thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Trump Refuses To Participate In Virtual Presidential Debate

President Donald Trump said he won ’ t participate in next week ’ s presidential debate after organizers announced it would be held virtually “ in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.
” Trump , still recovering from COVID-19 , said the debate format change announced earlier Thursday by the Commission on Presidential Debates was unacceptable .
“ I ’ m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate , ” the president , in a hoarse voice , told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in a phone interview .
The debate commission said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 in a town hall format as previously planned , but each candidate will participate remotely .
Town hall participants and the debate moderator , C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully , will attend in person at the debate venue in Miami .
Biden ’ s campaign said he will participate and “ looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump ’ s failed leadership on the coronavirus.
” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien , who also has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual format a “ sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden ” and said in a statement that Trump would “ do a rally instead.
” Days after last week ’ s presidential debate in Cleveland , Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized for three days .
Since his diagnosis , dozens of people in his orbit have also tested positive , including White House officials , campaign aides and associates who helped in his debate preparations .
On Friday , hours after Trump announced he had tested positive , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has since tested negative several more times , according to his campaign .
Meanwhile , Trump and his team have flouted coronavirus health guidelines , like wearing face masks .
Members of Trump ’ s family refused a doctor ’ s admonition to keep their masks on in the debate audience in Cleveland .
However , at the end of the debate , Pence ’ s wife Karen appeared on stage without one , ignoring guidelines both campaigns had agreed to observe .
Throughout the pandemic , Trump has continued to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also has mocked Biden for wearing a face mask and observing other coronavirus health guidelines .
“ I don ’ t wear face masks like him , ” the president said during last week ’ s debate .
“ Every time you see him , he ’ s got a mask .
He could be speaking 200 feet away ... and he shows up with the biggest mask I ’ ve ever seen .
”

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President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wouldn’t participate in next week’s presidential debate after organizers announced it would be held virtually “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved.” Democratic nominee Joe Biden initially agreed to take part, but suggested the debate be postponed after Trump rejected the new format.
Trump, still recovering from COVID-19, said the altered debate format that the Commission on Presidential Debates announced earlier in the day was unacceptable.
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“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate,” the president, in a hoarse voice, told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in a phone interview.
The debate commission had said the next event would take place Oct. 15 in a town hall format as previously planned, but that each candidate would participate remotely. Town hall participants and the debate moderator, C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully, would attend in person at the debate venue in Miami.
Biden’s campaign quickly said the Democratic nominee would participate and “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump’s failed leadership on the coronavirus.”
But later, after Trump declared he would not participate, Biden urged that the town hall event be postponed until Oct. 22, when a third presidential debate was already scheduled to take place. The Biden campaign said that should be the final debate.
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“Trump’s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing,” said Biden’s communications manager, Kate Bedingfield. She noted that Oct. 22 was already one of the latest debate dates in recent history.
Biden plans to dedicate Oct. 15 to another event.
“Donald Trump clearly does not want to face questions from the voters about his failures on COVID and the economy,” Bedingfield said. “As a result, Joe Biden will find an appropriate place to take questions from voters directly on October 15th, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks.”
Bedingfield added that the commission could delay the planned town hall debate for one week “so that the President is not able to evade accountability.”
“The voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates, directly,” Bedingfield said. “Every Presidential candidate since 1992 has participated in such an event, and it would be a shame if Donald Trump was the first to refuse.”
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the presidential debate on Sept. 29. Trump has said he won't participate in the second debate scheduled for Oct. 15, which the Commission on Presidential Debates decided should be held remotely. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
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The Trump campaign appeared to agree to the new date of Oct. 22, and, as opposed to the Biden campaign, called for the third and final debate to shift to Oct. 29. It also accused the nonpartisan debate commission of being favorable to Biden and resumed attacking the former vice president for taking COVID-19 safety measures, such as falsely suggesting he was “hiding” in his “basement bunker.”
“As President Trump said, a virtual debate is a non-starter and would clearly be a gift to Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker,” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement. “The CPD and the media cannot hide Joe Biden forever. Americans deserve to hear directly from both presidential candidates on these dates, October 22 and 29.”
Earlier, Stepien, who also has tested positive for COVID-19, called the virtual format a “sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden” and said in a statement that Trump would “do a rally instead.”
Days after last week’s presidential debate in Cleveland, Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized for three days. Since his diagnosis, dozens of people in his orbit have also tested positive, including White House officials, campaign aides and associates who helped in his debate preparations.
On Friday, hours after Trump announced he had tested positive, Biden said he tested negative for COVID-19. He has since tested negative several more times, according to his campaign.
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Meanwhile, Trump and his team have flouted coronavirus health guidelines, such as wearing face masks. Members of Trump’s family refused a doctor’s admonition to keep their masks on in the debate audience in Cleveland.
Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate was held in person with a plexiglass barrier between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Audience members were required to wear masks.
However, at the end of the debate, Pence’s wife Karen appeared on stage without one, ignoring guidelines both campaigns had agreed to observe.
Throughout the pandemic, Trump has continued to hold campaign rallies with mostly maskless crowds. He also has mocked Biden for wearing a face mask and observing other coronavirus health guidelines.
“I don’t wear face masks like him,” the president said during last week’s debate. “Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away ... and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.”
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Nearly 212,000 people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-07--Here's What Voters Make Of Trump's COVID-19 Diagnosis

Sixty percent of voters say Trump ’ s campaign has taken too many risks during the coronavirus outbreak , with 30 % saying the campaign has handled it about right , and just 2 % saying it ’ s been too cautious .
About half of voters , 53 % , say that former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s campaign has handled precautions around the outbreak correctly , while 21 % say the Biden camp has been too cautious and 7 % say they ’ ve taken too many risks .
Views are largely divided along partisan lines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eighty-one percent of Democratic voters think the Biden campaign ’ s handling of coronavirus precautions has been about right , while a smaller 62 % majority of GOP voters say the same about Trump ’ s campaign .
Only 1 in 5 voters say they ’ re very confident that information from the White House about Trump ’ s health is reliable and accurate .
Forty-eight percent say they ’ re at least somewhat confident , and 44 % say they ’ re not very or not at all confident .
A 58 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate should publicly release all medical information that might affect his or her ability to serve as president , with just 31 % saying that candidates should have the same right as other citizens to keep medical records private .
About half of voters , 49 % , say they believe Trump is in good enough physical condition to serve effectively as president , with just 34 % saying he ’ s not in good enough condition .
That places him ahead of his opponent : Just 39 % say Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % say he is not .
Partisanship on this question runs in a different direction , with GOP voters more unanimous in asserting Trump ’ s well-being , and Biden ’ s lack of it , than Democratic voters are in saying the opposite .
Views have not changed significantly following Trump ’ s diagnosis .
In a mid-September HuffPost/YouGov poll , 36 % of voters said Biden was in good enough physical condition , with 51 % saying the same of Trump .
Just 12 % of voters say they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition at this time .
About half , 49 % , say they ’ re at least somewhat concerned , and 46 % say they ’ re not very or not at all concerned .
A 46 % plurality of voters say they ’ re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. , a 6-point uptick from a survey conducted the week prior , Sept. 25-29 , but well within the range of surveys conducted throughout the year .
About one-third say they ’ re very concerned that they or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seventy percent expect the outbreak to have a lasting effect on the U.S. , with just 18 % believing things will soon go back to normal .
Voters disapprove of Trump ’ s handling of coronavirus issues by an 18-point margin , and of the federal government ’ s handling of those issues by a 23-point margin .
In the previous week ’ s poll , voters disapproved of Trump by a 13-point margin , and of the government by an 18-point margin .
Support for mask-wearing remains high .
Voters say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that deciding to wear a face mask is more a matter of public health than one of personal choice .
By an even broader margin , 83 % to 11 % , voters say that , generally speaking , people should wear face masks when in public around others .
This level of support for masks isn ’ t new ― the responses to both questions are comparable to those in a July poll , when 71 % of voters called masks a matter of public health , and 79 % said people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump voters who said they believe people should generally wear masks , however , ticked up by 9 points in the most recent survey .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups : The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Oct. 2-7 among U.S. adults who are registered voters , using a sample selected from YouGov ’ s opt-in online panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population .

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President Donald Trump’s recent diagnosis with COVID-19 hasn’t substantially increased voters’ concerns about his physical condition, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. But most say that the president’s campaign, unlike his rival’s, has engaged in overly risky behavior.
Sixty percent of voters say Trump’s campaign has taken too many risks during the coronavirus outbreak, with 30% saying the campaign has handled it about right, and just 2% saying it’s been too cautious. About half of voters, 53%, say that former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign has handled precautions around the outbreak correctly, while 21% say the Biden camp has been too cautious and 7% say they’ve taken too many risks.
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Views are largely divided along partisan lines, but with Republicans somewhat less unanimous: Eighty-one percent of Democratic voters think the Biden campaign’s handling of coronavirus precautions has been about right, while a smaller 62% majority of GOP voters say the same about Trump’s campaign.
President Donald Trump pulls off his protective face mask as he poses atop the Truman Balcony of the White House after returning from being hospitalized for COVID-19, Oct. 5, 2020. Erin Scott / Reuters
Only 1 in 5 voters say they’re very confident that information from the White House about Trump’s health is reliable and accurate. Forty-eight percent say they’re at least somewhat confident, and 44% say they’re not very or not at all confident.
A 58% majority of voters say that a presidential candidate should publicly release all medical information that might affect his or her ability to serve as president, with just 31% saying that candidates should have the same right as other citizens to keep medical records private.
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About half of voters, 49%, say they believe Trump is in good enough physical condition to serve effectively as president, with just 34% saying he’s not in good enough condition. That places him ahead of his opponent: Just 39% say Biden is in good enough condition, and 42% say he is not. Partisanship on this question runs in a different direction, with GOP voters more unanimous in asserting Trump’s well-being, and Biden’s lack of it, than Democratic voters are in saying the opposite.
Views have not changed significantly following Trump’s diagnosis. In a mid-September HuffPost/YouGov poll, 36% of voters said Biden was in good enough physical condition, with 51% saying the same of Trump.
Just 12% of voters say they’re very concerned about Trump’s medical condition at this time. About half, 49%, say they’re at least somewhat concerned, and 46% say they’re not very or not at all concerned.
A 46% plurality of voters say they’re very concerned about the spread of coronavirus in the U.S., a 6-point uptick from a survey conducted the week prior, Sept. 25-29, but well within the range of surveys conducted throughout the year. About one-third say they’re very concerned that they or a family member will contract this disease. Seventy percent expect the outbreak to have a lasting effect on the U.S., with just 18% believing things will soon go back to normal.
Voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of coronavirus issues by an 18-point margin, and of the federal government’s handling of those issues by a 23-point margin. In the previous week’s poll, voters disapproved of Trump by a 13-point margin, and of the government by an 18-point margin.
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Support for mask-wearing remains high. Voters say, 72% to 24%, that deciding to wear a face mask is more a matter of public health than one of personal choice. By an even broader margin, 83% to 11%, voters say that, generally speaking, people should wear face masks when in public around others.
This level of support for masks isn’t new ― the responses to both questions are comparable to those in a July poll, when 71% of voters called masks a matter of public health, and 79% said people should generally wear them. The share of Trump voters who said they believe people should generally wear masks, however, ticked up by 9 points in the most recent survey.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Oct. 2-7 among U.S. adults who are registered voters, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the population.
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HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--U.S. Layoffs Remain Elevated As 840,000 Seek Jobless Aid

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000 , evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession .
The latest sign of a flagging recovery comes two days after President Donald Trump cut off talks over a new rescue aid package that economists say is urgently needed for millions of unemployed Americans and struggling businesses .
A failure to enact another round of government aid would crimp household income and spending , and some economists say it would raise the risk of a double-dip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits dropped 1 million to 11 million .
The decline suggests that many of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs .
But it also reflects the fact that some have used up the 26 weeks of their regular state benefits and have transitioned to extended benefit programs that last an additional three months .
Job seekers exercise social distancing as they wait to be called into the Heartland Workforce Solutions office in Omaha , Neb.
, @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The weekly count of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has become less reliable as some states have increased their efforts to root out fraudulent claims and process earlier applications that have piled up .
Across the country , hiring has slowed just as federal rescue aid has run out , hampering an economy still climbing out of the deep hole created by the pandemic .
Employers added just 661,000 jobs in September , less than half of August ’ s gain and the third straight monthly decline .
Just over half the 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been recovered , leaving the economy with 10.7 million fewer jobs than in February — a figure that exceeds all the job losses from the 2008-2009 Great Recession .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession.
The latest sign of a flagging recovery comes two days after President Donald Trump cut off talks over a new rescue aid package that economists say is urgently needed for millions of unemployed Americans and struggling businesses. A failure to enact another round of government aid would crimp household income and spending, and some economists say it would raise the risk of a double-dip recession.
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Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits dropped 1 million to 11 million. The decline suggests that many of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs. But it also reflects the fact that some have used up the 26 weeks of their regular state benefits and have transitioned to extended benefit programs that last an additional three months.
Job seekers exercise social distancing as they wait to be called into the Heartland Workforce Solutions office in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, July 15, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The weekly count of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has become less reliable as some states have increased their efforts to root out fraudulent claims and process earlier applications that have piled up.
Across the country, hiring has slowed just as federal rescue aid has run out, hampering an economy still climbing out of the deep hole created by the pandemic. Employers added just 661,000 jobs in September, less than half of August’s gain and the third straight monthly decline.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Laura Ingraham Guest: 'Kamala Harris Was Hillary Clinton In Blackface' During Debate

A guest on Laura Ingraham ’ s Fox News show , “ The Ingraham Angle , ” attempted to disparage Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris ’ performance in Wednesday ’ s debate , claiming she was just “ Hillary Clinton in blackface.
” “ I thought Kamala Harris was Hillary Clinton in blackface tonight .
That ’ s what I thought , ” evangelical pastor Darrell Scott said during a heated on-air exchange with Scott Bolden , the former chair of the D.C. Democratic State Committee .
They were discussing comments Harris made during the vice presidential debate about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know what was trending on Twitter ?
Black Hillary , ” added Scott , a senior pastor at the New Spirit Revival Center Ministries in Ohio who stumped for Trump during the 2016 election .
At the time , he bizarrely claimed that the president was under an ongoing Satanic attack .
“ Is that right ?
Wow , ” the Fox personality said .
“ I missed that.
” Bolden , who was similarly confused , said , “ I ’ m not sure what that means.
” Scott later accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the debate , the pastor hailed Vice President Mike Pence on Twitter for “ KILLING this chick ” and said “ Kamala ‘ Black Hillary ’ Harris got absolutely ANNIHILATED by VP Pence tonight !
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting — or suspicious !
— campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

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A guest on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show, “The Ingraham Angle,” attempted to disparage Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris’ performance in Wednesday’s debate, claiming she was just “Hillary Clinton in blackface.”
“I thought Kamala Harris was Hillary Clinton in blackface tonight. That’s what I thought,” evangelical pastor Darrell Scott said during a heated on-air exchange with Scott Bolden, the former chair of the D.C. Democratic State Committee. They were discussing comments Harris made during the vice presidential debate about Black Lives Matter protests.
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“And you know what was trending on Twitter? Black Hillary,” added Scott, a senior pastor at the New Spirit Revival Center Ministries in Ohio who stumped for Trump during the 2016 election. At the time, he bizarrely claimed that the president was under an ongoing Satanic attack.
Ingraham appeared surprised by Scott’s comments.
“Is that right? Wow,” the Fox personality said. “I missed that.”
Bolden, who was similarly confused, said, “I’m not sure what that means.”
Scott later accused Harris of being a liar and phony.
During the debate, the pastor hailed Vice President Mike Pence on Twitter for “KILLING this chick” and said “Kamala ‘Black Hillary’ Harris got absolutely ANNIHILATED by VP Pence tonight!”
Pence is KILLING this chick!!!! — Dr.Darrell Scott (@PastorDScott) October 8, 2020
Kamala “Black Hillary” Harris got absolutely ANNIHILATED by VP Pence tonight! — Dr.Darrell Scott (@PastorDScott) October 8, 2020
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Check out the exchange here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--No Charges For Wisconsin Officer In Killing Of Black Teen Alvin Cole

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm , in a 14-page letter laying out his rationale , said evidence showed Cole fled from police carrying a stolen 9 mm handgun .
He cited squad car audio evidence , along with testimony from Mensah and two fellow officers , that he said showed Cole had fired a shot while fleeing and refused commands to drop the gun .
“ He did not surrender the weapon and was fired upon by Officer Mensah causing his death , ” Chisholm wrote .
He concluded : “ ( T ) here is sufficient evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable.
” Cole was the third person Mensah has fatally shot since becoming an officer , and his death has sparked periodic protests in Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee area .
Gov .
Tony Evers announced earlier Wednesday that he had activated National Guard members as a precaution , though he didn ’ t say how many or how they were being used .
Guard spokesman Maj. Joe Trovato later said “ hundreds ” of troops were at the ready .
Late Wednesday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of a few hundred protesters confronted a police line .
Police said some in the group were throwing rocks at law enforcement and buildings and that they used tear gas to disperse the protesters .
Footage posted on social media showed the gas and the crowd retreating .
Chisholm ’ s report noted that Cole ’ s gun had a spent round in the chamber — the one that investigators believe he fired while running , possibly striking himself in the arm — and that the magazine was recovered in his sling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more bullets in it when he was shot .
Mensah and two other officers at the scene said Cole pointed the gun at them .
Chisholm also said that he didn ’ t believe the state had enough evidence to disprove that Mensah was defending himself or others , so he couldn ’ t meet the burden required to bring charges .
Kimberley Motley , a family attorney for the Coles , seized on Chisholm ’ s wording .
Motley , who also represents the families of the two other people killed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired earlier then Cole would still be alive .
Chisholm told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview that he understood some people would be angry or disappointed by his decision , but he said he wouldn ’ t change his “ objective review ” because of it .
He said that although Mensah had been cleared in all three of his shootings , Chisholm was concerned about his involvement in so many .
“ This creates an incredible dilemma for the city of Wauwatosa and the Wauwatosa Police Department and the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve never been cavalier about that.
” … What is unique about this case is that it just creates such a liability for ( shooting ) number four .
Everybody recognizes that.
” The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission suspended Mensah with pay in July , and he has appealed that suspension .
The commission hired former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic to investigate the case with an eye toward what discipline Mensah might face .
In a report released earlier Wednesday , Biskupic recommended that Mensah be fired , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person is too great .
Cole ’ s death sparked protests in Wauwatosa throughout the summer , including in and around the mall and outside a house where Mensah was staying .
Two men were charged in an August altercation at the house after a shotgun was fired .
Mensah was not charged in the 2016 death of Jay Anderson Jr. or the 2015 death of Antonio Gonzales .
Police have said Mensah shot Gonzales eight times after he refused to drop a sword .
In Anderson ’ s case , Mensah approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said he saw a gun and thought Anderson was reaching for it , so he shot him six times .
Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Webber said in a recorded message that his department “ concurs ’ with the decision but “ hears the message ” from the public .
He said the department has taken steps to improve policing , such as providing added training , posting department police and procedures online and requiring body cameras for all officers by January .

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Black Wisconsin police officer who fatally shot a Black teenager outside a suburban Milwaukee mall in February won’t be charged because he had reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Wauwatosa Officer Joseph Mensah shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole outside Mayfair Mall on Feb. 2 after police responded to a reported disturbance at the shopping center.
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Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, in a 14-page letter laying out his rationale, said evidence showed Cole fled from police carrying a stolen 9 mm handgun. He cited squad car audio evidence, along with testimony from Mensah and two fellow officers, that he said showed Cole had fired a shot while fleeing and refused commands to drop the gun.
“He did not surrender the weapon and was fired upon by Officer Mensah causing his death,” Chisholm wrote. He concluded: “(T)here is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable.”
Cole was the third person Mensah has fatally shot since becoming an officer, and his death has sparked periodic protests in Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee area. Gov. Tony Evers announced earlier Wednesday that he had activated National Guard members as a precaution, though he didn’t say how many or how they were being used. Guard spokesman Maj. Joe Trovato later said “hundreds” of troops were at the ready.
The city of Wauwatosa issued a nightly 7 p.m. curfew after Chisholm’s decision was announced, to run until next Monday. Many people ignored the curfew, marching peacefully in the city.
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This undated family photo provided by Taleavia Cole shows her brother Alvin Cole, left. Wauwatosa, Wis., Police Officer Joseph Mensah shot and killed the 17-year-old outside a mall in February, 2020 after receiving a call of a man with a gun in the mall. Taleavia Cole via AP
Late Wednesday evening and well past the curfew, a group of a few hundred protesters confronted a police line. Police said some in the group were throwing rocks at law enforcement and buildings and that they used tear gas to disperse the protesters. Footage posted on social media showed the gas and the crowd retreating.
WISN-TV reported windows broken at several businesses on the city’s north side, including a pharmacy, coffee shop, wall coverings store, cleaners and fitness center.
Scores of people surrounded the Milwaukee County Public Safety Building as Cole’s attorney and family members met with Chisholm, some chanting, “Say his name! Alvin Cole!” and “Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
Chisholm’s report noted that Cole’s gun had a spent round in the chamber — the one that investigators believe he fired while running, possibly striking himself in the arm — and that the magazine was recovered in his sling bag, meaning the gun had no more bullets in it when he was shot. Mensah and two other officers at the scene said Cole pointed the gun at them.
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Cole’s sister, Taleavia Cole, insisted the shooting wasn’t justified because her brother could not have fired at Mensah. She said he should not be allowed to continue working as an officer.
“The fight continues. It doesn’t end here,” said his sister, Taleavia Cole. ”... It’s time for DA Chisholm to retire or step down.
Chisholm also said that he didn’t believe the state had enough evidence to disprove that Mensah was defending himself or others, so he couldn’t meet the burden required to bring charges. Kimberley Motley, a family attorney for the Coles, seized on Chisholm’s wording.
“Chisholm did not say that the shooting was justified,” Motley said. “And that’s really important.”
Motley, who also represents the families of the two other people killed by Mensah, said if he had been fired earlier then Cole would still be alive.
“We are not done fighting,” she said. “We are still going to fight for a conviction of Officer Joseph Mensah.”
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Chisholm told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview that he understood some people would be angry or disappointed by his decision, but he said he wouldn’t change his “objective review” because of it. He said that although Mensah had been cleared in all three of his shootings, Chisholm was concerned about his involvement in so many.
This undated photo provided by the Wauwatosa Police Department in Wauwatosa, Wis., shows Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah. AP
“This creates an incredible dilemma for the city of Wauwatosa and the Wauwatosa Police Department and the community,” he told the newspaper. “I’ve never been cavalier about that.”… What is unique about this case is that it just creates such a liability for (shooting) number four. Everybody recognizes that.”
The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission suspended Mensah with pay in July, and he has appealed that suspension. The commission hired former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic to investigate the case with an eye toward what discipline Mensah might face. In a report released earlier Wednesday, Biskupic recommended that Mensah be fired, saying the risk he might shoot a fourth person is too great.
Biskupic also wrote that Mensah violated department policy when he spoke to the media about the shooting in July.
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An attorney for Mensah didn’t respond to a phone message from The Associated Press.
There’s no body-camera video of the Cole shooting because Wauwatosa’s officers aren’t equipped with them. The city did release squad car dashcam video that shed little light on what happened.
Cole’s death sparked protests in Wauwatosa throughout the summer, including in and around the mall and outside a house where Mensah was staying. Two men were charged in an August altercation at the house after a shotgun was fired.
Mensah was not charged in the 2016 death of Jay Anderson Jr. or the 2015 death of Antonio Gonzales. Police have said Mensah shot Gonzales eight times after he refused to drop a sword. In Anderson’s case, Mensah approached a parked car where Anderson was sleeping and said he saw a gun and thought Anderson was reaching for it, so he shot him six times.
Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Webber said in a recorded message that his department “concurs’ with the decision but “hears the message” from the public. He said the department has taken steps to improve policing, such as providing added training, posting department police and procedures online and requiring body cameras for all officers by January.
Evers also activated the state’s National Guard in August, the morning after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back. The shooting sparked three days of protests over police actions and racism, and caused an estimated $50 million in damage to roughly 100 downtown businesses. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also activated Guard members after George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis set off protests and damaging riots and arson in that state.
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In anticipation of protests after the announcement of the charging decision, Wauwatosa officials shut down City Hall and the library for about three days, beginning at noon Wednesday. News of the decision comes after high-profile deaths of Black people during interactions with police sparked protests that spread around the world over the summer and led to a national reckoning on race in America.
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(Correction: An earlier version of this story said Taleavia Cole disputed Chisholm’s conclusion that her brother had fired at Mensah. The district attorney’s report did not assert that Cole fired at Mensah; only that Cole’s gun was fired as he was pursued by police and a security guard.)
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Stephen Colbert Says What Everyone's Thinking About Mike Pence's Debate Fly

“ Late Show ” host Stephen Colbert just had to join in the buzz about the biggest star of Wednesday night ’ s debate , and it wasn ’ t Vice President Mike Pence or his rival , Democratic VP nominee Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) .
It was the fly that landed on Pence ’ s head and got so comfy that it sat there for more than two minutes .
Colbert let loose with a series of cracks about the little pest .
“ Oh my god , look at his hair !
” Colbert said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crap , he ’ s attracting flies.
” Then Colbert really let the quips fly .
“ All jokes aside , thoughts and prayers to that fly ’ s family , ” he said .
“ It ’ s got to quarantine for two weeks now .
We ’ ve got ta get that fly to Walter Reed.
” “ Two minutes , ” Colbert said .
“ Meaning that fly has a longer attention span than the president of the United States.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com

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“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert just had to join in the buzz about the biggest star of Wednesday night’s debate, and it wasn’t Vice President Mike Pence or his rival, Democratic VP nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).
It was the fly that landed on Pence’s head and got so comfy that it sat there for more than two minutes.
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Colbert let loose with a series of cracks about the little pest.
“Oh my god, look at his hair!” Colbert said. “He’s so full of crap, he’s attracting flies.”
Then Colbert really let the quips fly.
“All jokes aside, thoughts and prayers to that fly’s family,” he said. “It’s got to quarantine for two weeks now. We’ve gotta get that fly to Walter Reed.”
Colbert also noted how long the fly remained atop Pence’s head.
“Two minutes,” Colbert said. “Meaning that fly has a longer attention span than the president of the United States.”
Check out his full monologue below:
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Jimmy Kimmel Thinks Donald Trump Jr. Just Said 'One Of Saddest Things I’ve Heard On Fox News'

Jimmy Kimmel dinged Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday , claiming President Donald Trump ’ s eldest son had just said “ one of the saddest things I ’ ve heard on Fox News.
” Trump Jr. — who Kimmel has feuded with on multiple previous occasions — told the conservative network ’ s “ Fox & Friends ” show that his father , during his hospitalization for the coronavirus , was “ literally rushing to get me off the phone because he had calls he had to make and work he had to do for the American people.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some things never change , ” Trump Jr. added .
“ He ’ s always been that way for his entire life.
” “ Oh , Don Jr. That ’ s not why he was rushing you off the phone , ” said the comedian , before singing the chorus of the Harry Chapin song “ Cat ’ s In The Cradle.
” “ That is one of the saddest things I ’ ve heard on Fox News , ” he added .
Elsewhere in Kimmel ’ s monologue , the late night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role for the fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence ’ s face during Wednesday ’ s debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) He also exposed Trump ’ s meaningless boasts since March that a vaccine for COVID-19 would be available “ very , very soon ” with a cutting supercut .

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Jimmy Kimmel dinged Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday, claiming President Donald Trump’s eldest son had just said “one of the saddest things I’ve heard on Fox News.”
Trump Jr. — who Kimmel has feuded with on multiple previous occasions — told the conservative network’s “Fox & Friends” show that his father, during his hospitalization for the coronavirus, was “literally rushing to get me off the phone because he had calls he had to make and work he had to do for the American people.”
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“It’s sort of amazing, some things never change,” Trump Jr. added. “He’s always been that way for his entire life.”
Kimmel doubted Trump Jr.’s spin on the short call.
“Oh, Don Jr. That’s not why he was rushing you off the phone,” said the comedian, before singing the chorus of the Harry Chapin song “Cat’s In The Cradle.”
“That is one of the saddest things I’ve heard on Fox News,” he added.
Elsewhere in Kimmel’s monologue, the late night host came up with a terrifying new role for the fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence during Wednesday’s debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
He also exposed Trump’s meaningless boasts since March that a vaccine for COVID-19 would be available “very, very soon” with a cutting supercut.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--For The 6th Time This Year, Louisiana Braces For A Major Hurricane

MORGAN CITY , La .
( AP ) — For the sixth time in the Atlantic hurricane season , people in Louisiana are once more fleeing the state ’ s barrier islands and sailing boats to safe harbor while emergency officials ramp up command centers and consider ordering evacuations .
The storm being watched Wednesday was Hurricane Delta , the 25th named storm of the Atlantic ’ s unprecedented hurricane season .
Forecasts placed most of Louisiana within Delta ’ s path , with the latest National Hurricane Center estimating landfall in the state on Friday .
Delta strengthened back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a hurricane warning was issued for a stretch of the northern U.S. Gulf Coast .
Some weakening is forecast once Delta approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday , when the National Hurricane Center predicted hurricane conditions would begin in parts of the area .
The center said Delta is expected to become a major hurricane again , like it was days earlier before hitting the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday .
So far , Louisiana has seen both major strikes and near misses .
The southwest area of the state around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Delta ’ s current trajectory , is still recovering from an Aug. 27 landfall by Category 4 Hurricane Laura .
Nearly six weeks later , some 5,600 people remain in New Orleans hotels because their homes are too damaged to occupy .
Trees , roofs and other debris left in Laura ’ s wake still sit by roadsides in the Lake Charles area waiting for pickup even as forecasters warned that Delta could be a larger than average storm .
Plywood , batteries and rope already were flying off the shelves at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City , Louisiana , which would be close to the center of the storm ’ s path .
“ The other ones didn ’ t bother me , but this one seems like we ’ re the target , ” customer Terry Guarisco said as a store employee helped him load his truck with plywood needed to board up his home .
In Sulphur , across the Calcasieu River from Lake Charles , Ben Reynolds was deciding whether to leave or stay .
He had to use a generator for power for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been a rough year .
The minute you get your traps out and get fishing , its time to pull them out again because something is brewing out there , ” Nguyen said .
“ I think that the stress is not just the stress of the storm this year , it ’ s everything – one thing after another , ” Guillory said .
“ Somebody just told me , ‘ You know , we ’ ve really had enough.
’ ” On Grand Isle , the Starfish restaurant planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of food Wednesday .
Restaurant employee Nicole Fantiny then planned to join the rush of people leaving the barrier island , where the COVID-19 pandemic already devastated the tourism industry .
“ The epidemic , the coronavirus , put a lot of people out of work .
Now , having to leave once a month for these storms — it ’ s been taking a lot , ” said Fantiny .
She tried to quit smoking two weeks ago but gave in and bought a pack of cigarettes Tuesday as Delta strengthened .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the weather and found itself outside Delta ’ s cone Wednesday , constant vigilance and months as a COVID-19 hot spot have strained a vulnerable city still scarred by memories of 2005′s Hurricane Katrina .
Delta ’ s shifting forecast track likely meant no need for a major evacuation , but the city ’ s emergency officials were on alert .

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MORGAN CITY, La. (AP) — For the sixth time in the Atlantic hurricane season, people in Louisiana are once more fleeing the state’s barrier islands and sailing boats to safe harbor while emergency officials ramp up command centers and consider ordering evacuations.
The storm being watched Wednesday was Hurricane Delta, the 25th named storm of the Atlantic’s unprecedented hurricane season. Forecasts placed most of Louisiana within Delta’s path, with the latest National Hurricane Center estimating landfall in the state on Friday.
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The center’s forecasters warned of winds that could gust well above 100 mph (160 kph) and up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of ocean water potentially rushing onshore when the storm’s center hits land.
“This season has been relentless,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said, dusting off his now common refrain of 2020 - “Prepare for the worst. Pray for the best.”
Delta strengthened back into a Category 2 hurricane early Thursday after a hurricane warning was issued for a stretch of the northern U.S. Gulf Coast. Some weakening is forecast once Delta approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday, when the National Hurricane Center predicted hurricane conditions would begin in parts of the area. The center said Delta is expected to become a major hurricane again, like it was days earlier before hitting the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday.
A mobile home was severely damaged in Lake Charles, La., during Hurricane Laura last August. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
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So far, Louisiana has seen both major strikes and near misses. The southwest area of the state around Lake Charles, which forecasts show is on Delta’s current trajectory, is still recovering from an Aug. 27 landfall by Category 4 Hurricane Laura.
Nearly six weeks later, some 5,600 people remain in New Orleans hotels because their homes are too damaged to occupy. Trees, roofs and other debris left in Laura’s wake still sit by roadsides in the Lake Charles area waiting for pickup even as forecasters warned that Delta could be a larger than average storm.
New Orleans spent a few days last month bracing for Hurricane Sally before it skirted to the east, making landfall in Alabama on Sept. 16.
Edwards said President Donald Trump has agreed to sign a federal emergency declaration in advance for the state. The Democratic governor said he doesn’t expect widespread mandatory evacuations.
But Edwards said Wednesday that Delta is moving fast, so hurricane force winds could reach well inland, and expected heavy rains could cause flooding.
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Plywood, batteries and rope already were flying off the shelves at the Tiger Island hardware store in Morgan City, Louisiana, which would be close to the center of the storm’s path.
“The other ones didn’t bother me, but this one seems like we’re the target,” customer Terry Guarisco said as a store employee helped him load his truck with plywood needed to board up his home.
In Sulphur, across the Calcasieu River from Lake Charles, Ben Reynolds was deciding whether to leave or stay. He had to use a generator for power for a week after Hurricane Laura.
“It’s depressing,” Reynolds said. “It’s scary as hell.”
By sundown Wednesday, Acy Cooper planned to have his three shrimp boats locked down and tucked into a Louisiana bayou for the third time this season.
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“We’re not making any money,” Cooper said. “Every time one comes we end up losing a week or two.”
Lynn Nguyen, who works at the TLC Seafood Market in Abbeville, said each storm threat forces fisherman to spend days pulling hundreds of crab traps from the water or risk losing them.
“It’s been a rough year. The minute you get your traps out and get fishing, its time to pull them out again because something is brewing out there,” Nguyen said.
Elsewhere in Abbeville, Wednesday brought another round of boarding up and planning, said Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lynn Guillory.
“I think that the stress is not just the stress of the storm this year, it’s everything – one thing after another,” Guillory said. “Somebody just told me, ‘You know, we’ve really had enough.’”
On Grand Isle, the Starfish restaurant planned to stay open until it ran out of food Wednesday. Restaurant employee Nicole Fantiny then planned to join the rush of people leaving the barrier island, where the COVID-19 pandemic already devastated the tourism industry.
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“The epidemic, the coronavirus, put a lot of people out of work. Now, having to leave once a month for these storms — it’s been taking a lot,” said Fantiny. She tried to quit smoking two weeks ago but gave in and bought a pack of cigarettes Tuesday as Delta strengthened.
While New Orleans has been mostly spared by the weather and found itself outside Delta’s cone Wednesday, constant vigilance and months as a COVID-19 hot spot have strained a vulnerable city still scarred by memories of 2005′s Hurricane Katrina. Delta’s shifting forecast track likely meant no need for a major evacuation, but the city’s emergency officials were on alert.
“We’ve had five near misses. We need to watch this one very, very closely,” New Orleans Emergency Director Collin Arnold said.
Along with getting hit by Hurricane Laura and escaping Hurricane Sally, Louisiana saw heavy flooding June 7 from Tropical Storm Cristobal. Tropical Storm Beta prompted tropical storm warnings in mid-September as it slowly crawled up the northeast Texas coast.
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Tropical Storm Marco looked like it might deliver the first half of a hurricane double-blow with Laura, but nearly dissipated before hitting the state near the mouth of the Mississippi River on Aug. 24.
“I don’t really remember all the names,” Keith Dunn said as he loaded up his crab traps as a storm threatened for a fourth time this season in Theriot, a tiny bayou town just feet above sea level.
And there are nearly eight weeks of hurricane season left, although forecasters at the National Weather Service office in New Orleans noted in a discussion Tuesday of this week’s forecast that outside of Delta, the skies above the Gulf of Mexico look calm.
“Not seeing any signs of any additional tropical weather in the extended which is OK with us because we are SO DONE with Hurricane Season 2020,” they wrote.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Colbert Gets Awkward Coronavirus Confession From Trump In Fake Zoom Interview

Colbert conducted another one of his ongoing fake interviews with Trump , this time using a video released by the @ @ @ @ @ praised “ the greatest doctors in the world ” for their response to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ own treatment for COVID-19 .
But at the same time , the president admitted he @ @ @ @ @ than rely on the advice of the “ greatest ” doctors :

Colbert conducted another one of his ongoing fake interviews with Trump, this time using a video released by the president on Wednesday.
Trump praised “the greatest doctors in the world” for their response to the pandemic as well as to his own treatment for COVID-19. But at the same time, the president admitted he made his own decisions rather than rely on the advice of the “greatest” doctors:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--The Moving Story Behind Adam Sandler's Tribute To Cameron Boyce In 'Hubie Halloween'

Adam Sandler ’ s new movie , “ Hubie Halloween , ” features a tribute in the credits to his late co-star in other films , Cameron Boyce .
Boyce , known best for his roles on “ Jessie ” and “ Descendants , ” died from epilepsy on July 6 , 2019 , at age 20 .
“ Gone way too soon and one of the kindest , coolest , funniest , and most talented kids we knew .
You live on forever in our hearts and are truly missed every day , ” the memorial message reads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Grown Ups ” franchise .
He told Yahoo Entertainment that Boyce had been cast in his new movie as a young deli worker who bullies Hubie , but the actor died just days before filming started .
“ He was getting on a plane to come shoot our movie , ” Sandler said .
“ That was devastating news for his family and for all of us .
He was just a nice kid .
When he was in ‘ Grown-Ups ’ as a kid , he was just carefree , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids loved him .
All the comedians would walk away like , ‘ Man , that kid said a funny line earlier.
’ He was just sharp.
” After Boyce ’ s death , the role went to his close friend and “ Jessie ” co-star , Karan Brar .
Sandler added that his own children ― daughters Sadie , 14 , and Sunny , 11 , who appear in his latest movie ― were fans of Boyce ’ s .
He said Boyce attended Sadie ’ s bat mitzvah just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every one of my daughter ’ s friends was coming up to him , and he took the time and talked to everybody , and signed autographs and took pictures with them .
”

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Adam Sandler’s new movie, “Hubie Halloween,” features a tribute in the credits to his late co-star in other films, Cameron Boyce.
Boyce, known best for his roles on “Jessie” and “Descendants,” died from epilepsy on July 6, 2019, at age 20.
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“Gone way too soon and one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids we knew. You live on forever in our hearts and are truly missed every day,” the memorial message reads.
Sandler played Boyce’s dad in the “Grown Ups” franchise. He told Yahoo Entertainment that Boyce had been cast in his new movie as a young deli worker who bullies Hubie, but the actor died just days before filming started.
“He was getting on a plane to come shoot our movie,” Sandler said. “That was devastating news for his family and for all of us. He was just a nice kid. When he was in ‘Grown-Ups’ as a kid, he was just carefree, happy, funny, all the other kids loved him. All the comedians would walk away like, ‘Man, that kid said a funny line earlier.’ He was just sharp.”
Cameron Boyce (in the middle) played Adam Sandler's son in "Grown Ups" and "Grown Ups 2." Grown Ups
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After Boyce’s death, the role went to his close friend and “Jessie” co-star, Karan Brar.
Sandler added that his own children ― daughters Sadie, 14, and Sunny, 11, who appear in his latest movie ― were fans of Boyce’s.
He said Boyce attended Sadie’s bat mitzvah just a few months before his death, “and every one of my daughter’s friends was coming up to him, and he took the time and talked to everybody, and signed autographs and took pictures with them.”
Sandler added, “He was just a great kid, and everybody misses him.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Supreme Court Won't Block Women From Getting Abortion Pill By Mail During Pandemic

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would for now continue to allow women to obtain an abortion pill by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The action came over the dissent of two conservative justices who would have immediately granted a Trump administration request to reinstate the requirement that women must visit a hospital , clinic or medical office to obtain a pill .
The court did little more than defer its first action on an abortion-related issue since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month .
The court called for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the issue and rule within 40 days .
That would put any further high court action after the Nov. 3 election .
The court said in an unsigned opinion that it was holding the administration ’ s appeal “ in abeyance.
” The administration is asking to be allowed to enforce a U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule .
The administration has suspended similar in-person visits for other drugs , including opioids in some cases , but refused to relax the rules for getting the abortion pill .
A federal judge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health emergency declared by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , health care providers can arrange for mifepristone to be mailed or delivered to patients .
The FDA has approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug , misoprostol , to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage .
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration ’ s request .
“ Six weeks have passed since the application was submitted , but the Court refuses to rule , ” Alito @ @

The Supreme Court declined to reinstate FDA restrictions on the abortion pill that require patients to pick up the medicine in person. Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images
Women seeking the abortion pill during the coronavirus pandemic can continue to receive the medicine by mail for now, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.
The court rejected a Trump administration bid to reinstate a requirement that patients must visit a clinic or doctor’s office in person to obtain the pill.
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It was the court’s first action on reproductive rights since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and it amounted to a punt: The unsigned order called for a lower court judge to take another look at the issue and rule within 40 days, a deadline that falls after the presidential election.
Medication abortion, or the abortion pill as it is called colloquially, is actually a combination of two medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol. When taken together, they essentially induce a miscarriage. It is one of the most common methods used to end pregnancies in the U.S.
Women can take the pills in the privacy of their own home, at a time of their choosing, in the first 10 weeks of a pregnancy. These days, about 40% of abortions in the U.S. are done using medication.
Longstanding Food and Drug Administration regulations on mifepristone, called REMS, mandate that the drug can only be distributed by a health care provider in a medical setting. Patients must physically pick up the drug from a medical provider, even though they can swallow the pill at home. Under these rules, mifepristone cannot be dispensed at pharmacies or sent through the mail.
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In May, reproductive health care providers, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, sued the FDA to temporarily block the requirement that patients obtain medication abortion in person during the pandemic. They argued that the dispensing requirement puts patients and clinicians at unnecessary risk of contracting the virus. The lawsuit notes that of more than 20,000 FDA-approved drugs, mifepristone is the only one that patients must obtain in person in a clinical setting but are allowed to ingest elsewhere, unsupervised.
In July, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang issued a nationwide injunction against the FDA requirement, allowing women to get the abortion pill through the mail for the duration of the pandemic.
“The In-Person Requirements, combined with the COVID19 pandemic, place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a medication abortion and that may delay or preclude a medication abortion and thus may necessitate a more invasive procedure,” Chuang wrote. “Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm.”
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit rejected the FDA’s request to put Chuang’s order on hold while the FDA appealed. The Trump administration then went to the Supreme Court.
Medication abortion has emerged as a new battlefront as reproductive rights groups push for increased access, while conservatives are trying to scale it back.
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“It is a relief that, for the next few weeks at least, the Trump administration cannot force patients seeking an early abortion to needlessly risk contracting a life-threatening disease as a condition of obtaining care,” said Julia Kaye, staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, in a statement. “But when the president has vowed to appoint a new justice who will overrule Roe v. Wade, the fact that the Supreme Court decided to stay out of this particular fight for now is hardly an indication that the right to abortion is secure.”
The FDA restrictions on medication abortion are not grounded in science, said Skye Perryman, chief legal officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in a statement.
Research has shown that medication abortion is safe and effective. Over 3.7 million women have used it to end their pregnancies since its approval.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--When Will Concerts Return? Experts Weigh In.

Concerts are particularly risky in this pandemic .
We ’ ll need to have the virus under control first .
@ @ @ @ @ big help , but not the total solution .
Masks will be part of the @ @ @ @ @ Organizers will need to reduce crowding .
Artists and venues will continue to face challenges @ @ @ @ @ that the concert experience will be different going forward , and innovative artists are already @ @ @ @ @ fans , ” she said .
“ Throughout the pandemic , drive-in concerts have gained @ @ @ @ @ to traditional concerts , but they are not accessible everywhere .
They also don ’ @ @ @ @ @ experience or sound quality that a traditional in-person concert would have .
”

Pitinan Piyavatin/EyeEm via Getty Images Concerts are particularly risky in the coronavirus era.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve taken restaurant dining outside, replaced international travel with national park road trips and put work meetings that still probably should’ve been emails on Zoom.
But one experience that seems almost impossible to imagine in our new reality is the traditional live music show. While virtual concerts can provide great joy and entertainment, fans have lamented that they don’t capture the true feeling of an IRL show.
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But when will we get the real deal again? HuffPost asked health experts to share their thoughts on the concert experience in time of coronavirus and their predictions for the future of live music.
Concerts are particularly risky in this pandemic.
While we’ve figured out relatively safe ways to bring back pre-pandemic activities like restaurant dining, concerts pose many more challenges in the coronavirus era.
“Concerts bring together some of the highest-risk behaviors for COVID-19 transmission,” said Brian Labus, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ School of Public Health. “We have large groups of people standing in close contact for an extended period of time while singing and cheering. Plus they would need to keep removing their masks to smoke or drink a beer. If we try to change these things, we would really change the entire concert experience.”
“The social aspect of traditional live music concerts makes it difficult to transition to a scenario where concertgoers are asked to enjoy the music in a socially distanced setting.” - Dr. Kristin Dean, board-certified physician and medical director at Doctor on Demand
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As large gatherings, traditional concerts are by nature potential superspreader events. The lack of personal space and constant flow of respiratory droplets as people sing or speak loudly to each other make most music shows a prime location for virus transmission.
“Enjoying live music with friends has begun to feel like a remnant of a better time as the impacts of a global pandemic continue to change the way we interact with the world,” said Dr. Kristin Dean, a board-certified physician and medical director at the telemedicine service Doctor on Demand. “The social aspect of traditional live music concerts makes it difficult to transition to a scenario where concertgoers are asked to enjoy the music in a socially distanced setting.”
She noted that attempts to hold live shows with (and without) social distancing, masks and additional precautions have sparked controversy and led to questions around how to move forward while remaining safe.
In August, German researchers conducted an experiment that aimed to answer those questions. To study the spread of the novel coronavirus in a concert setting, they outfitted about 1,500 people with tracking devices and fluorescent hand sanitizer. Participants then attended three simulations of a concert ― one as if there were no pandemic, one with moderate restrictions and one with more strict safety measures.
While the results have not yet been published, the study has already faced criticism for the risks involved in the experiment and questions about its accuracy given participants were not permitted to drink. Still, the findings could offer helpful insights into the possibilities for live music going forward.
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Sean Gallup via Getty Images Participants in the German concert study watched singer Tim Bendzko perform at an indoor arena in Leipzig on Aug. 22.
We’ll need to have the virus under control first.
The experts who spoke to HuffPost were in agreement that the virus must be much more under control before we can bring back the concert experience. Most pointed to the need for a very low level of coronavirus transmission in communities, which is best reached through a widely deployed vaccine.
“For concerts to be as safe as possible, you’d need to have herd immunity established,” said Dr. Kim Kilby, a family and preventative medicine physician and senior leader at MVP Health Care. “To achieve this, experts have suggested that 75% of the population must either have received the vaccine or survived the infection.”
The U.S. is nowhere near the point of herd immunity, and to try to reach that level without a vaccine could cost millions of lives, overwhelm hospitals, further harm the economy and lead to a number of long-term health challenges for those who survive severe cases.
There are multiple vaccine candidates that look promising, but the CDC has said they won’t be widely available until mid-2021. Thus, many artists and venues have already moved their concerts to dates next summer, and they may have to push them again as the year unfolds.
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“No large gatherings such as concerts should be held at least till the middle or end of next year,” said Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University. “Concerts are not essential, and people should find alternate ways of entertainment ... The pandemic won’t last forever, but the more we engage in events like concerts, there will be prolonged recovery from the pandemic.”
A vaccine will be a big help, but not the total solution.
“It is difficult to anticipate when or even if we will return to the traditional live concert setting that we were accustomed to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dean. “Vaccinations, immunity and decreased spread of the virus may result in a safer environment to consider returning to concertgoing as we knew it, but it is too early to tell.”
Even if we reach the herd immunity threshold in the next year or so, traditional concerts may still pose a risk to many, as the virus will not simply “disappear.” As a result, venues will likely need to take precautions to protect concertgoers’ health, and some music fans may still be hesitant to attend a big show.
“It would be a better situation if we had vaccines, but realistically we may have to have a hybrid of recommendations,” said Dr. Jake Deutsch, a physician and founder of Cure Urgent Care. He emphasized the need for venue safety measures and rapid testing in addition to greater immunity.
“Testing being readily available, accurate, cost-effective, and providing rapid results can also facilitate the return of traditional concerts,” noted Dr. Sachin Nagrani, a physician and medical director for the telemedicine and house call provider Heal.
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Outdoor concerts will resume before indoor shows.
“Outdoor events will return sooner given the lower risk of transmission of the virus when outdoors due to easier ability to distance, naturally high ventilation and sunlight sanitizing outdoor surfaces,” said Nagrani.
Indeed, concert organizers have already been testing out new outdoor music experiences amid the pandemic. In August, English artist Sam Fender performed for 2,500 fans at the Virgin Money Unity Arena ― “the U.K.’s first socially distanced music venue.”
Ian Forsyth via Getty Images Sam Fender was the first to perform at the Virgin Money Unity Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The setup featured spaced-out private platforms, food and drink delivery and strict distancing rules. Six weeks after the venue opened, however, new COVID-19 restrictions to address rising case counts forced it to shut down.
Although outdoor concerts may be a good first step in the return of live music events, changing seasons and everyday weather conditions can be limiting. Keeping people spaced apart is also not necessarily easier outside.
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A Hamptons fundraiser concert featuring the Chainsmokers came under fire in July after photos and videos from the event showed “egregious social distancing violations.”
Masks will be part of the equation for a while.
While the prospect of an effective COVID-19 vaccine looks promising, health experts have made it clear that it won’t completely shield everyone from the disease. Therefore, face masks will still be an important part of our lives, especially in high-risk situations like large public gatherings.
“People need to understand that even as the vaccine is rolled out, we will need to continue to wear masks and physically distance to prevent spread of coronavirus,” said Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician and vice chair of the IDSA Global Health Committee.
Mask-wearing will be part of the concert experience of the future, at least for little while, as will other important restrictions, Dean noted.
“The same safety measures we recommend for reducing the spread of COVID-19 apply to live music shows, including social distancing, wearing a mask, frequent hand-washing, disinfecting communal surfaces prior to use and remaining home while you are sick or if you have had a known exposure to COVID-19 within the past 14 days,” she said.
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Expect more checkpoints.
Just as we’ve seen restaurants do temperature checks before allowing patrons to dine, music venues will likely implement similar measures as concertgoers arrive at shows.
“While those checks will not be the only safety installments into the concert experience, we can reasonably expect that temperature checks, questionaries and other protections might be built into concerts in the future,” said Kilby.
Concert organizers will have to monitor the spread of the virus in the community and surrounding areas where attendees may travel from. As rapid testing becomes more widely available, venues could also require proof of a negative result.
“The reduced capacity will make it difficult, or even impossible, for the bands and promoters to break even.” - Labus
“Point-of-care testing to get done in the moment when they arrive would be a game-changer,” noted Deutsch.
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If there are going to be more checkpoints, however, he believes venues need to rethink the ways they funnel attendees into the space to allow for social distancing. Touchless technological solutions and sanitizer stations at entry and exit points are obvious additions as well.
Organizers will need to reduce crowding.
As in-person concerts resume, organizers will likely have to limit the number of attendees to allow for social distancing. Still, Labus noted, that’s not enough to prevent crowding.
“It’s not just about reduced capacity, we have to reduce the density of the crowds as well,” he said. “Even if you only allow 10% of the venue’s capacity, those people will all crowd near the stage unless you have assigned seating that keeps them apart. That means having small crowds spread out in large venues, which would drastically change the concert experience.”
Venues with built-in seating may be at an advantage, but other spaces can of course add chairs or other mechanisms to ensure proper spacing.
“I do think that outdoor venues will return before indoor ones,” Kuppalli said. “I would also think smaller venues would be more likely, and places with assigned seating like the Hollywood Bowl would be preferential ― this way you can have people appropriately distance and wear masks.”
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Kevin Mazur via Getty Images The Chainsmokers performed at a "Safe & Sound" drive-in concert fundraiser on July 25 in Water Mill, New York. The event sparked outrage and a state investigation due to apparent public health violations.
Artists and venues will continue to face challenges.
It’s no secret the concert industry is struggling in 2020, and a vaccine or gradual resumption of live shows will not cover the financial losses wrought by the pandemic.
“The reduced capacity will make it difficult, or even impossible, for the bands and promoters to break even,” said Labus. “Given the logistical challenges of mounting national tours, I would expect to see smaller acts in smaller venues before we see the return of large arena shows.”
In a recent survey of about 1,350 live industry professionals, more than 72% expressed “concern about their company’s ability to survive COVID-19.” A similar number said they do not believe the government “has given proper consideration to the plight of the sports and live entertainment industry as compared to other impacted industries such as airlines, hotels, restaurants/retail.”
It’s important for music fans to support their favorite artists and venues as they navigate this new reality, whether that means donating to relief funds, buying tickets to virtual events or spreading awareness.
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“There are options to enjoy concerts right now, such as online or drive-in performances,” said Nagrani. “I highly encourage supporting your favorite artists and venues via the available options given our current constraints.”
Virtual concerts and viewings of pre-recorded shows have their own entertainment value, but as Kilby noted, it’s not quite the same as the powerful live experience.
“We can expect that the concert experience will be different going forward, and innovative artists are already trying new ways of engaging fans,” she said. “Throughout the pandemic, drive-in concerts have gained in popularity as an alternative to traditional concerts, but they are not accessible everywhere. They also don’t allow for the same experience or sound quality that a traditional in-person concert would have.”
While there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the concert experience in the age of COVID-19, one thing we know for sure is that it’s going to take some time for the industry to recover.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Trump And Pence Aren’t Being Honest About Abortion

And yet , at the vice presidential debate on Wednesday , when moderator Susan Page asked Pence whether he would like to see Indiana ban abortion if the landmark Roe v. Wade decision were overturned , he dodged the question .
Suddenly , the anti-abortion crusader had little to say about the issue that has animated much of his public life .
This is a man whose views on abortion are so extreme that he once said , “ I long for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history.
” During the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prediction that legal abortion will end “ in our time ” or brag about the progress that the anti-abortion movement has made under the Trump administration .
He said he wasn ’ t even sure how Amy Coney Barrett , Trump ’ s nominee to the Supreme Court , would vote on Roe v. Wade , which legalized abortion nationwide in 1973 .
Instead , he pivoted to attacking former Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , falsely accusing them of supporting abortion “ up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the opportunity to expound on his vision for the future of abortion rights , Pence punted .
Trump did the same thing at the presidential debate the week before .
When Biden noted that Roe would likely be at stake if Barrett were confirmed , Trump disagreed , saying , “ I don ’ t think so .
There ’ s nothing happening there .
You don ’ t know her view on Roe v. Wade.
” His reluctance to discuss how his pick might affect access to abortion was striking considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-abortion justices .
Now that Trump and his administration are closer than ever to achieving their goal of ending legal abortion , they are tiptoeing around it on the public stage to avoid spelling out their full intentions .
Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-Iowa ) also adopted this strategy , downplaying the chances of the Supreme Court overturning Roe even after she signed a brief urging the court to do so earlier this year .
While abortion is a complicated , nuanced issue for many people , overall public support remains high .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion should be legal in all or most cases , compared with 38 % who think it should be illegal in all or most cases , according to the Pew Research Center .
And 70 % do not want the Supreme Court to completely overturn Roe v. Wade .
Independent voters are twice as likely to support a presidential candidate who is in favor of abortion rights and access , Undem said .
So Trump and Pence might be concerned that speaking about restricting abortion could push undecided voters , especially women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Republicans across the country have made major , major progress on their abortion agenda , ” she continued .
The fact that neither Trump nor Pence were willing to acknowledge that during the debates shows that they know their positions are unpopular .
Barrett ’ s nomination to the Supreme Court has thrust the issue of abortion center stage with less than a month until Election Day .
The strict Catholic is personally opposed to abortion , and in 2006 , she signed a newspaper ad that decried the “ barbaric legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if Barrett is appointed , she will undermine abortion rights and even vote to overturn Roe .
Anti-abortion groups are enthusiastic about the prospect .
Yet , Barrett and Pence ’ s anti-abortion stance does not represent the opinions of most voters .
A HuffPost/YouGov poll of registered voters conducted after Barrett ’ s nomination was announced found that a slim majority of the public does not want abortion pushed any further out of reach .
When asked how they felt about the Supreme Court ’ s restrictions on abortion , 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions the same and 25 % supported lifting existing restrictions .
Only 27 % of respondents said they wanted more restrictions on the procedure .
The rest of those polled , 19 % , were unsure .
“ It ’ s quite telling that both Trump and Pence took a hard pass when they were handed the perfect opportunities to articulate what they have said time and again , which is that they are committed to packing the Supreme Court with justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banning abortion outright , ” Andrea Miller , president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health , told HuffPost .
“ I think what that tells us is that they are starting to come to terms with the reality that their position is not only out of step with what the vast majority of people in this country want , but it is a truly losing position in this election cycle .
”

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence arrive at a campaign rally in Newport News, Virginia, on Sept. 25. Tom Brenner / Reuters
For his entire political career, Mike Pence has pursued anti-abortion policies — as a congressman, as the governor of Indiana and as vice president to Donald Trump.
And yet, at the vice presidential debate on Wednesday, when moderator Susan Page asked Pence whether he would like to see Indiana ban abortion if the landmark Roe v. Wade decision were overturned, he dodged the question. Suddenly, the anti-abortion crusader had little to say about the issue that has animated much of his public life.
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This is a man whose views on abortion are so extreme that he once said, “I long for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history.”
During the debate, Pence didn’t mention his prediction that legal abortion will end “in our time” or brag about the progress that the anti-abortion movement has made under the Trump administration. He said he wasn’t even sure how Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, would vote on Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide in 1973. Instead, he pivoted to attacking former Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, falsely accusing them of supporting abortion “up to the moment of birth.”
When given the opportunity to expound on his vision for the future of abortion rights, Pence punted. Trump did the same thing at the presidential debate the week before. When Biden noted that Roe would likely be at stake if Barrett were confirmed, Trump disagreed, saying, “I don’t think so. There’s nothing happening there. You don’t know her view on Roe v. Wade.” His reluctance to discuss how his pick might affect access to abortion was striking considering his pledge in 2016 to only appoint anti-abortion justices.
Now that Trump and his administration are closer than ever to achieving their goal of ending legal abortion, they are tiptoeing around it on the public stage to avoid spelling out their full intentions. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) also adopted this strategy, downplaying the chances of the Supreme Court overturning Roe even after she signed a brief urging the court to do so earlier this year.
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This is likely because the public doesn’t agree with their extreme views on abortion.
“The answer is because they are very much out of the mainstream,” Tresa Undem, a pollster who has tracked opinion on abortion for years, told HuffPost.
While abortion is a complicated, nuanced issue for many people, overall public support remains high. As of 2019, 61% believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared with 38% who think it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. And 70% do not want the Supreme Court to completely overturn Roe v. Wade.
Independent voters are twice as likely to support a presidential candidate who is in favor of abortion rights and access, Undem said. So Trump and Pence might be concerned that speaking about restricting abortion could push undecided voters, especially women, to support Biden.
“This administration and Republicans across the country have made major, major progress on their abortion agenda,” she continued. The fact that neither Trump nor Pence were willing to acknowledge that during the debates shows that they know their positions are unpopular.
“They’re taking the noncontroversial position, which is not attacking abortion,” she said.
Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court has thrust the issue of abortion center stage with less than a month until Election Day. The strict Catholic is personally opposed to abortion, and in 2006, she signed a newspaper ad that decried the “barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.” Critics worry that if Barrett is appointed, she will undermine abortion rights and even vote to overturn Roe. Anti-abortion groups are enthusiastic about the prospect.
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Yet, Barrett and Pence’s anti-abortion stance does not represent the opinions of most voters. A HuffPost/YouGov poll of registered voters conducted after Barrett’s nomination was announced found that a slim majority of the public does not want abortion pushed any further out of reach. When asked how they felt about the Supreme Court’s restrictions on abortion, 29% of respondents said they supported keeping restrictions the same and 25% supported lifting existing restrictions. Only 27% of respondents said they wanted more restrictions on the procedure. The rest of those polled, 19%, were unsure.
Trump also faces a potentially historic gender gap heading into Election Day, with Biden leading with women voters. Abortion is extremely common, considering nearly 1 in 4 U.S. women have the procedure by the age of 45, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit reproductive health care research group.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--Welsh Politicians Hit Back After Trump Criticizes Wales' COVID-19 Lockdowns

“ I ’ m actually surprised that Donald Trump has even heard of Wales , ” Jobbins said , “ @ @ @ @ @ even more surprised if he has a detailed grasp of the situation here .
I @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got a detailed grasp of it in America , to be honest.
” @ @ @ @ @ leader of independence group Plaid Cymru , said that he looked forward to welcoming Joe @ @ @ @ @ of the United States , particularly since Biden ’ s hometown of Scranton , Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ many Welsh immigrants over the years .
“ No country in the world is going @ @ @ @ @ from President Trump , ” Prince said , “ and certainly not Wales , as @ @ @ @ @ which gave the world the model of a national health service.
” As of Thursday @ @ @ @ @ cases of COVID-19 .
The U.S. , in contrast , has seen over 7 million @ @

“I’m actually surprised that Donald Trump has even heard of Wales,” Jobbins said, “and I’d be even more surprised if he has a detailed grasp of the situation here. I’m not convinced he’s got a detailed grasp of it in America, to be honest.”
Meanwhile, Adam Prince, leader of independence group Plaid Cymru, said that he looked forward to welcoming Joe Biden as the next president of the United States, particularly since Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, had been home to many Welsh immigrants over the years.
“No country in the world is going to take public health lessons from President Trump,” Prince said, “and certainly not Wales, as the birthplace of the NHS which gave the world the model of a national health service.”
As of Thursday, Wales has had 28,262 cases of COVID-19. The U.S., in contrast, has seen over 7 million cases.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-08--D.C. Health Dept. Urges Anyone Who Attended Rose Garden Event To Take COVID-19 Test

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — In an extraordinary step , the Washington , D.C. , Department of Health has released an open letter appealing to all White House staff and anyone who attended a Sept. 26 event in the Rose Garden to seek medical advice and take a COVID-19 test .
The letter indicates a lack of confidence in the White House medical team ’ s own contact tracing efforts regarding an ongoing virus outbreak that has infected President Donald Trump , multiple senior staff members and two U.S. senators , among others .
Co-signed by nine other local health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia , the letter flatly states a belief that contact tracing on the outbreak has been insufficient .
It says the public appeal is based on , “ our preliminary understanding that there has been limited contact tracing performed to date , there may be other staff and residents at risk for exposure to COVID positive individuals.
” It asks all White House employees , anyone who attended the Sept. 26 event and anyone who may have been in contact with those people to “ contact your local health department for further guidance/questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The letter represents a rising level of concern and a clear shift in strategy by Mayor Muriel Bowser ’ s government , which had previously remained publicly hands-off and said it trusted the White House ’ s robust medical operation to handle its own contact tracing and follow-up .
Bowser said earlier this week that repeated attempts to contact the White House over the outbreak had received a “ very cursory ” response but that she believed the necessary steps were being taken .
“ There are established public health protocols at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Bowser said on Monday .
“ We assume that those protocols have been engaged.
” A Health Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions on whether the letter had been directly sent to any White House employees or people who attended the Sept. 26 event , or if the D.C. government had been provided with a list of attendees .
In this Sept. 26 , 2020 , photo President Donald Trump , center , stands with Judge Amy Coney Barrett as they arrive for a news conference to announce Barrett as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington .
( AP Photo/Alex Brandon ) The move highlights the public health dilemma faced by Bowser ’ s government regarding the current outbreak .
The Trump White House has operated for months in open violation of several D.C. virus regulations , hosting multiple gatherings that exceeded the local 50-person limit and in which many participants didn ’ t wear masks .
It shines a further spotlight on the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to introduce Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee , Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Notre Dame University President Rev .
John Jenkins , who flew in from Indiana for the ceremony , have now tested positive .
Washington ’ s local virus regulations don ’ t apply on federal property , but the current outbreak has blurred those distinctions .
Trump inner-circle members like former counselor Kellyanne Conway , who has also tested positive , are D.C. residents , as are many of the staffers , employees , Secret Service members and journalists who have had close contact with infected officials .
“ We look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been within six feet ( of an infected person ) for at least 15 minutes .
And the purpose is to mitigate further transmission of the virus , correct ?
It ’ s not to go back and identify patients zero .
I understand that people are very curious about that I ’ m curious too , ” he said .
“ It ’ s sort of an unknowable question as to where it entered the environment .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary step, the Washington, D.C., Department of Health has released an open letter appealing to all White House staff and anyone who attended a Sept. 26 event in the Rose Garden to seek medical advice and take a COVID-19 test.
The letter indicates a lack of confidence in the White House medical team’s own contact tracing efforts regarding an ongoing virus outbreak that has infected President Donald Trump, multiple senior staff members and two U.S. senators, among others.
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Co-signed by nine other local health departments from neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia, the letter flatly states a belief that contact tracing on the outbreak has been insufficient.
It says the public appeal is based on, “our preliminary understanding that there has been limited contact tracing performed to date, there may be other staff and residents at risk for exposure to COVID positive individuals.”
It asks all White House employees, anyone who attended the Sept. 26 event and anyone who may have been in contact with those people to “contact your local health department for further guidance/questions regarding your potential need to quarantine.”
The letter represents a rising level of concern and a clear shift in strategy by Mayor Muriel Bowser’s government, which had previously remained publicly hands-off and said it trusted the White House’s robust medical operation to handle its own contact tracing and follow-up.
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Bowser said earlier this week that repeated attempts to contact the White House over the outbreak had received a “very cursory” response but that she believed the necessary steps were being taken.
“There are established public health protocols at the White House that are federal in nature,” Bowser said on Monday. “We assume that those protocols have been engaged.”
A Health Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions on whether the letter had been directly sent to any White House employees or people who attended the Sept. 26 event, or if the D.C. government had been provided with a list of attendees.
In this Sept. 26, 2020, photo President Donald Trump, center, stands with Judge Amy Coney Barrett as they arrive for a news conference to announce Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The move highlights the public health dilemma faced by Bowser’s government regarding the current outbreak. The Trump White House has operated for months in open violation of several D.C. virus regulations, hosting multiple gatherings that exceeded the local 50-person limit and in which many participants didn’t wear masks.
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It shines a further spotlight on the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony to introduce Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Multiple attendees, including Trump and Notre Dame University President Rev. John Jenkins, who flew in from Indiana for the ceremony, have now tested positive.
Washington’s local virus regulations don’t apply on federal property, but the current outbreak has blurred those distinctions. Trump inner-circle members like former counselor Kellyanne Conway, who has also tested positive, are D.C. residents, as are many of the staffers, employees, Secret Service members and journalists who have had close contact with infected officials.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Monday that the White House “has established a robust contact tracing program led by the White House Medical Unit with CDC integration to provide appropriate recommendations.”
On Wednesday, White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern detailed the in-house contact tracing regime to reporters.
“We look back 48 hours to find people who may have been within six feet (of an infected person) for at least 15 minutes. And the purpose is to mitigate further transmission of the virus, correct? It’s not to go back and identify patients zero. I understand that people are very curious about that I’m curious too,” he said. “It’s sort of an unknowable question as to where it entered the environment.”