thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--GOP Rep. Becomes Weirdly Violent With Mask, Rants About Nazis In Bonkers Video

A Republican lawmaker in Louisiana has launched a strange new kind of attack ad in which he fights a piece of paper and a mask .
In a video released on Facebook , state Rep. Danny McCormick crumples a piece of paper with a mask mandate on it and hits it with a stick .
Then , he battles a mask with a blowtorch and a chainsaw to show his opposition to mandates requiring face coverings to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
“ You see , the government needed a villain , ” McCormick said in the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask will be soon painted as the enemy just as they did to Jews in Nazi Germany.
” McCormick wears safety gear while handling the blowtorch and chainsaw to show his opposition to a safety mandate .
Although he also opposes abortion , McCormick argues against mandatory masks by saying that “ your body is your private property.
” “ If the government has the power to force you to wear a mask , they can force you to stick a needle in your arm against your will , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microchip in you .
They can even make you take the mark .
After all , it ’ s for the greater good.
” The “ mark ” is an apparent nod to the biblical “ mark ” or “ number of the beast.
” “ It ’ s really belittling the experience of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany , ” Rabbi Sydni Rubinstein of Agudath Achim Synagogue told KTBS .
“ There ’ s a huge difference between limited access to food and resources and wearing a little piece of cloth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off by a mask mandate in Shreveport , where COVID-19 cases have been on the rise .
“ This is not due to more testing in our area , ” Mayor Adrian Perkins said this week , according to local NBC station KTAL .
“ Hospitalizations do not lie and our area is seeing an alarming rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations .
”

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A Republican lawmaker in Louisiana has launched a strange new kind of attack ad in which he fights a piece of paper and a mask.
In a video released on Facebook, state Rep. Danny McCormick crumples a piece of paper with a mask mandate on it and hits it with a stick. Then, he battles a mask with a blowtorch and a chainsaw to show his opposition to mandates requiring face coverings to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
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“Masks aren’t bad,” McCormick said as he attacked the masks. “Mandates are.”
He also compared those who support mask mandates to Nazis.
“You see, the government needed a villain,” McCormick said in the video. “People who don’t wear a mask will be soon painted as the enemy just as they did to Jews in Nazi Germany.”
McCormick wears safety gear while handling the blowtorch and chainsaw to show his opposition to a safety mandate. Although he also opposes abortion, McCormick argues against mandatory masks by saying that “your body is your private property.”
And he spouts conspiracy theories about forced vaccinations and implanted tracking devices.
“If the government has the power to force you to wear a mask, they can force you to stick a needle in your arm against your will,” he said. “They can put a microchip in you. They can even make you take the mark. After all, it’s for the greater good.”
The “mark” is an apparent nod to the biblical “mark” or “number of the beast.”
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McCormick told local ABC station KTBS that he doesn’t wear a mask in public because there’s no proof they work.
A local rabbi took issue with McCormick comparing the situation to Nazi Germany.
“It’s really belittling the experience of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany,” Rabbi Sydni Rubinstein of Agudath Achim Synagogue told KTBS. “There’s a huge difference between limited access to food and resources and wearing a little piece of cloth on your face.”
McCormick was set off by a mask mandate in Shreveport, where COVID-19 cases have been on the rise.
“This is not due to more testing in our area,” Mayor Adrian Perkins said this week, according to local NBC station KTAL. “Hospitalizations do not lie and our area is seeing an alarming rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Eric Trump Blasted On Twitter For His Skewed Poll About Joe Biden

Hi , Florida here .
There are 400+ cases in my neighborhood and 2k within ten miles .
The last @ @ @ @ @ schools .
Oh , and Biden is n't for open borders .
Oh , oh @ @ @ @ @ lose Florida over this .
Arizona , too .
And even f*ing Texas is in @ @ @ @ @

But, sadly for President Donald Trump ’s son, most of the reaction to his skewed question about presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden was mocking:
Joe Biden and his radical left-wing party want open borders and closed schools. Conversely, my father wants open schools and closed borders. Which do you choose?
Trump conveniently ignored the fact that Biden is not campaigning for open borders. Biden also does want to reopen schools but once appropriate measures are in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The president has ordered schools to reopen in the fall under threat of losing federal funds.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Supreme Court Expected To Rule On Trump Tax Records Thursday

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Supreme Court is expected to rule Thursday on whether Congress and the Manhattan district attorney can see President Donald Trump ’ s taxes and other financial records that the president has fought hard to keep private .
The high-stakes dispute tests the balance of power between the White House and Congress , as well as Trump ’ s claim that he can ’ t be investigated while he holds office .
It ’ s not clear , even if Trump loses , how much of the material would become public , since some records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York and the rest , sought by committees of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives , could contain highly sensitive information not just about Trump , but also about other members of his family and businesses .
Trump has so far lost at every step , but the records have not been turned over pending a final court ruling .
The case was argued by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The court said Wednesday that all remaining cases would be decided Thursday .
A dispute over whether a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land , also argued in May , is the only other outstanding case .
The fight over the congressional subpoenas has significant implications regarding a president ’ s power to refuse a formal request from Congress .
In a separate fight at the federal appeals court in Washington , D.C. , over a congressional demand for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn , the administration is making broad arguments that the president ’ s close advisers are “ absolutely immune ” from having to appear .
In two earlier cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted unanimously in requiring President Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor and in allowing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton to go forward .
In those cases , three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees , respectively , voted against the president who chose them for the high court .
A fourth Nixon appointee , William Rehnquist , sat out the tapes case because he had worked closely as a Justice Department official with some of the Watergate conspirators whose upcoming trial spurred the subpoena for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not directed at Trump himself .
Instead , House committees want records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One , as well as the Mazars USA accounting firm .
Mazars also is the recipient of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance ’ s subpoena .
Appellate courts in Washington , D.C. , and New York brushed aside the president ’ s arguments in decisions that focused on the fact that the subpoenas were addressed to third parties asking for records of Trump ’ s business and financial dealings as a private citizen , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bank documents as part of their investigations into Trump and his businesses .
Deutsche Bank has been one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies and defaults starting in the early 1990s .
Vance and the House Oversight and Reform Committee sought records from Mazars concerning Trump and his businesses based on payments that Trump ’ s former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , arranged to keep two women from airing their claims of decade-old extramarital affairs with Trump during the 2016 presidential race @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is expected to rule Thursday on whether Congress and the Manhattan district attorney can see President Donald Trump’s taxes and other financial records that the president has fought hard to keep private.
The high-stakes dispute tests the balance of power between the White House and Congress, as well as Trump’s claim that he can’t be investigated while he holds office.
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It’s not clear, even if Trump loses, how much of the material would become public, since some records would go to a confidential grand-jury investigation in New York and the rest, sought by committees of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, could contain highly sensitive information not just about Trump, but also about other members of his family and businesses.
Trump has so far lost at every step, but the records have not been turned over pending a final court ruling.
The case was argued by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic. The court said Wednesday that all remaining cases would be decided Thursday. A dispute over whether a large chunk of eastern Oklahoma remains Indian land, also argued in May, is the only other outstanding case.
The fight over the congressional subpoenas has significant implications regarding a president’s power to refuse a formal request from Congress. In a separate fight at the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., over a congressional demand for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn, the administration is making broad arguments that the president’s close advisers are “absolutely immune” from having to appear.
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In two earlier cases over presidential power, the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring President Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor and in allowing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton to go forward.
In those cases, three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees, respectively, voted against the president who chose them for the high court. A fourth Nixon appointee, William Rehnquist, sat out the tapes case because he had worked closely as a Justice Department official with some of the Watergate conspirators whose upcoming trial spurred the subpoena for the Oval Office recordings.
There are two Trump appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, on the court.
The subpoenas are not directed at Trump himself. Instead, House committees want records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, as well as the Mazars USA accounting firm. Mazars also is the recipient of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s subpoena.
Appellate courts in Washington, D.C., and New York brushed aside the president’s arguments in decisions that focused on the fact that the subpoenas were addressed to third parties asking for records of Trump’s business and financial dealings as a private citizen, not as president.
Two congressional committees subpoenaed the bank documents as part of their investigations into Trump and his businesses. Deutsche Bank has been one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies and defaults starting in the early 1990s.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Trump's Claim That Hydroxychloroquine 'Doesn't Kill People' Looks Worse And Worse

In late May , Trump also said he had taken hydroxychloroquine for two weeks as a preventative against the coronavirus , even though studies have found that hydroxychloroquine has either no benefit or poses an even greater risk of death .
Carsyn Leigh Davis , 17 , died last month after contracting COVID-19 .
She had battled cancer and a rare autoimmune disorder , and a medical examiner report found that she had gone to a church party with about 100 other children , where she did not wear a mask , before getting sick .
Nearly a week passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
Before doing so , they gave her hydroxychloroquine .
Her mother appeared to complain on Facebook that at the hospital , the doctors refused to give Davis more of the drug .
She also posted comments in opposition to policies requiring people to wear masks .
And in a highly publicized incident in March , a couple in Arizona noticed that their fish tank cleaner contained chloroquine after hearing about the potential “ cure ” on TV .
They took it , believing it would prevent them from contracting the illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The wife recovered , but her husband died .
There ’ s no evidence that all of these people received hydroxychloroquine directly because Trump mentioned it .
But he gave it widespread mainstream attention and some credibility as a remedy .
In late March , the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine usage with COVID-19 patients , although it admitted , “ We do not know if it works for COVID-19.
” The decision came under criticism , with some experts wondering if the agency buckled to political pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EUA [ emergency use authorization ] status is sought or granted seemingly under pressure , it may also open a floodgate of efforts to promote unfounded use of other unproven treatments , risking a perception that special interests can influence FDA decisions , ” wrote former FDA chief scientists Luciana Borio and Jesse Goodman .
In April , Rick Bright , who led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ― the federal agency in charge of coming up with a vaccine ― said he was demoted from his job after pressing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration had put “ politics and cronyism ahead of science.
” The FDA pulled its EUA for hydroxychloroquine in mid-June , saying the drug was “ unlikely to be effective.
” Nevertheless , Trump has not entirely given up on touting the drug .
On Monday , he tweeted about a new hydroxychloroquine study , calling on the FDA to “ act now .
”

In late May, Trump also said he had taken hydroxychloroquine for two weeks as a preventative against the coronavirus, even though studies have found that hydroxychloroquine has either no benefit or poses an even greater risk of death.
Carsyn Leigh Davis, 17, died last month after contracting COVID-19. She had battled cancer and a rare autoimmune disorder, and a medical examiner report found that she had gone to a church party with about 100 other children, where she did not wear a mask, before getting sick.
Nearly a week passed before her parents took her to the hospital. Before doing so, they gave her hydroxychloroquine. Her mother appeared to complain on Facebook that at the hospital, the doctors refused to give Davis more of the drug. She also posted comments in opposition to policies requiring people to wear masks.
And in a highly publicized incident in March, a couple in Arizona noticed that their fish tank cleaner contained chloroquine after hearing about the potential “cure” on TV. They took it, believing it would prevent them from contracting the illness. It immediately made them sick. The wife recovered, but her husband died.
There’s no evidence that all of these people received hydroxychloroquine directly because Trump mentioned it. But he gave it widespread mainstream attention and some credibility as a remedy.
In late March, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine usage with COVID-19 patients, although it admitted, “We do not know if it works for COVID-19.” The decision came under criticism, with some experts wondering if the agency buckled to political pressure from the White House.
“When EUA [emergency use authorization] status is sought or granted seemingly under pressure, it may also open a floodgate of efforts to promote unfounded use of other unproven treatments, risking a perception that special interests can influence FDA decisions,” wrote former FDA chief scientists Luciana Borio and Jesse Goodman.
In April, Rick Bright, who led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ― the federal agency in charge of coming up with a vaccine ― said he was demoted from his job after pressing for more investigation of hydroxychloroquine, saying the administration had put “politics and cronyism ahead of science.”
The FDA pulled its EUA for hydroxychloroquine in mid-June, saying the drug was “unlikely to be effective.”
Nevertheless, Trump has not entirely given up on touting the drug. On Monday, he tweeted about a new hydroxychloroquine study, calling on the FDA to “act now.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--GOP Sheriff Refuses To Enforce Ohio Governor's Order: 'I Am Not The Mask Police'

A Republican sheriff in Ohio said he won ’ t enforce GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s order that requires people to wear face masks in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said in an interview with CNN ’ s Brianna Keilar on Wednesday that he wears a mask himself and is “ good with that.
” But the sheriff , who supports President Donald Trump , insisted , “ I ’ m not going to be the mask police .
Period.
” DeWine issued the mandatory mask order for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , including Butler County , on Tuesday : Today , I am announcing that @ OHDeptofHealth will issue an order , effective 6:00 pm tomorrow , that will mandate wearing of face coverings in public in all counties that are designated Red Level 3 Public Health Emergency Alert .
pic.twitter.com/cqbMqmajJ2 — Governor Mike DeWine ( @ GovMikeDeWine ) July 7 , 2020 Jones told Keiler that he was “ confused ” about the science regarding wearing masks , claiming “ every week they change how you can catch ” the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we shouldn ’ t have our government demand that we wear a mask , that we can ’ t work , that the economy ’ s shut down , ” Jones said .
“ When this is all over and the studies come out , there will be more people who have died from not being able to go to a hospital , without being able to get their medication .
This is my opinion.
” Keilar pointed out how public health experts believe wearing masks is a relatively inexpensive and easy way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jones did admit , however , that he may change his mind on enforcing the order if Trump issues a federal mandate .
“ I ’ m not going to be the mask police ” : Butler County , Ohio , Police Sheriff Richard K. Jones says he won ’ t enforce the governor ’ s mandatory mask order starting tonight in his county .
https : //t.co/QCESCXertR pic.twitter.com/wflNzfF5rb — CNN Newsroom ( @ CNNnewsroom ) July 8 , 2020

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A Republican sheriff in Ohio said he won’t enforce GOP Gov. Mike DeWine’s order that requires people to wear face masks in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said in an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Wednesday that he wears a mask himself and is “good with that.”
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But the sheriff, who supports President Donald Trump, insisted, “I’m not going to be the mask police. Period.”
DeWine issued the mandatory mask order for seven counties designated as high risk for COVID-19, including Butler County, on Tuesday:
Today, I am announcing that @OHDeptofHealth will issue an order, effective 6:00 pm tomorrow, that will mandate wearing of face coverings in public in all counties that are designated Red Level 3 Public Health Emergency Alert. pic.twitter.com/cqbMqmajJ2 — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) July 7, 2020
Jones told Keiler that he was “confused” about the science regarding wearing masks, claiming “every week they change how you can catch” the virus.
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“I wear a mask, but we shouldn’t have our government demand that we wear a mask, that we can’t work, that the economy’s shut down,” Jones said. “When this is all over and the studies come out, there will be more people who have died from not being able to go to a hospital, without being able to get their medication. This is my opinion.”
Keilar pointed out how public health experts believe wearing masks is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus.
Jones did admit, however, that he may change his mind on enforcing the order if Trump issues a federal mandate.
Check out the full interview here:
“I’m not going to be the mask police”: Butler County, Ohio, Police Sheriff Richard K. Jones says he won’t enforce the governor’s mandatory mask order starting tonight in his county. https://t.co/QCESCXertR pic.twitter.com/wflNzfF5rb — CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) July 8, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Teachers Union President: 'I Double-Dog Dare' Trump To Sit In Class During Pandemic

The president of the nation ’ s largest teachers union challenged President Donald Trump to sit in a classroom and “ breathe that air , ” slamming his push to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ There ’ s no one that wants our kids back more than teachers , ” Lily Eskelsen García , president of the National Education Association , told CNN ’ s Alisyn Camerota on Wednesday .
“ But we want to open it safely.
” Trump on Tuesday claimed some schools were remaining closed during the public health crisis solely to hurt his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make them reopen in the fall .
On Wednesday , he threatened to cut federal funding for districts ignoring his demand .
In Germany , Denmark , Norway , Sweden and many other countries , SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS .
The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election , but is important for the children & families .
May cut off funding if not open !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) July 8 , 2020 García noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bars , without effective safety measures , likely contributed to the record numbers of new infections .
The virus has now killed more than 130,000 people in the U.S. “ This isn ’ t a bar .
We ’ re talking about second graders , ” García said .
“ I had 39 sixth graders one year in my class .
I double-dog dare Donald Trump to sit in a class of 39 sixth graders and breathe that air without any preparation for how we ’ re going to bring our kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants more personal protective equipment , deep-cleaning procedures , sanitizing stations and classroom alterations that allow students to be at least 6 feet apart .
“ One of the things that we know is that when Shake Shack needed some money , the Congress joined hands , sang Kumbaya and threw money at businesses so they wouldn ’ t have to lay people off , ” García replied .
“ There is a bill sitting on Mitch McConnell ’ s desk right now called the HEROES Act , passed by the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools so we could do this right.
” Trump , however , has dismissed the bill as “ dead on arrival , ” García said .
“ I double dog dare Donald Trump to sit in a class of 39 sixth graders and breathe that air without any preparation for how we ’ re going to bring our kids back safely.
” National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia says schools can only reopen if done so safely .
pic.twitter.com/d13sVYr5oS — New Day ( @ NewDay ) July 8 , 2020

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The president of the nation’s largest teachers union challenged President Donald Trump to sit in a classroom and “breathe that air,” slamming his push to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s no one that wants our kids back more than teachers,” Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association, told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on Wednesday. “But we want to open it safely.”
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Trump on Tuesday claimed some schools were remaining closed during the public health crisis solely to hurt his reelection. He promised to pressure governors to make them reopen in the fall. On Wednesday, he threatened to cut federal funding for districts ignoring his demand.
In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020
García noted the premature lifting of restrictions and reopening of bars, without effective safety measures, likely contributed to the record numbers of new infections. The virus has now killed more than 130,000 people in the U.S.
“This isn’t a bar. We’re talking about second graders,” García said. “I had 39 sixth graders one year in my class. I double-dog dare Donald Trump to sit in a class of 39 sixth graders and breathe that air without any preparation for how we’re going to bring our kids back safely.”
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Camerota suggested the Trump administration is “outsourcing” safety measures to governors, districts and school staff.
García’s union wants more personal protective equipment, deep-cleaning procedures, sanitizing stations and classroom alterations that allow students to be at least 6 feet apart.
Camerota asked García how the measures would be funded.
“One of the things that we know is that when Shake Shack needed some money, the Congress joined hands, sang Kumbaya and threw money at businesses so they wouldn’t have to lay people off,” García replied. “There is a bill sitting on Mitch McConnell’s desk right now called the HEROES Act, passed by the House, which has billions of dollars dedicated to schools so we could do this right.”
Trump, however, has dismissed the bill as “dead on arrival,” García said.
Check out the interview here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-08--‘They’ll Kill Me’: Transcripts Show George Floyd Pleaded For Air More Than 20 Times

George Floyd said more than 20 times that he couldn ’ t breathe , but his pleas were repeatedly ignored as a white police officer knelt on his neck , killing him , according to transcripts of body camera footage released Wednesday .
The accounts add shocking new details of the minutes surrounding the Black man ’ s death in Minneapolis on May 25 and show how a cooperative encounter with officers quickly turned deadly , setting off nationwide protests calling for the dramatic reform of American policing .
In the transcripts , Derek Chauvin , a former Minneapolis police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death , repeatedly ignores the handcuffed man ’ s calls for air and disregarded another officer who asked if Floyd , who was pinned to the pavement , should be moved onto his side .
Floyd : “ My stomach hurts .
My neck hurts .
Everything hurts .
I needs some water or something , please .
Please ?
I can ’ t breathe , officer.
” Floyd : “ You ’ re going to kill me , man.
” Chauvin : “ Then stop talking , stop yelling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of oxygen to talk.
” The transcripts came from body cameras worn by two of the four officers who were involved in the arrest of Floyd and have since been fired , Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng .
An attorney for Lane asked that his case be dismissed on Wednesday , pointing out that the transcripts show Lane asked Chauvin twice if he should turn Floyd on his side .
Chavin has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted .
Lane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth officer , have been charged with aiding and abetting the killing of Floyd .
The transcript also adds context to Floyd ’ s arrest , which came after a report that he had tried to use a counterfeit $ 20 bill at a store .
In the transcript , Floyd was recorded telling officers he was fearful of the police because he had been shot once before , and he begged them not to place him in a squad car because he was claustrophobic .
“ I ’ ll do anything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all tell me to , man , ” Floyd was heard saying .
“ I ’ m not resisting , man .
I ’ m not !
I ’ m not !
” Lane ’ s attorney , Earl Gray , has called for the full video from his client ’ s body camera to be made public , saying it shows the “ whole picture ” and is more detailed than the bystander videos that first sparked national outrage .
Gray has argued Chauvin bears the brunt of responsibility for Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene .
“ They ’ re required to call him ‘ Sir , ’ ” Gray said in court a month ago , according to The New York Times .
“ He has 20 years ’ experience .
What is my client supposed to do but to follow what the training officer said ?
Is that aiding and abetting a crime ?
”

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George Floyd said more than 20 times that he couldn’t breathe, but his pleas were repeatedly ignored as a white police officer knelt on his neck, killing him, according to transcripts of body camera footage released Wednesday.
The accounts add shocking new details of the minutes surrounding the Black man’s death in Minneapolis on May 25 and show how a cooperative encounter with officers quickly turned deadly, setting off nationwide protests calling for the dramatic reform of American policing.
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In the transcripts, Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who has been charged in Floyd’s death, repeatedly ignores the handcuffed man’s calls for air and disregarded another officer who asked if Floyd, who was pinned to the pavement, should be moved onto his side.
Floyd: “My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. I needs some water or something, please. Please? I can’t breathe, officer.” Chauvin: “Then stop talking, stop yelling.” Floyd: “You’re going to kill me, man.” Chauvin: “Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”
The transcripts came from body cameras worn by two of the four officers who were involved in the arrest of Floyd and have since been fired, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. An attorney for Lane asked that his case be dismissed on Wednesday, pointing out that the transcripts show Lane asked Chauvin twice if he should turn Floyd on his side.
Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the department, refused. “No, he’s staying put where we got him,” Chauvin said.
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Chavin has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. Lane, Kueng and Tou Thao, the fourth officer, have been charged with aiding and abetting the killing of Floyd.
Community members gather in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed. The intersection served as a memorial and sacred space to honor Floyd. Steel Brooks/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The transcript also adds context to Floyd’s arrest, which came after a report that he had tried to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a store. In the transcript, Floyd was recorded telling officers he was fearful of the police because he had been shot once before, and he begged them not to place him in a squad car because he was claustrophobic.
“I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything y’all tell me to, man,” Floyd was heard saying. “I’m not resisting, man. I’m not! I’m not!”
He later told the officers he was “scared.”
“Mama, I love you,” Floyd said at one point. “Tell my kids I love them. I’m dead.”
Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, has called for the full video from his client’s body camera to be made public, saying it shows the “whole picture” and is more detailed than the bystander videos that first sparked national outrage. Gray has argued Chauvin bears the brunt of responsibility for Floyd’s death as the superior officer on the scene.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--‘We’re Back To Square Zero’ On Coronavirus, Warns Infectious Disease Expert

Parts of the United States experiencing a resurgence of the coronavirus are “ back to square zero ” in their efforts to control the pandemic , infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm said on Wednesday .
Osterholm , the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota , told CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper that the number of new daily infections are “ only going to continue to rise ” over the coming weeks .
“ Many of these cases are already in the pipeline , ” between when people become infected and when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many health officials , including members of the White House coronavirus task force , have been reluctant to advocate new lockdown restrictions to curb the resurgent virus .
Americans endured weeks of restrictions starting in March , but some states bowed to President Donald Trump ’ s pressure to reopen and now face record numbers of new infections .
“ The bottom line is that we ’ re going to have to really clamp back down again , ” Osterholm said .
“ The countries that have successfully contained this virus were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1 to 2 cases per 100,000 population , then testing and contact tracing will work , ” Osterholm explained .
The U.S. recorded more than 1 million infections in the last month alone .
“ In a situation like this , when the entire forest is on fire , all the testing and contact tracing in the world isn ’ t going to shut it down , ” Osterholm .
“ It ’ s going to have to take a lot of distancing issues and we ’ re back to square zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March ― for many of these locations.
” Here 's a look at hotspots across the country where coronavirus cases are surging .
`` The number is only going to continue to rise , '' says infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm .
https : //t.co/M5N9hRQEpd pic.twitter.com/JQokESVTDW — Anderson Cooper 360° ( @ AC360 ) July 9 , 2020

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Parts of the United States experiencing a resurgence of the coronavirus are “back to square zero” in their efforts to control the pandemic, infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm said on Wednesday.
Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that the number of new daily infections are “only going to continue to rise” over the coming weeks.
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“Many of these cases are already in the pipeline,” between when people become infected and when they are diagnosed, he noted.
Many health officials, including members of the White House coronavirus task force, have been reluctant to advocate new lockdown restrictions to curb the resurgent virus. Americans endured weeks of restrictions starting in March, but some states bowed to President Donald Trump’s pressure to reopen and now face record numbers of new infections.
“The bottom line is that we’re going to have to really clamp back down again,” Osterholm said.
“The countries that have successfully contained this virus were able to get it down to a level of 1 to 2 cases per 100,000 population, then testing and contact tracing will work,” Osterholm explained.
The U.S. recorded more than 1 million infections in the last month alone.
“In a situation like this, when the entire forest is on fire, all the testing and contact tracing in the world isn’t going to shut it down,” said Osterholm. “It’s going to have to take a lot of distancing issues and we’re back to square zero in a sense ― where we were in March ― for many of these locations.”
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Check out Osterholm’s comments here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Israel Hawks Are Spending Big To Unseat Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar

Omar elicited the ire of defenders of Israeli government policies essentially from the moment that she won her race to represent Minnesota ’ s 5th Congressional District in 2018 .
While she implied as a candidate that she did not support BDS , after her general election win , she announced that she was supportive of the policy even though she continues to question its effectiveness and does not agree with proponents ’ dedication to a one-state solution .
( Her campaign maintains that Omar has been consistent all along because she continues to harbor the same reservations about BDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a candidate . )
Preserving a bipartisan consensus in which conditioning U.S. aid to Israel remains politically costly is a priority for groups like Pro-Israel America and NORPAC .
They believe that Israel ’ s security concerns justify its ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands ; that U.S. intelligence cooperation with Israel provides U.S. taxpayers an invaluable return on their $ 3.8-billion-a-year assistance to the Jewish state ; and that efforts to pressure Israel unfairly single the country out among recipients of U.S. aid .
( In fact , Omar ’ s stance toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military collaborator , appears to be harsher than her views on Israel : She has called for the U.S. to stop selling the country weapons altogether . )

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Right-leaning pro-Israel groups are targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat and outspoken critic of the Israeli government who is one of the most high-profile progressive members of Congress.
Antone Melton-Meaux, 47, the Minneapolis attorney seeking to unseat Omar, 37, in the state’s Aug. 11 Democratic primaries, raised more than $1.5 million in May alone.
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Much of that cash comes from political action committees opposed to more U.S. pressure on the Israeli government. Two such groups, Pro-Israel America and NORPAC, have bundled more than $400,000 for Melton-Meaux to date.
These Israel hawks’ investment in unseating Omar follows an expensive and ultimately unsuccessful intervention on behalf of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel. Given Engel’s massive deficit in the in-person vote, the New York Democrat has all-but-officially lost to Jamaal Bowman, a progressive challenger who is more critical of Israel, in his June 23 primary.
Omar’s race provides this subset of pro-Israel activists and donors a fresh opportunity to demonstrate their strength after an embarrassing defeat.
“The stakes are high because Members of Congress are watching to see how much muscle these groups really have,” said Joel Rubin, a progressive foreign policy hand who ran Jewish outreach for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign and served as a senior official in the Obama administration’s State Department.
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As of the end of May, Pro-Israel America, which was founded by two former staffers at the pro-Israel mega-lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, had raised over $303,000 for Melton-Meaux’s bid from hundreds of individual donors, according to official campaign finance disclosures.
NORPAC, a metropolitan New York City-area group, raised $106,000 for Melton-Meaux over the course of three virtual fundraisers in May and June.
Leaders of both organizations cited Omar’s left-wing views about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including her apparent support for the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, as a motivation for supporting a challenge against her. (Omar, who supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, does not agree with BDS supporters’ goal of a single bi-national state.)
“Rep. Omar’s views are way out of step with her Democratic colleagues and the American public,” Jeff Mendelsohn, a former AIPAC official who runs Pro-Israel America, said in a statement.
The pro-Israel leaders also pointed to insensitive comments Omar has made that they consider anti-Semitic.
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“A lot of people wanted in on this one.” - Ben Chouake, NORPAC
“People are very motivated to get rid of someone who they feel is a racist against them and against their families,” said Ben Chouake, a New Jersey physician and president of NORPAC. “A lot of people wanted in on this one.”
While the groups are offering Melton-Meaux serious cash, their support comes with potential political risks since both organizations raise money for Republican candidates as well.
In particular, NORPAC, which has been around for much longer than Pro-Israel America, is a major source of campaign cash for top Republicans. This election cycle, about two-thirds of the money it has raised has gone to Republican candidates, including over $160,000 to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the largest recipient of NORPAC cash in Congress in the past two years. (In 2018, NORPAC’s giving was inversely proportional, with about two-thirds of its fundraising going toward Democrats.)
“We are not party-driven,” Chouake said. “We’re issue-driven.”
Some major NORPAC donors even contribute to President Donald Trump. Howard Jonas, founder of the telecommunications firm IDT, donated the maximum individual contribution of $5,600 to Trump’s reelection, as well as $8,900 to the Republican National Committee.
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Omar is already using the support of figures like Jonas against Melton-Meaux.
“Trump and his campaign don’t only have a problem with me and people who look like me — they are threatened by our growing progressive movement,” she wrote in a June 30 tweet soliciting new contributions. “So much so their donors are even funding our Democratic establishment opponents’ campaigns.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) speaks at a press conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Her outspoken progressive style has won her both passionate supporters and enemies. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Bad Blood From The Start
Omar elicited the ire of defenders of Israeli government policies essentially from the moment that she won her race to represent Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in 2018. While she implied as a candidate that she did not support BDS, after her general election win, she announced that she was supportive of the policy even though she continues to question its effectiveness and does not agree with proponents’ dedication to a one-state solution. (Her campaign maintains that Omar has been consistent all along because she continues to harbor the same reservations about BDS’s effectiveness that she expressed as a candidate.)
Omar’s first two months in office were plagued by controversy over remarks perceived by many to be anti-Semitic. In Feb. 2019, Omar tweeted the rap lyrics “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” as a commentary on why House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was vowing “action” against Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for their views about Israel.
Omar’s comment reflected a widely held view on the left that groups like Pro-Israel America and NORPAC hold so much sway in Congress because of their campaign cash (“Benjamins” is slang for hundred-dollar bills imprinted with the image of Benjamin Franklin). But the comments provoked accusations from Jewish leaders and many Democrats that Omar was employing anti-Semitic tropes about Jews using money to control politics. Omar “unequivocally” apologized even as she reaffirmed her criticism of the “problematic role” of many lobbying groups, from AIPAC to the National Rifle Association.
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In a speech to a pro-Palestinian Washington audience a few weeks later, Omar lamented the “political influence in this country that says that it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.” Omar’s full remarks express solidarity with her Jewish constituents who find “sanctuary” in Israel, but critics argued that her reference to “people who push allegiance to a foreign country” revived the historically anti-Semitic charge that Jewish Americans are not entirely loyal to the United States.
Omar cleared the air in a Washington Post op-ed outlining her human rights-focused approach to foreign policy. In the essay, she argues that the U.S. would have more credibility admonishing adversaries like Iran and Venezuela if it also held allies like Saudi Arabia and Israel to higher standards.
Omar has also apologized for a 2012 tweet critical of the Israeli invasion of Gaza that used offensive rhetoric. “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel,” she wrote at the time.
Then-President Barack Obama addresses the AIPAC policy conference in 2012. Obama-era policies like the Iran nuclear deal shifted Democratic politics on the Middle East to the left. JEWEL SAMAD/Getty Images
A Threat To The Hawkish Bipartisan Consensus
Omar represents one of the most reliably Democratic House seats in the country. The district, which encompasses Minneapolis and some of its suburbs, is the historic heart of the state’s small but significant Jewish community.
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Despite their disagreements on some policy questions, Omar has engaged with her Jewish constituents. Rabbi Avi Olitzky, who leads a St. Louis Park congregation and sits on AIPAC’s national council, reports having a fine working relationship with Omar.
“Though there are a number of topics, especially around the U.S.-Israel relationship, on which Rep. Omar and I do not see eye to eye, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue that dialogue,” he said. “She has welcomed me into her office to have those conversations.”
Notably though, the liberal pro-Israel group J Street, which endorsed Omar’s predecessor, Keith Ellison, from 2008 onward, is staying out of Omar’s race.
“J Street has a good relationship with Rep. Omar and her office and regularly consult with them about promoting our shared goals of diplomacy-first U.S. leadership, Israeli-Palestinian peace and human rights in the region,” J Street spokesman Logan Bayroff said in a statement.
Notwithstanding her support for BDS, which remains a minority position among rank-and-file Democrats, Omar’s overall approach to the U.S.-Israel relationship is consistent with the direction of the party. Nationwide, more than two-thirds of Democratic voters back tying U.S. aid to Israeli compliance with historic U.S. policies, including opposition to settlement expansion, according to a Center for American Progress poll.
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Meanwhile, in Congress, where resolutions condemning BDS still pass with large, bipartisan majorities, Omar’s support for placing tougher conditions on U.S. aid to the Israeli government is becoming more mainstream. As the Israeli government has adopted increasingly right-wing policies, even some staunchly pro-Israel Democratic politicians have given the idea their imprimatur. One such Democrat, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a member of party leadership, introduced an amendment that would bar use of U.S. aid for Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank.
Preserving a bipartisan consensus in which conditioning U.S. aid to Israel remains politically costly is a priority for groups like Pro-Israel America and NORPAC. They believe that Israel’s security concerns justify its ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands; that U.S. intelligence cooperation with Israel provides U.S. taxpayers an invaluable return on their $3.8-billion-a-year assistance to the Jewish state; and that efforts to pressure Israel unfairly single the country out among recipients of U.S. aid. (In fact, Omar’s stance toward Saudi Arabia, another U.S. ally and military collaborator, appears to be harsher than her views on Israel: She has called for the U.S. to stop selling the country weapons altogether.)
In an interview, Melton-Meaux told HuffPost that while he opposes annexation, he also opposes conditioning U.S. aid to Israel in response to it.
“It is important for us, in the United States, to be voicing our concerns,” he said.
“They want someone that will be a listener.” - Antone Melton-Meaux, Rep. Ilhan Omar's primary challenger
Unlike the pro-Israel groups fundraising for him, Melton-Meaux supports then-President Barack Obama’s nuclear nonproliferation agreement with Iran in 2015. He wants the United States to reenter the agreement, though he would like to do away with the sunsetting provisions that ended restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capacities after 15 years. He also wants the U.S. to play the role of an “honest broker” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Asked why he thought the more hawkish groups were so supportive of his bid, Melton-Meaux said, “They want someone that will be a listener, someone that will work hard at bringing the parties together, that won’t have ideological purity tests when it comes to these types of conversations.”
Neither Pro-Israel America nor NORPAC claimed to have a clear policy litmus test for the candidates it endorses. “Pro-Israel America endorsed Antone Melton-Meaux because he opposes Rep. Ilhan Omar’s divisive politics and supports the important alliance between the U.S. and Israel, a partnership that benefits both countries,” Mendelsohn of Pro-Israel America said.
Joel Rubin, who has also worked as an aide on Capitol Hill, sees something more strategic at play in the coalescing of right-leaning pro-Israel groups behind Melton-Meaux.
“What Ilhan Omar represents is a voice that provokes a conversation” on U.S. aid to Israel and BDS in the halls of Congress, Rubin said. “The point of supporting a challenger to her is to try to stifle that voice.”
An Ideological Conflict
Like Omar, Melton-Meaux has a unique personal story to tell. His ancestors were enslaved in Kentucky until slave owner John Meaux emancipated them and granted them his land when he died in 1828. Meaux’s white descendants challenged the will in court, but Melton-Meaux’s ancestors won their freedom thanks to a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling. Melton-Meaux’s father fought to integrate a local Kentucky high school in the 1950s and went on to become one of the first Black electrical engineering graduates from the University of Kentucky.
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Antone Melton-Meaux, an attorney challenging Rep. Omar, speaks at a Juneteenth celebration in Minneapolis. He's running as a bridge-builder who will better serve the district. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Melton-Meaux, who grew up in Cincinnati, is an employment lawyer with his own workplace mediation firm. He also has ties to the Jewish community that date to his days as an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, and is proficient in biblical Hebrew thanks to a masters degree he obtained from Union Theological Seminary, a Christian divinity school in New York City.
Asked why he decided to run, Melton-Meaux said he believes that Omar has pursued national fame at the expense of attention to the district. His campaign slogan is “Focused on the 5th.”
“She hasn’t shown up for voters and she hasn’t shown up for votes,” Melton-Meaux said, claiming that Omar has missed 40 votes in her first term in the House. “She is distracted with Twitter fights with the president or even with the Democratic Party.”
Omar’s campaign website states that she has a 95% participation rate in more than 800 votes. She missed some votes due to a relative’s death from COVID-19 and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, according to the campaign.
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Omar has introduced 17 amendments that passed in the Democratic-controlled House. One of them, an expansion of federal funding during COVID-19 for subsidized school lunch programs, became law as part of the CARES Act relief package in late March.
Melton-Meaux has attracted some organic support in the district unrelated to foreign policy, including from prominent Black figures like former NAACP President Nekima Levy Armstrong and attorney Don Lewis, a friend and colleague of Melton-Meaux’s.
Speaking broadly about his criticism of Omar, Lewis said, “Her focus is on broader issues that tend to enhance her celebrity to the detriment of the local interests of the district.”
Beneath the surface, it’s clear that Melton-Meaux and many of his local supporters are simply not as progressive as Omar.
Melton-Meaux and Lewis both characterized themselves as progressives who are just more pragmatic and results-oriented than Omar. Moderate Democrats have long cited concerns about efficacy to disguise their ideological qualms about more left-wing politicians. For example, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2016 as a “progressive who gets things done.”
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Melton-Meaux supported one of Omar’s more moderate competitors in the Aug. 2018 House primaries and cast a vote for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the state’s March 3 presidential primary. Omar voted for Sanders, as did the voters in Minnesota’s 5th (Warren came in third after former Vice President Joe Biden).
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has endorsed the reelection of Omar, his successor in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune/Getty Images
The contrast between the two candidates on the issues is also significant. Melton-Meaux supports creating a “primary care for all” health care system and public health insurance option, rather than Medicare for All. While Omar favors tougher rent regulations and an expansion of public housing, Melton-Meaux couples his support for expanded public housing with a plan to distribute vouchers to low-income renters. Melton-Meaux, whose son attends a charter school, is a champion of charter schools; Omar is a skeptic.
Though Omar is the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ whip, Melton-Meaux said only that he was “open” to joining the CPC. And unlike many Democrats, Melton-Meaux initially told HuffPost that he does not have a policy of refusing corporate PAC money, though he said it has not yet come up because he hasn’t received any offers. (Melton-Meaux’s campaign spokesperson followed up with HuffPost after publication to clarify that the campaign does have a policy of refusing corporate PAC money.)
Perhaps for those reasons, Melton-Meaux has also attracted a lot of donations from financial industry executives, including a $2,800 check from Jonathan Gray, the president of the private equity giant Blackstone. Blackstone has been in the news for filling the campaign coffers of House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.). In December, Neal stalled a bipartisan effort to reform “surprise” medical billing that would have hurt Blackstone’s bottom line.
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In addition to the support of the state Democratic Party and organized labor, Omar appears to have the cash to withstand an onslaught. As of the end of March, she had spent more than $2 million and had more than $1.3 million left over. More than 99% of the donations she receives are under $200; the average contribution is $18.
She also has the endorsement of Ellison, who is now Minnesota Attorney General. Ellison’s role as chief prosecutor of the Minneapolis police officers charged with murdering George Floyd has earned him national attention.
Ellison told HuffPost that his support for Omar stems from years of working with her on progressive priorities like Medicare for All, climate change and workers’ rights.
“I believe she is for these things because she’s been doing these things since I met her … She was fighting for people,” he said. “These other folks might be nice, but we have to take their word for it because there’s no evidence that they have done much of anything for anyone.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Big Oil’s Fallback Plan Is Falling Flat

Big Oil’s Fallback Plan Is Falling Flat

The oil and gas industry is in crisis .
Crude prices plunged into negative territory at the start of the coronavirus pandemic , and oil giants in recent months cut dividends to shareholders and wrote down the value of their assets by tens of billions of dollars .
Utilities this week abandoned a major gas pipeline as wind and solar smashed records .
As of last month , 17 countries had set targets to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles .
Yet petrochemicals ― the sector producing everything from plastics to polyester fabrics to paint ― looked like a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 billion on chemical and refining plants across the Gulf Coast .
Royal Dutch Shell PLC is constructing a massive complex in Pennsylvania to churn ethane , a component in fracked natural gas , into polyethylene plastic .
China ’ s state-owned Sinopec Corp. last month opened its third petrochemical facility in 18 months .
There is , however , a “ hole in the hedge , ” as The Economist magazine declared in a print headline last month .
The price of plastic resins dropped amid the pandemic , and cheap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas-based petrochemical buildout .
Regulations are mounting as new research shows plastic pollution is so severe and ubiquitous that tiny particles are appearing in remote locales .
“ Petrochemicals and plastic will not be how the oil and gas industry grows its way out of this crisis or climbs its way out of debt , ” a report published Thursday by the nonprofit Center for International Environmental Law concluded .
“ The plastic market is saturated , and a short-term uptick in demand for personal protective equipment will not change the long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t going anywhere anytime soon .
Between 1971 and 2015 , demand for plastic outpaced that for other bulk materials such as cement , aluminum and steel , according to International Energy Agency data .
And demand keeps growing .
By 2050 , nearly half of all growth in oil demand is estimated to come from plastics .
But as oil and gas giants scale back drilling and lose billions on existing investments , the profit margins on plastics and other petrochemicals are slimming down .
Prices for plastic resins ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other feedstocks ― plunged in March , and few if any have recovered , according to a report by Plastics Technology , an industry trade group .
Refiners in Asia and Europe invested in making resins from naphtha , a flammable liquid mix distilled from oil , peat or coal .
In the U.S. , where the fracking boom made natural gas cheap and plentiful , the industry instead built a fleet of “ cracker ” plants , sprawling complexes of pipes and furnaces that heat ethane — a component in natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IEA estimated that 40 % of the world ’ s ethane-based production capacity is in the U.S .
Petrochemicals and plastic will not be how the oil and gas industry grows its way out of this crisis or climbs its way out of debt .
Regulations , meanwhile , are proliferating quickly as global outrage grows over the extent of plastic pollution .
The presence of granular microplastics in the oceans , Great Lakes and even Arctic snow is well known .
But researchers found tiny bits of airborne plastic in 98 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks and wilderness areas , according to a study published last month in the journal Science .
By last year , 127 countries started regulating plastic bags .
Eight U.S. states banned plastic bags as of the start of this year .
In 2019 , the European Parliament voted to ban many single-use plastic items by 2021 and require member states to collect 90 % of plastic bottles by 2029 .
In January , China , the largest producer of single-use plastics , started phasing out most nonbiodegradable bags , straws and cutlery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may reverse the trend .
As officials struggled to contain the virus , the industry and its allies began pressing to halt or reverse bans across the world .
While the European Union denied the request , the United Kingdom postponed its ban on some plastics until later this year .
In the U.S. , states such as New Hampshire banned reusable bags , fearing they could spread the virus , in favor of single-use paper or plastic bags .
The lobbying successes extend beyond plastics .
Between March and July , 64 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s global efforts to increase financial support for fossil fuel production or roll back climate regulations were either “ completely ” or “ mostly successful , ” according to a study published Thursday by Influence Map , a British think tank that tracks corporate influence on policy .
Another 26 % of lobbying efforts were ongoing .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The oil and gas industry is in crisis. Crude prices plunged into negative territory at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and oil giants in recent months cut dividends to shareholders and wrote down the value of their assets by tens of billions of dollars. Utilities this week abandoned a major gas pipeline as wind and solar smashed records. As of last month, 17 countries had set targets to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles.
Yet petrochemicals ― the sector producing everything from plastics to polyester fabrics to paint ― looked like a safe bet. Exxon Mobil Corp. is spending $20 billion on chemical and refining plants across the Gulf Coast. Royal Dutch Shell PLC is constructing a massive complex in Pennsylvania to churn ethane, a component in fracked natural gas, into polyethylene plastic. China’s state-owned Sinopec Corp. last month opened its third petrochemical facility in 18 months.
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There is, however, a “hole in the hedge,” as The Economist magazine declared in a print headline last month. The price of plastic resins dropped amid the pandemic, and cheap oil is undercutting the United States’ natural gas-based petrochemical buildout. Regulations are mounting as new research shows plastic pollution is so severe and ubiquitous that tiny particles are appearing in remote locales.
“Petrochemicals and plastic will not be how the oil and gas industry grows its way out of this crisis or climbs its way out of debt,” a report published Thursday by the nonprofit Center for International Environmental Law concluded. “The plastic market is saturated, and a short-term uptick in demand for personal protective equipment will not change the long-term downward trajectory of plastic use.”
Business models are going up in smoke. Erwin Seba / Reuters
Plastic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Between 1971 and 2015, demand for plastic outpaced that for other bulk materials such as cement, aluminum and steel, according to International Energy Agency data. And demand keeps growing. By 2050, nearly half of all growth in oil demand is estimated to come from plastics.
Advertisement
But as oil and gas giants scale back drilling and lose billions on existing investments, the profit margins on plastics and other petrochemicals are slimming down. Prices for plastic resins ― the raw pellets made from ethylene or other feedstocks ― plunged in March, and few if any have recovered, according to a report by Plastics Technology, an industry trade group.
Refiners in Asia and Europe invested in making resins from naphtha, a flammable liquid mix distilled from oil, peat or coal. In the U.S., where the fracking boom made natural gas cheap and plentiful, the industry instead built a fleet of “cracker” plants, sprawling complexes of pipes and furnaces that heat ethane — a component in natural gas — into ethylene and polyethylene. The IEA estimated that 40% of the world’s ethane-based production capacity is in the U.S.
But the historic drop in oil prices “essentially eliminated the huge, years-long competitive cost advantage that North American [natural gas-based polyethylene] producers have enjoyed over their international naphtha-based counterparts,” Plastics Today, a trade publication, reported on June 30.
“Petrochemicals and plastic will not be how the oil and gas industry grows its way out of this crisis or climbs its way out of debt.” - Center for International Environmental Law
Regulations, meanwhile, are proliferating quickly as global outrage grows over the extent of plastic pollution. The presence of granular microplastics in the oceans, Great Lakes and even Arctic snow is well known. But researchers found tiny bits of airborne plastic in 98% of dust samples collected in 11 national parks and wilderness areas, according to a study published last month in the journal Science.
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By last year, 127 countries started regulating plastic bags. Eight U.S. states banned plastic bags as of the start of this year. In 2019, the European Parliament voted to ban many single-use plastic items by 2021 and require member states to collect 90% of plastic bottles by 2029. In January, China, the largest producer of single-use plastics, started phasing out most nonbiodegradable bags, straws and cutlery over the next two years.
COVID-19 may reverse the trend. As officials struggled to contain the virus, the industry and its allies began pressing to halt or reverse bans across the world. While the European Union denied the request, the United Kingdom postponed its ban on some plastics until later this year. In the U.S., states such as New Hampshire banned reusable bags, fearing they could spread the virus, in favor of single-use paper or plastic bags.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Layoffs Stuck At High Level As 1.3 Million Seek Jobless Aid

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — More than 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week , a historically high pace that shows that many employers are still laying people off in the face of a resurgent coronavirus .
The persistently elevated level of layoffs are occurring as a spike in virus cases has forced six states to reverse their move to reopen businesses .
Those six — Arizona , California , Colorado , Florida , Michigan and Texas — make up one-third of the U.S. economy .
Fifteen other states have suspended their re-openings .
Collectively , the pullback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job market and is likely triggering additional layoffs .
Thursday ’ s report from the Labor Department showed that the number of applications for unemployment aid fell from 1.4 million in the previous week .
The figure has now topped 1 million for 16 straight weeks .
Before the pandemic , the record high for weekly unemployment applications was fewer than 700,000 .
The total number of people who are receiving jobless benefits dropped 700,000 to 18 million .
That suggests that some companies are continuing to rehire workers .
An additional 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate program for self-employed and gig workers that has made them eligible for aid for the first time .
These figures aren ’ t adjusted for seasonal variations , so the government doesn ’ t include them in the official count .
Americans are seeking unemployment aid against the backdrop of a disturbing surge in confirmed viral cases , with increases reported in 38 states .
Case counts have especially accelerated in four states that now account for more than half of reported new U.S. cases : Arizona , California , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more stringent government restrictions have slowed economic activity in much of the country and may be weighing on hiring .
The government ’ s jobs report for June showed a solid gain of 4.8 million jobs and an unemployment rate that fell to 11.1 % from 13.3 % .
Yet even so , the economy has regained only about one-third of the jobs that vanished in March and April .
And the June jobs report reflected surveys of Americans that were conducted in the middle of that month — before the pandemic flared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worrisome .
Spending on credit and debit cards issued by Bank of America fell in the week that ended June 27 compared with the previous week .
Auto and existing-home sales have slowed .
Restaurant visits have also leveled off nationally , including in states that haven ’ t begun to close down again , according to data from OpenTable , the reservations website .
“ This suggests that renewed fears about the virus , rather than government restrictions , are driving the pullback in activity , ” said Andrew Hunter , senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecasting firm .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, a historically high pace that shows that many employers are still laying people off in the face of a resurgent coronavirus.
The persistently elevated level of layoffs are occurring as a spike in virus cases has forced six states to reverse their move to reopen businesses. Those six — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan and Texas — make up one-third of the U.S. economy. Fifteen other states have suspended their re-openings. Collectively, the pullback has stalled a tentative recovery in the job market and is likely triggering additional layoffs.
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Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the number of applications for unemployment aid fell from 1.4 million in the previous week. The figure has now topped 1 million for 16 straight weeks. Before the pandemic, the record high for weekly unemployment applications was fewer than 700,000.
The total number of people who are receiving jobless benefits dropped 700,000 to 18 million. That suggests that some companies are continuing to rehire workers.
An additional 1 million people sought benefits last week under a separate program for self-employed and gig workers that has made them eligible for aid for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the official count.
Americans are seeking unemployment aid against the backdrop of a disturbing surge in confirmed viral cases, with increases reported in 38 states. Case counts have especially accelerated in four states that now account for more than half of reported new U.S. cases: Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
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The intensifying outbreaks and more stringent government restrictions have slowed economic activity in much of the country and may be weighing on hiring. The government’s jobs report for June showed a solid gain of 4.8 million jobs and an unemployment rate that fell to 11.1% from 13.3%.
Yet even so, the economy has regained only about one-third of the jobs that vanished in March and April. And the June jobs report reflected surveys of Americans that were conducted in the middle of that month — before the pandemic flared up again.
More recent data are worrisome. Spending on credit and debit cards issued by Bank of America fell in the week that ended June 27 compared with the previous week. Auto and existing-home sales have slowed.
Restaurant visits have also leveled off nationally, including in states that haven’t begun to close down again, according to data from OpenTable, the reservations website.
“This suggests that renewed fears about the virus, rather than government restrictions, are driving the pullback in activity,” said Andrew Hunter, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics, a forecasting firm.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Stanford Professor Shares Plan To Subvert Trump's 'Evil Edict' On Foreign Students

Michael McFaul , a professor of political science at Stanford University , revealed Wednesday how he wants to “ subvert ” President Donald Trump ’ s “ evil edict ” stopping international students from staying in the United States if their courses are entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic this fall .
McFaul , who served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia in President Barack Obama ’ s administration , tweeted he was volunteering to teach a course in the California college ’ s 50,000-capacity football stadium “ ‘ in person ’ for ALL of our international students.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irrational ICE Policies ” or “ Explaining the Erosion of American Democratic Institutions in the Trump Era , ” McFaul added in a further dig at the Trump White House : To subvert Trump 's evil edict , Im volunteering to teach a course @ Stanford in our football stadium `` in person '' for ALL of our international students .
Possible topics : `` Irrational ICE Policies '' or `` Explaining the Erosion of American Democratic Institutions in the Trump Era . ''
— Michael McFaul ( @ McFaul ) July 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on Monday a new rule allowing it to strip visas from international students if their coursework is entirely online .
The decision is being challenged in court by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
It ’ s not clear McFaul was joking with his suggestion .
He did not immediately reply to HuffPost ’ s request for clarification .
The idea was cheered by others on Twitter , though : Thank you .
With all the smart people in our universities , there 's got to be a creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wrath of Donald Ignoramus .
— Modello Especial ( @ GreatWordsmith ) July 9 , 2020 What a great idea .
Basically , a teach-in .
Awesome offer Mr McFaul .
With the many world-class scholars & univs in the greater Bay Area & throughout Calif , these could legally keep all our students here studying *safely .
* Plus , they could be livestreamed , educating many others too .
— Patricia # BlackLivesMatter Prewitt ( @ thePumamama ) July 9 , 2020

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Michael McFaul, a professor of political science at Stanford University, revealed Wednesday how he wants to “subvert” President Donald Trump’s “evil edict” stopping international students from staying in the United States if their courses are entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic this fall.
McFaul, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia in President Barack Obama’s administration, tweeted he was volunteering to teach a course in the California college’s 50,000-capacity football stadium “‘in person’ for ALL of our international students.”
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Possible topics of study could include “Irrational ICE Policies” or “Explaining the Erosion of American Democratic Institutions in the Trump Era,” McFaul added in a further dig at the Trump White House:
To subvert Trump's evil edict, Im volunteering to teach a course @Stanford in our football stadium "in person" for ALL of our international students. Possible topics: "Irrational ICE Policies" or "Explaining the Erosion of American Democratic Institutions in the Trump Era." — Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 9, 2020
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Monday a new rule allowing it to strip visas from international students if their coursework is entirely online.
The decision is being challenged in court by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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It’s not clear McFaul was joking with his suggestion. He did not immediately reply to HuffPost’s request for clarification.
The idea was cheered by others on Twitter, though:
Thank you. With all the smart people in our universities, there's got to be a creative path to protect these wonderful students from the wrath of Donald Ignoramus. — Modello Especial (@GreatWordsmith) July 9, 2020
What a great idea. Basically, a teach-in. Awesome offer Mr McFaul. With the many world-class scholars & univs in the greater Bay Area & throughout Calif, these could legally keep all our students here studying *safely.* Plus, they could be livestreamed, educating many others too. — Patricia #BlackLivesMatter Prewitt (@thePumamama) July 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Sacha Baron Cohen Pranks Rudy Giuliani, Who Calls Police

Rudy Giuliani arrived Tuesday at a Manhattan hotel for what he thought was a serious interview about the coronavirus ― but ended up calling the police on bikini-wearing prankster Sacha Baron Cohen .
Giuliani , President Donald Trump ’ s attorney and the former New York City mayor , told the New York Post ’ s Page Six that he settled in for a sit-down about the White House response to the pandemic .
A woman began to ask questions and then , Giuliani said , “ This guy comes running in , wearing a crazy , what I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a pink bikini , with lace , underneath a translucent mesh top , it looked absurd .
He had the beard , bare legs , and wasn ’ t what I would call distractingly attractive.
” Giuliani said he didn ’ t immediately recognize the “ screaming and yelling ” actor .
“ I thought this must be a scam or a shake-down , so I reported it to the police , ” he told the gossip section .
“ He then ran away.
” Rudy Giuliani realized later he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pretend interview that quickly went off the rails .
Witnesses saw Cohen bolt from the Mark Hotel in a bathrobe , the tabloid noted .
Cops arrived , but didn ’ t seek to apprehend Cohen , who recently infiltrated a far-right rally in Olympia , Washington , and goaded the crowd into a racist singalong .
Giuliani told Page Six he realized later that it must have been Cohen .
“ I felt good about myself because he didn ’ t get me , ” he said .
Giuliani said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s movie “ Borat , ” and even quoted one of his favorite lines .
Some entertainment sites , including Deadline , speculated the stunt could be for another installment of Cohen ’ s “ Who Is America ?
” prank series on Showtime .
The show aired for one season in 2018 .

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Rudy Giuliani arrived Tuesday at a Manhattan hotel for what he thought was a serious interview about the coronavirus ― but ended up calling the police on bikini-wearing prankster Sacha Baron Cohen.
Giuliani, President Donald Trump’s attorney and the former New York City mayor, told the New York Post’s Page Six that he settled in for a sit-down about the White House response to the pandemic.
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A woman began to ask questions and then, Giuliani said, “This guy comes running in, wearing a crazy, what I would say was a pink transgender outfit. It was a pink bikini, with lace, underneath a translucent mesh top, it looked absurd. He had the beard, bare legs, and wasn’t what I would call distractingly attractive.”
Giuliani said he didn’t immediately recognize the “screaming and yelling” actor. “I thought this must be a scam or a shake-down, so I reported it to the police,” he told the gossip section. “He then ran away.”
Rudy Giuliani realized later he had been pranked by Sacha Baron Cohen in a pretend interview that quickly went off the rails. Getty
Witnesses saw Cohen bolt from the Mark Hotel in a bathrobe, the tabloid noted. Cops arrived, but didn’t seek to apprehend Cohen, who recently infiltrated a far-right rally in Olympia, Washington, and goaded the crowd into a racist singalong.
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Giuliani told Page Six he realized later that it must have been Cohen. “I felt good about myself because he didn’t get me,” he said.
Giuliani said he’s a fan of Cohen’s movie “Borat,” and even quoted one of his favorite lines.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--How Zendaya, John David Washington Managed To Shoot A Secret Movie During A Pandemic

Zendaya and John David Washington didn ’ t let a pandemic get in the way of making a movie .
The actors star in the upcoming film “ Malcolm & Marie , ” which has already finished production after being shot under strict coronavirus precautions , a Deadline exclusive revealed .
Zendaya reportedly reached out to “ Euphoria ” creator Sam Levinson earlier this year after the HBO series shut down production on its second season in mid-March due to coronavirus concerns .
She asked if he could write and direct a movie while in quarantine .
Levinson apparently could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malcolm & Marie ” in just six days , with Zendaya and the “ Black KkKlansman ” star in mind .
The trio ― who bankrolled the film along with Levinson ’ s wife and production partner Ashley Levinson and producer Kevin Turen ― pulled off the shoot between June 17 and July 2 with minimal crew at Caterpillar House , an eco-conscious custom home in Carmel , California .
After consulting with production unions and doctors , the production team rolled out a plan beginning with a two-week quarantine in Monterey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filming .
The actors and crew members wore masks , social distanced and even the onsite chef was required to quarantine with the group .
Nobody was permitted offsite , Deadline reported .
Once production began , no more than 12 people were allowed on set at any time .
The lengthy safety precaution list included temperature checks at the start and end of each day , regular sanitization of set gear and ensuring no crew members were allowed in close contact with actors without wearing personal protective equipment .
Cast members donned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was individually wrapped and provided alongside disposable utensils .
While details about the film remain secret , Deadline reported it has “ some echoes of Netflix ’ s ‘ Marriage Story , ’ while resonating a number of social themes that the world is experiencing right now .
”

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Zendaya and John David Washington didn’t let a pandemic get in the way of making a movie.
The actors star in the upcoming film “Malcolm & Marie,” which has already finished production after being shot under strict coronavirus precautions, a Deadline exclusive revealed.
Zendaya reportedly reached out to “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson earlier this year after the HBO series shut down production on its second season in mid-March due to coronavirus concerns. She asked if he could write and direct a movie while in quarantine. Levinson apparently could, and completed the script for “Malcolm & Marie” in just six days, with Zendaya and the “Black KkKlansman” star in mind.
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The trio ― who bankrolled the film along with Levinson’s wife and production partner Ashley Levinson and producer Kevin Turen ― pulled off the shoot between June 17 and July 2 with minimal crew at Caterpillar House, an eco-conscious custom home in Carmel, California.
After consulting with production unions and doctors, the production team rolled out a plan beginning with a two-week quarantine in Monterey and multiple COVID-19 tests before the start of filming. The actors and crew members wore masks, social distanced and even the onsite chef was required to quarantine with the group. Nobody was permitted offsite, Deadline reported.
Once production began, no more than 12 people were allowed on set at any time. The lengthy safety precaution list included temperature checks at the start and end of each day, regular sanitization of set gear and ensuring no crew members were allowed in close contact with actors without wearing personal protective equipment. Cast members donned their own costumes and mics. Food was individually wrapped and provided alongside disposable utensils.
While details about the film remain secret, Deadline reported it has “some echoes of Netflix’s ‘Marriage Story,’ while resonating a number of social themes that the world is experiencing right now.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--'Glee' Star Naya Rivera Missing After Boat Ride With 4-Year-Old Son

“ Glee ” star Naya Rivera is missing and feared drowned following a boat ride with her young son on a reservoir in California .
The actor ’ s 4-year-old son was discovered alone in the boat they had rented on Lake Piru , in the Los Padres National Forest , on Wednesday afternoon , reported CBS Los Angeles .
Hapening now : Search for possible drowning victim at Lake Piru .
@ VCAirUnit @ fillmoresheriff on scene .
SAR Dive Team and PIO on the way .
— Ventura Co. Sheriff ( @ VENTURASHERIFF ) July 9 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Rivera never returned to the vessel , the boy reportedly told investigators .
Rivera , who played cheerleader Santana in the Fox show that aired from 2009 to 2015 , tweeted this picture shortly before her disappearance : just the two of us pic.twitter.com/wCunAlGJ1B — Naya Rivera ( @ NayaRivera ) July 7 , 2020 Drones , dive teams and helicopters scoured the reservoir for the 33-year-old actor .
Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Department suspended its search at 8 p.m. local time and said it would resume “ at first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person at Lake Puru has been identified as Naya Rivera , 33 , of Los Angeles .
SAR operation will continue at first light .
@ VCAirUnit @ fillmoresheriff @ Cal_OES pic.twitter.com/bC3qaZS3Ra — Ventura Co. Sheriff ( @ VENTURASHERIFF ) July 9 , 2020 This is a developing story .
Please check back for updates .
Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

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“Glee” star Naya Rivera is missing and feared drowned following a boat ride with her young son on a reservoir in California.
The actor’s 4-year-old son was discovered alone in the boat they had rented on Lake Piru, in the Los Padres National Forest, on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
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The missing person at Lake Puru has been identified as Naya Rivera, 33, of Los Angeles. SAR operation will continue at first light. @VCAirUnit @fillmoresheriff @Cal_OES pic.twitter.com/bC3qaZS3Ra — Ventura Co. Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 9, 2020
The mother and son had been swimming, and Rivera never returned to the vessel, the boy reportedly told investigators.
Drones, dive teams and helicopters scoured the reservoir for the 33-year-old actor on Wednesday. On Thursday, members of law enforcement said they believe Rivera drowned and that the search is now a recovery operation, CNN reports.
“We’re presuming that an accident happened and we’re presuming she drowned in the lake,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Dyer said at a news conference, per CNN.
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Rivera had posted a photo of herself and her son on social media shortly before her disappearance. Her son, who was asleep and wearing a life vest when he was found, is “in good health,” according to the sheriff’s department.
Officials said the boy was in the care of family.
just the two of us pic.twitter.com/wCunAlGJ1B — Naya Rivera (@NayaRivera) July 7, 2020
Multiple teams continued to scour the lake for Rivera on Thursday afternoon.
Officials said the search operation had been hampered by poor underwater visibility in the lake due to trees, plants and other debris.
“Our hearts and prayers go out the all of the family and friends of the Rivera family,” the department tweeted.
Multiple teams of professional search & rescue personnel are actively searching Lake Piru for clues to the location of Naya Rivera. With over 80 people involved in the search right now, we are using helicopters, boats, ATV vehicles, and ground personnel to try and locate her. pic.twitter.com/o2bN5sQFms — Ventura Co. Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 9, 2020
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This post has been updated with details of the recovery operation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--WHO Says Coronavirus Going Airborne Indoors 'Cannot Be Ruled Out'

The World Health Organization has updated its guidelines on how the coronavirus is transmitted , stating that the likelihood that the virus can go airborne , particularly in enclosed spaces like restaurants and gyms , “ can not be ruled out.
” In its updated guidelines issued Thursday , the WHO cited multiple reported outbreaks of COVID-19 involving people who became infected after being in crowded indoor spaces , including fitness classes and choir practice .
“ In these events , short-range aerosol transmission ― particularly in specific indoor locations , such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― can not be ruled out , ” the WHO concluded while acknowledging that more research is needed .
The organization had previously refrained from including airborne transmission among the virus ’ s potential modes of transmission among the general public .
It did state that airborne transmission “ may be possible ” in specific medical settings and circumstances that involved aerosol-generating treatments .
WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with India Today on Wednesday that there ’ s still no concrete proof that airborne transmission of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported instances of its spread in closed settings to warrant proper attention and extra precautions .
These precautions include wearing a mask and trying to avoid relatively small enclosed places , like bars and clubs .
This is because respiratory droplets that are less than 5 microns in size , called droplet nuclei or aerosols , “ can stay in the air for a little bit of time and they can take a little longer to settle on the ground , ” Swaminathan said .
“ These particles could be inhaled by other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the room , and this could be called airborne transmission.
” Fortunately , the virus does not appear to be truly airborne , like the measles virus is .
If it were , far more people would have become infected , she said .
People eat inside and outside at a Pittsburgh restaurant on June 28 .
The WHO noted multiple reported outbreaks of COVID-19 involving those who became infected after being in crowded indoor spaces , including restaurants , fitness classes and choir practice .
The WHO ’ s listed modes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which occurs when a person is in close contact with someone with respiratory symptoms , and fomite transmission , which happens when someone becomes infected by touching a surface that had recently been touched by an infected person .
To date , there have not been any confirmed instances of fomite transmission but there is consistent evidence of it being possible because the virus is able to contaminate and survive on certain surfaces , the WHO guidelines state .
As of Thursday , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ways the virus can spread .
It does acknowledge that the virus is “ spreading more efficiently than influenza , but not as efficiently as measles.
” “ In general , the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction , the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread , ” the CDC website states .

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The World Health Organization has updated its guidelines on how the coronavirus is transmitted, stating that the likelihood that the virus can go airborne, particularly in enclosed spaces like restaurants and gyms, “cannot be ruled out.”
In its updated guidelines issued Thursday, the WHO cited multiple reported outbreaks of COVID-19 involving people who became infected after being in crowded indoor spaces, including fitness classes and choir practice.
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“In these events, short-range aerosol transmission ― particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons ― cannot be ruled out,” the WHO concluded while acknowledging that more research is needed.
The organization had previously refrained from including airborne transmission among the virus’s potential modes of transmission among the general public. It did state that airborne transmission “may be possible” in specific medical settings and circumstances that involved aerosol-generating treatments.
Amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, a food delivery driver wears a mask at a restaurant in downtown Dallas on July 8. AP Photo/LM Otero
WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with India Today on Wednesday that there’s still no concrete proof that airborne transmission of the coronavirus is happening, but there are enough reported instances of its spread in closed settings to warrant proper attention and extra precautions.
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These precautions include wearing a mask and trying to avoid relatively small enclosed places, like bars and clubs. This is because respiratory droplets that are less than 5 microns in size, called droplet nuclei or aerosols, “can stay in the air for a little bit of time and they can take a little longer to settle on the ground,” Swaminathan said. “These particles could be inhaled by other people who are in the vicinity, in the room, and this could be called airborne transmission.”
Fortunately, the virus does not appear to be truly airborne, like the measles virus is. If it were, far more people would have become infected, she said.
People eat inside and outside at a Pittsburgh restaurant on June 28. The WHO noted multiple reported outbreaks of COVID-19 involving those who became infected after being in crowded indoor spaces, including restaurants, fitness classes and choir practice. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
The WHO’s listed modes of coronavirus transmission also include droplet transmission, which occurs when a person is in close contact with someone with respiratory symptoms, and fomite transmission, which happens when someone becomes infected by touching a surface that had recently been touched by an infected person.
To date, there have not been any confirmed instances of fomite transmission but there is consistent evidence of it being possible because the virus is able to contaminate and survive on certain surfaces, the WHO guidelines state.
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As of Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not have airborne transmission on its list of ways the virus can spread. It does acknowledge that the virus is “spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-09--Gov. Ron DeSantis Mocked For Comparing Reopening Schools To Shopping At Walmart

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis really got schooled by Twitter users Thursday after he compared opening schools to the pleasures of shopping at a big-box retailer .
The Republican governor argued that distance learning has caused Florida students to suffer an “ education gap ” and urged school districts to consider opening brick-and-mortar schools for the 2020- ’ 21 academic year .
“ I want our kids to be able to minimize this education gap that I think has developed , ” DeSantis said , according to local station WPTV .
He added : “ In spite of good efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just not the same .
So I worry about that gap.
” The state has 232,718 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday ― an increase of 8,935 cases from the day before ― but DeSantis tried to minimize the risk of exposure kids might face .
“ If you can do Home Depot , if you can do Walmart , if you can do these things , you absolutely can do the schools , ” the governor said .
“ If you can do Home Depot , if you can do Walmart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” pic.twitter.com/RwGgyHs93y — Daniel Uhlfelder ( @ DWUhlfelderLaw ) July 9 , 2020 But many Twitter users weren ’ t impressed by DeSantis ’ comparison ― for obvious reasons .
And do they crowd together yelling at each other ?
Do they all share material ?
Do they hold each other and play games together ?
Do they share candy ?
Do they wipe snot on each other at these stores ?
It ’ s not an acceptable comparison & he knows it but he ’ s got to push the narrative pic.twitter.com/ksRwQShYEU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 9 , 2020 Who among us has n't spent all day sitting at a desk in Home Depot , with someone breathing COVID-19 on us ?
Really ... Ron DeSantis is THE most stupid Florida Man .
https : //t.co/WNB77gJa4A — BrooklynDad_Defiant !
( @ mmpadellan ) July 9 , 2020 But while many Twitter users were content to call out DeSantis for attempting to put the lives of Florida students at risk of contracting COVID-19 , at least one person had a more pressing concern about the governor .
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every time I see Ron DeSantis I am distracted by the fact that he looks like a 2nd grader dressed for their first communion https : //t.co/yFhcOqRifu — Tim Miller ( @ Timodc ) July 9 , 2020

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis really got schooled by Twitter users Thursday after he compared opening schools to the pleasures of shopping at a big-box retailer.
The Republican governor argued that distance learning has caused Florida students to suffer an “education gap” and urged school districts to consider opening brick-and-mortar schools for the 2020-’21 academic year.
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“I want our kids to be able to minimize this education gap that I think has developed,” DeSantis said, according to local station WPTV. He added: “In spite of good efforts with the online, it’s just not the same. So I worry about that gap.”
The state has 232,718 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday ― an increase of 8,935 cases from the day before ― but DeSantis tried to minimize the risk of exposure kids might face.
“If you can do Home Depot, if you can do Walmart, if you can do these things, you absolutely can do the schools,” the governor said.
“If you can do Home Depot, if you can do Walmart, you can definitely do the schools.” pic.twitter.com/RwGgyHs93y — Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) July 9, 2020
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But many Twitter users weren’t impressed by DeSantis’ comparison ― for obvious reasons.
Did I somehow miss the true Home Depot experience? I didn’t realize Home Depot packed 35 people together in a room for 6 hours a day.#ThursdayThoughts https://t.co/qYrvw0FoeU — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) July 9, 2020
Does Ron Desantis spend six hours in Home Depot and play tag with his fellow shoppers? https://t.co/5bV6zyeYrg — Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 9, 2020
Are people hanging out at Home Depot and Walmart from 8am-2pm five days a week? — Coronavirus Mask Force (@Tricia_Braun) July 9, 2020
And do they crowd together yelling at each other? Do they all share material? Do they hold each other and play games together? Do they share candy? Do they wipe snot on each other at these stores?
It’s not an acceptable comparison & he knows it but he’s got to push the narrative pic.twitter.com/ksRwQShYEU — Liz 🇵🇷🇩🇴🇺🇸🏳🌈🏴☠🏁⚓😷💋🌊 (@lizazzzl) July 9, 2020
If Home Depot packed 35 people into a space 1% the size of their stores for six hours. — JRehling (@JRehling) July 9, 2020
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Schools are going to deliver education curbside this fall? — LadyLiberty2016 (@LadyLiberty_16) July 9, 2020
Who among us hasn't spent all day sitting at a desk in Home Depot, with someone breathing COVID-19 on us?
Really...Ron DeSantis is THE most stupid Florida Man. https://t.co/WNB77gJa4A — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) July 9, 2020
But while many Twitter users were content to call out DeSantis for attempting to put the lives of Florida students at risk of contracting COVID-19, at least one person had a more pressing concern about the governor.