npr--2020-09-02--'People Around The President Are Trying To Stop Him,' 'Times' Journalist Says

'People Around The President Are Trying To Stop Him , ' 'Times ' Journalist Says Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt says one of the most unusual aspects of the White House administration is the existence of people who are trying to stop President Trump from acting in a way that could hurt the country or break the law .
`` In our history as a country , we 've largely focused on how our presidents use their power , how the people around them help them do that and what that says , '' Schmidt says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , Trump 's use of power is so unusual that we have a phenomenon here where the people around the president are trying to stop him . ''
Schmidt 's new book , Donald Trump v. The United States , focuses on two figures in particular who stood up to the president : former FBI Director James Comey and former White House counsel Don McGahn .
Schmidt describes McGahn as `` the most fascinating character of the Trump era . ''
In June 2017 , when Trump wanted to fire special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening to quit rather than to order the Justice Department to dismiss Mueller .
Less than a year later , in April 2018 , the president considered ordering the Justice Department to prosecute Comey and political adversary Hillary Clinton .
Again , McGahn warned Trump that such a move could be grounds for impeachment .
`` Every time Trump wanted to do something crazy McGahn was n't cowering in the corner , '' Schmidt says .
`` McGahn had a very good antenna for what a prosecutor may think of what Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public and politics would see those actions . ''
McGahn also had a hand in other aspects of the Trump presidency , most notably the appointment of conservative judges , including Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh .
But McGahn 's eventual cooperation with the Mueller investigation did not sit well with the president .
McGahn 's time at the White House ended in the fall of 2018 — a parting Trump announced via tweet .
`` For McGahn , it was sort of an example of the way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schmidt says .
`` McGahn had done all of these things for the president .
He had stopped Trump from hurting himself .
He had been in charge of the judges .
And I think McGahn wanted to go out on his own terms and had been talking to Trump about that .
But here , via tweet , he was finding out that he was done . ''
On McGahn 's role in stacking the courts He was in charge of the president 's politically most important thing , which , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they created an umbilical cord between Trump and his base that I believe allowed conservatives to put up with behavior from the president that they normally would n't , because Trump was stacking the courts with conservative judges like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , that were going to have an impact on the country for decades .
That was McGahn 's baby .
On uncovering memos McGahn wrote after Trump suggested prosecuting Hillary Clinton and James Comey He figures out ... a way to stop that , a way to slow walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's protecting himself .
And he writes these memos to the president that lay out how this is a terrible idea and how he 's advising that he not do this .
And the president probably does n't even have the power to do this .
...
I found these memos , uncovered these memos ... about how McGahn is essentially telling Trump , if you mess with the Justice Department , if you even appear to be messing with the Justice Department , you are going to face enormous consequences .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be thrown out , people at the Justice Department could quit , and ultimately the American people hold the answer to this in the ballot box — and you could be voted out of office for looking like you 're politicizing the incredibly important work of justice .
On why McGahn cooperated as a witness in the Mueller Investigation When McGahn goes in and he sits down with Mueller 's team , McGahn realizes that he has to do everything he can to be forthcoming with them .
Every witness has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell the truth .
They have to tell the full story .
But McGahn is essentially there and saying , Look , these prosecutors need to hear from me everything first , because I do n't think I did anything wrong .
And they have a potentially enormous amount of leverage over me .
They could write a report .
They may write a report that lays out my behavior .
I need to be the first one in the door to tell them about anything because I 'm in a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they end up with this incredible witness , someone who has credibility , someone who has access and who has a very good ability to recall the facts and including writing notes in memos to himself between him and his chief of staff that document these conversations .
In an investigation , that type of witness is hugely consequential .
And in this case , the president 's lawyer was that person against the president .
On Trump 's tendency to demand loyalty at all cost from his advisers It puts these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they sort of have to choose .
Are they going to do everything that he says ?
Are they going to do some of the things that he says , or are they just going to quit ?
And what are these different people 's tolerances for Trump 's behavior and what they 're willing to do ?
Trump , in many ways , is sort of this human MRI machine where he sort of is able to come and reveal what is inside of someone and what motivates them and what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House Chief of Staff ] John Kelly sticks around until he basically figures out : I ca n't do this anymore .
I ca n't do it .
... [ And ] I just do n't have the ability to continue this effort .
So that is the thing about Trump ... what he puts the people around him through and how they have to make these decisions , these calculations about what 's important to them .
To McGahn , he had a never-again opportunity to remake the court .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sway over the people [ they ] are putting on their court .
In previous administrations , there 'd be panels of folks that would look at resumes and go through this whole process .
But McGahn had it all streamlined , and he could essentially pick the judges .
So he 's a huge believer in that .
And because of that , [ he ] puts up with things that most people in Washington probably would n't .
On the final sentence of his book : `` The president had bent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 of 2017 , less than a month into the presidency , Donald Trump clears the Oval Office and he asked Jim Comey to end the [ Michael ] Flynn investigation .
Jim Comey makes a memo about this .
And then that May , after Comey [ is ] fired , I write a story about that memo and it creates such an eruption in Washington .
The following day , Mueller is appointed , and it looks like he 's going to be doing this massive investigation of the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had asked Comey to end the Flynn investigation really shook the ground , and it really put Trump on a different footing and this story on a path unlike any other , because it looked like it was a president trying to use his power to protect himself .
This past spring , the president 's attorney general , Bill Barr , went to court and asked the court to throw out Mike Flynn 's guilty plea .
In that sense , the president 's Justice Department was asking the court to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've watched this story , you ca n't help but look at that and say Donald Trump bent Washington to his will .
He got his own Justice Department to do what Jim Comey would n't do in the first month of his presidency .
Sam Briger and Seth Kelley produced and edited this interview for broadcast .
Bridget Bentz , Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web .

'People Around The President Are Trying To Stop Him,' 'Times' Journalist Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt says one of the most unusual aspects of the White House administration is the existence of people who are trying to stop President Trump from acting in a way that could hurt the country or break the law.
"In our history as a country, we've largely focused on how our presidents use their power, how the people around them help them do that and what that says," Schmidt says. "In this instance of the Trump presidency, Trump's use of power is so unusual that we have a phenomenon here where the people around the president are trying to stop him."
Schmidt's new book, Donald Trump v. The United States, focuses on two figures in particular who stood up to the president: former FBI Director James Comey and former White House counsel Don McGahn.
Schmidt describes McGahn as "the most fascinating character of the Trump era." In June 2017, when Trump wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, McGahn pushed back, threatening to quit rather than to order the Justice Department to dismiss Mueller.
Less than a year later, in April 2018, the president considered ordering the Justice Department to prosecute Comey and political adversary Hillary Clinton. Again, McGahn warned Trump that such a move could be grounds for impeachment.
"Every time Trump wanted to do something crazy McGahn wasn't cowering in the corner," Schmidt says. "McGahn had a very good antenna for what a prosecutor may think of what Trump was trying to do and [how] the public and politics would see those actions."
McGahn also had a hand in other aspects of the Trump presidency, most notably the appointment of conservative judges, including Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. But McGahn's eventual cooperation with the Mueller investigation did not sit well with the president. McGahn's time at the White House ended in the fall of 2018 — a parting Trump announced via tweet.
"For McGahn, it was sort of an example of the way that Trump treats people around him," Schmidt says. "McGahn had done all of these things for the president. He had stopped Trump from hurting himself. He had been in charge of the judges. And I think McGahn wanted to go out on his own terms and had been talking to Trump about that. But here, via tweet, he was finding out that he was done."
Interview Highlights
Penguin Random House
On McGahn's role in stacking the courts
He was in charge of the president's politically most important thing, which, I think, is the judges, because they created an umbilical cord between Trump and his base that I believe allowed conservatives to put up with behavior from the president that they normally wouldn't, because Trump was stacking the courts with conservative judges like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, that were going to have an impact on the country for decades. That was McGahn's baby.
On uncovering memos McGahn wrote after Trump suggested prosecuting Hillary Clinton and James Comey
He figures out ... a way to stop that, a way to slow walk the president at the same time that he's protecting himself. And he writes these memos to the president that lay out how this is a terrible idea and how he's advising that he not do this. And the president probably doesn't even have the power to do this. ...
I found these memos, uncovered these memos ... about how McGahn is essentially telling Trump, if you mess with the Justice Department, if you even appear to be messing with the Justice Department, you are going to face enormous consequences. You could be impeached. These cases could be thrown out, people at the Justice Department could quit, and ultimately the American people hold the answer to this in the ballot box — and you could be voted out of office for looking like you're politicizing the incredibly important work of justice.
On why McGahn cooperated as a witness in the Mueller Investigation
When McGahn goes in and he sits down with Mueller's team, McGahn realizes that he has to do everything he can to be forthcoming with them. Every witness has to be forthcoming with investigators. They have to tell the truth. They have to tell the full story. But McGahn is essentially there and saying, Look, these prosecutors need to hear from me everything first, because I don't think I did anything wrong. And they have a potentially enormous amount of leverage over me. They could write a report. They may write a report that lays out my behavior. I need to be the first one in the door to tell them about anything because I'm in a very vulnerable position.
And what happens is that they end up with this incredible witness, someone who has credibility, someone who has access and who has a very good ability to recall the facts and including writing notes in memos to himself between him and his chief of staff that document these conversations. In an investigation, that type of witness is hugely consequential. And in this case, the president's lawyer was that person against the president.
On Trump's tendency to demand loyalty at all cost from his advisers
Trump, in many ways, is sort of this human MRI machine where he sort of is able to come and reveal what is inside of someone and what motivates them and what they are willing to do.
It puts these people around him in the situation where they sort of have to choose. Are they going to do everything that he says? Are they going to do some of the things that he says, or are they just going to quit? And what are these different people's tolerances for Trump's behavior and what they're willing to do? Trump, in many ways, is sort of this human MRI machine where he sort of is able to come and reveal what is inside of someone and what motivates them and what they are willing to do. [Former White House Chief of Staff] John Kelly sticks around until he basically figures out: I can't do this anymore. I can't do it. ... [And] I just don't have the ability to continue this effort.
So that is the thing about Trump ... what he puts the people around him through and how they have to make these decisions, these calculations about what's important to them. To McGahn, he had a never-again opportunity to remake the court. No president would give one person so much sway over the people [they] are putting on their court. In previous administrations, there'd be panels of folks that would look at resumes and go through this whole process. But McGahn had it all streamlined, and he could essentially pick the judges. So he's a huge believer in that. And because of that, [he] puts up with things that most people in Washington probably wouldn't.
On the final sentence of his book: "The president had bent Washington to his will"
On Feb. 14 of 2017, less than a month into the presidency, Donald Trump clears the Oval Office and he asked Jim Comey to end the [Michael] Flynn investigation. Jim Comey makes a memo about this. And then that May, after Comey [is] fired, I write a story about that memo and it creates such an eruption in Washington. The following day, Mueller is appointed, and it looks like he's going to be doing this massive investigation of the president. The disclosure at the time that Trump had asked Comey to end the Flynn investigation really shook the ground, and it really put Trump on a different footing and this story on a path unlike any other, because it looked like it was a president trying to use his power to protect himself.
This past spring, the president's attorney general, Bill Barr, went to court and asked the court to throw out Mike Flynn's guilty plea. In that sense, the president's Justice Department was asking the court to end the Flynn investigation. And if you've watched this story, you can't help but look at that and say Donald Trump bent Washington to his will. He got his own Justice Department to do what Jim Comey wouldn't do in the first month of his presidency.
Sam Briger and Seth Kelley produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-09-02--Biden, Democrats Shatter Fundraising Record With $364.5 Million In August

Joe Biden 's campaign announced on Wednesday that it , the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts raised $ 364.5 million in August , breaking records for a one-month haul .
`` That figure blows me away , '' Biden said in a statement .
August was a big month for the former vice president as he picked Kamala Harris to be his running mate and he formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the party 's virtual convention .
The campaign had previously announced that it raised $ 48 million in the 48 hours after Harris ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month 's haul , over $ 205 million , came from online small-dollar donations , according to the campaign , and more than 1.5 million Americans contributed for the first time in August .
`` More than anything , these numbers humble me , '' Biden said in the statement .
`` Even in a global recession , working families set aside some money to power this campaign , and a little bit added up in a big way . ''
Reports point to a fundraising figure of nearly $ 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous one-month record .
President Trump 's reelection campaign and Republicans have n't yet announced their August fundraising figures .
In July , Trump and Republicans raised about $ 165 million , while Biden and Democrats raised $ 140 million , according to the campaigns .
The Biden campaign did n't say how much cash it has on hand after August 's record-breaking haul , but the two sides were nearly tied after July .
On Tuesday , the Biden campaign said in a statement that it was `` continuing to ramp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , investing $ 45 million on broadcast and digital this week alone . ''
NPR 's Money Tracker keeps tabs on how much money the Biden and Trump campaigns have raised so far , according to their Federal Election Commission filings .
National polls tightened a little in August , according to the latest survey averages .
Biden announced Wednesday that he 'll visit Kenosha , Wis. , the site of ongoing unrest following the police shooting and injuring of a Black man , on Thursday .
Trump visited the city on Tuesday @

Biden, Democrats Shatter Fundraising Record With $364.5 Million In August
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Updated at 2:32 p.m. ET
Joe Biden's campaign announced on Wednesday that it, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts raised $364.5 million in August, breaking records for a one-month haul.
"That figure blows me away," Biden said in a statement.
August was a big month for the former vice president as he picked Kamala Harris to be his running mate and he formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the party's virtual convention.
The campaign had previously announced that it raised $48 million in the 48 hours after Harris' historic selection.
More than 50% of the month's haul, over $205 million, came from online small-dollar donations, according to the campaign, and more than 1.5 million Americans contributed for the first time in August.
"More than anything, these numbers humble me," Biden said in the statement. "Even in a global recession, working families set aside some money to power this campaign, and a little bit added up in a big way."
Reports point to a fundraising figure of nearly $200 million by Barack Obama in 2008 as the previous one-month record.
President Trump's reelection campaign and Republicans haven't yet announced their August fundraising figures.
In July, Trump and Republicans raised about $165 million, while Biden and Democrats raised $140 million, according to the campaigns.
The Biden campaign didn't say how much cash it has on hand after August's record-breaking haul, but the two sides were nearly tied after July.
On Tuesday, the Biden campaign said in a statement that it was "continuing to ramp up its general election paid media spending, investing $45 million on broadcast and digital this week alone."
NPR's Money Tracker keeps tabs on how much money the Biden and Trump campaigns have raised so far, according to their Federal Election Commission filings.
National polls tightened a little in August, according to the latest survey averages.
Biden announced Wednesday that he'll visit Kenosha, Wis., the site of ongoing unrest following the police shooting and injuring of a Black man, on Thursday. Trump visited the city on Tuesday.


npr--2020-09-02--U.S. Army Replaces Fort Hood Commander, Ramps Up Vanessa Guillén Inquiry

The Army has removed Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt from his post as Fort Hood 's senior commander , a week after another soldier from the base was found dead .
The Army also says it will expand its inquiry into the killing of Spc .
Vanessa Guillén , who is one of a string of disappearances and deaths at the Texas post .
The change in command at Fort Hood had been previously scheduled , the Army says .
But it adds that Efflandt will not go on to command the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss as the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he will remain at Fort Hood , which will be commanded by Maj. Gen. John B. Richardson IV .
The most recent reported fatality from Fort Hood was Sgt .
Elder Fernandes , who had been missing for about a week when his remains were found last week in Temple , roughly 30 miles from the base .
Attorney Natalie Khawam , who is working with Guillén 's and Fernandes ' families , said last week that Fernandes ' body was found hanging in a tree near railroad tracks .
Police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At least nine people stationed at the massive military base in Killeen have been found dead under unusual or suspicious circumstances this year .
`` This year at Fort Hood , there have been about 28 soldiers total who have died at the installation , which is n't abnormal for other years .
However , the manner in which they 've died is what 's drawing attention , '' reporter Rose Thayer of Stars and Stripes recently told NPR .
`` Five of those soldiers died by homicide , '' including Guillén @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four of those other soldiers died by homicide off the base .
And that number , five is double the number of soldiers to die by homicide in the previous four years . ''
Both Guillén and Fernandes had said they were sexually assaulted or harassed at Fort Hood .
Fernandes formally reported abuse ; Guillén 's family says she told them she was being harassed before she disappeared .
The Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus is calling for a congressional investigation into the post , noting that `` more than one-third of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassed '' in an Army review earlier this summer .
As it announced the move to replace Efflandt , the Army also appointed Gen. John Murray , commanding general of Army Futures Command , to lead `` an in-depth investigation '' into actions and decisions related to Guillén , going up the chain of command .
Multiple official reviews or inquiries into Fort Hood are underway .
Murray will roll those efforts into one higher-profile investigation , the Army says .
His work will remain separate from an independent review of Fort Hood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .

U.S. Army Replaces Fort Hood Commander, Ramps Up Vanessa Guillén Inquiry
Enlarge this image toggle caption LM Otero/AP LM Otero/AP
The Army has removed Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt from his post as Fort Hood's senior commander, a week after another soldier from the base was found dead. The Army also says it will expand its inquiry into the killing of Spc. Vanessa Guillén, who is one of a string of disappearances and deaths at the Texas post.
The change in command at Fort Hood had been previously scheduled, the Army says. But it adds that Efflandt will not go on to command the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss as the service had planned. Instead, the Army says he will remain at Fort Hood, which will be commanded by Maj. Gen. John B. Richardson IV.
The most recent reported fatality from Fort Hood was Sgt. Elder Fernandes, who had been missing for about a week when his remains were found last week in Temple, roughly 30 miles from the base. Attorney Natalie Khawam, who is working with Guillén's and Fernandes' families, said last week that Fernandes' body was found hanging in a tree near railroad tracks. Police said there was no indication of foul play.
At least nine people stationed at the massive military base in Killeen have been found dead under unusual or suspicious circumstances this year.
"This year at Fort Hood, there have been about 28 soldiers total who have died at the installation, which isn't abnormal for other years. However, the manner in which they've died is what's drawing attention," reporter Rose Thayer of Stars and Stripes recently told NPR.
"Five of those soldiers died by homicide," including Guillén, Thayer said. "And then four of those other soldiers died by homicide off the base. And that number, five is double the number of soldiers to die by homicide in the previous four years."
Both Guillén and Fernandes had said they were sexually assaulted or harassed at Fort Hood. Fernandes formally reported abuse; Guillén's family says she told them she was being harassed before she disappeared.
The Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus is calling for a congressional investigation into the post, noting that "more than one-third of women at Fort Hood said they were sexually harassed" in an Army review earlier this summer.
As it announced the move to replace Efflandt, the Army also appointed Gen. John Murray, commanding general of Army Futures Command, to lead "an in-depth investigation" into actions and decisions related to Guillén, going up the chain of command.
Multiple official reviews or inquiries into Fort Hood are underway. Murray will roll those efforts into one higher-profile investigation, the Army says.
His work will remain separate from an independent review of Fort Hood that began in August, the Army says.


npr--2020-09-03--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak Since the new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan , China , in December , the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19 has spread rapidly within China and to neighboring countries and beyond .
The first confirmed coronavirus cases outside China occurred on Jan. 20 , in Japan , Thailand and South Korea .
On Jan. 21 , the first case in the U.S. was identified in Washington state .
On Jan. 24 , the first two European cases were confirmed in France .
By Feb. 1 , eight European nations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later that count had risen to 24 countries with at least 2,200 cases , most of them in Italy .
On March 11 , Italy eclipsed 10,000 cases and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic — the first since H1N1 in 2009 .
That 's also when China , the original epicenter , began seeing drops in daily counts of new cases .
March also saw exponential spread of the virus throughout the U.S. , with all 50 states reporting cases by March 17 .
This particular virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans .
The other two strains cause Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-09-03--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 6 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 180,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily .
Some state outbreaks are worse than others .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new daily cases per capita .
These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 600 per day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid August , California , Florida and Texas have surpassed New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends state by state , the table below shows the change in average new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over week for the last 28 days .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers until the JHU team was able to reconcile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-09-03--Protests In Rochester, N.Y., After Bodycam Footage Released Of Daniel Prude's Death

Protests In Rochester , N.Y. , After Bodycam Footage Released Of Daniel Prude 's Death Protests broke out in Rochester , N.Y. , following the release Wednesday of police body-camera footage of a Black man who died after being injured during his arrest last March .
Daniel Prude was arrested by Rochester Police in the early hours of March 23 , after his brother , concerned for Prude 's safety , had called 911 .
Prude , 41 , had left his brother 's house in below-freezing weather wearing long johns and a tank top .
He had been released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that night after expressing suicidal thoughts .
When Rochester Police officers came upon Prude he was naked and in distress .
Prude had allegedly just gone on a destructive tear , according to police reports , smashing out the windows of several storefronts and ranting about having the coronavirus .
A passing tow truck driver who called 911 described Prude as being covered in blood .
The police body-camera footage shows officers , with Tasers drawn , confronting Prude and ordering him to lie down on the road , which was slick from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying face-down on his stomach , and officers cuffed his hands behind his back .
But in time , the 5 feet , 10 inch , 230 pound man grew agitated .
He began yelling vulgarities , spitting at officers and tried , unsuccessfully , to stand up .
Officers ordered him several times to return to the prone position before placing a white hood over Prude 's head , known as a `` spit hood '' and intended to protect others from possible infection .
Officers restrained Prude by holding him down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and applying pressure to Prude 's back with a knee .
Prude eventually fell unconscious and stopped breathing , according to police reports .
He died a week later .
The Monroe County Medical Examiner 's Office ruled the cause of death as `` complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint due to excited delerium due to acute phencyclidine intoxication . ''
Family says police are responsible for Prude 's death The footage was obtained by Prude 's family through a public records request .
Attorneys representing the family released it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to file a wrongful death suit , claiming the actions police used to restrain Prude caused his death .
`` I placed the phone call for my brother to get help , not for my brother to get lynched , '' said Joe Prude at a press conference yesterday on the steps of City Hall .
Protesters and community leaders charged that police and Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren have attempted to sweep Prude 's death under the rug .
At a second press conference at Rochester 's Public Safety Building where police headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation by the New York attorney general 's office took the matter out of the city 's hands .
`` This is not something in our wheelhouse , in our control at this moment in time , '' Warren said .
`` Had it been , this is something we would have talked about months ago . ''
`` The rhetoric that this is a cover-up , this is not , '' said Rochester Chief of Police La'Ron Singletary .
`` You know we do n't have a problem holding anyone accountable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course . ''
Wednesday 's protest began small at the Monroe County Public Safety Building but gained momentum throughout the day .
Mid-afternoon police fired pepper spray and tear gas into a small crowd outside police headquarters .
The protest later moved to where Prude was arrested , and a large block party gradually formed .
Organizers say they plan to occupy the space until the officers involved in Prude 's arrest are fired and the city bars police from responding to mental health calls , among other demands .
`` We want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not something that happens in other cities , in other states , it happens right here in Rochester , '' said Ashley Gantt , an organizer with local Black Lives Matter group Free the People Roc .

Rochester, N.Y., Mayor Suspends Officers Over Asphyxiation Death Of Daniel Prude
Enlarge this image toggle caption Max Schulte/WXXI News Max Schulte/WXXI News
Updated at 11:42 p.m. ET
The mayor of Rochester, N.Y., has ordered the immediate suspension of seven police officers over the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of asphyxiation after being restrained during his arrest in March.
Police body camera footage of the encounter was released Wednesday, prompting protests and calls for transparency and justice.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Lovely Warren announced she is suspending the officers in question with pay. She said she did so "against the advice of counsel," noting the police union could respond by suing the city.
Warren said Prude had been failed "by our police department, our mental health care system, our society ... and by me."
She also said institutional and structural racism had led to Prude's death.
"I believe that if Daniel Prude was white all of those systems would not have failed him," Warren said. "It is time that we stopped trying to not acknowledge this and call it for was it is. It's racism."
Rochester police arrested Prude in the early hours of March 23 after his brother, concerned about his sibling's safety, had called 911. Prude, 41, had left his brother's house in below-freezing temperatures wearing long johns and a tank top. He had been released from Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital earlier that night after expressing suicidal thoughts.
When Rochester police officers came upon Prude, he was naked and in distress. Prude had allegedly just gone on a destructive tear, according to police reports, smashing out the windows of storefronts and ranting about having the coronavirus. A passing tow truck driver who called 911 described Prude as being covered in blood.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Adrian Kraus/AP Adrian Kraus/AP
The police bodycam footage shows officers, with Tasers drawn, confronting Prude and ordering him to lie down on the road, which was slick from a light snowfall. Prude complied, lying facedown on his stomach, and officers cuffed his hands behind his back.
But in time, the 5-foot-10-inch, 230-pound man grew agitated. He began yelling vulgarities, spitting at officers and tried, unsuccessfully, to stand up. Officers ordered him several times to return to the prone position before placing a white hood over Prude's head, known as a "spit hood" and intended to protect others from possible infection.
Officers restrained Prude by holding him down by his feet and his head, and applying pressure to his back with a knee. Prude eventually fell unconscious and stopped breathing, according to police reports. He died a week later.
The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death as "complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint due to excited delirium due to acute phencyclidine intoxication." And the "manner of death" was ruled as "homocide."
Max Schulte/WXXI News YouTube
Family says police are responsible for Prude's death
Prude's family obtained the footage through a public records request. Attorneys representing the family released it to the public. The family intends to file a wrongful death suit, claiming the actions police used to restrain Prude caused his death.
toggle caption Max Schulte/WXXI News
"I placed the phone call for my brother to get help, not for my brother to get lynched," said Joe Prude at a press conference Wednesday on the steps of City Hall.
Protesters and community leaders charged that police and the mayor have attempted to sweep Prude's death under the rug.
At a second press conference at Rochester's Public Safety Building where police headquarters is located, Warren said an ongoing investigation by the New York attorney general's office took the matter out of the city's hands.
"This is not something in our wheelhouse, in our control at this moment in time," Warren said. "Had it been, this is something we would have talked about months ago."
"The rhetoric that this is a cover-up, this is not," said Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary. "You know we don't have a problem holding anyone accountable, but the investigation has to take its course."
A protest Wednesday began small at the Monroe County Public Safety Building but gained momentum throughout the day. By midafternoon, police fired pepper spray and tear gas into a small crowd outside police headquarters.
The protest later moved to where Prude was arrested, and a large block party gradually formed. Organizers said they plan to occupy the space until the officers involved in Prude's arrest are fired and the city bars police from responding to mental health calls, among other demands.
"We want the larger community to know this is not something that happens in other cities, in other states, it happens right here in Rochester," said Ashley Gantt, an organizer with the local Black Lives Matter group Free the People Roc.
At the Thursday afternoon press conference, Warren said she was told that Prude had overdosed in police custody, and did not see video of the encounter until Aug. 4.
She said she has since ordered Singletary to provide her with video from any in-custody death or use of force incident within 24 hours.
Warren also said she will work to increase funding for mental health programs for 911 calls and called for charges filed against protesters on Wednesday to be dropped.
Those were among the demands in a letter sent to Warren by the Rochester City Council earlier Thursday, calling for stronger actions in response to Prude's death.
"It is time that our community join forces with the advocates, with the people who are protesting in our streets, and the government, to stand up for what is right," Warren said. "What is right [is] that there will not be and can't be a justice system for Black people and a justice system for white people."


npr--2020-09-03--Amid Struggle To Protect 2020 Election, A 2nd Conflict Rages — Over Transparency

Two secret wars are underway simultaneously over attack and defense of the 2020 presidential election .
This week , each one broke into the open again .
The first war is an intelligence and national security operation aimed at protecting American election infrastructure , political campaigns and the U.S. information environment from foreign interference .
The second one is a political struggle over how much Americans learn about the first .
Events this week further underscored how far the U.S. has traveled since the infamous 2016 election , which played out without much appreciation in real time about how events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding only developed in retrospect through official investigations .
This year , Americans are aware as never before about foreign schemes , official countermeasures and the second-order efforts by U.S. politicians to shape the public 's impressions about it all .
On Tuesday , Facebook announced it had disrupted an influence operation linked with Russia 's `` Internet Research Agency , '' a professional disruption and trolling mill , that sought to sow agitation in the U.S. election .
The Russian specialists were using Facebook accounts to entice U.S. journalists to contribute to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a project the social media giant called `` largely unsuccessful '' in its official report .
Facebook 's ejection of the Russian users followed a tip from the FBI .
That dynamic was the product of years of sometimes awkward relationship-building between Silicon Valley and officialdom following the 2016 experience , in which both sides have since said they were too slow to recognize the magnitude of the influence operations playing out across Americans ' social networks .
Facebook , Twitter and other platforms have spent the intervening years not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence officials , but also routinely scrubbing their own operations in order to prevent foreign interference specialists from building up a critical mass of agitation at any one time .
The companies have kicked off scores of fake accounts and also quashed or `` down-ranked '' other content associated with agitation , they 've told Congress , which in some cases has prompted foreign governments to change their tactics and even move their messaging that targets the United States into overt accounts .
This week 's case from Facebook was another example : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2016-level of disinformation and agitation on Facebook itself , the IRA evidently only sought to use it to solicit real Americans to post real content on another website .
Pushing the activity away from the platform with the biggest audience reduces the reach of the influence operation .
Russian influence specialists also used independently created websites in 2016 including `` DCLeaks , '' which was one avenue through which the military intelligence agency GRU posted emails stolen via cyberattacks from American political targets .
Internet users the world over , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyberattacks , as a separate flap showed .
Users in Russia reported finding what they called a trove of data about Michigan voters — but state and federal officials in the U.S. were ready quickly to knock down the idea that anything nefarious had taken place .
`` Our system has has not been hacked , '' Michigan 's secretary of state 's office said within a few hours .
Chris Krebs , director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security , likewise was ready to assure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Michigan — or , he said , elsewhere else that U.S. officials have detected .
With several weeks to run in the election Americans need to try to keep cool about reports about interference , Krebs urged .
The information war over the information war The question always lingers , however , about what officials are n't monitoring , and even what Americans learn about the war to safeguard the election is the subject of its own political dispute in Washington .
On Tuesday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe order the resumption of in-person presentations for members of Congress about what the intelligence community is learning and assessing about election security .
Ratcliffe earlier said he would no longer provide intelligence officers to talk with members of Congress in person .
Instead , they would get written materials .
Pelosi and Democrats called that outrageous .
`` This intelligence belongs to the American people , and they have a right to know more about ongoing foreign efforts to influence their votes and interfere in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She threatened that if Ratcliffe continues to resist , `` we will have no choice but to consider the full range of tools available to compel compliance . ''
This dispute also is the product of grim experience since 2016 , years in which Democrats and Republicans have fought bitterly about the Russia investigation , the insights of the intelligence community and significance of each to the political life in the capital .
Ratcliffe invoked that subtext in his letter to members of Congress announcing the end of in-person presentations , which said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spy agencies is `` not misunderstood nor politicized . ''
Accusations and counter-accusations surrounding foreign election interference are now part of the stock script within the capital , and the latest dispute before Ratcliffe 's cutoff was about the proper interpretation of intelligence about which nations are most dangerous .
Ratcliffe 's office has said that Russia , China and Iran all are engaged in interference activity this year , following an official line from President Trump that `` many '' nations have targeted the United States .
Democrats insist that creates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russia , which Pelosi said in her letter on Tuesday is the most dangerous antagonist of all because of the multiplicity of its activities .
Russia intervened in 2016 to help Trump against Hillary Clinton and intelligence officials have said Moscow is working again to denigrate Democratic nominee Joe Biden , offering more de facto help for Trump .
A report by ABC News on Wednesday raised questions about whether administration officials might have looked the other way and withheld a notice to law enforcement when they 'd learned about Russian efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Critics including a former CIA station chief , John Sipher , say Trump 's appointment of reliable allies to top administration jobs has effectively let the administration run intelligence like a political operation , disclosing that which it believes may help its case and withholding that which hit does n't .
Ratcliffe vowed specifically that he would not be that kind of director of national intelligence and Trump 's campaign has said it believes it needs no help from any foreign government to defeat Biden on its own .
All along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept up an unprecedented flow of information to reporters , including in a briefing late last month .
Before the flap that was to follow between Pelosi and Ratcliffe , the intelligence officials gave reporters some relatively good news : They 've seen fewer concerted cyberattacks like those seen in 2016 and , notwithstanding claims to the contrary by Trump and some supporters , there is no evidence to support allegations about a big foreign plot to target voting by mail .

Amid Struggle To Protect 2020 Election, A 2nd Conflict Rages — Over Transparency
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joerg Koch/AP Joerg Koch/AP
Two secret wars are underway simultaneously over attack and defense of the 2020 presidential election. This week, each one broke into the open again.
The first war is an intelligence and national security operation aimed at protecting American election infrastructure, political campaigns and the U.S. information environment from foreign interference. The second one is a political struggle over how much Americans learn about the first.
Events this week further underscored how far the U.S. has traveled since the infamous 2016 election, which played out without much appreciation in real time about how events were roiling behind the scenes. That understanding only developed in retrospect through official investigations.
This year, Americans are aware as never before about foreign schemes, official countermeasures and the second-order efforts by U.S. politicians to shape the public's impressions about it all.
Facebook spikes Russian scheme
On Tuesday, Facebook announced it had disrupted an influence operation linked with Russia's "Internet Research Agency," a professional disruption and trolling mill, that sought to sow agitation in the U.S. election.
The Russian specialists were using Facebook accounts to entice U.S. journalists to contribute to a left-wing website, the company said, in a project the social media giant called "largely unsuccessful" in its official report.
Facebook's ejection of the Russian users followed a tip from the FBI. That dynamic was the product of years of sometimes awkward relationship-building between Silicon Valley and officialdom following the 2016 experience, in which both sides have since said they were too slow to recognize the magnitude of the influence operations playing out across Americans' social networks.
Facebook, Twitter and other platforms have spent the intervening years not only deepening their relationships with law enforcement and intelligence officials, but also routinely scrubbing their own operations in order to prevent foreign interference specialists from building up a critical mass of agitation at any one time.
The companies have kicked off scores of fake accounts and also quashed or "down-ranked" other content associated with agitation, they've told Congress, which in some cases has prompted foreign governments to change their tactics and even move their messaging that targets the United States into overt accounts.
This week's case from Facebook was another example: With pressure evidently too great to sustain a 2016-level of disinformation and agitation on Facebook itself, the IRA evidently only sought to use it to solicit real Americans to post real content on another website. Pushing the activity away from the platform with the biggest audience reduces the reach of the influence operation.
Russian influence specialists also used independently created websites in 2016 including "DCLeaks," which was one avenue through which the military intelligence agency GRU posted emails stolen via cyberattacks from American political targets.
Internet users the world over, however, this year are on guard about Russian cyberattacks, as a separate flap showed.
Users in Russia reported finding what they called a trove of data about Michigan voters — but state and federal officials in the U.S. were ready quickly to knock down the idea that anything nefarious had taken place.
"Our system has has not been hacked," Michigan's secretary of state's office said within a few hours.
Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security, likewise was ready to assure voters there had been no big cyberattack against Michigan — or, he said, elsewhere else that U.S. officials have detected.
With several weeks to run in the election Americans need to try to keep cool about reports about interference, Krebs urged.
The information war over the information war
The question always lingers, however, about what officials aren't monitoring, and even what Americans learn about the war to safeguard the election is the subject of its own political dispute in Washington.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and a few of her deputies demanded that Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe order the resumption of in-person presentations for members of Congress about what the intelligence community is learning and assessing about election security.
Ratcliffe earlier said he would no longer provide intelligence officers to talk with members of Congress in person. Instead, they would get written materials. Pelosi and Democrats called that outrageous.
"This intelligence belongs to the American people, and they have a right to know more about ongoing foreign efforts to influence their votes and interfere in our democratic process," Pelosi wrote. She threatened that if Ratcliffe continues to resist, "we will have no choice but to consider the full range of tools available to compel compliance."
This dispute also is the product of grim experience since 2016, years in which Democrats and Republicans have fought bitterly about the Russia investigation, the insights of the intelligence community and significance of each to the political life in the capital.
Ratcliffe invoked that subtext in his letter to members of Congress announcing the end of in-person presentations, which said was to be sure the product of the spy agencies is "not misunderstood nor politicized."
Political intelligence
Accusations and counter-accusations surrounding foreign election interference are now part of the stock script within the capital, and the latest dispute before Ratcliffe's cutoff was about the proper interpretation of intelligence about which nations are most dangerous.
Ratcliffe's office has said that Russia, China and Iran all are engaged in interference activity this year, following an official line from President Trump that "many" nations have targeted the United States.
Democrats insist that creates a false equivalence that demotes the importance of Russia, which Pelosi said in her letter on Tuesday is the most dangerous antagonist of all because of the multiplicity of its activities.
Russia intervened in 2016 to help Trump against Hillary Clinton and intelligence officials have said Moscow is working again to denigrate Democratic nominee Joe Biden, offering more de facto help for Trump.
A report by ABC News on Wednesday raised questions about whether administration officials might have looked the other way and withheld a notice to law enforcement when they'd learned about Russian efforts to attack Biden's health or mental condition.
Critics including a former CIA station chief, John Sipher, say Trump's appointment of reliable allies to top administration jobs has effectively let the administration run intelligence like a political operation, disclosing that which it believes may help its case and withholding that which hit doesn't.
Ratcliffe vowed specifically that he would not be that kind of director of national intelligence and Trump's campaign has said it believes it needs no help from any foreign government to defeat Biden on its own.
All along, meanwhile, the intelligence agencies have kept up an unprecedented flow of information to reporters, including in a briefing late last month.
Before the flap that was to follow between Pelosi and Ratcliffe, the intelligence officials gave reporters some relatively good news: They've seen fewer concerted cyberattacks like those seen in 2016 and, notwithstanding claims to the contrary by Trump and some supporters, there is no evidence to support allegations about a big foreign plot to target voting by mail.


npr--2020-09-03--College Political Activists Trade Door-Knocking For Apps To Register Voters

If this were a normal school year , Denison University senior Matt Nowling and his fellow College Democrats would be `` dorm storming '' around their campus , near Columbus , Ohio .
`` We ran to people 's dorms , knocked their doors and got them registered to vote , '' he said .
`` Sometimes we got kicked out of dorms , '' he added .
The start of the new school year is prime time for registering college students to vote and getting them excited about casting ballots in November — many for the first time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can return to campus are doing so under restrictions aimed at keeping the coronavirus from spreading .
That means political organizing at universities is going virtual .
For Nowling , a political science major and interim president of the national College Democrats of America organization , it 's a bit of a letdown .
`` All the different events that we would have in person simply ca n't happen .
And I miss that a lot , '' he said .
From knocking on doors to pounding on keyboards Figuring out how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Ben Rajadurai , executive director of the College Republican National Committee .
He led campus Republicans at Stonehill College in Massachusetts before graduating in 2017 .
`` We were trained , like , knock doors , not keyboards , '' he said .
`` And then overnight , it 's like , no , no , no , knock keyboards ... You quite literally can not knock doors right now . ''
On campuses across the country , club recruiting fairs are happening on Zoom .
College Republicans and Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events .
Members are swapping political memes on messaging apps like GroupMe .
`` We have a group chat where people talk all the time , and it 's always going , '' said Claire Grissum , president of College Republicans at the University of Missouri .
`` There are new people added all the time , hopping into the conversation . ''
But , she acknowledges , it 's harder online to grab the attention of a student whose mind is on classes and college life , not politics .
Someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but would , in a normal year , engage in a conversation while crossing campus .
`` School picks up and life gets busier .
It gets harder to prioritize and sometimes we kind of fall off of their radar , '' she said .
`` We 're hoping that there will be leniency in the [ university 's ] guidelines for us to sit outside and [ set up ] table [ s ] ... because I know that 's how we attract a lot of members that stay in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the student voting rate despite pandemic With just two months to go before the election , there is a lot of pressure to get the country 's roughly 18 million college students more involved in politics .
Younger people are less likely to vote than the rest of the population , but participation has been rising in recent elections .
Voting rates for college students more than doubled between the midterm elections of 2014 and 2018 , according to research from Tufts University 's Institute for Democracy and Higher Education .
Events like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilizing college students , said Tufts researcher Adam Gismondi .
`` The last few years have been a bit of a civics lesson for everyone in this country .
For college students , we 've definitely seen growing attention , often around specific issues , '' he said .
`` Around [ the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program ] , around the safety of Black Americans and around the sort of unavoidable attention that the Trump administration has received . ''
Tech companies are also trying to help , building on voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
This year , Snapchat is letting people register to vote directly in its app , while Facebook has pledged to register 4 million voters by November .
Campus organizers warn digital tools can not fully replace face-to-face interaction in the brief window before election day .
`` That first touch with an activist or potential voter ... it 's arguably the most important contact .
That conversation becomes a lot tougher in the digital space , '' said Rajadurai .
At Penn State University , College Democrats President Jacob Klipstein says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most accurate method of getting people onto the voter rolls .
What 's more , not all states allow every eligible adult to register online .
His group is planning to register voters in person on campus — with masks and other precautions .
`` We 're going to be using gloves .
We 're going to be using hand sanitizer .
We 're going to be using clipboards and we 're going to have towels to wipe down pens , '' he said .
What happens if campuses shut down ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 20 states , more young voters had already registered by this August than had done so in November 2016 , according to data analyzed by CIRCLE , a Tufts University research group focused on youth civic engagement .
But many students are facing uncertainty over where to register and vote , because it is unclear whether they will still be on campus in November .
Universities are already dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks , and some are scaling back their reopening plans .
`` The likelihood of them saying , oh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you guys have to go home like two weeks before the election — it really worries me , '' she said .
That underscores another challenge : while college activists are using all the tools at their disposal to register voters , it is much harder to get students to cast ballots .
Just 40 percent of eligible college students went to the polls in 2018 , a year when 73 percent of students registered to vote , according to Tufts .

College Political Activists Trade Door-Knocking For Apps To Register Voters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shelby Tour Shelby Tour
If this were a normal school year, Denison University senior Matt Nowling and his fellow College Democrats would be "dorm storming" around their campus, near Columbus, Ohio.
"We ran to people's dorms, knocked their doors and got them registered to vote," he said. "Sometimes we got kicked out of dorms," he added.
The start of the new school year is prime time for registering college students to vote and getting them excited about casting ballots in November — many for the first time.
But this fall, those students who can return to campus are doing so under restrictions aimed at keeping the coronavirus from spreading. That means political organizing at universities is going virtual.
For Nowling, a political science major and interim president of the national College Democrats of America organization, it's a bit of a letdown.
"All the different events that we would have in person simply can't happen. And I miss that a lot," he said.
From knocking on doors to pounding on keyboards
Figuring out how to reach people during a pandemic is hard, said Ben Rajadurai, executive director of the College Republican National Committee. He led campus Republicans at Stonehill College in Massachusetts before graduating in 2017.
"We were trained, like, knock doors, not keyboards," he said. "And then overnight, it's like, no, no, no, knock keyboards ... You quite literally cannot knock doors right now."
On campuses across the country, club recruiting fairs are happening on Zoom. College Republicans and Democrats are using Instagram and Facebook to promote virtual events. Members are swapping political memes on messaging apps like GroupMe.
"We have a group chat where people talk all the time, and it's always going," said Claire Grissum, president of College Republicans at the University of Missouri. "There are new people added all the time, hopping into the conversation."
But, she acknowledges, it's harder online to grab the attention of a student whose mind is on classes and college life, not politics. Someone who might not seek out a group chat, but would, in a normal year, engage in a conversation while crossing campus.
"School picks up and life gets busier. It gets harder to prioritize and sometimes we kind of fall off of their radar," she said. "We're hoping that there will be leniency in the [university's] guidelines for us to sit outside and [set up] table[s] ... because I know that's how we attract a lot of members that stay in our organization."
Efforts to keep increasing the student voting rate despite pandemic
With just two months to go before the election, there is a lot of pressure to get the country's roughly 18 million college students more involved in politics.
Younger people are less likely to vote than the rest of the population, but participation has been rising in recent elections.
Voting rates for college students more than doubled between the midterm elections of 2014 and 2018, according to research from Tufts University's Institute for Democracy and Higher Education.
Events like this summer's racial justice protests are mobilizing college students, said Tufts researcher Adam Gismondi.
"The last few years have been a bit of a civics lesson for everyone in this country. For college students, we've definitely seen growing attention, often around specific issues," he said. "Around [the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program], around the safety of Black Americans and around the sort of unavoidable attention that the Trump administration has received."
Tech companies are also trying to help, building on voter registration efforts that started several election cycles ago. This year, Snapchat is letting people register to vote directly in its app, while Facebook has pledged to register 4 million voters by November.
Limitations of digital organizing
Campus organizers warn digital tools cannot fully replace face-to-face interaction in the brief window before election day.
"That first touch with an activist or potential voter ... it's arguably the most important contact. That conversation becomes a lot tougher in the digital space," said Rajadurai.
At Penn State University, College Democrats President Jacob Klipstein says he thinks paper registration forms are still the most accurate method of getting people onto the voter rolls. What's more, not all states allow every eligible adult to register online.
His group is planning to register voters in person on campus — with masks and other precautions.
"We're going to be using gloves. We're going to be using hand sanitizer. We're going to be using clipboards and we're going to have towels to wipe down pens," he said.
What happens if campuses shut down?
There are signs registration efforts are working. In 20 states, more young voters had already registered by this August than had done so in November 2016, according to data analyzed by CIRCLE, a Tufts University research group focused on youth civic engagement.
But many students are facing uncertainty over where to register and vote, because it is unclear whether they will still be on campus in November.
Universities are already dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, and some are scaling back their reopening plans.
That prospect alarms Serena Ishwar, president of Ohio State University's College Democrats chapter.
"The likelihood of them saying, oh, well, the cases are too high, you guys have to go home like two weeks before the election — it really worries me," she said.
That underscores another challenge: while college activists are using all the tools at their disposal to register voters, it is much harder to get students to cast ballots. Just 40 percent of eligible college students went to the polls in 2018, a year when 73 percent of students registered to vote, according to Tufts.


npr--2020-09-03--Trump Talks Tough On Crime, But Federal Deployments Likely Won't Ease It

Trump Talks Tough On Crime , But Federal Deployments Likely Wo n't Ease It President Trump is making crime a key issue in his reelection campaign , but criminologists worry he and the administration are more interested in using it for political advantage .
Trump 's public statements about violence and the actions of his administration in response to this summer 's demonstrations do n't represent efforts likely to produce a meaningful long-term reduction in crime across the United States , specialists said .
One example is the Justice Department 's decision to send federal agents to cities around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and try to crack down on gun violence in swing states .
`` From the criminological point of view , it 's just mind-blowing to think that a couple of hundred folks who are not trained and who are unfamiliar with the area are going to help out very much , '' said Richard Rosenfeld , a criminologist at the University of Missouri , St. Louis .
Rosenfeld said an increase in the numbers of homicides and aggravated assaults this year should trouble people , but also that there are n't enough data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police violence .
Trump has sought to focus attention on what he calls anarchy in cities where there have been demonstrations following well-publicized violence by police against Black citizens .
This week , the president inserted himself into the latest situation in Kenosha , Wis. , where the Democratic mayor had asked him not to visit because his city is still recovering from violence that burned down buildings and shuttered small businesses .
The president traveled there anyway .
`` Kenosha 's been ravaged by anti-police and anti-American riots , '' Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer fired seven shots into the back of a Black man named Jacob Blake .
Then , a white teenage suspect who reportedly supports the president was charged with six criminal counts , including first-degree intentional homicide , in connection with a shooting that left two protesters dead and a third injured .
Trump defended the teen , explaining he might have acted in self-defense .
During the visit Tuesday , Trump offered praise for Republican elected officials in Wisconsin , a battleground state .
And he went out of his way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Obviously that 's been a disaster , Chicago , total disaster , '' Trump said .
`` With again , radical left Democrat , it 's all Democrat , everything is Democrat , all of these problems are Democrat cities .
We do n't want to say it , but it is . ''
At the president 's side was Attorney General William Barr .
His Justice Department said it 's investigating whether the police officer who shot Blake broke civil rights laws .
Barr promised the officer would get due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest .
`` Once again , we saw the hijacking of a protest by a hard-core group of radicals who were carrying out , planning , a coordinated , violent attack on law enforcement , on public property and on private property , and that ca n't be tolerated , '' Barr said .
Barr has pointed to so-called radicals as a source of anarchy at protests across the country .
Yet that is n't borne out in the criminal charges that federal prosecutors have brought to date .
`` Donald Trump looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political lifeline , '' Biden said .
For its part , Trump 's Justice Department said it 's taking steps to maintain order .
It has sent federal agents to nine cities led by Democrats where violent crime has spiked this year .
But it has n't moved that program , called Operation Legend , into places such as Tulsa , Okla. , which is run by a Republican mayor .
This week , in advance of the Kenosha trip , and as the election approaches , the Justice Department began promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case every day in its press releases .
The Justice Department 's second effort is a surge of agents to cities facing riots .
Some mayors and governors have refused the officers , and critics said many of the agents had no training for dealing with protesters .
`` It 's in particular federal agents who are not trained in local policing , who have no knowledge of the local area , '' said Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri , St. Louis .
Tackling crime , he said , requires good policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their cars and listen to community members , face to face .
That 's been difficult during the pandemic .
`` And we have to subdue the virus in order to increase police effectiveness and effectively confront this rise in violent crime , '' Rosenfeld said .
Experts said they know what it takes to reduce crime and restore trust in police , but it takes political will to get that done .
`` We need to commit ourselves to the nonpartisan , nonideological , evidence-based solutions that have been proven over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Thomas Abt , a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice , who made clear he was speaking for himself and not the organization .
That means , Abt said , focusing on the highest-risk people and places ; understanding that enforcement is part of the solution but not the only part ; and `` now more than ever , we see that the criminal justice system and police in particular must be perceived as fair if they 're going to be effective . ''

Trump Talks Tough On Crime, But Federal Deployments Likely Won't Ease It
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump is making crime a key issue in his reelection campaign, but criminologists worry he and the administration are more interested in using it for political advantage.
Trump's public statements about violence and the actions of his administration in response to this summer's demonstrations don't represent efforts likely to produce a meaningful long-term reduction in crime across the United States, specialists said.
One example is the Justice Department's decision to send federal agents to cities around the country to try to tamp down unrest and try to crack down on gun violence in swing states.
"From the criminological point of view, it's just mind-blowing to think that a couple of hundred folks who are not trained and who are unfamiliar with the area are going to help out very much," said Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Rosenfeld said an increase in the numbers of homicides and aggravated assaults this year should trouble people, but also that there aren't enough data to link those problems to protests over police violence.
Trump has sought to focus attention on what he calls anarchy in cities where there have been demonstrations following well-publicized violence by police against Black citizens.
Situation in Kenosha
This week, the president inserted himself into the latest situation in Kenosha, Wis., where the Democratic mayor had asked him not to visit because his city is still recovering from violence that burned down buildings and shuttered small businesses. The president traveled there anyway.
"Kenosha's been ravaged by anti-police and anti-American riots," Trump said.
Demonstrations erupted after a white police officer fired seven shots into the back of a Black man named Jacob Blake. Then, a white teenage suspect who reportedly supports the president was charged with six criminal counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, in connection with a shooting that left two protesters dead and a third injured. Trump defended the teen, explaining he might have acted in self-defense.
During the visit Tuesday, Trump offered praise for Republican elected officials in Wisconsin, a battleground state. And he went out of his way to attack Democrats in other nearby big cities.
"Obviously that's been a disaster, Chicago, total disaster," Trump said. "With again, radical left Democrat, it's all Democrat, everything is Democrat, all of these problems are Democrat cities. We don't want to say it, but it is."
At the president's side was Attorney General William Barr. His Justice Department said it's investigating whether the police officer who shot Blake broke civil rights laws. Barr promised the officer would get due process.
Then he addressed the social unrest.
"Once again, we saw the hijacking of a protest by a hard-core group of radicals who were carrying out, planning, a coordinated, violent attack on law enforcement, on public property and on private property, and that can't be tolerated," Barr said.
Barr has pointed to so-called radicals as a source of anarchy at protests across the country. Yet that isn't borne out in the criminal charges that federal prosecutors have brought to date.
Trump's Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, cried foul in a speech Monday.
"Donald Trump looks at this violence, and he sees a political lifeline," Biden said.
For its part, Trump's Justice Department said it's taking steps to maintain order. It has sent federal agents to nine cities led by Democrats where violent crime has spiked this year. But it hasn't moved that program, called Operation Legend, into places such as Tulsa, Okla., which is run by a Republican mayor.
This week, in advance of the Kenosha trip, and as the election approaches, the Justice Department began promoting that program by highlighting one Operation Legend case every day in its press releases.
The Justice Department's second effort is a surge of agents to cities facing riots. Some mayors and governors have refused the officers, and critics said many of the agents had no training for dealing with protesters.
"It's in particular federal agents who are not trained in local policing, who have no knowledge of the local area," said Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Tackling crime, he said, requires good policing, the kind where officers get out of their cars and listen to community members, face to face. That's been difficult during the pandemic.
"And we have to subdue the virus in order to increase police effectiveness and effectively confront this rise in violent crime," Rosenfeld said.
Experts said they know what it takes to reduce crime and restore trust in police, but it takes political will to get that done.
"We need to commit ourselves to the nonpartisan, nonideological, evidence-based solutions that have been proven over the last 20 years to reduce violence," said Thomas Abt, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, who made clear he was speaking for himself and not the organization.
That means, Abt said, focusing on the highest-risk people and places; understanding that enforcement is part of the solution but not the only part; and "now more than ever, we see that the criminal justice system and police in particular must be perceived as fair if they're going to be effective."


npr--2020-09-03--As Burning Man Goes Virtual, Organizers Try To Capture The Communal Aspect

As Burning Man Goes Virtual , Organizers Try To Capture The Communal Aspect Burning Man — the dazzling , days-long , annual arts and lovefest drawing 70,000 to the dusty Nevada desert — was cancelled this year .
But organizers are trying to capture the quintessential , communal arts experience online .
For this year 's theme , Multiverse , teams have created 2D and 3D virtual experiences .
The program runs Aug. 30-Sept. 6 .
The chaos and creativity of Burning Man usually involves thousands of artists and volunteers trekking to the vast , windy , barren desert to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sculptures .
This year , you can turn on your webcam or virtual-reality headset to attend an art class or DJ dance party — or even join a virtual group hug .
In the desert , the Burning Man Temple is typically a place spacious enough for people to walk into and reflect , grieve or leave an offering .
This year , you can sort of do that at the Ethereal Empyrean Experience with a mobile device , desktop , or VR headset .
Ed Cooke , one of the creators of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desert experience , burners — as attendees are called — have set up tents in their living rooms and dressed up in costumes .
`` Getting up and dancing in front of your screen , bothering to put on a costume , jumping around , these things are extraordinarily powerful in terms of taking you into new realms of experience , '' he says .
`` Radical self-expression '' is one of Burning Man 's 10 Principles .
Cooke admits that online he does n't experience `` the sense of awe of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the desert , but he 's convinced the kind of joyful , communal experience he 's had there in the past can be achieved virtually .
Other burners are having none of it .
`` It 's not the same thing , '' says Douglas Wolk , who 's been going to Burning Man for 20 years .
Wolk says he keeps going back to Burning Man because he believes in its principles such as no advertising and immediacy , which organizers describe as seeking `` to overcome barriers that stand between us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the reality of those around us , participation in society , and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers . ''
Wolk says , when everyone is off the grid together , the relationships are unlike anything else .
`` All kinds of people meet in this difficult , sometimes frustrating environment and they 're pretty much all there to help each other , '' he says .
`` It 's really not the same thing to be sitting in front of your computer . ''
Longtime Burning Man artist Jennifer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's virtual festival .
While she thinks it 's `` a very interesting experiment , '' she misses the opportunity to `` test the limits '' of her large , interactive , public sculptures .
With the dust , heat , wind and thousands of people ready to play , `` Burning Man is the best place possible for me to go to test interactive sculptures , says Lewin .
`` If your work can survive Burning Man , it can survive anywhere . ''
Computer images of Lewin 's work Cosmos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the DustyMultiverse this year .
Lewin says , while they are `` perfect conceptualizations '' of the work , they do n't face any `` real world problems . ''
Burning Man curators know they ca n't fully replicate the uniquely communal and physical experience of Black Rock City .
Kim Cook , director of creative initiatives at Burning Man Project , says the goal this year is `` connection and creativity and sharing experiences . ''
With some 90 events taking place around the world , she says `` the ethos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one location . ''
The culmination of the festival is the burning of the giant sculpture of the Burning Man .
This year organizers will stream videos of people doing burns in their backyards , fire dancing , or even just lighting candles .

As Burning Man Goes Virtual, Organizers Try To Capture The Communal Aspect
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kye Horton/Burning Man Kye Horton/Burning Man
Burning Man — the dazzling, days-long, annual arts and lovefest drawing 70,000 to the dusty Nevada desert — was cancelled this year. But organizers are trying to capture the quintessential, communal arts experience online.
For this year's theme, Multiverse, teams have created 2D and 3D virtual experiences. The program runs Aug. 30-Sept. 6.
The chaos and creativity of Burning Man usually involves thousands of artists and volunteers trekking to the vast, windy, barren desert to build enormous, eye-popping, often whimsical sculptures. This year, you can turn on your webcam or virtual-reality headset to attend an art class or DJ dance party — or even join a virtual group hug.
In the desert, the Burning Man Temple is typically a place spacious enough for people to walk into and reflect, grieve or leave an offering. This year, you can sort of do that at the Ethereal Empyrean Experience with a mobile device, desktop, or VR headset.
Ed Cooke, one of the creators of SparkleVerse, says that to recreate the desert experience, burners — as attendees are called — have set up tents in their living rooms and dressed up in costumes.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kye Horton/Burning Man Kye Horton/Burning Man
"Getting up and dancing in front of your screen, bothering to put on a costume, jumping around, these things are extraordinarily powerful in terms of taking you into new realms of experience," he says. "Radical self-expression" is one of Burning Man's 10 Principles.
Cooke admits that online he doesn't experience "the sense of awe of the scale of things" he experiences in the desert, but he's convinced the kind of joyful, communal experience he's had there in the past can be achieved virtually.
Other burners are having none of it. "It's not the same thing," says Douglas Wolk, who's been going to Burning Man for 20 years.
Wolk says he keeps going back to Burning Man because he believes in its principles such as no advertising and immediacy, which organizers describe as seeking "to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers."
Wolk says, when everyone is off the grid together, the relationships are unlike anything else. "All kinds of people meet in this difficult, sometimes frustrating environment and they're pretty much all there to help each other," he says. "It's really not the same thing to be sitting in front of your computer."
Longtime Burning Man artist Jennifer Lewin has mixed feelings about this year's virtual festival. While she thinks it's "a very interesting experiment," she misses the opportunity to "test the limits" of her large, interactive, public sculptures.
With the dust, heat, wind and thousands of people ready to play, "Burning Man is the best place possible for me to go to test interactive sculptures, says Lewin. "If your work can survive Burning Man, it can survive anywhere."
Computer images of Lewin's work Cosmos, now on display in Tokyo, are in the DustyMultiverse this year. Lewin says, while they are "perfect conceptualizations" of the work, they don't face any "real world problems."
Burning Man curators know they can't fully replicate the uniquely communal and physical experience of Black Rock City. Kim Cook, director of creative initiatives at Burning Man Project, says the goal this year is "connection and creativity and sharing experiences." With some 90 events taking place around the world, she says "the ethos of Burning Man is not restricted to one location."
The culmination of the festival is the burning of the giant sculpture of the Burning Man. This year organizers will stream videos of people doing burns in their backyards, fire dancing, or even just lighting candles.