npr--2020-01-21--Trump Impeachment Trial Recap: Republicans Balk At McConnell Over Session Rules

After more than 12 hours of action Tuesday , the Senate adopted the ground rules for the coming weeks in President Trump 's impeachment trial .
It brought a reminder that even this highly scripted ordeal may include a few surprises after all .
Senators did not agree to the first draft of rules proposed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , notwithstanding his party 's control of the chamber and his reputation as a savvy counter of votes .
He had repeatedly insisted that the rules for the trial would be modeled on those for the 1999 impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said confidently last week that all the members of the GOP conference backed his approach to have the prosecution and defense lay out their arguments and address written questions before turning to the issue of whether to subpoena witnesses or documents .
When members of his own conference reviewed the details of his resolution , McConnell was forced to do something he does n't have to do often — change his plan under pressure from fellow Republicans .
His draft resolution stated that each side would present its case in up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last-minute revision expanded that timing to three days .
He also allowed evidence from the House to be automatically entered into the record unless there were an objection .
But while McConnell may have been forced to revise his plans for the overall structure for the trial rules , he was able to stave off several attempts by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , later in the day and late into the night on Tuesday .
Republicans voted down 11 amendments , mostly to subpoena documents from the White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They stuck with McConnell 's argument that the issue about witnesses and documents would be addressed after both sides made their case for and against impeachment .
McConnell is frequently lauded for his political acumen and ability to see around legislative corners .
He held firm as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , demanded he set up a `` fair trial '' before she sent over the articles of impeachment .
He prevailed — she was unable to extract any commitments .
The majority leader also ignored predictable calls from Democrats such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days for the impeachment managers to make their case .
But he could n't ignore Maine Sen. Susan Collins , who was among a group of Senate Republicans who insisted that the time be extended .
`` Senator Collins and others raised concerns about the 24 hours of opening statements in 2 days and the admission of the House transcript in the record , '' her office said in a statement .
`` Her position has been that the trial should follow the [ Bill ] Clinton model as much as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement . ''
The fate of McConnell 's initial proposed rules represented a very rare defeat at the hands of his own allies and underscored the desire , at least by Collins and a few others , for the Senate not to appear as a partisan rubber stamp .
On that point , at least , Collins and the other rebels broadly agreed with the case made by House impeachment managers about a number of amendments to McConnell 's rules .
Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , the lead manager , urged senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Schumer that would have admitted witnesses and documents into the proceedings .
Trump 's fate in this phase of impeachment — whether he 's convicted or acquitted — will have greater value if Americans believe that the president truly underwent a full and fair trial , Schiff said .
And that means , he argued , that the Senate must bring in former national security adviser John Bolton , acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and others who Schiff said would shed more light on the underlying events of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cipollone urged senators to reject Schumer 's amendments , and he repeated Republicans ' long-standing criticisms of the impeachment case generally and Schiff in particular .
Schiff and his compatriots , including Democrats Zoe Lofgren of California and Val Demings of Florida , made what were effectively opening arguments against Trump , structured around the evidence they said should be brought into the matter .
Demings , for example , detailed the material in the possession of the State Department that she said would strengthen Democrats ' case that Trump had abused his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year on the expectation that its leaders would launch investigations that Trump thought would help him politically .
Debate continued until nearly 2 a.m .
ET Wednesday as Schumer continually offered amendments seeking testimony or material for the trial — and McConnell and Republicans continued to bat them down .
The proceedings resume at 1 p.m .
ET Wednesday .

Trump Impeachment Trial Recap: Republicans Balk At McConnell Over Session Rules
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 1:57 a.m. ET on Wednesday
After more than 12 hours of action Tuesday, the Senate adopted the ground rules for the coming weeks in President Trump's impeachment trial. It brought a reminder that even this highly scripted ordeal may include a few surprises after all.
Senators did not agree to the first draft of rules proposed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., notwithstanding his party's control of the chamber and his reputation as a savvy counter of votes.
He had repeatedly insisted that the rules for the trial would be modeled on those for the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.
McConnell also said confidently last week that all the members of the GOP conference backed his approach to have the prosecution and defense lay out their arguments and address written questions before turning to the issue of whether to subpoena witnesses or documents.
When members of his own conference reviewed the details of his resolution, McConnell was forced to do something he doesn't have to do often — change his plan under pressure from fellow Republicans.
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His draft resolution stated that each side would present its case in up to 24 hours over two days. His last-minute revision expanded that timing to three days. He also allowed evidence from the House to be automatically entered into the record unless there were an objection.
But while McConnell may have been forced to revise his plans for the overall structure for the trial rules, he was able to stave off several attempts by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., later in the day and late into the night on Tuesday. Republicans voted down 11 amendments, mostly to subpoena documents from the White House, State Department and other administration officials. They stuck with McConnell's argument that the issue about witnesses and documents would be addressed after both sides made their case for and against impeachment.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Collins leads rebels in balking at rules
McConnell is frequently lauded for his political acumen and ability to see around legislative corners. He held firm as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., demanded he set up a "fair trial" before she sent over the articles of impeachment. He prevailed — she was unable to extract any commitments.
The majority leader also ignored predictable calls from Democrats such as Schumer to allow more than two days for the impeachment managers to make their case.
But he couldn't ignore Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who was among a group of Senate Republicans who insisted that the time be extended.
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
"Senator Collins and others raised concerns about the 24 hours of opening statements in 2 days and the admission of the House transcript in the record," her office said in a statement. "Her position has been that the trial should follow the [Bill] Clinton model as much as possible. She thinks these changes are a significant improvement."
The fate of McConnell's initial proposed rules represented a very rare defeat at the hands of his own allies and underscored the desire, at least by Collins and a few others, for the Senate not to appear as a partisan rubber stamp.
Dems, White House spar over witnesses
On that point, at least, Collins and the other rebels broadly agreed with the case made by House impeachment managers about a number of amendments to McConnell's rules.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead manager, urged senators to adopt a number of amendments offered by Schumer that would have admitted witnesses and documents into the proceedings.
Trump's fate in this phase of impeachment — whether he's convicted or acquitted — will have greater value if Americans believe that the president truly underwent a full and fair trial, Schiff said.
And that means, he argued, that the Senate must bring in former national security adviser John Bolton, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and others who Schiff said would shed more light on the underlying events of the Ukraine affair.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone urged senators to reject Schumer's amendments, and he repeated Republicans' long-standing criticisms of the impeachment case generally and Schiff in particular.
"It's outrageous!" Cipollone said.
Schiff and his compatriots, including Democrats Zoe Lofgren of California and Val Demings of Florida, made what were effectively opening arguments against Trump, structured around the evidence they said should be brought into the matter.
Demings, for example, detailed the material in the possession of the State Department that she said would strengthen Democrats' case that Trump had abused his power or conditioned his policy toward Ukraine last year on the expectation that its leaders would launch investigations that Trump thought would help him politically.
Debate continued until nearly 2 a.m. ET Wednesday as Schumer continually offered amendments seeking testimony or material for the trial — and McConnell and Republicans continued to bat them down. The proceedings resume at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday.


npr--2020-01-21--Boeing 737 Max May Stay Grounded Into Summer

Boeing 's troubled 737 Max airplane will now remain grounded from passenger service until at least June or July , which is months later than the company had previously suggested .
And that means airlines will likely cancel Max flights through the busy summer travel season .
The three U.S. airlines that fly the 737 Max , American , Southwest , and United , had already removed the planes from their flight schedules into early June .
In a statement , Boeing confirms that it has told its customer airlines and its manufacturing suppliers that `` we are currently estimating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will begin during mid-2020 . ''
Industry sources tell NPR that means June or July at the earliest and ultimately , the FAA and other aviation regulators around the world will determine when the 737 Max is safe to fly passengers again , which could be months later .
The 737 Max has been grounded by regulators since last March , after the second of two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people .
Investigators primarily blame a faulty automated flight control system on the Max for the crashes .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that and other problems ever since .
Until recently , Boeing had often suggested the fixes were almost ready to be submitted to regulators and approval was imminent .
But in December , FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson pushed back against Boeing 's then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg for suggesting repeatedly that the Max would be recertified before the end of the year , saying the regulatory agency would not be pressured into granting quick approval .
Dickson summoned Muilenburg to Washington for a hastily called meeting , in which the FAA chief told the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pursue a return-to-service schedule that is not realistic . ''
In a statement , the FAA said Dickson was also concerned with `` the perception that some of Boeing 's public statements have been designed to force FAA into taking quicker action . ''
During the meeting , Dickson `` made clear that FAA 's certification requirements must be 100 % complete before return to service . ''
And `` he reminded Mr. Muilenburg that FAA controls the review process '' and will take all the time it needs to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FAA 's rebuke , Muilenburg was forced out and replaced by Boeing board member and former General Electric executive David Calhoun as CEO .
In a statement today , the FAA says `` the agency is following a thorough , deliberate process to verify that all proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX meet the highest certification standards .
We continue to work with other safety regulators to review Boeing 's work as the company conducts the required safety assessments and addresses all issues that arise during testing .
We have set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be completed . ''
Boeing 's efforts to fix the MCAS flight control system on the MAX have been plagued by setback after setback .
In pushing back the anticipated date of the plane 's return to service , new CEO Calhoun appears to be trying to set a new tone .
The new estimate `` is informed by our experience to date with the certification process , '' Boeing says in its statement .
The new estimate of when the plane may finally be approved to return to service `` is informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certification process , '' Boeing says in its statement .
`` It is subject to our ongoing attempts to address known schedule risks and further developments that may arise in connection with the certification process .
It also accounts for the rigorous scrutiny that regulatory authorities are rightly applying at every step of their review of the 737 MAX 's flight control system , '' including pilot training requirements .
`` Returning the MAX safely to service is our number one priority , and we are confident that will happen , '' Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and regret the continued difficulties that the grounding of the 737 MAX has presented to our customers , our regulators , our suppliers , and the flying public . ''
The 737 Max crashes and subsequent crisis at the airplane manufacturer has been taken a toll on morale among Boeing employees and retirees in the Seattle area , where most of the company 's planes are built .
CEO Calhoun is in Seattle this week , meeting with Boeing employees and for the first time , he plans to take questions from reporters @ @ @ @ @ @

Boeing 737 Max May Stay Grounded Into Summer
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Ryder/Getty Images David Ryder/Getty Images
Boeing's troubled 737 Max airplane will now remain grounded from passenger service until at least June or July, which is months later than the company had previously suggested.
And that means airlines will likely cancel Max flights through the busy summer travel season.
The three U.S. airlines that fly the 737 Max, American, Southwest, and United, had already removed the planes from their flight schedules into early June.
In a statement, Boeing confirms that it has told its customer airlines and its manufacturing suppliers that "we are currently estimating that the ungrounding of the 737 MAX will begin during mid-2020." Industry sources tell NPR that means June or July at the earliest and ultimately, the FAA and other aviation regulators around the world will determine when the 737 Max is safe to fly passengers again, which could be months later.
The 737 Max has been grounded by regulators since last March, after the second of two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. Investigators primarily blame a faulty automated flight control system on the Max for the crashes. The company has been working on software fixes for that and other problems ever since.
Until recently, Boeing had often suggested the fixes were almost ready to be submitted to regulators and approval was imminent. But in December, FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson pushed back against Boeing's then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg for suggesting repeatedly that the Max would be recertified before the end of the year, saying the regulatory agency would not be pressured into granting quick approval.
Dickson summoned Muilenburg to Washington for a hastily called meeting, in which the FAA chief told the company's chief executive that "Boeing continues to pursue a return-to-service schedule that is not realistic." In a statement, the FAA said Dickson was also concerned with "the perception that some of Boeing's public statements have been designed to force FAA into taking quicker action."
During the meeting, Dickson "made clear that FAA's certification requirements must be 100% complete before return to service." And "he reminded Mr. Muilenburg that FAA controls the review process" and will take all the time it needs to get the 737 Max review right.
Shortly after the FAA's rebuke, Muilenburg was forced out and replaced by Boeing board member and former General Electric executive David Calhoun as CEO.
In a statement today, the FAA says "the agency is following a thorough, deliberate process to verify that all proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX meet the highest certification standards. We continue to work with other safety regulators to review Boeing's work as the company conducts the required safety assessments and addresses all issues that arise during testing. We have set no timeframe for when the work will be completed."
Boeing's efforts to fix the MCAS flight control system on the MAX have been plagued by setback after setback.
In pushing back the anticipated date of the plane's return to service, new CEO Calhoun appears to be trying to set a new tone. The new estimate "is informed by our experience to date with the certification process," Boeing says in its statement.
The new estimate of when the plane may finally be approved to return to service "is informed by our experience to date with the certification process," Boeing says in its statement. "It is subject to our ongoing attempts to address known schedule risks and further developments that may arise in connection with the certification process. It also accounts for the rigorous scrutiny that regulatory authorities are rightly applying at every step of their review of the 737 MAX's flight control system," including pilot training requirements.
"Returning the MAX safely to service is our number one priority, and we are confident that will happen," Boeing's statement continues. "We acknowledge and regret the continued difficulties that the grounding of the 737 MAX has presented to our customers, our regulators, our suppliers, and the flying public."
The 737 Max crashes and subsequent crisis at the airplane manufacturer has been taken a toll on morale among Boeing employees and retirees in the Seattle area, where most of the company's planes are built.
CEO Calhoun is in Seattle this week, meeting with Boeing employees and for the first time, he plans to take questions from reporters in a conference call Wednesday.


npr--2020-01-23--Impeachment Trial Day 3: Democrats Continue Their Case For Removing Trump From Office

Impeachment Trial Day 3 : Democrats Continue Their Case For Removing Trump From Office House impeachment managers will resume their prosecution of President Trump in the Senate on Thursday and are expected to outline how the law applies to what they see as the president 's `` corrupt scheme '' with Ukraine to tilt the 2020 election in his favor .
It follows a day of presentations and argument in which Democratic impeachment managers implored skeptical Republicans to buck their party 's leadership and vote to remove the president for abusing the power of his office and obstructing Congress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be decided at the ballot box , for we can not be assured that the vote will be fairly won , '' said Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , who is leading the prosecution of the president .
`` In corruptly using his office to gain a political advantage and abusing the powers of that office in such a way to jeopardize our national security and the integrity of our elections , in obstructing the investigation into his own wrongdoing , the president has shown that he believes that he 's above the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schiff said .
Trump 's defense team will have its turn to counter Democratic arguments and make a case for the president 's acquittal when the prosecution is finished .
If Democrats take up all of their allotted time , that would mean House managers would wrap up Friday and the president 's defense lawyers would mount a defense this weekend .
Speaking Wednesday from Davos , Switzerland , Trump called the Democrats leading his prosecution `` sleazebags '' and `` very , very dishonest people , '' and he dismissed the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I think it 's so bad for the country , '' Trump said , adding : `` I 'd love to go to the trial , sit in the front row and stare at their corrupt faces . ''
Later , Jay Sekulow , Trump 's private attorney and part of the impeachment defense team , bristled at the idea of Trump pulling off such a stunt .
`` His counsel might recommend against that , '' he said with a laugh .
Watch the proceedings live when they begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial centers on Trump 's dealings with Ukraine .
In particular , House prosecutors say the president dangled $ 391 million in congressionally approved security assistance needed to counter Russian aggression as a way to get Kyiv to announce an investigation into the Bidens .
Such an announcement , House Democrats say , would politically benefit Trump 's reelection prospects .
Hints of the scheme , Schiff argues , were apparent in the now-familiar July 25 call between Trump and the Ukrainian president .
`` Witness testimony , text messages , emails , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt quid pro quo for the White House meeting , an official act , available only to the president of the United States , '' Schiff told senators on Wednesday .
`` President Trump corruptly used an official White House visit for a foreign leader to compel the Ukrainian president into helping him cheat in the next election . ''
The president 's acquittal is all but certain .
Democrats would need 20 GOP senators to defy their party 's leadership and vote to convict in order to remove Trump from office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle lines so deeply drawn , especially in the backdrop of how Americans are deeply divided over impeachment and with the nation watching as the political proceeding plays out ahead of a presidential election .
The White House has blocked key witnesses from participating in the trial and has not cooperated with subpoenas from House investigators .
Democrats need four Republicans to join them to win a procedural battle that will enable them to request documents or witness testimony .
There are no indications right now that any GOP senators will break with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stonewalling of the impeachment process a `` furious effort to conceal , suppress and cover up his own misconduct . ''
Added Schiff : `` His order was categorical .
It was indiscriminate and historically unprecedented .
No president before President Trump has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry or sought to obstruct and impede so comprehensively the ability of the House of Representatives to investigate high crimes and misdemeanors . ''

Democrats Finish 2nd Day Of Opening Arguments In Trump Impeachment Trial
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 10:40 p.m. ET
House Democrats finished their second day of oral arguments on Thursday, contending that that President Trump's attempt to pressure Ukraine into investigations was not only an attempt to cheat in the 2020 election, but Democrats said it was also the kind of behavior the nation's founding fathers hoped to guard against.
"That is why this president must be removed from office, especially before he continues his effort to corrupt our next election," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., one of the Democrats prosecuting Trump. "Simply stated, impeachment is the constitution's final answer to a president who mistakes himself for a king."
In the night's final remarks, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said there is overwhelming evidence that the president has done what he is charged with: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
"You can't trust this president to do what's right for this country. He will do what's right for Donald Trump," Schiff said. "If you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed."
Democrats resume the trial of the president at 1 p.m. Friday, when House managers are expected to conclude their opening arguments.
On Thursday, the Democrats focused on Article 1 of impeachment, abuse of power, for their second day of arguments. They will take up Article 2, obstruction of Congress, on Friday. Read the text of the two articles here.
Nadler, an impeachment manager and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, gave extended remarks on Thursday afternoon.
He said Trump abused his power by withholding military aid and by putting off meeting with the president of Ukraine, unless the Ukrainian government investigated the activities of former Vice President Joe Biden, a possible political opponent, and his son.
Nadler told senators that conduct was wrong and dangerous.
"No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections," Nadler said. "Prior presidents would be shocked to the core by such conduct."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Reports that Democrats were willing to allow one of the Bidens to testify in the trial in exchange for a senior administration official's testimony were shot down by lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Wednesday.
As Nadler began making his case, Trump tweeted that Democrats "don't want a Witness Trade" because it "would be a BIG problem for them."
Nadler also did a bit of trolling in his presentation, playing a 1999 video clip of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., arguing for the conviction of President Bill Clinton. Graham was a House impeachment manager at the time.
Graham argued that a "high crime" — a constitutional requirement for removing a president — "doesn't even have to be a crime. It's just when you start using your office and you're acting in a way that hurts people, you've committed a high crime."
McClatchy Washington Bureau via YouTube
Nadler also showed a clip of Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, now one of Trump's defenders, who argued in 1998 that a high crime doesn't have to be "a technical crime." (Dershowitz has more recently argued that evidence of a crime is in fact necessary for impeachment, falling in line with the Trump White House's argument on the matter.)
Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, followed Nadler to the well of the Senate, addressing the issue of Trump's allegations that Biden and his son Hunter had nefarious doings in Ukraine.
"The allegations against Biden are completely groundless," she said. Read a fact check about their actions in Ukraine here.
Garcia presented a slide that indicated Trump's charges against Biden coincided with polls, including one by Fox News, which showed the former vice president ahead of Trump in a possible 2020 matchup.
She also played video clips of FBI Director Christopher Wray and Trump's former national security adviser Tom Bossert throwing cold water on Trump's claims that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind the hacking of the Democrats computer server in 2016.
During a break, Trump attorney Jay Sekulow dismissed the Democrats' arguments for convicting Trump.
"We're hearing the same things over and over," he said. Sekulow added that Trump's legal team "will be putting on a vigorous defense ... and rebutting what they've said."
In a rare moment of levity, House manager Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., referred to the almost-unanimous election of New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter to baseball's Hall of Fame.
"We hope we can subpoena John Bolton, subpoena Mick Mulvaney," Jeffries said. "But perhaps we can all agree to subpoena the Baseball Hall of Fame, to try to figure out who, out of 397 individuals, one person voted against Derek Jeter."
Thursday's remarks on the Senate floor follow a day of presentations and arguments in which Democratic impeachment managers implored skeptical Republicans to buck their party's leadership and vote to remove the president for abusing the power of his office and obstructing Congress.
"The president's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box, for we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won," Schiff, who also chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said on Wednesday.
"In corruptly using his office to gain a political advantage and abusing the powers of that office in such a way to jeopardize our national security and the integrity of our elections, in obstructing the investigation into his own wrongdoing, the president has shown that he believes that he's above the law and scornful of constraint," Schiff said.
Trump's defense team will have its turn to counter Democratic arguments and make a case for the president's acquittal when the prosecution is finished. If Democrats take up all of their allotted time, that would mean House managers would wrap up Friday and the president's defense lawyers would mount a defense starting this weekend.
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Speaking Wednesday from Davos, Switzerland, Trump called the Democrats leading his prosecution "sleazebags" and "very, very dishonest people," and he dismissed the case built against him as "a hoax."
"I think it's so bad for the country," Trump said, adding: "I'd love to go to the trial, sit in the front row and stare at their corrupt faces."
Later, Trump lawyer Sekulow bristled at the idea of the president pulling off such a stunt.
"His counsel might recommend against that," he said with a laugh.
The trial centers on Trump's dealings with Ukraine. In particular, House prosecutors say the president dangled $391 million in congressionally approved security assistance needed to counter Russian aggression as a way to get Kyiv to announce an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter. Such an announcement, House Democrats say, would benefit Trump's reelection prospects.
The president's acquittal is all but certain. Democrats would need 20 GOP senators to defy their party's leadership and vote to convict in order to remove Trump from office.
That outcome is not likely with partisan battle lines so deeply drawn, especially in the backdrop of how Americans are deeply divided over impeachment and with the nation watching as the political proceeding plays out ahead of a presidential election.
The White House has blocked key witnesses from participating in the trial and has not cooperated with subpoenas from House investigators. Democrats need four Republicans to join them to win a procedural battle that will enable them to request documents or witness testimony. There are no indications right now that any GOP senators will break with their leadership.
NPR's Brakkton Booker contributed to this report.


npr--2020-01-23--Myanmar Must Prevent Genocide Of Rohingya, U.N. Court Rules

The International Court of Justice in The Hague has ordered Myanmar to prevent a genocide of the country 's remaining Rohingya Muslims — the target of a brutal army crackdown that led to the deaths of tens of thousands .
Presiding Judge Abdulgawi Ahmed Yusuf , reading the unanimous opinion of the 17-judge panel , said the United Nations court `` is of the opinion that the Rohingya in Myanmar remain extremely vulnerable '' after the 2017 crackdown in the country 's western Rakhine state .
The ICJ said Myanmar must `` take all measures within its power to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing serious bodily or mental harm to the members of the group ; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part ; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group . ''
The court in the Netherlands was acting on a request from the tiny Muslim-majority country of The Gambia for measures to protect the Rohingya .
The Gambia brought the complaint on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation , which alleges Myanmar is guilty of genocide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a signatory of the 1948 Convention for the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide .
Thursday 's ruling is meant to forestall further harm to Rohingya while the court works toward a final ruling on the question of genocide , which could take years .
The ICJ also ordered Myanmar to preserve evidence of the Rohingya 's persecution and to report in four months on the protective measures it has taken .
The country 's de facto leader , Aung San Suu Kyi , wrote in an opinion piece Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Bangladesh may have exaggerated claims of violence .
The allegations against her country `` all rely extensively on a fact-finding mission by the UN Human Rights Council .
This is precariously dependent on statements by refugees in camps in Bangladesh , '' Suu Kyi writes in the Financial Times , referring to an Independent Commission of Inquiry , which published its findings earlier this week .
The ICOE concluded that while some Myanmar soldiers probably committed war crimes and that the military crackdown had been conducted with `` genocidal intent , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ICOE reports that some refugees may have provided inaccurate or exaggerated information .
While this is understandable , we have to recognise that there is a systemic challenge , '' she writes , suggesting that the ICJ `` may not yet be equipped to filter out misleading information before shadows of incrimination are cast over entire nations and governments . ''
A 2018 report by the U.S. State Department described the military 's actions as `` extreme , large-scale , widespread '' but also steered clear of the term genocide .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persecuted minority in Myanmar — has brought international scrutiny to the government of Suu Kyi , a Nobel Peace Prize winner once lauded as a defender of human rights who has nonetheless faced accusations that she stood aside as her country 's military carried out a campaign of terror against the Rohingya .
The U.N. estimates that at least 10,000 Rohingya were killed by Myanmar 's state forces in the August 2017 crackdown , but others put the number higher .
Human Rights Watch says another 730,000 fled Myanmar , crossing the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 2017 .
That crackdown came in response to a 2016 attack by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army , a militant group , on local police .
In a hearing at the court last month , Suu Kyi acknowledged that the military may have used `` disproportionate force ... in disregard of international humanitarian law '' in its response , but that was understandable given the `` coordinated and comprehensive attacks '' of the militants .

Myanmar Must Prevent Genocide Of Rohingya, U.N. Court Rules
Enlarge this image toggle caption Peter Dejong/AP Peter Dejong/AP
The International Court of Justice in The Hague has ordered Myanmar to prevent a genocide of the country's remaining Rohingya Muslims — the target of a brutal army crackdown that led to the deaths of tens of thousands.
Presiding Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, reading the unanimous opinion of the 17-judge panel, said the United Nations court "is of the opinion that the Rohingya in Myanmar remain extremely vulnerable" after the 2017 crackdown in the country's western Rakhine state.
The ICJ said Myanmar must "take all measures within its power to prevent ... killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to the members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group."
The court in the Netherlands was acting on a request from the tiny Muslim-majority country of Gambia for measures to protect the Rohingya. Gambia brought the complaint on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which alleges Myanmar is guilty of genocide against its Rohingya minority. Myanmar is a signatory of the 1948 Convention for the Prevention and the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Thursday's ruling is meant to forestall further harm to Rohingya while the court works toward a final ruling on the question of genocide, which could take years. The ICJ also ordered Myanmar to preserve evidence of the Rohingya's persecution and to report in four months on the protective measures it has taken.
The country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, wrote in an opinion piece Thursday that Rohingya refugees interviewed by investigators in neighboring Bangladesh may have exaggerated claims of violence.
The allegations against her country "all rely extensively on a fact-finding mission by the UN Human Rights Council. This is precariously dependent on statements by refugees in camps in Bangladesh," Suu Kyi writes in the Financial Times, referring to an Independent Commission of Inquiry, which published its findings earlier this week.
The ICOE concluded that while some Myanmar soldiers probably committed war crimes and that the military crackdown had been conducted with "genocidal intent," there was no actual genocide.
"The ICOE reports that some refugees may have provided inaccurate or exaggerated information. While this is understandable, we have to recognise that there is a systemic challenge," she writes, suggesting that the ICJ "may not yet be equipped to filter out misleading information before shadows of incrimination are cast over entire nations and governments."
A 2018 report by the U.S. State Department described the military's actions as "extreme, large-scale, widespread" but also steered clear of the term genocide.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dar Yasin/AP Dar Yasin/AP
The plight of the Rohingya — long a persecuted minority in Myanmar — has brought international scrutiny to the government of Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner once lauded as a defender of human rights who has nonetheless faced accusations that she stood aside as her country's military carried out a campaign of terror against the Rohingya.
The U.N. estimates that at least 10,000 Rohingya were killed by Myanmar's state forces in the August 2017 crackdown, but others put the number higher. Human Rights Watch says another 730,000 fled Myanmar, crossing the border into Bangladesh, since the crackdown began in August 2017.
That crackdown came in response to a 2016 attack by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant group, on local police.
In a hearing at the court last month, Suu Kyi acknowledged that the military may have used "disproportionate force ... in disregard of international humanitarian law" in its response, but that was understandable given the "coordinated and comprehensive attacks" of the militants.


npr--2020-01-23--Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping

Most Americans Are Lonely , And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping More than three in five Americans are lonely , with more and more people reporting feeling like they are left out , poorly understood and lacking companionship , according to a new survey released Thursday .
Workplace culture and conditions may contribute to Americans ' loneliness .
And loneliness may be on the rise .
The report , led by the health insurer Cigna , found a nearly 13 % rise in loneliness since 2018 , when the survey was first conducted .
( Cigna is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
The report surveyed over 10,000 adult workers in July and August 2019 , relying on a measure of loneliness called the UCLA Loneliness Scale , used as a standard within psychology research .
Respondents rated their reactions to statements such as `` How often do you feel outgoing and friendly ? ''
and `` How often do you feel alone ? ''
which were used to calculate a loneliness score on an 80-point scale .
Pervasive loneliness `` has widespread effects , '' says Bert Uchino , a professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
It 's strongly linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression .
It 's an urgent time for the study of loneliness , Uchino adds .
More and more research suggests that its impacts do n't end with mental health .
`` Evidence is really pointing to the fact that relationships — the kinds of bonds you have with people , how close you are , how connected you feel to others — impact physical health as well , '' he says .
With only one follow-up report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in loneliness is a trend or just a blip in the data , says Uchino .
There are ways to sample the population and control responses that would produce more reliable results , but surveying so many people strengthens these findings , he adds .
The report found several factors that were linked to increased feelings of isolation in 2019 .
Loneliness appeared to be more common among men .
The survey found 63 % of men to be lonely , compared with 58 % of women .
Social media use was tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of very heavy social media users considered lonely , as compared with 52 % of light users .
But feelings of isolation were prevalent across generations .
Gen Z — people who were 18 to 22 years old when surveyed — had the highest average loneliness score on the 80-point scale ( about 50 ) , and boomers had the lowest ( about 43 ) .
We might think of older people as being the loneliest , but this pattern is actually consistent with results from other studies , says Julianne Holt-Lunstad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
`` We need to recognize that no one is immune , '' she adds .
This new research dives deeper into the factors behind these feelings of isolation than the previous report , and it found that conditions in the workplace made a difference in how lonely people felt .
The report found people with good co-worker relationships were 10 points less lonely on the 80-point scale , and those who reported a good work-life balance were less lonely as well .
When colleagues felt like they shared goals , average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employees in the first six months of their jobs had loneliness scores more than six points higher than those who had held their positions for over a decade .
Workers who said they had a close friend at work were less lonely .
`` In-person connections are what really matters , '' says Doug Nemecek , chief medical officer for behavioral health at Cigna .
`` Sharing that time to have a meaningful interaction and a meaningful conversation , to share our lives with others , is important to help us mitigate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incentive to address loneliness : Lonely workers were more likely to miss work due to illness or stress , and more of them felt their work was n't up to par , according to the report .
Researchers are still struggling to find effective methods to ease loneliness , and this data could spark ideas for interventions , Holt-Lunstad adds .
One optimistic note : More than three-quarters of survey respondents had close relationships that bring them emotional security and well-being .
And respondents without such relationships had a loneliness score of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points higher than those with them .

Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping
toggle caption Estelle Johnson/EyeEm/Getty Images
More than three in five Americans are lonely, with more and more people reporting feeling like they are left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship, according to a new survey released Thursday. Workplace culture and conditions may contribute to Americans' loneliness.
And loneliness may be on the rise. The report, led by the health insurer Cigna, found a nearly 13% rise in loneliness since 2018, when the survey was first conducted. (Cigna is a provider of health insurance for NPR employees.)
The report surveyed over 10,000 adult workers in July and August 2019, relying on a measure of loneliness called the UCLA Loneliness Scale, used as a standard within psychology research. Respondents rated their reactions to statements such as "How often do you feel outgoing and friendly?" and "How often do you feel alone?" which were used to calculate a loneliness score on an 80-point scale.
Pervasive loneliness "has widespread effects," says Bert Uchino, a professor at the University of Utah who studies relationships and health. It's strongly linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
It's an urgent time for the study of loneliness, Uchino adds. More and more research suggests that its impacts don't end with mental health. "Evidence is really pointing to the fact that relationships — the kinds of bonds you have with people, how close you are, how connected you feel to others — impact physical health as well," he says.
With only one follow-up report, it's unclear if the year-over-year rise in loneliness is a trend or just a blip in the data, says Uchino. There are ways to sample the population and control responses that would produce more reliable results, but surveying so many people strengthens these findings, he adds.
The report found several factors that were linked to increased feelings of isolation in 2019. Loneliness appeared to be more common among men. The survey found 63% of men to be lonely, compared with 58% of women.
Social media use was tied to loneliness as well, with 73% of very heavy social media users considered lonely, as compared with 52% of light users.
But feelings of isolation were prevalent across generations. Gen Z — people who were 18 to 22 years old when surveyed — had the highest average loneliness score on the 80-point scale (about 50), and boomers had the lowest (about 43). We might think of older people as being the loneliest, but this pattern is actually consistent with results from other studies, says Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University. "We need to recognize that no one is immune," she adds.
This new research dives deeper into the factors behind these feelings of isolation than the previous report, and it found that conditions in the workplace made a difference in how lonely people felt.
The report found people with good co-worker relationships were 10 points less lonely on the 80-point scale, and those who reported a good work-life balance were less lonely as well. When colleagues felt like they shared goals, average loneliness scores dropped almost eight points.
Employees in the first six months of their jobs had loneliness scores more than six points higher than those who had held their positions for over a decade. Workers who said they had a close friend at work were less lonely.
"In-person connections are what really matters," says Doug Nemecek, chief medical officer for behavioral health at Cigna. "Sharing that time to have a meaningful interaction and a meaningful conversation, to share our lives with others, is important to help us mitigate and minimize loneliness."
Employers also have an incentive to address loneliness: Lonely workers were more likely to miss work due to illness or stress, and more of them felt their work wasn't up to par, according to the report. Researchers are still struggling to find effective methods to ease loneliness, and this data could spark ideas for interventions, Holt-Lunstad adds.
One optimistic note: More than three-quarters of survey respondents had close relationships that bring them emotional security and well-being. And respondents without such relationships had a loneliness score of 57 out of 80, almost 15 points higher than those with them.
Elena Renken is the NPR science desk intern.


npr--2020-01-23--Holocaust Survivor Returning To Auschwitz: 'It's Like Going To The Family Cemetery'

Holocaust Survivor Returning To Auschwitz : 'It 's Like Going To The Family Cemetery' Vladimir Munk remembers the day he walked free from Blechhammer , a sub-camp of Auschwitz in eastern Germany .
`` I was happy , '' Munk says .
He was sick and starving , but he had survived .
The Soviet Army liberated Auschwitz on Jan. 27 , 1945 .
The concentration camp in Poland is where more than a million people , mostly Jews , were murdered during the Holocaust .
This Monday , on the 75th anniversary of the liberation , Munk is traveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since he was imprisoned there .
Munk 's parents were killed in Auschwitz , as were most of his family members .
`` So , for me , it 's like going to the family cemetery , '' Munk says .
The decision to go back , though , was n't an easy one to make .
When he walked free from Blechhammer , Munk decided not to let the experience define him .
He says he 's known survivors who never recovered from the Holocaust .
`` They are a survivor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Munk says .
`` Yes , I 'm a survivor , but I 've tried to live a normal life . ''
Munk was born in Pardubice , Czechoslovakia , in 1925 , and was a teenager when Nazi Germany invaded the country .
A few years into the occupation , Munk 's family was forced onto a train and sent to a concentration camp called Terezin .
After living in a Nazi-occupied city , Munk says going to Terezin was an adventure .
`` I was 18 years old and living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Jews and especially young Jews , it was really like being in a concentration camp because you were not permitted to attend theatres , movies , sporting events , nothing . ''
Terezin was not an extermination camp , though space was tight and food was scarce .
More than 33,000 people died at Terezin during the Holocaust .
At the time , though , most Jews and much of the world did n't know what was coming , that the Nazis were building gas chambers capable of killing thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Munk had a job , he was able to see his mother and father , and he got a girlfriend .
Then , after two years in Terezin , Munk and his father were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau .
Munk knew the concentration camp had a bad reputation among prisoners , but had n't heard about the gas chambers .
When they arrived , Nazi soldiers ordered Munk one way and his father the other .
He later asked a neighbor in Auschwitz if he knew what had happened to his father .
Munk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sky and told him his father had gone up the chimney .
`` So that was it , '' says Munk .
`` You never died in Auschwitz .
You went up the chimney . ''
His mother met the same fate , just months before the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945 .
Munk spent his first months free begging for food in Poland .
Eventually he made his way back to his hometown in Czechoslovakia .
By the end of 1945 Munk had re-enrolled in school .
He went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry .
In 1949 Munk married Kitty , the girlfriend he had when the two were prisoners in Terezin .
Munk and his wife left Czechoslovakia after the Soviets invaded in 1968 .
They moved to Plattsburgh , N.Y. , where Munk took a job teaching microbiology at the local university , SUNY Plattsburgh .
Even when they had kids , Munk says they did n't talk to them about the Holocaust until they were teenagers .
He says he did n't want the experience to define @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his wife of 66 years , Kitty , died in 2015 .
After a living a full life , Munk has starting thinking more about his time in the Nazi concentration camps and about the family he lost at Auschwitz .
`` You are thinking of all your relatives from time to time , '' Munk says .
`` I try not to think , but you think about it . ''
Munk is traveling back to Poland this weekend .
While he 's had time to pack and prepare for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back at Auschwitz for the first time , Munk closes his eyes and shudders at the thought .

Holocaust Survivor Returning To Auschwitz: 'It's Like Going To The Family Cemetery'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emily Russell/NCPR Emily Russell/NCPR
Vladimir Munk remembers the day he walked free from Blechhammer, a sub-camp of Auschwitz in eastern Germany.
"I was happy," Munk says. He was sick and starving, but he had survived.
The Soviet Army liberated Auschwitz on Jan. 27, 1945. The concentration camp in Poland is where more than a million people, mostly Jews, were murdered during the Holocaust. This Monday, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation, Munk is traveling back to Auschwitz for the first time since he was imprisoned there.
Munk's parents were killed in Auschwitz, as were most of his family members. "So, for me, it's like going to the family cemetery," Munk says.
The decision to go back, though, wasn't an easy one to make. When he walked free from Blechhammer, Munk decided not to let the experience define him. He says he's known survivors who never recovered from the Holocaust.
"They are a survivor, but they never got over it," Munk says. "Yes, I'm a survivor, but I've tried to live a normal life."
Munk was born in Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, in 1925, and was a teenager when Nazi Germany invaded the country. A few years into the occupation, Munk's family was forced onto a train and sent to a concentration camp called Terezin.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emily Russell/NCPR Emily Russell/NCPR
After living in a Nazi-occupied city, Munk says going to Terezin was an adventure.
"I was 18 years old and living in a normal city like Pardubice, for Jews and especially young Jews, it was really like being in a concentration camp because you were not permitted to attend theatres, movies, sporting events, nothing."
Terezin was not an extermination camp, though space was tight and food was scarce. More than 33,000 people died at Terezin during the Holocaust.
At the time, though, most Jews and much of the world didn't know what was coming, that the Nazis were building gas chambers capable of killing thousands of people at a time.
At Terezin, Munk had a job, he was able to see his mother and father, and he got a girlfriend. Then, after two years in Terezin, Munk and his father were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Munk knew the concentration camp had a bad reputation among prisoners, but hadn't heard about the gas chambers. When they arrived, Nazi soldiers ordered Munk one way and his father the other.
He later asked a neighbor in Auschwitz if he knew what had happened to his father. Munk says the man pointed to the smoke in the sky and told him his father had gone up the chimney.
"So that was it," says Munk. "You never died in Auschwitz. You went up the chimney."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Emily Russell/NCPR Emily Russell/NCPR
His mother met the same fate, just months before the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945. Munk spent his first months free begging for food in Poland. Eventually he made his way back to his hometown in Czechoslovakia.
By the end of 1945 Munk had re-enrolled in school. He went on to earn a master's degree and then a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry. In 1949 Munk married Kitty, the girlfriend he had when the two were prisoners in Terezin.
Munk and his wife left Czechoslovakia after the Soviets invaded in 1968. They moved to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where Munk took a job teaching microbiology at the local university, SUNY Plattsburgh.
Even when they had kids, Munk says they didn't talk to them about the Holocaust until they were teenagers. He says he didn't want the experience to define their family.
Munk is retired now and his wife of 66 years, Kitty, died in 2015. After a living a full life, Munk has starting thinking more about his time in the Nazi concentration camps and about the family he lost at Auschwitz.
"You are thinking of all your relatives from time to time,"Munk says. "I try not to think, but you think about it."
Munk is traveling back to Poland this weekend. While he's had time to pack and prepare for the experience, when he really pictures himself back at Auschwitz for the first time, Munk closes his eyes and shudders at the thought.


npr--2020-01-23--Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding

Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding In a case with potentially profound implications , the U.S. Supreme Court 's conservative majority seemed ready to invalidate a provision of the Montana state constitution that bars aid to religious schools .
A decision like that would work a sea change in constitutional law , significantly removing the longstanding high wall of separation between church and state .
The focal point of Wednesday 's argument was a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that struck down a tax subsidy for both religious and nonreligious private schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidy violated a state constitutional provision barring any state aid to religious schools , whether direct or indirect .
On the steps of the Supreme Court Wednesday , Kendra Espinoza , a divorced mother of two , explained why she is challenging that ruling .
`` We are a Christian family and I want those values taught at school , '' she said .
`` Our morals as a society come from the Bible .
I feel we are being excluded simply because we are people of religious background . ''
Thirty-seven other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Montana 's , and for decades conservative religious groups and school-choice advocates have sought to get rid of them .
On Wednesday , though , that goal looked a lot closer .
Five of the justices at some time in their lives attended private Catholic schools , and some of them were particularly vocal .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that the history of excluding religious schools from public funding has its roots in the `` religious bigotry against Catholics '' in the late 1800s .
He seemed to dismiss arguments made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely rewritten its constitution in 1972 , without any such bias .
Mae Nan Ellingson , one of the delegates to that convention , said afterward that there were ministers and `` people of all faiths '' at the convention who overwhelmingly had supported the no-aid provision .
`` We did n't think that public funds should be used to support private parochial education but rather that public funds need to support public education , '' she said .
The justices , however , seemed uninterested in that record .
Chief Justice John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusion of parochial schools from taxpayer-funded aid programs to unconstitutional discrimination based on race .
That view suggested that Wednesday 's case has the potential for much broader public funding of parochial schools .
It was n't enough , for instance , that the Montana court treated all private schools the same way , whether they were religious or not .
As Justice Elena Kagan put it , once the Montana court invalidated the tax subsidy for all private schools , were n't they all `` in the same boat ? ''
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the religious parents .
He maintained that the no-aid provision in the state constitution is itself a violation of the federal constitution .
And he also argued that because the state constitution illegally discriminated against religious schools and families , the tax-credit program must be revived .
In short , that the state has no discretion to abolish it .
`` That would be a radical decision , '' said Justice Sonia Sotomayor .
Justice Stephen Breyer wondered where the plaintiffs ' equal-treatment argument would end .
He noted major school systems spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public schools .
`` If I decide for you , '' he asked , would these school systems `` have to give proportionate amounts to parochial schools ? ''
`` You ca n't deny a generally available public benefit '' to an otherwise qualified institution `` based solely on its religious character , '' he said .
Representing the state of Montana , lawyer Adam Unikowsky told the justices that the states until now have generally had the power `` to decide that they 're only going to fund the public school system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suggest that religious families who want to send their children to parochial schools should be treated equally under the constitution .
Just how far the Supreme Court will go in that regard may depend on Chief Justice Roberts , who , after a long night at the impeachment trial , did not entirely tip his hand .

Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica Gresko/AP Jessica Gresko/AP
In a case with potentially profound implications, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority seemed ready to invalidate a provision of the Montana state constitution that bars aid to religious schools. A decision like that would work a sea change in constitutional law, significantly removing the longstanding high wall of separation between church and state.
The focal point of Wednesday's argument was a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that struck down a tax subsidy for both religious and nonreligious private schools. The Montana court said that the subsidy violated a state constitutional provision barring any state aid to religious schools, whether direct or indirect.
On the steps of the Supreme Court Wednesday, Kendra Espinoza, a divorced mother of two, explained why she is challenging that ruling.
"We are a Christian family and I want those values taught at school," she said. "Our morals as a society come from the Bible. I feel we are being excluded simply because we are people of religious background."
Vocal Supreme Court justices
Thirty-seven other states have no-aid state constitutional provisions similar to Montana's, and for decades conservative religious groups and school-choice advocates have sought to get rid of them. On Wednesday, though, that goal looked a lot closer.
Five of the justices at some time in their lives attended private Catholic schools, and some of them were particularly vocal. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that the history of excluding religious schools from public funding has its roots in the "religious bigotry against Catholics" in the late 1800s. He seemed to dismiss arguments made by the state's lawyer that Montana had completely rewritten its constitution in 1972, without any such bias.
Mae Nan Ellingson, one of the delegates to that convention, said afterward that there were ministers and "people of all faiths" at the convention who overwhelmingly had supported the no-aid provision.
"We didn't think that public funds should be used to support private parochial education but rather that public funds need to support public education," she said.
The justices, however, seemed uninterested in that record.
'A radical decision'
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito compared the exclusion of parochial schools from taxpayer-funded aid programs to unconstitutional discrimination based on race.
That view suggested that Wednesday's case has the potential for much broader public funding of parochial schools.
It wasn't enough, for instance, that the Montana court treated all private schools the same way, whether they were religious or not. As Justice Elena Kagan put it, once the Montana court invalidated the tax subsidy for all private schools, weren't they all "in the same boat?"
No, replied lawyer Richard Komer, representing the religious parents. He maintained that the no-aid provision in the state constitution is itself a violation of the federal constitution. And he also argued that because the state constitution illegally discriminated against religious schools and families, the tax-credit program must be revived. In short, that the state has no discretion to abolish it.
"That would be a radical decision," said Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Justice Stephen Breyer wondered where the plaintiffs' equal-treatment argument would end. He noted major school systems spend billions in taxpayer money to fund the public schools. "If I decide for you," he asked, would these school systems "have to give proportionate amounts to parochial schools?"
Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, representing the Trump administration, basically answered "yes."
"You can't deny a generally available public benefit" to an otherwise qualified institution "based solely on its religious character," he said.
Representing the state of Montana, lawyer Adam Unikowsky told the justices that the states until now have generally had the power "to decide that they're only going to fund the public school system."
But Justice Kavanaugh repeatedly seemed to suggest that religious families who want to send their children to parochial schools should be treated equally under the constitution.
Just how far the Supreme Court will go in that regard may depend on Chief Justice Roberts, who, after a long night at the impeachment trial, did not entirely tip his hand.


npr--2020-01-23--Federal Government May Tighten Restrictions On Service Animals On Planes

Federal Government May Tighten Restrictions On Service Animals On Planes The U.S. Department of Transportation is considering tightening the rules for taking service animals on planes after rising customer complaints and lobbying from the airlines who think current regulations are too lenient .
The Department of Transportation would no longer require airlines to consider emotional support animals to be service animals , as they have in the past .
It also would requires additional paperwork for service dogs , which some disability advocates find troubling .
In recent years , a spate of incidents in which people attempted to fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a peacock for emotional support have raised questions about whether the regulations are too permissive and prone to easy abuse .
Taylor Garland , a spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA , says they 've seen an exponential increase in emotional support animals in the last five years .
The union believes people who do n't actually need their animal for emotional support to travel sometimes abuse the system .
`` What it 's caused is a number of safety , health and security issues on board our aircraft , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loose in the cabin to very serious safety issues where untrained animals have attacked flight attendants or other passengers or other legitimate service dogs , '' she said .
The department said in a statement that it `` wants to ensure that individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals . ''
Under the new rules , service animals would have a stricter definition : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do work or to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability . ''
Dogs providing psychiatric support to an individual would need to be specially trained , as other service animals are .
Jennifer Mathis , the Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy at The Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law , applauded the inclusion of service dogs helping people with psychiatric disabilities .
`` If you use a service animal , service animals should be treated the same whatever type of disability you have . ''
But she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow .
`` There are many legitimate reasons why people may use an assistance animal ... that accommodates a disability , a real disability and accommodates that disability in a very , very real and important way , even though it 's not specifically trained to do a task , '' she says .
The proposed change would allow airlines to require a wide range of forms from passengers with service animals .
For example , the passenger would have to attest that the animal is in good health and has good behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill out a form saying the animal can avoid relieving itself during the flight , or do so in a way that is sanitary .
The sheer amount of paperwork is troubling to Mathis , who says it could be a barrier to people getting on a plane with their service animal .
`` While [ the documents ] may seem reasonable on their face , I think that , you know , the cumulative effect of making people a test to all these things is likely to scare some people off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in complaints about animals .
For example , according to the text of the proposal , U.S. and foreign airlines received 3,065 service animal complaints from passengers in 2018 , compared to 719 in 2013 .
`` Passengers have attempted to fly with many different unusual species of animals , such as a peacock , ducks , turkeys , pigs , iguanas , and various other types of animals as emotional support or service animals , causing confusion for airline employees and additional scrutiny for service animal users , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months to comment on the changes .
In recent years , some individual airlines have changed their policies on emotional support animals .
A group of disability advocacy organizations have recently pushed the Department of Transportation to `` stop the proliferation of a patchwork of service animal access requirements in airlines ' service animal policies , '' according to the department .
United Airlines changed its policies on emotional support animals in 2018 due to `` a significant increase in onboard incidents involving these animals . ''
The customers needed to confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to behave properly in a public setting '' and provide a letter from a veterinarian about the animal 's health .

Federal Government May Tighten Restrictions On Service Animals On Planes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Shelly Yang/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Shelly Yang/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Transportation is considering tightening the rules for taking service animals on planes after increased customer complaints and lobbying from the airlines who think current regulations are too lenient.
The Department of Transportation would no longer require airlines to consider emotional support animals to be service animals, as they have in the past. It also would require additional paperwork for service dogs, which some disability advocates find troubling.
In recent years, a spate of incidents in which people attempted to fly with exotic animals such as a squirrel or a peacock for emotional support have raised questions about whether the regulations are too permissive and prone to easy abuse.
Taylor Garland, a spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, says the group has seen an exponential increase in emotional support animals in the past five years. The union believes people who don't actually need their animal for emotional support to travel sometimes abuse the system.
"What it's caused is a number of safety, health and security issues onboard our aircraft, which has led to minor things like animals loose in the cabin to very serious safety issues where untrained animals have attacked flight attendants or other passengers or other legitimate service dogs," she said.
The department said in a statement that it "wants to ensure that individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals."
Under the new rules, service animals would have a stricter definition: "a dog that is individually trained to do work or to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." Dogs providing psychiatric support to an individual would need to be specially trained, as other service animals are.
Jennifer Mathis, the director of policy and legal advocacy at the Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law, applauded the inclusion of service dogs helping people with psychiatric disabilities. "If you use a service animal, service animals should be treated the same whatever type of disability you have."
But she finds the definition of service animal too narrow. "There are many legitimate reasons why people may use an assistance animal ... that accommodates a disability, a real disability and accommodates that disability in a very, very real and important way, even though it's not specifically trained to do a task," she says.
The proposed change would allow airlines to require a wide range of forms from passengers with service animals. For example, the passenger would have to attest that the animal is in good health and has good behavior and training. They'd also need to fill out a form saying the animal can avoid relieving itself during the flight, or do so in a way that is sanitary.
The sheer amount of paperwork is troubling to Mathis, who says it could be a barrier to people getting on a plane with their service animal. "While [the documents] may seem reasonable on their face, I think that, you know, the cumulative effect of making people attest to all these things is likely to scare some people off."
The changes were prompted by an increase in complaints about animals. For example, according to the text of the proposal, U.S. and foreign airlines received 3,065 service animal complaints from passengers in 2018, compared with 719 in 2013.
"Passengers have attempted to fly with many different unusual species of animals, such as a peacock, ducks, turkeys, pigs, iguanas, and various other types of animals as emotional support or service animals, causing confusion for airline employees and additional scrutiny for service animal users," the proposal reads.
The public now has two months to comment on the changes.
In recent years, some individual airlines have changed their policies on emotional support animals. A group of disability advocacy organizations have recently pushed the Department of Transportation to "stop the proliferation of a patchwork of service animal access requirements in airlines' service animal policies," according to the department.
United Airlines changed its policies on emotional support animals in 2018 because of "a significant increase in onboard incidents involving these animals." The customers needed to confirm that the animal has been "trained to behave properly in a public setting" and provide a letter from a veterinarian about the animal's health.


npr--2020-01-23--Tanker Plane Fighting Australia's Bushfires Crashes, Killing Crew Of 3

Three firefighters helping fight Australia 's bushfires were killed Thursday when the C-130 tanker aircraft they were operating crashed south of the capital , Canberra .
`` Tragically , there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area , '' Shane Fitzsimmons , the Rural Fire Services Commissioner for New South Wales state , said at a news conference .
He said the tanker `` impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indication at this stage of what 's caused the accident , '' he added .
Fitzsimmons said all three aboard the airplane were U.S. residents , but he declined to name them pending notification of the families .
The crash , which occurred near Cooma , northeast of the Snowy Mountains , comes as Australia continues fighting massive bushfires fueled by record-setting temperatures .
A fire southeast of Canberra , one of several firefighters are battling , has engulfed nearly 1,000 square miles and is considered out of control .
`` The fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today we 've seen , again , tragic consequences , where three people have lost their lives , '' New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said .
`` Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families , '' she said .
Berejiklian said more than 1,700 volunteers were in the field helping fight the fires .
`` We ca n't thank enough people who continue , notwithstanding those conditions , to put their lives at risk , '' she said .
The C-130 Hercules , a converted military transport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The aircraft was on a firebombing mission .
`` It 's just a ball of flames ... over , '' a nearby plane reportedly radioed flight control after witnessing the crash .
Coulson , which temporarily suspended its tanker flights as a mark of respect and to re-assess safety precautions , said it would send a team to the crash site to assist in the emergency operations .
`` The accident is reported to be extensive and we are deeply saddened to confirm there were three fatalities , '' the company said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since September , 32 people have been killed as a result of the bushfires , including more than a dozen firefighters .
The bushfires , which have scorched an area larger than the state of Pennsylvania , have also killed an estimated 1 billion animals and destroyed 2,500 homes .

Tanker Plane Fighting Australia's Bushfires Crashes, Killing U.S. Crew Of 3
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via Reuters Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via Reuters
Updated at 9:32 p.m. ET
Three U.S. firefighters helping fight Australia's bushfires were killed Thursday when the C-130 tanker aircraft they were operating crashed south of the capital, Canberra.
"Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area," Shane Fitzsimmons, the Rural Fire Services Commissioner for New South Wales state, said at a news conference.
He said the tanker "impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground."
"There is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident," he added.
The C-130 Hercules, a converted military transport, was operated by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation. The aircraft was on a "firebombing mission," the company said in a statement.
Capt. Ian McBeth, 44, First Officer Clyde Hudson, 42, and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, died in the crash, Coulson Aviation said in a statement.
"At Coulson Aviation, we have the incredible job of fighting fires around the world and we take pride in this responsibility," the company said. "Right now, our hearts are with the crew's family and friends and our Coulson Family suffering in the loss of these three remarkable and well-respected crew-members."
The crash, which occurred near Cooma, northeast of the Snowy Mountains, comes as Australia continues fighting massive bushfires fueled by record-setting temperatures. A fire southeast of Canberra, one of several firefighters are battling, has engulfed nearly 1,000 square miles and is considered out of control.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
"The fire season is still far from over and today we've seen, again, tragic consequences, where three people have lost their lives," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
"Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families," she said.
Berejiklian said more than 1,700 volunteers were in the field helping to fight the fires.
"We can't thank enough people who continue, notwithstanding those conditions, to put their lives at risk," she said.
"It's just a ball of flames," a nearby plane reportedly radioed flight control after witnessing the crash.
Coulson, which temporarily suspended its tanker flights as a mark of respect and to reassess safety precautions, said it would send a team to the crash site to assist in emergency operations.
Since September, 32 people have been killed as a result of the bushfires, including more than a dozen firefighters.
The bushfires, which have scorched an area larger than the state of Pennsylvania, have also killed an estimated 1 billion animals and destroyed 2,500 homes.


npr--2020-01-23--Chinese Authorities Begin Quarantine Of Wuhan City As Coronavirus Cases Multiply

Updated at 8:45 a.m .
ET Wuhan 's public health authorities say they are in a `` state of war '' as they quarantine the Chinese city in an attempt to halt the spread of a never-before-seen strain of coronavirus .
`` Strictly implement emergency response requirements , enter into a state of war and implement wartime measures to resolutely curb the spread of this epidemic , '' urged a committee of Wuhan 's top officials .
`` Homes must be segregated , neighbors must be watched . ''
Beginning at 10 a.m. local time ( 9 p.m. Wednesday ET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 miles west of Shanghai , started sealing off public transportation , including its metro system , airport , train station and long-haul bus hubs .
Livestreamed videos from the city show soldiers wearing face masks barricading the entrances to the city 's train station Thursday morning to prevent passengers from entering and leaving the city .
As of early afternoon , cars were still allowed to exit Wuhan , the epicenter of a rapidly growing outbreak of a coronavirus that has sickened more than 570 people within China and killed at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But officials also began sealing off highways entering the city .
Authorities said they were screening passengers leaving and entering Wuhan , checking for fever and the illegal transport of wild animals thought to be the original vector for the virus .
Online , people expressed doubt about whether the quarantine came in time to check the disease 's spread .
Influential bloggers have been calling on the mayor of Wuhan , Zhou Xianwang , to step down after he admitted the city government 's initial public health responses `` were not sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually all other Chinese provinces as well as Hong Kong , none of which has been quarantined .
The sudden decision to lock down the city of 11 million residents , who were given less than eight hours ' notice of the suspension of public transportation , suggests the severity of the outbreak has alarmed China 's leaders .
Wuhan 's lockdown comes only two days before the official start of Lunar New Year , a major , weeklong holiday during which hundreds of millions normally travel within and outside China .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in China has also raised suspicions among both researchers and residents that authorities have delayed reporting the true extent of a public health threat .
Isolated cases of the virus , known as 2019-nCoV , also have been found in Japan , Thailand , South Korea , the U.S. , Macao and Hong Kong .
On Thursday , Singapore announced its first confirmed case — a 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan , according to the Ministry of Health .
Thursday 's front page of the People 's Daily , the official newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mention of the viral outbreak and focused instead on the country 's leadership .
The top story covered Chinese leader Xi Jinping 's New Year 's wishes to former senior officials .
A London Imperial College study published Wednesday estimated that the number of those infected in China with the new coronavirus should be at least 4,000 based on past outbreaks of similar viral diseases , far fewer than the 570 or so officially acknowledged as of Thursday .
`` This is a mathematical model .
The number you were referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Faced with viruses like this , facts must be facts and theories are just theories , '' Gao Fu , the director of China 's Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control , told reporters Wednesday when asked about a similar study from the same authors .
Part of the problem with reaching an accurate count may be that overstretched hospitals have been unable to cope with the numbers of potential cases needing to be screened .
Hundreds of residents with fevers posted on social media Wednesday night that they had been turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screening .
The posts were deleted by the following morning .
In one case , a man from Liaoning province who sought treatment in a Wuhan hospital on Jan. 12 was simply prescribed oral medication and turned away , according to a notice posted by the Liaoning Public Health Commission .
Five days later , he flew to Dalian , a major city in Liaoning , for further care as his symptoms worsened and were diagnosed as coronavirus pneumonia .
He is currently in critical condition .
Wuhan says it will add 3,400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat the virus , bringing the overall number to 5,400 and indicating that authorities expect the scale of the outbreak to grow .
Caixin , an independent Chinese-language outlet , quoted doctors in Wuhan saying they expected the outbreak to eventually infect as many as 6,000 people , though they did not give a timeline .
SARS , which also belongs to the coronavirus family , infected more than 8,000 from 2002 to 2003 .
Hospitals are struggling to find enough doctors to treat the growing numbers of patients .
An account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus and eventually released last week described how his doctors had been transferred from other institutions within Wuhan and even from as far away as Beijing .
As the crisis worsened , they worked 16 hours a day , `` from dawn to dusk . ''

Chinese Authorities Begin Quarantine Of Wuhan City As Coronavirus Cases Multiply
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Schiefelbein/AP Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Updated at 9:50 p.m. ET
Wuhan's public health authorities say they are in a "state of war" as they quarantine the Chinese city in an attempt to halt the spread of a never-before-seen strain of coronavirus.
"Strictly implement emergency response requirements, enter into a state of war and implement wartime measures to resolutely curb the spread of this epidemic," urged a committee of Wuhan's top officials. "Homes must be segregated, neighbors must be watched."
Later Thursday, health officials from the World Health Organization decided not to declare the outbreak an international health emergency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that after two days of meetings in Geneva with the organization's Emergency Committee, the group was divided.
"Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency," Tedros said. "It may yet become one."
The WHO is not recommending any international restrictions on trade or travel, but does recommend exit screenings at airports.
Beginning at 10 a.m. local time (9 p.m. Wednesday ET), authorities in Wuhan, about 500 miles west of Shanghai, started sealing off public transportation, including its metro system, airport, train station and long-haul bus hubs. Livestreamed videos from the city show soldiers wearing face masks barricading the entrances to the city's train station Thursday morning to prevent passengers from entering and leaving the city.
As of early afternoon, cars were still allowed to exit Wuhan, the epicenter of a rapidly growing outbreak of a coronavirus that has sickened 830 people within China and killed 25, according to health authorities.
But officials also began sealing off highways entering the city. Authorities said they were screening passengers leaving and entering Wuhan, checking for fever and the illegal transport of wild animals thought to be the original vector for the virus.
Online, people expressed doubt about whether the quarantine came in time to check the disease's spread. Influential bloggers have been calling on the mayor of Wuhan, Zhou Xianwang, to step down after he admitted the city government's initial public health responses "were not sufficient." The disease has spread to virtually all other Chinese provinces as well as Hong Kong, none of which has been quarantined.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron Favila/AP Aaron Favila/AP
The sudden decision to lock down the city of 11 million residents, who were given less than eight hours' notice of the suspension of public transportation, suggests the severity of the outbreak has alarmed China's leaders. Wuhan's lockdown comes only two days before the official start of Lunar New Year, a major, weeklong holiday during which hundreds of millions normally travel within and outside China.
The recent jump in the number of confirmed cases in China has also raised suspicions among both researchers and residents that authorities have delayed reporting the true extent of a public health threat.
Isolated cases of the virus, known as 2019-nCoV, also have been found in Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the U.S., Macao and Hong Kong. On Thursday, Singapore announced its first confirmed case — a 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan, according to the Ministry of Health.
Thursday's front page of the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, made no mention of the viral outbreak and focused instead on the country's leadership. The top story covered Chinese leader Xi Jinping's New Year's wishes to former senior officials.
A London Imperial College study published Wednesday estimated that the number of those infected in China with the new coronavirus should be at least 4,000 based on past outbreaks of similar viral diseases, far more than the 570 or so officially acknowledged as of Thursday.
"This is a mathematical model. The number you were referring to was the maximum in the range predicted. Faced with viruses like this, facts must be facts and theories are just theories," Gao Fu, the director of China's Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, told reporters Wednesday when asked about a similar study from the same authors.
Part of the problem with reaching an accurate count may be that overstretched hospitals have been unable to cope with the numbers of potential cases needing to be screened. Hundreds of residents with fevers posted on social media Wednesday night that they had been turned away from overloaded Wuhan hospitals while seeking screening. The posts were deleted by the following morning.
In one case, a man from Liaoning province who sought treatment in a Wuhan hospital on Jan. 12 was simply prescribed oral medication and turned away, according to a notice posted by the Liaoning Public Health Commission. Five days later, he flew to Dalian, a major city in Liaoning, for further care as his symptoms worsened and were diagnosed as coronavirus pneumonia. He is currently in critical condition.
Wuhan says it will add 3,400 more beds to hospitals that are equipped to treat the virus, bringing the overall number to 5,400 and indicating that authorities expect the scale of the outbreak to grow. Caixin, an independent Chinese-language outlet, quoted doctors in Wuhan saying they expected the outbreak to eventually infect as many as 6,000 people, though they did not give a timeline. SARS, which also belongs to the coronavirus family, infected more than 8,000 from 2002 to 2003.
Hospitals are struggling to find enough doctors to treat the growing numbers of patients. An account of a 23-year-old man who was treated for the virus and eventually released last week described how his doctors had been transferred from other institutions within Wuhan and even from as far away as Beijing. As the crisis worsened, they worked 16 hours a day, "from dawn to dusk."


npr--2020-01-22--Juice WRLD Cause Of Death Was Accidental Overdose

Juice WRLD Cause Of Death Was Accidental Overdose The sudden death of rapper Juice WRLD as he landed in Chicago last month , was caused by an accidental overdose of codeine and oxycodone , the Cook County Medical Examiner 's office revealed Wednesday .
`` The manner of death is accident , '' the office tweeted .
Juice WRLD , whose given name was Jarad Anthony Higgins , suffered a seizure shortly after arriving at Midway International Airport on Dec. 8 , the Chicago Police Department said .
He was quickly transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rapper had oxycodone , an opioid that is a pain killer , and codeine in his system follows initial reports that a federal agent who was at the airport to search the plane administered the opioid antidote Narcan to the performer after he 'd gone into convulsions , '' the Associated Press reported .
Several of the people who had accompanied the 21-year-old singer on the flight from Los Angeles to his hometown of Chicago , were arrested for possession of a firearm , the Chicago Sun-Times reported .
Juice WRLD often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a 2018 interview with The New York Times , he said he was trying to curb his use of Xanax .
`` I smoke weed , and every now and then I slip up and do something that 's poor judgment , '' he said .
`` I have a lot going for me , I recognize it 's a lot of big things , a lot of big looks .
I want to be there , and you do n't have to overdose to not be there . ''

Juice WRLD Cause Of Death Was Accidental Overdose
Enlarge this image toggle caption Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The sudden death of rapper Juice WRLD as he landed in Chicago last month, was caused by an accidental overdose of codeine and oxycodone, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office revealed Wednesday.
"The manner of death is accident," the office tweeted.
Juice WRLD, whose given name was Jarad Anthony Higgins, suffered a seizure shortly after arriving at Midway International Airport on Dec. 8, the Chicago Police Department said. He was quickly transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.
"The announcement that the rapper had oxycodone, an opioid that is a pain killer, and codeine in his system follows initial reports that a federal agent who was at the airport to search the plane administered the opioid antidote Narcan to the performer after he'd gone into convulsions," the Associated Press reported.
Several of the people who had accompanied the 21-year-old singer on the flight from Los Angeles to his hometown of Chicago, were arrested for possession of a firearm, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Juice WRLD often sang about his own drug use.
In a 2018 interview with The New York Times, he said he was trying to curb his use of Xanax.
"I smoke weed, and every now and then I slip up and do something that's poor judgment," he said. "I have a lot going for me, I recognize it's a lot of big things, a lot of big looks. I want to be there, and you don't have to overdose to not be there."