npr--2020-10-15--A Disturbing Twinkie That Has, So Far, Defied Science

A Disturbing Twinkie That Has , So Far , Defied Science He 'd purchased them back in 2012 for sentimental reasons when he heard that Hostess Brands was going bankrupt and Twinkies might disappear forever .
`` When there 's no desserts in the house , you get desperate , '' says Purrington , who went down to the basement and retrieved the old box of snack cakes , fulling intending to enjoy several .
He busted out the Twinkies now , instead of waiting a couple more years , in part because he was `` just so bored , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's terrible , but it just is mind-numbing after a while . ''
Like many people , Purrington believed Twinkies are basically immortal , although the official shelf life is 45 days .
He removed a Twinkie from the box , unwrapped it — it looked fine — and took a bite .
Then he retched .
`` It tasted like old sock , '' Purrington says .
`` Not that I 've ever eaten old sock . ''
That 's when he examined the other Twinkies .
Two looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size of a quarter .
The other Twinkie was completely transformed — it was gray , shrunken and wrinkly , like a dried morel mushroom .
He posted photos on Twitter , and they caught the attention of two scientists : Brian Lovett and Matt Kasson , who study fungi at West Virginia University in Morgantown .
`` Matt is going to want that Twinkie , '' thought Lovett , the instant he saw the mummified one .
That 's because , in the past , their lab has tested how well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easter treat .
Fungi actually found it difficult to survive on Peeps , because of the food 's low water content .
`` In a way , they are kind of like an extreme environment , right ? ''
Kasson notes .
`` The food industry has crafted the ability to make foods that have a long shelf life . ''
Still , Kasson says , fungi are everywhere and have an amazing set of chemical tools that let them break down all kinds of substances .
`` You find fungi growing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The researchers immediately thought some kind of fungus was involved in attacking the 8-year-old Twinkies , because they 've studied fungi that kill insects and dry them out in a similar way .
Plus , the reddish blotch on one Twinkie seemed to have a growth pattern that 's typical of fungi .
They reached out to Purrington , who was only too happy to mail them the Twinkies immediately .
`` Science is a collaborative sport , '' he says .
`` If someone can take this and figure out what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I really want to know what species exactly was eating my Twinkies . ''
The Twinkies arrived at the lab , and the researchers got to work .
They noticed that the wrapping on the mummified Twinkie seemed to be sucked inward , suggesting that the fungus got in before the package was sealed and , while the fungus was consuming the Twinkie , it was using up more air or oxygen than it was putting out .
`` You end up with a vacuum , '' Lovett says .
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fungus 's ability to continue to grow .
We just have the snapshot of what we were sent , but who knows if this process occurred five years ago and he just only noticed it now . ''
Lovett had expected a horrific smell to hit them when they opened the snack cakes .
`` I though the smell would possibly kill one of us , but because of the mummification there really was no smell at all , '' he says , `` which was really a pleasant surprise . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed fungal sporulation on both the marred and mummified Twinkies , again suggesting the involvement of fungi .
The researchers used a bone marrow biopsy tool to sort of drill through the tough outer layer of the gray , mummified Twinkie .
`` We certainly hit the marrow of the Twinkie and quickly realized that there was still some cream filling on the inside , '' Kasson says .
Hitting the soft interior was unexpected — they 'd thought it would be hard all the way through .
`` It seems that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the outside than the filling on the inside , '' Lovett says .
They first put their little Twinkie samples in lab dishes with nutrients commonly used to grow fungi .
Their scientific control was bits of an `` asymptomatic '' Twinkie from the same box .
From the Twinkie marked with just a dark circle of mold , they were able to grow up a species of Cladosporium .
`` Cladosporium is one of the most common , airborne , indoor molds worldwide , '' says Kasson , who cautions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confirm the species .
So far , however , no fungi have grown from the sample taken out of the mummified Twinkie .
`` It may be that we do n't have any living spores despite this wonderful , rare event that we 've witnessed , '' Lovett says .
`` Spores certainly die , and depending on the fungus , they can die very quickly . ''
They 're not giving up , though .
They 'll fill lab dishes with all kinds of sweet concoctions to try to coax something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mummy .
`` We enjoy the challenge of trying to culture fungi , '' Kasson says .
Purrington , meanwhile , has reflected on his Twinkie experience .
While his father had no objection to eating moldy foods , he recalls , his mother generally treated `` sell-by '' dates with more respect .
`` I 'm more with my mom on expiration dates now , '' Purrington says .
`` I think if you 're browsing baked goods at the store , if you get the freshest one , it 's probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to a Twinkie for eight years is not that long in the grand scheme of things .
At the George Stevens Academy in Maine , for example , there 's a Twinkie that 's been around since a science teacher started an observational experiment in 1976 .
That Twinkie currently resides in the office of Libby Rosemeier , who reports that it `` sits in a little glass and wood display case much like the shield on my desk that is necessary because of the pandemic . ''
The venerable Twinkie will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she says , when she retires at the end of this school year .
It 's safe and sound for now , but nothing lasts forever — not Twinkies , and not people .
Perhaps that 's why folks are so fascinated with the shriveled , mummified Twinkie , which offers such a harsh contrast to the golden sponge cake icon that lives in their memories .
`` When those memories are tainted by a visual reality like the Twinkie experiment , we are kind of caught off guard , '' Kasson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no , that 's a symbol of my childhood !
You ca n't take that from me , too . '
'' Lovett agrees .
`` We 're living in a time where we 're all really grappling with our mortality , '' he says .
`` Eventually , all of us are food for fungi .
Seeing that is sort of facing the reality of our mortality and our destination . ''

A Disturbing Twinkie That Has, So Far, Defied Science
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Kasson Matt Kasson
Last week, craving sweets, Colin Purrington remembered the Twinkies.
He'd purchased them back in 2012 for sentimental reasons when he heard that Hostess Brands was going bankrupt and Twinkies might disappear forever.
"When there's no desserts in the house, you get desperate," says Purrington, who went down to the basement and retrieved the old box of snack cakes, fully intending to enjoy several.
He busted out the Twinkies now, instead of waiting a couple more years, in part because he was "just so bored, with the pandemic," Purrington says. "It's terrible, but it just is mind-numbing after a while."
Like many people, Purrington believed Twinkies are basically immortal, although the official shelf life is 45 days. He removed a Twinkie from the box, unwrapped it — it looked fine — and took a bite. Then he retched.
"It tasted like old sock," Purrington says. "Not that I've ever eaten old sock."
That's when he examined the other Twinkies. Two looked weird. One had a dark-colored blemish the size of a quarter. The other Twinkie was completely transformed — it was gray, shrunken and wrinkly, like a dried morel mushroom.
He posted photos on Twitter, and they caught the attention of two scientists: Brian Lovett and Matt Kasson, who study fungi at West Virginia University in Morgantown.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Colin Purrington Colin Purrington
"Matt is going to want that Twinkie," thought Lovett, the instant he saw the mummified one.
That's because, in the past, their lab has tested how well molds grow in Peeps, the classic Easter treat. Fungi actually found it difficult to survive on Peeps, because of the food's low water content. "In a way, they are kind of like an extreme environment, right?" Kasson notes. "The food industry has crafted the ability to make foods that have a long shelf life."
Still, Kasson says, fungi are everywhere and have an amazing set of chemical tools that let them break down all kinds of substances. "You find fungi growing on jet fuel," he says.
The researchers immediately thought some kind of fungus was involved in attacking the 8-year-old Twinkies, because they've studied fungi that kill insects and dry them out in a similar way. Plus, the reddish blotch on one Twinkie seemed to have a growth pattern that's typical of fungi.
They reached out to Purrington, who was only too happy to mail them the Twinkies immediately. "Science is a collaborative sport," he says. "If someone can take this and figure out what was actually growing, I'm all in. I really want to know what species exactly was eating my Twinkies."
The Twinkies arrived at the lab, and the researchers got to work.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Colin Purrington Colin Purrington
They noticed that the wrapping on the mummified Twinkie seemed to be sucked inward, suggesting that the fungus got in before the package was sealed and, while the fungus was consuming the Twinkie, it was using up more air or oxygen than it was putting out.
"You end up with a vacuum," Lovett says. "And very well that vacuum may have halted the fungus's ability to continue to grow. We just have the snapshot of what we were sent, but who knows if this process occurred five years ago and he just only noticed it now."
Lovett had expected a horrific smell to hit them when they opened the snack cakes. "I though the smell would possibly kill one of us, but because of the mummification there really was no smell at all," he says, "which was really a pleasant surprise."
A quick examination with a magnifying scope revealed fungal sporulation on both the marred and mummified Twinkies, again suggesting the involvement of fungi.
The severely colonized cake was quite challenging to sample. Thanks to a bone marrow biopsy tool, we made quick work of it! pic.twitter.com/IYik3iWPvb — Matt Kasson (@kasson_wvu) October 8, 2020
The researchers used a bone marrow biopsy tool to sort of drill through the tough outer layer of the gray, mummified Twinkie. "We certainly hit the marrow of the Twinkie and quickly realized that there was still some cream filling on the inside," Kasson says.
Hitting the soft interior was unexpected — they'd thought it would be hard all the way through. "It seems that the fungus was more interested in the cake on the outside than the filling on the inside," Lovett says.
They first put their little Twinkie samples in lab dishes with nutrients commonly used to grow fungi. Their scientific control was bits of an "asymptomatic" Twinkie from the same box.
From the Twinkie marked with just a dark circle of mold, they were able to grow up a species of Cladosporium. "Cladosporium is one of the most common, airborne, indoor molds worldwide," says Kasson, who cautions that they haven't done a DNA analysis to confirm the species.
So far, however, no fungi have grown from the sample taken out of the mummified Twinkie. "It may be that we don't have any living spores despite this wonderful, rare event that we've witnessed," Lovett says. "Spores certainly die, and depending on the fungus, they can die very quickly."
They're not giving up, though. They'll fill lab dishes with all kinds of sweet concoctions to try to coax something back to life from the mysterious Twinkie mummy. "We enjoy the challenge of trying to culture fungi," Kasson says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Kasson Matt Kasson
Purrington, meanwhile, has reflected on his Twinkie experience. While his father had no objection to eating moldy foods, he recalls, his mother generally treated "sell-by" dates with more respect.
"I'm more with my mom on expiration dates now," Purrington says. "I think if you're browsing baked goods at the store, if you get the freshest one, it's probably going to taste better."
A cross-section of the dead Twinkie! 😂 pic.twitter.com/GjihFAlFiF — Matt Kasson (@kasson_wvu) October 8, 2020
Holding on to a Twinkie for eight years is not that long in the grand scheme of things. At the George Stevens Academy in Maine, for example, there's a Twinkie that's been around since a science teacher started an observational experiment in 1976.
That Twinkie currently resides in the office of Libby Rosemeier, who reports that it "sits in a little glass and wood display case much like the shield on my desk that is necessary because of the pandemic." The venerable Twinkie will be given back to the science department, she says, when she retires at the end of this school year.
It's safe and sound for now, but nothing lasts forever — not Twinkies, and not people.
Perhaps that's why folks are so fascinated with the shriveled, mummified Twinkie, which offers such a harsh contrast to the golden sponge cake icon that lives in their memories.
"When those memories are tainted by a visual reality like the Twinkie experiment, we are kind of caught off guard," Kasson says. "We're like, no, that's a symbol of my childhood! You can't take that from me, too.'"
Lovett agrees. "We're living in a time where we're all really grappling with our mortality," he says. "Eventually, all of us are food for fungi. Seeing that is sort of facing the reality of our mortality and our destination."


npr--2020-10-15--Kyrgyzstan's President Resigns Amid Turmoil Following Disputed Election

The president of the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan resigned Thursday , after 10 days of unrest sparked by disputed parliamentary elections .
As protesters closed in on his residence , Sooronbay Jeenbekov abruptly stepped down , saying nothing was dearer to him than the life of each of his compatriots .
`` I 'm not clinging to power .
I do n't want to go down in Kyrgyzstan 's history as the president who spilled blood and shot at his own citizens , '' Jeenbekov said in a statement posted on the presidential website .
Jeenbekov is the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uprising since Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991 .
Unlike the other four Central Asian countries that emerged from the Soviet Union , Kyrgyzstan , with a population of 6.5 million , has a pluralistic , if chaotic , political life linked to its strong clan-based traditions .
The landlocked , mountainous country , which borders China , hosts a Russian air base and receives millions in financial aid from the Kremlin .
For more than a decade , the United States also operated an air base in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2014 under pressure from Russia .
The current turmoil in Kyrgyzstan centers on domestic rivalries .
The chaos began with protests against vote-buying in an Oct. 4 parliamentary election .
Even after the authorities nullified the vote , the unrest continued , with one person killed and hundreds injured in clashes in the capital , Bishkek .
Supporters of a jailed former lawmaker , Sadyr Japarov , sprung him from prison , where he was serving a sentence for for kidnapping a local governor .
When Prime Minister Kuratbek Boronov resigned last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and an opening for Japarov .
Jeenbekov accepted Japarov as the new prime minister earlier this week .
But Japarov insisted that the president step down immediately — and not , as Jeenbekov suggested , once the situation had stabilized .
After Jeenbekov resigned , the speaker of parliament , next in line for the presidency , reportedly declined to take office .
Japarov told supporters in Bishkek that he was assuming the powers of the presidency , according to the order of succession .
The Kremlin has been watching these developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has met frequently with Jeenbekov , a veteran politician who last visited Moscow at the end of September .
Russia hosts hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz migrant workers , and Bishkek is tied to Moscow through economic and defense pacts .
Earlier this week , Dmitry Kozak , the deputy head of Putin 's administration , met with Jeenbekov and said he played a `` key role '' in the country 's stable development .
Following Jeenbekov 's resignation , Putin 's spokesman said that Russia will freeze financial aid to Kyrgyzstan until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government starts working .

Kyrgyzstan's President Resigns Amid Turmoil Following Disputed Election
Enlarge this image toggle caption Vladimir Voronin/AP Vladimir Voronin/AP
The president of the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan resigned Thursday, after 10 days of unrest sparked by disputed parliamentary elections.
As protesters closed in on his residence, Sooronbay Jeenbekov abruptly stepped down, saying nothing was dearer to him than the life of each of his compatriots.
"I'm not clinging to power. I don't want to go down in Kyrgyzstan's history as the president who spilled blood and shot at his own citizens," Jeenbekov said in a statement posted on the presidential website.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images
Jeenbekov is the third president to be overthrown in a popular uprising since Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991. Unlike the other four Central Asian countries that emerged from the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan, with a population of 6.5 million, has a pluralistic, if chaotic, political life linked to its strong clan-based traditions.
The landlocked, mountainous country, which borders China, hosts a Russian air base and receives millions in financial aid from the Kremlin. For more than a decade, the United States also operated an air base in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan, until it was forced to close in 2014 under pressure from Russia.
The current turmoil in Kyrgyzstan centers on domestic rivalries.
The chaos began with protests against vote-buying in an Oct. 4 parliamentary election. Even after the authorities nullified the vote, the unrest continued, with one person killed and hundreds injured in clashes in the capital, Bishkek.
Supporters of a jailed former lawmaker, Sadyr Japarov, sprung him from prison, where he was serving a sentence for for kidnapping a local governor.
When Prime Minister Kuratbek Boronov resigned last week, it created a political vacuum — and an opening for Japarov.
Jeenbekov accepted Japarov as the new prime minister earlier this week. But Japarov insisted that the president step down immediately — and not, as Jeenbekov suggested, once the situation had stabilized.
After Jeenbekov resigned, the speaker of parliament, next in line for the presidency, reportedly declined to take office. Japarov told supporters in Bishkek that he was assuming the powers of the presidency, according to the order of succession.
The Kremlin has been watching these developments with alarm. Russian President Vladimir Putin has met frequently with Jeenbekov, a veteran politician who last visited Moscow at the end of September.
Russia hosts hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz migrant workers, and Bishkek is tied to Moscow through economic and defense pacts.
Earlier this week, Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of Putin's administration, met with Jeenbekov and said he played a "key role" in the country's stable development.
Following Jeenbekov's resignation, Putin's spokesman said that Russia will freeze financial aid to Kyrgyzstan until the situation calms down and a new government starts working.


npr--2020-10-15--Person Flying With Jetpack Spotted Near Los Angeles International Airport, Again

Person Flying With Jetpack Spotted Near Los Angeles International Airport , Again A person was spotted soaring high above Southern California using a jetpack .
On Wednesday , for the second time in six weeks , an unidentified person was seen flying using a jetpack near Los Angeles International Airport .
It 's unclear whether this is the same individual who was recently spotted wearing a jetpack near the same airport .
This time around , the jetpack was flying 6,000 feet in the air .
China Airlines crew members reported the sighting Wednesday afternoon about 7 miles northwest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NPR .
The Federal Aviation Administration said it `` alerted local law enforcement and will look into the report . ''
The FBI is also investigating `` multiple reports '' from witnesses , FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller told NPR .
No one is allowed to fly in the airspace near airports without authorization from air traffic control , an FAA spokesperson told NPR .
That includes those sporting jetpacks .
On Aug. 30 , two airline pilots reported a person flying with a jetpack at about 3,000 feet near LAX , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a guy in a jetpack , '' a pilot told an air traffic controller on Aug. 30 .
The controller went on to inform another pilot and could n't help commenting on the strangeness of the situation : Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

Person Flying With Jetpack Spotted Near Los Angeles International Airport, Again
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
A person was spotted soaring high above Southern California using a jetpack.
Again.
On Wednesday, for the second time in six weeks, an unidentified person was seen flying using a jetpack near Los Angeles International Airport. It's unclear whether this is the same individual who was recently spotted wearing a jetpack near the same airport.
This time around, the jetpack was flying 6,000 feet in the air.
China Airlines crew members reported the sighting Wednesday afternoon about 7 miles northwest of the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration told NPR.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it "alerted local law enforcement and will look into the report." The FBI is also investigating "multiple reports" from witnesses, FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller told NPR.
No one is allowed to fly in the airspace near airports without authorization from air traffic control, an FAA spokesperson told NPR. That includes those sporting jetpacks.
On Aug. 30, two airline pilots reported a person flying with a jetpack at about 3,000 feet near LAX, according to the FAA.
"We just passed a guy in a jetpack," a pilot told an air traffic controller on Aug. 30.
The controller went on to inform another pilot and couldn't help commenting on the strangeness of the situation:
"Only in LA."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-15--Poll: Biden Takes Double-Digit Lead Over Trump

With less than three weeks to go until Election Day , Democrat Joe Biden has taken a double-digit lead over President Trump , according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll .
The former vice president leads Trump 54 % to 43 % among likely voters in the poll .
It 's the highest level of support Biden has achieved since the poll began testing the head-to-head matchup in February .
Biden has never been below 50 % in the question in the Marist poll , and Trump has never been above 44 % .
Trump won 46 % of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for him to squeeze out a victory in the states key to the Electoral College .
Biden has pulled ahead in several key states , including Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania , which were crucial to Trump 's victory in 2016 .
But Trump is within striking distance .
Biden continues to have an advantage with Black voters , Latinos , whites with a college degree , women , people who live in cities and suburbs , young voters and independents .
Notably , Biden is leading in this survey with white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is extraordinary .
Trump won white voters in 2016 by 20 points .
Biden 's 51 % among white voters is the highest for a Democrat dating back to Jimmy Carter in 1976 , when the U.S. was far less racially diverse .
If Biden does , in fact , win that level with whites , it would indicate that a very large wave is building for Democrats up and down the ballot .
Trump 's strongest groups continue to be white evangelical Christians , rural voters and whites without college degrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a degree is down a net of 19 points from last month .
In September , Trump led among whites without a college degree 63 % to 33 % .
That has significantly narrowed this month to a 54 % -43 % advantage for Trump .
Trump won them 66 % to 29 % in 2016 over Hillary Clinton .
The one group the Biden campaign has to be concerned about is Latinos .
Biden is leading only 55 % to 37 % with Latinos .
Clinton won Latinos 66 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widened lead comes on the heels of Trump 's erratic first debate performance , the vice presidential debate and Trump 's contracting COVID-19 .
By a 53 % -to-35 % margin , likely voters say Biden and his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , benefited more from the debates than did Trump and Vice President Pence .
Even a quarter of Republicans say the Biden-Harris ticket benefited more or they 're unsure .
A slim majority — 52 % — of likely voters say Trump 's presidency has been a failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been a success .
Democrats and Republicans have essentially mirror images of how they view this president — 91 % of Democrats say Trump 's presidency has been a failure , while 93 % of Republicans say it has been a success .
But with independents , a group Trump won in 2016 , 56 % say his presidency has been a failure .
Whites are split ; three-quarters of Black voters say Trump 's presidency has been a failure , as do 53 % of Latinos and 62 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority — 56 % — of whites without a college degree , however , think his presidency has been a success .
Trump seen as `` incompetent '' ; Biden seen as `` honest '' Americans also largely view Trump negatively .
In an open-ended question , respondents were asked to describe the candidates in one word .
For Trump , the word that stands out is `` incompetent , '' while for Biden it is `` honest . ''
To be clear , both candidates have a range of words ascribed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Trump , on the positive end , people said he is `` good , '' `` great , '' `` successful '' and `` strong . ''
On the negative side , `` incompetent '' was overwhelmingly the most common word used , followed by `` liar , '' `` failure , '' `` bad , '' `` horrible , '' `` disaster , '' `` arrogant '' and `` buffoon . ''
The positives ascribed to Biden include , for example , `` honest , '' `` confident , '' `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` trustworthy '' and `` compassionate . ''
On the negative side , voters said : `` old , '' `` confused , '' `` incompetent , '' `` senile '' and `` weak . ''
Trump has inspired strong and polarizing feelings in the country .
He has just a 43 % job approval rating , and 47 % of likely voters say they strongly disapprove of the job he 's doing .
That means there are few undecided voters .
In fact , in this survey , just 5 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undecided or who support a candidate but might vote differently .
Trump 's advantage continues to be strength of support : His supporters are more strongly committed to him than Biden 's , with 87 % of Trump voters expressing a firm commitment , compared with 74 % of Biden 's backers .
Biden leads on who 's best to handle multiple issues Biden has significant advantages among likely voters when it comes to handling the coronavirus pandemic and race relations , while voters are split on who 's best to handle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters say they prefer Biden to handle it by a 55 % -to-41 % margin .
On race , it 's an even wider 56 % -38 % advantage for the former vice president .
On the economy , voters are split — 47 % say they prefer Trump to handle the economy , while 48 % say Biden .
That 's slightly tighter than the 50 % -46 % edge for Trump on the economy last month .
The economy had been one of Trump 's strengths , but since the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump 's ratings have suffered some .
Almost two-thirds of likely voters say they think there will be many or some attempts to intimidate or prevent legitimate voters from voting .
Most — 58 % — are confident the U.S .
Postal Service will deliver election-related mail to voters and election officials in a timely manner .
A plurality of voters — 45 % — say they intend to vote in person on Election Day .
That includes two-thirds of Trump supporters .
Trump leads by 27 points with likely voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Day .
But Biden leads 78 % to 21 % with voters who have already voted .
Those are important factors to keep in mind as vote tallies roll in on election night , since more than 17 million Americans have already voted .
One in five voters say they will vote early at an early voting location .
A third say they will vote by mail or absentee — that includes 43 % of Biden backers .
Biden leads by 35 points with those who say they will vote early in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who say they will vote by mail or absentee .
Views of the coronavirus and the president By a 71 % -to-26 % margin , likely voters view the coronavirus as a `` real threat '' as opposed to it being `` blown out of proportion . ''
Republicans are split on this question , with 51 % saying it 's blown out of proportion and 46 % saying it 's a real threat .
Democrats and independents overwhelmingly say it 's a real threat .
Only 36 % of likely voters say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on the virus a great deal or a good amount ; 63 % say they do n't trust what they hear from the president very much or not at all .
Almost two-thirds — 63 % — say it would be a good idea to impose a national mask mandate .
That includes almost 9 in 10 Democrats and two-thirds of independents .
Two-thirds of Republicans think it would be a bad idea .
By a 47 % -to-40 % margin , more likely voters support Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Three-quarters of Democrats oppose it , 9 in 10 Republicans support it and independents are split , with a fifth undecided .
But a majority believes that Barrett should be confirmed after the election ( 26 % ) or not at all ( 30 % ) .
Forty percent think she should be confirmed immediately , but that 's because 84 % of Republicans say so .
A majority of Democrats and a third of independents think she should not be confirmed at all .
The survey was conducted by the Marist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Included are 1,397 adults with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points , 1,199 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points and 896 likely voters for a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points .

Poll: Biden Takes Double-Digit Lead Over Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, Democrat Joe Biden has taken a double-digit lead over President Trump, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.
The former vice president leads Trump 54% to 43% among likely voters in the poll. It's the highest level of support Biden has achieved since the poll began testing the head-to-head matchup in February. Biden has never been below 50% in the question in the Marist poll, and Trump has never been above 44%.
Trump won 46% of voters in 2016 nationally, but it was enough for him to squeeze out a victory in the states key to the Electoral College. Biden has pulled ahead in several key states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which were crucial to Trump's victory in 2016. But Trump is within striking distance.
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Biden continues to have an advantage with Black voters, Latinos, whites with a college degree, women, people who live in cities and suburbs, young voters and independents.
Notably, Biden is leading in this survey with white voters 51% to 47%. That is extraordinary. Trump won white voters in 2016 by 20 points. Biden's 51% among white voters is the highest for a Democrat dating back to Jimmy Carter in 1976, when the U.S. was far less racially diverse.
If Biden does, in fact, win that level with whites, it would indicate that a very large wave is building for Democrats up and down the ballot.
Trump's strongest groups continue to be white evangelical Christians, rural voters and whites without college degrees. But Trump's advantage among whites without a degree is down a net of 19 points from last month.
In September, Trump led among whites without a college degree 63% to 33%. That has significantly narrowed this month to a 54%-43% advantage for Trump. Trump won them 66% to 29% in 2016 over Hillary Clinton.
The one group the Biden campaign has to be concerned about is Latinos. Biden is leading only 55% to 37% with Latinos. Clinton won Latinos 66% to 28% in 2016.
Biden's widened lead comes on the heels of Trump's erratic first debate performance, the vice presidential debate and Trump's contracting COVID-19. By a 53%-to-35% margin, likely voters say Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, benefited more from the debates than did Trump and Vice President Pence.
Even a quarter of Republicans say the Biden-Harris ticket benefited more or they're unsure.
Trump's presidency seen as a failure
A slim majority — 52% — of likely voters say Trump's presidency has been a failure, compared with 45% who say it has been a success.
Democrats and Republicans have essentially mirror images of how they view this president — 91% of Democrats say Trump's presidency has been a failure, while 93% of Republicans say it has been a success. But with independents, a group Trump won in 2016, 56% say his presidency has been a failure.
Whites are split; three-quarters of Black voters say Trump's presidency has been a failure, as do 53% of Latinos and 62% of whites with a college degree. A majority — 56% — of whites without a college degree, however, think his presidency has been a success.
Trump seen as "incompetent"; Biden seen as "honest"
Americans also largely view Trump negatively. In an open-ended question, respondents were asked to describe the candidates in one word.
For Trump, the word that stands out is "incompetent," while for Biden it is "honest."
toggle caption NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll
To be clear, both candidates have a range of words ascribed to them that are positive and negative.
For Trump, on the positive end, people said he is "good," "great," "successful" and "strong." On the negative side, "incompetent" was overwhelmingly the most common word used, followed by "liar," "failure," "bad," "horrible," "disaster," "arrogant" and "buffoon."
The positives ascribed to Biden include, for example, "honest," "confident," "hopeful," "good," "trustworthy" and "compassionate."
On the negative side, voters said: "old," "confused," "incompetent," "senile" and "weak."
toggle caption NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll
Not many persuadable voters
Trump has inspired strong and polarizing feelings in the country. He has just a 43% job approval rating, and 47% of likely voters say they strongly disapprove of the job he's doing.
That means there are few undecided voters. In fact, in this survey, just 5% of voters are persuadable — those who are undecided or who support a candidate but might vote differently.
Trump's advantage continues to be strength of support: His supporters are more strongly committed to him than Biden's, with 87% of Trump voters expressing a firm commitment, compared with 74% of Biden's backers.
Biden leads on who's best to handle multiple issues
Biden has significant advantages among likely voters when it comes to handling the coronavirus pandemic and race relations, while voters are split on who's best to handle the economy.
On the pandemic, likely voters say they prefer Biden to handle it by a 55%-to-41% margin. On race, it's an even wider 56%-38% advantage for the former vice president.
On the economy, voters are split — 47% say they prefer Trump to handle the economy, while 48% say Biden. That's slightly tighter than the 50%-46% edge for Trump on the economy last month. The economy had been one of Trump's strengths, but since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the economy, Trump's ratings have suffered some.
How people intend to vote
Almost two-thirds of likely voters say they think there will be many or some attempts to intimidate or prevent legitimate voters from voting.
Most — 58% — are confident the U.S. Postal Service will deliver election-related mail to voters and election officials in a timely manner.
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A plurality of voters — 45% — say they intend to vote in person on Election Day. That includes two-thirds of Trump supporters. Trump leads by 27 points with likely voters who say they'll vote in person on Election Day.
But Biden leads 78% to 21% with voters who have already voted.
Those are important factors to keep in mind as vote tallies roll in on election night, since more than 17 million Americans have already voted.
One in five voters say they will vote early at an early voting location. A third say they will vote by mail or absentee — that includes 43% of Biden backers. Biden leads by 35 points with those who say they will vote early in person and by 50 points with those who say they will vote by mail or absentee.
Views of the coronavirus and the president
By a 71%-to-26% margin, likely voters view the coronavirus as a "real threat" as opposed to it being "blown out of proportion." Republicans are split on this question, with 51% saying it's blown out of proportion and 46% saying it's a real threat.
Democrats and independents overwhelmingly say it's a real threat.
Only 36% of likely voters say they trust what they're hearing from Trump on the virus a great deal or a good amount; 63% say they don't trust what they hear from the president very much or not at all.
Almost two-thirds — 63% — say it would be a good idea to impose a national mask mandate. That includes almost 9 in 10 Democrats and two-thirds of independents. Two-thirds of Republicans think it would be a bad idea.
Amy Coney Barrett nomination
By a 47%-to-40% margin, more likely voters support Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court than don't. Three-quarters of Democrats oppose it, 9 in 10 Republicans support it and independents are split, with a fifth undecided.
But a majority believes that Barrett should be confirmed after the election (26%) or not at all (30%). Forty percent think she should be confirmed immediately, but that's because 84% of Republicans say so.
A majority of Democrats and a third of independents think she should not be confirmed at all.
The survey was conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion using live callers. Included are 1,397 adults with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 1,199 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points and 896 likely voters for a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.


npr--2020-10-15--Wells Fargo Fires More Than 100 Employees Accused Of Coronavirus Relief Fraud

Wells Fargo Fires More Than 100 Employees Accused Of Coronavirus Relief Fraud Wells Fargo has fired more than 100 employees , saying they personally defrauded a coronavirus relief program from the U.S. Small Business Administration .
In a memo sent Wednesday and obtained by NPR , the company said it had identified employees that it believes made false representations in applying for relief funds through the SBA 's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program .
The employees ' actions were outside of their work responsibilities , the company said .
`` We have terminated the employment of those individuals and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongful actions were personal actions , and do not involve our customers , '' wrote David Galloreese , head of human resources at Wells Fargo .
`` We have zero tolerance for fraudulent behavior and will continue to look into these matters .
If we identify additional wrongdoing by employees , we will take appropriate action , '' he added .
The number of employees who have been fired is between 100 and 125 , a Wells Fargo employee with knowledge of the situation told NPR .
Wells Fargo initiated the investigation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the employee said .
The investigation is ongoing .
Wells Fargo is n't the first bank to find apparent abuse of government programs among its staff .
Last month , JPMorgan Chase found that more than 500 of its employees had received assistance from pandemic relief programs , including dozens said to have done so improperly , Bloomberg reported .
The SBA 's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program offered advances of up to $ 10,000 that did not need to be repaid .
The abuse of such programs is certainly not limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other employers , banks are able to see whether relief funds have been deposited into their employees ' accounts , as Bloomberg reported .
The SBA has encouraged banks to check for suspicious deposits from the disaster loan program , whether among customers or staff .
In July , the SBA 's inspector general issued a memo flagging `` serious concerns '' of potential fraud in the program .
A review of the program 's initial disaster response identified $ 250 million in loans and advance grants given to potentially ineligible recipients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments .
In August , Bloomberg Businessweek analyzed SBA data and found at least $ 1 billion in suspicious payments .

Wells Fargo Fires More Than 100 Employees Accused Of Coronavirus Relief Fraud
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty Images
Wells Fargo has fired more than 100 employees, saying they personally defrauded a coronavirus relief program from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
In a memo sent Wednesday and obtained by NPR, the company said it had identified employees that it believes made false representations in applying for relief funds through the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
The employees' actions were outside of their work responsibilities, the company said.
"We have terminated the employment of those individuals and will cooperate fully with law enforcement. These wrongful actions were personal actions, and do not involve our customers," wrote David Galloreese, head of human resources at Wells Fargo.
"We have zero tolerance for fraudulent behavior and will continue to look into these matters. If we identify additional wrongdoing by employees, we will take appropriate action," he added.
The number of employees who have been fired is between 100 and 125, a Wells Fargo employee with knowledge of the situation told NPR. Wells Fargo initiated the investigation and took action when the fraud was identified, the employee said. The investigation is ongoing.
Wells Fargo isn't the first bank to find apparent abuse of government programs among its staff. Last month, JPMorgan Chase found that more than 500 of its employees had received assistance from pandemic relief programs, including dozens said to have done so improperly, Bloomberg reported.
The SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program offered advances of up to $10,000 that did not need to be repaid.
The abuse of such programs is certainly not limited to employees at banks, but unlike other employers, banks are able to see whether relief funds have been deposited into their employees' accounts, as Bloomberg reported. The SBA has encouraged banks to check for suspicious deposits from the disaster loan program, whether among customers or staff.
In July, the SBA's inspector general issued a memo flagging "serious concerns" of potential fraud in the program. A review of the program's initial disaster response identified $250 million in loans and advance grants given to potentially ineligible recipients, and $45.6 million in potentially duplicate payments.
In August, Bloomberg Businessweek analyzed SBA data and found at least $1 billion in suspicious payments.


npr--2020-10-15--Postal Service Agrees To Reverse Service Cutbacks Ahead Of Election

The U.S .
Postal Service has settled a lawsuit in Montana that called on it to reverse service cutbacks in advance of next month 's election .
The suit was brought by Montana Gov .
Steve Bullock , a Democrat , who is running for the U.S. Senate .
In a statement , Bullock said the settlement `` will ensure stability through and beyond the election by immediately restoring the mail services folks rely on . ''
The Postal Service said it agreed to the settlement because `` it has always been our goal to ensure that anyone who chooses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so successfully . ''
A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The settlement in Montana is the latest in a string of cases brought by state officials concerned that cutbacks in overtime and other changes implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will result in mail delays .
Federal judges in Washington state , Washington , D.C. , New York and Pennsylvania have ordered the Postal Service to reverse its actions , which have included reductions in the hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the removal of some mail-sorting equipment , reduction in post office hours and removal of sidewalk mailboxes .
DeJoy has said election mail is the service 's top priority for the next month .
`` We have the resources in place and every team in every facility across the country is focused on election mail . ''
A Democracy Fund survey indicates that roughly 40 % of Americans intend to vote by mail this year .
The Postal Service said it has authorized additional transportation resources , overtime and extra pickups among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on time .

Postal Service Agrees To Reverse Service Cutbacks Ahead Of Election
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nati Harnik/AP Nati Harnik/AP
The U.S. Postal Service has settled a lawsuit in Montana that called on it to reverse service cutbacks in advance of next month's election. The suit was brought by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
In a statement, Bullock said the settlement "will ensure stability through and beyond the election by immediately restoring the mail services folks rely on."
The Postal Service said it agreed to the settlement because "it has always been our goal to ensure that anyone who chooses to utilize the mail to vote can do so successfully."
A record number of voters are expected to cast their ballots by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The settlement in Montana is the latest in a string of cases brought by state officials concerned that cutbacks in overtime and other changes implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will result in mail delays.
Federal judges in Washington state, Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania have ordered the Postal Service to reverse its actions, which have included reductions in the hours postal workers can be on the job, the removal of some mail-sorting equipment, reduction in post office hours and removal of sidewalk mailboxes.
DeJoy has said election mail is the service's top priority for the next month. "We have the resources in place and every team in every facility across the country is focused on election mail."
A Democracy Fund survey indicates that roughly 40% of Americans intend to vote by mail this year.
The Postal Service said it has authorized additional transportation resources, overtime and extra pickups among other measures to ensure ballots are delivered on time.


npr--2020-10-15--EU Sanctions Russian Officials Over Navalny Poisoning, Citing Chemical Weapons Use

The European Union is hitting six high-placed Russian officials with sanctions over the suspected assassination attempt of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny , citing the use of forbidden chemical weapons .
Lab tests found Navalny was poisoned by a variant of Novichok , a rare Soviet-era nerve agent .
`` The use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law , '' the European Council said Thursday as it published the sanctions in the EU 's Official Journal .
The council had previously condemned the poisoning of Navalny , who spent weeks receiving treatment in Germany after an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The EU sanctions punish two men who work directly for President Vladimir Putin 's executive office along with his representative in Siberia , where Navalny fell dangerously ill .
The sanctions also name Aleksander Bortnikov , director of the Federal Security Service , along with Defense Ministry deputies who manage Russia 's military research and weapons .
A state entity in Moscow is also on the sanctions list .
The EU said it included the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology , because it is responsible for `` the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Soviet Union . ''
The sanctions put all six men under a travel ban that prevents them from visiting the EU .
They also freeze any assets the men or the research agency might have under the EU 's jurisdiction .
`` In these circumstances , it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny was only possible with the consent of the Presidential Executive Office , '' the EU said .
Navalny , a frequent critic of Putin and his inner circle , recently said he blames the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assert that Putin was behind the crime , and I have no other explanation for what happened .
I 'm not saying this out of self-flattery , but based on the facts .
The most important fact is Novichok , '' Navalny told Der Spiegel .
The EU also invoked the chemical weapons convention last year when it sanctioned other Russians over the use of a nerve agent against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury , England , in 2018 – an attack that Western nations have blamed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of a Novichok nerve agent .
A German military laboratory determined in early September that the rare toxin was used against Navalny .
Since then , other labs in France and Sweden have corroborated the findings .
Navalny `` is the victim of a crime that intended to silence him , '' German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the lab results were released .
Russia 's government has denied any role in Navalny 's poisoning , as it earlier denied being involved in the Salisbury poisonings .

EU Sanctions Russian Officials Over Navalny Poisoning, Citing Chemical Weapons Use
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mladen Antonov, Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images Mladen Antonov, Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images
The European Union is hitting six high-placed Russian officials with sanctions over the suspected assassination attempt of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, citing the use of forbidden chemical weapons. Lab tests found Navalny was poisoned by a variant of Novichok, a rare Soviet-era nerve agent.
"The use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law," the European Council said Thursday as it published the sanctions in the EU's Official Journal. The council had previously condemned the poisoning of Navalny, who spent weeks receiving treatment in Germany after an emergency evacuation from Russia in late August.
The EU sanctions punish two men who work directly for President Vladimir Putin's executive office along with his representative in Siberia, where Navalny fell dangerously ill. The sanctions also name Aleksander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service, along with Defense Ministry deputies who manage Russia's military research and weapons.
A state entity in Moscow is also on the sanctions list. The EU said it included the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology, because it is responsible for "the destruction of chemical weapons stocks inherited from the Soviet Union."
The sanctions put all six men under a travel ban that prevents them from visiting the EU. They also freeze any assets the men or the research agency might have under the EU's jurisdiction.
"In these circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny was only possible with the consent of the Presidential Executive Office," the EU said.
Navalny, a frequent critic of Putin and his inner circle, recently said he blames the Russian leader for the poisoning.
"I assert that Putin was behind the crime, and I have no other explanation for what happened. I'm not saying this out of self-flattery, but based on the facts. The most important fact is Novichok," Navalny told Der Spiegel.
The EU also invoked the chemical weapons convention last year when it sanctioned other Russians over the use of a nerve agent against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018 – an attack that Western nations have blamed on Moscow. That incident also included the use of a Novichok nerve agent.
A German military laboratory determined in early September that the rare toxin was used against Navalny. Since then, other labs in France and Sweden have corroborated the findings.
Navalny "is the victim of a crime that intended to silence him," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the lab results were released.
Russia's government has denied any role in Navalny's poisoning, as it earlier denied being involved in the Salisbury poisonings.


npr--2020-10-16--Trump's And Biden's Plans For Education

Trump's And Biden's Plans For Education

• Make public colleges , historically Black colleges and universities , and minority-serving institutions tuition-free for families making less than $ 125,000 .
• Make two years of community college and training programs tuition-free .
• Cancel $ 10,000 of every American 's student debt and revise the current loan repayment system .
Biden is advocating to make public colleges and universities tuition-free for students with family incomes under $ 125,000 .
He links this proposal to the 2017 College for All Act , legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal to include private historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions .
The plan would allocate $ 70 billion toward those institutions to advance and expand facilities , educational and technological infrastructure and financial accessibility .
He also pledges to make community college and training programs tuition-free for two years of attendance .
The plan would invest $ 50 billion in workforce training programs and $ 8 billion in upgrades to community college technology and facility infrastructure .
He 's additionally advocating for increasing the maximum value of Pell Grants by twofold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden pledges to forgive student borrowers who graduate from public universities and private historically Black colleges and universities and make less than $ 125,000 .
In response to COVID-19 , he 's also calling for the cancellation of $ 10,000 of federal student loan debt for every American .
Biden wants to revise the current loan repayment system as well , pausing payments and interest for individuals with incomes under $ 25,000 and leveling payments for people making over that amount to 5 % of their discretionary income .
His plan outlines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt after two decades if they 've `` responsibly made payments through the program . ''
In his plan to support K-12 education , Biden calls for a greater focus on underfunded schools to reduce educational disparities .
He wants to triple Title I funding to raise salaries for teachers who work at schools with primarily low-income student bodies .
He also wants to increase the presence of mental health workers in schools , repair public school infrastructure and offer additional career resources and vocational training for middle and high school students .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caregiving and education plan , Biden is notably advocating for universal prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds in a bid to improve education accessibility and lessen financial strains on parents .
He also wants increased financial support for child care workers and facilities as well as financial incentives and educational resources for middle- to lower-income families paying for child care .
Trump 's central education goal throughout his first term has been promoting school choice and increasing access to charter schools .
Trump is also advocating for what he calls `` patriotic education '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept as teaching `` American exceptionalism . ''
The president recently announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities would be funding `` pro-American curriculum , '' arguing that teaching the concept of systemic racism is `` a form of child abuse . ''
In February , the White House rolled out a proposed 2021 budget that would make significant cuts and restrictions to federal student loan programs .
See more of the major presidential candidates ' key policy agendas here .
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe and political correspondent Asma Khalid @ @ @ @ @

Trump's And Biden's Plans For Education
Enlarge this image Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Joe Hall/Flickr Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Joe Hall/Flickr
Key priorities
Joe Biden
Make public colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions tuition-free for families making less than $125,000.
Make two years of community college and training programs tuition-free.
Cancel $10,000 of every American's student debt and revise the current loan repayment system.
Establish universal prekindergarten.
Read details of Biden's plans below.
Donald Trump
Strengthen school choice policy and expand accessibility to charter schools.
Promote "patriotic education" curriculum in schools.
Read details of Trump's plans below.
Biden's plans for education
Biden is advocating to make public colleges and universities tuition-free for students with family incomes under $125,000. He links this proposal to the 2017 College for All Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.
Biden also wants to extend the 2017 proposal to include private historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. The plan would allocate $70 billion toward those institutions to advance and expand facilities, educational and technological infrastructure and financial accessibility.
He also pledges to make community college and training programs tuition-free for two years of attendance. The plan would invest $50 billion in workforce training programs and $8 billion in upgrades to community college technology and facility infrastructure. He's additionally advocating for increasing the maximum value of Pell Grants by twofold.
On tackling federal student debt, Biden pledges to forgive student borrowers who graduate from public universities and private historically Black colleges and universities and make less than $125,000. In response to COVID-19, he's also calling for the cancellation of $10,000 of federal student loan debt for every American.
Biden wants to revise the current loan repayment system as well, pausing payments and interest for individuals with incomes under $25,000 and leveling payments for people making over that amount to 5% of their discretionary income. His plan outlines that the government will resolve Americans of their debt after two decades if they've "responsibly made payments through the program."
In his plan to support K-12 education, Biden calls for a greater focus on underfunded schools to reduce educational disparities. He wants to triple Title I funding to raise salaries for teachers who work at schools with primarily low-income student bodies. He also wants to increase the presence of mental health workers in schools, repair public school infrastructure and offer additional career resources and vocational training for middle and high school students.
As part of a $775 billion caregiving and education plan, Biden is notably advocating for universal prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds in a bid to improve education accessibility and lessen financial strains on parents. He also wants increased financial support for child care workers and facilities as well as financial incentives and educational resources for middle- to lower-income families paying for child care.
Trump's plans for education
Trump's central education goal throughout his first term has been promoting school choice and increasing access to charter schools.
Trump is also advocating for what he calls "patriotic education" in schools. His campaign described this concept as teaching "American exceptionalism." The president recently announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities would be funding "pro-American curriculum," arguing that teaching the concept of systemic racism is "a form of child abuse."
In February, the White House rolled out a proposed 2021 budget that would make significant cuts and restrictions to federal student loan programs.
See more of the major presidential candidates' key policy agendas here.
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe and political correspondent Asma Khalid contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-16--Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Environment

Trump 's And Biden 's Plans For The Environment • Combat climate change by pushing the United States on a path toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 , with an intermediate goal of ridding the power sector of carbon pollution by 2035 .
• Invest $ 2 trillion over four years in green areas , including infrastructure , transportation and auto industries , housing and construction practices , nature conservation efforts and work in environmental justice .
• Create 1 million new jobs in the auto industry , boosting electric vehicles .
• Bolster the country 's oil and gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those energy products .
To combat climate change , Biden 's ambitious clean energy plan would pour $ 2 trillion into a set of research and development goals throughout his first term , with his principal objective being to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 .
Biden wants to modernize American infrastructure , invest in clean energy and make climate-focused advances in both the auto and transportation industries to cut emissions and increase job opportunities .
Notably , he says that his plan for the auto industry will create 1 million new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a union .
Biden pledges to rid the power sector of carbon pollution by 2035 .
He also calls for energy upgrades to 4 million buildings , weatherizing 2 million homes across the country and building 1.5 million `` sustainable homes and housing units . ''
Biden also specifically addresses environmental justice , pledging to allocate 40 % of his clean energy plan 's investments toward minority and lower-income communities more often affected by climate change and pollution .
The plan would create a division within the Justice Department that would regulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on communities .
Biden would also seek to rejoin the Paris climate accords .
Trump says his priorities are clean water and air , but he 's also sought to boost U.S. production of oil and natural gas — objectives that often work against each other .
The president has touted the country 's record clean air , but that 's part of a longer-term trend .
Trump has supported legislation that removes garbage from oceans , allocated additional funding for national parks and public lands , and put $ 38 billion toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has denied the scientific consensus on climate change , and his administration has worked to scrub mentions of climate change from government websites and reversed many of the climate policies put in place during the Obama administration .
Trump has attempted to push policies that back the coal industry , though that sector has continued to its longer-term decline .
He also pulled the U.S. out of the international Paris climate deal .
See more of the major presidential candidates ' key policy agendas here .
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .

Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Environment
Enlarge this image Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Mitchell Shapiro Photography/Flickr; John Starnes/Flickr Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Mitchell Shapiro Photography/Flickr; John Starnes/Flickr
Key priorities
Joe Biden
Combat climate change by pushing the United States on a path toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an intermediate goal of ridding the power sector of carbon pollution by 2035.
Invest $2 trillion over four years in green areas, including infrastructure, transportation and auto industries, housing and construction practices, nature conservation efforts and work in environmental justice.
Create 1 million new jobs in the auto industry, boosting electric vehicles.
Build 1.5 million "sustainable homes."
Read details of Biden's plans below.
Donald Trump
Bolster the country's oil and gas industries, and the supply and production of those energy products.
Continue rolling back Democratic environmental regulations.
Read details of Trump's plans below.
Biden's plans for the environment
To combat climate change, Biden's ambitious clean energy plan would pour $2 trillion into a set of research and development goals throughout his first term, with his principal objective being to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Biden wants to modernize American infrastructure, invest in clean energy and make climate-focused advances in both the auto and transportation industries to cut emissions and increase job opportunities. Notably, he says that his plan for the auto industry will create 1 million new jobs with the option to be part of a union.
Biden pledges to rid the power sector of carbon pollution by 2035. He also calls for energy upgrades to 4 million buildings, weatherizing 2 million homes across the country and building 1.5 million "sustainable homes and housing units."
Biden also specifically addresses environmental justice, pledging to allocate 40% of his clean energy plan's investments toward minority and lower-income communities more often affected by climate change and pollution. The plan would create a division within the Justice Department that would regulate and penalize corporations for their environmental effects on communities.
Biden would also seek to rejoin the Paris climate accords.
Trump's plans for the environment
Trump says his priorities are clean water and air, but he's also sought to boost U.S. production of oil and natural gas — objectives that often work against each other.
The president has touted the country's record clean air, but that's part of a longer-term trend.
Trump has supported legislation that removes garbage from oceans, allocated additional funding for national parks and public lands, and put $38 billion toward "clean water infrastructure."
The president has denied the scientific consensus on climate change, and his administration has worked to scrub mentions of climate change from government websites and reversed many of the climate policies put in place during the Obama administration. Trump has attempted to push policies that back the coal industry, though that sector has continued to its longer-term decline.
He also pulled the U.S. out of the international Paris climate deal.
See more of the major presidential candidates' key policy agendas here.
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe and political correspondent Asma Khalid contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-16--Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Economy

Trump 's And Biden 's Plans For The Economy • Increase investments in American-made products and companies , pouring $ 400 billion into procurement and $ 300 billion into research and development , with the aim of creating 5 million new jobs .
• Reverse Trump tax breaks to corporations and seek a higher minimum wage and expanded benefits for low- and middle-income workers .
• Create 10 million jobs in 10 months , as well as 1 million small businesses .
• Push American companies outsourcing jobs in China back to the United States to establish 1 million new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic plans center on his Build Back Better framework , with planks on such areas as increasing domestic manufacturing and investing in clean energy .
Biden 's `` Made in America '' plan stands as his economic nationalist alternative to Trump 's `` America First '' policy .
It would spend $ 400 billion in procurement , increasing the demand for American-made goods , as well as $ 300 billion in technological research and development .
These investments would then go toward U.S. businesses that create products in fields including clean energy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and artificial intelligence .
The Biden campaign says the effort would generate 5 million jobs .
Biden also calls for the need to diversify the manufacturing and innovation industries by providing `` historic investments '' in communities of color as well as in cities and rural locations .
The Democratic nominee supports a $ 15 minimum wage , universal paid sick leave and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave .
Biden also wants to do away with the Republican corporate tax cuts passed in 2017 , vowing to increase the corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
It 's part of his $ 4 trillion tax package that his campaign says would n't directly raise taxes on people earning less than $ 400,000 .
Trump touts the country 's pre-pandemic economy , saying he 's the candidate to get it back out of its deep hole .
In a list of agenda items for a second term , released in August , Trump 's campaign said his priorities include creating 10 million jobs in 10 months and creating 1 million small businesses .
He supports enacting additional tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity zones '' tax break , though he gives no estimate of by how much .
Echoing goals set during his first campaign and term in office , Trump calls for tax credits to businesses making American products .
And he says he will continue to enact `` fair trade deals that protect American jobs '' and cut back on business regulations .
As part of his agenda on China , Trump wants to establish 1 million domestic jobs that were previously based in China and offer tax breaks for businesses to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , focusing specifically on pharmaceutical and robotics companies that currently outsource jobs .
There are no details about these plans , apart from their inclusion on the agenda list .
The White House says it will not give federal contracts to companies that continue to manufacture products in China .
The president signed an executive order in August that incentivizes federal agencies to domestically source their jobs instead of outsourcing them .
Trump has signed several executive orders aimed at boosting domestic production , but critics say that loopholes have allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America '' provisions .
See more of the major presidential candidates ' key policy agendas here .
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe and political correspondent Asma Khalid contributed to this report .

Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Economy
Enlarge this image Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Keith Ewing/Flickr; Alex Snyder/Wayne National Forest/Flickr Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Keith Ewing/Flickr; Alex Snyder/Wayne National Forest/Flickr
Key Priorities: Economy
Joe Biden
Increase investments in American-made products and companies, pouring $400 billion into procurement and $300 billion into research and development, with the aim of creating 5 million new jobs.
Reverse Trump tax breaks to corporations and seek a higher minimum wage and expanded benefits for low- and middle-income workers.
Read details of Biden's plans below.
Donald Trump
Create 10 million jobs in 10 months, as well as 1 million small businesses.
Push American companies outsourcing jobs in China back to the United States to establish 1 million new domestic jobs.
Read details of Trump's plans below.
Biden's Plans For The Economy
The Democratic nominee's economic plans center on his Build Back Better framework, with planks on such areas as increasing domestic manufacturing and investing in clean energy.
Biden's "Made in America" plan stands as his economic nationalist alternative to Trump's "America First" policy. It would spend $400 billion in procurement, increasing the demand for American-made goods, as well as $300 billion in technological research and development. These investments would then go toward U.S. businesses that create products in fields including clean energy, cars, medicine, biotechnology, telecommunication and artificial intelligence.
The Biden campaign says the effort would generate 5 million jobs.
Biden also calls for the need to diversify the manufacturing and innovation industries by providing "historic investments" in communities of color as well as in cities and rural locations.
The Democratic nominee supports a $15 minimum wage, universal paid sick leave and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.
Biden also wants to do away with the Republican corporate tax cuts passed in 2017, vowing to increase the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. It's part of his $4 trillion tax package that his campaign says wouldn't directly raise taxes on people earning less than $400,000.
Trump's Plans For The Economy
Trump touts the country's pre-pandemic economy, saying he's the candidate to get it back out of its deep hole.
In a list of agenda items for a second term, released in August, Trump's campaign said his priorities include creating 10 million jobs in 10 months and creating 1 million small businesses.
He supports enacting additional tax cuts and the expansion of the "opportunity zones" tax break, though he gives no estimate of by how much.
Echoing goals set during his first campaign and term in office, Trump calls for tax credits to businesses making American products. And he says he will continue to enact "fair trade deals that protect American jobs" and cut back on business regulations.
As part of his agenda on China, Trump wants to establish 1 million domestic jobs that were previously based in China and offer tax breaks for businesses to move jobs out of China and back to the U.S., focusing specifically on pharmaceutical and robotics companies that currently outsource jobs.
There are no details about these plans, apart from their inclusion on the agenda list.
The White House says it will not give federal contracts to companies that continue to manufacture products in China. The president signed an executive order in August that incentivizes federal agencies to domestically source their jobs instead of outsourcing them. Trump has signed several executive orders aimed at boosting domestic production, but critics say that loopholes have allowed government agencies to circumvent these "made in America" provisions.
See more of the major presidential candidates' key policy agendas here.
NPR White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe and political correspondent Asma Khalid contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-16--Trump And Republicans Raise $248 Million In September, Lagging Biden, Democrats

President Trump 's campaign announced late Thursday that it , the Republican National Committee and joint committees raised $ 248 million in September — a strong haul but nonetheless well behind the record-setting one-month sum collected by Joe Biden 's campaign and his party .
On Wednesday evening , Biden 's campaign said it , the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts garnered $ 383 million in September — breaking the one-month record Democrats had set just the month prior , in August .
September 's fundraising edge further boosts the advantage Democrats hold in the bank .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 251 million cash on hand , compared with the eye-popping $ 432 million Biden 's campaign says it has in the bank .
Despite the disadvantage , Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote on Twitter that `` President Trump hits final stretch with strength , resources , record & huge ground game needed to spread message and secure re-election . ''
Trump 's campaign has long been talking up its ground game , especially as Democrats for months opted against door-to-door canvassing amid the coronavirus pandemic , and as the Biden campaign maintains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A recent NPR analysis of data from the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics found that Biden and Democratic allies have outspent Trump and supporting groups by $ 240 million on TV ads in six crucial states .
Trump did get a boost from one key Las Vegas couple in recent weeks , as casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam gave $ 75 million to a new super PAC that 's backing the president .
Last month , Trump also said he may spend some of his own money on his reelection bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trail a challenger in fundraising , but Democrats — from Biden to candidates down the ballot in key Senate races — have been raising impressive sums of money in recent months .

Trump And Republicans Raise $248 Million In September, Lagging Biden, Democrats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
Democrats enter the presidential contest's homestretch with a big cash advantage.
President Trump's campaign announced late Thursday that it, the Republican National Committee and joint committees raised $248 million in September — a strong haul but nonetheless well behind the record-setting one-month sum collected by Joe Biden's campaign and his party.
On Wednesday evening, Biden's campaign said it, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts garnered $383 million in September — breaking the one-month record Democrats had set just the month prior, in August.
September's fundraising edge further boosts the advantage Democrats hold in the bank.
Trump's campaign announced Thursday it has $251 million cash on hand, compared with the eye-popping $432 million Biden's campaign says it has in the bank.
Despite the disadvantage, Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote on Twitter that "President Trump hits final stretch with strength, resources, record & huge ground game needed to spread message and secure re-election."
Trump's campaign has long been talking up its ground game, especially as Democrats for months opted against door-to-door canvassing amid the coronavirus pandemic, and as the Biden campaign maintains a greater presence on paid TV.
A recent NPR analysis of data from the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics found that Biden and Democratic allies have outspent Trump and supporting groups by $240 million on TV ads in six crucial states.
Trump did get a boost from one key Las Vegas couple in recent weeks, as casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam gave $75 million to a new super PAC that's backing the president.
Last month, Trump also said he may spend some of his own money on his reelection bid.
It's unusual for an incumbent to trail a challenger in fundraising, but Democrats — from Biden to candidates down the ballot in key Senate races — have been raising impressive sums of money in recent months.