thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Christie 'Surprised' Pence Will Campaign After Aides Test Positive For COVID-19

Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie said Sunday that he was “ surprised ” Vice President Mike Pence planned to continue campaigning after at least five of his aides — including his chief of staff — reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days .
“ I think everybody ’ s got to put the health of the people they ’ re going to be in touch with first , ” Christie told ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” He added : “ You got to keep yourself away from everybody , and I ’ m a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus earlier this month after attending a White House event and helping President Donald Trump prepare for his first debate .
“ Everybody ’ s got ta put the health of the people they ’ re going to be in touch with first , ” Chris Christie says , adding he ’ s “ surprised ” Vice President Pence still plans to be on the campaign trail , despite two of his top aides testing positive for COVID-19 .
https : //t.co/Y1JYRz9qiR pic.twitter.com/xYcSmaOgLy — ABC News Politics ( @ ABCPolitics ) October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marc Short and political aide Marty Obst both recently tested positive for the virus , according to The New York Times and CNN .
Three other staffers tested positive earlier in the week , The Times reported , citing an anonymous source .
Pence as of Sunday afternoon was still scheduled to appear at a campaign event in North Carolina later in the day .
“ While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short , in consultation with the White House Medical Unit , the vice president will maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines for essential personnel , ” Pence spokesman Devin O ’ Malley said in a statement .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows expanded on the rationale on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” Sunday .
He said Pence was considered “ essential personnel ” and was therefore exempt from having to quarantine for 14 days under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s coronavirus guidelines .
Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski on Sunday also defended Pence ’ s decision to continue to hit the campaign trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meet the Press ” that he believed Pence will “ do what ’ s necessary and what ’ s appropriate.
” Lewandowski further argued that when an aide to Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris tested positive for the virus earlier this month , she continued to campaign .
Harris ’ communications director , Liz Allen , and a member of the flight crew for Harris ’ plane both tested positive for the coronavirus .
Her campaign said that neither of them was in close contact with Harris .
Out of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled some of her events .
Pence ’ s office said that the vice president and his wife tested negative for the coronavirus on Sunday .
Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie was hospitalized earlier this month for COVID-19 .
He said Sunday that he was `` surprised '' that Vice President Mike Pence planned to campaign after his top aides tested positive for the coronavirus .

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday that he was “surprised” Vice President Mike Pence planned to continue campaigning after at least five of his aides — including his chief of staff — reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days.
“I think everybody’s got to put the health of the people they’re going to be in touch with first,” Christie told ABC’s “This Week.” He added: “You got to keep yourself away from everybody, and I’m a little bit surprised.”
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Christie was hospitalized for the coronavirus earlier this month after attending a White House event and helping President Donald Trump prepare for his first debate.
“Everybody’s gotta put the health of the people they’re going to be in touch with first,” Chris Christie says, adding he’s “surprised” Vice President Pence still plans to be on the campaign trail, despite two of his top aides testing positive for COVID-19. https://t.co/Y1JYRz9qiR pic.twitter.com/xYcSmaOgLy — ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 25, 2020
Pence chief of staff Marc Short and political aide Marty Obst both recently tested positive for the virus, according to The New York Times and CNN. Three other staffers tested positive earlier in the week, The Times reported, citing an anonymous source.
Pence as of Sunday afternoon was still scheduled to appear at a campaign event in North Carolina later in the day.
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“While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel,” Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows expanded on the rationale on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday. He said Pence was considered “essential personnel” and was therefore exempt from having to quarantine for 14 days under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus guidelines.
Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski on Sunday also defended Pence’s decision to continue to hit the campaign trail. He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he believed Pence will “do what’s necessary and what’s appropriate.” Lewandowski further argued that when an aide to Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris tested positive for the virus earlier this month, she continued to campaign.
Harris’ communications director, Liz Allen, and a member of the flight crew for Harris’ plane both tested positive for the coronavirus. Her campaign said that neither of them was in close contact with Harris. Out of an abundance of caution, the campaign still canceled some of her events.
Pence’s office said that the vice president and his wife tested negative for the coronavirus on Sunday.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Republican Governor Faults Trump For Sending 'Confusing Messages' About Masks

Arkansas ’ Republican Gov .
Asa Hutchinson criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday for sending “ confusing messages ” about whether Americans should wear masks and practice social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Margaret Brennan , host of CBS ’ “ Face the Nation , ” asked Hutchinson whether Trump ’ s reluctance to endorse mask-wearing enthusiastically hurt the governor ’ s ability to persuade his constituents to practice virus mitigation measures .
“ Well , it makes it confusing , ” Hutchinson said .
Trump has “ made it very clear that wearing a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask going into the polls yesterday .
But obviously , with the rallies , there is confusing messages there.
” NEWS : Arkansas ' Republican Gov .
@ AsaHutchinson says @ realDonaldTrump ’ s messaging on masks “ makes it confusing ” as to what to do in mitigating the impacts of # COVID19 He says POTUS and leaders in crisis need to do two things : `` be truthful and realistic '' and give people `` hope '' pic.twitter.com/HF4H0tLjqo — Face The Nation ( @ FaceTheNation ) October 25 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truthful and realistic ” about the crisis .
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus in public , despite acknowledging privately that it ’ s very contagious and deadly .
The president has also said several times that his administration has the virus “ under control.
” But White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday that the U.S. is “ not going to control the pandemic.
” “ Everyone knows that we are going through a very difficult crisis , and it ’ s going to likely get worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hutchinson said Sunday .
Public health experts ― including Dr. Anthony Fauci , the leading infectious disease expert on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force ― have warned that the cooler months may bring a serious spike in infections across the country .
Trump ’ s own public health officials have urged Americans to wear masks and socially distance in an effort to curb the contagion .
But the Trump campaign continues to host large rallies , and while it said it encourages attendees to wear masks , many rallygoers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized for COVID-19 earlier this month ― refused to wear a mask in public until recently .
He said in May that he didn ’ t want to “ give the press the pleasure of seeing it.
” He has mocked people who wear masks , including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and members of the press .
Hutchinson said a president should also “ give the American people hope ” and that the Trump administration has been working “ incredibly hard ” to develop a vaccine .
“ So they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the communication as to what we need to do is an important part of it as well , ” Hutchinson said .

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Arkansas’ Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday for sending “confusing messages” about whether Americans should wear masks and practice social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Margaret Brennan, host of CBS’ “Face the Nation,” asked Hutchinson whether Trump’s reluctance to endorse mask-wearing enthusiastically hurt the governor’s ability to persuade his constituents to practice virus mitigation measures.
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“Well, it makes it confusing,” Hutchinson said. Trump has “made it very clear that wearing a mask is important. I saw him wear a mask going into the polls yesterday. But obviously, with the rallies, there is confusing messages there.”
NEWS: Arkansas' Republican Gov. @AsaHutchinson says @realDonaldTrump’s messaging on masks “makes it confusing” as to what to do in mitigating the impacts of #COVID19
He says POTUS and leaders in crisis need to do two things: "be truthful and realistic" and give people "hope" pic.twitter.com/HF4H0tLjqo — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 25, 2020
Hutchinson said the president must be “truthful and realistic” about the crisis. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus in public, despite acknowledging privately that it’s very contagious and deadly.
The president has also said several times that his administration has the virus “under control.” But White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday that the U.S. is “not going to control the pandemic.”
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“Everyone knows that we are going through a very difficult crisis, and it’s going to likely get worse as we go into the winter,” Hutchinson said Sunday.
Public health experts ― including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force ― have warned that the cooler months may bring a serious spike in infections across the country.
Trump’s own public health officials have urged Americans to wear masks and socially distance in an effort to curb the contagion. But the Trump campaign continues to host large rallies, and while it said it encourages attendees to wear masks, many rallygoers do not.
Trump ― who was hospitalized for COVID-19 earlier this month ― refused to wear a mask in public until recently. He said in May that he didn’t want to “give the press the pleasure of seeing it.” He has mocked people who wear masks, including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and members of the press.
Hutchinson said a president should also “give the American people hope” and that the Trump administration has been working “incredibly hard” to develop a vaccine.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--White House Chief Of Staff Mark Meadows: 'We're Not Going To Control The Pandemic'

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Sunday said the United States is “ not going to control ” the coronavirus pandemic , an apparent admission of defeat against a virus that has so far killed nearly 225,000 people nationwide .
During an appearance on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” Meadows was asked about Vice President Mike Pence ’ s decision to continue campaigning across the country despite several of his top aides testing positive for COVID-19 .
“ Your website is talking about , ‘ Well , now we think the spread is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , ’ ” Meadows told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper while defending Pence .
“ First it was large groups .
Now it ’ s small groups.
” Meadows ’ statement falsely suggested that public health experts reversed course on how the virus spreads .
But in fact , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month that transmission can occur in both large groups ― like President Donald Trump ’ s massive campaign rallies ― and in small household gatherings .
“ So here ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not going to control the pandemic , ” Meadows said .
“ We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines , therapeutics and other mitigation areas ― ” “ What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors whether it ’ s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don ’ t die from this , ” Meadows said .
He then falsely accused Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden of wanting to “ lock everybody down.
” Meadows ’ comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s previous positions on the country ’ s ability to manage the spread of the virus .
Trump has repeatedly claimed his administration has the virus “ under control ” as the number of deaths and hospitalizations have continued to climb .
Dozens of White House staffers and people close to Trump — as well as the president himself — have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks .
Most recently , several of Pence ’ s aides , including his chief of staff , revealed they contracted the virus .
Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested negative for the virus on Sunday , according to the vice president ’ s office .
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in the U.S. in recent weeks .
There were 83,000 new cases of the coronavirus recorded in the U.S. on Friday , the highest number reported since the pandemic began .
Infections and hospitalizations are increasing in at least 38 states , according to The Washington Post .
While many wealthy countries have been able to curb the contagion through strict mitigation measures , the U.S. has consistently led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC estimated a potential vaccine would not be available to the majority of Americans until at least mid-2021 , prompting Fauci and other medical experts to call for a focus on non-pharmaceutical containment strategies right now .
“ There ’ s going to be a difficulty enforcing it , ” Fauci said .
“ But if everyone agrees that this is something that ’ s important and they mandate it and everybody pulls together and says , ‘ You know , we ’ re going to mandate it but let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that would be a great idea to have everybody do it uniformly .
”

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White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Sunday said the United States is “not going to control” the coronavirus pandemic, an apparent admission of defeat against a virus that has so far killed nearly 225,000 people nationwide.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Meadows was asked about Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to continue campaigning despite several of his top aides testing positive for COVID-19.
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“Your website is talking about, ‘Well, now we think the spread is coming from small social groups and family groups,’” Meadows told CNN’s Jake Tapper while defending Pence’s behavior. “First it was large groups. Now it’s small groups.”
Meadows’ statement falsely suggested that public health experts reversed course on how the virus spreads. But in fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month that transmission can occur in both large groups ― like President Donald Trump’s massive campaign rallies ― and in small household gatherings.
“It’s coming from all sorts of places because the pandemic’s out of control,” Tapper told Meadows.
“So here’s what we have to do: We’re not going to control the pandemic,” Meadows said. “We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas ―”
Tapper interrupted: “Why aren’t we going to get control of the pandemic?”
“Because it is a contagious virus,” Meadows responded. “Just like the flu.”
But Tapper continued to press him, asking why the Trump administration wouldn’t focus on controlling the spread of the virus.
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“What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it’s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don’t die from this,” Meadows said. He then falsely accused Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden of wanting to “lock everybody down.”
After several aides, including his chief of staff, tested positive for Covid-19, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows says VP Pence will keep campaigning: "Essential personnel, whether it's the Vice President of the United States or anyone else, has to continue on" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/2ZWMmwUHG3 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 25, 2020
Meadows’ comments signal a retreat from the White House’s previous positions on the country’s ability to manage the spread of the virus. Trump has repeatedly claimed his administration has the virus “under control” as the number of deaths and hospitalizations have continued to climb.
Dozens of White House staffers and people close to Trump — as well as the president himself — have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks. Most recently, several of Pence’s aides, including his chief of staff, revealed they contracted the virus. Pence and his wife Karen Pence tested negative for the virus on Sunday, according to the vice president’s office.
COVID-19 cases have been soaring again in many states in recent weeks. There were 83,000 new cases of the coronavirus recorded in the U.S. on Friday, the highest number reported since the pandemic began. Infections and hospitalizations are increasing in at least 38 states, according to The Washington Post.
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While many wealthy countries have been able to curb the contagion through strict mitigation measures, the U.S. has consistently led the world in reported cases and deaths.
Biden on Sunday accused the Trump administration of having “given up” on trying to control the pandemic and protect the American people.
“This wasn’t a slip by Meadows, it was a candid acknowledgement of what President Trump’s strategy has clearly been from the beginning of this crisis: to wave the white flag of defeat and hope that by ignoring it, the virus would simply go away,” Biden said in a statement. “It hasn’t, and it won’t.”
Asked Monday about Biden’s remarks, Meadows appeared to mock the former vice president for wearing a mask.
“The only person waving a white flag along with his white mask is Joe Biden,” Meadows told reporters. “We’re going to defeat the virus; we’re not going to control it. We will try to contain it as best we can.”
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, and other public health officials have warned that the winter months could bring a serious spike in infections.
The CDC estimated a potential vaccine would not be available to the majority of Americans until at least mid-2021, prompting Fauci and other medical experts to call for a focus on non-pharmaceutical containment strategies right now.
Fauci told CNN on Friday that a national mask mandate may be needed.
“There’s going to be a difficulty enforcing it,” Fauci said. “But if everyone agrees that this is something that’s important and they mandate it and everybody pulls together and says, ‘You know, we’re going to mandate it but let’s just do it,’ I think that would be a great idea to have everybody do it uniformly.”
Trump has dismissed calls from some Democrats, including presidential nominee Joe Biden, to issue some sort of mask mandate. Trump has mocked people who wear masks, including Biden and members of the press.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Cory Booker Slams 'Racist' House GOP Candidate Madison Cawthorn

Sen. Cory Booker ( D-N.J. ) on Sunday slammed North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn after he attacked his Democratic opponent with what appeared to be a racist smear that also accused the Black senator of aiming “ to ruin white males.
” “ It just really personally saddens me that somebody who is so clearly racist is a nominee of a major party , and I think it ’ s a disrespect of the entire community , ” Booker told HuffPost in an interview Sunday .
“ It ’ s really unfortunate.
” Cawthorn , 25 , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and national Republicans have backed ; he spoke at the Republican National Convention in August .
He ’ s favored to win the race for North Carolina ’ s 11th Congressional District , a rural seat previously held by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows .
Earlier this week , Cawthorn ’ s campaign put up a website slamming his Democratic opponent , Moe Davis , alleging that a Pulitzer Prize-winning local journalist , Tom Fiedler , worked with Davis allies .
He described Fiedler , who is white , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cory Booker , who aims to ruin white males.
” ( Davis is also white . )
Cawthorn later claimed in a statement the website contained a “ syntax error ” that was “ unclear and unfairly implied I was criticizing Cory Booker.
” The website now calls Fiedler “ an unapologetic defender of left-wing identity politics , ” according to The Washington Post .
But Booker — who accused Trump of regularly hitting him and other Black members of Congress with racist stereotypes — said he took the attack from Cawthorn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the district when he was younger .
“ My dad worked in that district .
My dad is from Hendersonville , North Carolina , and I know the grace and goodness of that district , ” Booker told HuffPost .
The New Jersey senator connected Cawthorn ’ s “ rank racism ” to a broader trend within the GOP under Trump , including its increasing support by white supremacist groups and the bonkers conspiracy theory QAnon , which Republican incumbents in the Senate are actively courting .
“ It speaks of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streams within the Republican Party that they should ― not we should ― the Republican Party should reject , ” Booker said .
“ It ’ s tearing their party apart and delegitimizing them in the face of our country , and for him to be the nominee is really unfortunate.
” The controversy over Cawthorn ’ s campaign website isn ’ t the first time he has had to defend himself against accusations of racism .
In August , photos emerged of his 2017 visit to Adolf Hitler ’ s vacation house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Nest .
Cawthorn wrote that the location had been “ on my bucket list for years .
And it did not disappoint.
” He added : “ Strange to hear so many laughs and share such a good time with my brother where only 79 years ago a supreme evil shared laughs and good times with his compatriots.
” Davis ’ campaign recently reported an internal poll that showed the Democrat with a slight lead over Cawthorn .
The district leans Republican ― Meadows held it for eight years ― but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
Cawthorn ’ s campaign said Booker should also be concerned by Davis ’ rhetoric from last year saying he wanted to “ stomp ” on the necks of GOP “ extremists.
” “ Cory Booker knows better , ” Cawthorn spokesman John Hart said in a statement .
“ Madison Cawthorn has repeatedly used the national stage to condemn racism , promote equality and defend the American and MLK ’ s dream .
He looks forward to working with Sen. Booker when he ’ s elected to Congress .
”

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Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Sunday slammed North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn after he attacked his Democratic opponent with what appeared to be a racist smear that also accused the Black senator of aiming “to ruin white males.”
“It just really personally saddens me that somebody who is so clearly racist is a nominee of a major party, and I think it’s a disrespect of the entire community,” Booker told HuffPost in an interview Sunday. “It’s really unfortunate.”
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Cawthorn, 25, is a white GOP candidate whom President Donald Trump and national Republicans have backed; he spoke at the Republican National Convention in August. He’s favored to win the race for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, a rural seat previously held by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Earlier this week, Cawthorn’s campaign put up a website slamming his Democratic opponent, Moe Davis, alleging that a Pulitzer Prize-winning local journalist, Tom Fiedler, worked with Davis allies. He described Fiedler, who is white, as working for “non-white males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males.” (Davis is also white.)
Cawthorn later claimed in a statement the website contained a “syntax error” that was “unclear and unfairly implied I was criticizing Cory Booker.” The website now calls Fiedler “an unapologetic defender of left-wing identity politics,” according to The Washington Post.
But Booker — who accused Trump of regularly hitting him and other Black members of Congress with racist stereotypes — said he took the attack from Cawthorn’s campaign personally because he spent time in the district when he was younger.
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“My dad worked in that district. My dad is from Hendersonville, North Carolina, and I know the grace and goodness of that district,” Booker told HuffPost.
The New Jersey senator connected Cawthorn’s “rank racism” to a broader trend within the GOP under Trump, including its increasing support by white supremacist groups and the bonkers conspiracy theory QAnon, which Republican incumbents in the Senate are actively courting.
“It speaks of the kind of vicious, degrading, demeaning streams within the Republican Party that they should ― not we should ― the Republican Party should reject,” Booker said. “It’s tearing their party apart and delegitimizing them in the face of our country, and for him to be the nominee is really unfortunate.”
The controversy over Cawthorn’s campaign website isn’t the first time he has had to defend himself against accusations of racism.
In August, photos emerged of his 2017 visit to Adolf Hitler’s vacation house in Germany, known as the Eagle’s Nest. Cawthorn wrote that the location had been “on my bucket list for years. And it did not disappoint.”
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He added: “Strange to hear so many laughs and share such a good time with my brother where only 79 years ago a supreme evil shared laughs and good times with his compatriots.”
Davis’ campaign recently reported an internal poll that showed the Democrat with a slight lead over Cawthorn. The district leans Republican ― Meadows held it for eight years ― but redistricting has made it more competitive for Democrats.
Cawthorn’s campaign said Booker should also be concerned by Davis’ rhetoric from last year saying he wanted to “stomp” on the necks of GOP “extremists.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Coronavirus Surge Highlights Stark Campaign Divide

Pence is considered a “ close contact ” under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines , but will continue to campaign , his spokesman said .
“ In consultation with the White House Medical Unit , the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel , ” Pence spokesman Devin O ’ Malley said .
The guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people .
The revelation bookended a day in which Biden and Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw as safe behavior in the homestretch of a campaign that , as with all aspects of American life , has been upended by the pandemic .
“ We don ’ t want to become superspreaders , ” Biden told supporters at a “ drive-in ” rally Saturday in Bucks County , Pennsylvania , picking up a term that has been used to describe the Rose Garden event in late September in which Trump announced his latest Supreme Court nominee .
More than two dozen people linked to the White House have contracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign aides .
Trump spent more than three days hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Medical Center after becoming stricken .
Trump emerged from his own illness with even greater certitude that the nation has gone too far with efforts to stem the virus , and has spoken out repeatedly that children should be in school and healthy Americans should get back to normal life with limited restrictions .
Pence has generally been more measured in public commentary about the virus .
Still , he has echoed Trump ’ s impatience at times and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen the economy with Biden ’ s caution , including during a campaign stop in Lakeland , Florida .
just hours before the White House confirmed his top adviser had test positive .
“ It ’ s just an insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response , ” she said .
“ I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally ” and the people on Pence ’ s own staff who will accompany him .
The rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease still has a firm grip on the nation that has more confirmed virus-related deaths and infections than any other in the world .
Many states say hospitals are running out of space in areas where the pandemic seemed remote only months ago .
And in addition to the spike in cases , in many parts of the country , the percentage of people who are testing positive for COVID-19 is up as well .
As he dug in on his defense on the panic , Trump also criticized Biden for saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark winter ” because of the pandemic — the scenario of a surge in infections that health experts have warned about for months .

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WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump assured supporters packed shoulder to shoulder at weekend rallies that “we’re rounding the turn” on the coronavirus and mocked challenger Joe Biden for raising alarms about the pandemic, despite surging cases around the country and more positive infections at the White House.
Trump’s remarks came Saturday, hours before the White House announced that a top aide to Vice President Mike Pence had tested positive for the virus. Pence has been in close contact with the adviser, the White House said, but still planned to keep traveling and holding rallies around the country.
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The revelation of another high-ranking administration official testing positive for the virus coupled with the administration’s decision to continue business as usual punctuated a day that marked the starkly different approaches that Trump and Biden are taking to campaigning in the age of the novel coronavirus.
Pence’s office confirmed late Saturday that his chief of staff, Marc Short, had tested positive — the public announcement coming just as Trump was wrapping up a day of big rallies in North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, three battleground states that will have enormous impact on deciding the Nov. 3 election.
Trump commented on Short early Sunday after his plane landed at Joint Base Andrews, outside Washington. “I did hear about it just now,” he said. “And I think he’s quarantining. Yeah. I did hear about it. He’s going to be fine. But he’s quarantining.”
Pence is considered a “close contact” under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but will continue to campaign, his spokesman said. “In consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel,” Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley said. The guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people.
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O’Malley added that Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, both tested negative for the virus on Saturday “and remain in good health.” Pence, who held campaign events in Florida on Saturday, is set to campaign in North Carolina on Sunday.
The revelation bookended a day in which Biden and Trump demonstrated remarkably different attitudes about what they saw as safe behavior in the homestretch of a campaign that, as with all aspects of American life, has been upended by the pandemic.
BRISTOL, PA - OCTOBER 24: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during a drive-in campaign rally at Bucks County Community College on October 24, 2020 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Biden is making two campaign stops in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Drew Angerer via Getty Images
“We don’t want to become superspreaders,” Biden told supporters at a “drive-in” rally Saturday in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, picking up a term that has been used to describe the Rose Garden event in late September in which Trump announced his latest Supreme Court nominee. More than two dozen people linked to the White House have contracted COVID-19 since that gathering, as have campaign aides. Trump spent more than three days hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Medical Center after becoming stricken.
Biden pressed his case that Trump was showing dangerous indifference to the surging virus on a day he looked to boost his candidacy with the star power of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who performed before Biden took the stage at a second drive-in rally in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
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Meanwhile, in Lumberton, North Carolina, his tongue firmly in cheek, Trump called Biden “an inspiring guy” for raising alarm about the pandemic. The president said that he watched Biden’s Bucks County rally as he flew to North Carolina and sarcastically observed that it appeared attendees, who were in their cars, weren’t properly socially distancing.
Trump at his rallies repeatedly criticized the news media for focusing on the virus, which has killed about 224,000 people in the United States and more than 1 million across the globe.
“It’s always cases, cases, cases. They don’t talk about deaths,” Trump complained to a crowd of several thousand at an outdoor rally in Circleville Ohio, where few wore masks even as they stood and sat shoulder to shoulder. “They’re trying to scare everybody,” he said.
Trump emerged from his own illness with even greater certitude that the nation has gone too far with efforts to stem the virus, and has spoken out repeatedly that children should be in school and healthy Americans should get back to normal life with limited restrictions.
Pence has generally been more measured in public commentary about the virus. Still, he has echoed Trump’s impatience at times and sought to contrast Trump’s push to reopen the economy with Biden’s caution, including during a campaign stop in Lakeland, Florida. just hours before the White House confirmed his top adviser had test positive.
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“When Joe Biden is talking about shutting down our economy, we are opening up America again,” Pence said.
Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University, called Pence’s decision to continue campaign travel “grossly negligent” and suggested that campaigning was a stretch of the CDC’s guidance for essential worker.
“It’s just an insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response,” she said. “I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally” and the people on Pence’s own staff who will accompany him.
In North Carolina on Saturday, Trump questioned the value of testing, taking a stance in opposition to public health experts across the globe.
“You know why we have cases?” Trump asked. “’Cause we test so much. And in many ways, it’s good. And in many ways, it’s foolish. In many ways, OK? In many ways it’s very foolish.”
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The rise in coronavirus cases is an ominous sign the disease still has a firm grip on the nation that has more confirmed virus-related deaths and infections than any other in the world. Many states say hospitals are running out of space in areas where the pandemic seemed remote only months ago. And in addition to the spike in cases, in many parts of the country, the percentage of people who are testing positive for COVID-19 is up as well.
Trump went further, pushing a conspiracy theory that hospitals are over-classifying coronavirus deaths because “doctors get more money and hospitals get more money” — even though there is no evidence of that and experts say the count is likely under-reported.
The U.S. and its reporting systems, “are really not doing it right,” he claimed. “They have things a little bit backwards.”
As he dug in on his defense on the panic, Trump also criticized Biden for saying that the country was headed for a “dark winter” because of the pandemic — the scenario of a surge in infections that health experts have warned about for months.
“I thought Sleepy Joe was very dark,” he told his biggest crowd of the day at a night-time rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin. “How dark was that? How horrible was that?” he asked.
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A record of more than 83,000 infections were reported on Friday alone.
Biden in his stop in Luzerne reminded supporters that Trump had suggested the COVID-19 mortality rate was lower outside predominantly Democratic states.
“Where does this guy come from?” Biden said.
The president has repeatedly accused Biden and other Democrats of pushing measures that are worse than the coronavirus itself by advocating for social distancing and limits on gatherings that Trump says wreak havoc on the economy.
Biden, in an interview with Pod Save America aired Saturday, said his first priority was to “get control of the virus” because the economy can’t move forward without stemming the disease.
“As I said before, I will shut down the virus, not the economy,” Biden said in Bucks County. “We can walk and chew gum at the same time, and build back better than before.”
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Weissert reported from Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Madhani from Washington. Associated Press writer Nancy Benac in Washington contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--NYPD Officer Suspended After Blasting 'Trump 2020' From Patrol Car Loudspeaker

A New York City police officer was quickly suspended without pay Sunday after he was videotaped apparently blaring “ Trump 2020 ” from his patrol car loudspeaker in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn .
The incident occurred Saturday , the first day of early voting in the city .
“ The police officer who is under investigation for using a department vehicle ’ s loudspeaker for political purposes has been suspended , effective immediately , ” the New York Police Department said on its official NYPD News Twitter account .
The department launched an investigation into the incident with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain apolitical.
” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also initiated a probe , promising quick consequences for any officer “ pushing any political agenda ” on duty .
Neighbors filmed the unidentified officer blaring “ Trump 2020 ” Saturday night as he patrolled the streets of Flatbush .
One video showed the officer stopping his patrol car at a crosswalk with lights flashing .
He appeared to taunt a pedestrian : “ Trump 2020 .
Put it on YouTube .
Put it on Facebook .
Trump 2020 .
Take a picture .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brandon Hines , a resident , posted video on Twitter and said , “ How the NYPD rolling up in Black Communities these day ( on my block ) ... BI-DEN.
” How the NYPD rolling up in Black communities these days ( on my block ) : “ Trump 2020 .
Put it on YouTube .
Put it on Facebook ... ” Aight MFers ... it ’ s on TWITTER TOO !
BI-DEN !
👋🏿😂 # Vote # nypdfinest # bidenharris2020 pic.twitter.com/hmXdY8ivbM — Brandon K Hines ( @ thumpio ) October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his roommate looked down from their apartment when he heard voices outside .
“ It wasn ’ t even about the ‘ Trump 2020 ’ at that point , ” he told NBC News .
“ I just went to make sure that person [ talking ] had another pair of eyes on them to make sure they ’ re safe.
” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea called the incident “ one hundred percent unacceptable.
” Law enforcement officers “ must remain apolitical , ” he added .
“ It is essential in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any political beliefs , ” Shea tweeted .
The police officer from this incident has been identified and suspended without pay .
To repeat , law enforcement MUST remain apolitical , reassuring the public that we will enforce the law fairly and without prejudice regardless of anyone ’ s political beliefs .
https : //t.co/lFVmyaRjSb — Commissioner Shea ( @ NYPDShea ) October 25 , 2020 New Yorkers responding to NYPD tweets about the incident on Twitter expressed fears about safety at polling stations .
A post on Streetsblog NYC last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain neutral politically to keep the peace during voting in light of the union endorsement .
Hysterical nonsense from an anti-cop propagandist .
The PBA endorses candidates every year .
Every year , NYC cops protect the right of ALL voters to cast their ballot in peace .
NYers should be more worried about partisans like @ GershKuntzman trying to stir up unrest w/ this garbage https : //t.co/fWRwIkJikS — NYC PBA ( @ NYCPBA ) October 20 , 2020

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A New York City police officer was quickly suspended without pay Sunday after he was videotaped apparently blaring “Trump 2020” from his patrol car loudspeaker in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn.
The incident occurred Saturday, the first day of early voting in the city.
“The police officer who is under investigation for using a department vehicle’s loudspeaker for political purposes has been suspended, effective immediately,” the New York Police Department said on its official NYPD News Twitter account.
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The department launched an investigation into the incident with a warning that “police officers must remain apolitical.”
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also initiated a probe, promising quick consequences for any officer “pushing any political agenda” on duty.
Suspended without pay; The police officer who is under investigation for using a department vehicle’s loud speaker for political purposes has been suspended, effective immediately. — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 25, 2020
Neighbors filmed the unidentified officer blaring “Trump 2020” Saturday night as he patrolled the streets of Flatbush. One video showed the officer stopping his patrol car at a crosswalk with lights flashing. He appeared to taunt a pedestrian: “Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020. Take a picture. Take a picture. Take a video.”
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One passer-by was videotaped taunting the officer in return, calling him a “fucking fascist.”
Brandon Hines, a resident, posted video on Twitter and said, “How the NYPD rolling up in Black Communities these day (on my block) ... BI-DEN.”
How the NYPD rolling up in Black communities these days (on my block): “Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook...”
Aight MFers... it’s on TWITTER TOO! BI-DEN! 👋🏿😂#Vote #nypdfinest #bidenharris2020 pic.twitter.com/hmXdY8ivbM — Brandon K Hines (@thumpio) October 25, 2020
Here’s the policy (circled) and the police car they were using to yell “Trump 2020.” pic.twitter.com/buXNDMHmDm — talia ‘stop filming faces’ jane (@itsa_talia) October 25, 2020
Hines said he and his roommate looked down from their apartment when he heard voices outside. “It wasn’t even about the ‘Trump 2020’ at that point,” he told NBC News. “I just went to make sure that person [talking] had another pair of eyes on them to make sure they’re safe.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea called the incident “one hundred percent unacceptable.” Law enforcement officers “must remain apolitical,” he added. “It is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs,” Shea tweeted.
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The police officer from this incident has been identified and suspended without pay.
To repeat, law enforcement MUST remain apolitical, reassuring the public that we will enforce the law fairly and without prejudice regardless of anyone’s political beliefs. https://t.co/lFVmyaRjSb — Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) October 25, 2020
New Yorkers responding to NYPD tweets about the incident on Twitter expressed fears about safety at polling stations.
A post on Streetsblog NYC last week questioned whether police could be trusted to remain neutral politically to keep the peace during voting in light of the union endorsement.
The union called such concerns “hysterical nonsense.”
Hysterical nonsense from an anti-cop propagandist. The PBA endorses candidates every year. Every year, NYC cops protect the right of ALL voters to cast their ballot in peace. NYers should be more worried about partisans like @GershKuntzman trying to stir up unrest w/ this garbage https://t.co/fWRwIkJikS — NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) October 20, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Feds Investigating Fire Set Inside Ballot Drop Box In Boston

The Boston elections department notified Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin on Sunday about a fire that was set at about 4 a.m. inside a ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library in Copley Square , according to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh ’ s office .
City officials last collected ballots from the drop box at 2:29 p.m. Saturday .
The Boston Police Department is conducting an arson investigation into the fire and is working to identify a person caught on surveillance footage igniting something at the drop box .
Firefighters extinguished the fire by filling the ballot box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with authorities to take inventory of the ballots collected from the drop box from Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning .
Galvin asked the FBI to investigate the fire and referred the incident to Andrew Lelling , the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts .
“ What happened in the early hours of this morning to the ballot drop box in Copley Square is a disgrace to democracy , a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty and a crime , ” Walsh and Galvin said in a joint statement to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority is maintaining the integrity of our elections process and ensuring transparency and trust with our voters , and any effort to undermine or tamper with that process must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
” “ Voters in Massachusetts can feel confident in the success of the information sharing protocols that we have established with our local , state and federal election security partners in advance of the 2020 election , ” it continued .
“ We remain fully committed to working with these partners to protect our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Election officials continue to inventory the drop box ’ s contents , but the city said that an immediate review showed about 122 ballots inside , 87 of which were legible enough to be processed .
The city will mail a new ballot to every voter whose ballot was identified as being in the drop box at the time .
If those voters do not recast their ballots , the city will hand-count the ballots recovered from the box .
Early voting is still available through Oct. 30 , officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections department encouraged any voter who deposited a ballot in the drop box between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday to check the status of that ballot by tracking it online or calling the department .
“ We ask voters not to be intimidated by this bad act and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election , ” Walsh and Galvin said in their statement .
The Copley Square drop box did not appear to be damaged on the outside .
It will remain available for voters to deposit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop boxes in Boston are under 24-hour surveillance and emptied on a daily basis .
Collected ballots are brought to the elections department to be counted on election night .
Someone set a fire inside an official ballot collection box outside a public library in Baldwin Park , California , on Oct. 18 .
Officials said the individual dropped a flaming piece of newspaper into the ballot box that evening .
Election officials there asked local police , the FBI and the attorney general to investigate the suspected arson .
Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that the incident “ has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and call into question the security of our elections .
”

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Federal authorities are investigating a fire that was set inside a ballot drop box in Boston early Sunday morning after being notified by the state’s secretary of state.
The Boston elections department notified Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin on Sunday about a fire that was set at about 4 a.m. inside a ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, according to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s office. City officials last collected ballots from the drop box at 2:29 p.m. Saturday.
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The Boston Police Department is conducting an arson investigation into the fire and is working to identify a person caught on surveillance footage igniting something at the drop box. Firefighters extinguished the fire by filling the ballot box with water.
Election officials are working with authorities to take inventory of the ballots collected from the drop box from Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning. Galvin asked the FBI to investigate the fire and referred the incident to Andrew Lelling, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
BPD Investigating Ballot Box Fire in the area of 700 Boylston Street in Boston. https://t.co/8FYA34H815 pic.twitter.com/FNrO1PpEUg — Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) October 25, 2020
“What happened in the early hours of this morning to the ballot drop box in Copley Square is a disgrace to democracy, a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty and a crime,” Walsh and Galvin said in a joint statement to HuffPost. “Our first and foremost priority is maintaining the integrity of our elections process and ensuring transparency and trust with our voters, and any effort to undermine or tamper with that process must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Lelling and FBI Special Agent Joseph Bonavolonta released a joint statement in response, saying federal authorities are now looking into the matter.
US Attorney Andrew Lelling & FBI SAIC Koe Bonavolonta released a statement after the attempted burning of a ballot box.
“It is a top priority of our offices to help maintain the integrity of the election process in Massachusetts by aggressively enforcing federal election laws.” pic.twitter.com/plYpbN39Sd — Chris Villani (@ChrisVillani44) October 26, 2020
“It is a top priority of our offices to help maintain the integrity of the election process in Massachusetts by aggressively enforcing federal election laws,” the statement read.
“Voters in Massachusetts can feel confident in the success of the information sharing protocols that we have established with our local, state and federal election security partners in advance of the 2020 election,” it continued. “We remain fully committed to working with these partners to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.”
Election officials continue to inventory the drop box’s contents, but the city said that an immediate review showed about 122 ballots inside, 87 of which were legible enough to be processed.
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The city will mail a new ballot to every voter whose ballot was identified as being in the drop box at the time. If those voters do not recast their ballots, the city will hand-count the ballots recovered from the box. Early voting is still available through Oct. 30, officials said. Election Day is Nov. 3.
The elections department encouraged any voter who deposited a ballot in the drop box between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday to check the status of that ballot by tracking it online or calling the department.
We're encouraging any Boston voter who deposited their ballot at the Copley Square dropbox between 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, and about 4 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, to check the status of their ballot by calling 617-635-2211. — Boston Election Department (@BostonElections) October 25, 2020
“We ask voters not to be intimidated by this bad act and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election,” Walsh and Galvin said in their statement.
The Copley Square drop box did not appear to be damaged on the outside. It will remain available for voters to deposit ballots, city officials said.
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All drop boxes in Boston are under 24-hour surveillance and emptied on a daily basis. Collected ballots are brought to the elections department to be counted on election night.
The Boston incident is believed to be the second suspected arson attack on a ballot drop box in a week.
Someone set a fire inside an official ballot collection box outside a public library in Baldwin Park, California, on Oct. 18. Officials said the individual dropped a flaming piece of newspaper into the ballot box that evening.
Los Angeles County firefighters cut open the box and doused the flames. The city’s mayor, Manuel Lozano, estimated that as many as 100 ballots were affected.
Election officials there asked local police, the FBI and the attorney general to investigate the suspected arson. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said in a statement that the incident “has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and call into question the security of our elections.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--They Lost Their Jobs In The Pandemic. Now Defeating Trump Is Full-Time Work.

As a native of the Philippines , Meniano shudders at the way President Donald Trump denigrates immigrants like himself .
As a gay man , he worries about the direction of LGBTQ rights under a conservative Supreme Court .
As the husband of a man protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , he wonders if the love of his life will be forced to leave .
And as a cook on the Las Vegas Strip who ’ s been out of work since March , he fears he will lose the home he bought last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of workers who lost their jobs earlier in the pandemic and still haven ’ t been hired back .
With his schedule wide open , he is now canvassing full-time in hopes of ousting Trump from the White House .
His union , Unite Here , has been paying him and other out-of-work members an hourly wage to knock on doors and get out the vote for Biden and other Democrats .
Unite Here says it has turned more than 1,000 of its members into canvassers in four swing states : Nevada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meniano , many are immigrants and other people of color who feel threatened by Trump ’ s racism and hardline policies .
They also face a long and painful spell of joblessness due to a pandemic that the Trump administration has grossly mismanaged .
Roughly three out of four of the union ’ s members are still out of work .
Even though the union is dealing with its own financial struggles , Unite Here President D. Taylor said the program is its largest canvassing operation to date , and donations from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
Although the union declined to name funders , one source is former presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg , who recently gave $ 1 million to the union ’ s canvassing efforts in Florida .
Thousands of the union ’ s members at Disney World learned recently that their furloughs were now layoffs .
Madi Portes was among them .
The 61-year-old Disney cast member helped tourists plan their visits to the Magic Kingdom .
Now she spends her days phone-banking for Biden , telling Florida voters that the Trump administration has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more painful than they needed to be .
“ It ’ s making the poor poorer .
And we are not getting any kind of help from the government , ” said Portes , who earned around $ 15 per hour before her layoff .
“ The executives of Disney , the people in the administration ― they need to come down and live a day in the life of one of us.
” Lareus said she could be back to work at the casino ; she has 27 years of tenure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But since the union can pay her to canvass , she has decided to do that until after the election .
She feels a special motivation .
Trump has tried to end the protected status of 46,000 Haitians in the U.S. and reportedly called her home country a “ shithole.
” Maggie Acosta has been canvassing in the battleground state of Arizona .
The single mother of two lost her airline catering job in March when travel came to a halt .
She worked for a while as a relief coordinator for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment process , but then realized the most important thing she could do was turn out the vote against Trump .
Acosta said she often wonders how she ’ ll make her rent and car payments after Nov. 3 .
The catering contractor she worked for closed its Phoenix office , leaving her with no position to return to , even when air travel rebounds .
She ’ s braced herself for a difficult job search with other unemployed service workers .
But talking to voters about the election helps keep her mind @ @ @ @ @

Above: Norberto Meniano, a member of Unite Here Local 226, canvasses a Las Vegas neighborhood in support of Democrats, including presidential candidate Joe Biden, on Oct. 22. Credit: Miranda Alam for HuffPost
Norberto Meniano feels as though everything in his life is riding on this election. So when the 49-year-old unemployed restaurant worker knocks on doors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in Las Vegas, he starts the conversation by talking about himself.
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As a native of the Philippines, Meniano shudders at the way President Donald Trump denigrates immigrants like himself. As a gay man, he worries about the direction of LGBTQ rights under a conservative Supreme Court. As the husband of a man protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, he wonders if the love of his life will be forced to leave. And as a cook on the Las Vegas Strip who’s been out of work since March, he fears he will lose the home he bought last year.
Sometimes, Meniano doesn’t even make it through his story before voters are crying in their doorways, tears running down into their masks.
“They tell me, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” said Meniano, who became a U.S. citizen in 2012. “It makes me want to knock on 10 more doors, 20 more doors.”
Meniano is one of millions of workers who lost their jobs earlier in the pandemic and still haven’t been hired back. With his schedule wide open, he is now canvassing full-time in hopes of ousting Trump from the White House. His union, Unite Here, has been paying him and other out-of-work members an hourly wage to knock on doors and get out the vote for Biden and other Democrats.
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Unite Here says it has turned more than 1,000 of its members into canvassers in four swing states: Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania. Like Meniano, many are immigrants and other people of color who feel threatened by Trump’s racism and hardline policies. They also face a long and painful spell of joblessness due to a pandemic that the Trump administration has grossly mismanaged. Roughly three out of four of the union’s members are still out of work.
Meniano poses for a portrait while canvassing. Miranda Alam for HuffPost
Even though the union is dealing with its own financial struggles, Unite Here President D. Taylor said the program is its largest canvassing operation to date, and donations from other labor groups and nonprofits have made it possible. Although the union declined to name funders, one source is former presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg, who recently gave $1 million to the union’s canvassing efforts in Florida.
That kind of money has helped pay cash-strapped members while they pour their energy and frustration into political action. With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, they are focusing their efforts on driving up turnout in Democratic strongholds within battleground states.
Taylor said his membership feels a unique urgency, given its high share of immigrants and the way the pandemic has decimated their livelihoods.
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“We need a president who actually cares about people, who’s going to be honest, and who’s going to put people like our members before the interests of Wall Street,” he said. “Until we solve the pandemic, it’s hard to see how the economy ever comes back.”
“The people in the administration ― they need to come down and live a day in the life of one of us.” - Madi Portes, laid-off Disney worker
Even as many Americans have returned to jobs lost during the early lockdowns, a growing number now consider themselves permanently laid off. The national unemployment rate is currently close to 8%, but it’s still 19% among workers in the leisure and hospitality sector.
With businesses still shuttered or running at reduced capacity, lost earnings and dim job prospects could affect these workers for years. Unite Here represents workers in the hardest-hit industries: hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues, all places that could take years to return to a pre-pandemic normal.
Thousands of the union’s members at Disney World learned recently that their furloughs were now layoffs. Madi Portes was among them. The 61-year-old Disney cast member helped tourists plan their visits to the Magic Kingdom. Now she spends her days phone-banking for Biden, telling Florida voters that the Trump administration has made both the pandemic and the recession far more painful than they needed to be.
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“It’s making the poor poorer. And we are not getting any kind of help from the government,” said Portes, who earned around $15 per hour before her layoff. “The executives of Disney, the people in the administration ― they need to come down and live a day in the life of one of us.”
Trump and Biden are neck-and-neck in Florida, a state Trump carried by roughly 1 percentage point in 2016. The coronavirus has hit the state hard. Case numbers have come down since their peak in July but are still elevated compared to the spring.
Yolette Lareus knocks on doors as part of a get-out-the-vote effort sponsored by her union. Maria Alejandra Cardona for HuffPost
Given people’s skittishness about talking to strangers, the pandemic has made some campaigns reluctant to invest heavily in door-to-door canvassing for the election. Unite Here worked with epidemiologists to put safety protocols in place, likely daily health screenings and the use of both masks and face shields. Some Democratic campaigns have been slow to hit the doors in places like Nevada, as the Los Angeles Times recently reported.
“Frankly, until extremely recently, we were the only ones going door-to-door canvassing,” said Unite Here’s Taylor.
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Yolette Lareus said some residents prefer not to open their doors when she canvasses in Miami, but most are willing to have a doorstep conversation while masked. She has been talking to voters for weeks, carrying extra face coverings to give to any resident without one.
The 50-year-old line cook from Haiti was laid off from the Calder Casino in Miami Gardens in March.
“I had to go into my savings to pay for my house and everything,” said the single mother of two.
Lareus said she could be back to work at the casino; she has 27 years of tenure, and callbacks are based on seniority. But since the union can pay her to canvass, she has decided to do that until after the election. She feels a special motivation. Trump has tried to end the protected status of 46,000 Haitians in the U.S. and reportedly called her home country a “shithole.”
“I’m not a shithole person,” said Lareus. “Another four years of this president, I don’t see how we can make it. That’s why I’m doing everything I can.”
After a full day of door-knocking, Lareus often spends the evening on her phone, following up with voters she’s been in contact with to make sure they plan to get their ballots in.
Charles Patton Jr., 36, has worked as a cook inside the Philadelphia airport for seven years. He was laid off in March and hasn’t been called back. For several months he scraped by on unemployment benefits and wages he received from the state for caring part-time for his mother, who is disabled. Now he is working full-time as a canvasser in Philadelphia.
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Pennsylvania is one of the key Rust Belt states that put Trump over the top in 2016. Patton is telling voters there to consider the division Trump has sown in the country, and the fact that the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans and brought economic hardship to millions more.
“Trump hasn’t handled it the way it should have been handled,” Patton said. “It would never have gotten this big if somebody else was there ― somebody who spent more time focusing on what actually matters, instead of tweeting.”
“Another four years of this president, I don’t see how we can make it.” - Yolette Lareus, casino worker
Many laid-off workers who are getting out the vote have no idea what will happen to them after the election.
Maggie Acosta has been canvassing in the battleground state of Arizona. The single mother of two lost her airline catering job in March when travel came to a halt. She worked for a while as a relief coordinator for her union, helping other members navigate the unemployment process, but then realized the most important thing she could do was turn out the vote against Trump.
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Acosta was livid after Trump’s crowded church rally in Phoenix in June, where many attendees declined to wear masks. She said the president’s minimizing of the virus and flouting of health guidelines played a large role in her decision to canvass for Biden.
“If they had listened and done what was recommended, I really believe that we wouldn’t be going through all of this,” she said.
Recent polls put Biden and Trump in a virtual dead heat in the state, which could also help determine the Senate majority as Democratic challenger Mark Kelly, an astronaut, leads the incumbent, Republican Sen. Martha McSally. Unite Here says it has 300 members canvassing Arizona ― what it believes to be the largest Democratic door-knocking operation in the state.
Lareus canvassing in Miami Gardens, Florida. Maria Alejandra Cardona for HuffPost
At first, the idea of knocking on doors during a pandemic scared Acosta. Her 22-year-old son got sick with the virus in June while working as an HVAC technician, forcing them both to quarantine. Acosta said she also has a preexisting condition that puts her at risk for a more severe bout of COVID-19.
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“I was like, ‘What if I go out and then I get sick?’ But also I’m thinking, ‘Well, what if I don’t do this, and we get another four years of Trump?’” she said. “I’d rather be out there talking to people, mobilizing the vote.”
Acosta said she often wonders how she’ll make her rent and car payments after Nov. 3. The catering contractor she worked for closed its Phoenix office, leaving her with no position to return to, even when air travel rebounds. She’s braced herself for a difficult job search with other unemployed service workers. But talking to voters about the election helps keep her mind off all the uncertainties.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Senate Advances Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court Nomination

The U.S. Senate voted Sunday in a rare weekend session to advance Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the Supreme Court , setting up a final vote to confirm President Donald Trump ’ s pick on Monday , a little over a month since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The vote to limit debate on Barrett ’ s nomination was 51-48 , with all Democrats opposed .
GOP Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also voted not to advance the nomination , citing the upcoming election .
Democrats had few procedural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they argued was “ illegitimate ” because of the GOP ’ s hypocrisy in confirming a Supreme Court nominee during a presidential election year .
Republicans refused to give President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court pick , Merrick Garland , a hearing or a vote in early 2016 , insisting that voters deserved to weigh in before filling a seat to the court .
Now , with more than 50 million votes already cast in the upcoming election , Republicans are rushing to confirm Barrett , a conservative judge who clerked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her appointment would solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future ― a majority that could block Democrats ’ priorities even if Joe Biden wins the White House next month .
“ The Republican majority is steering the Senate towards one of the lowest moments in its long history , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) warned .
“ The Republican majority is on the precipice of making a colossal and historic mistake .
And the damage it does to this chamber will be irrevocable.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ process by forcing procedural votes and a rare closed session on Friday , but Republicans quickly defeated their efforts with 51 GOP votes .
They argued there ’ s nothing illegitimate in filling a Supreme Court seat so close to a presidential election when the same party controls both the White House and Senate .
“ Judge Barrett ’ s confirmation process has followed every rule .
It ’ s followed the Constitution in every respect .
We have abided by the norms and traditions dictated by our history , ” Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barrett ’ s appointment could have an immediate effect on several cases before the Supreme Court , including a lawsuit seeking to strike down all of Obamacare that is due to be heard just days after the election , as well as several challenges to early voting accommodations in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania and North Carolina .
Barrett , a judge on the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , was evasive during her confirmation hearings earlier this month .
She declined to say how she will rule on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other issues such as abortion rights and matters involving the election .
Democrats pointed to her previous criticisms of Supreme Court rulings upholding Obamacare as evidence that she will rule to strike down the law .
They also warned that her pro-life background suggested that she will vote to curtail abortion rights and same-sex marriage nationwide .

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The U.S. Senate voted Sunday in a rare weekend session to advance Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, setting up a final vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick on Monday, a little over a month since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The vote to limit debate on Barrett’s nomination was 51-48, with all Democrats opposed. GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also voted not to advance the nomination, citing the upcoming election.
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But Murkowski said she will ultimately vote to confirm Barrett, calling her qualified for the job.
Democrats had few procedural tools available to block the nomination, which they argued was “illegitimate” because of the GOP’s hypocrisy in confirming a Supreme Court nominee during a presidential election year.
Republicans refused to give President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, a hearing or a vote in early 2016, insisting that voters deserved to weigh in before filling a seat to the court.
Now, with more than 50 million votes already cast in the upcoming election, Republicans are rushing to confirm Barrett, a conservative judge who clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Her appointment would solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future ― a majority that could block Democrats’ priorities even if Joe Biden wins the White House next month.
“The Republican majority is steering the Senate towards one of the lowest moments in its long history,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned. “The Republican majority is on the precipice of making a colossal and historic mistake. And the damage it does to this chamber will be irrevocable.”
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Democrats tried to slow the confirmation process by forcing procedural votes and a rare closed session on Friday, but Republicans quickly defeated their efforts with 51 GOP votes. They argued there’s nothing illegitimate in filling a Supreme Court seat so close to a presidential election when the same party controls both the White House and Senate.
“Judge Barrett’s confirmation process has followed every rule. It’s followed the Constitution in every respect. We have abided by the norms and traditions dictated by our history,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said.
Barrett’s appointment could have an immediate effect on several cases before the Supreme Court, including a lawsuit seeking to strike down all of Obamacare that is due to be heard just days after the election, as well as several challenges to early voting accommodations in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Barrett, a judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was evasive during her confirmation hearings earlier this month. She declined to say how she will rule on the challenge to the health care law and other issues such as abortion rights and matters involving the election.
Democrats pointed to her previous criticisms of Supreme Court rulings upholding Obamacare as evidence that she will rule to strike down the law. They also warned that her pro-life background suggested that she will vote to curtail abortion rights and same-sex marriage nationwide.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-24--Several Pence Aides, Including Chief Of Staff Marc Short, Test Positive For COVID-19

Both the vice president and his wife , Karen Pence , tested negative for the coronavirus Saturday and again on Sunday , according to Pence ’ s office .
Despite the new COVID-19 cases , the vice president intends to continue his campaign schedule .
He plans to travel to North Carolina on Sunday .
Even though Short is considered a close contact of Pence , “ in consultation with the White House Medical Unit , the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for essential personnel , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include careful monitoring for symptoms and wearing a mask when near people .
Saskia Popescu , an infectious disease expert at George Mason University , called Pence ’ s decision to continue to campaign “ grossly negligent.
” He “ needs to be staying home 14 days , ” she told The Associated Press .
“ Campaign events are not essential.
” Popescu called Pence ’ s refusal to change his schedule an “ insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response.
” She added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrespectful to the people going to the rally ” and those on Pence ’ s own staff who will travel with him .
The cluster of infections in Pence ’ s office comes just weeks after an outbreak in the White House that included President Donald Trump , first lady Melania Trump , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior adviser Stephen Miller .
Asked about the Times ’ report on Sunday , Meadows told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper that “ sharing personal information is not something we should do unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president ” or someone close to them .
Tapper confronted Meadows about Pence ’ s decision to continue traveling despite having come in contact with several people who have tested positive for the virus .
“ CDC guidelines say that Vice President Pence should quarantine for 14 days , ” Tapper said .
“ Now , I understand the White House is trying to get around that by saying the vice president is an essential worker.
” “ But Mark , how is going all over the country ... how is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not like he ’ s helping to contain the virus .
In fact , the opposite : He ’ s holding rallies that could be spreading the virus.
” “ I can tell you that what he ’ s doing is wearing a mask , socially distancing and , when he goes up to speak , he will take the mask off , put it back on , ” Meadows said .
“ He ’ s wearing a mask as it relates to this particular thing because the doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After several aides , including his chief of staff , tested positive for Covid-19 , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows says VP Pence will keep campaigning : `` Essential personnel , whether it 's the Vice President of the United States or anyone else , has to continue on '' # CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/2ZWMmwUHG3 — CNN Politics ( @ CNNPolitics ) October 25 , 2020

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At least five aides to Vice President Mike Pence have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days, including his chief of staff, Marc Short.
Short tested positive on Saturday. He is quarantining and will assist in the contact tracing process, Pence’s office said in a statement.
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Pence senior political adviser Marty Obst also tested positive earlier this week, The New York Times and CNN reported.
A source told the Times that three other Pence staff members have also tested positive.
Pence has headed the White House’s coronavirus task force since February.
Both the vice president and his wife, Karen Pence, tested negative for the coronavirus Saturday and again on Sunday, according to Pence’s office.
Despite the new COVID-19 cases, the vice president intends to continue his campaign schedule. He plans to travel to North Carolina on Sunday.
Even though Short is considered a close contact of Pence, “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the vice president will maintain his schedule in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for essential personnel,” said Pence’s office. Those guidelines include careful monitoring for symptoms and wearing a mask when near people.
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Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University, called Pence’s decision to continue to campaign “grossly negligent.” He “needs to be staying home 14 days,” she told The Associated Press. “Campaign events are not essential.”
Popescu called Pence’s refusal to change his schedule an “insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response.” She added: “I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally” and those on Pence’s own staff who will travel with him.
The nation is currently experiencing a dangerous surge in coronavirus cases. America’s daily COVID-19 case count hit an all-time high of more than 83,000 on Friday.
The cluster of infections in Pence’s office comes just weeks after an outbreak in the White House that included President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior adviser Stephen Miller.
Katie Miller, Stephen Miller’s wife and Pence’s press secretary, tested positive for the coronavirus in May.
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White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sought to block news of the outbreak in Pence’s office from going public, two sources told the Times.
Asked about the Times’ report on Sunday, Meadows told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “sharing personal information is not something we should do unless it’s the president or the vice president” or someone close to them.
Tapper confronted Meadows about Pence’s decision to continue traveling despite having come in contact with several people who have tested positive for the virus.
“CDC guidelines say that Vice President Pence should quarantine for 14 days,” Tapper said. “Now, I understand the White House is trying to get around that by saying the vice president is an essential worker.”
“But Mark, how is going all over the country ... how is that essential work?” Tapper continued. “It’s not like he’s helping to contain the virus. In fact, the opposite: He’s holding rallies that could be spreading the virus.”
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Meadows defended Pence’s continued travel by saying the vice president is both campaigning and working.
“I can tell you that what he’s doing is wearing a mask, socially distancing and, when he goes up to speak, he will take the mask off, put it back on,” Meadows said. “He’s wearing a mask as it relates to this particular thing because the doctors have advised him to do that.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-25--Mary Trump's Grim Analysis Of Trump Campaign: 'He Knows He's In Desperate Shape'

Mary Trump , a clinical psychologist and the niece of President Donald Trump , has painted a grim image of what she believes is going on in her uncle ’ s head as he trails in the polls ahead of the election .
“ My theory about the way Donald has run his campaign is that he knows he ’ s in desperate shape , so he ’ s going to burn it all down , sow more chaos and division because that ’ s where he succeeds , ” she told The Guardian in an interview published over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s losing – he ’ ll deny it mightily – and at some level , he understands what ’ s at stake .
If he loses , he ’ s probably going to prison .
So , if he ’ s going down , he ’ s going to take us all down with him.
” Mary Trump , the daughter of the president ’ s late older brother Fred Trump Jr. , published a critical tell-all book about the president earlier this year .
In routine media appearances since the publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How My Family Created The World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , ” Mary Trump has warned that America would be a dark place under a second Trump term .
“ I ’ ve always believed that deep down Donald is a terrified little boy .
The amount of fear he ’ s feeling now has got to be unhinging him , ” she told the Guardian .
“ Not only did he get sick with the virus , there ’ s the tax story and his prospects in the election looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s got to be absolutely panicked.
” In the final weeks before Election Day , Trump has increasingly denied reality , leaned into divisive rhetoric , and lashed out at scientists , the media , and others who disagree with him , as the polls show his opponent Joe Biden in the lead .
Despite Americans citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a huge election issue and a record-setting surge in new cases , he ’ s continued to claim without evidence that America has rounded the corner with the virus .

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Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the niece of President Donald Trump, has painted a grim image of what she believes is going on in her uncle’s head as he trails in the polls ahead of the election.
“My theory about the way Donald has run his campaign is that he knows he’s in desperate shape, so he’s going to burn it all down, sow more chaos and division because that’s where he succeeds,” she told The Guardian in an interview published over the weekend.
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“He knows that he’s losing – he’ll deny it mightily – and at some level, he understands what’s at stake. If he loses, he’s probably going to prison. So, if he’s going down, he’s going to take us all down with him.”
Mary Trump, the daughter of the president’s late older brother Fred Trump Jr., published a critical tell-all book about the president earlier this year. In routine media appearances since the publication of “Too Much And Never Enough: How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Mary Trump has warned that America would be a dark place under a second Trump term.
“I’ve always believed that deep down Donald is a terrified little boy. The amount of fear he’s feeling now has got to be unhinging him,” she told the Guardian. “Not only did he get sick with the virus, there’s the tax story and his prospects in the election looking really bad right now. He’s got to be absolutely panicked.”
In the final weeks before Election Day, Trump has increasingly denied reality, leaned into divisive rhetoric, and lashed out at scientists, the media, and others who disagree with him, as the polls show his opponent Joe Biden in the lead. Despite Americans citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a huge election issue and a record-setting surge in new cases, he’s continued to claim without evidence that America has rounded the corner with the virus.
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Mary Trump warned that if her uncle stays in the Oval Office, “Democracy is over.”
“We’ll be entering an incredibly dark period of autocracy on a global scale,” she said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-26--I’m 1 Of The 865,000 Women Pushed Out Of The Workforce Due To COVID-19 Last Month

In September , 865,000 American women quit working permanently or indefinitely , compared to just 216,000 men .
The toll of COVID-19 is so much wider than physical health , and that toll is being paid overwhelmingly by women , who are both more likely to work in industries impacted by the pandemic and more likely to find themselves saddled with caretaking duties at home that make it difficult to maintain employment .
As with most societal discrepancies , Black women and Latinas like myself account for most of those left behind .
In September , I became one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is some dark humor to be found in a society that pushes young girls to strive , to achieve and to demand more , only to reject them when that society hits a rough patch .
Eventually , I ’ ll find the joke .
Last year , I left my career and New York City to pursue work in a field I find truly fulfilling in every sense .
While it involved a massive pay cut , I was excited to embark on a path more aligned with my values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living proof for my young daughter that life is absolutely what you make it .
If you want to be an activist and accomplish something you truly believe in , nothing can stop you .
Not even motherhood !
Just pack up your child , and dog and cat , and forge a way for yourself .
What I learned is that we are not unstoppable .
While my daughter and I are still blessedly healthy , I have had to stop work due to COVID-19 .
I met my match in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined with a work culture predicated on how much an organization can squeeze out of you until you are no longer useful .
In the weeks leading up to the closures , when the numbers of active cases and deaths were rising so rapidly as to be surreal , especially in our former hometown of New York , the notion that this could affect us hung like a spectre .
We were aware of it , and even scared of it , but only vaguely , as something in the shadows .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very low end of the wage earning scale , the initial panic is never even about the health or well-being of your family ― that would be a luxury !
The initial panic is logistics .
If schools close , what am I supposed to do with my kid so I can work ?
My new nonprofit career was extremely hands-on , blue collar work .
I envied the moms who had the option of staying home with their kids while still earning a living , despite knowing full well that is its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researching day care centers outside of the school only to learn that if schools closed , day cares would be closing as well .
I looked into New York state ’ s paid family leave policy , but in the beginning it had not been expanded to cover COVID-19 related work absences .
The state and federal governments are woefully unprepared in the event a U.S. citizen breaks their arm and can ’ t work , so navigating a global pandemic was obviously above their pay grade .
My job would not offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they do for many employees ) to alleviate the burden of rent while scrounging for full-time child care , nor would they agree to allow me to bring my daughter to work .
The one thing they could provide was a small weekly stipend to offset the cost of child care .
I will pause for laughter for all the moms who have ever looked into hiring full time private child care on a single income .
Y ’ all know .
Making it through March was a series of favors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick time .
By April , I had to beg .
In case this essay reads like a litany of complaints , let me be very clear that I am so fortunate to have friends and family who love my daughter and me .
While we moved very far away from everyone we know , and so much of suffering through 2020 was done in loneliness , the way people came through for me was legendary .
Loved ones from Baltimore , New York City , and California made their way to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office to watch my child so I could continue doing the work that I loved .
Some of them had lost their jobs permanently or temporarily due to closures , so they had the time .
Others , like my mom , drove thousands of miles while teaching remotely to offer child care .
I want to also be very clear that while people close to me stepped up to be there for us physically so I could keep working , that it did not have to be this way .
My managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My organization could have offered me leave ― or any of the other multiple solutions I brought to the table that they denied .
Our government could provide any type of safety net for working families .
It is not lost on me that in a team of essential workers , I am the only one who was forced to stop working .
I was also the only single mother , and the only Latina .
( It ’ s worth noting there was only one other mother in my department at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk around feeling like a statistic or a quota , but sometimes the singularity of our experience is too evident to ignore .
In the end , despite the Herculean efforts of myself and my support system to make sure I could continue working , the situation became untenable .
My work days were split between the work I loved and pleading with my managers to provide a way that I could continue doing that work .
Schools were not reopening , and there is only so much you can do yourself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be driving across the country to move in with my abuelita until there is work available to me again .
I suppose the punchline to the joke ends up being that it ’ s never just a single mom who bears the brunt .
It ’ s her mother , and her grandmother , and the community of mothers who will inevitably take on more of a burden in order to lighten someone else ’ s .

Enjoying a pre-COVID beach day with my daughter at the Rockaways. Photo Courtesy Of Katharine Morales
In September, 865,000 American women quit working permanently or indefinitely, compared to just 216,000 men. The toll of COVID-19 is so much wider than physical health, and that toll is being paid overwhelmingly by women, who are both more likely to work in industries impacted by the pandemic and more likely to find themselves saddled with caretaking duties at home that make it difficult to maintain employment. As with most societal discrepancies, Black women and Latinas like myself account for most of those left behind.
In September, I became one of those 865,000 women to leave the workforce. There is some dark humor to be found in a society that pushes young girls to strive, to achieve and to demand more, only to reject them when that society hits a rough patch. Eventually, I’ll find the joke.
Advertisement
Last year, I left my career and New York City to pursue work in a field I find truly fulfilling in every sense. While it involved a massive pay cut, I was excited to embark on a path more aligned with my values. I was especially proud of being living proof for my young daughter that life is absolutely what you make it.
If you want to be an activist and accomplish something you truly believe in, nothing can stop you. Not even motherhood! Just pack up your child, and dog and cat, and forge a way for yourself.
What I learned is that we are not unstoppable. While my daughter and I are still blessedly healthy, I have had to stop work due to COVID-19. I met my match in this country’s abysmal sick leave policies combined with a work culture predicated on how much an organization can squeeze out of you until you are no longer useful.
In the weeks leading up to the closures, when the numbers of active cases and deaths were rising so rapidly as to be surreal, especially in our former hometown of New York, the notion that this could affect us hung like a spectre. We were aware of it, and even scared of it, but only vaguely, as something in the shadows.
Advertisement
As a working, single mom on the very low end of the wage earning scale, the initial panic is never even about the health or well-being of your family ― that would be a luxury! The initial panic is logistics. If schools close, what am I supposed to do with my kid so I can work? My new nonprofit career was extremely hands-on, blue collar work. I envied the moms who had the option of staying home with their kids while still earning a living, despite knowing full well that is its own unholy burden.
I frantically began researching day care centers outside of the school only to learn that if schools closed, day cares would be closing as well. I looked into New York state’s paid family leave policy, but in the beginning it had not been expanded to cover COVID-19 related work absences. The state and federal governments are woefully unprepared in the event a U.S. citizen breaks their arm and can’t work, so navigating a global pandemic was obviously above their pay grade.
My job would not offer me paid leave or free housing (which they do for many employees) to alleviate the burden of rent while scrounging for full-time child care, nor would they agree to allow me to bring my daughter to work. The one thing they could provide was a small weekly stipend to offset the cost of child care. I will pause for laughter for all the moms who have ever looked into hiring full time private child care on a single income. Y’all know.
Making it through March was a series of favors, odd babysitters, and using up my sick time. By April, I had to beg. In case this essay reads like a litany of complaints, let me be very clear that I am so fortunate to have friends and family who love my daughter and me. While we moved very far away from everyone we know, and so much of suffering through 2020 was done in loneliness, the way people came through for me was legendary.
Loved ones from Baltimore, New York City, and California made their way to us, spending their time out of the office to watch my child so I could continue doing the work that I loved. Some of them had lost their jobs permanently or temporarily due to closures, so they had the time. Others, like my mom, drove thousands of miles while teaching remotely to offer child care.
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I want to also be very clear that while people close to me stepped up to be there for us physically so I could keep working, that it did not have to be this way. My managers could have offered a more flexible schedule. My organization could have offered me leave ― or any of the other multiple solutions I brought to the table that they denied. Our government could provide any type of safety net for working families.
It is not lost on me that in a team of essential workers, I am the only one who was forced to stop working. I was also the only single mother, and the only Latina. (It’s worth noting there was only one other mother in my department at all.) I don’t walk around feeling like a statistic or a quota, but sometimes the singularity of our experience is too evident to ignore.
In the end, despite the Herculean efforts of myself and my support system to make sure I could continue working, the situation became untenable. My work days were split between the work I loved and pleading with my managers to provide a way that I could continue doing that work. Schools were not reopening, and there is only so much you can do yourself.
This week, my daughter and I will be driving across the country to move in with my abuelita until there is work available to me again. I suppose the punchline to the joke ends up being that it’s never just a single mom who bears the brunt. It’s her mother, and her grandmother, and the community of mothers who will inevitably take on more of a burden in order to lighten someone else’s.
That’s the story of the 865,000 of us out of work in September: taking on more responsibility for less of the credit. It’s not really laugh out loud funny. I guess I have to work on the delivery.
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