npr--2020-11-13--Progressive And Moderate Democrats Clash On Policies Heading Into 2021

Progressive And Moderate Democrats Clash On Policies Heading Into 2021 House Democrats are on track to begin 2021 with the @ @ @ @ @ Members on the progressive left and moderates are again at odds over whose policies should @ @ @ @ @

Progressive And Moderate Democrats Clash On Policies Heading Into 2021
House Democrats are on track to begin 2021 with the slimmest majority in decades. Members on the progressive left and moderates are again at odds over whose policies should drive the Democratic party.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
House Democrats started this month hoping, preparing to gain seats in the election, but their once-robust majority in the House has now dwindled. As of today, they could be on track to begin next year with the slimmest majority in decades. And now members on the progressive left and party moderates are at odds over whose policies should drive the Democrats. Here's NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell.
KELSEY SNELL, BYLINE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi returned to Washington after the election last week looking to celebrate victory for Democrats.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
NANCY PELOSI: We'll be able to do great things for the American people. As I said, we've lost some battles, but we won the war. We have the gavel.
SNELL: But there were a lot of lost battles, mostly in the majority-maker districts Democrats won in 2018 by defeating Republicans. Now Democrats are arguing both publicly and privately over why they lost and what they should do before they're on the ballot again in two years.
PRAMILA JAYAPAL: Because I think people are mourning the loss of some colleagues that wasn't as expected as it should have been.
SNELL: That's Pramila Jayapal. She's the co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus. She says Democrats simply lost House seats in areas where President Trump was and is popular. Jayapal says that's not the fault of progressive policies. Biden's victory, she says, is proof that it worked to drive home messages about how Democrats would deliver on progressive ideas, like "Medicare for All," a $15 minimum wage and aggressively curbing climate change.
JAYAPAL: And that's what we did over and over and over again that led to this huge turnout of young people, Black and brown and immigrant voters, that delivered us victories in these key states.
SNELL: But moderates say big progressive turnout in cities and suburbs may drive up Democrats' numbers in statewide and presidential races, but in their closely divided districts, some progressive messages can turn toxic. Abigail Spanberger was narrowly reelected in a Virginia district that went for Republicans from 1971 until she won in 2018. She says Democrats need to focus more on proactive messages and passing bills that speak to people, like funding for education and expanded rural broadband. And when it comes to big issues like police reform, she says Democrats need to stick to talking about policies, not slogans.
ABIGAIL SPANBERGER: People know what the verb defund means. And I have had people just across the spectrum say that they don't want to see our local police departments defunded.
SNELL: She says the police reform bill Democrats passed didn't defund the police, but that's the phrase that ran in Republican ads in districts where Democrats lost this year, like this ad against Max Rose, who lost his seat in New York.
(SOUNDBITE OF POLITICAL AD)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) He promised us that he was going to support the police. And then he marched with people looking to defund the police.
SNELL: Messaging is not a new fight for Democrats. California Congressman Tony Cardenas, who's running to lead Democrats' House reelection effort in 2022, says members are getting the framing wrong.
TONY CARDENAS: I think that the emphasis of trying to hold on to a certain voter is the wrong place to start.
SNELL: He says it's about making sure that all of the legislation that happens from the moment Joe Biden is sworn in hits people at home and has translated in a way they understand. That's something most Democrats agree on. Next time they won't be running against President Trump. They'll be running on a record they plan to build with Biden. New York Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who's competing against Cardenas for that job, agreed. And he thinks that time and policies Democrats plan to pursue will make all the difference.
SEAN MALONEY: I also believe we'll be entering a cycle next time with the pandemic, God willing, in the rearview mirror and an economy that is in full rebound.
SNELL: But first, Democrats will have to decide which policies they vote on and whether they want to stick to areas where they agree or if they pit their different versions of the party against one another. Kelsey Snell, NPR News, Washington.
(SOUNDBITE OF MAMMAL HANDS' "FLOATING WORLD")
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-13--Where Polling Went Wrong In The 2020 Presidential Election

Where Polling Went Wrong In The 2020 Presidential Election Joe Biden won the presidential election , but it was a @ @ @ @ @ suggested .
And there 's evidence that political polling in 2020 was even further off @ @ @ @

Where Polling Went Wrong In The 2020 Presidential Election
Joe Biden won the presidential election, but it was a lot closer than the polls suggested. And there's evidence that political polling in 2020 was even further off than in 2016.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
We got to ask, what is the future of political polling after the failures we saw in this election? Joe Biden won the presidential election, but it was a lot closer than polls suggested. And there's evidence that political polling this year was even further off than it was in 2016. So let's talk this through with our own senior political editor and correspondent, Domenico Montanaro. Good morning, Domenico.
DOMENICO MONTANARO, BYLINE: Morning, David.
GREENE: So it seemed pretty clear on election night that the polls were off in the presidential race. I mean, now we've had a little more time to count votes. I mean, what can we say about how far they were off?
MONTANARO: Well, they were off particularly in the Midwest, where there are lots of white voters without college degrees, and in many traditional Republican states. You know, some of the biggest misses in swing states were in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa, where the polls were off by about seven points each. Republican states like Montana, Indiana and Missouri, they were also polling in single digits before the election and all wound up being blowouts.
You know, national polls were off, too. They had Biden winning by eight. It's only three. It might get to about four or so when all the counting is done. But Biden's number, you know, was actually pretty close. It was Trump's support that was consistently underestimated. The NPR/Marist poll, by the way, had Biden taking a double-digit lead over Trump in mid-October. That was a pretty long way off, obviously, from what actually happened.
GREENE: So are there explanations for this stuff?
MONTANARO: We don't have all the answers yet. But there are some theories that are starting to take shape. And pollsters are starting to look into them. Some pollsters I've talked to are pointing to the huge and unprecedented share of early votes. They said that when they're looking at their pre-election samples, they're seeing that they had a higher share of people who were voting early than actually did. And we know that those voters leaned heavily toward Biden.
They're also asking if the reporting on the huge early vote leads for Democrats actually wound up turning out more of Trump's supporters in the final days than might have shown up if that didn't happen. You know, there's some evidence for that because in Arizona, for example, where the gap closed considerably in Trump's favor, were all votes that were dropped off the day before Election Day or on Election Day itself. And the other thing that they're looking at is simply whether Trump supporters just don't want to talk to pollsters.
GREENE: Oh, yeah. That theory has been out there, the whole idea of the shy Trump voter. I mean, is there actually evidence of that? Or is it just a theory?
MONTANARO: Yeah. And it's not quite the shy Trump voter thing. You know, there are shy Trump voters. I was talking to a Republican pollster who said shy Trump voters obviously do exist. They tend to be women. They're reluctant to say in social settings that they're supporting Trump. But I asked him, does that mean that they're not telling pollsters that they support him? And he said, no. It's more about them just not wanting to talk to pollsters at all.
The Pew Research Center actually ran an experiment on this after the 2016 election. They had people talk to live questioners and take an online survey. The thinking was that maybe they'd be more honest online since they didn't have to say their preference out loud. But the experiment actually found no significant difference. Basically, the results were the same. Trump is clearly, though, the big factor here. And pollsters, you know, they're scratching their heads. They're wondering if this was a black swan event that only applies when Trump is on the ballot or if there's something more systemic going on.
GREENE: Do you still trust polls?
MONTANARO: (Laughter) You know, look; I've said often I think polls are best used when broadly looking at attitudes and trends. I put a lot less stock in horse race polls this year than in 2016. And I'll look even more skeptically at them in coming cycles. You know, we have to remember that politics is a combination of art and science. Data has a place. Pollsters argue if we don't have an objective baseline, all we'd have is spin from campaigns. But talking to voters is still very important.
GREENE: NPR's Domenico Montanaro. Thanks.
MONTANARO: You got it.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-13--Young Progressives Who Backed Biden Plan To Press Him For Action

Young Progressives Who Backed Biden Plan To Press Him For Action When Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time as president-elect , he said that his victory was supported by `` the broadest and most diverse coalition in history . ''
Now , Biden is facing high expectations from one big and especially diverse segment of that coalition — young voters who appear to have turned out for him in record numbers , particularly young progressives who now say they want to see him deliver on their priorities .
`` At the end of the day , youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're probably looking at , when all the ballots are tallied , the highest youth vote turnout ever , '' said Ben Wessel , the executive director of NextGen America , a progressive group aimed at turning out young voters , many of whom have been engaged in major social movements around gun laws , climate change and race and justice .
`` I think the role of these activist movements getting young people off the streets and into the polling place , it ca n't be ignored , '' Wessel added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fray and realizing that they have a responsibility to fix some of the problems in our country . ''
According to an analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University , somewhere between 50 % and 52 % of eligible voters under the age of 30 cast a ballot in this year 's election .
That analysis is based on votes counted by Nov. 9 , and researchers say that number may rise .
At the same point in 2016 , CIRCLE estimated youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 % .
Young voters overall , according to CIRCLE 's analysis , preferred Biden over Trump by a 25-point margin ( 61 % to 36 % ) , and young people of color were especially key to Biden 's victory .
While white voters under the age of 30 backed Biden by a slim margin , young people of color overwhelmingly supported Biden 's campaign and were decisive in several electoral battlegrounds .
`` President-elect Biden does have a mandate with young people .
Most young people who voted voted for Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxwell Frost , the national organizing director of the student-led group March For Our Lives .
`` So we expect him to use that bully pulpit and use his presidency ... to educate millions of people on our issues and set an agenda that will set the foundation for change . ''
There is a sense of urgency among young progressives , mixed with hope that the incoming administration will be more receptive to their issues .
They 've pointed to instances in which Biden has shifted left on issues like forgiving student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the joint policy task forces that Biden announced with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at the conclusion of the Democratic primary campaign .
Varshini Prakash , a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement , a youth-led activist group that supports the Green New Deal , was a member of the climate focused task force .
While she credits Biden with bringing young people and progressives to the table , she also said that `` we ca n't make the same mistake that the climate movement made with Barack Obama in 2008 . ''
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offensive on day one , '' she said , implying that was not the case 12 years ago .
To that end , Sunrise along with Justice Democrats , the group founded after 2016 that helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , are already publicly exerting pressure on the incoming administration to appoint progressives to top government jobs .
The groups are calling on Biden to appoint progressive leaders like Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to key cabinet posts .
The groups also want the incoming administration to create a `` White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action across the federal government .
The public pressure campaign on the incoming administration and push for accountability comes as these young progressives are reckoning their hopes for a Senate majority , an outcome dependent on winning two Senate runoff elections in Georgia in January .
It 's not yet clear how far Senate Republicans would be willing to go to derail Biden Cabinet picks viewed by members of the GOP as too far left .
The landscape for passing sweeping legislation will be equally challenging .
But Prakash said that even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden must still be accountable to the groups that helped deliver him the White House .
`` We 've also got to be clear with Joe Biden that even if he does n't have the Senate , that is not an excuse to not do everything in his power to address the climate crisis , '' she said .
Others acknowledged that the ambitious policy goals , appointments and judicial nominations many progressives had been hoping for , had there been sweeping victories for Democrats up and down the ballot , may well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations does n't change what we fight for , it does n't change who we are , '' said Frost , the national organizing director of March For Our Lives .
`` It just means we understand the landscape , and we understand that we might not get everything we want .
But it does n't mean that we do n't fight for it . ''
Wessel , the executive director of NextGen America , warned that if the Biden administration does not pursue progressive priorities , there 's a risk that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spurred to civic action may become disengaged .
`` While we know the Biden administration can do a lot with the power of the pen on Day 1 , and a lot of it is about restoring some of the Obama-era policies , if that 's the end of the pushing , you 're going to demotivate young people for a decade , '' he said .
`` So Day 1 , great , bring back all the Obama stuff .
Day 2 ?
Time to be bold . ''

Young Progressives Who Backed Biden Plan To Press Him For Action
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
When Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time as president-elect, he said that his victory was supported by "the broadest and most diverse coalition in history."
Now, Biden is facing high expectations from one big and especially diverse segment of that coalition — young voters who appear to have turned out for him in record numbers, particularly young progressives who now say they want to see him deliver on their priorities.
"At the end of the day, youth turnout was through the roof, and we're probably looking at, when all the ballots are tallied, the highest youth vote turnout ever," said Ben Wessel, the executive director of NextGen America, a progressive group aimed at turning out young voters, many of whom have been engaged in major social movements around gun laws, climate change and race and justice.
"I think the role of these activist movements getting young people off the streets and into the polling place, it can't be ignored," Wessel added. "Young people are coming into the fray and realizing that they have a responsibility to fix some of the problems in our country."
According to an analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, somewhere between 50% and 52% of eligible voters under the age of 30 cast a ballot in this year's election. That analysis is based on votes counted by Nov. 9, and researchers say that number may rise. At the same point in 2016, CIRCLE estimated youth voter turnout at between 42% and 44%.
Young voters overall, according to CIRCLE's analysis, preferred Biden over Trump by a 25-point margin (61% to 36%), and young people of color were especially key to Biden's victory. While white voters under the age of 30 backed Biden by a slim margin, young people of color overwhelmingly supported Biden's campaign and were decisive in several electoral battlegrounds.
"President-elect Biden does have a mandate with young people. Most young people who voted voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris," said Maxwell Frost, the national organizing director of the student-led group March For Our Lives. "So we expect him to use that bully pulpit and use his presidency... to educate millions of people on our issues and set an agenda that will set the foundation for change."
There is a sense of urgency among young progressives, mixed with hope that the incoming administration will be more receptive to their issues. They've pointed to instances in which Biden has shifted left on issues like forgiving student debt and climate, as well as the joint policy task forces that Biden announced with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at the conclusion of the Democratic primary campaign.
Varshini Prakash, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led activist group that supports the Green New Deal, was a member of the climate focused task force. While she credits Biden with bringing young people and progressives to the table, she also said that "we can't make the same mistake that the climate movement made with Barack Obama in 2008."
"We have got to be out on the offensive on day one," she said, implying that was not the case 12 years ago.
To that end, Sunrise along with Justice Democrats, the group founded after 2016 that helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are already publicly exerting pressure on the incoming administration to appoint progressives to top government jobs.
The groups are calling on Biden to appoint progressive leaders like Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to key cabinet posts. The groups also want the incoming administration to create a "White House Office of Climate Mobilization" to coordinate action across the federal government.
Managing expectations
The public pressure campaign on the incoming administration and push for accountability comes as these young progressives are reckoning their hopes for a Senate majority, an outcome dependent on winning two Senate runoff elections in Georgia in January.
It's not yet clear how far Senate Republicans would be willing to go to derail Biden Cabinet picks viewed by members of the GOP as too far left. The landscape for passing sweeping legislation will be equally challenging. But Prakash said that even if Republicans retain control of the Senate, Biden must still be accountable to the groups that helped deliver him the White House.
"We've also got to be clear with Joe Biden that even if he doesn't have the Senate, that is not an excuse to not do everything in his power to address the climate crisis," she said.
Others acknowledged that the ambitious policy goals, appointments and judicial nominations many progressives had been hoping for, had there been sweeping victories for Democrats up and down the ballot, may well be out of reach.
"Managing expectations doesn't change what we fight for, it doesn't change who we are," said Frost, the national organizing director of March For Our Lives. "It just means we understand the landscape, and we understand that we might not get everything we want. But it doesn't mean that we don't fight for it."
Wessel, the executive director of NextGen America, warned that if the Biden administration does not pursue progressive priorities, there's a risk that a generation of young people who have been spurred to civic action may become disengaged.
"While we know the Biden administration can do a lot with the power of the pen on Day 1, and a lot of it is about restoring some of the Obama-era policies, if that's the end of the pushing, you're going to demotivate young people for a decade," he said. "So Day 1, great, bring back all the Obama stuff. Day 2? Time to be bold."


npr--2020-11-13--FACT CHECK: What's Happening In This Election Is Not Like Florida In 2000

FACT CHECK : What 's Happening In This Election Is Not Like Florida In 2000 Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election Saturday morning .
And yet , President Trump has not conceded or accepted it , and the agency responsible for doling out funds and office space during a transition is denying that money to the Biden team , implying that the results of the election are not yet certain and referencing the `` precedent '' of the contested 2000 presidential election .
Allies of the president , including the chair of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo , have also referenced the contest between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush as a need to wait for `` the votes to be counted '' before declaring a winner in this year 's election .
But let 's be frank .
The 2020 presidential election is not even close to the situation in the 2000 presidential election .
`` Florida was about one breathtakingly close state , '' said Ben Ginsberg , who helped lead the legal strategy for Bush around the 2000 Florida recount .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state vs. several The 2000 election was decided by 537 votes in one state , Florida .
With Florida in Bush 's column , the outcome of the Electoral College was 271-266 — about as close as it gets .
In fact , it was the closest electoral vote margin since 1876 that saw Rutherford B. Hayes beat Samuel Tilden by just one electoral vote , 185-184 .
In the 2020 election , if Biden 's leads hold , he is on track to win 306 electoral votes to 232 for Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same margin Trump would have won by in 2016 if there were n't two faithless electors who brought his total down to 304 . )
As opposed to focusing attention on a single state , Trump has several lawsuits in courts in multiple states , many of which have already been thrown out .
There will be a recount in Georgia , and Trump is seeking one in Wisconsin , which the AP called for Biden , but he 's unlikely to win either one because he is down almost 35,000 votes between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 27 recounts between 2000 and 2015 found the average vote change in them was 282 votes — nowhere near the gap Trump is trying to overcome .
The president 's allegations and conspiracy theories of sweeping voter fraud have so far been without merit .
Fraud is hard to pull off in modern elections because of the safeguards in place , including electronic voter registration records , signature matching technology and post-election audits of the vote .
`` I think it is more difficult now , '' Ginsberg said , noting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its actions on the thought that there was fraud , and now they 're not able to prove it , so their basic premise is not holding up . ''
On Thursday , the government agencies overseeing the security of the election issued a joint statement defending the integrity of the election and calling it the `` most secure in American history . ''
`` There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised , '' they wrote .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections , we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections , and you should too . ''
The math is the math It 's pretty much inconceivable for Trump to win at this point , and here 's why — math .
Even if Trump wins North Carolina , where he 's leading but which remains uncalled by AP , and somehow were to pull off victories in Georgia and Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for him to get to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency .
He would have to revoke Biden 's win in Pennsylvania , too , where Trump is down by more than 55,000 .
If he does n't win Pennsylvania , he would need Georgia , Wisconsin and Arizona just to get to a tie .
To definitively get over 270 , he 'd need Nevada , too .
Collectively , he 's down more than 45,000 votes in Georgia , Wisconsin and Arizona .
Add Nevada into that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
And remember , recounts change only hundreds of votes , never tens of thousands .
`` A couple of the states are within the state recount windows , so they have every right to pursue that remedy , '' Ginsberg said , `` but you 'll never find a recount that was overturned that had such a big margin . ''
What 's more , while the popular vote is not determinative of who wins the presidency , it gives a sense of scale .
In 2000 , Gore won it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage points .
In this election , Biden leads by 5.1 million votes and climbing .
That is the widest margin of any election , except 2008 , in the last 20 years .
Still , like in 2016 , when Trump lost the popular vote by almost 3 million , the president continues to try to sell to his followers that he really won and that fraud is to blame .
Ginsberg notes that in four decades , poll watchers and studies have found no evidence of systemic fraud in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential commission to investigate fraud , and it disbanded in 2018 amid controversy , producing nothing showing systemic problems .
Now , Trump 's team has the opportunity to prove its repeated allegations in court and has access to state recount systems and has a front-row seat to states ' procedures .
`` This post-election period is their chance to put up , '' Ginsberg said .
`` And if they do n't succeed , they should shut up . ''

FACT CHECK: What's Happening In This Election Is Not Like Florida In 2000
Enlarge this image toggle caption Victor Caivano/AP Victor Caivano/AP
Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election Saturday morning.
And yet, President Trump has not conceded or accepted it, and the agency responsible for doling out funds and office space during a transition is denying that money to the Biden team, implying that the results of the election are not yet certain and referencing the "precedent" of the contested 2000 presidential election.
Allies of the president, including the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have also referenced the contest between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush as a need to wait for "the votes to be counted" before declaring a winner in this year's election.
But let's be frank. The 2020 presidential election is not even close to the situation in the 2000 presidential election.
"Florida was about one breathtakingly close state," said Ben Ginsberg, who helped lead the legal strategy for Bush around the 2000 Florida recount. "This is nothing like that."
One state vs. several
The 2000 election was decided by 537 votes in one state, Florida. With Florida in Bush's column, the outcome of the Electoral College was 271-266 — about as close as it gets. In fact, it was the closest electoral vote margin since 1876 that saw Rutherford B. Hayes beat Samuel Tilden by just one electoral vote, 185-184.
Elections GOP Lawyer On Potential Legal Challenges To Election Results GOP Lawyer On Potential Legal Challenges To Election Results Listen · 4:35 4:35
In the 2020 election, if Biden's leads hold, he is on track to win 306 electoral votes to 232 for Trump. (Somewhat ironically, that's the same margin Trump would have won by in 2016 if there weren't two faithless electors who brought his total down to 304.)
As opposed to focusing attention on a single state, Trump has several lawsuits in courts in multiple states, many of which have already been thrown out. There will be a recount in Georgia, and Trump is seeking one in Wisconsin, which the AP called for Biden, but he's unlikely to win either one because he is down almost 35,000 votes between the two states.
A FairVote study of 27 recounts between 2000 and 2015 found the average vote change in them was 282 votes — nowhere near the gap Trump is trying to overcome.
The president's allegations and conspiracy theories of sweeping voter fraud have so far been without merit. Fraud is hard to pull off in modern elections because of the safeguards in place, including electronic voter registration records, signature matching technology and post-election audits of the vote.
"I think it is more difficult now," Ginsberg said, noting, "The Trump campaign is basing all its actions on the thought that there was fraud, and now they're not able to prove it, so their basic premise is not holding up."
On Thursday, the government agencies overseeing the security of the election issued a joint statement defending the integrity of the election and calling it the "most secure in American history."
"There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised," they wrote. They added, "While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections, we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections, and you should too."
The math is the math
It's pretty much inconceivable for Trump to win at this point, and here's why — math.
Even if Trump wins North Carolina, where he's leading but which remains uncalled by AP, and somehow were to pull off victories in Georgia and Wisconsin recounts, it still would not be enough for him to get to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
Loading...
He would have to revoke Biden's win in Pennsylvania, too, where Trump is down by more than 55,000.
If he doesn't win Pennsylvania, he would need Georgia, Wisconsin and Arizona just to get to a tie. To definitively get over 270, he'd need Nevada, too. Collectively, he's down more than 45,000 votes in Georgia, Wisconsin and Arizona. Add Nevada into that, and it's more than 82,000 votes.
And remember, recounts change only hundreds of votes, never tens of thousands.
"A couple of the states are within the state recount windows, so they have every right to pursue that remedy," Ginsberg said, "but you'll never find a recount that was overturned that had such a big margin."
The popular vote factor
What's more, while the popular vote is not determinative of who wins the presidency, it gives a sense of scale. In 2000, Gore won it by 547,398 votes, or just 0.51 percentage points.
In this election, Biden leads by 5.1 million votes and climbing. That is the widest margin of any election, except 2008, in the last 20 years.
Still, like in 2016, when Trump lost the popular vote by almost 3 million, the president continues to try to sell to his followers that he really won and that fraud is to blame. Ginsberg notes that in four decades, poll watchers and studies have found no evidence of systemic fraud in the U.S. election system.
Trump himself created a presidential commission to investigate fraud, and it disbanded in 2018 amid controversy, producing nothing showing systemic problems. Now, Trump's team has the opportunity to prove its repeated allegations in court and has access to state recount systems and has a front-row seat to states' procedures.
"This post-election period is their chance to put up," Ginsberg said. "And if they don't succeed, they should shut up."


npr--2020-11-13--Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The positive results came on Friday after a rapid coronavirus test in Carson City which is part of a regular protocol for the Democratic governor , he said in a statement .
Sisolak said he is waiting on the results of a PCR test , which stands for polymerase chain reaction .
He added that he 'd tested negative for the coronavirus as recently as Monday , Nov. 2 , and Friday , Nov. 6 .
`` At this time , I am not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Earlier this week , I felt a little fatigue , which I attributed to my demanding schedule .
No other symptoms were experienced , '' he said , adding that it was important to notify Nevadans `` as soon as possible . ''
He said Carson City Health and Human Services officials have begun a contact tracing investigation .
He also said he has started to quarantine in his home .
`` With my case , I want to underscore the importance of Nevadans to stay at home as much as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sisolak said .
The governor instituted a mask mandate in June , requiring all residents and visitors to wear a face covering in public spaces , including private businesses , casinos and hotels .
Like much of the country , Nevada is experiencing another surge in coronavirus infections .
There were more than 1,800 new cases identified in Nevada on Thursday and cases are growing at a rate of 1.3 % or , 1,402 new cases per day , the governor said .
Earlier this week , he urged Nevadans to voluntarily take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease .
But he suggested that he may take stronger action in a couple of weeks if infection rates do not begin to decline .
State officials report there have been nearly 117,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,893 deaths .
The nation has also hit troubling milestones in recent days , with more than 10.7 million cases and nearly 245,000 deaths .

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Marcus/AP Steve Marcus/AP
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The positive results came on Friday after a rapid coronavirus test in Carson City which is part of a regular protocol for the Democratic governor, he said in a statement.
Sisolak said he is waiting on the results of a PCR test, which stands for polymerase chain reaction. He added that he'd tested negative for the coronavirus as recently as Monday, Nov. 2, and Friday, Nov. 6.
"At this time, I am not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms," he wrote on Twitter.
"Earlier this week, I felt a little fatigue, which I attributed to my demanding schedule. No other symptoms were experienced," he said, adding that it was important to notify Nevadans "as soon as possible."
He said Carson City Health and Human Services officials have begun a contact tracing investigation. He also said he has started to quarantine in his home.
"With my case, I want to underscore the importance of Nevadans to stay at home as much as they possibly can at this time," Sisolak said.
The governor instituted a mask mandate in June, requiring all residents and visitors to wear a face covering in public spaces, including private businesses, casinos and hotels.
Like much of the country, Nevada is experiencing another surge in coronavirus infections. There were more than 1,800 new cases identified in Nevada on Thursday and cases are growing at a rate of 1.3% or, 1,402 new cases per day, the governor said.
Earlier this week, he urged Nevadans to voluntarily take more precautionary measures to stop the spread of the disease. But he suggested that he may take stronger action in a couple of weeks if infection rates do not begin to decline.
State officials report there have been nearly 117,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,893 deaths.
The nation has also hit troubling milestones in recent days, with more than 10.7 million cases and nearly 245,000 deaths.


npr--2020-11-13--Father And Son Charged With Murder In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Are Denied Bond

Father And Son Charged With Murder In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Are Denied Bond The white father and son who took part in killing Ahmaud Arbery , a Black man who was fatally shot while jogging , have been denied bond .
Gregory , 64 , and Travis McMichael , 34 , two of three suspects facing malice murder and felony murder charges appeared for their bond hearing on Thursday and Friday via video conference in Glynn County , Georgia .
A Chatham County Superior Court judge denied bond for a third white man involved in the fatal shooting , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential flight risk .
Arbery 's mother , Wanda Cooper-Jones , took some solace in the decision following the McMichaels ' bond hearing .
`` I 'm relieved they 'll stay behind bars , '' she told reporters .
`` Today was a good day , '' she added .
A day earlier , she read an emotional statement in court .
`` In the name of justice , decency and fairness , please keep these men behind bars until they can answer for what they did , '' Cooper-Jones pleaded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to go home .
Ahmaud was n't even allowed the chance to live . ''
Arbery , 25 , was shot while he was out for a jog in a residential neighborhood near Brunswick , Ga. , on Feb. 23 .
He was shot with a shotgun three times , twice in the chest .
The McMichaels claim that they armed themselves and chased after Arbery in their truck because he fit the description of a Black man involved in a string of neighborhood burglaries .
But subsequent reporting shows no such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven weeks before Arbery 's death .
`` There was only a burglary report after a gun was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in front of the McMichaels ' home , '' CNN reported .
Bryan , a friend of the McMichaels , also set after Arbery in his own truck and recorded a 36-second video of the killing on his cell phone .
Gregory McMichaels , a former prosecutorial investigator and a retired Glynn County police officer , told police that he and his son tried to cut off Arbery with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run in the opposite direction .
Bryan then attempted to block the Black man 's path .
It 's unclear what happened next but the elder McMichael says Arbery tussled over his son 's shotgun before Travis McMichael shot him three times .
Bryan has maintained that he did nothing wrong and was merely a witness to what Arbery 's family has called a lynching .
None of the three men were arrested for the killing for 10 weeks during which two district attorneys recused themselves , and an investigation by local authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until May 7 , two days after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case that the McMichaels were taken into custody and charged with murder and aggravated assault .
Bryan was charged days later .
The GBI is investigating the handling of the case by local prosecutors .
The deadly confrontation gained national attention after Bryan 's video was leaked to the public and posted online in May .
By then Arbery 's death added to the national outcry that was already forcing a national reckoning on race and police brutality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Prosecutors on Thursday offered evidence that the younger McMichael was prone to using racial epithets online and in texts .
Travis McMichael 's longtime friend , Zachary Langford , was asked to testify about an October 2019 Facebook post by McMichael that read , `` Sayonara '' and used an offensive term for Asians .
Langford said he could not recall the post .
He was also asked about a text from the younger McMichael sent about a year ago .
In it McMichael made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offensive term for a Black person ] with gold teeth and a Hi Point .45 . ''
Langford testified that he did not remember the text but when shown evidence he had responded to the message , he said McMichael `` was referring to a raccoon . ''
Even when pressed about the details of the text , including the `` crackhead '' and `` gold teeth '' comments , Langford maintained McMichael was writing about an animal .
Attorneys for both of the McMichaels urged Judge Timothy Walmsley to set bond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the fact that Arbery was Black .
`` This case is n't about race , your honor , '' said Laura Hogue , who represents Gregory McMichael .
`` This case in the indictment is about whether or not the private citizen 's arrest law ... allowed Greg McMichael to do what he chose to do that day , for the sole purpose of defending his family , and his property and his community , '' she argued .
Meanwhile , Robert Rubin , one of Travis McMichael 's defense attorneys , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community .
`` He 's proven that by always being employed , paying his taxes , never getting in trouble , never confronting people unless he himself is put in danger .
And that was one time , by one man , named Ahmaud Arbery .
And actually , Mr. Arbery confronted him twice , '' Rubin said .

Father And Son Charged With Murder In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Are Denied Bond
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lewis Levine/AP Lewis Levine/AP
The white father and son who took part in killing Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was fatally shot while jogging, have been denied bond.
Gregory, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, two of three suspects facing malice murder and felony murder charges appeared for their bond hearing on Thursday and Friday via video conference in Glynn County, Georgia.
A Chatham County Superior Court judge denied bond for a third white man involved in the fatal shooting, saying William "Roddy" Bryan, was a potential flight risk.
Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, took some solace in the decision following the McMichaels' bond hearing.
"I'm relieved they'll stay behind bars," she told reporters. "Today was a good day," she added.
A day earlier, she read an emotional statement in court.
"In the name of justice, decency and fairness, please keep these men behind bars until they can answer for what they did," Cooper-Jones pleaded with the judge.
"Ahmaud wasn't allowed to go home. Ahmaud wasn't even allowed the chance to live."
Arbery, 25, was shot while he was out for a jog in a residential neighborhood near Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 23. He was shot with a shotgun three times, twice in the chest.
The McMichaels claim that they armed themselves and chased after Arbery in their truck because he fit the description of a Black man involved in a string of neighborhood burglaries. But subsequent reporting shows no such crimes had been committed in more than seven weeks before Arbery's death. "There was only a burglary report after a gun was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in front of the McMichaels' home," CNN reported.
Bryan, a friend of the McMichaels, also set after Arbery in his own truck and recorded a 36-second video of the killing on his cell phone.
Gregory McMichaels, a former prosecutorial investigator and a retired Glynn County police officer, told police that he and his son tried to cut off Arbery with their truck, but that he turned to run in the opposite direction. Bryan then attempted to block the Black man's path. It's unclear what happened next but the elder McMichael says Arbery tussled over his son's shotgun before Travis McMichael shot him three times.
Bryan has maintained that he did nothing wrong and was merely a witness to what Arbery's family has called a lynching.
None of the three men were arrested for the killing for 10 weeks during which two district attorneys recused themselves, and an investigation by local authorities produced no charges. It wasn't until May 7, two days after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case that the McMichaels were taken into custody and charged with murder and aggravated assault. Bryan was charged days later.
The GBI is investigating the handling of the case by local prosecutors.
The deadly confrontation gained national attention after Bryan's video was leaked to the public and posted online in May. Arbery's death became part of the national outcry that forced a national reckoning on race and police brutality after the killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Prosecutors on Thursday offered evidence that the younger McMichael was prone to using racial epithets online and in texts. Travis McMichael's longtime friend, Zachary Langford, was asked to testify about an October 2019 Facebook post by McMichael that read, "Sayonara" and used an offensive term for Asians.
Langford said he could not recall the post.
He was also asked about a text from the younger McMichael sent about a year ago. In it McMichael made a reference to "shooting a crackhead [offensive term for a Black person] with gold teeth and a Hi Point .45."
Langford testified that he did not remember the text but when shown evidence he had responded to the message, he said McMichael "was referring to a raccoon." Even when pressed about the details of the text, including the "crackhead" and "gold teeth" comments, Langford maintained McMichael was writing about an animal.
Attorneys for both of the McMichaels urged Judge Timothy Walmsley to set bond, saying the case has nothing to do with the fact that Arbery was Black.
"This case isn't about race, your honor," said Laura Hogue, who represents Gregory McMichael.
"This case in the indictment is about whether or not the private citizen's arrest law ... allowed Greg McMichael to do what he chose to do that day, for the sole purpose of defending his family, and his property and his community," she argued.
Meanwhile, Robert Rubin, one of Travis McMichael's defense attorneys, said his client was an asset to the community.
"He's proven that by always being employed, paying his taxes, never getting in trouble, never confronting people unless he himself is put in danger. And that was one time, by one man, named Ahmaud Arbery. And actually, Mr. Arbery confronted him twice," Rubin said.


npr--2020-11-13--Boy Scouts Of America Sexual Abuse Victims Seek Justice In Bankruptcy Court

The Boy Scouts of America are in the midst of a legal action that could threaten the very existence of the iconic , century-old institution .
The Scouts declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after thousands of allegations of child sexual abuse perpetrated by scoutmasters .
The scope far exceeds the scope of American Catholic Church 's sexual abuse scandal — the number of abused Boy Scout claimants is more than 60,000 men .
And that number could rise before Monday 's deadline to file a claim .
In the summer of 1977 , Frank Spinelli was a young boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom and dad and two sisters .
His parents were Italian immigrants , devoutly Catholic and eager for their children to become successful Americans .
One weekend , the family went to the Staten Island Mall , where there just so happened to be , a Boy Scout Jamboree .
`` And my parents , particularly my mother , thought it would be really good if I joined the Boy Scouts because my father worked two jobs at the time and she thought it would be really good for me to be around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mall was the scoutmaster for Troop 85 , a man named Bill Fox , he was a New York City police officer .
And although Spinelli was a few months shy of being old enough to join the Scouts , the officer took an interest in the boy immediately .
`` He would come by .
Maybe , you know , two , three times a week .
Take me out , '' Spinelli says .
`` Sometimes there would be a boy in the car , sometimes there would n't .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , you know , kind of bizarre .
He would take me to the hardware store , but nothing where I was at his house yet , it was all just 'let 's go for a drive and let 's just talk . '
`` A tall , imposing man , Fox would show up at the Spinelli 's house in his NYC police uniform .
Frank 's mother was thrilled , this was exactly what she 'd hoped for .
During their rides in Fox 's truck , Fox would talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` thump-you-on-the-arm , just-us guys-talking sort of way . ''
`` And one day he said to me , I want you to tell your parents you 're going to sleep over my house .
Now , mind you , he was in his 30s at the time , and he lived with his mother .
So my parents , my father drove me to his house .
Bill took me upstairs .
And he showed me somewhere in the Boy Scout manual where there was something about puberty . ''
Spinelli says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old at the time , to take off his clothes and then Fox took off his own .
`` You know , this is the first time I 'm seeing a naked man .
I mean , this is the first time I 'm seeing a naked person other than myself , you know , '' Spinelli says .
The Boy Scouts have been a magnet for sexual predators since its inception .
Paul Mones in Los Angeles represents hundreds of Boy Scout victims across the country .
`` The Boy Scouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably around 1920 .
They had something called the red flag files and those were then changed to the confidential files and now they 're known as the perversion files .
That 's the name the Boy Scouts gave them , '' Mones says .
It was during Mones ' case in Portland , Ore. , involving Kerry Lewis , a Scout who molested in the early 1980s , that it first revealed the horrifyingly long list of Scout leaders who were sexual abusers .
The part of the list that was turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1985 .
Twelve thousand Scout leaders who 'd abused untold thousands of Scouts were on it .
Mones says the perversion files were the Boy Scouts ' greatest and ghastliest secret .
`` The Boy Scout policy for decades was not to report to law enforcement .
In fact , they allowed many of these men to go quietly into that good night and leave .
The Boy Scouts have never given a straight answer as to why they never reported to law enforcement , '' Mones says .
The perversion files was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scout Leaders out of the organization .
But it was difficult to do .
The men would move to another state or part of the country and start all over again .
Since the Scouts were n't reporting any of this to law enforcement , there was no risk for them to try get back in .
It was all a sordid mess that left the Boy Scouts legally exposed .
In civil actions over the past 10 years , two angry juries slapped the Boy Scouts of America with robust punitive damages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , last February , the Boy Scouts declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy .
Effie Delimarkos , vice-president of communications at the Boy Scouts of America , says , `` Well , I first , first and foremost , I want to say that we care deeply about all victims of child abuse and sincerely apologize to anyone that was harmed during their time in scouting . ''
Delimarkos emphasizes that millions of boys have had good , if not great experiences in scouting .
She says that the bankruptcy filing serves two missions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives to help compensate victims for what they experienced is getting an abuse perspective .
But we also did so so that we can continue the mission of scouting . ''
The Boys Scouts of America own huge tracts of land around the country , extensive holdings and financial investments as well as 65 Norman Rockwell paintings and other fine art .
Total assets top a billion dollars .
How much the Boy Scouts keep and what must be paid out will be resolved in bankruptcy court .
As for Spinelli who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says during his three years of Scouting , Fox raped him hundreds of times .
`` How much money can you put on the fact that for many years I did n't talk to my parents because I blamed them ?
But the fact that my father died thinking I hated him .
... suicide attempts , not being able to hold down a job , '' Spinelli says .
`` And let me be very clear , it 's not about the money , I 'm a doctor .
I 'm living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can change institutions is by winning awards in the court . ''
With 60,000 legal claimants and likely hundreds of thousands of victims who will never tell their terrible secret or have already taken it to their grave , the Boy Scout outrage easily outpaces the Catholic Church 's .
But there were plenty of times when the two were one in the same .
A Catholic priest would also serve as the church 's Boy Scout Troop Leader .
Wearing vestments on one day and the Scout uniform on another , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prey on the parish 's adolescents .
Sexual abuse lawyer Mones believes that when it comes to youth organizations , it 's not just the Boy Scouts of America or the Catholic Church who are infected with this plague of abuse .
`` The Boy Scout bankruptcy is so immense that it does raise serious questions about the prevalence of sexual abuse in the United States in youth organizations that it is , '' Mones says .
`` I mean , much more prevalent than we thought .
And as a result as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the mom and apple pie symbol that the Boy Scouts represent , because if you look underneath and scratch the surface of the Boy Scouts , you find the lives of hundreds of the lives of thousands of men whose souls have been torn asunder by it . ''
And as for Fox , he continued to abuse boys for 30 more years after he 'd sexually assaulted the young Boy Scout Spinelli .
Fox moved around , left New York for Florida , later back north to Pennsylvania .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 .
He pleaded no contest to abusing three boys and died in prison after serving one year of a 35-year sentence .
The person who tracked Bill Fox down and alerted the NYPD and the Pennsylvania police ?

Boy Scouts Of America Sexual Abuse Victims Seek Justice In Bankruptcy Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via Getty Images John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via Getty Images
Updated on Nov. 16 at 12: 15 p.m. ET
The Boy Scouts of America are in the midst of a legal action that could threaten the very existence of the iconic, century-old institution. The Scouts declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after thousands of allegations of child sexual abuse perpetrated by scoutmasters. The scope far exceeds the scope of American Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal — the number of abused Boy Scout claimants is more than 88,000 men. And that number could rise before Monday's deadline to file a claim.
In the summer of 1977, Frank Spinelli was a young boy and lived on Staten Island with his mom and dad and two sisters. His parents were Italian immigrants, devoutly Catholic and eager for their children to become successful Americans. One weekend, the family went to the Staten Island Mall, where there just so happened to be a Boy Scout Jamboree.
"And my parents, particularly my mother, thought it would be really good if I joined the Boy Scouts because my father worked two jobs at the time and she thought it would be really good for me to be around boys," Spinelli recalls.
At the mall was the scoutmaster for Troop 85, a man named Bill Fox, he was a New York City police officer. And although Spinelli was a few months shy of being old enough to join the Scouts, the officer took an interest in the boy immediately.
"He would come by. Maybe, you know, two, three times a week. Take me out," Spinelli says. "Sometimes there would be a boy in the car, sometimes there wouldn't. We would just run errands. It was, you know, kind of bizarre. He would take me to the hardware store, but nothing where I was at his house yet, it was all just 'let's go for a drive and let's just talk.' "
A tall, imposing man, Fox would show up at the Spinelli's house in his NYC police uniform. Frank's mother was thrilled, this was exactly what she'd hoped for. During their rides in Fox's truck, Fox would talk to Spinelli about sex, in a "thump-you-on-the-arm, just-us guys-talking sort of way."
"A magnet for sexual predators"
"And one day he said to me, I want you to tell your parents you're going to sleep over my house. Now, mind you, he was in his 30s at the time, and he lived with his mother. So my parents, my father drove me to his house. Bill took me upstairs. And he showed me somewhere in the Boy Scout manual where there was something about puberty."
Spinelli says Fox then instructed him, just 11 years old at the time, to take off his clothes and then Fox took off his own.
"You know, this is the first time I'm seeing a naked man. I mean, this is the first time I'm seeing a naked person other than myself, you know," Spinelli says.
The Boy Scouts have been a magnet for sexual predators since its inception. Paul Mones in Los Angeles represents hundreds of Boy Scout victims across the country. "The Boy Scouts have been maintaining files on pedophiles starting probably around 1920. They had something called the red flag files and those were then changed to the confidential files and now they're known as the perversion files. That's the name the Boy Scouts gave them," Mones says.
A sordid mess
It was during Mones' case in Portland, Ore., involving Kerry Lewis, a Scout who was molested in the early 1980s, that it first revealed the horrifyingly long list of Scout leaders who were sexual abusers. The part of the list that was turned over spanned 20 years, 1965 to 1985. Twelve hundred Scout leaders who'd abused untold thousands of Scouts were on it. Mones says the perversion files were the Boy Scouts' greatest and ghastliest secret.
"The Boy Scout policy for decades was not to report to law enforcement. In fact, they allowed many of these men to go quietly into that good night and leave. The Boy Scouts have never given a straight answer as to why they never reported to law enforcement," Mones says.
The perversion files was an earnest attempt to keep these predator Scout Leaders out of the organization. But it was difficult to do. The men would move to another state or part of the country and start all over again. Since the Scouts weren't reporting any of this to law enforcement, there was no risk for them to try get back in. It was all a sordid mess that left the Boy Scouts legally exposed.
In civil actions over the past 10 years, two angry juries slapped the Boy Scouts of America with robust punitive damages. With the writing on the wall, last February, the Boy Scouts declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Effie Delimarkos, vice-president of communications at the Boy Scouts of America, says, "Well, I first, first and foremost, I want to say that we care deeply about all victims of child abuse and sincerely apologize to anyone that was harmed during their time in scouting."
Delimarkos emphasizes that millions of boys have had good, if not great experiences in scouting. She says that the bankruptcy filing serves two missions, "We did so with the dual objectives to help compensate victims for what they experienced is getting an abuse perspective. But we also did so so that we can continue the mission of scouting."
The Boys Scouts of America own huge tracts of land around the country, extensive holdings and financial investments as well as 65 Norman Rockwell paintings and other fine art. Total assets top a billion dollars. How much the Boy Scouts keep and what must be paid out will be resolved in bankruptcy court.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy Frank Spinelli Courtesy Frank Spinelli
As for Spinelli who was abused by NYPD officer Fox, Spinelli says during his three years of Scouting, Fox raped him hundreds of times.
"How much money can you put on the fact that for many years I didn't talk to my parents because I blamed them? But the fact that my father died thinking I hated him. ... suicide attempts, not being able to hold down a job," Spinelli says. "And let me be very clear, it's not about the money, I'm a doctor. I'm living happily. But the only way you can change institutions is by winning awards in the court."
Prevalence of sexual abuse in youth organizations
With 60,000 legal claimants and likely hundreds of thousands of victims who will never tell their terrible secret or have already taken it to their grave, the Boy Scout outrage easily outpaces the Catholic Church's. But there were plenty of times when the two were one in the same. A Catholic priest would also serve as the church's Boy Scout Troop Leader. Wearing vestments on one day and the Scout uniform on another, it was the perfect perch from which to prey on the parish's adolescents.
Sexual abuse lawyer Mones believes that when it comes to youth organizations, it's not just the Boy Scouts of America or the Catholic Church who are infected with this plague of abuse. "The Boy Scout bankruptcy is so immense that it does raise serious questions about the prevalence of sexual abuse in the United States in youth organizations that it is," Mones says.
"I mean, much more prevalent than we thought. And as a result as well, I think it raises questions about the mom and apple pie symbol that the Boy Scouts represent, because if you look underneath and scratch the surface of the Boy Scouts, you find the lives of hundreds of the lives of thousands of men whose souls have been torn asunder by it."
And as for Fox, he continued to abuse boys for 30 more years after he'd sexually assaulted the young Boy Scout Spinelli. Fox moved around, left New York for Florida, later back north to Pennsylvania. And that's where he was finally arrested in 2011. He pleaded no contest to abusing three boys and died in prison after serving one year of a 35-year sentence.
The person who tracked Bill Fox down and alerted the NYPD and the Pennsylvania police?
Dr. Frank Spinelli.


npr--2020-11-13--Marlins Name Kim Ng MLB's First Female General Manager

The Miami Marlins announced Friday that Kim Ng would be joining their ranks as the team 's general manager , the first woman to hold the position in Major League Baseball .
Ng began her baseball career in 1990 as an intern with the Chicago White Sox , but that was just the beginning .
All in all , Ng has 30 years of baseball experience .
She spent two years working in the American League office before the New York Yankees hired her .
She became the youngest ever assistant general manager at 29 , according to the Marlins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Series Championships with the Yankees , Ng joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as vice president and assistant general manager .
She spent the last 10 years as senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball .
`` Kim 's appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball , '' Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred said in a statement Friday .
`` The hard work , leadership , and record of achievement throughout her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this outcome , and we wish Kim all the best as she begins her career with the Marlins . ''
The Miami Marlins won their last World Series against the New York Yankees in 2003 and went 31-29 in 2020 .
Former Yankees player , now Marlins CEO , Derek Jeter was with the Yankees while Ng was with the team .
He became a minority owner of the Marlins in 2017 .
Ng , who turned 52 earlier this week , will work with the team to prepare for the 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next general manager , '' she said in a statement .
`` We are building for the long term in South Florida , developing a forward-thinking , collaborative , creative baseball operation made up of incredibly talented and dedicated staff who have , over the last few years , laid a great foundation for success . ''

Marlins Name Kim Ng MLB's First Female General Manager
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcelo Maragni/MLB Photos via Getty Images Marcelo Maragni/MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Miami Marlins announced Friday that Kim Ng would be joining their ranks as the team's general manager, the first woman to hold the position in Major League Baseball. Ng began her baseball career in 1990 as an intern with the Chicago White Sox, but that was just the beginning.
All in all, Ng has 30 years of baseball experience. She spent two years working in the American League office before the New York Yankees hired her. She became the youngest ever assistant general manager at 29, according to the Marlins' website.
After contributing to three World Series Championships with the Yankees, Ng joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as vice president and assistant general manager. She spent the last 10 years as senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball.
"Kim's appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball," Commissioner of Baseball Robert Manfred said in a statement Friday. "The hard work, leadership, and record of achievement throughout her long career in the National Pastime led to this outcome, and we wish Kim all the best as she begins her career with the Marlins."
The Miami Marlins won their last World Series against the New York Yankees in 2003 and went 31-29 in 2020. Former Yankees player, now Marlins CEO, Derek Jeter was with the Yankees while Ng was with the team. He became a minority owner of the Marlins in 2017.
Ng, who turned 52 earlier this week, will work with the team to prepare for the 2021 season.
"It is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next general manager," she said in a statement. "We are building for the long term in South Florida, developing a forward-thinking, collaborative, creative baseball operation made up of incredibly talented and dedicated staff who have, over the last few years, laid a great foundation for success."


npr--2020-11-13--Britain Approves Tunnel Construction Near Stonehenge, Causing Outcry

Visit the famed Stonehenge in England and you 'll encounter a mysterious landmark that 's stood for millennia .
But as you gaze on the prehistoric standing stones that are visited by thousands and is a World Heritage Site , you might notice something else .
That 's because alongside the Stonehenge site lies a highway infamous for traffic congestion .
Adding a tunnel to mute the noise and hide the cars would help , says English Heritage , which manages the monument .
A tunnel would benefit traffic and `` do justice to the ancient stones and the prehistoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organization says .
However , critics argue it will cause more harm than good .
On Thursday , Britain 's transport secretary approved a $ 2.2 billion project to create an at least two mile-long tunnel near Stonehenge .
This overruled the recommendation of planning inspectors , who advised the government to withhold consent .
The Stonehenge Alliance , an advocacy group for the landmark , says in a Thursday statement it `` deeply regrets a decision that will send shock messages around the world . ''
The group is concerned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The site is around 3.3 miles long , so if the tunnel is only 2 miles long , it will be built within that perimeter , the organization says .
In addition to aesthetic concerns , one fear is that features and treasures in the ground will be destroyed by construction before they can be found by archaeologists .
UNESCO also urged in 2018 that the tunnel be made longer and advised against construction near Stonehenge .
UNESCO did not respond to a request for comment by publication time .
The Stonehenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest ever human intervention in an area fashioned and revered by over a hundred generations of our ancestors .
It would cause irreparable damage . ''
There is a six-week period for opponents of the project to challenge it in court .
A man who identifies himself as a druid says he 'll lay in front of bulldozers in an effort to stop the project 's construction .
Arthur Pendragon , who asserts he is the reincarnation of King Arthur , says he expects a large protest with turnout from all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If they really wanted to do this they should have done it properly with a much longer tunnel , not one that pops up at both ends in the world heritage site , '' he says .
Despite the backlash , the Stonehenge 's caretaker organization maintains this is good news .
`` This is a landmark day for Stonehenge , '' organization chief executive Kate Mavor says in a statement to NPR .
`` Placing the noisy and intrusive A303 within a tunnel will reunite Stonehenge with the surrounding prehistoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand and appreciate this wonder of the world . ''
`` We will now continue to work closely with heritage partners , '' she added , `` to ensure that the final road scheme is the best outcome for the Stonehenge . ''

Britain Approves Tunnel Construction Near Stonehenge, Causing Outcry
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Cardy/Getty Images Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Visit the famed Stonehenge in England and you'll encounter a mysterious landmark that's stood for millennia.
But as you gaze on the prehistoric standing stones that are visited by thousands and is a World Heritage Site, you might notice something else.
Cars.
That's because alongside the Stonehenge site lies a highway infamous for traffic congestion. Adding a tunnel to mute the noise and hide the cars would help, says English Heritage, which manages the monument.
A tunnel would benefit traffic and "do justice to the ancient stones and the prehistoric landscape in which they stand," the organization says.
However, critics argue it will cause more harm than good.
On Thursday, Britain's transport secretary approved a $2.2 billion project to create an at least two mile-long tunnel near Stonehenge. This overruled the recommendation of planning inspectors, who advised the government to withhold consent.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andre Pattenden/Courtesy: English Heritage Andre Pattenden/Courtesy: English Heritage
The Stonehenge Alliance, an advocacy group for the landmark, says in a Thursday statement it "deeply regrets a decision that will send shock messages around the world."
The group is concerned that the planned tunnel will be too short. The site is around 3.3 miles long, so if the tunnel is only 2 miles long, it will be built within that perimeter, the organization says.
In addition to aesthetic concerns, one fear is that features and treasures in the ground will be destroyed by construction before they can be found by archaeologists.
UNESCO also urged in 2018 that the tunnel be made longer and advised against construction near Stonehenge. UNESCO did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
The Stonehenge Alliance said the project will "become the largest ever human intervention in an area fashioned and revered by over a hundred generations of our ancestors. It would cause irreparable damage."
There is a six-week period for opponents of the project to challenge it in court.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Cardy/Getty Images Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A man who identifies himself as a druid says he'll lay in front of bulldozers in an effort to stop the project's construction.
Arthur Pendragon, who asserts he is the reincarnation of King Arthur, says he expects a large protest with turnout from all over the globe, according to The Guardian.
"If they really wanted to do this they should have done it properly with a much longer tunnel, not one that pops up at both ends in the world heritage site," he says.
Despite the backlash, the Stonehenge's caretaker organization maintains this is good news.
"This is a landmark day for Stonehenge," organization chief executive Kate Mavor says in a statement to NPR. "Placing the noisy and intrusive A303 within a tunnel will reunite Stonehenge with the surrounding prehistoric landscape and help future generations to better understand and appreciate this wonder of the world."
"We will now continue to work closely with heritage partners," she added, "to ensure that the final road scheme is the best outcome for the Stonehenge."


npr--2020-11-13--Former National Security Officials Worry What Trump Could Do In Iran And Afghanistan

Former National Security Officials Worry What Trump Could Do In Iran And Afghanistan After a purge at the Pentagon , former national security officials are worried about the fallout if President Trump were to launch an unprovoked military action against Iran or make big changes in Afghanistan in his waning days in office .
That 's in addition to the ways that President Trump 's refusal to concede and to give President-elect Biden access to intelligence materials are already damaging national security .
`` The scenario most national security people are worried about is a military strike on Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who served on George W. Bush 's National Security Council and also in senior posts at the Pentagon and the State Department .
`` Because the 'maximum pressure ' campaign that has been the signature of Trump administration foreign policy has very little positive result . ''
Four senior officials at the Pentagon , including Defense Secretary Mark Esper , were fired or resigned on Monday and Tuesday .
Trump loyalists took their place .
Two senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security were forced to resign this week as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All Things Considered , Schake says `` a number of serious national security people are really worried '' that Trump 's purge `` is putting malleable people in place in order to end his administration with a bang . ''
Schake cautions that she 's skeptical herself that an attack on Iran will happen , mainly because it would require coordination with U.S. allies who would oppose it .
Nicholas Burns , who worked in various jobs including under secretary of state for political affairs during the George W. Bush administration and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H.W .
Bush and Clinton , agrees that foreign policy experts are worried about a preemptive Iran strike .
Another fear in the national security community is a rapid withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan , he tells All Things Considered .
`` President Trump might try to accelerate the Afghan peace talks , to end the war there , and therefore to withdraw the American military forces in such a way that would be disadvantageous to the Afghan government , '' Burns says .
`` I mean , the fear is that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in negotiating with the Taliban . ''
Top generals and civilians have argued that the situation is currently too volatile to leave Afghanistan quickly .
Both of those scenarios — Iran and Afghanistan — `` would have a direct impact on our national security a year from now , two years from now , and certainly have an impact on President-elect Biden 's team as they come in in early 2021 , '' Burns says .
Listen to the full audio interview with Kori Schake and Nicholas Burns at the audio link above @

Former National Security Officials Worry What Trump Could Do In Iran And Afghanistan
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joshua Roberts/Pool/Getty Images Joshua Roberts/Pool/Getty Images
After a purge at the Pentagon, former national security officials are worried about the fallout if President Trump were to launch an unprovoked military action against Iran or make big changes in Afghanistan in his waning days in office.
That's in addition to the ways that President Trump's refusal to concede and to give President-elect Biden access to intelligence materials are already damaging national security.
"The scenario most national security people are worried about is a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities," says Kori Schake, who served on George W. Bush's National Security Council and also in senior posts at the Pentagon and the State Department. "Because the 'maximum pressure' campaign that has been the signature of Trump administration foreign policy has very little positive result."
Four senior officials at the Pentagon, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper, were fired or resigned on Monday and Tuesday. Trump loyalists took their place. Two senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security were forced to resign this week as well.
Speaking to Mary Louise Kelly on All Things Considered, Schake says "a number of serious national security people are really worried" that Trump's purge "is putting malleable people in place in order to end his administration with a bang."
Schake cautions that she's skeptical herself that an attack on Iran will happen, mainly because it would require coordination with U.S. allies who would oppose it.
Nicholas Burns, who worked in various jobs including under secretary of state for political affairs during the George W. Bush administration and on the National Security Council for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton, agrees that foreign policy experts are worried about a preemptive Iran strike.
Another fear in the national security community is a rapid withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, he tells All Things Considered.
"President Trump might try to accelerate the Afghan peace talks, to end the war there, and therefore to withdraw the American military forces in such a way that would be disadvantageous to the Afghan government," Burns says. "I mean, the fear is that President Trump won't be tough minded enough in negotiating with the Taliban."
Top generals and civilians have argued that the situation is currently too volatile to leave Afghanistan quickly.
Both of those scenarios — Iran and Afghanistan — "would have a direct impact on our national security a year from now, two years from now, and certainly have an impact on President-elect Biden's team as they come in in early 2021," Burns says.
Listen to the full audio interview with Kori Schake and Nicholas Burns at the audio link above.


npr--2020-11-13--Coronavirus FAQ: How Do I Clean My Mask — Washing Machine? Oven? Broccoli Steamer?

Coronavirus FAQ : How Do I Clean My Mask — Washing Machine ?
Oven ?
Broccoli Steamer ?
Each week , we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis .
If you have a question you 'd like us to consider for a future post , email us at goatsandsoda @ npr.org with the subject line : `` Weekly Coronavirus Questions . ''
Does putting a reusable mask in the oven for 30 minutes at 165 degrees Fahrenheit kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and other pathogens ?
If not , how do I clean it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your cloth or synthetic mask would probably kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 .
Several studies have shown that the virus dies when exposed to 158 degrees Fahrenheit for a length of time somewhere between 2 1/2 minutes and an hour .
The bad news : It may also singe your mask .
Remember , says professor Raina MacIntyre , head of the Biosecurity Research Program at the University of New South Wales ' Kirby Institute , `` An oven is designed to burn things ! ''
The jury is still out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wash your mask to prevent COVID-19 infection , but MacIntyre dug into some data from her 2015 study on cloth masks and found evidence that washing masks in a machine , instead of by hand , helps prevent infections of other seasonal viruses in health care workers .
Her theory is that the longer wash cycle and hotter water temperatures in a machine kill viruses more efficiently than washing by hand .
In lieu of data specific to SARS-CoV-2 , many experts said what we know from studies such as this one make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regular basis .
And , certainly , laundering them does not hurt with the possible exception of shortening their life span .
Here 's how experts advise you care for your masks ( to the best of current knowledge , of course ) : During the day : For those of us who now work from home , you 're probably taking your mask on and off throughout the day .
You do n't need a new one every time you run an errand , but it 's probably best to toss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper bag to keep it free of debris when you 're not wearing it .
( We 'll leave it up to you whether to zip the bag or not — some experts think it keeps contaminants out , but others worry about microbial growth . )
After a full day out of the house : The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that masks should be washed after a day 's use .
Based on her data analysis , MacIntyre agrees : `` Both surgical and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so washing is really important , '' she says .
`` If you do n't wash it properly , then it may not protect you , because the contamination gets greater and greater over time . ''
After one day of use , her study showed viral contamination — though not with SARS-CoV-2 , which had n't yet been discovered .
However , viruses can remain viable for days , she points out , and one recent study found that SARS-CoV-2 can live up to seven days on cotton .
`` The point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwashed mask , you may be putting on a mask which is contaminated with viruses , '' she says .
In addition , WHO recommends taking care when removing your mask : `` The wearer should be careful not to touch the outside of the mask .
If the outside of the mask is touched during the removal process , the wearer must wash their hands immediately .
Also , after removing the mask , the wearer should be careful not to touch their face until they can wash their hands . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a washing machine if you have one , with the temp set to 140 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit ( the hot setting on most machines ) .
One note : Check washing instructions before you buy .
If you prefer to machine-wash , do n't buy the type that requires hand-washing .
A mesh wash bag for delicate items may help protect masks from tearing in the machine .
MacIntyre recommends tossing masks in the dryer as well since that step can reduce the size of the pores in the fabric , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a pocket for a filter , throw the filter away after using it once , she says .
Alternatives to the washing machine : If there is n't a washing machine in your home ( or if you 're avoiding a communal laundry setting during the pandemic ) , WHO advises hand soaking masks in cold water with .05 % chlorine for 30 minutes , then rinsing them with water and laundry detergent .
Air dry in a clean space — not on a dirty kitchen counter , for example .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chlorine water . )
Sunlight could help , MacIntyre adds .
This study showed that UVB light can kill SARS-CoV-2 .
And if you 're washing in a sink , Christopher Friese , nursing professor and director of the Center for Improving Patient and Population Health at the University of Michigan , reminds you to wash your hands before and afterward .
If you want to get creative , a steamer is another option , MacIntyre says .
Wash the mask in the sink to get rid of any particulate matter , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the compartment of the steamer where the broccoli usually goes .
Heat water and steam the mask for five minutes .
But be wary of doing this in the microwave — masks may have metal components that could be hazardous if microwaved .
If all of that sounds way too daunting , take heart from internal medicine physician Abraar Karan of Harvard Medical School , who notes there is n't data to confirm whether washing masks every day , or every few days — or even at all — reduces the transmission of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in favor of washing masks .
The potential benefits outweigh any harm ... not to mention the stink factor .
`` When I leave work , I wear a cloth mask .
And I wash that probably every few days ; I have a couple I rotate between , '' he says .
`` You may want to wash it because of moisture or smell or dirt , but it 's not like , 'Oh , I 'm cleaning the COVID off of it . '
`` When to retire a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jeans or T-shirt , you can keep using a mask as long as it holds its structural integrity .
Follow Friese 's morning routine : `` Before I put it on , I inspect it and make sure it 's not ripped or torn or has holes , and I make sure it 's clean .
If not , I throw it out or clean it . ''
He also checks that it still fits on a regular basis : Put it on , take a deep breath and blow out , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looser on your face , then it 's probably time to retire it . ''
As for disposables : In general , follow the manufacturer 's instructions , which usually recommend one day of use .
If you 're only using a disposable mask briefly while doing errands , store it in a bag and do n't use it for more than eight hours total since it is designed for single use .
You can even give it a light spray with an aerosolized disinfectant before you put it in the bag , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wearing a mask reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19 , but it does n't eliminate it .
`` We 've got to hunker down , '' Friese says .
`` We 're heading into very perilous times . ''
That 's why Karan advises avoiding the 3 C 's : crowds , closed spaces and prolonged , close contacts .
That will help protect the people you live with and spend unmasked time with , he says .
When you do go out , do not skip the mask if you 're worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The most important thing you can do with a mask is wear it , he says .
Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis .
She 's written about COVID-19 for Medscape , Mpls.St.Paul Magazine , Science News for Students and The Washington Post .
More at sheilaeldred.pressfolios.com .
On Twitter : @ milepostmedia

Coronavirus FAQ: How Do I Clean My Mask — Washing Machine? Oven? Broccoli Steamer?
Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Enlarge this image Malaka Gharib/NPR Malaka Gharib/NPR
Does putting a reusable mask in the oven for 30 minutes at 165 degrees Fahrenheit kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and other pathogens? If not, how do I clean it?
The good news: Yes, baking your cloth or synthetic mask would probably kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Several studies have shown that the virus dies when exposed to 158 degrees Fahrenheit for a length of time somewhere between 2 1/2 minutes and an hour.
The bad news: It may also singe your mask.
Remember, says professor Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Research Program at the University of New South Wales' Kirby Institute, "An oven is designed to burn things!"
The jury is still out on exactly how important it is to wash your mask to prevent COVID-19 infection, but MacIntyre dug into some data from her 2015 study on cloth masks and found evidence that washing masks in a machine, instead of by hand, helps prevent infections of other seasonal viruses in health care workers. Her theory is that the longer wash cycle and hotter water temperatures in a machine kill viruses more efficiently than washing by hand.
In lieu of data specific to SARS-CoV-2, many experts said what we know from studies such as this one make it seem prudent to wash masks on a regular basis. And, certainly, laundering them does not hurt with the possible exception of shortening their life span.
Here's how experts advise you care for your masks (to the best of current knowledge, of course):
During the day: For those of us who now work from home, you're probably taking your mask on and off throughout the day. You don't need a new one every time you run an errand, but it's probably best to toss your mask in a clean plastic or paper bag to keep it free of debris when you're not wearing it. (We'll leave it up to you whether to zip the bag or not — some experts think it keeps contaminants out, but others worry about microbial growth.)
After a full day out of the house: The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that masks should be washed after a day's use. Based on her data analysis, MacIntyre agrees: "Both surgical and cloth masks get contaminated with viruses, so washing is really important," she says. "If you don't wash it properly, then it may not protect you, because the contamination gets greater and greater over time." After one day of use, her study showed viral contamination — though not with SARS-CoV-2, which hadn't yet been discovered. However, viruses can remain viable for days, she points out, and one recent study found that SARS-CoV-2 can live up to seven days on cotton. "The point is, if you put on an unwashed mask, you may be putting on a mask which is contaminated with viruses," she says.
In addition, WHO recommends taking care when removing your mask: "The wearer should be careful not to touch the outside of the mask. If the outside of the mask is touched during the removal process, the wearer must wash their hands immediately. Also, after removing the mask, the wearer should be careful not to touch their face until they can wash their hands."
MacIntyre suggests that laundering should happen in a washing machine if you have one, with the temp set to 140 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit (the hot setting on most machines).
One note: Check washing instructions before you buy. If you prefer to machine-wash, don't buy the type that requires hand-washing.
A mesh wash bag for delicate items may help protect masks from tearing in the machine.
MacIntyre recommends tossing masks in the dryer as well since that step can reduce the size of the pores in the fabric, which improves performance. And if your mask has a pocket for a filter, throw the filter away after using it once, she says.
Alternatives to the washing machine: If there isn't a washing machine in your home (or if you're avoiding a communal laundry setting during the pandemic), WHO advises hand soaking masks in cold water with .05% chlorine for 30 minutes, then rinsing them with water and laundry detergent. Air dry in a clean space — not on a dirty kitchen counter, for example. (Here's how to make .05% chlorine water.)
Sunlight could help, MacIntyre adds. This study showed that UVB light can kill SARS-CoV-2.
And if you're washing in a sink, Christopher Friese, nursing professor and director of the Center for Improving Patient and Population Health at the University of Michigan, reminds you to wash your hands before and afterward.
If you want to get creative, a steamer is another option, MacIntyre says. Wash the mask in the sink to get rid of any particulate matter, she suggests, and then place it in the compartment of the steamer where the broccoli usually goes. Heat water and steam the mask for five minutes. But be wary of doing this in the microwave — masks may have metal components that could be hazardous if microwaved.
If all of that sounds way too daunting, take heart from internal medicine physician Abraar Karan of Harvard Medical School, who notes there isn't data to confirm whether washing masks every day, or every few days — or even at all — reduces the transmission of COVID-19.
To be clear, he is in favor of washing masks. The potential benefits outweigh any harm ... not to mention the stink factor.
"When I leave work, I wear a cloth mask. And I wash that probably every few days; I have a couple I rotate between," he says. "You may want to wash it because of moisture or smell or dirt, but it's not like, 'Oh, I'm cleaning the COVID off of it.' "
When to retire a mask: Just like your favorite pair of jeans or T-shirt, you can keep using a mask as long as it holds its structural integrity. Follow Friese's morning routine: "Before I put it on, I inspect it and make sure it's not ripped or torn or has holes, and I make sure it's clean. If not, I throw it out or clean it." He also checks that it still fits on a regular basis: Put it on, take a deep breath and blow out, he says. "If it's feeling looser on your face, then it's probably time to retire it."
As for disposables: In general, follow the manufacturer's instructions, which usually recommend one day of use. If you're only using a disposable mask briefly while doing errands, store it in a bag and don't use it for more than eight hours total since it is designed for single use. You can even give it a light spray with an aerosolized disinfectant before you put it in the bag, MacIntyre says.
One last note: Wearing a mask reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19, but it doesn't eliminate it.
"We've got to hunker down," Friese says. "We're heading into very perilous times."
That's why Karan advises avoiding the 3 C's: crowds, closed spaces and prolonged, close contacts. That will help protect the people you live with and spend unmasked time with, he says.
When you do go out, do not skip the mask if you're worried it's not clean, Karan says. The most important thing you can do with a mask is wear it, he says.
Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. She's written about COVID-19 for Medscape, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Science News for Students and The Washington Post. More at sheilaeldred.pressfolios.com. On Twitter: @milepostmedia