usatoday--2020-08-17--Former CIA officer charged with spying for China, conspiring with relative who was also ex-CIA

A former CIA officer is accused of selling classified information to Chinese intelligence officials in exchange for thousands of dollars in gifts and cash as part of an alleged spying operation that ran for more than a decade , according to federal court documents .
The espionage charge was unsealed Monday against Alexander Yuk Ching Ma , 67 , who is alleged to have provided Chinese officials with information about CIA personnel , operations and the agency 's methods for concealing communications .
Federal prosecutors allege that Ma , a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong , conspired with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former CIA officer .
The relative was not charged , prosecutors said , because he suffers from a `` delibitating cognitive disease . ''
According to court documents , Ma and his unnamed relative began working with the Chinese in March 2001 , about 12 years after Ma had left the agency .
During three days of meetings , parts of which were captured on video , Ma is allegedly shown accepting `` and counting '' $ 50,000 in cash in exchange for information the two former officers passed to their Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living and working in Shanghai when he left the CIA , moved to Hawaii in 2004 where he sought employment with the FBI in an alleged attempt to `` once again '' access classified information to provide to his Chinese handlers .
Hired as a contract linguist in the FBI 's Honolulu Field Office , Ma was assigned to review and translate Chinese documents .
During the next six years , prosecutors alleged , Ma `` regularly copied , photographed and stole documents '' that were classified as secret .
`` Ma took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him on his frequent trips to China with the intent to provide them to his handlers , '' prosecutors alleged , adding that he often returned from his trips with `` thousands of dollars in cash and expensive gifts , such as a new set of golf clubs . ''
“ The trail of Chinese espionage is long and , sadly , strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues , their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime , ” Assistant Attorney General for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This betrayal is never worth it .
... To the Chinese intelligence services , these individuals are expendable .
To us , they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant.
” Alan E. Kohler Jr. , assistant director of the FBI 's Counterintelligence Division , said the case represented a `` serious act of espionage , '' `` another example in a long string of illicit activities that the People 's Republic of China is conducting within and against the United States . ''
Federal investigators learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court documents , when the former CIA officer discussed his work during two meetings with an FBI undercover operative who Ma believed to be a representative of the Chinese intelligence service .
Following the second meeting , Ma allegedly accepted $ 2,000 from the FBI undercover as a `` small token '' of appreciation for Ma 's years-long assistance to China .
Prior to his arrest last week , prosecutors said that Ma again accepted payment from an FBI undercover operative and `` expressed his willingness to continue to help the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motherland.
” Ma is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Hawaii .
He is charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government .
If convicted , he faces a maximum punishment of life in prison .

Former CIA officer charged with spying for China, conspiring with relative who was also ex-CIA
A former CIA officer is accused of selling classified information to Chinese intelligence officials in exchange for thousands of dollars in gifts and cash as part of an alleged spying operation that ran for more than a decade, according to federal court documents.
The espionage charge was unsealed Monday against Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, who is alleged to have provided Chinese officials with information about CIA personnel, operations and the agency's methods for concealing communications.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ma, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong, conspired with an 85-year-old relative who also served as a former CIA officer.
The relative was not charged, prosecutors said, because he suffers from a "delibitating cognitive disease."
According to court documents, Ma and his unnamed relative began working with the Chinese in March 2001, about 12 years after Ma had left the agency. During three days of meetings, parts of which were captured on video, Ma is allegedly shown accepting "and counting" $50,000 in cash in exchange for information the two former officers passed to their Chinese counter-parts.
Ma, who had been living and working in Shanghai when he left the CIA, moved to Hawaii in 2004 where he sought employment with the FBI in an alleged attempt to "once again" access classified information to provide to his Chinese handlers.
Hired as a contract linguist in the FBI's Honolulu Field Office, Ma was assigned to review and translate Chinese documents. During the next six years, prosecutors alleged, Ma "regularly copied, photographed and stole documents" that were classified as secret.
"Ma took some of the stolen documents and images with him on his frequent trips to China with the intent to provide them to his handlers," prosecutors alleged, adding that he often returned from his trips with "thousands of dollars in cash and expensive gifts, such as a new set of golf clubs."
“The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said Thursday. "This betrayal is never worth it. ... To the Chinese intelligence services, these individuals are expendable. To us, they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant.”
Alan E. Kohler Jr., assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, said the case represented a "serious act of espionage," "another example in a long string of illicit activities that the People's Republic of China is conducting within and against the United States."
Federal investigators learned of Ma's activities, according to court documents, when the former CIA officer discussed his work during two meetings with an FBI undercover operative who Ma believed to be a representative of the Chinese intelligence service.
Following the second meeting, Ma allegedly accepted $2,000 from the FBI undercover as a "small token" of appreciation for Ma's years-long assistance to China.
Prior to his arrest last week, prosecutors said that Ma again accepted payment from an FBI undercover operative and "expressed his willingness to continue to help the Chinese government, referring to China as the "motherland.”
Ma is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Hawaii. He is charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government.
If convicted, he faces a maximum punishment of life in prison.


usatoday--2020-08-17--23 Oklahoma State sorority members test positive for COVID-19; house under quarantine

STILLWATER , Okla. — An entire sorority house is under quarantine and isolation at Oklahoma State University .
The university confirmed Saturday that 23 members of Pi Beta Phi tested positive for COVID-19 .
OSU officials learned of the positive cases Friday night .
Only one member was symptomatic as of Saturday , said Monica Roberts , OSU director of media relations .
No members are allowed to leave the off-campus sorority house .
One member who lives outside the chapter house tested positive and is now in isolation .
A third-party contractor will disinfect the building and will do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The university and the Payne County Health Department are conducting contact tracing .
“ This was expected , ” Roberts said .
“ When you bring back 20,000 students , there will invariably be more cases related to campus .
We ’ ve prepared for this for five months and have protocols in place to manage the situation .
Our priority is the safety and well-being of our campus community and transparency in communications.
” 'Leaving us behind ' : High-risk students ask , why ca n't all college courses be offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tailgates , frat parties are 'major risk factors ' for COVID-19 spread this fall This doubles the number of OSU students who were confirmed to have COVID-19 .
The university conducted mandatory COVID-19 tests on all students before they could move into their residence halls and found 22 had the virus .
Students who test positive are instructed to quarantine in their dorm rooms or stay in a separate isolation room on campus .
Reports of Pi Beta Phi 's positive cases were released the same day OSU sororities celebrated the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual recruitment this year in which members gathered in their chapter houses and spoke with prospective new members over video calls .
Fall semester classes are scheduled to begin Monday the university .
OSU will report statistics of new COVID-19 cases weekly .

23 Oklahoma State sorority members test positive for COVID-19; house under quarantine
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus outbreak in university frat houses At least 80 students living in a dozen fraternity houses near the University of Washington campus in Seattle have reported testing positive for COVID-19, with hundreds of results pending, the university says. (July 3) AP
STILLWATER, Okla. – An entire sorority house is under quarantine and isolation at Oklahoma State University.
The university confirmed Saturday that 23 members of Pi Beta Phi tested positive for COVID-19. OSU officials learned of the positive cases Friday night.
Only one member was symptomatic as of Saturday, said Monica Roberts, OSU director of media relations. No members are allowed to leave the off-campus sorority house. One member who lives outside the chapter house tested positive and is in isolation.
A third-party contractor will disinfect the building and will do so again after the two-week quarantine period. The university and the Payne County Health Department are conducting contact tracing.
“This was expected,” Roberts said. “When you bring back 20,000 students, there will invariably be more cases related to campus. We’ve prepared for this for five months and have protocols in place to manage the situation. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our campus community and transparency in communications.”
'Leaving us behind': High-risk students ask why all college courses aren't offered online
Experts warn: College football tailgates, frat parties are 'major risk factors' for COVID-19 spread this fall
This doubles the number of OSU students confirmed to have COVID-19. The university conducted mandatory COVID-19 tests on all students before they could move into their residence halls and found 22 had the virus. Students who test positive are instructed to quarantine in their dorm rooms or stay in a separate isolation room on campus.
Reports of Pi Beta Phi's positive cases were released the same day OSU sororities celebrated the end of recruitment week. All participating sororities hosted a virtual recruitment this year in which members gathered in their chapter houses and spoke with prospective members over video calls.
Fall semester classes are scheduled to begin Monday. OSU will report statistics of new COVID-19 cases weekly.
Follow reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel on Twitter: @NuriaMKeel


usatoday--2020-08-17--Opinion: As NFL's first Black team president, Jason Wright faces pressure on multiple fronts but cou

Jason Wright gently taps his heart through his crisp , white Oxford .
“ I can feel that .
I can feel the flutters , ” the 38-year-old running back-turned-businessman acknowledged .
He ’ s discussing the magnitude of the pressures associated with the job he just accepted : president of the Washington Football Team .
The business-related pressure of saving a floundering franchise plagued by nearly two decades of losing , a diminishing fan base , organizational dysfunction and a toxic culture , particularly for female employees .
The pressure of rebranding a team without a formal name after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-controversial “ Redskins ” nickname by threatening to back out of multi-million dollar deals .
The pressure of finding a locality willing to strike a new stadium deal after the efforts of his predecessor proved fruitless for years now .
The cultural pressure of becoming the first Black team president in the NFL ’ s 100-year history .
“ There are so many things to do .
So many things to fix , ” Wright told USA TODAY Sports Monday , hours after his team broke the news of his hiring on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Southern California native reverts to a familiar course of action .
“ I do the same thing that I did as a player when I would feel that flutter of pressure in the moment , ” he explains .
“ You take a deep breath , and I focus on my fundamentals .
When I was a player , ‘ Hey , line up at the right depth .
Get your feet placed in the right way .
Take the right initial steps .
Get your hands placed in the right place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to its fundamentals .
It ’ s the same thing on the business side .
...
There are fundamentals as a businessman that I ’ m just anchoring in right now .
… It ’ s all about establishing the fundamentals and setting the new norms about how I will lead and where we will go as an organization.
” Wright is unlike any team president the NFL has seen .
And he ’ s charged with executing a mission that no one during Daniel Snyder ’ s 21 years of ownership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he can turn the beleaguered organization around , he will achieve victories on two massive fronts : restoring health to a one-proud franchise and opening doors for people of color , who for generations have seen owners deny them opportunities of advancement to senior positions despite qualifications that equal or surpass those of white counterparts .
Wright ’ s hiring comes at a time when Snyder is desperate to fix the culture of the team after the name debate reached its boiling point and after accusations of long-running episodes of sexual harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also arrives at a point when the league has intensified efforts to create fair hiring opportunities for people of color with head coaching , general manager and team president aspirations .
This year , owners approved new guidelines that require teams to interview two minority candidates for head coaching positions , at least one minority candidate for coordinator openings and at least one external candidate of color for front office positions .
But Wright is no token hire .
Instead , he ’ s an example of what a clear vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can produce .
Wright ’ s background as a person , football player and businessman made him one of the most well-rounded candidates on Washington ’ s radar .
He spent seven seasons in the NFL ( 2004-10 ) with San Francisco , Atlanta , Cleveland and Arizona .
Upon retiring , he obtained his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and joined D.C.-based global strategy and management consulting firm McKinsey & Company , where he focused on anti-racism , inclusion and diversity practices in business .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wright says .
“ I started playing when I was 7 years old and my fondest memories are of being out in the Southern California heat , running hills with ankle weights on with my dad as my coach .
Then I went to Northwestern , where we won a Big Ten championship there and made lifelong friends .
And my time in the league was formative because I was getting fired every other week my first year and a half .
Learning to have resilience , making money last longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was well before having a good , long career and becoming a team captain and all of those things .
`` But a side of me is a bit of a nerd and when I was transitioning out of my NFL career , I was excited to rediscover that analytic side of my brain , and business problems -- the complex business problems that companies and organizations face -- were fascinating to me , and I just got lost in it from an intellectual perspective . ''
Diversity , inclusion and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among Wright ’ s passions .
He was genetically programmed that way .
His grandfather founded the east Texas chapter of the NAACP .
His mother and father both were active in the civil rights movement .
“ That ’ s always been core to who I am , '' he said .
`` And it has always had different manifestations at different times in my career .
But very much in the business world , I was able to latch onto something very interesting that comes from my nerd side , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right thing to do .
It ’ s not just about justice .
It ’ s also about getting better business outcomes because more diverse teams make better decisions , and companies that are more diverse perform better over time.
” Wright had been on the NFL ’ s radar for some time .
Aware of the impact he was having in the business world , NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent tried to lure him to the league ’ s corporate office to help improve diversity and inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t believe the timing or role was right .
When Washington ’ s team president opening became available following Snyder ’ s firing of Bruce Allen last season , NFL commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged Snyder to consider Wright .
In his press release , Snyder said , “ If I could custom design a leader for this important time in our history , it would be Jason.
” Vincent , who spearheads the league ’ s diversity and inclusion efforts when it comes to coaching and front office hiring , raved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire ?
Complete understanding of the business of football , ” Vincent told USA TODAY Sorts .
“ The gentleman has a complete and full understanding of the scope of the business of football .
He has studied , he has researched , he understands how marketing works .
He understands how stadium economics works .
He understands public policy and the importance of that as it pertains to stadium build-outs , commercial rights , media rights .
... All of these things add up to young , energetic .
They all equate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wright agree it shouldn ’ t have taken 100 years for the NFL to hire its first Black team president .
And Wright remains baffled as to why it took so long .
But he wasn ’ t shy about explaining why he outshined the other candidates for the job .
“ Because the unique qualifications that I bring are germane to the situation the Washington Football Team is in right now , ” he explained .
“ Yes , I ’ m Black and I wear my Blackness quite on the outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transforming companies in really critical moments in their trajectory . ''
History is not on the side of those who have joined forces with Snyder during his tenure as owner .
He has made splashy hires in his coaching and front office ranks .
But more often than not , those partnerships end in firings and the franchise seemingly in worse shape .
But Wright believes in his chances for success because based on his extensive discussions with Daniel and Tanya Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera , his vision for building a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s going to be a culture where colleagues openly trust each other , ” Wright said , “ where they feel comfortable raising any behaviors that may not be aligned with the values and culture that we want to espouse , where women in particular feel really empowered to make bold decisions that change the direction of the organization in important ways .
When he starts his new job next Monday , Wright expects to find himself under heavy scrutiny .
Drawing on his experience as a player , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former player .
The eye in the sky don ’ t lie , ” he laughed .
“ We measure output , and I do that in business as well , and if we don ’ t get the job done , yes , alright .
That makes sense .
But otherwise , I have no worries about things fracturing in any way , shape or form because of the alignment around changing the culture.
” The eyes of Snyder and the team ’ s long-suffering fan base will certainly be trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will those of the owners who often wait until another takes the first step and then succeeds before they follow the path to innovation .
Follow USA TODAY Sports ’ Mike Jones on Twitter @ ByMikeJones and listen to the Football Jones podcast on iTunes .

Opinion: As NFL's first Black team president, Jason Wright faces pressure on multiple fronts but could open doors
Show Caption Hide Caption Jason Wright ready to instill 'healthy culture' as Washington Football Team president SportsPulse: Jason Wright became the first Black team president in the history of the NFL when Washington chose him for the job and USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones sat down with him to talk all about it. USA TODAY
Jason Wright gently taps his heart through his crisp, white Oxford.
“I can feel that. I can feel the flutters,” the 38-year-old running back-turned-businessman acknowledged. He’s discussing the magnitude of the pressures associated with the job he just accepted: president of the Washington Football Team.
The business-related pressure of saving a floundering franchise plagued by nearly two decades of losing, a diminishing fan base, organizational dysfunction and a toxic culture, particularly for female employees. The pressure of rebranding a team without a formal name after corporate sponsors forced the abandonment of the long-controversial “Redskins” nickname by threatening to back out of multi-million dollar deals. The pressure of finding a locality willing to strike a new stadium deal after the efforts of his predecessor proved fruitless for years now.
The cultural pressure of becoming the first Black team president in the NFL’s 100-year history.
“There are so many things to do. So many things to fix,” Wright told USA TODAY Sports Monday, hours after his team broke the news of his hiring on "Good Morning America."
So, the Southern California native reverts to a familiar course of action.
“I do the same thing that I did as a player when I would feel that flutter of pressure in the moment,” he explains. “You take a deep breath, and I focus on my fundamentals. When I was a player, ‘Hey, line up at the right depth. Get your feet placed in the right way. Take the right initial steps. Get your hands placed in the right place when pass blocking.’ Slowing the game down to its fundamentals. It’s the same thing on the business side. ... There are fundamentals as a businessman that I’m just anchoring in right now. … It’s all about establishing the fundamentals and setting the new norms about how I will lead and where we will go as an organization.”
Wright is unlike any team president the NFL has seen.
And he’s charged with executing a mission that no one during Daniel Snyder’s 21 years of ownership has managed to accomplish.
However, if he can turn the beleaguered organization around, he will achieve victories on two massive fronts: restoring health to a one-proud franchise and opening doors for people of color, who for generations have seen owners deny them opportunities of advancement to senior positions despite qualifications that equal or surpass those of white counterparts.
Wright’s hiring comes at a time when Snyder is desperate to fix the culture of the team after the name debate reached its boiling point and after accusations of long-running episodes of sexual harassment brought the organization to its lowest point.
He also arrives at a point when the league has intensified efforts to create fair hiring opportunities for people of color with head coaching, general manager and team president aspirations. This year, owners approved new guidelines that require teams to interview two minority candidates for head coaching positions, at least one minority candidate for coordinator openings and at least one external candidate of color for front office positions.
But Wright is no token hire. Instead, he’s an example of what a clear vision and an authentic equal opportunity hiring process can produce.
Wright’s background as a person, football player and businessman made him one of the most well-rounded candidates on Washington’s radar.
He spent seven seasons in the NFL (2004-10) with San Francisco, Atlanta, Cleveland and Arizona. Upon retiring, he obtained his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and joined D.C.-based global strategy and management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he focused on anti-racism, inclusion and diversity practices in business.
“I’m a football player at heart,” Wright says. “I started playing when I was 7 years old and my fondest memories are of being out in the Southern California heat, running hills with ankle weights on with my dad as my coach. Then I went to Northwestern, where we won a Big Ten championship there and made lifelong friends. And my time in the league was formative because I was getting fired every other week my first year and a half. Learning to have resilience, making money last longer than it needed to, and all that was well before having a good, long career and becoming a team captain and all of those things.
"But a side of me is a bit of a nerd and when I was transitioning out of my NFL career, I was excited to rediscover that analytic side of my brain, and business problems -- the complex business problems that companies and organizations face -- were fascinating to me, and I just got lost in it from an intellectual perspective."
Diversity, inclusion and the advancement of people of color always ranked among Wright’s passions. He was genetically programmed that way. His grandfather founded the east Texas chapter of the NAACP. His mother and father both were active in the civil rights movement.
“That’s always been core to who I am," he said. "And it has always had different manifestations at different times in my career. But very much in the business world, I was able to latch onto something very interesting that comes from my nerd side, and that was it’s not just the right thing to do. It’s not just about justice. It’s also about getting better business outcomes because more diverse teams make better decisions, and companies that are more diverse perform better over time.”
Wright had been on the NFL’s radar for some time. Aware of the impact he was having in the business world, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent tried to lure him to the league’s corporate office to help improve diversity and inclusion efforts in 2018. However, Wright didn’t believe the timing or role was right.
When Washington’s team president opening became available following Snyder’s firing of Bruce Allen last season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged Snyder to consider Wright.
In his press release, Snyder said, “If I could custom design a leader for this important time in our history, it would be Jason.”
Vincent, who spearheads the league’s diversity and inclusion efforts when it comes to coaching and front office hiring, raved.
“Why was it a good hire? Complete understanding of the business of football,” Vincent told USA TODAY Sorts. “The gentleman has a complete and full understanding of the scope of the business of football. He has studied, he has researched, he understands how marketing works. He understands how stadium economics works. He understands public policy and the importance of that as it pertains to stadium build-outs, commercial rights, media rights. ... All of these things add up to young, energetic. They all equate to a good hire.”
Vincent and Wright agree it shouldn’t have taken 100 years for the NFL to hire its first Black team president. And Wright remains baffled as to why it took so long. But he wasn’t shy about explaining why he outshined the other candidates for the job.
“Because the unique qualifications that I bring are germane to the situation the Washington Football Team is in right now,” he explained. “Yes, I’m Black and I wear my Blackness quite on the outside, but more so the experience of transforming companies in really critical moments in their trajectory."
History is not on the side of those who have joined forces with Snyder during his tenure as owner. He has made splashy hires in his coaching and front office ranks. But more often than not, those partnerships end in firings and the franchise seemingly in worse shape.
But Wright believes in his chances for success because based on his extensive discussions with Daniel and Tanya Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera, his vision for building a healthy culture aligns strongly with theirs.
“It’s going to be a culture where colleagues openly trust each other,” Wright said, “where they feel comfortable raising any behaviors that may not be aligned with the values and culture that we want to espouse, where women in particular feel really empowered to make bold decisions that change the direction of the organization in important ways.
When he starts his new job next Monday, Wright expects to find himself under heavy scrutiny. Drawing on his experience as a player, he welcomes that.
“I’m a former player. The eye in the sky don’t lie,” he laughed. “We measure output, and I do that in business as well, and if we don’t get the job done, yes, alright. That makes sense. But otherwise, I have no worries about things fracturing in any way, shape or form because of the alignment around changing the culture.”
The eyes of Snyder and the team’s long-suffering fan base will certainly be trained on Wright. So, too, will those of the owners who often wait until another takes the first step and then succeeds before they follow the path to innovation.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones and listen to the Football Jones podcast on iTunes.


usatoday--2020-08-17--North Carolina football unaffected by school's move to online-only classes

The University of North Carolina 's abrupt switch from in-person to online classes -- just one week after welcoming students back to campus -- does not affect the school 's plans to play football this fall .
The UNC athletics department issued a statement Monday evening saying that `` student-athletes may continue to attend online classes and may choose to remain in their current on- or off-campus residences '' while they prepare for the upcoming football season .
`` We are still expecting to play this fall , and we will continue to evaluate the situation in coordination with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local officials , and health officials , '' the statement said .
The university has experienced at least four clusters of outbreaks of COVID-19 since the Chapel Hill campus started courses in person on August 10 .
But after 130 reported cases cropped up in the past week , the university reversed course .
The outbreak not only raises concerns for football players going through the various team meetings and practices , but the coaching staff as well .
“ I ’ m in that experienced age group that they talk about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will turn 69 in 10 days , recently told USA TODAY Sports .
“ I ’ m one of those that ’ s going way beyond what a risk would be to try and make sure that I ’ m safe as possible.
” Schools in the ACC , SEC and Big 12 are still moving forward with plans to begin their football seasons next month -- even after the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced the suspension of all sports this fall due to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak .

North Carolina football unaffected by school's move to online-only classes
Show Caption Hide Caption Medical expert questions motives of college football decision makers SportsPulse: Mackenzie Salmon connected with Yale's Dr. Sten Vermund, who specializes in the field of infectious diseases, to get his thoughts on the conferences that are still attempting to play college football in the fall. He did not hold back. USA TODAY
The University of North Carolina's abrupt switch from in-person to online classes -- just one week after welcoming students back to campus -- does not affect the school's plans to play football this fall.
The UNC athletics department issued a statement Monday evening saying that "student-athletes may continue to attend online classes and may choose to remain in their current on- or off-campus residences" while they prepare for the upcoming football season.
"We are still expecting to play this fall, and we will continue to evaluate the situation in coordination with the University, the ACC, state and local officials, and health officials," the statement said.
A statement from Carolina Athletics#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/SdYNdBY0lx — UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) August 17, 2020
The university has experienced at least four clusters of outbreaks of COVID-19 since the Chapel Hill campus started courses in person on August 10. But after 130 reported cases cropped up in the past week, the university reversed course.
The outbreak not only raises concerns for football players going through the various team meetings and practices, but the coaching staff as well.
“I’m in that experienced age group that they talk about,” head coach Mack Brown, who will turn 69 in 10 days, recently told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m one of those that’s going way beyond what a risk would be to try and make sure that I’m safe as possible.”
Schools in the ACC, SEC and Big 12 are still moving forward with plans to begin their football seasons next month -- even after the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced the suspension of all sports this fall due to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak.


usatoday--2020-08-17--US approves oil leasing plan for Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; environmentalists call it

The Trump administration said Monday that it would begin the process of auctioning off leases for oil drilling in Alaska 's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , a potential first-of-its-kind opening of the pristine wilderness that will be challenged in court .
The Interior Department announced the leasing program as President Donald Trump prepared to counter the Democratic National Convention with a weeklong tour of battleground states .
While the government is moving forward with leases , Trump indicated he has not yet decided whether to allow grant leases and allow actual oil drilling if and when the time comes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump said during an hourlong interview on `` Fox & Friends . ''
`` We may or may not do it . ''
Leases could be auctioned off `` right around the end of the year , ” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told The Wall Street Journal in an interview .
More : Despite congressional approval , oil and gas drilling in Alaska 's ANWR is still years away Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision , which will determine where oil and gas leasing will take place in the refuge ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of land on Alaska ’ s north shore with the Beaufort Sea that 's home to polar bears and other wildlife .
“ Congress directed us to hold lease sales in the ANWR Coastal Plain , and we have taken a significant step in meeting our obligations by determining where and under what conditions the oil and gas development program will occur , ” Bernhardt said in a statement .
Congress approved the program in 2017 , and the Interior ’ s Bureau of Land Management in December 2018 concluded drilling could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harming wildlife .
Environmental groups called the leasing program an election-year stunt that will be challenged in court .
“ The Trump administration ’ s so-called review process for their shameless sell-off of the Arctic Refuge has been a sham from the start .
We ’ ll see them in court , ” said Lena Moffitt of the Sierra Club ’ s Our Wild America campaign .
“ Our climate is in crisis , oil prices have cratered , and major banks are pulling out of Arctic financing right and left , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alaska Wilderness League .
“ And yet the Trump administration continues its race to liquidate our nation ’ s last great wilderness , putting at risk the indigenous peoples and iconic wildlife that depend on it.
” “ Today ’ s announcement marks a milestone in Alaska ’ s 40-year journey to responsibly develop our state and our nation ’ s new energy frontier , ” Gov .
Mike Dunleavy said .
The Republican governor called Monday ’ s decision “ a definitive step in the right direction to developing this area ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated at 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil reserves .

US approves oil leasing plan for Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; environmentalists call it 'shameless'
Show Caption Hide Caption Oil drilling approved in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife. Environmentalists have vowed to fight the leasing plan. USA TODAY
The Trump administration said Monday that it would begin the process of auctioning off leases for oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a potential first-of-its-kind opening of the pristine wilderness that will be challenged in court.
The Interior Department announced the leasing program as President Donald Trump prepared to counter the Democratic National Convention with a weeklong tour of battleground states.
While the government is moving forward with leases, Trump indicated he has not yet decided whether to allow grant leases and allow actual oil drilling if and when the time comes.
"We're looking at different things," Trump said during an hourlong interview on "Fox & Friends." "We may or may not do it."
Leases could be auctioned off "right around the end of the year,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told The Wall Street Journal in an interview.
More: Despite congressional approval, oil and gas drilling in Alaska's ANWR is still years away
More: Interior Department takes step toward drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision, which will determine where oil and gas leasing will take place in the refuge’s coastal plain, a 1.56-million-acre swath of land on Alaska’s north shore with the Beaufort Sea that's home to polar bears and other wildlife.
“Congress directed us to hold lease sales in the ANWR Coastal Plain, and we have taken a significant step in meeting our obligations by determining where and under what conditions the oil and gas development program will occur,” Bernhardt said in a statement.
Congress approved the program in 2017, and the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management in December 2018 concluded drilling could be done within the coastal plain area without harming wildlife.
Environmental groups called the leasing program an election-year stunt that will be challenged in court.
“The Trump administration’s so-called review process for their shameless sell-off of the Arctic Refuge has been a sham from the start. We’ll see them in court,” said Lena Moffitt of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign.
“Our climate is in crisis, oil prices have cratered, and major banks are pulling out of Arctic financing right and left,” said Adam Kolton, executive director at Alaska Wilderness League. “And yet the Trump administration continues its race to liquidate our nation’s last great wilderness, putting at risk the indigenous peoples and iconic wildlife that depend on it.”
“Today’s announcement marks a milestone in Alaska’s 40-year journey to responsibly develop our state and our nation’s new energy frontier,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.
The Republican governor called Monday’s decision “a definitive step in the right direction to developing this area’s energy potential,” which he estimated at 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil reserves.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-17--Pinterest names Black executive to its board following discrimination charges, employee walkout

Reeling from charges of racism and gender discrimination , Pinterest on Monday named a Black executive to its board of directors .
The appointment follows an employee walkout over a lawsuit brought by the former No .
2 executive at the company and allegations of mistreatment made by two former Black employees .
Former Harpo Studios executive Andrea Wishom is now the ninth member of the social media company 's board and the first Black director .
Pinterest 's reputation as a haven for women to scrapbook on the internet took a reputational hit in June when two former employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of unfair pay , racism and retaliation .
One of the former employees was Ifeoma Ozoma , who tweeted at the time that her experience at Pinterest was `` sullied by the racism , gaslighting , and disrespect . ''
Apartments for rent : Americans do n't want yearlong leases amid the pandemic Pinteresting shift : How former teachers are making $ 100,000 or more , and you can too On Monday , Ozoma told USA TODAY that the company 's appointment of a Black executive to the board is `` meaningless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is paid fairly , and not the way that I and other Black women at the company have not been paid fairly and have been dismissed , '' Ozoma said .
`` One person is not diversity . ''
Last week , Pinterest 's former chief operating officer Francoise Brougher sued the company alleging gender bias and wrongful termination .
In the suit filed in California , Francoise Brougher says she was offered a `` less favorable pay structure '' than her male peers .
The series of mistreatment allegations sparked a workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part by signing a petition demanding an end to workplace bias and were asked to use their personal profile photos on Slack to stand in solidarity with former staffers who alleged mistreatment .
`` Even when unintended , all forms of discrimination and retaliation at Pinterest must stop , '' said the call to action , posted on a website that represents Pinterest employees .
Pinterest 's board of directors hired an outside team to investigate its workplace culture , finding that workers were treated fairly .
Racial inequality in Silicon Valley : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become less white As of 2018 , the most recent data available , Pinterest employed 96 Hispanic and 64 Black workers out of a total workforce of 1,742 .
The percentage of Hispanic and Black employees – 5.5 % and 3.7 % , respectively – did not budge in a statistically significant way from 2017 .
The numbers are a snapshot from an annual report compiled for the federal government that Pinterest released publicly in January at the request of USA TODAY .
According to the report , the company has it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management role and no African Americans .
Wishom serves as president at Skywalker Holdings , a real estate and hospitality company .
She formerly held various production , programming and executive roles at Oprah Winfrey 's Harpo Productions .
She grew up in San Francisco and earned her bachelor ’ s in English literature from the University of California , Berkeley .
`` She ’ s an expert in creating positive and inspirational content for global audiences , and a passionate advocate for building a company culture of respect , integrity , inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must innovate and improve , '' Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann said in a statement .
Pinterest is a go-to place on the internet for recipes , outfit inspiration and home decorating tips .
In June , the discovery platform reported roughly 400 million monthly active users , most of whom are women .
Most of the board members , however , are men .
Three out of nine board members , including Wishom , are women .

Pinterest names Black executive to its board following discrimination charges, employee walkout
Reeling from charges of racism and gender discrimination, Pinterest on Monday named a Black executive to its board of directors.
The appointment follows an employee walkout over a lawsuit brought by the former No. 2 executive at the company and allegations of mistreatment made by two former Black employees.
Former Harpo Studios executive Andrea Wishom is now the ninth member of the social media company's board and the first Black director.
Pinterest's reputation as a haven for women to scrapbook on the internet took a reputational hit in June when two former employees on its policy team went public with reports of unfair pay, racism and retaliation.
One of the former employees was Ifeoma Ozoma, who tweeted at the time that her experience at Pinterest was "sullied by the racism, gaslighting, and disrespect."
Apartments for rent: Americans don't want yearlong leases amid the pandemic
Pinteresting shift: How former teachers are making $100,000 or more, and you can too
On Monday, Ozoma told USA TODAY that the company's appointment of a Black executive to the board is "meaningless."
"I hope that she is paid fairly, and not the way that I and other Black women at the company have not been paid fairly and have been dismissed," Ozoma said. "One person is not diversity."
Last week, Pinterest's former chief operating officer Francoise Brougher sued the company alleging gender bias and wrongful termination. In the suit filed in California, Francoise Brougher says she was offered a "less favorable pay structure" than her male peers.
The series of mistreatment allegations sparked a workplace digital boycott on Friday.
Employees took part by signing a petition demanding an end to workplace bias and were asked to use their personal profile photos on Slack to stand in solidarity with former staffers who alleged mistreatment.
"Even when unintended, all forms of discrimination and retaliation at Pinterest must stop,'' said the call to action, posted on a website that represents Pinterest employees.
Pinterest's board of directors hired an outside team to investigate its workplace culture, finding that workers were treated fairly.
Racial inequality in Silicon Valley: Pinterest is among many tech companies struggling to become less white
As of 2018, the most recent data available, Pinterest employed 96 Hispanic and 64 Black workers out of a total workforce of 1,742. The percentage of Hispanic and Black employees – 5.5% and 3.7%, respectively – did not budge in a statistically significant way from 2017.
The numbers are a snapshot from an annual report compiled for the federal government that Pinterest released publicly in January at the request of USA TODAY.
According to the report, the company has it has one Hispanic woman in a senior management role and no African Americans.
Wishom serves as president at Skywalker Holdings, a real estate and hospitality company. She formerly held various production, programming and executive roles at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions.
She grew up in San Francisco and earned her bachelor’s in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley.
"She’s an expert in creating positive and inspirational content for global audiences, and a passionate advocate for building a company culture of respect, integrity, inclusion and support — areas in which we must innovate and improve," Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann said in a statement.
Pinterest is a go-to place on the internet for recipes, outfit inspiration and home decorating tips. In June, the discovery platform reported roughly 400 million monthly active users, most of whom are women.
Most of the board members, however, are men. Three out of nine board members, including Wishom, are women.
Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown. Contributing: Jessica Guynn


usatoday--2020-08-17--4 tips to convince kids to wear masks during COVID-19

4 tips to convince kids to wear masks during COVID-19 Here are 4 tips on how to get your kids @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .

4 tips to convince kids to wear masks during COVID-19
Here are 4 tips on how to get your kids to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-08-17--Donald Trump keeps blasting 'universal' mail voting. But few states are planning that in November

WASHINGTON — As he unleashes a barrage of attacks on voting by mail , President Donald Trump has increasingly warned that `` universal '' mail-voting poses the biggest danger for voter fraud and threat to democracy .
But only nine states and the District of Columbia so far plan to hold universal mail-in elections – in which ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters without needing to first request one .
And with early mail-voting set to begin as early as September in some states , election experts say it 's unlikely many more states would have time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief package passed by House Democrats would require states to mail absentee ballots to registered voters – but it has gained no traction in the Senate and talks on the aid bill are stalled .
Instead , most states are preparing to make mail ballots an option available by request .
That includes several states encouraging the method during the pandemic by mailing voters applications for absentee ballots .
Five of the universal mail-voting states already planned to conduct mostly all-mail elections before the coronavirus pandemic , and only one of the nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground in the race for president between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
'He 's scaring our own voters ' : Republicans run into a Donald Trump problem as they push mail voting In-person polling places , although reduced in many states , remain available even in states that vote fully by mail .
New Jersey on Friday became the latest state to decide to send ballots out to all voters .
`` It 's a tiny number of states that do this , '' said Lawrence Norden , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Justice at the New York School of Law .
`` And they 're not the states that are probably going to determine the outcome of the presidential election .
`` In the vast majority of states , voters are given the option to vote by mail , and we should expect that if the primaries were any indication , that many , many people are going to choose that option . ''
Trump and Republicans have drawn a distinction between absentee voting offered to seniors , the military , people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in person on Election Day .
The president says he is OK with this – in fact , Trump and First Lady Melania Trump requested absentee ballots in Florida on Wednesday .
But he opposes ballots automatically sent to registered voters .
Colorado , Hawaii , Oregon , Utah , Washington were the only universal vote-by-mail states before the pandemic .
California , Nevada , Vermont and New Jersey have since signed on for the November election .
In addition , Montana , North Dakota and Nebraska allow individual counties to decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters .
A New York Times analysis found that 76 % of voters will have the choice to vote-by-mail this November , but only 18 % are set to automatically receive a ballot in the mail .
Trump routinely slams the several weeks it took New York to count mail ballots following its June 23 state primary , as well as voter fraud allegations out of Paterson , New Jersey , to push his argument that the country is not ready for widespread mail-voting and that it 's ripe for fraud .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – to all its registered voters , but John Conklin , spokesman for the New York Board of Election said it 's unlikely the state will send applications to all voters in the November election , citing cost considerations .
All New York voters will still be able to cite the fear of contracting the coronavirus to request a mail ballot .
No winner on election night ?
Mail-in ballots could put presidential outcome in doubt for weeks New Jersey mailed ballots to all voters for its primary and will do so again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any voter to request absentee ballots without an excuse .
`` His attacks , by and large , have been on elections that have been conducted as no-excuse absentee ( elections ) , and he seems to say absentee voting is OK , '' Norden said .
`` Certainly his remarks on the subject are not logistically consistent and they 're confusing if you 're taking him by his word . ''
More : In dramatic shift , half of Americans fear difficulties voting in November election , poll says The pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-voting , produced record-setting absentee voting totals during recent primaries and is expected to do so in November .
Some states absorbed the deluge of ballots with few hiccups .
Others saw long lines in the limited number of polling sites that remained opened , while states like Pennsylvania and New York took weeks to count all absentee ballots .
Most did not send ballots to all voters .
More : ' A substantial challenge ' : What Kentucky , New York tell us about voting in a pandemic come November Nevertheless , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floating the idea of delaying the election , said `` universal mail-in voting '' will make the 2020 election the most `` INACCURATE AND FRAUDULENT Election in history . ''
`` Absentee ballots , by the way , are fine , '' Trump said Thursday .
`` But the universal mail-ins that are just sent all over the place , where people can grab them and grab stacks of them , and sign them and do whatever you want , that ’ s the thing we ’ re against . ''
These statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No states send ballots to people who are not registered voters , and states use signature verification tools to ensure the authenticity of ballots .
`` The president , I think , does n't understand the process , '' said Amber McReynolds , CEO of the National Vote At Home Institute .
In 34 states , including Pennsylvania and New Jersey , voters even before the pandemic , could vote absentee without needing an excuse .
Several states sent mail-ballot applications to all voters in their primaries and are doing the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 states , including New York , where voters must provide an excuse to receive an absentee ballot – being over 65 years old , out of town during Election Day or in the military , for example – they can now cite coronavirus as a reason to receive a mail mail ballots .
Only six states wo n't allow mail-voting for all voters in the November election .
The state Supreme Court in Tennessee , for example , ruled that concerns about COVID-19 could not be used as a reason to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's primary election held earlier this month .
More : Fear of COVID-19 will not be reason to vote absentee in November , Tennessee Supreme Court rules Despite Trump 's warnings , the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at the New York School of Law said it 's more likely for an American to `` get struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud . ''
Out of billions of votes cast across all U.S. elections from 2000 to 2012 , one analysis found only 491 cases of absentee voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal '' mail voting last week during a press briefing at Bedminster Golf Club when he announced plans to sign four executive orders to help families struggling during the pandemic .
In opposing the coronavirus relief bill that passed the House , dubbed the HEROES Act , Trump accused Democrats of wanting to force states to have universal mail-in balloting regardless of whether they have the infrastructure '' They want to steal an election , '' Trump said .
`` That ’ s all this is all about : They want to steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to know about the Nevada mail-in voting bill Trump wants to block Democrats reject that assertion .
They also argue `` universal '' mail-voting means something else – voting conducted entirely by mail .
Drew Hammill , deputy chief of staff for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , said the election measures in the bill would n't result in `` universal '' mail voting because in-person voting sites would remain open .
The bill would give states $ 3.6 billion for election preparedness , which could be used for making safety accommodations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
It would also require accessible polling places and at least 15 days of early voting , among other provisions .
`` I do n't really use the term 'universal vote-by-mail ' or 'all vote-by-mail , '' said McReynolds , who previously oversaw predominantly mail elections in Denver .
`` You 're not confined or constrained to only vote by mail .
To me , if you say 'universal vote-by-mail ' , that 's it . ''
McReynolds said ballots sent to voters automatically or after a request are `` fundamentally the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same verification processes from one state to another .
`` He 's kind of using a false term as a premise .
He 's ( warning ) against something that does n't exist in a lot of ways . ''
Trump links opposition to more postal service funding to mail-voting Appearing on the Fox Business Network this week , Trump linked his opposition to $ 25 billion for the U.S .
Postal Service , also proposed in the HEROES Act , to the expected surge in mail ballots expected in November .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots , '' Trump said .
`` If they don ’ t get those two items , that means you can ’ t have universal mail-in voting because they ’ re not equipped to have it . ''
More : Experts held 'war games ' on the Trump vs. Biden election .
Their finding ?
Brace for a mess Trump has taken particular aim at Nevada , this month tweeting that the Nevada legislature 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters `` latenight coup '' orchestrated by the state 's Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolok .
The Trump campaign sued Nevada seeking to stop its plan .
`` Their infrastructure is a total disaster , '' Trump said .
`` They don ’ t want to have signature verification , they don ’ t want to have any of the safeguards that you need .
But Nevada 's ' plan does have signature verification .
And although Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske , a Republican , did not support the plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting protections including safeguards that ensure no voter is allowed to cast more than one ballot in any given election .
Cegavske said she was not aware of any fraud in the state 's June primary , when the state also sent ballots to all Nevada registered voters .
More : Trump campaign sues Nevada over mail-in ballot law before November election The president 's messaging took another turn last week when Trump singled out the battleground state of Florida .
In a tweet , he said his Florida supporters should request an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election system in the Republican-run battleground state is `` Safe and Secure , Tried and True . ''
One week later , Trump made his personal request for a Florida absentee ballot .
Florida is among the 34 states that offer absentee ballots to all eligible voters without needing an excuse .
Some Republicans worry that Trump 's harsh rhetoric about mail-voting could hurt his own chances in swing states and give an edge to Democrats , who have embraced vote-by-mail expansion during the pandemic .
Florida Democrats have requested nearly 600,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million vs. 1.3 million .
`` It is evolving , '' University of Florida Political Scientist Michael McDonald , an expert on mail voting , said of Trump 's message on mail-voting .
`` Republicans are listening to Trump and it 's causing these huge disparities in ballot requests where Democrats are well outpacing Republicans in mail-ballot requests . ''
He speculated the Trump campaign , concerned by these numbers , probably asked Trump to change his tone .
`` Maybe that 's how they 've eased Trump into changing his stance on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on these all mail-ballot states . ''

Donald Trump keeps blasting 'universal' mail voting. But few states are planning that in November
Show Caption Hide Caption Mail-in votes, USPS caught in COVID-19 relief negotiations President Donald Trump has offered conflicting statements about supplementary funding for the U.S. Postal Service. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — As he unleashes a barrage of attacks on voting by mail, President Donald Trump has increasingly warned that "universal" mail-voting poses the biggest danger for voter fraud and threat to democracy.
But only nine states and the District of Columbia so far plan to hold universal mail-in elections – in which ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters without needing to first request one. And with early mail-voting set to begin as early as September in some states, election experts say it's unlikely many more states would have time to make that switch.
A coronavirus pandemic relief package passed by House Democrats would require states to mail absentee ballots to registered voters – but it has gained no traction in the Senate and talks on the aid bill are stalled.
Instead, most states are preparing to make mail ballots an option available by request. That includes several states encouraging the method during the pandemic by mailing voters applications for absentee ballots.
Five of the universal mail-voting states already planned to conduct mostly all-mail elections before the coronavirus pandemic, and only one of the nine states, Nevada, is considered a battleground in the race for president between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
'He's scaring our own voters': Republicans run into a Donald Trump problem as they push mail voting
In-person polling places, although reduced in many states, remain available even in states that vote fully by mail. New Jersey on Friday became the latest state to decide to send ballots out to all voters.
"It's a tiny number of states that do this," said Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York School of Law. "And they're not the states that are probably going to determine the outcome of the presidential election.
"In the vast majority of states, voters are given the option to vote by mail, and we should expect that if the primaries were any indication, that many, many people are going to choose that option."
'Not logically consistent'
Trump and Republicans have drawn a distinction between absentee voting offered to seniors, the military, people with disabilities and others who are unable to vote in person on Election Day. The president says he is OK with this – in fact, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump requested absentee ballots in Florida on Wednesday. But he opposes ballots automatically sent to registered voters.
Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, Washington were the only universal vote-by-mail states before the pandemic. California, Nevada, Vermont and New Jersey have since signed on for the November election. In addition, Montana, North Dakota and Nebraska allow individual counties to decide whether to mail ballots to all registered voters.
A New York Times analysis found that 76% of voters will have the choice to vote-by-mail this November, but only 18% are set to automatically receive a ballot in the mail.
Trump routinely slams the several weeks it took New York to count mail ballots following its June 23 state primary, as well as voter fraud allegations out of Paterson, New Jersey, to push his argument that the country is not ready for widespread mail-voting and that it's ripe for fraud.
More: President Trump requests mail-in ballot for upcoming Florida primary, despite rhetoric
New York mailed ballot applications – not ballots – to all its registered voters, but John Conklin, spokesman for the New York Board of Election said it's unlikely the state will send applications to all voters in the November election, citing cost considerations. All New York voters will still be able to cite the fear of contracting the coronavirus to request a mail ballot.
No winner on election night? Mail-in ballots could put presidential outcome in doubt for weeks
New Jersey mailed ballots to all voters for its primary and will do so again in November. The state already allowed any voter to request absentee ballots without an excuse.
"His attacks, by and large, have been on elections that have been conducted as no-excuse absentee (elections), and he seems to say absentee voting is OK," Norden said. "Certainly his remarks on the subject are not logistically consistent and they're confusing if you're taking him by his word."
More: In dramatic shift, half of Americans fear difficulties voting in November election, poll says
Trump slams Nevada lawmakers over mail-in voting President Donald Trump says his administration plans to sue Nevada after the state's lawmakers passed a bill to mail active voters ballots ahead of the November election amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Aug. 3) AP
Spike in mail ballots doesn't mean 'universal'
The pandemic, combined with state efforts' to promote mail-voting, produced record-setting absentee voting totals during recent primaries and is expected to do so in November. Some states absorbed the deluge of ballots with few hiccups. Others saw long lines in the limited number of polling sites that remained opened, while states like Pennsylvania and New York took weeks to count all absentee ballots.
Most did not send ballots to all voters.
More: 'A substantial challenge': What Kentucky, New York tell us about voting in a pandemic come November
Nevertheless, Trump, in a tweet this month floating the idea of delaying the election, said "universal mail-in voting" will make the 2020 election the most "INACCURATE AND FRAUDULENT Election in history."
"Absentee ballots, by the way, are fine," Trump said Thursday. "But the universal mail-ins that are just sent all over the place, where people can grab them and grab stacks of them, and sign them and do whatever you want, that’s the thing we’re against."
These statements are false, according to election experts. No states send ballots to people who are not registered voters, and states use signature verification tools to ensure the authenticity of ballots.
"The president, I think, doesn't understand the process," said Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote At Home Institute.
In 34 states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, voters even before the pandemic, could vote absentee without needing an excuse. Several states sent mail-ballot applications to all voters in their primaries and are doing the same in November.
In most of the 16 states, including New York, where voters must provide an excuse to receive an absentee ballot – being over 65 years old, out of town during Election Day or in the military, for example – they can now cite coronavirus as a reason to receive a mail mail ballots. Only six states won't allow mail-voting for all voters in the November election. The state Supreme Court in Tennessee, for example, ruled that concerns about COVID-19 could not be used as a reason to vote by mail, a change from the state's primary election held earlier this month.
More: Fear of COVID-19 will not be reason to vote absentee in November, Tennessee Supreme Court rules
Despite Trump's warnings, the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at the New York School of Law said it's more likely for an American to "get struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud." Out of billions of votes cast across all U.S. elections from 2000 to 2012, one analysis found only 491 cases of absentee voter fraud.
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
Democrats argue 'universal' mail-voting means something else
Trump continued his attacks on "universal" mail voting last week during a press briefing at Bedminster Golf Club when he announced plans to sign four executive orders to help families struggling during the pandemic.
In opposing the coronavirus relief bill that passed the House, dubbed the HEROES Act, Trump accused Democrats of wanting to force states to have universal mail-in balloting regardless of whether they have the infrastructure
"They want to steal an election," Trump said. "That’s all this is all about: They want to steal the election."
More: What you need to know about the Nevada mail-in voting bill Trump wants to block
Democrats reject that assertion. They also argue "universal" mail-voting means something else – voting conducted entirely by mail.
Drew Hammill, deputy chief of staff for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said the election measures in the bill wouldn't result in "universal" mail voting because in-person voting sites would remain open. The bill would give states $3.6 billion for election preparedness, which could be used for making safety accommodations for in-person voting in addition to mail-voting equipment. It would also require accessible polling places and at least 15 days of early voting, among other provisions.
Some mail-voting advocates share that view.
"I don't really use the term 'universal vote-by-mail' or 'all vote-by-mail," said McReynolds, who previously oversaw predominantly mail elections in Denver. "You're not confined or constrained to only vote by mail. To me, if you say 'universal vote-by-mail', that's it."
McReynolds said ballots sent to voters automatically or after a request are "fundamentally the same thing" – subject to the same verification processes from one state to another.
"He's kind of using a false term as a premise. He's (warning) against something that doesn't exist in a lot of ways."
Trump's claims of mail-in voter fraud disputed Voters in five US states go to the polls Tuesday as election security experts say there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting. (August 4) AP
Trump links opposition to more postal service funding to mail-voting
Appearing on the Fox Business Network this week, Trump linked his opposition to $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, also proposed in the HEROES Act, to the expected surge in mail ballots expected in November.
"(Democrats) need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump said. "If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it."
More: Experts held 'war games' on the Trump vs. Biden election. Their finding? Brace for a mess
Trump has taken particular aim at Nevada, this month tweeting that the Nevada legislature's decision to send mail ballots to all voters "latenight coup" orchestrated by the state's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolok. The Trump campaign sued Nevada seeking to stop its plan.
"Their infrastructure is a total disaster," Trump said. "They don’t want to have signature verification, they don’t want to have any of the safeguards that you need.
But Nevada's' plan does have signature verification. And although Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, did not support the plan, her office said the state has many voting protections including safeguards that ensure no voter is allowed to cast more than one ballot in any given election.
Cegavske said she was not aware of any fraud in the state's June primary, when the state also sent ballots to all Nevada registered voters.
More: Trump campaign sues Nevada over mail-in ballot law before November election
The president's messaging took another turn last week when Trump singled out the battleground state of Florida. In a tweet, he said his Florida supporters should request an absentee ballot and vote by mail because the election system in the Republican-run battleground state is "Safe and Secure, Tried and True." One week later, Trump made his personal request for a Florida absentee ballot.
Florida is among the 34 states that offer absentee ballots to all eligible voters without needing an excuse.
Some Republicans worry that Trump's harsh rhetoric about mail-voting could hurt his own chances in swing states and give an edge to Democrats, who have embraced vote-by-mail expansion during the pandemic. Florida Democrats have requested nearly 600,000 more absentee ballots than Republicans, 1.9 million vs. 1.3 million.
"It is evolving," University of Florida Political Scientist Michael McDonald, an expert on mail voting, said of Trump's message on mail-voting. "Republicans are listening to Trump and it's causing these huge disparities in ballot requests where Democrats are well outpacing Republicans in mail-ballot requests."
He speculated the Trump campaign, concerned by these numbers, probably asked Trump to change his tone. "Maybe that's how they've eased Trump into changing his stance on his rhetoric on this – focusing it on these all mail-ballot states."
Contributing: Associated Press. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-08-17--'It's not a good picture': Party conventions may further complicate coronavirus stimulus talks

WASHINGTON – Bitter negotiations for a new coronavirus stimulus deal dissolved into an ugly blame game by the time lawmakers left Washington late last week with no deal , no progress to report and no plans to return until September .
By the end , the two sides refused to even meet .
The disaster of those failed discussions hangs over both parties as they shift their attention to two weeks of national political conventions , which likely would push a deal until sometime well after Labor Day .
That means that while political leaders party , unemployed Americans will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have allowed them to make ends meet ; cash-strapped state and local governments will be left in the lurch ; and uncertainty will continue to linger over a series of executive orders made by President Donald Trump that aimed to offer some relief .
The optics are a big concern for endangered lawmakers seeking reelection , who now have to answer to voters back home about why their leaders and the White House have been unable to strike a deal as a deadly contagion continues to take its toll across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I do think that there was a hope , probably almost an expectation , by people that Congress would come together and get it done , ” said Rep. Susan Wild , a Pennsylvania Democrat who flipped a red seat in 2018 .
“ And so when there was n't , I think there was ... sort of a state of disbelief . ''
Said Ross Baker , professor of political science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick : `` It ’ s not a good picture for members of Congress facing reelection to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : With no balloon drops , what 's a convention for ?
Three things Joe Biden needs to do at his Giving a political victory to the other side ?
Both Democratic leaders are set to attend the Democratic National Convention , which starts Monday , meaning in-person discussions on a coronavirus package are unlikely to happen .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , will speak Wednesday night , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , will be attending the convention virtually .
The offices of Senate Majority Leader Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , declined to say if they would be attending the Republican National Convention next week , though they have attended the events in the past .
Political conventions traditionally have been pep rallies for activists and party officials in a raucous convention hall while supporters watch on television .
The parties adopt a platform to showcase their priorities and highlight the vast differences with the other side .
But this year the events will be drained of much of their hoopla and inspiration , Baker said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brass bands and balloon drops , the conventions will be more like online corporate conferences dressed up with fake back-drops , ” he said .
Furloughs : US immigration services set to furlough two-thirds of its workers after coronavirus stimulus talks fail Even so , “ the prospect of Congress ’ failure to pass an additional package of relief measures and not getting the appropriations done is very grim , ” Baker said .
Political conventions are largely about projecting a message going into the fall 's elections .
`` Neither party wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spun as a political victory during their convention week , '' said Kent Syler , a political scientist at Middle Tennessee State University and a former Democratic congressional aide .
Schumer , Pelosi , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows negotiated for weeks trying to reconcile the Democrats ' roughly $ 3.4 trillion plan with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's $ 1.1 trillion package .
Both proposals included $ 1,200 direct payments for struggling Americans , billions for schools trying to reopen and money for businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted Trump to sign four executive orders to continue some aspects of earlier stimulus bills , but they did not address all the relief sought in talks .
After he signed the orders , the two sides continued to blame the other side for the impasse .
Americans have become somewhat numb to these kinds of “ political mud fights , ” Syler said , but there are risks for both parties .
“ Incumbents running for reelection have the most to lose if voters decide that Washington is broken , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost on those participating in this political drama .
It may ultimately be this fear of voter rebellion in November that gets us a deal.
” 'There is no playbook ' : How Trump and Biden are trying to run virtual campaigns during coronavirus Wild 's office has been consumed by calls from those who thought more financial relief was on the way .
Wild , a freshman , said she worries about the message the stalemate was sending to Americans , who are being lobbied by each party to vote for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grow pessimistic . ''
`` I 've been hoping for weeks now that the imminent election would make people more more apt ... to get something done , '' she said , adding that her worry was that by Election Day , `` the mood of the American people could be , you know , they should all be thrown out , and you know , government is useless to us . ''
She acknowledged it was hard to fathom a bipartisan compromise occurring over the next two weeks as both parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differences between them , but she said she was holding out hope .
“ If anything , I think it motivates both parties a little bit more to keep talking , ” she said .
Wild is one of many endangered lawmakers facing intense pressure back home over the stalled relie .
She expressed a sense of `` frustration '' with both Republicans and Democrats leading the negotiations , something echoed by fellow swing-state Democrats , and has called for Congress to take up smaller bills instead of a bigger package .
$ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan Sen. Doug Jones , D-Ala. , said the blame for the stalled stimulus talks falls on Republicans .
“ It 's totally ridiculous , ” he said , referring to McConnell criticizing Democrats as being uncompromising .
He noted most Republicans rejected House Democrats ’ plan when it was passed in May .
Jones , who represents a state Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points in 2016 , had been optimistic but now said he felt “ complete pessimism ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
Asked about the optics of his planned speech at the Democratic National Convention amid the congressional gridlock , Jones said he was “ comfortable ” with the message he would be delivering .
“ I 'm not going to agree with all the messages that are going to be delivered , ” he said .
“ But I think overall , the message is going to be one to unify this country . ''
Rep. Andy Kim , D-N.J. , who represents a suburban Philadelphia district he flipped in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” about a deal being reached but was still frustrated about the lack of a compromise .
He said he has been getting calls every day from constituents wondering when aid would arrive .
“ We know the American people do not have the luxury of pushing off their problems for a month or two , ” he said .
Kim laid the blame on Republicans and the Trump administration for the impasse in negotiations and for waiting so long to introduce a GOP proposal .
“ That lack of willingness to negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Both parties come together , and look , at the end , nobody 's gon na get 100 % of what they want.
” Who 's speaking ?
DNC lineup of speakers headlined by the Obamas and Jill Biden as keynotes The stalled talks and Pelosi 's lead role in the impasse could be helpful for some Republicans , including Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who blamed the Democratic speaker over the stalled aid .
The first-term New Jersey Republican is facing a tough reelection in his district , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the congressman 's move to quit the Democratic Party and join Republicans during Trump 's impeachment late last year .
Van Drew said in an interview that he could n't understand Pelosi 's refusal to meet last week with Mnuchin over remaining differences on the overall price tag for the bill .
`` Why would you refuse to meet with him ? ''
he said .
`` Sit down , meet with him , keep going over and over and over and over it again .
He gives a little , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out . ''
Van Drew acknowledged that the timing of the conventions and the approaching election were not helpful in the talks but said the pandemic should rise above the typical bickering .
`` You know , sometimes an issue comes along that is so powerful and so problematic , that you really have to focus on that alone , and you have to forget about the politics and you have to forget about elections , and you just have to get that done , '' he said .
`` People expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan . ''
Who 's performing ?
Jennifer Hudson , Billie Eilish , John Legend and others will perform at DNC

Michael Collins, Christal Hayes and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

'It's not a good picture': Party conventions may further complicate coronavirus stimulus talks
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 stimulus: Trump signs new executive orders despite stalemate President Trump signed four executive orders for COVID-19 relief but American's may not see benefits without congressional approval. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Bitter negotiations for a new coronavirus stimulus deal dissolved into an ugly blame game by the time lawmakers left Washington late last week with no deal, no progress to report and no plans to return until September.
By the end, the two sides refused to even meet.
The disaster of those failed discussions hangs over both parties as they shift their attention to two weeks of national political conventions, which likely would push a deal until sometime well after Labor Day.
That means that while political leaders party, unemployed Americans will have to do without the bolstered benefits that have allowed them to make ends meet; cash-strapped state and local governments will be left in the lurch; and uncertainty will continue to linger over a series of executive orders made by President Donald Trump that aimed to offer some relief.
The optics are a big concern for endangered lawmakers seeking reelection, who now have to answer to voters back home about why their leaders and the White House have been unable to strike a deal as a deadly contagion continues to take its toll across the country.
"When the relief ran out, I do think that there was a hope, probably almost an expectation, by people that Congress would come together and get it done,” said Rep. Susan Wild, a Pennsylvania Democrat who flipped a red seat in 2018. “And so when there wasn't, I think there was ... sort of a state of disbelief."
Said Ross Baker, professor of political science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick: "It’s not a good picture for members of Congress facing reelection to take into November."
DNC 2020: With no balloon drops, what's a convention for? Three things Joe Biden needs to do at his
Giving a political victory to the other side?
Both Democratic leaders are set to attend the Democratic National Convention, which starts Monday, meaning in-person discussions on a coronavirus package are unlikely to happen. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will speak Wednesday night, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will be attending the convention virtually.
The offices of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., declined to say if they would be attending the Republican National Convention next week, though they have attended the events in the past.
Political conventions traditionally have been pep rallies for activists and party officials in a raucous convention hall while supporters watch on television. The parties adopt a platform to showcase their priorities and highlight the vast differences with the other side.
But this year the events will be drained of much of their hoopla and inspiration, Baker said.
“Instead of a teeming convention hall with brass bands and balloon drops, the conventions will be more like online corporate conferences dressed up with fake back-drops,” he said.
Furloughs: US immigration services set to furlough two-thirds of its workers after coronavirus stimulus talks fail
Even so, “the prospect of Congress’ failure to pass an additional package of relief measures and not getting the appropriations done is very grim,” Baker said.
Political conventions are largely about projecting a message going into the fall's elections.
"Neither party wants to give the other what would be spun as a political victory during their convention week," said Kent Syler, a political scientist at Middle Tennessee State University and a former Democratic congressional aide.
Schumer, Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows negotiated for weeks trying to reconcile the Democrats' roughly $3.4 trillion plan with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's $1.1 trillion package. Both proposals included $1,200 direct payments for struggling Americans, billions for schools trying to reopen and money for businesses trying to stay afloat.
The inaction prompted Trump to sign four executive orders to continue some aspects of earlier stimulus bills, but they did not address all the relief sought in talks. After he signed the orders, the two sides continued to blame the other side for the impasse.
Americans have become somewhat numb to these kinds of “political mud fights,” Syler said, but there are risks for both parties.
“Incumbents running for reelection have the most to lose if voters decide that Washington is broken,” he said. “This fact is not lost on those participating in this political drama. It may ultimately be this fear of voter rebellion in November that gets us a deal.”
'There is no playbook': How Trump and Biden are trying to run virtual campaigns during coronavirus
A tough position for endangered lawmakers
Wild's office has been consumed by calls from those who thought more financial relief was on the way.
Wild, a freshman, said she worries about the message the stalemate was sending to Americans, who are being lobbied by each party to vote for their candidates, noting she was "starting to grow pessimistic."
"I've been hoping for weeks now that the imminent election would make people more more apt ... to get something done," she said, adding that her worry was that by Election Day, "the mood of the American people could be, you know, they should all be thrown out, and you know, government is useless to us."
She acknowledged it was hard to fathom a bipartisan compromise occurring over the next two weeks as both parties attend events that stress the plethora of differences between them, but she said she was holding out hope.
“If anything, I think it motivates both parties a little bit more to keep talking,” she said.
Wild is one of many endangered lawmakers facing intense pressure back home over the stalled relie. She expressed a sense of "frustration" with both Republicans and Democrats leading the negotiations, something echoed by fellow swing-state Democrats, and has called for Congress to take up smaller bills instead of a bigger package.
$1,200 checks? Money for schools? Breaking down what Republicans and Democrats want in the coronavirus stimulus plan
Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., said the blame for the stalled stimulus talks falls on Republicans.
“It's totally ridiculous,” he said, referring to McConnell criticizing Democrats as being uncompromising. He noted most Republicans rejected House Democrats’ plan when it was passed in May.
Jones, who represents a state Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points in 2016, had been optimistic but now said he felt “complete pessimism” about a deal being reached before Labor Day.
Trump's executive orders: Trump signs executive orders enacting $400 unemployment benefit, payroll tax cut after coronavirus stimulus talks stall
Asked about the optics of his planned speech at the Democratic National Convention amid the congressional gridlock, Jones said he was “comfortable” with the message he would be delivering.
“I'm not going to agree with all the messages that are going to be delivered,” he said. “But I think overall, the message is going to be one to unify this country."
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who represents a suburban Philadelphia district he flipped in 2018, was also trying to be “hopeful” about a deal being reached but was still frustrated about the lack of a compromise.
He said he has been getting calls every day from constituents wondering when aid would arrive.
“We know the American people do not have the luxury of pushing off their problems for a month or two,” he said.
Kim laid the blame on Republicans and the Trump administration for the impasse in negotiations and for waiting so long to introduce a GOP proposal.
“That lack of willingness to negotiate and compromise is frustrating," he said. "Both parties come together, and look, at the end, nobody's gonna get 100% of what they want.”
Who's speaking? DNC lineup of speakers headlined by the Obamas and Jill Biden as keynotes
The stalled talks and Pelosi's lead role in the impasse could be helpful for some Republicans, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who blamed the Democratic speaker over the stalled aid.
The first-term New Jersey Republican is facing a tough reelection in his district, a race that has been closely watched nationally because of the congressman's move to quit the Democratic Party and join Republicans during Trump's impeachment late last year.
Van Drew said in an interview that he couldn't understand Pelosi's refusal to meet last week with Mnuchin over remaining differences on the overall price tag for the bill.
"Why would you refuse to meet with him?" he said. "Sit down, meet with him, keep going over and over and over and over it again. He gives a little, you give a little and you work it out."
Van Drew acknowledged that the timing of the conventions and the approaching election were not helpful in the talks but said the pandemic should rise above the typical bickering.
"You know, sometimes an issue comes along that is so powerful and so problematic, that you really have to focus on that alone, and you have to forget about the politics and you have to forget about elections, and you just have to get that done," he said. "People expect their leaders at certain times to be bipartisan."
Who's performing?Jennifer Hudson, Billie Eilish, John Legend and others will perform at DNC


usatoday--2020-08-18--Donald Trump retweets his response to the first day of the Democratic National Convention

President Donald Trump remained mum throughout most of the first night of the Democratic Party ’ s nominating convention on Monday , but unloaded in a series of retweets minutes after the final speaker , former first lady Michelle Obama , finished her remarks .
“ My view of what life was like after the Obama presidency is much different than that of @ MichelleObama , ” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a message that Trump ’ s twitter account quickly reposted after Obama finished speaking .
Democrat after Democrat pounded Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its pugilistic approach to governing – the kind of criticism that rarely , if ever , goes unanswered from Trump .
But the president ’ s response fell along mainly familiar lines : Suggesting Joe Biden would further stifle the economy by raising taxes and ushering in liberal policy prescriptions .
Read USA TODAY 's live DNC coverage : Michelle Obama says Trump is the 'wrong president for our country' Most of Trump ’ s response came in a series of rapid-fire retweets aimed at New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
His Twitter feed also featured attacks on convention speakers like former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich and former Rep. Susan Molinari , Republicans who encouraged other members of the GOP to vote for Biden .
What you missed : Michelle Obama goes 'high ' , GOP 's John Kasich blasts Trump and other top moments from the DNC 's opening night '' Unlike John Kasich I believe we are on the right path with President Trump , '' Graham said in a post retweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Trump came from campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley , who questioned why Democrats had failed to discuss taxes , immigration and tougher environmental policies .
“ Democrats can try to conceal the dangerous truth with a Hollywood-produced infomercial , ” Hogan said , “ but they can ’ t hide the fact that the radical socialist leftist takeover of Joe Biden is complete.
” Trump has lined up a series of counterprogramming events throughout the week as the Democratic National Convention continues , including campaign stops in four battleground states .
Listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by clicking 'play ' below .

Donald Trump retweets his response to the first day of the Democratic National Convention
Show Caption Hide Caption Michelle Obama, wearing 'VOTE' necklace, calls Trump 'wrong president' Michelle Obama called President Donald Trump the "wrong president for our country" during her speech at the Democratic National Convention. Associated Press, USA TODAY
President Donald Trump remained mum throughout most of the first night of the Democratic Party’s nominating convention on Monday, but unloaded in a series of retweets minutes after the final speaker, former first lady Michelle Obama, finished her remarks.
“My view of what life was like after the Obama presidency is much different than that of @MichelleObama,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a message that Trump’s twitter account quickly reposted after Obama finished speaking.
Democrat after Democrat pounded Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economy as well as its pugilistic approach to governing – the kind of criticism that rarely, if ever, goes unanswered from Trump. But the president’s response fell along mainly familiar lines: Suggesting Joe Biden would further stifle the economy by raising taxes and ushering in liberal policy prescriptions.
Read USA TODAY's live DNC coverage: Michelle Obama says Trump is the 'wrong president for our country'
Most of Trump’s response came in a series of rapid-fire retweets aimed at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a regular sparring partner who spoke on Monday, over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
His Twitter feed also featured attacks on convention speakers like former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Rep. Susan Molinari, Republicans who encouraged other members of the GOP to vote for Biden.
What you missed: Michelle Obama goes 'high', GOP's John Kasich blasts Trump and other top moments from the DNC's opening night
"Unlike John Kasich I believe we are on the right path with President Trump," Graham said in a post retweeted by the president.
The official response from Trump came from campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley, who questioned why Democrats had failed to discuss taxes, immigration and tougher environmental policies.
“Democrats can try to conceal the dangerous truth with a Hollywood-produced infomercial,” Hogan said, “ but they can’t hide the fact that the radical socialist leftist takeover of Joe Biden is complete.”
Trump has lined up a series of counterprogramming events throughout the week as the Democratic National Convention continues, including campaign stops in four battleground states.
Listen to more news about the Democratic National Convention by clicking 'play' below.