thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Why Rest Days Between Workouts Are So Important

A regular fitness routine is linked to benefits like stress relief , improved heart health and a lower risk of cognitive decline .
But while staying active is important , experts note that you shouldn ’ t be pushing it in the gym 24/7 .
You need to take a day off every now and then .
The idea of taking a day off may seem counterintuitive .
You might even feel a bit guilty for purposefully not moving as much .
But don ’ t let that mentality set in .
Giving your body an occasional break is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is some expert-backed advice on why you should embrace a day off from fitness : Recovery is necessary for tissue repair .
“ If you continue to work the same muscles you use in your workout routine , they are in a constant state of effort and can transition to a state of overuse , ” Spelke said .
“ Once you reach this state , you can be injured and/or imbalances are created within the body because the overworked muscle is not as effective.
” A day off can prevent an injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of taking a break .
At one point , Williams took four months off from tennis , calling it “ the best thing ” she could have done at that time .
The break , she said , got her back on track mentally , gave her body some downtime , and restored her motivation to go out and dominate on the court .
Your brain needs a break , too .
You ’ ll start to look forward to your next workout .
Taking a day off can make you miss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you eager to return to the gym .
“ That ’ s a nice feeling to have vs. eventually hating the thought of going to the gym because you have overdone it , ” Rilinger said .
“ A rest day that incorporates a different , low-impact activity not only gives your body the opportunity to work different muscles , but also allows your brain a little reprieve from the potential monotony of your daily routine , ” Spelke said .
“ Just as when you wake up feeling rested from a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day will give your body that same opportunity to meet your next workout with energy and enthusiasm.
” Rest days help you keep a healthy attitude about exercise .
How not to feel bad about a rest day .
“ I can not stress enough how important it is to listen to your body , ” Norris said , adding that if you ’ re exhausted despite getting six to nine hours of sleep , if you ’ re feeling dehydrated , or if your muscles are extra sore two days after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a rest day .
If you ’ re still struggling with taking a break or you start to feel a compulsive need to work out , it might be a sign of a bigger mental health problem .
If that ’ s the case , reach out for support .
Talk to your friends or family about what ’ s going on , and chat with a mental health professional if the urge to exercise is disrupting your life .

Illustration: HuffPost/Photo: Getty Images
A regular fitness routine is linked to benefits like stress relief, improved heart health and a lower risk of cognitive decline. But while staying active is important, experts note that you shouldn’t be pushing it in the gym 24/7. You need to take a day off every now and then.
Regular rest days “make sure you are giving your body and mind an ample amount of time to recover,” said Taylor Norris, co-founder of the workout platform LIT Method.
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The idea of taking a day off may seem counterintuitive. You might even feel a bit guilty for purposefully not moving as much. But don’t let that mentality set in. Giving your body an occasional break is just as important as exercising it. Here is some expert-backed advice on why you should embrace a day off from fitness:
Recovery is necessary for tissue repair.
Vigorous exercise puts stress on your body and damages muscle tissues. A rest day gives the tissues the time they need to repair and get stronger.
“When we don’t allow for tissue repair, we do more harm to our body than good,” said Amanda Freeman, founder and CEO of New York City’s SLT, a total-body workout class.
Freeman encourages at least one self-care day a week and tells her clients to spend at least a few minutes a day on recovery efforts such as stretching or foam rolling.
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Jess Spelke, a trainer for AKT Denver, a cardio fitness workout, said that keeping your activity light on rest days allows your muscles time to rejuvenate and rebuild.
“If you continue to work the same muscles you use in your workout routine, they are in a constant state of effort and can transition to a state of overuse,” Spelke said. “Once you reach this state, you can be injured and/or imbalances are created within the body because the overworked muscle is not as effective.”
monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
A day off can prevent an injury.
If you push your body too hard and too often without a break, you’re likely to end up with injuries and pain.
“Think about working out in terms of a marathon, not a race. If we don’t take care of our bodies, we risk injury, which in turn is the body’s way of forcing a rest period upon itself,” Freeman said.
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Spelke noted that intentionally adding rest into your routine helps prevent your body from reaching the point of exhaustion as well.
Exhaustion “can lead to stress fractures, overuse injuries, joint pain and emotional fatigue,” she said, adding that if you get to that point, you could miss your workout for more than just a rest day.
You’ll save your bone mass.
Juliet Kaska, a celebrity trainer affiliated with Vionic Innovation Lab, pointed to a 2017 study that found overtraining may cause a decrease in bone density. The researchers wrote, “Very intense training without adequate recovery period may lead to increased inflammation and subsequent bone resorption (loss).”
“When an individual has a loss in bone density, they are more inclined to have bone fractures,” Kaska added.
Even professional athletes know the importance of taking a break.
“What does Serena Williams do when she gets off the court? She starts her cool down and her recovery process,” said Aja Campbell, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and founder of ATTAGIRL, a lifestyle and apparel brand.
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At one point, Williams took four months off from tennis, calling it “the best thing” she could have done at that time. The break, she said, got her back on track mentally, gave her body some downtime, and restored her motivation to go out and dominate on the court.
Your brain needs a break, too.
Your body isn’t the only thing that needs time off from training ― your mind will benefit as well.
“Working a full-time job, family responsibilities, managing interpersonal relationships all take a toll on a person’s overall stress level,” Campbell said.
“Training raises our stress hormone, cortisol. When cortisol is high, your body doesn’t work as efficiently because it believes that you are putting it in a harmful environment,” added Courtney Olsen, a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist with Blink Fitness.
Olsen explained that high cortisol hinders your gains because your body is focusing on keeping safe rather than building lean tissue. Proper nutrition, sleep and recovery in combination are vital.
Rest equals muscle gains.
Gains are made while you rest, said Holly Rilinger, creator of LIFTED, a workout that focuses on the mind and body.
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“The real magic happens when your muscle tissue repairs itself [during] days off and you come back stronger and with more muscle mass,” she said.
In order to see results from the physical stress of exercise, your muscles need time to adapt and recover, said Nate Offer, master trainer at fitness company STRONG Nation.
“The best way to help your body recuperate and stay on track to reach your goals is by taking a rest day. Fitness improvements happen to your body after the workout ― not during,” he explained.
Daniel Grill via Getty Images
You’ll start to look forward to your next workout.
“Just like with loved ones, absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Rilinger said.
Taking a day off can make you miss the feeling of working out and even make you eager to return to the gym. “That’s a nice feeling to have vs. eventually hating the thought of going to the gym because you have overdone it,” Rilinger said.
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You’ll also avoid burnout, Spelke noted.
“A rest day that incorporates a different, low-impact activity not only gives your body the opportunity to work different muscles, but also allows your brain a little reprieve from the potential monotony of your daily routine,” Spelke said. “Just as when you wake up feeling rested from a good night’s sleep, a rest day will give your body that same opportunity to meet your next workout with energy and enthusiasm.”
Rest days help you keep a healthy attitude about exercise.
Spending hours every single day working out or pushing your body beyond what it’s able to handle isn’t healthy physically or mentally. Rest days allow you to find some space ― in every sense ― away from fitness, which can help you maintain healthy boundaries with exercise.
Rilinger is constantly telling her clients to take a day each week to forgo fitness and instead do something else. “Obsessing over anything is unhealthy. Think about other parts of your life that can be enriched by the time a day off gives you,” she suggested.
How not to feel bad about a rest day.
Karina Krepp, a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and health coach, noted that rest days can create anxiety for habitual movers. But they should still take an occasional break because it is beyond beneficial. On a rest day, she tells her clients to do things like get extra sleep, do a mood-boosting activity, go for a walk in nature or learn to cook a new recipe.
“You need to remind yourself that a rest day is helping you reach your goals ― it is not hindering them,” Offer said.
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And don’t be afraid to take an extra rest day if you are feeling tired. You’re not limited to one.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to listen to your body,” Norris said, adding that if you’re exhausted despite getting six to nine hours of sleep, if you’re feeling dehydrated, or if your muscles are extra sore two days after a workout, it’s time to take a rest day.
If you’re still struggling with taking a break or you start to feel a compulsive need to work out, it might be a sign of a bigger mental health problem. If that’s the case, reach out for support. Talk to your friends or family about what’s going on, and chat with a mental health professional if the urge to exercise is disrupting your life.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Big Pharma Exec Says Lawmakers Touting Vaccine By Year's End Doing ‘Grave Disservice’

The CEO of one of America ’ s largest pharmaceutical companies issued a bleak warning about the prospect of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus by the end of the year , saying lawmakers touting the possibility were doing a “ grave disservice to the public.
” Ken Frazier , the CEO of Merck , made the comments in an interview with Harvard Business School last week .
He directly targeted politicians who have asserted that a vaccine is around the corner , without naming President Donald Trump , saying such statements were premature and “ actually tell the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public needs to do.
” “ What worries me the most is that the public is so hungry , so desperate to go back to normalcy , that they are pushing us to move things faster and faster , ” Frazier said during an interview last week with Harvard professor Tsedal Neeley .
“ But ultimately , if you ’ re going to use a vaccine in billions of people , you better know what that vaccine does.
” He said that Merck ’ s most recent vaccine against Ebola took more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research “ requires a rigorous scientific assessment.
” “ And here we didn ’ t even understand the virus itself or how the virus affects the immune system , ” he continued .
Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and has been working alongside dozens of other major research groups to develop a vaccine to the coronavirus .
Medical officials have stressed that even with social distancing measures , society will only be able to return to a pre-pandemic normal with an appropriate vaccine of therapeutic treatment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly stressed that a vaccine is not far off , saying this month three efforts “ are really , really looking good ” and “ we think we ’ re going to have it soon.
” The White House has funneled resources into an effort called “ Operation Warp Speed ” to do so , and while some trials have shown promise , there are still many unanswered questions .
“ I think when people tell the public that there ’ s going to be a vaccine by the end of 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grave disservice to the public , ” Frazier said last week .
“ I think at the end of the day , we don ’ t want to rush the vaccine before we ’ ve done rigorous science .
We ’ ve seen in the past , for example , with the swine flu , that that vaccine did more harm than good.
” Frazier has publicly sparred with the Trump administration before .
In 2017 , he resigned from one of the president ’ s business advisory councils after the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlottesville .

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The CEO of one of America’s largest pharmaceutical companies issued a bleak warning about the prospect of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus by the end of the year, saying lawmakers touting the possibility were doing a “grave disservice to the public.”
Ken Frazier, the CEO of Merck, made the comments in an interview with Harvard Business School last week. He directly targeted politicians who have asserted that a vaccine is around the corner, without naming President Donald Trump, saying such statements were premature and “actually tell the public not to do the things that the public needs to do.”
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“What worries me the most is that the public is so hungry, so desperate to go back to normalcy, that they are pushing us to move things faster and faster,” Frazier said during an interview last week with Harvard professor Tsedal Neeley. “But ultimately, if you’re going to use a vaccine in billions of people, you better know what that vaccine does.”
He said that Merck’s most recent vaccine against Ebola took more than five years to produce, saying such research “requires a rigorous scientific assessment.”
“And here we didn’t even understand the virus itself or how the virus affects the immune system,” he continued.
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Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and has been working alongside dozens of other major research groups to develop a vaccine to the coronavirus. Medical officials have stressed that even with social distancing measures, society will only be able to return to a pre-pandemic normal with an appropriate vaccine of therapeutic treatment for those that contract COVID-19.
Trump has repeatedly stressed that a vaccine is not far off, saying this month three efforts “are really, really looking good” and “we think we’re going to have it soon.” The White House has funneled resources into an effort called “Operation Warp Speed” to do so, and while some trials have shown promise, there are still many unanswered questions.
“I think when people tell the public that there’s going to be a vaccine by the end of 2020, for example, I think they do a grave disservice to the public,” Frazier said last week. “I think at the end of the day, we don’t want to rush the vaccine before we’ve done rigorous science. We’ve seen in the past, for example, with the swine flu, that that vaccine did more harm than good.”
“We don’t have a great history of introducing vaccines quickly in the middle of a pandemic,” he added.
Frazier has publicly sparred with the Trump administration before. In 2017, he resigned from one of the president’s business advisory councils after the White House failed to criticize white nationalists in Charlottesville.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Critics Want Ivanka Trump Canned After She Tweets Bizarre Goya Promo

Ivanka Trump , President Donald Trump ’ s daughter and adviser , offered an unusual endorsement of Goya products on Twitter late Tuesday evening .
Ivanka Trump held a can of Goya beans , then wrote the company ’ s slogan in both English and Spanish : Last week , Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue praised Trump during a White House ceremony , saying the nation was “ truly blessed ” to have his leadership .
That led to calls for a boycott of Goya products from Trump ’ s critics .
Ivanka Trump ’ s endorsement appeared to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Code of Federal Regulations states that employees “ shall not use or permit the use of his Government position or title or any authority associated with his public office to endorse any product ” with only very limited exceptions .
The Trump administration has run afoul of the code before , including in 2017 when counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway urged Americans to buy Ivanka Trump-branded products .
Conway did not face any known disciplinary action , which drew a rebuke from the Office of Government Ethics .
Walter Shaub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote : “ Disciplinary action serves to deter future misconduct .
Not taking disciplinary action against a senior official under such circumstances risks undermining the ethics program.
” If you like Goya frijoles And getting caught in the rain If you 're not into ethics If you have half a brain If you like working in the White House Getting stuck in red tape I 'm the nepotist you 've looked for Hire me , and escape — Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) July 15 , 2020

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Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser, offered an unusual endorsement of Goya products on Twitter late Tuesday evening.
Ivanka Trump held a can of Goya beans, then wrote the company’s slogan in both English and Spanish:
If it’s Goya, it has to be good.
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno. pic.twitter.com/9tjVrfmo9z — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 15, 2020
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Last week, Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue praised Trump during a White House ceremony, saying the nation was “truly blessed” to have his leadership. That led to calls for a boycott of Goya products from Trump’s critics.
Ivanka Trump’s endorsement appeared to be an attempt to counter that. However, the Code of Federal Regulations states that employees “shall not use or permit the use of his Government position or title or any authority associated with his public office to endorse any product” with only very limited exceptions.
The Trump administration has run afoul of the code before, including in 2017 when counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway urged Americans to buy Ivanka Trump-branded products. Conway did not face any known disciplinary action, which drew a rebuke from the Office of Government Ethics.
Walter Shaub, then director of the office, wrote: “Disciplinary action serves to deter future misconduct. Not taking disciplinary action against a senior official under such circumstances risks undermining the ethics program.”
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Ivanka Trump’s plug for Goya drew a quick response on Twitter:
Si es Trump, tiene que ser corrupto 💸 https://t.co/Ti3oxFO6oY — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 15, 2020
They've cornered the nepotism market. — JRehling (@JRehling) July 15, 2020
If you like Goya frijoles
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into ethics
If you have half a brain
If you like working in the White House
Getting stuck in red tape
I'm the nepotist you've looked for
Hire me, and escape — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) July 15, 2020
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This woman has never eaten a Goya product in her life. https://t.co/b7SpiScIPb — Geek Girl Diva (@geekgirldiva) July 15, 2020
ANNCR: Tonight’s episode of “The Grifters” is brought to you by Goya. — Scott Linnen (@ScottLinnen) July 15, 2020
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Ivanka demonstrates how to make your own face mask. #TrumpIsUnwell pic.twitter.com/gcYTUUYJfb — Bob Davidson (@oybay) July 15, 2020
Didn’t you mean to post this one? pic.twitter.com/n749Z4hiX4 — DevinNunesTHEDragQueen (@NunesDrag) July 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Rush Limbaugh Gets Extra Weird, References Cannibalism In Coronavirus Rant

Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday said that cannibalism is just a way of adapting and that Americans had better adapt to the coronavirus .
Limbaugh , who previously said the COVID-19 infection was just the common cold , called the response to the pandemic “ un-American.
” He also compared the situation to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19 , saying then-President Woodrow Wilson never mentioned it .
“ There was no national policy to deal with it , ” Limbaugh said .
“ There was no shutdown , there was just , ‘ Hey , go outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sun as long as you can , get some vitamin D , feel better.
’ ” Limbaugh didn ’ t mention that the pandemic killed 50 million people around the world , including 675,000 Americans , nor did he discuss the advances in science and medicine in the century since that inform today ’ s response .
Instead , he said it was just one of the “ things that happened to people that they dealt with — like the Donner party.
” The Donner party pioneers were trapped in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winter of 1846-47 .
“ It was so bad that they had to turn to cannibalism to survive , ” Limbaugh said .
“ That ’ s what ’ s noteworthy about the Donner Party.
” He added : “ They didn ’ t complain about it because there was nothing they could do .
They had to adapt .
This is what ’ s missing .
There seems to be no concept of adaptation .
There seems to be no understanding in the Millennial generation that we can adapt to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to.
” With the coronavirus still spreading and no vaccine , Limbaugh said “ life has to go on ” and Americans shouldn ’ t be cowering to the threat of the virus .
Then , he urged President Donald Trump to make a national address on this theme and use it as a core element of his reelection campaign .
See more of his comments in a clip posted online by the progressive watchdog group Media Matters :

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Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday said that cannibalism is just a way of adapting and that Americans had better adapt to the coronavirus.
Limbaugh, who previously said the COVID-19 infection was just the common cold, called the response to the pandemic “un-American.” He also compared the situation to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, saying then-President Woodrow Wilson never mentioned it.
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“There was no national policy to deal with it,” Limbaugh said. “There was no shutdown, there was just, ‘Hey, go outside, get some fresh air, stand in the sun as long as you can, get some vitamin D, feel better.’”
Limbaugh didn’t mention that the pandemic killed 50 million people around the world, including 675,000 Americans, nor did he discuss the advances in science and medicine in the century since that inform today’s response. Instead, he said it was just one of the “things that happened to people that they dealt with — like the Donner party.”
The Donner party pioneers were trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by heavy snows in the winter of 1846-47.
“It was so bad that they had to turn to cannibalism to survive,” Limbaugh said. “That’s what’s noteworthy about the Donner Party.”
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He added: “They didn’t complain about it because there was nothing they could do. They had to adapt. This is what’s missing. There seems to be no concept of adaptation. There seems to be no understanding in the Millennial generation that we can adapt to this, and that we’re going to have to.”
With the coronavirus still spreading and no vaccine, Limbaugh said “life has to go on” and Americans shouldn’t be cowering to the threat of the virus. Then, he urged President Donald Trump to make a national address on this theme and use it as a core element of his reelection campaign.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Mary Trump Says 'Utterly Incapable' President Should Resign In Scorched-Earth Interview

Mary L. Trump , Donald Trump ’ s niece , said her uncle should resign as she gave a scorched-earth interview Tuesday to ABC News following the publication of her new book about the president and his family .
“ He is utterly incapable of leading this country , ” Mary Trump said in an interview with ABC host George Stephanopoulos .
“ And it ’ s dangerous to allow him to do so , based on what I ’ ve seen my entire adult life.
” “ If you were in the Oval Office today , what would you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at one point in the interview .
Mary Trump ’ s controversial book , “ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , ” was published Tuesday after a highly publicized court battle .
The president ’ s younger brother , Robert Trump , had sued for a temporary restraining order last month , saying the contents of the book violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed in 2001 to end a bitter court battle over a family estate .
Her father was Fred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A judge , however , rejected the claim and said earlier this month that Simon & Schuster could move forward with publication and was not bound by the terms of the deal , noting thousands of copies had already been printed and shipped .
A New York Supreme Court judge also ruled Monday that Mary Trump was free to speak about the book , saying the nondisclosure agreement she signed was not specific enough to silence her .
“ Too many words , with too many meanings , ” the judge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision .
“ The cost of the litigation that was settled should have been finalized with more specifics , more clarity , if the current situation was even comprehended , at the time the Agreement was signed.
” The book includes several shocking claims about the president as well as allegations that her uncle “ dismissed and derided ” his father , Fred Trump Sr. , when he was suffering from Alzheimer ’ s disease .
“ If he is afforded a second term , it would be the end of American democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
The White House has rejected the claims made in the book , saying simply : “ Mary Trump and her book ’ s publisher may claim to be acting in the public interest , but this book is clearly in the author ’ s own financial self-interest.
” In her interview with Stephanopoulos , Mary Trump said she felt compelled to write the book to help better inform the American electorate .
“ There are so many parallels between the circumstances in which my family operated and in which this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I saw firsthand what focusing on the wrong things , elevating the wrong people , can do.
” “ If I can do anything to change the narrative and to tell the truth , I need to do that , because I don ’ t believe the American people had the entire truth four years ago , ” she continued , adding that she would have spoken out 10 years ago “ when it was infinitely safer ” had she been motivated by money or revenge .

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Mary L. Trump, Donald Trump’s niece, said her uncle should resign as she gave a scorched-earth interview Tuesday to ABC News following the publication of her new book about the president and his family.
“He is utterly incapable of leading this country,” Mary Trump said in an interview with ABC host George Stephanopoulos. “And it’s dangerous to allow him to do so, based on what I’ve seen my entire adult life.”
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“If you were in the Oval Office today, what would you say to him?” Stephanopoulos asked at one point in the interview.
“Resign,” she said.
EXCLUSIVE: Mary Trump, Pres. Trump’s niece spoke to @ABC News in the first interview about her explosive new book, telling @GStephanopoulos that Americans need to know that her uncle is “utterly incapable of leading.” @DavidMuir reports. https://t.co/OhIY0uVvUV pic.twitter.com/T5rhtE5Ivs — World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 15, 2020
Additional footage of the interview aired Wednesday on “Good Morning America.” The show will broadcast another portion of the exchange Thursday.
Mary Trump’s controversial book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” was published Tuesday after a highly publicized court battle. The president’s younger brother, Robert Trump, had sued for a temporary restraining order last month, saying the contents of the book violated a nondisclosure agreement she signed in 2001 to end a bitter court battle over a family estate. Her father was Fred Trump Jr., who died in 1981.
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A judge, however, rejected the claim and said earlier this month that Simon & Schuster could move forward with publication and was not bound by the terms of the deal, noting thousands of copies had already been printed and shipped.
A New York Supreme Court judge also ruled Monday that Mary Trump was free to speak about the book, saying the nondisclosure agreement she signed was not specific enough to silence her.
“Too many words, with too many meanings,” the judge, Hall Greenwald, said in a terse decision. “The cost of the litigation that was settled should have been finalized with more specifics, more clarity, if the current situation was even comprehended, at the time the Agreement was signed.”
MORE: Donald Trump grew up in a "dysfunctional" family that believed “money stood in” for acts of love and whose patriarch used his own kin as "pawns"—creating a “dangerous situation” for the U.S. decades later, his niece tells @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/t7Dzkct5PQ pic.twitter.com/IZPr0oRBEJ — Good Morning America (@GMA) July 15, 2020
The book includes several shocking claims about the president as well as allegations that her uncle “dismissed and derided” his father, Fred Trump Sr., when he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
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“If he is afforded a second term, it would be the end of American democracy,” Mary Trump writes at one point.
The White House has rejected the claims made in the book, saying simply: “Mary Trump and her book’s publisher may claim to be acting in the public interest, but this book is clearly in the author’s own financial self-interest.”
In her interview with Stephanopoulos, Mary Trump said she felt compelled to write the book to help better inform the American electorate.
“There are so many parallels between the circumstances in which my family operated and in which this country is now operating,” Mary Trump said. “I saw firsthand what focusing on the wrong things, elevating the wrong people, can do.”
“If I can do anything to change the narrative and to tell the truth, I need to do that, because I don’t believe the American people had the entire truth four years ago,” she continued, adding that she would have spoken out 10 years ago “when it was infinitely safer” had she been motivated by money or revenge.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Air Force Vet MJ Hegar Wins Texas Senate Democratic Primary To Face John Cornyn

MJ Hegar narrowly won the Democratic Senate nomination to take on Republican incumbent John Cornyn in November after holding off a late charge from state Sen. Royce West in Texas ’ primary on Tuesday , according to The Associated Press .
Hegar , a former Air Force pilot , had the support of her party ’ s establishment groups , including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and EMILY ’ s List , which helped boost her campaign to challenge Cornyn with TV and radio advertising .
But she faced a duel threat from West , who received notable endorsements from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cornyn himself , whose meddling in the Democratic primary clearly signaled his preference not to face Hegar in November ’ s general election .
“ I am humbled by the support we have received from all across the state , and am confident we have a decisive victory , ” Hegar said in a statement late Tuesday .
“ Together , we are mounting a Texas-sized winning campaign that will take down Sen. Cornyn and deliver real results on health care , racial justice , economic opportunity , climate change , immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Black , gained endorsements from House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) and Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-La. )
.
He also won the support of Benjamin Crump , the attorney who represents the families of George Floyd and other Black victims of police violence .
West ’ s campaign recently aired a TV ad that urged voters to pick a “ real Democrat ” in the runoff , questioning Hegar ’ s credentials by highlighting her vote in Texas ’ s 2016 GOP primary .
She said she voted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a protest vote against Donald Trump .
Cornyn ’ s campaign sought to capitalize on the intra-party clash by airing ads boosting West over Hegar , who as a Democrat came close to defeating a Republican House member in 2018 .
The ads called West , 67 , a “ liberal politician ” who supported abortion rights and gun control ― positions that presumably would endear the longtime state legislator to Democratic voters .
With her unexpectedly close primary win , the 44-year-old Hegar is rated by political analysts as potentially giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win a Senate majority .
The GOP currently controls the chamber , 53-47 .
Republicans , after years of steady gains , have dominated Texas politics since George W. Bush won the governorship in 1994 .
But Democratic fortunes have been improving , and the coronavirus pandemic may accelerate that trend , particularly in the presidential race .
Recent polling has shown presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden either tied with or slightly ahead of Trump in the battle for the state ’ s 38 electoral votes .
Cornyn , 68 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a possible successor to Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as the chamber ’ s GOP leader , appears in better political shape than Trump in the state .
First elected to his seat in 2002 , he reported having nearly $ 15 million in his campaign coffer as of June 30 and had a solid lead over Hegar in a survey released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas .
Hegar ’ s cash-strapped campaign , which reported having just $ 1.6 million cash on hand as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the money raised by other prominent Democratic Senate candidates across the country .
Cornyn , though , has committed some political gaffes ― last week , in an interview with a Texas TV station on COVID-19 that , “ We still don ’ t know whether children can get it and transmit it to others.
” His aides were forced to scramble to clarify his flash statement .
Many national and Texas Democratic leaders had hoped that Beto O ’ Rourke would run against Cornyn after the former House member narrowly lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 Senate race .
But O ’ Rouke instead launched a presidential bid that proved short-lived .

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MJ Hegar narrowly won the Democratic Senate nomination to take on Republican incumbent John Cornyn in November after holding off a late charge from state Sen. Royce West in Texas’ primary on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
Hegar, a former Air Force pilot, had the support of her party’s establishment groups, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and EMILY’s List, which helped boost her campaign to challenge Cornyn with TV and radio advertising.
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But she faced a dual threat from West, who received notable endorsements from a host of Black political figures, and Cornyn himself, whose meddling in the Democratic primary clearly signaled his preference not to face Hegar in November’s general election.
“I am humbled by the support we have received from all across the state, and am confident we have a decisive victory,” Hegar said in a statement late Tuesday. “Together, we are mounting a Texas-sized winning campaign that will take down Sen. Cornyn and deliver real results on health care, racial justice, economic opportunity, climate change, immigration and gun violence.”
West, who is Black, gained endorsements from House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.). He also won the support of Benjamin Crump, the attorney who represents the families of George Floyd and other Black victims of police violence.
West’s campaign recently aired a TV ad that urged voters to pick a “real Democrat” in the runoff, questioning Hegar’s credentials by highlighting her vote in Texas’s 2016 GOP primary. She said she voted for Carly Fiorina for president at the time as a protest vote against Donald Trump.
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Cornyn’s campaign sought to capitalize on the intra-party clash by airing ads boosting West over Hegar, who as a Democrat came close to defeating a Republican House member in 2018. The ads called West, 67, a “liberal politician” who supported abortion rights and gun control ― positions that presumably would endear the longtime state legislator to Democratic voters.
With her unexpectedly close primary win, the 44-year-old Hegar is rated by political analysts as potentially giving Democrats a pick-up opportunity as they seek to win a Senate majority. The GOP currently controls the chamber, 53-47.
Republicans, after years of steady gains, have dominated Texas politics since George W. Bush won the governorship in 1994. But Democratic fortunes have been improving, and the coronavirus pandemic may accelerate that trend, particularly in the presidential race. Recent polling has shown presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden either tied with or slightly ahead of Trump in the battle for the state’s 38 electoral votes.
A Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t won Texas since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Cornyn, 68, the former Senate majority whip who is viewed as a possible successor to Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as the chamber’s GOP leader, appears in better political shape than Trump in the state. First elected to his seat in 2002, he reported having nearly $15 million in his campaign coffer as of June 30 and had a solid lead over Hegar in a survey released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas.
Hegar’s cash-strapped campaign, which reported having just $1.6 million cash on hand as of June 30, has fallen far short of the money raised by other prominent Democratic Senate candidates across the country.
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Cornyn, though, has committed some political gaffes ― last week, in an interview with a Texas TV station on COVID-19 that, “We still don’t know whether children can get it and transmit it to others.” His aides were forced to scramble to clarify his flash statement.
Many national and Texas Democratic leaders had hoped that Beto O’Rourke would run against Cornyn after the former House member narrowly lost to GOP incumbent Ted Cruz in the 2018 Senate race. But O’Rouke instead launched a presidential bid that proved short-lived.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--The COVID-19 Crisis Is Exploding Inside ICE Detention Centers

Joe Raedle via Getty Images Physicians protested May 1 outside the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach , Florida , to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement release people from the facility .
But the number of cases the agency is reporting is almost certainly an undercount , and ICE is facing a crisis .
The agency is still shuttling detainees around the country , making it hard to take a snapshot of a single facility , and as of late June , most ICE facilities lacked the ability to test large numbers of people , according to a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office of the Inspector General , which eviscerated the agency ’ s response to the virus .
Detainees report dangerous conditions .
And a court ruling mandating release of kids from detention could create a new crisis of family separations if the administration keeps their parents locked up .
Scattered reports have shown that ICE and its contractors are misreporting the true extent of some outbreaks .
Emails obtained by the Arizona Republic revealed that the number of people infected at the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona was one-third higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CoreCivic , which operates Eloy , called the discrepancy a “ typographical error.
” ) At Farmville , a privately run detention center in Virginia , 267 people in detention have tested positive for COVID-19 , the director recently told a court ; as of Tuesday , ICE reports the number of positive cases is only 102 .
The Daily Beast was first to note the discrepancy .
Detainees at multiple facilities report that they can not socially distance , obtain masks , or access even basic sanitation .
At most facilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room and there isn ’ t enough space to isolate .
Detainees at one facility reportedly came close to mounting a hunger strike over dangerous conditions .
When detainees peacefully protested at Farmville , guards responded with riot gear , “ noise-distracting rounds , ” and pepper spray , The Daily Beast reported based on court documents .
One of the most alarming reports to date claims staff at a Louisiana ICE facility were under instructions to “ freeze them out , ” meaning , to turn the air conditioning so low that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if a detainee had a fever .
The goal , as described in the report , was to evade ICE ’ s policy of screening people for signs of infection before deporting them .
LaSalle Corrections , the private company contracted to run the facility , has prevented sick and high-risk staff from using paid personal leave to stay away from the facility until they could provide a positive test for COVID-19 , the whistleblowers said .
Two Richwood employees who may have contracted the virus at work have died .
“ LaSalle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure and humane environments , and our company strongly refutes these anonymous allegations to the contrary , ” he said .
“ LaSalle Corrections has been tracking the outbreak , regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols , and issuing guidance , ” is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s guidelines , and is following its own contingency plans for “ screening , testing , appropriate treatment , prevention , education and infection control measures.
” “ Jails , prisons , and detention facilities are not islands — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terminals with people coming and going , ” Dr. Scott Allen , an expert in medical care in detention settings with experience investigating ICE facilities , said in a recent warning letter to the Senate .
“ New arrestees and detainees arrive every day … Immigrants are transferred regularly throughout the detention system , with staff accompanying them as escorts … Officers and staff come and go , three shifts a day.
” Jails , prisons , and detention facilities are not islands — in fact , they are more like bus terminals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott Allen in a recent letter to the Senate ICE did not respond to a request for comment .
The agency claims it is staggering mealtimes , providing hand soap , limiting gatherings and “ regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols ” to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities .
It has released several hundred people with a high health risk from COVID-19 , it claims , and “ comprehensive protocols are in place for the protection of staff and patients , including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities .
The agency says it isolates detainees who arrive with a fever or other signs of infection , and has “ encouraged ” but not required facilities to isolate all new detainees .
To the extent that detentions are down — there are half as many people in custody today than there were on an average daily basis last year — it ’ s because far fewer people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border .
ICE is doing little to mitigate the threat by releasing people , the OIG report found .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,137 people for COVID-related reasons .
Only 20 percent of facilities released a single person .
ICE is currently preparing for a potential release of more immigrants ― but could split up families to do so , echoing the wildly controversial Trump administration family separation policy from 2018 .
A federal judge ordered the administration to release kids from detention ― about 125 children at the time of the ruling last month ― and the government has until Friday to do so .

Physicians protested May 1 outside the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement release people from the facility. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Cases of COVID-19 are erupting inside dozens of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, where detained immigrants have little ability to protect themselves and staff are pressured to work without regard for safety, according to multiple new reports.
The conditions leave thousands of migrants fearing for their lives and have transformed ICE into a major potential spreader of new coronavirus infections around the world.
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ICE is currently detaining roughly 22,500 people in nearly 70 detention centers around the country. The agency reports that approximately 3,100 people in its custody have tested positive for the virus and that two people have died, most recently a 51-year-old man from Mexico who died on Sunday.
But the number of cases the agency is reporting is almost certainly an undercount, and ICE is facing a crisis. The agency is still shuttling detainees around the country, making it hard to take a snapshot of a single facility, and as of late June, most ICE facilities lacked the ability to test large numbers of people, according to a report, from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, which eviscerated the agency’s response to the virus. Detainees report dangerous conditions. And a court ruling mandating release of kids from detention could create a new crisis of family separations if the administration keeps their parents locked up.
On Monday, four private companies that run ICE detention facilities — CoreCivic, the GEO Group, Management & Training Corp and LaSalle Corrections — revealed that 930 of their employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Scattered reports have shown that ICE and its contractors are misreporting the true extent of some outbreaks. Emails obtained by the Arizona Republic revealed that the number of people infected at the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona was one-third higher than what ICE was publicly reporting. (CoreCivic, which operates Eloy, called the discrepancy a “typographical error.”) At Farmville, a privately run detention center in Virginia, 267 people in detention have tested positive for COVID-19, the director recently told a court; as of Tuesday, ICE reports the number of positive cases is only 102. The Daily Beast was first to note the discrepancy.
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As new cases of the coronavirus spread inside detention facilities, so do chilling reports of detainee abuse.
Detainees at multiple facilities report that they cannot socially distance, obtain masks, or access even basic sanitation. At most facilities, detainees sleep dozens to a single large room and there isn’t enough space to isolate. Detainees at one facility reportedly came close to mounting a hunger strike over dangerous conditions. When detainees peacefully protested at Farmville, guards responded with riot gear, “noise-distracting rounds,” and pepper spray, The Daily Beast reported based on court documents.
“Detainees threatening a hunger strike because the officers were not wearing masks.” - A whistleblower report on conditions in a Louisiana ICE facility
One of the most alarming reports to date claims staff at a Louisiana ICE facility were under instructions to “freeze them out,” meaning, to turn the air conditioning so low that a forehead temperature check would not detect if a detainee had a fever. The goal, as described in the report, was to evade ICE’s policy of screening people for signs of infection before deporting them.
The report, based on staff and detainee whistleblowers at the Richwood Correctional Center, was compiled by the Government Accountability Project, a nonprofit whistleblower advocacy group, and sent to Congress on Monday.
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Richwood is bringing in detainees without following safety protocols or using protective equipment, the report claimed, and has been holding and transporting sick and healthy detainees together — including sick detainees who were being deported out of the country.
Staff complained of chronic shortages of sanitation and PPE products. “The situation is as bad if not worse for detainees,” who witnessed guards not wearing masks around COVID-positive detainees, according to a summary of the whistleblower accounts. “The situation led to detainees threatening a hunger strike because the officers were not wearing masks.”
LaSalle Corrections, the private company contracted to run the facility, has prevented sick and high-risk staff from using paid personal leave to stay away from the facility until they could provide a positive test for COVID-19, the whistleblowers said. Two Richwood employees who may have contracted the virus at work have died.
A spokesman for LaSalle called the whistleblower report “false and misleading.”
“LaSalle Corrections provides high-quality services in safe, secure and humane environments, and our company strongly refutes these anonymous allegations to the contrary,” he said. “LaSalle Corrections has been tracking the outbreak, regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols, and issuing guidance,” is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, and is following its own contingency plans for “screening, testing, appropriate treatment, prevention, education and infection control measures.”
Even if they are undercounts, the outbreaks that ICE is acknowledging are large enough to almost guarantee that COVID-19 will spread rampantly inside ICE facilities and to the surrounding communities where staff live.
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“Jails, prisons, and detention facilities are not islands — in fact, they are more like bus terminals with people coming and going,” Dr. Scott Allen, an expert in medical care in detention settings with experience investigating ICE facilities, said in a recent warning letter to the Senate. “New arrestees and detainees arrive every day … Immigrants are transferred regularly throughout the detention system, with staff accompanying them as escorts … Officers and staff come and go, three shifts a day.”
“Jails, prisons, and detention facilities are not islands — in fact, they are more like bus terminals with people coming and going.” - Dr. Scott Allen in a recent letter to the Senate
ICE did not respond to a request for comment. The agency claims it is staggering mealtimes, providing hand soap, limiting gatherings and “regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols” to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities. It has released several hundred people with a high health risk from COVID-19, it claims, and “comprehensive protocols are in place for the protection of staff and patients, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment” for those who remain in its facilities. The agency says it isolates detainees who arrive with a fever or other signs of infection, and has “encouraged” but not required facilities to isolate all new detainees.
Despite the threat the pandemic poses to people trapped in detention facilities and the surrounding communities, the Trump administration has kept up immense pressure to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. The agency has deported more than 40,000 immigrants since March. To pressure countries to accept deportees, the administration offered humanitarian aid.
The governments of 11 countries have said that deportees returned from the United States with COVID-19, The New York Times and The Marshall Project reported.
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To the extent that detentions are down — there are half as many people in custody today than there were on an average daily basis last year — it’s because far fewer people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. ICE is doing little to mitigate the threat by releasing people, the OIG report found. From mid-March to May, facilities released only 1,137 people for COVID-related reasons. Only 20 percent of facilities released a single person.
ICE is currently preparing for a potential release of more immigrants ― but could split up families to do so, echoing the wildly controversial Trump administration family separation policy from 2018. A federal judge ordered the administration to release kids from detention ― about 125 children at the time of the ruling last month ― and the government has until Friday to do so.
It could release the children with their parents. Instead, it may release the kids alone, splitting up families, unless parents agree to let their children remain detained. That policy means keeping whole families at higher risk of COVID-19, activists say.
“Moms are trying to figure out how their kids are most safe,” Shay Fluharty from legal services provider Proyecto Dilley told CNN. “Is it most safe to go to a stranger? Is it most safe to continue to be in detention as the virus is getting closer and closer?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Chaotic Protests Prompt Soul-Searching In Portland, Oregon

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) — Nearly two months of nightly protests that have devolved into violent clashes with police have prompted soul-searching in Portland , Oregon , a city that prides itself on its progressive reputation but is increasingly polarized over how to handle the unrest .
President Donald Trump recently deployed federal agents to “ quell ” the demonstrations in Portland that began after George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police , shining an unwelcome spotlight as the city struggles to find a way forward .
The national attention comes as divisions deepen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more violent protests — striking at the heart of Portland ’ s identity as an ultraliberal haven where protest is seen as a badge of honor .
“ I was born and raised here , and I ’ m a graduate of the local public school system .
I chose to make my livelihood here , I chose to raise my daughter here , ” said Mayor Ted Wheeler , who has faced criticism from all sides .
“ And in all the years that I have lived here , I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nor have I seen it look worse.
” Small groups of protesters have set fires , launched fireworks and sprayed graffiti on public buildings , including police precincts and the federal courthouse , leading to nearly nightly clashes with police who have used force that ’ s caused injuries .
Similar unrest engulfed many U.S. cities when Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck on May 25 .
But in Portland , which is familiar ground for the loosely organized , far-left activists known as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests never stopped .
A waste receptacle 's contents are in flames as protesters gather in downtown Portland , Ore. on July 10 , 2020 .
The mayor of Portland said late Sunday the U.S .
Marshals Service are investigating the injury of a protester who was hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend after being hit in the head by an impact weapon fired by a federal law enforcement officer .
Lost in the debate are the downtown businesses racking up millions in property damage and lost sales and the voices of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have stayed off the streets .
“ The impact is terrible because what people have seen on the TV ... has scared people who live outside the downtown .
They feel it ’ s that way 24 hours a day , ” said David Margulis , who said the protests have caused sales at his jewelry store to drop more than 50 % .
“ I talk to people , on the phone , who tell me : ‘ I don ’ t know if I ’ ll ever come downtown again.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , dispersing protesters with tear gas on multiple occasions .
Federal law enforcement officers sent in two weeks ago by Trump to stop the unrest have further inflamed tensions , particularly after one protester was critically injured when a federal agent fired a non-lethal round at his head .
The mayor and police have repeatedly decried the clashes as a destructive distraction from the Black Lives Matter movement and make a sharp distinction between peaceful demonstrators and those bent on engaging with authorities , whom the police call “ agitators.
” Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown and Oregon ’ s House speaker , have criticized the police for being too aggressive .
“ Each night ’ s protest is now turning into a protest of the night before ’ s police activity .
And so when people say we want this to stop , it can ’ t stop because today ’ s protest will be about what the feds or the Portland Police Bureau did yesterday , ” said Gregory McKelvey , an activist and critic of the police response .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re having right now — a communications war over who ’ s a ‘ good protester ’ and who ’ s a ‘ bad protester.
’ And what the police and the mayor are trying to do is turn the city against the people that are out protesting , ” he said .
Some members of the Black community , which makes up less than 6 % of Portland ’ s population , say the continual clashes with police — including in a historically Black part of the city — are distracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s very clear to me that this is not about accomplishing goals .
This is about anarchy , and people are taking advantage of the demonstrations for their own reasons that have nothing to do with social justice , ” said Ron Herndon , a prominent civil rights activist .
“ Any support you think you could get , you probably have lost from a lot of people because you have negatively impacted their lives.
” Nevertheless , Hardesty , who has dedicated her career to police reform , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronger .
She ’ s working to get a measure before voters — circumventing the powerful police union — to create an independent police review board .
She also led a push last month to cut $ 27 million from the police budget .
“ We have to all figure out , how do we move the city forward ?
What we know is that we can ’ t protest forever and ever .
And what we know is that people want real change , ” Hardesty said .
“ I think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less disruption we ’ ll see on our streets .
”

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Nearly two months of nightly protests that have devolved into violent clashes with police have prompted soul-searching in Portland, Oregon, a city that prides itself on its progressive reputation but is increasingly polarized over how to handle the unrest.
President Donald Trump recently deployed federal agents to “quell” the demonstrations in Portland that began after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, shining an unwelcome spotlight as the city struggles to find a way forward. The national attention comes as divisions deepen among elected officials about the legitimacy of the more violent protests — striking at the heart of Portland’s identity as an ultraliberal haven where protest is seen as a badge of honor.
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“I was born and raised here, and I’m a graduate of the local public school system. I chose to make my livelihood here, I chose to raise my daughter here,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler, who has faced criticism from all sides. “And in all the years that I have lived here, I have never seen the community more divided. Nor have I seen it look worse.”
Small groups of protesters have set fires, launched fireworks and sprayed graffiti on public buildings, including police precincts and the federal courthouse, leading to nearly nightly clashes with police who have used force that’s caused injuries. Similar unrest engulfed many U.S. cities when Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck on May 25. But in Portland, which is familiar ground for the loosely organized, far-left activists known as “antifa,” or anti-fascists, the protests never stopped.
A waste receptacle's contents are in flames as protesters gather in downtown Portland, Ore. on July 10, 2020. The mayor of Portland said late Sunday the U.S. Marshals Service are investigating the injury of a protester who was hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend after being hit in the head by an impact weapon fired by a federal law enforcement officer. Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP
Lost in the debate are the downtown businesses racking up millions in property damage and lost sales and the voices of the hundreds of thousands of Portland residents who have stayed off the streets.
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“The impact is terrible because what people have seen on the TV ... has scared people who live outside the downtown. They feel it’s that way 24 hours a day,” said David Margulis, who said the protests have caused sales at his jewelry store to drop more than 50%. “I talk to people, on the phone, who tell me: ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever come downtown again.’”
Soon after Floyd’s death, diverse crowds of thousands took to the streets every night for peaceful marches and rallies, filling a bridge that spans the Willamette River on several nights. Smaller groups, however, quickly turned to vandalism.
Police have arrested dozens of people, dispersing protesters with tear gas on multiple occasions. Federal law enforcement officers sent in two weeks ago by Trump to stop the unrest have further inflamed tensions, particularly after one protester was critically injured when a federal agent fired a non-lethal round at his head.
The mayor and police have repeatedly decried the clashes as a destructive distraction from the Black Lives Matter movement and make a sharp distinction between peaceful demonstrators and those bent on engaging with authorities, whom the police call “agitators.” Other officials, including several city commissioners, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon’s House speaker, have criticized the police for being too aggressive.
It’s become a cycle of unrest, police response and further outrage.
“Each night’s protest is now turning into a protest of the night before’s police activity. And so when people say we want this to stop, it can’t stop because today’s protest will be about what the feds or the Portland Police Bureau did yesterday,” said Gregory McKelvey, an activist and critic of the police response.
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Umbrellas bearing the names of people killed by police were displayed at SW 3rd and Main as Portland protesters gather downtown on July 10, 2020. Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP
“There’s really this battle that we’re having right now — a communications war over who’s a ‘good protester’ and who’s a ‘bad protester.’ And what the police and the mayor are trying to do is turn the city against the people that are out protesting,” he said.
Some members of the Black community, which makes up less than 6% of Portland’s population, say the continual clashes with police — including in a historically Black part of the city — are distracting from the message of racial justice.
“It’s very clear to me that this is not about accomplishing goals. This is about anarchy, and people are taking advantage of the demonstrations for their own reasons that have nothing to do with social justice,” said Ron Herndon, a prominent civil rights activist. “Any support you think you could get, you probably have lost from a lot of people because you have negatively impacted their lives.”
Federal officers pull a protester into the Federal Courthouse on July 10, 2020, as protesters gather in downtown Portland. Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP
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Jo Ann Hardesty, the first Black woman on Portland’s City Council, said protesters don’t need to destroy property to effect change but believes the violence is a reaction to a newfound understanding, particularly among white people, about “how abusive the police can be.”
Nevertheless, Hardesty, who has dedicated her career to police reform, is confident Portland will come out of this stronger. She’s working to get a measure before voters — circumventing the powerful police union — to create an independent police review board. She also led a push last month to cut $27 million from the police budget.
“We have to all figure out, how do we move the city forward? What we know is that we can’t protest forever and ever. And what we know is that people want real change,” Hardesty said. “I think the more we invite people in, the less disruption we’ll see on our streets.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-15--Stephen Colbert Taunts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Over Coronavirus Screwups

Stephen Colbert ripped into Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) on Tuesday night for his failure to recognize @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coronavirus problems .
Florida reported 15,300 new cases on Sunday , the highest @ @ @ @ @ by any state in a single day since the pandemic began .
The state also @ @ @ @ @ deaths on Tuesday with 132 .
But DeSantis dismissed those numbers as a “ blip.
@ @ @ @ @ the blip looked like on the charts .
“ If you think that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ ve got blip for brains , ” the “ Late Show ” @ @ @ @ @ also host the Republican National Convention ― assuming it takes place ― and Colbert just @ @ @ @ @ plans : Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today @

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Stephen Colbert ripped into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday night for his failure to recognize the extent of his state’s coronavirus problems.
Florida reported 15,300 new cases on Sunday, the highest number of new cases reported by any state in a single day since the pandemic began. The state also topped its own record for deaths on Tuesday with 132.
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But DeSantis dismissed those numbers as a “blip.”
Colbert showed just what the blip looked like on the charts.
“If you think that’s just a blip, governor, you’ve got blip for brains,” the “Late Show” host cracked.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-16--Can A Pregnant Woman Spread The Coronavirus To Her Fetus?

It ’ s possible , but it seems to be relatively rare and scientists think they know why that is .
Many viruses can cross the placenta and infect a fetus in the womb , and evidence has been growing that the coronavirus sometimes can too .
Researchers in Italy studied 31 women with COVID-19 who delivered babies in March and April and found signs of the virus in several samples of umbilical cord blood , the placenta and , in one case , breast milk .
But this sort of testing can just detect bits of genetic material — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus capable of causing infection in those places .
In one case , there was strong evidence suggesting the newborn had the virus at birth because signs of it were found in umbilical cord blood and in the placenta .
In another , a newborn had certain coronavirus antibodies that are unable to cross the placenta , so they could not have come from the mother .
A report from France gave even stronger evidence of in-the-womb infection , and that newborn was very ill at birth .
Meanwhile , research led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible reason for why fetuses aren ’ t infected more often : cells in the placenta rarely make the two tools that the coronavirus typically uses to gain entry .
In contrast , they found plenty of what Zika and another type of virus use .
Most research so far has been on women who were in late stages of pregnancy when they got the virus ; more research is needed on what happens if infection occurs earlier in pregnancy .
The advice to pregnant women remains the same : wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at least 6 feet away from others to avoid infection .
Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus .
The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time , but it ’ s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

Can a pregnant woman spread the coronavirus to her fetus?
It’s possible, but it seems to be relatively rare and scientists think they know why that is.
Many viruses can cross the placenta and infect a fetus in the womb, and evidence has been growing that the coronavirus sometimes can too.
Researchers in Italy studied 31 women with COVID-19 who delivered babies in March and April and found signs of the virus in several samples of umbilical cord blood, the placenta and, in one case, breast milk. But this sort of testing can just detect bits of genetic material — it doesn’t mean there is virus capable of causing infection in those places.
In one case, there was strong evidence suggesting the newborn had the virus at birth because signs of it were found in umbilical cord blood and in the placenta. In another, a newborn had certain coronavirus antibodies that are unable to cross the placenta, so they could not have come from the mother.
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A report from France gave even stronger evidence of in-the-womb infection, and that newborn was very ill at birth.
Meanwhile, research led by the National Institutes of Health gives a possible reason for why fetuses aren’t infected more often: cells in the placenta rarely make the two tools that the coronavirus typically uses to gain entry. In contrast, they found plenty of what Zika and another type of virus use.
Most research so far has been on women who were in late stages of pregnancy when they got the virus; more research is needed on what happens if infection occurs earlier in pregnancy.
The advice to pregnant women remains the same: wear a mask in public, wash hands often and stay at least 6 feet away from others to avoid infection.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-16--People Who Refused To Go Back To Work Are Broke, But Vindicated As Pandemic Rages

Such workers are supposed to be able to get federally funded benefits if they have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness .
But Senate Republicans loudly complained that Congress had given so much money to layoff victims that they wouldn ’ t return to work , and the Trump administration essentially told state workforce agencies not to implement that part of the law .
As a result , more people had to decide whether they would go back to work in pandemic conditions or go broke .
Arceneaux ’ s benefits stopped soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Georgia Department of Labor told her there would be an investigation into her claim .
But six weeks later , she still hasn ’ t received an update .
Here ’ s what went wrong : The workforce agency is fussing over whether Arceneaux is eligible for regular state-funded unemployment insurance , which is typically denied to workers who quit or refuse jobs without “ good cause ” as a matter of state law .
Because she has Type 2 diabetes , Arceneaux should be eligible for the new federal benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as she Unemployed workers with legitimate health problems are likely getting caught in the same bureaucratic purgatory all over the country , but the data are sketchy .
Of the 30 million unemployment claims state agencies have processed , roughly 75 % have actually been paid , according to The Century Foundation ’ s Andrew Stettner , who compared claims numbers to Treasury Department information about how much money the government has actually spent on benefits .
The remaining 25 % of claims are likely either pending or were denied .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formal guidance in May to crack down on this exact category of unemployment claimant : job refusers .
The guidance told states “ to request employers to provide information when workers refuse to return to their jobs for reasons that do not support their continued eligibility for benefits.
” The document said nothing about ensuring payments to workers who are ineligible for regular state benefits but who remain eligible for the more permissive federal alternative , which was patterned after the disaster aid the federal government often provides after hurricanes .
If a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she is supposed to self-certify that a doctor advised her not to work , and she is supposed to get paid .
“ Given that returning to work during the current public health emergency presents a serious risk to the health and safety of many workers , it is crucial that the department make clear that individuals can not be forced to choose between keeping their income and putting their lives in danger , ” the senators wrote .
“ There is no automatic switch to [ Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ] if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular UI benefits , ” the spokesperson said , adding that anyone who meets the criteria should apply for the federal benefits .
“ States are responsible to inform ineligible UI recipients of the PUA program , but they are not responsible to determine eligibility for PUA until an individual applies.
” A spokesperson for Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) , the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee , said the senator will soon introduce legislation that would make it more explicit that people with health conditions should be covered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more focused on the looming expiration of an extra $ 600 in federally funded payments to people receiving jobless aid , but Wyden ’ s proposal would wind up in a broader coronavirus package that Congress will debate in the coming weeks .
Becky Groose of Kalispell , Montana , started receiving unemployment benefits in March after getting furloughed from her job as the director of an after-school program .
The city asked her to come back to her summer job as director of a camp for young children in June .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very much enjoyed for the last two years , but she said no .
Groose said she felt her employer had done everything possible to minimize her potential exposure to the virus , but that it still wasn ’ t worth the risk .
“ I said , ‘ Unless you put me in a little plexiglass box , I don ’ t know how you can keep me safe , ’ ” she said .
Her health care provider agreed .
“ At this point , I feel strongly that it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work at the summer camp this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , ” her doctor wrote in a June 10 letter .
She added : “ The concern would be for her increased exposure with an already increased risk for poor outcome due to age and multiple medical concerns .
”

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In May, JoAnn Arceneaux refused to go back to her job with an airline subcontractor at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.
At that point, she’d been receiving unemployment benefits for a month after losing hours and taking leave. But with the state’s coronavirus case count leveling off and conservatives hailing the “Georgia Model” for dealing with the pandemic, she was called back to work.
Arceneaux, 49, has Type 2 diabetes, putting her at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. So she told her bosses she was not coming back, got fired and lost her unemployment benefits.
Since then, Georgia’s cases have spiked, and the Transportation Security Administration has tallied 40 infections among its employees at Hartsfield-Jackson.
The Georgia model, which several other states followed with President Donald Trump’s encouragement, has proven a failure. Coronavirus is surging in Georgia and many other states, and the Trump administration’s push to yank unemployment benefits from workers likely contributed to the spread.
Arceneaux feels she made a smart decision not to work, even though she now has no income and has survived thanks to support from her son and fiance.
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“I’m just appalled about how they’re more concerned about stopping these unemployment benefits than the overall health of employees,” Arceneaux said. “They shouldn’t be forcing you to go to work.”
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, left, elbow bumps Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) before the start of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on COVID-19 unemployment insurance in Washington on June 9. Caroline Brehman via Getty Images
Congress expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance in March to cover people who wouldn’t normally receive benefits, including workers who quit their jobs “as a direct result of COVID-19.”
Such workers are supposed to be able to get federally funded benefits if they have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness. But Senate Republicans loudly complained that Congress had given so much money to layoff victims that they wouldn’t return to work, and the Trump administration essentially told state workforce agencies not to implement that part of the law. As a result, more people had to decide whether they would go back to work in pandemic conditions or go broke.
Paying people to stay home, after all, might have been good for public health, but it was contrary to the president’s goal of revving up the economy as quickly as possible.
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When workers refuse a job offer, their state workforce agency typically finds out quickly, either from the workers, who are required to update the state on their circumstances each week, or from the former employer, who has a tax incentive to contest claims.
Arceneaux’s benefits stopped soon after she quit. She said someone at the Georgia Department of Labor told her there would be an investigation into her claim. But six weeks later, she still hasn’t received an update.
“I’m not able to speak to anybody,” she told HuffPost last week. “I keep calling and leaving messages.”
After HuffPost reached out to the department, Arceneaux said someone called her to say the department would make a decision on her case later this month. The department declined to comment.
Here’s what went wrong: The workforce agency is fussing over whether Arceneaux is eligible for regular state-funded unemployment insurance, which is typically denied to workers who quit or refuse jobs without “good cause” as a matter of state law. Because she has Type 2 diabetes, Arceneaux should be eligible for the new federal benefits formally known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
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The federal assistance works the same way as state benefits and is administered in essentially the same manner by state workforce agencies but is only available to people who have been deemed ineligible for state benefits.
Unemployed workers with legitimate health problems are likely getting caught in the same bureaucratic purgatory all over the country, but the data are sketchy. Of the 30 million unemployment claims state agencies have processed, roughly 75% have actually been paid, according to The Century Foundation’s Andrew Stettner, who compared claims numbers to Treasury Department information about how much money the government has actually spent on benefits. The remaining 25% of claims are likely either pending or were denied.
The U.S. Labor Department told states in a formal guidance in May to crack down on this exact category of unemployment claimant: job refusers. The guidance told states “to request employers to provide information when workers refuse to return to their jobs for reasons that do not support their continued eligibility for benefits.”
The document said nothing about ensuring payments to workers who are ineligible for regular state benefits but who remain eligible for the more permissive federal alternative, which was patterned after the disaster aid the federal government often provides after hurricanes. If a person quits her job for health reasons, she is supposed to self-certify that a doctor advised her not to work, and she is supposed to get paid.
Democrats said in a May letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that the department should tell states to “proactively” help people with health conditions make the switch from state to federal benefits.
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“Given that returning to work during the current public health emergency presents a serious risk to the health and safety of many workers, it is crucial that the department make clear that individuals cannot be forced to choose between keeping their income and putting their lives in danger,” the senators wrote.
Scalia never responded.
A Labor Department spokesperson said in a statement that employees who turn down an offer of suitable work without good cause “raise an issue” that has to be adjudicated by the state.
“There is no automatic switch to [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance] if an individual is no longer eligible for regular UI benefits,” the spokesperson said, adding that anyone who meets the criteria should apply for the federal benefits. “States are responsible to inform ineligible UI recipients of the PUA program, but they are not responsible to determine eligibility for PUA until an individual applies.”
A spokesperson for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said the senator will soon introduce legislation that would make it more explicit that people with health conditions should be covered by the federal program. Lawmakers have been more focused on the looming expiration of an extra $600 in federally funded payments to people receiving jobless aid, but Wyden’s proposal would wind up in a broader coronavirus package that Congress will debate in the coming weeks.
“I don't feel I had a choice.” - Becky Groose
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Becky Groose of Kalispell, Montana, started receiving unemployment benefits in March after getting furloughed from her job as the director of an after-school program. The city asked her to come back to her summer job as director of a camp for young children in June. It’s a job that she had very much enjoyed for the last two years, but she said no.
Groose has immune system disorders ― exactly the kind of underlying condition that would put her at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Groose said she felt her employer had done everything possible to minimize her potential exposure to the virus, but that it still wasn’t worth the risk. “I said, ‘Unless you put me in a little plexiglass box, I don’t know how you can keep me safe,’” she said.
Her health care provider agreed. “At this point, I feel strongly that it would NOT be in her best interests to work at the summer camp this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” her doctor wrote in a June 10 letter. She added: “The concern would be for her increased exposure with an already increased risk for poor outcome due to age and multiple medical concerns.”
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry didn’t seem to care. Though the U.S. Labor Department said states are “responsible to inform” ineligible unemployment insurance recipients about the federal benefits, the Montana labor department’s website simply says workers “must return to work when asked to do so by the employer.”
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On the ledger where Groose can track the status of her claim, it says “job refusal” for each week since June 13. She’s getting by thanks in part to temporary forbearance from her mortgage lender.
Groose’s situation is a small preview of the dilemma facing millions of educators who may be at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 but are being called back to work next month. She loves her job, the kids, the parents. She doesn’t want to stop working. But she is now looking for a job that gives her more distance from other people.
“I don’t feel I had a choice,” Groose said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-16--Men Shouldn't Drink More Than 1 Alcoholic Beverage A Day, Experts Say

NEW YORK ( AP ) — If you decide to have an alcoholic drink , limiting yourself to one a day is best — whether you ’ re a man or woman .
That ’ s the new advice experts are recommending for the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans , which are scheduled to be updated later this year for the first time in five years .
The guidelines now say men should limit themselves to two drinks a day , and that women should limit themselves to one .
That advice has been in place since 1990 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of experts noted there isn ’ t adequate evidence to support different alcohol recommendations for men and women , and that research supports tightening the limit for men .
U.S. health agencies that issue dietary guidelines aren ’ t required to adopt the committee ’ s recommendations .
“ As a nation , our collective health would be better if people generally drank less , ” said Dr. Timothy Naimi , an alcohol researcher at Boston University and one of the experts on the committee convened by federal officials .
The proposed advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not having a drink on Thursday means you can have two on Friday , Naimi said .
One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer , a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor .
The advice is based on links that researchers observed between drinking habits and all causes of death , including heart disease , cancer and car accidents , rather than a specific physical harm that alcohol might have .
Such observational studies , common in food and nutrition science , do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often the best evidence available , so experts use them to give guidance .
With alcohol , Naimi said two drinks a day was associated with an increased risk of death compared with one drink a day .
He said the increase was modest , but notable enough for the committee to recommend updating the advice .
Whether the proposed new advice would influence behavior isn ’ t clear .
Many Americans already exceed the current advice on alcohol limits , Naimi noted .
Still , he said most people could generally benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they ’ re not within the advised limits .
The guidelines are based on the overall health of a population , and an individual ’ s risk from drinking could vary depending on a variety of factors and health habits , said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian , a professor of nutrition at Tufts University .
Mozaffarian also noted that many people misinterpret the current advice to mean they should have one or two drinks a day .
The limits are meant for people who already drink .
The guidelines do not recommend that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start doing so .
Even if most Americans aren ’ t familiar with the details of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines , they ’ re subject of intense lobbying because of their power to shape the advice dispensed by doctors and what ’ s served in federal food programs , including school lunches .
Other changes recommended by the committee include tightening the limit on added sugars to less than 6 % of calories , down from the previous limit of 10 % .
Federal officials are expected to issue the updated guidelines by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering public comments and input from other agencies .

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NEW YORK (AP) — If you decide to have an alcoholic drink, limiting yourself to one a day is best — whether you’re a man or woman.
That’s the new advice experts are recommending for the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are scheduled to be updated later this year for the first time in five years. The guidelines now say men should limit themselves to two drinks a day, and that women should limit themselves to one. That advice has been in place since 1990.
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In a report released Wednesday, a committee of experts noted there isn’t adequate evidence to support different alcohol recommendations for men and women, and that research supports tightening the limit for men. U.S. health agencies that issue dietary guidelines aren’t required to adopt the committee’s recommendations.
“As a nation, our collective health would be better if people generally drank less,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, an alcohol researcher at Boston University and one of the experts on the committee convened by federal officials.
The proposed advice shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that not having a drink on Thursday means you can have two on Friday, Naimi said. One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor.
The advice is based on links that researchers observed between drinking habits and all causes of death, including heart disease, cancer and car accidents, rather than a specific physical harm that alcohol might have. Such observational studies, common in food and nutrition science, do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship but they are often the best evidence available, so experts use them to give guidance.
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With alcohol, Naimi said two drinks a day was associated with an increased risk of death compared with one drink a day. He said the increase was modest, but notable enough for the committee to recommend updating the advice.
Whether the proposed new advice would influence behavior isn’t clear. Many Americans already exceed the current advice on alcohol limits, Naimi noted. Still, he said most people could generally benefit from any reduction in alcohol, even if they’re not within the advised limits.
The report noted that the guidelines may be aspirational, but are important for “stimulating thought around behavior change.”
The guidelines are based on the overall health of a population, and an individual’s risk from drinking could vary depending on a variety of factors and health habits, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a professor of nutrition at Tufts University.
Mozaffarian also noted that many people misinterpret the current advice to mean they should have one or two drinks a day. The limits are meant for people who already drink. The guidelines do not recommend that people who do not drink alcohol to start doing so.
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Even if most Americans aren’t familiar with the details of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, they’re subject of intense lobbying because of their power to shape the advice dispensed by doctors and what’s served in federal food programs, including school lunches.
Other changes recommended by the committee include tightening the limit on added sugars to less than 6% of calories, down from the previous limit of 10%. Federal officials are expected to issue the updated guidelines by the end of the year, after considering public comments and input from other agencies.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-16--U.K., U.S., Canada Say Russian Hackers Targeting COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

LONDON ( AP ) — Britain , the United States and Canada accused Russia on Thursday of trying to steal information from researchers seeking a COVID-19 vaccine .
The three nations alleged that hacking group APT29 , also known as Cozy Bear and said to be part of the Russian intelligence service , is attacking academic and pharmaceutical research institutions involved in coronavirus vaccine development .
Britain ’ s National Cybersecurity Centre made the announcement , which was coordinated with authorities in the U.S. and Canada .
“ It is completely unacceptable that the Russian Intelligence Services are targeting those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ″ Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement .
“ While others pursue their selfish interests with reckless behavior , the U.K. and its allies are getting on with the hard work of finding a vaccine and protecting global health.″ The persistent and ongoing attacks are seen by intelligence officials as an effort to steal intellectual property , rather than to disrupt research .
The campaign of “ malicious activity″ is ongoing and includes attacks “ predominantly against government , diplomatic , think-tank , healthcare and energy targets , ″ the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was unclear whether any information actually was stolen but the center says individuals ’ confidential information is not believed to have been compromised .
Cozy Bear , also known as the “ dukes , ″ has been identified by Washington as one of two Russian government-linked hacking groups that broke into the Democratic National Committee computer network and stole emails ahead of the 2016 presidential election .
The other group is usually called Fancy Bear .
The director of operations for the British cybersecurity center , Paul Chichester , urged “ organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have published to help defend their networks.
” The statement did not say whether Russian President Vladimir Putin knew about the vaccine research hacking , but British officials believe such intelligence would be highly prized .
U.S. authorities have for month leveled similar accusations against China .
FBI Director Chris Wray said last week , “ At this very moment , China is working to compromise American health care organizations , pharmaceutical companies , and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research .
”

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LONDON (AP) — Britain, the United States and Canada accused Russia on Thursday of trying to steal information from researchers seeking a COVID-19 vaccine.
The three nations alleged that hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear and said to be part of the Russian intelligence service, is attacking academic and pharmaceutical research institutions involved in coronavirus vaccine development.
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Britain’s National Cybersecurity Centre made the announcement, which was coordinated with authorities in the U.S. and Canada.
“It is completely unacceptable that the Russian Intelligence Services are targeting those working to combat the coronavirus pandemic,″ Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. “While others pursue their selfish interests with reckless behavior, the U.K. and its allies are getting on with the hard work of finding a vaccine and protecting global health.″
The persistent and ongoing attacks are seen by intelligence officials as an effort to steal intellectual property, rather than to disrupt research. The campaign of “malicious activity″ is ongoing and includes attacks “predominantly against government, diplomatic, think-tank, healthcare and energy targets,″ the National Cybersecurity Centre said in a statement.
It was unclear whether any information actually was stolen but the center says individuals’ confidential information is not believed to have been compromised.
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Cozy Bear, also known as the “dukes,″ has been identified by Washington as one of two Russian government-linked hacking groups that broke into the Democratic National Committee computer network and stole emails ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The other group is usually called Fancy Bear.
The director of operations for the British cybersecurity center, Paul Chichester, urged “organizations to familiarize themselves with the advice we have published to help defend their networks.”
The statement did not say whether Russian President Vladimir Putin knew about the vaccine research hacking, but British officials believe such intelligence would be highly prized.
U.S. authorities have for month leveled similar accusations against China. FBI Director Chris Wray said last week, “At this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research.”
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Associated Press Writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed.