .
Elementary school students wait for classes to begin in Godley , Texas , on Wednesday .
States in the South and Southwest have recently seen the highest number of new coronavirus cases per capita .
In Gwinnett County , Georgia , the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reported Wednesday that around 260 district employees had either tested positive or had been exposed to the virus and will have to quarantine ahead of the start of the fall semester next week .
Paulding County Superintendent Brian Otott said students were only in the hallway for a “ brief period ” while transitioning between classes .
He also said there is “ no practical way ” to force students to wear masks .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country ’ s leading infectious disease specialist , has voiced support for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not every region of the country can safely do so .
“ I think to say every child has to go back to school is not really realizing the fact that we have such a diversity of viral activity .
There may some sections of the country where the viral activity is so low you don ’ t have to do anything different , you can just send the children back to school , ” Fauci said in a webinar Monday hosted by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire .
Recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen the highest number of new coronavirus cases per capita .
They ’ ve also had the highest growth in newly reported deaths over the last two weeks , according to data from state and local health agencies and hospitals compiled by The New York Times .

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A Mississippi school district has ordered 122 students to self-quarantine after seven students and a teacher tested positive for COVID-19 following the resumption of in-person classes last week, a district spokesperson said.
The confirmed cases involve six high school students, a middle school student and an elementary school staff member in the Corinth School District, just south of the Tennessee border, where classes resumed on July 27. The quarantined students make up about 4% of the district’s population, according to figures the district provided to HuffPost.
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The district’s latest confirmed case, involving a high school student, was announced late Thursday afternoon, raising the number of quarantined students from 116.
In a video address on Facebook Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Lee Childress said the confirmed COVID-19 cases were not unexpected and won’t affect the district’s decision to keep schools open.
“This pandemic is not going to go away within the next several months,” Childress said while emphasizing the need to return to “some sort of normalcy” for the sake of students and working parents.
The Mississippi Department of Education gave its public schools three options on how to resume classes this fall, using either a traditional schedule, a hybrid schedule or a virtual schedule.
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Students wearing masks head to class at Mooreville High School in Mooreville, Mississippi, on Thursday. The high school is not part of the Corinth School District, where seven coronavirus cases were confirmed. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Corinth School District gave parents the option of having their children either take classes remotely or follow the “traditional model,” in which classes function in person while adhering to guidelines set by the state’s health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under these guidelines, teachers and students are required to wear masks in common areas, including classrooms, and to undergo daily temperature screenings. Lunch is also being served in classrooms instead of school cafeterias, and students who ride on school buses have assigned seating, according to the district.
Wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, elementary school students use hand sanitizer before entering their classroom in Godley, Texas, on Wednesday. Schools across the country have grappled with the issue of whether to resume in-person classes or conduct them online amid the pandemic. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Childress applauded his district’s handling of the school season thus far and said the confirmed cases only prove that the district’s contract tracing system works. He also shared his belief that those who contracted the virus likely did so outside of the school setting.
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“But either way, it doesn’t matter if you get the COVID-19 at school or the community. It’s something that we have to deal with and it’s something that we have to recognize is going to continue,” he said.
Across the country, schools have been grappling with the decision of whether or not to resume in-person classes over COVID-19 fears.
Elementary school students wait for classes to begin in Godley, Texas, on Wednesday. States in the South and Southwest have recently seen the highest number of new coronavirus cases per capita. ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, the state’s largest school district, it was reported Wednesday that around 260 district employees had either tested positive or had been exposed to the virus and will have to quarantine ahead of the start of the fall semester next week.
Gwinnett County has decided to offer all-digital classes beginning Aug. 12, though staff members were still required to physically report to work last week for pre-planning activities.
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In Georgia’s Paulding and Cherokee counties, in-person classes resumed this week and made national news after highly controversial photos emerged showing students packing a school’s hallway without face masks. Students who shared the photos were reportedly suspended.
Paulding County Superintendent Brian Otott said students were only in the hallway for a “brief period” while transitioning between classes. He also said there is “no practical way” to force students to wear masks.
Des Moines Public Schools employee Sarah Holland installs a plexiglass shield in the office at Oak Park Elementary School on July 30, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, has voiced support for students returning to school but has also cautioned that not every region of the country can safely do so.
“I think to say every child has to go back to school is not really realizing the fact that we have such a diversity of viral activity. There may some sections of the country where the viral activity is so low you don’t have to do anything different, you can just send the children back to school,” Fauci said in a webinar Monday hosted by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Olympians Michael Phelps, Apollo Ohno Discuss Suicide, Depression In New Doc

Olympians are known for pushing their bodies to the extreme but much less understood are the mental and emotional rigors paving their road to greatness .
Michael Phelps , the most decorated Olympian in history , says he had suicidal thoughts even at the peak of his remarkable swimming career and calls depression and suicide among Olympic athletes an “ epidemic.
” Phelps is opening up about his mental health struggles in “ The Weight of Gold , ” a new documentary that premiered last week on HBO .
The film explores depression and suicide among the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the problem .
“ It was important for me for the American public to see , ‘ Hey , you have celebrated these athletes and it ’ s been amazing that you ’ ve done that.
’ But it ’ s not all what you think it is , ” said Ohno , who has won two gold , two silver and four bronze medals .
Like Ohno , the vast majority of Olympians spend most of their childhoods competing in their given sport .
As they progress , competition becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , friends , school or fun .
For years they work toward that goal for what amounts to a competition that lasts minutes or mere seconds .
The difference between winning and losing can be a fraction of a second , and millions are watching .
“ It does define you , and you lose your human identity , ” said Jeremy Bloom , a three-time world champion skier and two-time Olympian .
“ That ’ s where it becomes dangerous .
Because at some point , we all lose sports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ retire or the sport kind of shows us the door because we age out .
And then we ’ re left to redefine ourselves.
” “ He was in tears .
I ’ ve never seen him cry .
He ’ s like , ‘ I just need to talk to you , ’ ” Bloom said recently from his home in Boulder , Colorado .
“ He really opened up to me about some of the mental struggles that he was he was dealing with.
” “ I had no idea the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
I just felt like he was having a bad night , ” he said .
“ And I wish I could go back to that moment and know what I know now and be able to be a better support for him ... And so I said , ‘ Well , I better educate myself , better get smarter about it , and I better start talking about it because that ’ s what Jeret would want me to do.
’ ” Phelps , a co-executive producer on “ The Weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for change also is what drove him to speak up .
He and other Olympians are calling on the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to do much more to address the problem .
“ We ’ re just products , ” the 35-year-old Phelps said from his home in Scottsdale , Arizona .
“ It ’ s frightening .
It ’ s scary .
And it breaks my heart .
Because there are so many people who care so much about our physical well-being but I never saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement to The Associated Press , the IOC said it “ recognizes the seriousness of the topic ” and assembled a team of international experts to review scientific literature on mental health issues among elite athletes in 2018 , resulting in a mental health working group .
The committee said the topic has been discussed more openly at forums and panels in recent years and that the IOC has launched a series of webinars to help athletes cope with COVID-19 , and plans other initiatives , including a helpline .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of creating a dedicated athlete services division — separating athlete care and mental health services from high performance — to differentiate these services and ensure athletes can access resources and assistance without concern or hesitation , ” he said .
“ We also created a mental health task force comprised of athletes and experts together to inform our work and help us improve athlete health and well-being .
”

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Athletes Stephen Scherer, Jeret Peterson and Kelly Catlin have two things in common: They all reached their dream of becoming Olympians, and they all died by suicide.
Olympians are known for pushing their bodies to the extreme but much less understood are the mental and emotional rigors paving their road to greatness. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, says he had suicidal thoughts even at the peak of his remarkable swimming career and calls depression and suicide among Olympic athletes an “epidemic.”
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Phelps is opening up about his mental health struggles in “The Weight of Gold,” a new documentary that premiered last week on HBO. The film explores depression and suicide among the world’s top athletes and what should be done to address the problem.
Other high-profile Olympians including speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, snowboarder Shaun White, skier Bode Miller, hurdler Lolo Jones and figure skater Sasha Cohen also detail their own struggles in the film.
“It was important for me for the American public to see, ‘Hey, you have celebrated these athletes and it’s been amazing that you’ve done that.’ But it’s not all what you think it is,” said Ohno, who has won two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
Like Ohno, the vast majority of Olympians spend most of their childhoods competing in their given sport. As they progress, competition becomes the main focus of their lives before family, friends, school or fun. For years they work toward that goal for what amounts to a competition that lasts minutes or mere seconds. The difference between winning and losing can be a fraction of a second, and millions are watching.
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And then, it’s over. Either for another four years or forever, depending on the athlete and the sport.
“It does define you, and you lose your human identity,” said Jeremy Bloom, a three-time world champion skier and two-time Olympian. “That’s where it becomes dangerous. Because at some point, we all lose sports. We all move on. We all retire or the sport kind of shows us the door because we age out. And then we’re left to redefine ourselves.”
That becomes the breaking point for some athletes.
Bloom’s friend, aerial skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson, killed himself in 2011 just a year and a half after winning a silver medal. He was 29.
To Bloom, Peterson had always seemed like “the happiest guy.” Except the night Peterson knocked on his door at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid around 2005.
“He was in tears. I’ve never seen him cry. He’s like, ‘I just need to talk to you,’” Bloom said recently from his home in Boulder, Colorado. “He really opened up to me about some of the mental struggles that he was he was dealing with.”
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But Bloom said he “was not equipped at all.
“I had no idea the things to ask, the things to say. I just felt like he was having a bad night,” he said. “And I wish I could go back to that moment and know what I know now and be able to be a better support for him ... And so I said, ‘Well, I better educate myself, better get smarter about it, and I better start talking about it because that’s what Jeret would want me to do.’”
Phelps, a co-executive producer on “The Weight of Gold,” said the need for change also is what drove him to speak up. He and other Olympians are calling on the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to do much more to address the problem.
Phelps said the first step is “treating people like humans” instead of something on an assembly line.
“We’re just products,” the 35-year-old Phelps said from his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. “It’s frightening. It’s scary. And it breaks my heart. Because there are so many people who care so much about our physical well-being but I never saw caring about our mental well-being.”
In a statement to The Associated Press, the IOC said it “recognizes the seriousness of the topic” and assembled a team of international experts to review scientific literature on mental health issues among elite athletes in 2018, resulting in a mental health working group. The committee said the topic has been discussed more openly at forums and panels in recent years and that the IOC has launched a series of webinars to help athletes cope with COVID-19, and plans other initiatives, including a helpline.
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Bahati VanPelt, chief of athlete services with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, said in a statement that the organization has “recognized we can improve.”
“In 2019, we took the important step of creating a dedicated athlete services division — separating athlete care and mental health services from high performance — to differentiate these services and ensure athletes can access resources and assistance without concern or hesitation,” he said. “We also created a mental health task force comprised of athletes and experts together to inform our work and help us improve athlete health and well-being.”
He said the committee has broadly expanded services, including more mental health officers and counseling, and is committed to keep mental health a top priority.
While some athletes have commended the changes, others like Ohno and Phelps feel like there’s much more to do.
“Clearly there’s a need for better resources because Olympic athletes are dying,” said “The Weight of Gold” Director Brett Rapkin. “They have this incredibly unique psychological journey they go on and it needs to be paired with appropriate resources to handle it. Those things clearly aren’t there.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Tests Positive For COVID-19

Just ahead of his planned meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday , Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine tested positive for COVID-19 and is now heading into isolation for the next 14 days .
“ Governor DeWine has no symptoms at the present time , ” his office said .
As part of the standard protocol to greet President Trump on the tarmac in Cleveland , I took a COVID test .
I tested positive .
I have no symptoms at this time .
I ’ m following protocol and will quarantine at home for the next 14 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 6 , 2020 “ The President wishes Governor DeWine a speedy and full recovery and commends the job he ’ s doing for the great state of Ohio , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement to CNBC .
With a 5.47 % positivity rate , Ohio currently slightly exceeds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s recommended 5 % rate of positive coronavirus cases ― one of the metrics public health experts recommend using when deciding to loosen social distancing restrictions .
DeWine issued a statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that new cases had slowed in Ohio counties that already had a mask rule in effect .
Following a recent outbreak in his state linked to one infected person who attended a church service , he also called on faith leaders to prioritize mask-wearing and social distancing .
“ It spread like wildfire , wildfire .
Very , very scary , ” he said Tuesday of the incident .
More than 90 cases have been linked back to the church service , including around 40 among people who weren ’ t in attendance @

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The office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday he had taken a second coronavirus test that came back negative, just hours after his office said the governor had tested positive for COVID-19.
DeWine, 73, initially tested positive just ahead of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump, adding he was experiencing no symptoms but would quarantine at home for 14 days. His office said that while that test was part of the protocol the White House has instituted in order to meet with the president, it was an antigen test rather than a more sensitive PCR test.
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UPDATE: In a second COVID-19 test administered today in Columbus, Governor Mike DeWine has tested negative for COVID-19. First Lady Fran DeWine and staff members have also all tested negative. pic.twitter.com/0Ixap90mJg — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 7, 2020
We feel confident in the results from Wexner Medical Center. This is the same PCR test that has been used over 1.6 million times in Ohio by hospitals and labs all over the state. — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 7, 2020
“These [antigen] tests represent a new technology to reduce the cost and improve the turnaround time for COVID-19 testing, but they are quite new,” his office said. “We do not have much experience with antigen tests here in Ohio. We will be working with the manufacturer to have a better understanding of how the discrepancy between these two tests could have occurred.”
The Washington Post notes that while PCR tests are considered more reliable, antigen tests can provide results much quicker, sometimes in minutes.
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The governor’s office said his wife, Fran DeWine, and staff members had also all tested negative for the virus in the second round of PCR tests.
DeWine said both he and his wife would take another PCR test on Saturday and release the results publicly.
Out of an abundance of caution, and at the direction of medical professionals, the Governor and First Lady plan on having another PCR test on Saturday. Results of these tests will also be released. — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 7, 2020
It’s unclear if the governor will remain in home quarantine if the second test comes back negative as well.
“The President wishes Governor DeWine a speedy and full recovery and commends the job he’s doing for the great state of Ohio,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement to CNBC.
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With a 5.47% positivity rate, Ohio currently slightly exceeds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended 5% rate of positive coronavirus cases ― one of the metrics public health experts recommend using when deciding to loosen social distancing restrictions.
DeWine issued a statewide mask order late last month after observing that new cases had slowed in Ohio counties that already had a mask rule in effect.
Following a recent outbreak in his state linked to one infected person who attended a church service, he also called on faith leaders to prioritize mask-wearing and social distancing.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Can't My Socially-Distanced Gym Stay Like This Forever?

It was not the first time I ’ ve been made to feel uncomfortable in a fitness space , and I doubt it will be the last .
But it ’ s a stark contrast to my first visit to the gym since it reopened for the first time since lockdown was imposed back in March .
This time , I loved every minute of it , maybe going so far as to say it was the best workout I ’ ve ever had .
As someone who has struggled with a fluctuating weight for most of her life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of countless fat jibes , I have a complicated relationship with my body .
I have learned to love myself the way I am , but for a long time the gym was a place where I felt I didn ’ t belong .
I never took part in classes because I feared looks from others , my mind obsessing over the rolls of my stomach when I bent over or the fact I couldn ’ t hold a yoga position as long as the rest of the class .
There is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are already in shape , or who appear to be in shape ( for the record , you can look overweight and still be incredibly strong : I can leg press 100kg and am a size 16 ) .
If you ’ re not toned , dressed in the latest Lululemon and showing off how many reps you can do , are you even working out ?
Being forced to compete with so-called ‘ gym people ’ can be intimidating for those who are already scared to take the leap onto their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man told me to give up the dumbbells because he ‘ needed ’ this particular set , and I could use something else .
Or when another man was visibly tapping his foot because he felt I was taking too long on the seated arm curl machine – naturally , I stayed longer just to annoy him , but I could feel his eyes burrowing into my neck the entire time .
And don ’ t even get me started on the man who approached me in the gym at 3am while I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a late-night chat .
But post-lockdown , my gym is pure bliss – and not just thanks to the endorphins .
With social distancing now a government-imposed requirement , there are clear markers preventing people from entering your personal space without consent , and there is also a limit on how long you can use a machine or stay in the gym .
This means there are no longer any men huffing or puffing to encourage women to leave the notoriously testosterone-filled weights area , often purely for the reason that some men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a penis .
Neither is anyone trying to flirt , because it ’ s near-on impossible .
My session was also the first time I ’ ve seen a split ratio of men and women on the weights mats , of different ages and sizes – and it filled me with pure joy .
As for the threat of coronavirus , I felt very safe .
My local gym is cleaner than it has ever been , with everyone required to use hand sanitiser on arrival , clean off the machines before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothes and shower at home .
Every other machine is marked with an X , so that people keep the appropriate distance , and many pieces of equipment are now available in limited numbers .
As an example , there is now only one mat and kettlebell up for grabs , to ensure that these are cleaned after each use .
Overall , it ’ s not the space that made the biggest impression on me , but the atmosphere .
People are grateful to be able to step back into the gym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Of course , it shouldn ’ t take a pandemic for women to finally get to exercise in peace and be granted the same access to equipment as men .
My reluctance about the gym is undoubtedly connected to personal body image issues ( I ’ m working on it , okay ? )
but most gyms have never been this female-friendly or body-positive – and I say this as a hardcore feminist who will happily chew someone ’ s ear off if I feel I am treated as anything less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a space where you already feel on the back foot is no easy task .
Coronavirus has presented us with a chance to build a better society in the future .
These dark times will eventually end , but my hope is that we take the very few positives from this otherwise tragic situation and learn from them .

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This time last year, I remember considering cutting a workout short because a man at the gym wouldn’t stop staring at me – or, more specifically, stop staring at my breasts.
It was not the first time I’ve been made to feel uncomfortable in a fitness space, and I doubt it will be the last. But it’s a stark contrast to my first visit to the gym since it reopened for the first time since lockdown was imposed back in March. This time, I loved every minute of it, maybe going so far as to say it was the best workout I’ve ever had.
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Let me tell you why.
As someone who has struggled with a fluctuating weight for most of her life, and has been on the receiving end of countless fat jibes, I have a complicated relationship with my body. I have learned to love myself the way I am, but for a long time the gym was a place where I felt I didn’t belong. I never took part in classes because I feared looks from others, my mind obsessing over the rolls of my stomach when I bent over or the fact I couldn’t hold a yoga position as long as the rest of the class.
There is a misguided belief that gyms are for people who are already in shape, or who appear to be in shape (for the record, you can look overweight and still be incredibly strong: I can leg press 100kg and am a size 16). If you’re not toned, dressed in the latest Lululemon and showing off how many reps you can do, are you even working out?
“Post-lockdown, my gym is pure bliss – and not just thanks to the endorphins.”
Being forced to compete with so-called ‘gym people’ can be intimidating for those who are already scared to take the leap onto their fitness journey. Like the time a man told me to give up the dumbbells because he ‘needed’ this particular set, and I could use something else. Or when another man was visibly tapping his foot because he felt I was taking too long on the seated arm curl machine – naturally, I stayed longer just to annoy him, but I could feel his eyes burrowing into my neck the entire time. And don’t even get me started on the man who approached me in the gym at 3am while I was doing sit-ups, because he fancied a late-night chat.
Advertisement
But post-lockdown, my gym is pure bliss – and not just thanks to the endorphins. With social distancing now a government-imposed requirement, there are clear markers preventing people from entering your personal space without consent, and there is also a limit on how long you can use a machine or stay in the gym.
This means there are no longer any men huffing or puffing to encourage women to leave the notoriously testosterone-filled weights area, often purely for the reason that some men believe it somehow belongs to those who have a penis. Neither is anyone trying to flirt, because it’s near-on impossible. My session was also the first time I’ve seen a split ratio of men and women on the weights mats, of different ages and sizes – and it filled me with pure joy.
The author, who returned to the gym for the first time since March Almara Abgarian
As for the threat of coronavirus, I felt very safe. My local gym is cleaner than it has ever been, with everyone required to use hand sanitiser on arrival, clean off the machines before and after use, and change their clothes and shower at home.
Every other machine is marked with an X, so that people keep the appropriate distance, and many pieces of equipment are now available in limited numbers. As an example, there is now only one mat and kettlebell up for grabs, to ensure that these are cleaned after each use.
Advertisement
You must also book and pay for your session in advance – unless you are a member – and are told to bring your own towel and water bottle.
Overall, it’s not the space that made the biggest impression on me, but the atmosphere. People are grateful to be able to step back into the gym again, and no one was breaking rules.
“My session was also the first time I’ve seen a split ratio of men and women on the weights mats, of different ages and sizes – and it filled me with pure joy.”
Of course, it shouldn’t take a pandemic for women to finally get to exercise in peace and be granted the same access to equipment as men. My reluctance about the gym is undoubtedly connected to personal body image issues (I’m working on it, okay?) but most gyms have never been this female-friendly or body-positive – and I say this as a hardcore feminist who will happily chew someone’s ear off if I feel I am treated as anything less than an equal. Fighting back in a space where you already feel on the back foot is no easy task.
Coronavirus has presented us with a chance to build a better society in the future. These dark times will eventually end, but my hope is that we take the very few positives from this otherwise tragic situation and learn from them.
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Don’t let it take another pandemic for women like me to feel at home in gyms.
Almara Abgarian is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @almaraabgarian


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--CDC Predicts Seasonal Spike In Polio-like Illness

The CDC is warning parents and health care workers to watch out for symptoms of a rare polio-like disease that @ @ @ @ @ between August and November .

CDC Predicts Seasonal Spike In Polio-like Illness
The CDC is warning parents and health care workers to watch out for symptoms of a rare polio-like disease that mostly targets children, usually between August and November.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Susan Rice Has A Mysterious Gap In Her Resume

Susan Rice , a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , is one of the leading contenders to become presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
If the ticket wins , she would make history as the first Black person and woman to serve as vice president , and she would bring decades of experience working in government to the post .
It ’ s unclear ― and potentially worrying ― what she would bring from another portion of her career .
Rice worked in private consulting in 2001 and 2002 after serving in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton .
That ’ s a common line of work for former officials in Washington , but it can involve morally dubious choices , like defending violations of human rights or democratic norms , and create conflicts of interest when these figures return to power and make decisions affecting the same clients who were recently paying them millions of dollars and could do so again in the future .
Even in the event that prior relationships do not have a bearing on one ’ s actions in a public office , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can undermine the effectiveness of U.S. policy and faith in government .
In Rice ’ s case , public scrutiny of potential conflicts is especially hard because she has largely hidden who her clients were when she was a part-time consultant for Intellibridge , a now-shuttered firm that conducted geopolitical research .
Her closeness to one client whose identity is publicly known ― Rwandan strongman Paul Kagame , the country ’ s president since 2000 ― has previously raised concerns among human rights groups and fellow officials .
It appears Rice concentrated on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the same officials she had already built ties to as a diplomat , now on behalf of private interests .
She and Gayle Smith , another former Clinton administration official , “ worked to sell Intellibridge services to African government clients , ” wrote Hamilton Bean , a former Intellibridge employee , in a 2011 book .
Intellibridge was a successful enterprise .
Founded in 1998 , the firm attracted $ 10 million in financing in 2001 , the year Rice began working with it , and an additional $ 1.85 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post .
The firm was planning to double its revenue in 2002 and had 140 clients already , offering them intelligence swept up through internet research and then analyzed by national security experts .
As a vice presidential candidate , Rice would not be required to disclose work from two decades ago .
And though she had foreign clients , she never registered as a foreign agent ― meaning she did not try to shape U.S. policy on their behalf , but eliminating another possible route to learning who she was working for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some U.N. officials expressed concerns that Rice , then the envoy at the international organization , was doing too little to prevent atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo because she was reluctant to pressure neighboring Rwanda and her former client Kagame , The New York Times reported .
“ At no point in Ambassador Rice ’ s government service did her work in the private sector influence her decisions as a policymaker , ” Pelton said .
“ The premise of this story is baseless because when Ambassador Rice worked on African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no relationship to ( Intellibridge ) , and when she returned to government in the Obama administration the firm was defunct and she hadn ’ t had ties to it for many years.
” In Bean ’ s book , he described Intellibridge as a fast-growing company that had to expand into a neighboring apartment and still didn ’ t have room for enough desks , leaving staff working from a kitchen counter .
Particularly after the terror attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001 , international consultancy and intelligence-gathering mushroomed , enabling lucrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased global anxiety for governments and businesses .
The environment which we now live in is very hyper-focused on foreign influence Ben Freeman , a researcher at the Center for International Policy think tank .
Rice returned to government after her Intellibridge work and a years-long stint at the Brookings Institution when President Barack Obama tapped her for the U.N. post .
It ’ s unclear what she had earned at Intellibridge , but by that time she was worth $ 27.65 million , per the Center for Responsive Politics .
Her consulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Obama administration or Congress at the time , which her supporters cite as proof there was nothing untoward about it .
Tens of thousands of people who work in consulting , including former government officials , keep their client lists private .
“ The environment which we now live in is very hyper-focused on foreign influence .
… In the early 2000s , people were just woefully not conscious of this issue , ” he said , pointing to the ongoing controversy over Russian interference in U.S. politics and increased Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who failed to report work for foreigners .

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Susan Rice, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is one of the leading contenders to become presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate. If the ticket wins, she would make history as the first Black person and woman to serve as vice president, and she would bring decades of experience working in government to the post.
It’s unclear ― and potentially worrying ― what she would bring from another portion of her career. Rice worked in private consulting in 2001 and 2002 after serving in the White House and State Department under President Bill Clinton. That’s a common line of work for former officials in Washington, but it can involve morally dubious choices, like defending violations of human rights or democratic norms, and create conflicts of interest when these figures return to power and make decisions affecting the same clients who were recently paying them millions of dollars and could do so again in the future.
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Even in the event that prior relationships do not have a bearing on one’s actions in a public office, just the perception of a conflict of interest can undermine the effectiveness of U.S. policy and faith in government.
In Rice’s case, public scrutiny of potential conflicts is especially hard because she has largely hidden who her clients were when she was a part-time consultant for Intellibridge, a now-shuttered firm that conducted geopolitical research. Her closeness to one client whose identity is publicly known ― Rwandan strongman Paul Kagame, the country’s president since 2000 ― has previously raised concerns among human rights groups and fellow officials.
It appears Rice concentrated on contracts with African countries ― approaching some of the same officials she had already built ties to as a diplomat, now on behalf of private interests. She and Gayle Smith, another former Clinton administration official, “worked to sell Intellibridge services to African government clients,” wrote Hamilton Bean, a former Intellibridge employee, in a 2011 book.
Intellibridge was a successful enterprise. Founded in 1998, the firm attracted $10 million in financing in 2001, the year Rice began working with it, and an additional $1.85 million in 2002, according to The Washington Post. The firm was planning to double its revenue in 2002 and had 140 clients already, offering them intelligence swept up through internet research and then analyzed by national security experts.
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A spokesperson for Rice declined to say if she would share details of her clients if chosen to run with Biden, who will announce his selection within days.
“This remains a hypothetical but, as always, Ambassador Rice will fully comply with the law and any disclosure requirements,” Erin Pelton, the spokeswoman, said in an email.
As a vice presidential candidate, Rice would not be required to disclose work from two decades ago. And though she had foreign clients, she never registered as a foreign agent ― meaning she did not try to shape U.S. policy on their behalf, but eliminating another possible route to learning who she was working for.
Pelton claimed Rice’s sole role with Intellibridge was to arrange business relationships between Intellibridge and some of its future clients.
Transparency would then be a matter of ethics more than law ― and of good politics.
Ben Freeman, a researcher tracking foreign influence in the U.S. at the Center for International Policy think tank, noted that Biden “has come out and said that he would like to ban lobbying on behalf of foreign governments, so how would that mesh, then, with having as his vice president somebody who has at the very least worked on behalf of foreign governments,” though she was not a registered lobbyist. “Would it be okay for his vice president but not for other people in the future?” Freeman added. “Because of Biden’s stance on this, it would be incredibly important for her to clarify exactly who her clients were and exactly what her role was.”
Even if Rice faced a legal hurdle like having signed a non-disclosure agreement about her Intellibridge work, she could describe it to the public in broad terms, Freeman said.
In 2012, rights advocates and some U.N. officials expressed concerns that Rice, then the envoy at the international organization, was doing too little to prevent atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo because she was reluctant to pressure neighboring Rwanda and her former client Kagame, The New York Times reported.
“At no point in Ambassador Rice’s government service did her work in the private sector influence her decisions as a policymaker,” Pelton said. “The premise of this story is baseless because when Ambassador Rice worked on African affairs in the Clinton administration she had no relationship to (Intellibridge), and when she returned to government in the Obama administration the firm was defunct and she hadn’t had ties to it for many years.”
Her defenders also note that the perception that she was soft on Kagame had existed in Washington’s policy community prior to her consulting work.
In Bean’s book, he described Intellibridge as a fast-growing company that had to expand into a neighboring apartment and still didn’t have room for enough desks, leaving staff working from a kitchen counter. Particularly after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, international consultancy and intelligence-gathering mushroomed, enabling lucrative careers for many international relations analysts amid increased global anxiety for governments and businesses.
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David Rothkopf, the former Clinton staffer who founded Intellibridge, is today representing the United Arab Emirates. Eurasia Group, another advisory firm, absorbed Intellibridge in 2005.
“The environment which we now live in is very hyper-focused on foreign influence” - Ben Freeman, a researcher at the Center for International Policy think tank.
Rice returned to government after her Intellibridge work and a years-long stint at the Brookings Institution when President Barack Obama tapped her for the U.N. post. It’s unclear what she had earned at Intellibridge, but by that time she was worth $27.65 million, per the Center for Responsive Politics.
Her consulting did not appear to cause a problem for the Obama administration or Congress at the time, which her supporters cite as proof there was nothing untoward about it. Tens of thousands of people who work in consulting, including former government officials, keep their client lists private.
“She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2009, following close scrutiny of her record,” Pelton wrote.
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Public awareness and political concern about people with U.S. government experience working with foreign governments have grown significantly, however, Freeman said.
“The environment which we now live in is very hyper-focused on foreign influence. … In the early 2000s, people were just woefully not conscious of this issue,” he said, pointing to the ongoing controversy over Russian interference in U.S. politics and increased Justice Department pressure on former officials and others who failed to report work for foreigners.
Many of the officials who Rice worked with in the Obama administration ended up becoming consultants themselves after President Donald Trump’s election. Some progressives, good government groups and Democratic leaders say that private work should be better examined before such consultants gain positions of public trust.
Given that Rice has never before faced the scrutiny that comes with running for elected office and, as vice president, would become a top contender to succeed Biden as president, a full understanding of her record is especially important.
“I really think it would behoove Biden and Susan Rice, if she ends up being his vice presidential pick, to be very clear about what she did,” Freeman said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--New York Attorney General Seeks To Shut Down NRA

The NRA is now suing Ackerman McQueen , which led to the ad agency severing ties with the gun lobby and shutting down NRATV , the propaganda arm of the group that served to spew faux-outrage and conspiracy theories .
In a separate lawsuit filed in August 2019 against the NRA ’ s former second-in-command Oliver North , the NRA alleged that North engaged in an extortion plot to oust LaPierre .
But at the gun group ’ s annual convention last year , North announced that he was being pushed out .
Leaked NRA documents obtained by HuffPost at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply concerned about the extraordinary legal fees the NRA has incurred ” from attorney Bill Brewer .
The letter alleged that $ 24 million was spent on legal services over a 13-month period in which top executives were receiving massive payouts .
New York ’ s Department of Financial Services filed civil charges against the NRA in February , accusing it of peddling insurance products — like “ Carry Guard ” — without a license , in partnership with insurance broker Lockton Companies , CNBC reported .
On Thursday ― the same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suing the group ― Jason Ouimet , who runs the NRA ’ s lobbying arm , told the Washington Free Beacon the group plans to spend “ tens of millions ” of dollars in battleground states to get President Donald Trump reelected .
It ’ s unclear where that money will come from , but Ouimet claimed it will be from “ grassroots ” supporters .

The NRA is now suing Ackerman McQueen, which led to the ad agency severing ties with the gun lobby and shutting down NRATV, the propaganda arm of the group that served to spew faux-outrage and conspiracy theories.
In a separate lawsuit filed in August 2019 against the NRA’s former second-in-command Oliver North, the NRA alleged that North engaged in an extortion plot to oust LaPierre. But at the gun group’s annual convention last year, North announced that he was being pushed out.
Leaked NRA documents obtained by HuffPost at the time revealed that North was “deeply concerned about the extraordinary legal fees the NRA has incurred” from attorney Bill Brewer. The letter alleged that $24 million was spent on legal services over a 13-month period in which top executives were receiving massive payouts.
New York’s Department of Financial Services filed civil charges against the NRA in February, accusing it of peddling insurance products — like “Carry Guard” — without a license, in partnership with insurance broker Lockton Companies, CNBC reported.
On Thursday ― the same day it was announced that attorneys general are suing the group ― Jason Ouimet, who runs the NRA’s lobbying arm, told the Washington Free Beacon the group plans to spend “tens of millions” of dollars in battleground states to get President Donald Trump reelected. It’s unclear where that money will come from, but Ouimet claimed it will be from “grassroots” supporters.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Trump Claims Biden Opposes God

Trump Claims Biden Opposes God

Trump was expected to promote the economic prosperity that much of the nation enjoyed before the coronavirus pandemic and to make the case that he is best suited to rebuild a crippled economy .
But his handling of the outbreak has weakened his bid for a second term , causing Trump to spend time and resources in a state he won easily in 2016 but now could be in danger of slipping away .
The virus already altered the trip even before Trump landed , with word that GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine had tested positive for the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and join the president on a visit to the Whirlpool Corp. plant in northwest Ohio .
DeWine ’ s office said the 73-year-old governor had no symptoms and was returning to Columbus .
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded to Trump ’ s comments by saying , “ Joe Biden ’ s faith is at the core of who he is ; he ’ s lived it with dignity his entire life , and it ’ s been a source of strength and comfort in times of extreme hardship.
” Bates also accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own cynical optics as he sought to tear our nation apart at a moment of crisis and pain , ” a reference to when federal law enforcement officers drove protesters out of Lafayette Square shortly before a photo opportunity in which Trump held a Bible .
The virus upended Trump ’ s plan to run on the back of a strong economy , and Biden has charged that the president has pushed to reopen states too soon in hopes of jump-starting the markets and lifting his standing in the polls .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pace of their reopening , and officials are warily watching a rise in coronavirus cases in the Midwest , including Ohio .
When Trump swept through the region in 2016 , his economic populism argument was one of the factors that led him to narrowly capture Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
He handily won Ohio , which had been a swing state for decades , by eight percentage points .
He promised a manufacturing renaissance , but that has failed to materialize .
Manufacturers added jobs during the first two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively stalled in 2019 as industrial Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio began to shed factory workers .
The import taxes charged by his administration hampered manufacturing companies ’ supply lines and created uncertainty .
The economy had roughly 12.85 million factory jobs at the start of the election year , compared with the 14 million before the 2008 financial crisis , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
The pandemic only compounded the pain .
Manufacturers cut 1.36 million jobs between February and April as the economy went on lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to a slight recovery .
But even if factories add 267,500 jobs expected in the July employment report being released Friday , the sector would still have 500,000 fewer jobs than it did before the outbreak .
Trump now finds himself severely tested in battleground states , and campaign aides have privately all but written off Michigan .
The president now has been forced to spend time in states that his campaign once thought he had locked up .
The Ohio trip comes a week after he visited once deeply Republican Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order requiring that the federal government purchase certain drugs from U.S. manufacturers rather than from foreign companies .
The order would instruct the government to develop a list of “ essential ” medicines and then buy them and other medical supplies solely from U.S. manufacturers .
The administration has long looked to reduce U.S. dependency on drugs made overseas , particularly in China .
The new order invokes the Defense Production Act to procure essential medicines and other equipment from the United States , but does not stipulate precisely which drugs would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he wants to prepare for future pandemics by replenishing the national stockpile and bringing manufacturing of critical supplies and equipment back to the U.S. His critics have suggested that his administration was woefully unprepared for coronavirus , which has killed more than 157,000 Americans , and that Trump has faltered in mobilizing the nation ’ s resources to battle the virus .
But a massive cash-on-hand advantage that once gave the Republican a significant competitive edge has largely been closed .
Biden and the Democratic Party are reporting that they are just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 million that the president and the Republican National Committee have banked .
The money puts the two on a virtually even footing that will allow both to amply advertise , fund get-out-the-vote efforts and mobilize supporters , even if it has to be done virtually in many instances due to the coronavirus .

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CLEVELAND (AP) — President Donald Trump billed his trip to Ohio Thursday as a chance to promote economic recovery, but he quickly pivoted to a deeply personal attack on Joe Biden, even questioning without foundation the former vice president’s faith in God.
Even for a president known for his blunt criticism, Trump’s remarks stood out and they signaled how contentious the campaign may get over the coming months.
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“He’s against God. He’s against guns. He’s against energy, our kind of energy. I don’t think he’s going to do too well in Ohio,” Trump said.
Trump was expected to promote the economic prosperity that much of the nation enjoyed before the coronavirus pandemic and to make the case that he is best suited to rebuild a crippled economy. But his handling of the outbreak has weakened his bid for a second term, causing Trump to spend time and resources in a state he won easily in 2016 but now could be in danger of slipping away.
The virus already altered the trip even before Trump landed, with word that GOP Gov. Mike DeWine had tested positive for the coronavirus. DeWine had planned to meet with Trump and join the president on a visit to the Whirlpool Corp. plant in northwest Ohio. DeWine’s office said the 73-year-old governor had no symptoms and was returning to Columbus.
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded to Trump’s comments by saying, “Joe Biden’s faith is at the core of who he is; he’s lived it with dignity his entire life, and it’s been a source of strength and comfort in times of extreme hardship.”
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Bates also accused Trump of using a Bible “for his own cynical optics as he sought to tear our nation apart at a moment of crisis and pain,” a reference to when federal law enforcement officers drove protesters out of Lafayette Square shortly before a photo opportunity in which Trump held a Bible.
For Trump, the Ohio trip was kicking off a long weekend of fundraising that comes as Biden has chipped away at Trump’s financial advantage with the race entering its final three months.
The virus upended Trump’s plan to run on the back of a strong economy, and Biden has charged that the president has pushed to reopen states too soon in hopes of jump-starting the markets and lifting his standing in the polls. But several states have had to slow down the pace of their reopening, and officials are warily watching a rise in coronavirus cases in the Midwest, including Ohio.
When Trump swept through the region in 2016, his economic populism argument was one of the factors that led him to narrowly capture Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. He handily won Ohio, which had been a swing state for decades, by eight percentage points.
He promised a manufacturing renaissance, but that has failed to materialize. Manufacturers added jobs during the first two years of his presidency, but the gains effectively stalled in 2019 as industrial Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio began to shed factory workers.
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The import taxes charged by his administration hampered manufacturing companies’ supply lines and created uncertainty. The economy had roughly 12.85 million factory jobs at the start of the election year, compared with the 14 million before the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The pandemic only compounded the pain. Manufacturers cut 1.36 million jobs between February and April as the economy went on lockdown. Hiring in May and June has pointed to a slight recovery. But even if factories add 267,500 jobs expected in the July employment report being released Friday, the sector would still have 500,000 fewer jobs than it did before the outbreak.
Trump now finds himself severely tested in battleground states, and campaign aides have privately all but written off Michigan. The president now has been forced to spend time in states that his campaign once thought he had locked up. The Ohio trip comes a week after he visited once deeply Republican Texas.
“We’re going to win Ohio by even more this time,” Trump claimed.
In Ohio, Trump signed an executive order requiring that the federal government purchase certain drugs from U.S. manufacturers rather than from foreign companies. The order would instruct the government to develop a list of “essential” medicines and then buy them and other medical supplies solely from U.S. manufacturers.
The administration has long looked to reduce U.S. dependency on drugs made overseas, particularly in China. The new order invokes the Defense Production Act to procure essential medicines and other equipment from the United States, but does not stipulate precisely which drugs would fall under the requirements.
Advertisement
Trump has said he wants to prepare for future pandemics by replenishing the national stockpile and bringing manufacturing of critical supplies and equipment back to the U.S. His critics have suggested that his administration was woefully unprepared for coronavirus, which has killed more than 157,000 Americans, and that Trump has faltered in mobilizing the nation’s resources to battle the virus.
After his trip to Ohio, Trump plans a long weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with a high-dollar fundraiser in the Hamptons on New York’s Long Island and a second near the Jersey shore.
The fundraising spree comes a day after Trump announced that he raised $165 million for his reelection effort in the month of July, surpassing what Biden raised during the same period.
But a massive cash-on-hand advantage that once gave the Republican a significant competitive edge has largely been closed. Biden and the Democratic Party are reporting that they are just $6 million shy of the $300 million that the president and the Republican National Committee have banked.
The money puts the two on a virtually even footing that will allow both to amply advertise, fund get-out-the-vote efforts and mobilize supporters, even if it has to be done virtually in many instances due to the coronavirus.
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___
AP Economics Writer Josh Boak in Baltimore contributed to this report.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Twitter Users Get A Kick Out Of How Trump Mispronounced Thailand

Since he can no longer give talks or speeches or convey information of any kind- ( other than to insult @ @ @ @ @ his aides write things for him- but clearly his mind is not computing what he @ @ @ @

Since he can no longer give talks or speeches or convey information of any kind- ( other than to insult, rail or boast ) his aides write things for him- but clearly his mind is not computing what he reads https://t.co/PfpibGxGov


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-06--Donald Trump’s Donors Receive Ominous Warning About Becoming 'Don's Next Con'

Donald Trump ’ s donors are cautioned against becoming the president ’ s “ next con ” in a new attack ad from the progressive PAC MeidasTouch .
The narrator of the spot released Wednesday notes how Trump ’ s 2020 campaign is repeatedly “ begging you for money ” despite times being “ tough ” amid the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting cratering economy .
The voice-over then explains where some of the money raised for Trump ’ s reelection bid has allegedly been spent — from the $ 40 million reportedly paid to companies belonging to ousted campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the partners of Trump ’ s sons Don Jr. and Eric .
Attorney Ben Meiselas set up the progressive PAC with his two brothers , video editor Brett and marketing supervisor Jordan , earlier this year in a bid to motivate Democrats and influence swing voters ahead of the 2020 election , per Deadline .
Anti-Trump spots released by the siblings and Republican groups such as The Lincoln Project , Republicans for the Rule of Law and Republican Voters Against Trump have in recent months racked up millions of combined views on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a response and drawn ire from Trump .
But it ’ s unknown how effective the spots are at convincing people to vote one way or another .
It ’ s also unclear if this latest ad will air on television .
Previous MeidasTouch ads have exposed the hypocrisy of the president ’ s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump , hammered Trump ’ s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner over his shortcomings , and turned Donald Trump Jr. ’ s attack on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden back on the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewed video on YouTube to date is this attack on Trump and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway .
As of Thursday morning , it had been seen more than 2 million times :

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Donald Trump’s donors are cautioned against becoming the president’s “next con” in a new attack ad from the progressive PAC MeidasTouch.
The narrator of the spot released Wednesday notes how Trump’s 2020 campaign is repeatedly “begging you for money” despite times being “tough” amid the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting cratering economy.
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The voice-over then explains where some of the money raised for Trump’s reelection bid has allegedly been spent — from the $40 million reportedly paid to companies belonging to ousted campaign manager Brad Parscale to the reported payments to the partners of Trump’s sons Don Jr. and Eric.
Check out the ad here:
Attorney Ben Meiselas set up the progressive PAC with his two brothers, video editor Brett and marketing supervisor Jordan, earlier this year in a bid to motivate Democrats and influence swing voters ahead of the 2020 election, per Deadline.
Anti-Trump spots released by the siblings and Republican groups such as The Lincoln Project, Republicans for the Rule of Law and Republican Voters Against Trump have in recent months racked up millions of combined views on social media. Some have even prompted a response and drawn ire from Trump.
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But it’s unknown how effective the spots are at convincing people to vote one way or another. It’s also unclear if this latest ad will air on television.
Previous MeidasTouch ads have exposed the hypocrisy of the president’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump, hammered Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner over his shortcomings, and turned Donald Trump Jr.’s attack on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden back on the president’s son.
The group’s most viewed video on YouTube to date is this attack on Trump and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. As of Thursday morning, it had been seen more than 2 million times: