thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--73% Of Democratic Voters Say Kamala Harris Was A Good Choice For Vice Presidential Nominee

The selection of a running mate , research suggests , rarely has a direct , game-changing impact on voters ’ preferences ― something that ’ s especially likely to be the case in 2020 , which much of the electorate sees mainly as a referendum on President Trump .
But the decision can help to shape voters ’ views about the presidential candidate ’ s judgment and ideological leanings .
By those metrics , this survey suggests , Harris initially makes a neutral or mildly positive addition to the ticket , with voters more likely than not to see her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s part , and perceiving little ideological distance between the two candidates .
Harris ’ favorability rating among all registered voters stands slightly above water at 46 % , with 41 % viewing her unfavorably and 13 % unsure .
Voters say , 49 % to 35 % , that Biden made a good choice in selecting Harris .
They say , 44 % to 36 % , that she has the qualifications to serve as president .
Harris , those results suggest , is both modestly better-liked and far more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence was when Trump selected him as his running mate four years ago .
In July 2016 , an Economist YouGov poll found that Pence had just a 29 % favorability rating among voters , with 34 % rating him unfavorably , and a significant 37 % unsure .
In that poll , 38 % of voters called Pence a good choice , with 22 % saying he was a bad choice and 39 % unsure .
About half of voters , 52 % , currently say they ’ re satisfied with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 36 % calling themselves dissatisfied or upset .
Just 35 % of all voters say Harris was Democrats ’ best option for a vice presidential nominee , with 42 % saying she was not .
( Metrics for making this judgment , of course , vary ― a few Trump supporters pronounced themselves enthusiastic about a choice they thought was likely to harm the Biden campaign ’ s chances . )
Biden and Harris are viewed as ideologically similar by many voters .
A 48 % plurality say Harris is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , with 20 % saying she is similar , and 13 % that she is more conservative .
Forty-six percent say Biden is more liberal than they are , 23 % that he is similar to them , and 19 % that he ’ s more conservative .
About half of voters , 48 % , say Trump is more conservative than they are , with 11 % saying he is more liberal , and 24 % that his views are similar to theirs .
A 55 % majority say Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 % that he ’ s more liberal , and 23 % that he broadly shares their views .
Most Democratic Voters Are Satisfied With Biden ’ s Decision A 77 % majority say they ’ re either enthusiastic about ( 45 % ) or satisfied with ( 32 % ) Harris as Biden ’ s running mate , with 16 % describing themselves as dissatisfied or upset .
For comparison , a similar 78 % are at least satisfied with Biden as the party ’ s likely presidential nominee , with 36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the ticket .
A slim 54 % majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say Harris was the party ’ s best option for a vice presidential nominee , with 24 % saying she was not and the rest unsure .
Most , 64 % , say they believe Harris will help his chances of winning , with just 9 % expecting her to hurt the ticket .
Roughly seven in 10 believe she is qualified to be president herself .
Just shy of three-quarters say Biden made a good choice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Democratic and Democratic leaning-voters say Harris ’ political viewpoints are similar to their own , with 21 % saying she is more liberal than they are , 21 % that she is more conservative than they are , and another 21 % that they ’ re not sure .
( By contrast , these voters are twice as likely to say Biden is more conservative than they are than that he ’ s more liberal than they are . )
Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters who describe themselves as liberal are about equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as those who describe themselves as moderates .
But there ’ s a generational divide : those over age 45 are 24 percentage points likelier to be enthusiastic than those age 44 or younger .
After asking voters to rate their feelings about Harris ’ selection , the poll also asked them to explain why they felt that way .
Here are a few of the responses from Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters , in some cases lightly edited for clarity or length .
“ Kamala isn ’ t afraid to speak her mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her background is perfect for the VP or even the presidential role .
She is the best for the job.
” ― 67-year-old Georgia woman

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Kamala Harris was a good choice for Joe Biden’s running mate, voters say by a 14-point margin in a new HuffPost/YouGov poll. Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters are largely content with the addition of Harris to the ticket, with roughly three-quarters saying Biden made a good decision in adding her.
The selection of a running mate, research suggests, rarely has a direct, game-changing impact on voters’ preferences ― something that’s especially likely to be the case in 2020, which much of the electorate sees mainly as a referendum on President Trump. But the decision can help to shape voters’ views about the presidential candidate’s judgment and ideological leanings.
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By those metrics, this survey suggests, Harris initially makes a neutral or mildly positive addition to the ticket, with voters more likely than not to see her selection as a sound decision on Biden’s part, and perceiving little ideological distance between the two candidates.
Harris’ favorability rating among all registered voters stands slightly above water at 46%, with 41% viewing her unfavorably and 13% unsure. Voters say, 49% to 35%, that Biden made a good choice in selecting Harris. They say, 44% to 36%, that she has the qualifications to serve as president.
Harris, those results suggest, is both modestly better-liked and far more of a known quantity to the public than Mike Pence was when Trump selected him as his running mate four years ago. In July 2016, an Economist YouGov poll found that Pence had just a 29% favorability rating among voters, with 34% rating him unfavorably, and a significant 37% unsure. In that poll, 38% of voters called Pence a good choice, with 22% saying he was a bad choice and 39% unsure.
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About half of voters, 52%, currently say they’re satisfied with or enthusiastic about the selection of Harris, with 36% calling themselves dissatisfied or upset. Just 35% of all voters say Harris was Democrats’ best option for a vice presidential nominee, with 42% saying she was not. (Metrics for making this judgment, of course, vary ― a few Trump supporters pronounced themselves enthusiastic about a choice they thought was likely to harm the Biden campaign’s chances.)
Biden and Harris are viewed as ideologically similar by many voters. A 48% plurality say Harris is at least a little more liberal than they are, with 20% saying she is similar, and 13% that she is more conservative. Forty-six percent say Biden is more liberal than they are, 23% that he is similar to them, and 19% that he’s more conservative.
About half of voters, 48%, say Trump is more conservative than they are, with 11% saying he is more liberal, and 24% that his views are similar to theirs. A 55% majority say Vice President Pence is more conservative than them, 9% that he’s more liberal, and 23% that he broadly shares their views.
Most Democratic Voters Are Satisfied With Biden’s Decision
Nearly three-quarters of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, 73%, have a favorable opinion of Harris, with just 13% rating her unfavorably.
A 77% majority say they’re either enthusiastic about (45%) or satisfied with (32%) Harris as Biden’s running mate, with 16% describing themselves as dissatisfied or upset. For comparison, a similar 78% are at least satisfied with Biden as the party’s likely presidential nominee, with 36% enthusiastic about having him at the top of the ticket.
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A slim 54% majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say Harris was the party’s best option for a vice presidential nominee, with 24% saying she was not and the rest unsure. Most, 64%, say they believe Harris will help his chances of winning, with just 9% expecting her to hurt the ticket. Roughly seven in 10 believe she is qualified to be president herself. Just shy of three-quarters say Biden made a good choice in selecting her.
A 37% plurality of Democratic and Democratic leaning-voters say Harris’ political viewpoints are similar to their own, with 21% saying she is more liberal than they are, 21% that she is more conservative than they are, and another 21% that they’re not sure. (By contrast, these voters are twice as likely to say Biden is more conservative than they are than that he’s more liberal than they are.)
Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters who describe themselves as liberal are about equally as likely to be enthusiastic for Harris as those who describe themselves as moderates. But there’s a generational divide: those over age 45 are 24 percentage points likelier to be enthusiastic than those age 44 or younger.
After asking voters to rate their feelings about Harris’ selection, the poll also asked them to explain why they felt that way. Here are a few of the responses from Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, in some cases lightly edited for clarity or length.
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Why some say they’re enthusiastic:
“Kamala isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She is eloquent and sensible. Her background is perfect for the VP or even the presidential role. She is the best for the job.” ― 67-year-old Georgia woman
“She’s a powerhouse, great decision maker, great debater and an overall great team player for Joe.” ― 78-year-old California man
“She’s making history.” ― 19-year-old Minnesota man
Why some say they’re satisfied, but not enthusiastic:
“It was a good hit, but not a home run.” ― 60-year-old Florida man
“I feel that Senator Harris’s selection by Biden is a concerted choice to keep the Democratic Party towards a centrist position in future presidential elections, which may not be the direction the voters are actually trending.” ― 29-year-old Massachusetts woman
“I like her, but I fear political spin from the right may work.” ― 32-year-old Texas woman
Why some say they’re dissatisfied, but not upset:
“I am not a fan of her decisions as an attorney general, and she’s too moderate for my liking, but I guess it’s cool Biden chose a woman of color” ― 23-year-old Pennsylvania woman
“She’s a chameleon. I don’t know what she stands for.” ― 31-year-old New York man
“I don’t really like her, but it’s a safe bet.” ― 36-year-old Illinois woman
Why some say they’re upset:
“As a liberal member of the party, I was hoping for a VP who was more liberal than Biden, not someone as conservative as he is.” ― 30-year-old Massachusetts woman
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“There are many more women of color who are smarter and have more qualifications.” ― 69-year-old California woman
“She is radical left.” ― 61-year-old Georgia woman
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted August 11-13 among U.S. adults, including 748 registered voters, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.
Most surveys report a margin of error that represents some but not all potential survey errors. YouGov’s reports include a model-based margin of error, which rests on a specific set of statistical assumptions about the selected sample rather than the standard methodology for random probability sampling. If these assumptions are wrong, the model-based margin of error may also be inaccurate. Click here for a more detailed explanation of the model-based margin of error.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Here’s What To Expect At The 2020 Democratic National Convention

While the host city for the convention was set to be Milwaukee , former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to accept the Democratic Party ’ s presidential nomination from his home in Delaware due to the virus .
The presumptive nominee announced Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) on Tuesday as his choice for vice president after a drawn-out vetting process that included many women of color and prominent political leaders .
“ This is what happens when we elect a guy that isn ’ t up for the job , ” the senator said on Wednesday during her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic ticket .
When and where is it ?
The DNC will begin on Monday , Aug. 17 and last through Thursday , Aug. 20 .
The convention was originally planned for the week of July 13 , but was delayed due to the pandemic .
It is now a week before the Republican National Convention , which is Aug. 24-27 .
At the time of the postponement , Biden told MSNBC ’ s Brian Williams that it was “ hard to envision ” the convention being held in July and said Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” who have advised against large gatherings due to the pandemic .
The convention was set to be held at the 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee but has since been moved to the city ’ s Wisconsin Center due to concerns about the virus .
The new venue has a 4,500-seat theater and a 12,000-seat arena .
It will be the convention ’ s main production center , though few of the actual proceedings will take place there .
The main events will be aired from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although there will also be daytime events starting at 9 a.m .
The convention will be broadcast on the DNC ’ s website as well as on all major television networks , social media platforms and streaming services like Apple TV and Roku .
What traditionally happens at the convention ?
Why is it different this year ?
Delegates were told in June to not attend the convention in person , and organizers recently said that no speakers from out of town will travel to Milwaukee .
Speakers will instead deliver their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thousands of delegates have already cast ballots by mail for the Democratic nomination .
Arguably the most significant change is that Biden himself will not be in Milwaukee to accept the nomination for president .
Party officials said the decision to have Biden attend remotely was made based on concerns about the coronavirus .
“ The upcoming Democratic convention is different than we ’ d imagined .
A lot has changed since we set out on this journey more than a year ago now , but the one thing that hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and safety first , ” Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers ( D ) said when Biden announced his decision to accept the nomination virtually .
“ It has never been more important for elected officials to lead by example ― that ’ s the kind of leader Joe is , and that ’ s the kind of president we need , ” Evers continued .
“ I know he will continue to have a presence in Wisconsin , virtually or otherwise , and I look forward to doing everything we can to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night ?
“ The message we aim to deliver is simple , ” DNC program executive Stephanie Cutter said in a statement .
“ Joe Biden is the steady , compassionate and experienced leader America needs right now to bring us together and steer our nation out of Trump ’ s crises and constant chaos and build a better future for all.
” Who will be speaking ?

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The Democratic National Committee’s presidential nominating convention kicks off Monday after the coronavirus pandemic caused significant delays and changes in the schedule.
While the host city for the convention was set to be Milwaukee, former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination from his home in Delaware due to the virus. The presumptive nominee announced Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) last Tuesday as his choice for vice president after a drawn-out vetting process that included many women of color and prominent political leaders.
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The historic ticket is moving forward on the campaign message that President Donald Trump is a purveyor of crisis, with Harris calling 2020 a moment of “real consequence for America.”
“This is what happens when we elect a guy that isn’t up for the job,” the senator said on Wednesday during her first appearance with Biden as the presumptive Democratic ticket.
With the convention drastically transformed from a busy arena to a fully virtual space, here’s what to know as the DNC kicks off:
A sign advertises the 2020 Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center, which will be the production hub for the almost fully virtual event. BRYAN R. SMITH/Getty Images
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When and where is it?
The DNC will begin on Monday, Aug. 17 and last through Thursday, Aug. 20. The convention was originally planned for the week of July 13, but was delayed due to the pandemic. It is now a week before the Republican National Convention, which is Aug. 24-27.
At the time of the postponement, Biden told MSNBC’s Brian Williams that it was “hard to envision” the convention being held in July and said Democratic officials should “listen to the scientists,” who have advised against large gatherings due to the pandemic.
The convention was set to be held at the 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee but has since been moved to the city’s Wisconsin Center due to concerns about the virus. The new venue has a 4,500-seat theater and a 12,000-seat arena. It will be the convention’s main production center, though few of the actual proceedings will take place there.
The main events will be aired from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on each of the four nights, although there will also be daytime events starting at 9 a.m. The convention will be broadcast on the DNC’s website as well as on all major television networks, social media platforms and streaming services like Apple TV and Roku.
What traditionally happens at the convention?
The quadrennial presidential nominating convention normally draws tens of thousands of delegates, party officials and journalists to the city hosting the event.
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The four-day convention consists of all-day events and caucus meetings meant to help frame Democrats’ vision for the White House. Delegates and superdelegates gather to officially nominate and confirm the party’s candidates for president and vice president. Attendees respond to notable speeches with loud cheers and applause.
Biden secured enough delegates to win the party’s nomination via state primaries and caucuses in June. The original plans for an in-person convention in July were canceled by the Democratic Party due to safety concerns amid rising coronavirus cases and deaths.
On July 28, 2016, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton gives a thumbs-up as she appears on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. CAROLYN KASTER/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Why is it different this year?
The convention is almost entirely virtual this year thanks to safety precautions taken to protect attendees from the coronavirus.
Delegates were told in June to not attend the convention in person, and organizers recently said that no speakers from out of town will travel to Milwaukee. Speakers will instead deliver their addresses remotely from across the country, and thousands of delegates have already cast ballots by mail for the Democratic nomination.
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Arguably the most significant change is that Biden himself will not be in Milwaukee to accept the nomination for president. Party officials said the decision to have Biden attend remotely was made based on concerns about the coronavirus.
“The upcoming Democratic convention is different than we’d imagined. A lot has changed since we set out on this journey more than a year ago now, but the one thing that hasn’t is Democrats’ commitment to putting health and safety first,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said when Biden announced his decision to accept the nomination virtually.
“It has never been more important for elected officials to lead by example ― that’s the kind of leader Joe is, and that’s the kind of president we need,” Evers continued. “I know he will continue to have a presence in Wisconsin, virtually or otherwise, and I look forward to doing everything we can to win Wisconsin.”
What will happen each night?
Organizers have created themes that will guide programming for the convention’s four nights, with the overarching theme being “Uniting America.” Monday’s theme is “We the People,” Tuesday is “Leadership Matters,” Wednesday is “A More Perfect Union” and Thursday is “America’s Promise.”
“The message we aim to deliver is simple,” DNC program executive Stephanie Cutter said in a statement. “Joe Biden is the steady, compassionate and experienced leader America needs right now to bring us together and steer our nation out of Trump’s crises and constant chaos and build a better future for all.”
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After a long day of caucus and council events, prime-time convention programming will begin with a preshow and be filled with speeches from notable leaders. There will also be “unofficial” programming by organizations pushing policy reform on various topics.
Who will be speaking?
The convention will be led by a list of high-profile speakers, including activists, experts and lawmakers such as Biden’s former competitors for the Democratic nomination. The DNC has also carved out speaking time for American business owners, teachers, factory workers and health care workers.
Harris will speak on Wednesday to accept the Democratic nomination for vice president. Biden will speak on Thursday, the last night of the convention, to accept the Democratic nomination for president.
Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris appear together on Aug. 12 for the first time as a joint ticket in Wilmington, Delaware. CAROLYN KASTER/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Here is the schedule of speakers as listed by convention organizers:
Monday
Former first lady Michelle Obama
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)
Convention Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R)
Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
Tuesday
Former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Former Secretary of State John Kerry (D)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.)
Former President Bill Clinton (D)
Dr. Jill Biden
Wednesday
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), vice presidential nominee
Former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)
Former President Barack Obama (D)
Thursday
Former Vice President Joe Biden, presidential candidate
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D)
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)
The Biden family


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Trump Plans To Give Convention Acceptance Speech From White House After All: Report

President Donald Trump said Thursday he may give his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the White House after all , despite ongoing criticism about his plans to use the executive residence for a partisan purpose .
The president told the New York Post he would likely give his speech from the White House lawn when he officially accepts the Republican nomination on Aug. 27 .
“ I ’ ll probably be giving my speech at the White House because it is a great place , ” he told the newspaper .
“ It ’ s a place that makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country feel good .
We ’ d do it possibly outside on one of the lawns , we have various lawns , so we could have it outside in terms of the China virus.
” Trump went on to say an event on the lawn would be easier for the Secret Service to protect and also allow for “ quite a group of people ” as it was a “ very big lawn.
” Trump initially floated the idea earlier this month after he was forced to cancel most of the RNC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
The statement — and another plan he floated to give the speech in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania — drew swift criticism from top Democrats and some Republicans , who noted the Hatch Act prohibits public officials from using their authority for a political purpose .
“ I ’ ll probably do mine live from the White House , ” the president told Fox News at the time .
“ If I use the White House , we save tremendous amounts of money for the government in terms of security , traveling.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president or vice president , and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Wednesday confirmed Trump was not bound by the law and could give the acceptance speech at the White House should he choose to do so .
White House employees , however , are bound by the terms of the act and could be implicated depending on their involvement .
“ It ’ s very wrong , ” she said from the Capitol earlier this month .
“ For the president of the United States to degrade , once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has done over and over again , by saying he ’ s going to completely politicize it is something that should be rejected right out of hand.
” In his interview with the Post this week , Trump added that he hadn ’ t abandoned plans to host some kind of an event at Gettysburg , calling the Civil War battlefield location “ special.
” “ I will be doing something at Gettysburg , it may be something different , not for the convention , ” he said .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love Pennsylvania and I love Gettysburg , so we ’ re going to do something in Gettysburg at a little bit later date .
”

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President Donald Trump said Thursday he may give his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the White House after all, despite ongoing criticism about his plans to use the executive residence for a partisan purpose.
The president told the New York Post he would likely give his speech from the White House lawn when he officially accepts the Republican nomination on Aug. 27.
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“I’ll probably be giving my speech at the White House because it is a great place,” he told the newspaper. “It’s a place that makes me feel good, it makes the country feel good. We’d do it possibly outside on one of the lawns, we have various lawns, so we could have it outside in terms of the China virus.”
Trump went on to say an event on the lawn would be easier for the Secret Service to protect and also allow for “quite a group of people” as it was a “very big lawn.”
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Trump initially floated the idea earlier this month after he was forced to cancel most of the RNC’s in-person events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The statement — and another plan he floated to give the speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — drew swift criticism from top Democrats and some Republicans, who noted the Hatch Act prohibits public officials from using their authority for a political purpose.
“I’ll probably do mine live from the White House,” the president told Fox News at the time. “If I use the White House, we save tremendous amounts of money for the government in terms of security, traveling.”
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The Hatch Act does not apply to the president or vice president, and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Wednesday confirmed Trump was not bound by the law and could give the acceptance speech at the White House should he choose to do so. White House employees, however, are bound by the terms of the act and could be implicated depending on their involvement.
Top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), have blasted the plans.
“It’s very wrong,” she said from the Capitol earlier this month. “For the president of the United States to degrade, once again, the White House, as he has done over and over again, by saying he’s going to completely politicize it is something that should be rejected right out of hand.”
In his interview with the Post this week, Trump added that he hadn’t abandoned plans to host some kind of an event at Gettysburg, calling the Civil War battlefield location “special.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Supreme Court Rules Rhode Island Can Remove Witness Requirement For Mail-In Votes

Mike Blake/reuters Rhode Island Republicans and the Republican National Committee wanted mail-in ballots to be notarized or signed by two witnesses .
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt by Republicans in Rhode Island and the Republican National Committee to force voters filing mail-in ballots in the state to have a notary or two witnesses present .
Six justices ruled Rhode Island is allowed to continue accepting mail-in ballots without the witnesses or notary ― usual requirements for mailed-in votes in the state ― because Rhode Island election officials had relaxed the guidelines for the June primary due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the change .
The RNC has filed several lawsuits in states across the country designed to curtail the number of mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 general election .
The Trump reelection campaign has signed on with the RNC in a number of these cases , and both organizations have committed $ 20 million to fund similar suits throughout the U.S. Trump , who has falsely claimed that mail-in voting is rife with fraud , has said losing the lawsuits poses the “ biggest risk ” to his reelection .
Voter fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is extremely rare in the United States .
Nonetheless , the Trump campaign is suing not only to restrict access to mail-in ballots but also to cut the number of polling places in multiple swing states , including Iowa and Nevada .
Several states require that a witness , or even multiple witnesses , sign a voter ’ s ballot in order to have it counted , and the requirement has led to some votes being declared ineligible .
In Wisconsin , for example , where election officials have told voters to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a deadly pandemic , 14,000 ballots submitted in this April ’ s primary were rejected because they failed a witness certification requirement .
Rather than waive the witness signature requirement , election officials in the state are advising Wisconsinites to use intricate means to acquire one .
The Wisconsin Elections Commission recently advised mail-in voters to video call a witness as they fill out their ballot , then leave their ballot on the porch so the witness can sign and address it .
Voting rights advocates across the country continue to argue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time when public health officials are advising Americans to practice social distancing to avoid contracting the coronavirus .
Trump has made it clear he will go to extreme , undemocratic measures to discourage and deny mail-in ballots .
During an interview on Thursday morning , he said a reason he is against funding for the U.S .
Postal Service is because , as Democrats have argued , it is needed for the agency to effectively transfer mail-in votes in November .
“ Now they need that money in order to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take all of these millions and millions of ballots , ” he said Thursday in an interview on Fox Business .

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The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt by Republicans in Rhode Island and the Republican National Committee to force voters filing mail-in ballots in the state to have a notary or two witnesses present.
Six justices ruled Rhode Island is allowed to continue accepting mail-in ballots without the witnesses or notary ― usual requirements for mailed-in votes in the state ― because Rhode Island election officials had relaxed the guidelines for the June primary due to coronavirus concerns and state officials had backed the change.
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The RNC has filed several lawsuits in states across the country designed to curtail the number of mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 general election. The Trump reelection campaign has signed on with the RNC in a number of these cases, and both organizations have committed $20 million to fund similar suits throughout the U.S.
Nonetheless, the Trump campaign is suing not only to restrict access to mail-in ballots but also to cut the number of polling places in multiple swing states, including Iowa and Nevada.
Rhode Island Republicans and the Republican National Committee wanted mail-in ballots to be notarized or signed by two witnesses. Mike Blake/reuters
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Several states require that a witness, or even multiple witnesses, sign a voter’s ballot in order to have it counted, and the requirement has led to some votes being declared ineligible. In Wisconsin, for example, where election officials have told voters to “be creative” in acquiring witness signatures during a deadly pandemic, 14,000 ballots submitted in this April’s primary were rejected because they failed a witness certification requirement. Rather than waive the witness signature requirement, election officials in the state are advising Wisconsinites to use intricate means to acquire one. The Wisconsin Elections Commission recently advised mail-in voters to video call a witness as they fill out their ballot, then leave their ballot on the porch so the witness can sign and address it.
Voting rights advocates across the country continue to argue that witness requirements disenfranchise voters, particularly at a time when public health officials are advising Americans to practice social distancing to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
Rhode Island, Minnesota and a number of other states have relaxed their witness requirements for mail-in ballots during the pandemic.
Trump has made it clear he will go to extreme, undemocratic measures to discourage and deny mail-in ballots. During an interview on Thursday morning, he said a reason he is against funding for the U.S. Postal Service is because, as Democrats have argued, it is needed for the agency to effectively transfer mail-in votes in November.
“Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” he said Thursday in an interview on Fox Business.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Dolly Parton Supports Black Lives Matter: 'Our Little White Asses' Aren't All That Matters

In an interview with Billboard , Dolly Parton has voiced her indisputable support for Black Lives Matter as well as the importance of changing with the times .
“ I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen , ” the 74-year-old Parton said , referring to the latest wave of racial justice protests sweeping the United States .
“ And of course Black lives matter .
Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter ?
No !
” The Queen of Country also explained her 2018 decision to rename the Dixie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pyrotechnics show in Missouri and Tennessee , after it was called a “ lily-white kitsch extravaganza that play-acts the Civil War but never once mentions slavery ” in a 2017 Slate article .
“ There ’ s such a thing as innocent ignorance , and so many of us are guilty of that , ” Parton said .
“ When they said ‘ Dixie ’ was an offensive word , I thought , ‘ Well , I don ’ t want to offend anybody .
This is a business .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As soon as you realize that [ something ] is a problem , you should fix it .
Don ’ t be a dumbass .
That ’ s where my heart is .
I would never dream of hurting anybody on purpose.
” Parton dropped the word “ Dixie , ” often used to describe the American South during the time of slavery , about 2½ years before The Dixie Chicks followed suit in June , renaming themselves The Chicks .
Other segments of the interview detail Parton ’ s role during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s donation of $ 1 million toward coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the release of her inspirational song “ When Life Is Good Again.
” “ As the Scripture says , ‘ To whom much is given , much is required.
’ ” Parton said .
“ So I look at my life with that every day and think that God expects it of me .
...
If I can be an inspiration , then I want to be that .
That makes me feel good.
” Parton , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fame , made her debut in 1967 with her album “ Hello , I ’ m Dolly.
” Since then , the artist , actor and businesswoman has won a stunning nine Grammy Awards and received 49 nominations .

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In an interview with Billboard, Dolly Parton has voiced her indisputable support for Black Lives Matter as well as the importance of changing with the times.
“I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen,” the 74-year-old Parton said, referring to the latest wave of racial justice protests sweeping the United States. “And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!”
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The Queen of Country also explained her 2018 decision to rename the Dixie Stampede dinner attraction, a Southern-themed horse-riding and pyrotechnics show in Missouri and Tennessee, after it was called a “lily-white kitsch extravaganza that play-acts the Civil War but never once mentions slavery” in a 2017 Slate article.
“There’s such a thing as innocent ignorance, and so many of us are guilty of that,” Parton said. “When they said ‘Dixie’ was an offensive word, I thought, ‘Well, I don’t want to offend anybody. This is a business. We’ll just call it The Stampede.’ As soon as you realize that [something] is a problem, you should fix it. Don’t be a dumbass. That’s where my heart is. I would never dream of hurting anybody on purpose.”
Parton dropped the word “Dixie,” often used to describe the American South during the time of slavery, about 2½ years before The Dixie Chicks followed suit in June, renaming themselves The Chicks.
Other segments of the interview detail Parton’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the singer’s donation of $1 million toward coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the release of her inspirational song “When Life Is Good Again.”
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“As the Scripture says, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’” Parton said. “So I look at my life with that every day and think that God expects it of me. ... If I can be an inspiration, then I want to be that. That makes me feel good.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Dodger Stadium To Serve As Polling Place Come November

Dodger Stadium , the home stadium of the Los Angeles Dodgers , has agreed the venue can serve as a polling place for the upcoming election .
The move follows at least three NBA teams volunteering their arenas as voting sites in November .
NBA superstar LeBron James and his voting rights initiative More Than a Vote collaborated with the Dodgers to make the new polling place a reality .
The group congratulated the Dodgers on Thursday for becoming the first Major League Baseball team to make its stadium available as a voting location .
Big news : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to join the # protecthomecourt push !
LA County voters can use Dodger Stadium this fall !
💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 https : //t.co/aB75yBl8KN — More Than A Vote ( @ morethanavote ) August 13 , 2020 The Dodgers said in a statement that all registered voters in Los Angeles County will be allowed to park for free and vote at the stadium in the five days leading up to the Nov. 3 election .
The site will follow Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding social distancing , the team said .
Let 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting in a pandemic : They have ventilation .
They are gigantic .
Multiple polling stations can be set up .
Hundreds of people can vote at once with no lines .
There is parking for busses .
There is cleaning staff .
https : //t.co/J7DIXOiVVp — Jessica Huseman ( @ JessicaHuseman ) August 13 , 2020 The NBA ’ s Atlanta Hawks , Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks said earlier this summer that their arenas would be turned into polling sites in November .
More Than a Vote , which James launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black voting rights and combat voter suppression , lauded the teams ’ decisions at the time — and urged other sports teams to follow suit .
“ Who ’ s got next ?
” the group asked on Twitter last month .
Thank you @ Dodgers and @ DAVIDprice24 for bringing MLB into this important initiative .
Who got next ?
@ Morethanavote # BlackLivesMatter https : //t.co/qYAUY30T3M — LeBron James ( @ KingJames ) August 13 , 2020

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Dodger Stadium, the home stadium of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has agreed the venue can serve as a polling place for the upcoming election. The move follows at least three NBA teams volunteering their arenas as voting sites in November.
NBA superstar LeBron James and his voting rights initiative More Than a Vote collaborated with the Dodgers to make the new polling place a reality.
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The group congratulated the Dodgers on Thursday for becoming the first Major League Baseball team to make its stadium available as a voting location.
Big news: The @Dodgers become the first @MLB team to join the #protecthomecourt push! LA County voters can use Dodger Stadium this fall! 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 https://t.co/aB75yBl8KN — More Than A Vote (@morethanavote) August 13, 2020
The Dodgers said in a statement that all registered voters in Los Angeles County will be allowed to park for free and vote at the stadium in the five days leading up to the Nov. 3 election.
The site will follow Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding social distancing, the team said.
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Let's talk abt how amazing stadiums are for voting in a pandemic: They have ventilation. They are gigantic. Multiple polling stations can be set up. Hundreds of people can vote at once with no lines. There is parking for busses. There is cleaning staff. https://t.co/J7DIXOiVVp — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) August 13, 2020
The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks said earlier this summer that their arenas would be turned into polling sites in November.
More Than a Vote, which James launched in June in an effort to protect Black voting rights and combat voter suppression, lauded the teams’ decisions at the time — and urged other sports teams to follow suit.
“Who’s got next?” the group asked on Twitter last month.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Suggests Team's Anthem Policy Has Evolved

Still , the owner who has taken the hardest line among his NFL counterparts against protesting racial injustice during “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” did acknowledge a changing social tide after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
While he reiterated his belief in standing for the anthem in his annual pre-training camp meeting with reporters this week , Jones tried to say he intended to be more open to the points of view of players .
“ That was then ...
This is now , ” Jones said Wednesday .
“ These are very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove as far as where I ’ m standing with the flag and where the Cowboys stand .
I have nothing to prove regarding my players and my support of our players .
“ I want our players to understand the perception and where they ’ re coming from regarding the flag and the sensitivity there , and the many memories there .
And I want our fans to understand ... where our players are coming from there.
” Jones was the first owner to suggest he might bench players over kneeling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the issue flared over comments from President Donald Trump a year after Colin Kaepernick first knelt to call attention to issues of racial injustice .
With more players kneeling in response to Trump three years ago , Jones joined players and coaches as the Cowboys locked arms and knelt before the anthem on a Monday night in Arizona .
Everyone stood before the anthem was played .
“ We have many on that team that were thinking about one way and many , many others that were thinking about another way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to look at from the standpoint of not only team , but look at it from the standpoint of the uniqueness we can do with the Dallas Cowboys.
” The Cowboys are in a similar situation now , with star quarterback Dak Prescott saying “ conversations are heating up ” over what the team will do with players and coaches kneeling during the anthem in other pro leagues , most notably the NBA .
“ We are coming close to a point of what we want to do and the way we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way we want to represent this team and the way we want to represent this country , ” Prescott said .
Prescott pledged $ 1 million toward police training after Floyd , a Black man , died when a white police officer pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes in May .
He said he was “ disgusted and unsettled ” by Floyd ’ s death .
While Prescott said two years ago he didn ’ t think the anthem was the right time for such a protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who kneel .
“ We have the choice to do as we please , whether to kneel or believe in this religion or that religion , to come from this background and still make it , come from this economic deal or be burdened by oppression and still overcome it , ” Prescott said .
“ I support life and I support the good in people.
” Defensive tackles Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy signed with Dallas as free agents in the offseason , and both questioned why Jones didn ’ t speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Roger Goodell ’ s acknowledgment that the NFL erred in its resistance to peaceful protests by players .
“ Am I interested in what everybody has to say about any issue ?
You bet , ” Jones said .
“ And I have rabbit ears .
I really do .
Having said that , I am listening .
The point is , we will do it in a way we think is a sensitive and has as much grace for the genuine feelings of everybody in mind .
”

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Jerry Jones sidestepped the question of whether he would change his policy requiring Dallas Cowboys players to stand during the national anthem.
Still, the owner who has taken the hardest line among his NFL counterparts against protesting racial injustice during “The Star-Spangled Banner” did acknowledge a changing social tide after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
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Two years ago, Jones wouldn’t even support players staying in the locker room during the national anthem, declaring the club’s policy was for players to be on the sideline, “toe on the line.”
While he reiterated his belief in standing for the anthem in his annual pre-training camp meeting with reporters this week, Jones tried to say he intended to be more open to the points of view of players.
“That was then ... This is now,” Jones said Wednesday. “These are very sensitive times. I have nothing to prove as far as where I’m standing with the flag and where the Cowboys stand. I have nothing to prove regarding my players and my support of our players.
“I want our players to understand the perception and where they’re coming from regarding the flag and the sensitivity there, and the many memories there. And I want our fans to understand ... where our players are coming from there.”
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Jones was the first owner to suggest he might bench players over kneeling for the anthem. That was 2017, when the issue flared over comments from President Donald Trump a year after Colin Kaepernick first knelt to call attention to issues of racial injustice.
With more players kneeling in response to Trump three years ago, Jones joined players and coaches as the Cowboys locked arms and knelt before the anthem on a Monday night in Arizona. Everyone stood before the anthem was played.
“We have many on that team that were thinking about one way and many, many others that were thinking about another way,” Jones said. “I asked them to look at from the standpoint of not only team, but look at it from the standpoint of the uniqueness we can do with the Dallas Cowboys.”
The Cowboys are in a similar situation now, with star quarterback Dak Prescott saying “conversations are heating up” over what the team will do with players and coaches kneeling during the anthem in other pro leagues, most notably the NBA.
“We are coming close to a point of what we want to do and the way we want to represent one another, the way we want to represent this team and the way we want to represent this country,” Prescott said.
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Prescott pledged $1 million toward police training after Floyd, a Black man, died when a white police officer pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes in May. He said he was “disgusted and unsettled” by Floyd’s death.
The two-time Pro Bowler has also joined other athletes in writing to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt seeking the release of death row inmate Julius Jones.
While Prescott said two years ago he didn’t think the anthem was the right time for such a protest, he said he would support teammates who kneel.
“We have the choice to do as we please, whether to kneel or believe in this religion or that religion, to come from this background and still make it, come from this economic deal or be burdened by oppression and still overcome it,” Prescott said. “I support life and I support the good in people.”
Defensive tackles Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy signed with Dallas as free agents in the offseason, and both questioned why Jones didn’t speak sooner after Floyd’s death and Commissioner Roger Goodell’s acknowledgment that the NFL erred in its resistance to peaceful protests by players.
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Jones said he hasn’t talked directly to Poe and McCoy, but expected to do that while talking to other players as well.
“Am I interested in what everybody has to say about any issue? You bet,” Jones said. “And I have rabbit ears. I really do. Having said that, I am listening. The point is, we will do it in a way we think is a sensitive and has as much grace for the genuine feelings of everybody in mind.”
Jones said the key word was “grace” amid the changing social environment that includes the country’s battle to contain the coronavirus.
“I’m going to show grace,” Jones said. “And I’d like to show that kind of grace on a sensitive matter. Everybody is genuine here. I’m giving everyone the benefit of the doubt relative to any decision that I make.”
Jones’ tone indicated quite a bit more wiggle room compared to “toe on the line.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Israel And United Arab Emirates To Establish Full Diplomatic Ties

The agreement makes the UAE the third Arab country , after Egypt and Jordan , to have full diplomatic ties with Israel .
They announced it in a joint statement , saying deals between Israel and the UAE were expected in the coming weeks in such areas as tourism , direct flights and embassies .
Omar Ghobash , assistant minister for culture and public diplomacy , told The Associated Press : “ I don ’ t think anything was written in stone .
We are opening a door .
We are hoping the Israelis will see the benefits to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not share a border and have never fought a war .
But the UAE , like most of the Arab world , long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967 .
That steadfast support for the Palestinians , however , has begun to weaken in recent years , in large part because of the shared enmity toward Iran and Iranian proxies in the region .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , the day-to-day ruler of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s distrust of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Gaza Strip ’ s ruling Hamas militant group .
Netanyahu has long boasted about fostering closer behind-the-scenes ties with Arab countries than publicly acknowledged .
The UAE has made little secret of those budding ties , allowing Israeli businessmen to enter the country on foreign passports and welcoming Israeli officials and sporting figures .
Next year , Israel will take part in the UAE ’ s delayed Expo 2020 , the world ’ s fair being hosted by Dubai .
A secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For Trump , it gave an important boost to a president trailing in opinion polls and facing heavy criticism for his handling of the coronavirus crisis .
It was also a rare achievement for his Mideast team , led by adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner , whose Mideast plan has made little headway since it was unveiled early this year .
For the UAE , home to skyscraper-studded Dubai and the rolling , oil-rich sand dunes of Abu Dhabi , it further burnishes its international campaign to be seen as a beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being governed by autocratic rulers .
It also removes the stigma of recognizing Israel and could open the door for neighboring countries to follow suit .
All in all , Netanyahu paid a relatively minor price .
Although the hoped-for annexation plan is on hold , a half-century status quo remains in place in which Israel maintains its occupation of the West Bank and continues to expand its scores of settlements while Palestinians live in small autonomous enclaves .
Those settlements are now home to some 500,000 Israelis .
The Palestinians claim all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1967 Mideast war , as the heartland of a future state .
The Trump Mideast plan envisions granting Israel permanent control over 30 % of that territory , while offering the Palestinians limited autonomy in the remainder .
After embracing the plan , Netanyahu backed away from moving forward with annexation last month in the face of fierce international opposition and misgivings by White House officials .
Abbas , the president of the Palestinian Authority , convened a meeting of his top leadership Thursday night , and afterward his spokesman Nabil Abu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ treason.
” He added that the UAE must reverse the decision and urged other Arab countries not to follow suit “ at the expense of Palestinian rights .
”

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced Thursday they are establishing full diplomatic relations in a U.S.-brokered deal that required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians.
The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken traditional Arab support for the Palestinians.
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A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the deal amounts to “treason,” and should be reversed.
The agreement makes the UAE the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full diplomatic ties with Israel. They announced it in a joint statement, saying deals between Israel and the UAE were expected in the coming weeks in such areas as tourism, direct flights and embassies.
Trump called the deal “a truly historic moment.”
“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
In a nationally televised news conference, Netanyahu echoed Trump’s remarks.
“Today we usher in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world,” he said. “There is a good chance we will soon see more Arab countries joining this expanding circle of peace.”
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But Netanyahu said the annexation plan was on “temporary hold,” appearing to contradict statements from Emirati officials who said it was off the table.
Emirati officials described the deal in pragmatic terms. Anwar Gargash, a top Emirati official, said they had dealt a “death blow” to an aggressive Israeli move and hoped to help reshape the region.
“Is it perfect? Nothing is perfect in a very difficult region,” Gargash added. “But I think we used our political chips right.”
Omar Ghobash, assistant minister for culture and public diplomacy, told The Associated Press: “I don’t think anything was written in stone. We are opening a door. We are hoping the Israelis will see the benefits to this step.”
“I would assume that this is political maneuvering within a very complex political society,” he added.
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Israel and the UAE do not share a border and have never fought a war. But the UAE, like most of the Arab world, long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967.
That steadfast support for the Palestinians, however, has begun to weaken in recent years, in large part because of the shared enmity toward Iran and Iranian proxies in the region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the day-to-day ruler of the UAE, also shares Israel’s distrust of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas militant group.
Netanyahu has long boasted about fostering closer behind-the-scenes ties with Arab countries than publicly acknowledged. The UAE has made little secret of those budding ties, allowing Israeli businessmen to enter the country on foreign passports and welcoming Israeli officials and sporting figures. Next year, Israel will take part in the UAE’s delayed Expo 2020, the world’s fair being hosted by Dubai. A secret synagogue also draws practicing Jews in Dubai.
Still, the timing of the deal was unexpected, and perhaps tied to the upcoming U.S. election.
For Trump, it gave an important boost to a president trailing in opinion polls and facing heavy criticism for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. It was also a rare achievement for his Mideast team, led by adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose Mideast plan has made little headway since it was unveiled early this year.
Israel and the UAE are among Trump’s few close international allies, and Thursday’s deal may have been seen as an election gift.
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U.S.-Israeli author Joel Rosenberg, who met with the crown prince in 2018 alongside fellow evangelical Christians, said the announcement could influence religious voters who may “struggle to decide” between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Thursday’s agreement offers “a feel that this is historic” and a change for Trump to “have a series of big moments in the months ahead.”
In a statement, Biden praised Israel for freezing the annexation plan.
“The United Arab Emirates and Israel have pointed a path toward a more peaceful, stable Middle East,” he said, adding that a Biden presidency “will seek to build on this progress.”
Netanyahu chalked up a diplomatic victory at a time when his shaky coalition government has been plagued by infighting and faces the possibility of early elections. He also faces a corruption trial over charges stemming from a series of scandals.
But even his rivals praised the deal.
Netanyahu has seen his popularity plummet as the country grapples with a renewed coronavirus outbreak, mass street protests and skyrocketing unemployment as the result of earlier lockdown measures.
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For the UAE, home to skyscraper-studded Dubai and the rolling, oil-rich sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, it further burnishes its international campaign to be seen as a beacon of tolerance in the Middle East despite being governed by autocratic rulers. It also removes the stigma of recognizing Israel and could open the door for neighboring countries to follow suit.
The Gulf state of Bahrain welcomed the deal.
All in all, Netanyahu paid a relatively minor price. Although the hoped-for annexation plan is on hold, a half-century status quo remains in place in which Israel maintains its occupation of the West Bank and continues to expand its scores of settlements while Palestinians live in small autonomous enclaves. Those settlements are now home to some 500,000 Israelis.
The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank, captured in the 1967 Mideast war, as the heartland of a future state. The Trump Mideast plan envisions granting Israel permanent control over 30% of that territory, while offering the Palestinians limited autonomy in the remainder. After embracing the plan, Netanyahu backed away from moving forward with annexation last month in the face of fierce international opposition and misgivings by White House officials.
The Palestinians have rejected Trump’s Mideast plan out of hand.
Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, convened a meeting of his top leadership Thursday night, and afterward his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh, said the agreement amounted to “treason.” He added that the UAE must reverse the decision and urged other Arab countries not to follow suit “at the expense of Palestinian rights.”
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said the Palestinian ambassador to the UAE was being recalled.
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In Gaza, Hamas called the deal a “stabbing in the back of our people.”
Moving to head off the Palestinian criticism, UAE officials said the deal had prevented the annexation and kept hopes alive for Palestinian statehood.
“The UAE is using its gravitas and promise of a relationship to unscrew a time bomb that is threatening a two-state solution,” Gargash said.
Israeli hard-liners accused Netanyahu of missing an opportunity to annex parts of the biblical land of Israel. Naftali Bennett, a pro-settler lawmaker, welcomed the agreement but said it was “tragic that Netanyahu did not seize the moment.”
Netanyahu insisted there was “no change” to his annexation plans. He said Israel would “wait temporarily” at the request of Trump.
Still, Netanyahu may be hedging his bets ahead of a possible change in the White House. Biden has made clear that he would oppose any annexation.
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Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, said the deal would solidify Netanyahu’s legacy among Israel’s greatest leaders.
“There’s Rabin with Jordan, Begin with Egypt,” he said, referring to the prime ministers who reached Israel’s other peace deals. “Now there’s Benjamin Netanyahu. He’s going to be in the history books.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Chrissy Teigen And John Legend Hint 3rd Baby Is On The Way In Music Video

Looks like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen will soon have enough kids to form a basketball team .
People is reporting that numerous sources have confirmed the celebrity couple are expecting their third child .
No due date was announced .
HuffPost reached out to Teigen ’ s publicist , but no one immediately responded .
However , a tweet promoting the video for “ Wild , ” a new song featuring Legend and Gary Clark Jr. , suggested fans stick around to the end for a “ beautiful surprise.
” That “ surprise ” turned out to be Legend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her belly .
.
@ johnlegend and @ chrissyteigen drive us `` Wild '' in the heartfelt visuals for John 's latest song with @ garyclarkjr !
Be sure to watch it now for a beautiful surprise !
❤ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ▶ https : //t.co/aMxO0E2NYz pic.twitter.com/Y1Z3B0U65D — Vevo ( @ Vevo ) August 13 , 2020 Teigen ’ s only comment so far was this emoji tweet .
Having at least three kids has been on Teigen ’ s mind for a while , according to Us Weekly , who said the model expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their son , Miles , was born in 2018 .
The couple also have a daughter , Luna , who was born in 2016 .
“ I think I do want to have another baby after this and then get hot , ” Teigen said .
“ I just want to go babies , back to back to back , but then I think maybe I want to have my 30s , really live in my 30s and not just be pregnant throughout them.
” You can see the new video below .

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Looks like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen will soon have enough kids to form a basketball team.
People is reporting that numerous sources have confirmed the celebrity couple are expecting their third child. No due date was announced.
HuffPost reached out to Teigen’s publicist, but no one immediately responded.
However, a tweet promoting the video for “Wild,” a new song featuring Legend and Gary Clark Jr., suggested fans stick around to the end for a “beautiful surprise.”
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That “surprise” turned out to be Legend hugging Teigen from behind as she cradled her belly.
.@johnlegend and @chrissyteigen drive us "Wild" in the heartfelt visuals for John's latest song with @garyclarkjr! Be sure to watch it now for a beautiful surprise! ❤

▶ https://t.co/aMxO0E2NYz pic.twitter.com/Y1Z3B0U65D — Vevo (@Vevo) August 13, 2020
Teigen’s only comment so far was this emoji tweet.
🥰 — chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) August 13, 2020
Having at least three kids has been on Teigen’s mind for a while, according to Us Weekly, who said the model expressed a wish for a third kid after their son, Miles, was born in 2018. The couple also have a daughter, Luna, who was born in 2016.
“I think I do want to have another baby after this and then get hot,” Teigen said. “I just want to go babies, back to back to back, but then I think maybe I want to have my 30s, really live in my 30s and not just be pregnant throughout them.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--DOJ Says Yale Discriminates Against Asian American And White Applicants

The findings detailed in a letter to the college ’ s attorneys Thursday mark the latest action by the Trump administration aimed at rooting out discrimination in the college application process , following complaints from students about the application process at some Ivy League colleges .
The Justice Department had previously filed court papers siding with Asian American groups who had levied similar allegations against Harvard University .
The two-year investigation concluded that Yale “ rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race , whom it otherwise would admit , ” the Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 complaint against Yale , Brown and Dartmouth .
Prosecutors found that Yale has been discriminating against applicants to its undergraduate program based on their race and national origin and “ that race is the determinative factor in hundreds of admissions decisions each year.
” The investigation concluded that Asian American and white students have “ only one-tenth to one-fourth of the likelihood of admission as African American applicants with comparable academic credentials , ” the Justice Department said .
“ Unlawfully dividing Americans into racial and ethnic blocs fosters stereotypes , bitterness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ It is past time for American institutions to recognize that all people should be treated with decency and respect and without unlawful regard to the color of their skin.
” The Supreme Court has ruled colleges and universities may consider race in admissions decisions but has said that must be done in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity and should be limited in time .
Schools also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate .
In a statement , Yale said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has cooperated fully with the investigation and has been continually turning over “ a substantial amount of information and data.
” “ Given our commitment to complying with federal law , we are dismayed that the DOJ has made its determination before allowing Yale to provide all the information the Department has requested thus far , ” the university said in a statement .
“ Had the Department fully received and fairly weighed this information , it would have concluded that Yale ’ s practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ multitude of factors and looks at “ the whole person when selecting whom to admit among the many thousands of highly qualified applicants.
” “ We are proud of Yale ’ s admissions practices , and we will not change them on the basis of such a meritless , hasty accusation , ” the statement said .
The Justice Department has demanded that Yale immediately stop and agree not to use race or national origin for upcoming admissions .
The government also says that if Yale proposes that it will continue to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in future admission cycles , the college must first submit a plan to the Justice Department “ demonstrating its proposal is narrowly tailored as required by law , including by identifying a date for the end of race discrimination.
” The Justice Department has also previously raised similar concerns about Harvard University , which prosecutors accused of “ engaging in outright racial balancing , ” siding with Asian American students in a lawsuit who allege the Ivy League school discriminated against them .
A federal judge in 2019 cleared Harvard of discriminating against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen as a major victory for supporters of affirmative action in college admissions across the U.S. That ruling has been appealed and arguments are scheduled for next month .
In the Harvard case , the Justice Department had argued that the university went too far in its use of race , but the judge disagreed .
Though the Supreme Court has ruled that colleges ’ use of race in admissions must be “ narrowly tailored ” and can be only a “ plus factor , ” past rulings still give colleges wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors , including race , as they build their classes .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A Justice Department investigation has found Yale University is illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants, in violation of federal civil rights law, officials said Thursday.
Yale denied the allegation, calling it “meritless” and “hasty.”
The findings detailed in a letter to the college’s attorneys Thursday mark the latest action by the Trump administration aimed at rooting out discrimination in the college application process, following complaints from students about the application process at some Ivy League colleges. The Justice Department had previously filed court papers siding with Asian American groups who had levied similar allegations against Harvard University.
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The two-year investigation concluded that Yale “rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race, whom it otherwise would admit,” the Justice Department said. The investigation stemmed from a 2016 complaint against Yale, Brown and Dartmouth.
“Yale’s race discrimination imposes undue and unlawful penalties on racially-disfavored applicants, including in particular Asian American and White applicants,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, who heads the department’s civil rights division, wrote in a letter to the college’s attorneys.
Prosecutors found that Yale has been discriminating against applicants to its undergraduate program based on their race and national origin and “that race is the determinative factor in hundreds of admissions decisions each year.” The investigation concluded that Asian American and white students have “only one-tenth to one-fourth of the likelihood of admission as African American applicants with comparable academic credentials,” the Justice Department said.
“Unlawfully dividing Americans into racial and ethnic blocs fosters stereotypes, bitterness, and division,” Dreiband said in a statement. “It is past time for American institutions to recognize that all people should be treated with decency and respect and without unlawful regard to the color of their skin.”
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The investigation also found that Yale uses race as a factor in multiple steps of the admissions process and that Yale “racially balances its classes.”
The Supreme Court has ruled colleges and universities may consider race in admissions decisions but has said that must be done in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity and should be limited in time. Schools also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate.
In a statement, Yale said it “categorically denies this allegation,” has cooperated fully with the investigation and has been continually turning over “a substantial amount of information and data.”
“Given our commitment to complying with federal law, we are dismayed that the DOJ has made its determination before allowing Yale to provide all the information the Department has requested thus far,” the university said in a statement. “Had the Department fully received and fairly weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yale’s practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent.”
The university said it considers a multitude of factors and looks at “the whole person when selecting whom to admit among the many thousands of highly qualified applicants.”
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“We are proud of Yale’s admissions practices, and we will not change them on the basis of such a meritless, hasty accusation,” the statement said.
The Justice Department has demanded that Yale immediately stop and agree not to use race or national origin for upcoming admissions. The government also says that if Yale proposes that it will continue to use race or national origin as a factor in future admission cycles, the college must first submit a plan to the Justice Department “demonstrating its proposal is narrowly tailored as required by law, including by identifying a date for the end of race discrimination.”
The Justice Department has also previously raised similar concerns about Harvard University, which prosecutors accused of “engaging in outright racial balancing,” siding with Asian American students in a lawsuit who allege the Ivy League school discriminated against them.
A federal judge in 2019 cleared Harvard of discriminating against Asian American applicants in a ruling that was seen as a major victory for supporters of affirmative action in college admissions across the U.S. That ruling has been appealed and arguments are scheduled for next month.
In the Harvard case, the Justice Department had argued that the university went too far in its use of race, but the judge disagreed. Though the Supreme Court has ruled that colleges’ use of race in admissions must be “narrowly tailored” and can be only a “plus factor,” past rulings still give colleges wide latitude in considering a wide range of factors, including race, as they build their classes.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Fortnite Maker Sues Apple After Getting Kicked Off App Store

( Reuters ) - Apple Inc on Thursday removed popular video game “ Fortnite ” from its App Store for violating the company ’ s in-app payment guidelines , prompting developer Epic Games to file a lawsuit against the iPhone maker seeking to end its in-app payment practices .
The move came after Epic Games enabled a direct payment feature on the Fortnite app , which Apple said violated its in-app payment guidelines .
Epic filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking no money from Apple but instead an injunction that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the App Store , which is the only way to distribute native software onto most iPhones .
“ Apple has become what it once railed against : the behemoth seeking to control markets , block competition , and stifle innovation .
Apple is bigger , more powerful , more entrenched , and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear , ” Epic said in its lawsuit .
Apple takes a cut of between 15 % and 30 % for most app subscriptions and payments made inside apps , though there are some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit card on file for iPhone customers if they also offer an in-app payment that would benefit Apple .
Analysts believe games are the biggest contributor to spending inside the App Store , which is in turn the largest component of Apple ’ s $ 46.3 billion-per-year services segment .
In a statement , Apple said Epic had been removed because it had rolled out the payment feature with the “ express intent of violating the App Store guidelines ” after having had apps in the store for a decade .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users , ” Apple said in a statement .
Epic ’ s free-to-play battle-royal videogame “ Fortnite ” has reached massive popularity among young gamers since its launch in 2017 , and competes with Tencent Holdings ’ “ PlayerUnknown ’ s Battlegrounds ” .
The title ’ s removal from the App Store means that new players will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players can not receive updates , but the game will continue to work on devices where it is already installed .
Epic Games does not disclose how many iOS users “ Fortnite ” has .
Mobile app data analysis firm SensorTower estimated that the game has been downloaded 2.4 million times in the last 30 days and generated $ 43.4 million on the App Store .
Since its release , SensorTower estimates , the game has reached 133.2 million installs and seen $ 1.2 billion in spending worldwide on Apple ’ s App @ @ @

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(Reuters) - Apple Inc on Thursday removed popular video game “Fortnite” from its App Store for violating the company’s in-app payment guidelines, prompting developer Epic Games to file a lawsuit against the iPhone maker seeking to end its in-app payment practices.
The move came after Epic Games enabled a direct payment feature on the Fortnite app, which Apple said violated its in-app payment guidelines. Epic filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking no money from Apple but instead an injunction that would end many of Apple’s practices around the App Store, which is the only way to distribute native software onto most iPhones.
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“Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear,” Epic said in its lawsuit.
Apple takes a cut of between 15% and 30% for most app subscriptions and payments made inside apps, though there are some exceptions for companies that already have a credit card on file for iPhone customers if they also offer an in-app payment that would benefit Apple. Analysts believe games are the biggest contributor to spending inside the App Store, which is in turn the largest component of Apple’s $46.3 billion-per-year services segment.
In a statement, Apple said Epic had been removed because it had rolled out the payment feature with the “express intent of violating the App Store guidelines” after having had apps in the store for a decade.
“The fact that their (Epic) business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users,” Apple said in a statement.
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Epic’s free-to-play battle-royal videogame “Fortnite” has reached massive popularity among young gamers since its launch in 2017, and competes with Tencent Holdings’ “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds”. The title’s removal from the App Store means that new players will not be able to download it and that exiting players cannot receive updates, but the game will continue to work on devices where it is already installed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--DMV Sends Tennessee Woman ID With Photo Of Empty Chair, Not Her Face

CENTERVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) — Driver ’ s license photos aren ’ t always the best , but when a Tennessee woman received her new ID the picture was perfect — for a furniture store .
Jade Dodd renewed her license online and received it last week , but to her surprise , the photo wasn ’ t a picture of her .
It only showed an empty chair .
“ The lady at the DMV did not really believe me when I was like ‘ hey , I need my license fixed , ’ ” Dodd said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in the system and goes , ‘ oh , I need my manager for this.
’ ” The chair ended up being the focal point of the license because it was the last photo taken and saved to Dodd ’ s file , the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security told WKRN-TV .
The photo was taken accidentally , the department said .
Dodd said she wasn ’ t upset by the mistake .
Instead , she said it lightened the mood amidst the coronavirus pandemic and provided her and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My boss thinks it ’ s funnier than anyone , ” Dodd added .
“ I was at work Friday and he pointed to a chair outside of his office door and was like , ‘ I thought this was you , I waved at it this morning.
’ ” She posted the photo to Facebook on Aug. 6 and as of Wednesday , it had been shared more than 19,000 times and turned into several memes .

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CENTERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Driver’s license photos aren’t always the best, but when a Tennessee woman received her new ID the picture was perfect — for a furniture store.
Jade Dodd renewed her license online and received it last week, but to her surprise, the photo wasn’t a picture of her. It only showed an empty chair.
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“The lady at the DMV did not really believe me when I was like ‘hey, I need my license fixed,’” Dodd said. “Then, she looked it up in the system and goes, ‘oh, I need my manager for this.’”
The chair ended up being the focal point of the license because it was the last photo taken and saved to Dodd’s file, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security told WKRN-TV. The photo was taken accidentally, the department said.
Dodd said she wasn’t upset by the mistake. Instead, she said it lightened the mood amidst the coronavirus pandemic and provided her and her coworkers with a few laughs.
“My boss thinks it’s funnier than anyone,” Dodd added. “I was at work Friday and he pointed to a chair outside of his office door and was like, ‘I thought this was you, I waved at it this morning.’”
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She posted the photo to Facebook on Aug. 6 and as of Wednesday, it had been shared more than 19,000 times and turned into several memes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Runaway Emu Goes On The Lam In New Jersey

PATERSON , N.J. ( AP ) — A wayward emu was taken to an animal shelter after it was captured @ @ @ @ @ of a northern New Jersey city .
A woman spotted the long-legged bird on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ near Paterson ’ s border with Totowa .
Animal control officers managed to snare the @ @ @ @ @ 4 feet ( 1.2 meters ) tall .
The emu was placed in a large @ @ @ @ @ to a shelter , where officials arranged for the emu to be examined by a @ @ @ @ @ sure whether the bird had escaped from a farm or was just running out in @ @ @ @ @ Control Officer John DeCando told NJ.com the emu appeared healthy .
He could not determine @ @ @ @ @ “ but I can tell you it needs a bath , ” DeCando said .
@ @ @ @ @ .
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Join HuffPost Today !

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PATERSON, N.J. (AP) — A wayward emu was taken to an animal shelter after it was captured while running through the streets of a northern New Jersey city.
A woman spotted the long-legged bird on Tuesday morning in a residential neighborhood near Paterson’s border with Totowa.
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Animal control officers managed to snare the emu, which is about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall.
The emu was placed in a large animal cart and was taken to a shelter, where officials arranged for the emu to be examined by a veterinarian.
Officials were not sure whether the bird had escaped from a farm or was just running out in the wild.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-13--Listen — If New York Is 'Over' For You, Please Leave

There ’ s a scene in one of the final episodes of “ Sex and the City ’ s ” six season run where Carrie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Petrovsky ( that relationship is a plot line critique we ’ ll save for another day ) are at a party also attended by Carrie ’ s former friend and washed-up socialite Lexi Featherston , played by Kristen Johnston .
She then plummets out the window to her death , paving the way for that big post-funeral fight between Carrie and Miranda in which Carrie argues , and I paraphrase , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write about her life or go to Paris and live her damn life !
But I digress .
That scene has been permeating my now-typical pandemic-centric anxieties recently thanks to a collection of similarly themed tweets I keep seeing about New York City and its being “ over ” for a completely different reason .
“ New Yorkers , ” who fled the city in March when COVID-19 lockdowns went into place , have taken to sounding off on the state they ’ ve found it in upon their return .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never return spoke out in a June New York Times article about leaving the city amid protests against police brutality .
So no , New York isn ’ t the New York many people with the means to do so abandoned six months ago .
But you don ’ t get to flee the city , come back to the city when it ’ s convenient or necessary , and make a declaration about how disappointed you are with the city .
You come back to the city and be thankful it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you in ― at all .
I spent 10 days in a rental house in July .
I spend a few hours per week window-shopping for Airbnb homes in the tristate area I ’ d like to spend a weekend in .
I am not immune to urges to flee , and I am not even remotely close to being one of the many people most impacted by the pandemic .
And , when you consider that our government leadership lacks a certain faith-instilling commitment to ensuring a brighter future for the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out pretty clearly ) , the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness are staggering .
But every day for the last six months I have gotten to wake up in New York City .
I ’ ve gotten to support local businesses that hustled their asses off to pivot to the realities of the situation we are all now facing .
I bought groceries from local restaurants and chatted with my neighbors ( from a distance ) .
I went to the park ; I drank to-go cocktails ; I biked .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting my community .
No matter what the pandemic has done , New York City ’ s heart is here and it ’ s beating bigger than ever before .
That ’ s not something we should take for granted .
I ’ ve been thinking a lot about about chef Gabrielle Hamilton ’ s heartbreaking New York Times piece written during the “ Tiger King ” era of lockdown ( I think ) , when this nightmare was just beginning and none of us knew we ’ d still be grappling with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essay , which you should read if you have not , Hamilton wonders if there is still a place for her iconic New York City restaurant Prune anymore ― and maybe , tragically , there won ’ t be .
There are surely some things New York will never be again .
More people will lose their jobs and their homes .
More people will need help from the government , their families , their friends , their neighbors .
It ’ s devastating and scary and it ’ s not just happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s happening all over the country , all over the world .
I don ’ t know what anyone else who is tweeting about New York being “ over ” has had to contend with , overcome or grieve during the first half of this year , but I do know what a massive privilege it is to get to flee in the first place ― and , still , it ’ s a privilege I won ’ t judge anyone for .
You do you ― and if that means leaving our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it ) , cool .
What I will judge people for is having the gall to return back to our ― not their ― city and disrespect not only it , but the many incredible people who live here and refuse to ever give up on it .
And I couldn ’ t help but wonder ( see what I did there ? )
, shouldn ’ t we be spending less time sending snide tweets and more time concentrating on how we can support this city and be our best to @ @ @ @ @ @

There’s a scene in one of the final episodes of “Sex and the City’s” six season run where Carrie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Petrovsky (that relationship is a plot line critique we’ll save for another day) are at a party also attended by Carrie’s former friend and washed-up socialite Lexi Featherston, played by Kristen Johnston.
After doing cocaine in the bathroom and being asked to not smoke inside the apartment ― Featherston declares that New York is no longer fun. It’s “Over. O-V-E-R. Over.”
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She then plummets out the window to her death, paving the way for that big post-funeral fight between Carrie and Miranda in which Carrie argues, and I paraphrase, that she could stay in New York and write about her life or go to Paris and live her damn life! But I digress.
That scene has been permeating my now-typical pandemic-centric anxieties recently thanks to a collection of similarly themed tweets I keep seeing about New York City and its being “over” for a completely different reason. “New Yorkers,” who fled the city in March when COVID-19 lockdowns went into place, have taken to sounding off on the state they’ve found it in upon their return. Some of the thousands who say they’ll never return spoke out in a June New York Times article about leaving the city amid protests against police brutality.
So no, New York isn’t the New York many people with the means to do so abandoned six months ago. But you don’t get to flee the city, come back to the city when it’s convenient or necessary, and make a declaration about how disappointed you are with the city. You come back to the city and be thankful it’s still here ― and it lets you in ― at all.
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I spent 10 days in a rental house in July. I spend a few hours per week window-shopping for Airbnb homes in the tristate area I’d like to spend a weekend in. I am not immune to urges to flee, and I am not even remotely close to being one of the many people most impacted by the pandemic. And, when you consider that our government leadership lacks a certain faith-instilling commitment to ensuring a brighter future for the city (this New York Times piece spells it out pretty clearly), the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness are staggering.
But every day for the last six months I have gotten to wake up in New York City. I’ve gotten to support local businesses that hustled their asses off to pivot to the realities of the situation we are all now facing. I bought groceries from local restaurants and chatted with my neighbors (from a distance). I went to the park; I drank to-go cocktails; I biked. I walked. I spent time with and supporting my community. No matter what the pandemic has done, New York City’s heart is here and it’s beating bigger than ever before. That’s not something we should take for granted.
I’ve been thinking a lot about about chef Gabrielle Hamilton’s heartbreaking New York Times piece written during the “Tiger King” era of lockdown (I think), when this nightmare was just beginning and none of us knew we’d still be grappling with it five months later. In the essay, which you should read if you have not, Hamilton wonders if there is still a place for her iconic New York City restaurant Prune anymore ― and maybe, tragically, there won’t be. There are surely some things New York will never be again. More people will lose their jobs and their homes. More people will need help from the government, their families, their friends, their neighbors.
It’s devastating and scary and it’s not just happening in New York City, it’s happening all over the country, all over the world. I don’t know what anyone else who is tweeting about New York being “over” has had to contend with, overcome or grieve during the first half of this year, but I do know what a massive privilege it is to get to flee in the first place ― and, still, it’s a privilege I won’t judge anyone for. You do you ― and if that means leaving our city (and having the means to do it), cool.
What I will judge people for is having the gall to return back to our ― not their ― city and disrespect not only it, but the many incredible people who live here and refuse to ever give up on it. And I couldn’t help but wonder (see what I did there?), shouldn’t we be spending less time sending snide tweets and more time concentrating on how we can support this city and be our best to it ― and each other?
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