thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-02--SpaceX Capsule And NASA Astronauts Make First Splashdown In 45 Years

It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years , with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit .
The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year .
Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida .
The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isaias pounding Florida ’ s Atlantic coast .
The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph ( 28,000 kph ) to 350 mph ( 560 kph ) during atmospheric reentry , and finally to 15 mph ( 24 kph ) at splashdown .
Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit ( 1,900 degrees Celsius ) .
The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew : four to five times the force of Earth ’ s gravity .
A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following splashdown and lifted the 15-foot capsule onto its deck .
Two smaller , faster boats arrived first at the capsule while it was slowly bobbing upright in the water .
To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic , the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus .
The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24 , 1975 , in the Pacific , the scene of most splashdowns , to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic , while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific .
The lone Russian “ splashdown ” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission ; the harrowing recovery took hours .
SpaceX made history with this mission , which launched May 30 from NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center .
It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilot of NASA ’ s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight .
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station , following the retirement of the shuttles .
Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit , NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets .
SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station , bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown .
“ This is the next era in human spaceflight where NASA gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administrator Jim Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston shortly before the astronauts ’ return .
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September .
This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station .
Hurley and Behnken ’ s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring .
A Houston company run by a former NASA official , meanwhile , has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect to launch its first crew until next year .
The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule , with no one aboard , last year .
Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert .
By beating Boeing , SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew .
The flag — which also flew on the first shuttle flight — was carefully packed aboard the Dragon for the homecoming .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.
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Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast.
“Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters.
“It was truly our honor and privilege,” replied Hurley.
The astronauts’ ride home in the capsule dubbed Endeavour was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside.
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The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earth’s gravity.
“Endeavour has you loud and clear,” Hurley radioed following a brief communication blackout caused by the heat of atmospheric entry.
A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and nurses, moved in quickly following splashdown and lifted the 15-foot capsule onto its deck. Two smaller, faster boats arrived first at the capsule while it was slowly bobbing upright in the water. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus.
After medical exams, the astronauts were expected to fly home to Houston for a reunion with their wives and sons.
The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian “splashdown” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours.
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SpaceX made history with this mission, which launched May 30 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA’s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight.
Musk monitored the descent and splashdown from SpaceX Mission Control in Hawthorne, California.
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station, bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown.
“This is the next era in human spaceflight where NASA gets to be the customer,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston shortly before the astronauts’ return.
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnken’s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. A Houston company run by a former NASA official, meanwhile, has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021.
Boeing doesn’t expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert.
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By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. The flag — which also flew on the first shuttle flight — was carefully packed aboard the Dragon for the homecoming.
Also on board: a toy dinosaur named Tremor, sent into space by the astronauts’ young sons.
The boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning, urging them to “rise and shine” and “we can’t wait to see you.”
“Don’t worry, you can sleep in tomorrow,” said Behnken’s 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. “Hurry home so we can go get my dog.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-02--Marines Halt Search For 8 Missing Troops Off Southern California Coast, All Presumed Dead

ASSOCIATED PRESS The U.S. flag was lowered to half-staff at Park Semper Fi in San Clemente , Calif. , on Friday , July 31 , 2020 .
Eight troops aboard a landing craft that sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise are presumed dead , the Marine Corps announced Sunday , Aug. 2 , 2020 .
( Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP , file ) SAN DIEGO ( AP ) — Eight troops missing after their landing craft sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise are presumed dead , the Marine Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had called off the search that started late Thursday afternoon when the amphibious assault vehicle sank with 15 Marines and one Navy sailor aboard .
Eight Marines were rescued , but one later died and two are in critical condition .
The 26-ton , tank-like craft took on water and quickly sank in hundreds of feet of water — too deep for divers — making it difficult to reach .
“ It is with as heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort , ” said Col. Christopher Bronzi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unit .
All of the Marines aboard were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , based at nearby Camp Pendleton , north of San Diego .
They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wearing combat gear , including body armor and flotation vests , according to Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman , commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force .
The craft was one of 13 amphibious assault vehicles that had just completed an exercise .
It was heading back to a Navy ship when it began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Navy-owned island off San Diego .
Over the course of the search , dozens of helicopters and ships searched more than 1,000 square nautical miles ( 2,590 square kilometers ) of sea .
Efforts will now turn to finding and recovering the service members and investigating the circumstances surrounding the sinking , officials said .
The names of the victims will be released 24 hours after their families are notified .
The vehicle , nicknamed an “ amtrac ” ― short for “ amphibious tractor ” ― was designed to be buoyant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large troop hatches .
The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land .
The Marine Corps commandant , Gen. David Berger , suspended waterborne operations of all of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined .
He said the move was out of “ an abundance of caution.
” It was the deadliest of several accidents involving amtracs that have occurred during Camp Pendleton exercises in recent years .
In 2017 , 14 Marines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their vehicle hit a natural gas line at the camp , igniting a fire that engulfed the landing craft .

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eight troops missing after their landing craft sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise are presumed dead, the Marine Corps announced Sunday.
The Marines said they had called off the search that started late Thursday afternoon when the amphibious assault vehicle sank with 15 Marines and one Navy sailor aboard. Eight Marines were rescued, but one later died and two are in critical condition.
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The 26-ton, tank-like craft took on water and quickly sank in hundreds of feet of water — too deep for divers — making it difficult to reach.
“It is with as heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort,” said Col. Christopher Bronzi, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
All of the Marines aboard were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at nearby Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wearing combat gear, including body armor and flotation vests, according to Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Their names were released early Monday:
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The craft was one of 13 amphibious assault vehicles that had just completed an exercise. It was heading back to a Navy ship when it began taking on water about a half-mile from the Navy-owned island off San Diego.
Troops on board two other amphibious assault vehicles responded quickly but couldn’t stop the sinking, Osterman said at a Friday news conference.
Over the course of the search, dozens of helicopters and ships searched more than 1,000 square nautical miles (2,590 square kilometers) of sea.
Efforts will now turn to finding and recovering the service members and investigating the circumstances surrounding the sinking, officials said.
The vehicle, nicknamed an “amtrac” ― short for “amphibious tractor” ― was designed to be buoyant and had three water-tight hatches and two large troop hatches. The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land.
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The vehicles have been used since 1972, and continually refurbished.
The Marine Corps commandant, Gen. David Berger, suspended waterborne operations of all of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined. He said the move was out of “an abundance of caution.”
It was the deadliest of several accidents involving amtracs that have occurred during Camp Pendleton exercises in recent years.
In 2017, 14 Marines and one Navy sailor were hospitalized after their vehicle hit a natural gas line at the camp, igniting a fire that engulfed the landing craft.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Outbreak Hits Norway Cruise Ship, Could Spread Along Coast

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) — A Norwegian cruise ship line halted all trips and apologized Monday for procedural errors after an outbreak of coronavirus on one ship infected at least 5 passengers and 36 crew .
Health authorities fear the ship could have infected dozens of towns and villages along Norway ’ s western coast .
The 41 people on the MS Roald Amundsen who tested positive have been admitted to the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe , north of the Arctic Circle , where the ship currently is docked .
“ A preliminary evaluation shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several of our internal procedures , ” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said in a statement .
He added the company that sails along Norway ’ s picturesque coast between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north is “ now in the process of a full review of all procedures , and all aspects of our own handling.
” The cruise line has contacted passengers who had been on the MS Roald Amundsen for its July 17-24 and July 25-31 trips from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 209 guests on the first voyage and 178 guests on the second voyage .
But since the cruise ship line often acts like a local ferry , traveling from port to port along Norway ’ s western coast , the virus may not have been contained onboard .
Some passengers disembarked along the route and may have spread the virus to their local communities .
The municipality of Tromsoe is urging anyone who traveled on the ship or had any contact with the ship to get in touch with health authorities .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been affected , Norwegian news agency NTB reported .
Its not known how the outbreak began since guests come from all over the world .
NTB said 33 of the 36 crew members that have tested positive came from the Philippines and the others came from Norway , France and Germany .
Over the weekend , Skjeldam said cruise ship officials did not know that they should have notified the passengers after the first case was reported Friday , adding that they followed the advice of the ship ’ s doctors .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health said its advice was to inform passengers and crew as soon as possible so they could monitor their health and go into quarantine if needed .
“ We have made mistakes .
On behalf of all of us in Hurtigruten , I am sorry for what has happened .
We take full responsibility , ” Skjeldam said .
The Tromsoe-based Hurtigruten was one of the first companies to resume sailing after the pandemic hit and started cruises to Norway out of Hamburg , northern Germany , in June with a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July , Norwegian media reported .
In Italy , the Costa Crociere cruise ship line said Sunday three crew members from two ships in Civitavecchia , near Rome , have tested positive for the coronavirus .
The cruise company said two assigned to the Costa Deliziosa were hospitalized in good condition , and a third , assigned to the Costa Favolosa , was in isolation on the ship .
The Italian cruise company , which is part of Carnival Corp. said the crews of both ships were being screened ‘ ’ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruises , as soon as the government gives the authorization.
’ ’ The Cabinet is meeting on the matter next Sunday .
Costa Crociere said that all crew members were tested for the virus before leaving their countries , then undergo a second test once they arrive in Italy , after which they are put under a two-week monitoring period .
A German cruise ship last week set sail from Hamburg , testing procedures for how cruise ships can operate safely during the pandemic .
The ship sailed with less than 50 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip at sea with no stops at other ports .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Norwegian cruise ship line halted all trips and apologized Monday for procedural errors after an outbreak of coronavirus on one ship infected at least 5 passengers and 36 crew. Health authorities fear the ship could have infected dozens of towns and villages along Norway’s western coast.
The 41 people on the MS Roald Amundsen who tested positive have been admitted to the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe, north of the Arctic Circle, where the ship currently is docked.
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“A preliminary evaluation shows that there has been a failure in several of our internal procedures,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said in a statement. He added the company that sails along Norway’s picturesque coast between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north is “now in the process of a full review of all procedures, and all aspects of our own handling.”
The cruise line has contacted passengers who had been on the MS Roald Amundsen for its July 17-24 and July 25-31 trips from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, which is known for its polar bears.T here were 209 guests on the first voyage and 178 guests on the second voyage.
All 158 crew members on MS Roald Amundsen have been tested and 122 were negative.
But since the cruise ship line often acts like a local ferry, traveling from port to port along Norway’s western coast, the virus may not have been contained onboard. Some passengers disembarked along the route and may have spread the virus to their local communities.
Norwegian cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen moored in Tromso, Norway, Monday Aug. 3, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The municipality of Tromsoe is urging anyone who traveled on the ship or had any contact with the ship to get in touch with health authorities. A total of 69 municipalities in Norway have been affected, Norwegian news agency NTB reported.
Its not known how the outbreak began since guests come from all over the world. NTB said 33 of the 36 crew members that have tested positive came from the Philippines and the others came from Norway, France and Germany.
Over the weekend, Skjeldam said cruise ship officials did not know that they should have notified the passengers after the first case was reported Friday, adding that they followed the advice of the ship’s doctors.
But Line Vold of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said its advice was to inform passengers and crew as soon as possible so they could monitor their health and go into quarantine if needed.
“We have made mistakes. On behalf of all of us in Hurtigruten, I am sorry for what has happened. We take full responsibility,” Skjeldam said.
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The Hurtigruten line says the operations of three ships — MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen — have been halted for an indefinite period.
The Tromsoe-based Hurtigruten was one of the first companies to resume sailing after the pandemic hit and started cruises to Norway out of Hamburg, northern Germany, in June with a single ship. It added cruises to Svalbard in July, Norwegian media reported.
In Italy, the Costa Crociere cruise ship line said Sunday three crew members from two ships in Civitavecchia, near Rome, have tested positive for the coronavirus. The cruise company said two assigned to the Costa Deliziosa were hospitalized in good condition, and a third, assigned to the Costa Favolosa, was in isolation on the ship.
The Italian cruise company, which is part of Carnival Corp. said the crews of both ships were being screened ‘’in view of the possible relaunch of our cruises, as soon as the government gives the authorization.’’ The Cabinet is meeting on the matter next Sunday.
Costa Crociere said that all crew members were tested for the virus before leaving their countries, then undergo a second test once they arrive in Italy, after which they are put under a two-week monitoring period.
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Cruise lines stopped sailing in mid-March after several high-profile coronavirus outbreaks at sea. More than 710 people fell ill aboard Carnival’s Diamond Princess cruise ship while it was quarantined off Japan and 13 people died.
A German cruise ship last week set sail from Hamburg, testing procedures for how cruise ships can operate safely during the pandemic. The ship sailed with less than 50% capacity and only went on a four-day trip at sea with no stops at other ports.
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Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--My Brother Died Of An Overdose. Here’s What I Wish I’d Known That Could Have Saved Him.

Courtesy of Jess Keefe The author with her new baby brother in the late '80s When I think back to that October evening , there ’ s an alternative version of events that I often indulge in .
In this version , I still come home to the apartment we shared and find my brother overdosing in his bedroom , his skin blue like it ’ s covered in crepe paper , his mouth ajar yet unbreathing .
But this time , I don ’ t stumble and scream .
Instead , I calmly uncap a dose of naloxone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I tilt my brother ’ s head , his dirty blond hair brushing back off his face .
I administer the naloxone , an easy puff up his nostril .
I watch with hopeful desperation .
A minute passes , maybe two .
And then Matt ’ s gaping mouth draws air again .
A cough , and then another .
He opens his eyes .
The color returns to his freckled arms , his cheeks .
I hold his head and sigh .
Matt ’ s addiction brought him to various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have much to offer .
They shrugged .
They looked at the floor , uncomfortable , or they lectured , haughty .
They told us Matt ’ s brain was swollen from heroin use .
They told us it was very important for him to stop using heroin .
They asked us , Have you tried telling him how important it is to stop using heroin ?
Before the tsunami of COVID-19 , America surfed waves of addiction epidemics .
The opioid one we ’ re riding now is the deadliest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one cause of accidental death in the U.S .
They kill more of us than gun violence or car crashes .
America leads the wealthy world in overdoses by a yawning margin .
Addiction also connects to the larger issue of racism and health equity in America .
Despite the whitewashed narrative of the opioid crisis , Black and Native Americans are at a greater risk of overdose in many states .
Still , white Americans are 35 times more likely to receive evidence-based treatment for an opioid use disorder than Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to addiction , the War on Drugs , fuels the criminalization of Black and Latinx communities and excuses violence perpetrated by police officers .
Our country is cracking an eye open to some of these facts , and earlier this year , there was a glimmer of hope .
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a slight dip in the national overdose rate .
The number was still sky-high , but it was promising news .
Though it ’ s early days measuring the full impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that the pandemic has washed away that progress .
According to The Washington Post , suspected drug overdoses nationally rose 18 % in March , 29 % in April and 42 % in May .
Individual states are also reporting alarming trends .
Kentucky has estimated a 25 % increase in overdose deaths .
West Virginia reports a 50 % jump in overdose-related emergency calls , and Wisconsin is seeing about the same figure .
The pandemic is bringing unprecedented social isolation , economic devastation and fresh trauma — all big risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not prepared .
Of the billions in COVID-19 emergency funds that have been approved by Congress and the Trump administration , a mere one-hundredth of one percent went toward mental health and substance use treatment .
Opioids attach to receptors in your brain , spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract .
That ’ s how the drugs ’ euphoric effects blossom in your body .
But the drugs also cause your breathing to slow , your blood pressure to drop .
That ’ s what makes overdoses so deadly .
Your body just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beating .
Naloxone , also known by the brand names Narcan or Evzio , stops this process .
Once administered , either via syringe or nasal spray , naloxone heads straight for these same receptors .
It hip-checks the opioid clean off and the harmful effects of the overdose start to reverse .
Breathing resumes .
It can happen as quickly as a few minutes .
People who ’ ve witnessed a person being revived with naloxone have described it as a miracle .
In the five years since my brother died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and easier to access .
Most states now have a standing order for naloxone , which allows pharmacists to dispense it without a prescription .
Community nonprofits distribute the medication at little to no cost .
The U.S .
Surgeon General has issued an advisory on naloxone , recommending that all Americans carry it and be prepared to use it .
And we ’ re getting better ideas about what to do with people once they ’ ve been revived with naloxone .
Many states are enacting “ warm handoff ” policies so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency room after an overdose , they ’ re offered treatment for their substance use disorder on the spot .
Numerous studies now link broader access to naloxone to lower rates of overdose deaths .
But not everyone is sold .
As is true of all drug policy discourse , misinformation and moralizing abound .
Economists and online trolls alike opine that naloxone enables and encourages drug use .
( It doesn ’ t . )
T-shirt sloganeers joke about naloxone being an affront to Darwinism .
Some local officials have floated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit how many times an overdosing person deserves to be resuscitated .
Some police departments have banned officers from administering naloxone , both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic .
When Owens imagined encountering someone experiencing an overdose , he said , “ As much as I would love to serve as a lifesaver in this kind of serious situation , racial bias in the criminal justice system could too easily make this act of service dangerous to me as a Black man.
” Naloxone alone isn ’ t going to end the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cure heart disease , and EpiPens don ’ t cure allergies — nor do we expect them to .
These are emergency tools that prevent death in cases of extreme medical distress .
No one considers it a person ’ s fault if they need to be revived with a defibrillator more than once .
EpiPens aren ’ t judged problematic because they allow folks with allergies to get dangerously close to shellfish .
These are morally neutral tools .
So is naloxone .

The author with her new baby brother in the late '80s Courtesy of Jess Keefe
The evening my brother died was crisp but warm, early October. It was a regular day. People are always struck by the ordinariness of the circumstances when something bad happens.
Matt self-medicated with substances for years before it turned into a full-blown heroin addiction. It started with pill-popping at parties, then morphed into stockpiling syringes in a Café Bustelo can.
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When I think back to that October evening, there’s an alternative version of events that I often indulge in. In this version, I still come home to the apartment we shared and find my brother overdosing in his bedroom, his skin blue like it’s covered in crepe paper, his mouth ajar yet unbreathing.
But this time, I don’t stumble and scream. Instead, I calmly uncap a dose of naloxone, the one I always keep with me. I tilt my brother’s head, his dirty blond hair brushing back off his face. I administer the naloxone, an easy puff up his nostril. I watch with hopeful desperation. A minute passes, maybe two. And then Matt’s gaping mouth draws air again. A cough, and then another. He opens his eyes. The color returns to his freckled arms, his cheeks. I hold his head and sigh.
I cherish this little remix I’ve made for myself. But it’s not what actually happened.
I didn’t have naloxone that night. I didn’t even know what it was. CPR kept Matt warm until first responders arrived, but ultimately, we were all too late.
*****
Throughout Matt’s struggles, I didn’t really understand that addiction is treatable. I thought addiction was always a loss playing out in slow motion, a Greek tragedy, the ending unavoidable.
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But in fact, decades of scientific research illuminate many effective treatment strategies for substance use disorders, and millions of Americans are thriving in recovery today.
However, you can’t recover if you’re dead.
Matt’s addiction brought him to various hospitals over the years. Doctors did not have much to offer. They shrugged. They looked at the floor, uncomfortable, or they lectured, haughty. They told us Matt’s brain was swollen from heroin use. They told us it was very important for him to stop using heroin. They asked us, Have you tried telling him how important it is to stop using heroin?
Matt’s death was preventable. But it was not prevented. And Matt is hardly the only one.
*****
Before the tsunami of COVID-19, America surfed waves of addiction epidemics. The opioid one we’re riding now is the deadliest in U.S. history. Drug overdoses are the number one cause of accidental death in the U.S. They kill more of us than gun violence or car crashes. America leads the wealthy world in overdoses by a yawning margin.
Addiction also connects to the larger issue of racism and health equity in America. Despite the whitewashed narrative of the opioid crisis, Black and Native Americans are at a greater risk of overdose in many states. Still, white Americans are 35 times more likely to receive evidence-based treatment for an opioid use disorder than Black Americans. America’s decadeslong answer to addiction, the War on Drugs, fuels the criminalization of Black and Latinx communities and excuses violence perpetrated by police officers.
Our country is cracking an eye open to some of these facts, and earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a slight dip in the national overdose rate. The number was still sky-high, but it was promising news.
Advertisement
Though it’s early days measuring the full impact of COVID-19, it’s safe to say that the pandemic has washed away that progress. According to The Washington Post, suspected drug overdoses nationally rose 18% in March, 29% in April and 42% in May. Individual states are also reporting alarming trends. Kentucky has estimated a 25% increase in overdose deaths. West Virginia reports a 50% jump in overdose-related emergency calls, and Wisconsin is seeing about the same figure.
The pandemic is bringing unprecedented social isolation, economic devastation and fresh trauma — all big risk factors for addiction. But we’re not prepared. Of the billions in COVID-19 emergency funds that have been approved by Congress and the Trump administration, a mere one-hundredth of one percent went toward mental health and substance use treatment.
Overdoses are going to continue increasing.
*****
Opioids attach to receptors in your brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract. That’s how the drugs’ euphoric effects blossom in your body. But the drugs also cause your breathing to slow, your blood pressure to drop. That’s what makes overdoses so deadly. Your body just forgets to breathe until your heart stops beating.
Naloxone, also known by the brand names Narcan or Evzio, stops this process. Once administered, either via syringe or nasal spray, naloxone heads straight for these same receptors. It hip-checks the opioid clean off and the harmful effects of the overdose start to reverse. Breathing resumes. It can happen as quickly as a few minutes. People who’ve witnessed a person being revived with naloxone have described it as a miracle.
In the five years since my brother died, naloxone has become a lot better known and easier to access. Most states now have a standing order for naloxone, which allows pharmacists to dispense it without a prescription. Community nonprofits distribute the medication at little to no cost. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory on naloxone, recommending that all Americans carry it and be prepared to use it.
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And we’re getting better ideas about what to do with people once they’ve been revived with naloxone. Many states are enacting “warm handoff” policies so that when a person is brought into the emergency room after an overdose, they’re offered treatment for their substance use disorder on the spot.
Addiction is treatable. But not if you’re dead.
*****
Separate from these stigma-driven roadblocks, there are more complex limitations to widespread naloxone use that must be addressed. “Not all Good Samaritans are seen the same way,” as Ernest Owens wrote in Philadelphia magazine two years ago.
When Owens imagined encountering someone experiencing an overdose, he said, “As much as I would love to serve as a lifesaver in this kind of serious situation, racial bias in the criminal justice system could too easily make this act of service dangerous to me as a Black man.”
Just as we’ve whitewashed our image of the victims, we’ve whitewashed our image of the saviors. “While white people can be perceived without question as goodwill ambassadors in opioid-ravaged areas ... Black and brown people in the same area face being pegged as drug dealers and addicts,” Owens wrote.
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*****
Naloxone alone isn’t going to end the overdose crisis. Defibrillators don’t cure heart disease, and EpiPens don’t cure allergies — nor do we expect them to. These are emergency tools that prevent death in cases of extreme medical distress. No one considers it a person’s fault if they need to be revived with a defibrillator more than once. EpiPens aren’t judged problematic because they allow folks with allergies to get dangerously close to shellfish. These are morally neutral tools. So is naloxone.
Solving the overdose crisis will require better access to science-based treatment and sustained recovery support. It will require urgently addressing income inequality, racism, the criminalization of drug use and other structural problems that lead to or intensify addiction. It will require a seismic shift in social attitudes. The road stretches long before us.
In the meantime, I’ll keep carrying naloxone. I never want to miss a life-saving opportunity again.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--White House Not Optimistic On Near-Term Deal For Coronavirus Relief Bill

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Sunday he was not optimistic on reaching agreement soon on a deal for the next round of legislation to provide relief to Americans hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ m not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term , ” Meadows said on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” as staff members from both sides were meeting to try to iron out differences over the bill .
Democrats were standing in the way of a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the short-term while negotiations continue on an overall relief package , he said .
“ We continue to see really a stonewalling of any piecemeal type of legislation that happens on Capitol Hill , ” Meadows said .
“ Hopefully that will change in the coming days.
” Lawmakers and the White House have been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression .
Both sides said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet .
But there was no sign of movement on the biggest sticking point - $ 600 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits for Americans that has been a lifeline for millions of jobless Americans and expired on Friday .
Asked about efforts to renew the expired emergency federal jobless benefits , Pelosi said , referring to Trump : “ He ’ s the one standing in the way of that.
” Pelosi , who also highlighted the need for assistance for state and local governments , stood firm in her demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week jobless aid .
She told ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that when unemployment drops , the federal support could fall too .
“ As that goes down , then you can consider something less than the $ 600 , but in this agreement it ’ s $ 600 , ” she said .
“ It ’ s essential for America ’ s working families.
” The Trump administration and some Senate Republicans have been pushing for a reduction in those extra federal benefits , saying they should be tied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any extension .
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told ABC Trump supports the enhanced benefits but does not want people to make more when they are unemployed than they would if they had a job .
“ I think on the concept , we absolutely agree on enhanced unemployment .
We want to fix the issue where in some cases people are overpaid and we want to make sure there ’ s the right incentives , ” Mnuchin said .
There is a need to support workers and the economy , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about not piling on enormous amount of debts for future generation.
” The House of Representatives , controlled by Democrats , proposed their version of relief legislation in May .
The Republican-led U.S. Senate did not make a counter-proposal until last week and even Republicans do not agree among themselves on what should be in the bill .
Mnuchin told reporters on Saturday the talks were constructive but had reached an “ impasse ” over whether to come to a short-term agreement to extend the federal jobless benefit or a more comprehensive deal @

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Sunday he was not optimistic on reaching agreement soon on a deal for the next round of legislation to provide relief to Americans hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term,” Meadows said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” as staff members from both sides were meeting to try to iron out differences over the bill.
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Democrats were standing in the way of a separate agreement to extend some federal unemployment benefits in the short-term while negotiations continue on an overall relief package, he said.
“We continue to see really a stonewalling of any piecemeal type of legislation that happens on Capitol Hill,” Meadows said. “Hopefully that will change in the coming days.”
Lawmakers and the White House have been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression.
Both sides said on Saturday they had their most positive talks yet. But there was no sign of movement on the biggest sticking point - $600 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits for Americans that has been a lifeline for millions of jobless Americans and expired on Friday.
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Asked about efforts to renew the expired emergency federal jobless benefits, Pelosi said, referring to Trump: “He’s the one standing in the way of that.”
Pelosi, who also highlighted the need for assistance for state and local governments, stood firm in her demand that Congress renew the $600 per week jobless aid. She told ABC’s “This Week” that when unemployment drops, the federal support could fall too.
“As that goes down, then you can consider something less than the $600, but in this agreement it’s $600,” she said. “It’s essential for America’s working families.”
The Trump administration and some Senate Republicans have been pushing for a reduction in those extra federal benefits, saying they should be tied to wages. Other Senate Republicans have rejected any extension.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told ABC Trump supports the enhanced benefits but does not want people to make more when they are unemployed than they would if they had a job.
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“I think on the concept, we absolutely agree on enhanced unemployment. We want to fix the issue where in some cases people are overpaid and we want to make sure there’s the right incentives,” Mnuchin said.
There is a need to support workers and the economy, he said, but “we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amount of debts for future generation.”
The House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, proposed their version of relief legislation in May. The Republican-led U.S. Senate did not make a counter-proposal until last week and even Republicans do not agree among themselves on what should be in the bill.
Mnuchin told reporters on Saturday the talks were constructive but had reached an “impasse” over whether to come to a short-term agreement to extend the federal jobless benefit or a more comprehensive deal.
The officials will meet again on Monday, after their staff meet on Sunday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Andrew Yang Has A Debate Warning For Trump ― And A Bold Prediction For Biden

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has a warning for President Donald Trump ahead of any debates with former Vice President Joe Biden .
“ Joe ’ s going to clean his clock , ” predicted Yang .
“ Nothing will hold him back from doing that.
” The Trump campaign has tried to sell a narrative of a diminished Biden , but Yang ― who noted he ’ s been on the debate stage with Biden ― warned that ’ s going to backfire .
“ When the American people see the contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very tough case for the president to make , ” Yang said : “ I think Joe Biden is licking his chops to debate Donald Trump .
I think he has been waiting for it for months .
I have been on the debate stage with Joe .
Joe ’ s going to clean his clock .
Nothing will hold him back from doing that.
” -- @ AndrewYang pic.twitter.com/lHC26AskGT — Ana Cabrera ( @ AnaCabrera ) August 2 , 2020 The presidential debates are currently scheduled for Sept. 29 , Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice presidential debate set for Oct. 7 .
However , last June , the Trump camp tried to alter the debate schedule and moderator selection ― a move the Biden camp indicated was a nonstarter .
Yang , who built his campaign around a universal basic income , also shared his frustration with the Republican plan to reduce the expanded unemployment benefits for people unable to work due to the COVID-19 closures : Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

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Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has a warning for President Donald Trump ahead of any debates with former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Joe’s going to clean his clock,” predicted Yang. “Nothing will hold him back from doing that.”
The Trump campaign has tried to sell a narrative of a diminished Biden, but Yang ― who noted he’s been on the debate stage with Biden ― warned that’s going to backfire.
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“When the American people see the contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it’s going to be a very tough case for the president to make,” Yang said:
“I think Joe Biden is licking his chops to debate Donald Trump. I think he has been waiting for it for months. I have been on the debate stage with Joe. Joe’s going to clean his clock. Nothing will hold him back from doing that.” --@AndrewYang pic.twitter.com/lHC26AskGT — Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) August 2, 2020
The presidential debates are currently scheduled for Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, with a vice presidential debate set for Oct. 7. However, last June, the Trump camp tried to alter the debate schedule and moderator selection ― a move the Biden camp indicated was a nonstarter.
Yang, who built his campaign around a universal basic income, also shared his frustration with the Republican plan to reduce the expanded unemployment benefits for people unable to work due to the COVID-19 closures:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Sean Hannity Under Fire After Trump Campaign Uses His Book For Fundraising

Fox News host Sean Hannity is under fire for crossing ethical lines after President Donald Trump ’ s campaign team offered signed copies of his forthcoming book in exchange for donations to the campaign .
In an email sent from Trump Headquarters to subscribers , which was posted online by Daily Beast politics editor Sam Stein , the campaign offered to send signed copies of Hannity ’ s new book , Live Free or Die , to supporters who make a $ 75 donation .
Sean Hannity lends his book and name for the RNC to help raise money for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get one in trouble at a news organization .
pic.twitter.com/1JS8ExDZkj — Sam Stein ( @ samstein ) August 3 , 2020 Most major news organizations bar journalists from contributing to political campaigns .
Hannity , who regularly stumps for the president on his TV and radio shows , has even been rapped by Fox News in the past for similarly inappropriate conduct .
Following Hannity ’ s appearance on stage at a Trump rally in Cape Girardeau , Missouri in 2018 ― during which he lauded the president and attacked all others in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News told HuffPost it “ does not condone any talent participating in campaign events ” and said the incident was “ an unfortunate distraction and has been addressed.
” In 2016 , after Hannity was featured in a political ad released by the Trump campaign , Fox News said he would not be permitted to appear in any other promotional materials for the remainder of the election season .
HuffPost has reached out to Fox News for comment about Hannity ’ s latest involvement with the Trump campaign .
The book giveaway prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media : Next time Sean Hannity or anyone at Fox tries to pretend he ’ s independent of Trump , remind them Hannity provided signed books as a free gift to anyone who donated $ 75 to Trump ’ s campaign .
Wonder if any other major news organization would allow this ?
https : //t.co/dHRwXDUhtX — Eric Deggans at NPR ( @ Deggans ) August 3 , 2020 So @ seanhannity is literally fundraising for the @ GOP and @ realDonaldTrump .
Just say that he is on the campaign team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a damn thing about what anyone else does .
https : //t.co/INQlblNwLG — rolandsmartin ( @ rolandsmartin ) August 3 , 2020 Fox News on Hannity appearing in a Trump ad in 2016 : “ We had no knowledge ... and he will not be doing anything along these lines for the remainder of the election.
” Fox when he appeared at 2018 rally : “ Fox News does not condone any talent participating in campaign events.
” 2020 : https : //t.co/j9zoAz23PU — Aaron Blake ( @ AaronBlake ) August 3 , @

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Fox News host Sean Hannity is under fire for crossing ethical lines after President Donald Trump’s campaign team offered signed copies of his forthcoming book in exchange for donations to the campaign.
In an email sent from Trump Headquarters to subscribers, which was posted online by Daily Beast politics editor Sam Stein, the campaign offered to send signed copies of Hannity’s new book, Live Free or Die, to supporters who make a $75 donation.
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Sean Hannity lends his book and name for the RNC to help raise money for Trump. The stuff that would normally get one in trouble at a news organization. pic.twitter.com/1JS8ExDZkj — Sam Stein (@samstein) August 3, 2020
Most major news organizations bar journalists from contributing to political campaigns. Hannity, who regularly stumps for the president on his TV and radio shows, has even been rapped by Fox News in the past for similarly inappropriate conduct.
Following Hannity’s appearance on stage at a Trump rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 2018 ― during which he lauded the president and attacked all others in the media as fake news ― Fox News told HuffPost it “does not condone any talent participating in campaign events” and said the incident was “an unfortunate distraction and has been addressed.”
In 2016, after Hannity was featured in a political ad released by the Trump campaign, Fox News said he would not be permitted to appear in any other promotional materials for the remainder of the election season.
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Asked for comment about Hannity’s latest involvement with the Trump campaign, Fox News instead referred questions to the book’s publisher.
The book giveaway prompted rebukes from journalists and others on social media:
Next time Sean Hannity or anyone at Fox tries to pretend he’s independent of Trump, remind them Hannity provided signed books as a free gift to anyone who donated $75 to Trump’s campaign. Wonder if any other major news organization would allow this? https://t.co/dHRwXDUhtX — Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) August 3, 2020
So @seanhannity is literally fundraising for the @GOP and @realDonaldTrump. Just say that he is on the campaign team. NO ONE on @FoxNews can say a damn thing about what anyone else does. https://t.co/INQlblNwLG — rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) August 3, 2020
Fox News on Hannity appearing in a Trump ad in 2016: “We had no knowledge...and he will not be doing anything along these lines for the remainder of the election.”
Fox when he appeared at 2018 rally: “Fox News does not condone any talent participating in campaign events.”
2020: https://t.co/j9zoAz23PU — Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 3, 2020
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When I received this fundraising email, I asked a Fox PR person for comment.. https://t.co/rGnTxAsT7Y — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 3, 2020
Remember when MSNBC host Keith Olbermann was suspended without pay after he made campaign contributions to a couple of Democratic candidates? https://t.co/uueaUVDHXK — Sean Corcoran (@seacorc) August 3, 2020
.@seanhannity is honestly the grift that keeps on grifting. #TrumpHasNoPlan other than greasing the palms of his petulant pawns. https://t.co/F2SGdPs6yW — Jordy (@J_Mei21) August 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-02--Trump's Broken Promises On Healthcare Called Out In Stinging New Ad

A new attack ad highlights President Donald Trump ’ s repeated and long-running failure to deliver on his promises to shake up the nation ’ s healthcare system .
“ We ’ re signing a healthcare plan within two weeks , a full and complete healthcare plan , ” Trump vowed in a July 19 interview with Chris Wallace on “ Fox News Sunday.
” The 60-second spot was released by progressive super PAC MeidasTouch on Sunday ― two weeks after that interview when no such plan had arrived .
Trump spent much of Sunday at Trump National Golf Club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golfing for the second day in a row .
Since before he took office , Trump has pledged to imminently produce a comprehensive healthcare plan to replace the Affordable Care Act .
Yet , with three months to go before the election , more than 150,000 people dead and millions more infected as the coronavirus surges around the U.S. , no overhaul has been delivered .
“ In response to a question by Chris Wallace why Trump hasn ’ t had a healthcare plan in 3.5 years , Trump ’ s response was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care plan ready to sign in two weeks .
Of course , this has not been the case , ” MeidasTouch said in a statement released with the video .
“ Trump has been lying about everything since he ran for office , but his lies on health care are particularly and peculiarly virulent and dastardly given that is causing people to become and stay stick and lose their lives — on a mass scale.
” The TrumpHasNoPlan hashtag paired alongside the video was among Twitter ’ s top trending topics in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fundraising for a nationwide Fox News TV ad buy for the spot , according to the statement .
It ’ s not clear if or when it will air .
MeidasTouch was founded by Ben Meiselas and his brothers , Brett and Jordan .
Meiselas is a civil rights attorney who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his settlement with the NFL .

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A new attack ad highlights President Donald Trump’s repeated and long-running failure to deliver on his promises to shake up the nation’s healthcare system.
“We’re signing a healthcare plan within two weeks, a full and complete healthcare plan,” Trump vowed in a July 19 interview with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.” The 60-second spot was released by progressive super PAC MeidasTouch on Sunday ― two weeks after that interview when no such plan had arrived. Trump spent much of Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, where he was seen golfing for the second day in a row.
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Since before he took office, Trump has pledged to imminently produce a comprehensive healthcare plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Yet, with three months to go before the election, more than 150,000 people dead and millions more infected as the coronavirus surges around the U.S., no overhaul has been delivered.
The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
“In response to a question by Chris Wallace why Trump hasn’t had a healthcare plan in 3.5 years, Trump’s response was he was going to have a health care plan ready to sign in two weeks. Of course, this has not been the case,” MeidasTouch said in a statement released with the video.
“Trump has been lying about everything since he ran for office, but his lies on health care are particularly and peculiarly virulent and dastardly given that is causing people to become and stay stick and lose their lives — on a mass scale.”
The TrumpHasNoPlan hashtag paired alongside the video was among Twitter’s top trending topics in the U.S. on Sunday night.
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The group is fundraising for a nationwide Fox News TV ad buy for the spot, according to the statement. It’s not clear if or when it will air.
MeidasTouch was founded by Ben Meiselas and his brothers, Brett and Jordan. Meiselas is a civil rights attorney who represented former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his settlement with the NFL.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-02--Navy SEALS Investigate Video Of Dogs Attacking Colin Kaepernick Stand-In

The U.S .
Naval Special Warfare Command is investigating a video that surfaced Sunday , in which dogs attack a person in a Colin Kaepernick jersey .
The video ’ s caption suggests that the video was filmed during a demonstration at the Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce , Florida .
It was originally posted to Instagram in January 2019 but went viral over the weekend after it was shared on Twitter .
In a pair of videos from the event , men outfitted in military gear send several dogs to attack a man wearing Kaepernick ’ s San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crowd of people watches .
Once the man in the jersey is pulled to the ground , two men approach him with guns and pretend to detain him .
The man in the jersey can be heard saying , “ Oh man , I will stand , ” which prompts the crowd to laugh .
The demonstration was apparently mocking Kaepernick ’ s peaceful protests against systemic racism and police brutality , in which he knelt during the national anthem .
In another video , after “ Navy SEALs and Navy SEAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing during National Anthem , ” he moans something like , `` Oh man , I will stand ” # BecauseFlorida https : //t.co/uZ3ervZguB pic.twitter.com/6vi1uCGIt5 — Billy Corben ( @ BillyCorben ) August 2 , 2020 “ The inherent message of this video is completely inconsistent with the values and ethos of Naval Special Warfare and the U.S. Navy , ” the statement read .
The command , which oversees the Navy SEALS , said that an “ independent organization ” was responsible for the event and noted that no active-duty service members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are investigating the matter fully , and initial indications are that there were no active-duty Navy personnel or equipment involved with this independent organization ’ s event , ” the statement said .

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The U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command is investigating a video that surfaced Sunday, in which dogs attack a person in a Colin Kaepernick jersey.
The video’s caption suggests that the video was filmed during a demonstration at the Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida. It was originally posted to Instagram in January 2019 but went viral over the weekend after it was shared on Twitter.
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In a pair of videos from the event, men outfitted in military gear send several dogs to attack a man wearing Kaepernick’s San Francisco 49ers jersey over protective gear while a crowd of people watches.
Once the man in the jersey is pulled to the ground, two men approach him with guns and pretend to detain him. The man in the jersey can be heard saying, “Oh man, I will stand,” which prompts the crowd to laugh.
The demonstration was apparently mocking Kaepernick’s peaceful protests against systemic racism and police brutality, in which he knelt during the national anthem.
Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce used “Colin Kaepernick stand-in" for K-9 demonstration at fundraiser last year #BecauseFlorida https://t.co/COHFCeJ3GN pic.twitter.com/EpcELHxrSe — Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 2, 2020
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In another video, after “Navy SEALs and Navy SEAL dogs take down Colin Kaepernick for not standing during National Anthem,” he moans something like, "Oh man, I will stand” #BecauseFlorida https://t.co/uZ3ervZguB pic.twitter.com/6vi1uCGIt5 — Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 2, 2020
The Naval Special Warfare Command tweeted a statement on Sunday condemning the video.
“The inherent message of this video is completely inconsistent with the values and ethos of Naval Special Warfare and the U.S. Navy,” the statement read.
The command, which oversees the Navy SEALS, said that an “independent organization” was responsible for the event and noted that no active-duty service members took part in the demonstration.
“We are investigating the matter fully, and initial indications are that there were no active-duty Navy personnel or equipment involved with this independent organization’s event,” the statement said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-02--Watchdog Calls For Probe Amid Fears Of 'Voter Suppression Tactics' Through Postal Service

“ Recent actions ” taken by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , who was appointed by Donald Trump in May , “ will delay prioritizing mail delivery , ” which threatens voting by mail , warned a letter Thursday from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) .
Johnson is the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee .
The number of Americans voting by mail is expected to surge across the nation as voters seek to avoid the risk of catching COVID-19 at the polls .
Yet DeJoy is slashing overtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making late delivery trips , which will slow the mail , he revealed in an internal memo .
DeJoy , who has no experience in the agency , is a prominent Trump donor and the former lead fundraiser for the Republican National Convention .
“ We have an underfunded state and local election system and a deliberate slowdown in the Postal Service , ” Wendy Fields , the executive director of the Democracy Initiative , told The New York Times .
Trump is “ deliberately orchestrating suppression and using the post office as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Former Democratic leader of the Georgia House and Democratic vice presidential hopeful Stacy Abrams also accused Trump on Sunday of attempting to “ steal ” the election by manipulating the postal service along with his partisan postmaster general .
( Check out the video up top . )
After significant delays by the USPS in delivering absentee ballots to voters in Wisconsin ’ s April primary , a probe by the USPS Office of Inspector General determined that the agency needed to “ strengthen adherence to procedures ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices .
CREW ’ s letter , which was also signed by Common Cause Wisconsin , calls on Johnson ’ s Senate committee to determine whether USPS is proactively addressing the “ increased national demand for voting by mail ” this November .
The committee must also determine how cutting back on overtime and extended deliveries by the USPS will impact voting by mail , the letter states .
Trump has railed about “ fraudulent ” mail-in ballots , without any basis .
He called the upcoming election “ fixed ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election disaster in history ” — even though the election hasn ’ t yet occurred .
The system is so suspect , he claimed , that Trump floated the idea of delaying the election in a tweet last Thursday .
Trump has no power to do so .
Bizarrely , he urged Americans on Friday to vote via “ absentee ” ballot , which is a mailed-in vote .
Most jurisdictions ’ “ vote by mail ” systems have identical requirements for all voters .
“ It ’ s actually a great thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be voting absentee , ” Trump told reporters .
He noted voters have to “ go through a process to get ” absentee ballots .
Voters have to go through a process for any mail-in ballots .
Michael Steele , former head of the Republican National Committee , later responded in an interview : “ The president was like , ‘ Well , I love absentee balloting , just [ not ] this mail-by-vote thing.
’ Mr. President , they ’ re the same thing , OK ?
Just so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same as a mail-in ballot.
” Critics have charged that Trump is already worried that he ’ ll lose the election , so he ’ s strategizing to discredit and even sabotage mail-in votes so he can claim that his defeat was “ rigged.
” “ Mark my words , I think he is gon na try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it can ’ t be held , ” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said back in April .
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes Trump won ’ t leave the White House if he loses the election , and warned the president might invoke some kind of “ emergency ” action to remain .

A watchdog organization is calling for an investigation and hearings amid concerns about mail-in ballot “voter suppression tactics” by the Trump administration through the United States Postal Service.
“Recent actions” taken by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who was appointed to the position in May, “will delay prioritizing mail delivery,” which threatens voting by mail, warned a letter Thursday from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Johnson is the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
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The number of Americans voting by mail is expected to surge across the nation as voters seek to avoid the risk of catching COVID-19 at the polls. Yet DeJoy is slashing overtime for mail carriers and prohibiting employees from making late delivery trips, which will slow the mail, he revealed in an internal memo. DeJoy, who has no experience in the agency, is a prominent Trump donor and the former lead fundraiser for the Republican National Convention.
“We have an underfunded state and local election system and a deliberate slowdown in the Postal Service,” Wendy Fields, the executive director of the Democracy Initiative, told The New York Times. Trump is “deliberately orchestrating suppression and using the Post Office as a tool to do it,” she said.
Former Democratic leader of the Georgia House and Democratic vice presidential hopeful Stacy Abrams also accused Trump on Sunday of attempting to “steal” the election by manipulating the postal service along with his partisan postmaster general. (Check out the video up top.)
After significant delays by the USPS in delivering absentee ballots to voters in Wisconsin’s April primary, a probe by the USPS Office of Inspector General determined that the agency needed to “strengthen adherence to procedures” and “improve communication and coordination” with election offices.
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CREW’s letter, which was also signed by Common Cause Wisconsin, calls on Johnson’s Senate committee to determine whether USPS is proactively addressing the “increased national demand for voting by mail” this November. The committee must also determine how cutting back on overtime and extended deliveries by the USPS will impact voting by mail, the letter states.
Trump has railed about “fraudulent” mail-in ballots, without any basis. He called the upcoming election “fixed” and “rigged,” and the “greatest election disaster in history” — even though the election hasn’t yet occurred.
The system is so suspect, he claimed, that Trump floated the idea of delaying the election in a tweet last Thursday. Trump has no power to do so.
With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote??? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020
Bizarrely, he urged Americans on Friday to vote via “absentee” ballot, which is a mailed-in vote. Most jurisdictions’ “vote by mail” systems have identical requirements for all voters.
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“It’s actually a great thing, absentee ballots. I’m going to be voting absentee,” Trump told reporters. He noted voters have to “go through a process to get” absentee ballots. Voters have to go through a process for any mail-in ballots.
Michael Steele, former head of the Republican National Committee, later responded in an interview: “The president was like, ‘Well, I love absentee balloting, just [not] this mail-by-vote thing.’ Mr. President, they’re the same thing, OK? Just so you understand: An absentee ballot is the same as a mail-in ballot.”
Critics have charged that Trump is already worried that he’ll lose the election, so he’s strategizing to discredit and even sabotage mail-in votes so he can claim that his defeat was “rigged.”
“Mark my words, I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said back in April.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday said he believes Trump won’t leave the White House if he loses the election, and warned the president might invoke some kind of “emergency” action to remain.
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Trump’s proposal to delay the U.S. election has infuriated Democrats and has not been supported by Republicans.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Grifters Are Scamming Teenage Trump Supporters Through Targeted Snapchat Ads

“ Please support President Trump & Traditional American values by claiming Your FREE Trump 2020 Bundle , ” says the text on the ad ’ s landing page , above a checkout button labeled , “ YES , I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT.
” Buried in fine print at the bottom of the page , which displays a large countdown clock , is a disclaimer noting that the “ free ” deal is actually a “ welcoming gift for joining the Trump4President2020 Club.
” Members are automatically billed $ 142 every month , with no option for a refund .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , Trump4President2020 and an array of other little-known advertisers are carefully targeting Snapchat users as young as 15 with a barrage of pro-Trump ads based on their age , gender , location , presumed interests , online activity and even their affinity for Fox News .
The ads mimic Trump ’ s rhetoric and offer users “ free ” swag — flags , T-shirts , hats , custom coins , novelty bills , pool floats — often as tokens of gratitude for their “ patriotism.
” It has raked in close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of months from an operation that was seemingly built to con young Trump supporters en masse , called Albbiom Marketing LLC .
The firm , which has virtually no web presence , has spent more than $ 407,000 on at least 156 misleading Snapchat ads promoting “ free ” Trump gear this year alone .
Its ads have been viewed in excess of 435 million times , indicating that individual Snapchatters have seen them repeatedly .
Each leads to a page that , as with Trump4President2020 ’ s website , features a countdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Make America Great Again !
” and small , inconspicuous text stating that in addition to shipping fees , the “ free ” deal comes with a “ USA Patriot Nation Club ” membership costing up to $ 49.97 monthly .
The Proud Republicans , another Snapchat advertiser hawking Trump merch , takes a different approach .
Targeting users aged 18 and up , it promotes “ free ” hats and flags — but there ’ s no hidden or costly membership .
Instead , it charges exorbitant shipping fees for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a deluge of online complaints .
In response to emailed questions about its business practices , The Proud Republicans offered to help HuffPost locate its order information .
( HuffPost did not place an order . )
FreeTrumpBills and GoTrump 2020 , separate Snapchat advertisers respectively pushing “ free ” novelty $ 1,000 dollar bills and collector coins , display on their websites identical reviews that appear to be from the exact same people , despite selling different products and purporting to be two distinct companies .
A message sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website did not go through ; GoTrump 2020 did not respond to a request for comment .
The landing pages for two separate Snapchat advertisers targeting Fox News watchers who are 15 and older with ads for “ free ” Trump items are now defunct .
But one , belonging to Trump Merch Store — which ran an ad that was viewed more than 40,000 times featuring Trump ’ s official campaign logo — still triggers a pop-up message warning that the website may be trying “ to steal your personal or financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told HuffPost that the Trump4President2020 ad starring a cartoon Trump was approved in error and removed within two days — but not until it had been viewed thousands of times .
The company also said that political ads and corresponding landing pages go through human review and are subject to quality checks to proactively ensure compliance with its community guidelines and advertising policies .
Snap says it does not offer microtargeting services and that its ad-targeting parameters are not as granular as those of Facebook and other platforms .
But it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on their age , gender , education and income levels , electoral district , marital and parental status , proximity to a high school or college , occupation , homeownership status , geographic coordinates and interest in things such as social activism , drinking beer and memes , among other categories .
On its website , Snap also states that ad buyers can “ tap into an expansive data marketplace to develop a segment for an individual campaign , objective , product or service ” and reach “ a highly targeted group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patterns or viewing behaviors.
” This is microtargeting in a nutshell , regardless of the terminology Snap prefers , and it can help maximize spending efficiency : A gourmet cat-food retailer in Manhattan ’ s Upper East Side could narrow its ads ’ reach to wealthy pet owners in that area , for example .
Digital advertising watchdogs have long sounded the alarm about transparency when it comes to microtargeting , because such ads only appear to specific audiences — largely shielding them from inspection by the greater public .
Facebook employees raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg , in which they called on him to restrict political advertisers ’ microtargeting abilities .
( He declined to do so . )
Snapchat , a smaller yet still dominant ad platform , has flown under the radar in this regard .
But scammers ’ ability to leverage the app ’ s advertising powers in order to rip teens off demonstrates its own vulnerability to nefarious activity through ad-targeting — and that it could be used in a political context with worse ramifications .
Political campaigns have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers to reach select voters , as the Financial Times reported .
In response to public pressure , Snapchat and other advertising platforms have started cataloging their political ads in public databases .
It ’ s a major stride that makes reporting like this possible , although the sheer volume of content can still make it nearly impossible to catch every abusive microtargeted ad .
Finding the ones in this article — which are categorized as political likely because of their advocacy for Trump — entailed mining through a spreadsheet with thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ad archives from Google and Facebook , the Snap political ads library contents aren ’ t browsable in an online database ; they must be downloaded and externally reviewed .
Other platforms are starting to shy away from political ads amid a growing public uproar over microtargeting and other issues .
Google limited the ways that political ads can be targeted .
Facebook lets users opt out of seeing political ads .
TikTok and Twitter banned political ads outright .
But Snapchat is doing the opposite .
The company is aggressively pursuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jeremi Gorman , said during a quarterly earnings call last month .
“ As it pertains to political ads , yes , it ’ s a segment that we are actively going after .
We serve 90 % of 13- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. and 75 % of 13- to 34-year-olds in the U.S .
So educating them , allowing them to learn more about the issues , any factual based manner is super critical , ” Gorman said .
“ To ensure transparency , ” he added , “ all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available , along with relevant information on impression spends and paying entities in our Snap political and advocacy ad library .
”

. Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Snapchat
In an attention-grabbing Snapchat ad, a cartoon version of President Donald Trump dances through fireworks and a cascade of dollar bills to the tune of “Hail to the Chief.” Bold text against a flashing red, white and blue background promises viewers a “FREE Trump 2020 Bundle” of MAGA-themed merchandise and even $10 in hard cash — all for a fee of just 69 cents to cover shipping.
The offer, which is targeted to males who live in red states, watch political news and enjoy online shopping, according to Snapchat data, could be hard to resist for many of the app’s overwhelmingly young users.
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“Please support President Trump & Traditional American values by claiming Your FREE Trump 2020 Bundle,” says the text on the ad’s landing page, above a checkout button labeled, “YES, I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT.” Buried in fine print at the bottom of the page, which displays a large countdown clock, is a disclaimer noting that the “free” deal is actually a “welcoming gift for joining the Trump4President2020 Club.” Members are automatically billed $142 every month, with no option for a refund.
As the race for the White House rages on, Trump4President2020 and an array of other little-known advertisers are carefully targeting Snapchat users as young as 15 with a barrage of pro-Trump ads based on their age, gender, location, presumed interests, online activity and even their affinity for Fox News. The ads mimic Trump’s rhetoric and offer users “free” swag — flags, T-shirts, hats, custom coins, novelty bills, pool floats — often as tokens of gratitude for their “patriotism.”
In reality, Snapchat is letting scammers zero in and prey on some of its youngest users by exploiting their naivety and ardor for the president.
The widespread grift highlights the platform’s struggle to weed out predatory advertisers, as well as the potential perils of so-called dark ads, which feature customized messages that are targeted to specific, siloed audiences and subject to little public scrutiny. In this case, poorly-vetted Snapchat advertisers — sometimes masquerading as Trump’s official campaign — are quietly peppering teens and young adults with bait-and-switch schemes.
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Snapchat ad landing page
Quick Access To Millions
Snapchat serves as a megaphone for paying advertisers, helping their messages reach any number of its hundreds of millions of global users. This includes easily identifiable scams that could financially devastate credulous teens, despite the app’s policy of prohibiting ads that are “false or misleading, including deceptive claims, offers, functionality or business practices.”
It has raked in close to half a million dollars in a matter of months from an operation that was seemingly built to con young Trump supporters en masse, called Albbiom Marketing LLC. The firm, which has virtually no web presence, has spent more than $407,000 on at least 156 misleading Snapchat ads promoting “free” Trump gear this year alone. Its ads have been viewed in excess of 435 million times, indicating that individual Snapchatters have seen them repeatedly. Each leads to a page that, as with Trump4President2020’s website, features a countdown clock, a checkout button labeled, “Make America Great Again!” and small, inconspicuous text stating that in addition to shipping fees, the “free” deal comes with a “USA Patriot Nation Club” membership costing up to $49.97 monthly.
The Proud Republicans, another Snapchat advertiser hawking Trump merch, takes a different approach. Targeting users aged 18 and up, it promotes “free” hats and flags — but there’s no hidden or costly membership. Instead, it charges exorbitant shipping fees for the products, which simply never arrive, according to a deluge of online complaints. In response to emailed questions about its business practices, The Proud Republicans offered to help HuffPost locate its order information. (HuffPost did not place an order.)
FreeTrumpBills and GoTrump 2020, separate Snapchat advertisers respectively pushing “free” novelty $1,000 dollar bills and collector coins, display on their websites identical reviews that appear to be from the exact same people, despite selling different products and purporting to be two distinct companies. A message sent to the email address listed on FreeTrumpBills’ website did not go through; GoTrump 2020 did not respond to a request for comment.
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The landing pages for two separate Snapchat advertisers targeting Fox News watchers who are 15 and older with ads for “free” Trump items are now defunct. But one, belonging to Trump Merch Store — which ran an ad that was viewed more than 40,000 times featuring Trump’s official campaign logo — still triggers a pop-up message warning that the website may be trying “to steal your personal or financial information.”
Those two advertisers could not be reached for comment, nor could Trump4President2020, which on its website lists its contact information only as “__________.” (Good luck to anyone who may be trying to cancel the $142-per-month memberships they unwittingly signed up for.)
Snap, which owns Snapchat, told HuffPost that the Trump4President2020 ad starring a cartoon Trump was approved in error and removed within two days — but not until it had been viewed thousands of times. The company also said that political ads and corresponding landing pages go through human review and are subject to quality checks to proactively ensure compliance with its community guidelines and advertising policies.
But the scores of deceptive political ads from Albbiom Marketing LLC — which said in an email that it is “a very customer-focused company” and does “not receive many complaints” — were revoked only after HuffPost brought them to Snap’s attention.
Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Snapchat
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A Powerful Way To Find People
Like other ad-hosting social media giants, Snapchat grants its clients access to its powerful ad-targeting technology, allowing them to use a wide range of criteria to customize their desired audiences and advertise to them in isolation. This practice is widely known as microtargeting.
Snap says it does not offer microtargeting services and that its ad-targeting parameters are not as granular as those of Facebook and other platforms. But it does let advertisers specifically target or exclude Snapchatters based on their age, gender, education and income levels, electoral district, marital and parental status, proximity to a high school or college, occupation, homeownership status, geographic coordinates and interest in things such as social activism, drinking beer and memes, among other categories.
On its website, Snap also states that ad buyers can “tap into an expansive data marketplace to develop a segment for an individual campaign, objective, product or service” and reach “a highly targeted group of Snapchatters based on their past buying patterns or viewing behaviors.” This is microtargeting in a nutshell, regardless of the terminology Snap prefers, and it can help maximize spending efficiency: A gourmet cat-food retailer in Manhattan’s Upper East Side could narrow its ads’ reach to wealthy pet owners in that area, for example.
But the practice can also have more serious implications when deployed with malicious objectives, such as voter suppression or targeting young Snapchatters — at times specifically including those in Republican states and with conservative interests — with highly deceptive ads to try to cheat them out of their money.
Snapchat ad landing page
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Digital advertising watchdogs have long sounded the alarm about transparency when it comes to microtargeting, because such ads only appear to specific audiences — largely shielding them from inspection by the greater public. Facebook employees raised similar concerns last year in an open letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in which they called on him to restrict political advertisers’ microtargeting abilities. (He declined to do so.)
Snapchat, a smaller yet still dominant ad platform, has flown under the radar in this regard. But scammers’ ability to leverage the app’s advertising powers in order to rip teens off demonstrates its own vulnerability to nefarious activity through ad-targeting — and that it could be used in a political context with worse ramifications. Political campaigns have already tapped into the app’s microtargeting powers to reach select voters, as the Financial Times reported.
In response to public pressure, Snapchat and other advertising platforms have started cataloging their political ads in public databases. It’s a major stride that makes reporting like this possible, although the sheer volume of content can still make it nearly impossible to catch every abusive microtargeted ad. Finding the ones in this article — which are categorized as political likely because of their advocacy for Trump — entailed mining through a spreadsheet with thousands of entries and limited search options. Unlike the ad archives from Google and Facebook, the Snap political ads library contents aren’t browsable in an online database; they must be downloaded and externally reviewed.
Other platforms are starting to shy away from political ads amid a growing public uproar over microtargeting and other issues. Google limited the ways that political ads can be targeted. Facebook lets users opt out of seeing political ads. TikTok and Twitter banned political ads outright. But Snapchat is doing the opposite. The company is aggressively pursuing political ads, its chief business officer, Jeremi Gorman, said during a quarterly earnings call last month.
“As it pertains to political ads, yes, it’s a segment that we are actively going after. We serve 90% of 13- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. and 75% of 13- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. So educating them, allowing them to learn more about the issues, any factual based manner is super critical,” Gorman said. “To ensure transparency,” he added, “all political issue and advocacy ads are publicly available, along with relevant information on impression spends and paying entities in our Snap political and advocacy ad library.”
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But targeting youth with deceitful ads peddling “free” MAGA merch is hardly educational. And rolling out a public ads library as an answer to transparency concerns places the onus on third-party individuals such as reporters to hunt for problematic ads and bring them to light rather than enforcing stronger vetting policies to ensure bad actors aren’t given an advertising platform to begin with.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Lord & Taylor Is Latest Major Retailer To File For Bankruptcy Protection

Lord & Taylor , billed as the country ’ s oldest department store , filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday , the latest major retailer to succumb to the coronavirus pandemic and a shift in shopping habits as millions of Americans were urged to stay home .
The chain and its owner , Le Tote Inc. , filed for protection in bankruptcy court in Virginia , noting Lord & Taylor ’ s 38 stores had been closed since March due to concerns about the virus .
The iconic department store was sold to the online clothing rental company last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Canada ’ s Hudson ’ s Bay Co .
The startup had hoped to revive the brand after the sale was completed in November , but The New York Times notes those efforts were scuttled as shutdown measures spread .
Retail sales were hit hard during the early days of the pandemic as businesses were forced to closeand shoppers were told to stay home and abide by social distancing measures .
While they have rebounded somewhat , the effects of the virus have continued to wreak havoc on sectors of the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , off-again swing of reopening and closing amid spikes in new infections .
Lord & Taylor was founded in 1826 by two immigrants in New York City .
It opened its flagship store in Manhattan more than a century ago and drew praise for its lavish window displays .
“ We ’ re a store of firsts : Not only are we the oldest American store of its kind , but we were the first to offer personal shopping , the first to champion emerging designers – and the first to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its website .
Other major fashion brands have filed for bankruptcy protection in recent months , including the high-end Neiman Marcus , the iconic Brooks Brothers and the more mass-market J .
Crew .

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Lord & Taylor, billed as the country’s oldest department store, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday, the latest major retailer to succumb to the coronavirus pandemic and a shift in shopping habits as millions of Americans were urged to stay home.
The chain and its owner, Le Tote Inc., filed for protection in bankruptcy court in Virginia, noting Lord & Taylor’s 38 stores had been closed since March due to concerns about the virus. The iconic department store was sold to the online clothing rental company last year in a $100 million deal from Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Co.
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The startup had hoped to revive the brand after the sale was completed in November, but The New York Times notes those efforts were scuttled as shutdown measures spread.
Retail sales were hit hard during the early days of the pandemic as businesses were forced to closeand shoppers were told to stay home and abide by social distancing measures. While they have rebounded somewhat, the effects of the virus have continued to wreak havoc on sectors of the economy as some states have seen an on-again, off-again swing of reopening and closing amid spikes in new infections.
Lord & Taylor was founded in 1826 by two immigrants in New York City. It opened its flagship store in Manhattan more than a century ago and drew praise for its lavish window displays.
“We’re a store of firsts: Not only are we the oldest American store of its kind, but we were the first to offer personal shopping, the first to champion emerging designers – and the first to have a female president,” the company notes on its website.
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The flagship building was sold to WeWork in 2017 for $850 million.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-03--Deutsche Bank Investigating Longtime Banker Of Donald Trump And Jared Kushner

Deutsche Bank has begun an investigation into the longtime personal banker of Donald Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner for her purchase of a New York condo from a company partly owned by Kushner , according to two news reports .
Banker Rosemary Vrablic and two colleagues purchased an apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan for about $ 1.5 million in 2013 from Bergel 715 Associates , The New York Times first reported Sunday .
It was sold two years later for $ 1.85 million .
The first daughter and Kushner received $ 1 million to $ 5 million from Bergel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple ’ s required financial disclosures , which they filed Friday .
It was the first time Bergel had appeared in their filings .
A source familiar with the business arrangement told The Times that Kushner owns a stake in Bergel , and did so when Vrablic purchased the condo .
But the income reported from Bergel was not linked to the banker ’ s purchase , according to the source .
The Deutsche Bank investigation will determine if Vrablic acted improperly by purchasing the condo , according to The Hill .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for employees to do business — other than banking — with clients to avoid conflicts of interest , the Times noted .
“ The bank will closely examine the information that came to light on Friday and the [ facts ] from 2013 , ” bank spokesman Daniel Hunter said in a statement after learning of the Kushner connection to the condo .
Kushner and Donald Trump were clients of Vrablic when the banker bought the condo .
Kushner introduced his father-in-law to her in 2011 when Trump was having a hard time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money after his repeated bankruptcies and loan defaults , including one to Deutsche Bank , the Times noted .
By 2013 , the men had received about $ 190 million in Deutsche Bank loans with Vrablic ’ s help — and hundreds of millions after that , according to the Times .
Trump borrowed $ 175 million for his Trump National Doral golf resort in Florida , and for the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago in 2012 .
The bank later financed the Trump International Hotel in Washington , the Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s biggest creditor .
It has loaned the Trump Organization some $ 2 billion since 1998 , and there are currently an estimated $ 350 million in loans outstanding , according to the Times .
The loans are reportedly backed by a personal guarantee from Trump himself .
Christopher Smith , the general counsel for Kushner ’ s family firm Kushner Companies , told The Hill in a statement that “ Kushner is not the managing partner of that entity and has no involvement with the sales of the apartments.
” Deutsche Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in 2017 in the U.S. and Britain over a $ 10 billion Russian money-laundering scheme .
It was recently hit with a $ 150 million penalty for the bank ’ s lack of oversight in dealings with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .
The U.S. Department of Justice last year launched another probe into bank compliance with regulations to prevent money laundering .
The investigation included a review of suspicious activity , including some linked to Kushner , sources told the Times .
Amid the probe the president ’ s Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank loan payments .
The sticky situation underscored the unique power of Trump as president to maneuver a deal for his business , particularly with a bank under investigation by his own administration .
Bank officials are now “ forced to choose between doing what seems like it ’ s financially right for the bank and for its regulators , versus doing what ’ s right to protect the relationship with someone who has the ability to inflict enormous damage on the institution if he is so inclined , ” Enrich explained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that someone ( ahem ) warned about ” when Trump took office , Walter Shaub , the former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics under both Barack Obama and Trump , tweeted .

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The connection emerged in personal financial disclosures filed recently by Kushner and wife Ivanka Trump, who hold jobs as White House senior advisers.
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Banker Rosemary Vrablic and two colleagues purchased an apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan for about $1.5 million in 2013 from Bergel 715 Associates, The New York Times first reported Sunday. It was sold two years later for $1.85 million.
The first daughter and Kushner received $1 million to $5 million from Bergel 715 in 2019, according to the couple’s required financial disclosures, which they filed Friday. It was the first time Bergel had appeared in their filings.
A source familiar with the business arrangement told The Times that Kushner owns a stake in Bergel, and did so when Vrablic purchased the condo. But the income reported from Bergel was not linked to the banker’s purchase, according to the source.
The Deutsche Bank investigation will determine if Vrablic acted improperly by purchasing the condo, according to The Hill. It’s typically against policy at banks for employees to do business — other than banking — with clients to avoid conflicts of interest, the Times noted.
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“The bank will closely examine the information that came to light on Friday and the [facts] from 2013,” bank spokesman Daniel Hunter said in a statement after learning of the Kushner connection to the condo.
Kushner and Donald Trump were clients of Vrablic when the banker bought the condo. Kushner introduced his father-in-law to her in 2011 when Trump was having a hard time finding a bank that would loan him money after his repeated bankruptcies and loan defaults, including one to Deutsche Bank, the Times noted.
By 2013, the men had received about $190 million in Deutsche Bank loans with Vrablic’s help — and hundreds of millions after that, according to the Times.
Trump borrowed $175 million for his Trump National Doral golf resort in Florida, and for the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago in 2012. The bank later financed the Trump International Hotel in Washington, the Times reported.
Deutsche Bank is Trump’s biggest creditor. It has loaned the Trump Organization some $2 billion since 1998, and there are currently an estimated $350 million in loans outstanding, according to the Times. The loans are reportedly backed by a personal guarantee from Trump himself.
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Christopher Smith, the general counsel for Kushner’s family firm Kushner Companies, told The Hill in a statement that “Kushner is not the managing partner of that entity and has no involvement with the sales of the apartments.”
It’s not clear how large a stake Kushner holds in the company.
Vrablic could not be reached for comment.
Deutsche Bank was fined a total of $630 million in 2017 in the U.S. and Britain over a $10 billion Russian money-laundering scheme. It was recently hit with a $150 million penalty for the bank’s lack of oversight in dealings with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The U.S. Department of Justice last year launched another probe into bank compliance with regulations to prevent money laundering. The investigation included a review of suspicious activity, including some linked to Kushner, sources told the Times. Amid the probe the president’s Trump Organization was reportedly pressing to postpone its bank loan payments.
The sticky situation underscored the unique power of Trump as president to maneuver a deal for his business, particularly with a bank under investigation by his own administration.
David Enrich, a Times business reporter who recently wrote a book on Deutsche Bank, “Dark Towers,” told NPR that the bank has been “worried” about a situation like this.
Bank officials are now “forced to choose between doing what seems like it’s financially right for the bank and for its regulators, versus doing what’s right to protect the relationship with someone who has the ability to inflict enormous damage on the institution if he is so inclined,” Enrich explained.
The scenario is the “absolute nightmare that someone (ahem) warned about” when Trump took office, Walter Shaub, the former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics under both Barack Obama and Trump, tweeted.