npr--2020-12-01--The Ripple Effect Of One Rural Colorado Doctor Catching The Coronavirus

The Ripple Effect Of One Rural Colorado Doctor Catching The Coronavirus Kurt Papenfus , a doctor in the small town of Cheyenne Wells , Colo. , started to feel sick around Halloween .
He developed a scary cough , intestinal symptoms and a headache .
In the midst of a pandemic , the news that he had COVID-19 was n't surprising , but Papenfus ' illness would have repercussions far beyond his own health .
Papenfus is the lone full-time emergency room doctor in the town of 900 , not far from the Kansas line .
`` I 'm chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Keefe Memorial Hospital currently in Cheyenne County , Colo. , '' he said .
Just 62 people in the county have been diagnosed with COVID-19 , according to Colorado 's coronavirus data website .
With Papenfus sick , the hospital scrambled to find a replacement .
As coronavirus cases in rural Colorado , and the Eastern Plains especially , surge to unprecedented levels , Papenfus ' illness is a test case for how the pandemic is affecting the fragile rural health care system .
`` He is the main guy .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Stella Worley , CEO of the hospital .
If she could n't find someone to fill in while he was sick , Worley might have to divert trauma and emergency patients nearly 40 miles north to Burlington .
`` Time is life sometimes , '' she said .
`` And that is not something you ever want to do . ''
`` The 'rona beast is a very nasty beast '' As deaths from the coronavirus have surpassed 250,000 in the U.S. , new data show the pandemic has been particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking lives in those areas at a rate reportedly nearly 3.5 times higher than in metropolitan communities .
Papenfus , a lively 63-year-old , was discharged after a nine-day stay at St. Joseph 's Hospital in Denver , and he was eager to sound the alarm about the disease he calls the 'rona .
`` The 'rona beast is a very nasty beast , and it is not fun .
It has a very mean temper .
It loves a fight , and it loves to keep coming after you , '' Papenfus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he picked it up but thinks it might have been on a trip east in October .
He said he was meticulous on the plane , sitting in the front , last on , first off .
But on landing at Denver International Airport , Papenfus boarded the crowded train to the terminal , and soon alarm bells went off in his head .
`` There are people literally like inches from me , and we 're all crammed like sardines in this train , '' Papenfus said .
`` And I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am in a superspreader event right now . '
`` An airport spokeswoman declined to comment about Papenfus ' experience .
A week later , the symptoms hit .
He tested positive and decided to drive himself the three hours to the hospital in Denver .
`` I 'm not going to let anybody get in this car with me and get COVID , because I do n't want to give anybody the 'rona , '' he said .
County sheriff 's deputies followed his car to ensure he made it .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'd developed pneumonia .
`` Dude , I did n't get a tap on the shoulder by 'rona , I got a big viral load , '' he texted a reporter , sending images of his chest scans that show large , opaque , white areas of his lung .
Just a week earlier , his chest X-ray was normal , he said .
Back in Cheyenne Wells , Dr. Christine Connolly picked up some of Papenfus ' shifts , although she had to drive 10 hours each way from Fort Worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said the hospital staff is spread thin already .
`` It 's not just the doctors , it 's the nurses , you know .
It 's hard to get spare nurses , '' she said .
`` There 's not a lot of spares of anything out that far . ''
Besides himself , another six employees — out of a staff of 62 at Keefe Memorial — also recently got a positive test , Papenfus said .
Hospitals on the Plains often send their sickest patients to bigger hospitals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many people around the region getting sick , Connolly is getting worried hospitals could be overwhelmed .
Health care leaders created a new command system to transfer patients around the state to make more room , but Connolly said there is a limit .
`` It 's dangerous when the hospitals in the cities fill up , and when it becomes a problem for us to send out , '' she said .
The impact of Papenfus ' absence stretches across the Eastern Plains .
He usually worked shifts an hour to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hugo .
Its CEO , Kevin Stansbury , said the town mostly dodged the spring surge and his facility could take in recovering COVID-19 patients from Colorado 's cities .
Now , Stansbury said the virus is reaching places such as Lincoln County , population 5,700 .
It has had 144 cases , according to state data , and neighboring Kit Carson has had 301 .
Crowley County to the south , which is home to a privately managed state prison , has had 1,239 cases .
It is far and away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita in the state .
`` So those numbers are huge , '' Stansbury said .
He said as of mid-November about a half-dozen hospital staffers had tested positive for the virus ; they think it 's unrelated to Papenfus ' case .
Lincoln Community Hospital is ready once again to take recovering patients .
Finances in rural health care are always tight , and accepting new patients would help .
`` We have the staff to do that , so long as my staff does n't get ravaged with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are particularly vulnerable .
Residents tend to suffer from underlying health conditions that can make COVID-19 more severe , including high rates of cigarette smoking , high blood pressure and obesity .
And Brock Slabach of the National Rural Health Association said 61 % of rural hospitals do not have an intensive care unit .
`` This is an unprecedented situation that we find ourselves in right now , '' Slabach said .
`` I do n't think that in our lifetimes we 've seen anything like what is developing in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency management director , the local hospital CEO and more than 50 medical staff tested positive .
In a nursing home there , most of the more than 30 residents caught the virus ; six have died since late September , according to The Associated Press .
A county sheriff ended up in a hospital more than an hour from home , fighting to breathe , due to the lack of space at the local medical center .
Papenfus fretted about his home county and its odds of fighting off the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , '' he said .
`` People do n't wear masks out there ; bank robbers wear masks out there . ''
He is urging Coloradans to stay vigilant , calling the virus an existential threat .
`` It 's a huge wake-up call . ''
Since being released from the hospital , Papenfus has had a rocky recovery .
His wife , Joanne , drove him back to Cheyenne Wells , wearing an N95 mask and gloves , while he rode in the back on oxygen , coughing through the three-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Papenfus hunkered down , with the occasional trip outside to hang out with his pet falcon .
But a week after going home , he started having nightly fevers .
He had a CT scan done at Keefe Memorial , the hospital where he works .
It revealed pneumonia in his lungs , so he went back to Denver , getting readmitted at St. Joseph 's Hospital .
This time , Papenfus arrived via ambulance .
Finding a replacement for Papenfus at Keefe has been hard .
The hospital is working with services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , with the coronavirus roaring across the country , the competition is fierce .
`` They 're really scrambling to get coverage , '' Papenfus texted from his hospital bed .
`` Whole county ca n't wait for my return but this illness has really taken me down . ''
He said he was now at Day 35 from his first symptoms , lying in his hospital bed in Denver , `` wondering when I 'll ever get back . ''
Papenfus noted that COVID-19 has affected his critical thinking and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to work .
He said he knows he wo n't have the physical stamina to get back to full duty `` for a while , if ever . ''

The Ripple Effect Of 1 Rural Colorado Doctor Catching The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dr. Kurt Papenfus Dr. Kurt Papenfus
Kurt Papenfus, a doctor in the small town of Cheyenne Wells, Colo., started to feel sick around Halloween. He developed a scary cough, intestinal symptoms and a headache. In the midst of a pandemic, the news that he had COVID-19 wasn't surprising, but Papenfus' illness would have repercussions far beyond his own health.
Papenfus is the lone full-time emergency room doctor in the town of 900, not far from the Kansas line.
"I'm chief of staff and medical director of everything at Keefe Memorial Hospital currently in Cheyenne County, Colo.," he said.
Just 62 people in the county have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Colorado's coronavirus data website.
With Papenfus sick, the hospital scrambled to find a replacement. As coronavirus cases in rural Colorado, and the Eastern Plains especially, surge to unprecedented levels, Papenfus' illness is a test case for how the pandemic is affecting the fragile rural health care system.
"He is the main guy. And it is a very large challenge," said Stella Worley, CEO of the hospital.
If she couldn't find someone to fill in while he was sick, Worley might have to divert trauma and emergency patients nearly 40 miles north to Burlington.
"Time is life sometimes," she said. "And that is not something you ever want to do."
"The 'rona beast is a very nasty beast"
As deaths from the coronavirus have surpassed 250,000 in the U.S., new data show the pandemic has been particularly lethal in rural areas — it's taking lives in those areas at a rate reportedly nearly 3.5 times higher than in metropolitan communities.
Papenfus, a lively 63-year-old, was discharged after a nine-day stay at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, and he was eager to sound the alarm about the disease he calls the 'rona.
"The 'rona beast is a very nasty beast, and it is not fun. It has a very mean temper. It loves a fight, and it loves to keep coming after you," Papenfus said.
He isn't sure where he picked it up but thinks it might have been on a trip east in October. He said he was meticulous on the plane, sitting in the front, last on, first off. But on landing at Denver International Airport, Papenfus boarded the crowded train to the terminal, and soon alarm bells went off in his head.
"There are people literally like inches from me, and we're all crammed like sardines in this train," Papenfus said. "And I'm going, 'Oh my God, I am in a superspreader event right now.' "
An airport spokeswoman declined to comment about Papenfus' experience.
A week later, the symptoms hit. He tested positive and decided to drive himself the three hours to the hospital in Denver. "I'm not going to let anybody get in this car with me and get COVID, because I don't want to give anybody the 'rona," he said. County sheriff's deputies followed his car to ensure he made it.
Once in the hospital, chest X-rays revealed he'd developed pneumonia.
"Dude, I didn't get a tap on the shoulder by 'rona, I got a big viral load," he texted a reporter, sending images of his chest scans that show large, opaque, white areas of his lung. Just a week earlier, his chest X-ray was normal, he said.
Back in Cheyenne Wells, Dr. Christine Connolly picked up some of Papenfus' shifts, although she had to drive 10 hours each way from Fort Worth, Texas, to do it. She said the hospital staff is spread thin already.
"It's not just the doctors, it's the nurses, you know. It's hard to get spare nurses," she said. "There's not a lot of spares of anything out that far."
Besides himself, another six employees — out of a staff of 62 at Keefe Memorial — also recently got a positive test, Papenfus said.
Hospitals on the Plains often send their sickest patients to bigger hospitals in Denver and Colorado Springs. But with so many people around the region getting sick, Connolly is getting worried hospitals could be overwhelmed. Health care leaders created a new command system to transfer patients around the state to make more room, but Connolly said there is a limit.
"It's dangerous when the hospitals in the cities fill up, and when it becomes a problem for us to send out," she said.
"Bank robbers wear masks out there"
The impact of Papenfus' absence stretches across the Eastern Plains. He usually worked shifts an hour to the northwest, at Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo. Its CEO, Kevin Stansbury, said the town mostly dodged the spring surge and his facility could take in recovering COVID-19 patients from Colorado's cities. Now, Stansbury said the virus is reaching places such as Lincoln County, population 5,700. It has had 144 cases, according to state data, and neighboring Kit Carson has had 301. Crowley County to the south, which is home to a privately managed state prison, has had 1,239 cases. It is far and away the No. 1 most affected county per capita in the state.
"So those numbers are huge," Stansbury said. He said as of mid-November about a half-dozen hospital staffers had tested positive for the virus; they think it's unrelated to Papenfus' case.
Lincoln Community Hospital is ready once again to take recovering patients. Finances in rural health care are always tight, and accepting new patients would help.
"We have the staff to do that, so long as my staff doesn't get ravaged with the disease," Stansbury said.
Rural communities are particularly vulnerable. Residents tend to suffer from underlying health conditions that can make COVID-19 more severe, including high rates of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. And Brock Slabach of the National Rural Health Association said 61% of rural hospitals do not have an intensive care unit.
"This is an unprecedented situation that we find ourselves in right now," Slabach said. "I don't think that in our lifetimes we've seen anything like what is developing in terms of surge capacity."
A couple of hours east of Cheyenne Wells, COVID-19 recently hit Gove County, Kan., hard.
The county's emergency management director, the local hospital CEO and more than 50 medical staff tested positive. In a nursing home there, most of the more than 30 residents caught the virus; six have died since late September, according to The Associated Press. A county sheriff ended up in a hospital more than an hour from home, fighting to breathe, due to the lack of space at the local medical center.
Papenfus fretted about his home county and its odds of fighting off the virus.
"The western prairie isn't mask country," he said. "People don't wear masks out there; bank robbers wear masks out there." He is urging Coloradans to stay vigilant, calling the virus an existential threat. "It's a huge wake-up call."
National COVID-19 Ups And Downs In Mesa County, Colo. COVID-19 Ups And Downs In Mesa County, Colorado Listen · 4:45 4:45
Since being released from the hospital, Papenfus has had a rocky recovery. His wife, Joanne, drove him back to Cheyenne Wells, wearing an N95 mask and gloves, while he rode in the back on oxygen, coughing through the three-hour drive.
Once back at home, Papenfus hunkered down, with the occasional trip outside to hang out with his pet falcon.
But a week after going home, he started having nightly fevers. He had a CT scan done at Keefe Memorial, the hospital where he works. It revealed pneumonia in his lungs, so he went back to Denver, getting readmitted at St. Joseph's Hospital. This time, Papenfus arrived via ambulance.
Finding a replacement for Papenfus at Keefe has been hard. The hospital is working with services that provide substitute physicians, but these days, with the coronavirus roaring across the country, the competition is fierce.
"They're really scrambling to get coverage," Papenfus texted from his hospital bed. "Whole county can't wait for my return but this illness has really taken me down."
He said he was now at Day 35 from his first symptoms, lying in his hospital bed in Denver, "wondering when I'll ever get back." Papenfus noted that COVID-19 has affected his critical thinking and that he'd need to be cleared cognitively to return to work. He said he knows he won't have the physical stamina to get back to full duty "for a while, if ever."
This story comes from NPR's health reporting partnership with Colorado Public Radio and Kaiser Health News.


npr--2020-12-01--For China's Overburdened Delivery Workers, The Customer — And App — Is Always Right

For China 's Overburdened Delivery Workers , The Customer — And App — Is Always Right Zhang was the picture of despair the first time I met him .
He had accidentally delivered a package to a neighbor of mine who took it and would not give it back .
Now , trembling , he wanted to personally reimburse me for the lost item .
I refused to take his money , but for two days , he called me nonstop to apologize .
At the time , I did not understand why he was so repentant .
Then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely punished — delivery workers like him are .
`` Customers complain , and after multiple complaints , we get fined very heavily , '' says Zhang .
NPR spoke with nearly a dozen delivery workers in Beijing for this story and agreed to use only surnames , because the workers could be punished for talking to a reporter .
The delivery workers described grueling routines : 12-hour days , six days a week , under the automated and watchful eye of mobile apps that track how and when they deliver hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a critical link in China 's on-demand courier services , which ship more than 60 billion packages a year and generate nearly 1 % of the country 's annual economic activity .
Yet even as booming e-commerce platforms result in higher numbers of packages delivered each day , courier services are cutting the fees they pay delivery workers per package delivered .
Five Chinese delivery workers told NPR their per-package fees had dropped by an average of 25 % in the past year .
China 's more than 3 million delivery workers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zipping around haphazardly on scooters and auto rickshaws .
They ensure that a food takeout order can arrive in minutes ; an online purchase , the same day .
But there is a dark side to this ultraconvenient service .
Their performance is evaluated by mobile apps on phones that the courier services give workers — these delivery logistics apps track their deliveries , sometimes deducting hundreds of dollars in penalties from monthly compensation that averages below $ 800 .
`` The rewards are light , but the punishments are always heavy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who works for Zhongtong , one of China 's largest courier services .
Good customer reviews earn delivery workers virtual points in the app , which serve as a buffer against deductions .
In the case of a late package or a three-out-of-five-star review , the app will knock off points .
Too few points , and a worker gets fined .
If Wang fails to garner at least one five-star review a month , he gets slapped with an $ 8 pay deduction .
If someone complains by email , Wang is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week 's wages .
Lesser offenses can carry fines of about $ 30 to $ 80 .
`` On those days , it is as if I worked the entire day , delivering 400 packages , for nothing , '' he says .
In China , customers are provided the delivery worker 's mobile number for each package they order , giving the recipient a direct and highly personal link to monitor — or heckle — delivery workers .
`` Many clients really like to make life difficult .
They will call just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stairs or to criticize you for not delivering their package to their door that very day , '' says Zhang , the delivery worker in my compound .
Yet he remains unfailingly polite on such calls .
Display even a trace of anger to a customer and `` they threaten to report you , '' says Zhang .
He faces a $ 300 fine for such complaints .
Disputing those fines is nearly impossible — that 's why Zhang was so scared when he lost my package , fearing I would report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along on a delivery run in November .
He drives a three-wheeled cart of sorts more than an hour into central Beijing to deliver to my compound .
His route that day was relaxed — only about 60 packages to deliver .
On most days he has about 200 .
I still struggled to keep up with the 21-year-old 's hurried stride .
Zhang works for a smaller courier service that contracts with China 's five biggest delivery platforms – each multibillion-dollar listed companies whose founders are among China 's richest men .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earn only 15 to 30 cents per package .
Yet they are the crucial , last-mile step and the only customer-facing link in the logistics supply chain , meaning they are faulted for mistakes or delays that happen at any point along the way .
`` Misplace a package because the customer wrote the address wrong ?
That does not matter — it is always our mistake , '' says Zhang .
Smudged packaging labels and vague addresses are the biggest source of delivery delays that diminish his monthly compensation , he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages he delivered with items missing — because the e-commerce store never packed them .
Then there are the more arbitrary rules Zhang has to remember .
For example , he is not paid for packages delivered outside the preferred time window .
Customers who sign up for his employer 's VIP courier service must be called when their package is delivered ; Zhang 's mobile app tracks whether he makes the calls and fines him $ 8 if he does not .
There have been a few dozen strikes this year by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining wages .
In early September , Zhongtong delivery employees in Hubei province collectively resigned after the delivery fee they were paid per package was cut several times .
Other Zhongtong employees staged a protest for unpaid wages dating back half a year .
Employees at Yunda , another of China 's largest courier services , left thousands of packages piled up in a walkout over unpaid salaries in June .
Food delivery workers at the popular Alibaba-owned Ele.me and Meituan services have staged multiple protests this year over low pay and dangerously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later introduced a new feature that lets customers tip their delivery workers — which prompted criticism from customers who were angry the financial burden was shifting to them .
Because delivery workers are considered temporary employees , they are not represented by China 's state union , nor can they organize on their own .
Meanwhile , Chinese consumers are buying more stuff online than ever — and they want it instantaneously .
And for every delivery worker who quits , there is another waiting to take his place .

For China's Overburdened Delivery Workers, The Customer — And App — Is Always Right
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Wong/AP Andy Wong/AP
Zhang was the picture of despair the first time I met him.
He had accidentally delivered a package to a neighbor of mine who took it and would not give it back. Now, trembling, he wanted to personally reimburse me for the lost item.
I refused to take his money, but for two days, he called me nonstop to apologize. At the time, I did not understand why he was so repentant. Then I found out how closely monitored — and severely punished — delivery workers like him are.
"Customers complain, and after multiple complaints, we get fined very heavily," says Zhang. NPR spoke with nearly a dozen delivery workers in Beijing for this story and agreed to use only surnames, because the workers could be punished for talking to a reporter.
The delivery workers described grueling routines: 12-hour days, six days a week, under the automated and watchful eye of mobile apps that track how and when they deliver hundreds of packages a day.
Delivery workers are a critical link in China's on-demand courier services, which ship more than 60 billion packages a year and generate nearly 1% of the country's annual economic activity.
Yet even as booming e-commerce platforms result in higher numbers of packages delivered each day, courier services are cutting the fees they pay delivery workers per package delivered. Five Chinese delivery workers told NPR their per-package fees had dropped by an average of 25% in the past year.
"Rewards are light" and punishments "heavy"
China's more than 3 million delivery workers are a ubiquitous sight on city streets, zipping around haphazardly on scooters and auto rickshaws. They ensure that a food takeout order can arrive in minutes; an online purchase, the same day.
But there is a dark side to this ultraconvenient service.
Their performance is evaluated by mobile apps on phones that the courier services give workers — these delivery logistics apps track their deliveries, sometimes deducting hundreds of dollars in penalties from monthly compensation that averages below $800.
"The rewards are light, but the punishments are always heavy," says a delivery worker named Wang who works for Zhongtong, one of China's largest courier services.
Good customer reviews earn delivery workers virtual points in the app, which serve as a buffer against deductions. In the case of a late package or a three-out-of-five-star review, the app will knock off points. Too few points, and a worker gets fined.
If Wang fails to garner at least one five-star review a month, he gets slapped with an $8 pay deduction. If someone complains by email, Wang is fined about $300, nearly a week's wages. Lesser offenses can carry fines of about $30 to $80.
"On those days, it is as if I worked the entire day, delivering 400 packages, for nothing," he says.
In China, customers are provided the delivery worker's mobile number for each package they order, giving the recipient a direct and highly personal link to monitor — or heckle — delivery workers.
"Many clients really like to make life difficult. They will call just to make you walk up 11 flights of stairs or to criticize you for not delivering their package to their door that very day," says Zhang, the delivery worker in my compound.
Yet he remains unfailingly polite on such calls. Display even a trace of anger to a customer and "they threaten to report you," says Zhang. He faces a $300 fine for such complaints.
Disputing those fines is nearly impossible — that's why Zhang was so scared when he lost my package, fearing I would report him.
"Always our mistake"
Zhang allowed me to tag along on a delivery run in November. He drives a three-wheeled cart of sorts more than an hour into central Beijing to deliver to my compound.
His route that day was relaxed — only about 60 packages to deliver. On most days he has about 200. I still struggled to keep up with the 21-year-old's hurried stride.
Zhang works for a smaller courier service that contracts with China's five biggest delivery platforms – each multibillion-dollar listed companies whose founders are among China's richest men. By contrast, delivery workers like Zhang earn only 15 to 30 cents per package.
Yet they are the crucial, last-mile step and the only customer-facing link in the logistics supply chain, meaning they are faulted for mistakes or delays that happen at any point along the way.
"Misplace a package because the customer wrote the address wrong? That does not matter — it is always our mistake," says Zhang.
Smudged packaging labels and vague addresses are the biggest source of delivery delays that diminish his monthly compensation, he says. Some clients have reported him for packages he delivered with items missing — because the e-commerce store never packed them.
Then there are the more arbitrary rules Zhang has to remember. For example, he is not paid for packages delivered outside the preferred time window. Customers who sign up for his employer's VIP courier service must be called when their package is delivered; Zhang's mobile app tracks whether he makes the calls and fines him $8 if he does not.
There have been a few dozen strikes this year by delivery workers fed up with unpaid or declining wages. In early September, Zhongtong delivery employees in Hubei province collectively resigned after the delivery fee they were paid per package was cut several times. Other Zhongtong employees staged a protest for unpaid wages dating back half a year. Employees at Yunda, another of China's largest courier services, left thousands of packages piled up in a walkout over unpaid salaries in June.
Food delivery workers at the popular Alibaba-owned Ele.me and Meituan services have staged multiple protests this year over low pay and dangerously rushed delivery routes. Meituan and Alibaba later introduced a new feature that lets customers tip their delivery workers — which prompted criticism from customers who were angry the financial burden was shifting to them.
Because delivery workers are considered temporary employees, they are not represented by China's state union, nor can they organize on their own.
Meanwhile, Chinese consumers are buying more stuff online than ever — and they want it instantaneously. And for every delivery worker who quits, there is another waiting to take his place.
Amy Cheng contributed research from Beijing.


npr--2020-12-01--Climate Case Against Shell Begins In The Netherlands

Climate Case Against Shell Begins In The Netherlands In civil court in The Netherlands , hearings began Tuesday in a case against energy company Shell that could have implications for future cases and the role of companies in meeting climate targets .
The case was brought by a group of seven environmental organizations and more than 17,000 Dutch citizens who are co-plaintiffs .
The plaintiffs are demanding that Shell be forced to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 45 % by 2030 compared with 2019 levels .
Friends of the Earth Netherlands , or Milieudefensie , is leading the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company based in The Hague , where the public hearings are taking place in district court .
`` This is a unique lawsuit with potentially significant consequences for the climate and the fossil fuel industry globally , '' Friends of the Earth Netherlands Director Donald Pols said in a statement .
`` We are confident that the judge 's final verdict will force Shell to adhere to international climate goals and stop causing dangerous climate change . ''
Shell said that it agrees with Milieudefensie that action is needed on climate change – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the way to accomplish that .
`` What will accelerate the energy transition is effective policy , investment in technology and changing customer behavior .
None of which will be achieved with this court action , '' a company spokesperson said in a statement to NPR .
Shell has pledged to be net zero emissions by 2050 , and points to its investments in biofuels , offshore wind and solar generation , and reduced emissions in its operations .
It said it is moving `` in step with society '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As well as continuing to supply oil and gas that the world needs , we are working to offer customers more , lower-carbon products , '' the Shell spokesperson said .
Last year , a major court decision in the Netherlands laid the groundwork for further climate litigation .
In the Urgenda case , the Dutch Supreme Court ruled that the Netherlands must reduce its emissions by at least 25 % before 2020 compared with 1990 levels .
Pols said the lawsuit against Shell is a groundbreaking one .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by so many people .
This is actually 'the People versus Shell , ' a company that has got away with green washing for too long .
This case will make it clear to everyone that more than 95 % of what Shell does is causing dangerous climate change .
This has to change as soon as possible . ''
There will be four days of public hearings throughout December ; the next is on Thursday .
Under Dutch law , the plaintiffs will need to prove an alternative business model is available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They will point to the changes made by the energy company Danish Oil and Natural Gas , which announced it would transform from a fossil-based to a renewable energy company under a new name , Ørsted .
The company is said to be growing rapidly while its carbon emissions are decreasing rapidly , with a goal to reduce them by 96 % by 2035 . ''

Climate Case Against Shell Begins In The Netherlands
Enlarge this image toggle caption Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
In civil court in The Netherlands, hearings began Tuesday in a case against energy company Shell that could have implications for future cases and the role of companies in meeting climate targets.
The case was brought by a group of seven environmental organizations and more than 17,000 Dutch citizens who are co-plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are demanding that Shell be forced to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.
Friends of the Earth Netherlands, or Milieudefensie, is leading the case. Royal Dutch Shell is an Angl0-Dutch company based in The Hague, where the public hearings are taking place in district court.
"This is a unique lawsuit with potentially significant consequences for the climate and the fossil fuel industry globally," Friends of the Earth Netherlands Director Donald Pols said in a statement. "We are confident that the judge's final verdict will force Shell to adhere to international climate goals and stop causing dangerous climate change."
Shell said that it agrees with Milieudefensie that action is needed on climate change – but it argues that a court order is not the way to accomplish that.
"What will accelerate the energy transition is effective policy, investment in technology and changing customer behavior. None of which will be achieved with this court action," a company spokesperson said in a statement to NPR.
Shell has pledged to be net zero emissions by 2050, and points to its investments in biofuels, offshore wind and solar generation, and reduced emissions in its operations.
It said it is moving "in step with society" and frames the issue around customer choice. "As well as continuing to supply oil and gas that the world needs, we are working to offer customers more, lower-carbon products," the Shell spokesperson said.
Last year, a major court decision in the Netherlands laid the groundwork for further climate litigation. In the Urgenda case, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled that the Netherlands must reduce its emissions by at least 25% before 2020 compared with 1990 levels.
Pols said the lawsuit against Shell is a groundbreaking one.
"This is a historic moment because we are backed by so many people. This is actually 'the People versus Shell,' a company that has got away with green washing for too long. This case will make it clear to everyone that more than 95% of what Shell does is causing dangerous climate change. This has to change as soon as possible."
There will be four days of public hearings throughout December; the next is on Thursday.
Under Dutch law, the plaintiffs will need to prove an alternative business model is available for Shell, The Guardian reported: "They will point to the changes made by the energy company Danish Oil and Natural Gas, which announced it would transform from a fossil-based to a renewable energy company under a new name, Ørsted. The company is said to be growing rapidly while its carbon emissions are decreasing rapidly, with a goal to reduce them by 96% by 2035."


npr--2020-12-01--Health Care Workers, Nursing Home Residents To Be Prioritized For COVID-19 Vaccine

Health Care Workers , Nursing Home Residents To Be Prioritized For COVID-19 Vaccine A federal advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Tuesday to recommend who should get COVID-19 vaccines first once one is authorized for use .
The 14 voting members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices , along with representatives from federal science agencies and the health care industry , voted during an emergency meeting online to recommend that the first COVID-19 vaccines should go to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities , including nursing homes and assisted living .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these high-priority groups could be fully vaccinated by early next year if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes a vaccine by mid-December , as is currently anticipated .
But because supplies will be short in the first few weeks after that authorization , individual health care and long-term care facilities will likely need to determine their own priority schedules for vaccination once they 've obtained the vaccine .
Long-term care facilities include nursing homes , assisted living and other residential facilities .
The CDC estimates that 48 million doses will be needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 24 million people .
It 's anticipated that as many as 40 million doses could be available by the end of December , with 5 million to 10 million available each week afterward .
The recommendations from the independent advisory committee now go to CDC Director Robert Redfield for final approval .
The issue of which risk groups should be prioritized for a COVID-19 vaccine has been a key topic at the group 's regular public meetings over the past several months .
The committee 's goal is to use a COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the disease and to lessen disruptions to society and the economy from the pandemic .
In earlier meetings , the committee has considered four overlapping groups that might receive priority access to COVID-19 vaccines while immunizations are in short supply .
The groups include health care workers and other essential workers who have a higher risk of exposure to the virus .
Also included are people 65 and over and those with certain underlying medical conditions who are more likely to become severely ill if they contract COVID-19 .
Health care workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line because they are exposed directly to COVID-19 through their work , and because protecting them and their patients from the virus would help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and keep the health system running .
What 's been more controversial is whether to add nursing home residents and other long-term care facility residents to the initial priority group .
( Staffers at these facilities are considered health care workers . )
At a public meeting last week , members of the committee agreed that the death toll in this population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been severe .
Staff and residents at long-term care facilities represent just 6 % of confirmed coronavirus cases but account for nearly 40 % of COVID-19 deaths .
Still , some committee members raised concerns about giving newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines to nursing home residents .
`` This population is not a population that 's been studied in the vaccine trials , '' said Dr. Robert Atmar , a professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine , during last week 's meeting .
Older people who are participating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while nursing home residents are often frail .
`` Coming back to the science of it , we really are not able to assess the balance of benefits and harms , '' he said .
Another committee member worried that introducing COVID-19 vaccines first to nursing home residents could erode public confidence in the safety of the vaccines .
Given the high mortality rate in long-term care facilities , it 's likely that some nursing home patients who receive COVID-19 vaccines could die shortly after from other causes , said Dr. Helen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center .
`` I think you 're going to have a very striking backlash of , 'My grandmother got the vaccine and she passed away . '
They 're not likely to be related , but that will become remembered , '' she said .
Before a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for use among nursing home residents , Talbot suggested running a limited clinical trial in this population to gather data that would show the vaccine is safe for this group .
Tuesday 's vote comes in advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC committee previously said it would wait for authorization before making vaccine recommendations .
But in recent weeks , it has undergone pressure from the federal government to move faster .
`` We are not dependent on any delay from [ the advisory committee ] in terms of helping to advise states , '' Alex Azar , secretary of health and human services , said at a Nov. 24 press briefing , discussing his intent to move quickly with the vaccine distribution process .
States will use the CDC guidance as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their first orders are due to the federal government Friday .

Health Care Workers, Nursing Home Residents To Be Prioritized For COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 5:48 p.m. ET
A federal advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Tuesday to recommend who should get COVID-19 vaccines first once one is authorized for use.
The 14 voting members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, along with representatives from federal science agencies and the health care industry, voted during an emergency meeting online to recommend that the first COVID-19 vaccines should go to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living.
The CDC estimates that most people in these high-priority groups could be fully vaccinated by early next year if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes a vaccine by mid-December, as is currently anticipated.
But because supplies will be short in the first few weeks after that authorization, individual health care and long-term care facilities will likely need to determine their own priority schedules for vaccination once they've obtained the vaccine. Long-term care facilities include nursing homes, assisted living and other residential facilities.
The CDC estimates that 48 million doses will be needed to vaccinate these groups, which account for about 24 million people. It's anticipated that as many as 40 million doses could be available by the end of December, with 5 million to 10 million available each week afterward.
The recommendations from the independent advisory committee now go to CDC Director Robert Redfield for final approval.
The issue of which risk groups should be prioritized for a COVID-19 vaccine has been a key topic at the group's regular public meetings over the past several months. The committee's goal is to use a COVID-19 vaccine to reduce severe illness and death from the disease and to lessen disruptions to society and the economy from the pandemic.
In earlier meetings, the committee has considered four overlapping groups that might receive priority access to COVID-19 vaccines while immunizations are in short supply. The groups include health care workers and other essential workers who have a higher risk of exposure to the virus. Also included are people 65 and over and those with certain underlying medical conditions who are more likely to become severely ill if they contract COVID-19.
Health care workers have long been considered to be first in line because they are exposed directly to COVID-19 through their work, and because protecting them and their patients from the virus would help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and keep the health system running.
What's been more controversial is whether to add nursing home residents and other long-term care facility residents to the initial priority group. (Staffers at these facilities are considered health care workers.) At a public meeting last week, members of the committee agreed that the death toll in this population, a subgroup of the over-65 category, has been severe. Staff and residents at long-term care facilities represent just 6% of confirmed coronavirus cases but account for nearly 40% of COVID-19 deaths.
Still, some committee members raised concerns about giving newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines to nursing home residents. "This population is not a population that's been studied in the vaccine trials," said Dr. Robert Atmar, a professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, during last week's meeting.
Older people who are participating in vaccine trials are generally in good health, while nursing home residents are often frail. "Coming back to the science of it, we really are not able to assess the balance of benefits and harms," he said.
Another committee member worried that introducing COVID-19 vaccines first to nursing home residents could erode public confidence in the safety of the vaccines. Given the high mortality rate in long-term care facilities, it's likely that some nursing home patients who receive COVID-19 vaccines could die shortly after from other causes, said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
"I think you're going to have a very striking backlash of, 'My grandmother got the vaccine and she passed away.' They're not likely to be related, but that will become remembered," she said.
Before a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for use among nursing home residents, Talbot suggested running a limited clinical trial in this population to gather data that would show the vaccine is safe for this group.
Tuesday's vote comes in advance of a COVID-19 vaccine receiving FDA authorization. The CDC committee previously said it would wait for authorization before making vaccine recommendations. But in recent weeks, it has undergone pressure from the federal government to move faster.
"We are not dependent on any delay from [the advisory committee] in terms of helping to advise states," Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services, said at a Nov. 24 press briefing, discussing his intent to move quickly with the vaccine distribution process.
States will use the CDC guidance as they place orders for COVID-19 vaccine doses. Their first orders are due to the federal government Friday.


npr--2020-12-01--Bipartisan Group Pushes $908B COVID-19 Plan, But McConnell Crafts Bill Trump Will Sign

Just hours after a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers revealed a $ 908 billion legislative framework to try to break a months-long impasse on a new round of pandemic-related relief measures , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he 's talking to administration officials about a separate coronavirus bill that President Trump will sign .
`` Waiting for next year is not an answer , '' McConnell said .
He also said a spending bill being negotiated now by the House and Senate would serve as a vehicle for passing more pandemic aid .
`` It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' McConnell said .
McConnell shared a framework of his new proposal totaling more than $ 500 billion with Republican senators later Tuesday and said he was awaiting their feedback .
Among its highlights , the plan would direct $ 332.7 billion to small businesses , including the popular Paycheck Protection Program ; $ 105 billion for schools ; and $ 31 billion for vaccine distribution , therapeutics and medical supplies .
It does n't include aid for state and local governments , a top priority for Democrats .
GOP Sen. John Cornyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new plan , called it `` an encouraging development . ''
Earlier , Sen. Joe Manchin , a centrist Democrat from West Virginia , pushed the more than $ 900 billion measure that includes $ 180 billion in additional unemployment insurance that would provide an extra $ 300 weekly benefit for 18 weeks ; $ 288 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to assist small businesses ; $ 16 billion for testing , vaccine development and distribution ; $ 45 billion for airlines and mass transit ; an extension of existing student loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a new liability provision to block pandemic-related lawsuits temporarily with the intent to give individual states time to develop their own legal response , among others .
`` We 're battling COVID-19 more fiercely now than we ever have before , and we recognize that it 's inexcusable for us to leave town and not have an agreement , '' Manchin said .
Speaking at the same event , Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , said $ 560 billion of the package is repurposed money from the CARES Act enacted in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending .
The topline figure is symbolic — exactly half of the $ 1.8 trillion offer made by the White House in October — but it is far less than the roughly $ 2 trillion that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought .
House and Senate lawmakers said they have informed their party leaders of their framework , but it has not been endorsed by leadership or the White House , leaving the path forward unclear .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany focused on the GOP proposal instead of the bipartisan plan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has been in ongoing talks with Leader McConnell and [ House GOP ] Leader [ Kevin ] McCarthy about a targeted COVID relief plan .
The $ 908 billion proposal has not been a topic of discussion , '' she said .
The liability provision is a clear overture to McConnell , R-Ky. , who has said he will not bring a bill to the floor that does not include liability protections for businesses , health care providers and schools .
But hours later , McConnell outlined his separate proposal to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the package should deal with the items that both sides can agree on now and expected that `` the new administration '' would be working on another one next year .
The majority leader acknowledged that whatever they bring up would need to pass the House .
He suggested the $ 908 billion package pushed by the bipartisan group was not likely to be the final deal , saying that `` we just do n't have time to waste time . ''
He added that the current administration is in place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way you make a law for sure is you know you have a presidential signature . ''
GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said the McConnell plan would provide assistance for schools , vaccine distribution , unemployment aid and more money for small businesses .
Pelosi spoke by phone with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday afternoon about an upcoming spending bill to avoid a Dec. 11 shutdown and additional stimulus measures .
The must-pass bill is a potential vehicle to attach coronavirus relief before lawmakers adjourn this Congress and head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal reflects growing interest on Capitol Hill to approve additional coronavirus aid while the pandemic rages across the country .
`` COVID has created a crisis , and in times of crisis , the people expect Congress to act , '' Romney said .
GOP Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri was n't optimistic about reaching a deal with only days left before Congress leaves for its extended December recess .
`` It seems like to me it 's pretty late to decide you 'd rather have something than nothing , '' Blunt said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being willing to negotiate until you 're down to the last week of negotiating time usually does n't produce a very good result . ''
But Blunt did n't rule out a deal and indicated he 's more keen on the new price tag for the latest proposal , compared with a larger price tag from Democrats earlier this year .
`` I think $ 900 billion would do a lot more good right now than $ 2 trillion will do in March .
This is an important time to step up if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-Del.
, a key ally of Joe Biden 's , said he did n't sign on to the proposal to avoid sending a signal that the president-elect is already on board .
`` I think it 's important that I not be misperceived as supporting something on behalf of the incoming administration .
I do n't speak for them , '' Coons said .
Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota said he met with Pelosi one-on-one before the Thanksgiving recess to urge her to move on a relief bill .
Phillips is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which previously pitched its own plan and which has endorsed the new bipartisan proposal .
And while he `` celebrates '' Pelosi 's efforts to get a larger relief bill , he said it 's time to reconsider with Congress running out of time .
`` We have to try to move the needle .
There have been seven months since we passed the CARES Act .
And in the absence of anything — with two weeks before the holidays , essentially fewer than two — we have to do something , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged her thoughtful consideration .
It does n't serve every need , every purpose .
Not everybody will be thrilled .
But this was based on not what do we want , it 's what we can achieve . ''
GOP Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama , chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee , had some lingering concern about the $ 900 billion figure .
But he did n't rule out the possibility of adding an economic stimulus bill to a government funding bill that bipartisan lawmakers are working on getting to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've advocated that 's the way you create critical mass , momentum , '' he said .
The additional lead lawmakers who helped craft the framework include GOP Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana as well as Democratic Sens .
Mark Warner of Virginia , Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire , and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine .
House lawmakers involved included members of the Problem Solvers Caucus , including GOP Reps. Tom Reed of New York , Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Dakota and Fred Upton of Michigan as well as Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey , Abigail Spanberger of Virginia , and Phillips .

Bipartisan Group Pushes $908B COVID-19 Plan, But McConnell Crafts Bill Trump Will Sign
Enlarge this image toggle caption Toni Sandys/Pool/The Washington Post via AP Toni Sandys/Pool/The Washington Post via AP
Updated at 5:15 p.m. ET
Just hours after a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers revealed a $908 billion legislative framework to try to break a months-long impasse on a new round of pandemic-related relief measures, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he's talking to administration officials about a separate coronavirus bill that President Trump will sign.
"Waiting for next year is not an answer," McConnell said. He also said a spending bill being negotiated now by the House and Senate would serve as a vehicle for passing more pandemic aid.
"It will all likely come in one package," McConnell said.
McConnell shared a framework of his new proposal totaling more than $500 billion with Republican senators later Tuesday and said he was awaiting their feedback. Among its highlights, the plan would direct $332.7 billion to small businesses, including the popular Paycheck Protection Program; $105 billion for schools; and $31 billion for vaccine distribution, therapeutics and medical supplies. It doesn't include aid for state and local governments, a top priority for Democrats.
GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who reviewed McConnell's new plan, called it "an encouraging development."
Earlier, Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat from West Virginia, pushed the more than $900 billion measure that includes $180 billion in additional unemployment insurance that would provide an extra $300 weekly benefit for 18 weeks; $288 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to assist small businesses; $16 billion for testing, vaccine development and distribution; $45 billion for airlines and mass transit; an extension of existing student loan payment deferrals and rental housing assistance; and a new liability provision to block pandemic-related lawsuits temporarily with the intent to give individual states time to develop their own legal response, among others.
"We're battling COVID-19 more fiercely now than we ever have before, and we recognize that it's inexcusable for us to leave town and not have an agreement," Manchin said.
Speaking at the same event, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said $560 billion of the package is repurposed money from the CARES Act enacted in March, with $348 billion in new spending. The topline figure is symbolic — exactly half of the $1.8 trillion offer made by the White House in October — but it is far less than the roughly $2 trillion that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought.
House and Senate lawmakers said they have informed their party leaders of their framework, but it has not been endorsed by leadership or the White House, leaving the path forward unclear.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany focused on the GOP proposal instead of the bipartisan plan in a written statement. "The Trump administration has been in ongoing talks with Leader McConnell and [House GOP] Leader [Kevin] McCarthy about a targeted COVID relief plan. The $908 billion proposal has not been a topic of discussion," she said.
The liability provision is a clear overture to McConnell, R-Ky., who has said he will not bring a bill to the floor that does not include liability protections for businesses, health care providers and schools.
But hours later, McConnell outlined his separate proposal to his members at their weekly lunch. He said the package should deal with the items that both sides can agree on now and expected that "the new administration" would be working on another one next year.
The majority leader acknowledged that whatever they bring up would need to pass the House. He suggested the $908 billion package pushed by the bipartisan group was not likely to be the final deal, saying that "we just don't have time to waste time." He added that the current administration is in place for now and said, "I think the way you make a law for sure is you know you have a presidential signature."
GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said the McConnell plan would provide assistance for schools, vaccine distribution, unemployment aid and more money for small businesses.
Pelosi spoke by phone with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday afternoon about an upcoming spending bill to avoid a Dec. 11 shutdown and additional stimulus measures. The must-pass bill is a potential vehicle to attach coronavirus relief before lawmakers adjourn this Congress and head home for the holidays.
The bipartisan proposal reflects growing interest on Capitol Hill to approve additional coronavirus aid while the pandemic rages across the country. "COVID has created a crisis, and in times of crisis, the people expect Congress to act," Romney said.
GOP Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri wasn't optimistic about reaching a deal with only days left before Congress leaves for its extended December recess. "It seems like to me it's pretty late to decide you'd rather have something than nothing," Blunt said. "The whole idea of not being willing to negotiate until you're down to the last week of negotiating time usually doesn't produce a very good result." But Blunt didn't rule out a deal and indicated he's more keen on the new price tag for the latest proposal, compared with a larger price tag from Democrats earlier this year.
"I think $900 billion would do a lot more good right now than $2 trillion will do in March. This is an important time to step up if we can."
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a key ally of Joe Biden's, said he didn't sign on to the proposal to avoid sending a signal that the president-elect is already on board. "I think it's important that I not be misperceived as supporting something on behalf of the incoming administration. I don't speak for them," Coons said.
Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota said he met with Pelosi one-on-one before the Thanksgiving recess to urge her to move on a relief bill. Phillips is a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, which previously pitched its own plan and which has endorsed the new bipartisan proposal.
And while he "celebrates" Pelosi's efforts to get a larger relief bill, he said it's time to reconsider with Congress running out of time.
"We have to try to move the needle. There have been seven months since we passed the CARES Act. And in the absence of anything — with two weeks before the holidays, essentially fewer than two — we have to do something," Phillips said. "So I encouraged her thoughtful consideration. It doesn't serve every need, every purpose. Not everybody will be thrilled. But this was based on not what do we want, it's what we can achieve."
GOP Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, had some lingering concern about the $900 billion figure. But he didn't rule out the possibility of adding an economic stimulus bill to a government funding bill that bipartisan lawmakers are working on getting to the floor later this month.
"I've advocated that's the way you create critical mass, momentum," he said.
The additional lead lawmakers who helped craft the framework include GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana as well as Democratic Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.
House lawmakers involved included members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, including GOP Reps. Tom Reed of New York, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Fred Upton of Michigan as well as Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, and Phillips.


npr--2020-12-01--Rosy Vaccine Outlook Brightens World Economic Forecast, But Recovery May Be Uneven

Rosy Vaccine Outlook Brightens World Economic Forecast , But Recovery May Be Uneven New coronavirus vaccines will help the world 's economy bounce back in 2021 , but the gains will depend on how the vaccines are distributed , among other factors , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says .
In its new projection , the group says global GDP should rise by 4.2 % next year , after falling 4.2 % in 2020 .
`` The recovery would be stronger if vaccines are rolled out fast , boosting confidence and lowering uncertainty , '' the organization says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , December 2020 .
But the pandemic 's fallout could bring lasting changes to the world economy , according to the forecast .
For instance , Asia will see the strongest growth , while Western nations that are still struggling to control the coronavirus will fare worse .
`` China , which started recovering earlier , is projected to grow strongly , accounting for over one-third of world economic growth in 2021 , '' OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone said in the report .
`` The contribution of Europe and North America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight in the global economy , '' Boone adds , describing an uneven recovery .
The forecast also predicts continued struggles for industries such as hospitality and transportation , posing a particular challenge for countries that rely on tourism .
Boone 's editorial introducing the report is titled `` Turning hope into reality '' — reflecting both the optimism brought by promising new vaccines , and the uncertainty of how quickly conditions will improve .
COVID-19 has killed nearly 1.5 million people worldwide , and more than 63 million cases have been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` For the first time since the pandemic began , there is now hope for a brighter future , '' Boone said , citing advances in vaccines and treatments .
The economic forecast from the Paris-based organization of 37 highly developed , mostly Western nations , warns that the recovery could be limited if vaccines are delayed , if governments ca n't control new outbreaks or if they fail to `` learn lessons from the first wave '' of COVID-19 that ravaged economies worldwide .
In its section on the U.S. , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall but will remain higher than before the pandemic struck .
`` A general rollout of an effective vaccine in the latter half of 2021 will allow an easing of containment measures and strengthen confidence '' in the U.S. , the report states .
But it adds that the U.S. economy urgently needs more help from the federal government .
`` Massive monetary and fiscal responses have protected households and businesses , '' the report says .
`` However , in the absence of a new substantial fiscal stimulus program , a severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal of support to households , massive layoffs and a wave of bankruptcies ( this is assumed to be avoided in the projection ) . ''
A full economic recovery will require more than a massive vaccine effort , the OECD says , citing the need for strategic health policies and government financial support for people and businesses laid low by months of shutdowns and safety restrictions .
`` Small businesses , which have been badly hit by the crisis , need grants , not more debt , in order to survive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help them adapt , by exploiting digital technology for instance , and investing for the future . ''
Delays in vaccination deployment , problems controlling new virus outbreaks and governments that fail to learn lessons from the first wave would weaken the recovery outlook , the OECD says .
The group 's report says governments should remain focused on four main policy areas to help minimize the pandemic 's financial impact : supporting children who have been forced out of their schools , undermining their future prospects ; helping small businesses ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have lost their jobs and face reduced opportunities .

Rosy Vaccine Outlook Brightens World Economic Forecast, But Recovery May Be Uneven
Enlarge this image toggle caption Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
New coronavirus vaccines will help the world's economy bounce back in 2021, but the gains will depend on how the vaccines are distributed, among other factors, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says.
In its new projection, the group says global GDP should rise by 4.2% next year, after falling 4.2% in 2020.
"The recovery would be stronger if vaccines are rolled out fast, boosting confidence and lowering uncertainty," the organization says in its newly released OECD Economic Outlook, December 2020.
But the pandemic's fallout could bring lasting changes to the world economy, according to the forecast. For instance, Asia will see the strongest growth, while Western nations that are still struggling to control the coronavirus will fare worse.
"China, which started recovering earlier, is projected to grow strongly, accounting for over one-third of world economic growth in 2021," OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone said in the report.
"The contribution of Europe and North America to global growth will remain smaller than their weight in the global economy," Boone adds, describing an uneven recovery.
The forecast also predicts continued struggles for industries such as hospitality and transportation, posing a particular challenge for countries that rely on tourism.
Boone's editorial introducing the report is titled "Turning hope into reality" — reflecting both the optimism brought by promising new vaccines, and the uncertainty of how quickly conditions will improve. COVID-19 has killed nearly 1.5 million people worldwide, and more than 63 million cases have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University.
"For the first time since the pandemic began, there is now hope for a brighter future," Boone said, citing advances in vaccines and treatments.
The economic forecast from the Paris-based organization of 37 highly developed, mostly Western nations, warns that the recovery could be limited if vaccines are delayed, if governments can't control new outbreaks or if they fail to "learn lessons from the first wave" of COVID-19 that ravaged economies worldwide.
In its section on the U.S., the OECD predicts the unemployment rate will gradually fall but will remain higher than before the pandemic struck.
"A general rollout of an effective vaccine in the latter half of 2021 will allow an easing of containment measures and strengthen confidence" in the U.S., the report states. But it adds that the U.S. economy urgently needs more help from the federal government.
"Massive monetary and fiscal responses have protected households and businesses," the report says. "However, in the absence of a new substantial fiscal stimulus program, a severe fiscal cliff would result in a rapid withdrawal of support to households, massive layoffs and a wave of bankruptcies (this is assumed to be avoided in the projection)."
A full economic recovery will require more than a massive vaccine effort, the OECD says, citing the need for strategic health policies and government financial support for people and businesses laid low by months of shutdowns and safety restrictions.
"Small businesses, which have been badly hit by the crisis, need grants, not more debt, in order to survive," the OECD says. "Grants can help them adapt, by exploiting digital technology for instance, and investing for the future."
Delays in vaccination deployment, problems controlling new virus outbreaks and governments that fail to learn lessons from the first wave would weaken the recovery outlook, the OECD says.
The group's report says governments should remain focused on four main policy areas to help minimize the pandemic's financial impact: supporting children who have been forced out of their schools, undermining their future prospects; helping small businesses; strengthening public health policies; and supporting people who have lost their jobs and face reduced opportunities.


npr--2020-12-01--'Help Is On The Way,' Biden Says As He Formally Unveils Economic Team

'Help Is On The Way , ' Biden Says As He Formally Unveils Economic Team With confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spiking and the nation 's job market struggling to pull itself out of the abyss caused by the pandemic , President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced the advisers who he hopes can guide the United States back to solid economic footing .
The six-person economic team Biden has tapped — which was revealed on Monday — is a who 's who list of veterans from previous Democratic administrations and , if confirmed , includes a number of historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on Tuesday , the president-elect referred to the group as `` first rate '' and well-equipped to meet the dual challenges the pandemic and the sputtering economy present .
`` A team that 's tested and experienced , it includes groundbreaking Americans who come from different backgrounds but who share my core vision for economic relief here in the United States of America , '' Biden said .
He pointed to what has been a two-track economic recovery amid the pandemic , in which working people continue to struggle while the wealthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should come together to pass a `` robust '' aid package , but he also repeated his call for `` immediate relief '' in the lame duck period before he takes office .
The rollout of Biden 's team comes as lawmakers have offered new aid proposals .
Biden also laid out a laundry list of economic goals that must be addressed early on in his administration .
These include keeping businesses and schools open safely , delivering economic relief for those who have lost jobs or had hours cut , stabilizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial inequities the virus has laid bare .
`` Our message to everyone struggling right now is this : Help is on the way , '' Biden said .
The incoming administration 's economic team is set to be led by Janet Yellen , a former Federal Reserve chair whom Biden nominated for treasury secretary .
Yellen would become the first woman to lead the department in its 231 years of existence .
Yellen also highlighted many of the economic challenges facing the Biden administration and vowed to champion policy changes to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small business lending that blocks wealth-building opportunities for communities of color .
`` It 's a convergence of tragedies that is not only economically unstable , but one that betrays our commitment to giving every American an equal chance to get ahead , '' Yellen said .
No other name on Biden 's proposed economic team has created more blowback from Republicans than Neera Tanden .
Tanden 's role , as Biden 's director of the Office of Management and Budget , is one of several announced on Tuesday that would need Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-leaning public policy organization the Center for American Progress , Tanden is a veteran of both the Clinton and Obama administrations and would be the first woman of color to lead OMB .
On Tuesday Tanden spoke of her mother , who immigrated to the U.S. from India , divorced and was left to raise two young children .
She said her family relied on Section 8 housing vouchers to pay rent and food stamps for a time to get by while growing up in suburban Boston .
`` I 'm here today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budgetary choices , because of a government that saw my mother 's dignity and gave her a chance , '' Tanden said .
`` Now it is my profound honor to help shape those budgets and programs to keep lifting Americans up , to bring families back from the brink . ''
But over the weekend , as rumblings of her nomination began to surface , Republicans cast doubt on her chances of getting confirmed .
`` Neera Tanden , who has an endless stream of disparaging comments about the Republican Senators ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero chance of being confirmed , '' tweeted Drew Brandewie , a spokesman for Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn , a Texas Republican .
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa struck a much more conciliatory tone on Capitol Hill on Monday when asked about Yellen as treasury secretary .
`` I believe she 'd get a favorable view , '' Grassley said , adding he did n't want to make a judgment on her nomination until the confirmation hearings have transpired .
Cecilia Rouse is Biden 's selection to be chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be confirmed , Rouse , who currently serves as dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs , would also be a trailblazer .
She would be just the fourth woman and the first Black woman to lead the CEA since it was established nearly 75 years ago .
Biden economic appointees include Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey as members of the CEA .
Both served as economic advisers to Biden during his time as vice president .
Biden also named Wally Adeyemo , who , if confirmed , would become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary .

'Help Is On The Way,' Biden Says As He Formally Unveils Economic Team
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Updated at 3:37 p.m. ET
With confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spiking and the nation's job market struggling to pull itself out of the abyss caused by the pandemic, President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced the advisers who he hopes can guide the United States back to solid economic footing.
The six-person economic team Biden has tapped — which was revealed on Monday — is a who's who list of veterans from previous Democratic administrations and, if confirmed, includes a number of historic firsts.
Speaking from Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday, the president-elect referred to the group as "first rate" and well-equipped to meet the dual challenges the pandemic and the sputtering economy present.
"A team that's tested and experienced, it includes groundbreaking Americans who come from different backgrounds but who share my core vision for economic relief here in the United States of America," Biden said.
He pointed to what has been a two-track economic recovery amid the pandemic, in which working people continue to struggle while the wealthy get further ahead.
Biden said Congress should come together to pass a "robust" aid package, but he also repeated his call for "immediate relief" in the lame duck period before he takes office. The rollout of Biden's team comes as lawmakers have offered new aid proposals.
Biden also laid out a laundry list of economic goals that must be addressed early on in his administration. These include keeping businesses and schools open safely, delivering economic relief for those who have lost jobs or had hours cut, stabilizing the nation's health care system and addressing racial inequities the virus has laid bare.
"Our message to everyone struggling right now is this: Help is on the way," Biden said.
"A convergence of tragedies"
The incoming administration's economic team is set to be led by Janet Yellen, a former Federal Reserve chair whom Biden nominated for treasury secretary. Yellen would become the first woman to lead the department in its 231 years of existence.
Yellen also highlighted many of the economic challenges facing the Biden administration and vowed to champion policy changes to deal with issues such as gender discrimination and small business lending that blocks wealth-building opportunities for communities of color.
"It's a convergence of tragedies that is not only economically unstable, but one that betrays our commitment to giving every American an equal chance to get ahead," Yellen said.
OMB pick may face rocky confirmation
No other name on Biden's proposed economic team has created more blowback from Republicans than Neera Tanden.
Tanden's role, as Biden's director of the Office of Management and Budget, is one of several announced on Tuesday that would need Senate confirmation.
Currently the CEO of the left-leaning public policy organization the Center for American Progress, Tanden is a veteran of both the Clinton and Obama administrations and would be the first woman of color to lead OMB.
On Tuesday Tanden spoke of her mother, who immigrated to the U.S. from India, divorced and was left to raise two young children. She said her family relied on Section 8 housing vouchers to pay rent and food stamps for a time to get by while growing up in suburban Boston.
"I'm here today because of social programs, because of budgetary choices, because of a government that saw my mother's dignity and gave her a chance," Tanden said. "Now it is my profound honor to help shape those budgets and programs to keep lifting Americans up, to bring families back from the brink."
But over the weekend, as rumblings of her nomination began to surface, Republicans cast doubt on her chances of getting confirmed.
"Neera Tanden, who has an endless stream of disparaging comments about the Republican Senators' whose votes she'll need, stands zero chance of being confirmed," tweeted Drew Brandewie, a spokesman for Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, a Texas Republican.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa struck a much more conciliatory tone on Capitol Hill on Monday when asked about Yellen as treasury secretary.
"I believe she'd get a favorable view," Grassley said, adding he didn't want to make a judgment on her nomination until the confirmation hearings have transpired.
Rounding out Biden's economic team
Cecilia Rouse is Biden's selection to be chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Should she be confirmed, Rouse, who currently serves as dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, would also be a trailblazer.
She would be just the fourth woman and the first Black woman to lead the CEA since it was established nearly 75 years ago.
Biden economic appointees include Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey as members of the CEA. Both served as economic advisers to Biden during his time as vice president.
Biden also named Wally Adeyemo, who, if confirmed, would become the Treasury Department's first Black deputy secretary.


npr--2020-12-02--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak On Sept. 28 , the world marked a tragic milestone : 1 million deaths from COVID-19 .
That 's according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
And public health experts believe the actual toll – the recorded deaths plus the unrecorded deaths – is much higher .
While the number of cases has slowed in many countries that were hit hard early on by coronavirus , the number of new cases continues to increase .
Since early July , new daily cases averaged over 200,000 worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January .
At over 13 million cases , the United States leads the world 's COVID-19 crisis .
In late spring and early summer , new COVID-19 cases were largely driven by cases in the Americas .
While the U.S. has consistently had the most new daily cases of coronavirus in the region , Brazil 's new daily cases increased rapidly between May and August .
However , in September , several countries that had previously flattened their curve saw a resurgence in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , daily case counts have risen swiftly since June , without signs of slowing down .
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time .
The first chart compares each continent to each other , while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region .
To compare country outbreaks , the chart below graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each country 's totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In countries like Israel , which is seeing a second wave of case growth after an initial wave in April , the line forms a V-shape , as the initially bent curve spikes upwards again .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-12-02--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Is Surging : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 13 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 250,000 have died of COVID-19 .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita .
The consortium of researchers and public health experts who developed these risk levels advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
They advise orange states to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and all states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's totals to date .
This type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
New cases fell from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 900 a day most of the summer , before starting to rise in the fall .
Explore the map above to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-12-02--Trump Vows To Veto Defense Bill Unless Shield For Big Tech Is Scrapped

Trump Vows To Veto Defense Bill Unless Shield For Big Tech Is Scrapped President Trump is threatening to veto a critical defense spending bill unless Congress agrees to repeal a liability shield for social media companies .
The president tweeted late Tuesday that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act is `` a serious threat to our National Security & Election Integrity . ''
Section 230 provides legal protection for technology companies over content from third parties and users .
Trump referred to the provision as a `` liability shielding gift '' to `` Big Tech . ''
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is threatening to nix this year 's National Defense Authorization Act — a crucial piece of annual legislation that covers authorization for pay raises and other spending needs for the nation 's military .
The veto threat is the latest move by the president in his war against social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter .
He and other conservatives believe tech companies are biased against conservative political views — censoring posts they do n't like .
However , the social media platforms say they are only trying to stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump previously threatened a veto of the NDAA in July because it included language renaming U.S. military installations honoring Confederate generals , according to The Associated Press .
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle , who have largely rejected a wholesale repeal of Section 230 , have nonetheless proposed revisions , in part to modernize the policy , but no concrete legislative steps have been taken .
Lawmakers on the NDAA conference committee are set to meet Wednesday over the legislation .

Trump Vows To Veto Defense Bill Unless Shield For Big Tech Is Scrapped
Enlarge this image toggle caption Erin Schaff/Pool/Getty Images Erin Schaff/Pool/Getty Images
Updated at 10:58 a.m. ET
President Trump is threatening to veto a critical defense spending bill unless Congress agrees to repeal a liability shield for social media companies.
The president tweeted late Tuesday that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act is "a serious threat to our National Security & Election Integrity."
Section 230 provides legal protection for technology companies over content from third parties and users. Trump referred to the provision as a "liability shielding gift" to "Big Tech."
If he doesn't get his way, Trump is threatening to nix this year's National Defense Authorization Act — a crucial piece of annual legislation that covers authorization for pay raises and other spending needs for the nation's military.
The veto threat is the latest move by the president in his war against social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter. He and other conservatives believe tech companies are biased against conservative political views — censoring posts they don't like. However, the social media platforms say they are only trying to stop the spread of false claims and disinformation.
Trump previously threatened a veto of the NDAA in July because it included language renaming U.S. military installations honoring Confederate generals.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who have largely rejected a wholesale repeal of Section 230, have nonetheless proposed revisions, in part to modernize the policy, but no concrete legislative steps have been taken.
Lawmakers on the NDAA conference committee are set to meet Wednesday over the legislation.
This is the 60th year Congress has crafted an annual defense policy bill and it usually passes with overwhelming bipartisan, veto-proof majorities.