thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Moon Holds Much More Water Than Previously Believed

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. ( AP ) — The moon ’ s shadowed , frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected .
And for the first time , the presence of water on the moon ’ s sunlit surface has been confirmed , scientists reported Monday .
While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon ’ s poles , a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40,000 square kilometers ) of lunar terrain have the capability to trap water in the form of ice , according to a team led by the University of Colorado ’ s Paul Hayne .
That ’ s 20 % more area than previous estimates , he said .
The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested , but not confirmed .
The molecules are so far apart that they are in neither liquid nor solid form , said lead researcher Casey Honniball , a postdoctoral fellow at NASA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA ’ s astrophysics director Paul Hertz said it ’ s too soon to know whether this water — found in and around the southern hemisphere ’ s sunlit Clavius Crater — would be accessible .
The surface could be harder there , ruining wheels and drills .
These latest findings , nonetheless , expand the possible landing spots for robots and astronauts alike — “ opening up real estate previously considered ‘ off limits ’ for being bone dry , ” Hayne said in an email to The Associated Press .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brimming with frozen water near the moon ’ s north and south poles , temperatures are so low that they could hold onto the water for millions or even billions of years .
These so-called cold traps get down to minus 261 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 163 degrees Celsius ) .
Using data from NASA ’ s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter , the researchers identified cold traps as small as a few yards ( meters ) across and as wide as 18 miles ( 30 kilometers ) and more , and used computer models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ micrometers in size .
“ Since the little ones are too small to see from orbit , despite being vastly more numerous , we can ’ t yet identify ice inside them , ” Hayne said .
“ Once we ’ re on the surface , we will do that experiment.
” For the second study , scientists used NASA ’ s airborne infrared observatory Sofia to conclusively identify water molecules on sunlit portions of the moon just outside the polar regions .
Most of these molecules are likely stored in the voids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entombed in the glassy residue of of micrometeorite impacts .
In this way , the molecules can withstand the moon ’ s harsh environment , scientists said .
For now , Sofia can analyze only the moon ’ s outermost surface , but these water molecules could be buried yards ( meters ) deep , Honniball noted .
As a comparison , the Sahara desert has 100 times the amount of water than what Sofia detected in the lunar soil .
Scientists believe all this water on the moon came from comets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind or even lunar volcanic eruptions .
They ’ ll have a better idea of the sources “ if we can get down on the surface and analyze samples of the ice , ” Hayne said .
Jason Bleacher , chief scientist for NASA ’ s human exploration and operations office , said at some point decisions will need to be made regarding lunar technology .
Will it be easier to survive the extremely cold polar environments and tap into deep shadowed craters for water , he asked , or to dig into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in search of water .
NASA plans to launch a water-seeking rover named Viper to the moon ’ s south pole by the end of 2022 .
Astronauts would follow in a series of missions intended to set up long-term bases .
The space agency wants its new Artemis moon-landing program to be sustainable , unlike the Apollo program a half-century ago .

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The moon’s shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. And for the first time, the presence of water on the moon’s sunlit surface has been confirmed, scientists reported Monday.
That’s good news for astronauts at future lunar bases who could tap into these resources for drinking and making rocket fuel.
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While previous observations have indicated millions of tons of ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s poles, a pair of studies in the journal Nature Astronomy take the availability of lunar surface water to a new level.
More than 15,400 square miles (40,000 square kilometers) of lunar terrain have the capability to trap water in the form of ice, according to a team led by the University of Colorado’s Paul Hayne. That’s 20% more area than previous estimates, he said.
The presence of water in sunlit surfaces had been previously suggested, but not confirmed. The molecules are so far apart that they are in neither liquid nor solid form, said lead researcher Casey Honniball, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
“To be clear, this is not puddles of water,” she stressed at a news conference.
NASA’s astrophysics director Paul Hertz said it’s too soon to know whether this water — found in and around the southern hemisphere’s sunlit Clavius Crater — would be accessible. The surface could be harder there, ruining wheels and drills.
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These latest findings, nonetheless, expand the possible landing spots for robots and astronauts alike — “opening up real estate previously considered ‘off limits’ for being bone dry,” Hayne said in an email to The Associated Press.
For now, NASA said it still aims to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, especially rich in frozen water. The White House deadline is 2024.
As for the shadowed areas believed to be brimming with frozen water near the moon’s north and south poles, temperatures are so low that they could hold onto the water for millions or even billions of years. These so-called cold traps get down to minus 261 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 163 degrees Celsius).
Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the researchers identified cold traps as small as a few yards (meters) across and as wide as 18 miles (30 kilometers) and more, and used computer models to get all the way down to micrometers in size.
“Since the little ones are too small to see from orbit, despite being vastly more numerous, we can’t yet identify ice inside them,” Hayne said. “Once we’re on the surface, we will do that experiment.”
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For the second study, scientists used NASA’s airborne infrared observatory Sofia to conclusively identify water molecules on sunlit portions of the moon just outside the polar regions. Most of these molecules are likely stored in the voids between moon dust and other particles or entombed in the glassy residue of of micrometeorite impacts. In this way, the molecules can withstand the moon’s harsh environment, scientists said.
By flying 45,000 feet (18 kilometers) above Earth, the Sofia plane is above the water vapors that can interfere with infrared observations.
For now, Sofia can analyze only the moon’s outermost surface, but these water molecules could be buried yards (meters) deep, Honniball noted. As a comparison, the Sahara desert has 100 times the amount of water than what Sofia detected in the lunar soil.
Scientists believe all this water on the moon came from comets, asteroids, interplanetary dust, the solar wind or even lunar volcanic eruptions. They’ll have a better idea of the sources “if we can get down on the surface and analyze samples of the ice,” Hayne said.
Jason Bleacher, chief scientist for NASA’s human exploration and operations office, said at some point decisions will need to be made regarding lunar technology. Will it be easier to survive the extremely cold polar environments and tap into deep shadowed craters for water, he asked, or to dig into the moon at the milder middle latitudes in search of water.
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“I can certainly envision ways that robots might be beneficial in all of those,” Bleacher said.
NASA plans to launch a water-seeking rover named Viper to the moon’s south pole by the end of 2022. Astronauts would follow in a series of missions intended to set up long-term bases. The space agency wants its new Artemis moon-landing program to be sustainable, unlike the Apollo program a half-century ago.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Amy Coney Barrett Sworn In To The Supreme Court

Judge Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday evening , officially tilting the balance of the court farther to the right than it ’ s been in 70 years .
Justice Clarence Thomas , the court ’ s most conservative member , gave Barrett the constitutional oath at the White House hours after the Senate voted to confirm her .
Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the judicial oath on Tuesday morning in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court .
After that event , she will be able to officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest court .
“ I am grateful for the confidence you have expressed in me , and I pledge to you , and to the American people , that I will discharge my duties to the very best of my ability , ” Barrett said Tuesday night .
“ I will do my job without any fear or favor and that I will do so independently of both the political branches and of my own preferences.
” “ She is one of our nation ’ s most brilliant legal scholars and she will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court in the land , ” the president said .
“ It is highly fitting that Justice Barrett fills the seat of a true pioneer for women , Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
” No Supreme Court confirmation has ever occurred this close to a presidential election , which is just over a week away .
Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18 , Democrats strongly opposed Trump moving forward with filling the vacancy this close to Election Day , which polls suggest may result in a win for Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dying wish that her seat not be filled until after the next president takes office on Jan. 20 .
But Republicans had the numbers in the Senate to confirm her nomination ; in the final vote , only one , Susan Collins of Maine , broke party ranks to vote no .
Several major legal petitions await Barrett and the other justices in her first week on the job , including several related to voting , one on access to Trump ’ s tax returns and another on Mississippi ’ s 15-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on controversial judicial issues during her confirmation hearings earlier this month and wasn ’ t willing to say whether she viewed past decisions by the high court on abortion , same-sex marriage , school segregation and birth control as “ settled law.
” She also claimed to have “ no firm views ” on climate change and repeatedly said she wouldn ’ t speak on it , arguing that it was a political issue instead of acknowledging it as settled scientific fact .
She ’ s been more outspoken on some of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor .
She ’ s called Roe v. Wade an “ erroneous decision ” and said the Affordable Care Act ’ s birth control benefit was an “ assault on religious liberty.
” She also took money from a group that has defended forced sterilization of transgender people .
Barrett , 48 , is now the youngest person on the court and only the fifth female justice in its 200-plus-year history .
At her age , she will likely serve on the court for decades , cementing Trump ’ s influence on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , however , could minimize Trump ’ s effect if he wins the election next week .
He revealed last week that is open to studying the addition of members to the U.S. Supreme Court , a practice known as court-packing , and will start to look at court reforms if he wins the White House .

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Judge Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday evening, officially tilting the balance of the court farther to the right than it’s been in 70 years.
Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s most conservative member, gave Barrett the constitutional oath at the White House hours after the Senate voted to confirm her. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the judicial oath on Tuesday morning in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. After that event, she will be able to officially begin work on the nation’s highest court.
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Justices nominated by President Donald Trump now comprise one-third of the nine-person court.
“I am grateful for the confidence you have expressed in me, and I pledge to you, and to the American people, that I will discharge my duties to the very best of my ability,” Barrett said Tuesday night. “I will do my job without any fear or favor and that I will do so independently of both the political branches and of my own preferences.”
“I love the Constitution and the democratic republic that it establishes and I will devote myself to preserving it,” she continued.
Trump celebrated Barrett’s nomination on Tuesday and cheered the work of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to push through her nomination.
“She is one of our nation’s most brilliant legal scholars and she will make an outstanding justice on the highest court in the land,” the president said. “It is highly fitting that Justice Barrett fills the seat of a true pioneer for women, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”
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No Supreme Court confirmation has ever occurred this close to a presidential election, which is just over a week away. Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18, Democrats strongly opposed Trump moving forward with filling the vacancy this close to Election Day, which polls suggest may result in a win for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Ginsburg also expressed a dying wish that her seat not be filled until after the next president takes office on Jan. 20.
But Republicans had the numbers in the Senate to confirm her nomination; in the final vote, only one, Susan Collins of Maine, broke party ranks to vote no.
Biden said later Monday that Barrett’s confirmation should be a final appeal to Americans who haven’t yet cast a ballot.
“The rushed and unprecedented confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett as Associate Justice to the Supreme Court, in the middle of an ongoing election, should be a stark reminder to every American that your vote matters,” he said in a statement.
Several major legal petitions await Barrett and the other justices in her first week on the job, including several related to voting, one on access to Trump’s tax returns and another on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.
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Opponents and supporters of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination confront each other outside the U.S. Supreme Court building on Monday. OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images
Barrett dodged most questions on controversial judicial issues during her confirmation hearings earlier this month and wasn’t willing to say whether she viewed past decisions by the high court on abortion, same-sex marriage, school segregation and birth control as “settled law.” She also claimed to have “no firm views” on climate change and repeatedly said she wouldn’t speak on it, arguing that it was a political issue instead of acknowledging it as settled scientific fact.
She’s been more outspoken on some of those issues throughout her career as a law professor. She’s called Roe v. Wade an “erroneous decision” and said the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit was an “assault on religious liberty.” She also took money from a group that has defended forced sterilization of transgender people.
Barrett, 48, is now the youngest person on the court and only the fifth female justice in its 200-plus-year history. At her age, she will likely serve on the court for decades, cementing Trump’s influence on the judicial system for years to come.
Biden, however, could minimize Trump’s effect if he wins the election next week. He revealed last week that is open to studying the addition of members to the U.S. Supreme Court, a practice known as court-packing, and will start to look at court reforms if he wins the White House.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Questlove On Quest To Find Woman Who Bought Him A Turntable

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) — Ahmir Thompson , founder of The Roots and drummer for the “ Tonight Show ” band , wants to find the kind stranger who bought him a turntable and several records at the tender age of 5 .
Thompson — better known as Questlove — posted on social media that he was traveling with his parents , who made their living playing gigs , when he made friends with “ Ellie ” in 1976 in Portland , Maine .
“ Being the irresistible cat that I was , I talked an older woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a record collection , ” Questlove posted on Facebook and Instagram .
Ellie wrote the youngster ’ s order on a napkin : “ Bad Blood ” by Neil Sedaka , “ Dance With Me ” by Rufus , and the Jackson 5 .
“ I knew talking to strangers was a no-no , but my instincts paid off , ” he wrote .
His parents were upset that he ’ d been chatting up a stranger when Ellie returned the next day bearing gifts .
But he says his new friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have him get in trouble on my behalf !
!
He ’ s so cute of course I wanted to start his record collection !
!
!
”

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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Ahmir Thompson, founder of The Roots and drummer for the “Tonight Show” band, wants to find the kind stranger who bought him a turntable and several records at the tender age of 5.
Thompson — better known as Questlove — posted on social media that he was traveling with his parents, who made their living playing gigs, when he made friends with “Ellie” in 1976 in Portland, Maine.
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“Being the irresistible cat that I was, I talked an older woman named Ellie into buying me a stereo and a record collection,” Questlove posted on Facebook and Instagram.
Ellie wrote the youngster’s order on a napkin: “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka, “Dance With Me” by Rufus, and the Jackson 5.
“I knew talking to strangers was a no-no, but my instincts paid off,” he wrote.
His parents were upset that he’d been chatting up a stranger when Ellie returned the next day bearing gifts. But he says his new friend told his parents “please don’t have him get in trouble on my behalf!! He’s so cute of course I wanted to start his record collection!!!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Kazakhstan Adopts Borat's Catchphrase As New Tourism Slogan

What a difference 14 years makes for Borat and his home country of Kazakhstan .
Back in 2006 , Kazakhstan leaders weren ’ t happy that the central Asian country was portrayed in Sacha Baron Cohen ’ s hit comedy as an anti-Semitic , misogynist country , as Newsweek noted at the time .
Even more embarrassing : Kazakh government spokesperson Roman Vassilenko was forced to officially deny that Kazakhstanis drank fermented horse urine .
Things began to change after officials noticed that the film ’ s unflattering portrayal of Kazakhstan actually increased tourism .
Now , the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Borat sequel by using one of the character ’ s catchphrases for a tourism campaign : “ Very nice.
” The new campaign rolled out Sunday in the form of four 12-second spots that feature tourists visiting the sites of Kazakhstan and uttering the phrase .
Thankfully , no one actually imitates the Borat character .
Who could , after all ?
Kairat Sadvakassov , deputy chairman of Kazakh Tourism , said in a statement that the beauty of Borat ’ s catchphrase is that it “ offers the perfect description of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a short , memorable way.
” “ Kazakhstan ’ s nature is very nice ; its food is very nice ; and its people , despite Borat ’ s jokes to the contrary , are some of the nicest in the world .
We would like everyone to come experience Kazakhstan for themselves by visiting our country in 2021 and beyond , so that they can see that Borat ’ s homeland is nicer than they may have heard.
” You can see the video below .

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What a difference 14 years makes for Borat and his home country of Kazakhstan.
Back in 2006, Kazakhstan leaders weren’t happy that the central Asian country was portrayed in Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit comedy as an anti-Semitic, misogynist country, as Newsweek noted at the time.
Even more embarrassing: Kazakh government spokesperson Roman Vassilenko was forced to officially deny that Kazakhstanis drank fermented horse urine.
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Things began to change after officials noticed that the film’s unflattering portrayal of Kazakhstan actually increased tourism.
Now, the country’s tourism department is capitalizing on the new Borat sequel by using one of the character’s catchphrases for a tourism campaign: “Very nice.”
The new campaign rolled out Sunday in the form of four 12-second spots that feature tourists visiting the sites of Kazakhstan and uttering the phrase.
Thankfully, no one actually imitates the Borat character. Who could, after all?
Kairat Sadvakassov, deputy chairman of Kazakh Tourism, said in a statement that the beauty of Borat’s catchphrase is that it “offers the perfect description of Kazakhstan’s vast tourism potential in a short, memorable way.”
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He continued:
“Kazakhstan’s nature is very nice; its food is very nice; and its people, despite Borat’s jokes to the contrary, are some of the nicest in the world. We would like everyone to come experience Kazakhstan for themselves by visiting our country in 2021 and beyond, so that they can see that Borat’s homeland is nicer than they may have heard.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Florida Man Stole Bulldozer, Ran Down Biden Signs: Police

HAINES CITY , Fla. ( AP ) — A 26-year-old man has been accused of stealing a bulldozer from a Florida construction site , driving it into a neighborhood and knocking down campaign signs for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , according to authorities and homeowners .
The man took the bulldozer in Haines City on Saturday and repeatedly destroyed Biden signs in full view of people who live in the neighborhood , witnesses said .
James Blight was charged with grand theft auto and trespassing , according to the Haines City Police Department .
Former Vice Mayor Adam Burgess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he said is predominantly Black .
He called it a hate crime .
“ This man came onto my property , took the two Joe Biden signs I had in my yard and then came back with a bulldozer to run down my fence , ” Burgess told Bay News 9 .
Video taken by the news outlet showed the damaged fences .
Blight was also accused of bulldozing down a city speed limit sign , among other signs .
Police said Blight claimed he was too drunk at the time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately clear whether he has an attorney who could comment on his behalf .

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HAINES CITY, Fla. (AP) — A 26-year-old man has been accused of stealing a bulldozer from a Florida construction site, driving it into a neighborhood and knocking down campaign signs for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to authorities and homeowners.
The man took the bulldozer in Haines City on Saturday and repeatedly destroyed Biden signs in full view of people who live in the neighborhood, witnesses said. James Blight was charged with grand theft auto and trespassing, according to the Haines City Police Department.
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Former Vice Mayor Adam Burgess lives in the central Florida neighborhood, which he said is predominantly Black. He called it a hate crime.
“This man came onto my property, took the two Joe Biden signs I had in my yard and then came back with a bulldozer to run down my fence,” Burgess told Bay News 9.
Video taken by the news outlet showed the damaged fences. Blight was also accused of bulldozing down a city speed limit sign, among other signs.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Florida Man Accused Of Using $1.9 Million In PPP Loan Money On New Mercedes, Truck

A central Florida man is facing federal charges that he used more than $ 1.9 million in emergency Paycheck Protection Program funds on personal expenses , including the purchase of a new Mercedes and pickup truck .
Keith William Nicoletta , 48 , of Dade City was arrested last week on charges of bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions , which carry up to 40 years in federal prison if he is convicted .
In a criminal complaint , the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of fraudulently claiming to employ 69 people in a scrap metal business that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immediately after securing the federal loan , which was intended to help businesses retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic , authorities said Nicoletta immediately began moving the funds to newly opened bank accounts and went on a spending spree .
“ None of the money was used for payroll , ” the DOJ said in a press release on Friday .
In addition to withdrawing $ 100,000 in cash , authorities allege , Nicoletta purchased a 2020 Mercedes for more than $ 106,000 as well as a 2020 special-edition Ford F-250 pickup valued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly wired approximately $ 537,000 to a property management company in South Florida .
Federal authorities said they photographed Keith William Nicoletta driving this 2020 special-edition Ford F-250 pickup truck from his Dade City home to a local country club where he played golf .
An eventual investigation determined that his purported scrap metal business , West Coast Cores , which he claimed had an annual payroll of roughly $ 9.1 million , had been inactive for over a year and had no employee wages in 2019 or 2020 , authorities said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami was charged with bank fraud , making false statements to a financial institution and engaging in transactions in unlawful proceeds after authorities say he fraudulently obtained $ 3.9 million in federal PPP loans and used it to buy a Lamborghini and for other personal expenses .
Hines was arrested in July after the $ 318,000 Lamborghini he allegedly purchased with the loan money was involved in a hit-and-run accident .

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A central Florida man is facing federal charges that he used more than $1.9 million in emergency Paycheck Protection Program funds on personal expenses, including the purchase of a new Mercedes and pickup truck.
Keith William Nicoletta, 48, of Dade City was arrested last week on charges of bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions, which carry up to 40 years in federal prison if he is convicted. In a criminal complaint, the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of fraudulently claiming to employ 69 people in a scrap metal business that was operating out of his residential home.
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Immediately after securing the federal loan, which was intended to help businesses retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said Nicoletta immediately began moving the funds to newly opened bank accounts and went on a spending spree.
“None of the money was used for payroll,” the DOJ said in a press release on Friday.
In addition to withdrawing $100,000 in cash, authorities allege, Nicoletta purchased a 2020 Mercedes for more than $106,000 as well as a 2020 special-edition Ford F-250 pickup valued at over $66,000. He also allegedly wired approximately $537,000 to a property management company in South Florida.
Federal authorities said they photographed Keith William Nicoletta driving this 2020 special-edition Ford F-250 pickup truck from his Dade City home to a local country club where he played golf. www.justice.gov
An eventual investigation determined that his purported scrap metal business, West Coast Cores, which he claimed had an annual payroll of roughly $9.1 million, had been inactive for over a year and had no employee wages in 2019 or 2020, authorities said.
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Nicoletta did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment Monday.
This summer, another Florida man was arrested on similar charges.
David Tyler Hines, 29, of Miami was charged with bank fraud, making false statements to a financial institution and engaging in transactions in unlawful proceeds after authorities say he fraudulently obtained $3.9 million in federal PPP loans and used it to buy a Lamborghini and for other personal expenses.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Eli Lilly Antibody Drug Fails In A COVID-19 Study; Others Go On

U.S. government officials are putting an early end to a study testing an Eli Lilly antibody drug for people hospitalized with COVID-19 because it doesn ’ t seem to be helping them .
Independent monitors had paused enrollment in the study two weeks ago because of a possible safety issue .
But on Monday , the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , which sponsors the study , said a closer look did not verify a safety problem but found a low chance that the drug would prove helpful for hospitalized patients .
It is a setback for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump received a similar experimental , two-antibody drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. on an emergency basis when he was sickened with the coronavirus earlier this month .
In a statement Lilly notes that the government is continuing a separate study testing the antibody drug in mild to moderately ill patients , to try to prevent hospitalization and severe illness .
The company also is continuing its own studies testing the drug , which is being developed with the Canadian company AbCellera .
Antibodies are proteins the body makes when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus and help it be eliminated .
The experimental drugs are concentrated versions of one or two specific antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests .
Lilly and Regeneron have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorization for their drugs for COVID-19 while late-stage studies continue .
Lilly says its request is based on other results suggesting the drug helps patients who are not hospitalized , and that it will continue to seek the FDA ’ s permission for emergency use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

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U.S. government officials are putting an early end to a study testing an Eli Lilly antibody drug for people hospitalized with COVID-19 because it doesn’t seem to be helping them.
Independent monitors had paused enrollment in the study two weeks ago because of a possible safety issue. But on Monday, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which sponsors the study, said a closer look did not verify a safety problem but found a low chance that the drug would prove helpful for hospitalized patients.
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It is a setback for one of the most promising treatment approaches for COVID-19. President Donald Trump received a similar experimental, two-antibody drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. on an emergency basis when he was sickened with the coronavirus earlier this month.
In a statement Lilly notes that the government is continuing a separate study testing the antibody drug in mild to moderately ill patients, to try to prevent hospitalization and severe illness. The company also is continuing its own studies testing the drug, which is being developed with the Canadian company AbCellera.
Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. The experimental drugs are concentrated versions of one or two specific antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.
Lilly and Regeneron have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorization for their drugs for COVID-19 while late-stage studies continue. Lilly says its request is based on other results suggesting the drug helps patients who are not hospitalized, and that it will continue to seek the FDA’s permission for emergency use.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--The Third Coronavirus Surge Is Here And Masks Are Still Optional

wildpixel via Getty Images Eight months into the pandemic , only 15 states do not require residents to wear masks in public .
“ We have an orchestra with all the instruments playing their own notes , and there ’ s a conductor who is indifferent to what ’ s going on , ” said William Schaffner , professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee .
He supports a national mask mandate .
“ By leaving it to the various states , it has confused the public enormously .
Our national response gets an F @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota , which now leads the nation in new coronavirus cases per capita , Republican Gov .
Doug Burgum has refused to implement a mask mandate , saying that he prefers a “ light touch of government.
” Last week , Fargo became the first city in the state to institute a mask mandate , despite months of rising infections .
Overwhelmed by the increase in cases , state health officials are now asking residents to conduct their own contact tracing if they test positive .
This virus is now spreading widely out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is roaring through our rural counties .
That all could have been averted if we had a mask mandate .
William Schaffner , a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , on the situation in Tennessee As cases spike , calls for a nationwide mask mandate are getting louder .
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal on Sunday , Scott Gottlieb , former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , suggested a national mask mandate , writing that “ states should be able to choose how to enforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to make masks a social and cultural norm , not a political statement.
” On Friday , Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert who has been resistant to a national mandate , told CNN ’ s Erin Burnett that it might be time to consider one .
In Tennessee , where cases are rising , Republican Gov .
Bill Lee has declined to mandate masks .
Instead , he has launched an ad campaign , “ Choices , ” to promote responsible decision-making by residents .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot spot areas to enforce their own mask orders .
But in the state ’ s 10 counties with the highest positivity rates , only one has a mask mandate , according to a review by The Tennessean .
If we could boost mask usage to over 95 % , as opposed to the 70 % or so where it is right now , that could save many thousands of lives .
Howard Koh , a professor at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health

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The U.S. has entered an ominous new surge of the coronavirus pandemic, with more cases reported on Friday than any other day since the crisis began in March. And yet, in many areas of the country where infections are spiking, wearing a mask in public is still completely optional.
Eight months into the pandemic, 15 states still do not require residents to wear masks. They are all led by Republicans governors who have stressed the importance of individual responsibility over broad government action to halt the spread of the virus. Many are now COVID-19 hot spots.
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Governors, of course, look to the White House for guidance, and the Trump administration has been inconsistent on the question of masks. Infectious disease experts interviewed by HuffPost said the failure of the White House to put forth a coherent, unified plan to stem the pandemic ― including a nationwide mask mandate ― has had calamitous repercussions.
Of the 10 states with the highest rates of new coronavirus cases per capita according to a White House Coronavirus Task Force report this month, seven do not require residents to wear masks.
“We have an orchestra with all the instruments playing their own notes, and there’s a conductor who is indifferent to what’s going on,” said William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee. He supports a national mask mandate. “By leaving it to the various states, it has confused the public enormously. Our national response gets an F,” Schaffner said.
In North Dakota, which now leads the nation in new coronavirus cases per capita, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum has refused to implement a mask mandate, saying that he prefers a “light touch of government.” Last week, Fargo became the first city in the state to institute a mask mandate, despite months of rising infections. Overwhelmed by the increase in cases, state health officials are now asking residents to conduct their own contact tracing if they test positive.
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“For North Dakota to have its first city issue a mask requirement this late into the response ... it’s just chilling,” said Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who was assistant secretary of health and human services in the Obama administration.
“I understand that states want to have total control, but these are not usual times. This is the worst pandemic we’ve had in a century,” he said. “Every governor should be following recommended standards, and that’s the only way to prevent transmission right now.”
“This virus is now spreading widely out of the cities into the suburbs and is roaring through our rural counties. That all could have been averted if we had a mask mandate.” - William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, on the situation in Tennessee
As cases spike, calls for a nationwide mask mandate are getting louder. In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, suggested a national mask mandate, writing that “states should be able to choose how to enforce a mandate, but the goal should be to make masks a social and cultural norm, not a political statement.” On Friday, Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert who has been resistant to a national mandate, told CNN’s Erin Burnett that it might be time to consider one.
A study published Friday in the journal Nature Medicine projects that universal mask use, defined as 95% mask use in public, could save nearly 130,000 U.S. lives through the end of February. Even increasing mask-wearing to 85% could save almost 96,000 lives, researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated.
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President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly downplayed the importance of masks, even after contracting the virus himself, gave a half-hearted endorsement of them in a “60 Minutes” interview that aired on Sunday.
“I feel masks possibly work, but certainly you want to stay away a certain distance, socially distance, etc.,” he told Lesley Stahl. “But I would say a mask works. And I have nothing against masks. And I tell people to wear masks.”
A number of people connected to the White House, including most recently aides to Vice President Mike Pence, have also contracted the coronavirus.
Because of the White House’s distrust of public health experts, masks have emerged as a flashpoint in a bigger debate over personal freedom and public responsibility. For some, wearing or not wearing a mask has become a political statement.
Opponents of statewide mask mandates argue that they are difficult to enforce. If someone doesn’t want to wear a facial covering, they won’t. Others argue that the issue should be left up to city and county governments to handle.
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In Tennessee, where cases are rising, Republican Gov. Bill Lee has declined to mandate masks. Instead, he has launched an ad campaign, “Choices,” to promote responsible decision-making by residents. He said he has also encouraged mayors in hot spot areas to enforce their own mask orders. But in the state’s 10 counties with the highest positivity rates, only one has a mask mandate, according to a review by The Tennessean.
Schaffner, who teaches on infectious diseases in Tennessee, said the politicization of masks has had a devastating impact in the state, leading to some mask-wearers being treated with hostility and derision.
“This virus is now spreading widely out of the cities into the suburbs and is roaring through our rural counties. That all could have been averted if we had a mask mandate,” he said.
By contrast, in Arizona, once Republican Gov. Doug Ducey began allowing local jurisdictions to require masks, the rates of coronavirus infection fell.
Although Ducey did not implement a statewide mandate, city and county governments instituted mask mandates that covered 85% of the population. Less than two months later, the state saw a 75% drop in new cases, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
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“Mitigation measures, including mask mandates, that are implemented and enforced statewide appear to have been effective in decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona,” the report said.
“If we could boost mask usage to over 95%, as opposed to the 70% or so where it is right now, that could save many thousands of lives.” - Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Research out of Kansas shows a similar impact there.
In July, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly ordered residents to wear masks in public places where social distancing couldn’t be maintained. Around 80 of the state’s counties opted out of the mandate under a state law that allowed local officials to override state restrictions.
Researchers at the University of Kansas found that counties that opted out of the mask order saw a surge in coronavirus infection rates, while counties with a mask mandate saw cases flatline.
“Within three weeks to a month, you really start to see cases flatten in counties that have the mask mandate,” said Donna Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas. “The mask mandate slows the spread; it doesn’t eliminate it. But it slows the spread by about 50%.”
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Her research shows that mask mandates can work even in states like Kansas, where many residents are hostile to government interference.
“You probably have imperfect compliance in those counties with a mask mandate,” Ginther said. “Our results are likely an underestimate of the full effect if you had 100% compliance.”
Koh, the Harvard professor, said it is never too late to leverage the power of prevention.
“We know it works,” he said. “If we could boost mask usage to over 95%, as opposed to the 70% or so where it is right now, that could save many thousands of lives.”
Still, mask mandates are only part of the puzzle, added Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Despite being months into the pandemic, with more than 220,000 dead and nearly 9 million infected in the U.S., states remain unable to widely and rapidly test for the virus, trace contacts and isolate patients.
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“That’s how you avoid a third peak, by having the ability to intervene very quickly,” Adalja said. “It’s not magic how you fix this.”
The flaws in the U.S.’s handling of the pandemic are too numerous to count, he said. All year, infectious disease experts have gone hoarse repeating the same advice to policymakers, with little change.
“It’s no surprise that we had a disastrous COVID-19 response,” Adalja said. “It’s completely predictable when you look at the biology of this virus and the incompetence of the leadership at both the federal and the state level.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--How Does COVID-19 Spread Differently Than The Flu?

Each year , scientists look to the Southern Hemisphere to get a clue as to how flu season up north might play out .
The flu season below the equator , which typically runs June through August , gives us an idea of which strains are circulating and how intense the Northern Hemisphere ’ s flu season , which usually sees an uptick around early November , could be .
The reason for this , infectious disease experts say , lies in how similarly COVID-19 and the flu are transmitted and , therefore , prevented .
The viruses primarily spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the precautions in place for the coronavirus — like mask-wearing , physical distancing , school closures and teleworking — the flu never really struck this year down under , compared to previous flu seasons .
But there are also some key differences in how the viruses spread .
And knowing them could help you prevent the transmission of both and also make it easier to determine which one you have if you do get sick .
The main way COVID-19 spreads from person to person is thought to be through large respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they exhale , sneeze , cough , etc .
If another person inhales enough of those droplets , there ’ s a solid chance they ’ ll get sick , too .
That ’ s quite similar to the flu .
Heidi Zapata , a Yale Medicine infectious disease doctor , said influenza spreads primarily through “ tiny spitballs that are generated when we talk , laugh , sneeze , cough , sing.
” So a face mask — which has been shown to reduce the respiratory droplets a person expels into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower your risk for the flu just as it does with COVID-19 .
Airborne transmission is also a player in both illnesses .
There ’ s evidence of airborne transmission with COVID-19 , in which minuscule droplets containing pieces of the virus hang in the air for hours , mainly in poorly ventilated indoor spaces .
Unlike the larger droplets that hit the ground within six feet of the person expelling them , these tiny aerosols can travel much farther than six feet indoors .
Elizabeth McGraw , the director of the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , said the same has been observed with influenza .
A 2018 study of the flu found that simply breathing can generate infectious aerosols that can remain suspended in the air .
“ It ’ s the same for the flu ― there ’ s also potential for it to spread that way , ” McGraw said .
Superspreader events can occur with both .
During the coronavirus pandemic , several COVID-19 superspreader events have been reported where an infected person transmitted the virus to others .
First , there was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also the wedding in Maine and the Rose Garden gathering at the White House .
Marr said the most famous superspreader example of the flu dates back to 1977 when an Alaska Airlines flight was delayed on the runway for three hours .
During that time , the plane ’ s ventilation system was off , and within 72 hours of the flight , 72 % of the passengers got sick with the flu .
The outbreak was ultimately linked back to one individual who had boarded with the infection .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread with COVID-19 .
But there are also key differences between the two illnesses in this area : Where COVID-19 has a lengthy incubation period that can last up to 14 days , the flu ’ s incubation period is short .
Most people begin exhibiting symptoms within three days of contracting influenza , so the window when people can pre-symptomatically spread the virus is much smaller , according to McGraw .
A person with COVID-19 usually spreads it to more people .
In general , someone sick with the flu will spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.3 other individuals , according to Marr .
It varies depending on the type of strain going around ( for example , with 2009 ’ s H1N1 strain , there was little population immunity so the flu zipped through communities ) .
“ Many of them will have past exposure to flu and have some antibodies that will protect them , so even if they did get exposed , then they ’ re less likely to get sick .
Whereas , COVID , there ’ s less of that immunity , ” McGraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common surfaces .

damircudic via Getty Images
Each year, scientists look to the Southern Hemisphere to get a clue as to how flu season up north might play out. The flu season below the equator, which typically runs June through August, gives us an idea of which strains are circulating and how intense the Northern Hemisphere’s flu season, which usually sees an uptick around early November, could be.
This year, the Southern Hemisphere saw a historically inactive flu season with “virtually no influenza circulation,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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The reason for this, infectious disease experts say, lies in how similarly COVID-19 and the flu are transmitted and, therefore, prevented. The viruses primarily spread in the same ways. Thanks to all the precautions in place for the coronavirus — like mask-wearing, physical distancing, school closures and teleworking — the flu never really struck this year down under, compared to previous flu seasons.
But there are also some key differences in how the viruses spread. And knowing them could help you prevent the transmission of both and also make it easier to determine which one you have if you do get sick.
Here’s how the transmission modes of the two illnesses compare:
Both spread primarily through respiratory droplets.
The main way COVID-19 spreads from person to person is thought to be through large respiratory droplets expelled from an infected person when they exhale, sneeze, cough, etc. If another person inhales enough of those droplets, there’s a solid chance they’ll get sick, too. That’s quite similar to the flu.
Heidi Zapata, a Yale Medicine infectious disease doctor, said influenza spreads primarily through “tiny spitballs that are generated when we talk, laugh, sneeze, cough, sing.” So a face mask — which has been shown to reduce the respiratory droplets a person expels into the surrounding air and potentially inhales — should lower your risk for the flu just as it does with COVID-19.
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Airborne transmission is also a player in both illnesses.
There’s evidence of airborne transmission with COVID-19, in which minuscule droplets containing pieces of the virus hang in the air for hours, mainly in poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Unlike the larger droplets that hit the ground within six feet of the person expelling them, these tiny aerosols can travel much farther than six feet indoors.
Elizabeth McGraw, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State University, said the same has been observed with influenza. A 2018 study of the flu found that simply breathing can generate infectious aerosols that can remain suspended in the air. “It’s the same for the flu ― there’s also potential for it to spread that way,” McGraw said.
Superspreader events can occur with both.
The flu can also have superspreader events, noted Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech who studies airborne viruses.
Marr said the most famous superspreader example of the flu dates back to 1977 when an Alaska Airlines flight was delayed on the runway for three hours. During that time, the plane’s ventilation system was off, and within 72 hours of the flight, 72% of the passengers got sick with the flu. The outbreak was ultimately linked back to one individual who had boarded with the infection.
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“That incident kind of led to greater acceptance of the idea that the flu transmitted through the air,” Marr said.
However, we’ll likely see more superspreader events with COVID-19 because the population has less immunity to the disease, meaning more people in any given room are likely more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 than the flu.
PeopleImages via Getty Images
There’s likely more asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread with COVID-19.
In recent weeks, we’ve learned that approximately 40% to 50% of people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms yet are contagious, and could be largely responsible for spreading the virus without knowing it.
There’s also a five- to six-day pre-symptomatic period with COVID-19 during which people are thought to be highly contagious, Zapata said.
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The flu also spreads via asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission. Estimates suggest that 50% of seasonal flu cases may be asymptomatic.
But there are also key differences between the two illnesses in this area: Where COVID-19 has a lengthy incubation period that can last up to 14 days, the flu’s incubation period is short. Most people begin exhibiting symptoms within three days of contracting influenza, so the window when people can pre-symptomatically spread the virus is much smaller, according to McGraw.
In addition, with the flu, “the viral load, the amount of virus that people carry in their bodies, doesn’t peak until after the symptoms start, so by then hopefully they’re isolating, they feel bad, they’re not out in public,” Marr said.
Because of all this, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic spread are much more common with COVID-19 than the flu.
A person with COVID-19 usually spreads it to more people.
In general, someone sick with the flu will spread it to an average of 1 to 1.3 other individuals, according to Marr. It varies depending on the type of strain going around (for example, with 2009’s H1N1 strain, there was little population immunity so the flu zipped through communities).
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COVID-19 generally spreads to more people, with each infected person passing it to an average of 2 to 2.5 others. In some cases, a person can spread the virus to 10 or more people; other times it’s less.
Marr noted that this isn’t due to the nature of the coronavirus itself but rather to the lack of immunity in the population ― and whether people are taking protective measures, like wearing masks, in the face of a new virus.
“Many of them will have past exposure to flu and have some antibodies that will protect them, so even if they did get exposed, then they’re less likely to get sick. Whereas, COVID, there’s less of that immunity,” McGraw said.
It’s worth noting that epidemiologists are still investigating whether some people may have some immunity to COVID-19 from previous infections with other coronaviruses that cause the common cold.
Both viruses can linger on common surfaces.
Though it was originally thought that surfaces played a huge role in the spread of COVID-19 (driving many of us to wipe down every bag, box and piece of mail), epidemiologists now say surface contamination doesn’t pose a huge risk.
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That said, it’s not zero risk. Marr noted that lab experiments have shown both coronavirus and influenza viruses can survive for a while on certain surfaces. So in theory, if enough of the virus is deposited on a surface, someone could touch the surface, pick up enough of the virus and transfer it to their eyes, nose or mouth.
“Surfaces are a potential route. We know it is for the flu,” McGraw said. “I would encourage people to wash their hands and not touch their face and try to keep surfaces clean in shared areas.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Brett Kavanaugh Just Endorsed A Radical Legal Theory That Could Cause Election Chaos

This 5-3 ruling comes as part of a string of decisions by the conservatives on the court blocking lower court rulings that would have made it easier to vote during the coronavirus pandemic .
But hidden within the main concurrence written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh are two threats much greater than overturning six extra days for ballots to arrive by mail : He explicitly endorsed legal theories that could help President Donald Trump stop the counting of mailed ballots after Election Day or , worse , override results with the help of Republican state legislatures .
First , Kavanaugh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentiment expressed by the president that it is somehow necessary for the election to be decided on election night and that suspicion should be cast upon valid ballots counted after Nov. 3 in states that allow election officials to do so .
“ For important reasons , most States , including Wisconsin , require absentee ballots to be received by election day , not just mailed by election day , ” Kavanaugh writes .
“ Those States want to avoid the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue if thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potentially flip the results of an election .
And those States also want to be able to definitively announce the results of the election on election night , or as soon as possible thereafter .
Moreover , particularly in a Presidential election , counting all the votes quickly can help the State promptly resolve any disputes , address any need for recounts , and begin the process of canvassing and certifying the election results in an expeditious manner.
” These are highly controversial statements , as someone like Kavanaugh , who worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gore case that decided the 2000 presidential election for George W. Bush , should know .
The 2004 election that followed , reelecting Bush , was not officially decided until the day after the election .
Late-counted ballots , whether they be absentee or provisional ballots , decided the 2018 Arizona Senate election .
These were all valid ballots .
But Trump , in his quest to undermine faith in democratic elections and lay the groundwork for contesting the 2020 election results , says all ballots that are counted after Election Day are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentiment Kavanaugh echoed .
In fact , minutes after Kavanaugh ’ s decision came down , Trump tweeted , “ Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA .
Must have final total on November 3rd.
” Twitter placed restrictions on this tweet for containing false information .
There are no reported “ Big problems or discrepancies ” with absentee or mailed ballots .
“ JUSTICE KAVANAUGH alleges that ‘ suspicions of impropriety ’ will result if ‘ absentee ballots flow in after election day and potentially flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are no results to ‘ flip ’ until all valid votes are counted , ” Kagan wrote .
“ And nothing could be more ‘ suspicio [ us ] ’ or ‘ improp [ er ] ’ than refusing to tally votes once the clock strikes 12 on election night .
To suggest otherwise , especially in these fractious times , is to disserve the electoral process.
” This is exactly the argument Pennsylvania Republicans made in a challenge to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision extending the state ’ s absentee ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
The court chose not to stay the state court ’ s decision in a 4-4 tie .
That state court decision appears to have been saved by Chief Justice John Roberts , the only conservative who still thinks state courts should be able to rule on state election laws .
Pennsylvania Republicans are currently petitioning the Supreme Court to rehear their challenge to their state court ’ s ruling .
Kavanaugh and Gorsuch have now openly stated their support for the Pennsylvania Republicans ’ argument .
Thomas ’ s support was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2000 concurrence .
Justice Samuel Alito has not made his thoughts known on this , but he did join the other three in their vote to stay the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ’ s decision the first time .
The only thing standing in their way right now is Chief Justice John Roberts , who sided with the three liberals to create the 4-4 tie .
Roberts also revealed his hand here in Monday ’ s Wisconsin decision to show that he does not agree with Rehnquist ’ s Bush v. Gore concurrence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interpret their own state ’ s election laws .
“ While the Pennsylvania applications implicated the authority of state courts to apply their own constitutions to election regulations , this case involves federal intrusion on state lawmaking processes , ” Roberts wrote .
“ Different bodies of law and different precedents govern these two situations and require , in these particular circumstances , that we allow the modification of election rules in Pennsylvania but not Wisconsin.
” A ruling on such a case could greatly complicate the election in Pennsylvania .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court ’ s ruling quickly .
This would cause increased voter confusion so close to the election — but worse , the court could theoretically make this determination after the election if Trump challenges the results because he does not want “ the ballots ” to be counted .

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The five conservatives on the Supreme Court affirmed an appeals court ruling overturning a decision that would have extended Wisconsin’s mail-in ballot receipt deadline by six days. Absentee ballots in Wisconsin now must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
This 5-3 ruling comes as part of a string of decisions by the conservatives on the court blocking lower court rulings that would have made it easier to vote during the coronavirus pandemic. But hidden within the main concurrence written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh are two threats much greater than overturning six extra days for ballots to arrive by mail: He explicitly endorsed legal theories that could help President Donald Trump stop the counting of mailed ballots after Election Day or, worse, override results with the help of Republican state legislatures.
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First, Kavanaugh, who was appointed by Trump, affirmed the sentiment expressed by the president that it is somehow necessary for the election to be decided on election night and that suspicion should be cast upon valid ballots counted after Nov. 3 in states that allow election officials to do so.
“For important reasons, most States, including Wisconsin, require absentee ballots to be received by election day, not just mailed by election day,” Kavanaugh writes. “Those States want to avoid the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue if thousands of absentee ballots flow in after election day and potentially flip the results of an election. And those States also want to be able to definitively announce the results of the election on election night, or as soon as possible thereafter. Moreover, particularly in a Presidential election, counting all the votes quickly can help the State promptly resolve any disputes, address any need for recounts, and begin the process of canvassing and certifying the election results in an expeditious manner.”
These are highly controversial statements, as someone like Kavanaugh, who worked as a lawyer on the Bush v. Gore case that decided the 2000 presidential election for George W. Bush, should know. The 2004 election that followed, reelecting Bush, was not officially decided until the day after the election. Late-counted ballots, whether they be absentee or provisional ballots, decided the 2018 Arizona Senate election. These were all valid ballots. But Trump, in his quest to undermine faith in democratic elections and lay the groundwork for contesting the 2020 election results, says all ballots that are counted after Election Day are either suspicious or fraudulent. This is the sentiment Kavanaugh echoed.
In fact, minutes after Kavanaugh’s decision came down, Trump tweeted, “Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA. Must have final total on November 3rd.” Twitter placed restrictions on this tweet for containing false information. There are no reported “Big problems or discrepancies” with absentee or mailed ballots.
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It’s unclear what Kavanaugh’s affirmation of the president’s election lies means. But Trump stated after nominating Barrett that he was “counting on [the court] to look at the ballots.”
Justice Elena Kagan understood the severity of Kavanaugh’s assertion. She chided Kavanaugh in her lengthy dissent, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer, for his Trumpian dismissal of counting all the votes.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued a decision casting suspicion on late-counted ballots while affirming his support for blocking state courts from expanding voting rights. Susan Walsh/ASSOCIATED PRESS
“JUSTICE KAVANAUGH alleges that ‘suspicions of impropriety’ will result if ‘absentee ballots flow in after election day and potentially flip the results of an election.’ But there are no results to ‘flip’ until all valid votes are counted,” Kagan wrote. “And nothing could be more ‘suspicio[us]’ or ‘improp[er]’ than refusing to tally votes once the clock strikes 12 on election night. To suggest otherwise, especially in these fractious times, is to disserve the electoral process.”
Kavanaugh’s nightmarish concurrence does not end there. While the Wisconsin decision solely related to a federal court changing state election laws, Kavanaugh decided to append a lengthy footnote to his decision revealing his support for a radical doctrine that would prevent state courts from interpreting their own state constitutions to expand voting rights within their own state borders.
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This doctrine was initially rejected by the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore and other related decisions. Then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote a concurrence to Bush v. Gore, joined by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, that argued that only state legislatures are able to interpret and change state election laws and not state courts. Kavanaugh affirmatively cited Rehnquist’s 2000 concurrence in his ruling Monday.
“[U]nder the U.S. Constitution, the state courts do not have a blank check to rewrite state election laws for federal elections,” Kavanaugh wrote, adding that a state court “may not depart from the state election code enacted by the legislature.”
In a separate concurrence, Justice Neil Gorsuch, another Trump appointee, also affirmed his support for this doctrine: “The Constitution provides that state legislatures — not federal judges, not state judges, not state governors, not other state officials — bear primary responsibility for setting election rules.”
This is exactly the argument Pennsylvania Republicans made in a challenge to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision extending the state’s absentee ballot receipt deadline that was rejected on Oct. 20. The court chose not to stay the state court’s decision in a 4-4 tie. That state court decision appears to have been saved by Chief Justice John Roberts, the only conservative who still thinks state courts should be able to rule on state election laws.
Pennsylvania Republicans are currently petitioning the Supreme Court to rehear their challenge to their state court’s ruling. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch have now openly stated their support for the Pennsylvania Republicans’ argument. Thomas’s support was already known as he joined Rehnquist’s 2000 concurrence. Justice Samuel Alito has not made his thoughts known on this, but he did join the other three in their vote to stay the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision the first time.
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The only thing standing in their way right now is Chief Justice John Roberts, who sided with the three liberals to create the 4-4 tie. Roberts also revealed his hand here in Monday’s Wisconsin decision to show that he does not agree with Rehnquist’s Bush v. Gore concurrence and thinks state courts should be allowed to interpret their own state’s election laws.
“While the Pennsylvania applications implicated the authority of state courts to apply their own constitutions to election regulations, this case involves federal intrusion on state lawmaking processes,” Roberts wrote. “Different bodies of law and different precedents govern these two situations and require, in these particular circumstances, that we allow the modification of election rules in Pennsylvania but not Wisconsin.”
But now there’s Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett’s Senate confirmation on Monday night means there may now be five conservative justices to take up the case. Roberts’ disagreement will no longer matter. It is a preview of a court where any deviation from a conservative outcome requires two conservative justices to switch sides.
A ruling on such a case could greatly complicate the election in Pennsylvania. The court could potentially toss the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling quickly. This would cause increased voter confusion so close to the election — but worse, the court could theoretically make this determination after the election if Trump challenges the results because he does not want “the ballots” to be counted.
Trump and state Republicans have reportedly discussed a nightmare scenario whereby “the chaos and suspicions of impropriety” that Kavanaugh says cloud late-counted ballots will be used to justify the Republican-controlled legislature invalidating the popular vote entirely and handing the state’s electoral votes to Trump.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--House Republicans Raked Over The Coals For ‘Psychopathic’ Birthday Tweet For Hillary Clinton

All this focus on Clinton has me concerned she wo n't win the 2020 election .
Smart of the GOP @ @ @ @ @ the new justice in a stolen seat who 's going to take our health insurance @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's almost as good as their 2018 election strategy .
https : //t.co/5h8rM2Mtq9

All this focus on Clinton has me concerned she won't win the 2020 election. Smart of the GOP to troll her childishly about the new justice in a stolen seat who's going to take our health insurance away during a deadly pandemic. It's almost as good as their 2018 election strategy. https://t.co/5h8rM2Mtq9


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Schumer Issues Warning To GOP: You May Regret This For ‘A Lot Longer’ Than You Think

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer lambasted the Republican Party ’ s efforts to push through the Supreme Court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett on Monday evening , warning his GOP colleagues that they may regret their actions “ for a lot longer than they think.
” Schumer was referencing the words of then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2013 after the Democratic-controlled chamber eliminated the 60-vote rule on lower court and executive branch nominations .
Republicans eliminated a similar threshold for Supreme Court appointments in 2017 , requiring a simple majority instead .
“ You ’ ll regret this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sooner than you think , ” McConnell said in 2013 .
He has since used the rule change to elevate three of President Donald Trump ’ s appointees to the Supreme Court .
In his floor speech Monday , Schumer said he ’ d change just one word of that sentiment : “ My colleagues will regret this for a lot longer than they think.
” “ Today … will go down as one of the darkest days in the 231-year history of the United States Senate , ” the New York Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that tonight the Republican Senate majority decided to thwart the will of the people and confirm a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election after more than 60 million Americans have voted.
” Today will go down as one of the darkest days in the Senate 's 231-year history The Senate GOP is thwarting the will of the people and confirming a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election Democrats will never stop fighting for Americans — Chuck Schumer ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders , including former President Barack Obama , have called on Schumer to eliminate the Senate filibuster should the party gain control of the chamber in the next election .
The filibuster effectively mandates that 60 votes are needed to pass major legislation .
Without it , Democrats could dramatically expand the potential for new policies .
“ As for the filibuster , I ’ m not busting my chops to become majority leader to do very little or nothing done , ” the New York senator said earlier this month .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot done .
And , as I ’ ve said , everything , everything is on the table.
” Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Monday by a vote of 52 to 48 , with every Democrat and one Republican voting no .
Her confirmation shifts the balance of power on the court deeply to the right , establishing a 6-3 conservative majority that could last for decades .
Monday ’ s Senate vote ends a weeks-long partisan clash and further solidifies Trump ’ s imprint on the American judiciary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 election .
Democrats had argued against the appointment of a new justice to replace the seat left vacant following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , but Republican vowed to push through Barrett ’ s nomination and rejected widespread calls of hypocrisy after they had refused to consider President Barack Obama ’ s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland in February 2016 .
“ History will record that by brute political force … this Republican majority confirmed a lifetime appointment on the eve of an election , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and freedoms of the American people while they stood in line to vote.
” “ Here , at this late hour , at the end of this sordid chapter in the history of the Senate , the history of the Supreme Court , my deepest and greatest sadness is for the American people , ” Schumer concluded .

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer lambasted the Republican Party’s efforts to push through the Supreme Court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett on Monday evening, warning his GOP colleagues that they may regret their actions “for a lot longer than they think.”
Schumer was referencing the words of then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2013 after the Democratic-controlled chamber eliminated the 60-vote rule on lower court and executive branch nominations. Republicans eliminated a similar threshold for Supreme Court appointments in 2017, requiring a simple majority instead.
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“You’ll regret this, and you may regret it a lot sooner than you think,” McConnell said in 2013. He has since used the rule change to elevate three of President Donald Trump’s appointees to the Supreme Court.
In his floor speech Monday, Schumer said he’d change just one word of that sentiment: “My colleagues will regret this for a lot longer than they think.”
“Today … will go down as one of the darkest days in the 231-year history of the United States Senate,” the New York Democrat said. “Let the record show that tonight the Republican Senate majority decided to thwart the will of the people and confirm a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election after more than 60 million Americans have voted.”
Today will go down as one of the darkest days in the Senate's 231-year history
The Senate GOP is thwarting the will of the people and confirming a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election
Democrats will never stop fighting for Americans — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 26, 2020
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Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, have called on Schumer to eliminate the Senate filibuster should the party gain control of the chamber in the next election. The filibuster effectively mandates that 60 votes are needed to pass major legislation. Without it, Democrats could dramatically expand the potential for new policies.
Schumer has voiced openness to the idea in recent weeks.
“As for the filibuster, I’m not busting my chops to become majority leader to do very little or nothing done,” the New York senator said earlier this month. “We are going to get a whole lot done. And, as I’ve said, everything, everything is on the table.”
Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Monday by a vote of 52 to 48, with every Democrat and one Republican voting no. Her confirmation shifts the balance of power on the court deeply to the right, establishing a 6-3 conservative majority that could last for decades.
Monday’s Senate vote ends a weeks-long partisan clash and further solidifies Trump’s imprint on the American judiciary, regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. Democrats had argued against the appointment of a new justice to replace the seat left vacant following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but Republican vowed to push through Barrett’s nomination and rejected widespread calls of hypocrisy after they had refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland in February 2016.
Schumer said the political brinkmanship by the GOP will not be forgotten any time soon.
“History will record that by brute political force … this Republican majority confirmed a lifetime appointment on the eve of an election,” he said. “A justice who will alter the lives and freedoms of the American people while they stood in line to vote.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Ex-Trump Officials Line Up Against Him In Damning New Republican Ad

Several key officials who ’ ve served in high-level positions in the administration of President Donald Trump are speaking out @ @ @ @ @ video from Republican Voters Against Trump .
And they ’ re urging Americans to vote @ @ @ @ @ former Vice President Joe Biden .
“ It is so much worse than it looks @ @ @ @ @ , who served as chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 @ @ @ @ @ will no longer be America after four more years of Trump , ” warns Olivia @ @ @ @ @ aide to Vice President Mike Pence who was involved in the coronavirus task force until @ @ @ @ @ endorsed Biden .
The new spot also includes outside footage of former national security adviser @ @ @ @ @ said that Trump is not fit for office and that said he is voting against @ @ @ @ @ has also said he isn ’ t voting for Biden , either .

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Several key officials who’ve served in high-level positions in the administration of President Donald Trump are speaking out against him in a new video from Republican Voters Against Trump.
And they’re urging Americans to vote for his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
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“It is so much worse than it looks,” says Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019.
“We will no longer be America after four more years of Trump,” warns Olivia Troye, a former senior aide to Vice President Mike Pence who was involved in the coronavirus task force until July.
All three have endorsed Biden.
The new spot also includes outside footage of former national security adviser John Bolton, who has said that Trump is not fit for office and that said he is voting against him. However, Bolton has also said he isn’t voting for Biden, either.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Lincoln Project Hits ‘Sniveling Weak Crybaby’ Lindsey Graham In Brutal New Ad

The Lincoln Project is once again taking on Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , one of its favorite targets , this time taunting him for begging for cash to help keep his job .
Graham , who is locked in a tough race against Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison , has appealed for money on several occasions on Fox News and did so again on Monday after the Senate confirmed Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett .
“ Help me , ” Graham beseeched on the right-wing network .
“ Help all of us keep our seats.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every visitor with a money pitch .
The new ad by the never-Trump group called him out for it .
“ Lindsey ’ s always been weak , ” the Lincoln Project voiceover states .
“ But these days he ’ s just an embarrassment .
Pathetic.
” The spot includes a montage of Graham appealing for campaign cash or as the ad puts it , a “ sniveling weak crybaby bereft of dignity begging to keep his job.
” Lincoln Project cofounder Steve Schmidt , who ran the late Sen. John McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter the ad was airing in South Carolina .
The organization is also running a new spot on Maine airwaves attacking Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) :

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The Lincoln Project is once again taking on Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of its favorite targets, this time taunting him for begging for cash to help keep his job.
Graham, who is locked in a tough race against Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison, has appealed for money on several occasions on Fox News and did so again on Monday after the Senate confirmed Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
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“Help me,” Graham beseeched on the right-wing network. “Help all of us keep our seats.”
He then plugged his website, which hits every visitor with a money pitch. The new ad by the never-Trump group called him out for it.
“Lindsey’s always been weak,” the Lincoln Project voiceover states. “But these days he’s just an embarrassment. Pathetic.”
The spot includes a montage of Graham appealing for campaign cash or as the ad puts it, a “sniveling weak crybaby bereft of dignity begging to keep his job.”
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Lincoln Project cofounder Steve Schmidt, who ran the late Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, said on Twitter the ad was airing in South Carolina.
The organization is also running a new spot on Maine airwaves attacking Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine):


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Conservative Columnist Issues Ominous Warning About 4 More Years Of Donald Trump

Conservative columnist Max Boot on Monday begged Americans not to let Donald Trump ’ s presidency “ define the United @ @ @ @ @ “ Electing Trump once can be written off as an aberration ; electing him twice @ @ @ @ @ on our history , ” Boot wrote in his latest column for The Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. from the then-Soviet Union when he was 7 years old .
Boot @ @ @ @ @ said the president would see “ reelection as an endorsement of his first-term misconduct and @ @ @ @ @ abuses to come.
” “ The United States will cease to inspire hope , ” @ @ @ @ @ , “ instead instill pity and fear.
” “ We can not , we must @ @ @ @ @ on the ‘ better angels of our nature ’ in favor of hatred and division @ @ @ @ @ ” concluded Boot , who left the Republican party in 2016 .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ ’ t we ?
”

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Conservative columnist Max Boot on Monday begged Americans not to let Donald Trump’s presidency “define the United States for future generations.”
“Electing Trump once can be written off as an aberration; electing him twice will leave an indelible stain on our history,” Boot wrote in his latest column for The Washington Post that recalled his own arrival in the U.S. from the then-Soviet Union when he was 7 years old.
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Boot, a never-Trump critic, said the president would see “reelection as an endorsement of his first-term misconduct and a license for even greater abuses to come.”
“The United States will cease to inspire hope,” the pundit predicted, and, “instead instill pity and fear.”
“We cannot, we must not, turn our backs on the ‘better angels of our nature’ in favor of hatred and division, irrationality and resentment,” concluded Boot, who left the Republican party in 2016. “We are better than this. Aren’t we?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-27--Jared Kushner Ripped For 'Letting His Klan Flag Fly'

Jared Kushner , President Donald Trump ’ s adviser and son-in-law , was called out on social media on Monday for the racist comments he made while standing outside the White House .
During an interview with Fox News , Kushner said Black Lives Matter protesters were just “ virtue signaling ” after the police killing of George Floyd in May .
“ They ’ d go on Instagram and cry , ” he said .
Then , Kushner suggested that Black people in America ― who are “ mostly Democrat ” ― have to want to be successful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policies that can help people break out of the problems that they ’ re complaining about , ” he said .
“ But he can ’ t want them to be successful more than that they want to be successful.
” That , critics noted , was a nod to racist stereotypes .
And Twitter users weren ’ t having it : Jared Kushner is the face of white privilege and nepotism .
He does n't want to change our racist , broken system because he benefits from it .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lecturing the Black community on the value of “ hard work.
” https : //t.co/KyuTgPZv9a — Rep. Barbara Lee ( @ RepBarbaraLee ) October 26 , 2020 I see Jared Kushner is letting his Klan flag fly today .
Institutional power hinders the Black community not will power .
We ca n't just will our way into being born to a billionaire like you were Jared .
Everything you got is from nepotism not from merit and you still ai n't shit !
https : //t.co/9ImopMGJcT pic.twitter.com/xs8o7gPdbR — BlackWomenViews Media ( @ blackwomenviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trust fund baby slumlord Kushner who has enriched himself in the WH takes the silver spoon out of his mouth long enough to insert his foot with a racist trope about Black people and success .
🙄 https : //t.co/rMN01O9WQm — Rep. Gwen Moore ( @ RepGwenMoore ) October 26 , 2020 Dear # JaredKushner , You say “ Blacks don ’ t want to be successful ?
” My enslaved grandfather fought for his country in the Civil War , led a strike for fair wages in 1876 , & died a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth , mine left us a nation .
pic.twitter.com/cyE4NaIgmi — 𝐑𝐞𝐯 .
𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 ( @ CornellWBrooks ) October 26 , 2020 I don ’ t wan na hear any of y ’ all tell me that Jared Kushner can ’ t be a racist because he ’ s Jewish .
He ’ s a white supremacist .
Case closed .
— Bishop Talbert Swan ( @ TalbertSwan ) October 26 , 2020 JARED KUSHNER WAS BORN INTO A RICH FAMILY WHO GAVE HIM EVERYTHING HE COULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TO BRIBE JARED 'S WAY INTO HARVARD !
He is not a success .
He is a lucky sperm .
https : //t.co/n57OIktFft — W. Kamau Bell ( @ wkamaubell ) October 26 , 2020 If it were n't for nepotism , @ jaredkushner would be Jared , the creepy north Jersey accountant with a weird voice who is n't terribly good at math , but sure , tell me again about how to be successful .
https : //t.co/uf3afDALCV — Franklin Leonard ( @ franklinleonard ) October 26 , 2020 I really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are forced to pay attention to what he says because he exerts influence in spaces that , like most of his colleagues , he is completely unqualified to occupy .
But “ Black folks don ’ t want success ” is a common narrative .
So ... — brittany packnett cunningham .
( @ MsPackyetti ) October 26 , 2020 Jared Kushner wants to distract white voters with images of “ complaining ” and “ lazy ” Black people so they won ’ t vote to make billionaires like the Kushners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our country will be truly great only when we put an end to their divide-and-conquer tactics .
https : //t.co/GPRm2ioC2E — Jamaal Bowman ( @ JamaalBowmanNY ) October 26 , 2020 Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner was born into wealth and got a job in Trump ’ s White House with no qualifications and no security clearance .
Yet he has the audacity to lecture Black people that we just complain and don ’ t want to be successful .
This racist family must go !
https : //t.co/6yVILpR8L4 — Keith Boykin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 '' Ah that classic racist trope .
Black people have to try harder , says the man who has his job in the White House only because he married the president 's daughter . ''
My bit on tonight 's @ MehdiHasanShow , deconstructing Jared Kushner 's car crash Fox interview : pic.twitter.com/Er806uhobf — Mehdi Hasan ( @ mehdirhasan ) October 27 , 2020 Ah yes , Trump 's 39 year-old ghoulish son-in-law on TV spouting casual racism & the `` bootstrap '' myth 8 days before the election .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful more than they want to be successful.
” - Jared Kushner on Trump and the Black community pic.twitter.com/UAKHJX2pWH — Padma `` Did You Vote Yet ? ''
Lakshmi ( @ PadmaLakshmi ) October 26 , 2020 Damn you , Jared Kushner .
I had planned to devote my next column to the new Bruce Springsteen album .
A nice , peaceful change of pace .
Instead , now I 've got to spend it tearing you a brand new orifice.https : //t.co/QS99B16jdE — Leonard Pitts , Jr. ( @ LeonardPittsJr1 ) October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans that Trump was delivering for them if only they would stop “ complaining.
” One thing that 's clear is that Trump has delivered for Kushner .
He ’ s delivered him wealth , political power and access to top secret intelligence.https : //t.co/JmtVxp7NbA — Citizens for Ethics ( @ CREWcrew ) October 26 , 2020

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Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, was called out on social media on Monday for the racist comments he made while standing outside the White House.
During an interview with Fox News, Kushner said Black Lives Matter protesters were just “virtue signaling” after the police killing of George Floyd in May.
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“They’d go on Instagram and cry,” he said.
Then, Kushner suggested that Black people in America ― who are “mostly Democrat” ― have to want to be successful.
“President Trump’s policies are the policies that can help people break out of the problems that they’re complaining about,” he said. “But he can’t want them to be successful more than that they want to be successful.”
That, critics noted, was a nod to racist stereotypes. And Twitter users weren’t having it:
Jared Kushner is the face of white privilege and nepotism. He doesn't want to change our racist, broken system because he benefits from it.
He’s the last person that should be lecturing the Black community on the value of “hard work.” https://t.co/KyuTgPZv9a — Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) October 26, 2020
I see Jared Kushner is letting his Klan flag fly today. Institutional power hinders the Black community not will power. We can't just will our way into being born to a billionaire like you were Jared. Everything you got is from nepotism not from merit and you still ain't shit! https://t.co/9ImopMGJcT pic.twitter.com/xs8o7gPdbR — BlackWomenViews Media (@blackwomenviews) October 26, 2020
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Oh. Trust fund baby slumlord Kushner who has enriched himself in the WH takes the silver spoon out of his mouth long enough to insert his foot with a racist trope about Black people and success. 🙄 https://t.co/rMN01O9WQm — Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) October 26, 2020
Dear #JaredKushner ,
You say “Blacks don’t want to be successful?” My enslaved grandfather fought for his country in the Civil War, led a strike for fair wages in 1876, & died a success—in poverty. Your ancestors left you wealth, mine left us a nation. pic.twitter.com/cyE4NaIgmi — 𝐑𝐞𝐯. 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 (@CornellWBrooks) October 26, 2020
I don’t wanna hear any of y’all tell me that Jared Kushner can’t be a racist because he’s Jewish.
He’s a white supremacist. Case closed. — Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) October 26, 2020
JARED KUSHNER WAS BORN INTO A RICH FAMILY WHO GAVE HIM EVERYTHING HE COULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND STILL... STILL HIS DADDY HAD TO BRIBE JARED'S WAY INTO HARVARD!
He is not a success. He is a lucky sperm. https://t.co/n57OIktFft — W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) October 26, 2020
Jarred, you said the quiet part out loud. https://t.co/gIpbSIVAKV — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 26, 2020
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If it weren't for nepotism, @jaredkushner would be Jared, the creepy north Jersey accountant with a weird voice who isn't terribly good at math, but sure, tell me again about how to be successful . https://t.co/uf3afDALCV — Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) October 26, 2020
I really hate Jared Kushner is even a thing.
We are forced to pay attention to what he says because he exerts influence in spaces that, like most of his colleagues, he is completely unqualified to occupy.
But “Black folks don’t want success” is a common narrative. So... — brittany packnett cunningham. (@MsPackyetti) October 26, 2020
Jared Kushner wants to distract white voters with images of “complaining” and “lazy” Black people so they won’t vote to make billionaires like the Kushners pay their fair share in taxes.
Our country will be truly great only when we put an end to their divide-and-conquer tactics. https://t.co/GPRm2ioC2E — Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) October 26, 2020
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was born into wealth and got a job in Trump’s White House with no qualifications and no security clearance.
Yet he has the audacity to lecture Black people that we just complain and don’t want to be successful.
This racist family must go! https://t.co/6yVILpR8L4 — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 26, 2020
"Ah that classic racist trope. Black people have to try harder, says the man who has his job in the White House only because he married the president's daughter."
My bit on tonight's @MehdiHasanShow, deconstructing Jared Kushner's car crash Fox interview:pic.twitter.com/Er806uhobf — Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 27, 2020
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Ah yes, Trump's 39 year-old ghoulish son-in-law on TV spouting casual racism & the "bootstrap" myth 8 days before the election.
"He can’t want them to be successful more than they want to be successful.” - Jared Kushner on Trump and the Black community pic.twitter.com/UAKHJX2pWH — Padma "Did You Vote Yet?" Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) October 26, 2020
Damn you, Jared Kushner. I had planned to devote my next column to the new Bruce Springsteen album. A nice, peaceful change of pace. Instead, now I've got to spend it tearing you a brand new orifice.https://t.co/QS99B16jdE — Leonard Pitts, Jr. (@LeonardPittsJr1) October 26, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--Nicolle Wallace Slams Conservative Columnist's 'Bitchy' Take On Kamala Harris

In a controversial article published over the weekend , The Wall Street Journal opinion writer rubbished the senator from California , who could become the first Black woman to be vice president , for being “ giddy ” on the campaign trail .
Noonan wrote : “ She ’ s dancing with drum lines and beginning rallies with “ Wassup , Florida !
” She ’ s throwing her head back and laughing a loud laugh , especially when nobody said anything funny .
She ’ s the younger candidate going for the younger vote , and she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but she ’ s coming across as insubstantial , frivolous .
When she started to dance in the rain onstage , in Jacksonville , Fla. , to Mary J. Blige ’ s ‘ Work That , ’ it was embarrassing.
” Noonan noted that “ apparently you ’ re not allowed to say these things because she ’ s a woman ” and called for Harris to be more serious .
On MSNBC ’ s “ Deadline : White House ” on Monday , Wallace said she revered Noonan , a former speechwriter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely disappointed by her words .
“ When you ’ re a white woman and you ’ re a Republican , there ’ s just certain stuff culturally that you don ’ t know jack bleep about , and you should keep your mouth shut when other people ... , ” she said .
Nicolle Wallace on Peggy Noonan 's column criticizing Kamala Harris for dancing : '' When you ’ re a white woman and Republican , there 's just certain stuff culturally that you don ’ t know jack bleep about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone-deaf and nasty and it felt personal and it felt bitchy '' pic.twitter.com/Y1LJq1I5zz — Justin Baragona ( @ justinbaragona ) October 26 , 2020 MSNBC political analyst Claire McCaskill , a former Democratic senator from Missouri , said she ’ d “ never been more disappointed in a woman that I thought I admired in my life.
” “ Well , I ’ ll tell her what ’ s ‘ embarrassing , ’ ” she added .
“ A president that pays off porn stars .
A president that pulls babies out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president who says he likes to grab women by the you-know-what .
A president who uses the White House for campaign events .
A president who praises white supremacists .
And , yes , even a president who can ’ t dance , doesn ’ t know how to show joy or empathy , and tries to do some kind of ridiculous arm thrust to ‘ YMCA.
’ That is what ’ s embarrassing.
” McCaskill went on to praise Harris , a senator from California , saying she was “ anything but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is inspirational , she is strong and substantial , and she is going to be one hell of a vice president , ” she said .
We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace isn’t having any of conservative columnist Peggy Noonan’s sexist criticism of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
In a controversial article published over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal opinion writer rubbished the senator from California, who could become the first Black woman to be vice president, for being “giddy” on the campaign trail.
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Noonan wrote: “She’s dancing with drum lines and beginning rallies with “Wassup, Florida!” She’s throwing her head back and laughing a loud laugh, especially when nobody said anything funny. She’s the younger candidate going for the younger vote, and she’s going for a Happy Warrior vibe, but she’s coming across as insubstantial, frivolous. When she started to dance in the rain onstage, in Jacksonville, Fla., to Mary J. Blige’s ‘Work That,’ it was embarrassing.”
Noonan noted that “apparently you’re not allowed to say these things because she’s a woman” and called for Harris to be more serious.
On MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” on Monday, Wallace said she revered Noonan, a former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, but was completely disappointed by her words.
“When you’re a white woman and you’re a Republican, there’s just certain stuff culturally that you don’t know jack bleep about, and you should keep your mouth shut when other people ... ,” she said.
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“This to me, felt tone-deaf, it felt nasty, it felt personal and it felt bitchy,” she added.
Nicolle Wallace on Peggy Noonan's column criticizing Kamala Harris for dancing:
"When you’re a white woman and Republican, there's just certain stuff culturally that you don’t know jack bleep about... This, to me, felt tone-deaf and nasty and it felt personal and it felt bitchy" pic.twitter.com/Y1LJq1I5zz — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 26, 2020
MSNBC political analyst Claire McCaskill, a former Democratic senator from Missouri, said she’d “never been more disappointed in a woman that I thought I admired in my life.”
“Well, I’ll tell her what’s ‘embarrassing,’” she added. “A president that pays off porn stars. A president that pulls babies out of the arms of their mothers. A president who says he likes to grab women by the you-know-what. A president who uses the White House for campaign events. A president who praises white supremacists. And, yes, even a president who can’t dance, doesn’t know how to show joy or empathy, and tries to do some kind of ridiculous arm thrust to ‘YMCA.’ That is what’s embarrassing.”
McCaskill went on to praise Harris, a senator from California, saying she was “anything but embarrassing.”
“She is uplifting, she is inspirational, she is strong and substantial, and she is going to be one hell of a vice president,” she said.
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“I have never loved you more,” Wallace told her.
Watch more below.