thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Joe Biden’s Most Unifying Message: Human Decency

For four days , the virtual convention headquartered in Milwaukee , attempted to paint Democrats as the party with the biggest tent ; progressives and liberals , moderate Republicans and disaffected Trump voters could all come together under the premise that Biden is a better human being than President Donald Trump .
“ Character is on the ballot .
Compassion is on the ballot .
Decency , science , democracy .
They are all on the ballot , ” Biden said in his final remarks accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night .
“ And the choice could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just judge this president on the facts.
” There ’ s not a lot of policy that can unite such a broad coalition of voters .
Which is likely why the convention was light on policy specifics .
There was little to no mention of the details of Biden ’ s health care plan or that his campaign has backed ending subsidies for fossil fuels .
Instead , the thread running through each night was Biden ’ s nature .
As a grandfather , he calls his grandchildren every day , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was the story about the time Biden was late to a TV interview because he was talking to a congressional staffer ’ s grandmother on the phone .
The woman who presented Biden ’ s nomination at the convention was Jacquelyn Brittany , a security guard at the New York Times building and Biden super-fan who him met in the elevator on his the way to a meeting with the Times editorial board in January .
And perhaps the most memorable moment from the four days came from Brayden Harrington , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden bonded with Harrington over their shared struggle with stuttering .
Now Harrington credits Biden with helping him overcome his speech impediment .
Although not explicitly stated , the moment felt particularly poignant given all the times Trump and his allies have mocked Biden for his stutter .
“ I give you my word : If you entrust me with the presidency , I will draw on the best of us , not the worst .
I will be an ally of the light , not of the darkness , ” Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic convention , Biden leaned into that core strength ― and left policy-hungry voters with little to work with .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts discussed Biden ’ s plan to make child care affordable for all Americans .
Ady Barkan , a progressive activist dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , warned ― in a computerized voice that allows him to speak ― that a victory for Trump would jeopardize recent gains in health insurance coverage .
But for every discussion of the Affordable Care Act and immigration reform , gun control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more discussing how empathetic Biden is as a human , how faith and the loss of loved ones have shaped his life and informed his bipartisan legislative style .
“ In Joe Biden , you have a human being who is empathetic , who is honest , who is decent , ” Sanders said in a discussion with six of his rival candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination .
“ And at this particular moment in American history , my God , that is something that this country absolutely needs.
” One area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more details about his policy agenda was in his enumeration of how he planned to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic .
He outlined a vision for implementing rapid and reliable virus testing , producing essential medical supplies in the United States , ensuring a reopening of schools that doesn ’ t jeopardize public health , and mandating that all Americans wear masks .
The tone of the convention was different from the party ’ s most recent confabs .
In 2008 , then-Democratic nominee Barack Obama was the country ’ s first Black presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milestone .
It also had the optimistic tone of a country mired in economic chaos trying to turn the page on the George W. Bush presidency .
“ Tonight , we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another journey that will bring a new and better day to America , ” Obama declared .
Again , in 2016 , the convention marked another first , as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to accept the presidential nomination of one of the two major political parties .
The convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with Clinton riding high in the polls and conventional wisdom developing that a man as buffoonish as Trump could not lose to Clinton .
Obama told convention-goers that “ there has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America .
”

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Michelle Obama said it. So did Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). And Ohio’s former Republican Gov. John Kasich. Over and over again, speakers at the Democratic National Convention described former Vice President Joe Biden with the same adjective: “decent.”
For four days, the virtual convention headquartered in Milwaukee, attempted to paint Democrats as the party with the biggest tent; progressives and liberals, moderate Republicans and disaffected Trump voters could all come together under the premise that Biden is a better human being than President Donald Trump.
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“Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy. They are all on the ballot,” Biden said in his final remarks accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night. “And the choice could not be clearer. No rhetoric is needed. Just judge this president on the facts.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic Party nomination for president on Thursday in Wilmington, Delaware. “Character is on the ballot," he said. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty Images
It was something almost every speaker, whether former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg or the longtime Republican voter from Rhodes Island, Michael, said about Biden in the lead-up to Biden’s acceptance speech.
There’s not a lot of policy that can unite such a broad coalition of voters. Which is likely why the convention was light on policy specifics. There was little to no mention of the details of Biden’s health care plan or that his campaign has backed ending subsidies for fossil fuels.
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Instead, the thread running through each night was Biden’s nature. As a grandfather, he calls his grandchildren every day, his granddaughters said in a recorded video. There was the story about the time Biden was late to a TV interview because he was talking to a congressional staffer’s grandmother on the phone. The woman who presented Biden’s nomination at the convention was Jacquelyn Brittany, a security guard at the New York Times building and Biden super-fan who him met in the elevator on his the way to a meeting with the Times editorial board in January.
And perhaps the most memorable moment from the four days came from Brayden Harrington, a 13-year-old New Hampshirite with a stutter. Biden bonded with Harrington over their shared struggle with stuttering. Now Harrington credits Biden with helping him overcome his speech impediment. Although not explicitly stated, the moment felt particularly poignant given all the times Trump and his allies have mocked Biden for his stutter.
“I’m just a regular kid,” Harrington said. “And in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me more confident about something that’s bothered me my whole life. Joe Biden cared. Imagine what he could do for all of us.”
“I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I will be an ally of the light, not of the darkness,” Biden said in his remarks Thursday night.
Biden has always emphasized character on the campaign trail. His rallying cry is to restore the “soul of the nation.” And voters often cite his affability when explaining why they support him.
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Jill Biden, presidential nominee Joe Biden, vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, greet supporters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty Images
For the Democratic convention, Biden leaned into that core strength ― and left policy-hungry voters with little to work with. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts discussed Biden’s plan to make child care affordable for all Americans. Ady Barkan, a progressive activist dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, warned ― in a computerized voice that allows him to speak ― that a victory for Trump would jeopardize recent gains in health insurance coverage.
And Biden himself spoke about his plans to implement an infrastructure program designed to both revive the country’s economy and make America a leader in the burgeoning renewable energy sector. He intends to fund it, he said, by rolling back Trump’s tax cuts for the super-rich and corporations.
But for every discussion of the Affordable Care Act and immigration reform, gun control and climate action, there were several more discussing how empathetic Biden is as a human, how faith and the loss of loved ones have shaped his life and informed his bipartisan legislative style.
“In Joe Biden, you have a human being who is empathetic, who is honest, who is decent,” Sanders said in a discussion with six of his rival candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. “And at this particular moment in American history, my God, that is something that this country absolutely needs.”
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One area in which Biden was willing to provide more details about his policy agenda was in his enumeration of how he planned to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. He outlined a vision for implementing rapid and reliable virus testing, producing essential medical supplies in the United States, ensuring a reopening of schools that doesn’t jeopardize public health, and mandating that all Americans wear masks.
“Our current president has failed ― in his most basic duty to the nation. He’s failed to protect us.” - Joe Biden
“Our current president has failed ― in his most basic duty to the nation. He’s failed to protect us,” Biden said. “He’s failed to protect America. And my fellow Americans, that is unforgivable.
“As president I’ll make you a promise: I’ll protect America. I’ll defend us from every attack ― seen and unseen, always, without exception, every time.”
The tone of the convention was different from the party’s most recent confabs. In 2008, then-Democratic nominee Barack Obama was the country’s first Black presidential nominee ― and the convention reflected that milestone. It also had the optimistic tone of a country mired in economic chaos trying to turn the page on the George W. Bush presidency. “Tonight, we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another journey that will bring a new and better day to America,” Obama declared.
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Again, in 2016, the convention marked another first, as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to accept the presidential nomination of one of the two major political parties. The convention had an air of inevitability as well, with Clinton riding high in the polls and conventional wisdom developing that a man as buffoonish as Trump could not lose to Clinton. Obama told convention-goers that “there has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America.”
The formal anointment of the Biden-Harris ticket, by contrast, was at once more urgent than its recent predecessors and less ambitious in scope.
Biden and his varied validators cast him as a man capable of restoring the dignity of the presidency and giving direction to a rudderless country cowed by a COVID-19 pandemic that has made the United States an international embarrassment.
President Donald Trump speaks outside a manufacturing plant in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. Joe Biden sees Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a key weakness. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images
Biden even recapitulated his reaction to Trump’s remarks after the violent neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. The president, Biden recalled with disdain, had said of the white supremacists squaring off with liberal counterprotesters that there were “very fine people on both sides.”
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“That was a wake-up call for us as a country and for me, a call to action,” Biden said. “At that moment, I knew I’d have to run. Because my father taught us that silence is complicity.”
Biden didn’t mention Trump by name. But his message was easily inferred: Trump is not decent.
In fact, the entire convention was built as a repudiation of Trump’s vision for America. While Trump has sought to close America’s borders, the convention celebrated the voices of immigrants, especially Harris’s parents: Her father was born in Jamaica, her mother in India.
While Trump has demeaned people from marginalized groups, Democrats gave them voice with segments elevating undocumented immigrants, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence and civil rights heroes.
While Trump has cast the protests against police brutality and racism that have swept the nation since late May as the provocations of dangerous radicals, convention speakers in Milwaukee spoke of the opportunity that this moment presents to heal the country’s festering wound of racial inequity.
“History has thrust one more urgent task on us: Will we be the generation that finally wipes the stain of racism from our national character?” Biden said. “I believe we’re up to it. I believe we’re ready.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-20--Meghan Markle Talks Voter Suppression: 'This Fight Is Worth Fighting'

The Duchess of Sussex kicked off the “ When All Women Vote ” virtual hangout , talking about what it means to vote in the upcoming election , remembering the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment , voter suppression and more .
“ When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us , I would frame it as ‘ We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect who will come after us , ’ ” the duchess said in the beginning of her speech .
“ Because that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And that is specifically what this election is all about.
” The event was organized by the United States of Women and When We All Vote , a nonprofit , nonpartisan organization that aims to increase voter turnout and “ close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting.
” Former first lady Michelle Obama helped launch the organization in 2018 with celebrity co-chairs Lin-Manuel Miranda , Janelle Monae , Tom Hanks , Chris Paul , Faith Hill and Tim McGraw .
Meghan noted that there are only 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ so very close ― and yet there ’ s so much work to be done in that amount of time because we all know what ’ s at stake this year.
” The duchess said that she was inspired by those on the call who are “ mobilized and energized to see the change that we all need and deserve.
” She also took a moment to remember the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment .
The amendment , which guaranteed that states couldn ’ t bar people from voting due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open for states to disenfranchise women , especially women of color — their right to vote wasn ’ t ensured until after the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965 .
“ As we look at things today , though it had taken decades longer for women to get the right to vote ― even today we are watching so many women in different communities who are marginalized still struggling to see that right come to fruition , ” Meghan said , adding that continued voter suppression is ” all the more reason we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there supporting each other and understand that this fight is worth fighting.
” The duchess acknowledged that while there are a lot of problems facing us in the world today , it even more of a reason to get out there , vote and achieve “ the impact that we all need and really want.
” “ We can and must do everything we can to ensure that all women have their voices heard .
Because at this juncture , if we aren ’ t part of the solution , we are part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If you ’ re not going out there and voting , then you ’ re complicit .
If you ’ re complacent , you ’ re complicit.
” “ We can make the difference in this election , ” the duchess said , before thanking participants and signing off .
“ And we will make the difference in this election.
” “ I know what it ’ s like to have a voice , and also what it ’ s like to feel voiceless , ” the duchess said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard .
And that opportunity , that fundamental right , is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.
” During an interview with Emily Ramshaw , co-founder and CEO of The 19th* , Meghan said that when she ’ s had “ conversations about encouraging people to go out and vote , ” noting that it ’ s “ challenging ... for people to remember just how hard it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote.
” Technically , there is no law barring members of the British royal family from voting , but the queen must remain politically neutral .
Prior to becoming a member of the royal family , Meghan denounced President Donald Trump as “ divisive ” and “ misogynistic ” during an appearance on “ The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore ” before the 2016 election .
As for whether the duchess might have political ambitions of her own now that she ’ s back in the states , HuffPost spoke with Carolyn Durand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Finding Freedom , ” last week .

Meghan Markle joined a virtual couch party for a cause on Thursday.
The Duchess of Sussex kicked off the “When All Women Vote” virtual hangout, talking about what it means to vote in the upcoming election, remembering the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, voter suppression and more.
“When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as ‘We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect who will come after us,’” the duchess said in the beginning of her speech. “Because that’s what community is all about. And that is specifically what this election is all about.”
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The event was organized by the United States of Women and When We All Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that aims to increase voter turnout and “close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting.” Former first lady Michelle Obama helped launch the organization in 2018 with celebrity co-chairs Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Tom Hanks, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
Meghan noted that there are only 75 days until Election Day, which feels “so very close ― and yet there’s so much work to be done in that amount of time because we all know what’s at stake this year.”
The duchess said that she was inspired by those on the call who are “mobilized and energized to see the change that we all need and deserve.”
The Duchess of Sussex was introduced by Jordan Brooks, Executive Director of The United State of Women. The United State of Women/YouTube
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She also took a moment to remember the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The amendment, which guaranteed that states couldn’t bar people from voting due to their sex, still left the door open for states to disenfranchise women, especially women of color — their right to vote wasn’t ensured until after the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965.
“As we look at things today, though it had taken decades longer for women to get the right to vote ― even today we are watching so many women in different communities who are marginalized still struggling to see that right come to fruition,” Meghan said, adding that continued voter suppression is ”all the more reason we need each of you to be out there supporting each other and understand that this fight is worth fighting.”
The duchess acknowledged that while there are a lot of problems facing us in the world today, it’s even more of a reason to get out there, vote and achieve “the impact that we all need and really want.”
“We can and must do everything we can to ensure that all women have their voices heard. Because at this juncture, if we aren’t part of the solution, we are part of the problem,” she said. “If you’re not going out there and voting, then you’re complicit. If you’re complacent, you’re complicit.”
“We can make the difference in this election,” the duchess said, before thanking participants and signing off. “And we will make the difference in this election.”
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The United State of Women/YouTube
Fellow participants included Valerie Jarrett, the former senior adviser to President Barack Obama; Samantha Barry, editor-in-chief of Glamour; “Community” actress Yvette Nicole Brown; and DJ Diamond Kuts.
Over the past few weeks, the Duchess of Sussex has been actively encouraging Americans to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2020 election.
Meghan participated in a Marie Claire feature, published earlier this month, that explained why she’s voting.
Meghan Markle has spent the past few weeks encouraging people to exercise their right to vote. Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
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“I know what it’s like to have a voice, and also what it’s like to feel voiceless,” the duchess said. “I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.”
During an interview with Emily Ramshaw, co-founder and CEO of The 19th*, Meghan said that when she’s had “conversations about encouraging people to go out and vote,” noting that it’s “challenging ... for people to remember just how hard it was for people to get the right to vote.” Technically, there is no law barring members of the British royal family from voting, but the queen must remain politically neutral. Prior to becoming a member of the royal family, Meghan denounced President Donald Trump as “divisive” and “misogynistic” during an appearance on “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” before the 2016 election.
As for whether the duchess might have political ambitions of her own now that she’s back in the states, HuffPost spoke with Carolyn Durand, co-author of the bombshell Sussex biography, “Finding Freedom,” last week.
Though the biographer said she wouldn’t make a prediction about Meghan running for office, she said the royal is “an incredible role model for women and for young people.”
“She’s an incredibly eloquent and inspirational speaker and she has the capacity to really inspire people and get involved and I think that’s what we need in our country right now,” Durand said, adding it would be “a wonderful moment” if she decided to run, but “wouldn’t venture a guess.”
“I think right now [Meghan and Harry] want to focus on the family and really look to the future ― setting up their Archewell nonprofit,” the biographer said. “Maybe in the future, we’ll see that; maybe we won’t.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Laura Ingraham Bursts Donald Trump Jr.'s Bubble By Saying Joe Biden 'Beat Expectations'

Fox News host Laura Ingraham turned Donald Trump Jr. ’ s smile into a frown with her middling praise for Joe Biden , saying the Democratic nominee gave a “ fairly well-delivered speech ” on the final night of the Democratic National Convention .
Ingraham , who earlier accused Biden of using “ personal tragedy for political ends , ” complained to guest Trump Jr. that Biden failed to enact any meaningful change during his two terms as vice president .
Then she surprisingly switched gears , conceding that Biden ’ s nomination acceptance speech “ did beat expectations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every line and have a senior moment , ” Ingraham said , adding that Biden ’ s speech “ was devoid of any policy other than universal masking , but he delivered a good speech and for what he was doing , very emotional.
” Trump Jr. ― who wore a grin as he listened to Ingraham dismiss Biden ’ s record as vice president ― immediately turned serious and went on the defensive .
He argued that Biden was incapable of being tough on China , attacked Hunter Biden ’ s alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden ― a “ 50-year swamp creature ” ― had failed to do anything worthy in his political career .
“ Our only export under Joe Biden ’ s 50-year tenure has been that American dream to countries that hate our guts and have been manipulating us for decades , ” Trump Jr. said .
“ Donald Trump ’ s the first guy to stand up to those people ; he ’ s the first guy to actually get deals done , whether it be with China , whether it be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where ’ s Joe Biden been ?
...
He was in control for eight years with Barack Obama , why didn ’ t they do any of these things ?
If Joe Biden knew how to fix anything , why didn ’ t he tell Barack Obama how to do it ?
” With that , Ingraham ended her reluctant praise for Biden and agreed with Trump Jr. , joking that Obama had been keeping plans to fix the United States a secret “ for Joe for later use .
”

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Ingraham, who earlier accused Biden of using “personal tragedy for political ends,” complained to guest Trump Jr. that Biden failed to enact any meaningful change during his two terms as vice president. Then she surprisingly switched gears, conceding that Biden’s nomination acceptance speech “did beat expectations.”
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“People were expecting him to flub every line and have a senior moment,” Ingraham said, adding that Biden’s speech “was devoid of any policy other than universal masking, but he delivered a good speech and for what he was doing, very emotional.”
Trump Jr. ― who wore a grin as he listened to Ingraham dismiss Biden’s record as vice president ― immediately turned serious and went on the defensive. He argued that Biden was incapable of being tough on China, attacked Hunter Biden’s alleged connections to Ukraine, and argued that Joe Biden ― a “50-year swamp creature” ― had failed to do anything worthy in his political career.
“Our only export under Joe Biden’s 50-year tenure has been that American dream to countries that hate our guts and have been manipulating us for decades,” Trump Jr. said. “Donald Trump’s the first guy to stand up to those people; he’s the first guy to actually get deals done, whether it be with China, whether it be a peace deal in the Middle East. Where’s Joe Biden been? ... He was in control for eight years with Barack Obama, why didn’t they do any of these things? If Joe Biden knew how to fix anything, why didn’t he tell Barack Obama how to do it?”
With that, Ingraham ended her reluctant praise for Biden and agreed with Trump Jr., joking that Obama had been keeping plans to fix the United States a secret “for Joe for later use.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Steve Buscemi Spells Out Why Joe Biden Is 'Acceptable Under The Circumstances'

Actor Steve Buscemi made the case for Joe Biden in a “ Daily Show ” biopic of the Democratic 2020 @ @ @ @ @ The “ Boardwalk Empire ” star admitted in the video he narrated that Biden isn @ @ @ @ @ of politicians .
But he ’ s satisfactory and someone to steady the ship given @ @ @ @ @ re in right now , ” the actor said .
“ What Joe is , @ @ @ @ @ been , and what he will be as your next president is not Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s what makes Joe Biden acceptable under the circumstances.
” Check out @ @ @ @ @ conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

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Actor Steve Buscemi made the case for Joe Biden in a “Daily Show” biopic of the Democratic 2020 presidential nominee on Friday.
The “Boardwalk Empire” star admitted in the video he narrated that Biden isn’t the most inspirational of politicians. But he’s satisfactory and someone to steady the ship given “the shitstorm we’re in right now,” the actor said.
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“What Joe is, and what he has always been, and what he will be as your next president is not Donald Trump,” Buscemi concluded. “That’s what makes Joe Biden acceptable under the circumstances.”
Check out the video here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Giant Teddy Bear Is In The Worst Possible Seat At The Worst Possible Time

Fans at Major League Baseball games need to stay alert at all times ― even the plush ones .
Since @ @ @ @ @ lack fans due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , ballparks have been using creative stand-ins @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the bears at Oakland ’ s RingCentral Coliseum offered a hair-raising lesson @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not paying attention : A teddy bear took a foul ball right off @ @ @ @ @ A 's on NBCS ( @ NBCSAthletics ) August 21 , 2020 Fortunately , it @ @ @ @ @ in the making of this video as the plush bounced right back as if nothing @ @ @ @ @ are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

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Fans at Major League Baseball games need to stay alert at all times ― even the plush ones.
Since this year’s games lack fans due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, ballparks have been using creative stand-ins, including giant teddy bears. One of the bears at Oakland’s RingCentral Coliseum offered a hair-raising lesson in what happens when you’re not paying attention:
A teddy bear took a foul ball right off the head 😂 pic.twitter.com/fEYA7P1LOa — A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 21, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Late Night Shows Pile On After Steve Bannon's Arrest

The comedians of late-night television enjoyed plenty of schadenfreude Thursday night after Steve Bannon , a former chief strategist to President Donald Trump , was arrested .
Bannon was indicted on federal charges for allegedly defrauding donors to an online fundraising campaign that claimed it would build the president ’ s border wall .
He pleaded not guilty at a hearing Thursday afternoon .
“ Late Night ” host Seth Meyers , Stephen Colbert ’ s “ Late Show ” and “ The Tonight Show ” host Jimmy Fallon all piled on .
“ This is the perfect encapsulation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ From beginning to end , the wall was a nonstop scam .
Trump scammed his supporters by saying Mexico would pay for it , then we ended up paying for it , then this baked potato Fabio over here said he ’ d raise money for it , then he scammed everyone again by allegedly skimming money from it .
It ’ s a Russian nesting doll of fraud.
” Fallon riffed about yet another Trump associate going to prison .
“ At this point , the White House softball team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exact same lineup , ” he said .
And “ The Late Show ” mocked up “ exclusive footage ” of Bannon ’ s arrest .
Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

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The comedians of late-night television enjoyed plenty of schadenfreude Thursday night after Steve Bannon, a former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, was arrested.
Bannon was indicted on federal charges for allegedly defrauding donors to an online fundraising campaign that claimed it would build the president’s border wall. He pleaded not guilty at a hearing Thursday afternoon.
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“This is the perfect encapsulation of the Trump era,” Meyers said. “From beginning to end, the wall was a nonstop scam. Trump scammed his supporters by saying Mexico would pay for it, then we ended up paying for it, then this baked potato Fabio over here said he’d raise money for it, then he scammed everyone again by allegedly skimming money from it. It’s a Russian nesting doll of fraud.”
Watch the “Late Night” roast below:
Fallon riffed about yet another Trump associate going to prison.
“At this point, the White House softball team and the prison softball team have the exact same lineup,” he said.
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Watch on “The Tonight Show” below:
And “The Late Show” mocked up “exclusive footage” of Bannon’s arrest.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-20--Julia Louis-Dreyfus Takes Aim At Trump's Literacy, Golf Game As She Hosts DNC

The gloves came off ― and the zingers were unleashed — on the final night of the Democratic National Convention as host and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus took aim at President Donald Trump .
Dreyfus , known for her roles as Elaine Benes on “ Seinfeld ” and Selina Meyer on “ Veep , ” called out Trump for posing for a photo in front of a church across from the White House on June 1 while accompanied by federal agents who deployed tear gas on nearby protesters as they cleared a path for the president .
“ Just remember , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes to church so regularly that he doesn ’ t even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to help him get there.
” Julia Louis-Dreyfus : `` Joe Biden goes to church so regularly that he does n't even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to get him get there . ''
# DemConvention pic.twitter.com/U2jlV1KQZx — The Hill ( @ thehill ) August 21 , 2020 Dreyfus also mocked Trump ’ s reading ability and golf game , among other digs .
“ Text ‘ VOTE ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the Biden campaign ’ s text number .
“ 30330 ― that would be the president ’ s golf score if he didn ’ t cheat.
” She continued : “ OK , look , I ’ ll admit that was a little nasty .
But we all know he ’ s a cheater .
And I ’ m proud to be a nasty , nasty woman.
” Julia Louis-Dreyfus , host of the DNC 's fourth night , talks about bonding with Joe Biden when she starred in `` Veep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows how to read , but also he reads everything '' https : //t.co/GtFLIpIPzX pic.twitter.com/4lKa3kInM5 — CBS News ( @ CBSNews ) August 21 , 2020 Julia Louis-Dreyfus : `` I can not wait to see her debate our current VP , Mika Pince .
Or is it Pance ? ''
Yang : `` It 's pronounced Ponce I believe . ''
JLD : `` Oh some kind of weird foreign name ? ''
Yang : `` Yeah not very American-sounding . ''
JLD : `` Yeah that 's what people are saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill ( @ thehill ) August 21 , 2020 Dreyfus , a vocal political and environmental activist , also tweeted a photograph of her and Biden , who wrapped up the four-day virtual convention with his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday .
“ Love this guy and he ’ s got my vote , ” she wrote .
Selfie from when we first met .
Love this guy and he ’ s got my vote .
Text VOTE to 30330 .
We need you !
# DemConvention pic.twitter.com/qQQtcMqXMW — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 , 2020

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The gloves came off ― and the zingers were unleashed — on the final night of the Democratic National Convention as host and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus took aim at President Donald Trump.
Dreyfus, known for her roles as Elaine Benes on “Seinfeld” and Selina Meyer on “Veep,” called out Trump for posing for a photo in front of a church across from the White House on June 1 while accompanied by federal agents who deployed tear gas on nearby protesters as they cleared a path for the president.
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“Just remember,” she quipped, “Joe Biden goes to church so regularly that he doesn’t even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to help him get there.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: "Joe Biden goes to church so regularly that he doesn't even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to get him get there." #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/U2jlV1KQZx — The Hill (@thehill) August 21, 2020
Dreyfus also mocked Trump’s reading ability and golf game, among other digs.
“Text ‘VOTE’ to 30330,” she said, referring to the Biden campaign’s text number. “30330 ― that would be the president’s golf score if he didn’t cheat.”
She continued: “OK, look, I’ll admit that was a little nasty. But we all know he’s a cheater. And I’m proud to be a nasty, nasty woman.”
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus: "Text VOTE to 30330. 30330 -- that would be the President's golf score if he didn't cheat." #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/m118gpzyBi — The Hill (@thehill) August 21, 2020
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, host of the DNC's fourth night, talks about bonding with Joe Biden when she starred in "Veep":
"Joe Biden not only knows how to read, but also he reads everything" https://t.co/GtFLIpIPzX pic.twitter.com/4lKa3kInM5 — CBS News (@CBSNews) August 21, 2020
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: "I cannot wait to see her debate our current VP, Mika Pince. Or is it Pance?"
Yang: "It's pronounced Ponce I believe."
JLD: "Oh some kind of weird foreign name?"
Yang: "Yeah not very American-sounding."
JLD: "Yeah that's what people are saying. Strongly." pic.twitter.com/eg0cBsl6pO — The Hill (@thehill) August 21, 2020
Dreyfus, a vocal political and environmental activist, also tweeted a photograph of her and Biden, who wrapped up the four-day virtual convention with his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday.
“Love this guy and he’s got my vote,” she wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Homeless Californians Doubly At Risk As Wildfires And Pandemic Collide

“ The sky is smoky , the sun is orange — it ’ s chokingly so , ” said JoLyn McMillan , the head of Stockton ’ s Shelter for the Homeless , one of the largest homeless shelters in Northern California .
“ We ’ re seeing an uptick in respiratory issues , a lot more coughing .
The ash is everywhere right now , it rains on us all day long .
Our homeless residents are breathing ash right now.
” As of Friday midday , about 20 major wildfires were burning across the state , killing five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spurring evacuations of 119,000 residents so far .
The biggest fires — the LNU Lightning Complex fires in Sonoma and Napa counties and the SCU Lightning Complex fires between San Jose and Stockton — have each burned over 219,000 acres , placing them among the top 10 largest fires in the state ’ s history .
Unhoused residents are also more at risk for COVID-19 , which is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system .
Many homeless people sleep in congregate settings like shelters or encampments where it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to medical support is challenging , and following other preventive guidelines like frequent hand-washing is particularly hard .
In Vacaville , about an hour ’ s drive northwest of Stockton , Colleen Berumen had to evacuate the small Opportunity House Shelter she directs due to the fires .
About 25 homeless parents and kids — half of the shelter ’ s usual capacity due to mandates to minimize coronavirus spread — had to be quickly placed with family or friends nearby , while some went to a detox center in Vallejo , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of panic .
People were very scared , ” she said .
They ’ ve since been able to move back into the shelter , but now , like everyone else in the region , they ’ re coping with the smoke-filled air .
The shelter has been handing out masks — previously for the coronavirus , and now for the smoke — to the about 100 unsheltered homeless people in the area , suggesting they go to temporary evacuation centers set up at local schools .
“ We ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that ’ s really scary because they ’ re more susceptible to health conditions , ” Egan said , noting that the homeless population in California is aging .
Her group has been trying to distribute masks and bottled water , and to identify shelters for seniors on the streets .
“ We know that wildfire exposure to communities increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection , ” Dr. John Balmes — a physician at the University of California , San Francisco , who also teaches and studies the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California , Berkeley — told HuffPost earlier this week .
“ So there ’ s concern in the context of the pandemic that wildfire smoke exposure would increase the risk of moving from mild to more severe COVID-19.
” “ I think what they ’ re doing is great ; can they do more ?
Absolutely .
Do we need more ?
Absolutely , ” said Andrea Urton , who runs HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara , which operates the largest shelter in San Jose .
Urton said she ’ d like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government — for housing departments at the city and county level to get more staff since the current employees are “ working like crazy , stretched really thin , ” she said .
Angela Upshaw , an associate director for Berkeley Food and Housing , noted that cutting down the population in shelters to eliminate crowding during the pandemic has only increased the need for beds .
And sometimes , homeless clients encounter barriers to getting into the government-procured hotel rooms , either because rooms are already occupied by health workers who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some clients don ’ t have IDs or get turned away for appearing disheveled or visibly struggling with mental health or behavioral issues .
“ With these disasters , our homeless population increases , and people who ’ ve never experienced homelessness are now experiencing it , ” Upshaw said of people who may become homeless from fires burning their homes down .
The current fires in Sonoma have burned through over 480 homes so far .
In 2017 , fires leveled thousands of homes in the same county , and in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18,000 homes .
“ It puts an additional drain on our already small resources .
It ’ s concerning .
”

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In California, three major crises have collided this week: a decadeslong affordable housing crisis, the monthslong coronavirus pandemic, and now, days of growing wildfires, each one leaving the state’s thousands of homeless residents particularly at risk.
“The sky is smoky, the sun is orange — it’s chokingly so,” said JoLyn McMillan, the head of Stockton’s Shelter for the Homeless, one of the largest homeless shelters in Northern California. “We’re seeing an uptick in respiratory issues, a lot more coughing. The ash is everywhere right now, it rains on us all day long. Our homeless residents are breathing ash right now.”
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As of Friday midday, about 20 major wildfires were burning across the state, killing five people, burning hundreds of homes and spurring evacuations of 119,000 residents so far. The biggest fires — the LNU Lightning Complex fires in Sonoma and Napa counties and the SCU Lightning Complex fires between San Jose and Stockton — have each burned over 219,000 acres, placing them among the top 10 largest fires in the state’s history.
Smoke from the multiple fires has spread throughout the region, bringing air quality the EPA qualified as “very unhealthy” to places like Vacaville and Stockton on Thursday, and as “unhealthy” to Berkeley, San Jose and other Bay Area cities on Friday.
“It’s COVID versus smoke inhalation.” - JoLyn McMillan, head of Stockton’s Shelter for the Homeless
For homeless people, particularly those who are unsheltered, constant exposure to bad air can leave them at risk for respiratory issues. Meanwhile, homeless populations are already more likely to have health conditions, including respiratory issues like bronchitis and asthma, partly due to their regular over-exposure to air pollutants.
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Unhoused residents are also more at risk for COVID-19, which is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system. Many homeless people sleep in congregate settings like shelters or encampments where it can be hard to maintain social distancing. Access to medical support is challenging, and following other preventive guidelines like frequent hand-washing is particularly hard.
“We’re doing everything we can, bringing them on the grounds, windows shut,” McMillan said of efforts to bring people who live outdoors into shelters to protect them from inhaling smoke. “But that’s a Catch-22 because public health says keep windows open because it’s better for COVID to have ventilation. It’s COVID versus smoke inhalation.”
“That’s the balance we’re really struggling with — daily, hourly, every night,” she added. “It’s trying to assess how we can keep our people safest from the virus, smoke and ash.”
A smoke-filled sky on Aug. 19, 2020, in Hayward, California, as multiple fires in Northern California cause poor air quality. Aric Crabb/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images
In Vacaville, about an hour’s drive northwest of Stockton, Colleen Berumen had to evacuate the small Opportunity House Shelter she directs due to the fires. About 25 homeless parents and kids — half of the shelter’s usual capacity due to mandates to minimize coronavirus spread — had to be quickly placed with family or friends nearby, while some went to a detox center in Vallejo, an hour away.
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“There was a lot of panic. People were very scared,” she said. They’ve since been able to move back into the shelter, but now, like everyone else in the region, they’re coping with the smoke-filled air. The shelter has been handing out masks — previously for the coronavirus, and now for the smoke — to the about 100 unsheltered homeless people in the area, suggesting they go to temporary evacuation centers set up at local schools.
But after the fires pass and those evacuation centers close, there isn’t a place for unsheltered homeless people to stay 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The local library and senior center are open from about noon to 8 p.m., but outside those hours, there’s no easy relief from the heat and smoke.
“Between this, the fires, the pandemic, people need to have a place to go,” Berumen said.
In Berkeley, less than an hour’s drive southwest of Vacaville, Calleene Egan — who runs Berkeley Food and Housing, which operates several shelters — is most concerned about the area’s senior population.
“We’re seeing more people over 65 than ever before, and that’s really scary because they’re more susceptible to health conditions,” Egan said, noting that the homeless population in California is aging. Her group has been trying to distribute masks and bottled water, and to identify shelters for seniors on the streets.
“In response to COVID, we have programs targeted at people over 65. ... Now adding this layer of poor air quality on top of it is even more impactful to their health.”
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Older people are notably at higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19. And medical professionals have raised concerns about the potential dangers of smoke mingling with the coronavirus in people’s lungs.
“We know that wildfire exposure to communities increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection,” Dr. John Balmes — a physician at the University of California, San Francisco, who also teaches and studies the health effects of air pollution at the University of California, Berkeley — told HuffPost earlier this week. “So there’s concern in the context of the pandemic that wildfire smoke exposure would increase the risk of moving from mild to more severe COVID-19.”
People of color, who are disproportionately infected and dying from the coronavirus nationwide, are also disproportionately represented among the Bay Area’s homeless population. In San Francisco, for instance, Black people make up only about 6% of residents, but an alarming 37% of those who are unhoused.
“With these disasters, our homeless population increases, and people who’ve never experienced homelessness are now experiencing it.” - Angela Upshaw, associate director for Berkeley Food and Housing
Northern California’s homeless population has ballooned in recent years. All the homeless services advocates who spoke to HuffPost commended local and state governments’ efforts to house homeless residents during the pandemic, with hundreds of millions in state funding helping to move thousands of the most medically vulnerable homeless people into hotels and other accommodations.
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However, particularly with the increased urgency due to the fires, there is still not enough shelter or housing in the region to meet the need.
“I think what they’re doing is great; can they do more? Absolutely. Do we need more? Absolutely,” said Andrea Urton, who runs HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara, which operates the largest shelter in San Jose. Urton said she’d like to see more resources provided to local government — for housing departments at the city and county level to get more staff since the current employees are “working like crazy, stretched really thin,” she said.
Angela Upshaw, an associate director for Berkeley Food and Housing, noted that cutting down the population in shelters to eliminate crowding during the pandemic has only increased the need for beds. And sometimes, homeless clients encounter barriers to getting into the government-procured hotel rooms, either because rooms are already occupied by health workers who have to isolate from family, or because some clients don’t have IDs or get turned away for appearing disheveled or visibly struggling with mental health or behavioral issues.
“With these disasters, our homeless population increases, and people who’ve never experienced homelessness are now experiencing it,” Upshaw said of people who may become homeless from fires burning their homes down. The current fires in Sonoma have burned through over 480 homes so far. In 2017, fires leveled thousands of homes in the same county, and in 2018, the fire in Paradise demolished about 18,000 homes. “It puts an additional drain on our already small resources. It’s concerning.”
Just in the mile radius around the Stockton shelter, there are about 200 men who sleep outdoors, in camps, McMillan said. She wants not one-time funding for coronavirus purposes, but yearslong, sustained funding.
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“This is becoming more of an annual thing in California,” Egan said of the fires and smoke-filled air leaving homeless populations at risk. “Unfortunately, I hate saying this: If there’s more fires, or next year, you need a plan in place for people experiencing homelessness.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Newsom declared a statewide emergency earlier this week and has requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump to provide California with further resources.
All of the homeless services providers HuffPost spoke to asked those who are concerned about Californians suffering from wildfires not to forget their homeless neighbors.
“For one thing, it can happen to you,” Berumen said. “Just remember them. Remember there are people who are unsheltered, many of them sheltering in places most susceptible to these wildfires.”
“I was lucky,” Berumen, who lives in the Vacaville area, added. “I had people pounding on my front door. Who’s pounding on their front door under the bridge? They could be in a deep sleep and not even know what’s going on and the fire could rush right over them. Don’t forget them.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Increase In U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Reveals Outsized Toll On People Of Color

As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020 , suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll .
And half the dead were people of color — Blacks , Hispanics , Native Americans and , to a marked degree unrecognized until now , Asian Americans .
But public health authorities have long known that some coronavirus deaths , especially early on , were mistakenly attributed to other causes , and that the crisis may have led indirectly to the loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discouraging people with other serious ailments from seeking treatment .
People of color make up just under 40 % of the U.S. population but accounted for approximately 52 % of all the “ excess deaths ” above normal through July , according to an analysis by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project , a nonprofit news organization covering the criminal justice system .
With this new data , Asian Americans join Blacks and Hispanics among the hardest-hit communities , with deaths in each group up at least 30 % this year compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , the analysis found .
Deaths among Native Americans rose more than 20 % , though that is probably a severe undercount because of a lack of data .
Deaths among whites were up 9 % .
The toll on Asian Americans has received far less attention , perhaps in part because the numbers who have died ― about 14,000 more than normal this year ― have been far lower than among several other groups .
Still , the 35 % increase in Asian American deaths is the second-highest , behind Hispanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths above normal through July ― a total that has since risen to as many as 235,000 —- most were officially attributed to coronavirus infections .
The rest were blamed on other causes , including heart disease , high blood pressure and other types of respiratory diseases .
The CDC has not yet provided a breakdown by race and ethnicity of the deaths from other causes .
The newly released data is considered provisional and subject to change as more information comes in .
Certain categories of deaths — suicides or drug overdoses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations before a cause is assigned .
Another surprise : Only about half of the Asian American deaths have been officially linked to COVID-19 , lower than for all other groups .
Jarvis Chen , a lecturer at Harvard University ’ s public health school , said Asian Americans may not be getting tested at the same rate as other groups , for reasons that are unclear , and that could result in some virus deaths being attributed to something else .
His mother , Eulja Rhee , went out one day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told me someone had coughed in her face ” as she was getting off a bus , said Rhee , a nursing home administrator in Queens .
“ She was wearing a mask , but it got into her eyes.
” Rhee found out a day later that his father , Man Joon Rhee , had tested positive .
“ He had caught it from my mother , ” he said .
“ His heart was broken .
And he said to me that he wanted to know if it was OK to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher rates of health problems , including diabetes , obesity and lung ailments , the result of living in places where healthier foods are harder to get and the environment is polluted .
Those same factors can make them more likely to become severely ill or die from the coronavirus .

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As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. And half the dead were people of color — Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and, to a marked degree unrecognized until now, Asian Americans.
The new figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight a stark disparity: Deaths among minorities during the crisis have risen far more than they have among whites.
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As of the end of July, the official death toll in the U.S. from COVID-19 was about 150,000. It has since grown to over 170,000.
But public health authorities have long known that some coronavirus deaths, especially early on, were mistakenly attributed to other causes, and that the crisis may have led indirectly to the loss of many other lives by preventing or discouraging people with other serious ailments from seeking treatment.
A count of deaths from all causes during the seven-month period yields what experts believe is a fuller — and more alarming — picture of the disaster and its racial dimensions.
People of color make up just under 40% of the U.S. population but accounted for approximately 52% of all the “excess deaths” above normal through July, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the criminal justice system.
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“The toll of the pandemic shows just how pervasive structural racism is,” said Olugbenga Ajilore, senior economist at the Center for American Progress, a public policy organization in Washington.
Earlier data on cases, hospitalizations and deaths revealed the especially heavy toll on Black, Hispanic and Native Americans, a disparity attributed to unequal access to health care and economic opportunities. But the increases in total deaths by race were not reported until now; nor was the disproportionate burden on Asian Americans.
With this new data, Asian Americans join Blacks and Hispanics among the hardest-hit communities, with deaths in each group up at least 30% this year compared with the average over the last five years, the analysis found. Deaths among Native Americans rose more than 20%, though that is probably a severe undercount because of a lack of data. Deaths among whites were up 9%.
The toll on Asian Americans has received far less attention, perhaps in part because the numbers who have died ― about 14,000 more than normal this year ― have been far lower than among several other groups. Still, the 35% increase in Asian American deaths is the second-highest, behind Hispanic Americans.
In an average year, somewhere around 1.7 million people die in the United States between January and the end of July. This year the figure was about 1.9 million, according to the CDC.
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Of the possible 215,000 additional deaths above normal through July ― a total that has since risen to as many as 235,000 —- most were officially attributed to coronavirus infections. The rest were blamed on other causes, including heart disease, high blood pressure and other types of respiratory diseases.
The CDC has not yet provided a breakdown by race and ethnicity of the deaths from other causes. The newly released data is considered provisional and subject to change as more information comes in. Certain categories of deaths — suicides or drug overdoses, for example — often involve lengthy investigations before a cause is assigned.
The outbreak’s disproportionate effect on communities of color is not limited to a specific region of the country.
The virus first hit urban areas on the East and West coasts. But according to University of Minnesota researcher Carrie Henning-Smith, disparities have also been seen as the disease spread across the country to Southern and Western states with large rural populations.
For example, Arizona reported almost 60% more Native American deaths so far this year compared with previous years, and New Mexico recorded over 40% more. Between the two states, over 1,100 more Native Americans have died than normal.
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Another surprise: Only about half of the Asian American deaths have been officially linked to COVID-19, lower than for all other groups. Jarvis Chen, a lecturer at Harvard University’s public health school, said Asian Americans may not be getting tested at the same rate as other groups, for reasons that are unclear, and that could result in some virus deaths being attributed to something else.
Dr. Namratha Kandula of Northwestern University echoed that theory. She also cautioned against generalizing about the underlying health of Asian Americans as a whole, noting that they are a diverse group from many different nations and cultures.
“It’s not enough to clump them all together because it does not tell the whole story,” she said.
Charlton Rhee, whose parents came to the U.S. from South Korea, lost both of them to COVID-19 this spring as the virus surged in New York City.
His mother, Eulja Rhee, went out one day, and when she returned, “she told me someone had coughed in her face” as she was getting off a bus, said Rhee, a nursing home administrator in Queens. “She was wearing a mask, but it got into her eyes.”
She died in the hospital, just shy of her 75th birthday.
Rhee found out a day later that his father, Man Joon Rhee, had tested positive. “He had caught it from my mother,” he said. “His heart was broken. And he said to me that he wanted to know if it was OK to be with Mom.”
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He stayed home, receiving hospice care, and died at 83.
“The Asian American community has suffered greatly during this,” and government officials provided little help, especially initially, Rhee said. Community associations had to step in with food drives, personal protective equipment and other help.
Racial disparities in deaths predate COVID-19, and many forces combine to produce them:
— Some communities of color are more likely to have lower incomes and to share living space with larger families, increasing the risk of transmission.
— They have higher rates of health problems, including diabetes, obesity and lung ailments, the result of living in places where healthier foods are harder to get and the environment is polluted. Those same factors can make them more likely to become severely ill or die from the coronavirus.
— They are more often uninsured and tend to live farther from hospitals.
— They are disproportionately incarcerated, which has been linked to long-term effects on health.
— Experts point to a long history of discrimination that causes distrust of the health care system.
— And people of color are more likely to fill essential roles that require them to keep going to work during the pandemic.
Dr. Sobiya Ansari, who works predominantly with Black immigrant cancer patients in New York City, worries when they miss or postpone radiation or screenings. Already, the city has seen double the number of Black deaths this year compared with previous years.
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“If a storm hits and you’re safe inside your house, you’re safe,” she said. “Then there is a population of people that don’t even have umbrellas. The storm hits, and they’re just really swept away.”
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AP video journalist Marshall Ritzel contributed to this story.
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This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and The Marshall Project that explores the true toll of the coronavirus pandemic on communities of color. Anna Flagg and Damini Sharma reported for The Marshall Project.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Europe Took A Holiday From COVID-19. Now It’s Paying The Price.

“ We faced a lot of pressure from the tourist industry because it ’ s one of the main economic sectors of Spain , ” Jacobo Mendioroz , the director of the committee responding to the coronavirus in the Catalonia region , told Time .
“ We may have rushed into opening all the big stores , just to have tourists coming into our country.
” In Spain , the average age of those infected by COVID-19 had fallen from between 62 and 63 years old during the peak of the pandemic to between 37 and 39 years old today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also detecting more cases among people who are asymptomatic , he added .
On Thursday , the U.K. government said travelers returning from Austria , Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago will have to quarantine for 14 days , after the countries were dropped from the U.K. ’ s list of safe travel corridors .
The announcement followed a sharp rise in cases of COVID-19 and after the Joint Biosecurity Center flagged that some U.K. infections may have come from Croatia .
“ It is not enough for us to say , ‘ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suffer , nothing happens , ’ because we know that each young person can then infect members of their family and end up infecting elderly or vulnerable people , ” Simón said .
In many ways , Europe is better prepared to deal with rising COVID-19 cases now compared to the early days of the pandemic .
Scientists understand far more about the coronavirus than they initially did when it first broke out , and medical personnel are more familiar with how to treat patients .
Public officials hope that swift , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary closures will be enough to keep infection rates down and avoid the need for more sweeping restrictions .
Still , in July , as officials began lifting lockdown restrictions and people flocked to vacation destinations , the European Commission warned that countries needed to do more to increase stockpiles of medical gear and build up their testing and tracing systems in preparation for a second wave .
Summer , the commission said , was a time for preparation , not relaxation .
Will a second wave be even deadlier than the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past six months , Europe has gone from being the epicenter of the pandemic to a model for how to reopen after national lockdowns .
Now , it faces yet another turning point .
With coronavirus cases spiking , the measures that countries take now could provide important lessons for how to strike a balance between keeping people safe and keeping society going .
Or it may once again prove to be a terrible harbinger of the devastation to come .

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Europeans have been taking advantage of the last remaining vestiges of summer — going to beaches, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Buoyed by declining coronavirus infection rates, government officials across the continent have lifted restrictions on the travel and hospitality industries over the past several months, encouraging people to eat, drink, shop and go on holiday.
Now, perhaps inevitably, coronavirus cases are spiking again.
In France, 4,771 new cases were recorded on Thursday — a thousand more than the previous day, and the first time since May that the country has recorded more than 4,000 daily cases.
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Germany reported 1,707 new cases on Thursday, its highest increase since April, and Spain reported 3,349 new cases. In the United Kingdom, scientists advising the government revealed on Friday that the coronavirus infection rate has risen, fueling concerns that the epidemic is growing in the country.
“Make no mistake: Things are not going well,” Fernando Simón, director of the Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies at the Spain’s Ministry of Health, said on Thursday, per HuffPost Spain.
People enjoy the beach in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on July 19. picture alliance via Getty Images
Much of the blame has been placed on people attending parties and taking vacations — exactly the types of activities that, not too long ago, government officials were not only permitting but actively encouraging in order to get their national economies moving again post-lockdown.
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“We faced a lot of pressure from the tourist industry because it’s one of the main economic sectors of Spain,” Jacobo Mendioroz, the director of the committee responding to the coronavirus in the Catalonia region, told Time. “We may have rushed into opening all the big stores, just to have tourists coming into our country.”
In the United Kingdom, the government has spent millions of pounds this month to subsidize meals in restaurants, in an effort to get the public to dine out again and support the ailing hospitality industry.
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak places an Eat Out to Help Out sticker in the window of a business. The government has spent millions of pounds on the program, which subsidizes the cost of restaurant meals. Jeff J Mitchell - PA Images via Getty Images
Health officials say young people are primarily responsible for the recent surge in infections.
“The epidemic is changing. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving its spread,” Takeshi Kasai, regional director of the World Health Organization, said this week.
In Spain, the average age of those infected by COVID-19 had fallen from between 62 and 63 years old during the peak of the pandemic to between 37 and 39 years old today, Simón said. The country is also detecting more cases among people who are asymptomatic, he added.
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Bars and nightclubs across Spain have been ordered to close, in an effort to bring the infection rate back under control.
On Thursday, the U.K. government said travelers returning from Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago will have to quarantine for 14 days, after the countries were dropped from the U.K.’s list of safe travel corridors. The announcement followed a sharp rise in cases of COVID-19 and after the Joint Biosecurity Center flagged that some U.K. infections may have come from Croatia.
The United Kingdom removed Spain from its list of “safe” countries in July as the number of coronavirus cases there began to rise sharply.
Simón on Thursday issued a plea to young people who might believe that the risk of catching the coronavirus is small, and he called on social media influencers to relay the warning to their followers.
“It is not enough for us to say, ‘I am young and I am not going to suffer, nothing happens,’ because we know that each young person can then infect members of their family and end up infecting elderly or vulnerable people,” Simón said.
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People enjoy the summer weather in Paris, France, on August 7. Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
WHO officials have been driving home that message this week as well.
Hans Kluge, the organization’s regional director for Europe, said on Thursday that he was “very concerned” about the increasing number of cases among young people.
“Low risk does not mean no risk — no one is invincible,” he said.
At a news conference on Tuesday, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said young people should not be made into a scapegoat for the increase in infections.
“We shouldn’t be blaming people or putting people at fault for wanting to live their lives,” she said. “We all want to be living our lives. We all want to get back to what ‘normal’ used to be.”
Like Kluge, however, she also stressed that the effects of the virus on young people can be severe, and warned people to take the risks seriously.
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“We are seeing young people who are dying from this virus,” she said. “If it’s possible to avoid these crowded places, please do so.”
Visitors enjoy warm weather in Mauerpark in Berlin on July 25. On Thursday, Germany recorded its highest increase in coronavirus cases since April. Maja Hitij via Getty Images
In many ways, Europe is better prepared to deal with rising COVID-19 cases now compared to the early days of the pandemic. Scientists understand far more about the coronavirus than they initially did when it first broke out, and medical personnel are more familiar with how to treat patients. Public officials hope that swift, targeted actions such as local lockdowns and temporary closures will be enough to keep infection rates down and avoid the need for more sweeping restrictions.
Still, in July, as officials began lifting lockdown restrictions and people flocked to vacation destinations, the European Commission warned that countries needed to do more to increase stockpiles of medical gear and build up their testing and tracing systems in preparation for a second wave. Summer, the commission said, was a time for preparation, not relaxation.
“We do not have the right to say, ‘This is too much, I’m too tired, this is enough,’” Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said, per Politico. “This would mean giving up all the sacrifices that have been made.”
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Now, it’s possible that the rush to enjoy the remaining weeks of summer may backfire once the season changes.
“Going into winter with hundreds of cases per day means risking a steep rise once temperatures cool, schools reopen and people head back indoors. It means risking a second round of national lockdowns, which would be catastrophic for mental health and for economies,” Devi Sridhar, a professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, wrote in The New York Times.
Simply put: The pandemic isn’t over. In Europe, nearly 2 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. More than 180,000 people have died.
In the United States, the number of cases surged past 5 million this month, the most in the world, and more than 170,000 people have died.
Will a second wave be even deadlier than the first, as some scientists have predicted? Over the past six months, Europe has gone from being the epicenter of the pandemic to a model for how to reopen after national lockdowns. Now, it faces yet another turning point. With coronavirus cases spiking, the measures that countries take now could provide important lessons for how to strike a balance between keeping people safe and keeping society going. Or it may once again prove to be a terrible harbinger of the devastation to come.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Top House Republican Denounces QAnon, Contradicting Trump

Supporters of QAnon , which the FBI considers a potential domestic terrorism threat , believe an anonymous high-ranking government official @ @ @ @ @ for years been sprinkling inscrutable clues online about a vast range of bizarre actions .
@ @ @ @ @ foundational claim that Trump has been working to dismantle a “ deep state ” cabal @ @ @ @ @ who engage in child sex trafficking and worship Satan .
In recent years , QAnon @ @ @ @ @ armed standoffs , kidnappings and murder .

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The top House Republican, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), rejected QAnon ― and the inroads it’s made in his own party.
The congressman has no soft spot for the baseless far-right conspiracy theory and doesn’t think the Republican party should, either, he told Fox News Thursday.
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“Let me be very clear,” McCarthy said. “There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party.”
McCarthy responded to a question about GOP candidates who believe in the theory, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and QAnon acolyte who recently won the runoff for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
McCarthy also claimed that Greene has denounced QAnon. But her continued defense of it on Twitter ― even going so far as to attack other Republicans who dismiss it ― suggests she still holds a lingering affinity for it.
Adam is the Mitt Romney of the House GOP.
He’s a never Trumper who did nothing to stop the Russian collusion conspiracy/witch hunt.
But he’s attacking me now?
America can’t afford any more RINOs! https://t.co/4R9bIwk8cO — Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) August 12, 2020
McCarthy’s skepticism is shared by freshman Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.), a Trump supporter who shared his concerns with Politico last week. Riggleman lost his reelection bid this summer after he officiated at a gay wedding.
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“If she’s the future of the Republican Party, we’re in trouble,” he said. “QAnon is the mental gonorrhea of conspiracy theories. It’s disgusting, and you want to get rid of it as fast as possible.”
Last week, President Donald Trump pointedly refused to distance himself from the theory when asked about it by reporters. Instead, he praised Greene for her victory.
Trump further embraced QAnon at a news conference five days later, telling reporters he “appreciates” QAnon supporters because “they like me very much.”
“I’ve heard these are people that love our country,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Steve Bannon Jokes About Ripping Off ‘We Build The Wall’ Donors In Resurfaced Clip

Just a day after the former chief strategist for President Donald Trump was arrested on federal charges for allegedly embezzling donated funds from a border wall fundraiser for personal expenses , an old clip resurfaced on Twitter Friday of Bannon making a joke about , well , embezzling donated funds from a border wall fundraiser for personal expenses .
In the June 2019 clip from a “ Wall-A-Thon ” fundraiser — an online event held by “ We Build the Wall , ” a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border — Bannon can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kolfage , the founder of “ We Build the Wall ” who promised donors that 100 % of the fundraiser ’ s proceeds would go toward the project , was also indicted Thursday in connection to the alleged scheme .
During the short exchange ( which can also be viewed at the 2:12:12 mark in the video below ) Bannon tells viewers he ’ s in St. Tropez , France .
“ We ’ re on the million-dollar yacht , ” Bannon says as he introduces Kolfage by patting him on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns this pricy vessel by saying : “ And Brian Kolfage , he took all that money from ‘ Build the Wall.
’ ” After the crack , Bannon quickly suggests that he ’ s kidding , and clarifies that the two men are actually in Sunland Park , New Mexico , overseeing construction for their border wall .
Interestingly , one personal item that was allegedly bought with funds from “ We Build the Wall ” was an expensive yacht .
The indictment describes the swank sea craft as a “ 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A vessel of the same name appears frequently on Kolfage ’ s Instagram account .
It also makes an appearance in a video for a July 4 pro-Trump “ Boat Parade , ” which Kolfage helped organize in in Destin , Florida .
In the video , the boat is brimming with Trump-Pence flags .
The 'Warfighter ' boat named in the Kolfage/Bannon indictment appears to have been used by Kolfage for fishing and recreational boating .
It also appears 19s into this video Kolfage uploaded to IGTV from the July 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organise in Destin , FL .
https : //t.co/xcZOacnmBK pic.twitter.com/9IKCkBbfBC — Zachary A ( @ ZacAlf ) August 20 , 2020 It ’ s unclear if Kolfage actually purchased the pleasure craft , but the indictment states it was bought with donated money .
Instagram also illustrates that Kolfage used it frequently .
Oddly enough , Bannon was on a $ 28 million mega-yacht named “ Lady May ” when he was arrested off the Connecticut coast Thursday — though the boat did not belong to him .

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Uh, it seems the joke’s on you, Steve Bannon.
Just a day after the former chief strategist for President Donald Trump was arrested on federal charges for allegedly embezzling donated funds from a border wall fundraiser for personal expenses, an old clip resurfaced on Twitter Friday of Bannon making a joke about, well, embezzling donated funds from a border wall fundraiser for personal expenses.
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In the June 2019 clip from a “Wall-A-Thon” fundraiser — an online event held by “We Build the Wall,” a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border — Bannon can be seen sitting next to Brian Kolfage.
Kolfage, the founder of “We Build the Wall” who promised donors that 100% of the fundraiser’s proceeds would go toward the project, was also indicted Thursday in connection to the alleged scheme.
During the short exchange (which can also be viewed at the 2:12:12 mark in the video below) Bannon tells viewers he’s in St. Tropez, France.
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“We’re on the million-dollar yacht,” Bannon says as he introduces Kolfage by patting him on the back. He then insinuates that Kolfage owns this pricy vessel by saying: “And Brian Kolfage, he took all that money from ‘Build the Wall.’”
After the crack, Bannon quickly suggests that he’s kidding, and clarifies that the two men are actually in Sunland Park, New Mexico, overseeing construction for their border wall.
Interestingly, one personal item that was allegedly bought with funds from “We Build the Wall” was an expensive yacht.
The indictment describes the swank sea craft as a “2019 Jupiter Marine” boat named “Warfighter.” A vessel of the same name appears frequently on Kolfage’s Instagram account.
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It also makes an appearance in a video for a July 4 pro-Trump “Boat Parade,” which Kolfage helped organize in in Destin, Florida. In the video, the boat is brimming with Trump-Pence flags.
The 'Warfighter' boat named in the Kolfage/Bannon indictment appears to have been used by Kolfage for fishing and recreational boating. It also appears 19s into this video Kolfage uploaded to IGTV from the July 4 Trump boat parade that he apparently helped organise in Destin, FL. https://t.co/xcZOacnmBK pic.twitter.com/9IKCkBbfBC — Zachary A (@ZacAlf) August 20, 2020
It’s unclear if Kolfage actually purchased the pleasure craft, but the indictment states it was bought with donated money. Instagram also illustrates that Kolfage used it frequently.
Oddly enough, Bannon was on a $28 million mega-yacht named “Lady May” when he was arrested off the Connecticut coast Thursday — though the boat did not belong to him.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-21--Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Evades Responsibility For Major Post Office Delays, Refuses to Revers

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Evades Responsibility For Major Post Office Delays, Refuses to Reverse Changes

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a Senate committee that he was not sabotaging the U.S .
Postal Service in order to disrupt the anticipated rise in mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic in November , but said he would not reverse any recent changes including the removal of mail sorting machines across the country .
“ I think the American public should be able to vote by mail and the Postal Service will support it , ” DeJoy told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Friday , later adding that he is “ extremely , highly confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the election will arrive on time to be counted .
President Donald Trump has attacked both the USPS and mail-in voting .
He explicitly stated that he opposed increased funding for the post office to help it following a decline in income during the pandemic because it would help people vote-by-mail .
“ Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots , ” Trump said on Aug. 13 .
“ But if they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means you can ’ t have universal mail-in voting.
” “ There has been no changes in any policies with regard to election mail with regard to the 2020 election , ” DeJoy said , denying doing anything on purpose to disrupt mail-in voting .
Since DeJoy entered office as postmaster general in July , the USPS has seen a dramatic increase in delivery delays and disruptions .
Post offices around the country have been ordered to disable and dismantle 671 automatic mail sorting machines , limit overtime work and alter delivery schedules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported huge delays , leading to late prescription drug deliveries to veterans and seniors and rotted meat and the death of baby chicks sent from and to farmers .
The changes to the post office , the ensuing disruptions to mail delivery and Trump ’ s statements have caused many to look skeptically at DeJoy , as he is a major Republican Party donor with significant investments in USPS competitors and contractors .
He continues to hold between $ 25 and $ 50 million in XPO Logistics , a logistics firm that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during heavy mail delivery periods like Christmas and acts as a courier between package and fulfillment centers and post office locations .
And at least one former Postal Service board of governors member has stated that he was not qualified for the position .
The American people , and their representatives in Congress , however , have “ pretty good reasons ” to be suspicious of DeJoy and his changes to the USPS , Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) admitted during the hearing , even if there is no nefarious intent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made repeated claims that mail-in voting will be fraudulent.
” Both Democrats and Republicans questioning DeJoy endorsed mail-in voting ― which Trump opposes ― and made sure to get DeJoy to say he is not trying to impair it .
DeJoy claimed ignorance at the committee hearing on Friday , asserting that he learned about the removal of mail sorting machines and blue postal mailboxes when the public did .
He denied ordering any reductions in overtime , despite reporting showing that he did just that .
He further blamed much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling out of work in coronavirus hot spots .
This excuse comes despite complaints about delays and disruptions only emerging in July after DeJoy took office and not during the March to June period when the pandemic was ongoing .
DeJoy asserted that changes like the removal of mail sorting machines and mailboxes were caused by policies put in place before he arrived and that he stopped these changes due to “ the excitement it was creating.
” But he also said he had “ no intention ” to replace or return any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Jacky Rosen ( D-Nev. ) pressed DeJoy to disclose any data or analysis he used to make the changes that have led to increased disruptions , but he was unable to do so .
And while DeJoy said he was halting policy changes at the USPS before the election , he said , “ We ’ re considering dramatic changes ” afterwards .
Those changes will include major price increases and service reductions , among other things , according to a report by The Washington Post .

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Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a Senate committee that he was not sabotaging the U.S. Postal Service in order to disrupt the anticipated rise in mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic in November, but said he would not reverse any recent changes including the removal of mail sorting machines across the country.
“I think the American public should be able to vote by mail and the Postal Service will support it,” DeJoy told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Friday, later adding that he is “extremely, highly confident” that mailed ballots sent seven days before the election will arrive on time to be counted.
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President Donald Trump has attacked both the USPS and mail-in voting. He explicitly stated that he opposed increased funding for the post office to help it following a decline in income during the pandemic because it would help people vote-by-mail.
“Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said on Aug. 13. “But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting.”
“There has been no changes in any policies with regard to election mail with regard to the 2020 election,” DeJoy said, denying doing anything on purpose to disrupt mail-in voting.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee that he was not sabotaging the mail to harm vote-by-mail on Aug. 21. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Since DeJoy entered office as postmaster general in July, the USPS has seen a dramatic increase in delivery delays and disruptions. Post offices around the country have been ordered to disable and dismantle 671 automatic mail sorting machines, limit overtime work and alter delivery schedules. Postal workers and Americans awaiting mail have reported huge delays, leading to late prescription drug deliveries to veterans and seniors and rotted meat and the death of baby chicks sent from and to farmers.
The changes to the post office, the ensuing disruptions to mail delivery and Trump’s statements have caused many to look skeptically at DeJoy, as he is a major Republican Party donor with significant investments in USPS competitors and contractors. He continues to hold between $25 and $50 million in XPO Logistics, a logistics firm that contracts with the postal service to help during heavy mail delivery periods like Christmas and acts as a courier between package and fulfillment centers and post office locations. And at least one former Postal Service board of governors member has stated that he was not qualified for the position.
He “didn’t strike me as a serious candidate,” David Williams, the former vice chairman of the Postal Service board, told a hearing held by the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Thursday.
The American people, and their representatives in Congress, however, have “pretty good reasons” to be suspicious of DeJoy and his changes to the USPS, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) admitted during the hearing, even if there is no nefarious intent on his part, as “the president has made repeated claims that mail-in voting will be fraudulent.”
Both Democrats and Republicans questioning DeJoy endorsed mail-in voting ― which Trump opposes ― and made sure to get DeJoy to say he is not trying to impair it.
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), the committee chairman, however, disagreed with Romney, and committee Democrats, and claimed postal disruptions were simply part of a “false narrative designed to extract a political advantage” and complaints from the public “are highly scripted.” He added that DeJoy “should be commended” and “not condemned.”
DeJoy claimed ignorance at the committee hearing on Friday, asserting that he learned about the removal of mail sorting machines and blue postal mailboxes when the public did. He denied ordering any reductions in overtime, despite reporting showing that he did just that.
Protestors have targeted Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's political contributions to President Donald Trump. Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald via AP
“The only change that I made was that the trucks leave on time,” he said.
He further blamed much of the delays and disruptions on postal workers calling out of work in coronavirus hot spots. This excuse comes despite complaints about delays and disruptions only emerging in July after DeJoy took office and not during the March to June period when the pandemic was ongoing.
DeJoy asserted that changes like the removal of mail sorting machines and mailboxes were caused by policies put in place before he arrived and that he stopped these changes due to “the excitement it was creating.” But he also said he had “no intention” to replace or return any mail equipment disabled in recent weeks.
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Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) pressed DeJoy to disclose any data or analysis he used to make the changes that have led to increased disruptions, but he was unable to do so.