csmonitor--2020-12-26--Turnout among young voters key to Georgia Senate runoffs

Preethi Gowrishankar was never really politically active before this year .
But watching polarization increase during President Donald Trump ’ s administration changed that .
The 27-year-old data scientist put on a face mask and stood in line on a recent sunny but cold day in Atlanta to cast a ballot early for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev .
Raphael Warnock ahead of Georgia ’ s Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate .
“ We ’ ve seen in the last four years what apathy leads to and where it can get us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve tried to make an effort to become a lot more informed of my choices and to make my voice heard.
” Strong turnout among voters under 30 nationwide helped propel Democrat Joe Biden to victory over Republican Donald Trump in the November presidential election .
Young voters were key to Mr. Biden ’ s narrow win in Georgia , with a margin of just under 12,000 votes .
Now , with the national spotlight on Georgia ’ s Senate races , the campaigns and voter mobilization groups are working furiously to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runoffs , which pit Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock against Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
A win by either Republican would maintain the Senate majority for the GOP , while a sweep by both Democrats would yield of 50–50 split in the chamber , with the tie-breaking vote going to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
The push to connect with young voters has been especially apparent for the Democratic campaigns , which have more to gain from youth turnout – and more to lose if there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock have held rallies in college towns , invested in staff to help register and mobilize young voters , and engaged social media influencers to promote content and run ad campaigns on new media and digital platforms .
They recently hosted a game night on Twitch , a livestreaming platform popular with young gamers .
Mr. Ossoff also has made a push to connect with voters through TikTok , a video sharing app used by millions of U.S. teens .
Mr. Perdue ’ s campaign did not respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directed questions to Abigail Sigler , a spokeswoman for the state Republican Party .
Ms. Sigler did not answer a specific question asking how the campaigns are reaching out to young voters but sent a statement attacking Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock and asserting that policies backed by Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler are better for young voters .
In Georgia , people under 30 cast about 16 % of the votes in the November election , compared with 13 % nationwide , according to AP VoteCast .
About six in 10 voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Mr. Trump .
But like voters overall , younger voters split starkly by race and ethnicity .
Young nonwhite voters backed Mr. Biden overwhelmingly , with roughly eight in 10 supporting Democrats .
Among young white voters , Mr. Trump was favored by about two to one .
Nse Ufot is the executive director of the New Georgia Project , a nonpartisan group founded by former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams .
“ From registration , to actually turning out to vote , to volunteering , we ’ ve absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in youth participation in our elections , ” Ms. Ufot said .
The group registered thousands of young voters during nationwide protests against racial inequality this year , launched an intensive effort to combat misinformation about voting on social media , and has leaned into virtual events and virtual mobilization efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic , efforts that are continuing through the runoff elections .
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg , the director of CIRCLE at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University , which studies youth voting trends , said youth voting turnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and peer-to-peer political engagement among young people .
“ Especially in the pandemic era of 2020 , there is both mobilization from external groups and political parties , but also huge amounts of young people making social media contact to communicate what they believe politically , who they think people should vote for , and the issues that they really care about , ” she said .
Young Democrats aren ’ t the only ones who are engaging .
Young Republican voters , weary of having Democrats control the White House and both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the large rallies held by Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler .
Dylan Leonard , a 20-year-old student from Milton , Georgia , sat on a park bench after a recent rally in the wealthy suburb of Atlanta where Ivanka Trump , the president ’ s daughter and senior White House adviser , touted Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler as “ the last line of defense ” against Democrats imposing their agenda on the nation .
He lamented Mr. Trump ’ s election loss but sounded a hopeful note that Republicans can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Hopefully we ’ ll have a good go around .
It hasn ’ t been exactly what we ’ ve wanted so far , ” Mr. Leonard said .
“ But hopefully we ’ ll put it all together with Georgia.
” Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report .
This story was reported by the Associated Press .

Preethi Gowrishankar was never really politically active before this year. But watching polarization increase during President Donald Trump’s administration changed that.
The 27-year-old data scientist put on a face mask and stood in line on a recent sunny but cold day in Atlanta to cast a ballot early for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock ahead of Georgia’s Jan. 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
“We’ve seen in the last four years what apathy leads to and where it can get us,” she said. “So I’ve tried to make an effort to become a lot more informed of my choices and to make my voice heard.”
Strong turnout among voters under 30 nationwide helped propel Democrat Joe Biden to victory over Republican Donald Trump in the November presidential election. Young voters were key to Mr. Biden’s narrow win in Georgia, with a margin of just under 12,000 votes.
Now, with the national spotlight on Georgia’s Senate races, the campaigns and voter mobilization groups are working furiously to make sure young voters turn out for the runoffs, which pit Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock against Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. A win by either Republican would maintain the Senate majority for the GOP, while a sweep by both Democrats would yield of 50–50 split in the chamber, with the tie-breaking vote going to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
The push to connect with young voters has been especially apparent for the Democratic campaigns, which have more to gain from youth turnout – and more to lose if there’s a drop-off.
Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock have held rallies in college towns, invested in staff to help register and mobilize young voters, and engaged social media influencers to promote content and run ad campaigns on new media and digital platforms. They recently hosted a game night on Twitch, a livestreaming platform popular with young gamers. Mr. Ossoff also has made a push to connect with voters through TikTok, a video sharing app used by millions of U.S. teens.
Mr. Perdue’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment, and Ms. Loeffler’s campaign directed questions to Abigail Sigler, a spokeswoman for the state Republican Party. Ms. Sigler did not answer a specific question asking how the campaigns are reaching out to young voters but sent a statement attacking Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock and asserting that policies backed by Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler are better for young voters.
In Georgia, people under 30 cast about 16% of the votes in the November election, compared with 13% nationwide, according to AP VoteCast. About six in 10 voters under 30 in Georgia backed Mr. Biden over Mr. Trump. But like voters overall, younger voters split starkly by race and ethnicity. Young nonwhite voters backed Mr. Biden overwhelmingly, with roughly eight in 10 supporting Democrats. Among young white voters, Mr. Trump was favored by about two to one.
Nse Ufot is the executive director of the New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan group founded by former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams.
“From registration, to actually turning out to vote, to volunteering, we’ve absolutely witnessed and been a part in the increase in youth participation in our elections,” Ms. Ufot said.
The group registered thousands of young voters during nationwide protests against racial inequality this year, launched an intensive effort to combat misinformation about voting on social media, and has leaned into virtual events and virtual mobilization efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic, efforts that are continuing through the runoff elections.
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, the director of CIRCLE at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, which studies youth voting trends, said youth voting turnout is being affected by both external investment and peer-to-peer political engagement among young people.
“Especially in the pandemic era of 2020, there is both mobilization from external groups and political parties, but also huge amounts of young people making social media contact to communicate what they believe politically, who they think people should vote for, and the issues that they really care about,” she said.
Young Democrats aren’t the only ones who are engaging. Young Republican voters, weary of having Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress, have been mainstays at the large rallies held by Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler.
Dylan Leonard, a 20-year-old student from Milton, Georgia, sat on a park bench after a recent rally in the wealthy suburb of Atlanta where Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior White House adviser, touted Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler as “the last line of defense” against Democrats imposing their agenda on the nation.
He lamented Mr. Trump’s election loss but sounded a hopeful note that Republicans can be redeemed with victories in the Senate runoffs.
“Hopefully we’ll have a good go around. It hasn’t been exactly what we’ve wanted so far,” Mr. Leonard said. “But hopefully we’ll put it all together with Georgia.”
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Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report.
This story was reported by the Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-12-27--High-stakes elections test Niger and Central African Republic

Niger began counting the votes on Sunday from an election that is expected to lead to the West African nation ’ s first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents .
Also on Sunday , Central African Republic residents turned out in huge numbers for presidential and legislative elections on Sunday , the head of the U.N. mission there said , despite rebels opening fire in some areas to try to scare away voters .
In Niger , a smooth handover would be a rare bright spot for a country that has seen four coups since gaining independence from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by poverty and Islamist violence that has killed hundred of civilians and soldiers in the last year alone .
It would also contrast with Ivory Coast and Guinea , whose presidents this year used constitutional changes to extend their tenures to three terms , raising fears of a democratic backslide in West Africa .
“ It ’ s extremely important for us because we are seen as the champion of the coup d ’ etat , ” said 50-year-old Massaoudou Abdou who voted in a school in the town of Maradi in southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independence , this is the first time , ” he said , referring to the passing of power from one elected president to another .
There were no reports of widespread disruptions .
Former interior minister Mohamed Bazoum , the ruling party ’ s candidate , is the overwhelming favorite to succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou , who is stepping down after two five-year terms leading the country of 23 million .
Mr. Bazoum has promised continuity with Issoufou ’ s policies , while also vowing to clean up pervasive corruption .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this [ election ] has been respected , ” he said after voting in central Niamey on Sunday .
That the vote took place at all was seen as a success for Niger .
Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State regularly carry out attacks near the western border with Mali and Burkina Faso , including one in January that killed at least 89 soldiers .
Hundreds of miles to the east , Boko Haram fighters operate near its southeastern border with Nigeria .
More than 40 % of Niger ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed growth to a crawl , compounding the effects of climate change and low prices for uranium , its top export .
Central African Republic residents turned out in large numbers as President Faustin-Archange Touadera seeks a second term .
Rebel groups have carried out attacks and threatened to march to the capital and disrupt the election after the constitutional court this month rejected several candidates , including former President Francois Bozize .
Mr. Touadera is considered the favorite in the field of 17 candidates .
Vote counting began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected by the end of the week .
The election will go to a second round if no candidate receives more than 50 % of the vote .
After a slow start and sporadic gunfire in some towns , the head of the U.N. mission in the country said in a statement that there was a huge turnout .
He did not provide details .
“ This morning , they [ rebels ] started firing , hoping to scare people away from voting .
Yes , in certain areas , it is difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see people going out massively to vote , ” Mankeur Ndiaye said .
There are concerns that a substantial number of the 1.8 million registered voters in the sparsely populated nation larger than France were not be able to vote in remote towns , some controlled by armed rebels .
Heavy gunfire was reported in the town of Bouar , around 435 km ( 270 miles ) northwest of the capital , a resident said .
Gunfire also disrupted voting in other towns including Bossangoa in the northwest , and Bria in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only take place in Bangui .
I think that the elections should have been postponed .
But as it is the law , it is my duty , I am coming to vote for my president , ” said 31-year old Thierry Yanga , who voted in the capital .
The constitutional court on Saturday rejected an appeal from several opposition candidates for the election to be postponed .
The government and a U.N. mission had rejected a postponement fearing a power vacuum .
The crisis has left many in the diamond- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while stirring fears of a return to the worst violence of its recent past , which includes five coups and numerous rebellions since independence from France in 1960 .
Mr. Touadera was first elected in 2016 following a rebellion three years earlier that ousted Mr. Bozize .
He has struggled to wrest control of vast swathes of the country from armed militias .
Successive waves of violence since 2013 have killed thousands and forced more than a million from their homes .
Mr. Touadera and the United Nations , which has over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Mr. Bozize of being behind the rebel offensive , which briefly seized the country ’ s fourth largest city last week and has led to a wave of desertions from the army .
Mr. Bozize ’ s candidacy was rejected because he faces an arrest warrant and U.N. sanctions for allegedly ordering assassinations and torture while president .
Mr. Bozize has denied those charges .
Mr. Touadera ’ s international security partners have responded to the latest violence by sending additional troops and equipment , including 300 Russian military instructors and 300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Edward McAllister , and Bate Felix ; editing by Christina Fincher , Jason Neely , Larry King , and Nick Macfie .

Niger began counting the votes on Sunday from an election that is expected to lead to the West African nation’s first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents.
Also on Sunday, Central African Republic residents turned out in huge numbers for presidential and legislative elections on Sunday, the head of the U.N. mission there said, despite rebels opening fire in some areas to try to scare away voters.
In Niger, a smooth handover would be a rare bright spot for a country that has seen four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, and is blighted by poverty and Islamist violence that has killed hundred of civilians and soldiers in the last year alone.
It would also contrast with Ivory Coast and Guinea, whose presidents this year used constitutional changes to extend their tenures to three terms, raising fears of a democratic backslide in West Africa.
“It’s extremely important for us because we are seen as the champion of the coup d’etat,” said 50-year-old Massaoudou Abdou who voted in a school in the town of Maradi in southern Niger.
“In 60 years of independence, this is the first time,” he said, referring to the passing of power from one elected president to another.
There were no reports of widespread disruptions.
Former interior minister Mohamed Bazoum, the ruling party’s candidate, is the overwhelming favorite to succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms leading the country of 23 million.
Mr. Bazoum has promised continuity with Issoufou’s policies, while also vowing to clean up pervasive corruption.
“I have a feeling of great pride that this [election] has been respected,” he said after voting in central Niamey on Sunday.
That the vote took place at all was seen as a success for Niger. Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State regularly carry out attacks near the western border with Mali and Burkina Faso, including one in January that killed at least 89 soldiers. Hundreds of miles to the east, Boko Haram fighters operate near its southeastern border with Nigeria.
More than 40% of Niger’s population lives in extreme poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed growth to a crawl, compounding the effects of climate change and low prices for uranium, its top export.
Election in Central African Republic
Central African Republic residents turned out in large numbers as President Faustin-Archange Touadera seeks a second term. Rebel groups have carried out attacks and threatened to march to the capital and disrupt the election after the constitutional court this month rejected several candidates, including former President Francois Bozize.
Mr. Touadera is considered the favorite in the field of 17 candidates. Vote counting began on Sunday and full provisional results are expected by the end of the week. The election will go to a second round if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
After a slow start and sporadic gunfire in some towns, the head of the U.N. mission in the country said in a statement that there was a huge turnout. He did not provide details.
“This morning, they [rebels] started firing, hoping to scare people away from voting. Yes, in certain areas, it is difficult but in many other areas, you can see people going out massively to vote,” Mankeur Ndiaye said.
There are concerns that a substantial number of the 1.8 million registered voters in the sparsely populated nation larger than France were not be able to vote in remote towns, some controlled by armed rebels.
Heavy gunfire was reported in the town of Bouar, around 435 km (270 miles) northwest of the capital, a resident said. Gunfire also disrupted voting in other towns including Bossangoa in the northwest, and Bria in the east.
“The vote should not only take place in Bangui. I think that the elections should have been postponed. But as it is the law, it is my duty, I am coming to vote for my president,” said 31-year old Thierry Yanga, who voted in the capital.
The constitutional court on Saturday rejected an appeal from several opposition candidates for the election to be postponed. The government and a U.N. mission had rejected a postponement fearing a power vacuum.
Waves of violence
The crisis has left many in the diamond- and gold-rich nation of 4.7 million exhausted, while stirring fears of a return to the worst violence of its recent past, which includes five coups and numerous rebellions since independence from France in 1960.
Mr. Touadera was first elected in 2016 following a rebellion three years earlier that ousted Mr. Bozize. He has struggled to wrest control of vast swathes of the country from armed militias.
Successive waves of violence since 2013 have killed thousands and forced more than a million from their homes.
Mr. Touadera and the United Nations, which has over 12,800 uniformed peacekeepers in CAR, have accused Mr. Bozize of being behind the rebel offensive, which briefly seized the country’s fourth largest city last week and has led to a wave of desertions from the army.
Mr. Bozize’s candidacy was rejected because he faces an arrest warrant and U.N. sanctions for allegedly ordering assassinations and torture while president. Mr. Bozize has denied those charges.
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Mr. Touadera’s international security partners have responded to the latest violence by sending additional troops and equipment, including 300 Russian military instructors and 300 Rwandan peacekeepers.
Writing by Aaron Ross, Edward McAllister, and Bate Felix; editing by Christina Fincher, Jason Neely, Larry King, and Nick Macfie.


csmonitor--2020-12-28--After days of delay, Trump signs $900 billion relief package

President Donald Trump has signed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package , ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown .
The deal also provides $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as an increase in food stamp benefits .
The signing Sunday , at his private club in Florida came as he faced escalating criticism over his eleventh-hour demands for larger , $ 2,000 relief checks and scaled-back spending even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate by wide margins .
The bill was passed with what lawmakers had thought was Mr. Trump ’ s blessing , and after months of negotiations with his administration .
His foot-dragging resulted in a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and threatened a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic .
But signing the bill into law prevents another crisis of Mr. Trump ’ s own creation and ends a standoff with his own party during the final days of his administration .
It was unclear what , if anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beyond angering all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their push for higher relief checks , which his own party opposes .
In his statement , Mr. Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 that his fellow Republicans already rejected .
He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large .
“ I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump said in the statement .
While the president insisted he would send Congress “ a redlined version ” with items to be removed under the rescission process , those are merely suggestions to Congress .
The bill , as signed , would not necessarily be changed .
Democrats , who have the majority in the House , immediately vowed to prevent any cuts .
Democrats “ will reject any rescissions ” submitted by the president , said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York , chair of the Appropriations Committee .
Lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded .
The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday , but it ’ s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate , where spending faces opposition .
For now , the administration can only begin work sending out the $ 600 payments .
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama , a conservative who supported Trump ’ s extraordinary and futile challenge of the election results , counted himself Monday among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump ’ s call for higher payments .
“ It ’ s money we don ’ t have , we have to borrow to get and we can ’ t afford to pay back , ” he said on “ Fox and Friends.
” ” Someone ’ s got to show me how we ’ re going to pay for it .
How far before we all go into debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy ?
” Still , Republicans and Democrats alike swiftly welcomed Trump ’ s decision to sign the bill into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not perfect , but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
“ I thank the President for signing this relief into law.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the signing “ welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas weekend , and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.
” Others slammed Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into law .
In a tweet , Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia accused Trump of having “ played Russian roulette with American lives .
A familiar and comfortable place for him.
” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he would offer Trump ’ s proposal for $ 2,000 checks for a vote in Senate – putting Republicans on the spot .
“ The House will pass a bill to give Americans $ 2,000 checks , ” Mr. Schumer tweeted .
“ Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Will Senate Republicans ?
” Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office , but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach .
Congress will push ahead Monday , with the House expected to vote to override Mr. Trump ’ s veto of an annual Defense bill , confronting the president on another big issue in the final days of the session .
The Senate is expected to follow on Tuesday .
In the face of growing economic hardship , spreading disease and a looming shutdown , lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislation immediately , then have Congress follow up with additional aid .
Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families , money for vaccine distribution , businesses and more was on the line .
Protections against evictions also hung in the balance .
“ What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said of Mr. Trump ’ s delaying tactic before the president signed the law .
“ So many people are hurting .
...
It is really insane and this president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.
” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “ wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks , but the danger is he ’ ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.
” Mr. Toomey added : “ So I think the best thing to do , as I said , sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.
” Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to “ play this old switcheroo game.
” “ I don ’ t get the point , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t understand what ’ s being done , why , unless it ’ s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.
” Washington had been reeling since Mr. Trump turned on the deal .
Fingers pointed at administration officials , including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Mr. Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in a lurch , after the president ’ s own person negotiated something that the president doesn ’ t want , it ’ s just – it ’ s surprising , ” Mr. Kinzinger said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mascaro and Taylor reported from Washington .
Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report .

President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.
The deal also provides $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as an increase in food stamp benefits.
The signing Sunday, at his private club in Florida came as he faced escalating criticism over his eleventh-hour demands for larger, $2,000 relief checks and scaled-back spending even though the bill had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins. The bill was passed with what lawmakers had thought was Mr. Trump’s blessing, and after months of negotiations with his administration.
His foot-dragging resulted in a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and threatened a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic. But signing the bill into law prevents another crisis of Mr. Trump’s own creation and ends a standoff with his own party during the final days of his administration.
It was unclear what, if anything, Mr. Trump accomplished with his delay, beyond angering all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their push for higher relief checks, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Mr. Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $600 checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans already rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Mr. Trump said in the statement.
While the president insisted he would send Congress “a redlined version” with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.
Democrats, who have the majority in the House, immediately vowed to prevent any cuts. Democrats “will reject any rescissions” submitted by the president, said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday, but it’s expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate, where spending faces opposition. For now, the administration can only begin work sending out the $600 payments.
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, a conservative who supported Trump’s extraordinary and futile challenge of the election results, counted himself Monday among the opponents of a more generous relief package and Trump’s call for higher payments.
“It’s money we don’t have, we have to borrow to get and we can’t afford to pay back,” he said on “Fox and Friends.” ”Someone’s got to show me how we’re going to pay for it. How far before we all go into debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy?”
Still, Republicans and Democrats alike swiftly welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill into law.
“The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “I thank the President for signing this relief into law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the signing “welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.”
Others slammed Mr. Trump’s delay in turning the bill into law. In a tweet, Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia accused Trump of having “played Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he would offer Trump’s proposal for $2,000 checks for a vote in Senate – putting Republicans on the spot.
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks,” Mr. Schumer tweeted. “Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.” He said no Democrats will object. “Will Senate Republicans?”
Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.
Congress will push ahead Monday, with the House expected to vote to override Mr. Trump’s veto of an annual Defense bill, confronting the president on another big issue in the final days of the session. The Senate is expected to follow on Tuesday.
In the face of growing economic hardship, spreading disease and a looming shutdown, lawmakers spent Sunday urging Mr. Trump to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses and more was on the line. Protections against evictions also hung in the balance.
“What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,” Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said of Mr. Trump’s delaying tactic before the president signed the law. “So many people are hurting. ... It is really insane and this president has got to finally ... do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.”
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.”
Mr. Toomey added: “So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.”
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to “play this old switcheroo game.”
“I don’t get the point,” he said. “I don’t understand what’s being done, why, unless it’s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.”
Washington had been reeling since Mr. Trump turned on the deal. Fingers pointed at administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Mr. Trump’s position.
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“Now to be put in a lurch, after the president’s own person negotiated something that the president doesn’t want, it’s just – it’s surprising,” Mr. Kinzinger said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mascaro and Taylor reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-12-29--Boeing gets a boost as its 737 Max returns to US skies

American Airlines flew a Boeing 737 Max with paying passengers from Miami to New York on Tuesday , the plane ’ s first commercial flight in U.S. skies since it was grounded after two deadly crashes .
American flight 718 carried 87 passengers on the 172-seat plane , and the return flight from LaGuardia Airport to Miami International Airport held 151 passengers , according to an airline spokeswoman .
Last month , the Federal Aviation Administration approved changes that Boeing made to an automated flight-control system implicated in crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people in all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nose down repeatedly based on faulty sensor readings , and pilots were unable to regain control .
The FAA cleared the way for U.S. airlines to resume using the plane if certain changes are made and pilots are provided with additional training including time in a flight simulator .
Brazil ’ s Gol airlines operated the first passenger flight with a revamped Max on Dec. 9 .
Since then , Gol and Aeromexico have operated about 600 flights between them with Max jets , according to tracking service Flightradar24 and aviation-data firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round trip a day between Miami and New York with Max jets through Jan. 4 before putting the plane on more routes .
United Airlines plans to resume Max flights in February , and Southwest Airlines expects to follow in March .
All three airlines say they will give customers the chance to change flights if they are uncomfortable flying on the Max .
The Max was grounded worldwide in March 2019 , days after the second crash .
Reports by House and Senate committees faulted Boeing and the FAA for failures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional investigators uncovered internal Boeing documents in which company employees raised safety concerns and bragged about deceiving regulators .
FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson , a former military and airline pilot , operated a test flight in September and vouched for the reworked plane ’ s safety , saying he would put his family on it .
American Airlines President Robert Isom was on Tuesday ’ s inaugural U.S. flight , according to the airline .
Some relatives of people who died in the second crash , a Max operated by Ethiopian Airlines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They and their lawyers say that Boeing is refusing to hand over documents about the plane ’ s design and development .
“ The truth is that 346 people are now dead because Boeing cut corners , lied to regulators , and simply considers this the cost of doing business , ” Yalena Lopez-Lewis , whose husband died in the crash , said in a statement issued by her lawyers .
“ It is infuriating that American Airlines is in effect rewarding Boeing for the corrupt and catastrophic process that led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British citizen whose father also died in the Ethiopian crash , pointed to the recent disclosure in a Senate committee report that Boeing representatives coached FAA test pilots reviewing Boeing updates to the Max flight-control system .
“ Boeing leadership is still riddled with deceit .
Their priorities are not on consumer safety , ” she said in an interview .
Boeing spokesman Bernard Choi said the company “ learned many hard lessons ” from the crashes and is committed to safety .
“ We continue to work closely with global regulators and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fleet to service around the world , ” Choi said .
The return of the plane to U.S. skies is a huge boost for Boeing , which has lost billions during the Max grounding because it has been unable to deliver new planes to airline customers .
Orders for the plane have plunged .
Boeing has removed more than 1,000 Max jets from its backlog because airlines canceled orders or the sales are not certain to go through because of the pandemic crisis gripping the travel industry .
This story was @ @ @ @ @ @

American Airlines flew a Boeing 737 Max with paying passengers from Miami to New York on Tuesday, the plane’s first commercial flight in U.S. skies since it was grounded after two deadly crashes.
American flight 718 carried 87 passengers on the 172-seat plane, and the return flight from LaGuardia Airport to Miami International Airport held 151 passengers, according to an airline spokeswoman.
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration approved changes that Boeing made to an automated flight-control system implicated in crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people in all. In both crashes, the system pushed the nose down repeatedly based on faulty sensor readings, and pilots were unable to regain control.
The FAA cleared the way for U.S. airlines to resume using the plane if certain changes are made and pilots are provided with additional training including time in a flight simulator.
Brazil’s Gol airlines operated the first passenger flight with a revamped Max on Dec. 9. Since then, Gol and Aeromexico have operated about 600 flights between them with Max jets, according to tracking service Flightradar24 and aviation-data firm Cirium.
American plans to make one round trip a day between Miami and New York with Max jets through Jan. 4 before putting the plane on more routes. United Airlines plans to resume Max flights in February, and Southwest Airlines expects to follow in March. All three airlines say they will give customers the chance to change flights if they are uncomfortable flying on the Max.
The Max was grounded worldwide in March 2019, days after the second crash. Reports by House and Senate committees faulted Boeing and the FAA for failures in the process of certifying the plane. Congressional investigators uncovered internal Boeing documents in which company employees raised safety concerns and bragged about deceiving regulators.
FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, a former military and airline pilot, operated a test flight in September and vouched for the reworked plane’s safety, saying he would put his family on it. American Airlines President Robert Isom was on Tuesday’s inaugural U.S. flight, according to the airline.
Some relatives of people who died in the second crash, a Max operated by Ethiopian Airlines, contend that the plane is still unsafe. They and their lawyers say that Boeing is refusing to hand over documents about the plane’s design and development.
“The truth is that 346 people are now dead because Boeing cut corners, lied to regulators, and simply considers this the cost of doing business,” Yalena Lopez-Lewis, whose husband died in the crash, said in a statement issued by her lawyers. “It is infuriating that American Airlines is in effect rewarding Boeing for the corrupt and catastrophic process that led to the Max.”
Zipporah Kuria, a British citizen whose father also died in the Ethiopian crash, pointed to the recent disclosure in a Senate committee report that Boeing representatives coached FAA test pilots reviewing Boeing updates to the Max flight-control system. “Boeing leadership is still riddled with deceit. Their priorities are not on consumer safety,” she said in an interview.
Boeing spokesman Bernard Choi said the company “learned many hard lessons” from the crashes and is committed to safety.
“We continue to work closely with global regulators and our customers to support the safe return of the fleet to service around the world,” Choi said.
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The return of the plane to U.S. skies is a huge boost for Boeing, which has lost billions during the Max grounding because it has been unable to deliver new planes to airline customers. Orders for the plane have plunged. Boeing has removed more than 1,000 Max jets from its backlog because airlines canceled orders or the sales are not certain to go through because of the pandemic crisis gripping the travel industry.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-12-30--In the desert, I find my way

In the desert, I find my way

It ’ s cold in the bus ; there ’ s no heater , and the December night is damp and chilly .
The narrow road is roughly paved , the only route from Beersheba to Arad , Israel , in the Negev Desert .
We see no lights , few cars , barely any signs of civilization .
Occasionally , we pass a bus stop with a crude bench and a dim street lamp , meaning that a kibbutz is nearby .
Often when I make this two-hour journey , some young Bedouin man will suddenly get up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the bus jerks to a stop , he will exit and stride confidently off into the total darkness of the desert night .
With no road sign or anything else to mark the spot , I wonder if it is sheer instinct that tells him where to get off , or if there is a boulder or shrub that only he can see , marking the path to his camp .
At this moment in 1970 , I ’ m not as confident about finding my own path .
I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ulpan , an intensive language program where recent college graduates spend five months learning Hebrew with the goal of finding jobs and remaining in Israel .
Anxious and uncertain , I ’ d left my mother ’ s home in Manhattan to join my cohort , having no idea what to expect .
Part of what had drawn me here is the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar surroundings , far from home – a need to prove my independence .
But part of my desire to live in Israel was also an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s memory .
He and my mother had fled Europe in 1938 ; the vast majority of their relatives perished in the Holocaust .
I knew that my father – who had died suddenly two years ago – would have been proud to have his daughter live in Israel .
Arad was then a town of 6,000 , surrounded by the dusty scrub-covered expanses of the Negev .
Oddly , I ’ d immediately felt at home here : While it was new to me , the desert felt familiar and comforting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 ulpan students , I ’ d take walks alone .
The air was clean and soft ; the wind died down at dusk and fog enveloped the distant hills .
I ’ d stand and watch as camels sauntered past .
I tried to meet real Israelis .
On a solitary walk , I encountered a polite young Israeli engineer who was single and eager for companionship .
He invited me to spend the evening with him in Beersheba , at the movies and dinner with him and his friends .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively in Hebrew , when I returned to my ulpan class , my language skills had improved enormously .
Sadly , there was no romantic spark between us , but it became an enjoyable way to learn the language .
Each morning , an Israeli tank patrol searched the nearby roads along the border with Jordan , looking for mines .
The soldiers lived in a camp nearby , and were excited to discover the ulpan ’ s amenities and especially the fact that actual American and British women were present .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreation room , I befriended their boisterous and charismatic leader , Nissim .
He was gregarious , loud , and very funny .
Barely 21 , he seemed very mature , having seen combat with his recon unit .
Later , he invited me to lunch at the army camp .
He picked me up in a jeep , and we bounced over a rutted unpaved road to the base .
When we arrived , I was treated as a visiting foreign dignitary .
After lunch , touring the base , I casually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission .
Nissim promptly arranged for me to drive a half-track , a huge army transport fitted with tank treads .
Sitting high in the driver ’ s seat , I felt like a true Israeli – unafraid and strong .
I dreamed of staying on in Israel , but in 1974 , following the trauma of the Yom Kippur War , I reluctantly moved back to New York , leaving many new friends and a job that I loved in Tel Aviv , succumbing to family obligations .
But I took with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by living in a new country , becoming fluent in a new language , and managing on my own .
While I had not become as certain of my path as the young Bedouins on the bus , the ulpan and the desert had pointed my way to becoming an adult .

It’s cold in the bus; there’s no heater, and the December night is damp and chilly. The narrow road is roughly paved, the only route from Beersheba to Arad, Israel, in the Negev Desert. We see no lights, few cars, barely any signs of civilization. Occasionally, we pass a bus stop with a crude bench and a dim street lamp, meaning that a kibbutz is nearby. Often when I make this two-hour journey, some young Bedouin man will suddenly get up from his seat and pull the cord. As the bus jerks to a stop, he will exit and stride confidently off into the total darkness of the desert night. With no road sign or anything else to mark the spot, I wonder if it is sheer instinct that tells him where to get off, or if there is a boulder or shrub that only he can see, marking the path to his camp.
At this moment in 1970, I’m not as confident about finding my own path. I’d recently arrived in Israel to study in an ulpan, an intensive language program where recent college graduates spend five months learning Hebrew with the goal of finding jobs and remaining in Israel. Anxious and uncertain, I’d left my mother’s home in Manhattan to join my cohort, having no idea what to expect.
Part of what had drawn me here is the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar surroundings, far from home – a need to prove my independence. But part of my desire to live in Israel was also an unspoken wish to honor my father’s memory. He and my mother had fled Europe in 1938; the vast majority of their relatives perished in the Holocaust. I knew that my father – who had died suddenly two years ago – would have been proud to have his daughter live in Israel.
Arad was then a town of 6,000, surrounded by the dusty scrub-covered expanses of the Negev. Oddly, I’d immediately felt at home here: While it was new to me, the desert felt familiar and comforting. To escape the company of the other 200 ulpan students, I’d take walks alone. The air was clean and soft; the wind died down at dusk and fog enveloped the distant hills. I’d stand and watch as camels sauntered past.
I tried to meet real Israelis. On a solitary walk, I encountered a polite young Israeli engineer who was single and eager for companionship. He invited me to spend the evening with him in Beersheba, at the movies and dinner with him and his friends. Since both the film and our conversation were exclusively in Hebrew, when I returned to my ulpan class, my language skills had improved enormously. Sadly, there was no romantic spark between us, but it became an enjoyable way to learn the language.
Each morning, an Israeli tank patrol searched the nearby roads along the border with Jordan, looking for mines. The soldiers lived in a camp nearby, and were excited to discover the ulpan’s amenities and especially the fact that actual American and British women were present.
When the soldiers invaded the ulpan’s recreation room, I befriended their boisterous and charismatic leader, Nissim. He was gregarious, loud, and very funny. Barely 21, he seemed very mature, having seen combat with his recon unit.
Later, he invited me to lunch at the army camp. He picked me up in a jeep, and we bounced over a rutted unpaved road to the base. When we arrived, I was treated as a visiting foreign dignitary.
After lunch, touring the base, I casually mentioned my ability to handle a manual transmission. Nissim promptly arranged for me to drive a half-track, a huge army transport fitted with tank treads. Sitting high in the driver’s seat, I felt like a true Israeli – unafraid and strong.
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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 dreamed of staying on in Israel, but in 1974, following the trauma of the Yom Kippur War, I reluctantly moved back to New York, leaving many new friends and a job that I loved in Tel Aviv, succumbing to family obligations. But I took with me the confidence that I had gained by living in a new country, becoming fluent in a new language, and managing on my own.
While I had not become as certain of my path as the young Bedouins on the bus, the ulpan and the desert had pointed my way to becoming an adult.


csmonitor--2020-12-30--‘We made history’: Argentina’s Senate votes to legalize abortion

Argentina ’ s Senate voted on Wednesday to legalize abortion , a first for a big country in Latin America and a triumph for women ’ s rights campaigners achieved over the visceral objection of the Roman Catholic Church .
Abortion is extremely rare in a region where the Church has held cultural and political sway for centuries .
Previously , it was allowed on demand only in Communist Cuba , tiny Uruguay and parts of Mexico .
The fiercely contentious vote was held at 4:00 a.m. after a marathon debate that lasted through the night .
In a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate backed the government proposal to allow terminations through the 14th week of pregnancy .
The lower house had already approved it this month .
As the result was read out , a crowd of thousands of people who had supported the bill erupted in cheers outside the Senate building in Buenos Aires , waving the green flags that represented their campaign .
Green smoke rose in the dawn light above the crowd .
“ This has been a struggle for many years , many women died .
Never again will there be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Vilma Ibarra , the author of the law and legal and technical secretary for the presidency , who wept as she spoke to reporters after the result .
“ We did it sisters .
We made history .
We did it together .
There are no words for this moment , it passes through the body and the soul , ” tweeted Monica Macha , a lawmaker with President Alberto Fernandez ’ center-left ruling coalition .
Fernandez himself reacted moments later : “ Safe , legal and free abortion is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society that broadens rights for women and guarantees public health.
” But Pope Francis - himself an Argentinian - reflected the Church ’ s opposition in his own tweet sent on Tuesday before the Senate debate : “ The son of God was born discarded to tell us that every person discarded is a child of God.
” After the vote , thousands of the bill ’ s opponents dispersed , wiping away tears as a speaker from a makeshift stage told them : “ We are witnessing a defeat of life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are going to make ourselves heard.
” One of them , Sara de Avellaneda , told Clarin newspaper : “ I came because I had to be here .
We are not invisible .
Not everything is a green tide .
This law is unconstitutional and its implementation is not going to be easy.
” The ruling could set the tone for a wider shift in conservative Latin America where there are growing calls for greater reproductive rights for women .
“ Adopting a law that legalizes abortion in a Catholic country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle to ensure women ’ s rights in Latin America , ” said Juan Pappier , a senior Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch .
“ Although there will certainly be resistance , I think it ’ s fair to predict that , as it occurred when Argentina legalized same sex marriage in 2010 , this new law could have a domino effect in the region.
” Until now , Argentine law had allowed abortion only when there was a serious risk to the health of the mother or in cases of rape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harms women from the most vulnerable groups .
Argentina ’ s Health Ministry says more than 3,000 women died from illegal abortions from 1983-2018 .
The Catholic church argues that abortion violates the right to life .
This story was reported by Reuters .

Argentina’s Senate voted on Wednesday to legalize abortion, a first for a big country in Latin America and a triumph for women’s rights campaigners achieved over the visceral objection of the Roman Catholic Church.
Abortion is extremely rare in a region where the Church has held cultural and political sway for centuries. Previously, it was allowed on demand only in Communist Cuba, tiny Uruguay and parts of Mexico.
The fiercely contentious vote was held at 4:00 a.m. after a marathon debate that lasted through the night. In a vote of 38-29 with one abstention, the Senate backed the government proposal to allow terminations through the 14th week of pregnancy. The lower house had already approved it this month.
As the result was read out, a crowd of thousands of people who had supported the bill erupted in cheers outside the Senate building in Buenos Aires, waving the green flags that represented their campaign. Green smoke rose in the dawn light above the crowd.
“This has been a struggle for many years, many women died. Never again will there be a woman killed in a clandestine abortion,” said Vilma Ibarra, the author of the law and legal and technical secretary for the presidency, who wept as she spoke to reporters after the result.
“We did it sisters. We made history. We did it together. There are no words for this moment, it passes through the body and the soul,” tweeted Monica Macha, a lawmaker with President Alberto Fernandez’ center-left ruling coalition.
Fernandez himself reacted moments later: “Safe, legal and free abortion is law. Today we are a better society that broadens rights for women and guarantees public health.”
But Pope Francis - himself an Argentinian - reflected the Church’s opposition in his own tweet sent on Tuesday before the Senate debate: “The son of God was born discarded to tell us that every person discarded is a child of God.”
After the vote, thousands of the bill’s opponents dispersed, wiping away tears as a speaker from a makeshift stage told them: “We are witnessing a defeat of life. But our convictions do not change. We are going to make ourselves heard.”
One of them, Sara de Avellaneda, told Clarin newspaper: “I came because I had to be here. We are not invisible. Not everything is a green tide. This law is unconstitutional and its implementation is not going to be easy.”
The ruling could set the tone for a wider shift in conservative Latin America where there are growing calls for greater reproductive rights for women.
“Adopting a law that legalizes abortion in a Catholic country as big as Argentina will energize the struggle to ensure women’s rights in Latin America,” said Juan Pappier, a senior Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“Although there will certainly be resistance, I think it’s fair to predict that, as it occurred when Argentina legalized same sex marriage in 2010, this new law could have a domino effect in the region.”
Until now, Argentine law had allowed abortion only when there was a serious risk to the health of the mother or in cases of rape. Pro-choice groups argued that criminalizing abortion harms women from the most vulnerable groups. Argentina’s Health Ministry says more than 3,000 women died from illegal abortions from 1983-2018.
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The Catholic church argues that abortion violates the right to life.
This story was reported by Reuters.


csmonitor--2020-12-31--‘Bring home the bacon’ and other tasty idioms

The idiom “ in apple pie order ” certainly wasn ’ t inspired by pies like mine .
The ones I make have uneven edges , are filled with roughly sliced apples , and rarely have a pastry cover .
( The British would call them tarts ; by contrast their pies are completely encased in pastry . )
Was this expression , which first appeared in 1780 , based on pies made to more exacting standards ?
English is full of odd food idioms : Why does “ bring home the bacon ” mean “ earn the money that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is so bad about sowing wild oats ?
The most common etymology of our first idiom holds that bakers created pies that were so beautifully arranged – the apples evenly sliced , the crust neatly edged – that their desserts became a byword for perfect order .
Victorian etymologists scorned “ such a homely origin , ” and posited instead that “ apple pie ” was a corruption of cap à pie , Old French for “ from head to foot ” and used in English to describe the “ perfectly appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The most likely explanation is domestic but not pie-related : It comes from the French nappe pliée – as neat as “ folded linen.
” No one knows how bacon became associated with money , but etymologists have had lots of fun speculating .
County fairs , one story posits , featured races in which people chased after a greased pig .
Whoever caught the slippery animal won a prize and was said to “ bring home the bacon.
” Another version attributes it to a custom once practiced in England .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unsliced side ) was awarded to couples who could swear that in their first year of marriage , they had never repented of their choice of spouse .
Etymologists now take the view that the idiom is a 20th-century invention : It appeared in a 1906 telegram from the mother of boxer Joe Gans , who urged her son to win a fight and “ bring home the bacon.
” Sports writers loved this turn of phrase , and it was soon in newspapers across the country .
Wild oats ( Avena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ones we eat ( Avena sativa ) , as I discovered when researching the origins of “ to sow one ’ s wild oats.
” The Oxford English Dictionary defines the phrase as “ to commit youthful excesses or follies , ” which sounds quaint rather than reprehensible .
When the idiom was first used in the 17th century , however , people were more familiar with wild oats .
They are pernicious weeds that have no value as a crop and that , once sown , are nearly impossible to eradicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sowing one ’ s wild oats , ” then , was originally a much more serious issue , implying that a young man was not only not doing anything productive , but he was also setting himself up for a pattern of dissolution that would be hard to break .

The idiom “in apple pie order” certainly wasn’t inspired by pies like mine. The ones I make have uneven edges, are filled with roughly sliced apples, and rarely have a pastry cover. (The British would call them tarts; by contrast their pies are completely encased in pastry.)
Was this expression, which first appeared in 1780, based on pies made to more exacting standards? English is full of odd food idioms: Why does “bring home the bacon” mean “earn the money that is needed to live”? And what is so bad about sowing wild oats?
The most common etymology of our first idiom holds that bakers created pies that were so beautifully arranged – the apples evenly sliced, the crust neatly edged – that their desserts became a byword for perfect order. Victorian etymologists scorned “such a homely origin,” and posited instead that “apple pie” was a corruption of cap à pie, Old French for “from head to foot” and used in English to describe the “perfectly appointed” armor and weapons of a knight. The most likely explanation is domestic but not pie-related: It comes from the French nappe pliée – as neat as “folded linen.”
No one knows how bacon became associated with money, but etymologists have had lots of fun speculating. County fairs, one story posits, featured races in which people chased after a greased pig. Whoever caught the slippery animal won a prize and was said to “bring home the bacon.” Another version attributes it to a custom once practiced in England. A “flitch of bacon” (an unsliced side) was awarded to couples who could swear that in their first year of marriage, they had never repented of their choice of spouse. Etymologists now take the view that the idiom is a 20th-century invention: It appeared in a 1906 telegram from the mother of boxer Joe Gans, who urged her son to win a fight and “bring home the bacon.” Sports writers loved this turn of phrase, and it was soon in newspapers across the country.
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Wild oats (Avena fatua) are a different species from the ones we eat (Avena sativa), as I discovered when researching the origins of “to sow one’s wild oats.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines the phrase as “to commit youthful excesses or follies,” which sounds quaint rather than reprehensible. When the idiom was first used in the 17th century, however, people were more familiar with wild oats. They are pernicious weeds that have no value as a crop and that, once sown, are nearly impossible to eradicate – they keep coming up.
“Sowing one’s wild oats,” then, was originally a much more serious issue, implying that a young man was not only not doing anything productive, but he was also setting himself up for a pattern of dissolution that would be hard to break.


csmonitor--2020-12-31--Why US stock markets closed out 2020 at record highs

Wall Street closed out a tumultuous year for stocks with more record highs Thursday , a fitting coda to the market ’ s stunning comeback from its historic plunge in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic .
The benchmark S & P 500 index finished with a gain of 16.3 % for the year , or a total return of about 18 % , including dividends .
The Nasdaq composite , powered by high-flying Big Tech stocks , soared 43.6 % .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7.2 % , with Apple and Microsoft leading the way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mostly upward grind for stocks in recent weeks , fueled by cautious optimism that the U.S. economy and corporate profits will bounce back in 2021 now that the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is under way .
“ We came into the year expecting slow growth and it turned out to be the fastest bear market recovery in history , ” said Sunitha Thomas , national portfolio advisor at Northern Trust Wealth Management .
The virus pandemic shocked markets early in the year .
The S & P 500 fell 8.4 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March as the pandemic essentially froze the global economy .
Businesses shut down in the face of the virus threat and tighter government restrictions .
People shifted to working , shopping and doing pretty much everything else from home .
The dire economic situation weighed heavily on almost any company that relied on direct consumer spending or a physical presence , including airlines , restaurants , hotels and mall-based retailers .
Trading became volatile , especially in the early weeks of the pandemic , as investors scrambled amid an increasingly grim economic outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of about 2,000 points .
And the S & P 500 rose or fell by at least 1 % on twice as many days in 2020 than it did , on average , since 1950 .
The VIX , which measures how much volatility investors expect from the S & P 500 , climbed to a record high 82.69 in March and remained above its historical average for much of the year .
The wave of selling accelerated as the economic fallout from the pandemic widened , leaving many long-term investors looking on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for stocks evaporated .
Five months later , the market recouped all of its losses .
“ It was probably very hard to imagine getting those back in such a short period fo time , ” said Shawn Cruz , senior market strategist at TD Ameritrade .
Wall Street didn ’ t stay down for long , thanks in large part to unprecedented actions from the Federal Reserve and Congress to support the economy .
Investors flocked to big technology companies such as Apple and Amazon and smaller companies like Grubhub and Etsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shift to working and shopping from home .
On Dec. 30 , Apple 's stock market value totaled $ 2.29 trillion , up 133 % since March 23 .
Meanwhile , Congress recently approved nearly $ 300 billion in additional relief for small businesses , money that many hard-hit owners only hope can help them survive until the pandemic finally eases The success of Apple and other big technology companies and the struggles of the smallest of businesses is just one example of how the pandemic created winners and losers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered after March ; Main Street is still struggling .
The S & P 500 jumped 12.7 % in April .
From there , markets disconnected from the rest of the still-reeling economy and pushed higher in fits and starts as vaccine development progressed and analysts and economists looked ahead to the eventual end of the pandemic .
Individual investors , sometimes referred to as retail investors on Wall Street , hopped onto the market rally via commission-free online trading platforms like Robinhood .
Along the way , they helped power shares in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The electric car maker jumped 743.4 % in 2020 for the biggest gain in the S & P 500 .
“ Retail investors represented a larger portion of the market than they ever have , ” Cruz said .
“ It was retail and institutional investors all coming to the same conclusion about what was going to work and what wasn ’ t going to work this year at the same time.
” The market ’ s turnaround was faster than anyone might have expected in March , when the S & P @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By August , the index had recovered all of its losses and climbed to new highs .
All told , the S & P 500 set 33 record highs in 2020 .
“ It was another reminder that unless you have a foolproof market timing technique the adage to remember is it ’ s always better buy than bail , ” said Sam Stovall , chief investment strategist at CFRA .
The end of the virus and its pummeling of the economy seems even closer now that vaccine approval and distribution is ramping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both approved Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine and Britain recently approved another vaccine from AstraZeneca and Oxford University .
Meanwhile , the U.S. government has approved another round of aid for businesses and people dealing with another surge in the virus and tighter restrictions on businesses .
Thomas expects pent-up demand and high savings rates to help drive an economic recovery in 2021 .
Many of the more beaten-down stocks will benefit from a “ vaccine-shaped ” recovery as the number of vaccines on the market increases and distribution widens .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start to be able to reopen the economy , ” she said .
The sharp run-up in stock prices relative to the outlook for earnings growth suggests stocks could be in for a correction , or drop of at least 10 % , in 2021 , Stovall said .
“ There ’ s a good possibility that we get a deep pullback — pullbacks being 5 % -10 % — or maybe a shallow correction , ” he said .
“ Enough to remind investors that share prices don ’ t go up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final day of trading for the year .
Several overseas markets were closed for holidays , and U.S. markets will be closed for New Years Day on Friday .
The S & P 500 rose 24.03 points , or 0.6 % , to 3,756.07 , an all-time high .
The Dow rose 196.92 points , or 0.7 % , to 30,606.48 , a record high .
The Nasdaq rose 18.28 points , or 0.1 % , to 12,888.28 .
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 5.14 points , or 0.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notched strong gains in recent weeks after lagging in the early months of the broader market rebound .
The Russell 2000 ended the year with a gain of 18.4 % .
Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea as well as Germany .
France ’ s CAC 40 slipped 0.9 % and Britain ’ s FTSE 100 lost 1.5 % .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 0.92 % from 0.91 % late Wednesday .

Wall Street closed out a tumultuous year for stocks with more record highs Thursday, a fitting coda to the market’s stunning comeback from its historic plunge in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.
The benchmark S&P 500 index finished with a gain of 16.3% for the year, or a total return of about 18%, including dividends. The Nasdaq composite, powered by high-flying Big Tech stocks, soared 43.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7.2%, with Apple and Microsoft leading the way.
The market’s milestone-setting finish follows a mostly upward grind for stocks in recent weeks, fueled by cautious optimism that the U.S. economy and corporate profits will bounce back in 2021 now that the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is under way.
“We came into the year expecting slow growth and it turned out to be the fastest bear market recovery in history,” said Sunitha Thomas, national portfolio advisor at Northern Trust Wealth Management.
The virus pandemic shocked markets early in the year. The S&P 500 fell 8.4% in February, then plunged 12.5% in March as the pandemic essentially froze the global economy. Businesses shut down in the face of the virus threat and tighter government restrictions. People shifted to working, shopping and doing pretty much everything else from home.
The dire economic situation weighed heavily on almost any company that relied on direct consumer spending or a physical presence, including airlines, restaurants, hotels and mall-based retailers.
Trading became volatile, especially in the early weeks of the pandemic, as investors scrambled amid an increasingly grim economic outlook. The Dow had several day-to-day swings of about 2,000 points. And the S&P 500 rose or fell by at least 1% on twice as many days in 2020 than it did, on average, since 1950.
The VIX, which measures how much volatility investors expect from the S&P 500, climbed to a record high 82.69 in March and remained above its historical average for much of the year.
The wave of selling accelerated as the economic fallout from the pandemic widened, leaving many long-term investors looking on as their gains after a blockbuster 2019 for stocks evaporated. Five months later, the market recouped all of its losses.
“It was probably very hard to imagine getting those back in such a short period fo time,” said Shawn Cruz, senior market strategist at TD Ameritrade.
Wall Street didn’t stay down for long, thanks in large part to unprecedented actions from the Federal Reserve and Congress to support the economy. Investors flocked to big technology companies such as Apple and Amazon and smaller companies like Grubhub and Etsy that were poised to take advantage of the shift to working and shopping from home.
On Dec. 30, Apple's stock market value totaled $2.29 trillion, up 133% since March 23. Meanwhile, Congress recently approved nearly $300 billion in additional relief for small businesses, money that many hard-hit owners only hope can help them survive until the pandemic finally eases
The success of Apple and other big technology companies and the struggles of the smallest of businesses is just one example of how the pandemic created winners and losers in the business world in 2020. Wall Street recovered after March; Main Street is still struggling.
The S&P 500 jumped 12.7% in April. From there, markets disconnected from the rest of the still-reeling economy and pushed higher in fits and starts as vaccine development progressed and analysts and economists looked ahead to the eventual end of the pandemic.
Individual investors, sometimes referred to as retail investors on Wall Street, hopped onto the market rally via commission-free online trading platforms like Robinhood. Along the way, they helped power shares in companies like Tesla to new heights. The electric car maker jumped 743.4% in 2020 for the biggest gain in the S&P 500.
“Retail investors represented a larger portion of the market than they ever have,” Cruz said. “It was retail and institutional investors all coming to the same conclusion about what was going to work and what wasn’t going to work this year at the same time.”
The market’s turnaround was faster than anyone might have expected in March, when the S&P 500′s nearly 11-year bull-market run ended. By August, the index had recovered all of its losses and climbed to new highs. All told, the S&P 500 set 33 record highs in 2020.
“It was another reminder that unless you have a foolproof market timing technique the adage to remember is it’s always better buy than bail,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.
The end of the virus and its pummeling of the economy seems even closer now that vaccine approval and distribution is ramping up. The U.S. and U.K. have both approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and Britain recently approved another vaccine from AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has approved another round of aid for businesses and people dealing with another surge in the virus and tighter restrictions on businesses.
Thomas expects pent-up demand and high savings rates to help drive an economic recovery in 2021. Many of the more beaten-down stocks will benefit from a “vaccine-shaped” recovery as the number of vaccines on the market increases and distribution widens.
“We have more visibility that by midyear we start to be able to reopen the economy,” she said.
The sharp run-up in stock prices relative to the outlook for earnings growth suggests stocks could be in for a correction, or drop of at least 10%, in 2021, Stovall said.
“There’s a good possibility that we get a deep pullback — pullbacks being 5%-10% — or maybe a shallow correction,” he said. “Enough to remind investors that share prices don’t go up forever.”
Markets were mostly quiet on the final day of trading for the year. Several overseas markets were closed for holidays, and U.S. markets will be closed for New Years Day on Friday.
The S&P 500 rose 24.03 points, or 0.6%, to 3,756.07, an all-time high. The Dow rose 196.92 points, or 0.7%, to 30,606.48, a record high. The Nasdaq rose 18.28 points, or 0.1%, to 12,888.28.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 5.14 points, or 0.3%, to 1,974.86. Smaller companies notched strong gains in recent weeks after lagging in the early months of the broader market rebound. The Russell 2000 ended the year with a gain of 18.4%.
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Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea as well as Germany. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.9% and Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 1.5%.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 0.92% from 0.91% late Wednesday.


csmonitor--2020-12-31--Women in sports: The leadership and pay gains made in 2020

It was a milestone year for women in sports , starting with Katie Sowers becoming the first woman to coach in the Super Bowl and ending with Becky Hammon serving as an NBA head coach .
In between was a series of breakthroughs for women who just wanted a chance — and got it .
Sarah Fuller became the first woman to score in a major college football game and Kim Ng became the first to be hired as a general manager for a major league team .
WNBA players achieved a higher level of financial security and professional women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
International soccer saw an unprecedented transfer fee paid for a woman to move from one team to another , and the U.S. women 's national soccer team took a step toward its goal of equitable treatment .
“ 2020 was certainly a tumultuous and challenging year , '' the Women 's Sports Foundation said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday .
`` It was also transformational , with many exciting , history-making firsts for women ’ s sports , athletes , coaches and leaders .
Sports is a connector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
As we reflect on the power of women athletes and teams who spoke up , challenged the norms , shattered glass ceilings and showed girls , boys and everyone the limitless potential one can achieve , it gives us all hope for 2021 and beyond.
” Sowers had been working as a San Francisco 49ers offensive assistant since 2017 but was n't widely known until she was featured in a Microsoft television commercial that began running in January .
When the 49ers played the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and first openly gay coach to take the sideline in pro football 's biggest game .
Hammon became the first female coach to take charge of a team during an NBA game , taking over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers following Gregg Popovich ’ s ejection in the second quarter .
“ I look forward to the day where none of this is news , just people accomplishing things and everybody having a chance and everybody having a shot at the same thing , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is close with Hammon .
Hammon , a star player in the college and pro ranks , already was the first full-time female assistant coach in league history .
Hammon acknowledged it was “ a substantial moment ” but said she was more interested in winning the game .
“ Becky Hammon is an enormously talented coach and it was outstanding to see her reach such a truly significant milestone , '' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said .
`` She continues to be an inspiration to so many people , especially countless young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goalkeeper on Vanderbilt 's Southeastern Conference championship soccer team before she rose to national prominence in November when she became the first woman to play in a Power Five conference game .
She was on the field once that day , driving a low kickoff to open the second half as the Commodores got shut out at Missouri .
Two weeks later , Fuller kicked two extra points in a loss to Tennessee , with the second ball she put through the uprights sent to the College Football Hall of Fame .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first female GM in baseball , a feat accomplished after she was turned down for a similar job by at least five other teams over the past 15 years .
Ng started her baseball career as a Chicago White Sox intern in 1990 and for the past nine years was a senior vice president for MLB .
Her hiring came 10 months after Alyssa Nakken became the first female coach on a major league staff when she was named an assistant for the San Francisco Giants .
On the business side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
The WNBA and its union announced a eight-year labor deal allowing top players to earn more than $ 500,000 and raising the average annual salary to $ 130,000 a year .
The agreement also guarantees full salaries for players who are on maternity leave and provides enhanced family benefits .
National Women ’ s Hockey League games will be televised live in the United States for the first time when NBC Sports Network airs playoff games in early February .
In international soccer , Chelsea signed Denmark captain Pernille Harder from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said was “ a record transfer fee for the women ’ s game.
” The clubs did not disclose the fee — the amount paid when a team sells a player to another team , with a portion typically going to the player — but media reports said it was about 300,000 euros ( $ 355,000 ) .
In the United States , the women ’ s national team players and the U.S. Soccer Federation settled their long-running lawsuit over inequitable working conditions compared with the men ’ s team .
The deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for charter flights , hotel accommodations , venue selection and professional staff support equitable to that of the men ’ s team .

It was a milestone year for women in sports, starting with Katie Sowers becoming the first woman to coach in the Super Bowl and ending with Becky Hammon serving as an NBA head coach.
In between was a series of breakthroughs for women who just wanted a chance — and got it.
Sarah Fuller became the first woman to score in a major college football game and Kim Ng became the first to be hired as a general manager for a major league team.
WNBA players achieved a higher level of financial security and professional women's hockey got a boost in exposure. International soccer saw an unprecedented transfer fee paid for a woman to move from one team to another, and the U.S. women's national soccer team took a step toward its goal of equitable treatment.
“2020 was certainly a tumultuous and challenging year," the Women's Sports Foundation said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday. "It was also transformational, with many exciting, history-making firsts for women’s sports, athletes, coaches and leaders. Sports is a connector, a unifier and a microcosm of society. As we reflect on the power of women athletes and teams who spoke up, challenged the norms, shattered glass ceilings and showed girls, boys and everyone the limitless potential one can achieve, it gives us all hope for 2021 and beyond.”
Sowers had been working as a San Francisco 49ers offensive assistant since 2017 but wasn't widely known until she was featured in a Microsoft television commercial that began running in January.
When the 49ers played the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, she became the first female assistant and first openly gay coach to take the sideline in pro football's biggest game.
Hammon became the first female coach to take charge of a team during an NBA game, taking over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers following Gregg Popovich’s ejection in the second quarter.
“I look forward to the day where none of this is news, just people accomplishing things and everybody having a chance and everybody having a shot at the same thing," said the Spurs’ Rudy Gay, who is close with Hammon.
Hammon, a star player in the college and pro ranks, already was the first full-time female assistant coach in league history. Hammon acknowledged it was “a substantial moment” but said she was more interested in winning the game.
“Becky Hammon is an enormously talented coach and it was outstanding to see her reach such a truly significant milestone," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. "She continues to be an inspiration to so many people, especially countless young women and girls.”
Fuller was the goalkeeper on Vanderbilt's Southeastern Conference championship soccer team before she rose to national prominence in November when she became the first woman to play in a Power Five conference game. She was on the field once that day, driving a low kickoff to open the second half as the Commodores got shut out at Missouri.
Two weeks later, Fuller kicked two extra points in a loss to Tennessee, with the second ball she put through the uprights sent to the College Football Hall of Fame.
In November, the Miami Marlins made Ng the first female GM in baseball, a feat accomplished after she was turned down for a similar job by at least five other teams over the past 15 years.
Ng started her baseball career as a Chicago White Sox intern in 1990 and for the past nine years was a senior vice president for MLB. Her hiring came 10 months after Alyssa Nakken became the first female coach on a major league staff when she was named an assistant for the San Francisco Giants.
On the business side, there were several notable strides made in 2020.
The WNBA and its union announced a eight-year labor deal allowing top players to earn more than $500,000 and raising the average annual salary to $130,000 a year. The agreement also guarantees full salaries for players who are on maternity leave and provides enhanced family benefits.
National Women’s Hockey League games will be televised live in the United States for the first time when NBC Sports Network airs playoff games in early February.
In international soccer, Chelsea signed Denmark captain Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg after paying what the German club said was “a record transfer fee for the women’s game.” The clubs did not disclose the fee — the amount paid when a team sells a player to another team, with a portion typically going to the player — but media reports said it was about 300,000 euros ($355,000).
In the United States, the women’s national team players and the U.S. Soccer Federation settled their long-running lawsuit over inequitable working conditions compared with the men’s team. The deal with the world champion American women calls for charter flights, hotel accommodations, venue selection and professional staff support equitable to that of the men’s team.
The women's dispute over pay remains unsettled.
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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds, AP Sports Writers Dave Skretta, Steven Wine, Teresa M. Walker, Doug Feinberg, Stephen Whyno, Anne M. Peterson and Ronald Blum and AP freelance writer Raul Dominguez contributed.