npr--2020-11-20--'Don't Game Our System': How The Race To Georgia Senate Runoff Is Heating Up

'Do n't Game Our System ' : How The Race To Georgia Senate Runoff Is Heating Up Georgia voters are being bombarded , whether it 's Twitter messages , robocalls or the more than $ 100 million-worth of television commercials they 'll see between now and Jan. 5 .
That 's when Georgia 's two Republican senators will face Democratic challengers in twin runoffs that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate .
Money and operatives are flooding the state to get out the vote .
Republican Sen. Rick Scott from neighboring Florida paid for an attack ad that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election night saying `` Now we take Georgia , then we change America ! ''
Scott then warns `` Georgia , do n't let these radicals change America . ''
A host of powerful GOP figures is trying to help incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue .
Neither got more than 50 % of the general election vote , resulting in runoffs against Democratic challengers .
Loeffler faces Raphael Warnock , the pastor of Atlanta 's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church .
Perdue is against Jon Ossoff , who gained national attention in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flipping a seat long in Republican control .
The runoff is one more reason that Georgia is in the national political spotlight .
A hand retally in the presidential election there is complete and awaiting official certification for Democrat Joe Biden .
President Trump has attacked Georgia 's Republican Secretary of State and Gov .
Brian Kemp over the count .
Meanwhile , Democrats are working to keep up the enthusiasm after Biden 's victory .
The state has added more than a million new registered voters since 2016 when Trump took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Results in 2020 show a more diverse and younger electorate that is changing the political landscape .
'To make sure that our voices are heard' '' Welcome to Students for 2020 HQ , '' says 17-year-old Edward Aguilar , as he walks under colorful string lights on a friend 's back patio in Alpharetta .
This is the makeshift office for the group that developed an algorithm for college students to determine where their vote matters most – in their hometowns or where they go to school .
Now calling themselves Students for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runoff .
`` We founded this organization because we want our interests to be represented in government , '' says Aguilar , the CEO .
`` We want to make sure that our voices are heard . ''
They 're backing Democrat Jon Ossoff for senate , in part because of his age .
He 's 33 .
On this evening , the mission is to refine scripts for issue-focused phone canvassing .
Michael Giusto says the calls should start from common ground .
He suggests a template .
`` Hey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says as if making a canvassing call .
`` We 're trying to get student ideas into office , and we 've been calling other students to make sure that their ideas are being represented . ''
Giusto turned 18 after the general election , but can now vote in the runoff and wants to persuade others to join him , and register by the Dec. 7 deadline .
It 's estimated that more than 20,000 potential voters will have turned 18 between the general election and the runoff , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
But Edward Aguilar says that 's not enough to make up the difference between Perdue and Ossoff , who was down by more than 80,000 votes .
`` I feel that the only way Ossoff can really win is by bringing over voters from the other side , '' Aguilar says .
So they will try deep canvassing , tapping issues that resonate with young Perdue voters – the economy for instance – and explain how Ossoff 's policies might fit .
Aguilar sees momentum from the general election in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's exciting about right now is that we just saw absolutely historic turnout , '' he says .
In Georgia , some 20 % of ballots were cast by voters between the ages of 18 and 29 .
The figures mirror the record turnout both nationally , and in Georgia , a state that moved firmly from taken-for-granted Republican stronghold to courted battleground territory in 2020 .
Now with control of the Senate on the line , the attention is even more intense .
Other groups are also making a concerted effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uses social media and games like Among Us and Kahoot !
to share information about how to register or how to request an absentee ballot , says Tiffany Pham , a 16-year-old student activist from Clayton County , Ga. '' I think this is really important to equip the next generation with the most important tool , which is their vote , '' Pham says .
`` Historically , in our country , we 've always been seen as like the apathetic generation that does n't really care .
And that 's just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Black Voters Matter is launching a `` Ca n't Stop Wo n't Stop '' bus tour in Georgia .
And Republicans are working just as hard to keep their voters engaged .
A key message is keeping the Senate in GOP hands .
`` From the Republican perspective , a lot of people view this as the firewall , '' says attorney Jake Evans , chairman of the Georgia chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association , and past president of the Atlanta Young Republicans .
But talking about a firewall is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , because that acknowledges Biden as the president-elect when Trump is still disputing the outcome in Georgia and elsewhere .
`` They have a very delicate balance , '' Evans says .
`` They have to balance to Trump supporters under the reality that he likely is not going to be president on Jan. 21 , 2021 . ''
Republicans have historically performed well in runoffs , which tend to have lower turnouts .
Even in this heightened atmosphere , Evans says the GOP has the advantage .
`` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vader at the top of the ticket – who 's Donald Trump - to drive up their turnout , '' Evans says .
`` You had a lot of first-time voters in metro Atlanta who were really turning out to the polls for one reason , and that was to vote against Donald Trump . ''
But no Trump on the ticket could also work against Republicans , and some have suggested that attacks on Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are part of a strategy to keep the base fired up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation .
Some have speculated that political operatives could come here and register to vote in the January runoff .
Georgia 's voting implementation manager Gabriel Sterling says that would be a felony .
`` If you want to move to Georgia and be a part of the No .
1 state in America to do business , we are happy to have you , '' Sterling says .
`` But if you are here for the sole sake of politics – do n't game our system . ''

'Don't Game Our System': How The Race To Georgia Senate Runoff Is Heating Up
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brynn Anderson/AP Brynn Anderson/AP
Georgia voters are being bombarded, whether it's Twitter messages, robocalls or the more than $100 million-worth of television commercials they'll see between now and Jan. 5. That's when Georgia's two Republican senators will face Democratic challengers in twin runoffs that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Money and operatives are flooding the state to get out the vote.
Republican Sen. Rick Scott from neighboring Florida paid for an attack ad that features Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer from election night saying "Now we take Georgia, then we change America!" Scott then warns "Georgia, don't let these radicals change America."
A host of powerful GOP figures is trying to help incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Neither got more than 50% of the general election vote, resulting in runoffs against Democratic challengers.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
Loeffler faces Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Perdue is against Jon Ossoff, who gained national attention in a 2017 special election for Congress, nearly flipping a seat long in Republican control.
The runoff is one more reason that Georgia is in the national political spotlight. A hand retally in the presidential election there is complete and awaiting official certification for Democrat Joe Biden. President Trump has attacked Georgia's Republican Secretary of State and Gov. Brian Kemp over the count. Meanwhile, Democrats are working to keep up the enthusiasm after Biden's victory.
The state has added more than a million new registered voters since 2016 when Trump took the state by roughly 5 percentage points. Results in 2020 show a more diverse and younger electorate that is changing the political landscape.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
'To make sure that our voices are heard'
"Welcome to Students for 2020 HQ," says 17-year-old Edward Aguilar, as he walks under colorful string lights on a friend's back patio in Alpharetta. This is the makeshift office for the group that developed an algorithm for college students to determine where their vote matters most – in their hometowns or where they go to school.
Now calling themselves Students for Tomorrow, they're shifting gears for the runoff.
"We founded this organization because we want our interests to be represented in government," says Aguilar, the CEO. "We want to make sure that our voices are heard."
They're backing Democrat Jon Ossoff for senate, in part because of his age. He's 33. On this evening, the mission is to refine scripts for issue-focused phone canvassing.
Michael Giusto says the calls should start from common ground. He suggests a template.
"Hey, we're students for tomorrow," he says as if making a canvassing call. "We're trying to get student ideas into office, and we've been calling other students to make sure that their ideas are being represented."
Giusto turned 18 after the general election, but can now vote in the runoff and wants to persuade others to join him, and register by the Dec. 7 deadline.
It's estimated that more than 20,000 potential voters will have turned 18 between the general election and the runoff, according to the Civics Center, a youth engagement group.
But Edward Aguilar says that's not enough to make up the difference between Perdue and Ossoff, who was down by more than 80,000 votes.
"I feel that the only way Ossoff can really win is by bringing over voters from the other side," Aguilar says.
'Engaging young voters'
So they will try deep canvassing, tapping issues that resonate with young Perdue voters – the economy for instance – and explain how Ossoff's policies might fit.
Aguilar sees momentum from the general election in terms of engaging young voters.
"What's exciting about right now is that we just saw absolutely historic turnout," he says.
In Georgia, some 20% of ballots were cast by voters between the ages of 18 and 29.
The figures mirror the record turnout both nationally, and in Georgia, a state that moved firmly from taken-for-granted Republican stronghold to courted battleground territory in 2020.
Now with control of the Senate on the line, the attention is even more intense.
Other groups are also making a concerted effort to drive turnout. When We All Vote uses social media and games like Among Us and Kahoot! to share information about how to register or how to request an absentee ballot, says Tiffany Pham, a 16-year-old student activist from Clayton County, Ga.
"I think this is really important to equip the next generation with the most important tool, which is their vote," Pham says. "Historically, in our country, we've always been seen as like the apathetic generation that doesn't really care. And that's just simply not true."
This weekend, Black Voters Matter is launching a "Can't Stop Won't Stop" bus tour in Georgia.
And Republicans are working just as hard to keep their voters engaged.
toggle caption Emma Peaslee /NPR
GOP senators 'have a very delicate balance'
A key message is keeping the Senate in GOP hands.
"From the Republican perspective, a lot of people view this as the firewall," says attorney Jake Evans, chairman of the Georgia chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association, and past president of the Atlanta Young Republicans.
But talking about a firewall is tricky for the GOP senators, Evans says, because that acknowledges Biden as the president-elect when Trump is still disputing the outcome in Georgia and elsewhere.
"They have a very delicate balance," Evans says. "They have to balance to Trump supporters under the reality that he likely is not going to be president on Jan. 21, 2021."
Republicans have historically performed well in runoffs, which tend to have lower turnouts. Even in this heightened atmosphere, Evans says the GOP has the advantage.
"I don't think that the Democrats have the Darth Vader at the top of the ticket – who's Donald Trump - to drive up their turnout," Evans says. "You had a lot of first-time voters in metro Atlanta who were really turning out to the polls for one reason, and that was to vote against Donald Trump."
But no Trump on the ticket could also work against Republicans, and some have suggested that attacks on Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are part of a strategy to keep the base fired up. Both Loeffler and Perdue called for his resignation.
Some have speculated that political operatives could come here and register to vote in the January runoff. Georgia's voting implementation manager Gabriel Sterling says that would be a felony.
"If you want to move to Georgia and be a part of the No. 1 state in America to do business, we are happy to have you," Sterling says. "But if you are here for the sole sake of politics – don't game our system."
Early voting in the Georgia senate runoffs starts Dec. 14.
Emma Peaslee is NPR's Kroc Fellow.


npr--2020-11-20--A Judge Watched Her Son Die. Now She Wants To Protect Other Judicial Families

A Judge Watched Her Son Die .
Now She Wants To Protect Other Judicial Families In July her husband and their son were gunned down at the family 's home in New Jersey .
Her husband survived .
Her son did not .
On Friday , she will attend the New Jersey governor 's signing of a new state law that makes it a crime to publish online or elsewhere personal addresses and telephone information about state judges or their families .
Salas will be there even though the law protects only state judges , not federal judges , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Daniel .
Salas remembers the night of the attack on her family with horrible clarity .
Ironically , `` It was just one of the best nights ever , '' she says .
She and her son were in the basement clearing up after his 20th birthday party .
And they were talking .
`` I remember him saying , 'Mom , let 's keep talking .
I love talking to you , Mom . '
And at that exact moment , the doorbell rang ... and before I could say anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Salas recalls .
The next thing she heard was her husband screaming , `` NO , '' followed by loud bangs .
So loud that , as she raced upstairs , she thought a bomb had gone off .
What she found was `` just as gruesome . ''
`` There was my son ... holding his chest , and my husband , who I did n't know was bleeding out , who had literally crawled to the front porch to see if he could see any identifying features of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Call 911 .
Call 911 . '
'' Shooter 'was angry' Her son was pronounced dead at the hospital .
Her husband , Mark Anderl , shot three times , has undergone multiple surgeries since then , and is on the mend , a very slow mend .
The shooter , later identified as 72-year-old lawyer Roy Den Hollander , was found after he killed himself .
He had appeared once before Judge Salas , months earlier , and she had postponed ruling on his case at the request of the government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a woman , '' Salas says .
`` He was angry with me for being Latina . ''
Hollander , a self-proclaimed anti-feminist , had been active in a men 's rights group .
The FBI later matched his gun to the murder of a rival in that group in California .
Found in Hollander 's rental car was a list of potential targets , including three other female judges .
Also discovered was the latest online publication of his manifesto , in which Hollander railed about discrimination against men .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrific familiarity .
Fifteen years ago , the husband and mother of federal Judge Joan Lefkow were murdered at her home by an aggrieved former plaintiff .
Four federal judges have been killed since 1979 , and the number of threats is skyrocketing , according to the U.S .
Marshals Service , which reported nearly 4,500 threats and `` inappropriate communications '' last year .
The American Bar Association points to federal Judge James Robart , a George W. Bush appointee in Seattle , as an example .
In 2017 , after Robart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from mainly Muslim countries , Trump tweeted derogatory comments about the decision , calling Robart a `` so-called judge . ''
Robart received more than 100 death threats , according to the ABA .
The attack on the Salas home has , however , triggered a whole new response from Congress and the federal judiciary .
Two days after the attack , New Jersey 's two U.S .
Senators — Robert Menendez and Cory Booker — introduced legislation that would shield the personally identifiable information of federal judges and their immediate families .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home addresses , Social Security numbers , contact information , photos of their homes and vehicles , and the names of schools and employers of immediate family members .
The bill has other provisions as well , including the creation of what one judicial source called `` a significant increase in technological expertise '' at the U.S .
Marshals Service , which provides the principal protection for federal judges .
Federal judicial sources say that will be expensive , costing $ 250 million or more .
But the bill has some hefty bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Judiciary Committee , Republican Lindsey Graham , and its ranking member , Democrat Dianne Feinstein .
So the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is hoping for a vote on the bill before a new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3 .
Judges are not allowed to lobby for particular legislation .
But Salas is speaking out about the need for increased security .
The man who killed her son and so terribly wounded her husband had a complete dossier on her .
He even knew where she went to church , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routes to work .
`` There are so many things that can be done and are n't being done , '' she says .
`` This is a matter of life and death . ''
Salas ' son , Daniel , was her only child .
Before he was born , she had three miscarriages .
`` We referred to Danny as our karma baby and said he was all our children rolled in one , '' she says .
`` I thank God every day for that blessing , and I also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Mom for 20 years and I have to hold on to that . ''
She has held on to her religious faith to get her though this time , she says , and being able to forgive his killer is part of that .
Her husband was able to forgive when he was still in the ICU .
It took her longer , until at a Mass at their house .
`` But since the day we both forgave this man , we feel lighter , you know , '' she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @

An Attacker Killed A Judge's Son. Now She Wants To Protect Other Families
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
Federal Judge Esther Salas is on a crusade.
In July her husband and their son were gunned down at the family's home in New Jersey. Her husband survived. Her son did not.
On Friday, she will attend the New Jersey governor's signing of a new state law that makes it a crime to publish online or elsewhere personal addresses and telephone information about state judges or their families. Salas will be there even though the law protects only state judges, not federal judges, because the law is named after her son, Daniel.
'Gruesome'
Salas remembers the night of the attack on her family with horrible clarity.
Ironically, "It was just one of the best nights ever," she says. She and her son were in the basement clearing up after his 20th birthday party. And they were talking. "I remember him saying, 'Mom, let's keep talking. I love talking to you, Mom.' And at that exact moment, the doorbell rang ... and before I could say anything, he just shot up the stairs," Salas recalls. The next thing she heard was her husband screaming, "NO," followed by loud bangs.
So loud that, as she raced upstairs, she thought a bomb had gone off. What she found was "just as gruesome."
"There was my son ... holding his chest, and my husband, who I didn't know was bleeding out, who had literally crawled to the front porch to see if he could see any identifying features of the car. And he's screaming, 'Call 911. Call 911.'"
Shooter 'was angry'
Her son was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her husband, Mark Anderl, shot three times, has undergone multiple surgeries since then, and is on the mend, a very slow mend.
The shooter, later identified as 72-year-old lawyer Roy Den Hollander, was found after he killed himself. He had appeared once before Judge Salas, months earlier, and she had postponed ruling on his case at the request of the government.
"He was angry with me for being a woman," Salas says. "He was angry with me for being Latina."
Hollander, a self-proclaimed anti-feminist, had been active in a men's rights group. The FBI later matched his gun to the murder of a rival in that group in California. Found in Hollander's rental car was a list of potential targets, including three other female judges. Also discovered was the latest online publication of his manifesto, in which Hollander railed about discrimination against men.
Threats against judges skyrocketing
The attack at the Salas home has a horrific familiarity. Fifteen years ago, the husband and mother of federal Judge Joan Lefkow were murdered at her home by an aggrieved former plaintiff. Four federal judges have been killed since 1979, and the number of threats is skyrocketing, according to the U.S. Marshals Service, which reported nearly 4,500 threats and "inappropriate communications" last year.
The American Bar Association points to federal Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee in Seattle, as an example. In 2017, after Robart blocked President Trump's ban on travel from mainly Muslim countries, Trump tweeted derogatory comments about the decision, calling Robart a "so-called judge." Robart received more than 100 death threats, according to the ABA.
Bipartisan support for federal legislation
The attack on the Salas home has, however, triggered a whole new response from Congress and the federal judiciary. Two days after the attack, New Jersey's two U.S. Senators — Robert Menendez and Cory Booker — introduced legislation that would shield the personally identifiable information of federal judges and their immediate families. The legislation would bar disclosure of their home addresses, Social Security numbers, contact information, photos of their homes and vehicles, and the names of schools and employers of immediate family members.
The bill has other provisions as well, including the creation of what one judicial source called "a significant increase in technological expertise" at the U.S. Marshals Service, which provides the principal protection for federal judges. Federal judicial sources say that will be expensive, costing $250 million or more.
But the bill has some hefty bipartisan support, including the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Republican Lindsey Graham, and its ranking member, Democrat Dianne Feinstein. So the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is hoping for a vote on the bill before a new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3.
Judges are not allowed to lobby for particular legislation. But Salas is speaking out about the need for increased security. The man who killed her son and so terribly wounded her husband had a complete dossier on her. He even knew where she went to church, and he had mapped out her different routes to work.
"There are so many things that can be done and aren't being done," she says. "This is a matter of life and death."
Salas' son, Daniel, was her only child. Before he was born, she had three miscarriages. "We referred to Danny as our karma baby and said he was all our children rolled in one," she says. "I thank God every day for that blessing, and I also know that I was lucky to be his Mom for 20 years and I have to hold on to that."
She has held on to her religious faith to get her though this time, she says, and being able to forgive his killer is part of that. Her husband was able to forgive when he was still in the ICU. It took her longer, until at a Mass at their house. "But since the day we both forgave this man, we feel lighter, you know," she says. "We feel lighter."


npr--2020-11-20--Americans Worry About Transfer Of Power: 'We Need Our Country To Come Together'

Americans Worry About Transfer Of Power : 'We Need Our Country To Come Together' As President Trump still refuses to accept his election defeat , Travis Goodman finds himself gaming out what kind of `` power grab '' the outgoing president could stage , from continuing to contest the results to trying to disrupt the Electoral College process .
`` I 'm full of anxiety all the time , '' said Goodman , an accounting clerk at a manufacturing firm in Goshen , Ind .
`` These institutional norms where I was told to go get a job and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so you can retire , you know , and live a decent happy life — is there going to be a boiling-over point where these things do n't matter ? ''
During this rocky presidential transition , NPR asked Americans how the nation can move forward .
More than 600 people weighed in , many citing fears about the future of U.S. democracy and apprehension about a lame-duck Trump presidency and the transition to Joe Biden 's administration .
Some respondents expressed fear about Trump trampling democratic norms , while others trusted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People also shared ideas for how to overcome the discord and improve the system — from bolstering voting infrastructure and abolishing the Electoral College to addressing the problem of misinformation and regulating social media .
Nearly two weeks after Biden clinched enough electoral votes to win the presidency , Trump continues to pursue legal battles — even after many claims have been tossed out of court — and to falsely insist there was widespread fraud .
Some Republicans have acknowledged Trump 's defeat and that recounts are unlikely to change the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , continue to push baseless conspiracy theories about a rigged election .
Many people told NPR they worry about the impacts of a contentious transition .
Already , Trump has denied Biden security briefings and has thrown up roadblocks preventing his transition team from accessing millions of dollars in transition funding .
`` He 's going to have to leave .
It 's just a matter of is he going to do it with any sort of dignity whatsoever , '' said Lisa Stafford , a high school teacher in Saginaw , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mess in January .
It 's not going to be a smooth transition like it should be . ''
Despite widespread division , Stafford believes there is `` a genuine middle ground . ''
`` Most people that I know , Republican or Democrat , are in that middle ground , '' said Stafford .
`` It does n't seem like the parties at this point , Democrat or Republican , can keep a middle ground where we 're supposed to work together toward a future . ''
Many Americans lamented divisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling NPR they are n't sure how the nation can come together .
Several people put the onus on Democrats and an incoming Biden administration , criticizing what they called a lack of civility from Democrats and bias from left-leaning media .
`` I mean nobody is blameless , but I would say over the last four years the major drivers of division came from Democrats .
They were relentless in pounding on Trump and his supporters , '' said Bruce Hutchins , a Republican from Florida .
Hutchins , a retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , is n't optimistic there is a path out of the divisiveness but points out that Democrats — not Republicans — are the ones talking about reconciling differences .
`` Democrats are seeing themselves as the winners , obviously , in this election , and they 're the ones asking for reconciliation , '' said Hutchins .
`` So if that 's what they really want to do , they have to take steps to alleviate the distrust Republicans have of them right now . ''
Alberto Filipponi , a high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Biden administration needs to make concessions for Trump supporters and give them room to voice policies they support .
`` I think one of the ways you can heal the nation is just by taking out the extremes on both sides , '' said Filipponi .
`` I feel like Joe Biden is someone who can do that . ''
Still , Filipponi continues to feel disconnected from Trump supporters in his own life .
`` Some people supported things that I just personally found so contrary to what I believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe , '' he said .
`` The racism , the misogyny , the lack of consideration for other people 's feelings and not just feelings but lives .
It 's not acceptable for a president , and for me it 's not acceptable for a friend . ''
Several Americans told NPR they 're also concerned about what they consider Trump 's authoritarian leanings and the possibility his presidency will culminate in violence or an illegitimate power grab .
`` It 's not a given that this will occur , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Philadelphia .
`` But I think he 's sent clear signals that he 's prepared to go as far as encouraging armed insurgency to have his own way . ''
While not all fear an election steal , many Americans noted that four years under Trump have amplified differences on a range of issues .
`` We need our country to come together , '' said Jean Beinemann , a retired public health nurse in Sheboygan , Wis. , `` where individuals reach across the aisle and agree that we are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be give-and-take for an orderly and peaceful transition to occur . ''
For some , like Beinemann , the arrival of a Biden administration raises hopes for a return to some amount of normalcy and the chance to start a new chapter .
She quoted the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who once said in reference to the gridlock of partisan politics , `` enough of this nonsense '' and urged politicians to work together .
`` Enough of this nonsense , '' Beinemann said .
`` Let 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Piper McDaniel is an intern on NPR 's National Desk .

Americans Worry About Transfer Of Power: 'We Need Our Country To Come Together'
Enlarge this image Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images
As President Trump still refuses to accept his election defeat, Travis Goodman finds himself gaming out what kind of "power grab" the outgoing president could stage, from continuing to contest the results to trying to disrupt the Electoral College process.
"I'm full of anxiety all the time," said Goodman, an accounting clerk at a manufacturing firm in Goshen, Ind. "These institutional norms where I was told to go get a job and a 401(k) full of money so you can retire, you know, and live a decent happy life — is there going to be a boiling-over point where these things don't matter?"
During this rocky presidential transition, NPR asked Americans how the nation can move forward. More than 600 people weighed in, many citing fears about the future of U.S. democracy and apprehension about a lame-duck Trump presidency and the transition to Joe Biden's administration.
Some respondents expressed fear about Trump trampling democratic norms, while others trusted the election process but feared lasting political extremism. People also shared ideas for how to overcome the discord and improve the system — from bolstering voting infrastructure and abolishing the Electoral College to addressing the problem of misinformation and regulating social media.
Nearly two weeks after Biden clinched enough electoral votes to win the presidency, Trump continues to pursue legal battles — even after many claims have been tossed out of court — and to falsely insist there was widespread fraud.
Some Republicans have acknowledged Trump's defeat and that recounts are unlikely to change the outcome, but Trump surrogates, including Rudy Giuliani, continue to push baseless conspiracy theories about a rigged election.
Many people told NPR they worry about the impacts of a contentious transition. Already, Trump has denied Biden security briefings and has thrown up roadblocks preventing his transition team from accessing millions of dollars in transition funding.
"He's going to have to leave. It's just a matter of is he going to do it with any sort of dignity whatsoever," said Lisa Stafford, a high school teacher in Saginaw, Mich. "It's going to be a mess in January. It's not going to be a smooth transition like it should be."
Despite widespread division, Stafford believes there is "a genuine middle ground."
"Most people that I know, Republican or Democrat, are in that middle ground," said Stafford. "It doesn't seem like the parties at this point, Democrat or Republican, can keep a middle ground where we're supposed to work together toward a future."
Many Americans lamented divisions along political, racial and other lines, telling NPR they aren't sure how the nation can come together.
Several people put the onus on Democrats and an incoming Biden administration, criticizing what they called a lack of civility from Democrats and bias from left-leaning media.
"I mean nobody is blameless, but I would say over the last four years the major drivers of division came from Democrats. They were relentless in pounding on Trump and his supporters," said Bruce Hutchins, a Republican from Florida.
Hutchins, a retired public financial management specialist who voted for Trump, isn't optimistic there is a path out of the divisiveness but points out that Democrats — not Republicans — are the ones talking about reconciling differences.
"Democrats are seeing themselves as the winners, obviously, in this election, and they're the ones asking for reconciliation," said Hutchins. "So if that's what they really want to do, they have to take steps to alleviate the distrust Republicans have of them right now."
Alberto Filipponi, a high school teacher in Lombard, Ill., believes that the Biden administration needs to make concessions for Trump supporters and give them room to voice policies they support.
"I think one of the ways you can heal the nation is just by taking out the extremes on both sides," said Filipponi. "I feel like Joe Biden is someone who can do that."
Still, Filipponi continues to feel disconnected from Trump supporters in his own life.
"Some people supported things that I just personally found so contrary to what I believed, that a good human being should believe," he said. "The racism, the misogyny, the lack of consideration for other people's feelings and not just feelings but lives. It's not acceptable for a president, and for me it's not acceptable for a friend."
Several Americans told NPR they're also concerned about what they consider Trump's authoritarian leanings and the possibility his presidency will culminate in violence or an illegitimate power grab.
"It's not a given that this will occur," said Rohan Hunt, a woodworker who lives in Philadelphia. "But I think he's sent clear signals that he's prepared to go as far as encouraging armed insurgency to have his own way."
While not all fear an election steal, many Americans noted that four years under Trump have amplified differences on a range of issues.
"We need our country to come together," said Jean Beinemann, a retired public health nurse in Sheboygan, Wis., "where individuals reach across the aisle and agree that we are all in this together. And there has to be give-and-take for an orderly and peaceful transition to occur."
For some, like Beinemann, the arrival of a Biden administration raises hopes for a return to some amount of normalcy and the chance to start a new chapter.
She quoted the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who once said in reference to the gridlock of partisan politics, "enough of this nonsense" and urged politicians to work together.
"Enough of this nonsense," Beinemann said. "Let's move together to ensure a safe transition."
Piper McDaniel is an intern on NPR's National Desk.


npr--2020-11-20--Australian State Cuts COVID Lockdown Short, Saying Man Lied To Contact Tracers

South Australia officials say a worker at a pizza shop lied about the circumstances of his exposure to the coronavirus , leading the region to a strict lockdown earlier this week .
South Australia Premier Steven Marshall announced the six-day coronavirus lockdown on Monday to curtail a growing virus outbreak in the area .
As a result , schools were closed and outdoor exercise and non-essential businesses were banned .
But those restrictions are ending three days early , after officials discovered the worker from the restaurant , Woodville Pizza Bar , lied about his exposure and interaction with others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing team , '' Marshall said during a news conference on Friday .
Pieces of that person 's story `` did n't add up , '' he said .
`` We now know that they lied . ''
The man told contract tracers he was simply a customer at Woodville Pizza Bar , leading health officials to believe a super strain of the virus had taken root in the area .
Based on the man 's information , health officials concluded that a large group of people had been exposed to coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pizza bar , making them believe the scope of the outbreak was wider .
But what he did not say initially was they he 'd worked several shifts at the restaurant and was infected with the coronavirus along with another close contact of his who also worked at the pizza bar , according to the Sydney Morning Herald .
It 's unclear why the man misled contract tracers , the report said .
Though Marshall used strong words to condemn the unnamed man , no fines or criminal charges are likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Health officials are still trying to contact potentially thousands of others who had contact with the Woodville Pizza Bar in order to isolate people who associated with the worker .
In the meantime , the person 's `` disgraceful conduct '' wo n't keep other South Australians locked down a day longer , Marshall said .

Australian State Cuts COVID Lockdown Short, Saying Man Lied To Contact Tracers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kelly Barnes/Getty Images Kelly Barnes/Getty Images
South Australia officials say a worker at a pizza shop lied about the circumstances of his exposure to the coronavirus, leading the region to a strict lockdown earlier this week.
South Australia Premier Steven Marshall announced the six-day coronavirus lockdown on Monday to curtail a growing virus outbreak in the area. As a result, schools were closed and outdoor exercise and non-essential businesses were banned.
But those restrictions are ending three days early, after officials discovered the worker from the restaurant, Woodville Pizza Bar, lied about his exposure and interaction with others.
The worker "deliberately misled our contact tracing team," Marshall said during a news conference on Friday.
Pieces of that person's story "didn't add up," he said. "We now know that they lied."
The man told contract tracers he was simply a customer at Woodville Pizza Bar, leading health officials to believe a super strain of the virus had taken root in the area.
Based on the man's information, health officials concluded that a large group of people had been exposed to coronavirus through limited and casual transmission from the pizza bar, making them believe the scope of the outbreak was wider.
But what he did not say initially was they he'd worked several shifts at the restaurant and was infected with the coronavirus along with another close contact of his who also worked at the pizza bar, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. It's unclear why the man misled contract tracers, the report said.
Though Marshall used strong words to condemn the unnamed man, no fines or criminal charges are likely to be filed against the man, the newspaper reported.
Health officials are still trying to contact potentially thousands of others who had contact with the Woodville Pizza Bar in order to isolate people who associated with the worker.
In the meantime, the person's "disgraceful conduct" won't keep other South Australians locked down a day longer, Marshall said.


npr--2020-11-20--Mexico Surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths

Mexico has become the fourth country to cross the 100,000 threshold for confirmed COVID-19 deaths , joining the U.S. , Brazil and India .
Mexico 's director of epidemiology , José Luis Alomía Zegarra , made the announcement late Thursday .
He said there have been 100,104 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Mexico since the first case was detected there in February .
The latest news comes just two days after the country of 126 million passed one million coronavirus infections , giving it the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world , at 9.8 % , according to Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita deaths , just above Italy and the U.S. , and in September it reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths among health care workers .
Mexico 's president , Andrés Manuel López Obrador , has been criticized for initially downplaying the pandemic and for his government 's generally slow and erratic response to the crisis .
Among other things , he 's been accused of backing off public health restrictions too quickly , allowing the disease to get a firmer foothold .
Obrador has also told the media that his personal `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of amulets and prayer .
On Thursday , Mexico 's lead official for COVID-19 response , Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell , criticized the media 's coverage of the pandemic as `` alarmist . ''
`` The epidemic is terrible in itself , you do n't have to add drama to it , '' he said , suggesting that some media outlets were focusing on COVID-19 to sell newspapers or spark `` political confrontation , '' according to The Associated Press .

Mexico Surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rebecca Blackwell/AP Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Mexico has become the fourth country to cross the 100,000 threshold for confirmed COVID-19 deaths, joining the U.S., Brazil and India.
Mexico's director of epidemiology, José Luis Alomía Zegarra, made the announcement late Thursday. He said there have been 100,104 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Mexico since the first case was detected there in February.
The latest news comes just two days after the country of 126 million passed one million coronavirus infections, giving it the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world, at 9.8%, according to Johns Hopkins University. Mexico ranks sixth in per capita deaths, just above Italy and the U.S., and in September it reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths among health care workers.
Mexico's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has been criticized for initially downplaying the pandemic and for his government's generally slow and erratic response to the crisis.
Among other things, he's been accused of backing off public health restrictions too quickly, allowing the disease to get a firmer foothold. Obrador has also told the media that his personal "protective shield" against the virus consisted of amulets and prayer.
On Thursday, Mexico's lead official for COVID-19 response, Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell, criticized the media's coverage of the pandemic as "alarmist."
"The epidemic is terrible in itself, you don't have to add drama to it," he said, suggesting that some media outlets were focusing on COVID-19 to sell newspapers or spark "political confrontation," according to The Associated Press.


npr--2020-11-20--Kyle Rittenhouse Released On $2 Million Bail, Awaiting Trial In Kenosha, Wis., Deaths

Kyle Rittenhouse , the 17-year-old gunman accused of killing protesters in Kenosha , Wis. , in August , posted $ 2 million bail and was released from custody on Friday .
Rittenhouse , who prosecutors say had an older friend buy him a gun , faces five criminal charges for killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz .
Rittenhouse crossed into Wisconsin from Illinois on Aug. 25 , following the protests that erupted after the police shooting of Jacob Blake , a Black man shot multiple times by Kenosha Police in front of his children .
Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois teen argue he killed Rosenbaum and Huber and wounded Grosskreutz in self-defense .
Rittenhouse also told police he was attacked while guarding a business .
Members of a group calling itself the Kenosha Guard put out a call on Facebook for armed volunteers to `` defend '' the city from what they characterized as violent , leftist marauders .
`` Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs ? ''
the group wrote on Facebook .
`` No doubt they are currently planning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burn tonight . ''
It 's unclear if Rittenhouse was drawn to the protests by the Kenosha Guard but he was one of many armed civilians who descended on the city after the Blake shooting .
His case has become a flashpoint between conservatives and Black Lives Matter supporters .
As NPR 's Hannah Allam reported : Allam notes `` social media accounts linked to Rittenhouse portrayed a police booster aligned with 'Back the Blue , ' pro-cop activism widely seen as a racist response to Black Lives Matter . ''
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Rittenhouse said he does n't regret carrying the AR-15 rifle that night .
`` I had to protect myself . ''
`` I would have died that night if I did n't , '' he said .
The Post reports that Rittenhouse paid for the weapon with a check from the coronavirus stimulus program .
During a Nov. 3 sentencing hearing , attorneys representing Rosenbaum 's family and Grosskreutz , as well as Huber 's father , all had asked for the gunman 's bail to be set at $ 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huber , said Rittenhouse `` has people out there that will help him , militia organizations that can raise money and harbor him . ''
Since his arrest , conservative and Christian groups have been raising money to pay for Rittenhouse 's defense .
Before setting bond at $ 2 million Court Commissioner Loren Keating noted the national network of supporters who have taken up Rittenhouse 's cause and said he considered him a flight risk .
Rittenhouse faces up to life in prison if convicted .

Kyle Rittenhouse Released On $2 Million Bail, Awaiting Trial In Kenosha, Wis., Deaths
Enlarge this image toggle caption Antioch Police Department /AP Antioch Police Department /AP
Updated at 10:03 p.m. ET
Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old gunman accused of killing protesters in Kenosha, Wis., in August, posted $2 million bail and was released from custody on Friday.
Rittenhouse, who prosecutors say had an older friend buy him a gun, faces five criminal charges for killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz.
The charges include first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
"He was turned over to his own security detail arranged by his attorney and is no longer in our custody," Sgt. David Wright of the Sheriff's Department said, the Kenosha News reported.
Hours after the release, one of his attorneys, Lin Wood, posted a picture of Rittenhouse alongside actor Ricky Schroder.
"Free at last!!!," Wood wrote, above the smiling photograph in which the newly freed Rittenhouse is wearing a Black Rifle Coffee Company t-shirt.
According to Wood, Schroder and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell played a key role in "putting us over the top."
In another tweet, Wood called Rittenhouse "a hero."
"Just off phone with Kyle. With tears in my eyes, I listened as he expressed thanks to The People for your prayers, donations & support. ... Kyle is a hero."
Rittenhouse crossed into Wisconsin from Illinois on Aug. 25, following the protests that erupted after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot multiple times by Kenosha Police in front of his children. Blake is now paralyzed.
Lawyers representing the Illinois teen argue he killed Rosenbaum and Huber and wounded Grosskreutz in self-defense. Rittenhouse also told police he was attacked while guarding a business.
Members of a group calling itself the Kenosha Guard put out a call on Facebook for armed volunteers to "defend" the city from what they characterized as violent, leftist marauders.
"Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs?" the group wrote on Facebook. "No doubt they are currently planning on the next part of the city to burn tonight."
It's unclear if Rittenhouse was drawn to the protests by the Kenosha Guard but he was one of many armed civilians who descended on the city after the Blake shooting.
His case has become a flashpoint between conservatives and Black Lives Matter supporters. As NPR's Hannah Allam reported:
"On the left, the suspect is portrayed as the embodiment of today's domestic terrorism threat: A cop-idolizing wannabe militiaman who allegedly traveled across state lines to confront protesters with a gun he was not legally allowed to possess. On the right, the teen's actions instantly were justified as self-defense, the natural end to 'Democrat cities' letting radical leftists maraud through the streets."
Allam notes "social media accounts linked to Rittenhouse portrayed a police booster aligned with 'Back the Blue,' pro-cop activism widely seen as a racist response to Black Lives Matter."
In an interview published by The Washington Post on Thursday, Rittenhouse said he doesn't regret carrying the AR-15 rifle that night.
"I had to protect myself."
"I would have died that night if I didn't," he said.
The Post reports that Rittenhouse paid for the weapon with a check from the coronavirus stimulus program.
During a Nov. 3 sentencing hearing, attorneys representing Rosenbaum's family and Grosskreutz, as well as Huber's father, all had asked for the gunman's bail to be set at $4 million.
Huber's father, John Huber, said Rittenhouse "has people out there that will help him, militia organizations that can raise money and harbor him."
Since his arrest, conservative and Christian groups have been raising money to pay for Rittenhouse's defense.
Before setting bond at $2 million Court Commissioner Loren Keating noted the national network of supporters who have taken up Rittenhouse's cause and said he considered him a flight risk.
Rittenhouse faces up to life in prison if convicted.


npr--2020-11-20--1,000 U.S. Hospitals Are 'Critically' Short On Staff — And More Expect To Be Soon

1,000 U.S .
Hospitals Are 'Critically ' Short On Staff — And More Expect To Be Soon More than 1,000 hospitals across the United States are `` critically '' short on staff , according to numbers released this week by the Department of Health and Human Services .
Those hospitals , which span all 50 states , Washington , D.C. and Puerto Rico , represent about 18 % of all hospitals that report their staffing status to HHS .
And that number is expected to grow : 21 % of all hospitals reporting say they anticipate having critical staffing shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state is North Dakota with 51 % of hospitals that reported saying they 're facing shortages ; seven states say over 30 % of their hospitals are in trouble .
This is the first time the federal agency has released this data , which includes limited reports going back to summer .
The federal government consistently started collecting this data in July .
After months of steadily trending upward , the number of hospitals reporting shortages crossed 1,000 this month and has stayed above since .
The data , however , are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily status COVID-19 updates to HHS are reporting their staffing situations , so it 's impossible to tell for sure how much these numbers have increased .
While the data is a welcome addition to the arsenal of information that public health officials have to fight COVID-19 , it highlights the shortcomings of what the federal government has made available to the public .
Though the government has precise daily figures for COVID-19 hospitalizations at thousands of the country 's hospitals , it shares only a small subset of this information to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at the University of Minnesota who leads a project that collects COVID-19 hospital data , calls the new information release a `` very positive data development and effort . ''
`` That offers a possibility to plan ahead , especially the anticipated staffing shortages , '' she says .
There is still a lot of hospitalization data that the federal government does not make public that could further inform researchers and the public , she says , including the ages and race of those hospitalized .
Looking ahead toward the next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 40 states , as well as Puerto Rico .
Nebraska , Virginia and Missouri top the list in places that are expected to have the biggest upticks .
The shortages brought on by a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic have already forced hospitals to take unusual measures to continue treating patients .
In North Dakota , nurses were told they could continue working even if they had contracted the virus , as long as they did not show symptoms .
Side Effects Public Media reported this week that a Kansas City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals as far away as Arkansas , Colorado and Iowa looking to transfer very sick patients they did n't have capacity to care for .
`` I think capacity , in terms of staffing , is probably the biggest challenge that hospitals are facing right now , '' Nasia Safdar , the medical director of infection control at University of Wisconsin 's hospital and clinics , told PBS Wisconsin .
`` As we 're seeing rates of infections rise in the community , we 're seeing infections in our employees as well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's relatively easy to have a new bed come from somewhere , you really ca n't bring in a fully trained health care worker without a lot of challenges . ''
In Missouri , Dave Dillion , a spokesperson for the state hospital association , says the fear is that if the surge continues , hospitals will have to begin operating with crisis standards of care , guidelines for prioritizing care when resources run short .
`` If this was a regional or a local crisis like we saw early on in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go run to the emergency , '' he says .
`` That is n't available anymore because this is everywhere . ''
Two state hospital associations — Missouri 's and Texas ' — told NPR they were not aware of any federal government support to their hospitals to help with staffing shortages .
`` If that 's happening , it has n't crossed our desks yet , '' says Carrie Kroll of the Texas Hospital Association .
An HHS spokeswoman said in a statement to NPR that the agency investigates every case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or hospital personnel to coordinate assistance .
The staffing data is collected from hospitals daily , who are asked to answer yes or no to these questions : `` [ Do ] you have a critical staffing shortage today '' and `` [ Do ] you anticipate a critical staffing shortage within a week . ''
It appears to be up to hospitals to decide what qualifies as a critical shortage .
The government does collect information about what type of staff is in shortage ( ICU nurses versus pharmacy staff , etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been released to the public .
The data is collected in most cases directly from hospitals to a new federal platform , set up suddenly in July by the Department of Health and Human Services with a relatively unknown contractor called Teletracking .
The move stripped CDC of the responsibility to collect and analyze this data , and prompted a huge outcry .
The new system , called HHS Protect , has been marred by inaccuracies and limited transparency .
Detailed hospitalization data could make a big difference to health leaders trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surges , researchers have told NPR .
An HHS spokesperson says the agency continues to add information to healthdata.gov and that it `` takes the responsibility to make data open to the American people seriously . ''

1,000 U.S. Hospitals Are 'Critically' Short On Staff — And More Expect To Be Soon
Enlarge this image toggle caption Go Nakamura/Getty Images Go Nakamura/Getty Images
More than 1,000 hospitals across the United States are "critically" short on staff, according to numbers released this week by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those hospitals, which span all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, represent about 18% of all hospitals that report their staffing status to HHS. And that number is expected to grow: 21% of all hospitals reporting say they anticipate having critical staffing shortages in the next week.
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The worst-hit state is North Dakota with 51% of hospitals that reported saying they're facing shortages; seven states say over 30% of their hospitals are in trouble.
This is the first time the federal agency has released this data, which includes limited reports going back to summer. The federal government consistently started collecting this data in July. After months of steadily trending upward, the number of hospitals reporting shortages crossed 1,000 this month and has stayed above since.
The data, however, are still incomplete. Not all hospitals that report daily status COVID-19 updates to HHS are reporting their staffing situations, so it's impossible to tell for sure how much these numbers have increased.
While the data is a welcome addition to the arsenal of information that public health officials have to fight COVID-19, it highlights the shortcomings of what the federal government has made available to the public. Though the government has precise daily figures for COVID-19 hospitalizations at thousands of the country's hospitals, it shares only a small subset of this information to people outside government.
Pinar Karaca-Mandic, a professor at the University of Minnesota who leads a project that collects COVID-19 hospital data, calls the new information release a "very positive data development and effort."
"That offers a possibility to plan ahead, especially the anticipated staffing shortages," she says. There is still a lot of hospitalization data that the federal government does not make public that could further inform researchers and the public, she says, including the ages and race of those hospitalized.
Looking ahead toward the next week, additional hospitals report expecting staffing shortages in 40 states, as well as Puerto Rico. Nebraska, Virginia and Missouri top the list in places that are expected to have the biggest upticks.
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The shortages brought on by a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic have already forced hospitals to take unusual measures to continue treating patients. In North Dakota, nurses were told they could continue working even if they had contracted the virus, as long as they did not show symptoms.
Side Effects Public Media reported this week that a Kansas City, Kansas hospital system was fielding calls from hospitals as far away as Arkansas, Colorado and Iowa looking to transfer very sick patients they didn't have capacity to care for.
"I think capacity, in terms of staffing, is probably the biggest challenge that hospitals are facing right now," Nasia Safdar, the medical director of infection control at University of Wisconsin's hospital and clinics, told PBS Wisconsin.
"As we're seeing rates of infections rise in the community, we're seeing infections in our employees as well," she said. "While it's relatively easy to have a new bed come from somewhere, you really can't bring in a fully trained health care worker without a lot of challenges."
In Missouri, Dave Dillon, a spokesperson for the state hospital association, says the fear is that if the surge continues, hospitals will have to begin operating with crisis standards of care, guidelines for prioritizing care when resources run short.
"If this was a regional or a local crisis like we saw early on in New York, nurses would be volunteering to go run to the emergency," he says. "That isn't available anymore because this is everywhere."
Two state hospital associations — Missouri's and Texas' — told NPR they were not aware of any federal government support to their hospitals to help with staffing shortages. "If that's happening, it hasn't crossed our desks yet," says Carrie Kroll of the Texas Hospital Association.
An HHS spokeswoman said in a statement to NPR that the agency investigates every case of staff shortages and reaches out to state or hospital personnel to coordinate assistance.
The staffing data is collected from hospitals daily, who are asked to answer yes or no to these questions: "[Do] you have a critical staffing shortage today" and "[Do] you anticipate a critical staffing shortage within a week." It appears to be up to hospitals to decide what qualifies as a critical shortage. The government does collect information about what type of staff is in shortage (ICU nurses versus pharmacy staff, etc), but that information has not been released to the public.
The data is collected in most cases directly from hospitals to a new federal platform, set up suddenly in July by the Department of Health and Human Services with a relatively unknown contractor called Teletracking. The move stripped CDC of the responsibility to collect and analyze this data, and prompted a huge outcry. The new system, called HHS Protect, has been marred by inaccuracies and limited transparency.
Detailed hospitalization data could make a big difference to health leaders trying to plan ahead and be prepared for hospitalization surges, researchers have told NPR.
An HHS spokesperson says the agency continues to add information to healthdata.gov and that it "takes the responsibility to make data open to the American people seriously."


npr--2020-11-20--'We Will Follow The Law': Michigan Lawmakers Defend Election After Trump Meeting

'We Will Follow The Law ' : Michigan Lawmakers Defend Election After Trump Meeting Republican lawmakers from Michigan issued a statement Friday night in defense of their state 's election process after a closely watched meeting with President Trump .
The meeting at the White House , just days away from Michigan 's election certification deadline , was criticized as being an inappropriate attempt by the president to interfere while his campaign lawyers seek to overturn election results in the state .
The White House insisted the get-together was `` not an advocacy meeting '' and cast it as routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's meeting , Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield said they used the meeting to seek additional coronavirus relief for the state .
They added that they had `` not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan . ''
`` We will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan 's electors , '' the statement said .
`` Michigan 's certification process should be a deliberate process free from threats and intimidation , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior should be taken seriously , thoroughly investigated , and if proven , prosecuted to the full extent of the law .
And the candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan 's electoral votes .
These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections . ''
The shadow looming over the meeting was the state 's anticipated certification of the presidential election results on Monday , which are expected to show President-elect Joe Biden as the clear victor in the state .
Attorneys for Trump 's campaign have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results , falsely alleging voter impropriety , particularly in the Democratic-leaning Wayne County .
Trump 's last-minute White House invitation to the state lawmakers was the latest in what has become an unprecedented attack on U.S. election results by a sitting lawmaker .
Trump and his allies have baselessly sought to contest the race 's results despite Biden leading overwhelmingly in both the popular and electoral vote .
The Associated Press and other outlets have called the race for Biden , with the Democrat having received 306 of the requisite 270 electoral votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Republican , has received 232 electoral votes , according to the AP count .

'We Will Follow The Law': Michigan Lawmakers Defend Election After Trump Meeting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Republican lawmakers from Michigan issued a statement Friday night in defense of their state's election process after a closely watched meeting with President Trump.
The meeting at the White House, just days away from Michigan's election certification deadline, was criticized as being an inappropriate attempt by the president to interfere while his campaign lawyers seek to overturn election results in the state.
The White House insisted the get-together was "not an advocacy meeting" and cast it as routine.
In their joint statement after Friday's meeting, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield said they used the meeting to seek additional coronavirus relief for the state. They added that they had "not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan."
"We will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan's electors," the statement said.
"Michigan's certification process should be a deliberate process free from threats and intimidation," the statement continued. "Allegations of fraudulent behavior should be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and if proven, prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And the candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan's electoral votes. These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections."
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The shadow looming over the meeting was the state's anticipated certification of the presidential election results on Monday, which are expected to show President-elect Joe Biden as the clear victor in the state. Attorneys for Trump's campaign have sought to undermine the state's election results, falsely alleging voter impropriety, particularly in the Democratic-leaning Wayne County.
Trump's last-minute White House invitation to the state lawmakers was the latest in what has become an unprecedented attack on U.S. election results by a sitting president. Trump and his allies have baselessly sought to contest the race's results despite Biden leading overwhelmingly in both the popular and electoral vote.
The Associated Press and other outlets have called the race for Biden, with the Democrat having received 306 of the requisite 270 electoral votes necessary to secure the presidency. Trump, the Republican, has received 232 electoral votes, according to the AP count.


npr--2020-11-20--Ben Carson Says He Was 'Desperately Ill' With The Coronavirus

Ben Carson Says He Was 'Desperately Ill ' With The Coronavirus Ben Carson , secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development , took to Facebook on Friday to report he has been `` extremely sick '' with the coronavirus .
But Carson , one of several individuals in the Trump administration who recently contracted the virus , said the worst is behind him .
Carson said his initial symptoms were light , but then he became `` desperately ill , '' and noted that he has `` several co-morbidities '' that played a role .
`` President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the monoclonal antibody therapy that he had previously received , which I am convinced saved my life , '' Carson wrote .
He said he is now `` out of the woods . ''
In October , Trump credited his recovery to antibody treatments from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals .
Last week , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly 's monoclonal antibody therapy Bamlanivimab for emergency use authorization .
Regeneron is still awaiting emergency use authorization .
In his post , Carson said he hoped that `` we can stop playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patience with the process of bringing anti-coronavirus drugs to the market .
`` There are a number of promising treatments that need to be tested , approved , and distributed ( sooner rather than later ) so that the economy can be re-opened and we can all return to a semblance of normalcy , '' Carson wrote .
He urged people not to `` cause alarm '' by saying `` dangerous shortcuts '' have been taken in developing a coronavirus vaccine .

Ben Carson Says He Was 'Desperately Ill' With The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Ben Carson, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, took to Facebook on Friday to report he has been "extremely sick" with the coronavirus. But Carson, one of several individuals in the Trump administration who recently contracted the virus, said the worst is behind him.
Carson said his initial symptoms were light, but then he became "desperately ill," and noted that he has "several co-morbidities" that played a role.
"President Trump was following my condition and cleared me for the monoclonal antibody therapy that he had previously received, which I am convinced saved my life," Carson wrote. He said he is now "out of the woods."
In October, Trump credited his recovery to antibody treatments from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody therapy Bamlanivimab for emergency use authorization. Regeneron is still awaiting emergency use authorization.
In his post, Carson said he hoped that "we can stop playing politics with medicine." He asked for patience with the process of bringing anti-coronavirus drugs to the market.
"There are a number of promising treatments that need to be tested, approved, and distributed (sooner rather than later) so that the economy can be re-opened and we can all return to a semblance of normalcy," Carson wrote.
He urged people not to "cause alarm" by saying "dangerous shortcuts" have been taken in developing a coronavirus vaccine.


npr--2020-11-20--Arctic Lockdown: COVID-19 Climbs In Canada's Far North

A large and isolated region of northeastern Canada entered a lockdown this week as cases of COVID-19 creep up in parts of the country with limited access to advanced medical care .
More than 80 cases have been identified this month in Nunavut , where around 39,000 people , predominantly Inuit , live in communities scattered across a territory the size of Mexico .
The worst-hit area , Arviat , has 58 cases in a hamlet of fewer than 3,000 people .
The new lockdown started Wednesday and is set to last two weeks .
`` I am asking Nunavummiut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Nunavut 's premier , Joe Savikataaq , said on Friday , referring to the territory 's residents .
`` Please do not give it a chance to take more of a hold in any of our communities . ''
Many of Canada 's northern regions had kept the pandemic at bay with strong travel and isolation rules .
Coronavirus rates have generally remained lower among First Nations than other groups in the country .
But there are signs the dam is starting to break this fall , as cases rise nationally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's department of Indigenous services identified an '' alarming rise in the number of new and active COVID-19 cases '' on First Nations reserves .
The risks are far higher once COVID-19 reaches fly-in communities , said Dr. Anna Banerji of the University of Toronto , who studies respiratory disease in Canada 's Arctic Indigenous communities .
`` Almost any chronic condition , they have higher rates , '' Banerji said , including comorbidities from diabetes to tuberculosis .
`` If it spreads , then I think that you 're going to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe infections , higher rates of ICU admissions , higher rates of death . ''
Nunavut has just one hospital with 35 acute care beds .
Residents of the territory must routinely fly south to urban centers like Winnipeg and Ottawa for specialized care .
For patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms needing hospital care , `` for some of them , there could be huge delays , '' Banerji said .
Nunavut 's chief public health officer , Dr. Michael Patterson , noted that if testing needs increase beyond local capacity , samples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the south .
( In Calgary , researchers are piloting delivering testing kits and personal protective equipment by drone . )
Like many regions of northern Canada , housing shortages mean many people live in large households , making isolating COVID-19 patients challenging .
In northern Saskatchewan , the CBC reported some communities have deployed RV campers .
For all these reasons , Banerji argues residents of these regions should be prioritized to receive vaccines , once they become available .
Patterson said the territory and federal government have discussed the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a worsening outbreak .
`` Obviously the higher the case rate or infection rate is in southern Canada , the more risk of having further events like this where it comes [ north ] , '' Patterson said .

Arctic Lockdown: COVID-19 Climbs In Canada's Far North
Enlarge this image toggle caption Natalie Maerzluft/Reuters Natalie Maerzluft/Reuters
A large and isolated region of northeastern Canada entered a lockdown this week as cases of COVID-19 creep up in parts of the country with limited access to advanced medical care.
More than 80 cases have been identified this month in Nunavut, where around 39,000 people, predominantly Inuit, live in communities scattered across a territory the size of Mexico. The worst-hit area, Arviat, has 58 cases in a hamlet of fewer than 3,000 people.
The new lockdown started Wednesday and is set to last two weeks.
"I am asking Nunavummiut to stay strong and to stay focused," Nunavut's premier, Joe Savikataaq, said on Friday, referring to the territory's residents. "Please do not give it a chance to take more of a hold in any of our communities."
Many of Canada's northern regions had kept the pandemic at bay with strong travel and isolation rules. Coronavirus rates have generally remained lower among First Nations than other groups in the country.
But there are signs the dam is starting to break this fall, as cases rise nationally. In October, the Canadian government's department of Indigenous services identified an"alarming rise in the number of new and active COVID-19 cases" on First Nations reserves.
The risks are far higher once COVID-19 reaches fly-in communities, said Dr. Anna Banerji of the University of Toronto, who studies respiratory disease in Canada's Arctic Indigenous communities.
"Almost any chronic condition, they have higher rates," Banerji said, including comorbidities from diabetes to tuberculosis. "If it spreads, then I think that you're going to see much higher rates of morbidity, more severe infections, higher rates of ICU admissions, higher rates of death."
Nunavut has just one hospital with 35 acute care beds. Residents of the territory must routinely fly south to urban centers like Winnipeg and Ottawa for specialized care. For patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms needing hospital care, "for some of them, there could be huge delays," Banerji said.
Nunavut's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, noted that if testing needs increase beyond local capacity, samples may need to be flown to laboratories in the south. (In Calgary, researchers are piloting delivering testing kits and personal protective equipment by drone.)
Like many regions of northern Canada, housing shortages mean many people live in large households, making isolating COVID-19 patients challenging. In northern Saskatchewan, the CBC reported some communities have deployed RV campers.
For all these reasons, Banerji argues residents of these regions should be prioritized to receive vaccines, once they become available.
Patterson said the territory and federal government have discussed the possibility of Canadian military assistance in the case of a worsening outbreak.
"Obviously the higher the case rate or infection rate is in southern Canada, the more risk of having further events like this where it comes [north]," Patterson said.


npr--2020-11-20--Coronavirus FAQ: How Safe Is It To Work Out In A Gym Or Play Indoor Sports?

Coronavirus FAQ : How Safe Is It To Work Out In A Gym Or Play Indoor Sports ?
Each week , we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis .
If you have a question you 'd like us to consider for a future post , email us at goatsandsoda @ npr.org with the subject line : `` Weekly Coronavirus Questions . ''
I have been playing tennis outdoors and would like to play indoors now that winter is coming .
How safe is it to exercise , work out and play sports indoors ?
Or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or sports facility ?
In the pandemic , it 's much riskier to do these types of activities indoors , according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But as winter temperatures set in , exercising or playing sports outside may not be feasible for everyone .
While some fitness studios and indoor sports facilities are rolling out coronavirus safety plans that include upgraded air filtration systems and meticulous cleaning , our experts say this is n't enough to keep you safe from infection .
You still have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while gathering indoors , says Dr. Thomas Tsai , a professor at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
Indoor exercise has resulted in recent clusters of infections .
In Hamilton , Ontario , over 60 positive coronavirus cases were linked to one spin studio last month .
In Massachusetts , the governor had to shut down indoor ice rinks in October after at least 30 coronavirus clusters were tied to youth ice hockey .
It reopened this month after two weeks of closure .
But not all indoor activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , and assessing that risk is not a simple matter of checking off boxes .
It depends on many different factors , including the facility , your community and your own health .
A facility can do a lot to mitigate the risk of transmission , says Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University .
He points out that masks were not worn during exercise in most transmissions linked to indoor activity , including the Hamilton outbreak .
`` If you walk into a place and see people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Turn around and walk out . ''
Facilities must be strict with enforcing mask-wearing and social distancing at all times , even during exercise .
Staff should be regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces and conducting COVID-19 screenings on patrons and employees .
A crucial indoor variable is airflow , says Richard Corsi , an air quality expert and dean of engineering at Portland State University .
Outside air must be exchanged frequently and at the right amount .
Air filtration systems help if proper filters are used and replaced properly , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where coronavirus droplets disperse more quickly into the air .
Unfortunately , there are no surefire ways of determining if you 're in a well-ventilated space , Corsi says , other than asking a staff member at the facility and taking the staffer 's word for it .
And a tent set up outside to exercise in , once all the flaps are closed , is just another room with walls and a ceiling that offers no more significant ventilation than exercising indoors , he says .
Large indoor spaces – such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts – with only a few people playing far apart , are less risky , Tsai says .
But basketball and hockey , in those same types of environments , with players so close together is much riskier .
You should also consider who else is indoors .
If the local infection rate in your community is high , that 's a risk factor , Tsai says .
There 's more of a chance of you encountering the virus .
To find out how risky being indoors is in your community , Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your risk based on location and the size of the gathering .
Think of your own personal risk before you decide to exercise indoors , Schaffner says .
Everyone is susceptible to being infected , but it is much more likely to affect the elderly severely .
According to the CDC , 8 out of 10 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 and older .
But you can be of any age and be at a high risk of being hospitalized if you have serious health problems such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're in a vulnerable group , you may not want to put yourself in a higher-risk situation .
How far you are from other people while doing indoor activities is crucial , experts say .
Exercising without social distancing is risky especially when it involves sweating and heavy breathing , says Lisa Lee , a population health sciences professor at Virginia Tech .
Heavy breathing means more breath is coming out of your mouth with more force .
That 's more virus in the air travelling farther .
`` The harder we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Lee says .
For this reason , we should go well beyond the 6-foot distance and keep masks on even during physical activity , Schaffner says , and do n't forget to wash your hands .
Although chances are slim , touching equipment or picking up a ball could transmit the virus .
There are ways to take matters in your own hands and reduce the risk of infection .
Exercise at home or outdoors , and if you do go to a gym or an indoor court , spend less time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk by reducing exposure time , says Dr. Todd B. Ellerin , director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health in Weymouth , Mass .
At a time when COVID-19 cases are rising worldwide , our experts say it 's best to avoid playing or exercising in an indoor facility for now .
`` You really do have to ask yourself is this something so important to me that I need to do this , '' Schaffner says .

Coronavirus FAQ: How Safe Is It To Work Out In A Gym Or Play Indoor Sports?
Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noam Galai/Getty Images Noam Galai/Getty Images
I have been playing tennis outdoors and would like to play indoors now that winter is coming. How safe is it to exercise, work out and play sports indoors? Or in an outdoor tent next to a gym or sports facility?
In the pandemic, it's much riskier to do these types of activities indoors, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But as winter temperatures set in, exercising or playing sports outside may not be feasible for everyone.
While some fitness studios and indoor sports facilities are rolling out coronavirus safety plans that include upgraded air filtration systems and meticulous cleaning, our experts say this isn't enough to keep you safe from infection.
You still have to practice social distancing and wear a mask while gathering indoors, says Dr. Thomas Tsai, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Indoor exercise has resulted in recent clusters of infections.
In Hamilton, Ontario, over 60 positive coronavirus cases were linked to one spin studio last month. In Massachusetts, the governor had to shut down indoor ice rinks in October after at least 30 coronavirus clusters were tied to youth ice hockey. It reopened this month after two weeks of closure.
But not all indoor activities carry the same risk level, Tsai says, and assessing that risk is not a simple matter of checking off boxes. It depends on many different factors, including the facility, your community and your own health.
A facility can do a lot to mitigate the risk of transmission, says Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University. He points out that masks were not worn during exercise in most transmissions linked to indoor activity, including the Hamilton outbreak.
"If you walk into a place and see people not wearing masks," Schaffner says. "Turn around and walk out."
Facilities must be strict with enforcing mask-wearing and social distancing at all times, even during exercise. Staff should be regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces and conducting COVID-19 screenings on patrons and employees.
A crucial indoor variable is airflow, says Richard Corsi, an air quality expert and dean of engineering at Portland State University. Outside air must be exchanged frequently and at the right amount. Air filtration systems help if proper filters are used and replaced properly, but nothing comes close to being outside, where coronavirus droplets disperse more quickly into the air.
Unfortunately, there are no surefire ways of determining if you're in a well-ventilated space, Corsi says, other than asking a staff member at the facility and taking the staffer's word for it. And a tent set up outside to exercise in, once all the flaps are closed, is just another room with walls and a ceiling that offers no more significant ventilation than exercising indoors, he says.
Large indoor spaces – such as a stadium-size gymnasium or domed indoor tennis courts – with only a few people playing far apart, are less risky, Tsai says. But basketball and hockey, in those same types of environments, with players so close together is much riskier.
You should also consider who else is indoors. If the local infection rate in your community is high, that's a risk factor, Tsai says. There's more of a chance of you encountering the virus. To find out how risky being indoors is in your community, Georgia Tech maintains an interactive map that assesses your risk based on location and the size of the gathering.
Think of your own personal risk before you decide to exercise indoors, Schaffner says. Everyone is susceptible to being infected, but it is much more likely to affect the elderly severely. According to the CDC, 8 out of 10 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults 65 and older. But you can be of any age and be at a high risk of being hospitalized if you have serious health problems such as diabetes or are immunocompromised. If you're in a vulnerable group, you may not want to put yourself in a higher-risk situation.
How far you are from other people while doing indoor activities is crucial, experts say.
Exercising without social distancing is risky especially when it involves sweating and heavy breathing, says Lisa Lee, a population health sciences professor at Virginia Tech. Heavy breathing means more breath is coming out of your mouth with more force. That's more virus in the air travelling farther.
"The harder we exhale, the greater the risk," Lee says.
For this reason, we should go well beyond the 6-foot distance and keep masks on even during physical activity, Schaffner says, and don't forget to wash your hands. Although chances are slim, touching equipment or picking up a ball could transmit the virus.
There are ways to take matters in your own hands and reduce the risk of infection. Exercise at home or outdoors, and if you do go to a gym or an indoor court, spend less time exercising there. You can decrease your risk by reducing exposure time, says Dr. Todd B. Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health in Weymouth, Mass.
At a time when COVID-19 cases are rising worldwide, our experts say it's best to avoid playing or exercising in an indoor facility for now.
"You really do have to ask yourself is this something so important to me that I need to do this," Schaffner says.