thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Goodbye, Betsy: Speculation Increases Over The Next Education Secretary

On one side , labor leaders like Randi Weingarten and Lily Eskelsen García are garnering attention .
On the other , leaders and stakeholders who have historically clashed with labor are pushing district superintendents with experience overseeing major systems containing both traditional public schools and nonunionized charter schools .
Tim Shriver , chairman of the board of the Special Olympics and a member of the Kennedy family , has also made clear to the Biden team that he is interested in the role , a source close to him tells HuffPost .
But Democrats for Education Reform , a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with unions , recently sent an email urging supporters to back several big-city superintendents for the job , as first reported by Chalkbeat .
The group , which promotes charter schools and stricter accountability for poorly performing schools , mentioned Janice Jackson of Chicago Public Schools , William Hite of Philadelphia Public Schools , and Sonja Santelises of Baltimore City Schools .
The idea behind these picks is to get someone from the job who has positive relationships with labor , but isn ’ t beholden to it , says Shavar Jeffries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s “ easier to have more unity when you have someone who isn ’ t rooted in any particular interest group.
” Weingarten has also made her own recommendations to the Biden team on who she believes would do a good job : Linda Darling-Hammond , president of the California State Board of Education ; Betty Rosa , interim commissioner of education for the state of New York ; Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau ; and former Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón .
Darling-Hammond , who currently heads the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s not interested in the role , per EdSource .
Juneau said that while she is “ aware of the speculation ” around her name being mentioned for the position , she has “ not been contacted ” about it and remains focused on her current job .
Rosa and Padrón did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
“ They all share the following attributes .
They deeply respect and understand equity and how we have to help all kids .
They deeply respect and honor teachers .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and do things in a collaborative matter , ” said Weingarten .
“ After decades of reform efforts in schools , most federal and state policy is mired in these culture wars and disputes and these debates .
He believes they are unproductive and so divisive and expensive , and no one seems to be winning them , least of all children .
He wants to figure out how we can teach children and how children actually learn , ” said the source .
But both Weingarten and Jeffries emphasized that differences in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small potatoes when it comes to the larger issues currently plaguing schools surrounding COVID-19 and funding , emphasizing excitement over Biden ’ s campaign proposals to triple funding for Title I , which provides federal dollars to schools serving low-income children and to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .
“ I think there ’ s going to be a lot more focus on the great public schools , and looking at public schools and charter schools as ways of saying , what strategies really work and can you actually adopt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Weingarten of the Biden administration .
The last year has posed unprecedented challenges for K-12 and higher-education institutions .
The next education secretary will have their plate unusually full .
Among the issues that need to be urgently addressed are how to handle issues of student loans amid a global pandemic ― Biden has already called for immediate forgiveness of up to $ 10,000 in debt for student loan borrowers ; how to provide guidance and leadership on the issue of school safety during COVID-19 ; and how to address the digital @ @ @ @ @

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Democrats in the education world are ready to say goodbye to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, but divides within the party about who should replace her fall along familiar lines.
On one side, labor leaders like Randi Weingarten and Lily Eskelsen García are garnering attention. On the other, leaders and stakeholders who have historically clashed with labor are pushing district superintendents with experience overseeing major systems containing both traditional public schools and nonunionized charter schools. Tim Shriver, chairman of the board of the Special Olympics and a member of the Kennedy family, has also made clear to the Biden team that he is interested in the role, a source close to him tells HuffPost.
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While most education groups stood united against DeVos, the current fault lines are a reminder of existing divisions in the Democratic Party around issues of education reform and school accountability.
Weingarten, the longtime leader of the American Federation of Teachers, the teachers union representing more than 1.7 million members, tells HuffPost it’s a privilege people would mention her name as a possibility, but she’s perfectly happy remaining in her current position, too.
“This has been my life’s work, so obviously it’s an honor people would mention it,” said Weingarten.
Opposition to outgoing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been a source of unity among education groups that are otherwise in disagreement on major issues. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
But Democrats for Education Reform, a group that has sometimes found itself at odds with unions, recently sent an email urging supporters to back several big-city superintendents for the job, as first reported by Chalkbeat. The group, which promotes charter schools and stricter accountability for poorly performing schools, mentioned Janice Jackson of Chicago Public Schools, William Hite of Philadelphia Public Schools, and Sonja Santelises of Baltimore City Schools.
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“Dr. Santelises has heard about different conversations on this topic but prefers not to comment at this time,” André Riley, director of communications for Baltimore City Schools, told HuffPost.
A Chicago Public Schools spokesperson directed HuffPost to a local news story in which Jackson said, “I haven’t had any conversations with anyone on the Biden team related to that post.” A representative for Hite did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The idea behind these picks is to get someone from the job who has positive relationships with labor, but isn’t beholden to it, says Shavar Jeffries, head of DFER. He notes that it’s “easier to have more unity when you have someone who isn’t rooted in any particular interest group.”
“Consistent with President-elect Biden’s impulse to bring stakeholders together, it makes sense to have a big-tent education secretary, who has constructive relationships with labor, civil rights advocates and parents,” said Jeffries. “We would like to see an education secretary who reflects these variety of interests.”
On Thursday morning, another coalition of education groups under the umbrella of the National Charter Collaborative sent an email announcing its top recommendations for education secretary: Geoffrey Canada, the founder of Harlem Children’s Zone; charter school founder and CEO Margaret Fortune; California Assembly member Shirley Weber (D); Santelises; Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.); Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.); and education reform activist Howard Fuller.
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Weingarten has also made her own recommendations to the Biden team on who she believes would do a good job: Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education; Betty Rosa, interim commissioner of education for the state of New York; Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau; and former Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón. Darling-Hammond, who currently heads the Biden education transition team, has said she’s not interested in the role, per EdSource.
Juneau said that while she is “aware of the speculation” around her name being mentioned for the position, she has “not been contacted” about it and remains focused on her current job. Rosa and Padrón did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, has been floated as a possible pick for education secretary. Weingarten has also made her own recommendations to President-elect Joe Biden's transition team. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“They all share the following attributes. They deeply respect and understand equity and how we have to help all kids. They deeply respect and honor teachers. And they understand how to get things done and do things in a collaborative matter,” said Weingarten.
A source close to Shriver, who has long helped lead the Special Olympics, says that he is currently being vetted by the Biden team. He also previously spent time working as a public school teacher, fitting Biden’s requirement that the next education secretary have such a background.
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Another source close to Shriver portrayed him as above the fray of debates within the education community on issues of school accountability.
“After decades of reform efforts in schools, most federal and state policy is mired in these culture wars and disputes and these debates. He believes they are unproductive and so divisive and expensive, and no one seems to be winning them, least of all children. He wants to figure out how we can teach children and how children actually learn,” said the source.
The Biden campaign says that “no personnel decisions have been made at this time,” according to a transition team spokesperson.
But both Weingarten and Jeffries emphasized that differences in opinion on issues of school reform are small potatoes when it comes to the larger issues currently plaguing schools surrounding COVID-19 and funding, emphasizing excitement over Biden’s campaign proposals to triple funding for Title I, which provides federal dollars to schools serving low-income children and to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Weingarten also took an optimistic tone when asked about further unity in the Democratic Party around education issues and especially charter schools. During the Obama administration, her union was deeply critical of his education secretary, Arne Duncan, just stopping short of calling for his resignation.
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“Betsy DeVos doesn’t have anything to do with our agenda ― it’s a progressive reform agenda in the mold of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.” - Shavar Jeffries, Democrats for Education Reform
“I think there’s going to be a lot more focus on the great public schools, and looking at public schools and charter schools as ways of saying, what strategies really work and can you actually adopt them to help all kids,” said Weingarten of the Biden administration.
And while the Trump administration has presented itself as an ally of charter schools, its record on the matter was decidedly mixed. DeVos focused her efforts on pushing private school choice, which helps provide taxpayer funding for scholarships to private schools.
“Betsy DeVos doesn’t have anything to do with our agenda ― it’s a progressive reform agenda in the mold of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton,” said Jeffries, noting that charter schools are most popular among parents of color. “Betsy DeVos has absolutely nothing to do with what we believe.”
Biden has come out against for-profit charter schools receiving federal funds ― a vast majority of charter schools are nonprofit, like traditional public schools. He has also argued against federal funding for charter schools that fail to provide the same protections to students as traditional public schools.
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The last year has posed unprecedented challenges for K-12 and higher-education institutions. The next education secretary will have their plate unusually full. Among the issues that need to be urgently addressed are how to handle issues of student loans amid a global pandemic ― Biden has already called for immediate forgiveness of up to $10,000 in debt for student loan borrowers; how to provide guidance and leadership on the issue of school safety during COVID-19; and how to address the digital divide during remote learning.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Judge Delays Execution Of Only Woman On Federal Death Row

Handout/Reuters Lawyers for Lisa M. Montgomery — the only woman on federal death row — have not been able to prepare her clemency application because they are sick with COVID-19 .
Montgomery was scheduled to be put to death on Dec. 8 .
Her lawyers asked the court for a delay after they contracted the coronavirus in the midst of preparing her clemency petition .
The order , issued by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington , D.C. , blocks the government from carrying out her execution before Dec. 31 .
The injunction was entered into a lawsuit filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School ’ s International Human Rights Clinic .
Montgomery , 52 , was a victim of extreme childhood abuse , including incest and sex trafficking , and suffers from serious mental illnesses , according to her lawyers and mental health professionals who have examined her .
She was sentenced to death in 2007 for killing a pregnant woman and kidnapping the baby she was carrying , a crime her lawyers say occurred during a psychotic episode .
In October , Montgomery ’ s lawyers , Amy Harwell and Kelley Henry , learned their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injection at a prison in Terre Haute , Indiana , on Dec. 8 .
They immediately began traveling to visit her at a women ’ s medical prison in Fort Worth , Texas , to prepare her clemency application .
Both women contracted the coronavirus soon afterward and have been unable to work since .
They are experiencing severe symptoms including issues with memory and concentration , according to a doctor who evaluated their illnesses .
“ The district court ’ s ruling gives Lisa Montgomery a meaningful opportunity to prepare and present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID , ” said Sandra Babcock , clinical professor of law at Cornell Law School , who argued the case .
“ Mrs .
Montgomery ’ s case presents compelling grounds for clemency , including her history as a victim of gang rape , incest , and child sex trafficking , as well as her severe mental illness .
She will now have the opportunity to present this evidence to the President with a request that he commute her sentence to life imprisonment.
” Montgomery ’ s lawyers have also filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice asking President Donald Trump to delay their client ’ s execution until they are well enough to prepare her clemency application .
“ We should not have to choose between our lives and our client ’ s life , ” they wrote to Trump .
“ We did not ask to be put in this situation .
We did our jobs and got sick.
” The Trump administration restarted federal executions this summer after an almost 20-year lapse .
Three more executions , including Montgomery ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Trump leaves office .
President-elect Joe Biden , who is set to take office on Jan. 20 , 2021 , has said he will work to end the federal death penalty .

Lawyers for Lisa M. Montgomery — the only woman on federal death row — have not been able to prepare her clemency application because they are sick with COVID-19. Handout/Reuters
A federal judge has temporarily stayed the execution of Lisa M. Montgomery, the only woman on federal death row.
Montgomery was scheduled to be put to death on Dec. 8. Her lawyers asked the court for a delay after they contracted the coronavirus in the midst of preparing her clemency petition.
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The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, D.C., blocks the government from carrying out her execution before Dec. 31. The injunction was entered into a lawsuit filed on behalf of Montgomery by Cornell Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic.
Montgomery, 52, was a victim of extreme childhood abuse, including incest and sex trafficking, and suffers from serious mental illnesses, according to her lawyers and mental health professionals who have examined her. She was sentenced to death in 2007 for killing a pregnant woman and kidnapping the baby she was carrying, a crime her lawyers say occurred during a psychotic episode.
In October, Montgomery’s lawyers, Amy Harwell and Kelley Henry, learned their client was scheduled for execution by lethal injection at a prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Dec. 8. They immediately began traveling to visit her at a women’s medical prison in Fort Worth, Texas, to prepare her clemency application.
Both women contracted the coronavirus soon afterward and have been unable to work since. They are experiencing severe symptoms including issues with memory and concentration, according to a doctor who evaluated their illnesses.
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“The district court’s ruling gives Lisa Montgomery a meaningful opportunity to prepare and present a clemency application after her attorneys recover from COVID,” said Sandra Babcock, clinical professor of law at Cornell Law School, who argued the case. “Mrs. Montgomery’s case presents compelling grounds for clemency, including her history as a victim of gang rape, incest, and child sex trafficking, as well as her severe mental illness. She will now have the opportunity to present this evidence to the President with a request that he commute her sentence to life imprisonment.”
Montgomery’s lawyers have also filed a petition with the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice asking President Donald Trump to delay their client’s execution until they are well enough to prepare her clemency application.
“We should not have to choose between our lives and our client’s life,” they wrote to Trump. “We did not ask to be put in this situation. We did our jobs and got sick.”
The Trump administration restarted federal executions this summer after an almost 20-year lapse. Three more executions, including Montgomery’s, are scheduled to take place before Trump leaves office. President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to take office on Jan. 20, 2021, has said he will work to end the federal death penalty.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Fox News' Guy Benson Nails GOP Hypocrisy In Supporting Trump's Election Denial

Conservative commentator Guy Benson said on Fox News Thursday that Donald Trump ’ s maneuvering to overturn his election defeat would have enraged Republicans if Hillary Clinton had tried the same thing after losing to Trump in 2016 .
( See the video below . )
“ I think conservatives would rightly have been in the streets screaming their heads off and I would have been right there with them because that ’ s not what we do in this country , ” Benson , a Fox News contributor and Fox News Radio host , told Martha MacCallum .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our system of governance and the transfer of power in this country .
I think this is a very dangerous path to even consider , let alone go down.
” Benson touched on some of Trump ’ s strategies , including his “ longshot ” plot in Michigan to overturn President-elect Joe Biden ’ s convincing victory in the battleground state .
Trump invited two top GOP state legislators to Washington on Friday in what is seen as an attempt to pressure them into decertifying the result .
“ There are some that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election are sort of paving the way for the president to say that it was illegitimate over the course of the next few years if he decides that he wants to run again , ” the host said .
“ We know that on Hillary Clinton ’ s side , she told Joe Biden not to concede under any circumstances in this election .
So it ’ s been fraught on both sides from day one and who knows what we would be seeing on their side if the outcome had been @ @ @

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Conservative commentator Guy Benson said on Fox News Thursday that Donald Trump’s maneuvering to overturn his election defeat would have enraged Republicans if Hillary Clinton had tried the same thing after losing to Trump in 2016. (See the video below.)
“I think conservatives would rightly have been in the streets screaming their heads off and I would have been right there with them because that’s not what we do in this country,” Benson, a Fox News contributor and Fox News Radio host, told Martha MacCallum. “That would be a shocking departure from our system of governance and the transfer of power in this country. I think this is a very dangerous path to even consider, let alone go down.”
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Benson touched on some of Trump’s strategies, including his “longshot” plot in Michigan to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s convincing victory in the battleground state. Trump invited two top GOP state legislators to Washington on Friday in what is seen as an attempt to pressure them into decertifying the result.
MacCallum tried to “both sides” the lame-duck president’s disruptive, baseless and undemocratic election flailing.
“There are some that say that the seeds of distrust in the election are sort of paving the way for the president to say that it was illegitimate over the course of the next few years if he decides that he wants to run again,” the host said. “We know that on Hillary Clinton’s side, she told Joe Biden not to concede under any circumstances in this election. So it’s been fraught on both sides from day one and who knows what we would be seeing on their side if the outcome had been different.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Pompeo Becomes First Top U.S. Diplomat To Visit An Israeli Settlement

JERUSALEM ( AP ) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday became the first top U.S. diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank as the State Department announced that products from the settlements can be labeled “ Made in Israel ” in a major policy shift .
Pompeo also announced that the U.S. would brand the international Palestinian-led boycott movement as “ anti-Semitic ” and bar any groups that participate in it from receiving government funding .
It was not immediately clear which groups would be affected by the move .
A State Department official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed Pompeo ’ s visit to the Psagot winery , in a settlement near Jerusalem , to reporters traveling with him who were not allowed to accompany him on that leg of the visit .
Pompeo had earlier said he would pay a visit to the Golan Heights .
Israel seized the West Bank and the Golan Heights in the 1967 war and later annexed the Golan in a move not recognized internationally .
Pompeo had earlier announced that the U.S. will regard the Palestinian-led boycott movement as “ anti-Semitic ” and cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in it , a step that could deny funding to Palestinian and international human rights groups .
“ We will immediately take steps to identify organizations that engage in hateful BDS conduct and withdraw U.S. government support for such groups , ” he said , adding that all nations should “ recognize the BDS movement for the cancer that it is.
” BDS organizers cast their movement as a non-violent way of protesting Israel ’ s policies toward the Palestinians modeled on the campaign that helped end apartheid in South Africa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the years but no impact on the Israeli economy .
“ The BDS movement for Palestinian freedom , justice and equality , stands with all those struggling for a more dignified , just and beautiful world , ” it said .
“ With our many partners , we shall resist these McCarthyite attempts to intimidate and bully Palestinian , Israeli and international human rights defenders into accepting Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism as fate.
” Pompeo did not provide additional details about the initiative , and it was unclear what organizations would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have accused international groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International of supporting BDS , allegations they deny .
Human Rights Watch , whose researcher was deported from Israel last year for past statements allegedly in support of BDS , does not call for boycotting Israel but urges companies to avoid doing business in West Bank settlements , saying it makes them complicit in human rights abuses .
Amnesty does not take a position on the boycott movement .
Israel passed a 2017 law that bars entry to foreigners who have called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution opposing the boycott movement last year , and several U.S. states have enacted anti-BDS laws .
Virtually all Palestinian organizations support the boycott movement , but under President Donald Trump the U.S. has already cut off nearly all forms of aid to the Palestinians .
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to restore the aid as part of efforts to revive the peace process .
Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 war .
The Palestinians want both territories to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace — a position endorsed by most of the international community .

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday became the first top U.S. diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank as the State Department announced that products from the settlements can be labeled “Made in Israel” in a major policy shift.
The two moves reflected the Trump administration’s acceptance of Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and most of the international community view as a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace.
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Pompeo also announced that the U.S. would brand the international Palestinian-led boycott movement as “anti-Semitic” and bar any groups that participate in it from receiving government funding. It was not immediately clear which groups would be affected by the move.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen Wednesday during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. ASSOCIATED PRESS
A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Pompeo’s visit to the Psagot winery, in a settlement near Jerusalem, to reporters traveling with him who were not allowed to accompany him on that leg of the visit.
Pompeo had earlier said he would pay a visit to the Golan Heights. Israel seized the West Bank and the Golan Heights in the 1967 war and later annexed the Golan in a move not recognized internationally.
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Pompeo had earlier announced that the U.S. will regard the Palestinian-led boycott movement as “anti-Semitic” and cut off government support for any organizations taking part in it, a step that could deny funding to Palestinian and international human rights groups.
“We will regard the global, anti-Israel BDS campaign as anti-Semitic,” Pompeo said, referring to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Pompeo is pictured with Netanyahu following a meeting in Jerusalem on Thursday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“We will immediately take steps to identify organizations that engage in hateful BDS conduct and withdraw U.S. government support for such groups,” he said, adding that all nations should “recognize the BDS movement for the cancer that it is.”
BDS organizers cast their movement as a non-violent way of protesting Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians modeled on the campaign that helped end apartheid in South Africa. The movement has had some limited success over the years but no impact on the Israeli economy.
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Israel views BDS as an assault on its very existence, and has seized on statements by some supporters to accuse it of anti-Semitism, allegations denied by organizers.
In a statement, the BDS movement reiterated its rejection of “all forms of racism, including anti-Jewish racism,” and accused the U.S. and Israel of trying to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights.
The secretary of state and his wife Susan are seen walking past American and Israeli flags as they step off a plane at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“The BDS movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality, stands with all those struggling for a more dignified, just and beautiful world,” it said. “With our many partners, we shall resist these McCarthyite attempts to intimidate and bully Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights defenders into accepting Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism as fate.”
Pompeo did not provide additional details about the initiative, and it was unclear what organizations would be at risk of losing funding. Israelis have accused international groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International of supporting BDS, allegations they deny.
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Human Rights Watch, whose researcher was deported from Israel last year for past statements allegedly in support of BDS, does not call for boycotting Israel but urges companies to avoid doing business in West Bank settlements, saying it makes them complicit in human rights abuses. Amnesty does not take a position on the boycott movement.
“The Trump administration is undermining the common fight against the scourge of antisemitism by equating it with peaceful advocacy of boycotts,” Eric Goldstein, acting Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
Israel passed a 2017 law that bars entry to foreigners who have called for economic boycotts of Israel or its settlements. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution opposing the boycott movement last year, and several U.S. states have enacted anti-BDS laws.
Palestinians on Wednesday protested against Pompeo's expected visit to the Jewish settlement of Psagot near the West Bank city of Al-Bireh. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virtually all Palestinian organizations support the boycott movement, but under President Donald Trump the U.S. has already cut off nearly all forms of aid to the Palestinians. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to restore the aid as part of efforts to revive the peace process.
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Pompeo spoke at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the Israel-U.S. alliance had reached “unprecedented heights” under the Trump administration.
Netanyahu thanked the administration for moving its embassy to contested Jerusalem, abandoning the U.S. position that Israeli settlements are contrary to international law, recognizing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights and taking a hard line against Iran.
Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want both territories to be part of their future state and view the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace — a position endorsed by most of the international community.
Trump’s Mideast plan, which overwhelmingly favored Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians, would allow Israel to annex up to a third of the West Bank, including all of its settlements there, which are home to nearly 500,000 Israelis.
“For a long time, the State Department took the wrong view of settlements,” Pompeo said, but it now recognizes that “settlements can be done in a way that (is) lawful, appropriate and proper.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Ruth Bader Ginsburg Immortalized In Gigantic Street Art Mural

The legacy of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being remembered with a gigantic new street art mural in New York City .
Street artist Elle painted the three-story depiction of the late Supreme Court associate justice ― who died in September at the age of 87 ― on the corner of 11th Street and 1st Avenue in the East Village .
“ I ’ m super honored to be able to paint her portrait in New York , ” Elle told HuffPost , hailing Ginsburg as “ quite the force to be reckoned with working behind the scenes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elle “ fell in love ” with street art after dropping out of art school and moving to New York at age 21 .
She wheat-pasted pieces around Brooklyn before becoming “ super obsessed ” with graffiti and getting sponsored by a spray paint company .
Elle then “ took all of my free spray paint and started asking people if I could paint their walls for free .
Elle spent the rest of her 20s honing her craft in New York , later a year in France , and is now mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ the all-powerful female — but no one in particular ” for clients and at festivals , to the extent the coronavirus pandemic allows .
“ I chose the name Elle because it means ‘ she ’ in French , ” the artist explained .
“ I realized there were very few women graffiti artists , so I wanted to get up for the ladies.
” When she couldn ’ t find a suitable wall in the Midwood or Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn , from where Ginsburg hailed , the nonprofit LISA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Village in Manhattan .
“ I don ’ t typically paint portraits , ” said Elle , who spent two weeks on the mural .
“ But when I was invited to create the piece for RBG there was nothing more that I wanted to do than to paint a memorial piece for her.
” “ I love New York , New York loves RBG , and I think it ’ s fair to say that nearly the entire city was elated about the election results , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ― and she will forever be loved and an icon here.
” “ We are beyond thrilled to see Trump ousted , ” the artist added .
“ And I think this portrait of RBG represents that continuation of hope and joy that this city badly needed after such a hard year with COVID-19 .
”

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The legacy of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being remembered with a gigantic new street art mural in New York City.
Street artist Elle painted the three-story depiction of the late Supreme Court associate justice ― who died in September at the age of 87 ― on the corner of 11th Street and 1st Avenue in the East Village.
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The piece also features Lady Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
“I’m super honored to be able to paint her portrait in New York,” Elle told HuffPost, hailing Ginsburg as “quite the force to be reckoned with working behind the scenes to push equal rights in America.”
California-born Elle “fell in love” with street art after dropping out of art school and moving to New York at age 21.
She wheat-pasted pieces around Brooklyn before becoming “super obsessed” with graffiti and getting sponsored by a spray paint company.
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Elle then “took all of my free spray paint and started asking people if I could paint their walls for free.
Elle spent the rest of her 20s honing her craft in New York, later a year in France, and is now mostly on the road worldwide painting her collages of “the all-powerful female — but no one in particular” for clients and at festivals, to the extent the coronavirus pandemic allows.
“I chose the name Elle because it means ‘she’ in French,” the artist explained. “I realized there were very few women graffiti artists, so I wanted to get up for the ladies.”
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TaskForce, an agency working with arts, culture and social change, commissioned Elle to paint the portrait of Ginsburg.
When she couldn’t find a suitable wall in the Midwood or Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn, from where Ginsburg hailed, the nonprofit LISA Project NYC found her space in the East Village in Manhattan.
“I don’t typically paint portraits,” said Elle, who spent two weeks on the mural. “But when I was invited to create the piece for RBG there was nothing more that I wanted to do than to paint a memorial piece for her.”
The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being honored with a three-story street art mural in Manhattan. Lindsay DeDario/Reuters
The piece took on a special significance, Elle said, following President Donald Trump’s election defeat by President-elect Joe Biden.
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“I love New York, New York loves RBG, and I think it’s fair to say that nearly the entire city was elated about the election results,” she said. “RBG is a hometown native of this city ― and she will forever be loved and an icon here.”
“We are beyond thrilled to see Trump ousted,” the artist added. “And I think this portrait of RBG represents that continuation of hope and joy that this city badly needed after such a hard year with COVID-19.”
Check out more of Elle’s work on Instagram, her website and below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Joe Scarborough Lays Down Ultimatum To Mitch McConnell Over Trump Support

Joe Scarborough used Friday ’ s episode of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” to send a blunt message to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) .
“ Enough Mitch , enough , ” Scarborough said in a scathing monologue urging the Kentucky Republican to stop enabling President Donald Trump ’ s unhinged attempts to steal the 2020 election .
Scarborough said he initially gave Republicans the benefit of the doubt over their ( baseless ) claims of mass voter fraud to see if they could prove their allegations .
But “ we ’ ve done that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence has been presented .
“ So the question , Mitch , is how much longer are you going to hold American democracy in suspended animation ?
” Scarborough asked .
“ How much longer are you going to undermine what really does lay at the heart of American democracy and that is the peaceful transfer of power ?
” Scarborough , a former GOP representative , said Trump ’ s phony stunts were sickening because they aim to undermine Americans ’ faith in democracy .
“ The gig is up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president that he and Rudy and their confederacy of dunces need to stop making fools of themselves and let the next commander-in-chief get ready to protect and defend this country , ” he said .
“ We are way past time and the president that you are running cover for , he ’ s doing nothing but tweeting conspiracy theories and trying to undermine American democracy .
Enough Mitch , enough , ” Scarborough added .

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Joe Scarborough used Friday’s episode of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to send a blunt message to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
“Enough Mitch, enough,” Scarborough said in a scathing monologue urging the Kentucky Republican to stop enabling President Donald Trump’s unhinged attempts to steal the 2020 election.
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Scarborough said he initially gave Republicans the benefit of the doubt over their (baseless) claims of mass voter fraud to see if they could prove their allegations. But “we’ve done that” now, Scarborough said, and no evidence has been presented.
“So the question, Mitch, is how much longer are you going to hold American democracy in suspended animation?” Scarborough asked. “How much longer are you going to undermine what really does lay at the heart of American democracy and that is the peaceful transfer of power?”
Scarborough, a former GOP representative, said Trump’s phony stunts were sickening because they aim to undermine Americans’ faith in democracy.
“The gig is up. It’s time to tell the president that he and Rudy and their confederacy of dunces need to stop making fools of themselves and let the next commander-in-chief get ready to protect and defend this country,” he said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Threatened Species Rely On Ecotourism To Survive. So What Happens When The Tourists Stop Coming?

“ There are few things up in the Arctic to create an economy and the polar bear guiding was one of them , ” Thompson said .
Without foreign visitors , locals missed out on months of income .
Guides who invested in new boats have had to find other means of making payments , and Thompson , who is running out of time to show the world what climate change is doing to this landscape , waits another year .
Ecotourism fills in the gaps where government funding for conservation is insufficient such as in sub-Saharan Africa , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly earmarked for militarized law enforcement aimed at poaching and the illegal wildlife trade , or in the U.S. , where public land appropriations and support for national parks are subject to political whims .
It provides the majority of funding for some national park agencies around the world .
“ COVID-19 has shown some serious cracks in the ecotourism model , ” said Lauren Gilhooly , a primatologist who worked at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia until the pandemic forced her to return home to Canada .
The center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcoming hundreds of visitors a day .
Like Kaktovik ’ s polar bear tours , it offers an up-close look at an increasingly rare species while propping up a local economy .
When the pandemic forced Malaysia ’ s leaders to close the country ’ s borders in mid-March , the local economy that had grown to depend on the center was left in the lurch .
“ The goal for rehab centers is to release animals back into the wild when possible , and that takes an enormous amount of resources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 43 sun bears ― the world ’ s smallest bear species , found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia ― the center buys local bananas , papayas , vegetables and honey .
Without revenue from foreign tourists ― who pay six times more at the door than locals ― its operators have struggled to keep the bears fed and its employees paid .
Tourism is a huge provider of income but it ’ s also the first thing to go when times get tough .
Lauren Gilhooly , a primatologist who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Indigenous communities , a boom in ecotourism sometimes comes at great expense .
In the 1950s and ’ 60s , Maasai people were pushed off their land to make room for the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the adjoining Serengeti National Park in Tanzania , parks that now protect lions , elephants and hippos .
Although the influx of foreign travelers seems to have been a boost to the local economy , only a small number of the Maasai have , in truth , profited from it .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polar bears on this planet , ” he said .
“ The permafrost is melting .
The ground is caving in .
The musk ox are gone from here .
You walk around the tundra and see dead caribou all over the place.
” He is sad to say that many people come to Kaktovik to see the place before it ’ s gone , and he hopes that when the ice breaks on the Beaufort Sea next spring , he will be able to show it to them .
HuffPost ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the impact of business on society and the environment and is funded by Porticus .
It is part of the “ This New World ” series .
All content is editorially independent , with no influence or input from Porticus .
If you have an idea or tip for the editorial series , send an email to thisnewworld @ huffpost.com .

Most years, the Beaufort Sea is freezing over by November and a busy season of polar bear viewing is winding down in the Arctic. As the ice takes hold, the flow of tourists slows to a trickle in the Inupiaq village of Kaktovik on the northern coast of Alaska. Its two unassuming hotels grow quiet and wilderness guides like Robert Thompson pull their boats onto dry land.
“We used to have 1,500 people a year coming to see the bears,” said Thompson, an Inupiaq local who leads polar bear tours around Kaktovik and rafting trips through the nearby Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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But not this year. “Because of the virus, local people don’t want them,” he said.
Kaktovik, population 293, sits alone on the edge of Barter Island. There are no roads connecting it to the rest of the world. The nearest town, Prudhoe Bay, is more than 100 miles west. But residents took no chances with the coronavirus pandemic. When things started looking bad elsewhere, the local council closed the village to non-essential outsiders. As a result, Kaktovik survived the summer without a single case of COVID-19 ― or a single tourist.
“There are few things up in the Arctic to create an economy and the polar bear guiding was one of them,” Thompson said. Without foreign visitors, locals missed out on months of income. Guides who invested in new boats have had to find other means of making payments, and Thompson, who is running out of time to show the world what climate change is doing to this landscape, waits another year.
Robert Thompson has been guiding polar bear tours in Kaktovik, Alaska, for two decades. The business supports the limited local economy, while ecotourists bring visibility to the dire situation in the Arctic North. “We’re seeing the end of the polar bears on this planet,” Thompson said. David Howells/Corbis/Getty Images
As the pandemic has brought global travel to a halt, communities and conservation efforts that depend on ecotourism are struggling to survive. The added pressure on what was already precarious support for some of the world’s most vulnerable people and places highlights some longstanding concerns about ecotourism as a conservation model.
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Loosely defined as tourism that directs funds to protect natural, often threatened environments and the species and communities in and around them, ecotourism is the tourist industry’s fastest-growing sector. And its value to conservation efforts has been growing, too.
Ecotourism fills in the gaps where government funding for conservation is insufficient such as in sub-Saharan Africa, where both government and international assistance money is increasingly earmarked for militarized law enforcement aimed at poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, or in the U.S., where public land appropriations and support for national parks are subject to political whims. It provides the majority of funding for some national park agencies around the world.
In many instances, “the tourism companies contributing funds to conservation were established because government budgets were inadequate and still are,” said Ralf Buckley, an ecologist at Griffith University in Australia who has studied ecotourism extensively.
Some of the world’s most biodiverse regions don’t have the money to protect their biodiversity. Tamarins in Brazil, macaws in Costa Rica, orangutans in Sumatra and wild dogs in southern Africa have all benefited greatly from ecotourism. Buckley’s research looked at 360 threatened mammal, bird and frog species and found that ecotourism funded conservation work that protects two-thirds of their remaining populations and as much as 99% of their natural habitats.
The town of Kaktovik, which sits 100 miles from its closest neighbor, shut down completely when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images
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But the pandemic has revealed fundamental flaws in a system that relies on the spending of international travelers.
In a July survey of more than 300 conservationists in 85 countries, 57% said the pandemic has pushed their organizations into financial straits. Many cited a decline in ecotourism as well as the closure of parks and zoos.
“COVID-19 has shown some serious cracks in the ecotourism model,” said Lauren Gilhooly, a primatologist who worked at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia until the pandemic forced her to return home to Canada. The center is a top attraction, used to welcoming hundreds of visitors a day. Like Kaktovik’s polar bear tours, it offers an up-close look at an increasingly rare species while propping up a local economy. When the pandemic forced Malaysia’s leaders to close the country’s borders in mid-March, the local economy that had grown to depend on the center was left in the lurch.
“The goal for rehab centers is to release animals back into the wild when possible, and that takes an enormous amount of resources,” Gilhooly said. To feed its 43 sun bears ― the world’s smallest bear species, found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia ― the center buys local bananas, papayas, vegetables and honey. Without revenue from foreign tourists ― who pay six times more at the door than locals ― its operators have struggled to keep the bears fed and its employees paid.
“Tourism is a huge provider of income but it’s also the first thing to go when times get tough.” - Lauren Gilhooly, a primatologist who has worked at a conservation center in Malaysia
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While this year’s dwindling number of ecotourists has been a problem for conservation work, there are issues with the industry that predate the pandemic. Eager visitors paying hefty sums to get close to something thrillingly rare sometimes leave a damaging wake.
Tourists can trample foliage, harm coral reefs, interfere with breeding grounds and even transmit diseases — such as COVID-19 — to wildlife. For animals that will eventually be released into an unforgiving world, habituation to humans can be deadly. Meanwhile, the profit potential of tourism can spur new development that degrades and pollutes natural habitats.
According to Buckley’s research, the benefits don’t always outweigh the harms, and ecotourists can end up hurting the populations of the very animals they’ve traveled to admire.
Visitors get right up close to an orangutan at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia. Courtesy of Lauren Gilhooly
For Indigenous communities, a boom in ecotourism sometimes comes at great expense. In the 1950s and ’60s, Maasai people were pushed off their land to make room for the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the adjoining Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, parks that now protect lions, elephants and hippos. Although the influx of foreign travelers seems to have been a boost to the local economy, only a small number of the Maasai have, in truth, profited from it.
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Despite its flaws, Buckley maintains that the ecotourism model is a desperately needed source of funding for conservation, especially in biodiversity-rich, financially poor parts of the world.
“Ecotourism has been used as a tool to transfer funds from individuals in wealthy nations to conservation in less wealthy nations. It still works, so why would we abandon it?” he said.
What the pandemic has made clear, though, is the vulnerability of local economies and conservation efforts that rely on a monolithic source of uncertain tourism revenue. And some countries are looking for a more resilient approach.
One solution is already underway in Belize.
Visitors who come to see the country’s ancient Mayan ruins and jaguars in Central America’s largest block of contiguous tropical broadleaf forest bring in $15 million annually. The region’s environmental protections also ensure safe drinking water for a third of the country. But when the bottom fell out on tourism this year, the government launched an ambitious sustainable development plan designed to make the area less vulnerable to economic shocks like pandemics.
The idea is to expand economic opportunities for local communities while still protecting water, natural habitats and biodiversity. The plan calls for investments by the government, non-governmental organizations and private businesses in a mix of sustainable agriculture and forestry, bans on mining and new dams, promotion of scientific research, and efforts to encourage more domestic tourism.
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The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre relies on revenue from foreign tourists to feed its 43 sun bears. It buys fruits and vegetables from local vendors. Courtesy of Lauren Gilhooly
“Tourism is a huge provider of income but it’s also the first thing to go when times get tough,” Gilhooly said, adding that it’s best to assume this could happen again.
Elsewhere, ecotourism has taken an approach that most of us are perhaps too familiar with: virtual meetings. Parks and wildlife centers have fully embraced video streams to hold would-be tourists’ attention from afar. Gilhooly’s colleagues in Borneo offer sun bear sightings through a virtual safari. For those who can’t travel to Kaktovik to tour the frozen Arctic, Polar Bears International hosts a live polar bear feed.
Granted, virtual safaris lack a certain ... thrill, and wildlife centers, zoos and national parks depend heavily on revenue from their gift shops. But these organizations hope their online offerings will bring at least enough income to float them through the pandemic.
The COVID-19 downturn may not fundamentally change ecotourism or fix its shortcomings, said Buckley, but it may help conservationists figure out how to diversify funding sources to survive future shocks. “They kind of know all these things already, but COVID has been a severe stress test. And still is,” he said.
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For Thompson, a return to normal can’t come soon enough. Decades of guiding have shown him the power of firsthand experience with nature. Twenty years ago, foreigners showed up outside the hotel in Kaktovik asking to see polar bears. He started by offering them a ride in his truck, then his boat.
Visitors on an all-terrain vehicle watch a polar bear sow and cubs on Barter Island. Getty Images
“They took photographs and it naturally grew,” he said. Before long, his clients were filling the pages of books and magazines and standing before Congress with visual testimony in support of the creation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ― the same refuge President Donald Trump took steps to open to oil drilling in August.
Like many guides operating across Alaska, Thompson is quickly booking the 2021 season, although he still isn’t sure it will happen. If not, he will lose not only another year of revenue but a chance to show people what is playing out in the warming Arctic.
“We’re seeing the end of the polar bears on this planet,” he said. “The permafrost is melting. The ground is caving in. The musk ox are gone from here. You walk around the tundra and see dead caribou all over the place.” He is sad to say that many people come to Kaktovik to see the place before it’s gone, and he hopes that when the ice breaks on the Beaufort Sea next spring, he will be able to show it to them.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Stephen Colbert Reveals The Only Sad Part Of Donald Trump Losing His Legal Battles

Stephen Colbert on Thursday celebrated the possible end of President Donald Trump ’ s legal challenges aimed at overturning the @ @ @ @ @ The Late Show ” host admitted it was “ also kind of sad.
” Why @ @ @ @ @ said he ’ d taken great delight in the last two weeks in watching Trump @ @ @ @ @ 2016 campaign trail that the United States would “ win so much , you ’ @ @ @ @ @ and tired of winning ” ) suffer a series of defeats .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ ve had in years , ” said Colbert .
“ For 10 days , we @ @ @ @ @ watch the president lose over and over again — lose the election , lose the @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .

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Stephen Colbert on Thursday celebrated the possible end of President Donald Trump’s legal challenges aimed at overturning the 2020 election.
But “The Late Show” host admitted it was “also kind of sad.”
Why? Well, because Colbert said he’d taken great delight in the last two weeks in watching Trump (who boasted on the 2016 campaign trail that the United States would “win so much, you’re going to be sick and tired of winning”) suffer a series of defeats.
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“This is the most fun I’ve had in years,” said Colbert.
“For 10 days, we’ve been able to watch the president lose over and over again — lose the election, lose the recount, lose the lawsuits,” he added.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Jimmy Kimmel Stuns Barack Obama With An Absolutely Filthy 'Personal Question'

Jimmy Kimmel got extremely personal with former President Barack Obama on Thursday night .
The late night host said he @ @ @ @ @ previous interview if the first couple had gotten intimate on the night the president ordered @ @ @ @ @ the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden .
Kimmel claimed she promised to tell @ @ @ @ @ time they spoke .
The flustered former president quickly looked off to his side , @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Did ... did ... did she say she was going to answer that @ @ @ @ @ disbelief .
Kimmel insisted she did , and said the president ’ s new memoir @ @ @ @ @ , ” has him wondering about it again .
“ When I read the book @ @ @ @ @ hearing people outside the White House chanting ‘ USA !
USA !
USA !
’ @ @ @ @ @ my head , ” Kimmel said .
“ I did.
” Obama then attempted an @ @ @ @ @ :

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Jimmy Kimmel got extremely personal with former President Barack Obama on Thursday night.
The late night host said he asked Michelle Obama during a previous interview if the first couple had gotten intimate on the night the president ordered the raid that led to the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
Kimmel claimed she promised to tell him the story the next time they spoke.
The flustered former president quickly looked off to his side, then stammered out a response.
“Did ... did ... did she say she was going to answer that?” he asked in disbelief.
Kimmel insisted she did, and said the president’s new memoir, “A Promised Land,” has him wondering about it again.
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“When I read the book and you were talking about hearing people outside the White House chanting ‘USA! USA! USA!’ I had an image in my head,” Kimmel said. “I did.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Barack Obama Surprises A Super Fan In The Sweetest Jimmy Kimmel Prank Ever

Jimmy Kimmel is known for his funny but often vicious pranks , from his recurring “ Lie Witness News ” @ @ @ @ @ gag that tricks kids into thinking their parents ate all the candy .
But this @ @ @ @ @ Obama goes in a different direction : It just might be his kindest gag ever @ @ @ @ @ tricked retired Maryland auditor Joyce Taylor into thinking she was watching a recording of the @ @ @ @ @ new book , “ A Promised Land , ” remotely via a bookstore during Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Instead , it was Obama speaking directly to Taylor ― and her reaction was priceless @

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Jimmy Kimmel is known for his funny but often vicious pranks, from his recurring “Lie Witness News” segments to his annual Halloween gag that tricks kids into thinking their parents ate all the candy.
But this one involving former President Barack Obama goes in a different direction: It just might be his kindest gag ever.
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Kimmel’s team tricked retired Maryland auditor Joyce Taylor into thinking she was watching a recording of the former president reading from his new book, “A Promised Land,” remotely via a bookstore during Thursday night’s show.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Rachel Maddow Reveals Partner's Harrowing COVID-19 Battle On Return To MSNBC

Rachel Maddow made an emotional return to MSNBC airwaves Thursday night , revealing that she has spent the past two weeks caring for her partner , whose COVID-19 infection was so serious they thought it might kill her .
The 47-year-old anchor told viewers in a from-home broadcast that the COVID-19 exposure from a close contact that has prompted her absence since Nov. 6 was in fact her longtime partner , Susan Mikula , whom she described as the “ center of my life.
” “ At one point , we really thought it was a possibility it might kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve been away , ” Maddow said .
Mikula , 62 , tested positive two weeks ago .
Maddow said that she herself tested negative that day , and the two immediately separated .
“ She and I have both been alone since then , ” she said , “ while I tried to care for her while still saying apart from her.
” Watch : Rachel @ Maddow reports that she 's been off the air for most of the past two weeks because her longtime partner Susan Mikula is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` at one point we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her . ''
Mikula is recovering now .
pic.twitter.com/MwN7cvQBRz — Brian Stelter ( @ brianstelter ) November 20 , 2020 Maddow said her partner is beginning to recuperate and will be OK. She implored her viewers to consider the risks they ’ ve calculated for themselves and their loved ones and recalibrate them .
“ There ’ s no room for you in the hospital anymore , ” she said , urging viewers to prevent that outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected .
“ Don ’ t get this thing .
Do whatever you can to keep from getting it.
” Maddow said she has continued to test negative , and her quarantine ends soon , but she will continue to broadcast from home until it ’ s safe for her to be around her colleagues again .

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Rachel Maddow made an emotional return to MSNBC airwaves Thursday night, revealing that she has spent the past two weeks caring for her partner, whose COVID-19 infection was so serious they thought it might kill her.
The 47-year-old anchor told viewers in a from-home broadcast that the COVID-19 exposure from a close contact that has prompted her absence since Nov. 6 was in fact her longtime partner, Susan Mikula, whom she described as the “center of my life.”
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“At one point, we really thought it was a possibility it might kill her, and that’s why I’ve been away,” Maddow said.
Mikula, 62, tested positive two weeks ago. Maddow said that she herself tested negative that day, and the two immediately separated.
“She and I have both been alone since then,” she said, “while I tried to care for her while still staying apart from her.”
Watch: Rachel @Maddow reports that she's been off the air for most of the past two weeks because her longtime partner Susan Mikula is sick with Covid-19 – so sick that "at one point we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her." Mikula is recovering now. pic.twitter.com/MwN7cvQBRz — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 20, 2020
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Maddow said her partner is beginning to recuperate and will be OK.
“We’re not scared anymore like we were,” she said.
She implored her viewers to consider the risks they’ve calculated for themselves and their loved ones and recalibrate them.
“There’s no room for you in the hospital anymore,” she said, urging viewers to prevent that outcome by ensuring they don’t get infected.
“Don’t get this thing. Do whatever you can to keep from getting it.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Rudy Giuliani's Face Was Oozing On Live TV, And Now We May Know Why

Rudy Giuliani , the former New York mayor and personal attorney to President Donald Trump , delivered a wild news conference loaded with lies and conspiracy theories on Thursday .
But it wasn ’ t his outlandish and evidence-free allegations about the election that got all of the attention .
It was his face , as a dark liquid emerged from his sideburns and oozed down both sides .
“ He was literally dyeing up there today , ” he said , calling it something out of a sci-fi horror movie .
“ I know this could be the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Daily Show ” host Trevor Noah .
“ But , guys , this shit is hilarious.
” “ Honest question : Was his hair dye dripping ?
Was his brain shitting itself ?
” he wondered .
“ You know your legal strategy is fucked up when even your hair starts crying about it.
” However , The New York Times spoke to several hairstylists ― and they agreed it was possible that dye was the culprit , they were also skeptical .
“ Hair dye doesn ’ t drip like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied , ” David Kholdorov of the Men ’ s Lounge Barbershop told the newspaper .
One theory is that Giuliani had used mascara to darken his sideburns .
“ Sideburns are more gray than the rest of the head , ” Mirko Vergani , creative color director at the Drawing Room in Manhattan , told the Times .
“ You can apply mascara to touch the gray side up a bit so it looks more natural.
” Another expert told The Daily Beast it could have been something else .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of fake tan or bronzer or some kind of face makeup , ” Blackstones colorist and educator Patti O ’ Gara told the website .
“ So if it ’ s not a shitty hair dye situation , it could be fake tan dripping because it does streak like that when you sweat .
It ’ s hard to tell where it ’ s originating from – his hair or his skin.
” Another stylist suggested that it could have been dye ... but just a very cheap one .

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It was the ooze seen ’round the world.
Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and personal attorney to President Donald Trump, delivered a wild news conference loaded with lies and conspiracy theories on Thursday.
But it wasn’t his outlandish and evidence-free allegations about the election that got all of the attention.
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It was his face, as a dark liquid emerged from his sideburns and oozed down both sides.
Jimmy Kimmel called it the best part of the news conference.
“He was literally dyeing up there today,” he said, calling it something out of a sci-fi horror movie.
“How scary is this?” Kimmel said. “It’s a grampire, run for your life!”
“I know this could be the end of American democracy,” cracked “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. “But, guys, this shit is hilarious.”
He called it proof of “leakers” in the Trump White House.
“Honest question: Was his hair dye dripping? Was his brain shitting itself?” he wondered. “You know your legal strategy is fucked up when even your hair starts crying about it.”
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On social media, the leading theory was hair dye oozing down Giuliani’s face.
However, The New York Times spoke to several hairstylists ― and they agreed it was possible that dye was the culprit, they were also skeptical.
“Hair dye doesn’t drip like that, unless it’s just been applied,” David Kholdorov of the Men’s Lounge Barbershop told the newspaper.
One theory is that Giuliani had used mascara to darken his sideburns.
“Sideburns are more gray than the rest of the head,” Mirko Vergani, creative color director at the Drawing Room in Manhattan, told the Times. “You can apply mascara to touch the gray side up a bit so it looks more natural.”
Another expert told The Daily Beast it could have been something else.
“He looks like to be wearing a decent amount of fake tan or bronzer or some kind of face makeup,” Blackstones colorist and educator Patti O’Gara told the website. “So if it’s not a shitty hair dye situation, it could be fake tan dripping because it does streak like that when you sweat. It’s hard to tell where it’s originating from – his hair or his skin.”
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Another stylist suggested that it could have been dye... but just a very cheap one.
Nicole Wingo of Barber of Hell’s Bottom in Washington, D.C., told Slate it could have been a topical product, such as a tinted gel from a drugstore.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Seth Meyers Obliterates Rudy Giuliani's 'Televised Therapy Session'

Seth Meyers unleashed on Donald Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Thursday night after he and other members @ @ @ @ @ legal team held a chaotic , conspiracy theory-laden news conference alleging widespread voter fraud in @ @ @ @ @ results of the election .
“ After a string of embarrassing court losses and bumbling @ @ @ @ @ judges , Rudy Giuliani , voted America ’ s wettest lawyer for three years running @ @ @ @ @ art piece that was honestly at times so incomprehensible I thought I had to put @ @ @ @ @ ” Meyers said .
“ And even when I did , the closed captioning said @ @ @ @ @ as good as mine.
” Meyers said it would be pointless to wade through the @ @ @ @ @ forth in the 90-minute debacle , but he offered a sampling of the “ televised @ @ @ @ @ the lawyer described a scene from the 1992 film “ My Cousin Vinny ” in @ @ @ @ @ poll watchers were purportedly barred from monitoring vote counts .

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Seth Meyers unleashed on Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Thursday night after he and other members of the president’s legal team held a chaotic, conspiracy theory-laden news conference alleging widespread voter fraud in their efforts to overturn the results of the election.
“After a string of embarrassing court losses and bumbling performances in front of exasperated judges, Rudy Giuliani, voted America’s wettest lawyer for three years running, held a marathon performance/performance art piece that was honestly at times so incomprehensible I thought I had to put on the closed captioning,” Meyers said. “And even when I did, the closed captioning said, ’Your guess is as good as mine.”
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Meyers said it would be pointless to wade through the array of misinformation Giuliani put forth in the 90-minute debacle, but he offered a sampling of the “televised therapy session” in which the lawyer described a scene from the 1992 film “My Cousin Vinny” in order to illustrate how GOP poll watchers were purportedly barred from monitoring vote counts.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Barack Obama Helps 'Phil Collins Twins' Understand Bob Dylan

But the viral YouTube stars got some extra help from a surprise visitor this week when it came time to review the works of Bob Dylan .
Dylan fan Barack Obama surprised the 22-year-old twins as they listened to Dylan ’ s 1964 anthem “ The Times They Are A-Changin ’ , ” which the former president included on the playlist he compiled for his new memoir , “ A Promised Land.
” “ I don ’ t even know who Bob Dylan is .
I wonder why Barack Obama chose this song , ” Tim Williams confessed .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing.
” The Williams brothers agreed the recording would be perfect at a campfire , and they found other things to like as well .
“ One of my favorite parts of the song : He was , like , just because you don ’ t understand , you can ’ t criticize , ” Fred said .
The former president was indeed alive and ready to explain his love of Dylan ’ s music .
“ I ’ ve been a Bob Dylan fan for a long time , probably because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama said .
“ He was part of that kind of social conscience that was in rock music and later in hip hop music .
“ Whenever you can find some musicians that really have a message about how America might be , how the world might be , that ’ s something I pay attention to.
” “ What you guys are doing , which is being open to new ideas , new experiences and reaching out to different traditions , that ’ s America at its best , ” Obama said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that message is powerful , so keep on doing what you ’ re doing.
” Fred said he and his brother came away from the impromptu interview with an important lesson .

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But the viral YouTube stars got some extra help from a surprise visitor this week when it came time to review the works of Bob Dylan.
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Dylan fan Barack Obama surprised the 22-year-old twins as they listened to Dylan’s 1964 anthem “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which the former president included on the playlist he compiled for his new memoir, “A Promised Land.”
“I don’t even know who Bob Dylan is. I wonder why Barack Obama chose this song,” Tim Williams confessed. “The title, right? The times is changing.”
The Williams brothers agreed the recording would be perfect at a campfire, and they found other things to like as well.
“One of my favorite parts of the song: He was, like, just because you don’t understand, you can’t criticize,” Fred said.
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Brother Tim agreed. “That’s deep.”
The brothers’ conversation was interrupted when Obama suddenly showed up on their computer screen.
“Hey, people!” Obama said. “What’s going on?”
Fred didn’t know how to react.
“You alive?” he asked.
The former president was indeed alive and ready to explain his love of Dylan’s music.
“I’ve been a Bob Dylan fan for a long time, probably because I’m just older,” Obama said. “He was part of that kind of social conscience that was in rock music and later in hip hop music.
“Whenever you can find some musicians that really have a message about how America might be, how the world might be, that’s something I pay attention to.”
Obama also praised the twins for stepping out of their comfort zones.
“What you guys are doing, which is being open to new ideas, new experiences and reaching out to different traditions, that’s America at its best,” Obama said. “I think you guys sending that message is powerful, so keep on doing what you’re doing.”
You can see the complete exchange below.
The brothers told People magazine they are still blown away by Obama’s unexpected guest appearance.
“He just popped out of nowhere,” Fred told the magazine. “That’s the cherry on top.”
“It was a crazy humbling experience. He watches us!” Tim added. “I never thought I’d talk to the president where I come from.”
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Fred said he and his brother came away from the impromptu interview with an important lesson.
Obama “didn’t make us feel good about the future; he made us aware,” he said, adding that Dylan also taught them a few things to boot.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Not The Tree We Want, But The Tree We Deserve

Not The Tree We Want, But The Tree We Deserve
Rockefeller Center’s annual Christmas tree made a scraggly debut that felt emblematic of 2020.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Vatican Wants Instagram To Explain Why The Pope’s Account ‘Liked’ Photo Of Model

The Vatican seeks an explanation from Instagram as to why Pope Francis ’ s official account “ liked ” the photo of a scantily-clad Brazilian model .
The “ like ” did not come from the Holy See , where a team manages the pope ’ s popular social media accounts , a Vatican spokesperson told The Guardian .
″ [ The Holy See ] has turned to Instagram for explanations , ” the spokesperson said .
The post in question , a provocative photo of model Natalia Garibotto posing in a tiny school uniform , is from Oct. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ official account , @ franciscus , was noticed by news outlets on Nov. 13 and was unliked the following day , according to the Catholic News Agency. Pope Francis waves as he addresses the crowd from a window overlooking St Peter 's Square during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican earlier this month .
The pope ’ s team maintains a robust social media presence .
Francis doesn ’ t follow anyone on Instagram , but has 7.4 million followers .
His account is filled with videos of his sermons and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public appearances .
His Twitter account is even more popular , with 18.8 million followers .
Francis approves tweets and occasionally tells his team that he wants to post a response to a developing situation or emergency , Robert Mickens , an editor for the English-language edition of the Catholic newspaper La Croix , told The Guardian .
But he doesn ’ t approve “ likes , ” Mickens said .
“ He would have nothing to do with this ― it ’ s the communications department , and how this happens … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For her part , Garibotto seems to be enjoying the spotlight .
“ At least I ’ m going to heaven , ” she tweeted on Friday .

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The Vatican seeks an explanation from Instagram as to why Pope Francis’s official account, which is managed by his social media team, “liked” the photo of a scantily-clad Brazilian model.
The “like” did not come from the Holy See “as far as we know,” a Vatican spokesperson told HuffPost.
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“The issue is currently being investigated in close contact with the Instagram team,” the spokesperson said.
Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, declined to comment.
The post in question, a provocative photo of model Natalia Garibotto posing in a tiny school uniform, is from Oct. 5. The “like” from Francis’ official account, @franciscus, was noticed by news outlets on Nov. 13 and was unliked the following day, according to the Catholic News Agency.
Pope Francis waves as he addresses the crowd from a window overlooking St Peter's Square during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican earlier this month. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
The pope’s team maintains a robust social media presence. Francis doesn’t follow anyone on Instagram, but has 7.4 million followers. His account is filled with videos of his sermons and photos of his religious masses and other public appearances. His Twitter account is even more popular, with 18.8 million followers.
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Francis approves tweets and occasionally tells his team that he wants to post a response to a developing situation or emergency, Robert Mickens, an editor for the English-language edition of the Catholic newspaper La Croix, told The Guardian. But he doesn’t approve “likes,” Mickens said.
“He would have nothing to do with this ― it’s the communications department, and how this happens … who knows,” he said.
For her part, Garibotto seems to be enjoying the spotlight.
“At least I’m going to heaven,” she tweeted on Friday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-19--Election Loser Trump Should Quit And 'Not Be Embarrassing', Czech President Says

PRAGUE ( Reuters ) - Donald Trump would be wiser to acknowledge losing the U.S. presidential election and quit , Czech President Milos Zeman , an early Trump supporter , said on Thursday .
Zeman , one of the few European politicians who backed Trump before his 2016 election victory but who made no such endorsement this year , told news website www.parlamentnilisty.cz that while it was possible to demand recounts and go to court , Trump should take a different route .
“ I personally believe that it would be much more reasonable to give up , not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president to take office , ” he said .
Trump has refused to accept the victory of Democrat challenger Joe Biden , syaing the Nov. 3 election was rigged .
Zeman , 76 , is a towering figure in Czech post-communist politics , having served as prime minister and won two presidential elections .
Czech presidents do not wield the executive power like their U.S. counterparts , but Zeman has used his influence to push for closer ties with Russia and China .
Zeman has shared Trump ’ s initial warm approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Israeli government policies .
But he never received a coveted invitation to the White House and has backed a pro-Russian stance on issues of U.S. interest , including plans to build a new nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic and the extradition of a Russian hacking suspect to the United States .

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PRAGUE (Reuters) - Donald Trump would be wiser to acknowledge losing the U.S. presidential election and quit, Czech President Milos Zeman, an early Trump supporter, said on Thursday.
Zeman, one of the few European politicians who backed Trump before his 2016 election victory but who made no such endorsement this year, told news website www.parlamentnilisty.cz that while it was possible to demand recounts and go to court, Trump should take a different route.
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“I personally believe that it would be much more reasonable to give up, not to be embarrassing, and allow the new president to take office,” he said.
Trump has refused to accept the victory of Democrat challenger Joe Biden, syaing the Nov. 3 election was rigged.
Zeman, 76, is a towering figure in Czech post-communist politics, having served as prime minister and won two presidential elections.
Czech presidents do not wield the executive power like their U.S. counterparts, but Zeman has used his influence to push for closer ties with Russia and China.
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Zeman has shared Trump’s initial warm approach to Russia, tough stance on immigration or support for Israeli government policies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Fauci Says Santa Claus Has 'Innate Immunity' And Can't Spread COVID-19

When Santa Claus takes flight on Christmas Eve , he won ’ t carry COVID-19 or pass it along to children around the world .
Dr. Anthony Fauci told USA Today this week that those eager to maintain some semblance of their holiday traditions this year can rest easy and expect Santa to deliver their gifts safely as scheduled .
“ Santa is exempt from this because Santa , of all the good qualities , has a lot of good innate immunity , ” Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert and a member of the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview published Friday .
The reassuring announcement came just days before the U.S. was set to observe a Thanksgiving like no other .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday urged Americans to avoid traveling and not to spend the holiday with family members or friends from outside their household to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
Meanwhile , Santa ’ s appearance at the Macy ’ s Thanksgiving parade ― traditionally seen as the kickoff to the Christmas season ― will look considerably different .
For the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t travel its usual two-mile route and instead will take place as a mostly stationary , made-for-TV event with an estimated 75 % reduction in participants .
Exactly what any of this entails for Christmas next month remains to be seen .
But in his interview Friday , Fauci said anyone awaiting a visit from St. Nicholas shouldn ’ t worry .
“ Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody , ” he said .
Last week , Italy ’ s prime minister , Giuseppe Conte , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to depart from his North Pole workshop in spite of international COVID-19 restrictions .
“ He can travel everywhere and distribute gifts to all children around the world .
Without any limitation , ” Conte wrote in Italian and English on Facebook in response to a message from a 5-year-old Italian boy named Tommaso .
“ He confirmed to me that he always uses a mask and maintains a correct distance to protect himself and everyone he meets .
”

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When Santa Claus takes flight on Christmas Eve, he won’t carry COVID-19 or pass it along to children around the world.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told USA Today this week that those eager to maintain some semblance of their holiday traditions this year can rest easy and expect Santa to deliver their gifts safely as scheduled.
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“Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity,” Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said in an interview published Friday.
The reassuring announcement came just days before the U.S. was set to observe a Thanksgiving like no other. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday urged Americans to avoid traveling and not to spend the holiday with family members or friends from outside their household to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Santa’s appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade ― traditionally seen as the kickoff to the Christmas season ― will look considerably different. For the first time in its 96-year history, the parade won’t travel its usual two-mile route and instead will take place as a mostly stationary, made-for-TV event with an estimated 75% reduction in participants.
Exactly what any of this entails for Christmas next month remains to be seen. But in his interview Friday, Fauci said anyone awaiting a visit from St. Nicholas shouldn’t worry.
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“Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody,” he said.
Fauci isn’t the only public figure to proclaim Santa safe from the coronavirus.
Last week, Italy’s prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced that Santa had “international self-certification” to depart from his North Pole workshop in spite of international COVID-19 restrictions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Donald Trump Jr. Has The Coronavirus

Donald Trump Jr. Has The Coronavirus

Donald Trump Jr. has the coronavirus , report both Bloomberg News and CNN .
The president ’ s son tested @ @ @ @ @ this week , according to Bloomberg .
He has been quarantining at a cabin since @ @ @ @ @ “ He ’ s been completely asymptomatic so far ” and is following medical guidelines @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Earlier this fall , Trump , first lady Melania Trump and their @ @ @ @ @ all had contracted the coronavirus after another White House event .
Don Jr. ’ s @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the coronavirus in July .
The president has continually downplayed the threat @ @ @ @ @ as dozens of people surrounding the White House and several of his family members have @ @ @ @ @ have been climbing dramatically nationwide in recent weeks , with more than 11.8 million confirmed @ @ @ @ @ over 253,000 dead .

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President Donald Trump’s eldest son tested positive for the virus earlier this week. He confirmed his diagnosis in a video posted to Instagram on Friday.
“Apparently I got the ’rona,” he said.
“You wouldn’t know it, based on anything that I felt or have seen. I guess I’ve been totally asymptomatic,” Trump said, noting he’d continue to quarantine for two weeks at a cabin “out of an abundance of precaution” and “would take it seriously” because there was “no reason to do anything otherwise.”
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Trump said he had only gotten tested before an upcoming trip with his son, which he has since canceled, and hoped to test negative a couple of times in a row before the holidays.
“I think you can tell I probably look OK for me. It’s never going to look great, but at this point, at 42, I only work with what I have,” he said.
Trump Jr. ended the video with an appeal for Netflix and e-book recommendations. “There are only so many guns I can clean before I get bored,” he said.
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The president on Saturday morning tweeted that his son “is doing very well.”
My son Donald is doing very well. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2020
Earlier this fall, Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron Trump, all had contracted the coronavirus after another White House event.
Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, tested positive for the coronavirus in July.
The president has continually downplayed the threat of the virus, even as dozens of people surrounding the White House and several of his family members have been infected.
Coronavirus cases have been climbing dramatically nationwide in recent weeks, with more than 11.8 million confirmed cases in the U.S. and over 253,000 dead.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--12 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Attending In-Person Thanksgiving

Are you at high risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19 ?
Are any other attendees at high risk of @ @ @ @ @ have to travel to attend the celebration ?
What means of transit will you use @ @ @ @ @ is probably safer than an airplane , given the exposure to far fewer people , @ @ @ @ @ When traveling by car , be sure to have hand sanitizer , paper towels , @ @ @ @ @ in case you need to make any bathroom pit stops along the way ) .
@ @ @ @ @ drinks can also help to minimize stops in unfamiliar locations.
” How many COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ location ?
What ’ s the case rate at your destination ?
Are there restrictions @ @ @ @ @ ?
Will the gathering take place inside or outside ?
How many people outside your @ @ @ @ @ ?
Is everyone getting tested and quarantining beforehand ?
Will this gathering be good for @ @ @ @ @ alternatives to a traditional Thanksgiving gathering are at your disposal ?

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman via Getty Images There are many important health and safety considerations for Thanksgiving 2020.
Everything Thanksgiving: Get all our Thanksgiving recipes, how-to’s and more!
It’s clear Thanksgiving 2020 will be like no other. (We hope, anyway.)
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imploring Americans to avoid gathering with people from outside their households, families are planning scaled-back meals and virtual celebrations. But not everyone is adjusting their plans.
If you’re still not sold on staying home this Thanksgiving, consider the facts of your situation and the world around you. Here are 12 questions to ask yourself before attending an in-person Thanksgiving gathering.
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Are you at high risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19?
People who are at increased risk of severe illness from the coronavirus include older adults and those with underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, chronic kidney disease and more.
Are any other attendees at high risk of severe illness?
“Prior to visiting loved ones, it’s a good idea to have everyone check with a
physician on their risk status for severe disease if they contract COVID-19,” Dr. Linda Anegawa, a physician with virtual health platform PlushCare, told HuffPost. “Individuals who are high risk for complications are safest avoiding family gatherings altogether.”
Will you have to travel to attend the celebration?
Public health experts advise against unnecessary travel during the pandemic — particularly now, as case counts continue to skyrocket.
“Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the CDC website notes. “Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.”
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What means of transit will you use?
If you have to travel for Thanksgiving, are you going by plane, train or bus, all of which make social distancing nearly impossible?
“Traveling by car is probably safer than an airplane, given the exposure to far fewer people,” said Anegawa. “When traveling by car, be sure to have hand sanitizer, paper towels, and sanitizing wipes available (in case you need to make any bathroom pit stops along the way). Supplying your own snacks and drinks can also help to minimize stops in unfamiliar locations.”
If you travel by plane, try to go at off-peak times and days, practice social distancing at the airport and when boarding, wipe down your seat area and always wear your mask. Anegawa suggested a face shield in addition to a mask for extra protection as well.
How many COVID-19 cases are there in your current location?
What’s the case rate at your destination?
Do the same research for the location of your Thanksgiving destination to see how many cases have been reported and if that number is rising. If cases are high or increasing, that’s all the more reason to avoid going there.
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Look up the hospital situation in your current location and potential Thanksgiving destination as well. Many communities are nearing full hospital bed capacity. Consult local public health websites for more information.
Are there restrictions for travelers at your destination?
Most places have implemented restrictions and requirements for incoming travelers amid the pandemic. The CDC’s travel planner tool has information about state and local regulations about quarantines, test requirements and other restrictions. You can also go to the state or county’s public health website and check local news sources.
Travel restrictions also generally apply upon your return from out of state, so it’s best to look up the rules in your own community, as well.
PeopleImages via Getty Images Public health experts advise against gathering indoors with people you don't live with.
Will the gathering take place inside or outside?
“According to CDC guidance, for those who chose to gather, try having your meal outside and socially distanced from one another,” Anegawa advised. “You can also consider bringing your own food, so it is easy to maintain that distance.”
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She also emphasized the importance of wearing masks when not eating or drinking and disinfecting hands and surfaces throughout the gathering to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus.
How many people outside your household will you be seeing?
Many states and cities have implemented restrictions on gathering sizes, but the main goal right now is to keep contacts with people outside your household to a minimum.
If the plan is to see people you don’t live with on Thanksgiving, make sure everyone present understands the risks involved with gathering.
Is everyone getting tested and quarantining beforehand?
An important way to minimize risk before you gather with others is to quarantine for 14 days before your visit and ensure that you and those in your household don’t have close contact with others.
“It may be a good idea to have friends and family obtain a COVID-19 test prior to a Thanksgiving gathering,” Anegawa said. “Any positive test would mean a 14-day quarantine period away from others, and enjoying the festivities over Zoom instead. However, a negative test can often give a false sense of security, as up to 30% of tests are false negatives.”
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Getting a negative COVID-19 test before Thanksgiving is not enough to ensure you won’t spread or contract the virus, so it’s safest to commit to a strict quarantine as well. It’s also important to continue to practice social distancing measures, even if you are negative, for the safety of all those around you.
Will this gathering be good for your mental health?
If you’re under pressure from loved ones to attend a Thanksgiving gathering, consider if relenting would be good for your mental health. Is one meal worth the fear or guilt of contracting the virus or potentially putting others at risk?
For many, this holiday may bring up uncomfortable conversations ― and even fights ― over pandemic safety, as well as longstanding political disagreements or family trauma. Perhaps 2020 is a good opportunity to set some boundaries.
What alternatives to a traditional Thanksgiving gathering are at your disposal?
Lots of people genuinely want to gather with family or friends for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. This is particularly true for those who have felt isolated in the age of social distancing.
“For those who might choose not to do a social gathering this year, there are
other great ways to find connection this holiday,” said Anegawa.
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She suggested having a Zoom holiday meal with your loved ones or hosting a virtual watch party for a favorite holiday movie.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-20--Detroit Asks Judge To Sanction Trump Campaign For Spreading 'Disinformation'

Nov 20 ( Reuters ) - Lawyers for the city of Detroit have asked a judge to reprimand President Donald Trump ’ s campaign for spreading “ disinformation ” in a court filing about the certification of a Michigan county ’ s election results .
Trump ’ s campaign on Thursday said they were voluntarily dropping a lawsuit contesting Michigan ’ s election results because election officials in Wayne County “ met and declined to certify the results of the presidential election.
” In fact , Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Tuesday refused at first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversed themselves after a public outcry .
Detroit ’ s lawyers said on Thursday that the campaign included “ impertinent and false language ” in the filing and asked a federal judge to strike the disputed document from the case record .
Detroit ’ s lawyers did not request a monetary penalty , but said U.S. District Judge Janet Neff had “ the authority to strike materials from the record as a sanction.
” Mark “ Thor ” Hearne , the Trump campaign lawyer who submitted the document , did not immediately respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has refused to concede since President-elect Joe Biden captured the more than 270 electoral votes needed to win the Nov. 3 presidential election .
The president ’ s lawyers argue the U.S. Constitution gives legislatures , rather than state governors and secretaries of state , the ultimate authority to appoint electors who formally pick the president in the Electoral College system .
Republicans control the Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin legislatures .
Two Republican board members filed affidavits on Wednesday seeking to “ rescind ” their votes , but that effort is symbolic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be rescinded through the use of affidavits .
Trump ’ s campaign misstated the facts to make a “ gratuitous , public statement about their purported reason for voluntary dismissal , before the Court could reject their baseless claims of election fraud , ” Detroit ’ s lawyers said .
Federal law allows Trump ’ s lawyers to “ voluntarily dismiss their claims , but it does not allow them to use a Notice of Dismissal to spread disinformation , ” Detroit ’ s motion stated .

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Nov 20 (Reuters) - Lawyers for the city of Detroit have asked a judge to reprimand President Donald Trump’s campaign for spreading “disinformation” in a court filing about the certification of a Michigan county’s election results.
Trump’s campaign on Thursday said they were voluntarily dropping a lawsuit contesting Michigan’s election results because election officials in Wayne County “met and declined to certify the results of the presidential election.”
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In fact, Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Tuesday refused at first to certify the results, but then reversed themselves after a public outcry.
Detroit’s lawyers said on Thursday that the campaign included “impertinent and false language” in the filing and asked a federal judge to strike the disputed document from the case record.
Detroit’s lawyers did not request a monetary penalty, but said U.S. District Judge Janet Neff had “the authority to strike materials from the record as a sanction.”
Neff has not yet ruled on the request.
Mark “Thor” Hearne, the Trump campaign lawyer who submitted the document, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Trump has refused to concede since President-elect Joe Biden captured the more than 270 electoral votes needed to win the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Trump invited leaders of Michigan’s Republican-controlled state legislature to meet him in Washington on Friday.
The president’s lawyers argue the U.S. Constitution gives legislatures, rather than state governors and secretaries of state, the ultimate authority to appoint electors who formally pick the president in the Electoral College system. Republicans control the Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin legislatures.
On Tuesday, the four-member Wayne County board certified the election results in the county.
Two Republican board members filed affidavits on Wednesday seeking to “rescind” their votes, but that effort is symbolic because there is no way for certification to be rescinded through the use of affidavits.
Trump’s campaign misstated the facts to make a “gratuitous, public statement about their purported reason for voluntary dismissal, before the Court could reject their baseless claims of election fraud,” Detroit’s lawyers said.
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Federal law allows Trump’s lawyers to “voluntarily dismiss their claims, but it does not allow them to use a Notice of Dismissal to spread disinformation,” Detroit’s motion stated.