npr--2020-10-12--We Asked Americans How They Feel About The U.S. Flag. It Got Interesting.

We Asked Americans How They Feel About The U.S .
Flag .
It Got Interesting .
On a fall afternoon , Mark Hurley , a retired Army and Marine veteran , was doing chores in his yard in Bennington , Vt. Hurley has two American flags flying in front of his home .
`` It means tons to me , '' he said .
`` Regardless of what your opinion is on life , we are Americans we should be proud of that over everything . ''
Hurley , who is white and leans conservative , told NPR he sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol you salute , not a symbol you question .
He worries his kind of patriotism is being eroded these days , in part because so many people are focused on issues of race .
`` Let 's talk slavery first .
That happened two or three hundred years ago , '' Hurley said .
`` We should forget that , be beyond that .
To me , as long as people are calling themselves African Americans or Jewish Americans , they 're allowing the racism .
They should be saying they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the country 's long struggle with systemic racism erupted , with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets .
When NPR asked Americans to share their thoughts about the U.S. flag and what it means to them right now , questions of race and identity came up again and again .
Many white Americans who described themselves as more conservative said they still see the U.S. flag as fairly simple and unifying .
`` I think it 's a symbol of the shared values and ideals of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white woman who works for a seed company in Clovis , Calif. Like Hurley , she voiced impatience with people who see the flag as a symbol burdened by racism : `` The United States is still pretty much the most equal place you could have for people of different backgrounds .
For people to compare the U.S. to an ideal is unfair . ''
But many of the roughly 1,800 people who responded to NPR 's call out , especially people of color and those who lean more liberal , said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us the American flag comes with baggage that ca n't be ignored .
`` With all the protests and the Black Lives Matter stuff happening , we took the flag down for a little bit , '' said Kevin Lopez , who works for Microsoft in San Pedro , Calif .
This summer , Lopez said , events like George Floyd 's death in police custody shook their family .
Kevin has Mexican and Irish heritage , his wife Denise is Black .
`` It was pretty disheartening for a little while , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being treated , '' he said , explaining their decision to pull down the flag .
`` And then Denise was the one who brought it up and said I want to revisit this .
We had a family discussion about it . ''
After some soul-searching , the Lopez 's decided to raise the flag again .
But for them questions of racial justice are n't ancient history .
They 're a defining part of being American right now .
Denise Lopez , an artist and designer , said for her the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of that struggle .
`` It was like a pit in my stomach , '' she said .
`` It was almost like , is it now like what the Confederate flag felt like for my parents ?
And I was like no , I 'm not going to feel that way every time I see an American flag . ''
We heard a lot from people who shared this worry the U.S. flag has been weaponized , deliberately redefined as a more conservative symbol owned by some Americans more than others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter rally in our town and there were a lot of people driving by with American flags on the back of their pickup trucks as a counter-protest , '' said Ben Eagleson , a car mechanic who lives in Olney , Ill. `` It was like those of us supporting Black Lives Matter were somehow un-American or something . ''
Eagleson , who is white , said he took his American flag down for a time , but it 's flying again now on a pole outside him home .
`` I 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me a positive symbol take on a negative meaning and I guess I just decided to reclaim it , '' he said .
Regardless of race or political persuasion , a lot of Americans we heard from say they do see the U.S. flag as a hopeful and beautiful symbol , even in a time of deep national division when it has different meanings for different people .
An Vu told NPR he flies the flag over his front porch in Dearborn , Mich .
Vu is a business analyst , the son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. flag when he was a kid after the terror attacks in 2001 .
`` I hope that flying the flag can return to what we felt like after [ Sept. 11 ] , '' he said .
`` The sense of unity , the way were able to grow together after that was really amazing . ''
A lot of people told NPR that kind of national unity and shared meaning feels elusive now .
For that reason , many have chosen to fly the flag next to other symbols to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some , that means raising the Stars and Stripes along with a `` Make American Great Again '' banner .
For others , the American flag is flying alongside a gay pride banner or Black Lives Matter sign .

We asked Americans how they feel about the U.S. flag. It got interesting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lynne Gilbert/Getty Images Lynne Gilbert/Getty Images
This story originally published on Oct. 12, 2020.
On a fall afternoon, Mark Hurley, a retired Army and Marine veteran, was doing chores in his yard in Bennington, Vt. Hurley has two American flags flying in front of his home.
"It means tons to me," he said. "Regardless of what your opinion is on life, we are Americans we should be proud of that over everything."
Hurley, who is white and leans conservative, told NPR he sees the flag as something sacred, a symbol you salute, not a symbol you question. He worries his kind of patriotism is being eroded these days, in part because so many people are focused on issues of race.
"Let's talk slavery first. That happened two or three hundred years ago," Hurley said. "We should forget that, be beyond that. To me, as long as people are calling themselves African Americans or Jewish Americans, they're allowing the racism. They should be saying they're Americans, period."
This summer, the country's long struggle with systemic racism erupted, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets. When NPR asked Americans to share their thoughts about the U.S. flag and what it means to them right now, questions of race and identity came up again and again.
Many white Americans who described themselves as more conservative said they still see the U.S. flag as fairly simple and unifying.
"I think it's a symbol of the shared values and ideals of the United States," said Erin Doughtie, a white woman who works for a seed company in Clovis, Calif.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Denise and Kevin Lopez Courtesy of Denise and Kevin Lopez
Like Hurley, she voiced impatience with people who see the flag as a symbol burdened by racism: "The United States is still pretty much the most equal place you could have for people of different backgrounds. For people to compare the U.S. to an ideal is unfair."
But many of the roughly 1,800 people who responded to NPR's call out, especially people of color and those who lean more liberal, said it's not that simple. They told us the American flag comes with baggage that can't be ignored.
"With all the protests and the Black Lives Matter stuff happening, we took the flag down for a little bit," said Kevin Lopez, who works for Microsoft in San Pedro, Calif.
This summer, Lopez said, events like George Floyd's death in police custody shook their family. Kevin has Mexican and Irish heritage, his wife Denise is Black.
"It was pretty disheartening for a little while, with the way our people we're being treated," he said, explaining their decision to pull down the flag.
"And then Denise was the one who brought it up and said I want to revisit this. We had a family discussion about it."
After some soul-searching, the Lopez's decided to raise the flag again. But for them questions of racial justice aren't ancient history. They're a defining part of being American right now.
Denise Lopez, an artist and designer, said for her the decision to reclaim the flag felt like part of that struggle.
"It was like a pit in my stomach," she said. "It was almost like, is it now like what the Confederate flag felt like for my parents? And I was like no, I'm not going to feel that way every time I see an American flag."
We heard a lot from people who shared this worry the U.S. flag has been weaponized, deliberately redefined as a more conservative symbol owned by some Americans more than others.
"We had a Black Lives Matter rally in our town and there were a lot of people driving by with American flags on the back of their pickup trucks as a counter-protest," said Ben Eagleson, a car mechanic who lives in Olney, Ill. "It was like those of us supporting Black Lives Matter were somehow un-American or something."
Eagleson, who is white, said he took his American flag down for a time, but it's flying again now on a pole outside him home.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of An Vu Courtesy of An Vu
"I'd let something that had always been for me a positive symbol take on a negative meaning and I guess I just decided to reclaim it," he said.
Regardless of race or political persuasion, a lot of Americans we heard from say they do see the U.S. flag as a hopeful and beautiful symbol, even in a time of deep national division when it has different meanings for different people.
An Vu told NPR he flies the flag over his front porch in Dearborn, Mich. Vu is a business analyst, the son of immigrants from Vietnam who first flew the U.S. flag when he was a kid after the terror attacks in 2001.
"I hope that flying the flag can return to what we felt like after [Sept. 11]," he said. "The sense of unity, the way were able to grow together after that was really amazing."
A lot of people told NPR that kind of national unity and shared meaning feels elusive now. For that reason, many have chosen to fly the flag next to other symbols to give it more personal context.
For some, that means raising the Stars and Stripes along with a "Make American Great Again" banner. For others, the American flag is flying alongside a gay pride banner or Black Lives Matter sign.
Piper McDaniel is an intern on NPR's National Desk.


npr--2020-10-12--Democrats To Frame Barrett As Foe Of Affordable Care Act In Confirmation Hearings

Democrats To Frame Barrett As Foe Of Affordable Care Act In Confirmation Hearings Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee plan to frame Judge Amy Coney Barrett as a threat to the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights in their questioning of the Supreme Court Justice nominee this week .
The hearings , they say , will let Democrats spotlight top campaign issues facing voters already heading to the ballot box in several states .
They 'll also call for Barrett 's recusal from potential cases and underscore the coronavirus outbreak that has plagued the rushed effort .
Democrats have indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by NPR , give additional pause on her potential to rule against the ACA and the landmark abortions rights case , Roe v. Wade .
`` Justice Barrett 's record and previous public statements clearly indicate that she would vote to strike down the ACA and overturn Roe , and nothing in her opening statement allays that concern , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , told reporters in New York Sunday .
`` It 's a vote for an activist judge whose mission will be to implement a deeply unpopular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safety of all Americans . ''
That message is expected to be on repeat this week , with an emphasis on the 20 million who have received care through the ACA , protections for those with preexisting conditions and women 's productive rights .
Health care will be the top issue of focus , said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , a member of Judiciary Committee .
`` Because this is the No .
1 issue for Americans , this is the No .
1 issue for us , '' she recently told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rush to confirm Barrett despite a coronavirus outbreak that infected two GOP members of the committee and left two more quarantined following a Sept. 26 White House event in her honor .
All the Republican members sidelined by the event are expected to return at some point this week ; they can participate in the hearings remotely .
Democrats will also point to the effort as eclipsing an opportunity to approve another wave of coronavirus relief .
`` Why are we so hell bent to get this done before Nov. 3 ?
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I 'm concerned , '' Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters , noting ACA arguments that will be heard before the Supreme Court on Nov. 10 , and the possibility of a dispute over the outcome of the November elections .
President Trump has said he would like to have his nominee on the court in case such a dispute arose .
Meanwhile , Judiciary Democrats also say there are reporting gaps for Barrett .
On Sunday , ranking member Dianne Feinstein of California and her colleagues said despite supplemental information provided on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work related to a Pennsylvania hospital bankruptcy case and a 2006 ad related to Roe v. Wade .
`` These new omissions raise more questions , '' the Judiciary Democratic leaders wrote in a new letter Sunday to the Justice Department .
Most of the committee 's 10 Democrats spoke with Barrett in recent days by phone , including Feinstein and Durbin .
Others included Sens .
Patrick Leahy , Chris Coons , Sheldon Whitehouse and Cory Booker .
Some Democratic Judiciary members , such as Sens .
Richard Blumenthal , declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to legitimize the process .
However , all appear to agree that religion wo n't be a focus of their questions this week , as some Republicans have claimed .
Feinstein brought up the issue when Barrett testified before the committee as a federal appellate court nominee in 2017 .
`` I have no intention of asking Amy Coney Barrett about her religious faith or any issues concerning religion , '' Blumenthal told reporters .
`` I believe the questions should be directed to the nominee 's judicial philosophy and her position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told Barrett he was worried she was chosen by Trump to rule against the ACA .
Barrett said she had no such conversations with the president about any potential cases , Coons said .
Coons also asked Barrett if she would recuse herself from the November ACA case or if an election dispute comes before the court .
Barrett demurred , Coons said .
`` She would n't make some commitment to that ahead of the time , '' Coons said .
As for calls for Democrats to derail the efforts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Durbin said Democrats will use some procedural tools to delay the vote somewhat .
But ultimately , Barrett 's fate will lie in Republicans hands .
`` We 're using everything under the rules of the Senate to make sure this nominee is carefully inspected , '' Durbin said .

Democrats To Frame Barrett As Foe Of Affordable Care Act In Confirmation Hearings
Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee plan to frame Judge Amy Coney Barrett as a threat to the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights in their questioning of the Supreme Court Justice nominee this week.
The hearings, they say, will let Democrats spotlight top campaign issues facing voters already heading to the ballot box in several states. They'll also call for Barrett's recusal from potential cases and underscore the coronavirus outbreak that has plagued the rushed effort.
Democrats have indicated Barrett's opening remarks, obtained Sunday by NPR, give additional pause on her potential to rule against the ACA and the landmark abortions rights case, Roe v. Wade.
"Justice Barrett's record and previous public statements clearly indicate that she would vote to strike down the ACA and overturn Roe, and nothing in her opening statement allays that concern," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters in New York Sunday. "It's a vote for an activist judge whose mission will be to implement a deeply unpopular Republican agenda that will undercut the rights and safety of all Americans."
That message is expected to be on repeat this week, with an emphasis on the 20 million who have received care through the ACA, protections for those with preexisting conditions and women's productive rights.
Health care will be the top issue of focus, said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a member of Judiciary Committee.
"Because this is the No. 1 issue for Americans, this is the No. 1 issue for us," she recently told reporters.
Democrats will also highlight the rush to confirm Barrett despite a coronavirus outbreak that infected two GOP members of the committee and left two more quarantined following a Sept. 26 White House event in her honor. All the Republican members sidelined by the event are expected to return at some point this week; they can participate in the hearings remotely.
Democrats will also point to the effort as eclipsing an opportunity to approve another wave of coronavirus relief.
"Why are we so hell bent to get this done before Nov. 3? Well, the answer is obvious as far as I'm concerned," Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters, noting ACA arguments that will be heard before the Supreme Court on Nov. 10, and the possibility of a dispute over the outcome of the November elections.
President Trump has said he would like to have his nominee on the court in case such a dispute arose.
Meanwhile, Judiciary Democrats also say there are reporting gaps for Barrett. On Sunday, ranking member Dianne Feinstein of California and her colleagues said despite supplemental information provided on Friday, Barrett still needs to detail work related to a Pennsylvania hospital bankruptcy case and a 2006 ad related to Roe v. Wade.
"These new omissions raise more questions," the Judiciary Democratic leaders wrote in a new letter Sunday to the Justice Department.
Most of the committee's 10 Democrats spoke with Barrett in recent days by phone, including Feinstein and Durbin. Others included Sens. Patrick Leahy, Chris Coons, Sheldon Whitehouse and Cory Booker.
Some Democratic Judiciary members, such as Sens. Richard Blumenthal, declined to speak with Barrett because they didn't want to legitimize the process.
However, all appear to agree that religion won't be a focus of their questions this week, as some Republicans have claimed. Feinstein brought up the issue when Barrett testified before the committee as a federal appellate court nominee in 2017.
"I have no intention of asking Amy Coney Barrett about her religious faith or any issues concerning religion," Blumenthal told reporters. "I believe the questions should be directed to the nominee's judicial philosophy and her position on legal issues."
Coons said he told Barrett he was worried she was chosen by Trump to rule against the ACA. Barrett said she had no such conversations with the president about any potential cases, Coons said.
Coons also asked Barrett if she would recuse herself from the November ACA case or if an election dispute comes before the court. Barrett demurred, Coons said.
"She wouldn't make some commitment to that ahead of the time," Coons said.
As for calls for Democrats to derail the efforts, they admit there's not many options.
Durbin said Democrats will use some procedural tools to delay the vote somewhat. But ultimately, Barrett's fate will lie in Republicans hands.
"We're using everything under the rules of the Senate to make sure this nominee is carefully inspected," Durbin said.


npr--2020-10-12--'Auctions Are Everywhere': 2020 Economics Nobel Goes To 2 Americans

'Auctions Are Everywhere ' : 2020 Economics Nobel Goes To 2 Americans Going once .
Going twice .
Auctions are at the heart of this year 's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Scientists .
The winners — Stanford University professors Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson — were recognized `` for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats . ''
They designed the auction the FCC used to sell radio spectrum to wireless telephone companies , raising more than $ 120 billion for something the government used to give away for free .
`` Auctions are everywhere and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prize committee said in a statement .
Milgrom and Wilson 's work `` benefit [ s ] sellers , buyers and taxpayers around the world . ''
Many of the questions in auction theory revolve around information .
Do bidders know what competitors are bidding ?
Do they all put the same value on the item being auctioned off ?
The committee recognized Milgrom and Wilson not only for their basic research into the behavior of auction participants but their application of those findings to design better auctions .
Auctions are now used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Internet ads , wholesale electricity , fishing permits and carbon pollution credits .
Despite his groundbreaking work , Wilson acknowledged he 's generally not much of an auction buyer .
`` My wife points out to me that we bought ski boots on eBay , '' Wilson told reporters after being awakened for a news conference at 3 a.m. California time .
`` I guess that was an auction . ''
The Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by the Sveriges Riksbank , Sweden 's central bank , to mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awarded in 1969 , joining the five original prizes established by Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will .
Like the winners in physics and chemistry , the laureates in economic sciences are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm .
The prize brings with it a gold medal and a cash award which this year is 10 million Swedish krona ( $ 1.12 million ) , which will be shared by Wilson and Milgrom .

'Auctions Are Everywhere': 2020 Economics Nobel Goes To 2 Americans
toggle caption Markus Marcetic/Courtesy of Myntverket (Swedish Mint)
Going once. Going twice.
Auctions are at the heart of this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. The winners — Stanford University professors Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson — were recognized "for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats."
They designed the auction the FCC used to sell radio spectrum to wireless telephone companies, raising more than $120 billion for something the government used to give away for free.
"Auctions are everywhere and affect our everyday lives," the prize committee said in a statement. Milgrom and Wilson's work "benefit[s] sellers, buyers and taxpayers around the world."
Many of the questions in auction theory revolve around information. Do bidders know what competitors are bidding? Do they all put the same value on the item being auctioned?
The committee recognized Milgrom and Wilson not only for their basic research into the behavior of auction participants, but for their application of those findings to design better auctions.
Auctions are now used to price all kinds of things including Internet ads, wholesale electricity, fishing permits and carbon pollution credits.
Despite his groundbreaking work, Wilson acknowledged he's generally not much of an auction buyer.
"My wife points out to me that we bought ski boots on eBay," Wilson told reporters after being awakened for a news conference at 3 a.m. California time. "I guess that was an auction."
The Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by the Sveriges Riksbank, Sweden's central bank, to mark its 300th anniversary. It was first awarded in 1969, joining the five original prizes established by Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will.
Like the winners in physics and chemistry, the laureates in economic sciences are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The prize brings with it a gold medal and a cash award, which this year is 10 million Swedish krona ($1.12 million) and will be shared by Wilson and Milgrom.


npr--2020-10-12--How The Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings For Amy Coney Barrett Will Work

How The Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings For Amy Coney Barrett Will Work The Senate Judiciary Committee begins confirmation hearings Monday for Amy Coney Barrett , President Trump 's nominee to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left after the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Senate Democrats oppose moving forward with the confirmation process since the election is weeks away , pointing out that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , blocked action on then-President Barack Obama 's pick for a vacancy ahead of the 2016 election .
McConnell insists that voters elected the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees and that this situation is different .
Senate Republicans agree with McConnell 's plan , and he has the votes needed to confirm Barrett before Election Day — barring any vetting issue .
McConnell has been laser-focused on filling the federal judiciary with conservative nominees , and the opportunity to add a third Trump-appointed justice — after Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — would tip the balance of the court to a 6-3 conservative majority .
That dynamic would have ramifications for a generation on a broad array of legal decisions impacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate to confirm a justice so quickly , but there is precedent .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , will preside over the hearings , which are expected to last four days .
The hearings appeared to be in jeopardy when two GOP members of the panel – Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah — tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a Rose Garden event on Sept. 26 where the president announced Barrett 's nomination .
But Graham said the hearings would move forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , with Lee and Tillis appearing via video link for at least part of the hearings .
Most other members of the panel are expected to attend in person .
Voting on the nomination , however , will have to happen in person .
Democrats recognize they do not have the ability to block Barrett 's nomination , but they could raise some procedural issues at the outset to go on the record about their objections to the format or their concerns about safety due to the virus .
Monday 's session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators on the committee — they will be allotted 10 minutes each .
Barrett will be introduced , be sworn in by the chairman and deliver her own opening statement .
Tuesday 's hearing will begin the question-and-answer period ; multiple rounds are expected .
For the first round , senators will get 30 minutes each .
The Q & A is expected again on Wednesday , and each senator will get 20 minutes for the second round and 10 minutes in any subsequent rounds .
For Thursday , the final day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to testify for and against Barrett 's nomination .
After the committee completes the hearings , which is expected to happen on Thursday , Graham can move for a committee vote .
Under committee rules , Democrats can move to hold over the nomination for one week , and it 's expected they will do that .
The committee is expected to vote on Oct. 22 , and then McConnell will decide how quickly to move the nomination to the Senate floor .
He 's expected to act quickly and schedule a vote @ @ @ @

How The Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings For Amy Coney Barrett Will Work
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/AP Stefani Reynolds/AP
The Senate Judiciary Committee begins confirmation hearings Monday for Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left after the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Senate Democrats oppose moving forward with the confirmation process since the election is weeks away, pointing out that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blocked action on then-President Barack Obama's pick for a vacancy ahead of the 2016 election. McConnell insists that voters elected the president and a Republican majority to confirm judicial nominees and that this situation is different.
Senate Republicans agree with McConnell's plan, and he has the votes needed to confirm Barrett before Election Day — barring any vetting issue.
McConnell has been laser-focused on filling the federal judiciary with conservative nominees, and the opportunity to add a third Trump-appointed justice — after Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — would tip the balance of the court to a 6-3 conservative majority.
That dynamic would have ramifications for a generation on a broad array of legal decisions impacting Americans. It is rare for the Senate to confirm a justice so quickly, but there is precedent.
Hybrid hearings, multiple rounds for questions
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will preside over the hearings, which are expected to last four days.
The hearings appeared to be in jeopardy when two GOP members of the panel – Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah — tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a Rose Garden event on Sept. 26 where the president announced Barrett's nomination.
But Graham said the hearings would move forward, and he is expected to participate in person, with Lee and Tillis appearing via video link for at least part of the hearings. Most other members of the panel are expected to attend in person. Voting on the nomination, however, will have to happen in person.
Democrats recognize they do not have the ability to block Barrett's nomination, but they could raise some procedural issues at the outset to go on the record about their objections to the format or their concerns about safety due to the virus.
Monday's session will feature opening statements from the 22 senators on the committee — they will be allotted 10 minutes each. Barrett will be introduced, be sworn in by the chairman and deliver her own opening statement.
Tuesday's hearing will begin the question-and-answer period; multiple rounds are expected. For the first round, senators will get 30 minutes each. The Q&A is expected again on Wednesday, and each senator will get 20 minutes for the second round and 10 minutes in any subsequent rounds.
For Thursday, the final day of the hearings, outside witnesses are expected to testify for and against Barrett's nomination.
Timeline for committee and floor votes
After the committee completes the hearings, which is expected to happen on Thursday, Graham can move for a committee vote.
Under committee rules, Democrats can move to hold over the nomination for one week, and it's expected they will do that.
The committee is expected to vote on Oct. 22, and then McConnell will decide how quickly to move the nomination to the Senate floor. He's expected to act quickly and schedule a vote by Oct. 29.


npr--2020-10-12--Medical Residents Learn To Treat The Growing Health Hazards Of Climate Change

Medical Residents Learn To Treat The Growing Health Hazards Of Climate Change It was low tide on the north shore of Boston when Steve Kearns felt the mosquito bite that would land him in a hospital with West Nile Virus disease for a week .
`` For at least six months after that , I felt like every five minutes I was being run over by a truck , '' Kearns says .
`` I could n't work , I could n't walk very well and I could n't focus .
I wondered for a bit if I 'd ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , recounted the experience during a check-up with his physician , Dr. Gaurab Basu , and Dr. Charlotte Rastas , a third year resident in primary care at a Cambridge Health Alliance clinic in Somerville , Mass .
Basu had never seen West Nile in a patient before Kearns .
The first reported case in Massachusetts was in 2002 .
By 2018 , the year a mosquito bit Kearns , there were 49 .
`` When someone comes in with a fever and is confused , it 's not what my mind thinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Basu says .
`` This case has really taught me how much I need to be informed about the ways in which climate change is changing the patterns of infectious disease around the United States . ''
As Basu learned , rising temperatures offer longer breeding seasons for mosquitos , boost the virus replication rate , and make mosquitos more active .
Basu now teaches about these and other effects of climate change in an elective course he offers residents .
Residents in this course get more than 100 hours of advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly about the intersection of health and climate change .
He 's part of a nascent effort to make sure climate change is part of the curriculum in hospital residency programs across the country .
There 's already a push , backed by the American Medical Association , to teach medical students about health risks tied to a warming planet .
Now some doctors say that education should continue during residency , when doctors tailor what they 've learned to a specialty .
`` What a pediatrician needs to know about climate risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgeon needs to know , or what a radiologist needs to know , '' says Dr. Aaron Bernstein , interim director of the Center for Climate , Health and the Global Environment at Harvard 's T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
There is no designated curricula for hospitals that want to teach emerging lung specialists about longer pollen seasons as temperatures rise or guide new emergency room physicians to consider water-borne diseases for patients with fever and diarrhea .
But Bernstein and co-author , Dr. Rebecca Philipsborn , have published a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
`` At its heart , this is about preparing our resident physicians to provide the best care for patients and to safeguard health in our changing climate , '' says Philipsborn , an assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University .
`` Patients want physicians to be able to provide guidance on things that affect their individual health .
We have this accumulating body of evidence that climate change does just that .
It changes what we see and it poses harms to our patients . ''
The framework has three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change and storms , fires , allergy seasons and other factors that affect health , suggesting ways doctors could adapt patient care in response to these changes , and preparing doctors for times climate change might interfere with care .
Rastas , who took Basu 's elective course , says many residents seek such guidance .
`` This is something that needs to be directly integrated into the curriculum , '' she says .
`` And [ it ] needs to become standard of practice because I think it 's going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
But some doctors worry about what will be left out of residency training to make room for climate change .
Dr. Stanley Goldfarb , the former associate dean for curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , says during the pandemic , for example , hospitals need to add training in intensive care medicine to more residency programs .
Goldfarb says hospitals should focus on training doctors , not advocates for social or political causes .
He worries that discussing climate change with patients might create mistrust .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political sphere , '' he says .
`` I 'm against anything that 's going to represent a barrier between patients and physicians being comfortable with each other . ''
But as wildfires sweep across Western states and hurricanes flood the Gulf Coast , other physicians are stepping up efforts to talk about the intersection of health and climate change .
`` We want to impart this information to our residents as fast as we can because it 's so important that they gain this information sooner rather than later , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors of a new climate change course for about 50 internal medicine residents at Brigham and Women 's Hospital in Boston .
In part one , earlier this month , Dellaripa showed residents heat island maps of Boston that he reviewed to understand why a particular patient experienced kidney failure related to dehydration .
Dellaripa adjusted the patient 's meds and other care after realizing the patient lived in one of the city 's hottest neighborhoods .
`` There are tools out there that can help us identify areas of vulnerability in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If we can put those together with our patients we can better understand who 's at risk for what and make the appropriate clinical adjustments . ''
Dr. Evan Shannon , a chief medical resident in internal medicine at Brigham , says Dellaripa 's lecture highlighted ways rising temperatures have a greater impact on low-income , often minority communities .
Shannon says racial justice and climate change `` should be integral to medical education , it 's an intersection that needs to be explored . ''
Dellaripa says he 's talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Brigham about integrating climate change into their training programs in the coming months .
Advocates say including climate change in residency training wo n't stick until doctors are tested on these health effects before they 're licensed to practice medicine .
In the meantime , there 's growing interest in some unlikely places .
`` What 's further than what you might link to climate change than neurosurgery ? ''
asks Dr. Ann-Christine Duhaime , the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital .
`` But I 've been asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , at three institutions , in the past year . ''
Duhaime talks about her plan to create a green children 's hospital and about broader impacts of climate change on medicine .
She says many surgeons are disturbed , for example , about the vast amounts of plastic and other waste generated in an operating room .
Duhaime says she 's approached by many residents who are looking for guidance as well as information about their role with regard to climate change .
Finding mentors and realizing there are steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and outside the hospital helps , she says .
`` They go into medicine because they want to help people , they see this looming threat , and the conflict between how they spend their days , '' she says , `` and this whole climate change disaster — that conflict is really distressing to many of them . ''

Medical Residents Learn To Treat The Growing Health Hazards Of Climate Change
Enlarge this image Chelsea Beck for NPR Chelsea Beck for NPR
It was low tide on the north shore of Boston when Steve Kearns felt the mosquito bite that would land him in a hospital with West Nile Virus disease for a week.
"For at least six months after that, I felt like every five minutes I was being run over by a truck," Kearns says. "I couldn't work, I couldn't walk very well and I couldn't focus. I wondered for a bit if I'd ever get better."
Kearns, 71, recounted the experience during a check-up with his physician, Dr. Gaurab Basu, and Dr. Charlotte Rastas, a third year resident in primary care at a Cambridge Health Alliance clinic in Somerville, Mass.
Basu had never seen West Nile in a patient before Kearns. The first reported case in Massachusetts was in 2002. By 2018, the year a mosquito bit Kearns, there were 49.
"When someone comes in with a fever and is confused, it's not what my mind thinks of as the diagnosis right away," Basu says. "This case has really taught me how much I need to be informed about the ways in which climate change is changing the patterns of infectious disease around the United States."
As Basu learned, rising temperatures offer longer breeding seasons for mosquitos, boost the virus replication rate, and make mosquitos more active. Basu now teaches about these and other effects of climate change in an elective course he offers residents. Residents in this course get more than 100 hours of advocacy training including how to speak and write publicly about the intersection of health and climate change.
He's part of a nascent effort to make sure climate change is part of the curriculum in hospital residency programs across the country. There's already a push, backed by the American Medical Association, to teach medical students about health risks tied to a warming planet. Now some doctors say that education should continue during residency, when doctors tailor what they've learned to a specialty.
"What a pediatrician needs to know about climate risk is not the same as what a surgeon needs to know, or what a radiologist needs to know," says Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
There is no designated curricula for hospitals that want to teach emerging lung specialists about longer pollen seasons as temperatures rise or guide new emergency room physicians to consider water-borne diseases for patients with fever and diarrhea. But Bernstein and co-author, Dr. Rebecca Philipsborn, have published a framework hospitals can use as a starting point.
"At its heart, this is about preparing our resident physicians to provide the best care for patients and to safeguard health in our changing climate," says Philipsborn, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University. "Patients want physicians to be able to provide guidance on things that affect their individual health. We have this accumulating body of evidence that climate change does just that. It changes what we see and it poses harms to our patients."
The framework has three parts: explaining the link between climate change and storms, fires, allergy seasons and other factors that affect health, suggesting ways doctors could adapt patient care in response to these changes, and preparing doctors for times climate change might interfere with care.
Rastas, who took Basu's elective course, says many residents seek such guidance.
"This is something that needs to be directly integrated into the curriculum," she says. "And [it] needs to become standard of practice because I think it's going to have such a huge impact on human health."
But some doctors worry about what will be left out of residency training to make room for climate change. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, the former associate dean for curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, says during the pandemic, for example, hospitals need to add training in intensive care medicine to more residency programs.
Goldfarb says hospitals should focus on training doctors, not advocates for social or political causes. He worries that discussing climate change with patients might create mistrust.
"There are concerns about getting into the political sphere," he says. "I'm against anything that's going to represent a barrier between patients and physicians being comfortable with each other."
But as wildfires sweep across Western states and hurricanes flood the Gulf Coast, other physicians are stepping up efforts to talk about the intersection of health and climate change.
"We want to impart this information to our residents as fast as we can because it's so important that they gain this information sooner rather than later," says Dr. Paul Dellaripa, one of the authors of a new climate change course for about 50 internal medicine residents at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
In part one, earlier this month, Dellaripa showed residents heat island maps of Boston that he reviewed to understand why a particular patient experienced kidney failure related to dehydration. Dellaripa adjusted the patient's meds and other care after realizing the patient lived in one of the city's hottest neighborhoods.
"There are tools out there that can help us identify areas of vulnerability in the Boston area," Dellaripa says. "If we can put those together with our patients we can better understand who's at risk for what and make the appropriate clinical adjustments."
Dr. Evan Shannon, a chief medical resident in internal medicine at Brigham, says Dellaripa's lecture highlighted ways rising temperatures have a greater impact on low-income, often minority communities. Shannon says racial justice and climate change "should be integral to medical education, it's an intersection that needs to be explored."
Dellaripa says he's talking to residency leaders in surgery and emergency medicine at Brigham about integrating climate change into their training programs in the coming months.
Advocates say including climate change in residency training won't stick until doctors are tested on these health effects before they're licensed to practice medicine.
In the meantime, there's growing interest in some unlikely places.
"What's further than what you might link to climate change than neurosurgery?" asks Dr. Ann-Christine Duhaime, the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. "But I've been asked to give neurosurgery grand rounds on health and climate change, at three institutions, in the past year."
Duhaime talks about her plan to create a green children's hospital and about broader impacts of climate change on medicine. She says many surgeons are disturbed, for example, about the vast amounts of plastic and other waste generated in an operating room.
Duhaime says she's approached by many residents who are looking for guidance as well as information about their role with regard to climate change. Finding mentors and realizing there are steps they can take to address climate change in and outside the hospital helps, she says.
"They go into medicine because they want to help people, they see this looming threat, and the conflict between how they spend their days," she says, "and this whole climate change disaster — that conflict is really distressing to many of them."


npr--2020-10-12--Many Firsts At Confirmation Hearings For Judge Amy Coney Barrett

Many Firsts At Confirmation Hearings For Judge Amy Coney Barrett There will be plenty of firsts on Monday as the Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court .
It is the first time that a confirmation hearing is taking place amid a pandemic and with two committee members , both Republicans , recently having tested positive for the coronavirus .
It is also the first time that a confirmation hearing is taking place at the same time early voting has begun in many states , and in a presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not new , Senate Republicans are playing a confirmation game that is wildly more aggressive than at any time in memory .
Four years ago , Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused for nearly a year to hold hearings on President Barack Obama 's Supreme Court nominee , arguing that it was an election year and that the voters should have a chance to weigh in .
But now , with a Republican in the White House and the election just over three weeks away , McConnell has scheduled Barrett 's confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after her nomination was announced .
That 's warp speed for modern times .
The average time between nomination and confirmation hearing for the eight current Supreme Court justices was 56 days .
Still , expect plenty of rhetorical mortal combat at the hearings this week because the stakes are so high .
If Barrett is confirmed to fill liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat , many of the court 's precedents could be at risk .
Barrett herself understood the stakes four years ago , when just five days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton were elected and had a chance to fill the then-vacant seat previously occupied by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia , the appointment would have `` the potential to flip the balance on the court . ''
That possibility is writ large now because this is President Trump 's third nominee to the court .
There already is a five-justice conservative majority , and if Barrett is confirmed , conservatives will have a six-justice majority on the nine-justice court , giving conservatives a dominant upper hand not just in the outcome of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative decisions .
A threat to the future of abortion rights ?
So this week , the focus will be on Barrett and her judicial philosophy .
Would she vote to overrule Roe v. Wade , strike down the Affordable Care Act , give greater powers to the president or limit congressional powers ?
Just what kind of a justice would she be ?
Many of the speeches noted in her Senate questionnaire are no longer available on various websites where they may once have lived .
And a website involving a charismatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved with appears to have been scrubbed , according to The Washington Post .
And on Friday , the Senate Judiciary Committee released an update to Barrett 's committee questionnaire that included a lecture , a seminar and an ad she signed criticizing Roe v. Wade .
When Trump announced her nomination at the White House , Barrett described herself this way : `` I clerked for Justice Scalia more than 20 years ago , but the lessons I learned still resonate .
His judicial philosophy is mine , too . ''
Scalia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any modern legal theorist popularized the concept of originalism — the idea that the Constitution should be read to mean what the Founding Fathers intended at the time it was written and ratified .
He was a fervent opponent of Roe v. Wade and the court 's gay rights and same-sex marriage decisions , and he was the author of the court 's two major gun-rights rulings .
So if Barrett is a justice in Scalia 's mold , she will move the court decidedly to the right .
The problem for Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee — a star professor at Notre Dame Law School , a mother of seven , including two children she and her husband , Jesse , adopted from Haiti and one child with Down syndrome .
At the same time , however , many of the features of Barrett 's life that point strongly to her conservative views also involve her religion .
For instance , in 2006 she signed a two-page ad in the South Bend Tribune declaring that `` it 's time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the lives of unborn children . ''
According to The Guardian newspaper , the ad was sponsored by St. Joseph County Right to Life , a group that Barrett and her husband were members of .
The group also opposes in vitro fertilization .
Barrett , for her part , has consistently said that a judge should rule on the law , not her personal beliefs .
`` I would never impose my own personal convictions upon the law , '' she said at her 2017 confirmation hearing for the appeals court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that assertion is politically tricky .
Democrats who tried in 2017 found themselves branded as anti-Catholic .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , famously asked Barrett this question : `` I think whatever a religion is , it has its own dogma .
The law is totally different , and when you read your speeches , the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you . ''
Republicans reacted with fury .
`` It appears that professor Barrett has one big strike against her , and that is her religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Utah .
`` It is despicable . ''
It is a theme that Senate Republican leader McConnell picked up 10 days ago , declaring on the Hugh Hewitt Show that `` discrimination against people of religion is on full display . ''
McConnell went on to say that Senate Democrats `` need to be reminded there is no religious test for public service in America whatsoever . ''
So Democrats in the next few days almost certainly will try to find ways of questioning Barrett that do n't directly involve her religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for instance , says he will focus on other questions .
`` We have an incumbent president , whose reelection is at risk , publicly saying , ' I 'm choosing this judge so she can rule on an election dispute if one arises , ' `` he said , noting that at the same time , Trump is `` casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election . ''
Coons , who met with Barrett by phone last week , said she refused to say whether she would recuse herself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
Then , too , there 's the Affordable Care Act , known as Obamacare , which is scheduled to be argued before the court for a third time a week after the election .
Twice before , the court has upheld the health care law by votes of 5-4 and 6-3 , but Barrett has been critical of both decisions .
And if she is confirmed , she could well be the deciding vote in this latest attempt by the Trump administration to get the court to strike down the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barrett has made clear that while she believes that the Supreme Court 's doctrine of following precedent is important , there are times when it is not .
As she wrote in the Texas Law Review in 2013 : `` I tend to agree with those who say that a justice 's duty is to the Constitution ... rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it . ''
Contributing research for this article were Marisa Manzi , Christina Peck , Timur Akman-Duffy , Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred , Leemah Nasrati , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte Blatt , Roman Leal , Emily Marcus , Jane Jacoby , Nicole Rubin , Julyana Dawson , Daniela Manzi and Emily Clarke .

Many Firsts At Confirmation Hearings For Judge Amy Coney Barrett
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
There will be plenty of firsts on Monday as the Senate Judiciary Committee opens hearings on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
It is the first time that a confirmation hearing is taking place amid a pandemic and with two committee members, both Republicans, recently having tested positive for the coronavirus.
It is also the first time that a confirmation hearing is taking place at the same time early voting has begun in many states, and in a presidential election year.
And while political hardball is not new, Senate Republicans are playing a confirmation game that is wildly more aggressive than at any time in memory.
Four years ago, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused for nearly a year to hold hearings on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, arguing that it was an election year and that the voters should have a chance to weigh in.
But now, with a Republican in the White House and the election just over three weeks away, McConnell has scheduled Barrett's confirmation hearing to take place just 16 days after her nomination was announced.
That's warp speed for modern times. The average time between nomination and confirmation hearing for the eight current Supreme Court justices was 56 days.
A 2016 warning from Barrett
Still, expect plenty of rhetorical mortal combat at the hearings this week because the stakes are so high. If Barrett is confirmed to fill liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, many of the court's precedents could be at risk.
Barrett herself understood the stakes four years ago, when just five days before the 2016 election, she warned that if Hillary Clinton were elected and had a chance to fill the then-vacant seat previously occupied by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, the appointment would have "the potential to flip the balance on the court."
That possibility is writ large now because this is President Trump's third nominee to the court. There already is a five-justice conservative majority, and if Barrett is confirmed, conservatives will have a six-justice majority on the nine-justice court, giving conservatives a dominant upper hand not just in the outcome of cases but in crafting far more broadly written conservative decisions.
A threat to the future of abortion rights?
So this week, the focus will be on Barrett and her judicial philosophy. Would she vote to overrule Roe v. Wade, strike down the Affordable Care Act, give greater powers to the president or limit congressional powers? Just what kind of a justice would she be?
Many of the speeches noted in her Senate questionnaire are no longer available on various websites where they may once have lived. And a website involving a charismatic Christian religious group she has long been involved with appears to have been scrubbed, according to The Washington Post.
And on Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee released an update to Barrett's committee questionnaire that included a lecture, a seminar and an ad she signed criticizing Roe v. Wade.
Walking in Scalia's footsteps
When Trump announced her nomination at the White House, Barrett described herself this way: "I clerked for Justice Scalia more than 20 years ago, but the lessons I learned still resonate. His judicial philosophy is mine, too."
Scalia was a conservative icon who more than any modern legal theorist popularized the concept of originalism — the idea that the Constitution should be read to mean what the Founding Fathers intended at the time it was written and ratified. He was a fervent opponent of Roe v. Wade and the court's gay rights and same-sex marriage decisions, and he was the author of the court's two major gun-rights rulings. So if Barrett is a justice in Scalia's mold, she will move the court decidedly to the right.
The problem for Democrats is that Barrett is a very accomplished nominee — a star professor at Notre Dame Law School, a mother of seven, including two children she and her husband, Jesse, adopted from Haiti and one child with Down syndrome.
At the same time, however, many of the features of Barrett's life that point strongly to her conservative views also involve her religion. For instance, in 2006 she signed a two-page ad in the South Bend Tribune declaring that "it's time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade and restore laws that protect the lives of unborn children."
According to The Guardian newspaper, the ad was sponsored by St. Joseph County Right to Life, a group that Barrett and her husband were members of. The group also opposes in vitro fertilization.
Barrett, for her part, has consistently said that a judge should rule on the law, not her personal beliefs. "I would never impose my own personal convictions upon the law," she said at her 2017 confirmation hearing for the appeals court judgeship she now holds.
Legitimate inquiry vs. religious test
But probing that assertion is politically tricky. Democrats who tried in 2017 found themselves branded as anti-Catholic.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., famously asked Barrett this question: "I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different, and when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you."
Republicans reacted with fury. "It appears that professor Barrett has one big strike against her, and that is her religious faith," said then-Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "It is despicable."
It is a theme that Senate Republican leader McConnell picked up 10 days ago, declaring on the Hugh Hewitt Show that "discrimination against people of religion is on full display." McConnell went on to say that Senate Democrats "need to be reminded there is no religious test for public service in America whatsoever."
So Democrats in the next few days almost certainly will try to find ways of questioning Barrett that don't directly involve her religious beliefs. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., for instance, says he will focus on other questions.
"We have an incumbent president, whose reelection is at risk, publicly saying, 'I'm choosing this judge so she can rule on an election dispute if one arises,' " he said, noting that at the same time, Trump is "casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election."
Coons, who met with Barrett by phone last week, said she refused to say whether she would recuse herself from an election dispute should it reach the court.
Then, too, there's the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, which is scheduled to be argued before the court for a third time a week after the election. Twice before, the court has upheld the health care law by votes of 5-4 and 6-3, but Barrett has been critical of both decisions. And if she is confirmed, she could well be the deciding vote in this latest attempt by the Trump administration to get the court to strike down the law in its entirety.
For her part, Barrett has made clear that while she believes that the Supreme Court's doctrine of following precedent is important, there are times when it is not. As she wrote in the Texas Law Review in 2013: "I tend to agree with those who say that a justice's duty is to the Constitution ... rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it."
Contributing research for this article were Marisa Manzi, Christina Peck, Timur Akman-Duffy, Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred, Leemah Nasrati, Alexandra Benton, Gabriel A. Delaney, Charlotte Blatt, Roman Leal, Emily Marcus, Jane Jacoby, Nicole Rubin, Julyana Dawson, Daniela Manzi and Emily Clarke.


npr--2020-10-12--Homeless Fire Evacuees In California Face Further Displacement

The Glass Fire burning in Northern California wine country has forced thousands from their homes , among them the residents of a tiny home village built to help people transition out of homelessness .
For those who 've spent years — or decades — on the streets , it 's a traumatic displacement .
Carmen Almejo was homeless and lived in the woods for two years , but she 'd never experienced a wildfire until this fall .
`` We were sitting there having coffee and then we could feel the fire and we could smell it so well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late September when the fire started .
`` I knew we had to evacuate . ''
Almejo is one of the 60 residents of Los Guilicos Village , the first transitional shelter of its kind funded by Sonoma County .
`` Unsheltered folks are used to being evacuated in one form or another , '' says Chris Grabill , director of housing and shelter services for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sonoma County .
He manages the village of tiny homes and led its evacuation .
`` But there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that . ''
That made for some tense moments , Grabill says .
`` What I had to say to one woman who was really panicking and really struggles with mental illness was 'If you do n't go , I have to stay and my little daughter will not have a father anymore . '
And she immediately was like 'OK OK just give me 20 minutes . '
I was like 'We do n't have 20 minutes ! '
'' `` We barely got out of there , '' Grabill says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Director Jack Tibbetts successfully evacuated all residents and staff that night .
Because so many Los Guilicos residents are elderly or have conditions like diabetes or lung disease , communal evacuation shelters presented too much risk of COVID-19 exposure .
Instead , most of them ended up at the Sonoma County fairgrounds in tents and trailers .
Carmen Almejo and her little dog Carmencita are adjusting to life in a trailer shared with two men who 've been there since the spring , when California Governor Gavin Newsom provided the trailers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homelessness .
For 63-year-old Almejo , the running water , air conditioning and appliances still feel like luxuries .
`` I used to live underneath the bridge on 6th Street , '' she says .
She was on the streets for almost a decade and had only been living in her tiny home at Los Guilicos Village for two weeks when the fire came through .
It destroyed four of the tiny houses and damaged another two .
By the time remediation is done it could be months before residents are allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to running the local St. Vincent de Paul , he represents the district on the Santa Rosa city council in which the transitional housing village is located .
Los Guilicos Village was built in January to house some of the 300 people who 'd been living in a homeless encampment razed when officials decided conditions — including a spate of assaults and an outbreak of trench foot — made it untenable .
Los Guilicos Village was the first tiny home shelter undertaken by the local government .
`` There 's truly not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says `` It was a long political fight years in the making . ''
For him , the results show it was the right call .
Of 120 people who 've lived at Los Guilicos Village since it opened early this year , about 30 of them were able to move into permanent supportive housing and almost as many were in the process of securing a more long-term housing solution .
Almejo was just starting to work with a case manager .
That 's now stalled due to the fire and displacement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get things back on track as soon as possible .
`` These folks have voluntarily moved into this program because they want to have a better life , '' Tibbetts says .
`` It 's incumbent upon us to make sure that in our policymaking process we do n't abandon them . ''
In the short term , he and Grabill are working to bring in more trailers and get people sleeping in tents out of the heat and smoky air .
They 're hopeful everyone in the trailers will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available .
Still , Almejo worries the fire and her evacuation will endanger the progress she 's made toward finding a permanent home .
`` Without having a place to rest your head or go to the bathroom , basic things , what do you have ?
I do n't want to be there again , '' she says , and does her best to reassure herself , `` It 's gon na be OK. '' For Almejo and many of the others , another displacement would just compound the recent trauma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like hell for these people to be able to stay here as long as they need to after what they 've been through , '' he says .
`` I hope we have the resources to follow through with that promise . ''

Homeless Fire Evacuees In California Face Further Displacement
Enlarge this image toggle caption Vanessa Rancaño/KQED Vanessa Rancaño/KQED
The Glass Fire burning in Northern California wine country has forced thousands from their homes, among them the residents of a tiny home village built to help people transition out of homelessness. For those who've spent years — or decades — on the streets, it's a traumatic displacement.
Carmen Almejo was homeless and lived in the woods for two years, but she'd never experienced a wildfire until this fall. "We were sitting there having coffee and then we could feel the fire and we could smell it so well," Almejo says of the Sunday night in late September when the fire started. "I knew we had to evacuate."
Almejo is one of the 60 residents of Los Guilicos Village, the first transitional shelter of its kind funded by Sonoma County.
"Unsheltered folks are used to being evacuated in one form or another," says Chris Grabill, director of housing and shelter services for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sonoma County. He manages the village of tiny homes and led its evacuation. "But there's also a lot of trauma associated with that."
That made for some tense moments, Grabill says. "What I had to say to one woman who was really panicking and really struggles with mental illness was 'If you don't go, I have to stay and my little daughter will not have a father anymore.' And she immediately was like 'OK OK just give me 20 minutes.' I was like 'We don't have 20 minutes!'"
"We barely got out of there," Grabill says, but he and St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Jack Tibbetts successfully evacuated all residents and staff that night.
Because so many Los Guilicos residents are elderly or have conditions like diabetes or lung disease, communal evacuation shelters presented too much risk of COVID-19 exposure. Instead, most of them ended up at the Sonoma County fairgrounds in tents and trailers.
A new temporary home
Carmen Almejo and her little dog Carmencita are adjusting to life in a trailer shared with two men who've been there since the spring, when California Governor Gavin Newsom provided the trailers as part of a statewide effort to tackle homelessness.
For 63-year-old Almejo, the running water, air conditioning and appliances still feel like luxuries. "I used to live underneath the bridge on 6th Street," she says.
She was on the streets for almost a decade and had only been living in her tiny home at Los Guilicos Village for two weeks when the fire came through. It destroyed four of the tiny houses and damaged another two.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Grabill/Courtesy Chris Grabill Chris Grabill/Courtesy Chris Grabill
By the time remediation is done it could be months before residents are allowed to return, says Tibbetts. In addition to running the local St. Vincent de Paul, he represents the district on the Santa Rosa city council in which the transitional housing village is located.
Los Guilicos Village was built in January to house some of the 300 people who'd been living in a homeless encampment razed when officials decided conditions — including a spate of assaults and an outbreak of trench foot — made it untenable.
Los Guilicos Village was the first tiny home shelter undertaken by the local government. "There's truly not been anything like it before," Tibbetts says "It was a long political fight years in the making."
For him, the results show it was the right call. Of 120 people who've lived at Los Guilicos Village since it opened early this year, about 30 of them were able to move into permanent supportive housing and almost as many were in the process of securing a more long-term housing solution.
National 'Samaritans' Podcast Follows Woman's Journey Through LA's Homeless Services System 'Samaritans' Podcast Follows Woman's Journey Through LA's Homeless Services System Listen · 7:46 7:46
Almejo was just starting to work with a case manager. That's now stalled due to the fire and displacement, but Tibbetts and Grabill are promising to get things back on track as soon as possible.
"These folks have voluntarily moved into this program because they want to have a better life," Tibbetts says. "It's incumbent upon us to make sure that in our policymaking process we don't abandon them."
In the short term, he and Grabill are working to bring in more trailers and get people sleeping in tents out of the heat and smoky air. They're hopeful everyone in the trailers will be able to stay put until a better option is available.
Still, Almejo worries the fire and her evacuation will endanger the progress she's made toward finding a permanent home. "Without having a place to rest your head or go to the bathroom, basic things, what do you have? I don't want to be there again," she says, and does her best to reassure herself, "It's gonna be OK."
For Almejo and many of the others, another displacement would just compound the recent trauma, Grabill says. "I will fight like hell for these people to be able to stay here as long as they need to after what they've been through," he says. "I hope we have the resources to follow through with that promise."


npr--2020-10-11--Don't Miss Your Socially Distanced Date With Mars

Stargazers perk up — Mars is getting big and bright the coming week , as the sun , Earth and Mars line up close to a new moon on the night of Oct. 13 .
The event that happens about every two years is called `` opposition '' in astronomy terms : the sun and Mars on opposite sides of Earth .
From the earthling 's perspective , according to NASA , Mars rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west , and would stay up in the sky the whole night , setting in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because we 're seeing the whole dayside of the red planet the whole week , it 's going to be ideal for viewing , writes Mikhail Kreslavsky , assistant research planetary scientist at University of California , Santa Cruz , in an email to NPR .
And because this year 's opposition is also close to the new moon , Mars will shine brighter without moonlight hampering , he writes .
The Mars opposition is related to `` Mars close approach , '' which is the point where Mars and Earth come nearest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun .
That happened on Oct. 6 .
Therefore , Mars is pretty large in size .
`` [ Usually ] for people who are amateur astronomers with a decent-sized telescope , Mars would still look like a dot , '' astronomer Derek Demeter told the podcast Are We There Yet ?
last week .
`` Now we 're getting really close to Mars , the apparent size has tripled almost [ in the telescope ] '' said Demeter , who directs Seminole State College 's planetarium .
`` I was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never able to see ... where Opportunity has landed ... all these areas where the rovers have landed , where we might go , '' he said about his stargazing experience a few days earlier .
The year 2020 has seen its share of Martian exploration launches .
The U.S. launched a six-wheeled Rover called Perseverance ; the United Arab Emirates launched its first mission ever to Mars , and China launched its Tianwen-1 project to send an orbiter , lander and rover to the red planet in one effort , reaching for @ @ @ @ @ @

Don't Miss Your Socially Distanced Date With Mars
Stargazers perk up — Mars will look big and bright the coming week, as the sun, Earth and Mars line up close to a new moon on the night of Oct. 13.
The event that happens about every two years is called "opposition" in astronomy terms: the sun and Mars on opposite sides of Earth. From the earthling's perspective, according to NASA, Mars rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west, and would stay up in the sky the whole night, setting in the west just as the sun rises.
Because we're seeing the whole dayside of the red planet the whole week, it's going to be ideal for viewing, writes Mikhail Kreslavsky, assistant research planetary scientist at University of California, Santa Cruz, in an email to NPR.
And because this year's opposition is also close to the new moon, Mars will shine brighter without moonlight hampering, he writes.
The Mars opposition is related to "Mars close approach," which is the point where Mars and Earth come nearest to each other in their orbits around the sun. That happened on Oct. 6. Therefore, Mars looks pretty large in size from the Earth.
"[Usually] for people who are amateur astronomers with a decent-sized telescope, Mars would still look like a dot," astronomer Derek Demeter told the podcast Are We There Yet? last week.
"Now we're getting really close to Mars, the apparent size has tripled almost [in the telescope]" said Demeter, who directs Seminole State College's planetarium.
"I was able to pick out surface features you're never able to see ... where Opportunity has landed ... all these areas where the rovers have landed, where we might go," he said about his stargazing experience a few days earlier.
The year 2020 has seen its share of Martian exploration launches. The U.S. launched a six-wheeled Rover called Perseverance; the United Arab Emirates launched its first mission ever to Mars, and China launched its Tianwen-1 project to send an orbiter, lander and rover to the red planet in one effort, reaching for a first successful Mars mission.


npr--2020-10-12--California Officials Tell State GOP To Stop Distributing Ballot Drop Boxes

Unauthorized election ballot drop boxes have been found across California — in Los Angeles , Orange and Ventura counties as well as in Fresno .
On Monday , California 's Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra sent out cease-and-desist letters to the state Republican Party , which appears to own at least some of these collection boxes .
According to reporting from the Orange County Register , many of these drop boxes bear signs claiming that they are `` official , '' and are located at local political party offices and churches , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the local ABC affiliate reported that in some instances , the boxes were simply cardboard containers without locks .
The Register also reported that the Fresno County Republican Party had on its website a list of `` secure '' ballot drop-off locations , including its own offices , gun shops and other businesses .
None were official county drop box sites .
As of Monday evening , that list appeared to have been removed from the party 's website .
LAist , which is part of member station KPCC , reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference Monday that they sent cease-and-desist letters to the state GOP as well as to Republican party chapters in Los Angeles , Orange and Fresno .
The unauthorized collection boxes must be removed by Thursday , the officials said .
On Monday , CBS Los Angeles reported that the California Republican Party acknowledged that it owned such boxes , without confirming how many there are or where they are located .
California GOP spokesperson Hector Barajas asserted that the boxes are legal .
In a series of tweets on Monday night posted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barajas , the state GOP defended its position , writing in part : `` In California , where you can have convicted felons and individuals with a criminal history go door to door and collect ballots from voters , Democrats are now upset because organizations , individuals and groups are offering an opportunity for their friends , family and patrons to drop off their ballot with someone they know and trust ...
If Democrats are so concerned with ballot harvesting , they are the ones who wrote the legislation , voted for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into law . ''
In a tweet published Monday afternoon , Padilla addressed voters directly : `` DO N'T BECOME A VICTIM , '' he wrote .
`` Unauthorized ballot drop boxes are illegal . ''
Padilla also told the Register in its report that setting up an unauthorized collection is a violation of state law , with a potential prison sentence of two to four years for those convicted .

California Officials Tell State GOP To Stop Distributing Ballot Drop Boxes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
Updated at 10:11 p.m. ET
Unauthorized election ballot drop boxes have been found across California — in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties as well as in Fresno. On Monday, California's Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra sent out cease-and-desist letters to the state Republican Party, which appears to own at least some of these collection boxes.
In a statement to NPR on Monday night, California GOP spokesperson Hector Barajas wrote: "We are going to respond to the letter, continue our ballot harvest program and not allow the Secretary of State to suppress the vote."
According to reporting from the Orange County Register, many of these drop boxes bear signs claiming that they are "official," and are located at local political party offices and churches, as well as at candidates' headquarters. In Fresno, the local ABC affiliate reported that in some instances, the boxes were simply cardboard containers without locks.
The Register also reported that the Fresno County Republican Party had on its website a list of "secure" ballot drop-off locations, including its own offices, gun shops and other businesses. None were official county drop box sites. As of Monday evening, that list appeared to have been removed from the party's website.
LAist, which is part of member station KPCC, reported that Padilla and Becerra said at a press conference Monday that they sent cease-and-desist letters to the state GOP as well as to Republican party chapters in Los Angeles, Orange and Fresno. The unauthorized collection boxes must be removed by Thursday, the officials said.
On Monday, CBS Los Angeles reported that the California Republican Party acknowledged that it owned such boxes, without confirming how many there are or where they are located.
In a series of tweets on Monday night posted by the California Republican Party and attributed to Barajas, the state GOP defended its position at greater length, writing in part: "In California, where you can have convicted felons and individuals with a criminal history go door to door and collect ballots from voters, Democrats are now upset because organizations, individuals and groups are offering an opportunity for their friends, family and patrons to drop off their ballot with someone they know and trust... If Democrats are so concerned with ballot harvesting, they are the ones who wrote the legislation, voted for it, and Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law."
In a tweet published Monday afternoon, Padilla addressed voters directly: "DON'T BECOME A VICTIM," he wrote. "Unauthorized ballot drop boxes are illegal."
Padilla also told the Register in its report that setting up an unauthorized collection is a violation of state law, with a potential prison sentence of two to four years for those convicted.


npr--2020-10-12--John McCain's 108-Year-Old Mother Dies

John McCain's 108-Year-Old Mother Dies

When the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona was in his 60s , a story came out that described a time when he was `` physically mistreated by bad men who , for a while , kept [ him ] in prison . ''
It was a reference to the five-and-a-half years he had spent in harsh captivity in Hanoi after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War .
In that story , he called his captors `` some very bad names '' and used words that were `` not appropriate for polite company , '' McCain recounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Character Is Destiny : Inspiring Stories We Should All Remember .
His mother noticed .
`` I never taught you to use that kind of language , '' she said to him , `` and I have half a mind to wash your mouth out with soap . ''
That firm , principled woman , Roberta McCain , died on Monday .
She was 108 .
John McCain 's widow , Cindy McCain , announced her death on Twitter .
The cause of her death was not immediately released .
John McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naval tradition .
He was the son and grandson of admirals , and he attended the U.S .
Naval Academy .
But it was his mother , as much as anyone , who shaped him .
`` There 's a kind of steel that kind of runs through the McCain family .
And it 's not , frankly , confined to the men , '' Robert Timberg , author of John McCain : An American Odyssey , told NPR in 2008 .
`` I think it 's important to look at Sen. McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand who he is and how he became what he is .
But it would be a mistake not to look at his mother . ''
Roberta McCain , he said , had an `` unsinkable personality , that kind of , you know , never say die ... do n't back down personality that I think Sen. McCain has .
And I think he inherited it from her , and not necessarily from his father or grandfather . ''
In his speech to the Republican National Convention in 2008 , John McCain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father was often at sea and the job of raising him and his two siblings fell to his mother .
She gave them `` her love of life , her deep interest in the world , her strength , and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country , '' McCain said .
`` I would n't be here tonight but for the strength of her character , '' he said .
The daughter of an Oklahoma oil man , Roberta McCain often single-handedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband got new orders every few years .
She loved to travel , and would make stops at museums and national parks along the way .
When John McCain was running for president on the Republican ticket against Barack Obama in 2008 , Roberta McCain was already in her late 90s – but she would periodically join him on the campaign trail .
`` Do you want me to sit around and play bridge every day ?
Or discuss my last knee replacement ?
Or pass around pictures of my grandchildren ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 interview with CBS .
`` Well , that is n't my choice of a way to live . ''
She even appeared in a campaign ad , saying : `` He was the sweetest , nicest child I 've ever known .
I think he 'll make a wonderful president .
Well , he 's not perfect .
Did I say that ? ''
Over his 35-year career in Congress , and two bids for the presidency , he became one of the best-known politicians of his era .
He is remembered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for giving respect to friends and adversaries across the political aisle .
His mother was undoubtedly proud of his achievements .
But , predisposed to decorum and modesty , and always holding her children to a higher standard , she thought he talked in public and appeared on TV just a little too much , according to Character is Destiny .
Asked by a reporter if she was proud that her son had become such a prominent person , she replied : `` Fools ' names and fools ' faces are often @ @ @ @ @ @

John McCain's 108-Year-Old Mother Dies
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pool/Getty Images Pool/Getty Images
When the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona was in his 60s, a story came out that described a time when he was "physically mistreated by bad men who, for a while, kept [him] in prison." It was a reference to the five-and-a-half years he had spent in harsh captivity in Hanoi after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War.
In that story, he called his captors "some very bad names" and used words that were "not appropriate for polite company," McCain recounted in the introduction to his 2005 book, Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories We Should All Remember. His mother noticed.
"I never taught you to use that kind of language," she said to him, "and I have half a mind to wash your mouth out with soap."
That firm, principled woman, Roberta McCain, died on Monday. She was 108. John McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, announced her death on Twitter.
The cause of her death was not immediately released.
John McCain grew up in a household steeped in naval tradition. He was the son and grandson of admirals, and he attended the U.S. Naval Academy.
But it was his mother, as much as anyone, who shaped him.
"There's a kind of steel that kind of runs through the McCain family. And it's not, frankly, confined to the men," Robert Timberg, author of John McCain: An American Odyssey, told NPR in 2008.
"I think it's important to look at Sen. McCain's father and grandfather to sort of understand who he is and how he became what he is. But it would be a mistake not to look at his mother."
Roberta McCain, he said, had an "unsinkable personality, that kind of, you know, never say die ... don't back down personality that I think Sen. McCain has. And I think he inherited it from her, and not necessarily from his father or grandfather."
In his speech to the Republican National Convention in 2008, John McCain recalled that as a Navy brat his father was often at sea and the job of raising him and his two siblings fell to his mother.
She gave them "her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength, and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country," McCain said.
"I wouldn't be here tonight but for the strength of her character," he said.
The daughter of an Oklahoma oil man, Roberta McCain often single-handedly packed and moved the family when her husband got new orders every few years. She loved to travel, and would make stops at museums and national parks along the way.
When John McCain was running for president on the Republican ticket against Barack Obama in 2008, Roberta McCain was already in her late 90s – but she would periodically join him on the campaign trail.
"Do you want me to sit around and play bridge every day? Or discuss my last knee replacement? Or pass around pictures of my grandchildren?" CNN quoted her as saying in a 2008 interview with CBS. "Well, that isn't my choice of a way to live."
She even appeared in a campaign ad, saying: "He was the sweetest, nicest child I've ever known. I think he'll make a wonderful president. Well, he's not perfect. Did I say that?"
John McCain died of brain cancer in 2018.
Over his 35-year career in Congress, and two bids for the presidency, he became one of the best-known politicians of his era. He is remembered for his patriotism, principled independence, and for giving respect to friends and adversaries across the political aisle.
His mother was undoubtedly proud of his achievements.
But, predisposed to decorum and modesty, and always holding her children to a higher standard, she thought he talked in public and appeared on TV just a little too much, according to Character is Destiny.
Asked by a reporter if she was proud that her son had become such a prominent person, she replied: "Fools' names and fools' faces are often seen in public places."


npr--2020-10-12--Georgia Voters Face Hours-Long Lines At Polls On First Day Of Early Voting

Georgia Voters Face Hours-Long Lines At Polls On First Day Of Early Voting Early voting opened Monday in Georgia for the 2020 general election — but the first day was marred by technical issues and lines that in some locations stretched more than five hours long , particularly in the Atlanta metro area .
Voters arriving in the morning at Atlanta 's State Farm Arena , the home of the NBA 's Hawks — and the state 's largest early voting site , with 300 voting machines — encountered technical issues , which election officials blamed on problems with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NBC affiliate station in Atlanta , posted numerous videos on Twitter of voters in Marietta who as of 11 a.m. had been waiting more than five hours .
While some voters said that concerns about mail-in voting prompted their in-person wait , one voter named Viola Hardy told the 11 Alive reporter : `` I think people are just really ready to vote , and it does n't matter how long it takes — we will stand in line to vote .
... We 're voting like our lives depend on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal-Constitution posted a video of voters in the town of Suwanee , about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta , in a line that stretched around a block .
( Some prescient voters brought along portable chairs . )
Voting lines were still long heading into the evening hours .
Around 5 p.m. , a Georgia state senator , Democrat Jen Jordan , posted a screenshot from an app that showed that voters at polling sites around Cobb County were still experiencing delays of more than one hour .
Member station WABE reported Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in this election — a record number for Georgia .
During the primary elections in June , Georgia voters also experienced widespread issues at the polls , including hours-long waits and technical issues with a new , $ 104 million voting system .

Georgia Voters Face Hours-Long Lines At Polls On First Day Of Early Voting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
Early voting opened Monday in Georgia for the 2020 general election — but the first day was marred by technical issues and lines that in some locations stretched more than five hours long, particularly in the Atlanta metro area.
Voters arriving in the morning at Atlanta's State Farm Arena, the home of the NBA's Hawks — and the state's largest early voting site, with 300 voting machines — encountered technical issues, which election officials blamed on problems with the electronic poll pads.
11 Alive, the NBC affiliate station in Atlanta, posted numerous videos on Twitter of voters in Marietta who as of 11 a.m. had been waiting more than five hours. While some voters said that concerns about mail-in voting prompted their in-person wait, one voter named Viola Hardy told the 11 Alive reporter: "I think people are just really ready to vote, and it doesn't matter how long it takes — we will stand in line to vote. ... We're voting like our lives depend on it."
A reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted a video of voters in the town of Suwanee, about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, in a line that stretched around a block. (Some prescient voters brought along portable chairs.)
Voting lines were still long heading into the evening hours. Around 5 p.m., a Georgia state senator, Democrat Jen Jordan, posted a screenshot from an app that showed that voters at polling sites around Cobb County were still experiencing delays of more than one hour.
Member station WABE reported Monday that the state has 7.6 million registered voters in this election — a record number for Georgia.
During the primary elections in June, Georgia voters also experienced widespread issues at the polls, including hours-long waits and technical issues with a new, $104 million voting system.


npr--2020-10-12--Scientists Confirm Nevada Man Was Infected Twice With Coronavirus

Scientists Confirm Nevada Man Was Infected Twice With Coronavirus A 25-year-old was infected twice with the coronavirus earlier this year , scientists in Nevada have confirmed .
It is the first confirmed case of so-called reinfection with the virus in the U.S. and the fifth confirmed reinfection case worldwide .
The cases underscore the importance of social distancing and wearing masks even if you were previously infected with the virus , and they raise questions about how the human immune system reacts to the virus .
The two infections in the Nevada patient occurred about six weeks apart , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medical journal The Lancet .
The patient originally tested positive for the virus in April and had symptoms including a cough and nausea .
He recovered and tested negative for the virus in May .
But at the end of May , he went to an urgent care center with symptoms including fever , cough and dizziness .
In early June , he tested positive again and ended up in the hospital .
`` The second infection was symptomatically more severe than the first , '' the authors of the study write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 .
This is the second confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection in which the patient was sicker the second time .
A patient in Ecuador also suffered a more serious case of COVID-19 the second time they were infected with the virus .
Scientists are unsure why this might be .
In theory , the body 's immune system should make antibodies after the first infection that help it combat the virus more effectively if the person is exposed to the same virus again .
`` There are many reasons why a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around , '' explains Akiko Iwasaki , a professor of immunobiology at Yale University who was not involved in the Nevada study .
For example , `` they may have been exposed to a lot higher levels of the virus the second time around , '' she says , or the immune response from the first infection might be making the disease worse rather than better .
But , she stresses , `` this is all very speculative '' because scientists still have very little information about the mechanisms at play .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread reinfection might be .
It 's difficult to confirm cases in which a person is infected twice .
Scientists must have the nasal swabs from both the first and second infection in order to compare the genomes of both virus samples .
Only the most advanced hospital and laboratory facilities have the equipment and personnel to do the genome sequencing and analyze the results .
As a result , most cases of reinfection are likely going undetected .
Danny Altmann , a professor of immunology at Imperial College London , says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have experienced `` a clear , symptomatic infection '' have the antibodies to fight off another infection , `` perhaps for about a year . ''
`` Of course , that leaves 10 % who do n't '' have sufficient antibodies to fight off a second infection , he wrote in an email to NPR .
`` [ T ] hey have precisely the same risk as anyone out there , thus a small but significant number of reinfections . ''
The authors of the new study also raise the possibility that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have implications for the efficacy of a coronavirus vaccine , since some people exposed to the virus may not be mounting sufficient immune responses to protect themselves from a second infection .
But Iwasaki says such cases have no bearing on the efficacy of a future vaccine .
The virus can deploy proteins to get in the way of the immune response , whereas a vaccine has none of those proteins , she explains .
`` The good thing about a vaccine is that it can induce much better immunity , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural exposure to the the virus , '' she says .

Scientists Confirm Nevada Man Was Infected Twice With Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Locher/AP John Locher/AP
A 25-year-old was infected twice with the coronavirus earlier this year, scientists in Nevada have confirmed. It is the first confirmed case of so-called reinfection with the virus in the U.S. and the fifth confirmed reinfection case worldwide.
The cases underscore the importance of social distancing and wearing masks even if you were previously infected with the virus, and they raise questions about how the human immune system reacts to the virus.
The two infections in the Nevada patient occurred about six weeks apart, according to a case study published Monday in the medical journal The Lancet. The patient originally tested positive for the virus in April and had symptoms including a cough and nausea. He recovered and tested negative for the virus in May.
But at the end of May, he went to an urgent care center with symptoms including fever, cough and dizziness. In early June, he tested positive again and ended up in the hospital.
"The second infection was symptomatically more severe than the first," the authors of the study write. The patient survived his second bout with COVID-19.
This is the second confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection in which the patient was sicker the second time. A patient in Ecuador also suffered a more serious case of COVID-19 the second time they were infected with the virus.
Scientists are unsure why this might be. In theory, the body's immune system should make antibodies after the first infection that help it combat the virus more effectively if the person is exposed to the same virus again.
"There are many reasons why a person might get sicker the second time around," explains Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at Yale University who was not involved in the Nevada study. For example, "they may have been exposed to a lot higher levels of the virus the second time around," she says, or the immune response from the first infection might be making the disease worse rather than better.
But, she stresses, "this is all very speculative" because scientists still have very little information about the mechanisms at play.
One of the biggest outstanding questions is how widespread reinfection might be. It's difficult to confirm cases in which a person is infected twice. Scientists must have the nasal swabs from both the first and second infection in order to compare the genomes of both virus samples.
Only the most advanced hospital and laboratory facilities have the equipment and personnel to do the genome sequencing and analyze the results. As a result, most cases of reinfection are likely going undetected.
Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, says it seems that about 90% of people who have experienced "a clear, symptomatic infection" have the antibodies to fight off another infection, "perhaps for about a year."
"Of course, that leaves 10% who don't" have sufficient antibodies to fight off a second infection, he wrote in an email to NPR. "[T]hey have precisely the same risk as anyone out there, thus a small but significant number of reinfections."
The authors of the new study also raise the possibility that cases of people being infected multiple times could have implications for the efficacy of a coronavirus vaccine, since some people exposed to the virus may not be mounting sufficient immune responses to protect themselves from a second infection.
But Iwasaki says such cases have no bearing on the efficacy of a future vaccine. The virus can deploy proteins to get in the way of the immune response, whereas a vaccine has none of those proteins, she explains. "The good thing about a vaccine is that it can induce much better immunity, a much longer lasting immunity, than the natural exposure to the the virus," she says.