npr--2020-02-02--The Chiefs End 50-Year Wait For Super Bowl Championship

The long wait is over for Kansas City .
The Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the first time in 50 years .
After a slow start in Super Bowl LIV , the Chiefs pulled off yet another double-digit comeback in the playoffs .
The Chiefs , led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes , navigated the 49ers ' defensive pressure by the fourth quarter .
His two long touchdown passes took the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers .
`` We never lost faith , '' Mahomes said .
`` That 's the biggest thing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had their head down .
We believed in each other . ''
Mahomes , 24 , just became the youngest player to be crowned most valuable player of the Super Bowl , a year after he was the youngest player to earn the NFL MVP title .
Chiefs coach Andy Reid scored his first Super Bowl ring as head coach .
`` This is what it 's all about , '' Reid said .
`` What a great team , great coaches .
Appreciate every bit of it . ''
Early on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garoppolo made the first mistake — as he sometimes does — when he threw up the ball under a heavy rush and it was intercepted .
But the 49ers returned with a drive and scored on a catch-and-run by the tough fullback Kyle Juszczyk .
The Chiefs entered the game as an offensive juggernaut pitted against one of the NFL 's most dominant defensive teams over the past season .
By the second half it was a toss-up , just as oddsmakers figured ; the Chiefs opened the game as a 1-point favorite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pick up after the third quarter , with the 49ers outplaying Kansas City on offense and defense .
But it was n't good enough .
With six minutes left in the fourth quarter , the Chiefs were down 20-10 .
It did n't seem to bother Mahomes , who time and time again has found a way to bring his team back from a deficit .
The Chiefs stormed back , scoring 21 unanswered points to stop the 49ers .
It was the third time these playoffs that Mahomes engineered a double-digit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time that 's ever happened .
Sunday night was the second consecutive game the Chiefs erased a 10-point deficit .
They were down 24-0 against the Houston Texans before rallying back 10-0 to beat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game .
The Chiefs ' third trip to the Super Bowl was the charm .
Their only championship came half a century ago , when they beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV .
The team 's then-owner , Lamar Hunt , is credited with coming up with the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of his children play with a new toy ball .
`` I think it probably came because my children had been given a small , rubber ball that was called a 'super ball . '
And it was very much like a golf ball , except it was rubber , '' Hunt said in an interview in 1998 .
`` And you could bounce it on concrete , and it would bounce over a house . ''
One of those children bouncing the super ball , Clark Hunt , is now chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco , behind the play of 28-year-old quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo , fell just short of winning a record-tying sixth Super Bowl championship on their seventh visit to the Super Bowl .
It 's was their first trip back to the championship since 2013 , when their quarterback was Colin Kaepernick .
The game picks up , and so do the ads As in past years , the commercials drew fans and more casual viewers alike .
Most of the advertisement chatter involved a commercial for Hulu Live starring Tom Brady .
Strolling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star was , by all appearances , announcing his retirement .
By the final quarter , Brady , looking reflective in a black turtleneck , had punked fans .
And Hulu emerged victorious .
`` I 'm not going anywhere , '' he told the camera .
Bill Murray relived Groundhog Day in a Jeep ad .
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi wondered what life was like before Amazon 's Alexa smart speaker .
An estimated 100 million people were expected to tune in to watch the game , the ads and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Bowl viewership was down , around 98.2 million viewers .
It was the game 's smallest audience since 2008 , the Los Angeles Times reported .
Many have attributed the decrease in audience to the low-scoring game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams .
Demi Lovato 's pre-game performance of the national anthem was a comeback of sorts .
The 27-year-old pop star marked her return to her music career a week ago at the Grammy 's after a stint in rehab in 2018 , following a reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infused Latin pride into an electric halftime show .
Fellow Latin artists , Bad Bunny and J Balvin , were also brought on stage .
Shakira danced through her discography , including `` Whenever , Wherever , '' from her breakout English-language album Laundry Service , that introduced the native Colombian to a wider American market .
Lopez trotted out a medley of her hits , including `` Jenny from the Block . ''
The 50-year-old showed off her training from her role in the recent film Hustlers as she whirled around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Yorker , born to Puerto Rican parents , honored her heritage by wrapping herself in a flamboyant flag ( half American , half Puerto Rican ) while belting out a verse from Springsteen 's `` Born in the USA . ''

Kansas City Chiefs End 50-Year Wait For Super Bowl Championship
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
Updated at 12:15 a.m. Monday
The long wait is over for Kansas City. The Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the first time in 50 years.
After a slow start in Super Bowl LIV, the Chiefs pulled off yet another double-digit comeback in the playoffs.
The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, navigated the San Francisco 49ers' defensive pressure by the fourth quarter. His two long touchdown passes took the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory Sunday over the 49ers.
"We never lost faith," Mahomes said. "That's the biggest thing. Everybody on this team, no one had their head down. We believed in each other."
Mahomes, 24, became the youngest player to be crowned most valuable player in the Super Bowl, a year after he was the youngest player to earn the NFL MVP title.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid scored his first Super Bowl ring as head coach.
"This is what it's all about," Reid said. "What a great team, great coaches. Appreciate every bit of it."
The comeback Chiefs
Early on, the 49ers dominated possession. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made the first mistake — as he sometimes does — when he threw up the ball under a heavy rush and it was intercepted.
But the 49ers returned with a drive and scored on a catch-and-run by the tough fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
The Chiefs entered the game as an offensive juggernaut pitted against one of the NFL's most dominant defensive teams over the past season.
By the second half it was a toss-up, just as oddsmakers figured; the Chiefs opened the game as a 1-point favorite over the 49ers.
The pace started to pick up after the third quarter, with the 49ers outplaying Kansas City on offense and defense. But it wasn't good enough. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were down 20-10. It didn't seem to bother Mahomes, who time and time again has found a way to bring his team back from a deficit.
The Chiefs stormed back, scoring 21 unanswered points to stop the 49ers. It was the third time these playoffs that Mahomes engineered a double-digit comeback in a single postseason — the first time that's ever happened.
Sunday night was the second consecutive game the Chiefs erased a 10-point deficit. They were down 24-0 against the Houston Texans before rallying back, and they were down 10-0 to beat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game.
Kansas City ends a drought
Sports Super Bowl-Bound Chiefs Re-Energize Kansas City Super Bowl-Bound Chiefs Re-Energize Kansas City Listen · 3:17 3:17
The Chiefs' third trip to the Super Bowl was the charm. Their only other championship came half a century ago, when they beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. The team's then-owner, Lamar Hunt, is credited with coming up with the name "Super Bowl," after watching one of his children play with a new toy ball.
"I think it probably came because my children had been given a small, rubber ball that was called a 'super ball.' And it was very much like a golf ball, except it was rubber," Hunt said in an interview in 1998. "And you could bounce it on concrete, and it would bounce over a house."
One of those children bouncing the super ball, Clark Hunt, is now chairman and CEO of the team.
San Francisco, behind the play of the 28-year-old Garoppolo, fell short of winning a record-tying sixth Super Bowl championship on their seventh visit to the Super Bowl. It was their first trip back to the championship since 2013, when their quarterback was Colin Kaepernick.
The game picks up, and so do the ads
As in past years, the commercials drew fans and more casual viewers alike.
Most of the advertisement chatter involved a commercial for Hulu Live starring Tom Brady. Strolling the turf at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots star was, by all appearances, announcing his retirement. By the final quarter, Brady, looking reflective in a black turtleneck, had punked fans. And Hulu emerged victorious.
"I'm not going anywhere," he told the camera.
Bill Murray relived Groundhog Day in a Jeep ad. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi wondered what life was like before Amazon's Alexa smart speaker.
An estimated 100 million people were expected to tune in to watch the game, the ads and the halftime show.
Last year, Super Bowl viewership was down, around 98.2 million viewers. It was the game's smallest audience since 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Many have attributed the decrease in audience to the low-scoring game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams.
Halftime showcases Latin pride
Demi Lovato's pregame performance of the national anthem was a comeback of sorts. The 27-year-old pop star marked her return to her music career a week ago at the Grammy's after a stint in rehab in 2018, following a reported overdose.
Headliners Shakira and Jennifer Lopez infused Latin pride into an electric halftime show. Fellow Latin artists, Bad Bunny and J Balvin, were also brought onstage.
Shakira danced through her discography, including "Whenever, Wherever," from her breakout English-language album Laundry Service that introduced the native Colombian to a wider American market.
Lopez trotted out a medley of her hits, including "Jenny from the Block." The 50-year-old showed off her training from her role in the recent film Hustlers as she whirled around a pole to greet the crowd. The New Yorker, born to Puerto Rican parents, honored her heritage by wrapping herself in a flamboyant flag (half American, half Puerto Rican) while belting out a verse from Springsteen's "Born in the USA."


npr--2020-02-02--3 Injured In 'Terrorist-Related' Stabbing In London; Suspect Killed By Police

3 Injured In 'Terrorist-Related ' Stabbing In London ; Suspect Killed By Police In what London police are calling a `` terrorist-related '' incident , two people were stabbed in Streatham , a south London district on Sunday .
A third person has minor injuries , believed to have been caused by glass following the discharge of the police firearm , according to a statement from Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi .
All three victims were taken to south London hospitals .
One man is being treated for life-threatening injuries , one woman has injuries that are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
Armed officers shot a male suspect , who was pronounced dead at the scene .
Police said a device was found strapped to the body of the suspect but officers were able to quickly establish it was a `` hoax '' device .
`` The incident was quickly declared as a terrorist incident and we believe it to be Islamist-related , '' D'Orsi said .
The BBC reported the suspect was actively being surveilled by police at the time of the incident .
An eyewitness told the UK 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an undercover police officer chased the man , who was armed with a machete and wearing silver canisters on his chest .
London has suffered a number of terror attacks in the last several years .
Police have responded in a similar ways to attackers wearing suicide vests , which have turned out to be fake .
In November 2019 , two people were killed and three were injured in a stabbing near London Bridge .
Police shot and killed a suspect at the scene who was wearing a hoax bomb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ In June 2017 , seven people died and 48 others were injured after terrorist attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market .
In that incident , the suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but turned out to be fake , police said .
ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack .
In contrast to other similar incidents that have occurred near famous landmarks , Streatham is a south London district of about 58,000 people .
London 's Metropolitan Police said the scene of the attack has been `` fully contained . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use `` common sense and restraint in circulating pictures and videos , '' especially showing victims and officers involved in the incident .
They ask for anyone with information , footage or images to share them with the police .
`` Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life — here in London we will never let them succeed , '' London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in the statement after the attack .
Streatham 's Labour member of Parliament , Bell Ribeiro-Addy , tweeted that police said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important that we do not allow acts of terror to divide us , as that is how terrorists win , '' she added .

3 Injured In 'Terrorist-Related' Stabbing In London; Suspect Killed By Police
Enlarge this image toggle caption Victoria Jones/AP Victoria Jones/AP
Updated at 3:57 p.m. ET
In what London police are calling a "terrorist-related" incident, two people were stabbed in Streatham, a south London district on Sunday.
A third person has minor injuries, believed to have been caused by glass following the discharge of the police firearm, according to a statement from Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi.
All three victims were taken to south London hospitals. One man is being treated for life-threatening injuries, one woman has injuries that are not life-threatening and another woman has minor injuries, police said.
Armed officers shot a male suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said a device was found strapped to the body of the suspect but officers were able to quickly establish it was a "hoax" device.
"The incident was quickly declared as a terrorist incident and we believe it to be Islamist-related," D'Orsi said.
The BBC reported the suspect was actively being surveilled by police at the time of the incident.
An eyewitness told the UK's PA Media that a person appearing to be an undercover police officer chased the man, who was armed with a machete and wearing silver canisters on his chest.
London has suffered a number of terror attacks in the last several years. Police have responded in a similar ways to attackers wearing suicide vests, which have turned out to be fake.
In November 2019, two people were killed and three were injured in a stabbing near London Bridge. Police shot and killed a suspect at the scene who was wearing a hoax bomb. Terrorism was identified as a motive.
In June 2017, seven people died and 48 others were injured after terrorist attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market. In that incident, the suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but turned out to be fake, police said. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack.
In contrast to other similar incidents that have occurred near famous landmarks, Streatham is a south London district of about 58,000 people.
London's Metropolitan Police said the scene of the attack has been "fully contained."
In a tweet, they urged people to use "common sense and restraint in circulating pictures and videos," especially showing victims and officers involved in the incident. They ask for anyone with information, footage or images to share them with the police.
"Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life — here in London we will never let them succeed," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in the statement after the attack.
Streatham's Labour member of Parliament, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, tweeted that police said it was an isolated incident.
"It is important that we do not allow acts of terror to divide us, as that is how terrorists win," she added.
NPR's Frank Langfitt contributed reporting.


npr--2020-02-02--All Nerddoms Welcome: The Intergalactic Krewe Of Chewbacchus Parades In New Orleans

All Nerddoms Welcome : The Intergalactic Krewe Of Chewbacchus Parades In New Orleans In the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras on Feb. 25 , the streets of New Orleans are filled with a series of extravagant parades organized by local krewes .
Saturday night 's parade was a glittering , glowing procession of Wookiees , Trekkies , and other self-proclaimed sci-fi geeks and super-nerds : the tenth annual parade of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus .
The krewe 's name is , as you might guess , an irreverent mashup of Chewbacca , the shaggy 8-foot Wookiee from Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ god of wine .
`` That is a huge part of the krewe : mashups , puns and stacking together things that you love , '' said one of the krewe 's captains , Brooke Ethridge , better known as Overlord Padme Almandine .
Richard Riggs , aka Overlord Strangelover , added : `` The mission of the krewe is 'Saving the galaxy one drunken nerd at a time . '
'' The week before the parade rolled , the revelers were in the frantic final stages of preparation , sanding , sawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
Laura van Aken was hard at work adding extra fur to her costume , or `` wookifying '' it , as she put it .
`` We are Chewbacchus , so got ta have a Chewie in there , '' she said .
Her costume combined elements of Chewbacca with characters from the cult classic , The Rocky Horror Picture Show .
`` It 's truly just a free-for-all , '' van Aken said .
`` You can do whatever you can dream up , costume-wise .
Just make it happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff ! ''
When the krewe was formed 10 years ago , it focused on classic sci-fi – Star Trek and Star Wars .
But over the years , the boundaries loosened , in a big way .
`` We say now , all nerddoms , '' Ethridge explained .
`` So anything that you want to nerd about is welcome in the Chewbacchus parade . ''
Which means there 's a sub-krewe in the Chewbacchus parade for just about anybody .
Among them : • The Aerial Space Squad , whose members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pole and hoops ; • The Krewe of the Living Dead , or KOLD ; • Queer Eye for the Sci-Fi , for `` LGBTQ+ cosplayers and their allies '' ; • The Leijorettes , Princess Leia look-alikes , some 100-strong , doing dance routines to Star Wars music ; • The STOMP Troopers , for young people with autism ; • The All Wonder Woman Walking Krewe , whose members assume many forms , including Marie Antoinette Wonder Woman and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Wonder Woman ; • and the AfroFuturist Krewe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribute to rapper Missy Elliott .
`` Being an ultimate trailblazer , everything about her is futuristic , '' explained AfroFuturist Krewe member Michele Seymour .
`` I do n't see myself in Star Wars , '' added fellow krewe member Pearl Ricks , `` and the whole idea of AfroFuturism is to create a world that is beyond what we already have . ''
One of the newest sub-krewes is the Women of Wakanda : those fierce warriors from the 2018 mega-hit film , Black Panther .
Member Sonita Singh , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loincloth , described the thrill of the parade : `` Beautiful , powerful , sovereign black women coming down the streets , screaming 'Wakanda forever ! '
Chills .
I get chills just thinking about it . ''
The Krewe of Chewbacchus is a walking krewe , which means there are no people riding on huge floats pulled by trucks and tractors .
Instead , they parade with `` contraptions '' — wildly elaborate hand-made structures that are pushed or pedaled on tricycles , shopping carts , rickshaws , or whatever can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alien in a gigantic spaceship , hovering over a scale model of New Orleans .
An old favorite : BAR2D2 .
There 's a keg inside .
And of course , there 's the krewe 's idol : Chewbacchus , a six-armed Wookiee made of Styrofoam .
This year , he was sculpted in full roar , perched on top of the starship Millennium Falcon .
`` Chewbacchus is the Sacred Drunken Wookie who we worship , '' said Overlord Strangelover , Richard Riggs .
`` He is our godhead . ''
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the throws they toss to the crowds are made by hand .
No cheap , plastic Mardi Gras beads for this bunch ; instead , they take great pride in creating miniature works of art that have become coveted collectors ' items .
Among the many offerings this year : Wakanda earrings , tiny Yoda finger puppets , delicately painted bandolier blocks , and sparkly , bejeweled ray guns .
`` There 's this exchange and this moment that 's extremely personal that you do n't get when you 're just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Aryanna Gamble , Overlord Space Goddess Snackagawea .
`` Outside of New Orleans , there 's this perception that Mardi Gras is booze and Bourbon Street and boobs , '' Gamble said .
`` The reality that all of us know is that Mardi Gras is made in dens and living rooms and garages across the city .
It 's for all of us , and it 's made by us .
It 's a community builder . ''

All Nerddoms Welcome: The Intergalactic Krewe Of Chewbacchus Parades In New Orleans
Hide caption The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus's Tenth Anniversary Parade rolls through the streets of New Orleans on Saturday night. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption The Women of Wakanda sub-krewe marches in the parade. This group is one of the newest sub-krewes and is inspired by the fierce warriors in the 2018 film Black Panther. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption The Chewbacchus krewe's idol: Chewbacchus, a six-armed Wookiee made of Styrofoam, comes down the street. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption The Leijorettes sub-krewe includes roughly 100 Princess Leia lookalikes performing dance routines to Star Wars music. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption When the Chewbacchus krewe was formed 10 years ago, it focused on classic sci-fi – Star Trek and Star Wars. But over the years, the boundaries loosened, in a big way. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption The STOMP Troopers, a sub-krewe for young people with autism, march down the street. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption Members of the Aerial Space Squad sub-krewe perform acrobatics above the crowd on a pole and hoops. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Hide caption A contraption featuring Yoda makes its way through the parade. Previous Next L. Kasimu Harris for NPR 1 of 8 i View slideshow
In the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras on Feb. 25, the streets of New Orleans are filled with a series of extravagant parades organized by local krewes.
Saturday night's parade was a glittering, glowing procession of Wookiees, Trekkies, and other self-proclaimed sci-fi geeks and super-nerds: the tenth annual parade of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus.
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
The krewe's name is, as you might guess, an irreverent mashup of Chewbacca, the shaggy 8-foot Wookiee from Star Wars, and Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
"That is a huge part of the krewe: mashups, puns and stacking together things that you love," said one of the krewe's captains, Brooke Ethridge, better known as Overlord Padme Almandine.
Richard Riggs, aka Overlord Strangelover, added: "The mission of the krewe is 'Saving the galaxy one drunken nerd at a time.'"
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
The week before the parade rolled, the revelers were in the frantic final stages of preparation, sanding, sawing, and sewing in a huge workshop space.
Laura van Aken was hard at work adding extra fur to her costume, or "wookifying" it, as she put it. "We are Chewbacchus, so gotta have a Chewie in there," she said.
Her costume combined elements of Chewbacca with characters from the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
"It's truly just a free-for-all," van Aken said. "You can do whatever you can dream up, costume-wise. Just make it happen, show up, and strut your stuff!"
When the krewe was formed 10 years ago, it focused on classic sci-fi – Star Trek and Star Wars. But over the years, the boundaries loosened, in a big way.
"We say now, all nerddoms," Ethridge explained. "So anything that you want to nerd about is welcome in the Chewbacchus parade."
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Which means there's a sub-krewe in the Chewbacchus parade for just about anybody. Among them:
The Aerial Space Squad, whose members perform acrobatics high along the route on a pole and hoops;
The Krewe of the Living Dead, or KOLD;
Krewe du Chu, the Pokémon Mardi Gras Krewe;
Queer Eye for the Sci-Fi, for "LGBTQ+ cosplayers and their allies";
The Leijorettes, Princess Leia look-alikes, some 100-strong, doing dance routines to Star Wars music;
The STOMP Troopers, for young people with autism;
The All Wonder Woman Walking Krewe, whose members assume many forms, including Marie Antoinette Wonder Woman and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Wonder Woman;
and the AfroFuturist Krewe, whose theme this year was a tribute to rapper Missy Elliott.
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
"Being an ultimate trailblazer, everything about her is futuristic," explained AfroFuturist Krewe member Michele Seymour.
"I don't see myself in Star Wars," added fellow krewe member Pearl Ricks, "and the whole idea of AfroFuturism is to create a world that is beyond what we already have."
One of the newest sub-krewes is the Women of Wakanda: those fierce warriors from the 2018 mega-hit film, Black Panther. Member Sonita Singh, who marched on Saturday in a glow-in-the-dark bustier and loincloth, described the thrill of the parade: "Beautiful, powerful, sovereign black women coming down the streets, screaming 'Wakanda forever!' Chills. I get chills just thinking about it."
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
The Krewe of Chewbacchus is a walking krewe, which means there are no people riding on huge floats pulled by trucks and tractors.
Instead, they parade with "contraptions" — wildly elaborate hand-made structures that are pushed or pedaled on tricycles, shopping carts, rickshaws, or whatever can roll.
The krewe has constructed an alien in a gigantic spaceship, hovering over a scale model of New Orleans.
Enlarge this image toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
An old favorite: BAR2D2. There's a keg inside.
And of course, there's the krewe's idol: Chewbacchus, a six-armed Wookiee made of Styrofoam. This year, he was sculpted in full roar, perched on top of the starship Millennium Falcon.
"Chewbacchus is the Sacred Drunken Wookie who we worship," said Overlord Strangelover, Richard Riggs. "He is our godhead."
toggle caption L. Kasimu Harris for NPR
Another distinctive feature of this krewe is that all of the throws they toss to the crowds are made by hand. No cheap, plastic Mardi Gras beads for this bunch; instead, they take great pride in creating miniature works of art that have become coveted collectors' items. Among the many offerings this year: Wakanda earrings, tiny Yoda finger puppets, delicately painted bandolier blocks, and sparkly, bejeweled ray guns.
"There's this exchange and this moment that's extremely personal that you don't get when you're just throwing beads off of a float," said Aryanna Gamble, Overlord Space Goddess Snackagawea.
"Outside of New Orleans, there's this perception that Mardi Gras is booze and Bourbon Street and boobs," Gamble said. "The reality that all of us know is that Mardi Gras is made in dens and living rooms and garages across the city. It's for all of us, and it's made by us. It's a community builder."


npr--2020-02-02--PHOTOS: China Builds A Medical Center From Scratch In Under 2 Weeks

PHOTOS : China Builds A Medical Center From Scratch In Under 2 Weeks China says it 's building two hospitals in under two weeks .
The time frame does n't seem to be an exaggeration .
Ground was broken on the first facility on Jan. 24 , and it 's expected to be open for business on Feb. 3 , with 1,000 beds for coronavirus patients .
But the term `` hospital '' may not be exactly on point .
`` I would n't call it a hospital .
I would call it more of a triage and isolation facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
Raymond Pan agrees .
He 's design principal at HMC Architects and designed Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University in China , which opened in 2018 .
`` An infection triage , treatment and recovery center — that 's what I think it is , '' says Pan .
The idea is to have `` essentially a center for mass quarantine of patients . ''
People who test positive for the new coronavirus will be held in private rooms and receive treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious .
The two structures will consist largely of `` prefabricated hospital components , '' says Pan .
`` Each bedroom is built off-site '' with materials such as aluminum and steel , then brought to the site to `` plug in and stack up . ''
The exterior of the building will likely be plaster or metal , he believes .
What 's more impressive than the two-story aboveground building , says Pan , is creating the underground infrastructure to bring in water , electricity and an air supply .
`` That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese have experience erecting these fast-track medical centers .
A facility was built in about a week in Beijing in 2003 to house SARS patients .
The center has since been abandoned , says Pan , but reports in Chinese media say that it is being rehabbed for possible use by coronavirus patients .
The speed of construction is partly because of China 's ability to mobilize resources .
There are 4,000-plus workers on each site for the two facilities going up in Wuhan and hundreds of construction machines .
In theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical center as fast as China can , Pan says — but in practice , no .
`` One of the reasons is that we have a tighter inspection process .
In China that process is not as stringent as in the U.S. '' But he 's not worried that the new centers will be poorly constructed .
`` I think they are structurally sound , '' Pan says .
But he does have concerns — about the environmental impact of rapidly installing the underground infrastructure and about whether `` any type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the earth below . ''
The two medical centers are `` pretty close to residential areas , '' says Pan .
`` If I 'm living next to one , I would be really concerned about those aspects . ''

PHOTOS: China Builds A Medical Center From Scratch In Under 2 Weeks
Enlarge this image toggle caption AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images
Updated on Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. ET
China said it was going to build two hospitals in under two weeks.
The time frame was not an exaggeration. Ground was broken on the first facility on Jan. 24. Chinese media reported that the facility, with beds for 1,000 coronavirus patients, opened its doors on Feb. 3.
But the term "hospital" may not be exactly on point.
toggle caption AFP via Getty Images
"I wouldn't call it a hospital. I would call it more of a triage and isolation facility," says Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Raymond Pan agrees. He's design principal at HMC Architects and designed Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University in China, which opened in 2018.
"An infection triage, treatment and recovery center — that's what I think it is," says Pan. The idea is to have "essentially a center for mass quarantine of patients." People who test positive for the new coronavirus will be held in private rooms and receive treatment until they recover and are no longer contagious.
toggle caption Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
The two structures will consist largely of "prefabricated hospital components," says Pan. "Each bedroom is built off-site" with materials such as aluminum and steel, then brought to the site to "plug in and stack up." The exterior of the building will likely be plaster or metal, he believes.
What's more impressive than the two-story aboveground building, says Pan, is creating the underground infrastructure to bring in water, electricity and an air supply. "That's not an easy feat."
toggle caption Xiao Yijiu/AP
The Chinese have experience erecting these fast-track medical centers. A facility was built in about a week in Beijing in 2003 to house SARS patients. The center has since been abandoned, says Pan, but reports in Chinese media say that it is being rehabbed for possible use by coronavirus patients.
The speed of construction is partly because of China's ability to mobilize resources. There are 4,000-plus workers on each site for the two facilities going up in Wuhan and hundreds of construction machines.
In theory, the U.S. could put up a medical center as fast as China can, Pan says — but in practice, no. "One of the reasons is that we have a tighter inspection process. In China that process is not as stringent as in the U.S."
toggle caption Getty Images
But he's not worried that the new centers will be poorly constructed. "I think they are structurally sound," Pan says. But he does have concerns — about the environmental impact of rapidly installing the underground infrastructure and about whether "any type of chemicals in use for treatment percolate down to the earth below."
The two medical centers are "pretty close to residential areas," says Pan. "If I'm living next to one, I would be really concerned about those aspects."
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toggle caption Cai Yang/Xinhua via AP
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npr--2020-02-02--Orthodox Jewish Women Take A New Lead In Talmud Study In Israel

Orthodox Jewish Women Take A New Lead In Talmud Study In Israel Among devout Orthodox Jews , the intense study of Talmud is no longer just a man 's world .
Women are increasingly delving into this central religious work , and American expats in Israel are at the forefront of the trend .
They 're following a custom called Daf Yomi , Hebrew for `` daily page , '' which involves reading a page a day of this centuries-old , multivolume collection of rabbinic teachings , debates and interpretations of Judaism .
It takes about seven years and five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In early January , as Orthodox Jewish men held gatherings to mark the end of the cycle , called Siyum HaShas , Orthodox women in Israel held their own large-scale Talmud celebration for the first time .
Some 3,000 women of all ages cheered in a Jerusalem convention center , according to the event 's organizers , Hadran .
`` I never thought I would live to see this day , '' said Tamar Stern , a Chicago native , sitting in the second-to-last row at the celebration .
She attended Orthodox Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never allowed to learn Talmud with the boys .
Sitting in the first row , Sherri Saperstein , 49 , was beaming .
She grew up in New York and Boston and now lives in the Israeli town of Ramat Beit Shemesh , home to a community of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who avoid contact with female strangers and still see Talmud as a man 's pursuit .
`` I was sitting in the post office , '' Saperstein recalled .
`` Two men behind me , who would probably never talk to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were talking about the 'Daf . '
I knew exactly what they were talking about because I am in this process , I am learning the 'Daf ' ! ''
The women 's Siyum HaShas was co-organized by Michelle Farber , 47 , a New York native who teaches a daily Talmud class for women from her living room table in Raanana , a quiet suburb north of Tel Aviv .
Men wrote the Talmud and , for centuries , it has mostly been men who have studied it .
Today , Talmud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — are almost all exclusively delivered by men .
`` Because they 're given by men , they 're not actually kind of seen from a woman 's perspective , '' said Farber .
`` When I teach , I think a lot about the women 's issues on the page . ''
One part of the Talmud discusses the ancient practice of dedicating money to the Temple in Jerusalem , in which Jews should give an amount relative to what the text considers to be their individual worth .
In her classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This was written in a time where women were valued as less because women were n't educated and women were n't working , '' Farber said .
The modern-day Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism have long embraced a more egalitarian approach , ordaining women as rabbis and allowing equal participation in leading prayer and study .
Some progressive Orthodox communities in the last few decades have widened women 's roles in leading prayer and participating in Talmud study , and women are expanding the boundaries more and more .
American immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for women 's Talmud study in Israel , in part because many were exposed to Talmud early on .
Some Orthodox schools in the United States began teaching the sacred text to girls in the 1950s .
At 8:15 a.m. on a recent Tuesday , a dozen women , mostly U.S.-born , pored over Talmud books as Farber used a whiteboard to explain the day 's page : a complex discussion about women 's menstruation , which , according to Orthodox practice , affects when a woman may have sex with her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small block of mostly Aramaic text surrounded by commentaries , which are nestled in yet another layer of commentaries .
`` A brain workout , right ? ''
said Geula Zamist , who flew in from New Jersey to attend Farber 's class and the big women 's Talmud celebration .
`` It 's such a great way to start a day .
It 's such a spiritual exercise to use your brain in such a completely different way . ''
Farber hosts a daily Talmud podcast called Daf Yomi For Women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250 subscribers .
Her aim is to make the Talmud more approachable for women .
One of her podcast listeners is U.S.-born Ilana Kurshan , the author of a memoir about studying Talmud .
Even with their dated assumptions about gender and class , she says , Talmud stories are worth learning .
`` There is a story about a man who mistook his wife for a prostitute .
A story about a man who was so engaged by his Torah study that he neglected to come home to his wife for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just make you think differently about so many aspects of human experience , and in that sense these texts are really timeless , '' Kurshan said in an interview at her home in Jerusalem .
The new trend of Talmud study is not limited to Orthodox women .
Nonreligious `` secular yeshiva '' programs in Israel teach Talmud , while the organization Svara runs a Talmud camp in U.S. cities for `` queer , straight , trans , aleph bet beginners , experienced Talmudists , secular , religious , Jews [ and ] @ @ @

Orthodox Jewish Women Take A New Lead In Talmud Study In Israel
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
Among devout Orthodox Jews, the intense study of Talmud is no longer just a man's world. Women are increasingly delving into this central religious work, and American expats in Israel are at the forefront of the trend.
They're following a custom called Daf Yomi, Hebrew for "daily page," which involves reading a page a day of this centuries-old, multivolume collection of rabbinic teachings, debates and interpretations of Judaism. It takes about seven years and five months to read all 2,711 pages.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
In early January, as Orthodox Jewish men held gatherings to mark the end of the cycle, called Siyum HaShas, Orthodox women in Israel held their own large-scale Talmud celebration for the first time. Some 3,000 women of all ages cheered in a Jerusalem convention center, according to the event's organizers, Hadran.
"I never thought I would live to see this day," said Tamar Stern, a Chicago native, sitting in the second-to-last row at the celebration. She attended Orthodox Jewish schools in the 1960s and 1970s, never allowed to learn Talmud with the boys.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
Sitting in the first row, Sherri Saperstein, 49, was beaming. She grew up in New York and Boston and now lives in the Israeli town of Ramat Beit Shemesh, home to a community of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who avoid contact with female strangers and still see Talmud as a man's pursuit.
"I was sitting in the post office," Saperstein recalled. "Two men behind me, who would probably never talk to me, were sitting behind me. They were talking about the 'Daf.' I knew exactly what they were talking about because I am in this process, I am learning the 'Daf'!"
The women's Siyum HaShas was co-organized by Michelle Farber, 47, a New York native who teaches a daily Talmud class for women from her living room table in Raanana, a quiet suburb north of Tel Aviv.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
Men wrote the Talmud and, for centuries, it has mostly been men who have studied it. Today, Talmud study groups — and even related podcasts — are almost all exclusively delivered by men.
"Because they're given by men, they're not actually kind of seen from a woman's perspective," said Farber. "When I teach, I think a lot about the women's issues on the page."
One part of the Talmud discusses the ancient practice of dedicating money to the Temple in Jerusalem, in which Jews should give an amount relative to what the text considers to be their individual worth. In her classes, Farber notes the historical context. "This was written in a time where women were valued as less because women weren't educated and women weren't working," Farber said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa / NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa / NOOR for NPR
The modern-day Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism have long embraced a more egalitarian approach, ordaining women as rabbis and allowing equal participation in leading prayer and study. Some progressive Orthodox communities in the last few decades have widened women's roles in leading prayer and participating in Talmud study, and women are expanding the boundaries more and more.
American immigrants like Farber are helping lead the push for women's Talmud study in Israel, in part because many were exposed to Talmud early on. Some Orthodox schools in the United States began teaching the sacred text to girls in the 1950s.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
At 8:15 a.m. on a recent Tuesday, a dozen women, mostly U.S.-born, pored over Talmud books as Farber used a whiteboard to explain the day's page: a complex discussion about women's menstruation, which, according to Orthodox practice, affects when a woman may have sex with her husband.
Each page of Talmud is a small block of mostly Aramaic text surrounded by commentaries, which are nestled in yet another layer of commentaries.
"A brain workout, right?" said Geula Zamist, 59, who flew in from New Jersey to attend Farber's class and the big women's Talmud celebration. "It's such a great way to start a day. It's such a spiritual exercise to use your brain in such a completely different way."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
Farber hosts a daily Talmud podcast called Daf Yomi For Women, in English and Hebrew, with about 4,000 subscribers. Her aim is to make the Talmud more approachable for women.
One of her podcast listeners is U.S.-born Ilana Kurshan, the author of a memoir about studying Talmud. Even with their dated assumptions about gender and class, she says, Talmud stories are worth learning.
"There is a story about a man who mistook his wife for a prostitute. A story about a man who was so engaged by his Torah study that he neglected to come home to his wife for years and years. They're stories that just make you think differently about so many aspects of human experience, and in that sense these texts are really timeless," Kurshan said in an interview at her home in Jerusalem.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR Tanya Habjouqa/NOOR for NPR
The new trend of Talmud study is not limited to Orthodox women.
Nonreligious "secular yeshiva" programs in Israel teach Talmud, while the organization Svara runs a Talmud camp in U.S. cities for "queer, straight, trans, aleph bet beginners, experienced Talmudists, secular, religious, Jews [and] non-Jews."


npr--2020-02-02--What The 2020 Election Is All About

What The 2020 Election Is All About

What The 2020 Election Is All About More than anything , this election is about President Trump .
For most incumbent presidents running for reelection , approval ratings really matter .
With Trump , there are several different striking ways to look at those numbers .
He 's historically unpopular — the most unpopular incumbent ever to stand for reelection .
He has a very locked-in base , with sky-high approval in his own party .
But those who strongly disapprove of Trump outnumber those who strongly approve .
Likewise , no modern president has had such high numbers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against him for reelection .
There is tremendous intensity that motivates Trump 's supporters and opponents .
Despite the many advantages he has ( more on that later ) , he is incapable of sticking to a message that highlights those benefits .
For every tweet about the great economy , there 's another that picks a fight with a movie star or retweets something offensive .
Trump remains impulsive and undisciplined — something he thinks works great for him , even though many Republicans ( privately ) disagree .
Trump also enjoys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College .
He received 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016 and won only 46 % of the popular vote , a smaller percentage than Mitt Romney received when he lost to Barack Obama in 2012 .
But America picks its presidents in a state-by-state , winner-take-all system , and Trump 's voters are more efficiently distributed among battleground states than Democrats ' .
So how big of an advantage does he have going into 2020 ?
One way to think about it is that Trump could lose Michigan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all the other states he won in 2016 .
Some estimates say he could lose the popular vote by as many as 5 million votes and still win the Electoral College .
Also , Trump has the advantage of incumbency .
Only two incumbent presidents have lost in the last 40 years : George H.W .
Bush and Jimmy Carter — and they were facing a recession and a hostage crisis , respectively .
All the tools of the presidency are at Trump 's disposal , including an early start on fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and dominates news coverage — like no other president .
While Democrats might hope that Trump is so unpopular that a ham sandwich could beat him , that is not the case .
The Democrats ' choice for a nominee matters , because an election is not just a referendum on the incumbent ; it 's a binary choice between two candidates .
Trump and others who want him reelected ( foreign and domestic ) will be putting tremendous time , effort and billions of dollars into demonizing the Democratic nominee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including his open calls for Ukraine and China to investigate candidate Joe Biden .
This year , despite the Democrats ' overwhelming enthusiasm for defeating Trump , no Democratic candidate currently running looks like a slam dunk against him .
And that 's why the Democratic primary race is so unsettled .
The weaknesses of the Democratic candidates that Trump can exploit are already well known : from Elizabeth Warren 's claims of Native American ancestry and Bernie Sanders ' socialism to Biden 's age ( and , yes , Ukraine ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ megabucks to spend , but often overlooked is that the amount the Democratic candidates raised as a group in the last quarter was twice as much as Trump raised during that time .
That shows how much grassroots enthusiasm Democrats could tap into if and when they unify behind one candidate .
This year there 's the rare possibility that the challenger will not be outspent by the incumbent .
Another reason that might be the case this year is Mike Bloomberg .
Even though he 's unlikely to become the nominee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will spend up to $ 1 billion to defeat Trump , even if the nominee is a left-wing candidate like Sanders or Warren .
Every presidential election revolves around this simple question : Are you better off now than you were four years ago ?
For most people — at least in terms of the economy — the answer is yes .
Unemployment has continued to tick down the last few years , and the stock market is booming .
Gross domestic product growth is not what Trump wanted , but fears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And notably , wages have risen faster for low-income workers since 2018 than for others .
One unusual factor of Trump 's presidency is that his approval rating has not tracked with the economy in the same way it did for other presidents .
But it remains Trump 's greatest strength and Democrats ' greatest challenge .
It 's likely Democrats will focus on how the economy should provide more broadly shared prosperity and better economic mobility , like it used to do .
And they 'll raise structural issues .
Economic disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds nearly as much wealth as the middle class and upper-middle class combined .
Trump touts historically low unemployment rates for Hispanics and African Americans , but the racial wealth gap has expanded for decades .
And base costs for big-ticket items such as college , health care , housing and retirement continue to rise .
The Democrats will focus on middle-class families ' anxieties about the future — even if things seem OK in the present for many .
Indeed , a growing number of people no longer believe in the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules and your kids can do better than you did .
Trump will counter that Democrats are socialists who will raise taxes .
That argument will be stronger if Sanders — an avowed democratic socialist — is the Democratic nominee .
He summed up his economic identity in October 2019 : `` There are differences between Elizabeth [ Warren ] and myself .
Elizabeth ... has said that she is a capitalist through her bones .
I 'm not . ''
Socialism has a clear negative connotation to many in the electorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a dirty word , but it 's not among younger voters — the heart of Sanders ' base in the Democratic Party .
Still , this debate is occurring at a time when trust in institutions , public and private , remains in the basement .
So it 's a challenge for Democrats ' argument that giving government a much bigger role in the economy is a good thing .
It 's possible this will not be an `` it 's the economy , stupid '' election , but an `` it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite his bragging on the economy , Trump is a culture warrior at heart and plans to run another us-against-them campaign , ratcheting up the grievance among his base against East Coast liberal elites , the media , immigrants and kneeling black athletes .
For many of his supporters — farmers , white evangelicals , non-college-educated rural voters , for instance — economics takes a back seat to the cultural issues Trump champions , including immigration , abortion , school prayer and gun rights .
For many Republicans , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pushed through the Senate — is a key accomplishment of the administration .
So are the steps to limit migration at the southern border , reduce refugee resettlement and enact travel restrictions from an increasing number of countries .
Trump will surely continue to train his ire at the news media , as well .
This remains a rallying cause for his base .
Every election is determined by who goes to the polls .
This year , the shape of the electorate is harder to discern than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll see a historically large number of voters .
Democrats hope it 's like 2018 , when turnout surged among Democratic-leaning groups : Latinos , young voters and , especially , college-educated women .
Trump , on the other hand , is counting on being able to bring out many more of his core voters — the white working class — who did not show up in 2016 .
He 's using his massive campaign apparatus , including social media , to identify them and try to persuade them to turn out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the turnout among key parts of his base when he ran for reelection , but the turnout rate for black voters increased from 2008 to 2012 .
And because the overall turnout rate in 2016 was about 60 % , both sides have more potential voters to tap .
Also , while the electorate continues to get younger , browner and more female , a lot of those voters live in the wrong states as far as Democratic hopes at winning go .
In other words , it does n't matter as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout in California and New York ( two states where Hillary Clinton got one-fifth of all her votes from ) ; it matters who shows up in Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
In Michigan and Pennsylvania , white , working-class voters make up 56 % of eligible voters ; in Wisconsin , it 's 61 % .
And that is why Democrats are spending so much energy on voter-registration drives and on fighting voter-suppression efforts by Republicans .
Ballot access is a top priority for Democrats .
It was among the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the majority in the House in 2019 .

What The 2020 Election Is All About
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Neibergall/AP Charlie Neibergall/AP
More than anything, this election is about President Trump.
For most incumbent presidents running for reelection, approval ratings really matter. With Trump, there are several different striking ways to look at those numbers. He's historically unpopular — the most unpopular incumbent ever to stand for reelection.
He has a very locked-in base, with sky-high approval in his own party. But those who strongly disapprove of Trump outnumber those who strongly approve. Likewise, no modern president has had such high numbers of people who say they will definitely vote against him for reelection.
There is tremendous intensity that motivates Trump's supporters and opponents. Despite the many advantages he has (more on that later), he is incapable of sticking to a message that highlights those benefits. For every tweet about the great economy, there's another that picks a fight with a movie star or retweets something offensive. Trump remains impulsive and undisciplined — something he thinks works great for him, even though many Republicans (privately) disagree.
Trump also enjoys particular structural advantages, starting with the Electoral College. He received 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016 and won only 46% of the popular vote, a smaller percentage than Mitt Romney received when he lost to Barack Obama in 2012.
But America picks its presidents in a state-by-state, winner-take-all system, and Trump's voters are more efficiently distributed among battleground states than Democrats'. So how big of an advantage does he have going into 2020? One way to think about it is that Trump could lose Michigan and Pennsylvania but still win by holding on to all the other states he won in 2016.
Some estimates say he could lose the popular vote by as many as 5 million votes and still win the Electoral College.
Also, Trump has the advantage of incumbency. Only two incumbent presidents have lost in the last 40 years: George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter — and they were facing a recession and a hostage crisis, respectively. All the tools of the presidency are at Trump's disposal, including an early start on fundraising, and he commands the bully pulpit — and dominates news coverage — like no other president.
Democrats' choice
While Democrats might hope that Trump is so unpopular that a ham sandwich could beat him, that is not the case. The Democrats' choice for a nominee matters, because an election is not just a referendum on the incumbent; it's a binary choice between two candidates.
Trump and others who want him reelected (foreign and domestic) will be putting tremendous time, effort and billions of dollars into demonizing the Democratic nominee. And the president encourages these efforts, including his open calls for Ukraine and China to investigate candidate Joe Biden.
This year, despite the Democrats' overwhelming enthusiasm for defeating Trump, no Democratic candidate currently running looks like a slam dunk against him. And that's why the Democratic primary race is so unsettled. The weaknesses of the Democratic candidates that Trump can exploit are already well known: from Elizabeth Warren's claims of Native American ancestry and Bernie Sanders' socialism to Biden's age (and, yes, Ukraine) and Pete Buttigieg's inexperience.
Trump has megabucks to spend, but often overlooked is that the amount the Democratic candidates raised as a group in the last quarter was twice as much as Trump raised during that time. That shows how much grassroots enthusiasm Democrats could tap into if and when they unify behind one candidate. This year there's the rare possibility that the challenger will not be outspent by the incumbent. Another reason that might be the case this year is Mike Bloomberg.
Even though he's unlikely to become the nominee, the former New York City mayor says he will spend up to $1 billion to defeat Trump, even if the nominee is a left-wing candidate like Sanders or Warren.
The economy and capitalism
Every presidential election revolves around this simple question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago? For most people — at least in terms of the economy — the answer is yes. Unemployment has continued to tick down the last few years, and the stock market is booming. Gross domestic product growth is not what Trump wanted, but fears of a recession have not materialized. And notably, wages have risen faster for low-income workers since 2018 than for others.
One unusual factor of Trump's presidency is that his approval rating has not tracked with the economy in the same way it did for other presidents. But it remains Trump's greatest strength and Democrats' greatest challenge.
It's likely Democrats will focus on how the economy should provide more broadly shared prosperity and better economic mobility, like it used to do. And they'll raise structural issues. Economic disparities are extreme. The top 1% holds nearly as much wealth as the middle class and upper-middle class combined.
Trump touts historically low unemployment rates for Hispanics and African Americans, but the racial wealth gap has expanded for decades. And base costs for big-ticket items such as college, health care, housing and retirement continue to rise. The Democrats will focus on middle-class families' anxieties about the future — even if things seem OK in the present for many. Indeed, a growing number of people no longer believe in the American dream: work hard, play by the rules and your kids can do better than you did.
Trump will counter that Democrats are socialists who will raise taxes. That argument will be stronger if Sanders — an avowed democratic socialist — is the Democratic nominee. He summed up his economic identity in October 2019: "There are differences between Elizabeth [Warren] and myself. Elizabeth ... has said that she is a capitalist through her bones. I'm not."
Socialism has a clear negative connotation to many in the electorate, and Republicans use "socialism" as a dirty word, but it's not among younger voters — the heart of Sanders' base in the Democratic Party.
Still, this debate is occurring at a time when trust in institutions, public and private, remains in the basement. So it's a challenge for Democrats' argument that giving government a much bigger role in the economy is a good thing.
The culture war
It's possible this will not be an "it's the economy, stupid" election, but an "it's the culture, stupid" election.
Despite his bragging on the economy, Trump is a culture warrior at heart and plans to run another us-against-them campaign, ratcheting up the grievance among his base against East Coast liberal elites, the media, immigrants and kneeling black athletes.
For many of his supporters — farmers, white evangelicals, non-college-educated rural voters, for instance — economics takes a back seat to the cultural issues Trump champions, including immigration, abortion, school prayer and gun rights.
For many Republicans, the number of conservative judges Trump has nominated — and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pushed through the Senate — is a key accomplishment of the administration. So are the steps to limit migration at the southern border, reduce refugee resettlement and enact travel restrictions from an increasing number of countries.
Trump will surely continue to train his ire at the news media, as well. This remains a rallying cause for his base.
Who shows up
Every election is determined by who goes to the polls. This year, the shape of the electorate is harder to discern than ever, because it's likely we'll see a historically large number of voters. Democrats hope it's like 2018, when turnout surged among Democratic-leaning groups: Latinos, young voters and, especially, college-educated women.
Trump, on the other hand, is counting on being able to bring out many more of his core voters — the white working class — who did not show up in 2016. He's using his massive campaign apparatus, including social media, to identify them and try to persuade them to turn out. There was skepticism that Obama could replicate the turnout among key parts of his base when he ran for reelection, but the turnout rate for black voters increased from 2008 to 2012. And because the overall turnout rate in 2016 was about 60%, both sides have more potential voters to tap.
Also, while the electorate continues to get younger, browner and more female, a lot of those voters live in the wrong states as far as Democratic hopes at winning go. In other words, it doesn't matter as much if there's a huge surge in turnout in California and New York (two states where Hillary Clinton got one-fifth of all her votes from); it matters who shows up in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, white, working-class voters make up 56% of eligible voters; in Wisconsin, it's 61%.
And that is why Democrats are spending so much energy on voter-registration drives and on fighting voter-suppression efforts by Republicans. Ballot access is a top priority for Democrats. It was among the first priorities they focused on when they took over the majority in the House in 2019.


npr--2020-02-01--Mary Higgins Clark, 'Queen Of Suspense,' Dies At 92

Bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark , known for page-turning thrillers that earned her the nickname the `` Queen of Suspense , '' has died at 92 .
Her publisher , Simon & Schuster , announced that Higgins Clark died of natural causes in Naples , Fla. , on Friday , surrounded by loving family and friends .
Higgins Clark is survived by five children , including mystery novelist Carol Higgins Clark , six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren .
`` Beginning in 1975 with the publication of Where Are The Children ?
, each of her 56 books has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CEO Carolyn K. Reidy said in a statement .
`` There are more than 100 million copies of her books in print in the United States . ''
Born Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins on Dec. 24 , 1927 , in the Bronx , she was a natural storyteller .
Her work ethic was renowned in literary circles .
Higgins Clark 's literary career spanned the second half of her life , publishing her first suspense novel in her late 40s .
Following the death of her first husband , Warren Clark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would rise at 5 a.m. before work to write .
Her protagonists were often women , and she wrote at a gripping pace to draw readers into their worlds .
`` She was unique .
Nobody ever bonded more completely with her readers than Mary did , '' Michael Korda , her longtime editor , said in a statement .
Higgins Clark 's plots followed a formula , with her characters placed into perilous situations , and often triumphing .
In All Around the Town , a woman accused of murdering her professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In The Cradle Will Fall , a prosecutor in recovery from a traffic accident witnesses the makings of a murder out her hospital window .
`` The critical factor is that each chapter should bring you to the point where , whatever time of the night it is , you want to turn the next chapter , '' Michael Korda , her longtime editor , told NPR .
`` That is the greatest compliment I can get , when someone will say to me , ' I read your darn book till 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clark responded with a laugh .
`` I say you 've got your money 's worth . ''
Higgins Clark last spoke to NPR on the occasion of her 90th birthday .
At the time of her death , Higgins Clark was still writing .
In recent years , she had collaborated with Alafair Burke on the Under Suspicion series .
Her last novel , Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry , published in November 2019 , was about a journalist investigating sexual misconduct at a news network .
Following news of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higgins Clark on Twitter .
`` Mary Higgins Clark was a class act .
I 'll always treasure the publishing advice she gave me .
Ride out the rough patches and do n't get greedy .
My heart goes out to her lovely family , '' author Christopher Rice said in a tweet .
Seeking a page from her book of life lessons , author Harlan Coben cut to the core of her success .
`` Mary loved being a writer — and she loved her readers .
She was kind to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reflecting on Higgins Clark 's early mornings spent writing : `` Do n't whine you do n't have time to write . ''

Mary Higgins Clark, 'Queen Of Suspense,' Dies At 92
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Buckner/Getty Images Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark, known for page-turning thrillers that earned her the nickname the "Queen of Suspense," has died at 92.
Her publisher, Simon & Schuster, announced that Higgins Clark died of natural causes in Naples, Fla., on Friday, surrounded by loving family and friends.
Higgins Clark is survived by five children, including mystery novelist Carol Higgins Clark, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
"Beginning in 1975 with the publication of Where Are The Children?, each of her 56 books has been a bestseller," Simon & Schuster President and CEO Carolyn K. Reidy said in a statement. "There are more than 100 million copies of her books in print in the United States."
Born Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins on Dec. 24, 1927, in the Bronx, she was a natural storyteller. Her work ethic was renowned in literary circles.
Higgins Clark's literary career spanned the second half of her life, publishing her first suspense novel in her late 40s. Following the death of her first husband, Warren Clark, in 1964, the mother of five would rise at 5 a.m. before work to write. Her protagonists were often women, and she wrote at a gripping pace to draw readers into their worlds.
"She was unique. Nobody ever bonded more completely with her readers than Mary did," Michael Korda, her longtime editor, said in a statement.
Higgins Clark's plots followed a formula, with her characters placed into perilous situations, and often triumphing. In All Around the Town, a woman accused of murdering her professor is aided by her attorney sister. In The Cradle Will Fall, a prosecutor in recovery from a traffic accident witnesses the makings of a murder out her hospital window.
"The critical factor is that each chapter should bring you to the point where, whatever time of the night it is, you want to turn the next chapter," Michael Korda, her longtime editor, told NPR.
"That is the greatest compliment I can get, when someone will say to me, 'I read your darn book till 4 in the morning,' " Higgins Clark responded with a laugh. "I say you've got your money's worth."
Higgins Clark last spoke to NPR on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
At the time of her death, Higgins Clark was still writing. In recent years, she had collaborated with Alafair Burke on the Under Suspicion series. Her last novel, Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry, published in November 2019, was about a journalist investigating sexual misconduct at a news network.
Following news of her death, writers and readers lauded Higgins Clark on Twitter.
"Mary Higgins Clark was a class act. I'll always treasure the publishing advice she gave me. Ride out the rough patches and don't get greedy. My heart goes out to her lovely family," author Christopher Rice said in a tweet.
Seeking a page from her book of life lessons, author Harlan Coben cut to the core of her success.
"Mary loved being a writer — and she loved her readers. She was kind to all," he tweeted. He added, reflecting on Higgins Clark's early mornings spent writing: "Don't whine you don't have time to write."
NPR's Lynn Neary contributed reporting.


npr--2020-02-01--Incoming Iraqi Prime Minister Vows Support To Protesters, Who Demonstrate Against Him

Incoming Iraqi Prime Minister Vows Support To Protesters , Who Demonstrate Against Him Ending two months of political deadlock , Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was named Iraq 's prime minister-designate on Saturday .
But even as Allawi pledged to crack down on corruption and reform the government he is set to lead , demonstrators took to the streets in opposition to him .
And Allawi wasted no time appealing directly to the mass anti-government movement that has roiled the country for months .
Since October , hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets , demanding the removal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out Allawi 's predecessor Adel Abdul-Mahdi in November .
In an address on state television on Saturday , Allawi aimed to project the dawn of a new era in Iraqi politics .
Clad casually in a sweater , he promised to resign if he is unable to appoint a proper Cabinet or take measures to fight corruption .
And he called on protesters to carry on with their demands .
`` I 'm your employee carrying your trust so do not retreat until you get what you want , '' Allawi said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tahrir Square , the heart of the protest movement in Baghdad , chanting in opposition to Allawi 's appointment .
They have rejected Allawi 's candidacy , saying anyone who previously held a Cabinet post is tainted .
Allawi served as a Cabinet minister in two previous governments .
But Allawi comes to power with the essential support of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr , whose political bloc is one of the biggest in parliament .
Sadr followers moved back into Tahrir Square on Saturday in an apparent push to limit anti-Allawi protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading Shiite politician , former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki .
Allawi resigned from Maliki 's government in 2007 over what he called Maliki 's sectarian policies .
Maliki , a Shiite , is widely blamed for fueling sectarian strife between Iraq 's Shia and Sunni populations while he was in power between 2006 and 2014 .
His opposition to Allawi , who is also Shiite , could complicate the prime minister 's efforts to compile a Cabinet based on individual qualifications rather than their loyalties to parties — also a key demand of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has swept the country , demonstrators are calling for jobs , an end to corruption and what they see as Iran 's meddling in Iraq 's internal affairs .
Iraqi security forces and the Iran-backed militias affiliated with them have unleashed a brutal response , killing at least 600 protesters in the four months since demonstrations have unfolded .
A major issue Allawi will be forced to address is the future of U.S. troops in Iraq .
Amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran last month , the Iraqi parliament voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile strike on an Iraqi base housing U.S. service members injured dozens of American troops .
In response to Allawi 's appointment , the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad released a statement , saying , `` Current conditions in Iraq and the region require an independent and honest government committed to addressing the needs of the Iraqi people .
The nomination of Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi as a new Prime Minister must be followed up with efforts to accomplish that objective . ''
Allawi , 65 , studied architecture in Baghdad and Lebanon before moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a British citizen .
He is expected to renounce his British citizenship to take the job .
Parliament is expected to put his candidacy to a vote in the next session .
Once he is sworn in , Allawi will have 30 days to put together a Cabinet .
He is set to serve as prime minister until early elections can be held .

Incoming Iraqi Prime Minister Vows Support To Protesters, Who Demonstrate Against Him
Enlarge this image toggle caption Prashant Rao /AFP via Getty Images Prashant Rao /AFP via Getty Images
Ending two months of political deadlock, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was named Iraq's prime minister-designate on Saturday.
But even as Allawi pledged to crack down on corruption and reform the government he is set to lead, demonstrators took to the streets in opposition to him.
And Allawi wasted no time appealing directly to the mass anti-government movement that has roiled the country for months. Since October, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets, demanding the removal of the country's political elite, forcing out Allawi's predecessor Adel Abdul-Mahdi in November.
In an address on state television on Saturday, Allawi aimed to project the dawn of a new era in Iraqi politics.
Clad casually in a sweater, he promised to resign if he is unable to appoint a proper Cabinet or take measures to fight corruption. And he called on protesters to carry on with their demands.
"I'm your employee carrying your trust so do not retreat until you get what you want," Allawi said.
Heeding that call, demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square, the heart of the protest movement in Baghdad, chanting in opposition to Allawi's appointment.
They have rejected Allawi's candidacy, saying anyone who previously held a Cabinet post is tainted. Allawi served as a Cabinet minister in two previous governments.
But Allawi comes to power with the essential support of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose political bloc is one of the biggest in parliament.
Sadr followers moved back into Tahrir Square on Saturday in an apparent push to limit anti-Allawi protests.
Allawi's nomination is opposed by another leading Shiite politician, former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Allawi resigned from Maliki's government in 2007 over what he called Maliki's sectarian policies. Maliki, a Shiite, is widely blamed for fueling sectarian strife between Iraq's Shia and Sunni populations while he was in power between 2006 and 2014. His opposition to Allawi, who is also Shiite, could complicate the prime minister's efforts to compile a Cabinet based on individual qualifications rather than their loyalties to parties — also a key demand of anti-government protesters.
In the popular unrest that has swept the country, demonstrators are calling for jobs, an end to corruption and what they see as Iran's meddling in Iraq's internal affairs.
Iraqi security forces and the Iran-backed militias affiliated with them have unleashed a brutal response, killing at least 600 protesters in the four months since demonstrations have unfolded.
A major issue Allawi will be forced to address is the future of U.S. troops in Iraq. Amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran last month, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops. An Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi base housing U.S. service members injured dozens of American troops.
In response to Allawi's appointment, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad released a statement, saying, "Current conditions in Iraq and the region require an independent and honest government committed to addressing the needs of the Iraqi people. The nomination of Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi as a new Prime Minister must be followed up with efforts to accomplish that objective."
Allawi, 65, studied architecture in Baghdad and Lebanon before moving to the U.K., where he became a British citizen. He is expected to renounce his British citizenship to take the job.
Parliament is expected to put his candidacy to a vote in the next session. Once he is sworn in, Allawi will have 30 days to put together a Cabinet.
He is set to serve as prime minister until early elections can be held.


npr--2020-02-01--LeBron James: 'Mamba Out,' But 'Not Forgotten'

LeBron James : 'Mamba Out , ' But 'Not Forgotten' The Los Angeles Lakers and grieving fans packing the Staples Center paid an emotional , pregame tribute to basketball icon Kobe Bryant on Friday night .
Bryant , 41 , and his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna `` Gigi '' Bryant , were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday , an event that devastated the NBA and fans worldwide .
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause , which will likely take months .
The other seven victims were Orange Coast College baseball coach John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Altobelli , 46 , and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli , 14 ; Sarah Chester , 45 , and her daughter Payton Chester , 13 ; Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser , 38 ; and pilot Ara Zobayan , 50 .
This was the first game the Lakers have played since Bryant 's death , facing the Portland Trail Blazers .
Their Tuesday game against the Clippers was postponed , as the sports world openly mourned the five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star .
Bouquets of red roses were placed on two empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
24 Lakers jersey was pulled over one .
Gianna 's black No .
2 jersey from Mamba Sports Academy was pulled over the other .
The Staples Center held 24.2 seconds of silence in honor of the father-daughter pair and the other victims .
Usher began the roughly 25-minute ceremony , spotlit in center court , singing `` Amazing Grace . ''
Cellist Ben Hong of the Los Angeles Philharmonic accompanied a video montage , splicing together narration by Bryant through different moments of his career .
`` I have four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women to have opportunities , '' Bryant 's voice boomed across the Staples Center .
The helicopter was en route to a youth basketball tournament at Mamba Sports Academy when it crashed in Calabasas .
The tributes were punctuated by the crowd 's chants of `` Kobe , Kobe ! ''
and `` Gigi , Gigi ! ''
Commemorative No .
8 and No .
24 t-shirts , Bryant 's numbers during his 20-season career with the Lakers , were draped on seats throughout the Staples Center for fans to take home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his written speech , opting to speak from the heart to `` Lakers Nation . ''
`` Tonight we celebrate the kid that came here at 18 , retired at 38 and became probably the best dad we 've seen over the last three years .
Tonight is a celebration . ''
James vowed that he and the Lakers would carry on Bryant 's legacy .
He closed by echoing Bryant 's retirement speech .
`` In the words of Kobe Bryant , 'Mamba Out , ' but in the words of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormity of Bryant 's impact made his name ubiquitous that night .
When the Lakers ran out for starting lineup , each player was announced the same way : `` No .
24 , 6 feet , 6 inches , 20th year from Lower Merion High School .
Kobe Bryant . ''
Jubilant fans erupted , that tribute earning the biggest cheers of the night .
`` I 'm sitting next to total strangers .
We 're hugging .
We 're crying .
We 're high-fiving , '' fan Ebony Bryant ( no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not victorious in the resulting game ; Portland won 127-119 .
Lakers Coach Frank Vogel did n't fault his team , with grief over Bryant 's loss permeating the night .
`` It was very emotional .
Guys were teared up , going into the jump ball .
You want to give maximum effort , but , you know , we had a difficult week , '' he said .
Bryant 's triumphant career and utter devotion to the game of basketball was the clear focus of the night , though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public conversation .
A 2003 sexual assault accusation ended in a settlement .
His record of trash talking and lashing out at other players generated rivalries .
In 2018 , two years after retirement , Bryant created Mamba Sports Academy and won an Oscar for his animated short , Dear Basketball .
He focused his energy on supporting the next generation of players .
This retirement chapter , and the basketball future of Gianna Bryant , was brought to an abrupt close .
`` His daughter at 13 , we did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a beginning .
I 'm thinking about the relationship that Kobe had with his daughter , and the support that he was showing for the WNBA .
That 's evolution from where he once was , '' Kevin Blackistone , sports columnist for The Washington Post , told NPR 's Morning Edition .
In a post-game interview , LeBron James spoke little of losing to Portland .
He spoke of Bryant 's happiness in spending more time with his family .
`` I did n't feel bad in Boston , when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours away in Springfield , '' James said .
`` We had a game that night .
We got our ass kicked .
And I did n't feel bad at all .
In the name of Kobe , why not ? ''

LeBron James: 'Mamba Out,' But 'Not Forgotten'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Harry How/Getty Images Harry How/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers and grieving fans packing the Staples Center paid an emotional, pregame tribute to basketball icon Kobe Bryant on Friday night.
Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, an event that devastated the NBA and fans worldwide. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause, which will likely take months.
The other seven victims were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Keri Altobelli, 46, and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Sarah Chester, 45, and her daughter Payton Chester, 13; Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser, 38; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
This was the first game the Lakers have played since Bryant's death, facing the Portland Trail Blazers. Their Tuesday game against the Clippers was postponed, as the sports world openly mourned the five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star.
NBA via YouTube
Bouquets of red roses were placed on two empty, courtside seats. Bryant's yellow No. 24 Lakers jersey was pulled over one. Gianna's black No. 2 jersey from Mamba Sports Academy was pulled over the other.
The Staples Center held 24.2 seconds of silence in honor of the father-daughter pair and the other victims.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Harry How/Getty Images Harry How/Getty Images
Usher began the roughly 25-minute ceremony, spotlit in center court, singing "Amazing Grace." Cellist Ben Hong of the Los Angeles Philharmonic accompanied a video montage, splicing together narration by Bryant through different moments of his career.
"I have four girls, so my mission is for women to have opportunities," Bryant's voice boomed across the Staples Center. The helicopter was en route to a youth basketball tournament at Mamba Sports Academy when it crashed in Calabasas.
The tributes were punctuated by the crowd's chants of "Kobe, Kobe!" and "Gigi, Gigi!" Commemorative No. 8 and No. 24 t-shirts, Bryant's numbers during his 20-season career with the Lakers, were draped on seats throughout the Staples Center for fans to take home.
A visibly devastated LeBron James tossed aside his written speech, opting to speak from the heart to "Lakers Nation."
"Tonight we celebrate the kid that came here at 18, retired at 38 and became probably the best dad we've seen over the last three years. Tonight is a celebration."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
James vowed that he and the Lakers would carry on Bryant's legacy. He closed by echoing Bryant's retirement speech. "In the words of Kobe Bryant, 'Mamba Out,' but in the words of us, 'Not Forgotten.' "
The enormity of Bryant's impact made his name ubiquitous that night. When the Lakers ran out for starting lineup, each player was announced the same way: "No. 24, 6 feet, 6 inches, 20th year from Lower Merion High School. Kobe Bryant."
Jubilant fans erupted, that tribute earning the biggest cheers of the night.
"I'm sitting next to total strangers. We're hugging. We're crying. We're high-fiving," fan Ebony Bryant (no relation) told NPR.
The Lakers were not victorious in the resulting game; Portland won 127-119. Lakers Coach Frank Vogel didn't fault his team, with grief over Bryant's loss permeating the night.
"It was very emotional. Guys were teared up, going into the jump ball. You want to give maximum effort, but, you know, we had a difficult week," he said.
Bryant's triumphant career and utter devotion to the game of basketball was the clear focus of the night, though the complexities of his legacy have borne out in public conversation. A 2003 sexual assault accusation ended in a settlement. His record of trash talking and lashing out at other players generated rivalries.
In 2018, two years after retirement, Bryant created Mamba Sports Academy and won an Oscar for his animated short, Dear Basketball. He focused his energy on supporting the next generation of players. This retirement chapter, and the basketball future of Gianna Bryant, was brought to an abrupt close.
"His daughter at 13, we did not see a full chapter. We barely saw a beginning. I'm thinking about the relationship that Kobe had with his daughter, and the support that he was showing for the WNBA. That's evolution from where he once was," Kevin Blackistone, sports columnist for The Washington Post, told NPR's Morning Edition.
In a post-game interview, LeBron James spoke little of losing to Portland. He spoke of Bryant's happiness in spending more time with his family.
"I didn't feel bad in Boston, when I went to go see my son two hours away in Springfield," James said. "We had a game that night. We got our ass kicked. And I didn't feel bad at all. In the name of Kobe, why not?"
NPR's Tom Goldman contributed reporting.