npr--2020-10-04--Allergies, Colds, Flu And COVID-19: How To Best Prep For Fall's 'Sick Season'

Allergies , Colds , Flu And COVID-19 : How To Best Prep For Fall 's 'Sick Season' You might have hoped the pandemic would cancel what we doctors usually think of as `` sick season , '' but as cool weather signals the annual arrival of autumn allergies , colds and flu in the U.S. , sick season is still right on schedule .
In my clinic , that means a flurry of visits and calls from patients worried about their runny noses , coughs and sore throats .
Before COVID-19 , it was already tough for patients to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Allergies and colds are mostly just a nuisance , but a severe case of the flu can kill .
Now our unprecedented times are about to merge with the highly precedented .
The flu routinely kills between 12,000 and 61,000 people in America each year , and COVID-19 has already killed more than 200,000 , just since February .
Those big combined numbers of deaths can be scary , especially if you 've skipped or postponed your usual health routines and check-ins with a doctor this year .
Now 's the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a few steps to improve your chances of staying healthy , even in `` sick season . ''
Establish a relationship with a primary care provider before you get sick Do this now .
Being an established patient can help you more quickly get in to see a doctor or other health care provider when you get sick .
Having a clinician who already knows your medical history when you call helps , too — they may feel more comfortable making certain treatment recommendations online or over the phone and to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in for a physical exam because you have certain risk factors .
Keep your vaccinations up to date Primary care providers , as well as pharmacists , can help track whatever vaccinations you need – and those immunizations are especially important during a pandemic .
This fall , as every year , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccines against influenza for pretty much everyone older than 6 months , including pregnant women and the elderly .
The agency also recommends immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia as part of routine vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 and older , or sooner for some adults with underlying health problems .
These are two respiratory illnesses seen more often in the fall and winter months that can turn nasty .
But other serious , vaccine-preventable illnesses can circulating in your community , too — whooping cough and measles , just for starters .
Talk to your clinician about which vaccines are appropriate for you and for the kids in your life .
There 's no benefit to waiting to get this year 's flu shot , by the way -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` good times to get vaccinated . ''
Dr. Justin Ortiz , a critical care doctor and professor of medicine at the University of Maryland , notes that vaccines are lifesaving in another way this year — by helping to reduce cases of flu and pneumonia that would otherwise deplete resources needed to fight the pandemic .
`` Severe flu can fill up our hospitals , '' he says .
`` If another wave of COVID-19 coincides with influenza and pneumonia season , there will be fewer health care resources to treat both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fall ?
Nip symptoms in the bud with early treatment While vaccines can help keep some respiratory infections away , they do n't prevent ragweed , pollen , dust or mold in the air from triggering symptoms like runny nose , sneezing , itchy or watering eyes , headache and even fatigue .
If you know you struggle with airborne allergens this time of year , start your usual medicines before symptoms develop , or at the first sign , to prevent or help stop the inflammation that makes symptoms escalate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; if your symptoms are new , talk to a health care provider about your best treatment options .
Timing is key , says Dr. Stuart Cohen , chief of primary care for the University of Alabama at Birmingham .
`` The one thing we 're telling our patients is go ahead and start taking their non-sedating antihistamines or use their steroidal nasal sprays if they usually suffer with allergies .
They should n't wait until their symptoms progress to start using those every day . ''
It 's important to remember that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possibly a change in your sense of smell , they do n't cause fever , which is common with COVID-19 and the flu .
And , speaking of fever , be ready to check for one Keep a thermometer in your home , since checking your temperature is a good place to start distinguishing allergies from an infection if you 're feeling unwell .
Just remember the definition of true fever – a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit , or 38 degree Celsius .
Fever is a key symptom that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what level of care you need , so having that information when you first reach out can be important .
Even if you have a slight fever , recognize that your doctor may tell you to simply rest , drink plenty of fluids and 'watch-and-wait ' to see how the symptoms develop .
Many of the old rules still apply , even in a pandemic — COVID-19 , colds and flu are all caused by viruses , not bacteria , so antibiotics wo n't treat them .
Many medical offices now have links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an telehealth appointment , even for routine health maintenance .
If you have chronic health issues , call or check online with your health provider soon – before cold and flu season is in full swing .
A clinician can review your routine medications and doses , help make sure you have an ample supply at home , and may also suggest more ways you can reduce your risk of getting sick , based on your individual history .
Also , familiarize yourself now , before you get sick , with the CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support tools from your local healthcare system , like this one put together by Johns Hopkins Medicine .
These resources can help you differentiate among symptoms and provide a way to search for , and contact , health care providers if you do n't already have one who routinely manages your care .
Keep maintaining social distance , wearing a mask and washing your hands We 're likely to see a jump in coronavirus cases as cooler weather pushes us together indoors for longer periods , so do n't let down your guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hygiene will be even more important over the next several months .
And while the cool air alone is enough to cause a runny nose , it can also be a symptom of the common cold , flu or COVID-19 – all very contagious respiratory diseases .
So while wearing a mask when you have a runny nose may be uncomfortable , doing so will help keep you from spreading whatever you have to people you love , and help protect you from catching another bug .
Mask wearing may be even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you sneeze — propulsive sneezes are definitely a way the novel coronavirus spreads .
When patients ask Ortiz if they can be co-infected with COVID-19 and another virus like flu , he says `` absolutely , '' and reminds them that while it may feel harder to breathe when you have an upper respiratory illness and wear a mask , covering your nose and mouth this way `` wo n't cause problems with air exchange , '' even for many people with asthma or COPD .
Mask wearers , even those with bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still get plenty of oxygen .
Pay attention to your symptoms and know the red flags It 's helpful to keep track of any respiratory symptoms you develop as they begin or change , to help distinguish the signs of allergies versus an infection .
But do n't go it alone — check with the doctor 's office if you 're uncertain , to let them also help you triage symptoms and decide on a plan .
And if you have chronic medical problems , especially lung disease , it 's important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign of illness .
How do you know if what you 're experiencing is an emergency ?
Some common red flag symptoms that signal you should call 911 include sudden chest pain or pressure ; new confusion , a change in consciousness or inability to stay awake ; or any signs of a lack of oxygen ( such as blue or purple lips or gasping for air ) .
Bottom line this fall : Do n't panic .
Do ask for help Never hesitate to seek help from your primary care provider when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no matter how small , because no one is immune to the fear of getting really sick .
The medical community has adapted to COVID-19 by building more ways for patients to be informed and get guidance — and this should be welcome news , since good communication may save lives and ease us all through the challenging months ahead .
Dr. Kristen Kendrick is a board-certified family physician in Washington , D.C. , and a health and media fellow at NPR and Georgetown University School of Medicine .

Allergies, Colds, Flu And COVID-19: How To Best Prep For Fall's 'Sick Season'
Enlarge this image toggle caption sestovic/Getty Images sestovic/Getty Images
You might have hoped the coronavirus pandemic would cancel what we doctors usually think of as "sick season," but as cool weather signals the annual arrival of autumn allergies, colds and flu in the U.S., sick season is still right on schedule.
In my clinic, that means a flurry of visits and calls from patients worried about their runny noses, coughs and sore throats.
Before the emergence of COVID-19, it was already tough for patients to know how seriously to take those common symptoms. Allergies and colds are mostly just a nuisance, but a severe case of the flu can kill.
Now our unprecedented times are about to merge with the highly precedented. The flu routinely kills between 12,000 and 61,000 people in the U.S. each year, and COVID-19 has already killed more than 200,000, just since February.
Those big combined numbers of deaths can be scary, especially if you've skipped or postponed your usual health routines and check-ins with a doctor this year. Now's the time to get back in gear: Here are a few steps to improve your chances of staying healthy, even during sick season.
Establish a relationship with a primary care provider before you get sick
Do this now. Being an established patient can help you more quickly get in to see a doctor or other health care provider when you get sick. Having a clinician who already knows your medical history when you call helps, too — the clinician may feel more comfortable making certain treatment recommendations online or over the phone and will know when it's better to have you come in for a physical exam because you have certain risk factors.
Keep your vaccinations up to date
Primary care providers, as well as pharmacists, can help track whatever vaccinations you need — and those immunizations are especially important during a pandemic. This fall, as every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccines against influenza for pretty much everyone older than 6 months, including pregnant women and the elderly. The agency also recommends immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia as part of routine vaccines for children and for healthy people age 65 or older, or sooner for some adults with underlying health problems. These are two respiratory illnesses seen more often in the fall and winter months that can turn nasty.
But other serious, vaccine-preventable illnesses can be circulating in your community too — whooping cough and measles, just for starters. Talk to your clinician about which vaccines are appropriate for you and for the kids in your life. There's no benefit to waiting to get this year's flu shot, by the way — the CDC says September and October are "good times to get vaccinated."
Justin Ortiz, a critical care doctor and professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development, notes that vaccines are lifesaving in another way this year — by helping to reduce cases of flu and pneumonia that would otherwise deplete resources needed to fight the pandemic. "Severe flu can fill up our hospitals," he says. "If another wave of COVID-19 coincides with influenza and pneumonia season, there will be fewer health care resources to treat both."
Got seasonal allergies that flare in the fall? Nip symptoms in the bud with early treatment
While vaccines can help keep some respiratory infections away, they don't prevent ragweed, pollen, dust or mold in the air from triggering symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watering eyes, headache and even fatigue. If you know you struggle with airborne allergens this time of year, start your usual medicines before symptoms develop, or at the first sign, to prevent or help stop the inflammation that makes symptoms escalate. Allergies can develop at any age; if your symptoms are new, talk to a health care provider about your best treatment options.
Timing is key, says Dr. Stuart Cohen, chief of primary care for the University of Alabama at Birmingham: "The one thing we're telling our patients is go ahead and start taking their nonsedating antihistamines or use their steroidal nasal sprays if they usually suffer with allergies. They shouldn't wait until their symptoms progress to start using those every day."
It's important to remember that although allergies can cause upper respiratory symptoms and possibly a change in your sense of smell, they don't cause fever, which is common with COVID-19 and the flu.
And, speaking of fever, be ready to check for one
Keep a thermometer in your home, since checking your temperature is a good place to start in distinguishing allergies from an infection if you're feeling unwell. Just remember the definition of a true fever — a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 degrees Celsius.
Fever is a key symptom that helps clinicians make a diagnosis and decide what level of care you need, so having that information when you first reach out can be important.
Even if you have a slight fever, recognize that your doctor may tell you to simply rest, drink plenty of fluids and "watch and wait" to see how the symptoms develop. Many of the old rules still apply, even in a pandemic: COVID-19, colds and flu are all caused by viruses, not bacteria, so antibiotics won't treat them.
Make online tools work for you
Many medical offices now have links online to help you sign up for a telehealth appointment, even for routine health maintenance. If you have chronic health issues, call or check online with your health care provider soon — before the cold and flu season is in full swing. A clinician can review your routine medications and doses, help make sure you have an ample supply at home and may also suggest more ways you can reduce your risk of getting sick, based on your individual history.
Also, familiarize yourself now, before you get sick, with the CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker or other online support tools from your local health care system, like this one put together by Johns Hopkins Medicine. These resources can help you differentiate among symptoms and provide a way to search for and contact health care providers if you don't already have one who routinely manages your care.
Keep maintaining social distance, wearing a mask and washing your hands
We're likely to see a jump in coronavirus cases as cooler weather pushes us together indoors for longer periods, so don't let down your guard. These now familiar basics of public hygiene will be even more important over the next several months.
And while the cool air alone is enough to cause a runny nose, it can also be a symptom of the common cold, flu or COVID-19 — all very contagious respiratory diseases. So although wearing a mask when you have a runny nose may be uncomfortable, doing so will help keep you from spreading whatever you have to people you love and will help protect you from catching another bug. Wearing a mask may be even more important if you have allergies that make you sneeze — propulsive sneezes are definitely a way the coronavirus spreads.
When patients ask Ortiz if they can be co-infected with the coronavirus and another virus like the influenza virus, he says "absolutely" and reminds them that though it may feel harder to breathe when you have an upper respiratory illness and wear a mask, covering your nose and mouth this way "won't cause problems with air exchange," even for many people with asthma or COPD. Mask wearers, even those with bad head colds or the flu, can still get plenty of oxygen.
Pay attention to your symptoms and know the red flags
It's helpful to keep track of any respiratory symptoms you develop as they begin or change, to help distinguish the signs of allergies from an infection. But don't go it alone — check with your doctor's office if you're uncertain, to let the office also help you triage symptoms and decide on a plan. And if you have chronic medical problems, especially lung disease, it's important to reach out for care at the first sign of illness.
How do you know if what you're experiencing is an emergency? Some common red flag symptoms that signal you should call 911 include sudden chest pain or pressure; new confusion, a change in consciousness or inability to stay awake; or any signs of a lack of oxygen (such as blue or purple lips or gasping for air).
Bottom line this fall: Don't panic. Do ask for help
Never hesitate to seek help from your primary care provider when it comes to your health worries, no matter how small, because no one is immune to the fear of getting really sick. The medical community has adapted to COVID-19 by building more ways for patients to be informed and get guidance — and this should be welcome news, since good communication may save lives and ease us all through the challenging months ahead.
Kristen Kendrick is a board-certified family physician in Washington, D.C., and a health and media fellow at NPR and Georgetown University School of Medicine.


npr--2020-10-04--'Saturday Night Live' Returns With An Audience

When the real world is as crazy as five Saturday Night Live skits , the bar raises to an absurd height for the quality of satire you need to make sense of it all .
Which explains , in part , why SNL 's 46th season opener last night felt so flat and uninspired .
After the kind of week President Trump had in real life – contracting the coronavirus and getting airlifted to a hospital days after making fun of opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask – there was n't much Alec Baldwin could do to top that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking on a lot .
Jim Carrey made his debut as Biden in a sketch based on the first presidential debate Tuesday – nailing the former vice president 's Cheshire Cat grin and folksy speaking style , but somehow not wringing much humor from it .
The show aired live from its studio in Rockefeller Center for the first time since coronavirus lockdowns began .
And they had an audience of real people – the first for a live network TV show in the Pandemic Age – folks who had been tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the best seats on the floor in front of the stage .
Carrey drew laughs early by whipping out a tape measure to ensure he was as far away from Baldwin 's Trump as possible .
And a moment when he used a remote control to mute a constantly talking Trump , asking the audience to `` just imagine if science and Karma could somehow team up to send us all a message about how dangerous this virus can be , '' scored as well .
Maya Rudolph , showing up as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a nice addition .
But the pace of the opening skit felt off , perhaps because it had to be tweaked last-minute to reference Trump 's coronavirus diagnosis and hospitalization .
Similarly , host Chris Rock stumbled through his opening monologue , noting , `` there 's more rules to being on a game show than running for president ... Steve Harvey ca n't put his family on Family Feud . ''
We needed one of comedy 's most incisive standup comics to make us laugh in a way that gave us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just lived through .
Instead , we got lines like , `` rich people making decisions for poor people ... that 's like your handsome friend giving you dating advice . ''
The show 's Weekend Update newscast parody , the place where you might expect to see some political bite , unfolded like the comedic version of a giant shrug .
Despite featuring the first in-person pairing of anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che in months , the segment struggled to satirize one of the craziest news cycles in modern media history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get coronavirus , '' Che cracked about the White House 's lack of attention to social distancing .
`` I wish him a very lengthy recovery . ''
The rest of the show was filled with sketches that were n't particularly political and were so weak they might have been cut from stronger episodes .
Including a sketch about a COVID outbreak at the government office where folks get their names legally changed , involving people named Irma Gerd and Jeffrey Epstein .
Everyone in the audience and crew were wearing masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distanced , providing some odd visuals as the evening wore on .
Saturday Night Live soars highest when its comedy helps us process politics and the world .
After a week which started with revelations about the president 's unreleased tax returns and ended with him in the hospital , there is no time in recent history when viewers needed a new perspective more .
We needed SNL to rise to the occasion for this moment ... and it did n't .
Let 's hope next week the nation 's firehose of news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show will have time to catch its breath and raise its game .

'Saturday Night Live' Returns With An Audience
When the real world is as crazy as five Saturday Night Live skits, the bar raises to an absurd height for the quality of satire you need to make sense of it all.
Which explains, in part, why SNL's 46th season opener last night felt so flat and uninspired. After the kind of week President Trump had in real life – contracting the coronavirus and getting airlifted to a hospital days after making fun of opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask – there wasn't much Alec Baldwin could do to top that.
To be sure, SNL was taking on a lot. Jim Carrey made his debut as Biden in a sketch based on the first presidential debate Tuesday – nailing the former vice president's Cheshire Cat grin and folksy speaking style, but somehow not wringing much humor from it.
The show aired live from its studio in Rockefeller Center for the first time since coronavirus lockdowns began. And they had an audience of real people – the first for a live network TV show in the Pandemic Age – folks who had been tested for the virus, with first responders placed in the best seats on the floor in front of the stage.
Carrey drew laughs early by whipping out a tape measure to ensure he was as far away from Baldwin's Trump as possible. And a moment when he used a remote control to mute a constantly talking Trump, asking the audience to "just imagine if science and Karma could somehow team up to send us all a message about how dangerous this virus can be," scored as well. Maya Rudolph, showing up as Kamala Harris to calm everything down, was a nice addition.
But the pace of the opening skit felt off, perhaps because it had to be tweaked last-minute to reference Trump's coronavirus diagnosis and hospitalization. Similarly, host Chris Rock stumbled through his opening monologue, noting, "there's more rules to being on a game show than running for president... Steve Harvey can't put his family on Family Feud."
We needed one of comedy's most incisive standup comics to make us laugh in a way that gave us some insight on the week we had just lived through. Instead, we got lines like, "rich people making decisions for poor people... that's like your handsome friend giving you dating advice."
The show's Weekend Update newscast parody, the place where you might expect to see some political bite, unfolded like the comedic version of a giant shrug. Despite featuring the first in-person pairing of anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che in months, the segment struggled to satirize one of the craziest news cycles in modern media history.
"I thought Trump was trying to get coronavirus," Che cracked about the White House's lack of attention to social distancing. "I wish him a very lengthy recovery."
The rest of the show was filled with sketches that weren't particularly political and were so weak they might have been cut from stronger episodes. Including a sketch about a COVID outbreak at the government office where folks get their names legally changed, involving people named Irma Gerd and Jeffrey Epstein.
Everyone in the audience and crew were wearing masks, and even the band was socially distanced, providing some odd visuals as the evening wore on.
Saturday Night Live soars highest when its comedy helps us process politics and the world. After a week which started with revelations about the president's unreleased tax returns and ended with him in the hospital, there is no time in recent history when viewers needed a new perspective more.
We needed SNL to rise to the occasion for this moment... and it didn't. Let's hope next week the nation's firehose of news will slow a bit, and the show will have time to catch its breath and raise its game.


npr--2020-10-04--Political Aides Investigate VOA White House Reporter For Anti-Trump Bias

Two political appointees at the federal agency that oversees the Voice of America recently investigated one of its most prominent journalists to make the case he was biased against President Trump , NPR has learned .
They compiled an extensive report deemed `` confidential '' on VOA White House bureau chief Steve Herman , claiming that in his reporting and tweets that Herman had been unfair to Trump and had broken the broadcaster 's standards and social media policies .
And they repeatedly cited a `` conflict of interest , '' based on their conclusions from Herman 's social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his `` likes , '' according to materials reviewed by NPR .
The findings were quietly presented to acting Voice of America Director Elez Biberaj for action two weeks ago .
In so doing , the two men appear to have violated laws and regulations intended to protect the federally funded news outlet from political interference or influence .
That has set off alarms within the VOA newsroom , already unnerved by investigations of coverage of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by VOA 's Urdu language service and the tenor of language used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to introduce a segment on VOA 's French to Africa language service .
NPR spoke to three people who had knowledge of the episode and another five for other elements of this story .
It is not clear what Biberaj has done with the file .
Herman , who declined comment for this story , is perhaps the most public face of VOA .
He has been its bureau chief in India , South Korea and Thailand as well as the network 's senior diplomatic correspondent .
Earlier this year , Herman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence 's staff after revealing the vice president had not worn a mask inside the Mayo Clinic despite his office 's awareness of the hospital 's policy requiring it ahead of time .
And Herman last week filed a first-person dispatch about being barred from Joe Biden 's campaign plane over concerns of COVID-19 .
Herman had traveled on Air Force One a day earlier — just before news broke that White House communications director Hope Hicks and the president had tested positive for the virus .
The investigation of Herman is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing series of episodes pointing to the politicization of the international broadcaster since Trump 's pick , Michael Pack , became CEO of its parent agency .
Pack took over the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June .
An agency spokesperson said USAGM would not comment on Herman 's situation because , `` it involves the leak of privileged information . ''
She added , `` This is an internal VOA management issue being handled by the VOA leadership . ''
The two aides involved in the investigation , Frank Wuco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return requests for comment .
Both men have longstanding conservative and Republican ties .
A half hour after NPR sent its request for comment to Pack and his press aides on Sunday afternoon , the CEO issued a new memo to all staff and broadcasters titled `` Guidance on Conflicts of Interest '' that appears aimed at least in part at Herman .
It was dated Friday , Oct. 2 , and cited social media posts as one central source of concern `` that can only be remedied by recusal . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ] journalist who on Facebook 'likes ' a comment or political cartoon that aggressively attacks or disparages the President must recuse themselves from covering the President . ''
An agency spokesperson described the policy as a continuation of directives under past leaders , which include John Lansing , now NPR 's CEO .
`` The U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Voice of America ( VOA ) have long had policies on the books governing journalist 's conflicts of interest and use of social media , '' the spokesperson wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by CEO Pack 's predecessors , and the CEO has made clear they will be enforced . ''
Last week , six senior officials at USAGM filed a whistleblower complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Office of Special Counsel , as first reported by Politico .
The complaint depicts a culture rife with lawlessness , casual cruelty , and violations of their newsrooms ' statutory `` firewall , '' which prohibits political figures from tampering with the journalism at VOA , and other government-sponsored broadcasters overseas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Asia .
The officials say they were suspended by Pack , who cited security concerns , after they raised objections to his leadership .
On Sunday evening , the Government Accountability Project filed another whistleblower complaint over the new `` conflicts of interest '' policy with Pack , the two congressional committees that oversee USAGM , and the inspector general for the State Department .
It specifically cited the example of the White House reporter and said it was released without consultation and contradicts policies issued in June .
Soon after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , quickly set about reshaping the agency in his own image .
He has said he wants to `` drain the swamp , '' echoing Trump 's rhetoric , shutting down approval of work visas for the broadcaster 's foreign staffers .
And he argued that VOA 's journalists are unfair to conservatives , especially the president .
Though he has said many journalists there do praiseworthy work , Pack contends much of the coverage is tilted and violates the VOA charter mandating fairness .
`` People need to suffer consequences , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a recent podcast .
`` And I think I 'm getting the Voice of America to do that now . ''
Herman was among the signatories of a letter of protest sent by a group of Voice of America journalists to Biberaj in late August .
They argued that Pack was physically endangering their foreign colleagues by denying the renewal of their J-1 visas .
To date , Biberaj has neither taken action nor rejected the involvement of USAGM political appointees in investigating his journalists , according to three people with knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part on two stories from early September .
One was headlined Trump Defies North Carolina COVID Guidelines With Large Outdoor Rally .
The other , titled ' I Did n't Lie , ' Trump Asserts About Seriousness of Coronavirus , followed the president 's reactions to audiotapes released by author Bob Woodward 's of their conversations from early this year .
Both stories closely resembled accounts from other news outlets on the events .
Wuco , a former right-wing talk show host and conspiracy theorist who has held various positions within the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and USAGM 's vice president for research strategy and operations .
Dewey , a senior adviser on legal matters , is a former investigative attorney for congressional Republicans who is currently under an active restraining order for making violent threats against his father .
As NPR also revealed , at Pack 's behest , Dewey undertook an investigation of a video report for the Urdu language service aimed at Pakistan .
That report focused on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's outreach to Muslim voters .
In the case of Herman , Wuco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared in his stories or social media posts that reflect negatively on Trump .
And the two men argued that the inclusion of any of them that were not rebutted in the same passage or post suggest evidence of his bias against the president .
The VOA 's charter mandates it to be fair to all sides in any story being covered .
VOA journalists , speaking on condition of not being named , say they have been pressured since Pack 's arrival to ensure that every story and every tweet have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a near impossibility in the 280 characters afforded by Twitter .
And scrutiny only seems to swing their way , these staffers say , when the subject is Trump or matters touching upon him .
VOA has long undertaken reviews of fairness and has often released those evaluations publicly , according to current and former staffers .
When questions about journalistic standards arise , coverage is scrutinized by VOA 's editors or outside journalists and subject experts on behalf of the broadcaster .
The parent agency , USAGM , is not supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee , the suspended general counsel , David Kligerman , wrote that credible newsrooms must carry out investigations of journalistic standards themselves .
`` It would be profoundly problematic for the political leadership of USAGM to carry out [ such an ] investigation , '' Kligerman wrote .
`` Their carrying out of the investigation would undermine the very credibility of the organization , and its editorial independence , and raise questions about political influence . ''
Pack and his aides have in the past taken exception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Urdu , Spanish language and French to Africa services that could violate the editorial `` firewall . ''
The barrier is intended to insulate the newsroom 's decision from political interference , though the agency sets broader strategy and priorities for the broadcasters .
Each episode involved coverage of presidential politics .
Those protections are enshrined in federal regulations , which are considered legally binding , as well as in federal law .
On the agency 's own website , on a page titled `` Rumors , Myths , Untruths , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference by U.S government officials , including the USAGM 's Chief Executive Officer . ''
And the official USAGM posting notes that the firewall is enshrined in the agency 's enabling legislation and the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017 .
`` The firewall is critical to ensure that USAGM journalists and editors can make the final decisions on what stories to cover , '' the posting states , `` and how they are covered . ''
Disclosure : This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kopp .
Because of NPR CEO John Lansing 's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published .

VOA White House Reporter Investigated For Anti-Trump Bias By Political Appointees
Enlarge this image toggle caption Voice of America Voice of America
Two political appointees at the federal agency that oversees the Voice of America recently investigated one of its most prominent journalists to make the case he was biased against President Trump.
NPR has learned the appointees compiled an extensive report deemed "confidential" on VOA White House bureau chief Steve Herman, claiming that in his reporting and tweets that Herman had been unfair to Trump and had broken the broadcaster's standards and social media policies. They repeatedly cited a "conflict of interest," based on their conclusions from Herman's social media postings, including his own tweets and his "likes," according to materials reviewed by NPR. The findings were quietly presented to acting Voice of America Director Elez Biberaj for action two weeks ago.
In so doing, the two men appear to have violated laws and regulations intended to protect the federally funded news outlet from political interference or influence. That has set off alarms within the VOA newsroom, already unnerved by investigations of coverage of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by VOA's Urdu language service and the tenor of language used to describe his wife, Jill Biden, to introduce a segment on VOA's French to Africa language service.
NPR spoke to three people who had knowledge of the episode and another five for other elements of this story. It is not clear what Biberaj has done with the file. Herman, who declined comment for this story, is perhaps the most public face of VOA. He has been its bureau chief in India, South Korea and Thailand as well as the network's senior diplomatic correspondent.
Earlier this year, Herman drew the ire of Vice President Mike Pence's staff after revealing the vice president had not worn a mask inside the Mayo Clinic despite his office's awareness of the hospital's policy requiring it ahead of time. And Herman last week filed a first-person dispatch about being barred from Joe Biden's campaign plane over concerns of COVID-19. Herman had traveled on Air Force One a day earlier — just before news broke that White House communications director Hope Hicks and the president had tested positive for the virus.
People need to suffer consequences. And I think I'm getting the Voice of America to do that now.
The investigation of Herman is the latest and perhaps the most blatant in a growing series of episodes pointing to the politicization of the international broadcaster since Trump's pick, Michael Pack, became CEO of its parent agency. Pack took over the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June. An agency spokesperson said USAGM would not comment on Herman's situation because, "it involves the leak of privileged information."
She added, "This is an internal VOA management issue being handled by the VOA leadership."
The two aides involved in the investigation, Frank Wuco and Samuel Dewey, also did not return requests for comment. Both men have longstanding conservative and Republican ties.
A half hour after NPR sent its request for comment to Pack and his press aides on Sunday afternoon, the CEO issued a new memo to all staff and broadcasters titled "Guidance on Conflicts of Interest" that appears aimed at least in part at Herman. It was dated Friday, Oct. 2, and cited social media posts as one central source of concern "that can only be remedied by recusal." And it offered this example: "[A] journalist who on Facebook 'likes' a comment or political cartoon that aggressively attacks or disparages the President must recuse themselves from covering the President."
An agency spokesperson described the policy as a continuation of directives under past leaders, which include John Lansing, now NPR's CEO.
"The U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Voice of America (VOA) have long had policies on the books governing journalist's conflicts of interest and use of social media," the spokesperson wrote. "These policies were developed and promulgated by CEO Pack's predecessors, and the CEO has made clear they will be enforced."
Last week, six senior officials at USAGM filed a whistleblower complaint with the inspector general of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Office of Special Counsel, as first reported by Politico. The complaint depicts a culture rife with lawlessness, casual cruelty, and violations of their newsrooms' statutory "firewall," which prohibits political figures from tampering with the journalism at VOA, and other government-sponsored broadcasters overseas, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The officials say they were suspended by Pack, who cited security concerns, after they raised objections to his leadership.
On Sunday evening, the Government Accountability Project filed another whistleblower complaint over the new "conflicts of interest" policy with Pack, the two congressional committees that oversee USAGM, and the inspector general for the State Department. It specifically cited the example of the White House reporter and said it was released without consultation and contradicts policies issued in June.
Soon after his arrival, Pack, a conservative documentarian, quickly set about reshaping the agency in his own image. He has said he wants to "drain the swamp," echoing Trump's rhetoric, shutting down approval of work visas for the broadcaster's foreign staffers. And he argued that VOA's journalists are unfair to conservatives, especially the president.
Though he has said many journalists there do praiseworthy work, Pack contends much of the coverage is tilted and violates the VOA charter mandating fairness. "People need to suffer consequences," Pack told the conservative journalist Sara Carter on a recent podcast. "And I think I'm getting the Voice of America to do that now."
Herman was among the signatories of a letter of protest sent by a group of Voice of America journalists to Biberaj in late August. They argued that Pack was physically endangering their foreign colleagues by denying the renewal of their J-1 visas.
To date, Biberaj has neither taken action nor rejected the involvement of USAGM political appointees in investigating his journalists, according to three people with knowledge.
The investigation of Herman focused in part on two stories from early September. One was headlined Trump Defies North Carolina COVID Guidelines With Large Outdoor Rally. The other, titled 'I Didn't Lie,' Trump Asserts About Seriousness of Coronavirus, followed the president's reactions to audiotapes released by author Bob Woodward's of their conversations from early this year. Both stories closely resembled accounts from other news outlets on the events.
Wuco, a former right-wing talk show host and conspiracy theorist who has held various positions within the Trump administration, is senior adviser to Pack and USAGM's vice president for research strategy and operations. Dewey, a senior adviser on legal matters, is a former investigative attorney for congressional Republicans who is currently under an active restraining order for making violent threats against his father. As NPR also revealed, at Pack's behest, Dewey undertook an investigation of a video report for the Urdu language service aimed at Pakistan. That report focused on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's outreach to Muslim voters.
In the case of Herman, Wuco and Dewey marshaled facts and opinions that appeared in his stories or social media posts that reflect negatively on Trump. And the two men argued that the inclusion of any of them that were not rebutted in the same passage or post suggest evidence of his bias against the president.
The VOA's charter mandates it to be fair to all sides in any story being covered. VOA journalists, speaking on condition of not being named, say they have been pressured since Pack's arrival to ensure that every story and every tweet have a full rebuttal to any contention made — a near impossibility in the 280 characters afforded by Twitter. And scrutiny only seems to swing their way, these staffers say, when the subject is Trump or matters touching upon him.
VOA has long undertaken reviews of fairness and has often released those evaluations publicly, according to current and former staffers. When questions about journalistic standards arise, coverage is scrutinized by VOA's editors or outside journalists and subject experts on behalf of the broadcaster. The parent agency, USAGM, is not supposed to conduct those reviews.
In recent written testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the suspended general counsel, David Kligerman, wrote that credible newsrooms must carry out investigations of journalistic standards themselves.
"It would be profoundly problematic for the political leadership of USAGM to carry out [such an] investigation," Kligerman wrote. "Their carrying out of the investigation would undermine the very credibility of the organization, and its editorial independence, and raise questions about political influence."
Pack and his aides have in the past taken exception to NPR's reporting on incidents involving the Urdu, Spanish language and French to Africa services that could violate the editorial "firewall." The barrier is intended to insulate the newsroom's decision from political interference, though the agency sets broader strategy and priorities for the broadcasters. Each episode involved coverage of presidential politics. Those protections are enshrined in federal regulations, which are considered legally binding, as well as in federal law.
On the agency's own website, on a page titled "Rumors, Myths, Untruths," USAGM states that "the firewall prohibits interference by U.S government officials, including the USAGM's Chief Executive Officer." And the official USAGM posting notes that the firewall is enshrined in the agency's enabling legislation and the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017. "The firewall is critical to ensure that USAGM journalists and editors can make the final decisions on what stories to cover," the posting states, "and how they are covered."
Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR media and technology editor Emily Kopp. Because of NPR CEO John Lansing's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published.


npr--2020-10-04--California Wildfires Have Burned 4 Million Acres And The Season Isn't Over Yet

California Wildfires Have Burned 4 Million Acres And The Season Is n't Over Yet California hit a grim milestone on Sunday as the total number of acres burned this wildfire season crossed 4 million , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , or Cal Fire .
The agency said that since it started recording the amount of land burned in a single season the state had never surpassed 2 million acres until this year .
`` The 4 million mark is unfathomable .
It boggles the mind , and it takes your breath away , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire , told The Associated Press .
As of Sunday , Cal Fire says the state has seen more than 8,200 fires this year , with 31 fatalities and more than 8,454 structures destroyed .
Nearly 17,000 firefighters are still working to contain at least 23 major fires in the state .
The August Complex Fire continues to be the biggest in the state and has been active for 48 days .
Fire activity increased on Saturday as the fire got hold of more oxygen when winds cleared some of the smoke `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire was 51 % contained and covering an area of 985,304 acres , as of Sunday morning .
The Glass Fire started last Sunday and continues to burn in California 's Napa and Sonoma counties .
As of Sunday morning the fire covered 63,885 acres and was 17 % contained .
Windy conditions as well as warm and dry weather and low fuel moisture are factors in the fire 's active behavior , Cal Fire said in a statement .
The Zogg Fire also started last Sunday and continues to be active , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained .
Cal Fire said firefighters would continue to increase containment on Sunday as some areas reopened with the lifting of some evacuation orders .
With a world that 's getting hotter , wildfires and other natural disasters are getting more destructive .
And while officials are battling the actual blazes , this year they 've also had to fight back against rumors surrounding the cause of the fires .

California Wildfires Have Burned 4 Million Acres And The Season Isn't Over Yet
Enlarge this image toggle caption Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
California hit a grim milestone on Sunday as the total number of acres burned this wildfire season crossed 4 million, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
The agency said that since it started recording the amount of land burned in a single season the state had never surpassed 2 million acres until this year.
"The 4 million mark is unfathomable. It boggles the mind, and it takes your breath away," Scott McLean, a spokesperson for Cal Fire, told The Associated Press.
As of Sunday, Cal Fire says the state has seen more than 8,200 fires this year, with 31 fatalities and more than 8,454 structures destroyed. Nearly 17,000 firefighters are still working to contain at least 23 major fires in the state.
The August Complex Fire continues to be the biggest in the state and has been active for 48 days. Fire activity increased on Saturday as the fire got hold of more oxygen when winds cleared some of the smoke "lid" over the fire. The fire was 51% contained and covering an area of 985,304 acres, as of Sunday morning.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
The Glass Fire started last Sunday and continues to burn in California's Napa and Sonoma counties. As of Sunday morning the fire covered 63,885 acres and was 17% contained. Windy conditions as well as warm and dry weather and low fuel moisture are factors in the fire's active behavior, Cal Fire said in a statement.
The Zogg Fire also started last Sunday and continues to be active, covering 56,305 acres and is 68% contained. Cal Fire said firefighters would continue to increase containment on Sunday as some areas reopened with the lifting of some evacuation orders.
With a world that's getting hotter, wildfires and other natural disasters are getting more destructive. And while officials are battling the actual blazes, this year they've also had to fight back against rumors surrounding the cause of the fires.


npr--2020-10-04--NYC To Close Businesses In Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens As Virus Takes Hold Again

NYC To Close Businesses In Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens As Virus Takes Hold Again Facing an increase in coronavirus infections in certain neighborhoods , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that he would close all nonessential businesses , public and private schools , and daycares in nine ZIP codes throughout Brooklyn and Queens , to ensure that the virus does n't spread further .
Assuming Gov .
Andrew Cuomo approves the plan , the closures would begin on Wednesday .
Cuomo did not comment on whether he would approve the plan on Sunday , but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not done an effective job of enforcement '' in certain `` hotspot ZIP codes . ''
`` It pains me to be putting forward this approach that we 'll need , but in some parts of our city — in Brooklyn and Queens — we are having extraordinary problems , '' de Blasio said .
`` Something we have n't seen since the spring . ''
After initially leading the nation in positive coronavirus tests , New York City was able to get the virus under control earlier this year through strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the widespread closures of businesses .
But in recent weeks , city officials and residents had been watching the numbers tick back up , particularly in Orthodox Jewish areas .
The areas de Blasio mentioned in Brooklyn and Queens have been above a 3 % positivity level on testing for seven or more consecutive days .
That necessitates additional action , de Blasio said .
`` It is necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus in these communities and beyond . ''
Indoor and outdoor dining will be suspended in these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be permitted .
The ZIP codes encompass areas in Central Queens , Southern Brooklyn and Far Rockaway .
They correspond with areas with a high Hasidic Jewish population .
`` We are concerned about how Covid-19 may be affecting Orthodox communities — in these neighborhoods and beyond , '' Patrick Gallahue , a spokesman for the city 's Health Department , said in late September , The New York Times reported .
Of the nine areas highlighted , seven had experienced a positive test rate above 3 % for the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in Far Rockaway and Southern Brooklyn , are seeing a 14-day positivity rate as high as 7 or 8 % .
There has been very little coronavirus activity within the schools , but de Blasio said they need to be closed `` out of an abundance of caution . ''
If after two weeks the areas drop back below a rolling seven-day 3 % positivity rate , the restrictions could be lifted , he said .
An additional 11 ZIP codes are approaching 3 % positivity rates as well , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carefully .
They include several areas of Williamsburg , and additional areas in Southern Brooklyn and Central Queens .
The city will engage in `` intensive outreach efforts '' to test and enforce guidelines , de Blasio said .
Places of high-risk activity such as indoor dining , gyms and pools will be closed there beginning Wednesday , he said .
`` This will not be easy at all , '' the mayor said .
`` But it 's something that we believe is necessary to keep this city from going backwards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

NYC To Close Businesses In Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens As Virus Takes Hold Again
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Minchillo/AP John Minchillo/AP
Facing an increase in coronavirus infections in certain neighborhoods, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that he would close all nonessential businesses, public and private schools, and daycares in nine ZIP codes throughout Brooklyn and Queens, to ensure that the virus doesn't spread further.
Assuming Gov. Andrew Cuomo approves the plan, the closures would begin on Wednesday. Cuomo did not comment on whether he would approve the plan on Sunday, but said in a tweet, "Local governments have not done an effective job of enforcement" in certain "hotspot ZIP codes."
"It pains me to be putting forward this approach that we'll need, but in some parts of our city — in Brooklyn and Queens — we are having extraordinary problems," de Blasio said. "Something we haven't seen since the spring."
After initially leading the nation in positive coronavirus tests, New York City was able to get the virus under control earlier this year through strong messaging on the importance of social distancing and the widespread closures of businesses. But in recent weeks, city officials and residents had been watching the numbers tick back up, particularly in Orthodox Jewish areas.
The areas de Blasio mentioned in Brooklyn and Queens have been above a 3% positivity level on testing for seven or more consecutive days. That necessitates additional action, de Blasio said. "It is necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus in these communities and beyond."
Indoor and outdoor dining will be suspended in these areas. Pick-up and delivery orders will still be permitted.
The ZIP codes encompass areas in Central Queens, Southern Brooklyn and Far Rockaway. They correspond with areas with a high Hasidic Jewish population. "We are concerned about how Covid-19 may be affecting Orthodox communities — in these neighborhoods and beyond," Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for the city's Health Department, said in late September, The New York Times reported.
Of the nine areas highlighted, seven had experienced a positive test rate above 3% for the past two weeks. And some of those areas, especially in Far Rockaway and Southern Brooklyn, are seeing a 14-day positivity rate as high as 7 or 8%.
There has been very little coronavirus activity within the schools, but de Blasio said they need to be closed "out of an abundance of caution." If after two weeks the areas drop back below a rolling seven-day 3% positivity rate, the restrictions could be lifted, he said.
An additional 11 ZIP codes are approaching 3% positivity rates as well, and the city plans to watch them very carefully. They include several areas of Williamsburg, and additional areas in Southern Brooklyn and Central Queens. The city will engage in "intensive outreach efforts" to test and enforce guidelines, de Blasio said.
Places of high-risk activity such as indoor dining, gyms and pools will be closed there beginning Wednesday, he said.
"This will not be easy at all," the mayor said. "But it's something that we believe is necessary to keep this city from going backwards, towards where we were months ago."


npr--2020-10-04--In Brief Drive-By, Trump Waves To Supporters Outside Of Walter Reed

In Brief Drive-By , Trump Waves To Supporters Outside Of Walter Reed President Trump briefly left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday evening to wave to supporters gathered outside .
A masked Trump was seen waving to supporters from a black SUV .
Other images showed Secret Service personnel in the vehicle with personal protective equipment on .
Right before the drive-by , the president tweeted a video in which he thanked the doctors and staff at Walter Reed for treating him for COVID-19 and said he was about to `` make a little surprise visit '' outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street , and they 've been out there for a long time and they 've got Trump flags and they love our country , '' Trump said .
In the video , Trump said his experience with the coronavirus has been `` a very interesting journey . ''
`` I learned a lot about COVID .
I learned it by really going to school .
This is the real school .
This is n't the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school , '' he said .
Trump has been briefed extensively about the pandemic by members of his White House coronavirus task force and other advisers .
`` I get it , and I understand it , and it 's a very interesting thing I 'm going to be letting you know about it , '' Trump said , thanking the nurses and doctors for their work .
Dr. James Phillips , chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University , lambasted the move as being made for `` political theater . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulletproof , but hermetically sealed against chemical attack .
The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures .
The irresponsibility is astounding .
My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play , '' he wrote on Twitter .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the excursion had been cleared by the medical team beforehand .
`` Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the president and all those supporting it , including PPE , '' he said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes any movement in public without a press pool .
In this case , the pool was not informed of the president leaving Walter Reed .
`` President Trump took a short , last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters outside and has now returned to the Presidential Suite inside Walter Reed , '' Deere said in a separate statement after the trip .
`` It is outrageous for the president to have left the hospital — even briefly — amid a health crisis without a protective pool present to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is and how he is doing , '' the White House Correspondents ' Association said in a statement .
`` Now more than ever , the American public deserves independent coverage of the president so they can be reliably informed about his health . ''
His brief visit outside came hours after Trump 's medical team told reporters that the president experienced two drops in his oxygen levels over the course of his COVID-19 diagnosis , is being treated with a steroid , and could be discharged from Walter Reed as early as @ @

Despite Risks To Others, Trump Leaves Hospital Suite To Greet Supporters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Updated at 7:53 a.m. ET Monday
Despite indications from doctors that he is still facing serious challenges from the coronavirus and could spread the disease to others, President Trump briefly left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday evening to wave to supporters gathered outside.
A masked Trump was seen waving to small crowds from a black SUV. Other images showed Secret Service personnel in the vehicle with personal protective equipment on to protect themselves from the high exposure risk of riding in an enclosed vehicle with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
Right before the drive-by, the president tweeted a video in which he thanked the doctors and staff at Walter Reed for treating him for COVID-19 and said he was about to "make a little surprise visit" outside to greet supporters.
"We're going to pay a little surprise to some of the great patriots that we have out on the street, and they've been out there for a long time and they've got Trump flags and they love our country," Trump said.
"I learned a lot about COVID. I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. This isn't the, 'let's read the book' school," he said.
Trump has been briefed extensively about the pandemic by members of his White House coronavirus task force and other advisers.
"I get it, and I understand it, and it's a very interesting thing I'm going to be letting you know about it," Trump said.
Some experts swiftly characterized Trump's drive-by greeting as reckless.
Dr. James Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed who is also chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University, lambasted the move as being made for "political theater."
"That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play," he wrote on Twitter.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the excursion had been cleared by the medical team beforehand.
"Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the president and all those supporting it, including PPE," he said in a statement.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
The president very rarely makes any movement in public without a press pool. In this case, the pool was not informed of the president leaving Walter Reed.
"President Trump took a short, last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters outside and has now returned to the Presidential Suite inside Walter Reed," Deere said in a separate statement after the trip.
"It is outrageous for the president to have left the hospital — even briefly — amid a health crisis without a protective pool present to ensure that the American people know where their president is and how he is doing," the White House Correspondents' Association said in a statement. "Now more than ever, the American public deserves independent coverage of the president so they can be reliably informed about his health."
His brief visit outside came hours after Trump's medical team told reporters that the president experienced two drops in his oxygen levels over the course of his COVID-19 diagnosis, is being treated with a steroid, and could be discharged from Walter Reed as early as Monday. Medical experts raised skepticism about such a quick release given the other details shared by the president's medical team.


npr--2020-10-04--Washington Gov. Jay Inslee On How To Stay Optimistic On Fighting Climate Change

Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee On How To Stay Optimistic On Fighting Climate Change The fires in Washington are largely under control now , but the state has been experiencing dangerous , even deadly , wildfires for years , something Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee says are only made worse by climate change .
In a recent op-ed in Rolling Stone , Inslee pointed out that in September , Washington state saw more than 600,000 acres burned in only a few days in the second-worst fire on record .
`` Wildfires are n't new to the west , but their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighters have seen , '' Inslee wrote .
`` People up and down the West Coast — young and old , in rural areas and in cities — were choking on smoke for days on end , trapped in their homes .
Fires like these are becoming the norm , not the exception .
That 's because as the climate changes , our fires change . ''
Inslee , who in 2020 campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination on a platform to address climate change , is still working to bring climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in the face of the upcoming presidential election .
He told NPR 's Michel Martin that despite the less-than-substantive policy discussions at the debate last week , he was glad that climate change was mentioned at all .
In 2016 , debate moderators did not ask about climate change .
`` While we 're burning down and the glaciers are disappearing and the Arctic is melting and hurricanes ... moderators in the debate groups have ignored this issue totally , '' Inslee says .
`` Yes , it 's a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it was very , very disillusioning that one of the candidates prevented a rational discussion of this because it deserves it big time . ''
Inslee talked to NPR 's All Things Considered about climate change , the fires raging in the West and how farmers are needed to help .
On the fires in the West The fires are under control now , but we have to understand we have been ravaged by what I would call not wildfires , but climate fires .
These are climate fires , fundamentally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered now in multiple years , as California has as well , and now Oregon , that these are an entirely new beast .
When you talk to the firefighters , what they will tell you is that they 're seeing fire behavior that they 've never seen before .
Not only are they more frequent , but the intensity of these fires — people have just never seen this in our state before .
And these are not just forest fires .
These are grass and brush and sagebrush fires .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aridity have dried out this fuel , so that they are like putting gasoline all over the state of Washington .
On how climate change affects farmers and how farmers can help Some of the first victims [ of climate change are ] the farmers who had their fields devastated in the floods last year .
This year , they got hit by the 100 mile-an-hour-plus [ winds ] .
It knocked down all their corn .
When I was there — I mentioned Hamburg , Iowa — all you could see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroyed by the floods with all of their grain of the last year destroyed laying on the ground .
So the farming community is one of the hardest hit .
We 're having changes .
Some of our grapes here .
The smoke from the forest fires have created a risk for a degradation of our grapes .
We 're having changes in the hydrological cycle where you do n't have irrigation water .
So farmers are one of the first groups who were hardest hit , but they are also the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reducing carbon , getting it out of our atmosphere because the soil can sequester carbon .
We need to get carbon out of the atmosphere and into our topsoil and farmers play a very important role in that and can have a revenue stream so that we can pay farmers for a service of sequestering carbon to get it out of the atmosphere .
This is biologically clear that we can do this and we need to create systems that will create yet another revenue stream for farmers to provide that service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that plus they have the ability to grow abundant biofuels , which they 're doing today .
I just went to one of our biofuels plants that uses soybeans from Iowa , and we make it into biofuels here and ship it all over right now .
The birth of that industry has been driven by the clean fuel standard , largely in California .
We want to do the same in my state .
So , yes , this is a tremendous opportunity for action and it is a risk if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I lived for 20 years in a farming community , so I know what this means .
There is progress going on in the United States .
We just need to make it national .
That 's No .
1 .
No .
2 , the technology , the rapidity of the technological progress is incredible .
I actually wrote a book about this a decade ago , and I had a vision that we were going to have technological changes to make electric cars productive , which they now are becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range .
That solar would become cheaper — and wind — than coal that has happened .
So the technology , the curve of technology is as rapid in clean energy as it was in computing .
And if you see how far we 've come since the first laptop , we 're doing the same thing in clean energy .
And the third reason that we need to be optimistic is that it 's just the only effective tool .
I think maybe it was Churchill who said , `` when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
And that 's what we need to do in this matter .
Robert Baldwin III and Tinbete Ermyas produced and edited the audio version of this story .

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee On How To Stay Optimistic On Fighting Climate Change
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elaine Thompson - Pool/Getty Images Elaine Thompson - Pool/Getty Images
The fires in Washington are largely under control now, but the state has been experiencing dangerous, even deadly, wildfires for years, something Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee says are only made worse by climate change.
In a recent op-ed in Rolling Stone, Inslee pointed out that in September, Washington state saw more than 600,000 acres burned in only a few days in the second-worst fire on record. "Wildfires aren't new to the west, but their scope and danger today is unlike anything firefighters have seen," Inslee wrote. "People up and down the West Coast — young and old, in rural areas and in cities — were choking on smoke for days on end, trapped in their homes. Fires like these are becoming the norm, not the exception. That's because as the climate changes, our fires change."
Inslee, who in 2020 campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination on a platform to address climate change, is still working to bring climate change to the forefront of the political conversation, particularly in the face of the upcoming presidential election. He told NPR's Michel Martin that despite the less-than-substantive policy discussions at the debate last week, he was glad that climate change was mentioned at all. In 2016, debate moderators did not ask about climate change.
"While we're burning down and the glaciers are disappearing and the Arctic is melting and hurricanes ... moderators in the debate groups have ignored this issue totally," Inslee says. "Yes, it's a good thing that it was brought up, but it was very, very disillusioning that one of the candidates prevented a rational discussion of this because it deserves it big time."
Inslee talked to NPR's All Things Considered about climate change, the fires raging in the West and how farmers are needed to help.
Interview Highlights
On the fires in the West
The fires are under control now, but we have to understand we have been ravaged by what I would call not wildfires, but climate fires. These are climate fires, fundamentally, because the recent cataclysmic events we've suffered now in multiple years, as California has as well, and now Oregon, that these are an entirely new beast.
When you talk to the firefighters, what they will tell you is that they're seeing fire behavior that they've never seen before. Not only are they more frequent, but the intensity of these fires — people have just never seen this in our state before. And these are not just forest fires. These are grass and brush and sagebrush fires. And the situation now is the heat and the aridity have dried out this fuel, so that they are like putting gasoline all over the state of Washington.
On how climate change affects farmers and how farmers can help
Some of the first victims [of climate change are] the farmers who had their fields devastated in the floods last year. This year, they got hit by the 100 mile-an-hour-plus [winds]. It knocked down all their corn. When I was there — I mentioned Hamburg, Iowa — all you could see is all the silos that had been destroyed by the floods with all of their grain of the last year destroyed laying on the ground. So the farming community is one of the hardest hit.
We're having changes. Some of our grapes here. The smoke from the forest fires have created a risk for a degradation of our grapes. We're having changes in the hydrological cycle where you don't have irrigation water.
So farmers are one of the first groups who were hardest hit, but they are also the group who can play such a pivotal role in reducing carbon, getting it out of our atmosphere because the soil can sequester carbon. We need to get carbon out of the atmosphere and into our topsoil and farmers play a very important role in that and can have a revenue stream so that we can pay farmers for a service of sequestering carbon to get it out of the atmosphere.
This is biologically clear that we can do this and we need to create systems that will create yet another revenue stream for farmers to provide that service to humanity and our economy.
And that plus they have the ability to grow abundant biofuels, which they're doing today. I just went to one of our biofuels plants that uses soybeans from Iowa, and we make it into biofuels here and ship it all over right now. The birth of that industry has been driven by the clean fuel standard, largely in California. We want to do the same in my state. So, yes, this is a tremendous opportunity for action and it is a risk if we don't protect our farming community. And I lived for 20 years in a farming community, so I know what this means.
On maintaining optimistic
There is progress going on in the United States. We just need to make it national. That's No. 1.
No. 2, the technology, the rapidity of the technological progress is incredible. I actually wrote a book about this a decade ago, and I had a vision that we were going to have technological changes to make electric cars productive, which they now are becoming cost effective and [have] huge range. That solar would become cheaper — and wind — than coal that has happened.
So the technology, the curve of technology is as rapid in clean energy as it was in computing. And if you see how far we've come since the first laptop, we're doing the same thing in clean energy.
And the third reason that we need to be optimistic is that it's just the only effective tool. I think maybe it was Churchill who said, "when you're going through hell, keep going." And that's what we need to do in this matter.
Robert Baldwin III and Tinbete Ermyas produced and edited the audio version of this story.


npr--2020-10-04--NFL Faces Coronavirus Reality With Game Postponements Amid Outbreaks

Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will have to wait a bit longer for the Week 4 match-up between the two teams , after players on both sides of the game tested positive for the coronavirus .
The game , originally scheduled for Sunday , is now scheduled for Monday at 7:05 p.m .
ET .
The NFL announced the game 's new time on Sunday in a statement on Twitter .
`` Further testing of players and personnel on both teams returned no new positives from Saturday and Sunday testing , '' the league said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the NFL and NFLPA and infectious disease experts to conduct contact tracing and post-COVID exposure protocols are now in effect for both teams . ''
Both New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton and Kansas City Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta'amu tested positive over the past week , according to NFL.com .
Meanwhile , fans of the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait until Oct. 25 to see the two teams face off .
The Titans and Steelers had been scheduled to play on Sunday , but the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Titans organization tested positive .
Eighteen members of the Titans have now tested positive , according to the Associated Press .
Prior to the Titans outbreak , the league had gotten through the first three weeks of the season without postponing any games .
Now , the league is being forced to confront the spread of the virus and its decision not to form a `` bubble '' for the season .
Unlike , the NHL and NBA , the NFL is having teams travel to each other 's stadiums for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fans in the stands , but well below stadium capacity .
Players are not isolated from others , and they are allowed to see their families and people not within the NFL .
In contrast , the NHL just finished its season this past Monday with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup championship .
After hitting pause in March , the league created its `` bubble '' in August with two hub cities in Canada , had players isolate and finished the remainder of its season with zero positive cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bubble '' for the remainder of its season , with teams reporting to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida .
Only two teams remain and so far there have been zero positive cases in the bubble .
In both cases of the NHL and the NBA , no fans were present for the games .
Baseball has also struggled with coronavirus outbreaks and may be more of a preview of what the NFL will face this season .
The league has already had to take action by fining several head coaches $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks on the sidelines during games .

NFL Faces Coronavirus Reality With Game Postponements Amid Outbreaks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will have to wait a bit longer for the Week 4 match-up between the two teams, after players on both sides of the game tested positive for the coronavirus. The game, originally scheduled for Sunday, is now scheduled for Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET.
The NFL announced the game's new time on Sunday in a statement on Twitter.
"Further testing of players and personnel on both teams returned no new positives from Saturday and Sunday testing," the league said. "The clubs also worked closely with the NFL and NFLPA and infectious disease experts to conduct contact tracing and post-COVID exposure protocols are now in effect for both teams."
Both New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton and Kansas City Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta'amu tested positive over the past week, according to NFL.com.
Meanwhile, fans of the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait until Oct. 25 to see the two teams face off. The Titans and Steelers had been scheduled to play on Sunday, but the game was postponed on Wednesday after multiple members of the Titans organization tested positive. Eighteen members of the Titans have now tested positive, according to the Associated Press.
Prior to the Titans outbreak, the league had gotten through the first three weeks of the season without postponing any games. Now, the league is being forced to confront the spread of the virus and its decision not to form a "bubble" for the season.
Unlike, the NHL and NBA, the NFL is having teams travel to each other's stadiums for games. Some games are being played with fans in the stands, but well below stadium capacity. Players are not isolated from others, and they are allowed to see their families and people not within the NFL.
In contrast, the NHL just finished its season this past Monday with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup championship. After hitting pause in March, the league created its "bubble" in August with two hub cities in Canada, had players isolate and finished the remainder of its season with zero positive cases.
The NBA also created a "bubble" for the remainder of its season, with teams reporting to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Only two teams remain and so far there have been zero positive cases in the bubble.
In both cases of the NHL and the NBA, no fans were present for the games.
Baseball has also struggled with coronavirus outbreaks and may be more of a preview of what the NFL will face this season. The league has already had to take action by fining several head coaches $100,000 after they were not wearing face masks on the sidelines during games.


npr--2020-10-04--How Trump's Coronavirus Infection Changes The Campaign's Final Weeks

How Trump 's Coronavirus Infection Changes The Campaign 's Final Weeks President Trump 's hospitalization for COVID-19 casts unprecedented uncertainty on the presidential campaign 's final stretch .
There are 30 days until Election Day and millions of votes have already been cast .
Trump is being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , forced off the campaign trail .
Meanwhile , Democratic nominee Joe Biden , who debated Trump on Tuesday night , about 48 hours before the president disclosed his positive coronavirus test , is navigating how to campaign effectively while his opponent is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team launched Operation MAGA , aimed at maintaining the energy of its campaign without the president at the helm .
The campaign has said it will host virtual events until the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City on Wednesday .
Following that debate , Vice President Pence — who tested negative for the coronavirus again on Sunday — will do an in-person campaign tour through key swing states , starting in Peoria , Ariz. , on Thursday .
`` He 'll be hitting the trail in Arizona , will probably be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in D.C. , and he 's going to have a very full , aggressive schedule as well as the first family , Don , Eric , Ivanka , '' Trump adviser Jason Miller said on NBC Sunday .
`` And we have a number of our supporters , our coalitions : Black Voices for Trump , Latinos for Trump , Women for Trump .
The whole Operation MAGA will be deploying everywhere . ''
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien has also tested positive for the coronavirus .
The 77-year-old Biden returned to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had a negative coronavirus test — and though he shared a debate stage with Trump for more than 90 minutes .
In Michigan , Biden offered Trump well wishes — and a broad message about the virus .
`` This is not a matter of politics , '' Biden told a small audience outside a union hall .
`` It 's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously ; it 's not going away automatically .
We have to do our part to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept his mask on while speaking outdoors .
His campaign says it will disclose the result of every coronavirus test Biden takes .
`` We have adhered to strict and extensive safety practices recommended by public health experts and doctors in all of our campaigning — including social distancing , mask wearing , and additional safeguards , '' campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement .
`` Vice President Biden is being tested regularly , and we will be releasing the results of each test . ''
On Sunday evening , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
Biden and his wife , Jill Biden , travel to Florida Monday for events , including an NBC News televised town hall on Monday night from Miami .

How Trump's Coronavirus Infection Changes The Campaign's Final Weeks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Updated at 7:59 p.m. ET
President Trump's hospitalization for COVID-19 casts unprecedented uncertainty on the presidential campaign's final stretch.
There are 30 days until Election Day and millions of votes have already been cast.
Trump is being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, forced off the campaign trail. Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who debated Trump on Tuesday night, about 48 hours before the president disclosed his positive coronavirus test, is navigating how to campaign effectively while his opponent is in the hospital.
On Saturday, the Trump team launched Operation MAGA, aimed at maintaining the energy of its campaign without the president at the helm. The campaign has said it will host virtual events until the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
Following that debate, Vice President Pence — who tested negative for the coronavirus again on Sunday — will do an in-person campaign tour through key swing states, starting in Peoria, Ariz., on Thursday.
"He'll be hitting the trail in Arizona, will probably be in Nevada, he'll be back here in D.C., and he's going to have a very full, aggressive schedule as well as the first family, Don, Eric, Ivanka," Trump adviser Jason Miller said on NBC Sunday. "And we have a number of our supporters, our coalitions: Black Voices for Trump, Latinos for Trump, Women for Trump. The whole Operation MAGA will be deploying everywhere."
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien has also tested positive for the coronavirus.
The 77-year-old Biden returned to the campaign trail Friday, after saying that he had a negative coronavirus test — and though he shared a debate stage with Trump for more than 90 minutes.
In Michigan, Biden offered Trump well wishes — and a broad message about the virus.
"This is not a matter of politics," Biden told a small audience outside a union hall. "It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously; it's not going away automatically. We have to do our part to be responsible."
In Michigan, Biden kept his mask on while speaking outdoors. His campaign says it will disclose the result of every coronavirus test Biden takes.
"We have adhered to strict and extensive safety practices recommended by public health experts and doctors in all of our campaigning — including social distancing, mask wearing, and additional safeguards," campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement. "Vice President Biden is being tested regularly, and we will be releasing the results of each test."
On Sunday evening, the campaign announced that Biden tested negative that day.
Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, travel to Florida Monday for events, including an NBC News televised town hall on Monday night from Miami.


npr--2020-10-04--Destruction Mounts As Azerbaijan And Armenia Increase Hostilities

A decades-long dispute over territory in the southern Caucasus has led to open hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia this past week .
Azerbaijan 's second-largest city , Ganja , came under attack Sunday , with government officials saying Armenia had launched missiles into residential areas .
Armenia has denied the charges ; the leader of the territory at the center of the dispute said his forces were responsible for the attack .
Azerbaijani officials said one civilian was killed in the attack , and 32 more were injured .
`` Opening fire on the territory of Azerbaijan from the territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the zone of hostilities , '' Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said in a statement , the Associated Press reported .
The `` insane Political-military leadership of Armenia '' is a threat to regional peace and security , Hikmet Hajiyev , an aide to Azerbaijan 's president , wrote on Twitter .
`` Azerbaijan retains its right to take adequate measures against legitimate military targets to defend civilians , '' he added .
Armenia denied the charges .
`` No fire of any kind is being opened from the territory of Armenia in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's defense ministry said .
The hostilities have to do with the disputed territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh , known locally as Artsakh , which the two former Soviet republics have competing claims to .
The territory itself is closely allied with Armenia .
The fighting has engaged allies in the region , including Turkey , which has pledged its unwavering support of Azerbaijan , which is ethnically Turkish .
Nagorno-Karabakh 's leader said his forces were responsible for the missiles .
`` As act of self-protection , in response to days long deliberate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ...
I ordered to bombard Ganja military facilities , '' Arayik Harutyunyan said on Twitter .
Harutyunyan said he had later given an order to stand down , `` to avoid loss among civilians . ''
But he promised a `` commensurate response '' against military targets should Azerbaijan continue its aggression .
The latest fighting , which broke out one week ago , is the most sustained and serious violence the region has seen in years , and has involved heavy artillery , tanks and missiles .
The BBC reports more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Armenian side .
Azerbaijan has n't released details on military casualties , but said that 24 civilians have been killed and over 100 wounded .
`` We do n't know exactly what caused this recent flare-up , '' NPR international correspondent Lucian Kim told Morning Edition shortly after fighting began .
`` Both sides are blaming each other , but Azerbaijan has vowed to take back Nagorno-Karabakh .
And this time , it 's getting the support from Turkey . ''
On Thursday , Armenia 's military said it had shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital of Yerevan .
Last week , Turkey denied that its aircraft or drones were being used against Armenia .
But Armenian officials said that Turkish military advisors were directing the operation from the ground .
According to the BBC , Turkish military drones are being used in the conflict .
On Friday , the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that civilians were being killed on both sides of the conflict .
`` People have been in touch with the ICRC who are terrified for themselves and their families and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or what to do to stay safe , '' said ICRC 's Eurasia regional director Martin Schüepp .
`` They are caught in the crossfire and deeply fearful for their safety and future . ''

Destruction Mounts As Azerbaijan And Armenia Increase Hostilities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Karo Sahakyan/Armenian Government/AFP via Getty Karo Sahakyan/Armenian Government/AFP via Getty
A decades-long dispute over territory in the southern Caucasus has led to open hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia this past week. Azerbaijan's second-largest city, Ganja, came under attack Sunday, with government officials saying Armenia had launched missiles into residential areas. Armenia has denied the charges; the leader of the territory at the center of the dispute said his forces were responsible for the attack.
Azerbaijani officials said one civilian was killed in the attack, and 32 more were injured.
"Opening fire on the territory of Azerbaijan from the territory of Armenia is clearly provocative and expands the zone of hostilities," Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said in a statement, the Associated Press reported.
The "insane Political-military leadership of Armenia" is a threat to regional peace and security, Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to Azerbaijan's president, wrote on Twitter. "Azerbaijan retains its right to take adequate measures against legitimate military targets to defend civilians," he added.
Armenia denied the charges. "No fire of any kind is being opened from the territory of Armenia in Azerbaijan's direction," the nation's defense ministry said.
The hostilities have to do with the disputed territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh, known locally as Artsakh, which the two former Soviet republics have competing claims to. The territory itself is closely allied with Armenia. The fighting has engaged allies in the region, including Turkey, which has pledged its unwavering support of Azerbaijan, which is ethnically Turkish.
Nagorno-Karabakh's leader said his forces were responsible for the missiles. "As act of self-protection, in response to days long deliberate shelling" with "prohibited cluster munitions ... I ordered to bombard Ganja military facilities," Arayik Harutyunyan said on Twitter.
Harutyunyan said he had later given an order to stand down, "to avoid loss among civilians." But he promised a "commensurate response" against military targets should Azerbaijan continue its aggression.
The latest fighting, which broke out one week ago, is the most sustained and serious violence the region has seen in years, and has involved heavy artillery, tanks and missiles. The BBC reports more than 100 confirmed deaths between civilians and combatants on the Armenian side. Azerbaijan hasn't released details on military casualties, but said that 24 civilians have been killed and over 100 wounded.
"We don't know exactly what caused this recent flare-up," NPR international correspondent Lucian Kim told Morning Edition shortly after fighting began. "Both sides are blaming each other, but Azerbaijan has vowed to take back Nagorno-Karabakh. And this time, it's getting the support from Turkey."
On Thursday, Armenia's military said it had shot down four Azerbaijani drones near the Armenian capital of Yerevan. Last week, Turkey denied that its aircraft or drones were being used against Armenia. But Armenian officials said that Turkish military advisors were directing the operation from the ground. According to the BBC, Turkish military drones are being used in the conflict.
On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that civilians were being killed on both sides of the conflict.
"People have been in touch with the ICRC who are terrified for themselves and their families and at a loss as to where to go or what to do to stay safe," said ICRC's Eurasia regional director Martin Schüepp. "They are caught in the crossfire and deeply fearful for their safety and future."