thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Biden Invokes Doc Rivers In Moving Gettysburg Speech About Unity

The former vice president spoke in Pennsylvania , where Rivers recently became coach of the Philadelphia 76ers .
Biden touched on several issues that have sown hatred and division in the United States , delivering his own Gettysburg Address that implored Americans to appeal to their higher nature .
In talking about the problems of racial injustice and police brutality that led this year to renewed calls for systemic change along with a rise in white supremacist attacks , Biden stressed the need for America to face its ugly history while keeping communities safe ― citing significant voices who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ George Floyd ’ s 6-year-old daughter , Gianna , who I met with , was one such voice when she said , ‘ Daddy changed the world , ’ ” he said of the Black man killed by police in Minneapolis earlier this year , sparking a wave of protests nationwide .
“ Also , Jacob Blake ’ s mother was another when she said violence didn ’ t reflect her son and that this nation needed healing .
“ And Doc Rivers , the basketball coach choking back tears when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones getting killed .
We ’ re the ones getting shot .
… We ’ ve been hung .
It ’ s amazing why we keep loving this country , and this country does not love us back.
’ ” Rivers , who is Black , decried the relationship between police and Black people in the U.S. following his team ’ s playoff game victory in August , when he was still coaching the Los Angeles Clippers .
“ It ’ s funny , we protest , and they send riot guards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ White supremacists ] go up to Michigan with guns , and they ’ re spitting on cops .
Nothing happens , ” Rivers said .
“ The training has to change in the police force .
The unions have to be taken down in the police force .
My dad was a cop .
… We ’ re trying to get them to protect us , just like they protect everybody else.
” Rivers ’ s comments came in response to a video that showed police shooting Jacob Blake seven times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paralyzing the 29-year-old Black man from the waist down .
The coach said that Americans “ do not need to be Black to be outraged ” by such an injustice and that all he ’ s asking is for police to “ live up to the Constitution.
” “ Think about that , ” Biden said Tuesday .
“ Think about what it takes for a Black person to love America .
That is a deep love for this country that for far too long we have never fully recognized .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our obligation to , at long last , face the reckoning on race and racial injustice in the country .
”

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden invoked powerful words about racial injustice from NBA coach Doc Rivers while speaking Tuesday on the need to unite a deeply divided nation.
The former vice president spoke in Pennsylvania, where Rivers recently became coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Biden touched on several issues that have sown hatred and division in the United States, delivering his own Gettysburg Address that implored Americans to appeal to their higher nature.
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In talking about the problems of racial injustice and police brutality that led this year to renewed calls for systemic change along with a rise in white supremacist attacks, Biden stressed the need for America to face its ugly history while keeping communities safe ― citing significant voices who have called for justice in recent months.
“And Doc Rivers, the basketball coach choking back tears when he said, ‘We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. … We’ve been hung. It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back.’”
Here’s the clip of @JoeBiden quoting @DocRivers during his speech in Gettysburg today. It was, in all honesty, pretty powerful. pic.twitter.com/S7fDQjI3l9 — Jay Scott Smith (@JayScottSmith) October 6, 2020
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Rivers, who is Black, decried the relationship between police and Black people in the U.S. following his team’s playoff game victory in August, when he was still coaching the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It’s funny, we protest, and they send riot guards, they send people in riot outfits. [White supremacists] go up to Michigan with guns, and they’re spitting on cops. Nothing happens,” Rivers said. “The training has to change in the police force. The unions have to be taken down in the police force. My dad was a cop. … We’re trying to get them to protect us, just like they protect everybody else.”
Rivers’s comments came in response to a video that showed police shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin ― paralyzing the 29-year-old Black man from the waist down. The coach said that Americans “do not need to be Black to be outraged” by such an injustice and that all he’s asking is for police to “live up to the Constitution.”
“We keep loving this country and this country doesn’t love us back.”
Doc Rivers got emotional while talking about Jacob Blake being shot by police and social injustice. pic.twitter.com/qQI2Ld2DGI — ESPN (@espn) August 26, 2020
“Think about that,” Biden said Tuesday. “Think about what it takes for a Black person to love America. That is a deep love for this country that for far too long we have never fully recognized. We cannot and will not walk away from our obligation to, at long last, face the reckoning on race and racial injustice in the country.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Women Are Not OK

Women Are Not OK

This week , millions of women struggled to manage their paying jobs while also doing the unpaid work of homeschooling , and about half of the nation ’ s children did not go to school in person .
Meanwhile , President Donald Trump , fresh from a hospital stay for COVID-19 and back in his government-funded , well-staffed home , killed any plans for more pandemic relief ahead of the election .
Like millions of other women across the country , Maciel said she is exhausted — struggling to work from home , while helping her children , one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with remote learning .
“ We ’ ve basically become assistant teachers , ” said Maciel , who is an administrator in higher education .
“ If I ’ m not helping with school or working on work , I ’ m doing chores.
” There is somehow more laundry than ever before , she noted .
From the start , the economic fallout of the pandemic has hit women harder than men .
Women lost more jobs than men because industries dominated by women were the ones most impacted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the travel sector , hair salons .
One in five child care workers , almost all women , lost their jobs .
Black and Latina women have suffered from the economic downturn the most .
Unlike in every previous recession , the unemployment rate for women is higher than it is for men .
In September , 865,000 women left the labor force , compared to 216,000 men , according to the Labor Department .
That ’ s the highest number in history , with the exception of March , when lockdowns forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
The percentage of women in the workforce , 55.6 % , is as low now as it was in 1986 .
It was beyond exhausting .
I was barely functioning on four to five hours of sleep .
It got very stressful .
Daniella Knight , explaining why she quit her job Even before COVID-19 , Knight was familiar with the competing pressures of work and family .
She was forced to quit a job , years ago , when she was pregnant with her first child because her boss refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s appointments .
After her second and third children were born , she was able to take only two weeks of paid leave .
By the twisted logic of the COVID-19 economy , Stephanie , a 39-year-old mother of two living in Pittsburgh , is “ lucky.
” First , she still has a job , working as a senior manager at a behavioral health facility .
And , she ’ s able to go to the office and leave her 11-year-old daughter at home to do remote learning , while her 19-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy at her office is that if you work from home , there must be someone else there dealing with child care .
At the start of the pandemic , her employer had everyone sign a contract committing to this rule .
It was crafted by the men in charge .
“ I just feel these decisions have been made without really taking into account how this is affecting mothers or men with children , ” she said .

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images
Women across the country are burning out. And no one is coming to the rescue.
This week, millions of women struggled to manage their paying jobs while also doing the unpaid work of homeschooling, and about half of the nation’s children did not go to school in person. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, fresh from a hospital stay for COVID-19 and back in his government-funded, well-staffed home, killed any plans for more pandemic relief ahead of the election.
“I cried on the phone with my dad recently just talking about how impossible this is,” Marissa Maciel, a mother of two living in Northern California, told HuffPost in a lengthy email this week. “I have a partner at least, and a remote (mostly) job, and I am so stressed.”
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Like millions of other women across the country, Maciel said she is exhausted — struggling to work from home, while helping her children, one in elementary school and one in middle school, with remote learning. “We’ve basically become assistant teachers,” said Maciel, who is an administrator in higher education. “If I’m not helping with school or working on work, I’m doing chores.” There is somehow more laundry than ever before, she noted.
From the start, the economic fallout of the pandemic has hit women harder than men. Women lost more jobs than men because industries dominated by women were the ones most impacted by the downturn — think hotels, restaurants, the travel sector, hair salons. One in five child care workers, almost all women, lost their jobs. Black and Latina women have suffered from the economic downturn the most.
Then came the school closures. And many caretakers, primarily women, could not leave home to work, or even look for new jobs, because they had kids at home from school.
“I expected it to be really bad,” Michael Madowitz, an economist at the progressive Center for American Progress who has been tracking women’s struggles in the workforce since the start of the pandemic. “It’s worse than I was ready for.”
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Unlike in every previous recession, the unemployment rate for women is higher than it is for men. In September, 865,000 women left the labor force, compared to 216,000 men, according to the Labor Department. That’s the highest number in history, with the exception of March, when lockdowns forced millions of men and women out of work. The percentage of women in the workforce, 55.6%, is as low now as it was in 1986.
“It was beyond exhausting. I was barely functioning on four to five hours of sleep. It got very stressful.” - Daniella Knight, explaining why she quit her job
“Life has gotten so much harder at levels we couldn’t imagine,” said Daniella Knight, a Latina mother of three young children in Alexandria, Virginia, who shared her story Tuesday afternoon on a call with reporters hosted by the Center for American Progress.
Even before COVID-19, Knight was familiar with the competing pressures of work and family. She was forced to quit a job, years ago, when she was pregnant with her first child because her boss refused to be flexible about her doctor’s appointments. After her second and third children were born, she was able to take only two weeks of paid leave.
Still, she and her husband got by, working different shifts during the day to avoid spending money on child care they couldn’t afford. She had two part-time jobs — by day at a property management company, at night as a pediatric sleep specialist.
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With the pandemic, they were both working from home, struggling to help their children with remote school. Knight had to come into the office at the property firm at night to make it all work.
“It was beyond exhausting. I was barely functioning on four to five hours of sleep,” said Knight, who is a member of the activist group Moms Rising. “It got very stressful.”
When her kids’ school district announced that classes would be virtual again this September, she quit working. “It was not sustainable.”
Daniella Knight and her family. Courtesy Daniella Knight
Madowitz believes this “child care shock” is what is driving women out of work now. Because women are the majority of the ones doing the care work at home, they’re the ones hurting from the virtual schooling, the erratic hybrid schedules, the child care center closures, etc.
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“This should be totally surprising to five people,” Madowitz said, ruefully.
Meanwhile, women, still clinging to their paying jobs while taking on the overwhelming task of homeschooling their children, are on the edge of burnout. One in four professional women are considering leaving their jobs or downshifting their careers, according to a report released last week by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org, the women’s advocacy group.
And women are facing the same old gender bias that’s hurt mothers in the workforce for decades. Twice as many mothers say they’re afraid they’ll be penalized at work for having to handle child care issues at home, according to the survey, which polled 40,000 employees from 47 companies, and also conducted deeper conversations with 49 women.
“You hear the same things over and over,” said Rachel Thomas, co-founder and president at Lean In. They report feeling exhausted, like they’re failing at everything, she said.
“Women are being pushed to the brink,” Thomas said. And it’s not just because of increased responsibilities at home, but because of a longstanding bias: Women are typically judged more harshly at work, perceived as less committed and held to higher standards, she said.
“It’s not business as usual and so a lot of the biases or pressures that women experience in the workplace are heightened right now and women are feeling it,” Thomas said.
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By the twisted logic of the COVID-19 economy, Stephanie, a 39-year-old mother of two living in Pittsburgh, is “lucky.” First, she still has a job, working as a senior manager at a behavioral health facility. And, she’s able to go to the office and leave her 11-year-old daughter at home to do remote learning, while her 19-year-old son is home.
Stephanie, who asked that we not publish her last name to avoid retaliation at work, would prefer working from home to keep an eye on her daughter, but she believes she’ll be judged harshly by her superiors.
The last time she asked to work remotely, her boss warned her that she’d better actually do work. “It was off-putting,” she said. “I’ve never again asked to work from home.”
Worse, the policy at her office is that if you work from home, there must be someone else there dealing with child care. At the start of the pandemic, her employer had everyone sign a contract committing to this rule. It was crafted by the men in charge. “I just feel these decisions have been made without really taking into account how this is affecting mothers or men with children,” she said.
Maciel, the mother in North California, said there are still a lot of people at work who expect her to do her job exactly as she had before. So she crafted an auto-reply for her email to reset expectations.
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“Due to the COVID-19 response in America I am working 100% remotely while also providing 100% support to my family, including remote education. I will respond to emails as soon as possible,” it reads.
It wasn’t an easy move.
“To come out and say, ‘This is horrible: I need patience with deadlines, and the workload has to ease up,’ feels like a betrayal to myself. But it’s a pandemic! Nobody had a plan for this,” she said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--2 Win Nobel Prize In Chemistry For Developing Method For Genome Editing

STOCKHOLM ( AP ) — French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier and American Jennifer A. Doudna have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing a method of genome editing likened to “ molecular scissors ” that offer the promise of one day curing genetic diseases .
The recipients were announced Wednesday in Stockholm by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences .
“ There is enormous power in this genetic tool , which affects us all , ” said Claes Gustafsson , chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry .
“ It has not only revolutionized basic science , but also resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground-breaking new medical treatments.
” Gustafsson said that as a result , any genome can now be edited “ to fix genetic damage.
” Gusfafsson cautioned that the “ enormous power of this technology means we have to use it with great care ” but that it “ is equally clear that this is a technology , a method that will provide humankind with great opportunities.
” The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and prize money of 10 million krona ( more than $ 1.1 million ) , courtesy of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the prize ’ s creator , Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel .
The amount was increased recently to adjust for inflation .
“ I was very emotional , I have to say , ” Charpentier told reporters by phone from Berlin after hearing of the award .
On Monday , the Nobel Committee awarded the prize for physiology and medicine to Americans Harvey J .
Alter and Charles M. Rice and British-born scientist Michael Houghton for discovering the liver-ravaging hepatitis C virus .
Tuesday ’ s prize for physics went to Roger Penrose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Andrea Ghez of the United States for their breakthroughs in understanding the mysteries of cosmic black holes .
The other prizes are for outstanding work in the fields of literature , peace and economics .
Read more stories about Nobel Prizes past and present by The Associated Press at https : //www.apnews.com/NobelPrizes

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STOCKHOLM (AP) — French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier and American Jennifer A. Doudna have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing a method of genome editing likened to “molecular scissors” that offer the promise of one day curing genetic diseases.
The recipients were announced Wednesday in Stockholm by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
“There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which affects us all,” said Claes Gustafsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. “It has not only revolutionized basic science, but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments.”
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Gustafsson said that as a result, any genome can now be edited “to fix genetic damage.”
Gusfafsson cautioned that the “enormous power of this technology means we have to use it with great care” but that it “is equally clear that this is a technology, a method that will provide humankind with great opportunities.”
The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and prize money of 10 million krona (more than $1.1 million), courtesy of a bequest left more than a century ago by the prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. The amount was increased recently to adjust for inflation.
“I was very emotional, I have to say,” Charpentier told reporters by phone from Berlin after hearing of the award.
On Monday, the Nobel Committee awarded the prize for physiology and medicine to Americans Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice and British-born scientist Michael Houghton for discovering the liver-ravaging hepatitis C virus. Tuesday’s prize for physics went to Roger Penrose of Britain, Reinhard Genzel of Germany and Andrea Ghez of the United States for their breakthroughs in understanding the mysteries of cosmic black holes.
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The other prizes are for outstanding work in the fields of literature, peace and economics.
___
Read more stories about Nobel Prizes past and present by The Associated Press at https://www.apnews.com/NobelPrizes


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Kamala Harris Only Has To Do 1 Thing To Beat Mike Pence In The Debate: Professor

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) only has to repeat one thing to decisively win Wednesday ’ s debate with Vice President Mike Pence , according to Morgan State University journalism professor Jason Johnson .
Johnson , appearing as a political contributor on MSNBC ’ s “ The 11th Hour ” with Brian Williams on Tuesday , said all Harris has to do “ with every question is say ‘ You let your boss get sick , the president of the United States is sick because of you ― you ’ re supposed to be the czar.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus task force , which has been condemned for its catastrophic mishandling of the pandemic .
At least 210,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 7 million have fallen sick .
Trump was released Monday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after three days of coronavirus treatment .
His illness followed months of publicly downplaying the pandemic ’ s threat , refusing to wear a face mask , holding crowded campaign events and advocating reopenings .
In private , however , the president acknowledged COVID-19′s “ deadly ” nature .
Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast the best picture and mocked people for fighting coronavirus.
” But “ the actual responsibility , the bag is in the hand of Mike Pence , so he will have to answer for these questions , and his inability to do so as this virus continues to spread , ” Johnson said .
Pence , who backed down from his opposition to Harris ’ request for a plexiglass divider between the pair during the debate , would “ be on defense the whole night , ” he added .
“ This will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably had since her second year of law school , ” Johnson predicted .
“ She can come out in a giant hamster ball .
It wouldn ’ t change the fact that all she has to do with every question is say you let your boss get sick .
The potus is sick because of you .
You ’ re supposed to be the czar ” pic.twitter.com/e70i4AVfqE — Acyn Torabi ( @ Acyn ) October 7 , 2020

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Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) only has to repeat one thing to decisively win Wednesday’s debate with Vice President Mike Pence, according to Morgan State University journalism professor Jason Johnson.
Johnson, appearing as a political contributor on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour” with Brian Williams on Tuesday, said all Harris has to do “with every question is say ‘You let your boss get sick, the president of the United States is sick because of you ― you’re supposed to be the czar.’”
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Pence leads the White House coronavirus task force, which has been condemned for its catastrophic mishandling of the pandemic. At least 210,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 7 million have fallen sick.
Trump was released Monday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after three days of coronavirus treatment. His illness followed months of publicly downplaying the pandemic’s threat, refusing to wear a face mask, holding crowded campaign events and advocating reopenings. In private, however, the president acknowledged COVID-19′s “deadly” nature.
Johnson said Trump “didn’t necessarily cast the best picture and mocked people for fighting coronavirus.”
But “the actual responsibility, the bag is in the hand of Mike Pence, so he will have to answer for these questions, and his inability to do so as this virus continues to spread,” Johnson said. Pence, who backed down from his opposition to Harris’ request for a plexiglass divider between the pair during the debate, would “be on defense the whole night,” he added.
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“This will be the easiest prosecution Sen. Harris has probably had since her second year of law school,” Johnson predicted.
Check out the clip here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Jim Carrey Burns 'Hellbound' Mitch McConnell In Fiery New Artwork

Actor/artist Jim Carrey is out with a new caricature , this time giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. @ @ @ @ @ Carrey , who is currently portraying former Vice President Joe Biden on “ Saturday Night @ @ @ @ @ part of the “ hellbound ” class of 2020 : Carrey has been a steady @ @ @ @ @ , those in his administration and the members of Congress and the media who ’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s taken on Fox News , Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-Ohio ) and former @ @ @ @ @ attorney Rudy Giuliani as well as Trump himself , among others .
The actor has @ @ @ @ @ of “ expressing the crass everyone else wants to express and can ’ t necessarily @ @ @ @

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Actor/artist Jim Carrey is out with a new caricature, this time giving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) a fiery makeover.
Carrey, who is currently portraying former Vice President Joe Biden on “Saturday Night Live,” called McConnell part of the “hellbound” class of 2020:
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Mitch McConnell, Hellbound Class of 2020 pic.twitter.com/TAM0LdLnAD — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 7, 2020
Carrey has been a steady critic of President Donald Trump, those in his administration and the members of Congress and the media who’ve enabled him. He’s taken on Fox News, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and former New York Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani as well as Trump himself, among others.
The actor has called the sketches a way of “expressing the crass everyone else wants to express and can’t necessarily do so.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Stephen Colbert Taunts ‘Kim Jong Don’ After Trump’s Bizarre Coronavirus Photo Op

“ Late Show ” host Stephen Colbert compared President Donald Trump to dictators and tyrants throughout history for his photo op at the White House on Monday night .
Trump returned from Walter Reed hospital after receiving treatment for coronavirus in what was arranged as a made-for-TV moment , complete with reshoots .
He stood on the Truman Balcony , took off his mask and saluted .
“ I ’ m back from the hospital and just to put any lingering doubts to rest : I ’ ve learned nothing , ” he said .
“ Kneel before me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my precious droplets.
” When Trump taped a video from the balcony telling Americans not to fear the virus and “ don ’ t let it dominate you , ” Colbert had another comparison for that .
“ He ’ s like if Scrooge woke up on Christmas morning and said , ‘ I ’ ve been visited by three ghosts , ’ ” he said .
“ Don ’ t be afraid of them folks , and don ’ t let them dominate you .
I just put on my Bose noise-canceling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby.
” Watch the rest of the monologue below :

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“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert compared President Donald Trump to dictators and tyrants throughout history for his photo op at the White House on Monday night.
Trump returned from Walter Reed hospital after receiving treatment for coronavirus in what was arranged as a made-for-TV moment, complete with reshoots. He stood on the Truman Balcony, took off his mask and saluted.
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Colbert broke out his Trump impression for “Kim Jong Don.”
“I’m back from the hospital and just to put any lingering doubts to rest: I’ve learned nothing,” he said. “Kneel before me, you weak and withered, and inhale my precious droplets.”
Colbert also showed off a mock Nazi-style poster featuring Trump called “Triumph Of The Ill.”
When Trump taped a video from the balcony telling Americans not to fear the virus and “don’t let it dominate you,” Colbert had another comparison for that.
“He’s like if Scrooge woke up on Christmas morning and said, ‘I’ve been visited by three ghosts,’” he said. “Don’t be afraid of them folks, and don’t let them dominate you. I just put on my Bose noise-canceling headphones and I slept like a gin-soaked baby.”
Watch the rest of the monologue below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Trevor Noah: Donald Trump’s Mask Removal Stunt A ‘Biological Attack On The White House’

Trevor Noah on Tuesday roasted President Donald Trump for removing his face mask immediately after returning to the White House following three days of hospitalization for coronavirus treatment .
“ The Daily Show ” host described the president ’ s stunt on Monday night ― in front of the cameras ― as “ a biological attack on the White House.
” “ Goddamn .
The dude ripped his mask off the second he got home , ” noted Noah .
“ And I know Trump thinks this is a triumphant moment .
But he ’ s presumably still riddled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk indoors and expose it to everyone inside ?
” “ Yo , this wasn ’ t a photo op , ” Noah continued .
“ It was a biological attack on the White House.
” “ I honestly can ’ t believe this .
This is Trump putting his own staff at risk , ” the comedian added .
“ You would think he would be a lot more careful about protecting his own staff .
This is coronavirus , not a prison sentence .
You can ’ t just pardon them @ @ @

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Trevor Noah on Tuesday roasted President Donald Trump for removing his face mask immediately after returning to the White House following three days of hospitalization for coronavirus treatment.
“The Daily Show” host described the president’s stunt on Monday night ― in front of the cameras ― as “a biological attack on the White House.”
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“Goddamn. The dude ripped his mask off the second he got home,” noted Noah. “And I know Trump thinks this is a triumphant moment. But he’s presumably still riddled with COVID and he’s about to walk indoors and expose it to everyone inside?”
“Yo, this wasn’t a photo op,” Noah continued. “It was a biological attack on the White House.”
“I honestly can’t believe this. This is Trump putting his own staff at risk,” the comedian added. “You would think he would be a lot more careful about protecting his own staff. This is coronavirus, not a prison sentence. You can’t just pardon them afterwards.”
Check out Noah’s monologue here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--James Corden Scorches Donald Trump With COVID-19 Parody Of Paul McCartney Song

The British host called out Trump ’ s failed response to the coronavirus pandemic — including his ongoing downplaying of @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized for three days with the disease — with a reworked version of Beatles singer @ @ @ @ @ hit “ Maybe I ’ m Amazed .
”

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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Eric Trump Claims His Dad 'Literally Saved Christianity'

He claimed during a radio interview in North Dakota last week that his father , President Donald Trump , “ literally saved Christianity.
” “ He literally saved Christianity .
There ’ s a full-out war on faith in this country by the other side , ” Eric Trump claimed on WZFG-AM on Friday .
“ I mean , the Democratic Party , the far left , has become the party of the quote-unquote atheist .
They want to attack Christianity , they want to close churches , they want to ― they ’ re totally fine keeping liquor stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches all over the country.
” Some Democrats pushed for churches ― along with schools , businesses and other nonessential spaces ― to be shuttered or opened at limited capacity while the deadly COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country .
The president , whose white evangelical Christian supporters have remained among his most loyal during his time in office , made an empty demand that places of worship be reopened in May .
However , he had no power to do so , and the decision ultimately fell to governors and local officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump cited no other examples of what exactly Christianity was being attacked by or what Trump did to save it .
He claimed Democrats are out to get the religion , even though the vast majority of Democratic lawmakers identify themselves as Christians .
The claim can be tallied up beside the Trump family ’ s other baseless self-proclaimed achievements , which include saving Christmas and Thanksgiving from the nonexistent “ wars ” they claim are being waged against the holidays .

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Eric Trump has added a new fake achievement to his dad’s collection.
He claimed during a radio interview in North Dakota last week that his father, President Donald Trump, “literally saved Christianity.”
“He literally saved Christianity. There’s a full-out war on faith in this country by the other side,” Eric Trump claimed on WZFG-AM on Friday. “I mean, the Democratic Party, the far left, has become the party of the quote-unquote atheist. They want to attack Christianity, they want to close churches, they want to ― they’re totally fine keeping liquor stores open ― but they want to close churches all over the country.”
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Some Democrats pushed for churches ― along with schools, businesses and other nonessential spaces ― to be shuttered or opened at limited capacity while the deadly COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country.
The president, whose white evangelical Christian supporters have remained among his most loyal during his time in office, made an empty demand that places of worship be reopened in May. However, he had no power to do so, and the decision ultimately fell to governors and local officials.
Here's the audio of Eric Trump listing "he literally saved Christianity" as one of his father's accomplishments in office. pic.twitter.com/uJG6YUPAbq — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) October 6, 2020
Beyond the churches claim, Eric Trump cited no other examples of what exactly Christianity was being attacked by or what Trump did to save it. He claimed Democrats are out to get the religion, even though the vast majority of Democratic lawmakers identify themselves as Christians.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Guitar Legend Eddie Van Halen Dead At 65

Legendary musician Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday at the age of 65 after undergoing treatment for cancer , according to a statement from his son .
The guitar icon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 alongside Van Halen bandmates Michael Anthony , his brother Alex Van Halen , and David Lee Roth .
The group found rock stardom in the 1980s after their formation in Pasadena , California , in 1972 , fueled by hits “ Jump ” and “ Panama , ” and the 1978 classic “ Runnin ’ With the Devil.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular and top-selling acts of the ’ 80s , helping usher in an era of “ guitar god ” theatrics in rock ‘ n ’ roll .
“ It ’ s hard to imagine what rock & roll would sound like without Eddie Van Halen , ” Rolling Stone mused Tuesday after the news of his death .
“ Like Jimi Hendrix , Jimmy Page , and Eric Clapton before him , he single-handedly ( or perhaps , in his case , double-handedly ) ” ― referring to a two-handed technique known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guitar for a generation.
” “ I said to myself , ‘ Who is going to know that I played on this kid ’ s record , right ?
Nobody ’ s going to find out.
’ Wrong !
” he recalled to CNN in 2012 .
“ Big-time wrong .
It ended up being Record of the Year.
” Van Halen was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had a third of his tongue removed , disclosing in a 2015 interview with Billboard that the cancer had spread to his esophagus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything , ” he speculated his guitar picks were ultimately to blame .
“ I used metal picks ― they ’ re brass and copper ― which I always held in my mouth , in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer , ” he said .
Former bandmate Sammy Hagar tweeted that he was “ heartbroken and speechless ” on Tuesday .
“ My heart is broken , ” he tweeted .
“ Eddie was not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beautiful soul .
Rest in peace , Eddie !
”

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Legendary musician Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday at the age of 65 after undergoing treatment for cancer, according to a statement from his son.
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The guitar icon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 alongside Van Halen bandmates Michael Anthony, his brother Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth.
The group found rock stardom in the 1980s after their formation in Pasadena, California, in 1972, fueled by hits “Jump” and “Panama,” and the 1978 classic “Runnin’ With the Devil.” Van Halen became one of the most popular and top-selling acts of the ’80s, helping usher in an era of “guitar god” theatrics in rock ‘n’ roll.
“It’s hard to imagine what rock & roll would sound like without Eddie Van Halen,” Rolling Stone mused Tuesday after the news of his death. “Like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton before him, he single-handedly (or perhaps, in his case, double-handedly)” ― referring to a two-handed technique known as tapping ― “changed the vocabulary of guitar for a generation.”
Van Halen also recorded a guitar solo for Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” for free as a favor to producer Quincy Jones.
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“I said to myself, ‘Who is going to know that I played on this kid’s record, right? Nobody’s going to find out.’ Wrong!” he recalled to CNN in 2012. “Big-time wrong. It ended up being Record of the Year.”
Van Halen was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had a third of his tongue removed, disclosing in a 2015 interview with Billboard that the cancer had spread to his esophagus.
While he acknowledged a past history of “smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything,” he speculated his guitar picks were ultimately to blame.
“I used metal picks ― they’re brass and copper ― which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer,” he said.
Former bandmate Sammy Hagar tweeted that he was “heartbroken and speechless” on Tuesday.
Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family. pic.twitter.com/MQMueMF2XO — Sammy Hagar (@sammyhagar) October 6, 2020
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Kiss frontman Gene Simmons took the news hard Tuesday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Neither Vice Presidential Candidate Wanted To Talk About Their Boss' Health

Neither Vice President Mike Pence nor Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) was particularly interested in talking about the health of the septuagenarians at the top of their party ’ s respective tickets during Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate .
When asked if the American people deserved more information about the health of both President Donald Trump , 74 , and former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , their running mates quickly pivoted to other topics , preferring not to discuss a sensitive issue for both parties .
Pence attacked Harris over her skepticism toward Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
Harris , meanwhile , said Biden has been more transparent than Trump when it comes to health records as well as his tax returns .
“ It ’ d be really good to know who the commander-in-chief owes money to , ” Harris said , citing reporting from The New York Times that Trump paid only $ 750 in income taxes in 2017 .
“ The American people have the right to know what is influencing his decisions.
” After being asked if the American people deserve to know more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized recently after contracting the coronavirus , Pence lauded the “ transparency ” of the president ’ s doctors and said that transparency would “ continue.
” In fact , Trump ’ s medical team has repeatedly obfuscated when asked about his health status , and his administration has refused to say when the president last tested negative for COVID-19 .

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Neither Vice President Mike Pence nor Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was particularly interested in talking about the health of the septuagenarians at the top of their party’s respective tickets during Wednesday’s vice presidential debate.
When asked if the American people deserved more information about the health of both President Donald Trump, 74, and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, their running mates quickly pivoted to other topics, preferring not to discuss a sensitive issue for both parties.
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Pence attacked Harris over her skepticism toward Trump’s effort to rush a coronavirus vaccine to market. Harris, meanwhile, said Biden has been more transparent than Trump when it comes to health records as well as his tax returns.
“It’d be really good to know who the commander-in-chief owes money to,” Harris said, citing reporting from The New York Times that Trump paid only $750 in income taxes in 2017. “The American people have the right to know what is influencing his decisions.”
After being asked if the American people deserve to know more about the health of Trump, who was hospitalized recently after contracting the coronavirus, Pence lauded the “transparency” of the president’s doctors and said that transparency would “continue.” In fact, Trump’s medical team has repeatedly obfuscated when asked about his health status, and his administration has refused to say when the president last tested negative for COVID-19.
NEW: Pence promises continued transparency into Trump's health, despite limited information about his condition and questions that doctors and advisers refuse to answer.https://t.co/qNpfKJyhuL pic.twitter.com/pGc9JR9D9b — Yahoo News (@YahooNews) October 8, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--'Flying Blind': Top U.S. Immunologist Quits Over Trump's Failed COVID-19 Response

Dr. Rick Bright outlined his reasons for leaving the National Institutes of Health , where he was working on a program to expand national COVID-19 testing capacity , in a blistering op-ed published Wednesday in The Washington Post .
“ From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak , the administration ’ s failure to respond with a coordinated strategy only heightened the danger , ” Bright wrote , adding : “ Nine months into the pandemic , the United States continues to grapple with failed White House leadership.
” “ Instead , we get the recent spectacle of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and advising the nation , ‘ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid , ’ ” he continued , referring to Trump ’ s efforts to downplay the pandemic that has killed more than 211,000 people nationwide .
The Trump administration ’ s “ hostility to the truth ” and its “ politicization of the pandemic response ” has caused tens of thousands of preventable deaths , Bright wrote .
Bright served as the director of the government ’ s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for nearly four years .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April after objecting to pressure from top officials at the Department of Health and Human Services who wanted BARDA to invest in unproven COVID-19 drugs and vaccines , according to a whistleblower complaint Bright filed in May .
“ When I strongly objected this past spring to the Trump administration ’ s insistence that BARDA support widespread access to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , two potentially dangerous drugs recklessly promoted by President Trump as a covid-19 cure , I was shunted to the NIH and assigned a more limited role in the pandemic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on briefings by doctors tending to Trump since he tested positive for COVID-19 last week , neither drug has been part of his treatment .
Bright said he ’ s been sidelined at NIH since last month .
He also expressed fears that the testing capacity program he helped build will be “ wasted unless it is a part of a coordinated national testing strategy.
” “ In an administration that suffers from widespread internal chaos , such coordination may be impossible — especially when the White House has seemed determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who might have asymptomatic infections , ” Bright wrote .
He continued : “ The country is flying blind into what could be the darkest winter in modern history .
Undoubtedly , millions more Americans will be infected with the coronavirus and influenza ; many thousands will die .
Now , more than ever before , the public needs to be able to rely on honest , non-politicized and unmanipulated public health guidance from career scientists.
” In testimony he gave before a congressional panel in May , Bright warned of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year if the Trump administration doesn ’ t step up its efforts .
“ The undeniable fact is there will be a resurgence of ( COVID-19 ) this fall , greatly compounding the challenges of seasonal influenza and putting an unprecedented strain on our health care system , ” Bright said at the time .

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A top U.S. public health official resigned from the Trump administration Tuesday, citing President Donald Trump’s chaotic and politicalized response to the coronavirus crisis.
Dr. Rick Bright outlined his reasons for leaving the National Institutes of Health, where he was working on a program to expand national COVID-19 testing capacity, in a blistering op-ed published Wednesday in The Washington Post.
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“From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the administration’s failure to respond with a coordinated strategy only heightened the danger,” Bright wrote, adding: “Nine months into the pandemic, the United States continues to grapple with failed White House leadership.”
“Instead, we get the recent spectacle of the president exploiting his own illness for political purposes and advising the nation, ‘Don’t be afraid of Covid,’” he continued, referring to Trump’s efforts to downplay the pandemic that has killed more than 211,000 people nationwide.
The Trump administration’s “hostility to the truth” and its “politicization of the pandemic response” has caused tens of thousands of preventable deaths, Bright wrote.
Bright served as the director of the government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for nearly four years. He was transferred to NIH against his will in April after objecting to pressure from top officials at the Department of Health and Human Services who wanted BARDA to invest in unproven COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, according to a whistleblower complaint Bright filed in May.
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“When I strongly objected this past spring to the Trump administration’s insistence that BARDA support widespread access to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two potentially dangerous drugs recklessly promoted by President Trump as a covid-19 cure, I was shunted to the NIH and assigned a more limited role in the pandemic response,” Bright wrote in his op-ed.
Based on briefings by doctors tending to Trump since he tested positive for COVID-19 last week, neither drug has been part of his treatment.
Bright said he’s been sidelined at NIH since last month. He also expressed fears that the testing capacity program he helped build will be “wasted unless it is a part of a coordinated national testing strategy.”
“In an administration that suffers from widespread internal chaos, such coordination may be impossible — especially when the White House has seemed determined to slow down testing and not test people who might have asymptomatic infections,” Bright wrote.
He continued: “The country is flying blind into what could be the darkest winter in modern history. Undoubtedly, millions more Americans will be infected with the coronavirus and influenza; many thousands will die. Now, more than ever before, the public needs to be able to rely on honest, non-politicized and unmanipulated public health guidance from career scientists.”
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In testimony he gave before a congressional panel in May, Bright warned of the “darkest winter in modern history” this year if the Trump administration doesn’t step up its efforts.
“The undeniable fact is there will be a resurgence of (COVID-19) this fall, greatly compounding the challenges of seasonal influenza and putting an unprecedented strain on our health care system,” Bright said at the time.
Read Bright’s full editorial here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Leading Medical Journal Calls For End To Trump Administration

In a rare political statement from a scientific journal , the New England Journal of Medicine released an editorial Wednesday lambasting the Trump administration ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and calling on Americans to vote President Donald Trump out of office next month .
November ’ s election will have life-or-death consequences for people across the country regardless of party alignment , the journal ’ s editorial board said .
“ Reasonable people will certainly disagree about the many political positions taken by candidates , ” the journal ’ s editors wrote .
“ But truth is neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the response to the largest public health crisis of our time , our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent .
We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs.
” This is the first time in the journal ’ s 208-year history that the editors have ever published an editorial about elections , Editor-in-Chief Dr. Eric Rubin told CNN .
The editorial was collectively signed by every editor on staff , something that ’ s only happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
The United States has “ failed at every step , ” leaving the nation with more than 500 coronavirus-related deaths per million people ― a shocking statistic compared to China ’ s reported 3 deaths per million , the editors wrote .
It ’ s easy to trace the myriad ways the Trump administration went wrong , they said : The United States instituted quarantine and isolation measures late and inconsistently , often without any effort to enforce them , after the disease had spread substantially in many communities .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places been lackadaisical at best , with loosening of restrictions long before adequate disease control had been achieved .
And in much of the country , people simply don ’ t wear masks , largely because our leaders have stated outright that masks are political tools rather than effective infection control measures .
Under the leadership of Trump , who has dismissed the coronavirus as a hoax and refused to issue basic safety measures , the federal agencies needed to help control the outbreak have been eroded .
The editorial specifically mentions the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institutes of Health : The federal government has largely abandoned disease control to the states .
Governors have varied in their responses , not so much by party as by competence .
But whatever their competence , governors do not have the tools that Washington controls .
Instead of using those tools , the federal government has undermined them .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which was the world ’ s leading disease response organization , has been eviscerated and has suffered dramatic testing and policy failures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key role in vaccine development but have been excluded from much crucial government decision making .
“ Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history , ” the magazine ’ s editors wrote .
“ This year we are compelled to do so .
We do not do this lightly .
”

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In a rare political statement from a scientific journal, the New England Journal of Medicine released an editorial Wednesday lambasting the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and calling on Americans to vote President Donald Trump out of office next month.
November’s election will have life-or-death consequences for people across the country regardless of party alignment, the journal’s editorial board said.
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“Reasonable people will certainly disagree about the many political positions taken by candidates,” the journal’s editors wrote. “But truth is neither liberal nor conservative. When it comes to the response to the largest public health crisis of our time, our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent. We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs.”
This is the first time in the journal’s 208-year history that the editors have ever published an editorial about elections, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Eric Rubin told CNN. The editorial was collectively signed by every editor on staff, something that’s only happened on four other recent occasions, Rubin added.
The United States has “failed at every step,” leaving the nation with more than 500 coronavirus-related deaths per million people ― a shocking statistic compared to China’s reported 3 deaths per million, the editors wrote.
It’s easy to trace the myriad ways the Trump administration went wrong, they said:
The United States instituted quarantine and isolation measures late and inconsistently, often without any effort to enforce them, after the disease had spread substantially in many communities. Our rules on social distancing have in many places been lackadaisical at best, with loosening of restrictions long before adequate disease control had been achieved. And in much of the country, people simply don’t wear masks, largely because our leaders have stated outright that masks are political tools rather than effective infection control measures.
Under the leadership of Trump, who has dismissed the coronavirus as a hoax and refused to issue basic safety measures, the federal agencies needed to help control the outbreak have been eroded.
The editorial specifically mentions the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health:
The federal government has largely abandoned disease control to the states. Governors have varied in their responses, not so much by party as by competence. But whatever their competence, governors do not have the tools that Washington controls. Instead of using those tools, the federal government has undermined them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was the world’s leading disease response organization, has been eviscerated and has suffered dramatic testing and policy failures. The National Institutes of Health have played a key role in vaccine development but have been excluded from much crucial government decision making.
The longstanding magazine Scientific American similarly broke with tradition last month and endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
“Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history,” the magazine’s editors wrote. “This year we are compelled to do so. We do not do this lightly.”
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You can read the entire New England Journal of Medicine editorial here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Trump Says Getting The Coronavirus Was A ‘Blessing From God’

“ I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it , ” the president said of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ the White House on Wednesday .
Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday and spent @ @ @ @ @ Reed medical center before returning to the White House on Monday .
The U.S. leads @ @ @ @ @ million confirmed coronavirus cases and over 211,000 dead so far .
The president also said @ @ @ @ @ — I feel , like , perfect ” and touted his recovery : “ For @ @ @ @ @ , I didn ’ t feel good , a short 24 hours later , I @ @ @ @ @ received top-notch medical care for free , including experimental treatments — something out of reach @ @ @ @

“I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it,” the president said of COVID-19 in a video message outside the White House on Wednesday.
Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday and spent three days hospitalized at Walter Reed medical center before returning to the White House on Monday.
The U.S. leads the world with over 7.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and over 211,000 dead so far.
The president also said he was feeling “great — I feel, like, perfect” and touted his recovery: “For me, I walked in, I didn’t feel good, a short 24 hours later, I was feeling great.”
Trump received top-notch medical care for free, including experimental treatments — something out of reach for most Americans.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Trump Shunned Quack Coronavirus Cures For Himself That He Pushed On The Public

President Donald Trump has received top-notch care in his personal fight against the coronavirus , including treatment available to basically no one else in the country .
He has at least 13 doctors attending to him .
He took a helicopter to the hospital .
He received oxygen , steroids and an experimental antibody treatment that fewer than 10 other people have received outside of a clinical trial .
Trump was also able to return home because he can receive monitoring and care at the White House ― a luxury nearly no one else can afford .
( Medical experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave Walter Reed medical center while he was still sick and contagious . )
Yet all this care and treatment was not what Trump was telling the American public to do to ward off COVID-19 .
“ I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside , or almost a cleaning ?
” he said at the time .
“ Because , you see , it gets in the lungs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lungs , so it would be interesting to check that.
” He did not “ check that ” on himself .
There ’ s no indication that Trump consumed any cleaning products to clean out his body .
One of the main cures Trump has pushed is hydroxychloroquine , a drug used to treat malaria .
On March 21 , he said it had “ a real chance to be one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine.
” When Trump started his crusade , hydroxychloroquine hadn ’ t been fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his remarks making it seem like the drug was safe for treating COVID-19 .
His administration even used its regulatory power to make it easier for patients to receive the drug ― as more and more evidence piled up that it was ineffective and perhaps even dangerous .
Trump said he took hydroxychloroquine for two weeks in May as preventative treatment , but he did not take it again once actually diagnosed with COVID-19 .
On Monday , Dr. Sean Conley , the White House physician , confirmed that it has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
REPORTER : Why did you decide not to use , administer , hydroxychloroquine to the president during his time here ?
CONLEY : I ’ m not going to go into all of our debates about specific medicines and therapies , there are dozens of therapies that we were made aware of that we considered that we discussed and debated and looked at , you know , the existing literature on , um , and this is the regimen we chose .
Trump has also touted the benefits of sunlight and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he does not appear to be relying on for his own health .

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President Donald Trump has received top-notch care in his personal fight against the coronavirus, including treatment available to basically no one else in the country.
He has at least 13 doctors attending to him. He took a helicopter to the hospital. He received oxygen, steroids and an experimental antibody treatment that fewer than 10 other people have received outside of a clinical trial.
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Trump was also able to return home because he can receive monitoring and care at the White House ― a luxury nearly no one else can afford. (Medical experts said it was still ill-advised for Trump to leave Walter Reed medical center while he was still sick and contagious.)
For anyone who isn’t president, this care would cost more than $100,000.
Yet all this care and treatment was not what Trump was telling the American public to do to ward off COVID-19.
He received the best. Everyone else deserves bleach.
No, seriously. In April, Trump floated drinking disinfectants as a coronavirus cure.
“I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he said at the time. “Because, you see, it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
He did not “check that” on himself. There’s no indication that Trump consumed any cleaning products to clean out his body.
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One of the main cures Trump has pushed is hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria. On March 21, he said it had “a real chance to be one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine.”
“What do you have to lose?” he added in April.
When Trump started his crusade, hydroxychloroquine hadn’t been fully tested, and medical experts were uncomfortable with his remarks making it seem like the drug was safe for treating COVID-19. His administration even used its regulatory power to make it easier for patients to receive the drug ― as more and more evidence piled up that it was ineffective and perhaps even dangerous.
Trump said he took hydroxychloroquine for two weeks in May as preventative treatment, but he did not take it again once actually diagnosed with COVID-19. On Monday, Dr. Sean Conley, the White House physician, confirmed that it has not been part of the president’s treatment.
REPORTER: Why did you decide not to use, administer, hydroxychloroquine to the president during his time here? CONLEY: I’m not going to go into all of our debates about specific medicines and therapies, there are dozens of therapies that we were made aware of that we considered that we discussed and debated and looked at, you know, the existing literature on, um, and this is the regimen we chose.
Trump has also touted the benefits of sunlight and warm weather, two other “cures” he does not appear to be relying on for his own health.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--All The Reasons You Shouldn't Wear A Mask Under Your Nose

Wearing a face mask under your nose is useless – and the sooner people figure that one out , the better .
It ’ s a pretty common sight on public transport , in shops and , well ... everywhere really – especially with face masks now mandatory in many indoor public settings .
“ Most people inhale and exhale through their noses , so the majority of virus particles – if they are being released while not talking – will be coming out through their nose route rather than their mouth route , ” he explains .
People who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think they ’ re protected , so they do what Pankhania calls “ risk compensation , ” where they don ’ t socially distance properly – and therefore those around them are susceptible to their germs .
“ They think : ‘ I ’ m wearing a mask therefore I can take part in a little bit more than if I was not wearing a mask , ’ ” he explains .
“ But the truth is you ’ re not wearing a mask , you ’ re wearing a pretend mask.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days when people didn ’ t wear seatbelts and parents with children would drive more carefully to protect their little ones .
When wearing seatbelts became mandatory , some people took a little less caution with their driving .
To put it simply : the whole point of a face mask is to keep the droplets you expel ( from your mouth and your nose ) under wraps .
Covering up one escape route is not great .
Think of wearing a mask like a kitchen with two doorways .
The doorways lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If there ’ s a fire and you have two closed fire doors blocking the way , the fire will stay in that room for a period of time .
If you have one fire door and the other door is left open , the fire will inevitably escape through the open entrance and will spread to the other rooms , causing havoc .
Alternatively , there are some other ways of looking at it , kindly supplied by Twitter .
How should you wear a mask then ?
To wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nose and mouth .
You don ’ t want lots of gaps around the sides of your face mask or face covering either .
If possible , masks should fit snugly on the chin ( almost forming a seal to the skin ) and sit just under your eyes to get a proper seal over the bridge of your nose – while making sure it ’ s still comfortable for you to breathe .

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Wearing a face mask under your nose is useless – and the sooner people figure that one out, the better.
It’s a pretty common sight on public transport, in shops and, well... everywhere really – especially with face masks now mandatory in many indoor public settings.
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People are picking up on the face mask error – and happily sharing their views on Twitter.
Y do so many people wear their mask under their nose. When would it ever make sense to do that — amber (@amberalexanderr) October 5, 2020
Dr. Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, says wearing a mask under the nose “is not a good idea at all.”
“Most people inhale and exhale through their noses, so the majority of virus particles – if they are being released while not talking – will be coming out through their nose route rather than their mouth route,” he explains.
People who wear a mask like this might also think they’re protected, so they do what Pankhania calls “risk compensation,” where they don’t socially distance properly – and therefore those around them are susceptible to their germs.
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“They think: ‘I’m wearing a mask therefore I can take part in a little bit more than if I was not wearing a mask,’” he explains. “But the truth is you’re not wearing a mask, you’re wearing a pretend mask.”
He likens this risk compensation to the days when people didn’t wear seatbelts and parents with children would drive more carefully to protect their little ones. When wearing seatbelts became mandatory, some people took a little less caution with their driving.
Giulio Fornasar via Getty Images
To put it simply: the whole point of a face mask is to keep the droplets you expel (from your mouth and your nose) under wraps. Covering up one escape route is not great.
Think of wearing a mask like a kitchen with two doorways. The doorways lead on to other rooms in a house. If there’s a fire and you have two closed fire doors blocking the way, the fire will stay in that room for a period of time.
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If you have one fire door and the other door is left open, the fire will inevitably escape through the open entrance and will spread to the other rooms, causing havoc.
Alternatively, there are some other ways of looking at it, kindly supplied by Twitter.
People who wear their face mask but leave their nose uncovered, do you also sleep under your mattress? — machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) October 4, 2020
My son had his mask down & got embarrassed when I loudly proclaimed that wearing a mask under your nose is akin to wearing draws w/your willie out. Several grown men within earshot pulled their masks up. That was my public service for the day. You're welcome — Linda S (@queenlsteiner) October 2, 2020
wearing a mask under your nose is like wearing a condom with a hole in it — ᴢᴏᴇʏ (@zoeygallagher_) October 1, 2020
You get the drift. Even this swan gets it...
This is dedicated to everyone still wearing their mask under their nose and in some cases under their chin. Pull it up!! https://t.co/jqwrb5eok0 — Andy Lea 💙💙 (@AndyL1964) October 5, 2020
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How should you wear a mask then?
To wear a mask properly, it must cover your nose and mouth. You don’t want lots of gaps around the sides of your face mask or face covering either.
If possible, masks should fit snugly on the chin (almost forming a seal to the skin) and sit just under your eyes to get a proper seal over the bridge of your nose – while making sure it’s still comfortable for you to breathe.
And remember, keep 2m away from others as much as possible.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Organizers Are Under Pressure To Ensure Safety Of VP Debate

The White House announced on Friday that President Donald Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus .
The revelation came just three days after Trump debated former Vice President Joe Biden in person at an event in Cleveland where debate organizers proved incapable of enforcing safety precautions .
COVID-19 is transmitted in tiny , aerosolized droplets capable of flying above or around the stand-alone barriers erected for the debate , which are just a few feet tall .
( Harris and Pence will be seated at desks 12 feet apart . )
In a call with reporters on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparations for the event ― but didn ’ t exactly give a ringing declaration that they feel 100 % safe .
They said the onus is on the Cleveland Clinic and the Commission on Presidential Debates to ensure the event ’ s compliance with elevated public health standards .
“ It ’ s the Cleveland Clinic ’ s job to ensure the health and safety precautions tonight at the debate and that the safety standards are being met , ” Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders said .
“ We fully expect that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their job.
” Cleveland Clinic said in a statement later on Wednesday afternoon that it serves as “ the Health Security Advisor ” to the presidential debate commission , and to direct any questions regarding the implementation of safety protocols to the commission .
As for the plexiglass dividers , “ it is an additional layer of protection that one campaign recommended , ” Cleveland Clinic spokesperson Tora Vinci said .
“ Both campaigns have agreed to it , and it will be implemented tonight.
” Many of Trump ’ s family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without wearing masks , in contravention of rules agreed upon before the debate .
A Cleveland Clinic doctor unsuccessfully tried to get them to do so .
And Trump himself arrived too late to be tested before the event began .
Asked whether the Biden campaign was concerned that Harris ’ presence alongside Pence could endanger Biden in the event that Harris gets infected , Sanders , the Biden aide , said Biden and Harris are regularly tested .
She noted that the Biden campaign has enforced strict health and safety protocols from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory mask wearing at all campaign events .
“ We believe that we ’ re being safe , and we have done this all in consultation with our own health professionals and health experts , ” Sanders said .
“ And that ’ s what we ’ ll continue to do .
”

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Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Vice President Mike Pence are set to appear at an in-person debate Wednesday night, despite uproar over an outbreak of COVID-19 in the White House.
The White House announced on Friday that President Donald Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus. The revelation came just three days after Trump debated former Vice President Joe Biden in person at an event in Cleveland where debate organizers proved incapable of enforcing safety precautions.
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Since then, at least 34 people in the president’s orbit have also tested positive for the virus.
This time, debate organizers will be erecting small plexiglass barriers between Harris and Pence on the stage in Salt Lake City ― something that was not done for the presidential debate.
However, health experts say those barriers are essentially useless.
COVID-19 is transmitted in tiny, aerosolized droplets capable of flying above or around the stand-alone barriers erected for the debate, which are just a few feet tall. (Harris and Pence will be seated at desks 12 feet apart.)
“Those plexiglass barriers are really only going to be effective if the vice president or Kamala Harris are spitting at each other,” Ellie Murray, a Boston University epidemiologist, told The New York Times.
Workers install plexiglass protections at the vice presidential debate hall in Utah. Experts say the barriers are not remotely adequate for preventing COVID-19 transmission. ERIC BARADAT/Getty Images
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In a call with reporters on Wednesday, Biden-Harris campaign officials refused to criticize the preparations for the event ― but didn’t exactly give a ringing declaration that they feel 100% safe. They said the onus is on the Cleveland Clinic and the Commission on Presidential Debates to ensure the event’s compliance with elevated public health standards.
The Cleveland Clinic, one of the country’s premier medical institutions, is responsible for advising the debate commission on precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic and developing the debate’s unique safety standards.
“It’s the Cleveland Clinic’s job to ensure the health and safety precautions tonight at the debate and that the safety standards are being met,” Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders said. “We fully expect that the Cleveland Clinic is going to do their job.”
On the call, Liz Allen, Harris’ communications director, also placed the burden on the presidential debate commission, which oversees the debates.
Donald Trump's coronavirus diagnosis after a debate with Joe Biden, left, has raised fears about the debate between Kamala Harris, right, and Mike Pence on Wednesday night. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
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Cleveland Clinic said in a statement later on Wednesday afternoon that it serves as “the Health Security Advisor” to the presidential debate commission, and to direct any questions regarding the implementation of safety protocols to the commission. As for the plexiglass dividers, “it is an additional layer of protection that one campaign recommended,” Cleveland Clinic spokesperson Tora Vinci said. “Both campaigns have agreed to it, and it will be implemented tonight.”
The presidential debate commission did not respond to a request for comment.
Both the Cleveland Clinic and the presidential debate commission have faced criticism for their roles in overseeing the safety standards in the Sept. 29 debate between Trump and Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee.
Many of Trump’s family members and guests attended the debate in person without wearing masks, in contravention of rules agreed upon before the debate. A Cleveland Clinic doctor unsuccessfully tried to get them to do so. And Trump himself arrived too late to be tested before the event began.
The Cleveland Clinic has defended its conduct, claiming that its job was to develop the rules and that it was the debate commission’s job to enforce them.
Three days later, Trump revealed that he’d tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and was subsequently hospitalized with a high fever and low oxygen levels in his blood.
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Since Trump’s positive test results, Pence has tested negative multiple times, according to the White House. He has resumed campaigning for re-election across the country, notwithstanding public health guidelines recommending that people exposed to the disease quarantine for 14 days.
“We believe that we’re being safe, and we have done this all in consultation with our own health professionals and health experts.” - Symone Sanders, senior adviser, Biden campaign
Asked whether the Biden campaign was concerned that Harris’ presence alongside Pence could endanger Biden in the event that Harris gets infected, Sanders, the Biden aide, said Biden and Harris are regularly tested. She noted that the Biden campaign has enforced strict health and safety protocols from the start of the pandemic, including mandatory mask wearing at all campaign events.
She also said the 12 feet of separation between Harris and Pence will be a sufficient distance to prevent disease transmission.
“We believe that we’re being safe, and we have done this all in consultation with our own health professionals and health experts,” Sanders said. “And that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
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In addition, the Biden campaign sought to temper expectations for Harris’ performance against Pence.
“Vice President Pence is a formidable debater,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said. “And we know that tonight is a challenge, but all those who love and know Kamala have a lot of confidence in her.”
At the same time, Harris’ allies emphasized that Pence’s delivery, while more polished and polite than Trump’s, does not make his comments more accurate.
“Mike Pence may not interrupt or shout like Donald Trump did, but that does not mean he’s being more truthful,” Sanders said.
Harris plans to focus on Trump and Pence’s failure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing Pence’s role as head of the White House’s coronavirus task force.
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But it is up to the debate moderator ― USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page ― and the news media to fact-check Pence, according to Sanders, who said that Harris will speak to the public directly rather than try to fact-check her opponent in real time.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Amy Coney Barrett Was A ‘Handmaid’ In Small Devout Christian Group

Barrett has declined to speak publicly about her involvement with the group and People of Praise has not confirmed she was a member , but an explosive report Tuesday from The Washington Post revealed Barrett had an active role in People of Praise and served as a “ handmaid , ” a term used to refer to female leaders in the group .
People of Praise describes itself as a “ charismatic ” Christian community , which refers to a form of Christianity that believes in supernatural occurrences through the work of the Holy Spirit like miraculous healing and prophecy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender roles in which each member of the community is connected to a leader , known as a “ head.
” Heads are often consulted for life decisions , such as dating , marriage , jobs and financial issues .
Married women ’ s “ heads ” are their husbands .
People of Praise says the “ handmaid ” label comes from a Bible verse attributed to Mary , who described the news that she would become pregnant with Jesus by calling herself “ the handmaid of the Lord.
” “ Mary is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as a model believer , ” the group ’ s website reads .
“ In keeping with this , the term handmaid originally honored a woman with an important relationship with God and a leadership role within our community.
” The “ handmaid ” title evokes comparisons to Margaret Atwood ’ s dystopian novel “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale ” in which a Christian fundamentalist government subjects fertile women to repeated ritual rape in order to bear the children of their male masters .
People of Praise , which started referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1970s , has stopped using the label because they recognized that the meaning has “ shifted dramatically in our culture in recent years , ” the group wrote on its website .
Sean Connolly , People of Praise ’ s communications director , declined to comment on Barrett ’ s membership in the group in a statement to HuffPost last month .
“ Like most religious communities , the People of Praise leaves it up to its members to decide whether to publicly disclose their involvement in our community , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printed the same statement from Connolly in its Tuesday article . )
Atwood told The New York Times in 1986 that she was inspired to write her iconic novel after reading about a “ Catholic charismatic spinoff sect ” that called women “ handmaids.
” Atwood did not specify if she was referring to People of Praise , but Connolly told HuffPost that “ there has never been any evidence whatsoever to suggest that the People of Praise played a role in inspiring Margaret Atwood ’ s book.
” While male “ headship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not uncommon in conservative Christian communities .
The religious group states on its website that “ husbands should not be domineering nor should wives be servile , ” but some former members have criticized the community for creating a rigid and controlling atmosphere .
The group also describes itself as a “ covenant community , ” which means members make a commitment to join the organization by following common principles , meeting regularly for prayer services and pledging 5 % of their annual income to the religious group .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tithe , or donate , a percentage of their incomes to religious causes , but it ’ s rare for Christian communities to make these tithes a requirement for membership in the community .
Democrats and abortion rights groups worry that Barrett ’ s religious views will affect her decisions as a judge , especially on the precedent set by Roe v. Wade ― the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring women ’ s access to abortion .
Barrett , whose track record has been hostile toward abortion , LGBTQ and voting rights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ erroneous decision .
”

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Federal appellate judge Amy Coney Barrett’s involvement with People of Praise, a small Christian group, has been under intense scrutiny since President Donald Trump nominated the 48-year-old to the Supreme Court last month.
Barrett has declined to speak publicly about her involvement with the group and People of Praise has not confirmed she was a member, but an explosive report Tuesday from The Washington Post revealed Barrett had an active role in People of Praise and served as a “handmaid,” a term used to refer to female leaders in the group.
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People of Praise describes itself as a “charismatic” Christian community, which refers to a form of Christianity that believes in supernatural occurrences through the work of the Holy Spirit like miraculous healing and prophecy. The group also abides by strict gender roles in which each member of the community is connected to a leader, known as a “head.” Heads are often consulted for life decisions, such as dating, marriage, jobs and financial issues. Married women’s “heads” are their husbands.
People of Praise says the “handmaid” label comes from a Bible verse attributed to Mary, who described the news that she would become pregnant with Jesus by calling herself “the handmaid of the Lord.” “Mary is honored by millions as the first Christian and as a model believer,” the group’s website reads. “In keeping with this, the term handmaid originally honored a woman with an important relationship with God and a leadership role within our community.”
The “handmaid” title evokes comparisons to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” in which a Christian fundamentalist government subjects fertile women to repeated ritual rape in order to bear the children of their male masters.
People of Praise, which started referring to female leaders as “handmaids” in the 1970s, has stopped using the label because they recognized that the meaning has “shifted dramatically in our culture in recent years,” the group wrote on its website.
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Sean Connolly, People of Praise’s communications director, declined to comment on Barrett’s membership in the group in a statement to HuffPost last month. “Like most religious communities, the People of Praise leaves it up to its members to decide whether to publicly disclose their involvement in our community,” he said. (The Washington Post printed the same statement from Connolly in its Tuesday article.)
Atwood told The New York Times in 1986 that she was inspired to write her iconic novel after reading about a “Catholic charismatic spinoff sect” that called women “handmaids.” Atwood did not specify if she was referring to People of Praise, but Connolly told HuffPost that “there has never been any evidence whatsoever to suggest that the People of Praise played a role in inspiring Margaret Atwood’s book.”
While male “headship” does encourage traditional gender roles, it is not uncommon in conservative Christian communities. The religious group states on its website that “husbands should not be domineering nor should wives be servile,” but some former members have criticized the community for creating a rigid and controlling atmosphere.
The group also describes itself as a “covenant community,” which means members make a commitment to join the organization by following common principles, meeting regularly for prayer services and pledging 5% of their annual income to the religious group. It’s somewhat common for practicing Christians to tithe, or donate, a percentage of their incomes to religious causes, but it’s rare for Christian communities to make these tithes a requirement for membership in the community.
Democrats and abortion rights groups worry that Barrett’s religious views will affect her decisions as a judge, especially on the precedent set by Roe v. Wade ― the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring women’s access to abortion. Barrett, whose track record has been hostile toward abortion, LGBTQ and voting rights, has referred to Roe v. Wade as an “erroneous decision.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Sen. Cory Gardner’s Climate Conspiracy Theory Revealed In 2017 Recording

Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images Sen. Cory Gardner echoes President Donald Trump 's rhetoric on climate change , grudgingly admitting that humans have some effect on atmospheric changes .
Scientists have long agreed that humans are the primary cause of global warming .
Facing an uphill battle for reelection in a state where two-thirds of registered voters polled last month said they favored a Senate candidate who promised “ aggressive action ” on climate change , Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner ( R ) has billed himself as a “ national leader ” on climate issues and run three separate ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There are people who want to control the economy as a result of their belief about the environment , ” Gardner said in a previously unpublished interview with a local newspaper columnist in his native Yuma County in rural eastern Colorado .
“ Absolutely , there are.
” Throughout their 17-minute phone call , Gregory Hill , a novelist who writes a column for the 136-year-old weekly Yuma Pioneer , fired off an unsparing barrage of questions that the senator tried to deflect from a position on climate change that is out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political consensus among Centennial State voters .
Pressed to state clearly that gases from fossil fuels accumulate in the atmosphere and trap the sun ’ s heat on the planet , an effect that scientists first grappled with more than a century ago , Gardner said he didn ’ t want to get “ into a loaded political debate.
” By 2050 , natural gas use would need to decline worldwide by nearly 60 % , oil use would need to fall by 80 % and coal use by nearly 95 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages , according to research by the United Nations ’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , a consortium of scientists from droves of countries .
A study published last November found that fossil fuel production remained 120 % higher than would be consistent with a 1.5 degrees scenario .
On the campaign trail , Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper has promised to end subsidies for fossil fuel production and said he supports halting all new drilling on public lands .
In June , he said he wants “ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado governor is also an avowed centrist with deep ties to the state ’ s energy industry .
As part of a past bid to defend the gas- and oil-extraction practice known as hydraulic fracturing , the governor famously sipped water treated to remove toxic drilling fluids , prompting progressives to pejoratively nickname him “ Frackenlooper.
” When he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination last year , Hickenlooper insisted in an op-ed that the movement for a Green New Deal “ sets us up for failure.
” He defeated a climate-focused progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
It may or may not sway Colorado voters .
After all , the legislation solved a problem that Gardner himself had helped to create .
The Republican lawmaker had voted in 2011 to eliminate most funding for the National Park Service fund and endorsed cutting $ 16 million from its budget in 2018 .
And as Eric Sondermann , an independent Colorado political analyst , told InsideClimate News , “ Democrats are so desperate to retake the Senate and send Cory Gardner packing that there are a lot of Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues they normally wouldn ’ t. ” Hickenlooper “ is never going to be as much of an oil and gas guy as Gardner , ” Sondermann said .
It ’ s that desire to unseat Gardner that convinced Hill to share his interview with a reporter .
Following their testy Tuesday morning call three years ago , Gardner ’ s team contacted Tony Rayl , the editor of the Yuma Pioneer , to complain about the columnist ’ s tone and ask whether Hill truly worked for the paper .
Hill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectrum and reacts angrily when someone appears to be evading simple questions , was embarrassed at losing his temper .
“ I felt like a failure , ” he said in a phone call with HuffPost .
And in a county of roughly 10,000 people , he didn ’ t want his mostly conservative neighbors to see him as “ the shrill , hysterical version of the liberal that they already have in their mind.
” People in Colorado are also grappling with unignorable signs that the climate is changing .
This summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state .
The warmest August since records began in 1895 bled into unprecedentedly hot September days .
By October , every inch of Colorado was in drought , with roughly half the state in “ extreme drought , ” and an already historic wildfire season scorched more than 500 square miles of the state .

Sen. Cory Gardner echoes President Donald Trump's rhetoric on climate change, grudgingly admitting that humans have some effect on atmospheric changes. Scientists have long agreed that humans are the primary cause of global warming. Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
Facing an uphill battle for reelection in a state where two-thirds of registered voters polled last month said they favored a Senate candidate who promised “aggressive action” on climate change, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (R) has billed himself as a “national leader” on climate issues and run three separate ads casting himself as a pragmatic environmentalist.
But in a 2017 audiotape HuffPost obtained, Gardner squirms out of questions about what is causing climate change, instead leaning into conspiratorial thinking that efforts to curb carbon emissions are part of a larger plan to “control the economy.”
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“There are people who want to control the economy as a result of their belief about the environment,” Gardner said in a previously unpublished interview with a local newspaper columnist in his native Yuma County in rural eastern Colorado. “Absolutely, there are.”
Throughout their 17-minute phone call, Gregory Hill, a novelist who writes a column for the 136-year-old weekly Yuma Pioneer, fired off an unsparing barrage of questions that the senator tried to deflect from a position on climate change that is out of sync with scientific reality and the political consensus among Centennial State voters.
“I certainly think that the climate is changing,” Gardner said.
“I’ve heard you say that before,” Hill responded. “But here’s my question: Is it changing as a consequence of the human introduction of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds into our atmosphere?”
“Well, I don’t think there’s any doubt that humans have an impact on the environment around us,” Gardner said.
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Hill grew audibly frustrated. “Let’s be clear, because when I step outside and exhale, I’m having an impact on the environment. But are humans essentially causing climate change?”
“I think that humans do have an impact on the environment,” Gardner repeated.
Pressed to state clearly that gases from fossil fuels accumulate in the atmosphere and trap the sun’s heat on the planet, an effect that scientists first grappled with more than a century ago, Gardner said he didn’t want to get “into a loaded political debate.”
Hill asked Gardner to name “those people” seeking to use climate change “to control” the economy.
“People who want to shut down fossil fuel production,” Gardner said.
By 2050, natural gas use would need to decline worldwide by nearly 60%, oil use would need to fall by 80% and coal use by nearly 95% to keep global warming from exceeding a catastrophic 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages, according to research by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a consortium of scientists from droves of countries. A study published last November found that fossil fuel production remained 120% higher than would be consistent with a 1.5 degrees scenario.
Calls to nationalize oil companies and electricity production have grown among the Democratic Party’s resurgent left wing. But Gardner’s opponent sits on the opposite end of the party’s spectrum.
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On the campaign trail, Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper has promised to end subsidies for fossil fuel production and said he supports halting all new drilling on public lands. In June, he said he wants “to make fracking obsolete.” But the former Colorado governor is also an avowed centrist with deep ties to the state’s energy industry. As part of a past bid to defend the gas- and oil-extraction practice known as hydraulic fracturing, the governor famously sipped water treated to remove toxic drilling fluids, prompting progressives to pejoratively nickname him “Frackenlooper.” When he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination last year, Hickenlooper insisted in an op-ed that the movement for a Green New Deal “sets us up for failure.” He defeated a climate-focused progressive for his party’s Senate nomination in June.
“There are people who want to control the economy as a result of their belief about the environment.” - Sen. Cory Gardner
This year, Gardner sponsored the Great American Outdoors Act, a law to permanently fund the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund that the GOP-controlled Senate hastily passed in a bid to boost Republicans’ election prospects amid widespread discontent over the party’s handling of the environment.
It may or may not sway Colorado voters. After all, the legislation solved a problem that Gardner himself had helped to create. The Republican lawmaker had voted in 2011 to eliminate most funding for the National Park Service fund and endorsed cutting $16 million from its budget in 2018.
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And as Eric Sondermann, an independent Colorado political analyst, told InsideClimate News, “Democrats are so desperate to retake the Senate and send Cory Gardner packing that there are a lot of Democratic voters who are willing to overlook some issues they normally wouldn’t.” Hickenlooper “is never going to be as much of an oil and gas guy as Gardner,” Sondermann said.
It’s that desire to unseat Gardner that convinced Hill to share his interview with a reporter. Following their testy Tuesday morning call three years ago, Gardner’s team contacted Tony Rayl, the editor of the Yuma Pioneer, to complain about the columnist’s tone and ask whether Hill truly worked for the paper. Hill, who said he is on the autism spectrum and reacts angrily when someone appears to be evading simple questions, was embarrassed at losing his temper.
“I felt like a failure,” he said in a phone call with HuffPost. And in a county of roughly 10,000 people, he didn’t want his mostly conservative neighbors to see him as “the shrill, hysterical version of the liberal that they already have in their mind.”
The senator’s staffers reinforced that feeling. “It felt like this intimidation thing that worked,” Hill said. “It worked on me more than anybody.” So the interview didn’t run in 2017.
Gardner’s office did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
People in Colorado are also grappling with unignorable signs that the climate is changing. This summer’s monsoon season never really arrived in the state. The warmest August since records began in 1895 bled into unprecedentedly hot September days. By October, every inch of Colorado was in drought, with roughly half the state in “extreme drought,” and an already historic wildfire season scorched more than 500 square miles of the state.
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“We live on a dirt road,” Hill said. “It’s so fucking dry and dusty, every time a car drives by, it’s just this fog of dust that settles into the low parts of the ground and sits there.”