npr--2020-12-07--Fauci Says Holiday Gatherings Should Include Fewer Than 10 People

Fauci Says Holiday Gatherings Should Include Fewer Than 10 People Dr. Anthony Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Monday that family gatherings over the holidays should be limited to fewer than 10 people .
Fauci made the comment while appearing via video link on New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo 's coronavirus briefing .
Cuomo asked Fauci for his view on New York 's emergency rule , implemented last month , capping private in-home gatherings at 10 participants .
`` Ten may even be a bit too much , '' Fauci replied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number , it 's the people who might be coming in from out of town .
You want to make sure you do n't have people who just got off a plane or a train .
That 's even more risky than the absolute number . ''
Cuomo has drawn criticism from some conservatives for implementing the emergency rule .
Some upstate sheriffs have refused to enforce it .
During the briefing in Albany , Cuomo acknowledged that `` compliance is very low on that . ''
But Fauci broadly endorsed New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings could emerge as major vectors .
`` You get indoors , you take your mask off because you 're eating and drinking , and you do n't realize that there may be somebody that you know that you love who is perfectly well with no symptoms and yet they got infected into the community . ''
Fauci said despite public health warnings he expects coronavirus cases to continue surging nationwide into January as holiday gatherings infect more people .
`` We could start to see things start to get really bad in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for New York state but for any state or city , '' Fauci said , adding that the middle of January could be `` a really dark time for us . ''
Meanwhile , Cuomo said he may again ban indoor restaurant dining in New York City if hospitalizations keep rising .
There are currently 4,602 people hospitalized statewide , with 7,302 new coronavirus cases and 80 fatalities reported on Sunday , according to state officials .

Fauci Says Holiday Gatherings Should Include Fewer Than 10 People
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Monday that family gatherings over the holidays should be limited to fewer than 10 people.
Fauci made the comment while appearing via video link on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's coronavirus briefing.
Cuomo asked Fauci for his view on New York's emergency rule, implemented last month, capping private in-home gatherings at 10 participants.
"Ten may even be a bit too much," Fauci replied. "It's not only the number, it's the people who might be coming in from out of town. You want to make sure you don't have people who just got off a plane or a train. That's even more risky than the absolute number."
Cuomo has drawn criticism from some conservatives for implementing the emergency rule. Some upstate sheriffs have refused to enforce it.
During the briefing in Albany, Cuomo acknowledged that "compliance is very low on that."
But Fauci broadly endorsed New York state's restrictions, warning that holiday gatherings could emerge as major vectors.
"You get indoors, you take your mask off because you're eating and drinking, and you don't realize that there may be somebody that you know that you love who is perfectly well with no symptoms and yet they got infected into the community."
Fauci said despite public health warnings he expects coronavirus cases to continue surging nationwide into January as holiday gatherings infect more people.
"We could start to see things start to get really bad in the middle of January, not only for New York state but for any state or city," Fauci said, adding that the middle of January could be "a really dark time for us."
Meanwhile, Cuomo said he may again ban indoor restaurant dining in New York City if hospitalizations keep rising.
There are currently 4,602 people hospitalized statewide, with 7,302 new coronavirus cases and 80 fatalities reported on Sunday, according to state officials.


npr--2020-12-07--Health Officials Call On Mississippi Governor To Implement Statewide Mask Mandate

Mississippi , like the rest of the U.S. , is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases .
In the last few days , the state 's daily average case count passed 1,800 , far higher than the previous peak during the summer .
But while the state had a mask mandate in place during August and September , Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves has resisted reinstating it for the current wave of cases .
Instead , he 's taking a county-by-county approach based on where case numbers are highest .
Fifty-four of Mississippi 's 82 counties currently have mask mandates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi 's largest hospital , the University of Mississippi Medical Center , says that approach is n't working .
In a letter on Nov. 24 , Woodward and three other health care leaders in Mississippi called on the governor to implement a statewide mask mandate .
Reeves has defended the county-by-county approach , saying it 's more effective at getting the largest number of people in Mississippi to actually wear masks .
Woodward says she understands the governor 's position , and that a statewide mandate `` does n't mean everybody is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other health care leaders in the state also feel like it really sends a message how serious this is and that this is an important step for everybody to take , '' she tells All Things Considered , adding that it 's `` not the only thing . ''
In excerpts from her interview , Woodward explains why she thinks a statewide mandate is necessary and laments how the coronavirus pandemic has become politicized .
Why should a mask mandate be statewide ?
I think because we 're seeing a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to another on a daily basis , whether it 's because they work in an adjacent county , we 've still got sports activities that are going on .
People are traveling all around the state .
So I think that that is just a measure that allows us as a state to all be on the same page .
And you do n't have to know county by county whether there 's a mask mandate in place or not .
Mississippi 's state health officer , Thomas Dobbs , said that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` distracting from the real threat , '' [ such as ] people carrying on with parties and other nonessential activities while the virus is still rampant .
What do you think of that ?
I think there 's truth to that .
I think it 's kind of a shame how political it has become about wearing a mask , not wearing a mask .
And honestly , we should not have to have a mask mandate for people to do the right thing .
But I think people have let down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People are tired of the idea that the coronavirus and the pandemic is inhibiting the things that they want to do .
People are tired of it .
So honestly , if people would would just wear the mask and continue to be very careful and deliberate in activities , I do n't think we 'd have to have this conversation .
When you say that so much of the coronavirus response has gotten so deeply political , do you think there 's any way to avoid that at this point ?
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging because we are depending on elected officials to lead the way and to guide the way .
So in reality , there 's probably no way to keep it from being political .
But what I hate to see is that people have fallen out along party lines and have taken sort of antagonistic positions , which is so unfortunate because this virus certainly knows no political party .
Dave Blanchard and Justine Kenin produced and edited the audio interview .

Health Officials Call On Mississippi Governor To Implement Statewide Mask Mandate
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rogelio V. Solis/AP Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Mississippi, like the rest of the U.S., is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases. In the last few days, the state's daily average case count passed 1,800, far higher than the previous peak during the summer.
But while the state had a mask mandate in place during August and September, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has resisted reinstating it for the current wave of cases.
Instead, he's taking a county-by-county approach based on where case numbers are highest. Fifty-four of Mississippi's 82 counties currently have mask mandates.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, who heads Mississippi's largest hospital, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, says that approach isn't working. In a letter on Nov. 24, Woodward and three other health care leaders in Mississippi called on the governor to implement a statewide mask mandate.
Reeves has defended the county-by-county approach, saying it's more effective at getting the largest number of people in Mississippi to actually wear masks.
Woodward says she understands the governor's position, and that a statewide mandate "doesn't mean everybody is going to comply."
"But I and other health care leaders in the state also feel like it really sends a message how serious this is and that this is an important step for everybody to take," she tells All Things Considered, adding that it's "not the only thing."
In excerpts from her interview, Woodward explains why she thinks a statewide mandate is necessary and laments how the coronavirus pandemic has become politicized.
Why should a mask mandate be statewide?
I think because we're seeing a lot of people who are going from one county to another on a daily basis, whether it's because they work in an adjacent county, we've still got sports activities that are going on. People are traveling all around the state. So I think that that is just a measure that allows us as a state to all be on the same page. And you don't have to know county by county whether there's a mask mandate in place or not.
Mississippi's state health officer, Thomas Dobbs, said that he is worried that the mask conversation is "distracting from the real threat," [such as] people carrying on with parties and other nonessential activities while the virus is still rampant. What do you think of that?
I think there's truth to that. I think it's kind of a shame how political it has become about wearing a mask, not wearing a mask. And honestly, we should not have to have a mask mandate for people to do the right thing. But I think people have let down their guard and they're fatigued. People are tired of the idea that the coronavirus and the pandemic is inhibiting the things that they want to do. People are tired of it. So honestly, if people would would just wear the mask and continue to be very careful and deliberate in activities, I don't think we'd have to have this conversation.
When you say that so much of the coronavirus response has gotten so deeply political, do you think there's any way to avoid that at this point?
On one hand, that would be very challenging because we are depending on elected officials to lead the way and to guide the way. So in reality, there's probably no way to keep it from being political. But what I hate to see is that people have fallen out along party lines and have taken sort of antagonistic positions, which is so unfortunate because this virus certainly knows no political party.
Dave Blanchard and Justine Kenin produced and edited the audio interview.


npr--2020-12-07--Police In Ohio Say Slain Black Man Brandished A Gun; Family Says He Held A Sandwich

Police In Ohio Say Slain Black Man Brandished A Gun ; Family Says He Held A Sandwich Authorities in Ohio have identified a longtime Franklin County sheriff 's deputy as the law enforcement officer who shot and killed a Black man in Columbus last Friday .
Law enforcement said the man was waving a gun .
His family said he was carrying a sandwich .
The sheriff 's office said the deputy who fired the shots , Jason Meade , a 17-year veteran of the force , was assigned full time to a U.S .
Marshals Service fugitive task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The task force had wrapped up an unsuccessful search for `` violent suspects , '' according to police investigators , when the shooting took place .
The man killed , 23-year-old Casey Goodson , was not an object of the search , nor was he wanted by law enforcement prior to the incident , according to police .
Family members said Goodson was shot three times in the back .
An autopsy will be conducted by the Franklin County coroner , according to investigators .
Columbus police are leading the investigation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but did not involve police .
As of Sunday afternoon , roughly 48 hours after the shooting , Meade had still not been interviewed by investigators .
`` At this time , Deputy Meade is not on duty and is awaiting interview by the Columbus Division of Police Critical Incident and Response Team , which is investigating the incident , '' the Franklin County Sheriff 's Office said in a statement .
Peter Tobin , U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Ohio , said that Goodson was brandishing a weapon and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He was seen driving down the street waving a gun , and that 's when the deputy , at some point after that , he confronted him and it went badly , '' Tobin said at a Friday news conference , NPR member station WOSU reports .
The station adds that authorities provided few details about the encounter or what triggered Meade 's use of deadly force .
The sheriff 's office said deputies do not wear body cameras .
Investigators said no other law enforcement officers witnessed the shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goodson , '' according to a statement from the Columbus police .
A tweet by the Franklin County Sheriff 's Office said , `` the suspect 's weapon was recovered at the scene . ''
Reporter Paige Pfleger of member station WOSU reported Monday that Goodson 's concealed-carry license was current , according to documentation provided by family attorneys .
Activists and family members dispute details in law enforcement 's version of the story and point to it as another example of police resorting to unjustified deadly force against Black Americans .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who identified herself as Goodson 's sister , wrote in a Facebook post .
`` My brother literally walked across the yard , walked into the back fence to get to the side door , had his subway [ sandwich ] and mask in one hand keys in the other , UNLOCKED AND OPENED THE DOOR and stepped in the house before '' he was shot , Harper wrote .
In a statement , Walton + Brown , the law firm representing Goodson 's family , said the shooting was witnessed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The firm said Goodson was returning home from a dentist appointment .
`` Everything about him was about abiding by the law , and in terms of having a gun , he was licensed to do so , '' Nana Watson , president of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP , told The Columbus Dispatch .
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , who represents many families whose loved ones have been killed by police this year , including George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Rayshard Brooks , Walter Wallace and others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` This is Casey Goodson , a 23yo Black man from Ohio .
On 12/4 , an @ OHFCSO deputy mistook Casey for a fugitive & fatally shot him 3x in the BACK .
He was walking into his own home with a sandwich , NOT a gun .
This shoot 1st , ask Qs later mentality MUST END !
We demand # JusticeForCasey !
! ''
Heather Johnson , a friend of the Goodson family , who also spoke with The Columbus Dispatch , said he had no criminal history and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Casey was 23 years old ; he never had any type of crimes .
He was good , he worked at the Gap , he loved his family , '' Johnson told the paper .
`` He just enjoyed being a big brother and enjoyed being with his family — he loved them very much . ''
The shooting comes as the U.S. is still grappling with long-simmering issues stemming from social inequities , systemic racism and aggressive police tactics used against communities of color .
Those matters touched off months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing by Minneapolis police .
It also comes just weeks before a transition of power at the White House .
President-elect Joe Biden made criminal justice reform a central pillar of his campaign .

Police In Ohio Say Slain Black Man Brandished A Gun; Family Says He Held A Sandwich
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Welsh-Huggins/AP Andrew Welsh-Huggins/AP
Updated at 4:02 p.m. ET
Authorities in Ohio have identified a longtime Franklin County sheriff's deputy as the law enforcement officer who shot and killed a Black man in Columbus last Friday.
Law enforcement said the man was waving a gun while driving. His family said he was shot while carrying a bag of sandwiches outside his house.
The sheriff's office said the deputy who fired the shots, Jason Meade, a 17-year veteran of the force, was assigned full time to a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force at the time of the incident.
The task force had wrapped up an unsuccessful search for "violent suspects," according to police investigators, when the shooting took place.
The man killed, 23-year-old Casey Goodson, was not an object of the search, nor was he wanted by law enforcement prior to the incident, according to police.
Family members said Goodson was shot three times in the back. An autopsy will be conducted by the Franklin County coroner, according to investigators.
Columbus police are leading the investigation of the incident, which occurred within its jurisdiction but did not involve police. As of Sunday afternoon, roughly 48 hours after the shooting, Meade had still not been interviewed by investigators.
"At this time, Deputy Meade is not on duty and is awaiting interview by the Columbus Division of Police Critical Incident and Response Team, which is investigating the incident," the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Peter Tobin, U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, said that Goodson was brandishing a weapon and then things took a turn for the worst.
"He was seen driving down the street waving a gun, and that's when the deputy, at some point after that, he confronted him and it went badly," Tobin said at a Friday news conference, NPR member station WOSU reports.
The station adds that authorities provided few details about the encounter or what triggered Meade's use of deadly force. The sheriff's office said deputies do not wear body cameras. Investigators said no other law enforcement officers witnessed the shooting.
"A gun was recovered from Mr. Goodson," according to a statement from the Columbus police. A tweet by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said, "the suspect's weapon was recovered at the scene."
Reporter Paige Pfleger of member station WOSU reported Monday that Goodson's concealed-carry license was current, according to documentation provided by family attorneys.
Activists and family members dispute details in law enforcement's version of the story and point to it as another example of police resorting to unjustified deadly force against Black Americans.
"They are lying!" Kaylee Harper, who identified herself as Goodson's sister, wrote in a Facebook post.
"My brother literally walked across the yard, walked into the back fence to get to the side door, had his subway [sandwich] and mask in one hand keys in the other, UNLOCKED AND OPENED THE DOOR and stepped in the house before" he was shot, Harper wrote.
In a statement, Walton + Brown, the law firm representing Goodson's family, said the shooting was witnessed by Goodson's 72-year-old grandmother and two toddlers. The firm said Goodson was returning home from a dentist appointment.
"Everything about him was about abiding by the law, and in terms of having a gun, he was licensed to do so," Nana Watson, president of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP, told The Columbus Dispatch.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents many families whose loved ones have been killed by police this year, including George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, tweeted, "this must end."
"This is Casey Goodson, a 23yo Black man from Ohio. On 12/4, an @OHFCSO deputy mistook Casey for a fugitive & fatally shot him 3x in the BACK. He was walking into his own home with a sandwich, NOT a gun. This shoot 1st, ask Qs later mentality MUST END! We demand #JusticeForCasey!!"
Heather Johnson, a friend of the Goodson family, who also spoke with The Columbus Dispatch, said he had no criminal history and described him as a family man.
"Casey was 23 years old; he never had any type of crimes. He was good, he worked at the Gap, he loved his family," Johnson told the paper. "He just enjoyed being a big brother and enjoyed being with his family — he loved them very much."
The shooting comes as the U.S. is still grappling with long-simmering issues stemming from social inequities, systemic racism and aggressive police tactics used against communities of color. Those matters touched off months of nationwide protests following Floyd's Memorial Day killing by Minneapolis police.
It also comes just weeks before a transition of power at the White House. President-elect Joe Biden made criminal justice reform a central pillar of his campaign.


npr--2020-12-07--'Emotional But Rational': Ikea Discontinues Its Long-Running Catalog

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is ending production of its famous catalog , saying the thick compendium of affordable sofas , knickknacks and housewares will leave `` a phenomenal 70-year legacy . ''
The catalog has given people around the world a chance to reimagine their surroundings , featuring everything from new shelves and chairs to an entirely revamped kitchen .
`` For both customers and co-workers , the IKEA Catalog is a publication that brings a lot of emotions , memories and joy , '' said Konrad Grüss , managing director of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. — the worldwide Ikea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` has been one of our most unique and iconic products , which has inspired billions of people across the world . ''
For many customers , Ikea 's catalog has served as a road map , giving shoppers a wish list to help them stay focused ( and perhaps preempt notorious `` couple 's fights '' ) in the company 's sprawling stores .
It has eased people through life changes as they outfitted a new place to live , made space for a new family member — or just embraced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't using the catalog like they used to , Grüss said , citing changes both in the way people consume media and how they shop for home items .
He added , `` IKEA is already increasing digital investments while volumes and interest in the catalogue have decreased . ''
It was an `` emotional but rational decision , '' the company said .
The Ikea catalog grew from 285,000 copies in its first year to 200 million copies in 2016 , its biggest year .
At its height , Ikea produced nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 different languages .
2020 's edition ran 200 pages long .
But last year , Ikea says , its online sales rose by 45 % worldwide , with shoppers making more than 4 billion visits to its website , IKEA.com .
The decision to phase out the catalog , Grüss said , is part of the company 's plan to `` meet customers wherever they are . ''
Still , the news of the catalog 's fate came as a blow to some Ikea fans , who say that for years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas .
`` The catalog is essential for planning and WAY better than the website ! ''
the most-liked comment on the company 's Facebook post says .
`` I looked forward to mine each year .
This makes me sad .
... '' Decades ' worth of the catalog can be browsed online .
And Ikea says it will celebrate the catalog 's long-running history with a tribute book to be issued next fall `` filled with great home furnishing inspiration and knowledge . ''
The Ikea catalog was famous for introducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly because the company follows a nomenclature in naming its products .
Geographical names are reserved for specific furnishings , for instance .
`` Ikea 's ranges of bookcases are all the Swedish words for various occupations and the kitchen ranges are often grammatical terms , ideal if you are a prescriptivist , '' the website Lingua File explained .
`` Chairs and desks and fabrics and curtains are men 's and women 's names respectively , and lighting products are all named after a wide range of terminology from music to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year and the seasons . ''
The store 's 1951 catalog featured the slogan `` Vågen till goda inköp '' – promising the road to good shopping .
But in 2020 , the company has determined that road is now found online , not on paper .
And after years of saying `` hej , '' it 's time for the Ikea catalog to say `` adjö . ''

'Emotional But Rational': Ikea Discontinues Its Long-Running Catalog
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ikea Museum Ikea Museum
Swedish furniture giant Ikea is ending production of its famous catalog, saying the thick compendium of affordable sofas, knickknacks and housewares will leave "a phenomenal 70-year legacy."
The catalog has given people around the world a chance to reimagine their surroundings, featuring everything from new shelves and chairs to an entirely revamped kitchen.
"For both customers and co-workers, the IKEA Catalog is a publication that brings a lot of emotions, memories and joy," said Konrad Grüss, managing director of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. — the worldwide Ikea franchiser.
The catalog, Grüss said, "has been one of our most unique and iconic products, which has inspired billions of people across the world."
For many customers, Ikea's catalog has served as a road map, giving shoppers a wish list to help them stay focused (and perhaps preempt notorious "couple's fights") in the company's sprawling stores. It has eased people through life changes as they outfitted a new place to live, made space for a new family member — or just embraced a new look.
But people aren't using the catalog like they used to, Grüss said, citing changes both in the way people consume media and how they shop for home items. He added, "IKEA is already increasing digital investments while volumes and interest in the catalogue have decreased."
It was an "emotional but rational decision," the company said.
The Ikea catalog grew from 285,000 copies in its first year to 200 million copies in 2016, its biggest year. At its height, Ikea produced nearly 70 versions of the catalog, in 32 different languages. 2020's edition ran 200 pages long.
But last year, Ikea says, its online sales rose by 45% worldwide, with shoppers making more than 4 billion visits to its website, IKEA.com. The decision to phase out the catalog, Grüss said, is part of the company's plan to "meet customers wherever they are."
Still, the news of the catalog's fate came as a blow to some Ikea fans, who say that for years, they've relied on it for design ideas.
"The catalog is essential for planning and WAY better than the website!" the most-liked comment on the company's Facebook post says. "I looked forward to mine each year. This makes me sad. ..."
Decades' worth of the catalog can be browsed online. And Ikea says it will celebrate the catalog's long-running history with a tribute book to be issued next fall "filled with great home furnishing inspiration and knowledge."
The Ikea catalog was famous for introducing foreigners to Swedish words and phrases, particularly because the company follows a nomenclature in naming its products. Geographical names are reserved for specific furnishings, for instance.
"Ikea's ranges of bookcases are all the Swedish words for various occupations and the kitchen ranges are often grammatical terms, ideal if you are a prescriptivist," the website Lingua File explained. "Chairs and desks and fabrics and curtains are men's and women's names respectively, and lighting products are all named after a wide range of terminology from music to the sciences as well as the months of the year and the seasons."
The store's 1951 catalog featured the slogan "Vågen till goda inköp" – promising the road to good shopping. But in 2020, the company has determined that road is now found online, not on paper. And after years of saying "hej," it's time for the Ikea catalog to say "adjö."


npr--2020-12-07--China Posts Record Month For Trade Thanks To Homebound, Bored Americans

China Posts Record Month For Trade Thanks To Homebound , Bored Americans China 's economy is roaring back as Americans gobble up everything from its cellphones to its health masks , raising the stakes for trade relations with the United States as President-elect Joe Biden gets set to take over .
Data on Monday showed China notched a record $ 75.4 billion trade surplus in November after exports from China to the rest of the world jumped 21.1 % compared to a year ago .
Much of the increase was driven by a 46 % jump in exports to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump that have contributed to the worst relations between the two countries in decades .
Among the goods Americans bought from China were personal protective equipment and electronic gadgets while many work from home .
Biden is seen as likely to adopt a more polite tone , but he 's unlikely to ease off on China as American attitudes toward the world 's second economic superpower have worsened .
`` China 's surprising strength in exports since the economic re-opening has been mainly driven by its status as the first economy out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the massive financial relief provided in [ developed market ] economies to maintain consumption demand , '' investment bank Nomura said in a research report .
China did step up its purchases from the United States in November , but the 33 % jump in imports was more than offset by the rise in Chinese exports .
China 's trade surplus with the U.S. rose to $ 37.3 billion , accounting for nearly half of the country 's trade surplus worldwide in November .
And although China bought more U.S. pork and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well short of the pace called for in a `` Phase 1 '' trade deal signed in January .
Under that agreement , China is expected to boost its imports of goods and services from the U.S. by $ 200 billion over 2017 levels by the end of next year .
It was part of Trump 's push to reset trade relations under his `` America first '' agenda after repeatedly saying China and other countries were taking advantage of the United States .
Chad Bown , who tracks China 's purchases at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that through October , China had purchased less than 60 % of what it promised under this year 's targets .
The trade data comes amid signs that China , where the outbreak of the coronavirus was first identified , has recovered more quickly than other major economies .

China Posts Record Month For Trade Thanks To Homebound, Bored Americans
Enlarge this image toggle caption STR/AFP via Getty Images STR/AFP via Getty Images
China's economy is roaring back as Americans gobble up everything from its cellphones to its health masks, raising the stakes for trade relations with the United States as President-elect Joe Biden gets set to take over.
Data on Monday showed China notched a record $75.4 billion trade surplus in November after exports from China to the rest of the world jumped 21.1% compared to a year ago.
Much of the increase was driven by a 46% jump in exports to the United States – despite tariffs imposed by President Trump that have contributed to the worst relations between the two countries in decades.
Among the goods Americans bought from China were personal protective equipment and electronic gadgets while many work from home.
Biden is seen as likely to adopt a more polite tone, but he's unlikely to ease off on China as American attitudes toward the world's second economic superpower have worsened.
"China's surprising strength in exports since the economic re-opening has been mainly driven by its status as the first economy out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a beneficiary of the massive financial relief provided in [developed market] economies to maintain consumption demand," investment bank Nomura said in a research report.
China did step up its purchases from the United States in November, but the 33% jump in imports was more than offset by the rise in Chinese exports.
China's trade surplus with the U.S. rose to $37.3 billion, accounting for nearly half of the country's trade surplus worldwide in November.
And although China bought more U.S. pork and soybeans, its overall imports are still well short of the pace called for in a "Phase 1" trade deal signed in January.
Under that agreement, China is expected to boost its imports of goods and services from the U.S. by $200 billion over 2017 levels by the end of next year.
It was part of Trump's push to reset trade relations under his "America first" agenda after repeatedly saying China and other countries were taking advantage of the United States.
Chad Bown, who tracks China's purchases at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said that through October, China had purchased less than 60% of what it promised under this year's targets.
The trade data comes amid signs that China, where the outbreak of the coronavirus was first identified, has recovered more quickly than other major economies.


npr--2020-12-07--Biden Names Massachusetts Doctor to Lead CDC

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday selected Dr. Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when his administration takes office next month .
Walensky teaches at Harvard Medical School and is an infectious disease physician at both Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brigham and Women 's Hospital in Boston , according to her biography on the former hospital 's website .
Her selection comes as the nation is in the midst of a spike in coronavirus infections , with the U.S. outpacing all other nations with nearly 15 million cases and more than 282,000 virus-related deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm honored to be called to lead the brilliant team at the CDC .
We are ready to combat this virus with science and facts , '' Walensky said in a tweet Monday .
She added that her career in medicine started during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis and that she has dedicated her life to combating infectious diseases .
The post does not require Senate confirmation .
A colleague of Walensky 's at Massachusetts General Hospital told NPR member station WBUR in Boston on Monday he was experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick .
`` This is some of the best news I 've heard in a very , very long time and certainly shines a bright light on the COVID pandemic knowing that we 're going to have help on the way , '' Dr. Robbie Goldstein said .
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin , executive director of the American Public Health Association , told NPR that Walensky will help rebuild morale at the agency .
`` She is walking into a very demoralized workforce that does not feel that science has been appreciated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fundamentally CDC is still a good organization , the systems are still in place , but those systems have not been valued and used as they have been intended to be used . ''
Walensky will assume the role currently being filled by Dr. Robert Redfield , who has headed the CDC since 2018 .
Biden is expected to announce Walensky , along with his other top health officials , formally later this week .
Among the health officials expected to be named are California Attorney General Xavier Becerra , who would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jeff Zients , who will be the White House coordinator of the coronavirus response .
The incoming administration also said it would nominate Dr. Vivek Murthy as surgeon general .
Murthy has been a top coronavirus adviser to Biden and was surgeon general during the Obama administration .
Last week Biden said he asked Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert , to join his administration as chief medical adviser .
Biden also said when he takes office next month , he 'll urge Americans to wear facial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .

Biden Names Massachusetts Doctor To Lead CDC
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Greenberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Chris Greenberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Updated at 2:15 p.m. ET
President-elect Joe Biden on Monday selected Dr. Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when his administration takes office next month.
Walensky teaches at Harvard Medical School and is an infectious disease physician at both Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, according to her biography on the former hospital's website.
Her selection comes as the nation is in the midst of a spike in coronavirus infections, with the U.S. outpacing all other nations with nearly 15 million cases and more than 282,000 virus-related deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
"I'm honored to be called to lead the brilliant team at the CDC. We are ready to combat this virus with science and facts," Walensky said in a tweet Monday.
She added that her career in medicine started during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis and that she has dedicated her life to combating infectious diseases.
The post does not require Senate confirmation.
A colleague of Walensky's at Massachusetts General Hospital told NPR member station WBUR in Boston on Monday he was experiencing "sheer excitement" from the Biden pick.
"This is some of the best news I've heard in a very, very long time and certainly shines a bright light on the COVID pandemic knowing that we're going to have help on the way," Dr. Robbie Goldstein said.
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told NPR that Walensky will help rebuild morale at the agency.
"She is walking into a very demoralized workforce that does not feel that science has been appreciated and honored," Benjamin said.
"Fundamentally CDC is still a good organization, the systems are still in place, but those systems have not been valued and used as they have been intended to be used."
Walensky will assume the role currently being filled by Dr. Robert Redfield, who has headed the CDC since 2018.
Biden is expected to announce Walensky, along with his other top health officials, formally later this week.
Among the health officials expected to be named are California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who would be secretary of health and human services, and Jeff Zients, who will be the White House coordinator of the coronavirus response.
The incoming administration also said it would nominate Dr. Vivek Murthy as surgeon general. Murthy has been a top coronavirus adviser to Biden and was surgeon general during the Obama administration.
Last week Biden said he asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, to join his administration as chief medical adviser. Biden also said when he takes office next month, he'll urge Americans to wear facial coverings for his administration's first 100 days.
NPR's Rob Stein contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-07--Michigan Secretary Of State Says Armed Protesters Descended On Her Home Saturday

Michigan Secretary Of State Says Armed Protesters Descended On Her Home Saturday Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says `` dozens '' of armed protesters descended on her home Saturday night , using megaphones to disrupt what had been a quiet evening with her young son .
It was meant to intimidate her , Benson said — adding that it did n't work .
The crowd was made up of people angry over President Trump 's election loss .
They shouted and chanted slogans outside Benson 's house in a Detroit neighborhood , echoing conspiracy theories about the Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son and I were finishing up decorating the house for Christmas on Saturday night , and he was about to sit down to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas , dozens of armed individuals stood outside my home shouting obscenities and chanting into bullhorns in the dark of night , '' Benson said in a statement .
A video livestream from the scene that one protester posted to Facebook showed the group lined up along the edge of Benson 's yard , railing against what they insist was a `` stolen '' election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role as Michigan 's Chief Elections Officer , '' Benson said .
But she added that the threats shouted outside her home `` were n't actually aimed at me – or any other elected officials in this state .
They were aimed at the voters , '' because she said the protesters want to overturn the election results .
As the protesters yelled and shouted outside her house , Benson told NPR 's Ailsa Chang , she focused on two things : ensuring the ruckus did n't upset or affect her son , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dana Nessel and others to make sure her home was secure .
`` My job as the state 's chief election officer is to protect and defend our voters , every single one of them , regardless of how they vote , '' Benson said .
`` So my mind focused on that , and then my heart focused on my kid . ''
Outside Benson 's home on Saturday night , `` at least one individual could be heard shouting 'you 're murderers ' within earshot of her child 's bedroom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy .
`` This mob-like behavior is an affront to basic morality and decency , '' Nessel and Worthy added .
As for what Benson believes the protesters wanted to accomplish , she told NPR , `` Their threats and their attacks are aimed at the heart of democracy itself , trying to erode the public 's confidence in the democratic process , trying to sow seeds of doubt among everyone that their votes counted , that their voices were heard , that the results of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's home , the protesters walked past a security car at the end of her block ; an officer soon took up a position outside the secretary 's front door .
Minutes after the protest began , several police cars also arrived to monitor the situation .
The secretary thanked state and local police agencies `` who are working to protect my family . ''
The incident took place two months after the FBI , as part of a joint operation with state and local police , said it thwarted a plot by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gretchen Whitmer .
Men who were allegedly involved in that plot were recorded repeatedly saying they wanted to kidnap Whitmer before the national election .
Genevieve Peters , a protester who posted video online , said her group wants a forensic audit of the vote , refusing to accept the results of what they call a `` fraudulent election . ''
In her video , a fellow protester tells two police officers that the group planned to leave the house by around 10 p.m. '' We 're not here to do anything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're just here to get attention '' for their grievances , `` because that 's what we 've got to do . ''
But Benson , Nessel and Worthy said the protesters went too far , targeting an elected official at her private home rather than airing their opinions through civil means .
Late in the video , Peters seemed to promise more protests .
`` We will not stand down , we will not stop , we will continue to rise up , we will continue to take this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it by a landslide , '' she said .
`` This is not over .
It is far from over – in fact , it 's just beginning . ''
Benson sees Saturday night 's incident at her home as an extension of what she calls hateful rhetoric that has only increased since the election .
`` As I 've learned throughout my career , hateful rhetoric and hateful voices can lead to hateful actions , '' she said .
With more escalations ongoing , she said , it is important for every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call these threats of violence , intimidation and bullying out for what they are '' and defend the will of the voters .
`` We all have to work together and move forward from this moment because the election is over , the people have spoken , '' she said .
Michigan 's Board of State Canvassers voted two weeks ago to certify the state 's election results of a win for Democrat Joe Biden despite Trump 's repeated attempts to overturn the outcome .
On that day , Benson proclaimed , @ @ @ @ @ @

Michigan Secretary Of State Says Armed Protesters Descended On Her Home Saturday
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Updated at 3:50 p.m. ET
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says "dozens" of armed protesters descended on her home Saturday night, using megaphones to disrupt what had been a quiet evening with her young son. It was meant to intimidate her, Benson said — adding that it didn't work.
The crowd was made up of people angry over President Trump's election loss. They shouted and chanted slogans outside Benson's house in a Detroit neighborhood, echoing conspiracy theories about the Nov. 3 voting process.
"As my four-year-old son and I were finishing up decorating the house for Christmas on Saturday night, and he was about to sit down to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, dozens of armed individuals stood outside my home shouting obscenities and chanting into bullhorns in the dark of night," Benson said in a statement.
A video livestream from the scene that one protester posted to Facebook showed the group lined up along the edge of Benson's yard, railing against what they insist was a "stolen" election.
"They targeted me in my role as Michigan's Chief Elections Officer," Benson said. But she added that the threats shouted outside her home "weren't actually aimed at me – or any other elected officials in this state. They were aimed at the voters," because she said the protesters want to overturn the election results.
As the protesters yelled and shouted outside her house, Benson told NPR's Ailsa Chang, she focused on two things: ensuring the ruckus didn't upset or affect her son, and checking in with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and others to make sure her home was secure.
"My job as the state's chief election officer is to protect and defend our voters, every single one of them, regardless of how they vote," Benson said. "So my mind focused on that, and then my heart focused on my kid."
Outside Benson's home on Saturday night, "at least one individual could be heard shouting 'you're murderers' within earshot of her child's bedroom," Nessel said in a joint statement with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
"This mob-like behavior is an affront to basic morality and decency," Nessel and Worthy added.
As for what Benson believes the protesters wanted to accomplish, she told NPR, "Their threats and their attacks are aimed at the heart of democracy itself, trying to erode the public's confidence in the democratic process, trying to sow seeds of doubt among everyone that their votes counted, that their voices were heard, that the results of the election are accurate."
To reach Benson's home, the protesters walked past a security car at the end of her block; an officer soon took up a position outside the secretary's front door. Minutes after the protest began, several police cars also arrived to monitor the situation. The secretary thanked state and local police agencies "who are working to protect my family."
The incident took place two months after the FBI, as part of a joint operation with state and local police, said it thwarted a plot by militia members to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Men who were allegedly involved in that plot were recorded repeatedly saying they wanted to kidnap Whitmer before the national election.
Genevieve Peters, a protester who posted video online, said her group wants a forensic audit of the vote, refusing to accept the results of what they call a "fraudulent election." In her video, a fellow protester tells two police officers that the group planned to leave the house by around 10 p.m.
"We're not here to do anything," the man tells the officers. "We're just here to get attention" for their grievances, "because that's what we've got to do."
But Benson, Nessel and Worthy said the protesters went too far, targeting an elected official at her private home rather than airing their opinions through civil means.
Late in the video, Peters seemed to promise more protests.
"We will not stand down, we will not stop, we will continue to rise up, we will continue to take this election back for the president that actually won it by a landslide," she said. "This is not over. It is far from over – in fact, it's just beginning."
Benson sees Saturday night's incident at her home as an extension of what she calls hateful rhetoric that has only increased since the election.
"As I've learned throughout my career, hateful rhetoric and hateful voices can lead to hateful actions," she said.
With more escalations ongoing, she said, it is important for every elected official and everyone in authority "to call these threats of violence, intimidation and bullying out for what they are" and defend the will of the voters.
"We all have to work together and move forward from this moment because the election is over, the people have spoken," she said.
Michigan's Board of State Canvassers voted two weeks ago to certify the state's election results of a win for Democrat Joe Biden despite Trump's repeated attempts to overturn the outcome. On that day, Benson proclaimed, "Democracy has prevailed."


npr--2020-12-08--FDA Analysis Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Finds It Effective And Safe

FDA Analysis Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Finds It Effective And Safe The Food and Drug Administration released a detailed analysis Tuesday morning of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech ahead of a Thursday meeting of a group of independent experts that will advise the agency on whether to grant the vaccine emergency use authorization , or EUA .
The agency 's analysis finds `` no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA . ''
Serious reactions were rare .
Side effects are common , however , with a majority of study volunteers experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headaches and fatigue .
The analysis also affirms the previously stated vaccine effectiveness of 95 % , assessed a week after two doses of vaccine .
The vaccine doses are given 21 days apart .
The vaccine authorization under consideration is `` for active immunization for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 16 years of age and older . ''
On Thursday the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee , an advisory group , will discuss the vaccine in an open public meeting .
The agency will ask the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence available supports the proposed emergency use of the vaccine .
Specifically , the committee will be asked if the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in people 16 and older .
The FDA will also ask the experts to weigh in on what additional studies should be done by the companies to further elucidate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine after it is available under an EUA .

FDA Analysis Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Finds It Effective And Safe
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Nacion/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images John Nacion/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
The Food and Drug Administration released a detailed analysis Tuesday morning of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech ahead of a Thursday meeting of a group of independent experts that will advise the agency on whether to grant the vaccine an emergency use authorization.
The agency's analysis finds "no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA." Serious reactions were rare. Side effects are common, however, with a majority of study volunteers experiencing reactions at the site of injection, headaches and fatigue.
The analysis also affirms the previously stated vaccine effectiveness of 95%, assessed a week after two doses of vaccine. The vaccine doses are given 21 days apart.
The clinical data also suggest that the vaccine may be able to prevent COVID-19 after the first dose — 82% effective — though the FDA analysis says the available information doesn't allow for a firm conclusion on that potential effect.
The vaccine authorization under consideration is "for active immunization for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 16 years of age and older."
On Thursday, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, an advisory group, will discuss the vaccine in an open public meeting.
The agency will ask the experts to assess whether the available scientific evidence supports the proposed emergency use of the vaccine. Specifically, the committee will be asked whether the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in people 16 and older.
The FDA will also ask the experts to weigh in on what additional studies should be done by the companies to further elucidate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine after it is available under an EUA.


npr--2020-12-08--U.K. Begins Nationwide Coronavirus Immunization, Largest In Nation's History

Margaret Keenan , a grandmother of four , made history Tuesday after getting a potentially lifesaving birthday present .
With one shot — or `` jab '' as Britons might say — Keenan , who turns 91 next week , officially launched the United Kingdom 's nationwide coronavirus immunization campaign — the largest such effort in its history .
`` I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19 , '' said Keenan , who received the shot at 6:30 a.m. U.K. time .
`` It 's the best early birthday present I could wish for because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year . ''
The U.K. 's vaccination effort begins nearly a year after the virus first appeared in China and at the same time much of the world still grapples with the pandemic .
British health officials said Tuesday marked a turning point in the country 's battle with the virus , an illness that has infected more than 67 million people around the world and has killed more than 1.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.K. alone has more than 1.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases .
Health officials began the immunization campaign just six days after granting the vaccine 's makers , Pfizer and BioNTech , emergency approval .
Britain 's government has secured 800,000 doses of the vaccine so far , enough to give 400,000 people two doses each , the government said .
To immunize the rest of the country 's 68 million people , health officials must contend with enormous logistical challenges .
Vials of the vaccine must be kept frozen at minus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fahrenheit ) .
There are also concerns over how Britain 's impending split from the European Union could affect the vaccine 's transport from Belgium , according to The New York Times .
The government said it was prepared to ask the military to fly the vials over the border .
The U.K. will give the vaccine first to front-line health workers , long-term care facility workers and residents over 80 years old .
Shots will be made available first at hospitals before being distributed to doctor 's offices .
`` It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as more vaccine supplies become available and until then we must not drop our guard , '' National Health Service England 's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said .
`` But if we all stay vigilant in the weeks and months ahead , we will be able to look back at this as a decisive turning point in the battle against the virus . ''
U.S. and Europe fall behind The U.S. and other European countries are expected to approve the vaccine 's emergency use later this month .
Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective in clinical trials .
But the immunization campaign in the U.S. could be hurt by critical supply issues .
Several months ago , the Trump administration passed on an option from Pfizer to purchase more vaccine doses beyond the initial 100 million agreed upon , according to The New York Times .
Meanwhile , The Washington Post reports that the administration has been told by Pfizer that it ca n't provide more vaccine until late June or July due to its commitments to other countries .

U.K. Begins Nationwide Coronavirus Immunization, Largest In Nation's History
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frank Augstein/Pool/Getty Images Frank Augstein/Pool/Getty Images
Margaret Keenan, a grandmother of four, made history Tuesday after getting a potentially lifesaving birthday present.
With one shot — or "jab" as Britons might say — Keenan, who turns 91 next week, officially launched the United Kingdom's nationwide coronavirus immunization campaign — the largest such effort in its history.
"I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19," said Keenan, who received the shot at 6:30 a.m. U.K. time. "It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year."
The U.K.'s vaccination effort begins nearly a year after the virus first appeared in China and at the same time much of the world still grapples with the pandemic.
British health officials said Tuesday marked a turning point in the country's battle with the virus, an illness that has infected more than 67 million people around the world and has killed more than 1.5 million people, Johns Hopkins University data shows. The U.K. alone has more than 1.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Health officials began the immunization campaign just six days after granting the vaccine's makers, Pfizer and BioNTech, emergency approval. Britain's government has secured 800,000 doses of the vaccine so far, enough to give 400,000 people two doses each, the government said.
To immunize the rest of the country's 68 million people, health officials must contend with enormous logistical challenges. Vials of the vaccine must be kept frozen at minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit).
There are also concerns over how Britain's impending split from the European Union could affect the vaccine's transport from Belgium, according to The New York Times. The government said it was prepared to ask the military to fly the vials over the border.
The U.K. will give the vaccine first to front-line health workers, long-term care facility workers and residents over 80 years old. Shots will be made available first at hospitals before being distributed to doctor's offices.
"It will take some months to complete the work as more vaccine supplies become available and until then we must not drop our guard," National Health Service England's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said. "But if we all stay vigilant in the weeks and months ahead, we will be able to look back at this as a decisive turning point in the battle against the virus."
U.S. and Europe fall behind
The U.S. and other European countries are expected to approve the vaccine's emergency use later this month.
Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine has proved to be nearly 95% effective in clinical trials. But the immunization campaign in the U.S. could be hurt by critical supply issues.
Several months ago, the Trump administration passed on an option from Pfizer to purchase more vaccine doses beyond the initial 100 million agreed upon, according to The New York Times.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that the administration has been told by Pfizer that it can't provide more vaccine until late June or July due to its commitments to other countries.


npr--2020-12-08--How Private Money From Facebook's CEO Saved The 2020 Election

How Private Money From Facebook 's CEO Saved The 2020 Election Bill Turner knew he had a tough job .
He took over as acting director of voter services in Chester County , Pa. , in September , just two months before a divisive presidential election amid a pandemic .
Huge voter turnout was expected , and COVID-19 required election managers like Turner to handle mail-in ballots on a scale they 'd never seen and confront the threat of their staffers becoming sick .
These challenges had forced many election offices to burn through their budgets months earlier .
Turner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency manager , experience that seemed apt for overseeing an election that many observers feared would become a catastrophe .
With a tight budget and little help from the federal government , Chester County applied for an election grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life , a previously small Chicago-based nonprofit that quickly amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to help local election offices — most notably , $ 350 million from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife , Priscilla Chan .
`` Honestly , I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' Turner said .
The coronavirus pandemic — and Congress ' neglect — necessitated an unprecedented bailout of election offices with private money funneled through the little-known nonprofit .
And the money proved indispensable .
Turner is one of 25 election directors from swing states interviewed by APM Reports who said the grant money was essential to preventing an election meltdown amid worries over a pandemic and a president who continues to openly question — without evidence — the legitimacy of the process .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year to help departments pay for election administration .
The money arrived as historically underfunded election department budgets were sapped from unforeseen purchases during the primaries and were forced to spend money on election workers , postage and printing for the increasing number of voters who wanted to vote by mail .
The nonprofit gave Chester County $ 2.5 million for the election , which is more than the county 's 2020 budget for voting services .
Chester County is one of several large suburban counties that ring Philadelphia — once-Republican strongholds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years .
Pennsylvania was pivotal to Joe Biden 's victory over President Trump , and his win in the state was fueled in part by his success in Chester County .
He won it by 17 percentage points — nearly double Hillary Clinton 's margin four years earlier .
Turner used the grant to buy 14 drop boxes for ballots , pay staff to watch those sites and purchase body cameras that recorded employees collecting ballots from the drop boxes .
He also spent a large portion of the grant on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were mailed out and counted quickly .
The county processed 150,000 mail ballots for the November election in 36 hours .
Without the new equipment and personnel , he said , it would have taken a week or longer .
`` This grant really was a lifesaver in allowing us to do more , efficiently and expeditiously , '' he said .
`` It probably would have taken a very long time if we did n't have the resources to do this . ''
The private money was needed in part because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding .
Congress allocated $ 400 million in March for election services , but that was just a tenth of what some officials said was needed .
`` Despite election officials basically begging our federal government for assistance , that money never came through , '' said Liz Howard , with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University .
`` Congress really failed our election officials . ''
With little action from Congress , the private sector , led by Zuckerberg and Chan , stepped up .
The couple awarded $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — with most of it going to the Center for Tech and Civic Life .
The full extent of the grants is n't known .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life declined repeated interview requests from APM Reports to discuss the funding and how it was used .
In late October , the group listed the jurisdictions that received funding on its website but did n't disclose dollar amounts or funding priorities for each jurisdiction .
But through a series of interviews , public records requests and a review of public meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of grant awards in the five swing states that decided the election .
APM Reports obtained more than 30 applications and grant agreements between local election offices and the Center for Tech and Civic Life .
The documents show requests mainly focused on the logistics of the election : increased pay for poll workers , expanded early voting sites and extra equipment to more quickly process millions of mailed ballots .
Some jurisdictions received grants that were a small fraction of their election budgets , while others saw theirs increase several times over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to scrounge for resources could `` fund their dream election , '' according to Howard .
In the weeks since the election , allies of Trump have included the Center for Tech and Civic Life 's grants in their voter fraud conspiracy theories .
They have challenged the legality and neutrality of the grants , claiming that the funding was aimed at boosting Democratic turnout .
But an APM Reports analysis of voter registration and voter turnout in three of the five key swing states shows the grant funding had no clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Turnout increased across the U.S. from 2016 .
The APM Reports analysis found that counties in Pennsylvania , Georgia and Arizona that received grants did n't have consistently higher turnout rates than those that did n't receive money .
Officials with the Center for Tech and Civic Life and government officials have defended themselves in court and in written statements by saying the goal was to ensure safe voting options during the pandemic .
`` In this moment of need , we feel so fortunate to be administering an open-call grant program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every state in the union to ensure that they have the staffing , training , and equipment necessary so that this November every eligible voter can participate in a safe and timely way and have their vote counted , '' the Center for Tech and Civic Life said in a statement on Sept. 24 .
The nonprofit is also continuing to offer grants to communities that are holding runoff elections in Georgia in January .
While some election officials see little difference between private and government funding for elections , other officials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private grants may set .
They say private donors could have a personal agenda .
For example , Zuckerberg may have wanted to improve his public image after years of criticism that the misinformation and divisive rhetoric on Facebook have damaged democracies around the world .
`` It 's really important that it 's a one-time thing , '' said Rachael Cobb , associate professor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University in Boston .
Cobb said the private money was critical for election administration this year , `` but over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is corrosive . ''
She said continuing to use private money for such purposes `` sullies [ the election ] in a way that we do n't need it to be sullied at all . ''
But other election analysts say private funding is the best option if the federal government is n't going to commit to sustainable long-term funding for election offices .
They also say the grants helped avert a potential disaster where long lines , missing mail and slow counting could have led Trump to further question the integrity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
David Kimball , a political science professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis , said that without the grants , `` it certainly would have taken them a lot longer to process and count those absentee ballots , which would have only made this post-election period more unbearable . ''
For more , read the full story at APM Reports .

How Private Money From Facebook's CEO Saved The 2020 Election
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
Bill Turner knew he had a tough job. He took over as acting director of voter services in Chester County, Pa., in September, just two months before a divisive presidential election amid a pandemic. Huge voter turnout was expected, and COVID-19 required election managers like Turner to handle mail-in ballots on a scale they'd never seen and confront the threat of their staffers becoming sick.
These challenges had forced many election offices to burn through their budgets months earlier. Turner had previously served as the county's emergency manager, experience that seemed apt for overseeing an election that many observers feared would become a catastrophe.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ian Tuttle/Getty Images Ian Tuttle/Getty Images
With a tight budget and little help from the federal government, Chester County applied for an election grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a previously small Chicago-based nonprofit that quickly amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to help local election offices — most notably, $350 million from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
"Honestly, I don't know what we would have done without it," Turner said.
The coronavirus pandemic — and Congress' neglect — necessitated an unprecedented bailout of election offices with private money funneled through the little-known nonprofit. And the money proved indispensable.
Turner is one of 25 election directors from swing states interviewed by APM Reports who said the grant money was essential to preventing an election meltdown amid worries over a pandemic and a president who continues to openly question — without evidence — the legitimacy of the process.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life gave grants to more than 2,500 jurisdictions this year to help departments pay for election administration. The money arrived as historically underfunded election department budgets were sapped from unforeseen purchases during the primaries and were forced to spend money on election workers, postage and printing for the increasing number of voters who wanted to vote by mail.
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The nonprofit gave Chester County $2.5 million for the election, which is more than the county's 2020 budget for voting services.
Chester County is one of several large suburban counties that ring Philadelphia — once-Republican strongholds that have shifted in Democrats' favor in recent years. Pennsylvania was pivotal to Joe Biden's victory over President Trump, and his win in the state was fueled in part by his success in Chester County. He won it by 17 percentage points — nearly double Hillary Clinton's margin four years earlier.
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Turner used the grant to buy 14 drop boxes for ballots, pay staff to watch those sites and purchase body cameras that recorded employees collecting ballots from the drop boxes. He also spent a large portion of the grant on additional equipment and people to ensure that ballots were mailed out and counted quickly. The county processed 150,000 mail ballots for the November election in 36 hours. Without the new equipment and personnel, he said, it would have taken a week or longer.
YouTube
"This grant really was a lifesaver in allowing us to do more, efficiently and expeditiously," he said. "It probably would have taken a very long time if we didn't have the resources to do this."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
The private money was needed in part because the federal government hadn't provided enough funding. Congress allocated $400 million in March for election services, but that was just a tenth of what some officials said was needed.
"Despite election officials basically begging our federal government for assistance, that money never came through," said Liz Howard, with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. "Congress really failed our election officials."
With little action from Congress, the private sector, led by Zuckerberg and Chan, stepped up. The couple awarded $400 million to nonprofits for election assistance — with most of it going to the Center for Tech and Civic Life.
The full extent of the grants isn't known. The Center for Tech and Civic Life declined repeated interview requests from APM Reports to discuss the funding and how it was used. In late October, the group listed the jurisdictions that received funding on its website but didn't disclose dollar amounts or funding priorities for each jurisdiction.
But through a series of interviews, public records requests and a review of public meetings, APM Reports pieced together the details of grant awards in the five swing states that decided the election. APM Reports obtained more than 30 applications and grant agreements between local election offices and the Center for Tech and Civic Life. The documents show requests mainly focused on the logistics of the election: increased pay for poll workers, expanded early voting sites and extra equipment to more quickly process millions of mailed ballots.
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Some jurisdictions received grants that were a small fraction of their election budgets, while others saw theirs increase several times over. Suddenly, election administrators who had had to scrounge for resources could "fund their dream election," according to Howard.
In the weeks since the election, allies of Trump have included the Center for Tech and Civic Life's grants in their voter fraud conspiracy theories. They have challenged the legality and neutrality of the grants, claiming that the funding was aimed at boosting Democratic turnout.
But an APM Reports analysis of voter registration and voter turnout in three of the five key swing states shows the grant funding had no clear impact on who turned out to vote. Turnout increased across the U.S. from 2016. The APM Reports analysis found that counties in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona that received grants didn't have consistently higher turnout rates than those that didn't receive money.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ethan Miller/Getty Images Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Officials with the Center for Tech and Civic Life and government officials have defended themselves in court and in written statements by saying the goal was to ensure safe voting options during the pandemic.
"In this moment of need, we feel so fortunate to be administering an open-call grant program available to every local election department in every state in the union to ensure that they have the staffing, training, and equipment necessary so that this November every eligible voter can participate in a safe and timely way and have their vote counted," the Center for Tech and Civic Life said in a statement on Sept. 24.
The nonprofit is also continuing to offer grants to communities that are holding runoff elections in Georgia in January.
While some election officials see little difference between private and government funding for elections, other officials are deeply worried about the precedent that the private grants may set. They say private donors could have a personal agenda. For example, Zuckerberg may have wanted to improve his public image after years of criticism that the misinformation and divisive rhetoric on Facebook have damaged democracies around the world.
"It's really important that it's a one-time thing," said Rachael Cobb, associate professor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University in Boston. Cobb said the private money was critical for election administration this year, "but over time, it in and of itself is corrosive." She said continuing to use private money for such purposes "sullies [the election] in a way that we don't need it to be sullied at all."
But other election analysts say private funding is the best option if the federal government isn't going to commit to sustainable long-term funding for election offices.
They also say the grants helped avert a potential disaster where long lines, missing mail and slow counting could have led Trump to further question the integrity of results in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.
David Kimball, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said that without the grants, "it certainly would have taken them a lot longer to process and count those absentee ballots, which would have only made this post-election period more unbearable."
For more, read the full story at APM Reports.
Editor's Note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-12-08--He Thought Day Trading Would Be A Thrill. He Ended Up Losing $127,000

He Thought Day Trading Would Be A Thrill .
He Ended Up Losing $ 127,000 YouTube is filled with videos promising to teach you how to make big bucks trading stocks on your home computer .
Matthew 's videos tell you how to lose money .
A real estate agent and amateur investor , Matthew , who prefers his last name not be used because of how it might affect his career , made thousands of dollars trading stocks over the years , only to lose most of it day trading .
Now , in his YouTube videos , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading at a time when stay-at-home measures have led millions to buy — and sell — stocks for the first time .
`` It basically destroyed my whole account , draining it from a $ 150,000 balance down to $ 50,000 , then $ 40,000 .
Basically I lost everything , '' Matthew , who goes by Matthew Jay in his online videos , said in an interview .
Professional day traders spend hours every day sitting at their computers , watching charts and trying to profit from tiny fluctuations in stock prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of trades a day , but aim to sell off all their holdings by the time the market closes .
Now , with millions of people stuck at home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , online brokerage sites such as E-Trade , TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab have seen a blistering growth in their customer base from those who have never traded before .
The trading app Robinhood , which is popular with millennials , saw its customer base increase by 30 % through October of this year .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the number has almost certainly risen since the pandemic lockdowns got underway , says Brett Steenbarger , associate professor of psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University , who coaches professional traders .
And studies have shown that most day traders lose big .
`` On average , day traders do horribly , and the percentage that end up sustaining success are in the low single digits , '' Steenbarger says .
It is a reality that Matthew knows well , one he now warns others about .
Matthew started trading stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business major at an Ontario college .
For the first six years , he did well , turning a few thousand dollars into a nest egg worth more than $ 150,000 .
But he gradually grew impatient with the slow pace of the returns he was getting and decided to try day trading .
`` I like risk .
I like to just know I have an opportunity that 's potentially there .
So even like losing is still a high .
Winning 's a high , '' he says .
Matthew soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading , spending hours each day chained to his computer .
Although he often chatted with other day traders online , he had little real contact with people .
There were bad days when the rapid-fire trading quickly spiraled out of control , and he found himself racking up huge losses .
`` So I 'd try to jump into another stock and make some money there , and then you 're just snowballing into another loss and another loss , '' Matthew said .
But even when he made money , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I found whenever I hit that new high point , I 'm happy for a day or two , but then I 'm upset that I 'm not at the next level .
So it was a constant battle of never being completely satisfied , really , '' he added .
Several times , Matthew tried to quit , only to get pulled back in .
Day trading can quickly become an addiction for many people , not unlike casino gambling , says Keith Whyte of the National Council on Problem Gambling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after trade , it 's that same hypnotic effect that people report when they sit in front of a slot machine , '' Whyte says .
These days , Whyte says , he is hearing from more and more day traders who got in over their heads .
That 's what happened to Matthew .
He says his blood pressure rose .
He stopped seeing friends .
And he ended up losing $ 127,000 .
`` There 's two or three times I broke down , almost bawling my eyes out , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I doing ?
This is my dream to do this , and how can I be like failing ? ''
Two years ago , he quit day trading to become a real estate agent and a professional investor in that field , which he says he 's much better suited for .
There may be people out there who can make money day trading , he figures .
But it 's not for him , and he feels others will also lose big .

He Thought Day Trading Would Be A Thrill. He Ended Up Losing $127,000
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
YouTube is filled with videos promising to teach you how to make big bucks trading stocks on your home computer. Matthew's videos tell you how to lose money.
A real estate agent and amateur investor, Matthew, who prefers his last name not be used because of how it might affect his career, made thousands of dollars trading stocks over the years, only to lose most of it day trading.
Now, in his YouTube videos, he cautions others about the perils of day trading at a time when stay-at-home measures have led millions to buy — and sell — stocks for the first time.
"It basically destroyed my whole account, draining it from a $150,000 balance down to $50,000, then $40,000. Basically I lost everything," Matthew, who goes by Matthew Jay in his online videos, said in an interview.
Professional day traders spend hours every day sitting at their computers, watching charts and trying to profit from tiny fluctuations in stock prices. They may make dozens or even hundreds of trades a day, but aim to sell off all their holdings by the time the market closes.
Now, with millions of people stuck at home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, online brokerage sites such as E-Trade, TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab have seen a blistering growth in their customer base from those who have never traded before.
The trading app Robinhood, which is popular with millennials, saw its customer base increase by 30% through October of this year.
Not all of these customers are day traders, but the number has almost certainly risen since the pandemic lockdowns got underway, says Brett Steenbarger, associate professor of psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, who coaches professional traders.
And studies have shown that most day traders lose big.
"On average, day traders do horribly, and the percentage that end up sustaining success are in the low single digits," Steenbarger says.
It is a reality that Matthew knows well, one he now warns others about.
Matthew started trading stocks more than a decade ago as a business major at an Ontario college.
For the first six years, he did well, turning a few thousand dollars into a nest egg worth more than $150,000. But he gradually grew impatient with the slow pace of the returns he was getting and decided to try day trading.
"I like risk. I like to just know I have an opportunity that's potentially there. So even like losing is still a high. Winning's a high," he says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
Matthew soon came to dislike the isolation of day trading, spending hours each day chained to his computer. Although he often chatted with other day traders online, he had little real contact with people.
There were bad days when the rapid-fire trading quickly spiraled out of control, and he found himself racking up huge losses.
"So I'd try to jump into another stock and make some money there, and then you're just snowballing into another loss and another loss," Matthew said.
But even when he made money, it was somehow never enough.
"And I found whenever I hit that new high point, I'm happy for a day or two, but then I'm upset that I'm not at the next level. So it was a constant battle of never being completely satisfied, really," he added.
Several times, Matthew tried to quit, only to get pulled back in.
Day trading can quickly become an addiction for many people, not unlike casino gambling, says Keith Whyte of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
"When it's trade after trade after trade, it's that same hypnotic effect that people report when they sit in front of a slot machine," Whyte says.
These days, Whyte says, he is hearing from more and more day traders who got in over their heads.
That's what happened to Matthew. He says his blood pressure rose. He stopped seeing friends. And he ended up losing $127,000.
"There's two or three times I broke down, almost bawling my eyes out," Matthew said. "Like what am I doing? This is my dream to do this, and how can I be like failing?"
Two years ago, he quit day trading to become a real estate agent and a professional investor in that field, which he says he's much better suited for.
There may be people out there who can make money day trading, he figures. But it's not for him, and he feels others will also lose big.


npr--2020-12-08--In NYC, Christmas Without Tourists Is Not Merry For Businesses

In NYC , Christmas Without Tourists Is Not Merry For Businesses Walking through Midtown Manhattan in December is usually like navigating a chaotic maze .
This year , you can actually move — easily !
For many small businesses in New York City , that drop in customer traffic is troubling .
Businesses count on a big bump in revenue during the city 's busy holiday season .
Now , they are facing a 66 % drop in tourism , restrictions on shopping and dining , and a surge in COVID-19 cases .
But there 's still a steady stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor holiday market .
At his market stall , Ron Menin is handing out samples of hot sauces with flavors like blueberry maple , ginger pear , and cinnamon ghost pepper .
Menin owns Hell 's Kitchen Hot Sauce and normally gets 80 % of his annual revenue during the holiday season .
Business at his year-round Columbus Circle store is far below average because of limited foot traffic from tourists and commuters , so he says his Bryant Park stall is his best chance of breaking even this year .
`` Otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Menin says .
Visitors to Bryant Park are at about a third of last year — but Menin is trying to use that to his advantage .
`` When you have less guests , but they 're more quality , you have more time to spend with people to maybe get your quote unquote , check average up . ''
Menin has also increased online marketing and promotions .
The research firm CBRE projects that this holiday season online shopping will jump from 14 % to 40 % of total retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure his company captures those online sales .
Cirone is a co-owner of Li-Lac Chocolates .
Li-Lac is Manhattan 's oldest chocolate house and has five locations in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn .
Outside the Brooklyn store , there is a delightful chocolate smell all the way down the block .
`` Actually our air conditioner when you walk by there it blows like the hot air right onto the street , '' Cirone says .
Despite the chocolate smell , Cirone says store sales this year are down by at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % at some stores — like the ones in Chelsea Market , Hudson Yards , and Grand Central , which mostly rely on tourist and commuter traffic .
To counteract that drop in sales , Cirone has added more delivery , pickup , and online ordering options .
He 's hoping Christmas turns out like Easter , when Li-Lac 's inventory actually sold out online .
`` And many , many , many of those customers had never ordered from us online before .
So that 's when we realized people are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No matter what . ''
This holiday season is all about adaptability , says Larisa Ortiz , managing director of the business consulting nonprofit , Streetsense .
`` Those are the better businesses , right ?
They know they have to switch it up and make it interesting , they 're the ones who are going to be in a better position after the holidays . ''
Ortiz says shifting online is probably the smartest adaptation for many businesses .
But going big on holiday decorations and spirit could help too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ love dazzling lights .

In NYC, Christmas Without Tourists Is Not Merry For Businesses
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
Walking through Midtown Manhattan in December is usually like navigating a chaotic maze. This year, you can actually move — easily!
For many small businesses in New York City, that drop in customer traffic is troubling. Businesses count on a big bump in revenue during the city's busy holiday season. Now, they are facing a 66% drop in tourism, restrictions on shopping and dining, and a surge in COVID-19 cases.
But there's still a steady stream of shoppers at Bryant Park's annual outdoor holiday market.
At his market stall, Ron Menin is handing out samples of hot sauces with flavors like blueberry maple, ginger pear, and cinnamon ghost pepper. Menin owns Hell's Kitchen Hot Sauce and normally gets 80% of his annual revenue during the holiday season.
Business at his year-round Columbus Circle store is far below average because of limited foot traffic from tourists and commuters, so he says his Bryant Park stall is his best chance of breaking even this year.
"Otherwise there is no holiday season or revenue," Menin says.
Visitors to Bryant Park are at about a third of last year — but Menin is trying to use that to his advantage.
"When you have less guests, but they're more quality, you have more time to spend with people to maybe get your quote unquote, check average up."
Menin has also increased online marketing and promotions. The research firm CBRE projects that this holiday season online shopping will jump from 14% to 40% of total retail sales.
Anthony Cirone is trying to make sure his company captures those online sales.
Cirone is a co-owner of Li-Lac Chocolates. Li-Lac is Manhattan's oldest chocolate house and has five locations in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.
Outside the Brooklyn store, there is a delightful chocolate smell all the way down the block.
"Actually our air conditioner when you walk by there it blows like the hot air right onto the street," Cirone says.
Despite the chocolate smell, Cirone says store sales this year are down by at least 60%, up to 85% at some stores — like the ones in Chelsea Market, Hudson Yards, and Grand Central, which mostly rely on tourist and commuter traffic.
To counteract that drop in sales, Cirone has added more delivery, pickup, and online ordering options. He's hoping Christmas turns out like Easter, when Li-Lac's inventory actually sold out online.
"And many, many, many of those customers had never ordered from us online before. So that's when we realized people are going to get their chocolate for the holidays. No matter what."
This holiday season is all about adaptability, says Larisa Ortiz, managing director of the business consulting nonprofit, Streetsense.
"Those are the better businesses, right? They know they have to switch it up and make it interesting, they're the ones who are going to be in a better position after the holidays."
Ortiz says shifting online is probably the smartest adaptation for many businesses. But going big on holiday decorations and spirit could help too.
Things are strange. But we still love dazzling lights.


npr--2020-12-08--Santiago Potes Is 1st Latino DACA Recipient To Be Awarded Rhodes Scholarship

Santiago Potes Is 1st Latino DACA Recipient To Be Awarded Rhodes Scholarship Santiago Potes is one of the hundreds of thousands of DACA-recipients currently living in the U.S. His parents fled Colombia when he was four years old , traveling with Potes to Miami .
Now , Potes , 23 , is a graduate of Columbia University and also the first Latino DACA recipient to be awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship .
`` I just could n't believe it , '' he tells NPR 's Morning Edition .
`` I just thought that they were going to call me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake .
Sorry about that , we actually did n't choose you . '
`` Santiago says his love for learning really took off when he was selected for Marina Esteva 's gifted classroom at Sweetwater Elementary when he was in the second grade .
`` It was just such a rigorous elementary school education , '' he says .
`` It was kind of like an intellectual boot camp for elementary school students . ''
Potes says Ms. Esteva became his mentor .
Esteva remembers Potes as an attentive learner who took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it means to be a Renaissance man .
`` That word hit him profoundly ... and he said to me at that time , 'That 's what I want to be .
I want to be a Renaissance man . '
And now he 's a Rhodes Scholar , '' she tells NPR .
`` That little boy flourished into what he is now . ''
Potes says he was n't even sure he should pursue the scholarship because the status of DACA — the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. as children — was in flux .
When the Supreme Court ruled in June for DREAMers like him , he decided to pursue the Rhodes scholarship process .
He applied in August and was notified late last month he 'd been selected .
`` If they had n't ruled in favor of DACA then I just would n't have applied . ''
As one of the 2021 Rhodes Scholars , Potes will head to the University of Oxford in the UK this fall .
He plans to study for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from there , he wants to come back to the U.S. '' I want be a national security expert working at the Department of State or working as a counselor to a senator , '' Potes says .
`` I want to use my academic research to help the United States , ultimately . ''

Santiago Potes Is 1st Latino DACA Recipient To Be Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
Enlarge this image toggle caption Santiago Potes Santiago Potes
Santiago Potes is one of the hundreds of thousands of DACA-recipients currently living in the U.S. His parents fled Colombia when he was four years old, traveling with Potes to Miami.
Now, Potes, 23, is a graduate of Columbia University and also the first Latino DACA recipient to be awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
"I just couldn't believe it," he tells NPR's Morning Edition. "I just thought that they were going to call me, and say 'Oh, we made a mistake. Sorry about that, we actually didn't choose you.' "
Santiago says his love for learning really took off when he was selected for Marina Esteva's gifted classroom at Sweetwater Elementary when he was in the second grade.
"It was just such a rigorous elementary school education," he says. "It was kind of like an intellectual boot camp for elementary school students."
Potes says Ms. Esteva became his mentor.
Esteva remembers Potes as an attentive learner who took a special interest in her lessons about what it means to be a Renaissance man.
toggle caption Via Santiago Potes
"That word hit him profoundly ... and he said to me at that time, 'That's what I want to be. I want to be a Renaissance man.' And now he's a Rhodes Scholar," she tells NPR. "That little boy flourished into what he is now."
Potes says he wasn't even sure he should pursue the scholarship because the status of DACA — the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects against deportation for some brought to the U.S. as children — was in flux. When the Supreme Court ruled in June for DREAMers like him, he decided to pursue the Rhodes scholarship process. He applied in August and was notified late last month he'd been selected. "If they hadn't ruled in favor of DACA then I just wouldn't have applied."
As one of the 2021 Rhodes Scholars, Potes will head to the University of Oxford in the UK this fall. He plans to study for a Master's degree in international relations and from there, he wants to come back to the U.S.
"I wanna be a national security expert working at the Department of State or working as a counselor to a senator," Potes says. "I want to use my academic research to help the United States, ultimately."