thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Scammers Target 2020 Election In Search Of Voters’ Personal Info

But Harvard University graduate student Maya James did not click .
Instead , she Googled the name of the soliciting PAC .
It didn ’ t exist ― a clue the email was a phishing scam from swindlers trying to exploit the U.S. presidential election as a way to steal peoples ’ personal information .
“ There was not a trace of them , ” James , 22 , said .
“ It was a very inconspicuous email , but I noticed it used very emotional language , and that set off alarm bells.
” She deleted the message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to warn others .
American voters face an especially pivotal , polarized election this year , and scammers here and abroad are taking notice — posing as fundraisers and pollsters , impersonating candidates and campaigns , and launching fake voter registration drives .
It ’ s not votes they ’ re after , but to win a voter ’ s trust , personal information and maybe a bank routing number .
The Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Better Business Bureau and cybersecurity experts have recently warned of new and increasingly sophisticated online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an entry , reflecting both the proliferation of political misinformation and intense interest in this year ’ s presidential and Senate races .
Online grifters regularly shift tactics to fit current events , whether they are natural disasters , a pandemic or an election , according to Small .
“ Give them something to work with and they ’ ll find a way to make a dollar , ” he said .
Foreign adversaries like Russia , China and Iran get much of the blame for creating fake social media accounts and spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts by groups linked to the Kremlin to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
Online scams have flourished as so many of life ’ s routines move online during the pandemic .
The FBI reported that complaints to its cybercrime reporting site jumped from 1,000 a day to 3,000-4,000 a day since the pandemic began .
“ Every election is heated , but this one is very much so , ” Paula Fleming , a chief marketing officer for the Better Business Bureau , said .
“ People are more trusting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political party or a candidate they like emailing them.
” The FBI warned Americans this month to watch out for election-related “ spoofing , ” when a scammer creates a campaign website or email address almost identical to a real one .
A small misspelling or a slight change - using .com instead of .gov , for instance - are tell-tale signs of fraud , the agency said .
Investigators at ZeroFOX routinely scan dark corners of the internet to identify threats against its customers .
This summer , they found a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The data dump included the phone numbers , ages and other basic demographic information for thousands of Americans .
What made the data remarkable was that it also contained partisan affiliation , the “ cherry on top ” for anyone interested in buying the material , Small said .
“ Someone could use that to pretend to be a political action committee raising money , to try to get your personal information or your account numbers , ” he said .
In 2018 , scammers posed as employees from the non-profit voting advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Washington and at least three other states asking them to register to vote .
The calls prompted complaints to state election officials , who issued a public warning .
“ TurboVote doesn ’ t call .
You ’ ll never get a call from us , ” group spokeswoman Tanene Allison said of the organization that helped register millions of voters in 2018 .
“ If you ’ re hearing something and you can ’ t verify the source , always check with your local election officials.
” Voters should be cautious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be true , fraud experts say .
Before donating to any group that reached out by email or text , check their website or look to see if they ’ re registered as a charity or campaign .
Does the organization have a physical location and phone number ?
Scammers often do not .
Beware of pushy pollsters or fundraisers , or emails or websites that use emotionally loaded language that makes you angry or fearful , a tactic that experts say plays on human psychology .
And don ’ t reveal personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is tricky because there are legitimate organizations out there that are trying to help people register to vote , ” said Eva Velasquez , a former financial crimes investigator who now runs the Identity Theft Resource Center , based in San Diego .
“ But you don ’ t have to act in the moment .
Take a few minutes and do a little homework .
”

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The email from a political action committee seemed harmless: if you support Joe Biden, it urged, click here to make sure you’re registered to vote.
But Harvard University graduate student Maya James did not click. Instead, she Googled the name of the soliciting PAC. It didn’t exist ― a clue the email was a phishing scam from swindlers trying to exploit the U.S. presidential election as a way to steal peoples’ personal information.
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“There was not a trace of them,” James, 22, said. “It was a very inconspicuous email, but I noticed it used very emotional language, and that set off alarm bells.” She deleted the message, but related her experience on social media to warn others.
American voters face an especially pivotal, polarized election this year, and scammers here and abroad are taking notice — posing as fundraisers and pollsters, impersonating candidates and campaigns, and launching fake voter registration drives. It’s not votes they’re after, but to win a voter’s trust, personal information and maybe a bank routing number.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Better Business Bureau and cybersecurity experts have recently warned of new and increasingly sophisticated online fraud schemes that use the election as an entry, reflecting both the proliferation of political misinformation and intense interest in this year’s presidential and Senate races.
“Psychologically, these scams play to our desire to do something - to get involved, to donate, to take action,” said Sam Small, chief security officer at ZeroFOX, a Baltimore, Maryland-based digital security firm.
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Online grifters regularly shift tactics to fit current events, whether they are natural disasters, a pandemic or an election, according to Small. “Give them something to work with and they’ll find a way to make a dollar,” he said.
Foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran get much of the blame for creating fake social media accounts and spreading deceptive election information, largely because of efforts by groups linked to the Kremlin to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
In many instances, foreign disinformation campaigns make use of the same tools pioneered by cybercriminals: fake social media accounts, realistic-looking websites and suspicious links.
Online scams have flourished as so many of life’s routines move online during the pandemic. The FBI reported that complaints to its cybercrime reporting site jumped from 1,000 a day to 3,000-4,000 a day since the pandemic began.
Now, the final weeks of a contentious election are giving scammers yet another opportunity to strike.
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“Every election is heated, but this one is very much so,” Paula Fleming, a chief marketing officer for the Better Business Bureau, said. “People are more trusting when they see it’s a political party or a candidate they like emailing them.”
The FBI warned Americans this month to watch out for election-related “spoofing,” when a scammer creates a campaign website or email address almost identical to a real one. A small misspelling or a slight change - using .com instead of .gov, for instance - are tell-tale signs of fraud, the agency said.
Investigators at ZeroFOX routinely scan dark corners of the internet to identify threats against its customers. This summer, they found a large cache of personal data for sale. The data dump included the phone numbers, ages and other basic demographic information for thousands of Americans. What made the data remarkable was that it also contained partisan affiliation, the “cherry on top” for anyone interested in buying the material, Small said.
“Someone could use that to pretend to be a political action committee raising money, to try to get your personal information or your account numbers,” he said.
In 2018, scammers posed as employees from the non-profit voting advocacy group TurboVote and phoned people in Georgia, Washington and at least three other states asking them to register to vote. The calls prompted complaints to state election officials, who issued a public warning.
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“TurboVote doesn’t call. You’ll never get a call from us,” group spokeswoman Tanene Allison said of the organization that helped register millions of voters in 2018. “If you’re hearing something and you can’t verify the source, always check with your local election officials.”
Voters should be cautious of claims that sound too good to be true, fraud experts say. Before donating to any group that reached out by email or text, check their website or look to see if they’re registered as a charity or campaign. Does the organization have a physical location and phone number? Scammers often do not.
Beware of pushy pollsters or fundraisers, or emails or websites that use emotionally loaded language that makes you angry or fearful, a tactic that experts say plays on human psychology. And don’t reveal personal information over the phone.
“It is tricky because there are legitimate organizations out there that are trying to help people register to vote,” said Eva Velasquez, a former financial crimes investigator who now runs the Identity Theft Resource Center, based in San Diego. “But you don’t have to act in the moment. Take a few minutes and do a little homework.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Jim Carrey Offers Undecided Voters A Stark Choice With New Donald Trump-Bashing Art

Jim Carrey offered help to undecided voters with his latest anti-Trump cartoon .
The actor presented a stark choice to those people still unsure about who they ’ ll vote for on Nov. 3 ― either back President Donald Trump or vote for “ decency ” with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Carrey , who has been portraying Biden on “ Saturday Night Live , ” has used his artwork to attack Trump throughout his presidency .
In January , the “ Kidding ” star said he was done with producing politically charged pieces .
But in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his cartoon criticism of Trump , his administration and , in particular , its catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic .
I ’ m cured of the Covid .
I ’ m totally immune .
Who you gon na believe , me or some scientific test results ?
Regeneron is great .
Every senior ’ s gon na get some and Mexico ’ s gon na pay for it !
pic.twitter.com/h05oz8OndR — Jim Carrey ( @ JimCarrey ) October 12 , 2020 Trump ’ s evil has shifted into hyperdrive .
Pushing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in to seniors .
Calling for the unlawful arrest of Joe Biden .
Expect a catastrophe soon ( his doing ) so he can declare martial law and cancel the election .
Till then ... see you Sat night .
pic.twitter.com/ErdO6Zcxhq — Jim Carrey ( @ JimCarrey ) October 9 , 2020 Last week , Carrey also began burning Trump ’ s enablers with these hellish depictions of Republican Sens .
Ted Cruz ( Texas ) , Lindsey Graham ( S.C. ) and Mitch McConnell ( Ky. ) .

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Jim Carrey offered help to undecided voters with his latest anti-Trump cartoon.
The actor presented a stark choice to those people still unsure about who they’ll vote for on Nov. 3 ― either back President Donald Trump or vote for “decency” with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
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Carrey, who has been portraying Biden on “Saturday Night Live,” has used his artwork to attack Trump throughout his presidency.
In January, the “Kidding” star said he was done with producing politically charged pieces. But in recent weeks, he’s actually ramped up his cartoon criticism of Trump, his administration and, in particular, its catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.
I’m cured of the Covid. I’m totally immune. Who you gonna believe, me or some scientific test results? Regeneron is great. Every senior’s gonna get some and Mexico’s gonna pay for it! pic.twitter.com/h05oz8OndR — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 12, 2020
Trump’s evil has shifted into hyperdrive. Pushing an unproven drug he’s financially invested in to seniors. Calling for the unlawful arrest of Joe Biden.
Expect a catastrophe soon (his doing) so he can declare martial law and cancel the election.
Till then...see you Sat night. pic.twitter.com/ErdO6Zcxhq — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 9, 2020
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Last week, Carrey also began burning Trump’s enablers with these hellish depictions of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.).
Ted Cruz, Hellbound Class of 2020 pic.twitter.com/4MdePetlp2 — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 12, 2020
Lindsey Graham, Hellbound Class of 2020 pic.twitter.com/gTVWYjeDHb — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 9, 2020
Mitch McConnell, Hellbound Class of 2020 pic.twitter.com/TAM0LdLnAD — Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) October 7, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Rural Midwest Hospitals Are Struggling To Handle COVID Surge

WESSINGTON SPRINGS , S.D .
( AP ) — Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn ’ t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August .
But over the last two weeks , its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation .
As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains , the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus .
Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines and a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections .
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived , killing his father .
The community ’ s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in cities , but they have propelled the county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate .
Rural counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota and Montana sit among the top in the nation for new cases per capita over the last two weeks , according to Johns Hopkins researchers .
In counties with just a few thousand people , the number of cases per capita can soar with even a small outbreak — and the toll hits close to home in tight-knit towns .
Thin resources and high death rates have plagued other small communities .
Blair Tomsheck , interim director of the health department in Toole County , Montana , worried that the region ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caring for serious COVID-19 patients after cases spiked to the nation ’ s highest per capita .
One out of every 28 people in the county has tested positive in the last two weeks , according to Johns Hopkins researchers .
“ It ’ s kind of like getting a blizzard warning and then the blizzard doesn ’ t hit that week , so then the next time , people say they are not going to worry about it , ” said Kathleen Taylor , a 67-year-old author who lives in Redfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republican governors in the region have been reluctant to act .
North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum said recently , “ We are caught in the middle of a COVID storm ” as he raised advisory risk levels in counties across the state .
But he has refused to issue a mask mandate .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , who has carved out a reputation among conservatives by foregoing lockdowns , blamed the surge in cases on testing increases , even though the state has had the highest positivity rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Positivity rates are an indication of how widespread infections are .
Whether the requirement survives doesn ’ t matter to Jody Bierhals , a resident of Gillett who doubts the efficacy of wearing a mask .
Her home county of Oconto , which stretches from the northern border of Green Bay into forests and farmland , has the state ’ s second-highest growth in coronavirus cases per person .

WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) — Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn’t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August. But over the last two weeks, its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation.
“All of a sudden it hit, and as it does, it just exploded,” said Dr. Tom Dean, one of just three doctors who work in the county.
As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains, the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus. Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm communities with limited medical resources. And many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines and a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections.
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Dean took to writing a column in the local weekly newspaper, the True Dakotan, to offer his guidance. In recent weeks, he’s watched as one in roughly every 37 people in his county has tested positive for the virus.
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived, killing his father. The community’s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in cities, but they have propelled the county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate.
Rural counties across Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana sit among the top in the nation for new cases per capita over the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. In counties with just a few thousand people, the number of cases per capita can soar with even a small outbreak — and the toll hits close to home in tight-knit towns.
“One or two people with infections can really cause a large impact when you have one grocery store or gas station,” said Misty Rudebusch, the medical director at a network of rural health clinics in South Dakota called Horizon Health Care. “There is such a ripple effect.”
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Wessington Springs is a hub for the generations of farmers and ranchers that work the surrounding land. Residents send their children to the same schoolhouse they attended and have preserved cultural offerings like a Shakespeare garden and opera house.
They trust Dean, who for 42 years has tended to everything from broken bones to high blood pressure. When a patient needs a higher level of care, the family physician usually depends on a transfer to a hospital 130 miles (209 kilometers) away.
As cases surge, hospitals in rural communities are having trouble finding beds. A recent request to transfer a “not desperately ill, but pretty” sick COVID-19 patient was denied for several days, until the patient’s condition had worsened, Dean said.
“We’re proud of what we got, but it’s been a struggle,” he said of the 16-bed hospital.
The outbreak that killed Dean’s dad forced Wessington Springs’ only nursing home to put out a statewide request for nurses.
Thin resources and high death rates have plagued other small communities. Blair Tomsheck, interim director of the health department in Toole County, Montana, worried that the region’s small hospitals would need to start caring for serious COVID-19 patients after cases spiked to the nation’s highest per capita. One out of every 28 people in the county has tested positive in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.
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“It’s very, very challenging when your resources are poor — living in a small, rural county,” she said.
Infections can also spread quickly in places like Toole County, where most everyone shops at the same grocery store, attends the same school or worships at a handful of churches.
“The Sunday family dinners are killing us,” Tomsheck said.
Even as outbreaks threaten to spiral out of control, doctors and health officials said they are struggling to convince people of the seriousness of a virus that took months to arrive in force.
“It’s kind of like getting a blizzard warning and then the blizzard doesn’t hit that week, so then the next time, people say they are not going to worry about it,” said Kathleen Taylor, a 67-year-old author who lives in Redfield, South Dakota.
In swaths of the country decorated by flags supporting President Donald Trump, people took their cues on wearing masks from his often-cavalier attitude towards the virus. Dean draws a direct connection between Trump’s approach and the lack of precautions in his town of 956 people.
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“There’s the foolish idea that mask-wearing or refusal is some kind of a political statement,” Dean said. “It has seriously interfered with our ability to get it under control.”
Even amid the surge, Republican governors in the region have been reluctant to act. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said recently, “We are caught in the middle of a COVID storm” as he raised advisory risk levels in counties across the state. But he has refused to issue a mask mandate.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who has carved out a reputation among conservatives by foregoing lockdowns, blamed the surge in cases on testing increases, even though the state has had the highest positivity rate in the nation over the last two weeks, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Positivity rates are an indication of how widespread infections are.
In Wisconsin, conservative groups have sued over Democratic Gov. Tony Evers mask mandate.
Whether the requirement survives doesn’t matter to Jody Bierhals, a resident of Gillett who doubts the efficacy of wearing a mask. Her home county of Oconto, which stretches from the northern border of Green Bay into forests and farmland, has the state’s second-highest growth in coronavirus cases per person.
Bierhals, a single mother with three kids, is more worried about the drop in business at her small salon. The region depends on tourists, but many have stayed away during the pandemic.
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“Do I want to keep the water on, or do I want to be able to put food on the table?” she asked. “It’s a difficult situation.”
Bierhals said she thought the virus couldn’t be stopped and it would be best to let it run its course. But local attitudes like that have left the county’s health officer, Debra Koniter, desperate.
Konitzer warned that the uncontrolled spread of infections has overwhelmed the county’s health systems.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Trump Struggling To Keep Upper Midwest States In His Corner

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump is making a late reelection pitch to voters Saturday in Michigan and Wisconsin , states in the Upper Midwest that were instrumental to his 2016 victory but may now be slipping from his grasp .
The Trump campaign has largely retreated from the TV advertising in the Midwest , shifting much of its money to Sun Belt states such as Florida , North Carolina , Arizona and Georgia , as well as Pennsylvania .
Wisconsin broke the record for new positive coronavirus cases on Friday — the third time that 's happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit record highs for daily deaths and hospitalizations this past week .
“ The reality is that this race is far closer than some of the punditry we ’ re seeing on Twitter and on TV would suggest , ” she wrote in the memo , a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press .
“ If we learned anything from 2016 , it ’ s that we can not underestimate Donald Trump or his ability to claw his way back into contention in the final days of a campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has at his disposal . ''
Trump is keeping up an aggressive campaign schedule despite his own recent bout of coronavirus , which hospitalized him for several days .
The difficulty of securing a second term was apparent Friday when Trump campaigned in Georgia .
No Republican presidential contender has lost the state since 1992 , but polling shows Trump and Biden in a tight contest .
Trump also has had to court voters in Iowa , which he carried by almost 10 percentage points four years ago .
The latest campaign fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's likely the first incumbent president in the modern era to face a money disadvantage .
After building a massive cash edge , his campaign spent lavishly , while Biden kept expenses low and benefited from an outpouring of donations that saw him raise over a $ 1 billion over the past three months .
That gives Biden a massive cash advantage with just over two weeks to go before the election .
In the hours before his rallies on Saturday , Trump focused on settling a score with a member of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nebraska .
Referring to him as “ Little Ben Sasse , ” Trump tweeted that the senator was a “ liability to the Republican Party , and an embarrassment to the Great State of Nebraska.
” The series of tweets came after Sasse told constituents during a telephone townhall on Wednesday that Trump has “ flirted with white supremacists , ” mocks Christian evangelicals in private and “ kisses dictators ’ butts.
” Sasse , who is up for reelection this year in the strongly Republican state , went on to criticize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said Trump ’ s family has treated the presidency “ like a business opportunity.
” Trump twitter broadside blasted Sasse as “ the least effective of our 53 Republican Senators , and a person who truly doesn ’ t have what it takes to be great .
”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is making a late reelection pitch to voters Saturday in Michigan and Wisconsin, states in the Upper Midwest that were instrumental to his 2016 victory but may now be slipping from his grasp.
He's facing headwinds not only in national polling, which shows Democrat Joe Biden leading, but also in battleground surveys.
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The Trump campaign has largely retreated from the TV advertising in the Midwest, shifting much of its money to Sun Belt states such as Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia, as well as Pennsylvania.
Trump scheduled events in Muskegon, Michigan, and Janesville, Wisconsin, and stops Sunday in Nevada and Monday in Arizona as the Nov. 3 election nears.
The president continues to be dogged by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wisconsin broke the record for new positive coronavirus cases on Friday — the third time that's happened in a week. The state also hit record highs for daily deaths and hospitalizations this past week.
Biden had no public events planned for Saturday. But in a memo to supporters, campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon warned about becoming complacent.
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“The reality is that this race is far closer than some of the punditry we’re seeing on Twitter and on TV would suggest,” she wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “If we learned anything from 2016, it’s that we cannot underestimate Donald Trump or his ability to claw his way back into contention in the final days of a campaign, through whatever smears or underhanded tactics he has at his disposal."
Trump is keeping up an aggressive campaign schedule despite his own recent bout of coronavirus, which hospitalized him for several days.
The difficulty of securing a second term was apparent Friday when Trump campaigned in Georgia. No Republican presidential contender has lost the state since 1992, but polling shows Trump and Biden in a tight contest. Trump also has had to court voters in Iowa, which he carried by almost 10 percentage points four years ago.
The latest campaign fundraising figures from the Trump team suggest he's likely the first incumbent president in the modern era to face a money disadvantage. After building a massive cash edge, his campaign spent lavishly, while Biden kept expenses low and benefited from an outpouring of donations that saw him raise over a $1 billion over the past three months. That gives Biden a massive cash advantage with just over two weeks to go before the election.
In the hours before his rallies on Saturday, Trump focused on settling a score with a member of his own party, Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska.
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Referring to him as “Little Ben Sasse,” Trump tweeted that the senator was a “liability to the Republican Party, and an embarrassment to the Great State of Nebraska.”
The series of tweets came after Sasse told constituents during a telephone townhall on Wednesday that Trump has “flirted with white supremacists,” mocks Christian evangelicals in private and “kisses dictators’ butts.”
Sasse, who is up for reelection this year in the strongly Republican state, went on to criticize the president's handling of the coronavirus and said Trump’s family has treated the presidency “like a business opportunity.”
Trump twitter broadside blasted Sasse as “the least effective of our 53 Republican Senators, and a person who truly doesn’t have what it takes to be great.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Trump Still Downplays COVID As He Steps Up Pitch For Second Term

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Gone are the days when President Donald Trump held forth daily at the White House podium flanked by members of his coronavirus task force .
And the days when Vice President Mike Pence and other task force officials would head to Trump ’ s office to brief him immediately after their meetings .
In the week since he emerged from coronavirus isolation , Trump has demonstrated new determination to minimize the threat of the virus that has killed more than 218,000 Americans and complicated his chances of winning another four years in the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the tunnel is near .
We are rounding the turn , ” Trump told supporters Friday at an event in Fort Myers , Florida , one of many moments during a week of campaigning in which the president tried to play down the virus threat .
“ Don ’ t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and pessimists.
” In the past week , he has spread misinformation about the virus , undercut the nation ’ s leading infectious disease expert , and kept up his practice of shunning mask use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gone into overdrive as Democrats try to frame the race for the White House as a referendum on Trump ’ s handling of the worst U.S. public health crisis in over a century .
The U.S. economy is still roughly 11 million jobs short of recovering all 22 million jobs that were lost when the pandemic struck in early spring .
The nation averaged more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week .
National and battleground public opinion polls suggest that Trump faces stiff headwinds in his bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former aide to the task force who has emerged as a harsh Trump critic , says that early in the crisis Trump was “ asking the right questions ” when doctors spoke to him about their concerns that the country could face a surge of cases in the fall and winter .
“ That ’ s why it so completely reckless of him , after having COVID himself , to turn around this week and double down on taking the mask off and parading around like it ’ s not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ He ’ s doubling down on misinformation that has been coming out of his mouth for the entire tenure of this pandemic.
” At his NBC News town hall on Thursday night , Trump was asked whether he should have known better than to announce his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court with a Rose Garden ceremony and indoor reception where few guests wore masks and social distancing was nonexistent .
Trump also has been guarded in releasing information about his health and wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative on the day of his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden , two days prior to his positive diagnosis , allowing only , “ Possibly I did , possibly I didn ’ t. ” Tensions on the task force continue between Trump ’ s science adviser , Dr. Scott Atlas , who is not an expert in public health or infectious diseases , and the other professional scientists .
The latter view Atlas , who joined the White House in August , as promoting dangerous theories around “ herd immunity ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear face masks .
They see Atlas as reinforcing Trump ’ s worst instincts and lending the veneer of science to the rhetoric they see as fundamentally dangerous .
Earlier this week , the White House organized a call with reporters in which two senior administration officials cited a declaration published by a group of scientists arguing against lockdowns and calling for a reopening of businesses and schools .
The Barrington Declaration in part approves of reaching “ herd immunity ” by allowing the virus to spread among young healthy people while protecting @ @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Gone are the days when President Donald Trump held forth daily at the White House podium flanked by members of his coronavirus task force. And the days when Vice President Mike Pence and other task force officials would head to Trump’s office to brief him immediately after their meetings.
The White House won’t say when Trump last met with the task force.
In the week since he emerged from coronavirus isolation, Trump has demonstrated new determination to minimize the threat of the virus that has killed more than 218,000 Americans and complicated his chances of winning another four years in the White House.
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“The light at the end of the tunnel is near. We are rounding the turn,” Trump told supporters Friday at an event in Fort Myers, Florida, one of many moments during a week of campaigning in which the president tried to play down the virus threat. “Don’t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and pessimists.”
In word and action, he is pushing an optimistic outlook at a moment when coronavirus infections are spiking in Europe and public health officials are raising alarm that the infection rate in the U.S. is climbing toward a new peak.
In the past week, he has spread misinformation about the virus, undercut the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, and kept up his practice of shunning mask use. The effort to diminish the virus has gone into overdrive as Democrats try to frame the race for the White House as a referendum on Trump’s handling of the worst U.S. public health crisis in over a century.
The U.S. economy is still roughly 11 million jobs short of recovering all 22 million jobs that were lost when the pandemic struck in early spring. The nation averaged more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases per day over the past week. National and battleground public opinion polls suggest that Trump faces stiff headwinds in his bid for a second term.
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Olivia Troye, a former aide to the task force who has emerged as a harsh Trump critic, says that early in the crisis Trump was “asking the right questions” when doctors spoke to him about their concerns that the country could face a surge of cases in the fall and winter.
“That’s why it so completely reckless of him, after having COVID himself, to turn around this week and double down on taking the mask off and parading around like it’s not a necessary thing, calling himself immune,” she said. “He’s doubling down on misinformation that has been coming out of his mouth for the entire tenure of this pandemic.”
At his NBC News town hall on Thursday night, Trump was asked whether he should have known better than to announce his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court with a Rose Garden ceremony and indoor reception where few guests wore masks and social distancing was nonexistent.
He responded by incorrectly citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study to falsely suggest that mask wearing doesn’t mitigate the spread of the virus. The study did not say that.
Trump also has been guarded in releasing information about his health and wouldn’t say whether he had tested negative on the day of his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden, two days prior to his positive diagnosis, allowing only, “Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.”
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After first lady Melania Trump revealed this week that their son, Barron, had tested positive for the illness, Trump used his child’s health scare ― and recovery ― to make the case that the virus is no big deal for young people.
“It happens. People have it, and it goes,” Trump said at a rally in Iowa. “Get the kids back to school.”
And earlier this week, Trump undermined the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has at times contradicted the president’s commentary about the virus.
“He’s a nice guy so I keep him around, right?” Trump mused at a rally in North Carolina, adding of the studiously non-partisan Fauci: “He’s a Democrat. ... He’s (New York Gov. Andrew) Cuomo’s friend.”
On the campaign trail, Trump and his team often forgo wearing masks, a return to the status quo for a president who earlier in the crisis suggested that some people wore masks just to signal their disapproval of him.
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In one striking moment this week, senior adviser Hope Hicks returned to the campaign trail with Trump more than two weeks after she tested positive for the virus. Hicks, the president, and other aides climbed aboard Maine One wearing no masks.
Trump, for his part, defends his decision to go mask-less by saying that doctors tell him he isn’t shedding virus anymore and he remains “immune” for at least four months.
But public health experts say that by refusing to wear masks, Trump and his advisers are missing an opportunity to model behavior that is essential to keep the rest of America safe.
“As president, it’s absolutely imperative,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at the Georgetown University school of law. “He has to be a model. If you’re not wearing a mask, people that support you won’t be wearing a mask.”
Dan Eberhart, a prominent Republican donor and Trump supporter, said the president’s rhetoric since leaving the hospital isn’t easing jitters among conservative contributors either.
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Several GOP incumbents in tough Senate reelection battles are having difficulty keeping up with an avalanche of Democratic campaign contributions that are being driven, in part, by liberal anger over the president’s handling of the pandemic, Eberhart said.
“Keeping up the veneer that everything is fine may soothe the president’s ego, but it isn’t motivating donors,” Eberhart added.
Trump’s interest in engaging with Fauci and other top medical officials on the coronavirus task force waned long ago.
White House spokesman Judd Deere refused to answer the question of when Trump last attended a White House coronavirus task force meeting. But Deere said the president is regularly briefed by Pence, who heads the task force.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, continues to spend most of her time traveling – frequently by car — between hotspot states trying to help governors and public health officials handle their epidemics.
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Neither Fauci nor Birx has appeared with Trump in public in months. As recently as Friday, Fauci contradicted Trump, saying he was “concerned” about the president frequently describing the country as “rounding the corner” on the virus, a notion at odds with the data.
Tensions on the task force continue between Trump’s science adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, who is not an expert in public health or infectious diseases, and the other professional scientists. The latter view Atlas, who joined the White House in August, as promoting dangerous theories around “herd immunity” and resisting more aggressive calls for Americans to wear face masks. They see Atlas as reinforcing Trump’s worst instincts and lending the veneer of science to the rhetoric they see as fundamentally dangerous.
Earlier this week, the White House organized a call with reporters in which two senior administration officials cited a declaration published by a group of scientists arguing against lockdowns and calling for a reopening of businesses and schools. The Barrington Declaration in part approves of reaching “herd immunity” by allowing the virus to spread among young healthy people while protecting older and more vulnerable residents.
Troye, the former task force aide, said Trump was showing “complete disregard for the truth, science, and facts” in the hopes of boosting his re-election chances.
She added, “I don’t know that Donald Trump can see past the current moment.”
___
Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington and Darlene Superville in Fort Myers, Fla., contributed reporting to this article. Madhani reported from Chicago.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Michigan Gov. Lashes Trump For Endangering Her Life After Rally 'Lock Her Up' Chant

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer demanded an end to President Donald Trump inciting violence against her after she accused him of doing it yet again at his latest rally in her state on Saturday .
Whitmer , the target of an alleged kidnap plot by Trump-supporting militia members , called out at the president after he attacked her at the rally in Muskegon , working the crowd into a frenzy and triggering a chant of “ Lock her up.
” “ You got ta get your governor to open up your state , ” Trump told the crowd .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your schools open .
The schools have to be open , right ?
” added Trump , whose own son Baron attends a school that will not fully open through the fall .
When the crowd started chanting “ Lock her up , ” with absolutely no justification , Trump smiled and repeated the phrase .
Then he chillingly added : “ Lock ’ em all up.
” Trump ’ s attack was “ exactly the rhetoric that has put me , my family , and other government officials ’ lives in danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic governor tweeted immediately afterward .
This is exactly the rhetoric that has put me , my family , and other government officials ’ lives in danger while we try to save the lives of our fellow Americans .
It needs to stop .
https : //t.co/EWkNQx3Ppx — Governor Gretchen Whitmer ( @ GovWhitmer ) October 17 , 2020 I am the Governor 's Deputy Digital Director .
I see everything that is said about and to her online .
Every single time the President does this at a rally , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media .
It has to stop .
It just has to .
https : //t.co/eupQXzGydN — Tori Saylor ( @ tori_saylor ) October 17 , 2020 Trump has continued to relentlessly attack Whitmer even after several members of a Michigan militia were arrested last week and charged with plotting to kidnap Whitmer for business restrictions and safety measure like requiring masks to help stem the spread of COVID-19 , which they consider tyrannical .
“ Grab the fuckin ’ Governor .
Just grab the bitch , ” one of the alleged conspirators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affidavit filed in court last week .
The men also discussed other violence , including grabbing several hostages , and overthrowing the state government , according to federal law enforcement authorities .
Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northland was also discussed as a possible kidnap target because of his COVID safety measures , according to authorities .
After the militia arrests , Whitmer attacked Trump for encouraging such violence with his hate speech and support of violent groups .
“ When our leaders ... encourage ... domestic terrorists , they legitimize their actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Critics says Trump ’ s support for the characterization of Whitmer as a criminal who should be “ locked up ” rather than the legitimately elected head of her state creates an atmosphere encouraging an open season on Democrats requiring COVID safety measures or on those who simply disagree with Trump .

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer demanded an end to President Donald Trump inciting violence against her after she accused him of doing it yet again at his latest rally in her state on Saturday.
Whitmer, the target of an alleged kidnapping plot by Trump-supporting militia members, called out the president after he attacked her at the rally in Muskegon, working the crowd into a frenzy and triggering a chant of “Lock her up.”
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“You gotta get your governor to open up your state,” Trump told the crowd. “And get your schools open, get your schools open. The schools have to be open, right?” added Trump, whose own son Baron attends a school that will not fully open through the fall.
When the crowd started chanting “Lock her up,” with absolutely no justification, Trump smiled and repeated the phrase. Then he chillingly added: “Lock ’em all up.”
Trump’s attack was “exactly the rhetoric that has put me, my family, and other government officials’ lives in danger. ... It needs to stop,” the Democratic governor tweeted immediately afterward.
This is exactly the rhetoric that has put me, my family, and other government officials’ lives in danger while we try to save the lives of our fellow Americans. It needs to stop. https://t.co/EWkNQx3Ppx — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 17, 2020
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Tori Saylor, the governor’s deputy digital director, noted that each time the president attacks Whitmer, threats against her skyrocket on social media.
I am the Governor's Deputy Digital Director. I see everything that is said about and to her online.
Every single time the President does this at a rally, the violent rhetoric towards her immediately escalates on social media.
It has to stop. It just has to. https://t.co/eupQXzGydN — Tori Saylor (@tori_saylor) October 17, 2020
Trump has continued to relentlessly attack Whitmer even after several members of a Michigan militia were arrested last week and charged with plotting to kidnap Whitmer in response to business restrictions and safety measures like requiring masks she instituted in the state to help stem the spread of COVID-19. They consider the restrictions tyrannical. “Grab the fuckin’ Governor. Just grab the bitch,” one of the alleged conspirators told others, according to an FBI affidavit filed in court last week.
The men also discussed other violence, including grabbing several hostages, and overthrowing the state government, according to federal law enforcement authorities. Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was also discussed as a possible kidnapping target because of his COVID-19 safety measures, according to authorities.
In April, Trump urged his followers on Twitter: “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” an action with violent connotations.
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LIBERATE MICHIGAN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
Whitmer’s safety standards follow guidelines recommended by the Trump administration’s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
After the militia arrests, Whitmer attacked Trump for encouraging such violence with his hate speech and support of violent groups.
“When our leaders ... encourage ... domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit,” she said.
After her criticism, Trump reiterated the militia members’ tyrant theme, insisting that Whitmer “wants to be a dictator.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Melania Trump Bashes Former Pal On Official White House Website

First Lady Melania Trump attacked a former pal who published a tell-all book by taking advantage of an unusual platform : the official White House website .
Trump ’ s message posted on Friday starts off appearing to strike a lofty and universal tone : “ As a country , we can not continue to get lost in the noise of negativity and encourage ambition by those who seek only to promote themselves , ” she wrote .
“ We all know that more often than not , information that could be helpful to children is lost in the noise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , trying to relate the attack to her “ Be Best ” campaign .
But the facade quickly crumbled , and the message became a screed against her former friend and adviser Stephanie Winston Wolkoff ( though Trump never mentions Winston Wolkoff by name ) .
“ Major news outlets eagerly covered salacious claims made by a former contractor who advised my office , ” Trump griped .
“ A person who said she ‘ made me ’ even though she hardly knew me , and someone who clung to me after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : “ This is a woman who secretly recorded our phone calls , releasing portions from me that were out of context , then wrote a book of idle gossip trying to distort my character.
” In keeping with her husband , Trump also criticized the media , claiming news outlets “ chose to focus their coverage on pettiness over my positive work ” as first lady .
Winston Wolkoff , author of “ Melania and Me , ” recently released tapes of the first lady complaining about having to decorate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration ?
” she asked Winston Wolkoff .
Even more disturbing , Trump said of media concerns about her failure to stick up for migrant children separated from their parents and detained in caged cells , “ Give me a fucking break.
” Winston Wolkoff left the White House in February 2018 when The New York Times raised questions about how she profited from her role in planning President Donald Trump ’ s inauguration in 2017 .
Using the machinery of the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Trump family .
The Department of Justice on Tuesday used taxpayer resources to take action in the feud by suing Winston Wolkoff for breaking a nondisclosure agreement .
Wolkoff told CNN she “ will not be deterred by these bullying tactics.
” When the media chooses to focus on self-serving individuals & salacious gossip instead of work to help our next generation , it needs to be talked about : ⬇ https : //t.co/0VIv1DcG35 — Melania Trump ( @ FLOTUS ) October 16 , 2020

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First Lady Melania Trump attacked a former pal who published a tell-all book by taking advantage of an unusual platform: the official White House website.
Trump’s message posted on Friday starts off appearing to strike a lofty and universal tone: “As a country, we cannot continue to get lost in the noise of negativity and encourage ambition by those who seek only to promote themselves,” she wrote.
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“We all know that more often than not, information that could be helpful to children is lost in the noise made by self-serving adults,” she said, trying to relate the attack to her “Be Best” campaign. But the facade quickly crumbled, and the message became a screed against her former friend and adviser Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (though Trump never mentions Winston Wolkoff by name).
“Major news outlets eagerly covered salacious claims made by a former contractor who advised my office,” Trump griped. “A person who said she ‘made me’ even though she hardly knew me, and someone who clung to me after my husband won the presidency.”
She added: “This is a woman who secretly recorded our phone calls, releasing portions from me that were out of context, then wrote a book of idle gossip trying to distort my character.”
In keeping with her husband, Trump also criticized the media, claiming news outlets “chose to focus their coverage on pettiness over my positive work” as first lady.
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Winston Wolkoff, author of “Melania and Me,” recently released tapes of the first lady complaining about having to decorate the White House for Christmas in 2018. “Who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration?” she asked Winston Wolkoff.
Even more disturbing, Trump said of media concerns about her failure to stick up for migrant children separated from their parents and detained in caged cells, “Give me a fucking break.”
Winston Wolkoff left the White House in February 2018 when The New York Times raised questions about how she profited from her role in planning President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017.
“Who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration? But I have to do it.” - First Lady Melania Trump pic.twitter.com/PFyk0tUtlm — Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) October 2, 2020
Using the machinery of the federal government to settle scores isn’t new for the Trump family. The Department of Justice on Tuesday used taxpayer resources to take action in the feud by suing Winston Wolkoff for breaking a nondisclosure agreement. Wolkoff told CNN she “will not be deterred by these bullying tactics.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Dan Rather Explains How Actual Rats Are Better Than Trump-Supporting Republicans

Dropping the last shred of any political waffling on the matter , former CBS News anchor Dan Rather came right out and declared that real rats are better than the Republican elected officials who stood by President Donald Trump until now .
He first compared nervous Trump supporters finally tip-toeing away as his future dims to rats fleeing a sinking ship .
But in one significant way , that ’ s “ just not fair to rats , ” Rather said .
Rats aren ’ t as bad as Trump-deserting Republicans because they “ tend not to be complicit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea , ” he said on Twitter .
It ’ s tempting to use the analogy of rats fleeing a sinking ship to describe the growing number of Republican elected officials starting to speak out against Donald Trump .
But that 's really not fair to rats , who tend not to be complicit in driving ships to the bottom of the sea .
— Dan Rather ( @ DanRather ) October 17 , 2020 Twitter followers loved the slam from the “ unleashed ” Rather .
Thank you for getting this exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JoyceWhiteVance ) October 17 , 2020 Damn .
That is some eviscerating shade @ DanRather .
I really like Dan Rather unleashed .
👊 — William Level ( @ WilliamLevel ) October 17 , 2020 Thank you @ DanRather for standing up for my sweet girls .
They are 100 % Biden/Harris .
pic.twitter.com/clIInVR5ub — CaliTXMutt 🐀 ( @ CaliTXMutt ) October 17 , 2020 As long as my feet remain on this earth , I will never forget the Republicans who were complicit .
— CarrieT ( @ UclaBruin1998 ) October 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to these enablers who remained silent and looked the other way .
The voters will be even less kind to them .
— MicheleMuse ( @ MicheleMuse5 ) October 17 , 2020 Rats that deserve to go down with the ship ?
I 'll start : 1 .
Lindsey Graham 2 .
Mitch McConnell 3 .
Mike Pence 4 .
Bill Barr 5 .
Rudy Giuliani — Aoife Boylan ( @ AoifePBoylan ) October 17 , 2020 The GOP voted to make Trump above the law .
They bought him .
They own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ GretaGroots ) October 17 , 2020 I prefer to think of them as cockroaches when the lights come on ... pic.twitter.com/uP3uuKetaM — The Tokin ' Mouse ( @ songlibah ) October 17 , 2020 Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost ?
Here ’ s how .

A rat in St. Petersburg, Russia. Alexander Demianchuk via Getty Images
Dropping the last shred of any political waffling on the matter, former CBS News anchor Dan Rather came right out and declared that real rats are better than the Republican elected officials who stood by President Donald Trump until now.
He first compared nervous Trump supporters finally tip-toeing away as his future dims to rats fleeing a sinking ship.
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But in one significant way, that’s “just not fair to rats,” Rather said. Rats aren’t as bad as Trump-deserting Republicans because they “tend not to be complicit in driving ships to the bottom of the sea,” he said on Twitter.
It’s tempting to use the analogy of rats fleeing a sinking ship to describe the growing number of Republican elected officials starting to speak out against Donald Trump. But that's really not fair to rats, who tend not to be complicit in driving ships to the bottom of the sea. — Dan Rather (@DanRather) October 17, 2020
Twitter followers loved the slam from the “unleashed” Rather.
Thank you for getting this exactly right. — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) October 17, 2020
Damn. That is some eviscerating shade @DanRather. I really like Dan Rather unleashed. 👊 — William Level (@WilliamLevel) October 17, 2020
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Thank you @DanRather for standing up for my sweet girls.
They are 100% Biden/Harris. pic.twitter.com/clIInVR5ub — CaliTXMutt 🐀 (@CaliTXMutt) October 17, 2020
As long as my feet remain on this earth, I will never forget the Republicans who were complicit. — CarrieT (@UclaBruin1998) October 17, 2020
History will not be kind to these enablers who remained silent and looked the other way. The voters will be even less kind to them. — MicheleMuse (@MicheleMuse5) October 17, 2020
Rats that deserve to go down with the ship? I'll start:
1. Lindsey Graham
2. Mitch McConnell
3. Mike Pence
4. Bill Barr
5. Rudy Giuliani — Aoife Boylan (@AoifePBoylan) October 17, 2020
The GOP voted to make Trump above the law. They bought him. They own him.We will not forget. — Groots (@GretaGroots) October 17, 2020
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I prefer to think of them as cockroaches when the lights come on... pic.twitter.com/uP3uuKetaM — The Tokin' Mouse (@songlibah) October 17, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Trump On Defensive, Trying To Court Voters In Two Must-Win States

MACON , Ga. ( AP ) — Backed into a corner and facing financial strains , President Donald Trump went after his opponent ’ s family and defended his own struggle to contain the pandemic as he fought to energize his sagging reelection bid in the nation ’ s Sun Belt .
With Election Day looming , Democrat Joe Biden pushed to keep voters focused on health care in the Midwest .
Trump campaigned ’ Friday in Florida and Georgia , neighboring states he carried four years ago and must win again to extend his presidency .
His decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Georgia in particular highlighted the serious nature of his challenge : Far from his original plan to expand into Democratic-leaning states , he is laboring to stave off a defeat of major proportions .
“ I am moving heaven and earth to safeguard our seniors from the China virus , ” Trump said , using his usual blame-shifting term to describe the coronavirus .
He also offered an optimistic assessment of the pandemic , even as a surge of new infections spreads across America .
Despite the tough talk , Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underscored the conflicting messages his administration has sent throughout the pandemic .
All the president ’ s security personnel and support staff were wearing face masks when Air Force One touched down , but Trump and Florida ’ s Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis were barefaced .
Crowds gathered at the president ’ s subsequent events , many without masks as well .
It was just the opposite as Biden opened his Michigan swing at a suburban Detroit community center .
In keeping with his usual protocols , Biden and all the participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they were speaking , and a small crowd of dozens of reporters and supporters watched from folding chairs separated by circles to ensure social distancing .
“ He ’ s living in a dream world , ” Biden said of Trump ’ s rosy predictions of the pandemic .
The former vice president then turned to the Trump administration ’ s court fight to overturn the “ Obamacare ” health coverage law — including its protection for people with preexisting conditions — without having a replacement plan .
Trump ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and associated groups , raised $ 247.8 million in September , well short of the $ 383 million raised by Biden and the Democratic National Committee .
To open October , the Trump effort officially had $ 251.4 million in the bank , according to a campaign spokesman , compared with $ 432 million for Biden .
Trump claimed he could have raised more .
He said he could call the heads of Wall Street firms and ask for millions , but added : “ I can ’ t do that though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , I got to do things for them .
I could be the world ’ s greatest fundraiser , but I just don ’ t want to do it.
” In Georgia , the state ’ s leading Republicans — including Gov .
Brian Kemp and two senators up for reelection — all gathered to bask in Trump ’ s praise .
The defeat of either Sen. David Perdue or Sen. Kelly Loeffler would be a huge blow to the GOP ’ s prospects for keeping the majority in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his administration ’ s handling of the coronavirus , which has claimed more than 217,000 lives in the United States .
Angry and combative , Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists .

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MACON, Ga. (AP) — Backed into a corner and facing financial strains, President Donald Trump went after his opponent’s family and defended his own struggle to contain the pandemic as he fought to energize his sagging reelection bid in the nation’s Sun Belt. With Election Day looming, Democrat Joe Biden pushed to keep voters focused on health care in the Midwest.
Trump campaigned ’Friday in Florida and Georgia, neighboring states he carried four years ago and must win again to extend his presidency. His decision to devote Friday evening’s prime-time slot to Georgia in particular highlighted the serious nature of his challenge: Far from his original plan to expand into Democratic-leaning states, he is laboring to stave off a defeat of major proportions.
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No Republican presidential candidate has lost Georgia since George H.W. Bush in 1992. And earlier this week, Trump had to court voters in Iowa, a state he carried by almost 10 points four years ago.
In Macon, he cited support from former University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker to win favor from his rally crowd. “How good was Herschel Walker?” Trump said as the Georgia crowd roared. “He’s on our side, and he’s an incredible guy.”
Trump had tried the same strategy Wednesday in Iowa, bringing wrestling legend Dan Gable onstage.
Earlier, in Florida, the president derided the Bidens as “an organized crime family,” renewing his daily claims about the candidate’s son, Hunter, and his business dealings in Ukraine and China.
More to the point for Trump’s Florida audience, he spoke directly to seniors who have increasingly soured on his handling of the pandemic.
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“I am moving heaven and earth to safeguard our seniors from the China virus,” Trump said, using his usual blame-shifting term to describe the coronavirus. He also offered an optimistic assessment of the pandemic, even as a surge of new infections spreads across America.
“We are prevailing,” the president said, promising to deliver the first doses of a vaccine to seniors when it’s ready.
Despite the tough talk, Trump’s actions on the ground in Florida underscored the conflicting messages his administration has sent throughout the pandemic. All the president’s security personnel and support staff were wearing face masks when Air Force One touched down, but Trump and Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis were barefaced. Crowds gathered at the president’s subsequent events, many without masks as well.
It was just the opposite as Biden opened his Michigan swing at a suburban Detroit community center. In keeping with his usual protocols, Biden and all the participants wore masks throughout the event, except when they were speaking, and a small crowd of dozens of reporters and supporters watched from folding chairs separated by circles to ensure social distancing.
“He’s living in a dream world,” Biden said of Trump’s rosy predictions of the pandemic. The former vice president then turned to the Trump administration’s court fight to overturn the “Obamacare” health coverage law — including its protection for people with preexisting conditions — without having a replacement plan.
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“Mishandling the pandemic isn’t enough for Trump,” Biden charged. “On top of that he’s still trying to take away your health care.”
Meanwhile, the president’s campaign released new numbers suggesting he’s likely the first incumbent president to face a fundraising disadvantage in the modern era.
Trump’s campaign, along with the Republican National Committee and associated groups, raised $247.8 million in September, well short of the $383 million raised by Biden and the Democratic National Committee. To open October, the Trump effort officially had $251.4 million in the bank, according to a campaign spokesman, compared with $432 million for Biden.
Trump claimed he could have raised more. He said he could call the heads of Wall Street firms and ask for millions, but added: “I can’t do that though, because you know what, if I do that, I got to do things for them. I could be the world’s greatest fundraiser, but I just don’t want to do it.”
In Georgia, the state’s leading Republicans — including Gov. Brian Kemp and two senators up for reelection — all gathered to bask in Trump’s praise. The defeat of either Sen. David Perdue or Sen. Kelly Loeffler would be a huge blow to the GOP’s prospects for keeping the majority in the Senate.
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The president was seeking momentum on the campaign trail a day after he and Biden squared off in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to the pandemic.
On NBC, Trump was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 217,000 lives in the United States. Angry and combative, Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists.
Speaking in Florida on Friday, Trump sarcastically called the NBC event “a nice pleasurable evening” and jabbed moderator Savannah Guthrie for “going totally crazy.”
On ABC, Biden denounced the White House’s handling of the virus, declaring that Trump’s administration was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration in which he served.
“It’s getting worse, as predicted,” Biden said Friday in Michigan of the rising coronavirus numbers. “The president knew and lied about knowing.”
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Biden also sought to win support from the state’s auto workers during an appearance at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. “I’ve always believed in Michigan. We have the finest auto workers in the world here,” Biden said.
While decidedly on the defensive on the ground in key states, Trump released a scathing new ad on Friday attacking Biden’s record on race. Specifically, the ad seizes on Biden’s support for a criminal justice law that disproportionately punished people of color.
“He insulted us, jailed us, we must not elect him president,” the narrator declares.
It’s unclear whether the attack ad will break through the saturated airwaves. Biden and his allies are outspending Trump and his allies on paid advertising more than 2 to 1 through Election Day, according to the advertising tracking firm Kantar/CMAG.
___
Peoples reported from New York. Barrow reported from Detroit. AP writer Kevin Freking in Washington contributed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Uber, Lyft Are Spending Millions To Fight Labor Protections For Their Workers

About a year ago , Steve Smith stood outside a press conference at a hotel in Sacramento where Uber , Lyft and DoorDash announced plans to spend millions on a statewide ballot initiative that would exempt them from a state law requiring the gig economy companies to hire most of their independent contractors as employees .
If the workers became employees , they would be entitled to benefits , paid leave , expense reimbursement , the right to collectively organize and other labor protections .
Smith , who works for the California Labor Federation , wasn ’ t allowed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the door .
The gig economy giants were claiming that the ballot initiative contained provisions that would be good for drivers , including a guarantee that drivers would earn at least 120 % of the state ’ s minimum wage for “ all engaged time ” — meaning when a paying passenger is in the car , for example .
A Sacramento-based Uber driver standing next to Smith got out a pen and a piece of paper and started calculating how much he would actually make , factoring in the amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a passenger .
He leaned over to Smith and said , “ You know , that ’ s about $ 6 an hour , what they ’ re proposing — it ’ s actually less than I make right now .
That ’ s how bad this thing is.
” ( Labor and economics experts at University of California , Berkeley , later confirmed the driver ’ s calculations . )
It was a “ pivotal ” moment for Smith , he said in an interview .
It was clear to him that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be in lockstep with these drivers because they know , like nobody else , what this exploitation is all about.
” Since then , companies like Uber , Lyft , DoorDash , Postmates and Instacart have spent more than $ 185 million trying to convince voters to pass Prop 22 .
Their fight to deny workers basic protections is now the most expensive ballot initiative in the state ’ s history .
For the companies funding the campaign , it ’ s a desperate measure to ward off regulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to follow .
The money has been used to flood California voters with misleading information , framing Prop 22 as a pro-worker effort .
Opponents of Prop 22 — led by California ’ s labor unions , working closely with about 50,000 drivers — have reported spending just over $ 12 million .
They knew early on that they would never be able to match venture capital-backed corporations in funding so they had to be strategic .
They decided to focus their outreach on the state ’ s more than 2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convincing 75 % of them to vote against Prop 22 — and hopefully to convince their friends and family members to do the same .
Despite the dramatic spending disparity between the two sides , a September poll showed the Yes on 22 effort just three points ahead of its opponents .
Prop 22 is , at its core , an effort by wealthy corporations to buy their way out of complying with California ’ s labor protections .
In 2018 , the California Supreme Court ruled that employers can only classify workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free from the control and direction of the employer , is doing work outside the employer ’ s main business and is engaged in an “ independently established trade , occupation or business.
” California state legislators codified and expanded that ruling the following year in legislation called Assembly Bill 5 .
Uber , Lyft and DoorDash began funding the ballot initiative to exempt them from complying with AB5 before the law even went into effect earlier this year .
When it went into effect in January , gig economy companies refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued Uber and Lyft in May for failing to classify their drivers as employees .
The lawsuit could force the rideshare companies to pay workers hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution .
The hundreds of thousands of people who drive and deliver for app-based companies in California — who are disproportionately people of color — have the most immediate stake in the outcome of Prop 22 , which would impact whether they are entitled to fair wages , adequate health insurance , sick leave and unemployment insurance .
And the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the edge of crisis .
When Mekela Edwards , a 49-year-old Uber driver in Oakland , first heard on the news that the coronavirus was making its way into the U.S. , she suspected that her asthma placed her in a high-risk category .
She called her doctor , who told her to stop driving immediately and that she had a 15 % chance of dying if she contracted COVID-19 .
She applied for assistance from Uber , but she never heard back , she said .
Like other drivers for Uber and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits because her employer classifies her as a contractor .
It was the first time Edwards became aware of how vulnerable she was as an app-based driver .
“ I had no safety net .
My mentality everyday was to just work hard and then I would be OK , ” she said .
“ But many drivers , like me , had to make a choice .
We had to make a choice of if we were going to earn a living and take a risk of getting sick or dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily know where our next meal was coming from.
” “ Any Teamster who ’ s behind the wheel of a vehicle already knows about misclassification — already knows that we ’ re being undercut by that business model , ” said Doug Bloch , the political director of Teamsters Joint Council 7 .
“ And that it makes it hard every time we go to negotiate contracts and we ’ re asking for raises or we don ’ t want any copay on our health care and we know these companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those costs.
” The California Labor Federation is aiming to contact each of its members about Prop 22 six to eight times , either by phone , text , mail or a work site visit .
But the corporate giants pushing Prop 22 have a unique advantage in this fight .
In addition to seemingly endless cash , they have direct access to most voters and have even used their own workers to do the unpaid labor of distributing propaganda .
Before getting a ride , Uber has required customers to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prop 22 fails , riders will face increased costs and wait times and drivers will lose their jobs .
Californians who have taken a Lyft have received emails urging them to vote Yes on 22 to provide drivers with “ new benefits ” and allow them to “ maintain their independence , which is what the vast majority want , by a 4 to 1 margin.
” The four to one statistic comes from an online survey commissioned by Lyft , which polled people who identified as independent contractors — just 9 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Yes on 22 campaign has used mailers , television ads and online ads to push paid testimonials of workers who say they rely on the flexibility of the status quo to juggle school and family commitments — although there is no legal reason why workers could not maintain that flexibility as employees .
The campaign has spent more than $ 5 million on Facebook ads and nearly $ 3 million on Google ads .
For voters who use Google to search “ No on Prop 22 , ” the first result is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 website .
Public records show that the Yes on 22 campaign has spent more than $ 800,000 on slate mailers , publications created by campaigns or consulting groups with names that suggest their recommendations are endorsed by a trusted legitimate group .
According to expenditure filings , Yes on 22 is behind : the “ California Latino Voter Guide , ” the “ Cops Voter Guide , ” the “ No Party Preference Voter Guide , ” “ Continuing the Republican Revolution , ” and “ Progressive Slate.
” California voters have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come from the “ Feel the Bern , Progressive Voter Guide ” — a move Sen. Bernie Sanders , who opposes Prop 22 , described as a “ lie.
” In a press conference earlier this week with Black and Latinx elected officials and organizers , Cherri Murphy , an Oakland-based driver , urged voters to reject Prop 22 .
“ I know what it ’ s like to be a gig worker to work with exploitive app companies , such as these corporations .
I know what it ’ s like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , completely hollow words , hiding behind billboard signs , and big checks , created by public relations teams in absence of any real change .
I know what it ’ s like to work long hours with no guaranteed wage , no work breaks and no restroom facilities and no overtime .
I know what it ’ s like to have a looming threat of an accident with no coverage , deactivation based on discrimination , or retaliation with no protections , no remedies and no voice .
”

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/ HuffPost; Photos: Getty
About a year ago, Steve Smith stood outside a press conference at a hotel in Sacramento where Uber, Lyft and DoorDash announced plans to spend millions on a statewide ballot initiative that would exempt them from a state law requiring the gig economy companies to hire most of their independent contractors as employees. If the workers became employees, they would be entitled to benefits, paid leave, expense reimbursement, the right to collectively organize and other labor protections. Smith, who works for the California Labor Federation, wasn’t allowed in the room so he tried to listen through the door.
The gig economy giants were claiming that the ballot initiative contained provisions that would be good for drivers, including a guarantee that drivers would earn at least 120% of the state’s minimum wage for “all engaged time” — meaning when a paying passenger is in the car, for example. A Sacramento-based Uber driver standing next to Smith got out a pen and a piece of paper and started calculating how much he would actually make, factoring in the amount of time drivers typically spend waiting to get a passenger. He leaned over to Smith and said, “You know, that’s about $6 an hour, what they’re proposing — it’s actually less than I make right now. That’s how bad this thing is.” (Labor and economics experts at University of California, Berkeley, later confirmed the driver’s calculations.)
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It was a “pivotal” moment for Smith, he said in an interview. It was clear to him that “every step of the way we’re going to be in lockstep with these drivers because they know, like nobody else, what this exploitation is all about.”
Since then, companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart have spent more than $185 million trying to convince voters to pass Prop 22. Their fight to deny workers basic protections is now the most expensive ballot initiative in the state’s history. For the companies funding the campaign, it’s a desperate measure to ward off regulation that could set an example for other states to follow. The money has been used to flood California voters with misleading information, framing Prop 22 as a pro-worker effort.
Opponents of Prop 22 — led by California’s labor unions, working closely with about 50,000 drivers — have reported spending just over $12 million. They knew early on that they would never be able to match venture capital-backed corporations in funding so they had to be strategic. They decided to focus their outreach on the state’s more than 2 million union members, with the goal of convincing 75% of them to vote against Prop 22 — and hopefully to convince their friends and family members to do the same.
“Which is a tall, tall order, to be quite honest. First and foremost, to get that many to vote, and then getting them to vote our way,” Christian Castro, the communications director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor said.
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Members of the Mobile Workers Alliance held a demonstration in Los Angeles earlier this month, urging voters to vote against Prop 22. Al Seib/Getty Images
Despite the dramatic spending disparity between the two sides, a September poll showed the Yes on 22 effort just three points ahead of its opponents. Prop 22 is, at its core, an effort by wealthy corporations to buy their way out of complying with California’s labor protections. In 2018, the California Supreme Court ruled that employers can only classify workers as independent contractors if the worker is free from the control and direction of the employer, is doing work outside the employer’s main business and is engaged in an “independently established trade, occupation or business.” California state legislators codified and expanded that ruling the following year in legislation called Assembly Bill 5.
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash began funding the ballot initiative to exempt them from complying with AB5 before the law even went into effect earlier this year. When it went into effect in January, gig economy companies refused to comply. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued Uber and Lyft in May for failing to classify their drivers as employees. The lawsuit could force the rideshare companies to pay workers hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution.
The hundreds of thousands of people who drive and deliver for app-based companies in California — who are disproportionately people of color — have the most immediate stake in the outcome of Prop 22, which would impact whether they are entitled to fair wages, adequate health insurance, sick leave and unemployment insurance. And the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed thousands of gig workers to the edge of crisis.
When Mekela Edwards, a 49-year-old Uber driver in Oakland, first heard on the news that the coronavirus was making its way into the U.S., she suspected that her asthma placed her in a high-risk category. She called her doctor, who told her to stop driving immediately and that she had a 15% chance of dying if she contracted COVID-19. She applied for assistance from Uber, but she never heard back, she said. Like other drivers for Uber and Lyft, Edwards has struggled to collect unemployment benefits because her employer classifies her as a contractor.
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It was the first time Edwards became aware of how vulnerable she was as an app-based driver. “I had no safety net. My mentality everyday was to just work hard and then I would be OK,” she said. “But many drivers, like me, had to make a choice. We had to make a choice of if we were going to earn a living and take a risk of getting sick or dying, or stay at home and not necessarily know where our next meal was coming from.”
The ballot initiative also has implications for unionized workers, who are watching the app-based gig economy move into industries that have historically been a source of decent-paying blue-collar jobs.
“Prop 22 sets a dangerous precedent, potentially a race to the bottom where other industries will say, ‘Oh, well if Uber and Lyft have been able to do this, should we think about adopting this model?’” Adan Alvarez, the communications director for Teamsters Local 396, said.
“Any Teamster who’s behind the wheel of a vehicle already knows about misclassification — already knows that we’re being undercut by that business model,” said Doug Bloch, the political director of Teamsters Joint Council 7. “And that it makes it hard every time we go to negotiate contracts and we’re asking for raises or we don’t want any copay on our health care and we know these companies are floating around out there that have none of those costs.”
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The California Labor Federation is aiming to contact each of its members about Prop 22 six to eight times, either by phone, text, mail or a work site visit. But the corporate giants pushing Prop 22 have a unique advantage in this fight. In addition to seemingly endless cash, they have direct access to most voters and have even used their own workers to do the unpaid labor of distributing propaganda.
Before getting a ride, Uber has required customers to “confirm” a message claiming that if Prop 22 fails, riders will face increased costs and wait times and drivers will lose their jobs. Californians who have taken a Lyft have received emails urging them to vote Yes on 22 to provide drivers with “new benefits” and allow them to “maintain their independence, which is what the vast majority want, by a 4 to 1 margin.” The four to one statistic comes from an online survey commissioned by Lyft, which polled people who identified as independent contractors — just 9% of whom identified as gig workers.
Uber and Lyft have both threatened to leave California if they are forced to follow state law and classify their workers as employees, a scare tactic that could prove effective in a state with limited public transportation.
The Yes on 22 campaign has used mailers, television ads and online ads to push paid testimonials of workers who say they rely on the flexibility of the status quo to juggle school and family commitments — although there is no legal reason why workers could not maintain that flexibility as employees. The campaign has spent more than $5 million on Facebook ads and nearly $3 million on Google ads. For voters who use Google to search “No on Prop 22,” the first result is an ad for the Yes on Prop 22 website.
Public records show that the Yes on 22 campaign has spent more than $800,000 on slate mailers, publications created by campaigns or consulting groups with names that suggest their recommendations are endorsed by a trusted legitimate group. According to expenditure filings, Yes on 22 is behind: the “California Latino Voter Guide,” the “Cops Voter Guide,” the “No Party Preference Voter Guide,” “Continuing the Republican Revolution,” and “Progressive Slate.” California voters have also received pro-Prop 22 mailers claiming to come from the “Feel the Bern, Progressive Voter Guide” — a move Sen. Bernie Sanders, who opposes Prop 22, described as a “lie.”
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In a press conference earlier this week with Black and Latinx elected officials and organizers, Cherri Murphy, an Oakland-based driver, urged voters to reject Prop 22. “I know what it’s like to be a gig worker to work with exploitive app companies, such as these corporations. I know what it’s like to experience lip service in support of Black lives, completely hollow words, hiding behind billboard signs, and big checks, created by public relations teams in absence of any real change. I know what it’s like to work long hours with no guaranteed wage, no work breaks and no restroom facilities and no overtime. I know what it’s like to have a looming threat of an accident with no coverage, deactivation based on discrimination, or retaliation with no protections, no remedies and no voice.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-17--Is Gen Z Going To Get Screwed, Too?

Is Gen Z Going To Get Screwed, Too?

If policymakers don ’ t act with urgency , the scars could be long-lasting ; so much potential will be lost , so much talent wasted .
More specifically , Gen Z could be headed down the same path as millennials , facing depressed wages for a lifetime , with homeownership out of reach , the trauma of a financial collapse trailing them for years and years .
( That ’ s on top of the increasing urgency of climate change . )
Amina Scott , a single parent in Boston , is seeing these gaps play out in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is bused to school in the affluent suburban district of Newton through a voluntary desegregation program .
And he ’ s already started complaining that he feels like he ’ s fallen behind classmates with greater resources , who may have more help from parents or access to tutoring , in the past few months .
He ’ s currently participating in the school ’ s “ hybrid format , ” which involves in-person learning just two days a week .
It ’ s too soon to have data for this fall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge improvement .
“ I think we are really screwing this up for kids , ” Bauer said .
“ Our eye is not on the ball right now .
The ball is making sure that America ’ s children are safe , learning and not hungry .
And anything in either the public health space or the economic policy space that doesn ’ t center those goals is neither serious stimulus nor serious economic policy and is gambling with their futures.
” “ I believe some students low-key developed some coping mechanisms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Lazarina Luna , an advocate counselor at West Brooklyn Community High School in Brooklyn , New York , working with a program for youth who are at risk of dropping out .
“ One of them has been sleeping in all day , or playing video games all day.
” The students were already vulnerable , and the pandemic has only brought on more challenges .
It is a tragedy and horrible to get sick and die from COVID .
...
It ’ s also not so great that kids are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and missing out on their future .
Efraim Berkowitz , director of computational analysis at the Penn Wharton Budget Model

Gen z ILLUSTRATION: ISABELLA CARAPELLA / HUFFPOST; PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
The kids are not all right.
It’s been seven months since schools in the U.S. shut down to deal with the pandemic and the economy cratered, and across the country, a generation is falling behind.
Young children are suffering learning losses. Some are simply failing to log in to online school. Enrollment in public schools is down.
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Teenagers are at risk of dropping out. College students, particularly poor kids, are also struggling to stay in school. Young adults just starting out in the work world are facing a wrecked job market with few opportunities.
If policymakers don’t act with urgency, the scars could be long-lasting; so much potential will be lost, so much talent wasted. More specifically, Gen Z could be headed down the same path as millennials, facing depressed wages for a lifetime, with homeownership out of reach, the trauma of a financial collapse trailing them for years and years. (That’s on top of the increasing urgency of climate change.)
During the Great Recession, policymakers tightened their belts, imposing austerity measures that stretched out the economic recovery and hurt millennial workers for a lifetime. “The scariest financial future of any generation since the Great Depression,” HuffPost’s Michael Hobbes wrote in 2017.
Millennials saw their earnings reduced by 13% from 2007-2017 because of the recession, according to a paper released last year from an economist at the Census Bureau. That’s compared to 9% for Gen Xers and 7% for Boomers.
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History could repeat itself.
“It’s like the Great Recession. Once austerity took hold and we didn’t have stimulus, that set the pain for millennials in deep. Now we’re talking about doing it again to another generation,” said Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute.
Students Are Falling Behind
Increased spending on education could ease the pandemic pain students and young adults are feeling, economists and experts in education told HuffPost. Schools need help right now to do pandemic schooling, with all the technological and staffing costs that brings. State and city budgets are on the brink, stretched thin by shutdowns. Federal funding is required.
But the news from Congress is not encouraging. Lawmakers and the White House appear trapped in a stalemate. There’s talk about too much spending already. Senate Republicans are focused on pushing through a Supreme Court nominee.
In the meantime, the achievement gaps between rich and poor students only seem to be growing. Researchers have projected that students will accrue months of learning loss during COVID-19, and that this loss could be especially acute for low-income, Black and brown students.
Amina Scott, a single parent in Boston, is seeing these gaps play out in her 8-year-old son’s classroom. He is bused to school in the affluent suburban district of Newton through a voluntary desegregation program. And he’s already started complaining that he feels like he’s fallen behind classmates with greater resources, who may have more help from parents or access to tutoring, in the past few months. He’s currently participating in the school’s “hybrid format,” which involves in-person learning just two days a week.
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The district has mostly two-parent households, where one adult can potentially help their children with schooling on virtual days, Scott said.
“I don’t have that luxury,” said Scott, who works full-time as a controller for one nonprofit, and as a freelance accountant for two others.
She suspects other kids are getting more one-on-one time with adults to go over schoolwork. Now Scott’s looking for programs to help supplement her son’s learning. Most of them are closed.
“It’s a little scary; there aren’t that many resources for us,” Scott said.
“These are the basic foundational years of his life, the stuff you learn in this part of elementary school are going to predict how you perform in middle and high school.”
“I worry my son could fall behind long term.”
“I think we are really screwing this up for kids.” - Lauren Bauer, Brookings Institution fellow
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Some kids are inevitably going to fall through the cracks, and it is going to be children from lower-income families.
A report out earlier this month from the Brookings Institution found that 7.1% of kids age 16-19 were neither in school nor working between January and May 2020. That’s compared to 5.5% during the Great Recession, explained Lauren Bauer, a fellow at Brookings who worked on the report.
It’s too soon to have data for this fall, but she doesn’t expect a huge improvement. “I think we are really screwing this up for kids,” Bauer said. “Our eye is not on the ball right now. The ball is making sure that America’s children are safe, learning and not hungry. And anything in either the public health space or the economic policy space that doesn’t center those goals is neither serious stimulus nor serious economic policy and is gambling with their futures.”
Children are already suffering.
“I believe some students low-key developed some coping mechanisms that now are hard to break,” said Lazarina Luna, an advocate counselor at West Brooklyn Community High School in Brooklyn, New York, working with a program for youth who are at risk of dropping out. “One of them has been sleeping in all day, or playing video games all day.” The students were already vulnerable, and the pandemic has only brought on more challenges.
But as state budgets face steep reductions and the federal government stalls a stimulus package, Luna’s program, called “Learning to Work,” is at risk of losing funding from the New York City Department of Education, leaving a group of at-risk students without necessary support. She watches her students struggling with school and also struggling to find work that could help supplement their families’ diminishing income.
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Economists are trying to put a price on school closures. Earlier this week, academics at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a public policy center inside the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, released a report that said by Oct. 1, students in grades 1-12 lost between 4-5% of their lifetime earnings due to school closures. And the numbers inch up for every month this pandemic continues.
Those numbers add up. The report estimates that K-12 students in the U.S. already lost $2.8 trillion in future wages from school closures through September.
“It is a tragedy and horrible to get sick and die from COVID. ... It’s also not so great that kids are at home and doing god knows what and missing out on their future.” - Efraim Berkowitz, director of computational analysis at the Penn Wharton Budget Model
But they’re not certain. “This is a first pass,” said Efraim Berkowitz, director of computational analysis at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, who led the analysis. His team did not try and narrow the numbers demographically to compare low-income students to more privileged kids.
And he acknowledges that it might seem a little ghoulish to put a price tag on the costs of keeping kids home, safe from a deadly virus. However, he hoped to at least make the tradeoffs of keeping kids home more clear.
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“It is a tragedy and horrible to get sick and die from COVID. I am terrified. That is horrible,” Berkowitz said. “The fact of the matter is it’s also not so great that kids are at home and doing god knows what and missing out on their future, on learning.”
There is room for hope. For younger kids, education losses could be reversed. Experts know how to bring kids back from a crisis, said Emma Garcia, an economist who specializes in education at EPI.
“You need flexible solutions, targeted programs,” she said, including extra resources to help with online learning to get through the pandemic and measures to help kids recover once we’re in a new stage. She detailed a raft of other proposals in a paper published last month.
“Otherwise it’s going to be 2030 and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, what happened to those students during the COVID pandemic?’” she said.
The economic effects of the coronavirus economy on young workers could persist for years, EPI’s Gould warned in a report released Wednesday.
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Young Adults Can’t Find Work
Noah Sussman’s story should sound familiar to anyone who graduated during the last economic downturn.
The 22-year-old graduated from Ohio State in May. And instead of moving to a big city and living with his friends, working at some entry-level marketing job in sports as he’d planned, he returned to his parents’ house in Cleveland.
Fifty-two percent of adults ages 18-29 are now living with their parents, the most at any time since the Great Depression, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center.
It’s great for families to support each other in troubled times, but when young adults can’t launch on their own, they don’t start new families or buy homes. That drags the economy down for everyone.
Sussman is doing just fine at home. He knows he’s lucky. His parents are happy to get the extra time with him; they’re watching a lot of sports together. But he’d rather start his professional life; he’s applied to around 150 jobs.
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“The level of competition for entry level jobs is insane right now,” he wrote in a message to HuffPost. “It’s extremely difficult to set myself apart from other candidates, especially since all my experience is in sports and entertainment, an industry that is being decimated by COVID-19.”
Unemployment rates for young adults are always relatively high, as it’s more difficult for inexperienced workers to break into the job market generally.
But they jumped to eye-popping levels this spring. The overall jobless rate for those ages 16-24 hit 24.4% from 8.4% a year prior, according to the EPI report. That’s compared to 11.3% for those older than 25. The rates were even higher for Black, Hispanic, and Asian American-Pacific Islander workers.
Part of the reason young workers were so affected was that job losses struck heavily in sectors where they’re already overrepresented, like the restaurant industry.
Sussman said he’s widened his outlook from sports marketing to basically anything he can get. He came close this summer when a national paint company offered him a job in sales. But they took their job offer back after a hiring freeze.
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