npr--2020-08-19--How Weather Detectives Scrutinize Would-Be World Records

When a weather station in Death Valley , Calif. , registered an astonishing 130 degrees Fahrenheit this week , it got meteorologists ' attention .
After all , there 's a possibility that this is the highest such temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth — if it 's for real .
One person who received the news with keen interest was Randy Cerveny , a geographer at Arizona State University .
He plays a key role in verifying extreme weather measurements , under the auspices of the United Nations agency that standardizes weather measurements around the globe .
Since 2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing ad hoc committees to independently verify superlative weather measurements — such as the highest ocean wave or the strongest wind gust .
For Cerveny , this gig started in 2005 when he was watching as Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans .
`` I heard several news reports referring to it as the worst hurricane that 's ever been seen .
And that 's not true , '' says Cerveny , who notes that a far deadlier one hit Galveston , Texas , in 1900 , and an apocalyptic storm ravaged what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him that there was no system at the time to verify claims about world records for weather .
He knew that some countries have committees to scrutinize extreme weather within their own borders—the U. S. , for example , has the National Climate Extremes Committee .
But there was nothing like that for the entire planet .
`` I suggested that we set one up , and the World Meteorological Organization said , 'That sounds like a great idea , would you be willing to do it ? '
'' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new contender for a record appears , he gathers the top experts in any given subject .
`` If we 're looking at temperature , I 'm going to get some of the best scientists that have looked at temperature across the world .
If we 're looking at hurricanes , I 'll get hurricane experts .
If I 'm looking at tornadoes , I 'll get tornado experts , '' he says .
These folks then spend months going over every detail related to the claim , from the instrument to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area and its surroundings .
`` So it 's a very detailed , very elaborate investigation , '' says Cerveny .
Already , the new 130 degrees measurement in Death Valley has started to be scrutinized , by meteorologists from the local weather office to the National Climate Extremes Committee , all the way up to the World Meteorological Organization .
`` We 're in the process right now of getting ahold of the actual raw information , the raw data itself , '' says Cerveny .
`` My committee will then go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look for any problems or any concerns that they might have . ''
`` I 'm hoping that we would have a decision by sometime this winter , '' he adds .
Dan Berc , a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas , which covers Death Valley , feels pretty confident in the measurement .
`` I do n't make the final assessment , but I see no reason to believe , on the surface , that this 130 is incorrect , '' says Berc .
`` I think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 'll probably stand up . ''
This is n't the highest temperature recorded in Death Valley , Berc notes .
That would be a reading of 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July of 1913 , which happens to be currently accepted as the official world record , even though there were n't committees way back then to rigorously check it out .
Recently , however , some critics have pointed out problems with that one .
They say the 1913 reading is weirdly out of step with measurements taken back then in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who made the observation was inexperienced .
`` As far as world records and controversies surrounding them , I do n't think that anything beats the 134 temperature at Death Valley , '' says Berc .
So far , though , the national and global verification committees have n't taken this up , though some weather enthusiasts want them to .
In addition to verifying new claims , these expert panels also sometimes reconsider old ones .
`` Back in 2010 , we started an investigation of what was then the hottest temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Cerveny , explaining that it was a reading of 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit in Libya back in 1922 .
When the World Meteorological Organization committee members saw the original log sheets , they found data in wrong columns and other discrepancies put in there by a substitute weather official .
`` It was kind of playing detective , but we were able to , to the best of our ability , suggest that that value was bad , '' he says .
`` And so we discounted it . ''
At the WMO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records is always made by one person .
`` Because we realized that there was a need for one person to take ultimate responsibility , unfortunately that 's me , '' says Cerveny .
He adds that so far , he has always accepted the committees ' recommendations .
Understanding what is truly a world record is n't just about establishing bragging rights .
`` If we are going to prepare for the worst case scenarios , we need to know : What is the worst case scenario ? ''
Cerveny points out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be , or how strong the winds can be , or how cold a given location can be , those values are absolutely critical to both engineering and medical concerns , '' he says .
What 's more , having a firm grasp of the current weather will better allow scientists to monitor changes over time as the planet warms .
Still , these kinds of records can only reveal so much .
It 's clear that some places on Earth get even more extreme weather than the current records would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to document it or there 's no reliable weather station located there .
Even within Death Valley , for example , the weather stations might miss the most scorching temperatures .
`` The hottest part of the park is probably in Badwater Basin .
So if we had an official temperature reading there , we might see higher temperatures , '' says Berc .
Some places in Saharan Africa probably well exceed the top heat measurements currently on record , according to satellite data .
And in Antarctica , there 's too few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coldest place is on that continent .
Plus , as technology improves , scientists get the opportunity to establish records that once seemed unimaginable .
`` When I started this project , I never thought , for example , that one of our records would be 'How long is the longest lightning flash ever recorded ? '
And yet , just earlier this year , we came up with a measurement taken by satellite over Argentina of a single lightning flash that stretched 440 miles , '' says Cerveny .
`` That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one single lightning flash . ''

How Weather Detectives Scrutinize Would-Be World Records
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
When a weather station in Death Valley, Calif., registered an astonishing 130 degrees Fahrenheit this week, it got meteorologists' attention.
After all, there's a possibility that this is the highest such temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth — if it's for real.
One person who received the news with keen interest was Randy Cerveny, a geographer at Arizona State University. He plays a key role in verifying extreme weather measurements, under the auspices of the United Nations agency that standardizes weather measurements around the globe.
Since 2007, Cerveny has been in charge of organizing ad hoc committees to independently verify superlative weather measurements — such as the highest ocean wave or the strongest wind gust.
For Cerveny, this gig started in 2005 when he was watching as Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans.
"I heard several news reports referring to it as the worst hurricane that's ever been seen. And that's not true," says Cerveny, who notes that a far deadlier one hit Galveston, Texas, in 1900, and an apocalyptic storm ravaged what is now Bangladesh in 1970.
It occurred to him that there was no system at the time to verify claims about world records for weather.
He knew that some countries have committees to scrutinize extreme weather within their own borders—the U. S., for example, has the National Climate Extremes Committee. But there was nothing like that for the entire planet.
"I suggested that we set one up, and the World Meteorological Organization said, 'That sounds like a great idea, would you be willing to do it?'" he says, laughing.
Now, when a new contender for a record appears, he gathers the top experts in any given subject.
"If we're looking at temperature, I'm going to get some of the best scientists that have looked at temperature across the world. If we're looking at hurricanes, I'll get hurricane experts. If I'm looking at tornadoes, I'll get tornado experts," he says.
toggle caption Amanda Leigh Photography/ASU
These folks then spend months going over every detail related to the claim, from the instrument to the terrain to the overall weather in that area and its surroundings. "So it's a very detailed, very elaborate investigation," says Cerveny.
Already, the new 130 degrees measurement in Death Valley has started to be scrutinized, by meteorologists from the local weather office to the National Climate Extremes Committee, all the way up to the World Meteorological Organization.
"We're in the process right now of getting ahold of the actual raw information, the raw data itself," says Cerveny. "My committee will then go over it with a fine-tooth comb and look for any problems or any concerns that they might have."
"I'm hoping that we would have a decision by sometime this winter," he adds.
Dan Berc, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, which covers Death Valley, feels pretty confident in the measurement.
"I don't make the final assessment, but I see no reason to believe, on the surface, that this 130 is incorrect," says Berc. "I think, based on what I can see now, it'll probably stand up."
This isn't the highest temperature recorded in Death Valley, Berc notes. That would be a reading of 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July of 1913, which happens to be currently accepted as the official world record, even though there weren't committees way back then to rigorously check it out.
Recently, however, some critics have pointed out problems with that one. They say the 1913 reading is weirdly out of step with measurements taken back then in nearby areas, and that the person who made the observation was inexperienced.
"As far as world records and controversies surrounding them, I don't think that anything beats the 134 temperature at Death Valley," says Berc.
So far, though, the national and global verification committees haven't taken this up, though some weather enthusiasts want them to.
In addition to verifying new claims, these expert panels also sometimes reconsider old ones. "Back in 2010, we started an investigation of what was then the hottest temperature ever recorded on the planet," says Cerveny, explaining that it was a reading of 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit in Libya back in 1922.
When the World Meteorological Organization committee members saw the original log sheets, they found data in wrong columns and other discrepancies put in there by a substitute weather official. "It was kind of playing detective, but we were able to, to the best of our ability, suggest that that value was bad," he says. "And so we discounted it."
At the WMO, the final decision on extreme weather records is always made by one person. "Because we realized that there was a need for one person to take ultimate responsibility, unfortunately that's me," says Cerveny. He adds that so far, he has always accepted the committees' recommendations.
Understanding what is truly a world record isn't just about establishing bragging rights. "If we are going to prepare for the worst case scenarios, we need to know: What is the worst case scenario?" Cerveny points out.
"With regards to how hot it can be, or how strong the winds can be, or how cold a given location can be, those values are absolutely critical to both engineering and medical concerns," he says.
What's more, having a firm grasp of the current weather will better allow scientists to monitor changes over time as the planet warms.
Still, these kinds of records can only reveal so much. It's clear that some places on Earth get even more extreme weather than the current records would suggest, but no one is around to document it or there's no reliable weather station located there.
Even within Death Valley, for example, the weather stations might miss the most scorching temperatures. "The hottest part of the park is probably in Badwater Basin. So if we had an official temperature reading there, we might see higher temperatures," says Berc.
Some places in Saharan Africa probably well exceed the top heat measurements currently on record, according to satellite data. And in Antarctica, there's too few weather stations to truly know where the coldest place is on that continent.
Plus, as technology improves, scientists get the opportunity to establish records that once seemed unimaginable.
"When I started this project, I never thought, for example, that one of our records would be 'How long is the longest lightning flash ever recorded?' And yet, just earlier this year, we came up with a measurement taken by satellite over Argentina of a single lightning flash that stretched 440 miles," says Cerveny.
"That's the equivalent distance from Boston to D.C. as one single lightning flash."


npr--2020-08-19--Texas Governor Floats Plan To Freeze Tax Hikes In Cities That Defund Police

Texas Governor Floats Plan To Freeze Tax Hikes In Cities That Defund Police Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced a plan that would permanently block cities from raising property taxes if local governments pass measures that defund local law enforcement agencies .
Abbott , appearing with other Republican state leaders on Tuesday , specifically pointed to the city of Austin , which last week voted to divert millions from its police department budget .
`` Defunding the police puts residents in danger and it invites lawlessness into our communities , '' Abbott said .
`` Any city that defunds police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frozen at the current levels .
They will never be able to increase property tax revenue again if they defund police . ''
Texas Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick agreed and also took aim at Austin for its cuts to the police department .
`` Not only has Austin defunded their police , but they 've taken away vital weapons they could use to disperse crowd , '' he said .
`` What they have done in Austin should never happen in any city in the state and we 're going to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again . ''
The proposal comes as cities across the country are moving forward with plans to overhaul police departments and shifting funds and duties to other government agencies .
These measures have been called for at national protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality .
The governor 's proposal still needs to be approved by Texas state lawmakers , who likely will consider the measure during the upcoming legislative session , slated to begin in January , Austin member station KUT reports .
Speaking after the press conference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was unfazed by the governor 's plan .
`` We 're going to keep on doing what we are doing , '' Casar told KUT .
`` We 're going to keep on supporting the movement for Black lives and keep on doing what 's right for civil rights even if the governor just wants to rely on the traditional Austin-bashing to try and distract people . ''
The Austin City Council approved a budget that would slash $ 150 million in proposed cuts to the Austin Police Department last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only about $ 20 million would be immediately cut from the department .
The rest would move into transitional funds that would gradually move away from the police department .
The Texas showdown over police funding is similar to ones playing out in cities like Minneapolis , New York and Seattle .
Carmen Best , Seattle 's first Black police chief , abruptly resigned last week , hours after the city council voted to strip resources , including 100 jobs at the police department .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to shift roughly $ 1 billion from the city 's police department , which is the largest in the nation .
During a Minneapolis City Council budget markup last month , lawmakers approved several amendments aimed at slashing police funding and staffing .
The move included diverting $ 1.1 million from the Minneapolis police department to the health department to go toward funding `` civilian violence interrupters who will mediate violent conflicts and help prevent further trouble , '' Minnesota Public Radio reports .

Texas Governor Floats Plan To Freeze Tax Hikes In Cities That Defund Police
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a plan that would permanently block cities from raising property taxes if local governments pass measures that defund local law enforcement agencies.
Abbott, appearing with other Republican state leaders on Tuesday, specifically pointed to the city of Austin, which last week voted to divert millions from its police department budget.
"Defunding the police puts residents in danger and it invites lawlessness into our communities," Abbott said. "Any city that defunds police departments will have its property tax revenue frozen at the current levels. They will never be able to increase property tax revenue again if they defund police."
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick agreed and also took aim at Austin for its cuts to the police department.
"Not only has Austin defunded their police, but they've taken away vital weapons they could use to disperse crowd," he said. "What they have done in Austin should never happen in any city in the state and we're going to pass legislation to be sure it never happens again."
The proposal comes as cities across the country are moving forward with plans to overhaul police departments and shifting funds and duties to other government agencies. These measures have been called for at national protests demanding an end to systemic racism and police brutality.
The governor's proposal still needs to be approved by Texas state lawmakers, who likely will consider the measure during the upcoming legislative session, slated to begin in January, Austin member station KUT reports.
Speaking after the press conference, Austin City Council member Greg Casar said he was unfazed by the governor's plan.
"We're going to keep on doing what we are doing," Casar told KUT. "We're going to keep on supporting the movement for Black lives and keep on doing what's right for civil rights even if the governor just wants to rely on the traditional Austin-bashing to try and distract people."
The Austin City Council approved a budget that would slash $150 million in proposed cuts to the Austin Police Department last week, according to The Austin American-Statesman, but only about $20 million would be immediately cut from the department. The rest would move into transitional funds that would gradually move away from the police department.
The Texas showdown over police funding is similar to ones playing out in cities like Minneapolis, New York and Seattle.
Carmen Best, Seattle's first Black police chief, abruptly resigned last week, hours after the city council voted to strip resources, including 100 jobs at the police department.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last month defended New York City Council's move to shift roughly $1 billion from the city's police department, which is the largest in the nation.
During a Minneapolis City Council budget markup last month, lawmakers approved several amendments aimed at slashing police funding and staffing.
The move included diverting $1.1 million from the Minneapolis police department to the health department to go toward funding "civilian violence interrupters who will mediate violent conflicts and help prevent further trouble," Minnesota Public Radio reports.


npr--2020-08-19--Apple Is Worth $2 Trillion — 1st American Company To Hit Milestone

Apple has hit $ 2 trillion in market value , the first publicly traded U.S. company to do so .
The iPhone maker first crossed the $ 1 trillion milestone just two years ago .
This week , Apple and a handful of other tech giants propelled the S & P 500 index to a new record .
Apple 's stock is up nearly 60 % this year .
Much of the increase has come since late March , showing just how much the coronavirus pandemic has boosted the fortunes of big tech companies , as people rely on technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even though Apple had to shut down stores and weather supply chain disruptions during the pandemic , its sales have gone through the roof .
Lots of people are buying iPhones , iPads and Mac computers and paying for services like streaming music and TV .
Apple 's worth has eclipsed that of other big tech firms .
Amazon 's market cap is about $ 1.7 trillion , Microsoft $ 1.6 trillion and Google parent Alphabet $ 1 trillion .
They 've left other corporate giants in the dust .
Walmart is valued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 billion and Exxon Mobil $ 179 billion .
The world 's first company to hit a $ 2 trillion value was Saudi Aramco , which briefly crossed the threshold in December on its second day of trading .

Apple Is Worth $2 Trillion — 1st American Company To Hit Milestone
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Updated at 1:16 p.m. ET
Apple has hit $2 trillion in market value, the first publicly traded U.S. company to do so.
The iPhone maker first crossed the $1 trillion milestone just two years ago.
This week, Apple and a handful of other tech giants propelled the S&P 500 index to a new record. Apple's stock is up nearly 60% this year.
Much of the increase has come since late March, showing just how much the coronavirus pandemic has boosted the fortunes of big tech companies, as people rely on technology for work, school and entertainment.
Even though Apple had to shut down stores and weather supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, its sales have gone through the roof. Lots of people are buying iPhones, iPads and Mac computers and paying for services like streaming music and TV.
Apple's worth has eclipsed that of other big tech firms. Amazon's market cap is about $1.7 trillion, Microsoft $1.6 trillion and Google parent Alphabet $1 trillion. They've left other corporate giants in the dust. Walmart is valued at $381 billion, JPMorgan Chase $300 billion and Exxon Mobil $179 billion.
The world's first company to hit a $2 trillion value was Saudi Aramco, which briefly crossed the threshold in December on its second day of trading.


npr--2020-08-19--Transparent Public Toilets Unveiled In Tokyo Parks — But They Also Offer Privacy

Transparent Public Toilets Unveiled In Tokyo Parks — But They Also Offer Privacy The idea of using a public bathroom with see-through walls may sound like the stuff of nightmares .
But a famous Japanese architect is hoping to change that view , using vibrant colors and new technology to make restrooms in Tokyo parks more inviting .
`` There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom , especially those located at a park , '' according to architect Shigeru Ban 's firm .
`` The first is cleanliness , and the second is whether anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address both of those worries , Ban says , by showing people what awaits them inside .
After users enter the restroom and lock the door , the powder room 's walls turn a powdery pastel shade — and are no longer see-through .
`` Using a new technology , we made the outer walls with glass that becomes opaque when the lock is closed , so that a person can check inside before entering , '' the Nippon Foundation says .
The group is behind the Tokyo Toilet project , enlisting world-famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've never seen . ''
Ban 's transparent facilities are sure to be conversation fodder for anyone visiting the park — and they 'll stand out even more after dark .
`` At night , the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern , '' the architect 's website says .
The project 's eye-catching toilets are part of a plan to put people at ease when visiting a public bathroom – a prospect that can trigger a number of responses , from relief to trepidation .
The project may seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reimagining public toilets are some of the brightest names in Japanese architecture .
The list includes four Pritzker Prize winners — Ban , Toyo Ito , Tadao Ando and Fumihiko Maki – along with international stars such as Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto .
The fashion designer Nigo is also contributing .
The Nippon Foundation is redesigning 17 public toilets in Shibuya , one of Tokyo 's busiest shopping and entertainment districts .
The foundation is working with the local government to deploy two of Japan 's national strengths – devotion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public necessity .
Well-known toilet company TOTO , famous for its toilets that coddle users with features such as heated seats , bidets and deodorizers , `` will advise on toilet equipment and layout , '' the foundation says .
Ban 's colorful public bathrooms opened to the public this month in two parks : Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park .
Other bespoke commodes will be opening in coming months .

Transparent Public Toilets Unveiled In Tokyo Parks — But They Also Offer Privacy
toggle caption Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation
The idea of using a public bathroom with see-through walls may sound like the stuff of nightmares. But a famous Japanese architect is hoping to change that view, using vibrant colors and new technology to make restrooms in Tokyo parks more inviting.
"There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those located at a park," according to architect Shigeru Ban's firm. "The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside."
Transparent walls can address both of those worries, Ban says, by showing people what awaits them inside. After users enter the restroom and lock the door, the powder room's walls turn a powdery pastel shade — and are no longer see-through.
"Using a new technology, we made the outer walls with glass that becomes opaque when the lock is closed, so that a person can check inside before entering," the Nippon Foundation says.
The group is behind the Tokyo Toilet project, enlisting world-famous architects to create toilets "like you've never seen."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation
Ban's transparent facilities are sure to be conversation fodder for anyone visiting the park — and they'll stand out even more after dark.
"At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern," the architect's website says.
The project's eye-catching toilets are part of a plan to put people at ease when visiting a public bathroom – a prospect that can trigger a number of responses, from relief to trepidation.
The project may seem frivolous, but the 16 architects who are reimagining public toilets are some of the brightest names in Japanese architecture. The list includes four Pritzker Prize winners — Ban, Toyo Ito, Tadao Ando and Fumihiko Maki – along with international stars such as Kengo Kuma and Sou Fujimoto. The fashion designer Nigo is also contributing.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation Satoshi Nagare/The Nippon Foundation
The Nippon Foundation is redesigning 17 public toilets in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's busiest shopping and entertainment districts. The foundation is working with the local government to deploy two of Japan's national strengths – devotion to cleanliness and design – to address a public necessity.
Well-known toilet company TOTO, famous for its toilets that coddle users with features such as heated seats, bidets and deodorizers, "will advise on toilet equipment and layout," the foundation says.
Ban's colorful public bathrooms opened to the public this month in two parks: Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park. Other bespoke commodes will be opening in coming months.


npr--2020-08-20--Shadow Immigration System: Migrant Children Detained In Hotels By Private Contractors

It was late at night when two teen-aged cousins from Honduras arrived in a hotel parking lot somewhere in the U.S. , escorted by armed men in civilian clothes .
The young men crossed the border illegally into Texas last month and turned themselves in to the Border Patrol .
After spending the night in detention , they say they were loaded into a van by the men who were not in uniforms and driven three hours to the hotel .
`` We went in through a side door .
No one was there .
We did n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't see the name of the hotel , '' Jorge , who is 16 , says in Spanish .
His cousin , Ricardo , is 13 .
Both young men are now in the custody of Ricardo 's father , who asked that we not use their last names because they are still in immigration proceedings .
They fled Honduras together after gang members threatened their family there .
Since the coronavirus pandemic began , the Trump administration has set up a shadow immigration system on the U.S.-Mexico border .
It involves private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are quickly sent home .
This allows immigration officials to bypass the normal process that would give the children a chance to ask for asylum here .
Normally , when migrant children traveling alone are apprehended by the Border Patrol , there are special protections that kick in to make sure they are n't sent back to dangerous situations .
They 're supposed to be detained in child-appropriate shelters before being placed with a sponsor in the U.S. while their asylum cases are heard .
But during the pandemic , that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border , court documents show , many unaccompanied children have been held secretly in hotels for days , sometimes weeks , until they can be put on planes back to the countries they came from .
The Trump administration says it 's trying to protect public health during the pandemic by keeping unauthorized migrants out of detention facilities and shelters in the U.S .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order in March , directing immigration officials to quickly expel migrants at the southern border .
Under that order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , removing more than 2,000 unaccompanied children , according to Mark Morgan , the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection .
`` What we 're trying to do , the best we can , is remove all individuals , regardless of whether they 're minors or adults , '' Morgan said at a press briefing earlier this month .
`` We 're trying to remove them as fast as we can to not put them into our system , to not have them remain in the United States for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure risk to the American people , '' Morgan said .
For years , the Trump administration has sought to roll back protections for migrant children , which it considers a `` loophole '' in U.S. immigration law because these children are typically allowed to stay in the U.S. and have a path to citizenship if their asylum claims are successful .
`` It 's really clear to us that this is a pretext for blocking access to protection for children and asylum seekers , '' said Lisa Frydman , vice president at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KIND , a nonprofit that 's trying to get children released from this shadow immigration system .
`` It completely takes them a hundred percent out of all of the special protections that have been put in place in recognition of the vulnerability of unaccompanied children , '' Frydman said .
Immigration lawyers have discovered where some migrant children have been detained in hotels , and they 've gone to court to try to stop their expulsions .
In several cases , immigration officials responded by releasing the children to the federally funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases moot .
Last week , the American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all migrant children in this situation , hoping to stop the cat-and-mouse game and put an end to the rapid expulsions .
`` Ultimately , we had to file this class action , '' said Lee Gelernt , deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants ' Rights Project .
`` Otherwise , we are looking at potentially thousands more being sent back to danger , without any hearing whatsoever . ''
The Texas Civil Rights Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrant children .
It posted a video on social media last month showing attorney Andrew Udelsman confronting several unidentified men at a Hampton Inn & Suites in McAllen , Texas , where the group believes migrant children were being detained .
`` If you 're detained , give me your name , '' Udelsman shouts down a hallway .
One of the men says : `` Get out if you 're smart . ''
The lawyer then asks if the men are police officers , to which one of them responds : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Get out . ''
The men then shove the lawyer back into the elevator .
Ater the video posted online , the Hilton hotel chain confirmed that the independently owned and managed Hampton Inn had accepted reservations from a private contractor working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house migrants , including children .
`` This is not activity that we support or in any way want associated with our hotels , '' Hilton said in the statement , adding that all Hilton properties are expected to reject that kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been that hotels should not be used as detention centers or for detaining individuals . ''
`` We believe that hotels should be places of hospitality , '' the statement read .
Private contractors working for ICE are detaining these young migrants in hotels in McAllen , as well as El Paso , Phoenix and San Antonio , according to court papers .
The practice first came to light in a report filed in federal court last month by Andrea Sheridan Ordin , an independent monitor appointed by a judge in California who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flores settlement .
The decades-old agreement limits the length of time and conditions under which immigration authorities can detain minors in their custody .
`` Begun as a relatively small , stopgap measure to assist in the transfer of children to ICE flights , the temporary housing program has been transformed into an integral component of the immigration detention system , '' Ordin wrote .
The Virginia-based company MVM Inc. has been working for years to transport migrants in ICE custody , occasionally stopping at hotels in transit .
Its role has grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine , '' according to Ordin .
MVM Inc. says its contract with ICE prevents it from talking to the media .
ICE says these contractors are trained to keep the minors safe and secure .
Meanwhile , the shelter system designed to care for migrant children is nearly empty .
According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement , which oversees the shelters , there are currently 835 migrant children in the program , which has a capacity to house more than 13,600 children .
Between April and July of this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelters , according to ORR .
During the same period in 2019 , the number was more than 30,000 .
The father of the young men who traveled from Honduras to Texas said he was not aware of their plans until they were on their way .
The man , Ricardo Sr. , lives in Texas .
He asked not to use his last name to protect the privacy of the young men .
`` I was shocked , '' Ricardo Sr. says about when he learned they were traveling alone .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to call their relatives but instructed not to give details about their confinement .
So they were relieved when they reached Ricardo Sr. but too scared to tell him where they were .
`` We were forced to say that we were OK , '' Ricardo Jr. says in Spanish .
`` I wanted to tell him that we were n't getting enough food , that we were not allowed to go out or even to the bathroom . ''
Jorge says they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly at the hotel , '' he says .
`` They threatened us . ''
The boys figured this was just the normal immigration process in the U.S. , but Ricardo 's father knew something was off .
He 's savvy about the system , because he 's seeking asylum himself .
`` I think I suffered more than the kids because they did n't know absolutely anything of what was happening , '' he says .
Days would pass when Ricardo Sr. says he did n't hear from the boys or from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across Texas , stopping at every detention center and Border Patrol station to ask about the boys .
All the while , calling everyone he could think of for help .
`` I called a lawyer .
I called the Honduran government , '' he says .
`` I called the Honduras consulate , and someone at that office told me the kids were on an express deportation list . ''
In the end , Ricardo Sr. 's frantic search for his son and cousin paid off .
He got in touch with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who handed the boys over to a shelter .
A few weeks later , they were released to live with Ricardo Sr. '' I have the best dad because he risked it all to be reunited , to see me , to support me , '' Ricardo Jr. says .
But this family is the exception .
For most kids who pass through these hotel rooms , that 's all they 're going to see during their brief stay in the U.S .

Shadow Immigration System: Migrant Children Detained In Hotels By Private Contractors
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Dalton for NPR Scott Dalton for NPR
It was late at night when two teenage cousins from Honduras arrived in a hotel parking lot somewhere in the U.S., escorted by armed men in civilian clothes.
The young men crossed the border illegally into Texas last month and turned themselves in to the Border Patrol. After spending the night in detention, they say they were loaded into a van by the men who were not in uniforms and driven three hours to the hotel.
"We went in through a side door. No one was there. We didn't have to sign in or anything. We couldn't see the name of the hotel," Jorge, who is 16, says in Spanish. His cousin, Ricardo, is 13.
Both young men are now in the custody of Ricardo's father, who asked that we not use their last names because they are still in immigration proceedings. They fled Honduras together after gang members threatened their family there.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration has set up a shadow immigration system on the U.S.-Mexico border. It involves private contractors detaining migrant children in hotels before they are quickly sent home. This allows immigration officials to bypass the normal process that would give the children a chance to ask for asylum here.
Normally, when migrant children traveling alone are apprehended by the Border Patrol, there are special protections that kick in to make sure they aren't sent back to dangerous situations. They're supposed to be detained in child-appropriate shelters before being placed with a sponsor in the U.S. while their asylum cases are heard.
But during the pandemic, that's not happening.
Up and down the border, court documents show, many unaccompanied children have been held secretly in hotels for days, sometimes weeks, until they can be put on planes back to the countries they came from.
The Trump administration says it's trying to protect public health during the pandemic by keeping unauthorized migrants out of detention facilities and shelters in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order in March directing immigration officials to quickly expel migrants at the southern border.
Under that order, the U.S. has carried out 100,000 expulsions, removing more than 2,000 unaccompanied children, according to Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"What we're trying to do, the best we can, is remove all individuals, regardless of whether they're minors or adults," Morgan said at a press briefing earlier this month.
National Trump Administration Defies Court, Won't Accept New DACA Applications Trump Administration Defies Court, Won't Accept New DACA Applications Listen · 1:56 1:56
"We're trying to remove them as fast as we can to not put them into our system, to not have them remain in the United States for a long periods of time, therefore increasing the exposure risk to the American people," Morgan said.
For years, the Trump administration has sought to roll back protections for migrant children, which it considers a "loophole" in U.S. immigration law because these children are typically allowed to stay in the U.S. and have a path to citizenship if their asylum claims are successful.
"It's really clear to us that this is a pretext for blocking access to protection for children and asylum-seekers," said Lisa Frydman, vice president at Kids In Need of Defense, or KIND, a nonprofit that's trying to get children released from this shadow immigration system.
"It completely takes them a hundred percent out of all of the special protections that have been put in place in recognition of the vulnerability of unaccompanied children," Frydman said.
Immigration lawyers have discovered where some migrant children have been detained in hotels, and they've gone to court to try to stop their expulsions. In several cases, immigration officials responded by releasing the children to the federally funded shelter system, making those individual court cases moot.
Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all migrant children in this situation, hoping to stop the cat-and-mouse game and put an end to the rapid expulsions.
"Ultimately, we had to file this class action," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project. "Otherwise, we are looking at potentially thousands more being sent back to danger, without any hearing whatsoever."
The Texas Civil Rights Project also has been working to help these migrant children. It posted a video on social media last month showing attorney Andrew Udelsman confronting several unidentified men at a Hampton Inn & Suites in McAllen, Texas, where the group believes migrant children were being detained.
"If you're detained, give me your name," Udelsman shouts down a hallway.
One of the men says: "Get out if you're smart."
The lawyer then asks if the men are police officers, to which one of them responds: "Don't worry about who we are. Get out."
The men then shove the lawyer back into the elevator.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt York/AP Matt York/AP
After the video posted online, the Hilton hotel chain confirmed that the independently owned and managed Hampton Inn had accepted reservations from a private contractor working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house migrants, including children.
"This is not activity that we support or in any way want associated with our hotels," Hilton said in the statement, adding that all Hilton properties are expected to reject that kind of business. "Our policy has always been that hotels should not be used as detention centers or for detaining individuals."
"We believe that hotels should be places of hospitality," the statement read.
Private contractors working for ICE are detaining these young migrants in hotels in McAllen, as well as El Paso, Phoenix and San Antonio, according to court papers.
The practice first came to light in a report filed in federal court last month by Andrea Sheridan Ordin, an independent monitor appointed by a judge in California who is overseeing what's known as the Flores settlement. The decades-old agreement limits the length of time and conditions under which immigration authorities can detain minors in their custody.
"Begun as a relatively small, stopgap measure to assist in the transfer of children to ICE flights, the temporary housing program has been transformed into an integral component of the immigration detention system," Ordin wrote.
The Virginia-based company MVM Inc. has been working for years to transport migrants in ICE custody, occasionally stopping at hotels in transit. Its role has grown as prolonged hotel stays are now "routine," according to Ordin.
MVM Inc. says its contract with ICE prevents it from talking to the media. ICE says these contractors are trained to keep the minors safe and secure.
Meanwhile, the shelter system designed to care for migrant children is nearly empty. According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees the shelters, there are currently 835 migrant children in the program, which has a capacity to house more than 13,600 children.
Between April and July of this year, fewer than 350 children were referred to shelters, according to ORR. During the same period in 2019, the number was more than 30,000.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Dalton for NPR Scott Dalton for NPR
The father of the young men who traveled from Honduras to Texas said he was not aware of their plans until they were on their way. The man, Ricardo Sr., lives in Texas. He asked not to use his last name to protect the privacy of the young men.
"I was shocked," Ricardo Sr. says about when he learned they were traveling alone.
Both Jorge and Ricardo Jr. say they were allowed to call their relatives but instructed not to give details about their confinement. So they were relieved when they reached Ricardo Sr. but too scared to tell him where they were.
"We were forced to say that we were OK," Ricardo Jr. says in Spanish. "I wanted to tell him that we weren't getting enough food, that we were not allowed to go out or even to the bathroom."
Jorge says they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms for six days. "They treated us badly at the hotel," he says. "They threatened us."
The boys figured this was just the normal immigration process in the U.S., but Ricardo's father knew something was off. He's savvy about the system, because he's seeking asylum himself.
"I think I suffered more than the kids because they didn't know absolutely anything of what was happening," he says.
Days would pass when Ricardo Sr. says he didn't hear from the boys or from immigration authorities. He drove six hours across Texas, stopping at every detention center and Border Patrol station to ask about the boys, all the while calling everyone he could think of for help.
"I called a lawyer. I called the Honduran government," he says. "I called the Honduras Consulate, and someone at that office told me the kids were on an express deportation list."
In the end, Ricardo Sr.'s frantic search for the teens paid off. He got in touch with KIND. The group contacted immigration authorities, who handed the boys over to a shelter. A few weeks later, they were released to live with Ricardo Sr.
"I have the best dad because he risked it all to be reunited, to see me, to support me," Ricardo Jr. says.
But this family is the exception. For most kids who pass through these hotel rooms, that's all they're going to see during their brief stay in the U.S.


npr--2020-08-20--Alexei Navalny, Voice Of Russia's Opposition, Is Hospitalized In Possible Poisoning

Alexei Navalny , Voice Of Russia 's Opposition , Is Hospitalized In Possible Poisoning Alexei Navalny , Russia 's most outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin , is fighting for his life in a hospital , and his spokeswoman says she believes Navalny was poisoned as he was flying from Siberia back to Moscow .
Navalny is unconscious and on a ventilator , spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh , who had been traveling with the opposition leader , said via Twitter .
Navalny drank some tea at the airport in Tomsk , Yarmysh said , adding that he began feeling unwell shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His deteriorating condition prompted the plane 's pilots to make an emergency landing at Omsk , some 550 miles away .
A doctor who spoke to reporters at the hospital `` said Navalny is in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit , '' NPR 's Lucian Kim reports .
`` But he said poisoning it poisoning is only one possible diagnosis . ''
The only thing Navalny drank before becoming sick was the tea , according to Yarmysh , who says she was with Navalny from early in the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital triggered a massive police response — Yarmysh said she believes police officers may now outnumber doctors at the hospital where Navalny is being treated .
She posted a photo showing what she said was a small portion of the officers , gathered in the hallway outside of Navalny 's room in intensive care .
Navalny , 44 , is an energizing force for Russia 's opposition , conducting investigations that expose corruption and mobilizing against President Vladimir Putin 's regime .
He attempted to run against Putin in the 2018 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so .
Authorities cited a fraud conviction that Navalny describes as retribution for his activism .
It 's the second time Navalny has possibly been poisoned .
He was hospitalized in July of 2019 , days after being jailed for calling for street protests , with severe swelling and other symptoms .
`` Navalny could have been poisoned by anyone from a long list of ill-wishers , '' Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said .
`` He 's garnered hundreds of enemies in the past few years , including some hardened individuals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of doing something like this barely matters . ''
On Thursday , Semyon Kochkin , an activist and ally of Navalny , said via Twitter that it would be `` impossible '' to poison Navalny without Putin 's approval .
He added that the ongoing unrest and public anger over a hotly disputed election in Belarus has made Russia 's leaders afraid of similar scenes playing out in Russia .

Alexei Navalny, Voice Of Russia's Opposition, Is Hospitalized In Possible Poisoning
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Updated at 3:07 p.m. ET
Alexei Navalny, Russia's most outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, is fighting for his life in a hospital, and his spokeswoman says she believes Navalny was poisoned as he was flying from Siberia back to Moscow.
Navalny is unconscious and on a ventilator, spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, who had been traveling with the opposition leader, said via Twitter.
Navalny drank some tea at the airport in Tomsk, Yarmysh said, and he began feeling unwell shortly after his commercial flight took off. His deteriorating condition prompted the plane's pilots to make an emergency landing at Omsk, some 550 miles away.
A doctor who spoke to reporters at the hospital "said Navalny is in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit," NPR's Lucian Kim reports. "But he said poisoning is only one possible diagnosis."
Activist Jaka Bizilj tells NPR that an airplane with medical equipment and specialists will be sent to pick up Navalny and to take him to Berlin for treatment at Charité hospital. Bizilj says the plane will leave as early as Thursday night, once Russian authorities grant permission.
The only thing Navalny drank before becoming sick was the tea, according to Yarmysh, who says she was with Navalny from early in the morning.
Navalny's personal doctor Anastasy Vasilyeva flew to Omsk on Thursday along with the politician's wife, Yulia. But after they arrived at the hospital, they were prevented from seeing him, both Vasilyeva and Yarmysh say.
The opposition leader's arrival at the hospital triggered a massive police response — Yarmysh said she believes police officers may have outnumbered doctors at the hospital where Navalny is being treated. She posted a photo showing what she said was a small portion of the officers, gathered in the hallway outside of Navalny's room in intensive care.
Navalny, 44, is an energizing force for Russia's opposition, conducting investigations that expose corruption and mobilizing against Putin's regime. He attempted to run against Putin in the 2018 presidential election, but he was barred from doing so. Authorities cited a fraud conviction that Navalny describes as retribution for his activism.
It's the second time Navalny has possibly been poisoned. He was hospitalized in July 2019, days after being jailed for calling for street protests, with severe swelling and other symptoms. His sudden illness is also suspicious because a number of Kremlin foes have been poisoned or killed during Putin's 20 years in power.
Recent high-profile cases include the use of a Novichok nerve agent to poison former KGB spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the U.K. But Navalny's possible poisoning also brings to mind the targeted killing of Kremlin critic and former spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died after drinking tea that was laced with polonium-210 in a London hotel.
But experts also note that because of his repeated successes in exposing corruption among high-ranking government officials and state-controlled companies, Navalny has a long list of enemies in Russia.
"Navalny could have been poisoned by anyone from a long list of ill-wishers," Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said. "He's garnered hundreds of enemies in the past few years, including some hardened individuals. And times are such that the cost of doing something like this barely matters."
On Thursday, Semyon Kochkin, an activist and ally of Navalny, said via Twitter that it would be "impossible" to poison Navalny without Putin's approval. He added that the ongoing unrest and public anger over a hotly disputed election in Belarus has made Russia's leaders afraid of similar scenes playing out in Russia.
If Navalny were to die, it would be a seismic event in Russian politics.
"It would be a huge loss for the opposition," Kim says. "What Navalny has done or accomplished is really energize a new generation of Russians who have only known Putin as their president. And Navalny has shown them how to organize at the grassroots level, how to investigate corruption and how to harness social media also for fundraising purposes."


npr--2020-08-20--4 Takeaways From Night 3 Of The Democratic National Convention

4 Takeaways From Night 3 Of The Democratic National Convention Kamala Harris made history with her formal nomination as the first Black woman and person of Asian descent on a major party 's national ticket .
The 55-year-old California senator used much of her first prime-time address as Joe Biden 's running mate to tell her own story before turning her fire on President Trump .
Former President Barack Obama , who has mostly stayed on the sidelines as Democrats blasted President Trump 's policies over the past 3 1/2 years , took off the gloves and questioned Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four takeaways from Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention .
1 .
Kamala Harris introduced herself and began to prosecute the case against President Trump Speaking in a quiet and mostly empty hall in Wilmington , Del.
, Harris used much of her speech to tell her story — and try to link it to the stories of other children of immigrants and their experiences .
With some political observers already setting expectations that this national introduction could determine the success or failure of a future Harris presidential campaign — given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced the test of connecting with people who were taking a first look and energizing those in the Democratic base who have been less than enthusiastic about Biden as their standard bearer .
Harris received national attention for her debate performances during her primary run and for her questioning of top Trump administration officials from her perch in the Senate .
But this was the first time many Americans heard about her mother and father , immigrants from India and Jamaica , respectively .
Harris highlighted her upbringing in the 1960s when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child .
`` In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley , I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called 'good trouble , ' `` she said .
Harris talked about her husband , Doug Emhoff , his two children from a previous marriage who call her `` Momala , '' her extended family and even her sorority sisters .
But she soon pivoted to the traditional role of a vice presidential running mate — attacking the opposing ticket .
Harris made it personal about Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explicitly mention his name .
Noting her background as a prosecutor fighting for victims of sexual assault and taking on big banks , Harris said , `` I know a predator when I see one , '' followed by a studied pause .
She later talked about the impact of inequities in the country — in health care , education and opportunity , and the fight to combat racial injustice .
`` There is no vaccine for racism .
We 've got ta do the work , '' she said .
`` For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the lives of too many others to name .
For our children .
For all of us . ''
The virtual convention format inevitably lessened the drama of Harris ' speech .
She paused to mark the moment when she accepted her party 's historic nomination — something she said her late mother could not have imagined .
But there were no cheers or TV shots of emotional female supporters in a crowded hall .
While the goal was to fire up those who have been waiting for a woman of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the event came across as serious but without the energy of an audience .
As Harris finished , Joe Biden made a surprise appearance , socially distanced , but there was no traditional balloon drop .
2 .
Democrats hammered away at a theme : Make a plan to vote Speaker after speaker Wednesday reminded Americans — and then reminded them again — that they need to vote in the 2020 election .
Democrats are growing increasingly concerned about the president 's rhetoric raising questions about the legitimacy of the November vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reluctant to vote in person because of the coronavirus pandemic .
They expect an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots and are planning a robust effort to make sure voters cast their ballots early or mail them in time to be counted .
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a Trump appointee and campaign donor , is facing tough questions on Capitol Hill about reforms he put in place in the U.S .
Postal Service that some fear would slow mail delivery .
Under pressure , he suspended the reforms until after the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans were counting on people not showing up in November .
`` Do not let them take away your power , '' he said .
`` Do n't let them take away your democracy .
Make a plan right now for how you 're going to get involved and vote .
Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote , too . ''
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren closed her remarks , as did others , by offering information on how to vote : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask or vote by mail , please , take out your phone right now and text 'VOTE ' to 3-0-3-3-0 . ''
And Hillary Clinton , who lost in 2016 to Trump , reminded viewers that many voters sat out that election because they did n't think their vote mattered .
She warned , `` This ca n't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election.
`` 3 .
Presidents ' Club rules went out the window as Barack Obama unloaded on his successor Obama has kept a mostly low profile as Trump has worked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over eight years to put in place .
Like other former presidents , he has adhered to the unofficial rule that public criticism of the occupant of the White House is off-limits .
That changed Wednesday night when Obama unleashed his contempt for the former businessman and reality TV star who took his place in 2017 .
`` 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends ; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves . ''
Democratic convention organizers presented a string of speakers who argued that Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic conclusively makes the case that he does n't deserve a second term .
Obama linked Trump 's management of the crisis to lives needlessly lost .
`` Donald Trump has n't grown into the job because he ca n't , '' Obama said .
`` And the consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans dead .
Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever .
Our worst impulses unleashed , our proud reputation around the world badly diminished and our democratic institutions threatened like never before . ''
But as tough as the former president 's rhetoric was about Trump , his mostly reserved demeanor and steady delivery did n't come across with the same urgency as his wife 's remarks about Trump on Monday night .
Michelle Obama 's warning about four more years of a Trump administration was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` is clearly in over his head . ''
Like his wife , the former president warned that things are going to get rougher as Election Day nears .
`` This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that 's what it takes to win , '' Obama said .
And Obama said this election is n't just about the White House , calling on voters to vote `` like never before , for Joe and Kamala , and candidates up and down the ticket , so that we leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love stands for , today and for all our days to come . ''
President Trump was evidently watching Obama 's speech .
He tweeted a false claim he previously made about the former president and questioned Obama 's support for Biden 's candidacy .
Convention organizers faced some criticism for giving too much airtime to party elders — mostly white men — at the expense of the next generation of leaders .
Wednesday 's lineup was heavy on popular women , and they contrasted Biden 's commitment to issues such as health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump 's policies , which they argued threaten the economic future of women .
These speakers also took on the task of presenting the policy agenda for a Biden-Harris administration .
The bulk of the convention program up until now has been about attacking Trump .
Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords , whose grave injuries from a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011 continue to make speech difficult , appeared in front of an American flag and delivered a brief but firm message .
`` Words once came easily .
Today I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not lost my voice , '' said Giffords , now the leader of a group pressing for new gun restrictions .
`` We are at a crossroads .
We can let the shooting continue or we can act . ''
Giffords recounted how Biden comforted her after the shooting and she remains a key Biden ally .
But her appearance also carried a collateral political purpose — her husband , Mark Kelly , is running against Arizona GOP Sen. Martha McSally .
Warren , a former rival of Biden 's in the primaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center in Springfield , Mass.
, and blamed the Trump administration for a laundry list of problems facing working families because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` This crisis is bad and did n't have to be this way .
This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him .
On Nov. 3 , we hold them all accountable , '' Warren said .
`` I love a good plan , and Joe Biden has some really good plans , '' she said .
`` Plans to bring back union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs in clean energy .
Plans to increase Social Security benefits , cancel billions in student loan debt and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them . ''
Similarly , Hillary Clinton name-checked issues effectively on the ballot in November , arguing that they demand a vote for Democrats .
`` Vote for parents struggling to balance their child 's education and their safety .
And for health care workers fighting COVID-19 with no help from the White House .
Vote for paid family leave and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect Social Security , Medicare , reproductive rights and our planet , '' Clinton said .
The former Democratic presidential nominee also vouched for Biden 's character , the four-day convention 's central theme .
And as one trailblazing woman to another , she predicted a coming torrent of attacks on Kamala Harris .
`` I know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way . ''

4 Takeaways From Night 3 Of The Democratic National Convention
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
Kamala Harris made history with her formal nomination as the first Black woman and person of Asian descent on a major party's national ticket.
The 55-year-old California senator used much of her first prime-time address as Joe Biden's running mate to tell her own story before turning her fire on President Trump.
Former President Barack Obama, who has mostly stayed on the sidelines as Democrats blasted President Trump's policies over the past 3 1/2 years, took off the gloves and questioned Trump's fitness for the job.
Here are four takeaways from Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention.
NPR YouTube
1. Harris introduced herself and began to prosecute the case against Trump
Speaking in a quiet and mostly empty hall in Wilmington, Del., Harris used much of her speech to tell her story — and try to link it to the stories of other children of immigrants and their experiences.
With some political observers already setting expectations that this national introduction could determine the success or failure of a future Harris presidential campaign — given that her running mate is 77 — Harris faced the test of connecting with people who were taking a first look and energizing those in the Democratic base who have been less than enthusiastic about Biden as their standard bearer.
Harris received national attention for her debate performances during her primary run and for her questioning of top Trump administration officials from her perch in the Senate. But this was the first time many Americans heard about her mother and father, immigrants from India and Jamaica, respectively.
Harris highlighted her upbringing in the 1960s when she attended civil rights marches as a small child. "In the streets of Oakland and Berkeley, I got a stroller's-eye view of people getting into what the great John Lewis called 'good trouble,' " she said.
Harris talked about her husband, Doug Emhoff, his two children from a previous marriage who call her "Momala," her extended family and even her sorority sisters.
But she soon pivoted to the traditional role of a vice presidential running mate — attacking the opposing ticket.
Harris made it personal about Trump, even though her hardest-hitting lines didn't explicitly mention his name.
Noting her background as a prosecutor fighting for victims of sexual assault and taking on big banks, Harris said, "I know a predator when I see one," followed by a studied pause.
She later talked about the impact of inequities in the country — in health care, education and opportunity, and the fight to combat racial injustice.
"There is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work," she said. "For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us."
The virtual convention format inevitably lessened the drama of Harris' speech.
She paused to mark the moment when she accepted her party's historic nomination — something she said her late mother could not have imagined. But there were no cheers or TV shots of emotional female supporters in a crowded hall.
While the goal was to fire up those who have been waiting for a woman of color to be celebrated on the national stage, the event came across as serious but without the energy of an audience. As Harris finished, Biden made a surprise appearance, socially distanced, but there was no traditional balloon drop.
2. Democrats hammered away at a theme: Make a plan to vote
Speaker after speaker Wednesday reminded Americans — and then reminded them again — that they need to vote in the 2020 election. Democrats are growing increasingly concerned about the president's rhetoric raising questions about the legitimacy of the November vote.
Party leaders worry that people will be reluctant to vote in person because of the coronavirus pandemic. They expect an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots and are planning a robust effort to make sure voters cast their ballots early or mail them in time to be counted.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump appointee and campaign donor, is facing tough questions on Capitol Hill about reforms he put in place in the U.S. Postal Service that some fear would slow mail delivery. Under pressure, he suspended the reforms until after the election.
Obama warned in his speech that Republicans were counting on people not showing up in November.
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
"Do not let them take away your power," he said. "Don't let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you're going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote, too."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren closed her remarks, as did others, by offering information on how to vote: "Whether you're planning to vote wearing a mask or vote by mail, please, take out your phone right now and text 'VOTE' to 3-0-3-3-0."
And Hillary Clinton, who lost in 2016 to Trump, reminded viewers that many voters sat out that election because they didn't think their vote mattered. She warned, "This can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election. "
3. Presidents' Club rules went out the window as Obama unloaded on his successor
Obama has kept a mostly low profile as Trump has worked to dismantle many of the policies Obama worked over eight years to put in place. Like other former presidents, he has adhered to the unofficial rule that public criticism of the occupant of the White House is off-limits.
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
That changed Wednesday night when Obama unleashed his contempt for the former businessman and reality TV star who took his place in 2017.
"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."
Democratic convention organizers presented a string of speakers who argued that Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic conclusively makes the case that he doesn't deserve a second term.
Obama linked Trump's management of the crisis to lives needlessly lost.
"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't," Obama said. "And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished and our democratic institutions threatened like never before."
But as tough as the former president's rhetoric was about Trump, his mostly reserved demeanor and steady delivery didn't come across with the same urgency as his wife's remarks about Trump on Monday night. Michelle Obama's warning about four more years of a Trump administration was blunter: Trump, she said, "is clearly in over his head."
Like his wife, the former president warned that things are going to get rougher as Election Day nears.
"This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that's what it takes to win," Obama said.
And Obama said this election isn't just about the White House, calling on voters to vote "like never before, for Joe and Kamala, and candidates up and down the ticket, so that we leave no doubt about what this country we love stands for, today and for all our days to come."
Trump was evidently watching Obama's speech. He tweeted a false claim he previously made about the former president and questioned Obama's support for Biden's candidacy.
4. Female party leaders vouched for the Biden-Harris ticket
Convention organizers faced some criticism for giving too much airtime to party elders — mostly white men — at the expense of the next generation of leaders. Wednesday's lineup was heavy on popular women, and they contrasted Biden's commitment to issues such as health care, gun control and child care with Trump's policies, which they argued threaten the economic future of women.
These speakers also took on the task of presenting the policy agenda for a Biden-Harris administration. The bulk of the convention program up until now has been about attacking Trump.
Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, whose grave injuries from a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011 continue to make speech difficult, appeared in front of an American flag and delivered a brief but firm message.
"Words once came easily. Today I struggle with speech. But I have not lost my voice," said Giffords, now the leader of a group pressing for new gun restrictions. "We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting continue or we can act."
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Giffords recounted how Biden comforted her after the shooting and she remains a key Biden ally. But her appearance also carried a collateral political purpose — her husband, Mark Kelly, is running against Arizona GOP Sen. Martha McSally.
Warren, a former rival of Biden's in the primaries, spoke from a shuttered child care center in Springfield, Mass., and blamed the Trump administration for a laundry list of problems facing working families because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"This crisis is bad and didn't have to be this way. This crisis is on Donald Trump and the Republicans who enable him. On Nov. 3, we hold them all accountable," Warren said.
"I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has some really good plans," she said. "Plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy. Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debt and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them."
Similarly, Clinton name-checked issues effectively on the ballot in November, arguing that they demand a vote for Democrats.
"Vote for parents struggling to balance their child's education and their safety. And for health care workers fighting COVID-19 with no help from the White House. Vote for paid family leave and health care for everyone. Vote to protect Social Security, Medicare, reproductive rights and our planet," Clinton said.
The former Democratic presidential nominee also vouched for Biden's character, the four-day convention's central theme. And as one trailblazing woman to another, she predicted a coming torrent of attacks on Harris.
"I know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way."


npr--2020-08-20--A New Biden Administration Would Face Old Problems With Congress

A New Biden Administration Would Face Old Problems With Congress As former Vice President Joe Biden prepares to give his acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night , Democratic lawmakers and strategists are preparing for what a Biden administration could look like , what the priorities would be and whether anything can actually get done in a Washington accustomed to doing very little .
`` As Vice President Biden would be taking office , we 'd have exploding deficits and unemployment again , the coronavirus crisis , a health care system that 's gotten weaker over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weakened international relationships , '' said Phil Schiliro , who ran congressional affairs for the first-term Obama administration , `` so his first challenge would be to try and clean up the mess . ''
As President Obama did during the Great Recession , Biden would take office at a time of national crisis , and that would drive the focus of the early days of his administration , said Schiliro .
And like Obama , he expects Biden would extend a hand to congressional Republicans to try to craft bipartisan responses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted , those efforts were fruitless under Obama .
`` It did n't seem to make any difference with congressional Republicans because they wanted President Obama to own the problems and own fixing the problems .
I hope that wo n't be the case for Vice President Biden if he 's elected — but it could be , '' Schiliro said .
Democrats are skeptical that congressional Republicans will approach a new Democratic administration any differently from the last one , but how Republicans respond could have a decisive impact on Congress and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to need to get Republicans to actually go along early and quickly to disprove the assumption from many on the left that it is impossible for Republicans to swing back to the old days of more bipartisanship , '' said Democratic strategist Mike Spahn , a former chief of staff to Sen. Patty Murray , D-Wash. Biden is a Senate veteran who prides himself on his interpersonal relationships , but it 's a different era on Capitol Hill .
`` The Senate has changed dramatically , '' said Senate Minority Whip Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislating .
We 've stopped deliberating .
All we do is move forward with [ Senate Majority Leader Mitch ] McConnell 's list of preferred nominees for the federal bench for lifetime appointments . ''
It 's why Democrats — should they win control of the Senate — will likely confront a long-simmering debate over the filibuster , the procedural tool that allows any senator to block any bill for any reason that ca n't get a 60-vote supermajority .
The filibuster was eliminated by Democrats in 2013 for most executive branch nominations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court justices in 2017 .
It is still used to block legislation — a major reason the Senate has reached historic levels of low productivity in the past decade .
`` We have not had this debate .
I 'm not anticipating what the outcome will be , '' said Durbin .
`` But we need a serious conversation about the future of the Senate , now that we 've seen what 's happened over the last several years . ''
Biden , who had long opposed ending the filibuster , indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it , telling reporters : `` It 's going to depend on how obstreperous [ Republicans ] become . ''
Rep. Henry Cuellar , D-Texas , a centrist who recently beat back a primary challenge from the left , said the gregarious Biden may have more success building working relationships on Capitol Hill than Obama , who was often criticized for his aloof style when it came to lawmakers .
`` I 'll say this very gently : A President Biden will be able to use the White House , maybe Camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to say , 'Hey , let 's sit down .
Let 's talk , ' `` Cuellar said .
Republicans are not the only source of potential confrontation for a Biden administration .
Within the Democratic Party , there is unity on what the major challenges of the day are : health care , the economy , immigration , climate change and democracy reform — but the precise policies to address the issues expose bigger rifts about the path forward .
The progressive wing is rising , particularly in the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , have enjoyed a mini-wave of primary victories in 2020 .
Rep. Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash. , who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus , sees the party 's progressive wing as the force `` to do both the pushing , the walking alongside and the going out in front of Joe Biden '' on the agenda .
Progressives like Jayapal say the pandemic and its economic fallout have created an environment that will encourage Biden to take more progressive positions , as Americans demand more from their government to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think Joe Biden is going to be forced to be bold .
I think that the movement will push him and embrace him as he does that , '' she said .
But Cuellar cautioned that leaning too far left could cost Democrats , noting that the House majority was built by winning in swing districts that elected more centrist lawmakers like himself .
`` As long as we do n't let any fringes take over , I think we can work out compromises , '' he said , and the burden to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Schiliro said one of the biggest challenges for any new administration is filling out the executive branch with experienced hands , and that will be a particularly acute task for a first-year Biden administration that will likely want to beef back up federal departments and agencies that Trump worked to reduce .
It 's all the more reason Biden will rely on trusted allies on Capitol Hill , of which few remain .
Turnover has been high in Congress since Biden left to join the Obama administration in 2009 .
Just 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's why Democrats increasingly believe that if Biden wins , he will want House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stick around to help advance his agenda .
Pelosi was a critical ally to the Obama administration in advancing its early legislative victories , most notably the Affordable Care Act , which both Biden and Pelosi are working to protect and expand .
`` I would never have thought she has gotten even stronger than where she was in 2009 and 2010 , but she is , '' Schiliro said .
For House Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Does Biden need Pelosi ?
Heck , yes .
Heck , yes .
Heck , yes , '' he said , adding that she has his vote for speaker in the next Congress .

A New Biden Administration Would Face Old Problems With Congress
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zach Gibson/AP Zach Gibson/AP
As former Vice President Joe Biden prepares to give his acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night, Democratic lawmakers and strategists are preparing for what a Biden administration could look like, what the priorities would be and whether anything can actually get done in a Washington accustomed to doing very little.
"As Vice President Biden would be taking office, we'd have exploding deficits and unemployment again, the coronavirus crisis, a health care system that's gotten weaker over the last four years, climate change and weakened international relationships," said Phil Schiliro, who ran congressional affairs for the first-term Obama administration, "so his first challenge would be to try and clean up the mess."
As President Obama did during the Great Recession, Biden would take office at a time of national crisis, and that would drive the focus of the early days of his administration, said Schiliro. And like Obama, he expects Biden would extend a hand to congressional Republicans to try to craft bipartisan responses to solve the crisis — although, he noted, those efforts were fruitless under Obama. "It didn't seem to make any difference with congressional Republicans because they wanted President Obama to own the problems and own fixing the problems. I hope that won't be the case for Vice President Biden if he's elected — but it could be," Schiliro said.
Working across the aisle
Democrats are skeptical that congressional Republicans will approach a new Democratic administration any differently from the last one, but how Republicans respond could have a decisive impact on Congress and the Biden agenda.
"They're going to need to get Republicans to actually go along early and quickly to disprove the assumption from many on the left that it is impossible for Republicans to swing back to the old days of more bipartisanship," said Democratic strategist Mike Spahn, a former chief of staff to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Biden is a Senate veteran who prides himself on his interpersonal relationships, but it's a different era on Capitol Hill. "The Senate has changed dramatically," said Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "We've stopped legislating. We've stopped deliberating. All we do is move forward with [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell's list of preferred nominees for the federal bench for lifetime appointments."
It's why Democrats — should they win control of the Senate — will likely confront a long-simmering debate over the filibuster, the procedural tool that allows any senator to block any bill for any reason that can't get a 60-vote supermajority. The filibuster was eliminated by Democrats in 2013 for most executive branch nominations. Republicans further eroded the filibuster for Supreme Court justices in 2017. It is still used to block legislation — a major reason the Senate has reached historic levels of low productivity in the past decade.
"We have not had this debate. I'm not anticipating what the outcome will be," said Durbin. "But we need a serious conversation about the future of the Senate, now that we've seen what's happened over the last several years."
Biden, who had long opposed ending the filibuster, indicated in July that he could be open to it, telling reporters: "It's going to depend on how obstreperous [Republicans] become."
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, a centrist who recently beat back a primary challenge from the left, said the gregarious Biden may have more success building working relationships on Capitol Hill than Obama, who was often criticized for his aloof style when it came to lawmakers. "I'll say this very gently: A President Biden will be able to use the White House, maybe Camp David, [to] invite members over to say, 'Hey, let's sit down. Let's talk,' " Cuellar said.
Uniting the party
Republicans are not the only source of potential confrontation for a Biden administration. Within the Democratic Party, there is unity on what the major challenges of the day are: health care, the economy, immigration, climate change and democracy reform — but the precise policies to address the issues expose bigger rifts about the path forward.
The progressive wing is rising, particularly in the House, where House candidates aligned with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have enjoyed a mini-wave of primary victories in 2020.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, sees the party's progressive wing as the force "to do both the pushing, the walking alongside and the going out in front of Joe Biden" on the agenda.
Progressives like Jayapal say the pandemic and its economic fallout have created an environment that will encourage Biden to take more progressive positions, as Americans demand more from their government to get life back on track. "I think Joe Biden is going to be forced to be bold. I think that the movement will push him and embrace him as he does that," she said.
But Cuellar cautioned that leaning too far left could cost Democrats, noting that the House majority was built by winning in swing districts that elected more centrist lawmakers like himself. "As long as we don't let any fringes take over, I think we can work out compromises," he said, and the burden to find that compromise will fall to Biden.
Finding trusted allies
Schiliro said one of the biggest challenges for any new administration is filling out the executive branch with experienced hands, and that will be a particularly acute task for a first-year Biden administration that will likely want to beef back up federal departments and agencies that Trump worked to reduce.
It's all the more reason Biden will rely on trusted allies on Capitol Hill, of which few remain. Turnover has been high in Congress since Biden left to join the Obama administration in 2009. Just 34 senators remain who served alongside him.
That's why Democrats increasingly believe that if Biden wins, he will want House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stick around to help advance his agenda. Pelosi was a critical ally to the Obama administration in advancing its early legislative victories, most notably the Affordable Care Act, which both Biden and Pelosi are working to protect and expand. "I would never have thought she has gotten even stronger than where she was in 2009 and 2010, but she is," Schiliro said.
For House Democrats like Cuellar, it's a no-brainer. "Does Biden need Pelosi? Heck, yes. Heck, yes. Heck, yes," he said, adding that she has his vote for speaker in the next Congress.