npr--2020-09-30--Senate Approves Spending Stopgap, Hours Ahead of Shutdown Deadline

The Senate voted 84 — 10 to approve a short-term spending bill that would extend current funding levels through December 11 .
The legislation passed hours before current funding levels are set to expire at midnight .
The legislation now heads to President Trump for his signature to avoid a government shutdown .
With government funding resolved , coronavirus relief is the only major legislative goal remaining for Congress ahead of the election in November .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin attempted Wednesday to rekindle negotiations on that aid .
The pair said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach an immediate agreement .
`` We have work to do and we 're going to see where we end up , '' Mnuchin said .
`` We 're going to go back and do a little bit more work . ''
Shortly after the meeting Pelosi released a statement that the House would move forward with a vote on a fresh version of House Democrats ' earlier COVID relief bill , but a vote planned for Wednesday evening was postponed .
The new legislation is a $ 2.2 trillion package that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals and revive the expired $ 600 weekly federal unemployment benefits .
`` Today , Secretary Mnuchin and I had an extensive conversation and we found areas where we are seeking further clarification , '' Pelosi said .
`` We will be proceeding with our vote tonight on the updated Heroes Act in order to formalize our proffer to Republicans in the negotiations to address the health and economic catastrophe in our country . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , dismissed the House legislation Wednesday , calling it a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnuchin and Pelosi could be productive .
`` I think its safe to say we 're far apart , '' McConnell told reporters .
`` I think Secretary Mnuchin and the Speaker will continue to speak but we are very , very far apart . ''
McConnell said the bill contains many of the same provisions Republicans rejected in the previous legislation , including banking rules for cannabis-related businesses and a temporary lifting of the cap on state and local tax deductions that included in the 2017 GOP tax rewrite .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more serious than any of their political stunts going back months.
`` McConnell said on the Senate floor .
Democrats say the legislation is a scaled-back version of their $ 3.4 trillion HEROES Act that passed the House in May .
This latest bill trims costs by reducing the duration of most benefits .
The legislation would revive the $ 600 unemployment benefit through January and lift caps on how long people are allowed to file for unemployment .
The bill also refreshes the popular Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses , money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in relief for states , local governments , tribes and territories .

President Signs Spending Stopgap Measure, Averting Government Shutdown
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Updated 1 a.m. ET Thursday
President Trump signed a short-term spending bill into law early Thursday, about an hour after current funding levels expired and averting a federal government shutdown.
Hours earlier the Senate voted 84-10 to approve the bill, which extends current funding levels and keeps the federal government open through Dec. 11
In theory, parts of the government were unfunded for about an hour, but the White House did not address the discrepancy in a brief statement following the signing.
With government funding resolved, coronavirus relief is the only major legislative goal remaining for Congress ahead of the election in November. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin attempted Wednesday to rekindle negotiations on that aid.
The pair said the talks were productive but failed to reach an immediate agreement.
"We have work to do and we're going to see where we end up," Mnuchin said. "We're going to go back and do a little bit more work."
Shortly after the meeting Pelosi released a statement that the House would move forward with a vote on a fresh version of House Democrats' earlier COVID relief bill, but a vote planned for Wednesday evening was postponed.
The new legislation is a $2.2 trillion package that would send another round of direct payments to individuals and revive the expired $600 weekly federal unemployment benefits.
"Today, Secretary Mnuchin and I had an extensive conversation and we found areas where we are seeking further clarification," Pelosi said. "We will be proceeding with our vote tonight on the updated Heroes Act in order to formalize our proffer to Republicans in the negotiations to address the health and economic catastrophe in our country."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed the House legislation Wednesday, calling it a political stunt and questioned whether the talks between Mnuchin and Pelosi could be productive.
"I think its safe to say we're far apart," McConnell told reporters. "I think Secretary Mnuchin and the Speaker will continue to speak but we are very, very far apart."
McConnell said the bill contains many of the same provisions Republicans rejected in the previous legislation, including banking rules for cannabis-related businesses and a temporary lifting of the cap on state and local tax deductions that included in the 2017 GOP tax rewrite.
"The latest bill from the Speaker is no more serious than any of their political stunts going back months. " McConnell said on the Senate floor.
Democrats say the legislation is a scaled-back version of their $3.4 trillion HEROES Act that passed the House in May. This latest bill trims costs by reducing the duration of most benefits.
The legislation would revive the $600 unemployment benefit through January and lift caps on how long people are allowed to file for unemployment. The bill also refreshes the popular Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, money for food security programs and $436 billion in relief for states, local governments, tribes and territories.


npr--2020-09-30--Trump Often Gives 'Complete Opposite' Of Health Experts' Advice, Former Staffer Says

Trump Often Gives 'Complete Opposite ' Of Health Experts ' Advice , Former Staffer Says President Trump has consistently told Americans `` the complete opposite '' of what his health experts have been telling him in private meetings about COVID-19 , according to Olivia Troye , who until recently worked on the the White House coronavirus task force .
`` They brief him .
They tell him the facts .
They 're telling him the truth .
They 're telling him things that need to be done , '' Troye said in an interview with NPR 's Ari Shapiro .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment to work in , when you know that the message that is going to be relayed is counter to what you just told him . ''
Troye , who worked for Vice President Mike Pence for two years as a special adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism issues , says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention often faced two challenges : coping with a massive coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. , and navigating political interference as the agency sought to protect the American people .
CDC Director Robert Redfield has faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , Troye said , `` at times when you 're changing the wording and guidances to fit a narrative , to play down the severity of the virus or cases . ''
Her former colleagues at the CDC `` went back and forth with a number of entities in the White House that wanted specific language included in guidances , '' Troye said , `` that they did not believe was factually correct and did n't represent the data that they were seeing . ''
Troye decided to speak out after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House has described her as someone who was fired and is now disgruntled — a claim Troye denies .
Troye made headlines earlier this month when she was featured in an online attack ad from the advocacy group Republican Voters Against Trump , saying that Trump 's biggest concern about the global pandemic was its potential to hurt his reelection chances , rather than its toll on the American people .
In that ad , Troye said that as early as February , the Trump administration `` knew it was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big pandemic her in the United States , it was a matter of when . ''
But the president was not open to hearing such predictions , Troye says .
As the country faced what could be the biggest pandemic in living memory , she said , `` the president did a great disservice '' to members of his own government who were trying to manage the crisis .
`` Starting from calling it a hoax , to telling Americans this was n't real and perpetuating false narratives — that was dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a significant impact on how Americans would perceive the information coming out of the White House . ''
Troye appeared in the anti-Trump ad days before the U.S. hit a grim milestone of 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 — the most in the world .
Despite having less than 5 % of the global population , the U.S. has suffered more than 20 % of COVID-19 deaths worldwide .
The president 's false and misleading claims about the coronavirus have not let up as the November vote approaches , Troye warns .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we get closer to the election , this rhetoric continues to ramp up , '' she said , citing Trump 's comments that contradict experts ' analysis of U.S. case numbers and promote some ideas that she says are simply dangerous .
`` The day the president suggested people inject themselves with bleach was shocking , '' Troye said .
But she notes Trump has also rejected an essential tool in fighting the coronavirus : a face mask .
`` There were numerous discussions on ways that we were going to slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask being the most basic critical aspect of it , '' Troye said .
`` We knew that it spread through aerosol early on .
There were a lot of unknowns about the virus , but we knew that wearing a mask was going to be critical . ''
Wearing a face mask was seen as something every American could do to to help quash the virus .
But Trump did not wear one in public until July 11 — four months after the pandemic was declared .
Since then , he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior by consistently wearing a mask .
The president 's example not to wear a mask at public events set the tone in the White House , Troye said .
`` Even in the West Wing , it was sort of , you were looked down upon when you would walk by with a mask , '' she said , referring to the building that houses administration offices .
When asked how Trump might have undermined the fight against COVID-19 , Troye said the president failed to provide leadership .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , what you say to the American populace , especially during a time of crisis , really matters .
People are listening .
People are looking for comfort as well .
People are looking for leadership . ''
Troye describes herself as a lifelong Republican , but she says she will vote for Democratic candidate Joe Biden this fall , citing what she calls a critical moment in U.S. history .
`` I think it 's country over party right now for me , and what I 've seen in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House has been upsetting , '' she says .
`` I think that we need to get to a point where we steer our country back to a sense of normalcy , a sense of who we have been in the past . ''
Trump , she said , `` will not lead us in that direction . ''
Troye left her White House job in August , an exit she describes as a voluntary resignation .
But after Troye went public with sharp criticisms of Trump earlier this month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own .
`` Olivia Troye worked for me .
I fired her , '' said retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg , the national security adviser to the vice president .
Alleging that Troye 's job performance had declined , Kellogg added , `` I 'm the one that escorted her off the compound . ''
Kellogg made those remarks at a White House briefing in which he also said he never heard Trump say the things Troye claimed .
`` I 'm very proud of the task force and the work it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I am not proud of Olivia Troye . ''
Responding to Kellogg , Troye said via Twitter , `` Sad that Gen. Kellogg is telling a bald faced lie to protect the President .
I resigned on my own accord & was asked to stay .
He never escorted me out .
He knows this .
I wrote a note thanking all the colleagues who had worked so hard with me in spite of POTUS & I stand by that . ''
She also posted an image of a commemorative coin Kellogg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a social media post in which Troye had spoken warmly of the retired general .

Trump Often Gives 'Complete Opposite' Of Health Experts' Advice, Former Staffer Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Mason/Reuters Jeff Mason/Reuters
President Trump has consistently told Americans "the complete opposite" of what his health experts have been telling him in private meetings about COVID-19, according to Olivia Troye, who until recently worked on the the White House coronavirus task force.
"They brief him. They tell him the facts. They're telling him the truth. They're telling him things that need to be done," Troye said in an interview with NPR's Ari Shapiro. "And it is a very frustrating environment to work in, when you know that the message that is going to be relayed is counter to what you just told him."
Troye, who worked for Vice President Mike Pence for two years as a special adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism issues, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention often faced two challenges: coping with a massive coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and navigating political interference as the agency sought to protect the American people.
CDC Director Robert Redfield has faced "very challenging dynamics" from the White House, Troye said, "at times when you're changing the wording and guidances to fit a narrative, to play down the severity of the virus or cases."
Her former colleagues at the CDC "went back and forth with a number of entities in the White House that wanted specific language included in guidances," Troye said, "that they did not believe was factually correct and didn't represent the data that they were seeing."
Troye decided to speak out after resigning from her post in August. The White House has described her as someone who was fired and is now disgruntled — a claim Troye denies.
Troye made headlines earlier this month when she was featured in an online attack ad from the advocacy group Republican Voters Against Trump, saying that Trump's biggest concern about the global pandemic was its potential to hurt his reelection chances, rather than its toll on the American people.
In that ad, Troye said that as early as February, the Trump administration "knew it wasn't a matter of if COVID would become a big pandemic her in the United States, it was a matter of when."
But the president was not open to hearing such predictions, Troye says. As the country faced what could be the biggest pandemic in living memory, she said, "the president did a great disservice" to members of his own government who were trying to manage the crisis.
"Starting from calling it a hoax, to telling Americans this wasn't real and perpetuating false narratives — that was dangerous," Troye said. "It had a significant impact on how Americans would perceive the information coming out of the White House."
Troye appeared in the anti-Trump ad days before the U.S. hit a grim milestone of 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 — the most in the world. Despite having less than 5% of the global population, the U.S. has suffered more than 20% of COVID-19 deaths worldwide.
The president's false and misleading claims about the coronavirus have not let up as the November vote approaches, Troye warns.
"It's increasingly disturbing to me that as we get closer to the election, this rhetoric continues to ramp up," she said, citing Trump's comments that contradict experts' analysis of U.S. case numbers and promote some ideas that she says are simply dangerous.
"The day the president suggested people inject themselves with bleach was shocking," Troye said. But she notes Trump has also rejected an essential tool in fighting the coronavirus: a face mask.
"There were numerous discussions on ways that we were going to slow the spread of the virus with the mask being the most basic critical aspect of it," Troye said. "We knew that it spread through aerosol early on. There were a lot of unknowns about the virus, but we knew that wearing a mask was going to be critical."
Wearing a face mask was seen as something every American could do to to help quash the virus. But Trump did not wear one in public until July 11 — four months after the pandemic was declared. Since then, he has been sharply criticized for not modeling safe behavior by consistently wearing a mask.
The president's example not to wear a mask at public events set the tone in the White House, Troye said.
"Even in the West Wing, it was sort of, you were looked down upon when you would walk by with a mask," she said, referring to the building that houses administration offices.
When asked how Trump might have undermined the fight against COVID-19, Troye said the president failed to provide leadership.
"I think when you're the president of the United States, what you say to the American populace, especially during a time of crisis, really matters. People are listening. People are looking for comfort as well. People are looking for leadership."
Troye describes herself as a lifelong Republican, but she says she will vote for Democratic candidate Joe Biden this fall, citing what she calls a critical moment in U.S. history.
"I think it's country over party right now for me, and what I've seen in the past two years of my tenure in the White House has been upsetting," she says. "I think that we need to get to a point where we steer our country back to a sense of normalcy, a sense of who we have been in the past."
Trump, she said, "will not lead us in that direction."
Troye left her White House job in August, an exit she describes as a voluntary resignation. But after Troye went public with sharp criticisms of Trump earlier this month, administration officials responded with an attack of their own.
"Olivia Troye worked for me. I fired her," said retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the national security adviser to the vice president. Alleging that Troye's job performance had declined, Kellogg added, "I'm the one that escorted her off the compound."
Kellogg made those remarks at a White House briefing in which he also said he never heard Trump say the things Troye claimed.
"I'm very proud of the task force and the work it's done," Kellogg said. "I am not proud of Olivia Troye."
Responding to Kellogg, Troye said via Twitter, "Sad that Gen. Kellogg is telling a bald faced lie to protect the President. I resigned on my own accord & was asked to stay. He never escorted me out. He knows this. I wrote a note thanking all the colleagues who had worked so hard with me in spite of POTUS & I stand by that."
She also posted an image of a commemorative coin Kellogg gave her upon her exit, linking to a social media post in which Troye had spoken warmly of the retired general.


npr--2020-09-30--Man Charged In Shooting Of 2 L.A. Sheriff's Deputies

A man has been charged with attempted murder after he fired multiple shots into a Los Angeles County sheriff 's patrol vehicle earlier this month .
Deonte Lee Murray , 36 , allegedly fired a handgun into the squad car as it was parked near a train station in Compton on Sept. 12 .
The two deputies inside were critically wounded , but were able to radio for help .
The deputies , a 31-year-old woman and 24-year-old man whose identities have not been made public , suffered head wounds and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime for one reason , '' District Attorney Jackie Lacy said at a press conference Wednesday .
`` They were doing their job and they were wearing a badge . ''
They 've since been released from the hospital , but Sheriff Alex Villanueva says they 'll need additional surgeries .
Police could n't offer a more specific motive for the attack on the deputies , `` other than the fact that he obviously hates policemen and he wants them dead , '' Sheriff 's Homicide Bureau Capt .
Kent Wegener said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it took several days for police to connect him to the deputies ' shooting through forensic evidence .
As detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the shooting , they saw that the lone gunman had escaped in a black Mercedes Benz sedan .
It turns out sheriff 's deputies had already arrested Murray earlier in September for stealing a Mercedes Benz sedan in Compton .
During the car-chase that led to that arrest , Murray had thrown a pistol out the window .
Deputies later recovered it , and using ballistic comparison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to shoot the sheriff 's deputies .
`` That pistol was conclusively linked , through forensic testing , to suspect Deonte Murray , '' Wegener said .

Man Charged In Shooting Of 2 L.A. Sheriff's Deputies
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefanie Dazio/AP Stefanie Dazio/AP
A man has been charged with attempted murder after he fired multiple shots into a Los Angeles County sheriff's patrol vehicle earlier this month.
Deonte Lee Murray, 36, allegedly fired a handgun into the squad car as it was parked near a train station in Compton on Sept. 12. The two deputies inside were critically wounded, but were able to radio for help.
The deputies, a 31-year-old woman and 24-year-old man whose identities have not been made public, suffered head wounds and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
"They became victims of a violent crime for one reason," District Attorney Jackie Lacy said at a press conference Wednesday. "They were doing their job and they were wearing a badge."
They've since been released from the hospital, but Sheriff Alex Villanueva says they'll need additional surgeries.
Police couldn't offer a more specific motive for the attack on the deputies, "other than the fact that he obviously hates policemen and he wants them dead," Sheriff's Homicide Bureau Capt. Kent Wegener said.
Murray has been in custody for weeks, but it took several days for police to connect him to the deputies' shooting through forensic evidence.
As detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the shooting, they saw that the lone gunman had escaped in a black Mercedes Benz sedan. It turns out sheriff's deputies had already arrested Murray earlier in September for stealing a Mercedes Benz sedan in Compton.
During the car-chase that led to that arrest, Murray had thrown a pistol out the window. Deputies later recovered it, and using ballistic comparison, determined it was the same gun used to shoot the sheriff's deputies.
"That pistol was conclusively linked, through forensic testing, to suspect Deonte Murray," Wegener said.
Murray faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.


npr--2020-09-30--Trump On Defensive Over White Supremacist Group After Debate Comments

Trump On Defensive Over White Supremacist Group After Debate Comments President Trump attempted to clarify his position on white supremacists after a litany of members of his own party urged him to more clearly condemn the right wing group known as The Proud Boys , whom he told to `` stand back and stand by '' in Tuesday night 's first presidential debate .
The president told reporters at the White House that he does n't know who the Proud Boys are , but said they should `` stand down '' and let law enforcement do their work .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boys are , you 'll have to give me a definition , '' he said .
He added , `` Whoever they are , they have to stand down , let law enforcement do their work . ''
Shortly before the president spoke , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , avoided directly criticizing the president 's handling of the issue , but McConnell made it clear for his part that he was calling out white supremacy .
After being pressed about the president 's debate performance , McConnell said he agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott .
`` [ Scott ] said it was unacceptable not to condemn white supremacy ; so I do so in the strongest possible way , '' the top Senate Republican told reporters on Capitol Hill .
Scott , the only Black Republican in the Senate , was asked by a reporter about the Tuesday debate exchange during his meeting with Amy Coney Barrett , the president 's Supreme Court nominee .
Scott said about the president , `` I think he misspoke '' in response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice : `` I think he should correct it .
If he does n't correct it , I guess he did n't misspeak . ''
Some congressional Republicans defended the president and insisted he did appropriately answer the question .
The top House Republican , California Rep. Kevin McCarthy , insisted that the president did affirmatively answer the question , and then noted that the president has moved to designate the KKK and antifa as hate groups .
McCarthy quickly pivoted to criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for not calling out violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left-wing movement that the FBI has labeled an ideology , rather than a specific group posing a security threat .
The No .
2 House Republican , Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana , told NPR that Biden should be doing more to address divisions in the country and maintained that Republicans , including the president , were denouncing the threats posed by right-wing groups .
Others were more blunt about how they thought the president should have handled the issue .
South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said Trump `` should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been very clear , and he should have made it very clear that there 's no room for people on the far left or the far right when it comes to either antifa or these white supremacist groups , '' Rounds said .
Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney , who has become one of the few GOP lawmakers willing to break with the president , said `` of course , of course '' when asked by reporters in the Capitol if the president should have called out the far-right groups .
Indiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate Republicans ' campaign arm , told reporters , `` I condemn white supremacy , all extremist groups .
I think that all of these groups are hateful , and I condemn them in the strongest terms . ''
McConnell downplayed the potential impact of the comments on congressional Republicans on the ballot in November , saying , `` I do n't know any of my colleagues who will have problems as a result of that . ''
With just five weeks until the election , Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of avoiding a government shutdown , getting through Barrett 's confirmation process to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg , and potentially approving additional coronavirus relief .
North Carolina Republican Sen. Tom Tillis , who is in a tight reelection race , said people in his home state were focused on economic issues and Democratic proposals on climate change or expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court .
`` I 'll leave it to the president , '' he said of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not a racist and I 'm sure he does n't approve their activities . ''
Romney , who was the Republican Party 's nominee for president in 2012 , declined to opine about the political impact of the president 's debate performance , but he did quip , `` It was not a Lincoln-Douglas debate , that 's for sure . ''
McConnell expressed a similar assessment on the debate .
NPR congressional reporter Claudia Grisales and White House editor Roberta Rampton contributed to this report .

Trump On Defensive Over White Supremacist Comments In Debate
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
President Trump attempted to clarify his position on white supremacists after a litany of members of his own party urged him to more clearly condemn the right wing group known as The Proud Boys, whom he told to "stand back and stand by" in Tuesday night's first presidential debate.
The president told reporters at the White House that he doesn't know who the Proud Boys are, but said they should "stand down" and let law enforcement do their work.
"I don't know who the Proud Boys are, you'll have to give me a definition," he said.
He added, "Whoever they are, they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work."
Shortly before the president spoke, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., avoided directly criticizing the president's handling of the issue, but McConnell made it clear for his part that he was calling out white supremacy.
After being pressed about the president's debate performance, McConnell said he agreed with comment earlier in the day from South Carolina GOP Sen. Tim Scott.
"[Scott] said it was unacceptable not to condemn white supremacy; so I do so in the strongest possible way," the top Senate Republican told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, was asked by a reporter about the Tuesday debate exchange during his meeting with Amy Coney Barrett, the president's Supreme Court nominee.
Scott said about the president, "I think he misspoke" in response to the moderator's question. He added some advice: "I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak."
Some congressional Republicans defended the president and insisted he did appropriately answer the question.
The top House Republican, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, insisted that the president did affirmatively answer the question, and then noted that the president has moved to designate the KKK and antifa as hate groups.
McCarthy quickly pivoted to criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for not calling out violence from individuals with ties to antifa, the left-wing movement that the FBI has labeled an ideology, rather than a specific group posing a security threat.
The No. 2 House Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, told NPR that Biden should be doing more to address divisions in the country and maintained that Republicans, including the president, were denouncing the threats posed by right-wing groups.
Others were more blunt about how they thought the president should have handled the issue.
South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said Trump "should have been clear."
"He should have been very clear, and he should have made it very clear that there's no room for people on the far left or the far right when it comes to either antifa or these white supremacist groups," Rounds said.
Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who has become one of the few GOP lawmakers willing to break with the president, said "of course, of course" when asked by reporters in the Capitol if the president should have called out the far-right groups.
Indiana GOP Sen. Todd Young, who chairs the Senate Republicans' campaign arm, told reporters, "I condemn white supremacy, all extremist groups. I think that all of these groups are hateful, and I condemn them in the strongest terms."
McConnell downplayed the potential impact of the comments on congressional Republicans on the ballot in November, saying, "I don't know any of my colleagues who will have problems as a result of that."
With just five weeks until the election, Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying to focus on finishing up the business of avoiding a government shutdown, getting through Barrett's confirmation process to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and potentially approving additional coronavirus relief.
North Carolina Republican Sen. Tom Tillis, who is in a tight reelection race, said people in his home state were focused on economic issues and Democratic proposals on climate change or expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court.
"I'll leave it to the president," he said of the debate remarks. "I know he's not a racist and I'm sure he doesn't approve their activities."
Romney, who was the Republican Party's nominee for president in 2012, declined to opine about the political impact of the president's debate performance, but he did quip, "It was not a Lincoln-Douglas debate, that's for sure." McConnell expressed a similar assessment on the debate.
NPR congressional reporter Claudia Grisales and White House editor Roberta Rampton contributed to this report.


npr--2020-09-30--NFL Postpones 1st Game Due To COVID-19 Pandemic Following Tennessee Titans Outbreak

After the league 's first coronavirus outbreak , the NFL is postponing Sunday 's game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers by at least a day .
The NFL says the game will be moved to either Monday or Tuesday .
This is the first time a scheduled game has been delayed due to COVID-19 .
In a statement , the league said the move was to protect players and other personnel and `` allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing . ''
On Tuesday , the Titans said three players and five other personnel tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network reporter Tom Pelissero , a fourth Titans player learned Wednesday that he tested positive .
`` We 're doing everything we can to make players safe and that this does n't happen again , '' Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said during a press conference Wednesday .
Vrabel said some of the players who tested positive are symptomatic .
`` Some of them are indeed experiencing flu-like symptoms .
Nothing , I think , out of the ordinary , we anticipate that they will feel better shortly , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're in a pandemic , '' Vrabel added , saying the team has followed guidelines closely .
The Titans placed defensive lineman DaQuan Jones and long snapper Beau Brinkley on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday .
Practice squad tight end Tommy Hudson was also placed on the list .
The club is not allowed to disclose whether the players tested positive or are only quarantining , per a union agreement .
The team suspended in-person club activities , as did the Minnesota Vikings , which the team faced Sunday .
The Vikings did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to facilities Thursday .
The Vikings ' game against the Houston Texans is still scheduled for Sunday .
Although some reports have said the team will return to team facilities on Saturday , Vrabel said there is no firm day or time .
It could be sooner or later , depending on what the league tells him , he said .
In the meantime , the team will be meeting virtually .
`` Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA , including our infectious disease experts , to evaluate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor developments , '' the NFL 's communications office said Tuesday in a joint statement with the NFL Players Association .
Before Tuesday , the NFL only saw scattered cases throughout the league among a small number of players and staff members .
Unlike the NHL and the NBA , the NFL has not adopted a `` bubble '' format and is traveling to various stadiums for games .
However , all NFL games have been played either without in-person fans or at reduced capacity as a precaution .
Coaches and other staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sideline during games , although some were fined for violating the rule .
The NFL sent a memo Wednesday reminding all teams to adhere to the rule .
The memo said violations could result in suspensions , forfeiting draft picks and putting `` the 2020 season at risk . ''
The NHL finished its season on Monday and was the first of the four major North American pro sports leagues to crown a champion during the pandemic .
The league carried out more than 33,000 coronavirus tests over the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Tennessee Titans Game Postponed Indefinitely After More Coronavirus Cases Reported
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Humphrey/AP Mark Humphrey/AP
Updated Oct. 1 at 11:30 a.m. ET
The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers will be cooling their cleats a little longer, after the Titans reported more coronavirus cases.
The teams were supposed to square off on Sunday, but the game got postponed earlier this week because of the league's first coronavirus outbreak — the first time a scheduled game has been delayed because of the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, the Titans said three players and five other personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. According to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, a fourth Titans player learned Wednesday that he tested positive. That prompted the NFL to delay the game at least a day.
Now it's been pushed off yet again. The league announced Thursday that yet another Titans player and another personnel member tested positive for the coronavirus, postponing the game indefinitely. The NFL is expected to announce a makeup date soon.
In a statement earlier this week, the league said the initial postponement was to protect players and other personnel and "allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing."
"We're doing everything we can to make players safe and that this doesn't happen again," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said during a press conference Wednesday.
Vrabel said some of the players who tested positive are symptomatic.
"Some of them are indeed experiencing flu-like symptoms. Nothing, I think, out of the ordinary, we anticipate that they will feel better shortly," he said.
"Nobody is to blame. We're in a pandemic," Vrabel added, saying the team has followed guidelines closely.
The Titans placed defensive lineman DaQuan Jones and long snapper Beau Brinkley on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. Practice squad tight end Tommy Hudson was also placed on the list.
The club is not allowed to disclose whether the players tested positive or are only quarantining, per a union agreement.
The team suspended in-person club activities, as did the Minnesota Vikings, who the team faced Sunday.
The Vikings did not report any cases and will return to facilities Thursday. The Vikings' game against the Houston Texans is still scheduled for Sunday. The Titans' training facility will remain closed.
In the meantime, the team will be meeting virtually.
"Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA, including our infectious disease experts, to evaluate close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments," the NFL's communications office said Tuesday in a joint statement with the NFL Players Association.
Before Tuesday, the NFL only saw scattered cases throughout the league among a small number of players and staff members.
Unlike the NHL and the NBA, the NFL has not adopted a "bubble" format and is traveling to various stadiums for games. However, all NFL games have been played either without in-person fans or at reduced capacity as a precaution.
Coaches and other staff are also required to wear face masks on the sideline during games, although some were fined for violating the rule. The NFL sent a memo Wednesday reminding all teams to adhere to the rule.
The memo said violations could result in suspensions, forfeiting draft picks and putting "the 2020 season at risk."
The NHL finished its season on Monday and was the first of the four major North American pro sports leagues to crown a champion during the pandemic. The league carried out more than 33,000 coronavirus tests over the course of nine weeks and reported zero positive cases.


npr--2020-09-30--Appeals Court Rejects Push To End Census Early By Trump Administration

A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration 's request to temporarily block a lower court order that extends the 2020 census schedule .
The Census Bureau must continue counting as ordered by the lower court for now , according to the new ruling by 9th U.S .
Circuit Judge Johnnie Rawlinson and Judge Morgan Christen , who were part of a three-judge panel .
Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented .
`` Given the extraordinary importance of the census , it is imperative that the Bureau conduct the census in a manner that is most likely to produce a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have confidence , '' wrote Rawlinson and Christen in their order .
`` The hasty and unexplained changes to the Bureau 's operations contained in the Replan , created in just 4 to 5 days , risks undermining the Bureau 's mission . ''
The move comes amid a complicated legal fight over the timeline for the constitutionally mandated head count , which is expected to be used to determine each state 's share of seats in the House of Representatives , Electoral College votes and federal funding for the next decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koh in Northern California issued a nationwide order that suspends Sept. 30 as the revised end date for counting the country 's residents in order to reduce the risk of an inaccurate tally of historically undercounted groups , including people of color and immigrants .
The next day , the administration appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit .
This week , the administration tweeted another schedule change — setting a `` target date '' of Oct. 5 for ending counting efforts — that Koh has called `` a violation '' of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to be held on Friday .
In response to the coronavirus pandemic , the administration originally supported a longer schedule for the national count of every person living in the U.S. After stay-at-home orders forced the bureau to postpone many of its plans , public calls for Congress to push back legal deadlines for reporting census results came in April from President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , who oversees the Census Bureau .
But the administration made an abrupt shift in its position in July , when it directed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver the latest state population counts to Trump by Dec. 31 , as current federal law requires .
Those are the same numbers from which the president , as announced in a now-blocked July memo , wants to attempt to exclude unauthorized immigrants , despite the 14th Amendment 's requirement to include the `` whole number of persons in each state '' in the count for reapportioning House seats .
The administration has appealed a lower court ruling that 's blocking the memo to the Supreme Court .
Census Bureau career officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , and the bureau 's Census Scientific Advisory Committee have all warned against shortening the census schedule .
Cutting short the time for counting and for reviewing the results increases the risk of serious errors in the count , the bureau 's own analysis has concluded .

Appeals Court Rejects Push To End Census Early By Trump Administration
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration's request to temporarily block a lower court order that extends the 2020 census schedule.
The Census Bureau must continue counting as ordered by the lower court for now, according to the new ruling by 9th U.S. Circuit Judge Johnnie Rawlinson and Judge Morgan Christen, who were part of a three-judge panel. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented.
"Given the extraordinary importance of the census, it is imperative that the Bureau conduct the census in a manner that is most likely to produce a workable report in which the public can have confidence," wrote Rawlinson and Christen in their order. "The hasty and unexplained changes to the Bureau's operations contained in the Replan, created in just 4 to 5 days, risks undermining the Bureau's mission."
The move comes amid a complicated legal fight over the timeline for the constitutionally mandated head count, which is expected to be used to determine each state's share of seats in the House of Representatives, Electoral College votes and federal funding for the next decade.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in Northern California issued a nationwide order that suspends Sept. 30 as the revised end date for counting the country's residents in order to reduce the risk of an inaccurate tally of historically undercounted groups, including people of color and immigrants. The next day, the administration appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit.
This week, the administration tweeted another schedule change — setting a "target date" of Oct. 5 for ending counting efforts — that Koh has called "a violation" of her order. A hearing before Koh is set to be held on Friday.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the administration originally supported a longer schedule for the national count of every person living in the U.S. After stay-at-home orders forced the bureau to postpone many of its plans, public calls for Congress to push back legal deadlines for reporting census results came in April from President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the Census Bureau.
But the administration made an abrupt shift in its position in July, when it directed the bureau to speed up counting in order to deliver the latest state population counts to Trump by Dec. 31, as current federal law requires.
Those are the same numbers from which the president, as announced in a now-blocked July memo, wants to attempt to exclude unauthorized immigrants, despite the 14th Amendment's requirement to include the "whole number of persons in each state" in the count for reapportioning House seats. The administration has appealed a lower court ruling that's blocking the memo to the Supreme Court.
Census Bureau career officials, the Commerce Department inspector general's office, and the bureau's Census Scientific Advisory Committee have all warned against shortening the census schedule. Cutting short the time for counting and for reviewing the results increases the risk of serious errors in the count, the bureau's own analysis has concluded.


npr--2020-09-30--Trump's Calls For Poll Watchers Raises Fears About Voter Intimidation

Concern is growing over potential confrontations at polling places due to deep partisan divides and baseless claims by President Trump that Democrats will `` steal '' the election .
In Tuesday night 's debate with Democrat Joe Biden , Trump repeated his attacks on widespread mail-in voting , calling it a `` disaster '' and saying `` this is not going to end well . ''
The president also urged his supporters , as he has done before , `` to go into the polls and watch very carefully . ''
Such appeals have unnerved voting rights advocates and election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest in several cities around the country that have pitted armed groups from the left and right against each other .
The concerns about potential polling place violence come at a time of immense stress for election officials , who are contending with how to run an election during a pandemic while also trying to reassure voters that the democratic process remains fair and transparent even amid the president 's increasingly strident rhetoric about voting .
The recent appearance of chanting Trump supporters outside an early voting site in Fairfax County , Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not blocked from voting at the site , but some said they felt intimidated by people who waved campaign signs and shouted , `` Four more years . ''
This followed the arrival of a noisy caravan of Trump supporters on motorcycles in a nearby parking lot .
The incident led Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring , a Democrat , to issue an opinion noting that there are federal and state laws prohibiting voter intimidation .
`` Voting is a fundamental right .
It is the foundation of our democracy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety or feel intimidated when they exercise their right to vote , '' he said .
Herring said it was unclear , however , if any laws were broken in the Fairfax case , in part because the Trump supporters stayed more than the required 40-foot distance from the polls .
Still , the incident was a sign of how fraught this year 's elections have become .
Republicans say people overreacted and no one should have felt intimidated .
But Democrats point to Trump 's comments and to a recent militant-sounding appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for supporters to protect the integrity of the election .
`` We need every able-bodied man , woman to join Army for Trump 's election security operation at defendyourballot.com , '' Trump Jr. said in a video posted online .
`` We need you to help us watch them .
Not just on Election Day , but also during early voting and at the counting boards .
President Trump is going to win .
Do n't let them steal it . ''
The Republican National Committee announced months ago that it planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve as poll watchers this year .
RNC chief counsel Justin Riemer told NPR that their main jobs would be to monitor voting for irregularities that might be used as evidence in later legal challenges , and to help with get-out-the-vote efforts .
`` The Democrats would say that we are there to suppress the vote .
That is absolutely not the case .
I can assure you that that is not why we have volunteers and attorneys participating in this process , '' Riemer said .
Most states allow political parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside polling sites to monitor voting .
But there are specific rules governing what they can and ca n't do .
Generally , if a poll watcher has a concern or wants to challenge a voter 's qualifications , they 're required to bring the issue up with the chief on-site election official .
They are strictly prohibited from interfering with or directly approaching voters .
It 's the self-appointed poll watchers — those who might show up at the polls unannounced — that have some people more worried .
Trump added to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his supporters were prevented from monitoring an early-voting site in Philadelphia , calling it a sign of `` corruption . ''
He failed to mention that the individuals had not been registered as poll watchers and that the location was a satellite elections office , not an official polling site .
Josh Horwitz , executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence , said he 's also worried about what might happen if some of those who come to the polls are armed .
He noted the increased presence of armed militia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
`` We 're not trying to cause panic or anything like that .
All we 're asking is that local election officials and state officials do what they can in the remaining month to best protect their polling places and the integrity of the elections , '' he said .
His group , along with Guns Down America , issued a report noting that few states have laws expressly prohibiting guns at polling sites .
Although some prohibit them at schools and county buildings that often serve as polling locations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local governments tighten such laws and , at the very least , train poll workers on how to respond if a problem does arise .
Most election officials try to de-escalate potential conflicts first .
In Fairfax County , they asked the Trump supporters to move back and not block voters ' access , and Republicans said they complied .
In more serious cases , officials might call in the police .
All the talk of trouble at the polls could have a negative effect on turnout , worries Kristen Clarke , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
Her group runs Election Protection , a national network of lawyers on call to help voters with any problems they encounter .
Clarke notes that past threats by Trump and others to send armies of supporters to watch the polls never materialized .
`` This is a pattern and practice that we have seen throughout the years , these wild exaggerations and bold proclamations that often fall flat in the end , but are intended to have a particular effect , intended to discourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Clarke does n't think voters should be overly worried , but prepared instead to report problems if they do occur .

Trump's Calls For Poll Watchers Raise Fears About Voter Intimidation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Concern is growing over potential confrontations at polling places due to deep partisan divides and baseless claims by President Trump that Democrats will "steal" the election.
In Tuesday night's debate with Democrat Joe Biden, Trump repeated his attacks on widespread mail-in voting, calling it a "disaster" and saying "this is not going to end well."
The president also urged his supporters, as he has done before, "to go into the polls and watch very carefully."
Such appeals have unnerved voting rights advocates and election officials, especially in light of civil unrest in several cities around the country that have pitted armed groups from the left and right against each other.
The concerns about potential polling place violence come at a time of immense stress for election officials, who are contending with how to run an election during a pandemic while also trying to reassure voters that the democratic process remains fair and transparent even amid the president's increasingly strident rhetoric about voting.
The recent appearance of chanting Trump supporters outside an early voting site in Fairfax County, Virginia, has also raised alarms.
Voters were not blocked from voting at the site, but some said they felt intimidated by people who waved campaign signs and shouted, "Four more years." This followed the arrival of a noisy caravan of Trump supporters on motorcycles in a nearby parking lot.
The incident led Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, to issue an opinion noting that there are federal and state laws prohibiting voter intimidation.
"Voting is a fundamental right. It is the foundation of our democracy, and no Virginian should ever feel for their safety or feel intimidated when they exercise their right to vote," he said.
Herring said it was unclear, however, if any laws were broken in the Fairfax case, in part because the Trump supporters stayed more than the required 40-foot distance from the polls.
Still, the incident was a sign of how fraught this year's elections have become. Republicans say people overreacted and no one should have felt intimidated. But Democrats point to Trump's comments and to a recent militant-sounding appeal from his son, Donald Trump Jr., for supporters to protect the integrity of the election.
"We need every able-bodied man, woman to join Army for Trump's election security operation at defendyourballot.com," Trump Jr. said in a video posted online. "We need you to help us watch them. Not just on Election Day, but also during early voting and at the counting boards. President Trump is going to win. Don't let them steal it."
The Republican National Committee announced months ago that it planned to recruit as many as 50,000 people to serve as poll watchers this year. RNC chief counsel Justin Riemer told NPR that their main jobs would be to monitor voting for irregularities that might be used as evidence in later legal challenges, and to help with get-out-the-vote efforts.
"The Democrats would say that we are there to suppress the vote. That is absolutely not the case. I can assure you that that is not why we have volunteers and attorneys participating in this process," Riemer said.
Most states allow political parties and campaigns to appoint people to sit inside polling sites to monitor voting. But there are specific rules governing what they can and can't do. Generally, if a poll watcher has a concern or wants to challenge a voter's qualifications, they're required to bring the issue up with the chief on-site election official. They are strictly prohibited from interfering with or directly approaching voters.
It's the self-appointed poll watchers — those who might show up at the polls unannounced — that have some people more worried. Trump added to those concerns Tuesday when he complained that his supporters were prevented from monitoring an early-voting site in Philadelphia, calling it a sign of "corruption."
He failed to mention that the individuals had not been registered as poll watchers and that the location was a satellite elections office, not an official polling site.
Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said he's also worried about what might happen if some of those who come to the polls are armed. He noted the increased presence of armed militia at protests and political rallies around the country.
"We're not trying to cause panic or anything like that. All we're asking is that local election officials and state officials do what they can in the remaining month to best protect their polling places and the integrity of the elections," he said.
His group, along with Guns Down America, issued a report noting that few states have laws expressly prohibiting guns at polling sites. Although some prohibit them at schools and county buildings that often serve as polling locations.
The gun control groups recommended that state and local governments tighten such laws and, at the very least, train poll workers on how to respond if a problem does arise.
Most election officials try to de-escalate potential conflicts first. In Fairfax County, they asked the Trump supporters to move back and not block voters' access, and Republicans said they complied. In more serious cases, officials might call in the police.
All the talk of trouble at the polls could have a negative effect on turnout, worries Kristen Clarke, who's president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Her group runs Election Protection, a national network of lawyers on call to help voters with any problems they encounter.
Clarke notes that past threats by Trump and others to send armies of supporters to watch the polls never materialized.
"This is a pattern and practice that we have seen throughout the years, these wild exaggerations and bold proclamations that often fall flat in the end, but are intended to have a particular effect, intended to discourage or deter people from voting," she said.
Clarke doesn't think voters should be overly worried, but prepared instead to report problems if they do occur.


npr--2020-09-30--Debate Organizers Say They Will Make Format Changes For Next Time

Debate Organizers Say They Will Make Format Changes For Next Time After a debate plagued by interruptions and cross-talk — mostly from President Trump — many politicos , voters and journalists asked whether more could have been done to stop the chaos .
Some asked whether the debates should continue at all .
The Commission on Presidential Debates , the independent , nonpartisan group that has sponsored the debates since 1988 , responded Wednesday , saying it is considering changes to the format before the next matchup : During a campaign stop Wednesday at a train station in Alliance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would continue to participate in the debates , telling reporters that he is looking forward to them .
`` I just hope there 's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the question without interruption , '' Biden said .
The former vice president said it would make sense for the moderator to switch off Trump 's microphone during Biden 's turn and vice versa , providing each candidate with two minutes of uninterrupted speaking time .
For his part , Trump has criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' Chris Wallace , for bias .
`` Two on one was not surprising , but fun , '' the president tweeted .
Trump 's campaign came out against format changes Wednesday .
`` They 're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night , '' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote in a statement .
`` President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs .
They should n't be moving the goal posts and changing the rules in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , set for Oct. 15 , will be hosted by C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully .
Currently , that debate is set up as a town hall format , in which both candidates will answer questions from voters in the audience .
Facing voters may make it more difficult for the candidates to steam roll through questions and answers .
`` Wallace needed , at the very least , a mute button , '' wrote Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan .
`` Maybe something stronger .
A penalty box ?
A stun gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate format , there 's no reason for the next two debates to take place as scheduled on Oct. 15 and 22 . ''

Debate Organizers Say They Will Make Format Changes For Next Time
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
Updated at 4:16 p.m. ET
After a debate plagued by interruptions and cross-talk — mostly from President Trump — many politicos, voters and journalists asked whether more could have been done to stop the chaos. Some asked whether the debates should continue at all.
The Commission on Presidential Debates, the independent, nonpartisan group that has sponsored the debates since 1988, responded Wednesday, saying it is considering changes to the format before the next matchup:
The Commission on Presidential Debates sponsors televised debates for the benefit of the American electorate. Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues. The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly. The Commission is grateful to Chris Wallace for the professionalism and skill he brought to last night's debate and intends to ensure that additional tools to maintain order are in place for the remaining debates.
During a campaign stop Wednesday at a train station in Alliance, Ohio, Democratic nominee Joe Biden said he would continue to participate in the debates, telling reporters that he is looking forward to them.
"I just hope there's a way in which the debate commission can control the ability of us to answer the question without interruption," Biden said.
The former vice president said it would make sense for the moderator to switch off Trump's microphone during Biden's turn and vice versa, providing each candidate with two minutes of uninterrupted speaking time.
For his part, Trump has criticized Tuesday night's moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, for bias. "Two on one was not surprising, but fun," the president tweeted.
Trump's campaign came out against format changes Wednesday.
"They're only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night," Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote in a statement. "President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs. They shouldn't be moving the goal posts and changing the rules in the middle of the game."
The next debate, set for Oct. 15, will be hosted by C-SPAN anchor Steve Scully. Currently, that debate is set up as a town hall format, in which both candidates will answer questions from voters in the audience.
Facing voters may make it more difficult for the candidates to steam roll through questions and answers.
"Wallace needed, at the very least, a mute button," wrote Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan. "Maybe something stronger. A penalty box? A stun gun? Failing some radical reform in the debate format, there's no reason for the next two debates to take place as scheduled on Oct. 15 and 22."


npr--2020-09-30--New York City Imposes Fines Of Up To $1,000 For Those Who Refuse To Wear Face Masks

New York City Imposes Fines Of Up To $ 1,000 For Those Who Refuse To Wear Face Masks New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that the city will impose fines on people who refuse to wear face coverings , after it saw a positivity rate for coronavirus tests of over 3 % for the first time since June .
The fine is up to $ 1,000 , the mayor 's office told NPR .
City personnel will hand out free masks to anyone who is not wearing a face covering , the mayor said .
`` Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be told that if they do n't put one on , they will be fined , '' de Blasio said .
He said it would start immediately and on a large scale .
`` That will happen aggressively , clearly . ''
`` Our goal , of course , is to give everyone a free face mask and get them to wear it .
We do n't want to fine people , '' said de Blasio .
Out of 146 zip codes citywide , de Blasio said , the uptick is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Queens , including areas with tight-knit Orthodox Jewish communities .
Health officials are emphasizing outreach to these communities to distribute masks and literature .
The mayor said he 's been meeting with neighborhood representatives , including those from Midwood , Borough Park , and Williamsburg .
The cases in these nine zip codes account for 25 % of the city 's overall cases , even though they hold just seven percent of the overall citywide population , according to New York City 's health commissioner Dave Chokshi .
This new city rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule issued earlier this month by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
It requires commuters on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system to wear face masks or else face a $ 50 fine .
De Blasio stressed that the city 's seven-day rolling positivity rate average , 1.38 % , is less worrying than the single-day positivity rate of 3.25 % that he announced Tuesday .
Still , he said it 's cause for significant concern : `` We have not seen a day like that in quite a while , and we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Enforcing this new mandate will involve `` every agency , '' said the mayor , including the Sheriff 's Office and the New York Police Department .

New York City Imposes Fines Of Up To $1,000 For Those Who Refuse To Wear Face Masks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that the city will impose fines on people who refuse to wear face coverings, after it saw a positivity rate for coronavirus tests of over 3% for the first time since June.
The fine is up to $1,000, the mayor's office told NPR.
City personnel will hand out free masks to anyone who is not wearing a face covering, the mayor said.
"Anyone who refuses to wear a face covering will be told that if they don't put one on, they will be fined," de Blasio said. He said it would start immediately and on a large scale. "That will happen aggressively, clearly."
"Our goal, of course, is to give everyone a free face mask and get them to wear it. We don't want to fine people," said de Blasio.
Out of 146 zip codes citywide, de Blasio said, the uptick is happening primarily in nine zip codes in Brooklyn and Queens, including areas with tight-knit Orthodox Jewish communities. Health officials are emphasizing outreach to these communities to distribute masks and literature.
The mayor said he's been meeting with neighborhood representatives, including those from Midwood, Borough Park, and Williamsburg.
The cases in these nine zip codes account for 25% of the city's overall cases, even though they hold just seven percent of the overall citywide population, according to New York City's health commissioner Dave Chokshi.
This new city rule comes in the heels of an emergency rule issued earlier this month by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It requires commuters on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system to wear face masks or else face a $50 fine.
De Blasio stressed that the city's seven-day rolling positivity rate average, 1.38%, is less worrying than the single-day positivity rate of 3.25% that he announced Tuesday.
Still, he said it's cause for significant concern: "We have not seen a day like that in quite a while, and we don't want to see days like this."
Enforcing this new mandate will involve "every agency," said the mayor, including the Sheriff's Office and the New York Police Department.


npr--2020-09-30--Trial Of Sept. 11 Defendants At Guantánamo Delayed Until August 2021

Trial Of Sept. 11 Defendants At Guantánamo Delayed Until August 2021 The setbacks keep piling up in the long-delayed 9/11 case in Guantánamo Bay , Cuba .
A new U.S military court judge has canceled all hearings in the case until next year and delayed the start of the trial of the five defendants charged in the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terror attacks until at least August 2021 .
Jury selection had been scheduled to begin in January 2021 , but the new judge — Col. Stephen F. Keane , who began overseeing the case in September — said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel restrictions and his need to familiarize himself with the case .
Many Guantánamo attorneys say even the revised start date is n't realistic , given that legal proceedings there have been at a virtual standstill since February , when the coronavirus began limiting access to the island .
`` I do not expect that the trial will begin in August of 2021 because there 's just too much ground to cover between now and then , '' said James Connell , lead attorney for Guantánamo prisoner Ammar al-Baluchi , who is accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's delay order by Judge Keane , the fourth judge to oversee the 9/11 case , is the latest stumbling block at Guantánamo 's problem-plagued military court and prison , which NPR found has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $ 6 billion since 2002 .
Other recent complications include : • The previous 9/11 judge , Air Force Col. W. Shane Cohen , left abruptly after nine months on the job , citing family concerns .
• The former administrative head of the military court , Christian Reismeier , moved to a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a year .
• James P. Harrington , the lead attorney for one of the 9/11 defendants , asked to leave the case , citing health issues and `` incompatibility '' with his client .
• David Bruck , the new lead attorney assigned to represent Harrington 's client , said he needs 2 1/2 years to prepare for trial .
All of those personnel changes cost the court time .
Guantánamo 's prison still holds 40 men , down from nearly 800 people who have been detained there since it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 remaining prisoners have been held for more than 18 years without being charged , and some have been cleared for release but remain incarcerated .
Guantánamo prosecutors have finalized only one conviction in the military court 's history .
To resolve Guantánamo 's deadlock , numerous lawyers have proposed trying the cases in U.S. federal courts , which have extensive experience handling terrorism prosecutions , or negotiating guilty pleas with the prisoners in return for life in prison .
Another former administrative head of Guantánamo 's military court , Harvey Rishikof , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to negotiate such settlements — leaving attorneys such as Connell unsure how the 9/11 cases will ultimately conclude .
`` The last person who tried to resolve the case in any way other than trial got fired for it , '' Connell said , `` so I do n't know how things are going to end up . ''

Trial Of Sept. 11 Defendants At Guantánamo Delayed Until August 2021
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brennan Linsley/AP Brennan Linsley/AP
The setbacks keep piling up in the long-delayed 9/11 case in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
A new U.S military court judge has canceled all hearings in the case until next year and delayed the start of the trial of the five defendants charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks until at least August 2021.
Jury selection had been scheduled to begin in January 2021, but the new judge — Col. Stephen F. Keane, who began overseeing the case in September — said a delay is necessary due to pandemic travel restrictions and his need to familiarize himself with the case.
Many Guantánamo attorneys say even the revised start date isn't realistic, given that legal proceedings there have been at a virtual standstill since February, when the coronavirus began limiting access to the island.
"I do not expect that the trial will begin in August of 2021 because there's just too much ground to cover between now and then," said James Connell, lead attorney for Guantánamo prisoner Ammar al-Baluchi, who is accused of funding the 9/11 hijackers.
Tuesday's delay order by Judge Keane, the fourth judge to oversee the 9/11 case, is the latest stumbling block at Guantánamo's problem-plagued military court and prison, which NPR found has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $6 billion since 2002. Other recent complications include:
The previous 9/11 judge, Air Force Col. W. Shane Cohen, left abruptly after nine months on the job, citing family concerns.
The former administrative head of the military court, Christian Reismeier, moved to a different role after being in his position for less than a year.
James P. Harrington, the lead attorney for one of the 9/11 defendants, asked to leave the case, citing health issues and "incompatibility" with his client.
David Bruck, the new lead attorney assigned to represent Harrington's client, said he needs 2 1/2 years to prepare for trial.
All of those personnel changes cost the court time.
Guantánamo's prison still holds 40 men, down from nearly 800 people who have been detained there since it opened in 2002. Some of the 40 remaining prisoners have been held for more than 18 years without being charged, and some have been cleared for release but remain incarcerated. Guantánamo prosecutors have finalized only one conviction in the military court's history.
To resolve Guantánamo's deadlock, numerous lawyers have proposed trying the cases in U.S. federal courts, which have extensive experience handling terrorism prosecutions, or negotiating guilty pleas with the prisoners in return for life in prison. Another former administrative head of Guantánamo's military court, Harvey Rishikof, was removed from his position after trying to negotiate such settlements — leaving attorneys such as Connell unsure how the 9/11 cases will ultimately conclude.
"The last person who tried to resolve the case in any way other than trial got fired for it," Connell said, "so I don't know how things are going to end up."


npr--2020-09-30--Baseball Rarity: Cubs And White Sox In Playoffs, But Chicago Fans Can't Go To Games

Baseball Rarity : Cubs And White Sox In Playoffs , But Chicago Fans Ca n't Go To Games ( After a strange , shortened season with no fans at the ballparks , the Major League baseball playoffs are now underway .
And this year , there 's something else unusual : both Chicago teams are playing in the postseason .
It 's just the third time that the North Side Cubs and the South Side White Sox reached the playoffs in the same year .
In a normal year , fans on both sides of town would be pouring into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to celebrate .
But this is 2020 , a year of mask-wearing and social distancing , and limits on drinking and dining establishments in the city is putting a damper on what could turn out to best year for baseball in Chicago in more than a century .
`` It 's obviously way quieter .
It 's definitely weird , '' says Chicagoan Colleen Gettings , 54 .
With her mask on , she was sitting with friends at a table spaced far apart from the others in the beer garden at Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street from Wrigley , watching the Cubs play the crosstown rival White Sox over the final weekend of the season .
`` It 's definitely different , it 's definitely weird but the diehards are out and we love the sport , '' Gettings adds .
In Chicago , bars and restaurants can serve customers outdoors at tables spaced at least six feet apart .
Only establishments with food can serve customers indoors , and they are limited to 25 % of capacity .
With the city 's COVID-19 rate improving , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , but it 's still a far cry from the huge crush of fans that would normally gather at taverns in Wrigleyville for playoff baseball .
`` If this were , like , a normal season without COVID , you would n't be able to move in here , '' says Steve Nitz , 34 , while sitting at an outdoor table at Bernie 's .
`` It 's nice being able to just go in an outdoor area like this and have the TVs , '' adds Nitz , a White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly every game this shortened season on television at home .
This is the first time he 's ventured out with a friend to watch a game .
`` It does suck not being able to go to games , '' Nitz says , but getting out of the house on Saturday night for baseball was `` really refreshing after four or five months of nothing . ''
His friend , Cubs fan Paul Schmitz , does n't mind the absence of scores of people squished shoulder to shoulder in the bar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ here tonight .
It 's been a lot of fun , '' he says .
`` It 's been casual , which is nice , for Cubs-Sox .
It tends to get a little intense for that rivalry . ''
About that rivalry , the baseball buddies with allegiances to opposite sides of town needled each other good naturedly quite a bit during the game .
`` The White Sox do suck , I want to be very clear about that , '' Schmitz says .
Nitz , one of just a handful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this north side bar , rolled his eyes but wisely decided to hold his tongue .
While Sox fans and Cubs fans rarely see eye to eye , many here in Chicago are thrilled that both teams are in the playoffs .
That 's only happened twice before , in 2008 and way , way back in 1906 , when the White Sox beat the Cubs in the World Series .
`` I just think it 's great for the city , '' says Colleen Gettings , who is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no illwill toward the Sox or their fans .
`` It 's giving people something to cheer about as opposed to all this other crap that 's going on .
It 's giving us a reason to get out and bond and enjoy the sport . ''
This year , the Sox are aided by an expanded playoff format in which 16 teams got in it instead of the usual 10 .
That , and a shortened season of 60 games instead of the usual 162 , has taken the luster off of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It does n't feel as meaningful this year , '' Schmitz says .
`` Sixty games , 16 teams in the playoffs , to me , it diminishes a lot of what happens during the regular season . ''
`` It 's a shortened season so there is actually less room for error , '' says Gettings .
`` I mean , you 've got ta be on your game , in my opinion , to make it to the playoffs . ''
`` My fear is there would be an asterisk on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Sox won it , they 'd have that , '' adds the 53-year old Davern .
`` But you know what , this is a tournament that has been going on since the beginning of July , with the best baseball players on earth . ''
He points out that all 30 Major League teams `` had the same opportunity to win or lose , and the Sox and Cubs are both in position where they have a chance to win it .
So I do n't know how you ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a normal season , Davern would take his family to a few Sox games , and he 'd often watch other games with friends at a bar .
This year , he 's taking in the strangely wonderful season from his couch , with a cold beer in his hand .
`` I ca n't think of a better distraction , especially in a town like Chicago that certainly is bruised from 2020 for a bunch of different reasons , '' says Davern , adding that a year like this makes the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the White Sox worth celebrating .
`` It 's part of being from Chicago .
A family party should involve some kind of disagreement about the Cubs and the Sox , '' he says .
`` It 's the greatest Chicago discussion and I think it 's accidentally uniting in some ways in a year like 2020 , where everything is so divisive . ''
Of course , the dream matchup here is for the Cubs and Sox to play each other in the World Series .
As unlikely as that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that no matter who wins in the playoffs , the World Series will be in a neutral ballpark in Texas , and fans wo n't be there .

Baseball Rarity: Cubs And White Sox In Playoffs, But Chicago Fans Can't Go To Games
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Schaper/NPR David Schaper/NPR
(After a strange, shortened season with no fans at the ballparks, the Major League baseball playoffs are now underway. And this year, there's something else unusual: both Chicago teams are playing in the postseason. It's just the third time that the North Side Cubs and the South Side White Sox reached the playoffs in the same year.
In a normal year, fans on both sides of town would be pouring into the streets or packing into sports bars to celebrate. But this is 2020, a year of mask-wearing and social distancing, and limits on drinking and dining establishments in the city is putting a damper on what could turn out to best year for baseball in Chicago in more than a century.
"It's obviously way quieter. It's definitely weird," says Chicagoan Colleen Gettings, 54. With her mask on, she was sitting with friends at a table spaced far apart from the others in the beer garden at Bernie's Tap and Grill, across the street from Wrigley, watching the Cubs play the crosstown rival White Sox over the final weekend of the season.
"It's definitely different, it's definitely weird but the diehards are out and we love the sport," Gettings adds.
In Chicago, bars and restaurants can serve customers outdoors at tables spaced at least six feet apart. Only establishments with food can serve customers indoors, and they are limited to 25% of capacity. With the city's COVID-19 rate improving, those restrictions will be eased slightly as of Thursday, but it's still a far cry from the huge crush of fans that would normally gather at taverns in Wrigleyville for playoff baseball.
"If this were, like, a normal season without COVID, you wouldn't be able to move in here," says Steve Nitz, 34, while sitting at an outdoor table at Bernie's.
"It's nice being able to just go in an outdoor area like this and have the TVs," adds Nitz, a White Sox fan who says he's watched nearly every game this shortened season on television at home. This is the first time he's ventured out with a friend to watch a game.
"It does suck not being able to go to games," Nitz says, but getting out of the house on Saturday night for baseball was "really refreshing after four or five months of nothing."
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Schaper/NPR David Schaper/NPR
His friend, Cubs fan Paul Schmitz, doesn't mind the absence of scores of people squished shoulder to shoulder in the bar.
"I actually really appreciate the mood here tonight. It's been a lot of fun," he says. "It's been casual, which is nice, for Cubs-Sox. It tends to get a little intense for that rivalry."
About that rivalry, the baseball buddies with allegiances to opposite sides of town needled each other good naturedly quite a bit during the game.
"The White Sox do suck, I want to be very clear about that," Schmitz says.
Nitz, one of just a handful of fans in a White Sox jersey at this north side bar, rolled his eyes but wisely decided to hold his tongue.
While Sox fans and Cubs fans rarely see eye to eye, many here in Chicago are thrilled that both teams are in the playoffs. That's only happened twice before, in 2008 and way, way back in 1906, when the White Sox beat the Cubs in the World Series.
"I just think it's great for the city," says Colleen Gettings, who is one of the few Cubs fans who insists she holds no illwill toward the Sox or their fans. "It's giving people something to cheer about as opposed to all this other crap that's going on. It's giving us a reason to get out and bond and enjoy the sport."
This year, the Sox are aided by an expanded playoff format in which 16 teams got in it instead of the usual 10. That, and a shortened season of 60 games instead of the usual 162, has taken the luster off of the accomplishment for some fans.
"It doesn't feel as meaningful this year," Schmitz says. "Sixty games, 16 teams in the playoffs, to me, it diminishes a lot of what happens during the regular season."
But others disagree.
"It's a shortened season so there is actually less room for error," says Gettings. "I mean, you've gotta be on your game, in my opinion, to make it to the playoffs."
Lifelong White Sox fans Stephen Davern agrees.
"My fear is there would be an asterisk on the season, so if the Cubs or Sox won it, they'd have that," adds the 53-year old Davern. "But you know what, this is a tournament that has been going on since the beginning of July, with the best baseball players on earth."
He points out that all 30 Major League teams "had the same opportunity to win or lose, and the Sox and Cubs are both in position where they have a chance to win it. So I don't know how you can't be ecstatic about that."
In a normal season, Davern would take his family to a few Sox games, and he'd often watch other games with friends at a bar. This year, he's taking in the strangely wonderful season from his couch, with a cold beer in his hand.
"I can't think of a better distraction, especially in a town like Chicago that certainly is bruised from 2020 for a bunch of different reasons," says Davern, adding that a year like this makes the more than century old rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox worth celebrating.
"It's part of being from Chicago. A family party should involve some kind of disagreement about the Cubs and the Sox," he says. "It's the greatest Chicago discussion and I think it's accidentally uniting in some ways in a year like 2020, where everything is so divisive."
Of course, the dream matchup here is for the Cubs and Sox to play each other in the World Series. As unlikely as that may be, the cruel joke of 2020 is that no matter who wins in the playoffs, the World Series will be in a neutral ballpark in Texas, and fans won't be there.


npr--2020-10-01--Far-Right Activists Charged Over Robocalls That Allegedly Targeted Minority Voters

Michigan 's attorney general filed felony charges Thursday against two far-right activists who allegedly coordinated a series of racist robocalls that discouraged voters in Detroit and other cities from participating in the November election .
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl are each being charged with four felony counts , including intimidating voters and conspiracy to commit an election law violation .
The robocalls came from a nonexistent group called the `` 1599 project '' and falsely warned recipients that voting by mail would result in being `` finessed into giving your private information to the man . ''
Burkman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote disinformation online and have made attempts to frame public figures such as Pete Buttigieg , Sen. Kamala Harris and Dr. Anthony Fauci for various made-up scandals .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a press release that the calls were made in August to almost 12,000 residents with phone numbers from the 313 area code that covers Detroit .
An investigation found that attorneys general in New York , Pennsylvania , Ohio and Illinois received complaints about similar phone calls being placed to cities with large minority populations .
`` Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences , '' Nessel wrote in a statement .
`` This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election . ''
In the calls , the robocaller told recipients to `` beware of vote by mail '' and falsely said that doing so would feed personal information into a database accessible to the police pursuing warrants , credit card companies collecting debts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aiming to track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these claims are false , and the caller provides no evidence to back them .
There is no evidence of widespread fraud associated with voting by mail .
Still , President Trump continues to sow doubts about voting by mail , without evidence .
Democrats are concerned about voter intimidation amid Republican efforts to dispatch tens of thousands of poll watchers across the country .
Until 2018 , the Republican National Committee had been under a 1980s-era consent decree after a federal judge found Republicans had stationed off-duty police officers in some minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters warning about penalties for violating election laws .
That consent decree has now expired , allowing Republicans to organize poll watching and other `` ballot-security '' efforts .
Neither Burkman nor Wohl 's attorney immediately responded to NPR 's request for comment .

Far-Right Activists Charged Over Robocalls That Allegedly Targeted Minority Voters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP Paul Sancya/AP
Michigan's attorney general filed felony charges Thursday against two far-right activists who allegedly coordinated a series of racist robocalls that discouraged voters in Detroit and other cities from participating in the November election.
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl are each being charged with four felony counts, including intimidating voters and conspiracy to commit an election law violation.
The robocalls came from a nonexistent group called the "1599 project" and falsely warned recipients that voting by mail would result in being "finessed into giving your private information to the man."
Burkman and Wohl are known far-right conspiracy theorists who promote disinformation online and have made attempts to frame public figures such as Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kamala Harris and Dr. Anthony Fauci for various made-up scandals.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a press release that the calls were made in August to almost 12,000 residents with phone numbers from the 313 area code that covers Detroit. An investigation found that attorneys general in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois received complaints about similar phone calls being placed to cities with large minority populations.
"Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences," Nessel wrote in a statement. "This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election."
In the calls, the robocaller told recipients to "beware of vote by mail" and falsely said that doing so would feed personal information into a database accessible to the police pursuing warrants, credit card companies collecting debts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aiming to track people for mandatory vaccines.
All of these claims are false, and the caller provides no evidence to back them. There is no evidence of widespread fraud associated with voting by mail.
Still, President Trump continues to sow doubts about voting by mail, without evidence.
Democrats are concerned about voter intimidation amid Republican efforts to dispatch tens of thousands of poll watchers across the country.
Until 2018, the Republican National Committee had been under a 1980s-era consent decree after a federal judge found Republicans had stationed off-duty police officers in some minority precincts and sent targeted mailings to minority voters warning about penalties for violating election laws.
That consent decree has now expired, allowing Republicans to organize poll watching and other "ballot-security" efforts.
Neither Burkman nor Wohl's attorney immediately responded to NPR's request for comment.