npr--2020-09-10--New York City Public Transit Riders Who Don't Mask Up Will Face Fines Starting Monday

New York City Public Transit Riders Who Do n't Mask Up Will Face Fines Starting Monday Starting Monday , New Yorkers who refuse to wear a mask on public transportation could face a $ 50 fine .
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Thursday that the new measure will take effect on all New York City subways and buses , as well as the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad .
`` No rider has the right to endanger fellow riders by putting themselves above the law & refusing to wear a mask , '' New York Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order in April requiring all customers and employees to wear face coverings while on public transit , and said on Thursday that most already do .
MTA surveys indicate that more than 90 % of riders mask up on subways , buses and railroads .
The fine is intended to drive that number up even higher .
`` We know the vast majority of New Yorkers are already doing the right thing and wearing a mask while riding with us , '' said Sarah Feinberg , interim president of New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last resort measure for those who refuse to comply . ''
Officials said compliance will be enforced by MTA police , the New York Police Department and Bridge and Tunnel officers .
According to the MTA , officers will first offer a free mask to any passenger who does not have one .
If a rider refuses , they could be fined .
Free face masks are also available at station booths across New York City Transit , the LIRR and Metro-North .
The transit system has enacted a number of safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential passengers back on board , from disinfecting its cars and stations daily to stocking vending machines with personal protective equipment as part of a pilot program .
Still , Cuomo acknowledged , residents and commuters may feel more comfortable getting around in private vehicles where they can practice social distancing .
On Thursday , he expressed concerns about the city 's ability to handle an influx in vehicular traffic coming into New York City , a typical post-Labor Day phenomenon that will likely be exacerbated by the pandemic .
Cuomo encouraged people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trains , and said the new penalty is designed to reassure nervous would-be riders that it is safe to do so .
`` I have asked the MTA to come up with an enforcement regimen so people know that not only are the cars clean and the stations clean , but the riders will be acting appropriately , '' Cuomo said .
`` We have to be able to say to the riding public that everyone will be wearing masks - and if they refuse to wear a mask they will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 , which has been advocating for stronger mask enforcement for months , celebrated Thursday 's announcement as good news for public transit riders and workers .
The union cited a survey it conducted in July that found that on some bus routes , only 60 % of riders were wearing masks , putting the people around them at risk .
`` We recognize that a fine could be hardship for some , '' Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement .
`` You know what 's harder ?
Going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask on a bus or train . ''

New York City Public Transit Riders Who Don't Mask Up Will Face Fines Starting Monday
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Starting Monday, New Yorkers who refuse to wear a mask on public transportation could face a $50 fine.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Thursday that the new measure will take effect on all New York City subways and buses, as well as the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
"No rider has the right to endanger fellow riders by putting themselves above the law & refusing to wear a mask," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted.
Cuomo issued an executive order in April requiring all customers and employees to wear face coverings while on public transit, and said on Thursday that most already do.
MTA surveys indicate that more than 90% of riders mask up on subways, buses and railroads. The fine is intended to drive that number up even higher.
"We know the vast majority of New Yorkers are already doing the right thing and wearing a mask while riding with us," said Sarah Feinberg, interim president of New York City Transit. "The fine is a last resort measure for those who refuse to comply."
Officials said compliance will be enforced by MTA police, the New York Police Department and Bridge and Tunnel officers.
According to the MTA, officers will first offer a free mask to any passenger who does not have one. If a rider refuses, they could be fined.
Free face masks are also available at station booths across New York City Transit, the LIRR and Metro-North.
The transit system has enacted a number of safety and sanitation measures in an effort to get potential passengers back on board, from disinfecting its cars and stations daily to stocking vending machines with personal protective equipment as part of a pilot program.
Still, Cuomo acknowledged, residents and commuters may feel more comfortable getting around in private vehicles where they can practice social distancing.
On Thursday, he expressed concerns about the city's ability to handle an influx in vehicular traffic coming into New York City, a typical post-Labor Day phenomenon that will likely be exacerbated by the pandemic.
Cuomo encouraged people to return to the city's buses and trains, and said the new penalty is designed to reassure nervous would-be riders that it is safe to do so.
"I have asked the MTA to come up with an enforcement regimen so people know that not only are the cars clean and the stations clean, but the riders will be acting appropriately," Cuomo said. "We have to be able to say to the riding public that everyone will be wearing masks - and if they refuse to wear a mask they will be penalized."
Transportation Workers Union Local 100, which has been advocating for stronger mask enforcement for months, celebrated Thursday's announcement as good news for public transit riders and workers.
The union cited a survey it conducted in July that found that on some bus routes, only 60% of riders were wearing masks, putting the people around them at risk.
"We recognize that a fine could be hardship for some," Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement. "You know what's harder? Going to a funeral because someone didn't wear a mask on a bus or train."


npr--2020-09-10--The World Lost Two-Thirds Of Its Wildlife In 50 Years. We Are to Blame

The World Lost Two-Thirds Of Its Wildlife In 50 Years .
We Are to Blame Human activities have caused the world 's wildlife populations to plummet by more than two-thirds in the last 50 years , according to a new report from the World Wildlife Fund .
The decline is happening at an unprecedented rate , the report warns , and it threatens human life as well .
`` The findings are clear , '' the report states .
`` Our relationship with nature is broken . ''
The Living Planet Report 2020 report drew on wildlife monitoring of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fish , birds and amphibians - from around the world .
It found that population sizes for those monitored species declined by an average of 68 percent from 1970 to 2016 .
In the American tropics , including the Caribbean and Latin America , population sizes decreased by a staggering 94 percent .
Forest clearing for agricultural space was the predominant cause of the decline , the report says , noting that one-third of the planet 's land is currently being used for food production .
Human-caused climate change is another growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence – these serious declines in wildlife species populations are an indicator that nature is unraveling and that our planet is flashing red warning signs of systems failure , '' wrote Marco Lambertini , Director General of World Wildlife Fund International .
The 83-page document , a collaboration with the Zoological Society of London , joins a growing and ominous list of academic research and international reports warning that human activities are causing a steep decline in global biodiversity .
The United Nations published a sweeping report last year cautioning that 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and animal species on the planet are at risk of extinction , many within decades , because of human activities .
It made a similar plea for people to care , punctuated with a warning : '' Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity , '' UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay , said at the time of the report 's release .
A subsequent United Nations report , published in July of this year , warned that biodiversity loss , and humans ' destruction of nature , would lead to an increase in animal-to-human diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reportedly contributed to an increase in deforestation in some parts of the world , amplifying the risk .
Scientists have long-warned that the world is entering a sixth mass extinction , driven by humanity 's consumption of wildlife and wild spaces , and the burning of fossil fuels .
Global warming will also cause ecosystems to shift faster than some species can adapt .
Actions can be taken to slow the decline .
An article published Thursday in the journal Nature outlined steps that the global community could take to `` bend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People could rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions , avoiding the worst climate change scenarios ; vast tracts of land and sea could be conserved ; damaged areas could be restored ; and food production practices could evolve to lighten its impact on existing ecosystems .
The World Wildlife Fund 's report says the planet 's ecosystems only have a limited ability to regenerate , a process that it says is essential to all life on Earth .
The report 's authors compared ecosystems ' ability to regenerate with the ever-growing human population and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human enterprise currently demands 1.56 times more than the amount that Earth can regenerate , '' the report says .

The World Lost Two-Thirds Of Its Wildlife In 50 Years. We Are to Blame
Enlarge this image toggle caption Firdia Lisnawati/AP Firdia Lisnawati/AP
Human activities have caused the world's wildlife populations to plummet by more than two-thirds in the last 50 years, according to a new report from the World Wildlife Fund.
The decline is happening at an unprecedented rate, the report warns, and it threatens human life as well.
"The findings are clear," the report states. "Our relationship with nature is broken."
The Living Planet Report 2020 report drew on wildlife monitoring of more than 4,300 different vertebrate species - mammals, fish, birds and amphibians - from around the world. It found that population sizes for those monitored species declined by an average of 68 percent from 1970 to 2016.
In the American tropics, including the Caribbean and Latin America, population sizes decreased by a staggering 94 percent.
Forest clearing for agricultural space was the predominant cause of the decline, the report says, noting that one-third of the planet's land is currently being used for food production. Human-caused climate change is another growing driver.
"We can't ignore the evidence – these serious declines in wildlife species populations are an indicator that nature is unraveling and that our planet is flashing red warning signs of systems failure," wrote Marco Lambertini, Director General of World Wildlife Fund International.
The 83-page document, a collaboration with the Zoological Society of London, joins a growing and ominous list of academic research and international reports warning that human activities are causing a steep decline in global biodiversity.
Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity.
The United Nations published a sweeping report last year cautioning that 1 million of the estimated 8 million plant and animal species on the planet are at risk of extinction, many within decades, because of human activities. It made a similar plea for people to care, punctuated with a warning:
"Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity," UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, said at the time of the report's release.
A subsequent United Nations report, published in July of this year, warned that biodiversity loss, and humans' destruction of nature, would lead to an increase in animal-to-human diseases, like COVID-19. The pandemic has also reportedly contributed to an increase in deforestation in some parts of the world, amplifying the risk.
Scientists have long-warned that the world is entering a sixth mass extinction, driven by humanity's consumption of wildlife and wild spaces, and the burning of fossil fuels. Global warming will also cause ecosystems to shift faster than some species can adapt.
Actions can be taken to slow the decline. An article published Thursday in the journal Nature outlined steps that the global community could take to "bend the curve" on biodiversity loss. People could rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding the worst climate change scenarios; vast tracts of land and sea could be conserved; damaged areas could be restored; and food production practices could evolve to lighten its impact on existing ecosystems.
The World Wildlife Fund's report says the planet's ecosystems only have a limited ability to regenerate, a process that it says is essential to all life on Earth.
The report's authors compared ecosystems' ability to regenerate with the ever-growing human population and found an ecological imbalance.
"The human enterprise currently demands 1.56 times more than the amount that Earth can regenerate," the report says.


npr--2020-09-10--Defender Of Amazon Tribes Killed In Brazil

Environmentalists in Brazil are mourning the death of a leading expert on uncontacted tribes in the Amazon , who was killed by an arrow that struck him in the chest .
Friends of Rieli Franciscato say he died inside the rainforest while on a mission to shield an isolated indigenous group from a possible hostile encounter with outsiders .
It happened on the edge of the Uru Eu Wau Wau reservation in the western Brazilian state of Rondônia , an area in which the forest has suffered heavily from invasions by illegal loggers and miners , and also from ranchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing prompted speculation that Franciscato was shot by the uncontacted group after being mistaken for an invader .
His death , on Wednesday , was witnessed by a policeman , Paulo Ricardo Bressa , whom Franciscato had asked to accompany him on his expedition into the area .
Bressa says that Franciscato climbed a hill to see if he could verify whether isolated tribal people were moving through the area .
`` We heard the noise of an arrow that hit his chest .
He let out a cry , pulled out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He managed to run 50 to 60 meters and then he collapsed , lifeless , '' said Bressa , in an audio message posted by Brazilian media .
Franciscato , 56 , spent his career working for the Brazilian government 's indigenous affairs agency , Funai , and earned a reputation as a tireless defender of isolated indigenous groups and their forest lands .
Survival International , an organization that campaigns for tribal peoples ' rights , described his death as a `` tragic and immeasurable loss . ''
`` He refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rainforest and its best guardians , '' it said , `` He worked tirelessly to protect the lands of uncontacted tribes from outsiders .
`` He dedicated his life to it , working on the front line to combat the illegal invasions by loggers , ranchers and miners who threaten to wipe out the most vulnerable peoples on the planet . ''
Franciscato 's death is reinforcing concern among forest protectors about the policies pursued by Brazil 's president Jair Bolsonaro , who advocates the integration of the indigenous into broader Brazilian society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural resources .
They accuse Bolsonaro of fueling violence in the Amazon region by cutting back government environmental protection agencies , and emboldening groups intent on invading indigenous lands .
As evidence , environmental activists point to the number of fires now burning within the Brazilian Amazon .
In the first nine days of this month , satellites used by Brazil 's National Institute for Space Research detected 12,412 fires — more than double the number during the same period last year .
Many of these are set by illegal ranchers clearing already @ @ @

Defender Of Amazon Tribes Killed In Brazil
Enlarge this image toggle caption Todd Lewan/AP Todd Lewan/AP
Environmentalists in Brazil are mourning the death of a leading expert on uncontacted tribes in the Amazon, who was killed by an arrow that struck him in the chest.
Friends of Rieli Franciscato say he died inside the rainforest while on a mission to shield an isolated indigenous group from a possible hostile encounter with outsiders.
It happened on the edge of the Uru Eu Wau Wau reservation in the western Brazilian state of Rondônia, an area in which the forest has suffered heavily from invasions by illegal loggers and miners, and also from ranchers setting fires to clear land.
The killing prompted speculation that Franciscato was shot by the uncontacted group after being mistaken for an invader. His death, on Wednesday, was witnessed by a policeman, Paulo Ricardo Bressa, whom Franciscato had asked to accompany him on his expedition into the area.
Bressa says that Franciscato climbed a hill to see if he could verify whether isolated tribal people were moving through the area.
"We heard the noise of an arrow that hit his chest. He let out a cry, pulled out the arrow, and came running back. He managed to run 50 to 60 meters and then he collapsed, lifeless," said Bressa, in an audio message posted by Brazilian media.
Franciscato, 56, spent his career working for the Brazilian government's indigenous affairs agency, Funai, and earned a reputation as a tireless defender of isolated indigenous groups and their forest lands.
Survival International, an organization that campaigns for tribal peoples' rights, described his death as a "tragic and immeasurable loss."
"He refused to accept the violent greed destroying the Amazon rainforest and its best guardians," it said, "He worked tirelessly to protect the lands of uncontacted tribes from outsiders.
"He dedicated his life to it, working on the front line to combat the illegal invasions by loggers, ranchers and miners who threaten to wipe out the most vulnerable peoples on the planet."
Franciscato's death is reinforcing concern among forest protectors about the policies pursued by Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, who advocates the integration of the indigenous into broader Brazilian society and wants to exploit the Amazon's natural resources.
They accuse Bolsonaro of fueling violence in the Amazon region by cutting back government environmental protection agencies, and emboldening groups intent on invading indigenous lands. As evidence, environmental activists point to the number of fires now burning within the Brazilian Amazon. In the first nine days of this month, satellites used by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research detected 12,412 fires — more than double the number during the same period last year. Many of these are set by illegal ranchers clearing already deforested land.


npr--2020-09-10--Court Blocks Trump's Attempt To Change Who Counts For Allocating House Seats

Court Blocks Trump 's Attempt To Change Who Counts For Allocating House Seats A special three-judge court in New York on Thursday blocked the Trump administration 's efforts to make an unprecedented change to who is included in the census numbers that determine each state 's share of seats in Congress .
The president , the court concluded , can not leave unauthorized immigrants out of that specific count .
The ruling comes after the July release of a memorandum by President Trump that directs Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , who oversees the U.S. Census Bureau , to provide Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States without authorization from the apportionment count .
Since the first U.S. census in 1790 , the country 's official once-a-decade population numbers used to reapportion seats in the House of Representatives have included both U.S. citizens and noncitizens , regardless of immigration status .
Enacted after the Civil War , the 14th Amendment ended the counting of an enslaved person as `` three fifths '' of a free person by requiring the counting of the `` whole number of persons in each state . ''
The president ultimately plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After the president hands off the latest numbers to Congress , the clerk of the House of Representatives is supposed to send to the governors a `` certificate of the number of Representatives '' each state receives , according to Title 2 of the U.S. Code .
Trump 's memorandum has sparked eight legal challenges around the country .
In addition to the two based in Manhattan , federal judges are hearing cases over the memo in Northern California , Washington , D.C. , Massachusetts and Maryland , where an ongoing lawsuit about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data was expanded last month with additional allegations about the memo .
Fearing the loss of a House seat after the 2020 census , the state of Alabama is leading an ongoing case that was filed in 2018 to try to force the Census Bureau not to include unauthorized immigrants in the apportionment count .
The ruling in New York is likely to be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court .
Federal law allows decisions by a three-judge court — which are convened for lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of how congressional seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skip review by an appeals court .
In addition to this legal fight over who counts for reapportioning House seats , the bureau is embroiled in lawsuits over the Trump administration 's directive to shorten the 2020 census schedule — already disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic — to make sure the president receives the apportionment count by Dec. 31 .

Court Blocks Trump's Attempt To Change Who Counts For Allocating House Seats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Updated at 11:25 p.m. ET
A special three-judge court in New York on Thursday blocked the Trump administration's efforts to make an unprecedented change to who is included in the census numbers that determine each state's share of seats in Congress.
The president, the court concluded, cannot leave unauthorized immigrants out of that specific count.
The decision comes after the July release of a memorandum by President Trump that directs Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the U.S. Census Bureau, to provide Trump with information needed to exclude immigrants who are living in the United States without authorization from the apportionment count.
The panel of judges — including U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Wesley, Circuit Judge Peter Hall and District Judge Jesse Furman — noted the president does have some direction over the census and how the results of the count are used for reapportionment. But that authority, which is delegated from Congress, is limited.
A "tabulation of total population" is what the commerce secretary is directed to report to the president from the once-a-decade census, under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. According to Title 2, the president, in turn, is supposed to hand off to Congress "a statement showing the whole number of persons in each State."
Because Trump's memo "deviates" from that "statutory scheme," the judges declared it "an unlawful exercise of the authority granted to the President."
The panel ultimately issued a narrow ruling against the memo.
"Because the President exceeded the authority granted to him by Congress by statute, we need not, and do not, reach the overlapping, albeit distinct, question of whether the Presidential Memorandum constitutes a violation of the Constitution itself," the panel wrote in their opinion.
Their injunction against the administration permanently bans it from including any information about the number of unauthorized immigrants in each state in the commerce secretary's report to the president. The judges, however, are not stopping the administration from "continuing to study whether and how it would be feasible to calculate" those numbers to allow the secretary to comply with the memo "in a timely fashion" in case a higher court overturns their ruling.
Since the first U.S. census in 1790, the country's official once-a-decade population numbers used to reapportion seats in the House of Representatives have included both U.S. citizens and noncitizens, regardless of immigration status. Enacted after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment ended the counting of an enslaved person as "three fifths" of a free person by requiring the counting of the "whole number of persons in each state."
The president ultimately plays a limited role in reapportioning Congress. After the president hands off the latest numbers to Congress, the clerk of the House of Representatives is supposed to send to the governors a "certificate of the number of Representatives" each state receives, according to Title 2 of the U.S. Code.
The Justice Department, which is representing the administration in these two lawsuits based in Manhattan, declined to comment on the judge's ruling, DOJ spokesperson Mollie Timmons said in an email to NPR.
"This is a huge victory for voting rights and for immigrants' rights," said Dale Ho, the director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project who helped represent a coalition of plaintiffs led by the New York Immigration Coalition in one of the lawsuits.
This legal fight in New York reassembled many of the same challengers and attorneys who were part of litigation over the administration's failed efforts to add the now-blocked citizenship question.
"President Trump's repeated attempts to hinder, impair, and prejudice an accurate census and the subsequent apportionment have failed once again," said New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whose office led a group of states, cities and counties in the other Manhattan-based lawsuit over Trump's memo.
Trump's memorandum has sparked eight legal challenges around the country. In addition to the two based in Manhattan, federal judges are hearing cases over the memo in Northern California, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Maryland, where an ongoing lawsuit about the administration's efforts to produce citizenship data was expanded last month with additional allegations about the memo.
Fearing the loss of a House seat after the 2020 census, the state of Alabama is leading an ongoing case that was filed in 2018 to try to force the Census Bureau not to include unauthorized immigrants in the apportionment count.
The memo's challengers have raised concerns that its introduction in late July, shortly before door-knocking efforts for the 2020 census were about to launch nationwide, has helped deter many households with immigrants from taking part in the count.
"We want to make sure that our community knows that they count and we will go to any means to make sure that their humanity is respected," said Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, a Houston-based immigrant advocacy group. "We want to make sure that we do not go back in time when humans are counted as a fraction of a person."
The ruling in New York may be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Federal law allows decisions by a three-judge court — which are convened for lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of how congressional seats are reapportioned among the states — to skip review by an appeals court.
In addition to this legal fight over who counts for reapportioning House seats, the bureau is embroiled in lawsuits over the Trump administration's directive to shorten the 2020 census schedule — already disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic — to make sure the president receives the apportionment count by Dec. 31.


npr--2020-09-10--Trump Says His Misleading Coronavirus Comments Were Meant To Show 'Strength'

Trump Says His Misleading Coronavirus Comments Were Meant To Show 'Strength' President Trump on Thursday defended his decision to mislead the public about the deadliness of the coronavirus as documented in Bob Woodward 's new book , declining to call his misstatements about the virus and its spread a `` lie '' and saying he needed to show `` strength '' in the face of the crisis .
`` I want to show a level of confidence , and I want to show strength as a leader , and I want to show our country is going to be fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a news conference .
`` There is no lie here .
What we 're doing is we 're leading , '' he said , insisting that America is `` rounding the final turn '' of the pandemic and that the nation had done `` much , much better than the European Union '' in its response to the virus .
The U.S. not only has one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world , but it also has a higher rate of infection than most EU member states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media reported excerpts from Woodward 's new book , Rage , which details the president 's earlier than publicly acknowledged understanding of the lethality of the virus and its airborne spread .
The president used the occasion not only to push back against criticism that he lied but also against the journalist whose work has led to additional scrutiny of what the president knew about the virus and when he knew it .
When pressed on why he did n't alert the public sooner , Trump said : `` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start screaming , 'Death !
Death ! '
`` '' People knew it was airborne , '' he said , pointing to early reports out of China about the way the virus spread among people .
`` Everybody knew it was airborne . ''
One question that has emerged among the revelations is why Trump gave 17 on-the-record interviews to Woodward , whose work at The Washington Post helped lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon , and whose subsequent books have skewered Democratic and Republican administrations alike .
Trump said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' adding that the journalist should have `` immediately gone to the authorities '' if he felt that Trump was downplaying the virus .
Woodward , who has faced criticism for not revealing more quickly the contradictory nature of the president 's private and public remarks , writes in Rage that Trump said in a recorded Feb. 7 conversation : `` You just breathe the air and that 's how it 's passed .
And so that 's a very tricky one .
That 's a very delicate one .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu . ''
Days later , Trump told supporters at a New Hampshire campaign rally : `` Looks like by April , you know , in theory , when it gets a little warmer , it miraculously goes away . ''
Later that month , Trump tweeted that the virus was `` very much under control in the USA . ''
Even weeks later , Trump would go on to compare the coronavirus to the seasonal flu , saying in a Fox News interview , `` We 've never closed down the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private awareness of the virus 's deadliness , Trump long declined to embrace expert advice on wearing face masks while in public and has in recent weeks relaunched a robust election campaign schedule that includes tightly packed outdoor rallies of thousands of supporters .
At a recent New Hampshire campaign rally , when Trump supporters in the heavily mask-less crowd were asked in an announcement to don masks , attendees booed .
So far , more than 190,000 Americans have been killed by the virus .

Trump Says His Misleading Coronavirus Comments Were Meant To Show 'Strength'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
President Trump on Thursday defended his decision to mislead the public about the deadliness of the coronavirus as documented in Bob Woodward's new book, declining to call his misstatements about the virus and its spread a "lie" and saying he needed to show "strength" in the face of the crisis.
"I want to show a level of confidence, and I want to show strength as a leader, and I want to show our country is going to be fine one way or another," Trump said at a news conference.
"There is no lie here. What we're doing is we're leading," he said, insisting that America is "rounding the final turn" of the pandemic and that the nation had done "much, much better than the European Union" in its response to the virus. The U.S. not only has one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world, but it also has a higher rate of infection than most EU member states.
Trump's remarks came a day after the media reported excerpts from Woodward's new book, Rage, which details the president's earlier than publicly acknowledged understanding of the lethality of the virus and its airborne spread. The president used the occasion not only to push back against criticism that he lied but also against the journalist whose work has led to additional scrutiny of what the president knew about the virus and when he knew it.
When pressed on why he didn't alert the public sooner, Trump said: "I don't want to jump up and down and start screaming, 'Death! Death!' "
"People knew it was airborne," he said, pointing to early reports out of China about the way the virus spread among people. "Everybody knew it was airborne."
One question that has emerged among the revelations is why Trump gave 17 on-the-record interviews to Woodward, whose work at The Washington Post helped lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, and whose subsequent books have skewered Democratic and Republican administrations alike.
Trump said he talked to Woodward "out of curiosity," adding that the journalist should have "immediately gone to the authorities" if he felt that Trump was downplaying the virus.
Woodward, who has faced criticism for not revealing more quickly the contradictory nature of the president's private and public remarks, writes in Rage that Trump said in a recorded Feb. 7 conversation: "You just breathe the air and that's how it's passed. And so that's a very tricky one. That's a very delicate one. It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu."
Days later, Trump told supporters at a New Hampshire campaign rally: "Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away." Later that month, Trump tweeted that the virus was "very much under control in the USA."
Even weeks later, Trump would go on to compare the coronavirus to the seasonal flu, saying in a Fox News interview, "We've never closed down the country for the flu."
Despite his private awareness of the virus's deadliness, Trump long declined to embrace expert advice on wearing face masks while in public and has in recent weeks relaunched a robust election campaign schedule that includes tightly packed outdoor rallies of thousands of supporters.
At a recent New Hampshire campaign rally, when Trump supporters in the heavily mask-less crowd were asked in an announcement to don masks, attendees booed.
So far, more than 190,000 Americans have been killed by the virus.


npr--2020-09-10--57 People Face Federal Charges Of Defrauding Coronavirus Relief Program

The Justice Department 's Criminal Division says it has charged 57 people to date over allegedly defrauding a federal program meant to provide relief to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Criminal Division 's acting assistant attorney general , Brian Rabbitt , told reporters that those charged attempted to steal more than $ 175 million .
They actually obtained more than $ 70 million , he said , and the Justice Department has been to recover or freeze over $ 30 million .
The Paycheck Protection Program , which was designed to help businesses keep workers on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March as the coronavirus crisis was emerging .
Before it closed to new applications last month , according to Rabbitt , it doled out some $ 525 billion in forgivable loans .
`` We allege that many of these defendants took the relief money offered by the PPP and spent it on things having absolutely nothing to do with relief , '' Rabbitt said .
For example : A Miami man who allegedly obtained almost $ 4 million in funds and used some of this money to buy a Lamborghini .
Rabbitt said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some were individuals who allegedly lied about details of their business – or its existence — and then used the funds for `` illegitimate purposes , '' such as to buy luxury items .
Others were involved in coordinated crime rings .
The money the alleged fraudsters sought ranged from $ 30,000 to $ 24 million .
He stressed that the money taken fraudulently from the program took available funds away from businesses that needed them .
These are not the only federal cases aimed at tamping down PPP fraud — U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing similar cases .

57 People Face Federal Charges Of Defrauding Coronavirus Relief Program
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wayne Partlow/AP Wayne Partlow/AP
The Justice Department's Criminal Division says it has charged 57 people to date over allegedly defrauding a federal program meant to provide relief to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Criminal Division's acting assistant attorney general, Brian Rabbitt, told reporters that those charged attempted to steal more than $175 million. They actually obtained more than $70 million, he said, and the Justice Department has been to recover or freeze over $30 million.
The Paycheck Protection Program, which was designed to help businesses keep workers on their payroll, was approved by Congress in March as the coronavirus crisis was emerging. Before it closed to new applications last month, according to Rabbitt, it doled out some $525 billion in forgivable loans.
"We allege that many of these defendants took the relief money offered by the PPP and spent it on things having absolutely nothing to do with relief," Rabbitt said. For example: A Miami man who allegedly obtained almost $4 million in funds and used some of this money to buy a Lamborghini.
Rabbitt said the cases varied in size and scope. Some were individuals who allegedly lied about details of their business – or its existence — and then used the funds for "illegitimate purposes," such as to buy luxury items. Others were involved in coordinated crime rings. The money the alleged fraudsters sought ranged from $30,000 to $24 million.
He stressed that the money taken fraudulently from the program took available funds away from businesses that needed them.
These are not the only federal cases aimed at tamping down PPP fraud — U.S. attorney's offices around the country are bringing similar cases.


npr--2020-09-10--Portland, Ore., Mayor Bans Police Use Of Tear Gas At Protests

Portland , Ore. , Mayor Bans Police Use Of Tear Gas At Protests Portland , Ore. , Mayor Ted Wheeler is telling the city 's police to `` end the use of CS gas for crowd control '' in a policy change that he says is effective immediately .
The chlorine-containing compound is one of the most common forms of tear gas .
`` During the last 100 days , Portland , Multnomah County and state police have all relied on CS gas where there 's a threat to life safety , '' Wheeler said .
`` We need something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The shift comes after months of scrutiny and criticism over authorities ' use of tear gas and other crowd-dispersal measures during months of protests in Portland against police brutality and excessive force against Blacks and other minorities .
Wheeler had previously told the Portland Police Bureau to tamp down on the use of tear gas , but officers used the deterrent on people `` as recently as this past weekend , '' according to NPR member station Oregon Public Broadcasting .
It added that some in Portland have nicknamed Wheeler `` Tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear gas himself in late July when federal agents used it during a nighttime demonstration he visited .
Experts say CS gas can cause burns on people 's skin , in their eyes and airways .
Its use has been increasingly questioned during the COVID-19 pandemic , especially because a U.S. Army study found that recruits who were exposed to tear gas were more likely to get sick with respiratory illnesses .
`` There are sufficient data proving that tear gas can increase the susceptibility to pathogens , to viruses , '' Duke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
`` The 'tear gas ' chemicals now seen drifting over crowds in the recent protests are banned in warfare , '' NPR reported in June .
`` But the Chemical Weapons Convention does not bar their use against civilian populations , during protests , riots , or other forms of upheaval . ''
Wheeler issued the ban on CS gas in his role as the police commissioner .
Under Portland 's system of government , the mayor occupies both roles — an arrangement Wheeler has previously said should be changed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wheeler called on Portland 's community to work together to reduce violence , referring to the clashes that have marked a summer of protests against racial injustice .
`` Arson , vandalism and violence are not going to drive the change this community needs , '' the mayor said , adding that he expects the police to arrest anyone involved in those illegal actions .
`` I call on everyone to step up and tamp down the violence , '' Wheeler said .
`` I 'm acting .
It 's time for others @ @ @ @ @

Portland, Ore., Mayor Bans Police Use Of Tear Gas At Protests
YouTube
Portland, Ore., Mayor Ted Wheeler is telling the city's police to "end the use of CS gas for crowd control" in a policy change that he says is effective immediately. The chlorine-containing compound is one of the most common forms of tear gas.
"During the last 100 days, Portland, Multnomah County and state police have all relied on CS gas where there's a threat to life safety," Wheeler said. "We need something different and we need it now."
The shift comes after months of scrutiny and criticism over authorities' use of tear gas and other crowd-dispersal measures during months of protests in Portland against police brutality and excessive force against Blacks and other minorities.
Wheeler had previously told the Portland Police Bureau to tamp down on the use of tear gas, but officers used the deterrent on people "as recently as this past weekend," according to NPR member station Oregon Public Broadcasting. It added that some in Portland have nicknamed Wheeler "Tear Gas Teddy."
The mayor experienced tear gas himself in late July when federal agents used it during a nighttime demonstration he visited.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nathan Howard/Getty Images Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Experts say CS gas can cause burns on people's skin, in their eyes and airways. Its use has been increasingly questioned during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially because a U.S. Army study found that recruits who were exposed to tear gas were more likely to get sick with respiratory illnesses.
"There are sufficient data proving that tear gas can increase the susceptibility to pathogens, to viruses," Duke University professor Sven-Eric Jordt told NPR in June.
"The 'tear gas' chemicals now seen drifting over crowds in the recent protests are banned in warfare," NPR reported in June. "But the Chemical Weapons Convention does not bar their use against civilian populations, during protests, riots, or other forms of upheaval."
Wheeler issued the ban on CS gas in his role as the police commissioner. Under Portland's system of government, the mayor occupies both roles — an arrangement Wheeler has previously said should be changed.
As he announced the new policy, Wheeler called on Portland's community to work together to reduce violence, referring to the clashes that have marked a summer of protests against racial injustice.
"Arson, vandalism and violence are not going to drive the change this community needs," the mayor said, adding that he expects the police to arrest anyone involved in those illegal actions.
"I call on everyone to step up and tamp down the violence," Wheeler said. "I'm acting. It's time for others to join me."


npr--2020-09-10--Diana Rigg, 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Avengers' Actor, Has Died At 82

Diana Rigg , 'Game of Thrones ' and 'The Avengers ' Actor , Has Died At 82 Actor Diana Rigg , best known for starring in the 1960s British TV espionage thriller The Avengers , died on Thursday at the age of 82 in London .
According to a statement from her daughter Rachael Stirling , she was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year .
`` My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning , at home , surrounded by family , '' Stirling wrote .
`` She died of cancer diagnosed in March , and spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary life , full of love , laughter and a deep pride in her profession . ''
In The Avengers , Rigg played Emma Peel with a certain dangerous flair that contrasted with her buttoned-up partner , John Steed , played by Patrick Macnee .
More recently , she earned four Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Olenna Tyrell in the HBO show Game of Thrones .
Rigg was originally a stage actor who worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company .
She told NPR in a 1991 interview that she loved seeing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They 're my inspiration .
I absolutely adore it , '' she said .
`` Obviously , sometimes they are n't when they 're scratching themselves or falling asleep , but largely , I think you ca n't beat a live audience . ''
Her on-screen credits were many and varied .
She played the only woman to get James Bond to the altar in 1969 's On Her Majesty 's Secret Service .
She took on the role of Lady Holiday in The Great Muppet Caper specifically for her daughter Rachael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist , you draw pictures for your children .
If you 're a writer , you write the odd little story for them .
If you 're an actress , you can read bedtime stories brilliantly .
As far as she was concerned , it was the best thing that ever happened , to see her mother ... with Miss Piggy , '' she said in the NPR interview . )
And she won an Emmy for her role as Mrs. Danvers on the PBS Masterpiece miniseries Rebecca .
But as her film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to theater .
`` Diana Rigg 's combination of force of personality , beauty , courage and sheer emotional power , made her a great classical actress , '' theater director Jonathan Kent said .
`` Her dazzling wit and that inimitable voice made her an unforgettable leading figure in British theater . ''
And in a statement Rigg 's agent provided to NPR , playwright David Hare wrote this : '' Diana Rigg had a dazzling change of direction in middle age as a great classical actor .
When Emma Peel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martha and Brecht 's Mother Courage she swept all before her . ''

Diana Rigg, 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Avengers' Actor, Has Died At 82
Enlarge this image toggle caption Terry Disney/Express/Getty Images Terry Disney/Express/Getty Images
Actor Diana Rigg, best known for starring in the 1960s British TV espionage thriller The Avengers, died on Thursday at the age of 82 in London. According to a statement from her daughter Rachael Stirling, she was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
"My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family," Stirling wrote. "She died of cancer diagnosed in March, and spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession."
In The Avengers, Rigg played Emma Peel with a certain dangerous flair that contrasted with her buttoned-up partner, John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee. More recently, she earned four Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Olenna Tyrell in the HBO show Game of Thrones.
Rigg was originally a stage actor who worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She told NPR in a 1991 interview that she loved seeing the faces of the audience when acting.
"They're my inspiration. I absolutely adore it," she said. "Obviously, sometimes they aren't when they're scratching themselves or falling asleep, but largely, I think you can't beat a live audience."
Her on-screen credits were many and varied. She played the only woman to get James Bond to the altar in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. She took on the role of Lady Holiday in The Great Muppet Caper specifically for her daughter Rachael. ("If you're an artist, you draw pictures for your children. If you're a writer, you write the odd little story for them. If you're an actress, you can read bedtime stories brilliantly. As far as she was concerned, it was the best thing that ever happened, to see her mother ... with Miss Piggy," she said in the NPR interview.) And she won an Emmy for her role as Mrs. Danvers on the PBS Masterpiece miniseries Rebecca.
But as her film and television roles grew, she always returned to theater.
"Diana Rigg's combination of force of personality, beauty, courage and sheer emotional power, made her a great classical actress," theater director Jonathan Kent said. "Her dazzling wit and that inimitable voice made her an unforgettable leading figure in British theater."
And in a statement Rigg's agent provided to NPR, playwright David Hare wrote this:
"Diana Rigg had a dazzling change of direction in middle age as a great classical actor. When Emma Peel played Euripides' Medea, Albee's Martha and Brecht's Mother Courage she swept all before her."


npr--2020-09-10--Senate GOP COVID-19 Relief Bill Fails; Chances Of Bipartisan Deal Before Election Dim

Senate Republicans rallied around a $ 300 billion coronavirus aid package , but it fell short of the necessary 60-vote majority to advance , effectively killing the measure .
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican joining Senate Democrats to oppose it — Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , missed the vote .
The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell-led proposal is the first measure to secure the support of most Senate Republicans , who have been divided for months over how much and how far to go with a new wave of pandemic relief .
The bill was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid package that House Democrats approved in May .
The Republican bill included more money for a popular small-business loan program , a scaled-back version of an expanded unemployment benefit , funding for schools and the U.S .
Postal Service , and liability lawsuit protections for businesses , schools and health care providers .
Republicans knew the bill would fail , but Senate Majority Whip John Thune , R-S.D.
, told reporters that it was in part a strategic move to show the GOP had a unified position that `` puts pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a deal . ''
Democratic leaders preemptively rejected the Senate GOP bill .
`` Do n't be misled by thinking : 'Oh , well , a little bit is better than nothing . '
No , it is n't , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC .
`` It 's a missed opportunity to do what is right for the American people . ''
Thursday 's failed vote could be the last official act of Congress on a coronavirus relief bill before Election Day .
Negotiations between Congress and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the cost of the relief package .
Democrats want at least $ 2 trillion , which the Trump administration rejects as unnecessary overreach .
There is only one must-pass bill on the agenda this month , a stopgap measure to keep the government running by the Sept. 30 deadline for the end of the fiscal year .
However , Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the lead negotiators in COVID-19 talks , have ruled out attaching pandemic relief to the funding measure .
A stopgap measure is likely to last into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet that definition , and those negotiations are separate from this , '' Pelosi told reporters Thursday .
The gridlock is in stark contrast to how previous relief bills totaling about $ 3 trillion sailed through Congress earlier this year with little protest or debate .
More than 190,000 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the virus to date .

Senate GOP COVID-19 Relief Bill Fails; Chances Of Bipartisan Deal Before Election Dim
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Senate Republicans rallied around a $300 billion coronavirus aid package, but it fell short of the necessary 60-vote majority to advance, effectively killing the measure. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican joining Senate Democrats to oppose it — Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., missed the vote.
The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell-led proposal is the first measure to secure the support of most Senate Republicans, who have been divided for months over how much and how far to go with a new wave of pandemic relief. The bill was far short of the $3 trillion-plus aid package that House Democrats approved in May.
The Republican bill included more money for a popular small-business loan program, a scaled-back version of an expanded unemployment benefit, funding for schools and the U.S. Postal Service, and liability lawsuit protections for businesses, schools and health care providers.
Republicans knew the bill would fail, but Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters that it was in part a strategic move to show the GOP had a unified position that "puts pressure on Democrats to come to the table and to make a deal."
Democratic leaders preemptively rejected the Senate GOP bill. "Don't be misled by thinking: 'Oh, well, a little bit is better than nothing.' No, it isn't," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC. "It's a missed opportunity to do what is right for the American people."
Thursday's failed vote could be the last official act of Congress on a coronavirus relief bill before Election Day. Negotiations between Congress and the White House have been deadlocked for weeks over the cost of the relief package. Democrats want at least $2 trillion, which the Trump administration rejects as unnecessary overreach.
There is only one must-pass bill on the agenda this month, a stopgap measure to keep the government running by the Sept. 30 deadline for the end of the fiscal year. However, Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the lead negotiators in COVID-19 talks, have ruled out attaching pandemic relief to the funding measure. A stopgap measure is likely to last into early December.
"COVID would not meet that definition, and those negotiations are separate from this," Pelosi told reporters Thursday.
The gridlock is in stark contrast to how previous relief bills totaling about $3 trillion sailed through Congress earlier this year with little protest or debate.
More than 190,000 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the virus to date.


npr--2020-09-10--Huge Fire At Beirut's Port Causes Panic Following Last Month's Explosion

Huge Fire At Beirut 's Port Causes Panic Following Last Month 's Explosion In Lebanon , a huge fire at Beirut 's port has blackened skies and sent waves of panic through the devastated city , which is still reeling from last month 's massive explosion in the same area that killed nearly 200 people and injured thousands more .
By early evening local time Thursday , the fire was said to be `` under control '' by caretaker Public Works Minister Michel Najjar , who is in charge of overseeing the port , according to local media .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tires in the port 's duty-free zone , according to the Lebanese army , and military helicopters were called in to help extinguish the flames .
Video posted on social media showed smoke blanketing nearly all of Beirut .
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross , George Kettaneh , told local media that authorities did not fear another explosion due to the fire .
But as the flames spread , terrified port workers reportedly sprinted away from the scene , fearing a repeat blast .
Some Beirut residents told NPR that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for the evacuation of citizens from the port and its surrounding roads , and Kettaneh warned that people should wear masks and close their windows .
Save the Children said in a statement that the fire could have a significant impact on children 's physical and mental health so soon after August 's blast .
`` Children in Beirut have experienced a terrible shock , and they need time to recover ; today 's fire and panic will only make things worse , '' said Jennifer Moorehead , Save the Children 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion on Aug. 4 started as a fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored haphazardly for years in Beirut 's port .
It later emerged that high-ranking politicians and government employees had been aware of the massive amount of explosives but did not address the issue .
It was n't immediately clear what ignited the fire Thursday .
Port director Bassem al-Qaisi told local media that it is `` too early '' to know the cause , and Lebanese Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat has called on security forces to conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caretaker public works minister , told local media that sparks from welding at the warehouse might be the cause .
It is also thought to be what sparked last month 's fire that caused the explosion , damaging thousands of buildings in Beirut .
Just last week , more than 4 tons of ammonium nitrate were discovered in the port during an official inspection .
It was removed but stoked anxieties among residents that any fire at the badly damaged port could trigger another blast .
Earlier this month , a surge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had detected something miraculous — possible signs of life in the rubble of a building nearly a month after the blast .
Sadly , after three days of careful digging , the rescue team concluded there was no survivor to be found .

Huge Fire At Beirut's Port Causes Panic Following Last Month's Explosion
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hussein Malla/AP Hussein Malla/AP
In Lebanon, a huge fire at Beirut's port has blackened skies and sent waves of panic through the devastated city, which is still reeling from last month's massive explosion in the same area that killed nearly 200 people and injured thousands more.
By early evening local time Thursday, the fire was said to be "under control" by caretaker Public Works Minister Michel Najjar, who is in charge of overseeing the port, according to local media.
The fire erupted at a warehouse storing oil and tires in the port's duty-free zone, according to the Lebanese army, and military helicopters were called in to help extinguish the flames. Video posted on social media showed smoke blanketing nearly all of Beirut.
The head of the Lebanese Red Cross, George Kettaneh, told local media that authorities did not fear another explosion due to the fire.
But as the flames spread, terrified port workers reportedly sprinted away from the scene, fearing a repeat blast. Some Beirut residents told NPR that they fled the city.
The army called for the evacuation of citizens from the port and its surrounding roads, and Kettaneh warned that people should wear masks and close their windows.
Save the Children said in a statement that the fire could have a significant impact on children's physical and mental health so soon after August's blast.
"Children in Beirut have experienced a terrible shock, and they need time to recover; today's fire and panic will only make things worse," said Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children's country director in Lebanon.
toggle caption Hussein Malla/AP
The catastrophic explosion on Aug. 4 started as a fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored haphazardly for years in Beirut's port. It later emerged that high-ranking politicians and government employees had been aware of the massive amount of explosives but did not address the issue.
It wasn't immediately clear what ignited the fire Thursday. Port director Bassem al-Qaisi told local media that it is "too early" to know the cause, and Lebanese Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat has called on security forces to conduct an immediate investigation.
Najjar, the caretaker public works minister, told local media that sparks from welding at the warehouse might be the cause. It is also thought to be what sparked last month's fire that caused the explosion, damaging thousands of buildings in Beirut.
Just last week, more than 4 tons of ammonium nitrate were discovered in the port during an official inspection. It was removed but stoked anxieties among residents that any fire at the badly damaged port could trigger another blast.
Earlier this month, a surge of hope emerged as rescue teams thought they had detected something miraculous — possible signs of life in the rubble of a building nearly a month after the blast. Sadly, after three days of careful digging, the rescue team concluded there was no survivor to be found.


npr--2020-09-10--Twitter's New Rules Aim To Prevent Confusion Around The 2020 Vote

Twitter 's New Rules Aim To Prevent Confusion Around The 2020 Vote Twitter is putting new restrictions on election-related content , including labeling or removing posts that claim victory before results are official or attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power .
`` We will not permit our service to be abused around civic processes , most importantly elections , '' the company said in a blog post Thursday .
The moves come as pressure is ramping up on social media platforms to halt the spread of misinformation and prevent interference in November 's presidential election , including from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter said it would label or remove `` false or misleading information intended to undermine public confidence in an election or other civic process . ''
That includes attempts to cause confusion about laws and regulations , unverified claims about election rigging and ballot tampering , and interfering with results by `` inciting unlawful conduct to prevent a peaceful transfer of power or orderly succession . ''
The new rules will take effect on Sept. 17 .
`` The goal is to further protect against content that could suppress the vote and help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could compromise the integrity of an election or other civic process , '' the company wrote .
It said any attempt to abuse Twitter around the election `` both foreign and domestic — will be met with strict enforcement of our rules , which are applied equally and judiciously for everyone . ''
A Twitter spokesman said the decision whether to label a post or remove it entirely will depend on how specific the false claim is and whether it is likely to cause real-world harm .
Examples of such harm include encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice or on the wrong day , or not to participate in the census .
Labeled posts will indicate that the claims are disputed and direct users to sources of verified information .
Twitter also reduces their reach on its platform — meaning people are less likely to see labeled posts in their feeds .
Twitter 's announcement comes a week after Facebook said it was tightening its policies , including deleting claims that people will get COVID-19 if they vote and labeling posts attempting to `` delegitimize '' the election outcome .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any new political ads in the week before the election .
Twitter banned political advertising entirely last year .
Executives at both Twitter and Facebook said they are worried about the election and , in particular , the potential for confusion , disruption and even violence if the outcome is not immediately clear , as many experts said is likely because of increased mail-in voting during the pandemic .
`` There 's a lot of opportunities to introduce fear , uncertainty and doubt at strategic moments , '' Yoel Roth , Twitter 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month during a panel discussion on election security .
Both companies have cracked down on foreign interference , including last week removing a campaign linked to Russian state actors who had spread disinformation during the 2016 election .
This time around , the social media companies are also grappling with the spread of domestic misinformation , including from Trump .
Twitter and Facebook have labeled and in a few cases removed recent posts in which the president made false claims about the coronavirus and about voting by mail .
Editor 's note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Twitter's New Rules Aim To Prevent Confusion Around The 2020 Vote
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Twitter is putting new restrictions on election-related content, including labeling or removing posts that claim victory before results are official or attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
"We will not permit our service to be abused around civic processes, most importantly elections," the company said in a blog post Thursday.
The moves come as pressure is ramping up on social media platforms to halt the spread of misinformation and prevent interference in November's presidential election, including from American politicians such as President Trump.
Twitter said it would label or remove "false or misleading information intended to undermine public confidence in an election or other civic process."
That includes attempts to cause confusion about laws and regulations, unverified claims about election rigging and ballot tampering, and interfering with results by "inciting unlawful conduct to prevent a peaceful transfer of power or orderly succession." The new rules will take effect on Sept. 17.
"The goal is to further protect against content that could suppress the vote and help stop the spread of harmful misinformation that could compromise the integrity of an election or other civic process," the company wrote.
It said any attempt to abuse Twitter around the election "both foreign and domestic — will be met with strict enforcement of our rules, which are applied equally and judiciously for everyone."
A Twitter spokesman said the decision whether to label a post or remove it entirely will depend on how specific the false claim is and whether it is likely to cause real-world harm. Examples of such harm include encouraging people not to vote, to vote twice or on the wrong day, or not to participate in the census.
Labeled posts will indicate that the claims are disputed and direct users to sources of verified information. Twitter also reduces their reach on its platform — meaning people are less likely to see labeled posts in their feeds.
Twitter's announcement comes a week after Facebook said it was tightening its policies, including deleting claims that people will get COVID-19 if they vote and labeling posts attempting to "delegitimize" the election outcome.
Facebook said it will also not accept any new political ads in the week before the election. Twitter banned political advertising entirely last year.
Executives at both Twitter and Facebook said they are worried about the election and, in particular, the potential for confusion, disruption and even violence if the outcome is not immediately clear, as many experts said is likely because of increased mail-in voting during the pandemic.
"There's a lot of opportunities to introduce fear, uncertainty and doubt at strategic moments," Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of site integrity, said last month during a panel discussion on election security.
Both companies have cracked down on foreign interference, including last week removing a campaign linked to Russian state actors who had spread disinformation during the 2016 election.
This time around, the social media companies are also grappling with the spread of domestic misinformation, including from Trump. Twitter and Facebook have labeled and in a few cases removed recent posts in which the president made false claims about the coronavirus and about voting by mail.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-09-10--At Least 7 People Killed In West Coast Wildfires; Some 500,000 Evacuated In Oregon

At Least 7 People Killed In West Coast Wildfires ; Some 500,000 Evacuated In Oregon At least seven people have died in wildfires that are raging in Oregon , California and Washington state , adding to the horrible toll from record-setting fires in 2020 .
In Oregon , some 500,000 people have had to evacuate , and that number is expected to grow .
State emergency management officials are encouraging residents affected by the fires to register on a Red Cross website to help with search efforts .
Gov .
Kate Brown said on Thursday evening that fires are burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` To put that into perspective , over the last 10 years , an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year , '' Brown said .
`` We 've seen nearly double that in 3 days . ''
On Wednesday , she warned of what could be `` the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfires '' in Oregon 's history .
The director of the state 's Office of Emergency Management said the number and severity of the fires have `` tapped out '' statewide resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency management agencies across the country for assistance .
And air quality is `` taking a dive '' due to thick smoke from the fires , according to the National Weather Service in Portland .
It said visibility is down to less than 1 mile in some areas , and poor air quality is expected to last through the weekend .
Large parts of the West Coast were under warnings for elevated fire weather threats Thursday , but there could soon be a measure of relief as forecasts call for a decrease in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gusty winds over the West are expected to weaken by the weekend , '' the National Weather Service says .
Even so , the agency adds , high temperatures and low humidity will still pose a threat .
The seven confirmed deaths are three people in Oregon , three in California and one in Washington state .
The Almeda Drive Fire in southern Oregon , which devastated the towns of Phoenix and Talent , caused at least one death , Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler said .
The body was found near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause of death is under criminal investigation , '' Jefferson Public Radio reports .
Two other people died in Marion County , `` where a complex of fires has burned whole canyons east of the Willamette River , '' Oregon Public Broadcasting reports .
Those victims were a boy , 13 , and his grandmother , the Salem Statesman Journal reports .
The boy 's mother is in critical condition at a Portland hospital , the newspaper says .
A 1-year-old died in the Cold Springs Fire in northern Washington state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The boy was killed as his family tried to reach safer ground , according to KXLY-TV .
His parents were reportedly hospitalized with severe burns .
In California , three people died as the fast-growing Bear Fire forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes in Yuba and Butte counties , according to Capital Public Radio .
Local officials did not offer details about those deaths when they initially announced them .
Evacuation orders include part of Paradise – the community devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018 .
Nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedy this week .
`` People said , 'Oh , our tires were melting , you know , and just scared to death and getting burned , ' `` Pamela Newton tells Capital Public Radio .
`` And that 's all I could think about . ''
Other people who live near Lake Oroville described fleeing the small town of Berry Creek in the middle of the night , driving through a corridor of burning houses as ash rained down from the sky .
Before they left , many of them tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I left the sprinklers on the roof when I left , '' Ron Elms tells Capital Public Radio .
`` I left the generator on .
I did everything I could to save it .
So we 'll just see . ''
California has already seen more than 2.5 million acres burn this year — a record dating back at least three decades to when the state started tracking the statistic .
In a normal season , an average of 300,000 acres would likely burn .
According to the California Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cal Fire , `` 2020 has already taken the number one spot for acres burned and there are still several months to go '' in the fire season .
Wildfires in Oregon and Washington have burned more than 900,000 acres , the Bureau of Land Management said .
Two new large fires have emerged in Oregon , the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said in its update Thursday morning , adding to the misery in an area that also saw `` significant growth '' among the fires already burning in western Oregon 's valleys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to approve her request for a major disaster declaration for Oregon .
Dozens of unpredictable and large fires over such a large geographic area has strained firefighting resources .
While some neighboring states have pitched in to help , the effort has become international .
`` Federal fire managers say Canadian and Mexican fire crews are now helping out on the West Coast , '' NPR 's Kirk Siegler reports .
`` And the agency is requesting more help in the form of 10 hand crews from the U.S .
military .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the winds drop , which would be welcome news along the coast but less so in inland areas — as the massive banks of smoke that have accrued along the Pacific coast would start to move eastward .
A low-level wind pattern has been driving smoke to the west for several days , blanketing cities such as Seattle and San Francisco with an eerie , orange haze .
As the wind direction shifts , `` smoke from the wildfires may waft and settle inland , '' the NWS says .

At Least 14 People Killed In West Coast Wildfires; Some 500,000 Evacuated In Oregon
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kathryn Elsesser/AFP via Getty Images Kathryn Elsesser/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 10:37 p.m. ET
At least 14 people have died in wildfires that are raging in Oregon, California and Washington state, adding to the horrible toll from record-setting fires in 2020.
The latest report of fatalities came from northern California on Thursday evening. Capt. Derek Bell of the Butte County Sheriff's Office said at a briefing that authorities had discovered seven bodies, bringing the official number of wildfire-related deaths in the state to 10.
Bell said officials are still in the process of investigating the circumstances of the deaths, identifying the individuals and notifying their next of kin.
A team of anthropologists from Chico State University is assisting detectives in the ongoing search for human remains in affected areas, Bell added. Sixteen people in the county are reported missing.
The other confirmed deaths are three people in Oregon and one in Washington state.
In Oregon, some 500,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and that number is expected to grow. State emergency management officials are encouraging residents affected by the fires to register on a Red Cross website to help with search efforts.
Gov. Kate Brown said on Thursday evening that fires are burning more than 900,000 acres across the state.
"To put that into perspective, over the last 10 years, an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year," Brown said. "We've seen nearly double that in 3 days."
On Wednesday, she warned of what could be "the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfires" in Oregon's history.
The director of the state's Office of Emergency Management said the number and severity of the fires have "tapped out" statewide resources, prompting officials to reach out to emergency management agencies across the country for assistance.
And air quality is "taking a dive" due to thick smoke from the fires, according to the National Weather Service in Portland. It said visibility is down to less than 1 mile in some areas, and poor air quality is expected to last through the weekend.
Large parts of the West Coast were under warnings for elevated fire weather threats Thursday, but there could soon be a measure of relief as forecasts call for a decrease in fire-driving winds.
"The strong, gusty winds over the West are expected to weaken by the weekend," the National Weather Service says. Even so, the agency adds, high temperatures and low humidity will still pose a threat.
The Almeda Drive Fire in southern Oregon, which devastated the towns of Phoenix and Talent, caused at least one death, Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler said. The body was found near the fire's point of origin and "the cause of death is under criminal investigation," Jefferson Public Radio reports.
Two other people died in Marion County, "where a complex of fires has burned whole canyons east of the Willamette River," Oregon Public Broadcasting reports. Those victims were a boy, 13, and his grandmother, the Salem Statesman Journal reports. The boy's mother is in critical condition at a Portland hospital, the newspaper says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jed Conklin/AP Jed Conklin/AP
A 1-year-old died in the Cold Springs Fire in northern Washington state, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said in a statement. The boy was killed as his family tried to reach safer ground, according to KXLY-TV. His parents were reportedly hospitalized with severe burns.
In California, three people died as the fast-growing Bear Fire forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes in Yuba and Butte counties, according to Capital Public Radio. Local officials did not offer details about those deaths when they initially announced them.
Evacuation orders include part of Paradise – the community devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018. Nearby residents say they're vividly recalling that tragedy this week.
"People said, 'Oh, our tires were melting, you know, and just scared to death and getting burned,' " Pamela Newton tells Capital Public Radio. "And that's all I could think about."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Other people who live near Lake Oroville described fleeing the small town of Berry Creek in the middle of the night, driving through a corridor of burning houses as ash rained down from the sky. Before they left, many of them tried to give their homes a chance to survive.
"I left the sprinklers on the roof when I left," Ron Elms tells Capital Public Radio. "I left the generator on. I did everything I could to save it. So we'll just see."
California has already seen more than 2.5 million acres burn this year — a record dating back at least three decades to when the state started tracking the statistic. In a normal season, an average of 300,000 acres would likely burn.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, "2020 has already taken the number one spot for acres burned and there are still several months to go" in the fire season.
Wildfires in Oregon and Washington have burned more than 900,000 acres, the Bureau of Land Management said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Selsky/AP Andrew Selsky/AP
Two new large fires have emerged in Oregon, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said in its update Thursday morning, adding to the misery in an area that also saw "significant growth" among the fires already burning in western Oregon's valleys.
Gov. Brown has asked President Trump to approve her request for a major disaster declaration for Oregon.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP via Getty Images Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP via Getty Images
Dozens of unpredictable and large fires over such a large geographic area has strained firefighting resources. While some neighboring states have pitched in to help, the effort has become international.
"Federal fire managers say Canadian and Mexican fire crews are now helping out on the West Coast," NPR's Kirk Siegler reports. "And the agency is requesting more help in the form of 10 hand crews from the U.S. military."
Those crews might get a break if the winds drop, which would be welcome news along the coast but less so in inland areas — as the massive banks of smoke that have accrued along the Pacific coast would start to move eastward.
A low-level wind pattern has been driving smoke to the west for several days, blanketing cities such as Seattle and San Francisco with an eerie, orange haze. As the wind direction shifts, "smoke from the wildfires may waft and settle inland," the NWS says.


npr--2020-09-10--Author Traces What Happened To WWII's 'Last Million' Displaced People

Author Traces What Happened To WWII 's 'Last Million ' Displaced People When Allied troops entered Germany at the end of World War II , they were astounded to learn that more than 6 million people had been stranded in the fallen Reich after the war .
`` The number of homeless , shelterless , starving civilians [ in Germany ] was overwhelming , '' historian David Nasaw says .
Among the displaced persons were Allied prisoners of war , Jewish survivors of concentration camps and forced laborers from conquered lands who had been brought in by the Nazis to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few months , most of them were able to return to their homelands , but about a million people refused to go home — or had no home to return to .
Nasaw writes about the remaining group in his new book , The Last Million .
He notes that the six-year effort to house displaced persons in camps and eventually find them new countries to settle in proved to be a torturous and politically charged journey at a time when most of the world wanted to forget about the war and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` From 1947 on , the nations of the world began to accept for resettlement displaced persons — Latvians , Estonians , Poles , Yugoslavs — but they would not welcome the Jews , '' he says .
`` Until America opened its doors to Jewish displaced persons , no nation on Earth was willing to do so . ''
But U.S. acceptance of displaced persons — especially Jews — was severely restricted .
And Nasaw says that the postwar resettlement effort set a pattern for the 21st-century refugee crisis .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last million refugees after World War II was that nationalist concerns and political concerns always overruled humanitarian concerns , '' he says .
`` In a funny way , the results for the last million were much more promising than the results for the refugees who came after them . ''
On how so many people from Slavic nations came to be in Germany There were three major routes into Germany during the war : The earliest [ in ] were the forced laborers , the slave laborers , the guest laborers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on business without millions of what Hitler would call `` subhuman workers . ''
With millions and millions of soldiers at first on the Eastern Front , someone was needed to tend the fields , to work in the factories , and those people were — most of them forcibly — taken up and deported from Poland , from Yugoslavia , from the Ukraine into Germany , to be forced laborers , slave laborers , to work at little or no wages to sustain the Reich until the war was finished .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The second route into Germany comes at the end of the war in 1944 , 1945 .
There were tens of thousands of Baltic citizens , citizens of what had been Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania , and after the German occupation , they had , in one way or another , collaborated with the occupiers , and when it became clear that the Germans were going to be defeated , that the Red Army was approaching , thousands of these Estonians , Latvians and Lithuanians crossed with the retreating German army back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreigners were the Jews from the concentration camps .
Hitler realized and the Reich officials realized in 1944 , in 1945 , that the Red Army was approaching .
And they emptied out the concentration camps and the death camps in Poland and the Baltic regions , and they transported , on what became death marches , thousands upon thousands of Jewish survivors back into Germany .
The goal was not to bring them to safety in Germany but to work them to death in underground factories in Germany , rather than gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ukrainians were eventually kidnapped and deported to be slave laborers in Germany In the beginning of the war ... some Poles and some Ukrainians ... [ believed ] that Germany would eventually win the war .
And they also knew that until the war was over , Poland and the Ukraine under German occupation were impoverished , barely survivable environments .
Why not go to Germany ?
Why not be on the victor 's side ?
Why not make money for your family and live a better life there ?
What happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going from Poland and Ukraine on what was supposed to be six-month contracts , word circled back to Poland and to the Ukraine , to the hometowns of these volunteers , that they were being viciously mistreated .
And after the six months passed and no one came back to Poland or the Ukraine , all voluntary relocation stopped .
And from that point on , German labor officials threatened , kidnapped [ and ] involuntarily deported the greatest number of Poles , Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans not as guest laborers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened when Polish Jews tried to return home to Poland The bulk of Polish Jews who survived the war survived it because as soon as the Germans came , they snuck across the borders into the Soviet Union , and the Soviets , who needed laborers to fight the war , moved these Jews into the far reaches of the Asiatic parts of the Soviet Union , where they were put to work and they worked through the war .
When the war was over , the Soviets said , OK , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplied a quarter-million Jews with transportation back to Poland .
When they arrived in Poland , these Jews were horrified at the anti-Semitism they found .
They were not the only Polish Jews ; large numbers of survivors of the camps who ended the war in Germany , as soon as they were able to walk , walked , tried to get on trains , find rides on trucks to go back to their hometowns to find out if anybody had survived .
Other Jews came out of hiding , and they returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if family had survived .
And they , too , were horrified at the anti-Semitism .
The Jewish Poles who had come out of the Soviet Union , who had returned from Germany when the war was over , the survivors realized that their only hope for the future lay in the American zone of Germany in the displaced persons camps there .
On the difficulty Jews faced when trying to immigrate to the U.S .
It took three years for Congress to accept any displaced persons into the United States .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first displaced persons law , but the law is written in such a way as to restrict visas or to prohibit visas for 90 % of the quarter-million Jews .
The law is written that if you 're not in Germany on VE Day , you ca n't get a visa .
And a large number of the Jews were not there on VE Day , because they were in the Soviet Union or in Poland or in hiding .
...
The law was passed , and the law was written in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who held the power in Congress in 1948 after a Republican victory in 1946 .
They did not want the Jews to enter the United States , and they said it was not simple anti-Semitism .
It was a Cold War stratagem .
The opponents of Jewish migration said we ca n't trust the Jews .
Why ?
Because they 're Polish or they had spent time in the Soviet Union , and large numbers of them are probably communist sympathizers or communist operatives , and we ca n't let them into this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that made it almost impossible for the Jews to come in , because they were [ alleged ] communists , had no such safeguards against Nazi war criminals and Nazi collaborators — many of whom did enter the country under the provisions of the Displaced Persons Act .
Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview .
Bridget Bentz , Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web .

Author Traces What Happened To WWII's 'Last Million' Displaced People
Enlarge this image toggle caption Werner Kreusch/AP Photo Werner Kreusch/AP Photo
When Allied troops entered Germany at the end of World War II, they were astounded to learn that more than 6 million people had been stranded in the fallen Reich after the war.
"The number of homeless, shelterless, starving civilians [in Germany] was overwhelming," historian David Nasaw says.
Among the displaced persons were Allied prisoners of war, Jewish survivors of concentration camps and forced laborers from conquered lands who had been brought in by the Nazis to fuel the German war effort. Within a few months, most of them were able to return to their homelands, but about a million people refused to go home — or had no home to return to.
Nasaw writes about the remaining group in his new book, The Last Million. He notes that the six-year effort to house displaced persons in camps and eventually find them new countries to settle in proved to be a torturous and politically charged journey at a time when most of the world wanted to forget about the war and people wanted to rebuild their own lives.
"From 1947 on, the nations of the world began to accept for resettlement displaced persons — Latvians, Estonians, Poles, Yugoslavs — but they would not welcome the Jews," he says. "Until America opened its doors to Jewish displaced persons, no nation on Earth was willing to do so."
But U.S. acceptance of displaced persons — especially Jews — was severely restricted. And Nasaw says that the postwar resettlement effort set a pattern for the 21st-century refugee crisis.
"What I discovered for the case of the last million refugees after World War II was that nationalist concerns and political concerns always overruled humanitarian concerns," he says. "In a funny way, the results for the last million were much more promising than the results for the refugees who came after them."
Interview Highlights
Enlarge this image toggle caption Penguin Random House Penguin Random House
On how so many people from Slavic nations came to be in Germany
There were three major routes into Germany during the war: The earliest [in] were the forced laborers, the slave laborers, the guest laborers. Germany could not afford to carry on business without millions of what Hitler would call "subhuman workers." With millions and millions of soldiers at first on the Eastern Front, someone was needed to tend the fields, to work in the factories, and those people were — most of them forcibly — taken up and deported from Poland, from Yugoslavia, from the Ukraine into Germany, to be forced laborers, slave laborers, to work at little or no wages to sustain the Reich until the war was finished. So that's the first round in.
The second route into Germany comes at the end of the war in 1944, 1945. There were tens of thousands of Baltic citizens, citizens of what had been Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and after the German occupation, they had, in one way or another, collaborated with the occupiers, and when it became clear that the Germans were going to be defeated, that the Red Army was approaching, thousands of these Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians crossed with the retreating German army back into Germany.
The third stream of foreigners were the Jews from the concentration camps. Hitler realized and the Reich officials realized in 1944, in 1945, that the Red Army was approaching. And they emptied out the concentration camps and the death camps in Poland and the Baltic regions, and they transported, on what became death marches, thousands upon thousands of Jewish survivors back into Germany. The goal was not to bring them to safety in Germany but to work them to death in underground factories in Germany, rather than gas them in Poland.
On how Poles and Ukrainians were eventually kidnapped and deported to be slave laborers in Germany
In the beginning of the war ... some Poles and some Ukrainians ... [believed] that Germany would eventually win the war. And they also knew that until the war was over, Poland and the Ukraine under German occupation were impoverished, barely survivable environments. Why not go to Germany? Why not be on the victor's side? Why not make money for your family and live a better life there? What happened was within months of the first volunteers going from Poland and Ukraine on what was supposed to be six-month contracts, word circled back to Poland and to the Ukraine, to the hometowns of these volunteers, that they were being viciously mistreated. And after the six months passed and no one came back to Poland or the Ukraine, all voluntary relocation stopped. And from that point on, German labor officials threatened, kidnapped [and] involuntarily deported the greatest number of Poles, Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans not as guest laborers, but as slave laborers.
On what happened when Polish Jews tried to return home to Poland
The bulk of Polish Jews who survived the war survived it because ... [they crossed] into the Soviet Union, and the Soviets, who needed laborers to fight the war, moved these Jews into the far reaches of the Asiatic parts of the Soviet Union, where they were put to work and they worked through the war. When the war was over, the Soviets said, OK, you can go home now. And they supplied a quarter-million Jews with transportation back to Poland.
When they arrived in Poland, these Jews were horrified at the anti-Semitism they found. They were not the only Polish Jews; large numbers of survivors of the camps who ended the war in Germany, as soon as they were able to walk, walked, tried to get on trains, find rides on trucks to go back to their hometowns to find out if anybody had survived. Other Jews came out of hiding, and they returned to their hometowns to try to see if family had survived. And they, too, were horrified at the anti-Semitism. The Jewish Poles who had come out of the Soviet Union, who had returned from Germany when the war was over, the survivors realized that their only hope for the future lay in the American zone of Germany in the displaced persons camps there.
On the difficulty Jews faced when trying to immigrate to the U.S.
It took three years for Congress to accept any displaced persons into the United States. In June of 1948, Congress passes its first displaced persons law, but the law is written in such a way as to restrict visas or to prohibit visas for 90% of the quarter-million Jews. The law is written that if you're not in Germany on VE Day, you can't get a visa. And a large number of the Jews were not there on VE Day, because they were in the Soviet Union or in Poland or in hiding. ...
The law was passed, and the law was written in large part by Midwestern Republicans and Southern Democrats who held the power in Congress in 1948 after a Republican victory in 1946. They did not want the Jews to enter the United States, and they said it was not simple anti-Semitism. It was a Cold War stratagem. The opponents of Jewish migration said we can't trust the Jews. Why? Because they're Polish or they had spent time in the Soviet Union, and large numbers of them are probably communist sympathizers or communist operatives, and we can't let them into this country.
The law that was passed that made it almost impossible for the Jews to come in, because they were [alleged] communists, had no such safeguards against Nazi war criminals and Nazi collaborators — many of whom did enter the country under the provisions of the Displaced Persons Act.
Sam Briger and Thea Chaloner produced and edited the audio of this interview. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Meghan Sullivan adapted it for the Web.