npr--2020-10-01--Alexei Navalny Says Russia's Putin Had Him Poisoned With Nerve Agent

Alexei Navalny Says Russia 's Putin Had Him Poisoned With Nerve Agent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says he believes that President Vladimir Putin had him poisoned with a rare nerve agent .
In an interview published Thursday , Navalny told the German magazine Der Spiegel that the use of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok meant his poisoning was orchestrated by one of Russia 's intelligence agencies .
He said the heads of those agencies `` can not make a decision like that without being instructed by Putin .
They report to him . ''
`` I assert that Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no other explanation for what happened .
I 'm not saying this out of self-flattery , but based on the facts .
The most important fact is Novichok , '' Navalny told Der Spiegel .
Novichok was also used to poison former KGB spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia , in 2018 in Britain .
Both survived the attack , which Western nations have blamed on Moscow .
Putin has denied any involvement , at one point even suggesting Navalny may have poisoned himself .
Following publication of Der Spiegel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusation .
Putin 's spokesman , Dmitry Peskov , called it groundless and deeply offensive .
He also accused Navalny of working for the CIA and following the U.S. spy agency 's instructions .
Navalny fell violently ill on Aug. 20 during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow .
The plane made an emergency landing , and he was taken to a hospital in Omsk .
After a few days , Navalny was allowed to be transferred to a hospital in Berlin and put into a medically induced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Der Spiegel , Navalny described what he experienced while on the plane .
`` I leave the toilet , turn to the steward — and instead of asking for help , I say , to my own surprise : ' I 've been poisoned .
I 'm dying . '
And then I lay down on the ground in front of him to die .
He 's the last thing I see — a face that looks at me with slight astonishment and a light smile , '' he told the magazine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital late last month and has remained in Germany while he recovers .
While he was hospitalized , a German military lab found traces of Novichok in his biomedical samples .
Further tests by labs in Sweden and France backed up those findings , fueling suspicions that Navalny 's poisoning was related to his opposition efforts .
European leaders have called for sanctions against Russia and Putin following the poisoning .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Navalny `` is the victim of a crime that intended to silence him . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ might have been motivated to poison him because of unrest in Russia 's Khabarovsk region , where people demonstrated for weeks after the arrest of a popular governor , and fears that Russia could soon face a situation similar to the one in Belarus .
`` He saw what happened in Khabarovsk , where people have been taking to the streets in protest for 80 days now and the Kremlin still has no idea what to do with them , '' Navalny said .
`` The Kremlin realized they had to take extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' `` A spokesperson for Navalny has said his bank accounts have been frozen and his Moscow apartment seized during his hospitalization .
The opposition leader told Der Spiegel that he still plans to return Russia .
`` Not going back would mean that Putin has won and achieved his goal .
And my job now is to remain the guy who is n't afraid .
And I 'm not afraid , '' Navalny said .
`` I would not give Putin the gift of not returning to Russia . ''

Alexei Navalny Says Russia's Putin Had Him Poisoned With Nerve Agent
Enlarge this image toggle caption Navalny Instagram via AP Navalny Instagram via AP
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says he believes that President Vladimir Putin had him poisoned with a rare nerve agent.
In an interview published Thursday, Navalny told the German magazine Der Spiegel that the use of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok meant his poisoning was orchestrated by one of Russia's intelligence agencies. He said the heads of those agencies "cannot make a decision like that without being instructed by Putin. They report to him."
"I assert that Putin was behind the crime, and I have no other explanation for what happened. I'm not saying this out of self-flattery, but based on the facts. The most important fact is Novichok," Navalny told Der Spiegel.
Novichok was also used to poison former KGB spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in 2018 in Britain. Both survived the attack, which Western nations have blamed on Moscow.
Putin has denied any involvement, at one point even suggesting Navalny may have poisoned himself.
Following publication of Der Spiegel's interview, the Kremlin angrily denied the accusation. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, called it groundless and deeply offensive. He also accused Navalny of working for the CIA and following the U.S. spy agency's instructions.
Navalny fell violently ill on Aug. 20 during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. The plane made an emergency landing, and he was taken to a hospital in Omsk. After a few days, Navalny was allowed to be transferred to a hospital in Berlin and put into a medically induced coma.
In the expansive interview with Der Spiegel, Navalny described what he experienced while on the plane.
"I leave the toilet, turn to the steward — and instead of asking for help, I say, to my own surprise: 'I've been poisoned. I'm dying.' And then I lay down on the ground in front of him to die. He's the last thing I see — a face that looks at me with slight astonishment and a light smile," he told the magazine.
Navalny was released from Berlin's Charité Hospital late last month and has remained in Germany while he recovers.
While he was hospitalized, a German military lab found traces of Novichok in his biomedical samples. Further tests by labs in Sweden and France backed up those findings, fueling suspicions that Navalny's poisoning was related to his opposition efforts.
European leaders have called for sanctions against Russia and Putin following the poisoning. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Navalny "is the victim of a crime that intended to silence him."
Navalny said in the interview that Putin might have been motivated to poison him because of unrest in Russia's Khabarovsk region, where people demonstrated for weeks after the arrest of a popular governor, and fears that Russia could soon face a situation similar to the one in Belarus.
"He saw what happened in Khabarovsk, where people have been taking to the streets in protest for 80 days now and the Kremlin still has no idea what to do with them," Navalny said. "The Kremlin realized they had to take extreme measures to prevent a 'Belarusian scenario.' "
A spokesperson for Navalny has said his bank accounts have been frozen and his Moscow apartment seized during his hospitalization. The opposition leader told Der Spiegel that he still plans to return Russia.
"Not going back would mean that Putin has won and achieved his goal. And my job now is to remain the guy who isn't afraid. And I'm not afraid," Navalny said. "I would not give Putin the gift of not returning to Russia."
NPR's Lucian Kim contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-01--When The Voting Is Done: Facebook, Twitter On 'High Alert' For Post-Election Threats

When The Voting Is Done : Facebook , Twitter On 'High Alert ' For Post-Election Threats Yoel Roth spends a lot of time thinking about what could go wrong on Twitter .
It 's his job , as the social media company 's head of site integrity .
`` Having a vivid imagination is key , '' he told NPR .
`` None of the threats are off-limits . ''
When it comes to the 2020 presidential election , there are lots of ways bad actors could abuse the platform .
Roth mentioned a few , from a high-profile hack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Russia and other countries to use the platform to spread misinformation .
Twitter has gamed out how it would respond to those attacks , as well as many others , as part of the threat modeling exercises it does both on its own and in concert with Facebook , other tech companies and government agencies .
`` We really undertook a process to try and predict what the worst-case scenarios were based on what we had seen previously in 2016 , 2018 and in elections around the world , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were likely to happen in the United States this time around , '' Roth said .
Lately , those exercises have involved another scary scenario : the possibility that , with so many people voting by mail in this election , the results could be delayed .
That uncertainty could create the kind of information vacuum in which conspiracy theories and attempts to undercut democracy would thrive — especially on social media .
`` We are on high alert before the election and after the election , '' Sheryl Sandberg , Facebook 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All Things Considered this week .
`` We are worried about misinformation .
We are worried about people claiming election results [ prematurely ] . ''
The platforms are already dealing with a lot of falsehoods and misleading posts about the election .
Many of those messages are being spread by President Trump .
He has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the voting process , as he did during this week 's debate .
Delayed results would offer even more opportunity to cast doubt on the outcome and to amplify that doubt using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be the first time Americans have had a long wait to find out who won a presidential race .
In 2000 , it took 36 days for a winner to emerge in the battle between George W. Bush and Al Gore .
But disinformation expert Clint Watts , who has long studied how Russia interferes in U.S. politics , said the threat in 2020 is different .
`` There were some angry lawyers in Bush versus Gore , but it is pretty tame compared to today , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the misleading rhetoric .
`` People could n't be mobilized on social media in this way , '' he added .
Facebook and Twitter have created new rules against posts that undermine election results .
The platforms now say they will label or remove posts that say mail-in ballots are fraudulent , for example , and will not allow anyone to advocate violence to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power .
Just in the last few days , Facebook has said it will reject ads that claim premature victory or that try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owner of YouTube , which has become a big destination for political content , said it wo n't allow any political advertising at all after polls close .
Twitter and Facebook also said they are using both artificial intelligence and human review to stop harmful content from spreading widely .
But stopping messages from going viral runs counter to the way Facebook and Twitter work .
The platforms are designed to put posts that attract a lot of attention — often because they are emotional or sensational — in front of lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stake , experts said it is not enough for the platforms to announce new rules .
`` The major gap now is not in the design of the policies on the platforms .
The major gap is in enforcement of those policies , '' said Chloe Colliver , who studies online extremism at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London .
Critics said Facebook 's track record , in particular , is not great .
Just this week , former Vice President Joe Biden 's campaign called Facebook `` the nation 's foremost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' because of its decision to label , rather than remove , Trump 's posts attacking mail-in ballots .
Facebook insisted it applies its policies fairly .
`` We are taking a lot of things down , '' Sandberg said .
`` We obviously have to let candidates speak . ''
So to the big question : Will the social networks hold the line in the days after the election ?
The answer is far from certain .
Editor 's note : Facebook and Google are among NPR 's financial supporters .

When The Voting Is Done: Facebook, Twitter On 'High Alert' For Post-Election Threats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images
Yoel Roth spends a lot of time thinking about what could go wrong on Twitter. It's his job, as the social media company's head of site integrity.
"Having a vivid imagination is key," he told NPR. "None of the threats are off-limits."
When it comes to the 2020 presidential election, there are lots of ways bad actors could abuse the platform. Roth mentioned a few, from a high-profile hack like Twitter saw in July to attempts by Russia and other countries to use the platform to spread misinformation.
Twitter has gamed out how it would respond to those attacks, as well as many others, as part of the threat modeling exercises it does both on its own and in concert with Facebook, other tech companies and government agencies.
"We really undertook a process to try and predict what the worst-case scenarios were based on what we had seen previously in 2016, 2018 and in elections around the world, as well as some of the things that we thought were likely to happen in the United States this time around," Roth said.
Lately, those exercises have involved another scary scenario: the possibility that, with so many people voting by mail in this election, the results could be delayed.
That uncertainty could create the kind of information vacuum in which conspiracy theories and attempts to undercut democracy would thrive — especially on social media.
"We are on high alert before the election and after the election," Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, told NPR's All Things Considered this week. "We are worried about misinformation. We are worried about people claiming election results [prematurely]."
The platforms are already dealing with a lot of falsehoods and misleading posts about the election. Many of those messages are being spread by President Trump. He has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the voting process, as he did during this week's debate.
National How Facebook Is Trying To Control Election Disinformation, Part 1 How Facebook Is Trying To Control Election Disinformation, Part 1 Listen · 7:05 7:05
Delayed results would offer even more opportunity to cast doubt on the outcome and to amplify that doubt using social media.
Of course, this would not be the first time Americans have had a long wait to find out who won a presidential race. In 2000, it took 36 days for a winner to emerge in the battle between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
But disinformation expert Clint Watts, who has long studied how Russia interferes in U.S. politics, said the threat in 2020 is different.
"There were some angry lawyers in Bush versus Gore, but it is pretty tame compared to today," he said. And that's not just because of the misleading rhetoric.
"People couldn't be mobilized on social media in this way," he added.
Facebook and Twitter have created new rules against posts that undermine election results. The platforms now say they will label or remove posts that say mail-in ballots are fraudulent, for example, and will not allow anyone to advocate violence to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. Just in the last few days, Facebook has said it will reject ads that claim premature victory or that try to "delegitimize" the outcome. Google, owner of YouTube, which has become a big destination for political content, said it won't allow any political advertising at all after polls close.
Twitter and Facebook also said they are using both artificial intelligence and human review to stop harmful content from spreading widely.
But stopping messages from going viral runs counter to the way Facebook and Twitter work. The platforms are designed to put posts that attract a lot of attention — often because they are emotional or sensational — in front of lots of people.
With so much at stake, experts said it is not enough for the platforms to announce new rules.
"The major gap now is not in the design of the policies on the platforms. The major gap is in enforcement of those policies," said Chloe Colliver, who studies online extremism at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London.
Critics said Facebook's track record, in particular, is not great.
Just this week, former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign called Facebook "the nation's foremost propagator of disinformation about the voting process" because of its decision to label, rather than remove, Trump's posts attacking mail-in ballots.
Facebook insisted it applies its policies fairly. "We are taking a lot of things down," Sandberg said. "We obviously have to let candidates speak."
So to the big question: Will the social networks hold the line in the days after the election? The answer is far from certain.
Editor's note: Facebook and Google are among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-10-01--'Naked Ballot' Rule Could Lead To Thousands Of Pa. Votes Getting Rejected

'Naked Ballot ' Rule Could Lead To Thousands Of Pa .
Votes Getting Rejected A Pennsylvania court has introduced a strict new rule for voters in what is perhaps the most important swing state in the United States .
The state sends out an extra `` secrecy '' envelope with all its mail ballots .
And the court has now decided that if voters forget to include that envelope when they return their ballots — an error that 's being termed a `` naked ballot '' — their votes will be automatically void .
It 's a mistake that Mira @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she mailed in her ballot for Pennsylvania 's primary election in June .
`` I read the instructions , or thought I did , '' she said .
`` I filled it out , put it in the envelope , sealed it and then said , 'Wait — what 's that other envelope ? '
`` It was the secrecy envelope .
Rabin was about to mail a naked ballot .
She ended up carefully reopening her ballot , adding the second envelope and trying to reseal the whole thing .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut .
`` I was worried that it looked like a ballot that had been tampered with , so I signed my name over where the tape was in two places , and I mailed it , '' she said .
Around the same time , Lynn Tatala , who lives outside Pittsburgh , actually did mail her primary ballot without its secrecy envelope .
Like Rabin , she realized her mistake after she 'd sealed the outer envelope .
But unlike Rabin , she decided to leave it .
`` I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at that point , '' she said .
`` I said to my husband , 'Hey , I think I have an extra envelope .
Do you think that matters ? '
And then I just put it aside and we mailed them in and I never thought about it again . ''
In June , Rabin 's and Tatala 's different decisions really did n't matter .
Before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 's ruling , counties had been free to make their own decisions about naked ballots .
The counties where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were both tabulating them as a matter of course , and Rabin and Tatala both said they got emails telling them their ballots had been accepted .
But now there is a blanket rule .
And if those same voters , at opposite ends of the state , made those same decisions with general election ballots , Rabin 's would probably count and Tatala 's would n't .
Paul Gronke , an Oregon political science professor who directs the Early Voting Information Center , said the earlier approach , where counties made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was standard among the 16 states that use them .
`` I 've been working closely on election administration-related issues with vote by mail nearing 20 years now , '' he said .
`` I have never heard about ballots being rejected simply because they do n't use the secrecy envelopes . ''
It 's hard to know how widespread naked ballots are in Pennsylvania .
Populous Delaware County , outside Philadelphia , reported that it tallied a couple of hundred naked ballots in the primary .
Nearby Berks County reported just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiries said they did n't keep track .
Philadelphia officials tracked the issue in the 2019 general election and said over 6 % of the absentee ballots they received were missing secrecy envelopes .
That election came before a significant expansion of the state 's mail-voting laws , so the county received only a fraction of the mailed ballots it will in this year 's election .
Lisa Deeley , a Philadelphia city commissioner , used the percentage to extrapolate the impact that blanket naked-ballot rejections might have statewide .
She came up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be invalidated .
The data are n't good enough to draw definite conclusions about whether Deeley is right .
But Gronke said one thing is certain : Voters who are `` more detached from the political system '' are likelier to be disenfranchised by technical violations .
`` It 's going to be voters of color , lower-income voters , mobile voters , younger voters — these are the folks who are going to be hurt by these changes , '' he said .
These are groups that are often likelier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , Democratic voters are considered significantly more likely to cast ballots by mail than Republicans .
The Democratic Party , therefore , sees these new rules as a much keener threat than Republicans do .
Brendan Welch , a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party , said as soon as staff members understood the implications of the ruling on secrecy envelopes , they buckled down .
`` This has really been an all-hands-on-deck effort from us and the Biden team and the DNC all kind of working hand in hand to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educate voters , '' he said .
They 're pumping out short videos and infographics on social media and reaching out to voters .
Celebrities have also been spreading the word .
Welch said he feels optimistic that the number of people who ultimately forget their secrecy envelopes will be small .
But even a small number could matter .
Four years ago , Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by less than 1 percentage point .
Emily Previti of member station WITF contributed reporting to this story .

'Naked Ballot' Rule Could Lead To Thousands Of Pa. Votes Getting Rejected
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Slocum/AP Matt Slocum/AP
A Pennsylvania court has introduced a strict new rule for voters in what is perhaps the most important swing state in the United States.
The state sends out an extra "secrecy" envelope with all its mail ballots. And the court has now decided that if voters forget to include that envelope when they return their ballots — an error that's being termed a "naked ballot" — their votes will be automatically void.
It's a mistake that Mira Rabin came very close to making when she mailed in her ballot for Pennsylvania's primary election in June.
"I read the instructions, or thought I did," she said. "I filled it out, put it in the envelope, sealed it and then said, 'Wait — what's that other envelope?' "
It was the secrecy envelope. Rabin was about to mail a naked ballot.
She ended up carefully reopening her ballot, adding the second envelope and trying to reseal the whole thing. It wouldn't stick, so she taped it shut.
"I was worried that it looked like a ballot that had been tampered with, so I signed my name over where the tape was in two places, and I mailed it," she said.
Around the same time, Lynn Tatala, who lives outside Pittsburgh, actually did mail her primary ballot without its secrecy envelope. Like Rabin, she realized her mistake after she'd sealed the outer envelope. But unlike Rabin, she decided to leave it.
"I don't know why I was so nonchalant at that point," she said. "I said to my husband, 'Hey, I think I have an extra envelope. Do you think that matters?' And then I just put it aside and we mailed them in and I never thought about it again."
In June, Rabin's and Tatala's different decisions really didn't matter.
Before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling, counties had been free to make their own decisions about naked ballots. The counties where the two women live, Philadelphia and Allegheny, were both tabulating them as a matter of course, and Rabin and Tatala both said they got emails telling them their ballots had been accepted.
But now there is a blanket rule. And if those same voters, at opposite ends of the state, made those same decisions with general election ballots, Rabin's would probably count and Tatala's wouldn't.
Paul Gronke, an Oregon political science professor who directs the Early Voting Information Center, said the earlier approach, where counties made their own decisions about secrecy envelopes, was standard among the 16 states that use them.
"I've been working closely on election administration-related issues with vote by mail nearing 20 years now," he said. "I have never heard about ballots being rejected simply because they don't use the secrecy envelopes."
It's hard to know how widespread naked ballots are in Pennsylvania.
Populous Delaware County, outside Philadelphia, reported that it tallied a couple of hundred naked ballots in the primary. Nearby Berks County reported just a few. Most others that responded to inquiries said they didn't keep track.
Philadelphia officials tracked the issue in the 2019 general election and said over 6% of the absentee ballots they received were missing secrecy envelopes. That election came before a significant expansion of the state's mail-voting laws, so the county received only a fraction of the mailed ballots it will in this year's election.
Lisa Deeley, a Philadelphia city commissioner, used the percentage to extrapolate the impact that blanket naked-ballot rejections might have statewide. She came up with an attention-grabbing number: 100,000 ballots could be invalidated.
The data aren't good enough to draw definite conclusions about whether Deeley is right. But Gronke said one thing is certain: Voters who are "more detached from the political system" are likelier to be disenfranchised by technical violations.
"It's going to be voters of color, lower-income voters, mobile voters, younger voters — these are the folks who are going to be hurt by these changes," he said.
These are groups that are often likelier to vote for Democrats. And in this election, Democratic voters are considered significantly more likely to cast ballots by mail than Republicans.
The Democratic Party, therefore, sees these new rules as a much keener threat than Republicans do.
Brendan Welch, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said as soon as staff members understood the implications of the ruling on secrecy envelopes, they buckled down.
"This has really been an all-hands-on-deck effort from us and the Biden team and the DNC all kind of working hand in hand to make sure that we spread the word and educate voters," he said.
They're pumping out short videos and infographics on social media and reaching out to voters. Celebrities have also been spreading the word.
Welch said he feels optimistic that the number of people who ultimately forget their secrecy envelopes will be small.
But even a small number could matter. Four years ago, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by less than 1 percentage point.
The actual margin? Just 44,000 votes.
Emily Previti of member station WITF contributed reporting to this story.


npr--2020-10-01--Descendants Of People Enslaved By Virginia's Governors Are Reframing History

Descendants Of People Enslaved By Virginia 's Governors Are Reframing History In Virginia 's Executive Mansion , grand rooms are filled with oil paintings and roped-off period furniture .
Visitors could go the entire trip without seeing a smaller , more modest brick building tucked to the side of the home .
But for more than 50 years , enslaved people served governors from the kitchen quarter — those governors who uprooted enslaved people from across the state to the capital in Richmond , Va. Descendants of the enslaved are now leading an effort to complete the history of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupied governor 's residence in the United States .
`` This is n't a box to check , '' says Justin Reid , who is leading the effort .
`` This is something that 's integral to the story of the Executive Mansion . ''
And institutions across Virginia are turning to descendants as they reckon with their history of slavery .
At the University of Virginia , researchers have begun to contact descendants of some of the estimated 4,000 enslaved people who lived and worked at the university from 1817 through 1865 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Highland , has formed a Council of Descendant Advisors to help reinterpret the site 's history .
Oral histories from ancestors of people enslaved by Thomas Jefferson play a key role in an updated exhibit at his home , Monticello .
The work is personal for Reid , the director of community initiatives for Virginia Humanities , the state office of the National Endowment for the Humanities .
During his work researching the history of the mansion , he came across a portrait of Mary Randolph Harrison , Thomas Jefferson 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a woman who enslaved my own family , '' Reid says .
Reid recalls hearing stories of enslaved ancestors from his grandmother , who 'd passed them down from her grandparents .
`` I was raised by someone who was raised by an enslaved person , '' Reid says .
`` So these stories are closer than we think . ''
A few of the enslaved workers at the mansion were able to receive letters from home that provide compelling glimpses into their lives .
More often , written records of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white enslavers .
Oral histories , Reid says , can help round out the historical record .
The group of roughly 20 descendants Reid has assembled for the Executive Mansion project includes Kerri Moseley-Hobbs , whose ancestors were enslaved by former Virginia Gov .
James Preston on land that is largely now part of Virginia Tech .
One relative , Virginia Fraction , was known as `` Aunt Ginny '' by the white children she helped raise and was buried in the Preston family cemetery .
Moseley-Hobbs was able to glean bits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brothers — the sarcastic Thomas and talkative Othello — from interviews documented by the Freedmen 's Bureau and military records over a dispute with Robert Preston .
Both Thomas and Othello fled the plantation to join the Union Army and were shot at by Preston when they returned in 1866 .
Moseley-Hobbs now works alongside other descendants and white ancestors of the Prestons as she updates the plantation 's history , and is separately working with the university on a similar project .
`` We 're in the middle of our history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're not done with it yet . ''
Virginia found itself right in the middle of another reckoning last year after reporters found a racist photo on Gov .
Ralph Northam 's 1984 medical school yearbook page .
The Democrat held a press conference in the Executive Mansion where he denied he appeared in the photo but admitted to wearing blackface as part of a Michael Jackson costume .
Later , first lady Pam Northam came under fire after she handed out cotton to student pages on a tour of the mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been singled out , though other students disputed her account .
While politicians have largely moved on from the scandals , some Black activists say Northam has n't shown enough leadership on issues such as criminal justice reform .
Historian Lauranett Lee speaks highly of the governor but gets the critics ' point .
`` I can understand the frustration because there is so much that needs to be done , '' she says .
Lee teaches at the University of Richmond and works alongside the first lady , a key backer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wants to connect their work at the mansion to modern Richmond , which was once a center of the domestic slave trade .
A large slave jail sat down the hill from the Executive Mansion .
Until this summer 's protests , Confederate statues dotted the city .
For Lee , monuments tell the story of whom society looks up to .
The enslaved people who built Richmond , who powered Virginia 's economy , did n't get statues .
But Reid sees their mark everywhere .
`` In many parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you really ca n't go anywhere and not enter a landscape of slavery , '' Reid says .
It 's a history , Reid says , that is best told by the ancestors of the people who lived it .

Descendants Of People Enslaved By Virginia's Governors Are Reframing History
Enlarge this image toggle caption Crixell Matthews/VPM Crixell Matthews/VPM
In Virginia's Executive Mansion, grand rooms are filled with oil paintings and roped-off period furniture. Visitors could go the entire trip without seeing a smaller, more modest brick building tucked to the side of the home.
But for more than 50 years, enslaved people served governors from the kitchen quarter — those governors who uprooted enslaved people from across the state to the capital in Richmond, Va.
Descendants of the enslaved are now leading an effort to complete the history of the mansion, which is the oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the United States.
"This isn't a box to check," says Justin Reid, who is leading the effort. "This is something that's integral to the story of the Executive Mansion."
And institutions across Virginia are turning to descendants as they reckon with their history of slavery.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Crixell Matthews/VPM Crixell Matthews/VPM
At the University of Virginia, researchers have begun to contact descendants of some of the estimated 4,000 enslaved people who lived and worked at the university from 1817 through 1865. President James Monroe's old home, Highland, has formed a Council of Descendant Advisors to help reinterpret the site's history. Oral histories from ancestors of people enslaved by Thomas Jefferson play a key role in an updated exhibit at his home, Monticello.
The work is personal for Reid, the director of community initiatives for Virginia Humanities, the state office of the National Endowment for the Humanities. During his work researching the history of the mansion, he came across a portrait of Mary Randolph Harrison, Thomas Jefferson's first cousin. "There was a picture of a woman who enslaved my own family," Reid says.
Reid recalls hearing stories of enslaved ancestors from his grandmother, who'd passed them down from her grandparents. "I was raised by someone who was raised by an enslaved person," Reid says. "So these stories are closer than we think."
A few of the enslaved workers at the mansion were able to receive letters from home that provide compelling glimpses into their lives. More often, written records of the enslaved were told from the perspective of white enslavers. Oral histories, Reid says, can help round out the historical record.
The group of roughly 20 descendants Reid has assembled for the Executive Mansion project includes Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, whose ancestors were enslaved by former Virginia Gov. James Preston on land that is largely now part of Virginia Tech.
One relative, Virginia Fraction, was known as "Aunt Ginny" by the white children she helped raise and was buried in the Preston family cemetery. Moseley-Hobbs was able to glean bits of the personality of Virginia's two younger brothers — the sarcastic Thomas and talkative Othello — from interviews documented by the Freedmen's Bureau and military records over a dispute with Robert Preston. Both Thomas and Othello fled the plantation to join the Union Army and were shot at by Preston when they returned in 1866.
Moseley-Hobbs now works alongside other descendants and white ancestors of the Prestons as she updates the plantation's history, and is separately working with the university on a similar project.
"We're in the middle of our history of slavery," Moseley-Hobbs says. "We're not done with it yet."
Virginia found itself right in the middle of another reckoning last year after reporters found a racist photo on Gov. Ralph Northam's 1984 medical school yearbook page. The Democrat held a press conference in the Executive Mansion where he denied he appeared in the photo but admitted to wearing blackface as part of a Michael Jackson costume. Later, first lady Pam Northam came under fire after she handed out cotton to student pages on a tour of the mansion; a Black student felt she'd been singled out, though other students disputed her account.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben Paviour/VPM Ben Paviour/VPM
While politicians have largely moved on from the scandals, some Black activists say Northam hasn't shown enough leadership on issues such as criminal justice reform. Historian Lauranett Lee speaks highly of the governor but gets the critics' point.
"I can understand the frustration because there is so much that needs to be done," she says.
Lee teaches at the University of Richmond and works alongside the first lady, a key backer of the Executive Mansion project. Lee says she wants to connect their work at the mansion to modern Richmond, which was once a center of the domestic slave trade. A large slave jail sat down the hill from the Executive Mansion. Until this summer's protests, Confederate statues dotted the city.
For Lee, monuments tell the story of whom society looks up to. The enslaved people who built Richmond, who powered Virginia's economy, didn't get statues. But Reid sees their mark everywhere.
"In many parts of this country, but especially in Virginia, you really can't go anywhere and not enter a landscape of slavery," Reid says.
It's a history, Reid says, that is best told by the ancestors of the people who lived it.


npr--2020-10-01--Senate Democrats Call On Congress To Fix Racial Disparities In Health Care

Senate Democrats Call On Congress To Fix Racial Disparities In Health Care The disproportionate harm people of color have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as an `` appalling reminder of the deep inequities '' of the American health care system and demands congressional remedies , according to a new Senate committee report .
The report cites research showing that Black people are dying from COVID-19 at 3.4 times the rate of white people , when adjusted for age .
It notes that COVID-19 accounts for 1 in 5 deaths among Latinos .
And American Indian or Alaska Native patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rate of white people , according to the analysis undertaken by Democrats on the Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor and Pensions ( HELP ) .
The report identifies steps Congress can take to address the lopsided harm , including focusing relief spending and pandemic-related public health initiatives on Black , Latino and Native Americans .
`` The pandemic has just opened up a glaring wound in the health care system of our country , '' says the committee 's ranking member , Sen. Patty Murray , D-Wash. People of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit harder , mortality rates are higher , and they do not have access to health care so they ca n't get the medical support they need . ''
The report echoes previous studies by health experts that revealed how the pandemic sickens and kills Black , Latino and Native Americans at higher rates than whites .
It includes stories of individual Americans affected by the pandemic .
For example , Aviva is a Black eighth grade teacher who was sick for almost 30 days with COVID-19 and did not fully recover for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffers respiratory symptoms .
Edgardo 's father , a Latino meatpacking plant worker , was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April .
Within days , his mother and teenage sister were also infected .
His father was hospitalized and intubated and spent 10 days on a ventilator in an induced coma .
Language barriers made it difficult for Edgardo 's parents to understand the treatment .
Now , four months after his hospital stay , Edgardo 's father is slowly returning to work but faces lingering physical and mental health effects .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he works have been infected , and some have died .
The report examines factors that contribute to unequal health outcomes , including historic exploitation of communities of color , segregation , discrimination and bias within the health care system .
As a result , Murray says there is `` mistrust from communities of color '' who do n't access medical care as often as they might .
Murray says Congress needs to pass relief funding for communities of color and expand testing and contact tracing among them .
Congress also needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine when one becomes available .
As of now , she says , there is no comprehensive plan for vaccine distribution .
`` If we leave out focusing on communities of color , this virus will continue to spread rapidly throughout all of our communities and will not be contained , '' Murray says .
Dr. Melissa Simon , professor of clinical gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University , who was interviewed in the report , is critical of pharmaceutical companies in the process of developing vaccines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage communities , especially Black , Latinx and Indigenous communities hit hardest by COVID-19 in incidence and mortality and engaging them in discussions about vaccine trials , and the risks and benefits . ''
`` We scientists and health care providers have earned the distrust of patients of color from long-standing experiences of racism in research and health care delivery '' she says , citing forced participation in research without patient consent .
The current political climate is creating even more distrust in public health and medicine , Simon says , especially since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing , has not carried a `` consistent clear message . ''
Since the virus is hitting communities of color so hard , Murray says , we actually `` have to overreact and make sure we 've got the supplies , resources , equipment , information and foundational support in communities of color in order to stop the spread . ''

Senate Democrats Call On Congress To Fix Racial Disparities In Health Care
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zach Gibson/Getty Images Zach Gibson/Getty Images
The disproportionate harm people of color have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as an "appalling reminder of the deep inequities" of the American health care system and demands congressional remedies, according to a new Senate committee report.
The report cites research showing that Black people are dying from COVID-19 at 3.4 times the rate of white people, when adjusted for age. It notes that COVID-19 accounts for 1 in 5 deaths among Latinos. And American Indian or Alaska Native patients are hospitalized at more than four times the rate of white people, according to the analysis undertaken by Democrats on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).
The report identifies steps Congress can take to address the lopsided harm, including focusing relief spending and pandemic-related public health initiatives on Black, Latino and Native Americans.
"The pandemic has just opened up a glaring wound in the health care system of our country," says the committee's ranking member, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. People of color, she says, are "hit harder, mortality rates are higher, and they do not have access to health care so they can't get the medical support they need."
The report echoes previous studies by health experts that revealed how the pandemic sickens and kills Black, Latino and Native Americans at higher rates than whites.
It includes stories of individual Americans affected by the pandemic. For example, Aviva is a Black eighth grade teacher who was sick for almost 30 days with COVID-19 and did not fully recover for another month. Even now she still suffers respiratory symptoms.
Edgardo's father, a Latino meatpacking plant worker, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April. Within days, his mother and teenage sister were also infected. His father was hospitalized and intubated and spent 10 days on a ventilator in an induced coma.
Language barriers made it difficult for Edgardo's parents to understand the treatment. Now, four months after his hospital stay, Edgardo's father is slowly returning to work but faces lingering physical and mental health effects. More than 1,000 employees at the meatpacking plant where he works have been infected, and some have died.
The report examines factors that contribute to unequal health outcomes, including historic exploitation of communities of color, segregation, discrimination and bias within the health care system.
As a result, Murray says there is "mistrust from communities of color" who don't access medical care as often as they might.
Murray says Congress needs to pass relief funding for communities of color and expand testing and contact tracing among them. Congress also needs to develop a clear plan for equitably distributing a vaccine when one becomes available.
As of now, she says, there is no comprehensive plan for vaccine distribution.
"If we leave out focusing on communities of color, this virus will continue to spread rapidly throughout all of our communities and will not be contained," Murray says.
Dr. Melissa Simon, professor of clinical gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, who was interviewed in the report, is critical of pharmaceutical companies in the process of developing vaccines for "not taking the time required to engage communities, especially Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities hit hardest by COVID-19 in incidence and mortality and engaging them in discussions about vaccine trials, and the risks and benefits."
Simon's research focuses on health disparities among low-income, medically underserved women.
"We scientists and health care providers have earned the distrust of patients of color from long-standing experiences of racism in research and health care delivery" she says, citing forced participation in research without patient consent.
The current political climate is creating even more distrust in public health and medicine, Simon says, especially since the most basic preventive measure, mask wearing, has not carried a "consistent clear message."
Since the virus is hitting communities of color so hard, Murray says, we actually "have to overreact and make sure we've got the supplies, resources, equipment, information and foundational support in communities of color in order to stop the spread."


npr--2020-10-02--Timeline: How Trump Has Downplayed The Coronavirus Pandemic

Timeline : How Trump Has Downplayed The Coronavirus Pandemic President Trump , who announced overnight that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus , has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic , and often contradicted public health experts and members of his own administration in their more grave warnings about the virus .
Most notably , Trump acknowledged to veteran journalist Bob Woodward that he knowingly downplayed the coronavirus , even though he knew that it was more deadly than than the seasonal flu .
`` I wanted to always play it down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March interview , the audio recording of which was made public in September .
`` I still like playing it down , because I do n't want to create a panic . ''
Here is a sampling of what Trump has said about the coronavirus threat : The day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed what it then thought was the first case of coronavirus in the United States , Trump told a CNBC reporter that the country had it `` completely under control , '' and suggested that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have it totally under control .
It 's one person coming in from China , and we have it under control .
It 's going to be just fine , '' he said .
During a February meeting with Black leaders , held as U.S. health officials warned that the coronavirus pandemic may stay with the country for some time , Trump said a `` miracle '' might make the coronavirus pandemic `` disappear . ''
`` It 's going to disappear .
One day — it 's like a miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` And from our shores , we — you know , it could get worse before it gets better .
It could maybe go away .
We 'll see what happens .
Nobody really knows . ''
During an Oval Office address , Trump said that for `` the vast majority of Americans , the risk is very , very low '' — though he did warn that the `` elderly population must be very , very careful . ''
That same day , Dr. Anthony Fauci , a member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told members of Congress at a House hearing that , `` bottom line , it 's going to get worse . ''
How much worse , Fauci said , would depend on the country 's ability to contain the `` influx of people who are infected '' coming from other countries and `` the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country . ''
When the CDC made its initial recommendation that people wear cloth or fabric face coverings , Trump said that it was going to be `` really , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would not do it .
`` You can do it .
You do n't have to do it .
I 'm choosing not to do it , but some people may want to do it , and that 's OK .
It may be good .
Probably will .
They 're making a recommendation .
It 's only a recommendation , '' Trump said .
Trump — who stresses how often he and the people are around him are tested — wore a mask in public for the first time in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reed National Military Medical Center .
Trump told reporters that he viewed the high number of U.S. cases of coronavirus as a `` badge of honor , '' and a reflection of the country 's testing capacity .
`` When we have a lot of cases , I do n't look at that as a bad thing , '' the president said .
`` I look at that in a certain respect as being a good thing , because it means our testing is much better .
So , if we were testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , it would have far few cases , right ?
`` So , I view it as a badge of honor .
Really , it 's a badge of honor , '' he added .
`` It 's a great tribute to the testing and all of the work that a lot of professionals have done . ''
Days later , the U.S. recorded 100,000 known deaths from COVID-19 .
During an interview with Fox News Sunday , the president seemed to suggest that some people without serious symptoms were being tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the total number of infections .
`` Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day , '' Trump said .
`` They have the sniffles , and we put it down as a test . ''
He added that many of those sick `` are going to get better very quickly . ''
At the time of Trump 's interview , more than 3.7 million coronavirus cases had been confirmed in the United States , and more than 140,000 Americans had died .
During a campaign speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without evidence that the coronavirus `` affects virtually nobody , '' downplaying the risk of the extent of the pandemic and the danger that it poses to individuals .
In that campaign speech , he suggested that the virus is only dangerous to older people with heart problems and preexisting conditions , sentiments which go against the guidance of most public health experts .
`` It affects elderly people , elderly people with heart problems , if they have other problems , that 's what it really affects , that 's it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody young — below the age of 18 , like nobody — they have a strong immune system — who knows ? ''
Trump said .
`` Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system .
It affects virtually nobody , '' he added .
`` It 's an amazing thing — by the way , open your schools ! ''

Timeline: How Trump Has Downplayed The Coronavirus Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
President Trump, who announced overnight that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and often contradicted public health experts and members of his own administration in their more grave warnings about the virus.
Most notably, Trump acknowledged to veteran journalist Bob Woodward that he knowingly downplayed the coronavirus, even though he knew it was more deadly than the seasonal flu.
"I wanted to always play it down," the president said in a March interview, the audio recording of which was made public in September. "I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."
Here is a sampling of what Trump has said about the coronavirus threat:
Jan. 22
The day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed what it then thought was the first case of the coronavirus in the United States, Trump told a CNBC reporter that the country had it "completely under control" and suggested that he was not concerned about a pandemic.
"We have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It's going to be just fine," he said.
Feb. 27
During a February meeting with Black leaders, held as U.S. health officials warned that the coronavirus pandemic might stay with the country for some time, Trump said a "miracle" might make the coronavirus pandemic "disappear."
"It's going to disappear. One day — it's like a miracle — it will disappear," Trump said. "And from our shores, we — you know, it could get worse before it gets better. It could maybe go away. We'll see what happens. Nobody really knows."
March 11
During an Oval Office address, Trump said that for "the vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low" — though he did warn that the "elderly population must be very, very careful." That same day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, told members of Congress at a House hearing that "bottom line, it's going to get worse."
How much worse, Fauci said, would depend on the country's ability to contain the "influx of people who are infected" coming from other countries and "the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country."
April 3
When the CDC made its initial recommendation that people wear cloth or fabric face coverings, Trump said it was going to be "really, a voluntary thing" and emphasized that he would not do it.
"You can do it. You don't have to do it. I'm choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it, and that's OK. It may be good. Probably will. They're making a recommendation. It's only a recommendation," Trump said.
Trump — who stresses how often he and the people around him are tested — wore a mask in public for the first time in July, for a visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
May 19
Trump told reporters that he viewed the high number of U.S. cases of the coronavirus as a "badge of honor" and a reflection of the country's testing capacity.
"When we have a lot of cases, I don't look at that as a bad thing," the president said. "I look at that in a certain respect as being a good thing, because it means our testing is much better. So, if we were testing a million people instead of 14 million people, we would have far few cases, right?
"So, I view it as a badge of honor. Really, it's a badge of honor," he added. "It's a great tribute to the testing and all of the work that a lot of professionals have done."
Days later, the U.S. recorded 100,000 known deaths from COVID-19.
July 19
During an interview with Fox News Sunday, the president seemed to suggest that some people without serious symptoms were being tested and confirmed as positives and added to the total number of infections.
"Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day," Trump said. "They have the sniffles, and we put it down as a test." He added that many of those sick "are going to get better very quickly."
At the time of Trump's interview, more than 3.7 million coronavirus cases had been confirmed in the United States, and more than 140,000 Americans had died.
Sept. 21
During a campaign speech in Swanton, Ohio, Trump claimed without evidence that the coronavirus "affects virtually nobody," downplaying the risk of the extent of the pandemic and the danger that it poses to individuals.
In that campaign speech, he suggested that the virus is dangerous only to older people with heart problems and preexisting conditions, sentiments that go against the guidance of most public health experts.
"It affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems, if they have other problems, that's what it really affects, that's it. In some states thousands of people — nobody young — below the age of 18, like nobody — they have a strong immune system — who knows?" Trump said.
"Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system. It affects virtually nobody," he added. "It's an amazing thing — by the way, open your schools!"


npr--2020-10-02--Trump Joins List Of World Leaders Who've Tested Positive For The Coronavirus

Trump Joins List Of World Leaders Who 've Tested Positive For The Coronavirus President Trump 's positive coronavirus test adds @ @ @ @ @ of world leaders who 've contracted the virus .
Most notably , Trump joins British @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , who had both previously tested positive .
Johnson was sent @ @ @ @ @ before recovering .
All three leaders have been criticized in their home countries for at @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
Trump 's wife , first lady Melania Trump , has also tested @ @ @ @ @ as has his adviser Hope Hicks .
The Guardian lists other world leaders who 've @ @ @ @ @ the presidents of Bolivia and Honduras , as well as Armenia 's prime minister .
@ @ @ @ @ more than a dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus , according @ @ @ @ @ along with some governors including those of Oklahoma and Missouri .

Trump Joins List Of World Leaders Who've Tested Positive For The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Francisco Seco/AP Francisco Seco/AP
Updated at 1:29 p.m. ET
President Trump's positive coronavirus test adds him to a growing list of world leaders who've contracted the virus that causes COVID-19.
Most notably, Trump, who's 74, joins British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 56, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, 65.
All three leaders have been criticized in their home countries for at times downplaying the severity of the disease.
Other world leaders to test positive include 51-year-old Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, 64-year-old Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and 45-year-old Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Britain's Johnson had the worst case of COVID-19. He contracted it in late March and then spent three days in a London intensive care unit where he received oxygen treatment but was not put on a ventilator.
"It was a tough old moment," Johnson later told Britain's Sun On Sunday newspaper, adding that doctors had prepared for his passing. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario."
Johnson grew visibly ill and retreated from public life. His absence from press conferences fueled uncertainty and fear that he was seriously ill and might not be able to continue as prime minister.
The British people rallied around Johnson at the time, but that goodwill has dissipated amid what many see as the prime minister's continued mishandling of the virus — the U.K. government still doesn't have a testing system that can meet demand — and repeated policy U-turns. Recent polls show Johnson's approval ratings below 40%.
Trump's wife, first lady Melania Trump, has also tested positive for the coronavirus.
A number of world leaders are wishing the Trumps a speedy recovery. Well wishes came from Britain's Johnson, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters that China hopes for the Trumps' speedy recovery.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram, writing: "I'm certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus."
In the United States, more than a dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an NPR tally, along with some governors including those of Oklahoma and Missouri.


npr--2020-10-02--How Can President Trump Pay Less Tax Than You?

How Can President Trump Pay Less Tax Than You ?
A manager at McDonald 's likely paid more federal income tax than President Trump did the year he took office .
The president 's tax returns show he paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes each year in 2016 and 2017 and paid nothing at all for many years before that , according to reporting from The New York Times .
So how could the tax system allow someone with a lifestyle as lavish as Trump 's — he owns ritzy golf courses , spends tens of thousands dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than you or me ?
Well , it helps to be a real estate developer .
Lawmakers over the decades have passed friendly tax rules for real estate moguls , says Reuven Avi-Yonah , a professor of tax law at the University of Michigan .
He says Trump and many real estate developers structure their companies as `` pass-through '' businesses , which gives them a host of tax advantages .
For one , it lets them deduct interest on any loans that they have so they can reduce their taxes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit cards , for example , they pay a high interest rate .
They do n't get to deduct their interest , '' Avi-Yonah says .
Conservatives often say that lowering taxes for businesses can help the whole economy because that creates more jobs and lifts all boats .
But there is a lot of disagreement about that .
`` The system clearly is not fair , '' Avi-Yonah says .
For example , he says , take another tax break that developers enjoy : When they own an apartment building , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a piece of equipment in a factory that was suffering from wear and tear and falling in value .
But in real estate , you can get a tax break on that `` depreciation '' even if the building is not falling in value .
Maybe it used to be worth $ 10 million and now it 's worth $ 20 million .
`` It never made any sense to me to allow you to take a write-off for that depreciation when the building is not actually depreciating but rather appreciating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really no justification for that . ''
Another thing that really helps lower your taxes : big losses .
Since 2000 , Trump has reported hundreds of millions of dollars in losses on golf courses alone , according to The New York Times .
His Trump International Hotel in Washington , D.C. , the tax records show , lost $ 55.5 million .
On top of that , there were big losses on Atlantic City casinos .
When Trump made big profits from his show The Apprentice , those losses , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a lot on his taxes .
`` What you can do is use those losses to cancel out other income , '' says Daniel Reck , an economist at the London School of Economics who studies tax evasion and tax policy .
He says what Trump did was not necessarily against the rules .
But Reck says that when you have a big interconnected web of businesses like Trump 's , money can flow offshore , it can flow through tax-exempt charities and you can hire a small army of lawyers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business empire , '' he says , `` you can see how the complexity can help you find different ways to not pay tax . ''
But for that to work to the point where you pay no taxes year after year , you do have to have a lot of losses .
Avi-Yonah says a big takeaway for him in the revelation of Trump 's tax returns is that Trump 's business empire appears to be floundering .
`` I think he really is not a very good businessman , '' Avi-Yonah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reckless , and they 've lost him a lot of money .
And at this point , he really is at risk . ''
But , Avi-Yonah adds , `` the fact that he 's a bad businessman does not mean that he 's not also cheating on his taxes . ''
Trump is being audited , so sooner or later we should find out whether the IRS thinks he broke the rules .

How Can President Trump Pay Less Tax Than You?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A manager at McDonald's likely paid more federal income tax than President Trump did the year he took office.
The president's tax returns show he paid just $750 in federal income taxes each year in 2016 and 2017 and paid nothing at all for many years before that, according to reporting from The New York Times.
So how could the tax system allow someone with a lifestyle as lavish as Trump's — he owns ritzy golf courses, spends tens of thousands dollars on haircuts — to pay less tax than you or me?
Well, it helps to be a real estate developer. Lawmakers over the decades have passed friendly tax rules for real estate moguls, says Reuven Avi-Yonah, a professor of tax law at the University of Michigan. He says Trump and many real estate developers structure their companies as "pass-through" businesses, which gives them a host of tax advantages. For one, it lets them deduct interest on any loans that they have so they can reduce their taxes.
"Regular people, when they take out credit cards, for example, they pay a high interest rate. They don't get to deduct their interest," Avi-Yonah says.
Conservatives often say that lowering taxes for businesses can help the whole economy because that creates more jobs and lifts all boats. But there is a lot of disagreement about that.
"The system clearly is not fair," Avi-Yonah says. For example, he says, take another tax break that developers enjoy: When they own an apartment building, they get to treat it as if it were a piece of equipment in a factory that was suffering from wear and tear and falling in value.
But in real estate, you can get a tax break on that "depreciation" even if the building is not falling in value. Maybe it used to be worth $10 million and now it's worth $20 million. "It never made any sense to me to allow you to take a write-off for that depreciation when the building is not actually depreciating but rather appreciating," Avi-Yonah says. "There's really no justification for that."
Another thing that really helps lower your taxes: big losses.
Since 2000, Trump has reported hundreds of millions of dollars in losses on golf courses alone, according to The New York Times. His Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the tax records show, lost $55.5 million. On top of that, there were big losses on Atlantic City casinos.
When Trump made big profits from his show The Apprentice, those losses, even if they came in different years, helped him a lot on his taxes.
"What you can do is use those losses to cancel out other income," says Daniel Reck, an economist at the London School of Economics who studies tax evasion and tax policy. He says what Trump did was not necessarily against the rules. But Reck says that when you have a big interconnected web of businesses like Trump's, money can flow offshore, it can flow through tax-exempt charities and you can hire a small army of lawyers and accountants.
"When you have a business empire," he says, "you can see how the complexity can help you find different ways to not pay tax."
But for that to work to the point where you pay no taxes year after year, you do have to have a lot of losses. Avi-Yonah says a big takeaway for him in the revelation of Trump's tax returns is that Trump's business empire appears to be floundering.
"I think he really is not a very good businessman," Avi-Yonah says. "His investments since 2011 have been reckless, and they've lost him a lot of money. And at this point, he really is at risk."
But, Avi-Yonah adds, "the fact that he's a bad businessman does not mean that he's not also cheating on his taxes."
Trump is being audited, so sooner or later we should find out whether the IRS thinks he broke the rules.


npr--2020-10-02--With Roe v. Wade On The Line, Some States Take Steps To Protect Abortion Rights

With Roe v. Wade On The Line , Some States Take Steps To Protect Abortion Rights States led by officials supportive of abortion rights are preparing for a world without Roe v. Wade .
If the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide is overturned by an increasingly conservative Supreme Court , regulation of abortion would fall to state lawmakers .
That scenario seems far more imminent with the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and President Trump 's nomination of conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
`` I hope to God that does n't happen , but we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could happen , '' New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy said in an interview with NPR on Thursday .
Murphy , a Democrat , will unveil legislation alongside other state officials and reproductive rights advocates on Friday that 's designed to codify Roe into state law and expand access to abortion services .
Groups on opposite sides of the abortion debate have long had their eyes on state legislatures , particularly since the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh , Trump 's second appointment to the Supreme Court .
He replaced retiring Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing vote on abortion cases — and moved the court to the right .
In recent years , several states , including Illinois and New York , have passed laws designed to protect abortion rights regardless of potential changes to Supreme Court precedent .
At the same time , multiple states with conservative legislatures have pushed in the other direction , with states including Alabama and Georgia passing laws aimed at banning abortion during the first trimester — laws that have been blocked from taking effect and are working their way through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to an abortion in state law , a spokesman for Murphy says the New Jersey proposal would remove some restrictions on abortion that advocates say are medically unnecessary ; require most private health insurers to cover abortion ; and allow a wider range of health care providers , including physician assistants , certified midwives and other advanced-practice nurses , to administer abortions .
Kaitlyn Wojtowicz , vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey , said the goal is to preserve abortion access for both New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
`` We do know that there could be a future where New Jersey is the state where folks may travel to [ for abortions ] , '' she said .
`` We just want to make sure that we 're protecting folks in New Jersey and ... standing up and being a leader as other states are racing to put abortion out of reach for so many folks . ''
Opponents of abortion rights also have been preparing for a fight over the issue in state legislatures .
In a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Susan B. Anthony List , an influential group that has worked to elect Republican U.S. senators and confirm Trump 's conservative judicial nominees , said she 'd like to see legislation at the state and federal levels restricting abortion .
In that interview soon after Ginsburg 's death , Dannenfelser said she hopes the Supreme Court will make room for state legislatures to ban abortion as early as the first trimester .
`` If abortion is the taking of a human life , the more ambitious they are the better , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings for Barrett are expected to begin in mid-October , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to push her confirmation through as quickly as possible .

With Roe v. Wade On The Line, Some States Take Steps To Protect Abortion Rights
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
States led by officials supportive of abortion rights are preparing for a world without Roe v. Wade. If the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide is overturned by an increasingly conservative Supreme Court, regulation of abortion would fall to state lawmakers.
That scenario seems far more imminent with the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and President Trump's nomination of conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
"I hope to God that doesn't happen, but we don't want to take a chance that it could happen," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in an interview with NPR on Thursday.
Murphy, a Democrat, will unveil legislation alongside other state officials and reproductive rights advocates on Friday that's designed to codify Roe into state law and expand access to abortion services.
Groups on opposite sides of the abortion debate have long had their eyes on state legislatures, particularly since the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's second appointment to the Supreme Court. He replaced retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy — who often was the swing vote on abortion cases — and moved the court to the right.
In recent years, several states, including Illinois and New York, have passed laws designed to protect abortion rights regardless of potential changes to Supreme Court precedent. At the same time, multiple states with conservative legislatures have pushed in the other direction, with states including Alabama and Georgia passing laws aimed at banning abortion during the first trimester — laws that have been blocked from taking effect and are working their way through the court system.
In addition to guaranteeing the right to an abortion in state law, a spokesman for Murphy says the New Jersey proposal would remove some restrictions on abortion that advocates say are medically unnecessary; require most private health insurers to cover abortion; and allow a wider range of health care providers, including physician assistants, certified midwives and other advanced-practice nurses, to administer abortions.
Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, said the goal is to preserve abortion access for both New Jersey residents and potential patients from other states.
"We do know that there could be a future where New Jersey is the state where folks may travel to [for abortions]," she said. "We just want to make sure that we're protecting folks in New Jersey and ... standing up and being a leader as other states are racing to put abortion out of reach for so many folks."
Opponents of abortion rights also have been preparing for a fight over the issue in state legislatures. In a recent interview with NPR, Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, an influential group that has worked to elect Republican U.S. senators and confirm Trump's conservative judicial nominees, said she'd like to see legislation at the state and federal levels restricting abortion.
In that interview soon after Ginsburg's death, Dannenfelser said she hopes the Supreme Court will make room for state legislatures to ban abortion as early as the first trimester.
"If abortion is the taking of a human life, the more ambitious they are the better," Dannenfelser said at the time.
Confirmation hearings for Barrett are expected to begin in mid-October, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to push her confirmation through as quickly as possible.


npr--2020-10-02--Where Trump Has Been This Past Week Ahead Of Testing Positive For The Coronavirus

Where Trump Has Been This Past Week Ahead Of Testing Positive For The Coronavirus President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus amid a busy week of events and during the height of the presidential campaign .
The president is expected to remain under watch of doctors at the White House but intends to continue carrying out his official duties .
The White House updated Trump 's Friday schedule , canceling a campaign rally in Sanford , Fla. On Saturday he had planned to hold two rallies in Wisconsin , which is seeing a spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet that she has postponed `` all upcoming engagements . ''
But the president 's schedule over the past week was packed — from rallies in Florida and Pennsylvania to the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday , where he shared the stage with former Vice President Joe Biden , who has yet to comment on the news .
Trump has also been in close contact with White House officials , supporters and Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett within the past seven days .
It is still unclear when or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though Trump confirmed Thursday night that close adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive .
Here are some of the places the president has been over the past week : Thursday , Sept. 24 In the morning , the president and first lady paid respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court before Trump traveled to Charlotte , N.C. , to deliver a speech on health care .
That evening , he held an outdoor rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville , Fla. Friday , Sept. 25 The president attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Black Economic Empowerment event in Atlanta , and a meeting with supporters in Washington , D.C. That night , he held a rally outside Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia .
Saturday , Sept. 26 In a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden , the president announced his Supreme Court pick , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , in front of a crowd of about 200 people .
( Since the ceremony , Judge Barrett has met with senators ahead of her confirmation hearing slated to begin Oct. 12 — including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) That evening , the president held another rally at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown , Pa. Sunday , Sept. 27 The president 's schedule included a visit to his golf club in Potomac Falls , Va. , in the morning and a White House reception for Gold Star Families in the evening .
Monday , Sept. 28 Trump held two events at the White House : an address from the Rose Garden on national coronavirus testing strategy and another congratulating an Ohio-based manufacturer on a new vehicle .
Tuesday , Sept. 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time in a chaotic debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland , where the two maintained social distance onstage and did not shake hands , but they did not wear masks onstage .
During the debate , Trump said he wears a mask `` when needed , '' citing frequent testing , and mocked Biden for having one `` every time you see him . ''
Wednesday , Sept. 30 The president was in Minnesota for a fundraiser at a private residence in Shorewood before heading to a rally at Duluth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 1 The president hosted a fundraising event at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster , N.J. That evening , Trump confirmed reports that adviser Hicks had tested positive for the virus .

Where Trump Has Been This Past Week Ahead Of Testing Positive For The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Updated at 10:34 a.m. ET
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus amid a busy week of events and during the height of the presidential campaign.
The president is expected to remain under watch of doctors at the White House but intends to continue carrying out his official duties.
The White House updated Trump's Friday schedule, canceling a campaign rally in Sanford, Fla. On Saturday he had planned to hold two rallies in Wisconsin, which is seeing a spike in cases.
The first lady said in a tweet that she has postponed "all upcoming engagements."
But the president's schedule over the past week was packed — from rallies in Florida and Pennsylvania to the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday, where he shared the stage with former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump has also been in close contact with White House officials, supporters and Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett within the past seven days. Vice President Pence has tested negative for the virus, as has Barrett, according to the White House.
Biden wished the Trumps a "swift recovery" on Friday, but it's not yet clear whether Biden was tested after the debate or in light of the news about the president.
It is still unclear when or how the president contracted the virus, though Trump confirmed Thursday night that close adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive.
Here are some of the places the president has been over the past week:
Thursday, Sept. 24
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
In the morning, the president and first lady paid respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court before Trump traveled to Charlotte, N.C., to deliver a speech on health care. That evening, he held an outdoor rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Fla.
Friday, Sept. 25
The president attended a Latinos for Trump roundtable in Miami, a Black Economic Empowerment event in Atlanta, and a meeting with supporters in Washington, D.C. That night, he held a rally outside Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Barria/Reuters Carlos Barria/Reuters
In a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, the president announced his Supreme Court pick, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, in front of a crowd of about 200 people. (Since the ceremony, Judge Barrett has met with senators ahead of her confirmation hearing slated to begin Oct. 12 — including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.) That evening, the president held another rally at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pa.
Sunday, Sept. 27
The president's schedule included a visit to his golf club in Potomac Falls, Va., in the morning and a White House reception for Gold Star Families in the evening.
Monday, Sept. 28
Trump held two events at the White House: an address from the Rose Garden on national coronavirus testing strategy and another congratulating an Ohio-based manufacturer on a new vehicle.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images
Trump and Biden faced off for the first time in a chaotic debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where the two maintained social distance onstage and did not shake hands, but they did not wear masks onstage. During the debate, Trump said he wears a mask "when needed," citing frequent testing, and mocked Biden for having one "every time you see him."
Wednesday, Sept. 30
The president was in Minnesota for a fundraiser at a private residence in Shorewood before heading to a rally at Duluth International Airport that night.
Thursday, Oct. 1
The president hosted a fundraising event at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. That evening, Trump confirmed reports that adviser Hicks had tested positive for the virus.


npr--2020-10-02--Khalilzad: 'A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past'

Khalilzad : ' A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past' '' The fact that the Afghans are sitting across the table for the first time in 42 years is a moment of hope and opportunity , '' U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad tells NPR .
`` But this moment is not without its own challenges . ''
Peace talks began in Doha , Qatar , last month between the Afghan government and the Taliban , even as deadly violence in Afghanistan continues .
Khalilzad brokered an agreement between the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. has `` tested '' the Taliban , he says .
`` No , we do n't take them at their word , '' he says .
`` We have asked them to do things with regard to terrorism , and they have taken some of the steps that we have recommended .
This is an ongoing process ... they are not where we would like them to be .
But we will not leave unless we are satisfied that what they have committed to , with regard to terrorism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Both Afghanistan and the U.S. must avoid mistakes of the 1990s , Khalilzad warns , when Afghanistan descended into a civil war from which the Taliban emerged and gave shelter to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden .
As for the U.S. , `` we will not make the mistake that was made after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan , which was to abandon Afghanistan , '' he says .
On the Taliban 's incentives to talk peace I think there are several incentives that they have .
One is that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But at the same time , they would like to be accepted as a legitimate partner in governing Afghanistan .
That means they have to agree with other Afghans that they recognize that what happened in the '90s did not work .
It was a failure and that their relationship with al-Qaida resulted in the attacks by the United States in Afghanistan and the Taliban losing power .
They do n't want to repeat that .
I have to say , we have tested them .
They have demonstrated so far that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been no attacks on U.S. forces ... And they said they will sit with other Afghans , and they are sitting with other Afghans .
Now , we will see whether they do the remaining things that are required of them .
On Pakistan 's role in the region Well , I still stick with the idea of trust but verify .
But I want to add , though , that Pakistan has been helpful to the effort that we have made in the last two years , and they have encouraged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they have encouraged the Talibs to reduce violence .
They have also been helpful in terms of interaction with the Afghan leaders .
... now they see peace in Afghanistan as vital for peace in Pakistan ... Part of the concern that the Pakistanis have had ... is that the Afghan Taliban is now accompanied , if you like , parallel now [ is ] a Pakistani-based Taliban or a Pakistani Taliban , and they do n't want those Taliban to be able to operate from Afghanistan ... And we are encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that neither side 's territory can be used by terrorist groups or extremist groups against the other .
And I hope that we will achieve results in that regard as well .
On the rights and aspirations of Afghan women Well , it may be for the first time that Afghans sitting across the table to negotiate peace have women as a part of the delegation ... [ Female members of the government negotiating team ] say they are being respected in the negotiating room and that they engage the Taliban directly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that 's positive .
... And we have told the Talibs that since they want to be treated as a normal player and have good relations with the United States as part of a future Afghan government , what happens with regard to the rights of women will be a key factor in shaping U.S. policy with regard to that government .
...
Discrimination against women — going back to the situation that existed under the Taliban and closing schools for girls and young women , in other words — could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most negative effect on U.S. policy towards Afghanistan .
On what may happen if negotiations fail The United States will not walk away from protecting its national security interests .
We will not make the mistake that was made after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan , which was to abandon Afghanistan .
And the consequences were grave for Afghanistan because of the mistakes the Afghan leaders made .
Rather than coming together , forming a government , they fought each other while the rest of the world benefited from the Soviet defeat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was partially helped by their conquest or attempted conquest of Afghanistan .
This is an opportunity for Afghans to seize the opportunity that is provided to them to negotiate a roadmap where groups of different ideas or ideologies , values , can coexist in the same country .
And at the same time , there is a lesson for the United States that we can not abandon Afghanistan .
We can not turn our back .
It does n't mean we must maintain a military presence or continue a war just to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conditions are right , [ if ] we do n't feel threatened , that we can withdraw our military forces or adjust them accordingly , but maintain focus , relations , economic assistance , political relations , diplomatic relations , to encourage the consolidation of a peace agreement , should it be arrived at by the Afghans .
But this is a moment for the Afghan leaders not to repeat the mistakes of the past , to build a consensus-based system where all key players can participate ... and perhaps peace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Khalilzad: 'A Moment For The Afghan Leaders Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The Past'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rahmat Gul/AP Rahmat Gul/AP
"The fact that the Afghans are sitting across the table for the first time in 42 years is a moment of hope and opportunity," U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad tells NPR. "But this moment is not without its own challenges."
Peace talks began in Doha, Qatar, last month between the Afghan government and the Taliban, even as deadly violence in Afghanistan continues.
Khalilzad brokered an agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban, signed in February. The U.S. has "tested" the Taliban, he says. "No, we don't take them at their word," he says. "We have asked them to do things with regard to terrorism, and they have taken some of the steps that we have recommended. This is an ongoing process... they are not where we would like them to be. But we will not leave unless we are satisfied that what they have committed to, with regard to terrorism and other things, they're actually implementing."
Both Afghanistan and the U.S. must avoid mistakes of the 1990s, Khalilzad warns, when Afghanistan descended into a civil war from which the Taliban emerged and gave shelter to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. As for the U.S., "we will not make the mistake that was made after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was to abandon Afghanistan," he says.
Excerpts from the interview follow.
Interview Highlights
On the Taliban's incentives to talk peace
I think there are several incentives that they have. One is that they would like us to withdraw. ... But at the same time, they would like to be accepted as a legitimate partner in governing Afghanistan. That means they have to agree with other Afghans that they recognize that what happened in the '90s did not work. It was a failure and that their relationship with al-Qaida resulted in the attacks by the United States in Afghanistan and the Taliban losing power. They don't want to repeat that.
I have to say, we have tested them. They have demonstrated so far that they are meeting those tests. There have been no attacks on U.S. forces... And they said they will sit with other Afghans, and they are sitting with other Afghans. Now, we will see whether they do the remaining things that are required of them.
On Pakistan's role in the region
Well, I still stick with the idea of trust but verify. But I want to add, though, that Pakistan has been helpful to the effort that we have made in the last two years, and they have encouraged the Talibs to enter negotiations with the government and they have encouraged the Talibs to reduce violence. They have also been helpful in terms of interaction with the Afghan leaders. ... now they see peace in Afghanistan as vital for peace in Pakistan...
Part of the concern that the Pakistanis have had ...is that the Afghan Taliban is now accompanied, if you like, parallel now [is] a Pakistani-based Taliban or a Pakistani Taliban, and they don't want those Taliban to be able to operate from Afghanistan... And we are encouraging Afghanistan and Pakistan to sign an agreement that neither side's territory can be used by terrorist groups or extremist groups against the other. And I hope that we will achieve results in that regard as well.
On the rights and aspirations of Afghan women
Well, it may be for the first time that Afghans sitting across the table to negotiate peace have women as a part of the delegation... [Female members of the government negotiating team] say they are being respected in the negotiating room and that they engage the Taliban directly and protect or defend their rights. I think that's positive. ...
And we have told the Talibs that since they want to be treated as a normal player and have good relations with the United States as part of a future Afghan government, what happens with regard to the rights of women will be a key factor in shaping U.S. policy with regard to that government. ...Discrimination against women — going back to the situation that existed under the Taliban and closing schools for girls and young women, in other words — could be a red line that would have the most negative effect on U.S. policy towards Afghanistan.
On what may happen if negotiations fail
The United States will not walk away from protecting its national security interests. We will not make the mistake that was made after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was to abandon Afghanistan. And the consequences were grave for Afghanistan because of the mistakes the Afghan leaders made. Rather than coming together, forming a government, they fought each other while the rest of the world benefited from the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan and the Soviet disintegration, which was partially helped by their conquest or attempted conquest of Afghanistan.
This is an opportunity for Afghans to seize the opportunity that is provided to them to negotiate a roadmap where groups of different ideas or ideologies, values, can coexist in the same country. And at the same time, there is a lesson for the United States that we cannot abandon Afghanistan. We cannot turn our back.
It doesn't mean we must maintain a military presence or continue a war just to have a military presence — but that if the conditions are right, [if] we don't feel threatened, that we can withdraw our military forces or adjust them accordingly, but maintain focus, relations, economic assistance, political relations, diplomatic relations, to encourage the consolidation of a peace agreement, should it be arrived at by the Afghans. But this is a moment for the Afghan leaders not to repeat the mistakes of the past, to build a consensus-based system where all key players can participate... and perhaps peace in Afghanistan can change the dynamics even regionally.