npr--2020-07-01--Syrian Filmmaker Speaks Out On Torture: 'I Was Holding This Pain For A Long Time'

Syrian Filmmaker Speaks Out On Torture : ' I Was Holding This Pain For A Long Time' It was a chilling description of torture in an infamous Syrian prison : `` There were screams , they were n't normal , '' Syrian witness Feras Fayyad said in court .
`` I was very afraid . ''
Fayyad , 35 , an Oscar-nominated filmmaker , was the first witness to testify in a trial in Germany against a Syrian intelligence officer whom he alleges nearly killed him in a Damascus detention center in 2011 .
More than two dozen Syrian torture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented trial that began in April , examining state-sponsored torture in President Bashar Assad 's Syria .
The former high-ranking Syrian official , 57-year-old Anwar Raslan , is charged with crimes against humanity for his role as interrogations chief in the al-Khatib prison in Damascus .
The trial could take up to two years .
Fayyad had never spoken publicly about his ordeal ; he did n't even tell his family .
His first public account was in the courtroom in Koblenz , Germany on June 5 .
The man accused of ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Raslan had defected from the regime in 2013 and joined the rebels fighting the regime .
He came to Germany with the wave of Syrian refugees fleeing the war and applied for asylum .
But his 18 years as an intelligence officer caught up with him .
He was arrested in Germany in 2019 and charged with crimes against humanity , including 58 counts of murder and at least 4,000 cases of torture .
Fayyad 's testimony is crucial to establish one charge of particularly shocking brutality .
`` My case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says in an NPR interview about his testimony that lasted for a full day in court .
The German judges asked him to recount the sexual assault , a rape with a wooden baton .
He needed surgery for the physical injuries when he was eventually released .
`` I was holding this pain for a long time , but I have to start to speak out , '' he tells NPR from Berlin .
He says he his silence was largely because of the stigma of rape in Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence do n't ever speak about it and remain in denial for years , according to a 2018 United Nations report documenting systematic use of sexual violence in Syria detention as a `` tool to instill fear , humiliate and punish . ''
`` We need to know who is committing these crimes , it 's a big message , '' he says .
`` I came with my name .
There is no way to stay silent .
The regime has raped our country for a long time . ''
He wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 , when protests began against the Assad government , Fayyad grabbed his camera and went to the streets .
He documented the early peaceful demonstrations , the arrests , the ruthless , violent government response , shooting protesters in an attempt to quell the rebellion .
He taught others to document the revolt until he was arrested in a policy of sweeping arrests .
Thousands were swept up and detained in Syria 's prison system .
Accused of spying and anti-regime activities , Fayyad was convinced he would die in prison .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it out alive .
`` Oh , you are the director making a film against Assad , so then , they will kill you .
You will be hanged , '' he recalls prisoners telling him .
He was hung by his wrists for hours , beaten , lashed and starved ; kept in a filthy communal cell where it was hard to tell who was still alive .
He remembers interrogations , while he was blindfolded , on his knees , by the man he identified in court as Anwar Raslan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in detention , Fayyad was released without explanation .
His prison number was called , he was handcuffed to other prisoners and herded into a bus .
His family urged him to leave the country , convinced he would not survive another arrest .
He fled Syria soon after .
`` Skinny , with no hair , my body was bleeding .
I get scared to look in the mirror for a long time , '' recalls Fayyad , now largely gray-haired .
He chalks it up to fate that he survived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbitrary arrests died within days or weeks .
`` Why me ?
The karma helped me to get out because I have a mission to do in this life , '' he says .
His mission , he says , was to continue his documentary work .
He fled to Turkey , then snuck back across the Syrian border to the besieged city of Aleppo to film Syrian civilians under bombardment .
But even then , his torture continued to haunt him , he says , causing physical pain and reoccurring nightmares .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his documentary about a city under siege , was nominated for an Academy award .
In February of this year , he was in Los Angeles again .
The Cave , his portrait of a courageous female doctor operating an underground field hospital , was also nominated for an Oscar .
But even as his work was honored , he says , he was not able to celebrate .
`` My team asked me , 'Why you are not happy ?
You have to feel happy ' `` he remembers .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ express my happiness .
I was so angry .
Inside me , there was so much I could n't share because of the stigma and the shame . ''
The phantom pain returned again in the days following his testimony in the German court .
`` I feel like my body is broken , I start to lose even a way to put words together , '' Fayyad says .
He sees the war crime trial as the first step in his own recovery .
`` When I went to the court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed after that .
Of course , there is physical pain , but I start to think that justice is a real thing .
It 's not a fake . ''
Fayyad stunned the court when he told the judges he could forgive the defendant , Raslan .
`` If he admits these things happened , then I have to forgive him .
I feel that forgiveness is the only way I can live in peace , '' Fayyad says in the interview .
But that forgiveness is on hold .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lawyer , Raslan denied he had tortured or beaten any prisoners and repeatedly denied any responsibility , particularly in the case of alleged rape .
`` I distance myself from such acts if they have been committed , '' the statement said .
Fayyad is now working on a new documentary , about his detention and torture and about the historic war crimes trial in the Koblenz courtroom .
He and his team are working during a pandemic , but , he says , he faced more risk in Syria .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a message for my family because I did n't tell them before and I want to tell them , '' he says .
He also plans to tell his family why he decided to testify : for justice , for history , and to send a message for those still imprisoned in Syria , that they are not forgotten .

Syrian Filmmaker Speaks Out On Torture: 'I Was Holding This Pain For A Long Time'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Thomas Lohnes/AFP via Getty Images Thomas Lohnes/AFP via Getty Images
Editor's note: This story contains a graphic description of an alleged sexual assault.
It was a chilling description of torture in an infamous Syrian prison: "There were screams, they weren't normal," Syrian witness Feras Fayyad said in court. "I was very afraid."
Fayyad, 35, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, was the first witness to testify in a trial in Germany against a Syrian intelligence officer whom he alleges nearly killed him in a Damascus detention center in 2011.
More than two dozen Syrian torture victims are expected to testify in the unprecedented trial that began in April, examining state-sponsored torture in President Bashar Assad's Syria.
The former high-ranking Syrian official, 57-year-old Anwar Raslan, is charged with crimes against humanity for his role as interrogations chief in the al-Khatib prison in Damascus. The trial could take up to two years.
Fayyad had never spoken publicly about his ordeal; he didn't even tell his family. His first public account was in the courtroom in Koblenz, Germany on June 5. The man accused of ordering his torture sat a few feet away.
Raslan had defected from the regime in 2013 and joined the rebels fighting the regime. He came to Germany with the wave of Syrian refugees fleeing the war and applied for asylum. But his 18 years as an intelligence officer caught up with him. He was arrested in Germany in 2019 and charged with crimes against humanity, including 58 counts of murder and at least 4,000 cases of torture.
Fayyad's testimony is crucial to establish one charge of particularly shocking brutality.
"My case was about sexual violence, it was difficult," he says in an NPR interview about his testimony that lasted for a full day in court.
The German judges asked him to recount the sexual assault, a rape with a wooden baton. He needed surgery for the physical injuries when he was eventually released.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Thomas Lohnes/AFP via Getty Images Thomas Lohnes/AFP via Getty Images
"I was holding this pain for a long time, but I have to start to speak out," he tells NPR from Berlin. He says he his silence was largely because of the stigma of rape in Syrian society.
Most Syrian survivors of sexual violence don't ever speak about it and remain in denial for years, according to a 2018 United Nations report documenting systematic use of sexual violence in Syria detention as a "tool to instill fear, humiliate and punish."
"We need to know who is committing these crimes, it's a big message," he says. "I came with my name. There is no way to stay silent. The regime has raped our country for a long time." He wants more victims to speak out.
In 2011, when protests began against the Assad government, Fayyad grabbed his camera and went to the streets. He documented the early peaceful demonstrations, the arrests, the ruthless, violent government response, shooting protesters in an attempt to quell the rebellion. He taught others to document the revolt until he was arrested in a policy of sweeping arrests. Thousands were swept up and detained in Syria's prison system.
Accused of spying and anti-regime activities, Fayyad was convinced he would die in prison. Even fellow inmates said he would not make it out alive.
"Oh, you are the director making a film against Assad, so then, they will kill you. You will be hanged," he recalls prisoners telling him. He was hung by his wrists for hours, beaten, lashed and starved; kept in a filthy communal cell where it was hard to tell who was still alive.
He remembers interrogations, while he was blindfolded, on his knees, by the man he identified in court as Anwar Raslan.
Remarkably, after 2 1/2 months in detention, Fayyad was released without explanation. His prison number was called, he was handcuffed to other prisoners and herded into a bus. His family urged him to leave the country, convinced he would not survive another arrest. He fled Syria soon after.
"Skinny, with no hair, my body was bleeding. I get scared to look in the mirror for a long time," recalls Fayyad, now largely gray-haired.
He chalks it up to fate that he survived, when thousands of Syrians swept up in arbitrary arrests died within days or weeks.
"Why me? The karma helped me to get out because I have a mission to do in this life," he says.
His mission, he says, was to continue his documentary work. He fled to Turkey, then snuck back across the Syrian border to the besieged city of Aleppo to film Syrian civilians under bombardment. But even then, his torture continued to haunt him, he says, causing physical pain and reoccurring nightmares.
In 2018, Last Men in Aleppo, his documentary about a city under siege, was nominated for an Academy award. In February of this year, he was in Los Angeles again. The Cave, his portrait of a courageous female doctor operating an underground field hospital, was also nominated for an Oscar.
But even as his work was honored, he says, he was not able to celebrate.
"My team asked me, 'Why you are not happy? You have to feel happy' " he remembers. "But I didn't know how to express my happiness. I was so angry. Inside me, there was so much I couldn't share because of the stigma and the shame."
The phantom pain returned again in the days following his testimony in the German court. "I feel like my body is broken, I start to lose even a way to put words together," Fayyad says.
He sees the war crime trial as the first step in his own recovery.
"When I went to the court, I start to feel that something completely changed after that. Of course, there is physical pain, but I start to think that justice is a real thing. It's not a fake."
Fayyad stunned the court when he told the judges he could forgive the defendant, Raslan. "If he admits these things happened, then I have to forgive him. I feel that forgiveness is the only way I can live in peace," Fayyad says in the interview.
But that forgiveness is on hold. In a 40-page statement read on May 18 by his lawyer, Raslan denied he had tortured or beaten any prisoners and repeatedly denied any responsibility, particularly in the case of alleged rape. "I distance myself from such acts if they have been committed," the statement said.
Fayyad is now working on a new documentary, about his detention and torture and about the historic war crimes trial in the Koblenz courtroom. He and his team are working during a pandemic, but, he says, he faced more risk in Syria.
"I'm trying to make it like a message for my family because I didn't tell them before and I want to tell them," he says.
He also plans to tell his family why he decided to testify: for justice, for history, and to send a message for those still imprisoned in Syria, that they are not forgotten.


npr--2020-07-01--'It's Really Hard For A Younger Couple': Coronavirus, Policies Keep Families Apart

'It 's Really Hard For A Younger Couple ' : Coronavirus , Policies Keep Families Apart For more than two years since their wedding day , Albert Akhmetov and his wife have lived on separate continents .
Albert lives in Dallas and his wife Natalia in Kosovo .
He immigrated to the United States from Russia through the diversity lottery visa program almost three years ago , and the couple married in Russia after meeting when he was visiting family there .
They are waiting on her application for a green card to join him in the U.S .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coronavirus is complicating an already lengthy process for immigrants to the U.S. American consulates and embassies have curtailed operations .
And last week President Trump , citing the pandemic , extended a freeze on green cards for new immigrants and suspended certain work visas for foreign workers .
Albert and Natalia , both 34 , have not been able to schedule a consulate interview , one of the final steps to complete the process .
Meanwhile , embassies in Kosovo are also closed , so Albert has n't been able to obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's really hard for a younger couple like us , '' said Albert , adding that they talk for four or five hours via video call everyday .
`` This is the time when you 'd like to think about kids and a family . ''
Green card holders , or legal permanent residents , like Akhmetov can bring immediate relatives to the United States through `` family preference '' categories .
In fiscal year 2019 , more than 90,000 spouses and children obtained permanent residency this way .
Getting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a challenge for many families .
Wait times to complete the entire process , on average , exceed three years , according to Boundless Immigration , a technology company that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship .
Those wait times are expected to increase because of coronavirus .
Not only have consulates worldwide halted most visa interviews — leaving applicants in limbo — but the White House proclamation last week is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of immigrants .
That proclamation extends previous limits on green cards and adds limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
With more than 40 million Americans filing for unemployment since March , the Trump administration contends that foreign worker restrictions will preserve jobs for U.S. citizens .
`` At a time of double-digit unemployment , the president is seeking to ensure that Americans are n't facing what domestically feels like unfair competition as our economy begins to safely reopen , '' Ken Cuccinelli , who oversees citizenship and immigration for the administration , said at a briefing this week .
`` The president campaigned as an 'America first ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American workers . ''
Boundless Immigration estimates more than 300,000 green cards wo n't be approved because of the proclamation and that immigrants from Central Asia , Eastern Europe and Africa will be particularly affected because so many applicants come from those regions .
A green card holder who wants to bring a spouse or child to the U.S. must first file a form known as an I-130 with the U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services office .
The average wait time for USCIS to process these green card applications is at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at USCIS , before it even goes to the consulate , are pretty significant .
I have clients who wait a year and a half or longer , '' said Erin Hebert , an immigration attorney at Ware Immigration .
`` Those are standard processing times , nothing you can do about it . ''
Once USCIS approves the application , the case gets forwarded to the National Visa Center , which schedules interviews at foreign consulates .
If approved after an interview , family members can finally make their way to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tough .
Embassies and consulates have cancelled routine visa appointments , and there is n't a date for interviews to resume .
`` Diplomatic missions around the world continuously monitor local conditions to decide when to reopen on a case-by-case basis , '' according to a State Department official .
Karan , a green card holder from India , and his wife also have lived apart for more than two years .
Karan asked not to use his last name because he worries that speaking out could hurt his case .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was waiting for her interview when consulates shut down .
Now , the couple 's future is uncertain .
`` I just want her to be here , legally , '' he said .
`` We accepted that it was going to take about two years , but now it 's taking more than that , and we 're worried . ''
The couple spent about three weeks together after their wedding in India , before Karan flew back to the U.S .
They 've made due with short-term visits but have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he lost his job earlier this year .
For now , Karan 's frustration mounts .
`` Nothing is changing , but getting worse , '' he said .
U.S. citizens can bring fiances to the U.S. on K-1 visas , a temporary status that allows fiances of Americans to enter the country under the condition they marry within 90 days .
But spouses of green card holders who have filed an I-130 generally ca n't visit the U.S. with temporary visas and must wait until their own green card is approved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Applicants who try to enter on visitor visas with an immigrant petition pending could be regarded as trying to circumvent the system , she added .
At first , Vinod Chaudhery applied for a visitor visa for his wife .
As a scientist , he emigrated from India to the U.S. more than a decade ago and earned a green card through an EB-1 visa , also known as the `` Einstein visa '' reserved for people who are highly acclaimed in their field .
He got married to his wife , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he said his wife 's application for a visitor visa was denied after the consular officer learned that her husband was a permanent resident .
The couple decided it would be safer to just file for her green card , despite the long wait times .
They 've been waiting on her application for two years now .
Chaudhery said he was excited to share his life in America with his wife .
`` You make plans about where you 'll go , what you 'll do , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxing to a marriage .
`` The excitement slowly gets washed out . ''
Chaudhery said he would even understand if spouses were subject to restrictions , such as not being allowed to work , as long as they are allowed in .
Though he 's considered moving back to India , he does n't want to leave the life he 's built in the United States — a place he thought was rooted in a sense of family .
He and other green card holders are using the hashtag # familyban on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation .
`` I do n't understand it , '' he said .
`` We value family so much in this country , but we 're ignoring the families of folks who are here legally . ''
Hafsa Fathima is a freelance journalist and former NPR intern .

'It's Really Hard For A Younger Couple': Coronavirus, Policies Keep Families Apart
Enlarge this image toggle caption Belterz / Getty Images Belterz / Getty Images
For more than two years since their wedding day, Albert Akhmetov and his wife have lived on separate continents.
Albert lives in Dallas and his wife Natalia in Kosovo. He immigrated to the United States from Russia through the diversity lottery visa program almost three years ago, and the couple married in Russia after meeting when he was visiting family there. They are waiting on her application for a green card to join him in the U.S.
They may be waiting for a long time. Coronavirus is complicating an already lengthy process for immigrants to the U.S. American consulates and embassies have curtailed operations. And last week President Trump, citing the pandemic, extended a freeze on green cards for new immigrants and suspended certain work visas for foreign workers.
We value family so much in this country, but we're ignoring the families of folks who are here legally.
Albert and Natalia, both 34, have not been able to schedule a consulate interview, one of the final steps to complete the process. Meanwhile, embassies in Kosovo are also closed, so Albert hasn't been able to obtain a visa to visit his wife.
"It's really hard for a younger couple like us," said Albert, adding that they talk for four or five hours via video call everyday. "This is the time when you'd like to think about kids and a family."
Green card holders, or legal permanent residents, like Akhmetov can bring immediate relatives to the United States through "family preference" categories. In fiscal year 2019, more than 90,000 spouses and children obtained permanent residency this way.
Getting to that final step, however, has been a challenge for many families. Wait times to complete the entire process, on average, exceed three years, according to Boundless Immigration, a technology company that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship.
Those wait times are expected to increase because of coronavirus. Not only have consulates worldwide halted most visa interviews — leaving applicants in limbo — but the White House proclamation last week is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
That proclamation extends previous limits on green cards and adds limits on foreign worker visas until the end of the year. With more than 40 million Americans filing for unemployment since March, the Trump administration contends that foreign worker restrictions will preserve jobs for U.S. citizens.
"At a time of double-digit unemployment, the president is seeking to ensure that Americans aren't facing what domestically feels like unfair competition as our economy begins to safely reopen," Ken Cuccinelli, who oversees citizenship and immigration for the administration, said at a briefing this week. "The president campaigned as an 'America first' president, and that 'first' means American workers."
Boundless Immigration estimates more than 300,000 green cards won't be approved because of the proclamation and that immigrants from Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa will be particularly affected because so many applicants come from those regions.
A green card holder who wants to bring a spouse or child to the U.S. must first file a form known as an I-130 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office. The average wait time for USCIS to process these green card applications is at least one year.
"Current processing times at USCIS, before it even goes to the consulate, are pretty significant. I have clients who wait a year and a half or longer," said Erin Hebert, an immigration attorney at Ware Immigration. "Those are standard processing times, nothing you can do about it."
Once USCIS approves the application,the case gets forwarded to the National Visa Center, which schedules interviews at foreign consulates. If approved after an interview, family members can finally make their way to the U.S.
But getting that interview will be tough. Embassies and consulates have cancelled routine visa appointments, and there isn't a date for interviews to resume. "Diplomatic missions around the world continuously monitor local conditions to decide when to reopen on a case-by-case basis," according to a State Department official.
Karan, a green card holder from India, and his wife also have lived apart for more than two years. Karan asked not to use his last name because he worries that speaking out could hurt his case. His wife, who is still in India, was waiting for her interview when consulates shut down. Now, the couple's future is uncertain.
"I just want her to be here, legally," he said. "We accepted that it was going to take about two years, but now it's taking more than that, and we're worried."
The couple spent about three weeks together after their wedding in India, before Karan flew back to the U.S. They've made due with short-term visits but haven't been able to do that since he lost his job earlier this year.
For now, Karan's frustration mounts. "Nothing is changing, but getting worse," he said.
U.S. citizens can bring fiances to the U.S. on K-1 visas, a temporary status that allows fiances of Americans to enter the country under the condition they marry within 90 days.
But spouses of green card holders who have filed an I-130 generally can't visit the U.S. with temporary visas and must wait until their own green card is approved, said Herbert, the immigration attorney. Applicants who try to enter on visitor visas with an immigrant petition pending could be regarded as trying to circumvent the system, she added.
At first, Vinod Chaudhery applied for a visitor visa for his wife. As a scientist, he emigrated from India to the U.S. more than a decade ago and earned a green card through an EB-1 visa, also known as the "Einstein visa" reserved for people who are highly acclaimed in their field. He got married to his wife, an Indian citizen, a few years later.
But he said his wife's application for a visitor visa was denied after the consular officer learned that her husband was a permanent resident. The couple decided it would be safer to just file for her green card, despite the long wait times.
They've been waiting on her application for two years now. Chaudhery said he was excited to share his life in America with his wife.
"You make plans about where you'll go, what you'll do," he said, adding that wait times can be taxing to a marriage. "The excitement slowly gets washed out."
Chaudhery said he would even understand if spouses were subject to restrictions, such as not being allowed to work, as long as they are allowed in.
Though he's considered moving back to India, he doesn't want to leave the life he's built in the United States — a place he thought was rooted in a sense of family. He and other green card holders are using the hashtag #familyban on social media to bring awareness to their situation.
"I don't understand it," he said. "We value family so much in this country, but we're ignoring the families of folks who are here legally."
Hafsa Fathima is a freelance journalist and former NPR intern.


npr--2020-07-01--N.J. Election Fraud Case Draws A Trump Tweet But Suggests Safeguards Are Working

When President Trump tweeted Sunday night about alleged fraud in a May special election in New Jersey , he tried to wrap it into his ongoing effort to claim voting by mail is less secure than in-person voting .
`` Absentee Ballots are fine .
A person has to go through a process to get and use them .
Mail-In Voting , on the other hand , will lead to the most corrupt Election is USA history .
Bad things happen with Mail-Ins , '' he tweeted .
`` Just look at Special Election in Patterson , N.J. 19 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election law experts say that Trump 's spotlight on the case also shows both how rare these kinds of cases are and the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of ballots .
`` I had been predicting that the Paterson scandal was going to get to the president 's attention , because he 's been making so many unsupported claims about voter fraud that when there is an actual case involving election crime and absentee ballots , it 's not surprising that he 's making some hay out of it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at the University of California Irvine School of Law .
Rumors of fraud in Paterson , N.J. , had been piling up since the city held a special election for several city council seats on May 12 .
It was one of several local elections held that day that Gov .
Phil Murphy ordered be conducted exclusively by mail-in voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Last Thursday , those rumors became criminal allegations .
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal charged Paterson City Councilman Michael Jackson , Councilman-elect Alex Mendez and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other crimes .
The investigation started after the U.S .
Postal Inspection Service tipped off state law enforcement officials to hundreds of mail-in ballots stuffed in a Paterson mailbox .
Other bundled ballots were discovered in another nearby city .
In New Jersey , voters are expected to mail or submit their mail-in ballots themselves unless they certify a `` bearer '' to do it on their behalf .
A bearer can collect and deliver ballots for no more than three voters in an election , and a candidate in the election can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the councilman , had more than three mail-in ballots that were not his and that did not identify him as the bearer , authorities said .
Mendez allegedly delivered mail-in ballots that were not his even though he was a candidate , and allegedly submitted voter registration applications for people who were not eligible to vote in that election .
`` We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the public 's confidence in our democratic process , '' said Attorney General Grewal .
The Passaic County Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the mail-in ballots submitted , for the May 12 election in Paterson , but it is unclear how many were connected to the fraud allegations .
In fact , there are many more common reasons for a ballot to be thrown out , such as a signature that does n't match election records or if the ballot was received after the deadline .
It was also the first election in New Jersey conducted entirely vote-by-mail , and officials have warned of hiccups in matching signatures , processing paper ballots , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics including Trump have claimed that a surge in mail-in voting will leave the election system prone to fraud , voting rights advocates in New Jersey say some of the same security features that exist for in-person voting also feature in vote-by-mail .
`` There is a huge myth about voter fraud in this country , '' said Jesse Burns , executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey .
When voters cast a ballot in person in New Jersey , they are required to sign a poll book to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The same is true of mail-in ballots , and election officials check the ballot to make sure the signatures match .
During the state 's primary on July 7 , election officials will notify voters if they reject a ballot because of a signature mismatch .
Burns said it was not only a way for voters to ensure their vote is counted , but also functions as a warning that another person may have attempted to vote fraudulently in their name .
UC Irvine 's Hasen said the security measures used in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicion of authorities .
`` Even on this small scale , what you see is that having a conspiracy like this to try to affect the outcome of an election is very difficult to do without detection . ''
Burns suggested the rare instances of election fraud are not typically committed by individual voters themselves but rather organized groups .
`` This is not a voter fraud issue , '' she said .
`` It 's crimes being committed against voters . ''
Hasen emphasized that the Paterson case shows how difficult carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists is possible .
`` Imagine trying to swing the outcome of a presidential election , how many people you would have to get involved or how many ballots you would have to try to intercept without detection in order to try to have a meaningful impact on races that are typically decided by tens of thousands of votes if not more in a particular state , '' said Hasen .

N.J. Election Fraud Case Draws A Trump Tweet But Suggests Safeguards Are Working
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images
When President Trump tweeted Sunday night about alleged fraud in a May special election in New Jersey, he tried to wrap it into his ongoing effort to claim voting by mail is less secure than in-person voting.
"Absentee Ballots are fine. A person has to go through a process to get and use them. Mail-In Voting, on the other hand, will lead to the most corrupt Election is USA history. Bad things happen with Mail-Ins," he tweeted. "Just look at Special Election in Patterson, N.J. 19% of Ballots a FRAUD!"
But election law experts say that Trump's spotlight on the case also shows both how rare these kinds of cases are and the safeguards in place to protect the integrity of ballots.
"I had been predicting that the Paterson scandal was going to get to the president's attention, because he's been making so many unsupported claims about voter fraud that when there is an actual case involving election crime and absentee ballots, it's not surprising that he's making some hay out of it," said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California Irvine School of Law.
Rumors of fraud in Paterson, N.J., had been piling up since the city held a special election for several city council seats on May 12. It was one of several local elections held that day that Gov. Phil Murphy ordered be conducted exclusively by mail-in voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last Thursday, those rumors became criminal allegations. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal charged Paterson City Councilman Michael Jackson, Councilman-elect Alex Mendez and two other men with voter fraud and other crimes.
The investigation started after the U.S. Postal Inspection Service tipped off state law enforcement officials to hundreds of mail-in ballots stuffed in a Paterson mailbox. Other bundled ballots were discovered in another nearby city.
In New Jersey, voters are expected to mail or submit their mail-in ballots themselves unless they certify a "bearer" to do it on their behalf. A bearer can collect and deliver ballots for no more than three voters in an election, and a candidate in the election cannot serve as a bearer.
Jackson, the councilman, had more than three mail-in ballots that were not his and that did not identify him as the bearer, authorities said. Mendez allegedly delivered mail-in ballots that were not his even though he was a candidate and is accused of submitting voter registration applications for people who were not eligible to vote in that election.
"We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the public's confidence in our democratic process," said Attorney General Grewal.
The Passaic County Board of Elections rejected 3,190 ballots, about 19% of the mail-in ballots submitted, for the May 12 election in Paterson, but it is unclear how many were connected to the fraud allegations.
In fact, there are many more common reasons for a ballot to be thrown out, such as a signature that doesn't match election records or if the ballot was received after the deadline.
It was also the first election in New Jersey conducted entirely vote-by-mail, and officials have warned of hiccups in matching signatures, processing paper ballots and receiving the mail on time.
Although critics including Trump have claimed that a surge in mail-in voting will leave the election system prone to fraud, voting rights advocates in New Jersey say some of the same security features that exist for in-person voting also feature in vote-by-mail.
"There is a huge myth about voter fraud in this country," said Jesse Burns, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
When voters cast a ballot in person in New Jersey, they are required to sign a poll book to match their signature to election records. The same is true of mail-in ballots, and election officials check the ballot to make sure the signatures match.
During the state's primary on July 7, election officials will notify voters if their ballot was rejected because of a signature mismatch. Burns said it was not only a way for voters to ensure their vote is counted, but it also functions as a warning that another person may have attempted to vote fraudulently in their name.
UC Irvine's Hasen said the security measures used in New Jersey were likely enough to raise the suspicion of authorities. "Even on this small scale, what you see is that having a conspiracy like this to try to affect the outcome of an election is very difficult to do without detection."
Burns suggested the rare instances of election fraud are not typically committed by individual voters themselves but rather organized groups.
"This is not a voter fraud issue," she said. "It's crimes being committed against voters."
Hasen emphasized that the Paterson case shows how difficult carrying out the kind of widespread fraud Trump insists is possible.
"Imagine trying to swing the outcome of a presidential election, how many people you would have to get involved or how many ballots you would have to try to intercept without detection in order to try to have a meaningful impact on races that are typically decided by tens of thousands of votes if not more in a particular state," said Hasen.


npr--2020-07-01--Green, Yellow, Orange Or Red? This New Tool Shows COVID-19 Risk In Your County

Green , Yellow , Orange Or Red ?
This New Tool Shows COVID-19 Risk In Your County How severe is the spread of COVID-19 in your community ?
If you 're confused , you 're not alone .
Though state and local dashboards provide lots of numbers , from case counts to deaths , it 's often unclear how to interpret them — and hard to compare them to other places .
`` There has n't been a unified , national approach to communicating risk , says Danielle Allen , a professor and director of the Edmond J. Safra Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's made it harder for people , '' she says .
Allen , along with researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute , is leading a collaboration of top scientists at institutions around the country who have joined forces to create a unified set of metrics , including a shared definition of risk levels — and tools for communities to fight the coronavirus .
The collaboration launched these tools Wednesday , including a new , online risk-assessment map that allows people to check the state or the county where they live and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yellow , orange or red .
The risk levels are based upon the number of new daily cases per 100,000 people .
A community that has fewer than one daily new case per 100,000 is green .
One to 9 is yellow ; between 10 and 24 is orange ; and 25 and above puts you in the red .
`` When you get into that orange and red zone it means , in all likelihood , you 're seeing a lot of velocity , a kind of fast upward trend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no means the only attempt to categorize risk levels across the United States .
There are a number of frameworks out there using different measures .
And that can lead to confusion , says Allen .
`` What we really need is a shared vocabulary and shared way of presenting data across jurisdictions , '' she says .
This effort represents the consensus of eight institutions and more than a dozen individual experts who have agreed on these metrics .
There are other important metrics when it comes to tracking the spread and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders need to know how many people are dying and how many people are hospitalized .
They need to know how many tests are coming back positive in an area .
( The lower the positivity rate , the more likely a community is testing enough to accurately detect the spread of the virus . )
But the group settled on tying the alert level to numbers of new cases per 100,000 , because that 's a good indicator to show the current picture of outbreaks and compare them in a consistent way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure the risk against the total population .
`` It allows you to compare a rural area in upstate New York compared to New York City and have an apples-to-apples comparison for relative impact and relative caseload , '' says Ellie Graeden of Talus Analytics and the Center for Global Health , Science and Security at Georgetown University , which is part of the convergence group that developed the metrics .
Also , by sticking with a standard , core metric you can compare trends over time .
`` You want to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Allen says .
For the public , this means you can now compare the case incidence where you live to that of , say , a nearby county where you 're considering going on an errand .
Or the county where your parents live if you 're considering a visit .
It gives you a way to assess your community 's risk level compared to others , at a glance , and modify your behavior accordingly .
For policy-makers , the risk levels are meant to signal the intensity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trigger specific interventions .
The collaborative released guidance for how state and local leaders should manage their response , depending on their risk level .
`` As this [ pandemic ] unfolded , a lot of us were waiting for the federal government to stand up and really produce ... some practical guidance on how those at the state and local level should be responding , '' says Graeden .
But in the absence of that clear guidance , this collaboration aims to fill the void .
If a jurisdiction is at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for containing the virus .
At yellow , a community should implement measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing and have an active program of testing , contact tracing and isolation — including targeted testing of those in high-risk environments .
Orange is considered `` dangerous '' and requires surging testing and contact tracing efforts — or if that 's not possible , it may call for stay-home orders .
At the red level , `` jurisdictions have reached a tipping point for uncontrolled spread , '' according to the collaborative 's guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really need to be back at a stay-at-home [ advisory ] '' Graeden says .
Currently , two states — Arizona and Florida — are at the red level and 14 are orange .
Only Hawaii is green .
But there 's a great deal of variation county by county .
In orange Texas , for instance , more than 20 counties are red .
The idea is to take some of the guesswork out of the policy response at a local level , says Graeden , and offer a more standardized way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
`` We 've all modified our metrics to align more accurately across the different platforms , '' she says .
`` We 're now communicating and all agreeing on the same basic thresholds for the types of actions that need to be taken.
`` The shared metrics and guidance will be incorporated into a number of initiatives and sites focused on COVID-19 response , including Covidlocal.org , led by a group of disease outbreak experts and former public health officials , and CovidActNow , led by former technology executives and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes to see it adopted more widely and used by local and state governments .

Green, Yellow, Orange Or Red? This New Tool Shows COVID-19 Risk In Your County
Enlarge this image toggle caption Harvard Global Health Institute/Microsoft AI/Screenshot by NPR Harvard Global Health Institute/Microsoft AI/Screenshot by NPR
Updated Aug. 12 at 1:15 p.m. ET
How severe is the spread of COVID-19 in your community? If you're confused, you're not alone. Though state and local dashboards provide lots of numbers, from case counts to deaths, it's often unclear how to interpret them — and hard to compare them to other places.
"There hasn't been a unified, national approach to communicating risk, says Danielle Allen, a professor and director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. "That's made it harder for people," she says.
Allen, along with researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute, is leading a collaboration of top scientists at institutions around the country who have joined forces to create a unified set of metrics for the coronavirus pandemic, including a shared definition of risk levels — and tools for communities to fight the virus.
The collaboration launched these tools Wednesday, including a new, online risk-assessment map that allows people to check the state or the county where they live and see a COVID-19 risk rating of green, yellow, orange or red. The risk levels are based upon the number of new daily cases per 100,000 people.
To find your county's risk level, explore the county-level map here.
A community that has fewer than one daily new case per 100,000 is green. One to 9 is yellow; between 10 and 24 is orange; and 25 and above puts you in the red. "When you get into that orange and red zone it means, in all likelihood, you're seeing a lot of velocity, a kind of fast upward trend," Allen says.
This is by no means the only attempt to categorize risk levels across the United States. There are a number of frameworks out there using different measures. And that can lead to confusion, says Allen. "What we really need is a shared vocabulary and shared way of presenting data across jurisdictions," she says. This effort represents the consensus of eight institutions and more than a dozen individual experts who have agreed on these metrics.
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There are other important metrics when it comes to tracking the spread and severity of COVID-19. Local government leaders need to know how many people are dying and how many people are hospitalized. They need to know how many tests are coming back positive in an area. (The lower the positivity rate, the more likely a community is testing enough to accurately detect the spread of the virus.)
But the group settled on tying the alert level to numbers of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000, because that's a good indicator to show the current picture of outbreaks and compare them in a consistent way. It's a standard way to measure the risk against the total population.
"It allows you to compare a rural area in upstate New York compared to New York City and have an apples-to-apples comparison for relative impact and relative caseload," says Ellie Graeden of Talus Analytics and the Center for Global Health, Science and Security at Georgetown University, which is part of the convergence group that developed the metrics.
Also, by sticking with a standard, core metric you can compare trends over time. "You want to know whether things are going up or down," Allen says.
For the public, this means you can now compare the case incidence where you live to that of, say, a nearby county where you're considering going on an errand. Or the county where your parents live if you're considering a visit. It gives you a way to assess your community's risk level compared to others, at a glance, and modify your behavior accordingly.
For policy-makers, the risk levels are meant to signal the intensity of the effort needed to control COVID-19 and to trigger specific interventions. The collaborative released guidance for how state and local leaders should manage their response, depending on their risk level.
"As this [pandemic] unfolded, a lot of us were waiting for the federal government to stand up and really produce ... some practical guidance on how those at the state and local level should be responding," says Graeden. But in the absence of that clear guidance, this collaboration aims to fill the void.
If a jurisdiction is at the green level, it's on track for containing the virus. At yellow, a community should implement measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing and have an active program of testing, contact tracing and isolation — including targeted testing of those in high-risk environments. Orange is considered "dangerous" and requires surging testing and contact tracing efforts — or if that's not possible, it may call for stay-home orders.
At the red level, "jurisdictions have reached a tipping point for uncontrolled spread," according to the collaborative's guidance. At this level, "you really need to be back at a stay-at-home [advisory]" Graeden says.
The idea is to take some of the guesswork out of the policy response at a local level, says Graeden, and offer a more standardized way to communicate the risk and the response options.
"We've all modified our metrics to align more accurately across the different platforms," she says. "We're now communicating and all agreeing on the same basic thresholds for the types of actions that need to be taken. "
The shared metrics and guidance will be incorporated into a number of initiatives and sites focused on COVID-19 response, including Covidlocal.org, led by a group of disease outbreak experts and former public health officials, and CovidActNow, led by former technology executives and a group of academics. The convergence group hopes to see it adopted more widely and used by local and state governments.


npr--2020-07-01--When Essential Workers Earn Less Than The Jobless: 'We Put The Country On Our Back'

When Essential Workers Earn Less Than The Jobless : 'We Put The Country On Our Back' As co-workers began to get sick , essential worker Yudelka LaVigna took an unpaid leave of absence .
When she got her unemployment benefits , she realized something unheard of : She was making more money not working .
`` That just kind of opens your eyes , '' says LaVigna , who 's now back at her New York call center job for essential services .
When the government shut down the U.S. economy in a bid to tame the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of people who lost jobs .
The government rushed one-time relief checks to all families that qualified and tacked an extra $ 600 onto weekly unemployment benefits , which are usually less than regular pay and vary by state .
But so far , lawmakers have not passed any measure to increase pay for workers who were asked to keep going to work during a highly contagious health crisis .
Some companies did create hazard , or `` hero , '' pay — typically around $ 2 extra an hour or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended it .
So those boosted unemployment checks have created a bizarre distortion in the labor market , where holding on to a job does n't guarantee being financially better off than losing one .
LaVigna says it 's a weird imbalance .
`` You feel like , you guys [ the government ] never have money for people that really need it , and all of a sudden you have money for everybody , '' she says .
`` But then the people that are still essentially working do n't get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers have compensated extra for on-site work amid the health crisis .
A recent survey by the Economic Policy Institute found that fewer than a third of people who had to leave their homes to work during the pandemic received additional pay or benefits .
As U.S. coronavirus cases persist and some states are even backtracking their reopening plans , workers have flooded social media with calls for hazard pay .
The Facebook group `` Give Essential Workers Essential Pay '' drew nearly 4,000 members in a matter of weeks : cashiers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , welders and machinists .
They post pictures of the thank-you gifts their companies have sent them : hats , bracelets , T-shirts and gift cards .
`` We got videos from our employer saying thank you .
We got musicians from the Grammys , or whatever , saying thank you .
...
If we 're so thanked and so important , why do n't they write a bill for us ? ''
says Nick Stone , an essential worker at a Nevada plant that supplies rock and other material for roadway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Think about the coal miners that go underground and risk their lives , and why their wages are increased compared to a surface miner , '' says Stone , a longtime miner .
`` This pandemic was the same thing .
We [ essential workers ] let everybody stay at home , and we put the country on our back to carry it .
...
But we did n't choose to do this .
This was asked of us . ''
Many social media conversations about hazard pay inevitably bring up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that workers wish they received too .
It 's a stark reminder of just how much of a difference that money can make to millions of working families .
Studies have begun to show that the additional pandemic aid threw a critical lifeline to low-income households , keeping many from poverty .
It was easier to access compared with the typically onerous bureaucracy of U.S. safety-net programs .
And experts who study poverty say that this money did a better job approximating a living wage than many minimum-wage jobs do .
`` All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help people , we think that $ 600 a week is the kind of amount that seems reasonable , '' says Liz Ananat , an economics professor at Barnard College , Columbia University .
`` I was honestly astonished by $ 600 a week , because it was so generous compared to what I 'm used to looking at . ''
But the short-lived pandemic boost ends at the end of July .
Ananat 's research also suggests that roughly half of those who 've lost work are still waiting for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fall back on .
Essential workers understand that the situation is messy .
`` I 'm not angry at anyone receiving that [ unemployment ] .
I ca n't be angry , because you have to still feed your family , '' says Sandra Ellington , a custodial worker at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in Ohio .
Ellington knows the importance of her work — and she says she has found a way to commute to work and keep the airport clean as safely as possible .
But her life has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because groceries have gotten more expensive .
And it has been months since she has hugged her mom , who 's 70 and used to come over for a cup of coffee on the porch a few times a week , but had to stop .
Ellington has seen her from the car while dropping off supplies .
They say `` I love you '' to each other from a distance .
`` We 've worked through it all .
... We 've been there through the whole fight , '' Ellington says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option [ to stay home ] .
And I 'm not mad I did n't get that option .
But I should be paid essential pay . ''
Lisa Cianci , a medical secretary near Boston , has been working 12-hour overnight shifts at an emergency room .
On a recent call , her dad suggested she take a vacation because she sounded stressed .
`` I 'm psychologically , mentally , emotionally — I 'm like , spent , '' Cianci says .
`` And I feel like I 'm not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lawmakers will pass some kind of hazard pay for essential workers and finally come out and show that `` We have n't forgotten you . ''

When Essential Workers Earn Less Than The Jobless: 'We Put The Country On Our Back'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Malte Mueller/Getty Images Malte Mueller/Getty Images
A strange thing happened this spring.
As co-workers began to get sick, essential worker Yudelka LaVigna took an unpaid leave of absence. When she got her unemployment benefits, she realized something unheard of: She was making more money not working.
"That just kind of opens your eyes," says LaVigna, who's now back at her New York call center job for essential services.
When the government shut down the U.S. economy in a bid to tame the spread of the coronavirus, Congress scrambled to help tens of millions of people who lost jobs. The government rushed one-time relief checks to all families that qualified and tacked an extra $600 onto weekly unemployment benefits, which are usually less than regular pay and vary by state.
But so far, lawmakers have not passed any measure to increase pay for workers who were asked to keep going to work during a highly contagious health crisis. Some companies did create hazard, or "hero," pay — typically around $2 extra an hour or a one-time bonus. Most have since ended it.
So those boosted unemployment checks have created a bizarre distortion in the labor market, where holding on to a job doesn't guarantee being financially better off than losing one.
LaVigna says it's a weird imbalance. "You feel like, you guys [the government] never have money for people that really need it, and all of a sudden you have money for everybody," she says. "But then the people that are still essentially working don't get the recognition that they deserve."
Few employers have compensated extra for on-site work amid the health crisis. A recent survey by the Economic Policy Institute found that fewer than a third of people who had to leave their homes to work during the pandemic received additional pay or benefits. As U.S. coronavirus cases persist and some states are even backtracking their reopening plans, workers have flooded social media with calls for hazard pay.
The Facebook group "Give Essential Workers Essential Pay" drew nearly 4,000 members in a matter of weeks: cashiers and bus drivers, pharmacy technicians and sanitation workers, welders and machinists. They post pictures of the thank-you gifts their companies have sent them: hats, bracelets, T-shirts and gift cards.
"We got videos from our employer saying thank you. We got musicians from the Grammys, or whatever, saying thank you. ... If we're so thanked and so important, why don't they write a bill for us?" says Nick Stone, an essential worker at a Nevada plant that supplies rock and other material for roadway, housing and other construction projects.
"Think about the coal miners that go underground and risk their lives, and why their wages are increased compared to a surface miner," says Stone, a longtime miner. "This pandemic was the same thing. We [essential workers] let everybody stay at home, and we put the country on our back to carry it. ... But we didn't choose to do this. This was asked of us."
Many social media conversations about hazard pay inevitably bring up the extra $600 weekly in unemployment benefits that workers wish they received too. It's a stark reminder of just how much of a difference that money can make to millions of working families.
Studies have begun to show that the additional pandemic aid threw a critical lifeline to low-income households, keeping many from poverty. It was easier to access compared with the typically onerous bureaucracy of U.S. safety-net programs. And experts who study poverty say that this money did a better job approximating a living wage than many minimum-wage jobs do.
"All of a sudden when we actually want to help people, we think that $600 a week is the kind of amount that seems reasonable," says Liz Ananat, an economics professor at Barnard College, Columbia University. "I was honestly astonished by $600 a week, because it was so generous compared to what I'm used to looking at."
But the short-lived pandemic boost ends at the end of July. Ananat's research also suggests that roughly half of those who've lost work are still waiting for their unemployment checks. Many have no savings to fall back on.
Essential workers understand that the situation is messy.
"I'm not angry at anyone receiving that [unemployment]. I can't be angry, because you have to still feed your family," says Sandra Ellington, a custodial worker at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in Ohio.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jennifer Latin/Sandra Ellington Jennifer Latin/Sandra Ellington
Ellington knows the importance of her work — and she says she has found a way to commute to work and keep the airport clean as safely as possible.
But her life has changed. She's couponing more, because groceries have gotten more expensive. And it has been months since she has hugged her mom, who's 70 and used to come over for a cup of coffee on the porch a few times a week, but had to stop. Ellington has seen her from the car while dropping off supplies. They say "I love you" to each other from a distance.
"We've worked through it all. ... We've been there through the whole fight," Ellington says. "We did not get the option [to stay home]. And I'm not mad I didn't get that option. But I should be paid essential pay."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Cianci Lisa Cianci
Lisa Cianci, a medical secretary near Boston, has been working 12-hour overnight shifts at an emergency room. On a recent call, her dad suggested she take a vacation because she sounded stressed.
"I'm psychologically, mentally, emotionally — I'm like, spent," Cianci says. "And I feel like I'm not the same person."
She's hopeful that lawmakers will pass some kind of hazard pay for essential workers and finally come out and show that "We haven't forgotten you."


npr--2020-07-01--'Not Your Old-School Aryan Nation Guy': Army Case Highlights Evolving Threat

When Army Pvt .
Ethan Melzer found out in April that he was deploying to Turkey , U.S. prosecutors say , he began to plot .
He allegedly browsed jihadist propaganda , including an ISIS account of attacks on American forces .
In it , militants referred to a `` harvest of the soldiers . ''
But the ambush 22-year-old Melzer was planning , authorities say , was driven by a different ideology .
A federal indictment unsealed in June accuses Melzer of passing sensitive military information to fellow members of a Satanic neo-Nazi network , the Order of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's own unit .
While the case hinges on contacts with white supremacists , jihadist references are laced throughout .
In May , prosecutors say , Melzer slipped information to someone he took for an al-Qaida operative .
Court papers show a conversation where an alleged neo-Nazi asked Melzer if they were `` literally organizing a jihadi attack , '' to which he replied , `` Yes probably . ''
`` They did n't draw a distinction , did n't really see a problem with adhering to tenets of violent white supremacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P. Clarke , a terrorism researcher at The Soufan Center .
`` The lines are blurrier than ever before . ''
Analysts say Melzer 's alleged plot is emblematic of today 's extremist threat , one inspired by a mash-up of radical beliefs .
It 's a threat that is international in reach , and nihilistic and violent in nature – part of the destroy-the-system `` accelerationist '' vein .
One researcher noted that the old left-right terrorism spectrum now looks more like a circle .
A Justice Department statement described Melzer 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideologies . ''
Even the federal case against Melzer is muddy when it comes to which brand of extremism forms the legal basis of the terrorism component .
After several email exchanges between NPR and Justice Department spokespeople , it was still unclear whether the charge Melzer faces for material support of terrorism is linked to his alleged association with the neo-Nazi group or to the jihadists .
Or , potentially to both .
`` It 's all become muddled together and it 's very difficult to disaggregate , '' Clarke said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that kind of clarity , and it 's not there very often now .
This is not your old-school Aryan Nation guy . ''
The fluidity makes it even harder for security officials and terrorism researchers struggling to `` turn the ship , '' as Clarke put it .
They 're moving from years of an almost single-minded focus on Islamist extremism – namely al-Qaida and ISIS – to the resurgent far-right , now the deadlier and more active threat in the United States , according to the FBI .
Plus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , an economic crisis and a polarizing election year , creating fertile ground for radicalization .
`` I think we 're going to look back at the first half of 2020 and see this as a watershed moment for far-right extremists , in terms of recruiting new members and infusing new lifeblood into these groups , '' Clarke said .
The concept of accelerationism — the promotion of violence to hasten the collapse of failed governmental systems - is n't exclusive to the far-right .
And the vision of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faction .
The heavily armed , Hawaiian shirt-sporting `` boogaloo boys '' say they 're prepping for a second Civil War , but they 're all over the place on ideology and governance for the day after .
For hardcore racists , the goal is more clear-cut : a white ethno-state .
`` What defines white supremacist accelerationists is their belief that violence is the only way to pursue their political goals .
To put it most simply , accelerationists embrace terrorism , '' wrote researcher Cassie Miller in a recent report for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Accelerationists are n't part of a new movement , '' Miller added .
`` They 're just an iteration more inclined toward terroristic violence than has existed in recent decades . ''
The attacks often draw from a hybrid of ideologies .
One trend blends white nationalism with the misogynistic incel movement , another uses the left 's climate concerns to stoke right-wing paranoia over racial competition for resources .
Mass shooters in Christchurch , New Zealand , and El Paso , Texas , both included environmentalist themes in their white-nationalist manifestos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving both white supremacy and militant Islamism , sometimes based on a melding of ideologies , sometimes just a borrowing of tactics .
Another example comes from the Justice Department 's crackdown on The Base , a small neo-Nazi group agitating for a race war .
As Miller of the SPLC wrote , The Base 's goal was `` system collapse . ''
The network was disrupted in January with the arrests of seven members ahead of a gun rally in Virginia .
Authorities say The Base planned to target the event .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention to the name of the group – yes , they all know `` The Base '' translates as `` al Qaida '' in Arabic .
That might be coincidental , researchers say , but they do see the jihadist influence elsewhere .
The Base 's black flag is reminiscent of the ISIS banner .
The group 's propaganda follows the cinematic style that was another hallmark of ISIS , down to a group photo with a decapitated ram 's head .
Art Jipson , a University of Dayton professor who 's studied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neo-Nazis and jihadists do n't stand a chance of working out a power-sharing agreement after the imagined system collapse .
The disparate camps are interested in one another only as a means to an end .
For now , Jipson said , they share an obsession with `` purity and pollution '' and a penchant for guerrilla warfare .
`` There is a respect for the tactic , the devotion to cause , the devotion to the group , but obviously not accepting the ideology or the goals of those movements , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die for your cause is held in some esteem . ''
The portrait that emerges from the court papers of Melzer , the Army private charged with plotting to ambush his own unit , is of an extremist who wanted to sow chaos by any means necessary .
When Melzer found out in April that he was being deployed to Turkey , prosecutors say , he passed details about his unit 's location , strength and defenses to the Order of the Nine Angles ; prosecutors say he also gave information to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melzer , Jennifer Willis , declined to comment on the charges .
Melzer realized the ambush plot was a suicide operation and did n't care , according to the indictment .
His goal was bigger – he wanted to `` leave a mark . ''
The indictment says Melzer reasoned that his death was worth it because `` the after effects of a convoy getting attacked would cover it ...
It would be another war . ''
In the court papers , one exchange shows Melzer and his neo-Nazi comrades using Arabic phrases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if mimicking jihadists : `` inshallah my brother , allahu akbar . ''
In another transcript , an alleged co-conspirator tells Melzer that his neo-Nazi group `` is officially chill with the hajis , '' a pejorative reference to Muslims .
Melzer allegedly replied that they were `` not the only one . ''
The other member wrote back that what the group was planning `` is already similar to jihad . ''
`` There 's a kind of flippancy with the language , a tongue-in-cheek humor to it : 'They 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're on the right side of history , but if they 're attacking the federal , international cabal , then that is not necessarily a bad thing , ' `` Jipson said , summarizing the white supremacists ' take on jihadists .
Counterterrorism authorities disrupted the alleged plot in May and arrested Melzer on June 10 .
A Justice Department news release referred to him as `` the enemy within '' and said he was `` motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but researchers warn that his alleged apocalyptic mission , informed by guerrilla movements around the world , remains a serious national security threat .
The pandemic makes it even more timely to understand and address it , said Cynthia Miller-Idriss , who runs the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University .
The more people view systems as failing to protect them , she said , the more the tear-it-down approach resonates .
`` There 's a lot of fantastical and even mythological thinking here , a phoenix rising from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some kind of mythical rebirth and restoration , '' Miller-Idriss said .
`` That becomes more attractive in times where we 're experiencing a lot of instability and uncertainty . ''

'Not Your Old-School Aryan Nation Guy': Army Case Highlights Evolving Threat
When Army Pvt. Ethan Melzer found out in April that he was deploying to Turkey, U.S. prosecutors say, he began to plot. He allegedly browsed jihadist propaganda, including an ISIS account of attacks on American forces. In it, militants referred to a "harvest of the soldiers."
But the ambush 22-year-old Melzer was planning, authorities say, was driven by a different ideology. A federal indictment unsealed in June accuses Melzer of passing sensitive military information to fellow members of a Satanic neo-Nazi network, the Order of the Nine Angles. The target: Melzer's own unit.
While the case hinges on contacts with white supremacists, jihadist references are laced throughout. In May, prosecutors say, Melzer slipped information to someone he took for an al-Qaida operative. Court papers show a conversation where an alleged neo-Nazi asked Melzer if they were "literally organizing a jihadi attack," to which he replied, "Yes probably."
"They didn't draw a distinction, didn't really see a problem with adhering to tenets of violent white supremacy, Satanism and jihad," said Colin P. Clarke, a terrorism researcher at The Soufan Center. "The lines are blurrier than ever before."
Analysts say Melzer's alleged plot is emblematic of today's extremist threat, one inspired by a mash-up of radical beliefs. It's a threat that is international in reach, and nihilistic and violent in nature – part of the destroy-the-system "accelerationist" vein. One researcher noted that the old left-right terrorism spectrum now looks more like a circle. A Justice Department statement described Melzer's motivations as "a diabolical cocktail of ideologies."
Even the federal case against Melzer is muddy when it comes to which brand of extremism forms the legal basis of the terrorism component. After several email exchanges between NPR and Justice Department spokespeople, it was still unclear whether the charge Melzer faces for material support of terrorism is linked to his alleged association with the neo-Nazi group or to the jihadists. Or, potentially to both.
"It's all become muddled together and it's very difficult to disaggregate," Clarke said. "As researchers, we're looking for that kind of clarity, and it's not there very often now. This is not your old-school Aryan Nation guy."
The fluidity makes it even harder for security officials and terrorism researchers struggling to "turn the ship," as Clarke put it. They're moving from years of an almost single-minded focus on Islamist extremism – namely al-Qaida and ISIS – to the resurgent far-right, now the deadlier and more active threat in the United States, according to the FBI.
Plus, the country is in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, an economic crisis and a polarizing election year, creating fertile ground for radicalization.
"I think we're going to look back at the first half of 2020 and see this as a watershed moment for far-right extremists, in terms of recruiting new members and infusing new lifeblood into these groups," Clarke said.
The concept of accelerationism — the promotion of violence to hasten the collapse of failed governmental systems - isn't exclusive to the far-right. And the vision of a post-collapse new order varies from faction to faction. The heavily armed, Hawaiian shirt-sporting "boogaloo boys" say they're prepping for a second Civil War, but they're all over the place on ideology and governance for the day after.
For hardcore racists, the goal is more clear-cut: a white ethno-state.
"What defines white supremacist accelerationists is their belief that violence is the only way to pursue their political goals. To put it most simply, accelerationists embrace terrorism," wrote researcher Cassie Miller in a recent report for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
"Accelerationists aren't part of a new movement," Miller added. "They're just an iteration more inclined toward terroristic violence than has existed in recent decades."
The attacks often draw from a hybrid of ideologies. One trend blends white nationalism with the misogynistic incel movement, another uses the left's climate concerns to stoke right-wing paranoia over racial competition for resources. Mass shooters in Christchurch, New Zealand, and El Paso, Texas, both included environmentalist themes in their white-nationalist manifestos.
Melzer's case is among a handful involving both white supremacy and militant Islamism, sometimes based on a melding of ideologies, sometimes just a borrowing of tactics.
Another example comes from the Justice Department's crackdown on The Base, a small neo-Nazi group agitating for a race war. As Miller of the SPLC wrote, The Base's goal was "system collapse." The network was disrupted in January with the arrests of seven members ahead of a gun rally in Virginia. Authorities say The Base planned to target the event.
Extremism trackers roll their eyes at the attention to the name of the group – yes, they all know "The Base" translates as "al Qaida" in Arabic. That might be coincidental, researchers say, but they do see the jihadist influence elsewhere. The Base's black flag is reminiscent of the ISIS banner. The group's propaganda follows the cinematic style that was another hallmark of ISIS, down to a group photo with a decapitated ram's head.
Art Jipson, a University of Dayton professor who's studied white racial extremists for decades, said neo-Nazis and jihadists don't stand a chance of working out a power-sharing agreement after the imagined system collapse. The disparate camps are interested in one another only as a means to an end. For now, Jipson said, they share an obsession with "purity and pollution" and a penchant for guerrilla warfare.
"There is a respect for the tactic, the devotion to cause, the devotion to the group, but obviously not accepting the ideology or the goals of those movements," Jipson said. "The willingness to die for your cause is held in some esteem."
The portrait that emerges from the court papers of Melzer, the Army private charged with plotting to ambush his own unit, is of an extremist who wanted to sow chaos by any means necessary.
When Melzer found out in April that he was being deployed to Turkey, prosecutors say, he passed details about his unit's location, strength and defenses to the Order of the Nine Angles; prosecutors say he also gave information to a purported al-Qaida operative. An attorney for Melzer, Jennifer Willis, declined to comment on the charges.
Melzer realized the ambush plot was a suicide operation and didn't care, according to the indictment. His goal was bigger – he wanted to "leave a mark." The indictment says Melzer reasoned that his death was worth it because "the after effects of a convoy getting attacked would cover it ... It would be another war."
In the court papers, one exchange shows Melzer and his neo-Nazi comrades using Arabic phrases about Melzer's deployment to Turkey, as if mimicking jihadists: "inshallah my brother, allahu akbar." In another transcript, an alleged co-conspirator tells Melzer that his neo-Nazi group "is officially chill with the hajis," a pejorative reference to Muslims. Melzer allegedly replied that they were "not the only one." The other member wrote back that what the group was planning "is already similar to jihad."
"There's a kind of flippancy with the language, a tongue-in-cheek humor to it: 'They're on the wrong side of history, we're on the right side of history, but if they're attacking the federal, international cabal, then that is not necessarily a bad thing,' " Jipson said, summarizing the white supremacists' take on jihadists.
Counterterrorism authorities disrupted the alleged plot in May and arrested Melzer on June 10. A Justice Department news release referred to him as "the enemy within" and said he was "motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal."
Melzer is in custody, but researchers warn that his alleged apocalyptic mission, informed by guerrilla movements around the world, remains a serious national security threat. The pandemic makes it even more timely to understand and address it, said Cynthia Miller-Idriss, who runs the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University.
The more people view systems as failing to protect them, she said, the more the tear-it-down approach resonates.
"There's a lot of fantastical and even mythological thinking here, a phoenix rising from the ashes, a way of believing in some kind of mythical rebirth and restoration," Miller-Idriss said. "That becomes more attractive in times where we're experiencing a lot of instability and uncertainty."


npr--2020-06-30--Pence Urges Americans To Wear Masks To Stop Spread Of COVID-19

Pence Urges Americans To Wear Masks To Stop Spread Of COVID-19 Vice President Pence wore a face mask to a public briefing on Tuesday where the message from the surgeon general and others was clear : Americans should to do the same while in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Pence appeared at the U.S. Health Service Commission Corps headquarters in Rockville , Md.
, joined by other members of the White House 's coronavirus task force , including Surgeon General Jerome Adams .
The vice president and others removed their masks only when delivering remarks .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering , we end up in a situation where you see higher rates of disease spread and you end up having to close places , '' Adams said .
`` This mask , this face covering , actually is an instrument of freedom for Americans if we all use it . ''
The latest message comes as coronavirus cases in states in the South and West continue to rise .
It also comes on the same day that Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the task force , warned that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases a day , could more than double that figure if the public fails to heed guidelines .
Despite that surge , Pence insisted : `` We 're in a much better place than four months ago , even two months ago . ''
Pence , at the conclusion of his remarks , appeared to unintentionally begin walking away without his mask .
Adams called it to the vice president 's attention .
The Trump administration has been criticized for mixed messaging on masking , with President Trump himself mostly declining to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had `` worn a mask in public , '' and he praised the administration 's work on testing and supplies .
Pence has in recent days been urging mask use and wearing one himself , at least part of the time .
That 's despite Trump 's suggestion , in an interview with The Wall Street Journal earlier this month , that some people might wear masks to `` signal disapproval '' of him .
Even so , GOP lawmakers have also been pushing the mask message .
Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a mask , at least some of the time , to set a good example .
`` Unfortunately , this simple , lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says : If you 're for Trump , you do n't wear a mask .
If you 're against Trump , you do , '' Alexander said .
That sentiment was echoed by Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney , who told reporters that it would be `` very helpful '' if Trump encouraged mask usage .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask — it 's not complicated . ''
In an interview on Fox News , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy suggested that for July 4 , Americans `` could all show our patriotism with a red , white and blue mask . ''

Pence Urges Americans To Wear Masks To Stop Spread Of COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Vice President Pence wore a face mask to a public briefing on Tuesday where the message from the surgeon general and others was clear: Americans should to do the same while in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Pence appeared at the U.S. Health Service Commission Corps headquarters in Rockville, Md., joined by other members of the White House's coronavirus task force, including Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
The vice president and others removed their masks only when delivering remarks.
"When you do not wear your face covering, we end up in a situation where you see higher rates of disease spread and you end up having to close places," Adams said. "This mask, this face covering, actually is an instrument of freedom for Americans if we all use it."
The latest message comes as coronavirus cases in states in the South and West continue to rise. It also comes on the same day that Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the task force, warned that the U.S., which is seeing 40,000 new coronavirus cases a day, could more than double that figure if the public fails to heed guidelines.
Despite that surge, Pence insisted: "We're in a much better place than four months ago, even two months ago."
Pence, at the conclusion of his remarks, appeared to unintentionally begin walking away without his mask. Adams called it to the vice president's attention.
The Trump administration has been criticized for mixed messaging on masking, with President Trump himself mostly declining to wear one. Pence said the president had "worn a mask in public," and he praised the administration's work on testing and supplies.
Pence has in recent days been urging mask use and wearing one himself, at least part of the time. That's despite Trump's suggestion, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, that some people might wear masks to "signal disapproval" of him.
Even so, GOP lawmakers have also been pushing the mask message. Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander on Tuesday said the president should start wearing a mask, at least some of the time, to set a good example.
"Unfortunately, this simple, lifesaving practice has become part of a political debate that says: If you're for Trump, you don't wear a mask. If you're against Trump, you do," Alexander said.
That sentiment was echoed by Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who told reporters that it would be "very helpful" if Trump encouraged mask usage.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared Tuesday: "Put on a mask — it's not complicated."
In an interview on Fox News, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy suggested that for July 4, Americans "could all show our patriotism with a red, white and blue mask."


npr--2020-07-01--Referendum In Russia Passes, Allowing Putin To Remain President Until 2036

Referendum In Russia Passes , Allowing Putin To Remain President Until 2036 Russian voters have overwhelmingly backed a referendum on constitutional changes that include a provision allowing President Vladimir Putin — who has already served for some two decades — to remain in power until 2036 .
With nearly all of the ballots counted , the tally for the voting that has taken place over a full week , showed a 78 % `` yes '' vote , according to Russia 's Central Election Commission .
The commission estimated the turnout was 65 % of eligible voters .
The opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia 's constitution had required Putin to step down after his current six-year term expires in 2024 .
The amendments to the constitution up for the referendum vote had been passed weeks ago by Russia 's parliament , but Putin had insisted that they be approved by voters to give the changes legitimacy .
The referendum had originally been scheduled for April 22 , but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Russia is among the countries hardest-hit by the virus .
In addition to a reset of presidential terms allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referendum includes some 200 other amendments , including guaranteed minimum pensions , a ban on same-sex marriage and an affirmation of the Russian people 's belief in God .
It also includes changes designed to strengthen the country 's State Council and a provision banning the relinquishing of any Russian territory — a move aimed at solidifying Moscow 's hold on Crimea , which had been under Ukraine 's control until it was annexed by Russia in 2014 .
Putin was photographed voting at the Royal Academy of Sciences , where he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clad in mask and gloves as an apparent precaution against coronavirus infection .
Putin himself was not wearing any protective gear .
In January , Putin 's Cabinet , including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev , abruptly resigned , in a move aimed at easing the constitutional changes .
Putin , who is currently 67 , could serve well into his 80s .
The Russian leader previously sidestepped the two-term limit by becoming prime minister for a term , while Medvedev stepped into the presidency .
Even so , Putin was widely seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his brief absence from the post .

Referendum In Russia Passes, Allowing Putin To Remain President Until 2036
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alexei Druzhinin/AP Alexei Druzhinin/AP
Russian voters have overwhelmingly backed a referendum on constitutional changes that includes a provision allowing President Vladimir Putin — who has already served for some two decades — to remain in power until 2036.
With nearly all of the ballots counted, the tally for the voting that has taken place over a full week showed a 78% "yes" vote, according to Russia's Central Election Commission. The commission estimated the turnout was 65% of eligible voters.
The opposition accused the government of rigging the vote.
Russia's constitution had required Putin to step down after his current six-year term expires in 2024.
The amendments to the constitution up for the referendum vote had been passed weeks ago by Russia's parliament, but Putin had insisted that they be approved by voters to give the changes legitimacy.
The referendum had originally been scheduled for April 22 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia is among the countries hardest-hit by the virus.
In addition to a reset of presidential terms allowing him to run twice more, the referendum includes some 200 other amendments, including guaranteed minimum pensions, a ban on same-sex marriage and an affirmation of the Russian people's belief in God.
It also includes changes designed to strengthen the country's State Council and a provision banning the relinquishing of any Russian territory — a move aimed at solidifying Moscow's hold on Crimea, which had been under Ukraine's control until it was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Putin was photographed voting at the Royal Academy of Sciences, where he was handed a ballot by a poll worker clad in mask and gloves as an apparent precaution against coronavirus infection. Putin himself was not wearing any protective gear.
In January, Putin's Cabinet, including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, abruptly resigned in a move aimed at easing the constitutional changes.
Putin, who is 67, could serve well into his 80s.
The Russian leader previously sidestepped the two-term limit by becoming prime minister for a term while Medvedev stepped into the presidency. Even so, Putin was widely seen as maintaining near complete control over the presidency during his brief absence from the post.


npr--2020-07-01--House Follows Senate In Passing Extension Of COVID-19 Business Loans

House Follows Senate In Passing Extension Of COVID-19 Business Loans House members unanimously passed an extension of the $ 660 billion Paycheck Protection Program , aimed at helping small businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic .
The voice vote came a day after the Senate approved the measure .
The PPP had expired Tuesday at midnight .
If President Trump signs the extension , the program will operate through Aug. 8 .
The program was created as part of the original $ 3 trillion package of economic pandemic relief measures that passed Congress in March .
The forgivable loans , doled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are meant to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll despite lockdowns and a general downturn in business as a result of the coronavirus .
There was a scramble to claim the first round , amounting to $ 349 billion , which was exhausted in just 13 days .
A second round of $ 310 billion has not been fully spent .
On Tuesday , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested the remaining $ 140 billion in loans under the program could be repurposed to aid restaurants , hotels and other industries hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed by Congress is aimed at keeping the spigot open while lawmakers mull reworking the program .

House Follows Senate In Passing Extension Of COVID-19 Business Loans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill O'Leary/AP Bill O'Leary/AP
House members unanimously passed an extension of the $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program, aimed at helping small businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The voice vote came a day after the Senate approved the measure.
The PPP had expired Tuesday at midnight. If President Trump signs the extension, the program will operate through Aug. 8.
The program was created as part of the original $3 trillion package of economic pandemic relief measures that passed Congress in March. The forgivable loans, doled out by the Small Business Administration, are meant to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll despite lockdowns and a general downturn in business as a result of the coronavirus.
There was a scramble to claim the first round, amounting to $349 billion, which was exhausted in just 13 days. A second round of $310 billion has not been fully spent.
On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested the remaining $140 billion in loans under the program could be repurposed to aid restaurants, hotels and other industries hit hardest by the pandemic.
The extension passed by Congress is aimed at keeping the spigot open while lawmakers mull reworking the program.