thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Jobless Claims Rise To 885,000 Amid Resurgence Of Virus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose again last week to 885,000 as a resurgence of coronavirus cases threatens the economy ’ s recovery from its springtime collapse .
The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 862,000 the previous week .
It showed that nine months after the viral pandemic paralyzed the economy , many employers are still slashing jobs as the pandemic forces more business restrictions and leads many consumers to stay home .
Before the coronavirus erupted in March , weekly jobless claims had typically numbered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace of claims reflects an employment market under stress and diminished job security for many .
The total number of people who are receiving traditional state unemployment benefits fell to 5.5 million from 5.8 million .
That figure is down sharply from its peak of nearly 23 million in May .
It means that some jobless Americans are finding jobs and no longer receiving aid .
But it also indicates that many of the unemployed have used up their state benefits , which typically expire after six months .
With layoffs still elevated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States now exceeding 200,000 a day on average , the economy ’ s modest recovery is increasingly in danger .
States and cities are issuing mask mandates , limiting the size of gatherings , restricting restaurant dining , closing gyms or reducing the hours and capacity of bars , stores and other businesses .
On Wednesday , the Federal Reserve signaled that it expects the economy to rebound at a healthy pace next year as viral vaccines become widely distributed .
But Chair Jerome Powell warned that the next three to six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployed and small businesses as pandemic cases spike .
The Fed made clear that it ’ s prepared to keep interest rates ultra-low for the long run to help the economy withstand those threats .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose again last week to 885,000 as a resurgence of coronavirus cases threatens the economy’s recovery from its springtime collapse.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 862,000 the previous week. It showed that nine months after the viral pandemic paralyzed the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs as the pandemic forces more business restrictions and leads many consumers to stay home.
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Before the coronavirus erupted in March, weekly jobless claims had typically numbered only about 225,000. The far-higher current pace of claims reflects an employment market under stress and diminished job security for many.
The total number of people who are receiving traditional state unemployment benefits fell to 5.5 million from 5.8 million. That figure is down sharply from its peak of nearly 23 million in May. It means that some jobless Americans are finding jobs and no longer receiving aid. But it also indicates that many of the unemployed have used up their state benefits, which typically expire after six months.
With layoffs still elevated and new confirmed viral cases in the United States now exceeding 200,000 a day on average, the economy’s modest recovery is increasingly in danger. States and cities are issuing mask mandates, limiting the size of gatherings, restricting restaurant dining, closing gyms or reducing the hours and capacity of bars, stores and other businesses.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve signaled that it expects the economy to rebound at a healthy pace next year as viral vaccines become widely distributed. But Chair Jerome Powell warned that the next three to six months will likely be painful for the unemployed and small businesses as pandemic cases spike. The Fed made clear that it’s prepared to keep interest rates ultra-low for the long run to help the economy withstand those threats.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Jimmy Kimmel Puts Trumpian Spin On Holiday Classic ‘The Year Without A Santa Claus’

Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday turned to a holiday classic to poke fun at the political divisions in the United States @ @ @ @ @ miser and heat miser scene from the 1974 stop motion animation “ The Year Without @ @ @ @ @ based on the Phyllis McGinley book of the same name .
And there was something @ @ @ @ @ the characters .
The comedy bit starts at the 6:00 mark below :

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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow And Strong Winds To Mid-Atlantic, Northeast

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Snow continued to fall Thursday during a key period in the coronavirus pandemic , days after the start of the U.S. vaccination campaign and in the thick of a virus surge that has throngs of people seeking tests daily .
Snow fell from northern Virginia to parts of New England on Wednesday .
It carried on north into the evening , sustaining a storm that was poised to drop as much as 2 feet ( 0.6 meters ) of snow in some places by Thursday .
More than 60 million people have been placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the most powerful nor'easter in a decade threatens to dump up to two feet of snow across the East Coast with winds of up to 50mph .
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Wednesday that the government is tracking the vaccine shipments precisely , has staffers already in place to receive them and believes the companies transporting them can navigate the storm .
“ This is FedEx , this is UPS express shipping .
They know how to deal with snow and bad weather .
But we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told Fox News Channel ’ s “ Fox & Friends.
” The need for vaccines prompted New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy to exempt vaccine delivery trucks from a storm-related prohibition on commercial traffic on some highways .
The state was anticipating more than two dozen vaccine deliveries in the next day or two .
The National Weather Service said Wednesday that the storm was “ set to bring an overabundance of hazards from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast , ” including freezing rain and ice in the mid-Atlantic , heavy snow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern New England , strong winds and coastal flooding , and possibly even severe thunderstorms and some tornadoes in North Carolina ’ s Outer Banks .
The heaviest snowfall was expected in central Pennsylvania , where forecasters in the state capital of Harrisburg said a six-decade-old record for a December snowfall could potentially be broken .
The National Weather Service reported that parts of Centre County were hit with as much as 13 inches ( 33 centimeters ) of snow by Wednesday night .
A crash in the state killed two people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highway Wednesday afternoon , police said , while issuing a reminder to only travel if “ absolutely necessary.
” Associated Press writers Tom Hays in New York ; Wayne Parry in Point Pleasant , New Jersey ; Mike Catalini in Trenton , New Jersey ; Skip Foreman in Winston-Salem , North Carolina ; Philip Marcelo in Boston , and Dino Hazell in Washington contributed .

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NEW YORK (AP) — Snow continued to fall Thursday during a key period in the coronavirus pandemic, days after the start of the U.S. vaccination campaign and in the thick of a virus surge that has throngs of people seeking tests daily.
Snow fell from northern Virginia to parts of New England on Wednesday. It carried on north into the evening, sustaining a storm that was poised to drop as much as 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow in some places by Thursday.
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Officials said they didn’t expect the winter blast to disrupt vaccine distribution, which began Monday for frontline health care workers.
More than 60 million people have been placed under weather warnings as what's expected to be the most powerful nor'easter in a decade threatens to dump up to two feet of snow across the East Coast with winds of up to 50mph. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Wednesday that the government is tracking the vaccine shipments precisely, has staffers already in place to receive them and believes the companies transporting them can navigate the storm.
“This is FedEx, this is UPS express shipping. They know how to deal with snow and bad weather. But we are on it and following it,” he told Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends.”
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The need for vaccines prompted New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to exempt vaccine delivery trucks from a storm-related prohibition on commercial traffic on some highways. The state was anticipating more than two dozen vaccine deliveries in the next day or two.
Storm on the hill.@AFP photographer Andrew Caballero-Reynolds captures a snow storm enveloping the US Capitol in Washington, DC pic.twitter.com/Gf4NU92kFe — AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 17, 2020
some quick iPhone pics from the snowstorm in Philly today ❄ pic.twitter.com/sK9yoc5a9F — Alli Pinter (@allipinter) December 17, 2020
The National Weather Service said Wednesday that the storm was “set to bring an overabundance of hazards from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast,” including freezing rain and ice in the mid-Atlantic, heavy snow in the New York City area and southern New England, strong winds and coastal flooding, and possibly even severe thunderstorms and some tornadoes in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
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The heaviest snowfall was expected in central Pennsylvania, where forecasters in the state capital of Harrisburg said a six-decade-old record for a December snowfall could potentially be broken. The National Weather Service reported that parts of Centre County were hit with as much as 13 inches (33 centimeters) of snow by Wednesday night.
A crash in the state killed two people and involved dozens of vehicles on a major highway Wednesday afternoon, police said, while issuing a reminder to only travel if “absolutely necessary.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-16--Seth Meyers Roasts Trump After Awkward Report About His Mar-A-Lago Neighbors

President Donald Trump might have trouble finding somewhere to live after he leaves the White House , according to “ @ @ @ @ @ Meyers .
The neighbors of Trump ’ s private Palm Beach club , Mar-a-Lago , @ @ @ @ @ president not move there after his term ends Jan. 20 , The Washington Post reported @ @ @ @ @ letter addressed to the town of Palm Beach and also the U.S. Secret Service that @ @ @ @ @ , a lawyer for the neighbors said the town should notify Trump he can ’ @ @ @ @ @ as his place of residence .
Locals have raised issues for years about Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ , which cause disruptions and traffic issues for its neighbors .
“ Just amazing .
@ @ @ @ @ want him in New York , his neighbors don ’ t want him at Mar-a-Lago @ @ @ @ @ of those ironic punishments for a racist on ‘ The Twilight Zone , ’ ” @ @ @ @ @ ‘ We do have a hacienda available in Mexico City .
’ ”

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President Donald Trump might have trouble finding somewhere to live after he leaves the White House, according to “Late Night” host Seth Meyers.
The neighbors of Trump’s private Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, have formally requested that the president not move there after his term ends Jan. 20, The Washington Post reported this week.
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In a letter addressed to the town of Palm Beach and also the U.S. Secret Service that was obtained by the Post, a lawyer for the neighbors said the town should notify Trump he can’t use the private club as his place of residence.
Locals have raised issues for years about Trump’s visits to the club, which cause disruptions and traffic issues for its neighbors.
“Just amazing. New Yorkers don’t want him in New York, his neighbors don’t want him at Mar-a-Lago. This is like one of those ironic punishments for a racist on ‘The Twilight Zone,’” Meyers said Wednesday. ”‘We do have a hacienda available in Mexico City.’”
Watch his roast below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Millions Of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Stuck In Warehouses Until Federal Orders, Pfizer Says

Millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are languishing in warehouses awaiting shipment instructions from the Trump administration — even as states are clamoring for them — vaccine manufacturer Pzifer said in a statement Thursday .
The startling bottleneck is occurring as America is breaking daily COVID-19 death tolls .
The U.S. lost more people on Wednesday alone ( 3,611 ) than the number of people who died on 9/11 .
Officials in several states said they were told Wednesday that their second shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s vaccine next week has been mysteriously reduced , CNN reported .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration may be incapable of hitting the target of delivering enough vaccine doses for 20 million injections by the end of the year .
A source told The Washington Post that Pfizer executives were “ baffled ” that the Trump administration wasn ’ t immediately shipping out all of the vaccine .
“ This week , we successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them , ” Pzifer said in its statement .
“ We have millions more doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of now , we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses , ” the company added .
A unidentified federal official blamed the delivery change on states ’ request for expedited delivery , leaving less time for inspection and clearing of supplies , the Post reported .
“ We are sending doses that have been produced , verified and released , ” the official said .
But that would appear to be contradicted by Pfizer ’ s statement that millions of doses have been ready for inspection , the newspaper noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed program as well as his administration ’ s Department of Health and Human Services up to date on “ every aspect of our production and distribution capabilities , ” and officials have “ walked the production lines ” at company facilities .
“ Pfizer has a successful and long track record of producing and distributing large volumes of complex vaccines that the world can trust ― and we are continuing to extend this track record with our COVID-19 vaccine , ” it said .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses already shipped , millions of more doses of Moderna ’ s vaccine are ready to go out next week if they ’ re approved , which is likely .
Pfizer will provide an additional 2 million doses next week , according to Health Secretary Alex Azar .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ( D ) said Wednesday that federal officials informed states that the expected total shipments of doses nationally over the next two weeks have been cut in half to about 4.3 million doses for each week .
Washington Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the state ’ s vaccine allocation will be cut by 40 % next week and that “ no explanation was given.
” He called it “ disruptive and frustrating.
” HHS spokesperson Michael Pratt insisted to the Post that there have been no cuts to the number of vaccine doses “ locked in ” to the states and that the nation was still on track to vaccinated 20 million people with the first doses of the two-dose regimen by the end of the year .
One bright spot in vaccine availability is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose or two inside , so that more people can be vaccinated .

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Millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are languishing in warehouses awaiting shipment instructions from the Trump administration — even as states are clamoring for them — vaccine manufacturer Pzifer said in a statement Thursday.
The startling bottleneck is occurring as America is breaking daily COVID-19 death tolls. The U.S. lost more people on Wednesday alone (3,611) than the number of people who died on 9/11.
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Officials in several states said they were told Wednesday that their second shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine next week has been mysteriously reduced, CNN reported. That triggered fears by states that the Trump administration may be incapable of hitting the target of delivering enough vaccine doses for 20 million injections by the end of the year. A source told The Washington Post that Pfizer executives were “baffled” that the Trump administration wasn’t immediately shipping out all of the vaccine.
Pfizer defended itself amid the rising fears about vaccine delivery, noting that it has no production problems — and has doses ready to go.
“This week, we successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them,” Pzifer said in its statement. “We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses,” the company added.
A unidentified federal official blamed the delivery change on states’ request for expedited delivery, leaving less time for inspection and clearing of supplies, the Post reported. “We are sending doses that have been produced, verified and released,” the official said. But that would appear to be contradicted by Pfizer’s statement that millions of doses have been ready for inspection, the newspaper noted.
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Stumbles already on vaccine distribution echo the Trump administration’s critical problems getting ventilators and protective gear to states as COVID-19 began to surge earlier this year.
Pfizer said it has continually kept President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed program as well as his administration’s Department of Health and Human Services up to date on “every aspect of our production and distribution capabilities,” and officials have “walked the production lines” at company facilities.
“Pfizer has a successful and long track record of producing and distributing large volumes of complex vaccines that the world can trust ― and we are continuing to extend this track record with our COVID-19 vaccine,” it said.
On top of Pfizer’s 2.9 million doses already shipped, millions of more doses of Moderna’s vaccine are ready to go out next week if they’re approved, which is likely. Pfizer will provide an additional 2 million doses next week, according to Health Secretary Alex Azar.
The Post characterized the upcoming number as a sharp dropoff from what states were expecting.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said Wednesday that federal officials informed states that the expected total shipments of doses nationally over the next two weeks have been cut in half to about 4.3 million doses for each week.
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) tweeted Thursday that the state’s vaccine allocation will be cut by 40% next week and that “no explanation was given.” He called it “disruptive and frustrating.”
.@CDCgov has informed us that WA’s vaccine allocation will be cut by 40 percent next week — and that all states are seeing similar cuts.
This is disruptive and frustrating. We need accurate, predictable numbers to plan and ensure on-the-ground success.
No explanation was given. — Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) December 17, 2020
States are reportedly already scrambling to cut back and reorganize planned vaccinations.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Tuesday that his state’s vaccine doses are “on hold right now” due to Pfizer “production issues,” which the company has flatly denied.
HHS spokesperson Michael Pratt insisted to the Post that there have been no cuts to the number of vaccine doses “locked in” to the states and that the nation was still on track to vaccinated 20 million people with the first doses of the two-dose regimen by the end of the year.
One bright spot in vaccine availability is that vaccine vials may have an extra dose or two inside, so that more people can be vaccinated.
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A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--California Grapples With Dangerously Low 3% ICU Capacity Amid COVID-19 Surge

California is nearing zero capacity in its intensive care units as COVID-19 cases continue to surge , state authorities reported Thursday .
As of Thursday morning , there was just 3 % ICU capacity statewide , the California Department of Public Health revealed on its statewide metrics database .
Among the five regions that Gov .
Gavin Newsom designated for pandemic purposes , Southern California is the only one at zero ICU capacity as of Thursday .
The San Joaquin Valley wasn ’ t far behind , with just 0.7 % of ICU space available .
The remaining three regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % availability .
The numbers are staggering .
California reported 52,000 new cases on Thursday , about the same number the entire country was averaging in mid-October .
More than 16,000 people statewide have been hospitalized with the coronavirus or suspected cases of it , with more than 3,000 of them in the ICU .
There were 393 deaths recorded Wednesday , setting a new single-day record in the state .
Some local officials have taken today ’ s numbers as a cue to tighten their own restrictions .
“ COVID-19 cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , ” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement discouraging travel and implementing 10-day quarantines for anyone entering the region .
“ Hospitals in the Bay Area are close to being overwhelmed .
We must do whatever we can to contain the virus and stop its circulation in our community .
Now is not the time to travel and risk being exposed or exposing others.
” ICU capacity dropping statewide has left hospitals desperate and reaching out to other counties to take on their patients , only to find their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As an ICU doctor , I ’ m not scared by much , ” Dr. Laura Eberhard , chief of the critical care department at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Rafael , told the Marin County Board of Supervisors this week .
“ But I find the prospect of having a hospital and an ICU overflowing — and concerned about not being able to take good care of our residents of Marin — I find that scary .
”

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California is nearing zero capacity in its intensive care units as COVID-19 cases continue to surge, state authorities reported Thursday.
As of Thursday morning, there was just 3% ICU capacity statewide, the California Department of Public Health revealed on its statewide metrics database.
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Among the five regions that Gov. Gavin Newsom designated for pandemic purposes, Southern California is the only one at zero ICU capacity as of Thursday. The San Joaquin Valley wasn’t far behind, with just 0.7% of ICU space available. The remaining three regions range from around 11% to 26% availability.
ICU capacity by region:
• Bay Area: 13.1%
• Greater Sacramento Region: 11.3%
• Northern California: 25.8%
• San Joaquin Valley: 0.7%
• Southern California: 0.0%
For more information, https://t.co/trkU09Qrni pic.twitter.com/87P0LSeN4x — CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth) December 17, 2020
The numbers are staggering. California reported 52,000 new cases on Thursday, about the same number the entire country was averaging in mid-October. More than 16,000 people statewide have been hospitalized with the coronavirus or suspected cases of it, with more than 3,000 of them in the ICU. There were 393 deaths recorded Wednesday, setting a new single-day record in the state.
Some local officials have taken today’s numbers as a cue to tighten their own restrictions.
“COVID-19 cases are surging in San Francisco and across the country,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement discouraging travel and implementing 10-day quarantines for anyone entering the region. “Hospitals in the Bay Area are close to being overwhelmed. We must do whatever we can to contain the virus and stop its circulation in our community. Now is not the time to travel and risk being exposed or exposing others.”
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ICU capacity dropping statewide has left hospitals desperate and reaching out to other counties to take on their patients, only to find their neighbors in the same situation.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--US Inmate Scheduled For Execution Tests Positive For COVID-19

Jeremy Hogan via Getty Images COVID-19 cases in and around the prison where federal death row is located have exploded since the Trump administration resumed executions in July .
Dustin Higgs , the last person scheduled to be executed by the Trump administration , has tested positive for the coronavirus , his lawyer said Thursday .
The Department of Justice has argued that carrying out a spate of executions during the coronavirus pandemic would be safe — but Higgs ’ positive test is a stark rejection of that argument .
After a 17-year hiatus in federal executions , the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing 10 people so far with three more planned before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden , who says he opposes the death penalty .
Since then , COVID-19 numbers have spiked in Terre Haute , Indiana , where the federal death row is located — both in the prison and the surrounding community .
Higgs , who is scheduled to be killed by the government on Jan. 15 , is the first person incarcerated on federal death row known to test positive for COVID-19 , although there have been other cases linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yusuf Ahmed Nur , the professor who administered last rites to federal death row prisoner Orlando Hall last month , tested positive for the coronavirus soon after the killing .
The government later revealed in the footnote of a court filing that approximately 20 % of the Bureau of Prison ’ s 40-person execution team tested positive for COVID-19 after Hall ’ s execution .
In November , two lawyers representing Lisa Montgomery , who is scheduled to be executed in January , contracted the virus after visiting their client at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is surely the result of the superspreader executions that the government has rushed to undertake in the heart of a global pandemic , ” Shawn Nolan , a lawyer representing Higgs , said in a statement .
“ Following the two executions that took place last week and one other two weeks prior , the COVID numbers at the federal prison in Terre Haute spiked enormously .
Now our client is sick .
We have asked the government to withdraw the execution date and we will ask the courts to intervene if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executions due to the risks associated with the pandemic , but the federal government has pushed forward with the killings .
Each federal execution involves a team of about 40 BOP staff members , who usually travel from out of state .
They are not required to quarantine once arriving in Indiana or to get tested for the coronavirus ahead of the execution , the government said in a court filing .
Those individuals also work closely with about 200 staff from the Terre Haute federal prison .
Lawyers , family of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media , and demonstrators also travel from out of town to the executions , creating prime superspreader events .
Last month , two men incarcerated at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex sued the government to halt executions until the risk of COVID-19 has subsided .
The two men , who are not on death row , wrote in their complaint that the executions put all people incarcerated in the prison “ at significant risk of serious illness or even death , for no good reason.
” When that lawsuit was filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at FCC Terre Haute had the coronavirus , according to the Justice Department ’ s Office of the Inspector General .
Today , there are at least 309 active COVID-19 cases among incarcerated individuals .
Higgs was sentenced to death after being convicted of ordering the 1996 murders of three women .
Witnesses to the crime say that Higgs was not the shooter ; Higgs ’ co-defendent who shot the victims was sentenced to life without parole .
One of the government ’ s key witnesses who helped make the case that Higgs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperating co-defendant , who received a deal in exchange for working with prosecutors .
Higgs , who is Black , is scheduled to be executed on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. , just five days before the inauguration of Biden , who has said he will work with Congress to repeal the federal death penalty .

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Dustin Higgs, the last person scheduled to be executed by the Trump administration, has tested positive for the coronavirus, his lawyer said Thursday. The Department of Justice has argued that carrying out a spate of executions during the coronavirus pandemic would be safe — but Higgs’ positive test is a stark rejection of that argument.
After a 17-year hiatus in federal executions, the Trump administration resumed the practice in July, killing 10 people so far with three more planned before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who says he opposes the death penalty. Since then, COVID-19 numbers have spiked in Terre Haute, Indiana, where the federal death row is located — both in the prison and the surrounding community.
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Higgs, who is scheduled to be killed by the government on Jan. 15, is the first person incarcerated on federal death row known to test positive for COVID-19, although there have been other cases linked to the government’s rushed executions. Yusuf Ahmed Nur, the professor who administered last rites to federal death row prisoner Orlando Hall last month, tested positive for the coronavirus soon after the killing. The government later revealed in the footnote of a court filing that approximately 20% of the Bureau of Prison’s 40-person execution team tested positive for COVID-19 after Hall’s execution. In November, two lawyers representing Lisa Montgomery, who is scheduled to be executed in January, contracted the virus after visiting their client at a different prison.
COVID-19 cases in and around the prison where federal death row is located have exploded since the Trump administration resumed executions in July. Jeremy Hogan via Getty Images
Higgs’ diagnosis “is surely the result of the superspreader executions that the government has rushed to undertake in the heart of a global pandemic,” Shawn Nolan, a lawyer representing Higgs, said in a statement. “Following the two executions that took place last week and one other two weeks prior, the COVID numbers at the federal prison in Terre Haute spiked enormously. Now our client is sick. We have asked the government to withdraw the execution date and we will ask the courts to intervene if they do not.”
Most states have paused executions due to the risks associated with the pandemic, but the federal government has pushed forward with the killings. Each federal execution involves a team of about 40 BOP staff members, who usually travel from out of state. They are not required to quarantine once arriving in Indiana or to get tested for the coronavirus ahead of the execution, the government said in a court filing. Those individuals also work closely with about 200 staff from the Terre Haute federal prison. Lawyers, family of the condemned and the victims, members of the media, and demonstrators also travel from out of town to the executions, creating prime superspreader events.
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Last month, two men incarcerated at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex sued the government to halt executions until the risk of COVID-19 has subsided. The two men, who are not on death row, wrote in their complaint that the executions put all people incarcerated in the prison “at significant risk of serious illness or even death, for no good reason.”
When that lawsuit was filed in late November, 86 people incarcerated at FCC Terre Haute had the coronavirus, according to the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General. Today, there are at least 309 active COVID-19 cases among incarcerated individuals.
BOP declined to specify how many people imprisoned on death row have tested positive for the virus.
Higgs was sentenced to death after being convicted of ordering the 1996 murders of three women. Witnesses to the crime say that Higgs was not the shooter; Higgs’ co-defendent who shot the victims was sentenced to life without parole. One of the government’s key witnesses who helped make the case that Higgs was responsible for the murders was a cooperating co-defendant, who received a deal in exchange for working with prosecutors.
Higgs, who is Black, is scheduled to be executed on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., just five days before the inauguration of Biden, who has said he will work with Congress to repeal the federal death penalty.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--FDA Advisers Vote To Recommend Moderna For Emergency COVID-19 Vaccine

There were also three cases of Bell ’ s palsy , which temporarily paralyzes facial muscles , among vaccine recipients , compared with just one among those getting a dummy shot .
The FDA review said the role of the shot in the vaccine group “ can not be ruled out.
” An unanswered question is whether the vaccine also prevents people from symptomless infection – but Moderna found a hint that it may .
Study participants had their noses swabbed prior to the second dose of either vaccine or placebo .
At that one timepoint , swabs from 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of asymptomatic infection , said Moderna ’ s Dr. Jacqueline Miller .
After the FDA acts , U.S. officials plan to move out an initial shipment of nearly 6 million Moderna doses .
The vaccine needs to be stored at regular freezer temperatures , but not the ultra-cold required for Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s shot .
Hundreds of millions of additional shots will be needed to eventually vaccinate the general public , which isn ’ t expected until the spring or summer .
The government ’ s Operation Warp Speed program has orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s vaccine .
That ’ s on top of 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine .
Officials are negotiating to purchase more doses of that vaccine .
Like the first vaccine , Moderna ’ s vaccine will remain experimental as the company continues a two-year study needed to answer key questions , including how long protection lasts .
One of the trickiest issues panelists debated was how to keep study volunteers who received a dummy shot from dropping out to get the real shot once its authorized .
Their participation is critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term safety and effectiveness .
Moderna proposed immediately alerting all those volunteers of their status and offering them the vaccine .
The company said more than 25 % of its participants are health workers and some are already leaving to get the first vaccine .
But an invited expert from Stanford University urged Moderna to adopt Pfizer ’ s approach .
Pfizer plans to gradually vaccinate people in its placebo group based on when they would have normally had access to the vaccine , as priority groups are established .
But most panelists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers from leaving the Moderna study if they have to wait to get the vaccine .
“ The reality may make that too difficult to do , ” said Dr. Steven Pergam of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance .
The only COVID-19 death in the 30,000 volunteers was in a placebo recipient , a 54-year-old man whose only risk factor was diabetes .
Knowing there could be more severe coronavirus in placebo recipients as the pandemic continues “ weighs heavily on me , ” said Moderna ’ s Miller .
The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

There were also three cases of Bell’s palsy, which temporarily paralyzes facial muscles, among vaccine recipients, compared with just one among those getting a dummy shot. The FDA review said the role of the shot in the vaccine group “cannot be ruled out.”
An unanswered question is whether the vaccine also prevents people from symptomless infection – but Moderna found a hint that it may. Study participants had their noses swabbed prior to the second dose of either vaccine or placebo. At that one timepoint, swabs from 14 vaccine recipients and 38 placebo recipients showed evidence of asymptomatic infection, said Moderna’s Dr. Jacqueline Miller.
After the FDA acts, U.S. officials plan to move out an initial shipment of nearly 6 million Moderna doses. The vaccine needs to be stored at regular freezer temperatures, but not the ultra-cold required for Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot.
Hundreds of millions of additional shots will be needed to eventually vaccinate the general public, which isn’t expected until the spring or summer. The government’s Operation Warp Speed program has orders for 200 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine. That’s on top of 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Officials are negotiating to purchase more doses of that vaccine.
Like the first vaccine, Moderna’s vaccine will remain experimental as the company continues a two-year study needed to answer key questions, including how long protection lasts.
One of the trickiest issues panelists debated was how to keep study volunteers who received a dummy shot from dropping out to get the real shot once its authorized. Their participation is critical in order to have a comparison for long-term safety and effectiveness.
Moderna proposed immediately alerting all those volunteers of their status and offering them the vaccine. The company said more than 25% of its participants are health workers and some are already leaving to get the first vaccine.
But an invited expert from Stanford University urged Moderna to adopt Pfizer’s approach. Pfizer plans to gradually vaccinate people in its placebo group based on when they would have normally had access to the vaccine, as priority groups are established.
But most panelists acknowledged it will be hard to keep volunteers from leaving the Moderna study if they have to wait to get the vaccine.
“The reality may make that too difficult to do,” said Dr. Steven Pergam of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
The only COVID-19 death in the 30,000 volunteers was in a placebo recipient, a 54-year-old man whose only risk factor was diabetes.
Knowing there could be more severe coronavirus in placebo recipients as the pandemic continues “weighs heavily on me,” said Moderna’s Miller.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--After Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis, GOP Lawmaker Deletes Post Mocking Precautions

House Television via AP Rep. Joe Wilson ( R-S.C. ) , pictured on the House floor on April 23 , tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday .
Rep. Joe Wilson ( R-S.C. ) boasted on Facebook Wednesday that he was back in Washington and looking forward to voting in person on the House floor .
He also mocked Democrats for being overly cautious during the pandemic .
A few hours later , Wilson , 73 , announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 .
That Facebook post has since been deleted .
In a statement Wednesday night , Wilson promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as directed by the House Physician ” and said he would quarantine “ through the Christmas holiday.
” “ Thankfully I feel fine and do not have any symptoms .
It is so important that we all do our part to help prevent the spread of this virus , ” he added .
Wilson ’ s Facebook post Wednesday said he was back in Congress to “ vote safely and constitutionally ” and lambasted Democrats for “ avoiding their constitutional duty by voting by proxy.
” The House , which is controlled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers to vote remotely during the pandemic .
“ If millions of Americans can go back to work , so can Members of Congress , ” he added .
“ This was posted before Rep. Wilson knew he was positive for COVID-19 , ” said Wilson spokesperson McLaurine Pinover .
“ The test was a precautionary measure so he had no reason to believe he was positive at the time .
The photo was deleted to avoid confusion.
” Wilson also spoke on the House floor Wednesday before his positive COVID-19 diagnosis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although he has not always done so in recent months while giving floor speeches .
According to a tally by CNN , 37 House members ( 26 Republicans , 11 Democrats ) and 11 senators ( nine Republicans and two Democrats ) have tested positive for COVID-19 or antibodies .

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Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) boasted on Facebook Wednesday that he was back in Washington and looking forward to voting in person on the House floor. He also mocked Democrats for being overly cautious during the pandemic.
A few hours later, Wilson, 73, announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. That Facebook post has since been deleted.
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In a statement Wednesday night, Wilson promised to take “all necessary precautions, as directed by the House Physician” and said he would quarantine “through the Christmas holiday.”
“Thankfully I feel fine and do not have any symptoms. It is so important that we all do our part to help prevent the spread of this virus,” he added.
Wilson’s Facebook post Wednesday said he was back in Congress to “vote safely and constitutionally” and lambasted Democrats for “avoiding their constitutional duty by voting by proxy.”
The House, which is controlled by Democrats, has instituted a rule allowing lawmakers to vote remotely during the pandemic.
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“If millions of Americans can go back to work, so can Members of Congress,” he added.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) deleted this Facebook post after receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Facebook
“This was posted before Rep. Wilson knew he was positive for COVID-19,” said Wilson spokesperson McLaurine Pinover. “The test was a precautionary measure so he had no reason to believe he was positive at the time. The photo was deleted to avoid confusion.”
Wilson also spoke on the House floor Wednesday before his positive COVID-19 diagnosis. He was wearing a mask this time, although he has not always done so in recent months while giving floor speeches.
According to a tally by CNN, 37 House members (26 Republicans, 11 Democrats) and 11 senators (nine Republicans and two Democrats) have tested positive for COVID-19 or antibodies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Kelly Loeffler Keeps Posing For Photos With White Supremacists And Other Extremists

But this wasn ’ t the first time that Loeffler — who is competing in one of the Jan. 5 Georgia runoff elections that will decide control of the U.S. Senate — has posed for photos with a white supremacist or other far-right extremists .
She has done it repeatedly this year .
The picture that went viral showed Loeffler smiling alongside Chester Doles , a former Ku Klux Klan leader and member of the neo-Nazi National Alliance .
Doles , who attended the deadly 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , went to prison in the 1990s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response , a Loeffler campaign spokesman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the senator “ had no idea who [ Doles ] was and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for.
” The Loeffler campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the Mote photo on Thursday .
But spokesman Stephen Lawson did provide a statement when HuffPost previously contacted the campaign about the photo in September .
“ Sen .
Loeffler denounces all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
“ But sadly , this is another fake news attack from the totally discredited Southern Poverty Law Center and their friends in the liberal media.
” The Southern Poverty Law Center was not involved with this story and did not provide HuffPost with the photo of Loeffler and Mote .
The civil rights organization does , however , list APUSA as a white nationalist hate group .
APUSA , which is supportive of President Donald Trump and which has aligned itself closely with the far-right militia movement , claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , is teeming with Klansmen and neo-Nazis , according to research compiled by the group Atlanta Antifascists .
Politicians like Loeffler take photos with lots of people on the campaign trail , and it ’ s impossible for them to know the political affiliations of each and every person with whom they pose .
But there ’ s also clearly a reason why extremists are excited to be photographed with Loeffler : The senator has repeatedly catered to or condoned those on the far-right .
“ I joined @ JackPosobiec on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call out the [ Black Lives Matter ] political organization — and why the woke mob is trying to cancel me , ” Loeffler tweeted at the time .
Posobiec ’ s extremist résumé is long .
He once associated himself with white supremacists like Richard Spencer , one of the organizers of the 2017 Charlottesville rally .
Posobiec has also tweeted out multiple anti-Semitic memes and has often made reference to the numbers 14 and 88 — codes frequently used by neo-Nazis .
He was one of the biggest promoters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loeffler also posted photos from that pro-gun rally of her standing with Marjorie Taylor Greene , then a Georgia congressional candidate who gained national infamy for her support of QAnon , a pro-Trump conspiracy cult that believes a globalist cabal of pedophiles — who kidnap and torture children — are waging war against the president .
“ Sen .
Loeffler ’ s claim to disavow the former KKK leader she posed with rings hollow given her repeated attacks on Black activists and her association with other politicians such as Marjorie Taylor Greene who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hate , ” Victoria Raggs of Bend the Arc : Jewish Action Atlanta told HuffPost in a statement on Thursday .

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Earlier this week a photo of Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler posing with a notorious white supremacist went viral, prompting her campaign to disavow it.
But this wasn’t the first time that Loeffler — who is competing in one of the Jan. 5 Georgia runoff elections that will decide control of the U.S. Senate — has posed for photos with a white supremacist or other far-right extremists. She has done it repeatedly this year.
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The picture that went viral showed Loeffler smiling alongside Chester Doles, a former Ku Klux Klan leader and member of the neo-Nazi National Alliance. Doles, who attended the deadly 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, went to prison in the 1990s for assaulting a Black man in Maryland.
He posted the photo, taken at a Loeffler campaign event in Dawsonville, Georgia, to the Russian social media site VK on Dec. 11.
ALERT: Kelly Loeffler just posed for a photo with Chester Doles, a former KKK leader who runs the white supremacist American Patriots USA.
In 1993, Doles nearly beat a Black man to death.
In 2017, he marched in Charlottesville.
This is who @KLoeffler is proudly appealing to. pic.twitter.com/4YZcvL05rf — Bend the Arc: Jewish Action (@jewishaction) December 13, 2020
The activist group Bend the Arc: Jewish Action reposted the image to Twitter, with the comment “This is who @KLoeffler is proudly appealing to.” The tweet quickly went viral.
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In response, a Loeffler campaign spokesman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the senator “had no idea who [Doles] was and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for.”
But photos of Loeffler smiling alongside far-right extremists are not hard to find.
Bend the Arc provided HuffPost with a photo showing Loeffler posing with Joshua Mote, Lumpkin County coordinator for American Patriots USA (APUSA), a Georgia extremist group led by Doles.
The photo, which Doles also posted to VK, shows Mote standing alongside Loeffler and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) at a Loeffler campaign event on Sept. 3 in Gilmer County, Georgia.
Sens. Kelly Loeffler and Tom Cotton pose for a photo with Joshua Mote (center), Lumpkin County coordinator for American Patriots USA, a Georgia extremist group founded by Chester Doles. VK
The Loeffler campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the Mote photo on Thursday. But spokesman Stephen Lawson did provide a statement when HuffPost previously contacted the campaign about the photo in September.
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“Sen. Loeffler denounces all forms of hate,” Lawson said at the time. “But sadly, this is another fake news attack from the totally discredited Southern Poverty Law Center and their friends in the liberal media.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center was not involved with this story and did not provide HuffPost with the photo of Loeffler and Mote. The civil rights organization does, however, list APUSA as a white nationalist hate group.
Doles founded APUSA in 2019 in an apparent attempt to rebrand himself and whitewash his past connections to the KKK and other white supremacist groups.
APUSA, which is supportive of President Donald Trump and which has aligned itself closely with the far-right militia movement, claims to be non-racist. Its membership, however, is teeming with Klansmen and neo-Nazis, according to research compiled by the group Atlanta Antifascists.
Politicians like Loeffler take photos with lots of people on the campaign trail, and it’s impossible for them to know the political affiliations of each and every person with whom they pose. But there’s also clearly a reason why extremists are excited to be photographed with Loeffler: The senator has repeatedly catered to or condoned those on the far-right.
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In August, Loeffler sat down for an interview with One America News Network host Jack Posobiec, a neo-Nazi collaborator and prominent MAGA propagandist.
“I joined @JackPosobiec on @OANN to discuss why I had to call out the [Black Lives Matter] political organization — and why the woke mob is trying to cancel me,” Loeffler tweeted at the time.
Posobiec’s extremist résumé is long. He once associated himself with white supremacists like Richard Spencer, one of the organizers of the 2017 Charlottesville rally. Posobiec has also tweeted out multiple anti-Semitic memes and has often made reference to the numbers 14 and 88 — codes frequently used by neo-Nazis. He was one of the biggest promoters of the deranged, right-wing Pizzagate conspiracy theory.
Great to be in Ringgold today with @mtgreenee and a fired up crowd of Patriotic Georgians!
Now more than ever, we need outsiders and businesspeople in Washington who will FIGHT to protect the #2A, defend innocent life, and advance our conservative values! #gasen #gapol pic.twitter.com/Z3j0n4zbyW — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) September 19, 2020
In September, Loeffler attended a pro-gun rally in Georgia and posted photos from the event to Twitter showing her standing alongside armed members of the Georgia III% Martyrs militia group.
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The Georgia III% Martyrs — part of a nationwide far-right militia movement ― are known for showing up to monitor Black Lives Matter protests carrying military-style assault weapons.
Loeffler also posted photos from that pro-gun rally of her standing with Marjorie Taylor Greene, then a Georgia congressional candidate who gained national infamy for her support of QAnon, a pro-Trump conspiracy cult that believes a globalist cabal of pedophiles — who kidnap and torture children — are waging war against the president.
Greene, who won her election to the U.S. House in November, has also been recorded making multiple racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic statements.
In October, Loeffler and Greene held a joint press conference at which Greene endorsed the senator’s election bid.
Loeffler and then-House candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene speak at a news conference in Dallas, Georgia, on Oct. 15, 2020. Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
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“Sen. Loeffler’s claim to disavow the former KKK leader she posed with rings hollow given her repeated attacks on Black activists and her association with other politicians such as Marjorie Taylor Greene who use racism and antisemitism to spread division and hate,” Victoria Raggs of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Atlanta told HuffPost in a statement on Thursday.
Raggs added that “Loeffler has clearly made tying herself to extremists part of her electoral strategy” in an effort to “distract from her own greed and ethics inquiries for illegally profiting off of a pandemic.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Lawmakers Weigh Tough Trade-Off Between Unemployment Benefits And Stimulus Checks

The big news out of COVID-19 relief negotiations this week was that top lawmakers have decided to include direct payments , akin to the $ 1,200 checks sent out over the spring and summer , though they would likely come out at half the amount .
As of Thursday , the deal that party leaders are putting together behind closed doors would reauthorize federal unemployment benefits for 10 weeks , according to a source familiar with the negotiation — six weeks less than had been agreed to in a previous bipartisan compromise that served as the basis for the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 per week in jobless pay , a major component of the previous proposal .
After supporting the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act in March , Republicans grew wary of further spending .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) initially wanted $ 3 trillion in the next relief bill , then went down to $ 2 trillion in October , and then embraced the bipartisan $ 908 billion deal earlier this month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars behind on their rent and utilities , ” Wyden said in a statement .
“ Republicans ’ insistence on an arbitrary spending cap would inflict unnecessary financial pain on millions of Americans ― there ’ s no two ways about it.
” “ The problem we have is , the amount of money being put in the overall bill — about $ 900 billion — is totally inadequate in terms of hunger , evictions , health care , and people being unable to make it right now on the income they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost in a statement Thursday , calling for another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks and for the unemployment benefit to be increased to the $ 600 per week level passed in the CARES Act .
“ So it ’ s not either-or , it ’ s both.
” Federal unemployment programs that Congress created earlier this year to pay gig workers and the long-term jobless are set to expire at the end of the month .
The deal would continue the programs for 10 weeks , plus add about 10 weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their benefits .
The stimulus payments would be worth about $ 600 for adults with earnings beneath a certain threshold , plus $ 600 per dependent , according to the source .
In terms of helping the economy , the impact of the tradeoff is a bit murky .
The Congressional Budget Office said in an analysis of the CARES Act that unemployment benefits might have had a slightly higher “ fiscal multiplier ” effect , meaning each dollar spent on unemployment theoretically resulted in a bigger aggregate spending increase than each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both checks and benefits gave people money that they tended to spend pretty quickly .
Researchers at Columbia University found that unlike relief efforts in 2001 and 2008 , the payments through the CARES Act were spent quickly and on essentials like catching up on late rent , paying the mortgage or buying food , rather than on more “ durable goods ” like electronics or appliances .
In other words , people really need the cash .
Poverty researchers saw the stimulus checks as a novel approach to relief , in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needy , like those with no income , in a way that more targeted benefits like unemployment insurance do not .
But the first relief bill , which included four months of $ 600 federal unemployment insurance and a $ 1,200 check , didn ’ t force the same tradeoffs .
Now , Democrats are being forced to do that math , and it ’ s hard to parse out the benefits of one over the other .
For the millions of Americans that find themselves unemployed during the pandemic , six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 amounts to $ 1,800 — three times what ’ s currently being proposed for the one-off stimulus check ― and that ’ s without factoring in the regular weekly payment to which the $ 300 is added .
Asked to choose , James Ziliak , a professor at the University of Kentucky who runs the Center for Poverty Research , said this time around he ’ d prioritize getting unemployment benefits to wider group of people — including those who have been jobless for long periods of time — over the direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks made sense in the first round because there was a lot of uncertainty over who was currently and who was likely to be affected by the shutdown , ” Ziliak said , calling the checks a “ leaky policy .
”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been extremely reluctant to fund unemployment benefits, recently proposing only a one-month extension of federal programs. Mary Calvert / Reuters
Republicans are making Democrats choose between stimulus checks and a longer extension of jobless benefits.
The big news out of COVID-19 relief negotiations this week was that top lawmakers have decided to include direct payments, akin to the $1,200 checks sent out over the spring and summer, though they would likely come out at half the amount.
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Democrats and progressives, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Senate, have been lobbying for another round of checks, and President Donald Trump has also endorsed the idea.
But it has come with a trade-off.
As of Thursday, the deal that party leaders are putting together behind closed doors would reauthorize federal unemployment benefits for 10 weeks, according to a source familiar with the negotiation — six weeks less than had been agreed to in a previous bipartisan compromise that served as the basis for the current deal. Leaders are keeping an extra $300 per week in jobless pay, a major component of the previous proposal.
The deal is still being negotiated and details about unemployment benefits and direct payments could easily change.
Shortening the lifespan of federal unemployment programs reduces their projected $180 billion cost. Since lawmakers are operating on a self-imposed spending limit of about $900 billion, less money for unemployment means more money for checks, which had been omitted from the earlier deal.
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After supporting the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, Republicans grew wary of further spending. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) initially wanted $3 trillion in the next relief bill, then went down to $2 trillion in October, and then embraced the bipartisan $908 billion deal earlier this month.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the second-ranking Senate Republican, told reporters Thursday that if the total “drifts north of that, it’s a lot harder [to] pass.”
Not only do Republicans want a lower top number, they are hostile to both unemployment benefits and stimulus checks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recently proposed a one-month extension of federal programs and gradually phasing them out over two months, with no supplemental $300.
Democrats outside the current negotiations have decried the false choice between unemployment and direct payments.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees unemployment legislation, likened the earlier cutoff date for jobless benefits to arbitrarily cutting off access to the coronavirus vaccine.
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“Millions of jobless workers are thousands of dollars behind on their rent and utilities,” Wyden said in a statement. “Republicans’ insistence on an arbitrary spending cap would inflict unnecessary financial pain on millions of Americans ― there’s no two ways about it.”
Sanders said the inclusion of the checks was a “good start” but had a reportedly heated exchange with moderate Democratic senators yesterday, criticizing the funding levels as deficient.
“The problem we have is, the amount of money being put in the overall bill — about $900 billion — is totally inadequate in terms of hunger, evictions, health care, and people being unable to make it right now on the income they’re receiving,” Sanders told HuffPost in a statement Thursday, calling for another round of $1,200 stimulus checks and for the unemployment benefit to be increased to the $600 per week level passed in the CARES Act. “So it’s not either-or, it’s both.”
Federal unemployment programs that Congress created earlier this year to pay gig workers and the long-term jobless are set to expire at the end of the month. The deal would continue the programs for 10 weeks, plus add about 10 weeks of new eligibility for people who already used up their benefits. The stimulus payments would be worth about $600 for adults with earnings beneath a certain threshold, plus $600 per dependent, according to the source.
In terms of helping the economy, the impact of the tradeoff is a bit murky. The Congressional Budget Office said in an analysis of the CARES Act that unemployment benefits might have had a slightly higher “fiscal multiplier” effect, meaning each dollar spent on unemployment theoretically resulted in a bigger aggregate spending increase than each dollar spent on stimulus checks. But both checks and benefits gave people money that they tended to spend pretty quickly.
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Researchers at Columbia University found that unlike relief efforts in 2001 and 2008, the payments through the CARES Act were spent quickly and on essentials like catching up on late rent, paying the mortgage or buying food, rather than on more “durable goods” like electronics or appliances. In other words, people really need the cash.
Poverty researchers saw the stimulus checks as a novel approach to relief, in large part because they went to the really needy, like those with no income, in a way that more targeted benefits like unemployment insurance do not. But the first relief bill, which included four months of $600 federal unemployment insurance and a $1,200 check, didn’t force the same tradeoffs.
Several studies, including from the Urban Institute and Columbia, found the combination of the unemployment benefits and stimulus payments kept millions out of poverty over the summer.
Now, Democrats are being forced to do that math, and it’s hard to parse out the benefits of one over the other. For the millions of Americans that find themselves unemployed during the pandemic, six weeks of unemployment benefits with an additional $300 amounts to $1,800 — three times what’s currently being proposed for the one-off stimulus check ― and that’s without factoring in the regular weekly payment to which the $300 is added.
Matt Bruenig, from the leftist think tank People’s Policy Project wrote Thursday that the “ideal solution” would be a repeat of the CARES Act, where both stimulus payments and unemployment insurance were doled out.
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“If you have to choose between the two, it’s not at all clear which is the better of the two,” Bruenig wrote.
Asked to choose, James Ziliak, a professor at the University of Kentucky who runs the Center for Poverty Research, said this time around he’d prioritize getting unemployment benefits to wider group of people — including those who have been jobless for long periods of time — over the direct payments.
“I think the stimulus checks made sense in the first round because there was a lot of uncertainty over who was currently and who was likely to be affected by the shutdown,” Ziliak said, calling the checks a “leaky policy.”
While it does help as an anti-poverty measure for those without any income, it also would reach many Americans who likely have flexible work and aren’t hurting as badly, Ziliak said.
“It’s not very targeted for [those who] are really being hit, and those are the unemployed.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Marco Rubio Mocked For Being Triggered By Biden Official's Comment

“ In the primary , people would mock [ Biden ] , like , ‘ You think you can work @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not saying they ’ re not a bunch of fuckers .
Mitch McConnell @ @ @ @ @ sense that you couldn ’ t wish for that , you couldn ’ t wish @ @ @ @ @ He rejected that.
” “ From start to finish , he set out with this @ @ @ @ @ , that together we are stronger , that we , as a country , need @ @ @ @ @ needs that too .
”

“In the primary, people would mock [Biden], like, ‘You think you can work with Republicans?’ I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of fuckers. Mitch McConnell is terrible, but this sense that you couldn’t wish for that, you couldn’t wish for this bipartisan ideal? He rejected that.”
“From start to finish, he set out with this idea that unity was possible, that together we are stronger, that we, as a country, need healing, and our politics needs that too.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Trump Gets History Lesson After Calling Out Democrats In Election Tweet

He really has a hard time believing it is possible for him to lose .
Also , do n't most @ @ @ @ @ stolen from them in 2000 ?
https : //t.co/gBPehjvj3Y

He really has a hard time believing it is possible for him to lose. Also, don't most Democrats think the election was stolen from them in 2000? https://t.co/gBPehjvj3Y


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Trump Cites Georgia To Raise Cash For Slush Fund, But Has Spent Nothing On Those Races

“ It would suggest that the PAC is blatantly lying to its supporters to raise money that President Trump could use for his own personal benefit , ” said Robert Maguire , a campaign finance expert with the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington .
“ We ’ ve seen lots of scam PACs over the years , but never one tied so closely to a president.
” A HuffPost analysis of all “ independent expenditures ” reported to the Federal Election Commission through Thursday for the Jan. 5 election found that 114 different groups have spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will determine control of the Senate for the next two years .
That figure , though , is still $ 7,600 more than has been reported spent by Trump and his Save America committee , which he created six days after his Nov. 3 reelection loss .
“ Same old song , ” said Joe Walsh , a former congressman who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 GOP presidential nomination .
“ It ’ s what he is .
It ’ s what he does .
It ’ s all a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie .
It ’ s all a grift .
And sadly , millions continue to fall for it.
” It is unclear from public filings exactly how much Trump has raised for the entity — which he can use to pay expenses ranging from golf clubs to meals to hush money ; or even pay himself an enormous salary .
But his campaign boasted earlier this month that he had raised over $ 207 million since Election Day .
“ Just another example of our grifter in chief playing his supporters for fools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Michael Cohen , Trump ’ s longtime lawyer and “ fixer ” who wound up serving time in prison for , among other things , helping Trump pay hush money in the days leading up to the 2016 election to women whom he had had affairs with .
Cohen said he would be shocked if Trump winds up spending any of Save America ’ s money on the Georgia races .
“ He considers that account to be his slush fund .
That ’ s his money , ” Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Georgia runoffs and keeping Republican control of the Senate in repeated fundraising texts and emails to his army of small-dollar donors .
“ Help us WIN both Senate races in Georgia & STOP Socialist Dems !
” read a text his campaign sent out Saturday just after noon .
That was followed up five hours later with one from his son Eric Trump , urging recipients to “ SAVE THE SENATE !
” The fine print much further down , however , reveals that 75 % of the first $ 6,667 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump ’ s Save America , with the rest going into the Republican National Committee ’ s general fund .
Trump ’ s committee can only give each GOP candidate $ 2,800 directly for the runoff , while the RNC can give Loeffler and Perdue just $ 5,000 each .
Both groups can spend without limit to support those two or oppose the Democrats , so long as they do not co-ordinate with the candidate .
To date , however , the RNC has only reported $ 3.1 million in such independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not reported anything at all .
It is unclear who paid for the rally Trump staged on Dec. 5 in Valdosta , Georgia , purportedly for the two Republicans , but in which he spent most of his time airing his various grievances and putting forth lies claiming he had actually won reelection .
Loeffler is facing Raphael Warnock for the two remaining years in the term won in 2016 by Republican Johnny Isakson , who stepped down at the end of 2019 for health reasons .
Perdue is running for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has invoked the Georgia Senate runoffs dozens of times over the past month while raising money for his $100 million-plus “leadership” political committee — but has not reported spending a dime on those races.
“It would suggest that the PAC is blatantly lying to its supporters to raise money that President Trump could use for his own personal benefit,” said Robert Maguire, a campaign finance expert with the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “We’ve seen lots of scam PACs over the years, but never one tied so closely to a president.”
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A HuffPost analysis of all “independent expenditures” reported to the Federal Election Commission through Thursday for the Jan. 5 election found that 114 different groups have spent $172.6 million in the two races that will determine control of the Senate for the next two years.
They range from the Senate Leadership Fund, the superPAC run by allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that spent $31.3 million, to the tiny Ohio-based Heroes PAC, which spent $7,600 for digital ads on behalf of incumbent Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.
That figure, though, is still $7,600 more than has been reported spent by Trump and his Save America committee, which he created six days after his Nov. 3 reelection loss.
The Trump campaign did not respond to HuffPost queries on this matter.
“Same old song,” said Joe Walsh, a former congressman who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 GOP presidential nomination. “It’s what he is. It’s what he does. It’s all a con. It’s all a lie. It’s all a grift. And sadly, millions continue to fall for it.”
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It is unclear from public filings exactly how much Trump has raised for the entity — which he can use to pay expenses ranging from golf clubs to meals to hush money; or even pay himself an enormous salary. But his campaign boasted earlier this month that he had raised over $207 million since Election Day.
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally for Senate Republican candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue at Valdosta Regional Airport, Saturday, Dec. 5. ASSOCIATED PRESS/Evan Vucci
Under the distribution formula disclosed on his campaign website’s donation page, Trump has likely collected at least $150 million for Save America since Nov. 3.
“Just another example of our grifter in chief playing his supporters for fools as he milks them of their money,” said Michael Cohen, Trump’s longtime lawyer and “fixer” who wound up serving time in prison for, among other things, helping Trump pay hush money in the days leading up to the 2016 election to women whom he had had affairs with.
Cohen said he would be shocked if Trump winds up spending any of Save America’s money on the Georgia races. “He considers that account to be his slush fund. That’s his money,” Cohen said.
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Trump has stressed the importance of the Georgia runoffs and keeping Republican control of the Senate in repeated fundraising texts and emails to his army of small-dollar donors. “Help us WIN both Senate races in Georgia & STOP Socialist Dems!” read a text his campaign sent out Saturday just after noon. That was followed up five hours later with one from his son Eric Trump, urging recipients to “SAVE THE SENATE!”
Screenshots from Trump's website and fundraising text messages citing the Georgia runoff elections. Illustration: HuffPost; Screenshots: Trump Pence Campaign
The accompanying link goes to a fundraising page bearing the Trump campaign logo and advertising the “GEORGIA ELECTION FUND,” donations to which would help secure “these two critical Senate seats.”
The fine print much further down, however, reveals that 75% of the first $6,667 of a donor’s money goes to Trump’s Save America, with the rest going into the Republican National Committee’s general fund.
Trump’s committee can only give each GOP candidate $2,800 directly for the runoff, while the RNC can give Loeffler and Perdue just $5,000 each. Both groups can spend without limit to support those two or oppose the Democrats, so long as they do not co-ordinate with the candidate.
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To date, however, the RNC has only reported $3.1 million in such independent spending for the runoff, and Trump has not reported anything at all.
It is unclear who paid for the rally Trump staged on Dec. 5 in Valdosta, Georgia, purportedly for the two Republicans, but in which he spent most of his time airing his various grievances and putting forth lies claiming he had actually won reelection.
Reports detailing fundraising and expenses by his campaign and Save America for the month of December are not due to the FEC until Jan. 31.
Loeffler is facing Raphael Warnock for the two remaining years in the term won in 2016 by Republican Johnny Isakson, who stepped down at the end of 2019 for health reasons. Perdue is running for his second six-year term against Jon Ossoff.
None of the four reached the 50%-plus-one threshold in the Nov. 3 general election, which under Georgia law necessitates a runoff.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Chris Christie Details 'How Wrong' He Was To Not Wear A Mask In New Ad

The ad is reportedly being “ paid for by the family foundation of philanthropist Ray Chambers , ” a former financier in Christie ’ s home state who currently serves as the ambassador for global strategy for the World Health Organization , per CNN .
The network also reported that the ad is slated to appear on TV over the next two weeks , with spots on Fox News , SiriusXM Radio and Newsmax .
Following his own COVID-19 diagnosis , which he announced about a week after he was seen sans mask at Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden at the White House , Christie has been very vocal about his regrets for not wearing one .
In an interview with the The New York Times after his recovery from the virus , he explained that he “ believed when I entered the White House grounds , that I had entered a safe zone , due to the testing that I and many others underwent every day.
” “ I was wrong .
I was wrong not to wear a mask at the Amy Coney Barrett announcement and I was wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple debate prep sessions with the president and the rest of the team , ” said the longtime supporter of President Donald Trump , who had announced his own COVID-19 diagnosis just a day ahead of Christie ’ s .
A week after his interview with the Times , Christie wrote an essay in the Wall Street Journal that critiqued Trump for politicizing the pandemic .
“ One of the worst aspects of America ’ s divided politics is the polarization of something as practical as a mask , ” Christie wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or cultural symbol , not a sign of weakness or virtue .
It ’ s simply a good method — not a perfect one , but a proven one — to contain a cough or prevent the virus from getting in your mouth or nose .
Wear it or you may regret it — as I did .
”

The ad is reportedly being “paid for by the family foundation of philanthropist Ray Chambers,” a former financier in Christie’s home state who currently serves as the ambassador for global strategy for the World Health Organization, per CNN. The network also reported that the ad is slated to appear on TV over the next two weeks, with spots on Fox News, SiriusXM Radio and Newsmax.
Following his own COVID-19 diagnosis, which he announced about a week after he was seen sans mask at Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House, Christie has been very vocal about his regrets for not wearing one.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Tucker Carlson Calls Jill Biden's Doctoral Dissertation 'Our National Shame'

Days after Tucker Carlson taunted Jill Biden for using the title Dr. , the Fox News personality on Wednesday claimed to be doing his journalistic duty by critiquing the incoming first lady ’ s doctoral dissertation .
( See the videos below . )
“ Jill Biden ’ s doctoral dissertation is our national shame , ” Carlson announced with shrill outrage on his prime time show .
Biden ’ s use of the title “ Dr. ” has stirred attention since a Wall Street Journal column asked her to stop using it because she is not a medical doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others have sprung to her defense , suggesting the article was sexist .
Carlson , who snidely compared Biden to “ Dr .
Pepper ” and “ Dr .
Bill Cosby ” earlier this week , tore apart the 2006 academic paper that presumably earned her a doctorate in education from University of Delaware .
“ We ’ re gon na give it to you in a diagnosis : Dr. Jill needs reading glasses , ” Carlson said .
“ Either that or she ’ s borderline illiterate .
There are typos everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the introduction .
Dr. Jill can ’ t write ― she can ’ t really think clearly either .
Parts of the dissertation seem to be written in a foreign language using English words .
They ’ re essentially pure nonsense , like pig Latin or dogs barking .
The whole thing is just incredibly embarrassing .
And not simply to poor , illiterate Jill Biden , but to the college that considered this crap scholarship .
Embarrassing , in fact , to our entire system of higher education , to the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissertation is our national shame.
” Carlson also gleefully pointed out mathematical errors in her paper , a purported copy of which can be seen here .
“ If you dare to notice that Dr. Jill isn ’ t a super genius , you hate all women , “ Carlson said sarcastically .
“ You ’ re a dangerous misogynist .
”

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Days after Tucker Carlson taunted Jill Biden for using the title Dr., the Fox News personality on Wednesday claimed to be doing his journalistic duty by critiquing the incoming first lady’s doctoral dissertation. (See the videos below.)
“Jill Biden’s doctoral dissertation is our national shame,” Carlson announced with shrill outrage on his prime time show.
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Biden’s use of the title “Dr.” has stirred attention since a Wall Street Journal column asked her to stop using it because she is not a medical doctor. Former first lady Michelle Obama and others have sprung to her defense, suggesting the article was sexist.
Carlson, who snidely compared Biden to “Dr. Pepper” and “Dr. Bill Cosby” earlier this week, tore apart the 2006 academic paper that presumably earned her a doctorate in education from University of Delaware.
“We’re gonna give it to you in a diagnosis: Dr. Jill needs reading glasses,” Carlson said. “Either that or she’s borderline illiterate. There are typos everywhere, including in the first graph of the introduction. Dr. Jill can’t write ― she can’t really think clearly either. Parts of the dissertation seem to be written in a foreign language using English words. They’re essentially pure nonsense, like pig Latin or dogs barking. The whole thing is just incredibly embarrassing. And not simply to poor, illiterate Jill Biden, but to the college that considered this crap scholarship. Embarrassing, in fact, to our entire system of higher education, to the nation itself. Jill Biden’s doctoral dissertation is our national shame.”
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Carlson also gleefully pointed out mathematical errors in her paper, a purported copy of which can be seen here.
“If you dare to notice that Dr. Jill isn’t a super genius, you hate all women,“ Carlson said sarcastically. “You’re a dangerous misogynist.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Biden Picks Deb Haaland For Interior Secretary

In 2018 , Haaland , 60 , became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress .
If the Senate confirms her as head of the Interior Department , she would make similar history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary and the first Native American to serve as the top steward of America ’ s public lands and natural resources .
“ A voice like mine has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior , ” Haaland tweeted late Thursday .
“ Growing up in my mother ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be fierce for all of us , our planet , and all of our protected land .
I am honored and ready to serve.
” The Interior Department employs more than 70,000 people and manages 500 million acres of federal land — roughly one-fifth of the U.S. — including the 62 national parks .
It also oversees the Bureau of Indian Education and is responsible for honoring the government ’ s trust responsibilities to tribes .
“ The nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland ― a champion of the environment and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conservation , progress , and healing in the Department of the Interior that is long overdue , ” Gussie Lord , a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and managing attorney of Earthjustice ’ s Tribal Partnerships Program , said in a statement .
“ She has been a champion for our environment and public lands and has worked tirelessly to improve the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and Indian tribes , ” more than 50 House Democrats wrote in a Nov. 16 letter to the president-elect .
But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , anonymous “ Biden advisers ” painted Haaland as unqualified for the job and instead pitched Michael Connor , a veteran of the Interior Department , as a better candidate .
As HuffPost previously reported , the snubs outraged tribal groups and Haaland ’ s other supporters .
Biden transition officials insisted that the attacks did not come from anyone in a position to speak on behalf of the incoming administration .
Haaland has been on Biden ’ s shortlist of potential picks for weeks , along with Sen. Tom Udall ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Interior ’ s deputy secretary under President Barack Obama .
This week , Haaland emerged as the front-runner , but sources told HuffPost that Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-Md . )
were pushing back on Biden plucking her from the House , given Democrats ’ single-digit majority in the chamber .
“ Congresswoman Deb Haaland is one of the most respected and one of the best Members of Congress I have served with , ” Pelosi said , adding that “ if she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interior Secretary , then he will have made an excellent choice.
” Rep. Deb Haaland , an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe , would make history as the first Native American to lead the Interior Department .
A former chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico , Haaland currently heads one of five subcommittees of the House Natural Resources Committee , which has oversight over the Interior Department .
She has been a fierce critic of the Trump administration ’ s pro-industry agenda on federal lands and is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution introduced in Congress last year .
That resolution lays out a progressive framework to rein in greenhouse gas emissions , including specific language about protecting public lands and waters and restoring threatened ecosystems .
Last month , Haaland told HuffPost that she would “ of course ” be interested in the job and acknowledged the significance of putting a Native American woman in charge of the agency that oversees lands that Native Americans originally occupied and had forcibly taken from them .
“ The symbolism alone , yes , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed , Haaland would take the Interior reins from David Bernhardt , a former oil and agricultural lobbyist who has played a key role in the Trump administration ’ s efforts to unravel protections for federal lands and imperiled species and who has faced accusations of meddling with agency science .
At the top of Biden ’ s to-do list for Interior is to restore protections for sites that President Donald Trump gutted as part of his industry-first agenda for public lands .
Those sites include Bears Ears National Monument , a sweeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider sacred , that honored and protected Native American cultural heritage and that Trump shrunk by roughly 85 % .
“ The Trump Administration fails to acknowledge the incredible cultural history of indigenous people on this continent , ” Haaland wrote on Twitter after the president , who himself has dismantled several land and marine monuments , promised lengthy prison sentences for anyone who destroys or dismantles a monument or statue of a slave-owning president or leader of the Confederacy .
“ The President ’ s defense of white supremacy is incredibly insulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect for Tribes .
”

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President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, to serve as secretary of the interior.
In 2018, Haaland, 60, became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. If the Senate confirms her as head of the Interior Department, she would make similar history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary and the first Native American to serve as the top steward of America’s public lands and natural resources.
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“A voice like mine has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior,” Haaland tweeted late Thursday. “Growing up in my mother’s Pueblo household made me fierce. I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve.”
In its formal announcement, the Biden transition team said Haaland “will be ready on day one to protect our environment and fight for a clean energy future.”
“Haaland is a barrier-breaking public servant who has spent her career fighting for families, including in Tribal Nations, rural communities, and communities of color,” the announcement added.
The Interior Department employs more than 70,000 people and manages 500 million acres of federal land — roughly one-fifth of the U.S. — including the 62 national parks. It also oversees the Bureau of Indian Education and is responsible for honoring the government’s trust responsibilities to tribes.
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Indigenous and environmental groups hailed Thursday’s news.
“The nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland ― a champion of the environment and of Native people ― heralds a new era of conservation, progress, and healing in the Department of the Interior that is long overdue,” Gussie Lord, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and managing attorney of Earthjustice’s Tribal Partnerships Program, said in a statement.
Haaland’s selection, which The Washington Post first reported Thursday, follows several weeks of drama over the key Cabinet post.
Native American tribal leaders and dozens of lawmakers ― Democrats and Republicans ― have been urging Biden to select Haaland for the position.
“She has been a champion for our environment and public lands and has worked tirelessly to improve the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and Indian tribes,” more than 50 House Democrats wrote in a Nov. 16 letter to the president-elect.
But in comments to The New York Times this month, anonymous “Biden advisers” painted Haaland as unqualified for the job and instead pitched Michael Connor, a veteran of the Interior Department, as a better candidate.
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As HuffPost previously reported, the snubs outraged tribal groups and Haaland’s other supporters. Biden transition officials insisted that the attacks did not come from anyone in a position to speak on behalf of the incoming administration.
Haaland has been on Biden’s shortlist of potential picks for weeks, along with Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Connor, who served as Interior’s deputy secretary under President Barack Obama. This week, Haaland emerged as the front-runner, but sources told HuffPost that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) were pushing back on Biden plucking her from the House, given Democrats’ single-digit majority in the chamber.
The House leaders appeared to have relented on Wednesday when Pelosi unexpectedly put out a statement voicing her support for Haaland.
“Congresswoman Deb Haaland is one of the most respected and one of the best Members of Congress I have served with,” Pelosi said, adding that “if she is the President-elect’s choice for Interior Secretary, then he will have made an excellent choice.”
Rep. Deb Haaland, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, would make history as the first Native American to lead the Interior Department. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Green New Deal Network
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A former chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Haaland currently heads one of five subcommittees of the House Natural Resources Committee, which has oversight over the Interior Department. She has been a fierce critic of the Trump administration’s pro-industry agenda on federal lands and is a vocal supporter of the Green New Deal resolution introduced in Congress last year. That resolution lays out a progressive framework to rein in greenhouse gas emissions, including specific language about protecting public lands and waters and restoring threatened ecosystems.
Last month, Haaland told HuffPost that she would “of course” be interested in the job and acknowledged the significance of putting a Native American woman in charge of the agency that oversees lands that Native Americans originally occupied and had forcibly taken from them.
“The symbolism alone, yes, it’s profound,” she said. If confirmed, Haaland would take the Interior reins from David Bernhardt, a former oil and agricultural lobbyist who has played a key role in the Trump administration’s efforts to unravel protections for federal lands and imperiled species and who has faced accusations of meddling with agency science. At the top of Biden’s to-do list for Interior is to restore protections for sites that President Donald Trump gutted as part of his industry-first agenda for public lands. Those sites include Bears Ears National Monument, a sweeping landscape in southern Utah that several tribes consider sacred, that honored and protected Native American cultural heritage and that Trump shrunk by roughly 85%. “The Trump Administration fails to acknowledge the incredible cultural history of indigenous people on this continent,” Haaland wrote on Twitter after the president, who himself has dismantled several land and marine monuments, promised lengthy prison sentences for anyone who destroys or dismantles a monument or statue of a slave-owning president or leader of the Confederacy. “The President’s defense of white supremacy is incredibly insulting and his actions reflect his lack of respect for Tribes.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--Brian Williams Blasts Trump For Obsessing Over Water Pressure Instead Of COVID-19

MSNBC ’ s Brian Williams offered a scathing supercut of Donald Trump on Wednesday , condemning the president for caring more about water pressure than the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died of coronavirus .
Williams ’ s response came as the Trump administration relaxed regulations on water flow from such items as faucets , dishwashers and showerheads , which have been restricted to an output of 2.5 gallons ( 9.5 liters ) per minute since 1992 .
Trump has frequently complained that restricted water flow is a pet peeve , and during a July 16 White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires more water while showering and “ has to be perfect.
” “ The standards will just be put back when Biden takes office , but you still have to admire Trump ’ s determination , and you have to wonder : Would we have 300,000 dead if he ’ d been this diligent , this persistent about our uncontrolled pandemic ?
” Williams said , before presenting a montage of Trump complaining about water over the course of his presidency .
The MSNBC host added that once Trump “ believes something is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repetition tic , and no amount of exaggeration is enough.
” The Trump administration ’ s changes on water pressure have drawn flak from environmental activists and consumer groups who argue that it will only lead to wasted water , and Andrew deLaski , executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project , called the ruling “ silly.
” “ These last-minute Trump rules that allow for products that needlessly waste energy and water are ridiculous and out of step with the climate crisis and the long-term drought facing much of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Biden administration can and should promptly reverse them .
”

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MSNBC’s Brian Williams offered a scathing supercut of Donald Trump on Wednesday, condemning the president for caring more about water pressure than the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died of coronavirus.
Williams’s response came as the Trump administration relaxed regulations on water flow from such items as faucets, dishwashers and showerheads, which have been restricted to an output of 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) per minute since 1992.
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Trump has frequently complained that restricted water flow is a pet peeve, and during a July 16 White House speech, he said that his hair requires more water while showering and “has to be perfect.”
“The standards will just be put back when Biden takes office, but you still have to admire Trump’s determination, and you have to wonder: Would we have 300,000 dead if he’d been this diligent, this persistent about our uncontrolled pandemic?” Williams said, before presenting a montage of Trump complaining about water over the course of his presidency.
The MSNBC host added that once Trump “believes something is true, it becomes a kind of repetition tic, and no amount of exaggeration is enough.”
The Trump administration’s changes on water pressure have drawn flak from environmental activists and consumer groups who argue that it will only lead to wasted water, and Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, called the ruling “silly.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-12-17--The Last Man Scheduled To Be Executed By Trump Admin Tests Positive For COVID-19