npr--2020-08-20--How To Tell A Real COVID-19 Contact Tracer's Call From A Scammer's

How To Tell A Real COVID-19 Contact Tracer 's Call From A Scammer's State officials and federal agencies warn there 's a new phone scam circulating : Some callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers are trying to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims .
The grifters apparently are taking advantage of a genuine public health intervention that is crucial to stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus : contact tracing .
In one scam , detailed in a warning from the Montana attorney general , fraudsters are telling their victims , `` ' I 'm calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 . '
`` Then they move in for the kill , asking for payment information `` before we continue . ''
Do n't fall for that , say public health advocates and officials .
Legitimate contact tracers do n't ask for payment or seek other financial information .
`` That is absolutely not part of the process , '' says Crystal Watson , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
`` No one should give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Real contact tracers generally work for health departments .
They contact COVID-positive patients to track symptoms ; they help the people they call figure out how to isolate themselves from others until they clear the virus , and determine which friends , neighbors , colleagues or acquaintances they might have been near in the days just before or after they tested positive for the coronavirus .
The contact tracers then race against the clock with more phone calls , hoping to reach the folks on that list who might have been exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too , to quarantine themselves for a brief period .
This tried and true public health tool ( along with washing hands , wearing a mask in public and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from people outside your household ) is one of the few strategies available to slow the spread of the virus while scientists work on treatments and vaccines .
Legitimate contact tracing is being employed widely in some areas , including the District of Columbia and Hawaii , and has been credited with helping some countries , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
But with this success has come bad actors , too .
The Federal Trade Commission , U.S. Department of Justice , and Department of Health and Human Services , as well as the Better Business Bureau and state law enforcement groups from across the U.S. have issued consumer alerts about unscrupulous people who are not affiliated with health departments using phone calls , texts or emails to get personal information from those they scam .
Legitimate tracing calls might be preceded by a text message , notifying patients of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then , in that initial call , the legitimate tracer will seek to confirm an address and date of birth , especially if you are the COVID-positive patient , Watson says .
`` They ask about your identity , '' Watson says , `` to make sure you are the person they are trying to reach so they do n't disclose potentially private information to the wrong person . ''
Given the prevalence of scammers , it 's good to be initially suspicious of such a call , until you 've sussed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Anytime someone calls you for information , you should be concerned about who is calling , '' says Dr. Georges Benjamin , executive director of the American Public Health Association .
`` If they are legitimate , you can say 'Give me your name and phone number ' and you can always call them back '' after doing some checking .
Did the caller ID indicate the call was from a health department ?
Some , but not all , states are including that information .
For example , Virginia 's calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Call the health department if you have any questions .
Be discerning , but do n't avoid genuine help .
Real contact tracers can also help people who must isolate or quarantine by connecting them with resources , such as food or medicine delivery .
`` Some can even provide you with a separate place to quarantine safely '' if , for example , you live in a multigenerational house with no separate bathroom or bedroom in which to isolate , Watson says .
At the end of the call , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can call or text you in the coming days to check on how any symptoms may be progressing .
That 's OK. Once you 've ascertained they are a real contact tracer , providing them with that sort of information helps not just you , but your community , too .
So , what else should you watch for , to avoid being scammed ?
Be concerned if you get an initial text asking you to click on a link , which might be spam and could download software onto your phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Unlike a legitimate text message from a health department , which only wants to let you know they 'll be calling , this message includes a link to click , '' the FTC says .
And contact tracers in most regions do not ask your immigration or financial status , either .
Another clear red flag : being asked for your Social Security number .
Do n't ever divulge that .
And beware any caller who gives you names of the COVID-19 patients they say led them to you — that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An authorized contact tracer will not disclose the identity of the person who tested positive and is the starting place for that tracing effort , '' the Wisconsin attorney general 's office notes in a recent statement outlining ways consumers can spot and protect themselves from such scams .
Finally , if you think you 've been contacted by a scammer — by phone , email or text — report that to regulatory agencies , such as your state attorney general 's office .
`` If you see something , say something , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a recent consumer alert his office issued .
`` We are working to track these impostors . ''
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent news service of the Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

How To Tell A Real COVID-19 Contact Tracer's Call From A Scammer's
Enlarge this image toggle caption Karl Tapales/Getty Images Karl Tapales/Getty Images
State officials and federal agencies warn there's a new phone scam circulating: Callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers are trying to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims.
The grifters apparently are taking advantage of a genuine public health intervention that is crucial to stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus: contact tracing.
In one scam, detailed in a warning from the Montana attorney general, fraudsters are telling their victims, "I'm calling from your local health department to let you know that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19."
Then they move in for the kill, asking for payment information "before we continue."
Don't fall for that, say public health advocates and officials. Legitimate contact tracers don't ask for payment or seek other financial information.
"That is absolutely not part of the process," says Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "No one should give bank information or credit card information."
How genuine contact tracing works
Real contact tracers generally work for health departments. They contact COVID-positive patients to track symptoms. They help the people they call figure out how to isolate themselves from others until they clear the virus and determine which friends, neighbors, colleagues or acquaintances they might have been near in the days just before or after they tested positive for the coronavirus.
The contact tracers then race against the clock with more phone calls, hoping to reach the folks on that list who might have been exposed to the virus, and persuade them, too, to quarantine themselves for a brief period.
This tried-and-true public health tool (along with washing hands, wearing a mask in public and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from people outside your household) is one of the few strategies available to slow the spread of the virus while scientists work on treatments and vaccines.
Legitimate contact tracing is being employed widely in some areas, including the District of Columbia and Hawaii, and has been credited with helping some countries, such as Taiwan and New Zealand, contain the virus.
But with this success has come bad actors, too. The Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Better Business Bureau and state law enforcement groups from across the U.S. have issued consumer alerts about unscrupulous people who are not affiliated with health departments using phone calls, texts or emails to get personal information from those they scam.
Be discerning, but don't avoid real tracers
Legitimate tracing calls might be preceded by a text message, notifying patients of an upcoming call from the health department. Then, in that initial call, the legitimate tracer will seek to confirm an address and date of birth, especially if you are the COVID-positive patient, Watson says.
"They ask about your identity," Watson says, "to make sure you are the person they are trying to reach so they don't disclose potentially private information to the wrong person."
Given the prevalence of scammers, it's good to be initially suspicious of such a call, until you've sussed out its source, health officials say.
"Anytime someone calls you for information, you should be concerned about who is calling," says Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. "If they are legitimate, you can say, 'Give me your name and phone number' and you can always call them back" after doing some checking.
One thing to consider: Did the caller ID indicate the call was from a health department? Some, but not all, states are including that information. For example, Virginia's calls are from the "VDH COVID Team." Call the health department if you have any questions.
Be discerning, but don't avoid genuine help. Real contact tracers can also help people who must isolate or quarantine by connecting them with resources, such as food or medicine delivery.
"Some can even provide you with a separate place to quarantine safely" if, for example, you live in a multigenerational house with no separate bathroom or bedroom in which to isolate, Watson says.
At the end of the call, a genuine contact tracer may ask if they can call or text you in the coming days to check on how any symptoms may be progressing. That's OK. Once you've ascertained they are a real contact tracer, providing them with that sort of information helps not just you, but your community, too.
So, what else should you watch for, to avoid being scammed?
Signs of a fraudster
Be concerned if you get an initial text asking you to click on a link, which might be spam and could download software onto your phone, the Federal Trade Commission warns.
"Unlike a legitimate text message from a health department, which only wants to let you know they'll be calling, this message includes a link to click," the FTC says. And contact tracers in most regions do not ask your immigration or financial status.
Another clear red flag: being asked for your Social Security number. Don't ever divulge that. And beware of any caller who gives you names of the COVID-19 patients they say led them to you — that's a sign of a scammer.
"An authorized contact tracer will not disclose the identity of the person who tested positive and is the starting place for that tracing effort," the Wisconsin attorney general's office notes in a recent statement outlining ways consumers can spot and protect themselves from such scams.
Finally, if you think you've been contacted by a scammer — by phone, email or text — report that to regulatory agencies, such as your state attorney general's office.
"If you see something, say something," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in a recent consumer alert his office issued. "We are working to track these impostors."
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent news service of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-08-19--1 Dead In California Fire, As Lightning-Strike Fires Push Resources To Limit

1 Dead In California Fire , As Lightning-Strike Fires Push Resources To Limit The onslaught of fires raging across California has turned deadly , claiming the first casualty as thousands of firefighting personnel battle to contain 23 major complex blazes across the state .
A helicopter pilot who was battling one of the state 's smaller fires in central California has died when the craft crashed , according to Cal Fire officials .
`` This morning a Call When Needed helicopter crashed while fighting a wildfire in Western Fresno County , '' the agency said .
The Bell UH-IH helicopter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hills Fire at the time of the accident .
`` The pilot was the only person aboard the helicopter and did not survive the incident . ''
The helicopter was one of six fighting to contain the fire in Fresno County , which has been difficult to reach because of steep terrain and limited access , according to Cal Fire .
The tragedy comes as a blitz of lightning strikes amid a blistering heat wave have sparked hundreds of simultaneous fires across California , stretching the state 's resources to the limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire personnel from federal , state and local agencies have been called in to battle the flames as they engulf rural and residential areas alike , Cal Fire officials reported .
The lightning and thunderstorms that began on Sunday , combined with extremely high temperatures and dangerous air quality have exacerbated the ferocity of the blazes and speed with which they are spreading .
That has prompted the evacuations of thousands of people as crews attempt to prevent the fires from ravaging entire neighborhoods .
`` Over the last 72 hours the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siege that has resulted in approximately 10,849 lightning strikes across the state , causing more than 367 new fires , '' Cal Fire 's Public Information Officer for the LNU Lightning Complex fire Jeremy Rahn , said in a Wednesday press conference .
`` Fire fighting resources are depleted , '' Rahn said , adding that `` the size and complexity at which these incidents are burning is challenging all aspects of emergency response . ''
So far , California has requested 375 fire engines from neighboring states and it has hired `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the western United States , '' he said .
In all , fire officials have identified 23 major complex fires — those are separate , disconnected fires that are burning within a specific geographic area in close proximity to one another .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom remarked on the unique crisis the state faces under the current extreme weather conditions during his own news briefing a few hours later .
`` We are experiencing fires , the likes of which we have never seen in many many years , '' Newsom said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency on Tuesday clearing a path to more easily secure federal grants and firefighting help from other states .
While several fires have been tearing through Southern California for more than a week , Northern California has been particularly hard hit in recent days .
The LNU Lightning Complex fire consists of several blazes throughout Napa and Sonoma counties .
Together the fast-moving flames have burned more than 46,000 acres as of Wednesday mid-day and destroyed or damaged about 100 structures , Cal Fire reported .
The fires were at zero percent containment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa ... reducing homes to ashes and vehicles to piles of melted metal , '' reported KPIX , the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area .
Not far from the wine region , the CSU Lightning Complex fires have consumed more than 85,000 acres across five counties .
The burning , which is believed to have been ignited by dry lightning , began on Tuesday morning and has now spread through Santa Clara County , Alameda County , Contra Costa County , San Joaquin County , and Stanislaus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained .
The CZU August Lightning Complex fire is yet another raging blaze .
This one is along the coast in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties .
`` High night-time temperatures and limited resources '' have expanded the fire , which has now reached 10,000 acres , Cal Fire said .
Meanwhile , Southern California is contending with three massive fires that have scorched roughly 73,200 acres and threaten the existence of hundreds of communities .
The Lake Fire has spread across 26,000 acres , the Dome Fire has charred more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Ranch 2 fire has swallowed 4,300 acres .
Not one is more than 40 % contained .
Although Newsom conceded that firefighting personnel `` are stretched in ways that we have n't seen in many years , '' on Wednesday he rejected criticism that the state was unprepared for the onslaught of wildfires .
He noted extensive collaboration with FEMA and other states , including Arizona and Texas , that have been put in place over the years to address such calamities .
`` We prepared for it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget boost of $ 85.6 million `` to bring on permanent firefighting forces '' was approved by the state legislature earlier this year , despite the economic belt tightening caused by the coronavirus pandemic , Newsom said .
The governor reported 830 additional seasonal fighters have been hired in the last few weeks to combat the active wildfires .
And more help is expected to arrive from Texas The fires are also smothering huge swaths of the state with harmful smoke and ash forcing many who can to remain indoors .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's energy infrastructure which is under tremendous strain as the heat wave has triggered rolling blackouts .
And there is little reprieve expected for at least a few days .
High temperatures are expected to continue through the end of the week , the National Weather Service said .
Another , unexpected complication that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is where to send people who have been evacuated from their homes .
Statewide health and safety guidelines require that evacuees not be crammed together in enclosed spaces are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @

1 Dead In California Fire, As Lightning-Strike Fires Push Resources To Limit
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
The onslaught of fires raging across California has turned deadly, claiming the first casualty as thousands of firefighting personnel battle to contain 23 major complex blazes across the state.
A helicopter pilot who was battling one of the state's smaller fires in central California has died when the craft crashed, according to Cal Fire officials.
"This morning a Call When Needed helicopter crashed while fighting a wildfire in Western Fresno County," the agency said.
The Bell UH-IH helicopter was on a water dropping mission on the Hills Fire at the time of the accident.
"The pilot was the only person aboard the helicopter and did not survive the incident."
The helicopter was one of six fighting to contain the fire in Fresno County, which has been difficult to reach because of steep terrain and limited access, according to Cal Fire.
The tragedy comes as a blitz of lightning strikes amid a blistering heat wave have sparked hundreds of simultaneous fires across California, stretching the state's resources to the limit.
As of Wednesday afternoon roughly 6,900 fire personnel from federal, state and local agencies have been called in to battle the flames as they engulf rural and residential areas alike, Cal Fire officials reported.
The lightning and thunderstorms that began on Sunday, combined with extremely high temperatures and dangerous air quality have exacerbated the ferocity of the blazes and speed with which they are spreading. That has prompted the evacuations of thousands of people as crews attempt to prevent the fires from ravaging entire neighborhoods.
"Over the last 72 hours the state has been besieged by a historic lightning siege that has resulted in approximately 10,849 lightning strikes across the state, causing more than 367 new fires," Cal Fire's Public Information Officer for the LNU Lightning Complex fire Jeremy Rahn, said in a Wednesday press conference.
"Fire fighting resources are depleted," Rahn said, adding that "the size and complexity at which these incidents are burning is challenging all aspects of emergency response."
So far, California has requested 375 fire engines from neighboring states and it has hired "nearly all available private firefighting call-when-needed aircraft in the western United States," he said.
In all, fire officials have identified 23 major complex fires — those are separate, disconnected fires that are burning within a specific geographic area in close proximity to one another.
Gov. Gavin Newsom remarked on the unique crisis the state faces under the current extreme weather conditions during his own news briefing a few hours later.
"We are experiencing fires, the likes of which we have never seen in many many years," Newsom said.
The governor declared a state of emergency on Tuesday clearing a path to more easily secure federal grants and firefighting help from other states.
While several fires have been tearing through Southern California for more than a week, Northern California has been particularly hard hit in recent days.
The LNU Lightning Complex fire consists of several blazes throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. Together the fast-moving flames have burned more than 46,000 acres as of Wednesday mid-day and destroyed or damaged about 100 structures, Cal Fire reported. The fires were at zero percent containment.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
"A wall of flames roared through the Spanish Flat Mobile Villa ... reducing homes to ashes and vehicles to piles of melted metal," reported KPIX, the CBS affiliate in the Bay Area.
Not far from the wine region, the SCU Lightning Complex fires have consumed more than 85,000 acres across five counties. The burning, which is believed to have been ignited by dry lightning, began on Tuesday morning and has now spread through Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, and Stanislaus County.
It is about 5% contained.
The CZU August Lightning Complex fire is yet another raging blaze. This one is along the coast in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. "High night-time temperatures and limited resources" have expanded the fire, which has now reached 10,000 acres, Cal Fire said.
Meanwhile, Southern California is contending with three massive fires that have scorched roughly 73,200 acres and threaten the existence of hundreds of communities.
The Lake Fire has spread across 26,000 acres, the Dome Fire has charred more than 43,000 acres within the Mojave National Preserve, and the Ranch 2 fire has swallowed 4,300 acres. Not one is more than 40% contained.
Although Newsom conceded that firefighting personnel "are stretched in ways that we haven't seen in many years," on Wednesday he rejected criticism that the state was unprepared for the onslaught of wildfires.
He noted extensive collaboration with FEMA and other states, including Arizona and Texas, that have been put in place over the years to address such calamities.
"We prepared for it," Newsom said.
An additional Cal Fire budget boost of $85.6 million "to bring on permanent firefighting forces" was approved by the state legislature earlier this year, despite the economic belt tightening caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Newsom said.
The governor reported 830 additional seasonal fighters have been hired in the last few weeks to combat the active wildfires. And more help is expected to arrive from Texas
The fires are also smothering huge swaths of the state with harmful smoke and ash forcing many who can to remain indoors. But that is also putting stress on the state's energy infrastructure which is under tremendous strain as the heat wave has triggered rolling blackouts.
And there is little reprieve expected for at least a few days. High temperatures are expected to continue through the end of the week, the National Weather Service said.
Another, unexpected complication that has arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is where to send people who have been evacuated from their homes. Statewide health and safety guidelines require that evacuees not be crammed together in enclosed spaces are they usually when people wait out emergencies.


npr--2020-08-20--Kansas City Chiefs Ban Fans From Wearing Native American Headdresses And Face Paint

The Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday announced new rules for fans attending home games at Arrowhead Stadium , banning headdresses and certain types of face paint in an effort to be more sensitive to Native Americans .
Beginning this season , fans will be prohibited from wearing headdresses into the stadium , and will be asked upon arrival to remove `` any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions . ''
The reigning Super Bowl champions are keeping their name but reviewing two longtime traditions , the pre-game drum ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sometimes called the tomahawk chop , it is a one-armed gesture accompanied by a fake , stereotypical war chant , and experts say it has little basis in Native American history .
That , and some fans ' appropriation of headdresses and war paint , have increasingly come under fire .
Kevin Allis , CEO of the National Congress of American Indians , told NPR member station KCUR earlier this year that practices like chopping and chanting demean Native Americans and wrongly portray them as being homogenous and mythical .
`` When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this distortion in kind of dehumanizing imagery has lasting negative impacts for us , '' Allis said .
The Chiefs have worked with Native groups for several years to educate fans and discourage them from dressing up .
`` As an organization , our goal was to gain a better understanding of the issues facing American Indian communities in our region and explore opportunities to both raise awareness of American Indian cultures and celebrate the rich traditions of tribes with a historic connection to the Kansas City area , '' they wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , helped guide the team 's American Indian Heritage Month Games , as well as the ceremonial `` Blessing of the Drum and the Four Directions of Arrowhead Stadium . ''
The team also said it recently began consulting with a national organization that works on issues affecting American Indian people and tribes , a process that informed its latest policy changes .
The team had been under increasing pressure to take action after Washington 's NFL franchise removed its longtime team name last month .
Thursday 's announcement leaves the NHL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta Braves as the remaining pro-level teams with Native American mascots , names or imagery that have not made any changes .
In addition to the new measures , the Chiefs plan to continue existing in-person traditions like the Blessing of the Drum and the American Indian Heritage Month Game this season , in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines set by the league and the city .
The team recently finalized plans to welcome spectators back to Arrowhead Stadium , at 22 % capacity and with other safety protocols .

Kansas City Chiefs Ban Fans From Wearing Native American Headdresses And Face Paint
Enlarge this image toggle caption Peter Aiken/Getty Images Peter Aiken/Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday announced new rules for fans attending home games at Arrowhead Stadium, banning headdresses and certain types of face paint in an effort to be more sensitive to Native Americans.
Beginning this season, fans will be prohibited from wearing headdresses into the stadium, and will be asked upon arrival to remove "any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions."
The reigning Super Bowl champions are keeping their name but reviewing two longtime traditions, the pre-game drum ceremony and the "Arrowhead Chop."
Sometimes called the tomahawk chop, it is a one-armed gesture accompanied by a fake, stereotypical war chant, and experts say it has little basis in Native American history. That, and some fans' appropriation of headdresses and war paint, have increasingly come under fire.
Kevin Allis, CEO of the National Congress of American Indians, told NPR member station KCUR earlier this year that practices like chopping and chanting demean Native Americans and wrongly portray them as being homogenous and mythical.
"When you see this on TV or in person, this distortion in kind of dehumanizing imagery has lasting negative impacts for us," Allis said.
The Chiefs have worked with Native groups for several years to educate fans and discourage them from dressing up.
"As an organization, our goal was to gain a better understanding of the issues facing American Indian communities in our region and explore opportunities to both raise awareness of American Indian cultures and celebrate the rich traditions of tribes with a historic connection to the Kansas City area," they wrote.
That dialogue, which began in 2014, helped guide the team's American Indian Heritage Month Games, as well as the ceremonial "Blessing of the Drum and the Four Directions of Arrowhead Stadium."
The team also said it recently began consulting with a national organization that works on issues affecting American Indian people and tribes, a process that informed its latest policy changes.
The team had been under increasing pressure to take action after Washington's NFL franchise removed its longtime team name last month.
Thursday's announcement leaves the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and the MLB's Atlanta Braves as the remaining pro-level teams with Native American mascots, names or imagery that have not made any changes.
In addition to the new measures, the Chiefs plan to continue existing in-person traditions like the Blessing of the Drum and the American Indian Heritage Month Game this season, in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines set by the league and the city.
The team recently finalized plans to welcome spectators back to Arrowhead Stadium, at 22% capacity and with other safety protocols.
NPR's Russell Lewis contributed to this report.


npr--2020-08-20--Pompeo Tries Starting 'Snapback' Clock To Restore Sanctions Against Iran By U.N.

Pompeo Tries Starting 'Snapback ' Clock To Restore Sanctions Against Iran By U.N. Six days after the Trump administration saw its effort to extend expiring U.N. weapons sanctions on Iran collapse in an embarrassing defeat , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went to U.N. headquarters on Thursday to try again .
This time , Pompeo went even further , pushing for a reinstatement by the U.N. Security Council not just of the arms restrictions set to expire Oct. 18 , but of all the Iran sanctions that were terminated five years ago by that 15-member body .
That suspension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2231 , which endorses the multination agreement — known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , or JCPOA — that restricts Iran 's nuclear program .
Pompeo informed reporters that he had just delivered letters to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council president , Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani .
The notifications are meant to start the clock on restoring the punitive measures against Iran the United Nations lifted in January 2016 .
`` This process will lead to those sanctions coming back into effect 30 days from today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message is very , very simple : The United States will never allow the world 's largest state sponsor of terrorism to freely buy and sell planes , tanks , missiles and other kinds of conventional weapons . ''
In his letters to the U.N. leaders , Pompeo cited , among other `` incontestable '' examples of Iran 's noncompliance with the nuclear agreement , Tehran 's enrichment of uranium beyond the JCPOA 's limit of 3.67 % , its accumulation of an enriched uranium stockpile that exceeds 300 kilograms , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With those missives , Pompeo has invoked for the first time what 's known as a `` snapback . ''
It 's a provision in the U.N. resolution stipulating that if any `` JCPOA participant State '' notifies the Security Council of significant violations of the nuclear deal by Iran , the sanctions lifted in January 2016 will automatically be reimposed within 30 days unless the council passes a resolution in opposition .
The Trump administration , however , withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and then unilaterally reimposed sanctions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum pressure '' campaign against Iran .
Stepping up to the same podium where Pompeo had just spoken , Iran 's ambassador to the United Nations declared the U.S. had disqualified itself from invoking any snapback by pulling out of the nuclear deal .
`` The U.S. is not a participant of the JCPOA and has no right to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism , and its arbitrary interpretation of resolution 2231 can not change this reality , '' Iranian Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said .
`` We are of the firm conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today to the Security Council 's president and all the references therein is null and void and has no legal standing . ''
The Iranian envoy pointed to the council 's Aug. 14 vote , in which only the Dominican Republic supported the U.S. push for extending the arms embargo against Iran , as showing scant desire to back Pompeo 's demand for a snapback of sanctions .
`` It was a disaster .
It was really something that the U.S. should have avoided because that was a clear case of isolation at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote 's tally of two in favor , two against and 11 abstentions .
`` So the permanent member of the Security Council is acting like a child who is being ridiculed by the other members of the international community . ''
Pompeo , for his part , thanked the Dominican Republic for standing with the U.S. in that vote and said Germany , France and the United Kingdom — all three members of the Security Council and signatories to the JCPOA — had assured him privately that , despite their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the arms embargo against Iran expire .
`` And yet today , in the end , they provided no alternatives , no options , '' Pompeo said of Washington 's three European allies .
`` Instead , they chose to side with the ayatollahs .
Their actions endanger the people of Iraq , of Yemen , of Lebanon , Syria and indeed their own citizens as well . ''
Pompeo insisted the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal has no bearing on its status as a participant in what he called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what matters is the language in the U.N. resolution .
`` It says this set of states has the right to execute snapback .
That 's not conditioned on any other activity , '' Pompeo explained .
`` It does n't require compliance .
It just says these countries can execute snapback .
It 's very plain .
It 's very simple . ''
Other key members of the Security Council disagreed .
One of Russia 's top diplomats on Thursday called the U.S. push to reimpose sanctions on Iran `` absurd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quoted by Reuters as telling Russian news agencies that the U.S. has no legal or political grounds to reimpose sanctions and that attempting to do so would lead to a Security Council crisis .
And the foreign ministers of the three European nations on the council declared in a joint statement sent to NPR that they too oppose Washington 's claimed right to invoke a snapback of sanctions .
`` France , Germany and the United Kingdom note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , '' the trio of foreign ministers wrote after Pompeo 's presentation at the United Nations of the letters meant to initiate the snapback process .
`` We can not therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA . ''
Even John Bolton , the former national security adviser who had urged President Trump to quit the nuclear deal , endorsed the contention by the agreement 's backers that the U.S. lacks legal standing after having withdrawn from the deal .
`` They 're right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street Journal op-ed .
`` It 's too cute by half to say we 're in the nuclear deal for purposes we want but not for those we do n't .
That alone is sufficient reason not to trigger the snapback process . ''
One expert on U.N. Security Council procedures noted that a resolution calling for the continued lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iran would likely be introduced in the next 30 days , and that it could be vetoed by the United States .
`` You can have a resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Columbia Law School adjunct professor Larry Johnson , a former assistant secretary-general for legal affairs at the United Nations .
`` Every meeting begins with , 'Here is the proposed provisional agenda , ' and that has to be adopted by nine yes votes .
So if they do n't adopt it , the meeting ends and that 's the end of it .
Finished . ''
Or , Johnson added , the Security Council could avoid a U.S. veto of a resolution extending the sanctions relief by considering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedural votes by the council `` are not subject to a veto . ''
But America 's top diplomat is confident the U.N. 's suspended sanctions against Iran will soon snap back .
`` These U.N. Security Council resolutions will come back into place 31 days from now , '' Pompeo predicted to reporters Thursday , `` and the United States will vigorously enforce them . ''

Pompeo Tries Starting 'Snapback' Clock To Restore Sanctions Against Iran By U.N.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Segar/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Mike Segar/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Six days after the Trump administration saw its effort to extend expiring U.N. weapons sanctions on Iran collapse in an embarrassing defeat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went to U.N. headquarters on Thursday to try again.
This time, Pompeo went even further, pushing for a reinstatement by the U.N. Security Council not just of the arms restrictions set to expire Oct. 18, but of all the Iran sanctions that were terminated five years ago by that 15-member body.
That suspension of sanctions was part of U.N. Resolution 2231, which endorses the multination agreement — known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA — that restricts Iran's nuclear program.
Pompeo informed reporters that he had just delivered letters to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council president, Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani. The notifications are meant to start the clock on restoring the punitive measures against Iran the United Nations lifted in January 2016.
"This process will lead to those sanctions coming back into effect 30 days from today," Pompeo declared. "Our message is very, very simple: The United States will never allow the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism to freely buy and sell planes, tanks, missiles and other kinds of conventional weapons."
In his letters to the U.N. leaders, Pompeo cited, among other "incontestable" examples of Iran's noncompliance with the nuclear agreement, Tehran's enrichment of uranium beyond the JCPOA's limit of 3.67%, its accumulation of an enriched uranium stockpile that exceeds 300 kilograms, and its accumulation of "excess" heavy water.
With those missives, Pompeo has invoked for the first time what's known as a "snapback."
It's a provision in the U.N. resolution stipulating that if any "JCPOA participant State" notifies the Security Council of significant violations of the nuclear deal by Iran, the sanctions lifted in January 2016 will automatically be reimposed within 30 days unless the council passes a resolution in opposition.
The Trump administration, however, withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and then unilaterally reimposed sanctions as part of what it called a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran.
Stepping up to the same podium where Pompeo had just spoken, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations declared the U.S. had disqualified itself from invoking any snapback by pulling out of the nuclear deal.
"The U.S. is not a participant of the JCPOA and has no right to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism, and its arbitrary interpretation of resolution 2231 cannot change this reality," Iranian Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said. "We are of the firm conviction that the letter sent by the U.S. today to the Security Council's president and all the references therein is null and void and has no legal standing."
The Iranian envoy pointed to the council's Aug. 14 vote, in which only the Dominican Republic supported the U.S. push for extending the arms embargo against Iran, as showing scant desire to back Pompeo's demand for a snapback of sanctions.
"It was a disaster. It was really something that the U.S. should have avoided because that was a clear case of isolation at the international level," Ravanchi said of the vote's tally of two in favor, two against and 11 abstentions. "So the permanent member of the Security Council is acting like a child who is being ridiculed by the other members of the international community."
Pompeo, for his part, thanked the Dominican Republic for standing with the U.S. in that vote and said Germany, France and the United Kingdom — all three members of the Security Council and signatories to the JCPOA — had assured him privately that, despite their own abstentions, they did not want to see the arms embargo against Iran expire.
"And yet today, in the end, they provided no alternatives, no options," Pompeo said of Washington's three European allies. "Instead, they chose to side with the ayatollahs. Their actions endanger the people of Iraq, of Yemen, of Lebanon, Syria and indeed their own citizens as well."
Pompeo insisted the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal has no bearing on its status as a participant in what he called "a political agreement" and that what matters is the language in the U.N. resolution.
"It says this set of states has the right to execute snapback. That's not conditioned on any other activity," Pompeo explained. "It doesn't require compliance. It just says these countries can execute snapback. It's very plain. It's very simple."
Other key members of the Security Council disagreed. One of Russia's top diplomats on Thursday called the U.S. push to reimpose sanctions on Iran "absurd."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by Reuters as telling Russian news agencies that the U.S. has no legal or political grounds to reimpose sanctions and that attempting to do so would lead to a Security Council crisis.
And the foreign ministers of the three European nations on the council declared in a joint statement sent to NPR that they too oppose Washington's claimed right to invoke a snapback of sanctions.
"France, Germany and the United Kingdom note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018," the trio of foreign ministers wrote after Pompeo's presentation at the United Nations of the letters meant to initiate the snapback process. "We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA."
Even John Bolton, the former national security adviser who had urged President Trump to quit the nuclear deal, endorsed the contention by the agreement's backers that the U.S. lacks legal standing after having withdrawn from the deal.
"They're right," Bolton wrote Sunday in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. "It's too cute by half to say we're in the nuclear deal for purposes we want but not for those we don't. That alone is sufficient reason not to trigger the snapback process."
One expert on U.N. Security Council procedures noted that a resolution calling for the continued lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iran would likely be introduced in the next 30 days, and that it could be vetoed by the United States.
"You can have a resolution — it's just never acted on," said Columbia Law School adjunct professor Larry Johnson, a former assistant secretary-general for legal affairs at the United Nations. "Every meeting begins with, 'Here is the proposed provisional agenda,' and that has to be adopted by nine yes votes. So if they don't adopt it, the meeting ends and that's the end of it. Finished."
Or, Johnson added, the Security Council could avoid a U.S. veto of a resolution extending the sanctions relief by considering a vote on the matter procedural — and procedural votes by the council "are not subject to a veto."
But America's top diplomat is confident the U.N.'s suspended sanctions against Iran will soon snap back.
"These U.N. Security Council resolutions will come back into place 31 days from now," Pompeo predicted to reporters Thursday, "and the United States will vigorously enforce them."


npr--2020-08-20--Birx Stokes Hopes That Key Hospital Data Tracking Will Soon Return To CDC

Birx Stokes Hopes That Key Hospital Data Tracking Will Soon Return To CDC The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working `` to build a revolutionary new data system '' for COVID-19 hospital data collection that the CDC will run upon completion , according to Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force .
Birx 's comments this week come a month after the Trump administration mandated that hospitals sidestep the agency and send critical information about COVID-19 hospitalizations and equipment to a different federal database managed by the Department of Health and Human Services , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision was met with an avalanche of criticism from medical institutions and public health groups .
Weeks after the new reporting system was rolled out , the data were shown to be rife with inconsistencies and updated erratically .
The announcement sparked hope among some public health advocates that the current , controversial system of reporting hospital data around COVID-19 would soon be canceled and that data collection would be restored to the CDC .
Birx made the remarks Monday during a visit to the Arkansas Governor 's Mansion , but she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change .
Having the CDC run data collection again `` would help us tremendously in getting back on track with respect to reporting and understanding what 's happening with this pandemic across the region , the state and the nation , '' said Dr. Vineet Chopra , chief of the division of hospital medicine at the University of Michigan and a member of a federal advisory committee on hospital infection prevention .
Last month , the White House told hospitals to stop reporting critical data into a CDC system they had used since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was analyzing the data and posting thrice-weekly updates on a CDC website .
Instead , hospitals have had to start reporting information on how many intensive care beds were available , for example , and how much personal protective equipment was in stock to a newer system built by a private contractor , TeleTracking , or directly to their state health departments .
Both tracks bypass the CDC and provide the data directly to HHS .
When infection numbers start to rise in a state , public health officials and residents worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously ill patients .
An area 's hospital capacity is an estimate , fed by the data that individual hospitals report .
Public health officials rely on the estimates to see whether hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed .
Hospitals were given a few days ' notice to adopt the reporting change .
They were told that compliance with the new reporting tools would determine their access to the federal supply of remdesivir , one of the few drugs proven to work against COVID-19 .
`` Many hospitals , ours included , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Chopra said , `` and also to understand how best to extract data from it and use it to understand capacity , use rates [ for protective equipment ] , and the prevalence of infection . ''
HHS officials insisted the new system would be quicker and provide more complete data .
But an NPR analysis showed that weeks after the data collecting change , information posted to the public HHS site was spotty , incomplete and riddled with errors .
Birx said Monday the information collected through the HHS reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time every day , I can see every new admission across the country , and that has been extraordinarily important , '' she said .
Still , she described the reporting system as `` interim . ''
When the final system is ready , she said , that `` [ the data reporting function ] can be moved back to the CDC , and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE . ''
HHS said Birx 's comments do not constitute a shift in policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting has not and is not changing , '' said a statement from Michael Caputo , HHS assistant secretary for public affairs , in an email to NPR .
Last month 's abrupt change in data collection caused ruptures to the validity and accuracy of the data during a critical time in the pandemic , said Lisa M. Lee , former chief science officer for public health surveillance at the CDC and now an associate vice president at Virginia Tech .
If the CDC were put back in charge of the data `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a much better system , '' she said , `` [ because ] we have professional surveillance scientists at CDC and public health professionals who have the expertise to handle data that are this complex . ''

Birx Stokes Hopes That Key Hospital Data Tracking Will Soon Return To CDC
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew DeMillo/AP Andrew DeMillo/AP
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working "to build a revolutionary new data system" for COVID-19 hospital data collection that the CDC will run upon completion, according to Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Birx's comments this week come a month after the Trump administration mandated that hospitals sidestep the agency and send critical information about COVID-19 hospitalizations and equipment to a different federal database managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC.
The July decision was met with an avalanche of criticism from medical institutions and public health groups. Weeks after the new reporting system was rolled out, the data were shown to be rife with inconsistencies and updated erratically.
The announcement sparked hope among some public health advocates that the current, controversial system of reporting hospital data around COVID-19 would soon be canceled and that data collection would be restored to the CDC.
Birx made the remarks Monday during a visit to the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, but she did not provide a time frame for the change.
Having the CDC run data collection again "would help us tremendously in getting back on track with respect to reporting and understanding what's happening with this pandemic across the region, the state and the nation," said Dr. Vineet Chopra, chief of the division of hospital medicine at the University of Michigan and a member of a federal advisory committee on hospital infection prevention.
Last month, the White House told hospitals to stop reporting critical data into a CDC system they had used since the beginning of the pandemic, which was analyzing the data and posting thrice-weekly updates on a CDC website. Instead, hospitals have had to start reporting information on how many intensive care beds were available, for example, and how much personal protective equipment was in stock to a newer system built by a private contractor, TeleTracking, or directly to their state health departments. Both tracks bypass the CDC and provide the data directly to HHS.
When infection numbers start to rise in a state, public health officials and residents worry about whether there are enough hospital beds for seriously ill patients. An area's hospital capacity is an estimate, fed by the data that individual hospitals report. Public health officials rely on the estimates to see whether hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed.
Hospitals were given a few days' notice to adopt the reporting change. They were told that compliance with the new reporting tools would determine their access to the federal supply of remdesivir, one of the few drugs proven to work against COVID-19.
"Many hospitals, ours included, have struggled to use the new system," Chopra said, "and also to understand how best to extract data from it and use it to understand capacity, use rates [for protective equipment], and the prevalence of infection."
HHS officials insisted the new system would be quicker and provide more complete data. But an NPR analysis showed that weeks after the data collecting change, information posted to the public HHS site was spotty, incomplete and riddled with errors.
Birx said Monday the information collected through the HHS reporting system is proving useful. "For the first time every day, I can see every new admission across the country, and that has been extraordinarily important," she said.
Still, she described the reporting system as "interim." When the final system is ready, she said, that "[the data reporting function] can be moved back to the CDC, and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE."
HHS said Birx's comments do not constitute a shift in policy. "The process for COVID-19 data reporting has not and is not changing," said a statement from Michael Caputo, HHS assistant secretary for public affairs, in an email to NPR.
Last month's abrupt change in data collection caused ruptures to the validity and accuracy of the data during a critical time in the pandemic, said Lisa M. Lee, former chief science officer for public health surveillance at the CDC and now an associate vice president at Virginia Tech.
If the CDC were put back in charge of the data "for the long haul, we would have a much better system," she said, "[because] we have professional surveillance scientists at CDC and public health professionals who have the expertise to handle data that are this complex."


npr--2020-08-20--Airbnb Bans All Parties At Its Listings Worldwide, Citing Public Health Mandates

Airbnb Bans All Parties At Its Listings Worldwide , Citing Public Health Mandates Airbnb is banning all parties at its listings worldwide , further cracking down on unauthorized gatherings in the name of public health .
The company on Thursday announced its `` Global Party Ban , '' which includes an occupancy cap of 16 guests .
The new policy applies to all future bookings and will remain in effect indefinitely .
Airbnb said that `` instituting a global ban on parties and events is in the best interest of public health . ''
According to Airbnb , rental properties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as gatherings , bars , clubs and pubs remain restricted in most places .
`` Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes , sometimes rented through our platform , '' it said in a statement .
`` We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible – we do not want that type of business , and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform . ''
Unauthorized parties have long been prohibited at Airbnb rentals , and the company said 73 % of its listings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house rules .
Small events such as baby showers and birthday parties have historically been allowed at the discretion of the host .
Airbnb enacted a slew of tighter restrictions last year , including a global ban on party houses , which it defines as listings that `` create persistent neighborhood nuisance . ''
The company said it updated its policies to promote social distancing and responsible travel , such as by removing the `` event-friendly '' search filter from its system .
And in July , it announced a U.S.-specific initiative restricting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from booking entire home listings locally in an effort to reduce unauthorized parties .
It also introduced a policy requiring users to adhere to local COVID-19 mandates — many of which involved strict limits on gatherings at least initially — which it said `` effectively created a form-fitting , patchwork ban on parties and events . ''
But now evolving COVID-19 conditions and public health mandates both in and across jurisdictions have led to a one-size-fits-all policy .
`` We believe having a simpler , global policy will allow us to better support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban parties in their homes , '' the company said .
Catherine Powell , the company 's global head of hosting , said in a video message that an increase in local bookings , with more distant travel restricted , makes it easier for guests to bring more friends than they account for in their reservation .
While those guests make up a `` very small portion '' of bookings , Powell said unplanned events put people at risk , hurt the company 's relationship with local communities and are `` even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said there will be exceptions to the occupancy limit for certain hospitality venues such as boutique hotels .
The company 's statement clarifies that while part of its new policy caps guests at 16 people , it does not condone gatherings of any size .
It said it will take action on both guests and listings if it receives reports from neighbors , and violators may face legal consequences .
Last week , for the first time , the company initiated legal proceedings against a guest for violating its ban on party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from its platform .
Airbnb said the unnamed customer had booked a short-term rental in Sacramento County , Calif. , `` under false pretenses '' and hosted an unauthorized party , violating both company policy and local health orders .
That party ended with three people injured in a shooting .

Airbnb Bans All Parties At Its Listings Worldwide, Citing Public Health Mandates
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Airbnb is banning all parties at its listings worldwide, further cracking down on unauthorized gatherings in the name of public health.
The company on Thursday announced its "Global Party Ban," which includes an occupancy cap of 16 guests. The new policy applies to all future bookings and will remain in effect indefinitely. Airbnb said that "instituting a global ban on parties and events is in the best interest of public health."
According to Airbnb, rental properties have been misused to host unsafe get-togethers as gatherings, bars, clubs and pubs remain restricted in most places.
"Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform," it said in a statement. "We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible – we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform."
Unauthorized parties have long been prohibited at Airbnb rentals, and the company said 73% of its listings worldwide already explicitly ban parties in their house rules. Small events such as baby showers and birthday parties have historically been allowed at the discretion of the host.
Airbnb enacted a slew of tighter restrictions last year, including a global ban on party houses, which it defines as listings that "create persistent neighborhood nuisance."
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck.
The company said it updated its policies to promote social distancing and responsible travel, such as by removing the "event-friendly" search filter from its system.
And in July, it announced a U.S.-specific initiative restricting some renters under the age of 25 from booking entire home listings locally in an effort to reduce unauthorized parties.
It also introduced a policy requiring users to adhere to local COVID-19 mandates — many of which involved strict limits on gatherings at least initially — which it said "effectively created a form-fitting, patchwork ban on parties and events."
But now evolving COVID-19 conditions and public health mandates both in and across jurisdictions have led to a one-size-fits-all policy.
"We believe having a simpler, global policy will allow us to better support the vast majority of hosts who already ban parties in their homes," the company said.
Catherine Powell, the company's global head of hosting, said in a video message that an increase in local bookings, with more distant travel restricted, makes it easier for guests to bring more friends than they account for in their reservation.
While those guests make up a "very small portion" of bookings, Powell said unplanned events put people at risk, hurt the company's relationship with local communities and are "even more disheartening during a global pandemic."
She said there will be exceptions to the occupancy limit for certain hospitality venues such as boutique hotels.
The company's statement clarifies that while part of its new policy caps guests at 16 people, it does not condone gatherings of any size. It said it will take action on both guests and listings if it receives reports from neighbors, and violators may face legal consequences.
Last week, for the first time, the company initiated legal proceedings against a guest for violating its ban on party houses. It also banned the guest from its platform.
Airbnb said the unnamed customer had booked a short-term rental in Sacramento County, Calif., "under false pretenses" and hosted an unauthorized party, violating both company policy and local health orders. That party ended with three people injured in a shooting.


npr--2020-08-20--The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought, Study Finds

The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought , Study Finds Scientists are trying to understand how much plastic humans are pumping into the ocean and how long it sticks around .
A study published this week says it may be much more than earlier estimates .
By some measures , the plastic trash that 's floating on the surface of the water only accounts for about 1 % of the plastic pollution that humans generate .
`` If we are missing 99 % of plastic that we thought we have put in , it has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a researcher at the National Oceanography Centre in the United Kingdom .
She and her colleagues set out to look for the missing plastic debris .
It 's known that tiny pieces of plastic , some too small to see with the naked eye , are present throughout the environment , including in drinking water , sea salt , beer and fish .
Studies have found these pieces , often called microplastics , deep in the Pacific Ocean and in the air above France 's Pyrenees mountains .
But it 's been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accumulating in oceans .
Pabortsava and her team looked at three types of microplastic pollution in the top 200 meters of the Atlantic Ocean , and found evidence that a colossal amount of plastic is hanging out below the surface of the water .
The results , published this week in the scientific journal Nature Communications , focus on three types of plastic that are used in common food and other product packaging .
The new study finds that the total amount of plastic making its way into the Earth 's oceans is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A previous study published in 2015 estimated that upward of 12 million metric tons of plastic trash made it into the oceans in 2010 alone .
Scientists only started trying to quantify how much plastic is in the ocean in the last decade .
That analysis was never meant to present a comprehensive picture of plastic in the oceans — it only looked at municipal waste and did n't account for plastic trash from ships or fish nets lost at sea .
Nor did it estimate how long plastic pollution stays in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainties about how much plastic goes into the ocean , '' Pabortsava says .
The new study adds to what 's known but is still an incomplete picture .
It estimates that there is upward of 21 million metric tons of three common types of small plastic pollution in just the top 200 meters of the Atlantic .
It 's a rough estimate — the researchers took samples at 12 locations up and down the Atlantic and extrapolated from there — and there could be even more plastic of other types .
Microplastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources .
Tiny spheres of plastic , called microbeads , were a common ingredient in exfoliating soaps sold in the U.S. until the federal government banned their use in personal care products in 2015 .
The European Union did the same last year .
But most tiny plastic bits are remnants of larger pieces of plastic broken down by waves and sunlight .
Microplastics below the surface of the ocean are bad news for the whole food chain .
Small ocean-dwelling creatures eat them , and the plastic makes its way into larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's difficult to imagine that eating tiny bits of plastic is good for humans , but the potential health impact of microplastics is still unknown .
A 2018 study noted that seafood is a critical source of sustenance around the world and that scientists should focus on figuring out how long microplastics survive in the environment and how they affect human health .

The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought, Study Finds
Scientists are trying to understand how much plastic humans are pumping into the ocean and how long it sticks around. A study published this week says it may be much more than earlier estimates.
By some measures, the plastic trash that's floating on the surface of the water only accounts for about 1% of the plastic pollution that humans generate.
"If we are missing 99% of plastic that we thought we have put in, it has to be somewhere," says Katsiaryna Pabortsava, a researcher at the National Oceanography Centre in the United Kingdom.
She and her colleagues set out to look for the missing plastic debris.
It's known that tiny pieces of plastic, some too small to see with the naked eye, are present throughout the environment, including in drinking water, sea salt, beer and fish. Studies have found these pieces, often called microplastics, deep in the Pacific Ocean and in the air above France's Pyrenees mountains.
But it's been unclear how much tiny plastic pollution is accumulating in oceans.
Pabortsava and her team looked at three types of microplastic pollution in the top 200 meters of the Atlantic Ocean, and found evidence that a colossal amount of plastic is hanging out below the surface of the water.
The results, published this week in the scientific journal Nature Communications, focus on three types of plastic that are used in common food and other product packaging.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images
The new study finds that the total amount of plastic making its way into the Earth's oceans is likely higher than previous estimates suggest. A previous study published in 2015 estimated that upward of 12 million metric tons of plastic trash made it into the oceans in 2010 alone. Scientists only started trying to quantify how much plastic is in the ocean in the last decade.
That analysis was never meant to present a comprehensive picture of plastic in the oceans — it only looked at municipal waste and didn't account for plastic trash from ships or fish nets lost at sea. Nor did it estimate how long plastic pollution stays in the ocean.
"There are still huge uncertainties about how much plastic goes into the ocean," Pabortsava says.
The new study adds to what's known but is still an incomplete picture. It estimates that there is upward of 21 million metric tons of three common types of small plastic pollution in just the top 200 meters of the Atlantic. It's a rough estimate — the researchers took samples at 12 locations up and down the Atlantic and extrapolated from there — and there could be even more plastic of other types.
Microplastic in the ocean comes from two main sources. Tiny spheres of plastic, called microbeads, were a common ingredient in exfoliating soaps sold in the U.S. until the federal government banned their use in personal care products in 2015. The European Union did the same last year. But most tiny plastic bits are remnants of larger pieces of plastic broken down by waves and sunlight.
Microplastics below the surface of the ocean are bad news for the whole food chain. Small ocean-dwelling creatures eat them, and the plastic makes its way into larger fish and shellfish that humans eat.
It's difficult to imagine that eating tiny bits of plastic is good for humans, but the potential health impact of microplastics is still unknown. A 2018 study noted that seafood is a critical source of sustenance around the world and that scientists should focus on figuring out how long microplastics survive in the environment and how they affect human health.


npr--2020-08-20--Uber, Lyft Will Not Suspend Service In California After Court Gives Them More Time

Uber , Lyft Will Not Suspend Service In California After Court Gives Them More Time Uber and Lyft spent the past week threatening to shut down their ride-hailing services in California at the stroke of midnight on Thursday .
But the companies got a last-minute reprieve from complying with a judge 's order to classify their drivers as employees , instead of independent contractors , as required by a state labor law .
On Thursday afternoon , an appeals court said the companies can keep operating with their drivers as independent contractors while they fight the order .
The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September to come up with plans for how they would comply with the law .
The threatened shutdown would have left hundreds of thousands of drivers without work and millions of customers with one fewer transportation option in California , which is among both companies ' biggest markets .
Last week 's order by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman created an existential crisis for the ride-hailing companies .
Uber and Lyft maintain that the law , known as Assembly Bill 5 , or AB5 , does not apply to them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech platforms .
In May , California 's attorney general , along with prosecutors in Los Angeles , San Diego and San Francisco , sued the companies to force them to reclassify their drivers .
The law makes it harder for companies to claim workers are independent contractors rather than employees .
It gives gig workers access to labor protections and benefits such as employer-sponsored health insurance , overtime pay and paid sick leave , which they do not currently receive under their independent contractor status .
After Schulman ordered them to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit proceeds , Uber and Lyft said they could not make that switch quickly and would have no alternative but to shut down their services for an indefinite period .
They warned that converting drivers to employees would force them to employ fewer drivers , reduce service , increase wait times and raise prices .
Critics say the companies have had ample time to comply with AB5 , which was passed last fall and took effect in January , and stemmed from a 2018 decision by the California Supreme Court .
`` Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years that their drivers are owed basic labor protections like minimum wage , sick pay and reimbursement for expenses .
Instead of doing the right thing , these companies pocketed that money and passed the costs onto taxpayers , '' said John Coté , a spokesman for the San Francisco city attorney 's office .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said : `` California is America 's economic engine because innovation and worker rights go hand in hand .
Any company that suggests otherwise is peddling a false choice . ''
The companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said : `` We are glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case , and that access to these critical services wo n't be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers ' ability to work with the freedom they want . ''
Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood said : `` While we wo n't have to suspend operations tonight , we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers . ''
Both Uber and Lyft are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure appearing on November 's state ballot that would exempt the companies from AB5 .
They have poured tens of millions of dollars into promoting the measure , seeking a political solution to their problems .
At the same time , both companies are exploring ways to adapt their businesses in California in the event they lose their legal battle .
That includes a franchise-like model in which Uber and Lyft would license their brands to vehicle fleet operators , who would become responsible for the relationship with drivers .
Drivers are divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flexible work schedules that the independent contractor status allows , which the companies say they may not be able to maintain if they convert drivers to employees .
But other drivers say they want the employment protections of AB5 .
`` By threatening to kill our jobs and leave California , Uber and Lyft have shown the world that they do n't care about the drivers or their livelihoods , '' said Cherri Murphy , a Lyft driver in Oakland , on a press call Tuesday held by a union-backed campaign opposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyft is profitable , and both have taken deep hits from the pandemic , which has decimated demand for rides and prompted the companies to eliminate thousands of corporate jobs .
Editor 's note : Uber and Lyft are among NPR 's financial supporters .

Uber, Lyft Will Not Suspend Service In California After Court Gives Them More Time
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Uber and Lyft spent the past week threatening to shut down their ride-hailing services in California at the stroke of midnight on Thursday.
But the companies got a last-minute reprieve from complying with a judge's order to classify their drivers as employees, instead of independent contractors, as required by a state labor law.
On Thursday afternoon, an appeals court said the companies can keep operating with their drivers as independent contractors while they fight the order.
The court has also given the companies until early September to come up with plans for how they would comply with the law.
The threatened shutdown would have left hundreds of thousands of drivers without work and millions of customers with one fewer transportation option in California, which is among both companies' biggest markets.
Last week's order by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman created an existential crisis for the ride-hailing companies. Uber and Lyft maintain that the law, known as Assembly Bill 5, or AB5, does not apply to them, saying they are not transportation businesses but tech platforms. In May, California's attorney general, along with prosecutors in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, sued the companies to force them to reclassify their drivers.
The law makes it harder for companies to claim workers are independent contractors rather than employees. It gives gig workers access to labor protections and benefits such as employer-sponsored health insurance, overtime pay and paid sick leave, which they do not currently receive under their independent contractor status.
After Schulman ordered them to comply with the law while the state's lawsuit proceeds, Uber and Lyft said they could not make that switch quickly and would have no alternative but to shut down their services for an indefinite period. They warned that converting drivers to employees would force them to employ fewer drivers, reduce service, increase wait times and raise prices.
Critics say the companies have had ample time to comply with AB5, which was passed last fall and took effect in January, and stemmed from a 2018 decision by the California Supreme Court.
"Uber and Lyft have known for over two years that their drivers are owed basic labor protections like minimum wage, sick pay and reimbursement for expenses. Instead of doing the right thing, these companies pocketed that money and passed the costs onto taxpayers," said John Coté, a spokesman for the San Francisco city attorney's office.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: "California is America's economic engine because innovation and worker rights go hand in hand. Any company that suggests otherwise is peddling a false choice."
The companies welcomed the appeals court's ruling. On Thursday, Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said: "We are glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case, and that access to these critical services won't be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers' ability to work with the freedom they want."
Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood said: "While we won't have to suspend operations tonight, we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers."
Both Uber and Lyft are encouraging customers and drivers to support a measure appearing on November's state ballot that would exempt the companies from AB5. They have poured tens of millions of dollars into promoting the measure, seeking a political solution to their problems.
At the same time, both companies are exploring ways to adapt their businesses in California in the event they lose their legal battle. That includes a franchise-like model in which Uber and Lyft would license their brands to vehicle fleet operators, who would become responsible for the relationship with drivers.
Drivers are divided: Many say they want to keep the flexible work schedules that the independent contractor status allows, which the companies say they may not be able to maintain if they convert drivers to employees.
But other drivers say they want the employment protections of AB5.
"By threatening to kill our jobs and leave California, Uber and Lyft have shown the world that they don't care about the drivers or their livelihoods," said Cherri Murphy, a Lyft driver in Oakland, on a press call Tuesday held by a union-backed campaign opposing the ballot measure.
Neither Uber nor Lyft is profitable, and both have taken deep hits from the pandemic, which has decimated demand for rides and prompted the companies to eliminate thousands of corporate jobs.
Editor's note: Uber and Lyft are among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-08-20--How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress

How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress Updated on August 20 at 3:30 p.m .
ET The coronavirus pandemic has upended the daily work of Congress .
Starting in March , House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members for several weeks as public health guidelines recommended social distancing because of the outbreak .
The Senate finally 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 , the House approved historic rule changes allowing remote voting and hearings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced many more members to self-quarantine .
Dozens more members of their staffs and Capitol Hill workers have tested positive .
And it remains an ongoing threat .
Two Republican lawmakers , Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona , were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines on March 8 .
Both had attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor , Md.
, a few days earlier .
An attendee at the conference had fallen ill , its organizers revealed .
The following week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Since that time , dozens more lawmakers entered self-quarantine as a result of exposure to someone who was sick , including fellow members of Congress , constituents and dignitaries .
And by late July , at least 85 Capitol workers have reported a positive test or were presumed so , including more than two dozen members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , Gary Tibbetts , a longtime staffer for Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida , died from COVID-19 .
And some 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 have issued new social distancing guidance .
Also , the U.S. Capitol remains closed to public tours and open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and official business visitors .
In late July , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a new mask mandate after Rep. Louie Gohmert , 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 .
This story was originally published on April 15 , 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.
Loading...
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--2020-08-20--Democrats Question Whether Postmaster General's Hiring Skirted Background Checks

A pair of House Democrats are raising questions about whether a member of the U.S .
Postal Service board of governors skirted typical practices to influence the hiring of Louis DeJoy as postmaster general .
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi , D-Ill. , and Katie Porter , D-Calif. , sent a letter to USPS board member John Barger raising questions about his role in recommending DeJoy for the position , according to a copy of the letter obtained by NPR .
The letter cites reports that DeJoy was not included in a pool of candidates cultivated and vetted by an outside hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` According to individuals familiar with the process , Mr. Louis DeJoy was never recommended by this firm but was rather introduced by you to the selection committee , '' the letter reads .
`` It would have been irregular for a member of the USPS Board of Governors , such as yourself , to recommend Mr. DeJoy without the consultation , research , or support of the contracted hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates . ''
The letter comes amid controversy over steps DeJoy has taken to alter Postal Service processing , staffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail delivery and caused concerns about the agency 's ability to process a surge in mail-in-ballots ahead of the November election .
In comments last week , President Trump seemed to tie USPS funding to his hope of hampering mail-in voting expansions nationwide , increasing concerns that DeJoy 's changes to the Postal Service may be politically motivated .
Earlier this week , amid bipartisan criticism and a series of lawsuits , DeJoy announced he would halt some of his cost-cutting efforts , although it 's not clear whether he would restore service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to testify Friday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Monday before the House Oversight Committee .
Democrats have questioned DeJoy 's qualifications for the job and accused the postmaster general of intentionally delaying mail to disenfranchise voters .
DeJoy was a major donor and fundraiser for Trump and the Republican National Committee .
DeJoy 's wife , Aldona Wos , has been nominated to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Canada .
`` The appointment of Mr. Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General was highly irregular and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been influenced by political motivations , '' Krishnamoorthi said in a statement .
`` We need to get to the bottom of why Mr. DeJoy was considered , given that he apparently was not one of the candidates recommended by the firm contracted to make such recommendations , and did not undergo a background check . ''
Porter said , `` It 's clear that Louis DeJoy is n't qualified to be the Postmaster General .
He 's one of the few in history , if not the only in history , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service .
So I want to know why he was chosen for this role , and if this was a political decision , rather than a policy one . ''
In the letter sent Thursday , Krishnamoorthi and Porter ask Barger to explain whether he recommended DeJoy without the research conducted on other candidates for the job .
They also ask Barger if he discussed DeJoy with any Republican Party officials .
Trump appointed Barger to the USPS board of governors in 2019 .
He is the managing director of NorthernCross Partners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a frequent donor to Republican candidates .
Barger did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Democrats began raising questions after multiple individuals shared concerns that the outside firm , Russell Reynolds Associates , and its background process were circumvented for DeJoy , according to a Democratic aide .
The agency was hired to find candidates and vet their backgrounds , including any potential conflicts of interest .
The letter goes on say that David Williams , a former USPS inspector general and USPS board member , told Democratic staff that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview process and requested a background investigation .
Williams resigned from the board on April 30 , less than a week before DeJoy 's appointment .
Williams told committee staff that he cited the background check conflict as part of his decision to leave .
`` I had expressed concerns after each of the interviews with Mr. Louis DeJoy , '' Williams said .
`` I urged that a background investigation be conducted .
And when I resigned , I cited it as one of my reasons for submitting my resignation to Chairman @ @ @ @

Democrats Question Whether Postmaster General's Hiring Skirted Background Checks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
A pair of House Democrats are raising questions about whether a member of the U.S. Postal Service board of governors skirted typical practices to influence the hiring of Louis DeJoy as postmaster general.
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Katie Porter, D-Calif., sent a letter to USPS board member John Barger raising questions about his role in recommending DeJoy for the position, according to a copy of the letter obtained by NPR. The letter cites reports that DeJoy was not included in a pool of candidates cultivated and vetted by an outside hiring firm contracted to fill the job.
"According to individuals familiar with the process, Mr. Louis DeJoy was never recommended by this firm but was rather introduced by you to the selection committee," the letter reads. "It would have been irregular for a member of the USPS Board of Governors, such as yourself, to recommend Mr. DeJoy without the consultation, research, or support of the contracted hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates."
The letter comes amid controversy over steps DeJoy has taken to alter Postal Service processing, staffing and facilities. Those changes have slowed mail delivery and caused concerns about the agency's ability to process a surge in mail-in-ballots ahead of the November election.
In comments last week, President Trump seemed to tie USPS funding to his hope of hampering mail-in voting expansions nationwide, increasing concerns that DeJoy's changes to the Postal Service may be politically motivated.
Earlier this week, amid bipartisan criticism and a series of lawsuits, DeJoy announced he would halt some of his cost-cutting efforts, although it's not clear whether he would restore service to previous levels.
DeJoy is set to testify Friday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Monday before the House Oversight Committee.
Democrats have questioned DeJoy's qualifications for the job and accused the postmaster general of intentionally delaying mail to disenfranchise voters. DeJoy was a major donor and fundraiser for Trump and the Republican National Committee. DeJoy's wife, Aldona Wos, has been nominated to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Canada.
"The appointment of Mr. Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General was highly irregular and we are concerned that his candidacy may have been influenced by political motivations," Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. "We need to get to the bottom of why Mr. DeJoy was considered, given that he apparently was not one of the candidates recommended by the firm contracted to make such recommendations, and did not undergo a background check."
Porter said, "It's clear that Louis DeJoy isn't qualified to be the Postmaster General. He's one of the few in history, if not the only in history, who didn't come up through the Postal Service. So I want to know why he was chosen for this role, and if this was a political decision, rather than a policy one."
In the letter sent Thursday, Krishnamoorthi and Porter ask Barger to explain whether he recommended DeJoy without the research conducted on other candidates for the job. They also ask Barger if he discussed DeJoy with any Republican Party officials.
Trump appointed Barger to the USPS board of governors in 2019. He is the managing director of NorthernCross Partners, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm, and a frequent donor to Republican candidates.
Barger did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Democrats began raising questions after multiple individuals shared concerns that the outside firm, Russell Reynolds Associates, and its background process were circumvented for DeJoy, according to a Democratic aide. The agency was hired to find candidates and vet their backgrounds, including any potential conflicts of interest.
The letter goes on say that David Williams, a former USPS inspector general and USPS board member, told Democratic staff that he expressed concerns about DeJoy during the interview process and requested a background investigation. Williams resigned from the board on April 30, less than a week before DeJoy's appointment.
Williams told committee staff that he cited the background check conflict as part of his decision to leave.
"I had expressed concerns after each of the interviews with Mr. Louis DeJoy," Williams said. "I urged that a background investigation be conducted. And when I resigned, I cited it as one of my reasons for submitting my resignation to Chairman Robert Duncan."