usatoday--2020-10-22--'A lot of chaos': Trump's rhetoric, a global pandemic and a tsunami of lawsuits complicate 2020 elec

'A lot of chaos': Trump's rhetoric, a global pandemic and a tsunami of lawsuits complicate 2020 election

WASHINGTON – By Election Night of 1876 , Democratic presidential candidate Samuel Tilden was just one electoral vote away from victory .
But returns from four states that could still hand the presidency to his Republican opponent , Rutherford B. Hayes , were in question .
Both candidates declared victory , and the dispute dragged on for months .
Threats of a civil war loomed .
Voter fraud and intimidation ran rampant .
Congress was forced to create an electoral commission that would decide the presidency .
Voting along party lines , it declared Hayes the winner by just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country finally had a president , inauguration was just two days away .
`` It was a violent time , '' said Franita Tolson , an election law expert from the University of Southern California .
More than 140 years later , the looming chaos of the 2020 presidential race harkens back to the ugliest , most antagonistic presidential election in U.S. history .
A tsunami of litigation over election rules is already underway , and analysts expect more in November , as disputes over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots continue to rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 220,000 people has prompted a record number of Americans to vote by mail , creating at least two nightmare scenarios : Thousands of ballots could be rejected for various technical reasons , such as allegedly mismatched signatures , and an anxious country may have to wait weeks for the election results .
Stoking the anxiety and deep political divisions is the incumbent candidate himself .
Lagging behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , President Donald Trump has relentlessly claimed that massive voter fraud involving mail-in ballots is underway and has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with three of his appointed justices , to intervene in a disputed election .
An abnormal election year : More than 1 million people could lose their vote Much of what might happen depends on how tight the race is .
`` If the election is not very close , then I do n't think the election is going to get a lot of litigation , '' said Rick Hansen , an election law expert from the University of California Irvine .
But if it 's close , Hansen said , expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several states .
The worst-case scenario , Tolson said , is violence in November as the country waits for days , if not weeks , for the election results .
In an era polarized politics and high-stakes election , a losing party ’ s refusal to acquiesce , although legally meaningless , could lead to civil unrest , she said .
Already , law enforcement agencies have sounded the alarm .
Threats of anti-government sentiment , civil unrest and disinformation `` will begin to converge with the presidential election in November in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , '' Jared Maples , chief of New Jersey 's Homeland Security Preparedness office warned last month .
The best course for the country is to accept that election results will be delayed and to let the process play out , said Penn State Harrisburg public policy professor Daniel Mallinson .
`` There 's nothing we can do about the president and his rhetoric , '' he said .
`` We need to cultivate this norm that we very well may not know who the president is on Election Night , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse than 2000 The tense recount in Florida in 2000 , when the Supreme Court ultimately decided the close race between President George W. Bush and Al Gore , has recently found its way back to national headlines , as pundits and political writers tried to find a modern-day comparison to the looming chaos of the 2020 presidential election .
But comparing the two is difficult , and 2020 – depending on how close the race is in critical battleground states – could be worse and will put the country 's archaic election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` 2000 is unusual because people felt like the Supreme Court decided the election .
It is possible that the Supreme Court could weigh in on some of the election results in certain states that ultimately end up deciding the ( 2020 ) election .
It is comparable in that sense , '' Tolson said .
For the Supreme Court to be involved in deciding the next presidential election , it would have to be so close – a difference of only a few thousand ballots – in swing states , Hansen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening … is small , '' Hansen said , but added it should still be a concern .
The issues on the ground are also different .
In 2000 , tensions did n't begin until after Election Day , when it became clear that the race was too close to call in Florida , Hansen said .
The 2020 presidential race is facing dueling controversies that are already underway and could stretch for days , if not weeks , after Nov. 3 .
The 2020 candidates are also very different from Gore and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of the election if he loses is a question hanging over the ongoing controversies and looming legal disputes .
After repeatedly refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power , Trump said during a townhall last week that he will accept the results if he is defeated .
But the president continued to raise doubts about the election process , claiming that `` thousands of ballots '' have been dumped .
While there have been instances of dumping ballots , the incidents are far from the scale or the massive conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Justice Department accused a New Jersey mail carrier of discarding nearly 2,000 pieces of mail , including 99 general election ballots .
In September , the Justice Department announced an inquiry into nine discarded mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania .
Aside from claims of voter fraud , fears over voter suppression have centered on mailboxes .
In California , a ballot box was set ablaze this weekend , and fire officials are investigating whether the act was an attempt to disenfranchise voters .
Republicans in the state had also placed unofficial ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further confusion into the issue .
Democrats decried it as an attempt to confuse voters , and that state officials said it could be illegal .
'We 'll protect their right to vote ' : How election officials are preparing for voter intimidation tactics What top law enforcement leaders are saying Although Attorney General William Barr testified before the House in July that he had `` no reason '' to believe the election would be `` rigged , '' as Trump has said , Barr has more recently echoed the president 's claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open to fraud and coercion '' and likened it to `` playing with fire . ''
Recently , the Justice Department changed its longstanding policy aimed at discouraging election interference , with new guidance giving prosecutors more authority to take action on voter fraud allegations even as voting is underway .
Matt Lloyd , spokesman for the Justice Department 's Criminal Division , said earlier this month that the guidance was part of communication that is `` routinely '' sent via email to federal prosecutors during election season .
`` No political appointee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or sending this email , '' Lloyd said .
Meanwhile , FBI Director Christopher Wray sought to tamp down concerns over voter fraud by telling a congressional committee last month that authorities had `` not seen , historically , any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election , whether it 's by mail or otherwise . ''
Despite the president 's claims of a `` rigged '' election , Wray and intelligence officials reaffirmed their confidence in the U.S. election system .
Officials said it would be difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although they said foreign adversaries are continuing to spread disinformation to sow chaos in the electoral process .
Foreign interference : Feds investigating scam emails threatening voters if they do n't vote for Trump 'The fight will be in Pennsylvania' Hundreds of local , state and federal lawsuits are already underway in several states .
But perhaps no other state will be more closely watched than Pennsylvania , experts say .
It 's a battleground state that Trump won narrowly by only 44,000 votes or 0.7 % in 2016 .
Several polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pennsylvania has been at the center of multiple litigations , one of which reached the Supreme Court .
On Monday , the high court allowed Pennsylvania to count ballots received up to three days after Election Day , a major defeat for Republicans who have sought to limit mail-in voting in the state .
The ruling could have an impact in several other states , including Michigan , North Carolina , Wisconsin and Minnesota , where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles .
In Pennsylvania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of chaos '' if the race is as close as it was in 2016 , said Mallinson .
`` Pennsylvania is in a place where we 're still getting used to mail-in balloting in the midst of this … high-stakes election , '' Mallinson said .
`` Like Florida in 2000 , the fight will be in Pennsylvania . ''
The battle in Pennsylvania : Trump barely won here in 2016 .
His 2020 election may depend on keeping this swing state .
One likely source of chaos on Election Day is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system that requires voters to place their ballots inside a secrecy envelope before putting them inside the return envelope may be too convoluting for many voters .
In the presidential primary in June , hundreds of voters neglected to put their ballots inside the secrecy envelopes .
Some counties , like Philadelphia , accepted the so-called `` naked ballots , '' while others rejected them .
In September , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that `` naked ballots '' will not be counted , causing an alarm among election officials over the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted in one of the most consequential battleground states .
The decision prompted Democrats to launch digital ads educating voters on how to vote by mail in Pennsylvania .
`` Will that be enough ? ''
Mallinson said .
`` Anytime you have rules in place that make voting more complicated , you raise the potential of disenfranchising people .
Are people in this case disenfranchising themselves ? ''
Lisa Deeley , chairwoman of the Philadelphia city commissioners , shared a similar sentiment in a September letter urging state lawmakers to eliminate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher-than-usual number of voters voting by mail for the first time in November , Deeley predicted that as many as 100,000 votes statewide could be rejected `` all because of a minor technicality . ''
`` It is the naked ballot ruling that is going to cause electoral chaos , '' Deeley , a Democrat , wrote .
Election in Pennsylvania : Judge throws out Trump campaign lawsuit over Pennsylvania poll-watching law and mail-in ballots Because of a record number of mail-in ballots , swing states such as Michigan , Iowa and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election workers to start pre-processing mail-in ballots – that is , opening and sorting them and verifying signatures – either the day before or a few days before Election Day .
In North Carolina , Florida and Ohio , pre-processing of ballots have already started .
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have yet to heed calls from local election workers to give them a head start .
In Pennsylvania , pre-processing ballots does not start until 7 a.m. on Nov. 3 , raising the likelihood of significant delays in tallying election results .
State Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers should be allowed to pre-process ballots early .
But negotiations have remained on a standstill as party leaders sparred over how much of a head start to give election workers .
Gov .
Tom Wolf and Democrats wanted as many as 21 days – now a moot point with just a little over two weeks left before the election .
Republicans proposed three days , which Democrats rejected because the bill would have also banned drop boxes .
`` In counties like Philadelphia , it 's going to take a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mallinson said .
`` As Americans , we 've gotten used to knowing who the winner is on Election Night .
There 's a lot of pressure on Pennsylvania to have a clear count as soon as possible . ''

'A lot of chaos': Trump's rhetoric, a global pandemic and tsunami of lawsuits complicate 2020 election
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – By Election Night of 1876, Democratic presidential candidate Samuel Tilden was just one electoral vote from victory. But returns from four states that could still hand the presidency to his Republican opponent, Rutherford B. Hayes, were in question.
Both candidates declared victory, and the dispute dragged on for months. Threats of a civil war loomed. Voter fraud and intimidation ran rampant. Congress was forced to create an electoral commission that would decide the presidency. Voting along party lines, it declared Hayes the winner by just one electoral vote.
By the time the country finally had a president, the inauguration was just two days away.
"It was a violent time," said Franita Tolson, an election law expert from the University of Southern California.
More than 140 years later, the looming chaos of the 2020 presidential race – marred by threats at home and abroad – harks back to the ugliest, most antagonistic presidential election in U.S. history.
A tsunami of litigation over election rules is already underway, and analysts expect more in November amid disputes over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots. A global pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 people in the U.S. has prompted a record number of Americans to vote by mail, creating at least two nightmare scenarios: Thousands of ballots could be rejected for various technical reasons, such as possibly mismatched signatures, and an anxious country may have to wait weeks for the election results.
Meanwhile, threats of foreign interference persist. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said Wednesday that Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information as part of an effort to spread disinformation and undermine U.S. elections.
Stoking the anxiety and deep political divisions is the incumbent candidate himself. Lagging behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, President Donald Trump has relentlessly claimed that massive voter fraud involving mail-in ballots is underway and has made clear he expects a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, with three of his appointed justices, to intervene in a disputed election.
Foreign interference: DNI John Ratcliffe says Iran, Russia interfering in presidential election
An abnormal election year: More than 1 million people could lose their vote
Much of what might happen depends on how tight the race is.
"If the election is not very close, then I don't think the election is going to get a lot of litigation," said Rick Hasen, an election law expert from the University of California-Irvine.
But if it's close, Hasen said, expect a kind of "trench warfare" in several states.
The worst-case scenario, Tolson said, is violence in November as the country waits for days, if not weeks, for the election results. In an era of polarized politics and a high-stakes election, a losing party’s refusal to acquiesce, although legally meaningless, could lead to civil unrest, she said.
Law enforcement agencies prepare: Foiled kidnapping of Michigan governor highlights fears of election-related conflict
Already, law enforcement agencies have sounded the alarm.
Threats of anti-government sentiment, civil unrest and disinformation "will begin to converge with the presidential election in November in a manner not previously experienced by our nation," Jared Maples, chief of New Jersey's Homeland Security Preparedness office warned last month.
The best course for the country is to accept that election results will be delayed and to let the process play out, said Penn State Harrisburg public policy professor Daniel Mallinson.
"There's nothing we can do about the president and his rhetoric," he said. "We need to cultivate this norm that we very well may not know who the president is on Election Night, and that's OK."
2020 could be worse than 2000
The tense recount in Florida in 2000, when the Supreme Court ultimately decided the close race between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, has recently found its way back to national headlines as pundits and political writers tried to find a modern-day comparison to the looming chaos of the 2020 presidential election.
But comparing the two is difficult, and 2020 – depending on how close the race is in crucial battleground states – could be worse and will put the country's archaic election infrastructure to the test, experts say.
"2000 is unusual because people felt like the Supreme Court decided the election. It is possible that the Supreme Court could weigh in on some of the election results in certain states that ultimately end up deciding the (2020) election. It is comparable in that sense," Tolson said.
For the Supreme Court to be involved in deciding the next presidential election, it would have to be close – a difference of only a few thousand ballots – in swing states, Hasen said.
"The odds of that happening … is small," Hasen said, but he added it should still be a concern.
The issues on the ground are also different.
In 2000, tensions didn't begin until after Election Day, when it became clear that the race was too close to call in Florida, Hasen said. The 2020 presidential race is facing dueling controversies that are already underway and could stretch for days, if not weeks, after Nov. 3.
Transfer of power
The 2020 candidates are also very different from Bush and Gore. Reflecting on his concession to Bush in December 2000 after weeks of litigation, Gore told Reuters in August that he didn't want to further divide the country by dragging out the race.
Whether Trump will accept the result of the election if he loses is a question hanging over the controversies and looming legal disputes.
After repeatedly refusing to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, Trump said during a town hall last week that he will accept the results if he is defeated. But the president continued to raise doubts about the election process, claiming that "thousands of ballots" have been dumped.
President Trump answers hard question about white supremacy Questions about denouncing white supremacy came up again for President Trump at an NBC town hall. USA TODAY
While there have been instances of dumping ballots, the incidents are far from the scale or the massive conspiracy the president suggests.
In early October, the Justice Department accused a New Jersey mail carrier of discarding nearly 2,000 pieces of mail, including 99 general election ballots. In September, the Justice Department announced an inquiry into nine discarded mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania.
Aside from claims of voter fraud, fears over voter suppression have centered on mailboxes.
In California, a ballot box was set ablaze this weekend, and fire officials were investigating whether the act was an attempt to disenfranchise voters. Republicans in the state had also placed unofficial ballot drop boxes at certain places, injecting further confusion over voting. Democrats decried it as an attempt to confuse voters, and state officials said it could be illegal.
'We'll protect their right to vote': How election officials are preparing for voter intimidation tactics
Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
What top law enforcement leaders are saying
Although Attorney General William Barr testified before the House in July that he had "no reason" to believe the election would be "rigged," as Trump has said, Barr has more recently echoed the president's claims that voting by mail is "very open to fraud and coercion" and likened it to "playing with fire."
Recently, the Justice Department changed its longstanding policy aimed at discouraging election interference, with new guidance giving prosecutors more authority to take action on voter fraud allegations even as voting is underway.
Matt Lloyd, spokesman for the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said earlier this month that the guidance was part of communication that is "routinely" sent via email to federal prosecutors during election season.
"No political appointee had any role in directing, preparing or sending this email," Lloyd said.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Christopher Wray sought to tamp down concerns over voter fraud by telling a congressional committee last month that authorities had "not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise."
Despite the president's claims of a "rigged" election, Wray and intelligence officials reaffirmed their confidence in the U.S. election system. Officials said it would be difficult to manipulate voting results on a massive scale, although they said foreign adversaries are spreading disinformation to sow chaos in the electoral process.
Foreign interference: Feds investigating scam emails threatening voters if they don't vote for Trump
In a brief and hastily scheduled news conference Wednesday night, Ratcliffe said Iran and Russia "have taken specific actions" to influence the public. Ratcliffe said Iran had sent Americans false information, including fake emails "to intimidate voters, incite social unrest and damage President Trump," as well as content claiming that fraudulent ballots can be sent from overseas.
"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries," Ratcliffe said, adding that officials have not seen the same level of activity from Russia, although he confirmed the Kremlin had obtained voter information as it had done during the 2016 presidential campaign.
'The fight will be in Pennsylvania'
Hundreds of local, state and federal lawsuits already have begun in several states.
But perhaps no other state will be more closely watched than Pennsylvania, experts say. It's a battleground state that Trump won by only 44,000 votes, or 0.7%, in 2016. Several polls show Biden leading in the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania has been at the center of multiple litigations, one of which reached the Supreme Court. On Monday, the high court allowed Pennsylvania to count ballots received up to three days after Election Day, a major defeat for Republicans who have sought to limit mail-in voting in the state. The ruling could have an influence in several other states, including Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Minnesota, where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles.
In Pennsylvania, "there's potential for a lot of chaos" if the race is as close as it was in 2016, Mallinson said.
"Pennsylvania is in a place where we're still getting used to mail-in balloting in the midst of this … high-stakes election," Mallinson said. "Like Florida in 2000, the fight will be in Pennsylvania."
The battle in Pennsylvania: Trump barely won here in 2016. His 2020 election may depend on keeping this swing state.
Democrats hope to win in swing state Pennsylvania Democrats hope to win in swing state Pennsylvania and rural towns like Wilkes Barre in Luzerne County. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey
'Naked' ballots
One likely source of chaos on Election Day is the state's mail-in voting system that requires voters to place their ballots inside a secrecy envelope before putting them inside the return envelope, which may be too convoluting for many voters. In the presidential primary in June, hundreds of voters neglected to put their ballots inside the secrecy envelopes. Some counties, like Philadelphia, accepted the "naked ballots," while others rejected them.
In September, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that "naked ballots" will not be counted, causing an alarm among election officials over the possibility that thousands of votes would not be counted in one of the most consequential battleground states.
The decision prompted Democrats to launch digital ads educating voters on how to vote by mail in Pennsylvania.
"Will that be enough?" Mallinson said. "Anytime you have rules in place that make voting more complicated, you raise the potential of disenfranchising people. Are people in this case disenfranchising themselves?"
Lisa Deeley, chairwoman of the Philadelphia city commissioners, shared a similar sentiment in a September letter urging state lawmakers to eliminate the requirement for secrecy envelopes. With a higher-than-usual number of voters voting by mail for the first time in November, Deeley predicted that as many as 100,000 votes statewide could be rejected "all because of a minor technicality."
"It is the naked ballot ruling that is going to cause electoral chaos," Deeley, a Democrat, wrote.
Election in Pennsylvania: Judge throws out Trump campaign lawsuit over Pennsylvania poll-watching law and mail-in ballots
Significant delays likely in key swing states
Because of a record number of mail-in ballots, swing states such as Michigan, Iowa and New Hampshire changed state laws to allow local election workers to start pre-processing mail-in ballots – that is, opening and sorting them and verifying signatures – either the day before or a few days before Election Day. In North Carolina, Florida and Ohio, pre-processing of ballots have already started.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have yet to heed calls from local election workers to give them a head start. In Pennsylvania, pre-processing ballots does not start until 7 a.m. on Nov. 3, raising the likelihood of significant delays in tallying election results.
State Democrats and Republicans both agree local election workers should be allowed to pre-process ballots early. But negotiations have remained on a standstill as party leaders sparred over how much of a head start to give election workers.
Gov. Tom Wolf and Democrats wanted as many as 21 days – now a moot point with just a little over two weeks left before the election. Republicans proposed three days, which Democrats rejected because the bill would have also banned drop boxes.
"In counties like Philadelphia, it's going to take a lot of time just to open the ballots," Mallinson said. "As Americans, we've gotten used to knowing who the winner is on Election Night. There's a lot of pressure on Pennsylvania to have a clear count as soon as possible."
Contributing: Kevin Johnson and Richard Wolf


usatoday--2020-10-22--Last chance for a long ball: Can Trump use the Nashville debate to shake up a race he's losing to Bi

The campaign debate Thursday is President Donald Trump 's last chance to throw a long ball .
Trailing by double digits in national polls and single digits in battleground states he needs , Trump faces a tough task at the forum in Nashville .
He needs to turn a race that has become a referendum on his handling of the coronavirus into a choice between him and an opponent he blasts as weak and dangerous .
For former Vice President Joe Biden , the job is easier : Do n't rock the boat .
`` The debate will give Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire nation , not just his supporters or his acolytes in the conservative media , so there 's a lot riding on it for him , '' said Alan Schroeder , a Northeastern University professor and author of `` Presidential Debates : 50 Years of High-Risk TV . ''
`` Biden 's chief task is to let Trump be Trump and , to the extent possible , get out of his way while he self-implodes . ''
In their debate three weeks ago , Trump interrupted and heckled Biden so relentlessly that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mute button , a device never before considered necessary .
After that first debate , in Cleveland , 60 % of viewers rated Biden 's performance as `` good , '' according to an Ipsos poll , and 66 % rated Trump 's performance as `` poor . ''
Final debate : Brace for another blistering showdown despite the new mute button It was n't clear whether anyone 's vote was changed .
That 's another challenge for Trump .
Views are so firmly entrenched that the pool of voters open to persuasion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News/YouGov poll released this week , just 5 % of likely voters are undecided , and only 3 % say there is even `` a chance I will change my mind . ''
Nearly 42 million Americans had cast their ballots by midday Wednesday , according to tracking by the U.S .
Elections Project .
The unprecedented flood of early and mail-in voting has been fueled by concerns about COVID-19 , the prospect of Election Day disruptions and supercharged interest in the election by both sides .
`` It 's the last big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is running out , '' said Carroll Doherty of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center , though a close election in a battleground state might be tipped by the final debate .
Who 's undecided ?
Donald Trump 's toughest hurdle to pull off a win : Most minds are made up The 90-minute debate is likely to draw an audience of more than 70 million viewers .
For the second time during this campaign , which has been defined and upended by the pandemic , the two candidates for president will stand side-by-side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the economy to climate change .
For a turbulent time , the head-to-head race has been remarkably steady .
Biden has led Trump from the time he clinched the Democratic nomination in March , though by a margin that has inched a bit wider over the past three weeks , according to a rolling average of polls by fivethirtyeight.com .
Biden leads nationally by more than 10 percentage points , 52.2 % -41.9 % , and has an edge of 6 to 8 points in the trio of Midwestern states that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College four years ago – Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
The week in polls : Trump roars back in Florida , Biden gains in Georgia Trump is n't the first incumbent president to be panned for his performance in the first debate of his reelection campaign .
In 1984 , President Ronald Reagan was so meandering in his first debate against Democrat Walter Mondale that it fueled questions about his mental fitness .
In 2012 , Barack Obama seemed disengaged in his first debate against Republican Mitt Romney .
Both Reagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debates that followed , and both won second terms .
Trump strategists predict he will moderate his rhetoric the second time around .
`` When you talk about style and you talk about approach , I do think that President Trump is going to give Joe Biden a little bit more room to explain himself on some of these issues , '' adviser Jason Miller said on `` Fox News Sunday . ''
Trump promised to try to knock Biden off his stride , including with questions about the business dealings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no signs of temperance by the president on the stump in recent days .
He has aired grievances and picked a public fight with Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious-disease specialist and someone who has higher favorable ratings than the president .
Nor has Trump spent much time behind closed doors preparing for the debate , instead appearing at a series of combative rallies in states that he carried in 2016 but where he is now tied or trailing .
'It 's not going to be fair' The debate rules have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission 's decision to mute each candidate 's microphone while the other is given two minutes to speak at the beginning of each segment `` crazy '' and the debate itself a `` setup . '
`` It 's not going to be fair , '' he said on `` Fox & Friends '' Tuesday .
He denounced anchor Kristen Welker , a White House correspondent for NBC , as `` terrible '' and a `` radical Democrat . ''
Kristen Welker:5 things to know about moderator of Thursday 's presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't show up .
His refusal to participate virtually in a planned second debate prompted the commission to cancel the town-hall-style forum , a lost opportunity .
Whatever his complaints , he does n't want to risk that again .
Twelve days before the balloting ends , no other tactic or event – not TV ads nor campaign rallies nor incendiary tweets – has so much potential to change this trajectory of the election .
It is a last chance for the candidates to make their closing arguments .
The president needs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he otherwise seems headed toward losing .
More : Trump tries to rev up base in unlikely battleground of Georgia as polls show tight race with Biden

Last chance for a long ball: Can Trump use the Nashville debate to shake up a race he's losing to Biden?
Show Caption Hide Caption Election 2020: Mics will be muted for portions of presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have their microphones cut off during portions of the final presidential debate. USA TODAY
The campaign debate Thursday is President Donald Trump's last chance to throw a long ball.
Trailing by double digits in national polls and single digits in battleground states he needs, Trump faces a tough task at the forum in Nashville. He needs to turn a race that has become a referendum on his handling of the coronavirus into a choice between him and an opponent he blasts as weak and dangerous.
For former Vice President Joe Biden, the job is easier: Don't rock the boat.
"The debate will give Trump his last big platform for reaching the entire nation, not just his supporters or his acolytes in the conservative media, so there's a lot riding on it for him," said Alan Schroeder, a Northeastern University professor and author of "Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High-Risk TV." "Biden's chief task is to let Trump be Trump and, to the extent possible, get out of his way while he self-implodes."
In their debate three weeks ago, Trump interrupted and heckled Biden so relentlessly that the Commission on Presidential Debates has added a mute button, a device never before considered necessary. After that first debate, in Cleveland, 60% of viewers rated Biden's performance as "good," according to an Ipsos poll, and 66% rated Trump's performance as "poor."
Final debate: Brace for another blistering showdown despite the new mute button
How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
It wasn't clear whether anyone's vote was changed.
That's another challenge for Trump. Views are so firmly entrenched that the pool of voters open to persuasion has nearly evaporated. In a Yahoo News/YouGov poll released this week, just 5% of likely voters are undecided, and only 3% say there is even "a chance I will change my mind."
Nearly 42 million Americans had cast their ballots by midday Wednesday, according to tracking by the U.S. Elections Project. The unprecedented flood of early and mail-in voting has been fueled by concerns about COVID-19, the prospect of Election Day disruptions and supercharged interest in the election by both sides.
"It's the last big event of the campaign, and time is running out," said Carroll Doherty of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center, though a close election in a battleground state might be tipped by the final debate.
Who's undecided? Donald Trump's toughest hurdle to pull off a win: Most minds are made up
The 90-minute debate is likely to draw an audience of more than 70 million viewers. For the second time during this campaign, which has been defined and upended by the pandemic, the two candidates for president will stand side-by-side as they discuss six big issues, from the economy to climate change.
Turbulent times, a steady horse race
For a turbulent time, the head-to-head race has been remarkably steady.
Biden has led Trump from the time he clinched the Democratic nomination in March, though by a margin that has inched a bit wider over the past three weeks, according to a rolling average of polls by fivethirtyeight.com. Biden leads nationally by more than 10 percentage points, 52.2%-41.9%, and has an edge of 6 to 8 points in the trio of Midwestern states that were crucial to Trump's victory in the Electoral College four years ago – Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The week in polls: Trump roars back in Florida, Biden gains in Georgia
Trump isn't the first incumbent president to be panned for his performance in the first debate of his reelection campaign. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan was so meandering in his first debate against Democrat Walter Mondale that it fueled questions about his mental fitness. In 2012, Barack Obama seemed disengaged in his first debate against Republican Mitt Romney.
Both Reagan and Obama recovered with strong performances in the debates that followed, and both won second terms.
Trump strategists predict he will moderate his rhetoric the second time around. "When you talk about style and you talk about approach, I do think that President Trump is going to give Joe Biden a little bit more room to explain himself on some of these issues," adviser Jason Miller said on "Fox News Sunday."
Trump promised to try to knock Biden off his stride, including with questions about the business dealings of his son Hunter.
There have been no signs of temperance by the president on the stump in recent days. He has aired grievances and picked a public fight with Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease specialist and someone who has higher favorable ratings than the president. Nor has Trump spent much time behind closed doors preparing for the debate, instead appearing at a series of combative rallies in states that he carried in 2016 but where he is now tied or trailing.
'It's not going to be fair'
The debate rules have raised Trump's ire. He called the commission's decision to mute each candidate's microphone while the other is given two minutes to speak at the beginning of each segment "crazy" and the debate itself a "setup.'
"It's not going to be fair," he said on "Fox & Friends" Tuesday. He denounced anchor Kristen Welker, a White House correspondent for NBC, as "terrible" and a "radical Democrat."
Kristen Welker: 5 things to know about moderator of Thursday's presidential debate
But Trump didn't say he wouldn't show up. His refusal to participate virtually in a planned second debate prompted the commission to cancel the town-hall-style forum, a lost opportunity. Whatever his complaints, he doesn't want to risk that again.
Twelve days before the balloting ends, no other tactic or event – not TV ads nor campaign rallies nor incendiary tweets – has so much potential to change this trajectory of the election. It is a last chance for the candidates to make their closing arguments.
The president needs the debate to shake up a race that he otherwise seems headed toward losing.
More: Trump tries to rev up base in unlikely battleground of Georgia as polls show tight race with Biden


usatoday--2020-10-22--Coronavirus updates: 'Witch City' announces stricter Halloween guidelines; CDC changes definition of

Coronavirus updates: 'Witch City' announces stricter Halloween guidelines; CDC changes definition of close contact to add short encounters

One of the world 's most notorious prisons has been ordered to cut its population by half due to a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 28 inmates and resulted in more than 2,200 infections .
A California appeals court described the situation at San Quentin State Prison , north of San Francisco , as `` the worst epidemiological disaster in California correctional history . ''
State prison officials are now deciding whether to transfer about 1,100 inmates from San Quentin or appeal the order .
Meanwhile , in Salem , Massachusetts , also known as `` Witch City , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent gatherings .
Businesses will shut down early , city officials will triple fines over the Halloween weekend and streets will be closed , NBC Boston reports .
Health experts fear that even small gatherings during Halloween , Thanksgiving and other holidays could cause a surge in COVID-19 cases .
• Spain is the first country in western Europe to reach 1 million cases of COVID-19 .
• Boston public schools are switching to all-remote learning starting Thursday in response to a rise in coronavirus cases .
• Former President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , slams President Trump 's response to the pandemic .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 8.3 million cases and 222,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The global totals : 41 million cases and 1.1 million deaths .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
Worked to death : Latino farmworkers have long been denied basic rights .
COVID-19 showed how deadly racism could be .
Read the latest installment in USA TODAY 's series , Deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
The South Carolina State Fair opened to huge , drive-thru crowds that gobbled funnel cake served through car windows and admired agriculture exhibits on the move .
Fair organizers decided that after more than 150 years of festivities , the show must do on , albeit with coronavirus-driven restrictions and shortened to just a couple days .
Fair Manager Nancy Smith more than 10,000 people came through in cars on Tuesday , opening day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but food windows remain open through Saturday .
The only rides were provided by the cars people arrived in .
“ Safety has always been our first priority , and we are so thrilled to see how our patrons have embraced the changes while still showing tremendous support for the fair , ” Smith said .
New Jersey woman whose husband died from virus blasts Trump A new Jersey woman whose police officer-husband died of complications related to COVID-19 , says she received a compassionate call from Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Glen Ridge Police Officer Charles `` Rob '' Roberts died in April , and this week Alice Roberts wrote an opinion piece criticizing the president for his response to the pandemic .
Roberts appeared on CNN 's `` New Day '' Wednesday , expressing her appreciation for Biden 's phone call and saying she received a similar call from Gov .
Phil Murphy .
She had no kind words for Trump .
By continue hosting what Roberts called `` super-spreader '' rallies , the president is `` spitting on all these loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I know a lot of people feel he speaks for them , and he ’ s just one of them , but he ’ s not one of us , '' she said .
`` He was able to get top-notch medical care '' compared to her husband , whose tests were `` mixed up , '' with results taking weeks to obtain .
U.S. health officials Wednesday redefined what counts as close contact with someone with COVID-19 to include briefer but repeated encounters .
For months , the CDC said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus .
On Wednesday , the CDC changed it to a total of 15 minutes or more – so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count .
The CDC advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks .
The change may prompt health departments to do contact tracing in cases where an exposure might previously have been considered too brief , said Dr. William Schaffner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It also serves notice that the coronavirus can spread more easily than many people realize , he added .
Obama : Donald Trump could n't 'protect himself , ' US from COVID Former President Barack Obama gave a fiery speech Wednesday in Philadelphia that attacked President Donald Trump as incompetent and surrounded by `` hacks , '' while promoting his former vice president , Joe Biden , as someone who would better deal with the pandemic and heal the economy .
Obama , in his first in-person campaign event two weeks before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 220,000 Americans died from COVID-19 , millions of jobs were lost and said the country ’ s reputation is in tatters around the world under Trump .
“ He hasn ’ t shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends , or treating the presidency like a reality show that he can use to get attention , ” Obama said .
“ This is not a reality show – this is reality .
The rest of us have had to live with the consequences of him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously.
” US numbers : State case records are leading to record deaths A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows 14 states set records for new cases in a week while six states had a record number of deaths in a week .
New case records were set in Alaska , Colorado , Idaho , Illinois , Indiana , Kansas , Kentucky , Michigan , Montana , New Mexico , Ohio , Utah , Wisconsin and Wyoming , and also Guam and Northern Mariana Islands .
Record numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana , Nebraska , Oklahoma , South Dakota and Wisconsin .
The United States has reported 8,336,031 cases and 222,176 deaths .
Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll on Wednesday announced stricter coronavirus restrictions for Halloween to prevent gatherings .
The new guidelines include early business shutdowns , road closures and travel and parking restrictions in Salem , NBC Boston reported .
`` We normally welcome throngs of visitors from around the globe to our community , '' Driscoll said at a news conference .
`` This is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send the message that , if you want to come to Salem , come in November , come next year . ''
Texas woman died from COVID-19 while on Spirit flight in July A woman in her 30s died from COVID-19 while on a Spirit Airlines flight in July , according to airport officials in Albuquerque , New Mexico .
The late July flight from Las Vegas to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Albuquerque when the crew reported an unresponsive female on board , according to Stephanie Kitts , a spokesperson for Albuquerque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report , and the fact that there was no mention of COVID at the time of the diversion , we treated this as we would any other medical incident , '' Kitts said .
Authorities responded and determined the woman was dead on arrival , she said .
Spain becomes first western Europe country to reach 1M COVID infections Spain became the first country in western Europe to accumulate more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 infections on Wednesday as the nation of 47 million struggles to contain a resurgence of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caseload since the start of the pandemic reached 1,005,295 after reporting 16,973 more cases in the past 24 hours .
The ministry attributes 34,366 deaths to COVID-19 .
Experts say that , as in most countries , the real numbers of infections and deaths are probably much higher because insufficient testing , asymptomatic cases and other issues impede authorities from capturing the true scale of the outbreak .
Both of Puerto Rico 's 911 call centers were shut down Wednesday night after several employees tested positive for the coronavirus , officials announced .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should call the island 's emergency management agency at 787-724-0124 or police at 787-343-2020 in an emergency .
He said both agencies are operating 24 hours a day .
It is the first time Puerto Rico has shut down its primary and secondary 911 call centers .
Janer said the buildings will be thoroughly cleaned and that he will soon announce when operations at the 911 call centers will resume .
It was unclear how many employees tested positive .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .

Coronavirus updates: FDA approves remdesivir as treatment for COVID-19; blood supply shortage looms; most Americans immunized by June?
Show Caption Hide Caption Former Pres. Obama slams Trump's COVID-19 responses at Biden rally Former President Barack Obama took aim at President Donald Trump's COVID-19 response at a rally in Philadelphia for Joe Biden. USA TODAY, Associated Press
Moderna announced a crucial step Thursday in its progress toward winning approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, saying it has secured all 30,000 participants for its Phase 3 study, more than a third of whom are of color. Meanwhile, the FDA approved the antiviral medicine remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19.
“Completing enrollment of the Phase 3 COVE study is an important milestone for the clinical development of our vaccine," CEO Stéphane Bancel said. "We are indebted to all of the participants."
A vaccine can't come fast enough. Blood supply agencies warn that demand is outstripping supply, and that things could get worse when flu season kicks into high gear later in the fall.
"A month or two ago we were at probably a good place ... because so many heard that message to come out (and donate)," said Kate Fry, CEO of America's Blood Centers. "But now it's lost that momentum. We see the blood supply steadily decrease."
In Massachusetts, Salem is known as "Witch City" and draws big Halloween crowds. Not this year. Officials have announced stricter guidelines for Halloween to prevent gatherings. Businesses will shut down early, city officials will triple fines over the Halloween weekend, and streets will be closed.
Some significant developments:
Spain is the first country in western Europe to reach 1 million cases of COVID-19.
Boston public schools are switching to all-remote learning starting Thursday in response to a rise in coronavirus cases.
Former President Barack Obama, in his first campaign event for Joe Biden, slams President Trump's response to the pandemic.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 8.3 million cases and 222,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 41 million cases and 1.1 million deaths.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
Worked to death: Latino farmworkers have long been denied basic rights. COVID-19 showed how deadly racism could be. Read the latest installment in USA TODAY's series, Deadly Discrimination.
When will there be a COVID vaccine? In general, scientists and public health experts say a COVID-19 vaccine could be approved at the earliest by December, but that doesn't mean it will be widely available to most Americans. The federal government is developing a distribution plan that would get vaccine to various populations first, such as essential workers, those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and the elderly. See what USA TODAY's expert panel has to say.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved the antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization.
As an antiviral drug, remdesivir works to stop replication of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the drug's manufacturer, Gilead. Previously authorized by the FDA for emergency use to treat COVID-19, the drug is now the first and only approved COVID-19 treatment in the United States, Gilead said in a release.
The drug is also known by its brand name Veklury.
A new study shows how quickly college students can spread the virus, linking them to a Wisconsin outbreak that resulted in a spike in nursing home deaths.
The study out of Kabara Cancer Research Institute in Wisconsin, which has not yet been formally peer-reviewed, found genetic links between an outbreak in La Crosse and infections among students at the university there.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse reopened campus with in-person instruction Sept. 8, before suspending instruction after a spike in cases Sept. 13. On-campus courses resumed Oct. 5.
Researchers said the outbreak in the town of La Crosse “coincided with the return to in-person instruction,” finding links between college-aged students and the “rapid transmission of the virus into more vulnerable populations.”
The study said the majority of cases were associated with the largest institution, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, followed by Viterbo University, also in La Crosse. Relatively few cases were associated with students enrolled at Western Technical College in La Crosse.
In recent weeks, La Crosse County has seen 19 deaths, most of them in long-term care facilities, according to county data.
– Elinor Aspegren
Indiana reported a new daily high of nearly 3,000 new coronavirus infections on Thursday as state health officials added 42 more COVID-19 deaths to the pandemic toll.
The 2,880 new infections reported by the Indiana State Department of Health topped the 2,521 new infections the agency reported Saturday that had been Indiana’s daily high. Indiana’s 42 new deaths raised the state’s pandemic death toll to 4,065.
Chicago businesses will have to close by 10 p.m. and residents are asked to limit gatherings to six people as the number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases among residents continues to rise, the city’s mayor announced Thursday.
“We are – no doubt whatsoever – in a second surge,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. “This is what it looks like.” Lightfoot also announced that bars without food licenses must stop serving customers indoors and liquor sales citywide must end at 9 p.m.
Lightfoot warned earlier this week that rising numbers of new confirmed cases could lead to reinstated restrictions on the city’s economy. As of Thursday, Lightfoot said the city was reporting an average of 645 new cases during the past seven days.
Immunization against the coronavirus could be accomplished for most Americans before the midway point of next year, according to one of the leaders of the effort to find a vaccine.
"It's not a certainty, but the plan — and I feel pretty confident — should make it such that by June, everybody could have been immunized in the U.S.," Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed, told ABC News Wednesday.
Slaoui said pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer could request emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and start vaccinating health care workers before the end of the year.
Most health care services have returned to some sense of normal operation since struggling at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but blood centers are still reporting significant declines in blood collections. The U.S. blood supply is at critically low levels, according to a joint statement issued late last week by the American Red Cross and other groups.
COVID-19, coupled with wildfires in the Western states, recent hurricanes and other storms have led to “unprecedented fluctuations,” the groups say. The approaching flu season and continued rise in COVID-19 cases will further decrease the nation’s blood supply as more people become sick and are unable to donate, experts say.
"We’re able to collect less, but demand is up and that’s what created this perfect storm," said Kate Fry, CEO of America's Blood Centers.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Biotech firm Moderna announced Thursday that it has enrolled all 30,000 participants in its COVID-19 vaccine trial – and that nearly 37% of them were non-white. The company had delayed the study for a few weeks in September to ensure adequate minority representation. About 10% of the volunteers are Black, 20% Hispanic and 4% Asian; a quarter were over 65 and 17% were at high risk for a serious case of COVID-19 for other reasons.
Company President Stephen Hoge said he expects the trial will meet two key milestones in mid-November: About half the participants will be two months past their second dose of the vaccine, meaning the company will have enough safety data to present to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and at least 53 of the participants will have caught COVID-19, so the company will have its first snapshot of effectiveness. Then the company will decide whether to submit an application to the FDA, which could take weeks to months to approve it or issue an emergency use authorization.
– Karen Weintraub
The South Carolina State Fair opened to huge, drive-thru crowds that gobbled funnel cake served through car windows and admired agriculture exhibits on the move. Fair organizers decided that after more than 150 years of festivities, the show must go on, albeit with coronavirus-driven restrictions and shortened to just a couple of days.
Fair Manager Nancy Smith said more than 10,000 people came through in cars on Tuesday, opening day. The bulk of the events wrapped up Wednesday, but food windows remain open through Saturday. The only rides were provided by the cars people arrived in.
“Safety has always been our first priority, and we are so thrilled to see how our patrons have embraced the changes while still showing tremendous support for the fair,” Smith said.
A new Jersey woman whose husband, a police officer, died of complications related to COVID-19 says she received a compassionate call from Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden but no call from President Donald Trump. Glen Ridge Police Officer Charles "Rob" Roberts died in April, and this week Alice Roberts wrote an opinion piece criticizing the president for his response to the pandemic. Roberts appeared on CNN's "New Day" Wednesday, expressing her appreciation for Biden's phone call and saying she received a similar call from Gov. Phil Murphy. She had no kind words for Trump.
By continuing to host what Roberts called "superspreader" rallies, the president is "spitting on all these loved ones' graves," she said.
"I know a lot of people feel he speaks for them, and he’s just one of them, but he’s not one of us," she said. "He was able to get top-notch medical care" compared to her husband, whose tests were "mixed up," and results took weeks to obtain.
– Nicholas Katzban, NorthJersey.com
U.S. health officials Wednesday redefined what counts as close contact with someone with COVID-19 to include briefer but repeated encounters. For months, the CDC said close contact meant spending a solid 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus. On Wednesday, the CDC changed it to a total of 15 minutes or more – so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count.
The CDC advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks. The change may prompt health departments to do contact tracing in cases where an exposure might previously have been considered too brief, said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. It also serves notice that the coronavirus can spread more easily than many people realize, he said.
Former President Barack Obama gave a fiery speech Wednesday in Philadelphia that attacked President Donald Trump as incompetent and surrounded by "hacks," while promoting Obama's former vice president, Joe Biden, as someone who would better deal with the pandemic and heal the economy.
Obama, in his first in-person campaign event two weeks before the end of 2020 voting, noted 220,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and millions of jobs have been lost He said the country’s reputation is in tatters around the world under Trump.
“He hasn’t shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends, or treating the presidency like a reality show that he can use to get attention,” Obama said. “This is not a reality show – this is reality. The rest of us have had to live with the consequences of him proving himself incapable of taking the job seriously.”
– Bart Jansen
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Wednesday shows 14 states set records for new cases in a week while six states had a record number of deaths in a week. New case records were set in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and also Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The United States has reported 8.3 million cases and more than 222,200 deaths.
– Mike Stucka
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll announced stricter coronavirus restrictions for Halloween to prevent gatherings. The new guidelines include early business shutdowns, road closures and travel and parking restrictions in Salem.
"We normally welcome throngs of visitors from around the globe to our community," Driscoll said at a news conference. "This is just not the year and we want to send the message that, if you want to come to Salem, come in November, come next year."
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-22--Voting 2020: Iran may be behind 'Proud Boy' emails; early voters could outpace Election Day ballots

U.S. authorities are blaming Iranian hackers for threatening emails claiming to be linked to the far-right , authoritarian group Proud Boys that were sent to voters in Florida , Pennsylvania and other states .
The emails threatened to `` come after '' voters who didn ’ t vote for President Donald Trump .
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said late Wednesday that voter registration information had been obtained by Iran and by Russia in an attempt to undermine confidence in the 2020 election .
Also Wednesday , the Supreme Court blocked a trial judge ’ s ruling that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , in which a voter completes a ballot and gives it to a poll worker who inserts it into a tabulation machine .
The system , allowed in some states , accommodates voters with disabilities and those at high-risk from COVID-19 .
( For the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic , you can follow our Thursday updates . )
Some context : Many court battles over state voting rules continue across the nation .
The pandemic has prompted a record number of Americans to vote by mail and created concerns thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of technical reasons .
An anxious country may have to wait weeks for election results .
More news to keep in mind : We 're less than two weeks until Election Day .
USA TODAY is keeping track of what 's happening as voters around the country cast ballots .
Keep refreshing this page for updates .
• An era of polarized politics and a losing party ’ s refusal to acquiesce , although legally meaningless , could lead to civil unrest .
• Voter turnout for this election could reach the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as early voting smashes records .
• A global election monitoring group , the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , will be deployed across the U.S. for this election .
If you want to go in-depth : Over the summer , Americans gathered in momentous numbers to protest racial injustice amid the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately affected Black people .
Some protesters say the movement shows the importance of voting .
Others say voting access has been a cudgel of their oppression .
Read more .
Voters have already been casting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show at least 44 million have voted .
In other numbers , the Guardian reports that more than 17 % of registered voters in swing states have had their mail-in ballots accepted .
Advocacy group : Trumpers intimidated New Mexico voters in some areas New Mexico Common Cause says caravans of flag-waving supporters of President Donald Trump appeared to obstruct and intimidate voters at two polling sites in predominantly Latino neighborhoods in the Albuquerque area last weekend .
Executive Director Heather Ferguson said the incidents took place on the first day of balloting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley and western reaches of Albuquerque on Central Avenue .
Ferguson estimated that dozens of potential voters in each location left without voting immediately as a result of the incidents before authorities interceded .
“ Voters felt like they had to run the gauntlet trying to get to the polling station , ” Ferguson said .
`` Many of them saw what was going on and just turned their vehicles around and left . ''
Iran and Russia obtained U.S. voter registration information in an attempt to undermine confidence in the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Ratcliffe said Iran sought to sow unrest in the U.S. in an attempt to damage the candidacy of President Donald Trump .
He also said that Russia has obtained voter information just as the Kremlin had done in when it interfered in the 2016 election .
`` These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries , '' Ratcliffe said .
`` We will not tolerate foreign interference in our election . ''
For the first time in election history , more people are expected to vote early than on Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , voter turnout nationally is already nearing 30 % of the overall 138.8 million people who voted four years ago .
If voters on Election Day turn out as expected , the U.S. could have the highest percentage of eligible voters actually vote since 1908 , according to Michael McDonald , associate professor of political science at the University of Florida , who manages the United States Elections Project .
Several states changed laws from four years ago to either offer or expand early voting , and more people are taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
States have also gotten better at reporting their daily vote tallies .
Thousands of ballots could be rejected and voters might be forced to wait days or weeks before a winner is determined , throwing the 2020 election into disarray .
Stoking the anxiety and deep political divisions is the incumbent candidate himself .
Lagging behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , President Donald Trump has relentlessly claimed that massive voter fraud involving mail-in ballots is underway and has hinted he expects a conservative-leaning Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to intervene in a disputed election .
`` If the election is not very close , then I do n't think the election is going to get a lot of litigation , '' said Rick Hansen , an election law expert from the University of California Irvine .
But if it 's close , Hansen said , expect a kind of `` trench warfare '' in several states .
Headlines from elsewhere and resources on voting • From ProPublica : Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • From Pew/Stateline : The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities .
• Ballotopedia : Resources and guides to not just the election , but also voting .
• Associated Press : More voting headlines that should be on your radar .
☑How to make sure your a mail-in ballot is counted and not discarded .
🗳 USA TODAY 's Voter Guide has everything you need on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter .
A global election monitoring group will be deployed across the U.S. for the presidential election on Nov. 3 .
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , or OSCE , an intergovernmental organization , has been monitoring elections among its 57 members in North America , Europe and Asia for two decades .
Its mission is to assess how well a democratic vote is functioning and to make recommendations for improvements in areas that touch on transparency , accountability and voter pluralism .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beginning in 2002 with the mid-term congressional elections that followed 2000 's presidential election of George W. Bush .
OSCE called the 2000 vote `` highly controversial , divisive and litigious . ''
Based on that assessment , 2020 could be eye-popping for the agency .

Voting 2020: Russia launching cyberattacks, FBI warns; judge tosses Trump lawsuit against NJ; early votes could outpace Election Day ballots
Show Caption Hide Caption US officials: Russia, Iran have obtained voter info U.S. officials say Iran is responsible for emails meant to intimidate American voters and sow unrest in multiple states, and Tehran and Moscow have also obtained voter registration with the goal of interfering in the election. (Oct. 21) AP
U.S. authorities are blaming Iranian hackers for threatening emails claiming to be linked to the far-right, authoritarian group Proud Boys that were sent to voters in Florida, Pennsylvania and other states.
The emails threatened to "come after" voters who didn’t vote for President Donald Trump. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said late Wednesday that voter registration information had been obtained by Iran and Russia in an attempt to undermine confidence in the 2020 election.
Also Wednesday, the Supreme Court blocked a trial judge’s ruling that would have allowed Alabama counties to offer curbside voting, in which a voter completes a ballot and gives it to a poll worker who inserts it into a tabulation machine. The system, allowed in some states, accommodates voters with disabilities and those at high-risk from COVID-19. (For the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic, you can follow our Thursday updates.)
Some context: Many court battles over state voting rules continue across the nation. The pandemic has prompted a record number of Americans to vote by mail and created concerns thousands of ballots could be rejected for a variety of technical reasons. An anxious country may have to wait weeks for election results.
More news to keep in mind: We're less than two weeks until Election Day. USA TODAY is keeping track of what's happening as voters around the country cast ballots. Keep refreshing this page for updates.
An era of polarized politics and a losing party’s refusal to acquiesce, although legally meaningless, could lead to civil unrest.
Voter turnout for this election could reach the highest rate in more than a century as early voting smashes records.
A global election monitoring group, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, will be deployed across the U.S. for this election.
If you want to go in-depth: Over the summer, Americans gathered in momentous numbers to protest racial injustice amid a pandemic that disproportionately affected Black and Latino people. Some protesters say the movement shows the importance of voting. Others say voting access has been a cudgel of their oppression. Read more.
Voters have already been casting ballots: Numbers compiled by the U.S. Elections Project website show more than 46 million have voted. In other numbers, the Guardian reports that more than 17% of registered voters in swing states have had their mail-in ballots accepted. USA TODAY's politics team has the latest updates from the campaign trail here.
A day after U.S. officials warned of attempts at election interference from Iran and Russia, the FBI posted an advisory saying state-sponsored Russian hackers have "conducted a campaign against a wide variety of U.S. targets'' at least since September. The targets include government networks at various levels as well as aviation networks.
The FBI said hackers compromised some of the networks and extracted files from at least two servers, but had not disrupted elections or government operations.
"There may be some risk to elections information housed on ... government networks,'' the advisory said, adding that there was "no evidence to date that integrity of elections data has been compromised.''
The new election rules instituted by New Jersey in response to the pandemic were upheld Thursday by a federal judge, who said President Trump’s campaign had no standing to sue and that its purported fears of voter fraud are speculative.
The campaign said New Jersey’s new rules, which allow local election officials to begin counting ballots 10 days before Election Day and permit them to count non-postmarked ballots received up to 48 hours after polls close, would lead to voter fraud.
U.S. District Judge Michael Schipp dismissed the lawsuit and refused to bar New Jersey from implementing the rules put in place by Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Legislature.
-- Terrence T. McDonald, The Bergen Record
Residents of a Colorado trailer park received notices telling them their rent would likely double if Democratic candidate Joe Biden wins the presidential election, but would remain the same for two years if President Donald Trump got reelected, according to a New York Times report.
Juana Hernandez, whose parents live at Pagel’s Trailer Park in Fort Morgan, about 80 miles from Denver, told the newspaper the notice with the landlord's name was left in the fence of their $280-a-month lot. She called it an attempt at intimidation and noted that most of the trailer park's residents are Hispanic.
State senator Julie Gonzales, an advocate for immigrants’ rights, said she alerted the state attorney general. “Two weeks before such a terribly consequential election, that type of intimidation has no place in Colorado,” Gonzales said.
Amid reports of long lines at early-voting stations throughout the country, professional sports venues -- with their wide spaces and rows of voting machines -- have emerged as a welcome option for voters who want to avoid the extended waits while having plenty of room for social distancing.
“This was an amazing, fantastic experience,” Jen Cox said after voting at State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks.
More than 20 NBA teams signed on to host voting or other election-related activities, such as voter registration, following a summer of social unrest over racial injustice and protests that included player participation. The NFL, MLB and NHL have also gotten involved in similar efforts to facilitate safe voting amid the pandemic.
“We’re going to have thousands every day between now and Election Day voting in NBA arenas,” said Kathy Behrens, president of the league’s social responsibility and player programs. “It feels good to be able to play such a vital role during this pandemic so people can vote safely and easily.”
-- The Associated Press
SPORTS TEAM OWNERS: They support players, but often donate to Republicans, USA TODAY Sports investigation finds
The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a new law making it harder for county auditors to process absentee ballot requests with missing or incomplete information, days before Iowa's deadline to request a ballot for the 2020 election. The court issued a decision Wednesday evening upholding a Republican-supported law that prevents auditors from using the state's voter registration database to fill in any missing information or correct errors when a voter requests an absentee ballot. The law instead requires the auditor's office to contact the voter by telephone, email or physical mail.
"The overwhelming majority of Iowans have repeatedly said they support voter ID," Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said. "It’s legal, constitutional and fair."
– Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register
New Mexico Common Cause says caravans of flag-waving supporters of President Donald Trump appeared to obstruct and intimidate voters at two polling sites in predominantly Latino neighborhoods in the Albuquerque area last weekend.
Executive Director Heather Ferguson said the incidents took place on the first day of balloting at voter convenience centers in the South Valley and western reaches of Albuquerque on Central Avenue. Ferguson estimated that dozens of potential voters in each location left without voting immediately as a result of the incidents before authorities interceded.
“Voters felt like they had to run the gauntlet trying to get to the polling station,” Ferguson said. "Many of them saw what was going on and just turned their vehicles around and left."
This cheat sheet from Columbia Journalism Review offers tips for media organizations reporting on election 2020. There's a lot of good stuff to keep in mind:
Voting problems aren't failures. They happen every year and, as CJR notes, hiccups such as voting machines not working or polling places opening late don't mean anything is "rigged."
They happen every year and, as CJR notes, hiccups such as voting machines not working or polling places opening late don't mean anything is "rigged." Some problems, however, are significant. CJR recommends the media scrutinize areas that have a history of voter suppression or obstructing minority voters, calling out Georgia as a place to monitor.
CJR recommends the media scrutinize areas that have a history of voter suppression or obstructing minority voters, calling out Georgia as a place to monitor. Don't expect a winner on Election Night . This year is different because mail-in ballots could be as high as 30%. Previously, that number was 3%-5%. It will take a while to tally.
. This year is different because mail-in ballots could be as high as 30%. Previously, that number was 3%-5%. It will take a while to tally. Seriously, expect to wait. State vote certification deadlines differ and don't have to be reported to the federal level until Dec. 8. Additionally, the Electoral College doesn’t meet until Dec. 14.
Iran and Russia obtained U.S. voter registration information in an attempt to undermine confidence in the 2020 election, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said. Ratcliffe said Iran sought to sow unrest in the U.S. in an attempt to damage the candidacy of President Donald Trump. He also said that Russia has obtained voter information just as the Kremlin had done in when it interfered in the 2016 election.
"These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries," Ratcliffe said. "We will not tolerate foreign interference in our election."
– Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips
Early ballots will outnumber Election Day votes
For the first time in election history, more people are expected to vote early than on Election Day. With less than two weeks until the election, voter turnout nationally is already nearing 30% of the overall 138.8 million people who voted four years ago.
If voters on Election Day turn out as expected, the U.S. could have the highest percentage of eligible voters actually vote since 1908, according to Michael McDonald, associate professor of political science at the University of Florida, who manages the United States Elections Project.
Several states changed laws from four years ago to either offer or expand early voting, and more people are taking advantage of it, particularly voting by mail, amid the coronavirus pandemic. States have also gotten better at reporting their daily vote tallies.
– Joey Garrison
Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Thousands of ballots could be rejected and voters might be forced to wait days or weeks before a winner is determined, throwing the 2020 election into disarray. Stoking the anxiety and deep political divisions is the incumbent candidate himself. Lagging behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the polls, President Donald Trump has relentlessly claimed that massive voter fraud involving mail-in ballots is underway and has hinted he expects a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, with three of his appointed justices, to intervene in a disputed election.
"If the election is not very close, then I don't think the election is going to get a lot of litigation," said Rick Hansen, an election law expert from the University of California Irvine. But if it's close, Hansen said, expect a kind of "trench warfare" in several states.
– Kristine Phillips
From ProPublica: Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters' ability to cast a ballot.
Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters' ability to cast a ballot. From Pew/Stateline: The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities.
The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities. Ballotopedia: Resources and guides to not just the election, but also voting.
Resources and guides to not just the election, but also voting. Associated Press: More voting headlines that should be on your radar.
☑How to make sure your a mail-in ballot is counted and not discarded.
🗳 USA TODAY's Voter Guide has everything you need on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues.
📧For updates to your inbox, subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter.
A global election monitoring group will be deployed across the U.S. for the presidential election on Nov. 3. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, an intergovernmental organization, has been monitoring elections among its 57 members in North America, Europe and Asia for two decades. Its mission is to assess how well a democratic vote is functioning and to make recommendations for improvements in areas that touch on transparency, accountability and voter pluralism.
OSCE has observed eight previous U.S. elections, beginning in 2002 with the mid-term congressional elections that followed 2000's presidential election of George W. Bush. OSCE called the 2000 vote "highly controversial, divisive and litigious." Based on that assessment, 2020 could be eye-popping for the agency.
– Kim Hjelmgaard
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-22--Presidential debate: Trump history shows Kristen Welker has her work cut out for her

Poor Donald Trump .
Always being picked on .
Misunderstood .
And being treated unfairly .
You would never believe this guy is the president of the United States of America .
He whines , he complains , he laments , and cries foul that everyone is against him .
Especially the “ left-wing ” media and “ fake news.
” This week ’ s chief victim is the moderator of Thursday night ’ s debate , NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker .
A Black woman .
“ Kristen Welker is terrible , '' Trump lamented on Fox News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; her father and mother are big supporters of Joe Biden for a long time .
They 're supporters of the Democrat Party , and she deleted her entire account . ''
My response to that is , Chris Wallace , who moderated the first debate , works for Fox News .
Isn ’ t he tied up with an ultra conservative pro-Trump network ?
Also , Welker did not delete her account .
It is still very active on Twitter .
If Trump ’ s attack were not enough , in came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted : “ Choosing Democrat Welker as a 'moderator ' is one more example of why the Commission on Presidential Debates should be abolished and no Republican candidate should ever again agree to work with them.
” This is how Republican men treat women .
It ’ s standard operating procedure .
What a week Trump and his male sycophants had .
Trump also attacked Leslie Stahlof CBS for conducting a `` FAKE and BIASED interview '' and for “ not wearing a mask ” as they taped a `` 60 Minutes '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Republicans ’ steady favorite targetsis Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris..
I asked in Politico Magazine in October 2017 , “ What 's Trump 's Problem with Black Women ?
” “ I feared this during the campaign , when Trump subtly encouraged racist strains in American politics .
I knew it when he failed to condemn white supremacists after Charlottesville .
But what stands out to me recently are his ongoing attacks on Black women and other women of color .
The president isn ’ t one to hold his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular to enjoy berating , belittling and bemoaning strong , independent black women .
Worse , he dismisses them entirely — reinforcing America ’ s worst stereotypes and encouraging the most bigoted — yes , deplorable — among us not to reform , but to join in.
” 'Kamala-mala-mala : ' If her first name is supposedly so difficult to say , try 'Sen .
Harris' Since that piece appeared , Trump has had run-ins with Black female White House correspondents like Yamiche Alcindor of PBS , April Ryan of American Urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN .
He has very few if any Black women in his administration .
He called his own former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman a “ dog.
” Trump also has publicly called Harris a “ monster ” and a “ communist.
” These are things no president before him would have ever said out loud in the light of day about a woman , much less a sitting U.S. senator who is now the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States of America .
Clearly , this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor respect Black women .
Welker must be tough on Trump The last time a Black woman moderated a presidential debate was in 1992 , when Carole Simpson moderated the George H.W .
Bush-Bill Clinton-Ross Perot town hall .
Back then Black female network journalists like Simpson were super rare .
Twenty-eight years later , Black women journalists are more common , and Welker is now headed for the moderator 's seat .
Given this backdrop , we know that Welker will have her work cut out for her .
So what should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : For the final debate , forget the 'Trump curve . '
Grade the president on facts and truth .
My advice : Be 10 times tougher than Savannah Guthrie was on Trumpwhen he tried to lie , deny or ignore her questions at the NBC town hall last week .
For Welker , as a woman of color , she has to watch the ugly , old stereotypes that often plague us as strong professional Black women .
She has to walk a line that Savannah Guthrie did not , namely that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Trump when he inevitably violates the debate rules or attacks her .
And she can ’ t be too soft either .
But all of that aside , what Welker needs to do most is to be herself .
She was chosen to be on that stage because she is competent and qualified .
And she must be in command of that debate from the moment it starts until the moment it finishes .
Sophia A. Nelson is a CNN commentator , journalist , and author of “ E Pluribus One : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United America.
” Follow her on Twitter : @ IAmSophiaNelson

Presidential debate: Trump history shows Kristen Welker has her work cut out for her Trump clearly does not think well of nor respect Black women. Moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News must be tough and in command from start to finish.
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Poor Donald Trump. Always being picked on. Misunderstood. And being treated unfairly. You would never believe this guy is the president of the United States of America. He whines, he complains, he laments, and cries foul that everyone is against him. Especially the “left-wing” media and “fake news.”
This week’s chief victim is the moderator of Thursday night’s debate, NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker. A Black woman. “Kristen Welker is terrible," Trump lamented on Fox News. "I mean she is totally partisan; her father and mother are big supporters of Joe Biden for a long time. They're supporters of the Democrat Party, and she deleted her entire account."
My response to that is, Chris Wallace, who moderated the first debate, works for Fox News. Isn’t he tied up with an ultra conservative pro-Trump network? Also, Welker did not delete her account. It is still very active on Twitter.
Trump does not respect women
If Trump’s attack were not enough, in came former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who tweeted: “Choosing Democrat Welker as a 'moderator' is one more example of why the Commission on Presidential Debates should be abolished and no Republican candidate should ever again agree to work with them.”
This is how Republican men treat women. It’s standard operating procedure. What a week Trump and his male sycophants had. Trump also attacked Leslie Stahl of CBS for conducting a "FAKE and BIASED interview" and for “not wearing a mask” as they taped a "60 Minutes" appearance. And of course, one of the Republicans’ steady favorite targets is Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris..
I asked in Politico Magazine in October 2017, “What's Trump's Problem with Black Women?”
“I feared this during the campaign, when Trump subtly encouraged racist strains in American politics. I knew it when he failed to condemn white supremacists after Charlottesville. But what stands out to me recently are his ongoing attacks on Black women and other women of color. The president isn’t one to hold his fire for anyone, but he seems in particular to enjoy berating, belittling and bemoaning strong, independent black women. Worse, he dismisses them entirely — reinforcing America’s worst stereotypes and encouraging the most bigoted — yes, deplorable — among us not to reform, but to join in.”
'Kamala-mala-mala:' If her first name is supposedly so difficult to say, try 'Sen. Harris'
Since that piece appeared, Trump has had run-ins with Black female White House correspondents like Yamiche Alcindor of PBS, April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks and Abby D. Phillip of CNN. He has very few if any Black women in his administration. He called his own former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman a “dog.”
Trump also has publicly called Harris a “monster” and a “communist.” These are things no president before him would have ever said out loud in the light of day about a woman, much less a sitting U.S. senator who is now the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States of America.
Clearly, this is a man who does not think well of nor respect Black women.
Welker must be tough on Trump
The last time a Black woman moderated a presidential debate was in 1992, when Carole Simpson moderated the George H.W. Bush-Bill Clinton-Ross Perot town hall. Back then Black female network journalists like Simpson were super rare. Twenty-eight years later, Black women journalists are more common, and Welker is now headed for the moderator's seat.
Given this backdrop, we know that Welker will have her work cut out for her. So what should she do?
Judge Trump against history: For the final debate, forget the 'Trump curve.' Grade the president on facts and truth.
My advice: Be 10 times tougher than Savannah Guthrie was on Trump when he tried to lie, deny or ignore her questions at the NBC town hall last week. For Welker, as a woman of color, she has to watch the ugly, old stereotypes that often plague us as strong professional Black women. She has to walk a line that Savannah Guthrie did not, namely that she can’t be too tough on Trump when he inevitably violates the debate rules or attacks her. And she can’t be too soft either.
But all of that aside, what Welker needs to do most is to be herself. She was chosen to be on that stage because she is competent and qualified. And she must be in command of that debate from the moment it starts until the moment it finishes.
Sophia A. Nelson is a CNN commentator, journalist, and author of “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming Our Founders' Vision for a United America.” Follow her on Twitter: @IAmSophiaNelson