usatoday--2020-11-15--Opinion: What's wrong with Michigan? Wolverines reach new low in loss to Wisconsin

Michigan football set a record Saturday night .
Just not one the Wolverines will be proud of .
Michigan entered halftime trailing Wisconsin 28-0 : The largest halftime deficit at home since Michigan Stadium opened in 1927 .
And a nightmare season for coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines officially reached a new low .
In a blasé 49-11 loss , Michigan ( 1-3 ) was outplayed and unprepared against a Badgers team missing several key contributors and that had not played since the opening week after a COVID-19 outbreak .
It was not an exaggeration to say the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of football ever played by a Michigan team .
The Wolverines gained one yard through their first four drives — and threw two interceptions .
Meanwhile , the defense was as porous as it has been all season , giving up four consecutive touchdowns .
What is going on with this team ?
It does n't help Michigan is missing arguably what was supposed to be its top five players .
Receiver Nico Collins and cornerback Ambry Thomas opted out before the season ; Kwity Paye , Jalen Mayfield and Aidan Hutchinson are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a young and inexperienced roster , and there 's a recipe for disaster .
Yet , it was bewildering how flat Michigan played in the first half .
The Wolverines played as if they were going through the motions .
The coaching staff ca n't do anything to control injuries or unexpected attrition , but it 's on Harbaugh and his assistants to motivate the players and develop a coherent game plan that puts players in the best position .
That has n't happened the past three weeks .
College football winners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0-4 , Michigan continues to flounder , Hoosiers stay hot '' We were thoroughly beaten in every phase , did n't really do anything well , '' Harbaugh said .
`` Did not play good .
Did not coach good .
Not in a good place with the execution .
Not in a good place adjusting and what we were doing schematically .
Not in a good place as a football team right now and that falls on me . ''
In what has already been a trying year for Michigan 's offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half .
On the very first play , Joe Milton threw a pass that bounced off tight end Nick Eubanks and was picked off .
On the next drive , Milton threw a pass directly at a linebacker for another pick .
And the two drives after that went three-and-out .
Michigan 's fifth drive went 74 yards — but Milton was stuffed on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line .
And by then , the game was effectively out of reach .
Nothing has come easy for Michigan since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opener .
The Wolverines constantly put themselves in difficult situations .
Take the second drive , which began at the 47 after a 43-yard kick return from Giles Jackson .
The Wolverines promptly committed a false start penalty , ran for a three-yard loss , ran for a two-yard gain and then Milton threw his second pick in as many pass attempts .
There 's no consistency to the offense or play-calling , either .
The pass game is out of sorts .
The run game is non-existent .
And the Wolverines ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they could have a quarterback controversy on their hands .
Milton was lifted in the third quarter for backup Cade McNamara , who proceeded to complete his first four passes for 74 yards , a touchdown and a two-point conversion .
All of McNamara 's throws featured pinpoint accuracy .
And at least for that one possession — Michigan gained zero yards on its final two drives — he moved the ball with a level of ease Milton could not achieve .
Michigan is positioned to finish with a losing record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ era .
What 's next for this team ?
The Wolverines will likely want a mulligan after rewatching their first-half performance .
They seemed to play with more fire and intensity after halftime .
But you ca n't spot the other team a 28-point lead and expect to get anywhere .
The Wolverines have now allowed the opening touchdown in all four of their games , and this team is not talented enough to play from behind .
Michigan will need to find a way to get off to a better start than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wolverines get Paye , Mayfield or left tackle Ryan Hayes back from injury .
Even then , it 'll take a lot of squinting to find a couple more wins left on this schedule .
The Wolverines ca n't score on offense .
And can barely keep opponents from scoring .
There are four games left ( half off this COVID-shortened season ) — but how many people will be watching those games ?

Opinion: What's wrong with Michigan? Wolverines reach new low in loss to Wisconsin
Show Caption Hide Caption Analyzing the weak points of the Harbaugh era at Michigan Sports Pulse: Michigan needs to step up against top competitors SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Michigan football set a record Saturday night. Just not one the Wolverines will be proud of.
Michigan entered halftime trailing Wisconsin 28-0: The largest halftime deficit at home since Michigan Stadium opened in 1927.
And a nightmare season for coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines officially reached a new low.
In a blasé 49-11 loss, Michigan (1-3) was outplayed and unprepared against a Badgers team missing several key contributors and that had not played since the opening week after a COVID-19 outbreak.
It was not an exaggeration to say the first half may have been the worst half of football ever played by a Michigan team. The Wolverines gained one yard through their first four drives — and threw two interceptions. Meanwhile, the defense was as porous as it has been all season, giving up four consecutive touchdowns.
What is going on with this team?
It doesn't help Michigan is missing arguably what was supposed to be its top five players. Receiver Nico Collins and cornerback Ambry Thomas opted out before the season; Kwity Paye, Jalen Mayfield and Aidan Hutchinson are injured. Add the absences to what is a young and inexperienced roster, and there's a recipe for disaster.
Yet, it was bewildering how flat Michigan played in the first half. The Wolverines played as if they were going through the motions. The coaching staff can't do anything to control injuries or unexpected attrition, but it's on Harbaugh and his assistants to motivate the players and develop a coherent game plan that puts players in the best position. That hasn't happened the past three weeks.
College football winners and losers: Penn State drops to 0-4, Michigan continues to flounder, Hoosiers stay hot
Opinion: College Football Playoff committee foolish to meet in person
"We were thoroughly beaten in every phase, didn't really do anything well," Harbaugh said. "Did not play good. Did not coach good. Not in a good place with the execution. Not in a good place adjusting and what we were doing schematically. Not in a good place as a football team right now and that falls on me."
Offense fizzles out. QB controversy brewing
In what has already been a trying year for Michigan's offense, the unit hit rock bottom in the first half. On the very first play, Joe Milton threw a pass that bounced off tight end Nick Eubanks and was picked off. On the next drive, Milton threw a pass directly at a linebacker for another pick. And the two drives after that went three-and-out. Michigan's fifth drive went 74 yards — but Milton was stuffed on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line. And by then, the game was effectively out of reach.
The Badger defense is on their toes 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/Zzc0SlU73c — ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 15, 2020
Nothing has come easy for Michigan since the offense lit up Minnesota in the season opener. The Wolverines constantly put themselves in difficult situations. Take the second drive, which began at the 47 after a 43-yard kick return from Giles Jackson. The Wolverines promptly committed a false start penalty, ran for a three-yard loss, ran for a two-yard gain and then Milton threw his second pick in as many pass attempts.
There's no consistency to the offense or play-calling, either. The pass game is out of sorts. The run game is non-existent. And the Wolverines can't even gain half a yard consistently.
But they could have a quarterback controversy on their hands. Milton was lifted in the third quarter for backup Cade McNamara, who proceeded to complete his first four passes for 74 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion. All of McNamara's throws featured pinpoint accuracy. And at least for that one possession — Michigan gained zero yards on its final two drives — he moved the ball with a level of ease Milton could not achieve.
No easy solutions
Michigan is positioned to finish with a losing record for the first time in the Harbaugh era. What's next for this team? The Wolverines will likely want a mulligan after rewatching their first-half performance. They seemed to play with more fire and intensity after halftime. But you can't spot the other team a 28-point lead and expect to get anywhere. The Wolverines have now allowed the opening touchdown in all four of their games, and this team is not talented enough to play from behind.
Michigan will need to find a way to get off to a better start than it has. It'll help if the Wolverines get Paye, Mayfield or left tackle Ryan Hayes back from injury. Even then, it'll take a lot of squinting to find a couple more wins left on this schedule. The Wolverines can't score on offense. And can barely keep opponents from scoring. There are four games left (half off this COVID-shortened season) — but how many people will be watching those games?


usatoday--2020-11-15--Coronavirus updates: Hospitalizations hit record level, will keep climbing; more schools retreating

Coronavirus updates: Hospitalizations hit record level, will keep climbing; more schools retreating to online teaching

Hospitals across the nation were being strained by a record number of coronavirus patients and new infections have now surpassed 100,000 each day for almost two weeks straight as the pandemic showed no signs of slowing Sunday .
The U.S. remains the global hotspot .
Eleven countries have reported more than 1 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began at the start of the year .
The United States has reported more than 1 million coronavirus cases in the last week .
Saturday 's daily numbers : 166,555 new cases , 1,266 deaths .
Almost 70,000 Americans were in hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frieden , a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , warns that `` simple , depressing math '' indicates hospitalizations will pass 100,000 within a month , placing a perilous strain on the health care system .
Deaths could reach 2,000 daily by the end of the year without a unified effort to halt the surge , he warned .
`` Let 's stay safe , keep in touch with friends and family , and have a happy and socially connected but physically distant Thanksgiving ! ''
Frieden tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday will reinstate a stay-at-home lockdown for the entire reservation while closing tribal offices and requiring new closures and safety measures for businesses due to rising COVID-19 cases .
• Hospitals are getting better at treating COVID-19 patients , according to University of Washington 's influential Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model .
Better treatments have helped decrease the disease 's fatality rate by 30 % since April , according to a model briefing .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported almost 11 million cases and more than 245,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data .
The global totals : 54 million cases and 1.3 million deaths .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
📰 What we 're reading : COVID-19 infections are soaring .
Lockdowns could be coming .
A list of restrictions in your state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Last spring , the coronavirus attacked major metro areas like New York City and Houston .
This summer , it spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The current wave , which has surpassed 2,000 deaths a day , frightens public health officials because it 's tearing into the frayed health care safety net of rural America .
Many of the nation ’ s nearly 1,800 rural hospitals lack the equipment , workforce and expertise to handle a surge of COVID-19 patients .
Nurses and doctors are getting sick , leaving already short-staffed hospitals more desperate for workers .
“ These rural hospitals are designed for primary care , general surgery , ” said Alan Morgan , CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were never designed for a global pandemic response.
” Mexico on Saturday reached 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 100,000 test-confirmed deaths , though officials agree the number is probably much higher .
Health Director General Ricardo Cortés Alcalá announced that the number of confirmed cases had reached 1,003,253 , with at least 98,259 deaths from COVID-19 .
How did Mexico get here ?
By marching resolutely , even defiantly , against many internationally accepted practices in pandemic management , from face mask wearing , to lockdowns , testing and contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost never wears a mask , and Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell only occasionally does .
Except science does not appear to be on their side : International experts have recommended mass testing , and say face masks protect both the wearer and other people .
The Republican governors of North Dakota and West Virginia have mandated the wearing of masks in businesses and indoor spaces in their states .
“ It ’ s just silly to be in a public building with strangers walking around without a mask on , ” West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Even if you have this macho belief or whatever it may be , it ’ s silly.
” Justice 's first indoor mask order in July did not require masks if social distancing was possible .
The new order , effective Friday , requires masks at all times except when eating or drinking .
The state 's 11 new deaths caused by COVID-19 brings the death toll to at least 565 .
North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum 's order followed increased pressure from doctors , nurses and other health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday and will last until Dec. 13 .
Burgum said in a statement that doctors and nurses “ need our help , and they need it now.
” The state 's COVID-19 death toll has risen to 707 , according to state health data .
Burgum also directed all bars and restaurants to limit capacity to 50 % , and closed all in-person service between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m .
Large-scale venues are limited to 25 % capacity .
More : The Dakotas are 'as bad as it gets anywhere in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending more kids back to online learning The nation 's new COVID-19 spike is poised to send hundreds of thousands of students who were in school at least part-time back to 100 % remote learning .
A quick look around the country : • New York City — where some 300,000 public school students are receiving some in-person instruction — is quickly approaching the community spread threshold that would trigger another shutdown .
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday told parents to prepare for school buildings to close as early as Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered all public and private schools to close and return to online learning by Nov. 30 for safety reasons , a move that affects around 200,000 students .
• Meanwhile , a number of urban districts that have operated fully online since the start of the year , such as San Diego , Atlanta , Philadelphia , Detroit , Anchorage and several big , suburban districts outside of Washington , D.C. , are further delaying plans for in-class learning because of rising infections .
Before the most recent surge , districts were facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classrooms .
Mounting evidence shows schools that carefully reopened with safety protocols have not had major outbreaks .
Most of the virus spread , experts have said , appears to be happening in the community , not schools .
Read more here .
Want to gather with family for Thanksgiving ?
Start quarantining now The holiday season is upon us and so is another surge of the coronavirus pandemic .
So what 's a family to do ?
While some state and city officials have advised against large family gatherings , folks may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend time with loved ones this fall and welcoming students back into the fold .
Dr. Adam Jarrett , who serves as the chief medical officer at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey , said that the safest way to try to gather would be to get tested and then “ truly self-quarantine for 10 days to two weeks.
” With Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 26 , that means quarantine should begin now .
“ That ’ s the only way that we can be pretty close to 100 % safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

Coronavirus updates: Dr. Anthony Fauci says spring could bring return to normal; Michigan halts classes, dining for 3 weeks; 246K US deaths
Show Caption Hide Caption Flu shot: When to get the vaccine during coronavirus pandemic Public health experts say this year everyone should get a flu shot, if possible. USA TODAY
The U.S. could "start getting things back to relative normal" as soon as the spring if early testing on vaccines holds up and people agree to be vaccinated, the nation's top infectious disease expert said Sunday.
"If we get the overwhelming majority of people taking the vaccine ... people can start thinking about doing things that were too dangerous just months ago," Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN's "State of the Union."
The encouraging words come as hospitals across the nation are strained by a record number of coronavirus patients and new infections have surpassed 100,000 each day for almost two weeks straight.
The U.S. remains the global hot spot. Eleven countries have reported more than 1 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began at the start of the year. The United States has reported more than 1 million coronavirus cases in the last week.
Some major developments:
The Navajo Nation on Monday will reinstate a stay-at-home lockdown for the entire reservation while closing tribal offices and requiring new closures and safety measures for businesses due to rising COVID-19 cases.
Hospitals are getting better at treating COVID-19 patients, according to the University of Washington's influential Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model. Better treatments have helped decrease the disease's fatality rate by 30% since April, according to a model briefing.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 11 million cases and 246,100 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 54.3 million cases and 1.31 million deaths.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
📰 What we're reading: COVID-19 infections are soaring. Lockdowns could be coming. A list of restrictions in your state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
Faced with a spike in coronavirus cases that dwarfs the worst period during the peak of the early-April surge, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is taking decisive measures that fall short of ordering a lockdown.
Whitmer announced Sunday that in-person classes at high schools and colleges statewide will be suspended for three weeks. The new restrictions take effect Wednesday and include a ban on eat-in dining at restaurants and bars for that period, as well as the cancellation of organized sports and group exercise classes that don't involve college or pro athletics. Casinos and movie theaters will be closed temporarily and gatherings inside homes will be limited to two households.
Michigan is coming of its worst seven-day stretch in the pandemic, with 44,019 new infections and 416 deaths last week. "If we don’t act now, thousands more will die, and our hospitals will continue to be overwhelmed,'' Whitmer said.
– Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after being told he came into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.
Johnson "is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19," a statement from his office said.
Johnson met with a small group of lawmakers for about a half-hour on Thursday, including one who subsequently developed coronavirus symptoms and tested positive. He was notified by the National Health Service's Test and Trace system Sunday and told he should self-isolate because of factors including the length of the meeting.
The statement didn't say how long Johnson planned to isolate, but U.K. health authorities' guidance is that anyone contacted by Test and Trace should quarantine for 14 days. In April, Johnson was hospitalized in intensive care for three nights after contracting COVID-19.
New York City won't be closing classrooms Monday to hundreds of thousands of students after coronavirus test results remained below the level that would trigger a shutdown of public school buildings, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday. The positive test rate over 7 days was 2.57%. De Blasio warned Friday that schools could close as soon as Monday as the city neared the threshold of 3%. Teachers had been warned to bring home from their classrooms whatever materials they would need to teach online. Parents were given the option of online or in-classroom learning, and only about 280,000 of more than 1 million students are in the classrooms.
"Thankfully, schools will remain open on Monday, but we have to keep fighting back with everything we’ve got," de Blasio said.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled new restrictions including a ban on indoor seating at restaurants and indoor social gatherings, a shutdown of gyms, bowling alleys and movie theaters and cutbacks in numbers at other businesses. Most of the restrictions begin Tuesday, including a limit of 25% of capacity at grocery stores and a ban on indoor social gatherings with people from more than one household unless attendees have either quarantined for 14 days before the gathering or tested negative for COVID-19 and have quarantined for seven days.
Starting Wednesday, restaurants and bars will be limited to to-go service and outdoor dining with tables seating no more than five people.
“Today... is the most dangerous public health day in the last 100 years of our state’s history,” Inslee said at an online announcement. “A pandemic is raging (that) left unchecked will assuredly result in grossly overburdened hospitals and morgues."
A national lockdown is not on the table but "very surgical type restrictions" are required to tame the coronavirus outbreak, Fauci said. He told "State of the Union" that governors and mayors must continue to order restrictions to help the nation cope as numbers rise. Fauci also urged President Donald Trump to begin collaborating with President-elect Joe Biden, comparing the coronavirus effort to a relay race where runners don't stop to hand off the baton. The head of the General Services Administration, Emily Murphy, has thus far not signed paperwork required for the transition process to begin.
Fauci said public health fundamentals must "uniform, not spotty."
"Everybody's got to do it," he says. "There's no excuse not to do that right now, because we know that can turn things around. We have good news with regard to the vaccine.
Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warns that "simple, depressing math" indicates hospitalizations will pass 100,000 within a month, placing a perilous strain on the health care system. Almost 70,000 Americans were in hospitals Saturday due to the virus. There were 166,555 new cases and 1,266 reported deaths, which could reach 2,000 daily by the end of the year without a unified effort to halt the surge, Frieden warned.
"Let's stay safe, keep in touch with friends and family, and have a happy and socially connected but physically distant Thanksgiving!" Frieden tweeted Sunday.
Last spring, the coronavirus attacked major metro areas like New York City and Houston. This summer, it spread to suburban communities and ravaged the Sunbelt. The current wave, which has surpassed 2,000 deaths a day, frightens public health officials because it's tearing into the frayed health care safety net of rural America. Many of the nation’s nearly 1,800 rural hospitals lack the equipment, workforce and expertise to handle a surge of COVID-19 patients. Nurses and doctors are getting sick, leaving already short-staffed hospitals more desperate for workers.
“These rural hospitals are designed for primary care, general surgery,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “They were never designed for a global pandemic response.”
– Ken Alltucker
Mexico on Saturday reached 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 100,000 test-confirmed deaths, though officials agree the number is probably much higher. Health Director General Ricardo Cortés Alcalá announced that the number of confirmed cases had reached 1,003,253, with at least 98,259 deaths from COVID-19. How did Mexico get here? By marching resolutely, even defiantly, against many internationally accepted practices in pandemic management, from face mask wearing, to lockdowns, testing and contact tracing.
President Andres Manuel López Obrador almost never wears a mask, and Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell only occasionally does. Except science does not appear to be on their side: International experts have recommended mass testing, and say face masks protect both the wearer and other people.
The Republican governors of North Dakota and West Virginia have mandated the wearing of masks in businesses and indoor spaces in their states. “It’s just silly to be in a public building with strangers walking around without a mask on,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Friday. “Even if you have this macho belief or whatever it may be, it’s silly.”
Justice's first indoor mask order in July did not require masks if social distancing was possible. The new order, effective Friday, requires masks at all times except when eating or drinking. The state's 11 new deaths caused by COVID-19 brings the death toll to at least 565.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's order followed increased pressure from doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. The directive goes into effect Saturday and will last until Dec. 13. Burgum said in a statement that doctors and nurses “need our help, and they need it now.” The state's COVID-19 death toll has risen to 707, according to state health data. Burgum also directed all bars and restaurants to limit capacity to 50%, and closed all in-person service between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Large-scale venues are limited to 25% capacity.
More: The Dakotas are 'as bad as it gets anywhere in the world' for COVID-19
The nation's new COVID-19 spike is poised to send hundreds of thousands of students who were in school at least part-time back to 100% remote learning. A quick look around the country:
County officials in Indianapolis on Thursday ordered all public and private schools to close and return to online learning by Nov. 30 for safety reasons, a move that affects around 200,000 students.
on Thursday ordered all public and private schools to close and return to online learning by Nov. 30 for safety reasons, a move that affects around 200,000 students. A number of urban districts that have operated fully online since the start of the year, such as San Diego, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Anchorage and several big, suburban districts outside of Washington, D.C., are further delaying plans for in-class learning because of rising infections.
Before the most recent surge, districts were facing pressure to get more children back into classrooms. Mounting evidence shows schools that carefully reopened with safety protocols have not had major outbreaks. Most of the virus spread, experts have said, appears to be happening in the community, not schools. Read more here.
— Erin Richards
The holiday season is upon us and so is another surge of the coronavirus pandemic. So what's a family to do? While some state and city officials have advised against large family gatherings, folks may still be trying to find a way to spend time with loved ones this fall and welcoming students back into the fold.
Dr. Adam Jarrett, who serves as the chief medical officer at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey, said that the safest way to try to gather would be to get tested and then “truly self-quarantine for 10 days to two weeks.” With Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 26, that means quarantine should begin now.
“That’s the only way that we can be pretty close to 100% safe,” Jarrett said.
– Katie Sobko, The Bergen Record
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-11-15--Election 2020 updates: Connecticut senators self-isolate after governor's aide tests positive for CO

USA TODAY 'S coverage of the 2020 election continues this week after Joe Biden won a bitterly fought presidential election and states work to finish counting their remaining ballots .
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on how things are going .
USA TODAY will have live election information from across the country .
Sens .
Blumenthal and Murphy self-isolate after CT governor 's aide positive for COVID HARTFORD , Conn. — Connecticut ’ s two U.S. senators were self-isolating Saturday after a member of Democratic Gov .
Ned Lamont ’ s staff tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Murphy each tweeted Saturday that they had not had close contact with the staffer but were taking the step out of an abundance of caution .
Lamont ’ s chief spokesperson , Max Reiss , identified himself as the senior staff member who had tested positive in a release posted to Twitter on Friday .
Reiss wrote he wasn ’ t sure how or where he had contracted the virus .
Murphy tweeted Saturday that he had “ attended an event yesterday with the Governor but was not in close contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out of an abundance of caution , though , I am isolating until I get tested and consult with the Office of Attending Physician Monday morning.
” Blumenthal tweeted Saturday afternoon that he had “ just returned from being tested myself and am currently self-isolating.
” Republican leaders in Michigan and three other critical states won by President-elect Joe Biden say they wo n't participate in a legally dubious scheme to flip their state 's electors to vote for President Donald Trump .
Their comments effectively shut down a half-baked plot some Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in the White House .
State GOP lawmakers in Michigan , Arizona , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have all said they would not intervene in the selection of electors , who ultimately cast the votes that secure a candidate 's victory .
Such a move would violate state law and a vote of the people , several noted .
`` I do not see , short of finding some type of fraud — which I have n't heard of anything — I do n't see us in any serious way addressing a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arizona 's Republican House speaker .
Bowers said he 's been inundated with emails pleading for the legislature to intervene .
`` They are mandated by statute to choose according to the vote of the people , '' he said .
The idea loosely involves GOP-controlled legislatures dismissing Biden 's popular vote wins in their states and opting to select Trump electors .
While the endgame was unclear , it appeared to hinge on the expectation that a conservative-leaning Supreme Court would settle any dispute over the move .
Still , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , and is an example of misleading information and false claims fueling skepticism among Trump supporters about the integrity of the vote .
– Bob Christie and Nicholas Riccardi , The Associated Press Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona , who has been a staunch critic of President Donald Trump including during his time in the Senate , tweeted Friday that the GOP has a bright future in Arizona , if they accept the election results and that move forward for the sake of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright future in Arizona if we accept that the election was not 'stolen . '
The President lost , '' Flake tweeted .
`` If we move beyond conspiracy theories and debate issues again , the country will benefit — and so will our party . ''
Arizona elected Democrat Mark Kelly to the U.S. Senate over Republican incumbent Martha McSally .
The historically red state also turned blue for the presidency , voting for President-elect Joe Biden .
Flake told Fox News on Saturday that “ all indications are '' Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked if he thinks the president will concede the election .
The former senator said is more concerned about the future of the Republican Party than Trump .
`` I think the rest of us need to realize that this , this now say more about us and how we handle it than it does about the president , '' Flake told host Neil Cavuto .
Flake announced his support for Biden in a video on Twitter in August .
WASHINGTON — Thousands of people clad in red , white and blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of outgoing President Donald Trump in Washington , D.C. , on Saturday , to support the president and to echo his baseless claims of `` voter fraud '' in the 2020 presidential election .
Trump has refused to concede and falsely claims the election was stolen from him .
The rallies – advertised by several names including Million MAGA March , Stop the Steal and March for Trump – were planned to protest purported `` voter fraud , '' to `` show support for our President '' and `` demand a free and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hinted Friday on Twitter that he might stop by , rolled through the crowd in the presidential motorcade down Pennsylvania Avenue when he left the White House for a round of golf .
His supporters cheered , waved and whistled , chanting `` USA !
USA !
`` , `` We want Trump !
We want Trump ! ''
and `` Four more years !
Four more years ! ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany misrepresented the crowd size by several factors of 10 in a tweet falsely claiming the thousands who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million .
Trump also exaggerated the crowd size on Twitter , but he put the number in the `` hundreds of thousands . ''
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is current quarantining after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 Friday .
`` After arriving in Florida last night , I came into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID , '' Scott tweeted .
Although Scott tested negative for the virus Saturday and has no symptoms , he also said in his tweet that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will be immediately quarantining . ''
Scott was returning from Georgia , after attending a campaign event for two of his Republican colleagues : Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
Both face runoff elections for both Georgia ’ s U.S. Senate seats .
The event was held inside a restaurant , where `` hundreds of supporters '' gathered to hear Scott speak , according to the Georgia Recorder .
This is n't the first COVID scare for the Florida Senator .
He was tested after Sens .
Mike Lee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – both of whom he sits on a committee with – tested positive after the White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
As Pennsylvania grapples with a record number of positive COVID-19 cases , concerns are mounting that some of the infections could be blamed on the 2020 presidential election .
President Donald Trump 's campaign rallies attracted tens of thousands of supporters in the waning days of his re-election bid in Pennsylvania .
President-elect Joe Biden 's supporters poured into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other cities in Pennsylvania and across the country on Saturday to celebrate the Democratic challenger 's win .
But those mass gatherings exceeded state limits and public health recommendations .
Lou Dobbs says GOP should refuse to accept election results Fox Business host Lou Dobbs , a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who has parrotted the president 's baseless claims the election was `` fraudulent , '' demanded Friday night that Republicans refuse to accept the results .
During his interview with Rep. Devin Nunes , R-Calif. , Dobbs called the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` take over the country and deny this president what is rightfully his : a second term . ''
A fiery Dobbs asked Nunes what the Republican Party is doing to defend the president from what he called the `` culmination of a four-year effort to overthrow his presidency , to block his candidacy . ''
`` What 'd I like to know is : What in the hell is the Republican Party doing ? ''
Dobbs demanded .
`` Why not just say , 'We 're not going to accept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous . '
'' Dobbs said Republican officials did not appear to be doing enough to somehow prevent states being called for President-elect Joe Biden .
`` What is the Party doing to make certain it is n't called ?
I see so little animation in the Republican Party on this .
It 's as if it 's just another day at the store , '' Dobbs said , `` In fact , I believe the fate of the Republic hangs in the balance here . ''
More : Trump campaign 's challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Arizona push US toward 'loss of democracy' Gov .
Steve Sisolak announced Friday he has tested positive for COVID-19 , saying he has no symptoms and will begin a 10-day quarantine at his home in Carson City .
`` Today as part of my regular COVID testing , I underwent a rapid test and returned a positive result , '' Sisolak told reporters during a call Friday afternoon .
`` I am not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms and I have returned to my residence to begin the quarantine process . ''
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also took a PCR test , which detects the virus 's genetic material .
Sisolak undergoes weekly coronavirus testing .
His last negative test was Nov. 6 .
He also tested negative on Nov. 2 .
`` It 's nearly impossible to pinpoint where I contracted the virus , '' Sisolak said .
His positive test comes as Nevada is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases .
The state marked a new daily record for new cases on Friday , reporting 1,857 infections .
Sisolak said he is cooperating with disease investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Department , who have recommended he remain isolated for 10 days .
An indoor dinner at the Capitol hosted by House Democrats for new members was changed to grab-and-go after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced criticism Friday that the event was unsafe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
A picture from NBC Congressional Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell of the original set-up in Statutory Hall in the Capitol building started gathering attention on Twitter .
Pelosi , D-Calif. , told her it is safe and `` very spaced . ''
After some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drew Hammill , Deputy Chief of Staff for Pelosi , said , `` To be a further model for the nation , this event has been modified to allow Members-elect to pick up their meals to go in a socially-distanced manner . ''
`` Our office strictly follows the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician , including for this dinner , '' he said .
Hammill told USA TODAY the dinner will only be `` Grab and go '' and clarified no one will now be eating in the space .
Incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ botched several basic historical facts during a recent interview — such as misidentifying the three branches of government .
Tuberville , the former Auburn football coach who won his Senate race on Nov. 3 by defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones , did an interview on Thursday with The Alabama Daily News after he attended orientation in D.C. for new senators .
He was asked whether he thought the GOP could utilize their potential majority in the Senate to pass legislation as Democrats will control the House of Representatives and the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't care `` if you ’ re a Republican or Democrat ” and that he 's been given a mandate to help people .
“ Our government wasn ’ t set up for one group to have all three branches of government — wasn ’ t set up that way , ” Tuberville continued , saying incorrectly : “ You know , the House , the Senate , and the executive.
” Those are not the three branches of government .
As laid out in the Constitution , the three branches of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which includes both the Senate and House ; the executive , which includes the presidency , and the judicial , which includes the Supreme Court .
That was n't the only historical flub in the interview .
Tuberville also misidentified what America fought against in World War II .
When asked about the biggest takeaways from the election , Tuberville stated he was concerned that President-elect Joe Biden had promoted a vision that Tuberville claimed “ leads more to a socialist type of government .
”

Election 2020 updates: Connecticut senators self-isolate after governor's aide tests positive for COVID; McEnany inflates MAGA crowd
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump rules out a COVID-19 lockdown for his administration President Trump said his administration would not go to a national COVID-19 lockdown while speaking from the Rose Garden. USA TODAY
USA TODAY'S coverage of the 2020 election continues this week after Joe Biden won a bitterly fought presidential election and states work to finish counting their remaining ballots.
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on how things are going.
USA TODAY will have live election information from across the country.
Sens. Blumenthal and Murphy self-isolate after CT governor's aide positive for COVID
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut’s two U.S. senators were self-isolating Saturday after a member of Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s staff tested positive for COVID-19.
Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy each tweeted Saturday that they had not had close contact with the staffer but were taking the step out of an abundance of caution.
Lamont’s chief spokesperson, Max Reiss, identified himself as the senior staff member who had tested positive in a release posted to Twitter on Friday. Reiss wrote he wasn’t sure how or where he had contracted the virus.
Murphy tweeted Saturday that he had “attended an event yesterday with the Governor but was not in close contact with the staff member who tested positive. Out of an abundance of caution, though, I am isolating until I get tested and consult with the Office of Attending Physician Monday morning.”
Blumenthal tweeted Saturday afternoon that he had “just returned from being tested myself and am currently self-isolating.”
– The Associated Press
GOP lawmakers reject elector plot
Republican leaders in Michigan and three other critical states won by President-elect Joe Biden say they won't participate in a legally dubious scheme to flip their state's electors to vote for President Donald Trump. Their comments effectively shut down a half-baked plot some Republicans floated as a last chance to keep Trump in the White House.
State GOP lawmakers in Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have all said they would not intervene in the selection of electors, who ultimately cast the votes that secure a candidate's victory. Such a move would violate state law and a vote of the people, several noted.
"I do not see, short of finding some type of fraud — which I haven't heard of anything — I don't see us in any serious way addressing a change in electors," said Rusty Bowers, Arizona's Republican House speaker.
Bowers said he's been inundated with emails pleading for the legislature to intervene. "They are mandated by statute to choose according to the vote of the people," he said.
The idea loosely involves GOP-controlled legislatures dismissing Biden's popular vote wins in their states and opting to select Trump electors. While the endgame was unclear, it appeared to hinge on the expectation that a conservative-leaning Supreme Court would settle any dispute over the move.
Still, it has been promoted by Trump allies, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and is an example of misleading information and false claims fueling skepticism among Trump supporters about the integrity of the vote.
– Bob Christie and Nicholas Riccardi, The Associated Press
Ex-GOP Sen. Jeff Flake tweets reality, says 'the president lost'
Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who has been a staunch critic of President Donald Trump including during his time in the Senate, tweeted Friday that the GOP has a bright future in Arizona, if they accept the election results and that move forward for the sake of the country.
"The Republican Party can have a bright future in Arizona if we accept that the election was not 'stolen.' The President lost," Flake tweeted. "If we move beyond conspiracy theories and debate issues again, the country will benefit — and so will our party."
Arizona elected Democrat Mark Kelly to the U.S. Senate over Republican incumbent Martha McSally. The historically red state also turned blue for the presidency, voting for President-elect Joe Biden.
Flake told Fox News on Saturday that “all indications are" Trump is "going to ride this out" when asked if he thinks the president will concede the election. The former senator said is more concerned about the future of the Republican Party than Trump.
"I think the rest of us need to realize that this, this now say more about us and how we handle it than it does about the president," Flake told host Neil Cavuto.
Flake announced his support for Biden in a video on Twitter in August.
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
MAGA goes to Washington
WASHINGTON — Thousands of people clad in red, white and blue were gathering at a rally in support of outgoing President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, to support the president and to echo his baseless claims of "voter fraud" in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump has refused to concede and falsely claims the election was stolen from him.
The rallies – advertised by several names including Million MAGA March, Stop the Steal and March for Trump – were planned to protest purported "voter fraud," to "show support for our President" and "demand a free and fair election."
Trump, who hinted Friday on Twitter that he might stop by, rolled through the crowd in the presidential motorcade down Pennsylvania Avenue when he left the White House for a round of golf. His supporters cheered, waved and whistled, chanting "USA! USA!", "We want Trump! We want Trump!" and "Four more years! Four more years!"
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany misrepresented the crowd size by several factors of 10 in a tweet falsely claiming the thousands who gathered to support Trump numbered more than a million. Trump also exaggerated the crowd size on Twitter, but he put the number in the "hundreds of thousands."
– Christal Hayes N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Grace Hauck
AMAZING!
More than one MILLION marchers for President @realDonaldTrump descend on the swamp in support.
Best base in political history — we LOVE you guys!!! ❤🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vU65nqCSns — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) November 14, 2020
Sen. Rick Scott quarantines despite testing negative for COVID-19
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is current quarantining after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 Friday.
"After arriving in Florida last night, I came into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID," Scott tweeted.
Although Scott tested negative for the virus Saturday and has no symptoms, he also said in his tweet that "out of an abundance of caution, I will be immediately quarantining."
After arriving in Florida last night, I came into contact with someone who subsequently tested positive for COVID.
I was tested this morning and the result was negative. I have no symptoms, but out of an abundance of caution, I will be immediately quarantining. — Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 14, 2020
Scott was returning from Georgia, after attending a campaign event for two of his Republican colleagues: Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Both face runoff elections for both Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats.
The event was held inside a restaurant, where "hundreds of supporters" gathered to hear Scott speak, according to the Georgia Recorder.
This isn't the first COVID scare for the Florida Senator. He was tested after Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. – both of whom he sits on a committee with – tested positive after the White House Rose Garden ceremony to announce the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
COVID-19 cases surged in Pennsylvania after Trump visits, Biden celebrations
As Pennsylvania grapples with a record number of positive COVID-19 cases, concerns are mounting that some of the infections could be blamed on the 2020 presidential election.
President Donald Trump's campaign rallies attracted tens of thousands of supporters in the waning days of his re-election bid in Pennsylvania.
President-elect Joe Biden's supporters poured into the streets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities in Pennsylvania and across the country on Saturday to celebrate the Democratic challenger's win.
But those mass gatherings exceeded state limits and public health recommendations.
— Candy Woodall, USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capitol Bureau
Lou Dobbs says GOP should refuse to accept election results
Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who has parrotted the president's baseless claims the election was "fraudulent," demanded Friday night that Republicans refuse to accept the results.
During his interview with Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., Dobbs called the election an attempt by "radical" Democrats to "take over the country and deny this president what is rightfully his: a second term."
A fiery Dobbs asked Nunes what the Republican Party is doing to defend the president from what he called the "culmination of a four-year effort to overthrow his presidency, to block his candidacy."
"What'd I like to know is: What in the hell is the Republican Party doing?" Dobbs demanded. "Why not just say, 'We're not going to accept the results of this election? It's outrageous.'"
Dobbs said Republican officials did not appear to be doing enough to somehow prevent states being called for President-elect Joe Biden.
"What is the Party doing to make certain it isn't called? I see so little animation in the Republican Party on this. It's as if it's just another day at the store," Dobbs said, "In fact, I believe the fate of the Republic hangs in the balance here."
– Sarah Elbeshbishi
More: Trump campaign's challenge of election results in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona push US toward 'loss of democracy'
Nevada Gov. Sisolak tests positive for COVID-19
Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Friday he has tested positive for COVID-19, saying he has no symptoms and will begin a 10-day quarantine at his home in Carson City.
"Today as part of my regular COVID testing, I underwent a rapid test and returned a positive result," Sisolak told reporters during a call Friday afternoon. "I am not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms and I have returned to my residence to begin the quarantine process."
Nevada first lady Kathy Sisolak tested negative on Friday.
To confirm the diagnosis, Sisolak, 66, also took a PCR test, which detects the virus's genetic material.
Sisolak undergoes weekly coronavirus testing. His last negative test was Nov. 6. He also tested negative on Nov. 2.
"It's nearly impossible to pinpoint where I contracted the virus," Sisolak said.
His positive test comes as Nevada is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. The state marked a new daily record for new cases on Friday, reporting 1,857 infections.
Sisolak said he is cooperating with disease investigators from the Carson City Health and Human Services Department, who have recommended he remain isolated for 10 days.
– Anjeanette Damon, Reno Gazette Journal
House Dems change new-member dinner to grab-and-go after criticism
An indoor dinner at the Capitol hosted by House Democrats for new members was changed to grab-and-go after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced criticism Friday that the event was unsafe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A picture from NBC Congressional Correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell of the original set-up in Statutory Hall in the Capitol building started gathering attention on Twitter. Pelosi, D-Calif., told her it is safe and "very spaced."
After some of the criticism to the indoor event, Drew Hammill, Deputy Chief of Staff for Pelosi, said, "To be a further model for the nation, this event has been modified to allow Members-elect to pick up their meals to go in a socially-distanced manner."
"Our office strictly follows the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician, including for this dinner," he said.
Hammill told USA TODAY the dinner will only be "Grab and go" and clarified no one will now be eating in the space.
– Savannah Behrmann
Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville botches history facts
Incoming Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R- Ala., botched several basic historical facts during a recent interview — such as misidentifying the three branches of government.
Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach who won his Senate race on Nov. 3 by defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, did an interview on Thursday with The Alabama Daily News after he attended orientation in D.C. for new senators.
He was asked whether he thought the GOP could utilize their potential majority in the Senate to pass legislation as Democrats will control the House of Representatives and the White House. This prompted Tuberville to answer he doesn't care "if you’re a Republican or Democrat” and that he's been given a mandate to help people.
“Our government wasn’t set up for one group to have all three branches of government — wasn’t set up that way,” Tuberville continued, saying incorrectly: “You know, the House, the Senate, and the executive.”
Those are not the three branches of government. As laid out in the Constitution, the three branches of the federal government are: the legislative, which includes both the Senate and House; the executive, which includes the presidency, and the judicial, which includes the Supreme Court.
That wasn't the only historical flub in the interview.
Tuberville also misidentified what America fought against in World War II. When asked about the biggest takeaways from the election, Tuberville stated he was concerned that President-elect Joe Biden had promoted a vision that Tuberville claimed “leads more to a socialist type of government.”
– Savannah Behrmann


usatoday--2020-11-15--President-elect Joe Biden is summoning our better angels. Will we listen?

President-elect Joe Biden ’ s short speech on Nov. 7 laid the first stones of a foundation for a governing philosophy : The president-elect says he wants to put you and me front and center — and not himself .
`` I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide , but to unify , '' he said .
`` Who doesn ’ t see red and blue states , but a United States .
And who will work with all my heart to win the confidence of the whole people . ''
That thread of modesty ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran through his entire campaign .
He listened to public health experts and limited his appearances , he wore a mask , he talked about average people .
His tweets were calm and reassuring .
Biden will be tested by a caustic national political climate .
His political opponents may not cooperate , and even some in his own party may prefer division to unity .
But the chords that Biden touched in his victory speech and his consistent message of unity could begin to change this .
Many Americans are ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a steadier hand .
Biden 's words echoed other presidents elected in a time of crisis .
“ To make progress , we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy .
We are not enemies.
” Biden said .
“ We are Americans.
” As the nation was cleaving south from north in 1861 , Abraham Lincoln said something similar in his first inaugural address : `` We are not enemies , but friends.
” But it 's not Lincoln I was thinking about as I listened to Biden .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time of national disillusionment .
In August 1974 , Jerry Ford took the oath of office as the Nixon presidency ended in disgrace after the Watergate scandal and coverup .
Ford is not remembered as a great president but he did a great thing .
He helped the nation heal .
On the day he took the oath , Ford modestly asked Americans to help him : '' I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots , and so I ask you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayers , '' he said .
He called his remarks `` just a little straight talk among friends . ''
Later , Ford said : “ My fellow Americans , our long national nightmare is over .
Our Constitution works ; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men .
Here the people rule.
” Ford faced withering criticism a month later when he pardoned Richard Nixon to ensure that our “ national nightmare ” truly ended .
He was accused of hatching a deal with Nixon — of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of letting a crook like Nixon off the hook .
It 's one reason Ford did n't win a term of his own in 1976 .
And yet years later , the JFK Library in Boston awarded Ford one of its “ Profiles in Courage ” for his `` controversial decision of conscience.
” That award was well deserved because Ford ’ s decision was the right one — the only one that could end the Nixon era and spare the nation many more months of political recrimination .
Partisanship in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Political battles make the country stronger when they are fought with integrity and purpose .
It 's how we reach consensus .
But political viciousness is no virtue .
These last few years of Twitter-screams and brimstone have left us more divided than ever and close to ungovernable .
Biden is offering a different kind of politics .
`` We stand again at an inflection point , '' he said .
`` We have the opportunity to defeat despair and to build a nation of prosperity and purpose .
We can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve long talked about the battle for the soul of America .
We must restore the soul of America .
Victory for equality : Deep blue and overwhelmingly against racial preferences : What 's going on in California '' Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses .
`` It is time for our better angels to prevail . ''
If Biden can do this one thing — help us touch once more the “ mystic chord of memory , ” as Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discover our better angels .
And whether or not he turns out to be remembered as a great president , he will have accomplished a great thing .
David D. Haynes is editor of the Ideas Lab at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , where this column originally appeared .
Follow him on Twitter at @ DavidDHaynes

David D. Haynes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

President-elect Joe Biden is summoning our better angels. Will we listen? Joe Biden echoed other presidents who took power during times of national anxiety. It resembles Jerry Ford's "straight talk among friends."
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden calls for unity in first address as President-elect In first address since securing the presidency, Joe Biden called for unity between all Americans. USA TODAY
President-elect Joe Biden’s short speech on Nov. 7 laid the first stones of a foundation for a governing philosophy: The president-elect says he wants to put you and me front and center — and not himself.
"I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify," he said. "Who doesn’t see red and blue states, but a United States. And who will work with all my heart to win the confidence of the whole people."
That thread of modesty ran through Biden's speech; it also ran through his entire campaign. He listened to public health experts and limited his appearances, he wore a mask, he talked about average people. His tweets were calm and reassuring.
Biden will be tested by a caustic national political climate. His political opponents may not cooperate, and even some in his own party may prefer division to unity.
But the chords that Biden touched in his victory speech and his consistent message of unity could begin to change this. Many Americans are ready for less noise from the chief executive, and a steadier hand.
Biden's words echoed other presidents elected in a time of crisis.
Helping a nation heal
“To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy. We are not enemies.” Biden said. “We are Americans.”
As the nation was cleaving south from north in 1861, Abraham Lincoln said something similar in his first inaugural address: "We are not enemies, but friends.”
But it's not Lincoln I was thinking about as I listened to Biden. It was another president who rose to power at a time of national disillusionment.
In August 1974, Jerry Ford took the oath of office as the Nixon presidency ended in disgrace after the Watergate scandal and coverup.
Suzette Hackney: Black voters steer America toward moral clarity in presidential race
Ford is not remembered as a great president but he did a great thing. He helped the nation heal.
On the day he took the oath, Ford modestly asked Americans to help him:
"I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your president with your prayers," he said. He called his remarks "just a little straight talk among friends."
Later, Ford said: “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
Ford faced withering criticism a month later when he pardoned Richard Nixon to ensure that our “national nightmare” truly ended. He was accused of hatching a deal with Nixon — of trading a pardon for the White House. Of letting a crook like Nixon off the hook. It's one reason Ford didn't win a term of his own in 1976.
And yet years later, the JFK Library in Boston awarded Ford one of its “Profiles in Courage” for his "controversial decision of conscience.”
That award was well deserved because Ford’s decision was the right one — the only one that could end the Nixon era and spare the nation many more months of political recrimination.
Partisanship in the service of political goals is no vice. Political battles make the country stronger when they are fought with integrity and purpose. It's how we reach consensus.
But political viciousness is no virtue. These last few years of Twitter-screams and brimstone have left us more divided than ever and close to ungovernable.
Biden is offering a different kind of politics.
"We stand again at an inflection point," he said. "We have the opportunity to defeat despair and to build a nation of prosperity and purpose. We can do it. I know we can. I’ve long talked about the battle for the soul of America. We must restore the soul of America.
Victory for equality: Deep blue and overwhelmingly against racial preferences: What's going on in California
"Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses.
"It is time for our better angels to prevail."
If Biden can do this one thing — help us touch once more the “mystic chord of memory,” as Lincoln put it — then perhaps we can discover our better angels.
And whether or not he turns out to be remembered as a great president, he will have accomplished a great thing.
David D. Haynes is editor of the Ideas Lab at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidDHaynes


usatoday--2020-11-15--The holidays will be extra hard for kids. How to maintain magic of rituals amid COVID-19.

For so many , this year has felt like a long haul with no end in sight .
A global pandemic , racial injustice and economic insecurity have all contributed to surging rates of mental illness in families across our community .
Children , like all of us , have experienced so much loss and uncertainty , evidence of which I see every day in my work with children and families .
The holidays often bring feelings of joy and excitement ; while for others , the holidays can be filled with stress and dread , as we navigate difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend even when facing financial hardship , managing the expectations of many or facing the loss of a loved one — a painful reminder of the empty seat at our holiday table .
Families are hurting and wondering how they will get through the holidays this year given such uncertainty .
As parents and caring adults , we strive so hard to shield children from distress and despair and wonder how we can maintain the spirit and magic of our much-loved rituals and traditions when it seems we may not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One thing is for certain : This year the holidays will be different and undoubtedly memorable .
We are faced with the opportunity to help our children not only navigate the challenges of the coming months and cope with anger and grief over what has been lost and what will not be but also instill gratitude and hope for all that we have and what ’ s yet to come .
Doctor : Settle for virtual holidays this year amid COVID-19 , starting with Thanksgiving In my practice as a child psychologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two children , I ’ m inspired every day by children ’ s great capacity for resilience and growth .
They face hardship beyond their control and yet find ways to bounce back and emerge stronger .
This resilience occurs through a beautiful network of internal and external resources in the lives of children , a process psychologist Ann Masten , Ph.D. , calls , “ ordinary magic.
” Children ’ s capacity to adapt under difficult circumstances is increased when they are surrounded by loving caregivers who look out for them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question we now face is how can we support the resilience of our children this holiday season ?
A good time to start is today .
Help our children cope ahead .
Start talking about the holidays to prepare children for what to expect and what will be different .
Help them understand , as they have likely learned already this year , that plans may change at the last minute due to an unforeseen illness or last-minute travel cancellations .
Ask children , “ What can we do to make this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite memories from past years , what they cherish most about the holidays , and explore with them new ways to celebrate .
Tell them , “ Because this year will be different , I ’ m going to need your help.
” Spend time in these conversations focusing on adjusting or creating new traditions that are still meaningful , and perhaps reconnect to the values behind the celebrations — those of gratitude , kindness , giving and hope .
How to keep politics out of Thanksgiving : Pass the turkey , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of control by offering them choices .
Perhaps a large family gathering can be replaced by preparing traditional family recipes and delivering them safely to loved ones and neighbors .
Expand the seats at your holiday table through virtual sharing of meals and recipes .
Spend time as a family hand-writing holiday cards with personal messages for those you hold dear even when they are far .
Ask children how they ’ re feeling and share your feelings , too .
Ignoring feelings doesn ’ t make them go away .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too , are sad and disappointed that things will be different this year , but it ’ s still possible to turn the holidays into positive and memorable experiences .
Acknowledge negative feelings and teach positive reframing .
“ I ’ m sad too that we can ’ t visit grandma , but staying home this year will mean more time to play and relax .
Perhaps we can find some new cookie recipes to try.
” Feelings are contagious , so take care of your own feelings so you can model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faiths and cultures have stories of resilience built into the rituals and traditions surrounding our holidays .
Look to these stories as examples of how others have navigated difficult times , and share them with your children .
Tell stories of resilience either from your own childhood , the lives of close friends or family members , or people throughout history who ’ ve endured hardships such as these .
Remind children that they , too , will be alright .
This is the year our children likely will remember well into their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations about hardship and hope .
Loss and renewal .
These themes are a thread that runs through holiday traditions across faiths and cultural beliefs as we remind our children , and ourselves , that even on our darkest day , light is on the horizon .
Katy Hopkins is a pediatric psychologist with Norton Children ’ s Medical Group .
This column originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal .

The holidays will be extra hard for kids. How to maintain magic of rituals amid COVID-19. One thing is for certain: This year the holidays will be different and undoubtedly memorable. So how can we help our children adjust and feel joy?
For so many, this year has felt like a long haul with no end in sight. A global pandemic, racial injustice and economic insecurity have all contributed to surging rates of mental illness in families across our community. Children, like all of us, have experienced so much loss and uncertainty, evidence of which I see every day in my work with children and families.
The holidays often bring feelings of joy and excitement; while for others, the holidays can be filled with stress and dread, as we navigate difficult relationships within our families, pressures to spend even when facing financial hardship, managing the expectations of many or facing the loss of a loved one — a painful reminder of the empty seat at our holiday table.
Families are hurting and wondering how they will get through the holidays this year given such uncertainty. As parents and caring adults, we strive so hard to shield children from distress and despair and wonder how we can maintain the spirit and magic of our much-loved rituals and traditions when it seems we may not be able to celebrate as we have in years past.
Preparing for the holidays
One thing is for certain: This year the holidays will be different and undoubtedly memorable. We are faced with the opportunity to help our children not only navigate the challenges of the coming months and cope with anger and grief over what has been lost and what will not be but also instill gratitude and hope for all that we have and what’s yet to come.
Doctor: Settle for virtual holidays this year amid COVID-19, starting with Thanksgiving
In my practice as a child psychologist, as well as a parent of two children, I’m inspired every day by children’s great capacity for resilience and growth. They face hardship beyond their control and yet find ways to bounce back and emerge stronger. This resilience occurs through a beautiful network of internal and external resources in the lives of children, a process psychologist Ann Masten, Ph.D., calls, “ordinary magic.” Children’s capacity to adapt under difficult circumstances is increased when they are surrounded by loving caregivers who look out for them and model good coping and problem-solving.
So the question we now face is how can we support the resilience of our children this holiday season? A good time to start is today. Help our children cope ahead. Start talking about the holidays to prepare children for what to expect and what will be different. Help them understand, as they have likely learned already this year, that plans may change at the last minute due to an unforeseen illness or last-minute travel cancellations.
Get children involved
Ask children, “What can we do to make this year special?” Ask them their favorite memories from past years, what they cherish most about the holidays, and explore with them new ways to celebrate. Tell them, “Because this year will be different, I’m going to need your help.” Spend time in these conversations focusing on adjusting or creating new traditions that are still meaningful, and perhaps reconnect to the values behind the celebrations — those of gratitude, kindness, giving and hope.
How to keep politics out of Thanksgiving: Pass the turkey, not the touchy subjects.
Allow children a sense of control by offering them choices. Perhaps a large family gathering can be replaced by preparing traditional family recipes and delivering them safely to loved ones and neighbors. Expand the seats at your holiday table through virtual sharing of meals and recipes. Spend time as a family hand-writing holiday cards with personal messages for those you hold dear even when they are far.
Ask children how they’re feeling and share your feelings, too. Ignoring feelings doesn’t make them go away. It’s important to admit that you, too, are sad and disappointed that things will be different this year, but it’s still possible to turn the holidays into positive and memorable experiences. Acknowledge negative feelings and teach positive reframing.
“I’m sad too that we can’t visit grandma, but staying home this year will mean more time to play and relax. Perhaps we can find some new cookie recipes to try.” Feelings are contagious, so take care of your own feelings so you can model that coping for your children.
Many faiths and cultures have stories of resilience built into the rituals and traditions surrounding our holidays. Look to these stories as examples of how others have navigated difficult times, and share them with your children. Tell stories of resilience either from your own childhood, the lives of close friends or family members, or people throughout history who’ve endured hardships such as these. Remind children that they, too, will be alright.
This is the year our children likely will remember well into their elder years — stories told to future generations about hardship and hope. Loss and renewal. These themes are a thread that runs through holiday traditions across faiths and cultural beliefs as we remind our children, and ourselves, that even on our darkest day, light is on the horizon.
Katy Hopkins is a pediatric psychologist with Norton Children’s Medical Group. This column originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal.


usatoday--2020-11-13--5 Black Friday shopping secrets you need to know

5 Black Friday shopping secrets you need to know Here ’ s what you should know before spending all your @ @ @ @ @ deals . ''

Black Friday shopping secrets revealed
Here’s what you should know before spending all your money on Black Friday "deals."
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-11-11--Beagle is not happy that her favorite blanket is in the washing machine

Beagle is not happy that her favorite blanket is in the washing machine Harley the beagle is n't so happy @ @ @ @ @ the wash .

This dog wants her blankie back immediately
Harley the beagle isn't so happy her favorite blanket is in the wash.
USA TODAY, Storyful


usatoday--2020-11-15--Swan rescued from storm drain

Swan rescued from storm drain

A swan was rescued from a storm drain after a little girl discovered it was stuck in Merrick , New @

Swan rescued from storm drain
A swan was rescued from a storm drain after a little girl discovered it was stuck in Merrick, New York
Animalkind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-11-13--Marlins make historic GM hire

Marlins make historic GM hire

Sports Pulse : Kim Ng becomes the first female GM in MLB history

Marlins make historic GM hire
Sports Pulse: Kim Ng becomes the first female GM in MLB history
WhatI'mHearing, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-11-17--Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger fires back against Trump's false claims about election

After a barrage of unfounded claims from President Donald Trump questioning various aspects of Georgia ’ s voting system , Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger fired back .
In a series of Facebook posts from the Secretary of State page , Raffensperger , a Republican , addressed claims about the makers of the state ’ s election system , Dominion , as well as claims made by the president about Georgia ’ s recount and absentee ballots system .
Raffensperger has faced a string of attacks .
Last week he was under fire from his own party .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both up for re-election in the Jan. 5 runoff — called for his resignation .
In a series of tweets over the past three days , Trump incorrectly claimed Georgia election officials are unable to verify signatures on absentee ballot envelopes because of a legal settlement known as a consent decree .
In a Saturday tweet , Trump claimed in a tweet : “ The Consent Decree signed by the Georgia Secretary of State , with the approval of Governor @ BrianKempGA , at the urging of @ staceyabrams , makes it impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and envelopes , etc .
They knew they were going to cheat .
Must expose real signatures !
” But the reality is : nothing in the consent decree stops Georgia election clerks from scrutinizing signatures .
The legal settlement signed in March addresses accusations about a lack of statewide standards for judging signatures on absentee ballot envelopes .
Raffensperger , in an uncharacteristically aggressive retort , drove this point home on Facebook , including a shot at former Rep. Doug Collins , a Republican who was gunning for the senate seat currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t get enough votes to make it into the runoff , has repeated Trump 's misleading claims about the Georgia recount .
“ We strengthened signature match .
We helped train election officials on GBI signature match — which is confirmed twice before a ballot is ever cast .
Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar — but what ’ s new ?
” Raffensperger ’ s post read .
“ Our office has received multiple requests to match ballots back to voters — exposing how a Georgia voter has voted.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We stand ready to prevent any and all attempts from any party to intimidate voters .
Georgia voters have a right to vote in secret without intimidation from any political candidate or party .
” Rudy Guiliani ’ s claims of Dominion , the makers of Georgia ’ s voting system , having ties to Venezuela and China were also corrected by Raffensperger .
Meanwhile , the state ’ s hand recount is moving at a rapid clip , with a Friday deadline for statewide certification .
Thus far , the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did before the recount began .
Collins responded to Raffensperger 's remarks in a tweet , saying , `` In a year of political division in Georgia , few things have unified Republicans and Democrats — one of them is Brad Raffensperger ’ s incompetence as Secretary of State . ''
Raffensperger said he has been pressured by fellow Republicans , including national leaders like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham , to find ways to exclude or invalidate legally cast absentee ballots and reverse President Donald Trump ’ s loss in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raffensperger told the Post he was frustrated over allegations by President Donald Trump and others that the election had been somehow rigged or tainted by illegal votes .
Raffensperger said Georgia ’ s ongoing hand-ballot recount would “ affirm ” the results of the election .
“ Other than you getting angry , it ’ s also very disillusioning , '' the secretary of state said of death threats he had and his wife had received from Republicans who blamed President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in the state on the Raffensperger .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be up for grabs in a January runoff election that will determine the balance of power in the upper chamber .
The stakes have elevated the temperature within the party and led to infighting , with the Republican incumbent senators from Georgia writing a letter to Raffensperger alleging unspecified claims of fraud .
Trump has also made repeated insinuations that the vote count in Georgia was somehow tampered with , without any evidence .
There are no substantiated claims of voter fraud in the state .
Graham said Raffensperger ’ s insinuations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had pressured the Georgia secretary of state to discard ballots .
`` What I 'm trying to find out was , how do you verify signatures on mail-in ballots in these states that are just the center of attention , ” Graham said , saying he otherwise thought the two had had a “ good conversation .
I 'm surprised to hear he characterized it that way . ''
Raffensperger expressed concerns about insinuations that the state ’ s laws were too restrictive to vote in his interview with the Post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s helpful when you create doubt in the election process , ” Raffensperger told the Post .
“ People might throw up their arms and say , ‘ Why vote ?
’ ”

Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger fires back against Trump’s false claims about election
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump falsely claims he won the 2020 election Falsely declaring victory while votes are still being counted, President Donald Trump threatened to ask the Supreme Court to halt the counting of legally cast absentee ballots, which he described as a "fraud." USA TODAY
After a barrage of unfounded claims from President Donald Trump questioning various aspects of Georgia’s voting system, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger fired back.
In a series of Facebook posts from the Secretary of State page, Raffensperger, a Republican, addressed claims about the makers of the state’s election system, Dominion, as well as claims made by the president about Georgia’s recount and absentee ballots system.
Raffensperger has faced a string of attacks. Last week he was under fire from his own party. Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue — both up for re-election in the Jan. 5 runoff — called for his resignation.
In a series of tweets over the past three days, Trump incorrectly claimed Georgia election officials are unable to verify signatures on absentee ballot envelopes because of a legal settlement known as a consent decree.
In a Saturday tweet, Trump claimed in a tweet: “The Consent Decree signed by the Georgia Secretary of State, with the approval of Governor @BrianKempGA, at the urging of @staceyabrams, makes it impossible to check & match signatures on ballots and envelopes, etc. They knew they were going to cheat. Must expose real signatures!”
The Consent Decree signed by the Georgia Secretary of State, with the approval of Governor @BrianKempGA, at the urging of @staceyabrams, makes it impossible to check & match signatures on ballots and envelopes, etc. They knew they were going to cheat. Must expose real signatures! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2020
But the reality is: nothing in the consent decree stops Georgia election clerks from scrutinizing signatures. The legal settlement signed in March addresses accusations about a lack of statewide standards for judging signatures on absentee ballot envelopes.
Raffensperger, in an uncharacteristically aggressive retort, drove this point home on Facebook, including a shot at former Rep. Doug Collins, a Republican who was gunning for the senate seat currently held by Loeffler. Collins, who didn’t get enough votes to make it into the runoff, has repeated Trump's misleading claims about the Georgia recount.
“We strengthened signature match. We helped train election officials on GBI signature match — which is confirmed twice before a ballot is ever cast. Failed candidate Doug Collins is a liar — but what’s new?” Raffensperger’s post read.
“Our office has received multiple requests to match ballots back to voters — exposing how a Georgia voter has voted.” Raffensperger’s post read. “We stand ready to prevent any and all attempts from any party to intimidate voters. Georgia voters have a right to vote in secret without intimidation from any political candidate or party. ”
Rudy Guiliani’s claims of Dominion, the makers of Georgia’s voting system, having ties to Venezuela and China were also corrected by Raffensperger.
″**Dominion voting system** American owned. America. ’Merica,” Raffensperger’s post read. “Not Venezuela. #America.” Raffensperger’s post on the subject read.
Meanwhile, the state’s hand recount is moving at a rapid clip, with a Friday deadline for statewide certification. Thus far, the results do not look much different than they did before the recount began.
Collins responded to Raffensperger's remarks in a tweet, saying, "In a year of political division in Georgia, few things have unified Republicans and Democrats — one of them is Brad Raffensperger’s incompetence as Secretary of State."
Raffensperger said he has been pressured by fellow Republicans, including national leaders like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, to find ways to exclude or invalidate legally cast absentee ballots and reverse President Donald Trump’s loss in the state, according to the Washington Post.
Raffensperger told the Post he was frustrated over allegations by President Donald Trump and others that the election had been somehow rigged or tainted by illegal votes. Raffensperger said Georgia’s ongoing hand-ballot recount would “affirm” the results of the election.
“Other than you getting angry, it’s also very disillusioning," the secretary of state said of death threats he had and his wife had received from Republicans who blamed President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state on the Raffensperger.
Both the state’s Senate seats will be up for grabs in a January runoff election that will determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
The stakes have elevated the temperature within the party and led to infighting, with the Republican incumbent senators from Georgia writing a letter to Raffensperger alleging unspecified claims of fraud.
Trump has also made repeated insinuations that the vote count in Georgia was somehow tampered with, without any evidence. There are no substantiated claims of voter fraud in the state.
Graham said Raffensperger’s insinuations were “ridiculous" when asked whether he had pressured the Georgia secretary of state to discard ballots.
"What I'm trying to find out was, how do you verify signatures on mail-in ballots in these states that are just the center of attention,” Graham said, saying he otherwise thought the two had had a “good conversation. I'm surprised to hear he characterized it that way."
Raffensperger expressed concerns about insinuations that the state’s laws were too restrictive to vote in his interview with the Post.
“I don’t think it’s helpful when you create doubt in the election process,” Raffensperger told the Post. “People might throw up their arms and say, ‘Why vote?’”


usatoday--2020-11-17--President Trump is expected to order troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump intends to order the withdrawal of U.S. troops from war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq , according to two administration sources .
The cuts would take effect by mid-January , according to the sources who were not authorized to speak publicly .
Trump is scheduled to leave office on Jan. 20 .
President-elect Joe Biden would have the authority to reverse Trump ’ s order .
There are about 4,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a few thousand in Iraq .
Trump has vowed to end what he has referred to as `` endless wars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks , and in Iraq since the 2003 invasion .
Under the plan , which the sources said is being finalized .
there would be about 2,500 U.S. troops total in each country once the drawdown is completed .
Trump has reduced troop levels in both countries since taking office .
However , officials at the Pentagon have pushed back on precipitous withdrawals , arguing that reductions should be based on security conditions in each country .
Troop levels have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security officials .
Last week , Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and replaced him with acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller .
Miller , in his initial address to troops and civilian employees , indicated that he would support a withdrawal .
`` Ending wars requires compromise and partnership , '' Miller wrote .
`` We met the challenge ; we gave it our all .
Now , it 's time to come home . ''
Pentagon purge : Trump purges Defense leadership , 'something that should alarm all Americans' In October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home from Afghanistan by Christmas .
A goal that will not be met .
Robert O'Brien , the National Security Adviser , also said last month that troop levels would likely drop to 2,500 by early next year .
That prompted Army Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , to tell NPR that the war needed to be ended `` responsibly , deliberately '' with consideration paid to levels of violence there .
The White House has been negotiating with Taliban militants to reach a peace deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allow an American withdrawal .
Fighting , however , continues there .
On Monday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Trump 's policies in Iraq , Syria and Afghanistan but spoke out against a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan .
`` There ’ s no American who does not wish the war against Afghanistan against terrorists and their enablers had already been conclusively won , '' McConnell said .
`` But that does not change the actual choice before us now : A rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delight – delight – the people who wish us harm .
”

David Jackson and Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

President Trump is expected to order troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump rules out a COVID-19 lockdown for his administration President Trump said his administration would not go to a national COVID-19 lockdown while speaking from the Rose Garden. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump intends to order the withdrawal of U.S. troops from war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to two administration sources.
The cuts would take effect by mid-January, according to the sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. Trump is scheduled to leave office on Jan. 20. President-elect Joe Biden would have the authority to reverse Trump’s order after he takes power.
There are about 4,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a few thousand in Iraq. Trump has vowed to end what he has referred to as "endless wars" in those countries. The United States has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001, after the 9/11 terror attacks, and in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.
Under the plan, which the sources said is being finalized. there would be about 2,500 U.S. troops total in each country once the drawdown is completed.
Trump has reduced troop levels in both countries since taking office. However, officials at the Pentagon have pushed back on precipitous withdrawals, arguing that reductions should be based on security conditions in each country.
More: US cuts troop presence as military expresses confidence in Iraqi security forces
Troop levels have been a bone of contention among Trump and national security officials. Last week, Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and replaced him with acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. Miller, in his initial address to troops and civilian employees, indicated that he would support a withdrawal.
"Ending wars requires compromise and partnership," Miller wrote. "We met the challenge; we gave it our all. Now, it's time to come home."
Pentagon purge: Trump purges Defense leadership, 'something that should alarm all Americans'
In October, Trump tweeted that he wanted troops home from Afghanistan by Christmas, a goal that will not be met.
We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020
Robert O'Brien, the national security adviser, also said last month that troop levels would likely drop to 2,500 by early next year. That prompted Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to tell NPR that the war needed to be ended "responsibly, deliberately" with consideration paid to levels of violence there.
The White House has been negotiating with Taliban militants to reach a peace deal with the Afghan government to end fighting and allow an American withdrawal. Fighting, however, continues there.
H.R. McMaster: Trump's former national security adviser warns Afghan peace talks will fail
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Trump's policies in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, but spoke out against a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
"There’s no American who does not wish the war against Afghanistan, against terrorists and their enablers had already been conclusively won," McConnell said. "But that does not change the actual choice before us now: A rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight – delight – the people who wish us harm.”
Contributing: Ledyard King