buzzfeednews--2020-04-08--The Coronavirus Has Derailed The Citizenship Oath For Thousands Of Immigrants Who Are Anxious To Vot

The Coronavirus Has Derailed The Citizenship Oath For Thousands Of Immigrants Who Are Anxious To Vote

`` It 's like being on the 1-yard line and suddenly there 's a timeout that may last for months . ''
Luis Molina had waited months to complete the final step in his decadeslong journey to become an American citizen : repeating the oath of allegiance to the United States along with hundreds of other would-be citizens on March 19 .
Molina , a 51-year-old who left El Salvador as a young man , had planned to hold a celebratory dinner at his favorite restaurant in Pasadena , California — President Thai — after the naturalization ceremony in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , immigrants must go through a long , and at times arduous , process that includes an interview with an immigration officer and a test on American civics and the English language .
The final step , however , is the easiest of them all : repeating 140 words in a celebratory event that ’ s often held in American theaters , convention centers , and courthouses .
This simple , but legally necessary step , is all that stands in the way of Molina being granted citizenship .
But that opportunity has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naturalization ceremonies across the country were canceled due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus , and the agency that administers immigration benefits , US Citizenship and Immigration Services , closed its offices to the public .
The ceremonies are supposed to be rescheduled , but like many other parts of American life , the timing is uncertain .
In the wake of the cancellations , immigrants like Molina fear that they not only won ’ t get the chance to call themselves Americans anytime soon , but that they won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election .
Experts warn that the delayed naturalizations could have an impact on the number of eligible voters in November , as many states require registration by October .
“ I ’ m kind of nervous , ” Molina said .
He ’ s watched how the Trump administration has enforced the public charge rule , which penalizes green card applicants for using public benefits , and other restrictive immigration policies .
“ I ’ ve been thinking about how they change the rules and the laws and maybe I won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel intimidated.
” A USCIS spokesperson said field offices will send notices with instructions to applicants with scheduled interviews or naturalization ceremony appointments , which will automatically be rescheduled once normal operations resume .
Some ceremonies in Los Angeles that had been scheduled for later in May have yet to be canceled , but California officials have indicated that strict social distancing measures could last beyond that .
Under normal conditions , USCIS is able to naturalize 66,000 immigrants on average every month , according to Sarah Pierce , an analyst at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relies on in-person oaths at its office or in larger ceremonies outside of its own facilities .
“ So far , because of COVID-19 , there are already tens of thousands of immigrants who have had their naturalizations delayed , and these numbers will easily exceed 100,000 as this crisis drags on , ” she said .
The agency regularly hosts ceremonies that pack more than 1,000 soon-to-be Americans in one place to conduct the oath altogether .
If USCIS offices are able to open as planned on May 3 , the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How will large groups of people be quickly naturalized ?
“ Unless USCIS implements an ambitious series of naturalization ceremonies once they are able to reopen in-person services , there will be tens of thousands of immigrants who will not be able to vote in this fall 's election , despite having completed nearly all the legal requirements to receive citizenship , ” Pierce said .
“ Because naturalization ceremonies entail gatherings of large groups of people , there are a lot of outstanding questions about when USCIS will be able to restart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like .
If the ceremonies are limited by public health concerns , unless USCIS comes up with innovative solutions , these delays could reverberate for years to come.
” Former senior USCIS leaders told BuzzFeed News the cancellations will inevitably have an impact on the number of people who are able to obtain citizenship this year .
“ Field offices are 100 % closed , meaning not just no naturalization ceremonies , but no naturalization interviews and also no green card interviews , ” said Leon Rodriguez , former director of the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this was already severely backlogged before , so the problem will become much worse depending on the length of the closure.
” As of September 2019 , there were already more than 600,000 naturalization applications pending .
The naturalization oath has been a long-held American tradition , spanning back to the late 1700s .
Before the early 1900s , courts from across the country administered the oath in various ways , and it wasn ’ t until 1929 that a standardized oath was created .
Later , the Immigration Act of 1950 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants promise to bear arms for the US and perform “ noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law.
” There are waivers for the requirement to recite the oath , like if an individual does not agree to bear arms for the US because of religious circumstances or has a developmental disability that prevents them from understanding the oath , but in most circumstances it is required .
“ It 's like being on the 1-yard line and suddenly there 's a timeout that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't take the oath of allegiance — a pro forma final step but a moving one — then you ca n't become a US citizen , ” said Doug Rand , who worked on immigration policy in the Obama White House and is now the cofounder of Boundless Immigration , a technology company that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship .
“ That means you ca n't vote , of course .
It also means you ca n't count on being safe from deportation or on protecting your family by sponsoring them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the agency to skip the live event altogether in light of the pandemic , while others have called for oaths to be administered via televideo .
Duncan Williams , a professor of religion at the University of Southern California , had also been scheduled to recite the oath of citizenship in Los Angeles on March 19 .
Williams , 50 , came to the country as a 17-year-old from Japan for college .
The Trump administration ’ s restrictive immigration policies — such as the travel ban and the policy that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — created a sense of urgency for Williams to obtain his citizenship .
“ What is more unsettling is the uncertainty about the future implicated in the inability to complete the naturalization process , ” he said .
Williams had expected to get his US passport and vote in the upcoming elections , confident in his status as an American .
“ As a Japanese national , ” he said , “ I ’ ve been observing the rising anti-Asian sentiment in the US with some trepidation , with some regret that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can secure at the present time .
”

This simple, but legally necessary step, is all that stands in the way of Molina being granted citizenship.
But that opportunity has been on hold: In March, naturalization ceremonies across the country were canceled due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, and the agency that administers immigration benefits, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, closed its offices to the public. The ceremonies are supposed to be rescheduled, but like many other parts of American life, the timing is uncertain.
In the wake of the cancellations, immigrants like Molina fear that they not only won’t get the chance to call themselves Americans anytime soon, but that they won’t be able to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Experts warn that the delayed naturalizations could have an impact on the number of eligible voters in November, as many states require registration by October.
“I’m kind of nervous,” Molina said. He’s watched how the Trump administration has enforced the public charge rule, which penalizes green card applicants for using public benefits, and other restrictive immigration policies. “I’ve been thinking about how they change the rules and the laws and maybe I won’t be able to get citizenship. I feel intimidated.”
A USCIS spokesperson said field offices will send notices with instructions to applicants with scheduled interviews or naturalization ceremony appointments, which will automatically be rescheduled once normal operations resume.
Some ceremonies in Los Angeles that had been scheduled for later in May have yet to be canceled, but California officials have indicated that strict social distancing measures could last beyond that.
Under normal conditions, USCIS is able to naturalize 66,000 immigrants on average every month, according to Sarah Pierce, an analyst at Migration Policy Institute. The agency generally relies on in-person oaths at its office or in larger ceremonies outside of its own facilities.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-06--Federal Prosecutors Said Russia And Qatar Paid Bribes To Host World Cups

Russia held the tournament in 2018 , and the day after it concluded , President Trump held a press conference with Vladimir Putin , congratulating him “ for having done such an excellent job in hosting the World Cup .
It was really one of the best ever , he said .
“ It was a great job.
” Both Russia and Qatar ultimately won their bids in a secret vote in December 2010 , beating out rival bids from England , the US , Australia , and several other countries .
In addition , the indictment claims , Qatar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials , including Brazilian Ricardo Teixeira and Paraguayan Nicolás Leoz , for their votes for it to host the 2022 tournament .
The third official is not named in the document , but is widely acknowledged to be Julio Grondona , also a former FIFA vice president .
The size of those alleged bribes was not enumerated in the court filing .
According to trial testimony from 2017 , however , Qatar paid at least $ 1 million and as much as $ 15 million to those three officials for their votes According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid $ 5 million to Trinidad ’ s Jack Warner , then a FIFA vice president , in exchange for his vote to host the event in 2018 ; it also offered — though never paid — an additional $ 1 million to Rafael Salguero , a Guatemalan official who , as a member of FIFA ’ s executive committee , also had a vote .
But the boldest allegations relate to the World Cup , soccer ’ s most esteemed and lucrative tournament , held every four years .
Although there has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 events , the new charges mark the first time the US government has formally put those suspicions into a charging document .
The new charges lay out a complex series of bribery and money laundering schemes related to the buying and selling of rights to international soccer tournaments and implicate multiple new defendants , including two former high-ranking Latin American executives of 21st Century Fox , the former media conglomerate that has since been acquired by Disney .
Russia and Qatar paid bribes in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2022 World Cups , according to a sweeping new indictment in the federal government ’ s long-running soccer corruption case unsealed Monday .
Russian President Vladimir Putin offers a 2018 World Cup ball to US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on July 16 , 2018 .
Qatar is slated to host the tournament in late 2022 , although the new allegations cast fresh doubts over an event that has been dogged by a series of controversies and accusations of corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because of the extremely hot summer weather in Qatar , the tournament was moved to December for the first time in its history and human rights groups have accused the country ’ s leaders of using forced labor to build the stadiums required to host the tournament .
The US investigation of international soccer corruption dominated headlines in 2015 when the first round of indictments were released , and again in late 2017 when three defendants went on trial in Brooklyn .
But it has been relatively quiet for some time .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury on March 18 and unsealed Monday , marks the first new charges in nearly two years and suggests that the sprawling case is far from over .
“ The charges unsealed today reflect this Office ’ s ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption at the highest levels of international soccer and at the businesses engaged in promoting and broadcasting the sport , ” said Richard P. Donoghue , United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York , in a statement .
FIFA , which like other sporting institutions has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down all tournaments and other competitions , has cooperated with the US criminal investigation , as well as probes in other countries .
It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new allegations .
Warner , Salguero , Teixeira , and Leoz were all indicted in 2015 , although Salguero is the only person in that group to have faced justice in the case , pleading guilty in Brooklyn federal court in 2016 .
Leoz died in 2019 ; Teixeira is in Brazil , which does not have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Warner , a former member of parliament in Trinidad and Tobago , has been fighting his extradition .
Julio Grondona was never indicted and died in 2014 .
Separately , the new indictment charges Hernán Lopez and Carlos Martinez , the former CEO and president , respectively , of Fox International Channels , Latin America , of conspiring with an Argentine sports marketing firm to pay bribes to South American soccer officials in exchange for television rights to the continent ’ s most popular professional soccer tournament , the Copa Libertadores .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2017 trial of three South Americans charged in the case .
Multiple witnesses described a complicated bribery scheme involving the Fox units and shell companies in the Caribbean and Europe , and prosecutors showed the jury what were described as fraudulent documents signed by Fox executives that they alleged were used to cover up millions of dollars in bribes and make them look like legitimate business deals .
According to the new charges , Lopez and Martinez used the bribery scheme to “ advance the business interests of Fox beyond ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that helped the network win rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the United States .
A spokesperson for Fox Sports , which still holds the rights to the 2022 tournament , did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the indictment or on allegations that the rights might have been illicitly obtained .
Lopez left Fox in early 2016 and went on to found Wondery , a podcast network that produced three of the top five most downloaded podcasts last year , including The Shrink Next Door .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges , saying it is “ shocking that the government would bring such a thin case , ” and adding that “ Mr .
Lopez can ’ t wait to defend himself at trial.
” “ We are certain a jury will swiftly exonerate Carlos , ” said his attorney , Steven McCool .
“ These charges are nothing more than stale fiction .
”

Qatar is slated to host the tournament in late 2022, although the new allegations cast fresh doubts over an event that has been dogged by a series of controversies and accusations of corruption since the vote results were announced. Because of the extremely hot summer weather in Qatar, the tournament was moved to December for the first time in its history and human rights groups have accused the country’s leaders of using forced labor to build the stadiums required to host the tournament.
The US investigation of international soccer corruption dominated headlines in 2015 when the first round of indictments were released, and again in late 2017 when three defendants went on trial in Brooklyn. But it has been relatively quiet for some time. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury on March 18 and unsealed Monday, marks the first new charges in nearly two years and suggests that the sprawling case is far from over.
“The charges unsealed today reflect this Office’s ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption at the highest levels of international soccer and at the businesses engaged in promoting and broadcasting the sport,” said Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, in a statement.
FIFA, which like other sporting institutions has been forced by the coronavirus pandemic to shut down all tournaments and other competitions, has cooperated with the US criminal investigation, as well as probes in other countries. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new allegations.
Warner, Salguero, Teixeira, and Leoz were all indicted in 2015, although Salguero is the only person in that group to have faced justice in the case, pleading guilty in Brooklyn federal court in 2016. Leoz died in 2019; Teixeira is in Brazil, which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States; and Warner, a former member of parliament in Trinidad and Tobago, has been fighting his extradition. Julio Grondona was never indicted and died in 2014.
Separately, the new indictment charges Hernán Lopez and Carlos Martinez, the former CEO and president, respectively, of Fox International Channels, Latin America, of conspiring with an Argentine sports marketing firm to pay bribes to South American soccer officials in exchange for television rights to the continent’s most popular professional soccer tournament, the Copa Libertadores.
Those allegations build on testimony given during the 2017 trial of three South Americans charged in the case. Multiple witnesses described a complicated bribery scheme involving the Fox units and shell companies in the Caribbean and Europe, and prosecutors showed the jury what were described as fraudulent documents signed by Fox executives that they alleged were used to cover up millions of dollars in bribes and make them look like legitimate business deals.
According to the new charges, Lopez and Martinez used the bribery scheme to “advance the business interests of Fox beyond” the tournament by acquiring “confidential information” that helped the network win rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the United States.
A spokesperson for Fox Sports, which still holds the rights to the 2022 tournament, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the indictment or on allegations that the rights might have been illicitly obtained.
Lopez left Fox in early 2016 and went on to found Wondery, a podcast network that produced three of the top five most downloaded podcasts last year, including The Shrink Next Door.
His attorney, Matthew Umber, denied the charges, saying it is “shocking that the government would bring such a thin case,” and adding that “Mr. Lopez can’t wait to defend himself at trial.”
Martinez departed Fox last May.
“We are certain a jury will swiftly exonerate Carlos,” said his attorney, Steven McCool. “These charges are nothing more than stale fiction.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-08--Google Has Banned Zoom Software From Employees' Computers, Citing Security Vulnerabilities

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Google has banned the popular videoconferencing software Zoom from its employees ’ devices , BuzzFeed News has learned .
Zoom , a competitor to Google ’ s own Meet app , has seen an explosion of people using it to work and socialize from home and has become a cultural touchstone during the coronavirus pandemic .
Last week , Google sent an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Zoom app installed that cited its “ security vulnerabilities ” and warned that the videoconferencing software on employee laptops would stop working starting this week .
“ We have long had a policy of not allowing employees to use unapproved apps for work that are outside of our corporate network , ” Jose Castaneda , a Google spokesperson , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Recently , our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employees who have been using Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends can continue to do so through a web browser or via mobile.
” Headquartered in San Jose , California , Zoom went public in 2019 , making its CEO Eric Yuan a billionaire .
The company ’ s videoconferencing service was aimed at enterprises to run webinars and meetings but is now being used by locked-down people around the world for gym sessions , education classes , cocktail parties , and more .
In March , 200 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in December .
But Zoom ’ s growth has been marred by concerns around the service ’ s security and privacy .
Last month , an investigation by Motherboard showed that Zoom ’ s app for iPhone and iPads sent data about users ’ devices to Facebook , including people who did not have Facebook accounts .
Zoom stopped sending the data to Facebook just a day later , but more problems surfaced soon after .
A former NSA hacker discovered a Zoom security issue that could allow bad actors to control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of Apple iMacs .
The Intercept showed that Zoom calls weren ’ t actually encrypted the way that the company claimed .
Last week , the company said that some video calls were “ mistakenly ” routed through servers in China when they shouldn ’ t have been .
The offices of 27 attorneys general have also raised questions about the company .
Google isn ’ t the first company to ban employees from using Zoom .
Earlier this month , Elon Musk ’ s rocket company SpaceX also banned employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” according to Reuters .
And on Monday , New York City ’ s Department of Education urged schools to abandon Zoom and switch to a service from Microsoft .
“ [ We ] recognize that we have fallen short of the community ’ s – and our own – privacy and security expectations , ” Yuan wrote on a blog post earlier this month .
“ For that , I am deeply sorry .
”

Google has banned the popular videoconferencing software Zoom from its employees’ devices, BuzzFeed News has learned. Zoom, a competitor to Google’s own Meet app, has seen an explosion of people using it to work and socialize from home and has become a cultural touchstone during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, Google sent an email to employees whose work laptops had the Zoom app installed that cited its “security vulnerabilities” and warned that the videoconferencing software on employee laptops would stop working starting this week.
“We have long had a policy of not allowing employees to use unapproved apps for work that are outside of our corporate network,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, told BuzzFeed News. “Recently, our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards for apps used by our employees. Employees who have been using Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends can continue to do so through a web browser or via mobile.”
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Zoom went public in 2019, making its CEO Eric Yuan a billionaire. The company’s videoconferencing service was aimed at enterprises to run webinars and meetings but is now being used by locked-down people around the world for gym sessions, education classes, cocktail parties, and more. In March, 200 million people used Zoom daily compared to just 10 million in December.
But Zoom’s growth has been marred by concerns around the service’s security and privacy. Last month, an investigation by Motherboard showed that Zoom’s app for iPhone and iPads sent data about users’ devices to Facebook, including people who did not have Facebook accounts.
Zoom stopped sending the data to Facebook just a day later, but more problems surfaced soon after. A former NSA hacker discovered a Zoom security issue that could allow bad actors to control users’ microphones and webcams and gain control of Apple iMacs. The Intercept showed that Zoom calls weren’t actually encrypted the way that the company claimed. Last week, the company said that some video calls were “mistakenly” routed through servers in China when they shouldn’t have been. The offices of 27 attorneys general have also raised questions about the company.
Google isn’t the first company to ban employees from using Zoom. Earlier this month, Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX also banned employees, citing “significant privacy and security concerns,” according to Reuters. And on Monday, New York City’s Department of Education urged schools to abandon Zoom and switch to a service from Microsoft.
“[We] recognize that we have fallen short of the community’s – and our own – privacy and security expectations,” Yuan wrote on a blog post earlier this month. “For that, I am deeply sorry.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-08--Here's A Look At The New Nightlife In New York City During The Coronavirus Pandemic

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help @ @ @ @ @ become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Nightlife in @ @ @ @ @ legendary , but it has never looked like this .
Other than people who are @ @ @ @ @ out at night are walking dogs or delivering food and packages .
Bars , restaurants @ @ @ @ @ the typical overnight energy are closed everywhere .
The camaraderie and community spirit that have @ @ @ @ @ disasters and tragedies are now reduced to nightly shows of support for health care workers @ @ @ @ @ staying away from strangers who might otherwise become friends .
Dina Litovsky explored lower Manhattan @ @ @ @ @ week as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded and amplified around her .
The newfound quiet allowed @ @ @ @ @ observe the human tableaus taking shape behind the lit-up windows and on street corners during @ @ @ @ @ resulted in a series of enigmatic and beautiful scenes of the city .

Nightlife in New York has long been legendary, but it has never looked like this. Other than people who are homeless, the few individuals out at night are walking dogs or delivering food and packages. Bars, restaurants, and clubs that fuel the typical overnight energy are closed everywhere. The camaraderie and community spirit that have gotten New Yorkers through other disasters and tragedies are now reduced to nightly shows of support for health care workers by clapping from windows and staying away from strangers who might otherwise become friends.
Dina Litovsky explored lower Manhattan over the course of a week as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded and amplified around her. The newfound quiet allowed for her to more closely observe the human tableaus taking shape behind the lit-up windows and on street corners during her nightly walks — and resulted in a series of enigmatic and beautiful scenes of the city.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-28--The Coronavirus Is Forcing The Progressive Movement To Rethink Its Entire Strategy

“ The message of our campaign — that we are all as vulnerable as the most vulnerable among us — has been crystallized by this crisis.
” WASHINGTON — On an average day , Mckayla Wilkes starts early .
She ’ s currently homeschooling her two kids because of the coronavirus outbreak , so the mornings are filled with working with her young daughter on recognizing the alphabet and juggling her son ’ s math , science , social studies , and reading assignments .
After two to three hours of schoolwork , Wilkes , 29 , who ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four to five hours of “ call time ” to fundraise for her campaign .
After that , it ’ s back to homeschooling .
“ I was always a multitasker , but this is a whole ‘ nother level of multitasking , ” she said during a recent interview with BuzzFeed News .
“ It 's kind of like doing everything all at once — like , I 'll be doing call time , but then , you know , my 5-year-old will come in and want a sandwich.
” Wilkes is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , the second-most powerful Democrat in the House .
Originally , the election was scheduled for April 28 , but due to the coronavirus , voting is now scheduled for June 2 .
For months , Wilkes and her team knocked on thousands of doors in the district , hoping to re-create the success of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who took down a powerful House Democrat two years ago .
But now Wilkes and her team are forced to work from home , and the organizing strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She ’ s not alone .
Other progressive primary challengers across the country who have relied on door-knocking and in-person events to overcome well-funded incumbents say they have had to retool their campaign strategies , focus on vote-by-mail efforts , and make additional fundraising calls to keep their campaigns running as the pandemic rages globally .
“ Campaigning during COVID is campaigning how all grassroots campaigns start out , ” Wilkes said .
“ Because in the beginning , you do n't have money , you have to use social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to kind of , you know , build your base , so that you can get money to knock on doors .
And so we 've reverted back to how we began the campaign.
” To connect with voters during this time , Wilkes and her campaign manager , Dash Yeatts-Lonske , said , campaign staff and volunteers are phone-banking daily .
Wilkes also holds virtual events on Facebook Live , something other progressive challengers , including Morgan Harper , who ’ s running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success with .
“ When you ’ re a grassroots campaign , the whole name of the game is bringing people together physically to organize , ” Harper told BuzzFeed News .
“ But we can do this digitally , and that has been an adjustment that we 've been able to make really well , and our team has been able to make , by doing conference calls and all that — like a lot of people are doing — and I am in many ways more optimistic than ever.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are all as vulnerable as the most vulnerable among us — has been crystallized by this crisis , ” Harper said .
Originally , Harper ’ s election was scheduled for March 17 , but last month , it was moved to Tuesday .
“ We did n't do a ton of Facebook Live before this extended campaign period , and we ’ ve certainly stepped those up given that we ca n't hold our weekly in-person community rallies like we had been doing , ” Harper said during a recent interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first moved , Harper said there wasn ’ t a lot of clarity .
The campaign worked to connect with community organizations like Meals on Wheels to deliver food to people in need , and once the new election plan was clear , the team prepared to help people successfully vote by mail .
“ That 's a huge transition , because most people do n't vote by mail and the absentee process here is complicated , ” she said .
“ A lot of people we knew were going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it 's confusing , and they also have a lot of other things going on , so we were very concerned about disenfranchisement.
” “ We had about eight quote-unquote normal months of campaigning … we were crisscrossing the district every single day , multiple times a day doing , you know , town halls and meet-and-greets and meeting with Democratic city and town committees , and going to cafés and just meeting people where they 're at and talking about our message and converting people that may have been skeptical , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with BuzzFeed News .
The campaign was really hitting its stride , Morse said , right as the coronavirus outbreak forced everyone inside , out of cafés and town halls and other traditional campaign meeting places .
The Massachusetts congressional primaries are still months away , however , and Morse hopes that before their Sept. 1 Election Day , the campaign will be able to get back outside and into the community .
But for now , he says , “ We have to we have to operate under , you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's do everything we can given this pandemic and ... the constraints that we 're under.
’ ” As part of that , Morse ’ s campaign has started doing community wellness phone-banking events .
Campaign volunteers have been calling residents in the district to make sure they are connected with community programs should they need help during the outbreak , and just to check in .
“ You know , ‘ How are you doing ?
Are you holding up ?
Is there anything we can help connect you with ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , they talk about what Morse is doing as mayor of Holyoke , a town in the district , explain he ’ s running for Congress , and talk to people about their concerns .
“ I think we 've noticed that people appreciate just simple questions like ‘ How are you doing ?
’ ” the mayor noted .
Then , he said , “ [ They ’ re ] having a conversation about the campaign and actually using that as an opportunity to identify support.
” Because everyone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters also seem to be picking up the phone more often and are more willing to talk at length .
And candidates also said they believe the coronavirus outbreak has made voters more sympathetic to progressive ideas in general .
“ The crisis has illuminated the already existing inequities in our community and in our district , and it 's also illuminated the brokenness of our political system on all sides of the aisle in that there 's a consistent failure to meet the moment , ” Morse said .
“ Congressman Neal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is the biggest obstacle to health care being a human right in the country .
As long as he 's chair of the Ways and Means Committee , we will not have Medicare for All .
Health care will not be a human right.
” Morse says he feels it ’ s particularly relevant right now in his district , because of how dangerous the coronavirus can be for people with asthma — and Springfield , Massachusetts , the largest city in the district , is the asthma capital of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noticed a similar sentiment in her own district .
“ A lot of people [ who ] are going through this have n't been through this before , but for so many other people this is just another day to them , ” Wilkes said .
“ Before COVID , we had people struggling to put food on the table , sending their kids to school and [ hoping ] that 's how they 're going to get their meals for that day .
We already had people saying , ‘ How am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What if I get sick ?
I do n't have health insurance.
’ ” More and more people are losing employer-sponsored health insurance , worried about their finances , and unsure how they ’ ll be able to feed their families , as 26.5 million people in the US have filed for unemployment , and others are seeing their hours cut or wages decreased .
“ It is completely expedient to have someone that has progressive values in office on all levels of government , because this pandemic is not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she tells voters .
“ And it 's like , who do you want fighting for you during this pandemic ?
Do you want someone who 's not going to be bold , who 's going to be pulled into corporate interests , or do you want to have someone that 's going to fight for you ?
” Progressive challengers have had mixed successes so far in 2020 .
Jessica Cisneros , the first candidate recruited and endorsed by Justice Democrats ( one of the groups that helped Ocasio-Cortez ) this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one of the last anti-abortion Democrats in the House — earlier this spring .
But Marie Newman , another Justice Democrats candidate , successfully toppled another anti-abortion Democrat , Rep. Dan Lipinski in Illinois , not long after .
And in addition to now having to deal with the coronavirus , progressive campaigns have also lost their most ideologically compatible presidential candidate in the Democratic primary in recent weeks .
But , perhaps counterintuitively , Harper , Wilkes , and Morse all said that since Sen. Bernie Sanders exited the race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraising numbers .
“ We 've just gotten like a huge burst of energy , ” Wilkes said .
“ People were eager to come and volunteer with us .
A lot of people were like , you know , basically saying that they 're going to focus a lot more on down-ballot races .
… It brought us a fundraising surge and then also a volunteer surge .
”

“The crisis has illuminated the already existing inequities in our community and in our district, and it's also illuminated the brokenness of our political system on all sides of the aisle in that there's a consistent failure to meet the moment,” Morse said. “Congressman Neal — and this is not an exaggeration — is the biggest obstacle to health care being a human right in the country. As long as he's chair of the Ways and Means Committee, we will not have Medicare for All. Health care will not be a human right.”
(In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Neal campaign spokesperson Kate Norton said, "After ending last quarter more than $1 million short of his campaign's stated fundraising goal, Alex is clearly desperate and willing to say whatever it takes to get any attention, no matter how outlandish.")
Morse says he feels it’s particularly relevant right now in his district, because of how dangerous the coronavirus can be for people with asthma — and Springfield, Massachusetts, the largest city in the district, is the asthma capital of the United States.
Wilkes said she’s noticed a similar sentiment in her own district.
“A lot of people [who] are going through this haven't been through this before, but for so many other people this is just another day to them,” Wilkes said. “Before COVID, we had people struggling to put food on the table, sending their kids to school and [hoping] that's how they're going to get their meals for that day. We already had people saying, ‘How am I going to go to the doctor? What if I get sick? I don't have health insurance.’”
More and more people are losing employer-sponsored health insurance, worried about their finances, and unsure how they’ll be able to feed their families, as 26.5 million people in the US have filed for unemployment, and others are seeing their hours cut or wages decreased.
“It is completely expedient to have someone that has progressive values in office on all levels of government, because this pandemic is not going to go away anytime soon,” Wilkes said she tells voters. “And it's like, who do you want fighting for you during this pandemic? Do you want someone who's not going to be bold, who's going to be pulled into corporate interests, or do you want to have someone that's going to fight for you?”
Progressive challengers have had mixed successes so far in 2020. Jessica Cisneros, the first candidate recruited and endorsed by Justice Democrats (one of the groups that helped Ocasio-Cortez) this cycle, lost to Rep. Henry Cuellar — one of the last anti-abortion Democrats in the House — earlier this spring. But Marie Newman, another Justice Democrats candidate, successfully toppled another anti-abortion Democrat, Rep. Dan Lipinski in Illinois, not long after.
And in addition to now having to deal with the coronavirus, progressive campaigns have also lost their most ideologically compatible presidential candidate in the Democratic primary in recent weeks. But, perhaps counterintuitively, Harper, Wilkes, and Morse all said that since Sen. Bernie Sanders exited the race, their campaigns have seen increased volunteers and fundraising numbers.
“We've just gotten like a huge burst of energy,” Wilkes said. “People were eager to come and volunteer with us. A lot of people were like, you know, basically saying that they're going to focus a lot more on down-ballot races. … It brought us a fundraising surge and then also a volunteer surge.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-28--This US Lawmaker’s Billion-Dollar Company Gave Employees A Coronavirus Pay Raise — And Then Took It

This US Lawmaker’s Billion-Dollar Company Gave Employees A Coronavirus Pay Raise — And Then Took It Away

Rep. David Trone ’ s Total Wine & More quietly ended its $ 2-an-hour raise for frontline employees , even as much of the country remains at home .
David Trone , a Democratic member of Congress from Maryland , has positioned himself as a protector of frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic .
In recent days , he has tweeted about “ connecting with labor leaders ” to help “ provide support for the labor community ” and posted a masked selfie of himself waiting in his car to vote to help “ workers impacted by this crisis.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and owns announced an important benefit for its own essential employees : a $ 2-an-hour pay raise .
But a few weeks later , Trone ’ s multibillion-dollar company , Total Wine & More — the country ’ s largest privately owned wine , beer , and liquor retailer , with 206 stores in 24 states — reversed course .
In a confidential memo obtained by BuzzFeed News , Total Wine ’ s chief stores officer informed its managers — but not its rank-and-file employees — that the company was “ not continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due in part because of “ trends in the business and external environment.
” “ We are unable to predict the long-term impact COVID-19 will have on our business and the economy , ” the memo read .
“ We are doing all we can to ensure that we stay open and continue to be a growing business.
” BuzzFeed News spoke with nine Total Wine employees across the country , who said they were infuriated with the decision .
Those who asked managers for more information got little in the way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for taking it away , ” said Antonio Arguinzoni , who works at a Total Wine store in Sacramento .
“ They just said it was stopping and everyone was going back to minimum or hourly wage.
” That week , Total Wine employees who met certain conditions did get a $ 25 wine voucher , an offering some viewed as an insulting consolation prize .
If you 're an essential worker with a story to tell , we ’ d love to hear from you .
Email katie.baker @ buzzfeed.com or reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channels .
Total Wine workers told BuzzFeed News that despite the memo ’ s reference to economic uncertainty , sales at their stores are at unprecedented highs for this time of year — thanks to employees ’ work safely navigating in-store purchases , quickly launching a new curbside pickup service while being barred from collecting tips , and keeping track of so many delivery orders that they can barely keep shelves stocked .
Many employees pointed out that new safety precautions were implemented the same week their raise was withdrawn .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be negative , but it ’ s hard to be positive right now , ” one California employee said .
“ Why did you guys take away the hazard pay , but yet you ’ re saying now it ’ s mandatory that we wear gloves and masks ?
” At many of the country ’ s major grocers and retailers — including Costco , Walmart , Kroger , CVS , Target , Whole Foods , Safeway , Albertsons , and Amazon — hazard pay has become a common way to reward essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they face while much of the rest of the country stays at home .
But exactly how long these measures will stay in place is an open question .
Some companies , such as Kroger and Target , have said they will give workers hazard pay until the end of May , but others haven ’ t been as clear .
The Total Wine memo said the company set its pay raise to last 28 days .
A Total Wine spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that the extra $ 2 an hour was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hazard pay ” but meant to help employees “ during a surge in business.
” “ It was a recognition of the hard work that our team members were doing , '' he said .
“ It wasn ’ t hazard pay , it was just recognition that things had gotten busier.
” While some Total Wine stores might still be experiencing record sales , that ’ s not true across the country , he said , although he declined to provide financial figures .
“ Business is returning back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was a surge , and the surge subsided.
” In a statement , the spokesperson added that the company moved quickly to keep workers safe during the pandemic , “ in many instances well before others did so , ” and has made “ substantial investments in additional hiring and employee benefits.
” Total Wine has hired 1,400 new workers since mid-February , he said .
A spokesperson for Rep. Trone declined to comment , referring all questions to Total Wine .
Rep. Trone co-owns the company with his brother .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Thank You ” week to celebrate its hardworking employees .
Major winemakers and celebrities like George Strait , the country music star who has his own tequila line , recorded messages of gratitude for employees in a gesture that felt insincere to some .
“ Instead of an extra $ 2 an hour , we get a handful of minutelong messages of thanks piped into our headsets every day , ” one employee said .
“ I wonder why they felt the need to start this program a week after hazard pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a ‘ let them eat cake ’ moment.
” Unlike competitors such as BevMo , Total Wine is still open for in-store browsing in states where that ’ s allowed .
One Arizona employee said popular annual promotions that require physical in-store coupons were still happening despite the pandemic .
“ We have cashiers breaking down and crying in the bathroom because they can not take almost every customer getting within 6 feet to complete their transaction , ” he said .
To keep up with increased demand , some workers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BuzzFeed News that he typically offers wine tastings but is now restocking warehouses in the middle of the night .
Others said they have had to scramble to get permission to buy crucial items , such as cleaning materials , because they cost more than normal budgets allow .
Some customers have offered staffers generous tips — as much as $ 50 for staying open .
But under company policy , accepting tips is a fireable offense , even during the pandemic .
One customer was so persistent , an employee said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave it to his manager .
He was too afraid to risk his job .
All the while , they ’ re reading astounding daily sales reports , employees from Missouri to Wisconsin said .
Two employees provided documents showing that as of late April sales remained higher than usual for this time of year .
“ We are 100 % –150 % over projecting every day , and we ’ re all overworked and being asked to do more than normal , ” a third employee said .
Total Wine 's annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion .
Trone spent millions of his own money to run for Congress in 2018 .
“ Two dollars an employee is not going to hurt this company when they are profiting , ” said one Missouri employee .
The extra money , paired with overtime hours , was really helping him get by , he said .
Total Wine has “ worked hard to ensure we are viewed as an essential business , ” the confidential memo said .
Indeed , employees in four states said their stores had frantically stocked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they don ’ t typically offer in bulk but are more obviously essential than alcohol .
One store in Nevada was selling 28-packs , available online for around $ 5 , for $ 21 .
Some employees said their stores purchased food items like tuna and tomato sauce , even though before the pandemic they only sold cocktail-friendly snacks , such as crackers , chips , and mini salamis .
Nine stores were ultimately shut down by local regulators , the memo said .
One Nevada store refused to close and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ license .
An employee in Nevada said her store lied to customers by claiming it had a grocery store license .
“ We all felt very uncomfortable about it , ” she said .
Total Wine did not comment on these allegations .
The April 14 memo from Chief Stores Officer Troy Rice , addressed from Bethesda headquarters and marked “ Private and Confidential , ” said the company deployed the temporary raise to ensure “ we recognized our teams for the significant surge in traffic ” that the pandemic triggered , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were on the front lines.
” Since then , the memo said , Total Wine had made stores safer by implementing new safety and cleaning procedures , including a daily captainship for health and safety monitoring “ called the COVID Captain.
” The company also enhanced its paid sick leave policy .
The memo also noted that “ business trends have shifted significantly over the past 30 days , ” adding that customers were shifting to online purchasing .
That wouldn ’ t stop Total Wine from continuing to open new stores , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in digital business is driving a decline ” in in-store “ point of sale ” transactions , he said , reducing “ the customers flowing through our stores by a significant amount.
” Given the uncertain future , the company must do all it can “ to ensure that we stay open and continue to be a growing business.
” That meant in part that the raises had to go .
The Arizona employee said he didn ’ t buy this explanation .
“ Whose future isn ’ t uncertain ?
” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every time I come to work.
” Trone , who was elected to Congress in 2018 , is still listed as an owner on the company ’ s website .

David Trone, a Democratic member of Congress from Maryland, has positioned himself as a protector of frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic. In recent days, he has tweeted about “connecting with labor leaders” to help “provide support for the labor community” and posted a masked selfie of himself waiting in his car to vote to help “workers impacted by this crisis.” In mid-March, the company he cofounded and owns announced an important benefit for its own essential employees: a $2-an-hour pay raise.
But a few weeks later, Trone’s multibillion-dollar company, Total Wine & More — the country’s largest privately owned wine, beer, and liquor retailer, with 206 stores in 24 states — reversed course.
In a confidential memo obtained by BuzzFeed News, Total Wine’s chief stores officer informed its managers — but not its rank-and-file employees — that the company was “not continuing” the coronavirus raises for hourly workers due in part because of “trends in the business and external environment.”
“We are unable to predict the long-term impact COVID-19 will have on our business and the economy,” the memo read. “We are doing all we can to ensure that we stay open and continue to be a growing business.”
BuzzFeed News spoke with nine Total Wine employees across the country, who said they were infuriated with the decision. Those who asked managers for more information got little in the way of answers. “There was no justification for taking it away,” said Antonio Arguinzoni, who works at a Total Wine store in Sacramento. “They just said it was stopping and everyone was going back to minimum or hourly wage.” That week, Total Wine employees who met certain conditions did get a $25 wine voucher, an offering some viewed as an insulting consolation prize.
If you're an essential worker with a story to tell, we’d love to hear from you. Email katie.baker@buzzfeed.com or reach out via one of our tip line channels.
Total Wine workers told BuzzFeed News that despite the memo’s reference to economic uncertainty, sales at their stores are at unprecedented highs for this time of year — thanks to employees’ work safely navigating in-store purchases, quickly launching a new curbside pickup service while being barred from collecting tips, and keeping track of so many delivery orders that they can barely keep shelves stocked. Many employees pointed out that new safety precautions were implemented the same week their raise was withdrawn.
“As a manager, I try not to be negative, but it’s hard to be positive right now,” one California employee said. “Why did you guys take away the hazard pay, but yet you’re saying now it’s mandatory that we wear gloves and masks?”
At many of the country’s major grocers and retailers — including Costco, Walmart, Kroger, CVS, Target, Whole Foods, Safeway, Albertsons, and Amazon — hazard pay has become a common way to reward essential workers for the extra public health risks they face while much of the rest of the country stays at home.
But exactly how long these measures will stay in place is an open question. Some companies, such as Kroger and Target, have said they will give workers hazard pay until the end of May, but others haven’t been as clear.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-28--Native American Tribes Won't Have To Share Coronavirus Relief Money With Native Corporations, A Judg

Native American Tribes Won't Have To Share Coronavirus Relief Money With Native Corporations, A Judge Ruled

People line up to get tested for COVID-19 in Oljato-Monument Valley , Utah , April 16 .
The Navajo Nation has one of the highest per capita COVID-19 infection rates in the country .
BuzzFeed News has reporters across five continents bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration can not distribute coronavirus relief money intended to help Native American communities respond to the coronavirus pandemic to certain for-profit Native corporations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's the first loss in court for the government over how administration officials are managing the billions of dollars that Congress approved in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
Dozens of tribal governments raced to court in the past two weeks to challenge the Treasury Department 's decision to make Alaska Native Corporations ( ANCs ) eligible for $ 8 billion in funding set aside to benefit Native American tribes .
The tribal governments that sued argued that they stood to lose out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share the pool with ANCs .
The ANCs , established by a 1971 law governing how Alaska Natives manage and benefit from their land , have shareholders — primarily members of Native American tribes — and boards of directors , and they serve as holding companies for businesses that range from construction and pipeline maintenance to janitorial and food services .
There are 574 federally recognized Native American tribes and 237 ANCs across Alaska , according to court papers .
Tribal governments argued they needed the money to deliver services to communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by the novel coronavirus , including providing health care , buying personal protective equipment , and delivering meals to the elderly and children .
They asked the court to enter an immediate injunction since the Treasury Department was set to begin sending the money as early as April 28 .
US District Judge Amit Mehta , who heard arguments last week , agreed with the tribal governments that ANCs did n't qualify as the type of `` tribal government '' that Congress referenced in approving the relief money .
Under the definition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on in the CARES Act , the judge wrote , a tribal government had to be eligible for special programs provided by the US government to Native Americans , and it had to be formally recognized by the US government as the governing body of a tribe .
The ANCs do n't fall into those categories , he wrote .
Mehta noted that Congress put the language about funding for tribal governments in a section of the CARES Act dealing with other `` governments , '' including states , the District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virgin Islands , Guam , the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , and American Samoa .
`` Reading the CARES Act to allow the Secretary to disburse Title V dollars to for-profit corporations does not jibe with the Title ’ s general purpose of funding the emergency needs of 'governments , ' '' he wrote .
“ The Chehalis Tribe is pleased that the court saw what was obvious to many of us .
Corporations have no place taking dollars that were allocated for tribal governments , period !
” said Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tribe , one of the tribal governments that sued .
“ This ruling will ensure that tribes and tribal members will reap the intended benefits that Congress envisioned in the CARES Act .
This ruling will help tribal governments to lead in the aid and recovery of their people.
” The administration and an ANC that filed a friend-of-court brief argued that the corporations were in a position to deliver services to communities , even if they did n't have the same government-to-government relationship that federally recognized tribes do with the US government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered any evidence that ANCs are actually providing public services during the pandemic , however .
Mehta also rejected the administration 's argument that the court should n't get involved in the case at all .
The judge wrote that federal courts had a role to play in resolving disputes over how agencies interpret laws passed by Congress — in this case , what exactly Congress meant by using the term `` tribal government . ''
He also did n't accept the government 's argument that the fact that the money was intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court could n't intervene .
`` Thus , while the Secretary ’ s decisions as to how much to disburse might not be reviewable , his decisions concerning to whom to disburse those funds most certainly is , '' Mehta wrote , adding in a footnote that he was n't saying a court could n't review how much money the Treasury Department paid out in the future , either .
Although the judge blocked the administration from sending relief money to the corporations , he did not order the government to distribute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federally recognized tribes .
The government could award money to ANCs and hold onto it until the legal fight is over ; the judge entered a preliminary injunction on Monday , which is not a final order .
The Treasury Department and Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment .

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration cannot distribute coronavirus relief money intended to help Native American communities respond to the coronavirus pandemic to certain for-profit Native corporations, a federal judge ruled Monday evening.
It's the first loss in court for the government over how administration officials are managing the billions of dollars that Congress approved in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Dozens of tribal governments raced to court in the past two weeks to challenge the Treasury Department's decision to make Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligible for $8 billion in funding set aside to benefit Native American tribes.
The tribal governments that sued argued that they stood to lose out on potentially millions of dollars if they had to share the pool with ANCs. The ANCs, established by a 1971 law governing how Alaska Natives manage and benefit from their land, have shareholders — primarily members of Native American tribes — and boards of directors, and they serve as holding companies for businesses that range from construction and pipeline maintenance to janitorial and food services. There are 574 federally recognized Native American tribes and 237 ANCs across Alaska, according to court papers.
Tribal governments argued they needed the money to deliver services to communities hit hard by COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, including providing health care, buying personal protective equipment, and delivering meals to the elderly and children. They asked the court to enter an immediate injunction since the Treasury Department was set to begin sending the money as early as April 28.
US District Judge Amit Mehta, who heard arguments last week, agreed with the tribal governments that ANCs didn't qualify as the type of "tribal government" that Congress referenced in approving the relief money. Under the definition of "tribal government" that Congress relied on in the CARES Act, the judge wrote, a tribal government had to be eligible for special programs provided by the US government to Native Americans, and it had to be formally recognized by the US government as the governing body of a tribe. The ANCs don't fall into those categories, he wrote.
Mehta noted that Congress put the language about funding for tribal governments in a section of the CARES Act dealing with other "governments," including states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
"Reading the CARES Act to allow the Secretary to disburse Title V dollars to for-profit corporations does not jibe with the Title’s general purpose of funding the emergency needs of 'governments,'" he wrote.
“The Chehalis Tribe is pleased that the court saw what was obvious to many of us. Corporations have no place taking dollars that were allocated for tribal governments, period!” said Harry Pickernell, senior chair of the Chehalis Tribe, one of the tribal governments that sued. “This ruling will ensure that tribes and tribal members will reap the intended benefits that Congress envisioned in the CARES Act. This ruling will help tribal governments to lead in the aid and recovery of their people.”
The administration and an ANC that filed a friend-of-court brief argued that the corporations were in a position to deliver services to communities, even if they didn't have the same government-to-government relationship that federally recognized tribes do with the US government. Mehta wrote that no one had offered any evidence that ANCs are actually providing public services during the pandemic, however.
Mehta also rejected the administration's argument that the court shouldn't get involved in the case at all. The judge wrote that federal courts had a role to play in resolving disputes over how agencies interpret laws passed by Congress — in this case, what exactly Congress meant by using the term "tribal government." He also didn't accept the government's argument that the fact that the money was intended as "emergency" relief meant the court couldn't intervene.
"Thus, while the Secretary’s decisions as to how much to disburse might not be reviewable, his decisions concerning to whom to disburse those funds most certainly is," Mehta wrote, adding in a footnote that he wasn't saying a court couldn't review how much money the Treasury Department paid out in the future, either.
Although the judge blocked the administration from sending relief money to the corporations, he did not order the government to distribute the entire $8 billion pool to the federally recognized tribes. The government could award money to ANCs and hold onto it until the legal fight is over; the judge entered a preliminary injunction on Monday, which is not a final order.
The Treasury Department and Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-28--Starbucks Will Keep Seating Closed, But Start To Reopen For To-Go Service In May

Starbucks will begin reopening cafés for to-go service in the US beginning in May , the company told investors today .
By early June , Starbucks expects to reopen 90 % of its company-run locations in the US .
The coffee chain , which has closed about half of its company-owned US locations since March ( cafés run by licensees are operated separately ) due to the coronavirus pandemic , will reopen its stores in `` modified formats , '' including service via drive-thru , order ahead and pickup , and delivery , depending on the condition in local markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain closed for the immediate future '' and generally will not be taking walk-in orders at the register , a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News .
Instead , stores will ask customers to download the Starbucks app and order ahead so they can `` pick up and go '' at the store .
Starbucks will also be available for delivery on Uber Eats .
All workers will have their temperatures checked as part of new safety measures .
In May , the company will also resume marketing activities , which it has paused , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social media advertising .
Restaurants have been wrestling plans for when and how to safely reopen as states begin to lift to shelter-in-place orders and gradually allow some places to reopen with new restrictions on capacity to maintain social distancing .
Starbucks joins companies like McDonald 's , Chick-fil-A , and Dunkin ' Donuts , which said they will not reopen seating in their dining rooms , even as states lift restrictions .
In addition , Starbucks has reopened almost all of its stores in China `` with modified operations . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` We are leveraging our experience in China to inform our actions in other markets , including the US , where we are now entering the 'monitor and adapt ' phase to reopen many more stores with best-in-class safety protocols . ''

Starbucks will begin reopening cafés for to-go service in the US beginning in May, the company told investors today. By early June, Starbucks expects to reopen 90% of its company-run locations in the US.
The coffee chain, which has closed about half of its company-owned US locations since March (cafés run by licensees are operated separately) due to the coronavirus pandemic, will reopen its stores in "modified formats," including service via drive-thru, order ahead and pickup, and delivery, depending on the condition in local markets. "Cafés were, and will remain closed for the immediate future" and generally will not be taking walk-in orders at the register, a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.
Instead, stores will ask customers to download the Starbucks app and order ahead so they can "pick up and go" at the store. Starbucks will also be available for delivery on Uber Eats. All workers will have their temperatures checked as part of new safety measures.
In May, the company will also resume marketing activities, which it has paused, as well as television, digital, and social media advertising.
Restaurants have been wrestling plans for when and how to safely reopen as states begin to lift to shelter-in-place orders and gradually allow some places to reopen with new restrictions on capacity to maintain social distancing. Starbucks joins companies like McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, and Dunkin' Donuts, which said they will not reopen seating in their dining rooms, even as states lift restrictions.
In addition, Starbucks has reopened almost all of its stores in China "with modified operations."
CEO Kevin Johnson said in a release, "We are leveraging our experience in China to inform our actions in other markets, including the US, where we are now entering the 'monitor and adapt' phase to reopen many more stores with best-in-class safety protocols."


buzzfeednews--2020-05-27--New York City Is No Longer The Epicenter Of Coronavirus Deaths

BuzzFeed News has reporters around the world bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
As the US passes 100,000 coronavirus deaths , the New York City metro area holds an unwelcome distinction : the single largest concentration of COVID-19 deaths of anywhere in the United States , the country with more deaths from the disease than anywhere in the world .
The metro area — which includes the city ’ s five boroughs plus 18 nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Pennsylvania — accounts for just 6 % of the country ’ s population .
But by mid-April , it had accounted for half of the country ’ s coronavirus deaths .
With cases and deaths growing exponentially , the city ’ s hospitals were overwhelmed to the point where some began using refrigerated trucks to hold the dead , and city officials hired workers to dig mass graves .
During the first half of April , the metro area recorded an average of more than 1,000 deaths per day .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , school closures , and restrictions on nonessential businesses — the tide turned .
Although the New York City metro area is still experiencing more deaths per capita than most other parts of the country are , its daily death toll is steadily declining and is now at roughly one-eighth of its peak .
At the same time , deaths in the rest of the country have surpassed it — due , in part , to surges elsewhere :

As the US passes 100,000 coronavirus deaths, the New York City metro area holds an unwelcome distinction: the single largest concentration of COVID-19 deaths of anywhere in the United States, the country with more deaths from the disease than anywhere in the world.
The metro area — which includes the city’s five boroughs plus 18 nearby counties in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — accounts for just 6% of the country’s population. But by mid-April, it had accounted for half of the country’s coronavirus deaths. With cases and deaths growing exponentially, the city’s hospitals were overwhelmed to the point where some began using refrigerated trucks to hold the dead, and city officials hired workers to dig mass graves. During the first half of April, the metro area recorded an average of more than 1,000 deaths per day.
But then — after weeks of mandated social distancing, school closures, and restrictions on nonessential businesses — the tide turned. Although the New York City metro area is still experiencing more deaths per capita than most other parts of the country are, its daily death toll is steadily declining and is now at roughly one-eighth of its peak.
At the same time, deaths in the rest of the country have surpassed it — due, in part, to surges elsewhere:


buzzfeednews--2020-03-18--Apple Released A Brand-New iPad And Keyboard During The Coronavirus Outbreak

The new keyboard with a trackpad lets you mouse around your tablet like on an actual computer .
As countries around the world are fighting the coronavirus outbreak , on Wednesday Apple released a brand-new iPad Pro and a new keyboard with a trackpad .
It also released a less expensive MacBook Air that you can load up with up to 2 TERABYTES of storage and a beefed-up Mac Mini , but seriously , the iPad Pro and that new Magic Keyboard are the real stars of today .
The new iPad Pro does n't look very different from last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a faster processor and a new camera system inside .
The highlight of the new system is a “ LiDAR ” scanner , which , according to Apple , improves the way the camera captures depth and improves augmented reality features .
If you want to geek out , you can read more about the feature on Apple ’ s website , but let ’ s just say it means that converting your living room into a lava-filled obstacle course will look a lot better .
There are also more new features @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microphones to capture sound better and four speakers that Apple says deliver an `` immersive sound experience . ''
The brand-new Magic Keyboard that now includes a trackpad is backlit and supports a `` scissor '' mechanism , which means that unlike Apple 's laptop keyboards , the keys should be satisfyingly clicky .
Most importantly , it now makes your iPad float above it for a better viewing angle that just looks cool .
The new iPadOS , the software that powers the iPad , will now include trackpad support , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like you do on an actual laptop .
You do n't have to buy Apple 's fancy new keyboard to get this feature — it will work with any mouse that you connect to the iPad over Bluetooth or USB .
You can buy the new iPad Pro on Apple 's website starting today .
It will be available in stores next week — but all Apple retail locations outside China are closed indefinitely in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The new iPad Pro comes in two sizes ( 11 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( space gray and silver ) .
The cheapest , Wi-Fi-only model costs $ 799 , while the cheapest cellular model costs $ 949 .
The Magic Keyboard with trackpad will be available in May and will cost $ 299 for the smaller iPad Pro and $ 349 for the larger iPad Pro .

As countries around the world are fighting the coronavirus outbreak, on Wednesday Apple released a brand-new iPad Pro and a new keyboard with a trackpad. It also released a less expensive MacBook Air that you can load up with up to 2 TERABYTES of storage and a beefed-up Mac Mini, but seriously, the iPad Pro and that new Magic Keyboard are the real stars of today.
The new iPad Pro doesn't look very different from last year's model, but it now has a faster processor and a new camera system inside.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-18--A Costco Corporate Employee Died From COVID-19, But Staff Still Need Approval To Work From Home

The company had said corporate staff still have to go to their Seattle offices to be fair to the retail workers who have to turn up to Costco stores .
An employee who worked at Costco Wholesale ’ s corporate headquarters near Seattle died Sunday after contracting COVID-19 , according to an internal email obtained by BuzzFeed News , and some employees are upset the company is refusing to fully close the campus or direct all employees to work from home .
“ The company has handled everything very poorly , ” a Costco employee , who works in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to remain anonymous out of fear of losing her job , told BuzzFeed News .
“ Someone died and they ’ re still keeping the building open and having us come in.
” `` Employees have to choose between a check or their health , '' said a second employee , who also asked to remain anonymous .
News of the employee ’ s death was first published Tuesday by the Seattle radio station KTTH .
When contacted for comment by BuzzFeed News , a Costco spokesperson responded after this story was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had received several media inquiries about their response to the coronavirus outbreak and their measures to keep shoppers safe .
`` Costco is not staffed to respond individually to all these questions , '' she wrote .
`` While this statement may not specifically address your inquiry , please understand that we will not be able to respond to your specific questions . ''
On Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. , Peter Gruening , the general manager of Costco Travel , sent an update to the department explaining the steps the company has taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known Covid-19 employee . ''
Managers contacted those individuals who sat by or shared a vanpool with the victim and `` they are self-quarantining for two weeks . ''
IT staff is working `` as quickly as possible to provide remote work solutions for those of you who have requested it . ''
`` We are also working on alternative solutions to speed the process up , '' he wrote , addressing the fact that those who felt uncomfortable being onsite while waiting for a remote solution could clock out and would still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are able to get a solution set up for you . ''
For the past few weeks , Costco has kept its sprawling campus in Issaquah , Washington , open and its several thousand workers in the office , as employees voiced concerns and fears about their health and safety as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to mount in the region .
“ What is [ it ] going to take for Costco Execs to change their path ?
” one staffer wrote on an employee bulletin board March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll had hit 10 .
“ More cases ?
More deaths ?
A sudden quarantine that interrupts the whole campus ?
” On Tuesday , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee signed an emergency aid bill for the state after the number of confirmed cases topped 1,000 .
The bulk of patients , 569 , live in King County and of the 52 people who have died in the state as of Tuesday , 43 of them were from that area .
Radio station KUOW reported earlier this month on a Costco memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office despite hundreds of other Seattle companies , including behemoths like Amazon and Microsoft , following health officials ’ directives to let employees work from home .
In the March 4 email that was viewed by BuzzFeed News , the company ’ s senior leaders , led by CEO Craig Jelinek , explained that while “ some local companies are reportedly allowing employees to work from home , ” Costco is a “ retail business ” and “ a great number of Costco employees locally and across the country can not work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , corporate employees must continue to go to the office to “ support our retail business.
” “ The decision may be unpopular with some , but we consider it a matter of equity and fairness , ” they wrote .
Costco leadership said that employees who were unwell or at a higher risk of catching the virus could use their sick leave or PTO to stay home and that “ these absences will be excused.
” A Costco employee told the Seattle Times earlier this month that the company has “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and many successfully have and do.
” “ All of our lives are being put at risk just for profits , ” the employee told the paper .
On March 11 , Inslee banned events consisting of more than 250 people , noting in his statement that “ the virus has hit King County the hardest.
” “ The governor also strongly encouraged state residents to practice social distancing , which means individuals should try to stay six feet or at least an arm ’ s length from each other , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also asking for workplaces to look into telework options for employees.
” The first Costco employee who spoke with BuzzFeed News said that many corporate , or “ Home Office , ” workers had emailed management about the new rules .
“ We all sit in an open workspace , ” said the employee , estimating that 250 people work on her floor alone .
“ We are all very close together.
” Costco ’ s corporate headquarters has about seven buildings across several acres , requiring the use of shuttles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one new , nine-story structure could fit as many as 4,000 workers .
After Inslee ’ s order , Jelinek emailed employees March 11 stating that “ based on recent developments , we ’ ve decided to let some employees at Costco ’ s corporate offices ... work remotely.
” The choice to work remotely , which he said would “ be a test , ” would be “ available temporarily ” for those “ who can perform their job responsibilities away from the office , who have a suitable alternative working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the arrangement .
“ Not everyone will be allowed to work remotely , ” he said .
“ Nor will everyone want to.
” The first employee who spoke with BuzzFeed News said she had requested to work from home out of concern that she had been in close proximity to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 .
After requesting twice , she was then allowed to .
This woman said that she ’ d also heard from colleagues who had taken PTO because they had underlying health conditions and didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a daughter whose school reported a positive case and “ still had to come in , ” and who told their manager she was feeling sick but was told to still come in because she was not in a “ high-risk category.
” On Sunday , an employee who worked in Costco ’ s travel department died at home , but it was unclear at the time whether it was due to the coronavirus .
In a Monday email to workers , leadership said that they had received “ sad news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee ’ s death were not yet known , they decided to close the building for the remainder of the day for a deep cleaning .
On Tuesday , Costco confirmed that the employee tested positive for COVID-19 and assured staff that they thoroughly cleaned and sanitized the building , which they then promptly reopened .
Jelinek on Tuesday also emailed staff , loosening restrictions on who could work from home and saying the company was encouraging more employees to work remotely .
`` As we all know , not everyone can perform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we now feel we can and should increase the number of employees who are doing so , '' he wrote .
Jelinek said that employees who wished to work from home still needed to consult managers .
“ So now everyone is back in the travel building , ” said the first employee who spoke with BuzzFeed News .
“ There ’ s a lot of people still going into the office even though we can mostly all perform our jobs remotely .
”

Managers contacted those individuals who sat by or shared a vanpool with the victim and "they are self-quarantining for two weeks." IT staff is working "as quickly as possible to provide remote work solutions for those of you who have requested it."
"We are also working on alternative solutions to speed the process up," he wrote, addressing the fact that those who felt uncomfortable being onsite while waiting for a remote solution could clock out and would still be paid "normal shift hours until we are able to get a solution set up for you."
For the past few weeks, Costco has kept its sprawling campus in Issaquah, Washington, open and its several thousand workers in the office, as employees voiced concerns and fears about their health and safety as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to mount in the region.
“What is [it] going to take for Costco Execs to change their path?” one staffer wrote on an employee bulletin board March 6, when the county’s death toll had hit 10. “More cases? More deaths? A sudden quarantine that interrupts the whole campus?”
On Tuesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed an emergency aid bill for the state after the number of confirmed cases topped 1,000. The bulk of patients, 569, live in King County and of the 52 people who have died in the state as of Tuesday, 43 of them were from that area.
Radio station KUOW reported earlier this month on a Costco memo requiring workers to continue to come into the office despite hundreds of other Seattle companies, including behemoths like Amazon and Microsoft, following health officials’ directives to let employees work from home.
In the March 4 email that was viewed by BuzzFeed News, the company’s senior leaders, led by CEO Craig Jelinek, explained that while “some local companies are reportedly allowing employees to work from home,” Costco is a “retail business” and “a great number of Costco employees locally and across the country cannot work from home.”
Thus, Costco executives said, corporate employees must continue to go to the office to “support our retail business.”
“The decision may be unpopular with some, but we consider it a matter of equity and fairness,” they wrote.
Costco leadership said that employees who were unwell or at a higher risk of catching the virus could use their sick leave or PTO to stay home and that “these absences will be excused.”
A Costco employee told the Seattle Times earlier this month that the company has “every ability to let employees work from home and many successfully have and do.”
“All of our lives are being put at risk just for profits,” the employee told the paper.
On March 11, Inslee banned events consisting of more than 250 people, noting in his statement that “the virus has hit King County the hardest.”
“The governor also strongly encouraged state residents to practice social distancing, which means individuals should try to stay six feet or at least an arm’s length from each other,” Inslee staffers said. “The governor is also asking for workplaces to look into telework options for employees.”
The first Costco employee who spoke with BuzzFeed News said that many corporate, or “Home Office,” workers had emailed management about the new rules.
“We all sit in an open workspace,” said the employee, estimating that 250 people work on her floor alone. “We are all very close together.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-18--“I’m Not An Epidemiologist But…": The Rise Of The Coronavirus Influencers

According to Tomas Pueyo , his Medium post titled “ Coronavirus : Why You Must Act Now ” has been viewed over 37 million times as of this week .
On a phone call with BuzzFeed News on Tuesday , he excitedly rattled off the famous names who have shared it .
“ The type of people retweeting this , ” Pueyo said .
“ Just overwhelming , the profile of the people who 've been tweeting it.
” A representative for the content marketing firm currently promoting Pueyo and his coronavirus article to journalists would later email BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had shared his post , complete with bios and a link to their tweets .
Which included former presidential candidate Andrew Yang , actor George Takei , Twitter cofounder Ev Williams , author Margaret Atwood , social psychologist Jonathan Haidt , and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker .
Pueyo ’ s article quickly became the defining piece on the outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , which has infected 205,452 people worldwide , with 6,519 in the US as of Wednesday .
The Medium piece has been translated into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated several times , most recently this week , with “ an update on containment vs. mitigation strategies.
” Pueyo isn ’ t the only person to suddenly become the voice of public health — as far as Twitter is concerned .
As online social platforms have become up-to-the-second hubs of information about the pandemic , a new class of corona influencers has risen up .
Incentivized by Twitter ’ s need for constant content and its lack of fact-checking , peer review , or nuance , scientific studies are dissected , exponential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information is mixed with stuff that ’ s unvetted and objectively wrong .
Pueyo is the first to tell you that he ’ s not a doctor nor a scientist .
He ’ s the vice president of growth at Course Hero , an educational content sharing platform that allows students to collaborate on study notes — a process similar to the one he used to write “ Coronavirus : Why You Must Act Now.
” Head over to Twitter and search “ not an epidemiologist but '' if you want to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 has become .
As the pandemic has affected lives around the world , it seems like nearly everyone on social media wants to be a public health expert .
Pueyo said he started posting coronavirus updates on Facebook , and his followers responded to it — so he kept going .
Someone asked him if there was an easy way to share everything he had been collecting .
So he threw it all together on Medium .
“ What I did was aggregate the opinions of experts , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ raw data or analysis from other people.
” Pueyo ’ s piece is chilling and comprehensive and has been lauded by some health experts and scientists .
The translations into other languages , however , haven ’ t been as airtight .
Pueyo said he has been crowdsourcing them and had to switch a few out for better or cleaner versions .
“ You want to get the message out as fast as possible and correct it if it 's wrong , ” he said .
“ You make decisions first and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery method for COVID-19 information has emerged as one of the central dilemmas of the outbreak .
For as much good as social media is doing in terms of coordinating a global response , the internet is also awash in hoaxes , misinformation , conspiracies theories about deep state plots and bioweapons , and state propaganda .
There are also genuinely malevolent actors using the pandemic to build new audiences ; the QAnon YouTuber Jordan Sather has told his followers they can protect themselves from COVID-19 by drinking chlorine dioxide — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Kawczynski , a white nationalist in Maine , who hosts a daily Coronavirus Central podcast that has been in Apple ’ s top 20 podcasts under the “ Health & Fitness '' category since the outbreak began .
The Atlantic ’ s Yascha Mounk has similarly , though much less nefariously , rebranded himself as a corona influencer following his piece titled “ Cancel Everything.
” Also like Pueyo , Mounk is not a public health expert — he ’ s a political scientist .
Which would explain his tweets such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs commonly prescribed for hypertension could make their users more likely to succumb to corona .
Is that true ?
I 've no idea .
But these kinds of discoveries are a key reason why slowing corona 's spread could save many lives.
” Far more common , though , are people genuinely trying to share correct information but not quite hitting the mark .
Alexis Madrigal , also at the Atlantic , had to delete a tweet at the center of a sprawling — and terrifying — thread about private University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion notes .
The panel notes , which were posted to LinkedIn and are now no longer online , contained shocking estimates for global infection rates .
“ The reason I tweeted the document was because it was the first I had seen where someone laid out—clearly , plainly—why and how your life will probably be different over the next 12 months , ” Madrigal tweeted .
“ BUT ... when a tweet goes that viral , the burden on it to be the best available source of information goes up and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are seeing this kind of information for the first time .
And it 's not ultimately the best source of information.
” Eric Feigl-Ding , an epidemiologist and health economist at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , was one of the first corona influencers .
He ’ s been tweeting about the outbreak since it was still localized largely in Wuhan .
“ I was watching the data come from China in early January .
I also have family in China , '' he told BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how there 's this weird epidemic.
” His Twitter account has grown to more than 120,000 followers since he started tweeting about COVID-19 .
( He had about 2,000 before . )
He shares the same philosophy as Pueyo : that in a public health crisis , fast information with possible inaccuracies is better than waiting .
He also said it makes sense that Twitter has become the central place for following the outbreak .
“ The information on Twitter is about half a day or two days faster than newspapers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience and speed of information , though , have gotten him into trouble .
In late January he tweeted an unvetted preprint — a preliminary draft of a coronavirus study — that estimated every person who has caught the disease could give it to almost four other people , absent an intervention like quarantine or hospitalization .
According to the preprint , its contagiousness was 3.8 , measured by a variable called R0 .
( Current estimates of its R0 place the value at between 1.5 and 3.5 . )
“ HOLY MOTHER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 3.8 !
!
!
” he tweeted .
“ How bad is that reproductive R0 value ?
It is thermonuclear pandemic level bad — never seen an actual virality coefficient outside of Twitter in my entire career .
I ’ m not exaggerating.
” Feigl-Ding is not a virologist .
People who actually are have criticized him for tweeting an inaccurate R0 .
Feigl-Ding tweeted another batch of sensational findings a few weeks later , in a nine-tweet thread that exploded across Twitter , that COVID-19 could be somehow related to HIV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not peer-reviewed '' and warned his followers , “ Let ’ s not draw conclusions yet.
” Which , of course , didn ’ t stop his tweets from going viral and launching a full-blown conspiracy theory that has only emboldened an increasingly vocal section of the American right-wing who believe COVID-19 is a bioweapon .
“ The bioweapon thing , I do n't even want to talk about it , ” he said ( though he has tweeted about it ) .
“ Let 's focus on the fact that imperfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Feigl-Ding , people want information , but scientific research and many newspapers hide behind paywalls .
He said the scientific community doesn ’ t have the communication infrastructure in place to circulate information fast enough .
“ Information in this day and age is like a raging river .
It will flow to wherever there 's least resistance , ” he said .
“ By the time the CDC or [ the National Institutes of Health ] publishes a press release or update on their website , it 's already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ move fast and break things ” approach to disseminating COVID-19 information has largely become , for better or worse , an accepted reality for many actual scientists as the coronavirus pandemic has worsened .
Vincent Racaniello , a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University and host of the podcast This Week in Virology told BuzzFeed News it ’ s not even a new phenomenon .
“ It 's happened for other outbreaks like Ebola and Zika , ” he said .
“ With the onset of social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expert .
”

According to Tomas Pueyo, his Medium post titled “Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now” has been viewed over 37 million times as of this week. On a phone call with BuzzFeed News on Tuesday, he excitedly rattled off the famous names who have shared it.
“The type of people retweeting this,” Pueyo said. “Just overwhelming, the profile of the people who've been tweeting it.”
A representative for the content marketing firm currently promoting Pueyo and his coronavirus article to journalists would later email BuzzFeed News a full list of the celebrities who had shared his post, complete with bios and a link to their tweets. Which included former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, actor George Takei, Twitter cofounder Ev Williams, author Margaret Atwood, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker.
Pueyo’s article quickly became the defining piece on the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has infected 205,452 people worldwide, with 6,519 in the US as of Wednesday. The Medium piece has been translated into over two dozen languages and has been updated several times, most recently this week, with “an update on containment vs. mitigation strategies.”


buzzfeednews--2020-03-18--Members Of Congress Are Asking Nancy Pelosi To Let Them Vote Remotely Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic

“ The image of over 430 members and approximately 100 staffers clustered together on the House floor during votes is inconsistent with public health guidance.
” WASHINGTON — More than two dozen members of Congress have signed onto a bipartisan letter asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to allow the House to vote remotely as the coronavirus pandemic rages on .
“ Tonight we ask that you bring to the floor a simple rule change that would permit remote voting for Members of Congress during this national public health emergency , ” the letter says .
Members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week , but are expected to return to vote on a third coronavirus stimulus bill , likely next week .
“ We in Congress are asking businesses , schools , [ and ] local governments to execute strong plans to ensure continuity of essential services : Congress should be no exception .
… We are undermining our bipartisan message to the American people when we come together [ on ] the crowded House floor to vote , ” the letter , which is still in progress and currently signed by 28 members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 430 members and approximately 100 staffers clustered together on the House floor during votes is inconsistent with public health guidance from public health officials.
” CNN first reported the existence of the letter .
There ’ s a lot we still don ’ t know about the coronavirus outbreak .
Our newsletter , Outbreak Today , will do its best to put everything we do know in one place — you can sign up here .
Do you have questions you want answered ?
You can always get in touch .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of this firsthand , we ’ d also love to hear from you ( you can reach out to us via one of our tip line channels ) .
The letter comes after President Donald Trump discouraged gatherings larger than 10 people to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , on Monday .
The same day , Washington , DC , Mayor Muriel Bowser closed bars , restaurants , and gyms throughout the city .
DC ’ s metro service has also reduced service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter on Sunday , Pelosi encouraged Capitol Hill employees to promote social distancing , including teleworking from home during the weeklong in-district work period .
But Pelosi has consistently maintained that the Capitol will remain open in the face of a public health crisis .
Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
“ We must lead by example .
During this global pandemic , we need to do all that we can to follow the guidance of medical experts and the Center for Disease Control , ” Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who signed onto the letter , told BuzzFeed News Wednesday .
“ Forcing members into a confined spaces and hours of public travel goes against the health guidance of the CDC to combat the coronavirus .
If remote voting is necessary to slow the spread of the virus , then Congress can and should adjust parliamentary rules to allow it.
” The sergeant-at-arms , in consultation with the House attending physician and leadership , limited visitor tours in the Capitol on Thursday until April 1 .
“ We recognize this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi and McCarthy .
“ But the moment demands that we have the courage to change .
The House of Representatives should expect of itself the same flexibility and high standards of hygiene that we are asking of others.
” This is a developing story .
Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

WASHINGTON — More than two dozen members of Congress have signed onto a bipartisan letter asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to allow the House to vote remotely as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
“Tonight we ask that you bring to the floor a simple rule change that would permit remote voting for Members of Congress during this national public health emergency,” the letter says.
Members are at home in their districts for a week, but are expected to return to vote on a third coronavirus stimulus bill, likely next week.
“We in Congress are asking businesses, schools, [and] local governments to execute strong plans to ensure continuity of essential services: Congress should be no exception. … We are undermining our bipartisan message to the American people when we come together [on] the crowded House floor to vote,” the letter, which is still in progress and currently signed by 28 members, says. “The image of over 430 members and approximately 100 staffers clustered together on the House floor during votes is inconsistent with public health guidance from public health officials.”
CNN first reported the existence of the letter.