csmonitor--2020-07-31--Bringing light to the news, for those who can’t hear it (video)

In emergency situations , deaf and hard of hearing people are often the last to know .
As COVID-19 swept the United States , government briefings and hospitals have failed at times to provide sign language interpreters .
News updates in written English aren ’ t necessarily accessible , since English is a second language for many deaf and hard of hearing Americans .
For this group of more than 10 million people nationwide , the biggest source of sign language news comes from a small home studio near Detroit , with just one full-time staffer .
Every weekday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ASL ) to deliver briefings of top news in the U.S. and beyond .
His 5-year-old online channel , The Daily Moth , has more than 200,000 followers on Facebook .
Mr. Abenchuchan also regularly covers issues within the deaf and hard of hearing community .
This year , he has told stories of deaf essential workers , deaf COVID-19 patients , as well as deaf victims of police violence .
The Daily Moth is one of only a handful of professional ASL news platforms .
From closed captions on his videos to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shirt , Mr. Abenchuchan 's news is designed to be fully accessible for every community .
But his work is also about telling a good story – and striving for credibility – like any other journalist .
“ There has never been anything like The Daily Moth before , ” says Stacy Nowak , professor of communication at Gallaudet University in Washington , D.C. , a leading university for deaf and hard of hearing people .
” And in some instances , it really saves [ deaf people ’ s ] lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can finally understand , ” she says in ASL .
This story is meant to be watched in video format , but we understand that is not an option for everybody .
For those who are unable to watch or listen , we have provided a transcript of the video below .
The video opens with close-ups of a person ’ s hands switching on professional studio lights and a camera .
Then we see Alex , framed in the camera ’ s monitor , wearing a dark-colored shirt , and sitting against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energetic , conveying a sense of expectation and excitement .
Alex gazes into the lens , and starts to sign in ASL .
Female narrator : This is Alex Abenchuchan , a pioneer in American Sign Language journalism .
The video cuts to Alex ’ s published July 9 , 2020 news broadcast on his Facebook channel .
The report plays on a laptop , which is placed on a desk against a window .
This setup is created by the video producer to show Alex ’ s published work .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some newspapers , on the right side is a lamp .
The published July 9th report shows Alex on the right side of the screen .
The screen ’ s upper left area shows images of George Floyd and the ex-police officers involved in his killing .
Text beneath the images reads : “ George Floyd said ‘ I can ’ t breathe ’ almost thirty times.
” Alex signs .
Narrator : Alex started The Daily Moth , an online daily news show , in 2015 , and has since become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hearing Americans .
In the same setup with the laptop on the desk , we see a close-up of The Daily Moth ’ s logo on the channel ’ s Facebook page .
The logo shows a moth covering part of the bottom of a light bulb .
Then we see a hand scroll through The Daily Moth ’ s Facebook page , showing the icons of previous video reports , many of them featuring Alex .
A close-up of the Facebook page shows the text : 210.2K followers .
The video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sitting in his studio by his desk .
Text near the bottom of the screen indicates Alex ’ s name and his job as the host of The Daily Moth .
The video cuts to a scene of Alex interviewing a man via video call .
Alex sits at his computer in his studio , and the two chat in ASL .
Alex asks the guest , “ How does it work with online classes ?
What does it look like ?
” Narrator : As COVID-19 and racial unrest swept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues facing deaf patients , deaf first responders , as well as deaf victims of police violence .
During the narration , the video cuts back to the earlier setup with the laptop on the desk .
As the narrator lists the topics covered by The Daily Moth , the laptop shows clips from the corresponding reports .
In the first clip , a man describes his symptoms .
In the second clip , a police officer talks about wearing masks .
And in the third clip , a Black deaf man points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white photo .
The video cuts to a close-up of a cell phone , placed on the desk near the laptop .
The phone plays two video messages to Alex from his fans .
In the first message , a man signs slowly and emphatically : “ The Daily Moth is champ !
Clear in a visual language.
” He then makes a heart shape with his hands .
In the second message , a man and a woman both hold out a hand to form a heart shape together for Alex .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stacy Nowak , Professor of communication at Gallaudet University .
Text near the bottom of the screen indicates her name and job title .
She wears a black shirt with Gallaudet University ’ s logo on the chest .
She signs in ASL .
As Stacy explains how The Daily Moth can save lives , the video cuts to slow-motion shots of Alex signing his news report in his studio .
In one shot , he signs the phrase “ wave of COVID-19.
” In the next , he signs “ coronavirus.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex .
In the background , we see his professional light equipment , his teleprompter , and a computer monitor showing The Daily Moth ’ s logo .
The soundtrack changes to a soft , thoughtful tune .
The video cuts to Alex in his studio .
He bends down and places a computer keyboard on the ground , on a spot marked by blue tape just in front of his right foot .
He straightens up , facing his camera , teleprompter , and lights .
He straightens his shirt , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through his teleprompter .
He plays and pauses the rolling text by tapping the keyboard ’ s spacebar with his toes .
The narrator ’ s voice fades in during the scene .
Narrator : Alex is the only full time staffer at The Daily Moth .
He works from his home studio near Detroit , and he designed the space with an eye toward accessibility .
The video cuts to Alex pointing at the studio walls and his shirt as he explains the design .
The video cuts to Alex inserting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer .
In his editing software , he plays an animated version of The Daily Moth ’ s logo , in which the moth flutters away from the light bulb and disappears off screen .
He looks at footage of a black man signing .
Narration fades in .
Narrator : Information accessibility is vital for the more than 10 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans nationwide .
But as COVID-19 hit , many have encountered significant barriers , as hospitals and official briefings have failed at times to provide interpreters or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earlier setup with the laptop on the desk .
The laptop shows two news headlines .
The first one , from The Los Angeles Times , reads : “ Coronavirus poses added challenges for hospital patients who are deaf and hard of hearing.
” The second one , from CNN , reads : “ Deaf Americans are urging the White House to use sign language interpreters at coronavirus briefings.
” The video then cuts to an interview with Howard Rosenblum , chief executive of the National Association of the Deaf .
Text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his name and job title .
He stands in front of a poster showing a person ’ s hands making a sign that means “ together.
” Text in all caps next to the hands says , “ NOTHING ABOUT US , WITHOUT US !
” The video cuts to the setup with the laptop on the desk .
The screen shows The Daily Moth ’ s report from May 13 , 2020 .
Alex occupies the right half of the screen and signs .
The screen ’ s upper left area shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo .
Text under the image reads : “ N.Y .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo provides in-frame interpreter after judge ’ s order.
” Alex says , `` U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni ordered Governor Cuomo that he was to immediately provide in-frame interpreting . ''
Alex ’ s video report suddenly pauses at the sound of the spacebar .
The soundtrack also stops , creating a sense of suspense .
Narrator : But you might wonder , why do we need ASL when information is also available in written English ?
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second language for many deaf people .
During the narration , the video cuts to Alex signing the news in his studio .
The soundtrack changes to an energetic , intriguing melody .
A close-up of Alex ’ s teleprompter shows his English script rolling through its screen .
A second close-up shows in Alex ’ s hands in slow-motion , moving across the frame as he signs .
The video cuts to an interview with Stacy Nowak , the professor at Gallaudet University .
The video cuts to a slow-motion shot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea that the US is still in the middle of the first wave of COVID-19 infections .
Alex ’ s right hand traces a curve in the air to represent the first wave .
He then signs the word “ still ” and points at a spot on the imaginary curve .
The video then cuts back to the interview with Alex .
The video cuts to a slow-motion shot , where Alex raises his right arm in a vertical motion to draw Trump Tower , and then moves his left hand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large street painting at the foot of the building .
Narrator : But news isn ’ t just about vivid narratives .
The video cuts back to the interview with Stacy Nowak .
The soundtrack changes to a gentle , thoughtful melody .
The video cuts to Alex typing the script of his broadcast .
An extreme close-up shows the reflection of the computer screen in his eyes .
Behind him , a logo of The Daily Moth , about a foot tall , is propped up on a desk .
Narration : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news , Alex has developed a particular body language .
The video cuts to an interview with Alex .
As Alex explains his use of body language , the video cuts to various shots of Alex recording his show , to illustrate the neutral facial expression that Alex refers to .
In one clip , Alex signs : “ Michael Cohen is now back in federal prison.
” The soundtrack changes to a percussion piece that evokes a sense of wonder .
The video cuts back to the setup with the laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a painting featured on The Daily Moth ’ s Facebook page .
The painting depicts a large , colorful moth and a light bulb against a blue background .
Alex ’ s smiling face is drawn across the moth ’ s back and wings , blending together with patterns on the moth ’ s back .
The video cuts to an interview with Alex .
The video cuts back to the earlier scene of Alex interviewing a man over video chat .
Alex is lit up by large , bright studio lights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs his question to the man , and nods as the man replies .
Narrator : The Daily Moth is one of only a handful of professional ASL news platforms .
The video cuts back to an interview with Howard Rosenblum from the National Association of the Deaf .
The video cuts back to an interview with Alex .
The video cuts to the setup of the laptop on the desk .
We see a close-up of a cell phone , placed on the desk near the laptop .
The phone plays two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the first message , a woman signs : “ Thank you for your hard work .
It helps keep me calm and stay at home and stay safe.
” Then she makes a heart shape with her hands .
The second video shows two men standing side by side .
The one on the left signs emphatically : “ We watch it every day !
Thank you.
” The video then cuts to the laptop on the desk .
The laptop plays the last few seconds of Alex ’ s published July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The video ends .
The logo of The Christian Science Monitor appears , followed by the end credits .
End credits : produced by Jingnan Peng ; cinematography and additional reporting by Adrean Mangiardi ; additional cinematography by Jingnan Peng ; English translations by Deaf Professional News Network ; color correction by Vincent Lomascolo ; voiceover by Jingnan Peng , Noelle Swan , Mark Sappenfield , Clay Collins , and Samantha Laine Perfas ; production supervised by Samantha Laine Perfas .

Information accessibility is vital for the more than 10 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the U.S. But in emergency situations, they are often the last to know. As COVID-19 hit, hospitals and government briefings have failed at times to provide sign language interpreters or accurate captions. News updates in written English aren’t necessarily accessible either, since English is a second language for many deaf Americans, who primarily use American Sign Language (ASL).
For the hundreds of thousands of ASL users nationwide, the biggest source of signed news during COVID-19 comes from a small home studio near Detroit, with just one full-time staffer.
Every weekday, Alex Abenchuchan uses ASL to deliver briefings of top news in the U.S. and beyond. His 5-year-old online channel, The Daily Moth, has more than 200,000 followers on Facebook. Mr. Abenchuchan also regularly covers issues within the deaf and hard of hearing community. This year, he has told stories of deaf essential workers, deaf COVID-19 patients, as well as deaf victims of police violence.
The Daily Moth is one of only a handful of professional ASL news platforms, many of which face funding struggles, according to Howard Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf.
From closed captions on his videos to the color of his backdrop and his shirt, Mr. Abenchuchan's news is designed to be accessible for deaf, DeafBlind, as well as hearing and sighted people. But his work is also about telling a good story – and striving for credibility – like any other journalist.
“There has never been anything like The Daily Moth before,” says Stacy Nowak, professor of communication at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a leading university for deaf and hard of hearing people. ”And in some instances, it really saves [deaf people’s] lives, because they have access to news they can finally understand,” she says in ASL.
This story is meant to be watched in video format, but we understand that is not an option for everybody. For those who are unable to watch or listen, we have provided a transcript of the video below.
Video Transcript
The video opens with close-ups of a person’s hands switching on professional studio lights and a camera. Then we see Alex, framed in the camera’s monitor, wearing a dark-colored shirt, and sitting against a dark-colored wall. The soundtrack is energetic, conveying a sense of expectation and excitement. Alex gazes into the lens, and starts to sign in ASL.
Alex Abenchuchan: Hello! Welcome to The Daily Moth. It’s Thursday, July 9th. Here are today’s top news briefs.
Female narrator: This is Alex Abenchuchan, a pioneer in American Sign Language journalism.
The video cuts to Alex’s published July 9, 2020 news broadcast on his Facebook channel. The report plays on a laptop, which is placed on a desk against a window. This setup is created by the video producer to show Alex’s published work. On the left side of the laptop are pens and some newspapers, on the right side is a lamp. The published July 9th report shows Alex on the right side of the screen. The screen’s upper left area shows images of George Floyd and the ex-police officers involved in his killing. Text beneath the images reads: “George Floyd said ‘I can’t breathe’ almost thirty times.” Alex signs.
Alex: Floyd’s last three words were: “Please, please, please.”
Narrator: Alex started The Daily Moth, an online daily news show, in 2015, and has since become a household name among deaf and hard of hearing Americans.
In the same setup with the laptop on the desk, we see a close-up of The Daily Moth’s logo on the channel’s Facebook page. The logo shows a moth covering part of the bottom of a light bulb. Then we see a hand scroll through The Daily Moth’s Facebook page, showing the icons of previous video reports, many of them featuring Alex. A close-up of the Facebook page shows the text: 210.2K followers.
The video then cuts to an interview with Alex, sitting in his studio by his desk. Text near the bottom of the screen indicates Alex’s name and his job as the host of The Daily Moth.
Alex: I’m covering the big news in the hearing community, but also the deaf person’s perspective. That’s what I like to do, get that deaf perspective.
The video cuts to a scene of Alex interviewing a man via video call. Alex sits at his computer in his studio, and the two chat in ASL. Alex asks the guest, “How does it work with online classes? What does it look like?”
Narrator: As COVID-19 and racial unrest swept the US, The Daily Moth has covered issues facing deaf patients, deaf first responders, as well as deaf victims of police violence.
During the narration, the video cuts back to the earlier setup with the laptop on the desk. As the narrator lists the topics covered by The Daily Moth, the laptop shows clips from the corresponding reports. In the first clip, a man describes his symptoms. In the second clip, a police officer talks about wearing masks. And in the third clip, a Black deaf man points to a boy in a black and white photo.
The video cuts to a close-up of a cell phone, placed on the desk near the laptop. The phone plays two video messages to Alex from his fans. In the first message, a man signs slowly and emphatically: “The Daily Moth is champ! Clear in a visual language.” He then makes a heart shape with his hands. In the second message, a man and a woman both hold out a hand to form a heart shape together for Alex.
The video cuts to an interview with Stacy Nowak, Professor of communication at Gallaudet University. Text near the bottom of the screen indicates her name and job title. She wears a black shirt with Gallaudet University’s logo on the chest. She signs in ASL.
Stacy Nowak: There has never been anything like The Daily Moth before. With the visual aspect of it, deaf people are more motivated to watch the news. And in some instances, it really saves their lives, because they have access to news they can finally understand.
As Stacy explains how The Daily Moth can save lives, the video cuts to slow-motion shots of Alex signing his news report in his studio. In one shot, he signs the phrase “wave of COVID-19.” In the next, he signs “coronavirus.”
The video cuts to an interview with Alex. In the background, we see his professional light equipment, his teleprompter, and a computer monitor showing The Daily Moth’s logo.
Alex: I love reading and watching the news, movies and documentaries. The storytelling is within me. I need to know what’s happening and I feel like I can’t miss out on knowing.
The soundtrack changes to a soft, thoughtful tune. The video cuts to Alex in his studio. He bends down and places a computer keyboard on the ground, on a spot marked by blue tape just in front of his right foot. He straightens up, facing his camera, teleprompter, and lights. He straightens his shirt, and signs his news report as text rolls through his teleprompter. He plays and pauses the rolling text by tapping the keyboard’s spacebar with his toes. The narrator’s voice fades in during the scene.
Narrator: Alex is the only full time staffer at The Daily Moth. He works from his home studio near Detroit, and he designed the space with an eye toward accessibility.
The video cuts to Alex pointing at the studio walls and his shirt as he explains the design.
Alex: The reason why this is dark is for a DeafBlind audience to be able to clearly see the contrast between the dark colors and my hands. Deaf people who can see also tend to prefer a good contrast color.
The video cuts to Alex inserting the memory card from his camera into his computer. In his editing software, he plays an animated version of The Daily Moth’s logo, in which the moth flutters away from the light bulb and disappears off screen. He looks at footage of a black man signing. Narration fades in.
Narrator: Information accessibility is vital for the more than 10 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans nationwide. But as COVID-19 hit, many have encountered significant barriers, as hospitals and official briefings have failed at times to provide interpreters or accurate captions.
The video cuts to the earlier setup with the laptop on the desk. The laptop shows two news headlines. The first one, from The Los Angeles Times, reads: “Coronavirus poses added challenges for hospital patients who are deaf and hard of hearing.” The second one, from CNN, reads: “Deaf Americans are urging the White House to use sign language interpreters at coronavirus briefings.”
The video then cuts to an interview with Howard Rosenblum, chief executive of the National Association of the Deaf. Text near the bottom of the screen indicates his name and job title. He stands in front of a poster showing a person’s hands making a sign that means “together.” Text in all caps next to the hands says, “NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US!”
Howard Rosenblum: COVID-19 has impacted us in every way and has turned our lives upside down. But deaf and hard of hearing people are usually the last to know, and often don’t realize their rights during times like these.
The video cuts to the setup with the laptop on the desk. The screen shows The Daily Moth’s report from May 13, 2020. Alex occupies the right half of the screen and signs. The screen’s upper left area shows an image of New York governor Andrew Cuomo. Text under the image reads: “N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo provides in-frame interpreter after judge’s order.” Alex says, "U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni ordered Governor Cuomo that he was to immediately provide in-frame interpreting."
Alex’s video report suddenly pauses at the sound of the spacebar. The soundtrack also stops, creating a sense of suspense.
Narrator: But you might wonder, why do we need ASL when information is also available in written English? That’s partly because English is a second language for many deaf people.
During the narration, the video cuts to Alex signing the news in his studio. The soundtrack changes to an energetic, intriguing melody. A close-up of Alex’s teleprompter shows his English script rolling through its screen. A second close-up shows in Alex’s hands in slow-motion, moving across the frame as he signs.
The video cuts to an interview with Stacy Nowak, the professor at Gallaudet University.
Stacy: Deaf people are visual. Often hearing people perceive ASL as being easier, and a simplified, summarized, “good enough” version of English. Really, it’s the opposite. With non-verbal language, we see things differently, and more.
The video cuts to a slow-motion shot of Alex explaining Dr. Anthony Fauci’s idea that the US is still in the middle of the first wave of COVID-19 infections. Alex’s right hand traces a curve in the air to represent the first wave. He then signs the word “still” and points at a spot on the imaginary curve. The video then cuts back to the interview with Alex.
Alex: I try to present the information in 3D and create more of a picture than the English allows for. For instance, news regarding Black Lives Matter street paintings. I use space to show how it’s written on the street in front of Trump Tower.
The video cuts to a slow-motion shot, where Alex raises his right arm in a vertical motion to draw Trump Tower, and then moves his left hand in a horizontal motion, to indicate the large street painting at the foot of the building.
Narrator: But news isn’t just about vivid narratives.
The video cuts back to the interview with Stacy Nowak. The soundtrack changes to a gentle, thoughtful melody.
Stacy: Deaf people can trust him because he cites his sources. If he makes mistakes, he will admit them, or he will correct himself.
The video cuts to Alex typing the script of his broadcast. An extreme close-up shows the reflection of the computer screen in his eyes. Behind him, a logo of The Daily Moth, about a foot tall, is propped up on a desk.
Narration: And to remove his own opinion from the news, Alex has developed a particular body language.
The video cuts to an interview with Alex.
Alex: With ASL, I use my facial expressions to express tone. With my news briefs, I aim for a more monotonous delivery to remain neutral and unbiased. That means I have to tone down my facial expressions. However, I still emphasize information as needed. There’s a little bit of an art to it.
As Alex explains his use of body language, the video cuts to various shots of Alex recording his show, to illustrate the neutral facial expression that Alex refers to. In one clip, Alex signs: “Michael Cohen is now back in federal prison.”
The soundtrack changes to a percussion piece that evokes a sense of wonder. The video cuts back to the setup with the laptop on the desk. The laptop shows a painting featured on The Daily Moth’s Facebook page. The painting depicts a large, colorful moth and a light bulb against a blue background. Alex’s smiling face is drawn across the moth’s back and wings, blending together with patterns on the moth’s back. The video cuts to an interview with Alex.
Alex: Why did I name it The Daily Moth? Deaf people tend to flock towards light, especially bright light. If there’s a deaf event in someone’s house, deaf people tend to gather in the kitchen, because that’s where the light’s the brightest. The bright light gives us the energy to socialize with others. And ASL is a visual language.
The video cuts back to the earlier scene of Alex interviewing a man over video chat. Alex is lit up by large, bright studio lights, positioned behind the computer screen. He signs his question to the man, and nods as the man replies.
Narrator: The Daily Moth is one of only a handful of professional ASL news platforms.
The video cuts back to an interview with Howard Rosenblum from the National Association of the Deaf.
Howard: The Daily Moth and other similar groups have funding struggles.
The video cuts back to an interview with Alex.
Alex: Deaf people go through so many struggles on a daily basis. We face discrimination. Sometimes we need laws passed that support and improve our quality of life. Without deaf journalism, those discussions can only occur in small pockets on social media.
The video cuts to the setup of the laptop on the desk. We see a close-up of a cell phone, placed on the desk near the laptop. The phone plays two messages to Alex from audience members. In the first message, a woman signs: “Thank you for your hard work. It helps keep me calm and stay at home and stay safe.” Then she makes a heart shape with her hands. The second video shows two men standing side by side. The one on the left signs emphatically: “We watch it every day! Thank you.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
The video then cuts to the laptop on the desk. The laptop plays the last few seconds of Alex’s published July 9th news report. Alex signs.
Alex: That’s all the news for today. See you tomorrow, and stay with the light.
The video ends. The logo of The Christian Science Monitor appears, followed by the end credits. End credits: produced by Jingnan Peng; cinematography and additional reporting by Adrean Mangiardi; additional cinematography by Jingnan Peng; English translations by Deaf Professional News Network; color correction by Vincent Lomascolo; voiceover by Jingnan Peng, Noelle Swan, Mark Sappenfield, Clay Collins, and Samantha Laine Perfas; production supervised by Samantha Laine Perfas.


csmonitor--2020-07-31--Can roadsides offer a beeline for pollinators?

“ You drive along the roadside at 60 miles per hour and see splashes of color , and you recognize that there are probably flowers out there , ” says Jennifer Hopwood , senior pollinator conservation expert for The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation , an environmental nonprofit based in Portland , Oregon .
“ We have to be really creative about finding ways to support pollinators in where we live , where we work , where we travel .
… So roadsides are a piece of that puzzle.
” In one program in Connecticut , transportation officials identify roadsides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire hazard or a threat to motorists ’ safety .
Then plant life is surveyed and , if needed , seeds are planted .
Since the end of the 20th century , many pollinator species , including monarch butterflies , European honey bees , and many different kinds of bumblebees , have faced a steep population decline .
But a network of highway departments , government agencies , and conservation groups are taking steps to create a habitat for them using a resource to which most of us pay very little mind : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side of the road .
It ’ s early morning in Meriden , Connecticut , and a foraging bee is making its way from flower to flower , stopping here for a sip of nectar , there for a nibble of pollen .
It floats into a patch of flowers , unperturbed by the waves of tailwind from passing vehicles .
Here , at Exit 67 off the Wilbur Cross Highway , there is plenty to snack on .
The small patch of wild growth is here by design .
Specifically , Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a transportation landscape designer at Connecticut ’ s Department of Transportation ( DOT ) , and he ’ s watched this swath of highway-side grow into a verdant pollinator habitat .
“ I ’ m encouraged , ” he says of the wildflowers popping up after a few seasons of cutting back on mowing .
“ You just have to see what comes up.
” Mr. Boone is part of a national network of government agencies , highway divisions , and conservation groups working to set aside public land on the sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In practice , that largely means reduced mowing .
Such programs mark a shift toward maintaining highways with an eye on wildlife conservation .
“ You drive along the roadside at 60 miles per hour and see splashes of color , and you recognize that there are probably flowers out there , ” says Jennifer Hopwood , senior pollinator conservation expert for The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation , an environmental nonprofit based in Portland , Oregon .
“ We have to be really creative about finding ways to support pollinators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where we travel .
… So roadsides are a piece of that puzzle.
” That jigsaw is taking shape along Connecticut ’ s highways , a few years after the state ’ s DOT started setting aside roadside spots for pollinator habitat .
“ It ’ s a developing program ” without so much as an official name , Mr. Boone says , and “ a whole different strategy ” from the norm of frequent mowing .
It works like this : Mr. Boone or local officials identify roadsides that could grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or obstructing drainage , drivers ’ sightlines , or access to roadside structures .
Then , Mr. Boone surveys the existing plant life .
“ There may be some nice things already in there , ” he says , listing some options over the phone – black-eyed Susan , big bluestem , and goldenrod are good signs .
“ In that case , let ’ s just leave it alone , ” he says .
Otherwise , he ’ ll plant seeds and wait for blooms .
Ms. Hopwood is also no stranger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent a summer in the early 2000s counting bees on Kansas ’ sprawling prairie roadsides for research .
What was then a nascent field of study has since been endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration and bolstered by former President Barack Obama ’ s 2015 monarch butterfly corridor plan .
Today , at least 33 states have integrated pollinator habitats onto their roadsides , according to the Federal Highway Administration ’ s website .
But that kind of individual initiative has a flip side , says Evan Abramson , pollination systems designer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based in Northampton , Massachusetts , designs ecological landscapes .
“ Seeing lots of bees on the landscape , or seeing lots of pollinators , doesn ’ t necessarily mean that it ’ s pollinator-friendly , because [ the insects ] all might be just one or two species , ” he says .
Basically , “ not all pollinators are in trouble , ” echoes Robert Gegear , a conservation biologist , assistant professor of biology at University of Massachusetts , Dartmouth , and scientific consultant at Landscape Interactions .
Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fields conservation land in Lincoln , Massachusetts .
He points out a common eastern bumblebee in a clump of red clover .
This bee species isn ’ t in trouble , he says , unlike the half-black bumblebee buzzing nearby .
But making a truly biodiverse pollinator habitat requires lots of site-specific research and planning , not to mention time ; Dr. Gegear comes to the Browning Field conservation site every week .
The good thing is , that information can be shared within habitat regions , says Mr. Abramson .
Information sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCargo , founder and executive director of the Wild Seed Project , a nonprofit in Portland , Maine , that promotes native plants .
Ms. McCargo wrote a 176-page field guide of plant species and their preferred mowing practices with Maine DOT in 2018 .
She hoped it would become a resource for highway maintenance workers .
“ They should not assume every plant they see is bad or needs to be mowed , ” she said , pointing to plant identification apps as another easy resource .
“ It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interest is growing , Ms. McCargo says , though “ the process is really slow.
” But at Mr. Boone ’ s highway plots , things are progressing nicely .
“ The reduced mowing alone is having a great impact , ” he says .
Next year at one site , Mr. Boone is planning to transplant existing wildflowers in hopes of propagating over a bald spot .
A doable strategy for other DOTs : “ Just start with what you can manage.
” As cars and bicyclists whiz by the conservation land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the undergrowth , their armored backs to a blazing sun .
Dr. Gegear shoulders his butterfly net and peers at a bee in the flowers .
“ We need to target the ones that are in trouble , ” he says .
“ We need to have a more comprehensive approach .
”

Sometimes the best solution is a light touch. This can be especially true when it comes to protecting threatened wildlife.
“You drive along the roadside at 60 miles per hour and see splashes of color, and you recognize that there are probably flowers out there,” says Jennifer Hopwood, senior pollinator conservation expert for The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, an environmental nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. “We have to be really creative about finding ways to support pollinators in where we live, where we work, where we travel. … So roadsides are a piece of that puzzle.”
In one program in Connecticut, transportation officials identify roadsides that could grow wild without posing a fire hazard or a threat to motorists’ safety. Then plant life is surveyed and, if needed, seeds are planted.
Since the end of the 20th century, many pollinator species, including monarch butterflies, European honey bees, and many different kinds of bumblebees, have faced a steep population decline. But a network of highway departments, government agencies, and conservation groups are taking steps to create a habitat for them using a resource to which most of us pay very little mind: the grassy strips of land on the side of the road.
It’s early morning in Meriden, Connecticut, and a foraging bee is making its way from flower to flower, stopping here for a sip of nectar, there for a nibble of pollen. It floats into a patch of flowers, unperturbed by the waves of tailwind from passing vehicles. Here, at Exit 67 off the Wilbur Cross Highway, there is plenty to snack on.
The small patch of wild growth is here by design. Specifically, Adam Boone’s design. He’s a transportation landscape designer at Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (DOT), and he’s watched this swath of highway-side grow into a verdant pollinator habitat.
“I’m encouraged,” he says of the wildflowers popping up after a few seasons of cutting back on mowing. “You just have to see what comes up.”
Why We Wrote This Sometimes the best solution is a light touch. This can be especially true when it comes to protecting threatened wildlife.
Mr. Boone is part of a national network of government agencies, highway divisions, and conservation groups working to set aside public land on the sides of highways as habitat for declining pollinators. In practice, that largely means reduced mowing. Such programs mark a shift toward maintaining highways with an eye on wildlife conservation.
“You drive along the roadside at 60 miles per hour and see splashes of color, and you recognize that there are probably flowers out there,” says Jennifer Hopwood, senior pollinator conservation expert for The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, an environmental nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. “We have to be really creative about finding ways to support pollinators in where we live, where we work, where we travel. … So roadsides are a piece of that puzzle.”
That jigsaw is taking shape along Connecticut’s highways, a few years after the state’s DOT started setting aside roadside spots for pollinator habitat. “It’s a developing program” without so much as an official name, Mr. Boone says, and “a whole different strategy” from the norm of frequent mowing.
It works like this: Mr. Boone or local officials identify roadsides that could grow wild without turning into a fire hazard or obstructing drainage, drivers’ sightlines, or access to roadside structures. Then, Mr. Boone surveys the existing plant life. “There may be some nice things already in there,” he says, listing some options over the phone – black-eyed Susan, big bluestem, and goldenrod are good signs. “In that case, let’s just leave it alone,” he says. Otherwise, he’ll plant seeds and wait for blooms.
Jules Struck/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption A car drives by the grassy roadside at Browning Fields conservation land in Lincoln, Massachusetts, July 28, 2020. Reduced mowing alone on roadsides can increase pollinator habitats.
Roadside attraction
Ms. Hopwood is also no stranger to tramping around roadside habitats. She spent a summer in the early 2000s counting bees on Kansas’ sprawling prairie roadsides for research. What was then a nascent field of study has since been endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration and bolstered by former President Barack Obama’s 2015 monarch butterfly corridor plan. Today, at least 33 states have integrated pollinator habitats onto their roadsides, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s website.
But that kind of individual initiative has a flip side, says Evan Abramson, pollination systems designer and planner at Landscape Interactions. His company, based in Northampton, Massachusetts, designs ecological landscapes.
“Seeing lots of bees on the landscape, or seeing lots of pollinators, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s pollinator-friendly, because [the insects] all might be just one or two species,” he says.
Basically, “not all pollinators are in trouble,” echoes Robert Gegear, a conservation biologist, assistant professor of biology at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and scientific consultant at Landscape Interactions.
Dr. Gegear is wading through wildflowers at Browning Fields conservation land in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He points out a common eastern bumblebee in a clump of red clover. This bee species isn’t in trouble, he says, unlike the half-black bumblebee buzzing nearby.
Jules Struck/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Robert Gegear spent the morning counting bee species at Browning Fields conservation land in Lincoln, Massachusetts, July 28, 2020. "We need to think more about what the threatened species need in terms of floral resources," he said.
A “more comprehensive approach”
But making a truly biodiverse pollinator habitat requires lots of site-specific research and planning, not to mention time; Dr. Gegear comes to the Browning Field conservation site every week. The good thing is, that information can be shared within habitat regions, says Mr. Abramson.
Information sharing is a big hurdle, says Heather McCargo, founder and executive director of the Wild Seed Project, a nonprofit in Portland, Maine, that promotes native plants. Ms. McCargo wrote a 176-page field guide of plant species and their preferred mowing practices with Maine DOT in 2018. She hoped it would become a resource for highway maintenance workers.
“They should not assume every plant they see is bad or needs to be mowed,” she said, pointing to plant identification apps as another easy resource. “It’s just, mowing has become the default.”
Interest is growing, Ms. McCargo says, though “the process is really slow.”
But at Mr. Boone’s highway plots, things are progressing nicely. “The reduced mowing alone is having a great impact,” he says. Next year at one site, Mr. Boone is planning to transplant existing wildflowers in hopes of propagating over a bald spot.
A doable strategy for other DOTs: “Just start with what you can manage.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
As cars and bicyclists whiz by the conservation land in Lincoln, beetles march purposefully through the undergrowth, their armored backs to a blazing sun.
Dr. Gegear shoulders his butterfly net and peers at a bee in the flowers. “We need to target the ones that are in trouble,” he says. “We need to have a more comprehensive approach.”


csmonitor--2020-07-31--The pandemic’s food crisis sparks a green revolution

As global crises go , the pandemic has had its fair share of teachable moments .
One was the sudden shortage of food .
Starting in March , the pipeline of food delivery from farms to stores broke down , creating shopper panic and hoarding .
Lockdowns kept people at home wondering how to feed themselves .
To its credit , Britain has begun to use the crisis to rethink its entire food system .
According to an official report this week , the new vulnerability in food has opened “ an unplanned window of opportunity ... to learn something.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of several to come , but it explains why a national food strategy is now necessary : “ Our food system has just endured its biggest stress test since the Second World War .
As COVID-19 swept through the UK , the entire machinery of supply and distribution had to be recalibrated , fast.
” The British food industry was able to innovate solutions around the logjams and lockdowns .
Yet , according to the report ’ s author , Henry Dimbleby , people must think more deeply about the “ big , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , such as climate change and Britain ’ s exit from the European Union .
The report calls for a “ new green revolution ” to create sustainable agriculture , even to reevaluate humanity ’ s relationship with nature .
That revolution , according to the report , ranges from using robots for picking crops to building high-rise greenhouses powered by solar panels in cities .
Britain ’ s nimble response helps set a precedent for poorer countries still struggling with COVID-19 .
The World Food Program predicts more than 135 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
And global poverty is expected to rise for the first time in more than 20 years .
Beyond specific solutions , Britain ’ s greatest contribution may be its spirit of innovation , which is never in short supply .
The pandemic has forced many industries such as health and education to improvise solutions .
But the crisis can also bring a lasting reinvention of core human activities .

As global crises go, the pandemic has had its fair share of teachable moments. One was the sudden shortage of food. Starting in March, the pipeline of food delivery from farms to stores broke down, creating shopper panic and hoarding. Lockdowns kept people at home wondering how to feed themselves. To its credit, Britain has begun to use the crisis to rethink its entire food system. According to an official report this week, the new vulnerability in food has opened “an unplanned window of opportunity ... to learn something.”
The report is only the first of several to come, but it explains why a national food strategy is now necessary: “Our food system has just endured its biggest stress test since the Second World War. As COVID-19 swept through the UK, the entire machinery of supply and distribution had to be recalibrated, fast.”
The British food industry was able to innovate solutions around the logjams and lockdowns. Yet, according to the report’s author, Henry Dimbleby, people must think more deeply about the “big, existential risks” to food security beyond the pandemic, such as climate change and Britain’s exit from the European Union.
The report calls for a “new green revolution” to create sustainable agriculture, even to reevaluate humanity’s relationship with nature. That revolution, according to the report, ranges from using robots for picking crops to building high-rise greenhouses powered by solar panels in cities.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Britain’s nimble response helps set a precedent for poorer countries still struggling with COVID-19. The World Food Program predicts more than 135 million people could be in severe hunger this year. And global poverty is expected to rise for the first time in more than 20 years.
Beyond specific solutions, Britain’s greatest contribution may be its spirit of innovation, which is never in short supply. The pandemic has forced many industries such as health and education to improvise solutions. But the crisis can also bring a lasting reinvention of core human activities.


csmonitor--2020-07-31--US economy takes record-breaking GDP plunge as virus cases surge

The coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy plunging by a record-shattering 32.9 % annual rate last quarter and is still inflicting damage across the country , squeezing already struggling businesses , and forcing a wave of layoffs that shows no sign of abating .
The economy ’ s collapse in the April-June quarter , stunning in its speed and depth , came as a resurgence of the viral outbreak has pushed businesses to close for a second time in many areas .
The government ’ s estimate of the second-quarter fall in the gross domestic product has no comparison since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst quarterly contraction – at 10 % , less than a third of what was reported Thursday – occurred in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration .
Soon after the government issued the bleak economic data , President Donald Trump diverted attention by suggesting a “ delay ” in the Nov. 3 presidential election , based on his unsubstantiated allegations that widespread mail-in voting will result in fraud .
The dates of presidential elections are enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change .
So steep was the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sharp rebound for the current July-September period .
But with coronavirus cases rising in the majority of states and the Republican Senate proposing to scale back aid to the unemployed , the economic recovery may be slow .
The plunge in GDP “ underscores the unprecedented hit to the economy from the pandemic , ” said Andrew Hunter , senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics .
“ We expect it will take years for that damage to be fully recovered.
” That ’ s because the response to the virus has cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy – consumer spending , which accounts for about 70 % of activity .
That spending collapsed at a 34.6 % annual rate last quarter as people holed up in their homes , travel all but froze , and shutdown orders forced many restaurants , bars , entertainment venues , and other retail establishments to close .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed more than 200 points down Thursday – though earlier it had seemed set for a much bigger fall .
Tentative hopes for a swift economic recovery have been diminished by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South and the West that has forced many businesses to close again or reduce occupancy .
Between June 21 and July 19 , for example , the proportion of Texas bars that were closed shot from 25 % to 73 % .
Likewise , 75 % of California beauty shops were shuttered July 19 , up from 40 % just a week earlier , according to the data firm Womply .
The second surge does appear to be leveling off , but cases are still rising in close to 30 states .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states that have reported high levels of cases , hurting hotels , airlines , and other industries that depend on travel .
That has led to mammoth job losses .
In a sign of how weakened the job market remains , more than 1.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week .
It was the 19th straight week that more than 1 million people have applied for jobless aid .
Before the coronavirus erupted in March in the United States , the number of Americans seeking unemployment checks had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even during the Great Recession .
An additional 830,000 people applied for unemployment benefits under a new program that extends eligibility for the first time to self-employed and gig workers .
All told , the government says roughly 30 million people are receiving some form of jobless aid , though that figure might be inflated by double-counting by some states .
The pain could soon intensify further : A supplemental $ 600 in weekly federal unemployment benefits is expiring , and Congress is squabbling about extending the aid , which will probably be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The risk of temporary job losses becoming permanent is high from repeated closures of businesses , ” said Rubeela Farooqi , chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics .
“ That could result in an even slower pace of recovery.
” Last quarter ’ s economic drop followed a 5 % fall in the January-March quarter , during which the economy officially entered a recession , ending an 11-year economic expansion , the longest on record in the U.S .
The Trump campaign said in a statement that the GDP report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy was essentially closed down to save millions of American lives.
” The economic harm from the response to the virus is extending well beyond the U.S. On Thursday , Germany reported that its GDP tumbled 10.1 % last quarter .
It was the biggest such drop since records began in 1970 .
And Mexico ’ s GDP sank 17.3 % last quarter , also a record .
Unlike the U.S. figures , those numbers are not annualized rates .
As a result of the uncertain economic outlook , many employers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid off by a tech industry nonprofit in mid-May , Miranda Meyerson has been trying to find another job and to sign up for unemployment benefits .
“ It ’ s just incredibly frustrating and demoralizing , ’ ’ she said .
“ Nobody gets back to you , ’ ’ said Ms. Meyerson .
“ You feel like there ’ s only so long you can submit [ applications ] into a void.
’ ’ Ms. Meyerson and her partner had moved from New York to Oakland , California , in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far futile , to collect benefits from a swamped California unemployment benefits system .
Many economists note that the economy can ’ t fully recover until the pandemic is defeated – a point stressed Wednesday at a news conference by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell .
He warned that the viral epidemic has been endangering a modest economic recovery and that , as a result , the Fed plans to keep interest rates pinned near zero well into the future .
“ A poorly managed health situation and depressed incomes means the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal aid , ” said Gregory Daco , chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics .
Mr. Daco said the expiration of the $ 600 in federal unemployment aid means that many households could suffer a loss of income in the range of 50 % to 75 % .
That could further weaken spending , thereby fueling a downward economic spiral .
“ The economy , ” Mr. Daco said , “ is going to be running on very little fuel at a point when the recovery has really stalled.
” This story was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy plunging by a record-shattering 32.9% annual rate last quarter and is still inflicting damage across the country, squeezing already struggling businesses, and forcing a wave of layoffs that shows no sign of abating.
The economy’s collapse in the April-June quarter, stunning in its speed and depth, came as a resurgence of the viral outbreak has pushed businesses to close for a second time in many areas. The government’s estimate of the second-quarter fall in the gross domestic product has no comparison since records began in 1947. The previous worst quarterly contraction – at 10%, less than a third of what was reported Thursday – occurred in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration.
Soon after the government issued the bleak economic data, President Donald Trump diverted attention by suggesting a “delay” in the Nov. 3 presidential election, based on his unsubstantiated allegations that widespread mail-in voting will result in fraud. The dates of presidential elections are enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change.
So steep was the economic fall last quarter that most analysts expect a sharp rebound for the current July-September period. But with coronavirus cases rising in the majority of states and the Republican Senate proposing to scale back aid to the unemployed, the economic recovery may be slow.
The plunge in GDP “underscores the unprecedented hit to the economy from the pandemic,” said Andrew Hunter, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics. “We expect it will take years for that damage to be fully recovered.”
That’s because the response to the virus has cut power to the engine of the American economy – consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of activity. That spending collapsed at a 34.6% annual rate last quarter as people holed up in their homes, travel all but froze, and shutdown orders forced many restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and other retail establishments to close.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed more than 200 points down Thursday – though earlier it had seemed set for a much bigger fall.
Tentative hopes for a swift economic recovery have been diminished by a resurgence of viral cases in the South and the West that has forced many businesses to close again or reduce occupancy. Between June 21 and July 19, for example, the proportion of Texas bars that were closed shot from 25% to 73%. Likewise, 75% of California beauty shops were shuttered July 19, up from 40% just a week earlier, according to the data firm Womply.
The second surge does appear to be leveling off, but cases are still rising in close to 30 states.
Many states have imposed restrictions on visitors from the states that have reported high levels of cases, hurting hotels, airlines, and other industries that depend on travel.
That has led to mammoth job losses. In a sign of how weakened the job market remains, more than 1.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. It was the 19th straight week that more than 1 million people have applied for jobless aid. Before the coronavirus erupted in March in the United States, the number of Americans seeking unemployment checks had never exceeded 700,000 in any one week, even during the Great Recession.
An additional 830,000 people applied for unemployment benefits under a new program that extends eligibility for the first time to self-employed and gig workers. All told, the government says roughly 30 million people are receiving some form of jobless aid, though that figure might be inflated by double-counting by some states.
The pain could soon intensify further: A supplemental $600 in weekly federal unemployment benefits is expiring, and Congress is squabbling about extending the aid, which will probably be done at some reduced level of payment.
“The risk of temporary job losses becoming permanent is high from repeated closures of businesses,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “That could result in an even slower pace of recovery.”
Last quarter’s economic drop followed a 5% fall in the January-March quarter, during which the economy officially entered a recession, ending an 11-year economic expansion, the longest on record in the U.S.
The Trump campaign said in a statement that the GDP report reflected a period “when much of the economy was essentially closed down to save millions of American lives.”
The economic harm from the response to the virus is extending well beyond the U.S. On Thursday, Germany reported that its GDP tumbled 10.1% last quarter. It was the biggest such drop since records began in 1970. And Mexico’s GDP sank 17.3% last quarter, also a record. Unlike the U.S. figures, those numbers are not annualized rates.
As a result of the uncertain economic outlook, many employers are delaying hiring decisions. Since she was laid off by a tech industry nonprofit in mid-May, Miranda Meyerson has been trying to find another job and to sign up for unemployment benefits.
“It’s just incredibly frustrating and demoralizing,’’ she said. “Nobody gets back to you,’’ said Ms. Meyerson. “You feel like there’s only so long you can submit [applications] into a void.’’
Ms. Meyerson and her partner had moved from New York to Oakland, California, in March. The move complicated her efforts, so far futile, to collect benefits from a swamped California unemployment benefits system.
Many economists note that the economy can’t fully recover until the pandemic is defeated – a point stressed Wednesday at a news conference by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He warned that the viral epidemic has been endangering a modest economic recovery and that, as a result, the Fed plans to keep interest rates pinned near zero well into the future.
“A poorly managed health situation and depressed incomes means the economy risks a double-dip recession without urgent fiscal aid,” said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.
Mr. Daco said the expiration of the $600 in federal unemployment aid means that many households could suffer a loss of income in the range of 50% to 75%. That could further weaken spending, thereby fueling a downward economic spiral.
“The economy,” Mr. Daco said, “is going to be running on very little fuel at a point when the recovery has really stalled.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-31--Fauci heads to Congress with a warning: Stay vigilant

There 's no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic , Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top government health experts will tell Congress on Friday .
`` While it remains unclear how long the pandemic will last , COVID-19 activity will likely continue for some time , '' Dr. Fauci , along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Dr. Robert Redfield and Health and Human Services testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir say in prepared testimony for a special House panel investigating the pandemic .
At a time when early progress seems to have been lost and uncertainty clouds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci , the government 's top infectious disease expert , is calling on lawmakers – and all other Americans – to go back to public health basics such as social distancing and wearing masks .
The panel , the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis , is divided about how to reopen schools and businesses , mirroring divisions among Americans .
A rebound of cases across the South and the West has dashed hopes for a quick return to normal life .
Problems with the availability and timeliness of testing continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine , though progressing rapidly , has yet to deliver a breakthrough .
Dr. Fauci 's public message in recent days has been that Americans ca n't afford a devil-may-care attitude toward COVID-19 and need to double down on basic measures such as wearing masks in public , keeping their distance from others , and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces such as bars .
That 's echoed by Dr. Redfield and Admiral Giroir , though they are far less prominent .
Dr. Fauci 's dogged persistence has drawn the ire of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted a new round of calls for his firing .
But the veteran of battles against AIDS and Ebola has stuck to his message , while carefully avoiding open confrontations with the Trump White House .
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week , Dr. Fauci said he was `` disturbed '' by the flat-out opposition in parts of the country to wearing masks as a public health protective measure .
`` There are certain fundamentals , '' he said , `` the staples of what you need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Public health experts say masks help prevent an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms from passing the virus to others .
For mask wearers , there 's also some evidence that they can offer a degree of protection from an infected person nearby .
Dr. Fauci said in his AP interview that he 's concerned because the U.S. has not followed the track of Asian and European nations also hit hard by the coronavirus .
Other countries that shut down their economies knocked back uncontrolled spread and settled into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although they continued to experience local outbreaks .
The U.S. also knocked back the initial spread , but it never got the background level of new cases quite as low .
And the resurgence of COVID-19 in the Sunbelt in recent weeks has driven the number of new daily cases back up into the 60,000-70,000 range .
It coincided with economic reopening and a return to social gatherings , particularly among younger adults .
Growing numbers of emergency room visits , hospitalizations , and deaths have followed as grim consequences .
Nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the pandemic , and more than 150,000 have died , according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
Dr. Fauci said there 's evidence the surge across the South may be peaking , but upticks in the Midwest are now a concern .
`` They 've really got to jump all over that because if they do n't then you might see the surge we saw in some of the Southern states , '' he told the AP .
Though Dr. Fauci gets push-back from White House officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the same page when it comes to the public health message .
Admiral Giroir , the testing czar , told reporters Thursday : `` I think it 's very important to make sure that we all spread the public health message that we can control all the outbreaks occurring right now . ''
He said controlling the outbreaks will require people to wear masks , avoid crowded indoor spaces , and wash their hands frequently .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Matthew Perrone

There's no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top government health experts will tell Congress on Friday.
"While it remains unclear how long the pandemic will last, COVID-19 activity will likely continue for some time," Dr. Fauci, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Dr. Robert Redfield and Health and Human Services testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir say in prepared testimony for a special House panel investigating the pandemic.
At a time when early progress seems to have been lost and uncertainty clouds the nation's path forward, Dr. Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, is calling on lawmakers – and all other Americans – to go back to public health basics such as social distancing and wearing masks.
The panel, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, is divided about how to reopen schools and businesses, mirroring divisions among Americans.
A rebound of cases across the South and the West has dashed hopes for a quick return to normal life. Problems with the availability and timeliness of testing continue to be reported. And the race for a vaccine, though progressing rapidly, has yet to deliver a breakthrough.
Dr. Fauci's public message in recent days has been that Americans can't afford a devil-may-care attitude toward COVID-19 and need to double down on basic measures such as wearing masks in public, keeping their distance from others, and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces such as bars. That's echoed by Dr. Redfield and Admiral Giroir, though they are far less prominent.
Dr. Fauci's dogged persistence has drawn the ire of some of President Donald Trump's supporters and prompted a new round of calls for his firing. But the veteran of battles against AIDS and Ebola has stuck to his message, while carefully avoiding open confrontations with the Trump White House.
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week, Dr. Fauci said he was "disturbed" by the flat-out opposition in parts of the country to wearing masks as a public health protective measure.
"There are certain fundamentals," he said, "the staples of what you need to do ... one is universal wearing of masks."
Public health experts say masks help prevent an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms from passing the virus to others. For mask wearers, there's also some evidence that they can offer a degree of protection from an infected person nearby.
Dr. Fauci said in his AP interview that he's concerned because the U.S. has not followed the track of Asian and European nations also hit hard by the coronavirus.
Other countries that shut down their economies knocked back uncontrolled spread and settled into a pattern of relatively few new cases, although they continued to experience local outbreaks.
The U.S. also knocked back the initial spread, but it never got the background level of new cases quite as low. And the resurgence of COVID-19 in the Sunbelt in recent weeks has driven the number of new daily cases back up into the 60,000-70,000 range. It coincided with economic reopening and a return to social gatherings, particularly among younger adults. Growing numbers of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths have followed as grim consequences.
Nearly 4.5 million Americans have been infected since the start of the pandemic, and more than 150,000 have died, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Fauci said there's evidence the surge across the South may be peaking, but upticks in the Midwest are now a concern.
"They've really got to jump all over that because if they don't then you might see the surge we saw in some of the Southern states," he told the AP.
Though Dr. Fauci gets push-back from White House officials, other medical experts in the administration are on the same page when it comes to the public health message.
Admiral Giroir, the testing czar, told reporters Thursday: "I think it's very important to make sure that we all spread the public health message that we can control all the outbreaks occurring right now."
He said controlling the outbreaks will require people to wear masks, avoid crowded indoor spaces, and wash their hands frequently.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-31--Presidential election results could be delayed, but not by Trump

A shift to mail voting is increasing the chances that Americans will not know the winner of November ’ s presidential race on election night .
But that doesn ’ t mean the results will be flawed or fraudulent , as President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday .
Mr. Trump , seeking to already undermine the results of an election he could lose , demanded that the winner of the Nov. 3 contest be known that night .
“ I don ’ t want to be waiting around for weeks and months and literally , potentially if you really did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll never know , ” Mr. Trump told reporters .
The president has repeatedly raised unsubstantiated fears of fraud involving mail-in voting , which is expected to be more widely used in the November election out of concern for safety given the COVID-19 election .
On Thursday , as national and battleground state polls show Mr. Trump in political peril in his race against Democrat Joe Biden , he went even further , floating the idea of delaying the election until it could be conducted in person .
The prospect of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shifting Election Day is also virtually impossible for Mr. Trump on his own ; the date – the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every fourth year – is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change .
What is more likely to be delayed is the result .
State election officials in some key battleground states have warned that it might take days to count the votes given what they expect will be a surge of ballots sent by mail .
In an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a delayed tally in key states could keep news organizations from calling a winner .
“ It may be several days before we know the outcome of the election , ” said Jocelyn Benson , Michigan ’ s Democratic secretary of state , said in May .
“ We have to prepare for that now and accept that reality.
” Delayed results are common in a few states where elections are already conducted largely by mail .
But a presidential election hasn ’ t been left in limbo since 2000 , when ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos and court fights .
For some election experts and Democrats , the prospect of similar uncertainty is especially worrisome this year , given Mr. Trump ’ s frequent declarations that mail-in voting is fraudulent and a “ threat ” to his reelection .
The president has also refused to commit to accepting the results of the election , saying it ’ s too soon to make an ironclad guarantee .
Mr. Biden has said he thinks Mr. Trump may use his office to intervene in the election , and predicted earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay the contest : “ Mark my words , I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it can ’ t be held.
” As voters look for a safer alternative to in-person voting , election officials from both parties have promoted mail-in and absentee voting options .
Requests for mail ballots have surged in the primaries .
Many states expect to be scrambling to process millions more in November .
While each state runs its own process , those mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In some states , the ballots can be accepted several days after Election Day , as long as they are postmarked before polls closed .
And while some states count the ballots as they come in , others – notably the critical battlegrounds of Michigan and Pennsylvania – have laws that forbid processing mail ballots until Election Day , guaranteeing the count will extend well past that night .
In particularly tight contests , the AP and other news organizations may hold off on declaring a winner .
That could lead to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are counted .
In Arizona in 2018 , for example , Republican Martha McSally was narrowly winning the initial tally of in-person votes and mail ballots that had arrived days before Election Day .
More than a week later , after election officials were able to tally all the mail votes that arrived on Election Day , Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won the senatorial race by more than 2 percentage points .
Arizona has since changed its procedures to try to speed up the vote count .
This story was reported by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marc Levy contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A shift to mail voting is increasing the chances that Americans will not know the winner of November’s presidential race on election night. But that doesn’t mean the results will be flawed or fraudulent, as President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday.
Mr. Trump, seeking to already undermine the results of an election he could lose, demanded that the winner of the Nov. 3 contest be known that night.
“I don’t want to be waiting around for weeks and months and literally, potentially if you really did it right, years, because you’ll never know,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
The president has repeatedly raised unsubstantiated fears of fraud involving mail-in voting, which is expected to be more widely used in the November election out of concern for safety given the COVID-19 election. On Thursday, as national and battleground state polls show Mr. Trump in political peril in his race against Democrat Joe Biden, he went even further, floating the idea of delaying the election until it could be conducted in person.
The prospect of a delayed election was rejected by fellow Republicans. Shifting Election Day is also virtually impossible for Mr. Trump on his own; the date – the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every fourth year – is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change.
What is more likely to be delayed is the result. State election officials in some key battleground states have warned that it might take days to count the votes given what they expect will be a surge of ballots sent by mail. In an election as close as 2016’s, a delayed tally in key states could keep news organizations from calling a winner.
“It may be several days before we know the outcome of the election,” said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Democratic secretary of state, said in May. “We have to prepare for that now and accept that reality.”
Delayed results are common in a few states where elections are already conducted largely by mail. But a presidential election hasn’t been left in limbo since 2000, when ballot irregularities in Florida led to weeks of chaos and court fights.
For some election experts and Democrats, the prospect of similar uncertainty is especially worrisome this year, given Mr. Trump’s frequent declarations that mail-in voting is fraudulent and a “threat” to his reelection. The president has also refused to commit to accepting the results of the election, saying it’s too soon to make an ironclad guarantee.
Mr. Biden has said he thinks Mr. Trump may use his office to intervene in the election, and predicted earlier this spring that the president might try to delay the contest: “Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held.”
As voters look for a safer alternative to in-person voting, election officials from both parties have promoted mail-in and absentee voting options. Requests for mail ballots have surged in the primaries. Many states expect to be scrambling to process millions more in November.
While each state runs its own process, those mail ballots can take longer to count. In some states, the ballots can be accepted several days after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked before polls closed. And while some states count the ballots as they come in, others – notably the critical battlegrounds of Michigan and Pennsylvania – have laws that forbid processing mail ballots until Election Day, guaranteeing the count will extend well past that night.
In particularly tight contests, the AP and other news organizations may hold off on declaring a winner. That could lead to a national roller coaster ride as the votes are counted.
In Arizona in 2018, for example, Republican Martha McSally was narrowly winning the initial tally of in-person votes and mail ballots that had arrived days before Election Day. More than a week later, after election officials were able to tally all the mail votes that arrived on Election Day, Democrat Kyrsten Sinema won the senatorial race by more than 2 percentage points.
Arizona has since changed its procedures to try to speed up the vote count.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers David Eggert and Marc Levy contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-08-02--Why Trump wants to ban TikTok and Microsoft wants to buy it

President Donald Trump plans to take action on a what he sees as a broad array of national security risks presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday .
Pompeo ’ s remarks followed reports that Microsoft is in advanced talks to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok , which has been a source of national security and censorship concerns for the Trump administration .
The potential deal would be a victory for both companies , making Microsoft Corp. a major player in the social media arena and providing relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ltd. , a target of President Donald Trump 's .
“ These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States , whether it ’ s TikTok or WeChat — there are countless more ... are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party , their national security apparatus , ” Pompeo said on Fox News Channel ’ s “ Sunday Morning Futures.
” “ Could be their facial recognition patterns .
It could be information about their residence , their phone numbers , their friends , who they ’ re connected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that President Trump has made clear we ’ re going to take care of , '' he said .
TikTok ’ s U.S. user data is stored in the U.S. , with strict controls on employee access , and its biggest investors come from the U.S. , the company said Sunday .
“ We are committed to protecting our users ’ privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform , ” a TikTok spokesperson said .
Trump had said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TikTok in the United States .
A federal committee is reviewing whether that 's possible , and its members agree that TikTok can not remain in the U.S. in its current form , because it `` risks sending back information on 100 million Americans , ” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
“ We all agree there has to be a change ... everybody agrees it can ’ t exist as it does , '' Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC 's “ This Week.
” As speculation grew over a ban or sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TikTok posted a video on Saturday saying : “ We ’ re not planning on going anywhere.
” TikTok 's catchy videos and ease of use has made it popular , and it says it has tens of millions of users in the U.S. and hundreds of millions globally .
Its parent company , Bytedance Ltd. , launched TikTok in 2017 .
It bought Musical.ly , a video service popular with teens in the U.S. and Europe , and combined the two .
It has a similar service , Douyin , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese ownership has raised concern about the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials as well as censorship of videos critical of the Chinese government .
TikTok says it does not censor videos and it would not give the Chinese government access to U.S. user data .
“ The President , when he makes his decision , will make sure that everything we have done drives us as close to zero risk for the American people , ” Pompeo said .
“ That ’ s the mission set that he laid out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — we began to evaluate this now several months back .
We ’ re closing in on a solution .
And I think you will see the president ’ s announcement shortly.
” The debate over TikTok parallels a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies , including telecom providers Huawei and ZTE .
Reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal citing anonymous sources said the administration could soon announce a decision ordering ByteDance to divest its ownership in TikTok .
There have been reports of U.S. tech giants and financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in TikTok as the Trump administration sets its sights on the app .
The New York Times and Fox Business , citing an unidentified source , first reported Friday that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok .
TikTok issued a statement Friday saying that , “ While we do not comment on rumors or speculation , we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.
” On Saturday it posted a short video from its U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas saying that “ We 're not planning on going anywhere.
” ByteDance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musical.ly , a video service popular with teens in the U.S. and Europe , and combined the two .
A twin service , Douyin , is available for Chinese users .
TikTok 's fun , goofy videos and ease of use has made it immensely popular , and U.S. tech giants like Facebook and Snapchat see it as a competitive threat .
It has said it has tens of millions of U.S. users and hundreds of millions globally .
But its Chinese ownership has raised concerns about the censorship of videos , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials .
TikTok maintains it doesn ’ t censor videos based on topics sensitive to China and it would not give the Chinese government access to U.S. user data even if asked .
The company has hired a U.S. CEO , a former top Disney executive , in an attempt to distance itself from its Chinese ownership .
U.S. national-security officials have been reviewing the Musical.ly acquisition in recent months , while U.S. armed forces have banned their employees from installing TikTok on government-issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this month that the U.S. was considering banning TikTok .
These national-security worries parallel a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies , including telecom providers Huawei and ZTE .
The Trump administration has ordered that the U.S. stop funding equipment from those providers in U.S. networks .
It has also tried to steer allies away from Huawei because of worries about the Chinese government 's access to data , which the company has denied it has .
The Trump administration has stepped in before to block or dissolve deals on national-security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from its $ 117 billion bid for U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm in 2018 in an effort to help retain U.S. leadership in the telecom space .
It also told China 's Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. to sell off its 2016 purchase of gay dating app Grindr .
Other countries are also taking action against TikTok .
India this month banned dozens of Chinese apps , including TikTok , citing privacy concerns , amid tensions between the countries .
The U.S. government ’ s poor track record in bolstering Americans ' data privacy more broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies , according to Susan Ariel Aaronson , a professor at George Washington University and a data governance and national-security expert .
The federal government has not passed broad privacy or data-security legislation despite efforts to do so last year , and the Justice Department has tried to undermine encryption - which makes sure only a sender and receiver can see content they exchange - for law-enforcement reasons .
Tech companies have pushed back against that .
“ I continue to be wary of forcing a sale of TikTok without data protection laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Stamos , the former chief security officer at Facebook who now studies internet security at Stanford University , tweeted on Friday .
He added that Microsoft “ has one of the best child safety teams , which is a larger risk on TikTok right now.
” Microsoft , which owns LinkedIn , is the No .
4 digital ad company in the U.S. , after Google , Facebook and Amazon .
Still , buying TikTok would be a significant change of direction from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ’ s focus on workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said technology industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy .
Unlike Google or Facebook , which dominate the digital advertising industry , Microsoft hasn ’ t been under the intense scrutiny of U.S. politicians and antitrust regulators lately over its market power .
Moorhead said that might make it easier to swoop in and acquire TikTok , which poses a competitive threat to social networks like Facebook , Instagram , Google ’ s YouTube and Snapchat .
It ’ s an interesting irony that it was Microsoft at the center of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the deal goes through , “ it would definitely make Microsoft a much more competitive advertising system in years to come , ” said eMarketer analyst Ross Benes .
Tali Arbel , Anne D'Innocenzio , and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this Associated Press story .

President Donald Trump plans to take action on a what he sees as a broad array of national security risks presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday.
Mr. Pompeo’s remarks followed reports that Microsoft is in advanced talks to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok, which has been a source of national security and censorship concerns for the Trump administration. The potential deal would be a victory for both companies, making Microsoft Corp. a major player in the social media arena and providing relief to TikTok and its parent company, Bytedance Ltd., a target of President Trump's.
“These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States, whether it’s TikTok or WeChat – there are countless more ... are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party, their national security apparatus,” Mr. Pompeo said on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“Could be their facial recognition patterns. It could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends, who they’re connected to. Those – those are the issues that President Trump has made clear we’re going to take care of," he said.
TikTok’s U.S. user data is stored in the United States, with strict controls on employee access, and its biggest investors come from the U.S., the company said Sunday. “We are committed to protecting our users’ privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
Mr. Trump had said on Friday that he would soon ban TikTok in the U.S. A federal committee is reviewing whether that's possible, and its members agree that TikTok cannot remain in the U.S. in its current form, because it "risks sending back information on 100 million Americans,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
“We all agree there has to be a change ... everybody agrees it can’t exist as it does," Mr. Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC's “This Week.”
As speculation grew over a ban or sale of the social media's U.S. business, TikTok posted a video on Saturday saying: “We’re not planning on going anywhere.”
TikTok's catchy videos and ease of use has made it popular, and it says it has tens of millions of users in the U.S. and hundreds of millions globally. Its parent company, Bytedance Ltd., launched TikTok in 2017. It bought Musical.ly, a video service popular with teens in the U.S. and Europe, and combined the two. It has a similar service, Douyin, for users in China.
But TikTok's Chinese ownership has raised concern about the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials as well as censorship of videos critical of the Chinese government. TikTok says it does not censor videos and it would not give the Chinese government access to U.S. user data.
“The president, when he makes his decision, will make sure that everything we have done drives us as close to zero risk for the American people,” Mr. Pompeo said. “That’s the mission set that he laid out for all of us when we get – we began to evaluate this now several months back. We’re closing in on a solution. And I think you will see the president’s announcement shortly.”
The debate over TikTok parallels a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies, including telecom providers Huawei and ZTE.
Reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal citing anonymous sources said the administration could soon announce a decision ordering ByteDance to divest its ownership in TikTok.
There have been reports of U.S. tech giants and financial firms being interested in buying or investing in TikTok as the Trump administration sets its sights on the app. The New York Times and Fox Business, citing an unidentified source, first reported Friday that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok.
U.S. national-security officials have been reviewing the Musical.ly acquisition in recent months, while U.S. armed forces have banned their employees from installing TikTok on government-issued phones. Mr. Pompeo said this month that the U.S. was considering banning TikTok.
These national-security worries parallel a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies, including telecom providers Huawei and ZTE. The Trump administration has ordered that the U.S. stop funding equipment from those providers in U.S. networks. It has also tried to steer allies away from Huawei because of worries about the Chinese government's access to data, which the company has denied it has.
The Trump administration has stepped in before to block or dissolve deals on national-security concerns, including stopping Singapore's Broadcom from its $117 billion bid for U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm in 2018 in an effort to help retain U.S. leadership in the telecom space. It also told China's Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. to sell off its 2016 purchase of gay dating app Grindr.
Other countries are also taking action against TikTok. India this month banned dozens of Chinese apps, including TikTok, citing privacy concerns, amid tensions between the countries.
The U.S. government’s poor track record in bolstering Americans' data privacy more broadly lessens its credibility in taking on Chinese-owned companies, according to Susan Ariel Aaronson, a professor at George Washington University and a data governance and national-security expert. The federal government has not passed broad privacy or data-security legislation despite efforts to do so last year, and the Justice Department has tried to undermine encryption – which makes sure only a sender and receiver can see content they exchange – for law-enforcement reasons. Tech companies have pushed back against that.
“I continue to be wary of forcing a sale of TikTok without data protection laws they could try to follow,” Alex Stamos, the former chief security officer at Facebook who now studies internet security at Stanford University, tweeted on Friday. He added that Microsoft “has one of the best child safety teams, which is a larger risk on TikTok right now.”
Microsoft, which owns LinkedIn, is the No. 4 digital ad company in the U.S., after Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Still, buying TikTok would be a significant change of direction from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s focus on workplace software that makes people more productive, said technology industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy.
Unlike Google or Facebook, which dominate the digital advertising industry, Microsoft hasn’t been under the intense scrutiny of U.S. politicians and antitrust regulators lately over its market power. Mr. Moorhead said that might make it easier to swoop in and acquire TikTok, which poses a competitive threat to social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Google’s YouTube, and Snapchat. It’s an interesting irony that it was Microsoft at the center of the landmark antitrust case 20 years ago.
If the deal goes through, “it would definitely make Microsoft a much more competitive advertising system in years to come,” said eMarketer analyst Ross Benes.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Tali Arbel, Anne D'Innocenzio, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.