npr--2020-11-14--Conservatives Flock To Mercer-Funded Parler; Claim Censorship On Facebook And Twitter

Conservatives Flock To Mercer-Funded Parler ; Claim Censorship On Facebook And Twitter Maria Bartiromo , the Fox Business host , declared herself done with Twitter two days after the election .
She tweeted a link to an article that falsely claimed Democrats were trying to steal the election .
Twitter hid the post behind a label warning that it contained misleading content .
Twitter also notified Bartiromo that someone had complained about her account ( even though it did clarify she had not violated any rules and it was taking no action against her ) .
For Bartiromo , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the same group who abused power in 2016 , '' Bartiromo tweeted to her nearly 900,000 followers .
`` I will be leaving soon and going to Parler .
Please open an account on @ parler right away . ''
Parler , founded in 2018 , touts itself as `` the world 's premier free speech platform . ''
On Saturday , CEO and co-founder John Matze said one of the privately-owned company 's early investors is Rebekah Mercer , who along with her father , hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and is also a major donor to conservative causes including Breitbart News and former White House strategist Steve Bannon .
`` John and I started Parler to provide a neutral platform for free speech , '' Rebekah Mercer wrote on Parler on Saturday .
She went on to condemn `` the ever increasing tyranny and hubris of our tech overlords . ''
The company puts few restrictions on what users can post .
That has made it attractive to high-profile conservatives who claim Facebook and Twitter are censoring them , even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of systemic anti-conservative bias .
Facebook and Twitter have stepped up their fight against misinformation in the weeks leading up to and following the election .
They have removed groups , slapped warnings on posts , and reduced the spread of the most egregious false claims of voter fraud .
`` The success of Parler is partly because people understand that they 're getting censored , '' Bartiromo said , while conducting an interview with Matze on her show .
`` Have Twitter and Facebook gone too far ? ''
she asked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start fact checking , you 're introducing bias , '' Matze replied .
Radio host Mark Levin told listeners he was `` fed up '' with Facebook , where his page reaches 1.6 million followers , after the company restricted his account for repeatedly sharing false information .
`` I want to strongly encourage you to leave Facebook and to follow me on Parler , '' he said .
`` I wo n't be looking at Facebook anymore . ''
Thanks to all the attention in recent days , Parler is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple and Android smartphones .
It has hit 10 million members — more than double the 4.5 million it had last week , according to Jeffrey Wernick , the company 's chief operating officer .
`` Our growth is not attributable to any one person or group , but rather to Parler 's efforts to earn our community 's trust , both by protecting their privacy , and being transparent about the way in which their content is handled on our platform , '' Wernick said in a statement .
Still , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 187 million daily users and Facebook 's nearly 2 billion .
Parler looks a lot like Twitter : you follow a feed of accounts , which post messages known as `` Parleys '' .
In an interview with NPR this summer , Parler CEO Matze said the app intended to solve a problem he saw on the larger social media platforms .
`` We found that a lot of people were experiencing , or were talking about censorship , '' he said .
Parler 's community guidelines bar criminal activity , terrorism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud , and spam .
The company says it tries to avoid removing content or banning users , and says it does not remove or filter content or accounts `` on the basis of the opinion expressed within the content at issue . ''
Matze says the goal is n't to be a wild west with no rules , but a town square for open discussion .
`` We take a hard line against pornography and nudity , '' he said .
`` But if people disagree with one another , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation . ''
As a result of that lax approach to content moderation , experts who study online misinformation say false and misleading claims about the election that are being pushed off other platforms are popping up on Parler .
That includes the hashtag # StopTheSteal , which is being used to organize protests and perpetuate baseless claims of voter fraud .
Facebook has removed several Stop the Steal groups , some of which had amassed hundreds of thousands of members .
Shannon McGregor , who studies social media at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the misinformation already thriving on Parler is cause for alarm .
`` What we 've seen in the past with some of these other fringe or alternative social media sites is , if there 's no rules and if it 's really siloed , then what happens is it gets more and more extreme . ''
That includes Gab , an alternative social network that has become notorious for hosting anti-Semitic and white nationalist content .
It was used by the accused 2018 shooter at a Pittsburgh synagogue .
Influencers show few signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's rapid growth , McGregor and other experts are skeptical that conservatives with the biggest audiences will actually abandon larger social media apps — even though they are encouraging their followers to do so .
`` All these people have accounts on Twitter because that 's where journalists are and that 's where the press is , '' McGregor said .
`` If they actually left Twitter , they would be less newsworthy . ''
Renée DiResta , who tracks misinformation at the Stanford Internet Observatory , said this is what happened when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , after Twitter first began labeling President Trump 's tweets for making false claims .
`` Even prominent accounts like Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul , who announced [ in June and July ] that they were going to Parler , did not actually leave Twitter , did not decrease their posting patterns on Twitter , '' or post as frequently on Parler , she said .
She said she expected the flurry of activity on Parler to continue in the short term , especially as Facebook keeps shutting down Stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's unclear that this is really indicative of a mass movement to vacate platforms and form socially conservative spaces , '' she said .
Meanwhile , over at Fox Business , Bartiromo is still posting on Twitter — and promoting her Parler user name in each tweet .
Editor 's note : Facebook is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Conservatives Flock To Mercer-Funded Parler, Claim Censorship On Facebook And Twitter
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brandon Wade/AP Brandon Wade/AP
Maria Bartiromo, the Fox Business host, declared herself done with Twitter two days after the election.
She tweeted a link to an article that falsely claimed Democrats were trying to steal the election. Twitter hid the post behind a label warning that it contained misleading content. Twitter also notified Bartiromo that someone had complained about her account (even though it did clarify that she had not violated any rules and it was taking no action against her).
For Bartiromo, the label was the last straw.
"This is the same group who abused power in 2016," Bartiromo tweeted to her nearly 900,000 followers. "I will be leaving soon and going to Parler. Please open an account on @parler right away."
Parler, founded in 2018, touts itself as "the world's premier free speech platform." On Saturday, CEO and co-founder John Matze said one of the privately owned company's early investors is Rebekah Mercer, who along with her father, hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, has been a backer of President Trump and is also a major donor to conservative causes, including Breitbart News and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
"John and I started Parler to provide a neutral platform for free speech," Rebekah Mercer wrote on Parler on Saturday. She went on to condemn "the ever increasing tyranny and hubris of our tech overlords."
The company puts few restrictions on what users can post. That has made it attractive to high-profile conservatives who claim Facebook and Twitter are censoring them, even though there is no evidence for these allegations of systemic anti-conservative bias.
Facebook and Twitter have stepped up their fight against misinformation in the weeks leading up to and following the election. They have removed groups, slapped warnings on posts and reduced the spread of the most egregious false claims of voter fraud.
"The success of Parler is partly because people understand that they're getting censored," Bartiromo said, while conducting an interview with Matze on her show. "Have Twitter and Facebook gone too far?" she asked.
"Once you start content curation and you start fact-checking, you're introducing bias," Matze replied.
Radio host Mark Levin told listeners he was "fed up" with Facebook, where his page reaches 1.6 million followers, after the company restricted his account for repeatedly sharing false information.
"I want to strongly encourage you to leave Facebook and to follow me on Parler," he said. "I won't be looking at Facebook anymore."
Interest in Parler sends app downloads soaring
Thanks to all the attention in recent days, Parler is now one of the most downloaded apps on Apple and Android smartphones. It has hit 10 million members — more than double the 4.5 million it had last week, according to Jeffrey Wernick, the company's chief operating officer.
"Our growth is not attributable to any one person or group, but rather to Parler's efforts to earn our community's trust, both by protecting their privacy, and being transparent about the way in which their content is handled on our platform," Wernick said in a statement.
Still, that is just a tiny fraction of Twitter's 187 million daily users and Facebook's nearly 2 billion.
Parler looks a lot like Twitter: You follow a feed of accounts, which post messages known as "Parleys."
In an interview with NPR this summer, Parler CEO Matze said the app intends to solve a problem he saw on the larger social media platforms. "We found that a lot of people were experiencing or were talking about censorship," he said.
Parler's community guidelines bar criminal activity, terrorism, child pornography, copyright violations, fraud and spam. The company says it tries to avoid removing content or banning users and says it does not remove or filter content or accounts "on the basis of the opinion expressed within the content at issue."
Matze says the goal isn't to be a Wild West with no rules but a town square for open discussion.
"We take a hard line against pornography and nudity," he said. "But if people disagree with one another, we're not there to mediate or moderate the conversation."
Experts say "free speech" approach lets false claims flourish
As a result of that lax approach to content moderation, experts who study online misinformation say false and misleading claims about the election that are being pushed off other platforms are popping up on Parler.
That includes the hashtag #StopTheSteal, which is being used to organize protests and perpetuate baseless claims of voter fraud. Facebook has removed several Stop the Steal groups, some of which had amassed hundreds of thousands of members.
Shannon McGregor, who studies social media at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said the misinformation already thriving on Parler is cause for alarm.
"What we've seen in the past with some of these other fringe or alternative social media sites is, if there's no rules and if it's really siloed, then what happens is it gets more and more extreme," she said.
That includes Gab, an alternative social network that has become notorious for hosting anti-Semitic and white nationalist content. It was used by the accused 2018 shooter at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Influencers show few signs of abandoning Twitter and Facebook
Despite Parler's rapid growth, McGregor and other experts are skeptical that conservatives with the biggest audiences will actually abandon larger social media apps — even though they are encouraging their followers to do so.
"All these people have accounts on Twitter because that's where journalists are and that's where the press is," McGregor said. "If they actually left Twitter, they would be less newsworthy."
Renée DiResta, who tracks misinformation at the Stanford Internet Observatory, said this is what happened when Parler went through another growth spurt this summer, after Twitter began labeling Trump's tweets for making false claims.
"Even prominent accounts like Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, who announced [in June and July] that they were going to Parler, did not actually leave Twitter, did not decrease their posting patterns on Twitter" or post as frequently on Parler, she said.
She said she expected the flurry of activity on Parler to continue in the short term, especially as Facebook keeps shutting down Stop the Steal groups.
"But it's unclear that this is really indicative of a mass movement to vacate platforms and form socially conservative spaces," she said.
Meanwhile, over at Fox Business, Bartiromo is still posting on Twitter — and promoting her Parler username in each tweet.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-11-14--U.S. Surgeon General Blames 'Pandemic Fatigue' For Recent COVID-19 Surge

The COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. is getting worse by nearly every metric .
On Friday alone , there were more than 184,000 new confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths , the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported .
Hospitals are reaching capacity .
To date in the U.S. , there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died — more than any other nation .
U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams says `` pandemic fatigue '' is largely to blame .
People are tired and are n't taking mitigation measures as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The virus hit different places of the country at different points , '' Adams , who is also a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , tells NPR 's All Things Considered .
`` And so you 've had people who 've been doing these things since February , March , April , but they did n't really start to see the wave until later on .
And they 're just plain tired . ''
As the winter months and holidays approach , people can be tempted to escape the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and family .
Adams is encouraging people to have a virtual dinner or celebrate Thanksgiving only with other people who live in their household .
`` The three W 's are most important if you do come together around other people : wear a mask , wash your hands and frequently disinfect commonly touched surfaces , and watch your distance from other people , '' Adams says .
`` And if you ca n't do these things in this environment where you 're planning on coming together , then you should probably stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is incredibly unforgiving . ''
Despite the national case spike , President Trump said Friday he wo n't endorse any new lockdown measures while he 's in office .
And the White House Coronavirus Task Force reportedly still meets once a week , but no longer holds the daily briefings that it did in the spring .
Adams says it 's because the task force is shifting its attention toward regional outreach instead of national briefings for its messaging efforts , as cases go up aggressively in states such as North Dakota , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin .
He says they are going to states to give guidance `` on the ground . ''
`` Because people in North Dakota or people in Arkansas or people in California may not feel that they have to take the same measures as someone in New York City , '' Adams says .
`` So I 've been in South Dakota .
I 've been in Wisconsin .
I 've been in Ohio just over the past two weeks , really speaking directly to people , helping them understand their surges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need to take at their state level . ''
While the Trump administration 's days are waning , Trump has still refused to concede and administration health officials have not started working with President-elect Biden 's team on coronavirus response .
Atul Gawande , a surgeon and professor at Harvard University who is part of the Biden coronavirus advisory group , told NPR on Friday that they have been `` denied access to the agencies and to actually starting formally a transition with the Trump administration . ''
He said knowing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inauguration , `` can make a big difference . ''
`` We do not have access to talking to the agencies , to Dr. Fauci , to people who have information about what the status is of mask supplies and glove supplies , what the threat assessments are , what the distribution plans for vaccines are , '' Gawande said .
`` That will be important and very much in the national interest to be able to work together on that . ''
Adams denies that is the case and says the task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` There is no information that we have that we do n't share with the American public in general , and that is not available to the Biden task force , '' Adams says .
`` And so I 'm here and I 'm willing to talk to anybody at any point .
And that 's the most honest answer that I can give you , because I think we all need to have the information to make informed decisions and to really take measures to protect ourselves . ''
Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edited the audio version of this story .

U.S. Surgeon General Blames 'Pandemic Fatigue' For Recent COVID-19 Surge
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Reynolds/AP Michael Reynolds/AP
The COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. is getting worse by nearly every metric. On Friday alone, there were more than 184,000 new confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported. Hospitals are reaching capacity. To date in the U.S., there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 240,000 have died — more than any other nation.
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams says "pandemic fatigue" is largely to blame. People are tired and aren't taking mitigation measures as seriously as before, he says.
"The virus hit different places of the country at different points," Adams, who is also a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, tells NPR's All Things Considered. "And so you've had people who've been doing these things since February, March, April, but they didn't really start to see the wave until later on. And they're just plain tired."
As the winter months and holidays approach, people can be tempted to escape the cold and spend time indoors with friends and family. Adams is encouraging people to have a virtual dinner or celebrate Thanksgiving only with other people who live in their household.
"The three W's are most important if you do come together around other people: wear a mask, wash your hands and frequently disinfect commonly touched surfaces, and watch your distance from other people," Adams says. "And if you can't do these things in this environment where you're planning on coming together, then you should probably stay home because, again, this virus is incredibly unforgiving."
Despite the national case spike, President Trump said Friday he won't endorse any new lockdown measures while he's in office.
And the White House Coronavirus Task Force reportedly still meets once a week, but no longer holds the daily briefings that it did in the spring.
Adams says it's because the task force is shifting its attention toward regional outreach instead of national briefings for its messaging efforts, as cases go up aggressively in states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming and Wisconsin. He says they are going to states to give guidance "on the ground."
"Because people in North Dakota or people in Arkansas or people in California may not feel that they have to take the same measures as someone in New York City," Adams says. "So I've been in South Dakota. I've been in Wisconsin. I've been in Ohio just over the past two weeks, really speaking directly to people, helping them understand their surges that are going on and the measures that they need to take at their state level."
While the Trump administration's days are waning, Trump has still refused to concede and administration health officials have not started working with President-elect Biden's team on coronavirus response.
Atul Gawande, a surgeon and professor at Harvard University who is part of the Biden coronavirus advisory group, told NPR on Friday that they have been "denied access to the agencies and to actually starting formally a transition with the Trump administration." He said knowing more information now, weeks before Biden's inauguration, "can make a big difference."
"We do not have access to talking to the agencies, to Dr. Fauci, to people who have information about what the status is of mask supplies and glove supplies, what the threat assessments are, what the distribution plans for vaccines are," Gawande said. "That will be important and very much in the national interest to be able to work together on that."
Adams denies that is the case and says the task force is "sharing information with everyone."
"There is no information that we have that we don't share with the American public in general, and that is not available to the Biden task force," Adams says. "And so I'm here and I'm willing to talk to anybody at any point. And that's the most honest answer that I can give you, because I think we all need to have the information to make informed decisions and to really take measures to protect ourselves."
Robert Baldwin III and Tinbete Ermyas produced and edited the audio version of this story.


npr--2020-11-14--Central America Braces For Another Hurricane

As Central America recovers from Hurricane Eta , which made landfall earlier this month as a Category 4 , the region is bracing for yet another hurricane .
Tropical Storm Iota , currently in the Caribbean Sea , is forecast to strengthen and inundate the area beginning sometime Monday .
The National Hurricane Center warns that dangerous wind , storm surge , and rainfall could impact portions of Honduras and Nicaragua with additional dangers in parts of Guatemala , Belize , Costa Rica , Panama and Colombia .
The results could be devastating for a region that is still recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to the deaths of at least 150 people .
`` A lot of people are still on the top of their roofs waiting for the help to come , '' Annelise Palma of the Sociedad Biblica de Guatemala told Accuweather .
Iota was moving west-southwest at around 7 mph Saturday afternoon , and expected to speed up as it moves across the southwest Caribbean Sea over the next day or so , approaching the Central American coast on Monday , according to NHC forecaster Daniel Brown .
Honduras , northern Nicaragua , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 to 16 inches of rain , with some isolated areas getting up to 30 inches .
Costa Rica , Panama and northern Colombia could see 4 to 8 inches rain , with isolated areas getting up to a foot .
`` Iota is expected to intensify and be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of Central America , '' Brown said .
`` Heavy rainfall from Iota will likely lead to life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding across portions of northern Colombia and Central America . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week , 2020 has already set a record for the number of named storms in the Atlantic in a single season .
Iota is the 30th named storm of the season .

Hurricane Iota Continues To Intensify As It Approaches Central America
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Hurricane Center National Hurricane Center
Updated Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET
Hurricane Iota is expected to hit Central America on Monday, bringing potentially catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge.
Iota's arrival comes as the region is still recovering from Hurricane Eta, which made landfall earlier this month as a Category 4 storm.
Iota is currently making its way through the Caribbean Sea and is forecast to strengthen further and inundate the area beginning sometime Monday. Iota was moving west-northwest at around 9 mph Sunday morning, with sustained winds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm, the agency said.
"Iota is expected to intensify and be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of Central America," NHC forecaster Daniel Brown said. "Heavy rainfall from Iota will likely lead to life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding across portions of northern Colombia and Central America."
The National Hurricane Center warned that dangerous wind, storm surge and rainfall could impact portions of Honduras and Nicaragua, with additional danger in parts of Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia.
The agency issued a warning saying that Sunday was the last day coastal residents of Honduras and Nicaragua had to prepare for the "extremely dangerous situation" that Iota was creating.
The results could be devastating for a region that is still recovering from Eta, which has already led to the deaths of at least 150 people.
"A lot of people are still on the top of their roofs waiting for the help to come," Annelise Palma of the non-profit Sociedad Biblica de Guatemala told Accuweather.
Colombia's Providencia island could experience hurricane conditions as early as Sunday night. Honduras, northern Nicaragua, eastern Guatemala and southern Belize could see 8 to 16 inches of rain, with some isolated areas getting up to 30 inches. Costa Rica, Panama and northern Colombia could see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with isolated areas getting up to a foot.
Honduras and Nicaragua could see flooding and mudslides compounded given Hurricane Eta's recent impact on the region.
With the formation of Subtropical Storm Theta earlier this week, 2020 has already set a record for the number of named storms in the Atlantic in a single season. Iota is the 30th named storm of the season.


npr--2020-11-14--How Hindus In Wyoming Are Celebrating Diwali, the 'Festival Of Lights,' Amid Pandemic

How Hindus In Wyoming Are Celebrating Diwali , the 'Festival Of Lights , ' Amid Pandemic Sarita Talusani Keller 's home in Laramie , Wyo.
, would usually be aglow this time of year with an array of candles and clay lamps .
There would be guests enjoying a copious selection of food , laughing and smiling and taking pictures together .
This is what Diwali has traditionally looked like every year for Keller , 46 , her husband and their two children .
The five-day celebration , which began this week , is known as the `` festival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's more than that .
It marks a new year for the more than 1 billion Hindus worldwide , and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness , good over evil and knowledge over ignorance .
`` It 's a new fresh start , '' said Keller .
`` It 's cleaning out the old and welcoming the new ...
I think everybody wants to do that with COVID this year .
I really do . ''
With the pandemic still raging , Keller 's Diwali celebration will look very different this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents immigrated to the U.S. from India .
In a typical year , she would cook lots of food for Diwali , and host as many as 20 people for a potluck celebration .
This year , she will only have a handful of guests over , all of whom have been isolating , and some of them , feeling lonely .
`` I think this is something they might need right now , '' she said .
`` Just to be around people . ''
Ragha Mohan , 21 , feels the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Wyoming .
She was born in India and raised in Kuwait .
She 's been in the U.S. since 2016 and will be graduating next month .
This semester was going to be her last Diwali in Laramie .
`` Diwali to me just means home , '' said Mohan .
`` Home , waking up , dressing up , holiday ... And fireworks , enjoyment , food — really good food .
And just laughter and playful joy .
That 's what I feel Diwali is . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be different when she first moved to Wyoming , a state where less than 1 % of the population is Hindu .
In the U.S. more broadly , just 0.7 % of the population is Hindu .
Which is why when Mohan found the local Indian community during her freshman year , it became surreal .
`` I did not feel left out at all , '' she said .
`` Because it 's a close-knit community . ''
If anyone needed help , whether it 's food recommendations or anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian community ] here because we 're all going through the same thing .
We have a similar background , '' Mohan said .
She wanted to be more actively involved with the Indian community .
So , she joined the Indian Student Association , also known as MILAAP , and served on the executive board .
The biggest event they organize and host every year is a tradition that MILAAP has done for the past 15 years : Diwali night .
`` We need hands-on deck from every person in the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Planning usually starts six months in advance .
It 's in the summer when the executive committee gathers to figure out things like financial budgets , caterers and food services , the venues needed and how many volunteers might be needed .
`` Do we need someone from the Indian embassy to speak ?
Do we need people from different areas to speak ?
So much of that planning is definitely needed , '' said Mohan .
But it 's the performances that are the highlight of this event , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian dances , modern Bollywood dance performances , fashion shows and students singing Bollywood medleys and popular classics on stage .
It is the one event where Mohan gets to experience a community coming together and enjoying Diwali .
But this year , because of the pandemic , it 's going to be getting Indian takeout , wearing her best traditional clothes and maybe making some Indian sweets with her roommates and boyfriend .
`` And we 'll call it a day . ''
Both Keller and Mohan are , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the most of it .
As for Keller and her nine-year-old daughter , Leela , they 're looking forward to one way Diwali is different this year : having Kamala Harris , who like her has Indian heritage , as vice president-elect .
`` We 're like , 'Look , it 's someone like us !
And it 's a woman ! ''
said Keller .
`` There 's never been a woman in like , the presidential history , ever , '' Leela replies .
`` And a woman of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar background ... She 's also south Indian . ''
Just like Diwali , Harris ' election is seen as a new beginning and a fresh start .
This has been evident from the victory celebrations in Harris ' ancestral village in India , the Indian Prime Minister congratulating Harris publicly and social media memes commemorating her election .
Under a worldwide pandemic and the first woman to be vice president-elect of the United States , 2020 has truly been a year of a lot of firsts , just like the spirit of @ @

How Hindus In Wyoming Are Celebrating Diwali, the 'Festival Of Lights,' Amid Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption jayk7/Moment/Getty Images jayk7/Moment/Getty Images
Sarita Talusani Keller's home in Laramie, Wyo., would usually be aglow this time of year with an array of candles and clay lamps. There would be guests enjoying a copious selection of food, laughing and smiling and taking pictures together.
This is what Diwali has traditionally looked like every year for Keller, 46, her husband and their two children. The five-day celebration, which began this week, is known as the "festival of lights." But really, it's more than that. It marks a new year for the more than 1 billion Hindus worldwide, and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
"It's a new fresh start," said Keller. "It's cleaning out the old and welcoming the new ... I think everybody wants to do that with COVID this year. I really do."
With the pandemic still raging, Keller's Diwali celebration will look very different this year.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Naina Rao/KUWR Naina Rao/KUWR
Keller is a museum educator whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from India. In a typical year, she would cook lots of food for Diwali, and host as many as 20 people for a potluck celebration. This year, she will only have a handful of guests over, all of whom have been isolating, and some of them, feeling lonely.
"I think this is something they might need right now," she said. "Just to be around people."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarita Keller Sarita Keller
Ragha Mohan, 21, feels the same way.
Mohan is a senior at the University of Wyoming. She was born in India and raised in Kuwait. She's been in the U.S. since 2016 and will be graduating next month. This semester was going to be her last Diwali in Laramie.
"Diwali to me just means home," said Mohan. "Home, waking up, dressing up, holiday ... And fireworks, enjoyment, food — really good food. And just laughter and playful joy. That's what I feel Diwali is."
Mohan said she knew the holiday was going to be different when she first moved to Wyoming, a state where less than 1% of the population is Hindu. In the U.S. more broadly, just 0.7% of the population is Hindu.
Which is why when Mohan found the local Indian community during her freshman year, it became surreal. "I did not feel left out at all," she said. "Because it's a close-knit community."
If anyone needed help, whether it's food recommendations or anything else, "we're [the Indian community] here because we're all going through the same thing. We have a similar background," Mohan said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarita Keller Sarita Keller
She wanted to be more actively involved with the Indian community. So, she joined the Indian Student Association, also known as MILAAP, and served on the executive board. The biggest event they organize and host every year is a tradition that MILAAP has done for the past 15 years: Diwali night.
"We need hands-on deck from every person in the community [for Diwali]," Mohan said.
Planning usually starts six months in advance. It's in the summer when the executive committee gathers to figure out things like financial budgets, caterers and food services, the venues needed and how many volunteers might be needed.
"Do we need someone from the Indian embassy to speak? Do we need people from different areas to speak? So much of that planning is definitely needed," said Mohan.
But it's the performances that are the highlight of this event, she said. Some of them include traditional Indian dances, modern Bollywood dance performances, fashion shows and students singing Bollywood medleys and popular classics on stage.
It is the one event where Mohan gets to experience a community coming together and enjoying Diwali. But this year, because of the pandemic, it's going to be getting Indian takeout, wearing her best traditional clothes and maybe making some Indian sweets with her roommates and boyfriend.
"And we'll call it a day."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarita Keller Sarita Keller
Both Keller and Mohan are, of course, disappointed. But Mohan is going to make the most of it.
As for Keller and her nine-year-old daughter, Leela, they're looking forward to one way Diwali is different this year: having Kamala Harris, who like her has Indian heritage, as vice president-elect.
"We're like, 'Look, it's someone like us! And it's a woman!" said Keller. "There's never been a woman in like, the presidential history, ever," Leela replies. "And a woman of color, and a woman that has a familiar background ... She's also south Indian."
Just like Diwali, Harris' election is seen as a new beginning and a fresh start. This has been evident from the victory celebrations in Harris' ancestral village in India, the Indian Prime Minister congratulating Harris publicly and social media memes commemorating her election.
Under a worldwide pandemic and the first woman to be vice president-elect of the United States, 2020 has truly been a year of a lot of firsts, just like the spirit of Diwali.


npr--2020-11-14--U.S. Adds 184,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day, With No End In Sight

U.S .
Adds 184,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day , With No End In Sight The U.S. added more than 184,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday , the fourth day in a row that the country has set a record for daily infections , according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center .
It has been about four weeks since the U.S. overtook India to see the most daily cases of any country in the world .
While India 's case numbers spiked in September , they have largely been on a downward path since then .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge .
For the first time , the country 's seven-day moving average of new cases has surpassed 150,000 .
America is also the world leader in coronavirus fatalities , with over 244,000 COVID-19 related deaths .
More than 1,400 people died from the virus in the U.S. on Friday — the most deaths that day of any country .
For the moment , daily deaths are below the peak of around 2,200 daily fatalities the U.S. saw in April .
But deaths are known to lag behind rising infection rates , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to become fatal .
This week , officials in El Paso requested four additional mobile morgues to add to the six already in place .
`` It 's getting bad , and it 's potentially going to get a lot worse , '' Jennifer Nuzzo , an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , told The New York Times .
`` The months ahead are looking quite horrifying . ''
Coronavirus hospitalizations are rising throughout the country , with more than 68,000 people in the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen throughout the entire pandemic , surpassing the last peak , in July .
Facing a potentially punishing winter , several states have begun reimplementing curfews and various restrictions .
Massachusetts imposed a statewide curfew ; California and Connecticut have banned dine-in service at restaurants in several counties ; New York has required bars and restaurants to close daily by 10 p.m .
But eight months after the first major restrictions began , it remains to be seen just how far government can go before drawing backlash .
A substantial number of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's warning to wear masks .
Most people rallying in support of the defeated presidential incumbent in Washington , D.C. , on Saturday were n't wearing masks .
In a statement late Friday , President-elect Joe Biden expressed his alarm at the surge in infections , hospitalizations and fatalities .
`` This crisis demands a robust and immediate federal response which has been woefully lacking , '' Biden said .
`` I am the president-elect , but will not be president until next year .
COVID-19 does not respect dates on the calendar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Urgent action is needed today , now , by the current administration . ''
One member of Biden 's coronavirus advisory board , Michael Osterholm , suggested a national lockdown lasting up to six weeks , in which workers would have their lost wages reimbursed .
But other members of the board said such a major lockdown is n't necessary .
`` Right now , the way we should be thinking about this is more like a series of restrictions that we dial up or down depending on how bad spread is taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Vivek Murthy , former U.S. surgeon general and co-chair of Biden 's advisory board , told Good Morning America .
`` We 're not in a place where we 're saying shut the whole country down .
We 've got to be more targeted , '' Murthy said .
`` If we do n't do that , what you 're going to find is that people will become even more fatigued .
Schools wo n't be open to children , and the economy will be hit harder . ''

U.S. Adds 184,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day, With No End In Sight
Enlarge this image toggle caption Damian Dovarganes/AP Damian Dovarganes/AP
The U.S. added more than 184,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, the fourth day in a row that the country has set a record for daily infections, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
It has been about four weeks since the U.S. overtook India to see the most daily cases of any country in the world. While India's case numbers spiked in September, they have largely been on a downward path since then. But cases in the U.S. continue to surge. For the first time, the country's seven-day moving average of new cases has surpassed 150,000.
America is also the world leader in coronavirus fatalities, with over 244,000 COVID-19 related deaths. More than 1,400 people died from the virus in the U.S. on Friday — the most deaths that day of any country.
For the moment, daily deaths are below the peak of around 2,200 daily fatalities the U.S. saw in April. But deaths are known to lag behind rising infection rates, as it often takes several weeks for the virus to become fatal.
This week, officials in El Paso requested four additional mobile morgues to add to the six already in place.
"It's getting bad, and it's potentially going to get a lot worse," Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The New York Times. "The months ahead are looking quite horrifying."
Coronavirus hospitalizations are rising throughout the country, with more than 68,000 people in the hospital Friday. It's the highest number seen throughout the entire pandemic, surpassing the last peak, in July.
Facing a potentially punishing winter, several states have begun reimplementing curfews and various restrictions. Massachusetts imposed a statewide curfew; California and Connecticut have banned dine-in service at restaurants in several counties; New York has required bars and restaurants to close daily by 10 p.m.
But eight months after the first major restrictions began, it remains to be seen just how far government can go before drawing backlash. A substantial number of Americans still refuse to even heed the government's warning to wear masks. Most people rallying in support of the defeated presidential incumbent in Washington, D.C., on Saturday weren't wearing masks.
In a statement late Friday, President-elect Joe Biden expressed his alarm at the surge in infections, hospitalizations and fatalities. "This crisis demands a robust and immediate federal response which has been woefully lacking," Biden said. "I am the president-elect, but will not be president until next year. COVID-19 does not respect dates on the calendar, it is accelerating right now. Urgent action is needed today, now, by the current administration."
One member of Biden's coronavirus advisory board, Michael Osterholm, suggested a national lockdown lasting up to six weeks, in which workers would have their lost wages reimbursed. But other members of the board said such a major lockdown isn't necessary.
"Right now, the way we should be thinking about this is more like a series of restrictions that we dial up or down depending on how bad spread is taking place in a specific region," Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. surgeon general and co-chair of Biden's advisory board, told Good Morning America.
"We're not in a place where we're saying shut the whole country down. We've got to be more targeted," Murthy said. "If we don't do that, what you're going to find is that people will become even more fatigued. Schools won't be open to children, and the economy will be hit harder."


npr--2020-11-14--Trump Supporters Descend On Washington For Events Contesting Biden's Victory

Thousands of President Trump 's supporters were out in Washington , D.C. , on Saturday for a day of rallying that echoed the false assertion that the presidential election was marked by fraud .
One week after Joe Biden 's presidential victory brought about spontaneous celebrations in the nation 's capital , a crowd that included the group Women for America First , right-wing activists and conspiracy theorists gathered in the city 's downtown near the White House .
Members of the Proud Boys , a white-nationalist movement designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington .
A rally and a march to insist that Trump rightfully won a second term were planned for the day .
The events are going by several names , including the Million MAGA March , the March for Trump and Stop the Steal DC .
By late Saturday morning , hundreds had assembled in Freedom Plaza near the White House .
Video showed attendees waving American and Trump 2020 flags .
Few could be seen wearing a mask , even as the U.S. on Friday announced a new daily record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , the crowd was greeted by Trump himself , who rode past demonstrators in his mortorcade shortly after 10 a.m. Trump , who has refused to concede the election to Biden , waved to supporters who held out signs reading `` Best prez ever '' and `` Stop the steal . ''
Trump had teased a possible appearance in a tweet on Friday , saying it was `` Heartwarming '' to see the support and that `` I may even try to stop by and say hello . ''
Supporters came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documenting their trips to Saturday 's events .
Luis Huerta told member station WAMU that he and his family had driven without stopping from Midland-Odessa , Texas , for the rallies .
`` It 's about time our voices were heard and about time we stop giving ground , '' Huerta said while holding a `` Texans for Trump '' sign .
Later in the afternoon , protesters moved onto the Supreme Court for a rally , chanting `` four more years '' and `` USA ! ''
Among speakers was the right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tammy Summers , who traveled to Washington from Missouri , said she was there to show her support for Trump as he continues to contest the election results .
`` We 're here to tell President Trump that we totally support him , '' Summers said .
`` He should never give up the fight and never give in . ''
Summers also questioned findings concluding that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
`` First , they were saying there was no evidence of fraud .
Now they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fraud .
I 'm sorry , one incident of fraud against our election system is too many , '' she said .
Election officials — both Democratic and Republican — across the U.S. have thoroughly debunked claims of fraud and malfeasance in the 2020 presidential election .
They were joined on Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security , which in a statement concluded , `` There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
The statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the department responsible for election integrity , called the Nov. 3 election `` the most secure in American history . ''
Counterprotests were also happening in the city .
The group Refuse Fascism DC posted a video of its demonstration starting in Black Lives Matter Plaza .
At the Supreme Court , police separated Trump supporters from a group of anti-fascist and anti-Trump protesters , according to video posted to Twitter .
After several hours , counterprotesters eventually moved on from the Supreme Court demonstration .
Skirmishes between Trump supporters and protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no major violence .
D.C. 's Metropolitan Police Department said that as of late Saturday afternoon , 10 arrests had been made , including four for firearm violations , two for simple assault , and one for assaulting a police officer .
U.S. Capitol Police said early Saturday evening that they had made one arrest for simple assault .
The arrival of the so-called `` stop the steal '' caravans had earlier raised concerns in the overwhelmingly Democratic city .
A handful of skirmishes broke out Friday as counterprotesters attempted to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
On Saturday morning , video posted by local activists showed what appeared to be a small group of rallygoers ripping down anti-racism and police brutality artwork in Black Lives Matter Plaza .
That section of the city was renamed during massive racial justice protests over the summer .
Fears that attendees would bring guns — as was the case during anti-lockdown protests in several states in recent months — were also high .
On Saturday , D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine tweeted out a reminder of local gun laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restrict where permitted conceal-carry weapons are allowed .
`` No firearms are allowed around the White House , the National Mall , the Tidal Basin or the US Capitol – permit or no permit , '' Racine tweeted .
Ahead of the demonstrations , police in Washington announced road closures and parking restrictions .
NPR 's Hannah Allam , Tom Bowman and member station WAMU contributed to this story .

Trump Supporters, Counterprotesters Clash At D.C. Rally Contesting Biden's Victory
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Updated at 1:27 a.m. ET on Sunday
Thousands of President Trump's most fervent supporters were out in Washington, D.C., on Saturday for a day of rallying that echoed the false assertion that the presidential election was marked by fraud.
One week after Joe Biden's presidential victory brought about spontaneous celebrations in the nation's capital, a crowd that included the group Women for America First, right-wing activists and conspiracy theorists gathered in the city's downtown near the White House.
Members of the Proud Boys, a Western-chauvinistic movement designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, were also seen out on the streets of Washington.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
A rally and a march to insist that Trump rightfully won a second term were planned for the day. The events went by several names, including the Million MAGA March, the March for Trump and Stop the Steal DC.
By late Saturday morning, hundreds had assembled in Freedom Plaza near the White House.
The demonstrations unfolded peacefully for most of the day, but counterprotesters clashed with the president's supporters and violence erupted as night fell. Counterprotesters were seen overturning tables of vendors selling Trump merchandise, as well as stealing Trump hats and flags and setting them on fire, according to The Washington Post.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Two officers were injured and at least 20 people were arrested, according to the D.C. Mayor's Office. Of those arrests, four were for firearm violations, two for simple assault, one for an assault on a police officer and two for disorderly conduct, D.C. police told member station WAMU. Seven guns were recovered. It was not immediately clear if the guns belonged to Trump supporters or counterprotesters.
Scattered clashes turned violent around 8 p.m., when Trump supporters armed with batons and counterprotesters collided in a brawl five blocks from the White House, The Post reported, before police broke up the groups. A city fire official said a young man was transported to the hospital for serious injuries after he was stabbed in the back during the fight, according to the newspaper.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Videos from earlier in the day showed attendees waving American flags and Trump 2020 flags. Few could be seen wearing masks, even as the U.S. on Friday announced a new daily record of 184,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
At one point, the crowd was greeted by Trump himself, who rode past demonstrators in his motorcade shortly after 10 a.m. Trump, who has refused to concede the election to Biden, waved to supporters, who held out signs reading "Best prez ever" and "Stop the steal."
Trump had teased a possible appearance in a tweet on Friday, saying that it was "heartwarming" to see the support and that "I may even try to stop by and say hello."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Supporters came from far and wide, with many reportedly documenting their trips to Saturday's events. Luis Huerta told member station WAMU that he and his family had driven without stopping from Midland-Odessa, Texas, for the rallies.
"It's about time our voices were heard and about time we stop giving ground," Huerta said while holding a "Texans for Trump" sign.
Later in the afternoon, protesters moved to the Supreme Court for a rally, chanting "Four more years!" and "USA!" Among speakers was the far-right media personality and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Tammy Summers, who traveled to Washington from Missouri, said she was there to show her support for Trump as he continues to contest the election results.
"We're here to tell President Trump that we totally support him," Summers said. "He should never give up the fight and never give in."
Summers also questioned findings that concluded that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
"First, they were saying there was no evidence of fraud. Now they're saying there's no widespread evidence of fraud. I'm sorry, one incident of fraud against our election system is too many," she said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR
Election officials — both Democratic and Republican — across the U.S. have thoroughly debunked claims of fraud and malfeasance in the 2020 presidential election.
They were joined on Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security, which in a statement concluded, "There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised." The statement, which was put out by agencies within the department responsible for election integrity, called the Nov. 3 election "the most secure in American history."
Planned counterprotests also took place in the city.
The group Refuse Fascism DC posted a video of its demonstration starting in Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carol Guzy for NPR Carol Guzy for NPR
At the Supreme Court, police separated Trump supporters from a group of anti-fascist and anti-Trump protesters, according to video posted to Twitter. After several hours, counterprotesters eventually moved on from the Supreme Court demonstration.
The arrival of the "stop the steal" caravans had earlier raised concerns in the overwhelmingly Democratic city.
A handful of skirmishes broke out Friday as counterprotesters attempted to prevent the removal of signs on fencing around the White House.
On Saturday morning, video posted by local activists showed what appeared to be a small group of rallygoers ripping down anti-racism and anti-police-brutality artwork in Black Lives Matter Plaza. That section of the city was renamed during massive racial justice protests over the summer.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dee Dwyer for NPR Dee Dwyer for NPR
Fears that attendees would bring guns — as was the case during anti-lockdown protests in several states in recent months — were also high.
On Saturday, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine tweeted out a reminder about local gun laws, which prohibit openly carrying a firearm and restrict where permitted conceal-carry weapons are allowed.
"No firearms are allowed around the White House, the National Mall, the Tidal Basin or the US Capitol – permit or no permit," Racine tweeted.
Washington, D.C.'s chief of police offered a similar warning.
Ahead of the demonstrations, police in Washington announced road closures and parking restrictions.
NPR's Hannah Allam, Tom Bowman and member station WAMU contributed to this story.


npr--2020-11-14--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak On Sept. 28 , the world marked a tragic milestone : 1 million deaths from COVID-19 .
That 's according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
And public health experts believe the actual toll – the recorded deaths plus the unrecorded deaths – is much higher .
While the number of cases has slowed in many countries that were hit hard early on by coronavirus , the number of new cases continues to increase .
Since early July , new daily cases averaged over 200,000 worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January .
At over 9 million cases , the United States leads the world 's COVID-19 crisis .
In late spring and early summer , new COVID-19 cases were largely driven by cases in the Americas .
While the U.S. has consistently had the most new daily cases of coronavirus in the region , Brazil 's new daily cases increased rapidly between May and August .
However , in September , several countries that had previously flattened their curve saw a resurgence in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , daily case counts have risen swiftly since June , without signs of slowing down .
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time .
The first chart compares each continent to each other , while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region .
To compare country outbreaks , the chart below graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each country 's totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In countries like Israel , which is seeing a second wave of case growth after an initial wave in April , the line forms a V-shape , as the initially bent curve spikes upwards again .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-11-14--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Is Surging : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 10 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 240,000 have died of COVID-19 .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita .
The consortium of researchers and public health experts who developed these risk levels advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
They advise orange states to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and all states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's totals to date .
This type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
New cases fell from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 900 a day most of the summer , before starting to rise in the fall .
Explore the map above to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-11-15--Elation, Frustration: For Women, Kamala Harris' Win Is A Big Step, But Long Overdue

Elation , Frustration : For Women , Kamala Harris ' Win Is A Big Step , But Long Overdue To many people it 's a giant leap forward for womankind .
But to others , the historic election of the nation 's first female and woman of color to be vice president is a long-overdue step , and a reminder of how much more of the road still lies ahead .
New York marketing executive Wendy Salz is one of several women who spoke with NPR four years ago , after Hillary Clinton lost her bid to become the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 's race was called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , she was so overjoyed , she screamed , sobbed and cheered .
`` My God .
How fabulous is that , '' she exclaimed , a little calmer , but still thrilled , days later .
Harris 's election , she said `` is reinforcing the ability to dream and to achieve in the next coming generations . ''
Her 25-year-old daughter , Moira Johnston , was also thrilled to hear the news .
She was jumping up and down at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champagne with friends .
`` We 're kind of pushing open a door that was slammed in our faces , '' she said .
Their tears of joy were a far cry from their sobs of despondency on election night in 2016 .
They had gathered for what was supposed to be a celebration at Wellesley College , Salz 's and Johnston 's alma mater as well as Clinton 's .
Cupcakes were topped with shards of sugar glass , and toy hammers were set out for what they thought was the imminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But by the end of the night , the only thing shattered was their hopes .
`` It was just complete and utter despair , '' recalls Johnston .
`` That night is still so vivid .
It was heartbreaking , '' said 27-year-old Kathleen Zhu , another Wellesley alum who was wailing that night .
`` It was like the county validated a divider and turned its back on an intelligent woman .
And I feel like so much of that was so sexist and so misogynist . ''
'Deep sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this year , when the nation elected its first female vice president who 's also Black and South Asian , Zhu felt a deep sense of relief , but not exactly exuberance .
But Zhu , an Asian woman herself , said she still did not see it as a moment to rejoice in how far women have come .
`` Oh my god , no !
Not at all .
I do n't think this is a sweet victory , '' she said .
`` Look at how close the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory . ''
To Zhu , it was also a disappointment to see Harris in the No .
2 slot .
`` I guess people are [ saying they can ] accept a woman as vice-president but not as president , '' she said .
The past four years have left her much more jaded than she was in 2016 .
Back then , even in the depth of her despair on election night , she insisted women had to only `` wake up the next morning , put on our pantsuits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she thought back then , was beyond reach .
`` I was definitely was naïve , '' she sighed , recalling it this week .
Today , she says , she tends to be less focused on how far women have come , and more tuned in to how much of the glass is left to be filled .
Since she left the `` bubble '' of her super-supportive `` women-can-do-anything '' all-women 's college , she said , reality has hit hard .
She has encountered everything from little indignities , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training to be a doctor , to much bigger challenges , like when she came forward with a complaint of sexual assault , and , as she put it , `` No one believed me . ''
`` It was very eye-opening , '' she said .
`` I got the message loud and clear .
Now I recognize how difficult it is .
It 's made me grow up a lot . ''
' A country that does n't see a place for me' Another Wellesley graduate , 24-year-old investment analyst Sydney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebratory about Harris becoming vice president-elect .
In retrospect , she said , she too , was living under a `` delusion '' in 2016 , that the nation had made much more progress toward race and gender equity than it actually had .
As a Black woman , she said , it was devastating to see how many Americans were voting for a man known for his racist , and sexist comments .
`` I look at a country that does n't see a place for me , '' she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite honestly , my ancestors built it . ''
The four years since then , she said , have only catalyzed the hate and division in the country , leaving her feeling even less welcome and more fearful .
Now , she said , she knows better , and does not expect the election of a woman vice president to make sexism or misogyny disappear , any more than eight years of a Black president eradicated racism .
`` I think that this past four years just put a flash light on something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just a reflection of the country , — and not the opposite , '' she said .
`` It 's clear that we 're not as far away from that ugly truth of America as a lot of people thought we were . ''
But as disheartening as it is , Robertson said , it has also left her feeling emboldened to press on .
`` Four years ago , I felt like I was being pushed out of the way , and there was no place for me , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now is that it 's my job to take up space in the country that I think I deserve .
And I will just force it to be done . ''
Wendy Salz feels the same resolve .
`` We are reenergized , '' she said .
`` Our sleeves are rolled up . ''
But at 59 , she bristles at suggestions that Harris 's election is anything less than epochal , and cause for jubilation .
It may be a generational thing , she said , but she ca n't help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glass that is full .
`` It 's much more ingrained in who we are that this is a major , major , major accomplishment , '' she said .
`` Every step forward '' must be celebrated , she said .
No one should be saying , `` It 's only vice president , '' she said , but rather , `` Thank God , we made it this far . ''

Elation, Frustration: For Women, Kamala Harris' Win Is A Big Step, But Long Overdue
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
To many people it's a giant leap forward for womankind. But to others, the historic election of the nation's first female and woman of color to be vice president is a long-overdue step, and a reminder of how much more of the road still lies ahead.
New York marketing executive Wendy Salz is one of several women who spoke with NPR four years ago, after Hillary Clinton lost her bid to become the nation's first female president. When this year's race was called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, she was so overjoyed, she screamed, sobbed and cheered.
"My God. How fabulous is that," she exclaimed, a little calmer, but still thrilled, days later. Harris' election, she said, "is reinforcing the ability to dream and to achieve in the next coming generations."
Her 25-year-old daughter, Moira Johnston, was also thrilled to hear the news. She was jumping up and down at work, high-fiving, crying and sharing champagne with friends. "We're kind of pushing open a door that was slammed in our faces," she said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tovia Smith/NPR Tovia Smith/NPR
Their tears of joy were a far cry from their sobs of despondency on election night in 2016. They had gathered for what was supposed to be a celebration at Wellesley College, Salz's and Johnston's alma mater as well as Clinton's. Cupcakes were topped with shards of sugar glass, and toy hammers were set out for what they thought was the imminent shattering of the ultimate glass ceiling. But by the end of the night, the only thing shattered was their hopes.
"It was just complete and utter despair," recalls Johnston.
"That night is still so vivid. It was heartbreaking," said 27-year-old Kathleen Zhu, another Wellesley alum who was wailing that night. "It was like the county validated a divider and turned its back on an intelligent woman. And I feel like so much of that was so sexist and so misogynist."
"Deep sense of relief, but not exactly exuberance"
So, this year, when the nation elected its first female vice president who's also Black and South Asian, Zhu felt a deep sense of relief, but not exactly exuberance. But Zhu, an Asian woman herself, said she still did not see it as a moment to rejoice in how far women have come.
"Oh my God, no! Not at all. I don't think this is a sweet victory," she said. "Look at how close the vote was. This was not a sweeping victory." To Zhu, it was also a disappointment to see Harris in the No. 2 slot. "I guess people are [saying they can] accept a woman as vice president but not as president," she said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tovia Smith/NPR Tovia Smith/NPR
The past four years have left her much more jaded than she was in 2016. Back then, even in the depth of her despair on election night, she insisted women had to only "wake up the next morning, put on our pantsuits, and fight on."
Nothing, she thought back then, was beyond reach.
"I was definitely was naïve," she sighed, recalling it this week.
Today, she says, she tends to be less focused on how far women have come, and more tuned in to how much of the glass is left to be filled. Since she left the "bubble" of her super-supportive "women-can-do-anything" all-women's college, she said, reality has hit hard. She has encountered everything from little indignities, like being presumed to be a nurse while training to be a doctor, to much bigger challenges, like when she came forward with a complaint of sexual assault, and, as she put it, "No one believed me."
"It was very eye-opening," she said. "I got the message loud and clear. Now I recognize how difficult it is. It's made me grow up a lot."
"A country that doesn't see a place for me"
Another Wellesley graduate, 24-year-old investment analyst Sydney Robertson, also felt more somber than celebratory about Harris becoming vice president-elect.
In retrospect, she said, she too, was living under a "delusion" in 2016, that the nation had made much more progress toward race and gender equity than it actually had. As a Black woman, she said, it was devastating to see how many Americans were voting for a man known for his racist, and sexist comments.
"I look at a country that doesn't see a place for me," she said, weeping that night in 2016, "when quite honestly, my ancestors built it."
The four years since then, she said, have only catalyzed the hate and division in the country, leaving her feeling even less welcome and more fearful. Now, she said, she knows better, and does not expect the election of a woman vice president to make sexism or misogyny disappear, any more than eight years of a Black president eradicated racism.
"I think that this past four years just put a flashlight on something that was always there, and Trump is just a reflection of the country — and not the opposite," she said. "It's clear that we're not as far away from that ugly truth of America as a lot of people thought we were."
"We are reenergized"
But as disheartening as it is, Robertson said, it has also left her feeling emboldened to press on.
"Four years ago, I felt like I was being pushed out of the way, and there was no place for me," she said. "The way I feel now is that it's my job to take up space in the country that I think I deserve. And I will just force it to be done."
Wendy Salz feels the same resolve. "We are reenergized," she said. "Our sleeves are rolled up."
But at 59, she bristles at suggestions that Harris' election is anything less than epochal, and cause for jubilation. It may be a generational thing, she said, but she can't help but rejoice in the part of the glass that is full.
"It's much more ingrained in who we are that this is a major, major, major accomplishment," she said. "Every step forward" must be celebrated, she said.
No one should be saying, "It's only vice president," she said, but rather, "Thank God, we made it this far."


npr--2020-11-15--House Democrats Dissect What Went Wrong And How To Rebound From Losses

House Democrats Dissect What Went Wrong And How To Rebound From Losses House Democrats started this month hoping , and preparing , to gain seats in the election .
Instead , their once robust majority in the House has dwindled and Democrats are on track to begin next year with the slimmest majority in decades .
Now members on the progressive left and party moderates are again at odds over whose policies won in 2020 and how they should govern as a party .
Some Democrats are frustrated that the debate is happening at all .
Joe Biden won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority in the House .
While the control of the Senate is still to be decided , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , returned to Washington after the election to celebrate the wins that have already materialized .
`` We 'll be able to do great things for the American people , '' Pelosi told reporters at a press conference .
`` We 've lost some battles but we won the war .
We have the gavel . ''
But Democrats lost a lot of battles .
House Republicans have gained six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have yet to be called , despite going into the election with the expectation that Democrats could win as many at 15 seats .
Polling on both sides of the aisle showed Democrats with advantages in key districts in states like Texas and Indiana where they hoped to gain new seats .
Tight races in places like Iowa and New York broke in favor of Republicans when the votes were tallied .
Democrats ' losses have been heavily concentrated in the so-called majority maker districts , areas where Democrats defeated Republicans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash. , say that is n't a surprise .
`` I think people are mourning the loss of some colleagues that was n't as expected as it should have been , '' Jayapal said in an interview with NPR .
`` I think we just have to be real about what happened here .
And we should focus on our long-term organizing strategy , because I think that is what is ultimately going to help us . ''
For progressives like Jayapal , that long-term organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , new voters who are energized by progressive policies like Medicare for All , a $ 15 minimum wage and an aggressive approach to curbing climate change .
Jayapal points to enormous turnout in cities like Atlanta as an example of what an energized coalition can do .
Those voters have boosted Biden 's numbers in Georgia , putting him ahead and on the verge of winning that state for Democrats after decades of Republican wins .
She and other progressives say they helped drive the party 's national platform to the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turn , motivated voters to the polls .
She says progressives also worked as emissaries for the party in communities that voted in huge numbers this year .
`` [ Progressives ] helped Joe Biden deliver a very progressive agenda , '' Jayapal said .
`` That led to this huge turnout of young people , black and brown and immigrant voters that delivered US victories in these key states . ''
Moderates say big progressive turnout in cities and suburbs may drive up Democrats ' numbers in state wide and presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts , they argue some progressive messages can turn toxic .
Rep. Abigail Spanberger was narrowly reelected in a Virginia district that went for Republicans from 1971 until she won in 2018 .
She says Democrats need to focus more on proactive messages and passing bills that speak to people , like funding for education and expanded rural broadband .
She told NPR the party needs to be communicating to all voters , not just a progressive base , about how those policies impact them .
`` I think it 's important that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while importantly and wonderfully , Joe Biden is our president elect , the man he ran against , our current president got 70 million Americans to vote for him , '' Spanberger said in an interview .
`` We are asking for people to give us the responsibility of legislating .
And we have to be clear on what we intend to do with that responsibility . ''
`` Defunding the police '' cited as main impediment with swing voters Moderates say they 've been hamstrung by political slogans that do n't actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like `` defund the police . ''
Democrats passed a sweeping police reform package this year called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act .
That bill outlawed chokeholds , gave the Department of Justice greater power to intervene in use of force cases , created a national registry for police conduct complaints and restructured the pipeline of military equipment to local police departments .
It did not defund the police .
`` People know what the term defund means , '' Spanberger said .
`` I have had people just across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see police departments defunded . ''
But `` defund the police '' was an effective attack line for Republicans in tight races were Democrats lost .
One example is Rep. Max Rose , D-NY.
, who lost in a district that was blanketed with an ad of New York City police officers talking about how Rose betrayed them .
`` He promised us he was going to support the police and then he marches with people wanting to defund the police , '' recounts an officer in the ad .
This division is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the diversity of her caucus extends to some parts of their ideology .
That is something Democrats often publicly celebrate , but the divisions become more critical as they look ahead to legislate with President-elect Biden .
Both sides of the party are looking for someone to blame as the losses sink in .
Some blame the polls .
Some blame internal calculations at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .
The finger pointing boiled over in a party conference call recently and DCCC chairwoman Cheri Bustos , D-Ill. , announced a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election to that leadership job .
Pelosi and her top leadership team are expected to be easily re-elected to their posts , but the race for who will succeed Bustos has intensified .
California Congressman Tony Cardenas , who is running to lead the DCCC , says it 's wrong to argue that the party must choose between either retaining disaffected Republicans and moderates or winning over progressives .
`` I think the emphasis of trying to hold on to a certain type of voter is the wrong place to start , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cardenas said Democrats can win by connecting with diverse voters and winning their trust .
But , he said , the party also must do the basic job of passing bills and getting legislation done .
`` Unfortunately , we have a lot of good candidates who their message gets overshadowed by millions of dollars of the Republican message that just literally does n't even use their own words , '' Cardenas said .
`` And those are the kinds of tactics that we 're having to combat . ''
That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They say the next election wo n't be centered on Democrats running against President Trump .
They 'll be running on a record they plan to build with Biden .
New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney , who is competing against Cardenas to run the campaign committee , agreed .
Maloney said Democrats in the House will be working on a Biden agenda and will have all of the power and support that being the party with a president in the White House affords .
`` Joe Biden is the perfect president for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He will help us turn the corner on the pandemic , get our businesses going again , open the economy responsibly and heal the wounds and repair some of the damage from the Trump years . ''
But Maloney added that Democrats will also benefit from time .
`` I also believe we 'll be entering the cycle next time with the pandemic , god willing , in the rear view mirror and an economy that 's in full rebound , '' he said .
Deciding how what elements of the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the challenge .
Progressives want to see elements of the Green New Deal and health care reforms on the top of the list .
Biden himself has signaled plans to focus heavily on making the fight against COVID-19 his number one priority .
Many Democrats say a tightly tailored focus on the virus , the economy and kitchen table issues could unite them .
Rep. Debbie Dingell , D-Mich. , said Democrats need to keep that in mind as they define their agenda .
`` We 're going to have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level the playing field — broadband , so that as we 're dealing with a pandemic , that urban schools and rural schools have the same access and equal opportunity so that people everybody 's got an education , '' Dingell said .
`` The most important , valuable thing to have , we need to make sure that every young person can afford a college education and not graduate with staggering student debt , talking about just these issues that matter every day . ''
Dingell says the political environment strayed far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump years and Democrats have a chance to win over a wider range voters by renewing that focus .
`` There 's more agreement on that , '' she said .
`` There 's more agreement than disagreement . ''

House Democrats Dissect What Went Wrong And How To Rebound From Losses
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Updated at 10 a.m. ET
House Democrats started this month hoping, and preparing, to gain seats in the election. Instead, their once-robust majority in the House has dwindled, and Democrats are on track to begin next year with the slimmest majority in decades.
Now members on the progressive left and Democratic Party moderates are again at odds over whose policies won in 2020 and how they should govern as a party.
Some Democrats are frustrated that the debate is happening at all. Joe Biden won the presidential election, and Democrats will hold their majority in the House. While control of the Senate is still to be decided, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., returned to Washington, D.C., after the election to celebrate the wins that have already materialized.
"We'll be able to do great things for the American people," Pelosi told reporters at a news conference. "We've lost some battles, but we won the war. We have the gavel."
But Democrats lost a lot of battles. House Republicans have gained a net seven seats and have advantages in several races that have yet to be called, despite going into the election with the expectation that Democrats could win as many at 15 seats.
Polling on both sides of the aisle showed Democrats with advantages in key districts in states like Texas and Indiana, where they hoped to gain new seats. Tight races in places like Iowa and New York broke in favor of Republicans when the votes were tallied.
Debate about messaging
Democrats' losses have been heavily concentrated in the "majority-maker" districts — areas where Democrats defeated Republicans in 2018. Some progressive members, such as Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., say that isn't a surprise.
"I think people are mourning the loss of some colleagues that wasn't as expected as it should have been," Jayapal said in an interview with NPR. "I think we just have to be real about what happened here. And we should focus on our long-term organizing strategy, because I think that is what is ultimately going to help us."
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For progressives such as Jayapal, that long-term organizing strategy involves bringing out young, diverse new voters who are energized by progressive policies like "Medicare for All," a $15 minimum wage and an aggressive approach to curbing climate change.
Jayapal points to enormous turnout in cities such as Atlanta as an example of what an energized coalition can do. Those voters have boosted Biden's numbers in Georgia, putting him ahead and on the verge of winning that state for Democrats after decades of Republican wins.
She and other progressives say that they helped drive the party's national platform to the left on major social issues and that this, in turn, motivated voters to the polls. She says progressives also worked as emissaries for the party in communities that voted in huge numbers this year.
"[Progressives] helped Joe Biden deliver a very progressive agenda," Jayapal said. "That led to this huge turnout of young people, Black and brown and immigrant voters that delivered us victories in these key states."
Moderates say big progressive turnout in cities and suburbs may drive up Democrats' numbers in statewide and presidential races, but in their closely divided districts, they argue, some progressive messages can turn toxic.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger was narrowly reelected in a Virginia district that went for Republicans from 1971 until she won in 2018. She says Democrats need to focus more on proactive messages and passing bills that speak to people, like funding for education and expanded rural broadband. She told NPR the party needs to be communicating to all voters, not just a progressive base, about how those policies impact them.
"I think it's important that we recognize that, you know, while importantly and wonderfully Joe Biden is our president-elect, the man he ran against, our current president, got 70 million Americans to vote for him," Spanberger said in an interview. "We are asking for people to give us the responsibility of legislating. And we have to be clear on what we intend to do with that responsibility."
"Defund the police" cited as main impediment with swing voters
Moderates say they've been hamstrung by political slogans that don't actually reflect the policies Democrats have passed — like "defund the police."
House Democrats passed a sweeping police reform package this year called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. That bill outlaws chokeholds, gives the Justice Department greater power to intervene in use-of-force cases, creates a national registry for police conduct complaints and restructures the pipeline of military equipment to local police departments. It does not defund the police.
"People know what the term 'defund' means," Spanberger said. "I have had people just across the spectrum say they don't want to see police departments defunded."
But "defund the police" was an effective attack line for Republicans in tight races where Democrats lost. One example is Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y., who lost in a district that was blanketed with an ad of retired New York City police officers talking about how Rose betrayed them.
"He promised us that he was going to support the police, and then he marches with people looking to defund the police," recounts an officer in the ad.
YouTube
This division isn't new for Democrats. Pelosi often says the diversity of her caucus extends to some parts of their ideology. That is something Democrats often publicly celebrate, but the divisions become more critical as they look ahead to legislate with President-elect Biden.
Both sides of the party are looking for someone to blame as the losses sink in. Some blame the polls. Some blame internal calculations at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The finger-pointing boiled over in a party conference call recently, and DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., announced a few days later that she would not seek reelection to that leadership job.
Pelosi and her top leadership team are expected to be easily reelected to their posts, but the race for who will succeed Bustos has intensified.
Rep. Tony Cardenas of California, who is running to lead the DCCC, says it's wrong to argue that the party must choose between either retaining disaffected Republicans and moderates or winning over progressives.
"I think the emphasis of trying to hold on to a certain type of voter is the wrong place to start," Cardenas said in an interview with NPR.
Cardenas said Democrats can win by connecting with diverse voters and winning their trust. But, he said, the party also must do the basic job of passing bills and getting legislation done.
"Unfortunately, we have a lot of good candidates who their message gets overshadowed by millions of dollars of the Republican message that just literally doesn't even use their own words," Cardenas said. "And those are the kinds of tactics that we're having to combat."
That's something most Democrats agree on. They say the next election won't be centered on Democrats running against President Trump. They'll be running on a record they plan to build with Biden.
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, who is competing against Cardenas to run the campaign committee, agreed. Maloney said Democrats in the House will be working on a Biden agenda and will have all of the power and support that being of the party with a president in the White House affords.
"Joe Biden is the perfect president for the moment," Maloney said. "He will help us turn the corner on the pandemic, get our businesses going again, open the economy responsibly and heal the wounds and repair some of the damage from the Trump years."
But Maloney added that Democrats will also benefit from time.
"I also believe we'll be entering the cycle next time with the pandemic, God willing, in the rearview mirror and an economy that's in full rebound," he said.
Deciding which elements of the Biden agenda to enact first will be part of the challenge. Progressives want to see health care reforms and elements of the Green New Deal at the top of the list.
Biden himself has signaled plans to focus heavily on making the fight against COVID-19 his No. 1 priority.
Many Democrats say a tightly tailored focus on the virus, the economy and kitchen-table issues could unite them. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said Democrats need to keep that in mind as they define their agenda.
"We're going to have to do core agenda items like trade deals that level the playing field — broadband, so that as we're dealing with a pandemic, that urban schools and rural schools have the same access and equal opportunity so that everybody's got an education," Dingell said. "The most important, valuable thing to have, we need to make sure that every young person can afford a college education and not graduate with staggering student debt — talking about just these issues that matter every day."
Dingell says that the political environment has strayed far from that basic political work in the Trump years and that Democrats have a chance to win over a wider range of voters by renewing that focus.
"There's more agreement on that," she said. "There's more agreement than disagreement."