usatoday--2020-09-19--Opinion: Forget threat of backlash. NFL stage remains an ideal place for players to make statement.

Last weekend , the burly defensive tackle became the first player in the 60-year history of the Dallas Cowboys to take a knee during the national anthem as a silent protest to social inequality .
He still has a job .
It took some guts for Poe to make that specific statement , given that no Cowboys player had dared to do as much in these years since Colin Kaepernick introduced the NFL universe to anthem protests , and until lately , team owner Jerry Jones threatened job security with hard-line rhetoric .
Yet another litmus test looms .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stadium in Los Angeles , Poe ’ s next projected protest will come before real , not virtual , fans at Jerry World as the Cowboys put on their home opener Sunday against the Falcons .
Let ’ s see how the home crowd reacts .
The Cowboys haven ’ t publicly revealed any specific attendance expectations , but with coach Mike McCarthy throwing out a 25 % capacity tip this week , that sounds like maybe 20,000 .
Will they embrace , jeer or even ignore Poe ’ s protest ?
Considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL kickoff game , when Chiefs and Texans players locked arms in a show of unity , Poe should brace himself for low-blow reaction .
Take it from Mike Ditka .
Even given heinous , caught-on-video events of recent months that involved the killing of George Floyd and the shooting of James Blake , there ’ s still a segment of this world that can ’ t fathom the NFL stage as an ideal place to make a social statement .
Especially one where a Black man is sticking to his convictions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and systemic racism .
“ I ’ d be shocked if there ’ s not any pushback , ” renowned sociologist Harry Edwards told USA TODAY Sports , referring to protests during the anthem in general .
“ That ’ s part of the struggle .
Anytime issues of Black people are at stake , athletes are of no consequence .
When ( athletes ) become a spotlight for something other than what ( fans ) are comfortable with – entertainment , fantasy teams – they boo it.
” That Jones has softened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests is one thing .
In recent weeks , Jones has talked about the “ grace ” needed for fans to understand why some players are protesting .
No , it ’ s not about the flag or dishonoring the military or the nation .
But some people still don ’ t get it .
It was stunning to hear how fans down in Cowboys country booed MLS players from FC Dallas and Nashville who came together to kneel during the anthem before a mid-August game in Frisco , Texas , not far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Absolutely disgusting , ” is how Reggie Cannon , an FC Dallas player , assessed the booing .
Dallas FC owners , including Clark Hunt , owner of the Chiefs , issued a statement denouncing the fan reaction while also indicating that Cannon was subjected to “ violent threats.
” What a shame .
The episode also underscores why players kneel and why they must continue to kneel as a symbolic gesture that complements specific action items .
Never mind the Ditka mindset .
This week , the Hall of Fame and Bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white-privileged theme by suggesting to NFL players who protest during the anthem , “ If you can ’ t respect this country , get the hell out of it.
” If only Ditka could passionately demand that the country live up to its pledge about liberty and justice for all .
The protests , like the Civil Rights marches a generation ago , have a purpose .
Last weekend , just two games were played before fans , with Kansas City listing 15,895 in paid attendance and Jacksonville tallying 14,100 for its game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans back into stadiums amid increasing attention on social issues , it will be interesting to gauge the breadth , scope , impact and yes , reaction of a protest movement in the NFL that coincides with action beyond the field .
Some teams , including Miami , Green Bay and Jacksonville , have decided not to show up for the anthem at all , staying back in the locker room rather than fueling additional layers of messaging .
It 's a sign of the times , NFL 2020 .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking his cues from Ditka .
The NFL , flowing with a broader national sentiment in recent months , is demonstrating some of the support for its players that it should have years ago when Kaepernick ignited an awareness switch in 2016 .
No doubt , with Kaepernick and now safety Eric Reid , also an active protester , out of the league , the NFL ’ s efforts still come with an asterisk .
Hearing Goodell maintain “ we should have listened ” in explaining why the NFL didn ’ t better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off as some serious spin .
Still , more of Goodell ’ s bosses ( NFL owners ) have evolved to some degree .
Colts owner Jim Irsay , for example , has gone from publicly denouncing anthem protests to using his popular platform on Twitter to set the record straight for some who need to hear it .
“ Of COURSE all lives matter , but the phrase 'BLACK LIVES MATTER ' is about unequal treatment faced by BLACK Americans , ” Irsay tweeted recently .
“ It does not say or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E.g.
, when we say 'BEAT BREAST CANCER ' it does n't mean we do n't care about beating leukemia.
” Irsay ’ s coach , Frank Reich , by the way , took a knee during the national anthem before the opener at Jacksonville last Sunday .
Meanwhile , NFL players are now allowed to place decals on the back of their helmets to honor victims of racially charged and/or police violence .
And the league is decorating fields with messages stenciled into the end zone , including , “ End Racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Us.
” “ The branding of the movement , Black Lives Matter , and the way the NFL ’ s support has evolved , has humanized the players more , ” C. Keith Harrison , a University of Central Florida professor who heads the Paul Robeson Research Center , told USA TODAY Sports .
“ But there are still going to be haters out there who are not going to be on the same page.
” Ask Cardinals safety Budda Baker .
He received and exposed messages from a so-called fan after comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 49ers put out a statement condemning the fan .
Baker was apparently targeted because his hard-but-legal tackle last weekend resulted in a knee injury to 49ers star tight end George Kittle .
Yet somebody wanted to play the race card .
Yes , in this world , unfortunately there are many reasons for players to kneel .
Especially when they have our attention .
Whether you like it or not .
If you love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Opinion: Forget threat of backlash. NFL stage remains an ideal place for players to make statement.
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 1 overreactions: New coach, same disappointing Cowboys SportsPulse: The first NFL Sunday of 2020 was unlike any we had ever seen before. While stadiums lacked fans there certainly wasn't any lack of drama. Mackenzie Salmon overreacts to all the biggest storylines from Week 1. USA TODAY
Give Dontari Poe credit. And grace.
Last weekend, the burly defensive tackle became the first player in the 60-year history of the Dallas Cowboys to take a knee during the national anthem as a silent protest to social inequality.
He still has a job.
It took some guts for Poe to make that specific statement, given that no Cowboys player had dared to do as much in these years since Colin Kaepernick introduced the NFL universe to anthem protests, and until lately, team owner Jerry Jones threatened job security with hard-line rhetoric.
Yet another litmus test looms. After taking a knee in a sparkling-yet-empty SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Poe’s next projected protest will come before real, not virtual, fans at Jerry World as the Cowboys put on their home opener Sunday against the Falcons.
Let’s see how the home crowd reacts. The Cowboys haven’t publicly revealed any specific attendance expectations, but with coach Mike McCarthy throwing out a 25% capacity tip this week, that sounds like maybe 20,000.
Will they embrace, jeer or even ignore Poe’s protest? Considering the booing in Kansas City before the NFL kickoff game, when Chiefs and Texans players locked arms in a show of unity, Poe should brace himself for low-blow reaction.
Take it from Mike Ditka. Even given heinous, caught-on-video events of recent months that involved the killing of George Floyd and the shooting of James Blake, there’s still a segment of this world that can’t fathom the NFL stage as an ideal place to make a social statement. Especially one where a Black man is sticking to his convictions to protest social inequities that include police brutality and systemic racism.
“I’d be shocked if there’s not any pushback,” renowned sociologist Harry Edwards told USA TODAY Sports, referring to protests during the anthem in general. “That’s part of the struggle. Anytime issues of Black people are at stake, athletes are of no consequence. When (athletes) become a spotlight for something other than what (fans) are comfortable with – entertainment, fantasy teams – they boo it.”
That Jones has softened his previous stance of staunch resistance to protests is one thing. In recent weeks, Jones has talked about the “grace” needed for fans to understand why some players are protesting. No, it’s not about the flag or dishonoring the military or the nation.
But some people still don’t get it. It was stunning to hear how fans down in Cowboys country booed MLS players from FC Dallas and Nashville who came together to kneel during the anthem before a mid-August game in Frisco, Texas, not far from the Cowboys’ headquarters.
“Absolutely disgusting,” is how Reggie Cannon, an FC Dallas player, assessed the booing.
Dallas FC owners, including Clark Hunt, owner of the Chiefs, issued a statement denouncing the fan reaction while also indicating that Cannon was subjected to “violent threats.”
What a shame. The episode also underscores why players kneel and why they must continue to kneel as a symbolic gesture that complements specific action items.
Never mind the Ditka mindset. This week, the Hall of Fame and Bears icon repeated his audacious and tired, white-privileged theme by suggesting to NFL players who protest during the anthem, “If you can’t respect this country, get the hell out of it.” If only Ditka could passionately demand that the country live up to its pledge about liberty and justice for all. The protests, like the Civil Rights marches a generation ago, have a purpose.
Last weekend, just two games were played before fans, with Kansas City listing 15,895 in paid attendance and Jacksonville tallying 14,100 for its game against Indianapolis. As teams gradually get fans back into stadiums amid increasing attention on social issues, it will be interesting to gauge the breadth, scope, impact and yes, reaction of a protest movement in the NFL that coincides with action beyond the field.
Some teams, including Miami, Green Bay and Jacksonville, have decided not to show up for the anthem at all, staying back in the locker room rather than fueling additional layers of messaging. It's a sign of the times, NFL 2020.
It’s good that Roger Goodell isn’t taking his cues from Ditka. The NFL, flowing with a broader national sentiment in recent months, is demonstrating some of the support for its players that it should have years ago when Kaepernick ignited an awareness switch in 2016.
No doubt, with Kaepernick and now safety Eric Reid, also an active protester, out of the league, the NFL’s efforts still come with an asterisk. Hearing Goodell maintain “we should have listened” in explaining why the NFL didn’t better support players a few years ago comes off as some serious spin.
Still, more of Goodell’s bosses (NFL owners) have evolved to some degree. Colts owner Jim Irsay, for example, has gone from publicly denouncing anthem protests to using his popular platform on Twitter to set the record straight for some who need to hear it.
“Of COURSE all lives matter, but the phrase 'BLACK LIVES MATTER' is about unequal treatment faced by BLACK Americans,” Irsay tweeted recently. “It does not say or imply that ONLY black lives matter. E.g., when we say 'BEAT BREAST CANCER' it doesn't mean we don't care about beating leukemia.”
Irsay’s coach, Frank Reich, by the way, took a knee during the national anthem before the opener at Jacksonville last Sunday.
Meanwhile, NFL players are now allowed to place decals on the back of their helmets to honor victims of racially charged and/or police violence. And the league is decorating fields with messages stenciled into the end zone, including, “End Racism” and “It Takes All Of Us.”
“The branding of the movement, Black Lives Matter, and the way the NFL’s support has evolved, has humanized the players more,” C. Keith Harrison, a University of Central Florida professor who heads the Paul Robeson Research Center, told USA TODAY Sports. “But there are still going to be haters out there who are not going to be on the same page.”
Ask Cardinals safety Budda Baker. He received and exposed messages from a so-called fan after comments that were so hateful and racist that the 49ers put out a statement condemning the fan. Baker was apparently targeted because his hard-but-legal tackle last weekend resulted in a knee injury to 49ers star tight end George Kittle. Yet somebody wanted to play the race card.
Yes, in this world, unfortunately there are many reasons for players to kneel. Especially when they have our attention. Whether you like it or not.
If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-09-19--LeBron James 'pissed off' he didn't receive more first-place votes for NBA MVP

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had an immediate reaction .
“ Pissed me off .
That 's my true answer , ” James said at his news conference following the Lakers ’ 126-114 victory over Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Friday .
It wasn ’ t necessarily not winning the award – though he would have liked his fifth MVP nod – it was that he received just 16 of 101 first-place votes .
“ That 's what pissed me off more than anything .
You know , not saying that the winner was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that pissed me off .
And I finished second a lot in my career , either from a championship , and now four times as an MVP .
You know , like I said , I never came into this league to be MVP or to be a champion .
I 've always just wanted to get better and better every single day , and those things will take care of itself .
But some things is just out of my hand and some things you ca n't control . ''
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winner was announced earlier in the day .
Antetokounmpo finished first with 962 points , and James finished second with 753 points .
The voting panel is comprised of media who cover the league .
James also told reporters that was his initial reaction , and he ’ s all good now .
“ I 'm perfectly fine , ” he said .
“ We 're 1-0 in the Western Conference finals .
I 'm absolutely fine .
So , I was pissed off at the reaction earlier when I saw it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm going back to my room , drink some wine and sleep very well tonight .
Let 's not get it twisted .
I 'm great.
” Before the game , Lakers coach Frank Vogel expressed surprise at the voting , too .
“ You guys all know how I feel about it .
To me , he 's the MVP of the league this year , ” he said .
“ No disrespect to Giannis .
Giannis had a great season .
He 's a great player .
What LeBron does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to carry the threat of going for 40 at any point but leading the league in assists and quarterbacking our defense and driving our team to as many wins as we 've had and our playoff success .
To me , he 's our MVP.
” West finals : Los Angeles Lakers run away from Denver Nuggets in Game 1 To be clear , James , 35 and in his 17th NBA season , had a fantastic season .
He averaged 25.3 points , shot 49.3 % from the field , 34.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foul line .
He led the league in assists for the first time in his career ( 10.2 per game ) and collected 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game .
He also led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference .
Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points , 13.6 rebounds , 5.6 assists , one steal and one block and shot 55.3 % from the field , 30.4 % on 3s and 63.3 % on foul shots .
The Bucks had the best record in the NBA , and Antetokounmpo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
In an advanced stat called player efficiency rating ( PER ) – a measurement of what a player accomplishes , good and bad , while on the court – Antetokounmpo registered a 31.94 , the highest in NBA history .
James was at an impressive 25.55 “ I 'm not going to sit up here and talk about what the criteria should be or what it is , ” James said .
“ It 's changed over the years since I 've gotten into the league , I know that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's changed a lot .
You know , sometimes it 's the best player on the best team .
Sometimes it 's the guy with the best season statistically .
Sometimes , it 's changed over the course of my career .
I mean , you do n't know .
You do n't know .
“ But you know , Giannis had a hell of a season , I can definitely say that.
” James has long been considered the best player in the world , even when he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be the source of his ire .
This is the fourth time he has finished second .
Though he said he was fine , he remains perplexed about the voting .
He brought up the 2012-13 defensive player of the year voting .
Marc Gasol won the award , and James finished second .
But Gasol was voted to the NBA ’ s all-defensive second team .
“ So that does n't make sense .
It 's like being MVP of the league but you make second team All-NBA , ” James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really started to look at things kind of like differently .
I was like , 'how does that even make any sense . '
It 's like being rookie of the year but you make second team All-Rookie .
“ And then I looked at the Most Improved this year , and rightfully so Brandon Ingram was amazing and I thought he should have won it .
But did you see the vote that Devonte ' Graham got ?
He averaged four points last year compared to 17½ .
If that 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a weird thing sometimes … I do n't know how much we are really watching the game of basketball .
Or are we just in the narration mode , the narrative ?
”

LeBron James 'pissed off' he didn't receive more first-place votes for NBA MVP
Show Caption Hide Caption Nuggets stun Clippers in Game 7, will face Lakers in West final Once down 3-1 in the series, the Nuggets completed an all-time comeback by defeating the Clippers in Game 7 of their semifinal matchup and will now face the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference crown. SportsPulselos a, USA TODAY
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo won the 2019-20 NBA MVP award, collecting 86 first-place votes.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had an immediate reaction.
“Pissed me off. That's my true answer,” James said at his news conference following the Lakers’ 126-114 victory over Denver in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Friday.
It wasn’t necessarily not winning the award – though he would have liked his fifth MVP nod – it was that he received just 16 of 101 first-place votes.
“That's what pissed me off more than anything. You know, not saying that the winner wasn't deserving of the MVP. But that pissed me off. And I finished second a lot in my career, either from a championship, and now four times as an MVP. You know, like I said, I never came into this league to be MVP or to be a champion. I've always just wanted to get better and better every single day, and those things will take care of itself. But some things is just out of my hand and some things you can't control."
🤣🤣16 out of 101 🗳! Ok cool! I got y’all. — LeBron James (@KingJames) September 19, 2020
That was James’ first availability with reporters since the winner was announced earlier in the day. Antetokounmpo finished first with 962 points, and James finished second with 753 points. The voting panel is comprised of media who cover the league.
James also told reporters that was his initial reaction, and he’s all good now.
“I'm perfectly fine,” he said. “We're 1-0 in the Western Conference finals. I'm absolutely fine. So, I was pissed off at the reaction earlier when I saw it. I'm absolutely great now. I'm going back to my room, drink some wine and sleep very well tonight. Let's not get it twisted. I'm great.”
Before the game, Lakers coach Frank Vogel expressed surprise at the voting, too.
“You guys all know how I feel about it. To me, he's the MVP of the league this year,” he said. “No disrespect to Giannis. Giannis had a great season. He's a great player. What LeBron does for our team to me is unparalleled, to carry the threat of going for 40 at any point but leading the league in assists and quarterbacking our defense and driving our team to as many wins as we've had and our playoff success. To me, he's our MVP.”
Opinion: Why LeBron James deserved the NBA MVP over Giannis Antetokounmpo
West finals: Los Angeles Lakers run away from Denver Nuggets in Game 1
To be clear, James, 35 and in his 17th NBA season, had a fantastic season. He averaged 25.3 points, shot 49.3% from the field, 34.8% on 3-pointers and 69.3% from the foul line. He led the league in assists for the first time in his career (10.2 per game) and collected 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He also led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.
Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, one steal and one block and shot 55.3% from the field, 30.4% on 3s and 63.3% on foul shots. The Bucks had the best record in the NBA, and Antetokounmpo was also named defensive player of the year. In an advanced stat called player efficiency rating (PER) – a measurement of what a player accomplishes, good and bad, while on the court – Antetokounmpo registered a 31.94, the highest in NBA history. James was at an impressive 25.55
“I'm not going to sit up here and talk about what the criteria should be or what it is,” James said. “It's changed over the years since I've gotten into the league, I know that. You know, it's just changed. It's changed a lot. You know, sometimes it's the best player on the best team. Sometimes it's the guy with the best season statistically. Sometimes, it's changed over the course of my career. I mean, you don't know. You don't know.
“But you know, Giannis had a hell of a season, I can definitely say that.”
James has long been considered the best player in the world, even when he doesn’t win an MVP, which could also be the source of his ire. This is the fourth time he has finished second.
Though he said he was fine, he remains perplexed about the voting. He brought up the 2012-13 defensive player of the year voting. Marc Gasol won the award, and James finished second. But Gasol was voted to the NBA’s all-defensive second team.
“So that doesn't make sense. It's like being MVP of the league but you make second team All-NBA,” James said. “That's when I really started to look at things kind of like differently. I was like, 'how does that even make any sense.' It's like being rookie of the year but you make second team All-Rookie.
“And then I looked at the Most Improved this year, and rightfully so Brandon Ingram was amazing and I thought he should have won it. But did you see the vote that Devonte' Graham got? He averaged four points last year compared to 17½. If that's not improving, what is?
“And it's a weird thing sometimes … I don't know how much we are really watching the game of basketball. Or are we just in the narration mode, the narrative?”


usatoday--2020-09-19--'Unforgivable': Rep. Doug Collins slammed for tweet about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's abortion stance afte

WASHINGTON — As condolences for Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's family and fond memories of her life poured in from Democrats and Republicans alike , GOP Rep. Doug Collins ' voice was missing from those honoring her .
Instead , Collins received backlash for his tweet Friday night focusing on Ginsburg 's position on abortion rights .
`` RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws , '' Collins tweeted .
`` With @ realDonaldTrump nominating a replacement that values human life , generations of unborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Georgia lawmaker , a staunch Trump ally , is also running for the Senate seat currently held by Kelly Loeffler in a special election race .
Loeffler was appointed to fill the seat left by former Sen. Johnny Isakson when he resigned late last year for health reasons .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg : Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation 's leading litigator for women 's rights Ginsburg , 87 , was a pioneer for gender equality during her time on the court .
She was known as one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender of abortion rights on the basis that a woman should make decisions about her own body .
In one of her most notable opinions , she wrote the dissent to a 2007 ruling that upheld a ban on a form of partial-birth abortions , which she called `` an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court . ''
In 2016 , she wrote a concurring stance to the majority rule against Texas restrictions on abortion clinics .
`` When a State severely limits access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued , “ women in desperate circumstances may resort to unlicensed rogue practitioners , faute de mieux , at great risk to their health and safety.
” Collins was accused of `` celebrating '' Ginsburg 's death by critics on social media .
His tweet about Ginsburg 's abortion stance was his first and only post about her death on Friday night .
`` Doug Collins is celebrating the death of a Supreme Court Justice .
Unforgivable .
RBG deserves better than this garbage , '' said Scott Dworkin , founder of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hideous GOP responses to RBG ’ s death , it ’ s clearer than ever this is the most important election of our lives , '' Dworkin also said .
Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani replied to Collins , `` That moment when you 're so 'pro-life ' you celebrate someone 's death . ''

'Unforgivable': Rep. Doug Collins slammed for tweet about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's abortion stance after her death
WASHINGTON — As condolences for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's family and fond memories of her life poured in from Democrats and Republicans alike, GOP Rep. Doug Collins' voice was missing from those honoring her.
Instead, Collins received backlash for his tweet Friday night focusing on Ginsburg's position on abortion rights.
"RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws," Collins tweeted. "With @realDonaldTrump nominating a replacement that values human life, generations of unborn children have a chance to live."
The Georgia lawmaker, a staunch Trump ally, is also running for the Senate seat currently held by Kelly Loeffler in a special election race. Loeffler was appointed to fill the seat left by former Sen. Johnny Isakson when he resigned late last year for health reasons.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation's leading litigator for women's rights
Ginsburg, 87, was a pioneer for gender equality during her time on the court. She was known as one of the most liberal justices, and a defender of abortion rights on the basis that a woman should make decisions about her own body.
In one of her most notable opinions, she wrote the dissent to a 2007 ruling that upheld a ban on a form of partial-birth abortions, which she called "an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court." In 2016, she wrote a concurring stance to the majority rule against Texas restrictions on abortion clinics.
"When a State severely limits access to safe and legal procedures,” she argued, “women in desperate circumstances may resort to unlicensed rogue practitioners, faute de mieux, at great risk to their health and safety.”
Collins was accused of "celebrating" Ginsburg's death by critics on social media. His tweet about Ginsburg's abortion stance was his first and only post about her death on Friday night.
"Doug Collins is celebrating the death of a Supreme Court Justice. Unforgivable. RBG deserves better than this garbage," said Scott Dworkin, founder of the Democratic Coalition.
"After seeing these hideous GOP responses to RBG’s death, it’s clearer than ever this is the most important election of our lives," Dworkin also said.
Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani replied to Collins, "That moment when you're so 'pro-life' you celebrate someone's death."
Doug Collins is celebrating the death of a Supreme Court Justice. Unforgivable. RBG deserves better than this garbage. https://t.co/PtEJJQ4w4s — Scott Dworkin (@funder) September 19, 2020
Let's see what Doug Collins, U.S. Senate candidate and current U.S. Rep from my great home-state of GA has to say tonight. I'm sure it's something civil & respectful. I mean even Trump managed to clear that low bar so only the worst of us would say... oh... https://t.co/XvEOSXpko2 — Chris Giddens (@chrisgiddens) September 19, 2020
That moment when you’re so “pro-life” you celebrate someone’s death. — Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) September 19, 2020


usatoday--2020-09-19--Memorials spring up outside Supreme Court after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death

Memorials spring up outside Supreme Court after Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death She was an icon for women .
Ruth @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court .

Memorials spring up outside Supreme Court after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death
She was an icon for women. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is honored outside the Supreme Court.
USA TODAY, Wochit


usatoday--2020-09-20--Trump says he will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court next week

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Saturday he will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court next week and that she should be confirmed as soon as possible , even in the midst of election season .
`` I will be putting forth a nominee next week - it will be a woman , '' Trump told supporters at an airport rally in Fayetteville , North Carolina .
When Trump told supporters `` we 're going to fill the seat , '' the crowd responded with repeated chants of `` fill that seat !
fill that seat ! ''
– @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg 's death .
Trump is looking for a successor for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , one of the court 's liberal justices , who died Friday after announcing in July she suffered a recurrence of cancer and that lesions had been found on her liver .
Ginsburg 's death touched off an immediate fight over her successor because the vacancy gives Trump and Senate Republicans a rare opportunity to solidify conservative control of the court , perhaps for decades to come .
In urging a quick confirmation , Trump said he disagreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Maine , that the winner of the presidential election should pick the next justice .
`` We have an obligation , '' Trump said .
`` We won .
And we have an obligation as the winners to pick who we want . ''
Trump said he backs a fast-track plan outlined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. with whom he discussed the vacancy on Friday .
Two people familiar with that call said Trump specifically discussed two potential nominees , both women : Appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's going to move very quickly , '' Trump told reporters when discussing the confirmation process .
During the rally that lasted more than 100 minutes , Trump praised Ginsburg as `` an inspiration , '' but spent more time talking about replacing her .
He talked about other issues – including the COVID-19 pandemic , trade , and violence in cities – but referred often to the Supreme Court .
`` We have plenty of time – there 's plenty of time , '' Trump said , prompting more chants if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front-runner Amy Coney Barrett : Front-runner for Supreme Court nomination to replace Ginsburg is a favorite of religious conservatives At one point , while mocking Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden , Trump told his backers : `` If I lose to him , I do n't know what I 'm going to do – I will never speak to you again .
You 'll never see me again . ''
Trump said the prospect of putting conservative justices on the Supreme Court helped fuel his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brett Kavanaugh , hopes a third appointment will boost his chances against Biden in November .
Democrats noted Republicans took a much different approach after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 .
In that election year , Senate Republicans blocked President Barack Obama 's nominee – Merrick Garland – and argued that the winner of the presidential election should pick the new justice .
Democrats said the same standard should apply this time around , and everyone should wait and let the winner of the November contest make the selection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates , predicted that voters will `` see right through '' the hypocrisy of Trump and the Republicans .
Possible Trump pick Barbara Lagoa : Trump eyes Cuban American judge from Florida for Supreme Court '' Senate Republicans who go back on their word and the precedent they set in 2016 will be proving to voters that they care more about getting rid of the Affordable Care Act and coverage of pre-existing conditions , and overturning Roe vs Wade than they do about integrity or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said voters should get the chance to pick the president who will pick the new Supreme Court justice .
`` This was the position that the Republican Senate took in 2016 , when there were nearly nine months before the election , '' Biden said .
`` That is the position the United States Senate must take now , when the election is less than two months away . ''
Collins , locked in a tough re-election battle , said in a statement Saturday she would not support a confirmation vote before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people , who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by a President who is elected on November 3rd , '' she said .
Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker , a moderate Republican , asked Trump and the Senate `` to allow the American people to cast their ballots for President before a new justice is nominated or confirmed . ''
The reason : `` The Supreme Court is too important to rush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Baker said .
It 's too early to say how the Supreme Court issue might play out in the presidential race , officials said , especially in a closely contested state like North Carolina .
The Real Clear Politics website average of recent polls in North Carolina gives Biden a bare lead of 0.9 percentage points over Trump , well within the margins of error .
Some analysts favor Trump because there is some question as to how much of a battleground North Carolina really is – Republicans have dominated it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades .
Since President Ronald Reagan won North Carolina in 1980 , Obama in 2008 is the only Democratic presidential candidate to capture the state , noted Jody Baumgartner , political science professor at East Carolina University .
`` We hear this every four years – 'Oh , North Carolina is going to be a swing state , ' '' Baumgartner said .
`` But North Carolina is never a swing state . ''
Ruth Bader Ginsburg : Supreme Court justices remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as ' a superb judge ' who 'inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court issue would move `` the average voter '' in North Carolina .
He said it could boost get-out-the-vote efforts , but that might `` affect both sides equally . ''
Susan Roberts , a political science professor at Davidson College , said she suspects Ginsburg 's passing `` will mobilize young college educated women exponentially , '' helping the Democrats in North Carolina .
The growth of cities and an increase in the number of college-educated voters already gave Biden and the Democrats a fighting chance in the state , Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as tight as it looks , '' she said .

Trump says he will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court next week
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump: Justice Ginsburg was 'an amazing woman' President Donald Trump says the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was “an amazing woman” who led an “amazing life.” (Sept. 18) AP
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Saturday he will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court next week and that she should be confirmed as soon as possible, even in the midst of election season.
"I will be putting forth a nominee next week - it will be a woman," Trump told supporters at an airport rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
When Trump told supporters "we're going to fill the seat," the crowd responded with repeated chants of "fill that seat! fill that seat!" – just 24 hours after the announcement of Ginsburg's death.
Trump is looking for a successor for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the court's liberal justices, who died Friday after announcing in July she suffered a recurrence of cancer and that lesions had been found on her liver.
Ginsburg's death touched off an immediate fight over her successor because the vacancy gives Trump and Senate Republicans a rare opportunity to solidify conservative control of the court, perhaps for decades to come.
In urging a quick confirmation, Trump said he disagreed with the statement by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that the winner of the presidential election should pick the next justice. "We have an obligation," Trump said. "We won. And we have an obligation as the winners to pick who we want."
Trump said he backs a fast-track plan outlined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. with whom he discussed the vacancy on Friday. Two people familiar with that call said Trump specifically discussed two potential nominees, both women: Appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa.
"I think it's going to move very quickly," Trump told reporters when discussing the confirmation process.
During the rally that lasted more than 100 minutes, Trump praised Ginsburg as "an inspiration," but spent more time talking about replacing her. He talked about other issues – including the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and violence in cities – but referred often to the Supreme Court.
"We have plenty of time – there's plenty of time," Trump said, prompting more chants if "fill that seat."
Trump front-runner Amy Coney Barrett: Front-runner for Supreme Court nomination to replace Ginsburg is a favorite of religious conservatives
At one point, while mocking Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden, Trump told his backers: "If I lose to him, I don't know what I'm going to do – I will never speak to you again. You'll never see me again."
Trump said the prospect of putting conservative justices on the Supreme Court helped fuel his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Now Trump, who installed justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, hopes a third appointment will boost his chances against Biden in November.
Democrats noted Republicans took a much different approach after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
In that election year, Senate Republicans blocked President Barack Obama's nominee – Merrick Garland – and argued that the winner of the presidential election should pick the new justice.
Democrats said the same standard should apply this time around, and everyone should wait and let the winner of the November contest make the selection.
Josh Schwerin of Priorities USA Action, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates, predicted that voters will "see right through" the hypocrisy of Trump and the Republicans.
Possible Trump pick Barbara Lagoa: Trump eyes Cuban American judge from Florida for Supreme Court
"Senate Republicans who go back on their word and the precedent they set in 2016 will be proving to voters that they care more about getting rid of the Affordable Care Act and coverage of pre-existing conditions, and overturning Roe vs Wade than they do about integrity or morals," he said.
Biden said voters should get the chance to pick the president who will pick the new Supreme Court justice.
"This was the position that the Republican Senate took in 2016, when there were nearly nine months before the election," Biden said. "That is the position the United States Senate must take now, when the election is less than two months away."
A few Republicans agree.
Collins, locked in a tough re-election battle, said in a statement Saturday she would not support a confirmation vote before the election. "In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by a President who is elected on November 3rd," she said.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican, asked Trump and the Senate "to allow the American people to cast their ballots for President before a new justice is nominated or confirmed."
The reason: "The Supreme Court is too important to rush and must be removed from partisan political infighting," Baker said.
It's too early to say how the Supreme Court issue might play out in the presidential race, officials said, especially in a closely contested state like North Carolina.
The Real Clear Politics website average of recent polls in North Carolina gives Biden a bare lead of 0.9 percentage points over Trump, well within the margins of error.
Some analysts favor Trump because there is some question as to how much of a battleground North Carolina really is – Republicans have dominated it in presidential elections over the past four decades.
Since President Ronald Reagan won North Carolina in 1980, Obama in 2008 is the only Democratic presidential candidate to capture the state, noted Jody Baumgartner, political science professor at East Carolina University.
"We hear this every four years – 'Oh, North Carolina is going to be a swing state,'" Baumgartner said. "But North Carolina is never a swing state."
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court justices remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'a superb judge' who 'inspired us all'
Baumgartner said he doubted the Supreme Court issue would move "the average voter" in North Carolina. He said it could boost get-out-the-vote efforts, but that might "affect both sides equally."
Susan Roberts, a political science professor at Davidson College, said she suspects Ginsburg's passing "will mobilize young college educated women exponentially," helping the Democrats in North Carolina.
The growth of cities and an increase in the number of college-educated voters already gave Biden and the Democrats a fighting chance in the state, Roberts said.
"I think it is as tight as it looks," she said.


usatoday--2020-09-20--Coronavirus updates: US borders with Canada, Mexico to remain closed; almost 200,000 people have die

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

Michael James and Rachel Aretakis, USA TODAY

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


usatoday--2020-09-19--What is ricin? Illegal and 'very toxic' poison sent to President Trump has no antidote

Ricin , a poison found in castor beans , has been found in a package sent to President Donald Trump — the latest example of the natural and deadly toxin being investigated by authorities .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ricin can be found in a waste product that occurs when processing castor beans into castor oil .
It would take `` a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people . ''
No antidote exists for the poison , which can kill a person within 36 to 72 hours of exposure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely to be absorbed through the skin , but it can be deadly when ingested or inhaled .
`` Ricin is very toxic .
It works by getting inside the cells of a person ’ s body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need , '' according to the CDC .
`` Without the proteins , cells die .
Eventually this is harmful to the whole body , and may cause death . ''
Symptoms of ricin poisoning are different , depending on whether the poison is ingested or inhaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When eaten , organ damage and intestinal bleeding can occur .
When breathed in , it causes respiratory problems .
The poison could `` potentially be used as a biological weapon , '' according to the Mayo Clinic .
The poison came to pop culture prominence when it was used in the show `` Breaking Bad '' in attempt to kill a major character .
The FBI has charged people for attempting to obtain the toxin , which became illegal in July 2019 .
“ Ricin is an incredibly dangerous biological toxin – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a human , ” a 2019 release quotes U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna , when a California man pleaded guilty to attempting to buy ricin .
“ Because it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction and there is no antidote for ricin poisoning , any attempt to acquire this deadly chemical agent is an extremely serious matter that will prompt a vigorous response.
” Ricin has surfaced in other plots targeting Trump and other officials .
In 2018 , a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against a Utah man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other administration officials in letters , some of which contained the natural ingredients used to make ricin .
In that case , a series of suspicious letters were addressed to Trump , then-Defense Secretary James Mattis , FBI Director Christopher Wray , CIA Director Gina Haspel and others .
From 2018 : Navy vet arrested in case of poisoned letters sent to White House ; ricin ingredients found

What is ricin? Illegal and 'very toxic' poison sent to Trump has no antidote
Ricin, a poison found in castor beans, has been found in a package sent to President Donald Trump – the latest example of the natural and deadly toxin being investigated by authorities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ricin can be found in a waste product that occurs when processing castor beans into castor oil. It would take "a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people."
No antidote exists for the poison, which can kill a person within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, according to the CDC. It is unlikely to be absorbed through the skin, but it can be deadly when ingested or inhaled.
"Ricin is very toxic. It works by getting inside the cells of a person’s body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need," according to the CDC. "Without the proteins, cells die. Eventually, this is harmful to the whole body, and may cause death."
Symptoms of ricin poisoning are different, depending on whether the poison is ingested or inhaled, according to the Mayo Clinic. When eaten, organ damage and intestinal bleeding can occur. When breathed in, it causes respiratory problems.
The poison could "potentially be used as a biological weapon," according to the Mayo Clinic.
The poison came to pop culture prominence when it was used in the show "Breaking Bad" in an attempt to kill a major character.
The FBI has charged people for attempting to obtain the toxin, which became illegal in July 2019.
“Ricin is an incredibly dangerous biological toxin – just a few tiny grains can kill a human,” a 2019 release quotes U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna when a California man pleaded guilty to attempting to buy ricin.
“Because it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction and there is no antidote for ricin poisoning, any attempt to acquire this deadly chemical agent is an extremely serious matter that will prompt a vigorous response.”
Ricin has surfaced in other plots targeting Trump and other officials.
In 2018, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against a Utah man, alleging that he threatened Trump and other administration officials in letters, some of which contained the natural ingredients used to make ricin.
In that case, a series of suspicious letters were addressed to Trump, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis, FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director Gina Haspel and others.
Contributing: Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press.
From 2018: Navy vet arrested in case of poisoned letters sent to White House; ricin ingredients found