usatoday--2020-12-15--Biden says Fauci urged him to get COVID-19 vaccine, as White House mulls who should get it and when

President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday that Dr. Anthony Fauci , his chief medical adviser , urged him to be vaccinated against COVID-19 “ sooner than later.
” But Biden told reporters as he traveled to Georgia to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates that he would do it “ by the numbers ” and he would get it done “ publicly.
” The same conversations are ongoing in the White House , with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany saying Tuesday that a number of senior Trump administration officials also will take the coronavirus vaccine publicly to `` instill public confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whether President Donald Trump will take it .
Vaccinations are going first to health care professionals .
The next priority is for residents of long-term care facilities to receive vaccinations because the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are most at risk .
Biden , who turned 78 on Nov. 20 , is in a higher risk category .
But he has also been sympathetic to avoiding the appearance that he is receiving preferential treatment .
“ Dr .
Fauci recommends I get the vaccine sooner than later , '' Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure I did it by the numbers when I do it , When I do it you 'll have notice and we 'll do it publicly.
” Fauci , the head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” that it ’ s important to vaccinate Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for “ security reasons.
” It is important for Biden to be “ fully protected as he enters the presidency in January , ” Fauci said .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci also recommended that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence be vaccinated soon .
“ You still want to protect people who are very important to our country right now , ” he said .
Biden is also eager to reinforce the safety of receiving the vaccine , despite the swiftness of its development .
The Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine from Pfizer , which began administering it Monday , and is expected to approve another vaccine from Moderna this week .
McEnany said several senior administration and national security officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them publicly .
She did not say which officials but said the names of those receiving the vaccine would be disclosed in coming days .
`` They ’ ll be taking it publicly to instill confidence , '' McEnany said .
Former Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine to prove the treatment is safe and effective .
They may even film themselves getting injected .
Pressed on whether Trump would take the vaccine , McEnany said he would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's best . ''
Asked about the importance of Trump sending a message about the safety of the vaccine by taking it publicly , McEnany said the president , who recovered from the coronavirus in October , also wants to send a message that `` front line workers '' and vulnerable populations will receive the vaccine first .
The virus has killed more than 300,000 Americans and infected more than 16 million , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Robert Redfield , the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 3,000 deaths daily for the next 60 to 90 days as people remain indoors for cold weather .

Biden says Fauci urged him to get COVID-19 vaccine, as White House mulls who should get it and when
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden unveils first 100 day plan to fight COVID President-elect Joe Biden unveiled his plan to fight COVID during his first 100 days in office. He called on all Americans to wear masks for 100 days, vowed to provide vaccine shots to 100 million people and pledged to to reopen most schools. (Dec. 8) AP
President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday that Dr. Anthony Fauci, his chief medical adviser, urged him to be vaccinated against COVID-19 “sooner than later.”
But Biden told reporters as he traveled to Georgia to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates that he would do it “by the numbers” and he would get it done “publicly.”
The same conversations are ongoing in the White House, with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany saying Tuesday that a number of senior Trump administration officials also will take the coronavirus vaccine publicly to "instill public confidence." She declined to say when or whether President Donald Trump will take it.
Vaccinations are going first to health care professionals. The next priority is for residents of long-term care facilities to receive vaccinations because the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are most at risk.
Biden, who turned 78 on Nov. 20, is in a higher risk category. But he has also been sympathetic to avoiding the appearance that he is receiving preferential treatment.
“Dr. Fauci recommends I get the vaccine sooner than later," Biden told reporters. "I wanted to make sure I did it by the numbers when I do it, When I do it you'll have notice and we'll do it publicly.”
Fauci, the head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that it’s important to vaccinate Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for “security reasons.”
It is important for Biden to be “fully protected as he enters the presidency in January,” Fauci said. “So that would be my strong recommendation.”
Fauci also recommended that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence be vaccinated soon.
“You still want to protect people who are very important to our country right now,” he said.
Biden is also eager to reinforce the safety of receiving the vaccine, despite the swiftness of its development. The Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine from Pfizer, which began administering it Monday, and is expected to approve another vaccine from Moderna this week.
McEnany said several senior administration and national security officials would take the vaccine, some of them publicly. She did not say which officials but said the names of those receiving the vaccine would be disclosed in coming days.
"They’ll be taking it publicly to instill confidence," McEnany said.
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine to prove the treatment is safe and effective. They may even film themselves getting injected.
Pressed on whether Trump would take the vaccine, McEnany said he would "as soon as his medical team determines it's best."
Asked about the importance of Trump sending a message about the safety of the vaccine by taking it publicly, McEnany said the president, who recovered from the coronavirus in October, also wants to send a message that "front line workers" and vulnerable populations will receive the vaccine first.
The virus has killed more than 300,000 Americans and infected more than 16 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that the country could see more than 3,000 deaths daily for the next 60 to 90 days as people remain indoors for cold weather.


usatoday--2020-12-15--Attorney General William Barr resigns after clashes with Trump, still defends president

Attorney General William Barr , who served as President Donald Trump 's most effective shield and advocate for broad presidential authority , will resign next week as the administration draws to a disputed close .
Trump announced the news of Barr 's departure Monday evening on Twitter .
Trump lauded Barr as `` a man of unbelievable credibility and courage '' months ago but turned on him after the attorney general declared there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the presidential election and resisted Trump 's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and other former Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surveillance of the 2016 presidential race .
Over the weekend , Trump rebuked Barr for not revealing a recently disclosed inquiry into Hunter Biden 's taxes during the presidential campaign when Trump sought to tie Joe Biden to his son 's financial dealings .
Monday , there were no ugly words from Trump who said the decision on Barr 's departure came after a `` pleasant meeting '' at the White House .
In his resignation letter , Barr thanked Trump and offered a forceful defense of his boss .
Barr praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of relentless , implacable resistance '' and singled out the Russia investigation as a partisan attack on his presidency .
`` The nadir of this campaign was the effort to cripple , if not oust , your administration with frenzied and baseless accusations of collusions with Russia , '' Barr wrote .
`` Few could have weathered these attacks , much less forge ahead with a positive program for the country .
You built the strongest and most resilient economy in American history – one that has brought unprecedented progress to those previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave Dec. 23 .
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will be acting attorney general , Trump said .
Trump tweeted the announcement minutes after California announced it awarded its electoral votes to Biden , giving him a majority in the Electoral College that made him president-elect .
Trump and Barr met at the White House on Monday where they reached `` an amicable understanding '' of how things should proceed , a senior administration official said .
Barr `` was not asked to resign , '' the official said .
Senate Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal defender of Barr and Trump , said he was “ surprised ” at the timing of the attorney general ’ s departure .
“ I thought he did a credibly good job trying to repair damage to the Department of Justice , trying to be fair , faithful to the law , ” Graham said .
“ Think he ’ s got a lot to be proud of.
” Despite Trump ’ s expressions of displeasure , Graham said , Barr “ fought for the president where he could , as every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also didn ’ t cross the lines that he shouldn ’ t have crossed . ''
Before Rosen 's appointment at Justice , he had no experience as a federal prosecutor .
The president raised the prospect of Barr 's departure openly after the attorney general broke with Trump in saying there was no widespread fraud in the election .
“ To date , we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election , ” Barr told The Associated Press on Dec. 1 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has yet to concede .
The comments quickly prompted pushback from Trump 's attorneys , Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis , who said Barr 's `` opinion '' was not based on `` knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud . ''
Although Trump and his allies have publicly made sweeping claims of widespread fraud , the campaign did not make such unfounded allegations in courtrooms as it sought to challenge election results .
Barr had few rivals in the president 's inner circle where he repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political allies while drawing criticism from Democrats and scores of Justice Department alums who cast the attorney general as the president 's personal lawyer .
Barr intervened this year in criminal cases involving two former Trump aides – political adviser Roger Stone and national security adviser Michael Flynn – prompting his own prosecutors to withdraw from the cases in protest .
Barr recommended a lighter punishment for Stone whose sentence was commuted by Trump .
The president pardoned Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn in boldest step to undermine Mueller probe Whatever goodwill Barr 's efforts earned , it was clearly not enough , as Trump dumped his second attorney general like so many other former close aides .
Barr began his second stint as the nation 's chief law enforcement officer , having served in President George H.W .
Bush 's administration , on Valentines Day 2019 after the equally tumultuous term of Jeff Sessions .
Sessions , a former Alabama lawmaker , was the first senator to endorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he permanently fell from favor after he recused himself from the Russia investigation , which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller .
The nomination of Barr , whose ties to Justice predate Trump 's political fortunes , buoyed a Justice Department under constant siege by the president who had fired FBI Director James Comey and lashed out almost daily at Sessions .
Weeks into his tenure , Barr startled some lawmakers when he suggested federal investigators had spied on Trump 's 2016 campaign , and he announced the appointment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to review the origins of the Russia investigation .
The results of that inquiry , long anticipated by Trump , have been delayed in part by issues related to the coronavirus pandemic .
Barr 's handling of the Russia investigation – effectively clearing the president of wrongdoing despite damning findings that Trump repeatedly sought to thwart the inquiry – raised questions about the independence of the Justice Department .
Rep. Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , chairman of the House Judiciary Committee , castigated Barr for his handling of the Mueller report and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 37 days , President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office .
Whomever Joe Biden chooses as the new Attorney General will have a tremendous amount of work to do to repair the integrity of the Department of Justice , '' Nadler said in a statement .
Since the Russia probe , Barr has offered vocal defenses of the president , even as Trump faced impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives .
The attorney general accused the president 's political enemies of `` harassment '' and `` sabotage '' and took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` law-and-order '' agenda during the 2020 campaign .
Barr backed Trump 's claims that mail-in balloting was vulnerable to massive fraud that threatened the integrity of the election , despite evidence that showed otherwise .
Last month , during a speech at a college , Barr defended his intervention in criminal cases , claiming his own federal prosecutors `` sometimes become headhunters '' when pursuing high-profile targets .
Breaks in the Trump-Barr relationship began to show this fall when the president ramped up the pressure on his attorney general , openly calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his office against Biden and others .
`` Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes , the greatest political crime in the history of our country , '' Trump told Fox Business News , accusing Biden and former President Barack Obama of election interference , `` then we 're going to get little satisfaction unless I win . ''
`` Lied to cover for Trump , '' Schiff tweeted , referring to Barr 's favorable spin on Trump 's role in the Russia investigation .
`` Launched political investigations .
Subverted justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , the work of restoring a credible and independent justice system must begin . ''

Kevin Johnson, Kristine Phillips and David Jackson, USA TODAY

Attorney General William Barr resigns after clashes with Trump, still defends president
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump tweets Attorney General William Barr's resignation President Trump announced the news of Barr's departure on Twitter, saying he will be stepping down before Christmas. USA TODAY
Attorney General William Barr, who served as President Donald Trump's most effective shield and advocate for broad presidential authority, will resign next week as the administration draws to a disputed close.
Trump announced the news of Barr's departure Monday evening on Twitter.
Trump lauded Barr as "a man of unbelievable credibility and courage" months ago but turned on him after the attorney general declared there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the presidential election and resisted Trump's public pressure to prosecute President-elect Joe Biden and other former Obama administration officials on unsubstantiated claims of corruption and the surveillance of the 2016 presidential race.
...Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all! pic.twitter.com/V5sqOJT9PM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020
Over the weekend, Trump rebuked Barr for not revealing a recently disclosed inquiry into Hunter Biden's taxes during the presidential campaign when Trump sought to tie Joe Biden to his son's financial dealings.
Monday, there were no ugly words from Trump who said the decision on Barr's departure came after a "pleasant meeting" at the White House.
In his resignation letter, Barr thanked Trump and offered a forceful defense of his boss.
Barr praised Trump's accomplishments "in the face of relentless, implacable resistance" and singled out the Russia investigation as a partisan attack on his presidency.
"The nadir of this campaign was the effort to cripple, if not oust, your administration with frenzied and baseless accusations of collusions with Russia," Barr wrote. "Few could have weathered these attacks, much less forge ahead with a positive program for the country. You built the strongest and most resilient economy in American history – one that has brought unprecedented progress to those previously left out."
Barr is set to leave Dec. 23. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will be acting attorney general, Trump said.
Trump tweeted the announcement minutes after California announced it awarded its electoral votes to Biden, giving him a majority in the Electoral College that made him president-elect.
Trump and Barr met at the White House on Monday where they reached "an amicable understanding" of how things should proceed, a senior administration official said. Barr "was not asked to resign," the official said.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a vocal defender of Barr and Trump, said he was “surprised” at the timing of the attorney general’s departure.
“I thought he did a credibly good job trying to repair damage to the Department of Justice, trying to be fair, faithful to the law,” Graham said. “Think he’s got a lot to be proud of.”
Despite Trump’s expressions of displeasure, Graham said, Barr “fought for the president where he could, as every attorney general should. ... But he also didn’t cross the lines that he shouldn’t have crossed."
Graham expressed confidence in Barr's successor.
"Rosen's a good guy," Graham said.
Before Rosen's appointment at Justice, he had no experience as a federal prosecutor.
The president raised the prospect of Barr's departure openly after the attorney general broke with Trump in saying there was no widespread fraud in the election.
“To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” Barr told The Associated Press on Dec. 1 as Trump pursued legal challenges to an election he has yet to concede.
The comments quickly prompted pushback from Trump's attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, who said Barr's "opinion" was not based on "knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud."
Although Trump and his allies have publicly made sweeping claims of widespread fraud, the campaign did not make such unfounded allegations in courtrooms as it sought to challenge election results.
Barr had few rivals in the president's inner circle where he repeatedly rose to defend the president and his political allies while drawing criticism from Democrats and scores of Justice Department alums who cast the attorney general as the president's personal lawyer.
Barr intervened this year in criminal cases involving two former Trump aides – political adviser Roger Stone and national security adviser Michael Flynn – prompting his own prosecutors to withdraw from the cases in protest. Barr recommended a lighter punishment for Stone whose sentence was commuted by Trump. The president pardoned Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian ambassador.
'Angst, anger and disappointment': Roger Stone intervention stokes uncertainty across federal justice system
More: DOJ drops case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn in boldest step to undermine Mueller probe
Whatever goodwill Barr's efforts earned, it was clearly not enough, as Trump dumped his second attorney general like so many other former close aides.
Barr began his second stint as the nation's chief law enforcement officer, having served in President George H.W. Bush's administration, on Valentines Day 2019 after the equally tumultuous term of Jeff Sessions. Sessions, a former Alabama lawmaker, was the first senator to endorse Trump in the 2016 campaign, but he permanently fell from favor after he recused himself from the Russia investigation, which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.
The nomination of Barr, whose ties to Justice predate Trump's political fortunes, buoyed a Justice Department under constant siege by the president who had fired FBI Director James Comey and lashed out almost daily at Sessions.
Weeks into his tenure, Barr startled some lawmakers when he suggested federal investigators had spied on Trump's 2016 campaign, and he announced the appointment of a Connecticut federal prosecutor, John Durham, to review the origins of the Russia investigation. The results of that inquiry, long anticipated by Trump, have been delayed in part by issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Barr's handling of the Russia investigation – effectively clearing the president of wrongdoing despite damning findings that Trump repeatedly sought to thwart the inquiry – raised questions about the independence of the Justice Department.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, castigated Barr for his handling of the Mueller report and politicization of the Justice Department.
"In 37 days, President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office. Whomever Joe Biden chooses as the new Attorney General will have a tremendous amount of work to do to repair the integrity of the Department of Justice," Nadler said in a statement.
'Riding a tiger': William Barr's politically charged tenure puts DOJ on ballot with Trump
Since the Russia probe, Barr has offered vocal defenses of the president, even as Trump faced impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.
The attorney general accused the president's political enemies of "harassment" and "sabotage" and took a lead role in supporting Trump's "law-and-order" agenda during the 2020 campaign.
Barr backed Trump's claims that mail-in balloting was vulnerable to massive fraud that threatened the integrity of the election, despite evidence that showed otherwise. Last month, during a speech at a college, Barr defended his intervention in criminal cases, claiming his own federal prosecutors "sometimes become headhunters" when pursuing high-profile targets.
Breaks in the Trump-Barr relationship began to show this fall when the president ramped up the pressure on his attorney general, openly calling on him to use the power of his office against Biden and others.
"Unless Bill Barr indicts these people for crimes, the greatest political crime in the history of our country," Trump told Fox Business News, accusing Biden and former President Barack Obama of election interference, "then we're going to get little satisfaction unless I win."
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., offered a pointed commentary on Barr's tenure after Trump's announcement.
"Lied to cover for Trump," Schiff tweeted, referring to Barr's favorable spin on Trump's role in the Russia investigation. "Launched political investigations. Subverted justice and the rule of law. ... Now, the work of restoring a credible and independent justice system must begin."


usatoday--2020-12-15--First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden

WASHINGTON – The first woman of color to serve as a presidential elector in Nebraska cast her vote on Monday for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
The state 's electors met in a hearing room in the state Capitol , and though the formal vote was quick and generally subdued , when it was announced that McKesson had cast her vote , loud applause filled the room .
McKesson , who is Black , is first woman of color to serve as an elector in Nebraska , according to the Omaha World-Herald , and she cast a single vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Live : Joe Biden passes threshold to win the Electoral College with one state left to vote “ I am beyond thrilled to have cast the electoral vote for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris , ” McKesson said .
“ Hard work and dedicated supporters assisted in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our new leadership .
I am confident we will see the change that is needed to heal our nation.
” McKesson 's vote was doubly historic , as she voted for Harris to become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be vice president .
McKesson told CNN casting her ballot for the first woman of color on a presidential ticket `` meant so much . ''
`` It meant so much for many women who every day fight this good fight to make sure that our democracy is not taken for granted .
And so to be able to cast that vote for Kamala Harris today , it meant the world to me .
And I 'm just so happy that I was able to do that , especially here in Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the four Trump electors this year are women , McKesson is the first woman in Nebraska to cast an electoral vote for a Democratic candidate .
Though President Donald Trump won nearly 59 % of the vote in Nebraska , only four of the state 's five electors voted for him because it is one of two states , along with Maine , that does not award its electors based on a winner-take-all system .
Though two electors go to the winner of the popular vote in the state , Nebraska 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner of each of its congressional districts Almost all of the state 's electors have historically gone to Republicans , with the exception of President Barack Obama 's victory during his first campaign .
And Nebraska ’ s 2nd Congressional District , which is includes Omaha and its suburbs , has a history of being competitive .
Then-Sen. Obama , with Biden as his running mate , won Nebraska 's 2nd District in 2008 , making history in a state that had never split its electoral votes until then .
Monday 's vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast an Electoral College vote for a Democratic candidate .
Biden and Harris are expected to receive 306 electoral votes on Monday , topping 232 for Trump , once all the electors have cast their ballots — including all of the states where Trump and his legal team have contested the results .
More : A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden 's election win The electoral votes will then be counted at a special joint session of Congress on Jan 6. before Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @

First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The first woman of color to serve as a presidential elector in Nebraska cast her vote on Monday for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Precious McKesson cast the 2nd Congressional District's vote Biden.
The state's electors met in a hearing room in the state Capitol, and though the formal vote was quick and generally subdued, when it was announced that McKesson had cast her vote, loud applause filled the room.
McKesson, who is Black, is first woman of color to serve as an elector in Nebraska, according to the Omaha World-Herald, and she cast a single vote to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.
Live: Joe Biden passes threshold to win the Electoral College with one state left to vote
“I am beyond thrilled to have cast the electoral vote for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris,” McKesson said. “Hard work and dedicated supporters assisted in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our new leadership. I am confident we will see the change that is needed to heal our nation.”
McKesson's vote was doubly historic, as she voted for Harris to become the first Black woman and South Asian woman to be vice president. McKesson told CNN casting her ballot for the first woman of color on a presidential ticket "meant so much."
"It meant so much for many women who every day fight this good fight to make sure that our democracy is not taken for granted. And so to be able to cast that vote for Kamala Harris today, it meant the world to me. And I'm just so happy that I was able to do that, especially here in Nebraska," she said.
While two of the four Trump electors this year are women, McKesson is the first woman in Nebraska to cast an electoral vote for a Democratic candidate.
Splitting electoral votes
Though President Donald Trump won nearly 59% of the vote in Nebraska, only four of the state's five electors voted for him because it is one of two states, along with Maine, that does not award its electors based on a winner-take-all system.
Though two electors go to the winner of the popular vote in the state, Nebraska's remaining three electors are awarded to the winner of each of its congressional districts
More: Nebraska and Maine's district voting method
Almost all of the state's electors have historically gone to Republicans, with the exception of President Barack Obama's victory during his first campaign. And Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which is includes Omaha and its suburbs, has a history of being competitive.
Then-Sen. Obama, with Biden as his running mate, won Nebraska's 2nd District in 2008, making history in a state that had never split its electoral votes until then. Monday's vote was only the second time Nebraska has cast an Electoral College vote for a Democratic candidate.
An emotional @MsPMcKesson as the first African American Elector in Nebraska casting her vote for the first African American VP @KamalaHarris. #ElectoralCollege #ne2 #Jomaha pic.twitter.com/uBVunMePm3 — Jane Fleming Kleeb (@janekleeb) December 14, 2020
Biden and Harris are expected to receive 306 electoral votes on Monday, topping 232 for Trump, once all the electors have cast their ballots — including all of the states where Trump and his legal team have contested the results.
More: A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden's election win
The electoral votes will then be counted at a special joint session of Congress on Jan 6. before Biden and Harris are inaugurated Jan. 20.
Contributing: William Cummings


usatoday--2020-12-15--In Georgia Senate race, Loeffler and Perdue demand updated list of registered voters

Shortly before early voting got started in Georgia on Monday morning for the U.S. Senate runoff elections , the Republican candidates complained because the Board of Elections has not yet made available to the public an updated list of voter registrations .
It is “ totally unacceptable ” that they can not yet get a fully updated list , says a statement that U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler published on Twitter on Monday morning on behalf of herself and Sen. David Perdue .
A complete list of newly registered voters is not available to the Democratic candidates , either .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although the registration data is not fully updated , available registration data has been given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee , the Georgia Elections Division said .
The NRSC works to elect Republicans to the Senate ; presumably it would share this information with its candidates .
Dec. 7 was the deadline to register to vote in this high-profile runoff election , which started Nov. 20 with mail-in balloting and ends Jan. 5 .
Republicans Loeffler and Perdue face Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , respectively .
The outcome will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Senate from the Republicans .
With such high stakes — and with the president and other Republicans continuing to sow fear , uncertainty and doubt about the elections — there is much attention on and tension in the Senate runoffs .
Voter registration lists released to the public have the voters ’ names , addresses , race , gender , registration dates , and last voting dates .
Political campaigns and other groups that seek to influence the elections use this information for voter outreach — to figure out which people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the Loeffler-Perdue statement said the lack of a publicly available list on the first day of early voting could taint the election .
“ In-person early voting starts today , and the public remains without a full accounting of who is registered and who may attempt to cast a ballot in the runoff , ” the statement says .
“ This lack of transparency needs to be rectified immediately , or the integrity of our elections will remain threatened.
” Voter registration information is collected and processed by county election offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s office said .
Registrations closed a week ago and it typically takes longer than seven days for the local and state offices to finish updating the statewide registration data prior to an election , it said .
The agency this year also has stressed the importance of verifying the registrants ’ residencies .
Voters must live in Georgia in order participate in this election .
Republican President Donald Trump , who lost the general election by 12,670 votes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voter registration lists .
Georgia conducted two ballot recounts at Trump ’ s request , and those took staff time , the Elections Division said .
One of the recounts was conducted by hand .
Further , on Dec. 1 some counties had runoffs in three other elections : for the 5th District Congressional seat , a state Senate Democratic primary , and a district attorney seat .
The statement by Perdue and Loeffler made no reference to the added workload of the two Trump recounts or the workload of conducting the @ @ @ @ @

In Georgia Senate race, Loeffler and Perdue demand updated list of registered voters Registrations closed a week ago; the Elections Division says the job typically takes more than seven days to finish.
Show Caption Hide Caption GOP Sen. Rubio on Ga. runoffs: We need to win both U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio visited Georgia Wednesday to ask conservatives to rally around fellow GOP Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. They face Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in runoff races that could determine control of the Senate. (Nov. 11) AP
Shortly before early voting got started in Georgia on Monday morning for the U.S. Senate runoff elections, the Republican candidates complained because the Board of Elections has not yet made available to the public an updated list of voter registrations.
It is “totally unacceptable” that they cannot yet get a fully updated list, says a statement that U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler published on Twitter on Monday morning on behalf of herself and Sen. David Perdue.
A complete list of newly registered voters is not available to the Democratic candidates, either. The Democrats have not made similar complaints.
Although the registration data is not fully updated, available registration data has been given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Georgia Elections Division said. The NRSC works to elect Republicans to the Senate; presumably it would share this information with its candidates.
Dec. 7 was the deadline to register to vote in this high-profile runoff election, which started Nov. 20 with mail-in balloting and ends Jan. 5.
Republicans Loeffler and Perdue face Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively. The outcome will determine whether the Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate from the Republicans.
With such high stakes — and with the president and other Republicans continuing to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt about the elections — there is much attention on and tension in the Senate runoffs.
‘Half-truths, misinformation’: Georgia official says Trump supporters misled
Runoffs: History, how they work, and their roots in racism As Georgia heads towards a highly anticipated runoff election, it begs the question: Why do some states have runoffs? And what's the purpose of them? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Suggestions of shenanigans
Voter registration lists released to the public have the voters’ names, addresses, race, gender, registration dates, and last voting dates. Political campaigns and other groups that seek to influence the elections use this information for voter outreach — to figure out which people to contact to urge them to vote.
But the Loeffler-Perdue statement said the lack of a publicly available list on the first day of early voting could taint the election.
“In-person early voting starts today, and the public remains without a full accounting of who is registered and who may attempt to cast a ballot in the runoff,” the statement says. “This lack of transparency needs to be rectified immediately, or the integrity of our elections will remain threatened.”
Voter registration information is collected and processed by county election offices and then forwarded to the state office, according to the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office said. Registrations closed a week ago and it typically takes longer than seven days for the local and state offices to finish updating the statewide registration data prior to an election, it said.
The agency this year also has stressed the importance of verifying the registrants’ residencies. Voters must live in Georgia in order participate in this election.
Republican President Donald Trump, who lost the general election by 12,670 votes, may have contributed to any delay with the voter registration lists.
Georgia conducted two ballot recounts at Trump’s request, and those took staff time, the Elections Division said. One of the recounts was conducted by hand.
Learn more: Georgia election fraud lawsuit dismissed, results set for second certification
Further, on Dec. 1 some counties had runoffs in three other elections: for the 5th District Congressional seat, a state Senate Democratic primary, and a district attorney seat.
The statement by Perdue and Loeffler made no reference to the added workload of the two Trump recounts or the workload of conducting the other three runoff elections.


usatoday--2020-12-16--Dads took on more childcare when they worked from home during COVID-19. Will a vaccine end that?

John Tyreman had always helped around the house , but cooking and looking after the kids ramped up when he began to work from home full time during the COVID-19 pandemic .
His employer encourages work breaks that Tyreman often spends playing catch with his 5-year-old son while his two younger children nap .
And if he were to move on to a different company after the coronavirus crisis ebbs , Tyreman says he 'd want the same support .
`` That kind of flexibility would now be a requirement if I were to take a new job , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a digital advertising agency and lives with his wife and children in Culpeper , Virginia .
`` If a company did not provide that kind of flexibility , it would be a serious red flag . ''
With the first COVID-19 vaccine rolling out across the country , life may soon return to some semblance of normal as parents who worked from home because their workplaces or children 's schools were shuttered increasingly go back to the office .
Clock is ticking on Xmas gifts : Still shopping for Christmas gifts ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas A work from home tax ?
: Employees working from home should pay 'privilege ' tax ' to support workers who can not , Deutsche Bank research note says But some dads who took on a bigger share of chores and childcare during the pandemic , and enjoyed more quality time with their kids , may not want to return to their old routines .
`` I 'm sure some dads will take the first train back to their former lives , '' says Richard Weissbourd , a senior lecturer at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But my guess is that at least some dads , because they have found real and deep gratification in their relationships with their kids during this time will work hard to preserve this closeness , '' adds Weissbourd , who co-authored a study that found a majority of fathers felt closer to their children during the health crisis .
Will the balance last ?
Working mothers handled the bulk of household tasks during the pandemic , a burden that led many to consider dropping out of the workforce altogether because of the strain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a greater share of household responsibilities during the health crisis .
The number of couples who said their split of childcare duties was roughly equal rose to 56 % during the COVID-19 crisis as compared to 45 % who said that was the case before the pandemic , according to a study co-authored by academics at the University of Utah , Ball State University and the University of Texas .
`` More equality in terms of how housework and child care is being divided is due to ... dads being home , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and consumer studies at the University of Utah who co-wrote the report .
Whether that was because fathers were no longer commuting to work , had their hours cut , took a voluntary leave or got laid off , `` just being home more ... was a major impetus for fathers to contribute more around the house . ''
It 's unclear however whether that increased balance continued as the pandemic lingered , he says .
`` A lot of the research that has been done looks at what was going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlson says , noting that his survey was in April .
`` So the question is , 'were those short term gains made because it was a crisis , and have those contributions faded as the reality has set in ? '
'' Did COVID create a new kind of dad ?
Research on the impact of paternal leave might offer a clue .
When men take time off after the birth or adoption of a child , studies show that they help more at home , and their participation remains higher even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So if we think about the pandemic in the same way ... that because of the crisis they ’ ve had to take on more , it ’ s likely their contributions will remain higher than what they were before the pandemic , '' Carlson says .
Still , the lion 's share of household tasks and childcare fell on working mothers , according to a study by Lean In that found they were more than three times as likely as dads to take on most of those responsibilities .
Are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fill out our short reader survey at the bottom of this story or here .
The report also found that 25 % of women were thinking about leaving their jobs or making other professional changes because of those challenges .
`` More women were not only deciding to leave their jobs because of these responsibilities , ' Carlson says , `` but there was an increase in the fact they ’ d be fired or laid off if they had these responsibilities , '' he adds , referring to the separate findings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility is driving a lot of the labor market inequalities that we ’ re seeing . ''
More dad time , and more quality But the crisis also strengthened bonds , with 68 % of dads saying they felt closer or much closer to their kids during the pandemic , according to the report issued in June by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-authored by Weissbourd .
A follow-up survey found that fathers `` seem to be talking to kids more about things that are important to them ... taking walks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weissbourd says .
`` The pandemic has been miserable for families in a lot of ways but this does seem to be a silver lining.
’ ’ Now that vaccines have arrived , and more offices may be reopening , some fathers could face a choice .
`` The question is , will the forces pulling them back to resuming their past lives be so strong that some of the routines and habits and closeness start to dissipate ? ''
Weissbourd asks .
While some will eagerly embrace the return of their old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fathers will really develop a new lifestyle that involves much more time with their kids.
’ ’ For those dads who want to hold onto that closeness , they can establish markers for a new routine .
`` If they ’ re going for walks with their kids , they should commit to doing it every weekend , '' Weissbourd says .
`` If they 're having meals , they should commit to having at least four meals ( together ) every week .
If some of those things become habits , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the pandemic is over.
’ ' Tyreman , the father of three in Virginia , says that his company introduced a policy in the fall requiring that employees take at least one day off every two weeks to recharge .
Instead of taking off a full day , Tyreman says he 'll `` take an hour every day and go out and cut wood or play with the kids , and I don ’ t feel bad about it because it 's practiced and preached from the top down.
’ ’ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably go into the office one or two days a week .
`` There is a ton of value to me in working face to face with certain people at certain times doing certain things , '' he says , `` so there will be times when I do want to be back in an office setting . ''
But Tyreman will continue to cherish the days when he is able to work remotely and spend more time with his family .
`` Our home is super active right now , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these messes and dishes ... .
Sometimes it creates conflict .
But the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in that we are together . ''

Dads took on more childcare when they worked from home during COVID-19. Will a vaccine end that?
Show Caption Hide Caption How to work from home but still feel connected You can work from home without feeling so isolated. Here are some great ways to stay connected with your team. ProblemSolved, USA TODAY
John Tyreman had always helped around the house, but cooking and looking after the kids ramped up when he began to work from home full time amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
His employer encourages work breaks that Tyreman often spends playing catch with his 5-year-old son while his two younger children nap. And if he were to move on to a different company after the coronavirus crisis ebbs, Tyreman says he'd want the same support.
"That kind of flexibility would now be a requirement if I were to take a new job,'' says Tyreman, 30, who works for a digital advertising agency and lives with his wife and children in Culpeper, Virginia. "If a company did not provide that kind of flexibility, it would be a serious red flag."
With the first COVID-19 vaccine rolling out across the country, life may soon return to some semblance of normal as parents who worked from home because their workplaces or children's schools were shuttered increasingly go back to the office.
Clock is ticking on Xmas gifts: Still shopping for Christmas gifts? Walmart announces shipping deadlines for delivery by Christmas
A work from home tax?: Employees working from home should pay 'privilege' tax' to support workers who cannot, Deutsche Bank research note says
But some dads who took on a bigger share of chores and child care during the pandemic, and enjoyed more quality time with their kids, may not want to return to their old routines.
"I'm sure some dads will take the first train back to their former lives,'' says Richard Weissbourd, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "But my guess is that at least some dads, because they have found real and deep gratification in their relationships with their kids during this time, will work hard to preserve this closeness." Weissbourd co-authored a study that found a majority of fathers felt closer to their children during the health crisis.
Will the balance last?
Working mothers handled the bulk of household tasks during the pandemic, a burden that led many to consider dropping out of the workforce altogether because of the strain. But some fathers did take on a greater share of household responsibilities during the crisis.
The number of couples who said their split of child care duties was roughly equal rose to 56% during the COVID-19 crisis, compared with 45% who said that was the case before the pandemic, according to a study co-authored by academics at the University of Utah, Ball State University and the University of Texas.
"More equality in terms of how housework and child care is being divided is due to ... dads being home,'' says Dan Carlson, a professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah who co-wrote the report. Whether that was because fathers were no longer commuting to work, had their hours cut, took a voluntary leave or got laid off, "just being home more ... was a major impetus for fathers to contribute more around the house.''
It's unclear, however, whether that increased balance continued as the pandemic lingered, he says.
"A lot of the research that has been done looks at what was going on very early in the pandemic,'' Carlson says, noting that his survey was in April. "So the question is, 'were those short-term gains made because it was a crisis, and have those contributions faded as the reality has set in?'''
Did COVID-19 create a new kind of dad?
Research on the impact of paternal leave might offer a clue.
When men take time off after the birth or adoption of a child, studies show that they help more at home, and their participation remains higher even after their leave of absence ends.
“So if we think about the pandemic in the same way ... that because of the crisis they’ve had to take on more, it’s likely their contributions will remain higher than what they were before the pandemic,'' Carlson says.
Still, the lion's share of household tasks and child care fell on working mothers, according to a study by Lean In, which found that mothers were more than three times as likely as dads to take on most of those responsibilities.
Are you a dad with kids at home? Fill out our short reader survey at the bottom of this story or here.
The report also found that 25% of women were thinking about leaving their jobs or making other professional changes because of those challenges.
"More women were not only deciding to leave their jobs because of these responsibilities, but there was an increase in the fact they’d be fired or laid off if they had these responsibilities,'' Carlson says, referring to the separate findings in his own research. "That schooling responsibility is driving a lot of the labor market inequalities that we’re seeing.''
More dad time, and more quality
But the crisis also strengthened bonds, with 68% of dads saying they felt closer or much closer to their kids during the pandemic, according to the report, issued in June by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-authored by Weissbourd.
A follow-up survey found that fathers "seem to be talking to kids more about things that are important to them ... taking walks together, enjoying activities together,'' Weissbourd says. "The pandemic has been miserable for families in a lot of ways, but this does seem to be a silver lining.’’
Now that vaccines have arrived, and more offices may be reopening, some fathers could face a choice.
"The question is, will the forces pulling them back to resuming their past lives be so strong that some of the routines and habits and closeness start to dissipate?'' Weissbourd asks.
While some will eagerly embrace the return of their old schedule, he says, "other fathers will really develop a new lifestyle that involves much more time with their kids.’’
For those dads who want to hold onto that closeness, they can establish markers for a new routine.
"If they’re going for walks with their kids, they should commit to doing it every weekend,'' Weissbourd says. "If they're having meals, they should commit to having at least four meals (together) every week. If some of those things become habits, they’re much more likely to continue after the pandemic is over.’'
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
New normal
Tyreman, the father of three in Virginia, says that his company introduced a policy in the fall requiring that employees take at least one day off every two weeks to recharge.
Instead of taking off a full day, Tyreman says he'll "take an hour every day and go out and cut wood or play with the kids, and I don’t feel bad about it, because it's practiced and preached from the top down.’’
When the pandemic ebbs, Tyreman says he will probably go to the office one or two days a week.
"There is a ton of value to me in working face to face with certain people at certain times doing certain things,'' he says, "so there will be times when I do want to be back in an office setting.''
But Tyreman will continue to cherish the days when he is able to work remotely and spend more time with his family.
"Our home is super active right now,'' he says. "There are all these messes and dishes .... Sometimes it creates conflict. But the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in that we are together.''
Contributing: Caroline Fairchild, Editor at Large, LinkedIn News
Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter @charissejones


usatoday--2020-12-16--Amid surging COVID-19, Fed could take steps to lower mortgage rates, boost economy

As the Federal Reserve concludes a two-day meeting Wednesday , it will be struggling with how to respond to opposing forces in the nation ’ s COVID-19-fueled economic crisis .
On the one hand , a resurgence of the virus already has slowed the economy and an even darker winter lays ahead .
At the same time , wide availability of a vaccine by spring offers the prospect of a substantial improvement .
The Fed already has cut its key short-term interest rate near zero and vowed to keep it there until the economy returns to full employment and inflation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some time ” – a promise that likely would mean no rate hikes until 2024 or beyond , some economists say .
But Fed officials still have more ammunition , largely related to their massive bond-buying stimulus aimed at holding down long-term rates that affect mortgages and other loans .
The Fed ’ s policy decision , which will be released at 2 p.m. on Wednesday , is expected to center around those bond purchases -- and it could mean slightly lower monthly costs for homebuyers and other borrowers .
The central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic forecasts .
Here 's the breakdown of what the Fed may do : How can the Fed cut long-term rates ?
The Fed is now purchasing $ 80 billion in Treasury bonds and $ 40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month , putting downward pressure on long-term interest rates , such as for mortgages and corporate bonds .
The average maturity of the securities it ’ s buying is 7.4 years , according to Oxford Economics .
Some economists expect Fed officials to buy the same amount of bonds but shift the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That would inject more stimulus into the economy by further pushing down rates for mortgages , corporate bonds and other types of loans .
COVID-19 is spiking across the country , with cases , hospitalizations and deaths reaching new records .
That has led to new constraints on businesses , particularly in California and the Midwest .
Job growth slowed sharply in November and initial jobless claims , a rough measure of layoffs , jumped sharply to 947,000 the week ending December 5 .
Market outlook : Worried about another recession ?
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 2021 “ The economy really needs , ” more stimulus , says Oxford economist Kathy Bostjancic .
“ Fed officials might see the winter virus resurgence as the obvious moment to shoot their last bullet , ” Goldman Sachs said in a research note .
Also , after a monthslong deadlock , Congress still hasn ’ t agreed on a proposed $ 908 billion relief package for unemployed Americans and struggling businesses .
And Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently ended several Fed emergency lending programs , placing a greater burden on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bostjancic says .
What is the argument against taking more action ?
Several regional Fed bank chiefs have said fiscal aid from Congress is what ’ s really needed right now .
And lawmakers appear to be drawing closer to a deal before unemployment benefits for 12 million Americans , a ban on evictions and other programs expire at year ’ s end .
While such federal dollars can be doled out quickly , Fed maneuvers typically affect the longer-term outlook , three to six months down the road , says Nomura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he notes , a vaccine is likely to be widely available , significantly bolstering the economy and lessening the need for more juice from the Fed .
What ’ s more , mortgage and other rates are already at historic lows , Capital Economics says , with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 2.71 % , based on Freddie Mac figures .
Sure , pushing down long-term rates would further stoke the record bull-market by prodding investors to move more money from bonds to stocks .
But that could increase Fed officials ’ concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bostjancic says .
So what is the Fed likely to do ?
She , as well as economists at Goldman and JPMorgan Chase , expect the Fed to shift the bond purchases to trim rates while Nomura , Barclays and Morgan Stanley predict the Fed will stand pat .
How much would moves cut mortgage rates ?
Some but not that much .
Rates are already historically low and the housing market is booming .
A shift in the Fed ’ s mix could push down mortgage rates by about 15 basis points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 200,000 mortgage by $ 15 , or $ 180 year , says Tendayi Kapfidze , chief economist of Lending Tree .
What else could the Fed do ?
Many economists are more confident the Fed will provide more specific guidance on how low long it will continue to buy bonds .
Currently , the Fed ’ s post-meeting statement simply says it will continue the purchases “ over coming months.
” Fed policymakers have said they want to provide a more detailed roadmap .
A closer look at stimulus : COVID-19 relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers a $ 300 bonus to unemployment benefits Goldman Sachs believes the Fed will say it will keep buying bonds at the current pace until the labor market is “ on track ” to reach full employment and inflation is “ on track ” to reach 2 % .
That ’ s similar to the Fed ’ s criteria for raising its key short-term rate but not as rigid .
It likely would mean the Fed starts tapering down the bond purchases in 2023 , about a year before raising its short-term rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials likely want to avoid another “ taper tantrum ” – a 2013 spike in Treasury yields when Fed officials unexpectedly signaled they would start winding down bond purchases following the Great Recession of 2007-09 .
Also , investors now expect the Fed to begin tapering the bond purchases in late 2021 or early 2022 .
By signaling a later start , it could spur more borrowing and cheer Wall Street , Bostjancic says .
Alexander , though , says the Fed may wait until the outlook is clearer before refining its guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy would contract 3.7 % this year and unemployment would end the year at 7.6 % .
But the economy has recovered from the pandemic more swiftly than expected , with unemployment already at 6.7 % .
Goldman Sachs expects the Fed to revise its forecast to a 2.5 % contraction this year and unemployment of 6.8 % at year-end .
Goldman also expects the Fed to modestly raise its estimate of economic growth next year to 4.2 % , up from its prior forecast of 4 % .
Oxford , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimate for next year as the effects of the virus spike outweigh the boost from the vaccine .

Amid surging COVID-19, Fed could take steps to lower mortgage rates, boost economy
Show Caption Hide Caption Fed signals readiness to do more for economy The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate at a record low near zero Thursday and signaled its readiness to do more if needed to support an economy under threat from a worsening coronavirus pandemic. (Nov. 5) AP
As the Federal Reserve concludes a two-day meeting Wednesday, it will be struggling with how to respond to opposing forces in the nation’s COVID-19-fueled economic crisis.
On the one hand, a resurgence of the virus already has slowed the economy, and an even bleaker winter lies ahead. At the same time, wide availability of a vaccine by spring offers the prospect of a substantial improvement.
The Fed already has cut its key short-term interest rate near zero and vowed to keep it there until the economy returns to full employment and inflation runs above its 2% goal “for some time” – a promise that likely would mean no rate hikes until 2024 or beyond, some economists say.
But Fed officials still have more ammunition, largely related to their massive bond-buying stimulus aimed at holding down long-term rates that affect mortgages and other loans. The Fed’s policy decision, which will be released at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, is expected to center around those bond purchases – and it could mean slightly lower monthly costs for homebuyers and other borrowers.
Did COVID create a new kind of Dad?:Dads took on more childcare when they worked from home. Will a vaccine end that?
Fed stimulus: Fed vows to continue bond-buying stimulus
The central bank is also set to update its economic forecasts.
Here's the breakdown of what the Fed may do:
How can the Fed cut long-term rates?
The Fed is now purchasing $80 billion in Treasury bonds and $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month, putting downward pressure on long-term interest rates, such as for mortgages and corporate bonds.
The average maturity of the securities it’s buying is 7.4 years, according to Oxford Economics. Some economists expect Fed officials to buy the same amount of bonds but shift the mix toward those with longer maturities. That would inject more stimulus into the economy by further pushing down rates for mortgages, corporate bonds and other types of loans.
Why shift bond purchases to cut rates?
COVID-19 is spiking across the country, with cases, hospitalizations and deaths reaching new records. That has led to new constraints on businesses, particularly in California and the Midwest. Job growth slowed sharply in November and initial jobless claims, a rough measure of layoffs, jumped sharply to 947,000 the week ending December 5.
Market outlook: Worried about another recession? Here's what the stock market is predicting for 2021
“The economy really needs,” more stimulus, says Oxford economist Kathy Bostjancic.
“Fed officials might see the winter virus resurgence as the obvious moment to shoot their last bullet,” Goldman Sachs said in a research note.
Also, after a monthslong deadlock, Congress still hasn’t agreed on a proposed $908 billion relief package for unemployed Americans and struggling businesses. And Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently ended several Fed emergency lending programs, placing a greater burden on the Fed to prop up a wobbly economy, Bostjancic says.
What is the argument against taking more action?
Several regional Fed bank chiefs have said fiscal aid from Congress is what’s really needed right now. And lawmakers appear to be drawing closer to a deal before unemployment benefits for 12 million Americans, a ban on evictions and other programs expire at year’s end.
While such federal dollars can be doled out quickly, Fed maneuvers typically affect the longer-term outlook, three to six months down the road, says Nomura economist Lewis Alexander. By then, he notes, a vaccine is likely to be widely available, significantly bolstering the economy and lessening the need for more juice from the Fed.
What’s more, mortgage and other rates are already at historic lows, Capital Economics says, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 2.71%, based on Freddie Mac figures.
Sure, pushing down long-term rates would further stoke the record bull-market by prodding investors to move more money from bonds to stocks. But that could increase Fed officials’ concerns about a market bubble that eventually pops, Bostjancic says.
So what is the Fed likely to do?
“it’s a close call,” Bostjancic says.
She, as well as economists at Goldman and JPMorgan Chase, expect the Fed to shift the bond purchases to trim rates while Nomura, Barclays and Morgan Stanley predict the Fed will stand pat.
How much would moves cut mortgage rates?
Some but not that much. Rates are already historically low and the housing market is booming. A shift in the Fed’s mix could push down mortgage rates by about 15 basis points, lowering the monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage by $15, or $180 year, says Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist of Lending Tree.
What else could the Fed do?
Many economists are more confident the Fed will provide more specific guidance on how low long it will continue to buy bonds. Currently, the Fed’s post-meeting statement simply says it will continue the purchases “over coming months.” Fed policymakers have said they want to provide a more detailed roadmap.
A closer look at stimulus: COVID-19 relief package: No stimulus checks but it offers a $300 bonus to unemployment benefits
Goldman Sachs believes the Fed will say it will keep buying bonds at the current pace until the labor market is “on track” to reach full employment and inflation is “on track” to reach 2%. That’s similar to the Fed’s criteria for raising its key short-term rate but not as rigid. It likely would mean the Fed starts tapering down the bond purchases in 2023, about a year before raising its short-term rate, Bostjancic says.
Why a timetable for bond purchases?
Bostjancic says Fed officials likely want to avoid another “taper tantrum” – a 2013 spike in Treasury yields when Fed officials unexpectedly signaled they would start winding down bond purchases following the Great Recession of 2007-09.
Also, investors now expect the Fed to begin tapering the bond purchases in late 2021 or early 2022. By signaling a later start, it could spur more borrowing and cheer Wall Street, Bostjancic says.
Alexander, though, says the Fed may wait until the outlook is clearer before refining its guidance.
How about Fed’s economic forecasts?
In September, the Fed predicted the economy would contract 3.7% this year and unemployment would end the year at 7.6%. But the economy has recovered from the pandemic more swiftly than expected, with unemployment already at 6.7%. Goldman Sachs expects the Fed to revise its forecast to a 2.5% contraction this year and unemployment of 6.8% at year-end.
Goldman also expects the Fed to modestly raise its estimate of economic growth next year to 4.2%, up from its prior forecast of 4%. Oxford, however, reckons the Fed will lower its estimate for next year as the effects of the virus spike outweigh the boost from the vaccine.


usatoday--2020-12-16--'Biggest storm in several years': Winter weather threatens to dump more than a foot of snow in parts

NEW YORK – The day of the big storm is here at last .
After several days of build-up , what promises to be the most significant winter storm in years was set to bear down on the East Coast early Wednesday .
Snow was likely to fall all the way from Georgia to Massachusetts , which was expected to lead to very dangerous travel conditions and isolated power outages , the National Weather Service warned .
“ All the ingredients are now coming together for our snowstorm , and I really don ’ t see a way out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said late Tuesday .
A wide swath of the region was forecast to see a foot of snowfall accumulation , with some spots potentially seeing up to two feet , the Weather Service said .
In all , over 40 million people were under a winter storm warning , including the New York City metro area , where over a foot of snow was possible .
This was the first winter storm warning issued for New York City in over a year , the Weather Channel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of storms like this in the last few years , thank God .
We 've seen much less snowfall than we did a few years back , '' Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday .
`` So , this could be the biggest storm in several years . ''
`` Take this seriously , '' he warned New Yorkers .
The Weather Channel dubbed the storm `` Winter Storm Gail , '' though no other forecasting companies , nor the Weather Service , uses this name .
On Wednesday morning , parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light snow fall .
Weather Service offices in Indianapolis and Syracuse , Indiana , reported that the snow was ongoing .
According to the Weather Service , the storm will move into West Virginia , Virginia , Maryland and Pennsylvania later this morning then trek to the New York area and beyond in the evening .
AccuWeather forecasts that D.C. and Baltimore will get around 1 to 3 inches and 2 to 4 inches , respectively .
Philadelphia might get 4 to 8 inches , while Boston in addition to New York could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AccuWeather said .
`` The heaviest snowfall amounts from this system are currently forecast across central Pennsylvania , where as much as two feet of snow is possible , '' forecasters at the Weather Service said .
In some areas , the snow coming Wednesday `` would be more snow in one event than was seen all of last winter , '' forecasters said .
The Weather Service also warned of the dangers that could come with such heavy snowfall .
Freezing rain , ice accumulation and heavy snow will lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power outages , the Weather Service said .
Travel in areas with the heaviest snow will like be `` very dangerous , if not impossible , '' forecasters added .

Doyle Rice and Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY

'Biggest storm in several years': Winter weather threatens to dump more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast
Show Caption Hide Caption Winter weather: Heavy snow has fallen all across the Northeast Winter storm hits the Northeast with a vengeance. USA TODAY, Storyful
NEW YORK – The day of the big storm is here at last.
After several days of build-up, what promises to be the most significant winter storm in years was hitting much of the East Coast on Wednesday.
Snow was likely to fall all the way from Georgia to Maine, which was expected to lead to very dangerous travel conditions and isolated power outages, the National Weather Service warned.
“All the ingredients are now coming together for our snowstorm, and I really don’t see a way out of this for many cities across the Northeast,” AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said late Tuesday.
A wide swath of the region was forecast to see a foot of snowfall accumulation, with some spots potentially seeing up to 2 feet, the Weather Service said.
In all, over 50 million people were under a winter storm warning, including the New York City metro area, where more than a foot of snow was possible. This was the first winter storm warning issued for New York City in more than a year, the Weather Channel said.
"We have not had a lot of storms like this in the last few years, thank God. We've seen much less snowfall than we did a few years back," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday. "So, this could be the biggest storm in several years."
"Take this seriously," he warned New Yorkers.
Bitter cold persists in wake of snowstorm More than two feet of snow has piled up in some parts of the region, but frigid air will make sure it doesn't melt any time soon. Accuweather
More: How often should I start my car and let it idle in cold weather? Answer: Don't.
In New York City, "the Department of Sanitation always prepares for snow year-round, but of course, this a year like no other," said Joshua Goodman, assistant commissioner for public affairs with the NYC Department of Sanitation.
"Since mid-October, our fleet of plows have been practicing going up and down narrow streets with outdoor dining operations to ensure we can fit safely. We’ve got up to 2,000 plowable vehicles ready to go (including about 3 different sizes for different kinds of streets), 330,000 tons of salt, and brine for pre-treating the city’s 19,000 miles of roadway."
He also urged people to stay off the roads when they can, but "we are on the way!"
In addition to the usual rolling out of plows and salt spreaders, the nation’s most populous city was adding some pandemic-era preparations to its list, such as closing city-run COVID-19 testing sites Wednesday afternoon and suspending outdoor dining in the sometimes elaborate spaces that now occupy parking spaces outside some restaurants.
In New Jersey, Gov Phil Murphy said “our theme today ought to be, ‘If it’s not one thing, it’s another,’” as he gave residents storm guidance that’s new this year – mask up if you help your neighbors shovel.
The Weather Channel dubbed the storm "Winter Storm Gail," though no other forecasting companies, nor the Weather Service, uses this name.
Wednesday morning, parts of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic were already seeing some light snow fall. Weather Service offices in Indianapolis and Syracuse, Indiana, reported that the snow was ongoing.
According to the Weather Service, the storm moved into West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania during the morning and was then forecast to trek to the New York area and beyond by the evening.
AccuWeather forecasts that Washington and Baltimore will get around 1 to 3 inches and 2 to 4 inches, respectively. Philadelphia might get 4 to 8 inches, while Boston in addition to New York could see up to a foot of snow, AccuWeather said.
"The heaviest snowfall amounts from this system are currently forecast across central Pennsylvania, where as much as two feet of snow is possible," the Weather Service said.
A look at the expected timing and evolution of the precipitation for the upcoming winter storm on Wednesday-Thursday. Greatest uncertainties remain how far north into NY/New England the heavy snow gets & the location of the snow-ice-rain transition along the I-95 DC-NYC corridor. pic.twitter.com/s6CkgzWYRk — NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) December 15, 2020
In some areas, the snow Wednesday "would be more snow in one event than
was seen all of last winter," it said.
The Weather Service also warned of the dangers that could come with such heavy snowfall.
Freezing rain, ice accumulation and heavy snow will lead to dangerous driving conditions, downed trees and power outages, the Weather Service said.
Travel in areas with the heaviest snow likely will be "very dangerous, if not impossible," it added.
In addition to the snow, on Wednesday night, as the storm strengthens off the New Jersey coastline, strong onshore winds were expected to generate coastal flooding from Delaware to the Jersey Shore, the Weather Service said. Flooding from heavy rain was also possible Wednesday evening across portions of the coastal Mid-Atlantic, where temperatures are too warm for wintry precipitation.
Contributing: Sammy Gibbons, USA TODAY Network; The Associated Press
Snow days canceled? Online school won't stop snow days in these school districts


usatoday--2020-12-16--Even as COVID-19 slows justice system, federal executions outnumber all states combined for the firs

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Even as COVID-19 slows justice system, federal executions outnumber all states combined for the first time
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump continues federal executions amid transition The Trump administration is pressing forward with its unprecedented series of post-election federal executions this week, reigniting a debate on social media over death penalty laws in the United States. (Dec. 11) AP
While COVID-19 has exacted a crushing death toll in the U.S., the pandemic also has slowed the criminal justice system, driving down death sentences and executions across the country, according to an annual report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
The 17 total executions this year are the lowest since 1991, while 18 death sentences issued represent a 42% decline from the previous record low of 31 in 2016, according to the report by the group, which opposes capital punishment.
"Most of these sentences (11) were imposed in the first three months of 2020, before courts across the country halted trials as a precaution against the pandemic," the report found. "Nearly all the death sentences imposed after that time involved judge-only proceedings."
It is also the first time the federal government has carried out more civilian executions – 10 – than all state systems combined. Three more federal prisoners have death dates set in January, an unusual move by the Trump administration in a time of presidential transition.
"The sheer number of executions set the Trump administration apart as an outlier in the use of capital punishment, compared both to the historical practices of American presidencies and the contemporary practices of the states in the Union," the report said.
The federal government dramatically revived its use of the death penalty after a 17-year hiatus. Not since the 1896 Cleveland administration has any president carried out more (16) in a single year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
BRANDON BERNARD: Despite national outcry, Bernard dies by lethal injection, the ninth federal execution of 2020
ALFRED BOURGEOIS: U.S. executes man who killed his daughter
Earlier this month, a coalition of 90 current and former law enforcement officials called on federal authorities to halt five executions scheduled during the final weeks of the Trump administration, saying the uncertain transition period and resurgence of the pandemic risk undermined confidence in the criminal justice system.
'SIMPLY UNTHINKABLE': Law officers call for halt to executions in Trump's final weeks
“When people believe the state is executing a person, or applying the death penalty unjustly ... their trust in our system of government and law enforcement is undermined,” the officials said in an open letter released by the group Fair and Just Prosecution.
The opposition group, which includes current and former prosecutors, state attorneys general, police chiefs and sheriffs, argued that the slate of executions appeared to represent a "rush" against the clock ticking down on President Donald Trump's tenure despite the formidable health risks posed by the virus.
President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to take office Jan. 20, opposes capital punishment.
Last month, the execution date for Lisa Montgomery, the only woman on federal death row, was moved from its original date of Dec. 8 to Jan. 12 after her lawyers contracted the virus.
Attorney General William Barr, who was instrumental in pushing for the reopening of the federal death chamber, has been largely unmoved by criticism of its aggressive application even in the midst of a pandemic. Barr announced Monday that he would resign effective Dec. 23. His departure follows a series of differences with Trump.
BEYOND LETHAL INJECTION: DOJ rule change gives option of firing squads, gas, electrocution
"Resuming executions in the midst of a deadly pandemic forced attorneys, religious advisors, media witnesses, and victims’ family members to choose between attending executions and protecting their health," the Death Penalty Information Center's report said.
As death sentences and executions declined in much of the rest of the country this year, Colorado became the 22nd state to abolish capital punishment.
As part of the decision, Gov. Jared Polis in March also commuted the sentences of the three prisoners on Colorado's death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Polis, a Democrat, called the abolition of the death penalty "consistent with the recognition that the death penalty cannot be, and never has been, administered equitably in the State of Colorado."
Including Colorado, the report found that 34 states have "either abolished capital punishment or have not carried out an execution in more than a decade."


usatoday--2020-12-16--'A serious threat': Plastics we use every day are leaching hazardous chemicals, report says

• Chemicals in plastic can cause cancer , diabetes , reproductive disorders and neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children .
• Plastic containing EDCs is used extensively in almost every aspect of our lives .
• Overall , hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic are already produced each year .
According to a scientific report issued Tuesday , the plastics we commonly use contain and leach hazardous chemicals , including some that threaten human health , especially the body 's endocrine system .
`` Many of the plastics we use every day at home and work are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endocrine-disrupting chemicals , '' the report ’ s lead author , Jodi Flaws of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , said in a statement .
The endocrine system is a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones the body uses for a wide range of functions , according to the Endocrine Society , which co-produced the report .
The hormones control many bodily functions , including respiration , reproduction , sensory perception , growth , movement and sexual development .
According to the report , which was based on hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mimic , block or interfere with those hormones .
More than 1,000 manufactured chemicals in use are EDCs .
These chemicals can cause cancer , diabetes , reproductive disorders and neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children .
The report says there are direct cause-and-effect links between the toxic chemical additives in plastics and specific health impacts to the endocrine system .
The additives are meant to make plastics more pliable or durable , more fire-resistant or antimicrobial , more UV-resistant or simply more colorful .
Many of these additives disturb hormonal systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquids , food and the environment , the report says .
Forget acid rain : Plastic rain is falling across the USA “ Endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure is not only a global problem today , but it poses a serious threat to future generations , ” report co-author Pauliina Damdimopoulou of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm , Sweden , said in a statement .
“ When a pregnant woman is exposed , EDCs can affect the health of her child and eventual grandchildren .
Animal studies show EDCs can cause DNA modifications that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDCs is used extensively in almost every aspect of our lives , including in packaging , construction , flooring , food production and packaging , cookware , health care , children ’ s toys , leisure goods , furniture , home electronics , textiles , automobiles and cosmetics .
The report says the need for public policy to protect people 's health from EDCs in plastics is all the more urgent given the industry ’ s dramatic growth projections .
Hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic are produced each year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceleration of plastic production , projected to increase by 30 % -36 % in the next six years , will greatly exacerbate EDC exposures and rising global rates of endocrine diseases , '' said Pamela Miller , International Pollutants Elimination Network co-chair .
`` Global policies to reduce and eliminate EDCs from plastic and reduce exposures from plastic recycling , plastic waste and incineration are imperative , '' Miller said .
The report was produced by the International Pollutants Elimination Network with the Endocrine Society .
Here is some information from the Endocrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful plastics based on their recycling symbol and other useful tips about endocrine-disrupting chemicals .
Good news ?
Earth 's carbon dioxide emissions had record drop this year during the pandemic

'A serious threat': Plastics we use every day are leaching hazardous chemicals, report says
Show Caption Hide Caption Lego to replace plastic bags after kids call for change Lego will be replacing its plastic packaging with paper bags to make the company more sustainable. Lego plans to invest $400M into its sustainability efforts. unbranded - Lifestyle, unbranded - Lifestyle
Chemicals in plastic can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders and neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children.
Plastic containing EDCs is used extensively in almost every aspect of our lives.
Overall, hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic are already produced each year.
More bad news about plastic.
According to a scientific report issued Tuesday, the plastics we commonly use contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including some that threaten human health, especially the body's endocrine system.
"Many of the plastics we use every day at home and work are exposing us to a harmful cocktail of endocrine-disrupting chemicals," the report’s lead author, Jodi Flaws of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said in a statement.
The endocrine system is a series of glands that produce and secrete hormones the body uses for a wide range of functions, according to the Endocrine Society, which co-produced the report. The hormones control many bodily functions, including respiration, reproduction, sensory perception, growth, movement and sexual development.
According to the report, which was based on hundreds of studies, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mimic, block or interfere with those hormones. More than 1,000 manufactured chemicals in use are EDCs.
These chemicals can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders and neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children. The report says there are direct cause-and-effect links between the toxic chemical additives in plastics and specific health impacts to the endocrine system.
The additives are meant to make plastics more pliable or durable, more fire-resistant or antimicrobial, more UV-resistant or simply more colorful. Many of these additives disturb hormonal systems in humans and animals by leaching into liquids, food and the environment, the report says.
Forget acid rain: Plastic rain is falling across the USA
“Endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure is not only a global problem today, but it poses a serious threat to future generations,” report co-author Pauliina Damdimopoulou of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, said in a statement. “When a pregnant woman is exposed, EDCs can affect the health of her child and eventual grandchildren. Animal studies show EDCs can cause DNA modifications that have repercussions across multiple generations.”
Plastic containing EDCs is used extensively in almost every aspect of our lives, including in packaging, construction, flooring, food production and packaging, cookware, health care, children’s toys, leisure goods, furniture, home electronics, textiles, automobiles and cosmetics.
The report says the need for public policy to protect people's health from EDCs in plastics is all the more urgent given the industry’s dramatic growth projections.
Hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic are produced each year.
“This report clarifies that the current acceleration of plastic production, projected to increase by 30%-36% in the next six years, will greatly exacerbate EDC exposures and rising global rates of endocrine diseases," said Pamela Miller, International Pollutants Elimination Network co-chair.
"Global policies to reduce and eliminate EDCs from plastic and reduce exposures from plastic recycling, plastic waste and incineration are imperative," Miller said.
The report was produced by the International Pollutants Elimination Network with the Endocrine Society.
Here is some information from the Endocrine Society about how to choose the least harmful plastics based on their recycling symbol and other useful tips about endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
'Choked, Strangled, Drowned': Report lays out severity of plastic harming endangered marine life
Good news? Earth's carbon dioxide emissions had record drop this year during the pandemic