csmonitor--2020-12-04--Curtain call for cinemas? Warner Bros. unveils plan to stream films.

In the most seismic shift by a Hollywood studio yet during the pandemic , Warner Bros. Pictures on Thursday announced that all of its 2021 film slate – including a new “ Matrix ” movie , “ Godzilla vs. Kong , ” and the Lin-Manuel Miranda “ In the Heights ” adaptation – will stream on HBO Max at the same time the films play in theaters .
Among the myriad release plan changes wrought by the pandemic , no studio has so fully embraced streaming as a lifeline .
But after disappointing domestic ticket sales for “ Tenet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theaters currently closed , the AT & T-owned Warner Bros. will turn to a hybrid distribution model next year .
Films will debut simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max in the United States .
After one month , they will stop streaming and continue to play only in theaters .
The move follows Warner Bros. ’ decision to put “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” on HBO Max in December , along with a concurrent theatrical run .
If that pivot sent shockwaves through the industry , Thursday ’ s announcement rattled Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented time that we ’ re in , we needed a creative solution to address our fans , our filmmakers , and our exhibitors , said Ann Sarnoff , chief executive of WarnerMedia Studios , in an interview .
“ Big and bold is a necessity right now.
” Ms. Sarnoff called it a “ temporary solution ” and a “ one-year plan.
” The studio said other options – releasing big-budget films solely in reduced capacity theaters or delaying films another year – weren ’ t appealing .
Warner Bros. ’ move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebound for theaters is still a year or more away .
“ We ’ ve got to get people back in theaters at full capacity at some point .
If you read the medical experts that ’ s going to take a while to work its way through the system , ” said Ms. Sarnoff .
“ If we saw an end in sight to the pandemic , we might have a different strategy .
But we don ’ t see that at this moment.
” HBO Max is only available in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 17 films planned for 2021 release will roll out exclusively in theaters .
Warner Bros. ’ decision resonates especially because the 117-year-old studio , responsible for classics such as “ The Wizard of Oz ” and “ Casablanca , ” has long been a market-leader in Hollywood – and also one known as especially supportive of theaters .
The studio has generally ranked among the top two studios in market share over the past decade – most recently dwarfed only by Walt Disney .
Warner ’ s films typically account for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket sales in North America – a lot of money to compensate for in HBO Max subscribers .
Warner Bros. confirmed the films will be available to subscribers with no further charge .
“ I can ’ t comment on the economics of how it will all work – I ’ d need a crystal ball for that , ” said Ms. Sarnoff .
“ But I ’ m very optimistic that this is a win-win-win for our fans , our filmmakers , and our exhibitors .
We ’ re getting the movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen on the big screen which is what they were made for , but giving an alternative .
The hybrid approach also allows us to market them in a fuller way than we would have had we just looked at the less-than-full capacities in theatrical right now.
” Warner Bros. ’ 2021 slate includes many of the expected top movies of the year , including “ Dune , ” “ The Suicide Squad , ” “ Tom & Jerry , ” “ The Conjuring : The Devil Make Me Do It , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Judas and the Black Messiah.
” The move by Warner Bros. only makes the pain being felt by exhibitors all the more acute .
Having been shuttered for much of the year , cinemas reopened nationwide in late summer except in some key locations , including Los Angeles and New York .
But with most major releases postponed and virus cases surging , about 60 % of theaters have since closed again .
Regal Cinemas , the country ’ s second largest chain , has shut all its doors .
Following Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entertainment fell 16 % ; Cinemark was down 22 % .
AMC vehemently disagreed with Warner Bros. ’ strategy .
Adam Aron , chief executive of the world ’ s largest chain , said AMC had gone along with the “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” plans because of the virus surge .
But he said AMC would oppose the same approach into 2021 , when a vaccine could accelerate a recovery .
“ Clearly WarnerMedia intends to sacrifice a considerable portion of the profitability of its movie studio , and that of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HBO Max , ” said Mr. Aron in a statement .
“ As for AMC , we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense.
” Under chief executive Jason Kilar , the former Hulu chief , WarnerMedia recently reorganized to further prioritize its streaming service .
He has moved aggressively to boost HBO Max , even if it comes at the expense of the theatrical marketplace .
After a rocky rollout , HBO Max said in October that nearly 9 million people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had access to the streaming service as part of their HBO subscriptions .
For comparison , Disney+ has about 74 million subscribers , though it ’ s available worldwide .
“ Our content is extremely valuable , unless it ’ s sitting on a shelf not being seen by anyone , ” said Mr. Kilar in a statement .
“ We believe this approach serves our fans , supports exhibitors and filmmakers , and enhances the HBO Max experience , creating value for all.
” It ’ s the latest in a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convulsed by the pandemic .
The demise of the traditional 90-day theatrical window – something long sought by some in Hollywood – has accelerated , and many think it ’ s gone for good .
Universal Pictures last month made deals with both AMC Theatres and Cinemark to give them the option of shifting movies into home release after just 17 days in theaters .
Disney has postponed most of its releases , but redirected “ Hamilton , ” “ Mulan , ” and the upcoming Pixar release “ Soul ” to Disney+ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press .

In the most seismic shift by a Hollywood studio yet during the pandemic, Warner Bros. Pictures on Thursday announced that all of its 2021 film slate – including a new “Matrix” movie, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and the Lin-Manuel Miranda “In the Heights” adaptation – will stream on HBO Max at the same time the films play in theaters.
Among the myriad release plan changes wrought by the pandemic, no studio has so fully embraced streaming as a lifeline. But after disappointing domestic ticket sales for “Tenet,” and with the majority of American theaters currently closed, the AT&T-owned Warner Bros. will turn to a hybrid distribution model next year. Films will debut simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max in the United States. After one month, they will stop streaming and continue to play only in theaters.
The move follows Warner Bros.’ decision to put “Wonder Woman 1984” on HBO Max in December, along with a concurrent theatrical run. If that pivot sent shockwaves through the industry, Thursday’s announcement rattled Hollywood to the core.
“Given the unprecedented time that we’re in, we needed a creative solution to address our fans, our filmmakers, and our exhibitors, said Ann Sarnoff, chief executive of WarnerMedia Studios, in an interview. “Big and bold is a necessity right now.”
Ms. Sarnoff called it a “temporary solution” and a “one-year plan.” The studio said other options – releasing big-budget films solely in reduced capacity theaters or delaying films another year – weren’t appealing. Warner Bros.’ move amounts to an acknowledgement that any full rebound for theaters is still a year or more away.
“We’ve got to get people back in theaters at full capacity at some point. If you read the medical experts that’s going to take a while to work its way through the system,” said Ms. Sarnoff. “If we saw an end in sight to the pandemic, we might have a different strategy. But we don’t see that at this moment.”
HBO Max is only available in the U.S. Internationally, the studio’s 17 films planned for 2021 release will roll out exclusively in theaters.
Warner Bros.’ decision resonates especially because the 117-year-old studio, responsible for classics such as “The Wizard of Oz” and “Casablanca,” has long been a market-leader in Hollywood – and also one known as especially supportive of theaters. The studio has generally ranked among the top two studios in market share over the past decade – most recently dwarfed only by Walt Disney. Warner’s films typically account for $1.5 to $2 billion annual in ticket sales in North America – a lot of money to compensate for in HBO Max subscribers. Warner Bros. confirmed the films will be available to subscribers with no further charge.
“I can’t comment on the economics of how it will all work – I’d need a crystal ball for that,” said Ms. Sarnoff. “But I’m very optimistic that this is a win-win-win for our fans, our filmmakers, and our exhibitors. We’re getting the movies out. We’re allowing them be seen on the big screen which is what they were made for, but giving an alternative. The hybrid approach also allows us to market them in a fuller way than we would have had we just looked at the less-than-full capacities in theatrical right now.”
Warner Bros.’ 2021 slate includes many of the expected top movies of the year, including “Dune,” “The Suicide Squad,” “Tom & Jerry,” “The Conjuring: The Devil Make Me Do It,” “King Richard,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
The move by Warner Bros. only makes the pain being felt by exhibitors all the more acute. Having been shuttered for much of the year, cinemas reopened nationwide in late summer except in some key locations, including Los Angeles and New York. But with most major releases postponed and virus cases surging, about 60% of theaters have since closed again. Regal Cinemas, the country’s second largest chain, has shut all its doors. Following Warner Bros.’ announcement, shares of AMC Entertainment fell 16%; Cinemark was down 22%.
AMC vehemently disagreed with Warner Bros.’ strategy. Adam Aron, chief executive of the world’s largest chain, said AMC had gone along with the “Wonder Woman 1984” plans because of the virus surge. But he said AMC would oppose the same approach into 2021, when a vaccine could accelerate a recovery.
“Clearly WarnerMedia intends to sacrifice a considerable portion of the profitability of its movie studio, and that of its production partners and filmmakers, to subsidize HBO Max,” said Mr. Aron in a statement. “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense.”
Under chief executive Jason Kilar, the former Hulu chief, WarnerMedia recently reorganized to further prioritize its streaming service. He has moved aggressively to boost HBO Max, even if it comes at the expense of the theatrical marketplace. After a rocky rollout, HBO Max said in October that nearly 9 million people were using the platform, though 29 million had access to the streaming service as part of their HBO subscriptions. For comparison, Disney+ has about 74 million subscribers, though it’s available worldwide.
“Our content is extremely valuable, unless it’s sitting on a shelf not being seen by anyone,” said Mr. Kilar in a statement. “We believe this approach serves our fans, supports exhibitors and filmmakers, and enhances the HBO Max experience, creating value for all.”
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
It’s the latest in a series of sea changes sweeping through an industry convulsed by the pandemic. The demise of the traditional 90-day theatrical window – something long sought by some in Hollywood – has accelerated, and many think it’s gone for good. Universal Pictures last month made deals with both AMC Theatres and Cinemark to give them the option of shifting movies into home release after just 17 days in theaters. Disney has postponed most of its releases, but redirected “Hamilton,” “Mulan,” and the upcoming Pixar release “Soul” to Disney+.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-12-04--How a Hong Kong restaurant is a source of empowerment

Located smack in the middle of Hong Kong ’ s bustling Mong Kok neighborhood , Dignity Kitchen offers an array of mouthwatering Singaporean fare – from piping-hot laksa ( noodles in a spicy coconut milk broth ) to fragrant slices of chiffon cake flavored with the essence of pandan leaves .
But what sets Dignity Kitchen apart from other restaurants in the city is that it is a social enterprise , almost entirely staffed by employees with physical or mental disabilities .
The restaurant trains its employees to prep food and cook , as well as serve customers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabled or the disadvantaged people , because they are at society ’ s bottom of the pyramid , ” said the restaurant ’ s founder , Koh Seng Choon , a sprightly Singaporean entrepreneur who launched the restaurant in January .
“ They are the people who need help .
If we can get them a job , they will be out of the poverty cycle.
” Ultimately , Dignity Kitchen aims to place its employees in other jobs in the food and beverage sector so it can then welcome and train new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first came up with the concept in his hometown of Singapore , but later decided to do the same in Hong Kong after the city ’ s government invited him to open a branch there .
The kitchen is expansive , modeled after a food court in Singapore .
The drink stall is operated by a deaf employee , and printed diagrams at the stall encourage customers to learn simple sign language when it comes to drink requests , or even to sign “ thank you.
” At the claypot rice stall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Mr. Koh could barely communicate with strangers before his training – enthusiastically introduces the dish to customers who ask about it .
“ We used to prepare a script for him , ” said Mr. Koh , smiling proudly .
“ But now , 8 months , 9 months later , he can ’ t stop talking.
” The training employees get at Dignity Kitchen not only equips them with useful skills but also aids them in getting the self-respect and dignity that they may have previously lacked , Mr. Koh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visual disabilities , found employment at Dignity Kitchen as an administrative assistant .
Using voice-to-text technology , Mr. Chung co-ordinates with other organizations and handles email as well as phone inquiries .
“ [ Mr. Koh ] told me that he doesn ’ t care about our disabilities , he only focuses on our abilities , ” Mr. Chung said .
“ This really inspired me and touched my heart.
” Carol Wong , who is mildly intellectually disabled , has picked up knife skills at the restaurant that could eventually be transferable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ At first I was afraid , but since I started working in this restaurant , I ’ ve become unafraid of chopping food , ” she said .
The kitchen has drawn customers in with its social mission and offers them the option of buying meals for the less unfortunate in the city .
“ I think this is very meaningful , so we ’ ve come to try , ” said Lisa Gu , a customer who visited Dignity Kitchen for a bowl of laksa .
“ The food is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Associated Press .

Located smack in the middle of Hong Kong’s bustling Mong Kok neighborhood, Dignity Kitchen offers an array of mouthwatering Singaporean fare – from piping-hot laksa (noodles in a spicy coconut milk broth) to fragrant slices of chiffon cake flavored with the essence of pandan leaves.
But what sets Dignity Kitchen apart from other restaurants in the city is that it is a social enterprise, almost entirely staffed by employees with physical or mental disabilities. The restaurant trains its employees to prep food and cook, as well as serve customers.
“It’s important to help the disabled or the disadvantaged people, because they are at society’s bottom of the pyramid,” said the restaurant’s founder, Koh Seng Choon, a sprightly Singaporean entrepreneur who launched the restaurant in January.
“They are the people who need help. If we can get them a job, they will be out of the poverty cycle.”
Ultimately, Dignity Kitchen aims to place its employees in other jobs in the food and beverage sector so it can then welcome and train new groups of disabled people.
Mr. Koh first came up with the concept in his hometown of Singapore, but later decided to do the same in Hong Kong after the city’s government invited him to open a branch there.
The kitchen is expansive, modeled after a food court in Singapore. The drink stall is operated by a deaf employee, and printed diagrams at the stall encourage customers to learn simple sign language when it comes to drink requests, or even to sign “thank you.”
At the claypot rice stall, an employee with autism – who, according to Mr. Koh could barely communicate with strangers before his training – enthusiastically introduces the dish to customers who ask about it.
“We used to prepare a script for him,” said Mr. Koh, smiling proudly. “But now, 8 months, 9 months later, he can’t stop talking.”
The training employees get at Dignity Kitchen not only equips them with useful skills but also aids them in getting the self-respect and dignity that they may have previously lacked, Mr. Koh said.
Ming Chung, who has visual disabilities, found employment at Dignity Kitchen as an administrative assistant. Using voice-to-text technology, Mr. Chung co-ordinates with other organizations and handles email as well as phone inquiries.
“[Mr. Koh] told me that he doesn’t care about our disabilities, he only focuses on our abilities,” Mr. Chung said. “This really inspired me and touched my heart.”
Carol Wong, who is mildly intellectually disabled, has picked up knife skills at the restaurant that could eventually be transferable to food preparation roles across the industry.
“At first I was afraid, but since I started working in this restaurant, I’ve become unafraid of chopping food,” she said.
The kitchen has drawn customers in with its social mission and offers them the option of buying meals for the less unfortunate in the city.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“I think this is very meaningful, so we’ve come to try,” said Lisa Gu, a customer who visited Dignity Kitchen for a bowl of laksa. “The food is also delicious.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-12-04--‘Our land is our mother’: Farmer protests fill New Delhi streets

A chilly breeze whirls through New Delhi in the mornings and the sun is partly obscured by toxic haze , a marker of another winter in the Indian capital .
But along the city ’ s borders , this year is visibly and viscerally different .
The perpetually busy arterial highways that connect most northern Indian towns to this city of 29 million people now pulse to the cries of “ Inquilab Zindabad ” – “ Long live the revolution.
” Tens of thousands of farmers with distinctive , colorful turbans and long , flowing beards have descended upon the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in giant demonstrations against new farming laws that they say will open them to corporate exploitation .
For more than a week , they ’ ve marched toward the capital on their tractors and trucks like an army , pushing aside concrete police barricades while braving tear gas , batons , and water cannons .
Now , on the outskirts of New Delhi , they are hunkered down with food and fuel supplies that can last weeks and threatening to besiege the capital if Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s government doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
“ Modi wants to sell our lands to corporates , ” said one of them , Kaljeet Singh , who traveled from the city of Ludhiana , in Punjab , some 190 miles north of New Delhi .
“ He can ’ t decide for millions of those who for generations have given their blood and sweat to the land they regard as more precious than their lives.
” At night , the farmers sleep in trailers and under trucks , curling themselves in blankets to brave the winter chill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in groups in their vehicles , surrounded by mounds of rice , lentils , and vegetables that are prepared into meals at hundreds of makeshift soup kitchens , in enormous pots stirred with wooden spoons the size of canoe paddles .
Anmol Singh , who supports his family of six by farming , said the new laws were part of a larger plan to hand over the farmers ’ land to big corporations and make them landless .
“ Modi wants the poor farmer to die of hunger so that he can fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ We are here to fight his brutal decrees peacefully.
” He paused , then reconsidered : “ Actually , let him and his ministers take us on .
We will give them a bloody nose.
” Many of the protesting farmers hail from northern Punjab and Haryana , two of the largest agricultural states in India .
An overwhelming majority of them are Sikhs .
They fear the laws passed in September will lead the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and result in exploitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many activists and farming experts support their demand for a minimum guaranteed price for their crops .
The new rules will also eliminate agents who act as middlemen between the farmers and the government-regulated wholesale markets .
Farmers say agents are a vital cog of the farm economy and their main line of credit , providing quick funds for fuel , fertilizers , and even loans in case of family emergencies .
The laws have compounded existing resentment from farmers , who often complain of being ignored by the government in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan waivers , and irrigation systems to guarantee water during dry spells .
The government has argued the laws bring about necessary reform that will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment .
Farmers say they were never consulted on the changes .
With nearly 60 % of the Indian population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods , the growing farmer rebellion has rattled Mr. Modi ’ s administration and allies .
His leaders have scrambled to contain the protests , which are fast resembling last year ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that discriminated against Muslims led to demonstrations that culminated in violence .
Those demonstrations were much bigger in scale , but the farmers ’ rumblings are growing fast and gaining widespread support of ordinary citizens who have started joining them in large numbers .
Mr. Modi and his allies have tried to allay farmers ’ fears about the new laws while dismissing their concerns .
Some of his party leaders have called the farmers “ misguided ” and “ anti-national , ” a label often given to those who criticize Mr. Modi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding talks with the farmers to persuade them to end their protests , but they have dug in their heels .
On Friday , a group of 35 leaders of the farmers called for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday and said the protests would continue until the laws are revoked .
Farmer Kulwant Singh said that when he left his home in Haryana for the protests , he gave his wife a garland of flowers for two possible scenarios .
“ Either I return victorious and she places it around my neck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the same garland is put on my body when it reaches home , ” Mr. Singh said .
Such passions run deep among the protesters who have found social , economic , and generational barriers tumbling during the demonstrations .
Mr. Singh isn ’ t the only one from his family who traveled to New Delhi for what he called “ Qilah Fatehi , ” an Urdu term that translates to “ laying a siege.
” His son and grandson also accompanied him .
“ It ’ s a fight for my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singh .
As demonstrations grow , the protesters have also started to drive a political message home .
Not satisfied with Mr. Modi ’ s federal policies , many of which have attracted widescale resentment from his critics and minorities , protesting farmers say it ’ s time he stops what they call his “ dictatorial behavior.
” “ India is in a recession .
There are hardly any jobs and our country ’ s secular fabric is in tatters , ” said Gurpreet Singh , a biotechnology student who comes from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when India needs a healing touch , Modi is coming up with divisive , controversial laws .
This is unacceptable and defies our constitutional values.
” Mr. Modi ’ s second term in power since May 2019 has been marked by several convulsions .
The economy has tanked , social strife widened , protests have erupted against discriminatory laws , and his government has been questioned over its response to the pandemic .
The farmer protests present a new challenge for the government .
The protesters ’ desire to stand up to Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexagenarian farmer couple who drove 155 miles from Chandigarh city in a hatchback Sunday to participate in the demonstrations .
Dharam Singh Sandhu and Vimaljeet Kaur are spending nights in their car parked near the protest site .
In the morning , they share breakfast at a makeshift soup kitchen .
The latter part of the day is spent taking part in the demonstrations .
“ Our land is our mother .
If we can ’ t protect it then we have no right to live , ” Mr. Sandhu said about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a larger purpose as she made her way to the protest site through a stream of vehicles honking incessantly to get past congested traffic .
“ Our country is like a bunch of flowers , but Modi wants it to be of the same color .
He has no right to do that .
I am here to protest against that mindset , ” Ms. Kaur said .
As Ms. Kaur walked hand in hand with her husband , a great cry emerged from one of the vehicles : “ Inquilab Zindabad.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward a young man with a black beard who held up his fist through the car ’ s window .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

A chilly breeze whirls through New Delhi in the mornings and the sun is partly obscured by toxic haze, a marker of another winter in the Indian capital. But along the city’s borders, this year is visibly and viscerally different.
The perpetually busy arterial highways that connect most northern Indian towns to this city of 29 million people now pulse to the cries of “Inquilab Zindabad” – “Long live the revolution.” Tens of thousands of farmers with distinctive, colorful turbans and long, flowing beards have descended upon the city’s borders, choking highways in giant demonstrations against new farming laws that they say will open them to corporate exploitation.
For more than a week, they’ve marched toward the capital on their tractors and trucks like an army, pushing aside concrete police barricades while braving tear gas, batons, and water cannons. Now, on the outskirts of New Delhi, they are hunkered down with food and fuel supplies that can last weeks and threatening to besiege the capital if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government doesn’t meet their demands to abolish the laws.
“Modi wants to sell our lands to corporates,” said one of them, Kaljeet Singh, who traveled from the city of Ludhiana, in Punjab, some 190 miles north of New Delhi. “He can’t decide for millions of those who for generations have given their blood and sweat to the land they regard as more precious than their lives.”
At night, the farmers sleep in trailers and under trucks, curling themselves in blankets to brave the winter chill. During the day, they sit huddled in groups in their vehicles, surrounded by mounds of rice, lentils, and vegetables that are prepared into meals at hundreds of makeshift soup kitchens, in enormous pots stirred with wooden spoons the size of canoe paddles.
Anmol Singh, who supports his family of six by farming, said the new laws were part of a larger plan to hand over the farmers’ land to big corporations and make them landless.
“Modi wants the poor farmer to die of hunger so that he can fill the stomachs of his rich friends,” he said. “We are here to fight his brutal decrees peacefully.”
He paused, then reconsidered: “Actually, let him and his ministers take us on. We will give them a bloody nose.”
Many of the protesting farmers hail from northern Punjab and Haryana, two of the largest agricultural states in India. An overwhelming majority of them are Sikhs. They fear the laws passed in September will lead the government to stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and result in exploitation by corporations who will push down prices. Many activists and farming experts support their demand for a minimum guaranteed price for their crops.
The new rules will also eliminate agents who act as middlemen between the farmers and the government-regulated wholesale markets. Farmers say agents are a vital cog of the farm economy and their main line of credit, providing quick funds for fuel, fertilizers, and even loans in case of family emergencies.
The laws have compounded existing resentment from farmers, who often complain of being ignored by the government in their push for better crop prices, additional loan waivers, and irrigation systems to guarantee water during dry spells.
The government has argued the laws bring about necessary reform that will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment. Farmers say they were never consulted on the changes.
With nearly 60% of the Indian population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, the growing farmer rebellion has rattled Mr. Modi’s administration and allies. His leaders have scrambled to contain the protests, which are fast resembling last year’s scenes when a contentious new citizenship law that discriminated against Muslims led to demonstrations that culminated in violence.
Those demonstrations were much bigger in scale, but the farmers’ rumblings are growing fast and gaining widespread support of ordinary citizens who have started joining them in large numbers.
Mr. Modi and his allies have tried to allay farmers’ fears about the new laws while dismissing their concerns. Some of his party leaders have called the farmers “misguided” and “anti-national,” a label often given to those who criticize Mr. Modi or his policies.
The government is holding talks with the farmers to persuade them to end their protests, but they have dug in their heels.
On Friday, a group of 35 leaders of the farmers called for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday and said the protests would continue until the laws are revoked.
Farmer Kulwant Singh said that when he left his home in Haryana for the protests, he gave his wife a garland of flowers for two possible scenarios.
“Either I return victorious and she places it around my neck in celebration, or I die here revolting and the same garland is put on my body when it reaches home,” Mr. Singh said.
Such passions run deep among the protesters who have found social, economic, and generational barriers tumbling during the demonstrations.
Mr. Singh isn’t the only one from his family who traveled to New Delhi for what he called “Qilah Fatehi,” an Urdu term that translates to “laying a siege.” His son and grandson also accompanied him.
“It’s a fight for my generation too,” said teenager Amrinder Singh.
As demonstrations grow, the protesters have also started to drive a political message home.
Not satisfied with Mr. Modi’s federal policies, many of which have attracted widescale resentment from his critics and minorities, protesting farmers say it’s time he stops what they call his “dictatorial behavior.”
“India is in a recession. There are hardly any jobs and our country’s secular fabric is in tatters,” said Gurpreet Singh, a biotechnology student who comes from a farming family. “At a time when India needs a healing touch, Modi is coming up with divisive, controversial laws. This is unacceptable and defies our constitutional values.”
Mr. Modi’s second term in power since May 2019 has been marked by several convulsions. The economy has tanked, social strife widened, protests have erupted against discriminatory laws, and his government has been questioned over its response to the pandemic.
The farmer protests present a new challenge for the government.
The protesters’ desire to stand up to Mr. Modi and his policies extends to a sexagenarian farmer couple who drove 155 miles from Chandigarh city in a hatchback Sunday to participate in the demonstrations.
Dharam Singh Sandhu and Vimaljeet Kaur are spending nights in their car parked near the protest site. In the morning, they share breakfast at a makeshift soup kitchen. The latter part of the day is spent taking part in the demonstrations.
“Our land is our mother. If we can’t protect it then we have no right to live,” Mr. Sandhu said about the protests.
His wife spoke passionately of a larger purpose as she made her way to the protest site through a stream of vehicles honking incessantly to get past congested traffic.
“Our country is like a bunch of flowers, but Modi wants it to be of the same color. He has no right to do that. I am here to protest against that mindset,” Ms. Kaur said.
As Ms. Kaur walked hand in hand with her husband, a great cry emerged from one of the vehicles: “Inquilab Zindabad.”
The crowd turned and followed their gaze toward a young man with a black beard who held up his fist through the car’s window.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
The protesters, including Ms. Kaur, roared back: “Inquilab Zindabad!”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-12-04--Why the tiny fishing industry plays a big role in Brexit talks

As Brexit talks enter their decisive final days , there ’ s still a big catch : the fishing industry .
It is holding up the trade deal between the European Union and recently departed Britain , putting at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of euros in annual production losses .
While fishing is a negligible part of the nations ’ economies , it is an important point of national pride for coastal and island nations and has a massive impact on politics .
Arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage put so much stock in the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful 2016 campaign to get Britain out of the EU he steamed up the Thames on a fishing vessel .
Sir Ivan Rogers , a former career diplomat who long was the United Kingdom ’ s man at EU headquarters in Brussels , knows what the task is of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the final weeks before the Jan. 1 deadline .
“ He has to emerge with a win on fisheries , ” Mr. Rogers told a panel at the EPC think tank this week .
If Mr. Johnson can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. waters , a no-deal Brexit would surely ensue , creating chaos and costs for all , and ruin for some .
U.K. vessels landed close to 1 billion pounds of fish last year ; the gross domestic product of the U.K. last year stood at 2.17 trillion pounds .
“ It ’ s not about economics , it ’ s about politics and the symbolism , ” said Barrie Deas , chief executive of Britain ’ s National Federation of Fishermen ’ s Organizations .
The French , Britain ’ s fiercest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , know about symbolism – and timing – too .
On a windswept , cold Thursday , French Prime Minister Jean Castex went to the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer , from where on a bright day across the Strait of Dover , Britain is visible .
It was a show to all negotiators how tough France will be in defending its 13,500 fishermen during the last days of negotiations .
“ We ’ re 17 [ nautical ] miles from Dover , so we ’ re really close .
So it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the waters , ” local fishing official Olivier Lepretre told Mr. Castex .
If there is no deal assuring this , he said , “ that would mean certain death ” for France ’ s northern fishing fleet .
As well as France , the Netherlands , Belgium , Ireland , and Denmark are among those directly implicated by the potential closing off of U.K. waters .
For centuries , foreign fishermen shared the plentiful waters off Britain , and it has been no different since the U.K. joined the EU in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes to a fraction of their previous numbers because of ruthless overexploitation , the number of British fishermen dwindled from 22,000 in 1975 to 12,000 in 2018 .
Resentment in U.K. fishing communities increased .
Rightly or wrongly , EU trawlers venturing freely in U.K. waters came to be seen as a symbol of plunder and exploitation .
When Britain voted to leave , saving U.K. waters for U.K. fishermen became a rallying cry that was endorsed right up to the prime minister ’ s office .
“ It ’ s about sovereignty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is for , ” Mr. Deas said .
In an ideal scenario for British fishermen , they would have all the waters to themselves , able to expand what so long has been a diminishing industry .
No one could deny Britain ’ s rights to its waters in theory , but it ’ s not that simple .
The EU came into the trade negotiations demanding that its boats continue being allowed to fish .
Even though Brexit left the bloc in a much weaker position , U.K. exports gave it leverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow our boats in , they can eat all the fish they catch themselves , ” said a high-level diplomat from a seafaring EU nation .
Some 80 % of fish landed in the U.K. is exported , and three-quarters of that goes to the EU .
If the bloc closes off its markets , fish would be rotting on British quays .
The debate during the final days centers on how the issues of fishing rights for EU trawlers could be reconciled with low or no tariffs for U.K. exports through fish-processing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all sides looking on , progress has been perhaps the slowest of all sectors under discussion .
Mr. Deas said he expected there to be protests from disgruntled EU fishermen – especially French ones – if there is a deal that sees quotas reduced .
“ They ’ ve blockaded the Channel ports for less .
We fully expect some kind of demonstrations or show of frustration , ” he said .
Most agree Boulogne would be a prime target because so much U.K. fish is exported through there , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Premier Castex was told in veiled terms what could be coming .
“ How do we explain to fishermen that they can ’ t go into British waters , but then they will import fish to Boulogne ?
” Mr. Lepretre told Mr. Castex .
“ That ’ s very complicated , believe me.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Jill Lawless contributed from London .

As Brexit talks enter their decisive final days, there’s still a big catch: the fishing industry. It is holding up the trade deal between the European Union and recently departed Britain, putting at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of euros in annual production losses.
While fishing is a negligible part of the nations’ economies, it is an important point of national pride for coastal and island nations and has a massive impact on politics.
Arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage put so much stock in the importance of fishing that at one point during his successful 2016 campaign to get Britain out of the EU he steamed up the Thames on a fishing vessel.
Sir Ivan Rogers, a former career diplomat who long was the United Kingdom’s man at EU headquarters in Brussels, knows what the task is of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the final weeks before the Jan. 1 deadline.
“He has to emerge with a win on fisheries,” Mr. Rogers told a panel at the EPC think tank this week.
If Mr. Johnson cannot expel enough EU fishing boats from U.K. waters, a no-deal Brexit would surely ensue, creating chaos and costs for all, and ruin for some.
U.K. vessels landed close to 1 billion pounds of fish last year; the gross domestic product of the U.K. last year stood at 2.17 trillion pounds.
“It’s not about economics, it’s about politics and the symbolism,” said Barrie Deas, chief executive of Britain’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Organizations.
The French, Britain’s fiercest political rival for access to U.K. waters, know about symbolism – and timing – too.
On a windswept, cold Thursday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex went to the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, from where on a bright day across the Strait of Dover, Britain is visible.
It was a show to all negotiators how tough France will be in defending its 13,500 fishermen during the last days of negotiations.
“We’re 17 [nautical] miles from Dover, so we’re really close. So it’s really imperative for us to have access to the waters,” local fishing official Olivier Lepretre told Mr. Castex. If there is no deal assuring this, he said, “that would mean certain death” for France’s northern fishing fleet.
As well as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Denmark are among those directly implicated by the potential closing off of U.K. waters.
For centuries, foreign fishermen shared the plentiful waters off Britain, and it has been no different since the U.K. joined the EU in 1973. But as catches dwindled, sometimes to a fraction of their previous numbers because of ruthless overexploitation, the number of British fishermen dwindled from 22,000 in 1975 to 12,000 in 2018. Resentment in U.K. fishing communities increased.
Rightly or wrongly, EU trawlers venturing freely in U.K. waters came to be seen as a symbol of plunder and exploitation. When Britain voted to leave, saving U.K. waters for U.K. fishermen became a rallying cry that was endorsed right up to the prime minister’s office.
“It’s about sovereignty. It’s about what Brexit is for,” Mr. Deas said.
In an ideal scenario for British fishermen, they would have all the waters to themselves, able to expand what so long has been a diminishing industry.
No one could deny Britain’s rights to its waters in theory, but it’s not that simple. The EU came into the trade negotiations demanding that its boats continue being allowed to fish. Even though Brexit left the bloc in a much weaker position, U.K. exports gave it leverage.
“If they don’t allow our boats in, they can eat all the fish they catch themselves,” said a high-level diplomat from a seafaring EU nation. Some 80% of fish landed in the U.K. is exported, and three-quarters of that goes to the EU. If the bloc closes off its markets, fish would be rotting on British quays.
The debate during the final days centers on how the issues of fishing rights for EU trawlers could be reconciled with low or no tariffs for U.K. exports through fish-processing centers like Boulogne-sur-Mer. With fishing interests from all sides looking on, progress has been perhaps the slowest of all sectors under discussion.
Mr. Deas said he expected there to be protests from disgruntled EU fishermen – especially French ones – if there is a deal that sees quotas reduced.
“They’ve blockaded the Channel ports for less. We fully expect some kind of demonstrations or show of frustration,” he said.
Most agree Boulogne would be a prime target because so much U.K. fish is exported through there, and a blockade is relatively easy to achieve.
French Premier Castex was told in veiled terms what could be coming.
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“How do we explain to fishermen that they can’t go into British waters, but then they will import fish to Boulogne?” Mr. Lepretre told Mr. Castex. “That’s very complicated, believe me.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Jill Lawless contributed from London.


csmonitor--2020-12-04--For Biden, a path out of Iran-US resentments

In their everyday jabs at each other , Iran and the United States speak of containing or restraining the other in the present-day Middle East .
The U.S. keeps forces in Arab states and backs Israel .
Iran shoots or provides missiles around the region , harasses U.S. vessels , and maintains a nuclear program .
Yet in the background for both is an emotion that often drives much of their actions : historic resentment .
With a new U.S. president taking office next month and coming elections in Iran , it may be time to finally deal with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past wrongs .
Many Iranians resent both the U.S. role in the 1953 overthrow of an elected prime minister and its support of an oppressive regime under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi .
In the U.S. , some leaders resent the taking of 52 American hostages after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and attacks on U.S. forces in the region .
Together , these not only create a trust gap in resolving current issues , they sometimes serve as convenient excuses for politicians to whip up domestic support to stay in power .
Across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast a long shadow over statecraft .
They can not be ignored .
Russia ’ s recent aggressions are sometimes rooted in resentment over the fall of the Soviet empire .
Turkey seems bent on restoring the influence it had before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire a century ago .
China celebrates a National Humiliation Day each September to remember the encroachment of Western powers and Imperial Japan on its territory .
Beijing exploits a narrative of past victimhood to justify its regional and global ambitions as restitution of historic injustices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seek a better future .
“ The problem with the Chinese Communist Party ’ s rendering of the past is that it encourages the Chinese people to remain frozen in a time of humiliation , ” writes British historian Christopher Coker .
For President-elect Joe Biden , Iran ’ s sense of aggrievement – as well as resentment in the U.S. toward Iran – will be an obstacle to creating a peaceful Middle East .
He intends to rejoin the international deal negotiated during the Obama administration to contain Tehran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from that pact two years ago to impose a raft of new sanctions against Tehran and its trading partners .
Mr. Biden will have a short window to coax receptive leaders in Tehran into a new relationship with the U.S .
In June , Iran is due to hold a presidential election .
Any diplomacy before then will be complicated by the recent assassination of Iran ’ s top nuclear scientist , widely suspected to be the work of Israel .
On Tuesday , hard-liners in Iran ’ s parliament voted to accelerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations inspections of its nuclear facilities unless sanctions are eased .
President Hassan Rouhani , hoping for a rapprochement with Mr. Biden , condemned the bill .
U.S. critics of restoring a diplomatic track with Iran equate lifting sanctions with financing Iran ’ s proxy conflicts , sponsorship of terrorism , and enmity toward Israel .
Those are real and persistent dangers .
But Iranians say those arguments reflect a perspective that has misguided U.S. policy toward Iran since the Islamic Revolution .
“ The Americans ... don ’ t want to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are about a region free from imperial domination and a quest to control our resources , ” a former commander of Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told Foreign Policy last year .
What may help are small gestures that build up trust and open an opportunity to deal with the past .
This is the approach widely supported in Europe .
Germany ’ s relationship with Iran underscores the diplomatic capital of consistency .
It tries to maintain cultural exchanges and economic relations with Iran that allow Berlin to retain some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under President George W. Bush , the U.S. relied heavily on European partners to start a dialogue with Iran .
Some form of COVID-19 assistance is an obvious possibility .
Iran was one of the first countries outside China to be overwhelmed by the pandemic .
Measures to help it could send a message that while the U.S. opposes the regime , it has no quarrel with the people of Iran .
As the Biden administration recalibrates U.S. policy toward Iran both sides need a pathway out of the past .

In their everyday jabs at each other, Iran and the United States speak of containing or restraining the other in the present-day Middle East. The U.S. keeps forces in Arab states and backs Israel. Iran shoots or provides missiles around the region, harasses U.S. vessels, and maintains a nuclear program. Yet in the background for both is an emotion that often drives much of their actions: historic resentment. With a new U.S. president taking office next month and coming elections in Iran, it may be time to finally deal with the bitterness that each holds over perceptions of past wrongs.
Many Iranians resent both the U.S. role in the 1953 overthrow of an elected prime minister and its support of an oppressive regime under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In the U.S., some leaders resent the taking of 52 American hostages after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and attacks on U.S. forces in the region. Together, these not only create a trust gap in resolving current issues, they sometimes serve as convenient excuses for politicians to whip up domestic support to stay in power.
Across the globe, feelings of national humiliation often cast a long shadow over statecraft. They cannot be ignored. Russia’s recent aggressions are sometimes rooted in resentment over the fall of the Soviet empire. Turkey seems bent on restoring the influence it had before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire a century ago. China celebrates a National Humiliation Day each September to remember the encroachment of Western powers and Imperial Japan on its territory. Beijing exploits a narrative of past victimhood to justify its regional and global ambitions as restitution of historic injustices.
Such tactics often leave a country unable to seek a better future. “The problem with the Chinese Communist Party’s rendering of the past is that it encourages the Chinese people to remain frozen in a time of humiliation,” writes British historian Christopher Coker.
For President-elect Joe Biden, Iran’s sense of aggrievement – as well as resentment in the U.S. toward Iran – will be an obstacle to creating a peaceful Middle East. He intends to rejoin the international deal negotiated during the Obama administration to contain Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. The Trump administration withdrew from that pact two years ago to impose a raft of new sanctions against Tehran and its trading partners.
Mr. Biden will have a short window to coax receptive leaders in Tehran into a new relationship with the U.S. In June, Iran is due to hold a presidential election. Any diplomacy before then will be complicated by the recent assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, widely suspected to be the work of Israel. On Tuesday, hard-liners in Iran’s parliament voted to accelerate enrichment of fissile material and suspend United Nations inspections of its nuclear facilities unless sanctions are eased. President Hassan Rouhani, hoping for a rapprochement with Mr. Biden, condemned the bill.
U.S. critics of restoring a diplomatic track with Iran equate lifting sanctions with financing Iran’s proxy conflicts, sponsorship of terrorism, and enmity toward Israel. Those are real and persistent dangers. But Iranians say those arguments reflect a perspective that has misguided U.S. policy toward Iran since the Islamic Revolution. “The Americans ... don’t want to think that we have legitimate political concerns that are about a region free from imperial domination and a quest to control our resources,” a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told Foreign Policy last year.
What may help are small gestures that build up trust and open an opportunity to deal with the past. This is the approach widely supported in Europe. Germany’s relationship with Iran underscores the diplomatic capital of consistency. It tries to maintain cultural exchanges and economic relations with Iran that allow Berlin to retain some diplomatic influence – even during turbulent times. Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. relied heavily on European partners to start a dialogue with Iran.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Some form of COVID-19 assistance is an obvious possibility. Iran was one of the first countries outside China to be overwhelmed by the pandemic. Measures to help it could send a message that while the U.S. opposes the regime, it has no quarrel with the people of Iran.
As the Biden administration recalibrates U.S. policy toward Iran both sides need a pathway out of the past.


Pandemic challenge accepted

Before I became a journalist , I spent my days wrangling toddlers .
Back in 2004 , I was invited to join the executive committee at my cooperative day care .
The school was trying to inch its way back into the black after years of mismanagement .
So after the finger paints and waffle blocks had been put away , I found myself squinting at balance sheets and tuition scales .
That was when I first faced a brutal truth .
Teachers were struggling to make ends meet .
But many of the families weren ’ t much better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tuition .
Still , they were convinced that the educational , social , and emotional value their children gained from high-quality care was worth the sacrifice .
Fast-forward to 2020 , and I am once again struck by just how much families are willing to sacrifice so their children can learn .
But this year , despite their efforts , the cracks in our education systems have become more pronounced , and in some cases deepened , under the added strains of COVID-19 .
Throughout the pandemic , our reporters have sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have found students and families who are struggling .
But they have also found a steady stream of peers , neighbors , teachers , counselors , and other community members who have stepped up to help young people .
And they have found communities rising to the occasion .
This week , we invite readers to explore a sampling of these stories in a special Humanity Behind the Headlines section devoted to some of the challenges affecting the education and well-being of children and young adults .
The struggles raised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
But they aren ’ t new .
In a sense , the health crisis has opened our eyes to issues – educational disparities , hunger , other challenges to childhood well-being – that have long been left unattended .
Perhaps the current situation can bring a new level of urgency that will push us to find more lasting solutions .
Already , that urgency has translated to a surge of innovation and generosity .
In Britain , as the Monitor ’ s newest correspondent Shafi Musaddique reports , businesses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 4 million children living in poverty while schools have been shuttered .
In Russia , Fred Weir writes , schools are finding ways to allow older instructors to teach from home , while creating new opportunities for student teachers to test their skills in the classroom .
These stories are very much of this moment .
But in them , we can also find something more lasting : inspiration for a better future .

Before I became a journalist, I spent my days wrangling toddlers. Back in 2004, I was invited to join the executive committee at my cooperative day care. The school was trying to inch its way back into the black after years of mismanagement.
So after the finger paints and waffle blocks had been put away, I found myself squinting at balance sheets and tuition scales. That was when I first faced a brutal truth.
Teachers were struggling to make ends meet. But many of the families weren’t much better off, just scraping by to cover tuition. Still, they were convinced that the educational, social, and emotional value their children gained from high-quality care was worth the sacrifice.
Fast-forward to 2020, and I am once again struck by just how much families are willing to sacrifice so their children can learn. But this year, despite their efforts, the cracks in our education systems have become more pronounced, and in some cases deepened, under the added strains of COVID-19.
Throughout the pandemic, our reporters have sought to bring these difficulties into focus for readers. They have found students and families who are struggling. But they have also found a steady stream of peers, neighbors, teachers, counselors, and other community members who have stepped up to help young people. And they have found communities rising to the occasion.
This week, we invite readers to explore a sampling of these stories in a special Humanity Behind the Headlines section devoted to some of the challenges affecting the education and well-being of children and young adults.
The struggles raised in these stories have all been exacerbated by the pandemic. But they aren’t new. In a sense, the health crisis has opened our eyes to issues – educational disparities, hunger, other challenges to childhood well-being – that have long been left unattended. Perhaps the current situation can bring a new level of urgency that will push us to find more lasting solutions.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Already, that urgency has translated to a surge of innovation and generosity. In Britain, as the Monitor’s newest correspondent Shafi Musaddique reports, businesses are stepping up to help feed the nation’s 4 million children living in poverty while schools have been shuttered. In Russia, Fred Weir writes, schools are finding ways to allow older instructors to teach from home, while creating new opportunities for student teachers to test their skills in the classroom.
These stories are very much of this moment. But in them, we can also find something more lasting: inspiration for a better future.


csmonitor--2020-12-07--How Trump administration’s vote fraud claims stack up to reality

Even after he exits the White House , President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election and overturn the will of voters could have staying power .
Mr. Trump ’ s tactics are already inspiring other candidates and have been embraced by a wide array of Republicans .
Supporters include congressional candidates , state lawmakers , party chairs , conservative legal groups , and appointees to previously little-known state vote-certification boards .
The breadth of support for Mr. Trump ’ s effort could be a troubling sign for future elections .
“ What this president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Michigan Gov .
Jennifer Granholm said .
“ And , yes , he is setting a precedent , suggesting that it is OK to violate these norms that have made our country great.
” Ms. Granholm , a Democrat , joined with former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Todd Whitman , a Republican , to raise concerns about Mr. Trump ’ s refusal to concede and efforts to undermine the integrity of elections .
“ This is not who we are as Americans , and we don ’ t want the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the norm , ” said Ms. Whitman , who served in President George W. Bush ’ s administration .
Mr. Trump and his allies have pushed conspiracies involving voting machines manipulated by dead foreign leaders and tens of thousands of fraudulent mail ballots that somehow escaped layers of security and scrutiny by election workers across the country .
They have filed lawsuits without evidence , tried to pressure state lawmakers into seating their own presidential electors , and sought to influence low-level party members who sit on the state and local boards that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that the federal government ’ s own cybersecurity arm declared the presidential election “ the most secure in American history , ” and Attorney General William Barr said the Department of Justice uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome .
A look at the claims and reality : Mr. Trump : “ I go from winning by a lot to losing a tight race .
It ’ s corrupt.
” Mr. Trump : “ It ’ s about big leads on election night , tremendous leads , leads where I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy victory , and all of a sudden by morning or a couple of days later , those leads rapidly evaporated.
” The facts : No mass corruption happened .
Mr. Trump is actually describing a legitimate vote counting process , not a sudden surge of malfeasance that no one has seen before .
Indeed , news organizations and officials had warned in the days and weeks leading up to the election that the results would likely come in just as they did : In-person votes , which tend to be counted more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had spent months warning his supporters to avoid mail-in voting and to vote in person either early or on Election Day .
And mail-in ballots , which take longer to count since they must be removed from envelopes and verified before they are counted , would favor Mr. Biden .
That pattern was exacerbated by the fact that many states prohibited early counting of mail-in votes that arrived before Election Day .
In addition , big cities are often slower to report their numbers , and those votes tend to skew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to count mail-in ballots at the end of the process .
Mr. Trump : “ In Wisconsin , as an example , where we were way up on election night , they ultimately had us miraculously losing by 20,000 votes .
And I can show you right here that Wisconsin , we ’ re leading by a lot , and then at 3:42 in the morning , there was this .
It was a massive dump of votes .
Mostly Biden.
” The facts : No , there wasn ’ t a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of the night .
Milwaukee election officials finished counting the city ’ s roughly 169,000 absentee ballots around 3 a.m. Wisconsin law requires the results of those absentee ballots be reported all at once .
The count of the absentee ballots was livestreamed on YouTube for anyone to watch .
When it was finished , Milwaukee police escorted the city ’ s elections director from a central counting location to the county courthouse to deliver thumb drives with the ballot data .
Mr. Trump , on Dominion Voting Systems electoral software used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at who ’ s running the company , who ’ s in charge , who owns it – which we don ’ t know – where are the votes counted – which we think are counted in foreign countries , not in the United States – Dominion is a disaster.
” The facts : Servers that run Dominion software are in local election offices , not in foreign countries .
Claims that the company has foreign servers or ties to Germany or Venezuela are false .
It ’ s true that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclose its financials , but the New York-based private equity firm Staple Street Capital has owned a majority stake in Dominion since 2018 .
Fictional claims that Dianne Feinstein , the Clinton family , Nancy Pelosi , and Hugo Chavez are owners of Dominion have been debunked .
“ There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised ” in the 2020 election , according to a joint statement released by the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as an example , that used Dominion systems , they found that nearly 6,000 votes had been wrongly switched from Trump to Biden .
And this is just the tip of the iceberg .
This is what we caught .
How many didn ’ t we catch ?
” It ’ s true that a tabulation problem in the 2020 election involved a few thousand votes in Antrim County , Michigan .
But that was the result of human error .
When the Republican-leaning county initially reported a landslide win for Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Dominion election management system used to tabulate the data .
It turned out Dominion was not to blame , according to the Michigan Department of State .
“ There was no malice , no fraud here , just human error , ” County Clerk Sheryl Guy told the AP .
The tabulation error was corrected .
Eddie Perez , a voting technology expert at the OSET Institute , a nonpartisan election technology research and development nonprofit , agreed that the Michigan case was the result of human error involving voting technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump : “ Dead people – and we have many examples – filled out ballots , made applications , and then voted.
” The facts : He ’ s repeating a false claim of dead people voting , particularly in Pennsylvania and Michigan .
But there ’ s no evidence that this occurred , and officials in both states say the claims are unfounded .
The false claim that deceased voters cast ballots “ comes up every election , ” said Jason Roberts , a professor of political science at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the AP that it is common for state voter rolls to include voters with birthdates that make them appear impossibly old , but these are usually explained by human error , software quirks , or voter confidentiality issues .
“ A similar complaint was brought before a PA court – and soundly rejected , ” the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said in a statement .
“ The court found no deficiency in how PA maintains its voter rolls , and there is currently no proof provided that any deceased person has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wimmer , a spokesperson for Michigan ’ s secretary of state ’ s office , told the AP that on rare occasions a ballot received from a voter may be recorded as though that person is too old to be alive .
This can occur when an incorrect birth year is entered on voter rolls .
Some of the claims about dead voters appear to stem from a federal lawsuit that alleges Pennsylvania failed to “ maintain accurate and current voter rolls ” that include 21,000 apparently deceased registrants .
But that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people being cast and counted .
The Public Interest Legal Foundation , a conservative group based in Indiana , amended the lawsuit on Nov. 5 against Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar .
The group has taken legal action in a handful of places to try to force voter roll pruning .
In December 2019 , the group filed a lawsuit against Detroit election officials alleging that the city had over 2,500 dead people on the voter rolls — including one born in 1823 .
The lawsuit was dropped in June 2020 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump : “ In Pennsylvania , large amounts of mail-in and absentee ballots were processed illegally and in secret in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties without our observers present .
They were not allowed to be present .
...
They were thrown out of the building.
” Mr. Trump is misrepresenting a court case in the state and what happened at voting places .
No one tried to ban poll watchers representing each side in the election .
Democrats did not try to stop Republican representatives from being able to observe the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how close observers representing the parties could get to election workers who were processing mail-in ballots in Philadelphia .
Mr. Trump ’ s representatives sued to allow the observers to get closer than the guidelines had allowed .
A court ruled in favor of that request .
The counting in Philadelphia was being livestreamed , and Mr. Trump ’ s lawyers admitted in court that their campaign had observers in the room – “ a nonzero ” number of them , as they put it .
Poll watchers have no role in counting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
AP writers Arijeta Lajka , Michael Balsamo , and Colleen Long contributed to this report .

Even after he exits the White House, President Donald Trump’s efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election and overturn the will of voters could have staying power.
Mr. Trump’s tactics are already inspiring other candidates and have been embraced by a wide array of Republicans. Supporters include congressional candidates, state lawmakers, party chairs, conservative legal groups, and appointees to previously little-known state vote-certification boards. The breadth of support for Mr. Trump’s effort could be a troubling sign for future elections.
“What this president is doing is poisoning democracy,” former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said. “And, yes, he is setting a precedent, suggesting that it is OK to violate these norms that have made our country great.”
Ms. Granholm, a Democrat, joined with former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, to raise concerns about Mr. Trump’s refusal to concede and efforts to undermine the integrity of elections.
“This is not who we are as Americans, and we don’t want the public coming away from this thinking this is the norm,” said Ms. Whitman, who served in President George W. Bush’s administration.
Mr. Trump and his allies have pushed conspiracies involving voting machines manipulated by dead foreign leaders and tens of thousands of fraudulent mail ballots that somehow escaped layers of security and scrutiny by election workers across the country. They have filed lawsuits without evidence, tried to pressure state lawmakers into seating their own presidential electors, and sought to influence low-level party members who sit on the state and local boards that certify election results.
This is despite the fact that the federal government’s own cybersecurity arm declared the presidential election “the most secure in American history,” and Attorney General William Barr said the Department of Justice uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome.
A look at the claims and reality:
Ballot ‘dumping’
Mr. Trump: “I go from winning by a lot to losing a tight race. It’s corrupt.”
Mr. Trump: “It’s about big leads on election night, tremendous leads, leads where I was being congratulated for a decisive, easy victory, and all of a sudden by morning or a couple of days later, those leads rapidly evaporated.”
The facts: No mass corruption happened. Mr. Trump is actually describing a legitimate vote counting process, not a sudden surge of malfeasance that no one has seen before.
Indeed, news organizations and officials had warned in the days and weeks leading up to the election that the results would likely come in just as they did: In-person votes, which tend to be counted more quickly, would likely favor the president, who had spent months warning his supporters to avoid mail-in voting and to vote in person either early or on Election Day.
And mail-in ballots, which take longer to count since they must be removed from envelopes and verified before they are counted, would favor Mr. Biden. That pattern was exacerbated by the fact that many states prohibited early counting of mail-in votes that arrived before Election Day.
In addition, big cities are often slower to report their numbers, and those votes tend to skew Democratic. Likewise, many states tend to count mail-in ballots at the end of the process.
___
Mr. Trump: “In Wisconsin, as an example, where we were way up on election night, they ultimately had us miraculously losing by 20,000 votes. And I can show you right here that Wisconsin, we’re leading by a lot, and then at 3:42 in the morning, there was this. It was a massive dump of votes. Mostly Biden.”
The facts: No, there wasn’t a “massive dump of votes” in the middle of the night. Milwaukee election officials finished counting the city’s roughly 169,000 absentee ballots around 3 a.m.
Wisconsin law requires the results of those absentee ballots be reported all at once. The count of the absentee ballots was livestreamed on YouTube for anyone to watch. When it was finished, Milwaukee police escorted the city’s elections director from a central counting location to the county courthouse to deliver thumb drives with the ballot data.
Dominion
Mr. Trump, on Dominion Voting Systems electoral software used in many states: “When you look at who’s running the company, who’s in charge, who owns it – which we don’t know – where are the votes counted – which we think are counted in foreign countries, not in the United States – Dominion is a disaster.”
The facts: Servers that run Dominion software are in local election offices, not in foreign countries. Claims that the company has foreign servers or ties to Germany or Venezuela are false.
It’s true that the company is privately held and does not disclose its financials, but the New York-based private equity firm Staple Street Capital has owned a majority stake in Dominion since 2018. Fictional claims that Dianne Feinstein, the Clinton family, Nancy Pelosi, and Hugo Chavez are owners of Dominion have been debunked.
“There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised” in the 2020 election, according to a joint statement released by the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
___
Mr. Trump: “In one Michigan county, as an example, that used Dominion systems, they found that nearly 6,000 votes had been wrongly switched from Trump to Biden. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is what we caught. How many didn’t we catch?”
The facts: That’s a misrepresentation.
It’s true that a tabulation problem in the 2020 election involved a few thousand votes in Antrim County, Michigan. But that was the result of human error.
When the Republican-leaning county initially reported a landslide win for Mr. Biden, social media users grew suspicious about the Dominion election management system used to tabulate the data.
It turned out Dominion was not to blame, according to the Michigan Department of State. “There was no malice, no fraud here, just human error,” County Clerk Sheryl Guy told the AP. The tabulation error was corrected.
Eddie Perez, a voting technology expert at the OSET Institute, a nonpartisan election technology research and development nonprofit, agreed that the Michigan case was the result of human error involving voting technology, not the software itself.
‘Dead’ voters
Mr. Trump: “Dead people – and we have many examples – filled out ballots, made applications, and then voted.”
The facts: He’s repeating a false claim of dead people voting, particularly in Pennsylvania and Michigan. But there’s no evidence that this occurred, and officials in both states say the claims are unfounded.
The false claim that deceased voters cast ballots “comes up every election,” said Jason Roberts, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Experts told the AP that it is common for state voter rolls to include voters with birthdates that make them appear impossibly old, but these are usually explained by human error, software quirks, or voter confidentiality issues.
“A similar complaint was brought before a PA court – and soundly rejected,” the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said in a statement. “The court found no deficiency in how PA maintains its voter rolls, and there is currently no proof provided that any deceased person has voted in the 2020 election.”
Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for Michigan’s secretary of state’s office, told the AP that on rare occasions a ballot received from a voter may be recorded as though that person is too old to be alive. This can occur when an incorrect birth year is entered on voter rolls.
Some of the claims about dead voters appear to stem from a federal lawsuit that alleges Pennsylvania failed to “maintain accurate and current voter rolls” that include 21,000 apparently deceased registrants. But that is not the same as votes from dead people being cast and counted. The Public Interest Legal Foundation, a conservative group based in Indiana, amended the lawsuit on Nov. 5 against Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar.
The group has taken legal action in a handful of places to try to force voter roll pruning. In December 2019, the group filed a lawsuit against Detroit election officials alleging that the city had over 2,500 dead people on the voter rolls — including one born in 1823. The lawsuit was dropped in June 2020 after election officials updated voter rolls.
Poll watchers
Mr. Trump: “In Pennsylvania, large amounts of mail-in and absentee ballots were processed illegally and in secret in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties without our observers present. They were not allowed to be present. ... They were thrown out of the building.”
The facts: He’s incorrect.
Mr. Trump is misrepresenting a court case in the state and what happened at voting places. No one tried to ban poll watchers representing each side in the election. Democrats did not try to stop Republican representatives from being able to observe the process.
The main issue in the case was how close observers representing the parties could get to election workers who were processing mail-in ballots in Philadelphia. Mr. Trump’s representatives sued to allow the observers to get closer than the guidelines had allowed. A court ruled in favor of that request.
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The counting in Philadelphia was being livestreamed, and Mr. Trump’s lawyers admitted in court that their campaign had observers in the room – “a nonzero” number of them, as they put it. Poll watchers have no role in counting votes.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Arijeta Lajka, Michael Balsamo, and Colleen Long contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-12-07--For Biden the top economic priority is clear. It just isn’t easy.

“ Anything that gets done will require bipartisan legislation , ” says Robert Bixby of The Concord Coalition , a nonpartisan group focused on federal debt .
“ Biden is probably a good president to deal with this situation.
” The top priority for Mr. Biden is to control the pandemic and address its strain on workers and employers .
He is also proposing various programs to “ build back better.
” By taking an expanded view of infrastructure , the Biden administration might convince Congress to bolster the public health system , improve broadband access , and diversify electrical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One big difference .
The power balance in Congress is much more evenly divided , even if it remains possible that Democrats could control Congress by winning two Senate runoff races in Georgia .
That political reality puts a sharp constraint on hopes within the Democratic base for sweeping economic reforms – or fears among Republicans that Mr. Biden will lead a sharp turn toward “ socialism.
” As President-elect Joe Biden prepares for a Jan. 20 inauguration , the U.S. economy is struggling to overcome a severe downturn , much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when President Barack Obama took office with Mr. Biden as vice president .
When Joe Biden steps into the White House on Jan. 20 , Inauguration Day , it won ’ t be just the furnishings that look familiar .
The economy is wobbling after a severe downturn , much as it was in 2009 , when President Barack Obama took office with Mr. Biden as vice president .
Yet for President-elect Biden , today ’ s political landscape is vastly different .
It has grown tougher on issues such as trade and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , economic thinking has evolved toward greater flexibility when it comes to government deficits .
And while the economic challenge does not look as dire as it did in 2008 , it ’ s clear Mr. Biden will have less political maneuvering room than either Mr. Obama or President Donald Trump , who both took office with solid majorities in both houses of Congress .
The U.S. Senate will operate with a ultra-thin power balance , whichever party wins two January runoffs in Georgia .
This political reality puts a sharp constraint on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic reforms – or fears among Republicans that Mr. Biden will lead a sharp turn toward “ socialism.
” “ No matter what happens in Georgia , he has a virtually split Senate and a razor ’ s edge in the House , so anything that gets done will require bipartisan legislation , ” says Robert Bixby , director of The Concord Coalition , a nonpartisan group focused on federal debt .
“ Biden is probably a good president to deal with this situation.
” It won ’ t be easy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped the economy avoid a deeper and more prolonged recession , but determining how much more stimulus is still needed depends on how one views the recovery .
By some income measures , it had mostly rebounded by this fall .
Measured by unemployment , there ’ s still a long way to go – and the recovery is slowing .
In November , the economy added only about 245,000 new jobs , the smallest total in five months of steadily declining employment gains .
The U.S. still has 9.8 million fewer jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
If Congress fails to act , specific stimulus programs that provided some 12 million Americans unemployment benefits and up to 87 million workers access to paid leave for pandemic-related health issues will expire this month .
Then there ’ s the pandemic itself , which induced the slowdown in the first place .
Until it ’ s brought under control , the prospects of a full economic recovery are nil .
“ There ’ s a great deal of uncertainty , ” says Lee Branstetter , professor of economics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pittsburgh .
But “ at the moment , the federal government can borrow at an inflation-adjusted rate of zero , even less.
” So , he adds , “ the balance of risks seems to clearly be in the direction of doing too little now , ” while taking ambitious action carries relatively low costs .
Some kind of stimulus is likely to pass this year .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over a $ 908 billion plan put together by a bipartisan group of senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must pass a massive spending bill this month to avoid a government shutdown , says Bill Hoagland , longtime Republican staff director of the Senate Budget Committee and now senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington .
Thus , while it might not be called a stimulus , the new spending bill would include some kind of extension on federal unemployment insurance , employment insurance , and some short term assistance to small businesses , he predicts .
Whatever Democrats get during the lame-duck session , they will see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambitious stimulus early next year , Mr. Hoagland adds .
“ Congress and President Trump must get a deal done for the American people , ” President-elect Biden said Friday .
“ But any package passed in the lame-duck session is not enough .
... Congress will need to act again in January.
” Mr. Biden is proposing not only to get the economy back on track but , as he puts it , to “ build back better.
” He wants to spend $ 7.3 trillion in new funds over 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bridges , and other infrastructure ; boost research and development in manufacturing ; address climate change by encouraging sustainable energy ; eliminate loopholes in “ buy American ” rules for government contracts ; and help the working class through a variety of programs from making community college free to universal preschool , affordable child care , and aid for renting and buying homes .
“ We are once again living through one of the worst job crises since the Great Depression , ” said Cecilia Rouse , the nominee for chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , last week when Mr. Biden introduced his economic team in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ Structural inequities that have always existed in the economy are being exacerbated like never before .
This is a moment of urgency and opportunity unlike any we ’ ve faced in modern times.
” Ms .
Rouse , an economist and currently a dean at Princeton University , would be the first Black person to head the CEA if the Senate confirms her .
Mr. Biden ’ s picks for his economic team reflect a focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less-advantaged Americans .
“ The people he ’ s putting in place shows this is going to be a workers focused administration , ” said Tom Conway , president of United Steelworkers labor union , in a recent online event sponsored by the Alliance for American Manufacturing .
Those picks include Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary .
Ms. Yellen is widely respected for her former stints as head of the Federal Reserve and as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers .
His choice of Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick of Brian Deese for top economic adviser pleases Wall Street .
Mr. Deese is global head of sustainable investing at asset manager BlackRock .
Is debt a worry or not ?
The president-elect ’ s grand plans may be helped by an evolution in economic thinking .
Where a dozen years ago , in the teeth of the Great Recession , stimulus plans were constrained by broad concerns that deficits would get too high , many economists appear less concerned today , even though the federal debt has soared since then .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was supposed to rage after rising government borrowing a decade ago never happened .
Interest rates declined , instead , for reasons economists admit they don ’ t fully understand .
“ A period of extraordinarily low interest that can be locked in for 10 to 30 years provides an unprecedented opportunity to address profound and longstanding investment deficits , ” Lawrence Summers , former Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton , said at a recent online event at the left-leaning Brookings Institution .
“ Failing to take advantage of that opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is putting our long term fiscal position at risk by weakening our potential for inclusive growth.
” But in the long run , the federal debt numbers are scary , many economists say .
In 2009 , just as the Obama administration got underway , federal debt totaled less than half of one year ’ s economic output .
Now , at about 100 % of gross domestic product , the debt load has effectively doubled .
That ’ s one reason many Republicans are urging restraint on the stimulus in the short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plans for the long term .
“ The big plans aren ’ t going to happen , but I do think that there might be some areas of cooperation , ” says Mr. Bixby of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition .
One of the biggest areas of common ground is infrastructure investment .
Senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle want to fix roads and bridges .
By taking an expanded view of infrastructure , the Biden administration might convince Congress to bolster the public health system , improve broadband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electrical grid with added solar and wind power , say analysts on both sides of the aisle .
Other economic priorities , such as raising taxes on corporations and individuals making more than $ 400,000 a year , look far less likely to get through Congress .
“ It will be difficult to pass many of the programs that the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party would like , ” Michael Strain , director of economic policy studies at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute in Washington , said at Brookings ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect that by the time we are talking about the 2024 election , we ’ ll look back and see one or two significant legislative accomplishments .
”

“Anything that gets done will require bipartisan legislation,” says Robert Bixby of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group focused on federal debt. “Biden is probably a good president to deal with this situation.”
The top priority for Mr. Biden is to control the pandemic and address its strain on workers and employers. He is also proposing various programs to “build back better.” By taking an expanded view of infrastructure, the Biden administration might convince Congress to bolster the public health system, improve broadband access, and diversify electrical grids with more solar and wind power.
Like 2009, when he arrived as wingman to President Obama, Joe Biden will land at the White House at a time of economic crisis. Unlike then, the power balance in Congress will be razor thin.
One big difference. The power balance in Congress is much more evenly divided, even if it remains possible that Democrats could control Congress by winning two Senate runoff races in Georgia. That political reality puts a sharp constraint on hopes within the Democratic base for sweeping economic reforms – or fears among Republicans that Mr. Biden will lead a sharp turn toward “socialism.”
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares for a Jan. 20 inauguration, the U.S. economy is struggling to overcome a severe downturn, much as it was in 2009. That was when President Barack Obama took office with Mr. Biden as vice president.
When Joe Biden steps into the White House on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, it won’t be just the furnishings that look familiar. The economy is wobbling after a severe downturn, much as it was in 2009, when President Barack Obama took office with Mr. Biden as vice president.
Yet for President-elect Biden, today’s political landscape is vastly different. It has grown tougher on issues such as trade and China policy. Since the Great Recession, economic thinking has evolved toward greater flexibility when it comes to government deficits.
And while the economic challenge does not look as dire as it did in 2008, it’s clear Mr. Biden will have less political maneuvering room than either Mr. Obama or President Donald Trump, who both took office with solid majorities in both houses of Congress. The U.S. Senate will operate with a ultra-thin power balance, whichever party wins two January runoffs in Georgia.
Why We Wrote This Like 2009, when he arrived as wingman to President Obama, Joe Biden will land at the White House at a time of economic crisis. Unlike then, the power balance in Congress will be razor thin.
This political reality puts a sharp constraint on hopes within the Democratic base for sweeping economic reforms – or fears among Republicans that Mr. Biden will lead a sharp turn toward “socialism.”
“No matter what happens in Georgia, he has a virtually split Senate and a razor’s edge in the House, so anything that gets done will require bipartisan legislation,” says Robert Bixby, director of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group focused on federal debt. “Biden is probably a good president to deal with this situation.”
It won’t be easy. The emergency stimulus passed in the spring has helped the economy avoid a deeper and more prolonged recession, but determining how much more stimulus is still needed depends on how one views the recovery. By some income measures, it had mostly rebounded by this fall. Measured by unemployment, there’s still a long way to go – and the recovery is slowing. In November, the economy added only about 245,000 new jobs, the smallest total in five months of steadily declining employment gains. The U.S. still has 9.8 million fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic hit in March.
Inauguration paired with big U.S. risks
If Congress fails to act, specific stimulus programs that provided some 12 million Americans unemployment benefits and up to 87 million workers access to paid leave for pandemic-related health issues will expire this month.
Then there’s the pandemic itself, which induced the slowdown in the first place. Until it’s brought under control, the prospects of a full economic recovery are nil.
“There’s a great deal of uncertainty,” says Lee Branstetter, professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. But “at the moment, the federal government can borrow at an inflation-adjusted rate of zero, even less.” So, he adds, “the balance of risks seems to clearly be in the direction of doing too little now,” while taking ambitious action carries relatively low costs.
Leah Millis/Reuters View caption Hide caption President-elect Joe Biden responds to a question as he speaks about the economy and the final U.S. jobs report of 2020 at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Dec. 4, 2020.
Some kind of stimulus is likely to pass this year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over a $908 billion plan put together by a bipartisan group of senators.
Even should that fail, Congress must pass a massive spending bill this month to avoid a government shutdown, says Bill Hoagland, longtime Republican staff director of the Senate Budget Committee and now senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington. Thus, while it might not be called a stimulus, the new spending bill would include some kind of extension on federal unemployment insurance, employment insurance, and some short term assistance to small businesses, he predicts.
Whatever Democrats get during the lame-duck session, they will see it as a down payment for a more ambitious stimulus early next year, Mr. Hoagland adds.
“Congress and President Trump must get a deal done for the American people,” President-elect Biden said Friday. “But any package passed in the lame-duck session is not enough. ... Congress will need to act again in January.”
Biden priorities
Mr. Biden is proposing not only to get the economy back on track but, as he puts it, to “build back better.” He wants to spend $7.3 trillion in new funds over 10 years to improve the nation’s roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; boost research and development in manufacturing; address climate change by encouraging sustainable energy; eliminate loopholes in “buy American” rules for government contracts; and help the working class through a variety of programs from making community college free to universal preschool, affordable child care, and aid for renting and buying homes.
“We are once again living through one of the worst job crises since the Great Depression,” said Cecilia Rouse, the nominee for chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), last week when Mr. Biden introduced his economic team in Wilmington, Delaware. “Structural inequities that have always existed in the economy are being exacerbated like never before. This is a moment of urgency and opportunity unlike any we’ve faced in modern times.”
Ms. Rouse, an economist and currently a dean at Princeton University, would be the first Black person to head the CEA if the Senate confirms her.
Mr. Biden’s picks for his economic team reflect a focus not only on diversity but also on less-advantaged Americans. “The people he’s putting in place shows this is going to be a workers focused administration,” said Tom Conway, president of United Steelworkers labor union, in a recent online event sponsored by the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
Those picks include Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary. Ms. Yellen is widely respected for her former stints as head of the Federal Reserve and as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. His choice of Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey for his CEA team pleases liberals. His pick of Brian Deese for top economic adviser pleases Wall Street. Mr. Deese is global head of sustainable investing at asset manager BlackRock.
Is debt a worry or not?
The president-elect’s grand plans may be helped by an evolution in economic thinking. Where a dozen years ago, in the teeth of the Great Recession, stimulus plans were constrained by broad concerns that deficits would get too high, many economists appear less concerned today, even though the federal debt has soared since then. One reason is that the high inflation that was supposed to rage after rising government borrowing a decade ago never happened. Interest rates declined, instead, for reasons economists admit they don’t fully understand.
“A period of extraordinarily low interest that can be locked in for 10 to 30 years provides an unprecedented opportunity to address profound and longstanding investment deficits,” Lawrence Summers, former Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, said at a recent online event at the left-leaning Brookings Institution. “Failing to take advantage of that opportunity is putting our children at risk and is putting our long term fiscal position at risk by weakening our potential for inclusive growth.”
But in the long run, the federal debt numbers are scary, many economists say. In 2009, just as the Obama administration got underway, federal debt totaled less than half of one year’s economic output. Now, at about 100% of gross domestic product, the debt load has effectively doubled. That’s one reason many Republicans are urging restraint on the stimulus in the short term and are skeptical of Mr. Biden’s plans for the long term.
“The big plans aren’t going to happen, but I do think that there might be some areas of cooperation,” says Mr. Bixby of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition.
One of the biggest areas of common ground is infrastructure investment. Senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle want to fix roads and bridges. By taking an expanded view of infrastructure, the Biden administration might convince Congress to bolster the public health system, improve broadband access for underserved areas, and diversify the electrical grid with added solar and wind power, say analysts on both sides of the aisle.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Other economic priorities, such as raising taxes on corporations and individuals making more than $400,000 a year, look far less likely to get through Congress.
“It will be difficult to pass many of the programs that the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party would like,” Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said at Brookings’ online event. “But I would expect that by the time we are talking about the 2024 election, we’ll look back and see one or two significant legislative accomplishments.”