npr--2020-10-21--U.S. Blames Iran For Threatening Election Emails, Says Russia May Interfere Too

U.S. Blames Iran For Threatening Election Emails , Says Russia May Interfere Too Iranian influence specialists are behind threatening emails sent to voters in Alaska and Florida , U.S. officials said on Wednesday evening and suggested that more such interference could be in store from Russia .
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the U.S. intelligence community believes Iranian and Russian operatives obtained voter-record information that enabled them to target some people with intimidating emails based on party registration about how they 'd better vote for President Trump `` or else . ''
The senders posed as members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had voter data that revealed for whom their targets voted — but that was a false flag , the U.S. says .
Ratcliffe sought to reassure Americans about the integrity of their actual votes and the processes by which elections are run .
`` These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries , '' Ratcliffe said , but pledged confidence in American elections and said , `` You can be confident your votes are secured . ''
Russian influence-specialists do n't appear to have used their voter data in a similar scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His warning followed months of similar cautions by U.S. officials about the threats of interference posed by foreign actors , which have never abated since the historic spike of Russian `` active measures '' in the 2016 election on behalf of President Trump .
Since then , however , Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray said , U.S. officials have worked to toughen America 's election infrastructure and become more vigilant about election security — work they said has paid off with the awareness demonstrated Wednesday night .
`` We are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wray said .
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have kept up a drumbeat of regular bulletins about what they call the latest intelligence about prospective election cyberthreats .
Much of their reporting focuses on the prospect of cyberattacks on election-adjacent systems — efforts that might not disrupt an honest count , for example , but attacks on the websites that report vote totals .
Claims about compromised voter data have been part of the warnings they 've been issuing .
Authorities say it would be very difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in the United States .
So officials say they focus on the adjacent systems and , more broadly , on trying to change people 's minds — including with deliberate attempts at spreading misleading or false stories to shape the U.S. information environment .
Iranian influence mongers step up to new level Cyber-analysts called the email scheme by Iran an unusual escalation of its interference , along with a video that 's circulating that claims to exposes weaknesses in U.S. elections infrastructure .
`` In recent years , Iranian information operations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative approaches .
However , this incident marks a fundamental shift in our understanding of Iran 's willingness to interfere in the democratic process , '' said John Hultquist , senior director of analysis for Mandiant Threat Intelligence .
It was n't immediately clear what action the United States might take in retaliation against Iran .
Washington has been at daggers drawn with the Islamic Republic since Trump 's election ushered in a deep chill in relations — and the assassination of one of its top military commanders , Qassem Soleimani , earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran also meant Ratcliffe 's news conference chimed with the political position he and Trump have taken about the nature of the election security threat they say it poses .
The intelligence community has taken pains to emphasize what it calls the many potential origins of interference , including from Iran , Russia , China and elsewhere .
Critics led by Democrats in Congress call that a false equivalence and an attempt by Trump 's aides to distract from what the critics call the much greater single peril posed specifically by Russia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sue Gordon , told NPR that she would put Russia on top of the list .
U.S. officials say the final sprint toward the end of voting could bring an increase in foreign interference and they 've urged voters to think critically about claims they encounter and seek official confirmation about practices including their local elections policies .
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has unveiled a site it calls `` Rumor Control , '' which ticks through topics including allegations like the one in the scam emails from this week .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday that voters are the last line of defense in holding off attempts by foreign nations to pollute U.S. democracy .
Earlier on Wednesday evening , the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee , Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , and Mark Warner , D-Va. , also urged Americans to keep up their guard over the coming weeks .
Foreign adversaries likely ca n't actually change Americans ' votes , they said , but they do hope to , if not change voters ' minds , create an environment so acrid that people ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing .
`` Our adversaries abroad seek to sow chaos and undermine voters ' belief in our democratic institutions , including the election systems and infrastructure that we rely on to record and properly report expressions of the voters ' will , '' the Senate leaders said . ''

U.S. Blames Iran For Threatening Election Emails, Says Russia May Interfere Too
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gabriella Demczuk/AP Gabriella Demczuk/AP
Updated at 8:33 p.m. ET
Iranian influence specialists are behind threatening emails sent to voters in Alaska and Florida, U.S. officials said on Wednesday evening and suggested that more such interference could be in store from Russia.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the U.S. intelligence community believes Iranian and Russian operatives obtained voter-record information, which enabled Iran to target some people with intimidating emails based on party registration about how they'd better vote for President Trump "or else."
The senders posed as members of the white supremacist Proud Boys and claimed they had voter data that revealed for whom their targets voted — but that was a false flag, the U.S. says.
Ratcliffe sought to reassure Americans about the integrity of their votes and the processes by which elections are run.
"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries," Ratcliffe said, but pledged confidence in American elections and said, "You can be confident your votes are secured."
Notice follows months of warnings
Russian influence specialists don't appear to have used their voter data in a similar scheme, Ratcliffe said, but they may.
His warning followed months of similar cautions by U.S. officials about the threats of interference posed by foreign actors, which have never abated since the historic spike of Russian "active measures" in the 2016 election on behalf of President Trump.
Since then, however, Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray said, U.S. officials have worked to toughen America's election infrastructure and have become more vigilant about election security — work they said has paid off with the awareness demonstrated Wednesday night.
"We are not going to let our guard down," Wray said.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have kept up a drumbeat of regular bulletins about what they call the latest intelligence about prospective election cyberthreats.
Much of their reporting focuses on the prospect of cyberattacks on election-adjacent systems — efforts that might not disrupt an honest count, for example, but might disrupt websites that report vote totals. Claims about compromised voter data have been part of the warnings they've been issuing.
Authorities say it would be very difficult for foreign powers to change anyone's vote in the United States. So officials say they focus on the adjacent systems and, more broadly, on trying to change people's minds — including with deliberate attempts at spreading misleading or false stories to shape the U.S. information environment.
Iranian influence-mongers step up to new level
Cyber-analysts called the email scheme by Iran an unusual escalation of its interference, along with a video that's circulating that claims to expose weaknesses in U.S. election infrastructure.
"In recent years, Iranian information operations have continued to push boundaries using bold and innovative approaches. However, this incident marks a fundamental shift in our understanding of Iran's willingness to interfere in the democratic process," said John Hultquist, senior director of analysis for Mandiant Threat Intelligence.
It wasn't immediately clear what action the U.S. might take in retaliation against Iran. Washington has been at daggers drawn with the Islamic republic since Trump's election ushered in a deep chill in relations — and since the assassination of one of its top military commanders, Qassem Soleimani, this year.
Trump's antipathy toward Iran also meant Ratcliffe's news conference chimed with the political position that he and Trump have taken about the nature of the election security threat they say it poses.
The intelligence community has taken pains to emphasize what it calls the many potential origins of interference, including Iran, Russia, China and elsewhere. Critics led by Democrats in Congress call that a false equivalence and an attempt by Trump's aides to distract from what the critics call the much greater single peril posed specifically by Russia.
The former deputy director of national intelligence, Sue Gordon, told NPR that she would put Russia at the top of the list.
Calls for cool head and critical thinking
U.S. officials say the final sprint toward the end of voting could bring an increase in foreign interference, and they've urged voters to think critically about claims they encounter and seek official confirmation about practices, including their local election policies.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has unveiled a site it calls Rumor Control that ticks through topics including allegations like the one in the scam emails this week.
Its director, Chris Krebs, said on Tuesday that voters are the last line of defense in holding off attempts by foreign nations to pollute U.S. democracy.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Warner, D-Va., also urged Americans to keep up their guard over the coming weeks.
Foreign adversaries likely can't change Americans' votes, they said, but those adversaries do hope to, if not change voters' minds, create an environment so acrid that people can't feel confident about what they're seeing.
"Our adversaries abroad seek to sow chaos and undermine voters' belief in our democratic institutions, including the election systems and infrastructure that we rely on to record and properly report expressions of the voters' will," the Senate leaders said.


npr--2020-10-21--CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'

CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact' The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed the amount of time it takes for someone to be considered a `` close contact '' of a person with COVID-19 .
Previous language defined a close contact as someone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case .
The CDC now defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine and get tested for the virus .
In a study published Wednesday , the CDC and Vermont health officials found that multiple short exposures to people confirmed to have COVID-19 led to transmission of the virus .
During the contact tracing investigation , it was discovered that the coronavirus was transmitted to a correctional facility employee who interacted with individuals later found to be positive for the coronavirus .
The employee had 22 interactions totaling 17 minutes during an eight-hour shift .
Some of the employee 's contacts with those later found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals were not wearing face masks .
The CDC says the finding `` highlights again the importance of wearing face masks to prevent transmission . ''
Epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch of the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health told NPR in an email that the new definition `` captures most of the instances where there would be transmission but does n't vastly expand the number . ''
The change will `` mostly impact workplaces , schools and other places where people spend all day together off and on , '' according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health .
She says it does have `` the potential to significantly increase the number of people who are asked to quarantine . ''

CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Updated at 11 a.m. ET Thursday
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has broadened the definition of what it means to be a "close contact" of a person with COVID-19.
Previous language defined a close contact as someone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case.
The CDC now defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
People who are considered close contacts are supposed to quarantine and get tested for the coronavirus.
In a study published Wednesday, the CDC and Vermont health officials found that multiple short exposures to people confirmed to have COVID-19 led to transmission of the virus.
During a contact tracing investigation detailed in the study, it was discovered that the coronavirus was transmitted to a correctional facility employee who interacted with individuals later found to be positive for the coronavirus. The employee had 22 interactions totaling 17 minutes during an eight-hour shift.
Some of the employee's contacts with those later found to have COVID-19 occurred when the individuals who were positive for the coronavirus were not wearing face masks. The CDC says the finding "highlights again the importance of wearing face masks to prevent transmission."
Epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health told NPR in an email that the new definition "captures most of the instances where there would be transmission but doesn't vastly expand the number."
The change will "mostly impact workplaces, schools and other places where people spend all day together off and on," according to Caitlin Rivers, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She says it does have "the potential to significantly increase the number of people who are asked to quarantine."
Crystal Watson, another Johns Hopkins researcher, agrees.
"This will mean a big change for public health when it comes to contact tracing and for the public generally in trying to avoid exposure," she wrote in an email to NPR.
"The earlier standard for a significant exposure was somewhat artificial, but the purpose was to provide a target for contact tracers so that they would identify the contacts who were most at risk of infection," Watson said. "Now, contact tracing will become even more difficult because it will probably mean a much higher number of contacts per case on average."
Watson added that she was "a bit surprised that the CDC would change its definition based on one case study, especially because the case study doesn't seem to definitively show that the corrections officer was infected through these brief encounters."
"I would love to hear more from CDC about their reasoning for the change in definition, and how they would advise that public health change their operations going forward," Watson wrote.
Jeffrey Engel, senior adviser for the COVID-19 response for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, said he doubted most health departments would have the resources to do the kind of detailed case investigations needed to identify people who have accumulated 15 minutes of exposure through multiple encounters.
"Detailed case investigations occur rarely and close contact determinations are estimated by busy staff," Engel told NPR by email.
The Vermont case does provide new insight as to how the virus can spread, which will be helpful "going into the fall and winter," according to William Hanage of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
But because the new definition is based on just one case report, it shouldn't cause undue alarm, according to Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
"It is just a report, so I don't want to read into it too much or alarm people," Plescia wrote in an email. "Ultimately, if infection after short interactions were widespread we would see much higher infection rates."
NPR's Rob Stein contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-21--Entreating Pa. Residents To Vote, Obama Delivers Rebuke Of Trump

Former President Barack Obama urged Philadelphians to make a voting plan and cast their ballots early for Democratic nominee Joe Biden during his first in-person campaign event of the 2020 contest in a state that may be crucial to a Biden victory .
`` Philadelphia , we got 13 days — 13 days until the most important election of our lifetimes , '' Obama said Wednesday evening during a drive-in car rally outside Citizens Bank Park , home to the Philadelphia Phillies .
`` And you do n't have to wait for Nov. 3 to cast your ballot , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting by mail .
`` What we do these next 13 days will matter for decades to come , '' he stressed .
`` We 've got to turn out like never before .
We can not leave any doubt in this election .
We ca n't be complacent .
I do n't care about the polls .
There were a whole bunch of polls last time , '' he said , referring to 2016 .
`` [ It ] did n't work out because a whole bunch of people stayed at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time . ''
Because of concerns over the coronavirus , the event was notably smaller than when Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama joined then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in front of thousands of supporters in Philadelphia on the eve of the 2016 election , which Clinton lost .
On Wednesday , Obama delivered blistering criticism of his successor , slamming President Trump 's response to the pandemic and noting the rising number of cases in the country .
`` Donald Trump is n't suddenly going to protect all of us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to protect himself , '' he said , referring to Trump 's recent hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment .
`` Here 's the truth , '' Obama said .
`` I want to be honest here .
This pandemic would have been challenging for any president .
But this idea that somehow this White House has done anything but completely screw this up is just not true . ''
He admonished the Trump administration for dismantling environmental protection programs and its efforts to repeal the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his rhetoric and spreading misinformation .
`` America is a good and decent place , '' Obama said .
`` But we 've just seen so much noise and nonsense that sometimes it 's hard for us to remember .
Philadelphia , I 'm asking you to remember what this country can be . ''
Obama also used his speech as an opportunity to reflect on his personal relationship with his former running mate .
`` He and I came from different places .
We came from different generations .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has learned early on to treat everybody he meets with dignity and respect , '' Obama said .
`` And that empathy , that decency , that belief that everybody counts — that 's who Joe is .
That 's who he 'll be .
And I can tell you the presidency does n't change who you are ; it reveals who you are .
And Joe has shown himself to be a friend of working people . ''
Before delivering his remarks , Obama participated in a discussion with Black male @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Access Center on issues facing Black men and the significance of voting .
Obama then stopped by a voter mobilization center to give a socially distanced pep talk to volunteers .
The Trump campaign insisted Obama was sent in to campaign for Biden as backup .
`` Joe Biden is clearly not up to the rigors of campaigning for president , so he 's calling in Barack Obama as a reinforcement , '' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement ahead of Obama 's speech .
Biden has spent most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye at his Delaware home ahead of Thursday night 's final debate against Trump .
While Obama had largely avoided direct confrontations with his successor — as is customary for past presidents — he delivered a searing critique of Trump during the Democratic National Convention in August .
( Trump has repeatedly rebuked Obama as well . )
`` For close to four years now , he 's shown no interest in putting in the work ; no interest in finding common ground ; no interest in using the awesome power of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his friends ; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves , '' Obama said at the time .
He also raised nearly $ 8 million in a joint virtual fundraiser with Biden in June , and has recorded videos for Democrats and the campaign , calling on people to vote .
That the Biden campaign deployed Obama to Pennsylvania conveys the importance the swing state holds in the race for the White House .
The former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of Trump in the state , according to a polling average from FiveThirtyEight .
Trump , who won the state by just 44,000 votes in 2016 , acknowledged the closeness of this year 's race in the Keystone State during a Tuesday night rally in Erie .
`` Before the plague came in , I had it made .
I was n't coming to Erie , '' Trump said .
`` I mean , I have to be honest .
There 's no way I was coming .
I did n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said , 'Hey , Erie if you have a chance , get out and vote . '
`` More than 1 million votes have already been cast in Pennsylvania , according to the U.S .
Elections Project .

Entreating Pa. Residents To Vote, Obama Delivers Rebuke Of Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 7:33 p.m. ET
Former President Barack Obama urged Philadelphians to make a voting plan and cast their ballots early for Democratic nominee Joe Biden during his first in-person campaign event of the 2020 contest in a state that may be crucial to a Biden victory.
"Philadelphia, we got 13 days — 13 days until the most important election of our lifetimes," Obama said Wednesday evening during a drive-in car rally outside Citizens Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies. "And you don't have to wait for Nov. 3 to cast your ballot," he said, citing early voting and voting by mail.
"What we do these next 13 days will matter for decades to come," he stressed.
"We've got to turn out like never before. We cannot leave any doubt in this election. We can't be complacent. I don't care about the polls. There were a whole bunch of polls last time," he said, referring to 2016. "[It] didn't work out because a whole bunch of people stayed at home and got lazy and complacent. Not this time."
Because of concerns over the coronavirus, the event was notably smaller than when Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama joined then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in front of thousands of supporters in Philadelphia on the eve of the 2016 election, which Clinton lost.
On Wednesday, Obama delivered blistering criticism of his successor, slamming President Trump's response to the pandemic and noting the rising number of cases in the country.
"Donald Trump isn't suddenly going to protect all of us. He can't even take the basic steps to protect himself," he said, referring to Trump's recent hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment.
"Here's the truth," Obama said. "I want to be honest here. This pandemic would have been challenging for any president. But this idea that somehow this White House has done anything but completely screw this up is just not true."
He admonished the Trump administration for dismantling environmental protection programs and its efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He also reprimanded Trump for his rhetoric and spreading misinformation.
"America is a good and decent place," Obama said. "But we've just seen so much noise and nonsense that sometimes it's hard for us to remember. Philadelphia, I'm asking you to remember what this country can be."
Biden surrogate
Obama also used his speech as an opportunity to reflect on his personal relationship with his former running mate.
"He and I came from different places. We came from different generations. But I came to admire Joe as a man who has learned early on to treat everybody he meets with dignity and respect," Obama said. "And that empathy, that decency, that belief that everybody counts — that's who Joe is. That's who he'll be. And I can tell you the presidency doesn't change who you are; it reveals who you are. And Joe has shown himself to be a friend of working people."
Before delivering his remarks, Obama participated in a discussion with Black male community leaders at the Hank Gathers Youth Access Center on issues facing Black men and the significance of voting. Obama then stopped by a voter mobilization center to give a socially distanced pep talk to volunteers.
The Trump campaign insisted Obama was sent in to campaign for Biden as backup.
"Joe Biden is clearly not up to the rigors of campaigning for president, so he's calling in Barack Obama as a reinforcement," Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement ahead of Obama's speech.
Biden has spent most of the week out of the public eye at his Delaware home ahead of Thursday night's final debate against Trump.
While Obama had largely avoided direct confrontations with his successor — as is customary for past presidents — he delivered a searing critique of Trump during the Democratic National Convention in August. (Trump has repeatedly rebuked Obama as well.)
"For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said at the time.
He also raised nearly $8 million in a joint virtual fundraiser with Biden in June, and has recorded videos for Democrats and the campaign, calling on people to vote.
Pennsylvania matters
That the Biden campaign deployed Obama to Pennsylvania conveys the importance the swing state holds in the race for the White House.
The former vice president is currently polling several percentage points ahead of Trump in the state, according to a polling average from FiveThirtyEight.
Trump, who won the state by just 44,000 votes in 2016, acknowledged the closeness of this year's race in the Keystone State during a Tuesday night rally in Erie.
"Before the plague came in, I had it made. I wasn't coming to Erie," Trump said. "I mean, I have to be honest. There's no way I was coming. I didn't have to. I would have called you and said, 'Hey, Erie if you have a chance, get out and vote.' "
More than 1 million votes have already been cast in Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Elections Project.


npr--2020-10-21--Taiwan's U.S. Friendship Comes With Benefits — And China's Wrath

Taiwan 's U.S .
Friendship Comes With Benefits — And China 's Wrath Two senior U.S. officials have visited Taiwan since August , one to discuss the pandemic and the other to attend a funeral .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Undersecretary of State Keith Krach were the highest-ranking U.S. officials to travel to Taiwan on business since 1979 , when Washington cut relations with Taipei and recognized Beijing as the rightful government of China .
The visits upset the Chinese Communist Party leadership .
And along with recent weapons sales to Taiwan and other measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration to deepen ties with the self-governed , democratic island at a time when U.S. relations with China are plumbing historic lows .
In the latest move , the State Department on Wednesday approved plans to sell $ 1.8 billion of arms to Taiwan , including precision air-to-surface cruise missiles .
Whether or not Trump 's warmer relations with Taiwan have , in fact , made it more secure , or less , is an open question , analysts say .
`` In a number of ways , sort of across the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a more normal diplomatic partner , '' says Michael Mazza , who follows China-Taiwan relations at the American Enterprise Institute .
Beijing considers Taiwan part of China , and has vowed to bring it back into the fold , by force if necessary .
Successive U.S. administrations have acted with caution , maintaining warm enough relations with Taiwan , and helping it gain the means to defend itself , without encouraging formal independence or crossing Beijing 's `` red lines . ''
Trump 's different approach started to show itself just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he took a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen .
The Trump team , and Tsai , said the call did n't signal a new policy , but China was rattled .
In the years since , beside sending senior officials to Taiwan , the Trump administration has increased the frequency of U.S. Navy ships sailing through the Taiwan Strait , and sold arms to Taiwan with greater regularity — and less concern about China 's objections — than past administrations .
The U.S. opened a new $ 255 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Beijing 's displeasure .
Also last year , the administration approved the $ 8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan , the biggest arms package in dollar terms since 1992 , according to Mazza .
People in Taiwan seem OK with it all .
A poll by YouGov last week showed that more people in Taiwan favor Trump in next month 's U.S. election over Democratic rival Joe Biden , believing the incumbent will be better for U.S.-Taiwan relations .
Biden has pledged that , if elected , he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alliances and investing in U.S. competitiveness .
But a second Trump term may bring even frostier relations with China , and a closer embrace with Taiwan — which some analysts believe raises risks for the island .
Trump has waged a disruptive trade war with China over commerce and technology , and in recent months sanctioned companies and officials that the administration links to human rights abuses in China 's far west and to the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong .
At the same time , the administration has deepened ties with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Taiwan sympathy ends up being what I call 'bad friend syndrome , ' '' says Lyle Goldstein , a research professor at the Naval War College .
`` That 's where you want to help your friend , but the more you help them they are actually putting them in a bad spot . ''
Beijing chafes at anything that smacks of increased international recognition of Taiwan .
Its approach to Taiwan began to harden when Tsai , a member of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party , was elected president in early 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsai has avoided advocating for independence .
Tsai was reelected in a landslide in January .
The government of China 's leader Xi Jinping has been blocking Taiwan from participating in international bodies , including the World Health Organization , and poaching its diplomatic allies .
Earlier this month a Taiwanese official was sent to a hospital after a dust-up with Chinese diplomats who allegedly crashed a party in Fiji .
In recent weeks , the Chinese military has ramped up live-fire drills , including some that simulate battle with Taiwan .
China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the median line in the Taiwan Strait , with an official in Beijing saying no such line exists .
There are also reports that China has beefed up its missile force across from Taiwan with hypersonic DF-17 missiles .
Shelley Rigger , an expert on China and Taiwan politics at North Carolina 's Davidson College , believes Trump sees Taiwan solely through the lens of his China policy , which increases risks for the island .
`` The administration has been full of people who are vehemently anti-China , and they are willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pawn , '' she says .
The U.S. could show real commitment to Taiwan by deepening economic ties and negotiating a bilateral trade agreement , she says .
Last month , Taiwan 's President Tsai tried to pave the way for that by opening the Taiwanese market to U.S. beef and pork — a major step that was domestically risky and unpopular .
Washington has yet to reciprocate , with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer reportedly against moving forward with Taiwan so as not to upset the `` Phase One '' trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
`` I do n't think you are ever a good friend when you are throwing your pal in front of a bully because you are looking for a way to slow him down , '' she says .
Taiwan has been taking what it can get , while signaling to Beijing that it is n't trying to upset the status quo .
In her National Day speech on Oct. 10 , President Tsai said she was open to dialogue with Beijing .
And last month , Taiwan 's foreign minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking formal diplomatic relations with the United States at the moment .
But China 's Xi , so far , is n't letting up .
Last week , China launched fresh military drills along the mainland 's coast and state media reported on a string of allegations against supposed spies from Taiwan caught in the mainland .
Analysts see the measures as an attempt to push public opinion in Taiwan against Tsai and her party , and away from the United States .
But these steps are likely to backfire , says Joanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Taiwanese government-linked research institute , Academia Sinica .
`` The fundamental thing China , Chinese leaders should understand [ is ] more unfair treatment [ and ] harassment toward Taiwan will make more support from U.S. and international community , '' she says .
Beijing 's `` zero sum approach toward Taiwan '' is the main cause of warmer U.S.-Taiwan relations , she adds .
With China 's military capabilities improving , and Xi on track for a possible third term as president , the next few years could get even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former Taiwan national security official who teaches at Tamkang University , outside Taipei .
`` I think the issue is to buy time .
Taiwan should not challenge Beijing when Xi Jinping is still around , '' he says .
Taiwan should focus , instead , on strengthening its economy and defenses , he says — regardless of who wins the U.S. election or how much help Washington is willing to offer .

How Trump Is Winning Hearts And Minds In Taiwan — Risking China's Wrath
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
Two senior U.S. officials have visited Taiwan since August, one to discuss the pandemic and the other to attend a funeral.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Undersecretary of State Keith Krach were the highest-ranking U.S. officials to travel to Taiwan on business since 1979, when Washington cut relations with Taipei and recognized Beijing as the rightful government of China.
The visits upset the Chinese Communist Party leadership. And along with recent weapons sales to Taiwan and other measures, highlight a broader push by the Trump administration to deepen ties with the self-governed, democratic island at a time when U.S. relations with China are plumbing historic lows.
In the latest move, the State Department on Wednesday approved plans to sell $1.8 billion of arms to Taiwan, including precision air-to-surface cruise missiles.
Whether or not Trump's warmer relations with Taiwan have, in fact, made it more secure, or less, is an open question, analysts say.
"In a number of ways, sort of across the board, the United States is treating Taiwan as a more normal diplomatic partner," says Michael Mazza, who follows China-Taiwan relations at the American Enterprise Institute.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of China, and has vowed to bring it back into the fold, by force if necessary.
Successive U.S. administrations have acted with caution, maintaining warm enough relations with Taiwan, and helping it gain the means to defend itself, without encouraging formal independence or crossing Beijing's "red lines."
Trump's different approach started to show itself just one month after winning the 2016 election, when he took a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The Trump team, and Tsai, said the call didn't signal a new policy, but China was rattled.
In the years since, beside sending senior officials to Taiwan, the Trump administration has increased the frequency of U.S. Navy ships sailing through the Taiwan Strait, and sold arms to Taiwan with greater regularity — and less concern about China's objections — than past administrations.
The U.S. opened a new $255 million representative office in 2019 in Taipei, to Beijing's displeasure.
Also last year, the administration approved the $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, the biggest arms package in dollar terms since 1992, according to Mazza.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
People in Taiwan seem OK with it all. A poll by YouGov last week showed that more people in Taiwan favor Trump in next month's U.S. election over Democratic rival Joe Biden, believing the incumbent will be better for U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Biden has pledged that, if elected, he would get tough on China by reinvigorating U.S. alliances and investing in U.S. competitiveness.
But a second Trump term may bring even frostier relations with China, and a closer embrace with Taiwan — which some analysts believe raises risks for the island.
Trump has waged a disruptive trade war with China over commerce and technology, and in recent months sanctioned companies and officials that the administration links to human rights abuses in China's far west and to the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong. At the same time, the administration has deepened ties with Taiwan.
"A lot of this pro-Taiwan sympathy ends up being what I call 'bad friend syndrome,'" says Lyle Goldstein, a research professor at the Naval War College. "That's where you want to help your friend, but the more you help them they are actually putting them in a bad spot."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chiang Ying-ying/AP Chiang Ying-ying/AP
Beijing chafes at anything that smacks of increased international recognition of Taiwan. Its approach to Taiwan began to harden when Tsai, a member of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president in early 2016, and has intensified recently even as Tsai has avoided advocating for independence. Tsai was reelected in a landslide in January.
The government of China's leader Xi Jinping has been blocking Taiwan from participating in international bodies, including the World Health Organization, and poaching its diplomatic allies. Earlier this month a Taiwanese official was sent to a hospital after a dust-up with Chinese diplomats who allegedly crashed a party in Fiji.
In recent weeks, the Chinese military has ramped up live-fire drills, including some that simulate battle with Taiwan. China has flown more warplanes than ever across the median line in the Taiwan Strait, with an official in Beijing saying no such line exists. There are also reports that China has beefed up its missile force across from Taiwan with hypersonic DF-17 missiles.
Shelley Rigger, an expert on China and Taiwan politics at North Carolina's Davidson College, believes Trump sees Taiwan solely through the lens of his China policy, which increases risks for the island.
"The administration has been full of people who are vehemently anti-China, and they are willing to pull Taiwan into that conflict as a pawn," she says.
The U.S. could show real commitment to Taiwan by deepening economic ties and negotiating a bilateral trade agreement, she says. Last month, Taiwan's President Tsai tried to pave the way for that by opening the Taiwanese market to U.S. beef and pork — a major step that was domestically risky and unpopular.
Washington has yet to reciprocate, with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer reportedly against moving forward with Taiwan so as not to upset the "Phase One" trade deal the U.S. struck with China earlier this year.
Rigger says that's regrettable.
"I don't think you are ever a good friend when you are throwing your pal in front of a bully because you are looking for a way to slow him down," she says.
Taiwan has been taking what it can get, while signaling to Beijing that it isn't trying to upset the status quo.
In her National Day speech on Oct. 10, President Tsai said she was open to dialogue with Beijing. And last month, Taiwan's foreign minister told NPR that the island was not seeking formal diplomatic relations with the United States at the moment.
But China's Xi, so far, isn't letting up.
Last week, China launched fresh military drills along the mainland's coast and state media reported on a string of allegations against supposed spies from Taiwan caught in the mainland.
Analysts see the measures as an attempt to push public opinion in Taiwan against Tsai and her party, and away from the United States. But these steps are likely to backfire, says Joanne Chang, an expert in U.S.-Taiwan-China relations at the Taiwanese government-linked research institute, Academia Sinica.
"The fundamental thing China, Chinese leaders should understand [is] more unfair treatment [and] harassment toward Taiwan will make more support from U.S. and international community," she says.
Beijing's "zero sum approach toward Taiwan" is the main cause of warmer U.S.-Taiwan relations, she adds.
With China's military capabilities improving, and Xi on track for a possible third term as president, the next few years could get even more dangerous, according to Alexander Huang, a former Taiwan national security official who teaches at Tamkang University, outside Taipei.
"I think the issue is to buy time. Taiwan should not challenge Beijing when Xi Jinping is still around," he says.
Taiwan should focus, instead, on strengthening its economy and defenses, he says — regardless of who wins the U.S. election or how much help Washington is willing to offer.


npr--2020-10-21--Democrats Plan To Boycott Senate Committee Vote On Barrett Nomination

Senate Democrats say they plan to boycott Thursday 's scheduled vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
`` Throughout the hearings last week , committee Democrats demonstrated the damage a Justice Barrett would do – to health care , reproductive freedoms , the ability to vote , and other core rights that Americans cherish , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a statement announcing their boycott .
`` We will not grant this process any further legitimacy by participating in a committee markup of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culmination of an election that is already underway . ''
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham rejected the Democratic assertion that at least two minority members were needed to proceed with the nomination .
`` I will move forward , '' he said Wednesday evening .
`` She deserves a vote . ''
In a subsequent statement , Graham called the Democratic decision to boycott the vote `` a choice they are making .
I believe it does a disservice to Judge Barrett who deserves a vote , up or down . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The nomination process took a dark turn in 2013 when the Democrats changed the rules of the Senate for District and Circuit court nominees requiring a simple majority vote .
My Democratic colleagues chose to engage in a partisan filibuster of Justice [ Neil ] Gorsuch for the first time in U.S. history requiring the changing of the rules regarding Supreme Court nominations . ''
When asked about Graham 's remarks , Schumer replied : `` We 're not giving the quorum they need to provide it .
The rules require it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicated he is planning a full Senate vote on the nomination on Monday .
The maneuver would ensure that Barrett could be sworn in before the Nov. 3 election and that she could participate in election questions that are already pending before the Supreme Court .
President Trump has said he wanted Barrett confirmed before the election so she could be there to rule on cases that might arise in the aftermath of the election .
Barrett , for her part , refused at her confirmation hearings to say whether she would recuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it is unlikely that she would do so .
Nothing in the judicial ethics rules would appear to require such a recusal unless it presents the appearance of impropriety .
Questions of recusal are ultimately decided by each justice for himself or herself , and at the Supreme Court , recusal can sometimes result in a tie vote .
Should that happen , the lower court decision in the case stands .
The Democrats ' boycott comes at a time that the progressive wing of the party is leaning on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call attention to what is widely viewed on the Democratic side of the aisle as an `` outrageous '' power play to get Barrett confirmed in record time for a nominee in modern times .
Barrett 's confirmation hearings began just 16 days after her nomination .
In contrast , the average time between nomination and hearings for each of the current justices on the Supreme Court was 56 days .
The result of the rushed confirmation process has been little time to explore Barrett 's record , both on and off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press published a long investigative piece disclosing that `` Barrett served for nearly three years on the board of private Christian schools that effectively barred admission to children of same-sex parents . ''
But the article was published too late for senators to ask questions of Barrett at her confirmation hearings .

Democrats Plan To Boycott Senate Committee Vote On Barrett Nomination
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP
Updated at 6:45 p.m. ET
Senate Democrats say they plan to boycott Thursday's scheduled vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
"Throughout the hearings last week, committee Democrats demonstrated the damage a Justice Barrett would do – to health care, reproductive freedoms, the ability to vote, and other core rights that Americans cherish," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a statement announcing their boycott. "We will not grant this process any further legitimacy by participating in a committee markup of this nomination just twelve days before the culmination of an election that is already underway."
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham rejected the Democratic assertion that at least two minority members were needed to proceed with the nomination.
"I will move forward," he said Wednesday evening. "She deserves a vote."
In a subsequent statement, Graham called the Democratic decision to boycott the vote "a choice they are making. I believe it does a disservice to Judge Barrett who deserves a vote, up or down."
In his statement, he added: "The nomination process took a dark turn in 2013 when the Democrats changed the rules of the Senate for District and Circuit court nominees requiring a simple majority vote. My Democratic colleagues chose to engage in a partisan filibuster of Justice [Neil] Gorsuch for the first time in U.S. history requiring the changing of the rules regarding Supreme Court nominations."
When asked about Graham's remarks, Schumer replied: "We're not giving the quorum they need to provide it. The rules require it."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he is planning a full Senate vote on the nomination on Monday.
The maneuver would ensure that Barrett could be sworn in before the Nov. 3 election and that she could participate in election questions that are already pending before the Supreme Court.
President Trump has said he wanted Barrett confirmed before the election so she could be there to rule on cases that might arise in the aftermath of the election. Barrett, for her part, refused at her confirmation hearings to say whether she would recuse herself in light of Trump's statements. But it is unlikely that she would do so. Nothing in the judicial ethics rules would appear to require such a recusal unless it presents the appearance of impropriety.
Questions of recusal are ultimately decided by each justice for himself or herself, and at the Supreme Court, recusal can sometimes result in a tie vote. Should that happen, the lower court decision in the case stands.
The Democrats' boycott comes at a time that the progressive wing of the party is leaning on the Democratic Senate leadership to do more to call attention to what is widely viewed on the Democratic side of the aisle as an "outrageous" power play to get Barrett confirmed in record time for a nominee in modern times.
Barrett's confirmation hearings began just 16 days after her nomination. In contrast, the average time between nomination and hearings for each of the current justices on the Supreme Court was 56 days.
The result of the rushed confirmation process has been little time to explore Barrett's record, both on and off the bench. Indeed, this week The Associated Press published a long investigative piece disclosing that "Barrett served for nearly three years on the board of private Christian schools that effectively barred admission to children of same-sex parents." But the article was published too late for senators to ask questions of Barrett at her confirmation hearings.


npr--2020-10-21--How Will The Limited Supply Of Antibody Drugs For COVID-19 Be Allocated?

How Will The Limited Supply Of Antibody Drugs For COVID-19 Be Allocated ?
The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating two potential drugs that could help keep people healthy after they 've been infected with the coronavirus .
So far , there 's no clear system to make sure they would be allocated fairly or how to pay for these expensive drugs over the long haul .
`` Demand is going to far outstrip supply here , '' says Rena Conti at Boston University 's Questrom School of Business .
Even though manufacturers are gearing up to produce more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year , some 50,000 Americans are getting infected every day , so the clamor for these drugs is likely to be considerable .
( If the current pace of infection keeps up , there will be another 3.5 million infected Americans before the end of the year ) .
President Trump got a dose of one of these drugs and has told Americans that they , too , could get it at little or no cost .
But Conti doubts that .
That would be unprecedented for an expensive medication in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not realistic . ''
The drug itself could be free at first – since the federal government subsidized development and production of the product made by Regeneron and has promised to purchase the first stream of that product .
Conti says that 's only part of the cost .
These drugs are given by IV infusion , so they are expensive to administer .
That must be done in a hospital or specialized infusion center .
Even people on Medicare have copays for many infused medicines .
Copays are typically 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If that pattern holds , the copay for these COVID-19 drugs could be many hundreds of dollars , considering Conti 's estimate of a price tag in the range of $ 2,000 to $ 10,000 per treatment .
Then there is the question about how to allocate limited supplies .
Dr .
Jewel Mullen , associate dean for health equity at the University of Texas ' Dell Medical School , suggests using principles she helped develop as a member of the National Academies ' study of COVID-19 vaccines .
That would mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and first responders , `` because we need them to be well , '' Mullen says .
`` They 're protecting us all the time .
They 're putting themselves at risk all the time . ''
Mullen says the drug should then go to vulnerable people who stand to benefit most .
The greatest benefit would be keeping the people at highest risk out of the hospital .
Her objective : `` Maximize the benefit , make sure everyone is valued and thought about equally and address health inequities . ''
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , often poor communities and communities of color , get fair access , regardless of the cost of these medications .
Equitable distribution had been a huge challenge with another scarce COVID-19 drug , remdesivir .
`` The difficulty with remdesivir was that it was predictably unpredictable , '' says Erin Fox , a pharmacist at the University of Utah .
She was part of a committee charged with distributing the drug throughout her state , but there was no rhyme or reason to the supply that the federal government provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty narrow patient population , '' Fox notes – initially just seriously ill people in the intensive care unit .
The monoclonal antibodies , by contrast , could be given to many more people — those who just got infected and are n't in the hospital .
If demand again sharply outstrips supply , Fox figures hospitals would be hard pressed to follow a rubric based on equity .
`` If the amount that we get is so small , it 's probably very likely that we would just use it for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , `` and just use it up and not try to make some very difficult rationing decisions . ''
Another huge challenge is figuring out how to get these drugs to wherever they are needed most , says Nada Sanders , a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University .
The federal government plans to send supplies to each state .
`` Saying simply , 'We 're going to leave it up to the state , ' is not an answer , '' Sanders says .
Distribution is itself complicated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shipped in temperature-controlled trucks and sent to destinations that are equipped to handle them gingerly .
And they need to get to rural areas coping with outbreaks .
`` At the end of the day , someone has to pay for this , '' Sanders says .
Regeneron entered into a supply agreement with the federal government 's Operation Warp Speed for around 300,000 doses of the antibody therapy .
If the FDA grants emergency use authorization for the medicine , the government would then make those doses of the drug available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eli Lilly does n't have a supply agreement with the government .
It says it hopes to produce up to 1 million does by the end of the year , with the help of another drug company , Amgen .
Some of the eventual cost of treatment with the drugs could be borne could be through copayments .
If insurance companies pick up the tab , those costs would ultimately be passed along in the form of premiums .
State and federal taxpayers could also bear the brunt .
It 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have access to these drugs .
If the federal government has a plan , it has n't been revealed .
And the clock is ticking .
The FDA has been considering emergency-use applications from Regeneron and Eli Lilly for two weeks now , and there 's no saying how soon those deliberations will end .
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris @ npr.org .

How Will The Limited Supply Of Antibody Drugs For COVID-19 Be Allocated?
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Morrison/AP David Morrison/AP
The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating two potential drugs that could help keep people healthy after they've been infected with the coronavirus.
So far, there's no clear system to make sure they would be allocated fairly or how to pay for these expensive drugs over the long haul.
"Demand is going to far outstrip supply here," says Rena Conti at Boston University's Questrom School of Business.
Even though manufacturers are gearing up to produce more than a million doses before the end of the year, some 50,000 Americans are getting infected every day, so the clamor for these drugs is likely to be considerable. (If the current pace of infection keeps up, there will be another 3.5 million infected Americans before the end of the year).
President Trump got a dose of one of these drugs and has told Americans that they, too, could get it at little or no cost.
But Conti doubts that. That would be unprecedented for an expensive medication in the United States, she says. "It's not realistic."
The drug itself could be free at first – since the federal government subsidized development and production of the product made by Regeneron and has promised to purchase the first stream of that product.
Conti says that's only part of the cost. These drugs are given by IV infusion, so they are expensive to administer. That must be done in a hospital or specialized infusion center.
Even people on Medicare have copays for many infused medicines. Copays are typically 20% of the price of a drug. If that pattern holds, the copay for these COVID-19 drugs could be many hundreds of dollars, considering Conti's estimate of a price tag in the range of $2,000 to $10,000 per treatment.
Then there is the question about how to allocate limited supplies.
Dr. Jewel Mullen, associate dean for health equity at the University of Texas' Dell Medical School, suggests using principles she helped develop as a member of the National Academies' study of COVID-19 vaccines.
That would mean giving highest priority to health care workers and first responders, "because we need them to be well," Mullen says. "They're protecting us all the time. They're putting themselves at risk all the time."
Mullen says the drug should then go to vulnerable people who stand to benefit most. The greatest benefit would be keeping the people at highest risk out of the hospital.
Her objective: "Maximize the benefit, make sure everyone is valued and thought about equally and address health inequities."
That means making sure populations hard hit by the pandemic, often poor communities and communities of color, get fair access, regardless of the cost of these medications.
Equitable distribution had been a huge challenge with another scarce COVID-19 drug, remdesivir.
"The difficulty with remdesivir was that it was predictably unpredictable," says Erin Fox, a pharmacist at the University of Utah. She was part of a committee charged with distributing the drug throughout her state, but there was no rhyme or reason to the supply that the federal government provided.
"And that was for a pretty narrow patient population," Fox notes – initially just seriously ill people in the intensive care unit. The monoclonal antibodies, by contrast, could be given to many more people — those who just got infected and aren't in the hospital.
If demand again sharply outstrips supply, Fox figures hospitals would be hard pressed to follow a rubric based on equity.
"If the amount that we get is so small, it's probably very likely that we would just use it for a short period of time," she says, "and just use it up and not try to make some very difficult rationing decisions."
Another huge challenge is figuring out how to get these drugs to wherever they are needed most, says Nada Sanders, a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University. The federal government plans to send supplies to each state.
"Saying simply, 'We're going to leave it up to the state,' is not an answer," Sanders says.
Distribution is itself complicated and costly. Conti notes these drugs must be shipped in temperature-controlled trucks and sent to destinations that are equipped to handle them gingerly. And they need to get to rural areas coping with outbreaks.
"At the end of the day, someone has to pay for this," Sanders says.
Regeneron entered into a supply agreement with the federal government's Operation Warp Speed for around 300,000 doses of the antibody therapy. If the FDA grants emergency use authorization for the medicine, the government would then make those doses of the drug available free, a statement by Regeneron said.
Eli Lilly doesn't have a supply agreement with the government. It says it hopes to produce up to 1 million doses by the end of the year, with the help of another drug company, Amgen.
Some of the eventual cost of treatment with the drugs could be borne could be through copayments. If insurance companies pick up the tab, those costs would ultimately be passed along in the form of premiums. State and federal taxpayers could also bear the brunt. It's not clear how the millions of uninsured Americans would have access to these drugs.
If the federal government has a plan, it hasn't been revealed. And the clock is ticking. The FDA has been considering emergency-use applications from Regeneron and Eli Lilly for two weeks now, and there's no saying how soon those deliberations will end.
You can contact NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.


npr--2020-10-21--California's Theme Parks Won't Reopen Anytime Soon

Theme parks in California say new state guidelines will keep them closed indefinitely , affecting hundreds of thousands of workers and businesses across the state .
The presidents of Disneyland , Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks say they 're considering all options to speed their reopening , including potential legal action .
Theme park officials say they were blind-sided by California 's plan announced Tuesday .
It does n't allow major parks to reopen until their counties reach what the state terms a `` minimal risk '' category .
No Southern California counties are even close to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Disneyland , a health official says it 's not likely until next summer .
Karen Irwin , the president of Universal Studios Hollywood says , `` We do n't see the guidelines as based in science or facts .
We 've proven that we can operate our parks safely and responsibly . ''
She says the parks spent months developing protocols that would allow them to open while still protecting the health of guests and employees .
They held extensive discussions with California health officials and hosted them on visits to parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was `` incredibly disappointing '' that promised feedback from those visits and continued discussion over reopening guidelines never materialized .
Disneyland President Ken Potrock says in Florida the company spent hours showing health officials how guests were behaving and how employees were reinforcing safety protocols .
`` We do this or a living . ''
Potrock says .
`` We are expert operators and very , very strong in enforcing the behaviors we need our guests to adhere to . ''
In Florida , Disney World 's four theme parks have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The director of the Health Department in the Orlando area , Dr. Raul Pino says initially , he was concerned about the possibility that reopening parks might spread the disease .
But so far , he says , there have n't been any outbreaks associated with them .
Pino says Disney World , Universal Studios and other attractions in Orlando have worked hard to protect employees and guests .
`` Crowds can be controlled to a degree , '' he says .
`` And the parks are very interested in providing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as in most of the country , the number of coronavirus cases is once again rising .
But the state 's Health and Human Services Secretary , Mark Ghaly said he thinks eventually , Orange County , home to Disneyland , can get to the minimal risk category .
`` It will require a lot of vigilance , '' Ghaly says .
`` It will require us to do testing , contact tracing and support isolation . ''
He does n't know when that 's possible , saying only , `` I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California theme park officials say their main concern at this point is for the tens of thousands of people they employ directly and the many thousands of other businesses that depend on the industry .
Last month , Disney announced it was laying off some 28,000 workers , mostly at its theme parks .
This week , unions representing workers at Disneyland sent Governor Newsom a letter supporting reopening .
Christopher Duarte is the president of Workers United local 50 , representing about 7,800 food service employees .
He says , `` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to guests that can be done in a safe manner .
And that would actually bring our workers back to work . ''

California's Theme Parks Won't Reopen Anytime Soon
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
Theme parks in California say new state guidelines will keep them closed indefinitely, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers and businesses across the state. The presidents of Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks say they're considering all options to speed their reopening, including potential legal action.
Theme park officials say they were blind-sided by California's plan announced Tuesday. It doesn't allow major parks to reopen until their counties reach what the state terms a "minimal risk" category. No Southern California counties are even close to that designation. In Orange County, home to Disneyland, a health official says it's not likely until next summer.
Karen Irwin, the president of Universal Studios Hollywood says, "We don't see the guidelines as based in science or facts. We've proven that we can operate our parks safely and responsibly." She says the parks spent months developing protocols that would allow them to open while still protecting the health of guests and employees. They held extensive discussions with California health officials and hosted them on visits to parks in California and Florida.
Irwin says it was "incredibly disappointing" that promised feedback from those visits and continued discussion over reopening guidelines never materialized. Disneyland President Ken Potrock says in Florida the company spent hours showing health officials how guests were behaving and how employees were reinforcing safety protocols. "We do this or a living." Potrock says. "We are expert operators and very, very strong in enforcing the behaviors we need our guests to adhere to."
In Florida, Disney World's four theme parks have been open with strict capacity limits since July. The director of the Health Department in the Orlando area, Dr. Raul Pino says initially, he was concerned about the possibility that reopening parks might spread the disease. But so far, he says, there haven't been any outbreaks associated with them. Pino says Disney World, Universal Studios and other attractions in Orlando have worked hard to protect employees and guests. "Crowds can be controlled to a degree," he says. "And the parks are very interested in providing a safe environment."
In California, as in most of the country, the number of coronavirus cases is once again rising. But the state's Health and Human Services Secretary, Mark Ghaly said he thinks eventually, Orange County, home to Disneyland, can get to the minimal risk category. "It will require a lot of vigilance," Ghaly says. "It will require us to do testing, contact tracing and support isolation." He doesn't know when that's possible, saying only, "I don't have a crystal ball."
California theme park officials say their main concern at this point is for the tens of thousands of people they employ directly and the many thousands of other businesses that depend on the industry. Last month, Disney announced it was laying off some 28,000 workers, mostly at its theme parks. This week, unions representing workers at Disneyland sent Governor Newsom a letter supporting reopening. Christopher Duarte is the president of Workers United local 50, representing about 7,800 food service employees. He says, "There is an avenue to reopen the park to guests that can be done in a safe manner. And that would actually bring our workers back to work."


npr--2020-10-21--Salem, Mass., Says Stay Away If You Know What's Good For You This Halloween

Salem , Mass.
, Says Stay Away If You Know What 's Good For You This Halloween For Salem , Mass.
, the horror this year is n't the appearance of goblins on Halloween , but visitors hoping to hang out in the witchcraft capital of the U.S. Because of the coronavirus , local officials want to discourage the very tourists that boost the city 's economy .
Here are the steps Salem is taking to repel crowds — and hopefully COVID-19 : All the traditional Halloween events are canceled .
Businesses are asked to close early this coming Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following weekend , which includes Halloween on Oct 31 .
Train service will be cut back .
City parking garages will close in mid-afternoon .
Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and towed .
Police will watch the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and cut off access if it gets too crowded .
Mayor Kim Driscoll says that already the crowds have thinned out , with only half the usual number of people turning up so far .
And she understands that `` ordinarily , there is no better place to celebrate Halloween than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement issued on Wednesday , `` Our first priority from the outset of this pandemic has been keeping residents , employees , and visitors healthy and safe . ''

Salem, Mass., Says Stay Away If You Know What's Good For You This Halloween
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Krupa/AP Charles Krupa/AP
For Salem, Mass., the horror this year isn't the appearance of goblins on Halloween, but visitors hoping to hang out in the witchcraft capital of the U.S. Because of the coronavirus, local officials want to discourage the very tourists that boost the city's economy.
Here are the steps Salem is taking to repel crowds — and hopefully COVID-19:
All the traditional Halloween events are canceled. Businesses are asked to close early this coming Friday and Saturday, and presumably for the following weekend, which includes Halloween on Oct 31.
Train service will be cut back. City parking garages will close in mid-afternoon. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and towed. Police will watch the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and cut off access if it gets too crowded.
Mayor Kim Driscoll says that already the crowds have thinned out, with only half the usual number of people turning up so far. And she understands that "ordinarily, there is no better place to celebrate Halloween than Salem."
But Driscoll says in a statement issued on Wednesday, "Our first priority from the outset of this pandemic has been keeping residents, employees, and visitors healthy and safe."


npr--2020-10-21--GM Reintroduces Hummer As Fully Electric Truck, First Model Will Sell For $112,595

GM Reintroduces Hummer As Fully Electric Truck , First Model Will Sell For $ 112,595 General Motors is bringing back the Hummer .
The military-style truck known as a gas-guzzling symbol of American excess fell out of favor and was discontinued in 2010 .
But now , GM has resurrected it as an `` electric supertruck '' with zero emissions .
The GMC Hummer EV will have three electric motors generating 1,000 horsepower and can run 350 miles on a full charge .
It can go from 0 MPH to 60 MPH in about three seconds .
The truck will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised about 6 inches for off-road situations .
Its tires can drive diagonally in a feature called `` Crab Mode . ''
This will be GMC 's first full-electric vehicle and is set to enter production in late 2021 .
`` The irony is not lost on anyone that this former gas-guzzler is coming back as an electric vehicle , '' said Ivan Drury , Edmunds ' senior manager of insights .
`` With that said , by demonstrating that 'big ' does n't necessarily mean inefficient , the HUMMER EV also represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's going to be expensive .
The first model will be offered at the suggested price of $ 112,595 , the company announced Tuesday .
Still , reservations sold out within an hour , a GM spokesperson said .
The company declined to reveal the number of reservations .
Three variants are expected be released in 2022 , 2023 and 2024 .
They will come with reductions in both features and prices , ranging from $ 99,995 to $ 79,995 .
Trucks are very popular in America .
The top three best-selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the large truck average transaction price is just over $ 51,000 .
And for electric trucks , the price increases , Drury said , and will `` squeeze buyers ' wallets on a completely new level . ''
This is n't the first foray into electric vehicles for GM .
In fact , the company pioneered an electric vehicle in 2001 , but ultimately discontinued it , NPR 's Camila Domonoske has explained .
It ceased production ( and pulled the electric cars off the road and crushed them ) while continuing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed by the recession and skyrocketing gas prices .
GM introduced a more gas-efficient Hummer in 2005 with gas mileage comparable to midsize SUVs at the time .
But according to a 2007 survey , 21 % of car buyers said they would not consider the Hummer because of its poor gas mileage .
The Hummer EV 's production timeline will put it close to Tesla 's Cybertruck , which is also forecast to start production in late 2021 .
Tesla 's answer to an electric truck looks starkly different from traditional truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 39,900 .
GM has reservations open for the three Hummer EV variants on its website .
`` There is the issue of launch timing and delivery , '' Drury said .
`` With all of these trucks launching over the next year or two , customers will have to debate whether it 's worth rolling the dice and placing a reservation this far out without a test drive . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

GM Reintroduces Hummer As Fully Electric Truck, 1st Model Will Sell For $112,595
General Motors is bringing back the Hummer. The military-style truck known as a gas-guzzling symbol of American excess fell out of favor and was discontinued in 2010.
But now, GM has resurrected it as an "electric supertruck" with zero emissions.
The GMC Hummer EV will have three electric motors generating 1,000 horsepower and can run 350 miles on a full charge. It can go from 0 MPH to 60 MPH in about three seconds.
The truck will have a suspension height that can be raised about 6 inches for off-road situations. Its tires can drive diagonally in a feature called "Crab Mode."
This will be GMC's first full-electric vehicle and is set to enter production in late 2021.
"The irony is not lost on anyone that this former gas-guzzler is coming back as an electric vehicle," said Ivan Drury, Edmunds' senior manager of insights. "With that said, by demonstrating that 'big' doesn't necessarily mean inefficient, the HUMMER EV also represents a monumental paradigm shift."
But it's going to be expensive.
The first model will be offered at the suggested price of $112,595, the company announced Tuesday. Still, reservations sold out within an hour, a GM spokesperson said. The company declined to reveal the number of reservations.
Three variants are expected be released in 2022, 2023 and 2024. They will come with reductions in both features and prices, ranging from $99,995 to $79,995.
Trucks are very popular in America. The top three best-selling vehicles in America are pickups, and the large truck average transaction price is just over $51,000.
And for electric trucks, the price increases, Drury said, and will "squeeze buyers' wallets on a completely new level."
This isn't the first foray into electric vehicles for GM.
In fact, the company pioneered an electric vehicle in 2001, but ultimately discontinued it, NPR's Camila Domonoske has explained. It ceased production (and pulled the electric cars off the road and crushed them) while continuing its Hummer line. But the vehicle was killed by the recession and skyrocketing gas prices.
GM introduced a more gas-efficient Hummer in 2005 with gas mileage comparable to midsize SUVs at the time. But according to a 2007 survey, 21% of car buyers said they would not consider the Hummer because of its poor gas mileage.
The Hummer EV's production timeline will put it close to Tesla's Cybertruck, which is also forecast to start production in late 2021.
Tesla's answer to an electric truck looks starkly different from traditional truck designs and has a starting price of $39,900.
GM has reservations open for the three Hummer EV variants on its website.
"There is the issue of launch timing and delivery," Drury said. "With all of these trucks launching over the next year or two, customers will have to debate whether it's worth rolling the dice and placing a reservation this far out without a test drive."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-21--Google Lawsuit Marks End Of Washington's Love Affair With Big Tech

This week could mark the official end of the long love affair between Washington and Silicon Valley .
The U.S. Justice Department and 11 state attorneys general have filed a blockbuster lawsuit against Google , accusing it of being an illegal monopoly because of its stranglehold on Internet search .
The government alleged Google has come by its wild success — 80 % market share in U.S. search , a valuation eclipsing $ 1 trillion — unfairly .
It said multibillion-dollar deals Google has struck to be the default search engine in many of the world 's Web browsers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just look at the word `` Google , '' the lawsuit said — it 's become `` a verb that means to search the internet . ''
What company can compete with that ?
Google 's head of global affairs , Kent Walker , said the government 's case is `` deeply flawed . ''
The company warned that if the Justice Department prevails , people would pay more for their phones and have worse options for searching the Internet .
It will likely be years before this fight is resolved .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Microsoft a generation ago , culminating in the Justice Department 's attempt to break up the company , spanned more than a decade .
But a tectonic shift is happening right now : USA v. Google is the biggest manifestation of what has become known as the `` Techlash '' — a newfound skepticism of Silicon Valley 's giants and growing appetite to rein them in through regulation .
`` It 's the end of hands-off of the tech sector , '' said Gene Kimmelman , a former senior antitrust official at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably the beginning of a decade of a series of lawsuits against companies like Google who dominate in the digital marketplace . ''
It was n't always this way .
For years , under both Republican and Democratic administrations , Silicon Valley 's tech stars have thrived with little regulatory scrutiny .
Even the Justice Department acknowledged that in this week 's lawsuit , describing Google in its early days as `` a scrappy startup with an innovative way to search the emerging internet . ''
But it added `` that Google is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skepticism in Washington of Facebook , Amazon and Apple — the companies that , with Google , have become known as Big Tech , an echo of the corporate villains of earlier eras such as Big Oil and Big Tobacco .
All four tech giants have been under investigation by regulators , state attorneys general and Congress — a sharp shift from just a few years ago when many politicians cozied up to the cool kids of Silicon Valley .
Tech companies spend millions of dollars lobbying lawmakers , and many high-level government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech , from Amazon 's top public relations and policy official , Jay Carney , who spent three years as President Barack Obama 's press secretary , to Facebook 's head of global public policy , Joel Kaplan , a veteran of President George W. Bush 's White House .
`` It 's been a relationship of extremes , '' University of Washington historian Margaret O'Mara told NPR this summer when the CEOs of the four Big Tech firms faced congressional grilling .
She said Washington 's laissez-faire attitude toward tech is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion into nearly every aspect of our lives .
`` These companies were allowed to grow large , in part because they had political champions on both sides of the aisle that really supported what they were doing and viewed a lot of what they were doing uncritically .
And then ... these companies became so big and so powerful and so good at what they set out to do , it became something of a runaway train , '' she said .
O'Mara sees historical precedent for today 's Techlash .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history with other newish industries — railroads , oil , steel — that grew very fast and grew in a nearly entirely unregulated fashion , '' she said .
`` Then there was a popular and political backlash against them that resulted in the regulation of these industries and , in some cases , the breakup of particular companies . ''
The Google lawsuit is the most concrete action in the U.S. to date challenging the power of Big Tech .
While the government stopped short of explicitly calling for a breakup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shores said that `` nothing 's off the table . ''
`` This case signals that the antitrust winter is over , '' Columbia University law professor Tim Wu , who has argued for breaking up Big Tech , told NPR 's All Things Considered this week .
But other branches of government are also considering ways to bring these companies to heel .
House Democrats released a sweeping report this month calling for new rules to strip Apple , Amazon , Facebook and Google of the power that has made each of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations ranged from forced `` structural separations '' to reforming American antitrust law .
Republicans , meanwhile , have channeled much of their ire into allegations that platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are biased against conservatives — a claim for which there is no conclusive evidence .
Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration are using those bias claims to push for an overhaul of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act , a longstanding legal shield that protects online platforms from being sued over what people post on them and says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderation of those posts .
The CEOs of Google , Facebook and Twitter are set to appear next week before the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing about Section 230 .
But interest in changing Section 230 also extends across the aisle as Democrats have become more alarmed over the way social media platforms have been used to spread hateful content , falsehoods and even violence .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said the law should be revoked .
On the same day the Justice Department sued Google , two House Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes large parts of Silicon Valley , and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey , introduced their own bill taking aim at Section 230 .
It would hold tech companies liable if their algorithms amplify or recommend `` harmful , radicalizing content that leads to offline violence . ''
That means whichever party wins control of the White House and Congress in November , Big Tech should not expect the temperature in Washington to warm up .
Editor 's note : Google , Facebook , Apple and Amazon are among NPR 's financial supporters @

Google Lawsuit Marks End Of Washington's Love Affair With Big Tech
Enlarge this image toggle caption Don Ryan/AP Don Ryan/AP
This week could mark the official end of the long love affair between Washington and Silicon Valley.
The U.S. Justice Department and 11 state attorneys general have filed a blockbuster lawsuit against Google, accusing it of being an illegal monopoly because of its stranglehold on Internet search.
The government alleged Google has come by its wild success — 80% market share in U.S. search, a valuation eclipsing $1 trillion — unfairly. It said multibillion-dollar deals Google has struck to be the default search engine in many of the world's Web browsers and smartphones have boxed out its rivals.
Just look at the word "Google," the lawsuit said — it's become "a verb that means to search the internet." What company can compete with that?
Google's head of global affairs, Kent Walker, said the government's case is "deeply flawed." The company warned that if the Justice Department prevails, people would pay more for their phones and have worse options for searching the Internet.
It will likely be years before this fight is resolved. After all, the U.S. government's investigations into Microsoft a generation ago, culminating in the Justice Department's attempt to break up the company, spanned more than a decade.
But a tectonic shift is happening right now: USA v. Google is the biggest manifestation of what has become known as the "Techlash" — a newfound skepticism of Silicon Valley's giants and growing appetite to rein them in through regulation.
"It's the end of hands-off of the tech sector," said Gene Kimmelman, a former senior antitrust official at the Justice Department. "It's probably the beginning of a decade of a series of lawsuits against companies like Google who dominate in the digital marketplace."
Washington and Silicon Valley: "A relationship of extremes"
It wasn't always this way. For years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Silicon Valley's tech stars have thrived with little regulatory scrutiny.
Even the Justice Department acknowledged that in this week's lawsuit, describing Google in its early days as "a scrappy startup with an innovative way to search the emerging internet."
But it added "that Google is long gone."
There is similar skepticism in Washington of Facebook, Amazon and Apple — the companies that, with Google, have become known as Big Tech, an echo of the corporate villains of earlier eras such as Big Oil and Big Tobacco.
All four tech giants have been under investigation by regulators, state attorneys general and Congress — a sharp shift from just a few years ago when many politicians cozied up to the cool kids of Silicon Valley.
Tech companies spend millions of dollars lobbying lawmakers, and many high-level government officials have left politics to work in tech, from Amazon's top public relations and policy official, Jay Carney, who spent three years as President Barack Obama's press secretary, to Facebook's head of global public policy, Joel Kaplan, a veteran of President George W. Bush's White House.
"It's been a relationship of extremes," University of Washington historian Margaret O'Mara told NPR this summer when the CEOs of the four Big Tech firms faced congressional grilling.
She said Washington's laissez-faire attitude toward tech is at least partly responsible for the sector's expansion into nearly every aspect of our lives.
"These companies were allowed to grow large, in part because they had political champions on both sides of the aisle that really supported what they were doing and viewed a lot of what they were doing uncritically. And then ... these companies became so big and so powerful and so good at what they set out to do, it became something of a runaway train," she said.
O'Mara sees historical precedent for today's Techlash. "We have seen this before in American history with other newish industries — railroads, oil, steel — that grew very fast and grew in a nearly entirely unregulated fashion," she said. "Then there was a popular and political backlash against them that resulted in the regulation of these industries and, in some cases, the breakup of particular companies."
In a politically divided era, bipartisan skepticism of Big Tech
The Google lawsuit is the most concrete action in the U.S. to date challenging the power of Big Tech. While the government stopped short of explicitly calling for a breakup, U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General Ryan Shores said that "nothing's off the table."
"This case signals that the antitrust winter is over," Columbia University law professor Tim Wu, who has argued for breaking up Big Tech, told NPR's All Things Considered this week.
But other branches of government are also considering ways to bring these companies to heel.
House Democrats released a sweeping report this month calling for new rules to strip Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google of the power that has made each of them dominant in their fields. Their recommendations ranged from forced "structural separations" to reforming American antitrust law.
Republicans, meanwhile, have channeled much of their ire into allegations that platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are biased against conservatives — a claim for which there is no conclusive evidence.
Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration are using those bias claims to push for an overhaul of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a longstanding legal shield that protects online platforms from being sued over what people post on them and says they can't be punished for reasonable moderation of those posts.
The CEOs of Google, Facebook and Twitter are set to appear next week before the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing about Section 230.
But interest in changing Section 230 also extends across the aisle as Democrats have become more alarmed over the way social media platforms have been used to spread hateful content, falsehoods and even violence. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said the law should be revoked.
On the same day the Justice Department sued Google, two House Democrats, Anna Eshoo, whose California district includes large parts of Silicon Valley, and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey, introduced their own bill taking aim at Section 230. It would hold tech companies liable if their algorithms amplify or recommend "harmful, radicalizing content that leads to offline violence."
That means whichever party wins control of the White House and Congress in November, Big Tech should not expect the temperature in Washington to warm up.
Editor's note: Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon are among NPR's financial supporters.
NPR's Bobby Allyn contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-21--Louisville Police Officer Says Breonna Taylor Shooting Was 'Not A Race Thing'

Louisville Police Officer Says Breonna Taylor Shooting Was 'Not A Race Thing' One of the Louisville police officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor seven months ago said while her death was tragic , it is different than other high-profile killings of Black Americans this year .
`` It 's not a race thing like people try to make it to be , '' said Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly , one of the three officers who discharged their service weapons during the botched narcotics raid at Taylor 's home in the early hours of March 13 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is nothing like it .
It 's not Ahmaud Arbery .
It 's nothing like it , '' Mattingly said in his first public comments since the incident in an interview with ABC News and Louisville 's Courier Journal .
`` These are two totally different type incidences .
This is not us going , hunting somebody down , this is not kneeling on a neck .
This is nothing like that , '' he said .
Taylor 's killing , along with that of Floyd , Arbery and others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to systemic racism and police brutality .
Three white men have been charged in the death of Arbery , a Black man who was shot and killed in February while he was jogging through a neighborhood in Glynn County , Ga. Floyd was killed during an encounter with Minneapolis police on Memorial Day .
The four officers involved in that incident were fired , and all of them face charges .
Mattingly , who was shot in the leg by Taylor 's boyfriend Kenneth Walker after he entered the apartment , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case .
`` They have had to go into hiding , they have had death threats , '' Mattingly said .
Walker , a licensed gun owner , said the couple did not hear police announce before entering the home and mistook them as intruders .
Walker said he fired a warning shot .
Officers then returned fire .
Mattingly also vehemently denied that he is racist .
The interview took place Montgomery , Ohio , about 115 miles northeast of Louisville .
None of the three officers face state charges directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a grand jury did not announce charges against Mattingly or Myles Cosgrove , the other officer who fired into Taylor 's home .
Both remain with the Louisville Metro Police Department on administrative reassignment .
Brett Hankison , a former officer who was terminated in June , was charged with three counts of wonton endangerment for shooting into one of Taylor 's neighbor 's apartments .
He has pleaded not guilty .
On Tuesday , a Jefferson County circuit judge ruled that grand jurors in the case against Mattingly , Cosgrove and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how the secret proceedings were conducted .
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , who tried to block jurors from speaking out , said in a statement Tuesday , `` I disagree with the Judge 's decision , but will not appeal it . ''
An anonymous juror released a statement Tuesday , alleging prosecutors failed to explain or pursue possible homicide offenses against Mattingly and the other two officers who fired weapons , according to member station WFPL in Louisville .
`` The grand jury never heard anything about those laws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed `` Anonymous Grand Juror # 1 , '' WFPL reported .
That appears to contradict statements made by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron last month that the grand jury were presented several homicide offenses .
Federal investigators determined Mattingly fired six times , while Cosgrove fired 16 rounds , including the shot that killed Taylor , Cameron said during a Sept. 23 press conference .
An FBI investigation to determine if Taylor 's civil rights were violated is ongoing .

Louisville Police Officer Says Breonna Taylor Shooting Was 'Not A Race Thing'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Taylor family Taylor family
One of the Louisville police officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor seven months ago said while her death was tragic, it is different from other high-profile killings of Black Americans this year.
"It's not a race thing like people try to make it to be," said Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of the three officers who discharged their service weapons during the botched narcotics raid at Taylor's home in the early hours of March 13.
"This is not relatable to George Floyd, this is nothing like it. It's not Ahmaud Arbery. It's nothing like it," Mattingly said in his first public comments since the incident in an interview with ABC News and Louisville's Courier Journal.
"These are two totally different type incidences. This is not us going, hunting somebody down, this is not kneeling on a neck. This is nothing like that," he said.
Taylor's killing, along with that of Floyd, Arbery and others, sparked national protests calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality.
Three white men have been charged in the death of Arbery, a Black man who was shot and killed in February while he was jogging through a neighborhood in Glynn County, Ga.
Floyd was killed during an encounter with Minneapolis police on Memorial Day. The four officers involved in that incident were fired, and all of them face charges.
Mattingly, who was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker after he entered the apartment, said he and his family were also victims in this case.
"They have had to go into hiding; they have had death threats," Mattingly said.
Walker, a licensed gun owner, said the couple did not hear police announce before entering the home and mistook them as intruders. Walker said he fired a warning shot. Officers then returned fire.
Mattingly also vehemently denied that he is racist. The interview took place Montgomery, Ohio, about 115 miles northeast of Louisville.
None of the three officers face state charges directly over Taylor's death. Last month, a grand jury did not announce charges against Mattingly or Myles Cosgrove, the other officer who fired into Taylor's home.
Both remain with the Louisville Metro Police Department on administrative reassignment.
Brett Hankison, an officer who was terminated in June, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into one of Taylor's neighbor's apartments. He has pleaded not guilty.
On Tuesday, a Jefferson County circuit judge ruled that grand jurors in the case against Mattingly, Cosgrove and Hankison could speak freely about their views about how the secret proceedings were conducted.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who tried to block jurors from speaking out, said in a statement Tuesday, "I disagree with the Judge's decision, but will not appeal it."
An anonymous juror released a statement Tuesday alleging prosecutors failed to explain or pursue possible homicide offenses against Mattingly and the other two officers who fired weapons, according to member station WFPL in Louisville.
"The grand jury never heard anything about those laws," read the statement, which was signed "Anonymous Grand Juror #1," WFPL reported.
That appears to contradict statements made by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron last month that the grand jury were presented with several homicide offenses.
Federal investigators determined Mattingly fired six times, while Cosgrove fired 16 rounds, including the shot that killed Taylor, Cameron said during a Sept. 23 press conference.
An FBI investigation to determine whether Taylor's civil rights were violated is ongoing.