thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Strict New Limits Imposed Coast To Coast In U.S. As COVID-19 Surge Continues

( Reuters ) - The city of Philadelphia and several large U.S. states on Monday announced strict new limits on social gatherings and commercial activity to tamp down a coronavirus surge threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems and claim thousands more lives in the weeks ahead .
More than 70,000 Americans were hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 as of Monday , the most ever at any time since the pandemic began , according to a Reuters tally of public health figures .
The number of U.S. infections documented to date surpassed 11 million on Monday , a little more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fastest time it has taken for the national tally to grow by an additional 1 million cases .
In one of the most aggressive actions taken to confront the looming crisis , Philadelphia officials on Monday ordered a ban on “ indoor gatherings of any size in any location , public or private , ” except among individuals who live together .
If the current rate of “ exponential ” growth in cases continues , hospitals will soon be strained to their limits and more than 1,000 people could die in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks , Farley said .
In neighboring New Jersey , one of the hardest-hit states in the early phase of the pandemic , Governor Phil Murphy said he was ordering indoor gatherings of individuals from different households to limit to 10 people , down from 25 , while the mandatory cap on outdoor gatherings will be lowered next week to 150 from 500 .
On the other side of the country , California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was applying “ emergency brakes ” to his reopening plan , citing a doubling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported across the state over the past 10 days .
The crackdown means no indoor service in bars and restaurants and more restrictions on many other businesses and public gatherings .
California is also strengthening its face covering guidance to require individuals to wear a mask whenever outside their home , with limited exceptions , Newsom said .
In Ohio , where daily case tallies have increased by 17 % and total hospitalizations by at least 25 % in the past week , the state ’ s health department issued a revised order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Governor Mike DeWine announced .
The flurry of measures came as 40 states have reported record daily increases in COVID-19 cases this month , while 20 states have registered all-time highs in daily coronavirus-related deaths and 26 reported new peaks in hospitalizations , according to a Reuters tally of public health data .
Together with Pfizer Inc ’ s PFE.N vaccine , which also was found to be more than 90 % effective , and depending on the outcome of additional safety data and regulatory reviews , the United States could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , with as many as 60 million doses available this year .
“ It ’ s a very serious situation , ” Fauci said on NBC ’ s “ Today ” program .
“ But the fact that help is on the way should spur us even more to double down on some of the public health measures ... We can do it .
”

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(Reuters) - The city of Philadelphia and several large U.S. states on Monday announced strict new limits on social gatherings and commercial activity to tamp down a coronavirus surge threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems and claim thousands more lives in the weeks ahead.
New Jersey, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania’s largest city joined a growing list of states and local jurisdictions re-imposing tough measures designed to blunt a nationwide spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, following a summertime ebb.
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Health experts warn the coming holiday travel season and the onset of colder weather will only exacerbate the trend, with people more likely to congregate indoors.
More than 70,000 Americans were hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 as of Monday, the most ever at any time since the pandemic began, according to a Reuters tally of public health figures.
The number of U.S. infections documented to date surpassed 11 million on Monday, a little more than a week after crossing the 10-million mark - the fastest time it has taken for the national tally to grow by an additional 1 million cases.
PHILADELPHIA GETS TOUGH
In one of the most aggressive actions taken to confront the looming crisis, Philadelphia officials on Monday ordered a ban on “indoor gatherings of any size in any location, public or private,” except among individuals who live together.
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“We need to keep this virus from jumping from one household to another,” city Health Commissioner Thomas Farley told a news conference.
If the current rate of “exponential” growth in cases continues, hospitals will soon be strained to their limits and more than 1,000 people could die in Pennsylvania’s largest city over the next six weeks, Farley said.
In neighboring New Jersey, one of the hardest-hit states in the early phase of the pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy said he was ordering indoor gatherings of individuals from different households to limit to 10 people, down from 25, while the mandatory cap on outdoor gatherings will be lowered next week to 150 from 500.
On the other side of the country, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was applying “emergency brakes” to his reopening plan, citing a doubling in the daily number of COVID-19 cases reported across the state over the past 10 days.
Under Newsom’s announcement, commercial and social restrictions will be tightened starting Tuesday in 40 of the state’s 58 counties, covering the vast majority of its 40 million residents.
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The crackdown means no indoor service in bars and restaurants and more restrictions on many other businesses and public gatherings. California is also strengthening its face covering guidance to require individuals to wear a mask whenever outside their home, with limited exceptions, Newsom said.
OHIO & OKLAHOMA
In Ohio, where daily case tallies have increased by 17% and total hospitalizations by at least 25% in the past week, the state’s health department issued a revised order to limit mass gatherings starting on Tuesday, Governor Mike DeWine announced.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced a new 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants starting on Thursday, while some 33,000 state employees will be required to wear masks at work beginning on Wednesday.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham urged residents to stay home for all but essential activities. “We face a life-or-death situation and we cannot fail to act,” Grisham wrote on Twitter.
Michigan and Washington state on Sunday imposed sweeping new restrictions on gatherings, including halting indoor restaurant service.
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The flurry of measures came as 40 states have reported record daily increases in COVID-19 cases this month, while 20 states have registered all-time highs in daily coronavirus-related deaths and 26 reported new peaks in hospitalizations, according to a Reuters tally of public health data.
The United States as a whole has averaged more than 148,000 new cases a day, and 1,120 daily deaths, over the past week.
MODERNA VACCINE 95% EFFECTIVE
The dire accumulation of grim statistics came amid a glimmer of hope with Monday’s announcement by drugmaker Moderna MRNA.O that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19, based on interim data from a late-stage trial.
Together with Pfizer Inc’s PFE.N vaccine, which also was found to be more than 90% effective, and depending on the outcome of additional safety data and regulatory reviews, the United States could have two vaccines authorized for emergency use in December, with as many as 60 million doses available this year.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top U.S. health official, said the Moderna vaccine results were impressive but cautioned the United States could still go through a “dark winter” as COVID-19 fatigue sets in and people grow tired of restrictions.
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“It’s a very serious situation,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Today” program. “But the fact that help is on the way should spur us even more to double down on some of the public health measures... We can do it.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--North Dakota Hits Highest COVID-19 Mortality Rate In The World

North Dakota had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of any other state or even any other country in the world last week , according to a shocking analysis by the Federation of American Scientists .
Both states also have the lowest rates of face mask use in the nation .
The rates are what health experts would expect in a war-torn nation — but not in the U.S. , the scientists said .
“ How could we allow this in the United States to happen ?
” Dr. Ali Mokdad , a health professor at the University of Washington in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is unacceptable.
” It ’ s a situation “ as bad as it gets anywhere in the world , ” complained Dr. William Haseltine , president of Access Health International , who blamed state leaders for failing to adopt lifesaving health measures .
📍North Dakota had the lowest mask-wearing rate in US in October , according to survey data .
States without masks mandates saw sharp spikes .
📍Dakotas also has the highest per capita rate of # COVID19 , according to the CDC as of November 6 .
# MaskUp https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DrEricDing ) November 16 , 2020 North Dakota , which first hit the top of the FAS global mortality charts last month , tallied 18.2 deaths per million last week , and South Dakota had 17.4 deaths per million , according to the FAS analysis .
North Dakota finally moved last week to require masks in certain settings and imposed business restrictions .
“ Our situation has changed , and we must change with it , ” Republican Gov .
Doug Burgum said in a somber video message Friday after health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , a Republican favorite of President Donald Trump , remains adamantly opposed to a mask mandate and frequently questions if masks are any use in preventing the spread of COVID-19 .
She also welcomed mass gatherings in her state this summer , including the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the state fair — action Haseltine equated to manslaughter .
“ The facts are simple : mask mandates , harsh lockdowns , massive testing and contact tracing haven ’ t worked — in the United States or abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seidel falsely insisted in an email Monday to The Associated Press .
Scientists and medical and public health experts armed with actual evidence strongly disagree .
📍NEW : North Dakota & South Dakota rank # 1 & # 3 ... .
Our analysis shows 18 of the 50 worst # COVID19 hotspots with the highest mortality worldwide are in the US .
And all this reflects deaths arising from older cases arising 3 weeks ago in Oct. Nov case surging➡bad Dec death wave .
pic.twitter.com/AgdSum14Dw — Eric Feigl-Ding ( @ DrEricDing ) November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ’ s model predicts that under current conditions , total deaths in North Dakota and South Dakota will more than double by March 1 .
That means more than 3,000 more people are expected to die of COVID-19 by then in the two states with a combined population of fewer than 2 million people .
As of Monday , 749 residents had died of COVID-19 in North Dakota , which has nearly 12,000 active cases .
Hospitals are so overwhelmed that they ’ re allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected with COVID-19 provided they ’ re asymptomatic .
South Dakota reported 23 new COVID-19 deaths on Sunday after a record daily death toll of 53 the previous day , The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported .
There are more than 18,000 active cases in the state , and , as of Monday , a total of 644 people had died .
Cases are surging across the nation .
The virus has killed 1,000 Americans a day over the past week .

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North Dakota had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of any other state or even any other country in the world last week, according to a shocking analysis by the Federation of American Scientists.
South Dakota ranked third-worst in the world.
Both states also have the lowest rates of face mask use in the nation.
The rates are what health experts would expect in a war-torn nation — but not in the U.S., the scientists said.
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“How could we allow this in the United States to happen?” Dr. Ali Mokdad, a health professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, told USA Today. “This is unacceptable.”
It’s a situation “as bad as it gets anywhere in the world,” complained Dr. William Haseltine, president of Access Health International, who blamed state leaders for failing to adopt lifesaving health measures.
📍North Dakota had the lowest mask-wearing rate in US in October, according to survey data. States without masks mandates saw sharp spikes.
📍Dakotas also has the highest per capita rate of #COVID19, according to the CDC as of November 6. #MaskUp https://t.co/zinXIolLgU pic.twitter.com/bNsHRxV9W9 — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020
North Dakota, which first hit the top of the FAS global mortality charts last month, tallied 18.2 deaths per million last week, and South Dakota had 17.4 deaths per million, according to the FAS analysis.
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North Dakota finally moved last week to require masks in certain settings and imposed business restrictions. “Our situation has changed, and we must change with it,” Republican Gov. Doug Burgum said in a somber video message Friday after health care workers pushed for a mask mandate.
But South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican favorite of President Donald Trump, remains adamantly opposed to a mask mandate and frequently questions if masks are any use in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
She also welcomed mass gatherings in her state this summer, including the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the state fair — action Haseltine equated to manslaughter.
“The facts are simple: mask mandates, harsh lockdowns, massive testing and contact tracing haven’t worked — in the United States or abroad,” Noem’s spokesperson Maggie Seidel falsely insisted in an email Monday to The Associated Press. Scientists and medical and public health experts armed with actual evidence strongly disagree.
📍NEW: North Dakota & South Dakota rank #1 & #3.... Our analysis shows 18 of the 50 worst #COVID19 hotspots with the highest mortality worldwide are in the US. And all this reflects deaths arising from older cases arising 3 weeks ago in Oct. Nov case surging➡bad Dec death wave. pic.twitter.com/AgdSum14Dw — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 16, 2020
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The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s model predicts that under current conditions, total deaths in North Dakota and South Dakota will more than double by March 1. That means more than 3,000 more people are expected to die of COVID-19 by then in the two states with a combined population of fewer than 2 million people.
US now getting a million new cases per week
1st million took 127 days
2nd million 44 days
10th million 10 days
Now only a week to get to 11 million #CoronaVirusUpdate #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ScoaBnQ6aL — Euro Maestro (@euromaestro) November 16, 2020
Here is meanwhile comparison of deaths to major US historical events. https://t.co/KZ5TE0hxbS — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 24, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--OOPS: Trump's New Attorney Admits Biden Won, Says Lawsuits 'Will Not Work'

President Donald Trump ’ s latest legal shakeup has left him with an attorney who just nine days ago admitted that President-elect Joe Biden won the election and that the legal battles won ’ t work .
“ I ’ ve been saying since Wednesday morning that Biden would win , ” attorney and radio host Marc Scaringi told his listeners on Nov. 7 , when the election was called for Biden .
“ In my opinion there really are no bombshells that are about to drop that will derail a Biden presidency including these lawsuits , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media Matters , Scaringi said that some of the pending lawsuits “ have merit ” while others don ’ t .
“ At the end of the day , in my view , the litigation will not work , ” he concluded .
“ It will not reverse this election.
” Marc Scaringi is Trump 's new lawyer in Pennsylvania https : //t.co/xeKoMNdpzl On his radio show on Nov 7 , Scaringi said that `` there really are no bombshells that are about to drop that will derail a Biden presidency including these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not work '' pic.twitter.com/5Zb8XMJlUO — John Whitehouse ( @ existentialfish ) November 17 , 2020 A since-deleted blog post on Scaringi ’ s website also referred to Biden as “ president-elect ” and “ the 46th president.
” Scaringi is representing the Trump campaign in a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania after three previous attorneys asked to be removed from the case on Monday .

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President Donald Trump’s latest legal shakeup has left him with an attorney who just nine days ago admitted that President-elect Joe Biden won the election and that the legal battles won’t work.
“I’ve been saying since Wednesday morning that Biden would win,” attorney and radio host Marc Scaringi told his listeners on Nov. 7, when the election was called for Biden.
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“In my opinion there really are no bombshells that are about to drop that will derail a Biden presidency including these lawsuits,” he added.
In a clip posted online by Media Matters, Scaringi said that some of the pending lawsuits “have merit” while others don’t.
“At the end of the day, in my view, the litigation will not work,” he concluded. “It will not reverse this election.”
Marc Scaringi is Trump's new lawyer in Pennsylvania https://t.co/xeKoMNdpzl
On his radio show on Nov 7, Scaringi said that "there really are no bombshells that are about to drop that will derail a Biden presidency including these lawsuits" and "the litigation will not work" pic.twitter.com/5Zb8XMJlUO — John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) November 17, 2020
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A since-deleted blog post on Scaringi’s website also referred to Biden as “president-elect” and “the 46th president.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Trump Administration Finalizing Last-Minute Safety Net Cuts

The American people have voted to kick President Donald Trump out of the White House , but in its waning weeks , his administration is still trying to fulfill his inaugural promise to “ get our people off of welfare.
” The Trump administration finalized a regulation Monday that could make it harder for people who apply for disability benefits to appeal denials .
Starting next month , the Social Security Administration can use its own lawyers to hear appeals instead of administrative law judges , who have more independence from the agency .
It ’ s typical for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy with a late flurry of regulations .
Dozens of other agency rules are pending at the White House Office of Management and Budget , and the administration could finalize them before Biden takes office in January .
Several of the rules target food and disability benefits , while others are aimed at environmental and worker protections .
“ We have strong concerns that there may be last-minute roll-backs of health , safety , and environmental protections by the outgoing Trump administration , ” Reps. Jerry Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) and Carolyn Maloney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to OMB Director Russell T. Vought .
“ We are concerned that these ‘ midnight rules ’ may be rushed through without providing Congress adequate time to review these rules , as required by law.
” And agencies are still submitting new rules for final review .
Last week , the Social Security Administration sent OMB another change that would ramp up “ continuing disability reviews , ” which are examinations of whether people receiving disability benefits are still disabled .
Bethany Lilly , director of income policy for The Arc , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabilities , noted that the proposal had received overwhelmingly negative comments from stakeholders , which agencies are required to consider as part of the rulemaking process , even before the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life in the U.S. “ And now , as we face a massive spike in cases creating huge risks for people with disabilities , it is extremely frustrating to see the administration try to move forward with this harmful proposal , ” Lilly said .
If a rule is pending when a new president takes office , then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But if the rule has been finalized , undoing it requires either going through the rulemaking process all over again , which can take a long time , or getting Congress to nullify it .
The Congressional Review Act allows lawmakers to overturn recently finalized regulations with a fast-track process .
Even if they don ’ t win control of the Senate in the two Georgia runoff elections in January , Democrats could force the chamber to vote on a resolution of disapproval with the hope that one or two Republicans would support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appropriations bill that would disallow the Social Security Administration from implementing its proposals to increase disability reviews or to sidestep administrative law judges .
The riders could soon become law if they wind up in a spending bill lawmakers need to pass to avoid a partial government shutdown on Dec. 11 .
The Social Security Administration said it wants to let administrative appeals judges hear some disability cases that are currently handled by administrative law judges , or ALJs , just so that the agency has more flexibility to respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ALJs are the only ones qualified to hear such cases , since they have more independence than administrative appeals judges , whose jobs typically involve reviewing ALJ decisions at a later stage of the appeals process .
“ The importance of receiving a fair hearing in which the adjudicator impartially and dispassionately applies law and policy to make an accurate and timely decision can not be understated , ” the Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities said in its comment on the proposed rule earlier this year .
“ Such an adjudicator must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for which it is making determinations.
” As a candidate for president in 2016 , Trump repeatedly vowed never to touch Medicare or Social Security .
But in 2017 , his budget director at the time , former Republican congressman Mick Mulvaney , convinced him that he could break his campaign promise because Social Security Disability Insurance is actually “ welfare , ” a word that Republicans use negatively to describe any program they think makes life easier for poor people who don ’ t vote for them .

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The American people have voted to kick President Donald Trump out of the White House, but in its waning weeks, his administration is still trying to fulfill his inaugural promise to “get our people off of welfare.”
The Trump administration finalized a regulation Monday that could make it harder for people who apply for disability benefits to appeal denials. Starting next month, the Social Security Administration can use its own lawyers to hear appeals instead of administrative law judges, who have more independence from the agency.
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Democrats, led by Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), said that the rule “puts unqualified agency staff in control of deciding appeals hearings” and that the Joe Biden administration should reverse the policy.
It’s typical for an outgoing administration to try to cement its legacy with a late flurry of regulations. Dozens of other agency rules are pending at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the administration could finalize them before Biden takes office in January. Several of the rules target food and disability benefits, while others are aimed at environmental and worker protections.
“We have strong concerns that there may be last-minute roll-backs of health, safety, and environmental protections by the outgoing Trump administration,” Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said in a Monday letter to OMB Director Russell T. Vought. “We are concerned that these ‘midnight rules’ may be rushed through without providing Congress adequate time to review these rules, as required by law.”
A spokesman for OMB did not respond to a request for comment.
Two of the pending final rules would tighten eligibility standards for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, often known as food stamps, potentially trimming enrollment by millions.
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And agencies are still submitting new rules for final review. Last week, the Social Security Administration sent OMB another change that would ramp up “continuing disability reviews,” which are examinations of whether people receiving disability benefits are still disabled.
Bethany Lilly, director of income policy for The Arc, a nonprofit that advocates for people with disabilities, noted that the proposal had received overwhelmingly negative comments from stakeholders, which agencies are required to consider as part of the rulemaking process, even before the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life in the U.S.
“And now, as we face a massive spike in cases creating huge risks for people with disabilities, it is extremely frustrating to see the administration try to move forward with this harmful proposal,” Lilly said.
Last month, a federal judge blocked a regulatory food benefit cut partly because the Department of Agriculture hadn’t responded adequately to formal criticism. If the regulations are finalized, they could face similar lawsuits.
If a rule is pending when a new president takes office, then the new administration can simply halt it. But if the rule has been finalized, undoing it requires either going through the rulemaking process all over again, which can take a long time, or getting Congress to nullify it.
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“We have strong concerns that there may be last-minute roll-backs of health, safety, and environmental protections by the outgoing Trump administration.” - Letter from Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
The Congressional Review Act allows lawmakers to overturn recently finalized regulations with a fast-track process. Even if they don’t win control of the Senate in the two Georgia runoff elections in January, Democrats could force the chamber to vote on a resolution of disapproval with the hope that one or two Republicans would support it.
House Democrats on Monday asked the Government Accountability Office, an investigative agency of Congress, to “carefully monitor agency activity during this transition period” to make sure new regulations comply with the law.
Democrats also added riders to an appropriations bill that would disallow the Social Security Administration from implementing its proposals to increase disability reviews or to sidestep administrative law judges. The riders could soon become law if they wind up in a spending bill lawmakers need to pass to avoid a partial government shutdown on Dec. 11.
The Social Security Administration said it wants to let administrative appeals judges hear some disability cases that are currently handled by administrative law judges, or ALJs, just so that the agency has more flexibility to respond to a surge of appeals. Disability advocates say ALJs are the only ones qualified to hear such cases, since they have more independence than administrative appeals judges, whose jobs typically involve reviewing ALJ decisions at a later stage of the appeals process.
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“The importance of receiving a fair hearing in which the adjudicator impartially and dispassionately applies law and policy to make an accurate and timely decision cannot be understated,” the Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities said in its comment on the proposed rule earlier this year. “Such an adjudicator must be as independent as possible from the agency for which it is making determinations.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Comedian Sarah Cooper Hilariously Skewers Trump Camp's Absurd Ballot Challenges

Popular TikTok comedian Sarah Cooper posed as a ditzy Donald Trump campaign lawyer in her latest video Monday , challenging three Democratic votes for President-elect Joe Biden because they had “ chocolate sauce ” on them .
The spoof was a major change for Cooper , who usually lip-syncs to Trump ’ s own rambling remarks in her mocking videos .
In the latest work , she tells an imaginary judge , screwing up her face : “ We would also like to deem unredeemable 10 ballots which just don ’ t smell good ... like , patchouli or something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Finally the big ask : “ Five or six million ballots that were not for Trump .
We just want to kind of just get rid of those.
” Despite the change in her traditional role as Trump channeler , Cooper quipped to Vanity Fair that she ’ s ready to resurrect it Jan. 20 .
“ If they need me to stand in for him , I ’ m happy to do that , ” Cooper said .
“ I think we all know that Trump won ’ t be at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't ... smell good ...
Awesome .
How are you not on retainer ?
Your arguments are way more compelling than I 've heard from the actual legal team .
Guess G. has been too busy checking his `` legal briefs '' over at Best Western Auto Supply .
— mearrin ( @ mearrin1969 ) November 16 , 2020 Sorry , y'all , the 3 chocolate covered ones are from my house .
We had cake that day .
I dunno about those other stanky ones .
😂😂😂😂😂😂 — Russ Castella ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper you had me at Angela `` Dansbury '' , because obviously Jessica Fletcher is n't going to use her real name in this hot mess of a `` legal '' action pic.twitter.com/HS1BNBjfQt — BebopSpaceCowgirl 🌈💖💚❤💙💜 ( @ jomareewade ) November 17 , 2020

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Popular TikTok comedian Sarah Cooper posed as a ditzy Donald Trump campaign lawyer in her latest video Monday, challenging three Democratic votes for President-elect Joe Biden because they had “chocolate sauce” on them.
That’s a violation of “Amendment 82 ... C?” of the Constitution, Cooper’s lawyer declared — hesitantly.
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The spoof was a major change for Cooper, who usually lip-syncs to Trump’s own rambling remarks in her mocking videos.
In the latest work, she tells an imaginary judge, screwing up her face: “We would also like to deem unredeemable 10 ballots which just don’t smell good ... like, patchouli or something. So we should throw those out.”
Finally the big ask: “Five or six million ballots that were not for Trump. We just want to kind of just get rid of those.”
Check it out here:
I’m a lawyer for the Trump campaign pic.twitter.com/19YFlU8qDg — Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) November 16, 2020
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Despite the change in her traditional role as Trump channeler, Cooper quipped to Vanity Fair that she’s ready to resurrect it Jan. 20.
“If they need me to stand in for him, I’m happy to do that,” Cooper said. “I think we all know that Trump won’t be at the inauguration.”
Twitter fans loved the latest offering.
...just...don't...smell good...
Awesome. How are you not on retainer? Your arguments are way more compelling than I've heard from the actual legal team. Guess G. has been too busy checking his "legal briefs" over at Best Western Auto Supply. — mearrin (@mearrin1969) November 16, 2020
Sorry, y'all, the 3 chocolate covered ones are from my house. We had cake that day. I dunno about those other stanky ones. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 — Russ Castella (@RussCastella) November 16, 2020
Sarah Cooper you had me at Angela "Dansbury",
because obviously Jessica Fletcher isn't going to use her real name in this hot mess of a "legal" action pic.twitter.com/HS1BNBjfQt — BebopSpaceCowgirl 🌈💖💚❤💙💜 (@jomareewade) November 17, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Trump Reportedly To Order Troop Cuts In Afghanistan, Iraq

President Donald Trump is expected to cut a significant number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a smaller number in Iraq by the final days of his presidency , U.S. officials said Monday .
The plan would run counter to military commanders ’ advice over the past year , while still falling short of Trump ’ s much-touted goal to end America ’ s long wars .
The decision comes just days after Trump installed a new slate of loyalists in top Pentagon positions who share his frustration with the continued troop presence in the war zones .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Iraq and Afghanistan , meaning that President-elect Joe Biden would be the fourth president to grapple with the still-smoldering conflicts launched in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks .
U.S. officials said military leaders were told over the weekend about the planned withdrawals and that an executive order is in the works but has not yet been delivered to commanders .
Officials cautioned that there could always be changes , and Trump is known to make snap decisions based on media reports and online chatter .
Officials spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberations .
Under the planned order , the troop cuts would be completed just five days before Biden takes office on Jan. 20 .
Military commanders have expressed less concern about the reduction in Iraq , where the Iraqi forces are better able to maintain their nation ’ s security .
“ This fight has been long , our sacrifices have been enormous .
and many are weary of war — I ’ m one of them , ” he said .
” Ending wars requires compromise and partnership .
We met the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , it ’ s time to come home.
” The accelerated withdrawal , however , goes against the longstanding advice of Trump ’ s military leadership , including Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie , top U.S. commander for the Middle East .
But officials suggested that commanders will be able to live with the partial pullout , which allows them to keep counterterrorism troops in Afghanistan and gives them time to remove critical equipment from the country .
McKenzie and others have repeatedly argued that a hasty withdrawal could undercut negotiations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and representatives of Afghan society , including the Afghan government .
And they also warn that U.S. forces should remain in the country to keep Islamic State militants in check .
Biden has sounded less absolute about troop withdrawal .
He has said some troops could stay in Afghanistan to focus on the counterterrorism mission .
In response to a questionnaire before the election , he said : “ Americans are rightly weary of our longest war ; I am , too .
But we must end the war responsibly , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats to our homeland and never have to go back.
” The expected order , first reported by CNN , adds to what has been a litany of muddled White House and Pentagon messages on troops withdrawals from both Afghanistan and Iraq , only exacerbating what has been an emotional roller coaster for the troops and their families .
Adding to the confusion : The Pentagon has historically failed to count up to hundreds of troops actually on the ground , including some special operations forces and personnel on temporary duty for only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to political sensitivities in those countries and in the U.S .
The Pentagon was already on track to cut troops levels in Afghanistan to about 4,500 by mid-November .
U.S. military leaders have consistently said that going below that number must be based on conditions on the ground , including a measurable reduction in attacks by the Taliban on Afghan troops .
And they insist they have not seen that yet .
America ’ s exit from Afghanistan after 19 years was laid out in a February agreement Washington reached with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be out of Afghanistan in 18 months , provided the Taliban honored a commitment to fight terrorist groups , with most attention seemingly focused on the Islamic State group ’ s affiliate in the country .
Military officials also have warned that there is a large amount of critical , classified equipment in Afghanistan that must be removed , but it will take time .
They also say that any full U.S. withdrawal needs to be coordinated with other coalition allies that have troops in the country .
The White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements about Afghanistan over the past month .
Trump on Oct. 7 tweeted that “ we should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas.
” When asked about those comments , Robert O ’ Brien , his national security adviser , said Trump was just expressing a hope .
O ’ Brien , meanwhile , has said the number of troops in Afghanistan would drop to 2,500 by early next year .
At the time , defense officials said they had not received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And they warned that withdrawing troops quickly could remove some incentive for the struggling peace talks .
According to the February agreement , the U.S. troop withdrawal next year is tied to the Taliban ’ s commitment to fight militant groups — such as the Islamic State group — in the county , and is not linked to successful negotiations between the Taliban and government .
The Islamic State group is seen as extremely dangerous and intent on targeting America and other Western interests .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Tuesday the U.S. will reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, asserting that the decision fulfills President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring forces home from America’s long wars even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn of the dangers of withdrawing before conditions are right.
The plan will accelerate troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan in Trump’s final days in office, despite arguments from senior military officials in favor of a slower, more methodical pullout to preserve hard-fought gains. Trump has refused to concede his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, who takes office Jan. 20, just five days after the troop withdrawals are to finish.
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Miller, who refused to take questions from reporters after reading a prepared statement before TV cameras at the Pentagon, said the U.S. will reduce troop levels in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500, and in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500.
Speaking a week after taking over for former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who was fired by Trump, Miller notably did not say that the drawdown plan had been recommended or endorsed by Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or by other senior military officers. He said only that military commanders had agreed to execute it.
Miller said the U.S. remains ready to respond if conditions in Afghanistan or Iraq deteriorate.
“If the forces of terror, instability, division, and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts, we stand ready to apply the capabilities required to thwart them,” he said in a roughly eight-minute statement — his first extended public remarks since taking office.
The withdrawal plan falls short of Trump’s oft-repeated vow to end America’s long wars. It also runs counter to his guidance that troop withdrawals be based on the conditions on the ground, not a date on the calendar.
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In this Oct. 17, 2018, photo, Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo/Rahmat Gul
In Afghanistan, in particular, military and defense leaders have consistently said the Taliban has not yet met requirements to reduce violent attacks against Afghan government forces. Some have worried that too-fast troop reductions would strengthen the negotiating hand of the Taliban and weaken the position of an already-weak Afghan government.
The decision has already received a cool reception from some Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, and a somewhat uncharacteristically blunt critique from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
“I believe these additional reductions of American troops from terrorist areas are a mistake,” said Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, who is the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. He said the Taliban, whose hold on power in Kabul was destroyed when U.S. troops invaded the country in October 2001, have “done nothing — met no condition — that would justify this cut.”
Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, endorsed the Trump decision.
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“Our primary goal has been, and continues to be, the prevention of transnational terrorists from launching an attack against the United States from Afghanistan,” Smith said. “In order to contain the terrorist threat as we draw down our troop levels, it is critical that we coordinate the drawdown closely with our allies, as well as our partners in the Afghan government, to protect our interests and those of our allies in Afghanistan.”
Stoltenberg earlier Tuesday warned that NATO could pay a heavy price for leaving Afghanistan too early.
NATO has fewer than 12,000 troops from dozens of nations helping to train and advise the Afghan national security forces. The 30-nation alliance relies heavily on the United States armed forces for transport, logistics and other support.
“We now face a difficult decision. We have been in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and no NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary. But at the same time, the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high,” Stoltenberg said in a statement.
A ceremony held for the delivery of the armored vehicles, logistics and other military supplies sent by the U.S. for the 14th and 16th Infantry Brigade of the Peshmerga forces in Erbil, Iraq on Nov. 10, 2020. Yunus Keles/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
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Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien said the president is keeping his promise to the American people to get U.S. troops out of war zones. “By May, it is President Trump’s hope that they will all come home safely and in their entirety,” O’Brien told reporters at the White House shortly after Miller made the announcement at the Pentagon.
“I want to reiterate that this policy is not new,” O’Brien said. “This has been the president’s policy since he took office.”
Trump has said, however, that his decisions about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan would be based on conditions on the ground, not on the calendar. He has accused his predecessor, Barack Obama, of setting a timetable for troop withdrawals in Iraq and Afghanistan that worked against the achievement of military goals. Now, however, Trump is openly declaring a timetable for troop reductions in both countries, even as violence remains high in Afghanistan.
The accelerated withdrawal goes against the longstanding advice of Trump’s military leadership, including Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, top U.S. commander for the Middle East. But officials suggested that commanders will be able to live with the partial pullout, which allows them to keep counterterrorism troops in Afghanistan and gives them time to remove critical equipment.
McKenzie and others have repeatedly argued that a hasty withdrawal could undercut negotiations to finalize ongoing peace negotiations between the Taliban and representatives of Afghan society, including the Afghan government. And they also warn that U.S. forces should remain in the country to keep Islamic State militants in check.
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Biden has sounded less absolute about troop withdrawal. He has said some troops could stay in Afghanistan to focus on the counterterrorism mission. In response to a questionnaire before the election, he said: “Americans are rightly weary of our longest war; I am, too. But we must end the war responsibly, in a manner that ensures we both guard against threats to our homeland and never have to go back.”
____


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Sarah McBride Hopes Historic 2020 Victory Sends 'Reassuring Message' To LGBTQ Youth

NEW YORK , Nov 13 ( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) - LGBT+ activist Sarah McBride hopes her election as the United States ’ highest-ranking transgender lawmaker will send a “ reassuring message ” to young LGBT+ Americans that they are represented - and can aspire to public office too .
“ I know how much of a difference it would have made to me to see this news , ” said McBride , 30 , a Democrat who was elected to serve as a senator in Delaware - also the home state of President-elect Joe Biden .
“ A healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t craft solutions for a diverse community if the full diversity is not reflected at the table , ” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview .
McBride ’ s election came as a liberal “ blue wave ” that had been predicted by some commentators failed to materialize , and Republicans look set to retain control of the U.S. Senate and chip away at the Democratic majority in the U.S. House .
A former spokeswoman for LGBT+ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign , McBride said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to advance LGBT+ rights such as the Equality Act .
The legislation , which would outlaw discrimination against Americans based on their sexuality and gender identity , was approved by the House in 2019 , but stalled in the Senate .
Biden has promised to make it a priority .
“ There ’ s no question that our democracy is facing tensions and stressors that put the health of our system at risk , “ McBride said , noting that whether or not the bill passes at a federal level , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ State legislatures from the start of this country have always been intended to serve as laboratories for bold ideas , ” said McBride .
“ That means passing explicit non-discrimination protections in the states that have not yet done that .
It means making sure that we expand healthcare coverage to more and more people , ” she said .
McBride , who will also become Delaware ’ s first openly LGBT+ lawmaker , has clocked up a long list of firsts during her 14 years in politics and activism , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president-elect ’ s late son , Beau Biden .
During Barack Obama ’ s presidency , she became the first transgender White House intern , and rose to national prominence in 2016 when she was the first trans person to address the Democratic National Convention .
As an activist , McBride successfully lobbied the Delaware General Assembly in 2013 to pass state legislation that bars discrimination on the basis of gender identity .
She said advancing further such legislation at the state-level and ensuring positive changes for her all of her constitutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what motivated her - not breaking more glass ceilings .
“ The importance of being a first is to make sure that you ’ re not the last and that others can stand on your shoulders .
”

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NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - LGBT+ activist Sarah McBride hopes her election as the United States’ highest-ranking transgender lawmaker will send a “reassuring message” to young LGBT+ Americans that they are represented - and can aspire to public office too.
“I know how much of a difference it would have made to me to see this news,” said McBride, 30, a Democrat who was elected to serve as a senator in Delaware - also the home state of President-elect Joe Biden.
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“A healthy democracy includes a diverse government and we can’t craft solutions for a diverse community if the full diversity is not reflected at the table,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview.
McBride’s election came as a liberal “blue wave” that had been predicted by some commentators failed to materialize, and Republicans look set to retain control of the U.S. Senate and chip away at the Democratic majority in the U.S. House.
A former spokeswoman for LGBT+ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, McBride said she feared a divided U.S. Congress would block measures to advance LGBT+ rights such as the Equality Act.
The legislation, which would outlaw discrimination against Americans based on their sexuality and gender identity, was approved by the House in 2019, but stalled in the Senate. Biden has promised to make it a priority.
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“There’s no question that our democracy is facing tensions and stressors that put the health of our system at risk,“McBride said, noting that whether or not the bill passes at a federal level, state legislatures can also boost LGBT+ rights.
“State legislatures from the start of this country have always been intended to serve as laboratories for bold ideas,” said McBride.
“That means passing explicit non-discrimination protections in the states that have not yet done that. It means making sure that we expand healthcare coverage to more and more people,” she said.
‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE’
McBride, who will also become Delaware’s first openly LGBT+ lawmaker, has clocked up a long list of firsts during her 14 years in politics and activism, a career that started with an internship with the president-elect’s late son, Beau Biden.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, she became the first transgender White House intern, and rose to national prominence in 2016 when she was the first trans person to address the Democratic National Convention.
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As an activist, McBride successfully lobbied the Delaware General Assembly in 2013 to pass state legislation that bars discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
She said advancing further such legislation at the state-level and ensuring positive changes for her all of her constitutes, including LGBT+ Delaware residents, was what motivated her - not breaking more glass ceilings.
“I didn’t run to make history or make headlines. I ran to make a difference in my community,” McBride said.
“The importance of being a first is to make sure that you’re not the last and that others can stand on your shoulders.”
(Reporting by Matthew Lavietes; Editing by Helen Popper; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--At Least 88,000 Sex Abuse Claims Filed Against Boy Scouts Of America

The number far exceeds the initial projections of lawyers across the United States who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders .
“ We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in Scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward , ” the Boy Scouts said in a statement .
“ We are heartbroken that we can not undo their pain.
” The potential size of the fund is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of complex negotiations .
The national organization is expected to contribute a substantial portion of its assets , which include financial investments and real estate .
The Boy Scouts ’ insurers also will be contributing , as will the Boy Scouts ’ roughly 260 local councils and companies that insured them in the past .
Andrew Van Arsdale , a lawyer with a network called Abused in Scouting , said it has signed up about 16,000 claimants .
He said that number doubled after the Boy Scouts , under the supervision of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign on Aug. 31 to notify victims that they had until Nov. 16 to seek compensation .
The bankruptcy has been painful for the 110-year-old Boy Scouts , which has been a pillar of American civic life for generations .
Its finances were already strained by sex abuse settlements and declining membership — now below 2 million from a peak of over 4 million in the 1970s .
Most of the pending sex abuse claims date to the 1960s , ’ 70s and ’ 80s , before the Boy Scouts adopted criminal background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff and volunteers , and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during activities .
Among the contentious issues still to be addressed in the bankruptcy case is the extent to which the Boy Scouts ’ local councils contribute to the compensation fund .
In its bankruptcy filing , the national organization said the councils , which have extensive property holdings and other assets , are separate legal entities and should not be included as debtors in the case .
An ad hoc committee representing the councils has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the terms of the case , no additional sex abuse claims can be filed against the Boy Scouts after Monday .
However , attorney Jason Amala , part of a legal team representing more than 1,000 claimants , said new claims still could filed against local councils in some states that have victim-friendly statute-of-limitations laws , such as New York , New Jersey and California .
James Kretschmer holds photographs of himself at age 11 and 12 during an interview in Houston .
He says he was molested by a Scout leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Spokane , Washington , area .
( AP Photo/David J. Phillip ) Lawyer Paul Mones , who won a $ 19.9 million sex abuse verdict against the Boy Scouts in Oregon in 2010 , said painstaking work lies ahead to determine which insurers were responsible for coverage of the national organization and the local councils over the decades in which abuse occurred .
“ The number of claims is mind-boggling , ” Mones said , noting that many abuse victims likely have not come forward .
“ It ’ s chilling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was experienced .
”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Close to 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as the Monday deadline arrived for submitting claims in the organization’s bankruptcy case.
The number far exceeds the initial projections of lawyers across the United States who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders.
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“We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in Scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward,” the Boy Scouts said in a statement. “We are heartbroken that we cannot undo their pain.”
A few hours before the 5 p.m. EST deadline, the number of claims totaled 88,500, lawyers said.
Eventually, the proceedings in federal bankruptcy court will lead to the creation of a compensation fund to pay out settlements to abuse survivors whose claims are upheld.
The potential size of the fund is not yet known and will be the subject of complex negotiations. The national organization is expected to contribute a substantial portion of its assets, which include financial investments and real estate. The Boy Scouts’ insurers also will be contributing, as will the Boy Scouts’ roughly 260 local councils and companies that insured them in the past.
Victims attorneys Paul Mones, left, and Michael Pfau, depart during a recess in the Boy Scouts of America's bankruptcy hearing in Wilmington, De., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Andrew Van Arsdale, a lawyer with a network called Abused in Scouting, said it has signed up about 16,000 claimants. He said that number doubled after the Boy Scouts, under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, launched a nationwide advertising campaign on Aug. 31 to notify victims that they had until Nov. 16 to seek compensation.
“They spent millions trying to encourage people to come forward,” Van Arsdale said. “Now, the question is whether they can make good on their commitment.”
The Boy Scouts said it “intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation.”
“The response we have seen from survivors has been gut-wrenching,” the organization added. “We are deeply sorry.”
The bankruptcy has been painful for the 110-year-old Boy Scouts, which has been a pillar of American civic life for generations. Its finances were already strained by sex abuse settlements and declining membership — now below 2 million from a peak of over 4 million in the 1970s.
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Most of the pending sex abuse claims date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, before the Boy Scouts adopted criminal background checks, abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders must be present during activities.
Among the contentious issues still to be addressed in the bankruptcy case is the extent to which the Boy Scouts’ local councils contribute to the compensation fund.
In its bankruptcy filing, the national organization said the councils, which have extensive property holdings and other assets, are separate legal entities and should not be included as debtors in the case. An ad hoc committee representing the councils has been negotiating what they will pay in.
Under the terms of the case, no additional sex abuse claims can be filed against the Boy Scouts after Monday. However, attorney Jason Amala, part of a legal team representing more than 1,000 claimants, said new claims still could filed against local councils in some states that have victim-friendly statute-of-limitations laws, such as New York, New Jersey and California.
James Kretschmer holds photographs of himself at age 11 and 12 during an interview in Houston. He says he was molested by a Scout leader over several months in the mid-1970s in the Spokane, Washington, area. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Lawyer Paul Mones, who won a $19.9 million sex abuse verdict against the Boy Scouts in Oregon in 2010, said painstaking work lies ahead to determine which insurers were responsible for coverage of the national organization and the local councils over the decades in which abuse occurred.
He said the eventual payments are likely to vary, depending on the severity and duration of the abuse.
“The number of claims is mind-boggling,” Mones said, noting that many abuse victims likely have not come forward. “It’s chilling in terms of the amount of horror that was experienced.”
Some of the claims may be hard to verify, if they involve abuse allegations against volunteer Scout leaders whose names don’t appear in official rosters from long ago, Mones said.
One of the official parties in the case, a group of nine sex abuse survivors representing all the victims, called the case “the largest and most tragic bankruptcy ever resulting from sexual abuse liability.”
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“More sexual abuse claims will be filed in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy than all claims filed against the Catholic Church throughout the nation,” the Torts Claimants Committee said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Jimmy Kimmel Reveals ‘Delusional’ Trump’s Stages Of Grief After Losing The Election

Jimmy Kimmel says President Donald Trump ’ s having trouble coming to grips with the fact that he lost the @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He ’ s like a kid slowly realizing that nobody ’ s coming @ @ @ @ @ ” Kimmel said on “ Jimmy Kimmel Live !
” Monday night .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ false claims that the election was “ rigged ” against him .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ some time to digest this loss , ” Kimmel said , then named the 10 @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going through , complete with video demonstrations .
There ’ s denial , @ @ @ @ @ ― and those are just for starters .
See the full list in Kimmel ’ @ @ @ @

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Jimmy Kimmel says President Donald Trump’s having trouble coming to grips with the fact that he lost the election to President-elect Joe Biden.
“He’s like a kid slowly realizing that nobody’s coming to his birthday party,” Kimmel said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday night.
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Instead of conceding, Trump has made false claims that the election was “rigged” against him.
“It’s gonna take him some time to digest this loss,” Kimmel said, then named the 10 stages of grief the president’s going through, complete with video demonstrations. There’s denial, anger, blame and delusion ― and those are just for starters.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Trevor Noah: Trump's Making A Miracle Out Of His Election Loss

President Donald Trump is working some serious magic with his election loss , but not in a good way , according to Trevor Noah .
“ The Daily Show ” host on Monday took a look at the president ’ s flurry of long-shot lawsuits challenging election results , which have been getting pummeled in the courts .
Some were withdrawn , others tossed out or lost .
Multiple law firms have even bailed out of representing the Trump campaign .
“ Damn , Donald .
You ’ re losing court cases all over the place .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ You know , he took one election loss and turned it into a thousand more losses.
” “ He ’ s the first president of the United States that lawyers don ’ t want to represent .
And lawyers will represent anybody , ” Noah added .
“ If you slipped and fell three blocks away from a Walmart , you ’ ll find a lawyer who ’ ll be like , ’ We got ta sue that Walmart , you ’ ve got a case .
But Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ Come on man , don ’ t get me involved in your bullshit .
’ ”

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President Donald Trump is working some serious magic with his election loss, but not in a good way, according to Trevor Noah.
“The Daily Show” host on Monday took a look at the president’s flurry of long-shot lawsuits challenging election results, which have been getting pummeled in the courts. Some were withdrawn, others tossed out or lost. Multiple law firms have even bailed out of representing the Trump campaign.
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“Damn, Donald. You’re losing court cases all over the place. It’s almost like a miracle,” Noah said. “You know, he took one election loss and turned it into a thousand more losses.”
“He’s the first president of the United States that lawyers don’t want to represent. And lawyers will represent anybody,” Noah added. “If you slipped and fell three blocks away from a Walmart, you’ll find a lawyer who’ll be like, ’We gotta sue that Walmart, you’ve got a case. But Trump is the president and they’re like, ’Come on man, don’t get me involved in your bullshit.’”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Howard Stern Makes A Stark Prediction For Trump's Post-White House Plans

Radio icon Howard Stern had some blunt advice for President Donald Trump over his reported plans to get into media after leaving the White House : Don ’ t do it .
“ [ If ] he thinks running the country is hard , wait ’ til he has to run a news network , ” Stern said Monday on his SiriusXM radio show , according to the New York Daily News .
The self-anointed “ King of All Media ” also made a not-so-veiled reference to Trump ’ s shortcomings in the world of business , warning that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same fate .
“ That ’ ll fail inside of a year , like all the other businesses , ” Stern said .
“ This is just insanity what ’ s going on.
” The radio host also told Trump he needs to concede and help President-elect Joe Biden with the transition .
“ For once do something good for the country , calm down your fucking loony hillbilly friends , and tell them you lost the election and you ’ re going to help the transition , ” he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These loonies who follow you are all worked up ; they think something was taken from them.
” Stern was once friendly with Trump , prior to his presidential bid , and had him on as a guest frequently .
Stern has since become a Trump critic , endorsing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden this year .
Trump has not conceded despite losing the election , but several reports have indicated he is preparing to get involved in media ― perhaps with a “ Trump TV ” project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , it ’ s not clear what form that supposed enterprise would take .
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that investors with ties to Trump had looked into acquiring conservative outlet Newsmax .
Axios reported last week that Trump was considering an online-only media company with a subscription fee , which would be a direct rival to Fox News ’ streaming service , Fox Nation .

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Radio icon Howard Stern had some blunt advice for President Donald Trump over his reported plans to get into media after leaving the White House: Don’t do it.
“[If] he thinks running the country is hard, wait ’til he has to run a news network,” Stern said Monday on his SiriusXM radio show, according to the New York Daily News.
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The self-anointed “King of All Media” also made a not-so-veiled reference to Trump’s shortcomings in the world of business, warning that any “Trump TV” effort would meet the same fate.
“That’ll fail inside of a year, like all the other businesses,” Stern said. “This is just insanity what’s going on.”
The radio host also told Trump he needs to concede and help President-elect Joe Biden with the transition.
“For once do something good for the country, calm down your fucking loony hillbilly friends, and tell them you lost the election and you’re going to help the transition,” he said, according to the Daily News. “These loonies who follow you are all worked up; they think something was taken from them.”
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Stern was once friendly with Trump, prior to his presidential bid, and had him on as a guest frequently. Stern has since become a Trump critic, endorsing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden this year.
Trump has not conceded despite losing the election, but several reports have indicated he is preparing to get involved in media ― perhaps with a “Trump TV” project ― after he leaves the White House.
However, it’s not clear what form that supposed enterprise would take.
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that investors with ties to Trump had looked into acquiring conservative outlet Newsmax.
CEO Christopher Ruddy told Variety that would “never” happen but offered Trump a job as host of a weekly show.
Axios reported last week that Trump was considering an online-only media company with a subscription fee, which would be a direct rival to Fox News’ streaming service, Fox Nation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-16--Ad For Trump Event Containing Awkward Gaffes Gets A Twitter Roasting

Supporters of President Donald Trump faced ridicule Monday on Twitter after promoting a march to fight election results using a graphic containing two major blunders .
The name of the state , Georgia , was spelled “ Georiga.
” And the traditionally Republican red Southern state , which flipped blue in the 2020 presidential election for the first time in nearly two decades , was depicted in a color that the president might not find so appealing : The president ’ s claims about a stolen and rigged election are based on no hard evidence .
Nonetheless , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the nonexistent fraud as events and protests pop up around the country to dispute the election results .
Senior election officials have said this vote was among the most secure and well-run in modern history .
Georgia election workers are recounting ballots after Democrat Joe Biden won the state ’ s 16 electoral votes by a thin margin .
Election officials discovered about 2,600 uncounted ballots in one county during the process , but they are not enough to affect the outcome of the presidential race in the state .
Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures in other counties closely matched original numbers .
Biden had a 14,000-vote lead in the initial count .
Raffensperger also alleged that Republicans , including Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , one of Trump ’ s most devoted allies , pressured him to find a way to toss out legally cast ballots .
Graham has denied those claims .
Last week , the state ’ s Republican members of Congress wrote a letter calling for an investigation into the false fraud allegations from the “ George ” secretary of state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Georgia , might be learning how to spell its name .
Just sayin ... pic.twitter.com/UXJvkRJuCv — Ana Navarro-Cárdenas ( @ ananavarro ) November 16 , 2020

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Supporters of President Donald Trump faced ridicule Monday on Twitter after promoting a march to fight election results using a graphic containing two major blunders.
The name of the state, Georgia, was spelled “Georiga.” And the traditionally Republican red Southern state, which flipped blue in the 2020 presidential election for the first time in nearly two decades, was depicted in a color that the president might not find so appealing:
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Trump supporters promote a march with a graphic showing Georgia as a blue state. pic.twitter.com/d6BnbVLpQi — Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) November 16, 2020
The president’s claims about a stolen and rigged election are based on no hard evidence. Nonetheless, he’s whipped his supporters into a flap over the nonexistent fraud as events and protests pop up around the country to dispute the election results. Senior election officials have said this vote was among the most secure and well-run in modern history.
Georgia election workers are recounting ballots after Democrat Joe Biden won the state’s 16 electoral votes by a thin margin. Election officials discovered about 2,600 uncounted ballots in one county during the process, but they are not enough to affect the outcome of the presidential race in the state. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has said that recounted figures in other counties closely matched original numbers. Biden had a 14,000-vote lead in the initial count.
Raffensperger also alleged that Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s most devoted allies, pressured him to find a way to toss out legally cast ballots. Graham has denied those claims.
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Last week, the state’s Republican members of Congress wrote a letter calling for an investigation into the false fraud allegations from the “George” secretary of state.
Here’s how Twitter users reacted to typo Round 2:
They actually spelled the state wrong... https://t.co/SG5LDEzLHy — Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) November 16, 2020
I missed the misspelling of Georgia at first. It's happened before. https://t.co/4gVtsr9aR6 — Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) November 17, 2020
#MarchForTrump We'll turn Georiga and Arinoza back to red! — Lil O (@Lilobri) November 16, 2020
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Well at least they admit it. https://t.co/3crEbVkhaX — Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) November 17, 2020
These fools also spelled "Georgia" incorrectly. https://t.co/VeVgeMAFTL — Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker. PREORDER. (@Luvvie) November 16, 2020
also georgia appears to be kicking trump in the nuts https://t.co/kBZrGQzTCI — Charles Louis Richter (@richterscale) November 17, 2020
Please - “Georiga” — Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) November 17, 2020
The first step towards winning the State of Georgia, might be learning how to spell its name.
Just sayin... pic.twitter.com/UXJvkRJuCv — Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) November 16, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--America's Doctors Say COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Must Start Including Kids—Now

But as members of the AAP argued earlier this fall — and reiterated in an open letter to federal health officials on Tuesday — it is essential that the Food and Drug Administration stick to “ transparent requirements ” for measuring risks and benefits of vaccines in all sub-groups of the population , including children .
“ We eagerly anticipate seeing the safety and efficacy data in vaccine trials that are underway in adults , and urge pharmaceutical companies to rapidly expand their participant panels to include children and adolescents , ” Dr. Yvonne Maldonado , chair of the AAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a press statement .
Buoyed by the preliminary findings from Pfizer and Moderna , experts have predicted it ’ s possible that multiple coronavirus vaccines could be widely available in the U.S. by next spring .
But thus far children have been largely excluded from the vaccine research .
In late October , Pfizer was given the green light to test its vaccine in children in the U.S. ages 12 and up .
And Moderna has indicated it plans to start testing its vaccine in children , pending approval to do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have a vaccine available to them until well into 2021 .
“ This research takes time .
If this does not begin soon , it will be less likely a vaccine will be available for children before the next school year , ” Maldonado said .
Of course , one significant challenge is that parents must volunteer their kids to receive an experimental treatment .
Some parents who have enrolled their children in Pfizer ’ s study say they have faced trolling online from people questioning their judgment .
But pediatricians cite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test COVID-19 vaccines in children .
For one , their immune systems are different than adults ’ , and they also appear to respond differently to COVID-19 itself for reasons that are not fully understood .
Children also face the rare but serious risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children , or MIS-C , which appears to develop weeks after they are exposed to the coronavirus .
It ’ s important that whatever vaccine is available to children not trigger a similar response .
Delays in vaccinating children could also hamper our collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Priya Soni , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Los Angeles ’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , told HuffPost in October : “ Children could likely remain a large reservoir for infection .
This would in turn undermine all our other pandemic mitigation efforts.
” Experts also say children must be included in trials as soon as possible to shore up public trust in vaccines when they become available .
Vaccine hesitancy among parents is an ongoing public health problem in the U.S. , and the AAP fears that it will only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine research as soon as possible .
“ Assuming that one or more of these vaccines are shown to be safe and effective in adults , in order for parents to be comfortable giving these vaccines to their children , we must have studies showing they are safe and effective in children as well , ” Maldonado said .

microgen via Getty Images The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to argue for including children in COVID-19 vaccine trials as soon as possible.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is sounding the alarm on the consequences of not immediately including children in ongoing COVID-19 vaccine research.
Preliminary data released from drug manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer Inc. this month has been extremely impressive, suggesting both vaccines may be more than 90% effective.
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But as members of the AAP argued earlier this fall — and reiterated in an open letter to federal health officials on Tuesday — it is essential that the Food and Drug Administration stick to “transparent requirements” for measuring risks and benefits of vaccines in all sub-groups of the population, including children.
The letter was also signed by six other major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American Medical Association (AMA).
“We eagerly anticipate seeing the safety and efficacy data in vaccine trials that are underway in adults, and urge pharmaceutical companies to rapidly expand their participant panels to include children and adolescents,” Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, said in a press statement.
Buoyed by the preliminary findings from Pfizer and Moderna, experts have predicted it’s possible that multiple coronavirus vaccines could be widely available in the U.S. by next spring. But thus far children have been largely excluded from the vaccine research.
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In late October, Pfizer was given the green light to test its vaccine in children in the U.S. ages 12 and up. And Moderna has indicated it plans to start testing its vaccine in children, pending approval to do so.
All of which means that children may not have a vaccine available to them until well into 2021.
“This research takes time. If this does not begin soon, it will be less likely a vaccine will be available for children before the next school year,” Maldonado said.
Of course, one significant challenge is that parents must volunteer their kids to receive an experimental treatment. Some parents who have enrolled their children in Pfizer’s study say they have faced trolling online from people questioning their judgment.
But pediatricians cite many reasons why it is essential to test COVID-19 vaccines in children. For one, their immune systems are different than adults’, and they also appear to respond differently to COVID-19 itself for reasons that are not fully understood.
Children also face the rare but serious risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, which appears to develop weeks after they are exposed to the coronavirus. It’s important that whatever vaccine is available to children not trigger a similar response.
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Delays in vaccinating children could also hamper our collective effort to stem COVID-19 transmission. As Dr Priya Soni, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told HuffPost in October: “Children could likely remain a large reservoir for infection. This would in turn undermine all our other pandemic mitigation efforts.”
Experts also say children must be included in trials as soon as possible to shore up public trust in vaccines when they become available. Vaccine hesitancy among parents is an ongoing public health problem in the U.S., and the AAP fears that it will only be exacerbated by not including children in ongoing vaccine research as soon as possible.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--Only Woman On Federal Death Row Seeks Reprieve From Trump As Execution Date Nears

Handout/Reuters Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery have not been able to prepare her clemency petition because they have both contracted the coronavirus after visiting her in federal prison .
Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery , the only woman on federal death row , filed a petition on Monday evening asking President Donald Trump to delay their client ’ s execution until they are well enough to prepare her clemency application .
Montgomery , who is mentally ill and was a victim of extreme childhood abuse , including sex trafficking by her parents , is scheduled to be put to death on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of killing a pregnant woman and kidnapping her baby , a crime her lawyers say occurred during a psychotic episode .
Montgomery , now 52 , is diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features , complex post-traumatic stress disorder , temporal lobe epilepsy , and cerebellar dysfunction .
In prison , she requires a cocktail of psychotropic drugs to function , but cycles in and out of touch with reality , according to mental health experts who have examined her .
Her attorneys filed the petition with the Office of the Pardon Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which vets clemency applications for the president .
The petition asks the president to either grant a reprieve of Montgomery ’ s execution date or commute her death sentence to life without parole .
The short petition is only a “ placeholder ” until the lawyers are recovered enough to prepare Montgomery ’ s full clemency application , which is likely to run hundreds of pages and include expert statements and letters of support .
“ Mrs .
Montgomery ’ s two capital qualified lawyers , Kelley Henry and Amy Harwell , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know you would want to have before deciding whether or not to spare this incredibly mentally ill woman ’ s life because we contracted COVID-19 from visiting Mrs. Montgomery at the prison after she received notice of the execution date , ” the petition reads .
“ None of us want to abandon our client .
We should not have to choose between our lives and our client ’ s life .
We did not ask to be put in this situation .
We did our jobs and got sick.
” We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and our client ’ s life .
We did not ask to be put in this situation .
We did our jobs and got sick.
” Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery who are sick with COVID-19 “ If I were their personal physician , I would recommend a minimum of 4 weeks of recovery at home , without the demands and stresses of professional obligations , before considering return to work , ” he wrote .
“ The focus on rehabilitation requires allowances for them to heal so as to avoid irreparable damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In my thirty-five years as a Federal Public Defender , I have shepherded my staff through many trying times : government shutdowns , sequester , budget cuts , ” he wrote .
“ None of those situations compares with the challenges we face during this pandemic .
We simply can not provide you with the information we know you would want to have before making a decision about whether to spare Mrs. Montgomery ’ s life.
” Montgomery ’ s lawyers have also asked a U.S. judge for more time to prepare a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by Cornell Law School ’ s International Human Rights Clinic , is expected imminently .

Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery have not been able to prepare her clemency petition because they have both contracted the coronavirus after visiting her in federal prison. Handout/Reuters
Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery, the only woman on federal death row, filed a petition on Monday evening asking President Donald Trump to delay their client’s execution until they are well enough to prepare her clemency application.
Both of Montgomery’s lead lawyers are sick with the coronavirus after visiting their client multiple times at a federal women’s medical prison in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Montgomery, who is mentally ill and was a victim of extreme childhood abuse, including sex trafficking by her parents, is scheduled to be put to death on Dec. 8. She was convicted in 2007 of killing a pregnant woman and kidnapping her baby, a crime her lawyers say occurred during a psychotic episode.
Montgomery, now 52, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, and cerebellar dysfunction. In prison, she requires a cocktail of psychotropic drugs to function, but cycles in and out of touch with reality, according to mental health experts who have examined her.
Her attorneys filed the petition with the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, which vets clemency applications for the president. The petition asks the president to either grant a reprieve of Montgomery’s execution date or commute her death sentence to life without parole.
The short petition is only a “placeholder” until the lawyers are recovered enough to prepare Montgomery’s full clemency application, which is likely to run hundreds of pages and include expert statements and letters of support.
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“Mrs. Montgomery’s two capital qualified lawyers, Kelley Henry and Amy Harwell, are unable to provide you with the information we know you would want to have before deciding whether or not to spare this incredibly mentally ill woman’s life because we contracted COVID-19 from visiting Mrs. Montgomery at the prison after she received notice of the execution date,” the petition reads. “None of us want to abandon our client. We should not have to choose between our lives and our client’s life. We did not ask to be put in this situation. We did our jobs and got sick.”
The petition included a letter from a doctor who reviewed the health of both lawyers to determine their capacity to work.
“The symptoms Ms. Harwell and Ms. Henry exhibit all fit with more severe symptoms of COVID-19,” the physician wrote. “They are very serious and concerning from a medical perspective.”
“We should not have to choose between our lives and our client’s life. We did not ask to be put in this situation. We did our jobs and got sick.”” - Lawyers for Lisa Montgomery who are sick with COVID-19
Both attorneys are in “precarious physical health conditions” and should endeavor to fully recover from the illness before they return to work, the doctor added.
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“If I were their personal physician, I would recommend a minimum of 4 weeks of recovery at home, without the demands and stresses of professional obligations, before considering return to work,” he wrote. “The focus on rehabilitation requires allowances for them to heal so as to avoid irreparable damage during this critical recovery period.”
Harwell and Henry’s boss, Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry Martin, also wrote a letter urging Trump to grant a reprieve.
“In my thirty-five years as a Federal Public Defender, I have shepherded my staff through many trying times: government shutdowns, sequester, budget cuts,” he wrote. “None of those situations compares with the challenges we face during this pandemic. We simply cannot provide you with the information we know you would want to have before making a decision about whether to spare Mrs. Montgomery’s life.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-17--New Research Says 'Flow' Is Crucial During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Since COVID-19 swept through the United States and the world , our collective mental health has languished .
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data , 2 in 5 Americans say they ’ re struggling with mental health concerns as a result of the pandemic .
And research suggests that stay-at-home orders took a particular toll , with people experiencing greater anxiety and getting less restorative sleep .
Unfortunately , as COVID-19 cases hit historic highs , states are beginning to reinstate restrictions , and millions of Americans are being urged to once again hunker down .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
How ‘ Flow ’ Can Help With Lockdown Stress When you ’ re in a state of flow , you may lose track of time , you are active , and you may feel aware of yourself only in relation to the task at hand .
The new study on flow , published in the scientific journal PLOS One last week , included more than 5,000 individuals who were quarantined in China in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic .
They answered online survey questions about how many times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utterly absorbed by whatever they were doing , and to what extent they ’ d felt simultaneously stimulated and challenged — all elements of flow .
“ Flow is a brilliant skill and strategy to incorporate into an individual ’ s routine and life — especially now , ” said Claire Nicogossian , a clinical psychologist and author of “ Mama , You Are Enough : How to Create Calm , Joy and Confidence Within the Chaos of Motherhood.
” “ You ’ re so engaged in something you enjoy , [ that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and sharing your gifts with others or learning something new or something you love , that you lose sense of time and experience the positive benefits from being engaged in this activity , ” she added .
So what puts a person in a state of flow ?
Experts tend to point to hobbies like playing music , knitting , cooking , gardening or doing something athletic such as playing a sport , going for a run or doing yoga .
Some people find themselves in a flow state while doing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in how we experience flow , ” Nicogossian said .
“ And , no one can tell you what brings you flow ; you have to discover and experience [ it ] yourself.
” If you ’ re stumped about what might help you cultivate mental flow , Nicogossian suggests thinking back to your childhood or teenage years .
Ask yourself : “ What were the activities you did when you were growing up or before life became focused on productivity and responsibilities when you experienced flow ?
” If nothing springs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hobbies and interests , then maybe take this time to be “ curious ” about yourself , Nicogossian added .
What do you daydream about ?
What do you think you might be drawn to ?
Now could be the time to give it a try .
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wildly challenging time for millions of Americans , many of whom are balancing economic stress , illness , the loss of loved ones and unrelenting child care demands — all on top of social isolation .
Finding small ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one small way to push back against all of that stress as we head into what public health experts warn will be a long , hard winter .
Time for more bread-baking , anyone ?

Tom Merton via Getty Images
Since COVID-19 swept through the United States and the world, our collective mental health has languished. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 2 in 5 Americans say they’re struggling with mental health concerns as a result of the pandemic. And research suggests that stay-at-home orders took a particular toll, with people experiencing greater anxiety and getting less restorative sleep.
Unfortunately, as COVID-19 cases hit historic highs, states are beginning to reinstate restrictions, and millions of Americans are being urged to once again hunker down. We may even see lockdowns again in some areas.
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But new research suggests there may be an antidote to the emotional strain of pandemic fatigue: “flow.”
How ‘Flow’ Can Help With Lockdown Stress
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first coined the concept of mental “flow” to refer to stretches of time when a person is completely focused on whatever they’re doing.
When you’re in a state of flow, you may lose track of time, you are active, and you may feel aware of yourself only in relation to the task at hand.
The new study on flow, published in the scientific journal PLOS One last week, included more than 5,000 individuals who were quarantined in China in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. They answered online survey questions about how many times in the prior week they’d felt utterly absorbed by whatever they were doing, and to what extent they’d felt simultaneously stimulated and challenged — all elements of flow.
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After analyzing the responses, researchers found that flow was linked to decreased loneliness and higher levels of positive emotion among people who were stuck at home during COVID-19.
And while generally, the longer people were under lockdown, the greater the negative emotional impact, people who experienced flow tended to fare better over time.
“No one can tell you what brings you flow; you have to discover and experience [it] yourself.” - Claire Nicogossian, clinical psychologist and author
The findings are still fairly new and the researchers only established an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship, between flow and better mental health.
But outside experts agree that flow may be a powerful buffer against the emotional strain of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
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“Flow is a brilliant skill and strategy to incorporate into an individual’s routine and life — especially now,” said Claire Nicogossian, a clinical psychologist and author of “Mama, You Are Enough: How to Create Calm, Joy and Confidence Within the Chaos of Motherhood.”
“You’re so engaged in something you enjoy, [that makes] you feel purposeful, connected, and sharing your gifts with others or learning something new or something you love, that you lose sense of time and experience the positive benefits from being engaged in this activity,” she added.
How To Cultivate Flow
So what puts a person in a state of flow? Experts tend to point to hobbies like playing music, knitting, cooking, gardening or doing something athletic such as playing a sport, going for a run or doing yoga. Some people find themselves in a flow state while doing their work.
But if you’re not, say, an avid yogi, or you hate to cook, that’s OK.
“There are individual differences in how we experience flow,” Nicogossian said. “And, no one can tell you what brings you flow; you have to discover and experience [it] yourself.”
If you’re stumped about what might help you cultivate mental flow, Nicogossian suggests thinking back to your childhood or teenage years. Ask yourself: “What were the activities you did when you were growing up or before life became focused on productivity and responsibilities when you experienced flow?”
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(One note: Being totally immersed in a movie or TV show is not the same thing as being in a state of flow, because it’s not active. In general, experts say there’s a difference between pure leisure activities and more active, flow-inducing ones.)
If nothing springs to mind when you think back on old hobbies and interests, then maybe take this time to be “curious” about yourself, Nicogossian added. What do you daydream about? What do you think you might be drawn to? Now could be the time to give it a try.