npr--2020-05-06--As Some States Reopen, Theater Owners Are Watching — And Mostly Waiting

As Some States Reopen , Theater Owners Are Watching — And Mostly Waiting For the first time in more than a month , a handful of U.S. movie theaters is screening films for the public .
It 's a toe-dip , not a dive .
Santikos Entertainment in San Antonio opened three of its nine Texas cineplexes with masks and social distancing protocols in place this past Saturday .
Two days later , EVO Entertainment did the same with two of its Texas theaters .
All were playing older releases at discounted prices , and capping admissions at one-quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a way to make a lot of money or even to break even .
But it is a tentative step back into the business of exhibition .
Theater owners elsewhere are watching .
And mostly , waiting .
About half the movie screens in the U.S. operate under the umbrella of three national theater chains : AMC Theatres , Regal Cinemas , and Cinemark .
Not one of them has plans to reopen before June .
( AMC and Cinemark each say July is more likely ) .
Even if they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't release a major movie until it can play in major cities , and most U.S. cities are currently on lockdown .
The industry is hoping the premiere of Christopher Nolan 's action thriller Tenet will jump-start a belated summer blockbuster season on July 17 .
So far , Warner Bros. is holding firm on that date , while other studios have delayed the openings of such potential blockbusters as Mulan , Marvel 's Black Widow , and the 007 thriller No Time to Die .
In the meantime , if cinemas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up individual states , it 's up to local chains and independent theaters to start the ball rolling .
In Georgia , Gov .
Brian Kemp authorized the opening of theaters almost two weeks ago , telling news outlets , `` I know people are chomping at the bit to get back to work .
People are experiencing financial ruin right now .
I think people are getting very frustrated at having to stay at home . ''
So I ask Chris Escobar , who owns the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are n't going to have a show tonight '' he chuckles , noting that the governor is not forcing anyone to reopen .
`` But at the same time , '' he continues , `` I 'm not forcing my employees to choose between their livelihoods and their lives . ''
Chris Collier , executive director of Renew Theaters , is thinking along similar lines .
His organization manages four art-house cinemas in the currently locked-down states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey .
When those states allow him to reopen , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We do n't want to be guinea pigs , '' he says .
`` We are imagining what that could look like , with spaces between people , shields at the concession stand .
But honestly , it 's gon na be a long way off . ''
`` Reopening might actually require a substantial amount of investment on the part of theaters , '' says Alison Kozberg , managing director of Art House Convergence , a non-profit that works with about 200 independent theaters nationwide .
`` It would require buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the theater clean and safe in accordance with guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID .
For some theaters the expense is going to be viable , but for others it 's going to be quite overwhelming . ''
Especially , says Collier , at just one-quarter of capacity .
`` At that point , with the cost of staff and cooling over the summer , it might actually be more cost-effective to stay closed until we can reopen properly , '' he says .
To keep income going until then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying something called `` Virtual Cinema , '' in which their patrons can screen a new film at home and the theater gets a share of the proceeds .
While this initially seemed promising , Collier offers a caveat : `` The number of ticket sales is more in the tens , than in the hundreds and thousands we 'd see in theaters . ''
So what else ?
When Escobar thought Atlanta 's Plaza Theatre would be closed for a couple of weeks , he figured they 'd do the equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floors , and organize concessions to make use of a rare break from shows playing seven days a week .
But as weeks stretched to months and his costs mounted , he got bigger ideas : A `` 100 % contact-free '' pop-up drive-in behind the theater , say , with tickets scanned through auto windows , and sound broadcast over what he told me with an almost audible wink was , `` one of the coolest ways to listen to anything : radio . ''
He also wanted to give something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His sister and his mom both work in grocery stores .
`` I understand first-hand the new level of risk that none of these folks had ever signed up for , '' he says .
So he created Movie-Night Care Packages for them — good for free tickets and refreshments when the theater starts up again .
And before that , on a more limited basis , he 's planning private screenings for first responders .
`` One family at a time , '' he explains .
`` They get to watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire 485-seat movie theater to themselves , we 'll give them the full treatment of concessions and popcorn in the way that we occasionally have celebrities who rent the theater and do a private screening .
We 're gon na treat them like the VIP 's that they are . ''
Escobar is hardly alone , says Kozberg , in getting creative about reaching out to audiences .
She cites three theaters by way of example : `` The Music Box in Chicago has a kind of tip-line where people can call in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their programmers will recommend what to watch .
It 's been wildly popular and it 's so funny , '' she says .
`` The Brattle in Cambridge , Mass.
, had a movie trivia night to support them , which became an opportunity for people from all over the country to join each other .
Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington , N.Y. , has been working with their audience to care for them .
Calling them on the phone just to make sure they 're doing all right . ''
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sorts of things big theater chains are likely to do with their patrons .
`` These are n't organizations where audiences are hypothetical or part of a business arrangement , '' says Kozberg .
`` Independent art-house theaters are small organizations .
Many of them describe themselves as a family .
They 're going to know if their patrons are older , if they 're vulnerable , what their needs are , and they 're going to be really thoughtful about decisions around reopening .
The same is true of their relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceeding with an abundance of caution . ''
They 're also finding ways to maintain a relationship with audiences they hope to welcome back soon .
The Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock , Pa. , is sponsoring a `` make your own film '' contest for kids 16 and younger , with a cash prize and entrants shown before the feature attraction when the theater is operating again .
Renew Theaters ' Chris Collier is thinking even younger .
When he recorded the Ambler Theater 's `` Staff Picks '' for streaming , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The biggest draw for him at the theaters is the popcorn , '' says Collier .
`` But he really does like the experience .
At home he does run around the house and loses attention in what 's on the TV screen .
But at the theater , he sits in the dark and is enwrapped with what 's on screen . ''
That is the magic of cinema .
And Zachary , you might argue , is the future of theaters .
He 's also the reason Collier is pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @

As Some States Reopen, Theater Owners Are Watching — And Mostly Waiting
Enlarge this image toggle caption CJ Swank/Plaza Theatre CJ Swank/Plaza Theatre
For the first time in more than a month, a handful of U.S. movie theaters is screening films for the public. It's a toe-dip, not a dive. Santikos Entertainment in San Antonio opened three of its nine Texas cineplexes with masks and social distancing protocols in place this past Saturday. Two days later, EVO Entertainment did the same with two of its Texas theaters.
All were playing older releases at discounted prices, and capping admissions at one-quarter of each auditorium's capacity. That is not a way to make a lot of money or even to break even. But it is a tentative step back into the business of exhibition.
Theater owners elsewhere are watching. And mostly, waiting.
About half the movie screens in the U.S. operate under the umbrella of three national theater chains: AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark. Not one of them has plans to reopen before June. (AMC and Cinemark each say July is more likely).
Even if they were prepared to open now, Hollywood studios can't release a major movie until it can play in major cities, and most U.S. cities are currently on lockdown. The industry is hoping the premiere of Christopher Nolan's action thriller Tenet will jump-start a belated summer blockbuster season on July 17. So far, Warner Bros. is holding firm on that date, while other studios have delayed the openings of such potential blockbusters as Mulan, Marvel's Black Widow, and the 007 thriller No Time to Die.
toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
In the meantime, if cinemas are to bounce back as governors open up individual states, it's up to local chains and independent theaters to start the ball rolling.
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp authorized the opening of theaters almost two weeks ago, telling news outlets, "I know people are chomping at the bit to get back to work. People are experiencing financial ruin right now. I think people are getting very frustrated at having to stay at home."
So I ask Chris Escobar, who owns the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, what time his show starts tonight. "We aren't going to have a show tonight" he chuckles, noting that the governor is not forcing anyone to reopen. "But at the same time," he continues, "I'm not forcing my employees to choose between their livelihoods and their lives."
Chris Collier, executive director of Renew Theaters, is thinking along similar lines. His organization manages four art-house cinemas in the currently locked-down states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. When those states allow him to reopen, he's unlikely to leap back in.
"We don't want to be guinea pigs," he says. "We are imagining what that could look like, with spaces between people, shields at the concession stand. But honestly, it's gonna be a long way off."
With the cost of staff and cooling over the summer, it might actually be more cost-effective to stay closed until we can reopen properly.
"Reopening might actually require a substantial amount of investment on the part of theaters," says Alison Kozberg, managing director of Art House Convergence, a non-profit that works with about 200 independent theaters nationwide. "It would require buying new equipment and new hygiene products to keep the theater clean and safe in accordance with guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID. For some theaters the expense is going to be viable, but for others it's going to be quite overwhelming."
Especially, says Collier, at just one-quarter of capacity. "At that point, with the cost of staff and cooling over the summer, it might actually be more cost-effective to stay closed until we can reopen properly," he says.
To keep income going until then, he and a lot of theater operators are trying something called "Virtual Cinema," in which their patrons can screen a new film at home and the theater gets a share of the proceeds. While this initially seemed promising, Collier offers a caveat: "The number of ticket sales is more in the tens, than in the hundreds and thousands we'd see in theaters."
So what else? When Escobar thought Atlanta's Plaza Theatre would be closed for a couple of weeks, he figured they'd do the equivalent of cleaning out the garage — paint the floors, and organize concessions to make use of a rare break from shows playing seven days a week.
But as weeks stretched to months and his costs mounted, he got bigger ideas: A "100% contact-free" pop-up drive-in behind the theater, say, with tickets scanned through auto windows, and sound broadcast over what he told me with an almost audible wink was, "one of the coolest ways to listen to anything: radio."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Plaza Theatre Plaza Theatre
He also wanted to give something back to essential workers during the pandemic. His sister and his mom both work in grocery stores. "I understand first-hand the new level of risk that none of these folks had ever signed up for," he says.
So he created Movie-Night Care Packages for them — good for free tickets and refreshments when the theater starts up again. And before that, on a more limited basis, he's planning private screenings for first responders.
"One family at a time," he explains. "They get to watch their favorite movie, they have the entire 485-seat movie theater to themselves, we'll give them the full treatment of concessions and popcorn in the way that we occasionally have celebrities who rent the theater and do a private screening. We're gonna treat them like the VIP's that they are."
Escobar is hardly alone, says Kozberg, in getting creative about reaching out to audiences. She cites three theaters by way of example: "The Music Box in Chicago has a kind of tip-line where people can call in and describe what streaming services they have and their programmers will recommend what to watch. It's been wildly popular and it's so funny," she says. "The Brattle in Cambridge, Mass., had a movie trivia night to support them, which became an opportunity for people from all over the country to join each other. Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, N.Y., has been working with their audience to care for them. Calling them on the phone just to make sure they're doing all right."
These aren't organizations where audiences are hypothetical or part of a business arrangement. Independent art-house theaters are small organizations. Many of them describe themselves as a family.
That's different, she notes, from the sorts of things big theater chains are likely to do with their patrons.
"These aren't organizations where audiences are hypothetical or part of a business arrangement," says Kozberg. "Independent art-house theaters are small organizations. Many of them describe themselves as a family. They're going to know if their patrons are older, if they're vulnerable, what their needs are, and they're going to be really thoughtful about decisions around reopening. The same is true of their relationships with their staffs. So they're proceeding with an abundance of caution."
They're also finding ways to maintain a relationship with audiences they hope to welcome back soon. The Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, Pa., is sponsoring a "make your own film" contest for kids 16 and younger, with a cash prize and entrants shown before the feature attraction when the theater is operating again.
Renew Theaters' Chris Collier is thinking even younger. When he recorded the Ambler Theater's "Staff Picks" for streaming, he enlisted his toddler Zachary to help.
What's Zachary excited about watching?
"Fantasia!" beams the 4 year old.
"The biggest draw for him at the theaters is the popcorn," says Collier. "But he really does like the experience. At home he does run around the house and loses attention in what's on the TV screen. But at the theater, he sits in the dark and is enwrapped with what's on screen."
That is the magic of cinema. And Zachary, you might argue, is the future of theaters.
He's also the reason Collier is pretty sure theaters will have a future.


npr--2020-05-06--Do Those Birds Sound Louder To You? An Ornithologist Says You're Just Hearing Things

Do Those Birds Sound Louder To You ?
An Ornithologist Says You 're Just Hearing Things People around the world are reporting that birds are much louder these days .
But Sue Anne Zollinger , an ornithologist from Manchester Metropolitan University , cautions : Do n't believe everything you hear .
With the decrease in traffic , there 's less noise pollution .
That means birds have less noise to compete with , she says .
( Scroll down to the end of this story to listen for yourself . )
`` Although our perception might be that they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places that are typically noisy that they 're singing more quietly than normal , '' Zollinger said in an interview with Morning Edition .
`` But when the noise is gone , they 're probably singing quieter than they do normally . ''
In other words , birds are like us : In a noisy bar , for example , people will raise their voices .
Zollinger says that idea gels with current research on bird noise patterns .
`` We know from some earlier studies in the city of Berlin that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the time that 's normally rush hour than they do during rush hour during the week because the noise levels are lower , '' she said .
`` And that 's probably what 's happening now . ''
She tested people 's observations that birds are louder during a time of city lockdowns and self-isolation .
Zollinger , who lives near an airport in Manchester , England , recorded the call of a songbird known as a chiffchaff .
She found that the chiffchaff 's song almost doubled in its decibel level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the background of the audio , compared to the absence of aircraft noise .
Listen to the audio clips below to see if you can hear the difference .

Do Those Birds Sound Louder To You? An Ornithologist Says You're Just Hearing Things
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mathias Schaef/McPhoto/ullstein bild via Getty Images Mathias Schaef/McPhoto/ullstein bild via Getty Images
People around the world are reporting that birds are much louder these days.
But Sue Anne Zollinger, an ornithologist from Manchester Metropolitan University, cautions: Don't believe everything you hear.
With the decrease in traffic, there's less noise pollution. That means birds have less noise to compete with, she says. (Scroll down to the end of this story to listen for yourself.)
"Although our perception might be that they're singing louder, it's actually likely in places that are typically noisy that they're singing more quietly than normal," Zollinger said in an interview with Morning Edition. "But when the noise is gone, they're probably singing quieter than they do normally."
In other words, birds are like us: In a noisy bar, for example, people will raise their voices.
Zollinger says that idea gels with current research on bird noise patterns.
"We know from some earlier studies in the city of Berlin that birds sing quieter on the weekend mornings during the time that's normally rush hour than they do during rush hour during the week because the noise levels are lower," she said. "And that's probably what's happening now."
She tested people's observations that birds are louder during a time of city lockdowns and self-isolation. Zollinger, who lives near an airport in Manchester, England, recorded the call of a songbird known as a chiffchaff.
She found that the chiffchaff's song almost doubled in its decibel level when there was the sound of aircraft in the background of the audio, compared to the absence of aircraft noise.
Listen to the audio clips below to see if you can hear the difference.
Chiffchaff without aircraft noise 0:17


npr--2020-05-06--Biden's Vice Presidential Choice May Be Swayed By History, Including His Own

Biden 's Vice Presidential Choice May Be Swayed By History , Including His Own At a town hall in New Hampshire this past February , long before Joe Biden was the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , he outlined two basic criteria for his potential running mate : '' One , that they are younger than I am , '' the 77-year-old candidate told the crowd .
`` No , I 'm not being facetious , and number two : that they are ready on day one to be president of the United States of America . ''
Biden has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick a woman , with many apparent choices .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren topped a recent poll of Democratic voters , followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer are also frequently mentioned , among several others .
But beyond gender and age , there are plenty of other calculations for Biden to consider that are harder to define , and his choice may be different for two key reasons .
First , Biden has held the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the governing side that most other candidates do n't have .
`` You have to be intellectually simpatico .
You have to be on the same wavelength , '' Biden said on CBS 's The Late Late Show with James Corden last month .
`` Now , Barack [ Obama ] and I never disagreed on strategy ; we sometimes disagreed on tactic . ''
Second , because of his advanced age , some Democrats think it 's plausible Biden could choose to serve one term , if elected , so on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might end up as the party 's natural standard bearer in a few years .
The most important factor is selecting a person who is qualified to assume the presidency if need be , researchers and political consultants agree .
But there are a multitude of other criteria they mention , from choosing someone who could compensate for a weakness of the presidential candidate , to selecting a running mate who is thought to offer an electoral benefit .
Last week , Biden formally began the process of looking for a running mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and current Democratic officials who are leading his search for a vice presidential candidate .
The committee plans to vet more than a dozen women , according to Biden , and complete the vetting process by July .
It 's common practice to announce a vice presidential pick in the week leading up to the nominating convention .
The Democratic National Convention has been postponed from mid July to the week of Aug. 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic , giving Biden even more time to make his pick public .
Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has strengths that he does n't have , which is a fairly common practice .
Barack Obama did not have the legislative or foreign policy experience that Biden did when he chose him in 2008 .
In 2012 , the Republican presidential nominee and current Utah Sen. Mitt Romney had no experience on Capitol Hill and picked then-Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan , who was chairman of the House Budget Committee and considered a rising GOP star in Congress .
The 2008 Republican presidential nominee , the late Arizona Sen. John McCain , similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could offset his age and long career in Washington .
His campaign considered their decision not just a strategic choice , but a competitive calculation because McCain was running against Obama .
`` We were facing an opponent who embodied , personified , change really and we needed to make a convincing argument for a change , '' said Mark Salter , a longtime top aide for McCain .
So , the McCain campaign chose Sarah Palin , then serving as the youngest governor in Alaska 's history .
`` Many people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Salter .
`` I wo n't get into whether it was or whether it was n't . ''
Palin has become for many the textbook example of what a presidential candidate should avoid when choosing a running mate .
The conventional rule in politics is that a running mate should do no harm .
Political science research has shown that Palin negatively affected McCain 's bid for the presidency .
`` If a voter viewed Sarah Palin as being unqualified , that ultimately diminished their chances of voting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , co-author of the book Do Running Mates Matter ?
The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections .
Kopko says it 's not that people voted for or against Palin directly , but McCain 's choice affected voters ' overall perception of him as a candidate .
`` You were more likely then to question his judgement , maybe he is n't someone who can adequately perform the job of president , maybe he 's too old to be president and so on and so forth , '' explained Kopko .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that running mates can indirectly affect an election , as evidenced in the McCain-Palin case .
But he cautions there 's not much evidence showing a direct impact from choosing a running mate from a particular demographic group or a specific state or region , with the hopes of picking up an advantage in the Electoral College .
`` Our research shows that that very rarely happens , '' Kopko said .
`` And that tends to be really overstated by political commentators . ''
Still , Kopko says this choice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so by promising to choose a woman , Biden sends a cue to voters about his priorities .
His running mate would be the third woman in that position , following Palin and Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 .
If Biden won , his running mate would be the highest ranking woman ever elected in the United States .
But the gender dynamics for Biden have become complicated .
In part , because the process of selecting a running mate coincides with news that Biden is facing a sexual assault allegation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusation , but the allegation still means that some of the women being considered for the job are already in the position of having to defend Biden , which many of them seem willing to do .
The prominent feminist writer Rebecca Traister outlined this as a `` trap '' at length for The Cut .
Democrats still seek diversity for the 2020 ticket While Biden has made it clear that he 'll select a woman , that 's not sufficient for some Democrats .
They 've been outspoken in calling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in hopes of energizing the Democratic base , particularly since Biden does not personally embody the diversity of the party .
Aimee Allison , president and founder of She The People , a group focused on the political power of women of color , has written that choosing a minority woman is `` more than a consolation prize , it 's a necessity . ''
`` I 've made it very clear , like a lot of other people , that it would be great if the choice were a woman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Clyburn , the highest-ranking African American member of the House .
Clyburn 's endorsement of Biden was seen as a key moment in helping Biden secure the Democratic nomination .
Although he has been very public about his desire to see a woman of color in the vice presidential slot , Clyburn also told NPR it 's `` not a must . ''
What 's more important , he says , is the relationship between running mates and how the public perceives it .
`` I think that people see right away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think you got to do extensive vetting , you got to do extensive polling .
Because this is serious business , '' Clyburn said .
`` You do n't get a do-over in this . ''
He recalls when the Democratic nominee in 1972 , South Dakota Sen. George McGovern , picked Missouri Sen. Thomas Eagleton as his running mate .
It was a last-minute choice that involved no background check .
Eighteen days later , after stories started circulating about Eagleton having been hospitalized for depression and undergoing electroshock treatment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health treatment have evolved since that time , but the point is that McGovern 's campaign was caught off-guard because it had n't properly vetted Eagleton .
That continues to haunt Democrats , since McGovern went on to lose 49 states to President Richard Nixon .
Searching for his own Biden Biden is in the unique position of having held the very job for which he 's now trying to find a replacement .
Democratic operative Tad Devine thinks that undoubtedly influences Biden 's decision .
`` I think when you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the relationship between yourself and the president is really important to you as the potential president , '' Devine said .
But that 's about governing , and Devine is personally skeptical of how much a vice presidential pick genuinely affects the election .
He has a `` bias '' he says because he was campaign manager for 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen .
That year , the Texas Democratic senator was Massachusetts Gov .
Michael Dukakis 's running mate , and with experience in Congress dating back nearly 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Republican opponent Dan Quayle , who had been in Congress just over a decade .
`` I saw that even when you have an incredible mismatch of vice presidents on both sides , that in the end does n't really affect the outcome of the election that much , '' said Devine .

Biden's Vice Presidential Choice May Be Swayed By History, Including His Own
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emmanuel Dunand /AFP via Getty Images Emmanuel Dunand /AFP via Getty Images
At a town hall in New Hampshire this past February, long before Joe Biden was the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he outlined two basic criteria for his potential running mate:
"One, that they are younger than I am," the 77-year-old candidate told the crowd. "No, I'm not being facetious, and No. 2, that they are ready on Day 1 to be president of the United States of America."
Biden has since elaborated on that list, pledging to pick a woman, with many apparent choices. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren topped a recent poll of Democratic voters, followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are also frequently mentioned, among several others.
But beyond gender and age, there are plenty of other calculations for Biden to consider that are harder to define, and his choice may be different for two key reasons.
First, Biden has held the job himself, offering him a perspective on the governing side that most other candidates don't have.
"You have to be intellectually simpatico. You have to be on the same wavelength," Biden said on CBS's The Late Late Show with James Corden last month. "Now, Barack [Obama] and I never disagreed on strategy; we sometimes disagreed on tactic."
Second, because of his advanced age, some Democrats think it's plausible Biden could choose to serve one term, if elected. So on the political front, his potential vice president might end up as the party's natural standard bearer in a few years.
The most important factor is selecting a person who is qualified to assume the presidency if need be, researchers and political consultants agree. But there are a multitude of other criteria they mention, from choosing someone who could compensate for a weakness of the presidential candidate, to selecting a running mate who is thought to offer an electoral benefit.
Last week, Biden formally began the process of looking for a running mate by announcing the names of former and current Democratic officials who are leading his search for a vice presidential candidate. The committee plans to vet more than a dozen women, according to Biden, and complete the vetting process by July.
It's common practice to announce a vice presidential pick in the week leading up to the nominating convention. The Democratic National Convention has been postponed from mid July to the week of Aug. 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic, giving Biden even more time to make his pick public.
Balancing the ticket
Biden has said he's looking for someone who has strengths that he doesn't have, which is a fairly common practice. Barack Obama did not have the legislative or foreign policy experience that Biden did when he chose him in 2008.
In 2012, the Republican presidential nominee and current Utah Sen. Mitt Romney had no experience on Capitol Hill and picked then-Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, who was chairman of the House Budget Committee and considered a rising GOP star in Congress.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images
The 2008 Republican presidential nominee, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, similarly tried to find a running mate who could offset his age and long career in Washington. His campaign considered their decision not just a strategic choice, but a competitive calculation because McCain was running against Obama.
"We were facing an opponent who embodied, personified, change really and we needed to make a convincing argument for a change," said Mark Salter, a longtime top aide for McCain.
So the McCain campaign chose Sarah Palin, then serving as the youngest governor in Alaska's history.
"Many people have obviously argued that choice was a mistake," said Salter. "I won't get into whether it was or whether it wasn't."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck /AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck /AFP via Getty Images
Palin has become, for many, the textbook example of what a presidential candidate should avoid when choosing a running mate. The conventional rule in politics is that a running mate should do no harm. Political science research has shown that Palin negatively affected McCain's bid for the presidency.
"If a voter viewed Sarah Palin as being unqualified, that ultimately diminished their chances of voting for the Republican ticket," explained Kyle Kopko, co-author of the book Do Running Mates Matter? The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections.
Kopko says it's not that people voted for or against Palin directly, but McCain's choice affected voters' overall perception of him as a candidate.
"You were more likely then to question his judgment — maybe he isn't someone who can adequately perform the job of president, maybe he's too old to be president and so on and so forth," explained Kopko.
Kopko and his collaborator Christopher Devine have found that running mates can indirectly affect an election, as evidenced in the McCain-Palin case.
But he cautions there's not much evidence showing a direct impact from choosing a running mate from a particular demographic group or a specific state or region, with the hopes of picking up an advantage in the Electoral College.
"Our research shows that that very rarely happens," Kopko said. "And that tends to be really overstated by political commentators."
Still, Kopko says this choice is a presidential candidate's first major decision, so by promising to choose a woman, Biden sends a cue to voters about his priorities.
His running mate would be the third woman in that position, following Palin and Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. If Biden won, his running mate would be the highest ranking woman ever elected in the United States.
But the gender dynamics for Biden have become complicated. In part, that's because the process of selecting a running mate coincides with news that Biden is facing a sexual assault allegation from a former staffer.
He firmly denies the accusation, but the allegation still means that some of the women being considered for the job are already in the position of having to defend Biden, which many of them seem willing to do.
The prominent feminist writer Rebecca Traister outlined this as a "trap" at length for The Cut.
Democrats still seek diversity for the 2020 ticket
While Biden has made it clear that he'll select a woman, that's not sufficient for some Democrats.
They've been outspoken in calling on Biden to choose a woman of color, in hopes of energizing the Democratic base, particularly since Biden does not personally embody the diversity of the party.
Aimee Allison, president and founder of She The People, a group focused on the political power of women of color, has written that choosing a minority woman is "more than a consolation prize, it's a necessity."
"I've made it very clear, like a lot of other people, that it would be great if the choice were a woman of color," said South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American member of the House. Clyburn's endorsement of Biden was seen as a key moment in helping Biden secure the Democratic nomination.
Although he has been very public about his desire to see a woman of color in the vice presidential slot, Clyburn also told NPR it's "not a must."
What's more important, he says, is the relationship between running mates and how the public perceives it.
"I think that people see right away if the chemistry is there, so I think you got to do extensive vetting, you got to do extensive polling. Because this is serious business," Clyburn said. "You don't get a do-over in this."
He recalls when the Democratic nominee in 1972, South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, picked Missouri Sen. Thomas Eagleton as his running mate.
It was a last-minute choice that involved no background check. Eighteen days later, after stories started circulating about Eagleton having been hospitalized for depression and undergoing electroshock treatment, he withdrew his candidacy.
Attitudes around mental health treatment have evolved since that time, but the point is that McGovern's campaign was caught off guard because it hadn't properly vetted Eagleton. That continues to haunt Democrats, since McGovern went on to lose 49 states to President Richard Nixon.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anthony Korody/Getty Images Anthony Korody/Getty Images
Searching for his own Biden
Biden is in the unique position of having held the very job for which he's now trying to find a replacement. Democratic operative Tad Devine thinks that undoubtedly influences Biden's decision.
"I think when you have that perspective of being the vice president, the relationship between yourself and the president is really important to you as the potential president," Devine said.
But that's about governing, and Devine is personally skeptical of how much a vice presidential pick genuinely affects the election. He has a "bias," he says, because he was campaign manager for 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ron Edmonds /AP Ron Edmonds /AP
That year, the Texas Democratic senator was Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis' running mate, and with experience in Congress dating back nearly 40 years was widely considered more qualified than his Republican opponent, Dan Quayle, who had been in Congress just over a decade.
"I saw that even when you have an incredible mismatch of vice presidents on both sides, that in the end doesn't really affect the outcome of the election that much," said Devine.
Bush and Quayle won 40 states that November.


npr--2020-05-06--Trump Campaign Reworks Its Pitch To Black Voters After Pandemic Slams Economy

Trump Campaign Reworks Its Pitch To Black Voters After Pandemic Slams Economy Before the coronavirus crisis decimated the U.S. economy , the record-low unemployment rate for African Americans was the backbone of President Trump 's reelection pitch to black voters .
It was always a tough sell , given his past performance with African Americans .
Now it 's even tougher after the pandemic has erased economic gains and forced the campaign to adjust its message in its outreach to black voters .
Early government data show that black employees are losing work at a higher rate than white workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health impacts , with African Americans being hospitalized more and dying at much higher rates from the virus .
`` We 're doing everything in our power to address this challenge ... and provide support to African American citizens of this country who are going through a lot .
But it 's been disproportional .
They 're getting hit very , very hard , '' Trump said at a briefing in early April .
Trump has directed his White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to focus on minority communities affected by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson , is supposed to identify additional funding needs for these areas .
The pandemic hit just as the Trump campaign 's direct appeals to African Americans were ramping up .
There were plans for field offices in predominantly black neighborhoods in 15 cities in swing states , and volunteers going door to door .
The goal was to boost support among black voters from the 8 % of that vote Trump attracted in 2016 .
In tight races , even a bit more support could make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed the campaign online to a video chat series called Real Talk .
The main focus is praising Trump for his response to the virus and bashing Democrats and the media .
`` President Trump has taken decisive action in terms of his leadership and addressing COVID-19 , especially with the black community , '' Paris Dennard , a senior communications adviser for the Republican National Committee , said on the program last month .
But sometimes the conversation strays .
Last month , social media stars Diamond and Silk — also known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complained about stay-at-home orders during a Real Talk session .
`` When you leave somebody shut up in their house , instead of them catching coronavirus , they 're going to catch diabetes , high blood pressure , '' Hardaway said .
Trump 's coronavirus task force has recommended that people with conditions like diabetes and hypertension stay at home and be vigilant about social distancing .
These health issues are more prevalent among African Americans in part because of longtime disparities in the health care system .
The duo also compared social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is socialism , phase one .
If we 're not careful , this is what we 're going to see .
We 're going to be slaves up and through here if we 're not careful , '' Hardaway said .
Asked about these comments , campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said Diamond and Silk remain `` valued members of Team Trump . ''
Farnaso said Trump is still working to try to improve conditions for African Americans .
`` President Trump remains focused on restoring record-low unemployment for [ black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flourish and succeed , '' Farnaso said in a statement to NPR .
Winning over black voters was always going to be hard for Trump , given African Americans ' broad historical support for the Democratic Party , said Chryl Laird , co-author of Steadfast Democrats : How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior .
Laird said this long-standing partisan norm is reinforced socially because the U.S. remains racially segregated .
It is hard for any Republican to overcome , but Trump has his own baggage .
Since his election , polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is racist .
Laird said today 's crisis shows just how tenuous Trump 's claims about economic benefits were , given this country 's history of systemic racism .
`` Whatever ground that blacks were on was a very shaky foundation in the first place , '' Laird told NPR .
`` These short-term demonstrations of improvement do n't speak to these deeper and much more significant aspects of the inequality and racism . ''

Trump Campaign Reworks Its Pitch To Black Voters After Pandemic Slams Economy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images
Before the coronavirus crisis decimated the U.S. economy, the record-low unemployment rate for African Americans was the backbone of President Trump's reelection pitch to black voters.
It was always a tough sell, given his past performance with African Americans. Now it's even tougher after the pandemic has erased economic gains and forced the campaign to adjust its message in its outreach to black voters.
Early government data show that black employees are losing work at a higher rate than white workers. That's on top of devastating health impacts, with African Americans being hospitalized more and dying at much higher rates from the virus.
"We're doing everything in our power to address this challenge ... and provide support to African American citizens of this country who are going through a lot. But it's been disproportional. They're getting hit very, very hard," Trump said at a briefing in early April.
Trump has directed his White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to focus on minority communities affected by the coronavirus. The council, headed by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, is supposed to identify additional funding needs for these areas.
The pandemic hit just as the Trump campaign's direct appeals to African Americans were ramping up. There were plans for field offices in predominantly black neighborhoods in 15 cities in swing states, and volunteers going door to door. The goal was to boost support among black voters from the 8% of that vote Trump attracted in 2016. In tight races, even a bit more support could make a difference.
But the coronavirus pandemic has pushed the campaign online to a video chat series called Real Talk. The main focus is praising Trump for his response to the virus and bashing Democrats and the media.
"President Trump has taken decisive action in terms of his leadership and addressing COVID-19, especially with the black community," Paris Dennard, a senior communications adviser for the Republican National Committee, said on the program last month.
But sometimes the conversation strays.
Last month, social media stars Diamond and Silk — also known as Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson — complained about stay-at-home orders during a Real Talk session.
"When you leave somebody shut up in their house, instead of them catching coronavirus, they're going to catch diabetes, high blood pressure," Hardaway said.
Trump's coronavirus task force has recommended that people with conditions like diabetes and hypertension stay at home and be vigilant about social distancing. These health issues are more prevalent among African Americans in part because of longtime disparities in the health care system.
The duo also compared social distancing to socialism — and even slavery.
"This is socialism, phase one. If we're not careful, this is what we're going to see. We're going to be slaves up and through here if we're not careful," Hardaway said.
Asked about these comments, campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said Diamond and Silk remain "valued members of Team Trump."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Farnaso said Trump is still working to try to improve conditions for African Americans.
"President Trump remains focused on restoring record-low unemployment for [black] Americans and generating opportunities for them to flourish and succeed," Farnaso said in a statement to NPR.
Winning over black voters was always going to be hard for Trump, given African Americans' broad historical support for the Democratic Party, said Chryl Laird, co-author of Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior.
Laird said this long-standing partisan norm is reinforced socially because the U.S. remains racially segregated. It is hard for any Republican to overcome, but Trump has his own baggage. Since his election, polls have shown that most African Americans believe that he is racist.
Laird said today's crisis shows just how tenuous Trump's claims about economic benefits were, given this country's history of systemic racism.
"Whatever ground that blacks were on was a very shaky foundation in the first place," Laird told NPR. "These short-term demonstrations of improvement don't speak to these deeper and much more significant aspects of the inequality and racism."


npr--2020-05-06--Religious Objectors V. Birth Control Back At Supreme Court

The birth-control wars return to the Supreme Court Wednesday , and it is likely that the five-justice conservative majority will make it more difficult for women to get birth control if they work for religiously affiliated institutions like hospitals , charities and universities .
At issue in the case is a Trump administration rule that significantly cuts back on access to birth control under the Affordable Care Act .
Obamacare , the massive overhaul of the health care system , sought to equalize preventive health care coverage for women and men by requiring employers to include free birth control in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arguments live beginning at 10 a.m .
ET .
Houses of worship like churches and synagogues were automatically exempted from the provision , but religiously affiliated nonprofits like universities , charities and hospitals were not .
Such organizations employ millions of people , many of whom want access to birth control for themselves and their family members .
But many of these institutions say they have a religious objection to providing birth control for employees .
For these nonprofits , the Obama administration enacted rules providing a work-around to accommodate employers ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an employer was to notify the government , or the insurance company , or the plan administrator , that , for religious reasons , it would not be providing birth-control coverage to its employees .
Then , the insurance company could provide free birth-control options to individual employees separately from the employer 's plan .
But some religiously affiliated groups still objected , saying the work-around was not good enough , and sued .
They contended that signing an opt-out form amounted to authorizing the use of their plan for birth control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Poor , an order of Catholic nuns that runs homes for the elderly poor .
The Little Sisters sued , and their case first reached the Supreme Court in 2016 .
At the time , Sister Constance Viet explained why she refused to sign any opt-out form , saying that `` the religious burden is what that signifies and the fact that the government would ... be inserting services that we object into our plan .
And it would still carry our name . ''
Back then , when the Little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court , the justices basically punted , telling the government and the sisters to work together to try to reach a compromise that would still provide `` seamless birth control '' coverage for employees who want it , without burdening the Sisters ' religious beliefs .
Although the Little Sisters did eventually get relief from the lower courts , the fight over the accommodations rules continued right up to the end of the Obama administration .
But when President Trump came into office , the administration issued new rules that would give broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have objections to providing birth-control coverage for their employees .
And the new rules expanded the category of employers who would be exempt from the birth-control mandate to include not just those with religious objections , but those with moral objections , too .
Those new rules , currently blocked by lower courts , are what is at issue Wednesday in the Supreme Court .
`` Many states are suing and none of them can find a single actual woman who claims she 's been harmed , '' says Mark Reinezi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberty , which is defending the Trump rules against challenges brought by Pennsylvania and other states .
And , he adds , `` there are many other ways to provide contraceptive coverage to people if they happen to work for religious objectors . ''
Rienzi says that employees who work for birth-control objectors can get coverage from their spouse 's insurance plan , or by switching to a different insurance plan on an Obamacare exchange .
And he says that birth control is also available under a program known as Title X , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments to provide health care for women .
But Brigitte Amiri , the deputy director the of ACLU 's Reproductive Freedom project , says the idea that Title X could make up for the lost coverage is `` a joke . ''
Amiri notes that the Title X program has been underfunded for years , and the Trump administration has issued new regulations that in her words `` decimated the program . ''
According to Amiri , `` the Trump administration and Vice President [ Mike ] Pence have long wanted to ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to block access to birth control .
They want to block access to abortion ... so this is all part and parcel of the overall attack on access to reproductive health care . ''
She maintains that if the expanded Trump rules are upheld for religious objectors , hundreds of thousands of women across the country will lose their contraceptive coverage .
Ultimately , Amiri says , there just is no way to maintain birth-control coverage for employees who work for religiously affiliated institutions unless that employer , as she puts it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand '' to opt out .
A break in birth-control coverage that big could have serious consequences , say say birth-control advocates .
They note that the National Academy of Medicine , a health policy nonprofit , recommended the original rules because birth control is prescribed not just to avoid pregnancy but also to treat various female medical conditions .
In fact , it is the most frequently taken drug for women ages 15-60 .
And it is expensive , $ 30 a month and more for pills , and as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IUD inserted .
Birth-control advocates say that 's the very reason that a broad requirement to cover birth control in insurance was included in Obamacare .
They say the new Trump rule improperly undermines that mandate .
But selling that argument to the Supreme Court will be hard .
When the court last considered this issue in 2016 , its makeup was far less conservative than it is now .
Since then , two Trump appointees have been added to the court .
And both of those appointees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the notion that religious rights may often trump other rights .

Religious Objectors V. Birth Control Back At Supreme Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/AP
The birth-control wars return to the Supreme Court Wednesday, and it is likely that the five-justice conservative majority will make it more difficult for women to get birth control if they work for religiously affiliated institutions like hospitals, charities and universities.
At issue in the case is a Trump administration rule that significantly cuts back on access to birth control under the Affordable Care Act. Obamacare, the massive overhaul of the health care system, sought to equalize preventive health care coverage for women and men by requiring employers to include free birth control in their health care plans.
Listen to the arguments live beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
Houses of worship like churches and synagogues were automatically exempted from the provision, but religiously affiliated nonprofits like universities, charities and hospitals were not. Such organizations employ millions of people, many of whom want access to birth control for themselves and their family members. But many of these institutions say they have a religious objection to providing birth control for employees.
For these nonprofits, the Obama administration enacted rules providing a work-around to accommodate employers' religious objections. The workaround was that an employer was to notify the government, or the insurance company, or the plan administrator, that, for religious reasons, it would not be providing birth-control coverage to its employees. Then, the insurance company could provide free birth-control options to individual employees separately from the employer's plan.
But some religiously affiliated groups still objected, saying the work-around was not good enough, and sued. They contended that signing an opt-out form amounted to authorizing the use of their plan for birth control. Among those objectors was the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of Catholic nuns that runs homes for the elderly poor.
The Supreme Court punted in 2016
The Little Sisters sued, and their case first reached the Supreme Court in 2016. At the time, Sister Constance Viet explained why she refused to sign any opt-out form, saying that "the religious burden is what that signifies and the fact that the government would ... be inserting services that we object into our plan. And it would still carry our name."
Back then, when the Little Sisters' case got to the Supreme Court, the justices basically punted, telling the government and the sisters to work together to try to reach a compromise that would still provide "seamless birth control" coverage for employees who want it, without burdening the Sisters' religious beliefs. Although the Little Sisters did eventually get relief from the lower courts, the fight over the accommodations rules continued right up to the end of the Obama administration.
But when President Trump came into office, the administration issued new rules that would give broad exemptions to nonprofits and some for-profit companies that have objections to providing birth-control coverage for their employees. And the new rules expanded the category of employers who would be exempt from the birth-control mandate to include not just those with religious objections, but those with moral objections, too.
New rules
Those new rules, currently blocked by lower courts, are what is at issue Wednesday in the Supreme Court.
"Many states are suing and none of them can find a single actual woman who claims she's been harmed," says Mark Reinezi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is defending the Trump rules against challenges brought by Pennsylvania and other states.
And, he adds, "there are many other ways to provide contraceptive coverage to people if they happen to work for religious objectors."
Rienzi says that employees who work for birth-control objectors can get coverage from their spouse's insurance plan, or by switching to a different insurance plan on an Obamacare exchange. And he says that birth control is also available under a program known as Title X, which gives money to state and local governments to provide health care for women.
But Brigitte Amiri, the deputy director the of ACLU's Reproductive Freedom project, says the idea that Title X could make up for the lost coverage is "a joke." Amiri notes that the Title X program has been underfunded for years, and the Trump administration has issued new regulations that in her words "decimated the program."
According to Amiri, "the Trump administration and Vice President [Mike] Pence have long wanted to ... take away coverage for contraception. They want to block access to birth control. They want to block access to abortion ... so this is all part and parcel of the overall attack on access to reproductive health care."
Potential consequences
She maintains that if the expanded Trump rules are upheld for religious objectors, hundreds of thousands of women across the country will lose their contraceptive coverage. Ultimately, Amiri says, there just is no way to maintain birth-control coverage for employees who work for religiously affiliated institutions unless that employer, as she puts it, is willing to "raise their hand" to opt out.
A break in birth-control coverage that big could have serious consequences, say say birth-control advocates. They note that the National Academy of Medicine, a health policy nonprofit, recommended the original rules because birth control is prescribed not just to avoid pregnancy but also to treat various female medical conditions. In fact, it is the most frequently taken drug for women ages 15-60. And it is expensive, $30 a month and more for pills, and as much as $1,000 for buying and having an IUD inserted.
Birth-control advocates say that's the very reason that a broad requirement to cover birth control in insurance was included in Obamacare. They say the new Trump rule improperly undermines that mandate.
But selling that argument to the Supreme Court will be hard. When the court last considered this issue in 2016, its makeup was far less conservative than it is now. Since then, two Trump appointees have been added to the court. And both of those appointees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — have already indicated strong support for the notion that religious rights may often trump other rights.


npr--2020-05-06--Wildland Fire Camps Need Dramatic Change Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

When a wildfire explodes out of control and threatens property and lives , thousands of firefighters and support crews rush to the scene from around the country and even the world .
Almost overnight a small city sprouts up , with firefighters camped in dense rows of tents in fields and eating in crowded mess halls .
There are the caterers , the contractors , the crew bosses huddled around laptops at the command post .
Fire camps are akin to cruise ships on land , says Melissa Baumann , who heads the union representing U.S. Forest Service employees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting a wildland fire and not being near each other , '' Baumann says .
In this new era of coronavirus , the guidance on everything from how fire camps will be set up , to the safety protocols and social distancing rules for fire crews is evolving and not yet finalized , even with the wildfire season officially underway .
Some red flag warnings have already been issued in the Southwest , where alongside southern Florida , there 's a higher than usual threat of major wildfires this spring , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation , some wildland firefighters worry whether they can do their jobs safely during a global pandemic .
`` A lot of our employees are concerned that different agencies [ and ] groups that provide support may not have the same level of protocols for distancing , '' Baumann says .
Some western governors are also concerned .
They 've signaled they may not allow crews to leave their regions to help out in other places because they 're worried about quarantines or infections sidelining their firefighters .
Typically , the wildfire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West at different times , with firefighters deploying to the Southwest around now , then the Rocky Mountain states and Northwest later in the summer with an often dramatic crescendo to the season in California in the fall .
This uncertainty over the availability — and mobility — of firefighting crews has the Trump administration scrambling to reassure the public that it 's ready .
`` The West has been not as hard hit as say , New York City obviously , so I think we 're going to watch a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures , '' says William Perry Pendley , the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management .
Alongside the Forest Service , the BLM is one of the federal government 's lead firefighting agencies .
It has n't had a permanent director since President Trump took office .
Pendley has been pleading with the states and local jurisdictions to reconsider , saying steps are in place to protect firefighter safety .
`` Even though it 's really unusual , we have absolutely no intention of standing down , '' Pendley told NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , consistent with protecting the health of our firefighters and the public with whom they come in contact , we 're gon na do it . ''
For now , federal agencies say they 're trying to hire even more firefighters than usual .
Grant Beebe , an assistant director at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise says they 're also planning to treat individual crews like family units — with frequent temperature checks and testing — as they travel around the country for likely months .
Federal officials are also looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire camp model , with more off-site catering and tactical teams doing work remotely whenever possible .
`` We 'll manage the exposure and the risk and the social distance with those people as a group , as a family essentially , '' Beebe says .
`` That 's how we 're thinking about engine crews and smokejumpers and hot shot crews . ''
Still , there is anxiety over the unknown , especially if the country sees a big wildfire soon and there is no uniform plan for how to set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
Much of the American West is entering its third decade of severe drought .
Beebe concedes that on big fires social distancing may not be possible .
`` What we 're coaching our folks is , manage your fire risk , fight your fire aggressively , provide for safety and manage COVID to your best of your ability at the same time , '' he says .
`` But do n't lose focus on firefighting because of concern about COVID . ''
Firefighters say they 're used to having to adjust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new dangers .
In Oregon , Miller Timber Services is a private wildland fire company that contracts with federal agencies .
Owner Lee Miller says they 'll manage COVID like other `` watch out '' risks : do n't ever go into a box canyon on fire , do n't get under trees in high winds .
`` These are all 'watch out ' situations and we 'll train our firefighters the same thing : not to walk into a heavily crowded camp if there 's a chance of getting the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal guidance , Miller and other private contractors are looking at putting their crews in vacant hotels wherever possible not camps .
Just one more way to adapt to firefighting in such uncertain times .

Wildland Fire Camps Need Dramatic Change Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
As the wildfire season is beginning, some wild land firefighters are worried their safety could be at risk since the government has been slow to adopt new COVID-19 protocols.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
The month of May marks the beginning of wildfire season. And this year, firefighters are facing an additional challenge - how to do their jobs while also protecting themselves from a deadly virus. NPR's Kirk Siegler has more.
KIRK SIEGLER, BYLINE: When a wildfire explodes out of control and threatens property and lives, thousands of firefighters and support crews converge on the scene from around the country and even the world.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: What team's coming in?
SIEGLER: Almost overnight, a small city sprouts up like at this fire in Southern California a few years ago. You've got firefighters camped in dense rows of tents in fields, eating in crowded mess halls. There are the caterers, the contractors, the crew bosses huddled around laptops at the command post. Fire camps are like cruise ships on land, says Melissa Baumann. She heads the union representing U.S. Forest Service employees.
MELISSA BAUMANN: There's a tremendous tension between fighting the wildland fire and not being near each other.
SIEGLER: In this new era of coronavirus, figuring out everything from how fire camps will be set up to the safety and social distancing rules for fire crews is a complex task. Federal officials only recently finalized guidance plans, and even those are designed to change as the science evolves.
BAUMANN: And I know a lot of our employees are concerned that different agencies, different groups that provide firefighters and provide support may not have the same level of trying to follow the same protocols for distancing.
SIEGLER: Some western governors are also concerned. They've signaled they may not allow crews to leave their regions to help out in other places because they're worried about quarantines or infections sidelining their firefighters. This has the Trump administration trying to reassure the public that it's ready.
WILLIAM PERRY PENDLEY: The West has been not as hard hit as, say, New York City obviously. So I think we're going to watch a lot of governors back down on some of their closures.
SIEGLER: William Perry Pendley is acting director at the Bureau of Land Management, one of the federal government's lead firefighting agencies.
PENDLEY: Even though it's really unusual, we have absolutely no intention of standing down. Whatever we have to do consistent with protecting the health of our firefighters and the public with whom they come in contact, we're going to do it.
SIEGLER: For now, federal agencies hope to break up the usual sprawling fire camps into smaller ones, provide to-go food and have tactical teams do as much work as possible remotely. Grant Beebe, an assistant director at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, says they're also planning to treat individual crews like family units with frequent temperature checks and testing.
GRANT BEEBE: Those are firefighters who are going to spend the year together until we manage the exposure and the risk and the social distance with those people as a group, as a family, essentially. And that's how we're thinking about engine crews and smoke jumpers and hotshot crews.
SIEGLER: Managing COVID-19 will add more worries and responsibilities for incident commanders, whose job it is to coordinate hundreds of different personnel and keep them safe. Beebe says that on the fire line itself, though, social distancing may not be possible.
BEEBE: What we're coaching our folks is manage your fire risk. Do what you know to do. Fight your fire aggressively, provide for safety and manage COVID to your best of your ability at the same time, but don't lose focus on firefighting because of concern about COVID.
SIEGLER: But firefighters say they're used to having to adjust on the fly and change protocols for new dangers. In Oregon, Lee Miller runs a private wildland fire company that contracts with federal agencies. He says they'll manage COVID like other risks - don't ever go into a box canyon on fire. Don't get under the trees in high winds.
LEE MILLER: These are all watch out situations, and the same thing - we'll train our firefighters the same thing, not to walk into a heavily crowded camp if there is a chance of getting the virus.
SIEGLER: Private contractors are looking at putting their crews in vacant hotels wherever possible - just one more way to adapt to firefighting in uncertain times. Kirk Siegler, NPR News, Boise.
(SOUNDBITE OF THOSE WHO RIDE WITH GIANTS' "THE MOUNTAIN SEED")
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npr--2020-05-05--Illinois Announces Phased Reopening And Its Largest Daily COVID-19 Death Toll

Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday his five-phase reopening plan , while the state saw its highest daily death toll from COVID-19 .
Over the last 24 hours , 176 residents died , said Illinois Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike , who joined the governor at his daily briefing .
That brings the number of deaths in the state to more than 3,800 .
Ezike said the situation could have been even more dire if the governor had n't extended his stay-at-home executive order to May 29 .
She also credited residents paying heed to social distancing , wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways to connect with each other .
But the threat continues .
`` The truth is we are still in a significant war with an enemy , '' she said , adding that because the coronavirus ca n't be seen , some may underestimate its destructiveness .
`` If this was a traditional war with soldiers outside of our doors and people risking their lives to be outside of their homes , '' Ezike said , `` no one would think about the need to go to work or get their dog groomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way back to normalcy will take time , said Pritzker , adding that that ca n't happen until there 's a vaccine , an effective treatment or widespread immunity .
Pritzker outlined his plan for slowly reopening the state , called `` Restore Illinois . ''
It divides the state into four regions , acknowledging that each section may have distinct needs and conditions .
And that means the areas could move through the five phases at different times if health data for that region show declines in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first two phases , with the initial shutdown of all but essential businesses and social distancing guidelines .
Because the overall rate of infection is slowing , that has allowed Phase 2 to kick in .
Some nonessential retail outlets can reopen , offering curbside pickup and delivery .
Residents also are directed to wear face masks when outside .
Phase 3 will allow more outlets , including barbershops and salons , to reopen under certain capacity and safety limits , with groups of 10 people or less being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decline , Phase 4 kicks in .
Schools , restaurants and day care centers can open with guidance from the state 's health department and gatherings of 50 or less will be allowed .
Until there 's a vaccine or widespread treatment though , Illinois will not reach stage 5 — a full resumption of its economy .
Pritzker said it brings him no joy , but that means no conventions , festivals or large events for now .
He says he wo n't risk overwhelming the state 's hospital system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands more deaths .
As scientists learn more about COVID-19 , the plan could also change , he said .

Illinois Announces Phased Reopening And Its Largest Daily COVID-19 Death Toll
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP Nam Y. Huh/AP
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday his five-phase reopening plan, while the state saw its highest daily death toll from COVID-19.
Over the previous 24 hours, 176 residents died, said Illinois Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike, who joined the governor at his daily briefing. That brings the number of deaths in the state to more than 3,800.
Ezike said the situation could have been even more dire if the governor hadn't extended his stay-at-home executive order to May 29. She also credited residents paying heed to social distancing, wearing face masks and finding other, safer ways to connect with each other. But the threat continues.
"The truth is we are still in a significant war with an enemy," she said, adding that because the coronavirus can't be seen, some may underestimate it.
"If this was a traditional war with soldiers outside of our doors and people risking their lives to be outside of their homes," Ezike said, "no one would think about the need to go to work or get their dog groomed or their car washed."
Finding a way back to normalcy will take time, said Pritzker, adding that that can't happen until there's a vaccine, an effective treatment or widespread immunity.
Pritzker outlined his plan for slowly reopening the state, called "Restore Illinois." It divides the state into four regions, acknowledging that each section may have distinct needs and conditions. That means the areas could move through the five phases at different times if health data for that region show declines in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
Most of the state is already in the first two phases, with the initial shutdown of all but essential businesses and social distancing guidelines. Because the overall rate of infection is slowing, that has allowed Phase 2 to kick in. Some nonessential retail outlets can reopen, offering curbside pickup and delivery. Residents also are directed to wear face masks when outside.
Phase 3 will allow more outlets, including barbershops and salons, to reopen under certain capacity and safety limits, with groups of 10 people or fewer being able to meet.
As hospitalizations and cases continue to decline, Phase 4 kicks in. Schools, restaurants and day care centers can open with guidance from the state's health department and gatherings of 50 or fewer will be allowed.
Until there's a vaccine or widespread treatment though, Illinois will not reach Stage 5 — a full resumption of its economy.
Pritzker said it brings him no joy, but that means no conventions, festivals or large events for now. He says he won't risk overwhelming the state's hospital system and opening the door to potentially tens of thousands more deaths.
As scientists learn more about COVID-19, the plan could also change, he said.


npr--2020-05-05--Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalized After Infection

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent non-surgical treatment Tuesday for a benign gallbladder condition , according to a press release from the Supreme Court .
She plans to participate in oral arguments from the hospital on Wednesday , according to the release .
In pain on Monday , Ginsburg went to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington after hearing the first-ever Supreme Court teleconference of oral arguments .
At Sibley , she was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis , a condition in which a gallstone migrates to the cystic duct .
She nonetheless participated in arguments from home on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatment of the infected duct later Tuesday .
Doctors not involved in Ginsburg 's care said non-surgical treatment typically involves antibiotics and insertion of a tube to drain the infected duct .
Friends said the justice was in good spirits on Tuesday night , and watching the Metropolitan Opera on her iPad .
Ginsburg 's emergency treatment coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court 's historic live-streaming of its oral arguments in which the justices are participating by telephone because of the coronavirus .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is `` resting comfortably '' and plans to participate in oral arguments again on Wednesday when the court considers an important birth control case .
She is expected to remain in the hospital for another day or two .
Last year , Ginsburg completed three weeks of radiation treatment after a cancerous tumor was discovered on her pancreas .
It was the fourth time in 20 years that she had been treated for cancer , and the second time in a year .
In December 2019 , she was operated on for @ @ @

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalized After Infection
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent non-surgical treatment Tuesday for a benign gallbladder condition, according to a press release from the Supreme Court. She plans to participate in oral arguments from the hospital on Wednesday, according to the release.
In pain on Monday, Ginsburg went to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington after hearing the first-ever Supreme Court teleconference of oral arguments. At Sibley, she was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, a condition in which a gallstone migrates to the cystic duct. She nonetheless participated in arguments from home on Tuesday, but was in enough pain that she went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatment of the infected duct later Tuesday.
Doctors not involved in Ginsburg's care said non-surgical treatment typically involves antibiotics and insertion of a tube to drain the infected duct.
Friends said the justice was in good spirits on Tuesday night, and watching the Metropolitan Opera on her iPad.
Ginsburg's emergency treatment coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court's historic live-streaming of its oral arguments in which the justices are participating by telephone because of the coronavirus. According to the court statement, Ginsburg, 87, is "resting comfortably" and plans to participate in oral arguments again on Wednesday when the court considers an important birth control case.
She is expected to remain in the hospital for another day or two.
Last year, Ginsburg completed three weeks of radiation treatment after a cancerous tumor was discovered on her pancreas. It was the fourth time in 20 years that she had been treated for cancer, and the second time in a year. In December 2019, she was operated on for lung cancer.


npr--2020-05-05--Disney Reports First Quarterly Earnings Since Pandemic Began

Disney Reports First Quarterly Earnings Since Pandemic Began In its quarterly earnings call with investors on Tuesday afternoon , home-bound Disney executives offered sobering assessments of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the multinational entertainment company 's businesses .
With closures of its theme parks , resorts and cruise ships , a shuttered movie business and declining television ad revenue , the company estimates losses to be , `` as much as $ 1.4 billion '' in the second quarter of 2020 .
Chairman of the Board Bob Iger , who delayed a planned retirement to help guide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call sounding beleaguered .
`` Like so many other industries , the pandemic has hit us hard . ''
Iger 's replacement , Bob Chapek , said that when he started the new job of CEO just two and a half months ago , `` None of us could 've imagined the suffering and sacrifice that we 're now seeing around the world . ''
The big news was the announcement that Shanghai Disney will open on May 11 .
Chapek , a 30 year veteran of the company , called it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would limit attendance and everyone , employees and guests , would wear masks .
As the nation 's largest media conglomerate , Disney 's brands include Pixar , Marvel , Star Wars , as well as 21st Century Fox , ABC and ESPN .
Disney also controls Hulu and launched its new streaming service , Disney+ , last November .
UBS analyst John Hodulik says , even accounting for the lack of live sports during the pandemic , Disney added far fewer subscribers to Hulu Live than he was expecting .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs , `` we 've got a very tough quarter coming . ''
During the call , Disney CFO Christine McCarthy announced the board 's decision to forgo paying a cash dividend for the first half of fiscal 2020 , saving the company about $ 1.6 billion in cash .
`` It makes sense , '' analyst Hodulik says .
Since Disney furloughed more than 100,000 employees , `` there 's no reason why the shareholders should n't have to share in some of the pain . ''
Disney 's next big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open July 24 .
Chapek said their `` fingers are crossed '' that , by then , there will be `` incredible pent-up demand . ''
Bob Iger , the former CEO , who had seen the company through economic downturns and natural disasters believes the need for Disney 's `` messages of hope and optimism '' is greater than ever and will sustain the company through this unprecedented time .
`` People want good news .
They want to feel joy and the feeling of togetherness . ''
In other words @ @ @ @ @

Disney Expects Losses 'As Much As $1.4 Billion' In 2nd Quarter Of 2020
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Slim /AFP via Getty Images Daniel Slim /AFP via Getty Images
In its quarterly earnings call with investors on Tuesday afternoon, homebound Disney executives offered sobering assessments of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the multinational entertainment company's businesses.
With closures of its theme parks, resorts and cruise ships, a shuttered movie business and declining television ad revenue, the company estimates losses to be "as much as $1.4 billion" in the second quarter of 2020.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Bob Iger, who delayed a planned retirement to help guide the company through the crisis, began the call sounding beleaguered. "Like so many other industries, the pandemic has hit us hard." Iger's replacement, Bob Chapek, said that when he started the new job of CEO just two and a half months ago, "None of us could've imagined the suffering and sacrifice that we're now seeing around the world."
Disney also announced that Shanghai Disney will open on May 11. Chapek, a 30-year veteran of the company, called it a "phased approach," explaining they would limit attendance and everyone, employees and guests, would wear masks.
As the nation's largest media conglomerate, Disney's brands include Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, 21st Century Fox, ABC and ESPN. Disney also controls Hulu and launched its new streaming service, Disney+, last November.
UBS analyst John Hodulik says, even accounting for the lack of live sports during the pandemic, Disney added far fewer subscribers to Hulu Live than he was expecting. As the economy slows and people continue to lose their jobs, "we've got a very tough quarter coming."
During the call, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy announced the board's decision to forgo paying a cash dividend for the first half of fiscal 2020, saving the company about $1.6 billion in cash.
"It makes sense," analyst Hodulik says. Since Disney furloughed more than 100,000 employees, "there's no reason why the shareholders shouldn't have to share in some of the pain."
Disney's next big movie, Mulan, is scheduled to open July 24. Chapek said "fingers are crossed" that by then there will be "incredible pent-up demand."
Iger, the former CEO who saw the company through economic downturns and natural disasters, believes the need for Disney's "messages of hope and optimism" is greater than ever and will sustain the company through this unprecedented time.
"People want good news. They want to feel joy and the feeling of togetherness," he said. In other words, a magical kingdom.


npr--2020-05-06--Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Discharged From Hospital

After being treated on Tuesday for a gallbladder infection at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore , Supreme Court Justice Ruth @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
`` She is doing well and glad to be home , '' according @ @ @ @ @ release .
The court said over the next few weeks Ginsburg will return to Johns @ @ @ @ @ visits , and for a nonsurgical procedure to remove the gallstone .
Ginsburg , 87 @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday from her hospital room .
The justices and lawyers held @ @ @ @ @ phone all week because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Last year Ginsburg underwent three weeks @ @ @ @ @ tumor on her pancreas , and in December she was operated on for lung cancer @

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Discharged From Hospital
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
After being treated on Tuesday for a gallbladder infection at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was discharged on Wednesday.
"She is doing well and glad to be home," according to a Supreme Court press release.
The court said over the next few weeks Ginsburg will return to Johns Hopkins Hospital for follow-up outpatient visits, and for a nonsurgical procedure to remove the gallstone.
Ginsburg, 87, participated in a virtual Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday from her hospital room. The justices and lawyers held unique oral argument sessions by phone all week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year Ginsburg underwent three weeks of radiation for a cancerous tumor on her pancreas, and in December she was operated on for lung cancer.


npr--2020-05-06--Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Virus Data, Pandemic Cooking And Mental Health

On this broadcast of The National Conversation , we hear from black business owners about how they are doing during @ @ @ @ @ Nosrat offers some advice for cooking at home and sharing food with others .
We @ @ @ @ @ about data modeling and mental health .

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Virus Data, Pandemic Cooking And Mental Health
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images
On this broadcast of The National Conversation, we hear from black business owners about how they are doing during the pandemic. Chef Samin Nosrat offers some advice for cooking at home and sharing food with others. We'll also answer your questions about data modeling and mental health.


npr--2020-05-06--Many Houses of Worship Have Sought Government Aid, Surveys Show

Many Houses of Worship Have Sought Government Aid , Surveys Show Religious leaders in America who have had qualms in the past about taking money from the government may be relenting under financial stress .
Surveys suggest that between a quarter and a half of all Christian churches in the country have applied for emergency loans under the Small Business Administration 's Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) , with most of their applications approved for funding .
Of the approximately 17,000 Catholic parishes in the country , about 10,000 applied for PPP loans in the first round of lending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference .
Of those , 6,000 had their applications approved .
About 3,000 additional parishes have been notified that their applications were accepted in the second round , Markey says .
A survey of Protestant pastors by LifeWay Research found that a somewhat smaller share of those congregations , about 40 percent , applied for PPP loans in the first round .
More than half of them reported that they were approved for assistance , according to Scott McConnell , LifeWay 's executive director .
No data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As the window of opportunity closes , the majority have chosen not to apply , '' McConnell says .
Among the apparent motives , he says , were philosophical objections to taking money from the government , a sense that other institutions were in greater need of the assistance and a lack of the expertise or institutional support necessary to complete the application process .
The LifeWay survey found that larger churches were more likely than smaller churches to seek financial aid .
About half of the pastors of churches with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that they had applied for loans , compared to a third of those with attendance of fewer than 50 .
Synagogues have also applied for government funding , though in a significantly smaller proportion .
Of nearly 4000 synagogues in the United States , about 250 were approved for PPP loans in the first round of lending , according to surveys by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America .
Even that number came as a surprise to some U.S. Jewish leaders , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about any erosion of church-state separation .
In addition to the synagogues , more than 300 Jewish non-profit organizations such as schools , summer camps , community centers and senior homes have been approved for PPP loans , according to Rebecca Dinar , associate vice president of the Jewish Federations .

Many Houses Of Worship Have Sought Government Aid, Surveys Show
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dave Logan/E+/Getty Images Dave Logan/E+/Getty Images
Religious leaders in America who have had qualms in the past about taking money from the government may be relenting under financial stress. Surveys suggest that between a quarter and a half of all Christian churches in the country have applied for emergency loans under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with most of their applications approved for funding.
Of the approximately 17,000 Catholic parishes in the country, about 10,000 applied for PPP loans in the first round of lending, according to Pat Markey, executive director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference. Of those, 6,000 had their applications approved. About 3,000 additional parishes have been notified that their applications were accepted in the second round, Markey says.
A survey of Protestant pastors by LifeWay Research found that a somewhat smaller share of those congregations, about 40 percent, applied for PPP loans in the first round. More than half of them reported that they were approved for assistance, according to Scott McConnell, LifeWay's executive director. No data are available for the second round.
"As the window of opportunity closes, the majority have chosen not to apply," McConnell says. Among the apparent motives, he says, were philosophical objections to taking money from the government, a sense that other institutions were in greater need of the assistance and a lack of the expertise or institutional support necessary to complete the application process.
The LifeWay survey found that larger churches were more likely than smaller churches to seek financial aid. About half of the pastors of churches with an average weekly attendance of 200 or more reported that they had applied for loans, compared to a third of those with attendance of fewer than 50.
Synagogues have also applied for government funding, though in a significantly smaller proportion. Of nearly 4,000 synagogues in the United States, about 250 were approved for PPP loans in the first round of lending, according to surveys by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.
Even that number came as a surprise to some U.S. Jewish leaders, given that many in the past have expressed concerns about any erosion of church-state separation.
In addition to the synagogues, more than 300 Jewish nonprofit organizations such as schools, summer camps, community centers and senior homes have been approved for PPP loans, according to Rebecca Dinar, associate vice president of the Jewish Federations.


npr--2020-05-06--Trump Dismisses Top Scientist Rick Bright As 'Disgruntled Employee'

In a whistleblower complaint filed this week , top federal scientist Rick Bright alleges he was removed from his post for failing to go along with the president 's push to promote a drug as a cure for COVID-19 .
On Wednesday , Trump dismissed the complaint , telling reporters Bright `` seems like a disgruntled employee who 's trying to help the Democrats win an election . ''
`` I never met him , I know nothing about him , '' Trump said , adding that he did n't think `` disgruntled people '' should work for his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being represented by a legal team that represented `` other people '' – seemingly an allusion to lawyer Debra Katz 's representation of Christine Blasey Ford , who testified against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation .
Bright says he was ousted from his position as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority because he wanted to spend money on safe and vetted treatments for COVID-19 — not hydroxychloroquine .
The president has called that common anti-malaria drug a possible `` game-changer , '' but there is no proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it has side effects .
The Food and Drug Administration ultimately warned against using the drug to treat COVID-19 without `` strict medical supervision . ''

Trump Dismisses Top Scientist Rick Bright As 'Disgruntled Employee'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
In a whistleblower complaint filed this week, top federal scientist Rick Bright alleges he was removed from his post for failing to go along with the president's push to promote a drug as a cure for COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Trump dismissed the complaint, telling reporters Bright "seems like a disgruntled employee who's trying to help the Democrats win an election."
"I never met him, I know nothing about him," Trump said, adding that he didn't think "disgruntled people" should work for his administration.
Trump also observed that Bright is being represented by a legal team that represented "other people" – seemingly an allusion to lawyer Debra Katz's representation of Christine Blasey Ford, who testified against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation.
Bright's legal team declined to comment.
Bright says he was ousted from his position as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority because he wanted to spend money on safe and vetted treatments for COVID-19 — not hydroxychloroquine. The president has called that common anti-malaria drug a possible "game-changer," but there is no proof that it works for COVID patients, and it has side effects. The Food and Drug Administration ultimately warned against using the drug to treat COVID-19 without "strict medical supervision."