usatoday--2020-09-18--Opinion: LeBron James deserved the NBA MVP over Giannis. Here's why.

Well before this entire year went haywire with the coronavirus pandemic , racial unrest and an unstable economy , Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sounded apathetic on whether he cared about winning the NBA ’ s regular-season MVP award .
So after the NBA announced Friday that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo won the honor for the second consecutive year , perhaps James will keep that broader view in perspective .
We will see whether James uses that as any source of motivation when the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets Friday in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NBA was fixated on the intriguing awards race a week before the season was suspended , James shook his head dismissively on that line of questioning .
“ It ’ s never motivated me .
Regular-season MVP has never motivated me , ” James said then .
“ To be the best that ever played the game has motivated me , and has resulted in me being able to be league MVP a couple times.
” Fair enough .
James has already won four regular-season MVP awards ( 2009-10 , 2012-13 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles and three Finals MVPs ( 2012 , 2013 , 2016 ) .
Still , the way James led the Lakers this season should have resulted in another league MVP .
Sure , Antetokounmpo produced an extensive resume , so it 's not exactly outrageous that he won his second MVP .
He improved his numbers in points ( 29.5 ) and rebounds ( 13.6 ) in less playing time ( 30.4 ) compared to last season ’ s MVP resume , when he averaged 27.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in 32.8 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Year award by leading the league in defensive win shares and defensive rebounds ( 11.4 ) , while helping the Bucks to the league ’ s best defensive rating ( 102.5 ) .
And he became just the third player in NBA history , along with Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor , to average at least 29.5 rebounds , 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in a season .
While James has no rebuttal to some of those numbers , he posted his own stats that Antetokounmpo can not answer .
Before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in assists ( 10.6 ) .
Though Antetokounmpo won the first head-to-head matchup over James in points ( 34-21 ) , James edged Antetokounmpo in rebounds ( 12-11 ) and assists ( 11-7 ) before surpassing him in the second matchup in points ( 37-32 ) , assists ( 8-6 ) and holding him to a combined 2-of-10 clip in the second half .
While James does not deserve this award just because he played so well in his 17th season at 35 years old , he does deserve credit for playing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s suspension ( 60-57 ) .
Sure , James fulfilled this job description while playing with Anthony Davis .
After struggling in his first season with the Lakers both with his health and their young roster , James benefited with Davis ’ post presence and rim protection .
Though Antetokounmpo had proven teammates in Khris Middleton , Eric Bledsoe , Brook Lopez and Kyle Korver , he did not have the definitive second-star teammate that James had .
But while Antetokounmpo tried to build off his game through his own talent and roster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could have exposed other star players ’ inability to handle them .
James and Davis clicked instantly partly because James empowered Davis by making him the offensive focal point , setting an example with his work ethic and getting to know him well on and off the court .
Lakers coach Frank Vogel and his coaching staff succeeded in their first season with the Lakers because of their preparation and smarts .
But they also succeeded because James willingly bought into their coaching and influenced his teammates to follow .
Lakers general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s roster by adding more shooting ( Danny Green ) , perimeter defense ( Avery Bradley ) , veteran leadership ( Jared Dudley ) and rim protection ( Dwight Howard ) .
Despite adding eight new players before and during the season , the Lakers had relatively minimal hiccups with those roles .
James put them in a position to succeed , and his selflessness made his teammates less inclined to complain .
Some Bucks fans have taken offense that I credited James for helping the Lakers navigate through their grief after Kobe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bryant 's death struck the Lakers organization the hardest after playing with that franchise for 20 years .
Though those wounds will never heal , James played a significant role in comforting teammates and staff while ensuring the tragedy did not significantly affect the team ’ s play .
That is simply a sign of leadership .
I ’ m not going to bring up Antetokounmpo ’ s postseason struggles .
Though the timing of this announcement adds to the awkwardness , the MVP honor reflects regular-season contributions .
But what James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lakers for what they 're showing in the postseason .
“ I ’ ve never gone into the season saying ‘ OK , league MVP is what I want to be.
’ ” James said in March .
“ I ’ ve gone into the season saying , ‘ OK , I want to be the MVP of this team , I want to be the best player in the world in how I approach the game every day and how I take care of my body every day.
’ ” James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve hoisting some hardware this weekend .
He missed that opportunity .
But in a less than a month , he will have a chance to collect more meaningful trophies with the same mindset and play he has shown all year .

Opinion: LeBron James deserved the NBA MVP over Giannis. Here's why.
Well before this entire year went haywire with the coronavirus pandemic, racial unrest and an unstable economy, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sounded apathetic on whether he cared about winning the NBA’s regular-season MVP award.
So after the NBA announced Friday that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo won the honor for the second consecutive year, perhaps James will keep that broader view in perspective. We will see whether James uses that as any source of motivation when the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets Friday in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
During relatively normal times, when the NBA was fixated on the intriguing awards race a week before the season was suspended, James shook his head dismissively on that line of questioning.
“It’s never motivated me. Regular-season MVP has never motivated me,” James said then. “To be the best that ever played the game has motivated me, and has resulted in me being able to be league MVP a couple times.”
Fair enough. James has already won four regular-season MVP awards (2009-10, 2012-13). He much prefers having three NBA titles and three Finals MVPs (2012, 2013, 2016). Still, the way James led the Lakers this season should have resulted in another league MVP.
Sure, Antetokounmpo produced an extensive resume, so it's not exactly outrageous that he won his second MVP.
He improved his numbers in points (29.5) and rebounds (13.6) in less playing time (30.4) compared to last season’s MVP resume, when he averaged 27.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in 32.8 minutes. Antetokounmpo won the Defensive Player of the Year award by leading the league in defensive win shares and defensive rebounds (11.4), while helping the Bucks to the league’s best defensive rating (102.5). And he became just the third player in NBA history, along with Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor, to average at least 29.5 rebounds, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in a season.
While James has no rebuttal to some of those numbers, he posted his own stats that Antetokounmpo cannot answer. Before the season shutdown, James led the league in assists (10.6). Though Antetokounmpo won the first head-to-head matchup over James in points (34-21), James edged Antetokounmpo in rebounds (12-11) and assists (11-7) before surpassing him in the second matchup in points (37-32), assists (8-6) and holding him to a combined 2-of-10 clip in the second half.
While James does not deserve this award just because he played so well in his 17th season at 35 years old, he does deserve credit for playing more games than Antetokounmpo before the season’s suspension (60-57).
Sure, James fulfilled this job description while playing with Anthony Davis. After struggling in his first season with the Lakers both with his health and their young roster, James benefited with Davis’ post presence and rim protection. Though Antetokounmpo had proven teammates in Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and Kyle Korver, he did not have the definitive second-star teammate that James had. But while Antetokounmpo tried to build off his game through his own talent and roster continuity, James navigated through moving parts that could have exposed other star players’ inability to handle them.
James and Davis clicked instantly partly because James empowered Davis by making him the offensive focal point, setting an example with his work ethic and getting to know him well on and off the court. Lakers coach Frank Vogel and his coaching staff succeeded in their first season with the Lakers because of their preparation and smarts.
But they also succeeded because James willingly bought into their coaching and influenced his teammates to follow. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka improved the team’s roster by adding more shooting (Danny Green), perimeter defense (Avery Bradley), veteran leadership (Jared Dudley) and rim protection (Dwight Howard). Despite adding eight new players before and during the season, the Lakers had relatively minimal hiccups with those roles. James put them in a position to succeed, and his selflessness made his teammates less inclined to complain.
Some Bucks fans have taken offense that I credited James for helping the Lakers navigate through their grief after Kobe Bryant died. But it is unavoidable. Bryant's death struck the Lakers organization the hardest after playing with that franchise for 20 years. Though those wounds will never heal, James played a significant role in comforting teammates and staff while ensuring the tragedy did not significantly affect the team’s play. That is simply a sign of leadership.
I’m not going to bring up Antetokounmpo’s postseason struggles. Though the timing of this announcement adds to the awkwardness, the MVP honor reflects regular-season contributions. But what James did in the regular season helped prepare the Lakers for what they're showing in the postseason.
“I’ve never gone into the season saying ‘OK, league MVP is what I want to be.’” James said in March. “I’ve gone into the season saying, ‘OK, I want to be the MVP of this team, I want to be the best player in the world in how I approach the game every day and how I take care of my body every day.’”
James fulfilled that this season well enough to deserve hoisting some hardware this weekend. He missed that opportunity. But in a less than a month, he will have a chance to collect more meaningful trophies with the same mindset and play he has shown all year.
Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


usatoday--2020-09-17--Bear cub wakes up sunbather with gentle nudge

A Massachusetts homeowner was relaxing by his pool when he was startled by a curious bear cub .

Bear cub wakes up sunbather with gentle nudge
A Massachusetts homeowner was relaxing by his pool when he was startled by a curious bear cub.
Animalkind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-19--Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the oldest justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, has died at age 87

Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the oldest justice on the U.S. Supreme Court , has died at age 87 Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ died at age 87 .
Ginsburg is most noted for her lifelong fight for equality @ @ @

Remembering the life and accomplishments of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at age 87. Ginsburg is most noted for her lifelong fight for equality for women.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-18--President Trump's Supreme Court 'short list' - States of America

President Trump released his short list to fill any future Supreme Court vacancies and he ’ s doubling down on @ @ @ @ @ to entice conservative voters ?

President Trump's Supreme Court 'short list' - States of America
President Trump released his short list to fill any future Supreme Court vacancies and he’s doubling down on conservatives. Will it work to entice conservative voters?
States of America, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-18--Almost 4 in 10 Americans believe a foreign government has interfered in 2020 election, survey says

WASHINGTON – With less than 50 days until the general election , nearly four in ten Americans believe a foreign government has already interfered with the 2020 presidential election , according to a new survey .
Among the 39 % of Americans who believe a foreign government has already interfered in the November election , 76 % said it is somewhat or very likely to alter the election ’ s outcome , according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project .
“ There is a deep amount of anxiety among the American public and foreign interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group .
More : Ex-intelligence chief Dan Coats : Congress must create election commission so democracy can survive 2020 The survey comes a month after an intelligence assessment published by the chief of the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center found that Russia is actively working to `` denigrate '' Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , while China views President Donald Trump as `` unpredictable '' and prefers that he not win re-election .
The assessment also concluded that Iran is working to undermine Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfered in the 2016 election in hopes of benefiting Trump ’ s presidential campaign .
Among those surveyed who believe interference has occurred , the majority ( 59 % ) believe it is to benefit the Republican party , according to the Nationscape Insights analysis , a project of Democracy Fund , UCLA and USA TODAY .
Twenty percent believe it ’ s aiding the Democratic Party and 12 % say that the interference is trying to help both parties .
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle .
The most recent poll was done Sept. 3 to Sept. 9 , with 6,221 Americans surveyed .
The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points .
There are also substantial partisan divides among those who say foreign interference has already occurred .
More : Trump appointees torpedo report on threats to minority voting rights during the pandemic More than half ( 54 % ) of Democrats say that foreign interference has already occurred , compared to 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans .
Griffin said of the partisan divide that “ we 're still seeing the shadows of 2016 here.
” “ There 's an element here where people 's attitudes are just aligning with sort of the reality of the situation of 2016 , ” Griffin said .
Although there is also a strong partisan difference as to who the foreign interference is trying to help , even Republicans are likely to say the interference will benefit their party .
Nearly 1 in 3 ( 29 % ) of Republicans say interference will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half ( 51 % ) say it will help the GOP .
Get ready : Register to vote or check your status here Among Democrats , 18 % say interference will help their party while 69 % say it will help the Republican Party .
Among independents , 15 % say it will help Democrats while 48 % say it will help Republicans .

Almost 4 in 10 Americans believe a foreign government has interfered in 2020 election, survey says
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 – With less than 50 days until the general election, nearly four in ten Americans believe a foreign government has already interfered with the 2020 presidential election, according to a new survey.
Among the 39% of Americans who believe a foreign government has already interfered in the November election, 76% said it is somewhat or very likely to alter the election’s outcome, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
“There is a deep amount of anxiety among the American public and foreign interference this time,” said Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group.
More: Ex-intelligence chief Dan Coats: Congress must create election commission so democracy can survive 2020
The survey comes a month after an intelligence assessment published by the chief of the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center found that Russia is actively working to "denigrate" Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, while China views President Donald Trump as "unpredictable" and prefers that he not win re-election. The assessment also concluded that Iran is working to undermine Trump.
Intelligence officials previously found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election in hopes of benefiting Trump’s presidential campaign.
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
Among those surveyed who believe interference has occurred, the majority (59%) believe it is to benefit the Republican party, according to the Nationscape Insights analysis, a project of Democracy Fund, UCLA and USA TODAY. Twenty percent believe it’s aiding the Democratic Party and 12% say that the interference is trying to help both parties.
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate designed to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates during the 2020 election cycle. The most recent poll was done Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, with 6,221 Americans surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
There are also substantial partisan divides among those who say foreign interference has already occurred.
More: Trump appointees torpedo report on threats to minority voting rights during the pandemic
More than half (54%) of Democrats say that foreign interference has already occurred, compared to 31% of independents and 31% of Republicans.
Griffin said of the partisan divide that “we're still seeing the shadows of 2016 here.”
“There's an element here where people's attitudes are just aligning with sort of the reality of the situation of 2016,” Griffin said.
Although there is also a strong partisan difference as to who the foreign interference is trying to help, even Republicans are likely to say the interference will benefit their party.
Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) of Republicans say interference will help the Democratic Party, but about half (51%) say it will help the GOP.
Get ready: Register to vote or check your status here
Among Democrats, 18% say interference will help their party while 69% say it will help the Republican Party. Among independents, 15% say it will help Democrats while 48% say it will help Republicans.


RBG's impact

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday at the age of 87 , surrounded by her family .
Only the second woman to serve on the nation 's highest court , she dressed for decisions and dissents .
She had a special collar , or jabot , for announcing majority opinions from the bench and another for her frequent , and more celebrated , dissents .
Throughout her career , Ginsburg ’ s diminutive presence belied her titanic influence on the law , first as the nation ’ s preeminent litigator for women ’ s rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the high court ’ s liberal bloc , where she served as a bulwark against an increasingly conservative majority .
Here 's a look at some of her memorable opinions : United States v. Virginia ( 1996 ) : Struck down Virginia Military Institute 's male-only admissions policy as a violation of the 14th Amendment 's Equal Protection Clause .
The vote was 7-1 , with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia dissenting .
Ginsburg described as `` presumptively invalid ... a law or official policy that denies to women , simply because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , achieve , participate in , and contribute to society , based upon what they can do . ''
Olmstead v. L.C .
( 1999 ) : Ruled 6-3 that individuals with mental disabilities have the right to community-based housing under the Americans with Disabilities Act , provided that states have sufficient resources and treatment professionals say it 's appropriate .
`` Institutional placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life . ''
Friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 2000 ) : By a 7-2 vote , gave South Carolina residents standing to seek penalties for industrial pollution without having to prove injury , and even though the factory in question had closed .
`` A would-be polluter may or may not be dissuaded by the existence of a remedy on the books , but a defendant once hit in its pocketbook will surely think twice before polluting again . ''
Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission ( 2015 ) : Ruled 5-4 that states can try to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political maps by creating commissions that take power away from elected legislators .
`` Arizona voters sought to restore the core principle that voters should choose their representatives , not the other way around .
The elections clause , we affirm , does not hinder that endeavor . ''
Timbs v. Indiana ( 2019 ) : Ruled unanimously that states can not impose excessive fees , fines and forfeitures as criminal penalties .
The decision made clear that the Eighth Amendment 's prohibition against excessive fines applies to states and localities as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection against excessive fines guards against abuses of government ’ s punitive or criminal law-enforcement authority .
This safeguard , we hold , is 'fundamental to our scheme of ordered liberty . '
'' Bush v. Gore ( 2000 ) : Ginsburg and her three liberal colleagues each dissented from the court 's 5-4 decision halting the presidential recount ordered by Florida 's Supreme Court .
The majority ruled that no better method of counting votes could be established within the necessary timetable .
`` The court ’ s conclusion that a constitutionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court ’ s own judgment will not allow to be tested .
Such an untested prophecy should not decide the presidency of the United States . ''
Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. ( 2007 ) : Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case , which denied Lilly Ledbetter the right to sue her employer for gender-based pay discrimination because of the length of time that had passed since the violation .
`` Our precedent suggests , and lower courts have overwhelmingly held , that the unlawful practice is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( or race-based ) discrimination – a practice that occurs whenever a paycheck delivers less to a woman than to a similarly situated man . ''
Gonzales v. Carhart ( 2007 ) : Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case , which upheld a 2003 law passed by Congress outlawing a form of late-term abortion .
The majority ruled that it was not an undue burden on abortion rights .
`` The act , and the court ’ s defense of it , can not be understood as anything other than an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared again and again by this court – and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women ’ s lives . ''
Shelby County v. Holder ( 2013 ) : Perhaps Ginsburg 's most famous dissent criticized Chief Justice John Roberts ' 5-4 ruling that struck down a key section of the Voting Rights Act , freeing mostly southern states from having to clear voting changes with the federal government .
`` Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not getting wet . ''
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores ( 2014 ) : Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case , which determined that family-owned and other closely held companies can not be forced to offer insurance coverage for certain birth control methods they equate with abortion .
`` Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be perceived as favoring one religion over another , the very risk the Establishment Clause was designed to preclude .
The court , I fear , has ventured into a minefield @ @

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's top opinions and dissents, from VMI to Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday at the age of 87, surrounded by her family.
Only the second woman to serve on the nation's highest court, she dressed for decisions and dissents. She had a special collar, or jabot, for announcing majority opinions from the bench and another for her frequent, and more celebrated, dissents.
Throughout her career, Ginsburg’s diminutive presence belied her titanic influence on the law, first as the nation’s preeminent litigator for women’s rights, and more recently as the leader of the high court’s liberal bloc, where she served as a bulwark against an increasingly conservative majority.
Here's a look at some of her memorable opinions:
Decisions
United States v. Virginia (1996): Struck down Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy as a violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. The vote was 7-1, with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia dissenting.
Ginsburg described as "presumptively invalid ... a law or official policy that denies to women, simply because they are women, equal opportunity to aspire, achieve, participate in, and contribute to society, based upon what they can do."
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999): Ruled 6-3 that individuals with mental disabilities have the right to community-based housing under the Americans with Disabilities Act, provided that states have sufficient resources and treatment professionals say it's appropriate.
"Institutional placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life."
Friends of the Earth v. Laidlaw Environmental Services (2000): By a 7-2 vote, gave South Carolina residents standing to seek penalties for industrial pollution without having to prove injury, and even though the factory in question had closed.
"A would-be polluter may or may not be dissuaded by the existence of a remedy on the books, but a defendant once hit in its pocketbook will surely think twice before polluting again."
Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2015): Ruled 5-4 that states can try to remove partisan politics from the process of drawing political maps by creating commissions that take power away from elected legislators.
"Arizona voters sought to restore the core principle that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. The elections clause, we affirm, does not hinder that endeavor."
Timbs v. Indiana (2019): Ruled unanimously that states cannot impose excessive fees, fines and forfeitures as criminal penalties. The decision made clear that the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against excessive fines applies to states and localities as well as the federal government.
“The protection against excessive fines guards against abuses of government’s punitive or criminal law-enforcement authority. This safeguard, we hold, is ‘fundamental to our scheme of ordered liberty.’”
Dissents
Bush v. Gore (2000): Ginsburg and her three liberal colleagues each dissented from the court's 5-4 decision halting the presidential recount ordered by Florida's Supreme Court. The majority ruled that no better method of counting votes could be established within the necessary timetable.
"The court’s conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the court’s own judgment will not allow to be tested. Such an untested prophecy should not decide the presidency of the United States."
Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2007): Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case, which denied Lilly Ledbetter the right to sue her employer for gender-based pay discrimination because of the length of time that had passed since the violation.
"Our precedent suggests, and lower courts have overwhelmingly held, that the unlawful practice is the current payment of salaries infected by gender-based (or race-based) discrimination – a practice that occurs whenever a paycheck delivers less to a woman than to a similarly situated man."
Gonzales v. Carhart (2007): Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case, which upheld a 2003 law passed by Congress outlawing a form of late-term abortion. The majority ruled that it was not an undue burden on abortion rights.
"The act, and the court’s defense of it, cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court – and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women’s lives."
Shelby County v. Holder (2013): Perhaps Ginsburg's most famous dissent criticized Chief Justice John Roberts' 5-4 ruling that struck down a key section of the Voting Rights Act, freeing mostly Southern states from having to clear voting changes with the federal government.
"Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet."
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (2014): Ginsburg wrote the dissent in the 5-4 case, which determined that family-owned and other closely held companies cannot be forced to offer insurance coverage for certain birth control methods they equate with abortion.
"Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be perceived as favoring one religion over another, the very risk the Establishment Clause was designed to preclude. The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield."


usatoday--2020-09-19--'The voters should pick': Joe Biden says nomination to replace Ginsburg should be made after the Nov

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Friday whoever is elected president in November should be the one to nominate the next U.S. Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Biden , speaking to reporters from the New Castle Airport in Wilmington , Delaware , objected to a rushed nomination process to replace Ginsburg , who died Friday at 87 .
His remarks came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled plans to move ahead on filling the sudden court vacancy .
Biden , a former vice president , compared the new vacancy to the situation after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who died in February 2016 before the presidential election won by President Donald Trump .
McConnell then refused to take up President Barack Obama 's nomination of Merrick Garland .
`` There is no doubt – let me clear– that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , '' Biden said .
`` This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election .
That 's the position the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : McConnell says Senate will vote on Trump 's nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's Supreme Court seat '' And the election 's only 46 days off , '' he added .
`` I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days .
And the average is closer to 70 days .
And so we should do this with full consideration , and that is my hope and expectation what will happen . ''
Ginsburg , one of the court 's liberal justices selected by President Bill Clinton in 1993 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered a recurrence of cancer and that lesions had been found on her liver .
Her vacancy gives Republicans a rare opportunity to solidify conservative control of the court , perhaps for decades to come , and it gives Trump a rare chance to appoint three justices in just one term .
Her death has major ramifications on the presidential election , providing an opening for Trump to reframe the race from his handling of the coronavrius pandemic to the makeup of the high court .
Trump was brief in his remarks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` She just died ?
Wow .
I did n't know that , '' Trump said .
`` She led an amazing life .
What else can you say ?
She was an amazing woman , whether you agree or not .
She was an amazing woman who led an amazing life .
I 'm actually sad to hear that . ''
The president did not say whether he intends to nominate a justice before the Nov. 3 election .
A senior administration official , speaking on the condition of anonymity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TODAY that Trump intends to choose a nominee soon , though declined to discuss a specific timeline .
In a statement , McConnell said , `` President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate . ''
`` Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary , '' he added .
`` Once again , we will keep our promise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Ginsburg , called the justice `` consistent and reliable and a voice for freedom and opportunity for everyone . ''
`` She never failed .
She was fierce and unflinching in her pursuit of the civil and legal rights of everyone , '' Biden said .
Her opinions and her dissent are going to continue to shape the basis of our law for a generation .
Tonight and in the coming days , we should focus on the loss of her justice and her enduring legacy .
Staff writers Richard Wolf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayes and Phillip M. Bailey contributed to this report .
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @ joeygarrison .

'The voters should pick': Joe Biden says nomination to replace Ginsburg should be made after the November election
Show Caption Hide Caption Remembering the life and accomplishments of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at age 87. Ginsburg is most noted for her lifelong fight for equality for women. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Friday whoever is elected president in November should be the one to nominate the next U.S. Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Biden, speaking to reporters from the New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Delaware, objected to a rushed nomination process to replace Ginsburg, who died Friday at 87. His remarks came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled plans to move ahead on filling the sudden court vacancy.
Biden, a former vice president, compared the new vacancy to the situation after the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February 2016 before the presidential election won by President Donald Trump. McConnell then refused to take up President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland.
"There is no doubt – let me clear– that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider," Biden said. "This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. That's the position the United States Senate must take today."
More: McConnell says Senate will vote on Trump's nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat
"And the election's only 46 days off," he added. "I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days. And the average is closer to 70 days. And so we should do this with full consideration, and that is my hope and expectation what will happen."
Biden declined to answer questions from reporters.
Ginsburg, one of the court's liberal justices selected by President Bill Clinton in 1993, died Friday after announcing July she suffered a recurrence of cancer and that lesions had been found on her liver.
Her vacancy gives Republicans a rare opportunity to solidify conservative control of the court, perhaps for decades to come, and it gives Trump a rare chance to appoint three justices in just one term. Her death has major ramifications on the presidential election, providing an opening for Trump to reframe the race from his handling of the coronavrius pandemic to the makeup of the high court.
Trump was brief in his remarks about Ginsburg following a campaign event in Minnesota.
"She just died? Wow. I didn't know that," Trump said. "She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agree or not. She was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I'm actually sad to hear that."
The president did not say whether he intends to nominate a justice before the Nov. 3 election. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal discussions, confirmed to USA TODAY that Trump intends to choose a nominee soon, though declined to discuss a specific timeline.
More: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies, setting up nomination fight
In a statement, McConnell said, "President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate."
"Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary," he added. "Once again, we will keep our promise."
Biden, in his short remarks about Ginsburg, called the justice "consistent and reliable and a voice for freedom and opportunity for everyone."
"She never failed. She was fierce and unflinching in her pursuit of the civil and legal rights of everyone," Biden said. Her opinions and her dissent are going to continue to shape the basis of our law for a generation. Tonight and in the coming days, we should focus on the loss of her justice and her enduring legacy.
Staff writers Richard Wolf, John Fritze, David Jackson, Christal Hayes and Phillip M. Bailey contributed to this report. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-09-19--'She was living history': A somber crowd cries for Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — Lawyer Stephanie Schlatter looked up at the Supreme Court building and wiped away tears , some of them trickling down on her pink face mask .
That mask had a distinct picture emblazoned across it : That of Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ The way she approached everything , very professionally , very methodically , '' Schlatter , 51 , a pro bono manager at a law firm , tearfully said Friday evening , just hours after Ginsburg 's death .
As the news spread across the nation and its capital , dozens gathered outside the courthouse where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss of Ginsburg leaves a lot of issues , such as civil protections , gay marriage and women ’ s rights , at stake .
`` She was always at the top of her game as far as legal arguments .
I think on a personal level , she was holding on to save this country , '' Schlatter said .
`` Just her persistence and knowing and keeping her focus on what she wanted to do and making sure she did it well so there was never a question .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not just for women but for everybody.
” The crowd at the Supreme Court late Friday night was steadily growing by 9:30 p.m .
ET .
But despite the growing number of people , the scene was very quiet – a sign of respect .
Some brought flowers , some brought candles .
Some brought their children , some brought their pets .
Kent Campbell , 34 , had his arm draped around Mekita Rivas , 30 , as the pair looked on the court reverently .
They were out to dinner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I gasped , ” Rivas recalled .
At the time , the couple was two blocks away from the courthouse .
Rivas says she turned to Campbell and said , `` We have to go to the court.
” “ She was a trailblazer , '' Rivas said .
`` I think she is reason for so many of the civil rights that we take for granted today , especially as it comes to women and not being discriminated against in the workplace .
She just was a titan of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her being gone now , it really hits you .
Everything she contributed .
It feels so surreal ...
The thing that hits me the most is the fragility of all these rights that she championed.
” Rivas added , “ She was living history .
Just to be alive at the same time as her .
How incredible is that . ''
Campbell said he felt it unsettling that there is discussion about filling Ginsburg 's shoes .
`` It ’ s crazy to me .
It ’ s disrespectful , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even let us have the night and you ’ re already talking about filling her seat . ''
Moriah Graham , 28 , said she had just moved to city and felt lucky to experience the moment with everyone .
“ Justice Ginsburg was such a huge presence , '' Graham said .
`` The way she spent her whole life dedicated to fighting for women ’ s rights.
” “ Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a big believer in the power of people when they speak out for themselves , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s great to be able to be out here , to just kind of experience this moment collectively , remember her life and her legacy and what she fought for .
I hope where ever she is now she is getting the rest she deserves .
”

'She was living history': A somber crowd cries for Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – Lawyer Stephanie Schlatter looked up at the Supreme Court building and wiped away tears, some of them trickling down on her pink face mask.
That mask had a distinct picture emblazoned across it: That of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“The way she approached everything, very professionally, very methodically," Schlatter, 51, a pro bono manager at a law firm, tearfully said Friday evening, just hours after Ginsburg's death. As the news spread across the nation and its capital, dozens gathered outside the courthouse where Ginsburg made her legacy.
Schlatter said the loss of Ginsburg leaves a lot of issues, such as civil protection, gay marriage and women’s rights, at stake.
"She was always at the top of her game as far as legal arguments. I think on a personal level, she was holding on to save this country," Schlatter said. "Just her persistence and knowing and keeping her focus on what she wanted to do and making sure she did it well so there was never a question. I think she’s a role model. Not just for women but for everybody.”
The crowd at the Supreme Court late Friday night was steadily growing by 9:30 p.m. EDT. But despite the growing number of people, the scene was very quiet – a sign of respect. Some brought flowers, some came with candles. Others gathered with their children and their pets.
Kent Campbell, 34, had his arm draped around Mekita Rivas, 30, as the pair looked on the court reverently. They were out to dinner earlier and saw the news about Ginsburg.
“I gasped,” Rivas recalled. At the time, the couple was two blocks away from the courthouse. Rivas says she turned to Campbell and said, "We have to go to the court.”
“She was a trailblazer," Rivas said. "I think she is reason for so many of the civil rights that we take for granted today, especially as it comes to women and not being discriminated against in the workplace. She just was a titan of the legal system, and I feel like her being gone now, it really hits you. Everything she contributed. It feels so surreal ... The thing that hits me the most is the fragility of all these rights that she championed.”
Rivas added, “She was living history. Just to be alive at the same time as her. How incredible is that."
Campbell said he felt it unsettling that there is discussion about filling Ginsburg's shoes.
"It’s crazy to me. It’s disrespectful," Campbell said. “Can’t even let us have the night and you’re already talking about filling her seat."
Moriah Graham, 28, said she had just moved to the city and felt lucky to experience the moment with everyone.
“Justice Ginsburg was such a huge presence," Graham said. "The way she spent her whole life dedicated to fighting for women’s rights.”
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a big believer in the power of people when they speak out for themselves," she said. "The power of advocacy. It’s great to be able to be out here, to just kind of experience this moment collectively, remember her life and her legacy and what she fought for. I hope where ever she is now she is getting the rest she deserves.”


usatoday--2020-09-19--'She never failed': Reaction to the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers , past presidents , world leaders and pundits reacted Friday night to the death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a lifelong pioneer for gender equality and the second woman to serve on the nation 's highest court .
Ginsburg leaves behind an enormous influence on the law as the nation ’ s preeminent litigator for women ’ s rights , a federal appeals court judge , a Supreme Court justice for 27 years and , most recently , as the leader of the high court ’ s liberal bloc , where she served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority .
Even as they mourn Ginsburg 's death , officials at the White House and on Capitol Hill began thinking about the process of filling her seat .
And then there were eight : Supreme Court is used to working shorthanded Here is a look at how she is being remembered .
President Donald Trump was speaking at a rally at the time of Ginsburg 's passing .
Afterward , when asked for a reaction , he said , `` She led an amazing life .
What else can you say ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you agree or not — she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life.
” '' Actually sad to hear that .
I am sad to hear that , '' he continued .
Trump later called Ginsburg a `` titan of the law '' and that her opinions `` have inspired all Americans , and generations of great legal minds . ''
The former Vice President made remarks Friday night , saying Ginsburg `` stood for all of us , '' continuing that `` In the coming days , we should focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] & her enduring legacy . ''
`` She never failed , '' Biden continued .
`` She was fierce , unflinching in her pursuit of civil rights for everyone . ''
Joe said the winner of the Nov. 3 election should get to pick who succeeds Ginsburg on the Supreme Court .
More : McConnell says Senate will vote on Trump 's nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's Supreme Court seat “ Let me be clear , that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said .
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Former President Bill Clinton , who appointed Ginsburg , said she `` exceeded even my highest expectations '' and that `` Her landmark opinions advancing gender equality , marriage equality , the rights of people with disabilities , the rights of immigrants , and so many more moved us closer to ' a more perfect union . ''
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who was the Democratic nominee in 2016 , thanked RBG , saying she `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including me .
There will never be another like her . ''
Former President Jimmy Carter released a statement saying , `` Rossalyn and I are saddened by the passsing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
A powerful legal mind and staunch advocate for gender equality , she has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable career . ''
`` I was proud to have appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 .
We join countless Americans in mourning the loss of a truly great woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-Calif. , repeated the words Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said , R-Ky. , after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia : “ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice .
Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
” McConnell released a statement , saying , `` The Senate and nation mourn the sudden passing of '' Ginsburg `` and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life . ''
He continued : `` President Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor of the United States Senate . ''
Ruth Bader Ginsburg : Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation 's leading litigator for women 's rights House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , tweeted that the flags above the Capitol would be flying at half staff `` to honor the patriotism of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg . ''
`` Every woman and girl , and therefore every family , in America has benefitted from her brilliance . ''
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California , the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today , we ’ re just 46 days away from an election .
To jam through a lifetime appointment to the country ’ s highest court – particularly to replace an icon like Justice Ginsburg – would be the height of hypocrisy . ''
More : Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's top opinions and dissents , from VMI to Voting Rights Act Senator Susan Collins , a vulnerable lawmaker who is in a tough reelection campaign and has faced criticism for her vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , gave no indiciation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the election .
`` Throughout her life , Justice Ginsburg surmounted discrimination and sexism through her brilliance , tenacity , and wit , becoming on of the most prominent legal luminaries of our time , '' Collins said in a statement .
`` She has been a role model to generations of women , and her legacy will on in the countless people she inspired , '' the statement concluded .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman , Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , tweeted that Ginsburg `` was a trailblazer who possessed tremendous passion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor and distinction as a member of the Supreme Court . ''
`` While I had many differences with her on legal philosophy , I appreciate her service to our nation , '' he continued .
More : Who might succeed Justice Ginsburg ?
Trump 's short list begins with these four women ( and one man )

'She never failed': Reaction to the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers, past presidents, world leaders and pundits reacted Friday night to the death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a lifelong pioneer for gender equality and the second woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
Ginsburg leaves behind an enormous influence on the law as the nation’s preeminent litigator for women’s rights, a federal appeals court judge, a Supreme Court justice for 27 years and, most recently, as the leader of the high court’s liberal bloc, where she served as a bulwark against an increasingly conservative majority.
Even as they mourn Ginsburg's death, officials at the White House and on Capitol Hill began thinking about the process of filling her seat.
And then there were eight: Supreme Court is used to working shorthanded
Here is a look at how she is being remembered:
President Donald Trump
Trump was speaking at a rally at the time of Ginsburg's passing. Afterward, when asked for a reaction, he said, "She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman – whether you agree or not – she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life.”
"Actually sad to hear that. I am sad to hear that," he continued.
Trump later called Ginsburg a "titan of the law" and that her opinions "have inspired all Americans, and generations of great legal minds."
First lady Melania Trump
The first lady tweeted her condolences on Saturday morning.
"Justice's Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing is a immense loss. Her tenacity & strength were matched by her intellect & compassion, & her spirit will live on in all she has inspired. My prayers are with her family & all who loved her. #RIPRBG"
Former President Barack Obama
The 44th president released his remembrance of Ginsburg in a post to Medium overnight Friday.
"Over a long career on both sides of the bench – as a relentless litigator and an incisive jurist – Justice Ginsburg helped us see that discrimination on the basis of sex isn’t about an abstract ideal of equality; that it doesn’t only harm women; that it has real consequences for all of us. It’s about who we are – and who we can be," Obama wrote.
"Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought to the end, through her cancer, with unwavering faith in our democracy and its ideals. That’s how we remember her." He followed that with a reference to Ginsburg's deathbed wish that her seat on the court not be filled by Trump.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden
The former vice president made remarks Friday night, saying Ginsburg "stood for all of us," continuing that "In the coming days, we should focus on the loss of (the Justice) & her enduring legacy."
Joe Biden calls Ruth Bader Ginsburg "not only a giant in the legal profession, but a beloved figure."
He added, "She practiced the highest American ideals as a justice — equality and justice under the law. Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us" https://t.co/A4W3Muvj7F pic.twitter.com/bzei9c91wm — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 19, 2020
"She never failed," Biden continued. "She was fierce, unflinching in her pursuit of civil rights for everyone."
Biden said the winner of the Nov. 3 election should get to pick who succeeds Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.
More: McConnell says Senate will vote on Trump's nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat
“Let me be clear, that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the Justice for the Senate to consider,” Biden said.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Former President Clinton, who appointed Ginsburg, said she "exceeded even my highest expectations" and that "Her landmark opinions advancing gender equality, marriage equality, the rights of people with disabilities, the rights of immigrants, and so many more moved us closer to 'a more perfect union."
Former Secretary of State Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee in 2016, thanked RBG, saying she "paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be another like her."
Justice Ginsburg paved the way for so many women, including me. There will never be another like her. Thank you RBG. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 19, 2020
Former President Jimmy Carter
Carter released a statement saying, "Rossalyn and I are saddened by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A powerful legal mind and staunch advocate for gender equality, she has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable career."
More: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies, setting up nomination fight
"I was proud to have appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980. We join countless Americans in mourning the loss of a truly great woman."
President Jimmy Carter on the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. pic.twitter.com/2gZ5WulIEO — Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 19, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Schumer, D-Calif., repeated the words Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia: “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
McConnell released a statement, saying, "The Senate and nation mourn the sudden passing of" Ginsburg "and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life."
He continued: "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate."
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation's leading litigator for women's rights
The Senate and the nation mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/NOwYLhDxIk — Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 19, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that the flags above the Capitol would be flying at half staff "to honor the patriotism of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
"Every woman and girl, and therefore every family, in America has benefitted from her brilliance."
Tonight, the flags are flying at half staff over the Capitol to honor the patriotism of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Every woman and girl, and therefore every family, in America has benefitted from her brilliance. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 19, 2020
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, put out a statement saying, "Today, we’re just 46 days away from an election. To jam through a lifetime appointment to the country’s highest court – particularly to replace an icon like Justice Ginsburg – would be the height of hypocrisy."
More: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's top opinions and dissents, from VMI to Voting Rights Act
Sen. Susan Collins
Collins, a vulnerable lawmaker who is in a tough reelection campaign and has faced criticism for her vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, gave no indication whether she would vote for a replacement before the election.
Poll: Sen. Susan Collins trailing challenger Sarah Gideon by 12 points in closely watched Maine race
"Throughout her life, Justice Ginsburg surmounted discrimination and sexism through her brilliance, tenacity, and wit, becoming one of the most prominent legal luminaries of our time," Collins said in a statement.
"She has been a role model to generations of women, and her legacy will on in the countless people she inspired," the statement concluded.
Sen. Lindsey Graham
Senate Judiciary Committee ChairmanGraham, R-S.C., tweeted that Ginsburg "was a trailblazer who possessed tremendous passion for her causes. She served with honor and distinction as a member of the Supreme Court."
"While I had many differences with her on legal philosophy, I appreciate her service to our nation," he continued.
More: Who might succeed Justice Ginsburg? Trump's short list begins with these four women (and one man)


usatoday--2020-09-19--Coronavirus updates: Almost 200,000 people have died in the US; Trump's vaccine timeline at odds wit

Coronavirus updates: Almost 200,000 people have died in the US; Trump's vaccine timeline at odds with CDC; European cases on the rise

U.S. health officials reversed controversial guidance on coronavirus testing on Friday and now recommends that people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested , even if they 're not symptomatic .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention got rid of language posted last month on its website that said people do n't need to be tested if they do n't feel sick .
Meanwhile , the U.S. is on the verge of its 200,000th confirmed death from COVID-19 , a milestone that coincides with several states hitting peaks in cases and uncertainty about whether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not alone in resurgent cases .
Several nations in Europe are imposing more restrictions amid significant rises in cases .
England , Denmark , Spain and Italy have all adopted new regulations to try and curb the latest spikes in cases , as well as deaths .
• President Donald Trump says all Americans will have coronavirus vaccine by April , but that 's at odds with the CDC 's timeline , which estimates a vaccine could be available by late spring or next summer .
• Nearly half of U.S. households in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious financial problems amid the pandemic , with 72 % of Latino households reporting money problems , according to a new report .
• Bed , Bath & Beyond has revealed the first 63 stores that will shutter amid the coronavirus .
Stores in 29 states are slated to close with California and New York losing the most stores at six locations each .
See a list here .
• Canada is launching a new gargle method for coronavirus testing in students ages 4 to 19 , CNN reports .
• China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 vaccines before clinical tests are complete .
`` The upshot is that by next year , China and Russia may have purchased significant geopolitical power by having bent the rules and rushed out their vaccines .
It is also possible their vaccines may fail , at enormous human cost , '' the Washington Post reports .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 6.7 million cases and 198,600 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Globally , there have been more than 30.5 million cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set in Missouri , Montana , North Dakota , Utah , West Virginia , Wisconsin and Wyoming .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Puerto Rico , according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Friday .
📰 What we 're reading : Did n't hear from contact tracers about that guy coughing on your flight ?
You might not — even if he had COVID-19 .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 2M but death rate unsettling The World Health Organization ’ s emergencies chief says new cases of the coronavirus worldwide appear to have leveled off at about 2 million and 50,000 deaths every week .
While Dr. Michael Ryan says the global COVID-19 caseload was not rising exponentially , the weekly number of deaths was still very unsettling .
“ It ’ s not where developing countries want to be with their health systems under nine months of pressure , ” Ryan said .
He says there have been recent surges in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds a lack of large increases in African countries and other nations might reflect a lack of testing .
US borders with Canada , Mexico to remain closed through Oct. 21 America 's borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed through Oct. 21 , Chad Wolf , acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , said Friday in a tweet .
`` We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of # COVID19 , '' he wrote .
`` Accordingly , we have agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at our shared land ports of entry through October 21 . ''
Both borders were closed to all but essential traffic in mid-March after the coronavirus pandemic hit , with government officials announcing multiple extensions as case counts continued to rise , especially in the U.S .
The most recent extension , announced in mid-August , was due to expire Sept. 21 .
Neither extension comes as much of a surprise : All three countries have seen a rise in cases since August , but Canada lags far behind the U.S. and Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans rack up $ 45B worth of medical debt in collections Medical debt is piling up as millions of unemployed Americans struggle to stay afloat after losing their health-insurance coverage following a historic wave of layoffs this year .
Cathy Munzer , 53 , a single mother who lost her health insurance during the pandemic , said her medical bills are in collections after she fell behind on payments from being treated in an emergency room for kidney stones .
“ This is going to bankrupt me .
My biggest fear is depleting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was a yoga and fitness instructor at two major gyms in Manhattan before she was laid off .
“ What happens when unemployment runs out ?
How will I survive ?
” In August , consumer finance company Credit Karma conducted an analysis of nearly 20 million members in the U.S. and found that they have a total of $ 45 billion of medical debt in collections , which averages to about $ 2,200 of debt per member .
Medical debt has been growing further during the pandemic , rising 7 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just over 3 % from when the pandemic started , Credit Karma says .
Experts expect it to continue to rise in the coming months since there ’ s a 180-day lag before unpaid medical debts can show up on consumers ’ credit reports , according to Colleen McCreary , chief people officer at Credit Karma .
Read more here .
Trump says all Americans will have coronavirus vaccine by April President Donald Trump said Friday that every American will have access to a coronavirus vaccine by April , the latest in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccination program that has yet to secure FDA approval .
Several of Trump 's critics expressed skepticism about the speed of delivery , citing logistical challenges as well as concerns that Trump will promise virtually anything in the weeks before the election and as the nation wrestles with a pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans .
Though several vaccine trials are underway , none have been approved and public health experts have noted the process takes months at best .
Yet Trump nevertheless set a marker Friday for the vaccination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target comes six months after the election .
To hit the goal , White House aides said the government would need to have 100 million doses produced by year 's end .
Read more here .
Two more college football games on Saturday have been postponed because of the coronavirus .
Baylor ’ s season opener against Houston and Florida Atlantic ’ s opener against Georgia Southern have been affected by positive tests .
Baylor says its unable to meet the Big 12 roster threshold of a minimum of 53 players available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl Subdivision games postponed or canceled because of virus issues since Aug. 26 .
The pandemic has impacted college basketball , with the start date delayed until Nov. 25 .
The marquee basketball tournament on Maui has been moved to North Carolina .
Meanwhile , the Pac-12 is considering getting back into fall football .
NYC tries $ 50 fines to get scofflaws to don masks on subway The agency that runs New York City 's subway and bus systems implemented a $ 50 fine this week for the scofflaws who , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus dead , refuse to follow rules requiring masks to be worn at all times on public transit .
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials have promised to enforce the rule with a light touch — certainly far lighter than the city 's famously zero-tolerance approach to parking violations .
And they have dismissed criticisms that the fines are aimed at easing what officials have called an existential budget crisis brought on by the pandemic .
When recalcitrant riders are identified , MTA employees and New York City police have been instructed to provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a last resort .
Through Thursday , none had been issued , but MTA police reported about 1,700 instances of riders being given a mask , or of people being cautioned that they were wearing their mask improperly .
Still , even some riders who are irritated by masklessness on buses and trains were unsure about the idea of getting compliance through fines .
Kathryn Lois , who rides the subway on Manhattan ’ s Upper West Side , decried the fine even as she noted three maskless people entering the station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ span of about 5 minutes .
“ We can ’ t afford it , not with everything else that ’ s been going on , ” Lois said , referring to the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic .
“ It ’ s not fair.
” Amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases in Europe , several nations are implementing new restrictions .
• England : A ban on social gatherings of more than six people , including children , went into effect this week , and fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Denmark : Officials announced a nationwide order lowering the size of approved gatherings from 100 to 50 and telling cafes , bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. instead of midnight .
• Spain : A line of tents has been installed at the gates of a Madrid military hospital four months after similar structures for triaging patients were taken down .
Spain ’ s Defense Ministry said the tents are empty , installed protectively ahead of the second wave taking hold on the Spanish capital .
• Italy : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fictional Mafia clan in `` The Godfather , '' has ordered schools closed and a limited lockdown because of a coronavirus spike .
Meanwhile , Israel has returned to a full lockdown to contain a worsening coronavirus outbreak .
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 .
On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
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 .

Michael James and Rachel Aretakis, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: US borders with Canada, Mexico to remain closed; almost 200,000 people have died in the US
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The United States will soon reach its 200,000th confirmed death from COVID-19, a bleak milestone that coincides with several states hitting peaks in cases and uncertainty about whether to keep schools open.
The U.S. is not alone in resurgent cases. Several nations in Europe are imposing more restrictions amid significant rises in cases. England, Denmark, Spain and Italy have all adopted new regulations to try and curb the latest spikes in cases, as well as deaths.
The ongoing spike is further exacerbated by the fear of "twindemic" as the annual flu season approaches
The news comes a day after U.S. health officials reversed controversial guidance on coronavirus testing on Friday and now recommends that people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested, even if they're not symptomatic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention got rid of language posted last month on its website that said people don't need to be tested if they don't feel sick.
Some significant developments:
Disease investigators have released a list of places where possible COVID-19 exposures have happened in Southern Nevada, and dozens of popular hotel-casinos have been named.
President Donald Trump says all Americans will have coronavirus vaccine by April, but that's at odds with the CDC's timeline, which estimates a vaccine could be available by late spring or next summer.
Nearly half of U.S. households in the nation's four largest cities reported serious financial problems amid the pandemic, with 72% of Latino households reporting money problems, according to a new report.
Bed, Bath & Beyond has revealed the first 63 stores that will shutter amid the coronavirus. Stores in 29 states are slated to close with California and New York losing the most stores at six locations each. See a list here.
China and Russia are starting to roll out mass COVID-19 vaccines before clinical tests are complete. "The upshot is that by next year, China and Russia may have purchased significant geopolitical power by having bent the rules and rushed out their vaccines. It is also possible their vaccines may fail, at enormous human cost," the Washington Post reports.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 6.7 million cases and 199,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been more than 30.6 million cases and 954,000 fatalities. New case records were set in Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Puerto Rico, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Friday.
📰 What we're reading: Didn't hear from contact tracers about that guy coughing on your flight? You might not — even if he had COVID-19.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Without readily available coronavirus testing with quick results – still a major hurdle across much of the country – the resulting confusion and proliferation of cases of COVID-19 and the flu could result in what some are calling a “twindemic,’’ which could overwhelm the health care system.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu has killed an average of 37,000 Americans per year since 2010. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said he’s especially worried about the possible impact on the coronavirus crisis of an early peak to the flu season, which typically crests in January and February.
The chances for disease transmission are markedly enhanced as schools and colleges reopen, even when it’s still not certain how much children spread the coronavirus. Recent studies indicate they can be transmitters even if asymptomatic.
“There’s a question about what role schools are going to play with COVID, but there’s absolutely no question what role schools play with influenza,’’ said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley. “Schools are the breeding ground for influenza. Read more here.
– Jorge L. Ortiz
The World Health Organization’s emergencies chief says new cases of the coronavirus worldwide appear to have leveled off at about 2 million and 50,000 deaths every week.
While Dr. Michael Ryan says the global COVID-19 caseload was not rising exponentially, the weekly number of deaths was still very unsettling.
“It’s not where developing countries want to be with their health systems under nine months of pressure,” Ryan said.
He says there have been recent surges in Europe, Ecuador and Argentina. He adds a lack of large increases in African countries and other nations might reflect a lack of testing.
– Associated Press
America's borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed through Oct. 21, Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Friday in a tweet.
"We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #COVID19," he wrote. "Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through October 21."
Both borders were closed to all but essential traffic in mid-March after the coronavirus pandemic hit, with government officials announcing multiple extensions as case counts continued to rise, especially in the U.S. The most recent extension, announced in mid-August, was due to expire Sept. 21.
Neither extension comes as much of a surprise: All three countries have seen a rise in cases since August, but Canada lags far behind the U.S. and Mexico in both new infections and deaths.
– Jayme Deerwester
Medical debt is piling up as millions of unemployed Americans struggle to stay afloat after losing their health-insurance coverage following a historic wave of layoffs this year.
Cathy Munzer, 53, a single mother who lost her health insurance during the pandemic, said her medical bills are in collections after she fell behind on payments from being treated in an emergency room for kidney stones.
“This is going to bankrupt me. My biggest fear is depleting my savings,” said Munzer, who was a yoga and fitness instructor at two major gyms in Manhattan before she was laid off. “What happens when unemployment runs out? How will I survive?”
In August, consumer finance company Credit Karma conducted an analysis of nearly 20 million members in the U.S. and found that they have a total of $45 billion of medical debt in collections, which averages to about $2,200 of debt per member.
Medical debt has been growing further during the pandemic, rising 7% from the end of last year and just over 3% from when the pandemic started, Credit Karma says. Experts expect it to continue to rise in the coming months since there’s a 180-day lag before unpaid medical debts can show up on consumers’ credit reports, according to Colleen McCreary, chief people officer at Credit Karma. Read more here.
– Jessica Menton
President Donald Trump said Friday that every American will have access to a coronavirus vaccine by April, the latest in a series of ever more optimistic predictions about a vaccination program that has yet to secure FDA approval.
Several of Trump's critics expressed skepticism about the speed of delivery, citing logistical challenges as well as concerns that Trump will promise virtually anything in the weeks before the election and as the nation wrestles with a pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans. Though several vaccine trials are underway, none have been approved and public health experts have noted the process takes months at best.
Yet Trump nevertheless set a marker Friday for the vaccination, a hard deadline – even if the target comes six months after the election. To hit the goal, White House aides said the government would need to have 100 million doses produced by year's end. Read more here.
– John Fritze, Michael Collins and David Jackson
Trump: Coronavirus vaccine is coming President Donald Trump said during a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Thursday night that three potential coronavirus vaccines are in the final stage of clinical trials and a safe and effective vaccine will be out before the end of the year. (Sept. 18) AP
Two more college football games on Saturday have been postponed because of the coronavirus. Baylor’s season opener against Houston and Florida Atlantic’s opener against Georgia Southern have been affected by positive tests. Baylor says its unable to meet the Big 12 roster threshold of a minimum of 53 players available to play.
There's now been 16 Bowl Subdivision games postponed or canceled because of virus issues since Aug. 26.
The pandemic has impacted college basketball, with the start date delayed until Nov. 25. The marquee basketball tournament on Maui has been moved to North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 is considering getting back into fall football.
– Associated Press
The agency that runs New York City's subway and bus systems implemented a $50 fine this week for the scofflaws who, even in a region with more than 25,000 coronavirus dead, refuse to follow rules requiring masks to be worn at all times on public transit.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials have promised to enforce the rule with a light touch — certainly far lighter than the city's famously zero-tolerance approach to parking violations. And they have dismissed criticisms that the fines are aimed at easing what officials have called an existential budget crisis brought on by the pandemic.
When recalcitrant riders are identified, MTA employees and New York City police have been instructed to provide a mask first and issue a ticket only as a last resort. Through Thursday, none had been issued, but MTA police reported about 1,700 instances of riders being given a mask, or of people being cautioned that they were wearing their mask improperly.
Still, even some riders who are irritated by masklessness on buses and trains were unsure about the idea of getting compliance through fines. Kathryn Lois, who rides the subway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, decried the fine even as she noted three maskless people entering the station at 96th Street and Broadway within a span of about 5 minutes.
“We can’t afford it, not with everything else that’s been going on,” Lois said, referring to the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic. “It’s not fair.”
– Associated Press
Amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, several nations are implementing new restrictions.
England : A ban on social gatherings of more than six people, including children, went into effect this week, and fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions appear to be in the cards soon.
: A ban on social gatherings of more than six people, including children, went into effect this week, and fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions appear to be in the cards soon. Denmark : Officials announced a nationwide order lowering the size of approved gatherings from 100 to 50 and telling cafes, bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. instead of midnight.
: Officials announced a nationwide order lowering the size of approved gatherings from 100 to 50 and telling cafes, bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. instead of midnight. Spain : A line of tents has been installed at the gates of a Madrid military hospital four months after similar structures for triaging patients were taken down. Spain’s Defense Ministry said the tents are empty, installed protectively ahead of the second wave taking hold on the Spanish capital.
: A line of tents has been installed at the gates of a Madrid military hospital four months after similar structures for triaging patients were taken down. Spain’s Defense Ministry said the tents are empty, installed protectively ahead of the second wave taking hold on the Spanish capital. Italy: The Sicilian town of Corleone, made famous by the fictional Mafia clan in "The Godfather," has ordered schools closed and a limited lockdown because of a coronavirus spike.
Meanwhile, Israel has returned to a full lockdown to contain a worsening coronavirus outbreak.
– The Associated Press
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usatoday--2020-09-19--Pregnancy-related death is a national crisis. Medicaid expansion could help address that.

This story was published in partnership with The 19th , a nonprofit , nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender , politics and policy .
Expanding access to Medicaid could dramatically improve pregnant people ’ s access to health care and address some of the factors driving the nation ’ s disparity in pregnancy-related and postpartum deaths , according to new research published Tuesday .
The study , published in the journal Health Affairs , followed almost 50,000 pregnant people from 2012 to 2017 , comparing what happened in states that expanded Medicaid , an optional component of the Affordable Care Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In states that opted in , pregnant people ’ s likelihood of losing insurance in the perinatal period dropped by 10 percentage points .
That ’ s a big deal .
“ In the world of health policy , we don ’ t often see effect sizes that are that big , ” said the study ’ s lead author Jamie Daw , an assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia University ’ s Mailman School of Public Health .
Already , pregnant people can more easily qualify for Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postpartum insurance .
But after that period ends , or even before , it ’ s a different story .
Especially in states that denied the expansion , many will lose insurance .
'Pregnancy is not a life-threatening illness ' : Ted Cruz takes heat in call to ban abortion pill The nation ’ s death rate for pregnant and postpartum people is among the worst of other wealthy nations .
And a third of those deaths actually occur a week to a year after pregnancy .
Most are preventable , Daw said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to preventive care , and doctors can catch problems before they spiral .
For people who lose insurance after giving birth , that ’ s less likely to happen .
States with Medicaid expansion were shown to have 1.6 fewer deaths per 100,000 pregnant or postpartum people , a meaningful decrease .
Separate research suggests that access to postpartum care improved dramatically after Medicaid expansion— which opened up Medicaid eligibility to people earning 138 percent of the federal poverty level , or , in 2020 , $ 36,156 for a family of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have insurance prior to qualifying through pregnancy , it ’ s harder to immediately access prenatal care or to have chronic health conditions managed — both factors that can make for a worse pregnancy outcome .
Hospitals blame moms when childbirth goes wrong .
Secret data suggest it 's not that simple .
“ Women might hesitate to access care [ postpartum ] — maybe they wait because of a copay , or because they ’ re uninsured , ” Daw said .
“ We don ’ t want them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Black and Latinx pregnant people , and already , Black people are substantially more likely than White people to die as a result of pregnancy .
( That includes dying within a year of giving birth . )
Across the board , cardiovascular disease , hypertension and untreated mental health conditions play a substantial role in preventable pregnancy- and postpartum-related deaths .
Increasingly , deaths in the later postpartum period — after pregnancy-related Medicaid has ended — are driving mortality and morbidity , said Dr. Lindsay Admon , another one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Michigan .
'If Amber was white , Amber would be here ' : A father 's message after his son 's mother 's death The paper ’ s findings , researchers said , suggest then that expanding Medicaid eligibility could be an effective strategy in helping close racial gaps in perinatal health outcomes .
Other research has also linked Medicaid expansion to lower rates of pregnancy- and postpartum-related death .
“ We know health insurance helps increase access to care , ” said Dr. Michelle Ogunwole , a physician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who wasn ’ t involved with the study but focuses on health disparities .
“ And we know that Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately served by Medicaid .
If there are barriers that really affect the utilization of Medicaid , it becomes problematic.
” Or , as Daw put it , “ anything that improves the stability of Medicaid will disproportionately benefit Black women.
” 'Greater level of desperation ' : As COVID-19 rages , pregnancy centers see surge in demand So far , 39 states , including Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Not all have implemented the expansion . )
Georgia , Indiana and Texas , which have all declined to do so , rank toward the bottom in the nation ’ s birth-related health outcomes .
Admon has seen the impact firsthand .
She ’ s practiced in Michigan both before and after the state expanded Medicaid eligibility .
Before the expansion took effect , she said , “ after the postpartum visit , it was sort of like ‘ good luck.
’ ” Now , she ’ s able to connect vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postpartum , she said .
In the past , that kind of attention wouldn ’ t have been an option once her patients lost their insurance .
“ We ’ re having an easier time connecting women with routine well-women care , ” she said .
“ I have much better faith that , if they have diabetes , I can send them to someone to manage diabetes or other clinical conditions I ’ m not comfortable managing.
” Still , researchers noted , Medicaid expansion is only one policy lever .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to extend the time for which pregnant people are eligible for Medicaid — so that instead of ending two months after birth , they stay covered for a full year .
Some states , including California and South Carolina , have taken steps toward doing that .
But it ’ s not uniform .
Because each state runs its own Medicaid program , benefits vary .
But often , pregnancy-related Medicaid is far more generous — including benefits like dental care , home visits , mental health care or help covering transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away when switching to regular Medicaid .
And even the logistics of switching from one source of Medicaid to another can be burdensome for new parents .
“ You can ’ t afford health care without insurance coverage , and you want to keep people covered so they can have access to postpartum care , ” said Sara Rosenbaum , a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University .
In states that expanded Medicaid , there was also an increase in the number of pregnant people switching between the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for after losing pregnancy-related eligibility .
That ’ s better than being uninsured , but could possibly yield other delays in getting health care , or require new parents to — who may be overwhelmed with other tasks — to also find a new doctor .
People who have just given birth , she added , “ are not only vulnerable , but are often the immediate caretakers of a vulnerable child — so you need the coverage for both reasons.
” Federal lawmakers could push states to extend Medicaid coverage by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Typically , state and federal governments split the cost of insuring people through the program .
But the Trump administration hasn ’ t indicated any interest in that kind of program support .
Still , experts noted , even with these findings , insurance access alone wouldn ’ t address the mortality crisis .
For death disparities in particular , experts point to a host of other factors — institutional racism and implicit bias , for instance — that aren ’ t addressed by Medicaid .
“ I ’ d like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullet .
But it ’ s not , ” Daw said .
“ It matters , though .
”

Pregnancy-related death is a national crisis. Medicaid expansion could help address that.
This story was published in partnership with The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy.
Expanding access to Medicaid could dramatically improve pregnant people’s access to health care and address some of the factors driving the nation’s disparity in pregnancy-related and postpartum deaths, according to new research published Tuesday.
The study, published in the journal Health Affairs, followed almost 50,000 pregnant people from 2012 to 2017, comparing what happened in states that expanded Medicaid, an optional component of the Affordable Care Act, versus those that didn’t. In states that opted in, pregnant people’s likelihood of losing insurance in the perinatal period dropped by 10 percentage points.
That’s a big deal. “In the world of health policy, we don’t often see effect sizes that are that big,” said the study’s lead author Jamie Daw, an assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
Already, pregnant people can more easily qualify for Medicaid coverage, along with two months of postpartum insurance. But after that period ends, or even before, it’s a different story. Especially in states that denied the expansion, many will lose insurance.
The nation’s death rate for pregnant and postpartum people is among the worst of other wealthy nations. And a third of those deaths actually occur a week to a year after pregnancy. Most are preventable, Daw said — but only if people can sustain access to preventive care, and doctors can catch problems before they spiral.
For people who lose insurance after giving birth, that’s less likely to happen. States with Medicaid expansion were shown to have 1.6 fewer deaths per 100,000 pregnant or postpartum people, a meaningful decrease. Separate research suggests that access to postpartum care improved dramatically after Medicaid expansion— which opened up Medicaid eligibility to people earning 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or, in 2020, $36,156 for a family of four.
And for those who didn’t have insurance prior to qualifying through pregnancy, it’s harder to immediately access prenatal care or to have chronic health conditions managed — both factors that can make for a worse pregnancy outcome.
“Women might hesitate to access care [postpartum] — maybe they wait because of a copay, or because they’re uninsured,” Daw said. “We don’t want them to wait.”
Medicaid covers a larger portion of Black and Latinx pregnant people, and already, Black people are substantially more likely than White people to die as a result of pregnancy. (That includes dying within a year of giving birth.) Across the board, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and untreated mental health conditions play a substantial role in preventable pregnancy- and postpartum-related deaths. Increasingly, deaths in the later postpartum period — after pregnancy-related Medicaid has ended — are driving mortality and morbidity, said Dr. Lindsay Admon, another one of the study’s authors and an OB/GYN at the University of Michigan.
The paper’s findings, researchers said, suggest then that expanding Medicaid eligibility could be an effective strategy in helping close racial gaps in perinatal health outcomes. Other research has also linked Medicaid expansion to lower rates of pregnancy- and postpartum-related death.
“We know health insurance helps increase access to care,” said Dr. Michelle Ogunwole, a physician and research fellow at Johns Hopkins University, who wasn’t involved with the study but focuses on health disparities. “And we know that Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately served by Medicaid. If there are barriers that really affect the utilization of Medicaid, it becomes problematic.”
Or, as Daw put it, “anything that improves the stability of Medicaid will disproportionately benefit Black women.”
'Greater level of desperation': As COVID-19 rages, pregnancy centers see surge in demand
So far, 39 states, including Washington, D.C., have moved to expand Medicaid. (Not all have implemented the expansion.) Georgia, Indiana and Texas, which have all declined to do so, rank toward the bottom in the nation’s birth-related health outcomes.
Admon has seen the impact firsthand. She’s practiced in Michigan both before and after the state expanded Medicaid eligibility. Before the expansion took effect, she said, “after the postpartum visit, it was sort of like ‘good luck.’”
Now, she’s able to connect vulnerable patients with essential health care, even postpartum, she said. In the past, that kind of attention wouldn’t have been an option once her patients lost their insurance.
“We’re having an easier time connecting women with routine well-women care,” she said. “I have much better faith that, if they have diabetes, I can send them to someone to manage diabetes or other clinical conditions I’m not comfortable managing.”
Still, researchers noted, Medicaid expansion is only one policy lever. Another, they wrote in the paper, is to extend the time for which pregnant people are eligible for Medicaid — so that instead of ending two months after birth, they stay covered for a full year. Some states, including California and South Carolina, have taken steps toward doing that. But it’s not uniform.
Because each state runs its own Medicaid program, benefits vary. But often, pregnancy-related Medicaid is far more generous — including benefits like dental care, home visits, mental health care or help covering transportation for medical visits. Those benefits go away when switching to regular Medicaid. And even the logistics of switching from one source of Medicaid to another can be burdensome for new parents.
“You can’t afford health care without insurance coverage, and you want to keep people covered so they can have access to postpartum care,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University.
In states that expanded Medicaid, there was also an increase in the number of pregnant people switching between the public plan and private insurance that they perhaps paid for after losing pregnancy-related eligibility. That’s better than being uninsured, but could possibly yield other delays in getting health care, or require new parents to — who may be overwhelmed with other tasks — to also find a new doctor.
People who have just given birth, she added, “are not only vulnerable, but are often the immediate caretakers of a vulnerable child — so you need the coverage for both reasons.”
Federal lawmakers could push states to extend Medicaid coverage by agreeing to pay for it, Rosenbaum added. Typically, state and federal governments split the cost of insuring people through the program. But the Trump administration hasn’t indicated any interest in that kind of program support.
Still, experts noted, even with these findings, insurance access alone wouldn’t address the mortality crisis. For death disparities in particular, experts point to a host of other factors — institutional racism and implicit bias, for instance — that aren’t addressed by Medicaid.
“I’d like to think insurance could be this silver bullet. But it’s not,” Daw said. “It matters, though.”