npr--2020-08-18--After Falwell's Departure, Liberty Students Worry About Their School And Their Faith

After Falwell 's Departure , Liberty Students Worry About Their School And Their Faith Students at Liberty University are returning to school in Lynchburg , Va. , in the coming days in the midst of a pandemic , a contentious presidential election and tumult on their campus .
The conservative Christian college is now under new leadership after President Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed to take an indefinite leave of absence this month following a series of scandals that culminated with a controversial vacation photo posted online .
Liberty has long been at the center of white evangelical political activism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter of President Trump .
Some students said they 're feeling conflicted about both leaders .
Like his father , the late Rev .
Jerry Falwell Sr. , the younger Falwell has been a vocal supporter of Republican politics .
But he 's been known more for his business acumen than for his religious devotion .
`` His father worked so hard to build a legacy , '' said Caroline Reinhart , 21 , a rising senior from Ohio who 's studying government at Liberty .
`` One person 's actions are threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very sad . ''
Reinhart said she was pleased to see Falwell go after a series of high-profile scandals , including certain business deals and accusations of racial insensitivity .
He agreed to an indefinite leave of absence after he shared a vacation photo on Instagram that showed him with his pants unzipped next to a woman who was not his wife .
Her shorts also were unzipped .
Falwell recently told a local radio station , WLNI , that the photo was taken in `` good fun '' and that the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she could n't zip up her pants because she 's pregnant .
`` I 've apologized to everybody , and I promised my kids I 'm gon na try to be a good boy from here on out , '' Falwell said in the interview .
Falwell has not responded to requests for comment from NPR , and Liberty University has declined requests for interviews with Falwell and the interim president , Jerry Prevo .
It 's not clear whether Falwell will return , but Reinhart worries he 's sullying the reputation not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her faith .
`` If what he says and does , does not demonstrate good Christian values – or what Christians say are their values , then that will affect our witness , and hurt our witness , '' Reinhart said , referring to the belief that Christians should live out their faith in a visible way that will encourage others to believe in salvation through Jesus .
Reinhart also is concerned about Falwell 's prominent support for Trump .
Still , Reinhart said she 's leaning toward voting for Trump because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nick Nary , 20 , a Liberty senior from Bent Mountain , Va. , has similar concerns about Falwell .
`` It just feels like he 's just clowning around , '' Nary said .
`` At some point it does n't really feel like he acknowledges or understands the full weight of his actions . ''
Like Reinhart , Nary often dislikes the way Trump talks or tweets ; he said `` tearing other people down '' is not in line with his view of Christian values .
But Nary said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November for policy reasons .
Even so , Nary worries about what Falwell 's behavior , and vocal support for Trump , will mean for Liberty graduates .
`` If someone graduates [ from ] Liberty University and they 're going out to an employer and they do n't want to hire them because of Jerry Falwell Jr. 's antics , '' Nary said , `` I would hate that to be associated with someone 's character , because they might have had 50 million other reasons they went to Liberty . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Liberty , Isaac Liu has lived in the Lynchburg area since high school .
He 's now a junior there studying mechanical engineering .
`` I think Falwell ultimately is a symptom of [ the problem in ] the modern-day evangelical movement in America , '' Liu said .
Liu said he was pleased to see Falwell ousted – at least for now – but that alone will not solve what he sees as larger problems at Liberty , and in evangelical Christianity as a whole .
Liu , who supports former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his friends on campus are put off by the association with Trump .
`` I think a lot of younger evangelical Christians really notice that ... Christianity is losing cultural relevancy due to that hypocrisy and are speaking out and working toward change within evangelical Christianity itself , '' Liu said .
There is some change within evangelicalism , said Michele Margolis , a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania .
Young white evangelicals are more progressive on issues such as immigration and LGBTQ rights , for example .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger than 29 do n't seem to be moving away from the Republican politics of their parents and grandparents in large numbers .
Margolis said there 's evidence that young evangelicals with more progressive beliefs may be leaving their faith , but those who stay are n't dramatically changing their politics .
As for Liberty students such as Reinhart , it 's a similar story .
`` I would n't leave a school I love just because one man ca n't behave , '' she said .

After Falwell's Departure, Liberty Students Worry About Their School And Their Faith
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Students at Liberty University are returning to school in Lynchburg, Va., in the coming days in the midst of a pandemic, a contentious presidential election and tumult on their campus.
The conservative Christian college is now under new leadership after President Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed to take an indefinite leave of absence this month following a series of scandals that culminated with a controversial vacation photo posted online.
Liberty has long been at the center of white evangelical political activism, and Falwell has been a leading evangelical supporter of President Trump. Some students said they're feeling conflicted about both leaders.
Like his father, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., the younger Falwell has been a vocal supporter of Republican politics. But he's been known more for his business acumen than for his religious devotion.
"His father worked so hard to build a legacy," said Caroline Reinhart, 21, a rising senior from Ohio who's studying government at Liberty. "One person's actions are threatening that, and I think that's very sad."
Reinhart said she was pleased to see Falwell go after a series of high-profile scandals, including certain business deals and accusations of racial insensitivity.
He agreed to an indefinite leave of absence after he shared a vacation photo on Instagram that showed him with his pants unzipped next to a woman who was not his wife. Her shorts also were unzipped.
Falwell recently told a local radio station, WLNI, that the photo was taken in "good fun" and that the woman was his wife's assistant, and she couldn't zip up her pants because she's pregnant.
"I've apologized to everybody, and I promised my kids I'm gonna try to be a good boy from here on out," Falwell said in the interview.
Falwell has not responded to requests for comment from NPR, and Liberty University has declined requests for interviews with Falwell and the interim president, Jerry Prevo.
It's not clear whether Falwell will return, but Reinhart worries he's sullying the reputation not just of Liberty – but also of her faith.
"If what he says and does, does not demonstrate good Christian values – or what Christians say are their values, then that will affect our witness, and hurt our witness," Reinhart said, referring to the belief that Christians should live out their faith in a visible way that will encourage others to believe in salvation through Jesus.
Reinhart also is concerned about Falwell's prominent support for Trump.
"I think at times he presents himself in a way that suggests that he almost sees Trump as an idol. ... I think he just excuses everything that goes on, and that's not acceptable," Reinhart said.
Still, Reinhart said she's leaning toward voting for Trump because she aligns with many of his policy positions.
Nick Nary, 20, a Liberty senior from Bent Mountain, Va., has similar concerns about Falwell.
"It just feels like he's just clowning around," Nary said. "At some point it doesn't really feel like he acknowledges or understands the full weight of his actions."
Like Reinhart, Nary often dislikes the way Trump talks or tweets; he said "tearing other people down" is not in line with his view of Christian values. But Nary said he plans to vote for Trump in November for policy reasons.
Even so, Nary worries about what Falwell's behavior, and vocal support for Trump, will mean for Liberty graduates.
"If someone graduates [from] Liberty University and they're going out to an employer and they don't want to hire them because of Jerry Falwell Jr.'s antics," Nary said, "I would hate that to be associated with someone's character, because they might have had 50 million other reasons they went to Liberty."
As the son of a faculty member at Liberty, Isaac Liu has lived in the Lynchburg area since high school. He's now a junior there studying mechanical engineering.
"I think Falwell ultimately is a symptom of [the problem in] the modern-day evangelical movement in America," Liu said.
Liu said he was pleased to see Falwell ousted – at least for now – but that alone will not solve what he sees as larger problems at Liberty, and in evangelical Christianity as a whole.
Liu, who supports former Vice President Joe Biden, said many of his friends on campus are put off by the association with Trump.
"I think a lot of younger evangelical Christians really notice that ... Christianity is losing cultural relevancy due to that hypocrisy and are speaking out and working toward change within evangelical Christianity itself," Liu said.
There is some change within evangelicalism, said Michele Margolis, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania.
Young white evangelicals are more progressive on issues such as immigration and LGBTQ rights, for example.
But as a whole, Margolis said, evangelicals younger than 29 don't seem to be moving away from the Republican politics of their parents and grandparents in large numbers.
"These folks look like [people] 65-plus on certain issues. ... They are still far more conservative than their nonevangelical counterparts at their age," Margolis said.
Margolis said there's evidence that young evangelicals with more progressive beliefs may be leaving their faith, but those who stay aren't dramatically changing their politics.
As for Liberty students such as Reinhart, it's a similar story.
"I wouldn't leave a school I love just because one man can't behave," she said.


npr--2020-08-18--WHO Chief Urges Nations To Join In Preventing 'Vaccine Nationalism'

WHO Chief Urges Nations To Join In Preventing 'Vaccine Nationalism' Urging countries to join a global vaccine agreement , the head of the World Health Organization on Tuesday reiterated concerns that , once developed , drugs to prevent COVID-19 might be hoarded by some countries at the expense of others .
Speaking in Geneva , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a call to avoid `` vaccine nationalism '' by joining the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility – a pact aimed at ensuring access to such drugs around the world .
WHO has set an Aug. 31 deadline to establish terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sent a letter to the WHO 's 194 member states , urging participation .
`` Nationalism exacerbated the pandemic and contributed to the total failure of the global supply chain , '' he said , noting that hoarding by some countries led to shortages of protective gear in the early days of the pandemic .
He said that the world 's interconnectedness means that `` a vaccine developed in one country may need to be filled in vials with stoppers that are produced in another , using materials for the high-grade glass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country . ''
`` Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country 's national interest , '' Tedros said .
WHO 's push for an international pact to share vaccines comes as the European Union , Britain , Switzerland and the United States are forging deals with drugmakers that have prospective COVID-19 vaccines in various stages of trials .
China and Russia also are working on vaccines .
According to a Johns Hopkins University tally , since the start of the pandemic , there have been nearly 22 million coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

WHO Chief Urges Nations To Join In Preventing 'Vaccine Nationalism'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Fabrice Coffrini/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Fabrice Coffrini/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Urging countries to join a global vaccine agreement, the head of the World Health Organization on Tuesday reiterated concerns that, once developed, drugs to prevent COVID-19 might be hoarded by some countries at the expense of others.
Speaking in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a call to avoid "vaccine nationalism" by joining the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility – a pact aimed at ensuring access to such drugs around the world.
WHO has set an Aug. 31 deadline to establish terms for the new pact. Tedros said he sent a letter to the WHO's 194 member states, urging participation.
"Nationalism exacerbated the pandemic and contributed to the total failure of the global supply chain," he said, noting that hoarding by some countries led to shortages of protective gear in the early days of the pandemic.
He said that the world's interconnectedness means that "a vaccine developed in one country may need to be filled in vials with stoppers that are produced in another, using materials for the high-grade glass that is only available from yet another country."
"Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country's national interest," Tedros said.
WHO's push for an international pact to share vaccines comes as the European Union, Britain, Switzerland and the United States are forging deals with drugmakers that have prospective COVID-19 vaccines in various stages of trials. China and Russia also are working on vaccines.
According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, since the start of the pandemic, there have been nearly 22 million coronavirus cases worldwide, with nearly 776,000 deaths.


npr--2020-08-18--The Big Comeback: S&P 500 Closes At Record High 6 Months After Coronavirus Plunge

The Big Comeback : S & P 500 Closes At Record High 6 Months After Coronavirus Plunge The U.S. stock market has come a long way in a short time .
The S & P 500 index closed at a record high Tuesday , nearly six months after coronavirus lockdowns that shut down much of the economy sent the markets plunging .
As the market fell deeper into bear territory , the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted four-digit losses on multiple trading days — including a shocking drop of nearly 3,000 points , or 13 % , in a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that automatic circuit breakers kicked in several times , forcing temporary trading halts .
But after plummeting 34 % from its Feb. 19 peak , the S & P 500 has staged a steady recovery — gaining more than 50 % from its low on March 23 .
On Tuesday , the S & P 500 finished at 3,389.78 — an all-time closing high .
The Dow has made a similar rebound — rising about 9,600 points , or 53 % , from its low — but remains about 1,800 points below its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of millions out of work , the economy contracted at a record 32.9 % pace in the second quarter .
After soaring to 14.7 % in April , unemployment fell to a still-high 10.2 % last month .
But investors have been betting on an economic recovery boosted by record-low interest rates and other stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve and Congress .
And yet renewed spikes in coronavirus cases around the country , followed by a new round of lockdowns , have cast doubts on when the recovery will take hold @

The Big Comeback: S&P 500 Closes At Record High 6 Months After Coronavirus Plunge
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. stock market has come a long way in a short time.
The S&P 500 index closed at a record high Tuesday, nearly six months after coronavirus lockdowns that shut down much of the economy sent the markets plunging.
As the market fell deeper into bear territory, the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted four-digit losses on multiple trading days — including a shocking drop of nearly 3,000 points, or 13%, in a single day. Stock prices fell so fast that automatic circuit breakers kicked in several times, forcing temporary trading halts.
But after plummeting 34% from its Feb. 19 peak, the S&P 500 has staged a steady recovery — gaining more than 50% from its low on March 23. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 finished at 3,389.78 — an all-time closing high.
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The Dow has made a similar rebound — rising about 9,600 points, or 53%, from its low — but remains about 1,800 points below its highs.
With countless businesses closed and tens of millions out of work, the economy contracted at a record 32.9% pace in the second quarter. After soaring to 14.7% in April, unemployment fell to a still-high 10.2% last month.
But investors have been betting on an economic recovery boosted by record-low interest rates and other stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve and Congress.
And yet renewed spikes in coronavirus cases around the country, followed by a new round of lockdowns, have cast doubts on when the recovery will take hold.


npr--2020-08-18--NOW President Resigns Amid Allegations Of Creating Toxic Work Environment

Updated at 6:12 p.m .
ET The head of the National Organization for Women will step down following allegations of racist behavior and a toxic work environment at the country 's largest feminist organization .
Toni Van Pelt , who has been NOW 's president for three years , cited health concerns in an email to staff late Sunday for why she will leave the post on Aug. 28 .
Van Pelt 's email , a copy of which was seen by NPR , said that she had been dealing with a `` very painful health issue '' for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me for months to stop working . ''
`` I have been ignoring my doctor 's advice and my health for too long , so I have made the very hard decision to retire and step down as president of NOW , '' she said .
Vice President Christian Nunes is to take over as president , and the organization 's board will search for a new person to fill the No .
2 slot , she added .
The resignation was first reported by The Daily Beast , the website that described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president of Florida NOW , Kim Porteous , said that minutes after Van Pelt 's email landed in her inbox Sunday evening , she received another email from NOW 's national leadership announcing the results of an internal investigation concluding `` governance issues and evidence of a toxic work environment . ''
However , it said that allegations of `` racial discrimination and retribution were not substantiated . ''
NOW , founded in 1966 , says it is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the U.S. , with chapters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. NPR reached out for comment from the national organization , where Van Pelt remains president until her resignation takes effect next week , but received no reply .
A biographical page on NOW 's website describes Van Pelt as an abortion-rights advocate devoted to `` grassroots activism . ''
She was elected NOW president in 2017 with Gilda Yazzie , a member of the Navajo Nation , as her vice president .
It was not long , apparently , before the two women were at odds .
Less than a year after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen staff members wrote a letter to NOW 's board complaining about Van Pelt , saying that among other things , she had told at least two employees that Yazzie was chosen as her running mate only because she needed a woman of color on her ticket , according to The Daily Beast .
The letter further accused Van Pelt of `` erratic and sometimes violent treatment '' of Yazzie , who left her post and later reportedly filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against NOW .
The staffers pointed to other episodes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounted to `` illegal , morally reprehensible , dishonest , destructive , and frankly toxic behavior . ''
Following The Daily Beast 's exposé , at least two dozen state leaders and state councils , along with a majority of members of NOW 's National Board of Directors , called for Van Pelt to step down .
Porteous , the Florida chapter 's president , said she was disappointed that the investigation did not acknowledge racial discrimination , which she said was problematic during Van Pelt 's tenure .
`` This is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was among those who pushed for Van Pelt 's resignation .
`` This is a big victory , '' Porteous wrote in an email to NPR , `` while getting sucker punched at the finish line . ''

NOW President Resigns Amid Allegations Of Creating Toxic Work Environment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shannon Finney/Getty Images Shannon Finney/Getty Images
Updated at 6:12 p.m. ET
The head of the National Organization for Women will step down following allegations of racist behavior and a toxic work environment at the country's largest feminist organization.
Toni Van Pelt, who has been NOW's president for three years, cited health concerns in an email to staff late Sunday for why she will leave the post on Aug. 28.
Van Pelt's email, a copy of which was seen by NPR, said that she had been dealing with a "very painful health issue" for a year and that her doctor "implored me for months to stop working."
"I have been ignoring my doctor's advice and my health for too long, so I have made the very hard decision to retire and step down as president of NOW," she said.
Vice President Christian Nunes is to take over as president, and the organization's board will search for a new person to fill the No. 2 slot, she added.
The resignation was first reported by The Daily Beast, the website that described the racism allegations in a June story.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shannon Finney/Getty Images Shannon Finney/Getty Images
The president of Florida NOW, Kim Porteous, said that minutes after Van Pelt's email landed in her inbox Sunday evening, she received another email from NOW's national leadership announcing the results of an internal investigation concluding "governance issues and evidence of a toxic work environment." However, it said that allegations of "racial discrimination and retribution were not substantiated."
NOW, founded in 1966, says it is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the U.S., with chapters in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
NPR reached out for comment from the national organization, where Van Pelt remains president until her resignation takes effect next week, but received no reply.
A biographical page on NOW's website describes Van Pelt as an abortion-rights advocate devoted to "grassroots activism." She was elected NOW president in 2017 with Gilda Yazzie, a member of the Navajo Nation, as her vice president.
It was not long, apparently, before the two women were at odds.
Less than a year after they were elected, more than a dozen staff members wrote a letter to NOW's board complaining about Van Pelt, saying that among other things, she had told at least two employees that Yazzie was chosen as her running mate only because she needed a woman of color on her ticket, according to The Daily Beast.
The letter further accused Van Pelt of "erratic and sometimes violent treatment" of Yazzie, who left her post and later reportedly filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against NOW.
The staffers pointed to other episodes in Van Pelt's tenure that they said amounted to "illegal, morally reprehensible, dishonest, destructive, and frankly toxic behavior."
Following The Daily Beast's exposé, at least two dozen state leaders and state councils, along with a majority of members of NOW's National Board of Directors, called for Van Pelt to step down.
Porteous, the Florida chapter's president, said she was disappointed that the investigation did not acknowledge racial discrimination, which she said was problematic during Van Pelt's tenure.
"This isn't really the end," said Porteous, who was among those who pushed for Van Pelt's resignation.
"This is a big victory," Porteous wrote in an email to NPR, "while getting sucker punched at the finish line."


npr--2020-08-18--President Of Mali Resigns After Soldiers Mutiny

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita went on state television to announce his resignation after soldiers carried out a mutiny Tuesday .
Soldiers reportedly detained Keita after surrounding his residence .
Demonstrators had taken to the streets , tired of corruption and of a government that seemed unable to tamp down an Islamist insurgency in the West African country .
In the morning , soldiers took over a huge army base outside the capital , Bamako .
By afternoon , local news reported the soldiers had arrested Keita .
France , which has thousands of troops in the country , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The African Union urged the soldiers to release the president and other government officials immediately .
`` I strongly condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian Government and call for their immediate release , '' the AU Commission 's Moussa Faki Mahamat said via Twitter .
Citing a leader of the mutiny who requested anonymity , Agence France-Presse said soldiers detained Keita , along with Prime Minister Boubou Cissé .
Mali 's government released a statement Tuesday saying it is `` following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taking place since this morning in our country , especially in two military camps in the city of Bamako . ''
The statement , signed by Cissé , called for appeasement , adding that the government is available `` to engage in a fraternal dialogue '' to clear up any misunderstandings .
The mutiny was `` unleashed '' in a sociopolitical context that was already complex , according to the Economic Community of West African States , or ECOWAS .
In a statement , the group added that the mutiny came after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to broker a power-sharing agreement in Mali .
The group reiterated its `` firm opposition to any unconstitutional political change '' and asked the military to remain in what it called a `` republican posture . ''
Mali has a long list of political and economic problems , from attacks by jihadist groups to an economy that has struggled since the military staged a coup in late 2012 .
Keita , who is often known simply as IBK , has been in power since 2013 – but calls for his resignation have grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw out many election results , in a move that left Keita 's Rally for Mali party in a strong position in the National Assembly .
This year 's tumultuous parliamentary elections were Mali 's first since 2013 .

President Of Mali Resigns After Soldiers Mutiny
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Updated at 8:25 p.m. ET
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita went on state television to announce his resignation after soldiers carried out a mutiny Tuesday. Soldiers reportedly detained Keita after surrounding his residence.
Demonstrators had taken to the streets, tired of corruption and of a government that seemed unable to tamp down an Islamist insurgency in the West African country.
In the morning, soldiers took over a huge army base outside the capital, Bamako. By afternoon, local news reported the soldiers had arrested Keita.
France, which has thousands of troops in the country, called for maintaining constitutional order in Mali. The African Union urged the soldiers to release the president and other government officials immediately.
"I strongly condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian Government and call for their immediate release," the AU Commission's Moussa Faki Mahamat said via Twitter.
Citing a leader of the mutiny who requested anonymity, Agence France-Presse said soldiers detained Keita, along with Prime Minister Boubou Cissé.
Mali's government released a statement Tuesday saying it is "following with great attention the events that have been taking place since this morning in our country, especially in two military camps in the city of Bamako."
The statement, signed by Cissé, called for appeasement, adding that the government is available "to engage in a fraternal dialogue" to clear up any misunderstandings.
The mutiny was "unleashed" in a sociopolitical context that was already complex, according to the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. In a statement, the group added that the mutiny came after months of efforts by the ECOWAS Commission to broker a power-sharing agreement in Mali.
The group reiterated its "firm opposition to any unconstitutional political change" and asked the military to remain in what it called a "republican posture."
Mali has a long list of political and economic problems, from attacks by jihadist groups to an economy that has struggled since the military staged a coup in late 2012.
Keita, who is often known simply as IBK, has been in power since 2013 – but calls for his resignation have grown since the spring, when a court threw out many election results, in a move that left Keita's Rally for Mali party in a strong position in the National Assembly. This year's tumultuous parliamentary elections were Mali's first since 2013.
NPR East Africa correspondent Eyder Peralta contributed to this report.


npr--2020-08-18--Another Coronavirus Casualty: Florida Tourism

Florida , with some 580-thousand people infected by the coronavirus , ranks behind only California in the total number of cases .
A new report describes the impact the pandemic is having on one of Florida 's most important industries , tourism .
In the second quarter of the year—April , May and June—the state 's tourism agency estimates 60 % fewer people traveled to Florida compared to the same period a year earlier .
That 's a decline of almost 20 million visitors .
Just two years ago , visitors from the U.S. and overseas contributed more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the onset of the coronavirus and the resulting lockdowns , social distancing and travel restrictions , the tourism agency Visit Florida says in the second quarter almost all of the visitors , 98 % , were from the U.S. With international travel largely at a standstill , visitors from overseas declined by 91 % compared with last year .
Even Canadian residents , a mainstay of Florida 's tourist economy , fell by 99 % .
The decline of tourism has had a profound impact on Florida 's economy .
Hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leisure and hospitality sector .
The cratering of tourism is also hurting state and local governments that depend on sales and hotel tax revenues .
Florida 's Office of Economic and Demographic Research says sales tax revenues were down $ 1.6 billion from projections , largely because of the decline of tourism .
Although cases of the coronavirus are now declining in Florida , tourism officials have said it may take years for the industry to rebound .
Demand for hotel rooms remains at less than half of what it was this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reopened , they 've seen low attendance , below the limits set to allow for social distancing .
Disney World announced its reducing hours at its parks next month .
And Universal Orlando recently told guests it will be temporarily closing two of its hotels and moving their bookings to other properties at the resort .

Another Coronavirus Casualty: Florida Tourism
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilfredo Lee/AP Wilfredo Lee/AP
Florida, where some 580,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus, ranks behind only California in the total number of cases. A new report describes the impact the pandemic is having on one of Florida's most important industries, tourism.
In the second quarter of the year — April, May and June — the state's tourism agency estimates 60% fewer people traveled to Florida compared to the same period a year earlier. That's a decline of almost 20 million visitors.
Just two years ago, visitors from the U.S. and overseas contributed more than $90 billion to Florida's economy. With the onset of the coronavirus and the resulting lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions, the tourism agency Visit Florida says in the second quarter almost all of the visitors, 98%, were from the U.S. With international travel largely at a standstill, visitors from overseas declined by 91% compared with last year. Even visits by Canadian residents, a mainstay of Florida's tourist economy, fell by 99%.
The decline of tourism has had a profound impact on Florida's economy. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector. The cratering of tourism is also hurting state and local governments that depend on sales and hotel tax revenues. Florida's Office of Economic and Demographic Research says sales tax revenues were down $1.6 billion from projections, largely because of the decline of tourism.
Although cases of the coronavirus are now declining in Florida, tourism officials have said it may take years for the industry to rebound. Demand for hotel rooms remains at less than half of what it was this time last year. Although theme parks have reopened, they've seen low attendance, below the limits set to allow for social distancing. Disney World announced it's reducing hours at its parks next month. And Universal Orlando recently told guests it will be temporarily closing two of its hotels and moving their bookings to other properties at the resort.


npr--2020-08-18--Amazon Plans More — Not Fewer — Offices In Big Cities

Amazon Plans More — Not Fewer — Offices In Big Cities In a year of mass work from home , Amazon is zagging by funding a big expansion of corporate office space and jobs in six cities .
The company says it 's adding over 905,000 square feet of real estate and 3,500 tech and corporate jobs in Dallas , Detroit , Denver , Phoenix , San Diego and even New York City , whose future as an uber-expensive work hub has been subject to much analysis .
Amazon 's own corporate staff members are allowed to work remotely until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ betting that workers will eventually be eager to return to offices .
Asked about what prompted Amazon to go all-in on physical spaces , a company representative cited the familiar virtues of in-person work , like the spontaneity of collaboration and teamwork , as well as the expected long-term value of added investment in these `` tech hubs . ''
In New York City , where Amazon famously abandoned its plan for a second headquarters , the company now says it plans 2,000 new jobs .
It bought the Lord & Taylor flagship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn the historic space into its own headquarters .
The big expansion comes after Amazon — famous for reinvesting much of its cash — reported an eye-popping $ 5.2 billion in profits from surges in online shopping during the pandemic .
Amazon is also rumored to be in talks with the biggest U.S. mall company to turn some department store spaces into fulfillment centers .
Amazon has already grown to employ more than 1 million permanent and temporary workers globally , mainly staffing its warehouses .
On Tuesday , the company said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of its operations , including the cloud-computing and grocery-delivery businesses , advertising , fashion and smart speakers .
Editor 's note : Amazon is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Amazon Plans More — Not Fewer — Offices In Big Cities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
In a year of mass work from home, Amazon is zagging by funding a big expansion of corporate office space and jobs in six cities.
The company says it's adding over 905,000 square feet of real estate and 3,500 tech and corporate jobs in Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego and even New York City, whose future as an uber-expensive work hub has been subject to much analysis.
Amazon's own corporate staff members are allowed to work remotely until Jan. 8, but the company is betting that workers will eventually be eager to return to offices.
Asked about what prompted Amazon to go all-in on physical spaces, a company representative cited the familiar virtues of in-person work, like the spontaneity of collaboration and teamwork, as well as the expected long-term value of added investment in these "tech hubs."
In New York City, where Amazon famously abandoned its plan for a second headquarters, the company now says it plans 2,000 new jobs. It bought the Lord & Taylor flagship building after WeWork's failed attempt to turn the historic space into its own headquarters.
The big expansion comes after Amazon — famous for reinvesting much of its cash — reported an eye-popping $5.2 billion in profits from surges in online shopping during the pandemic. Amazon is also rumored to be in talks with the biggest U.S. mall company to turn some department store spaces into fulfillment centers.
Amazon has already grown to employ more than 1 million permanent and temporary workers globally, mainly staffing its warehouses. On Tuesday, the company said the new corporate jobs will be across different parts of its operations, including the cloud-computing and grocery-delivery businesses, advertising, fashion and smart speakers.
Editor's note: Amazon is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-08-18--Senate Report: Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort Shared Campaign Info With Russia

Senate Report : Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort Shared Campaign Info With Russia Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort passed internal Trump campaign information to a Russian intelligence officer during the 2016 election , a new bipartisan Senate report concludes .
The findings draw a direct line between the president 's former campaign chairman and Russian intelligence during the 2016 campaign .
Manafort , who was later convicted for financial fraud crimes , briefed Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik on the campaign 's polling data and how the Trump campaign sought to beat Hillary Clinton in the presidential election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` grave counterintelligence threat , '' the report reads , adding that it found evidence the Russian intelligence officer may have been linked to the Russian government 's efforts to hack and leak Democratic Party emails .
The findings are part of the Senate Intelligence Committee 's fifth and final bipartisan report investigating Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election .
This volume is primarily focused on counterintelligence threats and the wide range of Russian attempts to influence both the Trump campaign and the election .
The report builds on special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was consistent with the Mueller Report , it in fact goes further .
The committee found that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind the hack and leak operation that published stolen Democratic Party emails , and that WikiLeaks — the website that published them — played a key role and `` very likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort . ''
The Trump campaign sought to take advantage of those leaks by asking for advance notice of the WikiLeaks disclosures , crafting public relations strategies around them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information and continued leaks . ''
This took place at critical moments of the 2016 campaign , the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded .
For example , when the Trump campaign was made aware that The Washington Post would be publishing a copy of the now-infamous Access Hollywood tape , word got to Trump confidant Roger Stone — who tried to get a message to WikiLeaks through an intermediary so that it would publish hacked Democratic Party emails immediately .
WikiLeaks ultimately published stolen emails approximately 30 minutes after the Access Hollywood story was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the report by saying it was evidence that `` there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign , '' adding its contention that the `` Russia Collusion Hoax is the greatest political scandal in the history of this country . ''
The report also found fault with the FBI : With regard to the hacking of Democratic Party emails , the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that the bureau did not act aggressively enough to warn the Democratic National Committee about the hacking operation .
But it also said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough , and that there was poor communication on both sides .
The report also faulted the FBI for giving `` unjustified credence '' to the information in Christopher Steele 's dossier , a compendium of reporting from a former British intelligence officer .
The dossier , the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded , `` lacked rigor and transparency about the quality of the sourcing . ''
Following the Mueller Report , the fifth and final volume of the Senate Intelligence Committee 's investigation into Russian interference puts something of a lid on years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , there is a bipartisan consensus about the nature of the Russian threat .
Both sides agree that the Russian government meddled in the 2016 election — and are calling for action to protect campaigns from foreign interference in future campaigns .

Senate Report: Former Trump Aide Paul Manafort Shared Campaign Info With Russia
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort passed internal Trump campaign information to a Russian intelligence officer during the 2016 election, a new bipartisan Senate report concludes.
The findings draw a direct line between the president's former campaign chairman and Russian intelligence during the 2016 campaign.
Manafort, who was later convicted for financial fraud crimes, briefed Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik on the campaign's polling data and how the Trump campaign sought to beat Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.
Manafort's connection with Kilimnik was a "grave counterintelligence threat," the report reads, adding that it found evidence the Russian intelligence officer may have been linked to the Russian government's efforts to hack and leak Democratic Party emails.
The findings are part of the Senate Intelligence Committee's fifth and final bipartisan report investigating Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election. This volume is primarily focused on counterintelligence threats and the wide range of Russian attempts to influence both the Trump campaign and the election.
The report builds on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation — and while it was consistent with the Mueller Report, it in fact goes further.
The committee found that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind the hack and leak operation that published stolen Democratic Party emails, and that WikiLeaks — the website that published them — played a key role and "very likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort."
The Trump campaign sought to take advantage of those leaks by asking for advance notice of the WikiLeaks disclosures, crafting public relations strategies around them, and even encouraging "further theft of information and continued leaks."
This took place at critical moments of the 2016 campaign, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded.
For example, when the Trump campaign was made aware that The Washington Post would be publishing a copy of the now-infamous Access Hollywood tape, word got to Trump confidant Roger Stone — who tried to get a message to WikiLeaks through an intermediary so that it would publish hacked Democratic Party emails immediately.
WikiLeaks ultimately published stolen emails approximately 30 minutes after the Access Hollywood story was put online.
The Trump campaign responded to the report by saying it was evidence that "there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign," adding its contention that the "Russia Collusion Hoax is the greatest political scandal in the history of this country."
The report also found fault with the FBI: With regard to the hacking of Democratic Party emails, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that the bureau did not act aggressively enough to warn the Democratic National Committee about the hacking operation.
But it also said that the DNC did not take these warnings seriously enough, and that there was poor communication on both sides.
The report also faulted the FBI for giving "unjustified credence" to the information in Christopher Steele's dossier, a compendium of reporting from a former British intelligence officer. The dossier, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded, "lacked rigor and transparency about the quality of the sourcing."
Following the Mueller Report, the fifth and final volume of the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russian interference puts something of a lid on years of probes into the issue.
From this, there is a bipartisan consensus about the nature of the Russian threat. Both sides agree that the Russian government meddled in the 2016 election — and are calling for action to protect campaigns from foreign interference in future campaigns.


npr--2020-08-18--Belarus Protests Grow As Russia Warns Germany, France Not To Interfere

Belarus Protests Grow As Russia Warns Germany , France Not To Interfere The embattled Belarus government came under increasing pressure Tuesday as demonstrations sparked by a disputed presidential election showed signs of expanding , with more factory workers joining the protests and hundreds of people gathering outside a jail where the husband of the country 's main opposition figure is being held .
The protests began after the Aug. 9 polls in which President Alexander Lukashenko — who has kept a tight rein on the country for more than a quarter-century — claimed a sixth consecutive term amid widespread accusations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country 's security forces have taken a heavy hand with protesters .
The government has acknowledged that some 7,000 people have been arrested .
Videos posted on social media have shown beatings and torture in jails , and some of about 2,000 who have since been released have harrowing tales of detention .
On Tuesday , Lukashenko signed an order awarding 300 medals to law enforcement `` for impeccable service '' during the crackdown .
This week , thousands of factory workers began walking off the job to join the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to address a crowd at a tractor manufacturing plant .
By Tuesday , workers from even more state-controlled companies and factories were joining the protests , including Belaruskali , a factory that produces a fifth of the world 's potash fertilizer .
`` The authorities should understand that they are losing control , '' Yuri Zakharov , the head of the independent miners ' union , told The Associated Press .
`` Only Lukashenko 's resignation and punishment of those in charge of rigging and beatings ( of protesters ) can calm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` [ W ] e will not back down .
The strike will continue and grow until he steps down . ''
Outside the Minsk prison where activist blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky has been held since being barred from standing against Lukashenko in the elections , supporters gathered to wish him well on his 42nd birthday .
Ahead of the Aug. 9 race , Tikhanovsky 's wife , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , stepped in to replace her husband .
Shortly after the announcement of election results , in which the government said Lukashenko had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flee the country .
Initially , she appeared to concede defeat but has since called for international mediation to break the deadlock .
Meanwhile , Russia , Belarus ' closest and most important ally , has offered unspecified security assistance and has put its clout behind a diplomatic effort to take international pressure off Lukashenko .
A Kremlin statement on Tuesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in separate phone calls , informing them that putting pressure on the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she told Putin that freedom of protest in Belarus must be guaranteed .
In yet another potentially provocative move , Lukashenko on Tuesday announced that he had ordered troops deployed to unspecified locations along the country 's western border .
Citing statements made by foreign governments , Lukashenko said in a televised meeting that the units were on full alert .
However , it was n't immediately clear if the troop movements were new or part of planned military exercises that started Monday .
On its western side , Belarus borders Poland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who have expressed concern about the deteriorating situation next door .
Last week , Poland called for a European Union summit on Belarus , and in an interview , Lithuania 's finance minister said doing nothing about the `` lamentable '' situation in Belarus is `` not an option . ''
Latvia 's parliament approved a statement on Tuesday calling for new , internationally monitored elections in Belarus .
NPR 's Lucian Kim in Moscow contributed to this report .

Belarus Protests Grow As Russia Warns Germany, France Not To Interfere
Enlarge this image toggle caption Viktor Drachev/TASS via Getty Images Viktor Drachev/TASS via Getty Images
The embattled Belarus government came under increasing pressure Tuesday as demonstrations sparked by a disputed presidential election showed signs of expanding, with more factory workers joining the protests and hundreds of people gathering outside a jail where the husband of the country's main opposition figure is being held.
The protests began after the Aug. 9 polls in which President Alexander Lukashenko — who has kept a tight rein on the country for more than a quarter-century — claimed a sixth consecutive term amid widespread accusations of massive election fraud.
Since then, the country's security forces have taken a heavy hand with protesters. The government has acknowledged that some 7,000 people have been arrested. Videos posted on social media have shown beatings and torture in jails, and some of about 2,000 who have since been released have harrowing tales of detention. On Tuesday, Lukashenko signed an order awarding 300 medals to law enforcement "for impeccable service" during the crackdown.
This week, thousands of factory workers began walking off the job to join the protests, heckling Lukashenko on Monday as he tried to address a crowd at a tractor manufacturing plant. By Tuesday, workers from even more state-controlled companies and factories were joining the protests, including Belaruskali, a factory that produces a fifth of the world's potash fertilizer.
"The authorities should understand that they are losing control," Yuri Zakharov, the head of the independent miners' union, told The Associated Press. "Only Lukashenko's resignation and punishment of those in charge of rigging and beatings (of protesters) can calm us down."
Zakharov said, "[W]e will not back down. The strike will continue and grow until he steps down."
Outside the Minsk prison where activist blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky has been held since being barred from standing against Lukashenko in the elections, supporters gathered to wish him well on his 42nd birthday.
Ahead of the Aug. 9 race, Tikhanovsky's wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, stepped in to replace her husband. Shortly after the announcement of election results, in which the government said Lukashenko had won a resounding victory, Tikhanovskaya was forced to flee the country. Initially, she appeared to concede defeat but has since called for international mediation to break the deadlock.
Meanwhile, Russia, Belarus' closest and most important ally, has offered unspecified security assistance and has put its clout behind a diplomatic effort to take international pressure off Lukashenko.
A Kremlin statement on Tuesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in separate phone calls, informing them that putting pressure on the government in Minsk was unacceptable. Merkel said she told Putin that freedom of protest in Belarus must be guaranteed.
In yet another potentially provocative move, Lukashenko on Tuesday announced that he had ordered troops deployed to unspecified locations along the country's western border.
Citing statements made by foreign governments, Lukashenko said in a televised meeting that the units were on full alert. However, it wasn't immediately clear if the troop movements were new or part of planned military exercises that started Monday.
On its western side, Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – all three NATO members who have expressed concern about the deteriorating situation next door.
Last week, Poland called for a European Union summit on Belarus, and in an interview, Lithuania's finance minister said doing nothing about the "lamentable" situation in Belarus is "not an option." Latvia's parliament approved a statement on Tuesday calling for new, internationally monitored elections in Belarus.
NPR's Lucian Kim in Moscow contributed to this report.


npr--2020-08-18--Under Trump, More Big Donors Are Named Ambassadors — And Controversies Have Followed

Under Trump , More Big Donors Are Named Ambassadors — And Controversies Have Followed U.S. presidents have a long history of rewarding wealthy political donors with ambassadorships .
Many appointees ably take on the work of diplomacy .
Some others cause controversy .
Jeffrey Ross Gunter , Trump 's ambassador to Iceland , shocked that country — one of the world 's safest — when he advertised earlier this summer for private bodyguards and requested permission to carry a gun .
Trump 's envoy in London , Robert Wood `` Woody '' Johnson IV , who owns the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have asked authorities to hold the British Open , a major golf tournament , at a Trump-owned property in 2018 .
`` I 've worked with some excellent , excellent , professional political ambassadors over the course of my career , '' says Lewis Lukens , a longtime U.S. diplomat who served as Johnson 's second-in-command and left the State Department last year .
`` But I will say that Donald Trump not only has a higher percentage of political ambassadors , but has a higher percentage of ambassadors who do n't seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work . ''
Usually , about two-thirds of U.S. ambassadors come from the Foreign Service and the rest are political appointees .
In the Trump administration , however , the proportion of political appointees is higher than usual .
Career diplomats now make up just 57 % of the ambassadorial posts .
When it comes to the administration 's political appointees , the State Department is trying to brush off any controversies .
When the U.S. Embassy in London came up for a regular review , the department 's inspector general 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexist and racist remarks .
Lukens describes the remarks as `` inappropriate comments about women 's looks and women in the workplace and some racially insensitive comments over the course of many , many months . ''
In preparing for a Black History Month event , Johnson appeared `` agitated '' and wondered aloud whether he would be speaking to `` a whole bunch of Black people , '' according to CNN .
The inspector general 's report , issued last week , calls for further investigation into the ambassador 's management of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was for further examination of Johnson 's alleged remarks — but the State Department responded that it is unnecessary because `` the Ambassador has viewed the Office of Civil Rights video on workplace harassment and has instructed all section and agency heads to do the same . ''
Johnson is a `` valued member of the team , who has led Mission U.K. honorably and professionally , '' a State Department spokesperson who did not want to be named tells NPR .
The inspector general 's report did not address the controversy around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he spoke to Johnson about lobbying the U.K. to move the golf tournament to his property in Scotland , and the British government has stated , `` Johnson made no request regarding the British Open or any other sporting event . ''
But Lukens tells NPR that the ambassador did raise the request with British officials — even though Lukens had warned him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules .
`` The ambassador came to me the morning after a visit to Washington where he had met the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me to push the British government to host the British Open at his golf course in Turnberry , ' '' Lukens tells NPR .
`` The British government does n't control where the British Open is , anyway , but clearly the ambassador felt pressure from the president to deliver something , '' says Lukens , who is now with the Signum Global Advisors consulting firm .
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee 's Democratic staff issued a blistering report last month about Trump 's State Department , noting an environment of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career public servants have found themselves under attack . ''
`` President Trump has sent his nominees to represent the American people abroad who have misled Congress , who have made offensive and racist statements , whose résumés would not have even made it through a first round of vetting in any other administration , '' the ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee , New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez , said as the report was issued .
Now Douglas Macgregor , a retired U.S. Army colonel and Trump 's nominee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from both Republicans and Democrats , according to a senior congressional aide who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to speak to journalists on the record .
The opposition is due to Macgregor 's isolationist views and remarks that the American Jewish Committee has called `` incendiary , '' the aide says .
`` America is an extreme outlier in sending inexperienced people abroad to serve as ambassadors , '' says Barbara Stephenson , a former U.S. ambassador and career diplomat who once ran the American Foreign Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomats .
It is often up to U.S. embassies ' top career officials — the deputy chiefs of mission — to help diplomatic newcomers run embassies and adjust to their new job .
But Lukens says many Trump appointees see career professionals as part of a `` deep state , '' not to be trusted .
Deputy chiefs of mission `` have been dismissed or reassigned at U.S. embassies in Canada , Iceland , Romania , France , the United Kingdom , and South Africa , '' according to the Senate Foreign Relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa , Ambassador Lana Marks , a handbag designer and a member at Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort , wanted to make her son a sort of chief of staff , Lukens says .
After her deputy warned there were nepotism rules against it , she forced him out , Lukens says .
( Foreign Policy reports that the embassy said the deputy 's departure was a `` separate issue . ''
) When Gunter , a California dermatologist and Republican political donor , took up his post as U.S. ambassador to Iceland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had spent months learning Icelandic to prepare for the job , CBS News reported .
Gunter has had seven deputies in the year he has been in his post , which is costly and disruptive for the State Department .
Officials have declined to comment about this or about reports of him wanting to carry a gun and hire private guards .
Iceland 's national police commissioner told The Associated Press , `` We are still weighing the request and assessing the level of potential threat for foreign embassies in Iceland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriately span administrations and political parties .
Cynthia Stroum , for example — a Democratic donor who served as President Barack Obama 's ambassador to Luxembourg — resigned in 2011 , just before an official review found that she bullied embassy staff and engaged in financial improprieties such as expensing a purchase of a new mattress .
The proportion of career diplomats nominated as ambassadors could rise again if presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins November 's election .
But Biden has made no promises about ending the practice of appointing political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has committed to filling diplomatic postings with qualified individuals who understand the world and America 's role in it , '' says Andrew Bates , a campaign spokesperson .

Under Trump, More Big Donors Are Named Ambassadors — And Controversies Have Followed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
U.S. presidents have a long history of rewarding wealthy political donors with ambassadorships. Many appointees ably take on the work of diplomacy. Some others cause controversy.
Jeffrey Ross Gunter, Trump's ambassador to Iceland, shocked that country — one of the world's safest — when he advertised earlier this summer for private bodyguards and requested permission to carry a gun. Trump's envoy in London, Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV, who owns the New York Jets NFL team, is said to have asked authorities to hold the British Open, a major golf tournament, at a Trump-owned property in 2018.
"I've worked with some excellent, excellent, professional political ambassadors over the course of my career," says Lewis Lukens, a longtime U.S. diplomat who served as Johnson's second-in-command and left the State Department last year. "But I will say that Donald Trump not only has a higher percentage of political ambassadors, but has a higher percentage of ambassadors who don't seem to be temperamentally or intellectually suited for the work."
Usually, about two-thirds of U.S. ambassadors come from the Foreign Service and the rest are political appointees. In the Trump administration, however, the proportion of political appointees is higher than usual. Career diplomats now make up just 57% of the ambassadorial posts.
When it comes to the administration's political appointees, the State Department is trying to brush off any controversies.
Politics How Much Do Ambassadors Who Were Political Donors Actually Influence Foreign Policy? How Much Do Ambassadors Who Were Political Donors Actually Influence Foreign Policy? Listen · 3:54 3:54
When the U.S. Embassy in London came up for a regular review, the department's inspector general's office heard complaints that Johnson had made sexist and racist remarks.
Lukens describes the remarks as "inappropriate comments about women's looks and women in the workplace and some racially insensitive comments over the course of many, many months."
In preparing for a Black History Month event, Johnson appeared "agitated" and wondered aloud whether he would be speaking to "a whole bunch of Black people," according to CNN.
The inspector general's report, issued last week, calls for further investigation into the ambassador's management of the London embassy. Its first recommendation was for further examination of Johnson's alleged remarks — but the State Department responded that it is unnecessary because "the Ambassador has viewed the Office of Civil Rights video on workplace harassment and has instructed all section and agency heads to do the same."
Johnson is a "valued member of the team, who has led Mission U.K. honorably and professionally," a State Department spokesperson who did not want to be named tells NPR.
The inspector general's report did not address the controversy around the British Open.
Trump has denied that he spoke to Johnson about lobbying the U.K. to move the golf tournament to his property in Scotland, and the British government has stated, "Johnson made no request regarding the British Open or any other sporting event."
But Lukens tells NPR that the ambassador did raise the request with British officials — even though Lukens had warned him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules.
"The ambassador came to me the morning after a visit to Washington where he had met the president. And he said, 'The president would like me to push the British government to host the British Open at his golf course in Turnberry,'" Lukens tells NPR.
"The British government doesn't control where the British Open is, anyway, but clearly the ambassador felt pressure from the president to deliver something," says Lukens, who is now with the Signum Global Advisors consulting firm.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Democratic staff issued a blistering report last month about Trump's State Department, noting an environment of "chaos and mismanagement" in which "career public servants have found themselves under attack."
"President Trump has sent his nominees to represent the American people abroad who have misled Congress, who have made offensive and racist statements, whose résumés would not have even made it through a first round of vetting in any other administration," the ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, said as the report was issued.
Now Douglas Macgregor, a retired U.S. Army colonel and Trump's nominee for ambassador to Germany, is facing opposition from both Republicans and Democrats, according to a senior congressional aide who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to speak to journalists on the record. The opposition is due to Macgregor's isolationist views and remarks that the American Jewish Committee has called "incendiary," the aide says.
"America is an extreme outlier in sending inexperienced people abroad to serve as ambassadors," says Barbara Stephenson, a former U.S. ambassador and career diplomat who once ran the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents U.S. diplomats.
It is often up to U.S. embassies' top career officials — the deputy chiefs of mission — to help diplomatic newcomers run embassies and adjust to their new job. But Lukens says many Trump appointees see career professionals as part of a "deep state," not to be trusted.
Deputy chiefs of mission "have been dismissed or reassigned at U.S. embassies in Canada, Iceland, Romania, France, the United Kingdom, and South Africa," according to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Democratic staff report.
In South Africa, Ambassador Lana Marks, a handbag designer and a member at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, wanted to make her son a sort of chief of staff, Lukens says. After her deputy warned there were nepotism rules against it, she forced him out, Lukens says. (Foreign Policy reports that the embassy said the deputy's departure was a "separate issue.")
When Gunter, a California dermatologist and Republican political donor, took up his post as U.S. ambassador to Iceland, he refused to accept his deputy, who had spent months learning Icelandic to prepare for the job, CBS News reported.
Gunter has had seven deputies in the year he has been in his post, which is costly and disruptive for the State Department. Officials have declined to comment about this or about reports of him wanting to carry a gun and hire private guards. Iceland's national police commissioner told The Associated Press, "We are still weighing the request and assessing the level of potential threat for foreign embassies in Iceland."
Instances of political appointees behaving inappropriately span administrations and political parties. Cynthia Stroum, for example — a Democratic donor who served as President Barack Obama's ambassador to Luxembourg — resigned in 2011, just before an official review found that she bullied embassy staff and engaged in financial improprieties such as expensing a purchase of a new mattress.
The proportion of career diplomats nominated as ambassadors could rise again if presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins November's election. But Biden has made no promises about ending the practice of appointing political donors to ambassadorships. "Vice President Biden has committed to filling diplomatic postings with qualified individuals who understand the world and America's role in it," says Andrew Bates, a campaign spokesperson.


npr--2020-08-18--St. Louis Couple Who Waved Guns At Black Lives Matter Protesters To Speak At RNC

St. Louis Couple Who Waved Guns At Black Lives Matter Protesters To Speak At RNC The white St. Louis couple who attracted national attention for brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in June will be back in the spotlight next week , this time as speakers at the Republican National Convention .
Joel Schwartz , one of the lawyers for Mark and Patricia McCloskey , confirmed to NPR Tuesday the couple has been invited to take part , but it remains unclear on what day , as final details are still being worked out .
Another attorney , Albert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` ongoing contact with the White House '' since the June 28 incident and President Trump 's chief of staff Mark Meadows reached out to the couple .
The couple will be joining the RNC remotely via video link , Watkins says .
Officials with the RNC did not immediately return NPR 's request for comment .
The McCloskeys face felony charges for waving firearms `` in a threatening manner '' at demonstrators as they marched through the couple 's neighborhood en route to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both attorneys , said they armed themselves because they felt threatened by the protesters .
Images of the incident went viral on social media .
President Trump also retweeted an ABC News video on June 29 , without comment , showing Mark McCloskey holding a black semi-automatic rifle and his wife holding a silver pistol .
The couple were shouting at protesters as they walked by their home .
In the clip , several protesters can be seen recording the couple with their cellphones as drumming and chants of `` Let 's go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for the city of St. Louis , Kimberly Gardner , announced last month that both of the McCloskeys face one charge of unlawful use of a weapon , which is a class E felony .
`` It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest , and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force , this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis , '' Gardner said in a statement .
The incident has drawn both ire from Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment activists .
It has also attracted the attention of several Republicans who railed against charges brought by the city of St. Louis .
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, tweeted after the charges were announced , `` This is an outrageous abuse of power . ''
Hawley also said the case should be dismissed , while also calling for an investigation into the office that brought charges .
`` Dozens of violent criminals go free but homeowners facing trespassers on their own property are prosecuted .
All the more reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit Attorney 's Office , '' Hawley tweeted .
Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson , a Republican , has floated the idea of pardoning the McCloskeys should they be convicted , according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .

St. Louis Couple Who Waved Guns At Black Lives Matter Protesters To Speak At RNC
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images
The white St. Louis couple who attracted national attention for brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in June will be back in the spotlight next week, this time as speakers at the Republican National Convention.
Joel Schwartz, one of the lawyers for Mark and Patricia McCloskey, confirmed to NPR Tuesday the couple has been invited to take part, but it remains unclear on what day, as final details are still being worked out.
Another attorney, Albert Watkins, tells NPR there has been "ongoing contact with the White House" since the June 28 incident and President Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows reached out to the couple.
The couple will be joining the RNC remotely via video link, Watkins says.
Officials with the RNC did not immediately return NPR's request for comment.
The McCloskeys face felony charges for waving firearms "in a threatening manner" at demonstrators as they marched through the couple's neighborhood en route to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, who lives nearby.
The couple, both attorneys, said they armed themselves because they felt threatened by the protesters. Images of the incident went viral on social media.
President Trump also retweeted an ABC News video on June 29, without comment, showing Mark McCloskey holding a black semi-automatic rifle and his wife holding a silver pistol. The couple were shouting at protesters as they walked by their home.
In the clip, several protesters can be seen recording the couple with their cellphones as drumming and chants of "Let's go" can be heard.
A circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, Kimberly Gardner, announced last month that both of the McCloskeys face one charge of unlawful use of a weapon, which is a class E felony.
"It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis," Gardner said in a statement.
The incident has drawn both ire from Black Lives Matter supporters and praise from Second Amendment activists.
It has also attracted the attention of several Republicans who railed against charges brought by the city of St. Louis. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., tweeted after the charges were announced, "This is an outrageous abuse of power."
Hawley also said the case should be dismissed, while also calling for an investigation into the office that brought charges.
"Dozens of violent criminals go free but homeowners facing trespassers on their own property are prosecuted. All the more reason for a SEARCHING Justice Dept investigation of the Circuit Attorney's Office," Hawley tweeted.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, has floated the idea of pardoning the McCloskeys should they be convicted, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.


npr--2020-08-19--Looking For A Comfort Drink For The Pandemic? Kenyans Love Their Fruity, Gingery Dawa

Looking For A Comfort Drink For The Pandemic ?
Kenyans Love Their Fruity , Gingery Dawa These days , downtown Nairobi feels almost back to normal after Kenya 's lockdown lifted in July .
People are back on the streets navigating broken sidewalks — and alongside them are thousands of hawkers .
They 're selling face masks and hand sanitizer — and dawa — fruit and herbal juices that Kenyans imbibe to treat all kinds of ailments .
Dawa means medicine in Kiswahili .
If you 've come down with a little cold , you could drink a warm one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you 're heartbroken or feeling down , a spicy one could do the trick .
People even drink dawa to relieve toothaches .
It 's kind of like the hot cup of tea that we drink here in the States when we are feeling a bit under the weather .
Many Kenyans hope dawa can ward off COVID-19.The drinks have become so popular in the city that the ladies who sell vegetables on the streets now arrange some of the dawa ingredients — lemon , ginger and garlic — in pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can take home and juice yourself .
While in the United States , demand for toilet paper , hand sanitizer and masks drove up prices , in Kenya it 's the price of limes and lemons that has doubled on the streets because of dawa , according to wholesalers and street vendors .
At the big bus station in downtown Nairobi , there are a handful of stands that sell dawa to commuters .
Vendor Peter Waichire keeps his special drink in a juice fountain , a plastic container that moves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is made out of sugarcane , ginger , lime , turmeric and mint , '' he says .
He proudly claims he is the only one who uses no water , just sugarcane juice to mix his drink .
He says commuters who 'd turn to his drink when they had a cold are now hoping it 'll ward off coronavirus .
A few stands down , Monica Muthuma has been selling fruits , vegetables and dawa for five years now .
At the beginning of the pandemic when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , things were tough .
There were few commuters , so she did n't even make enough for bus fare .
But once Kenyans returned to work and buses started running again in early July , business picked up and her dawa has taken center stage .
`` Now it is the most-selling thing here in this shop , '' she says .
Muthuma makes her dawa in a kitchen at the back of her store .
She takes out two pitchers .
Out of one , she spoons out aloe vera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pours out a ginger mixture .
A few spoonfuls of the ginger makes the dawa a bit spicy .
But for COVID-19 , she says the drink needs to be fiercer .
So , she pours out more ginger , like a bartender who wants a good tip .
`` That will make you cry , '' she jokes .
The drink does burn going down .
But does it mean a person wo n't get the coronavirus , this reporter asks .
`` I think it 's just a thing that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are Kenyans — we believe in everything .
We believe in dawa for everything . ''
Kenya has actually taken the coronavirus pandemic seriously .
Almost everyone wears a mask .
Buses are running at half capacity .
Health officials are quick to bat down false information .
So Muthuma and many Kenyans know dawa does n't cure COVID-19 .
But at a time when so much seems out of our control , a dawa has become the perfect comfort .

Looking For A Comfort Drink For The Pandemic? Kenyans Love Their Fruity, Gingery Dawa
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eyder Peralta/ NPR Eyder Peralta/ NPR
These days, downtown Nairobi feels almost back to normal after Kenya's lockdown lifted in July. People are back on the streets navigating broken sidewalks — and alongside them are thousands of hawkers.
They're selling face masks and hand sanitizer — and dawa — fruit and herbal juices that Kenyans imbibe to treat all kinds of ailments.
Dawa means medicine in Kiswahili. If you've come down with a little cold, you could drink a warm one smothered in honey to soothe your throat. If you're heartbroken or feeling down, a spicy one could do the trick. People even drink dawa to relieve toothaches. It's kind of like the hot cup of tea that we drink here in the States when we are feeling a bit under the weather.
Many Kenyans hope dawa can ward off COVID-19.The drinks have become so popular in the city that the ladies who sell vegetables on the streets now arrange some of the dawa ingredients — lemon, ginger and garlic — in pretty triangles, like a potent trinity that you can take home and juice yourself.
While in the United States, demand for toilet paper, hand sanitizer and masks drove up prices, in Kenya it's the price of limes and lemons that has doubled on the streets because of dawa, according to wholesalers and street vendors.
At the big bus station in downtown Nairobi, there are a handful of stands that sell dawa to commuters.
Vendor Peter Waichire keeps his special drink in a juice fountain, a plastic container that moves the juice around so it won't settle.
"It is made out of sugarcane, ginger, lime, turmeric and mint," he says. He proudly claims he is the only one who uses no water, just sugarcane juice to mix his drink.
He says commuters who'd turn to his drink when they had a cold are now hoping it'll ward off coronavirus.
A few stands down, Monica Muthuma has been selling fruits, vegetables and dawa for five years now. At the beginning of the pandemic when the government shut down the country, she says, things were tough. There were few commuters, so she didn't even make enough for bus fare.
But once Kenyans returned to work and buses started running again in early July, business picked up and her dawa has taken center stage.
"Now it is the most-selling thing here in this shop," she says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eyder Peralta/ NPR Eyder Peralta/ NPR
Muthuma makes her dawa in a kitchen at the back of her store. She takes out two pitchers. Out of one, she spoons out aloe vera; out of the other, she pours out a ginger mixture.
A few spoonfuls of the ginger makes the dawa a bit spicy. But for COVID-19, she says the drink needs to be fiercer. So, she pours out more ginger, like a bartender who wants a good tip.
"That will make you cry," she jokes.
The drink does burn going down. But does it mean a person won't get the coronavirus, this reporter asks.
"I think it's just a thing that we believe," she says. "We are Kenyans — we believe in everything. We believe in dawa for everything."
Kenya has actually taken the coronavirus pandemic seriously. Almost everyone wears a mask. Buses are running at half capacity. Health officials are quick to bat down false information.
So Muthuma and many Kenyans know dawa doesn't cure COVID-19. But at a time when so much seems out of our control, a dawa has become the perfect comfort.


npr--2020-08-19--Yep, Masks And Protective Gear Are Still Hard To Get — Especially For Small Buyers

Yep , Masks And Protective Gear Are Still Hard To Get — Especially For Small Buyers At the height of summer , temperatures climb to nearly 100 degrees most days in Pharr , a small city in South Texas .
Nonetheless , nurse practitioner Oralia Martinez and her staff have set up a temporary exam room outside her small clinic .
This is their way of preserving masks and other personal protective equipment as they treat COVID-19 patients in the Rio Grande Valley , where infections are spiking .
While Martinez and her colleagues sweat in full gear outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinic are n't exposed and do n't need as much PPE .
`` It 's been very challenging for me , you know , seeing patients outside in this kind of heat , running my own practice , trying to keep employees , trying to keep them safe , '' Martinez said .
`` Here in Texas , it has hit really , really hard , and we do n't have enough PPE to go around . ''
Six months into the coronavirus pandemic , some schools are reopening .
Dentists and family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses are getting back to work .
And they 're all confronting a familiar problem : Masks and other personal protective equipment can still be hard to come by .
Just like in March , when coronavirus cases spiked for the first time , some workers and employers across the country continue to face PPE shortages .
Masks , gloves , gowns , thermometers and other equipment are scarce .
Demand has remained high , and prices have , too .
Now it 's not just hospitals , states and federal officials vying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a lot of buying power — from cash-strapped school districts to independent medical practices — are entering the market .
`` The dramatically increased demand is not going away anytime soon , '' says Dr. Susan Bailey , president of the American Medical Association .
`` Churches , schools , businesses , everyone that 's trying to reopen needs PPE , and we 're all competing for the same small supply . ''
The AMA has called repeatedly for a comprehensive federal response on the level of the Manhattan Project , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear weapons during World War II .
The medical association says that should include a federal database to track where there are shortages and suppliers who can meet the demand .
The Trump administration has not done that .
Instead , back in the spring , the administration launched Project Airbridge , which airlifted PPE from overseas before winding down in June .
The administration also ordered some domestic manufacturers to ramp up production .
The administration insists that continued complaints about shortages are exaggerated .
White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called reports about doctors on the front lines not being able to get masks `` hysterical . ''
`` We created Project Airbridge .
We were able to bring in from Asia ... hundreds of millions of masks , '' Kushner said .
`` We started domestic production by using the Defense Production Act . ''
`` So the federal government has done a lot to stimulate the supply , '' he said .
The supply crunch has eased for some buyers .
For instance , big hospital chains with deep pockets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE .
But smaller buyers say they 're still struggling to get what they need .
`` Many manufacturers are asking that you buy 50,000 or 100,000 units of masks or gowns or gloves .
A little clinic does n't need that many units , and they ca n't afford it , '' said Dr. Megan Ranney , an emergency physician who teaches at Brown University .
`` So it really puts PPE out of the reach of the providers that are working in the hardest hit areas . ''
Ranney co-founded GetUsPPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply donated PPE to health care workers who still need it , including smaller assisted living facilities and community health centers .
`` The PPE shortage , unfortunately , is not going away , and the PPE that is available remains far too expensive for many communities , '' Ranney said .
Some schools that are opening their doors to in-person education this fall are also struggling to find enough PPE .
'The federal government should be coordinating this' Robin Cogan , who writes The Relentless School Nurse blog , said her school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having trouble sourcing protective gear for teachers and staff .
She said she 's heard from fellow school nurses in other cash-strapped districts who have been told to provide their own PPE when classes resume .
`` We should not be asking our first responders , who are the school nurses , to get their own equipment .
To me , that 's unconscionable , '' Cogan said .
Cogan said she 's shocked that the PPE shortage has lasted as long as it has .
And she 's not the only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're having to fight to get PPE , '' said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer , a primary care physician with a small office in Atlanta .
Fryhofer said she was able to buy some N95 respirator masks through a bulk order organized by the AMA and others .
Since then , she 's been conserving masks by hanging them in paper bags from a clothesline in the back of her office , and then reusing them .
`` The federal government should be coordinating this .
Access to PPE should not be a problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The small practices have been totally left out and it did n't have to be that way .
All it would take is a national coordinated effort to make and distribute PPE , '' she said , `` to make sure we have enough not just for today , but also for tomorrow . ''

Yep, Masks And Protective Gear Are Still Hard To Get — Especially For Small Buyers
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
At the height of summer, temperatures climb to nearly 100 degrees most days in Pharr, a small city in South Texas. Nonetheless, nurse practitioner Oralia Martinez and her staff have set up a temporary exam room outside her small clinic.
This is their way of preserving masks and other personal protective equipment as they treat COVID-19 patients in the Rio Grande Valley, where infections are spiking. While Martinez and her colleagues sweat in full gear outside, the staffers and other patients inside the clinic aren't exposed and don't need as much PPE.
"It's been very challenging for me, you know, seeing patients outside in this kind of heat, running my own practice, trying to keep employees, trying to keep them safe," Martinez said. "Here in Texas, it has hit really, really hard, and we don't have enough PPE to go around."
Six months into the coronavirus pandemic, some schools are reopening. Dentists and family doctors are seeing patients again. More businesses are getting back to work.
And they're all confronting a familiar problem: N95 respirator masks and other personal protective equipment can still be hard to come by.
Just like in March, when coronavirus cases spiked for the first time, some workers and employers across the country continue to face PPE shortages. Respirator masks, gloves, gowns, thermometers and other equipment are scarce. Demand has remained high, and prices have, too.
Churches, schools, businesses compete for same small supply
Now it's not just hospitals, states and federal officials vying for the same PPE. Smaller operations without a lot of buying power — from cash-strapped school districts to independent medical practices — are entering the market.
"The dramatically increased demand is not going away anytime soon," says Dr. Susan Bailey, president of the American Medical Association. "Churches, schools, businesses, everyone that's trying to reopen needs PPE, and we're all competing for the same small supply."
The AMA has called repeatedly for a comprehensive federal response on the level of the Manhattan Project, the massive research project that developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The medical association says such a response should include a federal database to track where there are shortages and suppliers that can meet the demand.
The Trump administration has not done that. Instead, back in the spring, the administration launched Project Airbridge, which airlifted PPE from overseas; it wound down in June. The administration also ordered some domestic manufacturers to ramp up production.
The administration insists that continued complaints about shortages are exaggerated. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, in an interview with CNBC this week, called reports about doctors on the front lines not being able to get masks "hysterical."
"We created Project Airbridge. We were able to bring in from Asia ... hundreds of millions of masks," Kushner said. "We started domestic production by using the Defense Production Act."
"So the federal government has done a lot to stimulate the supply," he said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
Deep pockets amass stockpiles of PPE as small buyers struggle
The supply crunch has eased for some buyers. For instance, big hospital chains with deep pockets have been able to amass stockpiles of PPE. But smaller buyers say they're still struggling to get what they need.
"Many manufacturers are asking that you buy 50,000 or 100,000 units of masks or gowns or gloves. A little clinic doesn't need that many units, and they can't afford it," said Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician who teaches at Brown University. "So it really puts PPE out of the reach of the providers that are working in the hardest hit areas."
Ranney co-founded GetUsPPE, a nonprofit created in March to supply donated PPE to health care workers who still need it, including smaller assisted living facilities and community health centers.
"The PPE shortage, unfortunately, is not going away, and the PPE that is available remains far too expensive for many communities," Ranney said.
Some schools that are opening their doors to in-person education this fall are also struggling to find enough PPE.
'The federal government should be coordinating this'
Robin Cogan, who writes The Relentless School Nurse blog, said her school district in Camden, N.J., is having trouble sourcing protective gear for teachers and staff. She said she has heard from fellow school nurses in other cash-strapped districts who have been told to provide their own PPE when classes resume.
"We should not be asking our first responders, who are the school nurses, to get their own equipment. To me, that's unconscionable," Cogan said.
Cogan said she's shocked that the PPE shortage has lasted as long as it has. And she's not the only one.
"It is unbelievable that we're having to fight to get PPE," said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, a primary care physician with a small office in Atlanta.
Fryhofer said she was able to buy some N95 respirator masks through a bulk order organized by the AMA and others. Since then, she has been conserving masks by hanging them in paper bags from a clothesline in the back of her office and then reusing them.
"The federal government should be coordinating this. Access to PPE should not be a problem during a pandemic," Fryhofer said.
"The small practices have been totally left out and it didn't have to be that way. All it would take is a national coordinated effort to make and distribute PPE," she said, "to make sure we have enough not just for today, but also for tomorrow."