npr--2020-11-14--Week In Politics: Biden Works On Transition Of Power, Without Trump's Cooperation

Week In Politics : Biden Works On Transition Of Power , Without Trump 's Cooperation President-elect Joe Biden continues working @ @ @ @ @ as the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge his win .
Meanwhile , the coronavirus surges @ @ @ @

Week In Politics: Biden Works On Transition Of Power, Without Trump's Cooperation
President-elect Joe Biden continues working with his transition team, as the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge his win. Meanwhile, the coronavirus surges to record-breaking levels.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The election was called for Joe Biden a week ago today. President Trump has yet to concede, much less begin a transition. President has vowed to continue his legal challenge of vote counts in several states despite having no evidence of voting irregularities - all the while, of course, a horrific increase in the spread of coronavirus with 10.7 million confirmed cases in the U.S. We're joined now by NPR senior editor and correspondent Ron Elving. Ron, thanks so much for being with us.
RON ELVING, BYLINE: Good to be with you, Scott.
SIMON: Ron, Joe Biden, at least, is putting together his transition team and Cabinet. How do you see the president's refusal to look at the cold, hard vote counts - as just a kind of quirky political episode or something more combustible?
ELVING: It is disquieting, to say the least, although lots of people had predicted Trump would not concede. And we hope it does not become something more combustible. Today in Washington, we expect hundreds, possibly thousands, of Trump supporters to demonstrate. And perhaps there will be counterdemonstrators as well.
One thing is perfectly clear, though, from this election, and that is the division between those in our country who see Trump as a con artist and a curse and those who regard him as an almost biblical savior. Trump has tapped into a sub-stream of our national consciousness, something that will not be gone when he is gone - a conflict between city and farm that's as old as the republic, perhaps between the coastal regions and the interior, and also over the educational divide.
SIMON: What do you make of Republican lawmakers who see the election results in the same way the president does or doesn't?
ELVING: They are in a difficult position, Scott. Their most loyal voters truly believe the president is being removed by a plot between the media, the pollsters and the vote counters. These loyalists are the most important source of primary votes for senators and congressmen and others, especially those who are thinking about 2022. So while Republican officeholders know what their numbers are, they still have to hedge their bets. We have to let this all play out. Let the votes be certified, they say. And they are hoping at some point as the mechanism grinds on that the president will capitulate and let them off the hook. And maybe he will. Here he was in the Rose Garden at the White House last night making some comments on the potential vaccine for COVID-19.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Ideally, we won't go to a lockdown. I will not go. This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully, the - whatever happens in the future - who knows which administration it will be? I guess time will tell.
ELVING: Time will tell, Scott. But right now, Republican lawmakers know they can't separate themselves from whatever the president says without consequences for themselves.
SIMON: It's not just lawmakers, though. Peter Navarro told Fox Business the White House was proceeding under the assumption of a second term. And the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said that his office would ensure a smooth transition to a second Trump term.
ELVING: You never know what a contrarian like Peter Navarro is really thinking. But Mike Pompeo is one of at least a dozen Republicans positioning themselves for a run in 2024. Now, they would rather imagine Donald Trump finishing a second term at that time. But if it's Biden in there instead, they want it known down the road that they stood by Trump in 2020.
SIMON: All of this happens as the coronavirus continues to burn through virtually every state in the country - 184,000 confirmed cases Friday alone, over 1,400 deaths, still no stimulus or aid bill and not much in the way of national direction from the White House.
ELVING: Sadly true - our government has not done what it needed to, not since the first effort in March and April. It need not have been this way if the White House had taken the virus seriously when first they knew how serious it was. But they made a bet that there were more votes in denial than in tough, unpopular measures such as lockdowns. And so here we are.
SIMON: NPR senior editor and correspondent Ron Elving, thanks so much for being with us.
ELVING: Thank you, Scott.
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npr--2020-11-14--Obama White House Veterans Urge Biden To Embrace Executive Action

President-elect Joe Biden won the presidency in large part because he promised to be the anti-Trump on policy , temperament , tone and just about everything else .
But two men who helped run the Obama White House are urging him to follow President Trump 's example in a specific way : by unapologetically leaning on executive actions to implement key policies .
The advice from former Obama chiefs of staff Rahm Emanuel and Denis McDonough comes as Biden prepares to enter office with an agenda potentially stalled by a closely divided Congress : a much smaller House majority than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best .
`` There is — as President Trump himself has demonstrated with the consent , quite obvious consent of Republicans in Congress – an enormous amount of leeway for the president to institute executive action on things like immigration and energy and climate policy , '' said McDonough , who served as chief of staff for much of Obama 's second term .
Obama himself signed many high-profile executive orders and pushed for broad administrative rules changes on environment , education , immigration , and labor policies , among many other areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama 's high-profile orders came once his party lost its majorities in Congress and major legislation was no longer an option .
`` Trump changes that , and moves aggressively on executive orders – a multitude of them on multiple fronts , '' said Emanuel , Obama 's first chief of staff .
`` Everything on immigration , etc.
, without any legislation . ''
Many orders are already in the works .
Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday , incoming Biden chief of staff Ron Klain promised a `` sack '' of executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in the Oval Office .
Many of those actions will be amount to a redoing of Obama administration policies that Trump has spent four years undoing : `` Protecting the DREAMers , for example , starting on day one , '' Klain said , referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Trump tried to end .
`` Rejoining the Paris Accords for climate change starting on day one , reversing some of the environmental rollbacks we 've seen from President Trump . ''
Large swaths of Biden 's pandemic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including tapping the Defense Production Act to manufacture more personal protective equipment and setting up a World War II-inspired `` Pandemic Testing Board '' to coordinate and speed up test distribution across the country .
But the sweeping , New Deal-style agenda Biden promised was premised on the idea of winning control of the Senate , in addition to keeping the big majority that House Democrats won in 2018 .
That 's not the landscape Biden will face in January .
Still , McDonough , Emanuel and other Democrats are confident Biden can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the executive branch .
`` There 's no reason that President-elect Biden should not use the authority that 's available to him , '' said McDonough , who 's now a professor at Notre Dame 's Keough School of Global Affairs .
Neither man is arguing Biden should ignore the legislative branch where he served as a senator for decades .
McDonough said , `` There are certain things you just have to do with Congress . ''
Biden himself talked frequently during the campaign about his experience working across the aisle and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his post-election speeches he has repeatedly called for an end to gridlock and constant partisan warfare .
But Emanuel , who ran the White House during Obama 's window of large legislative majorities , knows perhaps more than anyone that political capital can be limited .
So , he argued that Biden should pack as much as possible into executive orders .
`` The fewer things you have to clog up the legislative pipeline with allows you to concentrate your political capital in that legislative front , '' he said .
Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change a top priority .
At first glance , his much-discussed $ 2 trillion plan to wean the economy off fossil fuel and onto clean energy seems dead on arrival if there is a Republican Senate , but Jamal Raad , the co-founder of climate advocacy group Evergreen Action , has flagged more than 40 broad executive actions in the climate policies the Biden campaign has already laid out .
`` You do n't have to speculate '' on what a Biden climate agenda looks like in divided government , he argued : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant executive actions on the climate crisis . ''
A Biden administration can impose new energy efficiency rules on buildings , appliances and machinery , it can limit new leases for oil and natural gas drilling on federal property , and it can factor climate impacts into scores of regulatory actions across a broad range of agencies .
Raad pointed to vehicle emissions standards as one enormous area of executive influence .
`` The executive has incredibly authority over mileage standards for cars and trucks , '' he said .
`` Ramping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to lower carbon emissions . ''
Most importantly , a Biden Administration could use existing Clean Air Act authority to write new rules to force power plants to shift to renewable energy .
Of course , the Obama Administration tried to do that , and the Supreme Court blocked their regulation from going into effect before Trump overturned it .
The judiciary has gotten much more conservative over the past four years .
But McDonough , who lived through all those court fights , still thinks it 's possible to advance a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think they should be careful in how they put together their plans .
They should be discerning in how they structure their plans , and make sure it 's based in the authorities that are squarely in the president 's bailiwick , '' he advised .
Still , even if those orders are n't struck down by the courts , the past four years made it very clear that they could always be undone by the next president .

Obama White House Veterans Urge Biden To Embrace Executive Action
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President-elect Joe Biden won the presidency in large part because he promised to be the anti-Trump on policy, temperament, tone and just about everything else. But two men who helped run the Obama White House are urging him to follow President Trump's example in a specific way: by unapologetically leaning on executive actions to implement key policies.
The advice from former Obama chiefs of staff Rahm Emanuel and Denis McDonough comes as Biden prepares to enter office with an agenda potentially stalled by a closely divided Congress — a much smaller House majority than expected and a 50-50 Senate, at best.
"There is — as President Trump himself has demonstrated with the consent, quite obvious consent of Republicans in Congress — an enormous amount of leeway for the president to institute executive action on things like immigration and energy and climate policy," said McDonough, who served as chief of staff for much of President Barack Obama's second term.
Obama himself signed many high-profile executive orders and pushed for broad administrative rules changes on environment, education, immigration and labor policies. But unlike Trump, most of Obama's high-profile orders came once his party lost its majorities in Congress and major legislation was no longer an option.
"Trump changes that, and moves aggressively on executive orders — a multitude of them on multiple fronts," said Emanuel, Obama's first chief of staff. "Everything on immigration, etc., without any legislation."
Many orders are already in the works. Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, incoming Biden chief of staff Ron Klain promised a "sack" of executive orders Biden will sign on his first day in the Oval Office.
Many of those actions will amount to a redoing of Obama administration policies that Trump has spent four years undoing: "Protecting the DREAMers, for example, starting on Day 1," Klain said, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Trump tried to end. "Rejoining the Paris accords for climate change starting on Day 1, reversing some of the environmental rollbacks we've seen from President Trump."
Large swaths of Biden's pandemic response will involve executive actions, too, including tapping the Defense Production Act to manufacture more personal protective equipment and setting up a World War II-inspired "Pandemic Testing Board" to coordinate and speed up test distribution across the country.
But the sweeping, New Deal-style agenda Biden promised was premised on the idea of winning control of the Senate, in addition to keeping the big majority that House Democrats won in 2018. That's not the landscape Biden will face in January.
Still, McDonough, Emanuel and other Democrats are confident Biden can deliver many of the same results through the executive branch.
"There's no reason that President-elect Biden should not use the authority that's available to him," said McDonough, who's now a professor at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.
Neither man is arguing Biden should ignore the legislative branch where he served as a senator for decades. McDonough said, "There are certain things you just have to do with Congress."
Biden himself talked frequently during the campaign about his experience working across the aisle and the need for bipartisan cooperation. In his post-election speeches, he has repeatedly called for an end to gridlock and constant partisan warfare.
But Emanuel, who ran the White House during Obama's window of large legislative majorities, knows perhaps more than anyone that political capital can be limited. So, he argued that Biden should pack as much as possible into executive orders. "The fewer things you have to clog up the legislative pipeline with allows you to concentrate your political capital in that legislative front," he said.
The climate agenda
Biden has made it clear he'll make climate change a top priority. At first glance, his much-discussed $2 trillion plan to wean the economy off fossil fuel and onto clean energy seems dead on arrival if there is a Republican Senate, but Jamal Raad, the co-founder of climate advocacy group Evergreen Action, has flagged more than 40 broad executive actions in the climate policies the Biden campaign has already laid out.
"You don't have to speculate" on what a Biden climate agenda looks like in divided government, he argued: "His plans were littered with pretty significant executive actions on the climate crisis."
A Biden administration can impose new energy efficiency rules on buildings, appliances and machinery, it can limit new leases for oil and natural gas drilling on federal property, and it can factor climate impacts into scores of regulatory actions across a broad range of agencies.
Raad pointed to vehicle emissions standards as one enormous area of executive influence. "The executive has incredibly authority over mileage standards for cars and trucks," he said. "Ramping up production of electric vehicles is an incredible opportunity to lower carbon emissions."
Most importantly, a Biden administration could use existing Clean Air Act authority to write new rules to force power plants to shift to renewable energy.
Of course, the Obama administration tried to do that, and the Supreme Court blocked the regulations from going into effect before Trump overturned it.
The judiciary has gotten much more conservative over the past four years. But McDonough, who lived through all those court fights, still thinks it's possible to advance a Biden agenda with executive actions.
"I think they should be careful in how they put together their plans. They should be discerning in how they structure their plans and make sure it's based in the authorities that are squarely in the president's bailiwick," he advised.
Still, even if those orders aren't struck down by the courts, the past four years made it very clear that they could always be undone by the next president.
NPR’s Asma Khalid contributed reporting.


npr--2020-11-14--As Trump Pushes Election Falsehoods, His Cybersecurity Agency Pushes Back

Efforts to protect U.S. elections from disinformation are proceeding amid reports that the head of the agency in the Department of Homeland Security that oversees election security expects to be fired soon by the White House .
Christopher Krebs , director of DHS ' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , or CISA , spearheaded an agency campaign to counter rumors about voter fraud and election irregularities .
It was intended primarily to target foreign disinformation but has ended up instead rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations about the election being spread by President Trump and his campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the White House .
As of Friday , Krebs was still on the job , and CISA officials held a regularly scheduled meeting with private sector members of a coordinating council set up after the 2016 election to work with the agency to protect U.S. elections against cyberattacks and other disruptions .
That council , along with a separate one representing state and local elections officials , put out a joint statement Thursday calling the 2020 election `` the most secure in American history . ''
It added , in boldface , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
According to one council member , the statement , which CISA released , was a direct response to the president 's tweet Thursday morning citing a baseless claim that voting equipment provided by Dominion Voting Systems had `` deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide '' and switched hundreds of thousands of other Trump votes to Joe Biden .
Trump on Friday added to the confusion by tweeting that the election was indeed the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` rigged . ''
Concerns that Krebs could be pushed out came after Trump fired several top national security officials , and two other CISA officials were removed from their posts .
Security officials have said that , even after Election Day , the nation 's voting system remains vulnerable as states continue to count ballots and certify the results .
The coordinating council member said the biggest threat at this point is disinformation about that process , much of which the Trump campaign is putting forward in its effort to challenge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on background , said Krebs ' removal would be `` very concerning '' but that it 's difficult to say how disruptive it would be in the short term because others at the agency have been working closely with state and local officials to secure the elections .
`` There are a lot of good people at CISA who hopefully would still be there and would continue to do their jobs , '' the individual said .
In the long term , though , it could have a huge impact on what has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort .
CISA was created in 2018 following Russia 's active measures campaign that disrupted the 2016 election .
Krebs , the agency 's first director , has worked to build stronger partnerships between the federal government and the states — a tall task after Russia 's interference laid bare the wide differences in how various states run their elections .
After 2016 , it took months , sometimes years , before the federal government shared intelligence about Russia 's activities with all the relevant state officials .
Those relationships have completely transformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , when CISA erected a war room for communication between the states , voting machine vendors , social media companies and political parties .
A DHS official who has worked with Krebs but spoke on background for fear of retaliation told NPR that Krebs being fired would `` rock CISA . ''
`` Chris has earned the trust of staff all across the agency , '' the official said .
`` He 's easily been the most competent and able of any political appointee I 've worked with . ''
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the agency .
In response to reports Thursday afternoon that Krebs expected to be fired , Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner , D-Va. , tweeted : `` There is no possible justification to remove [ Krebs ] from office .
None . ''
Ahead of the 2020 election , CISA focused on helping local governments harden their cybersecurity systems .
But the agency has consistently said misinformation about the election 's legitimacy is just as big of a problem as hacking into computers .
To that end , the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control , which was meant to debunk false election information throughout the voting season .
Making sure Americans have facts , Krebs told reporters , is `` one of the best tactics and techniques we have right now to counteract these disinformation operations and influence ops . ''
But it was immediately clear that those facts would also contradict the president .
Trump has telegraphed for months , if not years , he would work to undermine confidence in the results should he lose .
Leadership within CISA knew that eventually there could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rumor Control site would be at odds with Trump 's words , according to a person familiar with the matter , which could mean professional consequences for Krebs and others at the agency .
`` This is the only person I 've ever seen question his own election [ victory ] , '' the person said , speaking about 2016 when Trump spread conspiracies about millions of illegal votes being cast after he lost the popular vote despite winning the Electoral College .
Still , Krebs never called out Trump by name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fact-check the president , '' Krebs told reporters in early November when pushed on whether the agency 's Rumor Control site would directly cite the sources of disinformation , as opposed just to debunking the content .
That position became increasingly blurry though , because Trump and his campaign have been among the most prominent amplifiers of false information since Election Day .
Krebs as well as state and local government officials have been adamant that the 2020 election has been a success : historic turnout with no major disruptions so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of a pandemic .
`` We should be talking about how well the system worked and increasing people 's confidence and trust in the process , '' said Ben Hovland , chairman of the U.S .
Elections Assistance Commission , a federal agency tasked with improving the administration of elections .
`` Instead , we 're talking about conspiracy theories about the election being rigged . ''
Since Election Day , Krebs has been active on Twitter , continuing to post `` Rumor Control updates '' that link back to CISA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process that often contradicted the claims Trump and his campaign have made about voter fraud allegations .
The site lists a bright red `` X '' in front of the word `` rumor , '' reading : `` If results as reported on election night change over the ensuing days or weeks , the process is hacked or compromised , so I ca n't trust the results . ''
Instead , it directs the viewer to the `` reality , '' marked with a green check mark .
`` Election results reporting may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This does not indicate there is any problem with the counting process or results .
Official results are not certified until all validly cast ballots have been counted , including ballots that are counted after election night , '' the site reads .
The site also refutes the conspiracy spread by Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , that dead people cast ballots in the general election .
The Trump campaign even filed a lawsuit based on a rumor that some ballots in Arizona were rejected because voters had used Sharpies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the matter said Thursday they had no idea how likely it was that Krebs would be fired .
`` Trying to predict what the president will do is damn near impossible , '' the official said .
Krebs ' firing would be the latest staff shakeup in the Trump administration after the president lost his reelection bid to Biden .
On Monday , Trump tweeted that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had been `` terminated '' and would be replaced by Christopher Miller , director of the National Counterterrorism Center .
As NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper already had a resignation letter at the ready , seeing as Trump threatened to fire him in June over a disagreement about using active-duty troops to quell street protests .
Since then , three other top Pentagon officials have been replaced with Trump loyalists .

As Trump Pushes Election Falsehoods, His Cybersecurity Agency Pushes Back
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Efforts to protect U.S. elections from disinformation are proceeding amid reports that the head of the agency in the Department of Homeland Security that oversees election security expects to be fired soon by the White House.
Christopher Krebs, director of DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, spearheaded an agency campaign to counter rumors about voter fraud and election irregularities.
It was intended primarily to target foreign disinformation but has ended up instead rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations about the election being spread by President Trump and his campaign, and it has apparently drawn the ire of the White House.
As of Friday, Krebs was still on the job, and CISA officials held a regularly scheduled meeting with private sector members of a coordinating council set up after the 2016 election to work with the agency to protect U.S. elections against cyberattacks and other disruptions.
That council, along with a separate one representing state and local elections officials, put out a joint statement Thursday calling the 2020 election "the most secure in American history." It added, in boldface, that "there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."
According to one council member, the statement, which CISA released, was a direct response to the president's tweet Thursday morning citing a baseless claim that voting equipment provided by Dominion Voting Systems had "deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide" and switched hundreds of thousands of other Trump votes to Joe Biden.
Trump on Friday added to the confusion by tweeting that the election was indeed the most secure ever but that it was also "rigged."
Concerns that Krebs could be pushed out came after Trump fired several top national security officials, and two Homeland Security officials, including one from CISA, were removed from their posts.
Security officials have said that, even after Election Day, the nation's voting system remains vulnerable as states continue to count ballots and certify the results.
The coordinating council member said the biggest threat at this point is disinformation about that process, much of which the Trump campaign is putting forward in its effort to challenge the results.
The individual, who spoke on background, said Krebs' removal would be "very concerning" but that it's difficult to say how disruptive it would be in the short term because others at the agency have been working closely with state and local officials to secure the elections.
"There are a lot of good people at CISA who hopefully would still be there and would continue to do their jobs," the individual said.
In the long term, though, it could have a huge impact on what has been seen as a largely successful government effort. CISA was created in 2018 following Russia's active measures campaign that disrupted the 2016 election.
Krebs, the agency's first director, has worked to build stronger partnerships between the federal government and the states — a tall task after Russia's interference laid bare the wide differences in how various states run their elections. After 2016, it took months, sometimes years, before the federal government shared intelligence about Russia's activities with all the relevant state officials.
Those relationships have completely transformed under Krebs, as evidenced on Election Day, when CISA erected a war room for communication between the states, voting machine vendors, social media companies and political parties.
A DHS official who has worked with Krebs but spoke on background for fear of retaliation told NPR that Krebs being fired would "rock CISA."
"Chris has earned the trust of staff all across the agency," the official said. "He's easily been the most competent and able of any political appointee I've worked with."
He has also drawn great praise and support from outside the agency.
In response to reports Thursday afternoon that Krebs expected to be fired, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., tweeted: "There is no possible justification to remove [Krebs] from office. None."
Getting ready for 2020
Ahead of the 2020 election, CISA focused on helping local governments harden their cybersecurity systems. But the agency has consistently said misinformation about the election's legitimacy is just as big of a problem as hacking into computers.
To that end, the agency recently set up a website called Rumor Control, which was meant to debunk false election information throughout the voting season.
Making sure Americans have facts, Krebs told reporters, is "one of the best tactics and techniques we have right now to counteract these disinformation operations and influence ops."
But it was immediately clear that those facts would also contradict the president.
Trump has telegraphed for months, if not years, he would work to undermine confidence in the results should he lose. Leadership within CISA knew that eventually there could come a time where the content on the Rumor Control site would be at odds with Trump's words, according to a person familiar with the matter, which could mean professional consequences for Krebs and others at the agency.
"This is the only person I've ever seen question his own election [victory]," the person said, speaking about 2016 when Trump spread conspiracies about millions of illegal votes being cast after he lost the popular vote despite winning the Electoral College.
Still, Krebs never called out Trump by name.
"It's not our job to fact-check the president," Krebs told reporters in early November when pushed on whether the agency's Rumor Control site would directly cite the sources of disinformation, as opposed just to debunking the content.
That position became increasingly blurry though, because Trump and his campaign have been among the most prominent amplifiers of false information since Election Day.
Krebs as well as state and local government officials have been adamant that the 2020 election has been a success: historic turnout with no major disruptions so far from foreign interference — all in the midst of a pandemic.
"We should be talking about how well the system worked and increasing people's confidence and trust in the process," said Ben Hovland, chairman of the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission, a federal agency tasked with improving the administration of elections. "Instead, we're talking about conspiracy theories about the election being rigged."
Since Election Day, Krebs has been active on Twitter, continuing to post "Rumor Control updates" that link back to CISA's website offering factual information about the election process that often contradicted the claims Trump and his campaign have made about voter fraud allegations.
The site lists a bright red "X" in front of the word "rumor," reading: "If results as reported on election night change over the ensuing days or weeks, the process is hacked or compromised, so I can't trust the results."
Instead, it directs the viewer to the "reality," marked with a green check mark.
"Election results reporting may occur more slowly than prior years. This does not indicate there is any problem with the counting process or results. Official results are not certified until all validly cast ballots have been counted, including ballots that are counted after election night," the site reads.
The site also refutes the conspiracy spread by Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, that dead people cast ballots in the general election.
The Trump campaign even filed a lawsuit based on a rumor that some ballots in Arizona were rejected because voters had used Sharpies to fill them out.
"Don't promote disinfo! Stop spreading #SharpieGate claims," Krebs tweeted.
The official familiar with the matter said Thursday they had no idea how likely it was that Krebs would be fired.
"Trying to predict what the president will do is damn near impossible," the official said.
Latest White House firing
Krebs' firing would be the latest staff shakeup in the Trump administration after the president lost his reelection bid to Biden.
On Monday, Trump tweeted that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had been "terminated" and would be replaced by Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
As NPR's Tom Bowman reported, sources said Esper already had a resignation letter at the ready, seeing as Trump threatened to fire him in June over a disagreement about using active-duty troops to quell street protests.
Since then, three other top Pentagon officials have been replaced with Trump loyalists.


npr--2020-11-14--COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge In Dakotas: 'It's Like We Opened Up A Spigot'

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge In Dakotas : 'It 's Like We Opened Up A Spigot' Hospitals are nearing capacity in North and South Dakota , two states where coronavirus has hit disproportionately hard for their small population size and where cases continue to rise daily .
The Dakotas have the most new daily cases per capita of any other state this week — a record they 've held or been close to for many weeks .
They 're also among the worst in the country for two other grim metrics : per capita deaths and per capita hospitalizations .
North Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dr. Doug Griffin , chief medical officer at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo , N.D. , told NPR 's Morning Edition '' We had fully expected it would get worse , '' Griffin said .
`` I think what has surprised me is that really just in a matter of days , it 's like we opened up a spigot and a huge number of patients influx to us . ''
The largely rural state had seen only mild outbreaks in the spring and summer when other parts of the country were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state was seeing an average of 1,334 new cases per day , after seeing no more than 400 a day in the summer .
`` I think a lot of times people in rural areas feel like , 'Hey , we 're immune to the things that happen in the big cities , ' '' Griffin said .
`` That 's clearly not the case with regards to this . ''
The situation is so dire that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced this week that health care workers who are positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep working in COVID-19 units .
Griffin said that move is a recognition of how serious things are in the state but they are n't planning to implement that option at the moment .
`` I think if we had no other way that we felt that we could safely staff our patients , I think that would be it , '' Griffin told NPR 's David Greene .
`` But we have many options and many levers that we are pulling now ... with our current staff . ''
In South Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state might follow North Dakota 's lead in letting COVID-19 positive health care workers work if cases continue to surge , Dr. Shankar Kurra , vice president of medical affairs at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in South Dakota , told NPR 's All Things Considered '' South Dakota has seen a rise in cases over the last four to five weeks , and we are on that exponential curve , '' he said .
`` And what it has done is put a lot of strain on our capacity in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that the `` mathematics of infection are very clear ... We are one of the rampant spread states .
And when you have that kind of a community-wide spread with positivity rates in the high 20s and 30s , the likelihood of any of your workers falling ill and therefore unable to take care of folks is distinctly possible . ''
He said they planned for this influx when they saw cases rise on the east coast in March , preparing an entire hospital floor for COVID-19 treatment .
Now , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If we ever have a surge like , say , North Dakota , we can shut down our ambulatory services and then repurpose those staff and even our more non-critical areas such as ORs that are not trauma and not essential emergency procedures , '' Kura told NPR 's Ailsa Chang .
Kurra went on to say that he 's very worried about what 's coming this winter .
`` Coming into November , December and January , this is sad to say , but we will see an increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` Our biggest worry is to maintain capacity , be able to take care of critically ill folks that need ICU level of care and will quickly run out of that if these numbers continue . ''
The Dakotas are n't the only ones facing overloaded hospitals .
Vineet Arora , a hospitalist at the University of Chicago , told NPR 's All Things Considered that hospitals in Illinois are `` dangerously close '' to exceeding capacity and running out of ventilators and other critical equipment , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to go into `` crisis staffing planning '' mode – or , `` what 's happening in North Dakota . ''
While North Dakota and South Dakota are two of the most at-risk states in the country , cases and hospitalizations across the entire nation are increasing .
To date in the U.S. , there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died .
More than 68,000 are currently hospitalized .
Thursday alone , there were 153,496 new confirmed cases and 919deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge In Dakotas: 'It's Like We Opened Up A Spigot'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Koeck/Bloomberg via Getty Images Dan Koeck/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Hospitals are nearing capacity in North and South Dakota, two states where coronavirus has hit disproportionately hard for their small population size and where cases continue to rise daily.
The Dakotas have the most new daily cases per capita of any other state this week — a record they've held or been close to for many weeks. They're also among the worst in the country for two other grim metrics: per capita deaths and per capita hospitalizations.
North Dakota has seen hospitalizations spike in recent days, Dr. Doug Griffin, chief medical officer at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D., told NPR's Morning Edition
"We had fully expected it would get worse," Griffin said. "I think what has surprised me is that really just in a matter of days, it's like we opened up a spigot and a huge number of patients influx to us."
The largely rural state had seen only mild outbreaks in the spring and summer when other parts of the country were hard hit. As of Thursday the state was seeing an average of 1,334 new cases per day, after seeing no more than 400 a day in the summer.
"I think a lot of times people in rural areas feel like, 'Hey, we're immune to the things that happen in the big cities,'" Griffin said. "That's clearly not the case with regards to this."
The situation is so dire that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced this week that health care workers who are positive for COVID-19 but are not showing symptoms can keep working in COVID-19 units.
Griffin said that move is a recognition of how serious things are in the state but they aren't planning to implement that option at the moment.
"I think if we had no other way that we felt that we could safely staff our patients, I think that would be it," Griffin told NPR's David Greene. "But we have many options and many levers that we are pulling now ... with our current staff."
National South Dakota Doctor On How His Hospital Is Strained As Coronavirus Cases Surge South Dakota Doctor On How His Hospital Is Strained As Coronavirus Cases Surge Listen · 4:26 4:26
National Many Hospitals In Largely Rural State Of North Dakota Are At Capacity Many Hospitals In Largely Rural State Of North Dakota Are At Capacity Listen · 6:49 6:49
In South Dakota, it's "a possibility" the state might follow North Dakota's lead in letting COVID-19 positive health care workers work if cases continue to surge, Dr. Shankar Kurra, vice president of medical affairs at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in South Dakota, told NPR's All Things Considered
"South Dakota has seen a rise in cases over the last four to five weeks, and we are on that exponential curve," he said. "And what it has done is put a lot of strain on our capacity in the hospital."
He went on to say that the "mathematics of infection are very clear... We are one of the rampant spread states. And when you have that kind of a community-wide spread with positivity rates in the high 20s and 30s, the likelihood of any of your workers falling ill and therefore unable to take care of folks is distinctly possible."
He said they planned for this influx when they saw cases rise on the east coast in March, preparing an entire hospital floor for COVID-19 treatment. Now, they're having to get creative with staffing.
"If we ever have a surge like, say, North Dakota, we can shut down our ambulatory services and then repurpose those staff and even our more non-critical areas such as ORs that are not trauma and not essential emergency procedures," Kurra told NPR's Ailsa Chang.
Kurra went on to say that he's very worried about what's coming this winter. "Coming into November, December and January, this is sad to say, but we will see an increase in cases and increase in hospitalizations," he said. "Our biggest worry is to maintain capacity, be able to take care of critically ill folks that need ICU level of care and will quickly run out of that if these numbers continue."
The Dakotas aren't the only ones facing overloaded hospitals. Vineet Arora, a hospitalist at the University of Chicago, told NPR's All Things Considered that hospitals in Illinois are "dangerously close" to exceeding capacity and running out of ventilators and other critical equipment, as well as trained clinicians. They are worried about having to go into "crisis staffing planning" mode – or, "what's happening in North Dakota."
While North Dakota and South Dakota are two of the most at-risk states in the country, cases and hospitalizations across the entire nation are increasing. To date in the U.S., there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died. More than 68,000 are currently hospitalized. Thursday alone, there were 153,496 new confirmed cases and 919deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported.


npr--2020-11-14--A College Student's Coming Home. Should The Whole Family Wear Masks?

A College Student Is Coming Home .
Should The Whole Family Wear Masks ?
Sandy Kretschmer imagines her son Henry returning home from college , dropping his bags and then giving her a big hug .
But she knows the reality of this homecoming may be a lot different .
I 'll probably have a mask on and he 'll have a mask on when I hug him , '' she says .
Henry plans to take a COVID-19 test a few days before he leaves Iowa State University where he 's a junior , and he 'll self-quarantine until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kretschmers are taking these precautions because some family members have underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 .
Henry 's father has an auto-immune disease and his 78-year-old grandfather is in hospice care .
Families all across the country are facing a similar dilemma : They want their students home for Thanksgiving , but no one wants the virus to come home with them .
`` I want to make sure that I 'm not bringing anything home to my parents , and I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Brianna Sislo-Schutta , a junior at the University of Minnesota .
Home is just a 20 minute drive from campus , in the suburbs of St. Paul .
`` That 's why I went to school in my home state , '' she says .
`` I love my family .
I love spending time with them . ''
In normal years she would go home often for a meal or a visit .
This year she 's forgone the weekend trips home — afraid she might get her parents sick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss , which has meant some hard conversations about what the visit might look like .
`` As a mother it 's just gut wrenching , '' says Brianna 's mom Toni Schutta .
`` Can I be inside with my child ?
If so , for how long ?
Do we have to wear masks ? ''
she asks .
Some students are choosing not to risk it and have decided to stay on campus for the holidays , says Amira Roess , an epidemiologist at George Mason University in Fairfax , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing to stay in the dorms because they have family members who are high risk , '' she says .
Other experts agree : If a family member is especially vulnerable , the safest option is to celebrate lovingly — but remotely — this year .
But for college students and their families who are considering spending Thanksgiving together , here are some precautions you can take to reduce the risk of spreading infections .
Get tested — but do n't rely exclusively on test results A few colleges are requiring students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head home .
`` It 's kind of like the last phase of our semester , '' says Daniel Diermeier , Chancellor of Vanderbilt University , in Nashville , Tenn .
He says the exit testing is to make sure that the families and the communities the students are returning to `` feel good about their students coming home . ''
The State University of New York requires on-campus students to test negative before heading home for the break and Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina just announced the state will send rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The University of Minnesota , where Brianna Sislo-Schutta is a junior , is also offering free coronavirus testing .
`` I know testing is n't 100 % , but it definitely makes it a little less scary for me .
I can go home and feel better and have peace of mind , '' she says .
But remember a test is just a snapshot of the day it is taken , says Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University .
`` One negative test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free . ''
And even if a test is negative it 's not a guarantee the person taking it is not infected .
She recommends students take another test when they get home , and in the meantime they should stay masked up after they return home and keep six feet away from other family members .
Masks and social distancing may seem like they take all the warmth and humanity out of the holiday , but Guzman-Cottrill says any place where 5 % or more COVID-19 tests return positive is a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents should evaluate the rates of infection on campus and the surrounding community .
Not all colleges are offering students testing before they leave for the holidays .
The College Crisis Initiative did a random survey of approximately one hundred four-year institutions and found only eight were offering additional testing to students before the break .
`` There 's a sense , at least at some colleges , that once the semester finishes and students leave , it 's not their problem , '' says Robert Kelchen , a professor of higher education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seton Hall transitioned to online classes this week , amid a rising number COVID-19 cases on campus .
The school is encouraging all students to get tested at the University health center before they head home .
For colleges that do n't have resources for exit testing — many are encouraging students to essentially lock down before heading out for Thanksgiving .
`` If you do n't have testing available , you really have to be cautious starting now to make sure you do n't bring it home , '' says Rebecca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign .
And remember , `` any form of travel involves some amount of risk , '' she says .
`` Just relying on testing alone is not enough . ''
There are 13 days until Thanksgiving and the virus ' incubation period ranges from about 5 to 14 days .
`` If you were to be exposed any time , starting now , you could be infectious at the time that you go home for Thanksgiving , '' Smith says .
Getting tested once does n't mean you wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day later , she says .
So the best defense for students — and the family planning to welcome them in — is to limit activities to the essentials .
`` No parties obviously , '' says Smith and `` limit your social circles to only the people in your bubble and keep that bubble small . ''
Wear masks , keep your distance and rethink that turkey dinner Students should stay masked up after they return home , says epidemiologist Guzman-Cottrill .
`` The only time they should be removing their mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating in a separate room , I think is the safest decision , or eating outdoors , '' she says .
And while it may seem like this takes the joy out of the holiday , with the virus surging across the country the extra precautions are worth taking , our experts say .
`` The last thing we want is big family gatherings that end up being somebody 's last Thanksgiving , '' Smith says .
And there are all sorts of things that you can do outdoors with your family that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You could play outside , you could play croquet or bocce quite safely .
You can play cornhole with your family safely outdoors , '' she says .
Outdoor activities are safer because airflow helps dilute the virus , thus reducing the risk of infection .
The Sislo-Schutta family usually gathers with at least 20 friends and family members at their home , but this year it will be just immediate family and they 're planning to do Thanksgiving dinner round the fire pit .
And there will be one more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be having a turkey !
`` The new plan is to make spinach lasagna , '' Brianna 's mom says .
`` It 's going to be a lasagna Thanksgiving . ''
That 's fine with Brianna .
`` I 'm honestly not a huge Thanksgiving food person , '' she says .
`` I just enjoy spending time with my family . ''

A College Student Is Coming Home. Should The Whole Family Wear Masks?
Enlarge this image Sarah Gonzales for NPR Sarah Gonzales for NPR
Sandy Kretschmer imagines her son Henry returning home from college, dropping his bags and then giving her a big hug. But she knows the reality of this homecoming may be a lot different.
"I'll probably have a mask on, and he'll have a mask on when I hug him," she says.
Henry plans to take a COVID-19 test a few days before he leaves Iowa State University where he's a junior, and he'll self-quarantine until he heads home to Chicago.
The Kretschmers are taking these precautions because some family members have underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Henry's father has an autoimmune disease, and his 78-year-old grandfather is in hospice care.
Families all across the country are facing a similar dilemma: They want their students home for Thanksgiving, but no one wants the virus to come home with them.
"I want to make sure that I'm not bringing anything home to my parents, and I don't want them to get sick," says Brianna Sislo-Schutta, a junior at the University of Minnesota.
Home is just a 20-minute drive from campus, in the suburbs of St. Paul. "That's why I went to school in my home state," she says. "I love my family. I love spending time with them."
In normal years, she would go home often for a meal or a visit. This year she's forgone the weekend trips home — afraid she might get her parents sick. But Thanksgiving is a hard holiday to miss, which has meant some hard conversations about what the visit might look like.
"As a mother, it's just gut-wrenching," says Brianna's mom, Toni Schutta. "Can I be inside with my child? If so, for how long? Do we have to wear masks?" she asks.
Some students are choosing not to risk it and have decided to stay on campus for the holidays, says Amira Roess, an epidemiologist at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
"There are students who are choosing to stay in the dorms because they have family members who are high risk," she says.
Other experts agree: If a family member is especially vulnerable, the safest option is to celebrate lovingly — but remotely — this year. But for college students and their families who are considering spending Thanksgiving together, here are some precautions you can take to reduce the risk of spreading infections.
Get tested — but don't rely exclusively on test results
A few colleges are requiring students to get tested before they leave campus and head home.
"It's kind of like the last phase of our semester," says Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tenn. He says the exit testing is to make sure that the families and the communities the students are returning to "feel good about their students coming home."
The State University of New York requires on-campus students to test negative before heading home for the break and Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina just announced the state will send rapid tests to colleges ahead of Thanksgiving. The University of Minnesota, where Brianna Sislo-Schutta is a junior, is also offering free coronavirus testing.
"I know testing isn't 100%, but it definitely makes it a little less scary for me. I can go home and feel better and have peace of mind," she says.
But remember a test is just a snapshot of the day it is taken, says Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University. "One negative test does not mean that you are home free." And even if a test is negative, it's not a guarantee the person taking it is not infected.
She recommends students take another test when they get home, and in the meantime, they should stay masked up after they return home and keep 6 feet away from other family members.
Masks and social distancing may seem like they take all the warmth and humanity out of the holiday, but Guzman-Cottrill says any place where 5% or more COVID-19 tests return positive is a high-risk zone. Before traveling, students and parents should evaluate the rates of infection on campus and the surrounding community.
Not all colleges are offering students testing before they leave for the holidays. The College Crisis Initiative did a random survey of about 100 four-year institutions and found that only eight were offering additional testing to students before the break.
"There's a sense, at least at some colleges, that once the semester finishes and students leave, it's not their problem," says Robert Kelchen, an associate professor of higher education at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Seton Hall transitioned to online classes this week, amid a rising number COVID-19 cases on campus. The school is encouraging all students to get tested at the university health center before they head home.
Limit your social activities starting now
For colleges that don't have resources for exit testing, many are encouraging students to essentially lock down before heading out for Thanksgiving.
"If you don't have testing available, you really have to be cautious starting now to make sure you don't bring it home," says Rebecca Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
And remember, "any form of travel involves some amount of risk," she says. "Just relying on testing alone is not enough."
There are 13 days until Thanksgiving and the virus' incubation period ranges from about five to 14 days. "If you were to be exposed any time, starting now, you could be infectious at the time that you go home for Thanksgiving," Smith says.
Getting tested once doesn't mean you won't test positive for the virus a day later, she says. So the best defense for students — and the family planning to welcome them in — is to limit activities to the essentials.
"No parties obviously," says Smith, and "limit your social circles to only the people in your bubble and keep that bubble small."
Wear masks, keep your distance and rethink that turkey dinner
Students should stay masked up after they return home, says epidemiologist Guzman-Cottrill.
"The only time they should be removing their mask should be when they are eating and eating in a separate room, I think, is the safest decision, or eating outdoors," she says.
And while it may seem like this takes the joy out of the holiday, with the virus surging across the country, the extra precautions are worth taking, our experts say.
"The last thing we want is big family gatherings that end up being somebody's last Thanksgiving," Smith says.
And there are all sorts of things that you can do outdoors with your family that are safer than meals, says Smith.
"You could play outside, you could play croquet or bocce quite safely. You can play cornhole with your family safely outdoors," she says.
Outdoor activities are safer because airflow helps dilute the virus, thus reducing the risk of infection.
The Sislo-Schutta family usually gathers with at least 20 friends and family members at their home, but this year it will be just immediate family and they're planning to do Thanksgiving dinner around the fire pit.
And there will be one more big change this year — they won't be having a turkey!
"The new plan is to make spinach lasagna," Brianna's mom says. "It's going to be a lasagna Thanksgiving."
That's fine with Brianna. "I'm honestly not a huge Thanksgiving food person," she says. "I just enjoy spending time with my family."


npr--2020-11-14--Analysis: Is Trump's Next Foe Fox News?

Analysis: Is Trump's Next Foe Fox News?

A trial balloon , a Twitter tirade and a turn in TV ratings have led to a ton of chatter : After his election loss , will President Trump 's next target be Fox News ?
Since Election Day , Trump has stewed publicly and privately over Fox 's projection of Arizona for Joe Biden , a projection replicated Thursday by other major television networks .
While Fox 's opinion hosts have bathed him in glowing approval and even given ballast to unfounded claims of voter fraud , Trump has resented its news coverage , which has acknowledged Biden as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings have completely collapsed , '' Trump ( or one of his aides ) tweeted on Thursday .
`` They forgot the Golden Goose .
The biggest difference between the 2016 Election , and 2020 , was Fox News ! ''
On Thursday morning , Axios ' Mike Allen , the recipient of many a favored leak , reported that the president was weighing the launch of a Trump-branded digital media outfit to take on Fox News .
The idea would be to charge a monthly fee to MAGA fans — much like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away the $ 5.99 monthly fee that subscribers pay to receive Fox News ' even more conservative digital service called Fox Nation .
And that missile arrived during what was already a barrage of anti-Fox venom .
Trump has tweeted out links from conservative sites Breitbart and One America News , retweeted numerous fans hailing the conservative Newsmax channel and site .
Oh , and he trashed Fox News , jabbing the Trump-friendly network where television executives care most : right in the Nielsens .
Trump then retweeted numerous people hitting Fox for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switching to Newsmax .
Sure enough , the Apple App Store shows Newsmax as the seventh-most downloaded application .
Its television ratings , usually modest at best , beat the Fox Business Network and CNBC , according to standard industry estimates .
Former Fox News reporter Greg Kelly 's Newsmax show has taken a strong pro-Trump turn .
As a result , it 's received a lot of attention from the president and his followers .
Presumably , Trump could start his own venture or team up with one or more of Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives and journalists speaking on condition they not be named say they 're not worried but they are taking note .
`` Fox is trying to play it on both sides — no one is able to tell you what they are , '' Newsmax CEO and founder Christopher Ruddy argues .
`` They have a large audience .
I would argue that 's from momentum from the Roger Ailes years . ''
Ailes , the force behind Fox as its CEO and then its chairman , was forced out by the controlling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive sexual harassment scandal .
He died the next year .
Fox officials publicly present an unruffled front .
At Thursday 's annual meeting of parent company Fox Corp. , Executive Chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch noted Fox News had record ratings all fall .
`` That momentum has propelled us into this fiscal year , '' he told shareholders and analysts .
`` From Memorial Day through Election Day , Fox News was the No .
1 network in prime time amongst all broadcast and cable networks . ''
Earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have always thrived with competition . ''
Fox has been the nation 's No .
1-rated cable station for nearly all of the past two decades .
Under President Barack Obama , it flourished as the voice of the opposition , in the words of then-Fox Executive Vice President Bill Shine .
( Shine later served in the Trump White House for a time , managing communications for the president . )
Trump 's ability to drive ratings skyward was an unexpected windfall for Fox , as his repeated appearances touting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many Fox News viewers .
Each side thinks they have enabled the other to prosper ; each is licking its wounds .
Now Fox is considering what life would look like if Trump were to ally with the far-right One America News Network or The Blaze or Newsmax or some combination of all three .
Fox hosts and reporters are being torched on social media by Trump fans who say they were formerly Fox fans ; at times you can see its journalists having to justify on the air why they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign .
Some thanks for a network that , according to the liberal journalism watchdog Media Matters for America , promoted conspiracy theories that cast doubt on the vote more than 250 times — continuing after its own political desk called the election for Biden .
Yet it seems unlikely that Trump — notoriously unwilling to put his own equity into his ventures — can or will mount a serious challenge .
`` I do n't think he fully realizes the enormous cost and hurdles that it could take , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , tells NPR .
Yet that 's one thing Ruddy could offer Trump once he 's out of office : a network to rebrand as his own , either in name or deed .
For that matter , even in his anger , Trump has promoted the top Fox opinion hosts amplifying his frustration — including Sean Hannity , Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs — some of whom are his champions , allies , advisers and friends .
Among the likely options : Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch shell out eight figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and off those of their rivals .
It would be cheap at the price .
And it would help Fox deflect and rechannel the resentment of Trump 's hardest-core fans so it can enter the Biden era guns blazing .

Analysis: Is Trump's Next Foe Fox News?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
A trial balloon, a Twitter tirade and a turn in TV ratings have led to a ton of chatter: After his election loss, will President Trump's next target be Fox News?
Since Election Day, Trump has stewed publicly and privately over Fox's projection of Arizona for Joe Biden, a projection replicated Thursday by other major television networks. While Fox's opinion hosts have bathed him in glowing approval and even given ballast to unfounded claims of voter fraud, Trump has resented its news coverage, which has acknowledged Biden as the president-elect.
"@FoxNews daytime ratings have completely collapsed," Trump (or one of his aides) tweeted on Thursday. "They forgot the Golden Goose. The biggest difference between the 2016 Election, and 2020, was Fox News!"
.@FoxNews daytime ratings have completely collapsed. Weekend daytime even WORSE. Very sad to watch this happen, but they forgot what made them successful, what got them there. They forgot the Golden Goose. The biggest difference between the 2016 Election, and 2020, was @FoxNews! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2020
On Thursday morning, Axios' Mike Allen, the recipient of many a favored leak, reported that the president was weighing the launch of a Trump-branded digital media outfit to take on Fox News. The idea would be to charge a monthly fee to MAGA fans — much like Rush Limbaugh's Dittoheads — to peel away the $5.99 monthly fee that subscribers pay to receive Fox News' even more conservative digital service called Fox Nation.
And that missile arrived during what was already a barrage of anti-Fox venom. Trump has tweeted out links from conservative sites Breitbart and One America News, retweeted numerous fans hailing the conservative Newsmax channel and site. Oh, and he trashed Fox News, jabbing the Trump-friendly network where television executives care most: right in the Nielsens.
Trump then retweeted numerous people hitting Fox for being unfair. Several said they were switching to Newsmax. Sure enough, the Apple App Store shows Newsmax as the seventh-most downloaded application. Its television ratings, usually modest at best, beat the Fox Business Network and CNBC, according to standard industry estimates. Former Fox News reporter Greg Kelly's Newsmax show has taken a strong pro-Trump turn. As a result, it's received a lot of attention from the president and his followers.
Presumably, Trump could start his own venture or team up with one or more of Fox's smaller rivals.
Inside Fox, executives and journalists speaking on condition they not be named say they're not worried but they are taking note.
"Fox is trying to play it on both sides — no one is able to tell you what they are," Newsmax CEO and founder Christopher Ruddy argues. "They have a large audience. I would argue that's from momentum from the Roger Ailes years."
Ailes, the force behind Fox as its CEO and then its chairman, was forced out by the controlling Murdoch family in July 2016 after a massive sexual harassment scandal. He died the next year.
Fox officials publicly present an unruffled front. At Thursday's annual meeting of parent company Fox Corp., Executive Chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch noted Fox News had record ratings all fall.
"That momentum has propelled us into this fiscal year," he told shareholders and analysts. "From Memorial Day through Election Day, Fox News was the No. 1 network in prime time amongst all broadcast and cable networks."
Earlier in the month, Murdoch told analysts, "We have always thrived with competition."
Fox has been the nation's No. 1-rated cable station for nearly all of the past two decades. Under President Barack Obama, it flourished as the voice of the opposition, in the words of then-Fox Executive Vice President Bill Shine. (Shine later served in the Trump White House for a time, managing communications for the president.) Trump's ability to drive ratings skyward was an unexpected windfall for Fox, as his repeated appearances touting the anti-Obama "birther" conspiracy endeared him to many Fox News viewers.
Each side thinks they have enabled the other to prosper; each is licking its wounds.
Now Fox is considering what life would look like if Trump were to ally with the far-right One America News Network or The Blaze or Newsmax or some combination of all three. Fox hosts and reporters are being torched on social media by Trump fans who say they were formerly Fox fans; at times you can see its journalists having to justify on the air why they are contradicting officials of the White House and the Trump campaign.
Some thanks for a network that, according to the liberal journalism watchdog Media Matters for America, promoted conspiracy theories that cast doubt on the vote more than 250 times — continuing after its own political desk called the election for Biden.
Yet it seems unlikely that Trump — notoriously unwilling to put his own equity into his ventures — can or will mount a serious challenge.
"I don't think he fully realizes the enormous cost and hurdles that it could take," Ruddy, a friend and adviser to the president, tells NPR. Yet that's one thing Ruddy could offer Trump once he's out of office: a network to rebrand as his own, either in name or deed.
For that matter, even in his anger, Trump has promoted the top Fox opinion hosts amplifying his frustration — including Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs — some of whom are his champions, allies, advisers and friends.
Among the likely options: Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch shell out eight figures to keep Trump on their shows, and off those of their rivals. It would be cheap at the price. And it would help Fox deflect and rechannel the resentment of Trump's hardest-core fans so it can enter the Biden era guns blazing.


npr--2020-11-14--The GOP Will Control Montana's State Government For The 1st Time In 16 Years

The GOP Will Control Montana 's State Government For The 1st Time In 16 Years This year in Montana , Republicans swept every statewide and federal race , while also increasing their majority in the statehouse by 10 seats .
Montana , once dubbed a purple state for its split-ticket voting , is now deep crimson .
After four terms of a Democratic governor , a Republican will sit in Montana 's governor 's mansion for the first time in 16 years .
Gov .
Steve Bullock , a Democrat who lost his bid for the U.S. Senate this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory speech , Gianforte said it 's clear Montanans want a change in leadership .
`` You 've sent a loud message to Helena .
A message to the State Capitol from every corner of this great state ; that after 16 long years of single-party rule in the governor 's office , it 's time for Helena to change the way they do business , '' Gianforte said .
The governor-elect is known for his fundamentalist Christain faith , his support of school choice policies and restricted access to abortion .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic was not a campaign priority .
Gianforte has also said he would allow for concealed carry of guns without a permit .
He ran on his success as a businessman , saying he would bring a `` customer service '' environment to state agencies .
He 's pledged to reduce taxes and slash regulations for industry .
In 2017 , Gianforte made national news when he assaulted a Guardian reporter .
He paid a fine and was required to take an anger management course .
Gianforte will be the partner that statehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last decade and a half , the state 's Democratic executives have blocked the GOP 's most conservative policies .
Several bills that current Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock vetoed could reappear in the 2021 session .
Without the threat of Bullock 's veto pen , some Republican lawmakers have already requested drafts of bills that restrict access to abortion and loosen gun control laws .
Republican Speaker of the House Greg Hertz , who will move over to the state senate next session , has said that Republicans are looking forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign promises : more high-paying jobs .
Hertz says the state can create jobs by cutting down on regulations around natural resource industries , such as logging and mining .
Montana , known as the Treasure State , has long propped up its economy with an abundance of coal , hardrock mining and timber .
`` Republicans have always believed that we can develop our natural resources responsibly and make sure that we protect our public lands and assets .
That 's a high priority to all of us , '' Hertz says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace the leaders at the state Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resource Conservation to streamline permits for these industries .
Hertz also says he is looking to bring back a bill that Gov .
Bullock vetoed that would have revised the property tax appeals process .
State Sen. JP Pomnichowski , a Democratic leader , says her fellow party members will push back against these bills like they have in the past .
But with fewer seats in their control , Democrats ' sway will be weaker .
Pomnichowski says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` working majority '' in the state legislature , pointing to Democrats and moderate Republicans working to pass a Medicaid expansion bill last session .
But a number of moderate Republicans in Montana , along with several other states , lost their seats in the primary election to more conservative candidates , meaning Democrats will have fewer willing dance partners across the aisle .
`` We need to get down to serious work about budget , public health and public health care in this state during a pandemic , '' Pomnichowski says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new daily COVID-19 cases at one of the fastest rates in the country .
The state 's current Democratic governor has led the state through the pandemic by leaning heavily on county public health officials to make decisions for their own communities , but also through statewide mandates , like requiring people to wear masks in public spaces .
Gianforte has been vague in his exact plans for responding to the pandemic but has said he does n't think statewide mandates are the right approach .
During his victory speech , he named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll tackle .
`` We face some real challenges .
We need to defeat this invisible enemy that is COVID-19 .
We need to get our economy going again .
We need to soberly address the state 's budget .
We need to overcome the scourge of addiction and meth , '' Gianforte said .

The GOP Will Control Montana's State Government For The 1st Time In 16 Years
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
This year in Montana, Republicans swept every statewide and federal race, while also increasing their majority in the statehouse by 10 seats. Montana, once dubbed a purple state for its split-ticket voting, is now deep crimson.
After four terms of a Democratic governor, a Republican will sit in Montana's governor's mansion for the first time in 16 years. Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat who lost his bid for the U.S. Senate this year, was term limited.
Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte defeated Democrat Mike Cooney, the state's current lieutenant governor, by a wide margin — 12 percentage points.
In his victory speech, Gianforte said it's clear Montanans want a change in leadership.
"You've sent a loud message to Helena. A message to the State Capitol from every corner of this great state; that after 16 long years of single-party rule in the governor's office, it's time for Helena to change the way they do business," Gianforte said.
The governor-elect is known for his fundamentalist Christain faith, his support of school choice policies and restricted access to abortion. Even as COVID-19 ravages the state, the pandemic was not a campaign priority.
Gianforte has also said he would allow for concealed carry of guns without a permit. He ran on his success as a businessman, saying he would bring a "customer service" environment to state agencies. He's pledged to reduce taxes and slash regulations for industry.
In 2017, Gianforte made national news when he assaulted a Guardian reporter. He paid a fine and was required to take an anger management course.
Change in Montana is afoot
Gianforte will be the partner that statehouse Republicans have longed for. Over the last decade and a half, the state's Democratic executives have blocked the GOP's most conservative policies.
Several bills that current Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed could reappear in the 2021 session. Without the threat of Bullock's veto pen, some Republican lawmakers have already requested drafts of bills that restrict access to abortion and loosen gun control laws.
Republican Speaker of the House Greg Hertz, who will move over to the state senate next session, has said that Republicans are looking forward to working with Gianforte on one of his campaign promises: more high-paying jobs.
Health As COVID-19 Spikes In Montana, Doctors Say Hospitals Are 'Strapped Thin' Montana Doctor Says Hospital Is 'Strapped Thin' Listen · 7:18 7:18
Hertz says the state can create jobs by cutting down on regulations around natural resource industries, such as logging and mining. Montana, known as the Treasure State, has long propped up its economy with an abundance of coal, hardrock mining and timber.
"Republicans have always believed that we can develop our natural resources responsibly and make sure that we protect our public lands and assets. That's a high priority to all of us," Hertz says.
Gianforte has said he plans to replace the leaders at the state Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resource Conservation to streamline permits for these industries.
Hertz also says he is looking to bring back a bill that Gov. Bullock vetoed that would have revised the property tax appeals process.
Democrats respond
State Sen. JP Pomnichowski, a Democratic leader, says her fellow party members will push back against these bills like they have in the past. But with fewer seats in their control, Democrats' sway will be weaker.
Pomnichowski says her party can still be part of the "working majority" in the state legislature, pointing to Democrats and moderate Republicans working to pass a Medicaid expansion bill last session.
But a number of moderate Republicans in Montana, along with several other states, lost their seats in the primary election to more conservative candidates, meaning Democrats will have fewer willing dance partners across the aisle.
"We need to get down to serious work about budget, public health and public health care in this state during a pandemic," Pomnichowski says.
Montana is seeing a surge in new daily COVID-19 cases at one of the fastest rates in the country.
The state's current Democratic governor has led the state through the pandemic by leaning heavily on county public health officials to make decisions for their own communities, but also through statewide mandates, like requiring people to wear masks in public spaces.
Gianforte has been vague in his exact plans for responding to the pandemic but has said he doesn't think statewide mandates are the right approach. During his victory speech, he named the pandemic one of many issues he'll tackle.
"We face some real challenges. We need to defeat this invisible enemy that is COVID-19. We need to get our economy going again. We need to soberly address the state's budget. We need to overcome the scourge of addiction and meth," Gianforte said.


npr--2020-11-14--Biden Wants Census To See 'Invisible' Groups: LGBTQ, Middle Eastern, North African

Biden Wants Census To See 'Invisible ' Groups : LGBTQ , Middle Eastern , North African As the incoming Biden administration prepares for office , the Census Bureau is already looking ahead to changes for the 2030 count .
While Biden 's transition team has not announced any specific policies yet for the next once-a-decade tally of the country 's residents , the president-elect 's campaign has previewed what could end up on the new administration 's agenda .
They include ideas that gained steam during the Obama administration but stalled after President Trump took office .
Biden will direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts , including enhancing demographic information around race , ethnicity , sexual orientation , gender identity , and disability status , '' Jamal Brown , the national press secretary for the Biden-Harris campaign , told NPR in a statement before the election .
Here are two specific policy proposals that could change how LGBTQ people and people with roots in the Middle East or North Africa can identify themselves for the next census and future federal surveys , and could give policymakers and researchers better insight into the U.S. population .
One proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Census Bureau to gather voluntary information about people 's sexual orientation and gender identity through its census forms and survey questionnaires — a policy that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris supported as a senator .
There are currently no reliable national-level data about how many LGBTQ people live in the U.S. , and that , many public policy experts say , makes it difficult to know whether the government is fully meeting the needs of LGBTQ groups .
A change on this year 's census form is expected to generate the most comprehensive demographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live together in the U.S. , but other LGBTQ groups , including transgender and non-binary people , will be left out .
During the Obama administration , four federal agencies asked the bureau to start asking a sample of households questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on the bureau 's American Community Survey .
That survey , which goes out to about 1 in 38 households every year , is considered a testing ground for the decennial census , which every household has to complete .
The Census Bureau , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration came into office , specifically after the Justice Department — which had said it needed the data to better enforce civil rights protections for LGBTQ people — backed down from its ask .
Under federal law , the bureau can not release any census information identifying individuals until 72 years after it is collected .
It can , however , put out anonymized data about demographic groups at levels as specific as neighborhoods .
Some data privacy experts have flagged concerns that this data could be used against LGBTQ people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president-elect will `` ensure '' that federal agencies collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity are `` vigorously enforcing appropriate privacy protections . ''
Meanwhile , the Census Bureau has started conducting research on potential questions and response options on the Current Population Survey it carries out monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
Cultural and generational differences in how people describe their sexual orientation and gender identity make the wording on forms especially key to avoiding undercounts and overestimates of LGBTQ people , a working group formed by federal agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census check box for people with Middle Eastern or North African roots Another Biden campaign proposal is creating a new category on census forms for people of Middle Eastern or North African ( MENA ) descent , including Arab Americans .
A person with `` origins in any of the original peoples of Europe , the Middle East , or North Africa '' is officially categorized as white in data about race and ethnicity released by the Census Bureau and other federal agencies , according to the U.S. government 's current standards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , however , have long pushed for a check box of their own on census forms .
In a report about research on collecting race and ethnicity information , Census Bureau researchers wrote that in 2010 , focus group participants with Middle Eastern or North African roots `` often did not know how to respond and/or felt excluded '' when presented with the current census racial categories , which are set by the White House Office of Management and Budget .
Including the terms `` Lebanese '' and `` Egyptian '' as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they were on this year 's census form — was seen as `` wrong or incorrect '' by the focus group members .
During the Obama administration , the bureau recommended creating a separate response option for `` Middle Eastern or North African '' on the 2020 census form as part of a broader overhaul of the questions about race and Hispanic origin .
The change would have likely produced more accurate data about people with MENA origins , while shrinking the share of people checking the `` White '' or `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census , the bureau 's testing in 2015 suggests .
But the efforts to create a MENA category stopped in 2018 under the Trump administration .
After decades of waiting for the addition , the move was bittersweet for some longtime advocates who were worried about how the rollout could have been perceived in the wake of Trump issuing travel bans that targeted people from Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa such as Iran , Libya , Syria and Yemen .
Still , earlier this year , that decision prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven Dillingham , a Trump appointee who joined the bureau in 2019 , and Rep. Rashida Tlaib , a Democrat from Michigan whose parents are Palestinian immigrants to the U.S. '' Dr. Dillingham , do I look white to you ? ''
Tlaib asked in February during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the census .
`` Congresswoman , I think that if you tell me what you identify with , '' Dillingham replied , `` I think I would respect that . ''
Tlaib went on to describe how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MENA category for the 2020 census will make people living in the U.S. who identify as Middle Eastern or North African `` invisible '' for the next 10 years when new census data are used to distribute federal funding , conduct health research and determine what kind of language assistance communities need .
`` Director , '' Tlaib pushed back , `` we need to get it right because I 'm not white . ''
Getting a MENA category right on the census will require the bureau to work through how to represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions that have no universally agreed-upon borders .
Among the suggestions the bureau has received so far are to highlight `` Kurdish '' as an example of a transnational group and to include `` Israeli '' as an example to encourage people born in Israel or with Israeli ancestry to identify with the category on the form .

Biden Wants Census To See 'Invisible' Groups: LGBTQ, Middle Eastern, North African
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
As the incoming Biden administration prepares for office, the Census Bureau is already looking ahead to changes for the 2030 count.
While Biden's transition team has not announced any specific policies yet for the next once-a-decade tally of the country's residents, the president-elect's campaign has previewed what could end up on the new administration's agenda. They include ideas that gained steam during the Obama administration but stalled after President Trump took office.
Biden will direct federal agencies to "improve their collection efforts, including enhancing demographic information around race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability status," Jamal Brown, the national press secretary for the Biden-Harris campaign, told NPR in a statement before the election.
Here are two specific policy proposals that could change how LGBTQ people and people with roots in the Middle East or North Africa can identify themselves for the next census and future federal surveys, and could give policymakers and researchers better insight into the U.S. population.
Census questions about sexual orientation and gender identity
One proposal by the Biden campaign would require the Census Bureau to gather voluntary information about people's sexual orientation and gender identity through its census forms and survey questionnaires — a policy that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris supported as a senator.
There are currently no reliable national-level data about how many LGBTQ people live in the U.S., and that, many public policy experts say, makes it difficult to know whether the government is fully meeting the needs of LGBTQ groups. A change on this year's census form is expected to generate the most comprehensive demographic information to date about same-sex couples who live together in the U.S., but other LGBTQ groups, including transgender and non-binary people, will be left out.
During the Obama administration, four federal agencies asked the bureau to start asking a sample of households questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on the bureau's American Community Survey. That survey, which goes out to about 1 in 38 households every year, is considered a testing ground for the decennial census, which every household has to complete.
The Census Bureau, however, stopped working on the request after the Trump administration came into office, specifically after the Justice Department — which had said it needed the data to better enforce civil rights protections for LGBTQ people — backed down from its ask.
Under federal law, the bureau cannot release any census information identifying individuals until 72 years after it is collected. It can, however, put out anonymized data about demographic groups at levels as specific as neighborhoods.
Some data privacy experts have flagged concerns that this data could be used against LGBTQ people.
Biden's campaign website says that the president-elect will "ensure" that federal agencies collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity are "vigorously enforcing appropriate privacy protections."
Meanwhile, the Census Bureau has started conducting research on potential questions and response options on the Current Population Survey it carries out monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cultural and generational differences in how people describe their sexual orientation and gender identity make the wording on forms especially key to avoiding undercounts and overestimates of LGBTQ people, a working group formed by federal agencies during the Obama administration found.
A census check box for people with Middle Eastern or North African roots
Another Biden campaign proposal is creating a new category on census forms for people of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) descent, including Arab Americans.
A person with "origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa" is officially categorized as white in data about race and ethnicity released by the Census Bureau and other federal agencies, according to the U.S. government's current standards.
Some advocates for MENA groups in the U.S., however, have long pushed for a check box of their own on census forms.
In a report about research on collecting race and ethnicity information, Census Bureau researchers wrote that in 2010, focus group participants with Middle Eastern or North African roots "often did not know how to respond and/or felt excluded" when presented with the current census racial categories, which are set by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Including the terms "Lebanese" and "Egyptian" as examples under the white racial category — as they were on this year's census form — was seen as "wrong or incorrect" by the focus group members.
During the Obama administration, the bureau recommended creating a separate response option for "Middle Eastern or North African" on the 2020 census form as part of a broader overhaul of the questions about race and Hispanic origin. The change would have likely produced more accurate data about people with MENA origins, while shrinking the share of people checking the "White" or "Some other race" box on the census, the bureau's testing in 2015 suggests.
Director, we need to get it right because I'm not white.
But the efforts to create a MENA category stopped in 2018 under the Trump administration. After decades of waiting for the addition, the move was bittersweet for some longtime advocates who were worried about how the rollout could have been perceived in the wake of Trump issuing travel bans that targeted people from Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa such as Iran, Libya, Syria and Yemen.
Still, earlier this year, that decision prompted an awkward exchange between Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, a Trump appointee who joined the bureau in 2019, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan whose parents are Palestinian immigrants to the U.S.
"Dr. Dillingham, do I look white to you?" Tlaib asked in February during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the census.
"Congresswoman, I think that if you tell me what you identify with," Dillingham replied, "I think I would respect that."
Tlaib went on to describe how the decision to not move forward with a MENA category for the 2020 census will make people living in the U.S. who identify as Middle Eastern or North African "invisible" for the next 10 years when new census data are used to distribute federal funding, conduct health research and determine what kind of language assistance communities need.
"Director," Tlaib pushed back, "we need to get it right because I'm not white."
Getting a MENA category right on the census will require the bureau to work through how to represent the diversity among people with origins in regions that have no universally agreed-upon borders.
Among the suggestions the bureau has received so far are to highlight "Kurdish" as an example of a transnational group and to include "Israeli" as an example to encourage people born in Israel or with Israeli ancestry to identify with the category on the form.