npr--2020-10-22--Penn State Men's Basketball Coach Resigns After Investigation Into 'Noose' Comment

The men 's basketball coach at Penn State University , Pat Chambers , has resigned following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct .
In July , Rasir Bolton , a Black former player who has since transferred to Iowa State , tweeted that he left the Penn State program after Chambers made a comment about a `` noose '' being around the player 's neck .
Bolton said it invoked `` the history of lynching , slavery and racial terrorism . ''
ESPN 's The Undefeated also detailed the alleged incident , which it says took place in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement Wednesday that `` new allegations '' came to light shortly after The Undefeated 's article published .
They said the university 's Affirmative Action and Athletes Integrity offices conducted a review .
University officials did not elaborate on the nature of the new allegations .
The university also thanked Chambers for his contributions to the basketball program , but added that `` this is the right outcome . ''
It said the focus moving forward will be on supporting the current student-athletes .
Chambers coached at Penn State for nine seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 150 losses .
He said in a statement he was `` proud '' of his time at the program and that he was taking time away from coaching to `` prepare myself for the next 20 years . ''
`` Anyone who has ever coached — especially at this level — knows the exceptional amount of energy and focus it takes to deliver each and every day , '' Chambers said , according to ESPN .
`` This has been an incredibly difficult year for me and my family , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-set and chart our path forward , '' he said .
Chambers was already under pressure when he made the comments to Bolton in 2019 , according to The Undefeated .
He had shot poorly against Wisconsin , the sports and culture site writes , and Bolton recalls Chambers saying : Chambers told The Undefeated that he `` did n't realize that word would hurt him , '' but Bolton said he believed this reference to have racist undertones .
`` A noose ; symbolic of lynching , defined as one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoking the history of lynching , slavery and racial terrorism , '' Bolton said over the summer .
`` Due to other interactions with Coach , I knew this was no slip of the tongue . ''
Chambers issued an apology after Bolton 's statement and The Undefeated article .
`` I failed to comprehend the experiences of others , and the reference I made was hurtful , insensitive and unacceptable .
I can not apologize enough for what I said , and I will carry that forever , '' Chambers tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Penn State named assistant coach Jim Ferry as interim head coach for the upcoming 2020-21 season .
Ferry has three decades of collegiate coaching experience .
He was previously the head basketball coach at Duquesne University from 2012-17 .

Penn State Men's Basketball Coach Resigns After Investigation Into 'Noose' Comment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Conroy/AP Michael Conroy/AP
The men's basketball coach at Penn State University, Pat Chambers, has resigned following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct.
In July, Rasir Bolton, a Black former player who has since transferred to Iowa State, tweeted that he left the Penn State program after Chambers made a comment about a "noose" being around the player's neck. Bolton said it invoked "the history of lynching, slavery and racial terrorism."
ESPN's The Undefeated also detailed the alleged incident, which it says took place in January 2019.
Penn State officials said in a statement Wednesday that "new allegations" came to light shortly after The Undefeated's article published. They said the university's Affirmative Action and Athletes Integrity offices conducted a review.
University officials did not elaborate on the nature of the new allegations.
The university also thanked Chambers for his contributions to the basketball program, but added that "this is the right outcome." It said the focus moving forward will be on supporting the current student-athletes.
Chambers coached at Penn State for nine seasons, compiling a record of 148 wins and 150 losses. He said in a statement he was "proud" of his time at the program and that he was taking time away from coaching to "prepare myself for the next 20 years."
"Anyone who has ever coached — especially at this level — knows the exceptional amount of energy and focus it takes to deliver each and every day," Chambers said, according to ESPN.
"This has been an incredibly difficult year for me and my family, and we are in need of a break to re-set and chart our path forward," he said.
Chambers was already under pressure when he made the comments to Bolton in 2019, according to The Undefeated. He had shot poorly against Wisconsin, the sports and culture site writes, and Bolton recalls Chambers saying:
"I want to be a stress reliever for you. You can talk to me about anything. I need to get some of this pressure off you. ... I want to loosen the noose that's around your neck."
Chambers told The Undefeated that he "didn't realize that word would hurt him," but Bolton said he believed this reference to have racist undertones.
"A noose; symbolic of lynching, defined as one of the most powerful symbols directed at African Americans invoking the history of lynching, slavery and racial terrorism," Bolton said over the summer. "Due to other interactions with Coach, I knew this was no slip of the tongue."
Chambers issued an apology after Bolton's statement and The Undefeated article.
"I failed to comprehend the experiences of others, and the reference I made was hurtful, insensitive and unacceptable. I cannot apologize enough for what I said, and I will carry that forever," Chambers tweeted.
His Twitter account has since been deleted.
Penn State named assistant coach Jim Ferry as interim head coach for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
Ferry has three decades of collegiate coaching experience. He was previously the head basketball coach at Duquesne University from 2012-17.


npr--2020-10-22--Trump And Biden On Global Issues: From Reproductive Rights To Refugees

Trump And Biden On Global Issues : From Reproductive Rights To Refugees This election season – like many before it – has been dominated by domestic issues .
But whether Americans elect Donald Trump or Joe Biden president will also have significant consequences for the rest of the world , especially those countries that count on U.S. foreign aid .
And when it comes to aid and other global issues , Trump and Biden 's policies are starkly different .
While former Vice President Biden has outlined some of his plans and priorities for the future , President Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's done in his first term .
Still , Trump 's past words and actions should be a good indicator of how he intends to move forward if re-elected .
Below is a summary of what Trump and Biden have said ( or done ) on these matters .
On the U.S. foreign aid strategy Donald Trump : Trump 's `` America First '' mantra extends to his foreign aid philosophy .
In 2018 , he told world leaders at the United Nations ( U.N. ) General Assembly , `` Moving forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid to those who respect us and , frankly , are our friends . ''
For example , last year , he froze $ 450 million in aid to Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador for what he described as their failure to stem migration .
He later resumed aid , sending $ 143 million to the region .
Under his administration , the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) also underwent some reforms that have been largely praised by the development sector , like moving away from a traditional donor-recipient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , former USAID Administrator Mark Green who oversaw the changes says the president was `` not really '' involved in the work .
Joe Biden : `` We 'd bring aid back to the center of our foreign policy , '' Antony Blinken , a foreign policy adviser for the Biden campaign , said in a May online event .
Biden 's campaign website makes it clear that he views development aid as a `` vital investment '' in the success of other countries but also U.S. security and prosperity .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example of this : Biden intends to expand a $ 750 million aid program that he spearheaded as vice president into a four-year , $ 4 billion regional strategy to tackle the root causes of emigration from El Salvador , Guatemala and Honduras , namely poverty , violence and corruption .
Donald Trump : In April , as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded , Trump threatened to freeze U.S. funding to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) unless it underwent `` major , substantive improvements '' and became less `` China-centric '' within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he formally began the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the institution , saying that China has `` total control '' over WHO and had pressured the agency to `` mislead the world '' regarding COVID-19 .
Because the U.S. is the top WHO donor , the withdrawal , which could take at least a year , could threaten health programs around the world , according to global health experts .
Joe Biden : Biden vowed on Twitter to rejoin WHO on his first day as president if elected , reversing Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He 's also said he would restore funding to the institution .
Biden and his campaign have described WHO and other global institutions as `` not perfect '' but say that the U.S. must resume its leadership role in order to influence reform .
That does n't `` necessarily '' mean the U.S. must remain the WHO 's top donor , according to the Biden campaign 's foreign policy adviser .
On helping other countries respond to COVID-19 Donald Trump : The Trump administration has donated ventilators and equipment to other countries to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Department have provided about $ 508 million to the U.N. and other aid organizations to help fight the pandemic in more than 100 countries .
However , Trump refused to join the COVAX initiative , an international effort to develop an affordable COVID-19 vaccine , because of its affiliation with WHO .
According to WHO , the COVAX effort would be especially helpful for sharing safe and effective vaccines across the world , including lower-income countries .
Trump 's priority is `` Operation Warp Speed '' — his administration 's partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 drugs , vaccines and tests .
Joe Biden : In a March speech , Biden said that the U.S. will `` never fully solve [ COVID-19 ] if we 're unwilling to look beyond our own borders and engage fully with the rest of the world . ''
His COVID-19 plan includes a global response with USAID at the helm to assist `` vulnerable nations . ''
He also plans to `` re-launch and strengthen '' USAID 's pathogen-tracking program , PREDICT , which the Trump administration cut three months before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China .
Regarding vaccines , Biden has n't specifically said whether he would join the COVAX initiative .
Donald Trump : Trump rejects established peer-reviewed science showing that human activity , such as burning fossil fuels and industrial agriculture , is the main driver of climate change .
Last year , he formally began the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement , saying that it is too costly and `` disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries . ''
Officially , U.S. participation ends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also ended U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund and has frequently rolled back fossil fuel regulations .
Joe Biden : Biden has a $ 2 trillion climate plan and vows to rejoin the Paris climate agreement , in which countries committed to limit warming this century to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels .
He also promises to recommit the U.S. to the Green Climate Fund , which would help low- and middle-income countries `` better manage the adverse effects of climate change , including conflict , migration and state fragility .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gender-based violence Donald Trump : Every Republican since Ronald Reagan has implemented a form of the Mexico City policy , also called the `` Global Gag Rule '' by those who oppose it .
This policy prohibits U.S. aid from going to any foreign nongovernmental organizations whose family planning efforts provide any services related to abortions , even if they 're just offering information .
Under Trump , the policy was expanded to not only funds designated for family planning efforts but nearly all U.S. funding for global health .
This means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , malaria , nutrition or other health project even refers a client to a family planning service that talks about abortion , their agency 's funding could be affected .
This broader application of the policy increased the amount of aid affected by the policy from roughly $ 600 million to $ 12 billion of planned assistance in 2018 .
In 2018 , Trump 's Justice Department also narrowed the definition of domestic violence to harms that constitute a felony or misdemeanor , effectively eliminating nonphysical violence such as psychological , emotional or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has promised to end the Mexico City Policy .
However , critics say he has an inconsistent record on abortion rights .
( He once voted in favor of an amendment to allow states to overturn Roe v .
Wade . )
Biden has made ending gender-based violence a key focus of his platform .
In 1994 , he co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act , and he plans to enact the 2019 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act if the Senate does n't pass the bill .
Donald Trump : Under the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly hit a record low : from 45,000 in fiscal year 2018 , to 30,000 the next year , then 18,000 and finally 15,000 in fiscal year 2021 , which began this month .
Despite the 18,000 cap for the fiscal year that just ended , admissions reached only 11,814 due to what the International Rescue Committee called `` massive bureaucratic impediments '' and COVID-19 .
`` I have reduced refugee resettlement by 85 percent ! ''
Trump claimed at a rally in Minneapolis in 2019 .
He told another crowd in Duluth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open ] the floodgates to radical Islamic terrorism . ''
Joe Biden : Biden says he will raise the U.S. refugee admissions cap to 125,000 and `` seek to raise it over time , commensurate with our responsibility and our values . ''
However , some advocates have noted that it likely wo n't be a quick or easy task to rebuild the asylum and refugee resettlement system after years of Trump scaling it back .
Biden says he will also end Trump 's ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sudan , Syria and Yemen ) .
Donald Trump : As president , Trump has repeatedly tried to slash foreign aid spending – including a 21 % proposed cut this year .
However , the budget has remained largely intact throughout his presidency due to opposition from Congress .
He has also repeatedly proposed drastic cuts to global HIV programs , including the President 's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ( PEPFAR ) , a program started by George W. Bush to combat the spread of HIV around the world .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with his commitment to eradicate HIV in the U.S. by 2030 .
Again , Congress has managed to preserve PEPFAR funding , though it also has n't increased since 2009 .
However , U.S .
Global AIDS Coordinator Deborah Birx said that the stagnant budget and Trump 's threats to cut PEPFAR funds have pushed the program to find ways to make a bigger impact without additional fundings .
Joe Biden : The Biden campaign 's foreign policy adviser Blinken said that Biden would expand foreign aid funding even amid a costly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of prevention is worth a pound of cure . ''
This includes funding for PEPFAR .
Biden described PEPFAR in a 2018 op-ed as `` one of the most-successful , effective and world-changing initiatives ever put forth by the United States government ... .
It 's proof that our foreign aid dollars are a smart investment that deliver real results . ''
Joanne Lu is a freelance journalist who covers global poverty and inequity .
Her work has appeared in Humanosphere , The Guardian , Global Washington and War is Boring .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @

Trump And Biden On Global Issues: From Reproductive Rights To Refugees
Enlarge this image toggle caption Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images
This election season – like many before it – has been dominated by domestic issues. But whether Americans elect Donald Trump or Joe Biden president will also have significant consequences for the rest of the world, especially those countries that count on U.S. foreign aid. And when it comes to aid and other global issues, Trump and Biden's policies are starkly different.
While former Vice President Biden has outlined some of his plans and priorities for the future, President Trump's campaign has focused more on what he's done in his first term. Still, Trump's past words and actions should be a good indicator of how he intends to move forward if re-elected.
Below is a summary of what Trump and Biden have said (or done) on these matters.
On the U.S. foreign aid strategy
Donald Trump: Trump's "America First" mantra extends to his foreign aid philosophy. In 2018, he told world leaders at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly, "Moving forward, we are only going to give foreign aid to those who respect us and, frankly, are our friends." For example, last year, he froze $450 million in aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for what he described as their failure to stem migration. He later resumed aid, sending $143 million to the region. Under his administration, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also underwent some reforms that have been largely praised by the development sector, like moving away from a traditional donor-recipient model of aid to more partnerships. However, former USAID Administrator Mark Green who oversaw the changes says the president was "not really" involved in the work.
Joe Biden: "We'd bring aid back to the center of our foreign policy," Antony Blinken, a foreign policy adviser for the Biden campaign, said in a May online event. Biden's campaign website makes it clear that he views development aid as a "vital investment" in the success of other countries but also U.S. security and prosperity. The Central American migration crisis is a key example of this: Biden intends to expand a $750 million aid program that he spearheaded as vice president into a four-year, $4 billion regional strategy to tackle the root causes of emigration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, namely poverty, violence and corruption.
On the World Health Organization
Donald Trump: In April, as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, Trump threatened to freeze U.S. funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) unless it underwent "major, substantive improvements" and became less "China-centric" within 30 days. Then, in July, he formally began the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the institution, saying that China has "total control" over WHO and had pressured the agency to "mislead the world" regarding COVID-19. Because the U.S. is the top WHO donor, the withdrawal, which could take at least a year, could threaten health programs around the world, according to global health experts.
Joe Biden: Biden vowed on Twitter to rejoin WHO on his first day as president if elected, reversing Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. He's also said he would restore funding to the institution. Biden and his campaign have described WHO and other global institutions as "not perfect" but say that the U.S. must resume its leadership role in order to influence reform. That doesn't "necessarily" mean the U.S. must remain the WHO's top donor, according to the Biden campaign's foreign policy adviser.
On helping other countries respond to COVID-19
Donald Trump: The Trump administration has donated ventilators and equipment to other countries to help with COVID-19, while USAID and the State Department have provided about $508 million to the U.N. and other aid organizations to help fight the pandemic in more than 100 countries. However, Trump refused to join the COVAX initiative, an international effort to develop an affordable COVID-19 vaccine, because of its affiliation with WHO. According to WHO, the COVAX effort would be especially helpful for sharing safe and effective vaccines across the world, including lower-income countries. Trump's priority is "Operation Warp Speed" — his administration's partnership with private companies to accelerate the development of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines and tests.
Joe Biden: In a March speech, Biden said that the U.S. will "never fully solve [COVID-19] if we're unwilling to look beyond our own borders and engage fully with the rest of the world." His COVID-19 plan includes a global response with USAID at the helm to assist "vulnerable nations." He also plans to "re-launch and strengthen" USAID's pathogen-tracking program, PREDICT, which the Trump administration cut three months before the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in China. Regarding vaccines, Biden hasn't specifically said whether he would join the COVAX initiative.
On climate change
Donald Trump: Trump rejects established peer-reviewed science showing that human activity, such as burning fossil fuels and industrial agriculture, is the main driver of climate change. Last year, he formally began the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, saying that it is too costly and "disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries." Officially, U.S. participation ends the day after the election. He also ended U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund and has frequently rolled back fossil fuel regulations.
Joe Biden: Biden has a $2 trillion climate plan and vows to rejoin the Paris climate agreement, in which countries committed to limit warming this century to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. He also promises to recommit the U.S. to the Green Climate Fund, which would help low- and middle-income countries "better manage the adverse effects of climate change, including conflict, migration and state fragility."
On the reproductive rights of women and gender-based violence
Donald Trump: Every Republican since Ronald Reagan has implemented a form of the Mexico City policy, also called the "Global Gag Rule" by those who oppose it. This policy prohibits U.S. aid from going to any foreign nongovernmental organizations whose family planning efforts provide any services related to abortions, even if they're just offering information. Under Trump, the policy was expanded to not only funds designated for family planning efforts but nearly all U.S. funding for global health. This means that if a staffer at an HIV/AIDs, malaria, nutrition or other health project even refers a client to a family planning service that talks about abortion, their agency's funding could be affected. This broader application of the policy increased the amount of aid affected by the policy from roughly $600 million to $12 billion of planned assistance in 2018. In 2018, Trump's Justice Department also narrowed the definition of domestic violence to harms that constitute a felony or misdemeanor, effectively eliminating nonphysical violence such as psychological, emotional or economic abuse.
Joe Biden: Biden has promised to end the Mexico City Policy. However, critics say he has an inconsistent record on abortion rights. (He once voted in favor of an amendment to allow states to overturn Roe v. Wade.) Biden has made ending gender-based violence a key focus of his platform. In 1994, he co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act, and he plans to enact the 2019 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act if the Senate doesn't pass the bill.
On refugees
Donald Trump: Under the Trump administration, the U.S. refugee admissions cap repeatedly hit a record low: from 45,000 in fiscal year 2018, to 30,000 the next year, then 18,000 and finally 15,000 in fiscal year 2021, which began this month. Despite the 18,000 cap for the fiscal year that just ended, admissions reached only 11,814 due to what the International Rescue Committee called "massive bureaucratic impediments" and COVID-19. "I have reduced refugee resettlement by 85 percent!" Trump claimed at a rally in Minneapolis in 2019. He told another crowd in Duluth that Biden's plan will "[open] the floodgates to radical Islamic terrorism."
Joe Biden: Biden says he will raise the U.S. refugee admissions cap to 125,000 and "seek to raise it over time, commensurate with our responsibility and our values." However, some advocates have noted that it likely won't be a quick or easy task to rebuild the asylum and refugee resettlement system after years of Trump scaling it back. Biden says he will also end Trump's ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen).
On funding foreign aid
Donald Trump: As president, Trump has repeatedly tried to slash foreign aid spending – including a 21% proposed cut this year. However, the budget has remained largely intact throughout his presidency due to opposition from Congress. He has also repeatedly proposed drastic cuts to global HIV programs, including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program started by George W. Bush to combat the spread of HIV around the world. Instead Trump has boosted domestic HIV funding in line with his commitment to eradicate HIV in the U.S. by 2030. Again, Congress has managed to preserve PEPFAR funding, though it also hasn't increased since 2009. However, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Deborah Birx said that the stagnant budget and Trump's threats to cut PEPFAR funds have pushed the program to find ways to make a bigger impact without additional fundings.
Joe Biden: The Biden campaign's foreign policy adviser Blinken said that Biden would expand foreign aid funding even amid a costly COVID-19 recovery effort because "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This includes funding for PEPFAR. Biden described PEPFAR in a 2018 op-ed as "one of the most-successful, effective and world-changing initiatives ever put forth by the United States government .... It's proof that our foreign aid dollars are a smart investment that deliver real results."
Joanne Lu is a freelance journalist who covers global poverty and inequity. Her work has appeared in Humanosphere, The Guardian, Global Washington and War is Boring. Follow her on Twitter: @joannelu


npr--2020-10-22--3 Cities Designated As 'Anarchist' Filing Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

New York City officials say the city will join Portland and Seattle in a legal challenge against the Trump administration 's decision to label them as `` anarchist '' cities .
The designation could impact federal funding for the cities .
`` This is a figment of Donald Trump 's troubled imagination , '' New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters .
`` The only anarchy in this country is coming from the White House . ''
After weeks of street demonstrations this summer , the White House issued a memorandum in early September saying that some urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destruction . ''
The memo mentions Seattle , Portland and New York City .
A few days later , on Sept. 7 , President Trump tweeted that he blames unrest in several cities on `` radical left Democratic governors and mayors . ''
The Justice Department then officially designated three cities — New York City , Portland , and Seattle — as `` jurisdictions permitting violence . ''
Attorney General William Barr made it clear that federal funding could be cut from these cities .
`` We can not allow federal tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the citizenry hangs in the balance , '' Barr said in a statement .
On a conference call with reporters Thursday , de Blasio said the lawsuit would be filed Thursday in Seattle challenging the legality of the Trump administration 's action .
`` It 's morally wrong , it 's legally unacceptable and it 's unconstitutional and we 're going to fight it , '' de Blasio said .
Jim Johnson , who serves as New York City 's chief attorney , said during the news conference that Portland and Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Johnson , the Trump administration has already taken actions to divert funds away from the three cities .
`` They 're taking this anarchist designation and starting to include it in applications for federal grants , '' he said .
`` They 're stepping way over their bounds . ''
He added that there is `` no basis in law , no basis in fact '' for the `` anarchist '' category .
Protests erupted around the country after the deaths of George Floyd and other Black men and women in police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their city alone could lose as much as $ 12 billion in federal funding .

3 Cities Designated As 'Anarchist' Filing Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
New York City officials say the city will join Portland and Seattle in a legal challenge against the Trump administration's decision to label them as "anarchist" cities. The designation could impact federal funding for the cities.
"This is a figment of Donald Trump's troubled imagination," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters. "The only anarchy in this country is coming from the White House."
After weeks of street demonstrations this summer, the White House issued a memorandum in early September saying that some urban areas are "permitting anarchy, violence and destruction." The memo mentions Seattle, Portland and New York City.
A few days later, on Sept. 7, President Trump tweeted that he blames unrest in several cities on "radical left Democratic governors and mayors."
The Justice Department then officially designated three cities — New York City, Portland, and Seattle — as "jurisdictions permitting violence."
Attorney General William Barr made it clear that federal funding could be cut from these cities. "We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance," Barr said in a statement.
On a conference call with reporters Thursday, de Blasio said the lawsuit would be filed Thursday in Seattle challenging the legality of the Trump administration's action.
"It's morally wrong, it's legally unacceptable and it's unconstitutional and we're going to fight it," de Blasio said.
Jim Johnson, who serves as New York City's chief attorney, said during the news conference that Portland and Seattle will join the legal complaint.
According to Johnson, the Trump administration has already taken actions to divert funds away from the three cities.
"They're taking this anarchist designation and starting to include it in applications for federal grants," he said. "They're stepping way over their bounds."
He added that there is "no basis in law, no basis in fact" for the "anarchist" category.
Protests erupted around the country after the deaths of George Floyd and other Black men and women in police custody.
New York City officials say their city alone could lose as much as $12 billion in federal funding.


npr--2020-10-22--A Rising Number Of U.S. Children Have The Option Of In-Person School

A Rising Number Of U.S. Children Have The Option Of In-Person School By Election Day , more than 60 % of U.S. K-12 public school students will be attending schools that offer in-person learning at least a few days a week , an updated tracker finds .
More and more districts are opening up school buildings this fall , even as coronavirus infection rates remain high in most states .
That 's according to the latest release from Burbio , a company that aggregates school and community calendars from the Web .
As of Election Day , the report says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be attending schools that only offer virtual learning .
• 35.7 % of students will be attending schools offering traditional , in-person learning every day .
• The remainder , 26.5 % will be attending schools that offer a hybrid schedule of two or three in-person days per week .
From Labor Day to Election Day , Burbio calculates the percentage of students with access to at least some in-person school will have grown by 22 percentage points , from 38 % to 60 % .
There are large regional variations , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in-person learning to more than 75 % of students , while California , Washington , Maryland , Oregon and Hawaii have more than 90 % of their students learning only online .
These numbers do n't necessarily speak to the full picture of how children are learning .
That 's because a percentage of students choose virtual learning even where in-person school is offered .
For example , in New York City , where schools are hybrid , just under half of students are reportedly learning from home .
Burbio says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across a national sample of 1,200 districts in all 50 states , including the 200 largest districts in the country .

A Rising Number Of U.S. Children Have The Option Of In-Person School
Enlarge this image toggle caption Octavio Jones/Getty Images Octavio Jones/Getty Images
By Election Day, more than 60% of U.S. K-12 public school students will be attending schools that offer in-person learning at least a few days a week, an updated tracker finds.
More and more districts are opening up school buildings this fall, even as coronavirus infection rates remain high in most states. That's according to the latest release from Burbio, a company that aggregates school and community calendars from the Web.
As of Election Day, the report says:
37.8% of students will be attending schools that only offer virtual learning.
35.7% of students will be attending schools offering traditional, in-person learning every day.
The remainder, 26.5% will be attending schools that offer a hybrid schedule of two or three in-person days per week.
From Labor Day to Election Day, Burbio calculates the percentage of students with access to at least some in-person school will have grown by 22 percentage points, from 38% to 60%. There are large regional variations, with states like Texas and Florida offering full-time, in-person learning to more than 75% of students, while California, Washington, Maryland, Oregon and Hawaii have more than 90% of their students learning only online.
These numbers don't necessarily speak to the full picture of how children are learning. That's because a percentage of students choose virtual learning even where in-person school is offered. For example, New York City, where schools are hybrid, recently announced that only 280,000 students are attending in person, out of 1.1 million enrolled.
Burbio says it gathers its information directly from school websites across a national sample of 1,200 districts in all 50 states, including the 200 largest districts in the country.


npr--2020-10-22--Spain, France Exceed 1 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Each

Spain and France each surpassed 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases this week as Europe battles outbreaks and record numbers throughout the continent .
Spain surpassed 1 million confirmed cases on Wednesday and is reporting 1,005,295 cases as of Thursday evening local time , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
It became the sixth nation worldwide to report 1 million cases , following the U.S. , India , Brazil , Russia and Argentina .
Hours later , France exceeded 1 million confirmed cases .
It is reporting 1,000,369 .
Spain and France now have the sixth and seventh highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported more than 34,000 coronavirus-related deaths .
Europe has been battling rising COVID-19 case counts .
The leaders of many EU countries are imposing stricter COVID-19 restrictions , while also trying to avoid national lockdowns .
Last week , Europe reported more than 977,000 new cases — its highest single-week case count , according to the World Health Organization .
France 's case count exceeded the 1 million mark a week after President Emmanuel Macron imposed a monthlong curfew on Paris and other cities .
Macron declared a national emergency .
The Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Madrid region earlier this month , NPR 's Marisa Peñaloza reported .
The U.S. has the most confirmed cases in the world at 8,354,300 .
It surpassed 1 million cases in April .
Ireland became the first European country to return to a national lockdown after its total number of cases rose by 75 % since early September .
The government asked residents to stay within a 3-mile radius of their homes and closed many businesses .
`` We can make sure the second wave is only a ripple , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , `` but that depends on all of us . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

Spain, France Exceed 1 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Each
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lewis Joly/AP Lewis Joly/AP
Spain and France each surpassed 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases this week as Europe battles outbreaks and record numbers throughout the continent.
Spain surpassed 1 million confirmed cases on Wednesday and is reporting 1,005,295 cases as of Thursday evening local time, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
It became the sixth nation worldwide to report 1 million cases, following the U.S., India, Brazil, Russia and Argentina.
Hours later, France exceeded 1 million confirmed cases. It is reporting 1,000,369.
Spain and France now have the sixth and seventh highest global counts, respectively. Each has reported more than 34,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
Europe has been battling rising COVID-19 case counts. The leaders of many EU countries are imposing stricter COVID-19 restrictions, while also trying to avoid national lockdowns.
Last week, Europe reported more than 977,000 new cases — its highest single-week case count, according to the World Health Organization.
France's case count exceeded the 1 million mark a week after President Emmanuel Macron imposed a monthlong curfew on Paris and other cities. Macron declared a national emergency.
The Spanish government imposed a 15-day state of emergency in the Madrid region earlier this month, NPR's Marisa Peñaloza reported.
The U.S. has the most confirmed cases in the world at 8,354,300. It surpassed 1 million cases in April.
Ireland became the first European country to return to a national lockdown after its total number of cases rose by 75% since early September. The government asked residents to stay within a 3-mile radius of their homes and closed many businesses.
"We can make sure the second wave is only a ripple," Irish Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Monday, "but that depends on all of us."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-22--How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress

How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress Updated on October 22 at 12:50 p.m .
ET The coronavirus pandemic continues to upend the daily work of Congress , which has seen a series of outbreaks .
Most recently , President Trump , First Lady Melania Trump and several others tested positive following a White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce his nominee , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , as Supreme Court justice .
At least nine Republican members of Congress attended , and several individuals tested positive for the coronavirus infection or were sidelined in quarantines in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina , who had attended Senate business the week after the ceremony , then tested positive .
Soon after , Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson , who was n't at the Rose Garden event , also tested positive .
Several more members tested negative , but entered quarantines after exposure at the event , including Sens .
Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Ted Cruz of Texas and Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson .
The new outbreak forced the Senate to recess for two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full chamber vote to allow Republicans to confirm Barrett .
The House was already slated to be away .
This is n't the first spread of the illness for Capitol Hill .
The pandemic sidelined Congress since its March beginnings , as House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members for several weeks in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing .
The Senate returned in May , but the much larger House still stayed mostly away as a result of advice from the attending physician to Congress .
That same month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing remote voting and hearings .
So far , the virus has infected about 20 lawmakers and forced dozens more to self-quarantine .
More than 100 members of their staffs and Capitol Hill workers have tested positive .
The initial rash of cases began March 8 , when two Republican lawmakers , Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona , were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines .
Both had attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor , Md.
, where an attendee at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus .
Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 vote on a coronavirus relief package .
By October , more than 120 Capitol workers reported a positive test or were presumed so , including more than 40 members of the U.S. Capitol Police .
Earlier this summer , Gary Tibbetts , a longtime staffer for Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida , died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers have taken antibody tests to see if they were previously ill .
Among them , Democratic Sens .
Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring .
To stem the flow of new cases , both chambers issued new social distancing guidance .
Also , the U.S. Capitol remains closed to public tours and open only to members , staff , press and official business visitors .
In late July , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Texas , who has often rejected mask protocols , tested positive for the coronavirus .
Gohmert had attended several hearings a day before testing and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection .
Gohmert 's case triggered quarantines for five House members , including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva .
Days later , Grijalva tested positive , but fully recovered symptom free .
Now , members can be forcibly removed by Capitol Police from House hearings and the floor if they are not wearing masks .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .

Congress and COVID-19: members' cases and quarantines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Editor's note: This page is no longer updating as of Dec. 31, 2021.
A number of congressional lawmakers experienced breakthrough COVID-19 infections as coronavirus cases rose nationwide with the spread of the omicron variant.
Earlier in 2021, Congress went months with no coronavirus cases among its members. That came a halt amid a national surge driven by the delta variant, when Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan of Florida and Clay Higgins of Louisiana reported infections in July. Buchanan says he was fully vaccinated, but that was less clear for Higgins.
At least another dozen members followed throughout the fall with news they had also tested positive for coronavirus; many of those infections involving vaccinated Senate and House members.
Before these latest waves, Congress' nearly six-month case pause came after a majority of more than 500 lawmakers were fully vaccinated by January. The Capitol's attending physician then lifted much of the mask mandates that dominated the past year. However, a minority of House Republican members have refused to seek vaccination.
Lawmakers impact by the coronavirus
This new threat arrives after the coronavirus already exacted a large toll on the Capitol.
Last year, the pandemic upended daily work for months, sickening dozens of members and hundreds of workers. A sitting congressman, a member-elect and an aide died.
By February 2021, more than 60 lawmakers and 360 Capitol Hill workers had tested positive, or were presumed so, for the coronavirus, according to NPR's tracker and congressional aides.
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See a list of all members who tested positive or quarantined.
That same month, Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, became the first sitting member of Congress to die after a more than two-week battle with COVID-19. In December, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow of Louisiana died days before he was due to be sworn in for a seat that was later filled in April by his widow, Rep. Julia Letlow, following a special election.
And last summer, an aide to Buchanan died from COVID-19.
The rash of infections among members continued at a consistent pace since the pandemic began, with the longest stretch without any such cases lasting about three weeks during recess periods away from Washington, D.C.
But this past March, Capitol Hill began its first month-long stretch without any reported cases or quarantines among members. The most recent positive case before July was reported by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., on Jan. 29, despite his having received his second dose of the vaccine days earlier.
Another member, House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., reported that she quarantined on Feb. 1. It ended Feb. 8 without a report of a positive test.
January 6 insurrection caused spike in cases on Capitol Hill
Up until this summer, the most recent outbreak of cases on Capitol Hill for members was triggered by the Jan. 6 insurrection, which forced members to cluster together in rooms for several hours. Some House Republicans were seen refusing to wear masks during the ordeal.
Later, Monahan told Congress that at least one of these holding rooms for House members included a lawmaker who was already positive.
More than a half-dozen members quarantined as a result, and several tested positive, including Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey and Brad Schneider of Illinois.
In all, January proved to be one of members' worst month for the coronavirus, with at least 16 lawmakers testing positive. Before the insurrection, the House met to launch a new session before reinstating rules allowing proxy voting.
This, as congressional leaders and lawmakers received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which became available to members in December. The doses were provided to meet long-standing requirements for continuity of government operations, Monahan told members in a Dec. 17 note.
Pandemic impacted congressional operations
Ahead of the vaccinations, both chambers of Congress recessed multiple times last year as the Capitol went largely without a widespread testing program.
The Democratic-controlled House installed emergency proxy voting and remote hearings in May 2020, and Pelosi extended the covered period several times due to the pandemic. It remains in place until at least until mid-August.
In November, Pelosi triggered a broader coronavirus testing program for Congress following new requirement for travelers to the Washington, D.C., area.
Pelosi has previously said with about 75% of House members vaccinated, and several Republicans who refuse to do so, she's unclear when Congress will fully get back to normal.
"One of the most substantial steps that can be taken is that everybody should be vaccinated," Pelosi told reporters in March, later adding, "We need 100% of the members vaccinated, because it just takes one to endanger others."
The pandemic delayed other rituals, such as President Biden's first address before a joint session of Congress, which was held with only 200 socially distanced guests on April 28.
Last year remains a reminder of how quickly outbreaks spiraled out of control among lawmakers.
In December, at least nine House members, including six Republicans, tested positive for the coronavirus. And November proved to be another one of the worst months of the pandemic for Congress, when at least 15 lawmakers said they were infected, including two of the oldest, Republicans Rep. Don Young of Alaska and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
A previous outbreak in September was tied to a White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce Amy Coney Barrett as then-President Donald Trump's Supreme Court justice nominee. Trump, then-first lady Melania Trump and dozens of others in attendance tested positive, including Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
It was one of several instances forcing leaders to change the congressional schedule.
Starting in the first month of the pandemic, in March 2020, House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing.
The Senate returned in May 2020, but the much larger House remained mostly away under the advice of Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician. That same month, the House approved its historic rule changes to allow remote voting and hearings.
The first spate of cases began March 8, 2020, when two Republican lawmakers, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines. Both attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., where another guest fell ill.
The following week, the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus. Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and then-Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 floor vote on a coronavirus relief package.
By last summer, dozens of Capitol workers reported a positive test or were presumed so, and Gary Tibbetts, a longtime staffer for Buchanan died from COVID-19 on July 24.
Some lawmakers also took antibody tests to see if they were previously infected. They include Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring.
To stem the flow of new cases, both chambers early on issued new social distancing guidance. Also, the U.S. Capitol closed to public tours and remained open only to members, staff, the press and official business visitors, and aside from the Jan. 6 breach by pro-Trump extremists, it has remained so.
In late July 2020, Pelosi also issued a temporary, new mask mandate after Texas GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, who often rejected such protocols, tested positive. Gohmert had attended several hearings a day earlier and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection.
Gohmert's case triggered quarantines for five House members, including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Days later, Grijalva tested positive but fully recovered symptom free. Until recent changes lifting the mask mandates, members could be fined or be forcibly removed by Capitol Police if they are not wearing masks.


npr--2020-10-22--Comparing Biden's And Trump's Different Visions For Health Care

Comparing Biden 's And Trump 's Different Visions For Health Care Health care was going to be the defining issue of the 2020 election before a pandemic and economic upheaval eclipsed pretty much everything else .
But of course , the pandemic has highlighted many health policy issues .
With a highly contagious virus spreading around the world , `` you might be thinking more about the importance of health insurance , or you may be worried about losing your job , which is where you get your health insurance , '' says Sabrina Corlette , co-director of the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The COVID pandemic and health policy are intertwined . ''
Meanwhile , the choice between the two major presidential candidates on health policy could not be more stark .
Drawing from President Trump 's record on health care and former Vice President Joe Biden 's policy proposals , here 's a guide to where they stand .
The candidates ' visions differ radically on the Affordable Care Act , President Barack Obama 's signature health care law , which was enacted in 2010 .
`` President Trump has — from Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACA , and Joe Biden is pushing to build and expand on it , '' says Larry Levitt , executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
The Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments on the latest challenge to the ACA on Nov. 10 .
If the court does overturn the law , the president and Congress will have to work quickly to address the possibility of tens of millions becoming uninsured .
One of the ACA 's most popular provisions is protection for people with preexisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher premiums .
Trump has promised to keep this part of the law but has n't offered specifics on how , and policy experts warn it 's harder than it sounds .
When it comes to Medicare and Medicaid , the federal health programs that together provide coverage to 115 million people , Trump has promoted the private market and given states control , while Biden wants to expand eligibility to both programs .
Trump has sought to bring drug costs down and provide more private plan options for beneficiaries in Medicare — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — while supporting spending caps and work requirements for Medicaid — the state-run program for low-income adults , children , pregnant women and people with disabilities .
Biden would allow people to enroll in Medicare at age 60 and would also try to create a new federal health program similar to Medicare , which he calls a public option .
Biden has remarked often that he would `` listen to science '' in handling the pandemic , drawing a contrast with Trump , who has repeatedly contradicted his top health officials .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government leading the response , while Trump has delegated much to the states , says Douglas Holtz-Eakin , president of the American Action Forum , a conservative think tank .
`` Trump 's very clearly relying on governors and mayors to pick policies that they think are appropriate for their geography , '' he says .
Early in the pandemic , Trump supported and signed a series of big congressional relief packages , but talks over a new one have stalled .
`` His position has shifted back and forth about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Allison Orris , counsel for Manatt Health , a legal and consulting firm .
If Biden were elected , she says , he `` would really focus on injecting money '' into these efforts , especially since many of the plans the Democrat outlines are expensive .
This is the area where the candidates are most closely aligned .
Both want to end surprise billing and bring down prescription drug prices , and they even agree on some ideas about how to do so .
Trump has pushed hard on Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers got close in December but ultimately failed to agree on legislation .
The president has used his executive authority to try to bring down drug prices — another Trump term might mean some of these efforts will go into effect .
Trump has made some big moves on price transparency , issuing rules that would require hospitals and insurance companies to disclose negotiated prices to consumers , so they can shop around .
This effort has `` kind of flown under the radar , but could actually have quite far-reaching effects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
For either candidate , fixing many of these thorny problems with health care costs needs to be done through new laws rather than executive action , Holtz-Eakin says .
`` If you 're in the White House , you have to learn how to get something through Congress , '' he says .
Because lawmakers have such a key role , it wo n't be until after the election `` that we 'll have some clues into how likely is legislative action '' on these measures , Orris says .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic downturn could also slow these efforts down , she says .
With so much attention on the pandemic , the public may have missed how different the candidates ' views are on reproductive health , Levitt says .
`` Reproductive health is also the area where President Trump has probably had the biggest and most tangible effect in health care , '' he adds .
`` And Joe Biden 's platform on reproductive health can almost be summed up by just : 'Do everything the opposite and undo everything that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other key health issues have been made worse by the pandemic ; addressing mental health issues , opioid use disorder and racial health disparities are all the more urgent and daunting because of how they intersect with COVID-19 .

Comparing Biden's And Trump's Different Visions For Health Care
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Health care was going to be the defining issue of the 2020 election before a pandemic and economic upheaval eclipsed pretty much everything else. But of course, the pandemic has highlighted many health policy issues.
With a highly contagious virus spreading around the world, "you might be thinking more about the importance of health insurance, or you may be worried about losing your job, which is where you get your health insurance," says Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. "The COVID pandemic and health policy are intertwined."
Meanwhile, the choice between the two major presidential candidates on health policy could not be more stark. Drawing from President Trump's record on health care and former Vice President Joe Biden's policy proposals, here's a guide to where they stand.
The Affordable Care Act
The candidates' visions differ radically on the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature health care law, which was enacted in 2010.
"President Trump has — from Day 1 — pushed for repealing or overturning the ACA, and Joe Biden is pushing to build and expand on it," says Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments on the latest challenge to the ACA on Nov. 10. If the court does overturn the law, the president and Congress will have to work quickly to address the possibility of tens of millions becoming uninsured.
One of the ACA's most popular provisions is protection for people with preexisting conditions from being denied coverage or charged higher premiums. Trump has promised to keep this part of the law but hasn't offered specifics on how, and policy experts warn it's harder than it sounds.
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Medicare and Medicaid
When it comes to Medicare and Medicaid, the federal health programs that together provide coverage to 115 million people, Trump has promoted the private market and given states control, while Biden wants to expand eligibility to both programs.
Trump has sought to bring drug costs down and provide more private plan options for beneficiaries in Medicare — the federal program for people over 65 — while supporting spending caps and work requirements for Medicaid — the state-run program for low-income adults, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
Biden would allow people to enroll in Medicare at age 60 and would also try to create a new federal health program similar to Medicare, which he calls a public option.
Loading...
COVID-19 pandemic
Biden has remarked often that he would "listen to science" in handling the pandemic, drawing a contrast with Trump, who has repeatedly contradicted his top health officials.
Biden's proposals emphasize the role of the federal government leading the response, while Trump has delegated much to the states, says Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, a conservative think tank. "Trump's very clearly relying on governors and mayors to pick policies that they think are appropriate for their geography," he says.
Early in the pandemic, Trump supported and signed a series of big congressional relief packages, but talks over a new one have stalled. "His position has shifted back and forth about the importance of another COVID relief package," says Allison Orris, counsel for Manatt Health, a legal and consulting firm.
If Biden were elected, she says, he "would really focus on injecting money" into these efforts, especially since many of the plans the Democrat outlines are expensive.
Loading...
Drug and health care costs
This is the area where the candidates are most closely aligned. Both want to end surprise billing and bring down prescription drug prices, and they even agree on some ideas about how to do so.
Trump has pushed hard on Congress to deal with surprise billing, and lawmakers got close in December but ultimately failed to agree on legislation. The president has used his executive authority to try to bring down drug prices — another Trump term might mean some of these efforts will go into effect.
Trump has made some big moves on price transparency, issuing rules that would require hospitals and insurance companies to disclose negotiated prices to consumers, so they can shop around. This effort has "kind of flown under the radar, but could actually have quite far-reaching effects," the Kaiser Family Foundation's Levitt says.
For either candidate, fixing many of these thorny problems with health care costs needs to be done through new laws rather than executive action, Holtz-Eakin says. "If you're in the White House, you have to learn how to get something through Congress," he says.
Because lawmakers have such a key role, it won't be until after the election "that we'll have some clues into how likely is legislative action" on these measures, Orris says. The need to deal with the pandemic and the economic downturn could also slow these efforts down, she says.
Loading...
Other key health issues
With so much attention on the pandemic, the public may have missed how different the candidates' views are on reproductive health, Levitt says.
"Reproductive health is also the area where President Trump has probably had the biggest and most tangible effect in health care," he adds. "And Joe Biden's platform on reproductive health can almost be summed up by just: 'Do everything the opposite and undo everything that President Trump has done.' "
Many other key health issues have been made worse by the pandemic; addressing mental health issues, opioid use disorder and racial health disparities are all the more urgent and daunting because of how they intersect with COVID-19.


npr--2020-10-22--Housing Boom: Sales of Million-Dollar Homes Double

The pandemic is driving a major boom in the housing market that 's breaking all kinds of records and exposing a very uneven economic recovery between the haves and the have-nots .
The most dramatic increases are happening at the top end of the market — sales of homes costing $ 1 million and up have more than doubled since last year .
Millions of people are working from home while juggling their kids ' remote schooling .
And many who can afford to are buying bigger houses .
Home sales in September were up more than 20 % from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Association of Realtors .
And median home prices hit a record $ 311,800 .
That 's about $ 40,000 more than just a year ago .
`` It is great news for homeowners as they are seeing equity rise and rise , '' says Lawrence Yun , the chief economist for the Realtors group .
But he says prices are rising too fast .
Generally , he says , economists like to see home prices climb in line with people 's wages .
But in recent years , home prices have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will eventually lead to a choking point where first-time buyers simply can not show up to the market , '' Yun says .
Already the percentage of first-time buyers is decreasing — they represent about 31 % of the market .
In a healthy market , they represent 35 % to 40 % of buyers , Yun says .
He worries that if the trend continues , the country will see a further `` divergence in society where you have the haves , with homeownership gaining their equity , and those people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated , unable to reach that goal of owning a home . ''
Low interest rates are helping to drive sales and push up prices .
But Yun says the biggest reason home prices are rising so fast is that there just are n't enough homes on the market .
Following the housing crash more than a decade ago , builders were building far fewer homes than usual .
And that 's created record-low inventories of homes .
The National Association of Realtors says there are fewer homes on the market today than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to 1982 .
And when a home comes on the market it does n't stay there long before it 's sold — an average of just 21 days , Yun says .
`` That is the fastest ever recorded in our monthly series , '' he says .
In fact , a lot more homes would be selling if there was more inventory , says Mike Fratantoni , the chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association .
`` The primary constraint to even more sales is the plummeting inventory of homes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bidding wars and spikes in home prices across the country , '' he says .
`` Fortunately , we are seeing a pickup in the pace of construction , '' he says , `` which should bring more inventory onto the market for next year 's buyers . ''
Clearly though , for buyers where cost is less of an issue , sales are very strong .
In fact , the more expensive the house , the bigger the increase in sales on a percentage basis .
Homes in the $ 100,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % gain in sales compared to a year ago , while sales of homes costing more than $ 1 million more than doubled .
Yun says he 's never seen that happen before .
But he thinks it shows that people with the resources to do it , `` they are just going all in '' — buying bigger homes to help ride out the pandemic , sometimes in resort towns .
And the trend is n't just among the superrich .
Sales of homes between $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But homes going for $ 500,000 to $ 750,000 saw nearly twice as big a percentage jump in sales .

Housing Boom: Sales of Million-Dollar Homes Double
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The pandemic is driving a major boom in the housing market that's breaking all kinds of records and exposing a very uneven economic recovery between the haves and the have-nots. The most dramatic increases are happening at the top end of the market — sales of homes costing $1 million and up have more than doubled since last year.
Millions of people are working from home while juggling their kids' remote schooling. And many who can afford to are buying bigger houses.
Home sales in September were up more than 20% from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. And median home prices hit a record $311,800. That's about $40,000 more than just a year ago.
Enlarge this image NPR/National Association of Realtors NPR/National Association of Realtors
"It is great news for homeowners as they are seeing equity rise and rise," says Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the Realtors group. But he says prices are rising too fast. Generally, he says, economists like to see home prices climb in line with people's wages. But in recent years, home prices have been rising much more quickly.
"It will eventually lead to a choking point where first-time buyers simply can not show up to the market," Yun says. Already the percentage of first-time buyers is decreasing — they represent about 31% of the market. In a healthy market, they represent 35% to 40% of buyers, Yun says.
He worries that if the trend continues, the country will see a further "divergence in society where you have the haves, with homeownership gaining their equity, and those people who would like to become homeowners continually being frustrated, unable to reach that goal of owning a home."
Low interest rates are helping to drive sales and push up prices. But Yun says the biggest reason home prices are rising so fast is that there just aren't enough homes on the market. Following the housing crash more than a decade ago, builders were building far fewer homes than usual. And that's created record-low inventories of homes.
The National Association of Realtors says there are fewer homes on the market today than it's ever seen in records going back to 1982. And when a home comes on the market it doesn't stay there long before it's sold — an average of just 21 days, Yun says.
"That is the fastest ever recorded in our monthly series," he says.
In fact, a lot more homes would be selling if there was more inventory, says Mike Fratantoni, the chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association. "The primary constraint to even more sales is the plummeting inventory of homes on the market, which is leading to bidding wars and spikes in home prices across the country," he says.
"Fortunately, we are seeing a pickup in the pace of construction," he says, "which should bring more inventory onto the market for next year's buyers."
Clearly though, for buyers where cost is less of an issue, sales are very strong. In fact, the more expensive the house, the bigger the increase in sales on a percentage basis.
Homes in the $100,000 to $250,000 range only saw a 4% gain in sales compared to a year ago, while sales of homes costing more than $1 million more than doubled.
Yun says he's never seen that happen before. But he thinks it shows that people with the resources to do it, "they are just going all in" — buying bigger homes to help ride out the pandemic, sometimes in resort towns.
And the trend isn't just among the superrich. Sales of homes between $250,000 and $500,000 saw a 36% gain from a year ago. But homes going for $500,000 to $750,000 saw nearly twice as big a percentage jump in sales.