thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Lisa Murkowski Says She'll Vote To Confirm Amy Coney Barrett

Murkowski , along with GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine , said she opposed moving forward with filing a vacant Supreme Court seat just days away from the presidential election , expressing worry that it would politicize the institution and threaten its legitimacy .
“ I don ’ t think this will help our country become a better version of itself , ” Murkowski said in a speech on the Senate floor , immediately before announcing her intention to vote for Barrett anyway .
The final vote is expected on Monday .
“ While I oppose the process that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not hold it against her as an individual who has navigated the gauntlet with grace , skill and humility , ” she added of Barrett , a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge who once clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
Murkowski is up for reelection in 2022 , and her vote on Barrett ’ s nomination is being closely watched as she gears up for a potential GOP primary .
The senator ’ s contradictory announcement on Saturday was an attempt to thread the needle to bolster her chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alaska moderate voted against Brett Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation in 2018 .
She also drew the ire of Trump after denouncing his conduct as president earlier this year .
Democrats have warned that Barrett ’ s anti-abortion background indicates that she will vote to curtail abortion rights ― something that ought to matter to a pro-choice senator like Murkowski .
But the senator defended Barrett on Saturday , stating she did not believe the judge had a “ predetermined agenda ” after meeting with her earlier this week .

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Saturday that she will vote to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee.
Murkowski, along with GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she opposed moving forward with filing a vacant Supreme Court seat just days away from the presidential election, expressing worry that it would politicize the institution and threaten its legitimacy.
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“I don’t think this will help our country become a better version of itself,” Murkowski said in a speech on the Senate floor, immediately before announcing her intention to vote for Barrett anyway. The final vote is expected on Monday.
“While I oppose the process that has led us to this point, I do not hold it against her as an individual who has navigated the gauntlet with grace, skill and humility,” she added of Barrett, a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge who once clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Murkowski is up for reelection in 2022, and her vote on Barrett’s nomination is being closely watched as she gears up for a potential GOP primary. The senator’s contradictory announcement on Saturday was an attempt to thread the needle to bolster her chances of remaining in the Senate.
The Alaska moderate voted against Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018. She also drew the ire of Trump after denouncing his conduct as president earlier this year.
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With Murkowski’s support, Barrett’s nomination is now expected to pass 52-48.
Democrats have warned that Barrett’s anti-abortion background indicates that she will vote to curtail abortion rights ― something that ought to matter to a pro-choice senator like Murkowski.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Biden Says He'll Be A President For All, Including Pro-Trump ‘Chumps’ At Rally

Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania that if he wins the presidency , he will work hard on behalf of all Americans — including people like the “ chumps ” who gathered outside the event , honked their horns , waved flags and yelled in support of President Donald Trump .
“ By the way , we don ’ t do things like those chumps out there with the microphone are doing , the Trump guys , ” Biden said at the rally at Bucks County Community College .
“ It ’ s about decency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come together.
” “ Remember what Donald Trump said when COVID-19 deaths reached 200,000 in America ?
” Biden asked .
“ He said , ‘ If you look at the blue states , the Democratic governors , and just look at the red states , the Republican governors , we ’ re doing well.
’ Well , first of all , it ’ s not true .
The great rise has happened in most of the red states .
But that ’ s not the point .
Think of what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in America .
He ’ s saying , if you live in Pennsylvania , you ’ re not his problem .
If you live in a red state , Alabama , he may think about you.
” Trump has frequently used such language to turn his handling of the coronavirus pandemic into a partisan issue .
In a September press conference , Trump accused states with Democratic governors of having “ tremendous death rates , ” insinuating that the United States was “ really at a very low level ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet at the time that Trump made these statements , deaths were about evenly divided between red and blue states .
Since July , at least 70 % of new COVID-19 deaths have occurred in states with Republican governors , according to an analysis by The Washington Post .
Biden insisted that he didn ’ t see the presidency the same way as Trump .
Even though he is running as a “ proud Democrat , ” Biden said he will “ govern as an American president , for everybody.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who don ’ t support me as those who do , including those chumps at the microphone out there , ” Biden said .
“ Look , that ’ s the job of a president : the duty to care for everyone .
The duty to heal .
”

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Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania that if he wins the presidency, he will work hard on behalf of all Americans — including people like the “chumps” who gathered outside the event, honked their horns, waved flags and yelled in support of President Donald Trump.
“By the way, we don’t do things like those chumps out there with the microphone are doing, the Trump guys,” Biden said at the rally at Bucks County Community College. “It’s about decency. Look, we’ve got to come together.”
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Rowdy scene as Joe Biden speaks at drive-in rally in Bucks County, PA — Trump supporters waving flags and honking during his speech pic.twitter.com/Qa6m9Zdbsr — MJ Lee (@mj_lee) October 24, 2020
As Biden spoke at a drive-in rally in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a group of what appeared to be Trump supporters nearby honked horns, waved flags and shouted "four more years"https://t.co/X7djYZA7mf pic.twitter.com/cMFzFZCdNF — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 24, 2020
Biden paraphrased President Abraham Lincoln: “A house divided cannot stand.”
“Remember what Donald Trump said when COVID-19 deaths reached 200,000 in America?” Biden asked. “He said, ‘If you look at the blue states, the Democratic governors, and just look at the red states, the Republican governors, we’re doing well.’ Well, first of all, it’s not true. The great rise has happened in most of the red states. But that’s not the point. Think of what he’s saying about what’s going on in America. He’s saying, if you live in Pennsylvania, you’re not his problem. If you live in a red state, Alabama, he may think about you.”
Trump has frequently used such language to turn his handling of the coronavirus pandemic into a partisan issue. In a September press conference, Trump accused states with Democratic governors of having “tremendous death rates,” insinuating that the United States was “really at a very low level” of COVID-19 deaths when you exclude those states. Yet at the time that Trump made these statements, deaths were about evenly divided between red and blue states.
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Since July, at least 70% of new COVID-19 deaths have occurred in states with Republican governors, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.
Biden insisted that he didn’t see the presidency the same way as Trump. Even though he is running as a “proud Democrat,” Biden said he will “govern as an American president, for everybody.”
“I’ll work as hard for those who don’t support me as those who do, including those chumps at the microphone out there,” Biden said. “Look, that’s the job of a president: the duty to care for everyone. The duty to heal.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Thousands Of Early Voters Waited For Hours In Snaking Lines On Saturday To Cast Their Ballots

On the first day of early voting in New York on Saturday , tens of thousands of people waited in long lines — often for hours on end — to cast their ballots .
Social media was abuzz with videos and photos of snaking voting lines outside polling places across the state .
At Madison Square Garden in Manhattan , the voting line stretched across multiple blocks — and according to The New York Times , more than 750 people were still in line after polls officially closed on Saturday .
Wowow , New York City turning out for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just *part* of the line outside MSG , wrapping around several blocks .
pic.twitter.com/D8wyDULEPT — Mariya Abedi ( @ msabedi ) October 24 , 2020 One of the voters in the line , Emmanuel Vazquez , 25 , told the paper that he ’ d waited for three hours to cast his ballot .
“ I ’ m tired , I ’ m hungry and I want to go home , ” Vazquez said .
“ But I ’ m just thinking about how worth it this will feel in a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me alive right now.
” New Yorkers , many clad in face masks and some socially distanced , are seen waiting in long lines to cast their early ballots on the first day of in-person voting for the 2020 election .
https : //t.co/xTP2bjVCaL pic.twitter.com/oQBOa2cyvE — ABC News ( @ ABC ) October 24 , 2020 New Yorkers jammed polling places and stood in line for hours to cast ballots on the state ’ s first day of early voting , rushing to record their choices 10 days ahead of the Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ Reuters ) October 24 , 2020 THANK YOU to the artists , musicians , snack and lawn chair providers , and everyday cheerleaders sustaining people ’ s spirits as they wait at the polls .
No voting line should ever be hours long , but we will overcome injustice and overwhelm the polls .
# VoteEarly # MakeItCount 🗳 https : //t.co/goUfvPClpL — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( @ AOC ) October 24 , 2020 My 85 year old mom just sent me a photo from NYC where she has been waiting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote .
We need to fix this .
( And my mom rocks ! )
pic.twitter.com/JXYRmBcooG — Jon Cryer ( @ MrJonCryer ) October 24 , 2020 First day of early voting in New York .
Hundreds of people lined up around two blocks to cast their vote at Robert Wagner Middle School on 75th and 2nd on the Upper East Side .
Police on-site say the current waiting time is 3 hours .
pic.twitter.com/m72XS7LY5k — Marie Schulte-Bockum ( @ marieschubo ) October 24 , 2020 This is Brooklyn .
Lines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of people in line for a hand full of voting machines .
This is the only early voting location for TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE .
This is disgusting .
This is voter suppression .
This is what we ’ re up against .
pic.twitter.com/QxKQbf0IrR — Ben O'Keefe ( he/him ) ( @ benjaminokeefe ) October 24 , 2020 Some New Yorkers criticized the long lines and the apparent lack of adequate infrastructure to handle the onslaught of early voters .
The Times reported that some polling centers in New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Still , many New York voters said they were undeterred by the long wait times .
In New York City alone , more than 80,000 votes were cast on Saturday , the city ’ s Board of Elections said .
“ Given this year and given the current president we need to send a clear message that his policies don ’ t work , that they ’ re offensive , that they don ’ t represent American values , ” Vanessa Reilly , a 38-year-old Brooklynite who waited in line to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Reuters .
Early voters in several other states , including Pennsylvania , Ohio and Alabama , also showed up in droves to cast their ballots on Saturday .
Already , more than 56 million Americans across the country have cast early ballots either in person or by mail .
At this rate , the U.S. could see the highest voter turnout rate since 1908 , Reuters noted , citing data from the U.S .
Elections Project .
Alabama , where early voting in the form of no-excuse in-person absentee voting is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long lines despite pouring rain for 9-1 Saturday voting today .
There were over 100 people in line in Bessemer who were able to stay & vote when they shut down at 1. pic.twitter.com/yqtLhMXBQR — Joyce Alene ( @ JoyceWhiteVance ) October 24 , 2020 ALABAMA : Voters in the state that gave birth to the Voting Rights Act are turning out for in person absentee voting ( now thru 10/29 ) Because of the # SCOTUS some voters may be in line b/c curbside voting is no longer an option .
# @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KristenClarkeJD ) October 24 , 2020

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On the first day of early voting in New York on Saturday, tens of thousands of people waited in long lines — often for hours on end — to cast their ballots.
Social media was abuzz with videos and photos of snaking voting lines outside polling places across the state.
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At Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, the voting line stretched across multiple blocks — and, according to The New York Times, more than 750 people were still in line after polls officially closed on Saturday.
Wowow, New York City turning out for the first day of #EarlyVoting. This is just *part* of the line outside MSG, wrapping around several blocks. pic.twitter.com/D8wyDULEPT — Mariya Abedi (@msabedi) October 24, 2020
One of the voters in the line, Emmanuel Vazquez, 25, told the paper that he’d waited for three hours to cast his ballot.
“I’m tired, I’m hungry and I want to go home,” Vazquez said. “But I’m just thinking about how worth it this will feel in a few weeks. And that’s keeping me alive right now.”
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(Story continues below.)
New Yorkers, many clad in face masks and some socially distanced, are seen waiting in long lines to cast their early ballots on the first day of in-person voting for the 2020 election. https://t.co/xTP2bjVCaL pic.twitter.com/oQBOa2cyvE — ABC News (@ABC) October 24, 2020
SPED UP VIDEO: Long lines span city blocks for early in-person voting in Jackson Heights, Queens. pic.twitter.com/HsLBXCAdKf — The Hill (@thehill) October 24, 2020
New Yorkers jammed polling places and stood in line for hours to cast ballots on the state’s first day of early voting, rushing to record their choices 10 days ahead of the Nov. 3 election https://t.co/YSBUxaSOSJ pic.twitter.com/ZMdsXxFExc — Reuters (@Reuters) October 24, 2020
THANK YOU to the artists, musicians, snack and lawn chair providers, and everyday cheerleaders sustaining people’s spirits as they wait at the polls.
No voting line should ever be hours long, but we will overcome injustice and overwhelm the polls. #VoteEarly #MakeItCount 🗳 https://t.co/goUfvPClpL — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 24, 2020
This voting line in New York has curved around two blocks at 9am, an hour before the polls open. #VoteEarlyDay pic.twitter.com/nanLhRNAps — Leta Hong Fincher Voted Early (@LetaHong) October 24, 2020
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My 85 year old mom just sent me a photo from NYC where she has been waiting in line for 4 hours (!) to vote.
We need to fix this.
(And my mom rocks!) pic.twitter.com/JXYRmBcooG — Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) October 24, 2020
First day of early voting in New York. Hundreds of people lined up around two blocks to cast their vote at Robert Wagner Middle School on 75th and 2nd on the Upper East Side. Police on-site say the current waiting time is 3 hours. pic.twitter.com/m72XS7LY5k — Marie Schulte-Bockum (@marieschubo) October 24, 2020
This is Brooklyn. Lines are double wrapped for 6 blocks. Literally thousands of people in line for a hand full of voting machines. This is the only early voting location for TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. This is disgusting. This is voter suppression. This is what we’re up against. pic.twitter.com/QxKQbf0IrR — Ben O'Keefe (he/him) (@benjaminokeefe) October 24, 2020
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Some New Yorkers criticized the long lines and the apparent lack of adequate infrastructure to handle the onslaught of early voters. The Times reported that some polling centers in New York City had issues with malfunctioning polling machines on Saturday.
Still, many New York voters said they were undeterred by the long wait times. In New York City alone, more than 80,000 votes were cast on Saturday, the city’s Board of Elections said.
“Given this year and given the current president we need to send a clear message that his policies don’t work, that they’re offensive, that they don’t represent American values,” Vanessa Reilly, a 38-year-old Brooklynite who waited in line to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, told Reuters.
Early voters in several other states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Alabama, also showed up in droves to cast their ballots on Saturday.
Already, more than 56 million Americans across the country have cast early ballots either in person or by mail. At this rate, the U.S. could see the highest voter turnout rate since 1908, Reuters noted, citing data from the U.S. Elections Project.
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Alabama, where early voting in the form of no-excuse in-person absentee voting is happening for the first time, had long lines despite pouring rain for 9-1 Saturday voting today. There were over 100 people in line in Bessemer who were able to stay & vote when they shut down at 1. pic.twitter.com/yqtLhMXBQR — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) October 24, 2020
ALABAMA: Voters in the state that gave birth to the Voting Rights Act are turning out for in person absentee voting (now thru 10/29)
Because of the #SCOTUS some voters may be in line b/c curbside voting is no longer an option. #VoteEarlyDay 866-OUR-VOTEpic.twitter.com/uxEFXBGdS3 — Kristen Clarke 866-OUR-VOTE (@KristenClarkeJD) October 24, 2020
The early voting line at Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is currently wrapped beyond I-90 bridge touching campus of CSU. pic.twitter.com/aNDHgWCGFG — Maia Belay (@MaiaBelay_FOX8) October 24, 2020
by the way: this is the ONLY early voting location in Cuyahoga County (which holds Cleveland) and has a population of about 1.2 million people over 400+ square miles #VoteEarlyDay #vote https://t.co/8vVPrZKZpz — Homa Bash (@HomaBashWEWS) October 24, 2020
WATCH: Video shows long lines for early voting in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/RBJWCw9pE6 — The Hill (@thehill) October 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Surging COVID Cases Color Contentious Campaigns In Final Days

Biden , pressing the case that Trump doesn ’ t deserve a second term because of his handling of the pandemic , said at his own smaller drive-in rally outside Philadelphia that he didn ’ t “ like the idea of all this distance but it ’ s necessary ” for public health reasons .
” We don ’ t want to become superspreaders , ” he said , using a term that has been used to described a Rose Garden event in late September where Trump announced his Supreme Court nominee .
More than two dozen people linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that gathering .
Trump criticized Biden for saying during Thursday ’ s debate that the country is headed for a “ dark winter ” because of the pandemic ― the scenario that health experts have warned about for months .
The president jabbed at television news outlets for covering the pandemic , which has killed nearly 224,000 people in the United States .
The nation ’ s coronavirus tally reached record heights with more than 83,000 infections reported on Friday .
“ You know why we have cases ?
” Trump added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in many ways , it ’ s good .
And in many ways , it ’ s foolish .
In many ways , OK ?
In many ways , it ’ s very foolish.
” Trump , who spent the night at his Mar-a-Lago resort after campaigning Friday in Florida , started his day by stopping at an early voting polling site set up at a public library to cast his own ballot .
The president last year switched his official residence from New York to his private Florida club , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him badly .
Greeted at the polling site by a crowd of cheering supporters , Trump could have mailed in his ballot but opted to vote in person .
He wore a mask inside , following local rules in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus .
He told reporters that he voted for “ a guy named Trump ” after casting his ballot .
The rise in coronavirus cases is an ominous sign the disease still has a firm grip on the nation that has more confirmed virus-related deaths and infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many states are reporting a surge of cases and say hospitals are running out of space in areas where the pandemic seemed remote only months ago .
Biden ’ s first stop was in Bucks County , part of suburban Philadelphia that Hillary Clinton won by a slim margin in the 2016 White House race .
He was scheduled to host another rally later Saturday in Luzerne County , a blue-collar area that twice voted for Barack Obama but went overwhelmingly for Trump four years ago .
Biden ’ s campaign said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bon Jovi , a native of neighboring New Jersey , who will sing at the Luzerne event .
The pandemic has pushed Trump onto the defensive for much of the fall , but for the moment it is Biden ’ s team that has been forced to explain itself .
In the final minutes of Thursday night ’ s debate , the former vice president said he supports a “ transition ” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy .
The campaign released a statement hours later declaring that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel companies , not the industry altogether .
As for Biden and oil , while ending the nation ’ s reliance on fossil fuel is popular among many liberals , the idea could hurt him among working-class voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania , Ohio , and Texas who depend on the industry , and fracking , in particular , to make a living .

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LUMBERTON, North Carolina (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday mocked Democrat Joe Biden as “an inspiring guy” for raising alarm about the pandemic even as the president attracted sizable campaign crowds with coronavirus cases surging across the country in the closing days of the race.
Biden, pressing the case that Trump doesn’t deserve a second term because of his handling of the pandemic, said at his own smaller drive-in rally outside Philadelphia that he didn’t “like the idea of all this distance but it’s necessary” for public health reasons.
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”We don’t want to become superspreaders,” he said, using a term that has been used to described a Rose Garden event in late September where Trump announced his Supreme Court nominee. More than two dozen people linked to the White House have contracted COVID-19 since that gathering.
Biden, with some help from rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, was courting voters in hotly contested pockets of Pennsylvania that could prove key to deciding the outcome of the race in the state.
Trump criticized Biden for saying during Thursday’s debate that the country is headed for a “dark winter” because of the pandemic ― the scenario that health experts have warned about for months. The president jabbed at television news outlets for covering the pandemic, which has killed nearly 224,000 people in the United States. The nation’s coronavirus tally reached record heights with more than 83,000 infections reported on Friday.
“We’re rounding the turn ... our numbers are incredible,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Lumberton, North Carolina, that drew hundreds of people who stood shoulder to shoulder.
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The president was scheduled to hold rallies later in Circleville, Ohio, and Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Trump said that he watched Biden’s Pennsylvania rally as he flew to North Carolina and said it appeared attendees, who were in their cars, weren’t properly socially distancing.
“You know why we have cases?” Trump added. “’Cause we test so much. And in many ways, it’s good. And in many ways, it’s foolish. In many ways, OK? In many ways, it’s very foolish.”
Trump, who spent the night at his Mar-a-Lago resort after campaigning Friday in Florida, started his day by stopping at an early voting polling site set up at a public library to cast his own ballot. The president last year switched his official residence from New York to his private Florida club, complaining that New York politicians had treated him badly.
Greeted at the polling site by a crowd of cheering supporters, Trump could have mailed in his ballot but opted to vote in person. He wore a mask inside, following local rules in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. He told reporters that he voted for “a guy named Trump” after casting his ballot.
Biden hasn’t voted and is likely do so in person on Election Day, Nov. 3., as Delaware doesn’t offer early voting. Trump, who has made unsubstantiated claims of massive fraud about mail-in voting, gave another plug to in-person voting.
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“When you send in your ballot it could never be like that. It could never be secure like that,” Trump said.
The rise in coronavirus cases is an ominous sign the disease still has a firm grip on the nation that has more confirmed virus-related deaths and infections than any other in the world. Many states are reporting a surge of cases and say hospitals are running out of space in areas where the pandemic seemed remote only months ago.
Biden’s first stop was in Bucks County, part of suburban Philadelphia that Hillary Clinton won by a slim margin in the 2016 White House race. He was scheduled to host another rally later Saturday in Luzerne County, a blue-collar area that twice voted for Barack Obama but went overwhelmingly for Trump four years ago. Biden’s campaign said the former vice president will be joined by Bon Jovi, a native of neighboring New Jersey, who will sing at the Luzerne event.
In the Nov. 3 election, more than 54 million votes have already been cast, with an additional 100 million or so expected before a winner is declared.
The pandemic has pushed Trump onto the defensive for much of the fall, but for the moment it is Biden’s team that has been forced to explain itself. In the final minutes of Thursday night’s debate, the former vice president said he supports a “transition” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy. The campaign released a statement hours later declaring that he would phase out taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel companies, not the industry altogether.
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But Trump, campaigning in North Carolina, again hammered Biden on the issue.
“He’s either crazy or he’s the worst liar,” Trump said. “I actually think there’s a third category. I think he doesn’t remember.”
As part of his damage control, Biden dispatched running mate Kamala Harris to help clarify his position as she campaigned in swing state Georgia on Friday. He also sought to clarify his position during remarks in Bucks County.
“Let me be clear, I’m not banning fracking in Pennsylvania or anywhere else,” Biden said.
As for Biden and oil, while ending the nation’s reliance on fossil fuel is popular among many liberals, the idea could hurt him among working-class voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas who depend on the industry, and fracking, in particular, to make a living.
Biden has said he would ban new gas and oil permits — including fracking — on federal lands only. The vast majority of oil and gas does not come from federal lands.
___
Weissert reported from Bristol, Pennsylvania, and Madhani from Washington.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Save Dives, Save Lives: Paying Bars To Close Could Slow The Spread Of COVID-19

Health officials are now also acknowledging that COVID-19 can be airborne , meaning that tiny aerosolized particles of the virus can attach to dust and dirt spread around through the air .
Because of their minuscule size , these particles can linger in the air for hours and travel longer distances rather than falling to the ground quickly like respiratory droplets .
Research also suggests that these particles can potentially be spread by heating and cooling systems if there aren ’ t proper filters in place .
Of course , if people stayed home when they ’ re sick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they don ’ t .
More people are starting to resume their pre-pandemic lives , which has led to an increase in cases over the last few weeks .
And many may not even know they ’ re sick in the first place : Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that around 40 % of people infected with the coronavirus are asymptomatic .
So far , nobody in Congress is advocating for a bar shutdown scheme , but it has been tried in at least a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid nightclubs to close for a short time to quell an outbreak over the summer .
In past years , Penn State University has paid bars to close on St. Patrick ’ s Day just to prevent bad behavior by students .
Some restaurants in Chicago are voluntarily shutting down until spring , both to save money and stay safe .

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Some 100,000 restaurants have permanently closed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and the unemployment rate for restaurant workers sits at 16.4%, more than twice the national average.
As the weather turns cold, the picture is going to get even more bleak. The restaurants that have been able to struggle through by relying on outdoor seating will be less able to keep up with their expenses as patios and sidewalks become inhospitable.
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Inside dining, even in limited capacities, will pose a risk in areas where the virus is surging, as COVID-19 spreads most easily indoors, especially in places with poor ventilation. Most people take off their masks to dine or drink, and alcohol lowers people’s inhibitions, making them more likely to get close and disregard distancing advice.
In other words, all of the things we love about our favorite bar or restaurant ― the close quarters, the drinking, the music so loud you have to shout ― are what also makes them a recipe for virus transmission. And there’s a real risk many of your favorites will never come back.
One way to save bars and lives would be for the government to pay bars and restaurants to stay closed, and pay their workers to stay home, until the coronavirus pandemic is under control. But doing so is probably too radical for Congress.
That doesn’t mean lawmakers aren’t willing to throw money at the industry. In fact, there’s bipartisan support for setting aside $120 billion for restaurants, which is a pretty large amount for an industry-specific piece of legislation. The proposal doesn’t tell bars to close, but it could tide them over in the likely event that outbreaks force mayors and governors to reinstate shutdowns, as Chicago’s mayor did this week.
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Democrats tucked the restaurant revitalization fund, as it’s called, into the latest version of their $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill. But Republicans and the Trump administration have been unwilling to go along with Democratic demands on coronavirus relief ― even though Republicans support many of the individual parts of the bill, including the restaurant part.
It’s not clear if the $120 billion has been a sticking point in the negotiations. Neither House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) nor Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the lead negotiators on the deal, has ever alluded to the restaurant fund when they’ve listed their agreements and disagreements. Spokespeople for both ignored requests for comment.
Winter Is Coming — For Bars
There’s ample historical precedent for a restaurant bailout. At different times this country has bailed out railroads, airlines, banks and farms when those industries have faced unique crises.
Bars and restaurants are arguably more vulnerable to the combination of a pandemic and cold weather than any other type of business, and they employ about 6% of the workforce. Even after bars and restaurants recalled several million workers they’d furloughed in spring, employment in drinking and eating places is still down by 2.3 million jobs.
Expanded outdoor dining in New York City has helped restaurants throughout the warmer months of the pandemic, but restaurant industry workers are worried about what happens as temperatures drop if there is no additional federal relief money. Andrew Kelly / Reuters
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Brenda Waybrant has been unemployed since March, when she was furloughed from her job as a server at a restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. At first, she said, her manager said she would return in May. Then October. Now her return date is the end of December.
In the meantime, Waybrant, 35, has seen her resources dwindle. In July, the extra $600 Congress had added to weekly unemployment benefits in March expired; lawmakers had not expected that pandemic relief would be needed for as long as it has been. Waybrant said her roommate had to cover their rent last month.
She’s not sure how she feels about returning to work. Her unemployment benefits will run out at the end of the year, which is when Congress has set long-term benefits to expire. But she’s seen the crowds of maskless bargoers downtown and doesn’t think it looks safe. Nashville hospitals said this week they’re nearing capacity as cases rise in the state.
“It totally depends on where this virus goes,” she said. “That’s the predicament so many people are in. Our situations are totally dictated by how well society does in taking care of the virus.”
Many restaurants emphasized outdoor dining this summer, taking advantage of relaxed city ordinances to fill up sidewalks or even occupy street space. But outdoor tables will lose appeal in the cold, no matter how many heat lamps, tents and igloos restaurants might deploy.
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“We’re moving into the most dangerous period of the year,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president for public affairs at the National Restaurant Association lobbying group. “Unless you have a really effective drive-through or takeout model you are in a world of hurt right now and we need a plan from Washington.”
For many restaurants, indoor dining will be the only option. And eating and drinking in the same room as a bunch of other people could have unfortunate consequences as the coronavirus pandemic swells into a third wave of infections across the country.
Generally, your risk of contracting COVID-19 is lower when you’re outside because there is natural airflow and more space to be away from others. Confined spaces like bars and restaurants, on the other hand, make it more likely that patrons will come into contact with the virus if someone nearby is sick.
The coronavirus commonly spreads when a person comes into contact with respiratory droplets from an infected individual. When a person coughs, sneezes, projects or sings, they may expel tiny particles several feet away from them that contain the virus, which then can infect another person. This is often why experts stress physical distancing and mask wearing ― two things that likely won’t occur when people are dining or drinking indoors.
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Of course, if people stayed home when they’re sick, this wouldn’t really matter much. But they don’t. More people are starting to resume their pre-pandemic lives, which has led to an increase in cases over the last few weeks. And many may not even know they’re sick in the first place: Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that around 40% of people infected with the coronavirus are asymptomatic.
Stay Closed, Stay Open
All of this is why Elisabeth Rosenthal, a former emergency room physician, suggested in a New York Times op-ed that the government pay bars to close for the winter just like it pays farmers to conserve land ― i.e. pays them to not farm.
The proposal under consideration as part of a broader coronavirus relief package would give restaurants cash grants of up to $10 million based on their quarterly revenue loss. The aid wouldn’t come in loans, as it did with the Paycheck Protection Program, and there would be fewer requirements for when and how the money is spent.
Nothing in the legislation would encourage restaurants to close, as shutdown orders are under the authority of mayors and governors. Republicans would undoubtedly oppose any such requirement, and restaurants themselves might not want to shut down, even if they get paid for it. Several bars and eateries sued their governors over shutdown orders earlier this year.
“Nobody in Congress is advocating for a bar shutdown scheme, but it has been tried beforee. The city of Tokyo paid nightclubs to close for a short time to quell an outbreak over the summer. In past years, Penn State University has paid bars to close on St. Patrick’s Day to prevent bad behavior by students.”
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“It is very premature to say that restaurants should be closed as an industry or mothballed as an industry,” Kennedy, of the National Restaurant Association, said. “The science is murky at best as to what kind of risk restaurants are.”
The science doesn’t seem that murky. Near the beginning of the pandemic, a small study of an air-conditioned restaurant in China found the coronavirus spread to separate families eating in the establishment. In South Korea, where COVID-19 was fairly under control, an outbreak of the disease was linked to a person who went bar hopping after lockdown restrictions eased in May.
There have also been plenty of examples in the U.S. linked to this type of spread, including in Boise, Idaho, where more than 150 cases were linked to people who visited bars and nightclubs in June. The evidence that these locations can be a danger zone has only continued to grow.
Of course, most people understand the risks, and that’s why businesses are suffering. Some 40% of restaurant operators surveyed by the National Restaurant Association said they don’t think they could survive another six months without another relief package from Congress.
Mark Menard co-owns two bars near the Capitol in Washington, D.C. that have been operating at reduced hours and limited capacity, with nobody sitting or standing at the bar itself, in accordance with the city’s coronavirus rules. Revenue is down relative to pre-pandemic levels, but most employees are still getting shifts. Menard has expanded outdoor seating and quickly bought heaters before summer ended.
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“We were hearing that the heaters were going to become the toilet paper of the fall,” he said.
He likes the idea of a federal fund dedicated to restaurants, but is skeptical about the idea of being paid to close. Would every bar have to do it? Would there be exceptions? What if, under a hypothetical pay-to-close scenario, Menard’s bars accepted shutdown grants but other nearby bars stayed open instead?
So far, nobody in Congress is advocating for a bar shutdown scheme, but it has been tried in at least a couple of places. The city of Tokyo paid nightclubs to close for a short time to quell an outbreak over the summer. In past years, Penn State University has paid bars to close on St. Patrick’s Day just to prevent bad behavior by students. Some restaurants in Chicago are voluntarily shutting down until spring, both to save money and stay safe.
Despite his investment in heaters and blankets, Menard thinks winter will be rough, but he’s hoping to hang on.
“I don’t think it’s completely out of the question that we see a D.C. with a few places left and a whole lot of TGIFridays,” Menard said, referring to the private-equity owned restaurant chain. “I don’t think any of us realized how bad it could get. I think it will bounce back but I don’t think it will bounce back for years.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Voting RIghts Advocates Hope To Stave Off Intimidation At Polls

BOISE , Idaho ( AP ) — Voting rights advocates and state officials are on high alert over fears that U.S. polling stations could attract the same strain of partisan violence and civil unrest that erupted on American streets this year , fueled by a deadly pandemic , outrage over police brutality and one of the most contentious elections ever .
Anti-government extremists and other armed civilians have flocked to protests against racial injustice and COVID-19 lockdowns .
Paramilitary group members are accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan ’ s governor before the election .
President Donald Trump encouraged one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stand by ” and called for an army of “ poll watchers ” to keep tabs on polling places .
While gun rights advocates say fears of violence at the polls are unfounded , the toxic political atmosphere and the prospect of armed poll monitors have some worried it will keep voters from the polls and affect the election .
“ Just as an American , the fact that we ’ re having this conversation is absolutely terrifying to me , ” said American University professor Kurt Braddock , who researches extremist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testament to how far the extreme right has come with getting into this conversation and impacting the way that politics get done here.
” Trump has called for an army of “ poll watchers ” to go to the polls and “ watch carefully.
” Monitoring the votes at polling places is allowed in most states , but rules vary and it ’ s not a free-for-all .
States have established rules , in part , to avoid any hint that observers will harass or intimidate voters .
On Friday , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team of hundreds of civilians will spread out across the city to report any instance of voter intimidation .
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner opened a hotline that rings directly to his office ’ s prosecutors , who will send detectives to investigate reports of voter suppression or intimidation .
“ The thought is that when people see ministers with their clergy collars on , or with their stoles , people who are concerned about violence are more apt to be comforted — and the ones who might perpetuate the violence might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit , ” said the Rev .
Dr. Susan K. Smith , one of the program trainers .
Only six states plus the District of Columbia expressly prohibit carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon to a polling place .
Some other states ban carrying a firearm concealed but have no such restrictions on openly carrying a handgun or long gun .
Federal law bans firearms at schools , so polling places at those are off limits .
Authorities say they foiled a plot by members of two anti-government paramilitary groups to kidnap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat .
Members of one of the groups , called the Wolverine Watchmen , are accused of planning and training for other violent crimes , such as storming the Michigan Capitol building .
“ It ’ s one thing for militias to take semi-automatic rifles into the Michigan Statehouse .
It ’ s another thing to take it into a post office where somebody is trying to vote , where there aren ’ t armed guards and people to protect the electorate , ” he said .
During his first debate with Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the neo-fascist Proud Boys , a group known for street brawling with ideological opponents at political rallies .
A day after he told Proud Boys members to “ stand back and stand by , ” the president tried to walk back those words and said the group ’ s members should “ stand down , let law enforcement do their work.
” “ This sounds like a lot of fear-mongering by gun haters .
They are always predicting that violence is going to break out .
But like Chicken Little , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , senior vice president at Gun Owners of America .
False alarms , like one in Florida , may be inevitable : Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press briefing on Thursday to knock down rumors of voter intimidation in the county .
After a uniformed security guard stopped at an early polling site after work to pick up a relative , at least one local TV station reported it as an intimidation effort .
Gualtieri said the guard wasn ’ t part of any campaign and didn ’ t engage with @ @ @

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Voting rights advocates and state officials are on high alert over fears that U.S. polling stations could attract the same strain of partisan violence and civil unrest that erupted on American streets this year, fueled by a deadly pandemic, outrage over police brutality and one of the most contentious elections ever.
Anti-government extremists and other armed civilians have flocked to protests against racial injustice and COVID-19 lockdowns. Paramilitary group members are accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan’s governor before the election. President Donald Trump encouraged one far-right extremist group to “stand back and stand by” and called for an army of “poll watchers” to keep tabs on polling places.
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While gun rights advocates say fears of violence at the polls are unfounded, the toxic political atmosphere and the prospect of armed poll monitors have some worried it will keep voters from the polls and affect the election.
“Just as an American, the fact that we’re having this conversation is absolutely terrifying to me,” said American University professor Kurt Braddock, who researches extremist groups. “It’s a testament to how far the extreme right has come with getting into this conversation and impacting the way that politics get done here.”
Trump has called for an army of “poll watchers” to go to the polls and “watch carefully.” Monitoring the votes at polling places is allowed in most states, but rules vary and it’s not a free-for-all. States have established rules, in part, to avoid any hint that observers will harass or intimidate voters.
Some states and groups are preparing for that possibility.
In Minnesota, two advocacy groups have sued after a Tennessee-based company placed ads seeking military veterans to provide armed security at polling places and to provide security after the election to protect businesses and residents from “looting and destruction.”
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On Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that a team of hundreds of civilians will spread out across the city to report any instance of voter intimidation. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner opened a hotline that rings directly to his office’s prosecutors, who will send detectives to investigate reports of voter suppression or intimidation.
In Ohio, the League of Women Voters has been recruiting and training “peacekeeper teams” of clergy and social workers to de-escalate any tensions at the polls. So far, 125 people have signed up.
“The thought is that when people see ministers with their clergy collars on, or with their stoles, people who are concerned about violence are more apt to be comforted — and the ones who might perpetuate the violence might maybe pull back (a) little bit,” said the Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith, one of the program trainers.
In Arizona, a coalition of voting rights groups has formed to dispatch volunteers trained to combat voter intimidation and misinformation efforts. The group, Election Protection Arizona, hopes to train 200 people to deploy to polls on Election Day and 100 more to monitor social media.
“Our poll volunteers are there to ensure everyone’s right to vote is protected regardless of who they are voting for,” Muna Hijazi, the group’s organizing director, said during a call with reporters this month.
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Federal and state law enforcement officials are expanding preparations for the possibility of widespread unrest at the polls. FBI and local officials in several states have been conducting drills and setting up command centers.
Only six states plus the District of Columbia expressly prohibit carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon to a polling place. Some other states ban carrying a firearm concealed but have no such restrictions on openly carrying a handgun or long gun. Federal law bans firearms at schools, so polling places at those are off limits.
Concerns about voter intimidation are particularly pronounced in battleground states. In Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a directive reminding state elections clerks that firearms cannot be openly carried at the polls.
“Fair, free, and secure elections are the foundation of our democracy,” Benson said.
Authorities say they foiled a plot by members of two anti-government paramilitary groups to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. Members of one of the groups, called the Wolverine Watchmen, are accused of planning and training for other violent crimes, such as storming the Michigan Capitol building.
Other self-styled militia groups have shown that they have no qualms about carrying their guns into public spaces, said Braddock, the American University professor.
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“It’s one thing for militias to take semi-automatic rifles into the Michigan Statehouse. It’s another thing to take it into a post office where somebody is trying to vote, where there aren’t armed guards and people to protect the electorate,” he said.
During his first debate with Joe Biden, Trump refused to outright condemn the neo-fascist Proud Boys, a group known for street brawling with ideological opponents at political rallies. A day after he told Proud Boys members to “stand back and stand by,” the president tried to walk back those words and said the group’s members should “stand down, let law enforcement do their work.”
Gun rights activists say fears of violence at the polls are unfounded and stoked by a leftist agenda.
“This sounds like a lot of fear-mongering by gun haters. They are always predicting that violence is going to break out. But like Chicken Little, they are always wrong,” said Erich Pratt, senior vice president at Gun Owners of America.
False alarms, like one in Florida, may be inevitable: Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press briefing on Thursday to knock down rumors of voter intimidation in the county. After a uniformed security guard stopped at an early polling site after work to pick up a relative, at least one local TV station reported it as an intimidation effort. Gualtieri said the guard wasn’t part of any campaign and didn’t engage with any voter.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Trump, Biden Try Rallying Their Supporters In Key Must-Win States

PENSACOLA , Fla. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump cast his own ballot in his adopted home state of Florida Saturday before rallying supporters in three other critical battleground states .
Democrat Joe Biden is throwing his attention — with a little help from rock legend Jon Bon Jovi — on hotly contested pockets of Pennsylvania that could prove key to deciding the outcome of the race there .
“ To continue our movement .
I am going to rely on you .
Get out and vote , ” Trump told supporters in Florida on Friday .
“ Vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , your neighbors , your co-workers .
Even grab your boss and say : ‘ Come on , boss .
You got to vote.
’ ” Trump is set to hold big rallies in Lumberton , North Carolina , Circleville , Ohio , and Waukesha , Wisconsin , and promises to go full throttle over the final 10 days of the campaign with a series of big rallies even as the number of new daily coronavirus cases continues to climb .
The U.S. recorded 71,671 new cases Thursday , with several states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden has focused much of his attention on making the case to voters that Trump doesn ’ t deserve a second term because of his handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans and upended the economy .
Before his Saturday rallies , Trump , who spent the night at his Mar-a-Lago resort after campaigning Friday in Florida , is expected vote early in nearby West Palm Beach .
Trump last year switched his official residence to his private club from New York , complaining his home state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , meanwhile , will hold a pair of drive-in events in Bucks County , part of suburban Philadelphia that 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won by a slim margin , and Luzerne County , a blue-collar area that twice voted for Barack Obama but went overwhelmingly for Trump four years ago .
Biden ’ s campaign said the former vice president will be joined by Bon Jovi , a native of neighboring New Jersey , for the Luzerne event .
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed Trump onto the defensive for much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is Biden ’ s team that has been forced to explain itself .
In the final minutes of Thursday night ’ s debate , the former vice president said he supports a “ transition ” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy .
The campaign released a statement hours later declaring that he would phase out taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel companies , not the industry altogether .
“ That could be one of the biggest mistakes made in presidential debate history , ” he gloated at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirement community in central Florida , where thousands of people gathered outdoors on a polo field .
Most did not wear masks .
“ It looked like he made it , it looked like it was going to be OK .
He got off the stage , going back to his basement , and then they hit him with the energy question .
They hit him with a thing called oil , ” he told a sprawling crowd in Florida ’ s Panhandle that appeared to be one of the largest of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s be really clear about this : Joe Biden is not going to ban fracking , ” Harris said , referring to a technique that uses pressurized liquid to extract oil or natural gas .
“ He is going to deal with the oil subsidies .
You know , the president likes to take everything out of context .
But let ’ s be clear , what Joe was talking about was banning subsidies , but he will not ban fracking in America.
” As for Biden and oil , while ending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is popular among many liberals , the idea could hurt him among working-class voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania , Ohio and Texas who depend on the industry , and fracking in particular , to make a living .
As part of his plan to fight climate change , Biden has said he would ban new gas and oil permits — including fracking — on federal lands only .
The vast majority of oil and gas does not come from federal lands .

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump cast his own ballot in his adopted home state of Florida Saturday before rallying supporters in three other critical battleground states. Democrat Joe Biden is throwing his attention — with a little help from rock legend Jon Bon Jovi — on hotly contested pockets of Pennsylvania that could prove key to deciding the outcome of the race there.
With just 10 days to go, Trump and Biden are pleading with their supporters to help them turn out votes, particularly in several key states.
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“To continue our movement. I am going to rely on you. Get out and vote,” Trump told supporters in Florida on Friday. “Vote early. Bring your friends, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers. Even grab your boss and say: ‘Come on, boss. You got to vote.’”
Trump is set to hold big rallies in Lumberton, North Carolina, Circleville, Ohio, and Waukesha, Wisconsin, and promises to go full throttle over the final 10 days of the campaign with a series of big rallies even as the number of new daily coronavirus cases continues to climb. The U.S. recorded 71,671 new cases Thursday, with several states setting records across the Midwest and West.
Biden has focused much of his attention on making the case to voters that Trump doesn’t deserve a second term because of his handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans and upended the economy.
Before his Saturday rallies, Trump, who spent the night at his Mar-a-Lago resort after campaigning Friday in Florida, is expected vote early in nearby West Palm Beach. Trump last year switched his official residence to his private club from New York, complaining his home state’s politicians had treated him badly.
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Biden, meanwhile, will hold a pair of drive-in events in Bucks County, part of suburban Philadelphia that 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won by a slim margin, and Luzerne County, a blue-collar area that twice voted for Barack Obama but went overwhelmingly for Trump four years ago. Biden’s campaign said the former vice president will be joined by Bon Jovi, a native of neighboring New Jersey, for the Luzerne event.
More than 52 million votes have already been cast, with an additional 100 million or so expected before a winner is declared.
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed Trump onto the defensive for much of the fall, but for the moment it is Biden’s team that has been forced to explain itself. In the final minutes of Thursday night’s debate, the former vice president said he supports a “transition” away from oil in the U.S. in favor of renewable energy. The campaign released a statement hours later declaring that he would phase out taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel companies, not the industry altogether.
But Trump, campaigning in Florida, repeatedly seized on the issue.
“That could be one of the biggest mistakes made in presidential debate history,” he gloated at a rally at The Villages, a sprawling retirement community in central Florida, where thousands of people gathered outdoors on a polo field. Most did not wear masks.
Later, in Pensacola, Trump recounted the moment with glee.
“It looked like he made it, it looked like it was going to be OK. He got off the stage, going back to his basement, and then they hit him with the energy question. They hit him with a thing called oil,” he told a sprawling crowd in Florida’s Panhandle that appeared to be one of the largest of his campaign to date.
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While Florida is still logging thousands of new COVID-19 cases daily, audience members stood and sat shoulder-to-shoulder and Make America Great Again hats far outnumbered face coverings. In-person voting in the state began Monday.
As part of his damage control, Biden dispatched running mate Kamala Harris to help clarify his position as she campaigned in swing state Georgia.
“Let’s be really clear about this: Joe Biden is not going to ban fracking,” Harris said, referring to a technique that uses pressurized liquid to extract oil or natural gas. “He is going to deal with the oil subsidies. You know, the president likes to take everything out of context. But let’s be clear, what Joe was talking about was banning subsidies, but he will not ban fracking in America.”
As he campaigned in The Villages, Trump fired an insult at Harris that pointed to her gender, quickly stirring criticism.
“Kamala will not be your first female president,” Trump declared. “Look, we’re not going to be a socialist nation. We’re not going to have a socialist president, especially any female socialist president.”
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As for Biden and oil, while ending the nation’s reliance on fossil fuel is popular among many liberals, the idea could hurt him among working-class voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas who depend on the industry, and fracking in particular, to make a living.
Trump’s allies immediately began running new attack ads seizing on the Democrats’ inconsistent answers on energy. And Trump played a video at his Pensacola rally that included past comments from Biden and Harris about fracking, which Harris supported banning during her primary campaign.
As part of his plan to fight climate change, Biden has said he would ban new gas and oil permits — including fracking — on federal lands only. The vast majority of oil and gas does not come from federal lands.
__
Weissert reported from Wilmington, Delaware. AP writers Kevin Freking, Zeke Mille,r and Aamer Madhani in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Joe Biden Reportedly Planning Visit To Georgia Where Polls Show Very Tight Race

Joe Biden is reportedly planning a visit to Georgia , a state that hasn ’ t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992 but where recent polls show him neck-and-neck with President Donald Trump .
Biden will travel to Georgia on Tuesday , Bloomberg and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
His visit to the state will follow those of vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris , who campaigned in Atlanta on Friday , and his wife Jill Biden , who is slated to visit Macon and Savannah on Monday .
It will be Biden ’ s first campaign trip to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Joe Biden will travel Georgia on Tuesday , marking his first trip to the state as Democrats make a late push to win where they have n't since 1992 .
He is slated to travel to Atlanta and Warm Springs .
— Tyler Pager ( @ tylerpager ) October 24 , 2020 Trump , who won Georgia by five percentage points in 2016 , is currently tied with Biden among state voters , according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll .
RealClearPolitics ’ average of state polls shows Biden just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Senate races in the state — Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — have also been gaining ground against Republican incumbents , Bloomberg noted .
Ossoff is virtually tied with Republican Sen. David Perdue in state polls , per RealClearPolitics ; while Warnock is leading the polls in a crowded Senate special election , including over Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler .

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Joe Biden is reportedly planning a visit to Georgia, a state that hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992 but where recent polls show him neck-and-neck with President Donald Trump.
Biden will travel to Georgia on Tuesday, Bloomberg and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. His visit to the state will follow those of vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who campaigned in Atlanta on Friday, and his wife, Jill Biden, who is slated to visit Macon and Savannah on Monday.
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It will be Biden’s first campaign trip to Georgia as the Democratic nominee.
Scoop: Joe Biden will travel Georgia on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the state as Democrats make a late push to win where they haven't since 1992. He is slated to travel to Atlanta and Warm Springs. — Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) October 24, 2020
Trump, who won Georgia by 5 percentage points in 2016, is currently tied with Biden among state voters, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. RealClearPolitics’ average of state polls shows Biden just narrowly edging out Trump.
Democrats in two Senate races in the state — Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — have also been gaining ground against Republican incumbents, Bloomberg noted.
Ossoff is virtually tied with Republican Sen. David Perdue in state polls, per RealClearPolitics; while Warnock is leading the polls in a crowded Senate special election, including over Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Couple Married For 68 Years Dies In Colorado Wildfire After Refusing To Leave Home

Authorities found a Colorado couple dead in their home on Friday after hearing that they had been “ adamant they would not leave ” their beloved home as wildfires continue to burn through the state .
Lyle and Marylin Hileman , 86 and 84 , respectively , had told their son Glenn Hileman earlier in the week that they wanted to take their chances at the house , where they had lived for more than four decades .
Several friends had offered to help them evacuate , and one even drove through roadblocks with safety officials on Wednesday evening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but “ all offers to leave were refused , ” the family said in a statement .
Glenn told ABC News that his parents called him to say “ it ’ s here ... the entire valley is on fire.
” They instructed him to call his siblings with the news , and by the time Glenn tried calling his parents back , he couldn ’ t get through .
Lyle and Marylin bought the property in the 1970s with “ everything they had , ” according to ABC News , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their honeymoon in the area .
The East Troublesome fire , one of several burning outside Denver , has grown to 188,000 acres and is just 4 % contained , according to authorities .
“ The property became a lifelong mission to create ‘ Heaven on Earth ’ to which family , friends and strangers , who quickly became friends , would be drawn , ” the family said .
The couple had sold it to Glenn Hileman earlier in the year “ with hopes of staying there as long as physically possible.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfort in the knowledge our parents left this world together , and on their own terms .
They leave a legacy of hard work and determination to overcome — something all of Grand County will need .
Our family looks forward to continuing their legacy on the property and working shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors in rebuilding and restoring the sacred part of God ’ s world.
” One of the couple ’ s grandchildren said the big , yellow house they shared for decades was completely lost , but that they spent their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they felt safe , ” and were found in each other ’ s arms .
Colorado authorities have been struggling with raging wildfires across three counties , which have forced hundreds to evacuate so far .
Northern California is also experiencing its worst-ever wildfire season , which is believed to be fueled by the warming climate .

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Authorities found a Colorado couple dead in their home on Friday after hearing that they had been “adamant they would not leave” their beloved home as wildfires continue to burn through the state.
Lyle and Marylin Hileman, 86 and 84, respectively, had told their son Glenn Hileman earlier in the week that they wanted to take their chances at the house, where they had lived for more than four decades.
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Several friends had offered to help them evacuate, and one even drove through roadblocks with safety officials on Wednesday evening to try to convince the Hilemans to evacuate, but “all offers to leave were refused,” the family said in a statement.
Glenn told ABC News that his parents called him to say “it’s here ... the entire valley is on fire.” They instructed him to call his siblings with the news, and by the time Glenn tried calling his parents back, he couldn’t get through.
Lyle and Marylin bought the property in the 1970s with “everything they had,” according to ABC News, after marrying in 1952 as teenagers and spending their honeymoon in the area.
The East Troublesome fire, one of several burning outside Denver, has grown to 188,000 acres and is just 4% contained, according to authorities.
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Brett Schroetlin, sheriff of Grand County, Colorado, which lies northwest of Denver, confirmed in a video that the Hileman residence was “completely burned.”
The family released a statement on Friday saying that the couple loved the area.
“The property became a lifelong mission to create ‘Heaven on Earth’ to which family, friends and strangers, who quickly became friends, would be drawn,” the family said. The couple had sold it to Glenn Hileman earlier in the year “with hopes of staying there as long as physically possible.”
“They were calm, resolute and adamant they would not leave,” the family said.
They continued:
[O]ur family feels comfort in the knowledge our parents left this world together, and on their own terms. They leave a legacy of hard work and determination to overcome — something all of Grand County will need. Our family looks forward to continuing their legacy on the property and working shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors in rebuilding and restoring the sacred part of God’s world.”
One of the couple’s grandchildren said the big, yellow house they shared for decades was completely lost, but that they spent their last hours in the basement, “where they felt safe,” and were found in each other’s arms.
I loving memory, Lyle and Marylin Hileman. Your family loves you and misses you, and will go forward with the love, dedication, kindness, and strength you taught to us. pic.twitter.com/iNyrBVDDUL — Taebear :: PalehornTea (@PalehornTea) October 23, 2020
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Colorado authorities have been struggling with raging wildfires across three counties, which have forced hundreds to evacuate so far.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Michigan Man Wins $2M After Mistakenly Buying Extra Lottery Ticket

DEARBORN HEIGHTS , Mich. ( AP ) — In what most people would consider a lucrative mistake , a Detroit-area @ @ @ @ @ extra lottery ticket has won two $ 1 million jackpots .
Samir Mazahem , 56 @ @ @ @ @ he was saving numbers on a lottery app after buying a $ 2 ticket for @ @ @ @ @ game .
He then realized that he had purchased a second ticket with the same @ @ @ @ @ a little bummed but didn ’ t think much about it , ” Mazahem said @ @ @ @ @ onto the app and found he had two $ 1 million winners .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ was real , ” Mazahem said .
“ It took several days for the reality @ @ @ @ @ mistake had paid off to the tune of $ 2 million !
” He recently @ @ @ @ @ to buy a new house and save the rest .

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DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) — In what most people would consider a lucrative mistake, a Detroit-area man who accidentally bought an extra lottery ticket has won two $1 million jackpots.
Samir Mazahem, 56, of Dearborn Heights said he was saving numbers on a lottery app after buying a $2 ticket for the June 9 Mega Millions game. He then realized that he had purchased a second ticket with the same numbers.
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“I was a little bummed but didn’t think much about it,” Mazahem said.
Until he recently logged onto the app and found he had two $1 million winners.
“I couldn’t believe it was real,” Mazahem said. “It took several days for the reality to set in that my mistake had paid off to the tune of $2 million!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Vice President's Chief Of Staff Is Second Top Aide To Test Positive For COVID-19

Vice President Mike Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short , has tested positive for COVID-19 , Pence ’ s office announced Saturday .
It ’ s at least the second close contact of the vice president to test positive in days .
A source told The New York Times that three other Pence staff members have also tested positive .
Yet Pence plans to continue his campaign schedule .
Short has begun quarantine and is “ assisting in the contact tracing process , ” according to Pence ’ s office .
Both the vice president and second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus Saturday and “ remain in good health , ” according to the vice president ’ s spokesman Devin O ’ Malley .
Despite the new COVID cases , the vice president intends to continue his campaign schedule .
He plans to travel to North Carolina Sunday .
Even though Short is considered a close contact of Pence , “ in consultation with the White House Medical Unit , the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for essential personnel , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include careful monitoring for symptoms and wearing a mask when near people .
Saskia Popescu , an infectious disease expert at George Mason University , called Pence ’ s decision to continue to campaign “ grossly negligent.
” He “ needs to be staying home 14 days , ” she told The Associated Press .
“ Campaign events are not essential.
” Popescu called Pence ’ s refusal to change his schedule an “ insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response.
” She added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrespectful to the people going to the rally ” and those on Pence ’ s own staff who will travel with him .
The nation is currently experiencing a dangerous surge in coronavirus cases .
America ’ s daily COVID-19 case count hit an all-time high of more than 83,000 on Friday .

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At least five aides to Vice President Mike Pence have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days, including his chief of staff, Marc Short.
Short tested positive on Saturday. He is quarantining and will assist in the contact tracing process, Pence’s office said in a statement.
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Pence senior political adviser Marty Obst also tested positive earlier this week, The New York Times and CNN reported.
A source told the Times that three other Pence staff members have also tested positive.
Pence has headed the White House’s coronavirus task force since February.
Both the vice president and his wife, Karen Pence, tested negative for the coronavirus Saturday and again on Sunday, according to Pence’s office.
Despite the new COVID-19 cases, the vice president intends to continue his campaign schedule. He plans to travel to North Carolina on Sunday.
Even though Short is considered a close contact of Pence, “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for essential personnel,” said Pence’s office. Those guidelines include careful monitoring for symptoms and wearing a mask when near people.
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Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University, called Pence’s decision to continue to campaign “grossly negligent.” He “needs to be staying home 14 days,” she told The Associated Press. “Campaign events are not essential.”
Popescu called Pence’s refusal to change his schedule an “insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response.” She added: “I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally” and those on Pence’s own staff who will travel with him.
The nation is currently experiencing a dangerous surge in coronavirus cases. America’s daily COVID-19 case count hit an all-time high of more than 83,000 on Friday.
The cluster of infections in Pence’s office comes just weeks after an outbreak in the White House that included President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior adviser Stephen Miller.
Katie Miller, Stephen Miller’s wife and Pence’s press secretary, tested positive for the coronavirus in May.
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White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sought to block news of the outbreak in Pence’s office from going public, two sources told the Times.
Asked about the Times’ report on Sunday, Meadows told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “sharing personal information is not something we should do unless it’s the president or the vice president” or someone close to them.
Tapper confronted Meadows about Pence’s decision to continue traveling despite having come in contact with several people who have tested positive for the virus.
“CDC guidelines say that Vice President Pence should quarantine for 14 days,” Tapper said. “Now, I understand the White House is trying to get around that by saying the vice president is an essential worker.”
“But Mark, how is going all over the country ... how is that essential work?” Tapper continued. “It’s not like he’s helping to contain the virus. In fact, the opposite: He’s holding rallies that could be spreading the virus.”
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Meadows defended Pence’s continued travel by saying the vice president is both campaigning and working.
“I can tell you that what he’s doing is wearing a mask, socially distancing and, when he goes up to speak, he will take the mask off, put it back on,” Meadows said. “He’s wearing a mask as it relates to this particular thing because the doctors have advised him to do that.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Lincoln Project Attorney Scorches Lawsuit Threat Over Ivanka, Jared Billboards

Noam Galai via Getty Images The Lincoln Project billboards in Times Square skewer Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner 's indifference to American COVID-19 deaths amid the failed policy of the Trump administration .
An attorney for the never-Trumper Lincoln Project sent a scathing legal response Saturday to a lawsuit threat over a pair of attack ads against Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner on billboards in Times Square .
The billboards skewer Donald Trump ’ s daughter and son-in-law for their callous indifference to the COVID-19 death toll in America , that now stands at nearly 225,000 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer Marc Kasowitz , representing the White House senior advisers , demanding that the “ false , malicious and defamatory ” ads be removed or “ we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages.
” The responding missive from Lincoln Project attorney Matthew Sanderson fired back : “ Please peddle your scare tactics elsewhere .
The Lincoln Project will not be intimidated by such empty bluster.
” Sanderson added : “ Your clients are no longer Upper East Side socialites , able to sue at the slightest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ public officials ” due to a “ gross act of nepotism ” when Ivanka ’ s dad made them both White House advisers .
Americans “ have the right to discuss and criticize thier public officials freely , ” Sanderson schools Kasowitz , citing a Supreme Court ruling defending even “ vehement , caustic and ... unpleasantly sharp attacks ” of government officials .
In addition , the attack ads are “ entirely accurate , ” Sanderson noted .
Kasowitz had claimed that Kushner never said , as the billboard notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem ” that New Yorkers are suffering from COVID-19 .
Vanity Fair reported in September that Kushner had complained that New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) didn ’ t plead hard enough with the White House to get coronavirus protective gear for his state .
“ His people are going to suffer and that ’ s their problem , ” Kushner is quoted as saying in the article .
Kasowitz also insisted that Ivanka Trump “ never made the gesture ” on the ad which shows her smiling over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the ad utilized a Twitter photo in which the First Daughter posed with a can of Goya beans in July after the company CEO praised her dad .
Huckstering for Goya violated federal ethics rules for a White House official , he added .
Ivanka Trump ’ s “ bruised self-image does not change the fact that this billboard accurately depicts her support of a federal response that has utterly failed to prevent an unmitigated tragedy for the United States , ” Sanderson snapped .
The Lincoln Project is looking forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confrontation , so “ sue if you must , ” Sanderson challenged .
Kasowitz has yet to respond .
Critics have noted that the lawsuit threat has likely drawn millions more viewers to the ad online .
The Lincoln Project ’ s legal response to the frivolous threat of a lawsuit from Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump ’ s lawyer .
This will not be the last they hear from us .
pic.twitter.com/GNnFsnsCer — The Lincoln Project ( @ ProjectLincoln ) October 24 , 2020

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An attorney for The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump GOP group, sent a scathing legal response Saturday to a lawsuit threat over a pair of attack ads against Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner on billboards in Times Square.
The billboards skewer Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law for their callous indifference to the COVID-19 death toll in America, which now stands at nearly 225,000.
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The Lincoln Project received a letter Friday from lawyer Marc Kasowitz, representing the White House senior advisers, demanding that the “false, malicious and defamatory” ads be removed or “we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages.”
The responding missive from Lincoln Project attorney Matthew Sanderson fired back: “Please peddle your scare tactics elsewhere. The Lincoln Project will not be intimidated by such empty bluster.”
Sanderson added: “Your clients are no longer Upper East Side socialites, able to sue at the slightest offense to their personal sensitivities.” They are “public officials” due to a “gross act of nepotism” when Donald Trump made them both White House advisers.
The Lincoln Project billboards in Times Square skewer Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner's indifference to American COVID-19 deaths amid the failed policy of the Trump administration. Noam Galai via Getty Images
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Americans “have the right to discuss and criticize their public officials freely,” Sanderson schools Kasowitz, citing a Supreme Court ruling defending even “vehement, caustic and ... unpleasantly sharp attacks” of government officials.
In addition, the attack ads are “entirely accurate,” Sanderson noted. Kasowitz had claimed that Kushner never said, as the billboard notes, that it’s “their problem” that New Yorkers are suffering from COVID-19.
Vanity Fair reported in September that Kushner had complained that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) didn’t plead hard enough with the White House to get coronavirus protective gear for his state. “His people are going to suffer and that’s their problem,” Kushner is quoted as saying in the article.
Kasowitz also insisted that Ivanka Trump “never made the gesture” on the ad which shows her smiling over the COVID-19 death toll.
Sanderson pointed out that the ad utilized a Twitter photo in which Ivanka posed with a can of Goya beans in July after the company CEO praised her dad. Huckstering for Goya violated federal ethics rules for a White House official, he added.
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Ivanka Trump’s “bruised self-image does not change the fact that this billboard accurately depicts her support of a federal response that has utterly failed to prevent an unmitigated tragedy for the United States,” Sanderson snapped.
The Lincoln Project is looking forward to deposing all relevant witnesses and a courtroom confrontation, so “sue if you must,” Sanderson challenged.
Kasowitz has yet to respond. Critics have noted that the lawsuit threat has likely drawn millions more viewers to the ad online.
Sanderson’s entire response can be read here:
The Lincoln Project’s legal response to the frivolous threat of a lawsuit from Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s lawyer.
This will not be the last they hear from us. pic.twitter.com/GNnFsnsCer — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Voting For Kanye West Is 'Not Funny,' Warns Jennifer Aniston

# IVOTED for @ joebiden and @ kamalaharris .
I dropped my ballot off , and I did it early 👏🏼 I voted for them because right now this country is more divided than ever .
Right now , a few men in power are deciding what women can and can ’ t do with their own bodies .
Our current President has decided that racism is a non-issue .
He has repeatedly and publicly ignored science ... too many people have died .
⠀ I urge you to really consider who is going to be most affected by this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re on right now ... your daughters , the LGBTQ+ community , our Black brothers and sisters , the elderly with health conditions , and your future kids and grandkids ( who will be tasked with saving a planet that our leadership refuses to believe is hurting ) .
⠀ ⠀ This whole thing isn ’ t about one candidate or one single issue , it ’ s about the future of this country and of the world .
Vote for equal human rights , for love , and for decency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not funny to vote for Kanye .
I don ’ t know how else to say it .
Please be responsible 🙏🏼

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Jennifer Aniston attacked President Donald Trump Saturday as she cast her ballot early and issued a warning about voting for Kanye West: Don’t do it.
“It’s not funny to vote for Kanye,” the “Morning Show” actor and “Friends” alum posted on Instagram. “I don’t know how else to say it. Please be responsible.”
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This “whole thing ... is about the future of this country and of the world. Vote for equal human rights, for love, and for decency,” the Joe Biden backer wrote in the post showing her in a face mask and sweats dropping her vote in an official ballot box in West Hollywood.
“I urge you to really consider who is going to be most affected by this election if we stay on the track we’re on right now ... your daughters, the LGBTQ+ community, our Black brothers and sisters, the elderly with health conditions, and your future kids and grandkids (who will be tasked with saving a planet that our leadership refuses to believe is hurting),” Aniston added.
“Right now, a few men in power are deciding what women can and can’t do with their own bodies. Our current president has decided that racism is a non-issue. He has repeatedly and publicly ignored science ... too many people have died,” she added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Obama Shares Joe Biden's Year-Old Pandemic Prophecy

Former President Barack Obama and dozens of others shared the tweet from Oct. 25 , 2019 , on Sunday , its one-year anniversary .
The tweet highlighted the former vice president ’ s foresight months before the coronavirus pandemic first brought the world to a standstill , eventually killing more than 225,000 people in the U.S. “ We are not prepared for a pandemic , ” Biden tweeted .
“ Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security .
We need leadership that builds public trust , focuses on real threats , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they reach our shores.
” The tweet included a link to a Washington Post story about the Global Health Security index — a report by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security — which found that 195 countries , including the U.S. , were not fully prepared to respond should an outbreak occur .
Eight months into the pandemic , as new cases are breaking records , we need an administration that ’ s not going to wave the white flag .
A year ago today , @ JoeBiden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get prepared for a pandemic , and he ’ s got a plan to get it under control .
https : //t.co/A49pTJEQc9 — Barack Obama ( @ BarackObama ) October 25 , 2020 The prescient tweet has recirculated a number of times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , which has infected more than 42.8 million people worldwide and killed more than 1.1 million so far .
President Donald Trump has often blamed his predecessors for his own administration ’ s lack of preparedness to deal with the pandemic .
He has repeatedly criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocked national stockpile of medical supplies .
In fact , Congress did not approve the Obama administration ’ s full budget request to restore the stockpile depleted during the 2009-10 H1N1 swine flu pandemic .
Trump had three years in office to replenish it himself .
Trump has leaned into misinformation , anti-science rhetoric and pretending the virus will magically go away on its own .
Biden has campaigned on a message that he will lead America out of the health crisis with competence and empathy .
At a drive-in campaign rally for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration “ literally left [ Trump ] with a pandemic playbook ” that his administration ignored .
“ Joe ’ s not going to screw up testing , ” Obama said of his former vice president .
“ He ’ s not going to call scientists idiots .
He ’ s not going to hold a superspreader event at the White House.
” Biden has laid out how he plans to attack the pandemic should he take office .
His proposals include mandating masks , establishing a national testing and contact tracing plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive domestic manufacturing of medical supplies and ensuring equitable delivery of therapies and a vaccine when they ’ re ready and safe for public use .
In the wake of the nation ’ s highest single-day spike in cases on Friday , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday , “ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic.
” Trump has insisted without evidence that the U.S. is “ rounding the corner ” in its fight against the virus and that everything is under control .

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tweeted exactly one year ago that the United States was not prepared for a pandemic.
Former President Barack Obama and dozens of others shared the tweet from Oct. 25, 2019, on Sunday, its one-year anniversary. The tweet highlighted the former vice president’s foresight months before the coronavirus pandemic first brought the world to a standstill, eventually killing more than 225,000 people in the U.S.
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“We are not prepared for a pandemic,” Biden tweeted. “Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security. We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores.”
The tweet included a link to a Washington Post story about the Global Health Security index — a report by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security — which found that 195 countries, including the U.S., were not fully prepared to respond should an outbreak occur.
Eight months into the pandemic, as new cases are breaking records, we need an administration that’s not going to wave the white flag. A year ago today, @JoeBiden was talking about the leadership we need to get prepared for a pandemic, and he’s got a plan to get it under control. https://t.co/A49pTJEQc9 — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 25, 2020
The prescient tweet has recirculated a number of times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 42.8 million people worldwide and killed more than 1.1 million so far.
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President Donald Trump has often blamed his predecessors for his own administration’s lack of preparedness to deal with the pandemic.
He has repeatedly criticized Obama for not leaving him a fully stocked national stockpile of medical supplies. In fact, Congress did not approve the Obama administration’s full budget request to restore the stockpile depleted during the 2009-10 H1N1 swine flu pandemic. Trump had three years in office to replenish it himself.
Trump has leaned into misinformation, anti-science rhetoric and pretending the virus will magically go away on its own.
Biden has campaigned on a message that he will lead America out of the health crisis with competence and empathy.
At a drive-in campaign rally for Biden on Sunday, Obama said his administration “literally left [Trump] with a pandemic playbook” that his administration ignored.
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“Joe’s not going to screw up testing,” Obama said of his former vice president. “He’s not going to call scientists idiots. He’s not going to hold a superspreader event at the White House.”
Biden has laid out how he plans to attack the pandemic should he take office. His proposals include mandating masks, establishing a national testing and contact tracing plan, invoking the Defense Production Act to drive domestic manufacturing of medical supplies and ensuring equitable delivery of therapies and a vaccine when they’re ready and safe for public use.
In the wake of the nation’s highest single-day spike in cases on Friday, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday, “We’re not going to control the pandemic.”
Trump has insisted without evidence that the U.S. is “rounding the corner” in its fight against the virus and that everything is under control.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Biden Blasts Trump As U.S. COVID-19 Cases Mount And Pence Staff Endures Outbreak

With nine days to go before the Nov. 3 election in which Biden is facing the Republican president , the White House cited Pence ’ s status as an “ essential worker ” as justification for his campaign travel despite exposure to his chief of staff , Marc Short , who tested positive on Saturday .
The United States in the past two days has registered its highest number of new COVID-19 cases - about 84,000 on Friday and about 79,900 on Saturday .
The pandemic , which has killed about 225,000 people in the United States and left millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center in the presidential race .
“ We are coming around , we ’ re rounding the turn , we have the vaccines , we have everything .
Even without the vaccines , we ’ re rounding the turn , ” Trump told cheering supporters , many not wearing protective masks or observing social-distancing recommendations .
“ It ’ s going to be over .
And you know who got it ?
I did .
Can you believe it ?
” “ We ’ re not going to control the pandemic .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we get vaccines , therapeutics and other mitigation areas , ” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” program .
In a statement released by his campaign , Biden seized on those comments , saying Meadows “ stunningly admitted this morning that the administration has given up on even trying to control this pandemic , that they ’ ve given up on their basic duty to protect the American people.
” “ This wasn ’ t a slip by Meadows , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s strategy has clearly been from the beginning of this crisis : to wave the white flag of defeat and hope that by ignoring it , the virus would simply go away .
It hasn ’ t , and it won ’ t , ” Biden added .
The outbreak among Pence ’ s aides marked the latest White House COVID-19 cases , which have included Trump , first lady Melania Trump , their son , Barron , and numerous aides and associates .
The president was hospitalized for three nights this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is due to campaign in Maine on Sunday .
Biden had no campaign events scheduled for Sunday .
Biden leads in national opinion polls , but contests in battleground states that could decide the outcome appear closer .
About 58.8 million voters already have cast ballots .
Meadows told reporters that White House doctors cleared Pence to travel after Short tested positive .
Pence is scheduled to address rallies in Kinston , North Carolina , later on Sunday and in Hibbing , Minnesota , on Monday .
Meadows said Pence would continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Pence was not following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to quarantine for 14 days after such exposure , Meadows on Sunday cited the vice president ’ s status as “ essential personnel.
” CDC guidance states : “ To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions , CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19 , provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
” The CDC guidance does not mention political campaigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office testing positive , this would be considered a work-based cluster .
Anytime there is a cluster like this , I would advise that the entire office transition to remote work for 14 days , ” Nelson said .

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MANCHESTER, N.H./WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - Vice President Mike Pence forged ahead with campaigning on Sunday despite a COVID-19 outbreak among his aides and President Donald Trump claimed progress as the United States set records for daily infections, prompting Democratic challenger Joe Biden to accuse Trump of surrendering to the pandemic.
With nine days to go before the Nov. 3 election in which Biden is facing the Republican president, the White House cited Pence’s status as an “essential worker” as justification for his campaign travel despite exposure to his chief of staff, Marc Short, who tested positive on Saturday.
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Multiple senior aides to Pence also tested positive for COVID-19, the White House chief of staff said.
The United States in the past two days has registered its highest number of new COVID-19 cases - about 84,000 on Friday and about 79,900 on Saturday. The pandemic, which has killed about 225,000 people in the United States and left millions of Americans jobless, remains front and center in the presidential race.
While Pence was set to campaign in North Carolina later on Sunday, Trump addressed a rally at an airport in New Hampshire.
Even as the novel coronavirus surged in many parts of the United States, Trump told the rally: “There’s no nation in the world that’s recovered like we’ve recovered.”
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“We are coming around, we’re rounding the turn, we have the vaccines, we have everything. Even without the vaccines, we’re rounding the turn,” Trump told cheering supporters, many not wearing protective masks or observing social-distancing recommendations. “It’s going to be over. And you know who got it? I did. Can you believe it?”
While numerous COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, none has been approved for use in the United States.
“We’re not going to control the pandemic. We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas,” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told CNN’s “State of the Union” program.
In a statement released by his campaign, Biden seized on those comments, saying Meadows “stunningly admitted this morning that the administration has given up on even trying to control this pandemic, that they’ve given up on their basic duty to protect the American people.”
“This wasn’t a slip by Meadows, it was a candid acknowledgment of what President Trump’s strategy has clearly been from the beginning of this crisis: to wave the white flag of defeat and hope that by ignoring it, the virus would simply go away. It hasn’t, and it won’t,” Biden added.
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The outbreak among Pence’s aides marked the latest White House COVID-19 cases, which have included Trump, first lady Melania Trump, their son, Barron, and numerous aides and associates. The president was hospitalized for three nights this month after contracting COVID-19.
The new infections offered a reminder of the way Trump and his allies have downplayed the advice of public health experts to wear masks and observe social-distancing guidelines to combat COVID-19 transmission.
TRUMP HEADS TO MAINE
Trump also is due to campaign in Maine on Sunday. Biden had no campaign events scheduled for Sunday. Biden leads in national opinion polls, but contests in battleground states that could decide the outcome appear closer. About 58.8 million voters already have cast ballots.
Meadows told reporters that White House doctors cleared Pence to travel after Short tested positive. Pence is scheduled to address rallies in Kinston, North Carolina, later on Sunday and in Hibbing, Minnesota, on Monday. Meadows said Pence would continue to campaign and speak at rallies.
A spokesman for the vice president said late on Saturday that Pence and his wife had tested negative.
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Asked why Pence was not following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to quarantine for 14 days after such exposure, Meadows on Sunday cited the vice president’s status as “essential personnel.”
CDC guidance states: “To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.” The CDC guidance does not mention political campaigning.
Explaining why the Trump campaign is not requiring people attending rallies to wear masks, Meadows said the campaign offered masks to attendees, but “we live in a free society.”
Biden’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, took four days off the campaign trail this month after an aide tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking in Detroit, Harris criticized Pence for continuing to travel, saying: “He should be following the guidelines.”
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Trump has mocked Biden for wearing a protective mask.
Infectious diseases expert Dr. Sandra Nelson of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital said it appeared that Pence would be at high risk for becoming infected and transmitting infection.
“With multiple members of his office testing positive, this would be considered a work-based cluster. Anytime there is a cluster like this, I would advise that the entire office transition to remote work for 14 days,” Nelson said.