thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Hurricane Isaias Barrels Toward Bahamas, Florida As Storm Gathers Strength

Officials across the Caribbean and the southern U.S. have urged citizens to brace for Hurricane Isaias after the storm gained strength and barreled over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic .
The National Hurricane Center said early Friday that Isaias had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane , with sustained winds of about 80 miles per hour .
The Bahamian government issued a hurricane warning for large swaths of the country , and Hubert Minnis , the country ’ s prime minister , urged citizens to “ prepare for the worse.
” “ We know from past and recent experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Minnis said , according to the Miami Herald .
“ They can intensify rapidly , as we saw with Hurricane Dorian .
So I ask all Bahamians and residents to take this storm seriously and to make preparations.
” Hurricane Dorian caused more than $ 3.4 billion in damage and was linked to at least 70 deaths after it battered the nation with 185-mile-an-hour winds last year .
# Isaias is now a hurricane based on data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters .
The intensity forecast shows a stronger storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unchanged .
Go to https : //t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for details .
pic.twitter.com/tXraiehHMX — National Hurricane Center ( @ NHC_Atlantic ) July 31 , 2020 Officials said Isaias could threaten parts of Florida this weekend and early next week , although they said the storm could still change paths .
“ There is a risk of impacts from winds , heavy rainfall , and storm surge late this weekend from the northeastern Florida coast and spreading northward along the remainder of the U.S. east coast through early next week , ” the National Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The details of the track and intensity forecast remain uncertain , and it is too soon to determine the magnitude and location of these potential impacts.
” Health officials in Florida were already preparing to deal with the fallout from a potentially destructive storm combined with the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic .
The director of the state ’ s Division of Emergency Management said he had directed masks , hand sanitizer and other protective equipment to some counties should there be a need to open emergency shelters , the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event it is necessary , counties will open shelters and we are helping prepare them to do so , ” the director , Jared Moskowitz , told the newspaper .
Isaias has already caused damage across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic , knocking out power in some areas and causing small landslides , according to The Associated Press .
At least 35 people had to be rescued by the National Guard in Puerto Rico due to flash flooding .

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Officials across the Caribbean and the southern U.S. have urged citizens to brace for Hurricane Isaias after the storm gained strength and barreled over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
The National Hurricane Center said early Friday that Isaias had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds of about 80 miles per hour. The Bahamian government issued a hurricane warning for large swaths of the country, and Hubert Minnis, the country’s prime minister, urged citizens to “prepare for the worse.”
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“We know from past and recent experience that storms could change course very quickly,” Minnis said, according to the Miami Herald. “They can intensify rapidly, as we saw with Hurricane Dorian. So I ask all Bahamians and residents to take this storm seriously and to make preparations.”
Hurricane Dorian caused more than $3.4 billion in damage and was linked to at least 70 deaths after it battered the nation with 185-mile-an-hour winds last year.
#Isaias is now a hurricane based on data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters. The intensity forecast shows a stronger storm than before, but the track forecast is unchanged. Go to https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for details. pic.twitter.com/tXraiehHMX — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 31, 2020
Officials said Isaias could threaten parts of Florida this weekend and early next week, although they said the storm could still change paths.
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“There is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge late this weekend from the northeastern Florida coast and spreading northward along the remainder of the U.S. east coast through early next week,” the National Hurricane Center said in a news release. “The details of the track and intensity forecast remain uncertain, and it is too soon to determine the magnitude and location of these potential impacts.”
Health officials in Florida were already preparing to deal with the fallout from a potentially destructive storm combined with the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The director of the state’s Division of Emergency Management said he had directed masks, hand sanitizer and other protective equipment to some counties should there be a need to open emergency shelters, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
“In the event it is necessary, counties will open shelters and we are helping prepare them to do so,” the director, Jared Moskowitz, told the newspaper.
Isaias has already caused damage across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, knocking out power in some areas and causing small landslides, according to The Associated Press.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Unsealed Documents Detail Damning Accusations Against Ghislaine Maxwell

Hundreds of pages of court documents involving British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell , a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein ’ s who has been accused of enabling the late financier ’ s sexual abuse of underage girls , were unsealed on Thursday night following a months-long court battle over the documents .
Maxwell ’ s lawyers filed multiple challenges — most recently on Thursday — in a bid to block the release of the documents , which they described as “ extremely personal , confidential and subject to considerable abuse by the media.
” But U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documents earlier this month , roundly rejected these requests .
On Thursday afternoon , Preska admonished Maxwell for the “ eleventh-hour request for reconsideration.
” “ The Court is troubled ― but not surprised ― that Ms. Maxwell has yet again sought to muddy the waters , ” Preska wrote .
The documents come from a now-settled lawsuit filed in 2015 against Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre .
Giuffre has accused Maxwell of acting as Epstein ’ s madame and helping him traffick her to influential men around the world , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former New Mexico Gov .
Bill Richardson and attorney Alan Dershowitz .
Giuffre claims Maxwell recruited her when she was just 15 .
As Thursday ’ s document release shows , Giuffre has also accused Maxwell herself of engaging in sexual relations with underage girls .
Last August , another cache of court documents from the Giuffre v. Maxwell suit was made public .
Hours later , Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell , where he ’ d been awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .
Maxwell was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several federal crimes , including sex trafficking and the enticement of minors .
She ’ s since pleaded not guilty and is being held in a Brooklyn jail pending trial .
The newly released documents appear to contain more damning details about the allegations against Maxwell and Epstein — and their famous friends .
More additional documents from the 2015 suit , including a deposition related to Maxwell ’ s sex life , are expected to be made public on Aug. 3 .
Maxwell and her legal team have also sought to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doe accusers are in another unsealed file .
`` Epstein then became enamored with Jane Doe # 3 , and with the assistance of Maxwell converted her into what is commonly referred to as a 'sex slave . '
'' # MaxwellFiles Doc : https : //t.co/gaJQAPH8Xv pic.twitter.com/wKU3tig5Xe — Adam Klasfeld ( @ KlasfeldReports ) July 31 , 2020 Q : `` It is your contention that Ghislaine Maxwell had sex with underage girls virtually every day when I was around her , correct ? ''
Virginia Giuffre : `` Yes . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Well , there 's a lot of girls that were involved .
We were n't on a first name basis with each other . ''
— Sara B .
( @ sara_bee ) July 31 , 2020

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Hundreds of pages of court documents involving British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein’s who has been accused of enabling the late financier’s sexual abuse of underage girls, were unsealed on Thursday night following a months-long court battle over the documents.
Maxwell’s lawyers filed multiple challenges — most recently on Thursday — in a bid to block the release of the documents, which they described as “extremely personal, confidential and subject to considerable abuse by the media.”
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But U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, who’d ordered the unsealing of the documents earlier this month, roundly rejected these requests. On Thursday afternoon, Preska admonished Maxwell for the “eleventh-hour request for reconsideration.”
“The Court is troubled ― but not surprised ― that Ms. Maxwell has yet again sought to muddy the waters,” Preska wrote.
The documents come from a now-settled lawsuit filed in 2015 against Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Giuffre has accused Maxwell of acting as Epstein’s madame and helping him traffick her to influential men around the world, including allegedly Britain’s Prince Andrew, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and attorney Alan Dershowitz. Giuffre claims Maxwell recruited her when she was just 15.
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As Thursday’s document release shows, Giuffre has also accused Maxwell herself of engaging in sexual relations with underage girls.
Virginia Roberts says she witnessed Ghislaine Maxwell engaging in sexual relations with girls as young as 15 pic.twitter.com/OFg7OpYu1n — Chris Spargo (@chrisonchris) July 31, 2020
Last August, another cache of court documents from the Giuffre v. Maxwell suit was made public. Hours later, Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell, where he’d been awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell was arrested earlier this month and charged with several federal crimes, including sex trafficking and the enticement of minors. She’s since pleaded not guilty and is being held in a Brooklyn jail pending trial.
The newly released documents appear to contain more damning details about the allegations against Maxwell and Epstein — and their famous friends.
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More additional documents from the 2015 suit, including a deposition related to Maxwell’s sex life, are expected to be made public on Aug. 3. Maxwell and her legal team have also sought to block their release.
Jeffrey Epstein sexually assaulted more than 100 underage girls per Virginia Roberts pic.twitter.com/P0JYyqJmw7 — Chris Spargo (@chrisonchris) July 31, 2020
Testimony by two Jane Doe accusers are in another unsealed file.
"Epstein then became enamored with Jane Doe #3, and with the assistance of Maxwell converted her into what is commonly referred to as a 'sex slave.'" #MaxwellFiles
Doc: https://t.co/gaJQAPH8Xv pic.twitter.com/wKU3tig5Xe — Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) July 31, 2020
Q: "It is your contention that Ghislaine Maxwell had sex with underage girls virtually every day when I was around her, correct?"
Virginia Giuffre: "Yes."
Q: [Asked who]
VG: "Well, there's a lot of girls that were involved. We weren't on a first name basis with each other." — Sara B. (@sara_bee) July 31, 2020
Virginia Roberts says she was trafficked to Glen Dubinn, Stephen Kaufmann, Alan Dershowitz and Prince Andrew at the direction of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pic.twitter.com/sMdeZjIUBz — Chris Spargo (@chrisonchris) July 31, 2020
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Men who Ghislaine Maxwell directed Virginia Giuffre to engage in activities with, according to Giuffre's deposition:
- Alan Dershowitz
- Glenn Dubin
- Stephen Kaufmann
- Prince Andrew
- Jean Luc Brunel
- Bill Richardson
- Marvin Minsky
Other names, many more names, redacted. pic.twitter.com/bPLztoIkEP — Epstein Files Unsealed by Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 31, 2020
Maybe this is why Alan Dershowitz keeps insisting that he always visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island with his wife… pic.twitter.com/o8azhwS0Po — Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) July 31, 2020
Giuffre says she wasn't introduced to people under their formal identities but provides some clues to the ID of the 40-something "foreign president" who raped her pic.twitter.com/aSWOUP0DvL — Sara B. (@sara_bee) July 31, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--260 Kids, Staffers Tested Positive For COVID-19 In Outbreak At Georgia Summer Camp

In a startling finding with disturbing implications for schools , 260 children and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak that spread in just days at a summer camp in northern Georgia , according to a study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Of the 597 residents at the YMCA Camp High Harbor in Rabun County — identified in the report as “ Camp A ” — 344 were tested for the virus , and 260 tested positive .
That ’ s a 77 % infection rate just for those tested .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests ( more than 50 % of those tested ) were the youngest children , 6 to 10 years old — and 75 % of all children known to have contracted COVID-19 experienced symptoms , the study found .
“ This investigation adds to the body of evidence demonstrating that children of all ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection , and , contrary to early reports , might play an important role in transmission , ” the study warned .
If you have rampant and rapid community spread , then there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges .
It is not going to work .
The virus at the camp apparently began with a teenage counselor who left after falling ill five days after staff orientation and two days after children arrived .
The counselor tested positive for COVID-19 the following day .
The YMCA immediately began sending children home and closed the camp three days later .
Georgia ’ s Department of Health launched an investigation and began tests .
The CDC report noted “ high attack rates ” even though some — but not all — health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff members wore masks , for example , but campers were not required to do so .
Guidelines also called for increased ventilation of buildings , which was not provided , according to the report .
“ Relatively large cohorts sleeping in the same cabin and engaging in regular singing and cheering likely contributed to transmission , ” the CDC said .
“ Use of cloth masks , which has been shown to reduce the risk for infection , was not universal.
” But the agency also raised the specter of risk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of following all health guidelines .
“ Correct and consistent use of cloth masks , rigorous cleaning and sanitizing , social distancing , and frequent hand washing strategies , which are recommended in CDC ’ s recently released guidance to reopen America ’ s schools , are critical to prevent transmission of the virus in settings involving children , ” the CDC stated .
“ If you have a low prevalence in your community , you can start to do things .
If you have rampant and rapid community spread , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no opening colleges .
It is not going to work.
” “ Attending Camp High Harbour is a tradition numerous generations of Y families look forward to every summer , ” said a statement from Parrish Underwood , chief advancement officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta .
“ Many ... express [ ed ] their desire for us to open our residential camps in an effort to create normalcy in their children ’ s lives due to the detrimental impact of COVID-19 .
This weighed heavily in our decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regret.
” Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) signed an executive order in May allowing overnight summer camps in the state , provided that all participating had a negative COVID-19 test within 12 days of attending .
Kemp is opposed to a mask mandate and is suing Atlanta ’ s mayor for instituting a mask requirement in public areas .

In a startling finding with disturbing implications for schools, 260 children and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak that spread in just days at a summer camp in northern Georgia, according to a study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It’s one of the largest known COVID-19 super-spreading events in the state.
All counselors and campers “passed all mandatory screenings” and were required to have a negative COVID-19 test before attending the camp in late June, the study noted.
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Of the 597 residents at the YMCA Camp High Harbor in Rabun County — identified in the report as “Camp A” — 344 were tested for the virus, and 260 tested positive. That’s a 77% infection rate just for those tested.
The group with the highest number of positive tests (more than 50% of those tested) were the youngest children, 6 to 10 years old — and 75% of all children known to have contracted COVID-19 experienced symptoms, the study found.
The findings hold profound implications for the pending reopening of schools in the state, where in-person instruction is planned.
“This investigation adds to the body of evidence demonstrating that children of all ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and, contrary to early reports, might play an important role in transmission,” the study warned.
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“If you have rampant and rapid community spread, then there is no opening school, there is no opening colleges. It is not going to work.” - Brian Castrucci, CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation
The virus at the camp apparently began with a teenage counselor who left after falling ill five days after staff orientation and two days after children arrived. The counselor tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. The YMCA immediately began sending children home and closed the camp three days later. Georgia’s Department of Health launched an investigation and began tests.
The CDC report noted “high attack rates” even though some — but not all — health guidelines were followed at the camp. Staff members wore masks, for example, but campers were not required to do so. Guidelines also called for increased ventilation of buildings, which was not provided, according to the report.
“Relatively large cohorts sleeping in the same cabin and engaging in regular singing and cheering likely contributed to transmission,” the CDC said. “Use of cloth masks, which has been shown to reduce the risk for infection, was not universal.”
Multiday camp settings “post a unique challenge” in containing the spread of COVID-19 given the amount of time campers and staff members spend in “close proximity,” the CDC noted in a statement.
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But the agency also raised the specter of risk in pending school openings, as it emphasized the importance of following all health guidelines.
“Correct and consistent use of cloth masks, rigorous cleaning and sanitizing, social distancing, and frequent hand washing strategies, which are recommended in CDC’s recently released guidance to reopen America’s schools, are critical to prevent transmission of the virus in settings involving children,” the CDC stated.
Former epidemiologist Brian Castrucci, CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit that assists public health agencies, said the report represents a serious warning for school districts
“This should show you how actively kids can transmit it,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“If you have a low prevalence in your community, you can start to do things. If you have rampant and rapid community spread, then there is no opening school, there is no opening colleges. It is not going to work.”
A YMCA executive said in a statement that the organization now regrets holding the camp.
“Attending Camp High Harbour is a tradition numerous generations of Y families look forward to every summer,” said a statement from Parrish Underwood, chief advancement officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. “Many ... express[ed] their desire for us to open our residential camps in an effort to create normalcy in their children’s lives due to the detrimental impact of COVID-19. This weighed heavily in our decision to open, a decision in retrospect we regret.”
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an executive order in May allowing overnight summer camps in the state, provided that all participating had a negative COVID-19 test within 12 days of attending. Kemp is opposed to a mask mandate and is suing Atlanta’s mayor for instituting a mask requirement in public areas.
As of Friday, 186,352 people in Georgia had tested positive for COVID-19, and 3,752 have died of the virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Murders Of Transgender People In U.S. Could Hit Record High In 2020

LONDON , July 30 ( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) - Violent deaths of transgender people in the United States are on track to reach a record high this year after two Black trans women were killed in the last week , with advocates blaming a rise in anti-trans rhetoric .
Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) , the largest LGBT+ advocacy group in the United States , has recorded 25 killings this year , which means violent deaths in 2020 are likely exceed the previous record of 29 in 2017 .
Queasha D Hardy was fatally shot on Monday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H Ova , also known as Tiffany Harris , died in New York City on Sunday , HRC said , adding the true figures were probably higher as trans deaths were often misreported .
Violence against Black trans women , who face discrimination for both their race and gender identity , became the focus of LGBT+ Pride marches in the United States and Britain last month , under the banner Black Trans Lives Matter .
There are no official figures to track murders of transpeople , who make up about 0.6 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams Institute at ULCA School of Law .
Trans Americans experience higher rates of unemployment , poverty and homelessness than others in the LGBT+ community , which puts them at risk , activists say , while President DonaldTrump has sought to roll back their legal rights .
“ Public figures ... who put out violence-diminishing , devaluing rhetoric about trans people , particularly trans women , that just stokes the confusion , the uncertainty around gender in our society , ” said Raquel Willis , an advocate and writer .
Advocates said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as in TV shows “ Pose ” and “ Orange Is The New Black , ” may also mean more murders are recorded , while noting many still go unnoticed as only the victim ’ s birth name and sex are reported .
“ And if I were murdered today ... my family is quite supportive in some ways , but I ’ m not even sure if my mother would identify to me to a reporter as her daughter or her son .
”

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LONDON, July 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Violent deaths of transgender people in the United States are on track to reach a record high this year after two Black trans women were killed in the last week, with advocates blaming a rise in anti-trans rhetoric.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT+ advocacy group in the United States, has recorded 25 killings this year, which means violent deaths in 2020 are likely exceed the previous record of 29 in 2017.
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“As a Black trans woman, I feel absolutely horrified, I feel scared, I feel almost targeted - and I use that word specifically,” said Tori Cooper, a director with HRC’s transgender justice program.
Queasha D Hardy was fatally shot on Monday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while Dior H Ova, also known as Tiffany Harris, died in New York City on Sunday, HRC said, adding the true figures were probably higher as trans deaths were often misreported.
Violence against Black trans women, who face discrimination for both their race and gender identity, became the focus of LGBT+ Pride marches in the United States and Britain last month, under the banner Black Trans Lives Matter.
There are no official figures to track murders of transpeople, who make up about 0.6% of the U.S. population, according to the Williams Institute at ULCA School of Law.
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Trans Americans experience higher rates of unemployment, poverty and homelessness than others in the LGBT+ community, which puts them at risk, activists say, while President DonaldTrump has sought to roll back their legal rights.
“Public figures ... who put out violence-diminishing, devaluing rhetoric about trans people, particularly trans women, that just stokes the confusion, the uncertainty around gender in our society,” said Raquel Willis, an advocate and writer.
“And that in turns stokes the violence that happens to us.”
Advocates said the rising visibility of Black trans people, such as in TV shows “Pose” and “Orange Is The New Black,” may also mean more murders are recorded, while noting many still go unnoticed as only the victim’s birth name and sex are reported.
“I started my medical transition 27 years ago, and I’m 50 years old,” said Cooper.
“And if I were murdered today ... my family is quite supportive in some ways, but I’m not even sure if my mother would identify to me to a reporter as her daughter or her son.”
(Reporting by Rachel Savage @rachelmsavage; Editing by Katy Migiro and Hugo Greenhalgh. Please credit the Thomson ReutersFoundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Lena Dunham Says Her Body 'Revolted' During Month-Long Bout With COVID-19

The 34-year-old creator and star of “ Girls ” gave a detailed account Friday on Instagram of what she said she experienced after testing positive for the coronavirus in mid-March , just as much of the nation was shutting down because of the pandemic .
“ It started with achy joints , ” Dunham writes , “ then the pain was joined by a crushing fatigue .
Then a fever of 102 .
Suddenly my body simply revolted.
” She went into isolation and felt severe symptoms for three weeks , she said .
Dunham said she was treated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not have to be hospitalized , and said she knows she is lucky to have exceptional health care and flexible work .
She tested negative after a month and was able to see people in her inner circle again , but said she is having lingering problems .
Dunham is a native New Yorker , but did not say where she was when she contracted the disease and went into isolation .
She was the lead writer and star of the HBO series “ Girls ” from 2012 to 2017 and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young adult novel , “ Catherine , Called Birdy.
” Dunham said she was reluctant to tell her story , but felt compelled to after seeing the carelessness with which so many are treating social distancing and mask-wearing .
“ When you take the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your neighbors , ” she writes , “ you save them a world of pain.
” For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lena Dunham says her body “revolted” in a debilitating month-long struggle with COVID-19.
The 34-year-old creator and star of “Girls” gave a detailed account Friday on Instagram of what she said she experienced after testing positive for the coronavirus in mid-March, just as much of the nation was shutting down because of the pandemic.
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“It started with achy joints,” Dunham writes, “then the pain was joined by a crushing fatigue. Then a fever of 102. Suddenly my body simply revolted.”
She went into isolation and felt severe symptoms for three weeks, she said.
Dunham said she was treated by a doctor in her home and she did not have to be hospitalized, and said she knows she is lucky to have exceptional health care and flexible work.
She tested negative after a month and was able to see people in her inner circle again, but said she is having lingering problems.
Dunham is a native New Yorker, but did not say where she was when she contracted the disease and went into isolation. She was the lead writer and star of the HBO series “Girls” from 2012 to 2017 and is working on a film adaptation of the young adult novel, “Catherine, Called Birdy.”
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Dunham said she was reluctant to tell her story, but felt compelled to after seeing the carelessness with which so many are treating social distancing and mask-wearing.
“When you take the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your neighbors,” she writes, “you save them a world of pain.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Fauci ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Coronavirus Vaccine

During a hearing on Capitol Hill , Dr. Anthony Fauci said he was “ cautiously optimistic ” about a coronavirus @ @

Fauci ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ About Coronavirus Vaccine
During a hearing on Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he was “cautiously optimistic” about a coronavirus vaccine.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Bank Customer Washes Money Out Of Virus Fears -- And Loses Big

ASSOCIATED PRESS This undated photo provided by the Bank of Korea on Friday , July 31 , 2020 , shows damaged banknotes by being heated up in a microwave in South Korea .
According to the bank , a person , surnamed Kim , put bills in a microwave over coronavirus concerns earlier this year .
The bank exchanged Kim 's damaged money with the new currency worth 5.2 million won ( $ 4,370 ) .
SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — Money laundering is not a good idea , as a South Korean found out when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine to remove possible traces of the coronavirus .
The person living in Ansan city , near Seoul , placed an unspecified amount of 50,000-won ( $ 42 ) bills in a washing machine earlier this year .
Some of the money was seriously damaged , and the person reached out to the Bank of Korea to find whether it could be exchanged for new bills .
Under bank rules on the exchange of damaged , mutilated and contaminated banknotes , the person was provided with the new currency totaling about 23 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank of Korea said in a statement .
Bank official Seo Jee Woun said the number of 50,000-won bills the bank exchanged at half value was 507 .
She said the bank doesn ’ t count the number of bills that it can not exchange because damage is too big .
She said bank officials didn ’ t know exactly how much money the person tried to wash. How much the central bank should exchange in a situation like this depends on how seriously banknotes are damaged .
The bank can provide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is minimal , but at half value or not at all if damage is significant .
The amount in question was condolence money given by relatives , friends and others during a family funeral , according to the bank .
The person has been only identified by family name Eom .
Bank officials gave no further personal information citing privacy law .
According to the bank , another person , surnamed Kim , put bills in a microwave over similar coronavirus concerns earlier this year .
The bank exchanged Kim ’ s damaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million won ( $ 4,370 ) .
Seo said Kim ’ s losses were not big .
South Korea ’ s central bank has advised the public to avoid putting banknotes in a microwave saying its disinfection effect is unclear .
Anti-virus guidelines in South Korea don ’ t include sterilizing money in a washing machine either .

This undated photo provided by the Bank of Korea on Friday, July 31, 2020, shows damaged banknotes by being heated up in a microwave in South Korea. According to the bank, a person, surnamed Kim, put bills in a microwave over coronavirus concerns earlier this year. The bank exchanged Kim's damaged money with the new currency worth 5.2 million won ($4,370). ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Money laundering is not a good idea, as a South Korean found out when he or she put banknotes in a washing machine to remove possible traces of the coronavirus.
Officials say the loss was considerable.
The person living in Ansan city, near Seoul, placed an unspecified amount of 50,000-won ($42) bills in a washing machine earlier this year. Some of the money was seriously damaged, and the person reached out to the Bank of Korea to find whether it could be exchanged for new bills.
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Under bank rules on the exchange of damaged, mutilated and contaminated banknotes, the person was provided with the new currency totaling about 23 million won ($19,320), the Bank of Korea said in a statement.
Bank official Seo Jee Woun said the number of 50,000-won bills the bank exchanged at half value was 507. She said the bank doesn’t count the number of bills that it cannot exchange because damage is too big.
She said bank officials didn’t know exactly how much money the person tried to wash.
She said the loss would still be “considerable.”
How much the central bank should exchange in a situation like this depends on how seriously banknotes are damaged. The bank can provide the new currency at face value if damage is minimal, but at half value or not at all if damage is significant.
The amount in question was condolence money given by relatives, friends and others during a family funeral, according to the bank.
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The person has been only identified by family name Eom. Bank officials gave no further personal information citing privacy law.
How about microwaving money?
According to the bank, another person, surnamed Kim, put bills in a microwave over similar coronavirus concerns earlier this year. The bank exchanged Kim’s damaged money with the new currency worth 5.2 million won ($4,370). Seo said Kim’s losses were not big.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--School Founded By Sinclair Broadcast VP Tells Teachers: Come In Person Or Lose Your Job

Staff members at Gerstell Academy , a private school in Carroll County , Maryland , were told this week that they would either have to come back to work in person or they may no longer have a job , three members of the school community told HuffPost .
The sources who spoke to HuffPost say they believe this idea came directly from the school ’ s founder and chairman of its board of trustees , Frederick G. Smith , a leader of Sinclair Broadcast Group .
Sinclair , which owns hundreds of local television stations around the country with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire for its coverage of the coronavirus in recent weeks , downplaying the disease ’ s harmful effects and even toying with airing interviews with conspiracy theorists .
Smith co-owns the company with his brothers and acts as its vice president and director .
Gerstell Academy employees have until Friday to make their decisions about returning to school .
Only school employees who are over the age of 65 or are currently undergoing chemotherapy are allowed to opt out of the school ’ s mandate , the sources said .
Teachers who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left out of the equation .
School leaders gave teachers what was described as an ultimatum on Tuesday and gave them several days to make a choice .
Previously , the president of the school had told teachers over Zoom to reach out if they were at high risk of coronavirus complications , noting that “ we ’ re not trying to strong-arm or force anyone to be on campus , ” one teacher said .
Families have the option of sending their children in-person or participating in virtual learning .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Fred Smith realizes it or not , but we also deserve to live and be safe , ” one of the school ’ s teachers , who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution , told HuffPost .
“ This has created a tremendous risk in our community that didn ’ t exist a few weeks ago , and unfortunately it ’ s falling along political lines.
” In at least several areas , private schools have been more likely to reopen in-person this fall than public schools .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help represent them in negotiations around school reopening plans , most private school teachers must fend for themselves , without the same workplace protections .
Yet in this case , the school ’ s reopening plan rings as particularly political , given Sinclair Broadcast Group ’ s recent messaging on the coronavirus and its stations ’ coziness with President Donald Trump .
In recent weeks , Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from public schools that don ’ t reopen in person ― though it is Congress that authorizes such funding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a multitude of safety precautions , say sources who didn ’ t want to use their names for fear of backlash .
While one person says they understand the importance of getting kids back in school and why Smith may want to act as a beacon for the community , the school ’ s handling of the situation has made teachers feel expendable and caused them to worry that the school is making a decision based on business rather than the health and safety of the community .
“ I think all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he definitely has a perspective that is a more conservative viewpoint than some of the other health professionals that are out there , ” said one of the school ’ s teachers , describing the school as Smith ’ s special project .
“ But I would hope his dedication to the school outweighs his dedication to politics.
” The pre-K-12 school , which Smith founded in 1996 , is a college preparatory academy with an emphasis on leadership .
Gerstell ’ s website says it serves over 400 students .
Anecdotally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school is seeing increased enrollment from public school students who are clamoring for an in-person experience .
But a parent whose child currently attends the school says the situation has made them think less of the institution .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
UPDATE: Aug. 4 ― The school changed its policy after publication of this story. Over the weekend, the school’s president told concerned teachers their jobs were not in jeopardy and they could teach virtually if they would prefer. The school is now working with individual teachers to accommodate their individual situations, a teacher told HuffPost.
PREVIOUSLY:
Staff members at Gerstell Academy, a private school in Carroll County, Maryland, were told this week that they would either have to come back to work in person or they may no longer have a job, three members of the school community told HuffPost.
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The sources who spoke to HuffPost say they believe this idea came directly from the school’s founder and chairman of its board of trustees, Frederick G. Smith, a leader of Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Sinclair, which owns hundreds of local television stations around the country with a conservative bent, has come under fire for its coverage of the coronavirus in recent weeks, downplaying the disease’s harmful effects and even toying with airing interviews with conspiracy theorists. Smith co-owns the company with his brothers and acts as its vice president and director.
Gerstell Academy employees have until Friday to make their decisions about returning to school. Only school employees who are over the age of 65 or are currently undergoing chemotherapy are allowed to opt out of the school’s mandate, the sources said. Teachers who are immunocompromised or have immunocompromised family members are left out of the equation.
Neither representatives from the school nor Sinclair responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
School leaders gave teachers what was described as an ultimatum on Tuesday and gave them several days to make a choice. Previously, the president of the school had told teachers over Zoom to reach out if they were at high risk of coronavirus complications, noting that “we’re not trying to strong-arm or force anyone to be on campus,” one teacher said. Families have the option of sending their children in-person or participating in virtual learning.
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“We know what we bring to the table whether Fred Smith realizes it or not, but we also deserve to live and be safe,” one of the school’s teachers, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, told HuffPost. “This has created a tremendous risk in our community that didn’t exist a few weeks ago, and unfortunately it’s falling along political lines.”
In at least several areas, private schools have been more likely to reopen in-person this fall than public schools. However, while public school teachers have unions to help represent them in negotiations around school reopening plans, most private school teachers must fend for themselves, without the same workplace protections.
The situation at Gerstell, which, at the high school level, costs nearly $25,000 a year to attend, demonstrates the difficult position of private school teachers.
Yet in this case, the school’s reopening plan rings as particularly political, given Sinclair Broadcast Group’s recent messaging on the coronavirus and its stations’ coziness with President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from public schools that don’t reopen in person ― though it is Congress that authorizes such funding.
Gerstell has a robust reopening plan, including a multitude of safety precautions, say sources who didn’t want to use their names for fear of backlash. While one person says they understand the importance of getting kids back in school and why Smith may want to act as a beacon for the community, the school’s handling of the situation has made teachers feel expendable and caused them to worry that the school is making a decision based on business rather than the health and safety of the community.
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The sources say they believe administrators are doing the bidding of Smith, who previously worked as an oral surgeon.
“I think all of us have biases, and yes, he definitely has a perspective that is a more conservative viewpoint than some of the other health professionals that are out there,” said one of the school’s teachers, describing the school as Smith’s special project. “But I would hope his dedication to the school outweighs his dedication to politics.”
The pre-K-12 school, which Smith founded in 1996, is a college preparatory academy with an emphasis on leadership. Gerstell’s website says it serves over 400 students. Anecdotally, one teacher said she heard that the school is seeing increased enrollment from public school students who are clamoring for an in-person experience. But a parent whose child currently attends the school says the situation has made them think less of the institution.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Fauci Optimistic COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Widely Available

He said that 250,000 people have registered on a government website to take part in vaccine trials , which are pivotal for establishing safety and effectiveness .
Not all patients who volunteer to take part in clinical trials are eligible to participate .
Giroir acknowledged that currently it ’ s not possible for the U.S. to return all coronavirus test results to patients in two to three days .
He blamed overwhelming demand across the nation .
Many health experts say that COVID-19 results are almost worthless when delivered after two or three days because by then the window for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread testing is critical to containing the coronavirus outbreak , but the U.S. effort has been plagued by supply shortages and backlogs since the earliest days of the outbreak .
At a time when early progress seems to have been lost and uncertainty clouds the nation ’ s path forward , Fauci , Giroir and Redfield are calling on calling on Americans to go back to public health basics such as social distancing and wearing masks .
The panel , the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis , is divided about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisions among Americans .
Committee Chairman Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. , said the White House must come up with a comprehensive national plan to contain the virus .
Ranking Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana said the Trump administration has plans already on vaccines , testing , nursing homes and other coronavirus-related issues .
A rebound of cases across the South and the West has dashed hopes for a quick return to normal life .
Problems with the availability and timeliness of testing continue to be reported .
And the race for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet to deliver a breakthrough .
Fauci ’ s public message in recent days has been that Americans can ’ t afford a devil-may-care attitude toward COVID-19 and need to double down on basic measures such as wearing masks in public , keeping their distance from others and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces such as bars .
That ’ s echoed by Redfield and Giroir , though they are far less prominent .
Fauci ’ s dogged persistence has drawn the ire of some of President Donald Trump ’ s supporters and prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing .
But the veteran of battles against AIDS and Ebola has stuck to his message , while carefully avoiding open confrontations with the Trump White House .
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week , Fauci said he was “ disturbed ” by the flat-out opposition in parts of the country to wearing masks as a public health protective measure .
Public health experts say masks help prevent an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms from passing the virus to others .
For mask wearers , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can offer a degree of protection from an infected person nearby .
Fauci said in his AP interview that he ’ s concerned because the U.S. has not followed the track of Asian and European nations also hit hard by the coronavirus .
The U.S. also knocked back the initial spread , but it never got the background level of new cases quite as low .
And the resurgence of COVID-19 in the Sunbelt in recent weeks has driven the number of new daily cases back up into the 60,000-70,000 range .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to social gatherings , particularly among younger adults .
Growing numbers of emergency room visits , hospitalizations and deaths have followed as grim consequences .
“ They ’ ve really got to jump all over that because if they don ’ t then you might see the surge we saw in some of the Southern states , ” he told the AP .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Once a coronavirus vaccine is approved as safe and effective, Americans should have widespread access within a reasonable time, Dr. Anthony Fauci assured lawmakers Friday.
Appearing before a House panel investigating the nation’s response to the pandemic, Fauci expressed “cautious” optimism that a vaccine would be available, particularly by next year.
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“I believe, ultimately, over a period of time in 2021, that Americans will be able to get it,” Fauci said, referring to the vaccine.
There will be a priority list for who gets early vaccinations. “I don’t think we will have everybody getting it immediately,” Fauci explained.
But “ultimately, within a reasonable time, the plans allow for any American who needs the vaccine to get it,” he added.
Under direction from the White House, federal health authorities are carrying out a plan dubbed Operation Warp Speed to manufacture 300 million doses of a vaccine on a compressed timeline.
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Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease official, said a quarter-million people have expressed interest in taking part in studies of experimental vaccines for the coronavirus.
He said that 250,000 people have registered on a government website to take part in vaccine trials, which are pivotal for establishing safety and effectiveness. Not all patients who volunteer to take part in clinical trials are eligible to participate.
Fauci was joined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Dr. Robert Redfield and Health and Human Services testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir.
Giroir acknowledged that currently it’s not possible for the U.S. to return all coronavirus test results to patients in two to three days. He blamed overwhelming demand across the nation.
Many health experts say that COVID-19 results are almost worthless when delivered after two or three days because by then the window for contact tracing has closed.
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The latest government data shows about 75% of testing results are coming back within five days, but the remainder are taking longer, Giroir told lawmakers.
Rapid, widespread testing is critical to containing the coronavirus outbreak, but the U.S. effort has been plagued by supply shortages and backlogs since the earliest days of the outbreak.
At a time when early progress seems to have been lost and uncertainty clouds the nation’s path forward, Fauci, Giroir and Redfield are calling on calling on Americans to go back to public health basics such as social distancing and wearing masks.
The panel, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, is divided about how to reopen schools and businesses, mirroring divisions among Americans. Committee Chairman Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said the White House must come up with a comprehensive national plan to contain the virus. Ranking Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana said the Trump administration has plans already on vaccines, testing, nursing homes and other coronavirus-related issues.
A rebound of cases across the South and the West has dashed hopes for a quick return to normal life. Problems with the availability and timeliness of testing continue to be reported. And the race for a vaccine, though progressing rapidly, has yet to deliver a breakthrough.
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Fauci’s public message in recent days has been that Americans can’t afford a devil-may-care attitude toward COVID-19 and need to double down on basic measures such as wearing masks in public, keeping their distance from others and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces such as bars. That’s echoed by Redfield and Giroir, though they are far less prominent.
Fauci’s dogged persistence has drawn the ire of some of President Donald Trump’s supporters and prompted a new round of calls for his firing. But the veteran of battles against AIDS and Ebola has stuck to his message, while carefully avoiding open confrontations with the Trump White House.
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week, Fauci said he was “disturbed” by the flat-out opposition in parts of the country to wearing masks as a public health protective measure.
“There are certain fundamentals,” he said, “the staples of what you need to do ... one is universal wearing of masks.”
Public health experts say masks help prevent an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms from passing the virus to others. For mask wearers, there’s also some evidence that they can offer a degree of protection from an infected person nearby.
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Fauci said in his AP interview that he’s concerned because the U.S. has not followed the track of Asian and European nations also hit hard by the coronavirus.
Other countries that shut down their economies knocked back uncontrolled spread and settled into a pattern of relatively few new cases, although they continued to experience local outbreaks.
The U.S. also knocked back the initial spread, but it never got the background level of new cases quite as low. And the resurgence of COVID-19 in the Sunbelt in recent weeks has driven the number of new daily cases back up into the 60,000-70,000 range. It coincided with economic reopening and a return to social gatherings, particularly among younger adults. Growing numbers of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths have followed as grim consequences.
Nearly 4.5 million Americans have been been infected since the start of the pandemic, and more than 150,000 have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Fauci said there’s evidence the surge across the South may be peaking, but upticks in the Midwest are now a concern.
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“They’ve really got to jump all over that because if they don’t then you might see the surge we saw in some of the Southern states,” he told the AP.
Though Fauci gets push-back from White House officials, other medical experts in the administration are on the same page when it comes to the public health message.
Giroir, the testing czar, told reporters Thursday: “I think it’s very important to make sure that we all spread the public health message that we can control all the outbreaks occurring right now.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--As A Woman Of Color, I Didn't Seek Treatment For Postpartum Depression

When my husband and I had our first baby , I was 29 years old and had just finished my master ’ s degree .
I was living my best life , making my own choices and imagining that my 30s would be nothing but smooth sailing ahead .
It was the supposed happiest time of my life , yet I felt like I was being submerged under a tsunami of sadness and despondency .
When I look back now , it ’ s so clear that I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety , but I was completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-generation immigrant , I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old and assimilated quickly to my new adopted culture ― Chicago in the mid- ’ 80s .
The experience instilled a lifelong appreciation of having hit the jackpot of growing up as an American citizen .
So , even as I battled my own version of Dementors during that first year of motherhood , I was crippled by the throbbing awareness of how privileged my life was .
I mean , as a Pakistani American girl , I had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homeland to seek educational opportunities for their girls .
My parents allowed me to speak my mind openly , pick what major I would pursue in college , choose my own life partner , and in general make all of my own life decisions .
What in the world could I possibly be depressed about ?
There was no room for me to be anything but ecstatic and grateful for this next phase of my life .
This played a huge role in hindering my ability to identify , much less seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not discriminate .
But the tightness in my chest never subsided and oftentimes made me wish I could fall asleep and never wake up .
Women , in general , have a hard time recognizing or being diagnosed for postpartum depression due to lack of knowledge , social stigmas and economic barriers .
But for women of color , the hurdles are even more pronounced because of the additional burdens of religious and ethnic expectations , and lack of cultural competence among providers and little to no mental health services within the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can say that I struggled ferociously with the shame of being a Muslim woman who could not find inner peace by praying .
In the Muslim culture ( and yes , there is a distinction from the religion of Islam ) , struggles with mental illness are often seen as a sign of weakness in one ’ s faith or an inconvenient influence from modern society .
In most Islamic countries , including Pakistan , attempting suicide is a criminal offense , which makes it chronically underreported .
If someone actually succumbs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of mosques will deny the person their last rites and burial , leaving grieving families scrambling on how and where to bury their loved ones .
I was well educated , in a healthy relationship and had access to great insurance – I was the picture-perfect example of a first-generation immigrant who had made it .
And so , I suffered in silence .
The desire to exude happiness left me feeling hollowed out and isolated from the very community I was trying to appease .
Even though research on postpartum depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is still inadequate focus on PPD and women of color .
What we do know is this : Evidence shows that there is a significant disparity between mental health diagnosis and treatment for black , Indigenous and people of color and their Caucasian counterparts .
Plus , research indicates that women of color are two to three times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression , yet white women are much more likely to begin postpartum mental health treatment than women of color .
Medicine combined with therapy helped tremendously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and religious stigma of being vocal about my mental health struggle .
I still feel compelled to add “ but I love my kids SO much ” whenever I talk about my experience with postpartum depression .
I still hesitate to share that antidepressants helped me become a better mother .
I vehemently believe every single person can benefit from going to therapy and it is one of the bravest and most empowering things you can do for yourself .
I am able to manage my depression with regular therapy and a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with me through the melancholy and help me find my way out .
No one else can do the hard work for me , but having a support system makes the passage to the other side much less arduous .
Here ’ s what I would want a woman of color suffering through mental anguish to know : You can not inoculate yourself from your mental struggles by denying its existence .
You must be proactive in finding support , even if that means going outside of your community of loved ones and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychiatrist or therapist does not make one self-indulgent : It is a cognizant act of self-love and mercy for which you don ’ t owe any explanations or apologies .

When my husband and I had our first baby, I was 29 years old and had just finished my master’s degree. I was living my best life, making my own choices and imagining that my 30s would be nothing but smooth sailing ahead.
Here’s what actually happened: I brought a little human into the world, and in the process completely lost myself and the life I knew.
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It was the supposed happiest time of my life, yet I felt like I was being submerged under a tsunami of sadness and despondency. When I look back now, it’s so clear that I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety, but I was completely oblivious at the time.
Even if I had sensed it, there was no space for me to admit the truth.
As a first-generation immigrant, I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old and assimilated quickly to my new adopted culture ― Chicago in the mid-’80s. The experience instilled a lifelong appreciation of having hit the jackpot of growing up as an American citizen.
Throughout my life, I have been cognizant of how radically empowered and advantageous my life has been because of my parents’ decision to immigrate.
So, even as I battled my own version of Dementors during that first year of motherhood, I was crippled by the throbbing awareness of how privileged my life was. I mean, as a Pakistani American girl, I had won the lottery for having parents who left their homeland to seek educational opportunities for their girls. My parents allowed me to speak my mind openly, pick what major I would pursue in college, choose my own life partner, and in general make all of my own life decisions.
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What in the world could I possibly be depressed about? There was no room for me to be anything but ecstatic and grateful for this next phase of my life. This played a huge role in hindering my ability to identify, much less seek help for, a disease that does not discriminate. But the tightness in my chest never subsided and oftentimes made me wish I could fall asleep and never wake up.
Postpartum depression cannot be warded off by socioeconomic status or your level of education or your absolute belief in God ― and definitely not by the privileges afforded to you.
Women, in general, have a hard time recognizing or being diagnosed for postpartum depression due to lack of knowledge, social stigmas and economic barriers. But for women of color, the hurdles are even more pronounced because of the additional burdens of religious and ethnic expectations, and lack of cultural competence among providers and little to no mental health services within the community.
For example, different ethnicities can have varying symptoms that aren’t always easily identifiable by a Caucasian provider. In Asian Americans, mental illness commonly shows up as physical symptoms such as headaches, backaches and gastrointestinal pain.
From my own experience, I can say that I struggled ferociously with the shame of being a Muslim woman who could not find inner peace by praying. In the Muslim culture (and yes, there is a distinction from the religion of Islam), struggles with mental illness are often seen as a sign of weakness in one’s faith or an inconvenient influence from modern society.
Advertisement
In most Islamic countries, including Pakistan, attempting suicide is a criminal offense, which makes it chronically underreported. If someone actually succumbs to taking their own life, the vast majority of mosques will deny the person their last rites and burial, leaving grieving families scrambling on how and where to bury their loved ones.
Plus, within the Pakistani culture, there is rampant stigma around mental illness in which people are quickly dismissed as crazy or under the influence of something supernatural (“jinns”) and shunned from social interaction.
I was well educated, in a healthy relationship and had access to great insurance – I was the picture-perfect example of a first-generation immigrant who had made it. And so, I suffered in silence. The desire to exude happiness left me feeling hollowed out and isolated from the very community I was trying to appease.
Even though research on postpartum depression has advanced significantly over the last decade, there is still inadequate focus on PPD and women of color. What we do know is this: Evidence shows that there is a significant disparity between mental health diagnosis and treatment for black, Indigenous and people of color and their Caucasian counterparts. Plus, research indicates that women of color are two to three times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, yet white women are much more likely to begin postpartum mental health treatment than women of color.
It took me the birth of my second child and another round of postpartum depression to finally seek help from a medical professional.
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Medicine combined with therapy helped tremendously, but I still struggle with the cultural and religious stigma of being vocal about my mental health struggle. I still feel compelled to add “but I love my kids SO much” whenever I talk about my experience with postpartum depression. I still hesitate to share that antidepressants helped me become a better mother.
And so, I still go to therapy and work against the notion that the privileges I have been awarded as a first-generation immigrant can somehow safeguard me from depression.
I vehemently believe every single person can benefit from going to therapy and it is one of the bravest and most empowering things you can do for yourself. I am able to manage my depression with regular therapy and a small community of loved ones who can sit with me through the melancholy and help me find my way out. No one else can do the hard work for me, but having a support system makes the passage to the other side much less arduous.
Here’s what I would want a woman of color suffering through mental anguish to know: You cannot inoculate yourself from your mental struggles by denying its existence. You must be proactive in finding support, even if that means going outside of your community of loved ones and seeking professional help. Going to a psychiatrist or therapist does not make one self-indulgent: It is a cognizant act of self-love and mercy for which you don’t owe any explanations or apologies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--How Rep. Karen Bass Became A Leading VP Contender

A dozen years later , the bridge-building , unassuming style that colleagues say made Bass an effective leader in Sacramento is among the reasons the current California congresswoman has emerged as a leading contender to become Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee appeared with Bass for the first time at a fundraiser on Thursday .
He plans to make a pick next week .
“ I have historically , for the last four or five decades , focused on building coalitions and building bridges between ethnic groups , between political ideologies , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m a very goal-driven person ; I am focused on getting stuff done .
And I am willing to work with whoever , whenever , however.
” Her low-key approach was evident as early as 1990 , when she launched a nonprofit in Los Angeles .
One of the organization ’ s tenets was “ no celebrity-style leadership.
” Unlike some of her competitors for vice president , including California Sen. Kamala Harris , Bass hasn ’ t sought national office and has no stated presidential aspirations .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lacks a major donor base and hasn ’ t faced the scrutiny of a national campaign .
A past comment about former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro could be troublesome to Hispanic voters in the key swing state of Florida .
Still , she brings plenty of political cachet .
She left Sacramento for Congress in 2010 and now chairs the Congressional Black Caucus .
After George Floyd ’ s killing by police , she led Democratic efforts on legislation to overhaul law enforcement , a push that prompted Biden ’ s team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential running mate .
Bass , 66 , wouldn ’ t discuss her vetting .
But Fabian Nunez , a former state Assembly speaker and close friend of Bass ’ , said she ’ s been “ properly vetted.
” He supported Bass as his successor in the Legislature because the difficult budget talks required a “ less ideological ” leader who could bring people together , qualities the country needs today .
Before entering politics , Bass worked in a Los Angeles emergency room , where she saw the havoc brought by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fueled the arrests of young men of color .
She created the Community Coalition , a nonprofit aimed at treating gang violence and the drug trade as public health issues .
“ It was very meaningful for me because you hear a lot of political talk , particularly post-1992 , ” he said , referring to the year of the Los Angeles riots that followed the beating of Rodney King by white police officers .
“ Those things never get done .
Here was Karen , quietly setting up goals ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden was passing the 1994 bill that furthered the era ’ s tough-on-crime policies .
He ’ d also supported stricter sentences for crack cocaine compared to powder , which disproportionately hurt minorities .
Bass said she was opposed to the 1994 bill but did not criticize Biden .
“ People in the community were demanding legislation like that .
They wanted to see three strikes , they wanted to see the crime bill , ” she said .
“ People like me were fighting to get the community to see things differently.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a cigar tent , but Bass told the men there would be no smoking with her inside .
Among the Republicans she was close with in Sacramento : Kevin McCarthy , who is now the top Republican in the U.S. House .
“ He ’ s going to need somebody at his side that can really help him with things here at the domestic level , ” said Huerta , who endorsed Harris in the Democratic presidential primary .
Fernand Amandi , a Democratic consultant and Florida pollster who specializes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuban voters because of a 2016 statement she made when Castro died .
She said , “ The passing of Comandante en Jefe is a great loss to the people of Cuba.
” She traveled to Cuba on three expense-paid trips in Congress , including trips to learn about the Cuban health care system and cultural exchanges , all approved by the House Ethics Committee .
She first traveled to Cuba in the 1970s as a young activist .
“ Let ’ s say you have a wavering Cuban American Trump supporter now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s just looking for a reason to stick with Trump , ” Amandi said .
“ With Karen Bass ’ comments about Fidel Castro , it will be served up on a silver platter .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s leaders were deadlocked and on the verge of financial catastrophe in 2008. Five negotiators, including Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, couldn’t agree on a budget that would guide the nation’s most populous state through the Great Recession.
Enter Karen Bass, who became Assembly speaker that May, the first Black woman to hold the role. She shifted the tone of the talks, helping the group find common ground.
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“When Karen came into the Big 5, everything changed,” said Mike Villines, then the Republican Assembly leader. “We started to make little progress on little things, and it led to bigger progress.”
A dozen years later, the bridge-building, unassuming style that colleagues say made Bass an effective leader in Sacramento is among the reasons the current California congresswoman has emerged as a leading contender to become Joe Biden’s running mate. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee appeared with Bass for the first time at a fundraiser on Thursday. He plans to make a pick next week.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., questions Intelligence Committee Minority Counsel Stephen Castor and Intelligence Committee Majority Counsel Daniel Goldman during the House impeachment inquiry hearings, Monday Dec. 9, 2019, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool) ASSOCIATED PRESS
A former physician assistant and community organizer, Bass said she brings experience to tackle the nation’s economic, racial and health care crises.
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“I have historically, for the last four or five decades, focused on building coalitions and building bridges between ethnic groups, between political ideologies,” she told The Associated Press this week. “I’m a very goal-driven person; I am focused on getting stuff done. And I am willing to work with whoever, whenever, however.”
Her low-key approach was evident as early as 1990, when she launched a nonprofit in Los Angeles. One of the organization’s tenets was “no celebrity-style leadership.” Unlike some of her competitors for vice president, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, Bass hasn’t sought national office and has no stated presidential aspirations.
But that means she is lesser known to voters, lacks a major donor base and hasn’t faced the scrutiny of a national campaign. A past comment about former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro could be troublesome to Hispanic voters in the key swing state of Florida.
Still, she brings plenty of political cachet. She left Sacramento for Congress in 2010 and now chairs the Congressional Black Caucus. After George Floyd’s killing by police, she led Democratic efforts on legislation to overhaul law enforcement, a push that prompted Biden’s team to take her more seriously as a potential running mate.
“She got high marks for managing that deal, but she’s managed similar bills in the past,” said Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a former CBC chair and Biden ally. “She has a resume that I think is good to be considered.”
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Bass, 66, wouldn’t discuss her vetting. But Fabian Nunez, a former state Assembly speaker and close friend of Bass’, said she’s been “properly vetted.” He supported Bass as his successor in the Legislature because the difficult budget talks required a “less ideological” leader who could bring people together, qualities the country needs today.
“The country needs healers,” he said.
Both Biden and Bass learned to heal through personal tragedy. Biden lost his wife and young daughter in a car accident in 1972. In 2006, Bass’ 23-year-old daughter and son-in-law died in a car accident.
Before entering politics, Bass worked in a Los Angeles emergency room, where she saw the havoc brought by the crack cocaine epidemic and police crackdown that fueled the arrests of young men of color. She created the Community Coalition, a nonprofit aimed at treating gang violence and the drug trade as public health issues.
After surveying 30,000 residents, the organizers learned that liquor stores were a surprising source of the problem, providing a haven for drug deals and other illicit behavior. They helped shut down 150 stores.
When Los Angeles City Council member Marqueece Harris-Dawson started working at the coalition in 1995 at age 25, he didn’t know Bass. But he knew the liquor stores he’d been told to avoid his whole life were closed.
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“It was very meaningful for me because you hear a lot of political talk, particularly post-1992,” he said, referring to the year of the Los Angeles riots that followed the beating of Rodney King by white police officers. “Those things never get done. Here was Karen, quietly setting up goals (and) knocking them down.”
Meanwhile, Biden was passing the 1994 bill that furthered the era’s tough-on-crime policies. He’d also supported stricter sentences for crack cocaine compared to powder, which disproportionately hurt minorities. Bass said she was opposed to the 1994 bill but did not criticize Biden.
“People in the community were demanding legislation like that. They wanted to see three strikes, they wanted to see the crime bill,” she said. “People like me were fighting to get the community to see things differently.”
In the state Legislature, she prioritized child welfare and foster care legislation before winning the speakership. As the only woman in leadership, she changed the male-dominated culture.
Schwarzenegger often invited lawmakers to negotiate in a cigar tent, but Bass told the men there would be no smoking with her inside. Among the Republicans she was close with in Sacramento: Kevin McCarthy, who is now the top Republican in the U.S. House.
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Dolores Huerta, the California civil rights leader and farm worker activist, said Bass is someone who can repair the nation’s damaged institutions. She’d be a vice president who can adeptly handle the work at home as Biden works on repairing international relationships, Huerta said.
“He’s going to need somebody at his side that can really help him with things here at the domestic level,” said Huerta, who endorsed Harris in the Democratic presidential primary.
Bass’ allies say she has no baggage, but she will face fresh scrutiny if Biden chooses her.
Fernand Amandi, a Democratic consultant and Florida pollster who specializes in the Hispanic vote, said Bass could alienate Cuban voters because of a 2016 statement she made when Castro died. She said, “The passing of Comandante en Jefe is a great loss to the people of Cuba.”
Critics say the remarks were too deferential to a brutal dictator, and Amandi said it will allow Republicans to paint Bass as a radical socialist.
She traveled to Cuba on three expense-paid trips in Congress, including trips to learn about the Cuban health care system and cultural exchanges, all approved by the House Ethics Committee. She first traveled to Cuba in the 1970s as a young activist.
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“Let’s say you have a wavering Cuban American Trump supporter now who may be on the fence, who’s just looking for a reason to stick with Trump,” Amandi said. “With Karen Bass’ comments about Fidel Castro, it will be served up on a silver platter.”
Bass has since said she better understands the sensitivity of her comment after speaking with Florida colleagues, and she believes she can still reach out to Cuban voters in the state, where the coronavirus is a top issue.
“I absolutely feel that there is a pathway that I would not be a liability in whatever role I play on the campaign,” she said. “And, you know, Florida is also a very big state.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--It's The Two-Week Anniversary of Trump's Latest Lie About Health Care

Two weeks have passed since President Donald Trump proclaimed he would be “ signing ” a big health care reform plan in two weeks .
Don ’ t hold your breath for a Rose Garden ceremony .
Almost exactly three years ago , the Republican Senate failed to pass a bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act and replaced it with a law that would have snatched health coverage from 16 million people .
In the 10 years since ” Obamacare″ became law , that ’ s as close as the GOP has gotten to fulfilling its promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own health care bill .
There ’ s been zero action on the issue in Congress , where Republicans seem tired of talking about it and confronting their own failure .
Trump himself has never articulated a vision of what he thinks the health care system should look , and has been making empty , ludicrous and false promises since his campaign for the presidency began .
“ We ’ re signing a health care plan within two weeks , a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Let ’ s break that down .
First , it ’ s been two weeks .
Have you seen a health care plan ?
Has Trump ?
Just weeks before that , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar admitted they have no plan .
That ’ s because there isn ’ t one and there never has been .
Second , the Supreme Court ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival immigration program ― DACA ― did no such thing .
We ’ ve seen this before , time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared he would replace the Affordable Care Act with “ something terrific.
” That was about as specific as he ever got .
Last year , Trump announced on Twitter that Republicans would become the “ Party of Healthcare !
” and pass a big bill .
Then he took it back .
Those two examples bookend innumerable vows in between .
Of course , looked at from another perspective , Trump does sort of have a health care plan .
But the cornerstone of Trump ’ s health policy agenda is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would wipe the entire Affordable Care Act from the books , leaving nothing in its place , wreaking havoc on the health care system and creating 20 million newly uninsured people .
Conveniently for him and other Republicans , no high court ruling on this will come until after November ’ s election .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Two weeks have passed since President Donald Trump proclaimed he would be “signing” a big health care reform plan in two weeks. Don’t hold your breath for a Rose Garden ceremony.
Almost exactly three years ago, the Republican Senate failed to pass a bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act and replaced it with a law that would have snatched health coverage from 16 million people. In the 10 years since ”Obamacare″ became law, that’s as close as the GOP has gotten to fulfilling its promise to scrap the ACA and pass its own health care bill.
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There’s been zero action on the issue in Congress, where Republicans seem tired of talking about it and confronting their own failure. Trump himself has never articulated a vision of what he thinks the health care system should look like, and has been making empty, ludicrous and false promises since his campaign for the presidency began.
He’s still at it, and it’s still complete hogwash.
In a FOX News interview taped July 17 and aired two days later, Trump told Chris Wallace:
“We’re signing a health care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do.”
Let’s break that down. First, it’s been two weeks. Have you seen a health care plan? Has Trump? Just weeks before that, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar admitted they have no plan. That’s because there isn’t one and there never has been. Second, the Supreme Court ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival immigration program ― DACA ― did no such thing.
We’ve seen this before, time and time again. In 2015, he declared he would replace the Affordable Care Act with “something terrific.” That was about as specific as he ever got. Last year, Trump announced on Twitter that Republicans would become the “Party of Healthcare!” and pass a big bill. Then he took it back. Those two examples bookend innumerable vows in between.
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Of course, looked at from another perspective, Trump does sort of have a health care plan.
But the cornerstone of Trump’s health policy agenda is a lawsuit pending at the Supreme Court that would wipe the entire Affordable Care Act from the books, leaving nothing in its place, wreaking havoc on the health care system and creating 20 million newly uninsured people.
Conveniently for him and other Republicans, no high court ruling on this will come until after November’s election.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--GOP Rep. Asked If Protests Should Be Curbed Due To COVID-19. Fauci Didn't Take The Bait.

During a congressional hearing Friday on the COVID-19 crisis , Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-Ohio ) repeatedly tried to score political points by pushing Dr. Anthony Fauci to say that nationwide protests against racism and police brutality should be limited because of the pandemic .
But the infectious diseases expert refused to participate in Jordan ’ s grandstanding , waving off that line of questioning .
Jordan cut him off with a comment about the number of protesters across the country while still badgering him to answer .
Rep. @ Jim_Jordan asks if protests should be limited .
Dr. Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to opine on limiting anything .
I 'm telling you what it is the danger is .
You can make your own conclusion about that .
You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are . ''
pic.twitter.com/DfgmahK35F — CSPAN ( @ cspan ) July 31 , 2020 “ I ’ m not sure what you mean , ” Fauci said .
“ I ’ m not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way.
” In a series of rapid comments , Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and religious services .
The latter are generally held in enclosed spaces indoors , which public health experts have warned are where the virus can spread more easily .
The congressman claimed that “ five liberals on the Supreme Court said it ’ s OK for Nevada to limit church services ” — referring to a recent high court decision in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined the four liberal justices in denying a Nevada church ’ s challenge to a state order limiting religious services to 50 people .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can answer that , ” an exasperated Fauci said , repeatedly stressing that in general , he advises against large crowds , particularly those in which participants are not wearing masks .
“ I am not going to opine on limiting anything .
I ’ m telling you what is the danger , and you can make your own conclusion about that.
” When Jordan ’ s time was up , Rep. Jim Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) , chairing the hearing , noted that President Donald Trump on Wednesday held a campaign fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — with “ nobody wearing a mask , nobody social distancing.
” An hour later , during a second round of questions , Jordan again tried to goad Fauci into saying the protests have increased the spread of the virus .
Once again , Fauci refused to take the bait .
“ As I said before , I am concerned about any crowds , particularly people who don ’ t wear masks , ” the doctor said .
“ I ’ m concerned more about indoor crowds than I am of outdoor crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem.
” More than two months since they began , there is no concrete evidence to conclude that the protests have increased the spread of the virus .
The vast majority of protesters have worn masks .
New York City , once the epicenter of COVID-19 this spring , had some of the biggest demonstrations in June .
But the city has largely contained the spread of the virus , and infection rates have continued to remain low there .
Rising numbers of cases have been occurring in states and municipalities that reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hearing .
Through contact tracing , officials have determined that many of the new outbreaks are tied to restaurants , bars and parties , where people are likely to remove their masks for long periods of time .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
During a congressional hearing Friday on the COVID-19 crisis, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) repeatedly tried to score political points by pushing Dr. Anthony Fauci to say that nationwide protests against racism and police brutality should be limited because of the pandemic. But the infectious diseases expert refused to participate in Jordan’s grandstanding, waving off that line of questioning.
“Do protests increase the spread of the virus?” Jordan asked Fauci.
“I think I can make a general statement ...,” Fauci began.
Jordan cut him off with a comment about the number of protesters across the country while still badgering him to answer.
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“Crowding together, particularly when you’re not wearing a mask, contributes to the spread of the virus,” Fauci continued.
Rep. @Jim_Jordan asks if protests should be limited.
Dr. Anthony Fauci: "I'm not going to opine on limiting anything. I'm telling you what it is the danger is. You can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are." pic.twitter.com/DfgmahK35F — CSPAN (@cspan) July 31, 2020
“Should we limit the protesting?” Jordan asked. “Should government limit the protesting?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Fauci said. “I’m not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way.”
In a series of rapid comments, Jordan made an apples-to-oranges comparison between the protests and religious services. The latter are generally held in enclosed spaces indoors, which public health experts have warned are where the virus can spread more easily.
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The congressman claimed that “five liberals on the Supreme Court said it’s OK for Nevada to limit church services” — referring to a recent high court decision in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined the four liberal justices in denying a Nevada church’s challenge to a state order limiting religious services to 50 people.
“I don’t know how many times I can answer that,” an exasperated Fauci said, repeatedly stressing that in general, he advises against large crowds, particularly those in which participants are not wearing masks. “I am not going to opine on limiting anything. I’m telling you what is the danger, and you can make your own conclusion about that.”
After Jordan pressed on, Fauci shook his head and waved off the congressman.
When Jordan’s time was up, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), chairing the hearing, noted that President Donald Trump on Wednesday held a campaign fundraiser and visited an oil rig in Texas — with “nobody wearing a mask, nobody social distancing.”
After witnessing Rep. Jim Jordan badger Dr. Fauci about protests, Rep. Clyburn stepped in to remind the Republican congressman that Pres. Trump held a crowded and largely mask-free event at a Texas oil rig this week pic.twitter.com/DOBM7dJkr6 — NowThis (@nowthisnews) July 31, 2020
An hour later, during a second round of questions, Jordan again tried to goad Fauci into saying the protests have increased the spread of the virus. Once again, Fauci refused to take the bait.
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“As I said before, I am concerned about any crowds, particularly people who don’t wear masks,” the doctor said. “I’m concerned more about indoor crowds than I am of outdoor crowds. But crowds without masks are a problem.”
More than two months since they began, there is no concrete evidence to conclude that the protests have increased the spread of the virus. The vast majority of protesters have worn masks. New York City, once the epicenter of COVID-19 this spring, had some of the biggest demonstrations in June. But the city has largely contained the spread of the virus, and infection rates have continued to remain low there.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--Here's Why Your $600 Unemployment Benefits Expired

WASHINGTON — As the extra $ 600 in unemployment benefits expire on Saturday , talks between the White House and congressional leaders on extending all or a portion of it have devolved into an orgy of finger-pointing .
The Senate left town on Thursday after a lot of drama and no meaningful progress toward reaching consensus on an extension .
With his Republican conference sharply divided on the issue , all Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky could do was set up a legislative vehicle in case a deal comes together next week .
House Democrats passed a bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responses to the coronavirus pandemic , would extend the additional $ 600 a week from the federal government until the end of the year .
But Senate Republicans dismissed that $ 3 trillion bill , calling it a “ socialist Democrat dream.
” Instead , they hit the brakes on passing further aid until a week before the ending of the extra jobless aid .
Negotiations between top congressional Democrats and White House officials haven ’ t gone anywhere , despite four rounds of talks on Capitol Hill .
And instead of trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lapse in the unemployment benefits , leaders from both parties are now selectively leaking information about negotiations to make the other side look worse .
The most recent controversy involves an offer that was never really made .
In a meeting with congressional leaders and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Thursday , the Trump administration floated the idea of a one-week extension of the $ 600 benefits so that both sides could continue negotiating .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) rejected the temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior aides from both parties , that question wasn ’ t meant as a serious offer .
But it was noteworthy to Republicans that Pelosi still said no to the four-month extension because Democrats want a broader relief package — just as it ’ s perhaps noteworthy that Meadows asked a “ rhetorical question ” like that during negotiations .
With the extra benefits suddenly disappearing for more than 25 million people , both parties are aiming to blame the other for the failure to extend at least some of the money .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow the enhanced unemployment to expire , they ’ ve made that very clear , ” Meadows told reporters after Thursday ’ s session .
“ So I ’ m not very optimistic on anybody who ’ s counting on enhanced unemployment to have any relief anytime soon.
” But Democrats seem to think the unemployment benefits are the key to a larger deal that includes money for state and local governments , another round of stimulus checks , and more money to address the health crisis — and they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 600 a week benefit , like many Republicans do .
A Senate Republican bill would have provided $ 200 a week until states could calculate benefits equal to 70 % of an unemployed person ’ s former income , up to $ 500 a week .
McConnell ’ s top priority in that bill , however , has been blocking coronavirus-related lawsuits with a provision that , among other things , would empower the U.S. Attorney General to prosecute anyone who so much as sends a letter demanding compensation for reckless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Republicans opposed to extra jobless pay — concerned that they would be disincentivizing work and inflating the unemployment rate — and with Democrats opposed to skimpier benefits , that proposal was dead on arrival .
The extra aid for the jobless is unprecedented , as Congress has never piled hundreds of dollars on top of weekly unemployment compensation , which is funded by state governments .
And the number of people receiving the benefits is also unprecedented , as the U.S. has never deliberately shut down wide swaths of its economy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without the extra $ 600 , benefit cuts will range from 50 % to 85 % , according to The Century Foundation , a liberal think tank .
Because so many people are losing so much income at once , the broader economy could suffer .
Shari Barnes , 61 , of Wichita , Kansas , said her state benefit is $ 293 .
The extra $ 600 has helped her take care of her son and daughter , who are also unemployed but not receiving benefits .
“ It will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m going to be able to do it , most likely , but it will be tougher .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON — As the extra $600 in unemployment benefits expire on Saturday, talks between the White House and congressional leaders on extending all or a portion of it have devolved into an orgy of finger-pointing.
The Senate left town on Thursday after a lot of drama and no meaningful progress toward reaching consensus on an extension. With his Republican conference sharply divided on the issue, all Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky could do was set up a legislative vehicle in case a deal comes together next week.
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House Democrats passed a bill in May that, among many other responses to the coronavirus pandemic, would extend the additional $600 a week from the federal government until the end of the year. But Senate Republicans dismissed that $3 trillion bill, calling it a “socialist Democrat dream.” Instead, they hit the brakes on passing further aid until a week before the ending of the extra jobless aid.
Negotiations between top congressional Democrats and White House officials haven’t gone anywhere, despite four rounds of talks on Capitol Hill. And instead of trying to find some consensus to avoid a lapse in the unemployment benefits, leaders from both parties are now selectively leaking information about negotiations to make the other side look worse.
The Senate left town Thursday with no progress on a deal to extend federal unemployment benefits. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Drew Angerer via Getty Images
The most recent controversy involves an offer that was never really made. In a meeting with congressional leaders and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Thursday, the Trump administration floated the idea of a one-week extension of the $600 benefits so that both sides could continue negotiating. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected the temporary offer out of hand.
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That led Meadows to ask a rhetorical question: Would Democrats turn down a four-month extension at $600?
According to senior aides from both parties, that question wasn’t meant as a serious offer. But it was noteworthy to Republicans that Pelosi still said no to the four-month extension because Democrats want a broader relief package — just as it’s perhaps noteworthy that Meadows asked a “rhetorical question” like that during negotiations.
The idea of continuing benefits for a single week, meanwhile, assumes state workforce agencies can implement a federal policy change without multiple weeks of delay, which they have proven they can’t.
With the extra benefits suddenly disappearing for more than 25 million people, both parties are aiming to blame the other for the failure to extend at least some of the money.
“I think the Democrats are willing to allow the enhanced unemployment to expire, they’ve made that very clear,” Meadows told reporters after Thursday’s session. “So I’m not very optimistic on anybody who’s counting on enhanced unemployment to have any relief anytime soon.”
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Meadows separately told HuffPost on Friday that he thought Democrats believed this would end with the President agreeing to their bill — an assertion he said he thought was entirely wrong.
But Democrats seem to think the unemployment benefits are the key to a larger deal that includes money for state and local governments, another round of stimulus checks, and more money to address the health crisis — and they don’t see a major need to reduce the $600 a week benefit, like many Republicans do.
Indeed, several GOP lawmakers told HuffPost this week that, ideally, Congress wouldn’t approve a single dollar more — let alone $600 a week.
A Senate Republican bill would have provided $200 a week until states could calculate benefits equal to 70% of an unemployed person’s former income, up to $500 a week. McConnell’s top priority in that bill, however, has been blocking coronavirus-related lawsuits with a provision that, among other things, would empower the U.S. Attorney General to prosecute anyone who so much as sends a letter demanding compensation for reckless exposure to the virus..
But with so many Republicans opposed to extra jobless pay — concerned that they would be disincentivizing work and inflating the unemployment rate — and with Democrats opposed to skimpier benefits, that proposal was dead on arrival.
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“The Republicans said they wanted to take a pause. Well, the virus didn’t,” Pelosi said Friday, pressing her case that Congress needed to pass more aid. “Their delay, their denials, their distortions have caused death.”
The extra aid for the jobless is unprecedented, as Congress has never piled hundreds of dollars on top of weekly unemployment compensation, which is funded by state governments. And the number of people receiving the benefits is also unprecedented, as the U.S. has never deliberately shut down wide swaths of its economy to stop the spread of a deadly virus.
Without the extra $600, benefit cuts will range from 50% to 85%, according to The Century Foundation, a liberal think tank. Because so many people are losing so much income at once, the broader economy could suffer.
From March through June, work incomes fell by 4.1%, but thanks to unemployment benefits overall incomes rose 5.4%, according to an analysis of recent data by former Treasury economist Ernie Tedeschi.
Shari Barnes, 61, of Wichita, Kansas, said her state benefit is $293. The extra $600 has helped her take care of her son and daughter, who are also unemployed but not receiving benefits.
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“It will get tougher,” she said. “I’m going to be able to do it, most likely, but it will be tougher.”
Barnes is a substitute teacher. She can’t stand hearing from Republicans that the extra benefits supposedly make workers lazy while a deadly plague stalks the nation.