npr--2020-05-05--White House Coronavirus Task Force To Wind Down

The White House 's coronavirus task force will wind down its work around Memorial Day , Vice President Mike Pence told reporters on Tuesday .
`` I think we 're starting to look at the Memorial Day window , early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies ... begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner , '' Pence said .
He said the task force has already begun to talk about a transition plan with the Federal Emergency Management Agency , and that the White House intends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` every bit as long as we need to . ''
President Trump told reporters at an event in Phoenix Tuesday that the task force had done an `` incredible job '' boosting testing and ventilator production and now there is a shift in focus .
`` We 're now looking at a little bit of a different form , '' he said , answering questions about why he was winding down the task force .
`` It 's sort of a combination of safety and reopening , so we 'll have something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , telling reporters that Drs .
Birx and Anthony Fauci , who 's director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , would remain involved , as would `` other doctors and experts in the field . ''
`` We 've learned a lot , '' he said , adding that states would be able to handle small outbreaks that flare up .
Trump said some doctors , whom he did not name , had suggested keeping the economy closed for longer .
`` We ca n't keep our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` I 'm not saying anything is perfect , '' he added .
`` Will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some people be badly affected ?
Yes . ''
As of Tuesday afternoon , more than 70,000 Americans have died due to the coronavirus , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University researchers .
Birx , who was also at the briefing with Pence Tuesday , said they need to keep a close eye on virus data at the federal level , a capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even though the coronavirus task force will meet less frequently , a senior White House official tells NPR 's Tamara Keith that doctors on the task force will `` continue to play an important advisory role '' as the White House shifts its focus toward reopening the economy .
The task force was formed in late January , and initially was led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar .
According to a White House statement issued at the time , the role of the task force was to `` lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain , and mitigate the spread of the virus , while ensuring that the American people have the most accurate and up-to-date health and travel information . ''
Azar was replaced as the task force leader in late February in favor of Pence .
Trump gave daily press briefings with task force members for a period — some lasting two hours long and often dominated by Trump — but they have not been held of late .

Trump Says Coronavirus Task Force To Stay 'Indefinitely,' After Signaling Wind-Down
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Updated on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET
President Trump said he had planned to wind down the White House coronavirus task force, but now plans to add two or three new members by Monday, noting he had received "calls from very respected people" to keep it going.
Trump said the task force would continue "indefinitely" and made clear its focus would be on "opening the country." Some members of the task force, such as people who worked on increasing the supply of ventilators, "may be less involved," he said.
"I thought we could wind it down sooner," Trump told reporters Wednesday, noting, "at a certain point, we won't need the task force."
"But I had no idea how popular the task force is until actually yesterday when I started talking about winding it down. ... It is appreciated by the public," Trump said.
On Tuesday, Trump and Vice President Pence indicated the task force was in transition to shift toward reopening and generally looking at winding down.
The task force and its daily briefings with reporters riveted the country during March and April, first with recommendations for shutting down much of daily American life, followed by guidance for how to start reopening the economy.
Trump on reopening
At an Oval Office meeting with nurses to mark National Nurses Day, Trump said Americans want the economy to reopen and things to start to return to normal, saying, "I don't think our people will stand for it," referring to the continuation of stay-at-home orders.
He described the virus in terms of an attack on the country.
"This is worse than Pearl Harbor. This is worse than the World Trade Center. There's never been an attack like this," he said.
Trump was asked about schools reopening in August. "Schools should definitely open, in my opinion," he said. Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the task force, later noted that decisions about reopening, including schools, should vary by county and by state.
Trump repeated comments he first made in a town hall on Sunday suggesting that teachers over the age of 60, especially those with diabetes or heart problems, should not return to work.
Trump said he put an N95 mask on for a short period of time "backstage" during a visit to the Honeywell plant in Phoenix Tuesday, but was told by the CEO that he didn't need one.
He complained media were asking why he didn't appear on camera in the mask. "There's nothing I can do to satisfy the media," he said.
"An ongoing shift"
On Tuesday, the administration indicated that the task force was looking at fading out, or would at least take on a new form.
"So I think that, as far as the task force, Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job. But we're now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And we'll have a different group probably set up for that," Trump told reporters during an event Tuesday.
Back in Washington, Pence told a group of reporters on Tuesday that there were ongoing "conversations" about "what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level."
"I think we're starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies ... begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner," Pence said.
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A senior White House official said there would be "an ongoing shift over the next few weeks" to reopening the economy. The official said that even though the task force would be winding down and meeting less frequently, the doctors and scientists on the task force will continue to advise the White House on medical guidelines.
As of Wednesday, more than 71,000 Americans have died because of the coronavirus, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University researchers. Some parts of the country continue to see the number of new cases rise. Some models show deaths could spike again as stay-at-home orders end and people return to work.
Trump has made clear that he is leaving decisions about the pace of reopening up to governors. On Tuesday, he acknowledged that reopening the economy could cost some people their lives.
"I'm not saying anything is perfect and yes, will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes, but we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon," he said.


npr--2020-05-05--Hospital ICUs Are Adapting To COVID-19 At 'Light Speed'

Hospital ICUs Are Adapting To COVID-19 At 'Light Speed' Intensive care teams inside hospitals are rapidly altering the way they care for patients with COVID-19 .
The changes range from new protective gear to new treatment protocols aimed at preventing deadly blood clots .
`` Things are moving so fast within this pandemic , it 's hard to keep up '' says Dr. Angela Hewlett , an infectious diseases physician at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit .
To stay current , she says , ICUs are updating their practices `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are learning at light speed about the disease , '' says Dr. Craig Coopersmith , interim director of the critical care center at Emory University .
`` Things that previously might have taken us years to learn , we 're learning in a week or two .
Things that might have taken us a month to learn beforehand , we 're learning in a day or two . ''
The most obvious changes involve measures to protect ICU doctors , nurses and staff from the virus .
`` There is a true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Dr. Tiffany Osborn a critical care specialist at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis .
`` You have to think about everything you touch as if it burned . ''
So ICUs are adapting measures used at special biocontainment units like the one at the University of Nebraska .
These units were designed to care for patients affected by bioterrorism or infected with particularly hazardous communicable diseases like SARS and Ebola .
The Nebraska biocontainment unit `` received several patients early on in the pandemic who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship , '' Hewlett says .
But it did n't have enough beds for the large numbers of local patients who began arriving at the University of Nebraska Medical Center .
So the nurses , respiratory therapists and physicians from the biocontainment team have `` fanned out and are now working within those COVID units to make sure that all of our principles and protocols are followed there as well , '' Hewlett says .
Those protocols involve measures like monitoring ICU staff when they remove their protective gear to make sure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected patients in negative pressure rooms , which draw air inward , when possible to prevent the virus from escaping .
One of the riskiest ICU procedures is inserting a breathing tube in a COVID-19 patient 's airway , which creates a direct path for virus to escape from a patient 's lungs .
`` If you 're intubating a patient , that 's a much higher risk than , say , going in and doing routine patient care , '' Hewlett says .
So ICU teams are being advised to add several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Extra personal protective equipment may include an N95 respirator , goggles , a full face shield , a head hood , an impermeable isolation gown and double gloves .
In many ICUs , teams are also placing a clear plastic box or sheet over the patient 's head and upper body before inserting the tube .
And as a final safety measure , the doctor may guide the tube using a video camera rather than looking directly down a patient 's airway .
`` It usually takes 30 minutes or so in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , to get all of the right people there , '' says Dr. Kira Newman , a senior resident physician at UW Medical Center in Seattle .
`` and that would be a particularly fast intubation . ''
But most changes in the ICU are in response to an ongoing flood of new information about how COVID-19 affects the body .
There 's a growing understanding , for example , that the infection can cause dangerous blood clots to form in many severely ill patients .
These clots can kill if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they also can prevent blood from reaching the kidneys or even a patient 's arms and legs .
Clots are a known risk for all ICU patients , Cooperman says , but the frequency and severity appears much greater with COVID-19 .
`` So we 're starting them on a higher level of medicine to prevent blood clots and if somebody actually develops blood clots , we have a plan B and a plan C and a plan D , '' he says .
ICU teams are also recalibrating their approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oxygen .
Early in the pandemic , the idea was to put patients on mechanical ventilator quickly to make sure their oxygen levels did n't fall too far .
But with experience , doctors have found that mechanical ventilators do n't seem to work as well for COVID patients as they do for patients with other lung problems .
They 've also learned that that many COVID-19 patients remain lucid and relatively comfortable even when the oxygen levels in their blood are extremely low .
So many specialists are now recommending alternatives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sickest patients .
`` We 're really trying now to not intubate , '' Osborn says .
Instead , ICU teams are relying on devices that deliver oxygen through the nasal passages , or through a mask that fits tightly over the face .
And there 's renewed interest in an old technique to help patients breathe .
It 's called proning .
`` Instead of them being on their back , we 're turning them on their front , '' Osborn says .
The reason , she says is to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is collapsed when a patient is on their back .

Hospital ICUs Are Adapting To COVID-19 At 'Light Speed'
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Moore/Getty Images John Moore/Getty Images
Intensive care teams inside hospitals are rapidly altering the way they care for patients with COVID-19.
The changes range from new protective gear to new treatment protocols aimed at preventing deadly blood clots.
"Things are moving so fast within this pandemic, it's hard to keep up" says Dr. Angela Hewlett, an infectious diseases physician at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. To stay current, she says, ICUs are updating their practices "on an hourly basis."
"We are learning at light speed about the disease," says Dr. Craig Coopersmith , interim director of the critical care center at Emory University. "Things that previously might have taken us years to learn, we're learning in a week or two. Things that might have taken us a month to learn beforehand, we're learning in a day or two."
The most obvious changes involve measures to protect ICU doctors, nurses and staff from the virus.
"There is a true and real probability of infection," says Dr. Tiffany Osborn a critical care specialist at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. "You have to think about everything you touch as if it burned."
So ICUs are adapting measures used at special biocontainment units like the one at the University of Nebraska. These units were designed to care for patients affected by bioterrorism or infected with particularly hazardous communicable diseases like SARS and Ebola.
The Nebraska biocontainment unit "received several patients early on in the pandemic who were medically evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship," Hewlett says. But it didn't have enough beds for the large numbers of local patients who began arriving at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
So the nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians from the biocontainment team have "fanned out and are now working within those COVID units to make sure that all of our principles and protocols are followed there as well," Hewlett says.
Those protocols involve measures like monitoring ICU staff when they remove their protective gear to make sure the virus isn't transmitted, and placing infected patients in negative pressure rooms, which draw air inward, when possible to prevent the virus from escaping.
One of the riskiest ICU procedures is inserting a breathing tube in a COVID-19 patient's airway, which creates a direct path for virus to escape from a patient's lungs. "If you're intubating a patient, that's a much higher risk than, say, going in and doing routine patient care," Hewlett says.
So ICU teams are being advised to add several layers of protection beyond a surgical mask.
Extra personal protective equipment may include an N95 respirator, goggles, a full face shield, a head hood, an impermeable isolation gown and double gloves.
In many ICUs, teams are also placing a clear plastic box or sheet over the patient's head and upper body before inserting the tube. And as a final safety measure, the doctor may guide the tube using a video camera rather than looking directly down a patient's airway.
"It usually takes 30 minutes or so in order to get all of that equipment together, to get all of the right people there," says Dr. Kira Newman, a senior resident physician at UW Medical Center in Seattle. "and that would be a particularly fast intubation."
But most changes in the ICU are in response to an ongoing flood of new information about how COVID-19 affects the body.
There's a growing understanding, for example, that the infection can cause dangerous blood clots to form in many severely ill patients. These clots can kill if they block arteries supplying the lungs or brain. But they also can prevent blood from reaching the kidneys or even a patient's arms and legs.
Clots are a known risk for all ICU patients, Cooperman says, but the frequency and severity appears much greater with COVID-19. "So we're starting them on a higher level of medicine to prevent blood clots and if somebody actually develops blood clots, we have a plan B and a plan C and a plan D," he says.
ICU teams are also recalibrating their approach to ensuring that patients are getting enough oxygen. Early in the pandemic, the idea was to put patients on mechanical ventilator quickly to make sure their oxygen levels didn't fall too far.
But with experience, doctors have found that mechanical ventilators don't seem to work as well for COVID patients as they do for patients with other lung problems. They've also learned that that many COVID-19 patients remain lucid and relatively comfortable even when the oxygen levels in their blood are extremely low.
So many specialists are now recommending alternatives to mechanical ventilation, even for some of the sickest patients. "We're really trying now to not intubate," Osborn says.
Instead, ICU teams are relying on devices that deliver oxygen through the nasal passages, or through a mask that fits tightly over the face. And there's renewed interest in an old technique to help patients breathe. It's called proning.
"Instead of them being on their back, we're turning them on their front," Osborn says. The reason, she says is to open up a part of the lung that is collapsed when a patient is on their back.


npr--2020-05-05--Judge Says He Faced No Political Pressure From McConnell To Retire

Judge Says He Faced No Political Pressure From McConnell To Retire As new allegations emerge about his motives for retirement , Judge Thomas Griffith says that he faced no political pressure in his decision to leave the bench .
`` My decision was driven entirely by personal concerns and involved no discussions with the White House or the Senate , '' he said in a statement provided to NPR .
Griffith said that his wife was diagnosed 11 years ago with a `` debilitating chronic illness '' and that her health was `` the sole reason for my retirement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retire in June 2019 and privately informed his family and law clerks at the time .
His retirement was announced publicly in March .
Griffith , 65 , is a circuit court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia .
Appointed by President George W. Bush , he has served since 2005 .
On Monday , The New York Times reported that Demand Justice , a liberal judicial advocacy group , filed a complaint that raises questions about whether Griffith 's decision was tied to efforts by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older , conservative judges to retire in order to fill their vacancies with younger , conservative judges ahead of the 2020 election , when control of the White House and the Senate will be in play .
Griffith 's retirement has paved the way for Justin Walker 's nomination to fill the vacancy .
Walker , 37 , is a longtime McConnell ally who is currently serving as a U.S. district judge of the Western District of Kentucky , McConnell 's home state .
The Demand Justice complaint was directed to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's chief judge , Sri Srinivasan , has asked Chief Justice John Roberts to assign another circuit to look into the complaint about whether any ethical improprieties occurred .
Griffith 's statement refutes the core allegation — that his decision was fueled by political considerations or the result of a pressure campaign .
These allegations are likely to come up at Walker 's confirmation hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Democrats broadly oppose Walker 's nomination .
He was rated `` not qualified '' by the American Bar Association .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diminished among Republicans — unlikely with McConnell 's backing — he is likely to be confirmed .

Judge Says He Faced No Political Pressure From McConnell To Retire
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
As new allegations emerge about his motives for retirement, Judge Thomas Griffith says that he faced no political pressure in his decision to leave the bench.
"My decision was driven entirely by personal concerns and involved no discussions with the White House or the Senate," he said in a statement provided to NPR.
Griffith said that his wife was diagnosed 11 years ago with a "debilitating chronic illness" and that her health was "the sole reason for my retirement." He said he made the decision to retire in June 2019 and privately informed his family and law clerks at the time. His retirement was announced publicly in March.
Griffith, 65, is a circuit court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Appointed by President George W. Bush, he has served since 2005.
On Monday, The New York Times reported that Demand Justice, a liberal judicial advocacy group, filed a complaint that raises questions about whether Griffith's decision was tied to efforts by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to encourage older, conservative judges to retire in order to fill their vacancies with younger, conservative judges ahead of the 2020 election, when control of the White House and the Senate will be in play.
Griffith's retirement has paved the way for Justin Walker's nomination to fill the vacancy. Walker, 37, is a longtime McConnell ally who is currently serving as a U.S. district judge of the Western District of Kentucky, McConnell's home state.
The Demand Justice complaint was directed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, where the court's chief judge, Sri Srinivasan, has asked Chief Justice John Roberts to assign another circuit to look into the complaint about whether any ethical improprieties occurred. Griffith's statement refutes the core allegation — that his decision was fueled by political considerations or the result of a pressure campaign.
These allegations are likely to come up at Walker's confirmation hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Democrats broadly oppose Walker's nomination. However, unless support for him is diminished among Republicans — unlikely with McConnell's backing — he is likely to be confirmed.


npr--2020-05-05--Lawsuit Alleges CARES Act Excludes U.S. Citizen Children Of Undocumented Immigrants

U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents who are excluded from the $ 2 trillion federal coronavirus relief package filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday .
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Maryland by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center along with CASA , a nonprofit immigrant rights organization serving the Washington , D.C.-area and Pennsylvania , on behalf of seven children , ranging in age from 7 months old to 9 years old , and their parents .
`` My daughter is a U.S. citizen , '' said Carmen , the mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not want to give her full name because of her immigration status .
`` Just as any other U.S. citizen child , my daughter deserves to have equal rights , '' especially during this pandemic , Carmen said .
`` It 's an injustice . ''
As job losses continue to increase nationwide due to the public health pandemic , the federal government 's enormous Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , signed into law March 27 , provides an economic lifeline to millions of people who pay taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual taxpayer identification number , or ITIN , used by Carmen and many other undocumented immigrants .
Every eligible individual receives a $ 1,200 check if the person has an income of less than $ 75,000 per year , or $ 2,400 if a couple files taxes jointly .
If the income is higher , the amount varies .
Individual taxpayers ' children also qualify for $ 500 per child under the age of 17 .
Carmen said she pays income tax every year using her ITIN .
Before the pandemic she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one at a catering company and another at a pizzeria .
`` This is the first time I 'm home without an income , '' she said .
`` I 'm using my voice to advocate on behalf of my daughter . ''
Carmen came to the U.S. from Lima , Peru , in 2001 .
She said she 's concerned about her and her daughter 's future in this pandemic .
`` It 's a hard reality we are living , '' she said , pleading with public officials not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I hope their hearts soften and their minds open to see that our children are also the future of the country . ''
Mary McCord is the lead attorney for the class-action lawsuit .
`` The lawsuit is based on the equal protection violation of the CARES Act that discriminates and excludes U.S. children , '' said McCord , a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center .
`` It 's one thing to discriminate against the undocumented immigrants , which our system does , but it 's a whole different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
McCord estimates there are millions of children of undocumented immigrants in the country and said that these youths are being `` treated as second-class citizens '' with the denial of the CARES Act benefit .
More importantly , McCord said , it 's nonsensical to deny these U.S. citizen children the benefit of the relief package because they already qualify for other public benefit programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , or SNAP benefits , as well as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , or TANF .
`` Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be discriminated against based on alienage , '' McCord said .
`` These children have no say in who they 're born to , and yet they 're being treated differently than other U.S. citizen children .
And that 's why so many of the other public benefits programs still do cover U.S. citizen children , because otherwise it would be discriminatory . ''
Nicholas Katz , CASA 's senior manager of legal services , said the way the CARES Act is being implemented runs counter to its promise .
`` The purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most vulnerable members of our society during this difficult time , '' Katz said in written statements .
`` Immigrants make up almost a fifth of [ front-line ] workers during this pandemic .
It is an absolute outrage that we are relying on immigrant families to care for our loved ones and provide our essential supplies and yet denying their children the support they are entitled to as U.S .
citizens . ''
This case does n't have a precedent , though two lawsuits in Maryland and Illinois have been filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couples of mixed immigration status .
They were denied CARES Act relief because one of them is an undocumented immigrant , while the other is a U.S. citizen .

Lawsuit Alleges CARES Act Excludes U.S. Citizen Children Of Undocumented Immigrants
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents who are excluded from the $2 trillion federal coronavirus relief package filed a federal class-action lawsuit Tuesday.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Maryland by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center along with CASA, a nonprofit immigrant rights organization serving the Washington, D.C.-area and Pennsylvania, on behalf of seven children, ranging in age from 7 months old to 9 years old, and their parents.
"My daughter is a U.S. citizen," said Carmen, the mother of one child in the lawsuit who did not want to give her full name because of her immigration status.
"Just as any other U.S. citizen child, my daughter deserves to have equal rights," especially during this pandemic, Carmen said. "It's an injustice."
As job losses continue to increase nationwide due to the public health pandemic, the federal government's enormous Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed into law March 27, provides an economic lifeline to millions of people who pay taxes using their Social Security number instead of the individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, used by Carmen and many other undocumented immigrants.
Every eligible individual receives a $1,200 check if the person has an income of less than $75,000 per year, or $2,400 if a couple files taxes jointly. If the income is higher, the amount varies. Individual taxpayers' children also qualify for $500 per child under the age of 17.
Carmen said she pays income tax every year using her ITIN. Before the pandemic she worked two jobs in the food industry — one at a catering company and another at a pizzeria.
"This is the first time I'm home without an income," she said. "I'm using my voice to advocate on behalf of my daughter."
Economy Advocates Help Immigrants Who Are Excluded From Relief Checks Advocates Help Immigrants Who Are Excluded From Relief Checks Listen · 3:21 3:21
Carmen came to the U.S. from Lima, Peru, in 2001. She said she's concerned about her and her daughter's future in this pandemic.
"It's a hard reality we are living," she said, pleading with public officials not to abandon children like hers during the crisis. "I hope their hearts soften and their minds open to see that our children are also the future of the country."
Mary McCord is the lead attorney for the class-action lawsuit.
"The lawsuit is based on the equal protection violation of the CARES Act that discriminates and excludes U.S. children," said McCord, a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center. "It's one thing to discriminate against the undocumented immigrants, which our system does, but it's a whole different thing to discriminate against U.S. citizen children."
McCord estimates there are millions of children of undocumented immigrants in the country and said that these youths are being "treated as second-class citizens" with the denial of the CARES Act benefit.
More importantly, McCord said, it's nonsensical to deny these U.S. citizen children the benefit of the relief package because they already qualify for other public benefit programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits, as well as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF.
"Under the Constitution, U.S. citizens cannot be discriminated against based on alienage," McCord said. "These children have no say in who they're born to, and yet they're being treated differently than other U.S. citizen children. And that's why so many of the other public benefits programs still do cover U.S. citizen children, because otherwise it would be discriminatory."
Nicholas Katz, CASA's senior manager of legal services, said the way the CARES Act is being implemented runs counter to its promise.
"The purpose of the CARES Act is to help the most vulnerable members of our society during this difficult time," Katz said in written statements. "Immigrants make up almost a fifth of [front-line] workers during this pandemic. It is an absolute outrage that we are relying on immigrant families to care for our loved ones and provide our essential supplies and yet denying their children the support they are entitled to as U.S. citizens."
This case doesn't have a precedent, though two lawsuits in Maryland and Illinois have been filed against the U.S. government on behalf of couples of mixed immigration status. They were denied CARES Act relief because one of them is an undocumented immigrant, while the other is a U.S. citizen.


npr--2020-05-05--Florida Boosts COVID-19 Testing, Sending New-Case Rate To A Record Low

Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis says his state has hit a new record low in the rate of positive test results for COVID-19 , as only around 2.5 % of nearly 24,000 tests confirmed an infection on Monday .
The test results were the most Florida has received in a single day .
The governor celebrated the good news , which emerged one day after Florida relaxed shutdown restrictions on restaurants and retail stores in much of the state .
`` We got 23,884 test results , '' DeSantis said at a midday briefing Tuesday .
`` Out of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Florida cases . ''
`` If you look at the percent positive , which is something we track very closely , yesterday 's test results have got to be the lowest percent positive since we 've been doing any type of major testing , '' DeSantis said .
The positive news about test results came after Florida reported two notable rises in the day-to-day number of new cases .
On Friday , the state 's `` weeklong trend of daily totals under 1,000 was broken , '' as member station WLRN reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend , but on Monday , the state confirmed 819 new coronavirus cases .
The governor said he does n't think Florida has seen positive test results for new cases higher than 6 % in around two weeks .
While the state has indeed seen a distinct downward trend over the past two weeks , the Florida Department of Health recorded a new-case rate of 6.18 % on April 23 ; it also hit 5.99 % last Monday .
It 's been much longer , DeSantis said , since Florida saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think that that 's a good trend , '' the governor said .
`` But part of that is because we have worked so hard to expand testing . ''
Florida will also add antibody tests to the state 's drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites this week , the governor said .
And he said the state should consider retaining a special law that has allowed restaurants to include alcohol in their delivery and takeout orders .
Florida currently has a total of more than 37,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , and 1,471 people have died , the state says .
DeSantis delivered his briefing outdoors , at a new drive-thru diagnostics site in Sarasota County .
It is the 12th such state-supported facility , he said , adding that drive-thru sites have accounted for some 109,000 tests .
The state plans to announce a mobile testing lab this week , using an RV to deploy rapid testing , with results ready in around 45 minutes .
Florida 's shelter-in-place order expired last Thursday , but DeSantis has asked residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medically vulnerable people to stay home as much as they can .
Testing capacity for COVID-19 is expected play a vital role in Florida 's attempts to restart its economy and reopen businesses , after enduring weeks of restrictions due to the pandemic .
`` The fact of the matter is , Florida has met all the gating criteria to be into Phase One , '' DeSantis said .
Areas such as the state 's west coast are ready to reopen first , the governor said , but highly populated southeastern counties such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on a slower timetable .

Florida Boosts COVID-19 Testing, Sending New-Case Rate To A Record Low
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris O'Meara/AP Chris O'Meara/AP
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says his state has hit a new record low in the rate of positive test results for COVID-19, as only around 2.5% of nearly 24,000 tests confirmed an infection on Monday. The test results were the most Florida has received in a single day.
The governor celebrated the good news, which emerged one day after Florida relaxed shutdown restrictions on restaurants and retail stores in much of the state.
"We got 23,884 test results," DeSantis said at a midday briefing Tuesday. "Out of that massive batch, it only yielded 589 new Florida cases."
"If you look at the percent positive, which is something we track very closely, yesterday's test results have got to be the lowest percent positive since we've been doing any type of major testing," DeSantis said.
The positive news about test results came after Florida reported two notable rises in the day-to-day number of new cases. On Friday, the state's "weeklong trend of daily totals under 1,000 was broken," as member station WLRN reports from Miami. That daily figure fell over the weekend, but on Monday, the state confirmed 819 new coronavirus cases.
The governor said he doesn't think Florida has seen positive test results for new cases higher than 6% in around two weeks. While the state has indeed seen a distinct downward trend over the past two weeks, the Florida Department of Health recorded a new-case rate of 6.18% on April 23; it also hit 5.99% last Monday.
It's been much longer, DeSantis said, since Florida saw a new-case rate higher than 7%.
"I think that that's a good trend," the governor said. "But part of that is because we have worked so hard to expand testing."
Florida will also add antibody tests to the state's drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites this week, the governor said. And he said the state should consider retaining a special law that has allowed restaurants to include alcohol in their delivery and takeout orders.
Florida currently has a total of more than 37,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases. More than 6,000 people have been hospitalized during the pandemic, and 1,471 people have died, the state says.
DeSantis delivered his briefing outdoors, at a new drive-thru diagnostics site in Sarasota County. It is the 12th such state-supported facility, he said, adding that drive-thru sites have accounted for some 109,000 tests. The state plans to announce a mobile testing lab this week, using an RV to deploy rapid testing, with results ready in around 45 minutes.
Florida's shelter-in-place order expired last Thursday, but DeSantis has asked residents to continue to social distancing, and for medically vulnerable people to stay home as much as they can.
Testing capacity for COVID-19 is expected play a vital role in Florida's attempts to restart its economy and reopen businesses, after enduring weeks of restrictions due to the pandemic.
"The fact of the matter is, Florida has met all the gating criteria to be into Phase One," DeSantis said.
Areas such as the state's west coast are ready to reopen first, the governor said, but highly populated southeastern counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach are on a slower timetable.


npr--2020-05-05--U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: Businesses Are Worried About Getting Sued As They Reopen

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce : Businesses Are Worried About Getting Sued As They Reopen Several states and local governments are allowing businesses to reopen with certain restrictions and conditions regarding social distancing and cleaning measures .
But what happens when an employee gets COVID-19 on the job and says the employer should have done more to stop it ?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says businesses are worried about being sued as they navigate reopening .
The group says concerns about health privacy , age discrimination claims and requirements for providing personal protective equipment have employers anxious .
Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned of an `` avalanche of lawsuits '' against businesses and said he wants liability protections in new coronavirus aid measures .
Remington Gregg of Public Citizen , a progressive consumer advocacy group , told NPR last week that McConnell 's proposal would `` make it even more difficult for workers to ensure that they were in safe working environments . ''
Neil Bradley , the chamber 's executive vice president and chief policy officer , talked with Morning Edition 's Noel King about the business lobbying group 's concerns .
Is there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people , the millions of people out of work right now , who desperately want to get back to work ?
Is there evidence that frivolous lawsuits are happening ?
There are .
We 're already tracking over 300 different lawsuits that have already been filed in this period where things have closed down .
In some states , we 're seeing advertisements on TV by trial lawyer firms actually looking for people to become clients so they can go sue someone .
So it 's not a theoretical concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about people who have been told they have to report to unsafe workplaces .
I 'll use as an example , meatpacking plants have seen these huge outbreaks .
Wo n't your lobbying just make it harder for ordinary people to have any legal recourse to protect themselves ?
No .
And it 's important to understand what we 're asking for here .
We 're not asking for some type of immunity .
We 're asking for a safe harbor .
So the CDC , OSHA , state public health authority issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comply with those recommendations .
That should be a safe harbor for them against those type of frivolous lawsuits .
If a business is grossly negligent , if they are willfully forcing workers to work in unsafe conditions , then they do n't have that liability protection .
No one wants to protect bad actors here , but businesses who are trying to do the right thing should n't be second-guessed a year later in a court of law .
Listen to the full interview here .

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: Businesses Are Worried About Getting Sued As They Reopen
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Several states and local governments are allowing businesses to reopen with certain restrictions and conditions regarding social distancing and cleaning measures.
But what happens when an employee gets COVID-19 on the job and says the employer should have done more to stop it?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says businesses are worried about being sued as they navigate reopening. The group says concerns about health privacy, age discrimination claims and requirements for providing personal protective equipment have employers anxious.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has warned of an "avalanche of lawsuits" against businesses and said he wants liability protections in new coronavirus aid measures.
Democrats have called it a "nonstarter."
Remington Gregg of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer advocacy group, told NPR last week that McConnell's proposal would "make it even more difficult for workers to ensure that they were in safe working environments."
Neil Bradley, the chamber's executive vice president and chief policy officer, talked with Morning Edition's Noel King about the business lobbying group's concerns.
Interview Highlights
Is there real concern about frivolous lawsuits with all of the people, the millions of people out of work right now, who desperately want to get back to work? Is there evidence that frivolous lawsuits are happening?
There are. We're already tracking over 300 different lawsuits that have already been filed in this period where things have closed down. In some states, we're seeing advertisements on TV by trial lawyer firms actually looking for people to become clients so they can go sue someone. So it's not a theoretical concern.
NPR's done a lot of reporting about people who have been told they have to report to unsafe workplaces. I'll use as an example, meatpacking plants have seen these huge outbreaks. Won't your lobbying just make it harder for ordinary people to have any legal recourse to protect themselves?
No. And it's important to understand what we're asking for here. We're not asking for some type of immunity. We're asking for a safe harbor. So the CDC, OSHA, state public health authority issues recommendations. A business does its best to comply with those recommendations. That should be a safe harbor for them against those type of frivolous lawsuits.
If a business is grossly negligent, if they are willfully forcing workers to work in unsafe conditions, then they don't have that liability protection. No one wants to protect bad actors here, but businesses who are trying to do the right thing shouldn't be second-guessed a year later in a court of law.
Listen to the full interview here.


npr--2020-05-05--Humorist Lightens Depression's Darkness By Talking (And Laughing) About It

Humorist Lightens Depression 's Darkness By Talking ( And Laughing ) About It For much of his life , humorist John Moe has dealt with clinical depression that 's triggered by stress .
Now , faced with the COVID-19 crisis , he says , `` my depression wants to flare up . ''
On his podcast , The Hilarious World of Depression , Moe interviews people who have depression — mostly comics .
His new book , also called The Hilarious World of Depression , details his own experiences , his brother 's suicide and his family 's history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've been hearing [ during the pandemic ] is a fair number of depressed people doing miraculously OK through this , because we 've been preparing for this for a long time , '' he says .
`` This is the world that a lot of 'saddies ' ( as I call them in the book ) have been living for a while . ''
When it comes to his own mental health , Moe says , `` When I feel my mind kind of going to some dark places and starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the skills to spot that and blow the whistle on it and get to a better place . ''
Among Moe 's skills are an ability to speak candidly about his mental health issues — and a willingness to seek help when needed .
He notes he does n't `` suffer from '' depression — nor is it something he is `` cured of . ''
Instead , he says , `` it 's just a thing I have to manage . ''
`` The more I learn about myself , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggers , the better I am at being proactive and heading it off before it can cause a lot of damage , '' he says .
On what he 's hearing from other people with depression about how they 're doing during the pandemic A big thing I 'm hearing is about people forgetting to take their meds , because their routine is completely disrupted .
So if they had been in a situation where you take your meds before you get in the car to go to work , and they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to work for the next while , then they might forget .
...
I 've had a couple days where it 's just going to be a sweatpants day , so if you associate taking your meds with getting dressed in a professional way , then that can fall off .
And I 've paid the price for that .
On how his wife and kids are coping now that they 're sheltering in place It 's kind of a company policy around here to be open and talk about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if there is an issue that needs to be addressed with professional help — [ or ] if there 's an issue that we can address just through our own knowledge .
My wife and I have tried to approach mental health in the same way we would an ear infection or a sprained ankle .
Like , let 's let 's get this out .
Let 's address it .
...
If six months ago somebody had said , `` Hey , you 're going to be pretty much locked up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , the three kids — one of whom is home from his freshman year of college , that he was excited to get to , the other two are home from their school that they love — and you 're going to be locked up for an indefinite period of time , '' I would say , `` Oh , so we 'll all be dead within five days , four days ?
Exactly how will they find us and in what positions ? ''
And so , by that standard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... We 're trying to kind of recognize the reality — and when the breakdowns come , we try to say , `` Yes , of course . ''
We 're not trying to say , `` No , cheer up !
Be happy .
At least here you 're healthy ! ''
Because that 's just not really helpful .
You can have perspective , but you have to recognize the pain that you 're in , because pain is pain and it 's relative to the circumstances of your own life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started for me in junior high school and it was this kind of tidal wave that hit right around the time of puberty .
So I 've never really known how much one contributed to the other , because they 're both kind of mental upheaval moments .
...
I was crying uncontrollably , but [ it was ] not coming from a source of something that had directly made me sad .
It might have been a little something that set me off , but then I just could n't stop crying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong with my tear ducts and it matched a sort of deeper terror and sadness that I was feeling .
I had no words for it .
I just knew that something was wrong .
But then I could see my peers going about their day and teachers and society was continuing along .
And I thought , `` This is shameful .
There 's something wrong with me .
But it 's so strange , it 's so unknown that I 'd better keep it to myself . ''
And so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I was disturbed , crazy , alien .
Something like that .
The only association I had of mental illness was from Bugs Bunny cartoons — which is that eventually you 'll be in a straitjacket in a padded room , thinking you 're Napoleon .
I did n't want to be taken away from my family .
I did n't want to get in trouble .
I did n't want to be institutionalized .
So I thought , I better keep it a secret .
But it was just this unsourced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to a lot of kind of hyper-achieving mentality .
I joined every activity at school .
I was elected to class offices of vice president and president of my class .
I tried to be the friendliest , most outgoing kid I could — thinking that that could be medicinal and counteract it .
[ Depression is ] not about something , it 's not about something that made you sad .
It just is .
It 's an illogical condition — so applying logic to it is just as farcical .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' or `` snap out of it '' It 's well-meaning idiocy by people who have never had to deal with an actual mental disorder to think that it can be repaired by something like that .
I always say , `` you would n't tell someone with leukemia , 'Just go for a walk and I bet they 'll clear the leukemia right up ' [ or ] 'If you smiled more , you would n't have such a broken leg . '
`` I try to see it as well-intentioned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as careless ignorance at the same time .
On losing his brother Rick to suicide It 's a delusion when you 're suicidal to think that people are going to be relieved that you 're gone .
For all the trouble that my brother had , and for all the difficulty he had , and sometimes the difficulty we had dealing with him because he was a drug addict ( later in recovery ) , his addiction created a lot of problems — but his death [ is ] what I measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself and after he shot himself — because those are different lives .
The pain of what he did , I compare it to a bullet that continues to ricochet , like he shot the gun .
He chose to do that , and it went into his head , and then it just kept ricocheting off of everybody else in his life .
And it still is .
And so it 's a horror of his absence and his voluntarily choosing that , that 's created so much pain .
My youngest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but my other kids were about 6 and 4 years old and they met him once .
And then we had to explain , `` You 'll never see him again .
He 's gone forever . ''
And then , later on , we had to explain to them how he had died .
And the pain — the searing pain — is something that we 've all had to carry forever .
I think the pain gets transferred to the people left behind , and the confusion and the guilt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about depression and suicide openly , in part because of his family 's silence about the subject I had this realization at [ my brother 's ] service that , OK , if we do n't talk about this stuff , then there 's every likelihood that it gets worse , that it becomes more of a secret , that it becomes more shameful , that it becomes more hidden .
And when it becomes more hidden and not discussed , it just metastasizes .
It just grows .
But if we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better chance that someone can get help .
If we can erase some of the stigma around it , that person can have at least a better shot at treatment and avoiding this kind of fate .
I mean , in essence , it 's no decision at all .
Of course , we talk about it .
It 's stupid not to .
Why in the world are we choosing not to talk about it ?
Andy Richter was on our show and he 's compared his depression to a bad back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a thing that you have , and sometimes you 're feeling great , and then when it starts to flare up , then you need to take a hard look at it .
You need to go back to your therapies and your treatments .
You need to look at what 's the best way to address this flare up : Is that medication ?
Is it physical therapy ( if it 's a bad back ) or mental therapy ( if it 's your mind ) ?
So , things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a toolkit for dealing with it .
On how humor can change your perspective and make depression feel less isolating I think humor allows you to see the same world everybody sees , but in a new way and in a new perspective , and I think that 's part of the grand intelligence of comedy .
...
It can bust me out of seeing things in a depressive way , which might be my tendency in that moment .
So if I can make a joke about it , it becomes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I have this superpower to go world-to-world , perspective-to-perspective .
That 's emboldening , and that gives me strength .
So that 's a strength that indirectly comes from the depression .
I want to say , I think a big reason for the success of our podcast is because we have comedians , in large part , and lyricists talking about what depression is ... and they can put words to the thing .
... And when that connection happens — with that economy of words and that intelligence of words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suddenly the audience member is not alone in that weird alien space , but they 're part of a club with this funny person on stage and the other people laughing .
And suddenly there 's safety in numbers .
And I think the laugh that then follows from that audience member is a laugh of relief .
I think ... the exhalation of breath that forms a laugh is almost a form of a relieved sigh .
Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview .
Bridget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapted it for the Web .

Humorist Lightens Depression's Darkness By Talking (And Laughing) About It
Enlarge this image toggle caption Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images
For much of his life, humorist John Moe has dealt with clinical depression that's triggered by stress. Now, faced with the COVID-19 crisis, he says, "my depression wants to flare up."
On his podcast, The Hilarious World of Depression, Moe interviews people who have depression — mostly comics. His new book, also called The Hilarious World of Depression, details his own experiences, his brother's suicide and his family's history of mental illness.
"A big thing I've been hearing [during the pandemic] is a fair number of depressed people doing miraculously OK through this, because we've been preparing for this for a long time," he says. "This is the world that a lot of 'saddies' (as I call them in the book) have been living for a while."
When it comes to his own mental health, Moe says, "When I feel my mind kind of going to some dark places and starting to distort reality, I fortunately now have the skills to spot that and blow the whistle on it and get to a better place."
Among Moe's skills are an ability to speak candidly about his mental health issues — and a willingness to seek help when needed. He notes he doesn't "suffer from" depression — nor is it something he is "cured of." Instead, he says, "it's just a thing I have to manage."
"The more I learn about myself, the more I learn about my traumas and triggers, the better I am at being proactive and heading it off before it can cause a lot of damage," he says.
Interview Highlights
On what he's hearing from other people with depression about how they're doing during the pandemic
A big thing I'm hearing is about people forgetting to take their meds, because their routine is completely disrupted. So if they had been in a situation where you take your meds before you get in the car to go to work, and they're never going to get in their car to go to work for the next while, then they might forget. ... I've had a couple days where it's just going to be a sweatpants day, so if you associate taking your meds with getting dressed in a professional way, then that can fall off. And I've paid the price for that.
The Hilarious World of Depression by John Moe Hardcover, 285 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
On how his wife and kids are coping now that they're sheltering in place
It's kind of a company policy around here to be open and talk about what's going on, and talk about if there is an issue that needs to be addressed with professional help — [or] if there's an issue that we can address just through our own knowledge. My wife and I have tried to approach mental health in the same way we would an ear infection or a sprained ankle. Like, let's let's get this out. Let's address it. ...
If six months ago somebody had said, "Hey, you're going to be pretty much locked up in the house together. You, your wife, the three kids — one of whom is home from his freshman year of college, that he was excited to get to, the other two are home from their school that they love — and you're going to be locked up for an indefinite period of time," I would say, "Oh, so we'll all be dead within five days, four days? Exactly how will they find us and in what positions?"
And so, by that standard, I think we're doing great. ... We're trying to kind of recognize the reality — and when the breakdowns come, we try to say, "Yes, of course."
We're not trying to say, "No, cheer up! Be happy. At least here you're healthy!" Because that's just not really helpful. You can have perspective, but you have to recognize the pain that you're in, because pain is pain and it's relative to the circumstances of your own life.
On how his depression began
You can have perspective, but you have to recognize the pain that you're in, because pain is pain and it's relative to the circumstances of your own life.
It started for me in junior high school and it was this kind of tidal wave that hit right around the time of puberty. So I've never really known how much one contributed to the other, because they're both kind of mental upheaval moments. ... I was crying uncontrollably, but [it was] not coming from a source of something that had directly made me sad.
It might have been a little something that set me off, but then I just couldn't stop crying. It was like there was something wrong with my tear ducts and it matched a sort of deeper terror and sadness that I was feeling. I had no words for it. I just knew that something was wrong.
But then I could see my peers going about their day and teachers and society was continuing along. And I thought, "This is shameful. There's something wrong with me. But it's so strange, it's so unknown that I'd better keep it to myself."
And so it was this secret that I held — that I was disturbed, crazy, alien. Something like that. The only association I had of mental illness was from Bugs Bunny cartoons — which is that eventually you'll be in a straitjacket in a padded room, thinking you're Napoleon.
Enlarge this image toggle caption St. Martins Press St. Martins Press
I didn't want to be taken away from my family. I didn't want to get in trouble. I didn't want to be institutionalized. So I thought, I better keep it a secret. But it was just this unsourced terror that I had. ... It led to a lot of kind of hyper-achieving mentality. I joined every activity at school. I was elected to class offices of vice president and president of my class. I tried to be the friendliest, most outgoing kid I could — thinking that that could be medicinal and counteract it.
[Depression is] not about something, it's not about something that made you sad. It just is. It's an illogical condition — so applying logic to it is just as farcical.
On being told to "cheer up" or "snap out of it"
It's well-meaning idiocy by people who have never had to deal with an actual mental disorder to think that it can be repaired by something like that. I always say, "you wouldn't tell someone with leukemia, 'Just go for a walk and I bet they'll clear the leukemia right up' [or] 'If you smiled more, you wouldn't have such a broken leg.' " I try to see it as well-intentioned, but it's hard not to see it as careless ignorance at the same time.
On losing his brother Rick to suicide
It's a delusion when you're suicidal to think that people are going to be relieved that you're gone. For all the trouble that my brother had, and for all the difficulty he had, and sometimes the difficulty we had dealing with him because he was a drug addict (later in recovery), his addiction created a lot of problems — but his death [is] what I measure my life by. Before he shot himself and after he shot himself — because those are different lives. The pain of what he did, I compare it to a bullet that continues to ricochet, like he shot the gun.
He chose to do that, and it went into his head, and then it just kept ricocheting off of everybody else in his life. And it still is. And so it's a horror of his absence and his voluntarily choosing that, that's created so much pain. My youngest hadn't been born when he died, but my other kids were about 6 and 4 years old and they met him once. And then we had to explain, "You'll never see him again. He's gone forever." And then, later on, we had to explain to them how he had died. And the pain — the searing pain — is something that we've all had to carry forever. I think the pain gets transferred to the people left behind, and the confusion and the guilt.
On deciding he wanted to talk about depression and suicide openly, in part because of his family's silence about the subject
I had this realization at [my brother's] service that, OK, if we don't talk about this stuff, then there's every likelihood that it gets worse, that it becomes more of a secret, that it becomes more shameful, that it becomes more hidden. And when it becomes more hidden and not discussed, it just metastasizes. It just grows. But if we do talk about it, there's a better chance that someone can get help. If we can erase some of the stigma around it, that person can have at least a better shot at treatment and avoiding this kind of fate. I mean, in essence, it's no decision at all. Of course, we talk about it. It's stupid not to. Why in the world are we choosing not to talk about it?
On managing depression long-term
Andy Richter was on our show and he's compared his depression to a bad back. Like, you know, that it's a thing that you have, and sometimes you're feeling great, and then when it starts to flare up, then you need to take a hard look at it. You need to go back to your therapies and your treatments. You need to look at what's the best way to address this flare up: Is that medication? Is it physical therapy (if it's a bad back) or mental therapy (if it's your mind)? So, things might go wrong, but you have a toolkit for dealing with it.
On how humor can change your perspective and make depression feel less isolating
I think humor allows you to see the same world everybody sees, but in a new way and in a new perspective, and I think that's part of the grand intelligence of comedy. ... It can bust me out of seeing things in a depressive way, which might be my tendency in that moment. So if I can make a joke about it, it becomes, in fact, a new world — and I have this superpower to go world-to-world, perspective-to-perspective. That's emboldening, and that gives me strength. So that's a strength that indirectly comes from the depression.
I want to say, I think a big reason for the success of our podcast is because we have comedians, in large part, and lyricists talking about what depression is ... and they can put words to the thing. ...
And when that connection happens — with that economy of words and that intelligence of words that a good comedian has — then suddenly the audience member is not alone in that weird alien space, but they're part of a club with this funny person on stage and the other people laughing. And suddenly there's safety in numbers.
And I think the laugh that then follows from that audience member is a laugh of relief. I think ... the exhalation of breath that forms a laugh is almost a form of a relieved sigh.
Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Deborah Franklin adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-05-05--Despite Delays Caused By Coronavirus, Regular Season Baseball Starts In Korea

Despite Delays Caused By Coronavirus , Regular Season Baseball Starts In Korea For sports-starved fans it was a welcome sight — even if delayed a few more hours by rain and a cloud of thick black smoke .
It was all part of opening day for the Korean Baseball Organization , which got underway Tuesday after a five-week delay caused by the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
Thanks to a newly-inked deal ESPN deal announced on Monday , people outside of South Korea will have a chance to get to know the league , known for allowing epic bat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay up late for it .
The network will broadcast live six regular season KBO games during its 2020 season .
One game per day will be televised Tuesday through Sunday with start times beginning between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m .
ET .
`` We 're thrilled to become the exclusive English-language home to the KBO League and to showcase its compelling action and high-level of competition , '' Burke Magnus , ESPN 's executive vice president of programming , said in a statement .
`` We have a longstanding history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're excited to deliver these live events to sports fans , '' Magnus added .
Those live events began Tuesday , in a matchup between the NC Dinos and the Samsung Lions .
It was scheduled to begin at 1 a.m .
ET , but as Sports Illustrated reported , the game was briefly delayed because of rain .
Once underway , the game , played without fans , provided some longed-for action , like a home run blast from NC Dino outfielder Na Sung-bum during the top of the fourth inning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and because there was no crowd reaction , the commentators were initially confused about whether the ball was fair or foul .
`` Nobody seemed to react at all .
There 's obviously no crowd , but the right fielder did n't react and finally [ Sung-bum ] runs around the bases , '' the ESPN commentator said .
The NC Dinos won the game 4-0 , according to the official KBO standings .
The start of another KBO game on Tuesday was delayed not for rain , but because a building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kia Tigers and Kiwoom Heroes were set to play .
`` That game was delayed after a building across the street from the stadium caught fire and blanketed the field in thick , black smoke , '' Sports Illustrated reported .
The Heroes smoked the Tigers , defeating the home team by a score of 11-2 , according to KBO .
The coronavirus has eviscerated the global sports calendar , including the ongoing delayed start of Major League Baseball 's season , which was scheduled to begin March 26 .
According to USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 144-game schedule , despite a late start to the season .
It 's also being closely watched by MLB officials , who are mulling what a season played during a pandemic may look like .
`` The KBO 's success or failure could be an indication of how MLB may look to proceed when it 's ready to begin play , possibly by late June , '' the paper noted .
As NPR has reported , KBO 's new rules due to COVID-19 include temperature checks of players twice daily .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and umpires , must wear face masks and gloves .
Should a player display symptoms , he 'll be placed into quarantine immediately and the league will shut down the stadium where the quarantined player last played .
According to the global coronavirus tracker compiled by Johns Hopkins University , South Korea has roughly 11,000 confirmed cases and 254 deaths .

Despite Delays Caused By Coronavirus, Regular Season Baseball Starts In Korea
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
For sports-starved fans it was a welcome sight — even if delayed a few more hours by rain and a cloud of thick black smoke.
It was all part of opening day for the Korean Baseball Organization, which got underway Tuesday after a five-week delay caused by the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Thanks to a newly-inked deal ESPN deal announced on Monday, people outside of South Korea will have a chance to get to know the league, known for allowing epic bat flips, if they're willing to stay up late for it.
The network will broadcast live six regular season KBO games during its 2020 season. One game per day will be televised Tuesday through Sunday with start times beginning between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. ET.
"We're thrilled to become the exclusive English-language home to the KBO League and to showcase its compelling action and high-level of competition," Burke Magnus, ESPN's executive vice president of programming, said in a statement.
"We have a longstanding history of documenting the game of baseball and we're excited to deliver these live events to sports fans," Magnus added.
Those live events began Tuesday, in a matchup between the NC Dinos and the Samsung Lions. It was scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. ET, but as Sports Illustrated reported, the game was briefly delayed because of rain.
Once underway, the game, played without fans, provided some longed-for action, like a home run blast from NC Dino outfielder Na Sung-bum during the top of the fourth inning.
ESPN posted a video of the homer, and because there was no crowd reaction, the commentators were initially confused about whether the ball was fair or foul.
"Nobody seemed to react at all. There's obviously no crowd, but the right fielder didn't react and finally [Sung-bum] runs around the bases," the ESPN commentator said.
The NC Dinos won the game 4-0, according to the official KBO standings.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
The start of another KBO game on Tuesday was delayed not for rain, but because a building fire erupted near the stadium where the Kia Tigers and Kiwoom Heroes were set to play.
"That game was delayed after a building across the street from the stadium caught fire and blanketed the field in thick, black smoke," Sports Illustrated reported.
The Heroes smoked the Tigers, defeating the home team by a score of 11-2, according to KBO.
The coronavirus has eviscerated the global sports calendar, including the ongoing delayed start of Major League Baseball's season, which was scheduled to begin March 26.
According to USA Today, KBO is hoping to complete its 144-game schedule, despite a late start to the season. It's also being closely watched by MLB officials, who are mulling what a season played during a pandemic may look like.
"The KBO's success or failure could be an indication of how MLB may look to proceed when it's ready to begin play, possibly by late June," the paper noted.
As NPR has reported, KBO's new rules due to COVID-19 include temperature checks of players twice daily. All personnel not in uniform, including trainers and umpires, must wear face masks and gloves.
Should a player display symptoms, he'll be placed into quarantine immediately and the league will shut down the stadium where the quarantined player last played.
According to the global coronavirus tracker compiled by Johns Hopkins University, South Korea has roughly 11,000 confirmed cases and 254 deaths.


npr--2020-05-06--When After-School Is Shut Down, Too

When After-School Is Shut Down, Too

When After-School Is Shut Down , Too When Jessyka Bagdon set out to move her tap dancing classes online , big questions started popping up right away : What about kids who do n't own their own tap shoes ?
How to tap dance at home without ruining the floor ?
And then came the really big challenge : Online programs like Zoom are designed for meetings , not dance classes .
`` They 're made to pick up voices , '' she explains , not the clickety clack of tap-dancing shoes .
`` So how do we make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as background noise ? ''
So Blagdon , an instructor at 'Knock on Wood Tap Studio ' in Washington , D.C. , set about problem-solving .
No tap shoes ?
Turns out Mary Jane flats work well .
Saving the floor ?
A piece of plywood does the trick.And that muffled sound over Zoom ?
Blagdon says fiddling around with some computer settings can help .
In the nation 's capital , like the rest of the country , kids cooped up at home for weeks now are craving both physical activity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities bring .
And ballet instructors , soccer coaches and piano teachers — just to name a few — are finding the shutdown every bit as complicated as schools moving academic lessons online .
As their counterparts in schools are finding every day , it 's really difficult to explain — watching on a screen — to children in a painting class exactly how to hold the brush to get the right effect .
Or to align a young karate student 's body just so , for a proper sidekick .
Nevertheless , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of keeping children active and engaged .
Weeks in , Bagdon says she still has the occasional bump but not always because of technology .
`` Emmy , how come you 're not dancing with us , my friend ? ''
she asks one 5-year-old who has wandered off screen during class .
Her student Emeline has a perfectly valid response , `` Sometimes I go to drink a glass of milk ! ''
For student athletes looking ahead to a summer of meets , games and matches , and the companionship of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is frustrating .
Ava Morales , 16 , of Bethesda , Md.
, was excited about showing off her skills this month in front of hundreds of college recruiters .
But instead of being in Arizona , she 's stuck at home and ca n't even see her teammates .
`` We 're all best friends , '' she says .
`` So it 's heartbreaking we ca n't spend time together and that our season is basically cancelled . ''
The online activities are comforting , she says , because it helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington area , 60 local soccer clubs have joined together in a new group called DMV United .
And they 've made a pledge that , during the shutdown , coaches wo n't engage in recruiting activities .
Tommy Park , with the Alexandria Soccer Association in Virginia , says coaches have shared different online workouts as well as apps that focus on specific soccer skills .
`` The apps allow you to log how many juggles you have on the ball in a row and then log that , '' Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get five the first time and then you see your teammates at eight .
So try to get nine and you see all of your teammates progress . ''
Some players are reviewing championship games on video , or making Instagram videos of soccer tricks ; others are reading about sports psychology .
But Matt Libber with the Maryland SoccerPlex is clear , this can never replace the adrenaline rush of actually being on the field .
And he worries about some of those bigger lessons kids are missing out on , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Competing online or through Instagram , yeah , you 're losing but you 're not losing , '' he says .
A big part of what he and other coaches teach , he says , are `` some of those life lessons that , you know , if you learn them as a kid , it makes being an adult so much easier . ''

When After-School Is Shut Down, Too
Enlarge this image LA Johnson/NPR LA Johnson/NPR
When Jessyka Bagdon set out to move her tap dancing classes online, big questions started popping up right away: What about kids who don't own their own tap shoes? How to tap dance at home without ruining the floor?
And then came the really big challenge: Online programs like Zoom are designed for meetings, not dance classes. "They're made to pick up voices," she explains, not the clickety clack of tap-dancing shoes. "So how do we make the system not filter out our tap sounds as background noise?"
So Blagdon, an instructor at 'Knock on Wood Tap Studio' in Washington, D.C., set about problem-solving. No tap shoes? Turns out Mary Jane flats work well. Saving the floor? A piece of plywood does the trick.And that muffled sound over Zoom? Blagdon says fiddling around with some computer settings can help.
In the nation's capital, like the rest of the country, kids cooped up at home for weeks now are craving both physical activity and the mental and creative challenges that extracurricular activities bring. And ballet instructors, soccer coaches and piano teachers — just to name a few — are finding the shutdown every bit as complicated as schools moving academic lessons online.
As their counterparts in schools are finding every day, it's really difficult to explain — watching on a screen — to children in a painting class exactly how to hold the brush to get the right effect. Or to align a young karate student's body just so, for a proper sidekick.
Nevertheless, coaches and instructors are finding creative ways of keeping children active and engaged.
Weeks in, Bagdon says she still has the occasional bump but not always because of technology.
"Emmy, how come you're not dancing with us, my friend?" she asks one 5-year-old who has wandered off screen during class. Her student Emeline has a perfectly valid response, "Sometimes I go to drink a glass of milk!"
For student athletes looking ahead to a summer of meets, games and matches, and the companionship of their friends and teammates, the shutdown is frustrating.
Ava Morales, 16, of Bethesda, Md., was excited about showing off her skills this month in front of hundreds of college recruiters. But instead of being in Arizona, she's stuck at home and can't even see her teammates.
"We're all best friends," she says. "So it's heartbreaking we can't spend time together and that our season is basically cancelled." The online activities are comforting, she says, because it helps keep all her team motivated.
In the Washington area, 60 local soccer clubs have joined together in a new group called DMV United. And they've made a pledge that, during the shutdown, coaches won't engage in recruiting activities.
Tommy Park, with the Alexandria Soccer Association in Virginia, says coaches have shared different online workouts as well as apps that focus on specific soccer skills.
"The apps allow you to log how many juggles you have on the ball in a row and then log that," Park explains. "Maybe you can only get five the first time and then you see your teammates at eight. So try to get nine and you see all of your teammates progress."
Some players are reviewing championship games on video, or making Instagram videos of soccer tricks; others are reading about sports psychology.
But Matt Libber with the Maryland SoccerPlex is clear, this can never replace the adrenaline rush of actually being on the field.
And he worries about some of those bigger lessons kids are missing out on, like the importance of losing sometimes.
"Competing online or through Instagram, yeah, you're losing but you're not losing," he says. A big part of what he and other coaches teach, he says, are "some of those life lessons that, you know, if you learn them as a kid, it makes being an adult so much easier."
Kavitha Cardoza


npr--2020-05-06--The IRS Sent Coronavirus Relief Payments To Dead People

The IRS Sent Coronavirus Relief Payments To Dead People The IRS has paid out more than $ 207 billion in Coronavirus relief payments to individual taxpayers , as part of the $ 2 trillion package passed by Congress known as the CARES Act .
And among the recipients of those $ 1,200 payments are the bank accounts of dead individuals — a problem that could impact millions of American families .
Bob L'Hommedieu 's father passed away in December after a long battle with dementia .
So L'Hommedieu notified the Veteran 's Administration and the Social Security Administration that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those agencies were halted .
But on April 15 he noticed a payment in the amount of $ 1,200 in his late father 's account .
It was a Coronavirus relief payment from the IRS .
`` I feel bad that this money is sitting in my dad 's account , '' says L'Hommedieu , who lives in Houston .
`` I do n't know what to do with it .
And there are people out there that need it badly . ''
`` And , you know , that bothers me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew what to do with it , but , you know , I do n't , '' he added .
L'Hommedieu reached out to his two United States Senators in Texas .
One sent a form letter that did n't answer his questions .
The other told him to contact the IRS .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told The Wall Street Journal one week ago that heirs should return the money sent to deceased individuals .
But people who talked to NPR said they had more questions than answers .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center .
`` There 's been no official guidance as to how , in this instance , people should return the money that was received for their loved ones . ''
The IRS did not answer questions about the payments , but the scope of the problem has the potential to be vast .
The CDC estimates that 2.8 million Americans died in 2018 , for example .
And there are signs that people who died more than two years ago have received payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Colo. , says her mother passed away in January of 2018 .
But in April of this year her late mother 's bank account received a payment of $ 1,200 .
McClure said she reached out to her local congressman but has n't heard back .
`` The government is being very reactive instead of proactive to this situation — which I find frustrating , '' she says .
Mark Everson , who served as IRS Commissioner from 2003 to 2007 , says that the IRS has generally been doing a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real trade-off of speed versus accuracy in the processing , '' he says .
`` There 's a lot of pressure to move quickly , and in the past Treasury and the IRS have been criticized because they have n't moved quickly enough . ''
Everson says that people in this situation should rely on official guidance from IRS.gov .
Teresa Wilmot , a 71 year old in Rockford , Ill. , has been trying to do just that .
She lost her partner of 39 years , Frank Dika , just two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noticed a payment in his account .
`` I 'm coping with [ the ] Frank stuff pretty well at this point .
I 'm not over it .
I probably will never be over it , '' she says .
`` But that part did n't bother me .
I 'm probably angrier at the government for sending out a payment to somebody who 's deceased . ''
Wilmot has been trying without success to find guidance online from the IRS to send the money back .
`` I went online to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a long time trying to find some way that I could first send the payment back .
And I could n't find that , '' she says .
`` So I look for a way to contact somebody at the IRS or the Treasury or whatever to return the payment .
And I could n't find that . ''
After multiple requests , the IRS declined to answer questions and directed them to the Treasury Department .
The Treasury Department has not responded to questions about what the IRS is doing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do if a deceased loved one has received a payment .

The IRS Sent Coronavirus Relief Payments To Dead People
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Updated at 10:06 p.m. ET
The IRS has paid out more than $207 billion in coronavirus relief payments to individual taxpayers, as part of the $2 trillion package passed by Congress known as the CARES Act.
And among the recipients of those $1,200 payments are the bank accounts of dead individuals — a problem that could impact millions of American families.
Bob L'Hommedieu's father passed away in December after a long battle with dementia. So L'Hommedieu notified the Veterans Administration and the Social Security Administration that his father had passed, and payments from those agencies were halted. But on April 15, he noticed a payment in the amount of $1,200 in his late father's account.
It was a coronavirus relief payment from the IRS.
"I feel bad that this money is sitting in my dad's account," says L'Hommedieu, who lives in Houston. "I don't know what to do with it. And there are people out there that need it badly."
"And, you know, that bothers me. Quite a bit. I wish I knew what to do with it, but, you know, I don't," he added.
L'Hommedieu reached out to his two senators in Texas. One sent a form letter that didn't answer his questions. The other told him to contact the IRS. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told The Wall Street Journal one week ago that heirs should return the money sent to deceased individuals. But people who talked to NPR said they had more questions than answers.
"There's mass confusion," said Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. "There's been no official guidance as to how, in this instance, people should return the money that was received for their loved ones."
The IRS did not answer questions about the payments, but the scope of the problem has the potential to be vast. The CDC estimates that 2.8 million Americans died in 2018, for example. And there are signs that people who died more than two years ago have received payments.
Karen McClure, of Fort Collins, Colo., says her mother passed away in January 2018. But in April of this year, her late mother's bank account received a payment of $1,200.
McClure said she reached out to her local congressman but hasn't heard back.
"The government is being very reactive instead of proactive to this situation — which I find frustrating," she says.
Mark Everson, who served as IRS commissioner from 2003 to 2007, says that the IRS has generally been doing a good job, "but there's a real trade-off of speed versus accuracy in the processing," he says. "There's a lot of pressure to move quickly, and in the past Treasury and the IRS have been criticized because they haven't moved quickly enough."
Everson says that people in this situation should rely on official guidance from IRS.gov.
Teresa Wilmot, 71, has been trying to do just that. The Rockford, Ill., resident lost her partner of 39 years, Frank Dajka, just two months ago. Last month, she noticed a payment in his account.
"I'm coping with [the] Frank stuff pretty well at this point. I'm not over it. I probably will never be over it," she says. "But that part didn't bother me. I'm probably angrier at the government for sending out a payment to somebody who's deceased."
Wilmot has been trying without success to find guidance online from the IRS to send the money back.
"I went online to the address on the letter and looked for a long time trying to find some way that I could first send the payment back. And I couldn't find that," she says. "So I look for a way to contact somebody at the IRS or the Treasury or whatever to return the payment. And I couldn't find that."
After multiple requests, the IRS declined to answer questions and directed them to the Treasury Department.
Wednesday morning, after this story first published, the Treasury Department told NPR that payments made to people who died before the payment was received should be returned to the IRS, and it published instructions on its website.
Huo Jingnan contributed to this report.