npr--2020-12-01--'Some Good News': Student Reading Gains Are Steady, While Math Slows Down

New Report Offers Clearest Picture Yet Of Pandemic Impact On Student Learning A sweeping new review of national test data suggests the pandemic-driven jump to online learning has had little impact on children 's reading growth and has only somewhat slowed gains in math .
That positive news comes from the testing nonprofit NWEA and covers nearly 4.4 million U.S. students in grades three through eight .
But the report also includes a worrying caveat : Many of the nation 's most vulnerable students are missing from the data .
`` Preliminary fall data suggests that , on average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feared , '' says Beth Tarasawa , head of research at NWEA , in a news release accompanying the report .
`` While there 's some good news here , we want to stress that not all students are represented in the data , especially from our most marginalized communities . ''
Until now , estimates of learning loss have been just that — estimates or projections , based on the kind of academic backsliding schools see after a long summer .
This report offers the clearest picture yet of the impact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had on student learning .
The data at the heart of NWEA 's report come from what 's known to teachers and children alike as the MAP Growth test — a check-in assessment used to measure kids ' math and reading skills that 's generally given three times a year , in fall , winter and spring .
While millions of students took these MAP tests in the winter of 2020 , few took them again in the spring as schools raced ( and many struggled ) to provide learning online .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did take the test , either from home or back in a classroom .
And the results give researchers a vital new data point : a measure of where students are right now .
Tarasawa and her research team studied the data a few different ways .
First , they compared students ' performance this fall — in , say , third-grade reading — with the performance of a different group of students who took third-grade reading in the fall of 2019 , before the coronavirus pandemic .
Tarasawa tells NPR that with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reading were `` relatively optimistic '' because `` kids on average are performing similarly to how [ other children ] did pre-pandemic . ''
In math , the current pandemic class of students performed about 5 to 10 percentile points lower than the pre-pandemic comparison group — what Tarasawa describes as a `` moderate '' drop .
In addition to comparing two different groups of students , researchers also studied students ' individual growth over time , looking at where they were when they took the MAP test in the winter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now , in the fall of 2020 .
`` We saw , on average , students showed growth in both math and reading across the grade levels in almost all grades , '' says Tarasawa .
`` Most students made some learning gains in both reading and math since COVID started . ''
In short , students kept learning when schools shifted online ; they just did n't learn quite as much in math as they likely would have if there had never been a pandemic .
While the report 's findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning loss that is happening will still require patience and a thoughtful approach , says Aaliyah Samuel , NWEA 's executive vice president of government affairs and partnerships .
`` Addressing the unfinished learning is going to be a matter of time .
We really need to be thinking about the supports and interventions for kids over at least a two- or three-year runway . ''
Depending on the depth of learning lost , school districts could consider a range of options , including extending the school year or even enlisting a volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report is n't all good .
In an effort to be sure their 4.4 million-student sample , albeit large , was also representative of America 's classrooms , NWEA researchers dug into the demographics of this new data set and compared it with the earlier fall 2019 test data — a sample of nearly 5.2 million children .
What they found , Tarasawa says , is that roughly a quarter of students were missing — meaning they did n't take the MAP test this fall — and that these children are `` more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to be from high-poverty schools and more likely to have lower performance in the first place . ''
The researchers cite a host of possible reasons these students were n't able to take the latest test , including a lack of technology or Internet access at home as well as the possibility that some children have disengaged from school more broadly .
`` This is screaming that we have to be very cautious , '' says Tarasawa , about interpreting the relatively optimistic results in reading and even math as evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's just like any time you get a new puzzle , '' Samuel says .
`` The first thing you do is ... you start to look for the corners because those are usually the easiest to put together first . ''
That 's where we 're at now , she explains : building the edges of the puzzle .

New Report Offers Clearest Picture Yet Of Pandemic Impact On Student Learning
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A sweeping new review of national test data suggests the pandemic-driven jump to online learning has had little impact on children's reading growth and has only somewhat slowed gains in math. That positive news comes from the testing nonprofit NWEA and covers nearly 4.4 million U.S. students in grades three through eight. But the report also includes a worrying caveat: Many of the nation's most vulnerable students are missing from the data.
"Preliminary fall data suggests that, on average, students are faring better than we had feared," says Beth Tarasawa, head of research at NWEA, in a news release accompanying the report.
"While there's some good news here, we want to stress that not all students are represented in the data, especially from our most marginalized communities."
Until now, estimates of learning loss have been just that — estimates or projections, based on the kind of academic backsliding schools see after a long summer. This report offers the clearest picture yet of the impact that the past eight months of disruption have had on student learning.
The MAP Growth test
The data at the heart of NWEA's report come from what's known to teachers and children alike as the MAP Growth test — a check-in assessment used to measure kids' math and reading skills that's generally given three times a year, in fall, winter and spring.
While millions of students took these MAP tests in the winter of 2020, few took them again in the spring as schools raced (and many struggled) to provide learning online. But this fall, nearly 4.4 million children did take the test, either from home or back in a classroom. And the results give researchers a vital new data point: a measure of where students are right now.
Tarasawa and her research team studied the data a few different ways. First, they compared students' performance this fall — in, say, third-grade reading — with the performance of a different group of students who took third-grade reading in the fall of 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.
Tarasawa tells NPR that with this method of comparison, the results in reading were "relatively optimistic" because "kids on average are performing similarly to how [other children] did pre-pandemic." In math, the current pandemic class of students performed about 5 to 10 percentile points lower than the pre-pandemic comparison group — what Tarasawa describes as a "moderate" drop.
In addition to comparing two different groups of students, researchers also studied students' individual growth over time, looking at where they were when they took the MAP test in the winter of 2020 and comparing it with where they are now, in the fall of 2020.
"We saw, on average, students showed growth in both math and reading across the grade levels in almost all grades," says Tarasawa. "Most students made some learning gains in both reading and math since COVID started."
In short, students kept learning when schools shifted online; they just didn't learn quite as much in math as they likely would have if there had never been a pandemic.
Mitigating the learning loss that is happening will still require patience and a thoughtful approach, says Aaliyah Samuel, NWEA's executive vice president of government affairs and partnerships.
"Addressing the unfinished learning is going to be a matter of time. We really need to be thinking about the supports and interventions for kids over at least a two- or three-year runway."
Depending on the depth of learning lost, school districts could consider a range of options, including extending the school year or even enlisting a volunteer tutoring corps.
Roughly a quarter of students missing
The "good" news (and the not-so-good news) in this report also comes with an important and worrying red flag.
In an effort to be sure their 4.4 million-student sample, albeit large, was also representative of America's classrooms, NWEA researchers dug into the demographics of this new data set and compared it with the earlier fall 2019 test data — a sample of nearly 5.2 million children.
What they found, Tarasawa says, is that roughly a quarter of students were missing — meaning they didn't take the MAP test this fall — and that these children are "more likely to be black and brown, more likely to be from high-poverty schools and more likely to have lower performance in the first place."
The researchers cite a host of possible reasons these students weren't able to take the latest test, including a lack of technology or Internet access at home as well as the possibility that some children have disengaged from school more broadly.
"This is screaming that we have to be very cautious," says Tarasawa, about interpreting the relatively optimistic results in reading and even math as evidence that the kids are all right.
"It's just like any time you get a new puzzle," Samuel says. "The first thing you do is ... you start to look for the corners because those are usually the easiest to put together first."
That's where we're at now, she explains: building the edges of the puzzle.


npr--2020-12-01--Coronavirus Was In U.S. Weeks Earlier Than Previously Known, Study Says

Coronavirus Was In U.S .
Weeks Earlier Than Previously Known , Study Says The coronavirus was present in the U.S. weeks earlier than scientists and public health officials previously thought , and before cases in China were publicly identified , according to a new government study published Monday .
The virus and the illness that it causes , COVID-19 , was first identified in Wuhan , China , in December 2019 , but it was n't until Jan. 19 that the first confirmed COVID-19 case , from a traveler returning from China , was found in the U.S .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinical Infectious Diseases suggest that the coronavirus , known officially as SARS-CoV-2 , had infected people in the U.S. even earlier .
`` SARS-CoV-2 infections may have been present in the U.S. in December 2019 , earlier than previously recognized , '' the authors said .
This discovery adds to evidence that the virus was quietly spreading around the world before health officials and the public were aware , disrupting previous thinking of how the illness first emerged and how it has since evolved .
It also shows the virus 's presence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first case identified case in January .
Researchers came to this conclusion after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed blood donations collected by the American Red Cross from residents in nine states .
They found evidence of coronavirus antibodies in 106 out of 7,389 blood donations .
The CDC analyzed the blood collected between Dec. 13 and Jan. 17 .
The presence of antibodies in a person 's blood means they were exposed to a virus , in this case the coronavirus , and that their body 's immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found coronavirus antibodies in 39 samples from California , Oregon , and Washington as early as Dec. 13 to Dec. 16 .
They also discovered antibodies in 67 samples from Connecticut , Iowa , Massachusetts , Michigan , Rhode Island , and Wisconsin in early January — before widespread outbreaks in those states .
Despite the findings , widespread community transmission in the U.S. was unlikely until late February , the authors said .
`` These findings also highlight the value of blood donations as a source for conducting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance studies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report will help broaden health officials ' understanding of the pandemic as the world continues to grapple with COVID-19 , adding that the research might help in identifying what resources and public health interventions are needed to stop serious illness and death from COVID-19 .

Coronavirus Was In U.S. Weeks Earlier Than Previously Known, Study Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yana Paskova/Getty Images Yana Paskova/Getty Images
The coronavirus was present in the U.S. weeks earlier than scientists and public health officials previously thought, and before cases in China were publicly identified, according to a new government study published Monday.
The virus and the illness that it causes, COVID-19, were first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, but it wasn't until about Jan. 20 that the first confirmed COVID-19 case, from a traveler returning from China, was found in the U.S.
However, new findings published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases suggest that the coronavirus, known officially as SARS-CoV-2, had infected people in the U.S. even earlier.
"SARS-CoV-2 infections may have been present in the U.S. in December 2019, earlier than previously recognized," the authors said.
This discovery adds to evidence that the virus was quietly spreading around the world before health officials and the public were aware, disrupting previous thinking of how the illness first emerged and how it has since evolved. It also shows the virus's presence in U.S. communities likely didn't start with the first case identified case in January.
Researchers came to this conclusion after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed blood donations collected by the American Red Cross from residents in nine states. They found evidence of coronavirus antibodies in 106 out of 7,389 blood donations. The CDC analyzed the blood collected between Dec. 13 and Jan. 17.
The presence of antibodies in a person's blood means they were exposed to a virus, in this case the coronavirus, and that their body's immune system triggered a defensive response.
Researchers found coronavirus antibodies in 39 samples from California, Oregon, and Washington as early as Dec. 13 to Dec. 16. They also discovered antibodies in 67 samples from Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin in early January — before widespread outbreaks in those states.
Despite the findings, widespread community transmission in the U.S. was unlikely until late February, the authors said.
"These findings also highlight the value of blood donations as a source for conducting SARS-CoV-2 surveillance studies," they said.
The authors said the report will help broaden health officials' understanding of the pandemic as the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, adding that the research might help in identifying what resources and public health interventions are needed to stop serious illness and death from COVID-19.


npr--2020-11-30--Dr. Scott Atlas, Special Coronavirus Adviser To Trump Resigns

A controversial coronavirus adviser to the president , Dr. Scott Atlas , resigned Monday , a White House official told NPR .
Atlas , who is not an infectious disease expert and whose brief stint was marred by blunders and controversy , was tapped by the Trump administration to serve as special adviser to the president of the United States , in August .
Since then , `` the MRI guy '' has repeatedly been at odds with the nation 's leading health officials regarding his views on how to combat the spread of the virus , including members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But throughout his tenure , he has insisted all of the guidance he 's offered was based on scientific research .
`` I worked hard with a singular focus—to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic , '' Atlas wrote in a resignation letter posted to Twitter .
He added that he `` always relied on the latest science and evidence , without any political consideration or influence . ''
`` As time went on , like all scientists and health policy scholars , I learned new information and synthesized the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an effort to provide you with the best information to serve the greater public good , '' Atlas wrote .
Fox News reported that Atlas ' role was set to expire at the end of the week .
Trump was attracted to Atlas ' views , which put the economy first , but public health experts were appalled by his lack of scientific rigor .
Among the theories that most worried experts is Atlas ' belief that allowing the coronavirus to spread would eventually result in `` herd immunity , '' describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of biology and immunology .
Atlas ' field of expertise is in magnetic resonance imaging .
He wrote a book on the subject and co-authored numerous scientific studies on the economics of medical imaging technology .
He was also a professor and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center from 1998 to 2012 , according to a university biography .
`` He 's an MRI guy ...
He has no expertise in any of this stuff , '' Dr. Ashish Jha , the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic that has killed nearly 267,000 people in the U.S. '' He 's been bringing out arguments that have been refuted week after week , month after month , since the beginning of this outbreak , '' Jha added .
Atlas also made numerous political blunders during his brief stint , including a lengthy interview with Russian state media that ran just days before the U.S. presidential election .
He later apologized for the misstep saying he `` was unaware they are a registered foreign agent . ''
`` I regret doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taken advantage of , '' Atlas said in a tweet .
`` I especially apologize to the national security community who is working hard to defend us . ''
And earlier this month , Stanford University appeared to distance itself from Atlas following his remarks that residents of Michigan should `` rise up '' against the state 's new coronavirus restrictions .
Atlas took a leave of absence from his position as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution , a conservative-leaning think tank based at the university , to serve as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently as late October , Atlas was believed to be among Trump and the Vice President Mike Pence 's closest advisers on the pandemic , Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health , told NPR .
Atlas has been highly critical of the lockdowns enforced by various state and municipal leaders — a strategy he continued to oppose in his farewell letter .
Since Atlas began his job in August , nearly one hundred thousand people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. Atlas did have encouraging words for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sincerely wish the new team all the best as they guide the nation through these trying , polarized times , '' Atlas wrote .
`` With the emerging treatments and vaccines , I remain highly optimistic that America will thrive once again and overcome the adversity of the pandemic and all that it has entailed . ''

Dr. Scott Atlas, Special Coronavirus Adviser To Trump, Resigns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
A controversial coronavirus adviser to the president, Dr. Scott Atlas, resigned Monday, a White House official told NPR.
Atlas, who is not an infectious disease expert and whose brief stint was marred by blunders and controversy, was tapped by the Trump administration to serve as special adviser to the president in August. Since then, "the MRI guy" has repeatedly been at odds with the nation's leading health officials regarding his views on how to combat the spread of the virus, including members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Throughout his tenure, he has insisted all of the guidance he has offered was based on scientific research.
"I worked hard with a singular focus—to save lives and help Americans through this pandemic," Atlas wrote in a resignation letter posted to Twitter.
He added that he "always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence."
"As time went on, like all scientists and health policy scholars, I learned new information and synthesized the latest data from around the world, all in an effort to provide you with the best information to serve the greater public good," Atlas wrote.
Fox News reported that Atlas' role was set to expire at the end of the week.
President Trump was attracted to Atlas' views, which put the economy first, but public health experts were appalled by his lack of scientific rigor.
Among the theories that most worried experts is Atlas' belief that allowing the coronavirus to spread would eventually result in "herd immunity," describing it as a "basic principle" of biology and immunology.
As NPR reported:
"In April on the conservative Steve Deace Show, Atlas spoke in favor of allowing the virus to pass through the younger segments of the population, while trying to protect older Americans. " 'We can allow a lot of people to get infected,' he said. 'Those who are not at risk to die or have a serious hospital-requiring illness, we should be fine with letting them get infected, generating immunity on their own, and the more immunity in the community, the better we can eradicate the threat of the virus.' "
Atlas' field of expertise is in magnetic resonance imaging. He wrote a book on the subject and co-authored numerous scientific studies on the economics of medical imaging technology. He was also a professor and chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center from 1998 to 2012, according to a university biography.
"He's an MRI guy. ... He has no expertise in any of this stuff," Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told NPR in a September story. The COVID-19 pandemic has now killed more than 267,000 people in the U.S.
"He's been bringing out arguments that have been refuted week after week, month after month, since the beginning of this outbreak," Jha added.
Atlas also made numerous political blunders during his brief stint, including a lengthy interview with Russian state media that ran just days before the U.S. presidential election.
He later apologized for the misstep saying he "was unaware they are a registered foreign agent."
"I regret doing the interview and apologize for allowing myself to be taken advantage of," Atlas said in a tweet. "I especially apologize to the national security community who is working hard to defend us."
And earlier this month, Stanford University appeared to distance itself from Atlas following his remarks that residents of Michigan should "rise up" against the state's new coronavirus restrictions.
Atlas took a leave of absence from his position as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a conservative-leaning think tank based at the university, to serve as an adviser to the president.
As recently as late October, Atlas was believed to be among Trump and the Vice President Pence's closest advisers on the pandemic, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told NPR.
Atlas has been highly critical of the lockdowns enforced by various state and municipal leaders — a strategy he continued to oppose in his farewell letter.
Since Atlas began his job in August, nearly 100,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S.
Atlas did have encouraging words for the incoming Biden administration.
"I sincerely wish the new team all the best as they guide the nation through these trying, polarized times," Atlas wrote. "With the emerging treatments and vaccines, I remain highly optimistic that America will thrive once again and overcome the adversity of the pandemic and all that it has entailed."
NPR's Geoff Brumfiel contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-01--Justice Department Investigating Possible Bribery-For-Pardon Scheme

The Justice Department is investigating a possible secret scheme involving a bribe in exchange for a presidential pardon , according to court documents unsealed Tuesday .
The 18-page court opinion is heavily redacted , and the names of the individuals under investigation are blacked out as is the identity of the person to be pardoned under the alleged plan .
Still , the filings provide a glimpse into what investigators are probing .
The federal court order , signed by Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington , D.C. , is dated Aug. 28 .
It stems from her review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to document a secret lobbying scheme and a related bribery-for-pardon scheme .
The filing says a government filter team was sorting through more than 50 digital devices such as iPhones and laptops as part of an investigation when they came across emails pointing to the two alleged schemes .
The secret lobbying scheme , the document says , allegedly involved two individuals whose names are redacted who lobbied senior White House officials to try to secure clemency for a third individual whose name is blacked out .
The related bribery conspiracy allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence '' for an individual whose identity is redacted .
News of the investigation was first reported by CNN .
A Justice Department official , speaking on condition of anonymity , said : `` no government official was or is currently a subject or target of the investigation disclosed in this filing . ''
The fight over the communications revolved around whether the emails were covered by attorney-client privilege , which would shield them from the government .
Chief Judge Howell ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials because each of the emails in question was sent to an individual who is not a lawyer .
`` The attorney-client privilege applies only when the participants in the communication are the client and the client 's attorney , who is a 'member of the bar , ' `` Howell wrote .
The decision means prosecutors can use the materials to confront the subjects of the investigation .

Justice Department Investigating Possible Bribery-For-Pardon Scheme
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Updated at 10:53 p.m. ET
The Justice Department is investigating a possible secret scheme involving a bribe in exchange for a presidential pardon, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.
The 18-page court opinion is heavily redacted, and the names of the individuals under investigation are blacked out, as is the identity of the person to be pardoned under the alleged plan. Still, the filings provide a glimpse into what investigators are probing.
The federal court order, signed by Chief Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., is dated Aug. 28. It stems from her review of a government request to access certain communications believed to document a secret lobbying scheme and a related bribery-for-pardon scheme.
The filing says a government filter team was sorting through more than 50 digital devices such as iPhones and laptops as part of an investigation when they came across emails pointing to the two alleged schemes.
The secret lobbying scheme, the document says, allegedly involved two individuals whose names are redacted who lobbied senior White House officials to try to secure clemency for a third individual whose name is blacked out.
The related bribery conspiracy allegedly involved the offer of "a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence" for an individual whose identity is redacted.
News of the investigation was first reported by CNN.
A Justice Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "No government official was or is currently a subject or target of the investigation disclosed in this filing."
The fight over the communications revolved around whether the emails were covered by attorney-client privilege, which would shield them from the government.
Chief Judge Howell ultimately found that the emails were not privileged materials because each of the emails in question was sent to an individual who is not a lawyer.
"The attorney-client privilege applies only when the participants in the communication are the client and the client's attorney, who is a 'member of the bar,' " Howell wrote.
The decision means prosecutors can use the materials to confront the subjects of the investigation.
In a tweet Tuesday evening, President Trump called the investigation "Fake News!"


npr--2020-12-01--'Someone's Going To Get Killed': Ga. Official Blasts GOP Silence On Election Threats

'Someone 's Going To Get Killed ' : Ga. Official Blasts GOP Silence On Election Threats A top election official in Georgia had scathing words for President Trump and other top Republican leaders who have been attacking Georgia 's election system in recent weeks after a spate of reported harassment and death threats during the state 's recount .
A Twitter thread accusing a young technician of altering votes in Gwinnett County led to his identity being released and calls for him to be `` hung for treason . ''
Caravans of horn-honking Trump supporters constantly parade past Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife has received sexually explicit threats .
President Trump himself has suggested that Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp `` call off election '' and falsely suggested he won the state 's 16 electoral votes .
`` Someone 's going to get hurt , someone 's going to get shot , someone 's going to get killed , '' Gabriel Sterling with the secretary of state 's office said Monday afternoon in an emotional and forceful press conference .
`` It 's not right . ''
Sterling , a fixture in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election information and factoids about the complicated counting processes , unloaded on Trump , both Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue and other GOP officials that have egged on the party 's base to believe in widespread fraud .
`` It has to stop , '' he said .
`` Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this language or these actions .
This has to stop .
We need you to step up .
And if you take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Sterling said the proverbial straw that broke the camel 's back was a report that a Gwinnett County technician was outed and receiving death threats after a video circulated online purportedly showing him manipulating data as part of an official recount .
`` A 20-something tech in Gwinnett County today has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it , '' Sterling said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's a noose out there with his name on it .
And it 's not right .
I 've got police protection outside my house .
Fine .
You know , I took a higher profile job .
I get it , the Secretary ran for office , his wife knew that too .
This kid took a job .
He just took a job , and it 's just wrong . ''
Ron Watkins , the former administrator of extremist site 8kun that played host to posts from the Qanon conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosters of that video .
Watkins has also encouraged followers to monitor and livestream several county elections warehouses in search of evidence of impropriety .
Tuesday afternoon , police were called to a Gwinnett County location where a man who was livestreaming had followed workers he believed were secretly transporting voting machines in violation of a court order .
On the video , an officer explained that boxes were full of office phones , and told the man he was trespassing .
The president , both of Georgia 's U.S. senators , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the chair of the Republican Party of Georgia have all cast doubt on the 2020 election process with little to no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing .
Sterling said those leaders , especially Perdue and Loeffler , need to `` step up '' and fight back against conspiracies .
`` You have to be responsible in your rhetoric , you have to be responsible in your statements , you have to be responsible in your deeds , '' Sterling said .
`` That should n't be too much to ask for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility . ''
In response , both Perdue and Loeffler said they condemn any sort of violence , but wo n't apologize for their harsh questioning of Georgia 's election administration .
`` Good afternoon .
My name is Gabriel Sterling and I 'm the voting system implementation manager for State of Georgia .
And just to give you a heads up , this is going to be sort of a two-part press conference today .
At the beginning of this , I 'm going to do my best to keep it together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far .
All of it .
Joe diGenova today asked for Chris Krebs , a patriot who ran CISA , to be shot .
A 20-something tech in Gwinnett County today has death threats and a noose put out , saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it .
It has to stop .
Mr. President , you have not condemned these actions or this language .
Senators , you have not condemned this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop .
We need you to step up .
And if you take a position of leadership , show some .
My boss , Secretary Raffensperger — his address is out there .
They have people doing caravans in front of their house , they 've had people come onto their property .
Tricia , his wife of 40 years , is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone .
It has to stop .
This is elections , this is the backbone of democracy , and all of you who have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
It 's too much .
Yes , fight for every single vote .
Go through your due process , we encourage you — use your First Amendment .
That 's fine .
Death threats , physical threats , intimidation — it 's too much .
It 's not right .
We 've lost the moral high ground to claim that it is .
I do n't have all the best words to do this because I 'm angry , and the straw that broke the camel 's back today is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting system company just trying to do his job .
In fact , I talked to Dominion today and they said he 's one of the better ones they got .
His family is getting harassed now .
There 's a noose out there with his name on it .
And it 's not right .
I 've got police protection outside my house .
Fine .
You know , I took a higher-profile job .
I get it , Secretary ran for office , his wife knew that , too .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a job , and it 's just wrong .
I ca n't begin to explain the level of anger I have right now over this , and every American , every Georgian , Republican and Democrat alike , should have that same level of anger .
Mr. President .
It looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia .
We 're investigating .
There 's always a possibility , I get it , and you have the rights to go through the courts .
What you do n't have the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step up and say this — is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence .
Someone 's going to get hurt .
Someone 's going to get shot .
Someone 's going to get killed .
And it 's not right .
It 's not right .
And I do n't have anything scripted — this is like I said , I will do my best to keep it together .
All of this is wrong .
DiGenova , who said for Chris Krebs to get shot , is a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The people around the president know better .
Mr. President , as the secretary said yesterday , people are n't giving you the best advice on what 's actually going on the ground .
It 's time to look forward if you want to run for reelection in four years .
Fine , do it .
But everything we 're seeing right now , there 's not a path .
Be the bigger man here and stop .
Step in , tell your supporters : Do n't be violent , do n't intimidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's unAmerican .
I do n't know what else to say on that front .
I mean , these are elections .
One of our goals was to make elections boring again .
Well , guess what ?
That did n't happen .
This is all wrong .
It 's all too much , and that 's I 'll leave that for there . ''

'Someone's Going To Get Killed': Ga. Official Blasts GOP Silence On Election Threats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brynn Anderson/AP Brynn Anderson/AP
Updated at 10:55 p.m. ET
A top election official in Georgia had strong words for President Trump and other top Republican leaders who have attacked Georgia's election system in recent weeks after reports of harassment and death threats against officials overseeing the state's recount.
"Someone's going to get hurt, someone's going to get shot, someone's going to get killed," Gabriel Sterling, with the secretary of state's office, said Tuesday afternoon in an emotional and forceful news conference. "It's not right."
Among other things, a Twitter thread accusing a young technician working on the recount of altering votes led to his identity being released and calls for him to be "hung for treason."
Meanwhile, caravans of horn-honking Trump supporters constantly parade past Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's private residence, and his wife has reportedly received sexually explicit threats. The president himself, who has falsely suggested he won Georgia's 16 electoral votes, has called on Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to overturn the election.
In a tweet Tuesday evening responding to Sterling's news conference, Trump again falsely alleged massive voter fraud in Georgia.
Sterling, a fixture in recent weeks as a calm, even-tempered source of election information and factoids about the complicated counting processes, unloaded on Trump, both Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue and other GOP officials that have egged on the party's base to believe in widespread fraud.
"It has to stop," he said. "Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up. And if you take a position of leadership, show some."
Sterling said the situation came to a head with a report that a Gwinnett County technician was outed and receiving death threats after a video circulated online purportedly showing him manipulating data as part of an official recount.
YouTube
"A 20-something tech in Gwinnett County today has death threats and a noose put out saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it," Sterling said.
"His family is getting harassed now. There's a noose out there with his name on it. And it's not right," he said, adding: "I've got police protection outside my house. Fine. You know, I took a higher-profile job. I get it, the secretary ran for office; his wife knew that, too. This kid took a job. He just took a job, and it's just wrong."
Ron Watkins, the former administrator of extremist site 8kun that played host to posts from the QAnon conspiracy theory, was one of the main boosters of that video. Watkins has also encouraged followers to monitor and livestream several county elections warehouses in search of evidence of impropriety.
Tuesday afternoon, police were called to a Gwinnett County location where a man who was livestreaming video followed workers he believed were secretly transporting voting machines in violation of a court order. In the video, an officer explained that boxes were full of office phones and told the man he was trespassing.
Trump, both of Georgia's U.S. senators, many House members, several GOP state lawmakers and the chair of the Republican Party of Georgia have all cast doubt on the 2020 election process with little to no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing.
Sterling said those leaders, especially Perdue and Loeffler, need to "step up" and fight back against conspiracies.
"You have to be responsible in your rhetoric, you have to be responsible in your statements, you have to be responsible in your deeds," Sterling said. "That shouldn't be too much to ask for people who asked for us to give them responsibility.
In response, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said: "The campaign is focused on ensuring that all legal votes are counted and all illegal votes are not. No one should engage in threats or violence, and if that has happened, we condemn that fully."
Both Perdue and Loeffler said they condemn any sort of violence but won't apologize for their harsh questioning of Georgia's election administration.
Read Sterling's full remarks below:
"Good afternoon. My name is Gabriel Sterling and I'm the voting system implementation manager for State of Georgia. And just to give you a heads up, this is going to be sort of a two-part press conference today. At the beginning of this, I'm going to do my best to keep it together.
Because it has all gone too far. All of it.
Joe diGenova today asked for Chris Krebs, a patriot who ran CISA, to be shot. A 20-something tech in Gwinnett County today has death threats and a noose put out, saying he should be hung for treason because he was transferring a report on batches from an EMS to a county computer so he could read it.
It has to stop.
Mr. President, you have not condemned these actions or this language. Senators, you have not condemned this language or these actions. This has to stop. We need you to step up. And if you take a position of leadership, show some.
My boss, Secretary Raffensperger — his address is out there. They have people doing caravans in front of their house, they've had people come onto their property. Tricia, his wife of 40 years, is getting sexualized threats through her cellphone.
It has to stop.
This is elections, this is the backbone of democracy, and all of you who have not said a damn word are complicit in this. It's too much.
Yes, fight for every single vote. Go through your due process, we encourage you — use your First Amendment. That's fine. Death threats, physical threats, intimidation — it's too much. It's not right. We've lost the moral high ground to claim that it is.
I don't have all the best words to do this because I'm angry, and the straw that broke the camel's back today is, again, this 20-year-old contractor for a voting system company just trying to do his job. In fact, I talked to Dominion today and they said he's one of the better ones they got. His family is getting harassed now. There's a noose out there with his name on it. And it's not right.
I've got police protection outside my house. Fine. You know, I took a higher-profile job. I get it, Secretary ran for office, his wife knew that, too. This kid took a job. He just took a job, and it's just wrong.
I can't begin to explain the level of anger I have right now over this, and every American, every Georgian, Republican and Democrat alike, should have that same level of anger.
Mr. President, it looks like you likely lost the state of Georgia. We're investigating. There's always a possibility, I get it, and you have the rights to go through the courts. What you don't have the ability to do — and you need to step up and say this — is stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence. Someone's going to get hurt. Someone's going to get shot. Someone's going to get killed. And it's not right.
It's not right. And I don't have anything scripted — this is like I said, I will do my best to keep it together. All of this is wrong. DiGenova, who said for Chris Krebs to get shot, is a former U.S. attorney. He knows better. The people around the president know better.
Mr. President, as the secretary said yesterday, people aren't giving you the best advice on what's actually going on the ground. It's time to look forward if you want to run for reelection in four years. Fine, do it. But everything we're seeing right now, there's not a path. Be the bigger man here and stop. Step in, tell your supporters: Don't be violent, don't intimidate. All that's wrong. It's unAmerican.
I don't know what else to say on that front. I mean, these are elections. One of our goals was to make elections boring again. Well, guess what? That didn't happen. This is all wrong. It's all too much, and that's I'll leave that for there."


npr--2020-12-01--How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress

How The Coronavirus Has Affected Individual Members Of Congress Updated on Dec. 1 at 6:55 p.m .
ET The coronavirus pandemic continues to upend the daily work of Congress , which has seen a series of outbreaks .
By November , more than 25 members of Congress and at least 150 workers have tested positive , or were presumed so , for the coronavirus .
And a Florida member 's aide died this summer from COVID-19 .
As a result , both chambers of Congress have recessed multiple times throughout the year as the Capitol has largely gone without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Democrat-controlled House installed emergency proxy voting and remote hearings earlier this year .
And in November , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi triggered a broader COVID-19 testing program for Congress following a new requirement for travelers to the Washington , D.C. , area .
But the plan to test as many as 2,000 a week still falls woefully short for a Capitol complex that includes more than 530 lawmakers and a workforce of 20,000 or more .
Before traveling to Washington , D.C. , for a November session , several House members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alaska Republican Don Young .
Others included outgoing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Republican Tim Walberg of Michigan .
A previous outbreak was tied to a September White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce Amy Coney Barrett as President Trump 's Supreme Court justice nominee .
Trump , first lady Melania Trump and dozens of others in attendance tested positive , including Republican Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina .
It was one of several instances forcing a recess for Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since its March beginnings , as House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members for several weeks in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing .
The Senate returned in May , but the much larger House still stayed mostly away as a result of advice from the attending physician to Congress .
That same month , the House approved historic rule changes to allow remote voting and hearings .
The initial rash of cases began March 8 , when two Republican lawmakers , Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress to announce self-quarantines .
Both had attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor , Md.
, where an attendee at the conference had fallen ill .
The following week , the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus illness .
Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 vote on a coronavirus relief package .
By this summer , dozens of Capitol workers reported a positive test or were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a longtime staffer for Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida , died from COVID-19 on July 24 .
Some lawmakers have taken antibody tests to see if they were previously ill .
Among them , Democratic Sens .
Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring .
To stem the flow of new cases , both chambers issued new social distancing guidance .
Also , the U.S. Capitol remains closed to public tours and open only to members , staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In late July , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a new mask mandate after Rep. Louie Gohmert , R-Texas , who has often rejected mask protocols , tested positive .
Gohmert had attended several hearings a day before testing and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection .
Gohmert 's case triggered quarantines for five House members , including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva .
Days later , Grijalva tested positive , but fully recovered symptom free .
Now , members can be forcibly removed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor if they are not wearing masks .
This story was originally published on April 15 , 2020 .

Congress and COVID-19: members' cases and quarantines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Editor's note: This page is no longer updating as of Dec. 31, 2021.
A number of congressional lawmakers experienced breakthrough COVID-19 infections as coronavirus cases rose nationwide with the spread of the omicron variant.
Earlier in 2021, Congress went months with no coronavirus cases among its members. That came a halt amid a national surge driven by the delta variant, when Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan of Florida and Clay Higgins of Louisiana reported infections in July. Buchanan says he was fully vaccinated, but that was less clear for Higgins.
At least another dozen members followed throughout the fall with news they had also tested positive for coronavirus; many of those infections involving vaccinated Senate and House members.
Before these latest waves, Congress' nearly six-month case pause came after a majority of more than 500 lawmakers were fully vaccinated by January. The Capitol's attending physician then lifted much of the mask mandates that dominated the past year. However, a minority of House Republican members have refused to seek vaccination.
Lawmakers impact by the coronavirus
This new threat arrives after the coronavirus already exacted a large toll on the Capitol.
Last year, the pandemic upended daily work for months, sickening dozens of members and hundreds of workers. A sitting congressman, a member-elect and an aide died.
By February 2021, more than 60 lawmakers and 360 Capitol Hill workers had tested positive, or were presumed so, for the coronavirus, according to NPR's tracker and congressional aides.
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See a list of all members who tested positive or quarantined.
That same month, Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, became the first sitting member of Congress to die after a more than two-week battle with COVID-19. In December, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow of Louisiana died days before he was due to be sworn in for a seat that was later filled in April by his widow, Rep. Julia Letlow, following a special election.
And last summer, an aide to Buchanan died from COVID-19.
The rash of infections among members continued at a consistent pace since the pandemic began, with the longest stretch without any such cases lasting about three weeks during recess periods away from Washington, D.C.
But this past March, Capitol Hill began its first month-long stretch without any reported cases or quarantines among members. The most recent positive case before July was reported by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., on Jan. 29, despite his having received his second dose of the vaccine days earlier.
Another member, House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., reported that she quarantined on Feb. 1. It ended Feb. 8 without a report of a positive test.
January 6 insurrection caused spike in cases on Capitol Hill
Up until this summer, the most recent outbreak of cases on Capitol Hill for members was triggered by the Jan. 6 insurrection, which forced members to cluster together in rooms for several hours. Some House Republicans were seen refusing to wear masks during the ordeal.
Later, Monahan told Congress that at least one of these holding rooms for House members included a lawmaker who was already positive.
More than a half-dozen members quarantined as a result, and several tested positive, including Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey and Brad Schneider of Illinois.
In all, January proved to be one of members' worst month for the coronavirus, with at least 16 lawmakers testing positive. Before the insurrection, the House met to launch a new session before reinstating rules allowing proxy voting.
This, as congressional leaders and lawmakers received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which became available to members in December. The doses were provided to meet long-standing requirements for continuity of government operations, Monahan told members in a Dec. 17 note.
Pandemic impacted congressional operations
Ahead of the vaccinations, both chambers of Congress recessed multiple times last year as the Capitol went largely without a widespread testing program.
The Democratic-controlled House installed emergency proxy voting and remote hearings in May 2020, and Pelosi extended the covered period several times due to the pandemic. It remains in place until at least until mid-August.
In November, Pelosi triggered a broader coronavirus testing program for Congress following new requirement for travelers to the Washington, D.C., area.
Pelosi has previously said with about 75% of House members vaccinated, and several Republicans who refuse to do so, she's unclear when Congress will fully get back to normal.
"One of the most substantial steps that can be taken is that everybody should be vaccinated," Pelosi told reporters in March, later adding, "We need 100% of the members vaccinated, because it just takes one to endanger others."
The pandemic delayed other rituals, such as President Biden's first address before a joint session of Congress, which was held with only 200 socially distanced guests on April 28.
Last year remains a reminder of how quickly outbreaks spiraled out of control among lawmakers.
In December, at least nine House members, including six Republicans, tested positive for the coronavirus. And November proved to be another one of the worst months of the pandemic for Congress, when at least 15 lawmakers said they were infected, including two of the oldest, Republicans Rep. Don Young of Alaska and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
A previous outbreak in September was tied to a White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce Amy Coney Barrett as then-President Donald Trump's Supreme Court justice nominee. Trump, then-first lady Melania Trump and dozens of others in attendance tested positive, including Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
It was one of several instances forcing leaders to change the congressional schedule.
Starting in the first month of the pandemic, in March 2020, House and Senate leaders delayed bringing back members in light of public health guidelines recommending social distancing.
The Senate returned in May 2020, but the much larger House remained mostly away under the advice of Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician. That same month, the House approved its historic rule changes to allow remote voting and hearings.
The first spate of cases began March 8, 2020, when two Republican lawmakers, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, were the first members of Congress to announce self-quarantines. Both attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., where another guest fell ill.
The following week, the first two members of Congress said they tested positive for the coronavirus. Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and then-Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah both said they developed symptoms after a March 14 floor vote on a coronavirus relief package.
By last summer, dozens of Capitol workers reported a positive test or were presumed so, and Gary Tibbetts, a longtime staffer for Buchanan died from COVID-19 on July 24.
Some lawmakers also took antibody tests to see if they were previously infected. They include Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who both said they tested positive months after experiencing symptoms in the spring.
To stem the flow of new cases, both chambers early on issued new social distancing guidance. Also, the U.S. Capitol closed to public tours and remained open only to members, staff, the press and official business visitors, and aside from the Jan. 6 breach by pro-Trump extremists, it has remained so.
In late July 2020, Pelosi also issued a temporary, new mask mandate after Texas GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, who often rejected such protocols, tested positive. Gohmert had attended several hearings a day earlier and returned to the Capitol following a White House screening that caught his infection.
Gohmert's case triggered quarantines for five House members, including Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Days later, Grijalva tested positive but fully recovered symptom free. Until recent changes lifting the mask mandates, members could be fined or be forcibly removed by Capitol Police if they are not wearing masks.


npr--2020-12-01--Psychologist Says Tailored Messaging Is Key For Effective Public Health Policy

Psychologist Says Tailored Messaging Is Key For Effective Public Health Policy For public health leaders , understanding different communication styles and preferences — and how people respond to them — is key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus .
Humans often do n't behave logically .
Their decisions do n't always follow the evidence .
Those are among the ideas that Gaurav Suri considers in his work studying decision-making and motivation .
He 's an experimental psychologist and a computational neuroscientist at San Francisco State University .
Not surprisingly , choosing the right words matters a lot when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic as how public health officials talk about wearing a mask — for example , as `` protection '' instead of a `` mandate , '' could make a difference , Suri says .
Here are excerpts from Suri 's interview with All Things Considered .
Can you help us understand why it 's been difficult for the public health community to convey messages that we can embrace ?
I think just as psychology enters into understanding our own behavior , psychology must inform how we talk about and set public policy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' is not a pleasant word for many people .
When the same policy is framed as a `` mask mandate , '' Republicans are inclined to receive it a lot less favorably than they are when it is framed as a `` protection plan . ''
Now , this is just a facet of our culture , this is how it is .
But if any public policy is going to work , it 's very important that it be compatible with people 's communication preferences and styles and what they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are just not open to the word `` mandate . ''
Making big changes requires us to tailor and communicate public policy in a way that 's going to be open for all segments of the population .
Given what you 've learned when you read news reports about people who claim they do n't believe that the disease is real or that it 's like the flu or even comments from the White House , how do you think about that in the context of your work ?
I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a existential threat to our culture .
I understand why it 's happening .
I think it 's happening because we take belonging to social tribes very seriously .
And the president has sent signals that , `` Look , all this mask wearing is not a very necessary thing to do . ''
And so it 's sort of become a symbol .
And people who value their belonging to that social tribe are trying to reduce dissonance .
Because on the one hand , they say , `` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other hand , there 's all these news reports about the severity of the pandemic .
So how do you reduce dissonance ?
You just deny one aspect of what 's producing the dissonance in this case .
They deny that this is a serious disease .
I think that 's risky , not just to themselves , but to their loved ones , to their networks , to the entire country .
We have to start communicating better about science than we have been .
What do you think the incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there anything they can do messaging-wise that would make the difference ?
I think it 's very important not to politicize this issue at all .
But it feels late for that .
Yeah , it is late for that , but the point I want to make is that if the Biden administration is talking to roughly half the country and not to the other half , any policy they come up with is not going to work .
It 's very important that whatever policy gets implemented is at least somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pandemic does n't care about our little political camps , so we ca n't have two responses , one for Democrats and one for Republicans .
And I think therefore tailoring the message so it 's acceptable to every American is extremely important .
...
I think that having messaging that 's presented as a protection plan : `` I am a protector , '' `` I 'm going to protect my family and my loved ones , '' is more likely to win in the long run .
Art Silverman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio interview .
James Doubek produced for the Web .

Psychologist Says Tailored Messaging Is Key For Effective Public Health Policy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Makela/Getty Images Mark Makela/Getty Images
For public health leaders, understanding different communication styles and preferences — and how people respond to them — is key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus.
Humans often don't behave logically. Their decisions don't always follow the evidence.
Those are among the ideas that Gaurav Suri considers in his work studying decision-making and motivation. He's an experimental psychologist and a computational neuroscientist at San Francisco State University.
Not surprisingly, choosing the right words matters a lot when it comes to public policy.
Something as basic as how public health officials talk about wearing a mask — for example, as "protection" instead of a "mandate," could make a difference, Suri says.
History From Cholera To Seat Belts: History Of Americans Reacting To Public Health Messages From Cholera To Seat Belts: History Of Americans Reacting To Public Health Messages Listen · 7:53 7:53
Here are excerpts from Suri's interview with All Things Considered.
Can you help us understand why it's been difficult for the public health community to convey messages that we can embrace?
I think just as psychology enters into understanding our own behavior, psychology must inform how we talk about and set public policy. For example, the word "mandate" is not a pleasant word for many people. When the same policy is framed as a "mask mandate," Republicans are inclined to receive it a lot less favorably than they are when it is framed as a "protection plan."
Now, this is just a facet of our culture, this is how it is. But if any public policy is going to work, it's very important that it be compatible with people's communication preferences and styles and what they're going to be open to. Many people are just not open to the word "mandate." Making big changes requires us to tailor and communicate public policy in a way that's going to be open for all segments of the population.
Given what you've learned when you read news reports about people who claim they don't believe that the disease is real or that it's like the flu or even comments from the White House, how do you think about that in the context of your work?
I think it's a disaster. I think this is a existential threat to our culture. I understand why it's happening. I think it's happening because we take belonging to social tribes very seriously. And the president has sent signals that, "Look, all this mask wearing is not a very necessary thing to do."
And so it's sort of become a symbol. And people who value their belonging to that social tribe are trying to reduce dissonance. Because on the one hand, they say, "We're not wearing a mask." And the other hand, there's all these news reports about the severity of the pandemic.
So how do you reduce dissonance? You just deny one aspect of what's producing the dissonance in this case. They deny that this is a serious disease. I think that's risky, not just to themselves, but to their loved ones, to their networks, to the entire country. We have to start communicating better about science than we have been.
What do you think the incoming Biden administration can do differently? Is there anything they can do messaging-wise that would make the difference?
I think it's very important not to politicize this issue at all.
But it feels late for that.
Yeah, it is late for that, but the point I want to make is that if the Biden administration is talking to roughly half the country and not to the other half, any policy they come up with is not going to work. It's very important that whatever policy gets implemented is at least somewhat acceptable to the entirety of the country. The pandemic doesn't care about our little political camps, so we can't have two responses, one for Democrats and one for Republicans. And I think therefore tailoring the message so it's acceptable to every American is extremely important. ...
I think that having messaging that's presented as a protection plan: "I am a protector," "I'm going to protect my family and my loved ones," is more likely to win in the long run.
Art Silverman and Christopher Intagliata produced and edited the audio interview. James Doubek produced for the Web.


npr--2020-12-01--Next Administration Could Mean New Safety Regulations For Coal Mines

Next Administration Could Mean New Safety Regulations For Coal Mines The transition from a Trump administration that dismantled regulations across the federal government to a Biden administration that has signaled a greater emphasis on occupational safety and the environment may finally mean new action on a toxic form of dust in coal mines .
After five decades of government inaction , spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations , a recent U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General report called the Mine Safety and Health Administration 's 50-year-old standard regulating the deadly airborne silica dust `` out of date , '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings of a 2019 NPR and PBS Frontline joint investigation which analyzed decades of silica monitoring data and found that the federal government failed to respond to clear danger signs over the years , leading to an epidemic of an advanced form of black lung disease affecting thousands of coal miners .
Silica gets into the air in coal mines when miners cut into sandstone as they try to extract coal .
Silica particles are much more dangerous than regular coal dust particles .
They are easily inhaled and can lodge in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
The IG report , which calls on MSHA to enact new regulations on silica , `` opens the door for the administration to take really strong action , '' says Celeste Monforton , lecturer in public health at Texas State University and a former federal mine safety regulator during the Clinton administration .
Monforton suggests a move away from a regulatory approach based purely on sampling the air in mines , towards mining practices that would suppress silica dust .
`` Ultimately , what you want is a regulation that really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dust that is allowed to be in the air where miners are , '' she says .
Monforton 's enthusiasm contrasts with the cheering from the industry that greeted the Trump administration 's early attempts aimed at rolling back regulations on the coal industry , the environment , and climate change .
The coal industry has long complained about federal regulations as a burden that makes them less competitive with other industries , and costs jobs .
In 2017 , American Coal Council CEO Betsy Monseu praised Trump for providing relief and reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory onslaught . ''
At an energy conference in January 2020 , Monseu lauded Trump-era rollbacks of environmental regulations as `` sensible and long-overdue reforms . ''
But Monseu , who says her group represents `` those that produce ( coal ) , consume it , transport it , trade it , '' declined to answer NPR 's questions about the potential for new mining safety regulations .
Conor Bernstein , spokesman for another industry group , the National Mining Association , says dust and silica levels have come down in coal mines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that the number of coal miners with black lung disease has been increasing since 2000 .
`` That said , when it comes to health and safety we always believe more can be done , '' Bernstein says , emphasizing the use of personal protective equipment by miners .
Regardless of who President-Elect Biden appoints to run the Department of Labor , Monforton says career staff members already have the expertise to write regulations that address the silica problem , and publish it for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be required for that to happen is political will .
`` This has to be priority one in the new administration , '' she says .

Next Administration Could Mean New Safety Regulations For Coal Mines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty Images
The transition from a Trump administration that dismantled regulations across the federal government to a Biden administration that has signaled a greater emphasis on occupational safety and the environment may finally mean new action on a toxic form of dust in coal mines.
After five decades of government inaction, spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations, a recent U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General report called the Mine Safety and Health Administration's 50-year-old standard regulating the deadly airborne silica dust "out of date," and difficult to enforce.
That echoed the findings of a 2019 NPR and PBS Frontline joint investigation which analyzed decades of silica monitoring data and found that the federal government failed to respond to clear danger signs over the years, leading to an epidemic of an advanced form of black lung disease affecting thousands of coal miners.
Silica gets into the air in coal mines when miners cut into sandstone as they try to extract coal. Silica particles are much more dangerous than regular coal dust particles. They are easily inhaled and can lodge in the lungs forever, leading to severe lung disease.
The IG report, which calls on MSHA to enact new regulations on silica, "opens the door for the administration to take really strong action," says Celeste Monforton, lecturer in public health at Texas State University and a former federal mine safety regulator during the Clinton administration.
Monforton suggests a move away from a regulatory approach based purely on sampling the air in mines, towards mining practices that would suppress silica dust.
"Ultimately, what you want is a regulation that really caps or limits the amount of silica dust that is allowed to be in the air where miners are," she says.
Monforton's enthusiasm contrasts with the cheering from the industry that greeted the Trump administration's early attempts aimed at rolling back regulations on the coal industry, the environment, and climate change.
The coal industry has long complained about federal regulations as a burden that makes them less competitive with other industries, and costs jobs. In 2017, American Coal Council CEO Betsy Monseu praised Trump for providing relief and reform from what she called an "extreme regulatory onslaught."
At an energy conference in January 2020, Monseu lauded Trump-era rollbacks of environmental regulations as "sensible and long-overdue reforms."
But Monseu, who says her group represents "those that produce (coal), consume it, transport it, trade it," declined to answer NPR's questions about the potential for new mining safety regulations.
Conor Bernstein, spokesman for another industry group, the National Mining Association, says dust and silica levels have come down in coal mines over the years — despite findings by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that the number of coal miners with black lung disease has been increasing since 2000.
"That said, when it comes to health and safety we always believe more can be done," Bernstein says, emphasizing the use of personal protective equipment by miners.
Regardless of who President-Elect Biden appoints to run the Department of Labor, Monforton says career staff members already have the expertise to write regulations that address the silica problem, and publish it for comment within 90 days.
All that may be required for that to happen is political will.
"This has to be priority one in the new administration," she says.


npr--2020-12-01--Arecibo Observatory Telescope Collapses, Ending An Era Of World-Class Research

The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has collapsed , after weeks of concern from scientists over the fate of what was once the world 's largest single-dish radio telescope .
Arecibo 's 900-ton equipment platform , suspended 500 feet above the dish , fell overnight after the last of its healthy support cables failed to keep it in place .
No injuries were reported , according to the National Science Foundation , which oversees the renowned research facility .
`` NSF is saddened by this development , '' the agency said .
`` As we move forward , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific community and maintain our strong relationship with the people of Puerto Rico . ''
The Arecibo Observatory had been slated last month to be withdrawn from service , with the NSF citing the risk of an `` uncontrolled collapse '' because of failures in the cables that suspended the platform and its huge Gregorian dome above the 1,000-foot-wide reflector dish .
The telescope 's trademark dish , nestled amid thick tropical forest , was left with a huge gash in August after a cable fell and slashed through its panels .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials said they saw no way to safely preserve the unstable structure .
Instead , they were hoping to keep the visitors center and other buildings operational .
But they also noted it would take weeks to work out the technical details of a plan .
Ángel Vázquez , the observatory 's director of telescope operations , says he was in the control room area when equipment began to plummet to the ground .
In an interview that was posted to Twitter by scientist Wilbert Andrés Ruperto , Vázquez says he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of removing valuable equipment when they heard a loud bang outside .
`` When we looked outside the control room , we started to see the eventual downfall of the observatory , '' Vázquez said .
He added that strands of the remaining three cables had been unraveling in recent days , increasing the strain .
And because two of the support towers maintained tension as the collapse occurred , some of the falling equipment was yanked across the side of the dish rather than falling straight down through its focal point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds , '' Vázquez said , `` and an unfortunate icon in radio astronomy was done . ''
Vázquez said he has worked at the facility for 43 years , starting soon after college .
The massive reflector dish is made up of perforated aluminum panels , leaving an expanse of greenery underneath .
But many of those panels have now fallen to the earth .
In Arecibo 's nearly 60 years of operation , the observatory 's powerful capabilities made it a popular choice for researchers chasing breakthroughs in radio astronomy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects from sniffing out gravitational waves in space to tracking down potentially habitable planets far from Earth .
Arecibo 's legacy includes the detection of the first binary pulsar in 1974 — a discovery that bolstered a key idea in Einstein 's general theory of relativity and that earned two physicists the 1993 Nobel Prize in physics .
The observatory has been an inspiration to many .
For its neighbors in Puerto Rico and for people worldwide , it has been a literal link between the terrestrial and the extraterrestrial .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depicted as both Earth 's doorbell and its peephole into outer space .
Pierce Brosnan clambered around its ladders in the James Bond film GoldenEye .
Jodie Foster marveled at its otherworldly promise in Contact .
And in 1974 , it was used to beam a `` Hello '' message into space .
Researchers have been mourning the telescope 's loss since the NSF announced its looming demise last month .
Astronomer Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute compared it to learning your high school has burned down or to losing a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was like going to a wonderful summer camp , he wrote in a recent farewell message to Arecibo .
`` While life will continue , something powerful and profoundly wonderful is gone , '' Shostak said .
Here 's how planetary scientist Ed Rivera-Valentin described one aspect of Arecibo 's importance earlier this year , on NPR 's Short Wave podcast : '' One of the really neat things about the Arecibo Observatory is that it 's a very versatile scientific instrument .
Most telescopes , most radio telescopes , do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They only capture light .
At the observatory , we can send and capture light .
When an asteroid 's coming by , we are pretty much a flashlight that we turn on .
We send radar out to it , and that radar comes back .
... We can tell you how far these objects are down to a few meters .
`` And we care about where these asteroids are going to be because what if , one day , this thing comes around and gets too close to Earth ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is going to happen next year , we can actually prepare for it .
Like , the dinosaurs — they did n't have a space program , so they did n't get to prepare for anything . ''
The idea for the observatory was conceived in the late 1950s by Cornell University professor William E. Gordon , who was looking to build a huge tool to explore the Earth 's atmosphere and the composition of nearby planets and moons .
The site in Puerto Rico was chosen `` to take advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the topography of the terrain , which provided a nearly spherical valley and minimized excavation , '' according to a lecture by longtime Cornell astronomy professor Martha Haynes .
The telescope underwent major upgrades in the 1970s and 1990s , allowing researchers to expand its role .
Built with federal funds , Arecibo was managed for decades by Cornell before the University of Central Florida took up that role .
Arecibo and Puerto Rico have withstood natural calamities in recent years , including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and a series of earthquakes this @ @

Video: Arecibo Observatory Telescope Collapses, Ending Era Of World-Class Research
Enlarge this image toggle caption University of Central Florida University of Central Florida
Updated on Dec. 4 at 11:30 a.m. ET
The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has collapsed, after weeks of concern from scientists over the fate of what was once the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. Arecibo's 900-ton equipment platform, suspended some 500 feet above the dish, fell overnight after the last of its healthy support cables failed to keep it in place.
No injuries were reported, according to the National Science Foundation, which oversees the renowned research facility.
"NSF is saddened by this development," the agency said. "As we move forward, we will be looking for ways to assist the scientific community and maintain our strong relationship with the people of Puerto Rico."
The dramatic collapse was captured on video, showing the mammoth structure falling in the early morning, after the last of its cables unraveled. The NSF released footage taken from two cameras, one on the ground and another mounted on a drone.
YouTube
The Arecibo Observatory had been slated last month to be withdrawn from service, with the NSF citing the risk of an "uncontrolled collapse" because of failures in the cables that suspended the platform and its huge Gregorian dome above the 1,000-foot-wide reflector dish.
Ángel Vázquez, the observatory's director of telescope operations, says he was in the control room area when the equipment began to plummet to the ground. In an interview that was posted to Twitter by scientist Wilbert Andrés Ruperto, Vázquez says he and other staff members had been in the process of removing valuable equipment from the facility when they heard a loud bang outside.
"When we looked outside the control room, we started to see the eventual downfall of the observatory," Vázquez said. He added that strands of the remaining three cables had been unraveling in recent days, increasing the strain. And because two of the support towers maintained tension as the collapse occurred, some of the falling equipment was yanked across the side of the dish rather than falling straight down through its focal point.
"This whole process took 30 seconds," Vázquez said, "and an unfortunate icon in radio astronomy was done."
Vázquez said he has worked at the facility for 43 years, starting soon after college.
The massive reflector dish is made up of perforated aluminum panels, leaving an expanse of greenery underneath. But many of those panels have now fallen to the earth.
The telescope's trademark dish, nestled amid thick tropical forest, was left with a huge gash in August after a cable fell and slashed through its panels. After a main cable snapped in early November, officials said they saw no way to safely preserve the unstable structure.
Instead, they were hoping to keep the visitors center and other buildings operational. But they also noted it would take weeks to work out the technical details of a plan.
A record of discovery
In Arecibo's nearly 60 years of operation, the observatory's powerful capabilities made it a popular choice for researchers chasing breakthroughs in radio astronomy and atmospheric science. It was used for projects from sniffing out gravitational waves in space to tracking down potentially habitable planets far from Earth.
Arecibo's legacy includes the detection of the first binary pulsar in 1974 — a discovery that bolstered a key idea in Einstein's general theory of relativity and that earned two physicists the 1993 Nobel Prize in physics.
The observatory has been an inspiration to many. For its neighbors in Puerto Rico and for people worldwide, it has been a literal link between the terrestrial and the extraterrestrial. And in movies and art, it has been depicted as both Earth's doorbell and its peephole into outer space.
Pierce Brosnan clambered around its ladders in the James Bond film GoldenEye. Jodie Foster marveled at its otherworldly promise in Contact. And in 1974, it was used to beam a "Hello" message into space.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images
Researchers have been mourning the telescope's loss since the NSF announced its looming demise last month. Astronomer Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute compared it to learning your high school has burned down or to losing a big brother. Doing research at the facility was like going to a wonderful summer camp, he wrote in a recent farewell message to Arecibo.
"While life will continue, something powerful and profoundly wonderful is gone," Shostak said.
Here's how planetary scientist Ed Rivera-Valentin described one aspect of Arecibo's importance earlier this year, on NPR's Short Wave podcast:
"One of the really neat things about the Arecibo Observatory is that it's a very versatile scientific instrument. Most telescopes, most radio telescopes, don't have the ability to send out light. They only capture light. At the observatory, we can send and capture light. When an asteroid's coming by, we are pretty much a flashlight that we turn on. We send radar out to it, and that radar comes back. ... We can tell you how far these objects are down to a few meters. "And we care about where these asteroids are going to be because what if, one day, this thing comes around and gets too close to Earth? But if we can let people know this is going to happen next year, we can actually prepare for it. Like, the dinosaurs — they didn't have a space program, so they didn't get to prepare for anything."
The idea for the observatory was conceived in the late 1950s by Cornell University professor William E. Gordon, who was looking to build a huge tool to explore the Earth's atmosphere and the composition of nearby planets and moons.
The site in Puerto Rico was chosen "to take advantage of the vicinity to the equator and of the topography of the terrain, which provided a nearly spherical valley and minimized excavation," according to a lecture by longtime Cornell astronomy professor Martha Haynes.
The telescope underwent major upgrades in the 1970s and 1990s, allowing researchers to expand its role. Built with federal funds, Arecibo was managed for decades by Cornell before the University of Central Florida took up that role.
Arecibo and Puerto Rico have withstood natural calamities in recent years, including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and a series of earthquakes this year.


npr--2020-12-01--EU Could Approve Pfizer, BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine In December

The EU 's drug agency said Tuesday it may approve the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine this month .
The vaccine could be distributed before 2021 .
The European Medicines Agency will meet by Dec. 29 to conclude its assessment of the vaccine .
If approved , the vaccine could begin to be distributed before year 's end , BioNTech said in a statement Tuesday .
`` Today 's announcement marks another key milestone in our efforts to fulfill our promise to do everything we can to address this dire crisis given the critical public health need , '' Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` We have known since the beginning of this journey that patients are waiting , and we stand ready to ship COVID-19 vaccine doses as soon as potential authorizations will allow us . ''
Bourla told NPR 's All Things Considered last month that the companies `` will be ready to start distributing our vaccine within hours . ''
The U.S. is on track to make a decision about the vaccine sooner .
Pfizer has already asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its vaccine for emergency use , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as Dec. 10 .
Rival drug company Moderna said Monday it has also applied for approval in the U.S. and in Europe .
EU regulators will assess Moderna 's vaccine by Jan. 12 .
Two weeks ago , Pfizer said its two-dose vaccine was 95 % effective in clinical trials and begins to work four weeks after the initial dose .
Trials showed a 94 % effectiveness for those older than 65 , who are at higher risk for complications from the virus .
Pfizer and BioNTech expect to make up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 million people ) by the end of the year , NPR 's Joe Palca reported .
Next year , the companies estimate , they could make up to 1.3 billion doses ( enough for 650 million people ) .
Britain is also assessing the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine and wants to make a decision in the `` shortest time possible . ''
Regulators did not specify a time frame but said they would expedite the process `` without compromising the thoroughness of our review . ''
Drugmakers around the world are racing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which governments are hinging their pandemic strategies .
Globally , more than 63.5 million cases of COVID-19 and 1.4 million deaths of complications from the disease have been recorded , according to Johns Hopkins University .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the EU has secured around 2 billion doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine , according to The Associated Press .
Deliveries to its 27 member nations will likely start before 2021 .
`` It will be a huge step forward toward our normal life , '' von der @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I just wanted to say there is a light at the end of the tunnel . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern for NPR 's News Desk .

EU Could Approve Pfizer, BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine In December
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
The EU's drug agency said Tuesday it may approve the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine this month. The vaccine could be distributed before 2021.
The European Medicines Agency will meet by Dec. 29 to conclude its assessment of the vaccine. If approved, the vaccine could begin to be distributed before year's end, BioNTech said in a statement Tuesday.
"Today's announcement marks another key milestone in our efforts to fulfill our promise to do everything we can to address this dire crisis given the critical public health need," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in the BioNTech statement. "We have known since the beginning of this journey that patients are waiting, and we stand ready to ship COVID-19 vaccine doses as soon as potential authorizations will allow us."
Bourla told NPR's All Things Considered last month that the companies "will be ready to start distributing our vaccine within hours."
The U.S. is on track to make a decision about the vaccine sooner. Pfizer has already asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its vaccine for emergency use, and the agency could have an answer as soon as Dec. 10.
Rival drug company Moderna said Monday it has also applied for approval in the U.S. and in Europe. EU regulators will assess Moderna's vaccine by Jan. 12.
Two weeks ago, Pfizer said its two-dose vaccine was 95% effective in clinical trials and begins to work four weeks after the initial dose. Trials showed a 94% effectiveness for those older than 65, who are at higher risk for complications from the virus.
Pfizer and BioNTech expect to make up to 50 million vaccine doses (enough for 25 million people) by the end of the year, NPR's Joe Palca reported. Next year, the companies estimate, they could make up to 1.3 billion doses (enough for 650 million people).
Britain is also assessing the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine and wants to make a decision in the "shortest time possible." Regulators did not specify a time frame but said they would expedite the process "without compromising the thoroughness of our review."
Drugmakers around the world are racing to supply a coronavirus vaccine, upon which governments are hinging their pandemic strategies. Globally, more than 63.5 million cases of COVID-19 and 1.4 million deaths of complications from the disease have been recorded, according to Johns Hopkins University.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the EU has secured around 2 billion doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Associated Press. Deliveries to its 27 member nations will likely start before 2021.
"It will be a huge step forward toward our normal life," von der Leyen said. "In other words, I just wanted to say there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
Reese Oxner is an intern for NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-12-01--Oscar Nominee Elliot Page Announces He Is Transgender

Actor Elliot Page , who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2007 film Juno , announced Tuesday that he is transgender .
He posted a public letter on Twitter and Instagram : The posts received expressions of support from hundreds of thousands of followers , on both platforms , within hours of publication .
`` I ca n't begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self , '' Page wrote .
`` I 've been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community .
Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place . ''
In Page 's post , he asked `` for patience .
My joy is real , but it is also fragile . ''
`` I am also scared , '' Page acknowledged .
`` The discrimination towards trans people is rife , insidious and cruel , resulting in horrific consequences . ''
His worries are not unfounded .
Last month , the Human Rights Campaign reported that 37 transgender and gender-nonconforming people were violently killed in 2020 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other year since the organization began monitoring data in 2013 .
Page is one of an estimated 1.4 million transgender people in the United States .
In his post , he promised to do his best in making the world a better place for the trans community .
`` To all trans people who deal with harassment , self-loathing , abuse and the threat of violence every day : I see you , '' Page wrote .
`` I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

Oscar Nominee Elliot Page Announces He Is Transgender
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
Actor Elliot Page, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2007 film Juno, announced Tuesday that he is transgender.
He posted a public letter on Twitter and Instagram:
"Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot. I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived in this place in my life."
In Page's previous roles, including in the X-Men series and Inception, he is credited as Ellen Page.
The posts received expressions of support from hundreds of thousands of followers, on both platforms, within hours of publication.
"I can't begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self," Page wrote. "I've been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place."
In Page's post, he asked "for patience. My joy is real, but it is also fragile."
"I am also scared," Page acknowledged. "The discrimination towards trans people is rife, insidious and cruel, resulting in horrific consequences."
His worries are not unfounded. Last month, the Human Rights Campaign reported that 37 transgender and gender-nonconforming people were violently killed in 2020 in the U.S. — more than in any other year since the organization began monitoring data in 2013.
Page is one of an estimated 1.4 million transgender people in the United States. In his post, he promised to do his best in making the world a better place for the trans community.
"To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you," Page wrote. "I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."
Dustin Jones is an intern on NPR's News Desk.