npr--2020-07-06--Trump Presses 'Cancel Culture' War, But Here Are 6 Numbers That Matter More

Trump Presses 'Cancel Culture ' War , But Here Are 6 Numbers That Matter More In an unusually divisive speech for a president on the Fourth of July holiday weekend , President Trump on Friday decried a `` growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for . ''
What is it ?
Terrorism ?
Polarization ?
A lack of trust in institutions ?
No , Trump said at Mount Rushmore , it 's an attempt to erase American history and values .
And one part of that , Trump said , is `` cancel culture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people from their jobs , shaming dissenters , and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees .
This is the very definition of totalitarianism ... . ''
Cancel culture is a form of group shaming — excluding someone who has done something objectionable or offensive , or withdrawing support from corporations or public leaders for the same reason .
It 's often pushed from the left of the political spectrum , and there are certainly those who think it 's gone too far in some instances .
Apart from the merits of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is arguing for inclusivity .
The fact is , there are few quicker than Trump to `` cancel '' people for not believing the same as he does — or supporting him faithfully .
He just does n't call it that .
Additionally , his emphasis on cancel culture — another element of his broader culture war — can be seen as a distraction , a shiny metal object that Trump wants to use to switch the narrative and see if it sticks because he is struggling in his reelection bid .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will shape this presidential election far more than `` cancel culture . ''
Here are six , from public opinion surveys : 58 % — Trump 's record disapproval : The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that Trump 's disapproval rating was up to 58 % , the highest of his presidency .
What 's more , 49 % `` strongly '' disapprove of the job he 's doing .
That kind of intense opposition to a president has never been seen before , since polling began .
87 % — Dissatisfaction is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amid this coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic freefall , the Pew Research Center recently found that 87 % of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country .
Seventy-one percent say they are angry , 66 % say they 're fearful , and just 17 % are proud of the way things are going .
56 % — Trump 's ( mis ) handling of the coronavirus : About 130,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus .
That 's about a quarter of all the deaths worldwide .
And an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his response to the pandemic , the highest level so far .
That 's taken its toll on Trump politically , especially as states in more politically conservative places are seeing spikes in cases and hospitalizations .
Pew found Democrat Joe Biden has an 11-point advantage on who 's best to handle the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic , 52 % to 41 % .
Fifty-two also happens to be the percentage of voters saying they would vote for Biden over Trump in the general election , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Making racial tensions worse : A separate NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll , conducted in early June , found two-thirds of Americans thought Trump mostly made racial tensions worse .
That was after a week of protests , and right after law enforcement forcibly removed peaceful protesters outside the White House , so he could walk to a partially burned church across the street and pose with a Bible .
Yet Trump has only doubled down since then .
He 's not only pushed a `` law and order '' message but amped it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if `` Black Lives Matter '' were painted on New York City 's Fifth Avenue , it would be a `` symbol of hate . ''
Another eyebrow-raising number is the 52 % who now say they are in favor of removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country , according to a Quinnipiac poll .
Three years ago , just 39 % said so .
47 % — An economic handling decline : Gallup found that from January to June , the percentage of Americans approving of the job Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from 63 % to 47 % .
The strong economy was undoubtedly buoying Trump to some extent , and now , it 's not .
Trump 's lead over Biden on handling of the economy has shrunk , though he 's still up on the question in most polls .
35 % — Trump 's suburban cratering : One set of numbers that will make you rub your eyes is about suburban voters .
In 2016 , Trump won suburban voters , 49 % to 45 % , according to exit polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , has Trump losing them by a whopping 60 % to 35 % .
That 's not a typo .
That 's a 29-point swing , from +4 to -25 .
That kind of cratering in the suburbs is part of why Democrats won the House in 2018 , are favored to keep it in 2020 , and have made inroads with an unfavorable Senate map .
It 's tough to see Trump winning reelection without turning things around in the suburbs .
Overall , these numbers are n't great for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters love him — and intensely so .
His base is more enthusiastic about voting for him than potential Biden voters are for voting for the former vice president , and that 's a wildcard to watch .
But while enthusiasm is important , it does n't always translate into more votes .
Reelections , after all , are always about the sitting president .
Trump may wind up driving out his base , but also Democrats in opposition to him .
1 .
Woke up this morning ... and there were more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in two states , New Jersey and Delaware .
The race to watch is in New Jersey 's 2nd Congressional District .
Democratic candidates are vying to take on Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who switched parties from Democrat to Republican during Trump 's impeachment .
Five Democrats are on the ballot , and the race is largely between Amy Kennedy and Brigid Callahan Harrison .
Kennedy , a former educator , is a member of the politically elite Kennedy family .
( She 's married to former Rep. Patrick Kennedy . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy .
But Harrison has the endorsement of South Jersey power broker George Norcross and state Senate president Steve Sweeney .
2 .
Trump to Florida , New Hampshire : Want another sign of what the battleground states are ?
Look at Trump 's travel this week .
He 's set to hold a high-dollar — in-person — fundraiser in Florida this week and then head to New Hampshire , where he will hold an outdoor rally Saturday .
It 's his first attempt at a rally since his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Okla. Trump 's Florida fundraiser is reportedly for $ 580,600 per couple .
Trump and the Republican National Committee trailed Biden and the Democratic National Committee in fundraising , $ 141 million to $ 131 million , in June .
3 .
Awaiting more key Supreme Court decisions : There are more decisions coming from the Supreme Court , as soon as Monday — including on whether Trump can block disclosure of his financial records , and whether lay teachers at parochial schools are protected by the civil rights laws .
4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing to watch this week on Capitol Hill involves the Department of Defense 's role in civilian law enforcement .
Slated to testify Thursday before the House Armed Services Committee are Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
Milley last month said he regretted his role in Trump 's walk to the partially burned church across the street from the White House .
And Esper broke with the president and said , `` The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of last resort , and only in the most urgent and dire of situations .
We are not in one of those situations now . ''
5 .
Mexico 's president visits the White House : In his first U.S. trip , Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will visit Washington Wednesday to commemorate the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada , or USMCA , trade agreement .
López Obrador is seen as friendlier to Trump than past Mexican presidents , and they also share another thing in common — a dislike of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what he calls the `` corrupt media '' : `` How much are they paid to attack me ? ''
Quote of the weekend : '' We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God , unifying our vision and building our future . ''
-- Kanye West announces his 2020 run for president on Twitter on Saturday , which was July 4 .

Trump Presses 'Cancel Culture' War, But Here Are 6 Numbers That Matter More
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 10:45 a.m. ET
In an unusually divisive speech for a president on the Fourth of July holiday weekend, President Trump on Friday decried a "growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for."
What is it? Terrorism? Polarization? A lack of trust in institutions?
No, Trump said at Mount Rushmore, it's an attempt to erase American history and values. And one part of that, Trump said, is "cancel culture," which he described as "driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism ... ."
Cancel culture is a form of group shaming — excluding someone who has done something objectionable or offensive, or withdrawing support from corporations or public leaders for the same reason. It's often pushed from the left of the political spectrum, and there are certainly those who think it's gone too far in some instances.
Apart from the merits of the argument, it's ironic that Trump is arguing for inclusivity. The fact is, there are few quicker than Trump to "cancel" people for not believing the same as he does — or supporting him faithfully. He just doesn't call it that.
On Monday morning, Trump went further, launching a baseless attack on NASCAR and driver Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver on the circuit. It was reported that a noose was found in Wallace's garage. The FBI determined it was a pull cord. Wallace isn't the one who found it or reported it — and yet Trump is calling it a "hoax" and claiming that incident and banning the Confederate flag "has caused lowest ratings EVER!" — as if that's what really matters.
Driver Tyler Reddick responded to Trump, saying, "We did what was right and we will do just fine without your support."
Trump's emphasis on cancel culture — another element of his broader culture war — can be seen as a distraction, a shiny metal object that Trump wants to use to switch the narrative and see if it sticks because he is struggling in his reelection bid.
But there are things in all likelihood that will shape this presidential election far more than "cancel culture." Here are six, from public opinion surveys:
58% — Trump's record disapproval: The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that Trump's disapproval rating was 58%, the highest of his presidency. What's more, 49% "strongly" disapprove of the job he's doing. That kind of intense opposition to a president has never been seen before, since polling began.
87% — Dissatisfaction is the highest of Trump's presidency: Amid this coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic freefall, the Pew Research Center recently found that 87% of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. And 71% say they are angry, 66% say they're fearful and just 17% are proud of the way things are going.
56% — Trump's (mis)handling of the coronavirus: About 130,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus. That's about a quarter of all the deaths worldwide.
And an average of 56% of people disapprove of his response to the pandemic, the highest level so far. That's taken its toll on Trump politically, especially as states in more politically conservative places are seeing spikes in cases and hospitalizations. Pew found Democrat Joe Biden has an 11-point advantage on who's best to handle the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic, 52% to 41%. Fifty-two also happens to be the percentage of voters saying they would vote for Biden over Trump in the general election, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.
67% — Making racial tensions worse: A separate NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, conducted in early June, found two-thirds of Americans thought Trump mostly made racial tensions worse. That was after a week of protests and right after law enforcement forcibly removed peaceful protesters outside the White House so he could walk to a partially burned church across the street and pose with a Bible.
Yet Trump has only doubled down since then. He's not only pushed a "law and order" message but amped it up, saying, for instance, if "Black Lives Matter" were painted on New York City's Fifth Avenue, it would be a "symbol of hate."
Another eyebrow-raising number is the 52% who now say they are in favor of removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country, according to a Quinnipiac poll. Three years ago, 39% said so.
47% — An economic handling decline: Gallup found that from January to June, the percentage of Americans approving of the job Trump's doing on the economy declined 16 points, from 63% to 47%. The strong economy was undoubtedly buoying Trump to some extent, and now it's not. Trump's lead over Biden on handling of the economy has shrunk, though he's still up on the question in most polls.
35% — Trump's suburban cratering: One set of numbers that will make you rub your eyes is about suburban voters. In 2016, Trump won suburban voters, 49% to 45%, according to exit polls. The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, though, has Trump losing them by a whopping 60% to 35%. That's not a typo. That's a 29-point swing, from +4 to -25. That kind of cratering in the suburbs is part of why Democrats won the House in 2018, are favored to keep it in 2020, and have made inroads with an unfavorable Senate map. It's tough to see Trump winning reelection without turning things around in the suburbs.
Overall, these numbers aren't great for Trump. One saving grace is that his supporters love him — and intensely so. His base is more enthusiastic about voting for him than potential Biden voters are for voting for the former vice president, and that's a wildcard to watch. But while enthusiasm is important, it doesn't always translate into more votes. Reelections, after all, are always about the sitting president. Trump may wind up driving his base out to vote, but also Democrats in opposition to him.
5 things to watch this week:
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
1. Woke up this morning ... and there were more elections on Tuesday: There are primaries in two states, New Jersey and Delaware.
The race to watch is in New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District. Democratic candidates are vying to take on Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched parties from Democrat to Republican during Trump's impeachment. Five Democrats are on the ballot, and the race is largely between Amy Kennedy and Brigid Callahan Harrison. Kennedy, a former educator, is a member of the politically elite Kennedy family. (She's married to former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.) She also has the endorsement of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. But Harrison has the endorsement of South Jersey power broker George Norcross and state Senate President Steve Sweeney.
2. Trump to Florida, New Hampshire: Want another sign of what the battleground states are? Look at Trump's travel this week. He's set to hold a high-dollar — in-person — fundraiser in Florida this week and then head to New Hampshire, where he will hold an outdoor rally Saturday. It's his first attempt at a rally since his underwhelming (indoor) event in Tulsa, Okla. Trump's Florida fundraiser is reportedly for $580,600 per couple. Trump and the Republican National Committee trailed Biden and the Democratic National Committee in fundraising, $141 million to $131 million, in June.
3. Awaiting more key Supreme Court decisions: There are more decisions coming from the Supreme Court — as early as Monday — including on whether Trump can block disclosure of his financial records and whether lay teachers at parochial schools are protected by the civil rights laws.
4. The Pentagon and protests: The hearing to watch this week on Capitol Hill involves the Department of Defense's role in civilian law enforcement. Slated to testify Thursday before the House Armed Services Committee are Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Milley last month said he regretted his role in Trump's walk to the partially burned church across the street from the White House. And Esper broke with the president and said, "The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now."
5. Mexico's president will visit the White House: In his first U.S. trip, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will visit Washington Wednesday to commemorate the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada, or USMCA, trade agreement. López Obrador is seen as friendlier to Trump than past Mexican presidents, and they also share another thing in common — a dislike of the media. He wondered aloud this weekend of what he calls the "corrupt media": "How much are they paid to attack me?"
Quote of the weekend:
"We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future."
— Kanye West announces his 2020 run for president on Twitter on July Fourth


npr--2020-07-06--Federal Prosecutors Discussed 'Burying' Evidence In Troubled New York Case

Federal prosecutors under scrutiny for failing to turn over favorable evidence to a defendant told a judge they did n't act in bad faith , even as they disclosed internal emails in which they discussed whether they might try to `` bury '' a document they were giving to defense lawyers in a stack of other papers .
Prosecutors in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney 's Office made the disclosure in a letter to Judge Alison Nathan , who had demanded answers about the prosecution 's failings and whether she had the power to impose sanctions against them .
The newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecutors found out that an important document had n't been turned over to the defense , suggesting : `` I 'm wondering if we should wait until tomorrow and bury it in some other documents . ''
Prosecutors now say the document was not , in fact , `` buried '' because they turned it over less than 24 hours after the email discussion .
Their July 2 letter said the prosecutor who wrote the email was `` endlessly chagrined about this chat '' and added that `` we believe it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Friday night lapse in thinking regarding a document that was in fact disclosed Saturday afternoon . ''
Defense lawyers for Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad , who was charged with violating American sanctions laws against Iran , told the court they are `` surprised and disappointed . ''
Attorney Brian Heberlig accused the prosecutors , and an official in the U.S. attorney 's office who 's tasked with promoting professional responsibility , of trying `` to minimize , deflect , and deny , avoiding any acknowledgment or acceptance of responsibility for the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notable lack of candor , '' in his own letter to the court .
Squabbles over turning over documents , known as discovery , are common in federal criminal cases .
But it 's rare for a judge to demand that the government identify lawyers and supervisors involved in evidence-sharing lapses .
And it 's even more rare for prosecutors to acknowledge such serious faults that they moved to dismiss a case they had already won .
`` Any new trial would necessarily require a new team of ( assistant U.S. attorneys ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every aspect of the investigation — not an easy task , particularly in a case that has already suffered from multiple breakdowns in communication that contributed to significant disclosure failures , '' prosecutors wrote to explain their rationale for abandoning the conviction .
Aside from the discussion of whether to `` bury '' a government exhibit , Sadr 's lawyers said the prosecution team had engaged in even more `` egregious wrongdoing '' by misrepresenting a search of emails before the March 2020 trial began .
The entire case started with an investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoenaed Sadr 's emails as part of a state-run probe .
Later , the D.A .
's office passed them to the FBI .
Federal agents then apparently used the messages to interview crucial witnesses in the investigation , and federal prosecutors ultimately pursued the case .
But those prosecutors zealously defended the D.A .
's handling of the emails in a hearing about whether the messages should be suppressed , before the trial began .
`` Had the government told the truth about these matters , the court would have suppressed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial would have been avoided , '' Sadr 's lawyer , Heberlig , wrote .
Perhaps in an attempt to stave off independent investigations of their conduct , prosecutors told the judge they are investigating their mistakes and holding a refresher course on evidence-sharing obligations .
At bottom , they said : `` We do not believe that any information was improperly withheld from the defense , in the sense of knowing that it had to be disclosed yet not disclosing it .
But many items were discovered or disclosed far too late @ @

Federal Prosecutors Discussed 'Burying' Evidence In Troubled New York Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mary Altaffer/AP Mary Altaffer/AP
Updated at 2:01 pm E.T.
Federal prosecutors under scrutiny for failing to turn over favorable evidence to a defendant told a judge they didn't act in bad faith, even as they disclosed internal emails in which they discussed whether they might try to "bury" a document they were giving to defense lawyers in a stack of other papers.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office made the disclosure in a letter to Judge Alison Nathan, who had demanded answers about the prosecution's failings and whether she had the power to impose sanctions against them.
The newly revealed email message described how one of the prosecutors found out that an important document hadn't been turned over to the defense, suggesting: "I'm wondering if we should wait until tomorrow and bury it in some other documents."
Prosecutors now say the document was not, in fact, "buried" because they turned it over less than 24 hours after the email discussion.
Their July 2 letter said the prosecutor who wrote the email was "endlessly chagrined about this chat" and added that "we believe it would go too far to condemn her for a Friday night lapse in thinking regarding a document that was in fact disclosed Saturday afternoon."
Defense lawyers for Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad, who was charged with violating American sanctions laws against Iran, told the court they are "surprised and disappointed."
Attorney Brian Heberlig accused the prosecutors, and an official in the U.S. attorney's office who's tasked with promoting professional responsibility, of trying "to minimize, deflect, and deny, avoiding any acknowledgment or acceptance of responsibility for the government's obvious, repeated failures and its notable lack of candor," in his own letter to the court.
Squabbles over turning over documents, known as discovery, are common in federal criminal cases. But it's rare for a judge to demand that the government identify lawyers and supervisors involved in evidence-sharing lapses.
And it's even more rare for prosecutors to acknowledge such serious faults that they moved to dismiss a case they had already won.
"Any new trial would necessarily require a new team of (assistant U.S. attorneys) who would have to become familiar with every aspect of the investigation — not an easy task, particularly in a case that has already suffered from multiple breakdowns in communication that contributed to significant disclosure failures," prosecutors wrote to explain their rationale for abandoning the conviction.
Aside from the discussion of whether to "bury" a government exhibit, Sadr's lawyers said the prosecution team had engaged in even more "egregious wrongdoing" by misrepresenting a search of emails before the March 2020 trial began.
New York Case moves to feds
The entire case started with an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney, who subpoenaed Sadr's emails as part of a state-run probe. Later, the D.A.'s office passed them to the FBI.
Federal agents then apparently used the messages to interview crucial witnesses in the investigation, and federal prosecutors ultimately pursued the case. But those prosecutors zealously defended the D.A.'s handling of the emails in a hearing about whether the messages should be suppressed, before the trial began.
"Had the government told the truth about these matters, the court would have suppressed the entire search warrant returns and Sadr's trial would have been avoided," Sadr's lawyer, Heberlig, wrote.
Perhaps in an attempt to stave off independent investigations of their conduct, prosecutors told the judge they are investigating their mistakes and holding a refresher course on evidence-sharing obligations.
At bottom, they said: "We do not believe that any information was improperly withheld from the defense, in the sense of knowing that it had to be disclosed yet not disclosing it. But many items were discovered or disclosed far too late."
On Monday, the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss wrote the judge again, to clarify some parts of its earlier letter that it said had been drafting errors. The prosecutors told the judge they were not shirking accountability and that they had been looking into flaws in their handling of the case before the judge demanded answers.
"Our conclusion that there was not bad faith does not end the inquiry; rather, it puts the focus on the specifics of the mistakes here, with the additional recognition that they could recur in another case, and our responsibility to ensure that that does not happen," the government team wrote.


npr--2020-07-06--Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills

Fresh off a Caribbean cruise in early March , John Campbell developed a cough and fever of 104 degrees .
He went to his primary care physician and got a flu test , which came up negative .
Then things got strange .
Campbell says the doctor then turned to him and said , `` I 've called the ER next door , and you need to go there .
This is a matter of public health .
They 're expecting you . ''
It was March 3 , and no one had an inkling yet of just how bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. At the JFK Medical Center near his home in Boynton Beach , Fla. , staffers met him in protective gear , then ran a battery of tests — including bloodwork , a chest X-ray and an electrocardiogram — before sending him home .
But because he had not traveled to China — a leading criterion at the time for coronavirus testing — Campbell was not swabbed for the virus .
A $ 2,777 bill for the emergency room visit came the next month .
Now Campbell , 52 , is among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the costs associated with seeking a COVID-19 diagnosis .
While most insurers have promised to cover the costs of testing and related services — and Congress passed legislation in mid-March enshrining that requirement — there 's a catch .
The law requires the waiver of patient cost-sharing only when a coronavirus test is ordered or administered .
And therein lies the problem .
In the early weeks of the pandemic and through mid-April in many places , testing was often limited to those with specific symptoms or situations , likely excluding thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus or had not traveled overseas .
`` They do pay for the test , but I did n't have the test , '' says Campbell , who appealed the bill to his insurer , Florida Blue .
More on how that turned out later .
`` These loopholes exist , '' says Wendell Potter , a former insurance industry executive who is now an industry critic .
`` We 're just relying on these companies to act in good faith . ''
Exacerbating the problem : Many of these patients were directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most expensive place to get care — which can result in huge bills for patients .
Insurers say they fully cover costs when patients are tested for the coronavirus , but what happens with enrollees who sought a test — but were not given one — is less clear .
KHN asked nine national and regional insurers for specifics about how they are handling these situations .
Responses to those queries have been mixed .
Three — UnitedHealthcare , Kaiser Permanente and Anthem — say they do some level of automatic review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , while a fourth , Quartz , says it will investigate and waive cost sharing for suspected COVID-19 patients if the member asks for a review .
Humana says it is reviewing claims made in early March , but only those showing confirmed or suspected COVID-19 .
Florida Blue , similarly , says it is manually reviewing claims , but only those involving COVID tests or diagnoses .
The remaining insurers point to other efforts , such as routine audits that look for all sorts of errors , along with efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proper COVID billing codes the providers should use to ensure their patients are n't incorrectly hit with a bill .
Those were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan , CIGNA and the Health Care Services Corp. , which operates Blues plans in Illinois , Montana , New Mexico , Oklahoma and Texas .
All nine insurers say patients should reach out to them or appeal a claim if they suspect an error .
To be sure , it would be a complex effort for insurers to go back over claims from March and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualify for a more generous interpretation of the cost waiver because they were unable to get a coronavirus test .
And there 's nothing in the CARES Act passed by Congress — or subsequent guidance from regulatory agencies — about what to do in such situations .
Still , insurers could review claims , for example , by looking for patients who received chest X-rays , and diagnoses of pneumonia or high fever and cough , checking to see if any might qualify as suspected COVID-19 cases , even if they were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One thing is clear from the responses from insurers to our questions : Much of the burden falls on patients who think they 've been wrongly billed – it 's left to them to call that to the attention of the insurer and the hospital , urgent care center or doctor 's office where they were treated .
Some states have broader mandates that could be read to require the waiver of cost sharing even if a COVID test was not ordered or administered , says Sabrina Corlette , a research professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University .
But no matter where you live , she says , patients who get bills they think are incorrect should contest them .
`` I 've heard a lot of comments that claims are not coded properly , '' says Corlette .
`` Insurers and providers are on a learning curve .
If you get a bill , ask for a review . ''
In some places , including the state of Indiana , the city of Los Angeles and St. Louis County , Mo.
, a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
Until recently , tests were scarce and essentially rationed , even though more comprehensive testing could have helped health officials battle the epidemic .
But even in the early weeks , when Campbell and many others sought a diagnosis , insurers nationwide were promising to cover the cost of testing and related services .
That was good public relations and good public health : Removing cost barriers to testing means more people will seek care and thus could prevent others from being infected .
Currently , the majority of insurers offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are fully waiving copays , deductibles and other fees for testing , as long as the claims are coded correctly .
( The law does not require short-term insurance plans to waive cost sharing . )
Some insurers have even promised to fully cover the cost of treatment for COVID-19 , including hospital care .
But getting stuck with a sizable bill has become commonplace .
`` I only went in because I was really sick and I thought I had it , '' says Rayone Moyer , 63 , of La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned because she has diabetes .
`` I had a hard time breathing when I was doing stuff . ''
On March 27 , she went to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center , which is in her Quartz insurance network , complaining of body aches and shortness of breath .
Those symptoms could be COVID-19-related , but could also signal other conditions .
While there , she was given an array of tests , including bloodwork , a chest X-ray and a CT scan .
She was billed in May : $ 2,421 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350 in doctor bills .
`` My insurance applied the whole thing to my deductible , '' Moyer says .
`` Because they refused to test me , I 've got to pay the bill .
No one said , 'Hey , we 'll give you $ 3,000 worth of tests instead of the $ 100 COVID test , ' '' she says .
Quartz spokesperson Christina Ott says patients with concerns like Moyer 's should call the insurance company 's customer service number and ask for an appeals specialist .
The insurer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing for some members who sought a diagnosis .
`` During the public health emergency , if the member presented with similar symptoms as COVID , but did n't receive a COVID-19 test and received testing for other illnesses on an outpatient basis , then cost sharing would be waived , '' she says .
Moyer says she has filed an appeal and was notified by the insurer of a review expected in mid-July .
Back in Florida , Campbell filed an appeal of his bill with Florida Blue on April 22 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after a KHN reporter called the insurer in June to ask about his case .
Then , Campbell received phone calls from Florida Blue representatives .
A supervisor apologized , saying the insurer should not have billed him and that 100 % of his costs would be covered .
`` Basically they said , 'We 've changed our minds , ' '' Campbell says .
`` Because I was there so early on , and the bill was coded incorrectly . ''
KHN is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of Kaiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Kaiser Permanente .

Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
Fresh off a Caribbean cruise in early March, John Campbell developed a cough and fever of 104 degrees. He went to his primary care physician and got a flu test, which came up negative.
Then things got strange. Campbell says the doctor then turned to him and said, "I've called the ER next door, and you need to go there. This is a matter of public health. They're expecting you."
It was March 3, and no one had an inkling yet of just how bad the COVID-19 pandemic would become in the United States.
At the JFK Medical Center near his home in Boynton Beach, Fla., staffers met him in protective gear, then ran a battery of tests — including bloodwork, a chest X-ray and an electrocardiogram — before sending him home. Because he had not traveled to China — a leading criterion at the time for coronavirus testing — Campbell was not swabbed for the coronavirus.
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Campbell John Campbell
A $2,777 bill for the emergency room visit came the next month.
Now Campbell, 52, is among those who say they were wrongly billed for the costs associated with seeking a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Why insurers aren't paying
While most insurers have promised to cover the costs of testing and related services — and Congress passed legislation in mid-March enshrining that requirement — there's a catch. The law requires the waiver of patient cost-sharing only when a coronavirus test is ordered or administered.
And therein lies the problem. In the early weeks of the pandemic and through mid-April in many places, testing was often limited to those with specific symptoms or situations, likely excluding thousands of people who had milder cases of the virus or had not traveled overseas.
"They do pay for the test, but I didn't have the test," says Campbell, who appealed the bill to his insurer, Florida Blue. More on how that turned out later.
"These loopholes exist," says Wendell Potter, a former insurance industry executive who is now an industry critic. "We're just relying on these companies to act in good faith."
Exacerbating the problem, many of these patients were directed to go to hospital emergency departments — the most expensive place to get care — which can result in huge bills for patients.
Insurers say they fully cover costs when patients are tested for the coronavirus, but what happens with enrollees who sought a test — but were not given one — is less clear.
Kaiser Health News asked nine national and regional insurers for specifics about how they are handling these situations.
Responses to those queries have been mixed. Three — UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente and Anthem — say they do some level of automatic review of potential COVID-19-related claims from earlier in the pandemic, while a fourth, Quartz, says it will investigate and waive cost sharing for suspected COVID-19 patients if the member asks for a review. Humana says it is reviewing claims made in early March, but only those showing confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Florida Blue, similarly, says it is manually reviewing claims, but only those involving COVID tests or diagnoses. The remaining insurers point to other efforts, such as routine audits that look for all sorts of errors, along with efforts to train hospitals and doctors in the proper COVID billing codes the providers should use to ensure that their patients aren't incorrectly hit with a bill. Those were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, CIGNA and the Health Care Services Corp., which operates Blue Cross plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
All nine insurers say patients should reach out to them or appeal a claim if they suspect an error.
To be sure, it would be a complex effort for insurers to go back over claims from March and April, looking for patients who might qualify for a more generous interpretation of the cost waiver because they were unable to get a coronavirus test. And there's nothing in the CARES Act passed by Congress — or subsequent guidance from regulatory agencies — about what to do in such situations.
Still, insurers could review claims, for example, by looking for patients who received chest X-rays and diagnoses of pneumonia or high fever and cough, checking to see if any might qualify as suspected COVID-19 cases, even if they were not given a diagnostic test, Potter says.
One thing is clear from the responses from insurers to our questions: Much of the burden falls on patients who think they've been wrongly billed – it's left to them to call that to the attention of the insurer and the hospital, urgent care center or doctor's office where they were treated.
Some states have broader mandates that could be read to require the waiver of cost sharing even if a COVID-19 test was not ordered or administered, says Sabrina Corlette, a research professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University.
But no matter where you live, she says, patients who get bills they think are incorrect should contest them.
"I've heard a lot of comments that claims are not coded properly," says Corlette. "Insurers and providers are on a learning curve. If you get a bill, ask for a review."
Scarce tests, rampant virus
In some places, including the state of Indiana, the city of Los Angeles and St. Louis County, Mo., a test is now offered to anyone who seeks one. Until recently, tests were scarce and essentially rationed, even though more comprehensive testing could have helped health officials battle the epidemic.
But even in the early weeks, when Campbell and many others sought a diagnosis, insurers nationwide were promising to cover the cost of testing and related services. That was good public relations and good public health: Removing cost barriers to testing means more people will seek care and thus could prevent others from being infected. Currently, the majority of insurers offering job-based or Affordable Care Act insurance say they are fully waiving copays, deductibles and other fees for testing, as long as the claims are coded correctly. (The law does not require short-term insurance plans to waive cost sharing.) Some insurers have even promised to fully cover the cost of treatment for COVID-19, including hospital care.
But getting stuck with a sizable bill has become commonplace.
"I only went in because I was really sick and I thought I had it," says Rayone Moyer, 63, of La Crosse, Wis., who was extra concerned because she has diabetes. "I had a hard time breathing when I was doing stuff."
On March 27, she went to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, which is in her Quartz insurance network, complaining of body aches and shortness of breath. Those symptoms could be COVID-19 related, but could also signal other conditions. While there, she was given an array of tests, including bloodwork, a chest X-ray and a CT scan.
She was billed in May: $2,421 by the hospital, plus more than $350 in doctor bills.
"My insurance applied the whole thing to my deductible," Moyer says. "Because they refused to test me, I've got to pay the bill. No one said, 'Hey, we'll give you $3,000 worth of tests instead of the $100 COVID test,'" she says.
Quartz spokesperson Christina Ott says patients with concerns like Moyer's should call the insurance company's customer service number and ask for an appeals specialist. The insurer, she says, will waive cost sharing for some members who sought a diagnosis.
"During the public health emergency, if the member presented with similar symptoms as COVID, but didn't receive a COVID-19 test and received testing for other illnesses on an outpatient basis, then cost sharing would be waived," she says.
Moyer says she has filed an appeal and was notified by the insurer of a review expected in mid-July. Back in Florida, Campbell filed an appeal of his bill with Florida Blue on April 22 but didn't hear anything until the day after a KHN reporter called the insurer in June to ask about his case.
Then, Campbell received phone calls from Florida Blue representatives. A supervisor apologized, saying the insurer should not have billed him and that 100% of his costs would be covered.
"Basically they said, 'We've changed our minds,'" Campbell says. "Because I was there so early on, and the bill was coded incorrectly."
KHN is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-07-06--Pooling Coronavirus Tests Can Spare Scarce Supplies, But There's A Catch

Pooling Coronavirus Tests Can Spare Scarce Supplies , But There 's A Catch Federal health officials are hoping to stretch the supplies used to test for the coronavirus by combining samples from a number of people and running a single test .
Chinese health officials used that strategy to rapidly test large populations in Wuhan and Beijing .
The technique , called pooled testing , wo n't resolve the testing bottlenecks in the United States .
But it could help .
The idea is simple .
Instead of running a coronavirus test on every specimen that arrives in a lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and combine it with samples from other specimens .
Then run a single test on that pooled sample .
If it comes back negative , you can assume that all of the original samples are negative .
And a single test has done the work of five or 10 , if the samples had been tested individually .
Of course , if the pooled test comes back positive , it 's then necessary to test each of the original specimens individually – and that takes more time and more material .
But on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing samples that will be negative at least 90 % of the time , the lab comes out ahead using the pooled approach .
`` It can be used in any of a number of circumstances , at a community level or even in schools if you wanted to do that , '' Anthony Fauci said at a recent Senate hearing .
Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease doctor , heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
This strategy has been used in screening for other viruses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been put to use for COVID-19 in Nebraska .
`` The reason why it came up in Nebraska was that we were running out of reagents [ testing ingredients ] back in mid-March , to be able to run COVID-19 testing in the public health lab , '' says Peter Iwen , director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory .
After convincing himself the technique would work , he got permission from the governor to use this method .
He pooled five tests at a time , and found that he could run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same materials .
Some health officials have suggested that this technique can vastly increase testing , though unless the virus is rarely present , the savings wo n't be that substantial .
The Nebraska lab , for example , was able to run more than twice as many tests by pooling five samples .
`` You can save 50 % -60 % of the reagents , '' Iwen says , `` You might only be saving 25 % -30 % of the labor , but you still are saving labor . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these tests .
Labs have to keep track of the original specimens and keep track of test results , Iwen says .
But large and organized labs can handle these additional steps .
Nebraska actually stopped pooled testing a few weeks ago .
An outbreak in meatpacking plants led to a spike in positive test results .
It no longer made sense to pool results , since so many of those pools were positive and had to be retested .
Iwen says he 's developing a method to select groups of samples where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserve pooled testing for those cases .
There 's another trade-off as well .
When labs combine samples , they increase the risk of getting negative results from people who are actually infected .
`` That specimen in the pool has been diluted by the rest of the specimens , '' says Dr. Chris Pilcher , a professor of medicine at the University of California , San Francisco .
`` So , there 's a decrease in the amount of stuff you want to detect in the specimen .
And that results in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detection for the test . ''
Pilcher recently ran an analysis and found it appears to be a manageable problem .
He was looking at how quickly viruses arise in samples taken from infected individuals .
It turns out that viruses are usually present at high levels , even early in the course of the disease .
That means there are relatively few samples with low levels of virus , where concerns about dilution would be greatest .
`` You will always lose some proportion of the cases that you could find [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says .
But he says the tradeoff is worth it , if pooling lets you test a lot more people , for example to survey a community or a group of workers or students .
Pilcher explored a system in which samples were pooled in groups of five , and then four or five of those groups were pooled together .
If the largest pool tested positive , each of the smaller pools would then be tested .
Any that were positive would then require the lab to test all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Adm. Brett Giroir , who is the federal official responsible for wrangling coronavirus testing , says the government is ramping up its efforts to allow pooled testing .
He says the initial pooled test could be conducted by a laboratory that has n't been federally certified , as long as the follow-up testing is performed in a lab that 's allowed to run diagnostic tests .
The Food and Drug Administration is developing guidelines for this practice .
But despite the enthusiasm for pooled testing , efficient use of laboratory materials is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing .
Collection swabs and vials can be hard to come by at some labs , and people who want testing can end up in long lines at overworked collection stations .
So , pooling alone wo n't solve the nation 's testing woes .
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris @ npr.org .

Pooling Coronavirus Tests Can Spare Scarce Supplies, But There's A Catch
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nati Harnik/AP Nati Harnik/AP
Federal health officials are hoping to stretch the supplies used to test for the coronavirus by combining samples from a number of people and running a single test. Chinese health officials used that strategy to rapidly test large populations in Wuhan and Beijing.
The technique, called pooled testing, won't resolve the testing bottlenecks in the United States. But it could help.
The idea is simple. Instead of running a coronavirus test on every specimen that arrives in a lab, take a sample of that specimen and combine it with samples from other specimens. Then run a single test on that pooled sample.
If it comes back negative, you can assume that all of the original samples are negative. A single test has done the work of five or 10, compared with testing the samples individually.
If the pooled test comes back positive, it's then necessary to test each of the original specimens individually — and that takes more time and more material. But on the whole, if a lab is testing samples that will be negative at least 90% of the time, the lab comes out ahead using the pooled approach.
"It can be used in any of a number of circumstances, at a community level or even in schools if you wanted to do that," Anthony Fauci said at a recent Senate hearing. Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor, heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This strategy has been used in screening for other viruses, such as HIV, and has already been put to use for COVID-19 in Nebraska.
"The reason why it came up in Nebraska was that we were running out of reagents [testing ingredients] back in mid-March, to be able to run COVID-19 testing in the public health lab," says Peter Iwen, director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory.
After convincing himself the technique would work, he got permission from the governor to use this method. He pooled five tests at a time and found that he could run more than twice as many tests with the same materials.
Some health officials have suggested that this technique can vastly increase testing, though unless the virus is rarely present, the savings won't be that substantial.
The Nebraska lab, for example, was able to run more than twice as many tests by pooling five samples. "You can save 50%-60% of the reagents," Iwen says. "You might only be saving 25%-30% of the labor, but you still are saving labor."
There are substantial logistics involved in running these tests. Labs have to keep track of the original specimens and keep track of test results, Iwen says. But large and organized labs can handle these additional steps.
Nebraska actually stopped pooled testing a few weeks ago. An outbreak in meatpacking plants led to a spike in positive test results. It no longer made sense to pool results, since so many of those pools were positive and had to be retested. Iwen says he's developing a method to select groups of samples where positive results will be rare and reserve pooled testing for those cases.
There's another trade-off as well. When labs combine samples, they increase the risk of getting negative results from people who are actually infected.
"That specimen in the pool has been diluted by the rest of the specimens," says Dr. Chris Pilcher, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "So, there's a decrease in the amount of stuff you want to detect in the specimen. And that results in a corresponding decrease in the sensitivity of detection for the test."
Pilcher recently ran an analysis and found it appears to be a manageable problem. He was looking at how quickly viruses arise in samples taken from infected individuals. It turns out that viruses are usually present at high levels, even early in the course of the disease. That means there are relatively few samples with low levels of virus, where concerns about dilution would be greatest.
"You will always lose some proportion of the cases that you could find [if you tested each] individually," he says. But he says the trade-off is worth it if pooling lets you test a lot more people, for example to survey a community or a group of workers or students.
Pilcher explored a system in which samples were pooled in groups of five, and then four or five of those groups were pooled together. If the largest pool tested positive, each of the smaller pools would then be tested. Any that were positive would then require the lab to test all the original specimens.
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir, who is the federal official responsible for wrangling coronavirus testing, says the government is ramping up its efforts to allow pooled testing. He says the initial pooled test could be conducted by a laboratory that hasn't been federally certified, as long as the follow-up testing is performed in a lab that's allowed to run diagnostic tests.
The Food and Drug Administration is developing guidelines for this practice.
Despite the enthusiasm for pooled testing, efficient use of laboratory materials is only one of the challenges in coronavirus testing. Collection swabs and vials can be hard to come by at some labs, and people who want testing can end up in long lines at overworked collection stations. So, pooling alone won't solve the nation's testing woes.
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.


npr--2020-07-06--Want To Create A Better Mask? It's Harder Than It Seams

Want To Create A Better Mask ?
It 's Harder Than It Seams Five years before the coronavirus pandemic , Bill Gates did n't mince words : `` If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades , it 's most likely to be a highly infectious virus , rather than a war , '' he said at the 2015 TED conference in Vancouver .
Also at the conference , The Gates Foundation invited attendees to don plastic boots , overalls , masks and gloves in a hands-on PPE demo designed to help people experience how difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time fighting Ebola -- to protect themselves while working .
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( one of NPR 's funders ) was posing a challenge to the conference attendees — founders of large tech companies , award-winning designers and inventors of all stripes — to take the possibility of a global pandemic seriously and solve the problematic limitations of PPE .
With that challenge in mind , NPR tracked down two California brothers determined to create a mask that would fit well , be reusable , durable and incorporate advanced textile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design in their DNA .
Their parents are architects ; their grandfather was an engineer .
Growing up in Mill Valley , Calif. , the brothers turned their parents ' garage into an industrial arts paradise where they tinkered with all kinds of material including fabric , fiberglass and wood .
Younger brother Nick remembers getting a set of power tools for his sixth birthday .
`` Somewhat safe power tools — to promote the wood-working , '' he says , but still : `` At a very young age , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never going to be able to park in that garage , '' he laughs .
Both surfers , the Smith brothers initially became interested in materials in 2005 when they both contracted MRSA , a type of staph infection .
`` Billy contracted it first , '' says Nick .
`` It was in a wet suit that I thought was mine .
And I put it on and , sure enough , we both ended up with a really awful case of staph infection . ''
Billy says it was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever had : `` I was in the hospital for about two and a half weeks and I lost nearly 20 pounds , '' he recalls .
He still has a scar from an operation to treat the infection .
Two years later , Billy was designing wet suits for Patagonia .
He says he ca n't claim those wet suits prevented staph infections , but the process got him thinking a lot about how the quality of a product 's design and material can help solve bigger problems .
Smith went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the co-inventor of five patents including one for a seamless , leather iPhone case .
In 2015 , Billy Smith founded his own design and product development company called Bilio .
Nick handles business development and innovation for the company .
Their clients include Allbirds and Steelcase .
When the pandemic hit , they and a team of 12 designers and engineers got to work to create a face mask for the first time .
Everyone was on board , Nick says .
`` We 've never done a mask before , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done several different virtual reality headsets .
We 've done sleep masks .
We 've done a lot of technical garments and apparel .
We 've done footwear . ''
The brothers are pretty dogmatic about certain design principles .
First , they are knitting evangelists who shun the `` cut and sew '' approach .
`` I take a bit of offense to seams and stitching and sewing , '' says Billy , who believes the results with knitting are infinitely better at creating `` uninterrupted surfaces '' and `` transitions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered approach ... to feel and how things will react to your body when they 're on your face , or ... your hand , or your foot , '' he explains .
Now , of course , we 're not talking `` knit one , purl two '' with needles here .
Bilio uses a process called zonal engineered knitting that , in the case of the mask , uses facial sizing data to inform the design .
Another one of the Smith brothers ' principles : sustainability .
`` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we need , which is different from a traditional die-cut and sew approach , '' says Nick .
`` So there 's very little waste in this product , actually , less than a gram . ''
Bilio masks are currently produced at a knitting mill in North Carolina and Billy says they 're also exploring mills in Missouri and Los Angeles .
He says they 're committed to domestic manufacturing and did n't even consider producing masks overseas where labor costs might be cheaper .
`` There 's really beautiful things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
`` We 're also avoiding a lot of trouble having to ship things around the world . ''
As Billy explains it , the materials they use in their products matter as much as the design .
The Bilio mask is made of recycled polyester , a small percentage of spandex and nylon and a silver-coated yarn called X-STATIC — which is also used in sportswear and medical supplies .
While X-STATIC fiber may be new , silver 's antimicrobial properties are timeless , says Joel Furey , co-founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X-STATIC .
`` Even before the microbiology was known , people would use silver for its healing properties and its ability to prevent the growth of organisms in , say , drinking water or milk , '' says Furey .
`` It 's had this magical quality to it since the beginning of recorded time . ''
Some have suggested that wearing masks keeps us from touching our face .
But , Furey asks , `` What if the mask itself is contaminated and you 're touching the mask ? ''
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate the growth of microbes directly on the surface of the mask . ''
Furey does not claim that a mask with their silver coated fibers will keep everyone 100 % safe , but X-STATIC 's antimicrobial properties are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency .
So between the knitted design and the materials , is the Bilio mask effective ?
We asked researchers Loretta Fernandez and Amy Mueller at Northeastern University to test the Bilio mask .
They 've been testing the performance of a range of various masks , measuring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from inhaling particles that may carry the coronavirus .
Mueller says , for the Bilio mask , `` We came up with a mean particle removal efficiency of around 82 % . ''
Meaning the Bilio mask filtered out 82 % of the particles in the room for the person wearing the mask at the time of testing .
For reference , Mueller says , the range of results is from a low of 28 % to a high of 94 % .
Of the more than 50 different cloth masks they tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and second for the masks they tested that have ear loops .
Fernandez says she was surprised the Bilio scored so well because it 's smaller than many of the masks they 've tested .
Since its knitted , she was able to mold it to her face .
`` As soon as I pinched it around my nose , the filtration efficiency boosted .
So I think that fit around the nose really does help , '' says Fernandez .
`` The nose tends to be where a lot of the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
So this one did fit in those areas without having to have a lot of surface area to the mask . ''
Bear in mind that no mask offers full protection nor should wearing a mask be seen as a substitute for physical distancing of at least six feet , frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds .
Billy and Nick Smith say they continue to refine the Bilio mask based on testing and feedback from customers .
There 's a lot to consider : breathability , comfort , adapting the mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says sentiments around how a mask should perform are `` changing rapidly . ''
`` What we heard as feedback three weeks ago is already different from what we 're hearing now , '' he says .
`` People that wanted a tight seal and wanted to make sure this thing hugged their face , now they 're coming back and saying , 'Hey , I just want to be compliant so I can open up and be comfortable in my job . '
`` Like so many of the coronavirus challenges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target — and so the Smiths keep tinkering .

Want To Create A Better Mask? It's Harder Than It Seams
toggle caption Nick Rubalcava/Bilio
Five years before the coronavirus pandemic, Bill Gates didn't mince words: "If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades, it's most likely to be a highly infectious virus, rather than a war," he said at the 2015 TED conference in Vancouver, Canada.
Also at the conference, the Gates Foundation invited attendees to don plastic boots, overalls, masks and gloves in a hands-on demo designed to help people experience how difficult it was for doctors — at the time fighting Ebola — to protect themselves while working.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (one of NPR's funders) was posing a challenge to the conference attendees — founders of large tech companies, award-winning designers and inventors of all stripes — to take the possibility of a global pandemic seriously and solve the problematic limitations of personal protective equipment.
With that challenge in mind, NPR tracked down two California brothers determined to create a mask that will fit well, be reusable and durable, and incorporate advanced textile technology.
Nick and Billy Smith have design in their DNA. Their parents are architects; their grandfather was an engineer. Growing up in Mill Valley, Calif., the brothers turned their parents' garage into an industrial arts paradise where they tinkered with all kinds of materials, including fabric, fiberglass and wood.
Younger brother Nick remembers getting a set of power tools for his sixth birthday. "Somewhat safe power tools — to promote the woodworking," he says, but still: "At a very young age, I think it became very clear my parents were never going to be able to park in that garage," he laughs.
Both surfers, the Smith brothers initially became interested in materials in 2005 when they both contracted MRSA, a type of staph infection.
"Billy contracted it first," says Nick. "It was in a wetsuit that I thought was mine. And I put it on, and sure enough, we both ended up with a really awful case of staph infection."
Billy says it was one of the "biggest scares" he has ever had: "I was in the hospital for about two and a half weeks, and I lost nearly 20 pounds," he recalls. He still has a scar from an operation to treat the infection.
Two years later, Billy was designing wetsuits for Patagonia. He says he can't claim those wetsuits prevented staph infections, but the process got him thinking a lot about how the quality of a product's design and materials can help solve bigger problems. Billy went on to design for Apple, where he became the co-inventor of five patents, including one for a seamless, leather iPhone case.
In 2015, Billy founded his own design and product development company called Bilio. Nick handles business development and innovation for the company. Their clients include Allbirds and Steelcase. When the pandemic hit, they and a team of 12 designers and engineers got to work to create a face mask for the first time. Everyone was on board, Nick says.
"We've never done a mask before," explains Billy. "But we've done several different virtual reality headsets. We've done sleep masks. We've done a lot of technical garments and apparel. We've done footwear."
toggle caption Billy Smith/Bilio
The brothers are pretty dogmatic about certain design principles. First, they are knitting evangelists who shun the "cut and sew" approach.
"I take a bit of offense to seams and stitching and sewing," says Billy, who believes the results with knitting are infinitely better at creating "uninterrupted surfaces" and "transitions."
"There's a much more considered approach ... to feel and how things will react to your body when they're on your face or ... your hand or your foot," he explains. Now, of course, we're not talking "knit one, purl two" with needles here. Bilio uses a process called zonal engineered knitting that, in the case of the mask, uses facial sizing data to inform the design.
Another one of the Smith brothers' principles: sustainability.
"We're using a process where we only knit what we need, which is different from a traditional die-cut and sew approach," says Nick. "So there's very little waste in this product — actually, less than a gram."
Bilio masks are currently produced at a knitting mill in North Carolina, and Billy says they're also exploring mills in Missouri and Los Angeles. He says they're committed to domestic manufacturing and didn't even consider producing masks overseas where labor costs might be cheaper.
"There's really beautiful things happening in America around knitting," he says. "We're also avoiding a lot of trouble having to ship things around the world."
As Billy explains it, the materials they use in their products matter as much as the design. The Bilio mask is made of recycled polyester, a small percentage of spandex and nylon, and a silver-coated yarn called X-Static — which is also used in sportswear and medical supplies.
toggle caption Nick Rubalcava/Bilio
While X-Static fiber may be new, silver's antimicrobial properties are timeless, says Joel Furey, co-founder of Noble Biomaterials, the company that makes X-Static. "Even before the microbiology was known, people would use silver for its healing properties and its ability to prevent the growth of organisms in, say, drinking water or milk," says Furey. "It's had this magical quality to it since the beginning of recorded time."
Some have suggested that wearing masks keeps us from touching our face. But, Furey asks, "what if the mask itself is contaminated and you're touching the mask?" He says the objective is to "reduce or eliminate the growth of microbes directly on the surface of the mask."
Furey does not claim that a mask with Noble Biomaterials' silver-coated fibers will keep everyone 100% safe, but X-Static's antimicrobial properties are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
So between the knitted design and the materials, is the Bilio mask effective?
We asked researchers Loretta Fernandez and Amy Mueller at Northeastern University to test the Bilio mask. They've been testing the performance of a range of masks, measuring to see how well they protect the wearer from inhaling particles that may carry the coronavirus.
Mueller says, for the Bilio mask, "We came up with a mean particle removal efficiency of around 82%." This means the Bilio mask filtered out 82% of the particles in the room for the person wearing the mask at the time of testing. For reference, Mueller says, the results for the more than 50 cloth masks they tested ranged from a low of 28% to a high of 94%.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nick Rubalcava/Bilio Nick Rubalcava/Bilio
Among those cloth masks, the Bilio came in 10th overall and second for the masks they tested that have ear loops.
Fernandez says she was surprised the Bilio scored so well because it's smaller than many of the masks they've tested. Since it's knitted, she was able to mold it to her face. "As soon as I pinched it around my nose, the filtration efficiency boosted. So I think that fit around the nose really does help," says Fernandez. "The nose tends to be where a lot of the air leaks out and then around the cheeks as well. So this one did fit in those areas without having to have a lot of surface area to the mask."
Bear in mind that no mask offers full protection, nor should wearing a mask be seen as a substitute for physical distancing of at least 6 feet, frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds.
Billy and Nick Smith say they continue to refine the Bilio mask based on testing and feedback from customers. There's a lot to consider: breathability, comfort, adapting the mask to different climates, sizing. Nick says sentiments around how a mask should perform are "changing rapidly."
"What we heard as feedback three weeks ago is already different from what we're hearing now," he says. "People that wanted a tight seal and wanted to make sure this thing hugged their face, now they're coming back and saying, 'Hey, I just want to be compliant so I can open up and be comfortable in my job.' "
Like so many of the coronavirus challenges, optimal face mask design is a moving target — and so the Smiths keep tinkering.


npr--2020-07-06--An Uneasy July 4th In Richmond, Va., As Armed Groups Gather Warily

An Uneasy July 4th In Richmond , Va. , As Armed Groups Gather Warily A landmark statue of the Confederate general installed 130 years ago in Richmond , Va. , is at the center of a campaign to remove monuments that glorify the losing side of the Civil War .
There 's a legal battle over whether to remove the Lee statue , but few here expect his monument to survive the re-energized anti-racism movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd .
So , until the day a crane shows up to haul off the general , Black protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site , which has become a place of pilgrimage .
Over the Fourth of July weekend , there were songs and speeches and families coming to take photos .
Their backdrop was a Confederate hero whose legacy is challenged in graffiti on the pedestal that holds him up .
Near the top , someone had scrawled , `` Proverbs 29:16 . ''
The biblical verse reads : `` When the wicked thrive , so does sin , but the righteous will see their downfall . ''
Black protesters said taking down statues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutionalized white supremacy is longer , open-ended .
The lingering opposition to that cause also was on display this weekend , outside the Virginia State Capitol at a gathering of heavily armed white men – some prepping for a second Civil War , some calling for a white ethnostate .
Their speeches were essentially the overtly racist version of President Trump 's divisive lament at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Friday about lost heritage and fallen statues .
One white nationalist screamed at the crowd to rise up in retaliation : `` Removing monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! '
`` One holiday , two visions of the future — for Richmond , and for America .
Extremism analysts warn that polarization is reaching dangerous levels .
Fringe ideas are creeping into the mainstream , rhetoric is hardening and low-level clashes are occurring at demonstrations across the country .
In Richmond , protesters said , statue removal is a crucial battle , but not the war .
`` Previous Fourths of July , we 've celebrated all the great things about the U.S. , but we have n't acknowledged some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do acknowledge those , we can start healing , '' said Aurora Higgs , a Black trans woman who was at the Lee statue for a march with other LGBTQ activists .
As Higgs spoke , a DJ played an upbeat song by the artist Lizzo .
Protesters bumped elbows in pandemic-era greeting .
Underneath a scorching sun , artists and students lounged on the cool stone of the pedestal .
The mood was festive , the mission serious .
Higgs gestured to the statue of Lee on his horse and said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting to see come down . ''
`` It 's not necessarily the statue .
It 's everything it symbolizes , the outdated thinking that violates and dehumanizes people , '' she said .
`` This is the last frontier and , as far as I 'm concerned , it 's a war we 're going to win . ''
Trump and right-wing commentators frequently depict Black Lives Matter protesters as armed and dangerous .
Some armed leftists and Black gun groups have patrolled protest sites , but they 're a tiny fraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days , however , Black gun owners have become more assertive at demonstrations across the country .
Scenes of dozens of rifle-carrying , Black protesters marching in formation in Georgia went viral over the weekend ; the evocation of the Black Panther Party was unmistakable .
In Richmond , too , Black gun clubs have come together to safeguard the protest site .
They call themselves a deterrent — a defensive , not offensive , presence .
Still , they 're not universally welcomed , though many in the anti-gun camp have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of attacks on protest camps by far-right extremists .
Among the small armed contingent at the Lee statue was a poet who goes by the pen name Ray Rosetta .
He says he grew up in New Jersey and never considered gun ownership until moving to Richmond .
Six years ago , he said , he bought his first gun and joined the NRA .
Rosetta recalled his membership card arriving with `` a cool gun bag '' and some literature with language that made him rethink joining .
He let his NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said with a laugh .
Instead , Rosetta teamed up with other local Black gun owners , many of whom are also now doing stints at the Lee statue site .
He said he 's thinking about starting a chapter of the Huey P. Newton Gun Club — a national movement named after a co-founder of the Black Panthers .
Rosetta sat under the shade of a tent at the Lee statue site , his semiautomatic rifle at his feet .
`` That 's my baby , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the movement .
He said he still believes the pen is mightier ; he 'd rather be writing his poems , meditations on life and the women he calls his muses .
He 's also been moved by what he 's seen in the protests .
He recited one of his new verses : Rosetta laughed .
`` Sometimes I like to keep mine short . ''
As the interview was winding down , a couple of volunteers from the protesters ' bike patrol approached Rosetta with a plastic bag .
Inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rifle , along with a military-style coin showing Trump and the North Korean leader , Kim Jong Un .
The volunteers told Rosetta they 'd found the items in trash near the protest site and worried that someone had stashed them there for an attack .
Rosetta did n't know what to make of the items .
Were they part of a bigger cache ?
Did they fall out of someone 's bag ?
None of the possibilities was reassuring .
He said agitators have shown up to cause trouble .
Others drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rosetta said he believes guns on the premises is staving off a more brazen retaliation against the protests .
Rosetta said he would add the items to an art exhibit he 's creating with found objects from protests .
It will be called , `` Domestic Warfare . ''
He said the ammo is a reminder of why he keeps a pen in one hand , a rifle in the other .
`` A lot of people do n't believe this is happening , '' he said .
`` It 's scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the morning on the fourth , it looked like a heavily armed luau was about to take place in front of the State Capitol in Richmond .
The Hawaiian shirt-wearing so-called `` Boogaloo boys '' were starting to arrive , part of an amorphous movement of disenchanted , mostly white men who think another Civil War is inevitable , even necessary , to correct what they consider an overreaching federal government and other societal ills .
There 's no leader and no cohesion on ideology or goals , no blueprint for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richmond , the Boogaloo boys were loosely organized by a baby-faced 19-year-old named Mike Dunn , who wore a cherry-red Hawaiian shirt and cowboy boots .
A Confederate flag was visible on the back of his belt .
In these circles , he 's known as `` Virginia Knight , '' part of a year-old network of militias across the state .
Dunn said his activism cost him his job with the Virginia Department of Corrections .
`` To me , it means we want change , and we 're willing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that change , '' Dunn said , offering his definition of the Boogaloo movement .
`` We 're willing to do what it takes , '' he said , to safeguard Second Amendment and other constitutional rights he believes are under attack .
When told that his words might sound chilling to some people , Dunn shrugged .
`` It is what it is . ''
Among the dozens of men in Hawaiian shirts and tactical gear , another kind of demonstrator started to arrive , in skull masks paired with white blazers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the insignia and other markers of hate groups .
Dunn and the Boogaloo crew regarded them with suspicion , but greeted them and arranged for the white nationalists to have a turn speaking before the crowd .
They all mingled politely for a while , waiting for speeches to begin at 10 a.m. Then , from around a corner , a group of armed Black protesters showed up , many of the same who patrol the Lee site .
The gun-toting Black group stood across the street from the gun-toting white group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Thank you all for coming out , make yourselves at home . ''
He told the Black group that they might have differences but that they would all stand together for the Second Amendment .
A military veteran who goes by `` Pops '' represented the Black group .
He had a question .
`` Who 's going to regulate if anything jumps off ? ''
he asked .
`` We just hope it does n't , '' Dunn said .
Dunn led the Black group across the street to merge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murmurs of disapproval among the white nationalists , but the Boogaloo boys welcomed the Black protesters , each side checking out and complimenting the others ' weaponry .
The police herded them all down the street , out of the shade , leaving them to swelter in their heavy flak vests .
At one point , a guy in a Hawaiian shirt and tactical gear wished everyone a happy Fourth of July and led the crowd – the white nationalists , the Boogaloo boys , the Black gun group – in a surreal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But the harmony was fleeting .
The second the white nationalists took the mic to spew about white genocide , the crowd divided sharply between those who were fine with that rhetoric and those who were n't .
Dunn and most of the Hawaiian shirts rejected the separatist message .
They stormed off , enraged by `` Nazi wing-nuts '' hijacking their rally .
They joined the Black protesters in chants to drown out the white supremacists who were peddling a plan for the `` peaceful Balkanization '' of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth , a teenager who handed hate a bullhorn and came to regret it .
Much of the crowd seemed to lose interest in Dunn 's message of unity .
For some , the time for talk was over .
The melting pot had failed .
Monuments , streets , patriots were under attack .
It was time for Plan B .
`` It 's time for all good men , and good men alone , to come to the aid of their country , of their people , of their civilization !
@

An Uneasy July 4th In Richmond, Va., As Armed Groups Gather Warily
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
Robert E. Lee's days are numbered.
A landmark statue of the Confederate general installed 130 years ago in Richmond, Va., is at the center of a campaign to remove monuments that glorify the losing side of the Civil War. There's a legal battle over whether to remove the Lee statue, but few here expect his monument to survive the re-energized anti-racism movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
So, until the day a crane shows up to haul off the general, Black protesters and their supporters are camped out at the site, which has become a place of pilgrimage. Over the Fourth of July weekend, there were songs and speeches and families coming to take photos. Their backdrop was a Confederate hero whose legacy is challenged in graffiti on the pedestal that holds him up.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
Near the top, someone had scrawled, "Proverbs 29:16." The biblical verse reads: "When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall."
Black protesters said taking down statues is symbolic; the bigger fight against institutionalized white supremacy is longer, open-ended.
The lingering opposition to that cause also was on display this weekend, outside the Virginia State Capitol at a gathering of heavily armed white men – some prepping for a second Civil War, some calling for a white ethnostate. Their speeches were essentially the overtly racist version of President Trump's divisive lament at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Friday about lost heritage and fallen statues. One white nationalist screamed at the crowd to rise up in retaliation: "Removing monuments says, 'I conquered this land!' "
One holiday, two visions of the future — for Richmond, and for America. Extremism analysts warn that polarization is reaching dangerous levels. Fringe ideas are creeping into the mainstream, rhetoric is hardening and low-level clashes are occurring at demonstrations across the country. In Richmond, protesters said, statue removal is a crucial battle, but not the war.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
"Previous Fourths of July, we've celebrated all the great things about the U.S., but we haven't acknowledged some of our horrible histories, and once we do acknowledge those, we can start healing," said Aurora Higgs, a Black trans woman who was at the Lee statue for a march with other LGBTQ activists.
As Higgs spoke, a DJ played an upbeat song by the artist Lizzo. Protesters bumped elbows in pandemic-era greeting. Underneath a scorching sun, artists and students lounged on the cool stone of the pedestal. The mood was festive, the mission serious. Higgs gestured to the statue of Lee on his horse and said, "This is the one we're waiting to see come down."
"It's not necessarily the statue. It's everything it symbolizes, the outdated thinking that violates and dehumanizes people," she said. "This is the last frontier and, as far as I'm concerned, it's a war we're going to win."
Armed Black protesters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
Trump and right-wing commentators frequently depict Black Lives Matter protesters as armed and dangerous. Some armed leftists and Black gun groups have patrolled protest sites, but they're a tiny fraction of the largely unarmed movement.
In recent days, however, Black gun owners have become more assertive at demonstrations across the country. Scenes of dozens of rifle-carrying, Black protesters marching in formation in Georgia went viral over the weekend; the evocation of the Black Panther Party was unmistakable.
In Richmond, too, Black gun clubs have come together to safeguard the protest site. They call themselves a deterrent — a defensive, not offensive, presence. Still, they're not universally welcomed, though many in the anti-gun camp have grudgingly come to accept them after reports of attacks on protest camps by far-right extremists.
Among the small armed contingent at the Lee statue was a poet who goes by the pen name Ray Rosetta. He says he grew up in New Jersey and never considered gun ownership until moving to Richmond. Six years ago, he said, he bought his first gun and joined the NRA. Rosetta recalled his membership card arriving with "a cool gun bag" and some literature with language that made him rethink joining. He let his NRA membership lapse.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
"One and done," he said with a laugh.
Instead, Rosetta teamed up with other local Black gun owners, many of whom are also now doing stints at the Lee statue site. He said he's thinking about starting a chapter of the Huey P. Newton Gun Club — a national movement named after a co-founder of the Black Panthers. Rosetta sat under the shade of a tent at the Lee statue site, his semiautomatic rifle at his feet. "That's my baby," he said.
But Rosetta is a reluctant gunman for the movement. He said he still believes the pen is mightier; he'd rather be writing his poems, meditations on life and the women he calls his muses. He's also been moved by what he's seen in the protests. He recited one of his new verses:
"Little Black boys can't dream/Too busy livin' nightmares."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
Rosetta laughed. "Sometimes I like to keep mine short."
As the interview was winding down, a couple of volunteers from the protesters' bike patrol approached Rosetta with a plastic bag. Inside were two loaded magazines for a semi-automatic rifle, along with a military-style coin showing Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. The volunteers told Rosetta they'd found the items in trash near the protest site and worried that someone had stashed them there for an attack.
Rosetta didn't know what to make of the items. Were they part of a bigger cache? Did they fall out of someone's bag? None of the possibilities was reassuring. He said agitators have shown up to cause trouble. Others drive by and yell slurs out the window. Rosetta said he believes guns on the premises is staving off a more brazen retaliation against the protests.
Rosetta said he would add the items to an art exhibit he's creating with found objects from protests. It will be called, "Domestic Warfare." He said the ammo is a reminder of why he keeps a pen in one hand, a rifle in the other.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
"A lot of people don't believe this is happening," he said. "It's scary. This is happening."
Boogaloo showdown
Early in the morning on the fourth, it looked like a heavily armed luau was about to take place in front of the State Capitol in Richmond.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
The Hawaiian shirt-wearing so-called "Boogaloo boys" were starting to arrive, part of an amorphous movement of disenchanted, mostly white men who think another Civil War is inevitable, even necessary, to correct what they consider an overreaching federal government and other societal ills. There's no leader and no cohesion on ideology or goals, no blueprint for what comes after the apocalyptic fight.
In Richmond, the Boogaloo boys were loosely organized by a baby-faced 19-year-old named Mike Dunn, who wore a cherry-red Hawaiian shirt and cowboy boots. A Confederate flag was visible on the back of his belt. In these circles, he's known as "Virginia Knight," part of a year-old network of militias across the state. Dunn said his activism cost him his job with the Virginia Department of Corrections.
"To me, it means we want change, and we're willing to do what we need to do to get that change," Dunn said, offering his definition of the Boogaloo movement.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hannah Allam/NPR Hannah Allam/NPR
"We're willing to do what it takes," he said, to safeguard Second Amendment and other constitutional rights he believes are under attack. When told that his words might sound chilling to some people, Dunn shrugged. "It is what it is."
Among the dozens of men in Hawaiian shirts and tactical gear, another kind of demonstrator started to arrive, in skull masks paired with white blazers. They were white nationalists, sporting the insignia and other markers of hate groups.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
Dunn and the Boogaloo crew regarded them with suspicion, but greeted them and arranged for the white nationalists to have a turn speaking before the crowd. They all mingled politely for a while, waiting for speeches to begin at 10 a.m.
Then, from around a corner, a group of armed Black protesters showed up, many of the same who patrol the Lee site. The gun-toting Black group stood across the street from the gun-toting white group. Dunn made a beeline to introduce himself: "Thank you all for coming out, make yourselves at home." He told the Black group that they might have differences but that they would all stand together for the Second Amendment.
A military veteran who goes by "Pops" represented the Black group. He had a question.
"Who's going to regulate if anything jumps off?" he asked.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
"We just hope it doesn't," Dunn said.
Dunn led the Black group across the street to merge with the bigger group. There were murmurs of disapproval among the white nationalists, but the Boogaloo boys welcomed the Black protesters, each side checking out and complimenting the others' weaponry. The police herded them all down the street, out of the shade, leaving them to swelter in their heavy flak vests.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
At one point, a guy in a Hawaiian shirt and tactical gear wished everyone a happy Fourth of July and led the crowd – the white nationalists, the Boogaloo boys, the Black gun group – in a surreal rendition of "America The Beautiful." But the harmony was fleeting. The second the white nationalists took the mic to spew about white genocide, the crowd divided sharply between those who were fine with that rhetoric and those who weren't.
Dunn and most of the Hawaiian shirts rejected the separatist message. They stormed off, enraged by "Nazi wing-nuts" hijacking their rally. They joined the Black protesters in chants to drown out the white supremacists who were peddling a plan for the "peaceful Balkanization" of the country.
Dunn looked dismayed, out of his depth, a teenager who handed hate a bullhorn and came to regret it. Much of the crowd seemed to lose interest in Dunn's message of unity. For some, the time for talk was over. The melting pot had failed. Monuments, streets, patriots were under attack. It was time for Plan B.
"It's time!" a white nationalist speaker said.
"It's time!" the crowd answered.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Urquhart for NPR Jim Urquhart for NPR
"It's time for all good men, and good men alone, to come to the aid of their country, of their people, of their civilization!"
The speaker's words grew muffled as Dunn's Boogaloo camp began a chant: "White supremacy sucks! White supremacy sucks!"