thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Exclusive: White House Orders End To COVID-19 Airport Screenings For International Travelers

The screening operations have been held at select airports since January , when the first cases of the disease began to emerge from Wuhan , China .
Since March , incoming international flights from select high-risk countries , including much of Europe , China and Iran , among other regions , have been funneled through 15 designated airports in the United States .
As of Monday , however , international flights will no longer be funneled into select airports for screening purposes and all screenings will come to a halt , according to communications and sources .
All screenings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at exactly 12:01 a.m. on Monday , Sept. 14 .
Currently , travelers upon arrival to the United States are sent to health screeners who take their temperatures and conduct a basic health screening with questions about typical COVID-19 symptoms .
After the health screening , passengers proceed through passport control and customs .
One aspect of the screening is that travelers provide contact information , which can be used to perform contact tracing for infections .
Without that information , it likely won ’ t be possible to contact passengers on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to someone infected with COVID-19 .
The orders to cease prescreening operations came from the White House , with strict orders to keep the information secret until a public announcement is made .
Meanwhile , behind the scenes , the various agencies — and contractors — involved in the airport screening operations are working frantically to prepare for Monday ’ s shutdown .
There are several agencies involved in aspects of the screenings , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports by AMR , a Dallas contractor .
The White House orders to shut down the airport screenings for inbound international passengers comes amid rising COVID-19 case numbers and death counts and as experts warn of a potential second wave of the pandemic this fall .
The White House , the CDC , the Department of Homeland Security , Customs and Border Protection and AMR did not immediately respond to Yahoo News ’ request for comment .
A government official told Yahoo News that the Transportation Security Administration , which is not directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on the upcoming changes for its awareness .
The airport screening changes come not long after news late last month that employers were shedding more than 100,000 jobs , with airlines a major driver of those cuts .
This is also not the first time the White House has struggled with the question of airport COVID-19 screenings .
The House oversight subcommittee on economic and consumer policy has previously criticized the White House for what it regarded as lax health screening of international passengers , and expressed concerns that plans to expand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific advice .
In late April and early May , the White House reportedly clashed with the CDC over a proposal to screen domestic airline passengers for signs of COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re also setting up a system where we do some testing , and we ’ re working with the airlines on that , ” Trump said on April 28 .

Yahoo News
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government on Monday will stop conducting enhanced screening of passengers on inbound international flights for COVID-19, Yahoo News has learned.
The screening operations have been held at select airports since January, when the first cases of the disease began to emerge from Wuhan, China. Since March, incoming international flights from select high-risk countries, including much of Europe, China and Iran, among other regions, have been funneled through 15 designated airports in the United States.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images
As of Monday, however, international flights will no longer be funneled into select airports for screening purposes and all screenings will come to a halt, according to communications and sources. All screenings and rerouting of select international flights will cease at exactly 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 14.
Currently, travelers upon arrival to the United States are sent to health screeners who take their temperatures and conduct a basic health screening with questions about typical COVID-19 symptoms. After the health screening, passengers proceed through passport control and customs.
One aspect of the screening is that travelers provide contact information, which can be used to perform contact tracing for infections. Without that information, it likely won’t be possible to contact passengers on a flight who may have potentially been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19.
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The orders to cease prescreening operations came from the White House, with strict orders to keep the information secret until a public announcement is made. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the various agencies — and contractors — involved in the airport screening operations are working frantically to prepare for Monday’s shutdown.
There are several agencies involved in aspects of the screenings, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. Most screenings are administered at the airports by AMR, a Dallas contractor.
Oliver Contreras/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
The White House orders to shut down the airport screenings for inbound international passengers comes amid rising COVID-19 case numbers and death counts and as experts warn of a potential second wave of the pandemic this fall.
The White House, the CDC, the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and AMR did not immediately respond to Yahoo News’ request for comment.
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A government official told Yahoo News that the Transportation Security Administration, which is not directly involved in the screenings, had been briefed on the upcoming changes for its awareness.
The airport screening changes come not long after news late last month that employers were shedding more than 100,000 jobs, with airlines a major driver of those cuts.
This is also not the first time the White House has struggled with the question of airport COVID-19 screenings. The House oversight subcommittee on economic and consumer policy has previously criticized the White House for what it regarded as lax health screening of international passengers, and expressed concerns that plans to expand those screenings to domestic travelers were sidelining scientific advice.
In late April and early May, the White House reportedly clashed with the CDC over a proposal to screen domestic airline passengers for signs of COVID-19. “We’re also setting up a system where we do some testing, and we’re working with the airlines on that,” Trump said on April 28.
In the end, no national plan for domestic COVID-19 screenings at airports was ever announced.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Photos Show The Crazy Intensity Of West Coast Wildfires

Wildfires continue to devastate parts of the Western United States , including California and Oregon .
A record 2 million acres have burned in California this year .
The blazes are destroying homes and businesses ― even entire towns ― and are making Oregon ’ s skies resemble Mars .
Thousands are without power as utilities shut off electricity to avoid sparking more fires .
Numerous firefighters have been injured and hundreds of people have been evacuated by rescue helicopters .
Smoke fills the skies at the Capitol Mall in Salem , Oregon , on Sept. 8 .
Butte County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck at the Bear fire in Oroville , California , on Sept. 9 .
Boats at the Shaver Lake marina sit docked as smoke hangs in the air from the Creek fire on Sept. 7 in Shaver Lake , California .
An “ all clear ” sign sits in front of a house as the Creek fire creeps up on the Shaver Springs community off of Tollhouse Road on Sept. 8 in Auberry , California .
The Oregon Department of Corrections evacuated three Salem prisons due to threats from the Beachie Creek and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle streaks by in a long exposure as Fresno County Sheriff Deputy Jeffery Shipman stands along a highway as the Creek fire creeps closer to town on Sept. 6 in Shaver Lake , California .
Burned trees are cast in silhouette by the sun near the smoldering remains of Cressman ’ s General Store and gas station , where the Creek fire tore through on Sept. 8 in Fresno County , California .
A CalFire engine stages in the middle of the road during the Creek fire on Sept. 7 in Shaver Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station smolders during the Creek fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County , California , on Sept. 8 .
Power lines are cast in silhouette as the Creek fire creeps up on the Shaver Springs community off of Tollhouse Road on Sept. 8 in Auberry , California .
The smoldering remains of a car and a structure along Waterfall Way in the Cascadel Woods community , where the Creek fire tore through this week , on Sept. 8 in Madera County , California .

Wildfires continue to devastate parts of the Western United States, including California and Oregon. A record 2 million acres have burned in California this year.
The blazes are destroying homes and businesses ― even entire towns ― and are making Oregon’s skies resemble Mars. Thousands are without power as utilities shut off electricity to avoid sparking more fires. Numerous firefighters have been injured and hundreds of people have been evacuated by rescue helicopters.
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See images from the West Coast wildfires below.
Oregon Department of Transportation
Smoke fills the skies at the Capitol Mall in Salem, Oregon, on Sept. 8.
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Golden Pioneer statue atop the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Oregon, on Sept. 8.
JOSH EDELSON via Getty Images
Butte County firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck at the Bear fire in Oroville, California, on Sept. 9.
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Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
Boats at the Shaver Lake marina sit docked as smoke hangs in the air from the Creek fire on Sept. 7 in Shaver Lake, California.
Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
An “all clear” sign sits in front of a house as the Creek fire creeps up on the Shaver Springs community off of Tollhouse Road on Sept. 8 in Auberry, California.
Oregon Department of Corrections
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The Oregon Department of Corrections evacuated three Salem prisons due to threats from the Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires on Sept. 8.
Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
A vehicle streaks by in a long exposure as Fresno County Sheriff Deputy Jeffery Shipman stands along a highway as the Creek fire creeps closer to town on Sept. 6 in Shaver Lake, California.
Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
Burned trees are cast in silhouette by the sun near the smoldering remains of Cressman’s General Store and gas station, where the Creek fire tore through on Sept. 8 in Fresno County, California.
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Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
A CalFire engine stages in the middle of the road during the Creek fire on Sept. 7 in Shaver Lake, California.
JOSH EDELSON via Getty Images
A burned Valero gas station smolders during the Creek fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California, on Sept. 8.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
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A firefighter watches the advancing Creek fire on Sept. 6 in Shaver Lake, California.
Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
Power lines are cast in silhouette as the Creek fire creeps up on the Shaver Springs community off of Tollhouse Road on Sept. 8 in Auberry, California.
Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
The smoldering remains of a car and a structure along Waterfall Way in the Cascadel Woods community, where the Creek fire tore through this week, on Sept. 8 in Madera County, California.
Oregon Department of Transportation
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Former New York Doctor Charged in Serial Sexual Assaults Of Patients

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A former New York gynecologist accused of sexually abusing more than two dozen patients , including children and the wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang , is now facing federal charges .
The doctor , Robert A. Hadden , who had avoided prison time but surrendered his medical license in an earlier plea deal with state prosecutors , faces six counts of inducing others to travel to engage in illegal sex acts in a newly unsealed federal indictment .
Hadden , 62 , was arrested Wednesday morning at his home in Englewood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Manhattan , according to Nicholas Biase , a spokesperson for prosecutors .
He is set to appear Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court .
The charges alleged the crimes spanned from 1993 through at least 2012 as he used his position as a medical doctor at Columbia University to convince his victims that the “ sexual abuse he inflicted on them was appropriate and medically necessary.
” “ He used the cover of conducting medical examinations to engage in sexual abuse that he passed off as normal and medically necessary , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither normal nor medically necessary.
” Hadden has faced a growing chorus of accusers in recent years , including some like Evelyn Yang , the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang , who earlier this year told CNN that Hadden assaulted her in 2012 , including when she was seven months pregnant .
He took pains to ensure his abuse could continue , prosecutors said , and singled out particularly young women , including at least one he delivered when she herself was born .
He sometimes used free birth control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back at frequent intervals , ” Strauss said .
Hadden reached a plea agreement in 2016 with prosecutors in the office of Cyrus R. Vance Jr. , the Manhattan district attorney , who reopened an investigation into the doctor amid criticism over his handling of a case that included five counts of committing a criminal sexual act .
Marissa Hoechstetter , another Hadden accuser , has said Vance ’ s office misled her about the statute of limitations in Hadden ’ s case and was already negotiating the plea deal when she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential trial .
The federal indictment Wednesday “ only puts into high relief the betrayal I and his other victims experienced by the Manhattan DA , ” she said .
“ I hope that through the course of this , the world will finally see the full extent of Hadden ’ s decades of sexual abuse and the institutional cowardice that protected and enabled him for so long , ” Hoechstetter said in a statement to The Associated Press .
“ He and his enablers must be held accountable if we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harms those it is meant to protect.
” Danny Frost , a spokesman for Vance , said state prosecutors provided “ substantial assistance ” leading to the indictment .
The Manhattan District Attorney ’ s Office is still conducting its own “ intensely active ” investigation into “ potential failures by Dr. Hadden ’ s employer and hospital to disclose additional incidents of abuse to our office and to regulators when required.
” The indictment said Hadden invited his victims to meet with him alone in his office , where he frequently raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by asking “ detailed , inappropriate questions about their own sexual activities and sexual partners.
” It said he also offered unsolicited advice to some victims regarding inappropriate subjects such as how to groom their pubic hair and how to masturbate or have orgasms .
The indictment detailed what it described as the abuse of one minor female and five adult women who traveled from out of state to see Hadden .
It said Hadden knew the one patient was under the age of 18 in part because he had delivered her at @ @

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NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York gynecologist accused of sexually abusing more than two dozen patients, including children and the wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, is now facing federal charges.
The doctor, Robert A. Hadden, who had avoided prison time but surrendered his medical license in an earlier plea deal with state prosecutors, faces six counts of inducing others to travel to engage in illegal sex acts in a newly unsealed federal indictment.
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Hadden, 62, was arrested Wednesday morning at his home in Englewood, New Jersey, a community 10 miles outside Manhattan, according to Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for prosecutors. He is set to appear Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court.
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday with an attorney who has represented Hadden in the past.
The indictment said Hadden had sexually abused dozens of female patients, including multiple minors, “under the guise of conducting purported gynecological and obstetric examinations” at his medical offices and Manhattan hospitals.
The charges alleged the crimes spanned from 1993 through at least 2012 as he used his position as a medical doctor at Columbia University to convince his victims that the “sexual abuse he inflicted on them was appropriate and medically necessary.”
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Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said Hadden “acted as a predator in a white coat,” sexually abusing “dozens of women and girls during OBGYN examinations.”
“He used the cover of conducting medical examinations to engage in sexual abuse that he passed off as normal and medically necessary,” Strauss said. “His conduct was neither normal nor medically necessary.”
Hadden has faced a growing chorus of accusers in recent years, including some like Evelyn Yang, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who earlier this year told CNN that Hadden assaulted her in 2012, including when she was seven months pregnant.
A lawsuit brought by more than two dozen of accusers says he groped and penetrated patients during vaginal examinations and “mole checks” that served “no medical purpose.”
Hadden also made sexually inappropriate remarks and surreptitiously perform oral sex on patients, the lawsuit says, “to satisfy his own prurient and deviant sexual desires.”
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He took pains to ensure his abuse could continue, prosecutors said, and singled out particularly young women, including at least one he delivered when she herself was born. He sometimes used free birth control “to entice his victims to come back at frequent intervals,” Strauss said.
Hadden reached a plea agreement in 2016 with prosecutors in the office of Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, who reopened an investigation into the doctor amid criticism over his handling of a case that included five counts of committing a criminal sexual act.
Evelyn Yang, in the CNN interview, called Hadden’s punishment a “slap on the wrist.”
“What happened to me should have never happened,” she said.
Marissa Hoechstetter, another Hadden accuser, has said Vance’s office misled her about the statute of limitations in Hadden’s case and was already negotiating the plea deal when she was still talking to prosecutors about testifying at a potential trial. The federal indictment Wednesday “only puts into high relief the betrayal I and his other victims experienced by the Manhattan DA,” she said.
“I hope that through the course of this, the world will finally see the full extent of Hadden’s decades of sexual abuse and the institutional cowardice that protected and enabled him for so long,” Hoechstetter said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He and his enablers must be held accountable if we are to make change in a system that harms those it is meant to protect.”
Danny Frost, a spokesman for Vance, said state prosecutors provided “substantial assistance” leading to the indictment. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is still conducting its own “intensely active” investigation into “potential failures by Dr. Hadden’s employer and hospital to disclose additional incidents of abuse to our office and to regulators when required.”
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The indictment said Hadden invited his victims to meet with him alone in his office, where he frequently raised “inappropriate and irrelevant sexual topics” by asking “detailed, inappropriate questions about their own sexual activities and sexual partners.”
It said he also offered unsolicited advice to some victims regarding inappropriate subjects such as how to groom their pubic hair and how to masturbate or have orgasms.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--Explosive Wildfires Across California Stoked By Fierce Winds

Flames threatened the foothill community of Auberry between Shaver Lake and Fresno .
In Southern California , fires burned in Los Angeles , San Bernardino and San Diego counties .
People in foothill communities east of Los Angeles were warned to be ready to flee , but the region ’ s notorious Santa Ana winds were weaker than predicted .
The U.S. Forest Service on Monday closed all eight national forests in the southern half of the state and shuttered campgrounds statewide .
More than 14,000 firefighters are battling fires in California .
Two of the three largest blazes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Bay Area , though they are largely contained after burning for three weeks .
The state has set a record with nearly 2.3 million acres ( 930,800 hectares ) burned this year and the worst part of the wildfire season is only beginning .
“ It ’ s extraordinary , the challenge that we ’ ve faced so far this season , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said .
Pacific Gas & Electric was deploying more than 3,000 employees Wednesday to inspect power lines before restoring energy to about 167,000 customers whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from being started by wind-damaged wires .
Some aerial inspections were paused because of smoke limiting visibility , said spokesman Jeff Smith .
Only a very small number of customers had power turned off in Southern California .
In the Sierra National Forest east of Fresno , dozens of campers and hikers were stranded at the Vermilion Valley Resort after the only road in — a narrow route snaking along a steep cliff — was closed Sunday because of the so-called Creek Fire .
“ This is emblematic of how fast that fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that environment with one road in and one road out , ” said Char Miller , a professor of environmental analysis at Pomona College , said of the helicopter rescues .
“ Unless you wanted an absolute human disaster , you had to move fast.
” Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires to global warming .
“ The frequency of extreme wild fire weather has doubled in California over the past four decades , with the main driver being the effect of rising temperature on dry fuels , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at record or near-record levels when ignition occurs and when strong winds blow , ” Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh said in an email .
Melley reported from Los Angeles .
Associated Press writers Christopher Weber , Frank Baker and John Antczak in Los Angeles , Olga Rodriguez and Juliet Williams in San Francisco , Adam Beam in Sacramento and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report .

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OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California wildfire threatened thousands of homes Thursday after winds whipped it into a monster that incinerated houses in small mountain communities and killed at least three people.
Several other people were critically burned and about 2,000 structures, including homes and other buildings were damaged or destroyed in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada, authorities said.
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About 20,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings in three counties.
Another fire raging along the Oregon border destroyed 150 homes near the community of Happy Camp and one person was confirmed dead, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said. About 400 more homes were threatened.
Numerous wildfires were also burning in Oregon and Washington state.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the North Complex fire near the small Northern California city of Oroville — which had been burning for weeks in forestland and was 50% contained — exploded to six times its size as winds gusting to 45 mph (72 kph) drove a path of destruction through mountainous terrain and parched foothills.
“Time and time again we have seen how dangerous wildfires can be. ... So I ask that you please, please please be prepared, maintain situational awareness and heed the warnings,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea pleaded.
Honea announced the three deaths but declined to provide details. California Highway Patrol Officer Ben Draper told the Bay Area News Group that one person was found in a car and apparently had been trying to escape the flames.
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Flames lick above vehicles on Highway 162 as the Bear Fire burns in Oroville, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. The blaze, part of the lightning-sparked North Complex, expanded at a critical rate of spread as winds buffeted the region. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Many homes were incinerated in the hamlet of Berry Creek, with a population of 525 people.
Dozens of evacuees gathered early Thursday at a fairgrounds in the small city of Gridley, trembling in morning cold. Among them was Douglas Johnsrude, who packed up his eight dogs and fled his home in the community of Feather Falls on Tuesday.
Johnsrude, 41, said he assumed his house trailer burned, which would be the second time he’s lost his home in a fire. He inherited his mother’s house after her death, but it was destroyed in a 2017 fire.
“The reason I haven’t rebuilt up there is because I knew it was going to happen again. And guess what? It happened again,” he said. “Seeing the smoke and the flames and everything else, it’s unreal. It’s like an apocalypse or something.”
Butte County spokeswoman Amy Travis described the evacuation center as a temporary staging area while officials tried to line up hotel rooms for families displaced by the fire amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Wednesday night, 90 families had been placed in rooms and another 140 were on a waiting list.
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“COVID has changed the way we do sheltering,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of hotel rooms here in Butte County, and a lot of them are definitely busy with people that have already made their own hotel arrangements for evacuations.”
John Sykes, a 50-year resident, managed to flee Berry Creek on Tuesday with his car and some clothes but watched the town burn from about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
“The school is gone, the fire department’s gone, the bar’s gone, the laundromat’s gone, the general store’s gone,” he told the Sacramento Bee, adding, “I’ll never go back.”
Four burn victims were taken to UC Davis Medical Center in critical condition, the Bee reported.
The fire also threatened Paradise, the Northern California town devastated two years ago by the deadliest blaze in state history that killed 85 people.
On Wednesday, the sky turned from black to cherry red and ash carried on strong winds rained down in a scene reminiscent from the fateful morning of Nov. 8, 2018, former Mayor Steve “Woody” Culleton said.
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“It was extremely frightening and ugly,” Culleton said. “Everybody has PTSD and what not, so it triggered everybody and caused terror and panic.”
Even in the midst of its dry, hot, windy fire season, California has experienced wildfires advancing with unprecedented speed and ferocity.
Since the mid-August, fires have killed 12 people, destroyed more than 3,600 buildings, burned old growth redwoods, charred chaparral and forced evacuations in communities near the coast, in wine country north of San Francisco and along the Sierra Nevada.
The August Complex, centered in wilderness about 130 miles (210 kilometers) north of San Francisco, is now the state’s largest fire on record after scorching more than 736 square miles (1,906 square kilometers). That exceeds a 2018 complex in the same region.
Thick smoke choked much of the state and cast an eerie orange hue across the sky on Wednesday.
In some areas of the San Francisco Bay Area and to the east in the Sacramento Valley, the smoke blocked out so much sunlight that it dropped the temperature by 20 to 30 degrees over the previous day, according to the National Weather Service.
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The U.S. Forest Service, which had taken the unprecedented measure of closing eight national forests in Southern California earlier in the week, ordered all 18 of its forests in the state closed Wednesday.
In Southern California, fires burned in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. People in foothill communities east of Los Angeles were warned to be ready to flee, but the region’s notorious Santa Ana winds were weaker than predicted.
“We’re encouraged that the wind activity appears to be dying down,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “The rest of the week looks a little more favorable.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--What To Do If You Recently Started Having Thoughts Of Self-Harm

If you ’ re at immediate risk for suicide or want to talk to someone right away about your mental health , you should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK , or text “ hello ” to 741741 to speak with a counselor at the Crisis Text Line , or reach out to a local mental health crisis line ( you can Google “ mental health crisis line ” and your location to find one close to you ) .
The national crisis lines can also connect you with someone local .
Any thoughts of self-harm should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be fatal in order to deserve attention .
If you just started experiencing these thoughts recently ― or if you ’ ve had them for a while ― below is some more advice from experts as well as a list of vital resources that offer help .
“ If you are struggling with your feelings and you begin to think to yourself , ‘ If I hurt myself , would that take the pain away ?
’ that is your first sign that something could be wrong , ” said Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voices of Education .
“ You might not actually engage in any self-harming behaviors , but the idea that you have thought of it is your ‘ yellow caution light ’ that you need to talk to someone before it progresses to actual self-harm.
” Henry recommended asking yourself a few questions to track the mental process that led you to the harmful thoughts : Are you having these thoughts at a particular time of day ?
Are you triggered by reading or seeing stories of people inflicting self-harm ?
Do you find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully expressing yourself to people you trust ?
“ Potential red flags can be beginning to neglect responsibilities or habits , even small habits like grooming , with the thought that ‘ it doesn ’ t really matter , ’ ” she said .
“ You don ’ t have to be sad or withdrawn to have harmful thoughts of self-harm .
I believe the red flags can be better recognized by the feeling you get from these thoughts .
You may have a sense of relief because this is something you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the comfort of having a plan or an answer.
” Tell someone you trust about what ’ s going on .
The person you confide in should be someone you trust who is mature and makes you feel safe .
This individual should be someone who will listen to you without judgment , can hold space for this type of heavy conversation , and will help you find ways to manage your mental health .
“ This is really important because research shows that some self-harming behaviors can become addictive and when or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the best reporter of how serious the situation is , ” Reidenberg said .
“ You want to be honest and complete in what you are telling those you trust.
” “ Speaking to a mental health professional does not necessarily mean you will be given medication , or that you are going to act on the thoughts , or that you will be admitted into a mental health facility , ” Henry said .
Your therapist will work with you on a treatment plan that ’ s specifically tailored to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be honest and tell everything .
If you only tell half of what is going on for you , that doesn ’ t help you or the person you are talking with about this issue , ” Reidenberg said .
“ Let them know what you are thinking , how often , what triggers the thoughts , if anything has helped you keep them away or not .
If you have self-harmed , make sure you are honest about that too.
” Finally , know that you aren ’ t bad or abnormal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have to live with them forever .
“ If you have just for the first time thought about hurting yourself , it is really important to know that this happens to others too and it does not mean you are going to die or that there is something wrong with you that can ’ t be addressed and helped , ” Reidenberg said .
“ It is really important for you to know that while it might be scary , and on some level it might feel like a relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go away , self-harming is not a healthy behavior nor is it a good coping mechanism.
” If you or someone you know needs help , call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline .
You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free , 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line .
Outside of the U.S. , please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources .

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It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Explore HuffPost's Bent Not Broken project to learn how the coronavirus has disrupted our mental health, and how to manage our well-being moving forward.
We’re in the midst of a mental health crisis, with the traumas of this year building on troubles Americans already faced. The coronavirus pandemic and the national reckoning with racial injustice have led to painful emotional and behavioral struggles ― including thoughts of self-harm, according to recent data.
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Like most mental health issues, thoughts and behaviors around self-harm exist on a spectrum, said Racine Henry, a therapist and owner of Sankofa Marriage and Family Therapy in New York.
“Thoughts of self-harm can be as subtle as ‘I wonder how my friends would react if I wasn’t alive anymore’ and as blatant as hiding self-inflicted wounds,” she said.
There’s also a difference between suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury ― that is, hurting yourself and/or having thoughts of self-harm. Both should be addressed.
“Self-harm is an unhealthy coping method that can be fatal but it is not always intended to be such. Someone in danger [of suicide] has the intention of no longer living and is willing to bring about that reality through their own actions,” Henry explained.
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If you’re at immediate risk for suicide or want to talk to someone right away about your mental health, you should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, or text “hello” to 741741 to speak with a counselor at the Crisis Text Line, or reach out to a local mental health crisis line (you can Google “mental health crisis line” and your location to find one close to you). The national crisis lines can also connect you with someone local.
Any thoughts of self-harm should be addressed ASAP. They don’t need to be fatal in order to deserve attention. If you just started experiencing these thoughts recently ― or if you’ve had them for a while ― below is some more advice from experts as well as a list of vital resources that offer help.
First things first: Acknowledge what’s happening.
The most important thing you can do when you have thoughts of self-harm is to recognize that they’re happening ― especially before they get any worse.
“If you are struggling with your feelings and you begin to think to yourself, ‘If I hurt myself, would that take the pain away?’ that is your first sign that something could be wrong,” said Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. “You might not actually engage in any self-harming behaviors, but the idea that you have thought of it is your ‘yellow caution light’ that you need to talk to someone before it progresses to actual self-harm.”
Distract yourself.
Focusing your thoughts elsewhere, even for a few minutes, can help you manage them better in the moment, said Craig Bryan, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University focusing on stress, trauma and resilience.
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“Some people listen to uplifting music, some people go for a walk, some people watch a funny TV show,” Bryan said. Reaching out to someone who can take your mind away from the harmful thoughts may also be useful, he added.
These are not long-term solutions, but they can help you cope right now so you have more time to address what’s going on.
alexei_tm via Getty Images
Identify what triggered those thoughts.
Henry recommended asking yourself a few questions to track the mental process that led you to the harmful thoughts: Are you having these thoughts at a particular time of day? Are you triggered by reading or seeing stories of people inflicting self-harm? Do you find yourself purposely holding back thoughts or not fully expressing yourself to people you trust?
Sometimes you may not even realize that your mental health is deteriorating, but Henry said there are subtle signs that could indicate something is up.
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“Potential red flags can be beginning to neglect responsibilities or habits, even small habits like grooming, with the thought that ‘it doesn’t really matter,’” she said. “You don’t have to be sad or withdrawn to have harmful thoughts of self-harm. I believe the red flags can be better recognized by the feeling you get from these thoughts. You may have a sense of relief because this is something you can control and having these thoughts may bring the comfort of having a plan or an answer.”
“You don’t have to be sad or withdrawn to have harmful thoughts of self-harm.” - Racine Henry, a therapist in New York
Tell someone you trust about what’s going on.
It’s important to not keep harmful thoughts a secret ― even if you believe you’re not going to act on them. At the very least, these thoughts are a warning sign that you’re struggling with your mental health, and support can help.
The person you confide in should be someone you trust who is mature and makes you feel safe. This individual should be someone who will listen to you without judgment, can hold space for this type of heavy conversation, and will help you find ways to manage your mental health.
If you know someone who has experienced similar thoughts before and you believe they’re able to talk with you, it might be worth reaching out to them as well, Reidenberg said.
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Most importantly, be explicitly clear about what you’re thinking and feeling.
“This is really important because research shows that some self-harming behaviors can become addictive and when or if that happens, you might not be the best reporter of how serious the situation is,” Reidenberg said. “You want to be honest and complete in what you are telling those you trust.”
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Talk with a mental health professional.
It’s useful to confide in a loved one, but in the long term, one of the most effective ways to address these thoughts is through therapy.
“Speaking to a mental health professional does not necessarily mean you will be given medication, or that you are going to act on the thoughts, or that you will be admitted into a mental health facility,” Henry said. Your therapist will work with you on a treatment plan that’s specifically tailored to your needs.
Bryan recommended looking for mental health professionals who have training in treatments like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), brief cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (BCBT) or the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS). Though people differ, these methods have been shown to help deal with suicidal and other harmful thoughts, he said.
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Once you start your sessions, it’s important to be completely honest with your therapist. No level of detail is off-limits. The more you tell them, the more they’ll be able to help you.
“In your conversations, be honest and tell everything. If you only tell half of what is going on for you, that doesn’t help you or the person you are talking with about this issue,” Reidenberg said. “Let them know what you are thinking, how often, what triggers the thoughts, if anything has helped you keep them away or not. If you have self-harmed, make sure you are honest about that too.”
“In your conversations, be honest and tell everything. If you only tell half of what is going on for you, that doesn’t help you or the person you are talking with about this issue.” - Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Finally, know that you aren’t bad or abnormal for experiencing these thoughts, and you don’t have to live with them forever.
You’re not a terrible person, crazy, unworthy ― or anything else your brain is telling you ― for struggling with your mental health. Thoughts of self-injury have occurred in many people and there are ways to manage them.
“If you have just for the first time thought about hurting yourself, it is really important to know that this happens to others too and it does not mean you are going to die or that there is something wrong with you that can’t be addressed and helped,” Reidenberg said. “It is really important for you to know that while it might be scary, and on some level it might feel like a relief to believe you can get the pain to go away, self-harming is not a healthy behavior nor is it a good coping mechanism.”
There are people out there who do care about your well-being, even if your brain is telling you that no one does.
“I want you to know there are people who see value in you existing and are willing to support you until you can get to a better place,” Henry said. “You don’t have to be happy tomorrow and you aren’t wrong for how you currently feel. But if you want to try, if you have even the smallest hope left, feeling better is possible.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Before You Engage A Vaccine Skeptic, Here's What You Need To Know

Take the ongoing development of a coronavirus vaccine , for example .
There is not yet a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for public use in America , but if there was , a significant number of people would be reluctant to get it : 1 in 3 Americans said they would not take an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine if one was available to them today at no cost , according to a Gallup poll from July and August .
1 .
Before you judge , listen to what the concerns are .
Rev .
Terris King is a Black pastor in Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Office of Minority Health at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services .
He said his experiences in public health have taught him that many institutions take a paternalistic approach toward Black communities : an attitude that “ ‘ We are here to take care of you , and we are here to empower you , ’ as if those communities don ’ t have power , ” King said .
3 .
The goal is not always to convince that one skeptic , but the people around them .
4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations .
“ In order to be approved , the vaccine has to in general work , on average , for the community , ” Murray said .
“ But , for example , with the flu vaccine , it ’ s a really great year if the flu vaccine works 60 % of the time , and in some years , it ’ s much less than that .
But it ’ s still better than not having a vaccine because at least some proportion of people are going to be protected.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader to be the vaccine messenger .
As the pastor of Liberty Grace Church in Baltimore , King is one of those trusted community members with a public platform and the knowledge of how vaccines work .
He said he would not use his role to convince his community to receive a potential COVID-19 vaccine until he is confident that his questions about it are answered , but he noted it is time for the flu vaccine .

ASSOCIATED PRESS Addressing vaccine skepticism involves first understanding the context of a person's doubts. (Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star via AP)
For a vaccine to be effective, people need to actually get vaccinated ― but many Americans are distrustful and hesitant about vaccination safety and efficacy.
Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are expected to become widely available to Americans in the months ahead. But a significant number of people have said they will be reluctant to get the shots when given the chance: In four December polls, 26% to 33% of respondents said they would not get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them.
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The number of people who get the vaccine matters for achieving so-called herd immunity, the tipping point in a population at which the spread of the virus from person to person becomes unlikely. “I would say 75 to 85 percent would have to get vaccinated if you want to have that blanket of herd immunity,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told NPR on Tuesday.
Although we do not know yet how many Americans will actually get the vaccine when it is widely offered, getting people to participate in vaccination campaigns is historically a struggle. Take the flu vaccine as an example. Only 34.9% of adults ages 18 to 49 were vaccinated during the 2018-2019 flu season in the U.S.
When you hear a family member talk about how all vaccines are fake or cause harm, is there any use in engaging? If your friends want to skip the flu shot or a COVID-19 vaccination, should you have a conversation with them about why that is? Here are principles to keep in mind when engaging with the vaccine skeptics in your communities.
1. Before you judge, listen to what the concerns are.
Public health experts and epidemiologists agreed that dismissing someone’s questions and calling their vaccine skepticism dumb will not get you far.
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“You want to understand where they’re coming from first and not shut them down,” said Lois Privor-Dumm, director of policy advocacy and communications at the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University. Dumm is one of 23 nationwide experts that produced a report for Johns Hopkins on how to ready communities for a COVID-19 vaccine.
“We need to recognize that people have many needs. Vaccines are not always their priority,” Privor-Dumm said. If a person does not feel like their basic needs for nutrition and being physically safe are met, for example, that may prevent them from getting a flu shot or eventually a COVID-19 vaccine, she said.
Black Americans sometimes have lower vaccination rates for the flu and pneumonia than white Americans. They also reported being more skeptical of a future COVID-19 vaccine than white and Latinx Americans. There are valid reasons for this: Black Americans may experience iatrophobia, or fear of medicine, based on a long history of involuntary, unethical medical experimentation against them that goes beyond the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study.
Rev. Terris King is a Black pastor in Baltimore who is also a former director of the Office of Minority Health at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He said his experiences in public health have taught him that many institutions take a paternalistic approach toward Black communities: an attitude that “‘We are here to take care of you, and we are here to empower you,’ as if those communities don’t have power,” King said.
Researchers, laboratory experts and vaccine promoters need to first ask communities, “‘What are your needs from the health care perspective?’ And at least listen and attempt to address those needs and to be transparent and honest about the environment that we find ourselves in,” he added.
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2. Personal, local connections make a difference.
Emily K. Brunson is an associate professor of anthropology at Texas State University and one of the co-chairs of the working group that produced the John Hopkins report on preparing populations for a COVID-19 vaccine. She has researched how social networks play an important role in parents’ decisions about vaccinating their children.
“Those personal connections actually mattered more than official statements that people might read or what social media might be from people that they don’t know. It really comes down to who people know and what those very trusted people are saying,” Brunson said. “COVID is a different situation, obviously, than parental vaccination, but I suspect the same will hold true ― that social networks, those local one-on-one connections, will matter a lot.”
One way to reach a vaccine skeptic you know on a one-on-one level is by fostering empathy. Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College and the author of “Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels,” said one strategy for changing social norms is to build empathy by communicating what is personally at stake for you with a vaccine.
Sanderson said this could sound like, “Listen, my mother actually is at very high-risk [for this disease]. You may not know that, but it makes me really sad when you say that. My mother’s life may be at risk.”
If you do see vaccine misinformation spreading on social media, you can report it to the individual platform, or have nonprofit public health initiatives like Public Health Projects’ Stronger campaign do it for you.
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3. The goal is not always to convince that one skeptic, but the people around them.
Sanderson said one question to ask yourself before you engage with a vaccine skeptic is “Are you trying to change that person’s view or the other audience members’?”
Sometimes your best option is the latter, and calling out vaccine misinformation one person shares may stop it from spreading. By speaking up, you send a message to everyone listening that “Not everyone thinks vaccines are fake. I should probably be careful before speaking in that same way,” Sanderson said.
In its guidelines for how health authorities can address vaccine deniers in public, the World Health Organization said the goal of engaging is to correct the content and unmask the common weapons that vocal vaccine deniers use, such as fake experts, conspiracies, the misrepresentation and selectivity of facts, and impossible expectations.
If the vaccine denier is using fake experts, for example, WHO tells health officials to point that out by noting that an argument is based on ideas put forward by people “who are not considered experts in the field of vaccine safety and effectiveness” and that their ideas “do not reflect the evidence-based consensus among scientists, nor are they representative of public opinion.”
You could also say the majority of Americans are “well aware of the huge benefits of vaccinations for the health of every individual,” according to WHO.
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4. Know the facts about vaccines to manage expectations.
Familiarize yourself with how vaccines and vaccine trials work.
“A lot of vaccines work by giving your body exposure to a little tiny piece of the virus. Because your body has exposure to that piece of the virus, it can learn how to respond to the virus when it encounters it for real,” said Eleanor Murray, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health.
The new COVID-19 vaccines operate differently, however. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, to teach our cells how to make a harmless protein that kickstarts the body’s immune system into making protective antibodies against the coronavirus. These mRNA vaccines do not affect or interact with our DNA in any way, nor do they expose the body to the virus.
Read up on vaccine facts and histories so you can share them. King cited the story of Onesimus, an enslaved African who introduced Boston and the United States to smallpox inoculation. “Many times, our people have a greater sense of pride around something they helped to construct,” King said.
One other fact to keep in mind is that vaccines are not 100% effective for every person, and if you get a vaccine, it doesn’t mean you cannot get sick from the disease, Murray said.
“In order to be approved, the vaccine has to in general work, on average, for the community,” Murray said. “But, for example, with the flu vaccine, it’s a really great year if the flu vaccine works 60% of the time, and in some years, it’s much less than that. But it’s still better than not having a vaccine because at least some proportion of people are going to be protected.”
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WHO recommends being transparent about this when encountering vaccine deniers, with messaging like, “Expecting 100% safety is impossible; no medical product or intervention, from aspirin to heart surgery, can ever be guaranteed 100% safe. What we do know for sure is that the risks associated with vaccine-preventable diseases by far outweigh those of vaccines.”
Speaking about the risk analysis of the COVID-19 vaccines specifically, here’s how Florian Krammer, a microbiology professor at Mt. Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, put it: “If I do take the vaccine, I know that 40,000 people were fine,” he told HuffPost, referring to the total number of people who received a vaccine in Pfizer’s and Moderna’s clinical trials. “On the other side, you have the risk of getting infected.”
5. Look for an ethical leader to be the vaccine messenger.
Consider who is the best person to be sending a message about a vaccine. Sanderson’s research on changing social norms has found that people look to ethical leaders for guidance.
Privor-Dumm said people who are concerned about having their community taken into account can be good messengers about a vaccine. As this messenger becomes convinced, they can convince others.
“If you’re not completely on board with a particular vaccine, you want to hear the facts from somebody that you trust, somebody that you know has looked at the data, heard about the vaccine, has a stake in the community,” she said.
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As the pastor of Liberty Grace Church in Baltimore, King is one of those trusted community members with a public platform and the knowledge of how vaccines work. He said he would not use his role to convince his community to receive a potential COVID-19 vaccine until he is confident that his questions about it are answered, but he noted it is time for the flu vaccine.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-09--‘I Don’t Want To Scare People’: Trump Again Defends Downplaying COVID-19

President Donald Trump once again defended his actions during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and said he wanted to show Americans “ calmness ” and be a “ cheerleader.
” Trump made the comments in a lengthy interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday , his latest effort to distance himself from revelations published in excerpts from “ Rage , ” the forthcoming book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward .
In one of a series of bombshell interviews with Woodward , Trump said he knew in early February the coronavirus posed a deep threat to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even your strenuous flus.
” “ I want to show calmness , I ’ m the leader of this country , ” Trump told Hannity on Wednesday after the accounts were published .
“ I don ’ t want to be jumping up and down , I don ’ t want to scare people .
I want people not to panic .
And that ’ s exactly what I did.
” Public health experts have , for months , been issuing stark warnings about the threat of the pandemic , urging the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the White House urged large swaths of the country to reopen .
Infections have continued to rise for months in some places , and there is ongoing concern about the rate of spread at schools and college campuses .
The president went on to defend his actions Wednesday and laid blame for the spread of the coronavirus on China , touting his efforts to close U.S. borders to many travelers from China and Europe during the early days of the pandemic ( although there were many exemptions to those bans ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodward , the president was publicly downplaying the virus and saying it was no more dangerous than the flu .
He has continued to champion the U.S. response and to place blame largely on China , even after COVID-19 has killed more than 190,000 people in the United States .
“ You just breathe the air and that ’ s how it ’ s passed , ” Trump told Woodward in a Feb. 7 call , details of which were published by CNN and The Washington Post .
“ And so that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a very delicate one .
It ’ s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.
” He went on : “ I wanted to always play it down .
I still like playing it down , because I don ’ t want to create a panic.
” Both the White House and Trump ’ s GOP allies went on the defensive after details of the Woodward book were released .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president had “ never lied to the American public on COVID ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He knew how deadly it was .
It was much more deadly than the flu .
He knew , and purposely played it down , ” Biden said Wednesday .
“ Worse , he lied to the American people .
He knowingly and willingly lied about the threat it posed to the country for months .
”

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President Donald Trump once again defended his actions during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and said he wanted to show Americans “calmness” and be a “cheerleader.”
Trump made the comments in a lengthy interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, his latest effort to distance himself from revelations published in excerpts from “Rage,” the forthcoming book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward.
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In one of a series of bombshell interviews with Woodward, Trump said he knew in early February the coronavirus posed a deep threat to the country and was “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”
“I want to show calmness, I’m the leader of this country,” Trump told Hannity on Wednesday after the accounts were published. “I don’t want to be jumping up and down, I don’t want to scare people. I want people not to panic. And that’s exactly what I did.”
Irony is dead.
Trump to Hannity: "I’m the leader of the country, I can’t be jumping up and down and scaring people. I don’t want to scare people." pic.twitter.com/OUX6Kkx6VI — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 10, 2020
Public health experts have, for months, been issuing stark warnings about the threat of the pandemic, urging the public to wear masks and social distance even as the White House urged large swaths of the country to reopen. Infections have continued to rise for months in some places, and there is ongoing concern about the rate of spread at schools and college campuses.
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The president went on to defend his actions Wednesday and laid blame for the spread of the coronavirus on China, touting his efforts to close U.S. borders to many travelers from China and Europe during the early days of the pandemic (although there were many exemptions to those bans).
“We’ve done a really good job,” Trump said on Fox News. “Really, it’s amazing what we’ve done. We’ve done an incredible job.”
The comments echo those he gave reporters at the White House earlier in the day.
At the time of his interview with Woodward, the president was publicly downplaying the virus and saying it was no more dangerous than the flu. He has continued to champion the U.S. response and to place blame largely on China, even after COVID-19 has killed more than 190,000 people in the United States.
“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump told Woodward in a Feb. 7 call, details of which were published by CNN and The Washington Post. “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”
He went on: “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
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Both the White House and Trump’s GOP allies went on the defensive after details of the Woodward book were released. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president had “never lied to the American public on COVID” and “never downplayed the virus.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee hoping to unseat Trump in November, dismissed those claims.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Tucker Carlson Throws Lindsey Graham Under The Bus For Donald Trump's Recorded Lies

Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson went after Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) on Wednesday night for encouraging President Donald Trump to be interviewed by Bob Woodward for the journalist ’ s upcoming book “ Rage.
” One of the most explosive revelations to emerge from Woodward ’ s new reporting is that Trump actually understood the grave threat of the coronavirus in early February , but chose to knowingly mislead the public and downplay its risks .
Carlson didn ’ t dwell on the claims made in the book , backed up by audio recordings of the interviews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , Fox ’ s prime time host asked “ why in the world would ” Trump talk repeatedly with Woodward , whose 2018 tell-all “ Fear : Trump In The White House ” the president dismissed as a “ scam.
” Carlson pointed the finger of blame at Graham .
The senator , who slammed Trump during the 2016 campaign , has since become one of the president ’ s most ardent supporters .
Graham admitted to The Daily Beast on Wednesday that he ’ d told Trump that the interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell your side of the story.
” Trump did not cooperate with Woodward on his 2018 book .
Carlson claimed Graham had even brokered the interviews between Trump and Woodward and sat in on their first chat .
“ Now remember , Lindsey Graham is supposed to be a Republican , so why would he do something like that ?
” asked Carlson .
“ You would have to ask him .
But keep in mind that Lindsey Graham has opposed — passionately opposed — virtually every major policy initiative that Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From ending illegal immigration to pulling back from pointless wars to maintaining law and order at home , ” he continued .
“ Lindsey Graham was against all of that , more than many Democrats , ” Carlson concluded .
“ So maybe you already know the answer.
” Tucker Carlson spends about a minute talking about the Bob Woodward tapes .
Rather than discuss what Trump actually said about intentionally downplaying the virus , Tucker 's takeaway is that Lindsey Graham set up Trump by advising him to talk to Woodward .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) September 10 , 2020

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Fox News’ Tucker Carlson went after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday night for encouraging President Donald Trump to be interviewed by Bob Woodward for the journalist’s upcoming book “Rage.”
One of the most explosive revelations to emerge from Woodward’s new reporting is that Trump actually understood the grave threat of the coronavirus in early February, but chose to knowingly mislead the public and downplay its risks.
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Carlson didn’t dwell on the claims made in the book, backed up by audio recordings of the interviews, that is set for release next week.
Instead, Fox’s prime time host asked “why in the world would” Trump talk repeatedly with Woodward, whose 2018 tell-all “Fear: Trump In The White House” the president dismissed as a “scam.”
Carlson pointed the finger of blame at Graham. The senator, who slammed Trump during the 2016 campaign, has since become one of the president’s most ardent supporters.
Graham admitted to The Daily Beast on Wednesday that he’d told Trump that the interviews with Woodward would be a “chance to tell your side of the story.” Trump did not cooperate with Woodward on his 2018 book.
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Carlson claimed Graham had even brokered the interviews between Trump and Woodward and sat in on their first chat.
“Now remember, Lindsey Graham is supposed to be a Republican, so why would he do something like that?” asked Carlson.
“You would have to ask him. But keep in mind that Lindsey Graham has opposed — passionately opposed — virtually every major policy initiative that Donald Trump articulated when he first ran. From ending illegal immigration to pulling back from pointless wars to maintaining law and order at home,” he continued.
“Lindsey Graham was against all of that, more than many Democrats,” Carlson concluded. “So maybe you already know the answer.”
Check out the clip here:
Tucker Carlson spends about a minute talking about the Bob Woodward tapes.
Rather than discuss what Trump actually said about intentionally downplaying the virus, Tucker's takeaway is that Lindsey Graham set up Trump by advising him to talk to Woodward. pic.twitter.com/Q6Rzf20iGX — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Trump’s Attacks On Bob Woodward Contradicted By One Of His Own Tweets

President Donald Trump and his allies on Wednesday lashed out at journalist Bob Woodward over revelations in his upcoming book .
But those attacks are falling flat in light of an old comment from Trump himself about the famed author .
Woodward ’ s upcoming book , Rage , reveals that the president lied to the American public about the coronavirus pandemic and knowingly downplayed the infection ’ s severity and how it ’ s spread .
He told Woodward on Feb. 7 that the virus was deadly , spread via the air and worse than the flu , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public it was under control , that cases would soon be down to close to zero and even suggested the flu was far worse .
On Wednesday , Trump attacked the book as “ just another political hit job ” and “ boring , ” and said Woodward was “ rapidly fading.
” In 2013 , however , Trump had a very different opinion of Woodward ’ s work : It ’ s not clear what prompted that specific tweet ; it was posted just days after Woodward said Gene Sperling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under then-President Barack Obama told him he ’ d regret criticizing the budget cuts under the sequester .
Trump also praised some of the other reporting Woodward did on the Obama administration .
Since becoming president , Trump has run hot and cold on Woodward , usually in relation to whatever the author has said or written at any given moment .
Trump dismissed Woodward ’ s 2018 book , Fear : Trump In The White House , as a “ joke ” and a “ scam ” and called the author a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year , Trump praised Woodward as “ cool , calm and interesting ” for his comments in a “ Face the Nation ” appearance , and in 2017 , he thanked Woodward for dismissing the unverified Steele dossier as a “ garbage document.
” Rage goes on sale next week and many are unhappy with Woodward for waiting until the book ’ s release to reveal the president ’ s lies about the virus .

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President Donald Trump and his allies on Wednesday lashed out at journalist Bob Woodward over revelations in his upcoming book. But those attacks are falling flat in light of an old comment from Trump himself about the famed author.
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On Wednesday, Trump attacked the book as “just another political hit job” and “boring,” and said Woodward was “rapidly fading.” In 2013, however, Trump had a very different opinion of Woodward’s work:
Only the Obama WH can get away with attacking Bob Woodward. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2013
It’s not clear what prompted that specific tweet; it was posted just days after Woodward said Gene Sperling, director of the White House Economic Council under then-President Barack Obama told him he’d regret criticizing the budget cuts under the sequester. Trump also praised some of the other reporting Woodward did on the Obama administration.
Since becoming president, Trump has run hot and cold on Woodward, usually in relation to whatever the author has said or written at any given moment. Trump dismissed Woodward’s 2018 book, Fear: Trump In The White House, as a “joke” and a “scam” and called the author a liar in a barrage of tweets.
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Last year, Trump praised Woodward as “cool, calm and interesting” for his comments in a “Face the Nation” appearance, and in 2017, he thanked Woodward for dismissing the unverified Steele dossier as a “garbage document.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Cable News Hosts Rip Trump’s COVID-19 Lies: ‘Arguably Worst Cover-Up’ In U.S. History

Cable news network hosts on Wednesday night excoriated Donald Trump over the bombshell revelations in journalist Bob Woodward ’ s new book “ Rage , ” which details how the president understood the deadly threat of COVID-19 in early February but lied about its risks for months .
Anchors on CNN and MSNBC hammered Trump ― who was taped in early February admitting to famed Watergate reporter Woodward that he knew the coronavirus is “ more deadly than even your strenuous flus ” ― for endangering Americans by ignoring the advice of public health experts to increasingly politicize the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people nationwide .
“ It ’ s just plain out betrayal , ” he continued .
“ It doesn ’ t matter if you support him or if you don ’ t support him , he ’ s betrayed you.
” He called for those in the Trump White House who knew of the president ’ s deceit but remained silent to be “ exposed ” and “ shamed.
” '' There is no price worth forgiving this kind of perfidy , '' says @ chriscuomo of Pres .
Trump 's lies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand accuses of lying , denying and there by endangering too many of us for too long , causing illness and death . ''
pic.twitter.com/012vMIEZWW — Cuomo Prime Time ( @ CuomoPrimeTime ) September 10 , 2020 “ People say lives have been lost , but they haven ’ t been lost , they are dead , ” noted CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper .
“ 190,000 Americans are dead and the president lied to us when it really mattered when action could have been taken based on the information the president had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` People say lives have been lost , but they have n't been lost , '' says @ andersoncooper .
`` They are dead .
190,000 Americans are dead and the president lied to us when it really mattered .
`` https : //t.co/fTgC9vY8eY pic.twitter.com/RLEGx88MKs — Anderson Cooper 360° ( @ AC360 ) September 10 , 2020 “ Your president , the man to whom you have given your absolute devotion over the last 4 years , lied to you , ” she summarized .
Nicolle Wallace , the host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , ” said the question looming over Trump was how many people died because they believed his lies about the virus .
“ How many people died because they believed Trump ’ s lies on coronavirus ?
That ’ s the question looming over Trump ’ s White House today in the wake of bombshell new revelations , including… the president admitting… he knew coronavirus would become devastating ” - @ NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/tJm89sxP0R — Deadline White House ( @ DeadlineWH ) September 9 , 2020 “ If this were a TV series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American news and politics right now , tonight would probably be the episode of the TV series where the president of the United States resigns , ” she suggested .
If this were a TV series about what is going on in American news and politics right now , tonight would probably be the episode of the TV series where the president of the United States resigns .
pic.twitter.com/KcF4OVOJPv — Maddow Blog ( @ MaddowBlog ) September 10 , 2020 It is “ a scandal of epic proportions ” and “ arguably the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
.
@ chrislhayes says Trump lying about the threat of the virus is “ arguably the worst cover up in American history.
” “ He knew what he was doing .
He knew how bad the virus was .
He understood it all .
And he lied and he covered it up.
” pic.twitter.com/MaYFT9e1DK — All In with Chris Hayes ( @ allinwithchris ) September 10 , 2020 Hosts on the conservative Fox News , meanwhile , sought to downplay the revelations ― with primetime personality Tucker Carlson blaming Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported role in brokering the interviews .

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Cable news network hosts excoriated Donald Trump on Wednesday night over the bombshell revelations in journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” which details how the president understood the deadly threat of COVID-19 early on in the outbreak but downplayed its risks for months.
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In a taped February interview for the book, Trump admitted to famed Watergate reporter Woodward that he knew the coronavirus is “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.” Anchors on CNN and MSNBC hammered Trump on Wednesday for endangering Americans by ignoring the advice of public health experts to increasingly politicize the pandemic that has now killed more than 190,000 people nationwide.
“This president has betrayed you,” said Don Lemon, the host of “CNN Tonight.” “It’s just plain out betrayal. Doesn’t matter if you support him or if you don’t support him, he’s betrayed you.”
Check out Lemon’s comments here:
>> @DonLemon: "This president has betrayed you. It's just plain out betrayal." pic.twitter.com/Ue87DrRjum — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 10, 2020
CNN’s Chris Cuomo said, “There is no price worth forgiving this kind of perfidy.”
He called for those in the Trump White House who knew about the president’s deceit but remained silent to be “exposed” and “shamed.”
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Check out Cuomo’s comments here:
"There is no price worth forgiving this kind of perfidy," says @chriscuomo of Pres. Trump's lies on coronavirus.
"Mr. President, you stand accuses of lying, denying and there by endangering too many of us for too long, causing illness and death." pic.twitter.com/012vMIEZWW — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) September 10, 2020
“People say lives have been lost, but they haven’t been lost. They are dead,” CNN’s Anderson Cooper said. “The president lied to us when it really mattered, when action could have been taken based on the information the president had that would have saved lives.”
Check out Cooper’s comments here:
"People say lives have been lost, but they haven't been lost," says @andersoncooper.
"They are dead. 190,000 Americans are dead and the president lied to us when it really mattered."https://t.co/fTgC9vY8eY pic.twitter.com/RLEGx88MKs — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 10, 2020
And MSNBC’s Joy Reid addressed Trump’s supporters.
“Your president, the man to whom you have given your absolute devotion over the last four years, lied to you,” she said.
Check out Reid’s comments here:
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Nicolle Wallace, the host of MSNBC’s “Deadline White House,” said the question looming over Trump was how many people died because they believed his lies about the virus.
Check out Wallace’s comments here:
“How many people died because they believed Trump’s lies on coronavirus? That’s the question looming over Trump’s White House today in the wake of bombshell new revelations, including… the president admitting… he knew coronavirus would become devastating” - @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/tJm89sxP0R — Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) September 9, 2020
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow described the revelations as “some heavy stuff for our country.”
“If this were a TV series about what’s going on in American news and politics right now, tonight would probably be the episode of the TV series where the president of the United States resigns,” she said.
Check out Maddow’s comments here:
If this were a TV series about what is going on in American news and politics right now, tonight would probably be the episode of the TV series where the president of the United States resigns. pic.twitter.com/KcF4OVOJPv — Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) September 10, 2020
And MSNBC’s Chris Hayes slammed Trump’s catastrophic handling of the pandemic and subsequent gaslighting.
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It is “a scandal of epic proportions” and “arguably the worst cover-up in American history,” he said.
Check out Hayes’ monologue here:
.@chrislhayes says Trump lying about the threat of the virus is “arguably the worst cover up in American history.”
“He knew what he was doing. He knew how bad the virus was. He understood it all. And he lied and he covered it up.” pic.twitter.com/MaYFT9e1DK — All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) September 10, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--George Conway Shows What's Going On In Trump's Head In Exclusive 'Unfit' Clip

Conservative attorney George Conway says President Donald Trump ’ s mind is so jumbled with lies , distortions and fantasies that even he can ’ t tell them apart when he speaks .
“ But they just come out without regard to the consequences , ” Conway said in an exclusive clip from the new film “ Unfit : The Psychology of Donald Trump.
” “ He actually believes some of this insanity that comes out of his mouth .
Not only is there no filter , there ’ s nothing up here , ” Conway said as he gestured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nothing up here that represents any version of reality or sensible thought.
” “ Being president , you actually have to play multi-dimensional chess , ” Conway said in the clip .
“ He ’ s not even playing tic-tac-toe .
He ’ s a practical joke that got out of hand.
” Conway is the husband of former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , and has been an often-cited critic of the president despite his wife ’ s ties to the administration .
Conway was also one of the founders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative Trump critics that has taken out TV ads and created viral videos against the president , much to his ire .
Kellyanne Conway and George Conway stepped back from public life last month “ to devote more time to family matters.
” The film was made prior to that decision .
“ Unfit , ” directed by Dan Partland , was made in consultation with the Duty to Warn Coalition , an organization of mental health professionals and others who say Trump is unfit to be president .
The film is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Conservative attorney George Conway says President Donald Trump’s mind is so jumbled with lies, distortions and fantasies that even he can’t tell them apart when he speaks.
“But they just come out without regard to the consequences,” Conway said in an exclusive clip from the new film “Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump.”
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Conway said some voters found the unfiltered attitude refreshing.
“He actually believes some of this insanity that comes out of his mouth. Not only is there no filter, there’s nothing up here,” Conway said as he gestured to his head. “There’s nothing up here that represents any version of reality or sensible thought.”
“Being president, you actually have to play multi-dimensional chess,” Conway said in the clip. “He’s not even playing tic-tac-toe. He’s a practical joke that got out of hand.”
Conway is the husband of former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and has been an often-cited critic of the president despite his wife’s ties to the administration. Conway was also one of the founders of The Lincoln Project, a group of conservative Trump critics that has taken out TV ads and created viral videos against the president, much to his ire.
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Kellyanne Conway and George Conway stepped back from public life last month “to devote more time to family matters.” The film was made prior to that decision.
“Unfit,” directed by Dan Partland, was made in consultation with the Duty to Warn Coalition, an organization of mental health professionals and others who say Trump is unfit to be president.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Michael Cohen Makes Chilling Prediction About Trump And The Constitution If He Wins

Michael Cohen has already predicted the dirty tactics that Donald Trump may deploy in order to win the 2020 election ― and what the president may do to save himself from prosecution if he loses .
Now , Trump ’ s former attorney and fixer— who is currently serving out a three-year prison sentence at home for violating campaign finance laws and lying to Congress during the Russia investigation — has revealed what he thinks the president will do in the immediate aftermath of a victory over Democratic rival Joe Biden in November .
Cohen told CNN ’ s Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he should be the ruler , the dictator of the United States of America , ” and that when he talks about serving as president for 12 more years , “ he ’ s not joking.
” “ Donald Trump doesn ’ t have a sense of humor , ” said Cohen , whose tell-all book about his time working for the president — titled “ Disloyal : The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump ” — was released this week .
“ So I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 more years ’ — if he wins , he ’ s going to automatically , day number one , start thinking how he can change the Constitution for a third term and then a fourth term , ” Cohen said .
“ Like what he said to President Xi and like he said to so many other people — it ’ s why he admires the Kim Jong Uns of the world .
”

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Michael Cohen has already predicted the dirty tactics that Donald Trump may deploy in order to win the 2020 election ― and what the president may do to save himself from prosecution if he loses.
Now, Trump’s former attorney and fixer— who is currently serving out a three-year prison sentence at home for violating campaign finance laws and lying to Congress during the Russia investigation — has revealed what he thinks the president will do in the immediate aftermath of a victory over Democratic rival Joe Biden in November.
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Cohen told CNN’s Don Lemon on Wednesday that Trump “believes that he should be the ruler, the dictator of the United States of America,” and that when he talks about serving as president for 12 more years, “he’s not joking.”
“Donald Trump doesn’t have a sense of humor,” said Cohen, whose tell-all book about his time working for the president — titled “Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump” — was released this week.
“So I want you to understand when he says ’12 more years’ — if he wins, he’s going to automatically, day number one, start thinking how he can change the Constitution for a third term and then a fourth term,” Cohen said. “Like what he said to President Xi and like he said to so many other people — it’s why he admires the Kim Jong Uns of the world.”
Check out the clip here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Viral Attack Ads Flow Thick And Fast Over Donald Trump’s Taped COVID-19 Confession

The revelation in Bob Woodward ’ s upcoming book that President Donald Trump privately understood the threat posed by COVID-19 while deliberately downplaying its danger in public inspired a raft of viral attack ads on Wednesday .
Trump , in a taped February interview with journalist Woodward for his tell-all “ Rage , ” slated for release next week , admitted the coronavirus is “ more deadly than even your strenuous flus ” and “ deadly stuff.
” The conservative Lincoln Project , whose Republican members are working to defeat Trump in November ’ s election , contrasted what Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodward with what he was telling the American public : The video has garnered more than 3.4 million views on Twitter alone .
It ’ s unclear whether the ad will air on television ― or if it will even have any influence on swing voters in the 2020 election .
The PAC Really American spelled out why Trump “ doesn ’ t care ” in its clip and urged Americans to ” end the nightmare.
” Democratic 2020 nominee Joe Biden ’ s campaign described Trump ’ s lies as “ unconscionable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew that COVID-19 was dangerous .
He knew it was deadly .
And he purposely downplayed it .
Now , nearly 200,000 Americans are dead .
It ’ s unconscionable .
pic.twitter.com/SLqqhmWy8E — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) September 10 , 2020 And Jon Ossoff , the Democratic challenger to Sen. David Perdue ( R-Ga. ) , compared Trump ’ s comments with those of Ossoff ’ s 2020 election rival :

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The revelation in Bob Woodward’s upcoming book that President Donald Trump privately understood the threat posed by COVID-19 while deliberately downplaying its danger in public inspired a raft of viral attack ads on Wednesday.
Trump, in a taped February interview with journalist Woodward for his tell-all “Rage,” slated for release next week, admitted the coronavirus is “more deadly than even your strenuous flus” and “deadly stuff.”
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The conservative Lincoln Project, whose Republican members are working to defeat Trump in November’s election, contrasted what Trump said in that and subsequent interviews with Woodward with what he was telling the American public:
The video has garnered more than 3.4 million views on Twitter alone.
It’s unclear whether the ad will air on television ― or if it will even have any influence on swing voters in the 2020 election.
The progressive PAC MeidasTouch dubbed Trump a #PretendPresident with this video:
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The PAC Really American spelled out why Trump “doesn’t care” in its clip and urged Americans to ”end the nightmare.”
Democratic 2020 nominee Joe Biden’s campaign described Trump’s lies as “unconscionable” with its response:
Donald Trump knew that COVID-19 was dangerous. He knew it was deadly. And he purposely downplayed it.
Now, nearly 200,000 Americans are dead.
It’s unconscionable. pic.twitter.com/SLqqhmWy8E — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 10, 2020
And Jon Ossoff, the Democratic challenger to Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), compared Trump’s comments with those of Ossoff’s 2020 election rival:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--‘Special Friendship:’ New Book Reveals Courtship Between Trump and Kim Jong Un

In a series of letters reportedly obtained by Bob Woodward for his new book “ Rage , ” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called President Donald Trump “ Your Excellency ” and said their relationship was like a scene from a fantasy film .
The Washington Post and CNN published details from more than two dozen letters the leaders sent after the 2018 summit in Singapore , the first time a sitting U.S. president had met with a leader of the North .
The missives add new context to the cordial relationship between Trump and Kim and feature deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel pleased to have formed good ties with such a powerful and preeminent statesman as Your Excellency , ” Kim wrote in one letter , per the Post .
In another , the North Korean leader said he was thinking of “ that moment of history when I firmly held Your Excellency ’ s hand at the beautiful and sacred location as the whole world watched with great interest and hope to relive the honor of that day.
” Trump did not share the letters with Woodward , who told the Post he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two letters , sent in December 2018 and June 2019 .
Trump had hinted at the content of the letters in late 2018 , saying the pair “ fell in love ” after Kim wrote him “ beautiful letters.
” The diplomatic relationship was a swift change from the early days of the Trump presidency .
Then , the leaders swapped increasingly acidic names , with Trump calling Kim “ Little Rocket Man ” and Kim describing Trump as a “ dotard.
” In an interview with Woodward , Trump described his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it was near-immediate .
“ You meet a woman .
In one second , you know whether or not it ’ s going to happen , ” Trump told Woodward of his relationship with Kim , per The New York Times .
“ It doesn ’ t take you 10 minutes and it doesn ’ t take you six weeks .
It ’ s like , whoa .
OK. You know ?
It takes somewhat less than a second.
” The Trump administration ’ s relationship with North Korea has soured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December that he would no longer be constrained by the moratorium on nuclear or long-range ballistic missile testing .
Trump defended his three meetings with Kim to Woodward after many foreign policy experts warned that the U.S. had received few concessions following the summits while North Korea won deeply craved international legitimacy .
Trump also said his efforts to convince Kim to give up the North ’ s controversial nuclear weapons program were like convincing “ somebody that ’ s in love with a house ” to give it up .

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In a series of letters reportedly obtained by Bob Woodward for his new book “Rage,” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called President Donald Trump “Your Excellency” and said their relationship was like a scene from a fantasy film.
The Washington Post and CNN published details from more than two dozen letters the leaders sent after the 2018 summit in Singapore, the first time a sitting U.S. president had met with a leader of the North. The missives add new context to the cordial relationship between Trump and Kim and feature deep flattery toward the president.
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“I feel pleased to have formed good ties with such a powerful and preeminent statesman as Your Excellency,” Kim wrote in one letter, per the Post. In another, the North Korean leader said he was thinking of “that moment of history when I firmly held Your Excellency’s hand at the beautiful and sacred location as the whole world watched with great interest and hope to relive the honor of that day.”
Trump did not share the letters with Woodward, who told the Post he obtained them independently. CNN acquired transcripts of two letters, sent in December 2018 and June 2019. Trump had hinted at the content of the letters in late 2018, saying the pair “fell in love” after Kim wrote him “beautiful letters.”
The diplomatic relationship was a swift change from the early days of the Trump presidency. Then, the leaders swapped increasingly acidic names, with Trump calling Kim “Little Rocket Man” and Kim describing Trump as a “dotard.”
In an interview with Woodward, Trump described his chemistry with Kim after they finally met, saying it was near-immediate.
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“You meet a woman. In one second, you know whether or not it’s going to happen,” Trump told Woodward of his relationship with Kim, per The New York Times. “It doesn’t take you 10 minutes and it doesn’t take you six weeks. It’s like, whoa. OK. You know? It takes somewhat less than a second.”
The Trump administration’s relationship with North Korea has soured over the last year and Kim announced in December that he would no longer be constrained by the moratorium on nuclear or long-range ballistic missile testing.
Trump defended his three meetings with Kim to Woodward after many foreign policy experts warned that the U.S. had received few concessions following the summits while North Korea won deeply craved international legitimacy.
“I met. Big fucking deal,” Trump told Woodward, The Washington Post reported. “It takes me two days. I met. I gave up nothing.”
Trump also said his efforts to convince Kim to give up the North’s controversial nuclear weapons program were like convincing “somebody that’s in love with a house” to give it up.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-10--Lou Dobbs Claims Trump 'Had A Great Day.' Critics Say He's 'Delusional.'

Fox Business host Lou Dobbs , known for his uncompromising , propaganda-like adulation of Donald Trump , still managed to surprise viewers on Wednesday when he claimed the embattled president had “ a great day.
” The president , by most accounts , did not have a great day .
Audio tapes from interviews between Trump and Bob Woodward for the journalist ’ s forthcoming book “ Rage ” revealed Trump was privately aware of the deadly nature of the coronavirus in February and admitted in March to misleading Americans about its seriousness because he didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 190,000 people have since died due to COVID-19 .
The bombshell revelations prompted a firestorm of outcry and dominated the day ’ s news .
Carl Bernstein , whose reporting with Woodward led to President Richard Nixon ’ s resignation , said “ the facts here are even graver than Watergate.
” Dobbs didn ’ t mention any of that .
Instead , he lavished praise on the president over his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize by a far-right Norwegian politician who has routinely expressed anti-Islamic and anti-immigration views .
( That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
“ President Trump today had a great day .
A day that any president could only dream of , ” Dobbs gushed on “ Lou Dobbs Tonight.
” “ President Trump started off the day with a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize ” “ That nomination comes weeks after President Trump brokered an historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , ” he continued .
“ It ’ s an achievement that has eluded every president , every administration since the founding of Israel in 1948.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s called the “ greatest president in our history.
” He is often ridiculed for his divorced-from-reality puffery , which many critics have likened to state television propaganda in North Korea .
Dobbs ’ sycophantic opener on Wednesday was rewarded with a thank you from Trump himself : Lou Dobbs on August 9 , 1974 : `` President Nixon today had a great day .
A day that any president could only dream of .
A full two years before the end of his term , he 's now lucky enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacation in sunny southern California . ''
https : //t.co/a3qw18aanl — Keith Boykin ( @ keithboykin ) September 10 , 2020

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Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, known for his uncompromising, propaganda-like adulation of Donald Trump, still managed to surprise viewers on Wednesday when he claimed the embattled president had “a great day.”
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The president, by most accounts, did not have a great day. Audio tapes from interviews between Trump and Bob Woodward for the journalist’s forthcoming book “Rage” revealed Trump was privately aware of the deadly nature of the coronavirus in February and admitted in March to misleading Americans about its seriousness because he didn’t want to “create a panic.” More than 190,000 people have since died due to COVID-19.
The bombshell revelations prompted a firestorm of outcry and dominated the day’s news. Carl Bernstein, whose reporting with Woodward led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation, said “the facts here are even graver than Watergate.”
Dobbs didn’t mention any of that. Instead, he lavished praise on the president over his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize by a far-right Norwegian politician who has routinely expressed anti-Islamic and anti-immigration views. (That same politician also nominated Trump in 2018.)
“President Trump today had a great day. A day that any president could only dream of,” Dobbs gushed on “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” “President Trump started off the day with a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize”
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"President Trump today had a great day. A day that any president could only dream of" pic.twitter.com/gUZHTqGOxF — Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) September 9, 2020
“That nomination comes weeks after President Trump brokered an historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” he continued. “It’s an achievement that has eluded every president, every administration since the founding of Israel in 1948.”
Dobbs routinely rhapsodizes about Trump, whom he’s called the “greatest president in our history.” He is often ridiculed for his divorced-from-reality puffery, which many critics have likened to state television propaganda in North Korea.
Dobbs’ sycophantic opener on Wednesday was rewarded with a thank you from Trump himself:
But others weren’t quite so enthusiastic:
Lou Dobbs on August 9, 1974: "President Nixon today had a great day. A day that any president could only dream of. A full two years before the end of his term, he's now lucky enough to retire early and take an extended vacation in sunny southern California." https://t.co/a3qw18aanl — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 10, 2020
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Lou Dobbs lives in an alternate reality, along with millions of Fox viewers. https://t.co/DC9PTikl47 — Michelangelo Signorile, subscribe to my newsletter (@MSignorile) September 10, 2020
Welcome to Lapdog @LouDobbs and his land of make believe called “Opposite Island.” https://t.co/plsQABmnAP — Terry Blount (@TBlountPolitics) September 10, 2020
Every North Korean news anchor right now is telling Lou Dobbs to take it down a notch. https://t.co/4ldQtN4MBP — Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) September 9, 2020