npr--2020-07-07--'The Stakes Are Far Higher Than They've Ever Been': Trump's Niece Pens Tell-All

'The Stakes Are Far Higher Than They 've Ever Been ' : Trump 's Niece Pens Tell-All After a good deal of legal wrangling , an incendiary book by President Trump 's niece is beginning to come to light .
A slew of excerpts surfaced publicly Tuesday , ahead of the expected release of Mary Trump 's book next week .
`` Honest work was never demanded of him , and no matter how badly he failed , he was rewarded in ways that are almost unfathomable .
He continues to be protected from his own disasters in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man .
`` But now the stakes are far higher than they 've ever been before ; they are literally life and death .
Unlike any previous time in his life , Donald 's failings can not be hidden or ignored because they threaten us all . ''
NPR obtained a copy of the book , which Simon & Schuster bumped up from its original July 28 release date `` due to high demand and extraordinary interest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now set for July 14 .
The book offers a scathing portrait of the president — one that nearly did not survive the courts .
Initially , a temporary restraining order requested by the president 's younger brother , Robert , blocked the book 's release .
But that order later was narrowed considerably in appeals court .
Justice Alan Scheinkman found that the restraining order should apply only to Mary Trump — daughter of the president 's other brother , Fred Jr. — because of a years-old nondisclosure agreement that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial settlement after her grandfather 's death .
Scheinkman 's decision continued to block Mary Trump , a trained psychologist living in New York , from publishing her book on her own or from giving interviews .
But at the same time , it effectively freed up her publisher to move forward with the book .
`` This is unprecedented that a publisher can proceed with a publication of a book but the author can not , '' Simon & Schuster observed in a statement shared with NPR .
The niece 's account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world 's health , economic security , and social fabric . ''
`` No one knows how Donald came to be who he is better than his own family .
Unfortunately , almost all of them remain silent out of loyalty or fear .
I 'm not hindered by either of these , '' Mary Trump writes in the prologue to the book .
`` I hope this book will end the practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 'agendas , ' as if he operates according to any organizing principles .
He does n't . ''
Among the accusations Mary Trump levels at the president : She alleges he cheated on the SAT by paying someone to take the test for him , but offers no corroborating evidence .
The White House dismissed the book , which spokeswoman Sarah Matthews said `` is clearly in the author 's own financial self-interest . ''
`` The President describes the relationship he had with his father as warm and said his father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matthews said .
`` He said his father was loving and not at all hard on him as a child .
Also , the absurd SAT allegation is completely false . ''
It 's far from the first time Donald Trump has found himself the subject of a highly anticipated tell-all .
Just last month , John Bolton , his former national security adviser , overcame the Trump administration 's legal objections and published his own blistering memoir of his time working with the president .

'The Stakes Are Far Higher Than They've Ever Been': Trump's Niece Pens Tell-All
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 7:01 p.m. ET
After a good deal of legal wrangling, an incendiary book by President Trump's niece is beginning to come to light. A slew of excerpts surfaced publicly Tuesday, ahead of the expected release of Mary Trump's book next week.
"Honest work was never demanded of him, and no matter how badly he failed, he was rewarded in ways that are almost unfathomable. He continues to be protected from his own disasters in the White House," Mary Trump writes in Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man.
"But now the stakes are far higher than they've ever been before; they are literally life and death. Unlike any previous time in his life, Donald's failings cannot be hidden or ignored because they threaten us all."
NPR obtained a copy of the book, which Simon & Schuster bumped up from its original July 28 release date "due to high demand and extraordinary interest," according to the publisher. Release is now set for July 14.
The book offers a scathing portrait of the president — one that nearly did not survive the courts.
Initially, a temporary restraining order requested by the president's younger brother, Robert, blocked the book's release. But that order later was narrowed considerably in appeals court.
Justice Alan Scheinkman found that the restraining order should apply only to Mary Trump — daughter of the president's other brother, Fred Jr. — because of a years-old nondisclosure agreement that she signed with the Trump family following a financial settlement after her grandfather's death.
Scheinkman's decision continued to block Mary Trump, a trained psychologist living in New York, from publishing her book on her own or from giving interviews. But at the same time, it effectively freed up her publisher to move forward with the book.
"This is unprecedented that a publisher can proceed with a publication of a book but the author cannot," Simon & Schuster observed in a statement shared with NPR.
The niece's account details what the publisher describes as "the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world's health, economic security, and social fabric."
"No one knows how Donald came to be who he is better than his own family. Unfortunately, almost all of them remain silent out of loyalty or fear. I'm not hindered by either of these," Mary Trump writes in the prologue to the book.
"I hope this book will end the practice of referring to Donald's 'strategies' or 'agendas,' as if he operates according to any organizing principles. He doesn't."
Among the accusations Mary Trump levels at the president: She alleges he cheated on the SAT by paying someone to take the test for him, but offers no corroborating evidence.
The White House dismissed the book, which spokeswoman Sarah Matthews said "is clearly in the author's own financial self-interest."
"The President describes the relationship he had with his father as warm and said his father was very good to him," Matthews said. "He said his father was loving and not at all hard on him as a child. Also, the absurd SAT allegation is completely false."
It's far from the first time Donald Trump has found himself the subject of a highly anticipated tell-all. Just last month, John Bolton, his former national security adviser, overcame the Trump administration's legal objections and published his own blistering memoir of his time working with the president.


npr--2020-07-07--Florida Orders Schools To Reopen In The Fall For In-Person Instruction

Florida Orders Schools To Reopen In The Fall For In-Person Instruction Florida 's education commissioner says that when schools open in the fall , they 'll really open .
In the state where more than 7,300 new coronavirus cases were announced on Tuesday , Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran declared that upon reopening in August , `` all school boards and charter school governing boards must open brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students . ''
The executive order signed Monday is `` subject to advice and orders '' from state and local health departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that schools not only open but also `` provide the full array of services that are required by law so that families who wish to educate their children in a brick and mortar school full time have the opportunity to do so . ''
Those services include in-person instruction unless barred by a state or local health directive , specialized instruction for students with Individualized Education Programs , or remote instruction that allows for interaction with a student 's teacher and peers , as approved by the education commissioner .
The order specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students from low-income families , students whose parents are migrant workers , and students who are homeless , have disabilities , are living in foster care or are learning English .
Florida made the announcement as huge questions about the upcoming school year have come into view for districts across the country .
Will classes be virtual or in person ?
Will kids be required to wear masks ?
How will classrooms accommodate social distancing ?
What happens when teachers get sick ?
And perhaps the biggest one of all : If kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what will working parents do ?
Reaction to the Florida order from educators has been cautious .
The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools , Alberto Carvalho , called the order `` fair and measured , '' noting that `` it allows for different instructional models , traditional schoolhouse as well as other innovative options ; and guarantees fiscal stability during a highly-unpredictable time , the first quarter of the year . ''
The Miami-Dade school district recently released its own reopening plan , which emphasizes parent choice , offering options of daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning or a hybrid .
The district says that if building utilization is low – that is , few students attend in person — a school will adopt a five-days-a-week in school attendance model .
But if school utilization is high – that is , many students go to school in person – a school may shift to physical attendance every other day or two days in a row .
In an interview with CNN , Carvalho said the district 's reopening plan is contingent on Florida making progress on reining in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not reopen our school system Aug. 24 if the conditions are what they are today , '' he said .
`` Our reopening plan contemplates a phase two reality .
We are still in phase one – a phase one that has degraded over the past few weeks . ''
The state 's largest teachers union , the Florida Education Association , expressed concern about the state order .
Union President Fedrick Ingram said no one wants schools to open more than the teachers , but they want the reopening plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests .
`` We also want to ensure the safety of everyone who is in our public schools , '' Ingram told reporter Susan Giles Wantuck from NPR member station WUSF .
`` We 're going to have to listen to the voices of those public health officials from the federal government and from our state government . ''
Ingram added , `` We are hoping that as Florida pushes through this virus that is ravaging throughout our state , with our cases being diagnosed on thousands across the state a day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor are being guided by scientific knowledge , more so than the economy . ''
Ingram said there 's anxiety among teachers about the prospect of going back to school as the executive order does n't outline measures to ensure the safety of staff and students .
`` It does not give a detailed account of what schools are expected to have , '' Ingram said .
`` How much we 're going to be able to clean schools , cleaning stations , how do we adhere to the social distancing , mask-wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a lot to be desired as it relates to a particular plan , but we have not seen that yet .
So there 's a lot of angst from teachers across the state . ''

Florida Orders Schools To Reopen In The Fall For In-Person Instruction
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida's education commissioner says that when schools open in the fall, they'll really open.
In the state where more than 7,300 new coronavirus cases were announced on Tuesday, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran declared that upon reopening in August, "all school boards and charter school governing boards must open brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students."
The executive order signed Monday is "subject to advice and orders" from state and local health departments and other executive orders.
It demands that schools not only open but also "provide the full array of services that are required by law so that families who wish to educate their children in a brick and mortar school full time have the opportunity to do so."
Those services include in-person instruction unless barred by a state or local health directive, specialized instruction for students with Individualized Education Programs, or remote instruction that allows for interaction with a student's teacher and peers, as approved by the education commissioner.
The order specifically requires that the services be provided to students from low-income families, students whose parents are migrant workers, and students who are homeless, have disabilities, are living in foster care or are learning English.
Florida made the announcement as huge questions about the upcoming school year have come into view for districts across the country. Will classes be virtual or in person? Will kids be required to wear masks? How will classrooms accommodate social distancing? What happens when teachers get sick? And perhaps the biggest one of all: If kids don't go back to school, what will working parents do?
Reaction to the Florida order from educators has been cautious.
The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto Carvalho, called the order "fair and measured," noting that "it allows for different instructional models, traditional schoolhouse as well as other innovative options; and guarantees fiscal stability during a highly-unpredictable time, the first quarter of the year."
The Miami-Dade school district recently released its own reopening plan, which emphasizes parent choice, offering options of daily attendance at a school, full-time online learning or a hybrid. The district says that if building utilization is low – that is, few students attend in person — a school will adopt a five-days-a-week in school attendance model. But if school utilization is high – that is, many students go to school in person – a school may shift to physical attendance every other day or two days in a row.
In an interview with CNN, Carvalho said the district's reopening plan is contingent on Florida making progress on reining in the spread of the virus.
"I will not reopen our school system Aug. 24 if the conditions are what they are today," he said. "Our reopening plan contemplates a phase two reality. We are still in phase one – a phase one that has degraded over the past few weeks."
The state's largest teachers union, the Florida Education Association, expressed concern about the state order. Union President Fedrick Ingram said no one wants schools to open more than the teachers, but they want the reopening plan to be guided by science rather than economic interests.
"We also want to ensure the safety of everyone who is in our public schools," Ingram told reporter Susan Giles Wantuck from NPR member station WUSF. "We're going to have to listen to the voices of those public health officials from the federal government and from our state government."
Ingram added, "We are hoping that as Florida pushes through this virus that is ravaging throughout our state, with our cases being diagnosed on thousands across the state a day, that our commissioner of education and our governor are being guided by scientific knowledge, more so than the economy."
Ingram said there's anxiety among teachers about the prospect of going back to school as the executive order doesn't outline measures to ensure the safety of staff and students.
"It does not give a detailed account of what schools are expected to have," Ingram said. "How much we're going to be able to clean schools, cleaning stations, how do we adhere to the social distancing, mask-wearing from students and our teachers? There's a lot to be desired as it relates to a particular plan, but we have not seen that yet. So there's a lot of angst from teachers across the state."


npr--2020-07-07--U.S. Killing Of Iran's Gen. Soleimani 'Was Unlawful,' U.N. Expert Says

U.S .
Killing Of Iran 's Gen. Soleimani 'Was Unlawful , ' U.N .
Expert Says The U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January `` was unlawful and arbitrary under international law , '' a U.N. human rights investigator says , calling the drone strike in Baghdad a violation of Iraq 's sovereignty .
The investigator also says the U.S. has not produced any proof to back its claim that the attack was justified by the need to stop an imminent attack .
Soleimani was the highly influential commander of the Quds Force unit of Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed him in a targeted drone strike on Jan. 3 , as Soleimani and others traveled in a convoy from Baghdad 's airport .
President Trump , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have said the U.S. targeted Soleimani — a key architect of Iran 's strategy in conflicts involving the U.S. — to prevent a looming threat .
After ordering the strike , Trump said Soleimani was `` plotting imminent and sinister attacks '' against American interests .
But Agnes Callamard , the U.N. special rapporteur on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says U.N. investigators found nothing to justify the U.S. rationale .
She also says that because the January attack in Baghdad took place without Iraq 's consent , it violated Iraq 's sovereignty .
`` No evidence has been provided that General Soleimani specifically was planning an imminent attack against US interests , particularly in Iraq , for which immediate action was necessary and would have been justified , '' Callamard wrote in her report , which is being presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council later this week .
The U.S. will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council session — the Trump administration withdrew from the U.N. body two years ago , citing its controversial inclusion of countries such as Saudi Arabia and China .
Callamard says the U.S. attack in Iraq violated Article 2 ( 4 ) of the U.N. Charter , which `` prohibits the threat or use of force and calls on all Members to respect the sovereignty , territorial integrity and political independence of other States . ''
Noting the acrimony that exists between the U.S. and Iran , Callamard say that in the tense days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements from both governments focused more on past disputes and clashes than on any future or imminent threats in which Soleimani may have played a role .
Soleimani 's killing is the first known time a nation has invoked self-defense in an attempt to justify `` an attack against a State-actor , in the territory of another state , '' the rights investigator said .
The January strike on Soleimani 's convoy killed at least 10 people .
Five members of Iraq 's Popular Mobilization Forces , which is backed by Iran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also killed in the blast .
Noting that the Iranians had arrived on what was reportedly an official visit at the invitation of Iraq 's prime minister , the U.N. investigators say the Popular Mobilization Forces ' deputy commander met Soleimani at the airport moments before the convoy was targeted .
Iran retaliated for Soleimani 's death by launching ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing American military forces , leaving more than 100 U.S. service members injured .
Many of them were diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Iran are linked to scores of civilian deaths , the report says .
Most directly , in the tense days that followed the exchange of attacks in Iraq , Iran 's armed forces unintentionally brought down a Ukrainian jetliner , killing all 176 people on board .
And the report notes that protesters in both Iran and Iraq were killed during demonstrations fueled by outrage over the strikes and the downing of the passenger jet .
In her report , Callamard also calls for new restrictions around the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and advanced technology raises complicated moral and legal questions that the international community has yet to answer .
`` As a number of drones ' strikes have demonstrated , a country 's ability to take-out big-name targets , without any casualties on its side , is a political gain for the government at the time , '' she writes , `` even though it may not see 'military victory ' in the longer term . ''

U.S. Killing Of Iran's Gen. Soleimani 'Was Unlawful,' U.N. Expert Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January "was unlawful and arbitrary under international law," a U.N. human rights investigator says, calling the drone strike in Baghdad a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.
The investigator also says the U.S. has not produced any proof to back its claim that the attack was justified by the need to stop an imminent attack.
Soleimani was the highly influential commander of the Quds Force unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. killed him in a targeted drone strike on Jan. 3, as Soleimani and others traveled in a convoy from Baghdad's airport.
President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have said the U.S. targeted Soleimani — a key architect of Iran's strategy in conflicts involving the U.S. — to prevent a looming threat.
After ordering the strike, Trump said Soleimani was "plotting imminent and sinister attacks" against American interests.
But Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, says U.N. investigators found nothing to justify the U.S. rationale. She also says that because the January attack in Baghdad took place without Iraq's consent, it violated Iraq's sovereignty.
"No evidence has been provided that General Soleimani specifically was planning an imminent attack against US interests, particularly in Iraq, for which immediate action was necessary and would have been justified," Callamard wrote in her report, which is being presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council later this week.
The U.S. will not take part in the Human Rights Council session — the Trump administration withdrew from the U.N. body two years ago, citing its controversial inclusion of countries such as Saudi Arabia and China.
Callamard says the U.S. attack in Iraq violated Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter, which "prohibits the threat or use of force and calls on all Members to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States."
Noting the acrimony that exists between the U.S. and Iran, Callamard say that in the tense days after the military leader's death, statements from both governments focused more on past disputes and clashes than on any future or imminent threats in which Soleimani may have played a role.
Soleimani's killing is the first known time a nation has invoked self-defense in an attempt to justify "an attack against a State-actor, in the territory of another state," the rights investigator said.
The January strike on Soleimani's convoy killed at least 10 people. Five members of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, which is backed by Iran, were among the dead. Four other members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also killed in the blast.
Noting that the Iranians had arrived on what was reportedly an official visit at the invitation of Iraq's prime minister, the U.N. investigators say the Popular Mobilization Forces' deputy commander met Soleimani at the airport moments before the convoy was targeted.
Iran retaliated for Soleimani's death by launching ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing American military forces, leaving more than 100 U.S. service members injured. Many of them were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
The attacks by the U.S. and Iran are linked to scores of civilian deaths, the report says.
Most directly, in the tense days that followed the exchange of attacks in Iraq, Iran's armed forces unintentionally brought down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people on board. And the report notes that protesters in both Iran and Iraq were killed during demonstrations fueled by outrage over the strikes and the downing of the passenger jet.
In her report, Callamard also calls for new restrictions around the use of drones, saying their combination of efficiency and advanced technology raises complicated moral and legal questions that the international community has yet to answer.
"As a number of drones' strikes have demonstrated, a country's ability to take-out big-name targets, without any casualties on its side, is a political gain for the government at the time," she writes, "even though it may not see 'military victory' in the longer term."


npr--2020-07-07--Amid New Surge In Virus Cases, Israel's Top Public Health Official Resigns

Amid New Surge In Virus Cases , Israel 's Top Public Health Official Resigns Israel 's top public health official resigned Tuesday , claiming leaders ignored her warnings and reopened the country too quickly , driving a new surge of COVID-19 cases that officials are scrambling to contain .
Siegal Sadetzki , the leading epidemiologist heading Israel 's coronavirus response and director of the Israeli Health Ministry 's Public Health Services , posted her nine-page resignation letter on Facebook on Tuesday , the same day Israel quickly reimposed restrictions shutting down wedding and entertainment venues , bars , clubs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for the last few weeks , the compass handling the pandemic lost its direction , '' Sadetzki wrote .
`` We 've watched with frustration as the hourglass of possibilities has run out .
On this basis I reached the conclusion that under the new conditions in which my professional opinion is not accepted — I can no longer assist with an effective response to curb the spread of the virus . ''
In recent days , Israel has had record-high numbers of around 1,100 daily infections , nearly twice the peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases doubling about every four days .
According to the Health Ministry , the country currently has at least 12,700 active cases , with 35 patients on ventilators .
At least 338 have died .
Sadetzki praised Israel 's nationwide lockdowns in the spring , which brought an initial wave of infections to as low as about 10 cases a day .
She blamed the latest wave in large part on Israel 's swift reopening of schools in May and wedding venues in June .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared victory over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go out and `` enjoy yourselves . ''
Several weeks of post-pandemic euphoria washed over the country as it reopened schools , restaurants and beaches .
( Officials shut schools where virus cases were detected . )
During the peak springtime wedding season , wedding venues were allowed to host up to 250 guests .
Now Netanyahu warns this week 's new restrictions are necessary to prevent the health system from collapsing and can prevent a nationwide lockdown .
Democracy advocates criticized a new law passed Tuesday , shortly after midnight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impose further pandemic restrictions for up to a week before lawmakers may amend or cancel them .
Netanyahu was initially lauded for his handling of the first wave of the virus , but polls published Monday by Israeli Channel 12 TV found his public approval rating in handling Israel 's health crisis dropped from 74 % in May to 46 % in July , and approval of his handling of the economy during the pandemic dropped from 53 % in May to 33 % in July .
Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike in infection rates , mostly blamed on wedding and funeral gatherings , with at least 5,000 confirmed cases and 21 deaths .
The Palestinian Authority imposed a five-day lockdown on Friday , blocking movement and closing most businesses .
On Tuesday , it extended the lockdown by an additional five days and banned all weddings and gatherings .

Amid New Surge In Virus Cases, Israel's Top Public Health Official Resigns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
Israel's top public health official resigned Tuesday, claiming leaders ignored her warnings and reopened the country too quickly, driving a new surge of COVID-19 cases that officials are scrambling to contain.
Siegal Sadetzki, the leading epidemiologist heading Israel's coronavirus response and director of the Israeli Health Ministry's Public Health Services, posted her nine-page resignation letter on Facebook on Tuesday, the same day Israel quickly reimposed restrictions shutting down wedding and entertainment venues, bars, clubs, gyms and swimming pools.
"Unfortunately, for the last few weeks, the compass handling the pandemic lost its direction," Sadetzki wrote. "We've watched with frustration as the hourglass of possibilities has run out. On this basis I reached the conclusion that under the new conditions in which my professional opinion is not accepted — I can no longer assist with an effective response to curb the spread of the virus."
In recent days, Israel has had record-high numbers of around 1,100 daily infections, nearly twice the peak seen in the spring, with serious cases doubling about every four days. According to the Health Ministry, the country currently has at least 12,700 active cases, with 35 patients on ventilators. At least 338 have died.
Sadetzki praised Israel's nationwide lockdowns in the spring, which brought an initial wave of infections to as low as about 10 cases a day. She blamed the latest wave in large part on Israel's swift reopening of schools in May and wedding venues in June.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared victory over the pandemic in May and encouraged Israelis to go out and "enjoy yourselves." Several weeks of post-pandemic euphoria washed over the country as it reopened schools, restaurants and beaches. (Officials shut schools where virus cases were detected.) During the peak springtime wedding season, wedding venues were allowed to host up to 250 guests.
Now Netanyahu warns this week's new restrictions are necessary to prevent the health system from collapsing and can prevent a nationwide lockdown.
Democracy advocates criticized a new law passed Tuesday, shortly after midnight, giving Netanyahu and his Cabinet emergency powers to impose further pandemic restrictions for up to a week before lawmakers may amend or cancel them.
Netanyahu was initially lauded for his handling of the first wave of the virus, but polls published Monday by Israeli Channel 12 TV found his public approval rating in handling Israel's health crisis dropped from 74% in May to 46% in July, and approval of his handling of the economy during the pandemic dropped from 53% in May to 33% in July.
Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are also facing a spike in infection rates, mostly blamed on wedding and funeral gatherings, with at least 5,000 confirmed cases and 21 deaths. The Palestinian Authority imposed a five-day lockdown on Friday, blocking movement and closing most businesses. On Tuesday, it extended the lockdown by an additional five days and banned all weddings and gatherings.


npr--2020-07-07--Trump Pledges To 'Pressure' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns

Trump Pledges To 'Pressure ' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns President Trump vowed to exert pressure on states to reopen their school districts this fall even as large parts of the country are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases .
`` We 're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools , '' Trump said during a roundtable discussion Tuesday afternoon at the White House .
`` Get open in the fall .
We want your schools open , '' Trump said .
The president spoke alongside first lady Melania Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of planned programming from the White House to push for the reopening of schools .
Despite Trump 's comments , senior administration officials said on a background call with reporters Tuesday morning that the decision to reopen public schools remains a local one .
`` Our goal right now is to work hand in hand with the local jurisdictions now to help let them see the best ways to reopen these schools in a safe way and get back to where we would have really preferred to have been through the spring of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that active educational component available to the students , '' one official said .
On Monday , Trump tweeted , `` SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL !
!
! ''
However , during Tuesday 's event , the president said he does n't want to see the issue politicized .
`` We hope that most schools are going to be open .
We do n't want people to make political statements or do it for political reasons .
They think it 's gon na be good for them politically so they keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` No way . ''
It 's not the first time Trump has linked the reopening of schools with political intentions .
He previously tweeted that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden does n't want schools to open in the fall for `` political reasons . ''
He did not elaborate on what that means .
Administration officials acknowledged the risk of students spreading the contagion to more vulnerable populations but emphasized that school closures disrupt `` critical services to children and their families . ''
They promised the administration would share `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but offered no concrete proposals on how states might mitigate risks to students and their families should schools reopen .
During the roundtable , the first lady emphasized the holistic experience of school that children have been missing out on during the pandemic .
`` When children are out of school , they 're missing more than just time in the classroom , '' she said .
`` They 're missing the laughter of their friends , learning from their teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Education groups have asked for at least $ 200 billion in federal funding to reopen safely and plug holes in state budgets due to the recession .
So far , $ 13.5 billion has been appropriated to K-12 education .
The Republican-controlled Senate has not taken up a bill passed by House Democrats that would allocate hundreds of billions more .
The shuttering of schools this spring has taken an economic toll .
Many parents are working from home alongside their children as they receive online education .
In guidance issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pediatrics called for bringing children back to the classroom this fall wherever and whenever it can be done safely .
Tuesday 's programming also included a call between Vice President Pence and governors ( which administration officials said was his second such call ) and a panel discussion with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos led by Dr. Deborah Birx , a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force .
The push to reopen schools follows new regulations released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not remain in the country , forcing schools to weigh the risk of holding in-person classes with losing their international students .
Trump criticized Harvard University for its announcement on Monday that all classes will be online in the fall .
`` I think it 's ridiculous , '' he said .
`` I think it 's an easy way out , and they ought to be ashamed of themselves . ''

Trump Pledges To 'Pressure' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 4:55 p.m. ET
President Trump vowed to exert pressure on states to reopen their school districts this fall even as large parts of the country are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases.
"We're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools," Trump said during a roundtable discussion Tuesday afternoon at the White House.
"Get open in the fall. We want your schools open," Trump said.
The president spoke alongside first lady Melania Trump, administration officials and teachers as part of planned programming from the White House to push for the reopening of schools.
Despite Trump's comments, senior administration officials said on a background call with reporters Tuesday morning that the decision to reopen public schools remains a local one.
"Our goal right now is to work hand in hand with the local jurisdictions now to help let them see the best ways to reopen these schools in a safe way and get back to where we would have really preferred to have been through the spring of this year, which was to have that active educational component available to the students," one official said.
On Monday, Trump tweeted, "SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!" However, during Tuesday's event, the president said he doesn't want to see the issue politicized.
"We hope that most schools are going to be open. We don't want people to make political statements or do it for political reasons. They think it's gonna be good for them politically so they keep the schools closed," Trump elaborated. "No way."
It's not the first time Trump has linked the reopening of schools with political intentions. He previously tweeted that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden doesn't want schools to open in the fall for "political reasons." He did not elaborate on what that means.
Administration officials acknowledged the risk of students spreading the contagion to more vulnerable populations but emphasized that school closures disrupt "critical services to children and their families."
They promised the administration would share "best practices" with states on reopening in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but offered no concrete proposals on how states might mitigate risks to students and their families should schools reopen.
During the roundtable, the first lady emphasized the holistic experience of school that children have been missing out on during the pandemic.
"When children are out of school, they're missing more than just time in the classroom," she said. "They're missing the laughter of their friends, learning from their teachers and the joy of recess and play."
Education groups have asked for at least $200 billion in federal funding to reopen safely and plug holes in state budgets due to the recession. So far, $13.5 billion has been appropriated to K-12 education.
The Republican-controlled Senate has not taken up a bill passed by House Democrats that would allocate hundreds of billions more.
The shuttering of schools this spring has taken an economic toll. Many parents are working from home alongside their children as they receive online education.
In guidance issued last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for bringing children back to the classroom this fall wherever and whenever it can be done safely.
Tuesday's programming also included a call between Vice President Pence and governors (which administration officials said was his second such call) and a panel discussion with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos led by Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The push to reopen schools follows new regulations released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that foreign students attending American colleges operating online cannot remain in the country, forcing schools to weigh the risk of holding in-person classes with losing their international students.
Trump criticized Harvard University for its announcement on Monday that all classes will be online in the fall.
"I think it's ridiculous," he said. "I think it's an easy way out, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves."
NPR education correspondent Anya Kamenetz contributed to this report.


npr--2020-07-07--WNBA Dedicates 2020 Season To Social Justice Initiatives. Senator Says She's Opposed

The WNBA season is scheduled to tip off later this month , and players hope fans marvel at their precision passes , shooting accuracy and speed during a fast break .
But the league also hopes to shine a spotlight on another type of movement : the call for social justice reform .
The league and the Women 's National Basketball Players Association announced the 2020 season will be dedicated to addressing the nation 's `` long history of inequality , implicit bias and racism '' that disproportionately impacts communities of color .
The season will highlight the Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign with related slogans available for players to wear on their uniforms .
On Tuesday Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the initiative , adding that she was `` incredibly disappointed to read about efforts to insert a political platform into the league . ''
Loeffler , who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Senate , is a co-owner of the WNBA franchise the Atlanta Dream .
She is a supporter of President Trump and is facing a tough challenge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator also told the WNBA that aligning itself with the Black Lives Matter movement `` undermines the potential of the sport and sends a message of exclusion . ''
`` The truth is , we need less—not more politics in sports , '' Loeffler wrote .
`` In a time when polarizing politics is as divisive as ever , sports has the power to be a unifying antidote .
And now more than ever , we should be united in our goal to remove politics from sports . ''
While she said `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American matter , '' Loeffler also offered the league a counter suggestion : to put an American flag on every jersey , including on licensed apparel for coaches , players and fans .
Engelbert , the WNBA commissioner , issued a statement Tuesday reiterating the league would continue to `` vigorously advocate '' on behalf of social justice reforms .
`` The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we , along with the teams and players , will continue to use our platforms to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Englebert said .
`` Sen. Kelly Loeffler has not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream since October 2019 and is no longer involved in the day-to-day business of the team . ''
The players association went a step further , tweeting , `` E-N-O-U-G-H !
O-U-T ! ''
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution , which first reported on Loeffler 's letter to the WNBA , points out that several high-profile players including Sue Bird , Skylar Diggins-Smith and Natasha Cloud recently lobbied the commissioner to sanction Loeffler .
The senator has referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rayshard Brooks was killed by a white Atlanta police officer last month as `` mob rule . ''
For the first weekend of the season , slated to begin later this month , players may wear special uniforms honoring Breonna Taylor , a Black woman who was shot and killed by Louisville police executing a no-knock search warrant in March .
League officials say that players can choose to wear Taylor 's name on their uniforms throughout the season .
The league and the players association are also in talks about how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are `` the forgotten victims of police brutality and violence . ''
A WNBA statement also names Sandra Bland and Vanessa Guillen , in addition to Taylor .
Guillen , an Army specialist , was last seen in April at Fort Hood in Texas .
Last week , her remains were found near where she went missing .
Bland died in 2015 police custody in Texas .
For the entire season , the WNBA says players will don warmup shirts with `` Black Lives Matter '' on the front and `` Say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Black Lives Matter '' will also be displayed on the court during games .
`` We are incredibly proud of WNBA players who continue to lead with their inspiring voices and effective actions in the league 's dedicated fight against systemic racism and violence , '' WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement .
Nneka Ogwumike , the president of the league 's players ' association and a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks , called the effort `` a pivotal moment '' in modern sports history .
`` With 140-plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever , we can be a powerful force connecting to our sisters across the country and in other parts of the world , '' Ogwumike said .
The WNBA also announced the formation of the WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council , which plans to hold a series of conversations centered around race , LGBTQ+ advocacy , gun control and voting rights .
Las Vegas Aces forward Angel McCoughtry tweeted , `` We have yet to scratch the surface into making a better America ! ''
`` People have asked , what is putting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Well we plant seed for a better tomorrow .
Yes , it takes time to grow but in due time amazing things will bloom , '' McCoughtry said .
Because of the ongoing concerns with the coronavirus , the WNBA season will be shortened and played at a `` bubble '' location in Florida .
The NBA has similar plans .
The IMG Academy in Bradenton , about 45 miles south of Tampa , will host all 12 WNBA franchises for a 22-game regular season , followed by a traditional playoff format @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven out of 137 WNBA players tested positive for the coronavirus .
The league said the tests were conducted between June 28 and July 5 .
As NPR reported last week , the NBA has confirmed at least 25 of its players have tested positive for the virus .
They are scheduled to resume their season in the Orlando area later this month .
All but one of the WNBA teams were scheduled to arrive early this week at the IMG Academy facilities .
The league said the Indiana Fever delayed their travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abundance of caution , '' citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's self-quarantine guidelines .

WNBA Dedicates 2020 Season To Social Justice Initiatives. Senator Says She's Opposed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Updated 7:38 p.m. ET
The WNBA season is scheduled to tip off later this month, and players hope fans marvel at their precision passes, shooting accuracy and speed during a fast break. But the league also hopes to shine a spotlight on another type of movement: the call for social justice reform.
The league and the Women's National Basketball Players Association announced the 2020 season will be dedicated to addressing the nation's "long history of inequality, implicit bias and racism" that disproportionately impacts communities of color.
The season will highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and the Say Her Name campaign with related slogans available for players to wear on their uniforms.
On Tuesday Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the initiative, adding that she was "incredibly disappointed to read about efforts to insert a political platform into the league."
Loeffler, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Senate, is a co-owner of the WNBA franchise the Atlanta Dream. She is a supporter of President Trump and is facing a tough challenge in a special election this November.
The senator also told the WNBA that aligning itself with the Black Lives Matter movement "undermines the potential of the sport and sends a message of exclusion."
"The truth is, we need less—not more politics in sports," Loeffler wrote.
"In a time when polarizing politics is as divisive as ever, sports has the power to be a unifying antidote. And now more than ever, we should be united in our goal to remove politics from sports."
While she said "the lives of each and every African American matter," Loeffler also offered the league a counter suggestion: to put an American flag on every jersey, including on licensed apparel for coaches, players and fans.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP Susan Walsh/AP
Engelbert, the WNBA commissioner, issued a statement Tuesday reiterating the league would continue to "vigorously advocate" on behalf of social justice reforms.
"The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we, along with the teams and players, will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice," Englebert said.
"Sen. Kelly Loeffler has not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream since October 2019 and is no longer involved in the day-to-day business of the team."
The players association went a step further, tweeting, "E-N-O-U-G-H! O-U-T!"
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, which first reported on Loeffler's letter to the WNBA, points out that several high-profile players including Sue Bird, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Natasha Cloud recently lobbied the commissioner to sanction Loeffler.
The senator has referred to armed Black protesters near the site where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a white Atlanta police officer last month as "mob rule."
Georgia is an open carry state.
Honoring 'forgotten victims'
For the first weekend of the season, slated to begin later this month, players may wear special uniforms honoring Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot and killed by Louisville police executing a no-knock search warrant in March.
League officials say that players can choose to wear Taylor's name on their uniforms throughout the season.
The league and the players association are also in talks about how to honor other women and girls of color who are "the forgotten victims of police brutality and violence." A WNBA statement also names Sandra Bland and Vanessa Guillen, in addition to Taylor.
Guillen, an Army specialist, was last seen in April at Fort Hood in Texas. Last week, her remains were found near where she went missing. Bland died in 2015 police custody in Texas.
For the entire season, the WNBA says players will don warmup shirts with "Black Lives Matter" on the front and "Say Her Name" on the back. "Black Lives Matter" will also be displayed on the court during games.
"We are incredibly proud of WNBA players who continue to lead with their inspiring voices and effective actions in the league's dedicated fight against systemic racism and violence," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.
Nneka Ogwumike, the president of the league's players' association and a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, called the effort "a pivotal moment" in modern sports history.
"With 140-plus voices all together for the first time ever, we can be a powerful force connecting to our sisters across the country and in other parts of the world," Ogwumike said.
The WNBA also announced the formation of the WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council, which plans to hold a series of conversations centered around race, LGBTQ+ advocacy, gun control and voting rights.
Las Vegas Aces forward Angel McCoughtry tweeted, "We have yet to scratch the surface into making a better America !"
"People have asked , what is putting the names on a jersey gonna do ? Well we plant seed for a better tomorrow. Yes , it takes time to grow but in due time amazing things will bloom," McCoughtry said.
Because of the ongoing concerns with the coronavirus, the WNBA season will be shortened and played at a "bubble" location in Florida. The NBA has similar plans.
The IMG Academy in Bradenton, about 45 miles south of Tampa, will host all 12 WNBA franchises for a 22-game regular season, followed by a traditional playoff format.
On Monday, the league announced seven out of 137 WNBA players tested positive for the coronavirus. The league said the tests were conducted between June 28 and July 5.
As NPR reported last week, the NBA has confirmed at least 25 of its players have tested positive for the virus. They are scheduled to resume their season in the Orlando area later this month.
All but one of the WNBA teams were scheduled to arrive early this week at the IMG Academy facilities.
The league said the Indiana Fever delayed their travel "at least five days in an abundance of caution," citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's self-quarantine guidelines.


npr--2020-07-08--Starting A COVID-19 'Social Bubble'? How Safe Sex Communication Skills Can Help

Starting A COVID-19 'Social Bubble ' ?
How Safe Sex Communication Skills Can Help Ina Park has been in a monogamous marriage for more than 15 years , but she feels like she has been having one safe sex conversation after another these days .
There was the time she and some close friends spent a few hours together without wearing masks , and she later realized she needed to ask : `` Are you seeing other people ? ''
Or the time when she got a text from the mother of her son 's friend .
The mom suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her home , which led to detailed negotiations about risk tolerance , boundaries and types of protection .
`` Those are conversations that some of us were used to having in the past and have not had for a long time , '' said Park .
`` Now , suddenly , we 're having to have these awkward , safe sex-type conversations with all types of people that you would n't ordinarily have to have these conversations with . ''
Park is a doctor who treats people with sexually transmitted infections at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a book about STIs , Strange Bedfellows .
She 's used to explaining to people that when you have sex with someone , you 're essentially having sex with whoever else they 're having sex with .
These days , it 's whoever you 're breathing next to .
As families across the U.S. have started to emerge from strict shelter-in-place rules , they 're having to figure out whether ( and how ) to get a haircut , host a family barbecue or share child care with another family .
Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss and negotiate with each other about what they 're willing to do , with whom and how carefully .
Pulling it all off successfully requires some nuanced communication skills .
Doctors and sex education teachers have advice — as do experts in polyamory and sexual practices such as BDSM ( consensual role-play involving bondage , dominance , sadism and masochism ) .
Many of these experts have years of experience honing best practices and guidance for discussing — and engaging in — new sensitive experiences .
When the pandemic emerged , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex and negotiating `` safe socializing . ''
`` If you really want to make sure your partner uses a condom , you have to express why it 's important to you and why it 's aligned with your values and why that 's something that you need from them , '' says Julia Feldman , who runs the sex education consultancy Giving the Talk .
Similarly , she says , `` If you want your mom to wear a mask when you see her , you need to explain why it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with your values . ''
Feldman helped the Oakland Unified School District develop its latest sex education curriculum , one of the most comprehensive in the nation .
She says Bay Area schools have expanded beyond knowledge-based teaching — sperm fertilizing the egg , etc .
— to now include a focus on developing communication skills around intimacy and sex .
These are skills that many adults have never received formal training on but that studies show lead to greater relationship satisfaction .
`` The more people communicate what they want and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfortable with , the more we actually get what we want , '' Feldman says .
`` This is a really good time to practice that . ''
Feldman has been practicing her skills over and over during the pandemic , like the time she invited a friend over for a socially distanced cocktail in her backyard .
They had an extensive conversation about how they would sit ( 6 feet apart ) , what they would drink ( the friend would accept a beverage can she could wipe down herself ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and if Feldman would serve snacks ( no ) .
`` Because if you show up at someone 's house and they have a beautiful spread and they 're expecting that you 're just going to dig into a platter of food with them , and that 's not what you 're comfortable with , there might be disappointment on their part , '' Feldman explains .
`` There 's a lot of emotions involved . ''
Her friend also asked in advance if she could use Feldman 's bathroom while she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one bathroom and created a pathway through my house .
But it really was only because she was cognizant of articulating that need and I was able to take time to accommodate it , '' she says .
`` If she had showed up and said , 'Oh , I really have to pee .
Can I use your bathroom ? '
I do n't know what I would have done . ''
This very detailed level of thinking and advanced negotiating are common in the kink community , especially among partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You start tying people up without consent , and it just goes south right away — you just ca n't do that , '' says Carol Queen , the staff sexologist at Good Vibrations , a sex toy and sexual health company based in San Francisco .
She suggests considering a common tool from the BDSM world : a detailed spreadsheet of every possible kinky activity — from leather restraints to nipple clamps — with columns to be filled in for yes , no or maybe .
It 's a conversation starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of kink parties .
Queen says we need an equivalent checklist for the coronavirus pandemic .
`` That helps people do that very first step of understanding what their own situation and needs and desires are , '' she says .
`` Somebody , make this list for us ! ''
Queen has always emphasized that communication does n't stop once you get to the party .
Queen has the star role in the 1998 instructional video/feminist porn film Bend Over Boyfriend , and in the film she stresses that point repeatedly : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are verbal with each other and say , 'Yes , no , faster , I 'm ready , I 'm not ready . '
It 's very important because if you 're going on your partner 's wavelength , you 're going to have a greater experience . ''
Two decades later , during a virulent airborne pandemic , that 's more true than ever , Queen says .
`` The idea that it 's OK to be that talkative , in the service of safety and comfort , really is what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's a very important lesson in sex and , these days , under most other circumstances . ''
As some county health officials in California have been encouraging people to form social pods or `` quaranteams '' as a way to limit socializing to two or three households , many of us now find ourselves having to essentially decide which of our friends or family members we will ask to go steady with us .
`` I wish I had more polyamorous friends to help me navigate that situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ STI expert .
She means people with experience brokering different levels of intimacy with multiple partners and establishing ground rules for the group .
Park says that as a physician , she is familiar with the protocols for delivering bad news , and she often talks with patients about infidelity when an infection appears in a purportedly monogamous relationship .
Park wonders how newly formed quarantine pods will deal with social infidelities .
`` There 's inevitably going to be betrayals — 'Oh , I cheated on our pod with somebody else ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pod , '' she says .
`` Does the relationship recover ?
Or do you kick that person out of your pod forever ? ''
In Park 's experience , it 's always better to admit to an affair before a contagious infection enters the picture , whether it 's chlamydia or the coronavirus , so everyone can take precautions .
With the coronavirus , the offending pod member can self-quarantine for two weeks away from the rest of the group , so no one else contracts the virus or gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicked out of a pod or no one has invited you to be part of a pod in the first place , the experts agree we all need to get better at handling rejection .
The pandemic may be temporary , but we 're in it with our loved ones for the long term , so everyone needs to respect each other 's anxieties and boundaries .
`` Do n't take it personally , '' advises Queen .
`` We 're all new here at this party . ''

Starting A COVID-19 'Social Bubble'? How Safe Sex Communication Skills Can Help
Enlarge this image toggle caption Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Ina Park has been in a monogamous marriage for more than 15 years, but she feels like she has been having one safe sex conversation after another these days.
There was the time she and some close friends spent a few hours together without wearing masks, and she later realized she needed to ask: "Are you seeing other people?"
Or the time when she got a text from the mother of her son's friend. The mom suggested letting the boys play basketball together at her home, which led to detailed negotiations about risk tolerance, boundaries and types of protection.
"Those are conversations that some of us were used to having in the past and have not had for a long time," said Park. "Now, suddenly, we're having to have these awkward, safe sex-type conversations with all types of people that you wouldn't ordinarily have to have these conversations with."
Park is a doctor who treats people with sexually transmitted infections at the San Francisco City Clinic and is author of a book about STIs, Strange Bedfellows. She's used to explaining to people that when you have sex with someone, you're essentially having sex with whoever else they're having sex with.
These days, it's whoever you're breathing next to.
As families across the U.S. have started to emerge from strict shelter-in-place rules, they're having to figure out whether (and how) to get a haircut, host a family barbecue or share child care with another family. Americans are learning they have a lot to discuss and negotiate with each other about what they're willing to do, with whom and how carefully.
Pulling it all off successfully requires some nuanced communication skills. Doctors and sex education teachers have advice — as do experts in polyamory and sexual practices such as BDSM (consensual role-play involving bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism). Many of these experts have years of experience honing best practices and guidance for discussing — and engaging in — new sensitive experiences. When the pandemic emerged, they quickly noticed the parallels between negotiating safe sex and negotiating "safe socializing."
"If you really want to make sure your partner uses a condom, you have to express why it's important to you and why it's aligned with your values and why that's something that you need from them," says Julia Feldman, who runs the sex education consultancy Giving the Talk.
toggle caption Molly DeCoudreaux Photography
Similarly, she says, "If you want your mom to wear a mask when you see her, you need to explain why it's important to you and why it's aligned with your values."
Feldman helped the Oakland Unified School District develop its latest sex education curriculum, one of the most comprehensive in the nation. She says Bay Area schools have expanded beyond knowledge-based teaching — sperm fertilizing the egg, etc. — to now include a focus on developing communication skills around intimacy and sex. These are skills that many adults have never received formal training on but that studies show lead to greater relationship satisfaction.
"The more people communicate what they want and what they desire and what they're comfortable with, the more we actually get what we want," Feldman says. "This is a really good time to practice that."
Feldman has been practicing her skills over and over during the pandemic, like the time she invited a friend over for a socially distanced cocktail in her backyard. They had an extensive conversation about how they would sit (6 feet apart), what they would drink (the friend would accept a beverage can she could wipe down herself), whether they would wear masks (no) and if Feldman would serve snacks (no).
"Because if you show up at someone's house and they have a beautiful spread and they're expecting that you're just going to dig into a platter of food with them, and that's not what you're comfortable with, there might be disappointment on their part," Feldman explains. "There's a lot of emotions involved."
Her friend also asked in advance if she could use Feldman's bathroom while she was there.
"So I disinfected this one bathroom and created a pathway through my house. But it really was only because she was cognizant of articulating that need and I was able to take time to accommodate it," she says. "If she had showed up and said, 'Oh, I really have to pee. Can I use your bathroom?' I don't know what I would have done."
Lessons from the kink community
This very detailed level of thinking and advanced negotiating are common in the kink community, especially among partners who enjoy sexual role-play involving BDSM.
"You start tying people up without consent, and it just goes south right away — you just can't do that," says Carol Queen, the staff sexologist at Good Vibrations, a sex toy and sexual health company based in San Francisco.
She suggests considering a common tool from the BDSM world: a detailed spreadsheet of every possible kinky activity — from leather restraints to nipple clamps — with columns to be filled in for yes, no or maybe. It's a conversation starter for beginners and helps facilitate conversations ahead of kink parties. Queen says we need an equivalent checklist for the coronavirus pandemic.
"That helps people do that very first step of understanding what their own situation and needs and desires are," she says. "Somebody, make this list for us!"
Queen has always emphasized that communication doesn't stop once you get to the party. Queen has the star role in the 1998 instructional video/feminist porn film Bend Over Boyfriend, and in the film she stresses that point repeatedly: "It's deeply important that you are verbal with each other and say, 'Yes, no, faster, I'm ready, I'm not ready.' It's very important because if you're going on your partner's wavelength, you're going to have a greater experience."
Two decades later, during a virulent airborne pandemic, that's more true than ever, Queen says.
"The idea that it's OK to be that talkative, in the service of safety and comfort, really is what we learned from that," Queen says. "It's a very important lesson in sex and, these days, under most other circumstances."
Negotiating commitment
As some county health officials in California have been encouraging people to form social pods or "quaranteams" as a way to limit socializing to two or three households, many of us now find ourselves having to essentially decide which of our friends or family members we will ask to go steady with us.
"I wish I had more polyamorous friends to help me navigate that situation," says Park, the physician and STI expert. She means people with experience brokering different levels of intimacy with multiple partners and establishing ground rules for the group.
Park says that as a physician, she is familiar with the protocols for delivering bad news, and she often talks with patients about infidelity when an infection appears in a purportedly monogamous relationship. Park wonders how newly formed quarantine pods will deal with social infidelities.
"There's inevitably going to be betrayals — 'Oh, I cheated on our pod with somebody else' — and then having to disclose that to the pod," she says. "Does the relationship recover? Or do you kick that person out of your pod forever?"
In Park's experience, it's always better to admit to an affair before a contagious infection enters the picture, whether it's chlamydia or the coronavirus, so everyone can take precautions. With the coronavirus, the offending pod member can self-quarantine for two weeks away from the rest of the group, so no one else contracts the virus or gets sick.
But whether you're being kicked out of a pod or no one has invited you to be part of a pod in the first place, the experts agree we all need to get better at handling rejection. The pandemic may be temporary, but we're in it with our loved ones for the long term, so everyone needs to respect each other's anxieties and boundaries.
"Don't take it personally," advises Queen. "We're all new here at this party."


npr--2020-07-08--Baseball Summer Camp - Sharpening Skills While Fending Off The Coronavirus

Baseball Summer Camp - Sharpening Skills While Fending Off The Coronavirus Not long ago , a Major League Baseball season seemed improbable , with owners and players fighting about how to restart in the middle of a pandemic .
Now , the fighting is over , at least publicly .
And the Majors are a little more than two weeks away from playing ball .
If all goes well .
Until then , teams are holding summer camps around the country , where players are quickly sharpening their baseball skills and adjusting to a slew of coronavirus safety measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it interrupted the languid days of spring training .
Picture fans lounging on blankets , under the Florida and Arizona sun .
Now , with the summer version of spring training underway , forget languid .
There are no fans .
And if you want to cover it as a reporter , you first have to get past people like Tyler King .
`` In the past 72 hours , have you experienced any of the following symptoms ? ''
King asked a journalist this week at a booth outside T-Mobile Park , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mariners .
King was wearing a face shield and holding a clipboard .
He works for Amphibious Medics , a company the Mariners contracted to do COVID-19 screening .
`` Alright , we 'll get your temperature here , '' King said as he reached for the visitor 's forehead .
`` 98.0 – he 's good for a wristband . ''
Then , after signing a waiver protecting the Mariners from COVID liability , it 's time to head to the press box and a welcome sight .
The field 's bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The massive video board flashes `` Summer Camp 2020 . ''
Pitchers pitch .
Batters bat .
With the press box windows open as a precaution , you can clearly hear the crack of bat on ball , even pick up what players and coaches are saying , albeit muffled by face masks .
This view from above is as close as it gets – reporters are n't allowed on the field , in the clubhouse , or anywhere else in the stadium .
Player , coach and manager interviews , easily accessible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Zoom sessions online .
`` It is great to you see you all , '' Seattle manager Scott Servais told reporters in his first Zoom session of summer camp .
`` This is unprecedented times but I 'm really , really happy we 're getting a chance to get back together . ''
Servais was pressed for time , however .
He had to get to a team meeting , in the stands along the first base line .
Players at the meeting sat in every other row , several seats between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The clubhouse , a normal meeting site , now has limits to how many people can gather at a time .
At summer camp , as players shake the rust off their baseball skills , everyone – players , coaches , staff , reporters – is test driving baseball 's 113-page health and safety plan .
And Servais is determined to make sure the Mariners adhere .
`` We do n't want to be the team that goes down , '' he said , `` or you do n't want to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus ] in . ''
There are so many rules to follow .
Every other day testing .
No public transportation to or from the stadium .
Physical distancing as much as possible .
Players using their own personal equipment as much as possible .
No fighting ( not a bad idea under normal circumstances ) .
Lots of hand washing .
And in a hurried-up version of spring training , it 's sometimes easy to forget .
`` It 's very strange , still , '' said pitcher Justus Sheffield .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembering the mask .
Just kind of before , free and easy walking around the [ clubhouse ] , being able to hang out with friends , teammates .
[ Now ] it 's kind of in and out .
Get your work in , make sure you have a mask on at all times .
Hand sanitize . ''
The consensus is no spitting may be the hardest one to remember .
Spitting , after all , is one of baseball 's enduring , unconscious habits .
It 's also an easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think today I was spitting and somebody got onto me , '' Sheffield laughs .
`` That 's going to be tough .
Especially pitching , you know .
when you 're out there and not thinking .
It 's a work in progress . ''
The Mariners say they are trying to help police each other 's behavior .
Team members say veterans like third baseman Kyle Seager are particularly outspoken .
`` I think Seag is probably the biggest one , '' Mariners outfielder Braden Bishop said .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
He talked to us yesterday about , we were put in this position , we have this opportunity to play .
We can only control so much , but what we need to control is extremely important , like more so than any other year .
So while [ we ] need to focus on baseball , to be ready to play , [ we ] also have to take into account , okay , I 'm going back to the hotel .
Like , I ca n't do these certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can affect 50 , 60 people . ''
`` I think the biggest problem is you could put in the greatest protocols ever , but if you do n't have full compliance by every single guy and every single employee , it puts everyone at risk .
While the percentage is small , you do n't want one of those serious cases [ of COVID-19 ] to be part of our group . ''
According to Servais , the Mariners have had `` a few players '' test positive .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this week .
`` Certainly there 's a protocol they have to go through before they can come back inside the bubble , so to speak .
T-Mobile is our bubble .
We 'll follow the guidelines MLB 's set up .
They 're very strict .
Rightly so . ''
While camp seems to be working in Seattle , other teams around the league are having a rough start as they prepare for the regular season .
Last season 's World Series competitors , the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week after a delay in getting coronavirus test results .
MLB acknowledged the delays were due to delivery and shipping service problems during the Fourth of July holiday weekend .
Baseball officials say it 's `` addressed the delays and does not expect a recurrence . ''
With so many fragile and moving parts in the baseball restart , avoidable holiday shipping delays fueled critics belief that , with the pandemic surging again in this country , an MLB 2020 season , even one shrunk from a 162 game marathon to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errand .
For this and other reasons , some players have opted not to play .
Asked about them , several Mariners said they have no problem .
`` For each guy , it 's a personal , family decision , '' Seattle pitcher Marco Gonzales said .
`` One that should n't be taken lightly .
For the guys who 've opted out , I do n't think they owe anyone a reason .
I think there are plenty of reasons to opt out of this season , whether family , personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he debated what to do after his brother tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` [ He was ] a good example for me that the virus does n't take time off , '' Bishop said .
`` He 's healthy , athletic and he got it .
While he does n't have extreme symptoms , we do n't know the possible adverse effects down the line .
That 's the thing we 're both worried about .
It was definitely scary . ''
Despite his fears , despite the strangeness of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My window in the Major Leagues , whether it be two years , whether it be ten years , '' Bishop said , `` [ it 's ] going to be such a short time and I do n't want to let this crazy 60 game season be the reason that , y'know , I was n't ready and I played poorly and then my career was over because of that . ''
Bishop , and his teammates , will try to be as ready , and healthy , as they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's scheduled for July 24th , in Houston .

Baseball Summer Camp - Sharpening Skills While Fending Off The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Goldman/NPR Tom Goldman/NPR
Not long ago, a Major League Baseball season seemed improbable, with owners and players fighting about how to restart in the middle of a pandemic.
Now, the fighting is over, at least publicly.
And the Majors are a little more than two weeks away from playing ball. If all goes well.
Until then, teams are holding summer camps around the country, where players are quickly sharpening their baseball skills and adjusting to a slew of coronavirus safety measures.
Forget languid
When baseball shut down in March, it interrupted the languid days of spring training. Picture fans lounging on blankets, under the Florida and Arizona sun.
Now, with the summer version of spring training underway, forget languid.
There are no fans. And if you want to cover it as a reporter, you first have to get past people like Tyler King.
"In the past 72 hours, have you experienced any of the following symptoms?" King asked a journalist this week at a booth outside T-Mobile Park, home to Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. King was wearing a face shield and holding a clipboard. He works for Amphibious Medics, a company the Mariners contracted to do COVID-19 screening.
"Alright, we'll get your temperature here," King said as he reached for the visitor's forehead. "98.0 – he's good for a wristband."
Then, after signing a waiver protecting the Mariners from COVID liability, it's time to head to the press box and a welcome sight.
Baseball.
The field's bright green grass is mowed to perfection. The massive video board flashes "Summer Camp 2020." Pitchers pitch. Batters bat. With the press box windows open as a precaution, you can clearly hear the crack of bat on ball, even pick up what players and coaches are saying, albeit muffled by face masks.
This view from above is as close as it gets – reporters aren't allowed on the field, in the clubhouse, or anywhere else in the stadium. Player, coach and manager interviews, easily accessible during spring training, now are limited to Zoom sessions online.
"It is great to you see you all," Seattle manager Scott Servais told reporters in his first Zoom session of summer camp. "This is unprecedented times but I'm really, really happy we're getting a chance to get back together."
Servais was pressed for time, however. He had to get to a team meeting, in the stands along the first base line. Players at the meeting sat in every other row, several seats between them. They wore face masks. The clubhouse, a normal meeting site, now has limits to how many people can gather at a time.
At summer camp, as players shake the rust off their baseball skills, everyone – players, coaches, staff, reporters – is test driving baseball's 113-page health and safety plan.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Goldman/NPR Tom Goldman/NPR
And Servais is determined to make sure the Mariners adhere.
"We don't want to be the team that goes down," he said, "or you don't want to be the player or coach that has brought [the virus] in."
Easy to forget
There are so many rules to follow. Every other day testing. No public transportation to or from the stadium. Physical distancing as much as possible. Players using their own personal equipment as much as possible. No fighting (not a bad idea under normal circumstances). Lots of hand washing.
And in a hurried-up version of spring training, it's sometimes easy to forget.
"It's very strange, still," said pitcher Justus Sheffield. "The main thing for me is remembering the mask. Just kind of before, free and easy walking around the [clubhouse], being able to hang out with friends, teammates. [Now] it's kind of in and out. Get your work in, make sure you have a mask on at all times. Hand sanitize."
The consensus is no spitting may be the hardest one to remember. Spitting, after all, is one of baseball's enduring, unconscious habits. It's also an easy way to transmit the coronavirus.
"I think today I was spitting and somebody got onto me," Sheffield laughs. "That's going to be tough. Especially pitching, you know. when you're out there and not thinking. It's a work in progress."
The Mariners say they are trying to help police each other's behavior. Team members say veterans like third baseman Kyle Seager are particularly outspoken.
"I think Seag is probably the biggest one," Mariners outfielder Braden Bishop said. "He's got family here with [him]. He talked to us yesterday about, we were put in this position, we have this opportunity to play. We can only control so much, but what we need to control is extremely important, like more so than any other year. So while [we] need to focus on baseball, to be ready to play, [we] also have to take into account, okay, I'm going back to the hotel. Like, I can't do these certain things I could in the past because it can affect 50, 60 people."
"I think the biggest problem is you could put in the greatest protocols ever, but if you don't have full compliance by every single guy and every single employee, it puts everyone at risk. While the percentage is small, you don't want one of those serious cases [of COVID-19] to be part of our group."
According to Servais, the Mariners have had "a few players" test positive.
"We'll wait and see," Servais said this week. "Certainly there's a protocol they have to go through before they can come back inside the bubble, so to speak. T-Mobile is our bubble. We'll follow the guidelines MLB's set up. They're very strict. Rightly so."
Elsewhere a rough start
While camp seems to be working in Seattle, other teams around the league are having a rough start as they prepare for the regular season.
Last season's World Series competitors, the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, were among several teams to cancel workouts this week after a delay in getting coronavirus test results.
MLB acknowledged the delays were due to delivery and shipping service problems during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Baseball officials say it's "addressed the delays and does not expect a recurrence."
With so many fragile and moving parts in the baseball restart, avoidable holiday shipping delays fueled critics belief that, with the pandemic surging again in this country, an MLB 2020 season, even one shrunk from a 162 game marathon to a 60-game sprint, is a fool's errand.
For this and other reasons, some players have opted not to play.
Asked about them, several Mariners said they have no problem.
"For each guy, it's a personal, family decision," Seattle pitcher Marco Gonzales said. "One that shouldn't be taken lightly. For the guys who've opted out, I don't think they owe anyone a reason. I think there are plenty of reasons to opt out of this season, whether family, personal reasons or whatever."
Braden Bishop says he debated what to do after his brother tested positive for COVID-19.
"[He was] a good example for me that the virus doesn't take time off," Bishop said. "He's healthy, athletic and he got it. While he doesn't have extreme symptoms, we don't know the possible adverse effects down the line. That's the thing we're both worried about. It was definitely scary."
Despite his fears, despite the strangeness of this season, Bishop chose to play.
"My window in the Major Leagues, whether it be two years, whether it be ten years," Bishop said, "[it's] going to be such a short time and I don't want to let this crazy 60 game season be the reason that, y'know, I wasn't ready and I played poorly and then my career was over because of that."
Bishop, and his teammates, will try to be as ready, and healthy, as they can be, for their opening night game. It's scheduled for July 24th, in Houston.
Of course, pandemic permitting.


npr--2020-07-08--Several GOP Senators Plan To Skip The Republican National Convention

Several GOP Senators Plan To Skip The Republican National Convention Several Republican senators say they will not attend the Republican National Convention to re-nominate President Trump in Jacksonville , Fla. , in August .
So far , Sens .
Chuck Grassley of Iowa , Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Susan Collins of Maine are expected to skip the August 24 gathering , and there could be more .
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , who voted for Trump 's removal during the Senate impeachment trial , also wo n't be there , according to an aide .
Grassley , 86 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters on Monday he 'll miss the convention as a result of pandemic fears .
He also noted it will mark the first time he wo n't attend in 40 years .
`` I 'm not going to go .
And I 'm not going to go because of the virus situation , '' Grassley told the Des Moines Register and others .
This year 's Republican convention has faced a turbulent path .
It was originally slated for Charlotte , N.C. , but the bulk of it was moved last month to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety precautions from COVID-19 .
Official convention business will still be conducted in Charlotte .
Now , as pandemic cases spiral upwards in Florida and elsewhere , there are new calls to scale down the Florida event .
A statement from Alexander 's office did n't directly point to coronavirus as a concern , but instead said that his spot should be used by someone else .
Alexander is 80 , and retiring from the Senate .
`` Senator Alexander is an honorary chair of the Tennessee Trump campaign , but he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes the delegate spots should be reserved for those who have not had that privilege before as he has had , '' the statement said .
As for Collins , an aide said she 's skipping as part of a long-running tradition not to go during reelection years .
Collins `` never made plans to attend the convention because she has never attended the national convention in years when she is up for election , '' the aide said .
In 2016 , Collins attended the convention despite saying she would not support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murkowski of Alaska could not immediately be reached .
Last month , she said she was n't sure she could support Trump 's reelection .
Several other GOP offices contacted by NPR did n't immediately respond to a request for comment .
But aides said at least two key Republicans , Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , plan to be there .
`` The Leader has every intention of attending , '' a McConnell aide said .

Several GOP Senators Plan To Skip The Republican National Convention
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 11:55 a.m. ET
Several Republican senators say they will not attend the Republican National Convention to renominate President Trump in Jacksonville, Fla., in August.
So far, Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Susan Collins of Maine are expected to skip the gathering the week of Aug. 24. Also not going, per their aides, are Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted for Trump's removal from office during the Senate impeachment trial, and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who last month said she wasn't sure she could support Trump's reelection.
Grassley, 86, said on a call with local reporters on Monday that he'll miss the convention as a result of pandemic fears. He also noted it will mark the first time he won't attend in 40 years.
"I'm not going to go. And I'm not going to go because of the virus situation," Grassley told The Des Moines Register and others.
This year's Republican convention has faced a turbulent path. It was originally slated for Charlotte, N.C., but the bulk of it was moved last month to Jacksonville following Trump's demands for fewer safety precautions from COVID-19. Official convention business will still be conducted in Charlotte.
Now, as pandemic cases spiral upward in Florida, there are new calls to scale down the event there.
A statement from Alexander's office didn't directly point to the coronavirus as a concern, but instead said that his spot should be used by someone else. Alexander is 80 and retiring from the Senate.
"Senator Alexander is an honorary chair of the Tennessee Trump campaign, but he will not be attending the convention because he believes the delegate spots should be reserved for those who have not had that privilege before as he has had," the statement said.
As for Collins, an aide said she's skipping as part of a long-running tradition not to go during reelection years. Collins "never made plans to attend the convention because she has never attended the national convention in years when she is up for election," the aide said. In 2016, when she was not on the ballot, Collins attended the convention despite saying she would not support Trump.
Several other GOP offices contacted by NPR didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but at least three so far plan to attend. Aides for both South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said they'll be there.
"The leader has every intention of attending," a McConnell aide said.
And Indiana Sen. Mike Braun tweeted this week that he'll join the event as well.
Trump holds an outdoor campaign rally Saturday in Portsmouth, N.H. The state's Republican governor, Chris Sununu, has said he would welcome Trump to New Hampshire but skip the rally himself.


npr--2020-07-08--New Clues To ALS And Alzheimer's From Physics

New Clues To ALS And Alzheimer 's From Physics The same process that causes dew drops to form on a blade of grass appears to play an important role in Alzheimer 's and other brain diseases .
The process , known as phase transition , is what allows water vapor to condense into liquid water , or even freeze into solid ice .
That same sort of process allows brain cells to constantly reorganize their inner machinery .
But in degenerative diseases that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , frontotemporal dementia , and Alzheimer 's , the phase transitions inside neurons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Paul Taylor , a neurogeneticist at St. Jude Children 's Research Hospital in Memphis , and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute .
This malfunctioning prompts the interior of the cell to become too viscous , Taylor says .
`` It 's as if you took a jar of honey [ and ] left it in the refrigerator overnight . ''
In this sticky environment , structures that previously could nimbly disassemble and move around become `` irreversibly glommed together , '' says Clifford Brangwynne , a professor of chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute .
`` And when they 're irreversibly stuck like that , they can no longer leave to perform functions elsewhere in the cell . ''
That glitch seems to allow toxins to begin to build up in and around these dysfunctional cells , Taylor says — including the toxins associated with Alzheimer 's and other neurodegenerative diseases .
The science behind this view of brain diseases has emerged only in the past decade .
In 2009 , Brangwynne was part of a team that published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important inside cells – or at least inside the reproductive cells of worms .
`` Originally , there was not a lot of traction for that idea , '' Brangwynne says .
`` Then — around about 2015 — people started to suddenly pay a lot of attention . ''
By that time , Taylor , too , had stumbled upon phase transition via a very different path .
As a practicing neurologist and geneticist at the University of Pennsylvania , he 'd seen himself as a sort of medical detective .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't fit into another category would wind up in my clinic , which I loved , '' he says .
One disease in particular caught Taylor 's attention .
`` We had been tracking a number of families that had an unusual degenerative illness , '' he says .
`` It was kind of a blend of a dementia and ALS . ''
Patients developed the mental problems of dementia as well as the muscle weakness of ALS , or Lou Gehrig 's disease .
Taylor figured there must be a genetic explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 2000s — he had no easy way to study his patients ' DNA .
`` So I collected those [ DNA samples ] and hung on to them for years , '' he says .
`` And then the world changed around me . ''
Seemingly overnight , it became feasible to sequence a person 's entire genome .
Taylor saw an opportunity .
`` I dug those DNAs back out of the freezer , '' he says .
`` And we were fortunate enough to find the genetic basis for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for , at that point , a decade . ''
What Taylor found was gene mutations that caused abnormal phase transitions in cells .
And he found evidence of similar mutations in other neurodegenerative diseases .
This research earned Taylor the 2020 Potamkin Prize , a big deal in Alzheimer 's research .
And it got a lot of biotech companies thinking about ways to fix problems with phase transitions inside cells .
`` I think it 's probably safe to say that you 'll see some of these types of therapies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Taylor says .
Brangwynne says neurodegenerative diseases are an appealing target because the physics behind the problem is now clear , and because cells already contain mechanisms to regulate phase transition .
Inside a healthy nerve cell , he says , many molecules act a bit like people socializing .
`` Something like at a party , where we 've got little clusters of people hanging out and having nice conversations , '' he says .
`` They 're free to come and go as they please . ''
That can change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside a brain cell .
`` What happens in neurodegenerative disease is that the 'people ' are irreversibly stuck together — they ca n't leave , '' Brangwynne says .
`` This is the Hotel California of biomolecular interactions . ''
But Brangwynne says that does n't have to be the case .
In the lab , at least , experimental drugs and genetic tweaks have been used to unstick these molecules .
That could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases , Brangwynne says .
And the ability to correct aberrant phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illnesses , including certain cancers , he says .
`` It 's very clear that this principle is at play in many , many diseases , '' Brangwynne says .
The startup Dewpoint Therapeutics hopes to develop phase-transition treatments for both cancer and neurodegenerative diseases .
Late last year , Dewpoint , which is based in Boston and Dresden , Germany , signed a $ 100 million deal with the pharmaceutical giant Bayer .

New Clues To ALS And Alzheimer's Disease From Physics
The same process that causes dew drops to form on a blade of grass appears to play an important role in Alzheimer's disease and other brain diseases.
The process, known as phase transition, is what allows water vapor to condense into liquid water, or even freeze into solid ice. That same sort of process allows brain cells to constantly reorganize their inner machinery.
But in degenerative diseases that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's, the phase transitions inside neurons seem to go awry, says Dr. J. Paul Taylor, a neurogeneticist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
This malfunctioning prompts the interior of the cell to become too viscous, Taylor says. "It's as if you took a jar of honey [and] left it in the refrigerator overnight."
In this sticky environment, structures that previously could nimbly disassemble and move around become "irreversibly glommed together," says Clifford Brangwynne, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Princeton University and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "And when they're irreversibly stuck like that, they can no longer leave to perform functions elsewhere in the cell."
That glitch seems to allow toxins to begin to build up in and around these dysfunctional cells, Taylor says — including the toxins associated with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The science behind this view of brain diseases has emerged only in the past decade.
In 2009, Brangwynne was part of a team that published a study showing that phase transitions are important inside cells — or at least inside the reproductive cells of worms.
"Originally, there was not a lot of traction for that idea," Brangwynne says. "Then — around about 2015 — people started to suddenly pay a lot of attention."
By that time, Taylor, too, had stumbled upon phase transition via a very different path.
As a practicing neurologist and geneticist at the University of Pennsylvania, he'd seen himself as a sort of medical detective.
"Typically the most oddball diseases that didn't fit into another category would wind up in my clinic, which I loved," he says.
One disease in particular caught Taylor's attention.
"We had been tracking a number of families that had an unusual degenerative illness," he says. "It was kind of a blend of a dementia and ALS."
Patients developed the mental problems of dementia as well as the muscle weakness of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Taylor figured there must be a genetic explanation. But at the time — the late 2000s — he had no easy way to study his patients' DNA.
"So I collected those [DNA samples] and hung on to them for years," he says. "And then the world changed around me."
Seemingly overnight, it became feasible to sequence a person's entire genome. Taylor saw an opportunity.
"I dug those DNAs back out of the freezer," he says. "And we were fortunate enough to find the genetic basis for the disease in these families that I had known for, at that point, a decade."
What Taylor found was gene mutations that caused abnormal phase transitions in cells. And he found evidence of similar mutations in other neurodegenerative diseases.
This research earned Taylor the 2020 Potamkin Prize, a big deal in Alzheimer's research. And it got a lot of biotech companies thinking about ways to fix problems with phase transitions inside cells.
"I think it's probably safe to say that you'll see some of these types of therapies within the next couple of years," Taylor says.
Brangwynne says neurodegenerative diseases are an appealing target because the physics behind the problem is now clear, and because cells already contain mechanisms to regulate phase transition.
Inside a healthy nerve cell, he says, many molecules act a bit like people socializing.
"Something like at a party, where we've got little clusters of people hanging out and having nice conversations," he says. "They're free to come and go as they please."
That can change, though — at a party or inside a brain cell.
"What happens in neurodegenerative disease is that the 'people' are irreversibly stuck together — they can't leave," Brangwynne says. "This is the Hotel California of biomolecular interactions."
But Brangwynne says that doesn't have to be the case.
In the lab, at least, experimental drugs and genetic tweaks have been used to unstick these molecules.
That could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, Brangwynne says. And the ability to correct aberrant phase transitions may also be useful for other illnesses, including certain cancers, he says.
"It's very clear that this principle is at play in many, many diseases," Brangwynne says.
The startup Dewpoint Therapeutics hopes to develop phase-transition treatments for both cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Late last year, Dewpoint, which is based in Boston and Dresden, Germany, signed a $100 million deal with the pharmaceutical giant Bayer.