npr--2020-12-30--In 2020, Protests Spread Across The Globe With A Similar Message: Black Lives Matter

In 2020 , Protests Spread Across The Globe With A Similar Message : Black Lives Matter The Black Lives Matter movement became an international phenomenon in 2020 .
As protesters took to the streets in cities across the U.S. in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd , a Black man in Minneapolis , Minn. , so did demonstrators in other countries — all with a similar message : Black lives matter .
`` There is a George Floyd in every country , '' South Africa-based journalist Lynsey Chutel tells NPR 's David Greene during a recent roundtable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's roundtable are Ana Luisa González , a freelance journalist based in Colombia and Febriana Firdaus , a freelance investigative journalist based in Indonesia .
[ To hear the conversation , press the audio button above . ]
Demonstrations spread across Colombia in June .
They were sparked by the May killing of a young Black man named Anderson Arboleda in Puerto Tejada , who was allegedly beaten to death by police for breaking pandemic rules .
Activists called for justice for Arboleda and other young Afro-Latino men killed by police .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vidas Negras Importan — of Black Lives Matter , were young Afro-Colombians who wanted to speak out against police brutality and structural racism , '' Gonzales says .
Like much of Latin America , Spanish colonialism informs many societal divisions in Colombia today , she says .
Yet , most Colombians do n't seem to want to talk about racism and colorism , she says .
In the most recent census , a majority of Colombians identified as `` no race '' and `` until we acknowledge this debate , we ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In South Africa , demonstrators came together following the police killing of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies , a boy of mixed heritage with Down syndrome .
Julies was shot and killed in August by police near his home in a neighborhood of Soweto allegedly for being outside his home during a pandemic lockdown .
Chutel says that in the days after young people marched to the police station out of a sense of `` deep frustration with this police station and the police force in general who are able to behave with impunity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ system that was used as the foot soldiers of the apartheid regime , where even though now the police are Black and the communities are Black the culture of policing it still very much that authoritarian , militarized policing system , '' says Chutel .
She says that while protesters directly borrowed some language from the U.S.-based Black Lives Matter Movement , they also made their message uniquely South African by incorporating the phrase `` Colored Lives Matter . ''
The word colored , she explains , is an old apartheid segregationist term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Africa .
Activists in Indonesia inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement also made the message their own .
The phrase # AllPapuanLivesMatter went viral , calling attention to the decades-long secessionist movement in West Papua , which has created tensions between the minority Papuans and ethnic Javanese-majority in the country .
`` It 's hard for West Papuans to find a rent house [ sic ] because they always get rejected , '' Firdaus says .
`` The landlord literally says it 's because they are Black and they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Firdaus says ever since Jakarta took control of West Papua from the Dutch in the 1960s as part of the New York Agreement , Indonesia has never allowed Papuans to integrate fully into society .
But the # PapuaLivesMatter message might be a turning point `` because many young Indonesians right now feel they are emotionally involved with this issue , '' Firdaus says .
To hear the conversation , press the audio button above .
Ashley Westerman edited and Ryan Benk produced the broadcast version of this story .

In 2020, Protests Spread Across The Globe With A Similar Message: Black Lives Matter
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gallo Images via Getty Images Gallo Images via Getty Images
The Black Lives Matter movement became an international phenomenon in 2020. As protesters took to the streets in cities across the U.S. in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, Minn., so did demonstrators in other countries — all with a similar message: Black lives matter.
"There is a George Floyd in every country," South Africa-based journalist Lynsey Chutel tells NPR's David Greene during a recent roundtable interview.
Joining Chutel for Morning Edition's roundtable are Ana Luisa González, a freelance journalist based in Colombia and Febriana Firdaus, a freelance investigative journalist based in Indonesia. [To hear the conversation, press the audio button above.]
Demonstrations spread across Colombia in June. They were sparked by the May killing of a young Black man named Anderson Arboleda in Puerto Tejada, who was allegedly beaten to death by police for breaking pandemic rules. Activists called for justice for Arboleda and other young Afro-Latino men killed by police.
"This message of this movement — Las Vidas Negras Importan — of Black Lives Matter, were young Afro-Colombians who wanted to speak out against police brutality and structural racism," Gonzales says. Like much of Latin America, Spanish colonialism informs many societal divisions in Colombia today, she says.
Yet, most Colombians don't seem to want to talk about racism and colorism, she says. In the most recent census, a majority of Colombians identified as "no race" and "until we acknowledge this debate, we can't change things," Gonzales says.
In South Africa, demonstrators came together following the police killing of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies, a boy of mixed heritage with Down syndrome. Julies was shot and killed in August by police near his home in a neighborhood of Soweto allegedly for being outside his home during a pandemic lockdown. Chutel says that in the days after young people marched to the police station out of a sense of "deep frustration with this police station and the police force in general who are able to behave with impunity."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Candra Wijaya/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Candra Wijaya/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
"If you have a police system that was used as the foot soldiers of the apartheid regime, where even though now the police are Black and the communities are Black the culture of policing it still very much that authoritarian, militarized policing system," says Chutel. She says that while protesters directly borrowed some language from the U.S.-based Black Lives Matter Movement, they also made their message uniquely South African by incorporating the phrase "Colored Lives Matter." The word colored, she explains, is an old apartheid segregationist term used to describe someone of mixed heritage in South Africa.
Activists in Indonesia inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement also made the message their own. The phrase #AllPapuanLivesMatter went viral, calling attention to the decades-long secessionist movement in West Papua, which has created tensions between the minority Papuans and ethnic Javanese-majority in the country.
"It's hard for West Papuans to find a rent house [sic] because they always get rejected," Firdaus says. "The landlord literally says it's because they are Black and they are Christian. We are majority Muslim."
Firdaus says ever since Jakarta took control of West Papua from the Dutch in the 1960s as part of the New York Agreement, Indonesia has never allowed Papuans to integrate fully into society. But the #PapuaLivesMatter message might be a turning point "because many young Indonesians right now feel they are emotionally involved with this issue," Firdaus says.
To hear the conversation, press the audio button above.
Ashley Westerman edited and Ryan Benk produced the broadcast version of this story.


npr--2020-12-30--Farmers Got A Government Bailout In 2020, Even Those Who Didn't Need It

Farmers Got A Government Bailout In 2020 , Even Those Who Did n't Need It Back in the spring , farmers who raise pigs were in a panic .
Many major customers , such as food service companies that supply restaurants , were n't buying pork .
Prices had fallen sharply .
Some hog farmers had no place to ship their animals , because so many workers in pork processing plants got sick from COVID-19 .
`` Our folks need a lifeline , '' said Nick Giordano , top lobbyist for the National Pork Producers Council , on a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a large cash infusion from the federal government , we 're going to lose a lot of producers . ''
Other farmers also demanded government aid .
They got their wish .
Congress approved about $ 35 billion in emergency aid to farmers , which came on top of roughly $ 10 billion in traditional farm subsidies that were already in place .
In addition , farmers were able to tap billions of dollars in funding from the Paycheck Protection Program .
The aid , delivered in two separate packages over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a wide variety of people in agriculture , including corn and soybean farmers , cattle ranchers , and fruit and vegetable producers .
The $ 46 billion in direct government payments to farmers in 2020 broke the previous annual record by about $ 10 billion , even after accounting for inflation .
`` You almost lose track of how much money is going out , '' says Joseph Glauber , formerly the U.S. Department of Agriculture 's chief economist , now a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued through the summer and fall , most farmers ' economic worries were receding .
`` Commodity prices have come back up , and actually are looking better than they 've looked in several years , '' Glauber says .
Total U.S. farm income in 2020 would have been about average , compared to the past 20 years , even without the emergency aid .
The massive government payments turned it into the fifth most profitable year since 1975 .
Farmers did n't have to prove that they needed help in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid based on their previous production of grain or pigs or cattle .
The more crops they grew , the more government money they got , up to a cap of $ 250,000 per person .
Up to three partners in any enterprise could collect that maximum amount .
Final figures are n't yet available , but based on previous years , it 's likely that most of the money went to fewer than 100,000 farms .
`` I think there is a fundamental question : Why are we providing all this additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacted by NPR had a variety of answers to that question .
Chad Leman , co-owner of a large hog farm in central Illinois , says the federal aid kept some pork producers from going under .
`` You would have seen significant fallout had there not been some assistance , '' he says .
Leman 's farm received more than $ 700,000 in government payments in 2020 , according to USDA data obtained by the Environmental Working Group , a long-time critic of many farm subsidies .
Leman 's government aid was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any single enterprise , and Leman says his farm still will lose money this year .
`` None of us expect to be made whole '' from pandemic-related losses , '' says Leman .
`` Our ask was , 'Help us get to the next year . '
So I 'm grateful for what has been done . ''
The EWG regularly publishes the names of wealthy and well-connected people who 've received farm subsidies .
They include members of Congress who vote on such payments .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler , for instance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her seat in the Senate , owns a share in a family farming enterprise that , according to EWG figures , received more than a million dollars in federal subsidies over the past two years .
Other farmers , who declined to be named , said that they were glad to get the money , but embarrassed at having to rely on government payouts .
Ron Rosmann , an organic farmer in western Iowa , says his neighbors rarely talked about the payments , but sometimes made jokes about them .
He recalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they played cards .
`` I heard one guy say , 'Yep , got another check from the government today .
Did n't need it , but boy !
I do n't know what to do with it ! '
'' .
Rosmann got some of this money himself , yet he says he 's not in favor of the program .
`` It has disproportionately gone to the largest producers , '' he says , which continues to fuel the trend of large farms growing bigger , outbidding smaller farmers when land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That , in turn , means fewer people in rural communities , and less life in small towns .
It seems paradoxical , but according to Rosmann , passing out money to farmers this way can actually hurt farming communities .
`` We just continue to fight a declining and aging population out here , '' Rosmann says .
Yet more money may be on the way .
The latest coronavirus relief package , just approved by Congress , contains another $ 8 billion in payments to farmers .

Farmers Got A Government Bailout In 2020, Even Those Who Didn't Need It
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Charles/NPR Dan Charles/NPR
Back in the spring, farmers who raise pigs were in a panic. Many major customers, such as food service companies that supply restaurants, weren't buying pork. Prices had fallen sharply. Some hog farmers had no place to ship their animals because so many workers in pork processing plants got sick from COVID-19.
"Our folks need a lifeline," said Nick Giordano, top lobbyist for the National Pork Producers Council, on a call with journalists in May. "Unless there is a large cash infusion from the federal government, we're going to lose a lot of producers."
Other farmers also demanded government aid. They got their wish.
Congress approved about $35 billion in emergency aid to farmers, which came on top of roughly $10 billion in traditional farm subsidies that were already in place. In addition, farmers were able to tap billions of dollars in funding from the Paycheck Protection Program.
The aid, delivered in two separate packages over the course of the year, went to a wide variety of people in agriculture, including corn and soybean farmers, cattle ranchers, and fruit and vegetable producers. The $46 billion in direct government payments to farmers in 2020 broke the previous annual record by about $10 billion, even after accounting for inflation.
"You almost lose track of how much money is going out," says Joseph Glauber, formerly the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief economist, now a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Yet as the flood of money continued through the summer and fall, most farmers' economic worries were receding. "Commodity prices have come back up and actually are looking better than they've looked in several years," Glauber says.
Total U.S. farm income in 2020 would have been about average, compared with the past 20 years, even without the emergency aid. The massive government payments turned it into the fifth-most profitable year since 1975.
Farmers didn't have to prove that they needed help in order to qualify for subsidies. They simply got paid based on their previous production of grain or pigs or cattle. The more crops they grew, the more government money they got, up to a cap of $250,000 per person. Up to three partners in any enterprise could collect that maximum amount.
Final figures aren't yet available, but based on previous years, it's likely that most of the money went to fewer than 100,000 farms. "I think there is a fundamental question: Why are we providing all this additional aid?" Glauber says.
Farmers contacted by NPR had a variety of answers to that question. Chad Leman, co-owner of a large hog farm in central Illinois, says the federal aid kept some pork producers from going under. "You would have seen significant fallout had there not been some assistance," he says.
Leman's farm received more than $700,000 in government payments in 2020, according to USDA data obtained by the Environmental Working Group, a long-time critic of many farm subsidies.
Leman's government aid was limited by the cap on payments to any single enterprise, and Leman says his farm still will lose money this year. "None of us expect to be made whole" from pandemic-related losses," says Leman. "Our ask was, 'Help us get to the next year.' So I'm grateful for what has been done."
The EWG regularly publishes the names of wealthy and well-connected people who've received farm subsidies. They include members of Congress who vote on such payments. Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, for instance, who is currently campaigning to keep her seat in the Senate, owns a share in a family farming enterprise that, according to EWG figures, received more than a million dollars in federal subsidies over the past two years.
Other farmers, who declined to be named, said they were glad to get the money and embarrassed at having to rely on government payouts.
Ron Rosmann, an organic farmer in western Iowa, says his neighbors rarely talked about the payments, but sometimes made jokes about them. He recalls overhearing one group of older farmers as they played cards. "I heard one guy say, 'Yep, got another check from the government today. Didn't need it, but boy! I don't know what to do with it!'"
Rosmann got some of this money himself, yet he says he's not in favor of the program. "It has disproportionately gone to the largest producers," he says. The move continues to fuel the trend of large farms growing bigger, outbidding smaller farmers when land comes up for rent or for sale.
That, in turn, means fewer people in rural communities, and less life in small towns. It seems paradoxical, but according to Rosmann, passing out money to farmers this way can actually hurt farming communities. "We just continue to fight a declining and aging population out here," Rosmann says.
Yet more money may be on the way. The latest coronavirus relief package, just approved by Congress, contains another $8 billion in payments to farmers.


npr--2020-12-30--'End This Cruelty': Progressives Call On Biden To Work To Stop Executions

'End This Cruelty ' : Progressives Call On Biden To Work To Stop Executions President-elect Joe Biden opposes the death penalty and has said he will work to end its use , but as President Trump 's administration accelerates the pace of federal executions in the closing days of his presidency , activists and progressive lawmakers are feeling more urgency to push Biden to act immediately upon taking office .
After nearly two decades without a federal execution , the Trump administration resumed the practice earlier this year .
The executions , including ones scheduled to take place just days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism of the Trump administration 's actions .
`` There have never been so many executions scheduled for so late in a presidency during any transition period in the entire history of the United States , '' said Robert Dunham , the head of the nonpartisan Death Penalty Information Center .
Dunham said that the U.S. government has not had multiple federal executions during a presidential transition since the late 1800s , and that the Trump administration 's actions are without historical precedent .
Former Attorney General William Barr , who last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government is carrying out justice for `` staggeringly brutal murders . ''
Trump critics have denounced the decision to resume executions during an election year as politically motivated , and are focused on what Biden can do when he takes office .
`` He says he opposes the death penalty , so we want him to use his clemency power and end this cruelty once and for all , '' said Rep.-elect Cori Bush of Missouri , a Democrat who will take office next week .
Bush has publicly called on Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal death row .
In an interview , she said that a moratorium on federal executions would not go far enough because it would simply stave off the issue until the next administration , leaving lives hanging in the balance .
Former President Barack Obama did not use his clemency powers widely to commute federal death sentences to life terms .
If he had , death penalty opponents say , the people currently facing execution would no longer be on death row .
`` After four years or eight years or however long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we do n't want the next person to come in and to be able to do what the Trump administration is currently doing , '' Bush said .
Bush is one of a group of lawmakers , led by Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley , who wrote to Biden calling on him act .
In a letter dated Dec. 15 , the lawmakers describe capital punishment as `` unjust , racist , and defective , '' and write that the Trump administration `` weaponized capital punishment with callous disregard for human life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhumane practice of government-sanctioned murder is a commonsense step that you can and must take to save lives , '' the lawmakers write .
`` We respectfully urge you to sign an executive order on Day 1 to place an immediate moratorium on the country 's cruel use of the death penalty and signal your commitment to dismantle its use altogether . ''
The lawmakers are calling on Biden to `` end the federal death penalty '' on his first day in office .
That 's something that he would n't be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president does not have the power to abolish the federal death penalty , '' Dunham said .
`` The only way that the federal death penalty can be abolished is an act of Congress signed by a president , or from a court decision by the U.S. Supreme Court .
It 's clear from the current composition of the Supreme Court that that 's not going to happen , so the only way that the Biden administration would be able to end the federal death penalty would be to have some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden transition team did n't respond directly to questions about the lawmakers ' letter , or whether he would consider commuting the sentences of every person on federal death row .
But during the campaign , candidate Biden pledged to eliminate the death penalty , citing some 160 people who were sentenced to capital punishment since the 1970s and were later exonerated .
He 's also said he would incentivize states to follow the federal government 's example .
Pressley has sponsored legislation to abolish the death penalty , which Bush says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
Bush says she sympathizes with family members seeking justice , but that she does n't `` believe that the way to solve it is to hurt another body . ''
While the death penalty was not a significant issue raised during the 2020 presidential race , there are sharp differences in the views of Biden and Trump .
Biden opposes the death penalty , while Trump is a supporter of capital punishment who painted himself as a law-and-order president during the campaign .
The renewed debate over the death penalty is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice is at its lowest point over the past five decades , according to Gallup polling .
While there have been declines in support for the death penalty among Democrats and independents , according to Gallup 's historical data , support among Republicans has remained relatively steady .
It may be difficult to find bipartisan support in Congress for a repeal of the practice .
Unless Democrats win two runoff elections in Georgia , Republicans will hold control of the Senate .
And Democrats will have a slim majority in the House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there is enough support on Capitol Hill to pass the legislation , but that Biden will need to use the bully pulpit to convince the public that the issue is urgent .
She 's ready to help .
`` My hand is raised .
The hands of my team are raised .
We will help do the work , '' she said .
`` If he will call on me .
If he will call on Rep. Ayanna Pressley or so many others .
We will help do the work .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

'End This Cruelty': Progressives Call On Biden To Work To Stop Executions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
President-elect Joe Biden opposes the death penalty and has said he will work to end its use, but as President Trump's administration accelerates the pace of federal executions in the closing days of his presidency, activists and progressive lawmakers are feeling more urgency to push Biden to act immediately upon taking office.
After nearly two decades without a federal execution, the Trump administration resumed the practice earlier this year. The executions, including ones scheduled to take place just days before Biden's inauguration, have prompted criticism of the Trump administration's actions.
"There have never been so many executions scheduled for so late in a presidency during any transition period in the entire history of the United States," said Robert Dunham, the head of the nonpartisan Death Penalty Information Center.
Dunham said that the U.S. government has not had multiple federal executions during a presidential transition since the late 1800s, and that the Trump administration's actions are without historical precedent.
Former Attorney General William Barr, who last week left the Justice Department, has said the government is carrying out justice for "staggeringly brutal murders."
Trump critics have denounced the decision to resume executions during an election year as politically motivated, and are focused on what Biden can do when he takes office.
"He says he opposes the death penalty, so we want him to use his clemency power and end this cruelty once and for all," said Rep.-elect Cori Bush of Missouri, a Democrat who will take office next week.
Bush has publicly called on Biden to grant clemency to every person on federal death row. In an interview, she said that a moratorium on federal executions would not go far enough because it would simply stave off the issue until the next administration, leaving lives hanging in the balance.
Former President Barack Obama did not use his clemency powers widely to commute federal death sentences to life terms. If he had, death penalty opponents say, the people currently facing execution would no longer be on death row.
"After four years or eight years or however long President Joe Biden is in his seat, we don't want the next person to come in and to be able to do what the Trump administration is currently doing," Bush said.
Bush is one of a group of lawmakers, led by Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who wrote to Biden calling on him act.
In a letter dated Dec. 15, the lawmakers describe capital punishment as "unjust, racist, and defective," and write that the Trump administration "weaponized capital punishment with callous disregard for human life."
"Ending the barbaric and inhumane practice of government-sanctioned murder is a commonsense step that you can and must take to save lives," the lawmakers write. "We respectfully urge you to sign an executive order on Day 1 to place an immediate moratorium on the country's cruel use of the death penalty and signal your commitment to dismantle its use altogether."
The lawmakers are calling on Biden to "end the federal death penalty" on his first day in office. That's something that he wouldn't be able to do alone.
"A U.S. president does not have the power to abolish the federal death penalty," Dunham said. "The only way that the federal death penalty can be abolished is an act of Congress signed by a president, or from a court decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. It's clear from the current composition of the Supreme Court that that's not going to happen, so the only way that the Biden administration would be able to end the federal death penalty would be to have some sort of bipartisan support in Congress."
The Biden transition team didn't respond directly to questions about the lawmakers' letter, or whether he would consider commuting the sentences of every person on federal death row. But during the campaign, candidate Biden pledged to eliminate the death penalty, citing some 160 people who were sentenced to capital punishment since the 1970s and were later exonerated. He's also said he would incentivize states to follow the federal government's example.
Pressley has sponsored legislation to abolish the death penalty, which Bush says she will support as soon as she takes office. Bush says she sympathizes with family members seeking justice, but that she doesn't "believe that the way to solve it is to hurt another body."
While the death penalty was not a significant issue raised during the 2020 presidential race, there are sharp differences in the views of Biden and Trump. Biden opposes the death penalty, while Trump is a supporter of capital punishment who painted himself as a law-and-order president during the campaign.
The renewed debate over the death penalty is now playing out as support for the practice is at its lowest point over the past five decades, according to Gallup polling. While there have been declines in support for the death penalty among Democrats and independents, according to Gallup's historical data, support among Republicans has remained relatively steady.
It may be difficult to find bipartisan support in Congress for a repeal of the practice. Unless Democrats win two runoff elections in Georgia, Republicans will hold control of the Senate. And Democrats will have a slim majority in the House.
Regardless, Bush says she's hopeful that there is enough support on Capitol Hill to pass the legislation, but that Biden will need to use the bully pulpit to convince the public that the issue is urgent. She's ready to help.
"My hand is raised. The hands of my team are raised. We will help do the work," she said. "If he will call on me. If he will call on Rep. Ayanna Pressley or so many others. We will help do the work. Like, put us in, coach."


npr--2020-12-30--Black Women's Groups Find Health And Healing On Hikes, But Sometimes Racism, Too

Black Women 's Groups Find Health And Healing On Hikes , But Sometimes Racism , Too It would be the last hike of the season , Jessica Newton posted on her social media platforms .
With mild weather forecast and Colorado 's breathtaking fall foliage as a backdrop , she was excited — convinced an excursion at Beaver Ranch Park would be the quintessential way to close out months of warm-weather hikes with her `` sister friends . ''
Still , when that Sunday morning arrived in 2018 , Newton was shocked when her usual crew of about 15 had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's a first time for everything , she thought as they broke into smaller groups and headed toward the nature trail .
What a sight they were , she recalls , as the women — in sneakers and hiking boots , a virtual sea of colorful headwraps , flowy braids and dreadlocks , poufy twists and long , flowy locks — trekked peacefully across the craggy terrain in the crisp mountain air .
It .
Was .
Perfect .
Exactly what Newton had envisioned when in 2017 she founded Black Girls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who share her affinity for outdoor activities .
She also wanted to recruit others who had yet to experience the serenity of spending time with friends in nature , which she fell for as a child attending an affluent , predominately white private school .
But their peaceful exploration of nature and casual chatter — about everything from food and family to hair care and child care — was abruptly interrupted , she says , by the ugly face of racism .
`` We had the sheriff called on us , park rangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now 37 , who owns a construction industry project development firm in Denver .
`` This lady who was horseback riding was upset that we were hiking on her trail .
She said that we 'd spooked her horse , '' she says of a woman in a group of white horseback riders they encountered .
`` It just did n't make any sense .
I felt like , it 's a horse and you have an entire mountain that you can trot through , run through , gallop through or whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in her space . ''
Eventually , two Jefferson County sheriff 's deputies , with guns on their hips , approached , asking , `` What 's going on here ? ''
They had been contacted by rangers who 'd received complaints about a large group of Black women being followed by camera drones in the park ; the drones belonged to a national television news crew shooting a feature on the group .
( The segment aired weeks later , but footage of the confrontation was n't included . )
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portia Prescott recalls one of the horseback riders barking .
`` Why is it that a group of Black women hiking on a trail on a Sunday afternoon in Colorado is considered a 'mob ? '
`` Prescott asks .
A man soon arrived who identified himself as the husband of one of the white women on horseback and the manager of the park , according to the Jefferson County Sheriff 's Office incident report , and began arguing with the television producers in what one deputy described in the report as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the horseback tour told the deputies that noise from the large group and the drones startled the horses and that when she complained to the news crew , they told her to deal with it herself , the written report said .
The news crew told deputies that the group members felt insulted by the horseback riders use of the term `` mob . ''
The woman leading the horseback riders , identified in the incident report as Marie Elliott , said that she did not remember calling the group a mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` would have said the same thing if the group had been a large group of Girl Scouts . ''
In the end , Newton and her fellow hikers were warned for failing to secure a permit for their group .
Newton says she regrets putting members in a distressing — and potentially life-threatening — situation by unknowingly breaking a park rule .
However , she suspects that a similarly sized hiking group of white women would not have been confronted so aggressively .
`` You should be excited that we are bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' added Newton .
`` Instead , we got slammed with [ threats of ] violations and 'Who are you ? '
and 'Please , get your people and get out of here . '
It 's just crazy . ''
Mike Taplin , spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff 's Office , confirms that no citations were issued .
The deputies `` positively engaged with everyone , with the goal of preserving the peace , '' he says .
Newton says the `` frustrating '' incident has reminded her why her group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tribe Adventures last year , is so needed in the white-dominated outdoor enthusiasts ' arena .
With the tagline `` Find your tribe , '' the group aims to create a sisterhood for Black women `` on the trails , on waterways and in our local communities across the globe . ''
This summer , she secured nonprofit status and expanded Vibe Tribe 's focus , adding snowshoeing , fly-fishing , zip lining and kayaking to its roster .
Today , the Denver-based group has 11 chapters across the U.S. ( even Guam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members .
Research suggests her work is needed .
The most recent National Park Service survey found that 6 % of visitors are Black , compared with 77 % white .
Newton says that must change — especially given the opportunities parks provide and the health challenges that disproportionately plague Black women .
Research shows they experience higher rates of chronic preventable health conditions , including diabetes , hypertension and cardiovascular disease .
A 2020 study of more than 17,000 women found that racial discrimination also may increase stress , lead to health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women .
Newton says those findings underscore the need for stress-relieving activities , and the power of nature to deliver .
`` It 's been studied at several colleges that if you are outdoors for at least five minutes , it literally brings your stress level down significantly , '' says Newton .
`` Being around nature , it 's like grounding yourself .
That is vital . ''
Newton says participation in her group generally tapers off in winter .
She is hopeful , though , that cabin fever from the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter activities .
Atlanta member Stormy Bradley , 49 , says the group has added value to her life .
`` I am a happier and healthier person because I get to do what I love , '' said the sixth grade teacher .
`` The most surprising thing is the sisterhood we experience on and off the trails . ''
Patricia Cameron , a Black woman living in Colorado Springs , drew headlines this summer when she hiked 486 miles — from Denver to Durango — and blogged about her experience to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She founded the Colorado nonprofit Blackpackers in 2019 .
`` One thing I caught people saying a lot of is 'Well , nature is free ' and 'nature is n't racist ' — and there 's two things wrong with that , '' says Cameron , a 37-year-old mother of a preteen .
`` Nature and outside can be free , yes , but what about transportation ?
How do you get to certain outdoor environments ?
Do you have the gear to enjoy the outdoors , especially in Colorado , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ label conscious ? ''
she asks .
`` Nature is n't going to call me the N-word , but the people outside might . ''
Cameron applauds Newton 's efforts and those of other groups nationwide , like Nature Gurlz , Outdoor Afro , Diversify Outdoors , Black Outdoors , Soul Trak Outdoors , Melanin Base Camp and Black Girls Run , that have a similar mission .
Cameron says it also was encouraging that the Outdoor Industry Association , a trade group , pledged in the wake of the racial unrest sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address a `` long history of systemic racism and injustice '' in the outdoors .
Efforts to draw more Black people , especially women , outdoors , Cameron says , must include addressing barriers , like cost .
For example , Blackpackers provides a `` gear locker '' to help members use pricey outdoor gear free or at discounted rates .
She has also partnered with businesses and organizations that subsidize and sponsor outdoor excursions .
During the pandemic , Vibe Tribe has waived all membership fees through January .
Cameron says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free from the pressures of carrying the nation 's racial baggage when participating in outdoor activities .
Vibe Tribe member and longtime outdoor enthusiast Jan Garduno , 52 , of Aurora , Colorado , agreed that fear and safety are pressing concerns .
For example , leading up to the presidential election she changed out of her `` Let My People Vote '' T-shirt before heading out on a solo walk for fear of how other hikers might react .
Groups like Vibe Tribe , she says , provide camaraderie and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus ?
The health benefits can also be transformative .
`` I 've been able to lose about 40 pounds and I 've kept it off , '' says Garduno .
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation , and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Black Women's Groups Find Health And Healing On Hikes, But Sometimes Racism, Too
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
It would be the last hike of the season, Jessica Newton posted on her social media platforms. With mild weather forecast and Colorado's breathtaking fall foliage as a backdrop, she was excited — convinced an excursion at Beaver Ranch Park would be the quintessential way to close out months of warm-weather hikes with her "sister friends."
Still, when that Sunday morning arrived in 2018, Newton was shocked when her usual crew of about 15 had mushroomed to include about 70 Black women. There's a first time for everything, she thought, as they broke into smaller groups and headed toward the nature trail. What a sight they were, she recalls, as the women — in sneakers and hiking boots, a virtual sea of colorful head wraps, flowy braids and dreadlocks, poufy twists and long, flowy locks — trekked peacefully across the craggy terrain in the crisp mountain air.
It. Was. Perfect. Exactly what Newton had envisioned when in 2017 she founded Black Girls Hike to connect with other Black women who share her affinity for outdoor activities. She also wanted to recruit others who had yet to experience the serenity of spending time with friends in nature, which she fell for as a child attending an affluent, predominately white private school.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
But their peaceful exploration of nature and casual chatter — about everything from food and family to hair care and child care — was abruptly interrupted, she says, by the ugly face of racism.
"We had the sheriff called on us, park rangers called on us," recalls Newton, now 37, who owns a construction industry project development firm in Denver.
"This lady who was horseback riding was upset that we were hiking on her trail. She said that we'd spooked her horse," she says of a woman in a group of white horseback riders they encountered. "It just didn't make any sense. I felt like, it's a horse and you have an entire mountain that you can trot through, run through, gallop through or whatever. She was just upset that we were in her space."
Eventually, two Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, with guns on their hips, approached, asking, "What's going on here?" They had been contacted by rangers who'd received complaints about a large group of Black women being followed by camera drones in the park; the drones belonged to a national television news crew shooting a feature on the group. (The segment aired weeks later, but footage of the confrontation wasn't included.)
" 'Move that mob!' " attendee Portia Prescott recalls one of the horseback riders barking.
"Why is it that a group of Black women hiking on a trail on a Sunday afternoon in Colorado is considered a 'mob?' " Prescott asks.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
A man soon arrived who identified himself as the husband of one of the white women on horseback and the manager of the park, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office incident report, and began arguing with the television producers in what one deputy described in the report as a "hostile" manner.
The leader of the horseback tour told the deputies that noise from the large group and the drones startled the horses and that when she complained to the news crew, they told her to deal with it herself, the written report said. The news crew told deputies that the group members felt insulted by the horseback riders use of the term "mob." The woman leading the horseback riders, identified in the incident report as Marie Elliott, said that she did not remember calling the group a mob, but she told the officers she "would have said the same thing if the group had been a large group of Girl Scouts."
In the end, Newton and her fellow hikers were warned for failing to secure a permit for their group. Newton says she regrets putting members in a distressing — and potentially life-threatening — situation by unknowingly breaking a park rule. However, she suspects that a similarly sized hiking group of white women would not have been confronted so aggressively.
"You should be excited that we are bringing more people to use your parks," added Newton. "Instead, we got slammed with [threats of] violations and 'Who are you?' and 'Please, get your people and get out of here.' It's just crazy."
Mike Taplin, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, confirms that no citations were issued. The deputies "positively engaged with everyone, with the goal of preserving the peace," he says.
Newton says the "frustrating" incident has reminded her why her group, which she revamped and renamed Vibe Tribe Adventures last year, is so needed in the white-dominated outdoor enthusiasts' arena.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
With the tagline "Find your tribe," the group aims to create a sisterhood for Black women "on the trails, on waterways and in our local communities across the globe." This summer, she secured nonprofit status and expanded Vibe Tribe's focus, adding snowshoeing, fly-fishing, zip-lining and kayaking to its roster. Today, the Denver-based group has 11 chapters across the U.S. (even Guam) and Canada, with about 2,100 members.
Research suggests her work is needed. The most recent National Park Service survey found that 6% of visitors are Black, compared with 77% white. Newton says that must change — especially given the opportunities parks provide and the health challenges that disproportionately plague Black women. Research shows they experience higher rates of chronic preventable health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A 2020 study of more than 17,000 women found that racial discrimination also may increase stress, lead to health problems and reduce cognitive functioning in Black women. Newton says those findings underscore the need for stress-relieving activities, and the power of nature to deliver.
"It's been studied at several colleges that if you are outdoors for at least five minutes, it literally brings your stress level down significantly," says Newton. "Being around nature, it's like grounding yourself. That is vital."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
Newton says participation in her group generally tapers off in winter. She is hopeful, though, that cabin fever from the pandemic will inspire more Black women to try winter activities.
Atlanta member Stormy Bradley, 49, says the group has added value to her life. "I am a happier and healthier person because I get to do what I love," said the sixth-grade teacher. "The most surprising thing is the sisterhood we experience on and off the trails."
Patricia Cameron, a Black woman living in Colorado Springs, drew headlines this summer when she hiked 486 miles — from Denver to Durango — and blogged about her experience to draw attention to diversity in the outdoors. She founded the Colorado nonprofit Blackpackers in 2019.
"One thing I caught people saying a lot of is 'Well, nature is free' and 'Nature isn't racist' — and there's two things wrong with that," says Cameron, a 37-year-old mother of a preteen.
"Nature and outside can be free, yes, but what about transportation? How do you get to certain outdoor environments? Do you have the gear to enjoy the outdoors, especially in Colorado, where we're very gear conscious and very label conscious?" she asks. "Nature isn't going to call me the N-word, but the people outside might."
Cameron applauds Newton's efforts and those of other groups nationwide, like Nature Gurlz, Outdoor Afro, Diversify Outdoors, Black Outdoors, Soul Trak Outdoors, Melanin Base Camp and Black Girls Run, that have a similar mission. Cameron says it also was encouraging that the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade group, pledged in the wake of the racial unrest sparked by George Floyd's death to help address a "long history of systemic racism and injustice" in the outdoors.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Mohatt for KHN Kevin Mohatt for KHN
Efforts to draw more Black people, especially women, outdoors, Cameron says, must include addressing barriers, like cost. For example, Blackpackers provides a "gear locker" to help members use pricey outdoor gear free or at discounted rates. She has also partnered with businesses and organizations that subsidize and sponsor outdoor excursions. During the pandemic, Vibe Tribe has waived all membership fees through January.
Cameron says she dreams of a day when Black people are free from the pressures of carrying the nation's racial baggage when participating in outdoor activities.
Vibe Tribe member and longtime outdoor enthusiast Jan Garduno, 52, of Aurora, Colo., agreed that fear and safety are pressing concerns. For example, leading up to the presidential election she changed out of her "Let My People Vote" T-shirt before heading out on a solo walk for fear of how other hikers might react.
Groups like Vibe Tribe, she says, provide camaraderie and an increased sense of safety. And another plus? The health benefits can also be transformative.
"I've been able to lose about 40 pounds and I've kept it off," says Garduno.
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-12-30--Why Biden's National Security Adviser Plans To Focus On The U.S. Middle Class

Why Biden 's National Security Adviser Plans To Focus On The U.S. Middle Class '' We 've reached a point where foreign policy is domestic policy , and domestic policy is foreign policy , '' incoming national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NPR over Zoom on Tuesday .
`` And the work that we do abroad fundamentally has to connect to making the lives of working people better , safer , fairer . ''
President-elect Joe Biden talked a lot about this close connection between domestic and foreign policy during the presidential primary , often using near-identical language as Sullivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the Democratic presidential contenders .
The call for closer ties between domestic policies and what 's happening around the world has become an increasingly central theme of the party 's foreign policy debates .
Sullivan has played a leading role in this reorientation .
He worked as a top staffer to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Obama administration , before later serving as then-Vice President Biden 's national security adviser .
Sullivan was a senior policy adviser to Clinton 's 2016 campaign , and therefore had a front-row seat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran on a nationalist and isolationist platform .
Since then , Sullivan has repeatedly written and spoken about the need to put America 's middle class at the center of foreign policy debates and decision-making .
So , with just three weeks to go before Biden is sworn into office and Sullivan begins occupying a key role in shaping U.S. engagement abroad , I ( virtually ) sat down with him to discuss the reasons behind that focus , and what it might look like as the Biden administration begins implementing its policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that , as he says , the Obama administration did n't do enough to tie foreign initiatives to domestic concerns — particularly when it came to economic policies .
I asked Sullivan whether that lack of focus on the American middle class opened the door to Trump 's nationalism .
`` What produced Donald Trump was a broad amalgam of factors , and so I would n't point to any one thing , '' he said .
`` But I would say this — I believe that the fact that we did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our foreign policy and national security meant that we were not delivering for the American people as well as we should have , that we can learn from that , and then we can do better as we go forward . ''
Looking forward , he sees the focus — along with a return to more engagement with global allies — as `` a more decisive and sustained rebuttal to Trumpism , by showing that engagement in the world ... can deliver the kinds of tangible results — by protecting people from pandemics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , increasing the protection against the kinds of abuses we see from China and other economic actors .
We can do these things . ''
`` What Joe Biden is proposing , and what I am reinforcing as the national security adviser , is that every element of what we do in our foreign policy and national security ultimately has to be measured by the impact it has on working families , middle-class people , ordinary Americans here in the United States , '' Sullivan said .
Seeking leverage over China `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect policymaking ?
Sullivan pointed to China , and the way the Trump administration approached a trade war that escalated to aggressive tariffs .
`` What were their negotiating priorities ?
What did they push for ? ''
he asked , referring to the Trump administration .
`` Well , one of the things they pushed for was access for major U.S. financial institutions to do business in China .
And the question I would pose is , what does that have to do with jobs and wages here in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs to , to be able to carry out financial activities in Beijing or Shanghai ? ''
Biden recently told the New York Times that he wo n't immediately revoke Trump 's tariffs on China .
I asked Sullivan whether that amounts to a concession that Trump 's policies gave the U.S. leverage .
Here 's his response : '' Well , the president-elect has said from the beginning of this campaign that in order to get China to change its abuses , we do need to build up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it the right way , by investing in our sources of strength .
So [ Biden 's ] objection to Donald Trump was not trying to seek leverage against China .
It was doing it in a way that actually has n't produced results .
`` And one of the major examples of that is that the United States has gone it alone in its trade fight with China , rather than rallying other like-minded democracies , other market economies that collectively comprise 50 to 60 % of the world 's economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lined up and went to China with a common agenda to say , 'We wo n't accept these subsidies , this intellectual property theft , this dumping , ' we would be in a position to get China to either change its behavior , or we could collectively impose costs on China for not doing so . ''
Sullivan and other incoming Biden administration officials have repeatedly signaled they will pressure China on trade , human rights , intellectual property theft and other areas of disagreement — even as they seek to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change .
These areas , Sullivan said , are prime examples of how he and other Biden officials will view decisions through that middle-class framework .
`` The United States is going to ensure , for example , that we have the kind of free and open Internet where people can engage in commerce and speak freely and not have to worry about surveillance by foreign authoritarians , or not have to worry that the businesses that they either work for , or purchase from , are having to change their practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authoritarian tendencies of other governments .
Those are things that affect Americans , '' he said .
`` You know , there was an example from [ 2019 ] of where China tried to basically censor the National Basketball Association , the NBA , '' he said .
Chinese authorities cracked down on the distribution of Houston Rockets games within the country 's borders after the team 's general manager expressed support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong .
`` Now , that 's not on the same scale and scope as COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let alone the same ballpark , '' Sullivan said .
`` But it 's the kind of example of where , if we do not speak out on behalf of our values and our way of life , it gets chipped away at in ways that end up encumbering and having an impact on American families and American communities . ''

Why Biden's National Security Adviser Plans To Focus On The U.S. Middle Class
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
"We've reached a point where foreign policy is domestic policy, and domestic policy is foreign policy," incoming national security adviser Jake Sullivan told NPR over Zoom on Tuesday. "And the work that we do abroad fundamentally has to connect to making the lives of working people better, safer, fairer."
President-elect Joe Biden talked a lot about this close connection between domestic and foreign policy during the presidential primary, often using near-identical language as Sullivan's. And Biden wasn't alone among the Democratic presidential contenders. The call for closer ties between domestic policies and what's happening around the world has become an increasingly central theme of the party's foreign policy debates.
Sullivan has played a leading role in this reorientation. He was a top staffer to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Obama administration before later serving as then-Vice President Biden's national security adviser. Sullivan was a senior policy adviser to Clinton's 2016 campaign and therefore had a front-row seat to her surprise loss to a candidate who ran on a nationalist and isolationist platform.
Since then, Sullivan has repeatedly written and spoken about the need to put America's middle class at the center of foreign policy debates and decision-making.
So, with just three weeks to go before Biden is sworn into office and Sullivan begins occupying a key role in shaping U.S. engagement abroad, I (virtually) sat down with him to discuss the reasons behind that focus, and what it might look like as the Biden administration begins implementing its policies.
Measuring impact on "ordinary Americans"
Sullivan has been frank about the fact that, as he says, the Obama administration didn't do enough to tie foreign initiatives to domestic concerns — particularly when it came to economic policies.
I asked Sullivan whether that lack of focus on the American middle class opened the door to Trump's nationalism.
"What produced Donald Trump was a broad amalgam of factors, and so I wouldn't point to any one thing," he said. "But I would say this — I believe that the fact that we did not elevate and center middle-class concerns in our foreign policy and national security meant that we were not delivering for the American people as well as we should have, that we can learn from that, and then we can do better as we go forward."
Looking forward, he sees the focus — along with a return to more engagement with global allies — as "a more decisive and sustained rebuttal to Trumpism, by showing that engagement in the world ... can deliver the kinds of tangible results — by protecting people from pandemics, reducing the worst effects of climate change, increasing the protection against the kinds of abuses we see from China and other economic actors. We can do these things."
"What Joe Biden is proposing, and what I am reinforcing as the national security adviser, is that every element of what we do in our foreign policy and national security ultimately has to be measured by the impact it has on working families, middle-class people, ordinary Americans here in the United States," Sullivan said.
Seeking leverage over China "the right way"
How will this affect policymaking? Sullivan pointed to China, and the way the Trump administration approached a trade war that escalated to aggressive tariffs.
"What were their negotiating priorities? What did they push for?" he asked, referring to the Trump administration. "Well, one of the things they pushed for was access for major U.S. financial institutions to do business in China. And the question I would pose is, what does that have to do with jobs and wages here in the United States, making it easier for the likes of JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs to, to be able to carry out financial activities in Beijing or Shanghai?"
Biden recently told The New York Times that he won't immediately revoke Trump's tariffs on China. I asked Sullivan whether that amounts to a concession that Trump's policies gave the U.S. leverage. Here's his response:
"Well, the president-elect has said from the beginning of this campaign that in order to get China to change its abuses, we do need to build up leverage. We just have to do it the right way, by investing in our sources of strength. So [Biden's] objection to Donald Trump was not trying to seek leverage against China. It was doing it in a way that actually hasn't produced results. "And one of the major examples of that is that the United States has gone it alone in its trade fight with China, rather than rallying other like-minded democracies, other market economies that collectively comprise 50[%] to 60% of the world's economy, where if we got all of them lined up and went to China with a common agenda to say, 'We won't accept these subsidies, this intellectual property theft, this dumping,' we would be in a position to get China to either change its behavior, or we could collectively impose costs on China for not doing so."
Sullivan and other incoming Biden administration officials have repeatedly signaled they will pressure China on trade, human rights, intellectual property theft and other areas of disagreement — even as they seek to work alongside the fellow global power to confront climate change.
These areas, Sullivan said, are prime examples of how he and other Biden officials will view decisions through that middle-class framework.
"The United States is going to ensure, for example, that we have the kind of free and open Internet where people can engage in commerce and speak freely and not have to worry about surveillance by foreign authoritarians, or not have to worry that the businesses that they either work for, or purchase from, are having to change their practices in fundamental ways to conform to the authoritarian tendencies of other governments. Those are things that affect Americans," he said.
"You know, there was an example from [2019] of where China tried to basically censor the National Basketball Association, the NBA," he said.
Chinese authorities cracked down on the distribution of Houston Rockets games within the country's borders after the team's general manager expressed support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
"Now, that's not on the same scale and scope as COVID-19, not even in the same sport, let alone the same ballpark," Sullivan said. "But it's the kind of example of where, if we do not speak out on behalf of our values and our way of life, it gets chipped away at in ways that end up encumbering and having an impact on American families and American communities."


npr--2020-12-30--Even If It's 'Bonkers,' Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories

Even If It 's 'Bonkers , ' Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories A significant number of Americans believe misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus and the recent presidential election , as well as conspiracy theories like QAnon , according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll .
Forty percent of respondents said they believe the coronavirus was made in a lab in China even though there is no evidence for this .
Scientists say the virus was transmitted to humans from another species .
And one-third of Americans believe that voter fraud helped Joe Biden win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts , election officials and the Department of Justice have found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome .
The poll results add to mounting evidence that misinformation is gaining a foothold in American society and that conspiracy theories are going mainstream , especially during the coronavirus pandemic .
This has raised concerns about how to get people to believe in a `` baseline reality , '' said Chris Jackson , a pollster with Ipsos .
`` Increasingly people are willing to say and believe stuff that fits in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be , even if it does n't have any basis in reality or fact , '' Jackson said .
`` What this poll really illustrates to me is how willing people are to believe things that are ludicrous because it fits in with a worldview that they want to believe . ''
The NPR/Ipsos poll of 1,115 U.S. adults was conducted Dec. 21-22 .
The margin of error for the overall sample is 3.3 percentage points .
One of the most striking poll findings has to do with QAnon , the baseless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year as two of its backers were elected to Congress .
The poll asked respondents whether they believe that `` a group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring are trying to control our politics and media , '' the false allegation at the heart of QAnon .
While only 17 % said it was true , another 37 % said they did n't know .
`` It 's total bonkers , '' said Jackson , `` and yet ... essentially half of Americans believe it 's true , or think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't really know .
And I think that 's terrifying that half of Americans believe that could be the case . ''
According to the poll , 39 % of Americans believe another key tenet of the QAnon theory : that there is a deep state working to undermine President Trump .
The president is himself a major source of misinformation , as he continues to make baseless claims about election fraud on Twitter and elsewhere .
Conservative media also have devoted hours of coverage to exaggerated or debunked claims .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impact .
Two-thirds of Republicans surveyed said they believe that voter fraud helped Biden win the election , and fewer than half of Republicans said they would accept the outcome of the election .
`` There 's just too much information out there , '' said Brooke Williams , a Republican voter and self-described QAnon follower from Oro Valley , Ariz. , during a follow-up interview with NPR .
`` I ca n't see how anybody is not thoroughly convinced that Biden was illegally elected . ''
In contrast , only 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden win the election , and 93 % accept the outcome .
Overall , most respondents said they do want to see a peaceful transition to a Biden administration in January , though many are worried about political violence over the next four years .
The vast majority of Americans said they 're also worried about the spread of false information , with four out of five poll respondents saying they 're concerned about misinformation related to the coronavirus and vaccines in particular .
But Republicans were more likely than Democrats to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was created in a lab in China and that COVID-19 is no more of a `` serious threat '' than the seasonal flu .
`` I think it was deliberately released by China , '' said Jon Costello , a Republican from Huntsville , Ala. , who responded to the poll .
`` I think this big thing of shutting down businesses , shutting down education systems ... is all part of a plan to break the spirit and the will of Americans . ''
Poll respondents of both parties expressed skepticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed in the U.S. , though Republicans were less likely than Democrats to say that they would `` take the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is made available to me . ''
`` I should n't have to take a vaccine for something that was man-made , '' said Shaena Castro , a Democrat who lives in New York City .
`` I guess you can call me a conspiracy theorist or whatever , but yeah , I am convinced that it 's man-made . ''
When asked whom they trust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encounter in their daily lives .
Personal physicians scored highly , as did faith or spiritual leaders .
Politicians and media figures did not fare as well .
Tucker Carlson of Fox News , Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and Wolf Blitzer of CNN were near the bottom of the list .
More Americans trust Biden than Trump , but both lagged behind Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , who scored the highest of any specific person the poll asked about .
New misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple factors that make people more or less susceptible to misinformation — including educational attainment , media consumption and political affiliation — and that people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories that fit into their worldview .
For example , almost half of respondents said that the majority of racial justice protests over the summer were violent , when in fact the vast majority were peaceful .
Poll respondents from all demographics answered this question incorrectly — but they were even more likely to do so if they were Republicans , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News or conservative online outlets like Breitbart or The Daily Caller .
Recent misinformation held more sway than some older conspiracy theories .
About 60 % of Americans correctly answered that President Barack Obama was born in the United States , and that several mass shootings in recent years were not staged hoaxes .
And about 70 % correctly answered that humans do play a significant role in climate change — roughly the same number who believe astronauts landed on the moon in the 1960s and '70s .
It 's also clear from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about misinformation , even if there 's no clear prescription for what to do about it .
Nearly 70 % of respondents said they are concerned that information they receive on social media is inaccurate and about foreign interference in U.S. social media .
`` I 'm concerned to see so many people living in a false reality , seeing relatives honestly believe that this was some kind of rigged election , '' said William Street , who lives in northeast Mississippi .
`` It terrifies me that people can be that misled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Street tells NPR .
`` I 'm concerned that with even just a little prodding from this man in office , they could be led to do very desperate things . ''

Even If It's 'Bonkers,' Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
A significant number of Americans believe misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus and the recent presidential election, as well as conspiracy theories like QAnon, according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll.
Forty percent of respondents said they believe the coronavirus was made in a lab in China even though there is no evidence for this. Scientists say the virus was transmitted to humans from another species.
And one-third of Americans believe that voter fraud helped Joe Biden win the 2020 election, despite the fact that courts, election officials and the Justice Department have found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome.
The poll results add to mounting evidence that misinformation is gaining a foothold in American society and that conspiracy theories are going mainstream, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. This has raised concerns about how to get people to believe in a "baseline reality," said Chris Jackson, a pollster with Ipsos.
"Increasingly, people are willing to say and believe stuff that fits in with their view of how the world should be, even if it doesn't have any basis in reality or fact," Jackson said.
"What this poll really illustrates to me is how willing people are to believe things that are ludicrous because it fits in with a worldview that they want to believe."
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"That's terrifying"
The NPR/Ipsos poll of 1,115 U.S. adults was conducted Dec. 21 to 22. The credibility interval for the overall sample is 3.3 percentage points.
One of the most striking poll findings has to do with QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that gained widespread attention this year as two of its backers were elected to Congress.
The poll asked respondents whether they believe that "a group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring are trying to control our politics and media" — the false allegation at the heart of QAnon. While only 17% said it was true, another 37% said they didn't know.
"It's total bonkers," said Jackson, "and yet ... essentially half of Americans believe it's true or think that maybe it's true. They don't really know. And I think that's terrifying that half of Americans believe that could be the case."
According to the poll, 39% of Americans believe another key tenet of the QAnon theory: that there is a deep state working to undermine President Trump.
The president is himself a major source of misinformation, as he continues to make baseless claims about election fraud on Twitter and elsewhere. Conservative media also have devoted hours of coverage to exaggerated or debunked claims.
The NPR/Ipsos poll suggests those claims are having an impact. Two-thirds of Republicans surveyed said they believe that voter fraud helped Biden win the election, and fewer than half of Republicans said they accept the outcome of the election.
"There's just too much information out there," said Brooke Williams, a Republican voter and self-described QAnon follower from Oro Valley, Ariz., during a follow-up interview with NPR. "I can't see how anybody is not thoroughly convinced that Biden was illegally elected."
In contrast, only 11% of Democrats think voter fraud helped Biden win the election, and 93% accept the outcome.
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Whom Americans trust
Overall, most respondents said they do want to see a peaceful transition to a Biden administration in January, though many are worried about political violence over the next four years.
The vast majority of Americans said they're also worried about the spread of false information, with 4 out of 5 poll respondents saying they're concerned about misinformation related to the coronavirus and vaccines in particular.
But Republicans were more likely than Democrats to believe misinformation about the virus, including that it was created in a lab in China and that COVID-19 is no more of a "serious threat" than the seasonal flu.
"I think it was deliberately released by China," said Jon Costello, a Republican from Huntsville, Ala., who responded to the poll. "I think this big thing of shutting down businesses, shutting down education systems ... is all part of a plan to break the spirit and the will of Americans."
Poll respondents of both parties expressed skepticism about the vaccines that are now being distributed in the U.S., though Republicans were less likely than Democrats to say that they would "take the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is made available to me."
"I shouldn't have to take a vaccine for something that was man-made," said Shaena Castro, a Democrat who lives in New York City. "I guess you can call me a conspiracy theorist or whatever, but yeah, I am convinced that it's man-made."
When asked whom they trust, respondents mostly pointed to the people they encounter in their daily lives. Personal physicians scored highly, as did faith or spiritual leaders.
Politicians and media figures did not fare as well. Tucker Carlson of Fox News, Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and Wolf Blitzer of CNN were at the bottom of the list.
More Americans trust Biden than Trump, but both lagged behind Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who scored the highest of any specific person the poll asked about.
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New misinformation vs. old conspiracy
Pollsters say that multiple factors make people more or less susceptible to misinformation — including educational attainment, media consumption and political affiliation — and that people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories that fit into their worldview.
For example, almost half of respondents said that the majority of racial justice protests over the summer were violent, when in fact the vast majority were peaceful. Poll respondents from all demographics answered this question incorrectly — but they were even more likely to do so if they were Republicans and if they got their news from Fox News or conservative online outlets like Breitbart or the Daily Caller.
Recent misinformation held more sway than some older conspiracy theories.
About 60% of Americans correctly answered that former President Barack Obama was born in the United States and that several mass shootings in recent years were not staged hoaxes. And about 70% correctly answered that humans do play a significant role in climate change — roughly the same percentage who believe astronauts landed on the moon in the 1960s and '70s.
It's also clear from the poll results that Americans are worried about misinformation, even if there's no clear prescription for what to do about it.
Nearly 70% of respondents said they are concerned that information they receive on social media is inaccurate; a similar percentage is concerned about foreign interference in U.S. social media.
"I'm concerned to see so many people living in a false reality, seeing relatives honestly believe that this was some kind of rigged election," said William Street, who lives in northeast Mississippi.
"It terrifies me that people can be that misled and believe conspiracy theories like that," Street tells NPR. "I'm concerned that with even just a little prodding from this man in office, they could be led to do very desperate things."
NPR senior producer Marisa Peñaloza contributed to this story.


npr--2020-12-30--Nashville Bomber's Girlfriend Warned Police About Him In 2019

Nashville Bomber 's Girlfriend Warned Police About Him In 2019 More than a year before the explosion that rocked Nashville last week , Anthony Warner 's girlfriend told police that he `` was building bombs in the RV trailer at his residence , '' according to a police report filed in August 2019 .
Yet the report indicates Nashville police never made contact with Warner .
Despite having the report in their database , police did not share it with the public until Tuesday evening — four days after Warner drove his RV to downtown Nashville and detonated a bomb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and injuring at least seven people .
Whether law enforcement had any warning about the bomb beforehand has been an open question since the explosion .
On Sunday , the head of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told reporters that Warner was not on the radar before the bombing , and on the evening of the blast , Nashville Police Chief John Drake said no prior threat had been made against the city .
However , the 2019 police report , first obtained by The Tennessean and NewsChannel 5 , shows that officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the home of Warner 's girlfriend , who told them that he was building bombs .
The woman 's attorney , Raymond Throckmorton , was also present and told police that Warner `` frequently talks about the military and bomb making , '' according to the report .
`` [ Throckmorton ] stated he believes that the suspect knows what he is doing and is capable of making a bomb . ''
When police knocked on Warner 's door , they received no answer , according to the report .
They saw an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security cameras with wires attached to an alarm sign on the front door . ''
The police department 's bomb squad also called Throckmorton , who also identified himself as Warner 's attorney , a police spokesperson said .
`` The recollection of that call is that Warner did not care for the police , and that Throckmorton would not allow his client to permit a visual inspection of the RV . ''
Police did not take additional action .
But Throckmorton recalls the follow-up conversation with police differently .
He tells NewsChannel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
`` I certainly would never have told them not to check it out when I 'm the one who said go the hell over there and find out what 's going on , '' he told the station .
In an email to member station WPLN , a police spokesperson says the report was sent to the department 's bomb squad and the FBI .
The FBI checked its databases `` and found no records on Warner at all ... the FBI reported that Department of Defense checks on Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reached out to the FBI for comment .

Nashville Bomber's Girlfriend Warned Police About Him In 2019
Enlarge this image toggle caption Handout/Metro Nashville Police Department Handout/Metro Nashville Police Department
More than a year before the explosion that rocked Nashville last week, Anthony Warner's girlfriend told police that he "was building bombs in the RV trailer at his residence," according to a police report filed in August 2019.
Yet the report indicates Nashville police never made contact with Warner. Despite having the report in their database, police did not share it with the public until Tuesday evening — four days after Warner drove his RV to downtown Nashville, Tenn., and detonated a bomb out of the vehicle, killing himself and injuring at least seven people.
Whether law enforcement had any warning about the bombing has been an open question since the explosion.
On Sunday, the head of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told reporters that Warner was not on law enforcement's radar before the bombing, and on the evening of the blast, Nashville Police Chief John Drake said no prior threat had been made against the city.
However, the 2019 police report, first obtained by The Tennessean and NewsChannel 5, shows that officers responded in 2019 to a call at the home of Warner's girlfriend, who told them that he was building bombs. The woman's attorney, Raymond Throckmorton, was also present and told police that Warner "frequently talks about the military and bomb making," according to the report. "[Throckmorton] stated he believes that the suspect knows what he is doing and is capable of making a bomb."
When police knocked on Warner's door, they received no answer, according to the report. They saw an RV in the yard and "several security cameras with wires attached to an alarm sign on the front door."
The police department's bomb squad also called Throckmorton, who also identified himself as Warner's attorney, a police spokesperson said. "The recollection of that call is that Warner did not care for the police, and that Throckmorton would not allow his client to permit a visual inspection of the RV."
Police did not take additional action.
But Throckmorton recalls the follow-up conversation with police differently. He tells NewsChannel 5 he was not representing Warner at the time.
"I certainly would never have told them not to check it out when I'm the one who said, 'Go the hell over there and find out what's going on,' " he told the station.
In an email to member station WPLN, a police spokesperson says the report was sent to the department's bomb squad and the FBI. The FBI checked its databases "and found no records on Warner at all ... The FBI reported that Department of Defense checks on Warner were all negative."
WPLN News has reached out to the FBI for comment.


npr--2020-12-30--Louisiana Congressman-Elect Dies After Battling COVID-19

Updated at 6:30 a.m .
ET Congressman-elect Luke Letlow , who won a runoff earlier this month to represent Louisiana 's Baton Rouge area , died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19 .
Letlow was set to be sworn in as U.S. representative for the state 's northeastern 5th congressional district on Jan. 3 .
`` The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time , '' Andrew Bautsch , Letlow 's spokesman , said in a statement annoucing his death .
`` A statement from the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a later time . ''
Letlow announced that he had contracted COVID-19 on Dec. 18 and was hospitalized a day later .
He kept his followers updated of his condition on social media .
Days before his death , he was in intensive care at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe , La.
, and was later transferred to Ochsner-LSU Health in Shreveport on Dec. 22 .
Bautsch shared in a statement Dec. 23 that Letlow was in stable condition .
He was receiving Remdesivir and steroids as part of his treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days .
Letlow , who was 41 , is survived by his wife , Julia Barnhill Letlow , and two young children , according to a statement from Bautsch shared on Facebook .
Letlow previously served six years as the chief of staff for his predecessor , Rep. Ralph Abraham , according to New Orleans Public Radio .
He began his career in politics working for former Louisiana Gov .
Bobby Jindal .
`` Congressman-elect Letlow felt a calling from a young age to serve the people of his home state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bel Edwards , said in a statement .
Edwards ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow 's funeral .
Letlow 's Congressional colleagues shared their condolences at the news of his death as well .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said , `` Our hearts break tonight as we process the news of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow 's passing . ''
`` Luke had such a positive spirit , and a tremendously bright future ahead of him .
He was looking forward to serving the people of Louisiana in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome him to our delegation where he was ready to make an even greater impact on our state and our Nation , '' the statement said .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Letlow `` fought passionately for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service . ''
`` As the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlow 's passing , our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus .
May it be a comfort to Luke 's wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time , '' she said .
There have been more than 304,000 confirmed coronavirus infections in Louisiana since the pandemic began .
Almost 7,400 people in Louisiana have died from COVID-19 , according to the state health agency .
When congressional seats in Louisiana become vacant , the governor can call a special election at any time .

Louisiana Congressman-Elect Dies From COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Melinda Deslatte/AP Melinda Deslatte/AP
Updated at 6:30 a.m. ET
Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who won a runoff earlier this month to represent Louisiana's northeastern 5th District, died Tuesday from complications of COVID-19.
Letlow was set to be sworn in as U.S. representative on Jan. 3.
"The family appreciates the numerous prayers and support over the past days but asks for privacy during this difficult and unexpected time," Andrew Bautsch, Letlow's spokesman, said in a statement announcing his death. "A statement from the family along with funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time."
Letlow announced on Dec. 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized a day later. He kept his followers updated of his condition on social media. Days before his death, he was in intensive care at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La., and was later transferred to Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport on Dec. 22.
Bautsch said in a Dec. 23 statement that Letlow was in stable condition. He was receiving Remdesivir and steroids as part of his treatment, but Letlow's condition worsened in recent days.
Letlow, who was 41, is survived by his wife, Julia Barnhill Letlow, and two young children, according to a statement from Bautsch shared on Facebook.
Road to office
Letlow previously served six years as the chief of staff for his predecessor, Rep. Ralph Abraham, according to New Orleans Public Radio. He began his career in politics working for Bobby Jindal when Jindal was a congressman and then a governor.
"Congressman-elect Letlow felt a calling from a young age to serve the people of his home state," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, said in a statement. Edwards ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Letlow's funeral.
Letlow's congressional colleagues shared their condolences at the news of his death as well.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "Our hearts break tonight as we process the news of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow's passing."
Louisiana's congressional delegation, led by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, issued a joint statement.
"Luke had such a positive spirit, and a tremendously bright future ahead of him. He was looking forward to serving the people of Louisiana in Congress, and we were excited to welcome him to our delegation where he was ready to make an even greater impact on our state and our Nation," the statement said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Letlow "fought passionately for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service."
"As the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlow's passing, our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus. May it be a comfort to Luke's wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time," she said.
There have been more than 304,000 confirmed coronavirus infections in Louisiana since the pandemic began. Almost 7,400 people in Louisiana have died from COVID-19, according to the state health agency.
When congressional seats in Louisiana become vacant, the governor can call a special election at any time.


npr--2020-12-30--Jonathan Pollard, Cold War Spy Who Spent 30 Years In U.S. Prison, Arrives In Israel

Jonathan Pollard , Cold War Spy Who Spent 30 Years In U.S. Prison , Arrives In Israel Updated at 4:10 a.m .
ET Jonathan Pollard , the former U.S. Navy analyst who spent three decades in prison after pleading guilty to spying for the Israelis , has arrived in Israel a month after the U.S. Justice Department declined to extend his parole .
Pollard and his wife , Esther , landed early Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv aboard a private jet owned by Sheldon Adelson , a major backer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their knees , and kissed the tarmac — a religious Jewish custom upon arrival to the Holy Land .
Netanyahu met the Pollards at the airport , greeting them with the Jewish blessing Sheheckhiyanu , praising God for the milestone , and another blessing praising God for freeing the imprisoned .
Esther — who is reportedly undergoing chemotherapy for cancer — is seeking medical treatment in Israel , but the couple reportedly plans to permanently emigrate to there .
`` Finally in the country .
Jonathan Pollard landed tonight in Israel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing a picture of Pollard and his wife , wearing masks , as they arrived from Newark , N.J. Pollard , who is Jewish , was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995 while still incarcerated in the U.S. His lawyer , Eliot Lauer , told The Times of Israel that Pollard arriving in Israel `` speaks for itself .
A dream realized after 35 very difficult years . ''
Pollard was arrested in 1985 and charged with espionage for Israel .
He later pleaded guilty , but was still sentenced to life in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he only stole secrets for a U.S. ally because `` the American intelligence establishment collectively endangered Israel 's security by withholding crucial information . ''
Prosecutors said while serving as a Navy analyst in the mid-1980s and handling classified material , Pollard made contact with an Israeli intelligence agent in New York and began funneling suitcases full of U.S. secrets to Israel in exchange for gifts and tens of thousands of dollars .
The intelligence handed to Israel included top-secret satellite photos and information about Soviet weaponry and Soviet support of Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage assessment '' by U.S. intelligence .
Although Israeli activists had repeatedly lobbied for a reduction in his sentence , U.S. officials , citing the damage they said Pollard did to American intelligence gathering , strongly objected .
`` The Navy program was really shaken by what he had done right under their noses , '' Jim Townsend , a former senior Pentagon official who joined Navy intelligence as a reservist around the Pollard was arrested , was quoted by The New York Times as saying .
At the time of his release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in 2015 , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said : `` As someone who raised Jonathan 's case for years with successive American presidents , I had long hoped this day would come . ''
Last month , five years after his release , the Justice Department allowed Pollard 's parole to expire , freeing him to travel to Israel .
The Justice Department 's move to end Pollard 's parole is widely seen as a parting gift from President Trump to Netanyahu , who had enjoyed close relations , as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pollard 's arrival in Israel could give Netanyahu , who is in a bitter reelection battle , a political boost .

Jonathan Pollard, Cold War Spy Who Spent 30 Years In U.S. Prison, Arrives In Israel
Enlarge this image toggle caption Larry Neumeister/AP Larry Neumeister/AP
Updated at 4:10 a.m. ET
Jonathan Pollard, the former U.S. Navy analyst who spent three decades in prison after pleading guilty to spying for the Israelis, has arrived in Israel a month after the U.S. Justice Department declined to extend his parole.
Pollard and his wife, Esther, landed early Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv aboard a private jet owned by Sheldon Adelson, a major backer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The couple stepped off the plane, got on their knees, and kissed the tarmac — a religious Jewish custom upon arrival to the Holy Land. Netanyahu met the Pollards at the airport, greeting them with the Jewish blessing Sheheckhiyanu, praising God for the milestone, and another blessing praising God for freeing the imprisoned.
Esther — who is reportedly undergoing chemotherapy for cancer — is seeking medical treatment in Israel, but the couple reportedly plans to permanently emigrate to there.
"Finally in the country. Jonathan Pollard landed tonight in Israel," read a headline in Israel Hayom showing a picture of Pollard and his wife, wearing masks, as they arrived from Newark, N.J.
יונתן, כמה טוב שבאת הביתה ❤
(התמונה מהטוויטר של בועז ביסמוט) pic.twitter.com/mSrbThgYML — עומר ינקלביץ׳ omer yankelevitch (@omeryankelevitc) December 30, 2020
Pollard, who is Jewish, was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995 while still incarcerated in the U.S. His lawyer, Eliot Lauer, told The Times of Israel that Pollard arriving in Israel "speaks for itself. A dream realized after 35 very difficult years."
Pollard was arrested in 1985 and charged with espionage for Israel. He later pleaded guilty, but was still sentenced to life in prison. At the time, he claimed that he only stole secrets for a U.S. ally because "the American intelligence establishment collectively endangered Israel's security by withholding crucial information."
Prosecutors said while serving as a Navy analyst in the mid-1980s and handling classified material, Pollard made contact with an Israeli intelligence agent in New York and began funneling suitcases full of U.S. secrets to Israel in exchange for gifts and tens of thousands of dollars.
The intelligence handed to Israel included top-secret satellite photos and information about Soviet weaponry and Soviet support of Arab countries, according to a now-declassified "damage assessment" by U.S. intelligence.
The discovery of Pollard's spying severely strained U.S.-Israeli relations.
Although Israeli activists had repeatedly lobbied for a reduction in his sentence, U.S. officials, citing the damage they said Pollard did to American intelligence gathering, strongly objected.
"The Navy program was really shaken by what he had done right under their noses," Jim Townsend, a former senior Pentagon official who joined Navy intelligence as a reservist around the Pollard was arrested, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.
At the time of his release from federal prison in Butner, N.C., in 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "As someone who raised Jonathan's case for years with successive American presidents, I had long hoped this day would come."
Last month, five years after his release, the Justice Department allowed Pollard's parole to expire, freeing him to travel to Israel.
The Justice Department's move to end Pollard's parole is widely seen as a parting gift from President Trump to Netanyahu, who had enjoyed close relations, as Trump readies to leave office next month. Pollard's arrival in Israel could give Netanyahu, who is in a bitter reelection battle, a political boost.


npr--2020-12-29--Louisville Police To Fire 2 More Officers Involved In Death Of Breonna Taylor

Louisville Police To Fire 2 More Officers Involved In Death Of Breonna Taylor Two police officers who were part of the raid that ended with the shooting and death of Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old Black woman , are reportedly being terminated by the Louisville Metro Police Department .
The move comes nine months after Taylor was killed in her apartment when police attempted to carry out a search .
Attorneys for detectives Myles Cosgrove and Joshua Jaynes have confirmed to member station WFPL that both have been given pre-termination letters by Chief Yvette Gentry .
`` We intend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 31 and we 're going to contest this action , although I 'm not optimistic about Interim Chief Gentry changing her decision , '' said Thomas Clay , the lawyer for Jaynes .
NPR was unable to contact Clay for comment .
Jaynes was not at the raid .
He was responsible for obtaining the police warrant that led to the incident at Taylor 's home .
Jaynes asked the court to issue a warrant , supporting his request by saying that police learned from a postal inspector that a drug suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages at her address .
But he later acknowledged to investigators that he had not verified that information with a postal inspector .
`` These are extreme violations of our policies , which endangered others , '' Chief Gentry wrote in the pre-termination letter obtained by The New York Times .
Cosgrove was one of multiple police officers who fired shots that killed Taylor .
His lawyer did not give a comment for WFPL .
Tuesday 's firings come after detective Brett Hankison was terminated in June .
When reached for comment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are unable to give or send information on any parts of the case until it is closed .

Louisville Police To Fire 2 More Officers Involved In Death Of Breonna Taylor
Enlarge this image toggle caption Darron Cummings/AP Darron Cummings/AP
Two police officers who were part of the raid that ended with the shooting and death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, are reportedly being terminated by the Louisville Metro Police Department. The move comes nine months after Taylor was killed in her apartment when police attempted to carry out a search.
Attorneys for detectives Myles Cosgrove and Joshua Jaynes have confirmed to member station WFPL that both have been given pre-termination letters by Chief Yvette Gentry.
"We intend to show up to the pre-termination hearing on Dec. 31 and we're going to contest this action, although I'm not optimistic about Interim Chief Gentry changing her decision," said Thomas Clay, the lawyer for Jaynes. NPR was unable to contact Clay for comment.
Jaynes was not at the raid. He was responsible for obtaining the police warrant that led to the incident at Taylor's home.
Jaynes asked the court to issue a warrant, supporting his request by saying that police learned from a postal inspector that a drug suspect, Taylor's ex-boyfriend, had received packages at her address. But he later acknowledged to investigators that he had not verified that information with a postal inspector.
"These are extreme violations of our policies, which endangered others," Chief Gentry wrote in the pre-termination letter obtained by The New York Times.
Cosgrove was one of multiple police officers who fired shots that killed Taylor. His lawyer did not give a comment for WFPL.
Tuesday's firings come after detective Brett Hankison was terminated in June.
When reached for comment, Louisville Metro Police Department told NPR that they are unable to give or send information on any parts of the case until it is closed.