npr--2020-11-17--Street Fentanyl Surges In Western U.S., Leading To Thousands Of Deaths

Street Fentanyl Surges In Western U.S. , Leading To Thousands Of Deaths Seven months ago , when Jake got out of jail in Phoenix , he expected to go back to using his drug of choice : heroin .
But the street market for illegal opioids had changed .
`` I just started smoking [ fentanyl ] pills because that was the thing that was around ; it was so easy to get , '' he said .
NPR is only using Jake 's first name because he fears being arrested after talking openly about his addiction .
`` Soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a pill , '' Jake said .
`` The high is not very long , so 20 minutes after I smoke a pill , I want to smoke another one , you know ? ''
He lives on the street and occasionally sleeps in motels .
He has been addicted to opioids — first heroin and now street fentanyl — for six years .
Several times a day , he crushes an illegally manufactured fentanyl pill on a piece of tin foil , then cooks the powder with a flame , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jake pushed his bike along a tree-lined street , heading to buy his next dose for $ 5 or $ 10 a pill .
`` I can walk through the motel and have at least three or four people tell me they got pills for sale , '' he said .
Much of the fentanyl reaching American street markets is still coming from mainland China , despite restrictions imposed by the Chinese government last year .
Working with new data collected by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies , an organization that receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found Chinese companies have found ways to circumvent export bans .
Firms are marketing chemicals needed to make fentanyl on social media and working with drug cartels in Mexico .
Researchers also point to another devastating new development : Fentanyl is making swift inroads in the western U.S. where it used to be rare .
`` It 's killing too many people '' '' Up through 2018 , the vast majority of synthetic opioid overdoses occurred east of the Mississippi River , '' said Chelsea Shover , an epidemiologist at Stanford University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ often use a different kind of heroin that does n't mix easily with fentanyl powder .
But while studying overdose deaths last year , Shover and other researchers found what they describe as a `` fentanyl breakthrough '' in the West .
The data showed fentanyl had begun killing far more people in cities such as Los Angeles , Seattle and Phoenix , including people with addiction who did n't know their drugs were contaminated .
`` You think you 're using heroin or you think you 're using Ecstacy or Xanax or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it 's actually fentanyl , '' Shover said .
The spike in fentanyl deaths in the West contributed to a record number of fatal overdoses last year , with roughly 72,000 Americans dead .
`` It 's just getting worse , and it 's killing too many people , '' said Matthew Donahue , deputy chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration .
It 's Donahue 's job to coordinate the international fight against smugglers bringing fentanyl into the U.S .
He thinks there 's a reason fentanyl is surging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pressure from the Trump administration , the Chinese government cracked down on direct shipments of fentanyl to American buyers .
Chinese chemical companies quickly adapted by selling their product to `` middle man '' drug cartels in Mexico .
`` They 're sending precursor chemicals directly to cartels in Mexico to produce the fentanyl along with the fentanyl in pills , '' Donahue said .
Once they got into the fentanyl trade , Mexican cartels used their existing drug routes and street markets in Western cities to push the new product .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly , but it 's also cheap and easy to make and ship .
It 's also highly addictive , making it far more profitable than heroin or cocaine .
In Phoenix , the DEA and local police have made a series of massive fentanyl busts over the past year , seizing hundreds of thousands of pills .
But Sergio Armendariz , a street outreach worker with a program called the Phoenix Rescue Mission , says that has n't done much to dent supply .
Homeless may be most vulnerable Armendariz says people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where addiction is common , offer a burgeoning market for Chinese and Mexican fentanyl .
`` It 's huge over there .
Everyone 's talking about the fentanyl on the street .
When I come up to camps , you see the foils , '' he said .
His group and others are scrambling to adopt public health measures already widespread in Eastern cities .
That means educating people living with addiction that fentanyl is different , and more toxic , and handing out Narcan kits that can revive those suffering overdoses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so more people might avoid tainted drugs .
But Armendariz says fentanyl is already so entrenched in Phoenix that many people deliberately seek it out .
`` Knowing that it 's very powerful ?
That 's a driving force for people who are looking for that extreme high , '' he said .
Jake described his cravings for fentanyl as far worse than those he experienced with heroin .
`` It 's just the high I really think about , '' he said .
He has already overdosed once on fentanyl but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sickness that comes with withdrawal soon had him searching out more pills .
`` I think I 'm careful enough , but I 've had plenty of friends who 've died who thought the same thing , so , I do n't know , '' Jake said .
The DEA 's Matt Donahue acknowledged street fentanyl is still flowing in large quantities into more parts of the U.S. , but without interdiction efforts now underway far more people suffering addiction would be vulnerable .
`` We get this statement all the time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Donahue said .
`` What we 're trying to do right is try to have China and Mexico control those four chemicals needed to produce fentanyl .
It 's not a perfect system but this is a global epidemic . ''
Data released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest drug overdose deaths spiking to record levels again in the first months of 2020 , with fentanyl largely to blame .

Street Fentanyl Surges In Western U.S., Leading To Thousands Of Deaths
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cornelia Li for NPR Cornelia Li for NPR
Seven months ago, when Jake got out of jail in Phoenix, he expected to go back to using his drug of choice: heroin. But the street market for illegal opioids had changed.
"I just started smoking [fentanyl] pills because that was the thing that was around; it was so easy to get," he said. NPR is only using Jake's first name because he fears being arrested after talking openly about his addiction.
"Soon as I wake up, I have to have a pill," Jake said. "The high is not very long, so 20 minutes after I smoke a pill, I want to smoke another one, you know?"
He lives on the street and occasionally sleeps in motels. He has been addicted to opioids — first heroin and now street fentanyl — for six years.
Several times a day, he crushes an illegally manufactured fentanyl pill on a piece of tin foil, then cooks the powder with a flame, sucking in the fumes.
Health A History Of Fentanyl A History Of Fentanyl Listen · 5:39 5:39
Recently, Jake pushed his bike along a tree-lined street, heading to buy his next dose for $5 or $10 a pill.
"I can walk through the motel and have at least three or four people tell me they got pills for sale," he said.
Much of the fentanyl reaching American street markets is still coming from mainland China, despite restrictions imposed by the Chinese government last year.
Working with new data collected by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, an organization that receives funding from the U.S. government, NPR found Chinese companies have found ways to circumvent export bans.
Firms are marketing chemicals needed to make fentanyl on social media and working with drug cartels in Mexico.
Researchers also point to another devastating new development: Fentanyl is making swift inroads in the western U.S. where it used to be rare.
"It's killing too many people"
"Up through 2018, the vast majority of synthetic opioid overdoses occurred east of the Mississippi River," said Chelsea Shover, an epidemiologist at Stanford University.
People addicted to opioids in western states often use a different kind of heroin that doesn't mix easily with fentanyl powder. But while studying overdose deaths last year, Shover and other researchers found what they describe as a "fentanyl breakthrough" in the West.
The data showed fentanyl had begun killing far more people in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix, including people with addiction who didn't know their drugs were contaminated.
"You think you're using heroin or you think you're using Ecstacy or Xanax or what looks like an Oxycontin pill, but it's actually fentanyl," Shover said.
The spike in fentanyl deaths in the West contributed to a record number of fatal overdoses last year, with roughly 72,000 Americans dead.
"It's just getting worse, and it's killing too many people," said Matthew Donahue, deputy chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mexican cartels are middleman to Chinese chemical companies
It's Donahue's job to coordinate the international fight against smugglers bringing fentanyl into the U.S. He thinks there's a reason fentanyl is surging in the West.
Last year, responding to pressure from the Trump administration, the Chinese government cracked down on direct shipments of fentanyl to American buyers.
Chinese chemical companies quickly adapted by selling their product to "middle man" drug cartels in Mexico.
"They're sending precursor chemicals directly to cartels in Mexico to produce the fentanyl along with the fentanyl in pills," Donahue said.
Once they got into the fentanyl trade, Mexican cartels used their existing drug routes and street markets in Western cities to push the new product. Their motives are simple: Fentanyl is deadly, but it's also cheap and easy to make and ship. It's also highly addictive, making it far more profitable than heroin or cocaine.
In Phoenix, the DEA and local police have made a series of massive fentanyl busts over the past year, seizing hundreds of thousands of pills.
But Sergio Armendariz, a street outreach worker with a program called the Phoenix Rescue Mission, says that hasn't done much to dent supply.
Homeless may be most vulnerable
Armendariz says people living in Phoenix's homeless camps, where addiction is common, offer a burgeoning market for Chinese and Mexican fentanyl.
"It's huge over there. Everyone's talking about the fentanyl on the street. When I come up to camps, you see the foils," he said.
His group and others are scrambling to adopt public health measures already widespread in Eastern cities.
That means educating people living with addiction that fentanyl is different, and more toxic, and handing out Narcan kits that can revive those suffering overdoses.
They're also distributing fentanyl test strips, so more people might avoid tainted drugs. But Armendariz says fentanyl is already so entrenched in Phoenix that many people deliberately seek it out.
"Knowing that it's very powerful? That's a driving force for people who are looking for that extreme high," he said.
Jake described his cravings for fentanyl as far worse than those he experienced with heroin. "It's just the high I really think about," he said.
He has already overdosed once on fentanyl but was revived. His fear of the sickness that comes with withdrawal soon had him searching out more pills.
"I think I'm careful enough, but I've had plenty of friends who've died who thought the same thing, so, I don't know," Jake said.
The DEA's Matt Donahue acknowledged street fentanyl is still flowing in large quantities into more parts of the U.S., but without interdiction efforts now underway far more people suffering addiction would be vulnerable.
"We get this statement all the time that we're losing the drug war," Donahue said. "What we're trying to do right is try to have China and Mexico control those four chemicals needed to produce fentanyl. It's not a perfect system but this is a global epidemic."
Data released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest drug overdose deaths spiking to record levels again in the first months of 2020, with fentanyl largely to blame.


npr--2020-11-17--Experts: Gobble All You Like, But Do It With The Turkeys In Your Own Household

Experts : Gobble All You Like , But Do It With The Turkeys In Your Own Household For Thanksgiving this year , Kurt Beard was planning to travel from Indianapolis to Ohio and meet family for an outdoor hike , but as he watched COVID-19 rates spike he decided even that was too risky .
Instead , his family is ordering pizza , video chatting with relatives and playing games .
However , when weighing spending time with elderly family members versus the coronavirus threat , Beard is conflicted .
`` It 's that decision of well , do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandpa 'til this is all over ? ''
he says .
`` Do my parents want to risk getting sick , if it means seeing their grandkids ? ''
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise , government and health officials are pleading with people to change their behavior around the holidays and stay home .
With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving , this poses a significant dilemma for families across the country .
Pandemic fatigue has set in for many and more than eight months into the pandemic , people are both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with family .
There 's no way to know for sure how many people are staying home this Thanksgiving .
Airline travel is down as much as 88 % from last year , according to airline analysts , and AAA predicts many fewer cars on the road .
Still , many people are struggling to figure out what 's best .
`` We highly recommend enjoying Thanksgiving with people who live in your household , '' says Andrea Janota , a public health expert at Indiana University -- Purdue University Indianapolis .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we have mixing of households . ''
In all likelihood , not everyone will follow this advice , so Janota has some ideas for people who still want to travel and see family , which requires some preparation prior to Thanksgiving day .
`` So staying home as much as possible — maybe you do pickup of groceries , rather than going grocery shopping in the store , '' Janota says .
`` Making sure you 're practicing really good hand hygiene , things like that . ''
A 14-day quarantine period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
Janota also says if you can get tested , you should .
`` I think if people can really kind of reflect that this is not going to be forever , '' Janota says .
`` This is something we 're going to deal with this year .
It 's going to be your unique quarantine from COVID Thanksgiving . ''
A tool from researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology helps estimate transmission risk at the county level and by event size .
In certain Vermont counties , the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 is estimated to be 2 % .
However , for counties in North Dakota , this risk is above 80 % .
This assumes there are five times the COVID-19 cases than accounted for , a figure that experts have suggested could be even higher .
Scott Brookie decided to pare down his usual 15-to-20 person Thanksgiving celebration .
Instead , his immediate family will all get tested and quarantine beforehand .
`` Not seeing family , you know , up close and personal all the time has been pretty tough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of bracing myself to see people in person less and less . ''
Courtney Taylor also chose to forgo her large family Thanksgiving in Illinois , partly because she 's pregnant , which puts her at higher risk for COVID-19 complications .
Taylor says she knows what it 's like to feel tempted to ignore public health advice .
`` It 's kind of like you know what the right thing to do is , and it 's not go , but it 's so tempting to want to spend time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in such a long time , '' Taylor says .
`` It 's just kind of that dilemma that you 're facing . ''
But Taylor says her family is still going to try and make the best of it by creating their own Thanksgiving traditions .
`` We 've made a Pinterest board of all the Thanksgiving food that we want to make and all the sides , '' Taylor says , laughing .
`` We 're gon na kind of go big with our own Thanksgiving and eat leftovers for however @ @ @ @ @

Experts: Gobble All You Like, But Do It With The Turkeys In Your Own Household
Enlarge this image LA Johnson/NPR LA Johnson/NPR
For Thanksgiving this year, Kurt Beard was planning to travel from Indianapolis to Ohio and meet family for an outdoor hike, but as he watched COVID-19 rates spike he decided even that was too risky. Instead, his family is ordering pizza, video chatting with relatives and playing games.
However, when weighing spending time with elderly family members versus the coronavirus threat, Beard is conflicted.
"It's that decision of well, do you just not get to see grandma and grandpa 'til this is all over?" he says. "Do my parents want to risk getting sick, if it means seeing their grandkids?"
Health Care Illinois Health Care Workers Say Hospitals Will Run Out Of ICU Beds By Thanksgiving Illinois Health Care Workers Say Hospitals Will Run Out Of ICU Beds By Thanksgiving Listen · 4:48 4:48
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, government and health officials are pleading with people to change their behavior around the holidays and stay home. With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, this poses a significant dilemma for families across the country.
Pandemic fatigue has set in for many and more than eight months into the pandemic, people are both eager and anxious about how to connect with family.
There's no way to know for sure how many people are staying home this Thanksgiving. Airline travel is down as much as 88% from last year, according to airline analysts, and AAA predicts many fewer cars on the road.
Still, many people are struggling to figure out what's best.
"We highly recommend enjoying Thanksgiving with people who live in your household," says Andrea Janota, a public health expert at Indiana University--Purdue University Indianapolis. "We see that the most transmission happens when we have mixing of households."
In all likelihood, not everyone will follow this advice, so Janota has some ideas for people who still want to travel and see family, which requires some preparation prior to Thanksgiving day.
"So staying home as much as possible — maybe you do pickup of groceries, rather than going grocery shopping in the store," Janota says. "Making sure you're practicing really good hand hygiene, things like that."
A 14-day quarantine period could prevent transmission — especially for asymptomatic cases. Janota also says if you can get tested, you should.
"I think if people can really kind of reflect that this is not going to be forever," Janota says. "This is something we're going to deal with this year. It's going to be your unique quarantine from COVID Thanksgiving."
A tool from researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology helps estimate transmission risk at the county level and by event size. In certain Vermont counties, the risk of someone at a 10-person event having COVID-19 is estimated to be 2%. However, for counties in North Dakota, this risk is above 80%. This assumes there are five times the COVID-19 cases than accounted for, a figure that experts have suggested could be even higher.
Scott Brookie decided to pare down his usual 15-to-20 person Thanksgiving celebration. Instead, his immediate family will all get tested and quarantine beforehand.
Food Grandmother Uses Zoom To Share Thanksgiving Recipes With Family Grandmother Uses Zoom To Share Thanksgiving Recipes With Family Listen · 8:08 8:08
"Not seeing family, you know, up close and personal all the time has been pretty tough," Brookie says. "I'm kind of bracing myself to see people in person less and less."
Courtney Taylor also chose to forgo her large family Thanksgiving in Illinois, partly because she's pregnant, which puts her at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. Taylor says she knows what it's like to feel tempted to ignore public health advice.
"It's kind of like you know what the right thing to do is, and it's not go, but it's so tempting to want to spend time with your family that you haven't seen in such a long time," Taylor says. "It's just kind of that dilemma that you're facing."
But Taylor says her family is still going to try and make the best of it by creating their own Thanksgiving traditions.
"We've made a Pinterest board of all the Thanksgiving food that we want to make and all the sides," Taylor says, laughing. "We're gonna kind of go big with our own Thanksgiving and eat leftovers for however long it takes."


npr--2020-11-17--Iowa Governor Reverses Course, Issues Mask Mandate As COVID-19 Cases Rise

As hospitals in Iowa fill up with COVID-19 patients amid a major surge in cases in recent weeks , Gov .
Kim Reynolds , who once dismissed coronavirus restrictions as `` feel good '' measures , has abruptly reversed course , issuing the state 's first mask mandate .
Reynolds signed a proclamation requiring Iowans over the age of 2 years to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Tuesday .
`` No one wants to do this .
I do n't want to do this , '' Reynolds , a Republican , said at a news conference Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , we 'll lose , '' she said .
`` Businesses will close once again , more schools will be forced to go online , and our health care system will fail . ''
Iowa on Monday reported nearly 3,300 new cases and 34 new deaths .
Last week , the state hit an all-time high of nearly 5,500 confirmed in a single day , according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University .
The latest numbers from the COVID Tracking Project show that as of the latest data , 1,392 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , 271 of them in ICU .
Iowa 's governor has limited gatherings for social , community , business and leisure purposes to no more than 15 people indoors and 30 outdoors , including family events .
She also restricted bar and restaurant operating hours to 6 a.m.-10 p.m. , with carryout and drive-through service allowed at other hours .
However , the new mandate includes a number of exceptions , applying only when people are within 6 feet of others for 15 minutes and they are n't members of their households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , routine office or factory work or spiritual gatherings .
In July , the Center for Public Integrity , a Washington , D.C.-based non-profit , reported that a White House Coronavirus Task Force document had prepared , but never published recommendations that 18 states with cases of 100 or more per 100,000 residents should be locked down to prevent the spread of the disease .
Iowa was on the list .
At the time , Reynolds was recommending that Iowans wear masks in public , but declined to require it , instead allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain open at full capacity with social distancing measures put in place .
There was no limit on social gatherings .
`` No , I 'm not going to mandate masks .
I trust Iowans .
I believe in Iowans , '' Reynolds told WHO radio at the time .
`` There 's no way to enforce it .
Most of the states or entities that have done that , they 've actually gone as far as to say we 're not going to enforce it , so it 's just kind of @ @ @ @

Iowa Governor Reverses Course, Issues Mask Mandate As COVID-19 Cases Rise
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Neibergall/AP Charlie Neibergall/AP
As hospitals in Iowa fill up with COVID-19 patients amid a major surge in cases in recent weeks, Gov. Kim Reynolds, who once dismissed coronavirus restrictions as "feel-good" measures, has abruptly reversed course, issuing the state's first mask mandate.
Reynolds signed a proclamation requiring Iowans over the age of 2 to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Tuesday.
"No one wants to do this. I don't want to do this," Reynolds, a Republican, said at a news conference Monday.
"If Iowans don't buy into this, we'll lose," she said. "Businesses will close once again, more schools will be forced to go online, and our health care system will fail."
YouTube
Iowa on Monday reported nearly 3,300 new cases and 34 new deaths. Last week, the state hit an all-time high of nearly 5,500 confirmed in a single day, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. The latest numbers from the COVID Tracking Project show that as of the latest data, 1,392 people were being treated in hospitals in the state, 271 of them in ICU.
Iowa's governor has limited gatherings for social, community, business and leisure purposes to no more than 15 people indoors and 30 outdoors, including family events. She also restricted bar and restaurant operating hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with carryout and drive-through service allowed at other hours.
However, the new mandate includes a number of exceptions, applying only when people are within 6 feet of others for 15 minutes and they aren't members of their households. It doesn't apply to classrooms, routine office or factory work, or spiritual gatherings.
In July, the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, reported that a White House Coronavirus Task Force document had prepared, but never published recommendations that 18 states with cases of 100 or more per 100,000 residents should be locked down to prevent the spread of the disease. Iowa was on the list.
At the time, Reynolds was recommending that Iowans wear masks in public, but declined to require it, instead allowing the state's bars and gyms to remain open at full capacity with social distancing measures put in place. There was no limit on social gatherings.
"No, I'm not going to mandate masks. I trust Iowans. I believe in Iowans," Reynolds told WHO radio at the time. "There's no way to enforce it. Most of the states or entities that have done that, they've actually gone as far as to say we're not going to enforce it, so it's just kind of a feel-good."


npr--2020-11-17--4 Astronauts Aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Successfully Dock With Space Station

Updated at 5:15 a.m .
ET Four astronauts aboard their SpaceX Dragon capsule `` Resilience '' have arrived at the International Space Station , circling 262 miles above the Earth , where they will stay until spring .
The capsule lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday evening atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket , chasing the ISS for 27 hours before matching its altitude and speed for an orbital dock .
The flight marks only the second crewed flight for Crew Dragon , which became the first commercial vehicle to put humans in orbit when astronauts Doug Hurley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` SpaceX , this is Resilience .
Excellent job , right down the center , '' commander Hopkins radioed to mission control after the docking .
`` SpaceX and NASA , congratulations . ''
The flight marks another milestone for SpaceX flying its first fully operational mission .
After the May launch , designated `` Demo-2 '' with Hurley and Behnken , NASA certified the capsule for operational use in its Commercial Crew program .
The Resilience crew includes three NASA astronauts and one from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency who were mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which generally flies without human input and docks to the ISS autonomously .
The Dragon crew is expected to spend six months in orbit , joining three others who arrived aboard the ISS earlier on a Russian Soyuz rocket launched last month from Kazakhstan .
`` The last 27 hours have gone really smooth actually , '' Hopkins said after boarding the space station .
`` We are looking forward to the next six months , and ca n't wait to get started . ''
It is the first time there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a situation that has caused a scramble for beds .
At least temporarily , Resilience commander Hopkins will sleep aboard the capsule , while his crewmates sack out on the ISS .
Although there have been more astronauts aboard the station for a few days at a stretch , NASA says this is a permanent increase of the long-duration crew size .
Hopkins and crewmates Victor Glover , Shannon Walker and Japan 's Soichi Noguchi — join two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month .
Glover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American to move into the station as part of a long haul mission .
On their way to the station , the astronauts broadcast a tour showing off the high-tech Resilience , including a plush Baby Yoda bouncing around the capsule as a zero-gravity indicator .
During the tour , Walker said with four crew members , the maximum the Crew Dragon is designed to carry , there was a bit less elbow room than for the first flight .
`` We sort of dance around each other to stay out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk did not attend Sunday 's launch after announcing last week that he had received contradictory results on four separate coronavirus tests .
In the past , Musk has been dismissive of COVID-19 , in March calling the pandemic panic `` dumb , '' and occasionally tweeting misinformation about disease .

4 Astronauts Aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Successfully Dock With Space Station
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Raoux/AP John Raoux/AP
Updated at 5:15 a.m. ET
Four astronauts aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Resilience have arrived at the International Space Station, circling 262 miles above Earth, where they will stay until spring.
The capsule lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday evening atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, chasing the ISS for 27 hours before matching its altitude and speed for an orbital dock. The flight marks only the second crewed flight for Crew Dragon, which became the first commercial vehicle to put humans in orbit when astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken launched in May.
"SpaceX, this is Resilience. Excellent job, right down the center," commander Hopkins radioed to mission control after the docking. "SpaceX and NASA, congratulations."
YouTube
The flight marks another milestone for SpaceX flying its first fully operational mission. After the May launch, designated "Demo-2" with Hurley and Behnken, NASA certified the capsule for operational use in its Commercial Crew program.
The Resilience crew includes three NASA astronauts and one from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. They were mostly passengers during the flight of Crew Dragon, which generally flies without human input and docks to the ISS autonomously.
The Dragon crew is expected to spend six months in orbit, joining three others who arrived aboard the ISS earlier on a Russian Soyuz rocket launched last month from Kazakhstan.
"The last 27 hours have gone really smooth actually," Hopkins said after boarding the space station. "We are looking forward to the next six months and can't wait to get started."
It is the first time there have been seven long-duration crew members aboard — a situation that has caused a scramble for beds. At least temporarily, Resilience commander Hopkins will sleep aboard the capsule, while his crewmates sack out on the ISS.
Although there have been more astronauts aboard the station for a few days at a stretch, NASA says this is a permanent increase of the long-duration crew size.
Hopkins and crewmates Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Japan's Soichi Noguchi — join two Russians and one American who flew to the space station last month. Glover, a space rookie, is the first African American to move into the station as part of a long haul mission.
On their way to the station, the astronauts broadcast a tour showing off the high-tech Resilience, including a plush Baby Yoda bouncing around the capsule as a zero-gravity indicator.
Enter the Crew Dragon. At 4:48 p.m. EST (9:48 p.m. UTC), the NASA @SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts give you a LIVE tour of their spacecraft Resilience: https://t.co/z1RgZwQkWS pic.twitter.com/0kn4gRnFma — NASA (@NASA) November 16, 2020
During the tour, Walker said that with four crew members, the maximum the Crew Dragon is designed to carry, there was a bit less elbow room than for the first flight.
"We sort of dance around each other to stay out of each other's way," she said.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk did not attend Sunday's launch after announcing last week that he had received contradictory results on four separate coronavirus tests. In the past, Musk has been dismissive of COVID-19, in March calling the pandemic panic "dumb" and occasionally tweeting misinformation about disease.
In Musk's stead, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell attended the launch.


npr--2020-11-16--We Can Get Back To Normal, Chief Science Adviser Responds To Vaccine News

We Can Get Back To Normal , Chief Science Adviser Responds To Vaccine News The American biotech company Moderna announced Monday , that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5 % effective in preventing illness following exposure to the virus that causes the disease .
The announcement comes exactly a week after the companies Pfizer and BioNTech revealed their vaccine is more than 90 % effective , meaning two independently developed vaccines are getting closer to distribution .
In the coming weeks , both companies are expected to ask the FDA to authorize their vaccines for emergency use and they hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the year .
Dr. Moncef Slaoui , chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed and former Moderna board member , says he 's `` ecstatic '' about the news .
He says the announcement exceeded his expectations for efficacy and will be key to ending the pandemic .
`` If enough of us get vaccinated , there is a good chance that we keep this virus at very , very low levels , which means we can go back to normal life — fully normal life , '' Slaoui says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louise Kelly today on All Things Considered .
This interview has been edited for length and clarity .
What is your reaction to today 's news , 94.5 % effective in preventing COVID , sounds pretty great ?
Well , frankly , I would say ecstatic .
And what 's really great is that the data are highly similar to those that Pfizer announced last week.These are two vaccines that are totally independently developed .
They are using similar technology and independently tested in large phase three trials .
And to come with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great confidence that this data is real , that these vaccines are highly , highly effective and efficacious , and their safety profile is the best that we have been able to see up to now — very satisfactory .
You said you were ecstatic .
It also sounds like you 're a little surprised that these numbers have come in quite so good ?
I was expecting the vaccines to be 80 to 90 percent efficacious .
And I remember that many people questioned that .
I 'm glad they are 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what the world needs to control this pandemic .
And it also means , and suggests , that the other vaccines that we have in our portfolio — and vaccines that others are working on — are very likely to be very effective .
This is apparently a virus that is particularly susceptible to a good immune response , and that 's good news for the world .
Lay out briefly for us what you see as the key differences between these vaccines .
One that immediately leaps out is the Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not nearly as cold as the Pfizer one , which might make it a little easier to distribute .
Yes , I would say the biggest difference here is indeed around the cold chain .
The Pfizer vaccine requires a minus 80 degrees Celsius temperature for its storage .
On the other hand , the Moderna vaccine also requires significant cold , but not as cold — minus 20 Celsius — which is more common .
Most of the freezers that people have in their homes are minus 20 .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capped at 2 to 8 degrees [ Celsius ] , which is a fridge temperature , for up to a month .
That is really a big plus in terms of being able to immunize individuals , for instance , that come to CVS or Walgreens and ask to be immunized .
We should stress these are preliminary results — more trials are going to be needed and they have n't been peer reviewed in scientific journals .
But , the people who took the Moderna vaccine and did get sick , did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have severe cases of COVID-19 .
Does that suggest to you that even if it ca n't keep everyone from getting sick , that it might reduce the severity of illness ?
That is very important and very exciting .
And , frankly , it 's not uncommon with vaccines .
You know , there have been 11 cases of severe disease in the trial and all of them were in the placebo group , not in the vaccine group , suggesting that this vaccine is highly effective against severe disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether it 's mild or moderate .
So that 's excellent news .
We expect to see more of such information on the Pfizer vaccine .
We have n't seen it yet .
I can tell you , because we have much closer collaboration with the Moderna program , there are also many cases in individuals over the age of 65 — and again , efficacy is excellent there .
Likewise , there are people from diverse ethnic origins — Latinos , African-Americans , Asians — across the line , the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there is a smaller number there .
I expect the Pfizer vaccine to have the same performance , or very similar , so it 's very good news in the sense that the vaccine works very well in everyone .
So what are the challenges now ?
Is the chief one just getting enough doses ?
Well , first of all , we need to help the companies to prepare the files , [ both companies are expected to file with the FDA for emergency use authorization ] and support them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC and the ACIP will make recommendations if the FDA approves the vaccines .
And while all of this is ongoing over the next probably three or four weeks , we will continue what we 've been doing since the month of May , which is working with the companies to help with the manufacturing and the release of the vaccine doses .
We have announced that we would be able to have enough doses to immunize about 20 million people by the month of December .
That means the 40 million doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 million people on an ongoing basis from there on , in January and beyond .
But then what 's important to keep in mind is we have four more vaccines in the pipeline — in our portfolio — two of which are in the middle of their phase three trials with already about 10,000 subjects recruited in each one of their trials .
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one shot vaccine , which is a lot easier to deliver .
People do n't have to come back after a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that vaccine may very well read out in January and may be approved in February .
And doses are being manufactured as we speak .
Likewise with the AstraZeneca vaccine — that 's a two shot vaccine . ''
What is the value of pushing full speed ahead on all these vaccines when you 've got two that look extremely promising , and understanding that resources are finite ?
Well , one [ element ] was to manage the risk of failure .
The second , which was built in from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform technologies because they may have different performance , which makes them best suited for different subpopulations .
You know , a frail elderly person 's immune system is very different from a young 18-year-old football player .
And a 55-year-old first line worker is different from a pediatric toddler or a three-months-old baby .
So the various platform technologies are going to give us the opportunity to select from a menu of vaccines with different performance , the best vaccines suited for a given population .
I think that 's an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , this is one way to have more vaccine doses .
Once you scale them up , you produce many more millions of vaccine doses per batch .
As a person in charge of science , what do you say to people who are worried about vaccine safety — who say 'make all the vaccines you want , I 'm not going to take it ' ?
I have a plea , which is please just listen and open up your mind to hear the transparent data and information — and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's really very important not to have a predefined position .
It is unfortunate that there was so much politics that has , I think , exacerbated certain reservations that , hopefully now , people can just take more time to rationally decide .
Now , people need to realize there 's only one way to protect yourself and also protect people around you ( on top of , of course , wearing your mask and washing your hands and keeping your distance ) and it 's vaccination .
And if enough of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good chance that we keep this virus at very , very low levels , which means we can go back to normal life — fully normal life .
When I last spoke to you , Dr. Slaoui , you told me you 're looking at the middle of 2021 for a vaccine that is safe , effective and widely available .
Does that timeline hold or does this news of the last week bump things up any ?
I think my statement has always been that by the middle of 2021 , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. population — and I think that statement remains .
I think in a worst case scenario , if we only have these two vaccines that work , we may not be able to have produced 600 million doses between now and June , so it may extend by a quarter or so .
But all in all , I think I feel more comfortable now saying the vaccines are possible , vaccination is possible — and not only is it possible , can be incredibly effective , , and that 's great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimism that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel .

'Good News For The World' — Chief Science Adviser Responds To Vaccine Advances
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
The American biotech company Moderna announced Monday that its experimental COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing illness following exposure to the virus that causes the disease.
The announcement comes exactly a week after the companies Pfizer and BioNTech revealed their vaccine is more than 90% effective, meaning two independently developed vaccines are getting closer to distribution. In the coming weeks, both companies are expected to ask the FDA to authorize their vaccines for emergency use and they hope to start distributing the first doses by the end of the year.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed and former Moderna board member, says he's "ecstatic" about the news. He says the announcement exceeded his expectations for efficacy and will be key to ending the pandemic.
"If enough of us get vaccinated, there is a good chance that we keep this virus at very, very low levels, which means we can go back to normal life — fully normal life," Slaoui says.
Slaoui spoke with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly today on All Things Considered.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is your reaction to today's news, 94.5% effective in preventing COVID, sounds pretty great?
Well, frankly, I would say ecstatic. And what's really great is that the data are highly similar to those that Pfizer announced last week. These are two vaccines that are totally independently developed. They are using similar technology and independently tested in large phase three trials. And to come with such similar data, I think gives great confidence that this data is real, that these vaccines are highly, highly effective and efficacious, and their safety profile is the best that we have been able to see up to now — very satisfactory.
You said you were ecstatic. It also sounds like you're a little surprised that these numbers have come in quite so good?
I was expecting the vaccines to be 80 to 90 percent efficacious. And I remember that many people questioned that. I'm glad they are 90 percent or 95 percent efficacious. This is what the world needs to control this pandemic. And it also means, and suggests, that the other vaccines that we have in our portfolio — and vaccines that others are working on — are very likely to be very effective. This is apparently a virus that is particularly susceptible to a good immune response, and that's good news for the world.
Lay out briefly for us what you see as the key differences between these vaccines. One that immediately leaps out is the Moderna vaccine has to be kept cold, but not nearly as cold as the Pfizer one, which might make it a little easier to distribute.
Yes, I would say the biggest difference here is indeed around the cold chain. The Pfizer vaccine requires a minus 80 degrees Celsius temperature for its storage. On the other hand, the Moderna vaccine also requires significant cold, but not as cold — minus 20 Celsius — which is more common. Most of the freezers that people have in their homes are minus 20. And the Moderna vaccine can actually be stable and capped at 2 to 8 degrees [Celsius], which is a fridge temperature, for up to a month. That is really a big plus in terms of being able to immunize individuals, for instance, that come to CVS or Walgreens and ask to be immunized.
We should stress these are preliminary results — more trials are going to be needed and they haven't been peer reviewed in scientific journals. But, the people who took the Moderna vaccine and did get sick, didn't get that sick. They did not have severe cases of COVID-19. Does that suggest to you that even if it can't keep everyone from getting sick, that it might reduce the severity of illness?
That is very important and very exciting. And, frankly, it's not uncommon with vaccines. You know, there have been 11 cases of severe disease in the trial and all of them were in the placebo group, not in the vaccine group, suggesting that this vaccine is highly effective against severe disease, and also highly effective against any disease, whether it's mild or moderate.
So that's excellent news. We expect to see more of such information on the Pfizer vaccine. We haven't seen it yet. I can tell you, because we have much closer collaboration with the Moderna program, there are also many cases in individuals over the age of 65 — and again, efficacy is excellent there. Likewise, there are people from diverse ethnic origins — Latinos, African Americans, Asians — across the line, the same trend on efficacy, without statistical power because there is a smaller number there. I expect the Pfizer vaccine to have the same performance, or very similar, so it's very good news in the sense that the vaccine works very well in everyone.
So what are the challenges now? Is the chief one just getting enough doses?
Well, first of all, we need to help the companies to prepare the files, [both companies are expected to file with the FDA for emergency use authorization] and support them in going to the FDA reviews. The CDC and the ACIP will make recommendations if the FDA approves the vaccines. And while all of this is ongoing over the next probably three or four weeks, we will continue what we've been doing since the month of May, which is working with the companies to help with the manufacturing and the release of the vaccine doses.
We have announced that we would be able to have enough doses to immunize about 20 million people by the month of December. That means the 40 million doses between the two vaccines, and about 25 million people on an ongoing basis from there on, in January and beyond. But then what's important to keep in mind is we have four more vaccines in the pipeline — in our portfolio — two of which are in the middle of their phase three trials with already about 10,000 subjects recruited in each one of their trials.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one shot vaccine, which is a lot easier to deliver. People don't have to come back after a month or three weeks for a second dose. And that vaccine may very well read out in January and may be approved in February. And doses are being manufactured as we speak. Likewise with the AstraZeneca vaccine — that's a two shot vaccine."
What is the value of pushing full speed ahead on all these vaccines when you've got two that look extremely promising, and understanding that resources are finite?
Well, one [element] was to manage the risk of failure. The second, which was built in from day one, was to use different platform technologies because they may have different performance, which makes them best suited for different subpopulations. You know, a frail elderly person's immune system is very different from a young 18-year-old football player. And a 55-year-old first line worker is different from a pediatric toddler or a 3-months-old baby.
So the various platform technologies are going to give us the opportunity to select from a menu of vaccines with different performance, the best vaccines suited for a given population. I think that's an important element. And then the third element is, this is one way to have more vaccine doses.
Once you scale them up, you produce many more millions of vaccine doses per batch.
As a person in charge of science, what do you say to people who are worried about vaccine safety — who say 'make all the vaccines you want, I'm not going to take it'?
I have a plea, which is please just listen and open up your mind to hear the transparent data and information — and then make up your mind. But it's really very important not to have a predefined position.
It is unfortunate that there was so much politics that has, I think, exacerbated certain reservations that, hopefully now, people can just take more time to rationally decide. Now, people need to realize there's only one way to protect yourself and also protect people around you (on top of, of course, wearing your mask and washing your hands and keeping your distance) and it's vaccination. And if enough of us gets vaccinated, there is a good chance that we keep this virus at very, very low levels, which means we can go back to normal life — fully normal life.
When I last spoke to you, Dr. Slaoui, you told me you're looking at the middle of 2021 for a vaccine that is safe, effective and widely available. Does that timeline hold or does this news of the last week bump things up any?
I think my statement has always been that by the middle of 2021, we would be able to have vaccinated the U.S. population — and I think that statement remains. I think in a worst case scenario, if we only have these two vaccines that work, we may not be able to have produced 600 million doses between now and June, so it may extend by a quarter or so. But all in all, I think I feel more comfortable now saying the vaccines are possible, vaccination is possible — and not only is it possible, can be incredibly effective, and that's great news. So it gives me great optimism that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.


npr--2020-11-17--Federal Judge Approves Landmark $8.3 Billion Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a controversial $ 8.3 billion settlement late Tuesday between Purdue Pharma and the Department of Justice .
The deal first unveiled last month stems from the company 's decades-long manufacture and marketing of Oxycontin and other highly addictive opioid medications .
Under terms approved by Judge Robert Drain , Purdue Pharma will plead guilty to three felony counts of criminal wrongdoing .
The company is also likely to be reorganized into a public benefit corporation , with profits from future opioid sales expected to fund programs aimed at alleviating the addiction crisis .
The ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White Plains , N.Y. , with attorneys participating by phone because of coronavirus restrictions .
Judge Drain swatted aside objections to the deal raised by a coalition of more than two dozen states that are still suing Purdue Pharma .
`` Let 's get real about this , '' Drain said at one point .
`` Let 's focus on how to resolve conflicts , or at least reduce them . ''
He described the federal settlement as `` a critical building block '' in efforts to resolve the tsunami of lawsuits against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcy last year .
Beginning in the 1990s , Purdue Pharma and its owners , members of the Sackler family , began aggressively marketing opioid medications .
The Stamford , Conn.-based business was hugely profitable but executives now acknowledge their efforts helped fuel a deadly addiction epidemic that wrecked lives and killed tens of thousands of Americans .
`` Purdue deeply regrets and accepts responsibility for the misconduct detailed by the Department of Justice , '' said Steve Miller , chair of Purdue Pharma 's board of directors , in a statement last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point out Purdue Pharma executives pleaded guilty once before to illegal marketing practices in 2007 , but quickly resumed their campaign to maximize profits .
Opponents of the deal also note that under its terms , members of the Sackler family will pay a small fraction of the fortune they earned selling Oxycontin .
They 've agreed to forfeit $ 225 million of their personal wealth , while admitting no wrongdoing and facing no criminal charges .
`` They 're not going to have any consequences , '' said Nan Goldin , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who organized a group called Sackler Pain .
Speaking after the judge issued his ruling , Goldin said , `` I 'm very disappointed , I think we 're going further toward injustice . ''
State attorneys general and some members of Congress also objected to a provision of the plan – first proposed by Purdue Pharma – that would reorganize the company as a public trust .
If the arrangement is finalized , future profits would be dedicated to funding drug rehabilitation and other addiction-related recovery programs .
In a letter sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 15 Democratic senators said the proposal creates a dangerous conflict of interest .
They argued states would effectively be drawn into a financial relationship with `` a company that has devastated their communities with dangerous opioids . ''
The judge rejected those arguments as well , concluding that Purdue Pharma , once organized under a public-benefit plan , would generate significant revenue to `` alleviate and abate '' the opioid crisis .

Federal Judge Approves Landmark $8.3 Billion Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
Enlarge this image John Moore/Getty Images John Moore/Getty Images
A federal bankruptcy judge approved a controversial $8.3 billion settlement late Tuesday between Purdue Pharma and the Department of Justice.
The deal first unveiled last month stems from the company's decades-long manufacture and marketing of Oxycontin and other highly addictive opioid medications.
Under terms approved by Judge Robert Drain, Purdue Pharma will plead guilty to three felony counts of criminal wrongdoing.
The company is also likely to be reorganized into a public benefit corporation, with profits from future opioid sales expected to fund programs aimed at alleviating the addiction crisis.
The ruling followed an often contentious day-long hearing in White Plains, N.Y., with attorneys participating by phone because of coronavirus restrictions.
Judge Drain swatted aside objections to the deal raised by a coalition of more than two dozen states that are still suing Purdue Pharma.
"Let's get real about this," Drain said at one point. "Let's focus on how to resolve conflicts, or at least reduce them."
He described the federal settlement as "a critical building block" in efforts to resolve the tsunami of lawsuits against the embattled company, which filed for bankruptcy last year.
Beginning in the 1990s, Purdue Pharma and its owners, members of the Sackler family, began aggressively marketing opioid medications.
The Stamford, Conn.-based business was hugely profitable but executives now acknowledge their efforts helped fuel a deadly addiction epidemic that wrecked lives and killed tens of thousands of Americans.
"Purdue deeply regrets and accepts responsibility for the misconduct detailed by the Department of Justice," said Steve Miller, chair of Purdue Pharma's board of directors, in a statement last month.
Critics of the federal settlement point out Purdue Pharma executives pleaded guilty once before to illegal marketing practices in 2007, but quickly resumed their campaign to maximize profits.
Opponents of the deal also note that under its terms, members of the Sackler family will pay a small fraction of the fortune they earned selling Oxycontin.
They've agreed to forfeit $225 million of their personal wealth, while admitting no wrongdoing and facing no criminal charges.
"They're not going to have any consequences," said Nan Goldin, an artist and activist in New York City who organized a group called Sackler Pain.
Speaking after the judge issued his ruling, Goldin said, "I'm very disappointed, I think we're going further toward injustice."
State attorneys general and some members of Congress also objected to a provision of the plan – first proposed by Purdue Pharma – that would reorganize the company as a public trust.
If the arrangement is finalized, future profits would be dedicated to funding drug rehabilitation and other addiction-related recovery programs.
In a letter sent last week to Attorney General William Barr, 15 Democratic senators said the proposal creates a dangerous conflict of interest.
They argued states would effectively be drawn into a financial relationship with "a company that has devastated their communities with dangerous opioids."
The judge rejected those arguments as well, concluding that Purdue Pharma, once organized under a public-benefit plan, would generate significant revenue to "alleviate and abate" the opioid crisis.


npr--2020-11-17--U.S. Moves To Drop Drug Trafficking Charges Against Mexico's Former Defense Minister

U.S. Moves To Drop Drug Trafficking Charges Against Mexico 's Former Defense Minister The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to drop charges against a former Mexican defense secretary , the highest-ranking Mexican official ever arrested for alleged drug trafficking , so that he `` may be investigated and , if appropriate , charged , under Mexican law . ''
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda , nicknamed The Godfather , had been accused of working on behalf of one of Mexico 's deadliest cartels , known as the H-2 .
Authorities alleged Cienfuegos took bribes to protect the cartel and its leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against them .
An indictment in the Eastern District of New York also alleged he used troops to launch operations against a rival cartel .
The 72-year-old was taken into custody on Oct. 15 at Los Angeles International Airport and faced charges of conspiracy to manufacture , import and distribute narcotics into the United States and money laundering .
But on Tuesday Attorney General William Barr partnered with Mexico 's Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero in announcing the unusual decision to have Cienfuegos released into that country 's custody .
The officials explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that governs the sharing of evidence , '' saying the Justice Department provided Mexico with evidence against Cienfuegos and will cooperate `` to support the investigation by Mexican authorities . ''
The former general retired earlier this year after a long career in the Mexican army .
His last post was defense secretary under former President Enrique Pena Nieto .
U.S. court documents describe the extent of Cienfuegos ' alleged crimes on behalf of the H-2 Cartel , an extremely violent drug trafficking organization .
The former general is believed to have facilitated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cocaine , heroin , methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States , including New York City . ''
`` In exchange for bribe payments , he permitted the H-2 Cartel—a cartel that routinely engaged in wholesale violence , including torture and murder—to operate with impunity in Mexico , '' the documents state .
His arrest caused shockwaves among Mexico 's political elite , including the president , as well as leaders of the armed forces , who saw it as a sign of corruption at the highest levels of that country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said it 's regrettable that someone so high up in the Mexican government is accused of ties to drug traffickers .
The president added that his administration is trying to figure out how deep the corruption goes .
But in the aftermath , he expressed outrage at the U.S. 's unilateral move to arrest the formerly high ranking official , saying it was a violation of national sovereignty .
Lopez Obrador said he continues to have full confidence in his military , including the heads of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cienfuegos .
Mexico 's foreign minister did not say whether Cienfuegos , who remains in U.S. custody , would face charges in his home country , but did say an investigation had been opened based on evidence shared by U.S. prosecutors .
Mexico 's attorney general did not respond to calls for comment .

U.S. Moves To Drop Drug Trafficking Charges Against Mexico's Former Defense Minister
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill Robles/AP Bill Robles/AP
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to drop charges against a former Mexican defense secretary, the highest-ranking Mexican official ever arrested for alleged drug trafficking, so that he "may be investigated and, if appropriate, charged, under Mexican law."
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, nicknamed The Godfather, had been accused of working on behalf of one of Mexico's deadliest cartels, known as the H-2. Authorities alleged Cienfuegos took bribes to protect the cartel and its leaders by informing them of pending military actions against them. An indictment in the Eastern District of New York also alleged he used troops to launch operations against a rival cartel.
The 72-year-old was taken into custody on Oct. 15 at Los Angeles International Airport and faced charges of conspiracy to manufacture, import and distribute narcotics into the United States and money laundering.
But on Tuesday Attorney General William Barr partnered with Mexico's Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero in announcing the unusual decision to have Cienfuegos released into that country's custody.
The officials explained the move comes "under the Treaty that governs the sharing of evidence," saying the Justice Department provided Mexico with evidence against Cienfuegos and will cooperate "to support the investigation by Mexican authorities."
The former general retired earlier this year after a long career in the Mexican army. His last post was defense secretary under former President Enrique Peña Nieto.
U.S. court documents describe the extent of Cienfuegos' alleged crimes on behalf of the H-2 Cartel, an extremely violent drug trafficking organization. The former general is believed to have facilitated the trafficking of "thousands of kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States, including New York City."
"In exchange for bribe payments, he permitted the H-2 Cartel — a cartel that routinely engaged in wholesale violence, including torture and murder — to operate with impunity in Mexico," the documents state.
His arrest caused shockwaves among Mexico's political elite, including the president, as well as leaders of the armed forces, who saw it as a sign of corruption at the highest levels of that country's powerful leaders.
Following Cienfuegos' detention, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said it's regrettable that someone so high up in the Mexican government is accused of ties to drug traffickers. The president added that his administration is trying to figure out how deep the corruption goes.
But in the aftermath, he expressed outrage at the U.S.'s unilateral move to arrest the formerly high ranking official, saying it was a violation of national sovereignty.
As NPR has reported:
"Last year U.S. officials arrested the head of public security under former President Felipe Calderon and charged him with drug trafficking. Calderon put Mexico's military at the forefront of the country's crackdown on cartels more than a decade ago. That role for the military continued into the next administration with former Defense Secretary Cienfuegos at the helm."
López Obrador said he continues to have full confidence in his military, including the heads of the army and navy who served under Cienfuegos.
Mexico's foreign minister did not say whether Cienfuegos, who remains in U.S. custody, would face charges in his home country, but did say an investigation had been opened based on evidence shared by U.S. prosecutors.
Mexico's attorney general did not respond to calls for comment.


npr--2020-11-17--Trump Fires CISA Director Chris Krebs, Who Corrected Voter Fraud Disinformation

Christopher Krebs , the Department of Homeland Security director who had spearheaded a campaign to counter rumors about voter fraud , has been fired , President Trump tweeted on Tuesday .
Trump , in two misleading tweets about the security of the U.S. election , said Krebs ' termination was `` effective immediately . ''
The tweets , from Trump 's verified Twitter account , were flagged by the social media platform for promoting misinformation .
In response , Krebs tweeted , `` Honored to serve .
We did it right .
Defend Today , Secure [ Tomorrow ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Joe Biden in both the popular vote and electoral vote .
Trump had for weeks prior to the election erroneously railed against mail-in voting as being ripe for fraud .
The president had encouraged his supporters to vote in person on Nov. 3 — he later complained about the number of absentee ballots that supported his opponent .
Krebs ' firing came after his agency , the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , last week released a statement calling the 2020 election `` the most secure in American history . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
The CISA campaign , led by Krebs , was originally intended to target foreign interference .
However , as the president continued to repeat dangerously misleading information about the security of the election , the agency 's focus turned to rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud that Trump had promoted from the White House .
A DHS official who has worked with Krebs but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NPR last week that Krebs ' firing would `` rock CISA . ''
`` Chris has earned the trust of staff all across the agency , '' the official said .
`` He 's easily been the most competent and able of any political appointee I 've worked with . ''
In statements Tuesday evening , lawmakers criticized Krebs ' ousting .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the firing a `` dangerous and shameful charade . ''
Sen. Ben Sasse said Krebs `` did a really good job '' and that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Trump Fires Election Security Director Who Corrected Voter Fraud Disinformation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
Updated at 9:34 p.m. ET
Christopher Krebs, the Department of Homeland Security director who had spearheaded a campaign to counter rumors about voter fraud, has been fired, President Trump tweeted on Tuesday.
Trump, in two misleading tweets about the security of the U.S. election, said Krebs' termination was "effective immediately."
The tweets, from Trump's verified Twitter account, were flagged by the social media platform for promoting misinformation.
In response, Krebs tweeted, "Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure [Tomorrow]."
Trump lost the presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden in both the popular vote and electoral vote. Trump had for weeks prior to the election erroneously railed against mail-in voting as being ripe for fraud. The president had encouraged his supporters to vote in person on Nov. 3 — he later complained about the number of absentee ballots that supported his opponent.
Krebs' firing came after his agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, last week released a statement calling the 2020 election "the most secure in American history."
It added, in boldface, "There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."
The CISA campaign, led by Krebs, was originally intended to target foreign interference. However, as the president continued to repeat dangerously misleading information about the security of the election, the agency's focus turned to rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud that Trump had promoted from the White House.
A DHS official who has worked with Krebs but spoke on background for fear of retaliation told NPR last week that Krebs' firing would "rock CISA."
"Chris has earned the trust of staff all across the agency," the official said. "He's easily been the most competent and able of any political appointee I've worked with."
In statements Tuesday evening, lawmakers criticized Krebs' ousting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the firing a "dangerous and shameful charade." Sen. Ben Sasse said Krebs "did a really good job" and that "he obviously should not be fired."
Senate Intelligence Chair Mark Warner called Krebs an "extraordinary public servant."


npr--2020-11-17--Facebook And Twitter Defend Election Policies To Skeptical Senators

The chief executives of Facebook and Twitter defended on Tuesday the steps they took to limit election misinformation before lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who have grown increasingly critical of Big Tech .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told the Senate Judiciary Committee they had been more aggressive this year than ever before in labeling misleading posts , clamping down on conspiracy theories and amplifying credible information about voting .
Those measures started well before Election Day , as a record number of Americans cast ballots early .
The social media companies have continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 , as results were counted and later questioned by President Trump and his supporters .
Testifying remotely , Dorsey told the committee Twitter flagged 300,000 tweets between October 27 and November 11 for `` disputed and potentially misleading '' information about the election .
`` More than a year ago , the public asked us to offer additional context to help make potentially misleading information more apparent .
We did exactly that , '' he said .
While Facebook also labeled many election-related posts , Zuckerberg — also testifying remotely — instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authoritative sources of information in users ' feeds and its voter registration campaign .
`` All taken together , I think that we really went quite far in terms of helping to distribute reliable and accurate information about what was going on during this election , '' he said .
Democrats and Republicans are skeptical of social media , for different reasons But some Democrats on the committee said the executives should be doing more to stamp out the baseless voter-fraud conspiracies and false claims of victory that the president and his allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
`` I recognize the steps — they 're really baby steps — that you 've taken so far .
The destructive , incendiary information is still a scourge on both your platforms , '' said Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn .
He added that executives from Google 's YouTube should also be facing lawmaker 's questions about the spread of misinformation through video .
Republicans once again pressed unsubstantiated claims that tech companies are biased against conservatives and treat their posts more harshly .
When Zuckerberg told Sen. Mike Lee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` mistakes '' in enforcing its rules , Lee responded : `` They may be mistakes but they 're mistakes that rhyme ... and the consistent theme happens to be Republicans , conservatives and pro-life activists . ''
Dorsey also acknowledged that Twitter had made its own errors .
He said the company had been wrong to block users from sharing a New York Post article about President-elect Joe Biden 's son , Hunter , in late October .
After the decision sparked outrage — it was the initial impetus for Tuesday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its policy within 24 hours .
`` This demonstrates our ability to take feedback amid the stakes and make changes transparently to the public , '' Dorsey said .
Tuesday 's hearing produced fewer fireworks than Dorsey and Zuckerberg 's past appearances before Congress , including one just six days before Election Day .
Lawmakers from both parties spent the bulk of the hearing focused on how Facebook and Twitter moderate what users post on their platforms , in many cases pressing them over specific decisions to label individual posts .
Several Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ban former White House advisor Steve Bannon after he called in a live-streamed video for the beheadings of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray .
`` How many times is Steve Bannon allowed to call for the murder of government officials before Facebook suspends his account ? ''
Blumenthal asked , pointing out that Twitter had permanently suspended Bannon .
Zuckerberg said that if Bannon repeatedly violated Facebook 's rules , it would take further action .
Bipartisan agreement that more regulation is needed The one thing everyone at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies need more regulation .
Appetite is growing on Capitol Hill to consider new laws to address concerns ranging from antitrust and privacy to encryption and content moderation .
`` There 's Republican and Democrat concern about the power that 's being used by social media outlets to tell us what we can see and what we ca n't , what 's true and what 's not , '' said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , the committee chairman .
Even Zuckerberg and Dorsey said on Tuesday they were open to reforming long-standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability over what users post .
Zuckerberg said tech companies should have to produce transparency reports about what posts they decide to remove .
Dorsey called for users to be given more control over the algorithms that determine what content shows up in their timelines .
But what such regulation would look like is still unclear — especially since Republicans and Democrats do not agree on whether social media companies are doing too much , or not enough , to police their platforms .
Just how effective the companies ' efforts to curb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Facebook and Twitter both say they are studying the data and will share their findings publicly .
In the meantime , the companies are already facing pressure over another political race : the special elections to fill two Georgia Senate seats in January , which will determine which party controls the chamber .
`` I 'm concerned that both of your companies are , in fact , backsliding or retrenching — that you are failing to take action against dangerous disinformation , exactly the same kind of voter suppression tactics that existed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Zuckerberg replied that Facebook is taking a `` similar approach '' to Georgia as it did with the presidential election .
Dorsey said Twitter was doing the same , adding , `` we intend to learn from all of our experience with this election . ''
Dorsey did confirm that one thing will change in the wake of November 's vote : President Trump will no longer qualify for Twitter 's policy exempting world leaders from some of its rules .
Under that policy , tweets from the president that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted by any other user , were left up on the platform .
`` If an account suddenly is not a world leader anymore , that particular policy goes away , '' Dorsey said .
Editor 's note : Facebook is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Facebook And Twitter Defend Election Policies To Skeptical Senators
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hannah McKay-Pool/Getty Images Hannah McKay-Pool/Getty Images
The chief executives of Facebook and Twitter defended on Tuesday the steps they took to limit election misinformation before lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who have grown increasingly critical of Big Tech.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told the Senate Judiciary Committee they had been more aggressive this year than ever before in labeling misleading posts, clamping down on conspiracy theories and amplifying credible information about voting. Those measures started well before Election Day, as a record number of Americans cast ballots early. The social media companies have continued their monitoring into the weeks since November 3, as results were counted and later questioned by President Trump and his supporters.
Testifying remotely, Dorsey told the committee Twitter flagged 300,000 tweets between October 27 and November 11 for "disputed and potentially misleading" information about the election.
"More than a year ago, the public asked us to offer additional context to help make potentially misleading information more apparent. We did exactly that," he said.
While Facebook also labeled many election-related posts, Zuckerberg — also testifying remotely — instead emphasized the company's efforts to highlight authoritative sources of information in users' feeds and its voter registration campaign.
"All taken together, I think that we really went quite far in terms of helping to distribute reliable and accurate information about what was going on during this election," he said.
Democrats and Republicans are skeptical of social media, for different reasons
But some Democrats on the committee said the executives should be doing more to stamp out the baseless voter-fraud conspiracies and false claims of victory that the president and his allies continue to promote two weeks after Election Day.
"I recognize the steps — they're really baby steps — that you've taken so far. The destructive, incendiary information is still a scourge on both your platforms," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. He added that executives from Google's YouTube should also be facing lawmaker's questions about the spread of misinformation through video.
Republicans once again pressed unsubstantiated claims that tech companies are biased against conservatives and treat their posts more harshly.
When Zuckerberg told Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, that the company occasionally made "mistakes" in enforcing its rules, Lee responded: "They may be mistakes but they're mistakes that rhyme ... and the consistent theme happens to be Republicans, conservatives and pro-life activists."
Dorsey also acknowledged that Twitter had made its own errors. He said the company had been wrong to block users from sharing a New York Post article about President-elect Joe Biden's son, Hunter, in late October. After the decision sparked outrage — it was the initial impetus for Tuesday's hearing — Twitter quickly backtracked, changing its policy within 24 hours.
"This demonstrates our ability to take feedback amid the stakes and make changes transparently to the public," Dorsey said.
Senators drill down on content moderation decisions
Tuesday's hearing produced fewer fireworks than Dorsey and Zuckerberg's past appearances before Congress, including one just six days before Election Day.
Lawmakers from both parties spent the bulk of the hearing focused on how Facebook and Twitter moderate what users post on their platforms, in many cases pressing them over specific decisions to label individual posts.
Several Democrats grilled Zuckerberg on Facebook's decision not to ban former White House advisor Steve Bannon after he called in a live-streamed video for the beheadings of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray.
"How many times is Steve Bannon allowed to call for the murder of government officials before Facebook suspends his account?" Blumenthal asked, pointing out that Twitter had permanently suspended Bannon. Zuckerberg said that if Bannon repeatedly violated Facebook's rules, it would take further action.
Bipartisan agreement that more regulation is needed
The one thing everyone at the hearing seemed to agree on? Tech companies need more regulation. Appetite is growing on Capitol Hill to consider new laws to address concerns ranging from antitrust and privacy to encryption and content moderation.
"There's Republican and Democrat concern about the power that's being used by social media outlets to tell us what we can see and what we can't, what's true and what's not," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the committee chairman.
Even Zuckerberg and Dorsey said on Tuesday they were open to reforming long-standing legal protections that shield online platforms from liability over what users post.
Zuckerberg said tech companies should have to produce transparency reports about what posts they decide to remove. Dorsey called for users to be given more control over the algorithms that determine what content shows up in their timelines.
But what such regulation would look like is still unclear — especially since Republicans and Democrats do not agree on whether social media companies are doing too much, or not enough, to police their platforms.
Platforms' next test looms in Georgia
Just how effective the companies' efforts to curb election misinformation have been is still unclear. Facebook and Twitter both say they are studying the data and will share their findings publicly.
In the meantime, the companies are already facing pressure over another political race: the special elections to fill two Georgia Senate seats in January, which will determine which party controls the chamber.
"I'm concerned that both of your companies are, in fact, backsliding or retrenching — that you are failing to take action against dangerous disinformation, exactly the same kind of voter suppression tactics that existed in the last election," Blumenthal said.
Zuckerberg replied that Facebook is taking a "similar approach" to Georgia as it did with the presidential election. Dorsey said Twitter was doing the same, adding, "we intend to learn from all of our experience with this election."
Dorsey did confirm that one thing will change in the wake of November's vote: President Trump will no longer qualify for Twitter's policy exempting world leaders from some of its rules.
Under that policy, tweets from the president that would have been removed, had they been posted by any other user, were left up on the platform.
"If an account suddenly is not a world leader anymore, that particular policy goes away," Dorsey said.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-11-17--Trump Administration Wants All U.S. Troops Out Of Iraq And Afghanistan By Spring

Trump Administration Wants All U.S .
Troops Out Of Iraq And Afghanistan By Spring The White House announced Tuesday that it will pull thousands of troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan by Jan. 15 .
A force of 2,500 service members will remain in both countries , but the Trump administration aims to have all remaining troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan by Spring 2021 .
`` By May , it is President Trump 's hope that they will all come home safely — and in their entirety , '' national security adviser Robert O'Brien said .
`` I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new .
This has been the president 's policy since he took office . ''
Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and an additional 7,000 American service members have been killed in the nearly 20 years of armed conflict since .
Trump had promised during his 2016 campaign that he would end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .
But , the drawdown worries some military leaders .
Peace talks with the Taliban appear to be stalled and attacks are on the rise in Afghanistan .
Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reducing the number of boots on the ground in such a tumultuous time .
`` I think it is extremely important here in the next couple of months not to have any earthshaking changes with regard to defense and foreign policy , '' McConnell said .
`` I think a precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq would be a mistake . ''
Troop levels had surged to a high of more than 100,000 until Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011 .
Shortly after , President Barack Obama began withdrawing troops from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decline in years since .

Trump Administration Wants All U.S. Troops Out Of Iraq And Afghanistan By Spring
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The White House announced Tuesday that it will pull thousands of troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan by Jan. 15. A force of 2,500 service members will remain in both countries, but the Trump administration aims to have all remaining troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan by Spring 2021.
"By May, it is President Trump's hope that they will all come home safely — and in their entirety," national security adviser Robert O'Brien said. "I want to reiterate that this policy is not new. This has been the president's policy since he took office."
Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and an additional 7,000 American service members have been killed in the nearly 20 years of armed conflict since. Trump had promised during his 2016 campaign that he would end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But, the drawdown worries some military leaders. Peace talks with the Taliban appear to be stalled and attacks are on the rise in Afghanistan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is also concerned about reducing the number of boots on the ground in such a tumultuous time.
"I think it is extremely important here in the next couple of months not to have any earthshaking changes with regard to defense and foreign policy," McConnell said. "I think a precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq would be a mistake."
Troop levels had surged to a high of more than 100,000 until Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011. Shortly after, President Barack Obama began withdrawing troops from the Middle East and numbers have continued to decline in years since.


npr--2020-11-17--GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, 87, Tests Positive For The Coronavirus

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has tested positive for the coronavirus , he confirmed in a Tuesday tweet , hours after the Republican lawmaker told the public he had been exposed to the virus .
The 87-year-old wrote on Twitter that he was `` feeling good '' and expected to continue his Senate duties from home while he isolated and recovered .
Grassley 's diagnosis makes him one of several high-ranking Republican figures and one of more than 11 million Americans to have contracted the virus .
Tuesday marked the first time Grassley had missed a vote on the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican lawmaker is third in line to succeed the president , following the vice president and speaker of the House of Representatives .
Despite the U.S. death toll from the virus now nearing 250,000 , some prominent Republican figures have still shirked public health guidance regarding the importance of wearing protective face masks and limiting social gatherings .
Grassley has been seen wearing a mask on Capitol Hill .
Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , on Monday called his colleague Sen. Sherrod Brown `` a complete ass '' for the Democrat 's request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while addressing the room .
More than two dozen members of Congress have now tested positive for the coronavirus or been presumed positive for the virus , according to NPR 's tracker of the virus in the Capitol .
Grassley gave brief remarks Monday evening on the Senate floor , as is traditional for the president pro tempore , during which he did not wear a mask .
He did wear a mask later during votes , however .
Also that evening , he spoke with a Capitol Hill pool reporter about appropriations @ @ @ @

GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, 87, Tests Positive For The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images
Updated at 7:07 p.m. ET
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has tested positive for the coronavirus, he confirmed in a Tuesday tweet, hours after the Republican lawmaker told the public he had been exposed to the virus.
The 87-year-old wrote on Twitter that he was "feeling good" and expected to continue his Senate duties from home while he isolated and recovered.
Grassley's diagnosis makes him one of several high-ranking Republican figures and one of more than 11 million Americans to have contracted the virus.
Tuesday marked the first time Grassley had missed a vote on the Senate floor in 27 years. The powerful Republican lawmaker is third in line to succeed the president, following the vice president and speaker of the House of Representatives.
Despite the U.S. death toll from the virus now nearing 250,000, some prominent Republican figures have still shirked public health guidance regarding the importance of wearing protective face masks and limiting social gatherings. Grassley has been seen wearing a mask on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Monday called his colleague Sen. Sherrod Brown "a complete ass" for the Democrat's request that a fellow senator wear his mask while addressing the room.
More than two dozen members of Congress have now tested positive for the coronavirus or been presumed positive for the virus, according to NPR's tracker of the virus in the Capitol.
Grassley gave brief remarks Monday evening on the Senate floor, as is traditional for the president pro tempore, during which he did not wear a mask. He did wear a mask later during votes, however.
Also that evening, he spoke with a Capitol Hill pool reporter about appropriations and coronavirus relief.