npr--2020-11-13--Legal Avenues Closing As Trump Lawsuits Meet With Defeat Or Dead Ends

Legal Avenues Closing As Trump Lawsuits Meet With Defeat Or Dead Ends President Trump 's legal challenges to the election met with a series of defeats and setbacks on Friday as judges found the Trump campaign 's arguments and evidence that there was widespread fraud and irregularities with the vote to be lacking .
An appeals court in Pennsylvania rejected an objection by Trump 's lawyers to practices involving mailed ballots ; a Michigan judge threw out claims made by the campaign as `` incorrect and not credible . ''
In a case in Arizona , where Democrat Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president 's lawyers admitted the judge no longer needed to weigh in because `` the tabulation of votes statewide has rendered unnecessary a judicial ruling as to the presidential electors . ''
`` Trump 's legal strategy seems to be aimed at denying the inevitable , '' said Marc Elias , the top Democratic election lawyer , during a call with reporters Friday .
Trump 's efforts have n't been defeated in every single case , but even victories do n't seem likely to turn the tide .
In Pennsylvania on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not count ballots that had been set aside because they had been cast under a policy changing the relevant deadline .
However , the number of ballots is n't sufficient to change the outcome of the election .
Overall , the legal campaign does not appear to be making headway in its manifold attempts to contest the result in federal court and the courts of key states .
It 's encountering other headwinds as well , including the withdrawal of law firms that had been engaged to take on the cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what they call fraud or impropriety in the election — ones rejected by the nation 's relevant officials — but attorneys are more sensitive about what they 're willing to state before a judge in court , frequently conceding they did not have any evidence .
`` When you do n't know the facts and you do n't have the law and you do n't have a remedy , you 've really got nothing to go on in court , '' said University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas .
Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The campaign is soliciting contributions for what it calls its legal defense fund , but which also go toward covering other costs , and Trump suggested on Friday that he might join a rally scheduled for Saturday in Washington .
Vice President Pence , meanwhile , said at an event in Washington that Trump is n't prepared to concede and that the legal challenges would continue .
`` As our election contest continues in courts across America , I want to promise you : We are going to keep fighting until every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal vote is thrown out .
And whatever the outcome at the end of the process , I promise you : We will never stop fighting to make America great again , '' he said .
NPR 's Miles Parks and Tamara Keith contributed reporting to this story .

Legal Avenues Closing As Trump Lawsuits Meet With Defeat Or Dead Ends
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
Updated at 4:48 p.m. ET
President Trump's legal challenges to the election met with a series of defeats and setbacks on Friday as judges found the Trump campaign's arguments and evidence that there was widespread fraud and irregularities with the vote to be lacking.
An appeals court in Pennsylvania rejected an objection by Trump's lawyers to practices involving mailed ballots; a Michigan judge threw out claims made by the campaign as "incorrect and not credible."
In a case in Arizona, where Democrat Joe Biden holds a slender lead over Trump, the president's lawyers admitted the judge no longer needed to weigh in because "the tabulation of votes statewide has rendered unnecessary a judicial ruling as to the presidential electors."
"Trump's legal strategy seems to be aimed at denying the inevitable," said Marc Elias, the top Democratic election lawyer, during a call with reporters Friday.
Trump's efforts haven't been defeated in every single case, but even victories don't seem likely to turn the tide. In Pennsylvania on Thursday, a judge ordered that the state could not count ballots that had been set aside because they had been cast under a policy changing the relevant deadline. However, the number of ballots isn't sufficient to change the outcome of the election.
Overall, the legal campaign does not appear to be making headway in its manifold attempts to contest the result in federal court and the courts of key states. It's encountering other headwinds as well, including the withdrawal of law firms that had been engaged to take on the cases.
Trump and advocates have made broad claims about what they call fraud or impropriety in the election — ones rejected by the nation's relevant officials — but attorneys are more sensitive about what they're willing to state before a judge in court, frequently conceding they did not have any evidence.
"When you don't know the facts and you don't have the law and you don't have a remedy, you've really got nothing to go on in court," said University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas.
Trump's public relations strategy appeared set to continue. The campaign is soliciting contributions for what it calls its legal defense fund, but which also go toward covering other costs, and Trump suggested on Friday that he might join a rally scheduled for Saturday in Washington.
Vice President Pence, meanwhile, said at an event in Washington that Trump isn't prepared to concede and that the legal challenges would continue.
"As our election contest continues in courts across America, I want to promise you: We are going to keep fighting until every legal vote is counted and until every illegal vote is thrown out. And whatever the outcome at the end of the process, I promise you: We will never stop fighting to make America great again," he said.
NPR's Miles Parks and Tamara Keith contributed reporting to this story.


npr--2020-11-13--Justice Alito: Pandemic Has Brought 'Unimaginable Restrictions' On Freedoms

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says the COVID-19 pandemic has brought `` previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty , '' warning of an important shift in the views of essential rights on several fronts , from religious freedom to free speech .
Alito 's remarks came Thursday in a keynote speech at the Federalist Society 's annual National Lawyers Convention , which is being held virtually this week .
The event 's theme is to examine how the coronavirus is affecting the rule of law .
The COVID-19 crisis has `` highlighted constitutional fault lines , '' Alito said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taken as a judgment on whether numerous coronavirus restrictions reflect good public policy .
`` All that I 'm saying is this , and I think it is an indisputable statement of fact , '' the justice said .
`` We have never before seen restrictions as severe , extensive and prolonged as those experienced for most of 2020 . ''
`` Think of all the live events that would otherwise be protected by the right to freedom of speech , '' from lectures and meetings to religious services , Alito said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has affected access to the courts and the constitutional right to a speedy trial .
`` The COVID crisis has served as a sort of constitutional stress test , '' Alito said .
`` And in doing so , it has highlighted disturbing trends that were already present before the virus struck . ''
The Supreme Court justice then ran down a list of examples that , in his view , reflect shifting attitudes toward long-held rights in the United States .
First on the list was what Alito called `` the dominance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation '' – actions that he said range from agencies ' broad use of regulatory power to the use of executive discretion to impose sweeping restrictions in the name of fighting a pandemic .
Alito later cited a legal case in Nevada , saying the governor 's emergency orders in that state have given leeway and support to casinos hosting gamblers at up to 50 % capacity while forcing houses of worship to cap their attendance at 50 people .
`` Take a quick look at the Constitution , '' Alito said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clause of the First Amendment , which protects religious liberty .
You will not find a craps clause or a blackjack clause or a slot machine clause . ''
`` It pains me to say this , but in certain quarters , religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored right , '' Alito said .
He ran through several religion-related Supreme Court rulings , including the Little Sisters of the Poor ( over providing birth control to employees ) to Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado ( over the refusal to make a wedding cake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a direct connection between America 's ongoing `` culture wars '' and the pandemic crisis , citing a 2016 blog entry by Harvard Law School professor Mark Tushnet .
`` He candidly wrote , quote , The culture wars are over ; they lost , we won , '' Alito said .
He went on to quote from Tushnet 's much-discussed stance that `` [ m ] y own judgment is that taking a hard line ( 'You lost , live with it ' ) is better than trying to accommodate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line seemed to work reasonably well in Germany and Japan after 1945 . ''
Alito went on to quote Bob Dylan : `` Is our country going to follow that course ?
To quote a popular Nobel laureate , 'It 's not dark yet , but it 's getting there . '
`` The justice described what he called a `` growing hostility to the expression of unfashionable views . ''
As an example , he cited the Supreme Court 's landmark shift on same-sex marriage .
`` You ca n't say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one woman , '' Alito said .
`` Until very recently , that 's what the vast majority of Americans thought .
Now it 's considered bigotry . ''
Protecting freedom of speech will be one of the Supreme Court 's greatest challenges , Alito said .
`` Although that freedom is falling out of favor in some circles , we need to do whatever we can to prevent it from becoming a second-tier constitutional right . ''
Alito also called out a group of Democratic senators who weighed in on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had attempted to bully the Supreme Court .
The group filed an amicus brief calling the court `` a sick institution '' that might need to be restructured .
Alito said he viewed it as `` an affront to the Constitution and the rule of law . ''

Justice Alito: Pandemic Has Brought 'Unimaginable Restrictions' On Freedoms
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says the COVID-19 pandemic has brought "previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty," warning of an important shift in the views of essential rights on several fronts, from religious freedom to free speech.
Alito's remarks came Thursday in a keynote speech at the Federalist Society's annual National Lawyers Convention, which is being held virtually this week. The event's theme is to examine how the coronavirus is affecting the rule of law.
The COVID-19 crisis has "highlighted constitutional fault lines," Alito said.
He cautioned that his statements shouldn't be taken as a judgment on whether numerous coronavirus restrictions reflect good public policy.
"All that I'm saying is this, and I think it is an indisputable statement of fact," the justice said. "We have never before seen restrictions as severe, extensive and prolonged as those experienced for most of 2020."
YouTube
"Think of all the live events that would otherwise be protected by the right to freedom of speech," from lectures and meetings to religious services, Alito said. He also noted that the pandemic has affected access to the courts and the constitutional right to a speedy trial.
"The COVID crisis has served as a sort of constitutional stress test," Alito said. "And in doing so, it has highlighted disturbing trends that were already present before the virus struck."
Shifting attitudes
The Supreme Court justice then ran down a list of examples that, in his view, reflect shifting attitudes toward long-held rights in the United States.
First on the list was what Alito called "the dominance of lawmaking by executive fiat rather than legislation" – actions that he said range from agencies' broad use of regulatory power to the use of executive discretion to impose sweeping restrictions in the name of fighting a pandemic.
Alito later cited a legal case in Nevada, saying the governor's emergency orders in that state have given leeway and support to casinos hosting gamblers at up to 50% capacity while forcing houses of worship to cap their attendance at 50 people.
"Take a quick look at the Constitution," Alito said. "You will see the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, which protects religious liberty. You will not find a craps clause or a blackjack clause or a slot machine clause."
"It pains me to say this, but in certain quarters, religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored right," Alito said. He ran through several religion-related Supreme Court rulings, including the Little Sisters of the Poor (over providing birth control to employees) to Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado (over the refusal to make a wedding cake for a gay couple).
Alito made a direct connection between America's ongoing "culture wars" and the pandemic crisis, citing a 2016 blog entry by Harvard Law School professor Mark Tushnet.
"He candidly wrote, quote, The culture wars are over; they lost, we won," Alito said.
He went on to quote from Tushnet's much-discussed stance that "[m]y own judgment is that taking a hard line ('You lost, live with it') is better than trying to accommodate the losers. ... And taking a hard line seemed to work reasonably well in Germany and Japan after 1945."
Alito went on to quote Bob Dylan: "Is our country going to follow that course? To quote a popular Nobel laureate, 'It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.' "
'Hostility to ... unfashionable views'
The justice described what he called a "growing hostility to the expression of unfashionable views." As an example, he cited the Supreme Court's landmark shift on same-sex marriage.
"You can't say that marriage is a union between one man and one woman," Alito said. "Until very recently, that's what the vast majority of Americans thought. Now it's considered bigotry."
Protecting freedom of speech will be one of the Supreme Court's greatest challenges, Alito said.
"Although that freedom is falling out of favor in some circles, we need to do whatever we can to prevent it from becoming a second-tier constitutional right."
Alito also called out a group of Democratic senators who weighed in on a gun-rights case in New York, saying they had attempted to bully the Supreme Court. The group filed an amicus brief calling the court "a sick institution" that might need to be restructured. Alito said he viewed it as "an affront to the Constitution and the rule of law."


npr--2020-11-13--Cities And States Are Imposing New COVID-19 Restrictions. Experts Say It's Not Enough

Cities And States Are Imposing New COVID-19 Restrictions .
Experts Say It 's Not Enough Coronavirus cases are surging across the U.S. , prompting many state and local leaders to impose new restrictions .
But some experts say these efforts may be too little , too late — like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound .
The virus is spreading unchecked through communities in nearly every state , and new cases topped 150,000 for the first time on Friday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The U.S. is expected to continue breaking records as temperatures drop , bringing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a very daunting problem , to control the numbers of cases that we 're seeing right now with these kinds of minor efforts , '' said Andrew Pekosz , a professor of microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University .
The new restrictions have sprung up rapidly in recent weeks .
For example , Massachusetts imposed a statewide curfew .
Indoor operations for restaurants are not allowed in many counties in California and Connecticut , and part of Montana prohibits indoor dining after 10 p.m. , while New York is limiting indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago is asking residents not to have guests in their homes and cancel Thanksgiving celebrations .
The Denver area is under curfew overnight with few exceptions .
Local authorities are trying to avoid imposing a stay-at-home order , even though they have said cases are `` substantially above '' rates that would merit one .
`` The restrictions might seem uncomfortable , but we believe that they are one of our last best hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community without the necessity of Adams County moving to the Stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring , '' said Dr. John Douglas Jr. , executive director of the Denver area 's health department .
Pekosz , who has studied emerging viruses for more than 20 years , said these are steps in the right direction .
But he questioned whether these minor changes will be enough to control the virus .
He said there would be two basic strategies that would be effective — and we 're seeing neither at this point .
Coronavirus restrictions , he said , `` either have to be incredibly widespread — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to see this downtick — or we have to go to more strict measures that target the events that we think are driving the spread of cases right now . ''
Thanksgiving , one of the busiest travel periods of the year , could exacerbate the spread of the virus .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is projecting 260,000 to 282,000 deaths in the U.S. by Dec. 5 .
Experts are also looking with concern to the rest of the upcoming holiday season .
The country is in unfamiliar territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director and co-founder of the Centers for Civic Impact at Johns Hopkins , is hoping to aid leaders in combating the virus .
She has been collecting data and crunching numbers to help cities , states and federal agencies make informed policy decisions .
It 's not just the complacency of individuals driving the death toll higher and higher , Blauer said .
Unfettered movement between cities and states — and conflicting messages and guidelines from leaders — fueled the rising case counts .
`` If there is n't something that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or national level , you really are not going to realize the kind of gains that you need to see in order to actually stop what 's happening right now , '' she said .
`` We are in a full upward swing that requires like a pretty comprehensive approach , '' Blauer added , saying she does n't expect that before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in .
`` The sad part about it is we 're not going to get that at least until January , which means that a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' However , neither Blauer nor Pekosz said they believe the U.S. has to revert back to a lockdown status to stop the spread .
In fact , they both said society can still turn the tide with limited government intervention .
The key is wearing a mask .
`` Not only does a mask protect you as the individual , it also protects all the people around you , '' Blauer said .
`` It is one of the most essential public health interventions that we have . ''
With cases still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly approaching , Blauer and Pekosz advise people to get creative with their festivities and do their best to avoid gatherings .
It has been a tough year , Blauer said , but this is not the time to lose sight of the big picture .
`` There is a light at the end of the tunnel .
We had tremendous news [ Monday ] around vaccine development , '' she said , with the company Pfizer reporting promising results from a clinical trial .
Even if the U.S. can avoid new lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` have to make some hard decisions in the short term so that we can all get to a place in the long term where we yearn to be . ''

Cities And States Are Imposing New COVID-19 Restrictions. Experts Say It's Not Enough
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joel Angel Juarez/Bloomberg via Getty Images Joel Angel Juarez/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Coronavirus cases are surging across the U.S., prompting many state and local leaders to impose new restrictions. But some experts say these efforts may be too little, too late — like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
The virus is spreading unchecked through communities in nearly every state, and new cases topped 150,000 for the first time on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. is expected to continue breaking records as temperatures drop, bringing people into closer quarters indoors.
"It's a very daunting problem, to control the numbers of cases that we're seeing right now with these kinds of minor efforts," said Andrew Pekosz, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University.
The new restrictions have sprung up rapidly in recent weeks. For example, Massachusetts imposed a statewide curfew. Indoor operations for restaurants are not allowed in many counties in California and Connecticut, and part of Montana prohibits indoor dining after 10 p.m., while New York is limiting indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 people. Chicago is asking residents not to have guests in their homes and cancel Thanksgiving celebrations.
The Denver area is under curfew overnight with few exceptions. Local authorities are trying to avoid imposing a stay-at-home order, even though they have said cases are "substantially above" rates that would merit one.
"The restrictions might seem uncomfortable, but we believe that they are one of our last best hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community without the necessity of Adams County moving to the Stay at Home orders that we had in the spring," said Dr. John Douglas Jr., executive director of the Denver area's health department.
toggle caption David Zalubowski/AP
Pekosz, who has studied emerging viruses for more than 20 years, said these are steps in the right direction. But he questioned whether these minor changes will be enough to control the virus.
He said there would be two basic strategies that would be effective — and we're seeing neither at this point. Coronavirus restrictions, he said, "either have to be incredibly widespread — everybody has to do it across the country to see this downtick — or we have to go to more strict measures that target the events that we think are driving the spread of cases right now."
Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel periods of the year, could exacerbate the spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is projecting 260,000 to 282,000 deaths in the U.S. by Dec. 5. Experts are also looking with concern to the rest of the upcoming holiday season.
The country is in unfamiliar territory, Pekosz said.
Beth Blauer, executive director and co-founder of the Centers for Civic Impact at Johns Hopkins, is hoping to aid leaders in combating the virus. She has been collecting data and crunching numbers to help cities, states and federal agencies make informed policy decisions.
It's not just the complacency of individuals driving the death toll higher and higher, Blauer said. Unfettered movement between cities and states — and conflicting messages and guidelines from leaders — fueled the rising case counts.
"If there isn't something that's more consistent, either at a regional or national level, you really are not going to realize the kind of gains that you need to see in order to actually stop what's happening right now," she said.
"We are in a full upward swing that requires like a pretty comprehensive approach," Blauer added, saying she doesn't expect that before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. "The sad part about it is we're not going to get that at least until January, which means that a lot of people are going to die."
However, neither Blauer nor Pekosz said they believe the U.S. has to revert back to a lockdown status to stop the spread. In fact, they both said society can still turn the tide with limited government intervention. The key is wearing a mask.
"Not only does a mask protect you as the individual, it also protects all the people around you," Blauer said. "It is one of the most essential public health interventions that we have."
With cases still on the rise and the holiday season rapidly approaching, Blauer and Pekosz advise people to get creative with their festivities and do their best to avoid gatherings. It has been a tough year, Blauer said, but this is not the time to lose sight of the big picture.
"There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We had tremendous news [Monday] around vaccine development," she said, with the company Pfizer reporting promising results from a clinical trial.
Even if the U.S. can avoid new lockdowns, Blauer added, leaders will likely "have to make some hard decisions in the short term so that we can all get to a place in the long term where we yearn to be."


npr--2020-11-13--The Pandemic Is Entering A Dangerous New Chapter. Here Are The Week's Big Takeaways

The Pandemic Is Entering A Dangerous New Chapter .
Here Are The Week 's Big Takeaways It 's hard to overstate how much the U.S. coronavirus outbreak has deteriorated this past week , with each day ushering in new , disturbing records .
On Thursday , there were more than 150,000 new infections .
It was only last week that the U.S. reached a record of more than 100,000 infections in a single day for the first time ever .
`` This is the worst the pandemic has been , '' says Dr. Preeti Malani , Chief Health Officer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicine at the University of Michigan .
Daily cases have gone up more than 70 % nationwide , since the beginning of November .
Another way to put it : one in every 378 people in the U.S. tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week .
`` You have the entire country seeing surges and you 're seeing it in rural areas and in urban areas .
It 's a reflection of the fact that COVID is so widespread . ''
While the week brought some promising news about a potential vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , as people spend more time indoors and travel for the holidays .
`` This is a really dangerous time , '' says Malani , who is also a fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America .
`` It 's not too late .
We can still turn things around , but it 's going to require a big effort . ''
Here are some of the big takeaways from the week in COVID-19 : 1 .
Hospitals have never been so full Across the country , more than 67,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to the spring and summer peaks , when hospitalizations leveled off at close to 60,000 patients .
Experts say there is no indication that the current trend will slow down .
In fact , quite the opposite .
Given the record-setting growth of cases , it 's likely that hospitalizations will pick up speed in the coming weeks , as some patients end up seriously ill .
The Midwest and the South ( including Texas ) account for more than two-thirds of all COVID-19 hospitalizations .
Earlier surges were concentrated in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hitting lots of states all at once .
From Utah to Wisconsin to Iowa , hospitals are warning that the situation is not sustainable if the volume of new patients does n't slow down .
An NPR analysis found at least 18 states have crossed into a dangerous zone where their hospitals could be at risk of reaching capacity , which could eventually require extreme measures like rationing care .
2 .
Parts of Midwest and the West are 'at the breaking point' For months , the virus has pummeled the Midwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsiding .
In fact , new daily cases have more than doubled over the past two weeks in that region , which is made up of 12 states .
Illinois has added far more cases over the past week than any other state — 80,000 , which is almost twice as many as California .
The Dakotas , Wisconsin , Iowa and Nebraska have the highest rate of infections per capita in the U.S. Wisconsin is now averaging more cases a day than New York City did at the height of its outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting new records in cases as the state 's governor says , `` We 're at the breaking point . ''
Parts of Texas , in particular El Paso , are in crisis and carting in mobile morgues because of rising deaths .
Montana is reeling after months of rising case counts , and doctors are warning the region is on the `` brink of disaster . ''
3 .
States tiptoe toward new restrictions , but gaping holes remain From Iowa to Connecticut , state leaders have started tightening restrictions and rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California have stopped all indoor dining , including San Francisco .
Minnesota has told restaurants to stop in-person service at 10 pm , saying that infections spread the most quickly later in the evening .
Indiana is putting caps on gathering sizes , limiting them to 25 people in the hardest hit counties ( though religious services are exempted ) .
Meanwhile , New York has put in place a nightly curfew for indoor dining , gyms and bars .
In Illinois , state leaders have warned a shutdown could be on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisory , although it 's unclear how that will be enforced .
Some states are taking things further : On Friday , New Mexico announced a stay-at-home order that will take effect next week and non-essential businesses will close in person service .
Oregon 's governor made a similar decision .
Public health experts caution that states need consistent policies , instead of a patchwork of restrictions that only chip away at certain high-risk settings .
As Anne Rimoin of UCLA told NPR recently : `` This is a hard moment where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cake and eat it too .
You want to have bars open , then you might not be able to have schools open .
You want to not wear a mask , you 're going to see more COVID . ''
Some state leaders that resisted mandating mask use are starting to bend , but experts say these new measures do n't go far enough .
Utah 's Republican governor issued a statewide mask mandate .
Iowa 's Governor Kim Reynolds has implemented a limited mask requirement , mostly aimed at large gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires people to wear a mask when they spend an average of 15 minutes together and are within six feet of each other .
And there are quite a few states that do n't have a sweeping statewide mask mandate .
And even those that do , compliance and enforcement are issues .
`` We need to make mask-wearing obligatory and put a lot of stress once again on not having group assemblies of any kind , '' says Dr. William Schaffner , medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths are now going up Since the summer , one of the few hopeful developments has been that fewer people are dying .
That trend is shifting now .
After averaging below 900 since Sept. 1 , average daily deaths broke above 1,000 this week .
Daily deaths have increased about 23 % over the past week .
The current average is still about half of what the U.S recorded during the spring peak , but public health experts caution that deaths lag behind hospitalizations by a few weeks .
The latest prediction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington predicts that more than 2,000 people will die each day from COVID-19 by mid January , and that the total U.S death toll will reach about 440,000 by March .
The modelers say that changes in behavior could still prevent that from happening .
6 .
Even East and West coast states , that had kept cases low , are heading into trouble Parts of the country that kept the virus in check for months are starting to see growth .
Look at the Northeast , where daily cases have close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Jersey and Massachusetts are still averaging about half as many cases a day as hard-hit states like Minnesota and Michigan .
On the opposite side of the country , in Washington state , cases have more than doubled since the beginning of November .
Oregon is not far behind .
California is a bit more mixed .
The per-capita rate remains lower than almost any other state , but there are pockets of alarming growth , particularly in the San Francisco Bay area and around San Diego .
7 .
Rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita infections The pandemic was slow in reaching rural America , but it 's hold has n't loosened since getting to those communities .
The rate of infections in the most rural counties remains higher than anywhere else and well-above the large urban areas .
Much of the stress on hospitals in parts of the Midwest like Michigan , Kansas and Utah comes from rural areas , which rely on transferring patients in need of care to the metro areas .
`` In Michigan , a lot of the new cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and from less populated areas , '' says Dr. Malani .
In the Dakotas , the numbers are nothing short of staggering .
One in 1,629 residents of South Dakota is hospitalized for COVID-19 , the highest per capita rates in the country .
The mortality rate in rural communities is also higher than urban areas .
Public health experts say there are similar patterns with other public health crises , like HIV .
It can take longer to reach rural America , but once there it 's harder to root out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities are getting hammered again More than 40 % of all COVID-19 deaths are linked to long-term care facilities .
These populations are exceptionally vulnerable because of their age and how easily an outbreak can balloon in congregate living situations .
There were horrifying examples of the coronavirus tearing through nursing homes earlier in the pandemic .
Now , the COVID Tracking Project finds that cases are again surging in these facilities , with more than 24,000 cases in these facilities last week .
Indiana , Ohio , Pennsylvania and Texas account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths this week .

The Pandemic Is Entering A Dangerous New Chapter. Here Are The Week's Big Takeaways
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg via Getty Images
It's hard to overstate how much the U.S. coronavirus outbreak has deteriorated this past week, with each day ushering in new, disturbing records.
On Thursday, there were more than 150,000 new infections. It was only last week that the U.S. reached a record of more than 100,000 infections in a single day for the first time ever.
"This is the worst the pandemic has been," says Dr. Preeti Malani, Chief Health Officer in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Michigan.
Daily cases have gone up more than 70% nationwide, since the beginning of November. Another way to put it: one in every 378 people in the U.S. tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week.
"You have the entire country seeing surges and you're seeing it in rural areas and in urban areas. It's a reflection of the fact that COVID is so widespread."
While the week brought some promising news about a potential vaccine, there are dark months ahead of the country, as people spend more time indoors and travel for the holidays.
"This is a really dangerous time," says Malani, who is also a fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "It's not too late. We can still turn things around, but it's going to require a big effort."
Here are some of the big takeaways from the week in COVID-19:
1. Hospitals have never been so full
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Across the country, more than 67,000 COVID-19 patients are now hospitalized. Compare that to the spring and summer peaks, when hospitalizations leveled off at close to 60,000 patients. Experts say there is no indication that the current trend will slow down. In fact, quite the opposite. Given the record-setting growth of cases, it's likely that hospitalizations will pick up speed in the coming weeks, as some patients end up seriously ill.
The Midwest and the South (including Texas) account for more than two-thirds of all COVID-19 hospitalizations. Earlier surges were concentrated in a few places, but this fall spike is hitting lots of states all at once. From Utah to Wisconsin to Iowa, hospitals are warning that the situation is not sustainable if the volume of new patients doesn't slow down. An NPR analysis found at least 18 states have crossed into a dangerous zone where their hospitals could be at risk of reaching capacity, which could eventually require extreme measures like rationing care.
2. Parts of Midwest and the West are 'at the breaking point'
For months, the virus has pummeled the Midwest. There are no signs that is subsiding. In fact, new daily cases have more than doubled over the past two weeks in that region, which is made up of 12 states. Illinois has added far more cases over the past week than any other state — 80,000, which is almost twice as many as California.
The Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska have the highest rate of infections per capita in the U.S. Wisconsin is now averaging more cases a day than New York City did at the height of its outbreak.
In the West, Utah is setting new records in cases as the state's governor says, "We're at the breaking point." Parts of Texas, in particular El Paso, are in crisis and carting in mobile morgues because of rising deaths. Montana is reeling after months of rising case counts, and doctors are warning the region is on the "brink of disaster."
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3. States tiptoe toward new restrictions, but gaping holes remain
From Iowa to Connecticut, state leaders have started tightening restrictions and rolling back their reopening plans. Parts of California have stopped all indoor dining, including San Francisco. Minnesota has told restaurants to stop in-person service at 10 pm, saying that infections spread the most quickly later in the evening.
Indiana is putting caps on gathering sizes, limiting them to 25 people in the hardest hit counties (though religious services are exempted). Meanwhile, New York has put in place a nightly curfew for indoor dining, gyms and bars. In Illinois, state leaders have warned a shutdown could be on the way; Chicago has issued a stay-at-home advisory, although it's unclear how that will be enforced.
Some states are taking things further: On Friday, New Mexico announced a stay-at-home order that will take effect next week and non-essential businesses will close in person service. Oregon's governor made a similar decision.
Public health experts caution that states need consistent policies, instead of a patchwork of restrictions that only chip away at certain high-risk settings. As Anne Rimoin of UCLA told NPR recently: "This is a hard moment where we don't necessarily get to have our cake and eat it too. You want to have bars open, then you might not be able to have schools open. You want to not wear a mask, you're going to see more COVID."
4. New mask mandates — kinda?
Some state leaders that resisted mandating mask use are starting to bend, but experts say these new measures don't go far enough.
Utah's Republican governor issued a statewide mask mandate. Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds has implemented a limited mask requirement, mostly aimed at large gatherings. Nebraska's new mandate also only requires people to wear a mask when they spend an average of 15 minutes together and are within six feet of each other.
And there are quite a few states that don't have a sweeping statewide mask mandate. And even those that do, compliance and enforcement are issues.
"We need to make mask-wearing obligatory and put a lot of stress once again on not having group assemblies of any kind," says Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
5. After a long plateau, deaths are now going up
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Since the summer, one of the few hopeful developments has been that fewer people are dying. That trend is shifting now. After averaging below 900 since Sept. 1, average daily deaths broke above 1,000 this week. Daily deaths have increased about 23% over the past week. The current average is still about half of what the U.S recorded during the spring peak, but public health experts caution that deaths lag behind hospitalizations by a few weeks.
The latest prediction from the modeling group at the University of Washington predicts that more than 2,000 people will die each day from COVID-19 by mid January, and that the total U.S death toll will reach about 440,000 by March. The modelers say that changes in behavior could still prevent that from happening.
6. Even East and West coast states, that had kept cases low, are heading into trouble
Parts of the country that kept the virus in check for months are starting to see growth. Look at the Northeast, where daily cases have close to doubled over the past two weeks. New Jersey and Massachusetts are still averaging about half as many cases a day as hard-hit states like Minnesota and Michigan.
On the opposite side of the country, in Washington state, cases have more than doubled since the beginning of November. Oregon is not far behind. California is a bit more mixed. The per-capita rate remains lower than almost any other state, but there are pockets of alarming growth, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area and around San Diego.
7. Rural and suburban counties outpace metro counties in per capita infections
The pandemic was slow in reaching rural America, but it's hold hasn't loosened since getting to those communities. The rate of infections in the most rural counties remains higher than anywhere else and well-above the large urban areas. Much of the stress on hospitals in parts of the Midwest like Michigan, Kansas and Utah comes from rural areas, which rely on transferring patients in need of care to the metro areas. "In Michigan, a lot of the new cases are coming from the west side of the state and from less populated areas,"says Dr. Malani.
In the Dakotas, the numbers are nothing short of staggering. One in 1,629 residents of South Dakota is hospitalized for COVID-19, the highest per capita rates in the country. The mortality rate in rural communities is also higher than urban areas. Public health experts say there are similar patterns with other public health crises, like HIV. It can take longer to reach rural America, but once there it's harder to root out the problem.
8. Long-term care facilities are getting hammered again
More than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths are linked to long-term care facilities. These populations are exceptionally vulnerable because of their age and how easily an outbreak can balloon in congregate living situations. There were horrifying examples of the coronavirus tearing through nursing homes earlier in the pandemic. Now, the COVID Tracking Project finds that cases are again surging in these facilities, with more than 24,000 cases in these facilities last week. Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas account for about one third of all nursing home deaths this week.


npr--2020-11-13--How The Navajo Nation Helped Flip Arizona For Democrats

How The Navajo Nation Helped Flip Arizona For Democrats For nearly 30 years , Arizona has been a steady and unassailable red .
The Republican stronghold last voted for a Democrat for president in 1996 when Bill Clinton was reelected .
Donald Trump won Arizona in 2016 by 4 points .
And yet this year , despite a tight contest , The Associated Press and other news outlets including CNN , The New York Times and The Washington Post , have all called Arizona for Joe Biden .
Along with the changing demographics of the state , some analysts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation in pushing the state blue .
According to Vox , 60 % to 90 % of the Navajo Nation 's roughly 67,000 eligible voters voted for Biden .
Biden is currently leading in Arizona by less than 12,000 votes .
Members of the Navajo Nation often face high barriers to voting .
Many people are not assigned a physical address and are unable to register to vote .
Tara Benally , field director for the Rural Utah Project , described to NPR 's Mary Louise Kelly about how the organization managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The project worked with Google to provide GPS coordinates in lieu of physical addresses .
Organizers also left thousands of Ziploc bags with voter registration forms on the doors of Native American voters to avoid the spread of COVID-19 .
Hoping to increase young Native American voter turnout , Allie Young , a 30 year-old member of the Navajo Nation , started `` Ride to the Polls '' in October .
According to The Washington Post , she led groups of voters , ranging in age from 18 to 30 , 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kayenta , Ariz. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the Navajo Nation .
In May , the tribe 's coronavirus infection rate became the highest in the country .
It lost many elders , who carried traditions .
The Navajo community is once again facing uncontrolled spread of the virus .
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told Fronteras that he looked forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration .
Reflecting on the Navajo people 's unprecedented turnout , he said : `` I appreciate meeting with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in Phoenix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialogue , and I think those types of events really inspired the Native American voters to come out to the polls and cast their votes for change . ''

How The Navajo Nation Helped Flip Arizona For Democrats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Larry Price/AP Larry Price/AP
For nearly 30 years, Arizona has been a steady and unassailable red.
The Republican stronghold last voted for a Democrat for president in 1996 when Bill Clinton was reelected. Donald Trump won Arizona in 2016 by 4 points. And yet this year, despite a tight contest, The Associated Press and other news outlets including CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post, have all called Arizona for Joe Biden.
Along with the changing demographics of the state, some analysts are pointing to the role of the Navajo Nation in pushing the state blue.
According to Vox, 60% to 90% of the Navajo Nation's roughly 67,000 eligible voters voted for Biden. Biden is currently leading in Arizona by less than 12,000 votes.
Members of the Navajo Nation often face high barriers to voting. Many people are not assigned a physical address and are unable to register to vote. Tara Benally, field director for the Rural Utah Project, described to NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about how the organization managed to register 4,000 Native American voters in Arizona.
The project worked with Google to provide GPS coordinates in lieu of physical addresses. Organizers also left thousands of Ziploc bags with voter registration forms on the doors of Native American voters to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
Hoping to increase young Native American voter turnout, Allie Young, a 30 year-old member of the Navajo Nation, started "Ride to the Polls" in October. According to The Washington Post, she led groups of voters, ranging in age from 18 to 30, 10 miles on horseback to reach polling stations in Kayenta, Ariz.
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the Navajo Nation. In May, the tribe's coronavirus infection rate became the highest in the country. It lost many elders, who carried traditions. The Navajo community is once again facing uncontrolled spread of the virus.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez told Fronteras that he looked forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration.
Reflecting on the Navajo people's unprecedented turnout, he said: "I appreciate meeting with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in Phoenix. ... [We had] a dialogue, and I think those types of events really inspired the Native American voters to come out to the polls and cast their votes for change."


npr--2020-11-13--With Biden Ahead, Georgia Begins Hand Recount Of Nearly 5 Million Ballots

With Biden Ahead , Georgia Begins Hand Recount Of Nearly 5 Million Ballots Amid a myriad unsubstantiated claims of fraud made by President Trump and his allies in Georgia 's presidential vote , counties across the state have begun the task of counting nearly 5 million ballots by hand .
Election workers taking part in the statewide audit face a Wednesday night deadline to complete their count .
It 's the first time such an audit has been done in Georgia .
Janine Eveler is elections director in Cobb County , where more than 393,000 ballots have to be counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers will be counting through the weekend and they may add more staff , depending on how much progress is made .
`` We 're going to have to assess that .
We do n't want to be in a hurry and a rush because we want a very methodical process , '' Eveler said .
`` Which is why we spent so much time explaining to the folks , because they 've never done it before . ''
Trump and Joe Biden are separated by just 14,000 votes in Georgia , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she expects a slightly different number to come out of the audit .
`` I 'm sure it will change because people doing a hand count , there 's more reason to think they will make human error , '' Eveler said .
`` That 's one thing that machines are really good at , is counting .
So , we 'll see what we end up getting .
I do n't think it will be large numbers . ''
Biden 's apparent victory in the state , the first for a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the long-dominant Georgia GOP .
Top Republicans , including Trump and both of the state 's Republican senators , are baselessly accusing Democrats of perpetrating election fraud , a claim Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and local election officials of both parties have rejected .
Cobb County started the process Friday morning with dozens of workers spread out at tables inside of an exhibit hall , sorting ballots into bins featuring the names of the presidential candidates .
Approved poll watchers stood close by and looked over the shoulders of workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of members of the general public stood behind caution tape at the edge of the room .
Raffensperger said Wednesday the risk-limiting audit would normally require only a sample of the ballots be hand counted .
But because the margin is so slim – 14,000 votes out of nearly 5 million cast — a full hand count was required .
`` This race has national significance , national importance , we get that , we understand that , '' Raffensperger said .
`` At the end of the day , when we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question : exactly what was the final margin in this race . ''
Counties are stuck footing the cost of the statewide audit , although the state said Thursday it was looking into using federal money from the Help America Vote Act to help share the costs with counties .
Todd Edwards of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia , a group that represents Georgia counties , gives the state credit for purchasing much of the new voting equipment used for the first time this year .
`` I 'm sure if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide more funding , they will ; however , we know that it 's going to be a tough budget year for them , so we 'll just continue to work , remain encouraged and do the best we can , '' Edwards said .
Fulton and DeKalb counties are expected to begin the ballot-counting process on Saturday .
The state is expected to certify the election late next week after the audit is done .

With Biden Ahead, Georgia Begins Hand Recount Of Nearly 5 Million Ballots
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emil Moffatt/WABE Emil Moffatt/WABE
Amid a myriad unsubstantiated claims of fraud made by President Trump and his allies in Georgia's presidential vote, counties across the state have begun the task of counting nearly 5 million ballots by hand.
Election workers taking part in the statewide audit face a Wednesday night deadline to complete their count. It's the first time such an audit has been done in Georgia.
Janine Eveler is elections director in Cobb County, where more than 393,000 ballots have to be counted by hand. She said dozens of workers will be counting through the weekend and they may add more staff, depending on how much progress is made.
"We're going to have to assess that. We don't want to be in a hurry and a rush because we want a very methodical process," Eveler said. "Which is why we spent so much time explaining to the folks, because they've never done it before."
Trump and Joe Biden are separated by just 14,000 votes in Georgia, with Biden in the lead. Eveler said she expects a slightly different number to come out of the audit.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emil Moffatt/WABE Emil Moffatt/WABE
"I'm sure it will change because people doing a hand count, there's more reason to think they will make human error," Eveler said. "That's one thing that machines are really good at, is counting. So, we'll see what we end up getting. I don't think it will be large numbers."
Biden's apparent victory in the state, the first for a Democrat since 1992, was a major blow to the long-dominant Georgia GOP.
Top Republicans, including Trump and both of the state's Republican senators, are baselessly accusing Democrats of perpetrating election fraud, a claim Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and local election officials of both parties have rejected.
Cobb County started the process Friday morning with dozens of workers spread out at tables inside of an exhibit hall, sorting ballots into bins featuring the names of the presidential candidates. Approved poll watchers stood close by and looked over the shoulders of workers as they sorted ballots. A handful of members of the general public stood behind caution tape at the edge of the room.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB Grant Blankenship/GPB
Raffensperger said Wednesday the risk-limiting audit would normally require only a sample of the ballots be hand counted. But because the margin is so slim – 14,000 votes out of nearly 5 million cast — a full hand count was required.
"This race has national significance, national importance, we get that, we understand that," Raffensperger said. "At the end of the day, when we do a hand count we can answer the question: exactly what was the final margin in this race."
Counties are stuck footing the cost of the statewide audit, although the state said Thursday it was looking into using federal money from the Help America Vote Act to help share the costs with counties.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB Grant Blankenship/GPB
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB Grant Blankenship/GPB
Todd Edwards of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, a group that represents Georgia counties, gives the state credit for purchasing much of the new voting equipment used for the first time this year.
"I'm sure if there's a possibility for the state to provide more funding, they will; however, we know that it's going to be a tough budget year for them, so we'll just continue to work, remain encouraged and do the best we can," Edwards said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB Grant Blankenship/GPB
Enlarge this image toggle caption Grant Blankenship/GPB Grant Blankenship/GPB
Fulton and DeKalb counties are expected to begin the ballot-counting process on Saturday.
The state is expected to certify the election late next week after the audit is done.
WABE senior editor Susanna Capelouto contributed to this report.


npr--2020-11-13--Philadelphia's Suburbs Helped Deliver Crucial Pennsylvania For Biden

President Trump 's surrogates spent Saturday at a landscaping firm in northeast Philadelphia , making unsubstantiated claims of rampant voter fraud in the city .
But it was Philadelphia 's suburbs and their continued shift to Democrats that helped seal Pennsylvania — and the election — for President-elect Joe Biden .
The four counties that make up the city 's suburbs — Chester , Delaware , Montgomery and Bucks — saw a surge this year in both the size of the electorate and support for the Democratic presidential candidate .
That surge came , at least in part , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives in Upper Dublin in Montgomery County and teaches English at Upper Moreland High School , the school that soon-to-be first lady Jill Biden once attended .
He always considered himself a moderate Republican — until Trump came on the scene .
In 2016 , Ferrarello did n't vote for either major-party presidential candidate , instead writing in former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan as a protest vote .
But the real change , he said , came as he watched other Republicans rally behind Trump .
`` For me , I guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just genuflected at his altar , '' he said .
`` I remember that press conference where they had this long table , where every person who spoke talked about how wonderful Donald Trump was .
... [ I ] t was something you would see in North Korea . ''
In 2018 , Ferrarello voted for a full slate of Democrats .
He has since given up his Republican voter registration and cast his ballot this year for Biden .
He 's not ruling out voting for certain Republicans in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of them anymore .
`` I will never go back to that party , '' he said .
Ferrarello is n't alone in his shift .
The Philly suburbs have trended bluer for years .
But 2020 's increase in turnout and preference for Biden were striking .
`` People who were apolitical , or very , very nonpolitical , became just obsessed with getting rid of Trump .
I think the turnout was strictly a response to that , '' Frank Custer said .
He chairs Montgomery County Community College 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his career in local politics and ran , at different points , as a Democrat for county commissioner and state representative .
Custer said as the election approached , he was hearing similar things from a lot of people he knows in the Philly suburbs : The 2016 and 2020 elections felt different .
`` Many of those same people just did not like Hillary [ Clinton ] , '' he said .
`` They just did n't like her .
They probably did n't vote for Trump , but they may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2016 , Chester and Montgomery counties shifted to Democrats significantly .
This year , all four suburban counties moved further left .
In Bucks , Chester , Delaware and Montgomery counties combined , Biden topped Trump by more than 287,740 votes .
For comparison , Clinton defeated Trump by 188,353 votes in the four suburban counties .
Montgomery County had the second-biggest surge in voting of any county in Pennsylvania , with over 66,000 more votes cast in 2020 .
And Democrats captured the vast majority of those gains .
In Montgomery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes than Clinton did in 2016 .
By comparison , as of Friday morning , Biden 's overall lead in Pennsylvania stands at less than 60,000 votes .
Trump won it by about 44,000 in 2016 .
In addition , Chester County swung 7.6 percentage points in Biden 's favor , with 39,000 more Democratic voters than in 2016 .
It was n't long ago that Chester was a reliably Republican county .
One of Biden 's newly captured voters is Jim Hagan , who lives in Chalfont in Bucks County .
Hagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemical industry job took him on a lot of international travel — and lately , he said , he has mourned what he sees as a loss of U.S. standing on the world stage .
Hagan voted for Trump four years ago .
But this year he could n't do it .
In particular , he thought Trump created too much `` vitriol '' and `` dropped the ball '' on the pandemic .
`` I was very dissatisfied with his performance , '' he said .
`` I find him to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not presidential at all .
...
He is an embarrassment when you talk to people overseas . ''
While the Philly suburbs powered Biden 's win , he also put up stronger results than Clinton elsewhere in the commonwealth .
Allegheny County , where Pittsburgh is , also saw a sharp increase in turnout and notable shift toward Biden .
Biden was born in Scranton , in Lackawanna County , and while the county did n't quite swing red four years ago , Trump closed the gap significantly .
In 2020 , Lackawanna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Farther south , deeply red Cumberland County west of Harrisburg saw a 7-point move to the left .
But while there is clear evidence that Biden energized voters in the suburbs and some other places , it was n't a wholesale repudiation of Trump and his policies .
Despite losing the state , Trump has , so far , earned over 372,000 more votes than in 2016 .
He increased his vote total in every county and his margin of victory in about half of the counties west of the Appalachian Mountains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 20,000 more votes for Trump than in 2016 .
And despite the claims from the president 's surrogates , Philadelphia County could see a notable decrease in support for the Democratic candidate .
Trump 's vote count has so far increased by almost 20,000 in the Democratic stronghold , while Biden has so far garnered about 3,700 less votes than Clinton did in 2016 .
Provisional ballots are still being counted in Philadelphia , but overall , it also appears the city 's turnout did n't shift much from 2020 to 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down ballot .
Political analysts had speculated that Democrats could flip at least one state legislative chamber away from longstanding GOP control , likely by ousting moderate Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs .
And Democratic strategists talked about making inroads in smaller suburbs , such as outside Harrisburg and Lancaster .
Yet this did not happen .
Instead , voters appear to have split their tickets at unusually high rates — voting for Biden but then Republicans down ballot .
Democrats ended up losing a net of three seats in the state House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat depending on provisional ballot results .
Two of the three Democratic candidates for major statewide offices — which had been held by all Democrats — also lost .
Pennsylvania 's congressional delegation , which is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats , remains unchanged despite several competitive races for GOP incumbents .
In one telling example , Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick , who represents the 1st Congressional District , which includes portions of Bucks and Montgomery counties , won reelection by a surprisingly large 13 percentage points .
`` People were kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a change election , '' said Ben Forstate , a political analyst based in western Pennsylvania .
`` And it was n't — for almost everybody besides Donald Trump . ''
These phenomena — higher turnout , increased suburban support for Biden , down-ballot Republicans outperforming predictions — are not unique to Pennsylvania .
These trends are cropping up across the nation this year .
All of this has left politicians across the country , on both sides of the aisle , with a question as they move into the post-Trump era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American elections ?
Montgomery County 's Custer , for one , does n't think so .
`` I do n't know if anything that happened in this election at the top of the ticket will carry over to '24 or beyond , '' he said .
`` I think in this case it was Trump , and Trump alone . ''

Philadelphia's Suburbs Helped Deliver Crucial Pennsylvania For Biden
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
President Trump's surrogates spent Saturday at a landscaping firm in northeast Philadelphia, making unsubstantiated claims of rampant voter fraud in the city.
But it was Philadelphia's suburbs and their continued shift to Democrats that helped seal Pennsylvania — and the election — for President-elect Joe Biden.
The four counties that make up the city's suburbs — Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks — saw a surge this year in both the size of the electorate and support for the Democratic presidential candidate.
That surge came, at least in part, from people such as Carmen Ferrarello.
Ferrarello lives in Upper Dublin in Montgomery County and teaches English at Upper Moreland High School, the school that soon-to-be first lady Jill Biden once attended. He always considered himself a moderate Republican — until Trump came on the scene.
In 2016, Ferrarello didn't vote for either major-party presidential candidate, instead writing in former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan as a protest vote. But the real change, he said, came as he watched other Republicans rally behind Trump.
"For me, I guess it was the fact that the party just genuflected at his altar," he said. "I remember that press conference where they had this long table, where every person who spoke talked about how wonderful Donald Trump was. ... [I]t was something you would see in North Korea."
In 2018, Ferrarello voted for a full slate of Democrats. He has since given up his Republican voter registration and cast his ballot this year for Biden.
He's not ruling out voting for certain Republicans in the future, but he doesn't consider himself one of them anymore.
"I will never go back to that party," he said.
Ferrarello isn't alone in his shift. The Philly suburbs have trended bluer for years. But 2020's increase in turnout and preference for Biden were striking.
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"People who were apolitical, or very, very nonpolitical, became just obsessed with getting rid of Trump. I think the turnout was strictly a response to that," Frank Custer said. He chairs Montgomery County Community College's board of trustees but spent much of his career in local politics and ran, at different points, as a Democrat for county commissioner and state representative.
Custer said as the election approached, he was hearing similar things from a lot of people he knows in the Philly suburbs: The 2016 and 2020 elections felt different.
"Many of those same people just did not like Hillary [Clinton]," he said. "They just didn't like her. They probably didn't vote for Trump, but they may not have gone out to vote."
In 2016, Chester and Montgomery counties shifted to Democrats significantly. This year, all four suburban counties moved further left.
In Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties combined, Biden topped Trump by more than 287,740 votes. For comparison, Clinton defeated Trump by 188,353 votes in the four suburban counties.
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Montgomery County had the second-biggest surge in voting of any county in Pennsylvania, with over 66,000 more votes cast in 2020. And Democrats captured the vast majority of those gains. In Montgomery alone, Biden received some 57,000 more votes than Clinton did in 2016.
By comparison, as of Friday morning, Biden's overall lead in Pennsylvania stands at less than 60,000 votes. Trump won it by about 44,000 in 2016.
In addition, Chester County swung 7.6 percentage points in Biden's favor, with 39,000 more Democratic voters than in 2016. It wasn't long ago that Chester was a reliably Republican county.
One of Biden's newly captured voters is Jim Hagan, who lives in Chalfont in Bucks County. Hagan is retired now, but his old chemical industry job took him on a lot of international travel — and lately, he said, he has mourned what he sees as a loss of U.S. standing on the world stage.
Hagan voted for Trump four years ago. But this year he couldn't do it. In particular, he thought Trump created too much "vitriol" and "dropped the ball" on the pandemic.
"I was very dissatisfied with his performance," he said. "I find him to be a bit of an outrageous person, not presidential at all. ... He is an embarrassment when you talk to people overseas."
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While the Philly suburbs powered Biden's win, he also put up stronger results than Clinton elsewhere in the commonwealth.
Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is, also saw a sharp increase in turnout and notable shift toward Biden.
Biden was born in Scranton, in Lackawanna County, and while the county didn't quite swing red four years ago, Trump closed the gap significantly. In 2020, Lackawanna saw a 5-point shift back toward Democrats. Farther south, deeply red Cumberland County west of Harrisburg saw a 7-point move to the left.
But while there is clear evidence that Biden energized voters in the suburbs and some other places, it wasn't a wholesale repudiation of Trump and his policies.
Despite losing the state, Trump has, so far, earned over 372,000 more votes than in 2016. He increased his vote total in every county and his margin of victory in about half of the counties west of the Appalachian Mountains. Montgomery and Bucks counties each saw about 20,000 more votes for Trump than in 2016.
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And despite the claims from the president's surrogates, Philadelphia County could see a notable decrease in support for the Democratic candidate. Trump's vote count has so far increased by almost 20,000 in the Democratic stronghold, while Biden has so far garnered about 3,700 less votes than Clinton did in 2016.
Provisional ballots are still being counted in Philadelphia, but overall, it also appears the city's turnout didn't shift much from 2020 to 2016.
Down-ballot ticket-splitting
Republicans also had some surprising successes down ballot.
Political analysts had speculated that Democrats could flip at least one state legislative chamber away from longstanding GOP control, likely by ousting moderate Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs. And Democratic strategists talked about making inroads in smaller suburbs, such as outside Harrisburg and Lancaster.
Yet this did not happen. Instead, voters appear to have split their tickets at unusually high rates — voting for Biden but then Republicans down ballot.
Democrats ended up losing a net of three seats in the state House — and could lose a state Senate seat depending on provisional ballot results. Two of the three Democratic candidates for major statewide offices — which had been held by all Democrats — also lost.
Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, which is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, remains unchanged despite several competitive races for GOP incumbents.
In one telling example, Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the 1st Congressional District, which includes portions of Bucks and Montgomery counties, won reelection by a surprisingly large 13 percentage points.
"People were kind of thinking that this was going to be a change election," said Ben Forstate, a political analyst based in western Pennsylvania. "And it wasn't — for almost everybody besides Donald Trump."
These phenomena — higher turnout, increased suburban support for Biden, down-ballot Republicans outperforming predictions — are not unique to Pennsylvania. These trends are cropping up across the nation this year.
All of this has left politicians across the country, on both sides of the aisle, with a question as they move into the post-Trump era. Is this the new normal in American elections?
Montgomery County's Custer, for one, doesn't think so.
"I don't know if anything that happened in this election at the top of the ticket will carry over to '24 or beyond," he said. "I think in this case it was Trump, and Trump alone."
WHYY’s Laura Benshoff contributed to this report.


npr--2020-11-13--Coronavirus Found In Minks In Greece

Coronavirus Found In Minks In Greece

Mink at two farms in northern Greece have been found to have the coronavirus , according to an official in the country 's agriculture ministry .
The strain found in the minks is the same one found in humans , the official said , according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini .
The breeder at one of them also tested positive for the virus .
The 2,500 minks on one farm have since been culled , the newspaper reported the agriculture ministry official as saying , after samples from the animals there tested positive for the virus .
Testing of workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found 10 positive cases , the newspaper said .
The trade in mink fur is an important source of income for the area .
Danish authorities have announced plans to kill Denmark 's entire population of up to 17 million minks after discovering that some of the animals carry a mutation of the virus that passes to humans .
The World Health Organization said this month that 12 people have been found to have the mutated virus strain so far in Denmark .
The primary mink fur-selling cooperative in Denmark said Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually shut down over the next two to three years .
`` Unfortunately , even the strongest community can not survive the consequences of the decisions that have now been made , '' Kopenhagen Fur CEO Jesper Lauge said in a statement .
Joanna Kakissis contributed to this report from Greece .

Coronavirus Found In Minks In Greece
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ole Jensen/Getty Images Ole Jensen/Getty Images
Mink at two farms in northern Greece have been found to have the coronavirus, according to an official in the country's agriculture ministry.
The strain found in the minks is the same one found in humans, the official said, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. The breeder at one of them also tested positive for the virus.
The 2,500 minks on one farm have since been culled, the newspaper reported the agriculture ministry official as saying, after samples from the animals there tested positive for the virus.
Testing of workers at mink farms in the Kastoria area found 10 positive cases, the newspaper said. The trade in mink fur is an important source of income for the area.
Danish authorities have announced plans to kill Denmark's entire population of up to 17 million minks after discovering that some of the animals carry a mutation of the virus that passes to humans.
The World Health Organization said this month that 12 people have been found to have the mutated virus strain so far in Denmark.
The primary mink fur-selling cooperative in Denmark said Thursday that it will "gradually downsize" and eventually shut down over the next two to three years. "Unfortunately, even the strongest community cannot survive the consequences of the decisions that have now been made," Kopenhagen Fur CEO Jesper Lauge said in a statement.
Joanna Kakissis contributed to this report from Greece.


npr--2020-11-14--The Rocky Transition Of Power Between Biden And Trump May Affect National Security

The Rocky Transition Of Power Between Biden And Trump May Affect National Security NPR 's Scott Simon speaks with Representative @ @ @ @ @ security implications of a delayed transfer of power between the Biden-Harris campaign and the Trump @ @

The Rocky Transition Of Power Between Biden And Trump May Affect National Security
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi about the national security implications of a delayed transfer of power between the Biden-Harris campaign and the Trump administration.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
No concession. A week after the presidential election was called, President Trump still refuses to recognize Joe Biden as president-elect and questions the legitimacy of the election without citing any proof. The president has shaken up the nation's national security leadership by firing Defense Secretary Mark Esper, forcing out other senior officials.
Congressman Roger Krishnamoorthi is a Democrat who represents the 8th District of Illinois and serves on the House Intelligence Committee. Representative, welcome back. Thanks very much for being with us.
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI: Hey. Good morning, Scott.
SIMON: What concerns you most in this period with no discernible transition?
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, you know, the 9/11 Commission specifically cited a delayed transition between Bill Clinton and George Bush in impairing the George W. Bush administration's handling of the developing 9/11 threat. And we don't want anything close to that from happening here. But we're basically inviting our adversaries to target us during this transition period. And this chaos and confusion that the president is creating really hurts our ability to protect ourselves.
SIMON: Let me ask you about something that's been in reports recently, specifically The New York Times. President Trump has openly been eager to get the last U.S. soldiers home from Afghanistan. As I don't have to tell you, there's support on the left for that as well as the right - and apparently has put in some leadership at the at the Pentagon who he feels can do that. Nothing has been announced yet. Would you support that?
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Potentially. But it has to be done in an orderly fashion. Remember that in Afghanistan, we do have troops who are performing a counterterrorism mission, especially with regard to areas surrounding Afghanistan as well, such as in Syria. But the bigger issue, Scott, is, you know, when you, for instance, threaten to remove Gina Haspel, CIA director...
SIMON: Head of the CIA, yeah.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: ...Yeah - for a political reason. That's exactly what, you know, one of the 70 terrorist groups who are targeting the United States, including six versions of ISIS alone, want, not to mention the Iranians, the Chinese, the North Koreans or even Russians. They are looking for opportunities of exploiting weaknesses. And I would just ask our, you know, good friends on the other side of the aisle to speak up and demand that the president transition properly so that Joe Biden and his team can prepare for these and other threats.
SIMON: Based on your experience in the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman, what is President Biden missing by not having these daily security briefings?
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, he's not...
SIMON: I mean, he's a pretty well-informed guy.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Right. And he has an excellent group of people advising him every day on these issues, including folks on the transition team. But by not getting, for instance, all the information necessary to get up to speed on, for instance, current covert operations or developing threats, it just takes that much more time for them to understand the threat posture that they're going to encounter when they come into office.
But there's another issue, too, Scott, which is they're not able to get expedited security clearances for all the people that they want to appoint and get installed in the national security apparatus and various high-level positions. And that was specifically, by the way, one of the issues that the 9/11 Commission had cited in saying that the George W. Bush administration was not as prepared as it could have been in preparing for the 9/11 attacks.
SIMON: In the half a minute we have left, any concerns about classified information during this interim period?
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Yes. You know, I think that the president wants to declassify all kinds of intelligence for political reasons. And obviously Christopher Wray and Gina Haspel, according to published reports, you know, object to that because it would expose sources and methods which would further undermine our security posture. Again, this is really - we have to put our national security above politics now more than ever.
SIMON: Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, thanks so much.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-14--Trump Supporters To Gather For 'Million MAGA March' In Washington DC

Trump Supporters To Gather For 'Million MAGA March ' In Washington DC Audio will be available later today .
Groups @ @ @ @ @ converge on Washington DC today for a rally billed as the `` Million MAGA March @ @ @ @ @ how many people will actually turn out .

Trump Supporters To Gather For 'Million MAGA March' In Washington DC
Groups supporting President Trump plan to converge on Washington DC today for a rally billed as the "Million MAGA March." It's unclear how many people will actually turn out.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Supporters of President Trump are rallying in Washington, D.C., today. They call the event the Million MAGA March. Hundreds of people have gathered near the White House to protest the presidential election results and supporting the president's baseless claims that he, and not Joe Biden, has won that election. NPR's Hannah Allam is covering the rally. Hannah, thanks so much for being with us.
HANNAH ALLAM, BYLINE: Hi there.
SIMON: What are you seeing? Who's there? What are they saying?
ALLAM: Yeah. Well, I'm here in Freedom Plaza, just a few blocks from the White House. And I don't know - the mic - if you'll be able to hear the ruckus (ph). It is - there's a few hundred people here, all supporters of President Trump under a variety of different banners. I guess sort of the umbrella, sort of unifying message is the stop the steal mantra, the belief that the election was rigged.
SIMON: Hannah.
ALLAM: Yes.
SIMON: OK, we're finding it a little hard to hear you. Just to make certain, if you can, to talk directly into the speaker, if you can.
ALLAM: Sure, sure.
SIMON: Sorry to give a professional advice like that.
ALLAM: (Laughter) Well, it's a wild day.
SIMON: Yeah.
ALLAM: It's a...
SIMON: Do you see any counterprotesters?
ALLAM: No, not where I am. I know that there are planned counterprotests. But really, where I am, this is just Trump supporters. I mean, law enforcement are stationed here. There are several streets closed off. I mean, you know, the goal is to keep those sort of groups, you know, separate and so they're - you know, lessen the potential for a clash. So, no, right where I am, it's pretty festive. It's definitely all sort of Trump supporters, a mix of kind of, you know, ordinary families and - you know, bringing their children, their flags, et cetera.
SIMON: Yeah.
ALLAM: And then you do have some fringe groups. You know, the Proud Boys are here. I saw some white nationalists, some Confederate flags, so - and, you know, QAnon slogans as well - the conspiracy theory QAnon. So it is - it's kind of the same mix that we've seen at lockdown protests throughout this summer. And, you know, they activated those same channels and are getting people out for this.
SIMON: What do you hear from people?
ALLAM: It really is sort of the overarching, we want all the votes counted, the - sort of the rejection of the results, the rejection of the, you know, the idea that Biden won the election. So that's the main message. And then there - you know, there's a variety, like I said, of sort of fringe issues and groups here as well.
SIMON: Hannah, and I have to ask 'cause there was some video showing caravans of some people coming for the rally who seem to be bearing arms, and I don't mean rolling up their sleeves, but obviously weapons, have you seen anything like that?
ALLAM: Right.
SIMON: That would be against the law in D.C. in any case.
ALLAM: That's right. And, I mean, D.C. is a hard place for that kind of rally that we've seen in other cities. This is not their turf. You know, they're not allowed to carry guns. And so, no, it's a very peaceful scene. And I think, you know, there are some groups that are coming sort of kitted up with body armor and things like that, but no. For now, it's peaceful. People are still coming.
SIMON: Thank you very much, Hannah Allam, covering the Million MAGA March.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-14--States Announce New Mandates As COVID-19 Cases Rise Sharply In The U.S.

States Announce New Mandates As COVID-19 Cases Rise Sharply In The U.S .
Audio will be available later today .
@ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus across the U.S. leads to a fresh round of stay-at-home guidance and @ @ @ @ @ are urging families not to gather for the holidays .

States Announce New Mandates As COVID-19 Cases Rise Sharply In The U.S.
A rapid, frightening spread of the coronavirus across the U.S. leads to a fresh round of stay-at-home guidance and mask mandates. Health officials are urging families not to gather for the holidays.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The numbers are staggering. On Friday, nearly 185,000 new coronavirus infections were confirmed, and 1,431 Americans died of that virus the same day. The reach of the virus is horrific - coast to coast, in rural and urban communities. Will Stone covers the pandemic for NPR. Will, thanks for being with us.
WILL STONE, BYLINE: Of course, Scott.
SIMON: We know the numbers are staggering. Let's hear from you about the scale.
STONE: Yeah. Even for those of us who watch these numbers daily, it's been a shocking week. It took the U.S. a long time to reach 100,000 cases in a single day. That just happened last week. And now we're already averaging about 140,000 cases a day. The speed it's rising, it doesn't seem like 200,000 is that far off. And just to put that in perspective, that would be like everybody in Salt Lake City getting infected every day. So cases have risen close to 80% nationwide since the beginning of the month. And now the number of people in the hospital for COVID is close to 70,000, and that's well above the peak in the spring and summer.
SIMON: What are the options for response that experts see? Is it going to require more than mask-wearing and social distancing?
STONE: If everyone did that, it would still go a long way. Modelers at the University of Washington estimate mask use is close to 70%. And if it bumped up to 95%, that could save nearly 70,000 lives by March. Remember; there are still quite a few states without a universal mask mandate. But the reality is, states may also need to shut down or at least put in place more restrictions.
SIMON: You mentioned more restrictions, but does that suggest full lockdowns like we saw in the spring?
STONE: Well, no one wants to see those sweeping shutdowns of the economy again - with the impact on jobs, on people's health, the list goes on. So states are hoping there is a middle ground, but they're running out of options. New Mexico just did a stay-at-home order. Here's the governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, pleading with people who might be infected to take it seriously.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM: You may not - you shall not - do not go to work in an essential business. People are going to work. You are spreading this virus, and it's out of control.
STONE: And more states are moving in this direction. Oregon has a partial lockdown. And in the northeast, parts of California, restaurants and other businesses are closing.
SIMON: And based on our experience of several months now, does that help bring the situation under control?
STONE: The people I've spoken to hope it will at least slow the spread to relieve the pressure on hospitals in the short term. But the fact is, the U.S. doesn't have a coordinated national strategy, so states are really backed into a corner. This is what Dr. Michael Mina at Harvard sees playing out as we head further into the winter.
MICHAEL MINA: We're going to see sputtering of shutdowns in the same way that we kind of saw only haphazard shutdowns in March, April and May. And my concern is that this is going to lead to the worst of all options, where we're going to have massive economic destruction and the virus is barely going to be dented at a national level.
STONE: So Mina has advocated for a nationwide rapid testing program, where people can easily check their status, but that hasn't come to pass. And he says a national lockdown for four to six weeks could help pump the brakes, but again, the federal government needs to be involved to make it work. And right now, hospitals are in crisis and in many states say they're nearing capacity.
SIMON: Reporter Will Stone, thanks very much.
STONE: Thank you.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-14--Opinion: A New Phase Of Uncertainty

Opinion: A New Phase Of Uncertainty

We do n't know when this will all be over .
Those may be the hardest words to hear .
We spend most of our lives planning around calendars and clocks , schedules , seasons , schooldays , holidays , ETAs , projections and informed predictions .
I try not to compare any other tests in life to war .
But because I 've covered wars and conflicts , I think I recognize what many people in places like Sarajevo , Asmara , or Afghanistan always told me : it is not just the danger , but the uncertainty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardship , loss , and peril , will be over .
The coronavirus is now much more widespread than it was in March , when many of us began to count the weeks ; which have become months ; and now will clearly stretch into next year .
Scientists have learned a lot about the virus , and refined treatments .
But words we 've sometimes used to try to get hold of what 's happening may have put wrong metaphors into our minds .
Wave is not quite right , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall , like an ocean wave .
Surge is not quite right because at this point , more than eight months into the pandemic , the rise in cases is not sudden , but continuous .
Many places , countries and states , that thought they had seen the worst , done the best , and moved on are again overwhelmed with new cases , and more losses .
Each week , we learn more about people who no longer test positive for the virus but continue to struggle with prolonged symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endless fatigue , and a kind of brain fog .
It is hard to have patience when we know , every day , of so many precious lives , lost too soon .
What may give glimpses of hope , though , is the work of people in so many places who mask up each day to keep life going : health care workers , bus and truck drivers , people who work in fields and stores , teachers and construction crews , and those who deep-clean the places where others work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
We may not be able to defeat , overwhelm , or kick the coronavirus in the backside - more metaphors that now fall flat .
But each day , we can help each other , and rise above fatigue and despair .
We can wear masks , stay a social distance apart , avoid big gatherings , look for chances to make each other laugh , and help each other keep going , until that time when the masks we wear today can become souvenirs , instead of survival gear .

Opinion: A New Phase Of Uncertainty
Enlarge this image toggle caption Boston Globe via Getty Images Boston Globe via Getty Images
We don't know when this will all be over. Those may be the hardest words to hear.
We spend most of our lives planning around calendars and clocks, schedules, seasons, schooldays, holidays, ETAs, projections and informed predictions.
I try not to compare any other tests in life to war. But because I've covered wars and conflicts, I think I recognize what many people in places like Sarajevo, Asmara, or Afghanistan always told me: it is not just the danger, but the uncertainty of not knowing when a crisis, the hardship, loss, and peril, will be over.
The coronavirus is now much more widespread than it was in March, when many of us began to count the weeks; which have become months; and now will clearly stretch into next year. Scientists have learned a lot about the virus, and refined treatments. But words we've sometimes used to try to get hold of what's happening may have put wrong metaphors into our minds. Wave is not quite right, because the coronavirus won't swell, then just fall, like an ocean wave. Surge is not quite right because at this point, more than eight months into the pandemic, the rise in cases is not sudden, but continuous.
Many places, countries and states, that thought they had seen the worst, done the best, and moved on are again overwhelmed with new cases, and more losses. Each week, we learn more about people who no longer test positive for the virus but continue to struggle with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19, including shortness of breath, endless fatigue, and a kind of brain fog.
It is hard to have patience when we know, every day, of so many precious lives lost too soon. What may give glimpses of hope, though, is the work of people in so many places who mask up each day to keep life going: health care workers, bus and truck drivers, people who work in fields and stores, teachers and construction crews, and those who deep-clean the places where others work, including the very studio I'm in now.
We may not be able to defeat, overwhelm, or kick the coronavirus in the backside — more metaphors that now fall flat. But each day, we can help each other, and rise above fatigue and despair. We can wear masks, stay a social distance apart, avoid big gatherings, look for chances to make each other laugh, and help each other keep going, until that time when the masks we wear today can become souvenirs, instead of survival gear.


npr--2020-11-14--Joe Biden's Options To Combat Climate Change

NPR 's Scott Simon speaks with former Environmental Protection Agency administrator , Gina McCarthy , about what she thinks President-elect @ @ @ @ @ address climate change once he 's sworn in .

Joe Biden's Options To Combat Climate Change
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Gina McCarthy, about what she thinks President-elect Joe Biden can do to address climate change once he's sworn in.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
President-elect Biden says contending with the pandemic will be his priority when he takes office in January. But another global crisis is before the world - climate change. And experts say time is running out. Gina McCarthy served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama and joins us now. Thanks so much for being with us.
GINA MCCARTHY: Thank you, Scott. It's great to be here.
SIMON: Assuming there's going to be divided power in Washington, what critical climate policies do you believe President Biden should use executive authority to get through?
MCCARTHY: First of all, I think he's already made it clear that he's going to reenter the Paris accord right away. And, of course, then you have opportunities to establish standards, like standards for power plant emissions. He's looking for clean energy in this country by 2035. So that needs to get moving. And we can, you know, basically, at my beloved EPA, make sure that people are in place that care more about the public than they do themselves and that can once again do their job to protect the American people.
SIMON: Progressive groups have called for a transition and administration that doesn't include any people with connections to the fossil fuel industry. Does that strike you as wise? Or does it risk losing some talented people who know how to make politics and government run?
MCCARTHY: You know, I think that it's very understandable that people are worried that they do everything possible not to allow the kind of appointments that President Trump put into place, which was all fossil fuel people. And it's gotten us nowhere fast. It even missed the boat on jobs because clean energy was moving forward at over three times the pace of the overall economy in terms of job growth.
SIMON: But if at one point, let's say, they represented a fossil fuel industry company or figure. As far as you're concerned, that would be enough to take them out of consideration?
MCCARTHY: No. I don't think I need to hold a hard and fast line like that, Scott. I think there are many lawyers that would be solid in those positions. But I clearly trust the judgment of Joe Biden and his administration to have the best people in place that are working at the best interests of the country.
SIMON: President Biden says, of course, that he'll rejoin the Paris agreement on Day 1 in office. But the U.S. didn't meet the promises it had already made. How would it do it now?
MCCARTHY: I feel very strongly that even though there has been a lack of effort on the issue of climate change at the federal level, that we have, you know, 29 states that have clean energy standards. We have 300 plus cities that have taken the pledge to meet the climate accord. Clean energy still remains the growth opportunity for us. Given the size of the greenhouse gas emissions that we emit, we certainly have an obligation to jump back in with both feet, with a little bit of deference to all our allies who have been holding the fort.
SIMON: Candidates who deny or discount climate change won millions of votes in this last election. How does a President Biden propose to get through an ambitious program with that kind of Congress?
MCCARTHY: You know, I think what I would suggest is that people want jobs. People want fairness. People want to be healthy. And I think the more we can show the value of clean energy, even in your pocketbooks, then people will be much less afraid to recognize that climate change is happening. And they'll start demanding that folks on the Hill start acting like they do, which is to face reality and to make the kind of change we need. They don't have to be coded as climate change initiatives. They can be initiatives that grow jobs and grow the economy.
SIMON: Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the EPA and now CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, thank you so much for being with us.
MCCARTHY: Thanks, Scott. I appreciate it.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.