csmonitor--2020-11-19--Trump targets certification process to block Biden: What is it?

Getting nowhere in the courts , President Donald Trump ’ s scattershot effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory is shifting toward obscure election boards that certify the vote as Mr. Trump and his allies seek to upend the electoral process , sow chaos , and perpetuate unsubstantiated doubts about the count .
The battle is centered in the battleground states that sealed Mr. Biden ’ s win .
In Michigan , two Republican election officials in the state ’ s largest county initially refused to certify results despite no evidence of fraud .
In Arizona , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tallies in a rural county .
The moves don ’ t reflect a coordinated effort across the battleground states that broke for Mr. Biden , local election officials said .
Instead , they seem to be inspired by Mr. Trump ’ s incendiary rhetoric about baseless fraud and driven by Republican acquiescence to broadsides against the nation ’ s electoral system as state and federal courts push aside legal challenges filed by Mr. Trump and his allies .
Still , what happened in Wayne County , Michigan , on Tuesday was a jarring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be caused as the nation works through the process of affirming the outcome of the Nov. 3 election .
There is no precedent for the Trump team ’ s widespread effort to delay or undermine certification , according to University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas .
“ It would be the end of democracy as we know it , ” Mr. Douglas said .
“ This is just not a thing that can happen.
” Certifying results is a routine yet important step after local election officials have tallied votes , reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted correctly , and investigated discrepancies .
Typically , this certification is done by a local board of elections and then later , the results are certified at the state level .
But as Mr. Trump has refused to concede to Mr. Biden and continues to spread false claims of victory , this mundane process is taking on new significance .
Among key battleground states , counties in Michigan , Nevada , and Wisconsin have all made it through the initial step of certifying results .
Except for Wayne County , this process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , and Georgia still haven ’ t concluded their local certifications .
Then all eyes turn to statewide certification .
In Wayne County , the two Republican canvassers at first balked at certifying the vote , winning praise from Mr. Trump , and then reversed course after widespread condemnation .
A person familiar with the matter said Mr. Trump reached out to the canvassers , Monica Palmer and William Hartmann , on Tuesday evening after the revised vote to express gratitude for their support .
Time is running short for Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court challenges must wrap up and election results must be certified by Dec. 8 .
That ’ s the constitutional deadline ahead of the Electoral College meeting the following week .
Matt Morgan , the Trump campaign ’ s general counsel , said last week the campaign was trying to halt certification in battleground states until it could get a better handle on vote tallies and whether it would have the right to automatic recounts .
Right now , Mr. Trump is requesting a recount in Wisconsin in two counties , and Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden led by a slim margin of 0.3 percentage points .
Although there is no mandatory recount law in Georgia , the law provides that option to a trailing candidate if the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points .
Some in the president ’ s orbit have held out hope that by delaying certification , GOP-controlled state legislatures will get a chance to select different electors , either overturning Mr. Biden ’ s victory or sending it to the House , where Mr. Trump would almost surely win .
But most advisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dream .
Mr. Trump ’ s team has been incapable of organizing even basic legal activities since the election , let alone the widescale political and legal apparatus needed to persuade state legislators to try to undermine the will of their states ’ voters .
Lawsuits have been filed by Trump allies in Michigan and Nevada seeking to stop certification .
Mr. Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani argued to stop vote certification in Pennsylvania on Tuesday , the first time he ’ d been in a courtroom in decades .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party asked a judge to bar Maricopa County , the state ’ s most populous , from certifying until the court issues a decision about the party ’ s lawsuit seeking a new hand count of a sampling of ballots .
The party is also putting pressure on county officials across the state to delay certification , even though there hasn ’ t been any evidence of legitimate questions about the vote tally showing that Mr. Biden won Arizona .
“ The party is pushing for not only the county supervisors but everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure that all questions are answered so that voters will have confidence in the results of the election , ” said Zach Henry , spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party .
While most counties in Arizona are pressing ahead with certification , officials in Mohave County decided to delay until Nov. 23 , citing what they said was uncertainty about the fate of election challenges across the country .
“ There are lawsuits all over the place on everything , and that ’ s part of the reason why I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , ” Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould said Monday .
Officials in all of Georgia ’ s 159 counties were supposed to have certified their results by last Friday .
But a few have yet to certify as the state works through a hand tally of some 5 million votes .
“ They are overwhelmed , and they are trying to get to everything , ” said Gabriel Sterling , a top official with the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s Office .
“ Some of these are smaller , less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many people who can do so many things.
” In addition , a few counties must recertify their results after previously uncounted votes were discovered during the audit .
Once counties have certified , the focus turns to officials at the state level who are charged with signing off on the election .
This varies by state .
For instance , a bipartisan panel in Michigan certifies elections , but in Georgia it ’ s the responsibility of the elected secretary of state , who has already faced calls by fellow Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State Barbara Cegavske ’ s role in certification is largely ministerial , but she still got a batch of emails urging her not to certify “ potentially fraudulent election results , ” a spokeswoman said Wednesday .
The Justice Department had been looking into one potential case of fraud in the state over voter rolls , but an AP analysis found the case doesn ’ t appear to hold much water .
In Pennsylvania ’ s Luzerne County , a Republican board member , Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt , said she will not certify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit of at least 10 % of the votes to ensure that some voters did not vote twice .
Mr. Trump won the county , where the election board is made up of three Democrats and two Republicans .
A Democrat on the board , Peter Oullette , said he had no doubt that the rest of the board will sign the certification on Monday .
Philadelphia also had plans to certify results on Monday .
And some delays could still happen given the crushing workload election officials faced this year during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Common Cause Pennsylvania , a good government group that helps with voter education and monitors election work in the state .
“ A delay in certification doesn ’ t necessarily mean there are shenanigans ; sometimes it just takes longer to go through all the mechanics to get to certification , ” Ms. Almeida said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Cassidy reported from Atlanta .
AP writers Bob Christie and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix ; Marc Levy in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania ; Scott Bauer in Madison , Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report .

Zeke Miller, Christina A. Cassidy, and Colleen Long

Getting nowhere in the courts, President Donald Trump’s scattershot effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory is shifting toward obscure election boards that certify the vote as Mr. Trump and his allies seek to upend the electoral process, sow chaos, and perpetuate unsubstantiated doubts about the count.
The battle is centered in the battleground states that sealed Mr. Biden’s win.
In Michigan, two Republican election officials in the state’s largest county initially refused to certify results despite no evidence of fraud. In Arizona, officials are balking at signing off on vote tallies in a rural county.
The moves don’t reflect a coordinated effort across the battleground states that broke for Mr. Biden, local election officials said. Instead, they seem to be inspired by Mr. Trump’s incendiary rhetoric about baseless fraud and driven by Republican acquiescence to broadsides against the nation’s electoral system as state and federal courts push aside legal challenges filed by Mr. Trump and his allies.
Still, what happened in Wayne County, Michigan, on Tuesday was a jarring reminder of the disruptions that can still be caused as the nation works through the process of affirming the outcome of the Nov. 3 election.
There is no precedent for the Trump team’s widespread effort to delay or undermine certification, according to University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas.
“It would be the end of democracy as we know it,” Mr. Douglas said. “This is just not a thing that can happen.”
Certifying results is a routine yet important step after local election officials have tallied votes, reviewed procedures, checked to ensure votes were counted correctly, and investigated discrepancies. Typically, this certification is done by a local board of elections and then later, the results are certified at the state level.
But as Mr. Trump has refused to concede to Mr. Biden and continues to spread false claims of victory, this mundane process is taking on new significance.
Among key battleground states, counties in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin have all made it through the initial step of certifying results. Except for Wayne County, this process has largely been smooth. Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia still haven’t concluded their local certifications.
Then all eyes turn to statewide certification.
In Wayne County, the two Republican canvassers at first balked at certifying the vote, winning praise from Mr. Trump, and then reversed course after widespread condemnation. A person familiar with the matter said Mr. Trump reached out to the canvassers, Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, on Tuesday evening after the revised vote to express gratitude for their support.
Time is running short for Mr. Trump. Across the nation, recounts and court challenges must wrap up and election results must be certified by Dec. 8. That’s the constitutional deadline ahead of the Electoral College meeting the following week.
Matt Morgan, the Trump campaign’s general counsel, said last week the campaign was trying to halt certification in battleground states until it could get a better handle on vote tallies and whether it would have the right to automatic recounts. Right now, Mr. Trump is requesting a recount in Wisconsin in two counties, and Georgia is doing an hand audit after Mr. Biden led by a slim margin of 0.3 percentage points. Although there is no mandatory recount law in Georgia, the law provides that option to a trailing candidate if the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points.
Some in the president’s orbit have held out hope that by delaying certification, GOP-controlled state legislatures will get a chance to select different electors, either overturning Mr. Biden’s victory or sending it to the House, where Mr. Trump would almost surely win.
But most advisers to the president consider that a fever dream. Mr. Trump’s team has been incapable of organizing even basic legal activities since the election, let alone the widescale political and legal apparatus needed to persuade state legislators to try to undermine the will of their states’ voters.
Lawsuits have been filed by Trump allies in Michigan and Nevada seeking to stop certification. Mr. Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani argued to stop vote certification in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the first time he’d been in a courtroom in decades. And the same day, the Arizona Republican Party asked a judge to bar Maricopa County, the state’s most populous, from certifying until the court issues a decision about the party’s lawsuit seeking a new hand count of a sampling of ballots.
The party is also putting pressure on county officials across the state to delay certification, even though there hasn’t been any evidence of legitimate questions about the vote tally showing that Mr. Biden won Arizona.
“The party is pushing for not only the county supervisors but everyone responsible for certifying and canvassing the election to make sure that all questions are answered so that voters will have confidence in the results of the election,” said Zach Henry, spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party.
While most counties in Arizona are pressing ahead with certification, officials in Mohave County decided to delay until Nov. 23, citing what they said was uncertainty about the fate of election challenges across the country.
“There are lawsuits all over the place on everything, and that’s part of the reason why I’m in no big hurry to canvass the election,” Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould said Monday.
Officials in all of Georgia’s 159 counties were supposed to have certified their results by last Friday. But a few have yet to certify as the state works through a hand tally of some 5 million votes.
“They are overwhelmed, and they are trying to get to everything,” said Gabriel Sterling, a top official with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. “Some of these are smaller, less resourced counties, and there are only so many people who can do so many things.”
In addition, a few counties must recertify their results after previously uncounted votes were discovered during the audit.
Once counties have certified, the focus turns to officials at the state level who are charged with signing off on the election. This varies by state. For instance, a bipartisan panel in Michigan certifies elections, but in Georgia it’s the responsibility of the elected secretary of state, who has already faced calls by fellow Republicans to resign.
In Nevada, Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske’s role in certification is largely ministerial, but she still got a batch of emails urging her not to certify “potentially fraudulent election results,” a spokeswoman said Wednesday. The Justice Department had been looking into one potential case of fraud in the state over voter rolls, but an AP analysis found the case doesn’t appear to hold much water.
In Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County, a Republican board member, Joyce Dombroski-Gebhardt, said she will not certify the county’s election without an audit of at least 10% of the votes to ensure that some voters did not vote twice.
Mr. Trump won the county, where the election board is made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. A Democrat on the board, Peter Oullette, said he had no doubt that the rest of the board will sign the certification on Monday.
Philadelphia also had plans to certify results on Monday.
And some delays could still happen given the crushing workload election officials faced this year during the pandemic, according to Suzanne Almeida with Common Cause Pennsylvania, a good government group that helps with voter education and monitors election work in the state.
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“A delay in certification doesn’t necessarily mean there are shenanigans; sometimes it just takes longer to go through all the mechanics to get to certification,” Ms. Almeida said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Cassidy reported from Atlanta. AP writers Bob Christie and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Kate Brumback in Atlanta; and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-11-19--More Trump-faithful than Fox? Newsmax finds a growing audience.

Now that his largely invisible network has suddenly been flooded by fans of President Donald Trump , Newsmax television personality Grant Stinchfield is puffing out his chest .
“ They don ’ t know what to do with all of us , ” Mr. Stinchfield said on the air Monday night .
“ We ’ re killing it here on Newsmax with a tactic they ’ ve never tried .
It ’ s called the truth , the stone-cold truth , and once you get a taste of it , you will never tolerate being lied to again.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite is true , that Newsmax ’ s viewers are being presented discredited stories such as a voting system that changed or deleted votes , questions about how closely Republicans were able to monitor vote-counting , and the volume of absentee ballots being accepted .
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities .
But Newsmax ’ s burst , whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and could foreshadow significant competition to Fox News Channel ’ s dominance with conservative viewers in two decades .
“ We ’ ve really cornered Fox from the right , ” said Chris Ruddy , Newsmax founder and friend of Mr. Trump .
“ They ’ ve never had that.
” From the beginning of July to the week before Election Day , Newsmax averaged 58,000 viewers from 7 to 10 p.m. on weekdays .
That jumped to 568,000 the week after the election , the Nielsen company said .
In the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 450,000 .
For the same dates , Fox News averaged 3.6 million viewers in the evening , Nielsen said .
Fox ’ s prime-time viewership during the two weeks after the election was up 50 percent over last year .
“ We love competition .
We have always thrived on competition , ” Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said on an Election Day earnings call .
Mr. Ruddy traced much of Newsmax ’ s increase to Trump supporters angered by Fox ’ s election night call that Democrat Joe Biden had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization .
While that call proved correct , for the president ’ s backers it was an ill-timed sign of insufficient loyalty from their favorite network .
Mr. Trump , who criticized Fox throughout the campaign , has driven the point home with repeated tweets suggesting his followers check out Newsmax or a smaller rival that also presses a conservative viewpoint , One America News Network .
“ There ’ s a large part of the country that wants to have a voice , the same people who gave birth to what turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Michael Clemente , Newsmax ’ s CEO until last April and a former Fox News executive .
“ Now , more than ever , they want to be heard , and have influence equal to their peers on the coasts .
Their loyalty is to that voice and not to any place or another.
” Newsmax says it has an editorial staff of 70 , including those attached to its website , which at midday Wednesday led with stories about Mr. Trump ’ s press secretary calling restrictions on Thanksgiving gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s latest false tweet claiming an election victory .
The television network is running a clever ad telling conservative viewers not to be “ out-foxed , ” but it was telling on Monday that both Newsmax and OANN spent considerable time discussing an interview that was conducted on Fox , where a Trump lawyer predicted her client would win by millions of votes .
Programming generally consists of news talk shows , and it ’ s not difficult to see where the loyalty lies .
“ Donald Trump is the most powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Kelly , a former personality at Fox ’ s New York affiliate who is Newsmax ’ s most polished broadcaster .
“ Not because he ’ s president , but because he ’ s loved by so many people.
” When Newsmax ’ s Chris Salcedo asked a question about Mr. Biden during an interview Monday with Trump aide Peter Navarro , he was quickly brushed off .
“ As far as I ’ m concerned , President Trump is going to have a second term , ” Mr. Navarro said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president-elect , unlike other news organizations , including Fox and The Associated Press .
They say they are waiting for final certification of the vote before doing so .
Even though Mr. Ruddy conceded in an interview that Mr. Trump has an extremely narrow chance of overturning the results , he said it ’ s up to the states , not media organizations , to declare a winner .
When that process is done , Newsmax will accept the winner , he said .
But if Mr. Trump ’ s chances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why should a discussion about them dominate Newsmax ’ s airtime ?
“ I think that people that are not pro-Trump or don ’ t like him think we should get past it or they are tired of it , ” he said .
“ But conservatives are quite anxious to hear about developments.
” He said he differs from Mr. Trump in believing the administration should be cooperating in a transition , even if the president holds out hope that the results could somehow be overturned .
“ I would tell him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think they should engage in a transition , ” he said .
The spotlight on smaller rivals comes at an extraordinarily tumultuous time at Fox .
There ’ s always been a tension between the news and opinion sides of the network , but this time it ’ s reflected in the ultimate “ unspinnable ” story of election results , said Nicole Hemmer , a Columbia University professor and author of “ Messengers of the Right : Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics.
” In some respects , the surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temper tantrum by some Fox viewers , she said .
For Newsmax , a big question is whether its programming is compelling enough to hold viewers who are clearly sampling .
Besides Mr. Kelly , former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer is Newsmax ’ s best-known personality .
Both their shows are aired twice a night ; Mr. Ruddy said a new prime-time show will start next month and another is in the works .
“ It ’ s going to be a challenge for [ Newsmax ] to grow their numbers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of a news operation , ” Ms. Hemmer said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Lynn Elber contributed from Los Angeles .

Now that his largely invisible network has suddenly been flooded by fans of President Donald Trump, Newsmax television personality Grant Stinchfield is puffing out his chest.
“They don’t know what to do with all of us,” Mr. Stinchfield said on the air Monday night. “We’re killing it here on Newsmax with a tactic they’ve never tried. It’s called the truth, the stone-cold truth, and once you get a taste of it, you will never tolerate being lied to again.”
The conservative network’s critics suggest the opposite is true, that Newsmax’s viewers are being presented discredited stories such as a voting system that changed or deleted votes, questions about how closely Republicans were able to monitor vote-counting, and the volume of absentee ballots being accepted.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In fact, election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
But Newsmax’s burst, whether or not it lasts, has been astonishingly swift and could foreshadow significant competition to Fox News Channel’s dominance with conservative viewers in two decades.
“We’ve really cornered Fox from the right,” said Chris Ruddy, Newsmax founder and friend of Mr. Trump. “They’ve never had that.”
From the beginning of July to the week before Election Day, Newsmax averaged 58,000 viewers from 7 to 10 p.m. on weekdays. That jumped to 568,000 the week after the election, the Nielsen company said. In the same period, daytime viewership increased from 46,000 to 450,000.
For the same dates, Fox News averaged 3.6 million viewers in the evening, Nielsen said. Fox’s prime-time viewership during the two weeks after the election was up 50 percent over last year.
“We love competition. We have always thrived on competition,” Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said on an Election Day earnings call.
Mr. Ruddy traced much of Newsmax’s increase to Trump supporters angered by Fox’s election night call that Democrat Joe Biden had won Arizona – ahead of any other news organization. While that call proved correct, for the president’s backers it was an ill-timed sign of insufficient loyalty from their favorite network.
Mr. Trump, who criticized Fox throughout the campaign, has driven the point home with repeated tweets suggesting his followers check out Newsmax or a smaller rival that also presses a conservative viewpoint, One America News Network.
“There’s a large part of the country that wants to have a voice, the same people who gave birth to what turned into a very robust Fox News,” said Michael Clemente, Newsmax’s CEO until last April and a former Fox News executive. “Now, more than ever, they want to be heard, and have influence equal to their peers on the coasts. Their loyalty is to that voice and not to any place or another.”
Newsmax says it has an editorial staff of 70, including those attached to its website, which at midday Wednesday led with stories about Mr. Trump’s press secretary calling restrictions on Thanksgiving gatherings “Orwellian,” and the president’s latest false tweet claiming an election victory.
The television network is running a clever ad telling conservative viewers not to be “out-foxed,” but it was telling on Monday that both Newsmax and OANN spent considerable time discussing an interview that was conducted on Fox, where a Trump lawyer predicted her client would win by millions of votes.
Programming generally consists of news talk shows, and it’s not difficult to see where the loyalty lies.
“Donald Trump is the most powerful person in the world,” said Greg Kelly, a former personality at Fox’s New York affiliate who is Newsmax’s most polished broadcaster. “Not because he’s president, but because he’s loved by so many people.”
When Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo asked a question about Mr. Biden during an interview Monday with Trump aide Peter Navarro, he was quickly brushed off.
“As far as I’m concerned, President Trump is going to have a second term,” Mr. Navarro said.
Newsmax hasn’t declared Mr. Biden the president-elect, unlike other news organizations, including Fox and The Associated Press. They say they are waiting for final certification of the vote before doing so.
Even though Mr. Ruddy conceded in an interview that Mr. Trump has an extremely narrow chance of overturning the results, he said it’s up to the states, not media organizations, to declare a winner. When that process is done, Newsmax will accept the winner, he said.
But if Mr. Trump’s chances of overturning the results are so small, why should a discussion about them dominate Newsmax’s airtime?
“I think that people that are not pro-Trump or don’t like him think we should get past it or they are tired of it,” he said. “But conservatives are quite anxious to hear about developments.”
He said he differs from Mr. Trump in believing the administration should be cooperating in a transition, even if the president holds out hope that the results could somehow be overturned.
“I would tell him if I speak to him that I think they should engage in a transition,” he said.
The spotlight on smaller rivals comes at an extraordinarily tumultuous time at Fox. There’s always been a tension between the news and opinion sides of the network, but this time it’s reflected in the ultimate “unspinnable” story of election results, said Nicole Hemmer, a Columbia University professor and author of “Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics.”
In some respects, the surge in Newsmax’s viewership represents a temper tantrum by some Fox viewers, she said.
For Newsmax, a big question is whether its programming is compelling enough to hold viewers who are clearly sampling. Besides Mr. Kelly, former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer is Newsmax’s best-known personality. Both their shows are aired twice a night; Mr. Ruddy said a new prime-time show will start next month and another is in the works.
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“It’s going to be a challenge for [Newsmax] to grow their numbers in the way that Fox did because of the lack of a news operation,” Ms. Hemmer said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Lynn Elber contributed from Los Angeles.


csmonitor--2020-11-19--Out of space, hospital moves COVID-19 patients to parking garage

Overwhelmed hospitals are converting chapels , cafeterias , waiting rooms , hallways , even a parking garage into patient treatment areas .
Staff members are desperately calling around to other medical centers in search of open beds .
Fatigue and frustration are setting in among front-line workers .
Conditions inside the nation ’ s hospitals are deteriorating by the day as the coronavirus rages across the United States at an unrelenting pace and the confirmed death toll surpasses 250,000 .
“ We are depressed , disheartened and tired to the bone , ” said Alison Johnson , director of critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee , adding that she drives to and from work some days in tears .
The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 in the U.S. has doubled in the past month and set new records every day this week .
As of Tuesday , nearly 77,000 were hospitalized with the virus .
Newly confirmed infections per day in the U.S. have exploded more than 80 % over the past two weeks to the highest levels on record , with the daily count running at close to 160,000 on average .
Cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Deaths are averaging more than 1,155 per day , the highest in months .
The out-of-control surge is leading governors and mayors across the U.S. to grudgingly issue mask mandates , limit the size of private and public gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving , ban indoor restaurant dining , and close or restrict the hours and capacity of gyms , bars , and other businesses .
New York City ’ s school system – the nation ’ s largest , with more than 1 million students – suspended in-person classes Wednesday amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setback in a corner of the country that suffered mightily in the spring but had seemingly beaten back the virus months ago .
Texas is rushing thousands of additional medical staff to overworked hospitals as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide accelerates toward 8,000 for the first time since a deadly summer outbreak .
In the worsening rural Panhandle , roughly half of the admitted patients in Lubbock ’ s two main hospitals had COVID-19 , and a dozen people with the virus were waiting in the emergency room for beds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ron Cook , the Lubbock County health authority .
In the Texas border city of El Paso , overwhelmed morgues have begun paying jail inmates $ 2 an hour to help transport the bodies of virus victims .
The crush of patients is forcing the city to send its non-COVID-19 cases to hospitals elsewhere in the state .
More than 5,400 extra medical personnel have been deployed around Texas by the state alone , said Lara Anton , a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services .
And that doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the military and volunteer organizations .
“ There are only so many medical personnel to go around , ” said Dr. Mark McClellan , a former head of the Food and Drug Administration .
Ballad Health system , which is located in the Appalachian mountains and includes the Tennessee hospital where Alison Johnson works , has warned that it and its workers are stretched so thin that without a change in course , its hospitals might have to turn patients away .
Ballad reported having just 16 available ICU beds Wednesday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .
It is trying to recruit hundreds more nurses .
In Idaho , doctors warned that hospitals have almost reached the point where they need to ration care , unable to treat everyone because there aren ’ t enough beds or staffers to go around .
“ Never in my career did I think we would even contemplate the idea of rationing care in the United States of America , ” said Dr. Jim Souza , chief medical officer for St. Luke ’ s Health System .
In Reno , Nevada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patients into its parking garage .
Video of the converted garage before it opened to patients showed rows and rows of beds separated by moveable white screens set up on one level of the stark , cavernous garage , each section designated by letters and each bed space marked by a number on the ground .
The garage unit currently houses 27 patients but at peak capacity will have enough beds to accommodate more than 1,400 , said Dr. Paul Sierzenski , Renown ’ s chief medical officer for acute care .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as chapels and cafeterias for use by COVID-19 patients , said Cindy Samuelson , spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association .
Stormont Vail Health in Topeka , Kansas , devoted an entire hospital floor to COVID-19 patients as their numbers swelled , hitting 90 on Wednesday .
The hospital also converted two surgery waiting rooms for use by non-infected patients , spokesman Matt Lara said .
Kansas health chief Dr. Lee Norman said a system that he likened to air traffic control for coronavirus patients is being put in place so nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call to find a larger hospital that can take their sickest patients .
In some cases , nurses and doctors in Kansas have been spending up to eight hours looking for a large hospital with an opening in cities as far away as Denver , Omaha or Kansas City .
“ The problem with this is , by the time you transfer these patients out they already are very ill at that point , ” said Kansas nurse practitioner Perry Desbien .
At the same time , patience is wearing thin over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the problem in rural areas .
“ It kind of feels like we ’ re just , you know , yelling into the abyss , ” said Cheyanne Seematter , a registered nurse at Stormont Vail .
“ We keep telling everybody to stay home , wear a mask , that it is actually bad here.
” Maryland health officials similarly set up a centralized clearinghouse with information on available ICU beds so that hospitals need only make a single phone call .
State authorities also issued an emergency order prohibiting most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Overwhelmed hospitals are converting chapels, cafeterias, waiting rooms, hallways, even a parking garage into patient treatment areas. Staff members are desperately calling around to other medical centers in search of open beds. Fatigue and frustration are setting in among front-line workers.
Conditions inside the nation’s hospitals are deteriorating by the day as the coronavirus rages across the United States at an unrelenting pace and the confirmed death toll surpasses 250,000.
“We are depressed, disheartened and tired to the bone,” said Alison Johnson, director of critical care at Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, adding that she drives to and from work some days in tears.
The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 in the U.S. has doubled in the past month and set new records every day this week. As of Tuesday, nearly 77,000 were hospitalized with the virus.
Newly confirmed infections per day in the U.S. have exploded more than 80% over the past two weeks to the highest levels on record, with the daily count running at close to 160,000 on average. Cases are on the rise in all 50 states. Deaths are averaging more than 1,155 per day, the highest in months.
The out-of-control surge is leading governors and mayors across the U.S. to grudgingly issue mask mandates, limit the size of private and public gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving, ban indoor restaurant dining, and close or restrict the hours and capacity of gyms, bars, and other businesses.
New York City’s school system – the nation’s largest, with more than 1 million students – suspended in-person classes Wednesday amid a mounting infection rate, a painful setback in a corner of the country that suffered mightily in the spring but had seemingly beaten back the virus months ago.
Texas is rushing thousands of additional medical staff to overworked hospitals as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide accelerates toward 8,000 for the first time since a deadly summer outbreak.
In the worsening rural Panhandle, roughly half of the admitted patients in Lubbock’s two main hospitals had COVID-19, and a dozen people with the virus were waiting in the emergency room for beds to open up Tuesday night, said Dr. Ron Cook, the Lubbock County health authority.
“We’re in trouble,” Dr. Cook said.
In the Texas border city of El Paso, overwhelmed morgues have begun paying jail inmates $2 an hour to help transport the bodies of virus victims. The crush of patients is forcing the city to send its non-COVID-19 cases to hospitals elsewhere in the state.
More than 5,400 extra medical personnel have been deployed around Texas by the state alone, said Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. And that doesn’t include the help surging into Texas from the military and volunteer organizations.
“There are only so many medical personnel to go around,” said Dr. Mark McClellan, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration.
Ballad Health system, which is located in the Appalachian mountains and includes the Tennessee hospital where Alison Johnson works, has warned that it and its workers are stretched so thin that without a change in course, its hospitals might have to turn patients away. Ballad reported having just 16 available ICU beds Wednesday and about 250 team members in isolation or quarantine. It is trying to recruit hundreds more nurses.
In Idaho, doctors warned that hospitals have almost reached the point where they need to ration care, unable to treat everyone because there aren’t enough beds or staffers to go around.
“Never in my career did I think we would even contemplate the idea of rationing care in the United States of America,” said Dr. Jim Souza, chief medical officer for St. Luke’s Health System.
In Reno, Nevada, Renown Regional Medical Center began moving some coronavirus patients into its parking garage.
Video of the converted garage before it opened to patients showed rows and rows of beds separated by moveable white screens set up on one level of the stark, cavernous garage, each section designated by letters and each bed space marked by a number on the ground. The garage unit currently houses 27 patients but at peak capacity will have enough beds to accommodate more than 1,400, said Dr. Paul Sierzenski, Renown’s chief medical officer for acute care.
In Kansas, hospitals are converting spaces such as chapels and cafeterias for use by COVID-19 patients, said Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association.
Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas, devoted an entire hospital floor to COVID-19 patients as their numbers swelled, hitting 90 on Wednesday. The hospital also converted two surgery waiting rooms for use by non-infected patients, spokesman Matt Lara said.
Kansas health chief Dr. Lee Norman said a system that he likened to air traffic control for coronavirus patients is being put in place so nurses from rural hospitals can make a single call to find a larger hospital that can take their sickest patients.
In some cases, nurses and doctors in Kansas have been spending up to eight hours looking for a large hospital with an opening in cities as far away as Denver, Omaha or Kansas City.
“The problem with this is, by the time you transfer these patients out they already are very ill at that point,” said Kansas nurse practitioner Perry Desbien.
At the same time, patience is wearing thin over the lack of mask wearing that is contributing to the problem in rural areas.
“It kind of feels like we’re just, you know, yelling into the abyss,” said Cheyanne Seematter, a registered nurse at Stormont Vail. “We keep telling everybody to stay home, wear a mask, that it is actually bad here.”
Maryland health officials similarly set up a centralized clearinghouse with information on available ICU beds so that hospitals need only make a single phone call. State authorities also issued an emergency order prohibiting most hospital visitors until further notice.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-11-20--Points of Progress: Personal freedoms increase in UAE, and more

A record number of Native American women are joining the House of Representatives after at least 18 ran for congressional office .
Historically underrepresented in politics , only two Native American women ran for office in the 2016 elections .
Three won this month : Laguna Pueblo member Deb Haaland , D-N.M. , and Ho-Chunk Nation member Sharice Davids , D-Kan. , both elected to second terms ; and Cherokee Nation citizen Yvette Herrell , R-N.M .
Although there has still never been a Native American woman elected to the Senate , the 117th Congress will have more members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the women will join Oklahoma Republican Reps. Tom Cole , who is Chickasaw , and Markwayne Mullin , who is Cherokee ; and Democratic Rep.-elect Kai Kahele , who is Native Hawaiian .
( The 19th News , The Associated Press ) The launch of a satellite marks a major step forward for monitoring the effects of rising sea levels .
Around the world , sea levels are expected to rise by up to 4 feet by 2100 , or 30 % in some parts of the American coastline .
This could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to personal property and critical infrastructure .
But experts see a path to solutions : NASA ’ s new Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite , which has the ability to measure sea level changes with unparalleled accuracy , launched on Nov. 10 .
This U.S.-European partnership will offer crucial insight on how climate change is affecting global sea levels .
Over its 5 1/2-year mission , the satellite will also collect more precise data on humidity and atmospheric temperature , improving weather forecasts and long-term climate models .
( The Hill , NASA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banning “ revenge porn , ” or the sharing of sexual photos or videos without consent , joining a growing number of countries trying to curb online violence against women .
Under the new measure , called Olimpia ’ s law , perpetrators would face up to six years in jail and fines .
It is named after Olimpia Coral Melo , who became an advocate after discovering explicit videos of herself online when she was 18 .
Similar measures have been adopted by several states in Mexico , and the Nov. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal ban .
Olimpia ’ s law has drawn some criticism for its emphasis on criminal punishment , but victims and activists say the Senate support is a major victory .
“ This was one of the debts that we had with all women , girls , and teenagers , ” said Sen. Martha Lucia Micher , from the government ’ s Gender Equality Commission .
The bill moves to the lower chamber of Congress as women continue to protest high rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the country .
( Thomson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms now allows greater personal freedom in the United Arab Emirates , including the right for foreign residents to follow their home country ’ s rules on divorce and inheritance , and an ability for unmarried couples to cohabitate .
In a country that runs on migrants – who make up nearly 90 % of the population – and markets itself as a hub of international business , the amendments remove some legal ambiguity for many seeking to live and work there .
Also under the new laws , Emirati judges are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called honor killings .
“ I could not be happier for these new laws that are progressive and proactive , ” Abdallah Al Kaabi , an Emirati filmmaker , told The Associated Press .
“ 2020 has been a tough and transformative year for the UAE.
” Dubai is preparing to host millions of visitors at its World Expo next year .
( The Guardian ) An Islamic charity has opened Bangladesh ’ s first school for hijras , a transgender community that faces widespread poverty and discrimination .
Human rights groups say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million hijras in Bangladesh , and although the government has recognized hijras as a third gender since 2013 , the population remains largely ostracized .
At the Islamic Third Gender School in Dhaka , students of any age will receive lessons on the basic principles of Islam , as well as Bengali , English , math , and some vocational training .
“ We have a plan to open schools for them across the country so that no one is deprived of education , ” said a cleric who helped establish the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This school is a beacon of hope , ” said student Sona Solani .
“ I want to show the society that we can stand as equals and prove that we ’ re not limited to begging , that our lives are much bigger than that.
” ( Reuters ) A UNESCO report shows that the global school enrollment rate for girls increased from 73 % to 89 % since 1995 , as more countries achieve gender parity in education .
Today , there are 180 million more girls enrolled in primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation ago , and those girls are performing better in reading and mathematics .
In postsecondary education , the progress is even more striking : Women ’ s enrollment in colleges , universities , and trade schools has tripled to 116 million since 1995 .
Morocco , which had one of the worst higher education ratios in the early 1990s with 30 women enrolled for every 100 men , achieved gender parity in 2017 .
The report , titled “ A New Generation : 25 Years of Efforts for Gender Equality in Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely exacerbate remaining gender gaps and governments must remain vigilant .
“ This [ research ] shows that the fulfillment of women ’ s rights is intrinsically linked to their education opportunities , ” said David Moinina Sengeh , Sierra Leone ’ s education minister and chair of the advisory board for the report .
( UNESCO )

1. United States
A record number of Native American women are joining the House of Representatives after at least 18 ran for congressional office. Historically underrepresented in politics, only two Native American women ran for office in the 2016 elections. Three won this month: Laguna Pueblo member Deb Haaland, D-N.M., and Ho-Chunk Nation member Sharice Davids, D-Kan., both elected to second terms; and Cherokee Nation citizen Yvette Herrell, R-N.M.
Democratic National Convention/AP View caption Hide caption New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo member, speaks during the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20, 2020.
Although there has still never been a Native American woman elected to the Senate, the 117th Congress will have more members of Indigenous heritage than any previous cohort, as the women will join Oklahoma Republican Reps. Tom Cole, who is Chickasaw, and Markwayne Mullin, who is Cherokee; and Democratic Rep.-elect Kai Kahele, who is Native Hawaiian. (The 19th News, The Associated Press)
Why We Wrote This This is more than feel-good news – it's where the world is making concrete progress. A roundup of positive stories to inspire you.
2. United States
The launch of a satellite marks a major step forward for monitoring the effects of rising sea levels. Around the world, sea levels are expected to rise by up to 4 feet by 2100, or 30% in some parts of the American coastline. This could result in trillions of dollars in damage to personal property and critical infrastructure. But experts see a path to solutions: NASA’s new Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite, which has the ability to measure sea level changes with unparalleled accuracy, launched on Nov. 10.
Mike Blake/Reuters View caption Hide caption Waves at high tide crash onto the road in Oceanside, California, on Nov. 27, 2019. Rising sea levels could mean more flooding.
This U.S.-European partnership will offer crucial insight on how climate change is affecting global sea levels. Over its 5 1/2-year mission, the satellite will also collect more precise data on humidity and atmospheric temperature, improving weather forecasts and long-term climate models. (The Hill, NASA)
3. Mexico
Mexico’s Senate unanimously approved legislation banning “revenge porn,” or the sharing of sexual photos or videos without consent, joining a growing number of countries trying to curb online violence against women. Under the new measure, called Olimpia’s law, perpetrators would face up to six years in jail and fines. It is named after Olimpia Coral Melo, who became an advocate after discovering explicit videos of herself online when she was 18. Similar measures have been adopted by several states in Mexico, and the Nov. 5 vote is the first move toward a federal ban. Olimpia’s law has drawn some criticism for its emphasis on criminal punishment, but victims and activists say the Senate support is a major victory. “This was one of the debts that we had with all women, girls, and teenagers,” said Sen. Martha Lucia Micher, from the government’s Gender Equality Commission. The bill moves to the lower chamber of Congress as women continue to protest high rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the country. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
4. United Arab Emirates
A series of legal reforms now allows greater personal freedom in the United Arab Emirates, including the right for foreign residents to follow their home country’s rules on divorce and inheritance, and an ability for unmarried couples to cohabitate. In a country that runs on migrants – who make up nearly 90% of the population – and markets itself as a hub of international business, the amendments remove some legal ambiguity for many seeking to live and work there. Also under the new laws, Emirati judges are no longer allowed to give lenient sentences for so-called honor killings. “I could not be happier for these new laws that are progressive and proactive,” Abdallah Al Kaabi, an Emirati filmmaker, told The Associated Press. “2020 has been a tough and transformative year for the UAE.” Dubai is preparing to host millions of visitors at its World Expo next year. (The Guardian)
5. Bangladesh
An Islamic charity has opened Bangladesh’s first school for hijras, a transgender community that faces widespread poverty and discrimination. Human rights groups say there could be as many as 1.5 million hijras in Bangladesh, and although the government has recognized hijras as a third gender since 2013, the population remains largely ostracized. At the Islamic Third Gender School in Dhaka, students of any age will receive lessons on the basic principles of Islam, as well as Bengali, English, math, and some vocational training. “We have a plan to open schools for them across the country so that no one is deprived of education,” said a cleric who helped establish the school. “I’m so thrilled. This school is a beacon of hope,” said student Sona Solani. “I want to show the society that we can stand as equals and prove that we’re not limited to begging, that our lives are much bigger than that.” (Reuters)
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
World
A UNESCO report shows that the global school enrollment rate for girls increased from 73% to 89% since 1995, as more countries achieve gender parity in education. Today, there are 180 million more girls enrolled in primary and secondary schools than there were a generation ago, and those girls are performing better in reading and mathematics. In postsecondary education, the progress is even more striking: Women’s enrollment in colleges, universities, and trade schools has tripled to 116 million since 1995. Morocco, which had one of the worst higher education ratios in the early 1990s with 30 women enrolled for every 100 men, achieved gender parity in 2017.
Facundo Arrizabalaga/Reuters/File View caption Hide caption Students in Asni, Morocco, watch as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit their secondary school on Feb. 24, 2019.
The report, titled “A New Generation: 25 Years of Efforts for Gender Equality in Education,” warns that the pandemic will likely exacerbate remaining gender gaps and governments must remain vigilant. “This [research] shows that the fulfillment of women’s rights is intrinsically linked to their education opportunities,” said David Moinina Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s education minister and chair of the advisory board for the report. (UNESCO)


csmonitor--2020-11-20--For Afghans, US troops ‘home by Christmas’ is gift to the Taliban

She says the U.S. has led to a “ wrong perception ” among the Taliban that they are in a win-win situation .
“ It will give the Taliban a position that , ‘ No matter if we don ’ t win at the negotiating table , we will win on the battlefield , ’ ” she says .
“ So they will try to even further delay achieving something concrete on the negotiation table.
” “ The Americans will not stay forever , but I know in the meantime [ withdrawal ] has to be done properly , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help reduce violence , ” says Fawzia Koofi , a women ’ s rights activist and member of the negotiating team .
With the talks in Doha , Qatar , now stalled , Afghan government negotiators are concerned that President Donald Trump ’ s decision this week to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. forces could have potentially grave consequences .
While the U.S. stuck to its incremental pullout schedule , the Taliban has escalated violence across the country , in attacks that have left thousands more Afghans dead and tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban signed a deal in February , Americans spoke of a conditions-based withdrawal and said the Taliban privately committed to a reduction in violence .
Also in the agreement : participation in intra-Afghan talks .
An American gift to the Afghan Taliban that portends more war and less peace ?
That is how President Donald Trump ’ s sudden decision this week to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is seen by Afghan government negotiators at stalled peace talks in Doha , Qatar – even as Taliban insurgents talk peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential election Nov. 3 , Mr. Trump tweeted that all American troops , including those in Afghanistan , who are serving as part of a NATO force , should be “ home by Christmas !
” Then , a week after the president fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper , who opposed the drawdown , the Pentagon announced Nov. 17 that the remaining 4,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be cut to 2,500 by Jan. 15 – five days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office .
For Afghans , it ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can affect their own battlespace – sometimes with deleterious effects – as the war has ground on since the U.S. toppled the Taliban and its Al Qaeda “ guests ” in late 2001 , after the Sept. 11 attacks .
For some at the Doha talks , the decision is a rushed bid to conclude America ’ s longest-ever war , with potentially grave consequences for the future of Afghanistan .
“ When you see in the middle of this that there is a hurry from the American side which will not help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Fawzia Koofi , a member of the government negotiating team who was wounded in an assassination attempt in Kabul , four weeks before intra-Afghan talks began on Sept. 12 .
“ The Americans will not stay forever , but I know in the meantime [ withdrawal ] has to be done properly , it has to be in a way that will help reduce violence , ” says Ms. Koofi , contacted in Doha .
Deep concerns were voiced quickly by NATO , as well .
“ We now face a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan for almost 20 years , and no NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary , ” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement the day the withdrawal was announced .
“ But at the same time , the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high.
” “ Afghanistan risks becoming once again a platform for international terrorists to plan and organize attacks on our homelands , ” he said .
Ms. Koofi , a former lawmaker and women ’ s rights activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taliban since last year , says the new U.S. emphasis on pulling out speedily has led to a “ wrong perception ” among the Taliban that they are in a win-win situation .
“ It will give the Taliban a position that , ‘ No matter if we don ’ t win at the negotiating table , we will win on the battlefield , ’ ” she says .
“ So they will try to even further delay achieving something concrete on the negotiation table.
” Last February , after a year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – who today control or have influence in more than half of the country – the U.S. and Taliban signed a deal .
The text of the agreement trades a complete U.S. and NATO pullout by the end of next April – plus 5,000 Taliban political prisoners released up front – for Taliban promises to prevent Afghan soil from being used for militant attacks abroad , as well as participation in intra-Afghan talks , where a cease-fire is only “ an item on the agenda.
” Americans have spoken of a conditions-based withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an 80 % reduction of violence .
While the U.S. stuck to its incremental pullout schedule – which has now been sped up – the Taliban has escalated violence across the country , in attacks that have left thousands more Afghans dead and tens of thousands displaced .
U.S. officials have chastised the Taliban for “ car bombs , IEDs and targeted killings ” against civilians , but not slowed the withdrawal .
And , after an especially heavy Taliban offensive last month to seize Lashkar Gah , the capital of Helmand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push insurgents back – they claimed to have worked out a “ re-set ” and “ strict adherence ” of terms with the jihadists .
Nevertheless , another offensive aimed at Kandahar earlier this month involved 3,500 Taliban attackers and required U.S. airpower to defeat , the Washington Post reported .
It quoted an Afghan national police commander as saying the Taliban would not have been stopped were it not for U.S. airstrikes .
“ The Taliban were very worried when Trump lost [ the election ] , because they knew Trump just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t care , ” says a Western official in Kabul who asked not to be identified further .
“ They all like Trump [ because ] they also felt like they had Trump in their pocket , because he ’ s so desperate to get out .
He didn ’ t understand the conflict and didn ’ t bother understanding it , ” says the official .
The feeling in Kabul is that 2,500 U.S. troops is “ really bare bones.
” “ The bottom line is : The more you drill down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people who are not just logistics support , but people who actually have a day job , ” says the official .
“ It will be very difficult for somebody to be a full-time mentor to the [ Afghan ] Special Forces , at the same time in the evening packing up his equipment.
” Indeed , the sense that the White House drafted a lopsided deal with the Taliban and is speeding the U.S. withdrawal at the expense of the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani – which has little leverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force backing him up – is causing pushback in Washington .
One reason former Secretary Esper was fired by Mr. Trump was reportedly a classified memo he wrote arguing against a further pullout , given stepped-up Taliban attacks .
“ I believe it was political .
There was no tactical , operational or strategic merit to doing this , ” retired Gen. John Allen , the former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan until 2013 , said at an online security event this week run by the Soufan Center .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their desire for an inclusive , negotiated solution to end the war .
They have also publicly claimed that their views have evolved since the late 1990s , when they ruled Afghanistan with an uncompromising , hardline fervor , which forced women indoors and banned girls ’ education .
And yet , along the front lines and among insurgent commanders and fighters , the Taliban message has been consistent : that the Doha deal means they achieved “ victory ” in war .
“ The jury is still out , ” says Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s University Belfast who lived and worked for years in the country .
“ But as far as the evidence that is readily available – like what ’ s happening on the battlefield – the Taliban seem prepared to have a go at grabbing [ military victory ] .
They certainly haven ’ t done anything to prepare their base for political compromise inherent in a deal , ” says Mr. Semple .
News of an accelerated U.S. drawdown to 2,500 – and fewer American military capabilities when the next fighting season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the resolution of those inside the [ Taliban ] movement who would like to pursue military victory rather than a negotiated settlement , ” he says .
One benefit of doing a peace deal is that any interim and new government will include the Taliban , and crucially have support – and sizable funding – from the U.S. and key donors .
By contrast , “ winning ” on the battlefield means the Taliban standing alone , ruling over a population that widely rejects them , and almost certainly sparking another civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss this point that there will be counsel within the Taliban saying , ‘ Don ’ t do it !
Don ’ t do it !
’ ” says Mr. Semple .
“ But those who say , ‘ Look , we can wind this up now , we can sweep the board , ’ they are going to be louder and more confident.
” So far , he adds , the Taliban have tried to “ calibrate their violence , rather than reduce it , ” to score gains while avoiding being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If the U.S. accelerates its withdrawal , goes beyond that which it is committed to with the Taliban – it is essentially rewarding a breach of conditions , rather than punishing , ” says Mr. Semple .
“ Back in the real world of hardball war and peace diplomacy , if you reward bad behavior , you are encouraging more of it .
And hence , it is less likely that you can marshal the Taliban towards a negotiated agreement.
” That result adds to the exasperation in Doha , where peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the death toll climbs and the fighting continues .
She recalls the maxim , often repeated in Afghanistan , that the Americans may have the watch , but the Taliban have the time .
“ It is frustrating ... .
People from both sides are being killed for something that we could actually prevent , ” says Ms. Koofi .
“ It ’ s just the people of Afghanistan who do not have enough time to be a continuous victim , and it ’ s the Americans who should have time enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
”

She says the U.S. has led to a “wrong perception” among the Taliban that they are in a win-win situation. “It will give the Taliban a position that, ‘No matter if we don’t win at the negotiating table, we will win on the battlefield,’” she says. “So they will try to even further delay achieving something concrete on the negotiation table.”
“The Americans will not stay forever, but I know in the meantime [withdrawal] has to be done properly, it has to be in a way that will help reduce violence,” says Fawzia Koofi, a women’s rights activist and member of the negotiating team.
With the talks in Doha, Qatar, now stalled, Afghan government negotiators are concerned that President Donald Trump’s decision this week to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. forces could have potentially grave consequences.
To see how the U.S. political calendar affects the world, look to Afghanistan. President Trump’s decision to hasten the troop withdrawal has raised alarms: in NATO, and among Afghans seeking peace with the Taliban.
While the U.S. stuck to its incremental pullout schedule, the Taliban has escalated violence across the country, in attacks that have left thousands more Afghans dead and tens of thousands displaced.
When the United States and the Taliban signed a deal in February, Americans spoke of a conditions-based withdrawal and said the Taliban privately committed to a reduction in violence. Also in the agreement: participation in intra-Afghan talks.
An American gift to the Afghan Taliban that portends more war and less peace?
That is how President Donald Trump’s sudden decision this week to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is seen by Afghan government negotiators at stalled peace talks in Doha, Qatar – even as Taliban insurgents talk peace but continue the fight.
Prior to the presidential election Nov. 3, Mr. Trump tweeted that all American troops, including those in Afghanistan, who are serving as part of a NATO force, should be “home by Christmas!”
Why We Wrote This To see how the U.S. political calendar affects the world, look to Afghanistan. President Trump’s decision to hasten the troop withdrawal has raised alarms: in NATO, and among Afghans seeking peace with the Taliban.
Then, a week after the president fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who opposed the drawdown, the Pentagon announced Nov. 17 that the remaining 4,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be cut to 2,500 by Jan. 15 – five days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
For Afghans, it’s the latest example of how American political timelines can affect their own battlespace – sometimes with deleterious effects – as the war has ground on since the U.S. toppled the Taliban and its Al Qaeda “guests” in late 2001, after the Sept. 11 attacks.
For some at the Doha talks, the decision is a rushed bid to conclude America’s longest-ever war, with potentially grave consequences for the future of Afghanistan.
“When you see in the middle of this that there is a hurry from the American side which will not help the process, it is worrisome,” says Fawzia Koofi, a member of the government negotiating team who was wounded in an assassination attempt in Kabul, four weeks before intra-Afghan talks began on Sept. 12.
“The Americans will not stay forever, but I know in the meantime [withdrawal] has to be done properly, it has to be in a way that will help reduce violence,” says Ms. Koofi, contacted in Doha.
A NATO warning
Deep concerns were voiced quickly by NATO, as well.
“We now face a difficult decision. We have been in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and no NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement the day the withdrawal was announced. “But at the same time, the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high.”
“Afghanistan risks becoming once again a platform for international terrorists to plan and organize attacks on our homelands,” he said.
Ms. Koofi, a former lawmaker and women’s rights activist who has participated in talks with the Taliban since last year, says the new U.S. emphasis on pulling out speedily has led to a “wrong perception” among the Taliban that they are in a win-win situation.
“It will give the Taliban a position that, ‘No matter if we don’t win at the negotiating table, we will win on the battlefield,’” she says. “So they will try to even further delay achieving something concrete on the negotiation table.”
The U.S.-Taliban deal
Last February, after a year of negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban insurgents – who today control or have influence in more than half of the country – the U.S. and Taliban signed a deal.
The text of the agreement trades a complete U.S. and NATO pullout by the end of next April – plus 5,000 Taliban political prisoners released up front – for Taliban promises to prevent Afghan soil from being used for militant attacks abroad, as well as participation in intra-Afghan talks, where a cease-fire is only “an item on the agenda.”
Americans have spoken of a conditions-based withdrawal, and say the Taliban privately committed to an 80% reduction of violence. While the U.S. stuck to its incremental pullout schedule – which has now been sped up – the Taliban has escalated violence across the country, in attacks that have left thousands more Afghans dead and tens of thousands displaced.
U.S. officials have chastised the Taliban for “car bombs, IEDs and targeted killings” against civilians, but not slowed the withdrawal. And, after an especially heavy Taliban offensive last month to seize Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province – which required U.S. airstrikes to push insurgents back – they claimed to have worked out a “re-set” and “strict adherence” of terms with the jihadists.
Hussein Sayed/AP View caption Hide caption Members of the Taliban delegation head to attend the opening session of the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.
Nevertheless, another offensive aimed at Kandahar earlier this month involved 3,500 Taliban attackers and required U.S. airpower to defeat, the Washington Post reported. It quoted an Afghan national police commander as saying the Taliban would not have been stopped were it not for U.S. airstrikes.
Taliban “all like Trump”
“The Taliban were very worried when Trump lost [the election], because they knew Trump just wanted to get out and didn’t care,” says a Western official in Kabul who asked not to be identified further.
“They all like Trump [because] they also felt like they had Trump in their pocket, because he’s so desperate to get out. He didn’t understand the conflict and didn’t bother understanding it,” says the official.
The feeling in Kabul is that 2,500 U.S. troops is “really bare bones.”
“The bottom line is: The more you drill down the numbers, the more you get to people who are not just logistics support, but people who actually have a day job,” says the official. “It will be very difficult for somebody to be a full-time mentor to the [Afghan] Special Forces, at the same time in the evening packing up his equipment.”
Indeed, the sense that the White House drafted a lopsided deal with the Taliban and is speeding the U.S. withdrawal at the expense of the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani – which has little leverage at the negotiating table without U.S. military force backing him up – is causing pushback in Washington.
One reason former Secretary Esper was fired by Mr. Trump was reportedly a classified memo he wrote arguing against a further pullout, given stepped-up Taliban attacks.
“I believe it was political. There was no tactical, operational or strategic merit to doing this,” retired Gen. John Allen, the former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan until 2013, said at an online security event this week run by the Soufan Center.
Debate inside the Taliban
In Doha, Taliban leaders have routinely expressed their desire for an inclusive, negotiated solution to end the war. They have also publicly claimed that their views have evolved since the late 1990s, when they ruled Afghanistan with an uncompromising, hardline fervor, which forced women indoors and banned girls’ education.
And yet, along the front lines and among insurgent commanders and fighters, the Taliban message has been consistent: that the Doha deal means they achieved “victory” in war.
“The jury is still out,” says Michael Semple, an Afghanistan expert at Queen’s University Belfast who lived and worked for years in the country.
“But as far as the evidence that is readily available – like what’s happening on the battlefield – the Taliban seem prepared to have a go at grabbing [military victory]. They certainly haven’t done anything to prepare their base for political compromise inherent in a deal,” says Mr. Semple.
News of an accelerated U.S. drawdown to 2,500 – and fewer American military capabilities when the next fighting season rolls around – “strengthens the hand and the resolution of those inside the [Taliban] movement who would like to pursue military victory rather than a negotiated settlement,” he says.
One benefit of doing a peace deal is that any interim and new government will include the Taliban, and crucially have support – and sizable funding – from the U.S. and key donors. By contrast, “winning” on the battlefield means the Taliban standing alone, ruling over a population that widely rejects them, and almost certainly sparking another civil war.
“We shouldn’t dismiss this point that there will be counsel within the Taliban saying, ‘Don’t do it! Don’t do it!’” says Mr. Semple. “But those who say, ‘Look, we can wind this up now, we can sweep the board,’ they are going to be louder and more confident.”
So far, he adds, the Taliban have tried to “calibrate their violence, rather than reduce it,” to score gains while avoiding being declared in breach of the deal.
“If the U.S. accelerates its withdrawal, goes beyond that which it is committed to with the Taliban – it is essentially rewarding a breach of conditions, rather than punishing,” says Mr. Semple. “Back in the real world of hardball war and peace diplomacy, if you reward bad behavior, you are encouraging more of it. And hence, it is less likely that you can marshal the Taliban towards a negotiated agreement.”
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That result adds to the exasperation in Doha, where peace negotiators like Ms. Koofi watch every day as the death toll climbs and the fighting continues. She recalls the maxim, often repeated in Afghanistan, that the Americans may have the watch, but the Taliban have the time.
“It is frustrating.... People from both sides are being killed for something that we could actually prevent,” says Ms. Koofi. “It’s just the people of Afghanistan who do not have enough time to be a continuous victim, and it’s the Americans who should have time enough to avoid a complete collapse, once again.”


csmonitor--2020-11-20--Pushed by pandemic, Londoners answer call of low-cost country life

“ It ’ s a well-worn road when creatives find a new area .
They start making it a different place to live and then others follow to live in the place made more desirable , ” he says .
The influx of newcomers is changing these towns ’ characters .
Margate , for instance , saw an 84 % increase in creative businesses last year .
But many locals are also wary of the long-term consequences , as Matt Mapleston , who opened workspace for local freelancers in Margate , points out .
“ You start thinking about clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be up at 6 a.m. every day , rushing to get to work for 8:30 a.m. , ” she says .
Zoe Artingstall , a teacher-turned-artist , is one example .
She and her partner moved from London to Margate , an old seaside resort town , where they enjoy a spacious apartment and a view of the beach , all for less than what they paid for a two-room flat in London .
A growing number of people under 40 are leaving London and other major British cities for larger homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace of life .
And , as they relocate , they are bringing little pieces of the metropolitan life with them .
Now that remote work is the norm , many young London renters are rethinking where they want to live .
Zoe Artingstall wakes up to the sound of the sea and a view of luscious golden sand .
Police sirens and garbage collectors at the crack of dawn no longer disturb a good night ’ s sleep ever since she swapped London for Margate , a coastal town to the southeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions .
“ When you ’ re in London you don ’ t realize the physical buildup of tension and the frenetic pace of life weighing on you .
It ’ s only when you leave that you realize the toll London life has on your body , ” says Ms. Artingstall .
A growing thirst for quality of life , traditionally associated with retirees rather than 20- and 30-somethings , and reassessing life in lockdown accelerated her decision .
“ My partner and I are in our early to mid-30s now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air , healthier skin , and to not be up at 6 a.m. every day , rushing to get to work for 8:30 a.m. ” The teacher-turned-artist is among a growing number of people under 40 leaving the metropolis of London , and other major British cities , for a slower pace of life .
Dissatisfied with the squalid conditions and sky-high rents , they are taking advantage of being unshackled from the geographical requirements of their jobs by the pandemic to establish themselves in places better known for being suburbs , countryside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And they are changing the character of their new homes , bringing little pieces of the metropolitan life with them .
Tamsin George left London spontaneously for Malton , near the Northern city of York , as the United Kingdom introduced a national blanket lockdown in late March .
Unemployed and exhausted , Ms. George says the country air keeps her “ alive ” without the “ frenetic chaos ” of attending London events .
“ Lots of young people in London don ’ t want to be there but feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunities you have ; these are the things that keep people there , ” she says .
“ But you realize when these things are on pause that it ’ s not worth the money .
People have taken lockdown as the push they needed to leave and lay out their priorities in life.
” Renters increasingly look to York , Bristol , and the Home Counties , a southern region with greenery and poorer transport links .
Those home-hunting in the capital now look to suburban , fringe areas .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest property search engine , Chessington , a sleepy suburban town with infrequent trains , is the capital ’ s new rental hotspot , trumping hip inner-London districts such as Shoreditch and Lewisham , where young professionals in their 20s and 30s typically gravitate after university .
Ms. Artingstall and her partner had been paying just under £1,400 ( $ 1,860 ) per month for two London rooms in shared accommodation .
Now they have a whole apartment with two studios used for artistic work , replete with a view of Margate beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Living in London ’ s typically congested areas is exactly what Laurie McAllister did after graduating from university .
Disenchanted by work ( “ slogging my guts out , what ’ s the point ?
” as she puts it ) and events centered around alcohol and fed up with “ booking with friends months in advance just to see them ” pushed her to live in Norwich , East England , in her early 20s .
And she wasn ’ t alone .
“ Where I moved to East Anglia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a myth that all the young people are in London .
Lots never moved , or many moved for university and returned to live – if not in the countryside , in smaller cities.
” Ms. McAllister now runs online motivational courses , yoga lessons , and a blog inspired by her sobriety after leaving London in 2017 .
Moving to Norwich allowed her to pay the bills and be a freelance yoga instructor , a path “ unviable ” in London .
“ The idea that all the good jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be successful is in London is dated .
We ’ re now all realizing that with Zoom and other technology , ” she says .
Employment opportunities attract young renters to Cambridge .
With average monthly rents of £1,319 – that ’ s £681 cheaper than London – software engineers between 18 and 40 years old in particular have moved to be near AstraZeneca and Microsoft offices .
Sarah Bush , head of lettings at Cambridge-based property agent Cheffins , has noticed a shift in the past six months , with renters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves up to work from home.
” “ The younger generation still want to be near to work .
If they ’ ve got to go into the office , there ’ s a reluctance to go into public transport and Cambridge is walkable , ” she says .
The growing influx of ex-Londoners has been so large in the past decade that locals give them a specific name .
“ They call us DFLs , or ‘ down from London , ’ ” says Matt Mapleston .
Inspired by London ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a workspace for local freelancers inside a converted warehouse since moving to Margate in 2017 .
It ’ s part of a tradition of “ London ideas ” brought by DFLs since Margate ’ s Turner Contemporary art gallery opened by the seafront a decade ago , creating a thriving art scene in an area that older locals say used to be a no-go zone for outsiders .
The equivalent of three people per day relocate from London to Thanet , the area comprising Margate and Ramsgate .
In 2017 , some 1,830 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people overall moved from London to Kent , the county in which Thanet lies .
Living in Ramsgate since birth from London-born parents , 21-year-old illustrator Molly Pickles believes newcomers act as “ investors ” bringing “ new ideas and huge benefits to locals.
” Ramsgate has quickly grown into a celebrated music and festival venue .
Margate , dubbed “ Shoreditch-by-Sea , ” saw an 84 % increase in creative businesses last year .
Locals are swept along by the regeneration spirit aided by ex-Londoners , but are also wary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between DFLs and longer-term locals .
“ Gentrification is the biggest topic on local minds , ” says Ms. Pickles .
“ The majority of people who ’ ve lived here since being a child can ’ t buy a property here.
” “ The primary positives of gentrification here is that it becomes attractive to outsiders for investment , ” says Filipe Gomes , a local radio presenter hoping to reach underrepresented voices in the area .
“ We have to ask ourselves , how inclusive is that ?
Galleries look great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lad that ’ s grown up here , how much does he feel a part of that ?
” Ex-Londoners are well aware of the Catch-22 they bring .
“ It ’ s a well-worn road when creatives find a new area .
They start making it a different place to live and then others follow to live in the place made more desirable , ” says Mr. Mapleston .
But Lilla Allen , editor for local magazine Ramsgate Recorder and a self-described DFL , says that the newcomers do value the locals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Community is overused but it does exist and it ’ s healthy here between different people , young and old , ” she says .
“ Small towns feel the impact immediately of new ideas , and there ’ s real pride around town .
”

“It’s a well-worn road when creatives find a new area. They start making it a different place to live and then others follow to live in the place made more desirable,” he says.
The influx of newcomers is changing these towns’ characters. Margate, for instance, saw an 84% increase in creative businesses last year. But many locals are also wary of the long-term consequences, as Matt Mapleston, who opened workspace for local freelancers in Margate, points out.
“You start thinking about clean air, healthier skin, and to not be up at 6 a.m. every day, rushing to get to work for 8:30 a.m.,” she says.
Zoe Artingstall, a teacher-turned-artist, is one example. She and her partner moved from London to Margate, an old seaside resort town, where they enjoy a spacious apartment and a view of the beach, all for less than what they paid for a two-room flat in London.
The pandemic has led to a realization that it isn’t necessary to work in urban offices. And many are questioning the urban lifestyle entirely. Young Londoners are taking the opportunity to remake their lives in remote towns.
A growing number of people under 40 are leaving London and other major British cities for larger homes, lower rents, and a slower pace of life. And, as they relocate, they are bringing little pieces of the metropolitan life with them.
Now that remote work is the norm, many young London renters are rethinking where they want to live.
Zoe Artingstall wakes up to the sound of the sea and a view of luscious golden sand. Police sirens and garbage collectors at the crack of dawn no longer disturb a good night’s sleep ever since she swapped London for Margate, a coastal town to the southeast, just weeks before Britain reintroduced new coronavirus restrictions.
“When you’re in London you don’t realize the physical buildup of tension and the frenetic pace of life weighing on you. It’s only when you leave that you realize the toll London life has on your body,” says Ms. Artingstall.
A growing thirst for quality of life, traditionally associated with retirees rather than 20- and 30-somethings, and reassessing life in lockdown accelerated her decision.
Why We Wrote This The pandemic has led to a realization that it isn’t necessary to work in urban offices. And many are questioning the urban lifestyle entirely. Young Londoners are taking the opportunity to remake their lives in remote towns.
“My partner and I are in our early to mid-30s now, and you start thinking about clean air, healthier skin, and to not be up at 6 a.m. every day, rushing to get to work for 8:30 a.m.”
The teacher-turned-artist is among a growing number of people under 40 leaving the metropolis of London, and other major British cities, for a slower pace of life. Dissatisfied with the squalid conditions and sky-high rents, they are taking advantage of being unshackled from the geographical requirements of their jobs by the pandemic to establish themselves in places better known for being suburbs, countryside, or old resort towns like Margate. And they are changing the character of their new homes, bringing little pieces of the metropolitan life with them.
Tamsin George left London spontaneously for Malton, near the Northern city of York, as the United Kingdom introduced a national blanket lockdown in late March. Unemployed and exhausted, Ms. George says the country air keeps her “alive” without the “frenetic chaos” of attending London events.
“Lots of young people in London don’t want to be there but feel like they should. They see salaries and the opportunities you have; these are the things that keep people there,” she says. “But you realize when these things are on pause that it’s not worth the money. People have taken lockdown as the push they needed to leave and lay out their priorities in life.”
A longer term exodus
Renters increasingly look to York, Bristol, and the Home Counties, a southern region with greenery and poorer transport links. Those home-hunting in the capital now look to suburban, fringe areas. According to Rightmove, the U.K.’s biggest property search engine, Chessington, a sleepy suburban town with infrequent trains, is the capital’s new rental hotspot, trumping hip inner-London districts such as Shoreditch and Lewisham, where young professionals in their 20s and 30s typically gravitate after university.
Ms. Artingstall and her partner had been paying just under £1,400 ($1,860) per month for two London rooms in shared accommodation. Now they have a whole apartment with two studios used for artistic work, replete with a view of Margate beach, for just under the same sum.
Shafi Musadiqque View caption Hide caption Zoe Artingstall sits in her new apartment in Margate. The teacher-turned-artist and her partner left London during the lockdown in search of lower rent and a better quality of life.
Living in London’s typically congested areas is exactly what Laurie McAllister did after graduating from university. Disenchanted by work (“slogging my guts out, what’s the point?” as she puts it) and events centered around alcohol and fed up with “booking with friends months in advance just to see them” pushed her to live in Norwich, East England, in her early 20s.
And she wasn’t alone. “Where I moved to East Anglia, there already were young people. It’s a myth that all the young people are in London. Lots never moved, or many moved for university and returned to live – if not in the countryside, in smaller cities.”
Ms. McAllister now runs online motivational courses, yoga lessons, and a blog inspired by her sobriety after leaving London in 2017. Moving to Norwich allowed her to pay the bills and be a freelance yoga instructor, a path “unviable” in London.
“The idea that all the good jobs are in London and the only way to be successful is in London is dated. We’re now all realizing that with Zoom and other technology,” she says.
Employment opportunities attract young renters to Cambridge. With average monthly rents of £1,319 – that’s £681 cheaper than London – software engineers between 18 and 40 years old in particular have moved to be near AstraZeneca and Microsoft offices. Sarah Bush, head of lettings at Cambridge-based property agent Cheffins, has noticed a shift in the past six months, with renters “seeing space is important, gearing themselves up to work from home.”
“The younger generation still want to be near to work. If they’ve got to go into the office, there’s a reluctance to go into public transport and Cambridge is walkable,” she says.
Londoners reshaping coastal communities
The growing influx of ex-Londoners has been so large in the past decade that locals give them a specific name.
“They call us DFLs, or ‘down from London,’” says Matt Mapleston. Inspired by London’s tech scene, he’s opened a workspace for local freelancers inside a converted warehouse since moving to Margate in 2017. It’s part of a tradition of “London ideas” brought by DFLs since Margate’s Turner Contemporary art gallery opened by the seafront a decade ago, creating a thriving art scene in an area that older locals say used to be a no-go zone for outsiders.
The equivalent of three people per day relocate from London to Thanet, the area comprising Margate and Ramsgate. In 2017, some 1,830 Londoners relocated to Thanet, while 26,380 people overall moved from London to Kent, the county in which Thanet lies.
Living in Ramsgate since birth from London-born parents, 21-year-old illustrator Molly Pickles believes newcomers act as “investors” bringing “new ideas and huge benefits to locals.”
Ramsgate has quickly grown into a celebrated music and festival venue. Margate, dubbed “Shoreditch-by-Sea,” saw an 84% increase in creative businesses last year. Locals are swept along by the regeneration spirit aided by ex-Londoners, but are also wary of the long-term consequences of an area equally split between DFLs and longer-term locals.
“Gentrification is the biggest topic on local minds,” says Ms. Pickles. “The majority of people who’ve lived here since being a child can’t buy a property here.”
“The primary positives of gentrification here is that it becomes attractive to outsiders for investment,” says Filipe Gomes, a local radio presenter hoping to reach underrepresented voices in the area. “We have to ask ourselves, how inclusive is that? Galleries look great on the seafront, but the young lad that’s grown up here, how much does he feel a part of that?”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Ex-Londoners are well aware of the Catch-22 they bring. “It’s a well-worn road when creatives find a new area. They start making it a different place to live and then others follow to live in the place made more desirable,” says Mr. Mapleston.
But Lilla Allen, editor for local magazine Ramsgate Recorder and a self-described DFL, says that the newcomers do value the locals and are building bridges with them. “Community is overused but it does exist and it’s healthy here between different people, young and old,” she says. “Small towns feel the impact immediately of new ideas, and there’s real pride around town.”