usatoday--2020-07-16--Longtime Trump aide Brad Parscale removed as campaign manager as president shakes up reelection staf

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is switching campaign managers amid a reelection effort beset by a series of problems including an underwhelming turnout at a rally in Oklahoma and numerous polls showing Trump trailing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Trump announced on Facebook that Bill Stepien , a former White House political director , would become his campaign manager .
Stepien replaces Brad Parscale , who will continue to oversee digital and data strategies and will serve as a senior adviser .
`` I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump posted .
`` Both were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win , and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together . ''
The shakeup comes as the Trump campaign has sought a reset amid a coronavirus pandemic that wreaked havoc on a once booming U.S. economy – a key argument to the president 's reelection strategy – and a national reckoning over race in the wake of George Floyd 's death .
Parscale , the president 's fourth campaign manager over the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure as the face of a campaign that Trump has been desperate to restart since it was sidelined by the coronavirus in late March .
Parscale has been on shaky ground after he admitted in June that he did n't vote for his boss in the 2016 election – or vote at all .
Election documents reviewed by CBS News showed Parscale voted in the 2016 primary but not the general election .
The then-Texas resident said he was working on Trump 's digital campaign in New York and cited problems with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot in the 2018 midterm election .
Relations between the president and Parscale reportedly soured in recent weeks after national polls consistently showed the president trailing Biden .
Biden leads Trump nationally by 8.6 percentage points , according to the most recent average of polls by RealClearPolitics .
Much of the blame for a poor turnout at the president 's highly anticipated rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , fell to Parscale after he boasted of 1 million requests for tickets to the event .
The campaign also built an overflow section to accommodate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience but was forced to abruptly scrap plans for remarks at the outdoor stage after the crowd dwindled just before the vice president arrived .
Inside the BOK Center , 6,200 people filled the lower part of the 19,000-seat arena , according to an estimate by the Tulsa Fire Department , leaving large sections of empty blue seats exposed and dealing a major blow to the campaign 's relaunch plan less than five months before Election Day .
The president reportedly lashed out at Parscale in late April after he was presented with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sue his campaign manager , according to a New York Times report .
The Trump administration has grappled with both the economic fallout caused by the ongoing coronavirus , which brought his campaign rallies to a halt in March , and nationwide protests and unrest over the death of George Floyd .
The Kansas native 's relationship with the Trump family dates to 2011 , when his digital marketing firm Giles-Parscale was hired by the Trump Organization to build websites and develop media strategies .
Trump hired Parscale before announcing his presidential bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 1,500 , he told CBS 's `` 60 Minutes '' in 2017 , but the San Antonio-based web designer quickly ascended the ranks to become a member of the president 's inner circle in the span of just a few years .
The bearded 44-year-old has a penchant for three-piece suits and was a political novice when he joined the campaign , unlike his predecessors Kellyanne Conway , Paul Manafort and Corey Lewandowski .
He was promoted to digital director in June 2016 after managing a successful digital operation , largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's election 2016 win .
Two years later , he was promoted to campaign manager , taking the helm of the president 's 2020 reelection bid .
Once described by his boss as the `` world 's tallest campaign manager '' – he is 6-foot-8 – Parscale has emerged as the face of Trump 's 2020 campaign , which began when the president filed for reelection just hours after he was sworn in as commander-in-chief in 2017 .
Parscale often appears as a warm-up act at Trump rallies and mirrors the president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on Democrats .
2020 debates : Biden campaign commits to three , rejects Trump team 's call for more as 'distraction' Parscale 's departure is part of an ongoing campaign reshuffle that has seen White House principal deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley leaving the West Wing to become Trump 's 2020 national press secretary .
Gidley will fill the role left open by Kayleigh McEnany , who was named White House press secretary in April .
The campaign also tapped Stepien , a former White House political director , and rehired Jason @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Longtime Trump aide Brad Parscale removed as campaign manager as president shakes up reelection staff
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: Those who burn the American flag should get 1 year in jail President Trump suggested a one-year prison sentence for those who burn an American flag, an act of protest covered by the First Amendment. USA TODAY, Wochit
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is switching campaign managers amid a reelection effort beset by a series of problems including an underwhelming turnout at a rally in Oklahoma and numerous polls showing Trump trailing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Trump announced on Facebook that Bill Stepien, a former White House political director, would become his campaign manager. Stepien replaces Brad Parscale, who will continue to oversee digital and data strategies and will serve as a senior adviser.
"I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump campaign manager," Trump posted. "Both were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win, and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together."
The shakeup comes as the Trump campaign has sought a reset amid a coronavirus pandemic that wreaked havoc on a once booming U.S. economy – a key argument to the president's reelection strategy – and a national reckoning over race in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Parscale, the president's fourth campaign manager over the course of both campaigns, has faced growing pressure as the face of a campaign that Trump has been desperate to restart since it was sidelined by the coronavirus in late March.
Parscale has been on shaky ground after he admitted in June that he didn't vote for his boss in the 2016 election – or vote at all. Election documents reviewed by CBS News showed Parscale voted in the 2016 primary but not the general election. The then-Texas resident said he was working on Trump's digital campaign in New York and cited problems with his absentee ballot.
He voted by absentee ballot in the 2018 midterm election.
Relations between the president and Parscale reportedly soured in recent weeks after national polls consistently showed the president trailing Biden. Biden leads Trump nationally by 8.6 percentage points, according to the most recent average of polls by RealClearPolitics.
Much of the blame for a poor turnout at the president's highly anticipated rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, fell to Parscale after he boasted of 1 million requests for tickets to the event. The campaign also built an overflow section to accommodate what was expected to be a massive audience but was forced to abruptly scrap plans for remarks at the outdoor stage after the crowd dwindled just before the vice president arrived.
Inside the BOK Center, 6,200 people filled the lower part of the 19,000-seat arena, according to an estimate by the Tulsa Fire Department, leaving large sections of empty blue seats exposed and dealing a major blow to the campaign's relaunch plan less than five months before Election Day.
Coronavirus: Dr. Fauci says attending rallies, protests is risky
The president reportedly lashed out at Parscale in late April after he was presented with flagging poll numbers, even threatening to sue his campaign manager, according to a New York Times report. The Trump administration has grappled with both the economic fallout caused by the ongoing coronavirus, which brought his campaign rallies to a halt in March, and nationwide protests and unrest over the death of George Floyd.
'World's tallest campaign manager'
The Kansas native's relationship with the Trump family dates to 2011, when his digital marketing firm Giles-Parscale was hired by the Trump Organization to build websites and develop media strategies.
Trump hired Parscale before announcing his presidential bid in 2015 to build a campaign website for $1,500, he told CBS's "60 Minutes" in 2017, but the San Antonio-based web designer quickly ascended the ranks to become a member of the president's inner circle in the span of just a few years.
The bearded 44-year-old has a penchant for three-piece suits and was a political novice when he joined the campaign, unlike his predecessors Kellyanne Conway, Paul Manafort and Corey Lewandowski.
He was promoted to digital director in June 2016 after managing a successful digital operation, largely based on Facebook, that drove Trump's election 2016 win. Two years later, he was promoted to campaign manager, taking the helm of the president's 2020 reelection bid.
Once described by his boss as the "world's tallest campaign manager" – he is 6-foot-8 – Parscale has emerged as the face of Trump's 2020 campaign, which began when the president filed for reelection just hours after he was sworn in as commander-in-chief in 2017. Parscale often appears as a warm-up act at Trump rallies and mirrors the president's Twitter persona, echoing hardline rhetoric and attacks on Democrats.
2020 debates: Biden campaign commits to three, rejects Trump team's call for more as 'distraction'
Parscale's departure is part of an ongoing campaign reshuffle that has seen White House principal deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley leaving the West Wing to become Trump's 2020 national press secretary. Gidley will fill the role left open by Kayleigh McEnany, who was named White House press secretary in April. The campaign also tapped Stepien, a former White House political director, and rehired Jason Miller, a 2016 campaign aide.
Contributing: John Fritze


usatoday--2020-07-16--Fact check: Peter Navarro's claims about Dr. Anthony Fauci are misleading, lack context

WASHINGTON – Peter Navarro , a senior trade adviser to President Donald Trump , has taken aim at Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert and a member of the president 's coronavirus task force .
Navarro wrote an opinion piece in USA TODAY that was initially published Tuesday night – and then the next morning in print – as an `` opposing view '' to a newspaper editorial that hailed Fauci a “ national treasure ” and that said efforts by President Donald Trump or his team to muzzle Fauci would be hazardous .
Bill Sternberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said editors approached Navarro about writing the opposing view .
The newspaper has a tradition of offering opposing views to its editorials .
Some of the comments Navarro made echoed ones he had made earlier about Fauci .
The White House , which had not repudiated Navarro 's earlier comments , sought to distance itself from Navarro 's opinion piece , with director of strategic communications Alyssa Farah writing on Twitter that it was `` the opinion of Peter alone . ''
Trump has insisted he has a `` very good relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
However , on Wednesday Trump said of the Navarro piece , `` he should n't be doing that . ''
More : All of USA TODAY 's fact checks The following is a fact check by USA TODAY on what was written by Navarro , who directs the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy .
NAVARRO CLAIM : Dr. Anthony Fauci has a good bedside manner with the public , but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on .
In late January , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the president to take down the flights from China , Fauci fought against the president ’ s courageous decision – which might well have saved hundreds of thousands of American lives .
FACTS : Trump and his supporters have touted the restrictions on travel from China as a travel ban but the move stopped short of that .
As Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Jan. 31 , the country was denying entry to foreign nationals , `` other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 14 days . ''
In addition , experts said there is n't enough data to conclude the restrictions made a significant difference .
A study in the Journal Science found the various travel limitations across the globe helped slow the spread of the pandemic but more was needed to contain it .
In fact , on Jan. 24 , a week before the implementation of travel restrictions , the first two COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the U.S. from travelers who had returned from Wuhan , China , where the outbreak is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other public health officials were initially skeptical of travel bans because of concerns that they might limit the movement of health professionals , he later backed the decision .
COVID-19 : How the South and Southwest became the global epicenter of the pandemic NAVARRO CLAIM : When I warned in late January in a memo of a possibly deadly pandemic , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was telling the news media not to worry .
When I was working feverishly on behalf of the president in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the health care sector in our history , Fauci was still telling the public the China virus was low risk .
FACTS : There 's no evidence of a large-scale effort by the Trump administration to mobilize supplies for the pandemic as early as February , although experts contend that a forceful response then would likely have limited the spread and saved lives .
Trump said little in public about the virus during that time period and downplayed the threat .
On Feb. 10 , he predicted that the coronavirus would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warmer and said the virus will `` miraculously '' go away.. Congress passed the first meaningful spending bill to address the crisis March 4 – an $ 8.3 billion package to ramp up testing that was more than triple the amount the White House initially requested .
And it was n't until March 13 that Trump declared a national emergency .
In a meeting with the USA TODAY editorial board on Feb. 17 , Fauci did say the risk for Americans appeared `` relatively low '' but he warned that could change and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As of today , on the 17th of February , the risk is really relatively low , '' he said .
`` But we , the public health officials , have to take this seriously enough to be prepared for it changing and there being a pandemic . ''
More : Attacks on Fauci reflect Trump 's problem of what to do about high-profile adviser with a penchant for straight talk NAVARRO CLAIM : When we were building new mask capacity in record time , Fauci was flip-flopping on the use of masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci said people who were contagious should wear masks but , like others and consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization , did not say everyone should wear masks , even if they did n't have symptoms .
On Feb. 17 , weeks before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic , Fauci told USA TODAY that `` in the United States , there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to wear a mask . ''
At the time , testing was almost non-existent and the nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci has since said that part of the reason for his position was to tamp down a public rush that would have further exacerbated a shortage of masks .
On Feb. 29 , Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted that people should `` STOP BUYING MASKS '' because they had not been shown to be effective in preventing the general public from getting the virus and a rush to buy them was leaving healthcare providers without them .
More recently , Fauci and other public health experts have been urging mask-wearing as a means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus – while continuing to urge frequent hand washing and social distancing.. More : Wearing a mask does n't just protect others from COVID-19 , it protects you from infection , perhaps serious illness , too NAVARRO CLAIM : And when Fauci was telling the White House Coronavirus Task Force that there was only anecdotal evidence in support of hydroxychloroquine to fight the virus , I confronted him with scientific studies providing evidence of safety and efficacy .
A recent Detroit hospital study showed a 50 % reduction in the mortality rate when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FACTS : Most medical studies have shown hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malarial drug , not only to be generally ineffective against COVID-19 but to also pose harmful side effects .
The Food and Drug Administration warns on its web site that those threats include serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues , including blood and lymph system disorders , kidney injuries , and liver problems and failure .
The Henry Ford study Navarro refers to has been criticized by a number of medical experts because patients who benefited also were given a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infection and because the study was observational.. Coronavirus reopening : Map of when US states are ending lockdown NAVARRO CLAIM : Now Fauci says a falling mortality rate doesn ’ t matter when it is the single most important statistic to help guide the pace of our economic reopening .
The lower the mortality rate , the faster and more we can open .
FACTS : In a July 8 press conference with Sen. Doug Jones , D-Ala. , Fauci described the declining death rate as a `` false narrative ( because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are very dangerous and bad about this virus .
Do n't get yourself into false complacency . ''
The death rate began declining in mid-April but has been ticking up again recently , a result of a surge in cases across Sun Belt states such as Florida , Texas and Arizona – an increase Fauci and other medical experts cited as a risk .
In addition , while treatments have helped lower the death rate , doctors are finding that the virus carries long-term complications for a significant percentage of patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 'Pushing the frontiers ' : Long lines for COVID tests , stressed labs delay results as demand spikes

Fact check: Peter Navarro's claims about Dr. Anthony Fauci are misleading, lack context
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID: Dr. Fauci responds to negative comments from Trump's cabinet Dr. Fauci responds to comments from members of President Trump's cabinet that are critical of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. USA TODAY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to President Donald Trump, has taken aim at Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and a member of the president's coronavirus task force.
Navarro wrote an opinion piece in USA TODAY that was initially published Tuesday night – and then the next morning in print – as an "opposing view" to a newspaper editorial that hailed Fauci a “national treasure” and that said efforts by President Donald Trump or his team to muzzle Fauci would be hazardous.
Bill Sternberg, USA TODAY's editorial page editor, said editors approached Navarro about writing the opposing view. The newspaper has a tradition of offering opposing views to its editorials. Some of the comments Navarro made echoed ones he had made earlier about Fauci.
The White House, which had not repudiated Navarro's earlier comments, sought to distance itself from Navarro's opinion piece, with director of strategic communications Alyssa Farah writing on Twitter that it was "the opinion of Peter alone." Trump has insisted he has a "very good relationship" with Fauci but has also criticized him. However, on Wednesday Trump said of the Navarro piece, "he shouldn't be doing that."
More: All of USA TODAY's fact checks
The following is a fact check by USA TODAY on what was written by Navarro, who directs the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
NAVARRO CLAIM: Dr. Anthony Fauci has a good bedside manner with the public, but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on.
In late January, when I was making the case on behalf of the president to take down the flights from China, Fauci fought against the president’s courageous decision – which might well have saved hundreds of thousands of American lives.
FACTS: Trump and his supporters have touted the restrictions on travel from China as a travel ban but the move stopped short of that. As Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Jan. 31, the country was denying entry to foreign nationals, "other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, who have traveled in China within the last 14 days."
In addition, experts said there isn't enough data to conclude the restrictions made a significant difference. A study in the Journal Science found the various travel limitations across the globe helped slow the spread of the pandemic but more was needed to contain it.
Dr. Fauci: society's responsibility in conquering COVID-19 Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks to how personal responsibility and social distancing is the key to ending the spread of the coronavirus. USA TODAY
In fact, on Jan. 24, a week before the implementation of travel restrictions, the first two COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the U.S. from travelers who had returned from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak is suspected of originating. Although Fauci and other public health officials were initially skeptical of travel bans because of concerns that they might limit the movement of health professionals, he later backed the decision.
COVID-19: How the South and Southwest became the global epicenter of the pandemic
NAVARRO CLAIM: When I warned in late January in a memo of a possibly deadly pandemic, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was telling the news media not to worry.
When I was working feverishly on behalf of the president in February to help engineer the fastest industrial mobilization of the health care sector in our history, Fauci was still telling the public the China virus was low risk.
FACTS: There's no evidence of a large-scale effort by the Trump administration to mobilize supplies for the pandemic as early as February, although experts contend that a forceful response then would likely have limited the spread and saved lives.
Trump said little in public about the virus during that time period and downplayed the threat. On Feb. 10, he predicted that the coronavirus would be gone by April when the weather gets warmer and said the virus will "miraculously" go away.. Congress passed the first meaningful spending bill to address the crisis March 4 – an $8.3 billion package to ramp up testing that was more than triple the amount the White House initially requested.
And it wasn't until March 13 that Trump declared a national emergency.
In a meeting with the USA TODAY editorial board on Feb. 17, Fauci did say the risk for Americans appeared "relatively low" but he warned that could change and officials needed to be prepared.
"As of today, on the 17th of February, the risk is really relatively low," he said. "But we, the public health officials, have to take this seriously enough to be prepared for it changing and there being a pandemic."
More: Attacks on Fauci reflect Trump's problem of what to do about high-profile adviser with a penchant for straight talk
NAVARRO CLAIM: When we were building new mask capacity in record time, Fauci was flip-flopping on the use of masks.
FACTS: From the outset, Fauci said people who were contagious should wear masks but, like others and consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, did not say everyone should wear masks, even if they didn't have symptoms. On Feb. 17, weeks before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, Fauci told USA TODAY that "in the United States, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to wear a mask."
At the time, testing was almost non-existent and the nature of the virus was still being determined. Fauci has since said that part of the reason for his position was to tamp down a public rush that would have further exacerbated a shortage of masks. On Feb. 29, Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted that people should "STOP BUYING MASKS" because they had not been shown to be effective in preventing the general public from getting the virus and a rush to buy them was leaving healthcare providers without them.
More recently, Fauci and other public health experts have been urging mask-wearing as a means to help prevent the spread of the virus – while continuing to urge frequent hand washing and social distancing..
More: Wearing a mask doesn't just protect others from COVID-19, it protects you from infection, perhaps serious illness, too
NAVARRO CLAIM: And when Fauci was telling the White House Coronavirus Task Force that there was only anecdotal evidence in support of hydroxychloroquine to fight the virus, I confronted him with scientific studies providing evidence of safety and efficacy. A recent Detroit hospital study showed a 50% reduction in the mortality rate when the medicine is used in early treatment.
FACTS: Most medical studies have shown hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, not only to be generally ineffective against COVID-19 but to also pose harmful side effects. The Food and Drug Administration warns on its web site that those threats include serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues, including blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure.
The Henry Ford study Navarro refers to has been criticized by a number of medical experts because patients who benefited also were given a steroid known to help those suffering from the infection and because the study was observational..
NAVARRO CLAIM: Now Fauci says a falling mortality rate doesn’t matter when it is the single most important statistic to help guide the pace of our economic reopening. The lower the mortality rate, the faster and more we can open.
FACTS: In a July 8 press conference with Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., Fauci described the declining death rate as a "false narrative (because) there's so many other things that are very dangerous and bad about this virus. Don't get yourself into false complacency."
The death rate began declining in mid-April but has been ticking up again recently, a result of a surge in cases across Sun Belt states such as Florida, Texas and Arizona – an increase Fauci and other medical experts cited as a risk.
In addition, while treatments have helped lower the death rate, doctors are finding that the virus carries long-term complications for a significant percentage of patients, especially those with underlying conditions.
More: 'Pushing the frontiers': Long lines for COVID tests, stressed labs delay results as demand spikes
Contributing: Ken Alltucker


usatoday--2020-07-15--Ex-White House physician Ronny Jackson says masks are 'personal choice' after winning Texas primary

Retired Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson , who served as the personal physician to Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump , said Wednesday that he considers wearing a mask to be a `` personal choice , '' even as public health experts implore Americans to use them to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Jackson made the comment during an appearance on `` Fox & Friends '' following his victory the night before in a Republican primary runoff election in Texas for a U.S. House seat .
Co-host Steve Doocy cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought under control in the U.S. within four to six weeks if most Americans donned face coverings .
`` Dr. Jackson , what 's your message to people who , for one reason or another , simply do not want to wear a mask ? ''
Doocy asked '' Well , I think that wearing a mask is a personal choice , '' Jackson replied .
`` I do n't particularly want my government telling me that I have to wear a mask .
So , I think that 's a choice that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that researchers now know a lot about the virus and `` we know the mortality rate is probably less than 0.1 % . ''
But most experts agree there is still a lot of uncertainty about the virus that causes COVID , including the death rate .
Jackson did not cite the source for his 0.1 % figure , but a study cited by the CDC puts the estimated infection fatality rate at 0.68 % .
`` So , I think you 've got to look at your personal circumstances , you 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 've got to decide if that 's right for you .
And I 'm a firm believer that it 's , at this point , a personal choice , '' Jackson said .
`` I encourage people if they want to wear a mask , to wear a mask .
But I do n't wear a mask all that often , to be honest with you . ''
What states require face masks ?
: Alabama joins growing list of states where it 's mandatory Like Jackson , White House Press Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` the personal choice of any individual as to whether to wear a mask or not . ''
Trump was widely criticized for his reluctance to wear a mask in public , which he implied would look unpresidential .
The debate injected partisanship into what health experts said is a recommendation rooted in sound science .
The president wore a mask during a visit Saturday to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland. ''
I think it 's a great thing to wear a mask .
I 've never been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have a time and a place , '' Trump said ahead of that trip .
Jackson 's ambivalence toward masks contrasts with the position of Texas ' Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott , who earlier this month made it mandatory to wear masks in public in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases .
`` Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19 , '' said Abbott when he issued the executive order as Texas faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases .
`` We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck , but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another – and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces . ''
Jackson won the runoff primary to represent Texas ' 13th Congressional District and replace retiring Rep. Mac Thornberry by more than 11 percentage points .
Jackson will face Democratic nominee Gus Trujillo , who once interned for Thornberry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidly Republican in the nation , according to the Cook Political Report , and Jackson will be heavily favored in the November election .
Jackson , 53 , joined the White House medical team in 2006 and became its director in 2011 .
In 2013 , he became Obama 's physician and kept that role under Trump .
In March 2018 , Trump announced he was appointing Jackson to take over the Department of Veterans Affairs , but Jackson withdrew his name from consideration after allegations surfaced that he had doled out opioids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty .
Jackson said the allegations were `` completely false . ''
Ronny Jackson : Ex-White House doctor says he put cauliflower in Trump 's mashed potatoes to improve diet

Ex-White House physician Ronny Jackson says masks are 'personal choice' after winning Texas primary
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID: Wearing cloth face mask can protect you from serious infection A new report suggests that wearing a cloth mask doesn't just protect others from COVID-19, it can protect you as well. USA TODAY
Retired Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, who served as the personal physician to Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, said Wednesday that he considers wearing a mask to be a "personal choice," even as public health experts implore Americans to use them to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Jackson made the comment during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" following his victory the night before in a Republican primary runoff election in Texas for a U.S. House seat.
Co-host Steve Doocy cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield's belief that the pandemic could be brought under control in the U.S. within four to six weeks if most Americans donned face coverings.
"Dr. Jackson, what's your message to people who, for one reason or another, simply do not want to wear a mask?" Doocy asked
"Well, I think that wearing a mask is a personal choice," Jackson replied. "I don't particularly want my government telling me that I have to wear a mask. So, I think that's a choice that I can make."
Jackson claimed that researchers now know a lot about the virus and "we know the mortality rate is probably less than 0.1%." But most experts agree there is still a lot of uncertainty about the virus that causes COVID, including the death rate. Jackson did not cite the source for his 0.1% figure, but a study cited by the CDC puts the estimated infection fatality rate at 0.68%.
"So, I think you've got to look at your personal circumstances, you've got to look at your surroundings, you've got to decide if that's right for you. And I'm a firm believer that it's, at this point, a personal choice," Jackson said. "I encourage people if they want to wear a mask, to wear a mask. But I don't wear a mask all that often, to be honest with you."
What states require face masks?: Alabama joins growing list of states where it's mandatory
Like Jackson, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has said Trump believes it is "the personal choice of any individual as to whether to wear a mask or not."
Trump was widely criticized for his reluctance to wear a mask in public, which he implied would look unpresidential. The debate injected partisanship into what health experts said is a recommendation rooted in sound science.
The president wore a mask during a visit Saturday to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
" I think it's a great thing to wear a mask. I've never been against masks, but I do believe they have a time and a place," Trump said ahead of that trip.
Jackson's ambivalence toward masks contrasts with the position of Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who earlier this month made it mandatory to wear masks in public in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases.
"Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19," said Abbott when he issued the executive order as Texas faced a dramatic increase in the number of confirmed cases.
"We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another – and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces."
Jackson won the runoff primary to represent Texas' 13th Congressional District and replace retiring Rep. Mac Thornberry by more than 11 percentage points. Jackson will face Democratic nominee Gus Trujillo, who once interned for Thornberry.
The district is one of the most solidly Republican in the nation, according to the Cook Political Report, and Jackson will be heavily favored in the November election.
Jackson, 53, joined the White House medical team in 2006 and became its director in 2011. In 2013, he became Obama's physician and kept that role under Trump.
In March 2018, Trump announced he was appointing Jackson to take over the Department of Veterans Affairs, but Jackson withdrew his name from consideration after allegations surfaced that he had doled out opioids without prescriptions and drank alcohol while on duty. Jackson said the allegations were "completely false."
Ronny Jackson: Ex-White House doctor says he put cauliflower in Trump's mashed potatoes to improve diet


usatoday--2020-07-16--Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after treatment for possible infection

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a four-time cancer survivor , was released from a Baltimore hospital Wednesday after treatment for a possible infection .
Ginsburg , 87 , the court 's oldest justice , had experienced fever and chills Monday night and underwent an endoscopic procedure at Johns Hopkins Hospital the following day to clean out a bile duct stent that was inserted last August .
Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg had said Ginsburg was likely to remain at the hospital for several days of intravenous antibiotic treatment .
But on Wednesday , the court announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is home and doing well , '' the court said .
Ginsburg 's health has been a cause for worry among Democrats and liberals for years .
She declined to retire under President Barack Obama and has had several medical issues during President Donald Trump 's time in office .
More : Conservatives , liberals mull next Supreme Court battle with memories of 2016 The court has a 5-4 conservative majority that could be expanded if she were to leave before the November election , or potentially up until Inauguration Day in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to replace her with a conservative justice .
If Democrats win the White House or the Senate in November , that would change the equation .
Ginsburg has had several health issues dating back to 1999 , including colorectal , pancreatic and lung cancer .
Her lung cancer was diagnosed in December 2018 , and she had a second bout of pancreatic cancer last August .
Still , she has kept up with the court 's work , including during May 's telephonic oral arguments held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins Hospital , where she was recovering from acute cholecystitis , a benign gallbladder condition .
Ginsburg was nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and is now second in length of service among the current justices , behind Associate Justice Clarence Thomas .
She has become a cultural icon , known among young people in particular as the `` Notorious RBG '' or simply `` RBG . ''

Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after treatment for possible infection
Show Caption Hide Caption Ruth Bader Ginsburg is tougher than she looks There's a reason Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is called Notorious RBG. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a four-time cancer survivor, was released from a Baltimore hospital Wednesday after treatment for a possible infection.
Ginsburg, 87, the court's oldest justice, had experienced fever and chills Monday night and underwent an endoscopic procedure at Johns Hopkins Hospital the following day to clean out a bile duct stent that was inserted last August.
Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg had said Ginsburg was likely to remain at the hospital for several days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. But on Wednesday, the court announced that she was discharged.
"She is home and doing well," the court said.
Ginsburg's health has been a cause for worry among Democrats and liberals for years. She declined to retire under President Barack Obama and has had several medical issues during President Donald Trump's time in office.
More: Conservatives, liberals mull next Supreme Court battle with memories of 2016
The court has a 5-4 conservative majority that could be expanded if she were to leave before the November election, or potentially up until Inauguration Day in January. Senate Republicans have said they would try to replace her with a conservative justice. If Democrats win the White House or the Senate in November, that would change the equation.
More: Year of surprise Supreme Court rulings shows influence of Chief Justice John Roberts
Ginsburg has had several health issues dating back to 1999, including colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancer. Her lung cancer was diagnosed in December 2018, and she had a second bout of pancreatic cancer last August.
Still, she has kept up with the court's work, including during May's telephonic oral arguments held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. She joined one such debate from Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was recovering from acute cholecystitis, a benign gallbladder condition.
More: Federal execution renews Supreme Court's divide over death penalty
Ginsburg was nominated to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and is now second in length of service among the current justices, behind Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. She has become a cultural icon, known among young people in particular as the "Notorious RBG" or simply "RBG."


usatoday--2020-07-15--Battle over President Trump's financial records resumes in lower court

WASHINGTON – The legal battle over President Trump 's tax returns and financial records resumed Wednesday following the Supreme Court 's ruling last week that the president lacks immunity from criminal investigation .
Lawyers for Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. agreed that the president should make any new challenges to a subpoena for those records by July 27 .
That would begin several weeks of briefing to the federal district court by both sides .
`` If the president has anything left to say , the ball is now in his court , '' said Carey Dunne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in court papers .
Vance 's office is probing alleged hush-money payments that Michael Cohen , Trump 's former lawyer , said were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal during the 2016 presidential campaign .
Both women claimed they had affairs with Trump , which he denied .
More : Supreme Court says President Trump can not keep tax , financial records from prosecutors '' It is the president ’ s position that further proceedings are necessary , '' said William Consovoy , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` In those proceedings , the president will file a second amended complaint in which he will raise arguments that the Supreme Court held that he may make on remand . ''
The president may argue that Vance 's subpoena amounts to a fishing expedition or a form of harassment .
He also may claim that it is in retaliation for Trump 's official actions or that it impedes his constitutional duties .
Vance 's office told the court that the case should proceed quickly because of `` continuing concerns about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of statutes of limitations . ''
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Trump does not have immunity in the case , a decision that favors Vance going into the new round of litigation .
The records being sought are held by Mazars USA , the president 's accountants .
At the same time , the court temporarily blocked congressional investigators from gaining access to many of the same records .
It sent the effort by House Democrats back to a federal appeals court for further review .
For the time being , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's financial documents .
Grand jury investigations are secret , and three House committees wo n't get the records in the midst of the presidential campaign .

Battle over President Trump's financial records resumes in lower court
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump Supreme Court rulings don't mean transparency on his finances The Supreme Court's rulings on President Trump's financial documents will not produce public information, or his tax returns, before the elections. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The legal battle over President Trump's tax returns and financial records resumed Wednesday following the Supreme Court's ruling last week that the president lacks immunity from criminal investigation.
Lawyers for Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. agreed that the president should make any new challenges to a subpoena for those records by July 27. That would begin several weeks of briefing to the federal district court by both sides.
"If the president has anything left to say, the ball is now in his court," said Carey Dunne, general counsel to the district attorney, in court papers.
Vance's office is probing alleged hush-money payments that Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, said were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal during the 2016 presidential campaign. Both women claimed they had affairs with Trump, which he denied.
More: Supreme Court says President Trump cannot keep tax, financial records from prosecutors
"It is the president’s position that further proceedings are necessary," said William Consovoy, one of Trump's private lawyers in the case. "In those proceedings, the president will file a second amended complaint in which he will raise arguments that the Supreme Court held that he may make on remand."
The president may argue that Vance's subpoena amounts to a fishing expedition or a form of harassment. He also may claim that it is in retaliation for Trump's official actions or that it impedes his constitutional duties.
Vance's office told the court that the case should proceed quickly because of "continuing concerns about the potential loss of critical evidence and expiration of statutes of limitations."
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Trump does not have immunity in the case, a decision that favors Vance going into the new round of litigation. The records being sought are held by Mazars USA, the president's accountants.
At the same time, the court temporarily blocked congressional investigators from gaining access to many of the same records. It sent the effort by House Democrats back to a federal appeals court for further review.
More: Year of surprise Supreme Court rulings shows influence of Chief Justice John Roberts
For the time being, that means the public won't see Trump's financial documents. Grand jury investigations are secret, and three House committees won't get the records in the midst of the presidential campaign.


usatoday--2020-07-15--Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tests positive for coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday he tested positive for the coronavirus weeks after attending President Donald Trump 's rally in Tulsa .
`` I 'll be taking precautions .
I 'll be isolated away from my family .
I 'll be working from home , '' he said during an online news conference .
The governor said he would not have been contagious before Saturday and had an asymptomatic case of the coronavirus before receiving his test results Tuesday evening .
Asked whether he may have contracted the virus at Trump 's rally last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask , Stitt said it was `` too long ago '' for that to be the source .
Stitt said he did n't think the virus could be dormant for that long , `` based on the science . ''
`` It 's too long ago .
It was n't that , '' state Commissioner of Health Lance Frye said , adding it was `` unknown '' where the governor was infected .
The rally at Tulsa 's BOK Center on June 20 drew about 6,200 attendees and was met with hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts warned against convening thousands of people inside the arena as cases across the state surged to record highs .
Stitt said he was `` pretty shocked '' to be the first governor to test positive , and his wife and children tested negative .
The Republican governor said residents need to `` adjust our behavior a little bit , '' but he has no plans to implement a mask mandate .
`` Across the state of Oklahoma , you 've got different communities with different needs , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Stitt said , especially if they do n't feel well .

Nicholas Wu and Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tests positive for coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption Okla. Governor Kevin Stitt has tested positive for COVID-19 Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt became the first governor to test positive for COVID-19, weeks after attending Trump's Tulsa rally. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday he tested positive for the coronavirus weeks after attending President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa.
"I'll be taking precautions. I'll be isolated away from my family. I'll be working from home," he said during an online news conference.
The governor said he would not have been contagious before Saturday and had an asymptomatic case of the coronavirus before receiving his test results Tuesday evening.
Asked whether he may have contracted the virus at Trump's rally last month, when the governor was seen without a mask, Stitt said it was "too long ago" for that to be the source.
Stitt said he didn't think the virus could be dormant for that long, "based on the science."
"It's too long ago. It wasn't that," state Commissioner of Health Lance Frye said, adding it was "unknown" where the governor was infected.
The rally at Tulsa's BOK Center on June 20 drew about 6,200 attendees and was met with hundreds of protesters scattered around the city. Health experts warned against convening thousands of people inside the arena as cases across the state surged to record highs.
Stitt said he was "pretty shocked" to be the first governor to test positive, and his wife and children tested negative.
The Republican governor said residents need to "adjust our behavior a little bit," but he has no plans to implement a mask mandate.
"Across the state of Oklahoma, you've got different communities with different needs," he said.
"I encourage Oklahomans to maybe get tested," Stitt said, especially if they don't feel well.
Contributing: The Oklahoman


usatoday--2020-07-15--Illinois GOP congressman criticizes Trump for lack of 'loyalty' to former Attorney General Sessions

Rep. Adam Kinzinger , R-Ill. , slammed President Donald Trump on Tuesday for his lack of `` loyalty '' to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions , who lost his primary bid for the U.S. Senate in Alabama .
Trump endorsed Sessions ' opponent , former football coach Tommy Tuberville , explicitly doing so as retaliation for Sessions ' recusal during the investigation into Russian election interference .
`` Jeff was the first elected official to support you , '' Kinzinger wrote on Twitter in response to Trump 's congratulatory tweet to Tuberville .
`` Seems loyalty is expected from you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been critical of Trump throughout his presidency , especially in recent months .
He told Fox News that the president could do a `` better job '' of reassuring the public amid the surge in COVID-19 cases this month .
He called for Trump to protect U.S. troops in the wake of reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan .
Sessions was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump for president in 2016 and publicly showed his support for him as early as 2015 .
Sessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early legitimacy , giving him a boost before that year 's Super Tuesday elections .
As attorney general , Sessions ' goodwill with Trump ran out .
Sessions ' recusal from the Russia investigation led to Robert Mueller 's appointment as special counsel and a nearly two-year investigation that shadowed Trump 's early years in office .
Trump was not charged .
Trump fired Sessions in 2018 , and last year , he called Sessions ' appointment as attorney general the `` biggest mistake '' of his presidency .
Trump campaigned against Sessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 20 years before becoming attorney general .
In May , he told Sessions to drop out of the race .
He blasted Sessions ' campaign several times on Twitter over the past few months , posting on Saturday that Sessions was `` a disaster who has let us all down .
We don ’ t want him back in Washington ! ''
Sessions tweeted Saturday , `` My honor and integrity are far more important than these juvenile insults . ''
Sessions emphasized his early support of Trump throughout his reelection campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong base of supporters in the state .

Illinois GOP congressman criticizes Trump for lack of 'loyalty' to former Attorney General Sessions
Show Caption Hide Caption Tuberville wins primary; will face Jones in Alabama Senate race Former college football coach Tommy Tuberville defeated former Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Alabama Republican Senate primary. Tuberville goes on to challenge Democratic Senator Doug Jones. (July 15) AP
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., slammed President Donald Trump on Tuesday for his lack of "loyalty" to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who lost his primary bid for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.
Trump endorsed Sessions' opponent, former football coach Tommy Tuberville, explicitly doing so as retaliation for Sessions' recusal during the investigation into Russian election interference.
"Jeff was the first elected official to support you," Kinzinger wrote on Twitter in response to Trump's congratulatory tweet to Tuberville. "Seems loyalty is expected from you but not granted."
Kinzinger has been critical of Trump throughout his presidency, especially in recent months. He told Fox News that the president could do a "better job" of reassuring the public amid the surge in COVID-19 cases this month. He called for Trump to protect U.S. troops in the wake of reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Sessions was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump for president in 2016 and publicly showed his support for him as early as 2015. Sessions' endorsement granted Trump's outsider campaign early legitimacy, giving him a boost before that year's Super Tuesday elections.
As attorney general, Sessions' goodwill with Trump ran out. Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation led to Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel and a nearly two-year investigation that shadowed Trump's early years in office. Trump was not charged.
Trump fired Sessions in 2018, and last year, he called Sessions' appointment as attorney general the "biggest mistake" of his presidency.
Trump campaigned against Sessions' bid for the seat he held for 20 years before becoming attorney general. In May, he told Sessions to drop out of the race. He blasted Sessions' campaign several times on Twitter over the past few months, posting on Saturday that Sessions was "a disaster who has let us all down. We don’t want him back in Washington!"
Sessions tweeted Saturday, "My honor and integrity are far more important than these juvenile insults." Sessions emphasized his early support of Trump throughout his reelection campaign, trying not to alienate Trump's strong base of supporters in the state.


usatoday--2020-07-15--Gov. Andrew Cuomo touts New York's COVID-19 response, faces backlash: 'Victory laps are not the thin

ALBANY , N.Y. – Monday , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo unveiled a poster he helped design that showed , among many other things , New York coming down the mountain of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` What we did was historic because we did tame the beast .
We did turn the corner .
We did plateau that mountain .
And then we came down the other side , '' Cuomo declared at his regular COVID-19 briefing .
`` And they will be talking about what we did for decades to come . ''
They will also be talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the highest death toll in the nation , even as its infection rate is among the lowest , Sanjay Gupta said Tuesday afternoon on CNN 's `` The Lead With Jake Tapper . ''
`` I 'm a little surprised by that poster , I got to tell you , because I think , if anything , what this virus has taught us is that we need to have a significant amount of humility , '' Gupta , a neurosurgeon and CNN 's chief medical correspondent , told Tapper .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's no place in the country that 's not vulnerable . ''
Rich Azzopardi , Cuomo 's senior adviser , said the problem was the federal government not shutting down travel from Europe to the USA for six weeks before the pandemic , leading to more than 3 million people coming to New York .
`` You 're damn right New York got hit the hardest , and it was only New Yorkers banding together that got us through this , '' Azzopardi said .
`` Spare me the punditry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this illustration made crystal clear could and will repeat itself if we do n't continue to stay smart , socially distance , wash your hands and wear a mask . ''
Cuomo stressed that New York 's infection rate , which hovers around 1 % of those tested , could easily jump if residents are not diligent with safety precautions .
New York requires people from states with high infection rates to self-quarantine when they enter New York .
New York reported about 25,000 deaths from coronavirus as of Wednesday , but if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total is about 32,400 .
The state Department of Health does n't include probable deaths , but national trackers at John Hopkins University do .
New York had as many as 800 deaths a day from the virus in early April but cut the daily toll to a few in recent weeks .
The state with the second highest number of deaths is New Jersey with about 15,500 .
`` We just have to cross our fingers and hope that it stays there because you see the infections now all across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Cuomo said Monday night on NBC 's `` The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon . ''
`` We 're just worried that the infection is going to come from other states now , back to New York , which would be a real tragedy . ''
Coronavirus in New York : As deaths and cases soar , should NY leaders have acted sooner ?
Gupta and Tapper on CNN , which is home to a nightly prime-time show hosted by the governor 's younger brother , Chris , were critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that we should have learned , I think we have learned , that victory laps are not the thing to be doing , because we 're not through this by a long shot , sad to say , even in New York , '' Gupta said .
Tapper said Cuomo 's poster – which the state sells for $ 11.50 , the cost of production – has plenty of symbols , but none about the state 's death toll , calling it `` revisionism . ''
`` No rendering on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignored warnings , no depiction of the study that he could have saved thousands of lives had he and Mayor de Blasio acted sooner , '' Tapper said .
`` No painting there on the poster of his since-rescinded order that nursing homes take all infected patients in . ''
The governor has been a regular guest on his brother 's CNN show , and last month , Chris Cuomo hailed his brother 's management of the virus .
`` Obviously , I love you as a brother ; obviously , I 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you 're the best politician in the country , '' Chris said .
`` But I hope you feel good about what you did for your people because I know they appreciate it .
...
I 've never seen anything like what you did , and that 's why I 'm so happy to have had you on the show .
And I hope you know that . ''
New York to out-of-state travelers : Provide contact information or face a $ 2,000 fine Should New York have acted sooner ?
Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all nonessential businesses earlier in March , rather than on March 22 , when the number of cases had reached 15,000 and deaths reached 114 .
He has also been knocked for a directive March 25 to return residents of nursing homes with COVID-19 back to the facilities .
The order was reversed in early May , and a Health Department study last week contended the directive was n't the reason for more than 6,000 deaths in nursing homes ; rather it was spread by workers and visitors earlier in March and sooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contended that New York may have been able to save as many as 17,000 lives if it had shut the state down two weeks earlier than it did .
`` I think there 's two ways of sort of looking at this , '' Gupta said .
`` On one hand , the house was on fire , and Gov .
Cuomo helped put the fire out .
`` But I think there 's also , we heard from a lot of our medical contributors today , infectious disease specialists , who say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the legacy , part of the story will be that , did New York act too slowly as well , initially ? ''
Still , Gupta said , `` New York is the place , at least within the United States , that people will point to and say they did – they have done a good job .
That 's a place that has at least given a little bit of inspiration to other places that they can bring these numbers down . ''
Some lawmakers were critical of the poster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % snark : how is this not wildly offensive ?
This is an artful monument to death and tragedy being sold by the state .
I ’ m legit perplexed , '' Sen. Zellnor Myrie , D-Brooklyn , said on Twitter .
New York 's slow reopening in four phases since May 15 has gone fairly smooth , and the infection rates and death tolls have stayed low even as businesses , recreational activities and retail resumed .
Compare that with record-high infection rates in many parts of the country , Cuomo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't take proper safety precautions , such as social distancing and mask wearing – which Cuomo mandated in New York in mid-April .
Initially , states sought to either ban New Yorkers from entering or require them to quarantine when they arrived .
Now , New York has a 14-day quarantine order on 22 states .
`` We 've been open now for about two months as a state , and we have the infection rate way down low .
And it was never going to work , what the president said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It was never going to work to deny it , hope that it was magically going to disappear or have states reopening without following science whatsoever . ''
Retail response to mask use : Walmart and Sam 's Club to require masks nationwide starting July 20 as COVID-19 cases rise Many Americans might not get another relief check : Here 's where things stand on another COVID-19 bill

Gov. Andrew Cuomo touts New York's COVID-19 response, faces backlash: 'Victory laps are not the thing to be doing'
Show Caption Hide Caption Cuomo goes after Trump on virus NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and for not wearing a mask in public. (July 1) AP
ALBANY, N.Y. – Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled a poster he helped design that showed, among many other things, New York coming down the mountain of the coronavirus pandemic.
"What we did was historic because we did tame the beast. We did turn the corner. We did plateau that mountain. And then we came down the other side," Cuomo declared at his regular COVID-19 briefing. "And they will be talking about what we did for decades to come."
They will also be talking about New York still having, by far, the highest death toll in the nation, even as its infection rate is among the lowest, Sanjay Gupta said Tuesday afternoon on CNN's "The Lead With Jake Tapper."
"I'm a little surprised by that poster, I got to tell you, because I think, if anything, what this virus has taught us is that we need to have a significant amount of humility," Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent, told Tapper. "This virus surprises us over and over again. There's no place in the country that's not vulnerable."
Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's senior adviser, said the problem was the federal government not shutting down travel from Europe to the USA for six weeks before the pandemic, leading to more than 3 million people coming to New York.
"You're damn right New York got hit the hardest, and it was only New Yorkers banding together that got us through this," Azzopardi said. "Spare me the punditry. This is a cautionary tale and one this illustration made crystal clear could and will repeat itself if we don't continue to stay smart, socially distance, wash your hands and wear a mask."
Taking safety steps in New York
Cuomo stressed that New York's infection rate, which hovers around 1% of those tested, could easily jump if residents are not diligent with safety precautions.
New York requires people from states with high infection rates to self-quarantine when they enter New York.
New York reported about 25,000 deaths from coronavirus as of Wednesday, but if "probable" deaths are counted, the total is about 32,400. The state Department of Health doesn't include probable deaths, but national trackers at John Hopkins University do.
New York had as many as 800 deaths a day from the virus in early April but cut the daily toll to a few in recent weeks.
The state with the second highest number of deaths is New Jersey with about 15,500.
"We just have to cross our fingers and hope that it stays there because you see the infections now all across the country, and it's going crazy," Cuomo said Monday night on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon." "We're just worried that the infection is going to come from other states now, back to New York, which would be a real tragedy."
Coronavirus in New York: As deaths and cases soar, should NY leaders have acted sooner?
Cuomo touts New York's success on poster
Gupta and Tapper on CNN, which is home to a nightly prime-time show hosted by the governor's younger brother, Chris, were critical of Cuomo's tone and poster.
"I think that we should have learned, I think we have learned, that victory laps are not the thing to be doing, because we're not through this by a long shot, sad to say, even in New York," Gupta said.
Tapper said Cuomo's poster – which the state sells for $11.50, the cost of production – has plenty of symbols, but none about the state's death toll, calling it "revisionism."
"No rendering on that poster of criticism that Gov. Cuomo ignored warnings, no depiction of the study that he could have saved thousands of lives had he and Mayor de Blasio acted sooner," Tapper said. "No painting there on the poster of his since-rescinded order that nursing homes take all infected patients in."
The governor has been a regular guest on his brother's CNN show, and last month, Chris Cuomo hailed his brother's management of the virus.
"Obviously, I love you as a brother; obviously, I'll never be objective; obviously, I think you're the best politician in the country," Chris said. "But I hope you feel good about what you did for your people because I know they appreciate it. ... I've never seen anything like what you did, and that's why I'm so happy to have had you on the show. And I hope you know that."
New York to out-of-state travelers: Provide contact information or face a $2,000 fine
Should New York have acted sooner?
Cuomo has faced criticism for not shutting down all nonessential businesses earlier in March, rather than on March 22, when the number of cases had reached 15,000 and deaths reached 114.
He has also been knocked for a directive March 25 to return residents of nursing homes with COVID-19 back to the facilities.
The order was reversed in early May, and a Health Department study last week contended the directive wasn't the reason for more than 6,000 deaths in nursing homes; rather it was spread by workers and visitors earlier in March and sooner.
A Columbia University study in May contended that New York may have been able to save as many as 17,000 lives if it had shut the state down two weeks earlier than it did.
"I think there's two ways of sort of looking at this," Gupta said. "On one hand, the house was on fire, and Gov. Cuomo helped put the fire out.
"But I think there's also, we heard from a lot of our medical contributors today, infectious disease specialists, who say, look, I mean, part of the legacy, part of the story will be that, did New York act too slowly as well, initially?"
Still, Gupta said, "New York is the place, at least within the United States, that people will point to and say they did – they have done a good job. That's a place that has at least given a little bit of inspiration to other places that they can bring these numbers down."
Some lawmakers were critical of the poster.
"I mean this with 0% snark: how is this not wildly offensive? This is an artful monument to death and tragedy being sold by the state. I’m legit perplexed," Sen. Zellnor Myrie, D-Brooklyn, said on Twitter.
New York's reopening keeps infection rate low
New York's slow reopening in four phases since May 15 has gone fairly smooth, and the infection rates and death tolls have stayed low even as businesses, recreational activities and retail resumed.
Compare that with record-high infection rates in many parts of the country, Cuomo said, that opened too soon and didn't take proper safety precautions, such as social distancing and mask wearing – which Cuomo mandated in New York in mid-April.
Initially, states sought to either ban New Yorkers from entering or require them to quarantine when they arrived. Now, New York has a 14-day quarantine order on 22 states.
"We've been open now for about two months as a state, and we have the infection rate way down low. And it was never going to work, what the president said," the Democratic governor told Fallon. "It was never going to work to deny it, hope that it was magically going to disappear or have states reopening without following science whatsoever."
Follow Joseph Spector on Twitter: @GannettAlbany
Retail response to mask use: Walmart and Sam's Club to require masks nationwide starting July 20 as COVID-19 cases rise
Many Americans might not get another relief check: Here's where things stand on another COVID-19 bill


usatoday--2020-07-16--Breonna Taylor protesters want police in jail. Instead, 435 of them have been arrested.

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — The chants continued even as the zip ties closed on the wrists of the protester .
His hands cuffed behind his back , he shouted through his “ Breonna Taylor ” emblazoned mask : “ Say her name !
” The seated crowd of protesters , sometimes raising a fist and sometimes linking arm-in-arm as they awaited their imminent arrests for trespassing on Attorney General Daniel Cameron ’ s property on Tuesday evening , chanted back , “ Breonna Taylor !
” The man 's voice faded as he was escorted away by an officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued the next day , too , as a group of supporters cheered protesters after they were released from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections .
Since the protests began 49 days ago , 435 individuals have been arrested , according to Louisville Metro Police Department .
Those arrests have been a defining element of the demonstrations that have crisscrossed the city .
Protesters have been arrested for inciting a riot during repeated clashes with police downtown , for disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway during a Black Lives Matter Louisville-organized protest blocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for trespassing at Cameron 's home Tuesday during a protest organized by the national group Until Freedom .
The arrests , however , have not slowed protests , and instead have played a constant role in the Breonna Taylor movement .
The 87 arrested on Tuesday — and charged with felonies for intimidating a participant in the legal process — were the latest example of protesters being unfazed by punishment from a justice system they don ’ t endorse .
“ Getting arrested and engaging in civil disobedience sends a message that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we ’ re willing to risk more , ” said Linda Sarsour , co-founder of Until Freedom and one of the 87 arrested on Tuesday . '
I love getting locked up ... for standing up for what ’ s right . '
There have been daily , organic marches each day for the past seven weeks , and Sarsour and Until Freedom previously visited Kentucky for a rally in Frankfort in late June .
But being arrested can have a more profound impact .
“ What a direct action does is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was very clear that we were going to Attorney General Daniel Cameron ’ s house because he has influence and power over our demand , ” Sarsour said .
“ We had a singular demand : Arrest and charge the cops involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor.
” Some of the 87 arrested Tuesday were celebrities and athletes , and some came from out of town .
However , others , such as Sidney Williams , were Louisville residents who volunteered to be arrested for a cause they believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 hours and spent the night on a concrete floor .
What if the Breonna Taylor officers aren ’ t charged ?
Embers could spark a 'powder keg' “ The value of an arrest is , when people like me who have everyday 9-to-5 jobs and who are working in communities and serving and things of that nature , decide to risk getting arrested , that ’ s when I feel like we ’ re showing people in power that we mean business , ” Williams said .
Chris Wells , a leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was arrested on June 17 after protesters blocked traffic in downtown Louisville .
He ’ s quit his jobs and put his life “ on hold ” for the protests , and to him , the arrest is almost a badge of honor .
“ I love getting locked up , ” he said .
“ You know why ?
Because it was for standing up for what ’ s right .
I didn ’ t get locked up for selling drugs , I didn ’ t get locked up for killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get locked up for doing anything wrong .
I got locked up for standing up for what ’ s right.
” Wells was tackled by police as he was arrested , which he said was unfair .
He also took issue with his time in jail , when he said he asked for medical help but was not given any .
“ It felt like I was in hell , ” Wells said .
Carmen Jones , a Black woman arrested June 15 , said after being detained at 8 p.m. , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was treated differently than several white women who were arrested alongside her .
“ The police singled me out .
I was the only one to be searched .
I was the only one to be patted down .
I was the only one whose belongings were went through , ” she said .
Still , Jones said she would be willing to get arrested again , and that ’ s a belief embodied in one protester chant : “ We have nothing to lose but our chains.
” Reece Chenault , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among the 43 arrested on the Second Street Bridge on June 29 .
He said he was in jail for 12 hours , during which he slept on a concrete floor , aggravating his rotator cuff .
“ Some brothers with some ingenuity built a chessboard out of a blanket , ” he said of passing the time in the cell , using bits of sandwiches as chess pieces .
After protesters are released , there are systems and groups in place to provide food and emotional support — “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people , ” Chenault said — and protesters are also often paired with legal aid .
Lawyers step up for protesters in trouble David Mour , an attorney who has attended the protests since nearly the beginning , represents several of the protesters who have been arrested ; he said that several forces — attorney associations , bail groups , etc .
— will work together to provide each arrested protester with an attorney .
The hope is that none will be assigned a public defender .
“ There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing up to help out , so they ’ ll get representation , ” Mour said .
He said that many of the charges protesters face are exaggerated , such as a woman who was charged with assaulting a police officer after throwing water at an officer earlier this month during a standoff near Jefferson Square Park .
“ Most of these charges , this is just my opinion , it ’ s disorderly conduct , inciting rioting , failure to disperse , I don ’ t think they can make any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protesters are also often provided with other support after being released , including rides .
“ Most times after people get arrested , they ’ re ready to go home and just be in their bed , ” said Black Lives Matter Louisville organizer Talesha Wilson .
They don ’ t long remain there , though . '
I ’ ll gladly go back to jail until you arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor' Protest leaders repeatedly said on Tuesday that they would return to Cameron ’ s house again , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as Until Freedom , would continue with similar actions .
She called Tuesday an “ initial escalation ” to “ test the waters ” and that it would not be her last time in Louisville .
She took issue with the charges against her and the others arrested but said it wouldn ’ t dampen the movement ’ s energy .
“ We did absolutely trespass ; we can ’ t deny that charge , ” she said of the misdemeanor .
`` But we are being charged with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LMPD in hopes that they believe we will never do this ever again because of that charge .
We are not intimidated.
” Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said the felony charge stemmed from the belief that the protesters were using `` force or a threat '' directed toward a participant in the legal process , of which Cameron is .
`` Prior to arriving at the home , it was stated the intent of the protest was to 'escalate ' their actions , which in the past has indicated violent or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livestream , protesters are heard saying they will burn it down if they don ’ t get what they want , '' Halladay said in a statement .
Some protesters chanted `` If we do n't get it , burn it down , '' a variant of the typical , `` If we do n't get it , shut it down , '' as they gathered at Ballard High School on Tuesday , before protesters knew they would be marching to Cameron 's home .
Only Until Freedom leadership knew their destination at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chant `` burn it down '' while in Cameron 's front yard , although saying `` burn it down '' is a semi-common , general phrase from protesters .
As protesters emerged from detainment on Wednesday , they led chants and hugged one another .
Williams walked out with his arms high above his head , before receiving some food and his phone from supporters .
“ Everyone needs to start putting their bodies on the line , if they can , ” he said of being arrested , “ because they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arresting the cops that killed Breonna Taylor .
I ’ ll gladly go back to jail until you arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.
” 24 hours in a COVID-19 hot spot leaves no walk of life unscathed : This is what it 's like In 2018 , they vandalized a Frederick Douglass statue : Now they 'll help install a new one

Hayes Gardner, Louisville Courier Journal

Breonna Taylor protesters want police in jail. Instead, 435 of them have been arrested.
Show Caption Hide Caption Protesters arrested outside Kentucky AG's home Police say they arrested 87 demonstrators Tuesday who gathered at the home of Kentucky's Attorney General Daniel Cameron to demand justice for Breonna Taylor. (July 15) AP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The chants continued even as the zip ties closed on the wrists of the protester. His hands cuffed behind his back, he shouted through his “Breonna Taylor” emblazoned mask: “Say her name!”
The seated crowd of protesters, sometimes raising a fist and sometimes linking arm-in-arm as they awaited their imminent arrests for trespassing on Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s property on Tuesday evening, chanted back, “Breonna Taylor!”
The man's voice faded as he was escorted away by an officer, but the chants carried on. They continued the next day, too, as a group of supporters cheered protesters after they were released from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Since the protests began 49 days ago, 435 individuals have been arrested, according to Louisville Metro Police Department. Those arrests have been a defining element of the demonstrations that have crisscrossed the city.
Protesters have been arrested for inciting a riot during repeated clashes with police downtown, for disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway during a Black Lives Matter Louisville-organized protest blocking the Second Street Bridge last month, and for trespassing at Cameron's home Tuesday during a protest organized by the national group Until Freedom.
Fact check: Debunking 7 widely shared rumors in the Breonna Taylor police shooting
The arrests, however, have not slowed protests, and instead have played a constant role in the Breonna Taylor movement.
The 87 arrested on Tuesday — and charged with felonies for intimidating a participant in the legal process — were the latest example of protesters being unfazed by punishment from a justice system they don’t endorse.
“Getting arrested and engaging in civil disobedience sends a message that we’re willing to escalate, and we’re willing to risk more,” said Linda Sarsour, co-founder of Until Freedom and one of the 87 arrested on Tuesday.
'I love getting locked up ... for standing up for what’s right.'
There have been daily, organic marches each day for the past seven weeks, and Sarsour and Until Freedom previously visited Kentucky for a rally in Frankfort in late June.
But being arrested can have a more profound impact.
“What a direct action does is it takes us to a direct target. It was very clear that we were going to Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s house because he has influence and power over our demand,” Sarsour said. “We had a singular demand: Arrest and charge the cops involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor.”
Some of the 87 arrested Tuesday were celebrities and athletes, and some came from out of town. However, others, such as Sidney Williams, were Louisville residents who volunteered to be arrested for a cause they believe in. Williams said he was detained for 17 hours and spent the night on a concrete floor.
What if the Breonna Taylor officers aren’t charged? Embers could spark a 'powder keg'
“The value of an arrest is, when people like me who have everyday 9-to-5 jobs and who are working in communities and serving and things of that nature, decide to risk getting arrested, that’s when I feel like we’re showing people in power that we mean business,” Williams said.
Chris Wells, a leader at the daily Jefferson Square Park marches, was arrested on June 17 after protesters blocked traffic in downtown Louisville. He’s quit his jobs and put his life “on hold” for the protests, and to him, the arrest is almost a badge of honor.
“I love getting locked up,” he said. “You know why? Because it was for standing up for what’s right. I didn’t get locked up for selling drugs, I didn’t get locked up for killing no one, I didn’t get locked up for doing anything wrong. I got locked up for standing up for what’s right.”
Wells was tackled by police as he was arrested, which he said was unfair. He also took issue with his time in jail, when he said he asked for medical help but was not given any.
“It felt like I was in hell,” Wells said.
Carmen Jones, a Black woman arrested June 15, said after being detained at 8 p.m., she was released at 4:30 a.m. She said she was treated differently than several white women who were arrested alongside her.
“The police singled me out. I was the only one to be searched. I was the only one to be patted down. I was the only one whose belongings were went through,” she said.
Still, Jones said she would be willing to get arrested again, and that’s a belief embodied in one protester chant: “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Reece Chenault, a labor organizer and community activist, was among the 43 arrested on the Second Street Bridge on June 29. He said he was in jail for 12 hours, during which he slept on a concrete floor, aggravating his rotator cuff.
“Some brothers with some ingenuity built a chessboard out of a blanket,” he said of passing the time in the cell, using bits of sandwiches as chess pieces.
After protesters are released, there are systems and groups in place to provide food and emotional support — “It’s really stressful and really scary for a lot of people,” Chenault said — and protesters are also often paired with legal aid.
Lawyers step up for protesters in trouble
David Mour, an attorney who has attended the protests since nearly the beginning, represents several of the protesters who have been arrested; he said that several forces — attorney associations, bail groups, etc. — will work together to provide each arrested protester with an attorney. The hope is that none will be assigned a public defender.
“There are a lot of lawyers they’re signing up to help out, so they’ll get representation,” Mour said.
He said that many of the charges protesters face are exaggerated, such as a woman who was charged with assaulting a police officer after throwing water at an officer earlier this month during a standoff near Jefferson Square Park.
Tonight, as protesters attempted to stop @LMPD from towing a car, a woman threw water at one officer.
The officer quickly grabbed her, pushed her to the ground and arrested her.
People in the crowd say the officer says she threw a punch. Here’s the video. pic.twitter.com/fMCjxM4qXY — Bailey Loosemore (@bloosemore) July 8, 2020
“Most of these charges, this is just my opinion, it’s disorderly conduct, inciting rioting, failure to disperse, I don’t think they can make any of those charges,” he said.
Protesters are also often provided with other support after being released, including rides.
“Most times after people get arrested, they’re ready to go home and just be in their bed,” said Black Lives Matter Louisville organizer Talesha Wilson.
They don’t long remain there, though.
'I’ll gladly go back to jail until you arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor'
Protest leaders repeatedly said on Tuesday that they would return to Cameron’s house again, and on Wednesday, Sarsour said local activists, as well as Until Freedom, would continue with similar actions. She called Tuesday an “initial escalation” to “test the waters” and that it would not be her last time in Louisville.
She took issue with the charges against her and the others arrested but said it wouldn’t dampen the movement’s energy.
“We did absolutely trespass; we can’t deny that charge,” she said of the misdemeanor. "But we are being charged with a felony as an intimidation tactic by the LMPD in hopes that they believe we will never do this ever again because of that charge. We are not intimidated.”
Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said the felony charge stemmed from the belief that the protesters were using "force or a threat" directed toward a participant in the legal process, of which Cameron is.
"Prior to arriving at the home, it was stated the intent of the protest was to 'escalate' their actions, which in the past has indicated violent or destructive behavior. At one point on livestream, protesters are heard saying they will burn it down if they don’t get what they want," Halladay said in a statement.
Some protesters chanted "If we don't get it, burn it down," a variant of the typical, "If we don't get it, shut it down," as they gathered at Ballard High School on Tuesday, before protesters knew they would be marching to Cameron's home. Only Until Freedom leadership knew their destination at that time.
Protesters also appeared to chant "burn it down" while in Cameron's front yard, although saying "burn it down" is a semi-common, general phrase from protesters.
As protesters emerged from detainment on Wednesday, they led chants and hugged one another. Williams walked out with his arms high above his head, before receiving some food and his phone from supporters.
“Everyone needs to start putting their bodies on the line, if they can,” he said of being arrested, “because they will detain us for 17 hours instead of arresting the cops that killed Breonna Taylor. I’ll gladly go back to jail until you arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.”
Louisville police release video from sit-in at Daniel Cameron home LMPD released a video of protesters chanting "If we don't get it, burn it down," during a sit-in at Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's house. Louisville Metro Police Department video
Follow reporter Hayes Gardner on Twitter: @HayesGardner
24 hours in a COVID-19 hot spot leaves no walk of life unscathed: This is what it's like
In 2018, they vandalized a Frederick Douglass statue: Now they'll help install a new one


usatoday--2020-07-16--Alex Trebek is 'doing well,' says his cancer treatments are 'paying off'

Alex Trebek has some positive health updates for his fans .
In a video shared to YouTube Thursday , Trebek appeared sporting a new goatee to share some Jeopardy !
firsts and keep fans in the know about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis .
`` I ’ m doing well , '' the iconic TV host said .
`` I ’ ve been continuing my treatment and it is paying off .
Though it does fatigue me a great deal , my numbers are good .
I ’ m feeling great .
In fact , during the break from the studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be coming out July 21st . ''
Trebek first announced news of his book , `` The Answer Is …Reflections on My Life , '' in April , which is scheduled for release a day before his 80th birthday .
Trebek announced to the world in March that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer .
Throughout his treatment he 's continued to host `` Jeopardy ! ''
and provide fans with health updates along the way .
`` I 'd be lying if I said the journey had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
`` There were some good days , but a lot of not-so-good days .
I joked with friends that the cancer wo n't kill me , the chemo treatments will .
There were moments of great pain , days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned and sudden , massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on . ''
The TV host also shared that `` Jeopardy !
, '' which has suspended production due to the coronavirus pandemic , will open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some momentous past episodes of the game show starting July 20 .
`` I 'm here at home recording show openings for some very special 'Jeopardy ! '
episodes that will be coming up , '' Trebek said Thursday .
`` For the first time ever , we are going to open the ‘ Jeopardy !
’ vaults and take another look at some of our favorite episodes , including the very first ‘ Jeopardy ! '
show I ever hosted , mustache and all . ''
The game show 's producers looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought were the most compelling in the show 's 36-year history , according to a release issued by `` Jeopardy ! ''
More : Alex Trebek autobiography 'The Answer Is ... : Reflections on My Life ' coming this summer

Alex Trebek is 'doing well,' says his cancer treatments are 'paying off'
Show Caption Hide Caption 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek shares cancer important battle milestone Longtime "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek first told the world he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer on March 6, 2019. USA TODAY
Alex Trebek has some positive health updates for his fans.
In a video shared to YouTube Thursday, Trebek appeared sporting a new goatee to share some Jeopardy! firsts and keep fans in the know about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
"I’m doing well," the iconic TV host said. "I’ve been continuing my treatment and it is paying off. Though it does fatigue me a great deal, my numbers are good. I’m feeling great. In fact, during the break from the studio, I even wrote a book that will be coming out July 21."
Trebek first announced news of his book, "The Answer Is …Reflections on My Life," in April, which is scheduled for release a day before his 80th birthday.
The New York Times published an interview with Trebek Friday, where the 79-year-old stated that if his current course of cancer treatment fails, he plans to stop treatment.
"Yesterday morning my wife came to me and said, ‘How are you feeling?’ And I said, ‘I feel like I want to die.’ It was that bad,” he told the outlet. “There comes a time where you have to make a decision as to whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life, or whether you want to just ease yourself into the next level. It doesn’t bother me in the least.”
Trebek announced to the world in March 2019, that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Throughout his treatment he's continued to host "Jeopardy!" and provide fans with health updates along the way.
Alex Trebek’s kids share favorite: memories of ‘Jeopardy!’ host ahead of Father’s Day
"I'd be lying if I said the journey had been an easy one," he said in March. "There were some good days, but a lot of not-so-good days. I joked with friends that the cancer won't kill me, the chemo treatments will. There were moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned and sudden, massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on."
The TV host also shared that "Jeopardy!," which has suspended production due to the coronavirus pandemic, will open their "vaults" and begin airing some momentous past episodes of the game show starting July 20.
"I'm here at home recording show openings for some very special 'Jeopardy!' episodes that will be coming up," Trebek said Thursday. "For the first time ever, we are going to open the ‘Jeopardy!’ vaults and take another look at some of our favorite episodes, including the very first ‘Jeopardy!' show I ever hosted, mustache and all."
The game show's producers looked over 8,000 episodes and chose 20 they thought were the most compelling in the show's 36-year history, according to a release issued by "Jeopardy!"
More: Alex Trebek autobiography 'The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life' coming this summer


usatoday--2020-07-16--Cardi B responds to criticism about gifting 2-year-old daughter Kulture with an $8,000 bag

Cardi B and Offset 's daughter , Kulture , received quite a surprise gift on her birthday : an $ 8,000 Birkin bag .
The proud father and Migos rapper took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video of himself unboxing the pricey gift for his daughter , who turned 2 on July 10 , commenting `` Late is better then ( sic ) never I Birkin my baby . ''
`` Okay girl , I see you , you beautiful baby , '' he cheers in the video .
Kulture , wearing a pink fairy costume , holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it back in the box moments later .
While some fans made jokes about the extravagant present , many criticized the parents on social media for giving their toddler the pricey purse for her birthday .
'It 's about time ' : Offset on how he and Cardi B make time for Kulture Cardi B responded to the criticism on Twitter and Instagram on Thursday , stating that her daughter is `` gon na match Mommy . ''
`` When celebrities buy their kids jewelry and designer ( expletive ) , people be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
They only care about toys and candy , ' `` the 27-year-old rapper explained on her Instagram story .
`` Yeah , they only care about toys and candy , but the thing is the kids also go outside .
You know what I 'm saying ?
Kids go to restaurants , kids go to fancy places , celebrity kids , they go do red carpets . ''
She continued , referencing the high-end designer Chanel as an example : `` If I 'm fly and Daddy 's fly , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm wearing Cha-nay-nay , my kid 's having the same same , you know what I 'm saying ?
It 's not up to what the kids like .
If it was the kids , they 'd be outside in diapers . ''
She also took to Twitter to respond to a comment about her daughter preferring L.O.L .
Surprise !
Dolls over a Birkin bag .
`` Girl , she got the whole LOL target section , '' the mother tweeted , including a video of her daughter 's dollhouses .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing `` We can do light up shoes and princess dress all day in the house if we going out she got ta Match me !
If I ’ m fly my kid too . ''

Cardi B responds to criticism about gifting 2-year-old daughter Kulture with an $8,000 bag
Show Caption Hide Caption 4 words Cardi B invented that need to go in the dictionary immediately Rapper Cardi B has a lot to say. But these 4 words, she defined. USA TODAY
Cardi B and Offset's daughter, Kulture, received quite a surprise gift on her birthday: an $8,000 Birkin bag.
The proud father and Migos rapper took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video of himself unboxing the pricey gift for his daughter, who turned 2 on July 10, commenting "Late is better then (sic) never I Birkin my baby."
"Okay girl, I see you, you beautiful baby," he cheers in the video. Kulture, wearing a pink fairy costume, holds the bag, only to hilariously drop it back in the box moments later.
While some fans made jokes about the extravagant present, many criticized the parents on social media for giving their toddler the pricey purse for her birthday.
'It's about time': Offset on how he and Cardi B make time for Kulture
Cardi B responded to the criticism on Twitter and Instagram on Thursday, stating that her daughter is "gonna match Mommy."
"When celebrities buy their kids jewelry and designer (expletive), people be like, 'Kids don't care about that. They only care about toys and candy,' " the 27-year-old rapper explained on her Instagram story. "Yeah, they only care about toys and candy, but the thing is the kids also go outside. You know what I'm saying? Kids go to restaurants, kids go to fancy places, celebrity kids, they go do red carpets."
She continued, referencing the high-end designer Chanel as an example: "If I'm fly and Daddy's fly, then so is the kid. If I'm wearing Cha-nay-nay, my kid's having the same same, you know what I'm saying? It's not up to what the kids like. If it was the kids, they'd be outside in diapers."
Our kids gotta March the fly . pic.twitter.com/o1P0eY8XGS — iamcardib (@iamcardib) July 16, 2020
She also took to Twitter to respond to a comment about her daughter preferring L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls over a Birkin bag.
"Girl, she got the whole LOL target section," the mother tweeted, including a video of her daughter's dollhouses.
Girl she got the whole LOL target section.Nomore LOL lols 😂 https://t.co/3K296ftQXN pic.twitter.com/K1fLfMXCft — iamcardib (@iamcardib) July 16, 2020
She then responded to another hateful tweet by writing "We can do light up shoes and princess dress all day in the house if we going out she gotta Match me ! If I’m fly my kid too."


usatoday--2020-07-16--Air Force mom reunites with kids for 'date night'

Tech Sgt .
Ladonna Gardner flew all the way home from Qatar to surprise her kids at parent-child `` date @ @ @ @ @

Air Force mom reunites with kids for 'date night'
Tech Sgt. Ladonna Gardner flew all the way home from Qatar to surprise her kids at parent-child "date night" at school.
Militarykind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-16--FL police capture kangaroo on the run, squeeze into squad car

After receiving a call about a kangaroo running loose , Fort Lauderdale police officers managed to capture him and place @ @ @ @ @ .

Florida police capture escaped kangaroo
After receiving a call about a kangaroo running loose, Fort Lauderdale police officers managed to capture him and place him in a squad car.
USA TODAY