thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--The Path Forward For Progressives After Bernie Sanders

“ Any group that is trying to take power away from those who have it ― which is fundamentally what @ @ @ @ @ — to expect in those races to be equally successful as people in positions of @ @ @ @ @ metric of success , ” said Ari Rabin-Havt , Sanders ’ former deputy campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party faces is that on issue after issue , the positions that progressive candidates @ @ @ @ @ Democratic politics , and the position the leadership takes is at the right side of @ @ @ @ @ Of The Primary Challenge “ Maybe it ’ s just that I have a long @ @ @ @ @ but you have you go back to when my career started , which was the @ @ @ @ @ era , and you look at the ecosystem now , and the ecosystem of the @ @ @ @ @ much larger , so much more diverse , ” Rabin-Havt said .
“ It isn @ @ @ @ @ you look at the steps and the progress made .
”

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders holds a town hall event at the Navajo Nation casino in Flagstaff, Arizona, on March 17, 2016. Nancy Wiechec/Reuters
The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday with Bernie Sanders in the same position he was in four years ago: a speaker.
Sanders, who carried the torch for the progressive movement the longest in the presidential race, has to make the case for progressive power in the Democratic Party without having actually won it.
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The progressive movement is in an unusual place without a clear national figure to rally behind. The Vermont senator demurred when HuffPost asked him if he sees himself as the leader of the American progressive movement.
“I will play my role, and other people will play their role,” he said in an interview with HuffPost this summer.
Since ending his campaign in April, Sanders’ Senate office has gone back to its usual business — legislation that would cover health insurance costs for all during the pandemic, a billionaire tax, cuts to the defense budget. His Senate campaign has been using his large email list to raise funds for other candidates and to make endorsements. His closest advisers worked with Biden’s campaign to craft the Democratic Party’s platform.
Progressives saw unmistakable losses this election cycle. Two of the biggest names in the movement — Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) — failed to build broad enough coalitions within the Democratic Party to win the presidential nomination. Warren’s campaign sputtered out early. Sanders tasted victory with a blowout win in Nevada, but when voters were given a choice between him and former Vice President Joe Biden, who explicitly rejected progressives’ agenda in his primary run, they chose the latter.
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Biden, who is set to become the official Democratic presidential nominee on Thursday, was never of the left, won in spite of the left and isn’t interested in being accepted by the left. But that doesn’t mean that the Democratic electorate has completely rejected the left.
Progressive challengers had successful showings in a number of congressional primaries this cycle. In Missouri, Cori Bush unexpectedly beat Rep. Lacy Clay running on “Medicare for All,” universal housing and a Green New Deal.
In New York, Jamaal Bowman ousted Rep. Eliot Engel. In Massachusetts, Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal has a serious progressive challenger in Alex Morse. Another candidate, Robbie Goldstein, is hoping for the same momentum on the other side of the state in a Boston race against conservative Democratic backbencher Rep. Stephen Lynch.
And so far, each member of the self-styled “Squad” — the group of four progressive House freshman women — has easily overcome her primary challenge from the right.
Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), from left, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) hold a news conference after Democrats in the U.S. Congress moved to formally condemn President Donald Trump's attacks on the four minority congresswomen in Washington on July 15, 2019. Erin Scott / Reuters
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The progressive movement no longer has a single national figure to rally behind. And the only coherent vision for progressives going forward is to kick out those standing in their way — from the bottom up.
“Any group that is trying to take power away from those who have it ― which is fundamentally what the progressive movement is about — to expect in those races to be equally successful as people in positions of power is not a rational metric of success,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, Sanders’ former deputy campaign manager. “The problem the Democratic Party faces is that on issue after issue, the positions that progressive candidates take are the center of Democratic politics, and the position the leadership takes is at the right side of the party.”
Championing Incremental Policy Wins
Without the presidency, Sanders had to change his expectations for the progressive movement. Success is no longer marked by winning a presidential election. It’s marked by a lot of people not named Bernie Sanders winning elections and giving power to his agenda.
“Democratic control over the House, Senate and White House is not enough,” Sanders told HuffPost. “What success for progressives means is a couple of things. It is moving the agenda of the Democratic Party in a progressive direction, which represents the needs of a very desperate and struggling working class in America today.”
Sanders launched into a list. Raising the minimum wage. Equal pay for equal work. Making it easier for workers to join unions. And it’s Medicare for All, Sanders said. Other policies that would need to win in order for progressives to truly declare victory? Free tuition at public colleges and universities. A Green New Deal. Police department reform and criminal justice reform.
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The bar is high for the two-time presidential candidate. And Biden’s campaign has given no indication that he will get there by Inauguration Day. The results from unified task forces comprising Biden and Sanders camps were just inches to the left of Biden’s original platform, Sanders acknowledged.
“Democratic control over the House, Senate and White House is not enough.” - Sen. Bernie Sanders
“It did not have, needless to say, everything that I wanted. It did not have everything that Biden wanted. But there is no question that on some of the major issues facing this country, if that agenda is implemented, life will improve for tens and tens [of] millions of working people,” Sanders said in an interview on MSNBC.
Of course, a candidate’s laundry list of preferred policies is one thing. Priorities are another matter entirely.
To the extent that Biden has tipped his hand about the agenda he will pursue immediately upon taking office, he has stuck to a mix of studies, consensus-minded executive orders and reversals of the Trump administration policies most reviled by Democrats.
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He would rejoin the Paris climate accord and World Health Organization, end the travel ban aimed at restricting visitors from predominantly Muslim countries, restore Obama-era environmental and public health regulations, reinstate federal employees’ right to unionize, convene a task force on ending homelessness and enact tougher executive branch ethical standards, according to a late July report in The Washington Post.
Some of the bills he can help advance right away include protecting voting rights, toughening gun safety standards and protecting labor, his aides told the Post.
The new labor measures, in particular, would have a transformative effect on the country’s economic and social fabric. The Democratic-controlled House already passed two bills that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and massively expand federal protections for unions’ right to organize.
The reforms omitted from Biden’s short-term agenda are notable as well. It is not clear, for example, whether and how Biden would prioritize the creation of a public health insurance option, which the Sanders-aligned left already sees as an unacceptable departure from a single-payer Medicare for All health care system.
The degree to which Biden’s most ambitious items have a real chance of passing depends in part on whether Democrats are able to regain a majority in the Senate. The Democratic-controlled House has passed versions of Biden’s priorities that the GOP-controlled Senate has subsequently declined to consider.
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It will also be up to progressives in both chambers to threaten to withhold support for party-line legislation that they think is inadequate.
So far, a small group of lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus has only rarely been willing or able to muster its votes in a bloc capable of stopping bills the members don’t like.
But when left-wing House Democrats have banded together, they have achieved tangible results. A decision by caucus Co-Chairs Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Mark Pocan (Wis.) to play hardball with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) on a prescription drug bill yielded an increase in the minimum number of drugs whose prices the bill would require the federal government to negotiate to 50 from 25.
“We have to have a sense of being able to say, ‘no,’” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said of progressives building strong coalitions in the House.
The Power Of The Primary Challenge
It is not enough for members such as Khanna to just say “no.” They need the numbers to prevent a partisan bill ― one that Republicans in the House will never get behind ― from passing without their support.
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The left’s greatest effect on U.S. politics since Sanders fell short in 2016 was the addition of more members like Khanna through a sophisticated effort to replace moderate and mainstream House Democrats in solidly blue districts with progressive brawlers.
Progressive primary challenges are “where the money, where our attention should be going,” said Sean McElwee, whose firm Data for Progress has conducted polling for many left-wing insurgents. “We need to actually push leftists across the finish line.”
No single group is more responsible for recruiting and electing a new generation of primary challengers than Justice Democrats, a scrappy, small-dollar-funded group created by alumni of Sanders’ 2016 campaign. In its first active election cycle in 2018, Justice Democrats landed two high-profile primary wins when Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) ― one half of the Squad ― ousted long-standing incumbents.
Three more candidates backed by the group are set to join the Squad in the next Congress: Bush of Missouri, Marie Newman of Illinois and Bowman of New York. (Mondaire Jones, also of New York, won in the primary for an open seat without Justice Democrats’ backing but began as a primary challenger before his target ― Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey ― opted for retirement.)
That initial success — along with a decision by House Democrats’ campaign arm after the 2018 elections to blacklist firms that work with primary challengers of any stripe — inspired the creation of an ecosystem of consultants, vendors, donors and allied groups that now serves as a de facto alternative to the traditional party system.
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By the time Justice Democrats was helming an effort to replace Engel with Bowman in June, it had the tools, resources and experience to commission state of the art polling and to blanket the airwaves with a super PAC that beat Engel’s well-heeled backers to the punch.
Cori Bush speaks at an Aug. 9 event marking six years since Michael Brown Jr. was shot dead by police in Ferguson, Missouri. Lawrence Bryant / reuters
The new energy in the Black Lives Matter movement likewise boosted the fortunes of primary challengers. Bush, in particular, capitalized on her deep roots in the St. Louis area’s social movement against police brutality.
In addition, the inadequate response of the government to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout have made the public more skeptical of incumbent elected officials and more receptive to populist newcomers, according to Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats.
“When the pandemic first started, people leaned into elected officials as folks who they knew and could trust,” Rojas said. “But as the response has been just utter failure by the United States at every level, people understand the differences between having someone who casts a vote versus someone who’s going to fight.”
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Even Sanders — who is sometimes reluctant to get involved in Democratic primaries and has yet to endorse the reelection campaign of progressive ally and embattled Sen. Ed Markey (Mass.) — has begun embracing the new movement to oust Democrats unwilling to push the boundaries on policy. He was the only member of Congress to endorse Bush’s campaign and went on to raise $107,000 for her successful bid.
Bush singled him out by name for praise in her victory speech on Aug. 4. “Let me also thank somebody that stood with me that did not have to stand with me ― that you all probably know very well: I gotta call out Sen. Bernie Sanders.”
The Road Ahead
There were some early attempts to push the Biden camp toward Warren as a vice-presidential pick. She expressed interest in the position and was seen as the most progressive choice Biden could pick. Memos and polling from Data for Progress buoyed her as the most popular choice.
But there was also a certain understanding that that wasn’t going to happen, in part because Biden expressed interest in bringing racial and generational diversity to his ticket. Instead, attention turned to a possible Biden administration.
“We need to push for progressives to be in the Biden administration, and I think we can,” Khanna said, suggesting Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Sanders adviser Matt Duss to have a role in foreign policy.
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“The game theory that applies to the presidential election does not apply to appointments. We have allies in the Senate. There are people who are likely to pick fights if they are compelled to” - David Segal, Demand Progress
Progressive groups such as Demand Progress and the Revolving Door Project — which applies pressure on political appointees for their ties to big corporations, lobbyists and other outside interests — have been working for months to suss out those in Biden’s orbit.
They feel like they have more power in this realm than with national tickets.
“The game theory that applies to the presidential election does not apply to appointments,” said David Segal, who runs Demand Progress. “We have allies in the Senate. There are people who are likely to pick fights if they are compelled to … .
“If Elizabeth decides we are fighting on this Treasury appointment because they are just a shill for [the] banks, and if Bernie decides we are fighting on this national security appointment because they don’t oppose endless wars, that calls on other senators that might not be the most progressive but want to maintain a veneer of progressivism to make a decision,” he added.
This is work that began to take shape in the second half of Obama’s term. In 2015, when Obama tried to nominate corporate attorney Keir Gumbs to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Warren and her allies successfully organized to stop the appointment.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Iowa Seeks Nearly $4 Billion In Disaster Aid After Storm Damage

Iowa homes , cornfields , utility companies and government agencies have losses estimated at nearly $ 4 billion from Monday ’ s unusual storm , Gov .
Kim Reynolds said Sunday as she announced she ’ s filing an expedited presidential major disaster declaration with the federal government seeking that much money to rebuild and repair .
The derecho with hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour destroyed or extensively damaged 8,200 homes and 13 million acres of corn , about a third of the state ’ s crop land , she said .
More than a half million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aftermath of the storm .
As of Sunday evening utility companies reported about 83,000 people remained without power .
While it is unconventional for a major disaster declaration request of this magnitude to be assembled and approved within a matter of days , it is essential that our request is expedited and approved as quickly as possible .
( 4/4 ) — Gov .
Kim Reynolds ( @ IAGovernor ) August 16 , 2020 Alliant Energy reported about 2,500 utility poles were damaged beyond repair and ITC Midwest , which owns power lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torn down by the winds .
About 500 miles had been repaired by Sunday .
The storm left at least three people dead in the state .
The money Iowa is seeking from the federal government includes $ 3.78 billion in agriculture losses , $ 100 million for private utilities , $ 82 million for homes and $ 45 million for public assistance .
“ From cities to farms , Iowans are hurting , many still have challenges with shelter , food , and power , ” Reynolds said .
Damaged grain bins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elevator on August 11 in Luther , Iowa .
Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds said about a third of the state ’ s land used for corn crops was damaged from last week 's storm .

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Iowa homes, cornfields, utility companies and government agencies have losses estimated at nearly $4 billion from Monday’s unusual storm, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Sunday as she announced she’s filing an expedited presidential major disaster declaration with the federal government seeking that much money to rebuild and repair.
The derecho with hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour destroyed or extensively damaged 8,200 homes and 13 million acres of corn, about a third of the state’s crop land, she said.
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More than a half million people were without electricity in the immediate aftermath of the storm. As of Sunday evening utility companies reported about 83,000 people remained without power.
While it is unconventional for a major disaster declaration request of this magnitude to be assembled and approved within a matter of days, it is essential that our request is expedited and approved as quickly as possible. (4/4) — Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) August 16, 2020
Alliant Energy reported about 2,500 utility poles were damaged beyond repair and ITC Midwest, which owns power lines, reported about 1,200 miles of lines torn down by the winds. About 500 miles had been repaired by Sunday.
The storm left at least three people dead in the state.
The money Iowa is seeking from the federal government includes $3.78 billion in agriculture losses, $100 million for private utilities, $82 million for homes and $45 million for public assistance.
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“From cities to farms, Iowans are hurting, many still have challenges with shelter, food, and power,” Reynolds said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Sen. Mitt Romney Slams President Donald Trump’s COVID Response

Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) criticized the Trump administration for its poor response to the coronavirus pandemic .

Sen. Mitt Romney Slams President Donald Trump’s COVID Response
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) criticized the Trump administration for its poor response to the coronavirus pandemic.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Liz Cheney Is Not OK With Trump Pardoning Edward Snowden

A day after Trump said he ’ s “ going to look at ” the possibility of pardoning Snowden , Cheney ― the third-ranking House Republican ― lashed back on Twitter .
She called Snowden “ a traitor ” and added : “ Pardoning him would be unconscionable.
” Snowden , a former NSA contractor , fled the U.S. in 2013 after leaking troves of secret documents revealing the agency has been spying on the communications of ordinary Americans and foreign leaders .
He was granted asylum in Russia and has said he won ’ t return to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an espionage charge .
Though Trump in 2013 branded Snowden a “ terrible traitor ” and hinted he deserved execution , he showed in an interview last week with the New York Post that his view has softened .
“ There are a lot of people that think that [ Edward Snowden ] is not being treated fairly , ” the president said .
“ I ’ m going to look at it , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ m not that aware of the Snowden situation , but I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are many , many people ― it seems to be a split decision ― many people think that he should somehow be treated differently and other people think he did very bad things , and I ’ m going to take a very good look at it.
” Cheney on Sunday made clear that her view is closer to that of the 2013 Trump : Edward Snowden is a traitor .
He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in US history .
He handed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting our troops and our nation at risk .
Pardoning him would be unconscionable .
— Liz Cheney ( @ Liz_Cheney ) August 16 , 2020 Cheney has been increasingly at odds with Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic , criticizing his readiness to ignore medical experts in favor of reopening the economy .
She has also disagreed with Trump ’ s order removing troops from Afghanistan .
“ Liz Cheney is only upset because I have been actively getting our great and beautiful Country out of the ridiculous and costly Endless Wars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t appear to react to the comments of either Trump or Cheney .
He did , however , retweet a Twitter post by British journalist Medhi Hasan , which commented that “ everyone from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty to The New York Times and Guardian editorial boards have called for some form of clemency or pardon for Snowden .
”

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Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Sunday blasted President Donald Trump’s suggestion he might pardon fugitive National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden as “unconscionable.”
A day after Trump said he’s “going to look at” the possibility of pardoning Snowden, Cheney ― the third-ranking House Republican ― lashed back on Twitter. She called Snowden “a traitor” and added: “Pardoning him would be unconscionable.”
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Snowden, a former NSA contractor, fled the U.S. in 2013 after leaking troves of secret documents revealing the agency has been spying on the communications of ordinary Americans and foreign leaders. He was granted asylum in Russia and has said he won’t return to the U.S. as long as he’s facing an espionage charge.
Though Trump in 2013 branded Snowden a “terrible traitor” and hinted he deserved execution, he showed in an interview last week with the New York Post that his view has softened.
“There are a lot of people that think that [Edward Snowden] is not being treated fairly,” the president said.
On Saturday, a reporter asked Trump whether he would consider pardoning Snowden.
“I’m going to look at it,” Trump said. “I’m not that aware of the Snowden situation, but I’m going to start looking at it. There are many, many people ― it seems to be a split decision ― many people think that he should somehow be treated differently and other people think he did very bad things, and I’m going to take a very good look at it.”
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Cheney on Sunday made clear that her view is closer to that of the 2013 Trump:
Edward Snowden is a traitor.
He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in US history.
He handed over US secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk.
Pardoning him would be unconscionable. — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) August 16, 2020
Q: "Do you want to give Edward Snowden a pardon and bring him back?"
President Trump: "I'm going to look at it." pic.twitter.com/Lb75QVaGVb — The Hill (@thehill) August 15, 2020
Cheney has been increasingly at odds with Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing his readiness to ignore medical experts in favor of reopening the economy. She has also disagreed with Trump’s order removing troops from Afghanistan.
“Liz Cheney is only upset because I have been actively getting our great and beautiful Country out of the ridiculous and costly Endless Wars,” Trump tweeted in July.
Snowden didn’t appear to react to the comments of either Trump or Cheney.
He did, however, retweet a Twitter post by British journalist Medhi Hasan, which commented that “everyone from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty to The New York Times and Guardian editorial boards have called for some form of clemency or pardon for Snowden.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--New Database Documents Health Care Workers Who Died Fighting COVID-19

More than 900 health care workers in the U.S. have lost their lives on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic , according to a new database created by The Guardian and Kaiser Health News .
The “ Lost on the frontline ” project , a partnership between the two newsrooms , tracks and documents health care worker deaths in the U.S. and tells their stories .
It includes frontline doctors , nurses , paramedics , carers and cleaning and administrative support staff at medical facilities , all of whom are said to have lost their lives due to COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had recorded 922 deaths .
Some of these were preventable , the news organizations noted in an article about the project last week .
Health care workers already face increased exposure to those infected with the virus .
That fact , coupled with shortages of testing and personal protective equipment , resistance to social distancing and mask wearing , and the push to keep businesses open contributed to an overwhelmed health system and rising death toll .
Journalists have so far profiled and memorialized 167 of the workers who died .
Of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color , and 40 % were Black or Latino , according to the database .
While this represents just a small snapshot of the total data , it suggests , like other more comprehensive datasets have shown , that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting people of color .
Nurses made up the largest group among the professions ― roughly 38 % of those profiled .
The median age was 57 but included a range of 20 to 80 .
These early findings show a majority of the deaths were in April after the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coast .
The total death toll was compiled via crowdsourcing , social media , reports from colleagues , local reports , workers unions and online obituaries , the news outlets said .
Those deaths were then investigated by a team of more than 50 journalists .
The names and stories published so far include Brittany Bruner Ringo , a 32-year-old California nurse whose mom remembered her as an optimist , even when she was battling breathing difficulties before her death ; Lisa Ewald , 53 , a nurse and animal-lover , who faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone at home a day after learning her diagnosis ; and Norman Einhorn , 69 , an eye specialist who “ liked to party ” and continued to see patients at rehabilitation centers after shuttering his practice in accordance with state orders .

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More than 900 health care workers in the U.S. have lost their lives on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new database created by The Guardian and Kaiser Health News.
The “Lost on the frontline” project, a partnership between the two newsrooms, tracks and documents health care worker deaths in the U.S. and tells their stories. It includes frontline doctors, nurses, paramedics, carers and cleaning and administrative support staff at medical facilities, all of whom are said to have lost their lives due to COVID-19.
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As of Aug. 11, the database had recorded 922 deaths. Some of these were preventable, the news organizations noted in an article about the project last week.
Health care workers already face increased exposure to those infected with the virus. That fact, coupled with shortages of testing and personal protective equipment, resistance to social distancing and mask wearing, and the push to keep businesses open contributed to an overwhelmed health system and rising death toll.
Journalists have so far profiled and memorialized 167 of the workers who died. Of those deaths, 62% were people of color, and 40% were Black or Latino, according to the database. While this represents just a small snapshot of the total data, it suggests, like other more comprehensive datasets have shown, that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting people of color.
Nurses made up the largest group among the professions ― roughly 38% of those profiled. The median age was 57 but included a range of 20 to 80. These early findings show a majority of the deaths were in April after the first surge of the virus on the East Coast.
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Almost one-third of the workers had reported inadequate access to PPE.
The total death toll was compiled via crowdsourcing, social media, reports from colleagues, local reports, workers unions and online obituaries, the news outlets said. Those deaths were then investigated by a team of more than 50 journalists.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Death Valley Likely Hit 130 Degrees On Sunday, Earth's Highest Temperature Since 1913

Temperatures surged to an astounding 130 degrees Fahrenheit ( 54.4 degrees Celsius ) in Death Valley , California , on Sunday , measurements that , if confirmed , could the highest verified on Earth since at least 1913 , officials said .
The National Weather Service confirmed Sunday ’ s preliminary high temperatures and said they would need to be verified by a panel of experts .
“ This temperature was measured at Furnace Creek near the Visitors Center using a National Weather Service-owned automated observation system , ” the agency said .
“ If verified , this will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1913 , also at Death Valley .
As this is an extreme temperature event , the recorded temperature will need to undergo a formal review.
” 🥵Yep it was HOT out there today ...
So hot in fact , that the PRELIMINARY high temperature @ DeathValleyNPS was 130°F .
If verified , this will be the hottest temperature officially verified since July of 1913 .
For more info ... https : //t.co/qFXcIVoPig # DeathValley # Climate # CAwx pic.twitter.com/lAl8NQDCyp — NWS Las Vegas ( @ NWSVegas ) August 17 , 2020 Death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , sitting 190 feet below sea level in southeastern California .
The average rainfall is less than 2 inches a year and temperatures regularly spike to more than 120 degrees in the summer .
The region currently holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth , a blistering 134 F set on July 10 , 1913 .
However , that figure has come under scrutiny after some meteorologists said the data showed it was “ essentially not possible ” at that time .
A 129-degree reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again in Kuwait and Pakistan in 2016 and 2017 , respectively .
( Another 1931 reading in Kebili , Tunisia , came in at 131 degrees , although that figure has faced criticism as well ) .
The fact that Sunday ’ s temperature was recorded in mid-August in notable .
July is the hottest month in the United States and past records have usually been set during that month before high temperatures start to wane .
Per the climate data in xmACIS2 , this is the first time since 1913 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2013 , it last reached 129F .
If valid , it would be the hottest August temperature at the site by 3F .
@ NWSVegas pic.twitter.com/gZNBW4NXI4 — NWS WPC ( @ NWSWPC ) August 16 , 2020 But the southwestern U.S. has been in the midst of an incredible heat wave that has shattered records across the region .
Power officials in California instituted rolling blackouts in parts of the state this weekend for the first time since 2001 .
Scientists have long warned that temperature extremes will only become more common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waves are becoming more frequent around the globe , according to the World Meteorological Organization , and 2019 was the second-hottest year on record , capping off the 2010s as the hottest decade in recorded history .
The Washington Post noted Sunday ’ s reading in Death Valley is likely to stand , at least for now .
“ Everything I ’ ve seen so far indicates that is a legitimate observation , ” Randy Cerveny , the lead for the World Meteorological Organization ’ s weather and climate extremes team , told @ @ @

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Temperatures surged to an astounding 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius) in Death Valley, California, on Sunday, measurements that, if confirmed, could the highest verified on Earth since at least 1913, officials said.
The National Weather Service confirmed Sunday’s preliminary high temperatures and said they would need to be verified by a panel of experts.
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“This temperature was measured at Furnace Creek near the Visitors Center using a National Weather Service-owned automated observation system,” the agency said. “If verified, this will be the hottest temperature officially verified since July of 1913, also at Death Valley. As this is an extreme temperature event, the recorded temperature will need to undergo a formal review.”
🥵Yep it was HOT out there today...
So hot in fact, that the PRELIMINARY high temperature @DeathValleyNPS was 130°F. If verified, this will be the hottest temperature officially verified since July of 1913. For more info...https://t.co/qFXcIVoPig#DeathValley #Climate #CAwx pic.twitter.com/lAl8NQDCyp — NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) August 17, 2020
Death Valley is the lowest and hottest point in the United States, sitting 190 feet below sea level in southeastern California. The average rainfall is less than 2 inches a year and temperatures regularly spike to more than 120 degrees in the summer.
The region currently holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, a blistering 134 F set on July 10, 1913. However, that figure has come under scrutiny after some meteorologists said the data showed it was “essentially not possible” at that time. A 129-degree reading was recorded in Death Valley in 2013 and again in Kuwait and Pakistan in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
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(Another 1931 reading in Kebili, Tunisia, came in at 131 degrees, although that figure has faced criticism as well).
The fact that Sunday’s temperature was recorded in mid-August in notable. July is the hottest month in the United States and past records have usually been set during that month before high temperatures start to wane.
Per the climate data in xmACIS2, this is the first time since 1913 that Death Valley has reached 130F. In July 2013, it last reached 129F. If valid, it would be the hottest August temperature at the site by 3F. @NWSVegas pic.twitter.com/gZNBW4NXI4 — NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) August 16, 2020
But the southwestern U.S. has been in the midst of an incredible heat wave that has shattered records across the region. Power officials in California instituted rolling blackouts in parts of the state this weekend for the first time since 2001.
Scientists have long warned that temperature extremes will only become more common as climate change continues unabated. Heat waves are becoming more frequent around the globe, according to the World Meteorological Organization, and 2019 was the second-hottest year on record, capping off the 2010s as the hottest decade in recorded history.
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The Washington Post noted Sunday’s reading in Death Valley is likely to stand, at least for now.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--John Oliver Exposes The Trump-Sized Hole In The ‘Bats**t Theories’ Of QAnon

“ The conspiracy involves a range of batshit theories , but very basically many QAnon supporters believe in a global @ @ @ @ @ Satan-worshipping , child-molesting criminals led by prominent Democrats , that includes everyone from Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ Mexican cement company .
They also believe information about it is being leaked via cryptic @ @ @ @ @ someone with very high ‘ Q-level ’ security clearance , which sounds just as made-up @ @ @ @ @ ”

“The conspiracy involves a range of batshit theories, but very basically many QAnon supporters believe in a global conspiracy involving a ring of Satan-worshipping, child-molesting criminals led by prominent Democrats, that includes everyone from Hillary Clinton to Tom Hanks to a Mexican cement company. They also believe information about it is being leaked via cryptic posts on the internet by someone with very high ‘Q-level’ security clearance, which sounds just as made-up as it definitely is.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Sharon Stone On Sister's Coronavirus: 'One Of You Non-Mask Wearers Did This'

Actor Sharon Stone ’ s immune-compromised sister is sick with the coronavirus , and she called out those who refuse to wear a mask in public as the reason .
Kelly Stone has lupus and the only place she ’ s been during the pandemic is the pharmacy to pick up her medication .
Now , the “ Basic Instinct ” actor said her sister is fighting for her life with the COVID-19 infection , as is her husband , Bruce Singer .
“ This is her hospital room , ” Stone wrote on Instagram , sharing an image .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this.
” Kelly Stone wrote on her Instagram page that she and Singer left for Montana on March 13 to shelter during the pandemic .
Kelly Stone also posted a series of videos from her hospital room , where she is on oxygen , to show what she is struggling with and to urge more people wear masks .
“ You never ever want to feel like this , ” she said , struggling to speak and on the verge of tears .
“ I promise you.
” In her own video , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heavy toll on her family .
“ My grandmother died of COVID and my godmother died of COVID , ” she said .
“ My sister and her husband are fighting for their lives and my sister is not doing well.
” She also decried the politics of the situation and blasted the state of Montana in particular for poor testing : “ The only thing that ’ s gon na change this is if you vote , and if you vote for [ Joe ] Biden and if you vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And the reason that ’ s going to happen is because with women in power , we will fight for our families .
We will fight for people to live .
And we will fight for people to get tested.
” Stone said the nations that have done best against the pandemic were the ones with women in leadership roles .

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Actor Sharon Stone’s immune-compromised sister is sick with the coronavirus, and she called out those who refuse to wear a mask in public as the reason.
Kelly Stone has lupus and the only place she’s been during the pandemic is the pharmacy to pick up her medication. Now, the “Basic Instinct” actor said her sister is fighting for her life with the COVID-19 infection, as is her husband, Bruce Singer.
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“This is her hospital room,” Stone wrote on Instagram, sharing an image. “One of you Non-Mask wearers did this.”
Kelly Stone wrote on her Instagram page that she and Singer left for Montana on March 13 to shelter during the pandemic.
“No shopping, no parties, barely saw a human,” she wrote. “Now fighting for a breath. You don’t want covid.”
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Kelly Stone also posted a series of videos from her hospital room, where she is on oxygen, to show what she is struggling with and to urge more people wear masks.
“You never ever want to feel like this,” she said, struggling to speak and on the verge of tears. “I promise you.”
In her own video, Sharon Stone said the virus had taken a heavy toll on her family.
“My grandmother died of COVID and my godmother died of COVID,” she said. “My sister and her husband are fighting for their lives and my sister is not doing well.”
She also decried the politics of the situation and blasted the state of Montana in particular for poor testing:
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“The only thing that’s gonna change this is if you vote, and if you vote for [Joe] Biden and if you vote for Kamala Harris,” she said. “And the reason that’s going to happen is because with women in power, we will fight for our families. We will fight for people to live. And we will fight for people to get tested.”
Stone said the nations that have done best against the pandemic were the ones with women in leadership roles.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Mark Hamill Shares Star Wars Resistance Meme To Save USPS And The Election

Screen icon Mark Hamill shared a meme on Sunday that turns one of the most memorable moments from the “ Star Wars ” films into a call to arms to protect the United States Postal Service .
The image , created by political meme-maker Paul Leigh , was inspired by the moment the late Carrie Fisher ’ s Princess Leia gave the Death Star plans to R2-D2 .
But the trusty little droid was replaced by a trusty little blue USPS mailbox instead : Leigh even gave Leia a mask , no doubt to protect her fellow members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Trump ’ s hand-picked new postmaster general , Louis DeJoy , has been removing mailboxes and mail sorters , cutting overtime and taking other measures that have dramatically delayed mail .
In some cases , mail that used to take just a few days is now taking weeks to reach its destination .
On Sunday , the USPS said it would stop removing mailboxes until after the election .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) plans to call lawmakers back to Washington from vacation this week to vote on legislation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been among many tweeting in support of postal workers and restoring postal service .
Last week , he shared a link to a petition urging DeJoy ’ s removal , which to date , has collected more than 850,000 signatures .

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Screen icon Mark Hamill shared a meme on Sunday that turns one of the most memorable moments from the “Star Wars” films into a call to arms to protect the United States Postal Service.
The image, created by political meme-maker Paul Leigh, was inspired by the moment the late Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia gave the Death Star plans to R2-D2. But the trusty little droid was replaced by a trusty little blue USPS mailbox instead:
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Leigh even gave Leia a mask, no doubt to protect her fellow members of the Rebel Alliance from space-germs.
The USPS under Trump’s hand-picked new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, has been removing mailboxes and mail sorters, cutting overtime and taking other measures that have dramatically delayed mail. In some cases, mail that used to take just a few days is now taking weeks to reach its destination.
On Sunday, the USPS said it would stop removing mailboxes until after the election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plans to call lawmakers back to Washington from vacation this week to vote on legislation that would protect the USPS.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-16--Arizona School District Cancels Classes After Mass Sickout Over Virus Concerns

An Arizona school district has been forced to cancel classes and reverse course on its plan to resume in-person classes on Monday after teachers and other staff called in sick en masse due to coronavirus concerns .
“ We have received an overwhelming response from staff indicating that they do not feel safe returning to classrooms with students .
In response , we have received a high volume of staff absences for Monday citing health and safety concerns , ” Gregory Wyman , superintendent of the J.O .
Combs Unified School district , said in a letter to parents Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , school district ’ s board had voted last week to resume in-person learning Monday , even though they failed to meet recommended benchmarks set by the Arizona Department of Health Services .
No counties in the Phoenix metropolitan area met the necessary criteria last week to reopen , according to the New York Times .
On Friday , 109 teachers and staff members ― nearly 20 % of the district ’ s staff of roughly 600 ― had put in absences for Monday , a district spokeswoman told the Arizona Republic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , schools will not be able to re-open on Monday as planned .
This means that all classes , including virtual learning , will be canceled , ” Wyman wrote .
It ’ s unclear how long these absences would last and when in-person instruction would resume , he said .
The reopening debate flared in Arizona after hundreds of parent and student protesters in Phoenix called last Monday for a return to in-person learning , Reuters reported .
It followed demonstrations from teachers calling for a delay until October .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers voiced fears about returning to school in a state that continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus .
Kelley Fisher , a Phoenix kindergarten teacher who has led protests in the city , told Reuters it was great to see the school district come together and use their collective power .
“ I ’ d love to see a nationwide sick out , ” she said .
The resumption of in-person learning has become a source of debate across the country as some parents and politicians urge schools to reopen while others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus concerns as they push for a further delay amid a resurgence of the virus .
Schools in Georgia , Tennessee , Alabama and Nebraska have closed again after COVID-19 outbreaks forced staff and students to isolate .
Several Georgia schools drew nationwide attention when images of dangerously packed hallways and crowds were circulated by concerned students after some schools reopened earlier this month despite the resurgence of the virus in the state .
On Friday , Georgia ’ s Cherokee County public school district said it had instructed more than 1,700 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine .

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An Arizona school district has been forced to cancel classes and reverse course on its plan to resume in-person classes on Monday after teachers and other staff called in sick en masse due to coronavirus concerns.
“We have received an overwhelming response from staff indicating that they do not feel safe returning to classrooms with students. In response, we have received a high volume of staff absences for Monday citing health and safety concerns,” Gregory Wyman, superintendent of the J.O. Combs Unified School district, said in a letter to parents Friday.
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The San Tan Valley, Phoenix, school district’s board had voted last week to resume in-person learning Monday, even though they failed to meet recommended benchmarks set by the Arizona Department of Health Services. No counties in the Phoenix metropolitan area met the necessary criteria last week to reopen, according to the New York Times.
On Friday, 109 teachers and staff members ― nearly 20% of the district’s staff of roughly 600 ― had put in absences for Monday, a district spokeswoman told the Arizona Republic.
“Due to these insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to re-open on Monday as planned. This means that all classes, including virtual learning, will be canceled,” Wyman wrote.
It’s unclear how long these absences would last and when in-person instruction would resume, he said.
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The reopening debate flared in Arizona after hundreds of parent and student protesters in Phoenix called last Monday for a return to in-person learning, Reuters reported. It followed demonstrations from teachers calling for a delay until October.
At a protest in Phoenix last month, Arizona teachers voiced fears about returning to school in a state that continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus. ASSOCIATED PRESS / Ross D. Franklin
Kelley Fisher, a Phoenix kindergarten teacher who has led protests in the city, told Reuters it was great to see the school district come together and use their collective power. “I’d love to see a nationwide sick out,” she said.
The resumption of in-person learning has become a source of debate across the country as some parents and politicians urge schools to reopen while others, including teachers’ unions, cite coronavirus concerns as they push for a further delay amid a resurgence of the virus. Schools in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Nebraska have closed again after COVID-19 outbreaks forced staff and students to isolate.
Several Georgia schools drew nationwide attention when images of dangerously packed hallways and crowds were circulated by concerned students after some schools reopened earlier this month despite the resurgence of the virus in the state. On Friday, Georgia’s Cherokee County public school district said it had instructed more than 1,700 students and 44 faculty and staff members to self-quarantine.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--'We All Saw This Coming': Student Paper Slams UNC Leaders Over COVID-19 Outbreak

The editorial board of The Daily Tar Heel , the University of North Carolina ’ s student newspaper , published a searing column on Monday tearing into school leadership for the “ clusterfuck ” they created by pushing to resume on-campus learning .
On Monday afternoon , just a week after the semester began , the university announced that its Chapel Hill campus was moving undergraduate courses to online-only after at least four COVID-19 clusters ― defined as having five or more cases ― cropped up in student housing .
Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Robert Blouin said the move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school ’ s undergraduate residential students were expected to change their residential plans for the fall .
It was unclear from the announcement how that would play out for the thousands of students who ’ ve just moved in .
The authors also called out administrators for ignoring the Orange County Health Department , which wrote a letter last month recommending to UNC officials that the school restrict on-campus housing to at-risk students and implement remote learning for the first five weeks of the semester .
It came after coronavirus case counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendees and community members expressed concerns about students returning en masse to Chapel Hill .
In response to the letter , Guskiewicz told students that the health department ’ s advice was not an order or mandate but that the university was working toward aligning with the department ’ s general recommendations on several counts .
The Daily Tar Heel editorial board accused Guskiewicz , Blouin and others in the administration of passing the buck and failing to take responsibility .
“ We ’ re angry — and we ’ re scared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tired of the secrecy , tired of being treated like cash cows by a University with such blatant disregard for our lives , ” the authors said .
UNC , one of the largest universities to attempt a resumption of in-person learning , was under close scrutiny as other schools weigh the risks of returning to face-to-face instruction this fall .
Colleges that reopen for in-person classes do so with the knowledge that they ’ re likely putting many of their students , their staff and people in the surrounding community at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In another editorial published last week , the editorial board accused UNC of putting profits over people and pushing ahead with reopening plans despite the protests from students and staff calling for classes to resume online .
The newspaper published a nine-point list of issues , which included the university ’ s decision not to test students and staff before returning to campus , a lack of transparency around those who test positive for the coronavirus , and the decision to let dorm buildings fill to capacity despite that scenario being considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention .

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The editorial board of The Daily Tar Heel, the University of North Carolina’s student newspaper, published a searing column on Monday tearing into school leadership for the “clusterfuck” they created by pushing to resume on-campus learning.
On Monday afternoon, just a week after the semester began, the university announced that its Chapel Hill campus was moving undergraduate courses to online-only after at least four COVID-19 clusters ― defined as having five or more cases ― cropped up in student housing.
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Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Robert Blouin said the move to remote learning meant the majority of undergraduate residential students were expected to change their residential plans for the fall as the school works to “de-densify” the campus. It was unclear from the announcement how that would play out for the thousands of students who’ve just moved in.
“We all saw this coming,” The Daily Tar Heel titled its editorial.
The onus should have fallen on UNC leadership to implement measures to safeguard all students, the editorial board argued.
They wrote:
“University leadership should have expected students, many of whom are now living on their own for the first time, to be reckless. Reports of parties throughout the weekend come as no surprise. Though these students are not faultless, it was the University’s responsibility to disincentivize such gatherings by reconsidering its plans to operate in-person earlier on.”
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In a statement emailed to HuffPost about the editorial, Guskiewicz said the university understands that students and parents may be concerned and frustrated by the changes.
“As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, we believe the current data presents an untenable situation,” he said. “As we have always said, the health and safety of our campus community is paramount, and we will continue to modify and adapt our plan when necessary.”
Guskiewicz also said the university had created its roadmap for the new semester in consultation with public health experts and state and local health officials over the last five months. However, he did not address the specific accusations in the editorial.
The Daily Tar Heel called out UNC administrators for ignoring the Orange County Health Department, which wrote a letter last month recommending that the school restrict on-campus housing to at-risk students and implement remote learning for the first five weeks of the semester. It came after coronavirus case counts rose in the county, and university attendees and community members expressed concerns about students returning en masse to Chapel Hill.
In response to the letter, Guskiewicz told students that the health department’s advice was not an order or mandate but that the university was working toward aligning with the department’s general recommendations on several counts.
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The Daily Tar Heel editorial board accused Guskiewicz, Blouin and others in the administration of passing the buck and failing to take responsibility.
“We’re angry — and we’re scared. We’re tired of the gaslighting, tired of the secrecy, tired of being treated like cash cows by a University with such blatant disregard for our lives,” the authors said.
UNC, one of the largest universities to attempt a resumption of in-person learning, was under close scrutiny as other schools weigh the risks of returning to face-to-face instruction this fall. Colleges that reopen for in-person classes do so with the knowledge that they’re likely putting many of their students, their staff and people in the surrounding community at higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
In another editorial published last week, the editorial board accused UNC of putting profits over people and pushing ahead with reopening plans despite the protests from students and staff calling for classes to resume online. The newspaper published a nine-point list of issues, which included the university’s decision not to test students and staff before returning to campus, a lack of transparency around those who test positive for the coronavirus, and the decision to allow dorm buildings fill to capacity despite that scenario being considered high-risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Trump Claims COVID-19 Is God Testing Him After He Built ‘Greatest Economy In History’

President Donald Trump claimed Monday that the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 170,000 Americans is God ’ s way of testing him .
While boasting about the “ economic miracle ” he claims to have achieved before COVID-19 disrupted life across America , the president described having a conversation with God about his track record as president .
“ We built the greatest economy in the history of the world , and now I have to do it again , ” he said , repeating a debunked claim about his administration ’ s economic successes during a campaign stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what that is ?
” Trump asked .
“ That ’ s God testing me .
He said , ‘ You know , you did it once.
’ And I said , ‘ Did I do a great job , God ?
I ’ m the only one that could do it.
’ ’ ’ According to Trump , God wasn ’ t too pleased with his boast .
“ [ God ] said , ‘ That , you shouldn ’ t say .
Now we ’ re going to have you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said as his audience broke into laughter .
“ I said , ‘ OK , I agree .
You got me , ’ ” he said .
“ But I did it once .
And now I ’ m doing it again .
”

President Donald Trump claimed Monday that the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 170,000 Americans is God’s way of testing him.
While boasting about the “economic miracle” he claims to have achieved before COVID-19 disrupted life across America, the president described having a conversation with God about his track record as president.
“We built the greatest economy in the history of the world, and now I have to do it again,” he said, repeating a debunked claim about his administration’s economic successes during a campaign stop in Mankato, Minnesota.
“You know what that is?” Trump asked. “That’s God testing me. He said, ‘You know, you did it once.’ And I said, ‘Did I do a great job, God? I’m the only one that could do it.’’’
According to Trump, God wasn’t too pleased with his boast.
“[God] said, ‘That, you shouldn’t say. Now we’re going to have you do it again,’” he said as his audience broke into laughter.
“I said, ‘OK, I agree. You got me,’” he said. “But I did it once. And now I’m doing it again.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--COVID ‘Clusters’ Force UNC To Cancel In-Person Classes After One Week

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday afternoon that the school was moving its undergraduate courses to online only , just a week after the semester began .
Over the weekend , the school had announced four separate “ clusters ” of COVID-19 ― defined as five or more cases ― in student housing .
As of Monday , the school reported only four spaces remained in the quarantine housing set aside for students who had been exposed to the virus .
An announcement from Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Provost Robert A. Blouin said undergraduate courses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , August 19 , while “ our graduate , professional and health affairs schools will continue to be taught as they are , or as directed by the schools.
” What happens next for the thousands of students who moved in less than two weeks ago was not exactly clear .
“ Due to this announcement as well as the reduction of campus activities , we expect the majority of our current undergraduate residential students to change their residential plans for the fall , ” they wrote .
“ We are working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve de-densification of our residential halls and our campus facilities.
” Officials at universities around the U.S. scrambled on Monday to deal with new COVID-19 clusters at the start of the fall semester , some of them linked to off-campus parties and packed clubs .
At Oklahoma State in Stillwater , where a widely circulated video over the weekend showed maskless students packed into a nightclub , officials confirmed 23 coronavirus cases at an off-campus sorority house .
The university placed the students living there in isolation and prohibited them from leaving .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ m frustrated as hell , ” said Ryan Novozinsky , a junior from Allentown , New Jersey , and editor of the student newspaper .
“ These are people I have to interact with.
” And , he added , “ there will be professors they interact with , starting today , that won ’ t be able to fight this off.
” A cluster of COVID-19 cases in a dorm was announced Sunday by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .
The disclosure marked the fourth such outbreak since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s flagship public university campus .
The three others were at a dorm , private student housing and a fraternity house .
In this Wednesday , March 18 , 2020 , file photo , people remove belongings on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill , N.C. , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill announced it has identified two clusters of the coronavirus on campus in its first week of fall classes .
( AP Photo/Gerry Broome , File ) A faculty committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet Monday to discuss the situation .
The head of the panel warned that the school may have to rethink its decision to hold classes on campus .
“ We knew there would be positive cases on our campus .
But clusters , five or more people that are connected in one place , are a different story , ” Mimi Chapman wrote to the university system ’ s board of governors .
“ The presence of clusters should be triggering reconsideration of residential , in-person learning.
” The University of Notre Dame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the South Bend , Indiana , campus in early August .
At least two off-campus parties over a week ago have been identified as sources , school officials said .
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga , where some in-person classes began Monday , school and county health officials announced over the weekend that they are trying to identify people who may been exposed to COVID-19 earlier this month from members of a fraternity and a sorority .
In Alabama , officials were frustrated by scenes of crowded entertainment districts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to campus at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa .
Mayor Walt Maddox warned that such behavior could put the treasured football season in danger .
“ If you don ’ t want to protect yourself and you don ’ t want to protect your family and you don ’ t want to protect your friends and thousands of jobs , maybe , just maybe , you would want to protect football season so we can have it this fall , ” Maddox said in an interview .

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday afternoon that the school was moving its undergraduate courses to online only, just a week after the semester began. Over the weekend, the school had announced four separate “clusters” of COVID-19 ― defined as five or more cases ― in student housing.
As of Monday, the school reported only four spaces remained in the quarantine housing set aside for students who had been exposed to the virus. An announcement from Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Provost Robert A. Blouin said undergraduate courses would move to remote learning as of Wednesday, August 19, while “our graduate, professional and health affairs schools will continue to be taught as they are, or as directed by the schools.”
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What happens next for the thousands of students who moved in less than two weeks ago was not exactly clear. “Due to this announcement as well as the reduction of campus activities, we expect the majority of our current undergraduate residential students to change their residential plans for the fall,” they wrote. “We are working to identify additional effective ways to further achieve de-densification of our residential halls and our campus facilities.”
Officials at universities around the U.S. scrambled on Monday to deal with new COVID-19 clusters at the start of the fall semester, some of them linked to off-campus parties and packed clubs.
At Oklahoma State in Stillwater, where a widely circulated video over the weekend showed maskless students packed into a nightclub, officials confirmed 23 coronavirus cases at an off-campus sorority house. The university placed the students living there in isolation and prohibited them from leaving.
“As a student, I’m frustrated as hell,” said Ryan Novozinsky, a junior from Allentown, New Jersey, and editor of the student newspaper. “These are people I have to interact with.” And, he added, “there will be professors they interact with, starting today, that won’t be able to fight this off.”
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OSU has a combination of in-person and online courses, and students, staff and faculty are required to wear masks indoors and outdoors where social distancing isn’t possible.
Outbreaks earlier this summer at fraternities in Washington state, California and Mississippi provided a glimpse of the challenges school officials face in keeping the virus from spreading on campuses where young people eat, live, study — and party — in close quarters.
The virus has been blamed for over 170,000 deaths and 5.4 million confirmed infections in the U.S.
A cluster of COVID-19 cases in a dorm was announced Sunday by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The disclosure marked the fourth such outbreak since the semester began Aug. 10 at the state’s flagship public university campus. The three others were at a dorm, private student housing and a fraternity house.
In this Wednesday, March 18, 2020, file photo, people remove belongings on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., amid the coronavirus pandemic. The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill announced it has identified two clusters of the coronavirus on campus in its first week of fall classes. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS
A faculty committee that advises the administration was scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the situation. The head of the panel warned that the school may have to rethink its decision to hold classes on campus.
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“We knew there would be positive cases on our campus. But clusters, five or more people that are connected in one place, are a different story,” Mimi Chapman wrote to the university system’s board of governors. “The presence of clusters should be triggering reconsideration of residential, in-person learning.”
The University of Notre Dame reported 58 confirmed cases since students returned to the South Bend, Indiana, campus in early August. At least two off-campus parties over a week ago have been identified as sources, school officials said.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where some in-person classes began Monday, school and county health officials announced over the weekend that they are trying to identify people who may been exposed to COVID-19 earlier this month from members of a fraternity and a sorority.
In Alabama, officials were frustrated by scenes of crowded entertainment districts and bars on the first weekend many students returned to campus at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Mayor Walt Maddox warned that such behavior could put the treasured football season in danger.
“If you don’t want to protect yourself and you don’t want to protect your family and you don’t want to protect your friends and thousands of jobs, maybe, just maybe, you would want to protect football season so we can have it this fall,” Maddox said in an interview.
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___
Associated Press writers Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Katie Foody in Chicago; and Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Pastor Tests Positive As Coronavirus Spikes At His Church In South Korea

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — A conservative South Korean pastor who has been a bitter critic of the country ’ s president has tested positive for the coronavirus , health authorities said Monday , two days after he participated in an anti-government protest in Seoul that drew thousands .
More than 300 virus cases have been linked to the Rev .
Jun Kwang-hun ’ s huge church in northern Seoul , which has emerged as a major cluster of infections amid growing fears of a massive outbreak in the greater capital region .
Officials are concerned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after thousands of demonstrators , including Jun and members of his Sarang Jeil Church , marched in downtown Seoul on Saturday despite pleas from officials to stay home .
Jang Shi-hwa , a disease control expert in Seoul ’ s southern Gwangak district , said Jun was tested Monday morning at an area hospital , which later reported to her office that he had tested positive but did not exhibit any symptoms .
Jun was seen smiling and talking on his cellphone , with his mask pulled down his chin , as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different hospital in Seoul for isolated treatment .
In this April 20 , 2020 , photo , Sarang Jeil Church pastor Rev .
Jun Kwang-hun speaks outside a detention center in Uiwang , South Korea .
On Aug. 17 , health authorities announced that Jun tested positive for the coronavirus , two days after he participated in an anti-government rally in Seoul that drew thousands .
South Korea reported 197 new cases of the virus on Monday , the fourth straight day of triple-digit increases .
Most of the new cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area , home to about half of the country ’ s 51 million people .
Health workers have so far linked 319 infections to Jun ’ s church after completing tests on about 2,000 of its 4,000 members .
Police are pursuing some 700 church members who remain out of contact .
Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip urged anyone who participated in the weekend protest to come forward for testing if they experience fever or other symptoms .
Jeong Eun-kyeong , director of South Korea ’ s Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s concern that the outbreak at the church could spread nationwide through its members ’ activities .
President Moon Jae-in ’ s government has strengthened social distancing restrictions in the Seoul metropolitan area — a move it had resisted for months out of economic concerns — and urged residents to avoid visiting other parts of the country for two weeks .
Jun ’ s church has become South Korea ’ s second-biggest virus cluster , behind a branch of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases following a surge of infections in the region in late February and March .
The country managed to stabilize the outbreak in the Daegu area by April after bringing medical resources and personnel to the region from other parts of the country .
Health workers were able to quickly ramp up testing and aggressively trace contacts by extensively using cellphone location data and credit-card records .
But the resurgence of the virus in the greater capital area — which has 10 times more people than Daegu — has been a rude awakening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tout its gains against the virus .
While health workers were able to contain the outbreak in Daegu , where infections were mostly tied to the Shincheonji church , they ’ re now struggling to track transmissions and predict infection routes in the Seoul region , where clusters have been popping up from churches , restaurants , schools and other places .
During Saturday ’ s protest , Jun , who is known for provocative speeches that are often filled with bizarre claims , said the outbreak at his church was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspecified opponent of “ pouring ” the virus onto the church .
Jun was indicted in March on charges of violating election laws ahead of April ’ s parliamentary elections by allegedly asking participants at his rallies to vote against Moon ’ s party , which would be illegal because the official campaigning period hadn ’ t yet started .
Jun ’ s bail was granted on condition that he doesn ’ t take part in rallies that could be related to his pending case .

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A conservative South Korean pastor who has been a bitter critic of the country’s president has tested positive for the coronavirus, health authorities said Monday, two days after he participated in an anti-government protest in Seoul that drew thousands.
More than 300 virus cases have been linked to the Rev. Jun Kwang-hun’s huge church in northern Seoul, which has emerged as a major cluster of infections amid growing fears of a massive outbreak in the greater capital region.
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Officials are concerned that the virus’s spread could worsen after thousands of demonstrators, including Jun and members of his Sarang Jeil Church, marched in downtown Seoul on Saturday despite pleas from officials to stay home.
Jang Shi-hwa, a disease control expert in Seoul’s southern Gwangak district, said Jun was tested Monday morning at an area hospital, which later reported to her office that he had tested positive but did not exhibit any symptoms. Jun was seen smiling and talking on his cellphone, with his mask pulled down his chin, as he boarded an ambulance that took him to a different hospital in Seoul for isolated treatment.
In this April 20, 2020, photo, Sarang Jeil Church pastor Rev. Jun Kwang-hun speaks outside a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea. On Aug. 17, health authorities announced that Jun tested positive for the coronavirus, two days after he participated in an anti-government rally in Seoul that drew thousands. (Ko Jun-beom/Newsis via AP)
South Korea reported 197 new cases of the virus on Monday, the fourth straight day of triple-digit increases. Most of the new cases in the past few days have come from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, home to about half of the country’s 51 million people.
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Churches have been a constant source of infections, with many failing to require worshipers to wear masks, or allowing them to sing in choirs or eat together.
Health workers have so far linked 319 infections to Jun’s church after completing tests on about 2,000 of its 4,000 members. Police are pursuing some 700 church members who remain out of contact.
Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip urged anyone who participated in the weekend protest to come forward for testing if they experience fever or other symptoms. Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there’s concern that the outbreak at the church could spread nationwide through its members’ activities.
“We believe we are in the early stage of a major outbreak,” she said.
A lawyer for Sarang Jeil Church holds a press conference near the church in Seoul on August 17, 2020. JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images
President Moon Jae-in’s government has strengthened social distancing restrictions in the Seoul metropolitan area — a move it had resisted for months out of economic concerns — and urged residents to avoid visiting other parts of the country for two weeks.
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Jun’s church has become South Korea’s second-biggest virus cluster, behind a branch of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu that was tied to more than 5,000 cases following a surge of infections in the region in late February and March.
The country managed to stabilize the outbreak in the Daegu area by April after bringing medical resources and personnel to the region from other parts of the country. Health workers were able to quickly ramp up testing and aggressively trace contacts by extensively using cellphone location data and credit-card records.
But the resurgence of the virus in the greater capital area — which has 10 times more people than Daegu — has been a rude awakening for a country that had been eager to tout its gains against the virus.
While health workers were able to contain the outbreak in Daegu, where infections were mostly tied to the Shincheonji church, they’re now struggling to track transmissions and predict infection routes in the Seoul region, where clusters have been popping up from churches, restaurants, schools and other places.
Moon’s government is pressing charges against Jun for allegedly disrupting disease-control efforts by ignoring orders to self-isolate, discouraging worshipers from getting tested and under-reporting the church’s membership to avoid broader quarantines.
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Jun’s lawyer, Kang Yeon-jae, denied the accusations during a news conference Monday, insisting that he only received self-isolation orders after returning home from Saturday’s rally.
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters march through the streets of South Korea's capital on Liberation Day ignoring official pleas to stay home amid a surge in coronavirus(COIVD-19) infections. (Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
During Saturday’s protest, Jun, who is known for provocative speeches that are often filled with bizarre claims, said the outbreak at his church was a result of an attack, accusing an unspecified opponent of “pouring” the virus onto the church.
Prosecutors pushed for Jun’s arrest, asking a Seoul court to revoke his bail.
Jun was indicted in March on charges of violating election laws ahead of April’s parliamentary elections by allegedly asking participants at his rallies to vote against Moon’s party, which would be illegal because the official campaigning period hadn’t yet started. Jun’s bail was granted on condition that he doesn’t take part in rallies that could be related to his pending case.
Shincheonji’s 88-year-old chairman, Lee Man-hee, was arrested earlier this month over charges that the church hid some members and under-reported gatherings. Lee and his church have steadfastly denied the accusations, saying they’re cooperating with health authorities.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Trump's Former DHS Chief Of Staff Calls His Security Policies 'Terrifying'

The former chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security shared a brutal testimony Monday about his time working under President Donald Trump , describing him as a man who prioritizes personal revenge over national security .
Miles Taylor , who served in the role from 2017 to 2019 , recounted Trump ’ s “ terrifying ” behavior in a video for the group Republican Voters Against Trump and in an op-ed for The Washington Post , and said he ’ s voting for Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
“ We would go in to try to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― a cyberattack , terrorism threat , ” Taylor said in the video .
“ He wasn ’ t interested in those things .
To him , they weren ’ t priorities .
The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and to fuel his own agenda.
” NEW : Testimonial ad from Trump 's Former DHS Chief of Staff @ MilesTaylorUSA , declaring his support for Joe Biden and describing Trump 's presidency as `` terrifying '' and `` actively doing damage to our security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/Nz2NiSCquN for more .
pic.twitter.com/iChqOdIIew — Republican Voters Against Trump ( @ RVAT2020 ) August 17 , 2020 Taylor recalled some of the most vindictive or self-serving demands Trump made to the DHS .
“ The California wildfires , ” he raised as an example .
“ On a phone call with the Federal Emergency Management Agency , he told FEMA to cut off the money , and to no longer give individual assistance to California .
He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people in the state of California didn ’ t support him , and that politically it wasn ’ t a base for him.
” Taylor also said Trump ’ s policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border was born out of a desire to punish them .
“ He said he wanted to restart ‘ zero tolerance ’ and separate families .
He said he wanted to go further and have a deliberate policy of ripping children away from their parents to show those parents that they shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place , ” Taylor said .
When the DHS would tell Trump his ideas may be illegal , Taylor continued , the president would boast that he had “ magical authorities.
” The White House did not immediately return HuffPost ’ s requests for comment on the allegations from Taylor , who is now one of the highest-ranking former Trump officials to endorse former Vice President Biden in his campaign to unseat Trump .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The former chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security shared a brutal testimony Monday about his time working under President Donald Trump, describing him as a man who prioritizes personal revenge over national security.
Miles Taylor, who served in the role from 2017 to 2019, recounted Trump’s “terrifying” behavior in a video for the group Republican Voters Against Trump and in an op-ed for The Washington Post, and said he’s voting for Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
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“We would go in to try to talk to him about a pressing national security issue ― a cyberattack, terrorism threat,” Taylor said in the video. “He wasn’t interested in those things. To him, they weren’t priorities. The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and to fuel his own agenda.”
NEW: Testimonial ad from Trump's Former DHS Chief of Staff @MilesTaylorUSA, declaring his support for Joe Biden and describing Trump's presidency as "terrifying" and "actively doing damage to our security."
WATCH & go to https://t.co/Nz2NiSCquN for more. pic.twitter.com/iChqOdIIew — Republican Voters Against Trump (@RVAT2020) August 17, 2020
Taylor recalled some of the most vindictive or self-serving demands Trump made to the DHS.
“The California wildfires,” he raised as an example. “On a phone call with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he told FEMA to cut off the money, and to no longer give individual assistance to California. He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn’t support him, and that politically it wasn’t a base for him.”
Taylor also said Trump’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border was born out of a desire to punish them.
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“He said he wanted to restart ‘zero tolerance’ and separate families. He said he wanted to go further and have a deliberate policy of ripping children away from their parents to show those parents that they shouldn’t come to the door in the first place,” Taylor said. When the DHS would tell Trump his ideas may be illegal, Taylor continued, the president would boast that he had “magical authorities.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Donald Trump Is Committing A Crime Against Democracy

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images Voter suppression has long been a part of the Republican electoral playbook , but GOP officials typically shroud their efforts in complex policy terms or insist they are really concerned about other issues , like preventing voter fraud .
Not Trump .
Last week , President Donald Trump admitted that he is attempting to disrupt the November election by preventing the U.S .
Postal Service from processing election ballots .
This flagrant crime against democracy should be grounds for his swift impeachment and removal from office , and it demands an immediate , all-hands-on-deck oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s election money , basically , ” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo .
“ They want $ 3.5 billion for the mail-in votes , OK — universal mail-in ballots .
They want $ 25 billion for the post office .
Now they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all these millions and millions of ballots … if you don ’ t get those two items , that means you don ’ t have universal mail-in voting.
” Trump has been making wild claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot through the mail for months , even going so far in July as to suggest that the threat posed by mail-in voting should be grounds to delay the November election .
Conservative legal scholar and longtime Trump defender Steven Calabresi described that suggestion as “ fascistic.
” But Trump has not relented .
His new postmaster general , Louis DeJoy — a longtime Republican megadonor — has implemented chaotic cutbacks and rule changes at the agency that have resulted in massive shipping delays , leaving many Americans without medication or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeJoy and his staff have defended these disastrous policy changes by citing the Postal Service ’ s financial situation .
Last week , Trump made clear he does not want Congress to help improve that financial position , because doing so would enable more people to vote .
Voter suppression has long been a part of the Republican electoral playbook , particularly efforts to disenfranchise Black voters .
But GOP officials typically shroud their efforts in complex policy terms or insist they are really concerned about other issues , like preventing voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Back in March , he blasted a different coronavirus rescue package from Democrats , telling Fox News , “ The things they had in there were crazy … levels of voting that , if you ever agreed to it , you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again.
” The equation was pretty simple : More votes equals fewer Republicans .
There is , to be clear , nothing wild or crazy about voting through the mail .
In 2016 , 33 million Americans voted by mail , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as coronavirus pandemic precautions discourage voters from standing in long lines and crowding into gymnasiums and other election sites .
American democracy has always been imperfect .
It took a civil war for Black men to win the legal right to vote .
American women had to fight for another half-century and immigrants from Asia were denied the right to naturalize as citizens ― and thus vote ― until 1952 .
In practice , these legal rights were often met with indifference or violence .
Throughout our history , there have been forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent America from realizing its democratic potential and unwind democratic protections already in place .
In different eras , these authoritarians have found solace in different political parties .
Last week , Trump forced Republicans to grapple with the question out in the open : Are they , like their president , enemies of democracy ?
The experience of the past four years does not offer much cause for optimism on that point .
Typically , when Trump does something heinous , Republican leaders blanch for a moment , blink before the camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day may be .
Democrats can not mirror this complacency .
Trump admitted to a serious crime last week — one much more severe than his effort to coerce the Ukrainian government into attacking his political rival , which rightly resulted in his impeachment .
House Democrats announced this week that they will return from their August recess to convene an emergency public hearing on the Postal Service crisis .
But this is not a moment for the theater of public questioning alone .
It demands action — subpoenas , investigations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring legal action against the administration swiftly .
Time is running out .

Last week, President Donald Trump admitted that he is attempting to disrupt the November election by preventing the U.S. Postal Service from processing election ballots. This flagrant crime against democracy should be grounds for his swift impeachment and removal from office, and it demands an immediate, all-hands-on-deck oversight effort from congressional Democrats.
During an appearance on Fox Business, Trump attacked two provisions of the House coronavirus rescue bill that would fund basic election activities amid the ongoing pandemic.
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“That’s election money, basically,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. “They want $3.5 billion for the mail-in votes, OK — universal mail-in ballots. They want $25 billion for the post office. Now they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all these millions and millions of ballots … if you don’t get those two items, that means you don’t have universal mail-in voting.”
Trump has been making wild claims about the supposedly nefarious process of sending a ballot through the mail for months, even going so far in July as to suggest that the threat posed by mail-in voting should be grounds to delay the November election. Conservative legal scholar and longtime Trump defender Steven Calabresi described that suggestion as “fascistic.”
But Trump has not relented. His new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy — a longtime Republican megadonor — has implemented chaotic cutbacks and rule changes at the agency that have resulted in massive shipping delays, leaving many Americans without medication or other essential items delivered through the mail. DeJoy and his staff have defended these disastrous policy changes by citing the Postal Service’s financial situation.
Last week, Trump made clear he does not want Congress to help improve that financial position, because doing so would enable more people to vote.
Advertisement
“Last week, Trump forced Republicans to grapple with the question out in the open: Are they, like their president, enemies of democracy?”
Voter suppression has long been a part of the Republican electoral playbook, particularly efforts to disenfranchise Black voters. But GOP officials typically shroud their efforts in complex policy terms or insist they are really concerned about other issues, like preventing voter fraud.
Trump has been more direct. Back in March, he blasted a different coronavirus rescue package from Democrats, telling Fox News, “The things they had in there were crazy … levels of voting that, if you ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” The equation was pretty simple: More votes equals fewer Republicans.
There is, to be clear, nothing wild or crazy about voting through the mail. In 2016, 33 million Americans voted by mail, a number that should rise substantially in 2020 as coronavirus pandemic precautions discourage voters from standing in long lines and crowding into gymnasiums and other election sites.
American democracy has always been imperfect. It took a civil war for Black men to win the legal right to vote. American women had to fight for another half-century and immigrants from Asia were denied the right to naturalize as citizens ― and thus vote ― until 1952. In practice, these legal rights were often met with indifference or violence. Throughout our history, there have been forces and factions at work who worked to prevent America from realizing its democratic potential and unwind democratic protections already in place.
Advertisement
In different eras, these authoritarians have found solace in different political parties. Last week, Trump forced Republicans to grapple with the question out in the open: Are they, like their president, enemies of democracy?
The experience of the past four years does not offer much cause for optimism on that point. Typically, when Trump does something heinous, Republican leaders blanch for a moment, blink before the camera and then defend whatever the horror of the day may be.
Democrats cannot mirror this complacency. Trump admitted to a serious crime last week — one much more severe than his effort to coerce the Ukrainian government into attacking his political rival, which rightly resulted in his impeachment. House Democrats announced this week that they will return from their August recess to convene an emergency public hearing on the Postal Service crisis.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-17--Twitter Users Mock Trump's Crazed All-Caps Tweet About Saving USPS

President Donald Trump attempted to deflect attention away from his continued assault on mail-in voting and the U.S .
Postal Service on Monday with ― what else ?
― a tweet .
Even better , the tweet was all-caps ― the universally accepted internet sign that someone is being a tad ridiculous .
But the tweet may not have been enough to ease the minds of Americans worried that the Postal Service is being actively sabotaged ahead of the November election .
As a result , many Twitter users were very , very skeptical of Trump ’ s tweet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of a historic war against the post office and American democracy , fraudulently tweets the opposite of what he 's doing and the opposite of what he believes to further psychologically abuse American voters who read the news https : //t.co/XpkDecKRAs — Seth Abramson ( @ SethAbramson ) August 17 , 2020 This is like a gas-lighting fox yelling `` SAVE THE HENHOUSE . ''
A really awful , insecure , power-hungry , belligerent fox , with a penchant for lying who gets in cahoots with Russia , spreads misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to burn down the henhouse for profit .
https : //t.co/x8Sc3yyLA7 pic.twitter.com/9M9i5hglmG — Adam Mordecai ( @ advodude ) August 17 , 2020 '' Put out the fire ! ''
says the arsonist .
— Paul 👻 ( @ pablo_honey1 ) August 17 , 2020 This is like if Jim Jordan tweeted PROTECT STUDENT ATHLETES .
— Brian Tyler Cohen ( @ briantylercohen ) August 17 , 2020 I ’ m confused , you ’ re the one actually killing it 🤔 Is this just another attempt at misdirection ?
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ Barnacules ) August 17 , 2020 Amid public backlash , the Postal Service said Sunday that it would postpone collection box removal for 90 days .
Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

This is like a gas-lighting fox yelling "SAVE THE HENHOUSE." A really awful, insecure, power-hungry, belligerent fox, with a penchant for lying who gets in cahoots with Russia, spreads misinformation when it suits him, and is trying to burn down the henhouse for profit. https://t.co/x8Sc3yyLA7 pic.twitter.com/9M9i5hglmG