usatoday--2020-10-21--Election 2020 updates: Trump says he wasn't 'wasn't coming to Erie' in a pre-COVID world

The end of the 2020 presidential campaign is near .
With just two weeks until Election Day , President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are making final appeals to voters key to winning what has been a contentious contest .
Trump holds a rally Tuesday in Erie , Pennsylvania , as both he and Biden fight for the Keystone State .
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Pennsylvania absentee ballots can be received up to three days after Election Day .
In Florida , which began in-person early voting Monday , Democrats are making a late push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmingly supported Trump .
Meanwhile , both sides prepare for Thursday 's final presidential debate in Nashville , where the candidates ' mics will be cut while the other speaks .
• COVID stimulus : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set the end of the day Tuesday as the deadline to get a COVID-19 stimulus deal done before Election Day .
She and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are still in talks .
• Pentagon : As Election Day violence becomes a concern , leaders at the Pentagon have sought to shelter the military from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top leaders reiterating that troops hold no role in elections .
• Boffo : Trump used the word in a tweet Monday .
Here 's what it means .
📊 What the polls are saying : Joe Biden holds a narrow 1-point lead over President Donald Trump in Florida , according to a poll released Tuesday .
Trump leads Biden by 17 percentage points in Kentucky , a a far smaller advantage compared to 2016 , when he beat Hillary Clinton by 30 percentage points in the state .
In North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding a 1-point edge in a survey of likely voters .
📆 14 days until Election Day , two days until the final presidential debate , 92 days until Inauguration Day , 74 days left in 2020 .
🗳 Voting : See USA TODAY 's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues .
We will update this article throughout the day .
You can follow all of USA TODAY 's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump told a rally crowd in battleground Pennsylvania on Tuesday that he wouldn ’ t have to campaign so much for reelection were it not for the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Before the plague came in , I had it made .
I was n't coming to Erie .
I mean , I have to be honest : There 's no way I was coming ... .I would have called you and said , ‘ Hey , Erie , you know , if you have a chance get out and vote , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience .
“ We had this thing won , '' Trump asserted about the election , `` and then we got hit with the plague and I had to go back to work .
‘ Hello , Erie , may I please have your vote ?
’ ” Trump joked about the cold weather and spent less time on stage than usual , just about an hour .
He ’ s made similar remarks about the weather as he has stepped up his schedule considerably in recent days , telling a rally audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t speaking on a `` freezing night with 45 degree winds '' because it was fun .
“ What do you think ?
” he asked .
“ Think I 'm doing this for my health ?
” Polls show Trump is running slightly behind in battleground states such as Pennsylvania .
Nationally , 58 % of voters disapprove of how Trump has handled the virus , according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll earlier this month , a figure that has been essentially unchanged since the summer .
Even if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard as it has and raised questions about his administration 's response , Trump almost certainly would have campaigned in Pennsylvania .
He held one of his first rallies there after becoming president in 2017 and held at least four political events in the state in 2018 .
Amy Coney Barrett : Full Senate to vote on Supreme Court confirmation on Monday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will vote on Amy Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation to the Supreme Court on Monday , likely allowing Barrett to take her place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Day .
The Kentucky Republican outlined a schedule at his weekly news conference Tuesday that would mean the Senate would remain in session this weekend to debate her confirmation before voting on Monday .
“ We 'll be voting to confirm justice to-be Barrett next Monday , ” McConnell said .
`` And I think that will be another signature accomplishment in our effort to put on the courts , the federal courts , men and women who believe in a quaint notion that maybe the job of a judge is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailed through the confirmation process .
After four days of hearings and hours of questioning by senators last week , a vote on her nomination is set to be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday .
The hearings were largely without controversy or drama , allowing Barrett to retain enough Republican support that is likely to lead to her confirmation .
McConnell plans to take up her confirmation on Friday , setting up two days of debate over the weekend and a final vote by the chamber on Monday – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaker Nancy Pelosi seemed to back away from a Tuesday deadline to reach a deal on a COVID-19 stimulus plan before the election .
Pelosi said in an interview with Bloomberg her Tuesday ultimatum was not actually a deadline to have a deal but in fact `` the day where we would have our terms on the table , to be able to go to the next step . ''
Asked how a bill could come together , Pelosi left open the possibility a bill might not be passed until after the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negotiations .
It might not be finished by Election Day . ''
Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said Monday the speaker hoped she would `` have clarity on whether we will be able to pass a bill before the election '' by the end of Tuesday .
COVID stimulus update : Senate to vote on PPP as deadline nears The Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses as Congress runs up against a Tuesday deadline to reach a deal on COVID-19 stimulus before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of the small business loans but is likely to be blocked by Democrats , who have opposed standalone relief bills .
Meanwhile , Congress and the White House face a Tuesday deadline to reach a deal before the election .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set the deadline for both sides to reach a deal to restore urgently needed benefits before Nov. 3 .
Senate vote on PPP : Senate to vote on PPP reauthorization Tuesday as COVID-19 stimulus deadline nears President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Attorney General William Barr should `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and his son Hunter .
`` We ’ ve got ta get the attorney general to act , '' Trump said during an interview on `` Fox & Friends . ''
`` He ’ s got ta act .
And he ’ s got ta act fast . ''
The comments echo the president 's past demands that Barr take action against members of the Barack Obama administration – including the former vice president – for investigating the Trump campaign team over Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign .
This time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laptop computer and alleged emails regarding Hunter Biden 's business dealings in Ukraine and China .
Trump and his supporters claim the emails show Joe Biden 's involvement in his son 's business affairs , but there is no evidence of a direct connection .
FBI probe : FBI probing whether emails in New York Post story about Hunter Biden are tied to Russian disinformation There is also concern about the origins of the emails and the laptop that was provided to the New York Post by Rudy Giuliani , Trump 's personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation of the Bidens .
Federal authorities are investigating whether the material may be tied to a Russian disinformation aimed at undercutting the Democratic nominee , according to a person familiar with the matter .
Biden backers said Trump is trying to use the investigative powers of the federal government to dump dirt right before Election Day .
`` With the election 14 days away we wake up to trump shouting for bill barr to arrest his political opponent ’ s family , '' tweeted Rep. Bill Pascrell , Jr. , D-N.J. Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Black Lives Matter shirts , masks A Shelby County , Tennessee , poll worker was fired Friday after election officials learned that he had turned away voters who were wearing masks and T-shirts that said Black Lives Matter .
“ What he did was patently wrong , and he was fired , ” said Suzanne Thompson , spokeswoman for the Shelby County Election Commission .
State law prohibits people from wearing items with the name of a political party or candidate currently on the ballot while in a polling place , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” are not violations of that law .
A manager of operations went to the Dave Wells Community Center in Memphis during early voting and fired the worker on the spot after confirming the reports , Thompson said .
Poll worker fired : Tennessee poll worker fired after turning away voters in Black Lives Matter shirts , masks Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said Monday that recently published emails purporting to document the business dealings of Hunter Biden are not connected to a Russian disinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to review whether the material was part of such a campaign .
Ratcliffe , in an interview with Fox Business , did not elaborate on the basis of his conclusion , though he acknowledged knowing `` little '' about the material published by the New York Post .
The FBI , according to a person familiar with the matter , has been investigating at least in part whether the material , allegedly drawn from a laptop owned by Biden and provided to the newspaper by Rudy Giuliani , President Donald Trump 's personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian influence operation aimed at undercutting Biden 's father and Democratic nominee Joe Biden .


usatoday--2020-10-20--McConnell urges White House against large stimulus deal as Pelosi and Mnuchin continue talks

WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , in a closed-door lunch Tuesday , told fellow Republicans he urged the White House not to strike a deal with Democrats on a COVID-19 relief package , according to a Senate source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door discussions .
The Kentucky Republican , who has blasted Democrats in negotiations , voiced concerns there would not be enough GOP votes to back a package and worries that voting on such legislation could negatively affect the timing on Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation vote to the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the size and details of an aid bill .
Some Republicans rejected Democratic offers they said are too costly and will add to the federal deficit , though President Donald Trump has pushed for Republicans to offer even more than Democrats .
Republicans in the Senate are set to take up a $ 500 billion plan Wednesday that would reauthorize small business loans , reissue a federal boost to unemployment benefits , send more than $ 100 billion to schools and allocate funding for testing and vaccine development .
The price tag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roughly $ 1.8 trillion offered by the White House this month and the $ 2.2 trillion package Democrats put forward .
Sen. John Thune , R-S.D.
, the second-ranking Senate Republican , said Monday `` it would be hard '' to get enough Republicans to support a bill at $ 1.8 trillion .
Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , said Tuesday , `` I do n't support something of that level . ''
Pelosi and Mnuchin talked by phone Tuesday , and Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said their conversation `` provided more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to an agreement . ''
They plan to speak more Wednesday .
Pelosi backed away from her own deadline , which called on the two sides to reach a deal by Tuesday if they wanted relief legislation by Election Day .
Pelosi said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday her ultimatum was not actually a deadline to have a deal but `` the day where we would have our terms on the table , to be able to go to the next step . ''
The artificial deadline , Hammill said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides are serious about finding a compromise . ''
The bill might not be passed until after the election , Pelosi said on Bloomberg .
`` We could still continue the negotiations , '' Pelosi said .
`` It might not be finished by Election Day . ''
Although the parties were close to resolving policy differences on COVID-19 testing provisions , Pelosi said there are two outstanding differences .
One involves the amount of aid for state and local governments , which Republicans say would amount to bailouts for mismanaged governments if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other is over COVID-19 liability protections for businesses , a provision opposed by Democrats .
Pushing the negotiations until after the elections means both parties would not restart talks until the `` lame duck '' session of Congress , the time between the election and when a new Congress is sworn in next year .
Also Tuesday , the Republican-controlled Senate took a mostly symbolic vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) for small businesses .
The bill would reauthorize another round of small-business loans , though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose standalone bills on the issue .
The PPP loans helped many small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic but expired Aug. 8 .
Under the program , businesses with 500 or fewer workers were eligible for loans up to $ 10 million , which became forgivable if at least 60 % of the amount was spent on payroll .
More : Democrats , Republicans and Trump ca n't agree on a new coronavirus aid deal More : Hard-to-reach households still need first relief money McConnell dared Democrats to oppose the PPP bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two sides disagree on .
“ I ’ ll let you in on a secret .
There ’ s something senators do when we want something to pass : We vote for it , ” he said on the Senate floor Tuesday .
“ It ’ s no counterargument to complain that the PPP legislation does not also contain 100 other things .
The entire point is to agree where we can and make law while we keep arguing over the rest.
” He said Democrats were holding up additional relief for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to COVID-19 .
He said funds for the small-business loan program had “ been taken hostage.
” “ The Democratic leaders have spent months holding out for a long far-left wish list of non-COVID-related priorities and obstructing any additional aid until they get it , ” he said .
“ All or nothing .
That ’ s been their position .
Either Democrats get every unrelated policy they want , or American families get nothing .
So for months , they ’ ve blocked bipartisan aid at every turn.
” Minority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said the PPP bill was nothing more than a “ stunt ” designed to fail in the chamber .
He said that if McConnell were serious about getting help to American families and businesses , he would be at the negotiating table .
McConnell has not played a role in the talks , leaving the negotiating to Democrats and the White House .
“ The response here in Congress to a pandemic that affects our country in a way we have n't seen in decades should be to comprehensively provide relief , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not to pick out one or two industries and say maybe later to the rest .
We ca n't privilege a small issue here or there and ask everyone else to wait .
Our mission is to deliver big for a country and a people who are suffering direly.
” Both sides are struggling to reach a deal weeks before the election .
They are hundreds of billions of dollars apart in their proposals and have been unable to resolve major policy differences on COVID-19 testing , liability protections and school funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Relief and Economic Security Act in March , but many of the package ’ s provisions have lapsed .
The federal boost to unemployment benefits ran out in July , airline assistance expired in October , and Americans weathering an economic recession eagerly await another round of relief checks .
President Donald Trump ended relief talks at the beginning of the month , telling Senate Republicans to instead focus on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett , but he reversed course , reopening negotiations with congressional Democrats .
McConnell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would come to the Senate floor if it passed the House .
Sen. Richard Shelby , R-Ala. , the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee , cast doubt on the possibility of a large aid package , calling the $ 1.8 trillion offered by the White House a `` high number . ''
`` The clock keeps ticking away , and I 'm not optimistic about us doing anything , '' he said .
Will a COVID-19 relief deal be struck by Tuesday ?
What we know about negotiations More : Here are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next relief package

Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

McConnell urges White House against large stimulus deal as Pelosi and Mnuchin continue talks
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID stimulus deal: What Democrats, Republicans and Trump want A new coronavirus stimulus deal is still in the works between Democrats and Republicans, bu they can't agree on a conclusion. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a closed-door lunch Tuesday, told fellow Republicans he urged the White House not to strike a deal with Democrats on a COVID-19 relief package, according to a Senate source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door discussions.
The Kentucky Republican, who has blasted Democrats in negotiations, voiced concerns there would not be enough GOP votes to back a package and worries that voting on such legislation could negatively affect the timing on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation vote to the Supreme Court, the source said.
Republicans disagree about the size and details of an aid bill. Some Republicans rejected Democratic offers they said are too costly and will add to the federal deficit, though President Donald Trump has pushed for Republicans to offer even more than Democrats.
Republicans in the Senate are set to take up a $500 billion plan Wednesday that would reauthorize small business loans, reissue a federal boost to unemployment benefits, send more than $100 billion to schools and allocate funding for testing and vaccine development. The price tag of that bill is much lower than the roughly $1.8 trillion offered by the White House this month and the $2.2 trillion package Democrats put forward.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the second-ranking Senate Republican, said Monday "it would be hard" to get enough Republicans to support a bill at $1.8 trillion. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Tuesday, "I don't support something of that level."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continue to negotiate a bill.
Pelosi and Mnuchin talked by phone Tuesday, and Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said their conversation "provided more clarity and common ground as they move closer to an agreement."
They plan to speak more Wednesday.
Pelosi backed away from her own deadline, which called on the two sides to reach a deal by Tuesday if they wanted relief legislation by Election Day. Pelosi said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday her ultimatum was not actually a deadline to have a deal but "the day where we would have our terms on the table, to be able to go to the next step."
The artificial deadline, Hammill said, spurred negotiations and showed "both sides are serious about finding a compromise."
The bill might not be passed until after the election, Pelosi said on Bloomberg. "We could still continue the negotiations," Pelosi said. "It might not be finished by Election Day."
Although the parties were close to resolving policy differences on COVID-19 testing provisions, Pelosi said there are two outstanding differences. One involves the amount of aid for state and local governments, which Republicans say would amount to bailouts for mismanaged governments if too much is allocated, and the other is over COVID-19 liability protections for businesses, a provision opposed by Democrats.
Pushing the negotiations until after the elections means both parties would not restart talks until the "lame duck" session of Congress, the time between the election and when a new Congress is sworn in next year.
Also Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Senate took a mostly symbolic vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses. The bill would reauthorize another round of small-business loans, though it is unlikely to become law. Democrats oppose standalone bills on the issue.
The PPP loans helped many small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic but expired Aug. 8. Under the program, businesses with 500 or fewer workers were eligible for loans up to $10 million, which became forgivable if at least 60% of the amount was spent on payroll.
More: Democrats, Republicans and Trump can't agree on a new coronavirus aid deal
More: Hard-to-reach households still need first relief money
McConnell dared Democrats to oppose the PPP bill, noting it is not a topic the two sides disagree on.
“I’ll let you in on a secret. There’s something senators do when we want something to pass: We vote for it,” he said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “It’s no counterargument to complain that the PPP legislation does not also contain 100 other things. The entire point is to agree where we can and make law while we keep arguing over the rest.”
He said Democrats were holding up additional relief for Americans over provisions that aren’t related to COVID-19. He said funds for the small-business loan program had “been taken hostage.”
“The Democratic leaders have spent months holding out for a long far-left wish list of non-COVID-related priorities and obstructing any additional aid until they get it,” he said. “All or nothing. That’s been their position. Either Democrats get every unrelated policy they want, or American families get nothing. So for months, they’ve blocked bipartisan aid at every turn.”
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blasted McConnell and said the PPP bill was nothing more than a “stunt” designed to fail in the chamber. He said that if McConnell were serious about getting help to American families and businesses, he would be at the negotiating table. McConnell has not played a role in the talks, leaving the negotiating to Democrats and the White House.
“The response here in Congress to a pandemic that affects our country in a way we haven't seen in decades should be to comprehensively provide relief,” Schumer said. “Our mission is not to pick out one or two industries and say maybe later to the rest. We can't privilege a small issue here or there and ask everyone else to wait. Our mission is to deliver big for a country and a people who are suffering direly.”
Both sides are struggling to reach a deal weeks before the election. They are hundreds of billions of dollars apart in their proposals and have been unable to resolve major policy differences on COVID-19 testing, liability protections and school funding.
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March, but many of the package’s provisions have lapsed. The federal boost to unemployment benefits ran out in July, airline assistance expired in October, and Americans weathering an economic recession eagerly await another round of relief checks.
President Donald Trump ended relief talks at the beginning of the month, telling Senate Republicans to instead focus on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, but he reversed course, reopening negotiations with congressional Democrats.
McConnell said Tuesday a "presidentially supported bill" would come to the Senate floor if it passed the House.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, cast doubt on the possibility of a large aid package, calling the $1.8 trillion offered by the White House a "high number."
"The clock keeps ticking away, and I'm not optimistic about us doing anything," he said.
Will a COVID-19 relief deal be struck by Tuesday? What we know about negotiations
More: Here are the top two things Americans want in the next relief package


usatoday--2020-10-20--New in the polls Tuesday: Race narrows in North Carolina, Florida; voters nationally favor Biden ove

With two weeks left until the Nov. 3 election , polls remain an unpredictable metric for who will be selected by the American people to run the country .
Generally , Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is pulling ahead of President Donald Trump — including in key states Trump won in the previous election .
One national poll even has him up by nine percent .
Still , in many battleground states where candidates continue to hold rallies and meet with key voters , such as Jill Biden visiting Michigan Tuesday and Vice President Mike Pence visiting Ohio Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
Biden up by one in Florida A University of North Florida poll narrowly puts Biden up one percentage point over Trump , well within the margin of error .
Trump rose five percent from earlier this month in the same poll .
A key base of his — senior voters — is showing up in smaller numbers than in 2016 exit polls .
Biden , meanwhile , is struggling Hispanic voters , a key Democratic voting bloc in the previous election .
2020 election : Joe Biden has narrow lead over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden up by one in North Carolina : WaPo and ABC News A poll conducted by Washington Post/ABC News also effectively puts Trump and Biden in range of one another , with Biden only up by one percent .
A small majority of registered voters ( 51 % ) in the state disapprove of Trump 's presidency , but that number remains slightly lower than national ratings .
Polls : North Carolina voters nearly split on Trump and Biden ; Cunningham has slight edge on Tillis Biden up in Pennsylvania , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN CNN polling for 10 swing states has Biden up by a statistically significant amount in Pennsylvania ( 52 to 43 percent ) , Michigan and Wisconsin ( both 51 to 43 percent ) — all states Trump won in the 2016 election .
In Iowa , Georgia , Ohio and North Carolina , it 's a much closer race — with Biden either tied or up by a couple percentage points in polling .
Texas remains Trump territory , leading Biden by four percentage points ( 49 to 45 percent ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Siena College finds Biden ahead of Trump , overall , with a margin of 9 points ( 50 to 41 percent ) .
With a surge of support from women , people of color , white people with college degrees — as well as white women and older voters , which leaned toward Trump in 2016 — these polls paint Biden in a comfortable position .
Trump , however , still maintains a stronghold over white people without college degrees and men .
The poll also found a majority of Americans supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a comprehensive stimulus package ( 72 % ) , a $ 2 trillion renewable energy plan ( 66 % ) and even a public option for health insurance ( 66 % ) .
However , Americans remain doubtful of vaccines — as a third would likely or definitely not take a vaccine even with FDA approval — and court packing ( 58 % ) .

New in the polls Tuesday: Race narrows in North Carolina, Florida; voters nationally favor Biden over Trump
Show Caption Hide Caption Election 2020: Mics will be muted for portions of presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have their microphones cut off during portions of the final presidential debate. USA TODAY
With two weeks left until the Nov. 3 election, polls remain an unpredictable metric for who will be selected by the American people to run the country.
Generally, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is pulling ahead of President Donald Trump — including in key states Trump won in the previous election. One national poll even has him up by nine percent.
Still, in many battleground states where candidates continue to hold rallies and meet with key voters, such as Jill Biden visiting Michigan Tuesday and Vice President Mike Pence visiting Ohio Wednesday, it proves to be an overwhelmingly tight race.
Here's what Tuesday's polls show.
Biden up by one in Florida
A University of North Florida poll narrowly puts Biden up one percentage point over Trump, well within the margin of error.
Trump rose five percent from earlier this month in the same poll. A key base of his — senior voters — is showing up in smaller numbers than in 2016 exit polls. Biden, meanwhile, is struggling Hispanic voters, a key Democratic voting bloc in the previous election.
2020 election: Joe Biden has narrow lead over President Donald Trump in new Florida poll
Biden up by one in North Carolina: WaPo and ABC News
A poll conducted by Washington Post/ABC News also effectively puts Trump and Biden in range of one another, with Biden only up by one percent.
A small majority of registered voters (51%) in the state disapprove of Trump's presidency, but that number remains slightly lower than national ratings.
Polls: North Carolina voters nearly split on Trump and Biden; Cunningham has slight edge on Tillis
Biden up in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin; Trump up in Texas: CNN
CNN polling for 10 swing states has Biden up by a statistically significant amount in Pennsylvania (52 to 43 percent), Michigan and Wisconsin (both 51 to 43 percent) — all states Trump won in the 2016 election.
In Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and North Carolina, it's a much closer race — with Biden either tied or up by a couple percentage points in polling. Texas remains Trump territory, leading Biden by four percentage points (49 to 45 percent).
Biden up 9% nationally: New York Times
A poll by the New York Times and Siena College finds Biden ahead of Trump, overall, with a margin of 9 points (50 to 41 percent).
With a surge of support from women, people of color, white people with college degrees — as well as white women and older voters, which leaned toward Trump in 2016 — these polls paint Biden in a comfortable position. Trump, however, still maintains a stronghold over white people without college degrees and men.
The poll also found a majority of Americans supported mask wearing (59%), a comprehensive stimulus package (72%), a $2 trillion renewable energy plan (66%) and even a public option for health insurance (66%). However, Americans remain doubtful of vaccines — as a third would likely or definitely not take a vaccine even with FDA approval — and court packing (58%).
Contributing: Zac Anderson, Sarasota Herald-Tribune


usatoday--2020-10-20--Biden endorsement gets mixed reviews: Readers sound off

I believe your quote says it all : “ Beset by disease , economic suffering , a racial reckoning and natural disasters fueled by a changing climate , the nation is dangerously off course.
” The question that I would formulate from this quote and present to voters going to the polls is , who do you believe will get us back on course ?
USA TODAY , thank you for presenting a concise viewpoint of the state of affairs in the United States and your recommendation to vote for civility and to reject chaos .
It is refreshing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and minimizes projecting raw emotions that monopolize most of what we see and hear on the airwaves and in print .
I believe the USA TODAY Editorial Board erred in judgment by endorsing fomer Vice President Joe Biden for president .
In the current election , Americans are required to choose between the lesser of two evils .
If a choice is made based on when life begins , President Donald Trump would prevail .
Many Americans recognize unborn life as a separate form of life from the mother .
I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a choice when it comes to who can lead this country to a brighter future .
President Donald Trump did exactly what he promised .
He shook up the common political landscape in Washington D.C. As for what he did right — Iraq , Afghanistan , the Taliban and al-Qaida seem to be less prominently covered .
The economy roared at the beginning of the Trump administration .
The stock market did well in 2018 .
This positive move of the economy and the markets is directly related to the tax philosophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
COVID-19 stalled the economy , not this president .
Trump never professed to be a politician .
That ’ s who we got .
He ’ s not a person we should hold in high moral regard .
Is he presidential ?
Absolutely not .
He ’ s a dangerous man .
He needs nothing from anyone .
That ’ s a man to watch .
He is a narcissist .
He ’ s proud of that .
I personally don ’ t agree with Trump ’ s character .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former Vice President Joe Biden , on the other hand , oozes of being a career politician .
Let me put myself in a position to be elected and reelected — that ’ s the way Biden operates .
He is the eternal politician .
His character centers around finding out what will get him reelected .
Is he more presidential ?
Perhaps .
Is he more obedient to the norms of the office of the presidency ?
Most likely .
But the country needs leaders who want what is best for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the leader .
Biden had a wonderful opportunity to lead well many times , and he didn ’ t stand up as much as he could have .
Biden is not what America needs right now , either .
Give me a George Washington .
Give me a leader who not only led but participated in the battle .
When he knew his time was over , he stepped down graciously .
Washington gave an eloquent farewell speech that all politicians should use as a compass .
Let ’ s all pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s future .
I ’ m afraid it will be at least 2024 before we have the true hope of that possibility .
The Editorial Board ’ s endorsement of Biden is particularly meaningful , given that it is the first time in its long history that it has used its voice to promote a presidential candidate .
We are suffering a president who is unstable , incompetent , inhumane , thuggish , bigoted , incurious , unintelligent and increasingly dangerous as his mental state deteriorates .
He says anything at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , never mind the facts .
In doing so , he loses ground , yet retains the devotion of a dwindling number of loyal followers who would be incensed if a Democratic president were acting as outlandishly as their man .
May justice and decency soon return to our country , and may the ugliness and rancor that have been inflicted on us by this president be washed away .
That can only happen on the day that we may proudly utter the words : President Joe Biden .
The Editorial Board ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president is spot on , especially about President Donald Trump ’ s crisis management .
Although the United States , by far , has the best medical talent in the world , under Trump ’ s leadership our pandemic performance ranks dead last .
Trump likes to tout his business acumen , but if his crisis management performance were judged by CEO standards , he would be fired unceremoniously .
You can ’ t come in dead last place with the very best talent and expect to keep your job .

Biden endorsement gets mixed reviews: Readers sound off Readers respond to Editorial Board
I believe your quote says it all: “Beset by disease, economic suffering, a racial reckoning and natural disasters fueled by a changing climate, the nation is dangerously off course.”
The question that I would formulate from this quote and present to voters going to the polls is, who do you believe will get us back on course?
USA TODAY, thank you for presenting a concise viewpoint of the state of affairs in the United States and your recommendation to vote for civility and to reject chaos. It is refreshing to read an article that states the facts and minimizes projecting raw emotions that monopolize most of what we see and hear on the airwaves and in print.
John A. Reaves; Matthews, N.C.
I believe the USA TODAY Editorial Board erred in judgment by endorsing fomer Vice President Joe Biden for president. In the current election, Americans are required to choose between the lesser of two evils. If a choice is made based on when life begins, President Donald Trump would prevail.
Many Americans recognize unborn life as a separate form of life from the mother.
Peter Saling; Red Bank, N.J.
I don’t believe either presidential candidate is much of a choice when it comes to who can lead this country to a brighter future.
President Donald Trump did exactly what he promised. He shook up the common political landscape in Washington D.C. As for what he did right — Iraq, Afghanistan, the Taliban and al-Qaida seem to be less prominently covered.
The economy roared at the beginning of the Trump administration. The stock market did well in 2018. This positive move of the economy and the markets is directly related to the tax philosophy and fewer government mandates supported by this president. COVID-19 stalled the economy, not this president.
Trump never professed to be a politician. That’s who we got. He’s not a person we should hold in high moral regard. Is he presidential? Absolutely not. He’s a dangerous man. He needs nothing from anyone. That’s a man to watch. He is a narcissist. He’s proud of that. I personally don’t agree with Trump’s character. Or should I say lack of character?
Former Vice President Joe Biden, on the other hand, oozes of being a career politician. Let me put myself in a position to be elected and reelected — that’s the way Biden operates. He is the eternal politician. His character centers around finding out what will get him reelected.
Is he more presidential? Perhaps. Is he more obedient to the norms of the office of the presidency? Most likely. But the country needs leaders who want what is best for the country and not what’s best for the leader.
Biden had a wonderful opportunity to lead well many times, and he didn’t stand up as much as he could have. Biden is not what America needs right now, either.
Give me a George Washington. Give me a leader who not only led but participated in the battle. When he knew his time was over, he stepped down graciously. Washington gave an eloquent farewell speech that all politicians should use as a compass.
Let’s all pray that a true leader is in this country’s future. I’m afraid it will be at least 2024 before we have the true hope of that possibility.
Marvin Woodie Jr.; Bluefield, W.V.
The Editorial Board’s endorsement of Biden is particularly meaningful, given that it is the first time in its long history that it has used its voice to promote a presidential candidate.
We are suffering a president who is unstable, incompetent, inhumane, thuggish, bigoted, incurious, unintelligent and increasingly dangerous as his mental state deteriorates. He says anything at all that he feels will benefit himself, never mind the facts. In doing so, he loses ground, yet retains the devotion of a dwindling number of loyal followers who would be incensed if a Democratic president were acting as outlandishly as their man.
May justice and decency soon return to our country, and may the ugliness and rancor that have been inflicted on us by this president be washed away. That can only happen on the day that we may proudly utter the words: President Joe Biden.
Oren Spiegler; Canonsburg, Pa.
The Editorial Board’s endorsement of Vice President Joe Biden for president is spot on, especially about President Donald Trump’s crisis management. Although the United States, by far, has the best medical talent in the world, under Trump’s leadership our pandemic performance ranks dead last. Trump likes to tout his business acumen, but if his crisis management performance were judged by CEO standards, he would be fired unceremoniously.
You can’t come in dead last place with the very best talent and expect to keep your job.
Michael Kenny; Atlanta


usatoday--2020-10-20--Rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab advances as a COVID treatment, as other regimens fall back, st

Rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab advances as a COVID treatment, as other regimens fall back, studies show

The list of drugs shown effective for treating COVID-19 got longer Tuesday , even as another well-used drug lost some of its luster .
In a large clinical study , tocilizumab , an immune modulator long used to treat rheumatoid arthritis , showed it can save lives if given to critically ill COVID-19 patients within the first two days of being admitted to an intensive care unit .
The study , published in JAMA Internal Medicine , showed just over 27 % of ICU patients treated with tocilizumab died within a month , compared with 37 % of those just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug .
Tocilizumab , a so-called monoclonal antibody , has been used during the outbreak because of its effect on tamping down immune over-reactions , which have been common with COVID-19 .
Smaller studies , including one published at the same time by the same journal have shown mixed results , with some finding the drug did not reduce deaths .
Dr. David Leaf , the senior author on the new paper , said that 's why it 's so important during the pandemic to have large , randomized trials comparing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the sickest patients .
Most randomized studies conducted so far in COVID-19 have n't been large enough or included enough very ill patients to know whether a drug can improve survival , he said .
`` They 're just not anywhere close to being adequately powered to assess mortality , '' he said .
Leaf , a kidney specialist at Brigham and Women 's Hospital and Harvard Medical School , collaborated with researchers at 67 other hospitals across the U.S. to conduct their new study , tracking 4,000 critically ill patients early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already published several studies , including one showing heart attacks are very common among critically ill COVID-19 patients , and tend to lead to poor outcomes , even in those who receive CPR .
Future research will look at other treatments for very ill patients , he said .
Leaf said his study reinforces the idea that different drugs should be used at different times during COVID-19 treatment .
Tocilizumab appeared to be particularly helpful for patients admitted to an ICU within three days of developing symptoms , he said .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for irreversible organ injury to have occurred , '' he said , and the drug may no longer be effective .
About 20 % of the ICU patients examined had symptoms for just a few days before landing in intensive care , he said .
For that subset of patients , unlike any other , tocilizumab appears to offer a substantial survival benefit .
Many patients with serious COVID-19 cases , like President Donald Trump , receive steroids to tamp down an immune overreaction .
Leaf compared steroids to a sledgehammer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while tocilizumab is a scalpel , targeting a particular immune molecule called IL-6 .
Tocilizumab is usually given to COVID-19 patients just once , through an intravenous injection .
A second dose can be given if needed several days later .
In an unrelated result , the World Health Organization found four other drug regimens given to hospitalized COVID-19 patients did not reduce deaths , hospital stays or the likelihood of requiring ventilation .
That study , which has not yet been peer-reviewed and is at an earlier stage than would usually be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hydroxychloroquine , lopinavir and interferon appeared to provide no benefit for hospitalized COVID-19 patients .
President Donald Trump received remdesivir , along with steroids and an experimental monoclonal antibody , when he was treated for COVID-19 .
Most mainstream doctors long ago moved away from using hydroxychloroquine in their COVID-19 patients , and the WHO discontinued testing hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir back in July because the treatment did not prevent deaths .
Dr. Rajesh Gandhi , an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital , said he thinks it 's too soon to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shown in other studies to reduce hospital stays .
`` We will continue to use remdesivir in our patients hospitalized with COVID-19 , '' he said .
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics , Innovation and Competition in Healthcare .
The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input .

Rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab advances as a COVID-19 treatment, as other regimens fall back, studies show
Show Caption Hide Caption Pres. Trump COVID-19 care included typical drugs, only faster President Trump received mostly the same treatment as anyone would get for COVID-19, except for one experimental drug and the speed of his care. USA TODAY
The list of drugs shown effective for treating COVID-19 got longer Tuesday, even as another well-used drug lost some of its luster.
In a large clinical study, tocilizumab, an immune modulator long used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed it can save lives if given to critically ill COVID-19 patients within the first two days of being admitted to an intensive care unit.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, showed just over 27% of ICU patients treated with tocilizumab died within a month, compared with 37% of those just as seriously ill but did not receive the drug.
Tocilizumab, a so-called monoclonal antibody, has been used during the outbreak because of its effect on tamping down immune overreactions, which have been common with COVID-19. Smaller studies, including one published at the same time by the same journal have shown mixed results, with some finding the drug did not reduce deaths.
Dr. David Leaf, the senior author on the new paper, said that's why it's so important during the pandemic to have large, randomized trials comparing a drug option against a placebo, especially among the sickest patients.
Most randomized studies conducted so far in COVID-19 haven't been large enough or included enough very ill patients to know whether a drug can improve survival, he said.
"They're just not anywhere close to being adequately powered to assess mortality," he said.
Leaf, a kidney specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, collaborated with researchers at 67 other hospitals across the U.S. to conduct their new study, tracking 4,000 critically ill patients early in the pandemic. The group has already published several studies, including one showing heart attacks are very common among critically ill COVID-19 patients and tend to lead to poor outcomes, even in those who receive CPR. Future research will look at other treatments for very ill patients, he said.
Leaf said his study reinforces the idea that different drugs should be used at different times during COVID-19 treatment. Tocilizumab appeared to be particularly helpful for patients admitted to an ICU within three days of developing symptoms, he said.
"If you wait too long, you're waiting for irreversible organ injury to have occurred," he said, and the drug may no longer be effective.
About 20% of the ICU patients examined had symptoms for just a few days before landing in intensive care, he said. For that subset of patients, unlike any other, tocilizumab appears to offer a substantial survival benefit.
Many patients with serious COVID-19 cases, like President Donald Trump, receive steroids to tamp down an immune overreaction. Leaf compared steroids to a sledgehammer, acting on the entire immune system, while tocilizumab is a scalpel, targeting a particular immune molecule called IL-6.
Tocilizumab is usually given to COVID-19 patients just once, through an intravenous injection. A second dose can be given if needed several days later.
In an unrelated result, the World Health Organization found four other drug regimens given to hospitalized COVID-19 patients did not reduce deaths, hospital stays, or the likelihood of requiring ventilation.
That study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed and is at an earlier stage than would usually be made public, found the drugs remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon appeared to provide no benefit for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Trump received remdesivir, along with steroids and an experimental monoclonal antibody, when he was treated for COVID-19.
Most mainstream doctors long ago moved away from using hydroxychloroquine in their COVID-19 patients, and the WHO discontinued testing hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir back in July because the treatment did not prevent deaths.
Dr. Rajesh Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said he thinks it's too soon to give up on remdesivir, which has been shown in other studies to reduce hospital stays. "We will continue to use remdesivir in our patients hospitalized with COVID-19," he said.
Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.


usatoday--2020-10-20--California ballot drop box set ablaze in possible arson, damaging up to 100 ballots

A ballot drop box in a majority-Latino town in California was set on fire Sunday night , which may have destroyed up to 100 ballots two weeks before the Nov. 3 election .
Los Angeles County officials are investigating the fire , which took place in Baldwin Park — a suburb nearly 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles with a nearly three-quarters Latino populationn .
“ The arson of an official ballot drop box by the Baldwin Park Library in the First District has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and call into question the security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis in a statement .
“ Tampering , or attempts to tamper , with our democracy will not be tolerated.
” The County Registar ’ s Office has asked both the FBI and the Attorney General to investigate the fire .
It remains unclear how many ballots were affected by the fire due to burns or water damage , but Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that there were around 100 in the box that were damaged .
A video shared by Baldwin Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the drop box was unsealed , with smoke coming out , firefighters removed dozens of ballots .
Per The Guardian , the fire department spent around two hours handling the incident .
The last pickup for that particular box , per a statement from the County Registar ’ s Office , was Saturday morning .
The agency did not immediately respond to USA TODAY 's request for comment .
The box has since been blocked off to prevent more people from submitting ballots .
The county also said it will increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @

California ballot drop box set ablaze in possible arson, damaging up to 100 ballots
A ballot drop box in a majority-Latino town in California was set on fire Sunday night, which may have destroyed up to 100 ballots two weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
Los Angeles County officials are investigating the fire, which took place in Baldwin Park — a suburb nearly 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles with a nearly three-quarters Latino populationn.
“The arson of an official ballot drop box by the Baldwin Park Library in the First District has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and call into question the security of our elections,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis in a statement.
“Tampering, or attempts to tamper, with our democracy will not be tolerated.”
The County Registar’s Office has asked both the FBI and the Attorney General to investigate the fire.
It remains unclear how many ballots were affected by the fire due to burns or water damage, but Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that there were around 100 in the box that were damaged.
A video shared by Baldwin Park resident George Silva shows firefighters sawing through. Once the drop box was unsealed, with smoke coming out, firefighters removed dozens of ballots.
Posted by George Silva on Sunday, October 18, 2020
Per The Guardian, the fire department spent around two hours handling the incident.
The last pickup for that particular box, per a statement from the County Registar’s Office, was Saturday morning. The agency did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
The box has since been blocked off to prevent more people from submitting ballots. The county also said it will increase pickups at all other drop boxes.
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.


usatoday--2020-10-20--Missed Prime Day? Best Buy is having a huge 3-day sale on a ton of Amazon devices

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
If you missed the opportunity to shop all the best Prime Day deals last week , you 're in luck : Best Buy is giving shoppers another chance to save !
The store is offering huge discounts on Amazon 's best-selling devices and Alexa-enabled products with a limited-time sale that will run over the next three days .
Looking for hard-to-find essentials and deals ?
Sign up for our Resources by Reviewed newsletter and get recommendations right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 22 , Best Buy customers can shop the tech retailer 's Amazon 60-hour sales event to nab Echo speakers , Fire TVs , Ring video doorbells and so much more at prices far lower than you 'll find on Amazon 's actual site right now—in fact , many of these product tags match their Prime Day discounts !
You wo n't have to worry about getting them cheaper later , either , since Best Buy 's `` Black Friday guarantee '' ensures that the store will refund you the difference for any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that drops to a lower price ahead of Black Friday ( November 27 ) .
Just note that your order must be placed while signed into your My Best Buy account ( it 's free to sign up here ) and that it 's only eligible for items with the “ Black Friday price guaranteed ” label on the product page .
These reimbursements will be issued by Monday , December 14 .
Meanwhile , the return period for purchases has also been extended through Saturday , January 16 .
Ahead , find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buy 's Amazon sales event .
• Get the Amazon Echo Dot ( 3rd Gen ) Smart Speaker with Alexa for $ 18.99 ( Save $ 21 , $ 29.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Echo Auto Smart Speaker with Alexa for $ 19.99 ( Save $ 30 , $ 49.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Echo Flex Smart Speaker with Alexa for $ 9.99 ( Save $ 15 , $ 24.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Echo Show 5-inch Smart Display with Alexa for $ 44.99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Echo Studio Smart Speaker with Alexa for $ 149.99 ( Save $ 50 , $ 199.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition 32GB 10th Generation 8-inch Tablet for $ 79.99 ( Save $ 60 , $ 139.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Fire TV Recast 500 Gigabyte OTA DVR for $ 129.99 ( Save $ 100 , $ 229.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Amazon Fire TV Recast 1 Terabyte OTA DVR for $ 179.99 ( Save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) • Get the Ring Video Doorbell 3 for $ 139.99 ( Save $ 60 , $ 199.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus for $ 159.99 ( Save $ 70 , $ 229.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Hisense 43-inch Class H55 Series LED Full HD Smart Android TV for $ 209.99 ( Save $ 60 , $ 209.99 at Amazon ) • Get the Hisense 70-inch Class H65 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Android TV for $ 499.99 ( Save $ 150 ) • Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4K UHD Smart webOS TV for $ 379.99 ( Save $ 20 ) • Get the Samsung 43-inch Class 7 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV for $ 279.99 ( Save $ 20 ) • Get the Samsung 75-inch Class 6 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV for $ 799.99 ( Save $ 50 ) The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change over time .

Missed Prime Day? Best Buy is having a huge 3-day sale on a ton of Amazon devices
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
If you missed the opportunity to shop all the best Prime Day deals last week, you're in luck: Best Buy is giving shoppers another chance to save! The store is offering huge discounts on Amazon's best-selling devices and Alexa-enabled products with a limited-time sale that will run over the next three days.
Looking for hard-to-find essentials and deals? Sign up for our Resources by Reviewed newsletter and get recommendations right to your inbox.
Through Thursday, October 22, Best Buy customers can shop the tech retailer's Amazon 60-hour sales event to nab Echo speakers, Fire TVs, Ring video doorbells and so much more at prices far lower than you'll find on Amazon's actual site right now—in fact, many of these product tags match their Prime Day discounts!
You won't have to worry about getting them cheaper later, either, since Best Buy's "Black Friday guarantee" ensures that the store will refund you the difference for any product purchased by Wednesday, October 28 that drops to a lower price ahead of Black Friday (November 27). Just note that your order must be placed while signed into your My Best Buy account (it's free to sign up here) and that it's only eligible for items with the “Black Friday price guaranteed” label on the product page. These reimbursements will be issued by Monday, December 14. Meanwhile, the return period for purchases has also been extended through Saturday, January 16.
Ahead, find the top deals to shop from Best Buy's Amazon sales event.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-10-21--Televangelist Pat Robertson predicts Trump win, then chaos, then the end of the world

Televangelist Pat Robertson on Tuesday said God told him who will prevail in the Nov. 3 presidential election : President Donald Trump .
“ First of all , I want to say without question , Trump is going to win the election , ’ ’ Robertson told viewers during a segment on “ The 700 Club.
’ ’ The 90-year-old founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network , who has been a supporter and defender of the president , also made dire predictions about the end of the world .
“ What I think very frankly is the only thing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is some kind of asteroid strike on the globe , ’ ’ he said .
“ It ’ s sudden destruction .
It ’ s not going to be some nuclear war .
We ’ re not going to be allowed to blow this earth up.
’ ' Robertson has made such prophesies before and was wrong .
In 1976 , he predicted the world would end in 1982 .
And in his 1990 book , `` The New Millennium , '' he said the world would be destroyed on April 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why on Tuesday , after describing the destruction the asteroid will cause , Robertson said , “ then , maybe the end.
’ ’ Robertson said more than five years will pass between the end of the election and the asteroid ’ s arrival .
He predicted horrible civil disobedience will commence after the election , there will be at least two attempts on Trump ’ s life and a war against Israel will end only when God intervenes .
“ God is going to bring a period of great peace , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the asteroid hits .
At the end of the segment , Robertson said , “ I think it ’ s time to pray.
’ ’ More : The power of prayer to deal with coronavirus anxiety

Televangelist Pat Robertson predicts Trump win, then chaos, then the end of the world
Show Caption Hide Caption Pat Robertson says Trump risks 'losing the mandate of heaven' on Syria Pat Robertson says President Trump risks "losing the mandate of heaven." An earlier version of this video misstated where Robertson made the comments. USA TODAY
Televangelist Pat Robertson on Tuesday said God told him who will prevail in the Nov. 3 presidential election: President Donald Trump.
“First of all, I want to say without question, Trump is going to win the election,’’ Robertson told viewers during a segment on “The 700 Club.’’
The 90-year-old founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, who has been a supporter and defender of the president, also made dire predictions about the end of the world.
“What I think very frankly is the only thing that will fulfill the word of Jesus … is some kind of asteroid strike on the globe,’’ he said. “It’s sudden destruction. It’s not going to be some nuclear war. We’re not going to be allowed to blow this earth up.’'
More: A dozen ways life on Earth could end
More: 1,000-mph winds, shock waves deadliest effects of asteroid strike
Robertson has made such prophesies before and was wrong. In 1976, he predicted the world would end in 1982. And in his 1990 book, "The New Millennium," he said the world would be destroyed on April 29, 2007.
So maybe that’s why on Tuesday, after describing the destruction the asteroid will cause, Robertson said, “then, maybe the end.’’
Robertson said more than five years will pass between the end of the election and the asteroid’s arrival. He predicted horrible civil disobedience will commence after the election, there will be at least two attempts on Trump’s life and a war against Israel will end only when God intervenes.
“God is going to bring a period of great peace,’’ Robertson said.
That is, until the asteroid hits.
At the end of the segment, Robertson said, “I think it’s time to pray.’’
More: The power of prayer to deal with coronavirus anxiety


usatoday--2020-10-20--Coronavirus updates: Nearly 300K more deaths than usual; Trump, Fauci and 'The Godfather;' Disneylan

The top U.S. infectious disease expert is shrugging off sharp criticism from President Donald Trump while the U.S. is keeping its borders with Canada and Mexico closed for another month in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , tapped `` The Godfather '' in describing his relationship with Trump .
`` It ’ s like in 'The Godfather ' – nothing personal , strictly business as far as I ’ m concerned , '' Fauci told Southern California AM radio station KNX1070 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my job and take care of the people of this country . ''
Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said restrictions on non-essential travel will be extended through Nov. 21 .
The announcement comes days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it would keep its borders closed until the U.S. gains control of the coronavirus .
• Fargo became the first city in North Dakota to issue a face mask mandate on Monday amid the state 's rising coronavirus caseload .
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask on trains , planes , buses and other transportation .
• As states finalize their distribution plans for a COVID-19 vaccine , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said the state will independently review any FDA-approved vaccines before passing one out .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 8.2 million cases and 220,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The global totals : More than 40.5 million cases and 1.1 million deaths .
📚Read this : The latest in USA TODAY 's Deadly Discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the highest death rates from COVID-19 .
Seven have populations where people of color make up the majority .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak in your state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
First lady Melania Trump canceled her first campaign rally in months on Tuesday , citing a `` lingering cough '' from her COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month .
`` Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lingering cough , and out of an abundance of caution , she will not be traveling today , '' her chief of staff and spokeswoman , Stephanie Grisham , said in a statement to USA TODAY .
Trump , 50 , had been scheduled to accompany President Donald Trump to a campaign rally in Erie , Ohio , on Tuesday evening .
It would have been her first campaign rally appearance in more than a year and her first public sighting since she and the president tested positive on Oct. 2 for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't reopen anytime soon under new California theme park guidelines California state health officials issued theme park rules Tuesday that make it clear Disneyland , Universal Studios Hollywood and other top attractions wo n't be reopening anytime soon .
The guidelines require that large theme parks ca n't open until the county in which they are situated reaches the highest of four tiers when it comes to COVID-19 spread .
But Disneyland and Knott 's Berry Farm are both situated in Orange County , south of Los Angeles , which is currently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Universal Studios Hollywood is in Los Angeles County , which is in the lowest category `` widespread . ''
Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services , said on a conference call that the new guidelines are realistic , noting that San Francisco County had achieved the highest level .
That level requires there be less than one case a day per 100,000 residents and a testing positivity rate of less than 2 % .
When large theme parks are allowed to reopen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity .
Undergraduate students at the University of Michigan will have to stay largely in their dorms or apartments for two weeks , under a new order from Washtenaw County aimed at curbing a sharp uptick in cases at the school , which brought students back on campus for a hybrid semester .
According to the order , undergraduate students must remain in their residence , unless attending class , accessing dining services , or carrying out approved work that can not be done remotely .
Students who wish to return to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have completed the university ’ s procedures for leaving campus safely .
“ The situation locally has become critical , and this order is necessary to reverse the current increase in cases , ” said Jimena Loveluck , health officer for Washtenaw County , which includes Ann Arbor and the university .
The number of cases reported last week at the University of Michigan , per its dashboard , was 301 , up from 279 the previous week .
In response to the order , the university said it is shifting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a COVID-19 vaccine ?
Efficacy , low adverse effects and politics , survey says A recent survey found Americans ’ willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine may be determined by its medical effectiveness as well as politics .
According to the survey of nearly 2,000 adults , published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open awaiting peer review , people were most swayed by vaccine efficacy , adverse effects and duration of protection .
Researchers at Cornell University found Americans were about 16 % more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Americans were about 7 % more likely to get the vaccine if incidence of major adverse effects was 1 in 1 million as opposed to 1 in 10,000 .
According to the survey , Americans would be more willing to get the vaccine if endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization than if it was endorsed by any of the candidates running for president .
The probability of choosing a vaccine was lowest when it was recommended by President Donald Trump , but people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get a vaccine when it was endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden .
The list of drugs shown as effective for treating COVID-19 got longer Tuesday .
In a large clinical study , tocilizumab , an immune modulator long used to treat rheumatoid arthritis , showed it can save lives if given to critically ill COVID-19 patients within the first two days of being admitted to an intensive care unit .
The study , published in JAMA Internal Medicine , showed just over 27 % of ICU patients treated with tocilizumab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 37 % of those just as seriously ill who did not receive the drug .
Tocilizumab , a so-called monoclonal antibody , has been used during the outbreak because of its effect on tamping down immune over-reactions , which have been common with COVID-19 .
However , smaller studies , including one published at the same time by the same journal have shown mixed results , with some finding the drug did not reduce deaths .
The Mountain West Conference has called off the college football game Saturday between Colorado State and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico , marking the 30th Football Bowl Subdivision game either canceled or postponed since the season began .
`` Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in Bernalillo County and in accordance with state guidelines , the University of New Mexico is unable to participate in the scheduled football game on Saturday , Oct. 24 , at Colorado State University , '' read a release from the Mountain West .
`` Therefore , the Mountain West is canceling the game and declaring it a no contest .
There is no plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West schedule begins Saturday , the first of eight consecutive weeks for an eight-game schedule .
That leaves no room for makeups .
Pandemic has caused 285,000 more deaths than expected in a typical year The coronavirus pandemic has left about 285,000 more people dead in the U.S. than would be expected in a typical year , two-thirds of them from COVID-19 itself and the rest from other causes , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday , according to the Washington Post .
`` The CDC said the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disproportionate toll on Latinos and Blacks , as previous analyses have noted .
But the CDC also found , surprisingly , that it has struck 25- to 44-year-olds very hard : Their “ excess death ” rate is up 26.5 percent over previous years , the largest change for any age group , '' the Post said .
According to the Post , `` it is not clear whether that spike is caused by the well-recognized shift in covid-19 deaths toward younger people between May and August , or deaths from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate to vote on PPP reauthorization Tuesday as Pelosi backs away from stimulus deadline The Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seemed to back away from a Tuesday deadline to reach a deal on a COVID-19 stimulus plan before the election .
The bill reauthorizes another round of the small business loans but is likely to be blocked by Democrats , who have opposed standalone relief bills .
Pelosi said in an interview with Bloomberg her Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a deal but in fact `` the day where we would have our terms on the table , to be able to go to the next step . ''
Asked how a bill could come together , Pelosi left open the possibility a bill might not be passed until after the election , saying `` we could still continue the negotiations .
It might not be finished by Election Day . ''
US overdose deaths appear to rise amid pandemic U.S. drug overdose deaths are on track to reach an all-time high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
Addiction experts blame the pandemic , which has left people stressed and isolated , disrupted treatment and recovery programs , and contributed to an increasingly dangerous illicit drug supply .
Before the coronavirus even arrived , the U.S. was in the midst of the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in its history , with a record 71,000 overdose deaths last year .
This year ’ s tally likely will surpass that , according to preliminary death data from nine states reviewed by The Associated Press and national data on emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers take months to tabulate , because tests and death investigations can take time even when medical examiners offices are not stretched thin by a pandemic .
COVID-19 patients die at 5 times the rate of patients with the flu , CDC study says Patients who have COVID-19 are at five times more risk for in-hospital death than patients with influenza , according to a study published Tuesday in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's Mortality and Morbidity report .
The report also found that COVID-19 patients were hospitalized three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted to the intensive care unit at double the rate .
The study looked at nearly 4,000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 from March to May and nearly 5,500 hospitalized patients with influenza from Oct. 2018 to Feb. 2020 from the Veterans Health Administration .
It contributes to mounting evidence that COVID-19 may be deadlier than the seasonal flu , despite comparisons made by the Trump Administration .
Sixteen states set records for new cases in the seven-day period ending Monday , another sign that infections across the nation are booming , a USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reveals .
And 42 states had more cases in the latest week than in the week before , while 34 states had a higher rate of people testing positive than the week before , an analysis of COVID Tracking Project data shows .
North Dakota is reporting cases on a per-capita basis at a rate about two-thirds higher than any state had during the spring or summer surges .
Health officials said the daily positivity rate is just under 20 % .
The World Health Organization has recommended the number be under 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More ominous news : New daily hospitalizations reached 37,744 , the most in a single day since Aug. 25. Who can persuade Americans to get a vaccine ?
CDC , yes ; Trump or Biden , no Americans would be more willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine if endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization than if it were endorsed by a presidential candidate , according to a survey published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open .
The probability of choosing a vaccine was lowest when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it wasn ’ t significantly higher when it was endorsed by former vice president Joe Biden .
Vaccine efficacy , side effects and duration of protection had the largest impact on people ’ s willingness to get a vaccine , according to the survey .
Americans were also less willing to get the vaccine if it was manufactured in China or the United Kingdom vs. in the United States .
And an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was associated with a lower probability of getting a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine went through the full FDA regulatory process .
Barista after profane tirade : ' I 'm Black in America ' ; so I have learned to cope A California Starbucks barista who was berated by a customer in a now-viral video says situations like this happen almost every day and she ’ s learned to cope with them .
Alex Beckom , 19 , shared the short clip taken by a bystander Sunday that shows Beckom serving the customer while calmly reminding the woman that she needs to wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discriminating against her because she is a supporter of President Donald Trump and using expletives to describe Black Lives Matter .
“ I ’ m Black in America so I ’ ve dealt with these kinds of situations before , ” Beckom told NBC San Diego .
“ So I ’ m able to stay calm and collected in these kinds of situations because I don ’ t want to risk my job.
” The customer , who is wearing a mask below her chin , claims in the video she is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask and yells profanities at Beckom .
San Diego County , where the incident took place , requires residents to wear face coverings in stores and restaurants except while seated and eating a meal .
Fauci references 'The Godfather ' as relationship with Trump fractures Nobody is offering a deal that ca n't be refused , but the relationship between President Trump and Fauci appears to be disintegrating fast as Election Day approaches .
Trump has repeatedly called for states to ease COVID-19 restrictions while Fauci has counseled caution .
Trump , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blasted Fauci as a `` disaster '' who along with other public health `` idiots ... have gotten it wrong , '' NBC News reported , citing a recording of the call .
Fauci shook off the president 's rant , referencing `` The Godfather '' and saying his relationship with Trump is `` just business . ''
“ I would prefer not to comment on that and just get on with what we are really trying to do , '' Fauci said .
`` And what we are trying to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety of the American people predominantly , and ultimately , of the world . ''
States ready , sort of , for crush of demand when vaccine is ready State public health departments say they ’ re ready to leap into action as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is approved but caution that it remains unclear how fast it can be widely distributed .
The earliest date a vaccine is expected to arrive is now around Thanksgiving so that gives states a little breathing room .
A month ago Nov. 1 had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shah , director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention , says it 's like planning an outdoor picnic for 1.3 million of his closest friends ( the population of Maine ) without knowing how much food he has , who 's coming , how he 's going to invite them and what they can and ca n't eat .
In Mississippi , state health officials have been working hard to get ready , said Dr. Thomas Dobbs , the state health officer .
`` This is going to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • 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 .
• 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

John Bacon, Jessica Flores and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Coronavirus updates: Nearly 300K more deaths than usual; Trump, Fauci and 'The Godfather;' Disneyland won't reopen soon
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 symptoms versus flu symptoms We answer the often searched question: "What are the symptoms of coronavirus versus the flu?" USA TODAY
The top U.S. infectious disease expert is shrugging off sharp criticism from President Donald Trump while the U.S. is keeping its borders with Canada and Mexico closed for another month in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, tapped "The Godfather" in describing his relationship with Trump.
"It’s like in 'The Godfather' – nothing personal, strictly business as far as I’m concerned," Fauci told Southern California AM radio station KNX1070. "I just want to do my job and take care of the people of this country."
Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said restrictions on non-essential travel will be extended through Nov. 21. The announcement comes days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it would keep its borders closed until the U.S. gains control of the coronavirus.
Some significant developments:
Fargo became the first city in North Dakota to issue a face mask mandate on Monday amid the state's rising coronavirus caseload.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a "strong recommendation" for people to wear a mask on trains, planes, buses and other transportation.
As states finalize their distribution plans for a COVID-19 vaccine, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state will independently review any FDA-approved vaccines before passing one out.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 8.2 million cases and 220,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 40.5 million cases and 1.1 million deaths.
📚Read this: The latest in USA TODAY's Deadly Discrimination series looks at the 10 U.S. counties with the highest death rates from COVID-19. Seven have populations where people of color make up the majority.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
First lady Melania Trump canceled her first campaign rally in months on Tuesday, citing a "lingering cough" from her COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month.
"Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from COVID-19, but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be traveling today," her chief of staff and spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Trump, 50, had been scheduled to accompany President Donald Trump to a campaign rally in Erie, Ohio, on Tuesday evening. It would have been her first campaign rally appearance in more than a year and her first public sighting since she and the president tested positive on Oct. 2 for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
— Maria Puente
California state health officials issued theme park rules Tuesday that make it clear Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other top attractions won't be reopening anytime soon.
The guidelines require that large theme parks can't open until the county in which they are situated reaches the highest of four tiers when it comes to COVID-19 spread.
But Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are both situated in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, which is currently in the third category, labeled "substantial." Universal Studios Hollywood is in Los Angeles County, which is in the lowest category "widespread."
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said on a conference call that the new guidelines are realistic, noting that San Francisco County had achieved the highest level. That level requires there be less than one case a day per 100,000 residents and a testing positivity rate of less than 2%.
When large theme parks are allowed to reopen, they will be limited to 25% capacity.
— Jayme Deerwester and Chris Woodyard
Undergraduate students at the University of Michigan will have to stay largely in their dorms or apartments for two weeks, under a new order from Washtenaw County aimed at curbing a sharp uptick in cases at the school, which brought students back on campus for a hybrid semester.
According to the order, undergraduate students must remain in their residence, unless attending class, accessing dining services, or carrying out approved work that cannot be done remotely. Students who wish to return to a primary residence may do so only if they have completed the university’s procedures for leaving campus safely.
“The situation locally has become critical, and this order is necessary to reverse the current increase in cases,” said Jimena Loveluck, health officer for Washtenaw County, which includes Ann Arbor and the university.
The number of cases reported last week at the University of Michigan, per its dashboard, was 301, up from 279 the previous week. In response to the order, the university said it is shifting more classes online.
– David Jesse and Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press
A recent survey found Americans’ willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine may be determined by its medical effectiveness as well as politics.
According to the survey of nearly 2,000 adults, published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open awaiting peer review, people were most swayed by vaccine efficacy, adverse effects and duration of protection.
Researchers at Cornell University found Americans were about 16% more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if it was 90% effective instead of 50%. Americans were about 7% more likely to get the vaccine if incidence of major adverse effects was 1 in 1 million as opposed to 1 in 10,000.
However, there’s also a political component.
According to the survey, Americans would be more willing to get the vaccine if endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization than if it was endorsed by any of the candidates running for president.
The probability of choosing a vaccine was lowest when it was recommended by President Donald Trump, but people were only about 2% more likely to get a vaccine when it was endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
The list of drugs shown as effective for treating COVID-19 got longer Tuesday.
In a large clinical study, tocilizumab, an immune modulator long used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed it can save lives if given to critically ill COVID-19 patients within the first two days of being admitted to an intensive care unit.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, showed just over 27% of ICU patients treated with tocilizumab died within a month, compared with 37% of those just as seriously ill who did not receive the drug.
Tocilizumab, a so-called monoclonal antibody, has been used during the outbreak because of its effect on tamping down immune over-reactions, which have been common with COVID-19.
However, smaller studies, including one published at the same time by the same journal have shown mixed results, with some finding the drug did not reduce deaths.
– Karen Weintraub
The Mountain West Conference has called off the college football game Saturday between Colorado State and New Mexico due to coronavirus concerns in New Mexico, marking the 30th Football Bowl Subdivision game either canceled or postponed since the season began.
"Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in Bernalillo County and in accordance with state guidelines, the University of New Mexico is unable to participate in the scheduled football game on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Colorado State University," read a release from the Mountain West.
"Therefore, the Mountain West is canceling the game and declaring it a no contest. There is no plan to reschedule the game."
The Mountain West schedule begins Saturday, the first of eight consecutive weeks for an eight-game schedule. That leaves no room for makeups.
— Fort Collins Coloradoan
The coronavirus pandemic has left about 285,000 more people dead in the U.S. than would be expected in a typical year, two-thirds of them from COVID-19 itself and the rest from other causes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday, according to the Washington Post.
"The CDC said the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has taken a disproportionate toll on Latinos and Blacks, as previous analyses have noted. But the CDC also found, surprisingly, that it has struck 25- to 44-year-olds very hard: Their “excess death” rate is up 26.5 percent over previous years, the largest change for any age group," the Post said.
According to the Post, "it is not clear whether that spike is caused by the well-recognized shift in covid-19 deaths toward younger people between May and August, or deaths from other causes, the CDC said."
The Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on the reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seemed to back away from a Tuesday deadline to reach a deal on a COVID-19 stimulus plan before the election.
The bill reauthorizes another round of the small business loans but is likely to be blocked by Democrats, who have opposed standalone relief bills.
Pelosi said in an interview with Bloomberg her Tuesday ultimatum was not actually a deadline to have a deal but in fact "the day where we would have our terms on the table, to be able to go to the next step."
Asked how a bill could come together, Pelosi left open the possibility a bill might not be passed until after the election, saying "we could still continue the negotiations. It might not be finished by Election Day."
– Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes
U.S. drug overdose deaths are on track to reach an all-time high, based on available information obtained by The Associated Press. Addiction experts blame the pandemic, which has left people stressed and isolated, disrupted treatment and recovery programs, and contributed to an increasingly dangerous illicit drug supply.
Before the coronavirus even arrived, the U.S. was in the midst of the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in its history, with a record 71,000 overdose deaths last year.
This year’s tally likely will surpass that, according to preliminary death data from nine states reviewed by The Associated Press and national data on emergency responses to reported drug overdoses.
National numbers take months to tabulate, because tests and death investigations can take time even when medical examiners offices are not stretched thin by a pandemic.
Patients who have COVID-19 are at five times more risk for in-hospital death than patients with influenza, according to a study published Tuesday in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mortality and Morbidity report.
The report also found that COVID-19 patients were hospitalized three times longer than influenza patients and were admitted to the intensive care unit at double the rate.
The study looked at nearly 4,000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 from March to May and nearly 5,500 hospitalized patients with influenza from Oct. 2018 to Feb. 2020 from the Veterans Health Administration.
It contributes to mounting evidence that COVID-19 may be deadlier than the seasonal flu, despite comparisons made by the Trump Administration.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Sixteen states set records for new cases in the seven-day period ending Monday, another sign that infections across the nation are booming, a USA TODAY analysis of data from Johns Hopkins reveals. And 42 states had more cases in the latest week than in the week before, while 34 states had a higher rate of people testing positive than the week before, an analysis of COVID Tracking Project data shows.
North Dakota is reporting cases on a per-capita basis at a rate about two-thirds higher than any state had during the spring or summer surges. Health officials said the daily positivity rate is just under 20%. The World Health Organization has recommended the number be under 5% before governments ease major restrictions.
More ominous news: New daily hospitalizations reached 37,744, the most in a single day since Aug. 25.
– Michael Stucka
Americans would be more willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine if endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization than if it were endorsed by a presidential candidate, according to a survey published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. The probability of choosing a vaccine was lowest when it was recommended by President Donald Trump, but it wasn’t significantly higher when it was endorsed by former vice president Joe Biden.
Vaccine efficacy, side effects and duration of protection had the largest impact on people’s willingness to get a vaccine, according to the survey. Americans were also less willing to get the vaccine if it was manufactured in China or the United Kingdom vs. in the United States. And an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was associated with a lower probability of getting a vaccine – people would be more willing if the vaccine went through the full FDA regulatory process.
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Woman refuses to wear mask, goes on profane tirade A Starbucks barista kept her cool as a woman used expletives to describe Black Lives Matter. USA TODAY, Storyful
A California Starbucks barista who was berated by a customer in a now-viral video says situations like this happen almost every day and she’s learned to cope with them. Alex Beckom, 19, shared the short clip taken by a bystander Sunday that shows Beckom serving the customer while calmly reminding the woman that she needs to wear a mask. The unidentified customer accuses Beckom of discriminating against her because she is a supporter of President Donald Trump and using expletives to describe Black Lives Matter.
“I’m Black in America so I’ve dealt with these kinds of situations before,” Beckom told NBC San Diego. “So I’m able to stay calm and collected in these kinds of situations because I don’t want to risk my job.”
The customer, who is wearing a mask below her chin, claims in the video she is not required by law to wear a face mask and yells profanities at Beckom. San Diego County, where the incident took place, requires residents to wear face coverings in stores and restaurants except while seated and eating a meal.
– N'dea Yancey-Bragg
Nobody is offering a deal that can't be refused, but the relationship between President Trump and Fauci appears to be disintegrating fast as Election Day approaches. Trump has repeatedly called for states to ease COVID-19 restrictions while Fauci has counseled caution. Trump, in a phone call to campaign staffers, blasted Fauci as a "disaster" who along with other public health "idiots ... have gotten it wrong," NBC News reported, citing a recording of the call. Fauci shook off the president's rant, referencing "The Godfather" and saying his relationship with Trump is "just business."
“I would prefer not to comment on that and just get on with what we are really trying to do," Fauci said. "And what we are trying to do is to protect the health and welfare and safety of the American people predominantly, and ultimately, of the world."
State public health departments say they’re ready to leap into action as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is approved but caution that it remains unclear how fast it can be widely distributed. The earliest date a vaccine is expected to arrive is now around Thanksgiving so that gives states a little breathing room. A month ago Nov. 1 had been a primary target date.
Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says it's like planning an outdoor picnic for 1.3 million of his closest friends (the population of Maine) without knowing how much food he has, who's coming, how he's going to invite them and what they can and can't eat. In Mississippi, state health officials have been working hard to get ready, said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer.
"This is going to be a Herculean effort," he said.
– Elizabeth Weise
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