npr--2020-05-28--Reckoning With The Dead: Journalist Goes Inside An NYC COVID-19 Disaster Morgue

Reckoning With The Dead : Journalist Goes Inside An NYC COVID-19 Disaster Morgue Editor 's note : This interview contains graphic details that some readers may find upsetting .
Of the roughly 100,000 Americans included in the official COVID-19 death count , 20,000 died in New York City in a period of two months .
Time magazine reporter W.J .
Hennigan recently spent several weeks looking into the practical challenge of how a city deals with so many bodies suffused with a deadly pathogen .
Though he spent years as a war reporter , covering conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared me for the level of devastation and the amount of death '' in New York .
`` When you walk into a major U.S. city and you see the sorts of things that they 're dealing with — racks of corpses and industrial warehouses full of people dedicated to processing the dead — it 's not something that comes natural , '' he says .
`` The scale of it is incomparable to anything that we 've seen . ''
Hennigan 's story , `` 'We Do This for the Living .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bury Its Dead , '' describes the disaster morgues that have been operating around-the-clock during the pandemic .
`` This is not the sort of way that you 'd expect your life to end — where you 'd be stacked like cordwood in a refrigerated trailer at a marine terminal in Brooklyn , '' Hennigan says .
`` There are 200 of these trailers across New York , at every hospital .
It 's a haunting thing . ''
On the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal , a major warehouse complex where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's essentially a distribution hub , if you can imagine , like an Amazon fulfillment center where trucks come and go , and it 's right off of New York 's inner harbor and it 's opposite the Statue of Liberty , so you can see very clearly across the water .
The warehouse complex itself there — there are three of them — and each warehouse building is the size of a football field or larger .
And inside each of those are a mix of U.S. service members , state officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials , all of them trying to help process the hundreds of bodies that are coming in each day .
In the middle of the main facility , there is a military tent set up , and the bodies come through there on gurneys .
The bodies are examined .
They are tagged .
The information is put into a computer system .
Then they are wheeled to a 53-foot tractor-trailer .
They 're put on a rack .
There are three tiers of wooden shelving .
Their position on that trailer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you went on an airplane , `` Seat 31 , row D. '' ... That trailer is wheeled out to the middle of the parking lot and put there until a funeral director can come pick the body up .
...
Inside of each of the warehouses , everybody 's wearing a hazmat suit , like these hooded jumpsuits that protect them , and wearing gloves and visors .
...
There are metal gurneys that are used .
All of this has been put together fairly quickly .
So all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this sort of thing is purpose-built for the processing of the corpses that are coming through there .
It 's a hive of activity , and it 's being done day and night .
They do n't close operations .
They go 24/7 .
On setting up the disaster morgues as an alternative to mass graves I spent a lot of time with [ First Deputy Chief Medical Examiner ] Frank DePaolo , who 's overseeing all the forensic operations and the COVID response .
He 's basically orchestrated this plan , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this hub-and-spoke model of dealing with mass death , because Frank himself , he deals with these sorts of events , these emergency responses all over the world .
He 's often called in .
For instance , when [ the ] Sandy Hook [ school shooting ] happened , he was called in to help out with that .
When [ the ] Las Vegas [ mass shooting ] happened , he was called to help advise the people there .
...
If it was n't handled this way and if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , bodies would have to be buried in a mass grave .
I mean , that 's just the reality .
And people within the death care system told me that ... we were very close to going off the rails here .
On the mass grave on Hart Island where unclaimed bodies go In the early days of the pandemic they were ... so inundated with corpses that they were just incapable of holding them all .
And this is before these emergency disaster morgues were established .
There are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to the five brick-and-mortar facilities that the New York medical examiner 's office operates .
What the medical examiner had done is said , `` We ca n't hold these corpses any longer .
We need to be able to process the new ones that are coming in . ''
And what they settled on was they would hold on to a body for 15 days .
And if it was n't claimed or picked up by a funeral director , it would be sent to Hart Island — which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically a mass grave where bodies are sent in simple , pine boxes and stacked on top of one another and buried by inmates from Rikers Island .
...
Many bodies have been sent there .
... People are not able to get to their loved ones now ; so many , many bodies go unclaimed .
Something on the order of six times as many bodies have been sent there since this pandemic started .
And that trend continues as people are unable to get out of their houses and claim their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on funeral directors I talked to a number of funeral directors , but the one that I document in the story is John D'Arienzo , who works in Brooklyn .
He told me he knows 90 % of the decedents that come through his funeral home .
...
So the way that it typically works is that the funeral director is able to pick up the body basically whenever the family wants the body to be picked up .
And the situation that they 're facing now is they ca n't even get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone is ringing off the hook , because so many people need the help .
And for somebody like John , who knows the people in his neighborhood , who is having to turn away families because he 's just so inundated in work , it breaks his heart .
The purpose of a funeral director is to help families process death , to help them go through this grieving process .
And if you ca n't even get through the front door , I mean , he feels like he 's doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He says these sort of things with tears in his eyes .
On the New York crematories running round-the-clock There are only four crematories in New York City and they are heavily regulated because of environmental concerns .
Many are in communities , so there are a lot of strictures on the way that they operate .
And they were only able to operate ... something like on the order of 12 hours a day , roughly .
Because of [ COVID-19 ] and because of the demand , New York loosened the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were able to operate 24/7 .
So crematories are now in business all day long .
These are big ovens , brick ovens , and they are operating at up to 1,800 degrees , and they 're just not supposed to be running for that long .
So they need to have time down .
But in two cases — out of the four crematories — they had their ovens collapse because of overuse .
On avoiding the death care side of this crisis There 's been a lot of coverage on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that makes sense .
They make people well , or at least try to .
But what 's not been really as widely covered or understood , it is the death care side of things .
Because the flip side of any pandemic is the death , and how that work is being handled .
I think it 's more of a philosophical question of the American psyche , of why we do n't reflect on that , the sheer numbers of deaths that we 've had in this country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hope that we get beyond this and maybe we do n't want to confront the death .
In a lot of ways , maybe we have n't really processed the numbers .
I know for a number of people , it was hard to really imagine 100,000 people passing away as a result of this virus until they saw it on the front page of The New York Times , where just 1,000 of the 100,000 names were listed there .
It 's the same sort of emotion that strikes you when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial .
We read about these things in textbooks .
We 've lived through them .
But until you see the scope and the scale of this , that 's when you get that pit in your stomach .
Amy Salit and Seth Kelley produced and edited the audio of this interview .
Bridget Bentz and Molly Seavy-Nesper and Deborah Franklin adapted it for the Web .

Reckoning With The Dead: Journalist Goes Inside An NYC COVID-19 Disaster Morgue
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noam Galai/Getty Images Noam Galai/Getty Images
Editor's note: This interview contains graphic details that some readers may find upsetting.
Of the roughly 100,000 Americans included in the official COVID-19 death count, 20,000 died in New York City in a period of two months. Time magazine reporter W.J. Hennigan recently spent several weeks looking into the practical challenge of how a city deals with so many bodies suffused with a deadly pathogen.
Though he spent years as a war reporter, covering conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hennigan says, "Nothing really prepared me for the level of devastation and the amount of death" in New York.
"When you walk into a major U.S. city and you see the sorts of things that they're dealing with — racks of corpses and industrial warehouses full of people dedicated to processing the dead — it's not something that comes natural," he says. "The scale of it is incomparable to anything that we've seen."
Hennigan's story, "'We Do This for the Living.' Inside New York's Citywide Effort to Bury Its Dead," describes the disaster morgues that have been operating around-the-clock during the pandemic.
"This is not the sort of way that you'd expect your life to end — where you'd be stacked like cordwood in a refrigerated trailer at a marine terminal in Brooklyn," Hennigan says. "There are 200 of these trailers across New York, at every hospital. It's a haunting thing."
Interview Highlights
On the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, a major warehouse complex where the dead are being processed and held
It's essentially a distribution hub, if you can imagine, like an Amazon fulfillment center where trucks come and go, and it's right off of New York's inner harbor and it's opposite the Statue of Liberty, so you can see very clearly across the water. The warehouse complex itself there — there are three of them — and each warehouse building is the size of a football field or larger. And inside each of those are a mix of U.S. service members, state officials, city officials [and] emergency officials, all of them trying to help process the hundreds of bodies that are coming in each day.
In the middle of the main facility, there is a military tent set up, and the bodies come through there on gurneys. The bodies are examined. They are tagged. The information is put into a computer system. Then they are wheeled to a 53-foot tractor-trailer. They're put on a rack. There are three tiers of wooden shelving. Their position on that trailer is documented — just like you would be if you went on an airplane, "Seat 31, row D." ... That trailer is wheeled out to the middle of the parking lot and put there until a funeral director can come pick the body up. ...
All of the ramps and the loading bays and all this sort of thing is purpose-built for the processing of the corpses that are coming through there. It's a hive of activity, and it's being done day and night. They don't close operations. They go 24/7.
Inside of each of the warehouses, everybody's wearing a hazmat suit, like these hooded jumpsuits that protect them, and wearing gloves and visors. ... There are metal gurneys that are used. All of this has been put together fairly quickly. So all of the ramps and the loading bays and all this sort of thing is purpose-built for the processing of the corpses that are coming through there. It's a hive of activity, and it's being done day and night. They don't close operations. They go 24/7.
On setting up the disaster morgues as an alternative to mass graves
I spent a lot of time with [First Deputy Chief Medical Examiner] Frank DePaolo, who's overseeing all the forensic operations and the COVID response. He's basically orchestrated this plan, which is establishing these emergency morgue units and this hub-and-spoke model of dealing with mass death, because Frank himself, he deals with these sorts of events, these emergency responses all over the world. He's often called in. For instance, when [the] Sandy Hook [school shooting] happened, he was called in to help out with that. When [the] Las Vegas [mass shooting] happened, he was called to help advise the people there. ...
If it wasn't handled this way and if they weren't able to expand all their operations, bodies would have to be buried in a mass grave. I mean, that's just the reality. And people within the death care system told me that ... we were very close to going off the rails here.
On the mass grave on Hart Island where unclaimed bodies go
In the early days of the pandemic they were ... so inundated with corpses that they were just incapable of holding them all. And this is before these emergency disaster morgues were established. There are now four of them across New York City in addition to the five brick-and-mortar facilities that the New York medical examiner's office operates. What the medical examiner had done is said, "We can't hold these corpses any longer. We need to be able to process the new ones that are coming in." And what they settled on was they would hold on to a body for 15 days. And if it wasn't claimed or picked up by a funeral director, it would be sent to Hart Island — which has, for over 100 years, been basically a mass grave where bodies are sent in simple, pine boxes and stacked on top of one another and buried by inmates from Rikers Island. ...
Many bodies have been sent there. ... People are not able to get to their loved ones now; so many, many bodies go unclaimed. Something on the order of six times as many bodies have been sent there since this pandemic started. And that trend continues as people are unable to get out of their houses and claim their loved ones.
On the overwhelming demand on funeral directors
I talked to a number of funeral directors, but the one that I document in the story is John D'Arienzo, who works in Brooklyn. He told me he knows 90% of the decedents that come through his funeral home. ...
So the way that it typically works is that the funeral director is able to pick up the body basically whenever the family wants the body to be picked up. And the situation that they're facing now is they can't even get through to a funeral director. The phone is ringing off the hook, because so many people need the help. And for somebody like John, who knows the people in his neighborhood, who is having to turn away families because he's just so inundated in work, it breaks his heart. The purpose of a funeral director is to help families process death, to help them go through this grieving process. And if you can't even get through the front door, I mean, he feels like he's doing a huge disservice to his community. He says these sort of things with tears in his eyes.
On the New York crematories running round-the-clock
There are only four crematories in New York City and they are heavily regulated because of environmental concerns. Many are in communities, so there are a lot of strictures on the way that they operate. And they were only able to operate ... something like on the order of 12 hours a day, roughly. Because of [COVID-19] and because of the demand, New York loosened the restrictions on that time window, and they were able to operate 24/7. So crematories are now in business all day long. These are big ovens, brick ovens, and they are operating at up to 1,800 degrees, and they're just not supposed to be running for that long. So they need to have time down. But in two cases — out of the four crematories — they had their ovens collapse because of overuse.
On avoiding the death care side of this crisis
There's been a lot of coverage on the front-line health care workers, and I think that makes sense. They make people well, or at least try to. But what's not been really as widely covered or understood, it is the death care side of things. Because the flip side of any pandemic is the death, and how that work is being handled.
I think it's more of a philosophical question of the American psyche, of why we don't reflect on that, the sheer numbers of deaths that we've had in this country. I think there is an expectation and a hope that we get beyond this and maybe we don't want to confront the death. In a lot of ways, maybe we haven't really processed the numbers. I know for a number of people, it was hard to really imagine 100,000 people passing away as a result of this virus until they saw it on the front page of The New York Times, where just 1,000 of the 100,000 names were listed there. It's the same sort of emotion that strikes you when you stand in front of the Vietnam Memorial. We read about these things in textbooks. We've lived through them. But until you see the scope and the scale of this, that's when you get that pit in your stomach.
Amy Salit and Seth Kelley produced and edited the audio of this interview. Bridget Bentz and Molly Seavy-Nesper and Deborah Franklin adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-05-28--Antibody Tests Point To Lower Death Rate For The Coronavirus Than First Thought

Antibody Tests Point To Lower Death Rate For The Coronavirus Than First Thought Mounting evidence suggests the coronavirus is more common and less deadly than it first appeared .
The evidence comes from tests that detect antibodies to the coronavirus in a person 's blood rather than the virus itself .
The tests are finding large numbers of people in the U.S. who were infected but never became seriously ill. And when these mild infections are included in coronavirus statistics , the virus appears less dangerous .
`` The current best estimates for the infection fatality risk are between 0.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caitlin Rivers , an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
That 's in contrast with death rates of 5 % or more based on calculations that included only people who got sick enough to be diagnosed with tests that detect the presence of virus in a person 's body .
And the revised estimates support an early prediction by Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force .
In an editorial published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal of Medicine , Fauci and colleagues wrote that the case fatality rate for COVID-19 `` may be considerably less than 1 % . ''
But even a virus with a fatality rate less than 1 % presents a formidable threat , Rivers says .
`` That is many times more deadly than seasonal influenza , '' she says .
The new evidence is coming from places such as Indiana , which completed the first phase of a massive testing effort early in May .
Indiana 's program began soon after coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor 's office contacted Nir Menachemi , who chairs the health policy and management department at Indiana University 's Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health .
The governor wanted basic information , such as how many people had been infected , and how many would die .
At the time , `` it was really difficult to know for sure , '' Menachemi says .
`` And frankly , not just in our state , but in any state . ''
That was because health officials only knew about people who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
And that number can be misleading , Menachemi says .
`` It does n't capture the vast number of people out there who might be infected but not seeking medical care , '' he says .
So starting in late April , Menachemi , working with the Indiana State Department of Health , led a study of more than 4,600 people statewide .
Most were selected at random .
Participants got two tests .
The first was the standard test that looks for the virus .
It shows whether you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a test that looks for antibodies to the virus in a person 's blood .
It detects people who were infected but have recovered .
Preliminary results showed that the coronavirus had infected about 3 % of the state 's population , or 188,000 people .
`` That 188,000 people represented about 11 times more people than conventional selective testing had identified in the state to that point , '' Menachemi says .
And 45 % of the infected people reported having no symptoms at all .
For Menachemi and his team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glimpse of the entire coronavirus iceberg , instead of just the part above the water .
And the data allowed them to calculate something called the infection fatality rate — the odds that an infected person will die .
Previously , scientists had relied on what 's known as the case fatality rate , which calculates the odds that someone who develops symptoms will die .
Indiana 's infection fatality rate turned out to be about 0.58 % , or roughly one death for every 172 people who got infected .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested by antibody studies in several other areas .
In New York , for example , an antibody study indicated the state has an infection fatality rate around 0.5 % .
Studies in Florida and California have suggested even lower fatality rates , but the results are less certain , Rivers says .
`` They may have enrolled people who are more likely to have been infected than would be ideal , '' she says , which would lead to an overestimate of infections and an underestimate of the infection fatality rate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Calif. , used Facebook ads to find participants — a tactic unlikely to attract a random sample .
Also antibody studies become less accurate when conducted in areas where the prevalence of infections is low .
Calculating infection fatality rates in the U.S. is useful for researchers but less so for individuals who have been infected , Rivers says .
`` Thankfully , children and young adults are at low risk of severe illness and death , '' she says .
`` But older adults are at quite high risk . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of dying from an infection is less than 1 in 1,000 .
But for someone in poor health in their 90s , it can be greater than 1 in 10 .
And that means different states in the U.S. should expect different infection fatality rates , says Juliette Unwin , a research fellow at Imperial College London .
`` Places like Maine and Florida , we find that the infection fatality ratio is higher than in other places where the demographic is younger , '' she says .
Unwin is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is monitoring both infection and mortality from the coronavirus in the United States .
The team puts the infection fatality rate for the U.S. at somewhere between 0.7 % and 1.2 % .
`` That will be subject to change and revision , as is everything in science , '' says Samir Bhatt , a senior lecturer at Imperial College London .
`` But I do n't think we have it an order of magnitude out . ''
To get a more precise estimate of infections and the infection fatality rate nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched an antibody study that will test 10,000 people .
Results will be released on a rolling basis .
The study is expected to wrap up in early 2022 .

Antibody Tests Point To Lower Death Rate For The Coronavirus Than First Thought
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Mounting evidence suggests the coronavirus is more common and less deadly than it first appeared.
The evidence comes from tests that detect antibodies to the coronavirus in a person's blood rather than the virus itself.
The tests are finding large numbers of people in the U.S. who were infected but never became seriously ill. And when these mild infections are included in coronavirus statistics, the virus appears less dangerous.
"The current best estimates for the infection fatality risk are between 0.5% and 1%," says Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
That's in contrast with death rates of 5% or more based on calculations that included only people who got sick enough to be diagnosed with tests that detect the presence of virus in a person's body.
And the revised estimates support an early prediction by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force. In an editorial published in late March in The New England Journal of Medicine, Fauci and colleagues wrote that the case fatality rate for COVID-19 "may be considerably less than 1%."
But even a virus with a fatality rate less than 1% presents a formidable threat, Rivers says. "That is many times more deadly than seasonal influenza," she says.
The new evidence is coming from places such as Indiana, which completed the first phase of a massive testing effort early in May.
Indiana's program began soon after coronavirus cases began appearing in the state. The governor's office contacted Nir Menachemi, who chairs the health policy and management department at Indiana University's Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.
The governor wanted basic information, such as how many people had been infected, and how many would die.
At the time, "it was really difficult to know for sure," Menachemi says. "And frankly, not just in our state, but in any state."
That was because health officials only knew about people who had been sick enough to get tested for the virus. And that number can be misleading, Menachemi says.
"It doesn't capture the vast number of people out there who might be infected but not seeking medical care," he says.
So starting in late April, Menachemi, working with the Indiana State Department of Health, led a study of more than 4,600 people statewide. Most were selected at random.
Participants got two tests. The first was the standard test that looks for the virus. It shows whether you have an active infection. The second was a test that looks for antibodies to the virus in a person's blood. It detects people who were infected but have recovered.
Preliminary results showed that the coronavirus had infected about 3% of the state's population, or 188,000 people.
"That 188,000 people represented about 11 times more people than conventional selective testing had identified in the state to that point," Menachemi says.
And 45% of the infected people reported having no symptoms at all.
For Menachemi and his team, it was like finally getting a glimpse of the entire coronavirus iceberg, instead of just the part above the water.
And the data allowed them to calculate something called the infection fatality rate — the odds that an infected person will die. Previously, scientists had relied on what's known as the case fatality rate, which calculates the odds that someone who develops symptoms will die.
Indiana's infection fatality rate turned out to be about 0.58%, or roughly one death for every 172 people who got infected.
And the results in Indiana are similar to those suggested by antibody studies in several other areas. In New York, for example, an antibody study indicated the state has an infection fatality rate around 0.5%.
Studies in Florida and California have suggested even lower fatality rates, but the results are less certain, Rivers says.
"They may have enrolled people who are more likely to have been infected than would be ideal," she says, which would lead to an overestimate of infections and an underestimate of the infection fatality rate.
An antibody study in Santa Clara County, Calif., used Facebook ads to find participants — a tactic unlikely to attract a random sample. Also antibody studies become less accurate when conducted in areas where the prevalence of infections is low.
Calculating infection fatality rates in the U.S. is useful for researchers but less so for individuals who have been infected, Rivers says.
"Thankfully, children and young adults are at low risk of severe illness and death," she says. "But older adults are at quite high risk."
Studies suggest a healthy young person's chance of dying from an infection is less than 1 in 1,000. But for someone in poor health in their 90s, it can be greater than 1 in 10.
And that means different states in the U.S. should expect different infection fatality rates, says Juliette Unwin, a research fellow at Imperial College London.
"Places like Maine and Florida, we find that the infection fatality ratio is higher than in other places where the demographic is younger," she says.
Unwin is part of a large team in the United Kingdom that is monitoring both infection and mortality from the coronavirus in the United States. The team puts the infection fatality rate for the U.S. at somewhere between 0.7% and 1.2%.
"That will be subject to change and revision, as is everything in science," says Samir Bhatt, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London. "But I don't think we have it an order of magnitude out."
To get a more precise estimate of infections and the infection fatality rate nationwide, the National Institutes of Health has launched an antibody study that will test 10,000 people. Results will be released on a rolling basis. The study is expected to wrap up in early 2022.


npr--2020-05-28--Basketball Hall Of Fame Postpones Enshrinement Because Of Coronavirus

Basketball Hall Of Fame Postpones Enshrinement Because Of Coronavirus The Basketball Hall of Fame 's upcoming enshrinement weekend may be scratched from this year 's calendar because of the coronavirus , President and CEO John Doleva confirmed Thursday .
`` Given the unprecedented challenge of planning in the COVID-19 era , we are exploring several scenarios to accommodate the Class of 2020 ceremony , including postponing the festivities until October or early 2021 , '' Doleva said in a statement .
He added the Hall of Fame is reviewing all options with a final decision to be made the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highly anticipated Class of 2020 and look forward to gathering to celebrate their tremendous careers and impact on the game when it 's determined safe to do so , '' he said .
The delay is particularly notable because the incoming Class of 2020 , considered one of the best ever , will be headlined by the late Kobe Bryant .
Keeping the option to hold the festivities in October seems to be at odds with what another high-ranking official at the Hall of Fame told ESPN on Wednesday .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame 's board of governors , told the sports network .
`` It 's going to have to be the first quarter of next year .
We 'll meet in a couple of weeks and look at the options of how and when and where . ''
The original dates for the enshrinement weekend were in late August , with alternate dates in October .
However , Colangelo also told ESPN that the dates are `` just not feasible '' because of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States alone .
Other notable members of the class include Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan , WNBA legend Tamika Catchings and coaches Rudy Tomjanovich and Kim Mulkey .
Three members of the 2020 class will be inducted posthumously .
Bryant died four months ago when his helicopter crashed in Calabasas , Calif .
Eight others died in the crash , including his daughter Gianna .
He was 41 .
Bryant played 20 seasons , all with the Los Angeles Lakers , where he won five NBA Championships .
His public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was broadcast live on television .
Also set to be honored is Eddie Sutton , the longtime college coach who amassed more than 800 victories .
He died earlier this month at 84 .
Another 2020 honoree is Patrick Baumann , the long-serving secretary general for the International Basketball Federation , who died in October 2018 at 51 .
Colangelo said that even though the 2020 and 2021 classes will be enshrined in the same year , there will be separate events for each .
`` We wo n't be combining them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Class of 2020 is a very special class and deserves its own celebration . ''

Basketball Hall Of Fame Postpones Enshrinement Because Of Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Robbins/Getty Images Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Updated 4:13 p.m. ET
The Basketball Hall of Fame's upcoming enshrinement weekend may be scratched from this year's calendar because of the coronavirus, President and CEO John Doleva confirmed Thursday.
"Given the unprecedented challenge of planning in the COVID-19 era, we are exploring several scenarios to accommodate the Class of 2020 ceremony, including postponing the festivities until October or early 2021," Doleva said in a statement.
He added the Hall of Fame is reviewing all options with a final decision to be made the week of June 15.
"We congratulate the highly anticipated Class of 2020 and look forward to gathering to celebrate their tremendous careers and impact on the game when it's determined safe to do so," he said.
The delay is particularly notable because the incoming Class of 2020, considered one of the best ever, will be headlined by the late Kobe Bryant.
Keeping the option to hold the festivities in October seems to be at odds with what another high-ranking official at the Hall of Fame told ESPN on Wednesday.
"We're definitely canceling," Jerry Colangelo, chairman of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame's board of governors, told the sports network. "It's going to have to be the first quarter of next year. We'll meet in a couple of weeks and look at the options of how and when and where."
The original dates for the enshrinement weekend were in late August, with alternate dates in October. However, Colangelo also told ESPN that the dates are "just not feasible" because of the pandemic, which has killed more than 100,000 people in the United States alone.
Other notable members of the class include Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, WNBA legend Tamika Catchings and coaches Rudy Tomjanovich and Kim Mulkey.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images
Three members of the 2020 class will be inducted posthumously.
Bryant died four months ago when his helicopter crashed in Calabasas, Calif. Eight others died in the crash, including his daughter Gianna. He was 41. Bryant played 20 seasons, all with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won five NBA Championships.
His public funeral held at Staples Centers drew thousands and was broadcast live on television.
Also set to be honored is Eddie Sutton, the longtime college coach who amassed more than 800 victories. He died earlier this month at 84.
Another 2020 honoree is Patrick Baumann, the long-serving secretary general for the International Basketball Federation, who died in October 2018 at 51.
Colangelo said that even though the 2020 and 2021 classes will be enshrined in the same year, there will be separate events for each.
"We won't be combining them," he said to ESPN. "The Class of 2020 is a very special class and deserves its own celebration."


npr--2020-05-29--Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger and Shorter

Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth 's Trees Are Younger and Shorter The forests of today will not be the forests of tomorrow .
Rising temperatures , deforestation , development and climate-induced disasters are transforming the very makeup of the Earth 's forests , new research published in the journal Science finds .
Older , bigger trees — stalwarts in their respective ecosystems — are being lost at an alarming rate , making the planet 's collective forests shorter and younger .
The shift is being driven at different rates by different causes in different places , the study 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be global .
Old growth forests absorb and store massive amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide .
They provide habitat for rare and critically endangered species , and foster rich biodiversity .
And they 're disappearing fast .
Researchers found that the world lost roughly one-third of its old growth forest between 1900 and 2015 .
In North America and Europe , where more data was available , they found that tree mortality has doubled in the last 40 years .
Warming temperatures , wildfires , logging and insect outbreaks were among the many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDowell , the study 's lead author .
`` Perhaps more concerning is that the trajectory of all these disturbances are generally increasing over time and are expected to continue increasing into the future , '' he says .
McDowell , who works with the U.S. Department of Energy 's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , is a tree physiologist by training .
His focus is on how trees are impacted by rising temperatures , arguably the biggest driver of forest change .
To get a broader understanding of how forests are shifting globally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 other researchers with varying expertise .
Together , they sifted through more than 160 previous studies about tree mortality and its global causes , applying current satellite data and modeling to create perhaps the most comprehensive look at the Earth 's shifting forests to date .
`` It 's not a shock but it 's very sad , '' says Kristina Anderson-Teixeira , an ecologist and leader of the ForestGEO Ecosystems & Climate Program at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute , who helped with the research .
Just in the last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires tore across Siberia , the Amazon and Australia .
Deforestation and illegal logging in Southeast Asia and Brazil continue at a torrid pace .
Human-driven climate change is also making it difficult for many forests to fully recover from the type of natural disturbances — wind events , flooding or fire — that would normally occur .
`` We as a human society are hitting these forests so rapidly with so many different changes that they ca n't keep up , '' she says .
The researchers did find evidence that increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tree growth in some places , but not to an extent where it would outweigh the harm being done by increased temperatures .
The overriding trend was one of loss .
`` I would recommend that people try to visit places with big trees now , while they can , with their kids , '' McDowell says .
`` Because there 's some significant threat , that might not be possible sometime in the future . ''

Climate Change And Deforestation Mean Earth's Trees Are Younger And Shorter
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nathan Rott/NPR Nathan Rott/NPR
The forests of today will not be the forests of tomorrow.
Rising temperatures, deforestation, development and climate-induced disasters are transforming the very makeup of Earth's forests, new research published in the journal Science finds.
Older, bigger trees — stalwarts in their respective ecosystems — are being lost at an alarming rate, making the planet's collective forests shorter and younger.
The shift is being driven at different rates by different causes in different places, the study's authors say, but the consequences will be global.
Old growth forests absorb and store massive amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide. They provide habitat for rare and critically endangered species and foster rich biodiversity. And they're disappearing fast.
Researchers found that the world lost roughly one-third of its old growth forest between 1900 and 2015. In North America and Europe, where more data was available, they found that tree mortality has doubled in the past 40 years.
Warming temperatures, wildfires, logging and insect outbreaks were among the many causes of the decline, says Nate McDowell, the study's lead author.
"Perhaps more concerning is that the trajectory of all these disturbances are generally increasing over time and are expected to continue increasing into the future," he says.
I would recommend that people try to visit places with big trees now, while they can, with their kids.
McDowell, who works with the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is a tree physiologist by training. His focus is on how trees are affected by rising temperatures, arguably the biggest driver of forest change.
To get a broader understanding of how forests are shifting globally though, he brought in more than 20 other researchers with varying expertise. Together, they sifted through more than 160 previous studies about tree mortality and its global causes, applying current satellite data and modeling to create perhaps the most comprehensive look at Earth's shifting forests to date.
"It's not a shock but it's very sad," says Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, an ecologist and leader of the ForestGEO Ecosystems & Climate Program at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who helped with the research.
Just in the past year, the world has watched as massive wildfires tore across Siberia, the Amazon and Australia. Deforestation and illegal logging in Southeast Asia and Brazil continue at a torrid pace.
Human-driven climate change is also making it difficult for many forests to fully recover from the type of natural disturbances — wind events, flooding or fire — that would normally occur.
"We as a human society are hitting these forests so rapidly with so many different changes that they can't keep up," she says.
The researchers did find evidence that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could increase tree growth in some places, but not to an extent where it would outweigh the harm being done by increased temperatures. The overriding trend was one of loss.
"I would recommend that people try to visit places with big trees now, while they can, with their kids," McDowell says. "Because there's some significant threat, that might not be possible sometime in the future."


npr--2020-05-29--Twitter Hides Trump's Tweet On Minneapolis, Saying It Glorifies Violence

Twitter Hides Trump 's Tweet On Minneapolis , Saying It Glorifies Violence President Trump said he will `` send in the National Guard '' to restore order to Minneapolis , which has been wracked by protests and looting following the death of George Floyd , a black man , after he was pinned to the ground for several minutes by a white police officer .
`` When the looting starts , the shooting starts , '' Trump said , prompting Twitter to hide the message for , in its view , `` glorifying violence . ''
`` I ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great American City , Minneapolis , '' Trump said early Friday .
`` A total lack of leadership .
Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right . ''
He added : `` These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I wo n't let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Thank you ! ''
Twitter hid the second of those messages with a warning , but added it `` has determined that it may be in the public 's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible . ''
Trump responded Friday , saying Twitter was doing `` nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party . ''
The president 's tweets about the situation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring to a head two major stories that have dominated the news this week .
In the first , a white officer appears to shove Floyd 's face into the pavement with his knee for at least seven minutes on Monday evening .
Several minutes into the video , Floyd 's pleas for help go quiet .
Floyd was reported dead later that night .
The Minneapolis Police Department swiftly fired the four police officers shown in the disturbing video .
The U.S. Justice Department said it has made the investigation into Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But protesters were n't placated .
The 3rd Precinct police building in Minneapolis was set on fire in Minneapolis Thursday night .
Gov .
Tim Walz signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard to help restore peace .
In the second story , earlier this week Twitter fact checked a tweet by Trump that said mail-in voting leads to fraud , prompting the president to sign an executive order Thursday aimed at limiting the broad legal protections enjoyed by social media companies .
But legal experts say they were doubtful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the tech giants .
Prior to this week , Twitter had not fact-checked the president , nor hidden any of his messages on the platform .

Trump Says He Spoke With Floyd's Family, Understands Hurt And Pain Of Community
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Updated at 6:08 p.m. ET
President Trump on Friday evening struck a more somber tone talking about the death of George Floyd and recent protests in Minneapolis. The comments at the White House came after a day of criticism over a tweet that referred to protesters there as thugs and prompted a warning from Twitter, which said the president glorified violence.
Floyd, a black man, died after Officer Derek Chauvin, as seen on video, held his knee firmly on Floyd's neck for at least seven minutes. Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with killing Floyd. Before his arrest, protesters burned and looted buildings in Minneapolis, including a police precinct.
"We have peaceful protesters and support the rights for peaceful protesters — we can't allow a situation like happened in Minneapolis to descend further into lawlessness, anarchy and chaos," Trump said. The president said he had spoken with Floyd's family before the news event.
Trump also said he understood the hurt and pain of people who have "been through a lot."
"The family of George is entitled to justice and the people of Minnesota are entitled to live in safety," he said. "Law and order will prevail."
The president's more recent message is a significant departure from his early Friday tweets on the event, in which he referred to protesters as "THUGS" and said "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Twitter later placed a warning on the tweet, advising that Trump's post violates its policy about "glorifying violence."
Trump's message on Twitter came during a night of protests and looting in Minneapolis.
Trump said Friday morning he would "send in the National Guard" to restore order.
"I can't stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis," Trump tweeted. "A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right."
He added: "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"
The phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" was used in December 1967 remarks from then-Miami police Chief Walter Headley. Headley was discussing his efforts to cut crime in the Florida city, with the message "aimed at young Negro males, from 15 to 21," according to the Miami Herald.
Trump said later Friday he wasn't aware of the history behind the phrase, but that he'd "heard that phrase for a long time."
Twitter hid the second of Trump's messages with a warning but added it "has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible."
The official White House Twitter account retweeted the language from the president's hidden post. Twitter placed a warning message on that post as well.
Trump also responded Friday on Twitter, saying Twitter was doing "nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party."
Trump followed up his earlier statements with a new series of tweets, writing: "Looting leads to shooting, and that's why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night - or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot. I don't want this to happen, and that's what the expression put out last night means."
Trump was referring to the shootings of seven demonstrators Thursday night in Louisville, Ky. They had been protesting the killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor. Taylor was killed by Louisville police in March when officers forced their way into her apartment and fired shots, striking her eight times.
"It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement," Trump wrote of his early tweets. "It's very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media. Honor the memory of George Floyd."
White House aide responds to Twitter with expletive
Dan Scavino, a top White House aide who helps manage Trump's Twitter account, lashed out against the social media company, using an expletive.
"Twitter is targeting the president of the United States 24/7, while turning their heads to protest organizers who are planning, plotting, and communicating their next moves daily on this very platform," Scavino tweeted. "Twitter is full of [s***] — more and more people are beginning to get it."
The president's tweets about the situation in Minneapolis and Twitter's response to it bring to a head two major stories that have dominated the news this week.
In the first, a white officer appears to shove Floyd's face into the pavement with his knee for at least seven minutes on Monday evening. Several minutes into the video, Floyd's pleas for help go quiet. Floyd was reported dead later that night.
The Minneapolis Police Department swiftly fired the four officers shown in the disturbing video. The U.S. Justice Department said it has made the investigation into Floyd's death "a top priority." But some protesters weren't placated. The 3rd Precinct police building in Minneapolis was set on fire Thursday night. Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard.
In the second story, Twitter fact-checked a Trump tweet that said mail-in voting leads to fraud, prompting the president to sign an executive order Thursday aimed at limiting the broad legal protections social media companies enjoy. But legal experts said they doubt the move would have any practical effect on the tech giants.
Before this week, Twitter had not fact-checked the president or hidden any of his messages on the platform.
Trump's tweet on violence against protesters in Minnesota also highlights the discrepancy between what form of demonstrations the president and his allies deem appropriate versus others.
Earlier this month, when armed protesters stormed the Michigan statehouse demanding that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lift coronavirus mitigation measures, Trump criticized the governor and endorsed the protesters' actions as a response to the frustrations from the emotional and financial tolls of the pandemic.
"The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal," Trump wrote in a May 1 tweet.
Former President Barack Obama, who has largely stayed silent on political matters since leaving the White House, issued a statement Friday on the events in Minnesota and addressed Floyd's death and other recent racial incidents.
"It's natural to wish for life 'to just get back to normal' as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us," Obama said. "But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly 'normal' — whether it's while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park."
He added: "It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd's death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done. But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station — including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day — to work together to create a 'new normal' in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts."


npr--2020-05-29--Cliven Bundy Armed Standoff Case Going Back To Court

It 's been more than two years since Cliven Bundy left the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas a free man .
His arm around his wife , Carol Bundy , the Nevada rancher was defiant .
`` We 're not done with this , '' Bundy told reporters in January 2018 .
`` If the federal government comes after us again we will definitely tell 'em the truth . ''
On Friday , the Justice Department will try to come after the Bundys again , when federal prosecutors will appeal for a retrial over a 2014 armed standoff between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had come to round up the rancher 's cows that were illegally grazing on federal land .
The government 's case against Cliven Bundy , his sons , Ammon and Ryan and a Montana militiaman named Ryan Payne , collapsed after a judge declared a mistrial in December 2017 .
Bundy and his men were accused of conspiracy against federal agents and other charges for their role in the tense standoff which later became a symbol over the fight against federal control of public lands .
`` If there is no successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of anarchists like the Bundys to take actions that not only are a threat to themselves but threats to the public at large , '' said Pat Shea , who served as BLM director during the Clinton administration .
For their part , the Bundys and their supporters appear puzzled that the federal government is even pursuing a retrial .
`` What 's really ironic and frankly I think disgusting is that the Trump Justice Department is the one that allowed the U.S. attorney in Nevada to take the appeal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attorney .
After all , President Trump recently pardoned two Oregon ranchers whose fight with federal land managers inspired Cliven Bundy 's son , Ammon Bundy , to lead a separate , armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016 .
Federal prosecutors mostly failed to get convictions in that Oregon case and have been widely criticized for bungling the Nevada trial .
Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the case and later declared a mistrial after ruling federal prosecutors `` deliberately misled '' defense attorneys and the court by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to disclose the existence of federal snipers near the ranch in the days leading up to the April 2014 standoff .
The U.S. attorney 's office in Nevada declined an interview request by NPR .
But court filings indicate prosecutors will likely argue Friday that their missteps in the 2017 trial were `` inadvertent , '' and in particular they say they were trying to balance disclosing Bureau of Land Management surveillance footage with protecting witnesses against violence .
Klayman , who is himself a controversial conservative activist and was once fixture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the DOJ is being hypocritical .
He says the investigation against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn was recently dropped , but not his clients .
`` If you 're one of the Washington elite and establishment in the nation 's capital , you get special treatment , '' Klayman said .
`` If you 're Cliven Bundy and his sons and the peaceful protesters , basically you do n't . ''
Most of the federal agents and land managers who were at the 2014 standoff say it was anything but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media posts showed militia training their rifles on armed BLM officers who had come to round up Bundy 's cattle .
Cliven Bundy has refused to recognize the federal government 's ownership of millions of acres of public land — including in Nevada .
The rancher has consequently not paid federal fees owed for grazing his cows on land near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area since the 1990s .
Retired federal land managers like Pat Shea have expressed outrage over the government 's continued failure to prosecute the Bundys , whose cows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on land that 's now protected as a national monument .
The Bundys ' original dispute over grazing goes back decades , stemming from tensions between ranchers and environmentalists and the city of Las Vegas , as it began rapidly expanding into a protected desert tortoise 's habitat .
Bundy was seen as the last rancher in southern Nevada who refused to get out of the business .
But in the years since , his critics say the family 's fight has devolved into far right extremism , and a widely debunked legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government , should own public land .
`` It 's like the COVID-19 virus , they mutate as to their belief system so much that you can never tell what they 're going to advocate , '' Shea said .
`` They are a danger to themselves and a danger to everyone else they come in contact with . ''
Indeed , the pandemic has lately brought an opportunity to breathe new life to the Bundys and their self-described patriot movement that had been seen as starting to fade .
Ammon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followers have been traveling across the West leading protests against coronavirus public health restrictions , protests that thus far have n't drawn huge numbers .
At one recent march in Washington state that was streamed on Facebook , activist Kelli Stewart decried the business closures : `` Come on guys , this is the American way , open rebellion to tyrannical laws , we 're not slaves . ''
A rebellious fight against tyranny , or justice against a family that has flaunted the law for decades , that 's a question now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Francisco .
The court takes up the appeal for a retrial in USA vs. Bundy in a virtual session on Friday .

Cliven Bundy Armed Standoff Case Going Back To Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Sonner/AP Scott Sonner/AP
It's been more than two years since Cliven Bundy left the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas a free man.
His arm around his wife, Carol Bundy, the Nevada rancher was defiant.
"We're not done with this," Bundy told reporters in January 2018. "If the federal government comes after us again we will definitely tell 'em the truth."
On Friday, the Justice Department will try to come after the Bundys again, when federal prosecutors will appeal for a retrial over a 2014 armed standoff between Bundy, his militia and federal agents who had come to round up the rancher's cows that were illegally grazing on federal land.
National What's Next For Cliven Bundy? What's Next For Cliven Bundy? Listen · 4:42 4:42
The government's case against Cliven Bundy, his sons, Ammon and Ryan and a Montana militiaman named Ryan Payne, collapsed after a judge declared a mistrial in December 2017. Bundy and his men were accused of conspiracy against federal agents and other charges for their role in the tense standoff which later became a symbol over the fight against federal control of public lands.
"If there is no successful prosecution, it's going to encourage a lot of anarchists like the Bundys to take actions that not only are a threat to themselves but threats to the public at large," said Pat Shea, who served as BLM director during the Clinton administration.
Retrial effort criticized
For their part, the Bundys and their supporters appear puzzled that the federal government is even pursuing a retrial.
"What's really ironic and frankly I think disgusting is that the Trump Justice Department is the one that allowed the U.S. attorney in Nevada to take the appeal," said Larry Klayman, Cliven Bundy's attorney.
After all, President Trump recently pardoned two Oregon ranchers whose fight with federal land managers inspired Cliven Bundy's son, Ammon Bundy, to lead a separate, armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016.
Federal prosecutors mostly failed to get convictions in that Oregon case and have been widely criticized for bungling the Nevada trial. Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the case and later declared a mistrial after ruling federal prosecutors "deliberately misled" defense attorneys and the court by failing to provide evidence from surveillance cameras and to disclose the existence of federal snipers near the ranch in the days leading up to the April 2014 standoff.
The U.S. attorney's office in Nevada declined an interview request by NPR.
But court filings indicate prosecutors will likely argue Friday that their missteps in the 2017 trial were "inadvertent," and in particular they say they were trying to balance disclosing Bureau of Land Management surveillance footage with protecting witnesses against violence.
Klayman, who is himself a controversial conservative activist and was once fixture in the "Birther" movement, says the DOJ is being hypocritical. He says the investigation against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn was recently dropped, but not his clients.
"If you're one of the Washington elite and establishment in the nation's capital, you get special treatment," Klayman said. "If you're Cliven Bundy and his sons and the peaceful protesters, basically you don't."
Most of the federal agents and land managers who were at the 2014 standoff say it was anything but a peaceful protest.
Photos and social media posts showed militia training their rifles on armed BLM officers who had come to round up Bundy's cattle. Cliven Bundy has refused to recognize the federal government's ownership of millions of acres of public land — including in Nevada. The rancher has consequently not paid federal fees owed for grazing his cows on land near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area since the 1990s.
Pandemic "resuscitates" movement
Retired federal land managers like Pat Shea have expressed outrage over the government's continued failure to prosecute the Bundys, whose cows continue to graze — for free — on land that's now protected as a national monument.
The Bundys' original dispute over grazing goes back decades, stemming from tensions between ranchers and environmentalists and the city of Las Vegas, as it began rapidly expanding into a protected desert tortoise's habitat. Bundy was seen as the last rancher in southern Nevada who refused to get out of the business. But in the years since, his critics say the family's fight has devolved into far right extremism, and a widely debunked legal theory that counties and states, not the federal government, should own public land.
National Cliven Bundy's Arrest Caps Years Of Calls For Government To Take Action Cliven Bundy's Arrest Caps Years Of Calls For Government To Take Action Listen · 3:11 3:11
"It's like the COVID-19 virus, they mutate as to their belief system so much that you can never tell what they're going to advocate," Shea said. "They are a danger to themselves and a danger to everyone else they come in contact with."
Indeed, the pandemic has lately brought an opportunity to breathe new life to the Bundys and their self-described patriot movement that had been seen as starting to fade. Ammon Bundy and some of the family's followers have been traveling across the West leading protests against coronavirus public health restrictions, protests that thus far haven't drawn huge numbers.
At one recent march in Washington state that was streamed on Facebook, activist Kelli Stewart decried the business closures: "Come on guys, this is the American way, open rebellion to tyrannical laws, we're not slaves."
A rebellious fight against tyranny, or justice against a family that has flaunted the law for decades, that's a question now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The court takes up the appeal for a retrial in USA vs. Bundy in a virtual session on Friday.


npr--2020-05-29--For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options

For Opioid Users , Pandemic Means New Dangers , But Also New Treatment Options Before Philadelphia shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus , Ed had a routine : most mornings he would head to a nearby McDonald 's to brush his teeth , wash his face and — when he had the money — buy a cup of coffee .
He would bounce between homeless shelters , and try to get a shower .
But since businesses closed and many shelters stopped taking new admissions , Ed has been mostly shut off from that routine .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'll be honest , I do n't really sleep too much , '' says Ed , who 's 51 and struggling with addiction .
`` Every 4 or 5 days , I get a couple hours . ''
NPR agreed not to use his last name because he uses illegal drugs .
Philadelphia has the highest overdose rate of any big city in America — in 2019 , more than three people a day died of drug overdoses there , on average .
Before the coronavirus began spreading across the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest health crisis on the minds of many city officials and public health experts .
But the coronavirus pandemic has largely eclipsed the conversation around the opioid crisis .
It still rages on despite business closures , the cancellation of in-person treatment appointments and the strain on many addiction resources in the city .
When his usual shelter was n't an option any more , Ed tried to get into residential drug treatment .
He figured that would be a good way to try to get back on his feet , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good nights ' rest .
But he had contracted pinkeye , a symptom thought to be associated with the virus that leads to COVID-19 , so the evaluation center did n't want to place him in an inpatient facility until he 'd gotten the pinkeye checked out .
But he could n't see a doctor , because he did n't have a phone for a telehealth appointment .
`` I got myself stuck , and I 'm trying to pull everything back together before it totally blows up , '' he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who Rosalind Pichardo wants to help .
Before the pandemic , Pichardo would hit the streets of her neighborhood , Kensington , which has the highest drug overdose rate in Philadelphia .
She 'd head out with a bag full of snack bars , cookies and Narcan , the opioid overdose reversal drug .
She 'd hand Narcan out to people using drugs , and people selling drugs — anyone who wanted it .
Pichardo started her own organization , Operation Save our City , which initially set out to work with survivors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When she realized that overdoses were killing people too , she began getting more involved with the harm reduction movement , and started handing out Narcan through the city 's syringe exchange .
When Pennsylvania 's stay at home order went into effect , Pichardo and others worried that more people might start using drugs alone , and that fewer first responders would be patrolling the streets , nearby and able to revive them if they overdosed .
So , Pichardo and other harm reduction activists gave out even more Narcan .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's largest syringe exchange , says that during the first month of the city 's stay-at-home order , they handed out almost twice as much Narcan as usual .
After the lockdowns and social isolation began , Pichardo worried that more people would be using drugs alone , leading to more overdoses .
But Philadelphia 's fatal overdose rate during the pandemic remains about the same as it was this time last year .
Pichardo thinks that 's evidence that flooding the streets with Narcan is working — that people are continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using more drugs , but that users are utilizing Narcan more often and administering it to each other .
But not always : Pichardo says users do n't always have a buddy to keep watch , and first responders seem much more hesitant about intervening during the pandemic .
For example , she recently administered Narcan to three people in Kensington who overdosed near a subway station , while two police officers stood by and watched .
Before the pandemic , they would often be right there with her , helping .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individuals , who she said had started turning blue as their oxygen levels dropped .
She injected the nasal spray into their nose , using a disposable plastic applicator .
Normally , she would perform rescue breathing , too , but since the pandemic began she has started carrying an Ambubag , which pumps air into a person 's lungs and avoids mouth to mouth resuscitation .
Between the three people , she says , it took six doses of Narcan to revive them.The police officers did n't step in to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses at her as she worked .
`` I do n't expect 'em to give 'em rescue breaths if they do n't want to , but at least administer the life-saving drug , '' says Pichardo .
In her own work as a volunteer , she estimates she has personally reversed almost 400 overdoses .
`` There 's social distancing — to a limit , '' Pichardo says , `` I think when someone 's life is in jeopardy , they 're worth saving .
You just ca n't watch people die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order , city police announced they would stop making low-level arrests , including for narcotics .
The idea was to reduce contact overall , help keep the jail population low , and reduce the risk of the virus getting passed around inside .
But Pichardo and other community activists say the decreased law enforcement emboldened drug dealers in Kensington , where open air drug sales and use are common .
`` You can tell they have everything down pat , from the lookout to the corner boys to the one actually holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product 's got some good PPE gear , '' says Pichardo .
More dealers working openly on the street has led to more fights over territory , she adds , which in turn has meant more violence .
While overall crime in Philadelphia and other major cities has gone down during the pandemic , gun violence has spiked .
Police resumed arrests at the beginning of May .
Now , when she goes outside to walk the streets and hand out Narcan , Pichardo has added a few things to her bag of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and gun locks .
`` It 's like the survival kit of the hood , '' she says .
For those struggling with addiction who are ready to start recovery , newly-relaxed federal restrictions have made it easier to get medications that curb opioid cravings and stem withdrawal .
Several efforts are underway among Philadelphia-based public health groups and criminal justice advocacy organizations to give cell phones to those who are homeless or coming out of jail , so they can make a telehealth appointment to quickly get a prescription for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people taking medication-assisted treatment can renew their prescription every month instead of every week , which helps decrease trips to the pharmacy .
It is too soon to know if more people are taking advantage of the new rules , and accessing medication-assisted treatment via telehealth , but if that turns out to be the case , many addiction medicine specialists argue the new rules should become permanent , even after the pandemic ends .
`` If we find that these relaxed restrictions are bringing more people to the table , that presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DEA should reinstate these restrictive policies that they had going in the first place , '' says Ben Cocchiaro , a doctor who treats people with substance-use disorder .
Cocchiaro says the whole point of addiction treatment is to make help easy to get as soon as someone is ready for it .
He hopes if access to recovery can be made simpler during a pandemic , it can remain that way afterward , too .

For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nina Feldman/ WHYY Nina Feldman/ WHYY
Before Philadelphia shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Ed had a routine: most mornings he would head to a nearby McDonald's to brush his teeth, wash his face and — when he had the money — buy a cup of coffee. He would bounce between homeless shelters and try to get a shower. But since businesses closed and many shelters stopped taking new admissions, Ed has been mostly shut off from that routine.
He's still living on the streets.
"I'll be honest, I don't really sleep too much," says Ed, who's 51 and struggling with addiction. "Every four or five days I get a couple hours."
NPR agreed not to use his last name because he uses illegal drugs.
Philadelphia has the highest overdose rate of any big city in America — in 2019, more than three people a day died of drug overdoses there, on average. Before the coronavirus began spreading across the United States, the opioid overdose epidemic was the biggest health crisis on the minds of many city officials and public health experts. But the coronavirus pandemic has largely eclipsed the conversation around the opioid crisis. It still rages on despite business closures, the cancellation of in-person treatment appointments and the strain on many addiction resources in the city.
When his usual shelter wasn't an option anymore, Ed tried to get into residential drug treatment. He figured that would be a good way to try to get back on his feet, and if nothing else, get a few good nights of rest. But he had contracted pinkeye, a symptom thought to be associated with the virus that leads to COVID-19, so the evaluation center didn't want to place him in an inpatient facility until he'd gotten the pinkeye checked out. But he couldn't see a doctor because he didn't have a phone for a telehealth appointment.
"I got myself stuck, and I'm trying to pull everything back together before it totally blows up," he says.
People in Ed's situation are exactly who Rosalind Pichardo wants to help. Before the pandemic, Pichardo would hit the streets of her neighborhood, Kensington, which has the highest drug overdose rate in Philadelphia. She'd head out with a bag full of snack bars, cookies and Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal drug.
She'd hand Narcan out to people using drugs, and people selling drugs — anyone who wanted it. Pichardo started her own organization, Operation Save our City, which initially set out to work with survivors of gun violence in the neighborhood. When she realized that overdoses were killing people too, she began getting more involved with the harm reduction movement and started handing out Narcan through the city's syringe exchange.
When Pennsylvania's stay-at-home order went into effect, Pichardo and others worried that more people might start using drugs alone, and that fewer first responders would be patrolling the streets, nearby and able to revive them if they overdosed.
So, Pichardo and other harm reduction activists gave out even more Narcan. A representative for Prevention Point Philadelphia, the nation's largest syringe exchange, says that during the first month of the city's stay-at-home order, they handed out almost twice as much Narcan as usual.
After the lockdowns and social isolation began, Pichardo worried that more people would be using drugs alone, leading to more overdoses. But Philadelphia's fatal overdose rate during the pandemic remains about the same as it was this time last year. Pichardo thinks that's evidence that flooding the streets with Narcan is working — that people are continuing to use drugs, and maybe even using more drugs, but that users are utilizing Narcan more often and administering it to each other.
But not always: Pichardo says users don't always have a buddy to keep watch, and first responders seem much more hesitant about intervening during the pandemic. For example, she recently administered Narcan to three people in Kensington who overdosed near a subway station, while two police officers stood by and watched. Before the pandemic, they would often be right there with her, helping.
To reverse the overdoses, Pichardo crouched over the individuals, who she said had started turning blue as their oxygen levels dropped. She injected the nasal spray into their nose, using a disposable plastic applicator. Normally, she would perform rescue breathing, too, but since the pandemic began she has started carrying an Ambu bag, which pumps air into a person's lungs and avoids mouth to mouth resuscitation. Between the three people, she says, it took six doses of Narcan to revive them.The police officers didn't step in to help, but did toss several of those doses at her as she worked.
"I don't expect 'em to give 'em rescue breaths if they don't want to, but at least administer the life-saving drug," Pichardo says. In her own work as a volunteer, she estimates she has reversed almost 400 overdoses. "There's social distancing — to a limit," Pichardo says, "I think when someone's life is in jeopardy, they're worth saving. You just can't watch people die."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kimberly Paynter/ WHYY Kimberly Paynter/ WHYY
Even before Philadelphia officially issued its stay-at-home order, city police announced they would stop making low-level arrests, including for narcotics. The idea was to reduce contact overall, help keep the jail population low, and reduce the risk of the virus getting passed around inside. But Pichardo and other community activists say the decreased law enforcement emboldened drug dealers in Kensington, where open air drug sales and use are common.
"You can tell they have everything down pat, from the lookout to the corner boys to the one actually holding the product — the one holding the product's got some good PPE gear," says Pichardo.
More dealers working openly on the street has led to more fights over territory, she adds , which in turn has meant more violence. While overall crime in Philadelphia and other major cities has gone down during the pandemic, gun violence has spiked. Police resumed arrests at the beginning of May.
Now, when she goes outside to walk the streets and hand out Narcan, Pichardo has added a few things to her bag of hand-out supplies: face masks, gloves, and gun locks.
"It's like the survival kit of the hood," she says.
For those struggling with addiction who are ready to start recovery, newly relaxed federal restrictions have made it easier to get medications that curb opioid cravings and stem withdrawal.
Several efforts are underway among Philadelphia-based public health groups and criminal justice advocacy organizations to give cell phones to those who are homeless or coming out of jail, so they can make a telehealth appointment to quickly get a prescription for those drugs. And during the pandemic, people taking medication-assisted treatment can renew their prescription every month instead of every week, which helps decrease trips to the pharmacy. It is too soon to know if more people are taking advantage of the new rules, and accessing medication-assisted treatment via telehealth, but if that turns out to be the case, many addiction medicine specialists argue the new rules should become permanent, even after the pandemic ends.
"If we find that these relaxed restrictions are bringing more people to the table, that presents enormous ethical questions about whether or not the DEA should reinstate these restrictive policies that they had going in the first place," says Ben Cocchiaro, a doctor who treats people with substance-use disorder.
Cocchiaro says the whole point of addiction treatment is to make help easy to get as soon as someone is ready for it. He hopes if access to recovery can be made simpler during a pandemic, it can remain that way afterward, too.


npr--2020-05-29--The Battle Between The Masked And The Masked-Nots Unveils Political Rifts

The Battle Between The Masked And The Masked-Nots Unveils Political Rifts It has become a political and cultural flashpoint , drawing a clear divide between the `` masked '' and the `` masked-nots . ''
The disdain runs between the consciously unmasked president of the United States and his deliberately mask-donning Democratic rival , all the way on down to those crossing paths — and often crossing each other — in the cereal aisle of the grocery store .
`` It 's selfishness .
Complete selfishness , '' says 57-year-old Tia Nagaki , of the barefaced shoppers she has encountered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks have been mandatory since May 5 , Nagaki concedes she tends to give the side-eye to people like that .
But just as often , she says , the sneers come at her , as happened recently when a maskless guy came too close at the market .
`` He gave me a look , and then he started laughing at me like , 'Ha-ha , I do n't care , ' and making fun of me , '' she recalls .
`` We 've made it very political .
We 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent Quinnipiac University poll shows overwhelming support among Democrats for mask wearing , but a little more than one-third of Republicans feel the same .
When Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam , a Democrat , announced a statewide mask mandate this week , he took pains to cast it as a more mild-mannered directive , with enforcement falling to health department officials , instead of police , and with no threat of jail time or fines for individual violators .
`` This is a matter of public health , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to get in trouble by not wearing a mask , but I am looking for people to please do the right thing .
I am asking people to respect one another . ''
Still , Republicans immediately pounced , circulating pictures of the governor not wearing a mask in public just days before and blasting what they call `` coercive '' and `` stifling burdens '' on residents and businesses .
It 's the kind of politically charged resistance to mask mandates that has erupted around the nation and that has prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their position or get overridden by higher orders .
Several controversial incidents have helped fuel the backlash , including one in Philadelphia when police aggressively yanked a black man off a public bus , as cameras rolled , and another in New York City that started with a woman in a subway station being stopped by police for not having her mask on properly and that ended with her in handcuffs on the floor in front of her 5-year-old son .
Police say she was arrested for disorderly conduct , not failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to sue the NYPD .
Little wonder , police are loath to step into the fray .
`` This is not a good look for us , and it puts law enforcement in an extremely untenable position , '' says Joe Gamaldi , president of the Houston Police Officers ' Union .
When a local mandate was ordered there , he urged officers to use their discretion and issue warnings , not citations or fines .
Having to enforce such a `` draconian '' mask mandate , Gamaldi says , would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our black and brown communities '' as well as with everyone else .
Besides , he says , police are already stretched too thin and would better serve the public by focusing their limited resources elsewhere .
As it turned out , enforcement of the mandate became a moot point when an executive order from Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott barred local penalties for violations .
But in jurisdictions that still have mandates , such as Virginia , businesses say it 's unfair leaving it to them to step in to play `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of government affairs for the Virginia Retail Federation .
Restaurants and stores are more than willing to put up signs directing customers to wear masks , she says , but many refuse to be the ones to enforce compliance .
It 's unreasonable , she says , to ask employees who 've signed up to be cashiers or servers , for example , to manage customers who become hostile , abusive or even violent .
Many have seen incidents themselves when asking people to wear masks .
Others have just read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including at a Waffle House in Aurora , Colo. , where a cook was shot after telling a customer to wear a mask , and at a Family Dollar store in Flint , Mich. , where a security guard was fatally shot following a confrontation over a mask .
The onus of enforcement , Roth says , should not be on businesses , which `` have enough on their minds right now and are just trying to stay afloat . ''
`` They do n't want to have to turn anyone away right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 're just trying to get back on their feet and make customers happy . ''
It should be left up to businesses to voluntarily impose stricter restrictions , she says .
Lindsay Wiley , an American University Washington College of Law professor who specializes in public health law and ethics , tends to agree .
Based on past experience ranging from HIV prevention to vaccines , she says , heavy-handed mandates can often backfire .
That may be especially true in this case , given how President Trump has been spurning masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention flip-flopped on the matter , first imploring people not to wear masks before encouraging their use .
`` It can actually cause people who are skeptical of wearing masks to double down , '' Wiley says , and `` reinforce what they perceive to be a positive association with refusing to wear a mask ... that they love freedom , that they 're smart and skeptical of public health recommendations , '' all while bolstering the view that wearing a mask is a sign of weakness .
Heavy-handed mask mandates only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' agrees attorney Jeff Childers , who has brought a legal challenge to a mask mandate in Alachua County , Fla. , arguing it 's unconstitutional .
`` It 's not an objection to wearing a mask .
It 's an objection to being coerced to wear a mask , '' Childers says , adding that both he and his client recognize the health benefits and choose to wear a mask themselves .
`` I do n't want to get too flag wavy on this , '' he says .
`` But is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy , that we are a country of people who govern ourselves ? ''
But public health and elected officials continue to push back , trying to prevent the politicization of basic health precautions .
Mark Sexton , communications director for Alachua County , has posted more than 50 peer-reviewed articles about the benefits of wearing masks , in hopes of persuading residents to comply .
`` Under a state of emergency , when people 's lives are in danger , our board feels like putting a mask on for a few minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not too much to ask , '' he says , comparing it to being required to put on headlights while driving at night .
`` It 's a reasonable thing , '' he says .
And with the CDC recommending it , as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci , a top infectious disease expert and member of the White House 's coronavirus task force , Sexton says , `` it 's common sense . ''
And , common decency , as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock puts it .
`` So many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` But people are dying from this virus , and we need to do everything we can , regardless of party affiliation or ideological leanings , to protect them .
Recently , Hancock says , he drove 4 miles from home to pick up something at Home Depot .
When he got there , he realized he had forgotten his mask , so he promptly drove back home to get it , before returning to enter the store .
`` When I put on my mask , I 'm doing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my neighbor , '' he says .
`` And I hope they will do the same for me . ''

The Battle Between The Masked And The Masked-Nots Unveils Political Rifts
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steven Senne/AP Steven Senne/AP
It has become a political and cultural flashpoint, drawing a clear divide between the "masked" and the "masked-nots." The disdain runs between the consciously unmasked president of the United States and his deliberately mask-donning Democratic rival, all the way on down to those crossing paths — and often crossing each other — in the cereal aisle of the grocery store.
"It's selfishness. Complete selfishness," says 57-year-old Tia Nagaki, of the barefaced shoppers she has encountered. A resident of Denver, where masks have been mandatory since May 5, Nagaki concedes she tends to give the side-eye to people like that. But just as often, she says, the sneers come at her, as happened recently when a maskless guy came too close at the market.
"He gave me a look, and then he started laughing at me like, 'Ha-ha, I don't care,' and making fun of me," she recalls. "We've made it very political. We've definitely politicized it."
Indeed, a recent Quinnipiac University poll shows overwhelming support among Democrats for mask wearing, but a little more than one-third of Republicans feel the same.
When Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, announced a statewide mask mandate this week, he took pains to cast it as a more mild-mannered directive, with enforcement falling to health department officials, instead of police, and with no threat of jail time or fines for individual violators.
"This is a matter of public health," he said. "I'm not looking for people to get in trouble by not wearing a mask, but I am looking for people to please do the right thing. I am asking people to respect one another."
Still, Republicans immediately pounced, circulating pictures of the governor not wearing a mask in public just days before and blasting what they call "coercive" and "stifling burdens" on residents and businesses. It's the kind of politically charged resistance to mask mandates that has erupted around the nation and that has prompted officials to backpedal on mandates, reverse their position or get overridden by higher orders.
Several controversial incidents have helped fuel the backlash, including one in Philadelphia when police aggressively yanked a black man off a public bus, as cameras rolled, and another in New York City that started with a woman in a subway station being stopped by police for not having her mask on properly and that ended with her in handcuffs on the floor in front of her 5-year-old son. Police say she was arrested for disorderly conduct, not failing to wear a mask; she is reportedly planning to sue the NYPD.
Little wonder, police are loath to step into the fray.
"This is not a good look for us, and it puts law enforcement in an extremely untenable position," says Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union. When a local mandate was ordered there, he urged officers to use their discretion and issue warnings, not citations or fines.
Having to enforce such a "draconian" mask mandate, Gamaldi says, would "erode trust that may be fragile with our black and brown communities" as well as with everyone else. Besides, he says, police are already stretched too thin and would better serve the public by focusing their limited resources elsewhere.
As it turned out, enforcement of the mandate became a moot point when an executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott barred local penalties for violations.
But in jurisdictions that still have mandates, such as Virginia, businesses say it's unfair leaving it to them to step in to play "mask police," says Jodi Roth, director of government affairs for the Virginia Retail Federation. Restaurants and stores are more than willing to put up signs directing customers to wear masks, she says, but many refuse to be the ones to enforce compliance.
Politics The Politics Of Face Masks: What The Biden Mask Mocking Is Really About The Politics Of Face Masks: What The Biden Mask Mocking Is Really About Listen · 5:25 5:25
It's unreasonable, she says, to ask employees who've signed up to be cashiers or servers, for example, to manage customers who become hostile, abusive or even violent. Many have seen incidents themselves when asking people to wear masks. Others have just read about violence that has erupted elsewhere, including at a Waffle House in Aurora, Colo., where a cook was shot after telling a customer to wear a mask, and at a Family Dollar store in Flint, Mich., where a security guard was fatally shot following a confrontation over a mask.
The onus of enforcement, Roth says, should not be on businesses, which "have enough on their minds right now and are just trying to stay afloat."
"They don't want to have to turn anyone away right now," says Roth. "They're just trying to get back on their feet and make customers happy." It should be left up to businesses to voluntarily impose stricter restrictions, she says.
Lindsay Wiley, an American University Washington College of Law professor who specializes in public health law and ethics, tends to agree. Based on past experience ranging from HIV prevention to vaccines, she says, heavy-handed mandates can often backfire.
That may be especially true in this case, given how President Trump has been spurning masks and how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flip-flopped on the matter, first imploring people not to wear masks before encouraging their use.
"It can actually cause people who are skeptical of wearing masks to double down," Wiley says, and "reinforce what they perceive to be a positive association with refusing to wear a mask ... that they love freedom, that they're smart and skeptical of public health recommendations," all while bolstering the view that wearing a mask is a sign of weakness.
Heavy-handed mask mandates only "pour gasoline on the problem," agrees attorney Jeff Childers, who has brought a legal challenge to a mask mandate in Alachua County, Fla., arguing it's unconstitutional.
"It's not an objection to wearing a mask. It's an objection to being coerced to wear a mask," Childers says, adding that both he and his client recognize the health benefits and choose to wear a mask themselves. "I don't want to get too flag wavy on this," he says. "But isn't that really the foundation of our democracy, that we are a country of people who govern ourselves?"
But public health and elected officials continue to push back, trying to prevent the politicization of basic health precautions.
Mark Sexton, communications director for Alachua County, has posted more than 50 peer-reviewed articles about the benefits of wearing masks, in hopes of persuading residents to comply.
"Under a state of emergency, when people's lives are in danger, our board feels like putting a mask on for a few minutes when you run into the grocery store is not too much to ask," he says, comparing it to being required to put on headlights while driving at night. "It's a reasonable thing," he says.
And with the CDC recommending it, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease expert and member of the White House's coronavirus task force, Sexton says, "it's common sense."
And, common decency, as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock puts it.
"So many people want to politicize this," he says. "But people are dying from this virus, and we need to do everything we can, regardless of party affiliation or ideological leanings, to protect them.
Recently, Hancock says, he drove 4 miles from home to pick up something at Home Depot. When he got there, he realized he had forgotten his mask, so he promptly drove back home to get it, before returning to enter the store.
"When I put on my mask, I'm doing it to protect them and to show compassion for my neighbor," he says. "And I hope they will do the same for me."