npr--2020-08-10--Black Activist Burnout: 'You Can't Do This Work If You're Running On Empty'

Black Activist Burnout : 'You Ca n't Do This Work If You 're Running On Empty' Editor 's note : NPR will be continuing this conversation about Being Black in America online and on air .
When Imani Brown , a 38-year-old from San Francisco , hit the streets to protest the recent police violence against Black Americans , she felt inspired and energized .
Her parents fought for racial justice before her , so her participation felt like a part of her inheritance .
`` It is energizing for me to be carrying on the work that my parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have n't come farther in the years since my mother marching with Dr. King to now , '' she told NPR .
Brown is one of millions of people who showed up to protest police violence against Black people in the United States following the deaths of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Elijah McClain and more .
Protesters marched through U.S. cities and across the world .
At times , U.S. police lobbed flash-bang grenades at protesters and sprayed them with tear gas and pepper spray .
And many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested .
This movement also comes in the middle of a pandemic — with sharp economic jabs — that disproportionately kills Black , Indigenous and Latinx people .
`` I 've had friends come to me , concerned about my showing up to a protest and saying , 'Imani , who 's going to get you first , the cops or the COVID ? '
'' said Brown , who , as a cancer survivor and a lesbian , has been participating in demonstrations for years .
`` There are many times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my rights , whether it be my right to get married or my right to exist as an African American in this country , '' she said .
National attention may wane , camera crews and the larger crowds may fade , but some protesters are still staging rallies and marches in cities across the nation , from Aurora , Colo. to Louisville , Ky. to Portland , Ore. How do these activists continue to fight for racial justice without burning out ?
In early June , NPR reached out to Black Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country .
Nearly 500 people responded , some of whom described how tough it can be to keep up the fight against racism , and the exhaustion that can come with it .
`` Sometimes you can have depression , and sometimes it 's this very real feeling of hopelessness , '' said Cher Weixia , an associate professor of legal studies , social justice and human rights at the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University .
`` All of this adds up together to a chronic phenomenon of activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fight feels overwhelming , Paul Gorski , an activist and researcher who studies activism burnout in North Carolina , said activists can feel `` like a sellout '' if they take a break .
For some , this manifests in a fear that if they do n't fight their hardest today , all of the work will have been for nothing .
`` A lot of my anxiety comes from that , from all this effort , from so many people coming together , so many protests , so many conversations happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] if at the end of all of this , nothing changes , nothing gets better , '' Crosby-Williams said .
Activism burnout is particularly rife among Black racial justice activists , not only because they are fighting a centuries-old fight , but they 're also experiencing something Gorski calls `` racial battle fatigue , '' which he says is the `` cumulative impact of experiencing racism day to day . ''
Brown said she thinks about her race `` all the time . ''
`` There 's not a day goes by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what it means to be Black in America , or my experience , or how other people might perceive me as I exist in the world , '' she said .
Being constantly bombarded with viral videos of violent encounters with police can also provoke activism burnout , said Gorski .
Also , sexism , racism and homophobia all still can exist within an activist 's own organization , he said .
And that can all happen before these activists take to the streets .
This comes at a time when many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do appreciate that many white or non-BIPOC people are stepping in to say , ' I 'm an ally .
Can you teach me ? '
Or ' I did n't realize this . '
That 's an additional burden for Black activists , '' said Danielle Hairston , a psychiatry residency training director at Howard University Hospital .
`` You 're trying to center the issues of Black people and other BIPOC people .
However , at the same time , you have people who are saying 'we 're allies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
...
But it really should be more of a collaborative effort . ''
Explaining racism as you 've experienced it can be traumatic , Chen , the professor from George Mason , points out .
`` A lot of the racial justice activists of color we interviewed were pointing to white activists as one of their primary sources of burnout , dealing with the attitudes and behaviors of white allies , '' Gorski added .
Crosby-Williams said following the death of George Floyd , she received a wave of calls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends apologizing to her and asking what they could do to help .
`` Generally , I 'm not having those conversations just because they 're selfish and they do n't take into account how depleting that is and how I 've already spent most of the day thinking about this stuff , and now I have to give you a history lesson or a social studies lesson on what 's been in front of your eyes since the beginning of this country , '' Crosby-Williams said .
She did point out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peers have n't done this — and it 's been a welcome respite .
Hairston said it 's important for allies to move beyond ally-ship and into sponsorship and advocacy instead .
`` Actually support them and sponsor them and step in to help them , and most importantly , listen and validate their concerns and expression of burnout and representation fatigue , '' Hairston said .
When Crosby-Williams feels burned out , she plays with her infant daughter , tries new recipes or watches reality TV .
Brown also gets outside and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's really prioritizing yourself , which many people are uncomfortable with , especially people who are activists , who really are selfless and give everything that they have to others , to their movement , to what they believe in , '' Hairston said .
`` But you really also have to protect and preserve yourself , because if you do n't , you 'll have nothing left to give . ''
Chen says research , including her own , has shown that many activist organizations dismiss the importance of discussing the well-being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this lack of acknowledgement in some cases can foster a culture of selflessness , '' Chen said .
`` Suppressing concerns about well-being altogether could also hasten burnout among activists .
That is this dominant culture of martyrdom . ''
Movements and organizations need to address a culture that feeds into a cycle of burnout , or they risk losing their momentum , Gorski said .
`` The persistence of a movement comes down to the persistence of the activists , '' he said .
`` It can be built into the movements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership , but that is really focused on how we sustain ourselves as activists , whether that 's leaders modeling what it means to just take a break , take a little breather , it 's OK to do that , '' Gorski said .
`` And then some movements have built-in supports for mental health . ''
Taking a break is just what Octavia Smith , board president of the Minnesota Freedom Fund , did last year — before COVID-19 and the latest iteration of the racial justice fight .
Smith got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organization , and a few months later she was reinstated as board president .
`` Because Minnesota Freedom Fund is volunteer-based , we have always had a thing that like , come when you can , leave when you have to and come back if you want to , '' Smith said , adding that the pandemic has brought to the surface `` the realization of grief and that you ca n't do this work if you 're running on empty . ''
`` We talk about holistic approaches , '' Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for me , is saying all parts of who we are are present in this work , especially when it 's around racial justice .
And so , we should be carving out space for people to just name their limits and also name their vulnerabilities and saying , ' I ca n't right now ... .and that 's fine . ''
Because , activists and experts agree , if the well-being of people in the movement is n't prioritized , the movement has a smaller chance of thriving : The success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other .
`` It 's really just not a matter of the well-being of activists , '' Chen said .
`` It 's a matter of the well-being and sustainability of social movements . ''

Black Activist Burnout: 'You Can't Do This Work If You're Running On Empty'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Editor's note: NPR will be continuing this conversation about Being Black in America online and on air.
When Imani Brown, a 38-year-old from San Francisco, hit the streets to protest the recent police violence against Black Americans, she felt inspired and energized. Her parents fought for racial justice before her, so her participation felt like a part of her inheritance.
"It is energizing for me to be carrying on the work that my parents were involved in. I'm sad that we haven't come farther in the years since my mother marching with Dr. King to now," she told NPR.
Brown is one of millions of people who showed up to protest police violence against Black people in the United States following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and more.
Protesters marched through U.S. cities and across the world. At times, U.S. police lobbed flash-bang grenades at protesters and sprayed them with tear gas and pepper spray. And many people — including some credentialed journalists — were arrested.
This movement also comes in the middle of a pandemic — with sharp economic jabs — that disproportionately kills Black, Indigenous and Latinx people.
"I've had friends come to me, concerned about my showing up to a protest and saying, 'Imani, who's going to get you first, the cops or the COVID?'" said Brown, who, as a cancer survivor and a lesbian, has been participating in demonstrations for years.
"There are many times in my life where I have protested for my rights, whether it be my right to get married or my right to exist as an African American in this country," she said.
National attention may wane, camera crews and the larger crowds may fade, but some protesters are still staging rallies and marches in cities across the nation, from Aurora, Colo. to Louisville, Ky. to Portland, Ore. How do these activists continue to fight for racial justice without burning out?
In early June, NPR reached out to Black Americans to ask about their personal experiences in this country. Nearly 500 people responded, some of whom described how tough it can be to keep up the fight against racism, and the exhaustion that can come with it.
"Sometimes you can have depression, and sometimes it's this very real feeling of hopelessness," said Cher Weixia, an associate professor of legal studies, social justice and human rights at the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University. "All of this adds up together to a chronic phenomenon of activist burnout."
When the scope of the fight feels overwhelming, Paul Gorski, an activist and researcher who studies activism burnout in North Carolina, said activists can feel "like a sellout" if they take a break. For some, this manifests in a fear that if they don't fight their hardest today, all of the work will have been for nothing.
Keshia Crosby-Williams, a 38-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., noted that fear.
"A lot of my anxiety comes from that, from all this effort, from so many people coming together, so many protests, so many conversations happening around the dinner table, [what] if at the end of all of this, nothing changes, nothing gets better," Crosby-Williams said.
Activism burnout is particularly rife among Black racial justice activists, not only because they are fighting a centuries-old fight, but they're also experiencing something called racial battle fatigue, which Gorski says is the "cumulative impact of experiencing racism day to day."
Brown said she thinks about her race "all the time."
"There's not a day goes by that I don't have to think about what it means to be Black in America, or my experience, or how other people might perceive me as I exist in the world," she said.
Being constantly bombarded with viral videos of violent encounters with police can also provoke activism burnout, said Gorski. Also, sexism, racism and homophobia all still can exist within an activist's own organization, he said.
And that can all happen before these activists take to the streets.
This comes at a time when many more marchers are white.
"While I do appreciate that many white or non-BIPOC people are stepping in to say, 'I'm an ally. Can you teach me?' Or 'I didn't realize this.' That's an additional burden for Black activists," said Danielle Hairston, a psychiatry residency training director at Howard University Hospital. "You're trying to center the issues of Black people and other BIPOC people. However, at the same time, you have people who are saying 'we're allies,' but are asking you to teach them. ... But it really should be more of a collaborative effort."
Explaining racism as you've experienced it can be traumatic, Chen, the professor from George Mason, points out.
"A lot of the racial justice activists of color we interviewed were pointing to white activists as one of their primary sources of burnout, dealing with the attitudes and behaviors of white allies," Gorski added.
Crosby-Williams said following the death of George Floyd, she received a wave of calls, emails and text messages from her non-Black friends apologizing to her and asking what they could do to help.
"Generally, I'm not having those conversations just because they're selfish and they don't take into account how depleting that is and how I've already spent most of the day thinking about this stuff, and now I have to give you a history lesson or a social studies lesson on what's been in front of your eyes since the beginning of this country," Crosby-Williams said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Corey Williams Corey Williams
She did point out, however, that many of her non-Black peers haven't done this — and it's been a welcome respite. Hairston said it's important for allies to move beyond ally-ship and into sponsorship and advocacy instead.
"Actually support them and sponsor them and step in to help them, and most importantly, listen and validate their concerns and expression of burnout and representation fatigue," Hairston said.
When Crosby-Williams feels burned out, she plays with her infant daughter, tries new recipes or watches reality TV. Brown also gets outside and away from her phone.
"It's really prioritizing yourself, which many people are uncomfortable with, especially people who are activists, who really are selfless and give everything that they have to others, to their movement, to what they believe in," Hairston said. "But you really also have to protect and preserve yourself, because if you don't, you'll have nothing left to give."
Chen says research, including her own, has shown that many activist organizations dismiss the importance of discussing the well-being of activists and burnout.
"And this lack of acknowledgement in some cases can foster a culture of selflessness," Chen said. "Suppressing concerns about well-being altogether could also hasten burnout among activists. That is this dominant culture of martyrdom."
Movements and organizations need to address a culture that feeds into a cycle of burnout, or they risk losing their momentum, Gorski said.
"The persistence of a movement comes down to the persistence of the activists," he said. "It can be built into the movements in a way that is modeled by leadership, but that is really focused on how we sustain ourselves as activists, whether that's leaders modeling what it means to just take a break, take a little breather, it's OK to do that," Gorski said. "And then some movements have built-in supports for mental health."
Taking a break is just what Octavia Smith, board president of the Minnesota Freedom Fund, did last year — before COVID-19 and the latest iteration of the racial justice fight. Smith got an "outpouring of support" from the organization, and a few months later they were reinstated as board president.
"Because Minnesota Freedom Fund is volunteer-based, we have always had a thing that like, come when you can, leave when you have to and come back if you want to," Smith said, adding that the pandemic has brought to the surface "the realization of grief and that you can't do this work if you're running on empty."
"We talk about holistic approaches," Smith said. "And part of that, for me, is saying all parts of who we are are present in this work, especially when it's around racial justice. And so, we should be carving out space for people to just name their limits and also name their vulnerabilities and saying, 'I can't right now....and that's fine."
Because, activists and experts agree, if the well-being of people in the movement isn't prioritized, the movement has a smaller chance of thriving: The success of one is dependent on the success of the other.
"It's really just not a matter of the well-being of activists," Chen said. "It's a matter of the well-being and sustainability of social movements."


npr--2020-08-10--What It's Like When COVID-19 Lasts For Months

What It 's Like When COVID-19 Lasts For Months For Marjorie Roberts , it started on March 26 .
The healthy , 59-year-old life coach in Atlanta says it started as a normal day .
She went out to get the mail .
As she walked back to her apartment , she lost her balance .
Odd for her , but she did n't think much of it .
By evening , `` everything came down on me like a ton of bricks , '' she says .
Extreme fatigue was the first symptom among several .
Her long ordeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no idea what I was in for . ''
On April 23 , Natalie Nowell , 34 , had a similar experience .
A mom of three in Memphis , Tenn. , she spent most of her time running around after her children .
Her family had been quarantined for over a month .
Then , seemingly out of nowhere came a heaviness in her chest — and a feeling of deep unease .
She told her husband she needed to rest .
It was worse when she woke up .
Awful chest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bricks sitting on my chest , '' she says .
According to reports earlier this year from the World Health Organization , about 80 % of coronavirus infections are `` mild or asymptomatic '' and patients typically recover after just two weeks .
That has n't been the case for Roberts or Nowell .
Months later , both women are still experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 : shortness of breath , chest pains , vomiting , and neurological symptoms that range from headaches and fatigue to hallucinations and jumbled words .
Support groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they have been wrestling with serious COVID-19 symptoms for at least a month , if not two or three .
The groups have coined a name for themselves : `` long-haulers . ''
While both Nowell and Roberts visited the emergency room early in the course of their illnesses , neither was admitted to an ICU .
Doctors determined neither of them needed a ventilator ; their cases technically counted as `` mild . ''
But their lives have been irrevocably changed by the onslaught of symptoms — relentless and rolling waves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the terrifying inability to catch their breath .
For Roberts , it 's robbed her of time .
`` I was so good .
This COVID-19 has stolen my life , '' she says .
Weeks after her initial symptoms , Nowell could barely walk from room to room in her house .
Roberts , too , struggled to breathe .
Long-haulers are often left out of the COVID-19 narrative .
Data sheets count cases , hospitalizations , recoveries and deaths , but Roberts and Nowell do n't fit neatly into any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the disease .
They both went to the hospital for a test when their symptoms became too much to bear , both tested negative , both were told to go home and just rest .
Both women dealt with doctors who did n't believe them until finally both got confirmation they did have the virus .
Many long-haulers say their doctors doubted their symptoms were as severe as they were saying .
Roberts says her original primary care physician insisted it was just stress and suggested she watch Lifetime movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I know stress , '' Roberts says .
`` This was not stress . ''
Nowell , who at that point could n't form words to read bedtime stories to her children , begged her doctor to help .
`` He said , 'Well , maybe you have a UTI .
Or maybe it 's a stomach infection .
Let 's call it a sinus infection . '
`` Both women eventually found doctors who believed them , and that made a huge difference .
`` I was relieved because I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously for how sick I felt , '' Nowell says .
`` And then the other part of me was terrified .
Because the whole world is dealing with this , and now all of a sudden it 's in my home , it 's in my body and that was scary . ''
That was a few months ago .
More than a hundred days from their first symptoms , Roberts and Nowell still struggle to breathe through constant congestion .
The headaches come and go , and so does the nausea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had a biopsy in early August to get a better picture of her prognosis .
She 's still waiting for the results .
Nowell says she 's doing better , but it 's been slow going .
The heartbreaking loneliness of the pandemic has been difficult enough for healthy people .
But it 's been a terrifying challenge for those like Roberts and Nowell who also must live with foggy minds , intense fatigue and continual fear of erratic symptoms .
Roberts says she 's still afraid to go anywhere because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They both get through the day with a mixture of hope and prayer .
Nowell has Bible verses she relies on .
And Roberts says , `` I pray they find a cure . ''

What It's Like When COVID-19 Lasts For Months
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marjorie Roberts Marjorie Roberts
For Marjorie Roberts, it started on March 26.
The healthy, 59-year-old life coach in Atlanta says it started as a normal day. She went out to get the mail. As she walked back to her apartment, she lost her balance. Odd for her, but she didn't think much of it.
By evening, "everything came down on me like a ton of bricks," she says. Extreme fatigue was the first symptom among several. Her long ordeal was just beginning. "I had no idea what I was in for."
On April 23, Natalie Nowell, 34, had a similar experience. A mom of three in Memphis, Tenn., she spent most of her time running around after her children. Her family had been quarantined for over a month.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ashley Veneman/Javen Photography Ashley Veneman/Javen Photography
Then, seemingly out of nowhere came a heaviness in her chest — and a feeling of deep unease. She told her husband she needed to rest. It was worse when she woke up. Awful chest pains "like there was a ton of bricks sitting on my chest," she says.
According to reports earlier this year from the World Health Organization, about 80% of coronavirus infections are "mild or asymptomatic" and patients typically recover after just two weeks.
That hasn't been the case for Roberts or Nowell. Months later, both women are still experiencing symptoms of COVID-19: shortness of breath, chest pains, vomiting, and neurological symptoms that range from headaches and fatigue to hallucinations and jumbled words.
Support groups on Facebook include thousands of people who say they have been wrestling with serious COVID-19 symptoms for at least a month, if not two or three. The groups have coined a name for themselves: "long-haulers."
While both Nowell and Roberts visited the emergency room early in the course of their illnesses, neither was admitted to an ICU. Doctors determined neither of them needed a ventilator; their cases technically counted as "mild."
But their lives have been irrevocably changed by the onslaught of symptoms — relentless and rolling waves of fever, headache, nausea, and the terrifying inability to catch their breath. For Roberts, it's robbed her of time. "I was so good. This COVID-19 has stolen my life," she says.
Weeks after her initial symptoms, Nowell could barely walk from room to room in her house. Roberts, too, struggled to breathe.
Long-haulers are often left out of the COVID-19 narrative. Data sheets count cases, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths, but Roberts and Nowell don't fit neatly into any of these categories. Neither woman initially tested positive for the disease. They both went to the hospital for a test when their symptoms became too much to bear, both tested negative, both were told to go home and just rest. Both women dealt with doctors who didn't believe them until finally both got confirmation they did have the virus.
Many long-haulers say their doctors doubted their symptoms were as severe as they were saying. Roberts says her original primary care physician insisted it was just stress and suggested she watch Lifetime movies and do puzzles to calm down. "I know stress," Roberts says. "This was not stress."
Nowell, who at that point couldn't form words to read bedtime stories to her children, begged her doctor to help. "He said, 'Well, maybe you have a UTI. Or maybe it's a stomach infection. Let's call it a sinus infection.' "
Both women eventually found doctors who believed them, and that made a huge difference.
"I was relieved because I felt like I was going to get taken seriously for how sick I felt," Nowell says. "And then the other part of me was terrified. Because the whole world is dealing with this, and now all of a sudden it's in my home, it's in my body and that was scary."
That was a few months ago. More than a hundred days from their first symptoms, Roberts and Nowell still struggle to breathe through constant congestion. The headaches come and go, and so does the nausea. Roberts' lungs are so scarred she had a biopsy in early August to get a better picture of her prognosis. She's still waiting for the results.
Nowell says she's doing better, but it's been slow going.
The heartbreaking loneliness of the pandemic has been difficult enough for healthy people. But it's been a terrifying challenge for those like Roberts and Nowell who also must live with foggy minds, intense fatigue and continual fear of erratic symptoms. Roberts says she's still afraid to go anywhere because the worst symptoms still come on so fast.
They both get through the day with a mixture of hope and prayer. Nowell has Bible verses she relies on. And Roberts says, "I pray they find a cure."


npr--2020-08-10--Arizona Focus Group Sees Trump's Crime Attack On Biden As 'Far From Reality'

Arizona Focus Group Sees Trump 's Crime Attack On Biden As 'Far From Reality' An elderly white woman is watching the news .
An anchor reports that cities want to `` defund '' the police , as she hears a noise coming from elsewhere in the house .
She calls 911 — as Fox News Channel 's Sean Hannity says that Joe Biden is `` absolutely on board with defunding the police '' — only to be told that there is no one there to answer her call and she should leave a message .
The ad ends with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Joe Biden 's America '' on the screen and the woman 's phone dropping to the floor .
`` If we start talking about that ad being reality , we 've got a lot of problems , '' said Shyla , a self-described supporter of President Trump 's from Arizona , after being shown the campaign spot .
She described the ad as `` very far from reality . ''
Shyla was one of eight people from the Phoenix area who recently participated in a 90-minute virtual NPR/Marist focus group .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and undecided presidential voters .
Only participants ' first names were used .
`` [ Biden ] did n't say he wanted to defund .
He did n't mean it , '' said Allen , another Trump supporter .
( That 's true : Biden opposes defunding the police . )
`` Every time I see it , I laugh , '' said Troy , a Biden backer , who then used an expletive to describe the ad .
Stephanie , also a Biden supporter , said it was just Trump being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undecided voter who had n't yet seen the ad , called it `` typical political campaigning '' and `` extremist , '' not a `` middle of the road thing . ''
During the focus group and in a follow-up interview days later , Courtney , a white woman who 's 47 , seemed vulnerable to a political message about crime .
She told a story about a dangerous neighbor and mentioned other , specific crime-related anecdotes .
But she said her concern about a potential increase in crime was not because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the economy and those suffering from a decline in mental health as a result of being in quarantine from the coronavirus pandemic .
In fact , in the follow-up interview , she said if she had to make a decision today about which candidate to vote for , it would be Biden .
`` The only thing that would keep me from voting for Biden in November is if it were to hinder progress that we 're making in the country , '' she said .
`` In other words , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and big improvements on the economy . ''
And she still gives Trump credit on the economy : `` People do n't like him .
But I think he 's a good businessman . ''
Courtney , who is originally from Texas , said she voted twice for former President Barack Obama , but did not vote in 2016 .
`` Honestly , I was not a huge fan of Hillary , '' she said , referring to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
But she feels differently about Biden .
`` I like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I think Biden is a more reasonable person [ than Trump ] .
I think he 's a more non-reactive person , like , Trump is so reactive , it 's scary , right ?
He just reacts rather than thinking about it . ''
Still , she said she has concerns about Biden 's age ( he 's 77 , Trump is 74 ) and is still potentially open to voting for Trump if voting for Biden would be too `` disruptive . ''
`` If it 's somehow going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country that it 's going to stall the progress of a vaccine or it 's going to stall the progress of the economy , '' she said , `` then I do n't think it 's a good thing . ''
Geovanny , a college student who would be voting in his first presidential election , said he 's not sold on either candidate .
He works as a cashier and noted that his place of work had only taken recent action to install protective gear , which he said was too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , and he 's angry about how the state has handled the pandemic .
That may be a motivating factor for him this fall , he said .
`` The leadership in our state , '' he said , `` they 're having to play catch up a lot . ''
He added that this all `` could have been prevented , if we 'd just taken action sooner . ''
A poll last month found almost two-thirds of Arizonans disapprove of the job Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey is doing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior two months , as coronavirus cases in the state surged .
And he did not get good reviews for his handling of the virus during this focus group .
`` I think our governor is a joke , '' said Stephanie , a Biden supporter .
`` Pull your pants up , and do what you got ta do . ''
Courtney was more charitable .
She said she likes Ducey and said he was looking out for businesses and that she originally agreed with Ducey and Trump that states and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But now , she thinks Arizona opened up too soon and that there should have been more of a unified , national response with guidelines that were adhered to .
`` I think that now , '' she said .
`` But , of course , hindsight is 20/20 . ''
Everyone in the group took coronavirus seriously , even if grudgingly for those who leaned right .
`` I think they 're just testing more , '' Allen said .
`` I do n't think we 're that bad at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now wears a mask when he goes out to a restaurant .
Courtney , who has been physically going in to work , said she wears a mask now , but did n't wear one early on when going to the grocery store , for example .
`` I think he 's out of touch '' Overall , the group was not impressed with Trump 's handling of either the coronavirus pandemic or race relations , for that matter .
They all saw the Black Lives Matters protests as legitimate , except for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But even Allen said he believed the protests were hijacked by `` guys with backpacks '' who were `` just there to riot . ''
There was consensus that the protests had forced them to reconsider what they thought they knew about structural racism , and several talked about a `` switch '' in their views .
Stephanie , one of the Biden supporters , said that when she first saw former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the sidelines before a game during the national anthem , she thought he was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
But she sees it differently now .
`` I still love this country , '' she said , `` but I finally understand what he did , why he did it .
He did n't do it for him . ''
Courtney , who said she 's concerned about a potential uptick in crime , was biting about Trump 's views on race .
`` I think he 's out of touch , '' she said .
`` I think he 's insensitive to minorities .
He 's insensitive to anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's had .
He just ... has not had a realistic life , his kids have not had a realistic life .
He 's out of touch .
I do n't listen to what he has to say about Black Lives Matter , any of that , because I think he does n't have a good perspective on it . ''
It 's tough to effectively deliver a message when people do n't believe the messenger .
Trump 's voters in the focus group were not waving the flag high .
Shyla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like 2016 , was `` picking the lesser of two evils , times 100 this time . ''
But given some of her conservative views , especially on the role of government ( `` The government is way too involved in all of this in general '' ) , she 's still voting for Trump .
Biden voters , on the other hand , and as polls have also shown , were less enthused about voting for Biden than against Trump .
Troy , for example , described his vote as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is highly motivated to vote this fall .
It shows , once again , that this election is all about Trump .
And for as much as he tries to make it a choice between him and Biden , for this group , it 's a referendum .
And unless Americans view improvement in Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic , the economy or race relations , it 's going to be difficult for him to win reelection .
That 's especially true if his attacks against Biden continue not to stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was conducted , it was reported the Trump campaign pulled the 911 ad out of rotation .

Arizona Focus Group Sees Trump's Crime Attack On Biden As 'Far From Reality'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
The ad is stark.
An elderly white woman is watching the news. An anchor reports that cities want to "defund" the police, as she hears a noise coming from elsewhere in the house.
She calls 911 — as Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity says that Joe Biden is "absolutely on board with defunding the police" — only to be told that there is no one there to answer her call and she should leave a message.
The ad ends with the words "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America" on the screen and the woman's phone dropping to the floor.
"If we start talking about that ad being reality, we've got a lot of problems," said Shyla, a self-described President Trump supporter from Arizona, after being shown the campaign spot. She described the ad as "very far from reality."
Shyla was one of eight people from the Phoenix area who recently participated in a 90-minute virtual NPR/Marist focus group. The group included Trump supporters, Biden backers and undecided presidential voters. Only participants' first names were used.
"[Biden] didn't say he wanted to defund. He didn't mean it," said Allen, another Trump supporter. (That's true: Biden opposes defunding the police.)
"Every time I see it, I laugh," said Troy, a Biden backer, who then used an expletive to describe the ad.
Stephanie, also a Biden supporter, said it was just Trump being a "fearmonger."
Courtney, an undecided voter who hadn't yet seen the ad, called it "typical political campaigning" and "extremist," not a "middle of the road thing."
During the focus group and in a follow-up interview days later, Courtney, a white woman who's 47, seemed vulnerable to a political message about crime. She told a story about a dangerous neighbor and mentioned other specific crime-related anecdotes.
But she said her concern about a potential increase in crime was not because of Biden, but because of the downturn in the economy and those suffering from a decline in mental health as a result of being in quarantine from the coronavirus pandemic.
In fact, in the follow-up interview, she said if she had to make a decision today about which candidate to vote for, it would be Biden.
"The only thing that would keep me from voting for Biden in November is if it were to hinder progress that we're making in the country," she said. "In other words, if there was some type of potential vaccine and big improvements on the economy."
And she still gives Trump credit on the economy: "People don't like him. But I think he's a good businessman."
Courtney, who is originally from Texas, said she voted twice for former President Barack Obama but did not vote in 2016. "Honestly, I was not a huge fan of Hillary," she said, referring to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
But she feels differently about Biden. "I like Biden clearly," she said. "I think Biden is a more reasonable person [than Trump]. I think he's a more nonreactive person, like, Trump is so reactive, it's scary, right? He just reacts rather than thinking about it."
Still, she said she has concerns about Biden's age (he's 77, Trump is 74) and is still potentially open to voting for Trump if voting for Biden would be too "disruptive."
"If it's somehow going to be disruptive, so disruptive to our country that it's going to stall the progress of a vaccine or it's going to stall the progress of the economy," she said, "then I don't think it's a good thing."
"Pull your pants up"
Geovanny, a college student who would be voting in his first presidential election, said he's not sold on either candidate.
He works as a cashier and noted that his place of work had only taken recent action to install protective gear, which he said was too late.
His father was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, and he's angry about how the state has handled the pandemic. That may be a motivating factor for him this fall, he said.
"The leadership in our state," he said, "they're having to play catch-up a lot." He added that this all "could have been prevented, if we'd just taken action sooner."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images
A poll last month found almost two-thirds of Arizonans disapprove of the job Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is doing on the pandemic — up sharply over the prior two months, as coronavirus cases in the state surged. And he did not get good reviews for his handling of the virus during this focus group.
"I think our governor is a joke," said Stephanie, a Biden supporter. "Pull your pants up, and do what you gotta do."
Courtney was more charitable. She said she likes Ducey and said he was looking out for businesses and that she originally agreed with Ducey and Trump that states and businesses should open up sooner rather than later.
But now, she thinks Arizona opened up too soon and that there should have been more of a unified, national response with guidelines that were adhered to.
"I think that now," she said. "But, of course, hindsight is 20/20."
Everyone in the group took the coronavirus seriously, even if grudgingly for those who leaned right.
"I think they're just testing more," Allen said. "I don't think we're that bad at all."
Yet he said that he now wears a mask when he goes out to a restaurant.
Courtney, who has been physically going in to work, said she wears a mask now, but didn't wear one early on when going to the grocery store, for example.
"I think he's out of touch"
Overall, the group was not impressed with Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic or race relations, for that matter.
They all saw the Black Lives Matters protests as legitimate, except for looting that happened in some places. But even Allen said he believed the protests were hijacked by "guys with backpacks" who were "just there to riot."
There was consensus that the protests had forced them to reconsider what they thought they knew about structural racism, and several talked about a "switch" in their views.
Stephanie, one of the Biden supporters, said that when she first saw former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the sidelines before a game during the national anthem, she thought he was "disrespecting the flag for his own needs."
But she sees it differently now. "I still love this country," she said, "but I finally understand what he did, why he did it. He didn't do it for him."
toggle caption Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images
Courtney, who said she's concerned about a potential uptick in crime, was biting about Trump's views on race.
"I think he's out of touch," she said. "I think he's insensitive to minorities. He's insensitive to anyone who has not had the opportunities that he's had. He just ... has not had a realistic life, his kids have not had a realistic life. He's out of touch. I don't listen to what he has to say about Black Lives Matter, any of that, because I think he doesn't have a good perspective on it."
It's tough to effectively deliver a message when people don't believe the messenger.
Trump's voters in the focus group were not waving the flag high. Shyla, for example, said this election, like 2016, was "picking the lesser of two evils, times 100 this time."
But given some of her conservative views, especially on the role of government ("The government is way too involved in all of this in general"), she's still voting for Trump.
Biden voters, on the other hand, and as polls have also shown, were less enthused about voting for Biden than against Trump.
Troy, for example, described his vote as "primarily against Trump." But he is highly motivated to vote this fall.
It shows, once again, that this election is all about Trump. And for as much as he tries to make it a choice between him and Biden, for this group, it's a referendum.
And unless Americans view improvement in Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the economy or race relations, it's going to be difficult for him to win reelection.
That's especially true if his attacks against Biden continue not to stick.
The day after this focus group was conducted, it was reported the Trump campaign pulled the 911 ad out of rotation.


npr--2020-08-10--Prominent Hong Kong Publisher Arrested Under New National Security Law

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and several executives at the media company he founded have been arrested for colluding with foreign forces , the highest profile arrests thus far under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing just over a month ago .
Lai , 71 , is the chairman and majority owner of the staunchly pro-democratic newspaper Apple Daily and its publishing company , Next Digital .
Share prices for Next Media surged 300 percent within hours of his arrest , as pro-democracy supporters urged each other online to support the company .
Lai 's two sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested Monday morning for , respectively , conspiracy to defraud and collusion with foreign forces .
Hong Kong police said a total of seven individuals — among them Next Media executives — had been arrested on Monday under the national security law for colluding with foreign forces .
`` It 's a combination of charges .
Most are being arrested on some type of conspiracy to commit fraud charges ... but really it 's just an effort to decapitate the management as they took out the top senior management with those charges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Next Digital , told NPR .
Livestreams of the ensuing police raid on Apple Daily 's newsroom showed about two hundred police entering the Next Digital building Monday morning .
The police sealed off the newsroom and searched through documents on reporters ' desks while Lai , handcuffed , was led through the building .
Police also raided a restaurant owned by Ian Lai .
The senior Lai first made his fortune in clothing and retail and soon parlayed his wealth into a media business , which he resolved would help uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties .
Hailing from an older generation of activists , Lai is both a political firebrand and unique figure who commands respect across the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong .
That generation includes fellow pro-democracy advocates and veteran politicians Martin Lee and Margaret Ng , who were among 15 individuals , including Lai , arrested in April for `` organizing and participating in unauthorized assemblies . ''
Lai 's prominence in Hong Kong 's business community and his political activism made him an obvious target in Beijing 's ongoing efforts to tighten its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lai was singled out by the nationalistic Chinese state tabloid Global Times as potentially subject to criminal prosecution for subversion because of his Twitter account , which he largely devotes to upholding Hong Kong 's civil liberties .
`` I have always thought I might one day be sent to jail for my publications or for my calls for democracy in Hong Kong , '' Lai wrote soon afterwards in an op-ed published in The New York Times .
`` But for a few tweets , and because they are said to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
That 's a new one , even for me . ''
Lai was also arrested in February for participating in an illegal assembly and faces additional charges of incitement for joining in this year 's annual June 4 vigil commemorating the victims of China 's Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 .
But Lai faces much more serious penalties under the national security law , which Beijing implemented June 30 .
The law criminalizes what it calls collusion with foreign forces , subversion , secession and terrorism , with penalties of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainland China in particularly `` complex '' cases .
In June , Hong Kong 's chief executive and a number of Beijing-backed officials defended the law , saying it would be applied to a very narrow group of individuals .
But Beijing 's national security law has had an enormous chilling effect on Hong Kong civil society , particularly in schools and universities as people self-censor out of fear of prosecution .
Police made their first wave of arrests under the law the day after its implementation , seizing protesters who attended a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so .
In July , four people between the ages of 16 to 21 were arrested in a second wave after being accused of separatism due to their alleged links to a new pro-independence political party and statements posted on their social media pages .

Prominent Hong Kong Publisher Arrested Under New National Security Law
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Updated at 9:12 p.m. ET
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and several executives at the media company he founded have been arrested. They're accused of colluding with foreign forces, the highest profile arrests thus far under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing just over a month ago.
Lai, 71, is the chairman and majority owner of the staunchly pro-democratic newspaper Apple Daily and its publishing company, Next Digital. Share prices for Next Media surged 300% within hours of his arrest as pro-democracy supporters urged each other online to support the company.
Lai's two sons Timothy Lai and Ian Lai were also arrested Monday morning after being accused, respectively, of conspiracy to defraud and collusion with foreign forces. Hong Kong police said a total of seven individuals — among them Next Media executives — had been arrested on Monday under the national security law for colluding with foreign forces.
President Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the arrests were deeply troubling. He said Lai had defended liberty and the arrests were "a clear effort to intimidate pro-democracy and political opposition figures and suppress Hong Kong's free and independent media, which have played key roles in the city's character and success."
"It's a combination of charges. Most are being arrested on some type of conspiracy to commit fraud charges ... but really it's just an effort to decapitate the management as they took out the top senior management with those charges," Mark Simon, a senior executive at Next Digital, told NPR.
Livestreams of the ensuing police raid on Apple Daily's newsroom showed about 200 police entering the Next Digital building Monday morning. The police sealed off the newsroom and searched through documents on reporters' desks while Lai, handcuffed, was led through the building. Police also raided a restaurant owned by Ian Lai.
The senior Lai first made his fortune in clothing and retail and soon parlayed his wealth into a media business, which he resolved would help uphold Hong Kong's then-nascent but robust civil liberties. Hailing from an older generation of activists, Lai is both a political firebrand and unique figure who commands respect across the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong.
That generation includes fellow pro-democracy advocates and veteran politicians Martin Lee and Margaret Ng, who were among 15 individuals, including Lai, arrested in April for "organizing and participating in unauthorized assemblies."
Lai's prominence in Hong Kong's business community and his political activism made him an obvious target in Beijing's ongoing efforts to tighten its control over the region. In May, Lai was singled out by the nationalistic Chinese state tabloid Global Times as potentially subject to criminal prosecution for subversion because of his Twitter account, which he largely devotes to upholding Hong Kong's civil liberties.
"I have always thought I might one day be sent to jail for my publications or for my calls for democracy in Hong Kong," Lai wrote soon afterward in an op-ed published in The New York Times. "But for a few tweets, and because they are said to threaten the national security of mighty China? That's a new one, even for me."
Lai was also arrested in February for participating in an illegal assembly and faces additional charges of incitement for joining in this year's annual June 4 vigil commemorating the victims of China's Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.
But Lai faces much more serious penalties under the national security law, which Beijing implemented June 30. The law criminalizes what it calls collusion with foreign forces, subversion, secession and terrorism, with penalties of up to life in prison and potential extradition to mainland China in particularly "complex" cases.
In June, Hong Kong's chief executive and a number of Beijing-backed officials defended the law, saying it would be applied to a very narrow group of individuals.
But Beijing's national security law has had an enormous chilling effect on Hong Kong civil society, particularly in schools and universities as people self-censor out of fear of prosecution.
Police made their first wave of arrests under the law the day after its implementation, seizing protesters who attended a demonstration despite a police ban on doing so. In July, four people ages 16 to 21 were arrested in a second wave after being accused of separatism for alleged links to a new pro-independence political party and statements posted on their social media pages.


npr--2020-08-10--California Gov. Says Trump Unemployment Executive Order Spells Disaster For Budget

California 's coffers are nearly exhausted and forcing the state to cover a part of extended unemployment benefits would cause `` enormous economic strife and enormous stress , '' Gov .
Gavin Newsom said on Monday .
Despite the state 's robust reserves at the start of the year , Newsom said , President Trump 's latest executive order would put the state in a perilous position .
Over the weekend Trump bypassed Congress , signing an executive order that would extend now-expired unemployment payments to $ 400 a week for those whose jobs have vanished in the fallout of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan requires states to provide a quarter of the payments .
That is just not possible , according to Newsom , who added it would cost $ 700 million a week to get checks in the hands of all of the state 's unemployed residents .
`` There is no money sitting in the piggy bank of the previous CARES Act to be reprioritized or reconstituted for this purpose , '' Newsom said .
`` Simply , it does not exist . ''
Since mid-March , which marks the start of the statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have applied for unemployment insurance .
Newsom added : `` It would create a burden , the likes of which '' the state has never experienced .
It would also lead to painful cuts across the state 's budget , the governor warned , calling the executive order `` unusual . ''
`` Usually the federal government fronts the money , recognizing the scarcity of resources during an economic crisis , '' he said .
Newsom also touched on the abrupt departure of the state 's top Department of Public Health official .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's director and state public health officer on Sunday .
Angell was the first Latina to hold the position and her resignation comes less than a year since landing the job .
While she did not elaborate on the sudden move , it comes after a disastrous week for the department .
A couple of glitches in the state 's daily coronavirus case reporting system indicated infections had gone down , when in reality the numbers were much higher .
Still , those figures were used by various municipalities to determine whether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were made , and we 're moving forward , '' Newsom responded on Monday when asked about Angell .
`` No one 's trying to hide that , no one 's trying to mask that .
We 're owning that . ''
Two people have been chosen to replace Angell .
One will serve as acting health director , while the other will be the acting public health officer .

California Gov. Says Trump Unemployment Executive Action Spells Disaster For Budget
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
California's coffers are nearly exhausted, and forcing the state to cover a part of extended unemployment benefits would cause "enormous economic strife and enormous stress," Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday.
Despite the state's robust reserves at the start of the year, Newsom said, President Trump's latest executive action would put the state in a perilous position.
Over the weekend Trump bypassed Congress, signing an executive action that would extend now-expired unemployment payments to $400 a week for those whose jobs have vanished in the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the plan requires states to provide a quarter of the payments.
That is just not possible, according to Newsom, who added it would cost $700 million a week to get checks in the hands of all of the state's unemployed residents.
"There is no money sitting in the piggy bank of the previous CARES Act to be reprioritized or reconstituted for this purpose," Newsom said. "Simply, it does not exist."
Since mid-March, which marks the start of the statewide shutdown, more than 8 million people have applied for unemployment insurance.
Newsom added: "It would create a burden, the likes of which" the state has never experienced.
It would also lead to painful cuts across the state's budget, the governor warned, calling the executive action "unusual."
"Usually the federal government fronts the money, recognizing the scarcity of resources during an economic crisis," he said.
Newsom also touched on the abrupt departure of the state's top Department of Public Health official. Dr. Sonia Angell resigned as the department's director and state public health officer on Sunday.
Angell was the first Latina to hold the position, and her resignation comes less than a year since landing the job.
While she did not elaborate on the sudden move, it comes after a disastrous week for the department. A couple of glitches in the state's daily coronavirus case reporting system indicated infections had gone down, when in reality the numbers were much higher. Still, those figures were used by various municipalities to determine whether to reopen businesses and schools.
"Decisions were made, and we're moving forward," Newsom responded on Monday when asked about Angell. "No one's trying to hide that, no one's trying to mask that. We're owning that."
Two people have been chosen to replace Angell. One will be acting health director, while the other will be the acting public health officer.


npr--2020-08-10--California Judge Orders Uber And Lyft To Consider All Drivers Employees

California Judge Orders Uber And Lyft To Consider All Drivers Employees A California judge has ordered Uber and Lyft to reclassify their workers from independent contractors to employees with benefits , a ruling that could be consequential for gig economy workers if it survives the appeals process .
Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman ruled Monday that Lyft and Uber 's thousands of contract drivers should be given the same protections and benefits under labor law as other full-time employees of the ride-hailing companies .
Schulman said Lyft and Uber use `` circular reasoning '' by only treating tech workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Were this reasoning to be accepted , the rapidly expanding majority of industries that rely heavily on technology could with impunity deprive legions of workers of the basic protections afforded to employees by state labor and employment laws , '' Schulman wrote .
The judge said Uber and Lyft have refused to comply with a California law passed last year that was supposed to make it harder for companies in the state to hire workers as contractors , so gig economy workers such as drivers for the ride-hailing companies would receive health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and family leave .
As independent contractors , Uber and Lyft drivers are not provided these benefits .
`` It bears emphasis that these harms are not mere abstractions ; they represent real harms to real working people , '' Schulman wrote .
`` The court has weighed in and agreed : Uber and Lyft need to put a stop to unlawful misclassification of their drivers while our litigation continues , '' Becerra said in a statement .
`` Our state and workers should n't have to foot the bill when big businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 're going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules . ''
The judge 's order does not take effect for 10 days .
Both Uber and Lyft said they plan to appeal .
`` The vast majority of drivers want to work independently , and we 've already made significant changes to our app to ensure that remains the case under California law , '' Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said .
`` When over 3 million Californians are without a job , our elected leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression . ''
In a statement , Lyft said : `` Drivers do not want to be employees , full stop .
We 'll immediately appeal this ruling and continue to fight for their independence .
Ultimately , we believe this issue will be decided by California voters and that they will side with drivers . ''
After the new state law , known as AB5 , was passed , Becerra and city officials in Los Angeles , San Diego and San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the companies to comply .
Monday 's order comes ahead of a trial in that case .
But Schulman said there was an `` overwhelming likelihood '' that the state of California would win the case .
Uber and Lyft have asked the court to delay the order until after November when California voters will be asked whether to keep drivers as independent contractors , but Schulman rejected this request .
`` Defendants are not entitled to an indefinite postponement of their day of reckoning , '' the judge wrote .
Uber and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a profit , have argued that converting drivers to full-time employees would force the companies to lay off drivers and result in higher prices for passengers .
Ride-hailing companies have suffered mightily during the pandemic .
In its earnings call with investors this month , Uber said its core business of picking and dropping people off has fallen nearly 75 % .
Uber is now making more money delivering food than it is from ride-hailing .
Still , its revenue remains down 30 % from the same period last year .
Since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off some 6,700 office workers , and Lyft has let go of nearly 1,000 employees .
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a statement Monday that drivers need additional protections , such as qualifying for unemployment benefits , now more than ever as the economic downturn leaves many workers especially vulnerable .
`` These companies have pocketed millions of dollars by leaving taxpayers to foot the bill .
That 's unacceptable , '' Herrera said .
`` There is no rule that prevents these drivers from continuing to have all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly classified as an employee does n't change that . ''

California Judge Orders Uber And Lyft To Consider All Drivers Employees
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET
A California judge has ordered Uber and Lyft to reclassify their workers from independent contractors to employees with benefits, a ruling that could be consequential for gig economy workers if it survives the appeals process.
Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman ruled Monday that Lyft and Uber's thousands of contract drivers should be given the same protections and benefits under labor law as other employees of the ride-hailing companies.
Schulman said Lyft and Uber use "circular reasoning" by only treating tech workers, not drivers, as employees.
"Were this reasoning to be accepted, the rapidly expanding majority of industries that rely heavily on technology could with impunity deprive legions of workers of the basic protections afforded to employees by state labor and employment laws," Schulman wrote.
The judge said Uber and Lyft have refused to comply with a California law passed last year that was supposed to make it harder for companies in the state to hire workers as contractors, so gig economy workers such as drivers for the ride-hailing companies would receive health insurance, workers' compensation and paid sick and family leave. As independent contractors, Uber and Lyft drivers are not provided these benefits.
"It bears emphasis that these harms are not mere abstractions; they represent real harms to real working people," wrote Schulman, adding: "To state the obvious, drivers are central, not tangential, to Uber and Lyft's entire ride-hailing business."
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra called the judge's preliminary order a victory for drivers.
"The court has weighed in and agreed: Uber and Lyft need to put a stop to unlawful misclassification of their drivers while our litigation continues," Becerra said in a statement. "Our state and workers shouldn't have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip out on their responsibilities. We're going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules."
The judge's order does not take effect for 10 days. Both Uber and Lyft said they plan to appeal.
"The vast majority of drivers want to work independently, and we've already made significant changes to our app to ensure that remains the case under California law," Uber spokesman Matt Kallman said. "When over 3 million Californians are without a job, our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression."
In a statement, Lyft said: "Drivers do not want to be employees, full stop. We'll immediately appeal this ruling and continue to fight for their independence. Ultimately, we believe this issue will be decided by California voters and that they will side with drivers."
After the new state law, known as AB5, was passed, Becerra and city officials in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco sued Uber and Lyft to force the companies to comply.
Monday's order comes ahead of a trial in that case. But Schulman said there was an "overwhelming likelihood" that the state of California would win the case.
Uber and Lyft have asked the court to delay the order until after November when California voters will be asked whether to keep drivers as independent contractors, but Schulman rejected this request.
"Defendants are not entitled to an indefinite postponement of their day of reckoning," the judge wrote.
Uber and Lyft, which already have trouble turning a profit, have argued that converting drivers to formal employees with benefits would force the companies to lay off drivers and result in higher prices for passengers.
Ride-hailing companies have suffered mightily during the pandemic.
In its earnings call with investors this month, Uber said its core business of picking and dropping people off has fallen nearly 75%.
Uber is now making more money delivering food than it is from ride-hailing. Still, its revenue remains down 30% from the same period last year.
Since the coronavirus outbreak started, Uber has laid off some 6,700 office workers, and Lyft has let go of nearly 1,000 employees.
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a statement Monday that drivers need additional protections, such as qualifying for unemployment benefits, now more than ever as the economic downturn leaves many workers especially vulnerable.
"These companies have pocketed millions of dollars by leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. That's unacceptable," Herrera said. "There is no rule that prevents these drivers from continuing to have all of the flexibility they currently enjoy. Being properly classified as an employee doesn't change that."


npr--2020-08-10--Aquarium Is Washing Old Wishes To Pay Bills During Pandemic

Aquarium Is Washing Old Wishes To Pay Bills During Pandemic For many businesses , the coronavirus pandemic has created a coin shortage .
All the sheltering at home put a crimp in the normal circulation of pennies , nickels , dimes and quarters , and now some retailers are asking customers to pay with exact change .
But a lack of coins is no problem at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores .
The aquarium — which is soon to enter its sixth month of mandated closure , thanks to the coronavirus — has come up with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and help pay the bills .
They 've drained a large waterfall at the facility and dredged up all the coins thrown in by wishful visitors .
`` About 100 gallons of coins were cleaned and sorted and will go toward the general care of the aquarium and animals during this time , '' the aquarium said in a Facebook post last week .
It asked commenters to guess how much money 100 gallons of coins adds up to , and will reveal the answer this week .
While it 's closed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual events , behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters .
And , of course , the normal work of maintaining the facilities and caring for the animals continues .

Aquarium Is Washing Old Wishes To Pay Bills During Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Liz Baird/Courtesy of North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores Liz Baird/Courtesy of North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
For many businesses, the coronavirus pandemic has created a coin shortage. All the sheltering at home put a crimp in the normal circulation of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, and now some retailers are asking customers to pay with exact change.
But a lack of coins is no problem at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.
The aquarium — which is soon to enter its sixth month of mandated closure because of the coronavirus — has come up with a pandemic project that can pass the time and help pay the bills.
They've drained a large waterfall at the facility and dredged up all the coins thrown in by wishful visitors.
"About 100 gallons of coins were cleaned and sorted and will go toward the general care of the aquarium and animals during this time," the aquarium said in a Facebook post last week.
It asked commenters to guess how much money 100 gallons of coins adds up to and will reveal the answer this week.
Our staff turned off the 30-foot tall Smoky Mountain waterfall and collected all the coins! About 100 gallons of coins... Posted by NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on Saturday, August 8, 2020
While it's closed to visitors, the aquarium has been offering virtual events, behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters. And, of course, the normal work of maintaining the facilities and caring for the animals continues.


npr--2020-08-10--Belarus Elections End With Landslide Winner — And Massive Protests

There 's a winner in Sunday 's presidential election in Belarus .
But there 's no concession from the main opposition candidate .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is refusing to accept the landslide victory declared by the five-term incumbent , Alexander Lukashenko .
The release of an official exit poll that predicted a Lukashenko win prompted a long night of violent demonstrations .
Fifty protesters and 39 law enforcement officers were injured in the Sunday night violence , and more than 3,000 were arrested , according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry .
Authorities say one protester died in the clashes .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capital , Minsk , pledging not to leave the country but also declining to assume the role of protest leader when asked about her plans .
`` The authorities are n't listening to us ; they are completely detached from the people , '' she said .
`` We are for peaceful change , and the authorities should think about how to transfer power peacefully . ''
According to preliminary results announced by Belarus ' Central Election Commission , Lukashenko took 80 % of the vote , with Tikhanovskaya coming in second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those figures .
She said that her campaign staff had seen results from more than 50 polling stations and that her share of the vote exceeded Lukashenko 's by many times .
The euphoria of Tikhanovskaya 's campaign , when thousands of voters enthusiastically received her as she barnstormed across the country , has vanished .
Tikhanovskaya told journalists she did n't know how to react to the government 's harsh response to the protests — but that she had decided her presence at demonstrations could lead to an escalation of violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the simple pledge to hold new , free and fair elections if she won .
She decided to run against Lukashenko after her husband was jailed and prevented from registering his candidacy .
Tikhanovskaya joined forces with two other challengers — Viktor Babariko , who is in pretrial detention on fraud charges , and Valery Tsepkalo , who fled Belarus over safety concerns .
After the demonstrations , the Interior Ministry denied reports of one death as `` a complete fake . ''
Meanwhile , investigators said they were opening criminal cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil unrest , an offense that carries a prison sentence of eight to 15 years .
The U.S. government said it is concerned about the conduct of the election , which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said `` was not free and fair . ''
`` We urge the Belarusian government to respect the rights of all Belarusians to participate in peaceful assembly , refrain from use of force , and release those wrongfully detained , '' Pompeo said in statement .
`` We strongly condemn ongoing violence against protesters and the detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union — three members of which border Belarus — condemned the `` disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters '' and appealed for a fair vote count by the Belarusian Central Election Commission .
Poland called for a special EU summit to discuss the violence .
Lukashenko is used to criticism from the West .
The last U.S. ambassador to Minsk left in 2008 amid a crackdown on the Belarusian opposition .
Recently Lukashenko has reached out to the United States to counter pressure from the Kremlin for closer political and economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a new U.S. ambassador is expected in Minsk later this year .
Lukashenko was defiant after the violence , calling the protesters `` sheep '' who were controlled by foreign puppet-masters .
He said he saw no need to hold talks with Tikhanovskaya .
`` Our response will be appropriate , '' he said during a visit to a new animal feed plant outside Minsk .
`` We wo n't let the country be torn apart . ''
Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader to congratulate Lukashenko on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan , Azerbaijan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan and Armenia .

Belarus Elections End With Landslide Winner — And Massive Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sergei Grits /AP Sergei Grits /AP
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main opposition candidate in Sunday's presidential election in Belarus, is refusing to accept the landslide victory declared by the five-term incumbent, Alexander Lukashenko.
The release of an official exit poll that predicted a Lukashenko win prompted a long night of violent demonstrations. Fifty protesters and 39 law enforcement officers were injured in the Sunday night violence, and more than 3,000 were arrested, according to the Belarusian Interior Ministry.
On Monday, Tikhanovskaya appeared before journalists in the capital, Minsk, pledging not to leave the country but also declining to assume the role of protest leader when asked about her plans.
"The authorities aren't listening to us; they are completely detached from the people," she said. "We are for peaceful change, and the authorities should think about how to transfer power peacefully."
According to preliminary results announced by Belarus' Central Election Commission, Lukashenko took 80% of the vote, with Tikhanovskaya coming in second with 10%. But Tikhanovskaya disputed those figures. She said that her campaign staff had seen results from more than 50 polling stations and that her share of the vote exceeded Lukashenko's by many times.
The euphoria of Tikhanovskaya's campaign, when thousands of voters enthusiastically received her as she barnstormed across the country, has vanished. Tikhanovskaya told journalists she didn't know how to react to the government's harsh response to the protests — but that she had decided her presence at demonstrations could lead to an escalation of violence.
Tikhanovskaya, a political novice, campaigned on the simple pledge to hold new, free and fair elections if she won. She decided to run against Lukashenko after her husband was jailed and prevented from registering his candidacy. Tikhanovskaya joined forces with two other challengers — Viktor Babariko, who is in pretrial detention on fraud charges, and Valery Tsepkalo, who fled Belarus over safety concerns.
After the demonstrations, the Interior Ministry denied reports of one death Sunday night as "a complete fake." Meanwhile, investigators said they were opening criminal cases into the organization of and participation in civil unrest, an offense that carries a prison sentence of eight to 15 years.
The U.S. government said it is concerned about the conduct of the election, which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "was not free and fair."
"We urge the Belarusian government to respect the rights of all Belarusians to participate in peaceful assembly, refrain from use of force, and release those wrongfully detained," Pompeo said in statement. "We strongly condemn ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters."
The European Union — three members of which border Belarus — condemned the "disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters" and appealed for a fair vote count by the Belarusian Central Election Commission. Poland called for a special EU summit to discuss the violence.
Lukashenko is used to criticism from the West. The last U.S. ambassador to Minsk left in 2008 amid a crackdown on the Belarusian opposition. Recently Lukashenko has reached out to the United States to counter pressure from the Kremlin for closer political and economic integration. Pompeo visited him in February, and a new U.S. ambassador is expected in Minsk later this year.
Lukashenko was defiant after the violence, calling the protesters "sheep" who were controlled by foreign puppet-masters. He said he saw no need to hold talks with Tikhanovskaya.
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
"Our response will be appropriate," he said during a visit to a new animal feed plant outside Minsk. "We won't let the country be torn apart."
Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader to congratulate Lukashenko on his reelection, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.


npr--2020-08-10--Puerto Rico's Primary Election On Sunday Was Historic — In A Bad Way

Puerto Rico 's Primary Election On Sunday Was Historic — In A Bad Way Undaunted by the coronavirus pandemic , voters in Puerto Rico donned face masks on Sunday and headed out to local polling places to cast votes in a closely watched gubernatorial primary election .
There was just one problem : For many voters , there were n't any ballots .
By early afternoon on the day of the primary , only a handful of polling places had received their paper ballots , NPR 's Joel Rose reported Sunday .
Voters and politicians alike were infuriated , Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` embarrassing . ''
The primary election had already been delayed once , moved from June 7 to Aug. 9 , because of the pandemic .
Now the ballot shortage means that some precincts — the locations that did not have ballots available to start voting by 1:45 p.m. Sunday — will be open to cast ballots again next Sunday .
The unprecedented situation creates a legal gray area , Edgardo Román , president of the Bar Association of Puerto Rico , told The Associated Press .
What happens to people who showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots and went home , never learning that their precinct had eventually opened ?
It 's a scenario the law never anticipated , he told the wire service .
Román told AP this was the worst `` electoral experience in the history of Puerto Rico . ''
It 's not clear why ballots were not delivered on time .
Political party officials laid blame with the island 's election commission .
The head of the election commission pointed the finger at a printing facility , according to the Miami Herald .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board issued a statement Sunday evening saying it had fully funded the elections commission and a lack of money could not be to blame .
`` The State Elections Commission has sufficient money , and it has more than enough staff to perform the one task it is charged with , '' the oversight board said in its statement , calling the ballot debacle `` unacceptable '' and the result of `` inefficient organization . ''
It 's the latest example of chaos at U.S. polling places during summer primaries as the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Concerns about the virus have caused some election workers to stay home , while those who remain face rescheduled elections , new ad hoc social-distancing policies , and , in some cases , the project of massively scaling up their mail-in voting system .
( In Puerto Rico , as in a handful of states , absentee voting is still only offered to those with an excuse for why they can not vote in person , which is why voters there had little choice but to go to the polls in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grapple with the challenges of avoiding disease transmission on voting day and maintaining election security , President Trump has raised inaccurate and unsupported objections to mail-in voting and floated the prospect of delaying the U.S. presidential election , which he does not have the authority to do .

Puerto Rico's Primary Election On Sunday Was Historic — In A Bad Way
Enlarge this image toggle caption Danica Coto/AP Danica Coto/AP
Undaunted by the coronavirus pandemic, voters in Puerto Rico donned face masks on Sunday and headed out to local polling places to cast votes in a closely watched gubernatorial primary election.
There was just one problem: For many voters, there weren't any ballots.
By early afternoon on the day of the primary, only a handful of polling places had received their paper ballots, NPR's Joel Rose reported Sunday.
Voters and politicians alike were infuriated, Rose said. One candidate called the situation "embarrassing."
The primary election had already been delayed once, moved from June 7 to Aug. 9, because of the pandemic. Now the ballot shortage means that some precincts — the locations that did not have ballots available to start voting by 1:45 p.m. Sunday — will be open to cast ballots again next Sunday.
The unprecedented situation creates a legal gray area, Edgardo Román, president of the Bar Association of Puerto Rico, told The Associated Press. What happens to people who showed up at a polling place with no ballots and went home, never learning that their precinct had eventually opened? It's a scenario the law never anticipated, he told the wire service.
Román told AP this was the worst "electoral experience in the history of Puerto Rico."
It's not clear why ballots were not delivered on time. Political party officials laid blame with the island's election commission. The head of the election commission pointed the finger at a printing facility, according to the Miami Herald.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight and Management Board issued a statement Sunday evening saying it had fully funded the elections commission and a lack of money could not be to blame.
"The State Elections Commission has sufficient money, and it has more than enough staff to perform the one task it is charged with," the oversight board said in its statement, calling the ballot debacle "unacceptable" and the result of "inefficient organization."
It's the latest example of chaos at U.S. polling places during summer primaries as the pandemic has created new headaches for election officials. Concerns about the virus have caused some election workers to stay home, while those who remain face rescheduled elections, new ad hoc social-distancing policies, and, in some cases, the project of massively scaling up their mail-in voting system. (In Puerto Rico, as in a handful of states, absentee voting is still only offered to those with an excuse for why they cannot vote in person, which is why voters there had little choice but to go to the polls in person.)
Meanwhile, as election officials grapple with the challenges of avoiding disease transmission on voting day and maintaining election security, President Trump has raised inaccurate and unsupported objections to mail-in voting and floated the prospect of delaying the U.S. presidential election, which he does not have the authority to do.


npr--2020-08-10--In New Zealand, Life Is Ordinary Again After 101 Days With No Community Spread

In New Zealand , Life Is Ordinary Again After 101 Days With No Community Spread New Zealand has now gone 101 days without any community transmission of the coronavirus , and life in the country has largely returned to normal – an experience far different from the havoc that the virus is causing elsewhere in the world .
`` Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone , however , as we all know , we ca n't afford to be complacent , '' Dr. Ashley Bloomfield , New Zealand 's director-general of health , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control , and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand , '' he continued .
`` Every person in the team of 5 million has a role to play in this . ''
On Monday , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , director-general of the World Health Organization , called New Zealand `` a global exemplar . ''
How has New Zealand been so successful ?
Experts point to its quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We got on top of the clusters and isolated them before there were too many of them , '' epidemiologist Brian Cox at the University of Otago in Dunedin told NPR .
`` Once we realized it was a cluster epidemic , we worked really hard to isolate people that were infected and quarantine the rest of the people in that person 's network .
And we managed to achieve that for all the clusters that had developed . ''
Cox said , `` It was a lot of hard work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment we went into lockdown . ''
By the end of the country 's strict lockdown , all of the clusters had been contained .
Since then , the New Zealand Ministry of Health 's daily report has become remarkably boring amid the global pandemic .
Monday 's report : `` There are no new cases of COVID-19 to report in New Zealand today .
It has been 101 days since the last case of COVID-19 was acquired locally from an unknown source .
Two additional cases are reported as having recovered , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 in managed isolation facilities .
New Zealand 's total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,219 . ''
The country 's leaders continue to urge caution .
The government is asking people to use the NZ COVID Tracer smartphone app to log where they 've been in case contact tracers need to reach them .
New Zealanders are encouraged to add masks to their emergency kits in case of a future outbreak , though `` there 's no need to use them now , '' Bloomfield said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus under control in the island nation , Radio New Zealand 's Colin Peacock said life is really quite ordinary .
`` Shopping , movies , entertainment , going to bars , '' he said .
`` We can dance as close as we like to each other in nightclubs as late as we like .
So everything is just fine in that regard , and business is carrying on as normal . ''
New Zealand 's border remains closed to foreign nationals , and Kiwis returning home are forced to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference in daily life ?
`` That closed-down border , '' Peacock said .
Until the rest of the world gets the virus under control , New Zealand is an island nation in more than one sense .

In New Zealand, Life Was Ordinary Again With No Virus Spread, But It Didn't Last
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Baker/AP Mark Baker/AP
Updated at 4:51 p.m. ET Tuesday
New Zealand went 101 days without any community transmission of the coronavirus, and life in the country largely returned to normal – an experience far different from the havoc that the virus is causing elsewhere in the world.
"Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone, however, as we all know, we can't afford to be complacent," Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's director-general of health, said in a statement Sunday.
Indeed, on Tuesday authorities said four new cases had popped up without a clear indication of how they were spread.
Even so, the country's approach has been largely successful. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, had called New Zealand "a global exemplar" in a statement Monday.
Experts point to New Zealand's quick work in isolating any cases that emerged.
"We got on top of the clusters and isolated them before there were too many of them," epidemiologist Brian Cox at the University of Otago in Dunedin told NPR. "Once we realized it was a cluster epidemic, we worked really hard to isolate people that were infected and quarantine the rest of the people in that person's network. And we managed to achieve that for all the clusters that had developed."
Cox said, "It was a lot of hard work, and we did that at the moment we went into lockdown." By the end of the country's strict lockdown, all of those clusters had been contained.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health's daily report had become remarkably boring amid the global pandemic. Monday's report: "There are no new cases of COVID-19 to report in New Zealand today. It has been 101 days since the last case of COVID-19 was acquired locally from an unknown source. Two additional cases are reported as having recovered, so there are now 21 active cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation facilities. New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,219."
The country's leaders continued to urge caution. The government asked people to use the NZ COVID Tracer smartphone app to log where they've been in case contact tracers need to reach them. New Zealanders were encouraged to add masks to their emergency kits in case of a future outbreak, though "there's no need to use them now," Bloomfield said in a Facebook Live discussion last week.
While the authorities were finding no new cases, Radio New Zealand's Colin Peacock said life was really quite ordinary.
"Shopping, movies, entertainment, going to bars," he said. "We can dance as close as we like to each other in nightclubs as late as we like. So everything is just fine in that regard, and business is carrying on as normal."
New Zealand's border remains closed to foreign nationals, and Kiwis returning home are forced to follow a strict 14-day quarantine.
The big difference in daily life? "That closed-down border," Peacock said, with New Zealand being an island nation in more than one sense.
NPR's Ashley Westerman contributed to this report.


npr--2020-08-10--Lebanon's Prime Minister Resigns, Citing An 'Earthquake' Of Upheaval After Explosion

Lebanon 's Prime Minister Resigns , Citing An 'Earthquake ' Of Upheaval After Explosion Updated at 3:25 p.m .
ET Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his cabinet 's resignation Monday , responding to outrage over a catastrophic explosion in Beirut .
`` Today I announce the resignation of this government , '' Diab said in a national TV address .
`` May God protect Lebanon . ''
Diab 's speech was published by the National News Agency in Lebanon , the state-run media outlet .
His resignation came after last Tuesday 's deadly warehouse explosion — caused by 2,750 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's port — that killed at least 160 people , wounded thousands and left many homeless , destroying a portion of the city .
Public anger mounted after the blast , focusing on the carelessness that led to one of the worst explosions in Lebanon 's history .
The huge trove of dangerous material , which officials say was known about for years , had been allowed to languish in the port since 2013 .
Intense protests erupted , with many calling for top officials to `` resign or hang . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , with all its humanitarian , social , economic and national repercussions , '' Diab said .
With the prime minister 's resignation , it now falls to President Michel Aoun to determine the next steps .
After Diab presented his government 's resignation papers to Aoun late Monday , Aoun asked Diab and his ministers to continue performing their duties until a new government is installed , according the presidency 's Twitter account .
Diab , a 61-year-old professor and former minister of education , has only been in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over , Diab faced many of the same challenges that forced his predecessor , Saad Hariri , to resign .
Even before the recent disaster , Lebanon was seeing widespread and persistent protests over allegations of political corruption , and frustration with a deepening economic crisis .
Lebanon has a power-sharing government structure , where different groups are each represented by an arm of the government .
The political system mandates that the presidency must go to a Christian , the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system has been blamed for the country 's past political instability and division .
NPR has reported the split up nature of Lebanon 's system has made it difficult for citizens to organize effectively against leadership — and to secure meaningful political change .
Going forward , one option would be for Lebanon to hold early elections .
But Maha Yahya , the director of the Carnegie Middle East Center , said that will not be enough .
`` Calling for early elections prior to the explosion on Aug. 4 may have placated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yahya said .
`` We are way past that .
The scale of the tragedy and the depth of the anger is just too much . ''
The best-case scenario for moving forward , according to Yahya , is that an independent prime minister be named who would undertake economic reforms and `` put together an economic and financial rescue plan , but also to prepare for elections next year . ''
Yahya said the Lebanese people need to have a `` roadmap '' out of the pain they are experiencing — from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's dismal economy .
`` You need to explain to people why they 're going through this .
And those that are responsible will be held accountable , '' Yahya said .
`` And you have to show them the way out .
You need to show them there 's light at the end of the tunnel . ''
`` And given all the questions around the political legitimacy of the current political class , you give them a way to vote them out and vote whoever they think now represents them in @ @

Lebanon's Prime Minister Resigns, Citing An 'Earthquake' Of Upheaval After Explosion
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dalati Nohra/AP Dalati Nohra/AP
Updated at 3:25 p.m. ET
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his cabinet's resignation Monday, responding to outrage over a catastrophic explosion in Beirut.
"Today I announce the resignation of this government," Diab said in a national TV address. "May God protect Lebanon."
Diab's speech was published by the National News Agency in Lebanon, the state-run media outlet.
His resignation came after last Tuesday's deadly warehouse explosion — caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut's port — that killed at least 160 people, wounded thousands and left many homeless, destroying a portion of the city.
Public anger mounted after the blast, focusing on the carelessness that led to one of the worst explosions in Lebanon's history.
The huge trove of dangerous material, which officials say was known about for years, had been allowed to languish in the port since 2013. Intense protests erupted, with many calling for top officials to "resign or hang."
"We are facing an earthquake that struck the country, with all its humanitarian, social, economic and national repercussions," Diab said.
With the prime minister's resignation, it now falls to President Michel Aoun to determine the next steps.
After Diab presented his government's resignation papers to Aoun late Monday, Aoun asked Diab and his ministers to continue performing their duties until a new government is installed, according the presidency's Twitter account.
Diab, a 61-year-old professor and former minister of education, has only been in the role since January. When he took over, Diab faced many of the same challenges that forced his predecessor, Saad Hariri, to resign. Even before the recent disaster, Lebanon was seeing widespread and persistent protests over allegations of political corruption, and frustration with a deepening economic crisis.
Lebanon has a power-sharing government structure, where different groups are each represented by an arm of the government. The political system mandates that the presidency must go to a Christian, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament must be a Shiite Muslim.
This system has been blamed for the country's past political instability and division. NPR has reported the split up nature of Lebanon's system has made it difficult for citizens to organize effectively against leadership — and to secure meaningful political change.
Going forward, one option would be for Lebanon to hold early elections. But Maha Yahya, the director of the Carnegie Middle East Center, said that will not be enough.
"Calling for early elections prior to the explosion on Aug. 4 may have placated people, but not after," Yahya said. "We are way past that. The scale of the tragedy and the depth of the anger is just too much."
The best-case scenario for moving forward, according to Yahya, is that an independent prime minister be named who would undertake economic reforms and "put together an economic and financial rescue plan, but also to prepare for elections next year."
Yahya said the Lebanese people need to have a "roadmap" out of the pain they are experiencing — from the explosion but also from the country's dismal economy.
"You need to explain to people why they're going through this. And those that are responsible will be held accountable," Yahya said. "And you have to show them the way out. You need to show them there's light at the end of the tunnel."
"And given all the questions around the political legitimacy of the current political class, you give them a way to vote them out and vote whoever they think now represents them in."