thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-01--Kayleigh McEnany Can't Name River Where Trump Said Votes Were Dumped

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was unable Thursday to name any river where President Donald Trump claimed ballots had been dumped , one of his many shrill debate diatribes during his Tuesday night debate with challenger Joe Biden .
“ They [ also ] found them in creeks , ” Trump said of mail-in ballots at the debate , without offering any evidence or even specifying where he was talking about .
Decker asked McEnany : “ In this particular statement ... who is ‘ they ’ that found those ballots , and where is this river anywhere in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Decker on “ missing the forest for the trees , ” and blamed journalists for their “ lack of curiosity ” about the problems and “ fraud ” that Trump keeps insisting will mark the widespread use of mail-in ballots in this year ’ s voting ― allegations that state election officials of both parties say are baseless .
He added : “ I cover the news , I like to report accurately in the news , and the president says , ‘ They found a lot of ballots in a river ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the river is.
” As Trump relentlessly attacks the integrity of mail-in ballots ( which he himself uses ) , critics accuse him of sowing mistrust in the process to suppress the vote to give himself a better chance of victory .
In the event he loses , they predict , he ’ ll use the same specious claims to challenge the results .
“ What he said [ at the debate ] was full of misstatements and inaccuracies , ” Lawrence Norden , director of the Election Reform Program for the Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Mail-in ballots are safe and secure .
We ’ ve been voting in some form by mail since the Civil War .
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress last week that the agency has seen no sign of widespread voter fraud .
The wild exchange between McEnany and Decker sent “ Where is the river ?
” trending on Twitter .

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was unable Thursday to name any river where President Donald Trump claimed ballots had been dumped, one of his many shrill debate diatribes during his Tuesday night debate with challenger Joe Biden.
McEnany then bizarrely slammed reporters for their lack of “curiosity.”
McEnany was pressed repeatedly by Fox News Radio White House correspondent Jon Decker to provide details about Trump’s comments that ballots were “dumped in rivers.”
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“They [also] found them in creeks,” Trump said of mail-in ballots at the debate, without offering any evidence or even specifying where he was talking about.
Decker asked McEnany: “In this particular statement... who is ‘they’ that found those ballots, and where is this river anywhere in this country?”
McEnany responded: “Local authorities. It was a ditch in Wisconsin” — but she provided no specific location.
“If he misspoke, it happened in a ditch, not a river?” Decker asked.
McEnany shook her head, then insisted: “That’s what the president was referring to.”
Then she lectured Decker on “missing the forest for the trees,” and blamed journalists for their “lack of curiosity” about the problems and “fraud” that Trump keeps insisting will mark the widespread use of mail-in ballots in this year’s voting ― allegations that state election officials of both parties say are baseless.
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Decker shot back to McEnany: I’m very curious — where is the river?”
He added: “I cover the news, I like to report accurately in the news, and the president says, ‘They found a lot of ballots in a river’ — I just want to know where the river is.”
"When the President said they found a lot of ballots in the river: Where is the river?"@PressSec doesn't answer. pic.twitter.com/Y9WoXayEBo — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 1, 2020
As Trump relentlessly attacks the integrity of mail-in ballots (which he himself uses), critics accuse him of sowing mistrust in the process to suppress the vote to give himself a better chance of victory. In the event he loses, they predict, he’ll use the same specious claims to challenge the results.
“What he said [at the debate] was full of misstatements and inaccuracies,” Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program for the Brennan Center for Justice, told USA Today. “Mail-in ballots are safe and secure. We’ve been voting in some form by mail since the Civil War.
“It’s dangerous to be making these false statements and accusations so close to the election,” Norden added.
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FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress last week that the agency has seen no sign of widespread voter fraud.
The wild exchange between McEnany and Decker sent “Where is the river?” trending on Twitter.
#WhereIsTheRiver is right up there with Where is Trump's "amazing" healthcare plan and where are Trump's tax returns?! — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) October 1, 2020
#WhereIsTheRiver
Donald Trump: "In Thigh Land. Let me show you on this map."#WorstTrumpEver pic.twitter.com/fXGH6nTF5t — Tomi Ahonen Ruthlessly Dumping Ballots At Ditch (@tomiahonen) October 1, 2020
I’m beginning to think the president just made up the story, @PressSec. #WhereIsTheRiver?
Why are you intent on delegitimizing our country’s election? — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 1, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--House Passes Democrats' $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Bill

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $ 2.2 trillion Democratic plan to provide more economic relief from the coronavirus pandemic , as a bipartisan deal continued to elude House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House .
Objections from top Republicans are likely to doom the House Democrats ’ plan in the Senate .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called the $ 2.2 trillion price tag “ outlandish , ” although Democrats have reduced the cost of their proposal by over a trillion dollars since May .
The House vote was 214-207 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , although 18 Democrats voted no , many of them moderates from swing districts who have been urging Pelosi to bring a bipartisan proposal to the House floor .
“ Today ’ s package is another partisan exercise that will never become law , ” Representative Abigail Spanberger , one of the Democrats who voted no , said .
Congress approved more than $ 3 trillion worth of coronavirus relief measures earlier this year , but both parties have argued more stimulus is needed .
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 50-minute phone call Thursday , in an effort to negotiate a bipartisan aid package to respond to the economic fallout from a pandemic that has killed more than 207,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work .
Congress and the White House approved more than $ 3 trillion worth of coronavirus relief measures earlier this year , but Mnuchin , as well as members of Congress from both parties , have argued more stimulus is needed .
Asked if there would be a resolution to her negotiations with the administration on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No.
” She gave no details of their talks but said : “ Even if we came to some agreement , nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to .
It ’ s the language.
” In the absence of a deal with the White House , and with lawmakers preparing to leave Washington for the remaining weeks of the 2020 presidential and congressional campaign , the Democratic-majority House went ahead and passed the Democrats ’ proposal .
“ Frankly if we had reached a bipartisan agreement ... we wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said .
“ But we also want to let the American people know where we stand.
” After Pelosi and Mnuchin ’ s phone call Thursday afternoon , Pelosi ’ s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill wrote on Twitter : “ The two discussed further clarifications on amounts and language , but distance on key areas remain.
” Republican Senator Mike Braun told CNBC on Thursday that a deal worth over $ 1.6 trillion could be rejected by one-third to one-half of Senate Republicans .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with support from Democrats .
Lawmakers and securities analysts viewed talks as a last-gasp effort to secure relief ahead of the Nov. 3 election for tens of millions of Americans and business including U.S. airlines , which have begun furloughing over 32,000 workers .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $2.2 trillion Democratic plan to provide more economic relief from the coronavirus pandemic, as a bipartisan deal continued to elude House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House.
Objections from top Republicans are likely to doom the House Democrats’ plan in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called the $2.2 trillion price tag “outlandish,” although Democrats have reduced the cost of their proposal by over a trillion dollars since May. The House vote was 214-207.
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No Republican voted for the Democratic plan, although 18 Democrats voted no, many of them moderates from swing districts who have been urging Pelosi to bring a bipartisan proposal to the House floor.
“Today’s package is another partisan exercise that will never become law,” Representative Abigail Spanberger, one of the Democrats who voted no, said.
Congress approved more than $3 trillion worth of coronavirus relief measures earlier this year, but both parties have argued more stimulus is needed. Bruno Netto via Getty Images
Republican President Donald Trump’s negotiating team has suggested a $1.6 trillion response, and the White House on Thursday dismissed Democrats’ $2.2 trillion plan as not serious.
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Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have talked every day this week, including a 50-minute phone call Thursday, in an effort to negotiate a bipartisan aid package to respond to the economic fallout from a pandemic that has killed more than 207,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.
Congress and the White House approved more than $3 trillion worth of coronavirus relief measures earlier this year, but Mnuchin, as well as members of Congress from both parties, have argued more stimulus is needed.
Asked if there would be a resolution to her negotiations with the administration on Thursday evening, Pelosi told reporters, “No.” She gave no details of their talks but said: “Even if we came to some agreement, nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. It’s the language.”
In the absence of a deal with the White House, and with lawmakers preparing to leave Washington for the remaining weeks of the 2020 presidential and congressional campaign, the Democratic-majority House went ahead and passed the Democrats’ proposal.
“Frankly if we had reached a bipartisan agreement...we wouldn’t have this bill on the floor,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. “But we also want to let the American people know where we stand.”
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have talked every day this week, including a 50-minute phone call Thursday, in an effort to negotiate a bipartisan aid package. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pelosi and Mnuchin differed over aid to state and local governments, Democratic demands for a child tax credit and stronger worker safety protections, healthcare provisions and help for small businesses.
After Pelosi and Mnuchin’s phone call Thursday afternoon, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill wrote on Twitter: “The two discussed further clarifications on amounts and language, but distance on key areas remain.”
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany dismissed the Democratic proposal as “not a serious offer.”
Pelosi said of the White House proposal on Bloomberg TV: “This isn’t half a loaf. What they’re offering is the heel of the loaf.”
Republican Senator Mike Braun told CNBC on Thursday that a deal worth over $1.6 trillion could be rejected by one-third to one-half of Senate Republicans. That would still allow a bill to pass with support from Democrats.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Seth Meyers Names The One Way To Get Trump To Behave At The Debates

Seth Meyers has a proposal for the second presidential debate .
On Thursday , the “ Late Night ” host reviewed the disastrous face-off between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden earlier this week .
The chaotic 90-minute event was marked by Trump repeatedly talking over and interrupting Biden as well as the moderator , Fox News ’ Chris Wallace .
In response , the Commission on Presidential Debates vowed to make changes to the format for the remaining debates .
“ I ’ d just like to say , best of luck .
You know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ?
It ’ s not like it ’ s hard to follow the rules , ” Meyers said .
“ There ’ s only one way to get Trump to behave at debates , ” he added .
“ And if no one else will say it , I will .
Any time he breaks the rules , a hologram of Fred Trump should appear and say , ‘ What part of wait your turn don ’ t you understand , Donald ?
’ ” We want to know what you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com

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Seth Meyers has a proposal for the second presidential debate.
On Thursday, the “Late Night” host reviewed the disastrous face-off between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden earlier this week. The chaotic 90-minute event was marked by Trump repeatedly talking over and interrupting Biden as well as the moderator, Fox News’ Chris Wallace.
In response, the Commission on Presidential Debates vowed to make changes to the format for the remaining debates.
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“I’d just like to say, best of luck. You know the format’s not the problem, right? It’s not like it’s hard to follow the rules,” Meyers said.
“There’s only one way to get Trump to behave at debates,” he added. “And if no one else will say it, I will. Any time he breaks the rules, a hologram of Fred Trump should appear and say, ‘What part of wait your turn don’t you understand, Donald?’”
Watch Meyers’ roast below:
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Republicans Protect Saudi Arabia On Anniversary Of Jamal Khashoggi's Murder

GOP lawmakers have refused to support a proposal pushed by the Democratic caucus that would protect critics of the Saudi Arabian regime , making it less likely the bill will move forward anytime soon in the House .
If passed , the proposal would put pressure on the Republican-led Senate and the White House to side with either the repressive Saudi government or those who challenge its abuses .
That could be a tough call for President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , who have shielded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing in 2018 .
“ Silence can be seen as consent , ” said Rep. Gerry Connolly ( D-Va. ) , who represents the district where Khashoggi lived .
“ We can not afford to consent nor can we ever allow this kind of gross human rights violation to be seen as something in which we ’ re complicit by our silence.
” Connolly is the sponsor of the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act , which the House Foreign Affairs Committee considered Thursday .
The bill would stop exports of U.S. arms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kingdom cooperates with an independent investigation into Khashoggi ’ s killing , releases detained journalists and activists , and stops torturing detainees .
It also would require American officials to prepare reports on whether the Saudis have used diplomatic facilities in the U.S. to harass their targets , potentially shuttering such properties , and whether the U.S. intelligence community warned Khashoggi that his life was in danger .
But Trump has since repeatedly blocked bipartisan efforts to withdraw from the Yemen war and used an emergency declaration to continue shipping weapons to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of his private view of his relationship with MBS : “ I saved his ass , ” he told reporter Bob Woodward for a recently released book on Trump ’ s presidency .
The upshot is that the Saudis have not meaningfully lost U.S. support in any way since the Khashoggi murder , despite a years-long campaign for accountability by dozens of lawmakers , activists and national security analysts .
Meanwhile , the kingdom has conducted its own trial of the former officials it blames for the killing , recently commuting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a judicial process that the United Nations expert investigating the Khashoggi case called “ a parody of justice.
” Congressional staffers and outside groups working on Connolly ’ s bill have been keen to win Republican support .
They discussed the legislation extensively with GOP aides prior to its consideration by the full committee and made concessions to address concerns about weakening the Saudis ’ ability to defend themselves , like ensuring the bill would not stop arms purchases by the Saudi military , two aides told HuffPost .
“ We definitely worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soltan of the nonprofit advocacy group The Freedom Initiative .
Other organizations backing the bill include the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Project on Middle East Democracy .
Some tweaks were worthwhile to help achieve the broader goal , Soltan said : making it harder for the Saudis to intimidate and harm critics of their government and the crown prince .
“ We ’ re hoping that members of Congress see that this is not just something in the past that we ’ re refusing to let go of .
We know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we know he ’ s resting in power and peace , but it ’ s about those that are still living looking over their shoulder and being hyper-vigilant all the time , ” Soltan added .
Crown Prince Mohammed has arrested more than two dozen women ’ s rights activists and other domestic figures since 2018 , and Saudi attempts to hurt skeptics of his rule who live outside the kingdom have been detected by the CIA .
In August , a former top Saudi intelligence official , Saad Aljabri , filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trying to kill him in Canada as part of an international witch hunt .
Connolly cited Aljabri ’ s plight ; Aljabri ’ s family has praised his measure to members of Congress , many of whom were familiar with Aljabri ’ s counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. “ We hoped to have support from the other side of the aisle… and I still hope we could , ” Connolly said .
“ Our relationship with the Saudis covers many strategic interests as well , including the very real and deadly threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that Congress already has procedures for blocking weapon sales .
He noted that the Saudis ’ top regional allies , the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain , have helped achieve Trump ’ s foreign policy goals by recently announcing deals to establish relations with Israel .
McCaul offered an amendment asking the president to “ take appropriate action ” to ensure the Saudis did not target dissidents in the U.S. , saying a requirement to close diplomatic facilities would limit the flexibility that American officials would have in handling “ these troubling @ @ @ @ @ @

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House Republicans are undermining legislation to pressure Saudi Arabia on human rights just in time for the second anniversary Friday of the Saudi government’s murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which sparked international furor and bipartisan outrage in Washington.
GOP lawmakers have refused to support a proposal pushed by the Democratic caucus that would protect critics of the Saudi Arabian regime, making it less likely the bill will move forward anytime soon in the House. If passed, the proposal would put pressure on the Republican-led Senate and the White House to side with either the repressive Saudi government or those who challenge its abuses. That could be a tough call for President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who have shielded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite U.S. intelligence assessments that he ordered the Khashoggi killing in 2018.
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“Silence can be seen as consent,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who represents the district where Khashoggi lived. “We cannot afford to consent nor can we ever allow this kind of gross human rights violation to be seen as something in which we’re complicit by our silence.”
Connolly is the sponsor of the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act, which the House Foreign Affairs Committee considered Thursday. The bill would stop exports of U.S. arms and technology to internal Saudi security forces unless the kingdom cooperates with an independent investigation into Khashoggi’s killing, releases detained journalists and activists, and stops torturing detainees. It also would require American officials to prepare reports on whether the Saudis have used diplomatic facilities in the U.S. to harass their targets, potentially shuttering such properties, and whether the U.S. intelligence community warned Khashoggi that his life was in danger.
“We know Jamal’s in a better place, we know he’s resting in power and peace, but it’s about those that are still living looking over their shoulder and being hyper-vigilant all the time.” - Mohamed Soltan, The Freedom Initiative
Soon after Khashoggi’s assassination at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2018, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on a handful of Saudi officials, and several Republican senators helped pass resolutions blaming the atrocity on the crown prince, known as MBS, and ending U.S. support for a widely criticized Saudi-led war in Yemen.
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But Trump has since repeatedly blocked bipartisan efforts to withdraw from the Yemen war and used an emergency declaration to continue shipping weapons to the Saudis over congressional resistance, public evidence of his private view of his relationship with MBS: “I saved his ass,” he told reporter Bob Woodward for a recently released book on Trump’s presidency.
The upshot is that the Saudis have not meaningfully lost U.S. support in any way since the Khashoggi murder, despite a years-long campaign for accountability by dozens of lawmakers, activists and national security analysts. Meanwhile, the kingdom has conducted its own trial of the former officials it blames for the killing, recently commuting the sentences of some of the convicts in a judicial process that the United Nations expert investigating the Khashoggi case called “a parody of justice.”
Congressional staffers and outside groups working on Connolly’s bill have been keen to win Republican support. They discussed the legislation extensively with GOP aides prior to its consideration by the full committee and made concessions to address concerns about weakening the Saudis’ ability to defend themselves, like ensuring the bill would not stop arms purchases by the Saudi military, two aides told HuffPost.
“We definitely worked the language down,” said Mohamed Soltan of the nonprofit advocacy group The Freedom Initiative. Other organizations backing the bill include the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Project on Middle East Democracy. Some tweaks were worthwhile to help achieve the broader goal, Soltan said: making it harder for the Saudis to intimidate and harm critics of their government and the crown prince.
“We’re hoping that members of Congress see that this is not just something in the past that we’re refusing to let go of. We know Jamal’s in a better place, we know he’s resting in power and peace, but it’s about those that are still living looking over their shoulder and being hyper-vigilant all the time,” Soltan added.
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Crown Prince Mohammed has arrested more than two dozen women’s rights activists and other domestic figures since 2018, and Saudi attempts to hurt skeptics of his rule who live outside the kingdom have been detected by the CIA. In August, a former top Saudi intelligence official, Saad Aljabri, filed a lawsuit in Washington accusing the kingdom of trying to kill him in Canada as part of an international witch hunt.
Reporters without Borders members hold placards depicting arrested Saudi writer Raif Badawi (upper left), arrested Saudi journalist Wajdi al-Ghazzawi (upper, second from right), Saudi human rights defender Nassima al-Sadah (upper left), assassinated Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (bottom left) and Saudi women's rights activist Eman al-Nafjan (bottom, second from left) outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Berlin a year ago. TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images
Connolly cited Aljabri’s plight; Aljabri’s family has praised his measure to members of Congress, many of whom were familiar with Aljabri’s counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. “We hoped to have support from the other side of the aisle… and I still hope we could,” Connolly said.
His final text even won public praise from hawkish Democrats who are particularly wary of the Saudis’ regional rival Iran, including Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.).
But come Thursday, the foreign affairs panel’s top Republican, McCaul, first called Khashoggi’s killing “outrageous and gruesome” and then bashed the legislation to try to seek justice for him and prevent any other Saudi dissidents from being treated similarly.
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“Our relationship with the Saudis covers many strategic interests as well, including the very real and deadly threat of Iran,” McCaul said, adding that Congress already has procedures for blocking weapon sales. He noted that the Saudis’ top regional allies, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have helped achieve Trump’s foreign policy goals by recently announcing deals to establish relations with Israel.
After adding that “nothing’s simple in the Middle East,” the congressman offered “thoughts and prayers” to Khashoggi’s loved ones.
The Trump administration has already bypassed congressional procedures on arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, using tactics its own State Department inspector general has criticized, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) responded.
McCaul offered an amendment asking the president to “take appropriate action” to ensure the Saudis did not target dissidents in the U.S., saying a requirement to close diplomatic facilities would limit the flexibility that American officials would have in handling “these troubling and yet delicate situations.”
Engel ruled that the amendment was not relevant.
“The Saudi ambassador has refused to meet with myself and several other members,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said earlier in the session. “So it seems that the Saudi embassy is not even being used for diplomacy if that means difficult conversations.”
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The panel ultimately advanced Connolly’s bill to the full House. His supporters remain hopeful for the legislation’s prospects as a powerful bipartisan check on the Saudis.
The relatively weak Republican pushback ― only brief statements from McCaul and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) ― suggested that GOP lawmakers were driven less by doubts about its value than fear of implicitly challenging Trump just a month before an election, said a Democratic aide who spoke on background to discuss strategy.
That drove the decision to avoid a recorded vote on the legislation, which could have made Republicans later say they could not support it as they had previously opposed it.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--U.S. Hiring Slows For 3rd Month But Jobless Rate Falls To 7.9%

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — America ’ s employers added 661,000 jobs in September , the third straight month of slower hiring and evidence from the final jobs report before the presidential election that the economic recovery has weakened .
With September ’ s hiring gain , the economy has recovered only slightly more than half the 22 million jobs that were wiped out by the viral pandemic .
The roughly 10 million jobs that remain lost exceed the number that the nation shed during the entire 2008-2009 Great Recession .
The unemployment rate for September fell to 7.9 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Labor Department said Friday .
Since April , the jobless rate has tumbled from a peak of 14.7 % .
The September jobs report coincides with other data that suggests that while the economic picture may be improving , the gains have slowed since summer .
The economy is under pressure from a range of threats .
They include the expiration of federal aid programs that had fueled rehiring and sustained the economy — from a $ 600-a-week benefit for the unemployed to $ 500 billion in forgivable short-term loans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers voters a final look at the most important barometer of the U.S. economy before the Nov. 3 presidential election — an election whose outcome was thrown into deeper uncertainty by the announcement early Friday that President Donald Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The rise in confirmed viral cases that is occurring in much of the country could force new business shutdowns or discourage consumers from traveling , shopping or visiting restaurants .
A recent wave of layoffs by large companies has heightened fears that the viral outbreak still poses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disney said this week that it ’ s cutting 28,000 jobs , a consequence of reduced customer traffic and capacity limits at Disney World in Florida and the ongoing closure of Disneyland in California .
Allstate said it will shed 3,800 jobs , or 7.5 % of its workforce .
Marathon Petroleum , the Ohio refiner , is slashing 2,000 jobs .
And tens of thousands of airline workers are losing their jobs this month as federal aid to the airlines expires .
The airlines had been barred from cutting jobs as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While congressional negotiations , led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , continue , the prospect of a major new economic aid package before the November elections is highly uncertain .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added 661,000 jobs in September, the third straight month of slower hiring and evidence from the final jobs report before the presidential election that the economic recovery has weakened.
With September’s hiring gain, the economy has recovered only slightly more than half the 22 million jobs that were wiped out by the viral pandemic. The roughly 10 million jobs that remain lost exceed the number that the nation shed during the entire 2008-2009 Great Recession.
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The unemployment rate for September fell to 7.9%, down from 8.4% in August, the Labor Department said Friday. Since April, the jobless rate has tumbled from a peak of 14.7%.
The September jobs report coincides with other data that suggests that while the economic picture may be improving, the gains have slowed since summer. The economy is under pressure from a range of threats. They include the expiration of federal aid programs that had fueled rehiring and sustained the economy — from a $600-a-week benefit for the unemployed to $500 billion in forgivable short-term loans to small businesses.
Friday’s data offers voters a final look at the most important barometer of the U.S. economy before the Nov. 3 presidential election — an election whose outcome was thrown into deeper uncertainty by the announcement early Friday that President Donald Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The rise in confirmed viral cases that is occurring in much of the country could force new business shutdowns or discourage consumers from traveling, shopping or visiting restaurants. A recent wave of layoffs by large companies has heightened fears that the viral outbreak still poses a serious threat to the economy.
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Disney said this week that it’s cutting 28,000 jobs, a consequence of reduced customer traffic and capacity limits at Disney World in Florida and the ongoing closure of Disneyland in California.
Allstate said it will shed 3,800 jobs, or 7.5% of its workforce. Marathon Petroleum, the Ohio refiner, is slashing 2,000 jobs. And tens of thousands of airline workers are losing their jobs this month as federal aid to the airlines expires. The airlines had been barred from cutting jobs as long as they were receiving the government assistance.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Facebook Ban On Paid Ads Discrediting The Election Won’t Stop Trump In His Regular Posts

On Wednesday , Facebook announced it would no longer allow paid advertisements that seek to delegitimize the outcome of the November election .
The company described the decision as part of its effort to “ protect the integrity ” of the 2020 presidential race .
But the social media giant is continuing to allow unpaid posts that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election — the most popular of which come from President Donald Trump and his supporters .
Under Facebook ’ s new policy , a paid ad “ calling a method of voting inherently fraudulent or corrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud to delegitimize the result of an election ” would be prohibited , Rob Leathern , a director of product management at Facebook , tweeted Wednesday .
“ 100,000 DEFECTIVE BALLOTS IN NEW YORK .
THEY WANT TO REPLACE THEM , BUT WHERE , AND WHAT HAPPENS TO , THE BALLOTS THAT WERE FIRST SENT ?
THEY WILL BE USED BY SOMEBODY .
USA , END THIS SCAM - GO OUT AND VOTE !
” Trump wrote on Facebook , referring to New Yorkers who received ballots with return envelopes bearing the wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a printer error .
Facebook attached a disclaimer to Trump ’ s post , assuring viewers that “ voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year.
” But the platform does not appear to have taken any action to stop the spread of a false narrative about a fraudulent vote-by-mail system in New York .
By Thursday evening , Trump ’ s was one of Facebook ’ s top-performing posts over the previous 24 hours , according to Crowdtangle , an engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company did not provide a direct answer about why the new policy only applies to paid ads , even though the president and his allies often use regular posts to attack the legitimacy of the election .
“ When it comes to organic posts , we will attach an informational label to content that seeks to delegitimize the outcome of the election or discuss the legitimacy of voting methods , ” Facebook spokesperson Devon Kearns wrote in an email .
In a July civil rights audit report , Facebook auditors found that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been far too reluctant to adopt strong rules to limit misinformation and voter suppression.
” The auditors cited three posts from May in which Trump wrongly described the mail-in ballots sent out in Nevada and Michigan as “ illegal ” and falsely claimed that California is mailing ballots to everyone in the state , regardless of their eligibility to vote .
The auditors argued that all three posts violated Facebook ’ s own voter interference policy , which prohibits misrepresentation about methods of voting and about the information or materials needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s posts about mail-in-voting could reasonably worry that they might be doing something illegal by filling out the ballot they received in the mail , the auditors said .
“ For an authoritative figure like a sitting President to label a ballot issued by a state ‘ illegal ’ amounted to suppression on a massive scale , as it would reasonably cause recipients of such official ballots to hesitate to use them , ” the auditors wrote .
The auditors said they did not have an opportunity to speak with decision-makers at Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already decided to leave them up .
“ With less than five months before a presidential election , it confounds the Auditors as to why Facebook has failed to grasp the urgency of interpreting existing policies to make them effective against suppression and ensuring that their enforcement tools are as effective as possible , ” the auditors wrote .

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On Wednesday, Facebook announced it would no longer allow paid advertisements that seek to delegitimize the outcome of the November election. The company described the decision as part of its effort to “protect the integrity” of the 2020 presidential race.
But the social media giant is continuing to allow unpaid posts that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election — the most popular of which come from President Donald Trump and his supporters.
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Under Facebook’s new policy, a paid ad “calling a method of voting inherently fraudulent or corrupt, or using isolated incidents of voter fraud to delegitimize the result of an election” would be prohibited, Rob Leathern, a director of product management at Facebook, tweeted Wednesday.
Just hours after Facebook’s announcement, Trump posted on Facebook, doing exactly that.
“100,000 DEFECTIVE BALLOTS IN NEW YORK. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THEM, BUT WHERE, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO, THE BALLOTS THAT WERE FIRST SENT? THEY WILL BE USED BY SOMEBODY. USA, END THIS SCAM - GO OUT AND VOTE!” Trump wrote on Facebook, referring to New Yorkers who received ballots with return envelopes bearing the wrong names and addresses, the result of a printer error.
Contrary to Trump’s post, voters have been instructed to mail only one ballot, and ballot-processing machines will be able to detect duplicates, a city elections commissioner said.
Facebook attached a disclaimer to Trump’s post, assuring viewers that “voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year.” But the platform does not appear to have taken any action to stop the spread of a false narrative about a fraudulent vote-by-mail system in New York. By Thursday evening, Trump’s was one of Facebook’s top-performing posts over the previous 24 hours, according to Crowdtangle, an engagement monitoring tool the company owns.
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The company did not provide a direct answer about why the new policy only applies to paid ads, even though the president and his allies often use regular posts to attack the legitimacy of the election. “When it comes to organic posts, we will attach an informational label to content that seeks to delegitimize the outcome of the election or discuss the legitimacy of voting methods,” Facebook spokesperson Devon Kearns wrote in an email.
Facebook plays a critical role in spreading that false narrative. Nearly half of the platform’s top-performing posts over a several-month period that mentioned voting by mail were false or misleading, according to a ProPublica investigation published in July.
In a July civil rights audit report, Facebook auditors found that “when it comes to voting, Facebook has been far too reluctant to adopt strong rules to limit misinformation and voter suppression.” The auditors cited three posts from May in which Trump wrongly described the mail-in ballots sent out in Nevada and Michigan as “illegal” and falsely claimed that California is mailing ballots to everyone in the state, regardless of their eligibility to vote.
The auditors argued that all three posts violated Facebook’s own voter interference policy, which prohibits misrepresentation about methods of voting and about the information or materials needed to vote. People who see Trump’s posts about mail-in-voting could reasonably worry that they might be doing something illegal by filling out the ballot they received in the mail, the auditors said.
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“For an authoritative figure like a sitting President to label a ballot issued by a state ‘illegal’ amounted to suppression on a massive scale, as it would reasonably cause recipients of such official ballots to hesitate to use them,” the auditors wrote.
The auditors said they did not have an opportunity to speak with decision-makers at Facebook about removing the posts until the company had already decided to leave them up.
“With less than five months before a presidential election, it confounds the Auditors as to why Facebook has failed to grasp the urgency of interpreting existing policies to make them effective against suppression and ensuring that their enforcement tools are as effective as possible,” the auditors wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--'I'm Just Not': Trump Told Bob Woodward He Wasn't Worried About Getting COVID-19

President Donald Trump told Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward earlier this year that he wasn ’ t worried about contracting COVID-19 .
“ I ’ m just not , ” he said in a newly released audiotape of the interview obtained by CNN .
Now Trump ’ s being treated for the coronavirus at Walter Reed Hospital .
In an April 13 interview for his book “ Rage , ” Woodward asked the president about his fears of contracting the disease .
“ You ’ re risking getting it , of course , ” Woodward warned him in the recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around and have those briefings and deal with people .
Are you worried about that ?
” In a strange disconnect , the president had also described the coronavirus to Woodward as “ deadly stuff , ” a “ plague ” that “ rips you apart , ” a “ scourge ” and a “ monster.
” He warned Woodward that the virus is “ so easily transmissible , you wouldn ’ t even believe it.
” “ It moves rapidly , Bob , ” Trump said in an earlier tape .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re the wrong person and if it gets you , your life is pretty much over if you ’ re in the wrong group .
You know what I mean .
It ’ s a tough deal.
” But he also admitted to Woodward that he had been downplaying the danger of the virus to Americans .
“ I wanted to always play it down , ” Trump told Woodward in March .
“ I still like playing it down , because I don ’ t want to create a panic.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording at CNN here .
Trump admitted on tape to Bob Woodward that he played down the threat of coronavirus .
Share this far and wide .
# TrumpKnew pic.twitter.com/XAW7TlRzZy — MeidasTouch.com ( @ MeidasTouch ) September 9 , 2020

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President Donald Trump told Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward earlier this year that he wasn’t worried about contracting COVID-19. “I’m just not,” he said in a newly released audiotape of the interview obtained by CNN.
Now Trump’s being treated for the coronavirus at Walter Reed Hospital.
In an April 13 interview for his book “Rage,” Woodward asked the president about his fears of contracting the disease.
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“You’re risking getting it, of course,” Woodward warned him in the recorded interview. “The way you move around and have those briefings and deal with people. Are you worried about that?”
“No, I’m not,” said Trump. “I don’t know why I’m not. I’m not.”
Yet Woodward pressed him: “Why?”
Trump responded: “I don’t know. I’m just not.”
In a strange disconnect, the president had also described the coronavirus to Woodward as “deadly stuff,” a “plague” that “rips you apart,” a “scourge” and a “monster.” He warned Woodward that the virus is “so easily transmissible, you wouldn’t even believe it.”
“It moves rapidly, Bob,” Trump said in an earlier tape. “It moves rapidly and viciously. If you’re the wrong person and if it gets you, your life is pretty much over if you’re in the wrong group. You know what I mean. It’s a tough deal.”
But he also admitted to Woodward that he had been downplaying the danger of the virus to Americans.
“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told Woodward in March. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
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You can hear the newly released recording at CNN here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Fox News' Greg Gutfeld: Trump Got The Coronavirus For America

In one of the more mystifying reactions to President Donald Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis , Fox News host Greg Gutfeld suggested Friday that the president didn ’ t protect himself from the disease because “ he didn ’ t want America to hide from the virus.
” Gutfeld ’ s comments came as the White House announced Trump was being transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following his diagnosis .
“ Maybe it ’ s a flaw of Trump , is that he didn ’ t hide from the virus , ” the Fox News personality said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t hide from the virus is he didn ’ t want America to hide from the virus .
If he was going to ask America to get back to work ... and experience a risk , he was going to do the same thing .
He was going to walk out there on that battlefield with you and not sit somewhere in a basement and tell you how ... you got to get back to work but not go out himself.
” His comment about the basement is likely a dig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has followed public health experts ’ advice to social distance from others and wear a face mask .
Trump has mocked both those things , frequently telling his opponent to “ get out of the basement ” and , more recently at Tuesday ’ s presidential debate , ridiculing him for wearing a mask .
“ I think he put himself ... on the line , and the flaw being that , as an optimist , as somebody who is trying to convey a message that we ’ re going to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be better , he had to walk that walk , ” Gutfeld said .
That ’ s not the message Trump needed to convey to Americans , most public health experts have said throughout the pandemic .
The president ’ s downplaying of the dangers of the coronavirus , dismissing the usefulness of masks and social distancing , refusing to order federal safeguards against the spread of disease and pushing unproven treatments have all helped the disease spread across the country .
With more than 200,000 deaths from the virus nationwide , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
Trump and White House officials said Friday that he was being hospitalized “ out of an abundance of caution ” but that he did have a low-grade fever .

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In one of the more mystifying reactions to President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld suggested Friday that the president didn’t protect himself from the disease because “he didn’t want America to hide from the virus.”
Gutfeld’s comments came as the White House announced Trump was being transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following his diagnosis.
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“Maybe it’s a flaw of Trump, is that he didn’t hide from the virus,” the Fox News personality said. “And the reason why he didn’t hide from the virus is he didn’t want America to hide from the virus. If he was going to ask America to get back to work ... and experience a risk, he was going to do the same thing. He was going to walk out there on that battlefield with you and not sit somewhere in a basement and tell you how ... you got to get back to work but not go out himself.”
His comment about the basement is likely a dig at Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who has followed public health experts’ advice to social distance from others and wear a face mask. Trump has mocked both those things, frequently telling his opponent to “get out of the basement” and, more recently at Tuesday’s presidential debate, ridiculing him for wearing a mask.
“I think he put himself ... on the line, and the flaw being that, as an optimist, as somebody who is trying to convey a message that we’re going to get through this and things are going to be better, he had to walk that walk,” Gutfeld said.
That’s not the message Trump needed to convey to Americans, most public health experts have said throughout the pandemic. The president’s downplaying of the dangers of the coronavirus, dismissing the usefulness of masks and social distancing, refusing to order federal safeguards against the spread of disease and pushing unproven treatments have all helped the disease spread across the country. With more than 200,000 deaths from the virus nationwide, the U.S. has the highest death toll in the world.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--White House Officials Defy Mask Guidelines Even As They Address Trump's Coronavirus

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and even Trump ’ s health adviser Dr. Scott Atlas mingled with people at the White House complex without wearing masks or even having one on their necks to use .
Top economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters at the White House how important “ masking ” is — but he didn ’ t have one .
Kudlow put one on when a reporter pointed out the discrepancy .
Top White House aide Johnny McEntee , who was standing close to Trump on Thursday , was also spotted without a mask on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to get a COVID-19 test , according to CNN .
When CNN reporter Jim Acosta asked why he wasn ’ t wearing a mask , Meadows indicated that he didn ’ t need one because “ obviously , I ’ ve been tested , and we ’ re hopefully more than six feet away.
” ( Check out the video clip up top . )
White House protocol clearly failed to prevent the president from contracting the coronavirus .
And Meadows could have been exposed to COVID-19 and become contagious since his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test the White House relies on is often not accurate soon after exposure to the coronavirus and prior to the onset of symptoms .
Meadows had been in close proximity to Trump for several days .
4 ) as we know , # COVID19 tests can be negative today , positive tomorrow based on *TIMING* of the tests .
See chart - testing too early can miss virus .
We should try to see least 3 negative tests over the next week to be honestly sure for many of these SCOTUS attendees pic.twitter.com/53C7AhjW5z @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 2 , 2020 It “ doesn ’ t appear to me that the White House has gotten the message , ” Murphy told CNN .
“ They seem to still be playing way too fast and loose with the CDC guidelines , and that ’ s a really dangerous message.
” Trump spokesperson John Deere insisted to The New York Times that “ encouraging ” the use of face masks and social distancing , as well as the availability of hand sanitizer and testing , “ ensure [ s ] exposure is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Follow the science , ” Wallace said on “ Fox & Friends.
” “ If I could say one thing to all of the people out there watching : Forget the politics .
This is a public safety health issue.
” Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding , a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists , called it “ inevitable ” that more people at the White House will test positive for COVID-19 .
He suspects cases may be linked to the Supreme Court nomination event last Saturday in the Rose Garden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wore masks and many shook hands .
Barrett had COVID-19 earlier this year .
The president of the University of Notre Dame , the Rev .
John I. Jenkins , who attended the Rose Garden event , has tested positive for the coronavirus .
So has Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) , who met with Barrett at the White House at that time .
The president and the first lady also attended .

White House aides and officials continued to blatantly ignore medical advice and remained maskless Friday even as some of them discussed President Donald Trump contracting COVID-19.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and even Trump’s health adviser Dr. Scott Atlas mingled with people at the White House complex without wearing masks or even having one on their necks to use.
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Top economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters at the White House how important “masking” is — but he didn’t have one. Kudlow put one on when a reporter pointed out the discrepancy.
Larry Kudlow without a mask talking about the importance of masks. When I pointed it out, he then did put one on. pic.twitter.com/wY7jGaVGXo — Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) October 2, 2020
Top White House aide Johnny McEntee, who was standing close to Trump on Thursday, was also spotted without a mask on the White House grounds Friday — on his way to get a COVID-19 test, according to CNN.
Coronavirus adviser not wearing a mask at the WH the day the President of the United States tests positive. https://t.co/LPMDF5F920 — Allie Malloy (@AlliemalCNN) October 2, 2020
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When CNN reporter Jim Acosta asked why he wasn’t wearing a mask, Meadows indicated that he didn’t need one because “obviously, I’ve been tested, and we’re hopefully more than six feet away.” (Check out the video clip up top.)
He also insisted, “We have protocols in place” — which apparently didn’t involve face masks, personal protective equipment strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
White House protocol clearly failed to prevent the president from contracting the coronavirus. And Meadows could have been exposed to COVID-19 and become contagious since his test. In addition, the rapid test the White House relies on is often not accurate soon after exposure to the coronavirus and prior to the onset of symptoms. Meadows had been in close proximity to Trump for several days.
4) as we know, #COVID19 tests can be negative today, positive tomorrow based on *TIMING* of the tests. See chart - testing too early can miss virus.
We should try to see least 3 negative tests over the next week to be honestly sure for many of these SCOTUS attendees pic.twitter.com/53C7AhjW5z — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 2, 2020
Besides the potential to risk someone else’s life, White House officials’ refusal to wear a mask also sets a dangerous example, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) pointed out.
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He called Meadows’s decision not to wear a mask the same day Trump was rushed to Walter Reed Hospital for treatment of COVID-19 “disturbing.”
It “doesn’t appear to me that the White House has gotten the message,” Murphy told CNN. “They seem to still be playing way too fast and loose with the CDC guidelines, and that’s a really dangerous message.”
Unbelievably, masks are still not required on the White House grounds.
Trump spokesman Judd Deere insisted to The New York Times that “encouraging” the use of face masks and social distancing, as well as the availability of hand sanitizer and testing, “ensure[s] exposure is limited to the greatest extent possible.”
Fox News host Chris Wallace, who moderated the presidential debate between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday, urged Americans in a Fox interview: “Wear the damn mask.”
“Follow the science,” Wallace said on “Fox & Friends.” “If I could say one thing to all of the people out there watching: Forget the politics. This is a public safety health issue.”
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Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, called it “inevitable” that more people at the White House will test positive for COVID-19.
He suspects cases may be linked to the Supreme Court nomination event last Saturday in the Rose Garden for Amy Coney Barrett, where few wore masks and many shook hands. Barrett had COVID-19 earlier this year.
The president of the University of Notre Dame, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, who attended the Rose Garden event, has tested positive for the coronavirus. So has Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who met with Barrett at the White House at that time. The president and the first lady also attended.
BREAKING: SCOTUS announcement attendee, Notre Dame President Reverend John Jenkins, who attended WH rose garden announcement on Saturday, tests #COVID19 positive now too. Like many others at #SCOTUS nom event, did not wear a mask and shook hands with many people. pic.twitter.com/Sm5gTSuHew — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 2, 2020
Expert Epidemiologist says "there will be more." https://t.co/7Vqfppt8Tr — Trial Lawyer Richard (@TrialLawyerRich) October 2, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--When Do You Tell Someone You May Have Exposed Them To COVID-19?

Questions like these are top of mind for many after this week ’ s news that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus .
They ’ re questions that maybe Trump and his team should have asked themselves after learning that top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning .
“ Responsibility for notifying others of even a potential exposure starts long before a positive COVID test , even if the risk is low .
It ’ s an example of just doing the right thing.
” - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health at Doctor On Demand Experts say that Trump and those in his administration need to trace their contacts and start quarantining people who have been in close contact with them .
( For instance , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany spoke to the press corp on Thursday ― though the Trump team claims that , at that point , she didn ’ t know about Hicks . )
Anyone who ’ s tested positive for COVID or thinks they may have exposed others to the virus needs to do the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an uncomfortable conversation to have .
Below , experts share when and how to tell someone you may have exposed them to the coronavirus .
Who should you tell you have COVID-19 and when ?
If you have the virus , you may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms , according to Harvard Health .
On average , it takes around five days for symptoms to appear after you ’ ve been infected .
Many cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic , but even if you don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread the illness to others .
If you find out you have COVID , don ’ t wait a minute to alert those you ’ ve been in close contact with during that time .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , a close contact is anyone an individual has been within 6 feet of for at least 15 minutes , starting “ two days before illness onset ” until the infected person went into quarantine .
According to the CDC , contacts of contacts ( those who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) do not need to quarantine but it ’ s still an act of good faith to alert them of what ’ s happening .
There ’ s nothing wrong with using an abundance of caution here , Cennimo said .
What do you say ?
Oftentimes , people don ’ t want to unnecessarily alarm others , so they avoid saying anything until they know their test results .
That doesn ’ t do anyone any favors , though ; if you suspect you have COVID , it ’ s vital to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest about what you know so far , Owens said .
“ Make sure to say , ‘ I ’ m letting you know because I care about you and your well-being , ’ ” he said .
“ Anyone who truly cares about you , even if they are initially shocked , scared , or even angry , will ultimately understand and be grateful for your candor .
As for everyone else , remind yourself that , no matter their response , you did the right thing and that you might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a coworker or acquaintance you need to break the news to ?
Try to be as factual as possible and get the message across that you ’ re just trying to be responsible , said Jagdish Khubchandani , a professor of public health at New Mexico State University .
“ No need to be as emotional as you would with family and friends , just be factual , ” he said .
“ Say , ‘ Unfortunately , I have tested positive for COVID-19 .
I recommend all who came in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be vigilant about COVID symptoms .
I am currently quarantined at home and not meeting anyone .
I will keep everyone updated on my health status .
Thank you for your understanding .
’ ”

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When should you tell someone you may have exposed them to COVID-19?
How do you tell them?
Questions like these are top of mind for many after this week’s news that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus. They’re questions that maybe Trump and his team should have asked themselves after learning that top aide Hope Hicks had tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning.
Hicks had been displaying symptoms Wednesday night while on a campaign trip to Minnesota with the president. After learning that Hicks had tested positive on Thursday, Trump still attended a fundraiser at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, where he reportedly came into close contact with 30 to 50 donors.
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White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters Friday that Hicks’ diagnosis became known just before the president left for Bedminster. Hours after the event, Trump confirmed on Twitter that he, too, had tested positive for the virus.
The news that the president may have exposed donors to the highly infectious virus hasn’t sat well with many ― including the donors themselves.
“The donors have been texting and calling. Freaking out,” an anonymous GOP source involved with Thursday night’s fundraiser told CNBC.
“Responsibility for notifying others of even a potential exposure starts long before a positive COVID test, even if the risk is low. It’s an example of just doing the right thing.” - Nikole Benders-Hadi, medical director of behavioral health at Doctor On Demand
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On Friday, just before 12 p.m. Eastern time, donors who attended the gathering were sent an email reminding them that no one was permitted within six feet of the president and advising them to reach out to their doctor if they started feeling coronavirus symptoms.
Experts say that Trump and those in his administration need to trace their contacts and start quarantining people who have been in close contact with them. (For instance, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany spoke to the press corp on Thursday ― though the Trump team claims that, at that point, she didn’t know about Hicks.)
Anyone who’s tested positive for COVID or thinks they may have exposed others to the virus needs to do the same thing, even if it’s an uncomfortable conversation to have. Below, experts share when and how to tell someone you may have exposed them to the coronavirus.
Who should you tell you have COVID-19 and when?
If you have the virus, you may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms, according to Harvard Health. On average, it takes around five days for symptoms to appear after you’ve been infected. Many cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic, but even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still spread the illness to others.
If you find out you have COVID, don’t wait a minute to alert those you’ve been in close contact with during that time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a close contact is anyone an individual has been within 6 feet of for at least 15 minutes, starting “two days before illness onset” until the infected person went into quarantine.
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Give your close contacts the same opportunity to go get tested and quarantine as soon as possible, said David Cennimo, an assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School who specializes in adult and pediatric infectious diseases.
Yes, public health authorities can and do undertake contact tracing, but to save time, it’s best to notify your contacts personally.
“I think you can call your contacts faster than the state health worker,” he said.
What should you do if you’re unsure if you have COVID but are close to someone who’s tested positive? (For example, your spouse, your child, or a co-worker you’ve been near.) Do you need to alert your contacts?
According to the CDC, contacts of contacts (those who have been around someone who is a close contact) do not need to quarantine but it’s still an act of good faith to alert them of what’s happening. There’s nothing wrong with using an abundance of caution here, Cennimo said.
“I still think you should notify them so that they can be more vigilant in monitoring for symptoms and wearing their masks,” he said.
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As Nikole Benders-Hadi, the medical director of behavioral health at Doctor On Demand, put it, “Responsibility for notifying others of even a potential exposure starts long before a positive COVID test, even if the risk is low. It’s an example of just doing the right thing. ”
MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images On Thursday, President Donald Trump departed from Andrews Air Force Base to attend a fundraiser in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump knew of top aide Hope Hick's positive coronavirus diagnosis before attending the event.
What do you say?
Breaking the news can be tricky, given the unfortunate stigma associated with COVID-19, said Shane G. Owens, a psychologist and the assistant director of campus mental health at Farmingdale State College SUNY.
“To kids, COVID-19 is the 2020 version of ‘cooties,’” he said. “Adults glare at or run away from anyone who sneezes or coughs. Given how many cases there are, it’s crucial for everyone to get past those judgments.”
Oftentimes, people don’t want to unnecessarily alarm others, so they avoid saying anything until they know their test results. That doesn’t do anyone any favors, though; if you suspect you have COVID, it’s vital to be direct, speedy, open and honest about what you know so far, Owens said.
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Tell them what you know about your exposure and what you think it means for them. If this is a friend or family member, aim for empathy when broaching the topic.
“Make sure to say, ‘I’m letting you know because I care about you and your well-being,’” he said. “Anyone who truly cares about you, even if they are initially shocked, scared, or even angry, will ultimately understand and be grateful for your candor. As for everyone else, remind yourself that, no matter their response, you did the right thing and that you might have saved their lives.”
What if it’s a coworker or acquaintance you need to break the news to? Try to be as factual as possible and get the message across that you’re just trying to be responsible, said Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University.
“No need to be as emotional as you would with family and friends, just be factual,” he said. “Say, ‘Unfortunately, I have tested positive for COVID-19. I recommend all who came in contact with me recently to get tested and be vigilant about COVID symptoms. I am currently quarantined at home and not meeting anyone. I will keep everyone updated on my health status. Thank you for your understanding.’”
Be prepared for varied responses. Knowing you might have COVID is anxiety-inducing; it’s OK if that person feels angry or scared in response to the news, Benders-Hadi said.
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“You should be open to giving as many details as you are aware of to help ease that person’s concerns and to do so freely from a place of compassion,” she said. “Leave the door open for additional questions that person may have even at a later date.”
Communicating all of this may be awkward and uncomfortable, but alerting the person is the right thing to do for you, them and your entire community.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--What We Know About Trump’s Condition After Contracting COVID-19

The president was flown to the hospital and was expected to undergo tests there , unnamed sources told The New York Times .
In a video message from the White House on Friday evening , Trump thanked “ everybody for the tremendous support.
” “ I ’ m going to Walter Reed hospital .
I think I ’ m doing very well , but we ’ re going to make sure that things work out , ” he said in the video — his first tweet since he announced his diagnosis in the early hours of Friday morning .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was also diagnosed with the coronavirus , is “ doing very well.
” Earlier Friday , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had said that Trump was “ in good spirits , has mild symptoms , and has been working throughout the day.
” “ Out of an abundance of caution , and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts , the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days , ” she added .
On Friday afternoon , Dr. Sean Conley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a memo that Trump “ remains fatigued but in good spirits.
” Trump had been given “ polyclonal antibodies , ” an experimental virus treatment , and has taken famotidine ( an antacid ) , melatonin , zinc , vitamin D and aspirin .
Melania Trump had a “ mild cough and headache , ” per Conley , and the rest of Trump ’ s family tested negative for the virus on Friday .
In a statement dated Thursday , Conley had confirmed Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis , saying at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lady were “ well ” and planned to stay home .
He also said Trump would continue to “ carry out his duties without disruption while recovering.
” But by Friday afternoon , the Trump campaign announced that “ all previously announced campaign events involving the President ’ s participation are in the process of being moved to virtual events or are being temporarily postponed.
” Trump is 74 and considered obese , per an assessment in June by the White House physician , and therefore faces an increased risk of severe illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been around Trump in recent days have tested positive for the virus : Sens .
Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) and Thom Tillis ( R-N.C. ) , as well as University of Notre Dame President Rev .
John I. Jenkins were at the White House Rose Garden on Sept. 26 for Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court .
White House adviser Hope Hicks also tested positive .

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President Donald Trump, who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, headed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Friday evening.
The president was flown to the hospital and was expected to undergo tests there, unnamed sources told The New York Times.
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Trump had a low-grade fever on Friday, reported multiple outlets.
In a video message from the White House on Friday evening, Trump thanked “everybody for the tremendous support.”
“I’m going to Walter Reed hospital. I think I’m doing very well, but we’re going to make sure that things work out,” he said in the video — his first tweet since he announced his diagnosis in the early hours of Friday morning. Trump added that first lady Melania Trump, who was also diagnosed with the coronavirus, is “doing very well.”
Earlier Friday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had said that Trump was “in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day.”
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“Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days,” she added.
On Friday afternoon, Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, said in a memo that Trump “remains fatigued but in good spirits.”
Trump had been given “polyclonal antibodies,” an experimental virus treatment, and has taken famotidine (an antacid), melatonin, zinc, vitamin D and aspirin.
Melania Trump had a “mild cough and headache,” per Conley, and the rest of Trump’s family tested negative for the virus on Friday.
In a statement dated Thursday, Conley had confirmed Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, saying at the time that both the president and first lady were “well” and planned to stay home. He also said Trump would continue to “carry out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--MSNBC's Dr. Vin Gupta: Trump Testing Positive For COVID-19 Is A Damning 'We Told You So'

MSNBC medical contributor Dr. Vin Gupta said the entire trajectory of the November presidential election would be “ fundamentally altered ” now that President Donald Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 , saying the United States was “ flying blind ” into uncharted territory .
In an interview with MSNBC host Brian Williams on Friday after the news of Trump ’ s positive test result broke , Gupta said the steps of White House senior adviser Hope Hicks needed to be traced back and examined closely in order to determine whether or not she had unwittingly spread COVID-19 throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday , and she traveled on Air Force One with the president to Cleveland for Tuesday ’ s presidential debate as well as a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday .
“ This is bigger than just the president , the first lady , their inner circle on Air Force One — everyone of whom now must be quarantined for the requisite 14 days , regardless of what the test shows , ” said Gupta , a pulmonologist who has previously criticized the Trump campaign for spreading “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a high-risk exposure.
” Gupta also questioned why the president ventured to a reelection fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster , New Jersey , just hours prior to his positive COVID-19 test result , and stressed that Trump ’ s age puts him at high risk .
“ To me , I don ’ t understand that , ” the doctor said .
“ What ’ s the medical advice he is getting from [ Physician to the President ] Dr. Conley and others ?
Who is encouraging him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Hope Hicks turns up positive and symptomatic , that should have raised alarm bells and a five-alarm fire that everybody should shelter in place until we get testing .
And then , even then , we should repeat testing over a period of time.
” Further in-person gatherings prior to the election are out of the question , Gupta said , adding that if Trump ends up being asymptomatic , “ he may use it to tamp down the seriousness of the infection.
” ( Later on Friday , reports said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both showing mild symptoms . )
“ The fact that this even occurred is a damning indictment and , unfortunately , kind of a ‘ We told you so ’ in reality , based on their months and months of misrepresenting good public health practice , ” Gupta said .
“ This is avoidable .
This did not have to happen if they were practicing the proper procedures and not going to these rallies and having these chaotic events , where of course airborne exposure was going to happen , even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masking , no distancing — what did they expect was going to happen ?
” Following Gupta ’ s interview , it was announced that Democratic nominee Joe Biden had tested negative for the coronavirus .
On Twitter , Gupta wrote that unlike Trump , Biden “ practices the right behavior publicly each time and his events follow suit .
”

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MSNBC medical contributor Dr. Vin Gupta said the entire trajectory of the November presidential election would be “fundamentally altered” now that President Donald Trump had tested positive for COVID-19, saying the United States was “flying blind” into uncharted territory.
In an interview with MSNBC host Brian Williams on Friday after the news of Trump’s positive test result broke, Gupta said the steps of White House senior adviser Hope Hicks needed to be traced back and examined closely in order to determine whether or not she had unwittingly spread COVID-19 throughout the president’s inner circle.
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Hicks tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, and she traveled on Air Force One with the president to Cleveland for Tuesday’s presidential debate as well as a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.
“This is bigger than just the president, the first lady, their inner circle on Air Force One — everyone of whom now must be quarantined for the requisite 14 days, regardless of what the test shows,” said Gupta, a pulmonologist who has previously criticized the Trump campaign for spreading “propaganda” about the coronavirus. “This is a high-risk exposure.”
Gupta also questioned why the president ventured to a reelection fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, just hours prior to his positive COVID-19 test result, and stressed that Trump’s age puts him at high risk.
“To me, I don’t understand that,” the doctor said. “What’s the medical advice he is getting from [Physician to the President] Dr. Conley and others? Who is encouraging him to do that? Because at that moment when Hope Hicks turns up positive and symptomatic, that should have raised alarm bells and a five-alarm fire that everybody should shelter in place until we get testing. And then, even then, we should repeat testing over a period of time.”
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Further in-person gatherings prior to the election are out of the question, Gupta said, adding that if Trump ends up being asymptomatic, “he may use it to tamp down the seriousness of the infection.” (Later on Friday, reports said the president and first lady Melania Trump were both showing mild symptoms.)
“The fact that this even occurred is a damning indictment and, unfortunately, kind of a ‘We told you so’ in reality, based on their months and months of misrepresenting good public health practice,” Gupta said. “This is avoidable. This did not have to happen if they were practicing the proper procedures and not going to these rallies and having these chaotic events, where of course airborne exposure was going to happen, even if it was in an outdoor setting. No masking, no distancing — what did they expect was going to happen?”
Following Gupta’s interview, it was announced that Democratic nominee Joe Biden had tested negative for the coronavirus. On Twitter, Gupta wrote that unlike Trump, Biden “practices the right behavior publicly each time and his events follow suit.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--Chris Wallace Blasts Dr. Scott Atlas's Prediction Of Swift Trump COVID-19 Recovery

Fox News anchor Chris Wallace had harsh words for a prediction from Dr. Scott Atlas , the White House ’ s controversial coronavirus adviser who said that President Donald Trump is likely to swiftly recover from COVID-19 .
Wallace , reacting on Fox News to comments Atlas had made earlier on the network , noted that the doctor is “ not an infectious disease expert.
” Atlas said that the 74-year-old Trump is a “ very , very healthy guy ” who would make a “ complete and full and rapid recovery back to normal after his necessary containment period.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the speculation , said Atlas “ is not an epidemiologist , is not an infectious disease specialist .
He has no training in this area at all .
There are a number of top people on the president ’ s coronavirus task force who have had grave concerns about Scott Atlas and his scientific bona fides.
” Wallace went on to stress that he hoped Atlas was correct , but added that because Trump is still in the initial stages of COVID-19 it is too early to confidently predict how the disease will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wallace emphasized .
“ Listen to people like [ Dr. ] Anthony Fauci [ the nation ’ s infectious disease expert ] , listen to people like [ Dr. ] Deborah Birx [ the White House coronavirus task force coordinator ] who have been largely cut off .
Listen to the independent people who do not have a political axe to grind .
And I , frankly , don ’ t think Scott Atlas is one of those people.
” Fauci has spoken out against Atlas ― a neuroradiologist with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ outlier ” and providing inaccurate information about the coronavirus pandemic and how to stem its spread .
Atlas has downplayed the importance of masks and argued for less coronavirus testing .
Instead , he has espoused a “ herd immunity ” strategy , arguing that as the virus infects younger people , who are rarely at risk of dying from COVID-19 , they will naturally generate antibodies against it that will eventually result in a large portion of the population becoming immune .
Fauci , the expert on the issue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the U.S. until herd immunity develops would result in an “ enormous and totally unacceptable ” death toll .

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Fox News anchor Chris Wallace had harsh words for a prediction from Dr. Scott Atlas, the White House’s controversial coronavirus adviser who said that President Donald Trump is likely to swiftly recover from COVID-19.
Wallace, reacting on Fox News to comments Atlas had made earlier on the network, noted that the doctor is “not an infectious disease expert.”
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Atlas said that the 74-year-old Trump is a “very, very healthy guy” who would make a “complete and full and rapid recovery back to normal after his necessary containment period.”
Wallace, in casting doubt on the speculation, said Atlas “is not an epidemiologist, is not an infectious disease specialist. He has no training in this area at all. There are a number of top people on the president’s coronavirus task force who have had grave concerns about Scott Atlas and his scientific bona fides.”
Wallace went on to stress that he hoped Atlas was correct, but added that because Trump is still in the initial stages of COVID-19 it is too early to confidently predict how the disease will afflict him.
“Follow the scientists,” Wallace emphasized. “Listen to people like [Dr.] Anthony Fauci [the nation’s infectious disease expert], listen to people like [Dr.] Deborah Birx [the White House coronavirus task force coordinator] who have been largely cut off. Listen to the independent people who do not have a political axe to grind. And I, frankly, don’t think Scott Atlas is one of those people.”
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Fauci has spoken out against Atlas ― a neuroradiologist with no background in infectious diseases ― for being an “outlier” and providing inaccurate information about the coronavirus pandemic and how to stem its spread.
Atlas has downplayed the importance of masks and argued for less coronavirus testing. Instead, he has espoused a “herd immunity” strategy, arguing that as the virus infects younger people, who are rarely at risk of dying from COVID-19, they will naturally generate antibodies against it that will eventually result in a large portion of the population becoming immune.
Fauci, the expert on the issue, has responded that letting COVID-19 run rampant across the U.S. until herd immunity develops would result in an “enormous and totally unacceptable” death toll.
See the entire segment below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--SCOTUS Nominee Amy Coney Barrett Had Coronavirus Earlier This Year

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett already had coronavirus earlier this year and recovered , The Washington Post first reported and CNN confirmed .
Several high-profile political figures who attended her nomination event on Sept. 26 have since tested positive for COVID-19 , including President Donald Trump .
Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) and Notre Dame President Rev .
John I. Jenkins were also at the ceremony in the White House Rose Garden announcing Barrett ’ s nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and have since tested positive for the virus , as has White House adviser Hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , according to the White House .
The Supreme Court nominee had tested positive for the virus this summer , unnamed officials told the Post , but later recovered .
An unnamed friend told Time that Barrett had been sick with mild symptoms and had quarantined .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people who have had the coronavirus and recover may be protected from the virus for up to three months , if not longer .
How or whether senators will hold Barrett ’ s nomination hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remains in question .
The question of who will replace late Justice Ginsburg , who died on Sept. 18 , has dramatic implications .
The court is now split between three liberal justices and five conservatives .
If Trump is able to get another conservative justice confirmed , that would cement conservatives ’ hold on the nation ’ s most powerful court .
Ginsburg ’ s last wish , dictated to her granddaughter just days before her death , was reportedly that she “ not be replaced until a new president is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R ) tweeted that the chamber is going “ full steam ahead ” with Barrett ’ s nomination process .

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Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett already had coronavirus earlier this year and recovered, The Washington Post first reported and CNN confirmed.
Several high-profile political figures who attended her nomination event on Sept. 26 have since tested positive for COVID-19, including President Donald Trump.
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Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins were also at the ceremony in the White House Rose Garden announcing Barrett’s nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and have since tested positive for the virus, as has White House adviser Hope Hicks.
Barrett tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, according to the White House.
The Supreme Court nominee had tested positive for the virus this summer, unnamed officials told the Post, but later recovered. An unnamed friend told Time that Barrett had been sick with mild symptoms and had quarantined.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people who have had the coronavirus and recover may be protected from the virus for up to three months, if not longer.
How or whether senators will hold Barrett’s nomination hearing, scheduled to start in 10 days, remains in question.
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The question of who will replace late Justice Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 18, has dramatic implications. The court is now split between three liberal justices and five conservatives. If Trump is able to get another conservative justice confirmed, that would cement conservatives’ hold on the nation’s most powerful court.
Ginsburg’s last wish, dictated to her granddaughter just days before her death, was reportedly that she “not be replaced until a new president is installed.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-02--I’m Living In One Of The Most Locked-Down Places In The World Due To COVID-19

Courtesy of Malia Makowicki The author sits on her balcony , where she 's spent a lot of time during the lockdown .
The cop car drove by slowly , with the window down .
I whistled for my dog , Thor , then held my breath .
He was off-leash .
I was in my slippers and bathrobe , not wearing a mask and it was after 9 p.m. That was at least three finable offenses in Melbourne , Australia .
Currently , the 5 million residents of Melbourne are in the ninth week of Stage 4 lockdown and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of these restrictions have begun to lift , but we have been one of the most locked-down places in the world for the longest amount of time .
At the height of Stage 4 ( the strictest level ) , only essential businesses were open and there were many finable offenses , including but not limited to : So , I held my breath , hoping to avoid one of those many fines .
Maybe it was the slippers and giant Seahawks bathrobe or maybe the police were just patrolling , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whatever the case , the car kept driving and I was off the hook .
Lucky .
Privileged , really .
Regardless , as the car drove on , the emotional wave hit me .
Rising up through my body like a mean friend I ’ ve tried so hard to ignore , I stood on the street corner and sobbed .
Just a few tears that time , but it ’ s been more , so much more .
I miss home .
Throughout the last six months , the stages of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them so have my emotions .
In March , it started similarly to the stay-at-home orders in the States .
Those of us who were fortunate enough to keep our jobs and not be directly affected by the virus were all spending time at home on Zoom in leggings and hoodies , swapping puzzles , hosting Zoom birthday parties , and baking homemade bagels .
We obsessively read the news and collectively tried to figure this thing out .
There were fines for traveling out of the city , and the borders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought , “ We can do this .
The restrictions will only last until June.
” This is the part of the story that Americans also experienced .
But then , the United States went in a very different direction and I was left wondering when I would ever make it home again .
By June , Melbournians “ flattened the curve ” with the number of new daily cases dropping to single digits ( a feat the United States has yet to accomplish ) .
Cafes , galleries and shops reopened with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to open as well .
Now , sometimes I ask myself if that two-week period was a dream .
Then the second wave hit .
Like an earthquake aftershock , this one felt heavier and harder than the first .
This part of the COVID-19 Melbourne lockdown story is something no other Australian state has had to endure , much less any Americans .
In early July , when a few hot spots emerged , government officials started administering COVID-19 tests door-to-door in certain Melbourne neighborhoods .
We were back to closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On our team Zoom calls , we no longer swapped recommendations for online self-improvement classes or baking recipes .
Instead , discussions around daily case numbers , rumors of a mythical , impending Stage 4 , and vacation daydreams took their place .
This is a very different reality than what I see when I log onto social media and digitally check in with my friends back in the U.S. Their posts show halfhearted attempts at wearing masks at bachelorette parties , groups going camping , friends having a “ socially distanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking a tragic toll on Americans and are kind of trying to stop the spread .
For the most part , these are weak attempts in comparison to Melbourne ’ s mandatory restrictions , and I ’ m left feeling resentful .
Even if I broke my visa status ( essentially ending my loving relationship and quitting my job ) and had enough funds to book an expensive , three-stop , 34-hour-minimum flight to the U.S. , I wouldn ’ t be able to return to Australia .
Sure , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowers to loved ones in America .
We can FaceTime .
But when can I hug them ?
When can I jump on a plane for a few hours and show up at their doorsteps ?
Hold their babies ?
Dance at their weddings ?
The 5-kilometer travel limit and mandatory mask-wearing requirements are not the worst part .
This question of “ when ” is what wrenches the heart .

The author sits on her balcony, where she's spent a lot of time during the lockdown. Courtesy of Malia Makowicki
The cop car drove by slowly, with the window down. I whistled for my dog, Thor, then held my breath. He was off-leash. I was in my slippers and bathrobe, not wearing a mask and it was after 9 p.m. That was at least three finable offenses in Melbourne, Australia.
Currently, the 5 million residents of Melbourne are in the ninth week of Stage 4 lockdown and the sixth month of stay-at-home orders. Some of these restrictions have begun to lift, but we have been one of the most locked-down places in the world for the longest amount of time. At the height of Stage 4 (the strictest level), only essential businesses were open and there were many finable offenses, including but not limited to:
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An 8 p.m. curfew: $1,652 fine, repeat offenders can be fined up to $10,000
Mandatory mask-wearing: $200 fine
Breaching isolation orders after testing positive for COVID-19: $4,957, up to $20,000 for repeat offenders
Being with more than one other person
One visit to the grocery store per household per day. Must be by yourself.
Spending more than one hour outside for exercise purposes only
Traveling more than 5 kilometers (3.1 miles for you Americans) away from your home. This is enforced with vehicle checkpoints for cars and bicycles.
So, I held my breath, hoping to avoid one of those many fines. Maybe it was the slippers and giant Seahawks bathrobe or maybe the police were just patrolling, not keen to arrest anyone that night. Whatever the case, the car kept driving and I was off the hook. Lucky. Privileged, really.
As cliché as it is, as an American I’m “blessed” to be living here, with a stable job, incredibly loving partner, accessible workers’ rights, free Medicare, thousands of miles away from the overwhelming chaos, injustice and hurt in the United States.
Regardless, as the car drove on, the emotional wave hit me. Rising up through my body like a mean friend I’ve tried so hard to ignore, I stood on the street corner and sobbed. Just a few tears that time, but it’s been more, so much more. I miss home.
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Throughout the last six months, the stages of lockdown in Melbourne have varied and with them so have my emotions. In March, it started similarly to the stay-at-home orders in the States.
Those of us who were fortunate enough to keep our jobs and not be directly affected by the virus were all spending time at home on Zoom in leggings and hoodies, swapping puzzles, hosting Zoom birthday parties, and baking homemade bagels. We obsessively read the news and collectively tried to figure this thing out. There were fines for traveling out of the city, and the borders to other states were closed. But we thought, “We can do this. The restrictions will only last until June.”
This is the part of the story that Americans also experienced. But then, the United States went in a very different direction and I was left wondering when I would ever make it home again.
By June, Melbournians “flattened the curve” with the number of new daily cases dropping to single digits (a feat the United States has yet to accomplish). Cafes, galleries and shops reopened with restricted capacities. The borders between states started to open as well. Now, sometimes I ask myself if that two-week period was a dream.
Then the second wave hit. Like an earthquake aftershock, this one felt heavier and harder than the first. This part of the COVID-19 Melbourne lockdown story is something no other Australian state has had to endure, much less any Americans.
Advertisement
In early July, when a few hot spots emerged, government officials started administering COVID-19 tests door-to-door in certain Melbourne neighborhoods. We were back to closed state borders and only essential services open. On our team Zoom calls, we no longer swapped recommendations for online self-improvement classes or baking recipes. Instead, discussions around daily case numbers, rumors of a mythical, impending Stage 4, and vacation daydreams took their place.
Early August saw the number of new daily cases in Victoria reach the hundreds and sure enough Melbourne was plunged into Stage 4 lockdown — where boredom, anxiety, resentment and homesickness have been building ever since.
This is a very different reality than what I see when I log onto social media and digitally check in with my friends back in the U.S. Their posts show halfhearted attempts at wearing masks at bachelorette parties, groups going camping, friends having a “socially distanced” dinner party. They know COVID-19 is taking a tragic toll on Americans and are kind of trying to stop the spread. For the most part, these are weak attempts in comparison to Melbourne’s mandatory restrictions, and I’m left feeling resentful.
The borders to Australia are closed for noncitizens. And the borders to Victoria are closed to everyone. For people like me, on a temporary visa awaiting a more permanent status, I can’t leave Australia.
Even if I broke my visa status (essentially ending my loving relationship and quitting my job) and had enough funds to book an expensive, three-stop, 34-hour-minimum flight to the U.S., I wouldn’t be able to return to Australia.
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Sure, I can send cards, care packages, and flowers to loved ones in America. We can FaceTime. But when can I hug them? When can I jump on a plane for a few hours and show up at their doorsteps? Hold their babies? Dance at their weddings? The 5-kilometer travel limit and mandatory mask-wearing requirements are not the worst part. This question of “when” is what wrenches the heart.
I took a risk and moved here for love a year and a half ago, but I don’t yet feel attached to Melbourne, just my partner. I had barely tapped into Melbourne, just starting to make friends, when COVID-19 hit.
Now, as restrictions finally start to ease, and there are whisperings of a Stage 3 relaxation on the horizon in November, people are starting to make plans. It feels like a big Melbourne family reunion is right around the corner. I just wonder when I’ll get to see mine.
So, Americans, beyond the public safety decency and quest to help those truly sick and dying: Please wear a mask, vote with compassion in November, and think of your expats, so one day the rest of us can come home.
In the meantime, I will revel in balcony “tailgates” with my partner as we watch Monday Night Football on a Tuesday, munch jalapeño poppers from Costco and remember to find joy in the mundane.
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