npr--2020-10-15--'Failed By The Courts': Texans Hoping To Vote By Mail Have To Hit The Polls Instead

'Failed By The Courts ' : Texans Hoping To Vote By Mail Have To Hit The Polls Instead Many Texans who were hoping to vote by mail during this election are instead having to vote in-person .
So far , about a million Texans have cast a ballot during the state 's extended early voting period , which started Tuesday .
Texans were put into this position thanks to a confluence of events that includes the solidly Republican state becoming more competitive and the nation 's federal courts becoming more conservative .
This year 's presidential election is the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-year-old junior at the University of Texas at Austin , is eligible to vote in .
He says he 's been looking forward to this for a long time .
`` I was always really , really interested in politics , '' he says , `` and really after Trump 's election I got energized to get more involved , more active . ''
But Cascino was also a little freaked out about voting this year .
His roommate is immunocompromised , so the pandemic made Cascino worried about voting in person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I wanted to do whatever I could to not risk my contact with that person , '' he says .
Cascino says he wanted to vote by mail , but Texas has strict rules about who can do that .
Mostly only people who are over 65 and people with disabilities can vote that way .
And while most other states decided to expand mail-in ballots to more voters , Republican state officials have refused .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said during a recent online event with a conservative think tank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make elections less secure .
`` There are people out there who clearly want mail-in ballots because they know it 's easier to change election results and get what they want as far as who they want in office , '' he said .
`` I think it 's a concern that a lot of leaders have . ''
There has never been evidence of widespread absentee ballot fraud in U.S. elections .
Cascino says it 's not right that the state is forcing people under 65 to vote in-person during a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against younger voters .
That 's why he and others sued the state in federal court earlier this year .
The case is just one of a slew of voting lawsuits filed in Texas leading up to the election .
Andre Segura , the legal director with the ACLU of Texas , says the stakes and the number of these voting cases have only gotten higher as the state has become more politically competitive .
`` With each election here in Texas we have seen increasing voter turnout , particularly in brown and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
And that increase in voter participation has had some bad political outcomes for Republicans in Texas .
In 2018 , Democrats flipped two congressional seats , 12 state house seats and came within less three points of winning a U.S. Senate race .
It was the closest Senate race in the state in decades .
And Segura says now that the current presidential race is also tightening in the state , Texas officials are pulling out all the stops .
`` It seems like our state officials are getting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good example of this , Segura says , is Gov .
Greg Abbott 's recent order limiting all counties to only one mail-in ballot drop off site per county .
He says it was a transparent attempt to limit voter participation in the state 's most populous counties , which are also mostly majority-Democratic .
`` I have never received as many texts or calls or emails about something , '' Segura says , `` because I think it was so obvious what they were trying to do .
There was no logical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... should be taken away . ''
But the courts saw no problem with Abbott 's order .
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas officials when voters and civil rights groups sued the state following the decision .
And this is something that has happened in a slew of voting cases in Texas over the past few months .
`` I do n't think there is any question that the federal appeals courts across the country — but especially here in Texas — have really been pushing back against efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , '' says Stephen Vladeck , the Charles Alan Wright Chair In Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law .
Vladeck says the Fifth Circuit , as well as other federal appellate courts , has gotten more politically conservative under the Trump administration .
`` If anything I think the appellates have become more conservative than the Supreme Court has , '' he says .
`` President Trump has made no secret of his goal of reshaping the lower federal courts — and I think we have seen that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result , Texas voters and civil rights groups have lost a lot of cases .
Vladeck says these losses pose a larger problem .
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 , he says it 's been largely left up to the courts to protect voting rights in the country .
`` I think that unfortunately that leaves folks — at least with the impression , if not the reality — that you know the courts really are picking sides when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When in fact we should be able to rely on courts to be the one neutral arbiter that stays above it all . ''
Several voting cases in Texas have been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court , but voting rights groups have said the damage has already been done because Texans are already voting .
Earlier this year , the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals also sided with Republican Texas officials in the lawsuit filed by Cascino and others .
Cascino says he was disappointed , but decided to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas .
`` I felt failed by the courts when I voted , '' he said .
`` I could n't help but think about how much easier this could have been and how much less risk it could have been for myself and others who I live with . ''

'Failed By The Courts': Texans Hoping To Vote By Mail Have To Hit The Polls Instead
Enlarge this image toggle caption Acacia Coronado/AP Acacia Coronado/AP
Many Texans who were hoping to vote by mail during this election are instead having to vote in person.
So far, about a million Texans have cast a ballot during the state's extended early voting period, which started Tuesday.
Texans were put into this position thanks to a confluence of events that includes the solidly Republican state becoming more competitive and the nation's federal courts becoming more conservative.
This year's presidential election is the first one Joe Cascino, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Texas at Austin, is eligible to vote in. He says he's been looking forward to this for a long time.
"I was always really, really interested in politics," he says, "and really after [President] Trump's election I got energized to get more involved, more active."
But Cascino was also a little freaked out about voting this year.
His roommate is immunocompromised, so the pandemic made Cascino worry about voting in person.
"Living with someone who is immunocompromised, I wanted to do whatever I could to not risk my contact with that person," he says.
Cascino says he wanted to vote by mail, but Texas has strict rules about who can do that. Mostly only people who are over 65 and people with disabilities can vote that way.
And while most other states decided to expand mail-in ballots to more voters, Republican state officials have refused.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said during a recent online event with a conservative think tank in Austin that he thinks mail-in ballots make elections less secure.
"There are people out there who clearly want mail-in ballots because they know it's easier to change election results and get what they want as far as who they want in office," he said. "I think it's a concern that a lot of leaders have."
There has never been evidence of widespread absentee ballot fraud in U.S. elections.
Cascino says it's not right that the state is forcing people under 65 to vote in person during a pandemic. He says Texas officials are discriminating against younger voters.
That's why he and others sued the state in federal court earlier this year.
The case is just one of a slew of voting lawsuits filed in Texas leading up to the election.
Andre Segura, the legal director with the ACLU of Texas, says the stakes and the number of these voting cases have gotten higher as the state has become more politically competitive.
"With each election here in Texas we have seen increasing voter turnout, particularly in brown and Black communities around the state," he says.
And that increase in voter participation has had some bad political outcomes for Republicans in Texas.
In 2018, Democrats flipped two congressional seats, 12 state House seats and came within less three points of winning a U.S. Senate race. It was the closest Senate race in the state in decades.
And Segura says now that the current presidential race is also tightening in the state, Texas officials are pulling out all the stops.
"It seems like our state officials are getting more desperate," he says.
A good example of this, Segura says, is Gov. Greg Abbott's recent order limiting all counties to one mail-in ballot drop-off site per county. He says it was a transparent attempt to limit voter participation in the state's most populous counties, which are also mostly majority-Democratic.
"I have never received as many texts or calls or emails about something," Segura says, "because I think it was so obvious what they were trying to do. There was no logical reason to why these drop-off locations ... should be taken away."
But the courts saw no problem with Abbott's order.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas officials when voters and civil rights groups sued the state following the decision.
And this is something that has happened in a slew of voting cases in Texas over the past few months.
"I don't think there is any question that the federal appeals courts across the country — but especially here in Texas — have really been pushing back against efforts to ensure broader, easier access to voting," says Stephen Vladeck, the Charles Alan Wright chair in federal courts at the University of Texas School of Law.
Vladeck says the 5th Circuit, as well as other federal appellate courts, has gotten more politically conservative under the Trump administration.
"If anything I think the appellates have become more conservative than the Supreme Court has," he says. "President Trump has made no secret of his goal of reshaping the lower federal courts — and I think we have seen that especially on the 5th Circuit."
As a result, Texas voters and civil rights groups have lost a lot of cases.
Vladeck says these losses pose a larger problem. Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, he says it has been largely left up to the courts to protect voting rights in the country.
"I think that unfortunately that leaves folks — at least with the impression, if not the reality — that, you know, the courts really are picking sides when it comes to elections," he says. "When in fact we should be able to rely on courts to be the one neutral arbiter that stays above it all."
Several voting cases in Texas have been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but voting rights groups have said that the damage has already been done because Texans are already voting.
Earlier this year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals also sided with Republican Texas officials in the lawsuit filed by Cascino and others.
Cascino says he was disappointed but decided to vote on the first day of early voting in Texas.
"I felt failed by the courts when I voted," he said. "I couldn't help but think about how much easier this could have been and how much less risk it could have been for myself and others who I live with."


npr--2020-10-14--Lemur Missing, Possibly Stolen, From San Francisco Zoo

An endangered 21-year-old lemur is missing , and may have been stolen , from the San Francisco Zoo on Tuesday night , according to officials .
The ring-tailed lemur named Maki is among the oldest of the primates housed in the zoo 's Lipman Family Lemur Forest , which is home to seven different species of lemurs .
San Francisco Police Department officers , who responded to a report of a burglary , say Maki was last seen in his enclosure on Tuesday .
They are investigating a possible break-in at the habitat and are calling on the public to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal 's whereabouts .
`` We understand that lemurs are adorable animals , but Maki is a highly endangered animal that requires special care .
We are asking the public for help in his return , '' said Dr. Jason Watters , Executive Vice President of Animal Behavior and Wellness at the zoo , ABC 7 reported .
`` As one of our oldest lemurs , Maki requires a specialized diet .
Of the 19 lemurs here , at 21.5 years , he has exceeded median life expectancy of 16.7 years , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we believe , likely , the easiest to catch . ''
The ring-tailed species is among the best known and most easily recognized , according to the zoo 's web site , which states that the enclosure is the largest outdoor lemur habitat in North America .
`` At the Zoo on a sunny day , you can often see the ring-tailed lemurs catching some rays from the sun in a yoga-like sitting position .
They sit with their arms outstretched and heads back to maximize sun exposure , '' the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state of California .

Lemur Missing, Possibly Stolen, From San Francisco Zoo
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marianne V. Hale/AP Marianne V. Hale/AP
An endangered 21-year-old lemur is missing, and may have been stolen, from the San Francisco Zoo on Tuesday night, according to officials.
The ring-tailed lemur named Maki is among the oldest of the primates housed in the zoo's Lipman Family Lemur Forest, which is home to seven different species of lemurs.
San Francisco Police Department officers, who responded to a report of a burglary, say Maki was last seen in his enclosure on Tuesday. They are investigating a possible break-in at the habitat and are calling on the public to help with any information leading to the animal's whereabouts.
"We understand that lemurs are adorable animals, but Maki is a highly endangered animal that requires special care. We are asking the public for help in his return," said Dr. Jason Watters, Executive Vice President of Animal Behavior and Wellness at the zoo, ABC 7 reported.
"As one of our oldest lemurs, Maki requires a specialized diet. Of the 19 lemurs here, at 21.5 years, he has exceeded median life expectancy of 16.7 years, but is also one of the slowest, and we believe, likely, the easiest to catch."
The ring-tailed species is among the best known and most easily recognized, according to the zoo's web site, which states that the enclosure is the largest outdoor lemur habitat in North America.
"At the Zoo on a sunny day, you can often see the ring-tailed lemurs catching some rays from the sun in a yoga-like sitting position. They sit with their arms outstretched and heads back to maximize sun exposure," the site says.
Lemurs are banned as pets in the state of California.


npr--2020-10-14--Biden Announces Record $383 Million September Haul

The Biden campaign announced it raised $ 383 million in September , along with the Democratic National Committee and joint @ @ @ @ @ is a record-breaking one-month sum , topping its August record of $ 364.5 million .
@ @ @ @ @ at nearly three-quarters-of-a-billion dollars .
In a tweeted video , former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ 5.5 million donors with an average contribution of about $ 44 .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ '' Biden said .
Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon tweeted that 1.1 million of @ @ @ @ @ new , and that $ 203 million came from online donors .
The campaign now @ @ @ @ @ million in the bank , she said .
The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee @ @ @ @ @ yet .
In August , they raised $ 210 million along with joint fundraising committees @

Biden Announces Record $383 Million September Haul
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP
The Biden campaign announced it raised $383 million in September, along with the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising efforts. The haul is a record-breaking one-month sum, topping its August record of $364.5 million. That puts its two-month total at nearly three-quarters-of-a-billion dollars.
In a tweeted video, former Vice President Joe Biden said the donations came from 5.5 million donors with an average contribution of about $44. "I'm really humbled by it," Biden said.
Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon tweeted that 1.1 million of last month's donors were new, and that $203 million came from online donors.
The campaign now has a whopping $432 million in the bank, she said.
The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have not released September numbers yet. In August, they raised $210 million along with joint fundraising committees.


npr--2020-10-14--Putin Announces Approval Of A 2nd  Unproven Coronavirus Vaccine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the approval of a second new coronavirus vaccine in as many months – but neither has completed the kind of extensive and rigorous three-phase trials required in the U.S .
Speaking during a televised news conference , Putin said the new vaccine developed by Siberian biotech company Novosibirsk 's Vektor [ State Virology and Biotechnology Center ] , a former Soviet-era bioweapons lab .
Large-scale studies , such as those required for vaccines developed in the U.S. , are designed to assess not only if a vaccine works , but whether it is free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show up once millions of people are immunized .
EpiVacCorona , described as a `` peptide-based shot , '' has yet to even begin such trials and its `` registration '' — a bureaucratic procedure undertaken by the Russian Health Ministry , which amounts to regulatory approval — is likely to be viewed as risky , at best .
Early trials of the latest vaccine on 100 volunteers were successful , Putin said .
He also said that Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and the head of Russia 's consumer safety watchdog , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine known as EpiVacCorona .
Wednesday 's announcement came days after the Kremlin said that another vaccine `` registered '' in August had only just begun a second round of Phase III safety and efficacy trials .
That vaccine , known popularly as Sputnik V , has been met with skepticism both inside and outside of Russia .
At the time of its approval , Putin said that his daughter had already been given two doses of the vaccine and that she was well after experiencing a slight fever that later went away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian teachers , meant to be among the first to received Sputnik V , were not eager to take the vaccine .
Russia 's teachers union even started an online petition calling on its members to refuse the vaccination until clinical trials are complete .
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic , more than 23,000 people have died in Russia from COVID-19 and it ranks fourth in the world for confirmed infections after the U.S. , India and Brazil .

Putin Announces Approval Of A 2nd Unproven Coronavirus Vaccine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the approval of a second new coronavirus vaccine in as many months – but neither has completed the kind of extensive and rigorous three-phase trials required in the U.S.
Speaking during a televised news conference, Putin said the new vaccine developed by Siberian biotech company Novosibirsk's Vektor [State Virology and Biotechnology Center], a former Soviet-era bioweapons lab.
Large-scale studies, such as those required for vaccines developed in the U.S., are designed to assess not only if a vaccine works, but whether it is free from dangerous side effects that might only show up once millions of people are immunized.
EpiVacCorona, described as a "peptide-based shot," has yet to even begin such trials and its "registration" — a bureaucratic procedure undertaken by the Russian Health Ministry, which amounts to regulatory approval — is likely to be viewed as risky, at best.
Early trials of the latest vaccine on 100 volunteers were successful, Putin said. He also said that Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and the head of Russia's consumer safety watchdog, Anna Popova, had both received the vaccine known as EpiVacCorona.
Wednesday's announcement came days after the Kremlin said that another vaccine "registered" in August had only just begun a second round of Phase III safety and efficacy trials.
That vaccine, known popularly as Sputnik V, has been met with skepticism both inside and outside of Russia. At the time of its approval, Putin said that his daughter had already been given two doses of the vaccine and that she was well after experiencing a slight fever that later went away.
Last month, CNN reported that Russian teachers, meant to be among the first to received Sputnik V, were not eager to take the vaccine. Russia's teachers union even started an online petition calling on its members to refuse the vaccination until clinical trials are complete.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 23,000 people have died in Russia from COVID-19 and it ranks fourth in the world for confirmed infections after the U.S., India and Brazil.


npr--2020-10-14--Facebook And Twitter Limit Sharing 'New York Post' Story About Joe Biden

Facebook And Twitter Limit Sharing 'New York Post ' Story About Joe Biden Facebook and Twitter took action on Wednesday to limit the distribution of New York Post reporting with unconfirmed claims about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , leading President Trump 's campaign and allies to charge the companies with censorship .
Both social media companies said the moves were aimed at slowing the spread of potentially false information .
But they gave few details about how they reached their decisions , sparking criticism about the lack of clarity and consistency with which they apply their rules .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories on Wednesday citing emails , purportedly sent by Biden 's son Hunter , that the news outlet says it got from Trump 's private lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon .
Facebook was limiting distribution of the Post 's main story while its outside fact-checkers reviewed the claims , spokesman Andy Stone said .
That means the platform 's algorithms wo n't place posts linking to the story as highly in people 's news feeds , reducing the number of users who see it .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared or commented on almost 600,000 times on Facebook , according to data from CrowdTangle , a research tool owned by the social network .
Stone said Facebook sometimes takes this step if it sees `` signals '' that something gaining traction is false , to give fact-checkers time to evaluate the story before it spreads widely .
He did not give more detail on what signals Facebook uses or how often it takes this approach .
Twitter went further .
It is blocking users from posting pictures of the emails or links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stories referring to them , spokesman Trenton Kennedy said , citing its rules against sharing `` content obtained through hacking that contains private information . ''
Users who try to share the links on Twitter are shown a notice saying , `` We ca n't complete this request because this link has been identified by Twitter or our partners as being potentially harmful . ''
If a user clicks on links already posted on Twitter , the user is taken to a warning screen saying , `` this link may be unsafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past to read the story .
Twitter also required the New York Post to delete its tweet about the story .
Twitter said it decided to block the links because it could n't be sure about the origins of the emails .
It said its policy `` prohibits the use of our service to distribute content obtained without authorization '' and that it does n't want to encourage hacking by allowing people to share `` possibly illegally obtained materials . ''
But the company declined to comment on how it had reached that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the emails in the Post 's stories .
The company later gave an additional explanation for why it was blocking the stories .
Its safety team said in a tweet that the images of emails in the articles `` include personal and private information — like email addresses and phone numbers — which violate our rules '' against unauthorized sharing of such details .
CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged that the company 's communication about why it was blocking the articles `` was not great . ''
He tweeted that it was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` with zero context as to why we 're blocking . ''
Asked for comment about the social networks ' actions , New York Post spokeswoman Iva Benson referred NPR to an article by the paper 's editorial board .
`` Our story explains where the info came from , and a Senate committee now confirms it also received the files from the same source , '' the editorial said .
`` Yet Facebook and Twitter are deliberately trying to keep its users from reading and deciding for themselves what it means .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more aggressively in recent weeks to curb the spread of false claims and manipulation related to the election , as part of efforts to avoid a repeat of 2016 , when Russian-linked actors used social media to target American voters .
Facebook has been warning about the possibility of `` hack and leak '' operations , where stolen documents or other sensitive materials are strategically leaked — as happened in 2016 with hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton 's campaign .
But the companies ' moves on Wednesday drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook and Twitter needed to more clearly explain their policies and how often they apply them .
`` This story is a microcosm of something that I think we can expect to happen a lot over the next few weeks and , I think , demonstrates why platforms having clear policies that they are prepared to stick to is really important , '' said Evelyn Douek , a Harvard Law School lecturer who studies the regulation of online speech .
`` It 's really unclear if they have stepped in exceptionally in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why they 've done so , '' she said .
`` That inevitably leads to exactly the kind of outcry that we 've seen , which is that they 're doing it for political reasons and because they 're biased . ''
Republicans seized on the episode as proof of their long-running claims that the social networks censor conservative voices .
There is no statistical evidence to support those claims .
Trump tweeted that it was `` So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story , '' although Facebook did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ REPEAL SECTION 230 !
!
! ''
he wrote , referring to a long-standing legal shield that protects online platforms from being sued over what people post on them and says they ca n't be punished for reasonable moderation of those posts .
Trump has repeatedly called for Section 230 to be revoked .
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri sent letters to the CEOs of both Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday pressing them on the decisions to reduce distribution and block the story .
Hawley also sent a letter to the Federal Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituted `` egregious campaign-finance violations benefitting the Biden campaign . ''
The Senate Republican Conference , which is led by Sen. John Barrasso , R-Wyo.
, tweeted , `` see you soon , @ jack , '' with an image of the Post 's story .
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is scheduled to testify , along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai , before the Senate Commerce Committee on Oct. 28 — just six days before the election .
The topic : Section 230 .
Editor 's note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Facebook And Twitter Limit Sharing 'New York Post' Story About Joe Biden
Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 9:14 p.m. ET
Facebook and Twitter took action on Wednesday to limit the distribution of New York Post reporting with unconfirmed claims about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, leading President Trump's campaign and allies to charge the companies with censorship.
Both social media companies said the moves were aimed at slowing the spread of potentially false information. But they gave few details about how they reached their decisions, sparking criticism about the lack of clarity and consistency with which they apply their rules.
The New York Post published a series of stories on Wednesday citing emails, purportedly sent by Biden's son Hunter, that the news outlet says it got from Trump's private attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Facebook was limiting distribution of the Post's main story while its outside fact-checkers reviewed the claims, spokesman Andy Stone said. That means the platform's algorithms won't place posts linking to the story as highly in people's news feeds, reducing the number of users who see it. However, the story has still been liked, shared or commented on almost 600,000 times on Facebook, according to data from CrowdTangle, a research tool owned by the social network.
Stone said Facebook sometimes takes this step if it sees "signals" that something gaining traction is false, to give fact-checkers time to evaluate the story before it spreads widely. He did not give more detail on what signals Facebook uses or how often it takes this approach.
Twitter went further. It is blocking users from posting pictures of the emails or links to two of the New York Post's stories referring to them, spokesman Trenton Kennedy said, citing its rules against sharing "content obtained through hacking that contains private information."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Screenshot by NPR Screenshot by NPR
Users who try to share the links on Twitter are shown a notice saying, "We can't complete this request because this link has been identified by Twitter or our partners as being potentially harmful."
If a user clicks on links already posted on Twitter, the user is taken to a warning screen saying, "this link may be unsafe," which they have to click past to read the story. Twitter also required the New York Post to delete its tweet about the story.
Twitter said it decided to block the links because it couldn't be sure about the origins of the emails. It said its policy "prohibits the use of our service to distribute content obtained without authorization" and that it doesn't want to encourage hacking by allowing people to share "possibly illegally obtained materials."
But the company declined to comment on how it had reached that decision or what evidence it had weighed about the emails in the Post's stories.
The company later gave an additional explanation for why it was blocking the stories.
Its safety team said in a tweet that the images of emails in the articles "include personal and private information — like email addresses and phone numbers — which violate our rules" against unauthorized sharing of such details.
CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged that the company's communication about why it was blocking the articles "was not great." He tweeted that it was "unacceptable" to prevent people from sharing "with zero context as to why we're blocking."
Asked for comment about the social networks' actions, New York Post spokeswoman Iva Benson referred NPR to an article by the paper's editorial board.
"Our story explains where the info came from, and a Senate committee now confirms it also received the files from the same source," the editorial said. "Yet Facebook and Twitter are deliberately trying to keep its users from reading and deciding for themselves what it means."
Twitter and Facebook have been acting more aggressively in recent weeks to curb the spread of false claims and manipulation related to the election as part of efforts to avoid a repeat of 2016 when Russian-linked actors used social media to target American voters.
Facebook has been warning about the possibility of "hack and leak" operations, where stolen documents or other sensitive materials are strategically leaked — as happened in 2016 with hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign.
But the companies' moves on Wednesday drew criticism from some experts, who said Facebook and Twitter needed to explain more clearly their policies and how often they apply them.
"This story is a microcosm of something that I think we can expect to happen a lot over the next few weeks and, I think, demonstrates why platforms having clear policies that they are prepared to stick to is really important," said Evelyn Douek, a Harvard Law School lecturer who studies the regulation of online speech.
"It's really unclear if they have stepped in exceptionally in this case and, if they have, why they've done so," she said. "That inevitably leads to exactly the kind of outcry that we've seen, which is that they're doing it for political reasons and because they're biased."
Republicans seized on the episode as proof of their long-running assertions that the social networks censor conservative voices. There is no statistical evidence to support those claims.
Trump tweeted that it was "[s]o terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story," although Facebook did not remove it from its platform. "REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" he wrote, referring to a long-standing legal shield that protects online platforms from being sued over what people post on them and says they can't be punished for reasonable moderation of those posts. Trump has repeatedly called for Section 230 to be revoked.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent letters to the CEOs of both Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday pressing them on the decisions to reduce distribution and block the story.
Hawley also sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission saying the companies' actions possibly constituted "egregious campaign-finance violations benefitting the Biden campaign."
The Senate Republican Conference, which is led by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., tweeted, "see you soon, @jack," with an image of the Post's story. Dorsey, the Twitter CEO, is scheduled to testify, along with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, before the Senate Commerce Committee on Oct. 28 — six days before the election. The topic: Section 230.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.
NPR's David Folkenflik contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-15--Michigan Charges 8th Man In Alleged Domestic Terrorism Plot To Kidnap Gov. Whitmer

An eighth man is now charged with supporting an act of terrorism in the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home .
Attorney General Dana Nessel 's office says Brian Higgins , 51 , was arrested in Wisconsin Thursday .
He allegedly brought night-vision goggles to aid surveillance of Whitmer 's home .
Higgins participated `` in a plan of domestic terrorism that included storming the Michigan Capitol building and harming government officials , '' the attorney general 's office said .
The eight men are members of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney general 's office said .
They face a total of 20 state felony charges , including , for some , gang membership .
Another six men are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping .
`` Wolverine Watchmen members together with another group led by Adam Fox , the 'Michigan III % ers , ' engaged in planning and training for various acts of violence , '' the affidavit against Higgins says , `` including kidnapping politicians and storming the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing . ''
Michigan has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other restrictions Whitmer ordered to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus — actions that allegedly sparked the plot against her .
The affidavit says some of the men were motivated by a desire to punish government officials who they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution .
`` At least some of the defendants participated in various demonstrations at the Michigan Capitol building over the past several months , '' the attorney general 's office says .
State prosecutors say the suspects joined forces with the goal of targeting law enforcement officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse . ''
The men trained together in tactical exercises and eventually discussed plans to kidnap Whitmer before the November election , the affidavit says .
They were also preparing for the `` boogaloo '' — a term that refers to a racial or political civil war .
`` While the political rhetoric in our nation may at times be divisive , I am encouraged by the united front our law enforcement community has displayed in response to this indescribable act of terror , '' Nessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and very serious threats to our elected officials and the public in general , and the swift actions taken by state and federal authorities this past week are nothing short of heroic . ''
Higgins is charged with material support of an act of terrorism , a felony that Nessel 's office says carries a potential 20-year maximum prison sentence .
He was arrested Thursday in Wisconsin .
Higgins is scheduled to be extradited to Michigan and arraigned in a district court in Antrim County , though no court dates have yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state case , Paul Bellar , is facing extradition from South Carolina where he was arrested last week .
Bellar had the role of `` Sergeant , '' based on his expertise in firearms and medical training and ability to design tactical exercises , the affidavit states .
The other suspects facing state charges are in custody in Michigan jails , the attorney general 's office says .

Michigan Charges 8th Man In Alleged Domestic Terrorism Plot To Kidnap Gov. Whitmer
Enlarge this image toggle caption DNCC via Getty Images DNCC via Getty Images
An eighth man is now charged with supporting an act of terrorism in the alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home. Attorney General Dana Nessel's office says Brian Higgins, 51, was arrested in Wisconsin Thursday. He allegedly brought night-vision goggles to aid surveillance of Whitmer's home.
Higgins participated "in a plan of domestic terrorism that included storming the Michigan Capitol building and harming government officials," the attorney general's office said.
The eight men are members of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen or are associates of the group, the attorney general's office said. They face a total of 20 state felony charges, including, for some, gang membership. Another six men are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
"Wolverine Watchmen members together with another group led by Adam Fox, the 'Michigan III%ers,' engaged in planning and training for various acts of violence," the affidavit against Higgins says, "including kidnapping politicians and storming the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing."
Michigan has been a hot spot for disagreements over shutdowns and other restrictions Whitmer ordered to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus — actions that allegedly sparked the plot against her. The affidavit says some of the men were motivated by a desire to punish government officials who they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution.
"At least some of the defendants participated in various demonstrations at the Michigan Capitol building over the past several months," the attorney general's office says.
State prosecutors say the suspects joined forces with the goal of targeting law enforcement officers and "made threats of violence to instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse."
The men trained together in tactical exercises and eventually discussed plans to kidnap Whitmer before the November election, the affidavit says. They were also preparing for the "boogaloo" — a term that refers to a racial or political civil war.
"While the political rhetoric in our nation may at times be divisive, I am encouraged by the united front our law enforcement community has displayed in response to this indescribable act of terror," Nessel said. "These were very credible, and very serious threats to our elected officials and the public in general, and the swift actions taken by state and federal authorities this past week are nothing short of heroic."
Higgins is charged with material support of an act of terrorism, a felony that Nessel's office says carries a potential 20-year maximum prison sentence. He was arrested Thursday in Wisconsin. Higgins is scheduled to be extradited to Michigan and arraigned in a district court in Antrim County, though no court dates have yet been scheduled.
Another suspect in the state case, Paul Bellar, is facing extradition from South Carolina where he was arrested last week. Bellar had the role of "Sergeant," based on his expertise in firearms and medical training and ability to design tactical exercises, the affidavit states.
The other suspects facing state charges are in custody in Michigan jails, the attorney general's office says.


npr--2020-10-15--Is The Risk Of Sea Level Rise Affecting Florida Home Prices? A New Study Says Yes

Is The Risk Of Sea Level Rise Affecting Florida Home Prices ?
A New Study Says Yes How much should you pay for a home that is likely to be inundated by rising seas in the decades ahead ?
It 's a tough question — and an increasingly common one for homebuyers along the Florida coast .
That 's according to new research that finds the risks of sea level rise appears to have begun affecting residential real estate prices in the state 's most vulnerable coastal areas .
The study 's authors — Benjamin Keys and Philip Mulder at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relationship between sea level rise and changes in real estate and mortgage markets over the last two decades .
They found that up until 2012 , sales volume of homes in census tracts that were less exposed to sea level rise and homes in tracts more exposed to it were trending similarly .
That is , the vulnerability of a census tract to sea level rise does n't seem to have affected how many homes were sold there .
But from 2013 on , the volume of homes sold in Florida 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure has fallen , as sales in the state 's lower-risk coastal tracts have risen .
Interestingly , it took longer for home prices to change .
Prices of homes in both groups increased similarly from 2013 to 2016 .
But since 2018 , prices in more-exposed tracts have started to fall compared to those that are less exposed – a difference of 5-10 % in 2020 .
The authors say this difference ca n't be attributed to changes in lender behavior : the price change was similar in all-cash and mortgage-financed purchases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that perhaps caused homebuyers to start taking sea level rise into account ?
The authors identify a few things .
One , 2012 's Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in October of that year — an event that made flood risk very clear to Florida homebuyers from the Northeast .
Two , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change updated its worst-case projections in 2014 , driving media coverage on the topic .
Online searches in Florida for `` sea level rise '' began to increase .
And what accounts for the lag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the later price decline ?
The authors say their findings appear to follow the same dynamics as a housing market bubble , in which sellers overestimate demand because they 're extrapolating from recent price increases .
The sellers price their homes higher than buyers will pay , so sales volume drops before the prices do .
In this case , the authors say , sellers are underestimating how much they 'll need to discount the property in order to sell it to buyers anxious about the effects of climate change .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tracts it labels as `` more exposed '' to sea level rise have more than 70 % of its developed land that would be chronically inundated at six feet of sea level rise .
The tracts labeled `` less exposed '' are those in which 10 % or less of its developed land would see chronic flooding at six feet of sea level rise .
`` At some later date , in the absence of substantial mitigation and infrastructure efforts , many Florida properties will be underwater , '' the authors write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lenders face greater risk of extreme weather events , storm surges , and nuisance flooding .
Our results suggest that fewer buyers are willing to bear these risks at current market prices , leading to a sharp fall in transaction volumes . ''
Other studies have looked at the impact of rising seas on residential properties .
A 2018 study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that by 2045 – or near the end of a 30-year mortgage issued now – sea levels are projected to rise enough that nearly 311,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be at risk of chronic flooding .
Those properties are currently home to more than a half million people .
The states with the most homes at risk by the end of the century are Florida , New Jersey and New York , that study found .
And that approaching risk certainly complicates the math of homebuying .
`` Not only are the mortgage loans on these homes at growing risk of default if the value of the properties drops , but each successful sale of one of these homes represents the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability , '' noted the authors of the Union of Concerned Scientists report .
`` Eventually , the final unlucky homeowners will hold deeds to significantly devalued properties . ''
A different study published in 2018 found that sale prices of homes likely to be underwater in the future were affected by whether people in that county believed in climate change or not : `` houses projected to be underwater in 'believer ' neighborhoods tend to sell at a discount compared to houses in 'denier ' neighborhoods , '' the authors wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming years will determine both how much sea levels rise , and how vulnerable coastal homes are to inundation .

Is The Risk Of Sea Level Rise Affecting Florida Home Prices? A New Study Says Yes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images
How much should you pay for a home that is likely to be inundated by rising seas in the decades ahead?
It's a tough question — and an increasingly common one for homebuyers along the Florida coast. That's according to new research that finds the risk of sea level rise appears to have begun affecting residential real estate prices in the state's most vulnerable coastal areas.
The study's authors — Benjamin Keys and Philip Mulder at Penn's Wharton School — looked at the relationship between sea level rise and changes in real estate and mortgage markets over the past two decades.
They found that up until 2012, sales volume of homes in census tracts that were less exposed to sea level rise and homes in tracts more exposed to it were trending similarly. That is, the vulnerability of a census tract to sea level rise doesn't seem to have affected how many homes were sold there.
But from 2013 on, the volume of homes sold in Florida's coastal areas with more sea level rise exposure has fallen as sales in the state's lower-risk coastal tracts have risen.
Interestingly, it took longer for home prices to change. Prices of homes in both groups increased similarly from 2013 to 2016. But since 2018, prices in more-exposed tracts have started to fall compared to those that are less exposed — a difference of 5-10% in 2020.
The authors say this difference can't be attributed to changes in lender behavior; the price change was similar in all-cash and mortgage-financed purchases.
So what happened around 2013 that perhaps caused homebuyers to start taking sea level rise into account?
The authors identify a few things. One, 2012's Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in October of that year — an event that made flood risk very clear to Florida homebuyers from the Northeast. Two, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change updated its worst-case projections in 2014, driving media coverage on the topic. Online searches in Florida for "sea level rise" began to increase.
And what accounts for the lag between the drop in home sales volume and the later price decline?
The authors say their findings appear to follow the same dynamics as a housing market bubble, in which sellers overestimate demand because they're extrapolating from recent price increases. The sellers price their homes higher than buyers will pay, so sales volume drops before the prices do.
In this case, the authors say, sellers are underestimating how much they'll need to discount the property in order to sell it to buyers anxious about the effects of climate change.
The study looked solely at coastal Florida. A tract it labels as "more exposed" to sea level rise has more than 70% of its developed land that would be chronically inundated at 6 feet of sea level rise. A tract labeled "less exposed" is one in which 10% or less of its developed land would see chronic flooding at 6 feet of sea level rise.
"At some later date, in the absence of substantial mitigation and infrastructure efforts, many Florida properties will be underwater," the authors write. "Until then, homeowners and lenders face greater risk of extreme weather events, storm surges, and nuisance flooding. Our results suggest that fewer buyers are willing to bear these risks at current market prices, leading to a sharp fall in transaction volumes."
Other studies have looked at the impact of rising seas on residential properties.
A 2018 study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that by 2045 – or near the end of a 30-year mortgage issued now – sea levels are projected to rise enough that nearly 311,000 of today's residential properties in the U.S. will be at risk of chronic flooding. Those properties are currently home to more than a half-million people.
The states with the most homes at risk by the end of the century are Florida, New Jersey and New York, that study found.
And that approaching risk certainly complicates the math of buying a home.
"Not only are the mortgage loans on these homes at growing risk of default if the value of the properties drops, but each successful sale of one of these homes represents the potential transfer of a major latent financial liability," noted the authors of the Union of Concerned Scientists report. "Eventually, the final unlucky homeowners will hold deeds to significantly devalued properties."
A different study published in 2018 found that sale prices of homes likely to be underwater in the future were affected by whether people in that county believed in climate change: "houses projected to be underwater in 'believer' neighborhoods tend to sell at a discount compared to houses in 'denier' neighborhoods," the authors wrote.
Of course, the steps taken now and in the coming years will determine both how much sea levels rise and how vulnerable coastal homes are to inundation.


npr--2020-10-15--Sen. Sasse Slams Trump In Constituent Call: He's 'Flirted With White Supremacists'

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska excoriated President Trump in a telephone town-hall meeting with constituents on Wednesday , saying the president badly mishandled the coronavirus pandemic , mistreats women and cozies up to dictators .
`` I 'm not at all apologetic for having fought for my values against his in places where I think his are deficient , not just for a Republican but for an American , '' Sasse said .
`` The way he kisses dictators ' butts , I mean , the way he ignores that the Uighurs are in literal concentration camps in Xinjiang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a finger on behalf of the Hong-Kongers , '' Sasse said in audio obtained and published by the Washington Examiner .
James Wegmann , Sasse 's communications director , tweeted that the call came from one of the senator 's `` regular telephone town halls with Nebraska voters '' and underscored the importance of the Senate races .
Sasse 's tirade against Trump came as a response to a constituent asking why he has criticized the president so much .
Calling it a `` fair question , '' Sasse began his answer rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` develop a good working relationship with the president over the last three and a half years '' and that he often prays for Trump and Vice President Pence .
He then spent the next full eight minutes offering up the harshest rebuke of the president by a sitting senator in Trump 's own party .
Sasse said Trump not only `` fails to lead our allies '' but that the United States `` now regularly sells out our allies under [ Trump 's ] leadership . ''
He listed in rapid-fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and spends like a drunken sailor .
The ways that I criticized President Obama for that kind of spending , I 've criticized President Trump for as well .
He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors .
His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity .
He 's flirted with white supremacists . ''
Sasse then shifted to what he characterized as Trump 's failure in leadership with the coronavirus pandemic , which has claimed the lives of more than 215,000 Americans , saying Trump treated it like a `` PR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge . ''
`` I do n't think the way he 's led through COVID has been reasonable or responsible or right , '' he said .
Sasse called it his `` duty '' to `` level with Nebraskans , '' while admitting he understands that some of his constituents are `` Trumpier '' than himself .
Sasse , who is up for reelection this year , conceded that he gives Trump credit for certain things , like appointing conservative judges , but emphasized that his unease with Trump is n't just policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a ... political question about whether or not he 's ultimately driving the country further to the left , because that 's what I think is ultimately going to happen because of Donald Trump , '' Sasse explained .
He called the Republican Party entwining itself with the `` Trumpian brand '' imprudent and said that his fear is that Trump will bring down the Republican-controlled Senate in November .
`` I 'm now looking at the possibility of a Republican bloodbath in the Senate , and that 's why I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's why I did n't agree to serve on his reelection committee and that 's why I 'm not campaigning for him , because I spend all my time thinking about the one political question that 's most central next month , which is holding the U.S .
Senate . ''

Sen. Sasse Slams Trump In Constituent Call: He's 'Flirted With White Supremacists'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pool/Getty Images Pool/Getty Images
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska excoriated President Trump in a telephone town-hall meeting with constituents on Wednesday, saying the president badly mishandled the coronavirus pandemic, mistreats women and cozies up to dictators.
"I'm not at all apologetic for having fought for my values against his in places where I think his are deficient, not just for a Republican but for an American," Sasse said.
"The way he kisses dictators' butts, I mean, the way he ignores that the Uighurs are in literal concentration camps in Xinjiang right now. He hasn't lifted a finger on behalf of the Hong-Kongers," Sasse said in audio obtained and published by the Washington Examiner.
James Wegmann, Sasse's communications director, tweeted that the call came from one of the senator's "regular telephone town halls with Nebraska voters" and underscored the importance of the Senate races.
Sasse's tirade against Trump came as a response to a constituent asking why he has criticized the president so much.
Calling it a "fair question," Sasse began his answer rather evenly, saying he has worked hard to "develop a good working relationship with the president over the last three and a half years" and that he often prays for Trump and Vice President Pence.
He then spent the next full eight minutes offering up the harshest rebuke of the president by a sitting senator in Trump's own party.
Sasse said Trump not only "fails to lead our allies" but that the United States "now regularly sells out our allies under [Trump's] leadership."
He listed in rapid-fire succession: "The way he treats women and spends like a drunken sailor. The ways that I criticized President Obama for that kind of spending, I've criticized President Trump for as well. He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors. His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity. He's flirted with white supremacists."
Sasse then shifted to what he characterized as Trump's failure in leadership with the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 215,000 Americans, saying Trump treated it like a "PR crisis rather than a multiyear public health challenge."
"I don't think the way he's led through COVID has been reasonable or responsible or right," he said.
Sasse called it his "duty" to "level with Nebraskans," while admitting he understands that some of his constituents are "Trumpier" than himself.
Sasse, who is up for reelection this year, conceded that he gives Trump credit for certain things, like appointing conservative judges, but emphasized that his unease with Trump isn't just policy based but existential.
"It's also a ... political question about whether or not he's ultimately driving the country further to the left, because that's what I think is ultimately going to happen because of Donald Trump," Sasse explained.
He called the Republican Party entwining itself with the "Trumpian brand" imprudent and said that his fear is that Trump will bring down the Republican-controlled Senate in November.
"I'm now looking at the possibility of a Republican bloodbath in the Senate, and that's why I've never been on the Trump train. It's why I didn't agree to serve on his reelection committee and that's why I'm not campaigning for him, because I spend all my time thinking about the one political question that's most central next month, which is holding the U.S. Senate."


npr--2020-10-15--United Airlines Reports $1.8 Billion Loss But Looks Ahead To Friendlier Skies

United Airlines Reports $ 1.8 Billion Loss But Looks Ahead To Friendlier Skies As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a huge financial toll on the travel industry , airlines are trying to shift their focus from stopping the bleeding to planning for a recovery .
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is expressing confidence , saying a recovery is `` now visible on the horizon , '' even though that recovery still appears to be a long way off .
`` The light at the end of the tunnel is a long way away , but this is the turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysts on a conference call on Thursday .
One reason for the optimism is that United is now able to test travelers at the airport for the coronavirus , with results in 15 minutes , to determine whether a passenger has been infected before the person boards the plane .
The rapid testing is being done only at San Francisco 's airport for travelers going to Hawaii .
If the test comes back negative , the traveler will not have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Hawaii , which the tropical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoming travelers .
United Airlines executives say news of the rapid-testing program has led to an increase in bookings to Hawaii .
But for now , the hemorrhaging continues , with United reporting that weaker-than-expected air travel demand over the summer months helped create a bigger-than-expected third-quarter loss of nearly $ 2 billion .
On Tuesday , rival Delta Air Lines reported losing more than $ 5 billion in the third quarter .
Since March , the number of people flying commercially has plummeted .
According to the industry group Airlines for America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at one point in April , and after a brief uptick in June and early July , demand dropped 65 % to 70 % in August and September , compared with the same months last year .
And that 's crushing the airlines ' bottom lines .
United says overall , revenue fell 78 % during the third quarter , with passenger revenue down 84 % from July , August and September of last year , when the airline earned a profit of more than $ 1 billion .
The one bright spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from flying cargo .
And even though United has reduced operating costs close to 60 % , the airline burned cash at a rate of $ 25 million a day in the third quarter .
That 's down from a cash burn rate of $ 40 million a day in the second quarter .
United began furloughing 13,000 employees Oct. 1 , when a federal payroll support program expired , and talks to extend that aid remain stalled .
United has promised to bring those furloughed employees back onto the payroll if Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on providing airlines with the additional aid soon .
Kirby says the coronavirus pandemic has created `` the worst financial crisis in aviation history , '' and he acknowledges that the `` negative impact of COVID-19 will likely persist in the near term . ''
`` We 're not getting through this until there 's a widely available vaccine , probably around the end of next year , so we 've got [ another ] 12 to 15 months of pain , sacrifice and difficulty ahead , '' said Kirby .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial phases to have confidence , and it 's really about confidence , on getting through the crisis and to the other side . ''
Aviation industry analysts and airline executives say there does seem to be pent-up demand for air travel , as many people are eager to fly and get away , even for short trips .
They expect warm-weather , leisure destinations to lead an air travel recovery .
But the bigger drag on United and its main rivals , Delta and American Airlines , has been the significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many business travelers tend to book later and even last minute , and they 're willing to pay higher prices for better schedules and perks like business-class seating .
United says its corporate travel is down 85 % to 90 % because of the pandemic , and Kirby says he does n't expect it to recover as quickly as leisure travel will .
`` Business travel is incredibly important to United , '' said Kirby .
`` It was our bread and butter before .
I think it will be our bread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But ] it 's going to be a few years before it comes back in earnest . ''
He added that he does n't expect business travel to recover to near pre-pandemic levels until 2024 .
But Kirby does n't agree with those who believe Zoom , GoToMeeting and other videoconferencing platforms will replace in-person business meeting and sales calls .
`` We are social creatures .
And I think the demand is going to come back , '' Kirby said .
`` I 've been fond of saying the first time someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed up in person is the last time they try to make a sales call on Zoom . ''

United Airlines Reports $1.8 Billion Loss But Looks Ahead To Friendlier Skies
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Schaper/NPR David Schaper/NPR
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a huge financial toll on the travel industry, airlines are trying to shift their focus from stopping the bleeding to planning for a recovery.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is expressing confidence, saying a recovery is "now visible on the horizon," even though that recovery still appears to be a long way off.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is a long way away, but this is the turning point," Kirby told reporters and analysts on a conference call on Thursday.
One reason for the optimism is that United is now able to test travelers at the airport for the coronavirus, with results in 15 minutes, to determine whether a passenger has been infected before the person boards the plane.
The rapid testing is being done only at San Francisco's airport for travelers going to Hawaii. If the test comes back negative, the traveler will not have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Hawaii, which the tropical island state had been requiring of all incoming travelers.
United Airlines executives say news of the rapid-testing program has led to an increase in bookings to Hawaii.
But for now, the hemorrhaging continues, with United reporting that weaker-than-expected air travel demand over the summer months helped create a bigger-than-expected third-quarter loss of nearly $2 billion. On Tuesday, rival Delta Air Lines reported losing more than $5 billion in the third quarter.
Since March, the number of people flying commercially has plummeted. According to the industry group Airlines for America, air travel demand fell 94% at one point in April, and after a brief uptick in June and early July, demand dropped 65% to 70% in August and September, compared with the same months last year. And that's crushing the airlines' bottom lines.
United says overall, revenue fell 78% during the third quarter, with passenger revenue down 84% from July, August and September of last year, when the airline earned a profit of more than $1 billion.
The one bright spot was a 50% increase in revenue from flying cargo.
And even though United has reduced operating costs close to 60%, the airline burned cash at a rate of $25 million a day in the third quarter. That's down from a cash burn rate of $40 million a day in the second quarter.
United began furloughing 13,000 employees Oct. 1, when a federal payroll support program expired, and talks to extend that aid remain stalled. United has promised to bring those furloughed employees back onto the payroll if Congress and the White House reach an agreement on providing airlines with the additional aid soon.
Kirby says the coronavirus pandemic has created "the worst financial crisis in aviation history," and he acknowledges that the "negative impact of COVID-19 will likely persist in the near term."
"We're not getting through this until there's a widely available vaccine, probably around the end of next year, so we've got [another] 12 to 15 months of pain, sacrifice and difficulty ahead," said Kirby. "But we have done what it takes in the initial phases to have confidence, and it's really about confidence, on getting through the crisis and to the other side."
Aviation industry analysts and airline executives say there does seem to be pent-up demand for air travel, as many people are eager to fly and get away, even for short trips. They expect warm-weather, leisure destinations to lead an air travel recovery.
But the bigger drag on United and its main rivals, Delta and American Airlines, has been the significant drop in the more profitable business-travel sector. Many business travelers tend to book later and even last minute, and they're willing to pay higher prices for better schedules and perks like business-class seating. United says its corporate travel is down 85% to 90% because of the pandemic, and Kirby says he doesn't expect it to recover as quickly as leisure travel will.
"Business travel is incredibly important to United," said Kirby. "It was our bread and butter before. I think it will be our bread and butter in the future. [But] it's going to be a few years before it comes back in earnest." He added that he doesn't expect business travel to recover to near pre-pandemic levels until 2024.
But Kirby doesn't agree with those who believe Zoom, GoToMeeting and other videoconferencing platforms will replace in-person business meeting and sales calls.
"We are social creatures. And I think the demand is going to come back," Kirby said. "I've been fond of saying the first time someone loses a sale to a competitor who showed up in person is the last time they try to make a sales call on Zoom."


npr--2020-10-15--Adelsons Pump $75 Million Into Pro-Trump Super PAC In Election's Final Stretch

Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife , Miriam , pumped $ 75 million into a pro-Trump super PAC in the final stretch of the presidential campaign , providing a late cash infusion for President Trump 's faltering reelection effort as his Democratic rival , Joe Biden , raked in record-breaking sums .
The Adelsons made the series of contributions in late August and September to the Preserve America PAC , according to Federal Election Commission filings , allowing the newly formed group to blanket swing states with attack ads against Biden .
Though it launched in late August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA Action , a group that 's supporting Biden , and the pro-Trump America First Action in terms of outside spending in the presidential race .
Preserve America raised nearly $ 84 million at the end of August and in September — largely from the Adelsons .
Trump presented Miriam Adelson with the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2018 and in April of this year appointed Sheldon Adelson , the CEO of Las Vegas Sands , to his council of business leaders who would advise him on reopening the country .
In August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for not forking over enough money to help the reelection campaign .
While Trump and his allies began the campaign with a cash advantage , Biden and affiliated groups have been pulling in gigantic hauls each month since the summer .
On Wednesday , the campaign announced that along with allied Democratic groups , it raised $ 383 million in September alone .
The campaign says it now has $ 432 million on hand and has been outspending Trump on TV ads in six key states by $ 240 million .
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released September fundraising figures .

Adelsons Pump $75 Million Into Pro-Trump Super PAC In Election's Final Stretch
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, pumped $75 million into a pro-Trump super PAC in the final stretch of the presidential campaign, providing a late cash infusion for President Trump's faltering reelection effort as his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, raked in record-breaking sums.
The Adelsons made the series of contributions in late August and September to the Preserve America PAC, according to Federal Election Commission filings, allowing the newly formed group to blanket swing states with attack ads against Biden.
Though it launched in late August, Preserve America is only dwarfed by Priorities USA Action, a group that's supporting Biden, and the pro-Trump America First Action in terms of outside spending in the presidential race.
Preserve America raised nearly $84 million at the end of August and in September — largely from the Adelsons.
Trump presented Miriam Adelson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 and in April of this year appointed Sheldon Adelson, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands, to his council of business leaders who would advise him on reopening the country.
In August, Trump reportedly berated the billionaire Adelson for not forking over enough money to help the reelection campaign.
While Trump and his allies began the campaign with a cash advantage, Biden and affiliated groups have been pulling in gigantic hauls each month since the summer.
On Wednesday, the campaign announced that along with allied Democratic groups, it raised $383 million in September alone. The campaign says it now has $432 million on hand and has been outspending Trump on TV ads in six key states by $240 million.
The Trump campaign and Republican affiliates haven't yet released September fundraising figures.


npr--2020-10-15--Single-Day COVID-19 Deaths In Illinois At Highest Level In Months

Single-Day COVID-19 Deaths In Illinois At Highest Level In Months Health officials in Illinois on Thursday announced the largest number of COVID-19 deaths for a single day since June .
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 53 new deaths , the largest daily increase since 64 people were reported as having died from the virus on June 24 .
According to the Chicago Tribune , Thursday 's infections topped a previous high in May .
On Sept. 4 , more than 5,000 cases were reported , but they were mostly attributed to a `` backlog in processing test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker warned that the state 's coronavirus data was trending in a `` concerning direction . ''
He and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike urged residents to rethink how they might celebrate the upcoming holidays in an effort to contain the spread of the virus .
`` COVID-19 has changed the way we work , live , and play , and will now change how we plan to celebrate the holidays , '' Ezike said in a statement .
`` While the safest way to celebrate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with others virtually , we know , for many , the holidays are all about family and friends , so we want to provide some tips on how to celebrate safer . ''
The state department of health also said Wednesday that it was changing the way it reports its SARS CoV-2 data .
For east-central Illinois , it had previously stripped out results from Champaign County to account for a wide-scale testing program at the University of Illinois .
Now , the officials said , they will remove the data only from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country where it is located .
The department also said that beginning Thursday , it will include the results of antigen tests in its daily count of coronavirus screenings .
`` Previously , due to the limited number of antigen tests and limited information about antigen test accuracy , antigen tests were not included in the total number ( which comprised less than 1 % of total tests performed ) , '' the IDPH said in a statement on Wednesday .

Single-Day COVID-19 Deaths In Illinois At Highest Level In Months
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP Nam Y. Huh/AP
Health officials in Illinois on Thursday announced the largest number of COVID-19 deaths for a single day since June.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 53 new deaths, the largest daily increase since 64 people were reported as having died from the virus on June 24.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Thursday's infections topped a previous high in May. On Sept. 4, more than 5,000 cases were reported, but they were mostly attributed to a "backlog in processing test results," the newspaper said.
On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned that the state's coronavirus data was trending in a "concerning direction." He and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike urged residents to rethink how they might celebrate the upcoming holidays in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
"COVID-19 has changed the way we work, live, and play, and will now change how we plan to celebrate the holidays," Ezike said in a statement. "While the safest way to celebrate is with members of your household and connecting with others virtually, we know, for many, the holidays are all about family and friends, so we want to provide some tips on how to celebrate safer."
The state department of health also said Wednesday that it was changing the way it reports its SARS CoV-2 data.
For east-central Illinois, it had previously stripped out results from Champaign County to account for a wide-scale testing program at the University of Illinois. Now, the officials said, they will remove the data only from the university, not for the entire county where it is located.
The department also said that beginning Thursday, it will include the results of antigen tests in its daily count of coronavirus screenings.
"Previously, due to the limited number of antigen tests and limited information about antigen test accuracy, antigen tests were not included in the total number (which comprised less than 1% of total tests performed)," the IDPH said in a statement on Wednesday.


npr--2020-10-15--Tobacco Plants Contribute Key Ingredient For COVID-19 Vaccine

Historically , tobacco plants are responsible for their share of illness and death .
Now they may help control the COVID-19 pandemic .
Two biotech companies are using the tobacco plant , Nicotiana benthamiana , as bio-factories to produce a key protein from the coronavirus that can be used in a vaccine .
`` There 's obvious irony there , '' says James Figlar , executive vice president for research and development for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco .
Reynolds owns Kentucky BioProcessing , one of the companies working on a COVID-19 vaccine from plants .
`` If you wanted to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says .
`` But we tend to think of it as like at the end of the day , the tobacco plant in and of itself is still just a plant . ''
Vaccines work by tricking people 's immune system into believing it 's been exposed to a virus so it can fight the virus off , if the real thing should ever turn up .
There are various ways to do that .
One is to introduce something that looks like a virus to the immune system , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach Kentucky Bioprocessing is using .
To make its vaccine , the company starts with tobacco seeds that they plant in a greenhouse .
When the plants are approximately 25 days old , they 're dipped into a solution containing agrobacteria .
These are microorganisms that infect plants .
In this case , they 've been modified to contain instructions for making a protein from the coronavirus .
The plants take up those instructions .
Seven days after being exposed to the agrobacteria , `` we harvest the plant , go through an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the cycle , we have 99.9 percent pure protein , says company president Hugh Haydon .
A separate set of plants produces a tiny particle for packaging the viral protein .
`` Once each of those components has been manufactured and purified separately , we chemically attach them to each other , '' Haydon says .
The result is something that can be injected into a human as a vaccine — and will prompt an immune response that should , in theory , protect someone from dying from COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks like a virus , '' says Bruce Clark , CEO of Medicago , a Canadian biotech company that 's also using tobacco plants to make a vaccine .
`` So when it presents to the body , it looks and generates a response like a virus , but it has no genetic material inside , '' so it ca n't actually infect someone , Clark says .
Medicago has already begun testing its vaccine candidate in humans .
Results from the initial studies are expected soon .
Kentucky Bioprocessing 's COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing in humans for several weeks yet .
Even if the vaccine is n't one of the first to be approved , it may have advantages over some of the other vaccines .
For example , it can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures , and may even be stable at room temperature , making it easier to distribute .
Besides , says Haydon , `` There will be other public health challenges .
And the more that we can learn as a company , the better prepared we are for what comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agrees plants could play an important role in the future of medicine .
`` There are lots of examples of a plant made versions of therapeutic proteins , and so this is just another place where I think plants can make their mark . ''
Out of the greenhouse , and into the clinic .

Tobacco Plants Contribute Key Ingredient For COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rehman Asad/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Rehman Asad/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Historically, tobacco plants are responsible for their share of illness and death. Now they may help control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two biotech companies are using the tobacco plant, Nicotiana benthamiana, as bio-factories to produce a key protein from the coronavirus that can be used in a vaccine.
"There's obvious irony there," says James Figlar, executive vice president for research and development for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Reynolds owns Kentucky BioProcessing, one of the companies working on a COVID-19 vaccine from plants.
"If you wanted to be cynical about it, you could," he says. "But we tend to think of it as like at the end of the day, the tobacco plant in and of itself is still just a plant."
Vaccines work by tricking people's immune system into believing it's been exposed to a virus so it can fight the virus off, if the real thing should ever turn up.
There are various ways to do that. One is to introduce something that looks like a virus to the immune system, but isn't infectious. That's the approach Kentucky Bioprocessing is using.
To make its vaccine, the company starts with tobacco seeds that they plant in a greenhouse. When the plants are approximately 25 days old, they're dipped into a solution containing agrobacteria. These are microorganisms that infect plants. In this case, they've been modified to contain instructions for making a protein from the coronavirus. The plants take up those instructions.
Seven days after being exposed to the agrobacteria, "we harvest the plant, go through an extraction and purification process, and at the end of the cycle, we have 99.9 percent pure protein, says company president Hugh Haydon.
A separate set of plants produces a tiny particle for packaging the viral protein.
"Once each of those components has been manufactured and purified separately, we chemically attach them to each other," Haydon says.
The result is something that can be injected into a human as a vaccine — and will prompt an immune response that should, in theory, protect someone from dying from COVID-19.
"To all intents and purposes, it looks like a virus," says Bruce Clark, CEO of Medicago, a Canadian biotech company that's also using tobacco plants to make a vaccine.
"So when it presents to the body, it looks and generates a response like a virus, but it has no genetic material inside," so it can't actually infect someone, Clark says.
Medicago has already begun testing its vaccine candidate in humans. Results from the initial studies are expected soon.
Kentucky Bioprocessing's COVID-19 vaccine won't be ready for initial testing in humans for several weeks yet. Even if the vaccine isn't one of the first to be approved, it may have advantages over some of the other vaccines. For example, it can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures, and may even be stable at room temperature, making it easier to distribute.
Besides, says Haydon, "There will be other public health challenges. And the more that we can learn as a company, the better prepared we are for what comes next."
Plant biologist Kathleen Hefferon agrees plants could play an important role in the future of medicine.
"There are lots of examples of a plant made versions of therapeutic proteins, and so this is just another place where I think plants can make their mark."
Out of the greenhouse, and into the clinic.


npr--2020-10-15--California Supreme Court Orders Scott Peterson's Murder Convictions To Be Reexamined

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson 's 2004 conviction in the murder of his pregnant wife , Laci Peterson , and their unborn son .
The court overturned his death sentence in late August of this year .
The case has been remanded to the San Mateo County Superior Court .
The Supreme Court said the lower court should consider whether a juror had committed `` prejudicial misconduct '' by failing to disclose that she had been involved in prior legal proceedings .
She had filed a lawsuit in 2000 to get a restraining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her while she was pregnant , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Yet when the potential jurors were asked if they had ever been a victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit , the juror , named Richelle Nice , had said no to both questions .
In fact , Nice had been 4½ months pregnant when she filed a restraining order against the woman .
The Times reports that Peterson 's lawyers said Nice was one of the jury 's two holdouts for convicting Peterson of murder .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Laci Peterson had disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2002 , when she was due to give birth in 4 weeks .
The Peterson marriage did not have a history of domestic abuse or restraining orders .
Scott Peterson had been having an affair with Amber Frey , a massage therapist from Fresno .
The bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son washed up on the shores of San Francisco Bay , near where Scott Peterson told police he was fishing the day she disappeared .
Mark Geragos , the defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Supreme Court 's review of the case , in his mind , is the `` main event '' — far more important than overturning the death penalty .
`` The death penalty has been a broken chair in California for quite a while , '' he said .
`` And I guess if there 's a blessing or a silver lining , it 's that [ the case was ] in front of the Supreme Court . ''
Geragos said the case had a recurring problem with `` stealth jurors . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agenda , '' he said .
`` We identified some that unfortunately got through .
Now we 're going to have a hearing and see if that impacted the conviction , which I 'm sure it did.
`` At least three other jurors had not disclosed litigation earlier in the case , and had been removed from the jury , Geragos said .
`` We look forward to putting [ Nice ] under oath and showing exactly what went on , '' he said .
Dean Johnson , a legal analyst who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be a new trial .
`` I think this is going to be ironic ... if it turns out that the juror who was most prominent in the post-trial proceedings and who is most adamant about Peterson 's guilt , is going to turn out to be ... the very juror whose actions caused the reversal of the conviction and a new trial , '' he told NPR .
`` And I think there 's a very , very good chance that we may see a second Scott Peterson trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior deputy district attorney who was the lead prosecutor in the 2004 case and is now a judge , declined to comment .
Birgit Fladager , the current district attorney for Stanislaus County , did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Cliff Gardner , a lawyer for Peterson in his challenge to the death sentence , said of Thursday 's order , `` We agree not only with the Court 's apparent concern about juror candor during the jury selection process , but with its recognition about how central the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury to reach a fair decision in this case . ''

California Supreme Court Orders Scott Peterson's Murder Convictions To Be Reexamined
Enlarge this image toggle caption California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation /AP California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation /AP
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a reexamination of Scott Peterson's 2004 conviction in the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son. The court overturned his death sentence in late August of this year.
The case has been remanded to the San Mateo County Superior Court.
The Supreme Court said the lower court should consider whether a juror had committed "prejudicial misconduct" by failing to disclose that she had been involved in prior legal proceedings. She had filed a lawsuit in 2000 to get a restraining order after her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend harassed her while she was pregnant, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Yet when the potential jurors were asked if they had ever been a victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit, the juror, named Richelle Nice, had said no to both questions. In fact, Nice had been 4½ months pregnant when she filed a restraining order against the woman.
The Times reports that Peterson's lawyers said Nice was one of the jury's two holdouts for convicting Peterson of murder.
The case garnered widespread national attention at the time. Laci Peterson had disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2002, when she was due to give birth in 4 weeks. The Peterson marriage did not have a history of domestic abuse or restraining orders. Scott Peterson had been having an affair with Amber Frey, a massage therapist from Fresno.
The bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son washed up on the shores of San Francisco Bay, near where Scott Peterson told police he was fishing the day she disappeared.
Mark Geragos, the defense attorney for Peterson, tells NPR the state Supreme Court's review of the case, in his mind, is the "main event" — far more important than overturning the death penalty.
"The death penalty has been a broken chair in California for quite a while," he said. "And I guess if there's a blessing or a silver lining, it's that [the case was] in front of the Supreme Court."
Geragos said the case had a recurring problem with "stealth jurors."
"Jurors will come in and have an agenda," he said. "We identified some that unfortunately got through. Now we're going to have a hearing and see if that impacted the conviction, which I'm sure it did. "
At least three other jurors had not disclosed litigation earlier in the case, and had been removed from the jury, Geragos said.
"We look forward to putting [Nice] under oath and showing exactly what went on," he said.
Dean Johnson, a legal analyst who has followed the case closely, believes there will be a new trial.
"I think this is going to be ironic ... if it turns out that the juror who was most prominent in the post-trial proceedings and who is most adamant about Peterson's guilt, is going to turn out to be ... the very juror whose actions caused the reversal of the conviction and a new trial," he told NPR. "And I think there's a very, very good chance that we may see a second Scott Peterson trial."
Rick Distaso, the Stanislaus County senior deputy district attorney who was the lead prosecutor in the 2004 case and is now a judge, declined to comment.
Birgit Fladager, the current district attorney for Stanislaus County, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cliff Gardner, a lawyer for Peterson in his challenge to the death sentence, said of Wednesday's order, "We agree not only with the Court's apparent concern about juror candor during the jury selection process, but with its recognition about how central the misconduct was to the ability of the jury to reach a fair decision in this case."