thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Federal Judge Rules 2020 Census Must Continue For Another Month

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) — A federal judge has stopped the 2020 census from finishing at the end of September and ordered the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident to continue for another month through the end of October , saying a shortened schedule likely would produce inaccurate results .
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in California made her ruling late Thursday , two days after hearing arguments from attorneys for the Census Bureau , and attorneys for civil rights groups and local governments that had sued the Census Bureau in an effort to halt the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month .
Attorneys for the civil rights groups and local governments said the shortened schedule would undercount residents in minority and hard-to-count communities .
Koh said inaccuracies produced from a shortened schedule would affect the distribution of federal funding and political representation .
The census is used to determine how $ 1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year and how many congressional seats each state gets .
Census 2020 employees help residents fill out the 2020 census form at Sylvia 's Restaurant in New York City 's Harlem .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the census must continue through October to prevent an undercount .
( Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images ) Government attorneys had argued that the census must finish by the end of September to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for turning over numbers used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets .
Koh ’ s preliminary injunction suspends that end-of-the-year deadline , too .
The San Jose , California-based judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Census Bureau from winding down field operations until she made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce , which oversees the agency , had said during the hearing they would likely appeal .

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge has stopped the 2020 census from finishing at the end of September and ordered the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident to continue for another month through the end of October, saying a shortened schedule likely would produce inaccurate results.
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in California made her ruling late Thursday, two days after hearing arguments from attorneys for the Census Bureau, and attorneys for civil rights groups and local governments that had sued the Census Bureau in an effort to halt the 2020 census from stopping at the end of the month. Attorneys for the civil rights groups and local governments said the shortened schedule would undercount residents in minority and hard-to-count communities.
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Koh said inaccuracies produced from a shortened schedule would affect the distribution of federal funding and political representation. The census is used to determine how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year and how many congressional seats each state gets.
Census 2020 employees help residents fill out the 2020 census form at Sylvia's Restaurant in New York City's Harlem. On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the census must continue through October to prevent an undercount. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Pacific Press via Getty Images
Government attorneys had argued that the census must finish by the end of September to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for turning over numbers used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets.
Koh’s preliminary injunction suspends that end-of-the-year deadline, too. The San Jose, California-based judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Census Bureau from winding down field operations until she made a ruling in the lawsuit.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--The Road To November: Recapping The Debates With HuffPost

The presidential debates are here , and HuffPost wants to know what you think .
With the coronavirus cutting down @ @ @ @ @ campaign stops , the debates offer some of the most high-profile opportunities for Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ their cases to voters .
Our three post-debate virtual live events will be held at @ @ @ @ @ 30 , Oct. 8 and Oct. 16 .
HuffPost ’ s politics team will be @ @ @ @ @ on the debates and will answer whatever questions you may have about the election .
@ @ @ @ @ open to HuffPost members only .
Sign up by Sept. 28 for membership to attend @ @ @ @ @ Click here for a free membership .
You can also financially support our journalism — @ @ @ @ @ here .
All new and existing members will receive an email with a link for @ @ @ @ @ look forward to seeing you there !

Road to November HuffPost UK
The election is merely weeks away, and there’s been no shortage of campaign surprises from Republicans and Democrats as they wrestle for dominance in the next four years.
Join our political reporters and editors to discuss the latest news and analyses. They will share their takeaways and answer live questions from the audience.
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Our next live virtual event will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 16.
The virtual event will be open to HuffPost members only. Sign up by Oct. 14 for membership to attend for free. Click here for a free membership. You can also financially support our journalism — sign up for paid membership here. All new and existing members will receive an email with a link for all three events.
Here’s the upcoming virtual event lineup of HuffPost politics reporters and editors:
Kevin Robillard - Moderator and senior politics reporter
Matt Fuller - Congressional Reporter
Ariel Edwards-Levy - Senior reporter and polling editor


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Truck Rams Crowd At Breonna Taylor Protest In Los Angeles, Injuring 1

A truck plowed into a Los Angeles crowd of demonstrators protesting the lack of charges in the police killing of Breonna Taylor on Thursday night , striking at least one person and forcing dozens of others to dive out of the way .
The driver of the truck was stopped by police minutes later and was taken into custody , KTLA and the Los Angeles Times reported .
The driver claimed protesters attacked his vehicle first , police said .
A shocking video of the encounter on Thursday shows a large black pickup speeding toward demonstrators in Hollywood shortly before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , who falls backward on the pavement , and briefly stops .
As protesters begin hitting the truck with signs , the vehicle roars away , appearing to run over the person who already had been stuck .
KTLA reported that in a separate incident in LA , a white Toyota Prius drove through a crowd and sped off .
That driver was also detained by police .
Dozens of demonstrators gathered Thursday for the second day of protests following a grand jury ’ s decision not to charge officers in Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death .
The Black emergency room worker was shot multiple times in her own home in March after police executed a late-night “ no-knock ” drug search warrant .
Now-former Detective Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment .
Taylor ’ s family reached a $ 12 million settlement with the city of Louisville earlier this month , but their attorney said the decision not to charge any officers with murder was “ outrageous and offensive.
” Taylor ’ s shooting , alongside the deaths of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement , prompted a summer of reckoning as demonstrators marched nationwide calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism .
While the latest demonstrations have been largely peaceful , they have devolved into violence in some places .
Two police officers were shot in Louisville on Wednesday .
In Seattle , a police officer was captured on video rolling a bike over a demonstrator ’ s head .

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A truck plowed into a Los Angeles crowd of demonstrators protesting the lack of charges in the police killing of Breonna Taylor on Thursday night, striking at least one person and forcing dozens of others to dive out of the way.
The unnamed victim was reported hospitalized in stable condition with minor injuries.
The driver of the truck was stopped by police minutes later and was taken into custody, KTLA and the Los Angeles Times reported. The driver claimed protesters attacked his vehicle first, police said.
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A shocking video of the encounter on Thursday shows a large black pickup speeding toward demonstrators in Hollywood shortly before 9 p.m. The vehicle strikes one person, who falls backward on the pavement, and briefly stops. As protesters begin hitting the truck with signs, the vehicle roars away, appearing to run over the person who already had been stuck.
WARNING: The video below contains graphic footage.
KTLA reported that in a separate incident in LA, a white Toyota Prius drove through a crowd and sped off. That driver was also detained by police.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered Thursday for the second day of protests following a grand jury’s decision not to charge officers in Louisville, Kentucky, with murder in Taylor’s death. The Black emergency room worker was shot multiple times in her own home in March after police executed a late-night “no-knock” drug search warrant.
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Now-former Detective Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Taylor’s family reached a $12 million settlement with the city of Louisville earlier this month, but their attorney said the decision not to charge any officers with murder was “outrageous and offensive.”
Taylor’s shooting, alongside the deaths of other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement, prompted a summer of reckoning as demonstrators marched nationwide calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Colbert Reveals Trump’s Real Election Plan... And The Key To Stopping Him

“ But what Trump really wants to do is undermine your faith in the election so you go , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ the point of voting.
’ The point is : you vote , he goes ― @ @ @ @ @ .
We just need to bury him under a mountain of votes .
”

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But he said there’s still a way Americans can ensure Trump leaves office.
“I’m not putting it past Trump to barricade the White House gates and put Eric in a Baby Bjorn and use him as a human shield,” Colbert said.
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“But what Trump really wants to do is undermine your faith in the election so you go, ‘Ah, what’s the point of voting,’” he continued. “The point is: You vote, he goes ― regardless of what he tries. We just need to bury him under a mountain of votes.”
He also had a stark warning about how Trump is preparing to use the courts to his advantage.
See his full monologue below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Ex-Host Michele Norris Blasts NPR For ‘Double Standards’ Amid Ethics Questions

Michele Norris , former longtime co-host of NPR ’ s flagship news program “ All Things Considered , ” called out the company , which has faced questions this week about its journalistic ethics , for what she characterized Thursday as “ double standards.
” Norris ’ s remarks on Twitter were spurred by an op-ed written by NPR ’ s Public Editor Kelly McBride , who criticized the company for not being fully transparent about the close , decades-long friendship between NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s failure to disclose the depth of it despite her extensive coverage of Ginsburg ’ s life and work — came under scrutiny after Totenberg described the relationship in a moving obituary published in the wake of the justice ’ s death Friday .
This week as the @ NPRpubliceditor I challenge NPR to be more transparent about what goes on behind the scenes to manage conflicts of interest , like the deep friendship between Nina Totenberg and RBG.https : //t.co/DJAiTslh8f — kellymcb ( @ kellymcb ) September 24 , 2020 McBride mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Things Considered ” in 2011 after her husband accepted a position with President Barack Obama ’ s reelection campaign ― in her op-ed .
Norris ’ s resignation , McBride noted , is cited in the NPR newsroom ’ s ethics policy as an example of journalistic integrity .
But , she added , “ the biggest difference between Norris ’ husband ’ s position with the campaign and Totenberg ’ s husband ’ s role as Ginsburg ’ s coordinating doctor during her lung cancer treatment is that one is very public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When we fail to probe these decisions in public , we fail to question whether the systems that we ’ ve created truly reflect our values .
I ’ m not saying journalists shouldn ’ t value independence .
I ’ m advocating for an even application of the standard , ” McBride wrote .
Reacting to the op-ed , Norris ― who was named “ Journalist of the Year ” by the National Association of Black Journalists in 2009 ― said that , although she admires NPR and respects Totenberg ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep my name out of their memos unless they are going to fully cop to the double standards.
” I admire and support @ NPR and I have tremendous respect for my friend Nina ’ s reporting over many years but @ NPR needs to keep my name out of their memos unless they are going to fully cop to the double standards .
— Michele Norris ( @ michele_norris ) September 24 , 2020 In a letter penned to NPR staff announcing her resignation from “ All Things Considered , ” Norris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management , had decided her husband ’ s “ new role could make it difficult for me to continue hosting.
” “ This has all happened very quickly , but working closely with NPR management , we ’ ve been able to make a plan that serves the show , honors the integrity of our news organization and is best for me professionally and personally , ” Norris wrote at the time .

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Michele Norris, former longtime co-host of NPR’s flagship news program “All Things Considered,” called out the company, which has faced questions this week about its journalistic ethics, for what she characterized Thursday as “double standards.”
Norris’s remarks on Twitter were spurred by an op-ed written by NPR’s Public Editor Kelly McBride, who criticized the company for not being fully transparent about the close, decades-long friendship between NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
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The women’s friendship ― and Totenberg’s failure to disclose the depth of it despite her extensive coverage of Ginsburg’s life and work — came under scrutiny after Totenberg described the relationship in a moving obituary published in the wake of the justice’s death Friday.
Totenberg has since dismissed concerns about any potential conflict.
This week as the @NPRpubliceditor I challenge NPR to be more transparent about what goes on behind the scenes to manage conflicts of interest, like the deep friendship between Nina Totenberg and RBG.https://t.co/DJAiTslh8f — kellymcb (@kellymcb) September 24, 2020
McBride mentioned Norris ― who resigned from “All Things Considered” in 2011 after her husband accepted a position with President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign ― in her op-ed.
Norris’s resignation, McBride noted, is cited in the NPR newsroom’s ethics policy as an example of journalistic integrity. But, she added, “the biggest difference between Norris’ husband’s position with the campaign and Totenberg’s husband’s role as Ginsburg’s coordinating doctor during her lung cancer treatment is that one is very public and the other is not.”
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“When we fail to probe these decisions in public, we fail to question whether the systems that we’ve created truly reflect our values. I’m not saying journalists shouldn’t value independence. I’m advocating for an even application of the standard,” McBride wrote.
Reacting to the op-ed, Norris ― who was named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists in 2009 ― said that, although she admires NPR and respects Totenberg’s reporting, the company “needs to keep my name out of their memos unless they are going to fully cop to the double standards.”
I admire and support @NPR and I have tremendous respect for my friend Nina’s reporting over many years but @NPR needs to keep my name out of their memos unless they are going to fully cop to the double standards. — Michele Norris (@michele_norris) September 24, 2020
In a letter penned to NPR staff announcing her resignation from “All Things Considered,” Norris said that she, along with NPR management, had decided her husband’s “new role could make it difficult for me to continue hosting.”
“This has all happened very quickly, but working closely with NPR management, we’ve been able to make a plan that serves the show, honors the integrity of our news organization and is best for me professionally and personally,” Norris wrote at the time.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Roy Wood Jr. Has A Fail-Safe Solution If Trump Refuses To Concede The Election

“ The Daily Show ” comedian Roy Wood Jr. has a foolproof plan to get through whatever the November election may bring .
Host Trevor Noah dedicated a segment Thursday to President Donald Trump ’ s refusal a day earlier to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose at the polls .
Noting that it ’ s “ no surprise ” that Trump “ likes the idea of being a dictator , ” Noah asked Wood for his advice on how to respond if Trump does refuse to concede power peacefully upon a loss .
Noah said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about possible Election Day violence .
Wood can be seen frantically stuffing a suitcase with belongings but said ( unconvincingly ) that he ’ s not concerned .
Pressed by Noah on his bag-packing , Wood promised there was really nothing to worry about : “ It ’ s not like I ’ m about to leave America before Donald Trump declares himself king for life .
And even if he was gon na do that , Trevor , don ’ t you trust his fellow Republicans to stand up to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you put it like that , it actually makes me more worried , ” Noah said .

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“The Daily Show” comedian Roy Wood Jr. has a foolproof plan to get through whatever the November election may bring.
Host Trevor Noah dedicated a segment Thursday to President Donald Trump’s refusal a day earlier to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose at the polls.
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Noting that it’s “no surprise” that Trump “likes the idea of being a dictator,” Noah asked Wood for his advice on how to respond if Trump does refuse to concede power peacefully upon a loss. Noah said this rhetoric has led some to be concerned about possible Election Day violence.
Wood can be seen frantically stuffing a suitcase with belongings but said (unconvincingly) that he’s not concerned.
Pressed by Noah on his bag-packing, Wood promised there was really nothing to worry about: “It’s not like I’m about to leave America before Donald Trump declares himself king for life. And even if he was gonna do that, Trevor, don’t you trust his fellow Republicans to stand up to him?”
“You know, when you put it like that, it actually makes me more worried,” Noah said.
Watch the skit below.
A November coup? The latest on Trump’s refusal to say he’ll leave peacefully if he loses: pic.twitter.com/JKk3GgIS3x — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 25, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-24--House Democrats Propose 18 Year Term Limits For Supreme Court Justices

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) - Democrats in of the House of Representatives will introduce a bill next week to limit the tenure of U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18 years from current lifetime appointments , in a bid to reduce partisan warring over vacancies and preserve the court ’ s legitimacy .
The new bill , seen by Reuters , would allow every president to nominate two justices per four-year term and comes amid heightened political tensions as Republican President Donald Trump prepares to announce his third pick for the Supreme Court after the death on Sept. 18 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 days to go until the Nov. 3 election .
“ It would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric , ” said California U.S. Representative Ro Khanna , who plans to introduce the legislation on Tuesday , along with Representatives Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts and Don Beyer of Virginia .
Term limits for high court justices have for years had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on both the right and the left .
Several polls in recent years have also shown large majorities of the American public support term limits .
The bill - the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act - is the first to try to set Supreme Court term limits by statute , according to Gabe Roth , the executive director of Fix the Court , a judicial transparency group whose campaign for high court term limits has been gaining attention .
Some legal observers , including those who favor term limits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment to the U.S. Constitution , which has been interpreted as requiring life tenure for federal judges and justices .
The bill seeks to avoid constitutional concerns by exempting current justices from the 18-year rule .
Those appointed under term limits would become “ senior ” upon retirement and rotate to lower courts .

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrats in of the House of Representatives will introduce a bill next week to limit the tenure of U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18 years from current lifetime appointments, in a bid to reduce partisan warring over vacancies and preserve the court’s legitimacy.
The new bill, seen by Reuters, would allow every president to nominate two justices per four-year term and comes amid heightened political tensions as Republican President Donald Trump prepares to announce his third pick for the Supreme Court after the death on Sept. 18 of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with just 40 days to go until the Nov. 3 election.
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“It would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric,” said California U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, who plans to introduce the legislation on Tuesday, along with Representatives Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts and Don Beyer of Virginia.
Partly due to rising life expectancies, justices serve increasingly long tenures, on average now more than 25 years.
Term limits for high court justices have for years had support from a number of legal scholars on both the right and the left. Several polls in recent years have also shown large majorities of the American public support term limits.
The bill - the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act - is the first to try to set Supreme Court term limits by statute, according to Gabe Roth, the executive director of Fix the Court, a judicial transparency group whose campaign for high court term limits has been gaining attention.
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Some legal observers, including those who favor term limits, say they must be accomplished through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which has been interpreted as requiring life tenure for federal judges and justices.
The bill seeks to avoid constitutional concerns by exempting current justices from the 18-year rule. Those appointed under term limits would become “senior” upon retirement and rotate to lower courts.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Ron DeSantis Lifts Bar And Restaurant Limits As COVID Kills Hundreds In Florida Weekly

Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) lifted restrictions on restaurants , bars and other businesses in Florida on Friday even as COVID-19 continues to kill hundreds of people each week in his state .
DeSantis issued an “ emergency order ” allowing restaurants and bars to immediately serve customers at full capacity with minimal social distancing requirements , which medical experts believe is particularly risky for the spread of the coronavirus .
Local governments will still have the option to restrict operations to a minimum of 50 % capacity — but they will have to make a case to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also banning any local fines for the refusal to wear a face mask or social distance , regardless of local rules .
“ I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for social distancing , and just work with people constructively , ” DeSantis said .
“ We ’ re not closing anything going forward , ” said DeSantis .
Yet he also declared , without offering any details , that the state is “ prepared if we see an increase.
” “ The governor has always tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible … [ and ] just ignore mainstream science , ” said Mayor Dan Gelber .
“ This is really not the way to handle either a health care or economic crisis .
It ’ s … going to kill people.
” Just as DeSantis was touting lifting restrictions , Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez tweeted that the region ’ s positive COVID tests were beginning to inch upward again .
“ We can ’ t let our guard down now , ” he warned .
# MaskUpMiami : Today 's positivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ca n't let our guard down now that more of us are out in public .
Remember to enjoy your time out safely so we do n't go backwards .
Here is today 's # NewNormal Dashboard : https : //t.co/h5eJBzHpoJ pic.twitter.com/Ox9u6Jf1AD — Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez ( @ MayorGimenez ) September 25 , 2020 Florida has lost more than 14,000 people to COVID , the fifth-highest death toll of all U.S. states .
Florida ’ s death toll per 100,000 people is third in the nation .
It also has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 .
DeSantis appeared to diminish concerns about that group succumbing to COVID by referring to his state earlier this year as “ God ’ s waiting room ” for retirees .
DeSantis was one of the last governors in the nation to issue a stay-at-home order and restrictions on businesses because of the pandemic , saying he was waiting for guidelines from the White House — which never came .
He also largely gave spring-breakers free rein to pack the state ’ s beaches , bars and restaurants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll have dropped significantly since earlier this summer , but the state continues to lose close to 700 residents weekly to the illness .
Those numbers could worsen with reopened schools and DeSantis ’ elimination of restrictions .

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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) lifted restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses in Florida on Friday even as COVID-19 continues to kill hundreds of people each week in his state.
He also vowed not to reinstate restrictions in the future.
DeSantis issued an “emergency order” allowing restaurants and bars to immediately serve customers at full capacity with minimal social distancing requirements, which medical experts believe is particularly risky for the spread of the coronavirus.
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“There will not be limitations from the state of Florida,” DeSantis said at a press conference.
Local governments will still have the option to restrict operations to a minimum of 50% capacity — but they will have to make a case to do so, he added.
The action at least temporarily ends a shutdown order for bars, nightclubs and strip clubs throughout Miami-Dade County, a COVID hotspot, the Miami Herald reported.
DeSantis is also banning any local fines for the refusal to wear a face mask or social distance, regardless of local rules.
“I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for social distancing, and just work with people constructively,” DeSantis said.
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He also argued that businesses need “predictability” and declared that the reopenings wouldn’t be reversed.
“We’re not closing anything going forward,” said DeSantis. Yet he also declared, without offering any details, that the state is “prepared if we see an increase.”
The mayor of Miami Beach immediately blasted the decision, calling it purely political and dangerous.
“The governor has always tried to be as much like President Trump as possible … [and] just ignore mainstream science,” said Mayor Dan Gelber. “This is really not the way to handle either a health care or economic crisis. It’s … going to kill people.”
Bars and clubs had been shut down in Miami-Dade County. Indoor dining was capped at 50% capacity.
Just as DeSantis was touting lifting restrictions, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez tweeted that the region’s positive COVID tests were beginning to inch upward again. “We can’t let our guard down now,” he warned.
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#MaskUpMiami: Today's positivity rate inched slightly above 5%. We can't let our guard down now that more of us are out in public. Remember to enjoy your time out safely so we don't go backwards. Here is today's #NewNormal Dashboard: https://t.co/h5eJBzHpoJ pic.twitter.com/Ox9u6Jf1AD — Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) September 25, 2020
Florida has lost more than 14,000 people to COVID, the fifth-highest death toll of all U.S. states. Florida’s death toll per 100,000 people is third in the nation.
It also has a high percentage of older residents who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. DeSantis appeared to diminish concerns about that group succumbing to COVID by referring to his state earlier this year as “God’s waiting room” for retirees.
DeSantis was one of the last governors in the nation to issue a stay-at-home order and restrictions on businesses because of the pandemic, saying he was waiting for guidelines from the White House — which never came. He also largely gave spring-breakers free rein to pack the state’s beaches, bars and restaurants.
Florida’s COVID hospitalizations and death toll have dropped significantly since earlier this summer, but the state continues to lose close to 700 residents weekly to the illness. Those numbers could worsen with reopened schools and DeSantis’ elimination of restrictions.
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The governor’s full press conference can be seen below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--There’s A Better Way To Get Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors

The criminal justice system has historically failed survivors of sexual violence .
And it ’ s easy to make that conclusion when reading the statistics : Three out of four sexual assaults are not reported to police , often for survivors ’ fear of being victim-blamed .
Out of the cases that are reported to police , 13 % get referred to prosecutors .
And only 7 % of those cases lead to a felony conviction .
Dr. Mary Koss , a Regents ’ Professor at University of Arizona ’ s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report released Friday , published by Data For Progress and the Justice Collaborative Institute .
Currently , there are a very limited number of options for victims seeking justice , but by implementing restorative justice ― an alternative method to addressing harm by relying on community members instead of the criminal system ― survivors could have a say in what type of justice they ’ re seeking and how they receive it .
The criminal justice system is a pipeline , and it has leaks all along the way .
Dr. Mary Koss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s College of Public Health Last month , HuffPost spoke to more than a dozen survivors of sexual assault about the debate over defunding police .
All of them said police usually ended up re-traumatizing them instead of helping them find justice .
Many of the survivors said they ’ d like to see more restorative justice alternatives implemented in the current criminal system , telling HuffPost that many social services that could receive a reallocation of funding from downsized police budgets are the very types of services victims need when they report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other trauma-informed social services .
It starts with when victims make their first decision , which is , are they going to report to the police or not ?
And that often depends on how they believe they ’ re going to be treated .
Police officers are people and they make their decisions based on the same grounds that many other people do : their response to sexual assault victims can be steeped in myths and stereotypes .
They can be trained to be more sensitive , but their job is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fairly hard to do that ― no matter how good your training is ― without being somewhat harsh .
Some of the VAWA money does go to police and it trickles down to the local policing level .
I believe that money should be up for discussion about whether it ’ s being used in the best way .
I got some of that money once and I had to go to a hearing and listen to who else was competing for it .
One of the other proposals was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vans and get it all tripped out .
Luckily , there was the right person in the right place who said maybe we don ’ t need that tank and we could actually help some people who are working towards restorative justice .
I ’ m having this internal struggle , because restorative justice doesn ’ t advertise itself as being victim-centered .
It visualizes itself more as a triangle .
The current adversarial justice system is seen as having basically one customer and that ’ s the defendant .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put that person , if possible , in prison .
The victim is not seen as a customer of the criminal justice system .
So the victim doesn ’ t get good service necessarily because you ’ re not a customer .
You ’ re just there as an assistant to do their job , observing their customer ― the defendant .
It ’ s certainly better for victims : it gives them more choice , more control over the process , more flexibility to shape the process , and it provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are many , many ways in which it is set up to be a better experience for victims .
But it ’ s not set up that way at the expense of denying due process to the wrongdoer or at the expense of putting the community at risk from having unsafe people running around .

Illustration: Damon Dahlen/HuffPost; Photos: Getty
The criminal justice system has historically failed survivors of sexual violence. And it’s easy to make that conclusion when reading the statistics: Three out of four sexual assaults are not reported to police, often for survivors’ fear of being victim-blamed. Out of the cases that are reported to police, 13% get referred to prosecutors. And only 7% of those cases lead to a felony conviction.
But what if there was a better approach to getting justice for victims of sexual assault?
Dr. Mary Koss, a Regents’ Professor at University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, illustrates multiple justice alternatives in a new report released Friday, published by Data For Progress and the Justice Collaborative Institute. Currently, there are a very limited number of options for victims seeking justice, but by implementing restorative justice ― an alternative method to addressing harm by relying on community members instead of the criminal system ― survivors could have a say in what type of justice they’re seeking and how they receive it.
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“The criminal justice system is a pipeline, and it has leaks all along the way,” Koss told HuffPost, adding that only “a drop of consequence comes out.”
“The criminal justice system is a pipeline, and it has leaks all along the way.” - Dr. Mary Koss, professor at University of Arizona’s College of Public Health
Using restorative justice practices could fix that leaky pipeline, Koss said. Out of a survey of over 1,000 U.S. voters, 69% said they would support making mental health and trauma-related services available to survivors who choose not to report to police. Nearly 60% of all respondents supported reallocating funds from law enforcement to support financing those victim services.
Last month, HuffPost spoke to more than a dozen survivors of sexual assault about the debate over defunding police. All of them said police usually ended up re-traumatizing them instead of helping them find justice. Many of the survivors said they’d like to see more restorative justice alternatives implemented in the current criminal system, telling HuffPost that many social services that could receive a reallocation of funding from downsized police budgets are the very types of services victims need when they report: mental health, addiction services and other trauma-informed social services.
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HuffPost spoke with Koss about alternative justice options beyond what our criminal system currently offers.
Can you walk me through how the criminal justice system often fails sexual assault survivors?
It starts with when victims make their first decision, which is, are they going to report to the police or not? And that often depends on how they believe they’re going to be treated. Police officers are people and they make their decisions based on the same grounds that many other people do: their response to sexual assault victims can be steeped in myths and stereotypes. They can be trained to be more sensitive, but their job is to get at the evidence. And it’s fairly hard to do that ― no matter how good your training is ― without being somewhat harsh.
So if you look at the cases that police decide ― whether they just don’t have the resources to investigate or they, frankly, don’t believe the victim ― that pile will have too many minorities, too many people with substance abuse issues and too many people with mental illness problems.
But it has to be recognized that police aren’t the only part of the criminal justice system. They’re just the beginning of it.
Any case that survives police investigation goes to prosecutors, where they often apply those same perspectives or biases again. In addition, they think about: “Can we win this case in a courtroom?” Because if they can’t, they won’t waste their resources on it.
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When you put this all together, what we’ve got is an adversarial justice system, where the purpose of the system is to uncover the evidence, weigh the evidence, assign culpability and set punishment. The criminal justice system is woefully inadequate to address the crime of sexual assault.
There’s been a lot of discussion around the movement to defund the police. Although sexual assault survivors have a spectrum of experiences with law enforcement, how would you approach the conversation around defunding the police in relation to alternative justice options for victims?
If I had to put it in my words, it would be: Reallocate VAWA [Violence Against Women Act] money. Yes, I don’t think police should be working as social workers. But I don’t think that sexual assault survivors are asking police to work as social workers.
Some of the VAWA money does go to police and it trickles down to the local policing level. I believe that money should be up for discussion about whether it’s being used in the best way. I got some of that money once and I had to go to a hearing and listen to who else was competing for it. One of the other proposals was to buy one of those great big riot vans and get it all tripped out. Luckily, there was the right person in the right place who said maybe we don’t need that tank and we could actually help some people who are working towards restorative justice.
We have to take a look at the VAWA money. Where is it going? I don’t believe that the money for restorative justice should come from taking money solely away from police departments. The role police play in sexual assault, although it’s a critical gatekeeper function, is again just the first part of the system.
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How would a restorative justice option help fix our “adversarial” justice system?
Restorative justice is also about holding people accountable. In the U.S., since we have such a high incarceration rate compared to the rest of the world, we think the only way to take crime seriously is to put people in prison. The process believes in holding people accountable in meaningful ways that are community based.
The only thing I would like to emphasize is that not all wrongdoers are willing to take even the slightest bit of responsibility for what they did. And those people unfortunately can’t be dealt with in restorative justice, because restorative justice is for people who seek a process that helps.
Would you say restorative justice is a more victim-centered approach?
I’m having this internal struggle, because restorative justice doesn’t advertise itself as being victim-centered. It visualizes itself more as a triangle. The current adversarial justice system is seen as having basically one customer and that’s the defendant. And it’s the justice system’s job to put that person, if possible, in prison. The victim is not seen as a customer of the criminal justice system. So the victim doesn’t get good service necessarily because you’re not a customer. You’re just there as an assistant to do their job, observing their customer ― the defendant.
“The current adversarial justice system is seen as having basically one customer and that’s the defendant. And it’s the justice system’s job to put that person, if possible, in prison. The victim is not seen as a customer of the criminal justice system ... You’re just there as an assistant to do their job, observing their customer ― the defendant.”
Restorative justice was created to say that justice shouldn’t just focus on the wrongdoer, justice has to focus on the wrong as well as on the wrongdoer. Restorative justice is often illustrated as a triangle where it’s got victim, wrongdoer and community because you have to balance the needs of all three.
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It’s certainly better for victims: it gives them more choice, more control over the process, more flexibility to shape the process, and it provides them with a validating environment. There are many, many ways in which it is set up to be a better experience for victims. But it’s not set up that way at the expense of denying due process to the wrongdoer or at the expense of putting the community at risk from having unsafe people running around.
I recently had a conversation with a sexual assault survivor for an article about defunding the police. She said something that’s really stuck with me: She initially chose not to report her abuser because she believed he would be sexually assaulted in prison, essentially reinforcing and perpetuating the very violence he perpetrated himself.
Altruism of victims is important to note here. Oftentimes if people who are looking to hold their wrongdoer accountable were given a list of possible consequences, most would not select “I want this person to go to prison.” But unfortunately, we have a system set up that has a very limited menu.
We don’t really have an alternative that’s available to sexual assault victims. Often this forces victims to take justice into their own hands by writing guys’ names on bathroom walls and keeping social media lists of fraternities that have rapists in them. Those are some of the ways people have struggled to find alternative systems of justice.
What do you hope people take away from your report?
We need to make sure we’ve connected or reconnected with the voices of the victims we are supposedly serving. We have to be prepared for the fact that justice is a luxury. If you’ve got money problems, food problems, housing problems, day care problems, transportation problems, employment problems, you can’t afford the luxury of justice. It’s not appealing to you. So when we are creating alternative justice options we have to think in that broader perspective.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--The Difference Between Stress And Burnout (And How To Tell Which You Have)

“ We feel stress when our mental , physical or emotional reserves are pushed past our comfort level , ” Ryan Howes , a clinical psychologist in Pasadena , California , told HuffPost .
“ It ’ s important to note that stress can be negative , like trying to please a demanding boss or pushing to meet a deadline , or positive , like working out or throwing a party .
Each of these push us out of the comfort zone , but the effort seems temporary and may actually help us grow and achieve a desired goal.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know you ’ re starting to feel burned out when the Sunday Scaries are your least favorite time of the week .
When the idea of being fired or laid off seems like a positive outcome .
When your first thought when you begin your work day is how good it will feel to leave work at the end of the day , ” said Howes , author of the “ Mental Health Journal for Men.
” Some aspects of your work life ( like the company culture or project deadlines ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so focus on what you can change .
Are there any steps you can take that might make your job more enjoyable and fulfilling ?
Have a conversation with your boss about tackling a project that actually excites you and delegating some of your other responsibilities .
Perhaps there ’ s another role at the company that would be a better fit for you .
“ Looking at what you do as hobbies and interests : Are these things which recharge you both from enjoyment and the people you are surrounded with ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can burn out because we feel we have to be everything , or can ’ t say no , and we end up doing lots of things that other people enjoy .
It is vital that we find the things that make us smile , laugh and feel warm inside.
” “ Leaving a job can be a scary thing , but recognizing a poor fit and seeking out something else that brings meaning to your life is sometimes the best choice , ” Howes said .
“ Keep looking for the type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seek out a connection there .
Leaving a position that burns you out may be the best decision you ever made .
”

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It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
You’ve been feeling exhausted, depleted and disengaged from work for a while now. Is it job stress? Or is it burnout?
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The terms “stress” and “burnout” are sometimes used interchangeably. They exist on the same spectrum, but there are some key differences.
For one, stress that’s temporary or tied to a particular event is a normal part of life that we all experience from time to time.
“We feel stress when our mental, physical or emotional reserves are pushed past our comfort level,” Ryan Howes, a clinical psychologist in Pasadena, California, told HuffPost. “It’s important to note that stress can be negative, like trying to please a demanding boss or pushing to meet a deadline, or positive, like working out or throwing a party. Each of these push us out of the comfort zone, but the effort seems temporary and may actually help us grow and achieve a desired goal.”
Burnout, however, is a response to extended, excessive stress that leaves you mentally and physically drained, cynical, detached and less effective as a result. Left unresolved, burnout can give way to mental health conditions like clinical depression.
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“Suppose we continually experience stress for a prolonged period of time, without being able to change it,” said Lee Chambers, an environmental psychologist and well-being consultant in the U.K. “In that case, we can begin to feel empty, lacking motive, pessimistic and generally careless about life. This is burnout.”
When you’re dealing with burnout, you may feel hopeless about your situation. You have trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The overarching feeling is scarcity of energy, motivation and purpose, and feeling like it won’t change,” Chambers said.
Another way to look at it? “Stress can be characterized by over-engagement — or doing too much — whereas burnout often leads to disengagement — or not doing enough — and feeling emotionally blunted,” said Zainab Delawalla, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta.
In 2019, the World Health Organization classified job burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” (not a medical condition) in its International Classification of Diseases. Generally, the term burnout is used in the context of work, but it doesn’t just happen to people who are overworked. It can also occur when you’re being under-challenged professionally or because of unfair treatment in the workplace.
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Burnout can also apply to other areas of life, such as parenting or caretaking — and more recently, the coronavirus pandemic. Whatever the source of continued stress may be, you’ll start to feel like you’re running on fumes, making it more difficult to handle basic responsibilities and enjoy the once-pleasurable aspects of your life.
fizkes via Getty Images There's a difference between stress and burnout, and it's important to have healthy coping mechanisms for both.
Signs You May Be Experiencing Burnout
Some symptoms of burnout are similar to those that pop up during times of stress. With stress, however, the symptoms generally subside when the event (like a big presentation at work, for example) has passed. If the symptoms are more severe and persist over a longer period of time, they could be indicative of burnout.
“This is because the difference between stress and burnout is a matter of degree,” psychologist and author Sherrie Bourg Carter wrote in a blog post for Psychology Today. “So the best way to prevent burnout is to identify the symptoms as close as possible to the less severe end of these continuums, because the less severe the symptoms, the easier they are to relieve.”
Here are some signs you’re experiencing burnout:
1. You have sleep issues.
You’re permanently tired — physically, emotionally and mentally. But no matter how much sleep you get, you never feel rested.
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You might be oversleeping or you might struggle with insomnia because thoughts of work keep you up at night, Delawalla said.
2. You dread going to work.
Just thinking about your job fills you with angst.
“You know you’re starting to feel burned out when the Sunday Scaries are your least favorite time of the week. When the idea of being fired or laid off seems like a positive outcome. When your first thought when you begin your work day is how good it will feel to leave work at the end of the day,” said Howes, author of the “Mental Health Journal for Men.”
3. You get sick a lot.
The prolonged stress can tax your immune system, which means you get ill more often and it takes longer to recover when you do, Delawalla said.
You may also experience other physical symptoms like frequent headaches, digestive issues and muscle tension.
4. You’ve lost your motivation and sense of purpose.
The physical and mental exhaustion wear you down over time. You have trouble pushing yourself to complete tasks and assignments because your work feels pointless.
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“The overarching feeling is scarcity of energy, motivation and purpose, and feeling like it won’t change.” - Lee Chambers, environmental psychologist
“This comes with a feeling of pessimism with everything in life, negative attitudes towards others in our lives, continued low mood and feeling detached from reality,” Chambers added. “We have low morale and ask ourselves: Is it worth bothering?”
5. You’re isolating yourself.
Chatting with co-workers and making plans with friends and family used to be a bright spot in your week. Now you feel like you can’t afford to take a break, nor do you have the wherewithal to engage with other people. (And now, with the coronavirus, it’s much harder to do those things anyway.)
“You have no desire to seek help or even socialize, often fueled by feelings of guilt,” Delawalla said. “Like, ‘If I can’t find the time to do X, I certainly don’t have time to hang out with my friends.’”
6. Your work performance is suffering.
Your concentration and creativity are shot, which means you’re less productive and making more mistakes.
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“You may find yourself having to re-read things or asking colleagues to repeat themselves,” Bourg Carter said. “Because you can’t focus, it takes longer to get your work done, so things begin to pile up, causing more stress. At its worse, these symptoms prevent you from getting anything done, and you simply can’t keep up.”
You may also find it difficult to maintain positive relationships with your colleagues, romantic partner and friends.
“Cynicism and poor emotional regulation also lead to increased conflict and feelings of frustration and irritability,” Chambers said.
Advice On Dealing With Burnout
Geber86 via Getty Images Experts recommend checking in with yourself often so you don't get to the point of complete burnout.
The earlier you recognize the signs of burnout, the better. Unfortunately, it’s often not until things get dire that people realize just how burned out they really are. So remember to check in with yourself often.
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Think you’re dealing with burnout? Here’s what experts recommend doing to combat it.
Look for ways to make your work feel meaningful.
Some aspects of your work life (like the company culture or project deadlines) may be outside of your control, so focus on what you can change. Are there any steps you can take that might make your job more enjoyable and fulfilling? Have a conversation with your boss about tackling a project that actually excites you and delegating some of your other responsibilities. Perhaps there’s another role at the company that would be a better fit for you.
“Maybe your actual job description doesn’t align with your passion of bringing joy to others, but is there another way you can bring joy to co-workers or clients that could scratch that itch?” Howes said.
Carve out time to do the things that make you feel good.
When you’re burning out, taking time for yourself may feel impossible, but it’s even more essential. Incorporate whichever activities feel enriching and restorative to you: journaling, running, doing yoga, going to the beach or playing guitar, to name a few.
“Looking at what you do as hobbies and interests: Are these things which recharge you both from enjoyment and the people you are surrounded with?” Chambers said. “Sometimes we can burn out because we feel we have to be everything, or can’t say no, and we end up doing lots of things that other people enjoy. It is vital that we find the things that make us smile, laugh and feel warm inside.”
Creating a self-care routine can also be beneficial, but don’t put undue pressure on yourself to execute it perfectly each day.
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“It’s important that we don’t try to rigidly shoehorn self-care into our lives, as this can potentially cause us to fire the perfectionism, which might have been a factor in burnout,” Chambers said.
Take some time off work, if you’re able to.
That may include incorporating regular breaks throughout your day, keeping more consistent work hours or requesting time off to regroup.
“Taking an intentional break is vital to rest and recharge the body and mind,” Chambers said. “Taking yourself away, especially into a natural environment, induces feelings of grounding and serenity, and the solitude can give us the headspace to start to process the bigger picture.”
Reach out for support.
It’s not uncommon to withdraw from friends and family when you feel burned out. But during this time, you need to be reminded that you’re not alone and that there are people in your life who want to help — and may have even dealt with burnout themselves.
“Planning where to turn in challenging times is also essential,” Chambers said. “Having the knowledge that there are people who can support you, resources you can access, and a whole network out there to use makes us feel more connected and that we no longer have to find all the solutions ourselves.”
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In addition to talking to people in your circle, you may also want to consider speaking with a mental health professional.
“Leaving a position that burns you out may be the best decision you ever made.” - Ryan Howes, psychologist
“Stress can often bring underlying anxieties to the surface and burnout shares many of its characteristics with clinical depression — like disengagement, lack of motivation, fatigue, sleep problems,” Delawalla said. “Therapy can not only offer a neutral lens through which to evaluate your current circumstances, but also teach you the skills to manage stress before it leads to anxiety or depression.”
If the situation isn’t improving, it may be time to look for a new job.
Tried implementing some of these strategies and still miserable? That may be an indication you need to explore other career opportunities.
“Your job isn’t as important as your health, and facing burnout means it’s time to accept a change is needed,” Chambers said.
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Start by taking small steps like updating your résumé, making a list of what you’re looking for in a new job, connecting with a mentor or researching available positions to get some momentum going. Taking action feels empowering and makes you more hopeful about the future, Chambers said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Trainer Does Pushups By Her Casket In Moving Tribute

Bryant Johnson was among the mourners who appeared at the U.S. Capitol on Friday morning to pay their respects to Ginsburg , who died last week at age 87 .
When it was Johnson ’ s turn to approach the flag-covered casket , he dropped to the ground and did three pushups .
It was a particularly fitting tribute .
Johnson , an Army veteran and a member of the Special Forces Airborne Unit , coached Ginsburg on her fitness regimen for more than 20 years .
Ginsburg began working out with Johnson in 1999 at the urging of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergone treatment for colon cancer .
The justice ’ s go-to exercises included planks , bicep curls and one-legged squats , Johnson has said .
In 2017 , Bryant Johnson published an illustrated exercise book , `` The RBG Workout : How She Stays Strong ... and You Can Too ! ''
“ I attribute my well-being to our meetings twice a week , ” Ginsburg said of her trainer in a 2013 Washington Post interview .
“ It ’ s essential.
” Though Johnson ’ s other high-profile clients have included Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kagan , his working relationship with Ginsburg helped put him on the national map .
In 2017 , he published an illustrated exercise book , “ The RBG Workout : How She Stays Strong ... and You Can Too !
” The following year , he appeared alongside Ginsburg on “ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , ” where the two enjoyed an on-air workout with the host .
“ She ’ s never , ever told me ‘ can ’ t , ’ ” Johnson told ABC7 last year .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at me several times , but she ’ s never , ever said ‘ can ’ t .
’ ”

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s personal trainer said goodbye to the late Supreme Court justice through calisthenics.
Bryant Johnson was among the mourners who appeared at the U.S. Capitol on Friday morning to pay their respects to Ginsburg, who died last week at age 87. When it was Johnson’s turn to approach the flag-covered casket, he dropped to the ground and did three pushups.
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It was a particularly fitting tribute. Johnson, an Army veteran and a member of the Special Forces Airborne Unit, coached Ginsburg on her fitness regimen for more than 20 years.
Ginsburg began working out with Johnson in 1999 at the urging of her husband, Martin, after she had undergone treatment for colon cancer. The justice’s go-to exercises included planks, bicep curls and one-legged squats, Johnson has said.
In 2017, Bryant Johnson published an illustrated exercise book, "The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong ... and You Can Too!" ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I attribute my well-being to our meetings twice a week,” Ginsburg said of her trainer in a 2013 Washington Post interview. “It’s essential.”
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Though Johnson’s other high-profile clients have included Supreme Court associate justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, his working relationship with Ginsburg helped put him on the national map. In 2017, he published an illustrated exercise book, “The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong ... and You Can Too!” The following year, he appeared alongside Ginsburg on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where the two enjoyed an on-air workout with the host.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Vietnamese Condom Factory Accused Of Recycling Used Prophylactics

HANOI , Vietnam ( AP ) — Vietnamese police said they will investigate a factory that was found recycling about @ @ @ @ @ , local media reported Thursday .
Following a tip from a local resident , Binh @ @ @ @ @ the weekend raided a factory near Ho Chi Minh City where they found used condoms @ @ @ @ @ the market , the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper reported .
A market inspector said the @ @ @ @ @ a 34-year-old woman , confessed that they bought the used condoms from a man in @ @ @ @ @ were washed , reshaped and packed into plastic packages , the newspaper said .
It @ @ @ @ @ investigate and track down others involved in the operation .
A call to police for @ @ @ @ @ .
The newspaper quoted a health official as saying the recycled condoms posed an extreme @ @ @ @ @

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HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnamese police said they will investigate a factory that was found recycling about 320,000 used condoms for resale, local media reported Thursday.
Following a tip from a local resident, Binh Duong provincial market inspectors over the weekend raided a factory near Ho Chi Minh City where they found used condoms being repacked for sale at the market, the state-owned Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.
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A market inspector said the owner of the factory, a 34-year-old woman, confessed that they bought the used condoms from a man in the province. The condoms were washed, reshaped and packed into plastic packages, the newspaper said.
It said police announced they will investigate and track down others involved in the operation. A call to police for comment was not answered Thursday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--ASMR Is Overwhelmingly White. Here Are Some Black Artists To Watch.

“ Most people take on endeavors because they identify with someone else in that space , and looking like someone is the quickest and simplest way to identify with someone , ” the Southern California-based YouTuber said .
“ It ’ s the same reason there are so few women in engineering or professional gaming.
” “ People have called me the N-word , monkey and have threatened to cancel and report my videos just because of my skin color , ” she said .
“ I believe that people simply seek out people that look like them on YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race issue in the community , too.
” “ The best way to shine light on Black ASMRtists is collaboration , ” Curtis said .
“ We can ’ t change what people are immediately attracted to or the YouTube algorithm , which is in favor of white creators as society still prefers white .
But we can put Black people in the immediate way of it , via collaboration , and create that positive association and a sense of legitimacy that I believe are missing.
” “ I think we can speculate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty of reasons , including the fact that YouTube tends to be a direct reflection of our society in terms of who makes it to the top , ” said Gibi Klein , a popular ASMRtist and cosplayer .
“ White privilege doesn ’ t cease to exist on the internet , not at all.
” Given how much money there is in YouTube content creation , Klein also thinks that transparency about brand deals is important .
( For instance , if a white creator sees a person of color making a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing how much she was paid to ensure that the POC is getting paid similarly or at least proportionately . )
If you haven ’ t gotten a proper haircut in months because of the pandemic , Trigger the Tingles ’ channel is for you .
With a soothing voice and cadence , Layla does ASMR role-playing that ’ s usually centered around hair ( a big subcategory in the ASMR community ) : haircuts , scalp massages , shampoo and scrubs ― you name it .
There are also videos that touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice on things such as breakups .

Annura's ASMR/ASMR Sharm/Trigger Happy ASMR It's time to check out these Black creators of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos on YouTube.
Ah, the world of ASMR: Whispers. Mic scratches. Crackles. Tingles. ... And a whole lot of white people.
ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, a tingling sensation that occurs when some people hear soft noises, such as whispering or crisp sounds such as tapping and crinkling. These hushed, oftentimes sleep-inducing videos are wildly popular on YouTube. Many of the videos’ creators ― called ASMRtists ― locked down lucrative deals with brands in recent years, becoming their own type of influencers.
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But when you click through the selection of clips on YouTube ― or peruse internet rankings of top ASMRtists, you can’t help but wonder: Where are all the Black people?
James Curtis, who goes by Darker4Serenity ASMR on YouTube, quickly noticed when he first started watching the genre that “the face” of ASMR was telegenic white (or white-passing) women. Nearly all the women ranking in views were attractive white women ― people like Gentle Whispering ASMR and WhispersRed ASMR.
The ASMR creative community stayed white, at least to some extent, because of YouTube’s algorithm. The algorithm picks up what people watch and shoots out similar suggestions: in this case, more whispering white people.
That’s disheartening and discouraging if you’re a Black ASMR enthusiast looking to get into the game, Curtis said.
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“Most people take on endeavors because they identify with someone else in that space, and looking like someone is the quickest and simplest way to identify with someone,” the Southern California-based YouTuber said. “It’s the same reason there are so few women in engineering or professional gaming.”
“White privilege doesn’t cease to exist on the internet, not at all.” - Gibi Klein
It certainly doesn’t help that YouTube’s comment sections are often full of racist and harassing remarks ― an issue that the platform recently admitted it’s trying to fix.
Samantha Gipson, an ASMR creator who goes by LatreceASMR, experienced it firsthand.
“People have called me the N-word, monkey and have threatened to cancel and report my videos just because of my skin color,” she said. “I believe that people simply seek out people that look like them on YouTube, but there is definitely is a race issue in the community, too.”
Collaborations with popular white ASMR creators could help boost Black creators’ audiences, but few of those collab videos are cross-racial.
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“The best way to shine light on Black ASMRtists is collaboration,” Curtis said. “We can’t change what people are immediately attracted to or the YouTube algorithm, which is in favor of white creators as society still prefers white. But we can put Black people in the immediate way of it, via collaboration, and create that positive association and a sense of legitimacy that I believe are missing.”
In the meantime, Black ASMRtists are doing their own collaborations. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, a handful of Black ASMRtists created a “sleep clinic”-themed collaboration that they released on Juneteenth.
While there are some confused critics in the comments ― “they seem to only have been picked because of their skin colour,” one person wrote, clearly missing the point ― the majority of the replies are supportive.
“The video was created with the intent of giving the smaller channels a spotlight to show their talent on the more ‘popular’ channels pages that are featured,” said ASMR Sharm, the YouTuber who spearheaded the collaboration.
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“But also, I created it to show that we, too, exist,” she said. “We’re Black and just as good!”
Still, it’s not lost on many of the popular white ASMRtists that their community has a distinct lack of melanin.
“I think we can speculate on why ASMR is so white for plenty of reasons, including the fact that YouTube tends to be a direct reflection of our society in terms of who makes it to the top,” said Gibi Klein, a popular ASMRtist and cosplayer. “White privilege doesn’t cease to exist on the internet, not at all.”
As for how to help boost Black talent, Klein said she makes a point to recommend Black ASMRtists and actively seeks out their content. That’s the best way to make sure your suggested video feed is diverse.
Given how much money there is in YouTube content creation, Klein also thinks that transparency about brand deals is important. (For instance, if a white creator sees a person of color making a similar brand deal, she should consider sharing how much she was paid to ensure that the POC is getting paid similarly or at least proportionately.)
“I have an open door whenever possible in terms of being available to answer questions about content creation, YouTube in general or especially the business side, as my husband manages sponsorships for a lot of ASMR creators,” Klein said.
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Here’s a list of Black ASMRtists that I’ve been compiling for a while. Big and small. Everyone who I’ve come across. If you are / or you know any black ASMRtists who aren’t on this list, let me know! https://t.co/SjZgoToIJF https://t.co/AZybKrk8EH — Wildheart ASMR (@WildheartASMR) May 30, 2020
Simply talking about the lack of representation in the ASMR community helps, too. Inevitably, those conversations turn to debates on whether race matters in a medium that’s largely audio. Does the skin color of the person who’s whispering “sksksk” as you nod off really make a huge difference in terms of representation?
It does, if you consider that ASMR is much more than just fuzzy mic tingles and scratching sounds.
Anecdotally, ASMR fans said that the videos cured their insomnia, helped them manage symptoms of PTSD and depression, made them feel less alone and calmed them in moments of heightened anxiety.
Given the outsized role ASMR plays in viewers’ lives, instead of asking “does race really matter here?” a better question might be: Why aren’t we watching more Black creators ― even if it means digging a little deeper to find their content?
“I think the root of this issue is how comfortable society as a whole is at accepting a lack of diversity in all media. In many aspects, for many things, whiteness has been the default.” - Reena Gordon
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“I think the root of this issue is how comfortable society as a whole is at accepting a lack of diversity in all media,” said Reena Gordon, who goes by WildheartASMR. “In many aspects, for many things, whiteness has been the default.”
More often than not, the people who say, “There is no race issue here,” don’t see an issue “because they are the ‘default’ and their experience isn’t diminished or is less fulfilling because of a lack of representation,” she said.
To do her part to combat the lack of diversity, Gordon recently created a list of Black ASMRtists to follow. She’s always open to adding more names and said to contact her if you’d like to be included.
“I hope to one day streamline it and make it better, ” she said. “For now, I like to think of it as a Black sleep directory.”
While we first and foremost recommend going through Gordon’s list in its entirety, below, we spotlight some of our tingly favorites from the roundup.
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When Batala says a video is “fast and aggressive,” she’s not playing. This fan-favorite ASMRtist’s signature style includes rapid hand movements, tongue clicking and tons of nail tapping. If fast and aggressive isn’t really your thing ― some find it a little anxiety-inducing ― she also has plenty of soothing, sleepy trigger videos for relaxation.
ASMR Sharm told HuffPost she has a go-with-the-flow mentality when it comes to creating her videos. “I’m unpredictable! Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes both!” Expect lots of makeup application, positive affirmations and hair play videos.
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Darker4Serenity’s specialty is mouth sounds, but he told HuffPost his favorite videos to produce are ASMR videos with strangers. (Here’s one in which he asks people to share their worst rejection stories, all while whispering.) “If you want to laugh at watching people attempt to brush a Black person’s hair or if you want to sleep to ear eating or Bible reading, I’m the ASMRtist for you!” he joked.
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Come to Annura’s page for soft ambient lighting, fluffy mic play and some truly fast and aggressive triggers. Also, go to her page just to gawk at her reliably gorgeous nail art. (See above!)
True to his name, Low Growl ASMR gives Barry White a run for his money in the deep voice department. Low Growl is big into tapping, general life updates (here he is talking about what it’s like to be a teacher during COVID-19) and bedtime stories.
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Samantha Gipson, aka LatreceASMR, makes comforting realistic role-plays that may trigger memories from childhood. (Who knew a video with a horrifying title such as “ASMR School Nurse Lice Check and Removal with Shampoo Treatment” could be so relaxing?)
“Many of us experienced ASMR as a child, whether it was a teacher with a soothing voice, doctor appointments or a friend playing in your hair,” Gipson told HuffPost. “That’s how I make my videos, incorporated with tingly sounds, soft hand movements and a soft voice. I make you feel like you are there with me.”
When it comes to making cool, unexpected mouth noises, no one has more finesse than Trigger Happy ASMR. Expect things such as tongue flutters, cool echo sounds, aggressive hand movements and “extremely slow and courtesy tapping.” (Anglophiles will appreciate his great British accent.)
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If you haven’t gotten a proper haircut in months because of the pandemic, Trigger the Tingles’ channel is for you. With a soothing voice and cadence, Layla does ASMR role-playing that’s usually centered around hair (a big subcategory in the ASMR community): haircuts, scalp massages, shampoo and scrubs ― you name it. There are also videos that touch on mental health and soft-spoken, sisterly advice on things such as breakups.
Reena Gordon, aka WildheartASMR, has all the classic ASMR triggers on her page (hand movements with rubber gloves, tongue clicks, inaudible whispers).


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--Trump Plans To Nominate Amy Coney Barrett To Supreme Court: Reports

President Donald Trump plans to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday .
The judge is a favorite of social conservatives who , if confirmed , will be the youngest justice on the court and could reshape the nation ’ s laws for decades .
CNN , CBS and PBS reported Barrett as Trump ’ s pick on Friday .
Barrett was widely seen as the front-runner to fill the seat that opened when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Sept. 18 , and she was on the short list to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Kavanaugh .
Barrett , 48 , has been a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit since 2017 .
She taught for 15 years at Notre Dame Law School in Indiana , and before that , clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia .
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett , a law professor at Notre Dame University , poses in an undated photograph obtained from Notre Dame University Sept.19 , 2020 .
During her 2017 Senate confirmation , 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee members urging them to oppose Barrett for her record of having “ expressly opposed reproductive and women ’ s rights.
” They cited a 2003 article by Barrett in which she refers to Roe v. Wade , the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring women ’ s access to abortion , as an “ erroneous decision.
” Their letter also notes that Barrett signed a public “ statement of protest ” against the Affordable Care Act ’ s birth control benefit , referring to the policy as an “ assault on religious liberty.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups raised concerns about Barrett wavering on the idea of landmark LGBTQ rights decisions qualifying as “ superprecedents ” ― decisions so important they should not be overturned .
They also note she took a speaking fee from the Alliance Defending Freedom , a nonprofit that has defended forced sterilization for transgender people and been dubbed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Barrett responded by saying she didn ’ t know Alliance Defending Freedom is the largest anti-LGBTQ legal advocacy group in the nation .
As for abortion rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the precedent set by Roe v. Wade would not affect her decisions as a federal judge .
Barrett has been tied to a small Christian group called People of Praise that until recently referred to its female leaders as “ handmaids ” ― evoking comparisons to Margaret Atwood ’ s dystopian novel “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale.
” People of Praise describes itself as a “ charismatic ” Christian community , referring to a form of Christianity that believes that supernatural occurrences ― such as prophecy , miraculous healing and speaking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s daily lives through the work of the Holy Spirit .
Like so many of Trump ’ s nominees to lifetime federal court seats , Barrett is a member of the Federalist Society , a conservative legal organization that has essentially served as a pipeline for many of the president ’ s court picks .
Both of Trump ’ s other Supreme Court picks , Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh , are members of the group .
There ’ s a clear pattern to these nominees , too : They are young , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being hostile toward abortion rights , LGBTQ rights and voting rights .

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President Donald Trump plans to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday. The judge is a favorite of social conservatives who, if confirmed, will be the youngest justice on the court and could reshape the nation’s laws for decades.
CNN, CBS and PBS reported Barrett as Trump’s pick on Friday. Barrett was widely seen as the front-runner to fill the seat that opened when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Sept. 18, and she was on the short list to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018. That seat ultimately went to now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
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Barrett, 48, has been a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit since 2017. She taught for 15 years at Notre Dame Law School in Indiana, and before that, clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Civil and human rights groups strongly opposed Barrett’s nomination to her current court seat over her views on a range of issues.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a law professor at Notre Dame University, poses in an undated photograph obtained from Notre Dame University Sept.19, 2020. Matt Cashore/Notre Dame University/Handout via REUTERS
During her 2017 Senate confirmation, 17 women’s rights groups wrote to committee members urging them to oppose Barrett for her record of having “expressly opposed reproductive and women’s rights.” They cited a 2003 article by Barrett in which she refers to Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision ensuring women’s access to abortion, as an “erroneous decision.” Their letter also notes that Barrett signed a public “statement of protest” against the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit, referring to the policy as an “assault on religious liberty.”
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More than two dozen LGBTQ rights groups raised concerns about Barrett wavering on the idea of landmark LGBTQ rights decisions qualifying as “superprecedents” ― decisions so important they should not be overturned. They also note she took a speaking fee from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit that has defended forced sterilization for transgender people and been dubbed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Barrett responded by saying she didn’t know Alliance Defending Freedom is the largest anti-LGBTQ legal advocacy group in the nation. As for abortion rights, she said her personal views on the precedent set by Roe v. Wade would not affect her decisions as a federal judge.
Barrett has been tied to a small Christian group called People of Praise that until recently referred to its female leaders as “handmaids” ― evoking comparisons to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” People of Praise describes itself as a “charismatic” Christian community, referring to a form of Christianity that believes that supernatural occurrences ― such as prophecy, miraculous healing and speaking in tongues ― can occur in people’s daily lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Like so many of Trump’s nominees to lifetime federal court seats, Barrett is a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization that has essentially served as a pipeline for many of the president’s court picks. Both of Trump’s other Supreme Court picks, Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, are members of the group.
There’s a clear pattern to these nominees, too: They are young, they are ideological, and they have records of being hostile toward abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and voting rights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--William Barr Briefed Trump On Probe Over Discarded Pennsylvania Ballots: Report

Attorney General William Barr personally briefed President Donald Trump on a probe into what the Justice Department is calling “ reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots ” in Luzerne County , Pennsylvania , a DOJ official told ABC News on Friday .
That information comes a day after the Justice Department took the unusual step of revealing details about an ongoing investigation , which White House critics decried as an attempt to bolster Trump ’ s repeated and largely baseless claims that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud .
The DOJ did so after Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News Radio .
“ They were Trump ballots ... and they were thrown in a garbage can .
This is what ’ s going to happen , ” Trump said in the interview .
“ This is what ’ s going to happen , and we ’ re investigating that.
” Later that day , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania shared more details , saying there were nine discarded ballots for Trump .
The office later corrected the statement to say only seven of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions among election experts about the details of the situation and the way they were announced .
“ At this point , we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded , ” a statement from the office said .
“ Investigators have recovered nine ballots at this time .
Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some can not .
Of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered , 7 were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump .
Two of the discarded ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown.
” The Justice Department also sent a letter to Luzerne County Bureau of Elections director Shelby Watchilla saying the staff appeared to be at fault .
“ The preliminary findings of this inquiry are troubling and the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections must comply with all applicable state and federal election laws and guidance to ensure that all votes—regardless of party—are counted to ensure an accurate election count , ” the letter read .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement later Friday saying a “ temporary seasonal independent contractor ” who started Sept. 14 was the employee who threw out the ballots .
The person was fired thereafter .
After discovering what happened , the FBI and other authorities sorted through all the trash from the days that employee was in service in order to retrieve the ballots .
Both county- and state-level authorities are providing “ supplemental extensive training ” to everyone working in the Luzerne elections department , Pedri said .

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Attorney General William Barr personally briefed President Donald Trump on a probe into what the Justice Department is calling “reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots” in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a DOJ official told ABC News on Friday.
That information comes a day after the Justice Department took the unusual step of revealing details about an ongoing investigation, which White House critics decried as an attempt to bolster Trump’s repeated and largely baseless claims that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud.
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The DOJ did so after Trump began discussing it during an interview with Fox News Radio.
“They were Trump ballots ... and they were thrown in a garbage can. This is what’s going to happen,” Trump said in the interview. “This is what’s going to happen, and we’re investigating that.”
Later that day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania shared more details, saying there were nine discarded ballots for Trump. The office later corrected the statement to say only seven of the votes were for the president, raising questions among election experts about the details of the situation and the way they were announced.
“At this point, we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded,” a statement from the office said. “Investigators have recovered nine ballots at this time. Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some cannot. Of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered, 7 were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two of the discarded ballots had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown.”
The Justice Department also sent a letter to Luzerne County Bureau of Elections director Shelby Watchilla saying the staff appeared to be at fault.
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“The preliminary findings of this inquiry are troubling and the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections must comply with all applicable state and federal election laws and guidance to ensure that all votes—regardless of party—are counted to ensure an accurate election count,” the letter read.
Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri released a statement later Friday saying a “temporary seasonal independent contractor” who started Sept. 14 was the employee who threw out the ballots. The person was fired thereafter.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-25--DeJoy Says Mail Sorting Machines Were Stripped For Parts And Can't Be Reinstalled

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a federal court that hundreds of high-speed mail sorting machines he ordered removed can not be returned to service because they were stripped for parts .
DeJoy and the U.S.Postal Service presented the excuse in a response filed Wednesday to a nationwide order issued by U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima , Washington , last week demanding the return of some 700 machines that had been taken out of service .
“ Dismantled machines ‘ are generally dissembled for their usable parts , with such parts being removed to maintain or enhance other machines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and major contributor to President Donald Trump ’ s campaign , stated in his response .
“ It is therefore not possible to return such machines to service.
” But witnesses reported that many of the expensive machines were quickly dismantled and tossed into dumpsters as scrap .
The injunction noted that 72 % of the ripped out machines were in counties Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election .
DeJoy has been accused of outright vandalism and sabotage of the postal system to snarl mail-in ballots that vast numbers of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of COVID-19 at polling stations .
Trump has repeatedly , without any evidence , claimed the mail-in system is corrupt ( even though he and his wife vote by mail ) .
The president ’ s attacks apparently are a strategy to sway the vote in his favor — or to use as a reason to challenge the results if he loses .
Judge Bastian last week blasted DeJoy ’ s actions as a “ politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service ” ahead of the election .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current Administration to disrupt and undermine the legitimacy of upcoming ... elections , ” Bastian ruled .
“ At the heart of DeJoy ’ s and the Postal Service ’ s actions is voter disenfranchisement , ” the judge added .
“ DeJoy ’ s actions fly in the face of Congress ’ s intent to insulate the management of the Postal Service from partisan politics and political influence.
” Even as the importance of timely mail delivery heightens ahead of the election , DeJoy several weeks ago ordered the removal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes .
He also ordered an end to overtime for postal workers and extended delivery time .
The Postal Service then sent letters to 47 states that it could no longer guarantee that mail-in ballots would be delivered on time .
More than a dozen states sought an injunction from Bastian , arguing that DeJoy implemented the destructive changes to delay the delivery of ballots and undermine confidence in election results .
Bastian ’ s ruling demands that DeJoy ’ s disruptive operational changes be reversed , including restrictions on overtime .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave mail behind for processing or for later delivery .
A second injunction was issued against the USPS this week in a Manhattan lawsuit brought by voters .
In addition , a second group of states is seeking a nationwide injunction against DeJoy ’ s changes in a Pennsylvania federal court .

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Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a federal court that hundreds of high-speed mail sorting machines he ordered removed cannot be returned to service because they were stripped for parts.
DeJoy and the U.S.Postal Service presented the excuse in a response filed Wednesday to a nationwide order issued by U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima, Washington, last week demanding the return of some 700 machines that had been taken out of service.
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“Dismantled machines ‘are generally dissembled for their usable parts, with such parts being removed to maintain or enhance other machines,’” DeJoy, a loyalist and major contributor to President Donald Trump’s campaign, stated in his response. “It is therefore not possible to return such machines to service.”
But witnesses reported that many of the expensive machines were quickly dismantled and tossed into dumpsters as scrap. The injunction noted that 72% of the ripped out machines were in counties Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.
.@USPS GR Patterson location has pieces of the mail sorting machines out in the parking lot. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/OuugjhTbfE — Heather Walker (@_HeatherWalker) August 19, 2020
Each of the machines can sort 36,000 pieces of mail an hour, vastly speeding mail processing and delivery.
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DeJoy has been accused of outright vandalism and sabotage of the postal system to snarl mail-in ballots that vast numbers of voters are expected to use to avoid the risk of COVID-19 at polling stations.
Trump has repeatedly, without any evidence, claimed the mail-in system is corrupt (even though he and his wife vote by mail). The president’s attacks apparently are a strategy to sway the vote in his favor — or to use as a reason to challenge the results if he loses.
Judge Bastian last week blasted DeJoy’s actions as a “politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” ahead of the election. It’s an “intentional effort by the current Administration to disrupt and undermine the legitimacy of upcoming ... elections,” Bastian ruled.
“At the heart of DeJoy’s and the Postal Service’s actions is voter disenfranchisement,” the judge added. “DeJoy’s actions fly in the face of Congress’s intent to insulate the management of the Postal Service from partisan politics and political influence.”
Even as the importance of timely mail delivery heightens ahead of the election, DeJoy several weeks ago ordered the removal of the sorting machines and hundreds of letter-collection boxes. He also ordered an end to overtime for postal workers and extended delivery time.
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The Postal Service then sent letters to 47 states that it could no longer guarantee that mail-in ballots would be delivered on time.
More than a dozen states sought an injunction from Bastian, arguing that DeJoy implemented the destructive changes to delay the delivery of ballots and undermine confidence in election results.
Bastian’s ruling demands that DeJoy’s disruptive operational changes be reversed, including restrictions on overtime. It also bars the USPS from instructing carriers to leave mail behind for processing or for later delivery.
DeJoy is asking that Bastian’s order be amended. It’s not clear when the judge will respond.
A second injunction was issued against the USPS this week in a Manhattan lawsuit brought by voters. In addition, a second group of states is seeking a nationwide injunction against DeJoy’s changes in a Pennsylvania federal court.