usatoday--2020-12-14--Coronavirus live updates: Nurse gets first dose of vaccine in NY; NYC may have 'full shutdown'; near

Coronavirus live updates: Nurse gets first dose of vaccine in NY; NYC may have 'full shutdown'; nearly 300K dead

NEW YORK – A nurse in New York City was among the first people to receive the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday morning .
`` I feel hopeful today , '' said Sandra Lindsay , the critical care nurse at New York 's Long Island Jewish Medical Center , after she received the shot with Gov .
Andrew Cuomo watching via livestream .
The news comes as the United States approaches 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
Health care workers and nursing home residents were first in line to receive the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bourla said Monday he would be among those getting a vaccine .
`` People will believe much more in the vaccine if the CEO is getting vaccinated , '' he said Monday on CNN .
Despite the positive news on the vaccine front , the U.S. is still battling overcrowded hospitals and record-breaking daily case count as the nation nears another sad milestone , 300,000 deaths , the most of any country .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 16.2 million cases and 299,192 deaths , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals : 72.1 million cases and 1.61 million deaths .
📰 What we 're reading : We 're answering your questions about the vaccine , like : What are the side effects ?
Can you still get sick ?
Is it safe during pregnancy ?
Get the answers here .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
A critical care nurse in New York City received the first shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday morning with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo watching via livestream .
`` I 'm ready .
Let 's do this , '' Sandra Lindsay said before she received the shot after 9 a.m. Those in the room applauded after Lindsay was given the shot .
The nurse said she felt `` relieved '' and that she wanted to `` instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe . ''
`` I hope this marks the beginning to the end of a very painful time in our history , '' Lindsay added .
How women can help swing momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jessica Ross , a 23-year-old Black woman in Atlanta , said she — and many other Black women in her circle — are nervous to take the COVID-19 vaccine .
From the Tuskegee Syphilis Study on Black men that did not provide them with treatment to cure the disease , to Henrietta Lacks , a Black woman whose cancer cells were used for research without her or her family 's permission , many have cultivated distrust in public health systems .
`` A lot of them are nervous about , is this going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , '' Ross said about her friends and family .
Several polls have shown the ambivalence surrounding the vaccine among people of color , and a recent survey has found Black women like Ross and Latino women , more than men , are most reluctant to take the vaccine .
Experts and members of these communities aren ’ t surprised .
The country ’ s history of unethical testing and experimentation on Black men and women colors the community ’ s lack of trust .
But as the coronavirus continues to threaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say dispelling skepticism is essential , and women of color could be the key .
NYC indoor dining ban takes effect , full shutdown may come soon A renewed ban on indoor dining took effect in New York City on Monday as officials try to slow the spread of the virus in what was once the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced the restriction last week as New York City and the surrounding area have seen a steady uptick in new cases over the fall .
The ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takeout and outdoor dining only .
Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Monday that `` a full shutdown '' could be on the horizon in the coming weeks if cases put a strain on the city 's hospitals .
`` This kind of momentum that the disease has right now , we ’ ve got to stop it before it causes too much damage , too much pain , '' de Blasio said on CNN 's `` New Day . ''
Hospitals and medical centers spent Sunday preparing for the first COVID-19 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undertaking that began when a caravan of semis guarded by unmarked police cars pulled out of the Pfizer manufacturing plant in Portage , Michigan , just after dawn .
Providers spent the weekend running through every possible contingency that could get in the way , from earthquakes to power outages .
The run-throughs and tabletop exercises and hours and hours of Zoom calls are necessary because dealing with the Pfizer vaccine takes training and great organization .
`` We did our final run-through exercise today , '' said Dr. Nasim Afsar , chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California .
The team role-played the entire process , from vaccine arriving at the loading dock to an injection being given .
`` One person would say , ' I 've got the vaccine , I 'm walking to the clinic .
This is the path I 'm going to take . '
And then another would be a sample patient and someone would bring them into the room and we 'd walk through the entire process of getting them vaccinated , '' she said .
Pfizer CEO : 100M vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first quarter Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said Monday that , like many others , he was planning to get his company 's groundbreaking vaccine .
`` People will believe much more in the vaccine if the CEO is getting vaccinated , '' he told CNN 's Sanjay Gupta .
By the end of the year , the company will have manufactured 50 million doses , half of which will go to U.S. sites with the remaining doses given out globally .
By the end of the first quarter of 2021 , 100 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , he said .
The federal government has already requested an additional 100 million doses , he said .
`` This year , we will have around 50 million doses available .
Most of them have already been manufactured , so they are already there .
Next year , we will do 1.3 billion doses , '' Bourla said , but noted that not all those vaccinations were destined to the United States .
`` We are working very diligently to increase this number as we understand the demand is very high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence will be among the top office-holders offered coronavirus vaccines in the next week to 10 days to guard against an outbreak that could cripple the functions of government , officials said Sunday .
However , Trump said in a tweet Sunday night that those working in the White House should be immunized later in the program `` unless specifically necessary . ''
He noted he was not `` scheduled '' to take the vaccine but indicated he would be inoculated at some point .
The president was diagnosed with and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The shots will be offered to officials across all three branches of government , including leaders at the White House , in Congress and on the Supreme Court .
White House staff members who work in close proximity to Trump are also expected to get early vaccines .
The White House has been the site of several outbreaks during the pandemic , with Trump , his chief of staff and several aides among those infected .
With zero percent hospital capacity left , Providence St. Mary Medical Center officials are now pleading with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The situation at the California hospital isn ’ t unique .
Across the country , health centers are reaching their breaking points , crammed with coronavirus patients and running out of resources , including staff .
But Providence St. Mary directors and front-line healthcare workers are asking for the support of citizens to help slow the spread locally .
“ In the last three , four weeks we ’ ve been a case study for what happens when people don ’ t social distance , when people don ’ t wear masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s spokesman .
`` We hope that people will learn and help alleviate the stress off the hospital systems in the High Desert.
” Some of Florida ’ s top hospitals , including those expected to soon get the first shipments of vaccines to prevent COVID-19 , won ’ t require medical and support staff to get the shots even though they require inoculations against the far-less-deadly flu virus .
Five Florida hospitals are slated to get the initial distribution of 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine between Monday and next Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management Director Jared Moskowitz .
Those hospitals are in Tampa , Orlando , Jacksonville , Miami and Hollywood .
The state ’ s vaccine distribution plan calls for health care workers , other “ essential personnel , ” the elderly and those with health problems putting them at high risk for COVID-19 complications to receive priority in getting access to the vaccine.But not even all of the Florida hospitals getting the first doses will require their staff to be immunized .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the federal government will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

Ryan W. Miller and Jordan Culver, USA TODAY

Coronavirus live updates: 300K dead; Health care workers across US get first COVID-19 vaccine doses
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: US death toll reaches 300,000 A coronavirus vaccine might not be widely available until several months into 2021. Staff video, USA TODAY
The United States is now marking a wrenching 300,000 deaths from COVID-19.
After becoming the first country to cross that threshold Monday, the U.S. is in store for a lot more pain. Experts fear the nation is heading inexorably toward the next milestone of surpassing the total of American fatalities in World War II – about 405,000 – even as vaccines come to distribution sites across the country.
A weeks-long surge in coronavirus transmission has led to an average of more than 210,000 new infections and nearly 2,500 deaths a day this month. Despite the positive news on the vaccine front, the U.S. is still battling overcrowded hospitals and shrinking ICU capacity.
But there is hope down the line. Health care workers across the United States received the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a landmark step in the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
A nurse in New York City became the first person in that state – and likely the nation – to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the only one so far authorized in the U.S to combat the coronavirus.
"I feel hopeful today," said Sandra Lindsay, the critical care nurse at New York's Long Island Jewish Medical Center, after she received the shot.
Vaccinations also occurred in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Florida, Ohio and several other states. A total of 145 sites were to receive vaccines Monday, 425 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 16.4 million cases and 300,500 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 72.7 million cases and nearly 1.62 million deaths.
📰 What we're reading: We're answering your questions about the vaccine, like: What are the side effects? Can you still get sick? Is it safe during pregnancy? Get the answers here.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice became one of the first top elected officials in the country to receive a coronavirus shot on Monday night, saying “it's as safe as can be.”
He and aides received the injections even though the state’s rollout is supposed to prioritize giving the highly sought-after doses to health care workers and people in long-term care centers. Justice has said West Virginia does not expect to receive enough doses in the initial few weeks of rollout to fully cover the over 100,000 people who work in health care, live or work in long-term care centers, or are first responders and public health officials.
Wearing a mask, he received a jab in his right arm from a state pharmacy board official and promptly received an adhesive bandage — and a sticker. Marty Wright, the head of the West Virginia Health Care Association, said he “applauded” the governor's move.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Surgeon General Jerome Adams were on hand at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., to witness doctors and nurses get the first shots of the vaccine.
Five health care workers at the hospital received initial doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, the first authorized in the U.S. to combat COVID-19.
“To be 11 months into this world pandemic and to be here at George Washington to see doctors and nurses, the heroic frontline health care workers, receive this protection, it’s a momentous event,” Azar said outside the hospital.
Hospitals nationwide began receiving vaccine shipments Monday and started to immunize employees, and Azar said more vaccine should become available later this week after the FDA reviews another candidate made by Moderna.
Azar also stressed the importance of getting the vaccine to vulnerable populations and highlighting the independent checks that show the vaccine is safe and effective.
“The process has integrity to it based on science, evidence and the law,” Azar said.
– Ken Alltucker
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned the country could reach 450,000 fatalities before Feb. 1, days short of the one-year anniversary of the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S. The 300,000 mark came and went Monday, the first day vaccines began being distributed across the nation.
An influential model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts more than 460,000 deaths by March 1, with or without a rapid vaccine rollout. By comparison, about 405,000 American service members perished in World War II over nearly four years.
“The way the number of infections has been growing so fast, it’s hard to believe we won’t be at half a million deaths,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley.
– Jorge L. Ortiz
Operation Warp Speed officials alluded to a highly likely FDA authorization of a second COVID-19 vaccine soon, from Moderna, though HHS Secretary Alex Azar reiterated at a Monday briefing that it would only be authorized “if it meets FDA’s rigorous standards.”
Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s science advisor, said that "this week, possibly Tuesday, the packet of technical information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be made public.''
The information will be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration’s external advisory committee, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC, on Thursday. The Moderna vaccine showed almost 95% efficacy against disease and 100% efficacy against severe disease, Slaoui said. He also noted there are two other COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials.
– Elizabeth Weise
Mass vaccination is the key to stopping COVID-19, said Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s science advisor, encouraging the public to listen to medical experts on the subject.
"Vaccines on the shelf are useless,” he said. “Unless the majority of us get vaccinated, we will not be able to control this pandemic."
HHS Secretary Alex Azar urged Americans to continue to socially distance and wear masks in the weeks and months ahead until the country achieves herd immunity, which may take at least 70% of the public being vaccinated.
– Elizabeth Weise
A critical care nurse in New York City received the what was likely the nation's first shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday morning with other health care workers cheering and Gov. Andrew Cuomo watching via livestream.
"I'm ready. Let's do this," Sandra Lindsay said before she received the shot after 9 a.m. in Queens. Those in the room applauded after Lindsay was given the shot.
The nurse said she felt "relieved" and that she wanted to "instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe."
"I hope this marks the beginning to the end of a very painful time in our history," Lindsay said.
Tennessee officials say the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine won't arrive at hospitals until Thursday, days after some facilities expected to being vaccination, as Tennessee falls behind other states in a race to protect health care workers from the virus.
The Tennessee Department of Health announced the first allotment of Pfizer's two-dose vaccine — an early shipment of 975 doses — arrived Monday and will be held in reserve as a "backup supply." The state's primary supply of about 56,000 more doses will ship Wednesday and arrive at "28 sites covering 74 Tennessee hospitals" on Thursday, according to a news release from the health department.
Many area hospitals were prepared to begin administering the vaccine on Tuesday, in hopes they could begin earlier. Vaccinations began Monday in some smaller Southern cities like Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi.
Craig Boener, a spokesman for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the hospital had prepared to start vaccinations on Tuesday "at the earliest" but had been instructed to plan for a Thursday delivery.
– Brett Kelman, Nashville Tennessean
The first six Ohioans were injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center following a celebratory countdown.
The first doses of the vaccine arrived in a brown UPS truck at the medical center around 9:15 a.m., and Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine waited outside the loading docks for the truck's arrival.
The medical center set up rows of tables inside its Biomedical Research Tower as vaccine recipients were seated at each table and injected with the vaccine as workers moved down the rows.
The medical center immunized around 30 high-risk frontline healthcare workers Monday morning. Ohio State received 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Monday.
– Max Filby, The Columbus Dispatch
The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Canada on Monday as the country joined the U.S. and U.K. as the first Western nations to begin vaccinations.
Anita Quidangen, a worker at a long-term home, received the first shot in Toronto as front-line workers were first in line to receive the vaccine. Ontario received 6,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Sunday night.
In Quebec, residents of two long-term care homes will be the first to receive the vaccine.
Louisiana rolled out its vaccinations by delivering shots to health care workers at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans Monday morning.
“It is a great day. It's a day that we have been preparing for planning for and praying for, for about nine months now,” Governor John Bel Edwards said at the hospital.
Dr. Leo Seoane, Ochsner’s Chief Academic Officer, was among the first to get the Pfizer vaccine at Ochsner’s New Orleans Medical Center Monday morning, which he said was particularly meaningful as a Cuban-American given the virus’ disproportionate impact on African-Americans and Latinos.
“It's been an incredible morning, like everyone says, it is historic,” Seoane said. “As a Cuban-American and a first generation immigrant to this country, it's really an honor and a privilege to be part of the solution for something that we know has been so impactful for Hispanic community.”
– Andrew Capps, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Dr. Jason Smith, the chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health, became the first person in Kentucky on Monday to receive a dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Andy Beshear was on hand to watch as Smith, who is a trauma surgeon, two nurses and two other doctors prepared to receive the vaccine that had arrived at University of Louisville about an hour earlier.
Smith said he hopes people will be willing to take the vaccine as it becomes available.
“I fully believe this is a safe and effective vaccine,” he said. “I volunteered to go first because of that.”
– Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier Journal
A nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Florida was the state's first person to receive the vaccine Monday.
Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dean of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, said this was an exciting, historic moment.
The only thing he could think of that came close was when watching astronaut Neil Armstrong step on the moon. "This is our magical Neil Armstrong moment," Lockwood said.
– Jeffrey Schweers
States and local hospital administrations confirmed Monday they were receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said 19,500 doses of the vaccine were headed to four sites in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
Iowa, Nevada and South Dakota also confirmed they had received their shipments. Here are other places where the vaccine has been delivered:
In Wisconsin, UW Health said its first doses were in ultra-cold storage freezers and would be administered to employees Monday afternoon.
Colorado received its first doses Monday morning as a FedEx driver delivered 975 vials, with Gov. Jared Polis signing for the package.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was also present to see his state's first vaccines being delivered.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he "had the privilege" to sign for his state's FedEx package of the first 20,000 Pfizer doses.
Hospitals in Maine and Massachusetts said they had received their vaccines as well.
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A renewed ban on indoor dining took effect in New York City on Monday as officials try to slow the spread of the virus in what was once the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the restriction last week as New York City and the surrounding area have seen a steady uptick in new cases over the fall. The ban limits the already beleaguered restaurant industry to takeout and outdoor dining only.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Monday that "a full shutdown" could be on the horizon in the coming weeks if cases put a strain on the city's hospitals.
"This kind of momentum that the disease has right now, we’ve got to stop it before it causes too much damage, too much pain," de Blasio said on CNN's "New Day."
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-14--Opinion: Cleveland dropping racist nickname part of continuing social change in sports

In the early 1930s George Preston Marshall changed his team 's name from the Boston Braves to the Redskins .
He 'd force his head coach and some players to put red paint on their faces and dance in ways they believed Indigenous people did .
The Redskins nickname stubbornly remained for decades , an embarrassing symbol of arrogance , bullying and the ugliness of caricaturing human beings .
In July , the Washington Football Team , under pressure from corporate sponsors like Nike and FedEx , ended its use .
That was the first racist major professional nickname domino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another ugly nickname , one that existed even longer than Washington 's , and in many ways was more disgraceful , came late Sunday night .
The New York Times reported the Cleveland baseball team plans to stop utilizing the nickname , which they 've done for over a century , despite the pleas to stop from the very people it caricatured .
More:32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season The team spent 2019 removing logos of the mascot , Chief Wahoo , so this move is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's still stunning because of what it represents .
The Cleveland baseball team could no longer ignore what 's been one of the most significant racial reckonings in this nation 's history sparked by the killing of George Floyd .
The franchise was forced to change just as the Washington team was .
While President Donald Trump has fed racial divisions the way an engineer from an old steam train shoveled coal into its belly , his actions still could n't damper America 's X-raying of its soul .
Floyd 's death set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for now at least , seems impossible to derail .
It 's likely we 'll be having these Floyd-sparked conversations for decades .
The end of the Cleveland nickname also symbolizes how sports franchises that used these names finally began listening .
The reason Native people were mostly ignored for so long was because they did n't possess the political clout of other people of color .
What would happen if a new NFL franchise called itself the Blackskins ?
And the owner of the team said he was calling it that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be boycotts and marches every second of every day .
But Indigenous people do n't have the numbers or the clout to fight racist mascot enablers .
The utilization of Indigenous people as mascots is one of the last pieces of hardcore racism left in sports .
The use of the Cleveland nickname seemed as if it were going to continue forever .
Cleveland and Washington defended its use for decades .
They ignored the pleas of Natives until they could n't any longer .
Officials from the Cleveland team spoke with numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to rethink their stance .
It 's funny how when you speak to the people you 're caricaturing your perspective changes .
Native activists have fought to change the mascots almost since their inception .
They are the heroes here : speaking to politicians ; asking the media to cover the issue ; appearing at Super Bowls to appeal to the humanity of fans .
Crystal Echo Hawk , founder of IllumiNative , a Native-led organization that fights negative stereotypes of Native communities , once told me that the use of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view us , but also how we view ourselves .
These mascots propagate offensive stereotypes , and scientific studies have shown they increase rates of depression and anxiety among our youth . ''
The fight is far from over .
The Kansas City Chiefs , Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks , as the Times notes , have all said they have no plans to change their nicknames .
They will still feel the pressure the Washington and Cleveland teams did .
They 'll continue to be forced to answer questions about why they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country moves toward 5G .
They will , well , be held accountable .
Just as they should be .
Just as Cleveland was .

Opinion: Cleveland dropping racist nickname part of continuing social change in sports
Show Caption Hide Caption Assessing the potential new names for Cleveland's baseball team SportsPulse: Cleveland Rocks? How about the Naps? Maybe it's time to go European? Mackenzie Salmon assess the top candidates for the new nickname for Cleveland's baseball team. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
In the early 1930s George Preston Marshall changed his team's name from the Boston Braves to the Redskins. He'd force his head coach and some players to put red paint on their faces and dance in ways they believed Indigenous people did. The Redskins nickname stubbornly remained for decades, an embarrassing symbol of arrogance, bullying and the ugliness of caricaturing human beings.
In July, the Washington Football Team, under pressure from corporate sponsors like Nike and FedEx, ended its use.
That was the first racist major professional nickname domino to fall.
News of the eradication of another ugly nickname, one that existed even longer than Washington's, and in many ways was more disgraceful, came late Sunday night. The New York Times reported the Cleveland baseball team plans to stop utilizing the nickname, which they've done for over a century, despite the pleas to stop from the very people it caricatured.
More: NFL's best big-play celebrations in 2020 season
More: 32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season
The team spent 2019 removing logos of the mascot, Chief Wahoo, so this move isn't a total shock. Yet it's still stunning because of what it represents.
The Cleveland baseball team could no longer ignore what's been one of the most significant racial reckonings in this nation's history sparked by the killing of George Floyd. The franchise was forced to change just as the Washington team was.
While President Donald Trump has fed racial divisions the way an engineer from an old steam train shoveled coal into its belly, his actions still couldn't damper America's X-raying of its soul. Floyd's death set the country on a certain path that, for now at least, seems impossible to derail. It's likely we'll be having these Floyd-sparked conversations for decades.
The end of the Cleveland nickname also symbolizes how sports franchises that used these names finally began listening. The reason Native people were mostly ignored for so long was because they didn't possess the political clout of other people of color.
What would happen if a new NFL franchise called itself the Blackskins? And the owner of the team said he was calling it that to honor Black people? There would be boycotts and marches every second of every day. But Indigenous people don't have the numbers or the clout to fight racist mascot enablers.
The utilization of Indigenous people as mascots is one of the last pieces of hardcore racism left in sports. The use of the Cleveland nickname seemed as if it were going to continue forever. Cleveland and Washington defended its use for decades. They ignored the pleas of Natives until they couldn't any longer.
Officials from the Cleveland team spoke with numerous Indigenous groups across the country as they started to rethink their stance. It's funny how when you speak to the people you're caricaturing your perspective changes.
Native activists have fought to change the mascots almost since their inception. They are the heroes here: speaking to politicians; asking the media to cover the issue; appearing at Super Bowls to appeal to the humanity of fans.
Crystal Echo Hawk, founder of IllumiNative, a Native-led organization that fights negative stereotypes of Native communities, once told me that the use of the mascots "impacts not only how people view us, but also how we view ourselves. These mascots propagate offensive stereotypes, and scientific studies have shown they increase rates of depression and anxiety among our youth."
The fight is far from over. The Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks, as the Times notes, have all said they have no plans to change their nicknames.
They will still feel the pressure the Washington and Cleveland teams did. They'll continue to be forced to answer questions about why they're the racial equivalent of dialup as the country moves toward 5G.
They will, well, be held accountable.
Just as they should be. Just as Cleveland was.


usatoday--2020-12-14--Michigan State House, Senate close over 'threats of violence' during Electoral College meeting

LANSING , Mich. — Michigan State House and Senate office buildings will all be closed Monday during the meeting of the Electoral College due to security concerns , an official said Monday .
The Capitol will also be closed to the public , as was announced earlier .
Amber McCann , a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , R-Clarklake , said the Senate closed its facilities for Monday `` based on recommendations from law enforcement . ''
`` The decision was not made because of anticipated protests , but based on credible threats of violence , '' McCann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesman for House Speaker Lee Chatfield , R-Levering , would not specify the potential threat .
`` I ca n't get into the nature of the concern , '' D'Assandro said .
`` Have to refer you to the MSP ( Michigan State Police ) on that . ''
But Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner said the MSP did not make the decision to close the office buildings .
She referred a reporter back to the Legislature .
Lt. Darren Green of the MSP told the Detroit Free Press , part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency is monitoring social media and other communications .
He said the MSP would not comment on threats if they knew about any , but did not make a recommendation to close legislative office buildings , or the Capitol .
There have been unconfirmed reports of threats against Michigan delegates to the Electoral College , who are expected to cast their votes for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden at 2 p.m. Monday , from the Senate chamber .
'The moment of truth ' : The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-St. Clair Shores , said on Twitter the closure was `` because credible threats have been made as Michigan 's electors to the Electoral College will meet at the Capitol . ''
Officials announced late last week that the Capitol would be closed to the public during the Electoral College proceedings .
D'Assandro said Sunday legislative staff will also be told to stay home .
D'Assandro said it is correct that the MSP did not make the call about closing offices .
`` House and Senate leadership conferred with them and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices to ensure everyone 's safety , '' he said .
House Minority Leader-elect Donna Lasinski , D-Scio Township , blamed the threats on `` shameful actions by certain Republicans to smear our democratic institutions and deny the clear will of the voters , '' which she said has created a `` dangerous , hostile atmosphere . ''
She called on 15 state Republican lawmakers who supported the recent lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , seeking to overturn Michigan 's election results , to `` apologize , renounce their actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Paxton 's case was rejected Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court .
`` Due to safety concerns for tomorrow ’ s Electoral College vote , the entire Legislature is closed and will be working remotely , '' state Rep. Darrin Camilleri , D- Brownstown Township , said on Twitter .
`` I ’ m thankful for the courage of our electors who will be exercising their democratic duty and selecting our next president . ''
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky , D-Livonia , tweeted : `` Another day , another alert that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern for everyone ’ s safety . ''
She added : `` I ’ m proud of our electors and hope they can complete their duty tomorrow safely and with as little controversy as possible . ''

Michigan State House, Senate close over 'threats of violence' during Electoral College meeting
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State House and Senate office buildings will all be closed Monday during the meeting of the Electoral College due to security concerns, an official said Monday.
The Capitol will also be closed to the public, as was announced earlier.
Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, said the Senate closed its facilities for Monday "based on recommendations from law enforcement."
"The decision was not made because of anticipated protests, but based on credible threats of violence," McCann said late Sunday.
Gideon D'Assandro, a spokesman for House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, would not specify the potential threat.
"I can't get into the nature of the concern," D'Assandro said. "Have to refer you to the MSP (Michigan State Police) on that."
But Michigan State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner said the MSP did not make the decision to close the office buildings. She referred a reporter back to the Legislature.
Lt. Darren Green of the MSP told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, the agency is monitoring social media and other communications. He said the MSP would not comment on threats if they knew about any, but did not make a recommendation to close legislative office buildings, or the Capitol.
There have been unconfirmed reports of threats against Michigan delegates to the Electoral College, who are expected to cast their votes for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden at 2 p.m. Monday, from the Senate chamber.
'The moment of truth': The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept
State Rep. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, said on Twitter the closure was "because credible threats have been made as Michigan's electors to the Electoral College will meet at the Capitol."
All House offices have been closed tomorow because credible threats have been made as Michigan’s electors to the Electoral College will meet at the Capitol. My office will monitor voicemail and are available to assist you by email at KevinHertel@House.MI.Gov — Kevin Hertel (@RepHertel) December 13, 2020
Officials announced late last week that the Capitol would be closed to the public during the Electoral College proceedings. D'Assandro said Sunday legislative staff will also be told to stay home.
D'Assandro said it is correct that the MSP did not make the call about closing offices. "House and Senate leadership conferred with them and then made the call with their respective business offices to ensure everyone's safety," he said.
House Minority Leader-elect Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, blamed the threats on "shameful actions by certain Republicans to smear our democratic institutions and deny the clear will of the voters," which she said has created a "dangerous, hostile atmosphere."
She called on 15 state Republican lawmakers who supported the recent lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeking to overturn Michigan's election results, to "apologize, renounce their actions and respect the will of the voters."
Paxton's case was rejected Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Due to safety concerns for tomorrow’s Electoral College vote, the entire Legislature is closed and will be working remotely," state Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D- Brownstown Township, said on Twitter.
"I’m thankful for the courage of our electors who will be exercising their democratic duty and selecting our next president."
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, tweeted: "Another day, another alert that the Capitol is being shut down out of concern for everyone’s safety."
She added: "I’m proud of our electors and hope they can complete their duty tomorrow safely and with as little controversy as possible."
Staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report.
Follow Paul Egan on Twitter @paulegan4.


usatoday--2020-12-14--Trump and Barr wrecked the Justice Department. Here are 6 ways Joe Biden can fix it.

With Joe Biden ’ s status as president-elect secure and his appointment of an attorney general imminent , restoring the proper functioning of our Department of Justice and earning public trust in our rule of law are now front and center .
Those challenges are no less urgent or important than addressing the COVID-19 crisis , strengthening our economy , or reestablishing our leadership on the world stage .
But after four years of a president who openly aspires to autocracy , and two years of an attorney general who used his many official powers to advance that objective and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system that no person is above the law , it is easy to find oneself wondering where in the world to begin .
And thoughtful analyses addressing possible statutory and structural changes , aimed at foiling such malefactors from wreaking havoc in the future , have only made the task seem more overwhelming .
Return to playbook of last 50 years The Biden administration ’ s immediate task is putting on the field a DOJ that can command public trust because it obviously deserves it .
The happy news is that is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , long-term serious trouble lies ahead if America does not in coming years reach a broad-based consensus to reject profoundly dishonest leaders who wo n't honor a legal system that does not tolerate special treatment for the few .
But the short term urgent task of restoring the proper functioning of the Department of Justice , and securing trust in the rule of law by those alarmed by the events of the last few years , is much less daunting .
That is primarily because most of what is needed right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playbook of the last half century — procedures , traditions and norms inspired by Edward Levi and Griffin Bell following Watergate , and cemented by generations of leaders and lawyers during ensuing decades .
Essentially it amounts to a U-turn away from the pervasive misconduct of President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr , and a return to the fundamental principles that have long guided the department .
What we need now is for the new attorney general , with the vocal support of the president-elect , to offer the nation an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this administration has worked so hard to undermine .
►The law applies equally to all people , and no one is above the law , not even the president .
The highest priority must be on even-handed treatment of everyone , based on a fair assessment of the facts and the law .
Any appearance of influence or use of official authority to advance anyone ’ s political interests , must be scrupulously avoided .
►Communications between the White House and Justice Department must be guided , as in previous administrations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and limiting the types of contacts that are appropriate .
White House conduct to influence the handling of criminal cases should be avoided in virtually all cases .
►The DOJ 's greatest assets are the dedicated men and women of its career staff , whose ( in Edward Levi ’ s words ) “ zeal and determination , and … concern for fairness and impartiality ” are indispensable .
The career staff function not as unaccountable free agents , but within an established , structured decision making process in which proposed actions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels and by both career and political appointees .
►The thoroughness , transparency and regularity of these departmental processes , and the avoidance to the greatest extent possible of inexplicable ad hoc interventions from above to change outcomes , are important attributes of DOJ operations that invite public trust .
►The department must be fully supportive of inspectors general , special counsels and whistleblowers , all of whom can play important roles in unearthing governmental wrongdoing .
They are only the enemy of a department that has locked arms with a nefarious president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After Trump : All the ways the next president can restore trust in the Justice Department ►Finally , the DOJ must respect constitutional checks and balances on executive power , including Congress ’ s right to refuse appropriation of funds requested by the president ( Trump 's end run to finance his border wall is currently before the Supreme Court ) ; the reasonable exercise of congressional oversight powers ( not `` We 're fighting all the subpoenas , '' as Trump said ) ; and the broad power of judicial review over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these checks give rise to must be worked through on the merits of each instance , not denied categorically on the basis of absolute presidential prerogatives .
To any Rip Van Winkle DOJ lawyer lucky enough to have slept through the last four or even two years , this will seem a ho-hum list — nothing new based on decades of practice .
But the sentences here all address and correct specific depredations committed by Trump and Barr , including leniency for Trump allies , undermining DOJ professionals and evading oversight .
Thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s ultimate ambitions for the Department of Justice , just doing what we have always done will be doing a great deal .
Donald Ayer served as a U.S. attorney and principal deputy solicitor general in the Reagan administration and as deputy attorney general under George H.W .
Bush .
Follow him on Twitter : @ DonaldAyer6

Trump and Barr wrecked the Justice Department. Here are 6 ways Joe Biden can fix it. Biden’s immediate task is fielding a DOJ that deserves and commands public trust. The happy news is that is a no-brainer, not a mission impossible.
With Joe Biden’s status as president-elect secure and his appointment of an attorney general imminent, restoring the proper functioning of our Department of Justice and earning public trust in our rule of law are now front and center. Those challenges are no less urgent or important than addressing the COVID-19 crisis, strengthening our economy, or reestablishing our leadership on the world stage.
But after four years of a president who openly aspires to autocracy, and two years of an attorney general who used his many official powers to advance that objective and undermine the core tenet of our legal system that no person is above the law, it is easy to find oneself wondering where in the world to begin. And thoughtful analyses addressing possible statutory and structural changes, aimed at foiling such malefactors from wreaking havoc in the future, have only made the task seem more overwhelming.
Return to playbook of last 50 years
The Biden administration’s immediate task is putting on the field a DOJ that can command public trust because it obviously deserves it. The happy news is that is a no-brainer, not a mission impossible. Yes, long-term serious trouble lies ahead if America does not in coming years reach a broad-based consensus to reject profoundly dishonest leaders who won't honor a legal system that does not tolerate special treatment for the few.
But the short term urgent task of restoring the proper functioning of the Department of Justice, and securing trust in the rule of law by those alarmed by the events of the last few years, is much less daunting. That is primarily because most of what is needed right now is simply to go back to the playbook of the last half century — procedures, traditions and norms inspired by Edward Levi and Griffin Bell following Watergate, and cemented by generations of leaders and lawyers during ensuing decades.
Essentially it amounts to a U-turn away from the pervasive misconduct of President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr, and a return to the fundamental principles that have long guided the department. What we need now is for the new attorney general, with the vocal support of the president-elect, to offer the nation an extended teaching moment reaffirming six key norms that this administration has worked so hard to undermine.
►The law applies equally to all people, and no one is above the law, not even the president. The highest priority must be on even-handed treatment of everyone, based on a fair assessment of the facts and the law. Any appearance of influence or use of official authority to advance anyone’s political interests, must be scrupulously avoided.
Worst outrage yet: Barr enlists Justice to advance Trump's baseless election fraud claims
►Communications between the White House and Justice Department must be guided, as in previous administrations, by a written memorandum or order defining and limiting the types of contacts that are appropriate. White House conduct to influence the handling of criminal cases should be avoided in virtually all cases.
►The DOJ's greatest assets are the dedicated men and women of its career staff, whose (in Edward Levi’s words) “zeal and determination, and … concern for fairness and impartiality” are indispensable. The career staff function not as unaccountable free agents, but within an established, structured decision making process in which proposed actions are subject to review, often at multiple levels and by both career and political appointees.
Support checks on executive power
►The thoroughness, transparency and regularity of these departmental processes, and the avoidance to the greatest extent possible of inexplicable ad hoc interventions from above to change outcomes, are important attributes of DOJ operations that invite public trust.
►The department must be fully supportive of inspectors general, special counsels and whistleblowers, all of whom can play important roles in unearthing governmental wrongdoing. They are only the enemy of a department that has locked arms with a nefarious president in his quest for unchecked power.
After Trump: All the ways the next president can restore trust in the Justice Department
►Finally, the DOJ must respect constitutional checks and balances on executive power, including Congress’s right to refuse appropriation of funds requested by the president (Trump's end run to finance his border wall is currently before the Supreme Court); the reasonable exercise of congressional oversight powers (not "We're fighting all the subpoenas," as Trump said); and the broad power of judicial review over executive branch actions. The conflicts that these checks give rise to must be worked through on the merits of each instance, not denied categorically on the basis of absolute presidential prerogatives.
To any Rip Van Winkle DOJ lawyer lucky enough to have slept through the last four or even two years, this will seem a ho-hum list — nothing new based on decades of practice. But the sentences here all address and correct specific depredations committed by Trump and Barr, including leniency for Trump allies, undermining DOJ professionals and evading oversight. Thus, while surely not exhausting the Biden administration’s ultimate ambitions for the Department of Justice, just doing what we have always done will be doing a great deal.
Donald Ayer served as a U.S. attorney and principal deputy solicitor general in the Reagan administration and as deputy attorney general under George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter: @DonaldAyer6


usatoday--2020-12-14--32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season

The 32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season : 1 .
Sunday provided an opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefs to both celebrate and regroup .
Their 33-27 defeat of the Miami Dolphins gave the reigning Super Bowl champions their fifth consecutive AFC West crown .
However a sloppy , four-turnover performance should provide ample critical fodder to a club that has scant margin for error if it wants to capture the AFC 's No .
1 seed .
1a .
K.C .
QB Patrick Mahomes , who entered Sunday with two INTs on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , served up three to the Fins .
It was only the second time Mahomes has suffered a trio of interceptions in one NFL game , and his first multiple-pick outing since the Chiefs toppled the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV .
1b .
Mahomes is now 3-2 , including playoffs , when he throws more than one INT .
He 's also 1-0 when he takes an awful 30-yard sack .
1c .
And keep an eye on Kansas City 's run game , held to fewer than 100 yards in four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may really miss postseason hero Damien Williams , who opted out of the season due to COVID-19 considerations , this January .
2 .
Mahomes ' rough day at the office may shift momentum in the MVP race to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers , who 's already won the award twice , after he threw a trifecta of TD passes in a 31-24 win at Detroit – one that clinched the NFC North for Green Bay while vaulting the Pack to the top of the conference standings .
NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE : Packers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for No .
1 seed in conference 2a .
Packers WR Davante Adams has a TD grab in eight consecutive games , a franchise mark that bumps Hall of Famer Don Hutson – he dominated his era , 1935 to 1945 , arguably more so than any player in league history – from the record book .
3 .
Also back in the MVP race ?
Titans RB Derrick Henry , whose 215 rushing yards Sunday in Jacksonville represented the second-highest output of his career .
He also became the first player in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both 200+ rushing yards and a pair of TDs on the ground .
3a .
Henry 's league-leading rushing total is now 1,532 yards , meaning he 's still got a viable shot at reaching 2K given Tennessee – locked with in a race with the Colts for the AFC South title – probably ca n't let up over the final three weeks .
4 .
Home teams are now 103-103-1 in 2020 .
5 .
The Steelers have at least one sack in 70 consecutive games , an NFL record .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 60 games reached the Super Bowl at some point in their run of battering opposing quarterbacks .
6 .
Yet Pittsburgh is also suddenly on a two-game skid , losing Sunday night at Buffalo and surrendering the top seed in the AFC playoff rase to Kansas City .
The Bills ' win , their sixth in seven games , also suggests they may have overtaken the Steelers as the Chiefs ' primary challengers for conference supremacy .
7 .
The Saints ' surprise loss to the Eagles sets up a compelling Week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Superdome .
New Orleans and Kansas City are both trying to claim first-round playoff byes , and the Saints may be trying to reintegrate QB Drew Brees next Sunday after falling behind Green Bay atop of the NFC table .
8 .
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson bombed the Jets for four TD passes , giving him 36 on the season – a single-season record for Seattle .
Wilson broke his own record ( 35 ) and now owns the top four totals in team history .
9 .
Air Raid offense , eh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and climbed back into the NFC 's projected playoff field by suffocating the Giants 26-7 .
Arizona held the ball for nearly 38 minutes and ran the ball 54 % of the time .
9a .
Let 's also credit the Cards ' raid-and-pillage defense – well , Sunday anyway – spearheaded by OLB Haason Reddick .
He pretty much locked up NFC defensive player of the week honors with five sacks and three forced fumbles .
No defensive player had had such a performance since 2002 .
10 .
After winning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Brady under center , the Patriots are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 – when a knee injury limited TB12 to one game .
11 .
And after winning at least 10 games in every season starting in 2003 , another league standard , New England will win no more than nine since its 9-7 campaign in 2002 – the only time they failed to reach the postseason with Brady serving as their primary quarterback .
12 .
Meanwhile , Brady 's Buccaneers are 8-5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time since 2007 – the year New England went 16-0 in the regular season and TB12 won his first MVP trophy .
13 .
And Tampa Bay , coming out of its bye , looked more committed to a balance – the Bucs had favored a pass-heavy approach with Brady – running the ball 53 % of the time against the Vikings .
The Buccaneers had run on 36.1 % of the offensive snaps in their first 12 games .
14 .
Paging Gregg Williams ?
The winless Jets surrendered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinator .
15 .
Good night , Raiders ?
Another late-season spiral continues – the Autumn Wind still blowing through a defective defensive mauled by a middling Colts offense .
Las Vegas could have moved up to the AFC 's No .
6 seed by beating Indianapolis , but the Silver and Black instead tumbled to ninth after a 17-point loss .
15a .
Vegas coach Jon Gruden did n't wait long to shake things up , firing defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on Sunday night .
15b .
Gregg Williams is perfect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Colts QB Philip Rivers ( 244 yards , 2 TDs passing Sunday ) improved to 19-10 all-time against the Raiders – most of that damage , of course , coming in a Chargers uniform .
17 .
Nice to see Cowboys QB Andy Dalton , who has more TD passes ( 204 ) than anyone in Bengals history , notch two more Sunday in a proper sendoff before the Cincinnati fans who used to cheer him before he was summarily replaced by Joe Burrow in the spring .
18 .
Incidentally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) out in the NFC East just yet .
The Cowboys are two back of Washington , but suddenly Dalton and the Eagles ' Jalen Hurts may signify the most stable quarterback situations in this pilloried division .
19 .
Washington assumed first place despite both of its TDs in a 23-15 dispatching of the 49ers coming on the defensive side of the ball .
A calf injury prevented QB Alex Smith from finishing a game in which the Football Team could muster neither 100 net yards through the air or on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riley must be one proud papa after watching recent Sooners QBs Hurts and Kyler Murray notch wins Sunday .
Baker Mayfield can fuel even more pride in Norman if he leads the Browns past the Ravens on Monday night .
21 .
Hurts ' maiden NFL start made 2020 the fifth consecutive season to have at least a half-dozen rookies start a game under center .
It 's the longest stretch of the Super Bowl era with so many freshmen QB1s .
22 .
Hurts and teammate Miles Sanders both eclipsed 100 rushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not allowed even one rusher to surpass the century mark in their previous 50 games .
Hurts and Lamar Jackson are the only quarterbacks to hit the century mark on the ground in their first NFL start .
23 .
Seahawks S Jamal Adams also got some revenge against his former team , the Jets .
He took down QB Sam Darnold before halftime , meaning Adams has 8½ sacks this season – an NFL record for a defensive back previously held by Adrian Wilson .
24 .
Welp , Chicago is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trubisky in the starting lineup .
24a .
His presence has definitely had a cascading impact on the offense , which has produced at least 100 rushing yards in all of Trubisky 's starts , a threshold not crossed in 2020 when QB Nick Foles has been atop the depth chart .
25 .
Probably no coincidence the Bears took flight in Sunday 's 36-7 dismantling of the Texans while wearing those spiffy throwback threads .
26 .
The Rams are now 34-0 when leading at halftime under Sean McVay , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now .
27 .
The rollercoaster Drew Lock experience continues for Denver , the Broncos quarterback connecting for a career-high four TD passes in Sunday 's win at Carolina .
Tough evaluation for a second-year player given all the personnel issues this team has had on offense .
28 .
Texans QB Deshaun Watson has suffered a lot of shoddy protection over the years , but Sunday 's visit to Chicago marked the first time he 'd ever been sacked six times in one NFL game .
29 .
Minnesota 's Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the last 10 years .
Hard to see that continuing much longer for the Vikings , who dropped from the NFC playoff field , after he missed three field-goal tries Sunday and one extra point .
He also misfired three times in Week 13 .
`` I have a lot of faith in him , I have a lot of confidence in him , '' said coach Mike Zimmer , `` but these last two weeks have not been good . ''
30 .
Give it up for Jaguars RB James Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a record for an undrafted rookie in the common-draft era ( since 1967 ) .
Nice to see at least one thing go right in Jacksonville .
30a .
Robinson is also just the fourth undrafted rookie since 1967 to rush for at least 1,000 yards .
31 .
Good for the Chargers , finally pulling a game out of the fire – though their frenetic finish against the Falcons may not have been necessary if not for the chaos the Bolts invited before halftime amid poor clock management and bad situational awareness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a field-goal try .
32 .
Woe , leave all ye Faithful hoping for a Holiday quarterbacking miracle on the Middle American front .
Our beloved @ CaptAndrewLuck evidently will not be returning to the trenches , per his former commanding officer , Jim Irsay , and battery mate T.Y .
Hilton , the former telling NFL Media last week , `` I think that door 's closed , '' more than two years after cavalryman 's premature retirement .
We continue to lament your absence and celebrate your heroic feats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Captain Andrew .
Onward we forge whilst in the capable hands of Major Rivers .
If you love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season
Show Caption Hide Caption NFC Week 14 overreactions: Jalen Hurts shocking debut muddles NFC race and Wentz's future SportsPulse: Jalen Hurts' debut gave the Eagles new life and a shocking upset win over the New Orleans. It also changed the NFC pecking order and leaves the Carson Wentz era in limbo. Mackenzie Salmon reacts to that and the biggest storylines in the NFC for Week 14. USA TODAY
The 32 things we learned from Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season:
1. Sunday provided an opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefs to both celebrate and regroup. Their 33-27 defeat of the Miami Dolphins gave the reigning Super Bowl champions their fifth consecutive AFC West crown. However a sloppy, four-turnover performance should provide ample critical fodder to a club that has scant margin for error if it wants to capture the AFC's No. 1 seed.
1a. K.C. QB Patrick Mahomes, who entered Sunday with two INTs on the season (against 31 TD passes), served up three to the Fins. It was only the second time Mahomes has suffered a trio of interceptions in one NFL game, and his first multiple-pick outing since the Chiefs toppled the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
1b. Mahomes is now 3-2, including playoffs, when he throws more than one INT. He's also 1-0 when he takes an awful 30-yard sack.
Patrick Mahomes has 2 interceptions through his first 7 pass attempts versus Miami. He threw 2 in his first 463 attempts prior to today.
He also lost 30 yards on a sack, the 2nd-most yards lost on a sack in the last 20 seasons (Ryan Tannehill: 38 yards vs Washington in 2015). pic.twitter.com/23U18oLmWe — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2020
1c. And keep an eye on Kansas City's run game, held to fewer than 100 yards in four of its last six contests. It may really miss postseason hero Damien Williams, who opted out of the season due to COVID-19 considerations, this January.
2. Mahomes' rough day at the office may shift momentum in the MVP race to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who's already won the award twice, after he threw a trifecta of TD passes in a 31-24 win at Detroit – one that clinched the NFC North for Green Bay while vaulting the Pack to the top of the conference standings.
NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Packers wrap up NFC North, overtake Saints for No. 1 seed in conference
2a. Packers WR Davante Adams has a TD grab in eight consecutive games, a franchise mark that bumps Hall of Famer Don Hutson – he dominated his era, 1935 to 1945, arguably more so than any player in league history – from the record book.
3. Also back in the MVP race? Titans RB Derrick Henry, whose 215 rushing yards Sunday in Jacksonville represented the second-highest output of his career. He also became the first player in league history to own four games with both 200+ rushing yards and a pair of TDs on the ground.
3a. Henry's league-leading rushing total is now 1,532 yards, meaning he's still got a viable shot at reaching 2K given Tennessee – locked with in a race with the Colts for the AFC South title – probably can't let up over the final three weeks.
4. Home teams are now 103-103-1 in 2020.
5. The Steelers have at least one sack in 70 consecutive games, an NFL record. All previous teams with sack streaks of at least 60 games reached the Super Bowl at some point in their run of battering opposing quarterbacks.
6. Yet Pittsburgh is also suddenly on a two-game skid, losing Sunday night at Buffalo and surrendering the top seed in the AFC playoff rase to Kansas City. The Bills' win, their sixth in seven games, also suggests they may have overtaken the Steelers as the Chiefs' primary challengers for conference supremacy.
7. The Saints' surprise loss to the Eagles sets up a compelling Week 15 meeting with the Chiefs in the Superdome. New Orleans and Kansas City are both trying to claim first-round playoff byes, and the Saints may be trying to reintegrate QB Drew Brees next Sunday after falling behind Green Bay atop of the NFC table.
8. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson bombed the Jets for four TD passes, giving him 36 on the season – a single-season record for Seattle. Wilson broke his own record (35) and now owns the top four totals in team history.
9. Air Raid offense, eh? The Cardinals broke a three-game slide and climbed back into the NFC's projected playoff field by suffocating the Giants 26-7. Arizona held the ball for nearly 38 minutes and ran the ball 54% of the time.
9a. Let's also credit the Cards' raid-and-pillage defense – well, Sunday anyway – spearheaded by OLB Haason Reddick. He pretty much locked up NFC defensive player of the week honors with five sacks and three forced fumbles. No defensive player had had such a performance since 2002.
10. After winning a record 11 consecutive division titles with QB Tom Brady under center, the Patriots are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 – when a knee injury limited TB12 to one game.
11. And after winning at least 10 games in every season starting in 2003, another league standard, New England will win no more than nine since its 9-7 campaign in 2002 – the only time they failed to reach the postseason with Brady serving as their primary quarterback.
12. Meanwhile, Brady's Buccaneers are 8-5, poised to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007 – the year New England went 16-0 in the regular season and TB12 won his first MVP trophy.
13. And Tampa Bay, coming out of its bye, looked more committed to a balance – the Bucs had favored a pass-heavy approach with Brady – running the ball 53% of the time against the Vikings. The Buccaneers had run on 36.1% of the offensive snaps in their first 12 games.
14. Paging Gregg Williams? The winless Jets surrendered a season-high 40 points after canning their defensive coordinator.
15. Good night, Raiders? Another late-season spiral continues – the Autumn Wind still blowing through a defective defensive mauled by a middling Colts offense. Las Vegas could have moved up to the AFC's No. 6 seed by beating Indianapolis, but the Silver and Black instead tumbled to ninth after a 17-point loss.
15a. Vegas coach Jon Gruden didn't wait long to shake things up, firing defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on Sunday night.
15b. Gregg Williams is perfect for the Raider ethos, Chucky ...
16. Colts QB Philip Rivers (244 yards, 2 TDs passing Sunday) improved to 19-10 all-time against the Raiders – most of that damage, of course, coming in a Chargers uniform.
17. Nice to see Cowboys QB Andy Dalton, who has more TD passes (204) than anyone in Bengals history, notch two more Sunday in a proper sendoff before the Cincinnati fans who used to cheer him before he was summarily replaced by Joe Burrow in the spring.
18. Incidentally, let's not count Dallas (4-9) out in the NFC East just yet. The Cowboys are two back of Washington, but suddenly Dalton and the Eagles' Jalen Hurts may signify the most stable quarterback situations in this pilloried division.
19. Washington assumed first place despite both of its TDs in a 23-15 dispatching of the 49ers coming on the defensive side of the ball. A calf injury prevented QB Alex Smith from finishing a game in which the Football Team could muster neither 100 net yards through the air or on the ground.
20. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley must be one proud papa after watching recent Sooners QBs Hurts and Kyler Murray notch wins Sunday. Baker Mayfield can fuel even more pride in Norman if he leads the Browns past the Ravens on Monday night.
21. Hurts' maiden NFL start made 2020 the fifth consecutive season to have at least a half-dozen rookies start a game under center. It's the longest stretch of the Super Bowl era with so many freshmen QB1s.
22. Hurts and teammate Miles Sanders both eclipsed 100 rushing yards – truly remarkable considering the Saints had not allowed even one rusher to surpass the century mark in their previous 50 games. Hurts and Lamar Jackson are the only quarterbacks to hit the century mark on the ground in their first NFL start.
23. Seahawks S Jamal Adams also got some revenge against his former team, the Jets. He took down QB Sam Darnold before halftime, meaning Adams has 8½ sacks this season – an NFL record for a defensive back previously held by Adrian Wilson.
24. Welp, Chicago is now 4-2 in 2020 with QB Mitchell Trubisky in the starting lineup.
24a. His presence has definitely had a cascading impact on the offense, which has produced at least 100 rushing yards in all of Trubisky's starts, a threshold not crossed in 2020 when QB Nick Foles has been atop the depth chart.
25. Probably no coincidence the Bears took flight in Sunday's 36-7 dismantling of the Texans while wearing those spiffy throwback threads.
The classic unis stay undefeated. pic.twitter.com/BVvQieze3z — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 13, 2020
26. The Rams are now 34-0 when leading at halftime under Sean McVay, one of the craziest enduring streaks in the league right now.
27. The rollercoaster Drew Lock experience continues for Denver, the Broncos quarterback connecting for a career-high four TD passes in Sunday's win at Carolina. Tough evaluation for a second-year player given all the personnel issues this team has had on offense.
28. Texans QB Deshaun Watson has suffered a lot of shoddy protection over the years, but Sunday's visit to Chicago marked the first time he'd ever been sacked six times in one NFL game.
29. Minnesota's Dan Bailey has been a fine NFL kicker for the last 10 years. Hard to see that continuing much longer for the Vikings, who dropped from the NFC playoff field, after he missed three field-goal tries Sunday and one extra point. He also misfired three times in Week 13. "I have a lot of faith in him, I have a lot of confidence in him," said coach Mike Zimmer, "but these last two weeks have not been good."
Dan Bailey is 0-for-3 on field goals and 0-of-1 on extra points today.
The last player with at least 3 missed field goals and a missed extra point without a make of either was John Aveni for Washington in 1961.
Bailey entered today ranked 6th (86.9%) in all-time field goal pct. pic.twitter.com/up97NQfTjK — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2020
30. Give it up for Jaguars RB James Robinson, whose 1,361 yards from scrimmage establish a record for an undrafted rookie in the common-draft era (since 1967). Nice to see at least one thing go right in Jacksonville.
30a. Robinson is also just the fourth undrafted rookie since 1967 to rush for at least 1,000 yards.
31. Good for the Chargers, finally pulling a game out of the fire – though their frenetic finish against the Falcons may not have been necessary if not for the chaos the Bolts invited before halftime amid poor clock management and bad situational awareness, preventing them from legally lining up for a field-goal try.
#Chargers just had another special teams blunder, and this might take the cake as the worst one.
They ran the ball with no timeouts and mayhem ensues.
What in the world. pic.twitter.com/LMpfps3GPF — NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2020
32. Woe, leave all ye Faithful hoping for a Holiday quarterbacking miracle on the Middle American front. Our beloved @CaptAndrewLuck evidently will not be returning to the trenches, per his former commanding officer, Jim Irsay, and battery mate T.Y. Hilton, the former telling NFL Media last week, "I think that door's closed," more than two years after cavalryman's premature retirement. We continue to lament your absence and celebrate your heroic feats in the face of great bodily harm, Captain Andrew. Onward we forge whilst in the capable hands of Major Rivers.
Please heed my advice: Stay in the house. What’s more, do not hoard Squirrel Oil. I have noticed the cows grazing six-feet apart. Splendid. The hogs may be filthy, but we must stay clean, especially our hands. Please cleanse yours often. I love you.
— Andrew — Capt. Andrew Luck (@CaptAndrewLuck) March 29, 2020
***
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usatoday--2020-12-14--Coronavirus live updates: Nurse gets first dose of vaccine in NY; nearly 300K dead; NYC may have 'fu

Coronavirus live updates: Nurse gets first dose of vaccine in NY; nearly 300K dead; NYC may have 'full shutdown'


usatoday--2020-12-15--Attorney General William Barr resigns after recent clashes with Trump, still defends president

Attorney General William Barr , who has served as President Donald Trump 's most effective shield and advocate for broad presidential authority , will resign next week as the administration draws to a disputed close .
Trump announced the news of Barr 's departure Monday evening on Twitter .
Trump lauded his attorney general as `` a man of unbelievable credibility and courage '' just months ago , but turned on Barr after he declared there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and resisted Trump 's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims of corruption and the surveillance of the 2016 race .
Over the weekend , Trump rebuked Barr for not revealing a recently disclosed inquiry into Hunter Biden 's taxes during his failed campaign in which the president sought to tie President-elect Joe Biden to his son 's financial dealings .
On Monday , however , there were no ugly words from Trump who announced Barr 's departure in a tweet , saying the decision came after a `` pleasant meeting '' at the White House .
In his resignation letter , Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense of his boss .
Barr praised what he described as Trump 's accomplishments `` in the face of relentless , implacable resistance '' and singled out the Russia investigation as a partisan attack on Trump 's presidency .
`` The nadir of this campaign was the effort to cripple , if not oust , your administration with frenzied and baseless accusations of collusions with Russia , '' Barr wrote .
`` Few could have weathered these attacks , much less forge ahead with a positive program for the country .
You built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history -- one that has brought unprecedented progress to those previously left out . ''
Barr 's is set to leave Dec. 23 .
Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will be acting attorney general , Trump said as he announced Barr 's resignation .
Trump tweeted the announcement just minutes after California announced it had awarded its electoral votes to Joe Biden , giving him a majority in the Electoral College and formally making him president-elect .
Trump and Barr met at the White House Monday where they reached `` an amicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a senior administration official said .
Barr `` was not asked to resign , '' the official said .
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a vocal defender of both Barr and Trump , said he was “ surprised ” at the timing of the attorney general ’ s departure .
“ I thought he did a credibly good job trying to repair damage to the Department of Justice , trying to be fair , faithful to the law , ” Graham said .
“ Think he ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite Trump ’ s recent expressions of displeasure , Graham said Barr “ fought for the president where he could as every attorney general should ...
But he also didn ’ t cross the lines that he shouldn ’ t have crossed . ''
Before Rosen 's appointment at Justice , he had no experience as a federal prosecutor .
The president had raised the prospect of Barr 's departure openly after the attorney general broke with Trump , affirming no widespread fraud in the election .
“ To date , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have affected a different outcome in the election , ” Barr told the Associated Press on Dec. 1 , even as Trump continues to pursue legal challenges to an election he has yet to concede .
The comments quickly prompted push back from Trump 's attorneys , Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis , who said Barr 's `` opinion '' was not based on `` knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud . ''
Although Trump and his allies have publicly made sweeping claims of widespread fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfounded allegations in courtrooms as it sought to challenge election results .
Apart from members of Trump 's own family who serve in the administration , Barr appeared to have few rivals in the president 's inner-circle where he repeatedly rose to defend the president and his political allies while drawing withering criticism from Democrats and scores of Justice Department alums who cast the attorney general as the president 's personal lawyer .
Indeed , Barr intervened earlier this year in criminal cases involving two former Trump aides — political adviser Roger Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompting his own prosecutors to withdraw from the cases in protest .
Barr recommended a lighter punishment for Stone whose sentence was ultimately commuted by Trump .
He pardoned Flynn , who 'd pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian ambassador .
More : DOJ drops case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn in boldest step yet to undermine Mueller probe Whatever goodwill those efforts earned , it was clearly not enough , as Trump dumped his second attorney general like so many other former close aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation 's chief law enforcement officer , having served in the George H.W .
Bush administration , on Valentines Day 2019 following the equally tumultuous term of Jeff Sessions .
The former Alabama lawmaker , the first senator to have endorsed Trump in the 2016 campaign , permanently fell from favor after he recused himself from the Russia investigation , prompting the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller .
The nomination of Barr , whose ties to Justice pre-date Trump 's political fortunes , appeared to buoy a Justice Department under constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI director James Comey and lashed out almost daily at Sessions .
Just weeks into his tenure , however , Barr startled some lawmakers when he suggested that federal investigators had spied on Trump 's campaign and announced the appointment of a Connecticut federal prosecutor , John Durham , to review the origins of the Russia investigation .
The results of that inquiry , long-anticipated by Trump , have been delayed in part by issues related to the coronavirus pandemic .
But it was Barr 's handling of the Russia investigation – effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings that Trump repeatedly sought to thwart the inquiry – that first raised serious questions about the independence of the Barr Justice Department .
Rep. Jerry Nadler , chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , castigated Barr for his handling of the Mueller report and politicization of the Justice Department .
`` In 37 days , President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office .
Whomever Joe Biden chooses as the new Attorney General will have a tremendous amount of work to do to repair the integrity of the Department of Justice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the Russia probe , Barr has offered vocal defenses of the president , even as Trump faced impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives .
That attorney general used his platform to accuse the president 's political enemies of `` harassment '' and `` sabotage , '' while taking a lead role in supporting Trump 's law-and-order agenda during the 2020 campaign .
Barr also has provided back-up to Trump 's unsupported claims that mail-in balloting was vulnerable to massive fraud that threatened the integrity of the election .
And last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college , Barr defended his intervention in criminal cases , making the biting claim that his own federal prosecutors `` sometimes become headhunters '' when pursuing high-profile targets .
Breaks in the Trump-Barr relationship began to show this fall when the president ramped up the pressure on his attorney general , openly calling on him to use the power of his office against Biden and others .
`` Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes , the greatest political crime in the history of our country , '' Trump told Fox Business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama of election interference , `` then we 're going to get little satisfaction unless I win . ''
`` Lied to cover for Trump , '' Schiff tweeted , referring to Barr 's favorable spin on Trump 's role in the Russia investigation .
`` Launched political investigations .
Subverted justice and the rule of law ... Now , the work of restoring a credible and independent justice system must begin . ''

Kevin Johnson, Kristine Phillips and David Jackson, USA TODAY

Attorney General William Barr resigns after clashes with Trump, still defends president
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump tweets Attorney General William Barr's resignation President Trump announced the news of Barr's departure on Twitter, saying he will be stepping down before Christmas. USA TODAY
Attorney General William Barr, who served as President Donald Trump's most effective shield and advocate for broad presidential authority, will resign next week as the administration draws to a disputed close.
Trump announced the news of Barr's departure Monday evening on Twitter.
Trump lauded Barr as "a man of unbelievable credibility and courage" months ago but turned on him after the attorney general declared there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the presidential election and resisted Trump's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and other former Obama administration officials on unsubstantiated claims of corruption and the surveillance of the 2016 presidential race.
...Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all! pic.twitter.com/V5sqOJT9PM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020
Over the weekend, Trump rebuked Barr for not revealing a recently disclosed inquiry into Hunter Biden's taxes during the presidential campaign when Trump sought to tie Joe Biden to his son's financial dealings.
Monday, there were no ugly words from Trump who said the decision on Barr's departure came after a "pleasant meeting" at the White House.
In his resignation letter, Barr thanked Trump and offered a forceful defense of his boss.
Barr praised Trump's accomplishments "in the face of relentless, implacable resistance" and singled out the Russia investigation as a partisan attack on his presidency.
"The nadir of this campaign was the effort to cripple, if not oust, your administration with frenzied and baseless accusations of collusions with Russia," Barr wrote. "Few could have weathered these attacks, much less forge ahead with a positive program for the country. You built the strongest and most resilient economy in American history – one that has brought unprecedented progress to those previously left out."
Barr is set to leave Dec. 23. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will be acting attorney general, Trump said.
Trump tweeted the announcement minutes after California announced it awarded its electoral votes to Biden, giving him a majority in the Electoral College that made him president-elect.
Trump and Barr met at the White House on Monday where they reached "an amicable understanding" of how things should proceed, a senior administration official said. Barr "was not asked to resign," the official said.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a vocal defender of Barr and Trump, said he was “surprised” at the timing of the attorney general’s departure.
“I thought he did a credibly good job trying to repair damage to the Department of Justice, trying to be fair, faithful to the law,” Graham said. “Think he’s got a lot to be proud of.”
Despite Trump’s expressions of displeasure, Graham said, Barr “fought for the president where he could, as every attorney general should. ... But he also didn’t cross the lines that he shouldn’t have crossed."
Graham expressed confidence in Barr's successor.
"Rosen's a good guy," Graham said.
Before Rosen's appointment at Justice, he had no experience as a federal prosecutor.
The president raised the prospect of Barr's departure openly after the attorney general broke with Trump in saying there was no widespread fraud in the election.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” Barr told The Associated Press on Dec. 1 as Trump pursued legal challenges to an election he has yet to concede.
The comments quickly prompted pushback from Trump's attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, who said Barr's "opinion" was not based on "knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud."
Although Trump and his allies have publicly made sweeping claims of widespread fraud, the campaign did not make such unfounded allegations in courtrooms as it sought to challenge election results.
Barr had few rivals in the president's inner circle where he repeatedly rose to defend the president and his political allies while drawing criticism from Democrats and scores of Justice Department alums who cast the attorney general as the president's personal lawyer.
Barr intervened this year in criminal cases involving two former Trump aides – political adviser Roger Stone and national security adviser Michael Flynn – prompting his own prosecutors to withdraw from the cases in protest. Barr recommended a lighter punishment for Stone whose sentence was commuted by Trump. The president pardoned Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian ambassador.
'Angst, anger and disappointment': Roger Stone intervention stokes uncertainty across federal justice system
More: DOJ drops case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn in boldest step to undermine Mueller probe
Whatever goodwill Barr's efforts earned, it was clearly not enough, as Trump dumped his second attorney general like so many other former close aides.
Barr began his second stint as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, having served in President George H.W. Bush's administration, on Valentines Day 2019 after the equally tumultuous term of Jeff Sessions. Sessions, a former Alabama lawmaker, was the first senator to endorse Trump in the 2016 campaign, but he permanently fell from favor after he recused himself from the Russia investigation, which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.
The nomination of Barr, whose ties to Justice predate Trump's political fortunes, buoyed a Justice Department under constant siege by the president who had fired FBI Director James Comey and lashed out almost daily at Sessions.
Weeks into his tenure, Barr startled some lawmakers when he suggested federal investigators had spied on Trump's 2016 campaign, and he announced the appointment of a Connecticut federal prosecutor, John Durham, to review the origins of the Russia investigation. The results of that inquiry, long anticipated by Trump, have been delayed in part by issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Barr's handling of the Russia investigation – effectively clearing the president of wrongdoing despite damning findings that Trump repeatedly sought to thwart the inquiry – raised questions about the independence of the Justice Department.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, castigated Barr for his handling of the Mueller report and politicization of the Justice Department.
"In 37 days, President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office. Whomever Joe Biden chooses as the new Attorney General will have a tremendous amount of work to do to repair the integrity of the Department of Justice," Nadler said in a statement.
'Riding a tiger': William Barr's politically charged tenure puts DOJ on ballot with Trump
Since the Russia probe, Barr has offered vocal defenses of the president, even as Trump faced impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.
The attorney general accused the president's political enemies of "harassment" and "sabotage" and took a lead role in supporting Trump's "law-and-order" agenda during the 2020 campaign.
Barr backed Trump's claims that mail-in balloting was vulnerable to massive fraud that threatened the integrity of the election, despite evidence that showed otherwise. Last month, during a speech at a college, Barr defended his intervention in criminal cases, claiming his own federal prosecutors "sometimes become headhunters" when pursuing high-profile targets.
Breaks in the Trump-Barr relationship began to show this fall when the president ramped up the pressure on his attorney general, openly calling on him to use the power of his office against Biden and others.
"Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes, the greatest political crime in the history of our country," Trump told Fox Business News, accusing Biden and former President Barack Obama of election interference, "then we're going to get little satisfaction unless I win."
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., offered a pointed commentary on Barr's tenure after Trump's announcement.
"Lied to cover for Trump," Schiff tweeted, referring to Barr's favorable spin on Trump's role in the Russia investigation. "Launched political investigations. Subverted justice and the rule of law. ... Now, the work of restoring a credible and independent justice system must begin."


usatoday--2020-12-14--Keyontae Johnson, Florida player who collapsed, 'following simple commands' after coma

Florida men 's basketball player Keyontae Johnson remained in critical but stable Monday afternoon after collapsing during a game over the weekend , the school said in a statement .
The Gators announced that Johnson had been transported to a hospital in Gainesville , Florida after receiving his initial treatment in Tallahassee .
As of Monday afternoon , he was `` following simple commands and undergoing further tests , '' according to the school .
Johnson 's grandfather , Larry DeJarnett , told USA TODAY Sports earlier Monday that his grandson was in a medically induced coma and that doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coma later in the day .
`` He may have had activity in the brain , so they induced the coma , '' DeJarnett told USA TODAY Sports .
`` They put him on medication to keep him sedated . ''
Johnson , the SEC 's preseason player of the year , was taken off the court on a stretcher Saturday after he collapsed as the Gators were coming out of a timeout in the first half .
He was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital , and Florida initially described him as being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams finished the game , which the Seminoles won 83-71 .
It 's unclear if Johnson 's condition is connected to COVID-19 , or if he had previously tested positive .
Florida had to pause team activities last month because of positive COVID-19 tests , and coach Mike White said the team also had previous issues , but details were not released because of privacy laws .
DeJarnett , his grandfather , told USA TODAY Sports he did not know whether Johnson ever suffered from the virus .
`` I know that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the team was quarantined , yes .
I don ’ t know if he was one of them or not , '' DeJarnett said .

Keyontae Johnson, Florida player who collapsed, 'following simple commands' after coma
Florida men's basketball player Keyontae Johnson remained in critical but stable Monday afternoon after collapsing during a game over the weekend, the school said in a statement.
The Gators announced that Johnson had been transported to a hospital in Gainesville, Florida after receiving his initial treatment in Tallahassee. As of Monday afternoon, he was "following simple commands and undergoing further tests," according to the school.
Johnson's grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, told USA TODAY Sports earlier Monday that his grandson was in a medically induced coma and that doctors hoped to bring him out of the coma later in the day.
"He may have had activity in the brain, so they induced the coma," DeJarnett told USA TODAY Sports. "They put him on medication to keep him sedated."
FSU COACH DETAILS EMOTIONS: "Several guys were crying uncontrollably"
Johnson, the SEC's preseason player of the year, was taken off the court on a stretcher Saturday after he collapsed as the Gators were coming out of a timeout in the first half. He was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, and Florida initially described him as being in critical but stable condition.
The teams finished the game, which the Seminoles won 83-71.
It's unclear if Johnson's condition is connected to COVID-19, or if he had previously tested positive. Florida had to pause team activities last month because of positive COVID-19 tests, and coach Mike White said the team also had previous issues, but details were not released because of privacy laws.
DeJarnett, his grandfather, told USA TODAY Sports he did not know whether Johnson ever suffered from the virus.
"I know that there was some of the times when some of the team was quarantined, yes. I don’t know if he was one of them or not," DeJarnett said.
Contributing: The Gainesville Sun