usatoday--2020-12-04--Could Trump pardon family members and other close associates? His prior pardons may set the stage fo

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ’ s pardon for former national security adviser Michael Flynn last week could have been political dynamite in another era – a divisive use of clemency handed down on Thanksgiving eve in the twilight of a presidency .
Instead , the move drew only a smattering of reaction from congressional Democrats and silence from President-elect Joe Biden and most Republicans and was relegated to second-tier status on cable news networks by the end of the weekend .
As Trump weighs granting additional pardons to close associates – and perhaps family members and even himself – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a political price , no matter whom the recipients are .
The number of pardons with a political sheen Trump has signed – along with the unorthodox way he ’ s wielded the power – may have desensitized the public to the issue .
`` The Flynn pardon is indefensible on every level , but people have come to expect nothing more from Donald Trump , '' said Neal Katyal , a legal analyst and former acting solicitor general during President Barack Obama 's administration .
`` There are very few days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t created a scandal that would undo a prior administration , '' he said .
`` After nearly four years , people are exhausted . ''
Who has Trump pardoned ?
: Allies , supporters and inspirational figures Trump is far from the first president to grant pardons with political ramifications .
In his final days in office , President Bill Clinton pardoned financier Marc Rich , brother Roger Clinton and Whitewater business partner Susan McDougal .
President George H.W .
Bush pardoned aides caught up in the Iran-contra scandal of the mid-1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month after Nixon resigned as president .
Trump has departed from the norm by serving up a stream of controversial pardons and commutations from the beginning of his term .
The president granted his first pardon , in 2017 , to former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio .
The politically polarizing figure , who didn ’ t meet the Justice Department ’ s guidelines for a pardon , was convicted after defying a judge 's order to release inmates suspected of immigration offenses .
Trump pardoned conservative writer Dinesh D'Souza a year later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who pleaded guilty in 2014 to violations of campaign finance law .
In July , Trump commuted the sentence of Roger Stone , a longtime confidant convicted of lying to protect Trump 's 2016 presidential campaign from an investigation into Russian election interference .
Miriam Krinsky , a former federal prosecutor and executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution , a group that advocates changes in criminal justice policy , said the `` politicization '' of the pardon process during the Trump administration has been `` troubling . ''
`` It is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guardrails need to be restored , '' Krinsky said , suggesting that one way to do that might be to hand the review process over to an independent entity .
Flynn , who served less than a month as Trump 's top security adviser in the White House , pleaded guilty three years ago to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak after the 2016 election .
Trump announced the pardon last week in a tweet .
The decision drew criticism from some Democrats , including House Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as an “ act of grave corruption.
” Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a close ally of Trump ’ s , praised the move , arguing Flynn was “ the victim of a politically motivated investigation.
” While Biden did not address the Flynn pardon at the time , and transition aides did not respond to a request for comment , the president-elect did raise the issue of pre-emptive pardons in an interview on Thursday .
Biden told CNN that `` you ’ re not going to see in our administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and added that he would not be making policy announcements on Twitter .
The reaction to Flynn ’ s pardon , though muted , underscored that the president ’ s broad clemency powers are increasingly viewed – like much else – along partisan lines : Democrats express outrage , and Trump ’ s supporters cheer .
That division , several experts said , may partly explain why some Americans shrug their shoulders .
`` He has a large and loyal base who will accept his explanation for his actions , which will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has pardoned did nothing wrong and need to be protected from the deep state , ” said Brian Kalt , a law professor at Michigan State University .
Amid a pandemic that has killed more than 275,000 people in the USA , punishing unemployment and a constant stream of Beltway controversies , it 's not likely the president 's use of his clemency power is going to hold anyone 's attention for long .
Still , Flynn ’ s pardon spun up speculation about additional pardons .
Fox News personality Sean Hannity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump granting himself a preemptive pardon .
Trump discussed whether to grant preemptive pardons to his children and lawyer Rudy Giuliani , The New York Times reported .
`` Given Trump ’ s use of the pardon power thus far , you can expect him to go outside the box and grant many pardons in the upcoming days to those who are close to him , and perhaps to himself as well , '' said Renato Mariotti , a former federal prosecutor .
That highlights another way Trump has used clemency powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual review of applicants .
Instead of arguing their case first at the Justice Department , where the Office of the Pardon Attorney considers clemency applications , friends and associates went straight to Trump or sought airtime on Fox News .
That practice sent a message to those seeking clemency .
Caroline Polisi , a lawyer for George Papadopoulos , a former Trump campaign adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election , said a pardon application was filed on behalf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not made through the Justice Department .
`` George ’ s case illustrates perfectly an unfortunate reality in the American criminal justice system , where the constitutional ideal of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt yields to practical realities , '' the attorney said .
Biden indicated in his CNN interview that he would return the clemency application and review process to the Justice Department .
Keith Whittington , a Princeton University political scientist who has written on pardons , said Trump has stood out with controversial grants of clemency throughout his presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general feature of his presidency that he has done so many unusual things that actions that might normally be controversial with any other president cause barely a ripple with Trump , ” Whittington said .
“ It might just be the case that controversial pardons are baked into the Trump presidency like lots of unorthodox things are and don ’ t stir more than the usual partisan reactions.
” If so , Whittington said , Trump could face pushback from congressional Republicans during the lame duck period if some who are considering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now is the time to draw a distinction between themselves and the president , who has signaled he could run again in four years .
So far , they 've said little about what Whittington described as Trump ’ s “ post-election antics .
”

David Jackson, John Fritze and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Could Trump pardon family members and other close associates? His prior pardons may set the stage for more
Show Caption Hide Caption The history of presidential pardons and executive clemency From Roger Stone to Chelsea Manning to Thanksgiving turkeys, here's all you need to know about presidential pardons and executive clemency. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s pardon for former national security adviser Michael Flynn last week could have been political dynamite in another era – a divisive use of clemency handed down on Thanksgiving eve in the twilight of a presidency.
Instead, the move drew only a smattering of reaction from congressional Democrats and silence from President-elect Joe Biden and most Republicans and was relegated to second-tier status on cable news networks by the end of the weekend.
As Trump weighs granting additional pardons to close associates – and perhaps family members and even himself – experts said he may not pay much of a political price, no matter whom the recipients are. The number of pardons with a political sheen Trump has signed – along with the unorthodox way he’s wielded the power – may have desensitized the public to the issue.
"The Flynn pardon is indefensible on every level, but people have come to expect nothing more from Donald Trump," said Neal Katyal, a legal analyst and former acting solicitor general during President Barack Obama's administration.
"There are very few days that go by where Trump hasn’t created a scandal that would undo a prior administration," he said. "After nearly four years, people are exhausted."
Who has Trump pardoned?: Allies, supporters and inspirational figures
Explainer: Can Trump pardon himself? What's a preemptive pardon? Experts explain
More: DOJ reviews 'secret' pardon bribery scheme targeting White House officials
Trump is far from the first president to grant pardons with political ramifications. In his final days in office, President Bill Clinton pardoned financier Marc Rich, brother Roger Clinton and Whitewater business partner Susan McDougal. President George H.W. Bush pardoned aides caught up in the Iran-contra scandal of the mid-1980s. President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon a month after Nixon resigned as president.
Trump has departed from the norm by serving up a stream of controversial pardons and commutations from the beginning of his term. The president granted his first pardon, in 2017, to former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. The politically polarizing figure, who didn’t meet the Justice Department’s guidelines for a pardon, was convicted after defying a judge's order to release inmates suspected of immigration offenses.
Trump pardoned conservative writer Dinesh D'Souza a year later, a vocal supporter of the president who pleaded guilty in 2014 to violations of campaign finance law. In July, Trump commuted the sentence of Roger Stone, a longtime confidant convicted of lying to protect Trump's 2016 presidential campaign from an investigation into Russian election interference.
Miriam Krinsky, a former federal prosecutor and executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, a group that advocates changes in criminal justice policy, said the "politicization" of the pardon process during the Trump administration has been "troubling."
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
"It is one of a host of areas where the guardrails need to be restored," Krinsky said, suggesting that one way to do that might be to hand the review process over to an independent entity.
Flynn, who served less than a month as Trump's top security adviser in the White House, pleaded guilty three years ago to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak after the 2016 election. Trump announced the pardon last week in a tweet.
The decision drew criticism from some Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who described it as an “act of grave corruption.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close ally of Trump’s, praised the move, arguing Flynn was “the victim of a politically motivated investigation.”
While Biden did not address the Flynn pardon at the time, and transition aides did not respond to a request for comment, the president-elect did raise the issue of pre-emptive pardons in an interview on Thursday. Biden told CNN that "you’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons" and added that he would not be making policy announcements on Twitter.
Broad power, divided nation
The reaction to Flynn’s pardon, though muted, underscored that the president’s broad clemency powers are increasingly viewed – like much else – along partisan lines: Democrats express outrage, and Trump’s supporters cheer. That division, several experts said, may partly explain why some Americans shrug their shoulders.
"He has a large and loyal base who will accept his explanation for his actions, which will likely be that he and the people he has pardoned did nothing wrong and need to be protected from the deep state,” said Brian Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University.
Amid a pandemic that has killed more than 275,000 people in the USA, punishing unemployment and a constant stream of Beltway controversies, it's not likely the president's use of his clemency power is going to hold anyone's attention for long.
Still, Flynn’s pardon spun up speculation about additional pardons. Fox News personality Sean Hannity, a Trump ally, raised the prospect of Trump granting himself a preemptive pardon. Trump discussed whether to grant preemptive pardons to his children and lawyer Rudy Giuliani, The New York Times reported.
"Given Trump’s use of the pardon power thus far, you can expect him to go outside the box and grant many pardons in the upcoming days to those who are close to him, and perhaps to himself as well," said Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor.
Giuliani flatly denied discussing a preemptive pardon with Trump.
Bypassing review
Trump has granted 29 pardons and issued 16 commutations, cutting short sentences.
That highlights another way Trump has used clemency powers differently than his predecessors: bypassing the usual review of applicants. Instead of arguing their case first at the Justice Department, where the Office of the Pardon Attorney considers clemency applications, friends and associates went straight to Trump or sought airtime on Fox News.
That practice sent a message to those seeking clemency.
Caroline Polisi, a lawyer for George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, said a pardon application was filed on behalf of her client, but the request was not made through the Justice Department.
Polisi did not elaborate.
"George’s case illustrates perfectly an unfortunate reality in the American criminal justice system, where the constitutional ideal of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt yields to practical realities," the attorney said.
Papadopoulos served 12 days in prison.
Biden indicated in his CNN interview that he would return the clemency application and review process to the Justice Department.
Keith Whittington, a Princeton University political scientist who has written on pardons, said Trump has stood out with controversial grants of clemency throughout his presidency.
“And it has been a general feature of his presidency that he has done so many unusual things that actions that might normally be controversial with any other president cause barely a ripple with Trump,” Whittington said. “It might just be the case that controversial pardons are baked into the Trump presidency like lots of unorthodox things are and don’t stir more than the usual partisan reactions.”
If so, Whittington said, Trump could face pushback from congressional Republicans during the lame duck period if some who are considering a run for president in 2024 decide that now is the time to draw a distinction between themselves and the president, who has signaled he could run again in four years. So far, they've said little about what Whittington described as Trump’s “post-election antics.”


usatoday--2020-12-04--Miami Dolphins' towering tough guy Raekwon Davis turns around rookie season

The first thing everyone notices about Raekwon Davis is his size .
Davis , a rookie defensive tackle , is the tallest Dolphin , at a staggering 6-feet-7 and he 's also the heaviest defensive player , at 330 pounds .
`` My first impression , when I first saw him was , 'This is the biggest dude I 've ever seen , ' '' Dolphins nickel cornerback Nik Needham said .
`` He ’ s a big guy , '' Dolphins offensive lineman Jesse Davis said .
`` He 's tough to deal with . ''
The second thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play would notice over the past five weeks is this — he 's making his presence felt in a big way .
`` The sky is the limit for him , '' Dolphins defensive line coach Marion Hobby said .
`` He ’ s just different .
The body type , everything .
The sky is the limit . ''
NFL WEEK 13 PICKS : Rams , Cardinals try to make up ground in NFC West NFL NEWSLETTER : Sign up now to get football news delivered to your inbox Davis is coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And he 's coming fast .
The Dolphins spent a high second-round draft choice on Davis in April .
But in his first six games , he had only seven tackles .
In the five games Davis played in November , he posted 21 tackles .
Only two defensive linemen in the NFL posted more .
Two !
`` Just a better preparation , '' Davis said , explaining the jump .
Davis explained that early in the season , he struggled with how and when to rush the passer and also to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in the run game .
`` The fundamental part , '' Davis said .
`` Actually , right now , I ’ m starting to make plays off of it .
Now I ’ ve just got to go out there and make more plays . ''
Lately , Davis has been lining up over the opposing teams ' center .
And Davis has such long arms and is so powerful that he almost automatically takes two men to stop .
“ I think when you turn on the film , Raekwon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard at practice and I think there were some good things , '' Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said .
Boyer stressed that Davis will need to be consistent .
That 's so often the knock on the biggest , most talented big men .
Can they bring it consistently ?
`` It ’ s been definitely good to kind of see him grow and develop , '' Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said .
`` I feel like every rookie goes through those growing pains .
It ’ s an adjustment from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how good you are or how highly drafted you are .
It ’ s an adjustment for everybody .
Luckily for him , he ’ s been able to improve each day in practice and each week .
He ’ s learning how to become more of a pro . ''
When the Dolphins drafted Davis , coach Brian Flores was seen on video celebrating from his home office .
Clearly Flores felt Davis could fill a massive void in the middle of Miami 's defensive front .
And that he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been showing why Flores was so excited .
Miami has needed a wide-reaching , muscular , towering presence capable of collapsing pockets .
Jesse Davis , the offensive lineman , thinks Raekwon Davis , the defensive linemen , has some answers .
`` Whenever you get a guy that big , it ’ s hard to move , '' Jesse Davis said .
`` It ’ s hard to get leverage .
Obviously the low man wins , but he also comes off the ball pretty fast .
He ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Raekwon Davis did not shy away from the notion that he has Pro Bowl potential .
`` Hell yeah , '' he said .
`` That ’ s a goal .
That ’ s something I want to accomplish.
” If you enjoy talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
Do the right thing , sign up now !

Miami Dolphins' towering tough guy Raekwon Davis turns around rookie season
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Three best bets to consider for NFL Week 13 SportsPulse: Week 12 was a nightmare for bettors. Lorenzo Reyes is here to provide an oasis and the three best bets for Week 13 in the NFL. USA TODAY
The first thing everyone notices about Raekwon Davis is his size.
Davis, a rookie defensive tackle, is the tallest Dolphin, at a staggering 6-feet-7 and he's also the heaviest defensive player, at 330 pounds.
"My first impression, when I first saw him was, 'This is the biggest dude I've ever seen,'" Dolphins nickel cornerback Nik Needham said.
"He’s a big guy," Dolphins offensive lineman Jesse Davis said. "He's tough to deal with."
The second thing anyone who's been watching Raekwon Davis play would notice over the past five weeks is this — he's making his presence felt in a big way.
"The sky is the limit for him," Dolphins defensive line coach Marion Hobby said. "He’s just different. The body type, everything. The sky is the limit."
NFL WEEK 13 PICKS: Rams, Cardinals try to make up ground in NFC West
NFL POWER RANKINGS: First-place Packers, Titans climb into top five
NFL NEWSLETTER: Sign up now to get football news delivered to your inbox
Davis is coming. And he's coming hard. And he's coming fast.
The Dolphins spent a high second-round draft choice on Davis in April. But in his first six games, he had only seven tackles.
In the five games Davis played in November, he posted 21 tackles. Only two defensive linemen in the NFL posted more. Two!
"Just a better preparation," Davis said, explaining the jump.
Davis explained that early in the season, he struggled with how and when to rush the passer and also to understand what the offense was trying to do in the run game.
"The fundamental part," Davis said. "Actually, right now, I’m starting to make plays off of it. Now I’ve just got to go out there and make more plays."
Lately, Davis has been lining up over the opposing teams' center. And Davis has such long arms and is so powerful that he almost automatically takes two men to stop.
“I think when you turn on the film, Raekwon, he’s been working extremely hard at practice and I think there were some good things," Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said.
Boyer stressed that Davis will need to be consistent. That's so often the knock on the biggest, most talented big men. Can they bring it consistently?
"It’s been definitely good to kind of see him grow and develop," Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. "I feel like every rookie goes through those growing pains. It’s an adjustment from college to the pros, regardless of how good you are or how highly drafted you are. It’s an adjustment for everybody. Luckily for him, he’s been able to improve each day in practice and each week. He’s learning how to become more of a pro."
When the Dolphins drafted Davis, coach Brian Flores was seen on video celebrating from his home office. Clearly Flores felt Davis could fill a massive void in the middle of Miami's defensive front. And that he’d bring prototypical size.
Lately, Davis has been showing why Flores was so excited. Miami has needed a wide-reaching, muscular, towering presence capable of collapsing pockets. Jesse Davis, the offensive lineman, thinks Raekwon Davis, the defensive linemen, has some answers.
"Whenever you get a guy that big, it’s hard to move," Jesse Davis said. "It’s hard to get leverage. Obviously the low man wins, but he also comes off the ball pretty fast. He’s got the physicality nature of the game."
Raekwon Davis did not shy away from the notion that he has Pro Bowl potential.
"Hell yeah," he said. "That’s a goal. That’s something I want to accomplish.”
If you enjoy talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!


usatoday--2020-12-04--Live politics updates: Pence in Georgia, House marijuana vote and Fauci accepts Biden job

USA TODAY 's coverage of the 2020 election and President-elect Joe Biden 's transition continues this week as he rolls out his picks for top jobs in his administration and states continue to certify their vote counts .
President Donald Trump has cleared the way for Biden 's team to use federal resources and get briefings during the transition , although Trump has yet to formally concede the race .
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the election and the transition .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the coronavirus pandemic , will join President-elect Joe Biden 's administration .
Biden told CNN on Thursday that he asked Fauci to become his chief medical adviser and part of his COVID-19 response team .
`` I asked him to stay on the exact same role he 's had for the past several presidents , and I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well , and be part of the COVID team , '' Biden said .
`` Oh , absolutely .
I said yes right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC 's `` Today '' on Friday when asked if he 'd taken the role .
`` There are few public servants in our history who have served as long and as well and with as much distinction at ( sic ) Dr. Tony Fauci .
It will be a great honor to work with him again , '' he wrote .
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is set to vote on marijuana legalization at the federal level Friday , the first time either chamber of Congress has voted on the matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber , but the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to take up the legislation in the last two weeks Congress is in session this year .
The measure , sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nadler , D-N.Y. , would remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances and expunge some marijuana-related criminal records .
It would still be up to states to pass their own regulations on the sale of marijuana .
Nadler told USA TODAY in September the vote on the bill would be a `` historic vote '' as the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very misguided crusade '' against marijuana .
Pence heads to Georgia to campaign , discuss COVID vaccine Vice President Mike Pence returns Friday to Georgia , when he 'll stump for Republicans seeking reelection in the highly watched Senate run-off races there .
Pence will participate in a 3 p.m. EST rally in Savannah .
The vice president has campaigned for Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , who face Democratic opponents Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on Jan. 5 .
The races have national significance because if Democrats manage to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then be split 50-50 , giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the deciding vote in the chamber .
Pence also will visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to lead a roundtable on the COVID-19 vaccine .
Biden picks up 1.5 million more votes in New York President-elect Joe Biden had a big Election Day in New York .
In the final tally , his victory got even larger over President Donald Trump .
The former Democratic vice president picked up 1.5 million additional votes when all the absentee ballots were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ended with Biden getting about 5.2 million votes to 3.2 million votes for Trump , a victory of 60.4 % to 37.5 % , according to the certified tally approved Thursday by the state Board of Elections .
Biden 's victory in New York bested the nearly 60 % of the vote that Democrat Hillary Clinton garnered four years ago against Trump , the native New Yorker , and helped Democrats down ballot in key state Senate races .
Due to a surge in absentee voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as it had in many states .
Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes , according to national totals updated Thursday .

Sean Rossman, Bart Jansen and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

Live politics updates: Biden plans to campaign in Georgia for Senate candidates
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden's Cabinet picks and other roles in his administration The president says he wants a government as diverse as America when he enters the White House. Here are some of his Executive Branch picks. USA TODAY
USA TODAY's coverage of the 2020 election and President-elect Joe Biden's transition continues this week as he rolls out his picks for top jobs in his administration and states continue to certify their vote counts.
President Donald Trump has cleared the way for Biden's team to use federal resources and get briefings during the transition, although Trump has yet to formally concede the race.
Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest information on the election and the transition.
Pence tells Georgia voters presidential election not over
Vice President Mike Pence on Friday said the presidential election is still undecided as he urged Georgia Republicans to put aside shared “doubts” about how fairly that race was conducted and show up for the state’s Senate runoff elections.
“We're on ‘em this time,” Pence said. “We're watching. We're gonna secure our polls. We're gonna secure our drop boxes. So get an absentee ballot and vote and vote today.”
Pence has not gone as far as President Donald Trump in falsely claiming the presidential race was rigged.
But he continues to assert that the winner hasn't been determined.
Read the full story.
– Maureen Groppe
Attorney General William Barr’s chief of staff has resigned as the transition to the Biden administration progresses. Will Levi’s last day is Friday, the Justice Department said.
“Will is a rarity: a brilliant lawyer with common sense, humility, and integrity. For the past two years, he has unstintingly given himself in service to the Department. As both Counselor and Chief of Staff, he handled challenges with remarkable resiliency and humor. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work closely with him, and I know he has a bright future ahead,” Barr said in a statement.
Political appointees typically leave at the end of every administration. But departures in the waning weeks of President Donald Trump’s presidency have caught more attention recently because of the president’s refusal to concede or acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Levi’s departure comes a day after White House communications director Alyssa Farrah announced she is resigning after a 3 ½-year stint in the Trump administration.
Barr appointed Levi as his chief of staff last spring. His grandfather, Edward Levi, served as attorney general under President Gerald Ford, taking over a Justice Department recovering from the Watergate scandal.
– Kristine Phillips
President-elect Joe Biden said Friday he would campaign in Georgia, where two Senate runoff races could determine whether Republicans retain control of the chamber.
Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are each in separate runoff races to hold onto their seats, with voting ending Jan. 5. Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in the state Friday and President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Saturday. "I know we’ve all got our doubts about the last election. And I actually hear some people saying, `Just don’t vote,' " Pence said. "If you don’t vote, they win."
Biden, a former vice president who served 36 years in the Senate, would need Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to win both seats to achieve a Senate with 50 members in each party caucus. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris could then cast tie-breaking votes in favor of Democratic priorities.
Georgia has been reliably Republican statewide for decades. But Biden beat Trump in Georgia after he made two campaign stops in the state during the final week of the campaign, and had former President Barack Obama visit.
“Yes,” Biden replied Friday to a reporter’s question about whether he would visit during the runoffs. But he didn’t break stride after a news conference to say when the appearance might happen or where.
– Michael Collins and Bart Jansen
WILMINGTON, Del. – President-elect Joe Biden said Friday that plans for his Jan. 20 inauguration will be scaled back from traditional celebrations and look more like the Democratic National Convention that was held largely online.
Biden said plans are still being developed in consultation with House and Senate leaders who control 200,000 seats for the potential event. But he said decisions would be based on science, to avoid spreading COVID-19.
“It is highly unlikely there will be 1 million people on the mall,” Biden told reporters at The Queen theater, in response to a question from USA TODAY. “I think you’ll see something closer to what the convention was like than a typical inauguration.”
Biden said he expects there will still be a ceremony on a platform on the west front of the Capitol. But he suggested more of the celebrations will be held remotely across the country, rather than in downtown Washington.
“My guess is there will probably not be a gigantic inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue,” Biden said. “I don’t know exactly how it’s all going to work out.”
– Michael Collins and Bart Jansen
WILMINGTON, Del. – President-elect Joe Biden said more must be done to plan the distribution of vaccines for COVID-19 after they are approved, but that his health advisers are developing plans.
“There’s a lot more that has to be done,” Biden told reporters at The Queen theater. “There is no detailed plan, that we’ve seen anyway, about how you get the vaccine out of a container into an injection syringe and into an arm.”
He called the anticipated distribution “difficult and expensive.” He also said it must be equitable, to ensure that communities of color receive vaccinations beyond those distributed through major drugstore chains that might not have offices in all neighborhoods.
Utah officials suggested they could distribute a vaccine easily, Biden said. But the process is “not that easy” in populous states such as California, Texas and Florida, he said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Biden said.
Biden said he would take the vaccine – along with former presidents – as part of the effort to persuade residents of Black and Latino communities the vaccine is safe.
Coronavirus vaccine: Biden says he will join former presidents in publicly getting COVID vaccine
“I think that my taking the vaccine and people seeing me take the vaccine is going to give some confidence,” Biden said. “It’s going to take some effort to rebuild confidence in science because it’s been so diminished in this administration.”
– Michael Collins and Bart Jansen
WILMINGTON, Del. – President-elect Joe Biden on Friday called a federal report about job growth in November “grim” and said it reflected the economy is “stalling” amid a surge of COVID-19 infections.
“It was grim. It shows an economy that is stalling,” Biden told reporters at The Queen theater. “We remain in the midst of one of the worst economic and jobs crises in modern history.”
U.S. employers added a disappointing 245,000 jobs in November, the Labor Department announced. The figure was about half the 486,000 jobs that economists surveyed by Bloomberg had projected were added last month.
The lackluster report came as Biden said 12 million Americans face the loss of jobless benefits by the end of December. A moratorium on evictions also is scheduled to expire.
“This is a dire jobs report,” Biden said. “We need Congress and the president to act now.”
States are adding restrictions that will hinder economic growth. The number of coronavirus cases surged beyond 277,000 dead and 14 million having been infected. An additional 2,800 deaths daily and 100,000 hospitalizations have been reported this week.
The economy has regained about 11 million jobs lost early in the pandemic in the spring, but economists warn it could take years to restore 9.8 million jobs shed during the crisis.
Congress is considering a $900 billion stimulus, including loans for small businesses and a resumption of federal unemployment benefits, but without direct payments to individuals as happened over the summer. Lawmakers are also negotiating a spending bill to fund the federal government beyond Dec. 11. Both measures could potentially be combined.
But passage of stimulus spending for the pandemic is uncertain because the Democratic-controlled House seeks a larger package than the Republican-led Senate.
“We must get it done before we leave,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Friday. “We cannot leave without it.”
Biden has said any money Congress approves this month would be a “down payment” and he would seek more when he takes office Jan. 20.
“This situation is urgent,” Biden said. “If we don’t act now, the future will be very bleak.”
– Michael Collins and Bart Jansen
Kellyanne Conway, former adviser and White House counselor to President Donald Trump, acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election during an interview with The 19th on Friday.
Conway explained it is Trump’s “right” to exhaust “all of his legal avenues” but “if you look at the vote totals in the Electoral College tally, it looks like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will prevail. I assume the electors will certify that and it will be official. We, as a nation, will move forward, because we always do.”
She added, “You always need a peaceful transfer of democracy, no matter whose administration goes into whose administration.”
Conway, who also served as Trump’s campaign manager in 2016, has been a staunch defender of the president and his administration. She left her position in the White House in August to focus on family, but still remains a prominent member of the president's inner circle.
Her admission of Biden’s victory is noteworthy, as many of Trump’s allies and those in the White House have not publicly acknowledged his victory as Trump and his legal team continue to challenge election results.
Most of the lawsuits brought forth to challenge the results have been dismissed or rejected due to the lack of evidence to back up the baseless. Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday that the Justice Department has not found evidence of widespread voter fraud.
Biden said Thursday night that many Republicans have been calling him privately to congratulate him.
– Savannah Behrmann
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was backing down from months-long demands for trillions in new coronavirus relief to support a $900 billion bipartisan deal because of two things: Joe Biden was elected president and a COVID-19 vaccine is on the way.
“That is a total game changer. A new president and a vaccine,” Pelosi said, adding that some of her objections to the bill are OK because another batch of relief will come once Biden takes office. “We have a new president, a president who recognizes that we need to depend on science to stop the virus.”
The California Democrat has been the lead negotiator for Democrats on another coronavirus stimulus bill and has been firm in demanding a large package of about $2 trillion. She and other Democrats repeatedly rejected smaller bills to replenish some of the most popular programs, such as more funds for a small business loan program and unemployment assistance. Top Democrats even cast aside proposals from within the party to quickly get more aid to Americans. But this week, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., backed a $908 billion proposal offered by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Senate and House, saying it offered a good framework for bipartisan discussions.
Pelosi, asked about the sudden change after months of demands, cut off a reporter's question and sternly said, "Don't characterize what we did before as a mistake," she said. "That was not a mistake. It was a decision. And it has taken us to a place where we can do the right thing without other, shall we say, considerations in the legislation that we don't want."
The California Democrat added that she and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have had discussions and both support adding a relief package to a must-pass government spending bill, though she noted work needs to be done to come to agreements on both COVID-19 relief and certain provisions in a spending bill.
Time is of the essence, though. The government is set to shut down Dec. 11 if Congress does not pass a spending bill that President Donald Trump will sign and the House is only scheduled to be in session for one more week.
“There is momentum,” Pelosi said, adding that Congress must pass more aid. “We need to do it to save lives and livelihood with the hope that much more help is on the way."
– Christal Hayes
President-elect Joe Biden on Friday said his administration would be “the most pro-equality administration in history” as he called for a “new era of LGBTQ rights.”
Biden’s comments to the 2020 International LGBTQ Leaders Conference came while honoring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for receiving the LGBTQ Victory Institute’s History Maker Award. He recorded his statement for a panel marking the 10-year anniversary of repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy about sexual orientation for serving in the U.S. military.
Biden called it an honor for him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to have campaigned with a record number of LGBTQ candidates.
“It’s an honor to be an ally,” Biden said. “Vice President-elect Harris and I are committed to being the most pro-equality administration in history. But we can’t do it without you and we can’t do it without my dear friend Nancy Pelosi.”
Biden caused a stir as vice president when he supported same-sex marriage in May 2012 before President Barack Obama. The Supreme Court later decided in June 2015 that states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize marriages from other jurisdictions.
“I can’t wait to work together again to continue to fight for full equality and to usher in a new era of LGBTQ rights,” Biden told the group Friday.
– Bart Jansen
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and a leader in the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, will join President-elect Joe Biden's administration.
Biden told CNN on Thursday that he asked Fauci to become his chief medical adviser and part of his COVID-19 response team.
"I asked him to stay on the exact same role he's had for the past several presidents, and I asked him to be a chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the COVID team," Biden said.
"Oh, absolutely. I said yes right on the spot," Fauci told NBC's "Today" on Friday when asked if he'd taken the role.
Ron Klain, Biden's incoming White House chief of staff, praised Fauci in a tweet.
"There are few public servants in our history who have served as long and as well and with as much distinction at (sic) Dr. Tony Fauci. It will be a great honor to work with him again," he wrote.
– Bart Jansen and Sean Rossman
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is set to vote on marijuana legalization at the federal level Friday, the first time either chamber of Congress has voted on the matter.
The bill is likely to pass the chamber, but the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to take up the legislation in the last two weeks Congress is in session this year.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., would remove marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances and expunge some marijuana-related criminal records. It would still be up to states to pass their own regulations on the sale of marijuana.
Nadler told USA TODAY in September the vote on the bill would be a "historic vote" as the federal government put an end to its "40-year, very misguided crusade" against marijuana.
– Nicholas Wu
Vice President Mike Pence returns Friday to Georgia, when he'll stump for Republicans seeking reelection in the highly watched Senate run-off races there.
Pence will participate in a 3 p.m. EST rally in Savannah. The vice president has campaigned for Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who face Democratic opponents Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on Jan. 5. The races have national significance because if Democrats manage to flip both seats, the Senate would then be split 50-50, giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the deciding vote in the chamber.
Pence also will visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to lead a roundtable on the COVID-19 vaccine.
– Sean Rossman
President-elect Joe Biden had a big Election Day in New York. In the final tally, his victory got even larger over President Donald Trump.
The former Democratic vice president picked up 1.5 million additional votes when all the absentee ballots were tallied and final counting was finished.
It ended with Biden getting about 5.2 million votes to 3.2 million votes for Trump, a victory of 60.4% to 37.5%, according to the certified tally approved Thursday by the state Board of Elections.
Biden's victory in New York bested the nearly 60% of the vote that Democrat Hillary Clinton garnered four years ago against Trump, the native New Yorker, and helped Democrats down ballot in key state Senate races.
Due to a surge in absentee voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden's lead swelled in New York, as it had in many states. Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes, according to national totals updated Thursday.
– Joseph Spector (New York State Team - USA TODAY Network)


usatoday--2020-12-04--'Changing the tone' is key: Civil rights groups urge Biden to make COVID-19, racial justice top prio

WASHINGTON – With only weeks until a change in the nation ’ s leadership , civil rights leaders and advocacy groups are calling on President-elect Joe Biden to prioritize tackling COVID-19 , systemic racism , food insecurities and other issues disproportionately impacting communities of color .
They also want to provide input as Biden crafts his agenda , selects people to head key agencies and fills top posts in his administration .
“ The transition phase is perhaps one of the most important because it sets the tone for how everything else will operate , ” said Derrick Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We need to make sure the right voices are at the table.
” In a yearwhere protestors called for racial justice in communities across the country and a pandemic has hit Black and Latino communities at disproportionate rates , civil rights leaders , advocates and lawmakers say it 's urgent that the administration listen to their concerns and act .
They ’ re hoping Biden signals his priorities early and say that list should include immigration changes , criminal justice reforms , an accurate Census and voting rights protections .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone is pretty key , ’ ’ said Eric Rodriguez , senior vice president of Policy and Advocacy of UnidosUS , a nonpartisan group advocating for issues important to Latinos .
“ We ’ re reaching an exhaustion point.
” Leaders of several national civil rights groups , including the NAACP and the National Urban League , are disappointed a meeting they requested with Biden three weeks ago to discuss issues such as the pandemic and his appointments hasn ’ t happened .
“ You ’ re talking about the kind of issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ’ ’ said Melanie Campbell , president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation , one of seven groups asking for the meeting .
“ We need to be… at his decision-making table .
And the diversity needs to be reflected from the top , the Cabinet itself .
Who is running the agencies ?
All of that matters.
” More : In New Jersey ’ s most segregated county , racism and coronavirus made a ‘ vicious circle ’ Worked to death : Latino farmworkers have long been denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism could be .
'Return the favor ' to voters of color Some congressional lawmakers said they ’ re also concerned civil rights groups , which were key to get-out-the-vote efforts , haven ’ t been included in discussions with Biden .
Voters of color were key to winning swing states such as Arizona , Georgia and Pennsylvania .
`` After you pop the champagne and all the high fives…you need to make sure you have all those groups around the table , ’ ’ said Rep. Bennie Thompson , a Democrat from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Committee .
“ You have to return the favor if you ’ re successful to the people who got you there , ’ ’ Thompson said .
“ That ’ s politics 101.
” The top priority for civil rights groups and advocates is addressing COVID-19 , which has disproportionately impacted communities of color .
Blacks , Hispanics , and Indigenous Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than whites and more than .
2.5 nearly times more likely to die from it , according to the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color have also suffered financially .
Many work in service industry jobs that were furloughed .
And many work in health care making them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus .
Campbell , who spent three weeks in intensive care battling COVID-19 , said advocates want to ensure the administration not only addresses this pandemic , but is prepared for others .
`` We should be able to engage with this ongoing president-elect that we helped get elected , ” she said .
Biden officials said the administration is building a diverse team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
Hispanics make up 18.5 % of the nation 's population , Blacks 13 % and Asians 6 % , according to the Census .
Biden recently named several people of color to top jobs , including Rep. Cedric Richmond , D-La.
, who will be a senior adviser and Symone Sanders , who will be a senior aide to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Three of nine top White House jobs Biden announced last month will be filled by Latinos .
Biden officials also noted that about half of the Cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color , including Alejandro Mayorkas , who was selected to head the Department of Homeland Security , and Linda Thomas-Greenfield , nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge , a Democrat and former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , said while much of the focus has been on Biden ’ s Cabinet picks , more people of color should also be considered for other high-level posts .
“ I do n't think that we should be relegated to any one area of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior members of the caucus , including Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina , have touted Fudge for a Cabinet post , including Agriculture Secretary .
“ She would be an excellent addition to the administration , ” said Thompson .
Earlier this month , the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also called on Biden to include Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in his Cabinet and administration .
Some suggestions included former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang for Commerce secretary .
Biden announced this week Neera Tanden , a South Asian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House Office of Management and Budget .
In a letter to Biden ’ s transition team Wednesday , the Congressional Hispanic Caucus called on the administration to consider California Attorney General Xavier Becerra or Tom Perez , chair of the Democratic National Committee , as U.S. Attorney General .
The caucus met virtually Thursday with Biden 's transition team .
`` We look forward to working in partnership with President-Elect Biden to assemble the most diverse administration in American history , ” the caucus said in a statement afterward .
UnidosUS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 20 % of the top jobs and appointments with Latino candidates .
“ We need to put people in positions of power and influence who understand our communities , ’ ’ Rodriguez said .

'Changing the tone' is key: Civil rights groups urge Biden to make COVID-19, racial justice top priorities
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden's Cabinet picks and other roles in his administration The president says he wants a government as diverse as America when he enters the White House. Here are some of his Executive Branch picks. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – With only weeks until a change in the nation’s leadership, civil rights leaders and advocacy groups are calling on President-elect Joe Biden to prioritize tackling COVID-19, systemic racism, food insecurities and other issues disproportionately impacting communities of color.
They also want to provide input as Biden crafts his agenda, selects people to head key agencies and fills top posts in his administration.
“The transition phase is perhaps one of the most important because it sets the tone for how everything else will operate,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the national NAACP. “We need to make sure the right voices are at the table.”
In a year where protestors called for racial justice in communities across the country and a pandemic has hit Black and Latino communities at disproportionate rates, civil rights leaders, advocates and lawmakers say it's urgent that the administration listen to their concerns and act. They’re hoping Biden signals his priorities early and say that list should include immigration changes, criminal justice reforms, an accurate Census and voting rights protections.
“It’s an important moment. Changing the tone is pretty key,’’ said Eric Rodriguez, senior vice president of Policy and Advocacy of UnidosUS, a nonpartisan group advocating for issues important to Latinos. “We’re reaching an exhaustion point.”
Leaders of several national civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, are disappointed a meeting they requested with Biden three weeks ago to discuss issues such as the pandemic and his appointments hasn’t happened.
“You’re talking about the kind of issues that are of major concern for Black people,’’ said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, one of seven groups asking for the meeting. “We need to be… at his decision-making table. And the diversity needs to be reflected from the top, the Cabinet itself. Who is running the agencies? All of that matters.”
More: In New Jersey’s most segregated county, racism and coronavirus made a ‘vicious circle’
Worked to death: Latino farmworkers have long been denied basic rights. COVID-19 showed how deadly racism could be.
'Return the favor' to voters of color
Some congressional lawmakers said they’re also concerned civil rights groups, which were key to get-out-the-vote efforts, haven’t been included in discussions with Biden.
Voters of color were key to winning swing states such as Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
"After you pop the champagne and all the high fives…you need to make sure you have all those groups around the table,’’ said Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
“You have to return the favor if you’re successful to the people who got you there,’’ Thompson said. “That’s politics 101.”
The top priority for civil rights groups and advocates is addressing COVID-19, which has disproportionately impacted communities of color.
Blacks, Hispanics, and Indigenous Americans are four times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than whites and more than. 2.5 nearly times more likely to die from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People of color have also suffered financially. Many work in service industry jobs that were furloughed. And many work in health care making them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
Biden set up a COVID-19 advisory board earlier this month and said on CNN Thursday he would ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days.
Campbell, who spent three weeks in intensive care battling COVID-19, said advocates want to ensure the administration not only addresses this pandemic, but is prepared for others.
"We should be able to engage with this ongoing president-elect that we helped get elected,” she said.
Biden officials said the administration is building a diverse team that would fulfill his promise of reflecting America.
Hispanics make up 18.5% of the nation's population, Blacks 13% and Asians 6%, according to the Census.
Biden recently named several people of color to top jobs, including Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., who will be a senior adviser and Symone Sanders, who will be a senior aide to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Three of nine top White House jobs Biden announced last month will be filled by Latinos.
Biden officials also noted that about half of the Cabinet positions announced have gone to people of color, including Alejandro Mayorkas, who was selected to head the Department of Homeland Security, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Democrat and former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said while much of the focus has been on Biden’s Cabinet picks, more people of color should also be considered for other high-level posts.
“I don't think that we should be relegated to any one area of government,’’ she said.
Some senior members of the caucus, including Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, have touted Fudge for a Cabinet post, including Agriculture Secretary. “She would be an excellent addition to the administration,” said Thompson.
Push to address systemic racism
Earlier this month, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also called on Biden to include Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in his Cabinet and administration. Some suggestions included former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang for Commerce secretary.
Biden announced this week Neera Tanden, a South Asian American, as his choice to head the White House Office of Management and Budget.
In a letter to Biden’s transition team Wednesday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus called on the administration to consider California Attorney General Xavier Becerra or Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, as U.S. Attorney General. The caucus met virtually Thursday with Biden's transition team.
"We look forward to working in partnership with President-Elect Biden to assemble the most diverse administration in American history,” the caucus said in a statement afterward.
UnidosUS and others are urging Biden to fill at least 20% of the top jobs and appointments with Latino candidates.
“We need to put people in positions of power and influence who understand our communities,’’ Rodriguez said.
Contributing: Nicholas Wu, John Fritze, Courtney Subramanian
Follow Deborah Berry on Twitter @dbgannett


usatoday--2020-12-04--Vice President Pence remains silent on election outcome while campaigning for Georgia runoff

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence heads to Georgia Friday to promote the twin topics that have dominated his public schedule for the past two weeks : the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine and helping Republicans win the runoff Senate races in Georgia .
After meeting with officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , Pence will rally Republicans to vote for Georgia Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Jan. 5 election .
Pence has not , however , publicly acknowledged that he and President Donald Trump lost the Nov. 3 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated Trump ’ s unfounded claims that the election was stolen .
But he also hasn ’ t acknowledged that Trump ’ s efforts to challenge the results have failed , even as a Republican elections official in Georgia called on Trump Tuesday to `` stop inspiring '' recent threats of violence as the state finishes a second recount of the presidential results .
'They have not earned your vote ' : Trump allies urge Georgia Republicans to sit out Senate runoffs Also on Tuesday , Attorney General William Barr said the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud that would change the outcome of the vote .
On Wednesday , Trump put out a 46-minute video falsely claiming that he had won re-election .
Pence ’ s position has been largely a silent one .
When Pence campaigned for Perdue and Loeffler two weeks ago – the day the state 's presidential results were certified – he did not react when some Trump supporters chanted “ Stop the steal !
” After swearing in Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday , Pence ignored a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s election results .
Leaving Tennessee Thursday after a roundtable discussion on distribution of the coronavirus vaccine , Pence did not respond to a reporter asking if he 's spoken with the incoming administration .
California Sen. Kamala Harris , the vice president-elect , told reporters last week she has not spoken with Pence .
Her comment still stands , according to the Biden-Harris campaign .
Pence ’ s spokesperson did not respond when asked Thursday if Pence or his staff will communicate with Harris before the Jan. 20 inauguration .
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife to the vice presidential residence for a nearly two-hour meeting about a week after the election .
Trump is not expected to attend the inauguration or talk to Biden during the transition , NBC news recently reported .
Trump ’ s “ immature behavior ” puts Pence in an impossible bind , according to David Greenberg , a history professor at Rutgers University and author of “ Republic of Spin : An Inside History of the American Presidency.
” Pence has to remain a loyal soldier while also preserving some dignity should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in public life , Greenberg said “ It doesn ’ t show great courage .
It doesn ’ t show great statesmanship , ” Greenberg said .
“ But it is what many politicians would do in such a bizarre circumstance .
”

Vice President Pence remains silent on election outcome while campaigning for Georgia runoff
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence heads to Georgia Friday to promote the twin topics that have dominated his public schedule for the past two weeks: the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine and helping Republicans win the runoff Senate races in Georgia.
After meeting with officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Pence will rally Republicans to vote for Georgia Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Jan. 5 election.
Pence has not, however, publicly acknowledged that he and President Donald Trump lost the Nov. 3 presidential election.
The vice president hasn’t repeated Trump’s unfounded claims that the election was stolen.
But he also hasn’t acknowledged that Trump’s efforts to challenge the results have failed, even as a Republican elections official in Georgia called on Trump Tuesday to "stop inspiring" recent threats of violence as the state finishes a second recount of the presidential results.
'They have not earned your vote': Trump allies urge Georgia Republicans to sit out Senate runoffs
Georgia runoff: Rev. Raphael Warnock's allies warn of backlash over sermon attacks
Also on Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department has not found evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the vote.
On Wednesday, Trump put out a 46-minute video falsely claiming that he had won re-election.
Pence’s position has been largely a silent one.
When Pence campaigned for Perdue and Loeffler two weeks ago – the day the state's presidential results were certified – he did not react when some Trump supporters chanted “Stop the steal!”
After swearing in Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Pence ignored a reporter asking whether he's accepted Arizona’s election results.
Leaving Tennessee Thursday after a roundtable discussion on distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, Pence did not respond to a reporter asking if he's spoken with the incoming administration.
California Sen. Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect, told reporters last week she has not spoken with Pence. Her comment still stands, according to the Biden-Harris campaign.
Pence’s spokesperson did not respond when asked Thursday if Pence or his staff will communicate with Harris before the Jan. 20 inauguration.
In 2016, Joe Biden invited Pence and his wife to the vice presidential residence for a nearly two-hour meeting about a week after the election.
Trump is not expected to attend the inauguration or talk to Biden during the transition, NBC news recently reported.
Trump’s “immature behavior” puts Pence in an impossible bind, according to David Greenberg, a history professor at Rutgers University and author of “Republic of Spin: An Inside History of the American Presidency.”
Pence has to remain a loyal soldier while also preserving some dignity should he later seek the presidency or another role in public life, Greenberg said
“It doesn’t show great courage. It doesn’t show great statesmanship,” Greenberg said. “But it is what many politicians would do in such a bizarre circumstance.”


usatoday--2020-12-04--Worlds align this winter solstice: Look for Jupiter, Saturn in skies this December

This year 's winter solstice will bring a rare sight to our night skies — just in time for the holidays .
For Earth viewers , Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer to one another on Dec. 21 than they have been since the Middle Ages .
If you can gaze into the southwestern horizon at the right time , the two gas giants will look like neighboring points of light .
“ Alignments between these two planets are rather rare , occurring once every 20 years or so , but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hartigan explained .
“ You ’ d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4 , 1226 , to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.
” Astronomers call what we 'll witness on Dec. 21 a `` conjunction . ''
From asteroids or moons to planets and stars , a conjunction is when two objects in space appear to be close to one another , as observed from Earth .
In the reality of space , they 're still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every 20 years , our solar system 's largest planets align during their orbits around the sun .
Jupiter and Saturn 's last conjunction was in 2000 .
But this year is particularly special because the two will appear to separated by just 1/5th the diameter of a full moon — or 0.1 degrees — an occurrence the world has n't seen since the Middle Ages .
The last time Jupiter and Saturn came this close was 1623 , butthat conjunction was too near the sun to be seen by Earthlings .
Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that such a close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was visible to humans .
`` That 's just sly of 800 years ago '' said Amy Oliver , spokeswoman for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics .
`` Call [ 2020 's conjunction ] a unique , holiday gift to the world , '' she said .
`` Maybe it 's the soothing band-aid for 2020 . ''
Moon : Water discovered on sunlit part of the moon for the first time , NASA says Venus : Life on Venus ?
Astronomers see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to watch the 2020 conjunction on Dec. 21 Saturn and Jupiter are already visible in December 's sky , as the two planets have been moving closer to each other for much of 2020 .
They will look like two points of light in the sky — Saturn , which is farther from Earth , will be the fainter one .
Both Hartigan and Oliver encourage stargazers around the world to start looking now .
`` Over the next couple of weeks you can watch them move which is super cool , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orbit '' Hartigan told USA TODAY , adding that identifying them now will also make the conjunction on winter solstice easier to identify .
And to witness the conjunction on Dec. 21 ?
Weather permitting , it will be observable anywhere on Earth , although more difficult in high northern latitudes .
`` People are going to have to work a bit , '' Hartigan said .
He added that the two planets seen in the sky , `` are not going to suddenly look like a brilliant 'Christmas star . '
'' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but you 'll have to find a good viewing spot and be on time .
Avoid tall buildings or mountains , and look towards the low , southwestern horizon right after sunset .
If you 're too early , you might miss a fainter Saturn .
If you 're too late , the two may have already slipped into the horizon for the night .
The best viewing conditions will be near the equator , with less time to catch a glimpse further north .
Oliver said the best time is between dusk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She added that the maximum conjunction will occur at 1:20pm ET on Dec. 21 , and wo n't be visible to the naked eye during daylight .
Still , Americans across the U.S. will be able to see the conjunction in the early night of Dec. 21 , weather permitting .
`` That does n't make it any less special , '' Oliver said .
`` [ It will be ] still so close together that that by far beats other past events . ''
If a snowy day or tight schedule makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , never fear : although the maximum conjunction is on Dec. 21 , Jupiter and Saturn will still appear to be closer than the diameter of a full moon from Dec. 16-25 .
Such a close conjunction wo n't happen again until early March 15 , 2080 .
Although this might be the only time most adults witness the rare occurrence , Hartigan adds that it 's a special opportunity for family .
Parents can show the conjunction to their young kids , he said , and tell them , `` 60 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone ... you go out in the morning sky and look at this conjunction , and you think of me . ''
Hartigan feels that looking up to the sky enriches people 's lives .
`` Astronomy gives you a different kind of perspective on the universe , which is different from our day-to-day experiences , '' he said .
`` Things are going on above us all the time , they mark eras ...
It 's an important connection between generations . ''

Worlds align this winter solstice: Jupiter and Saturn will look like a 'double planet' on Monday
Show Caption Hide Caption Astronomy: Jupiter and Saturn will meet in this rare cosmic conjunction Jupiter and Saturn will appear their closest since the days of Galileo in this rare space event. USA TODAY
This year's winter solstice will bring a rare sight to our night skies – just in time for the holidays.
For Earth viewers, Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer to each other on Dec. 21 than they have been since the Middle Ages. If you gaze into the southwestern horizon at the right time, the two gas giants will look like neighboring points of light.
They will appear to be almost a "double planet," said Rice University astronomer Patrick Hartigan.
“Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another,” Hartigan said.
“You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”
Astronomers call what we'll witness on Dec. 21 a "conjunction." From asteroids or moons to planets and stars, a conjunction is when two objects in space appear to be close to each other as observed from Earth. In the reality of space, they're still hundreds of millions of miles apart.
Every 20 years, our solar system's largest planets align during their orbits around the sun. Jupiter and Saturn's last conjunction was in 2000. But this year is particularly special because the two will appear to separated by just one-fifth the diameter of a full moon – or 0.1 degrees – an occurrence the world hasn't seen since the Middle Ages.
The last time Jupiter and Saturn came this close was 1623, but that conjunction was too near the sun to be seen by Earthlings. So 1226 is actually the most recent time such a close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was visible to humans.
"That's just sly of 800 years ago," said Amy Oliver, spokeswoman for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
"Call (2020's conjunction) a unique holiday gift to the world," she said. "Maybe it's the soothing band-aid for 2020."
Moon: Water discovered on sunlit part of the moon for the first time, NASA says
Venus: Life on Venus? Astronomers see hint of life in clouds of Venus
How to watch the 2020 conjunction on Dec. 21
Saturn and Jupiter are already visible in December's sky; the two planets have been moving closer to each other for much of 2020. They will look like two points of light in the sky. Saturn, which is farther from Earth, will be the fainter one.
Hartigan and Oliver encourage stargazers around the world to start looking now.
"Over the next couple of weeks you can watch them move, which is super-cool, because you're actually seeing planets in orbit," Hartigan told USA TODAY, adding that identifying them now will also make the conjunction on winter solstice easier to identify.
And to witness the conjunction on Dec. 21? Weather permitting, it will be observable anywhere on Earth, although it will more difficult in high northern latitudes.
"People are going to have to work a bit," Hartigan said. He added that the two planets "are not going to suddenly look like a brilliant 'Christmas star.'"
You won't need a telescope, but you'll have to find a good viewing spot and be on time. Avoid tall buildings or mountains, and look toward the low southwestern horizon right after sunset.
If you're too early, you might miss a fainter Saturn. If you're too late, the two may have already slipped into the horizon for the night.
The best viewing conditions will be near the equator. There will be less time to catch a glimpse farther north.
Oliver said the best time for viewing is between dusk and 15 to 20 minutes after dark.
She added that the maximum conjunction will occur at 1:20 p.m. ET on Dec. 21, and it won't be visible to the naked eye during daylight. Still, Americans across the U.S. will be able to see the conjunction in the early night of Dec. 21, weather permitting.
"That doesn't make it any less special," Oliver said. The pairing will be "still so close together that that by far beats other past events."
If a snowy day or tight schedule makes you miss winter solstice's sky event, never fear: Although the maximum conjunction is on Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will still appear to be closer than the diameter of a full moon from Dec. 16 to Dec. 25.
Such a close conjunction won't happen again until early March 15, 2080. Although this might be the only time most adults witness the rare occurrence, Hartigan adds that it's a special opportunity for family.
Parents can show the conjunction to their kids, he said, and tell them, "60 years from now, when I'm long gone ... you go out in the morning sky and look at this conjunction, and you think of me."
Hartigan says looking up to the sky enriches people's lives.
"Astronomy gives you a different kind of perspective on the universe, which is different from our day-to-day experiences," he said. "Things are going on above us all the time. They mark eras. ... It's an important connection between generations."


usatoday--2020-12-04--What to do if your travel seatmate flouts the rules and won't mask up

On a recent flight from Nairobi , Kenya , to Cairo , Wycliffe Okoth sat next to two women wearing masks – on their chins .
He faced one of the most common traveler dilemmas of 2020 : What do you do when your seatmate wo n't wear a mask , despite airline rules ?
`` One of the ladies was of the opinion that COVID-19 does not exist and that governments are only faking it to get donor funds , '' says Okoth , an essayist from New York .
`` The other one believed that COVID-19 is real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked them to wear their masks correctly .
One of them complied , but the other refused because she insisted COVID-19 did n't exist despite more than 64 million cases and 1.5 million deaths worldwide .
Finally , he asked a crew member to intervene .
The COVID-19 denier grudgingly agreed to mask up , but when the flight attendant left , she slipped her mask off her face again .
`` People who defy mask mandates now are doing it intentionally , often with great hostility , '' says Katie Foss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and author of the book `` Constructing the Outbreak : Epidemics in Media & Collective Memory . ''
Here 's one thing we can probably agree on : COVID-194 fatigue is real .
The drama playing itself out on planes is emblematic of a broader conflict happening everywhere .
And oh , what a drama it is .
Although most passengers are complying with the mask rules , some have found creative ways around them .
Airlines are selectively banning passengers who refuse to comply with the requirements or threatening them with worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video claiming that flight attendants were government officials ( they are n't ) and that passengers who did n't comply would never be able to fly on any airline again ( there is no such blacklist ) .
What do the experts say about seatmates who wo n't wear a mask ?
Etiquette experts say the best way to deal with a seatmate who wo n't mask up is not to deal with one at all .
`` Fighting with someone that you have to sit next to for hours may not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Czink , who runs an etiquette consultancy called Business of Manners .
Her advice ?
Ask for another seat .
Let the flight crew deal with the scofflaw .
Saying something is a personal choice , says Diane Gottsman , who runs the Protocol School of Texas .
`` You can certainly turn to your seatmate and politely request they adjust their mask to fit properly , '' she says .
`` But you 're clearly taking a risk – especially in tight quarters where you 're not certain how the other person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with someone who wo n't mask up Nick Leighton , an etiquette expert who co-hosts the podcast `` Were you raised by wolves ?
, '' says the negotiation can be `` tricky . ''
`` Start with a kind smile and use a value-neutral , nonjudgmental tone for the highest chance of success , '' he says .
`` However , your mileage may vary . ''
Your attitude is important , says Bonnie Tsai , director of Beyond Etiquette , an etiquette consulting firm .
`` It ’ s important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team effort , and we ’ re all doing this together rather than singling them out and accusing or shaming them or not wearing a mask , '' she says .
`` When you make this request , do so with a smile in your eyes and friendly tone , so they won ’ t feel that you ’ re their enemy . ''
If your fellow passenger appears agitated and hostile , ask a crew member to intervene .
That 's the advice of Jodi RR Smith , owner of Mannersmith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mere annoyance of a toddler kicking the back of your seat or a seatmate listening to a movie without earbuds , '' she says .
`` This virus has potentially deadly consequences for you and your families .
You need to speak up . ''
Oh , and if you think this is difficult , just wait until 2021 , when we have to start separating people who are vaccinated from those who are n't .
That 'll make this problem look like a vacation .
COVID-19 vaccine FAQ : Will there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it ?
We answer your questions Tips for dealing with a seatmate who wo n't wear a mask Set an example .
That 's the approach Sabrina Romanoff , a clinical psychologist , recommends .
She says you should take pains to follow the rules yourself .
Practice social distancing and ensure everyone in your party has a mask .
`` Use cues from the environment if you can , '' she adds .
`` Pointing to the stickers placed six feet apart on the ground or signs about social distancing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment . ''
Let them make the decision .
For a behavioral analyst like Rachel Sheerin , it 's best to focus on the rules instead of how the rules affect you .
With some non-mask-wearers , she phrases it as a question : `` The rules say we have to wear masks – are you going to wear one ? ''
she says .
`` Then , give them a moment to respond . ''
By taking yourself out of the equation , making it about the rules and phrasing it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your seatmate to comply , she says .
Mind your body language .
Words alone wo n't win an argument with an anti-masker .
`` People perceive your nonverbal cues more , '' says Kristine Scott , a conflict coach from Seattle Conflict Resolution .
`` Hand gestures , tone , eyes , body position are more important . ''
Do n't square your shoulders to your seatmate and try to stay at eye level .
But – and this is important – position yourself so you can exit quickly .
Keep your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re able to do so naturally .

Christopher Elliott, Special to USA TODAY

What to do if your travel seatmate flouts the rules and won't mask up
Show Caption Hide Caption What to do if your seatmate refuses to wear a mask Some etiquette experts recommend letting the flight staff deal with a person refusing to wear a mask. USA TODAY
On a recent flight from Nairobi, Kenya, to Cairo, Wycliffe Okoth sat next to two women wearing masks – on their chins. He faced one of the most common traveler dilemmas of 2020: What do you do when your seatmate won't wear a mask, despite airline rules?
"One of the ladies was of the opinion that COVID-19 does not exist and that governments are only faking it to get donor funds," says Okoth, an essayist from New York. "The other one believed that COVID-19 is real but is being exaggerated."
He asked them to wear their masks correctly. One of them complied, but the other refused because she insisted COVID-19 didn't exist despite more than 64 million cases and 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Finally, he asked a crew member to intervene. The COVID-19 denier grudgingly agreed to mask up, but when the flight attendant left, she slipped her mask off her face again.
"People who defy mask mandates now are doing it intentionally, often with great hostility," says Katie Foss, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University and author of the book "Constructing the Outbreak: Epidemics in Media & Collective Memory."
Here's one thing we can probably agree on: COVID-194 fatigue is real. The drama playing itself out on planes is emblematic of a broader conflict happening everywhere.
And oh, what a drama it is.
Although most passengers are complying with the mask rules, some have found creative ways around them. Airlines are selectively banning passengers who refuse to comply with the requirements or threatening them with worse. One flight attendant was captured on video claiming that flight attendants were government officials (they aren't) and that passengers who didn't comply would never be able to fly on any airline again (there is no such blacklist).
What do the experts say about seatmates who won't wear a mask?
Etiquette experts say the best way to deal with a seatmate who won't mask up is not to deal with one at all.
"Fighting with someone that you have to sit next to for hours may not be the right idea," says Adeodata Czink, who runs an etiquette consultancy called Business of Manners.
Her advice? Ask for another seat. Let the flight crew deal with the scofflaw.
Saying something is a personal choice, says Diane Gottsman, who runs the Protocol School of Texas.
"You can certainly turn to your seatmate and politely request they adjust their mask to fit properly," she says. "But you're clearly taking a risk – especially in tight quarters where you're not certain how the other person will react."
How to negotiate with someone who won't mask up
Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert who co-hosts the podcast "Were you raised by wolves?," says the negotiation can be "tricky."
"Start with a kind smile and use a value-neutral, nonjudgmental tone for the highest chance of success," he says. "However, your mileage may vary."
Your attitude is important, says Bonnie Tsai, director of Beyond Etiquette, an etiquette consulting firm.
"It’s important to make it feel like it’s a team effort, and we’re all doing this together rather than singling them out and accusing or shaming them or not wearing a mask," she says. "When you make this request, do so with a smile in your eyes and friendly tone, so they won’t feel that you’re their enemy."
If your fellow passenger appears agitated and hostile, ask a crew member to intervene. That's the advice of Jodi RR Smith, owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting.
"This is not the mere annoyance of a toddler kicking the back of your seat or a seatmate listening to a movie without earbuds," she says. "This virus has potentially deadly consequences for you and your families. You need to speak up."
Oh, and if you think this is difficult, just wait until 2021 when we have to start separating people who are vaccinated from those who aren't. That'll make this problem look like a vacation.
COVID-19 vaccine FAQ: Will there be side effects? When can you get it? We answer your questions
Tips for dealing with a seatmate who won't wear a mask
Set an example. That's the approach Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist, recommends. She says you should take pains to follow the rules yourself. Practice social distancing and ensure everyone in your party has a mask. "Use cues from the environment if you can," she adds. "Pointing to the stickers placed six feet apart on the ground or signs about social distancing to bolster your message and norm of the environment."
Let them make the decision. For a behavioral analyst like Rachel Sheerin, it's best to focus on the rules instead of how the rules affect you. With some non-mask-wearers, she phrases it as a question: "The rules say we have to wear masks – are you going to wear one?" she says. "Then, give them a moment to respond." By taking yourself out of the equation, making it about the rules and phrasing it as a question, you can usually get your seatmate to comply, she says.
Mind your body language. Words alone won't win an argument with an anti-masker. "People perceive your nonverbal cues more," says Kristine Scott, a conflict coach from Seattle Conflict Resolution. "Hand gestures, tone, eyes, body position are more important." Don't square your shoulders to your seatmate and try to stay at eye level. But – and this is important – position yourself so you can exit quickly. Keep your hands visible, gesticulate slowly if you’re able to do so naturally.


usatoday--2020-12-04--Don't think there are enough NFL head coaching candidates of color? Here are 20.

It 's almost that time .
Time when teams fire head coaches and look for new ones , and time when teams say privately : There are n't enough candidates of color to fill the positions .
This has long been false but it 's still a narrative that wo n't die .
It 's like a zombie .
But make no mistake about it .
There are plenty of candidates , and teams really do n't have to look far .
One other important point .
Another narrative is the reason some coaches of color do n't get head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL coordinators .
Last year , however , the Giants hired Joe Judge who was a special teams and wide receivers coach .
Never a coordinator .
While Panthers coach Matt Rhule was a college head coach at two different programs , the highest position he reached in the NFL was assistant offensive line coach .
The list below is n't close to a complete one , and only includes several college coaches .
The point is they are there , and there are lots of choices .
Maybe this is the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant , Steelers : He coaches perhaps the smartest and most aggressive secondary in football .
Offensive coordinator , Chiefs : He could roll into a meeting with an owner and just show a DVR of Kansas City 's offense .
The criticism will be how much of the offense is Bieniemy , and how much is coach Andy Reid ?
Defensive coordinator , Buccaneers : Failed as head coach of the Jets , and is reborn in Tampa .
Most recently assistant head coach , Dolphins : The Lions fell apart after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as head coach of the Lions , he went 36-28 with two postseason appearances .
His replacement , Matt Patricia , went 13-29-1 before being fired last week .
Interim head coach , Texans : Has a small chance of removing the interim tag .
Offensive coordinator , Clemson : Few would be shocked if he had several head coaching interviews this offseason .
Defensive coordinator , Bills : Went 3-13 as Vikings head coach in 2011 season and then 10-6 with a playoff appearance in 2012 .
Assistant head coach , Buccaneers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'll be asked if he can run an entire offense .
COLLINSWORTH APOLOGY : Announcer sorry for comment about being 'blown away ' by female fans ' NFL knowledge NO NFL BUBBLE : Goodell says NFL not planning on single playoff bubble environment Defensive coordinator , Cardinals : Former head coach of the Broncos .
Offensive coordinator , Buccaneers : The Tampa Bay offense is inconsistent , but Leftwich is still seen as having a promising future .
Interim head coach , Falcons : The team has gone 4-2 under Morris after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co-defensive coordinator , Vikings : One of the more experienced of the candidates , Patterson started coaching in the NFL in1997 .
Former Cowboys assistant : Was once a hot coaching candidate .
Will likely still draw interest .
Defensive coordinator , 49ers : Cornerback Richard Sherman issued a passionate plea for Salah to get the Lions head coaching job .
Assistant head coach and running backs coach , Eagles : The offense has been putrid , but Staley has a lot of backers inside the organization .
Running backs coach , Dolphins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several NFL teams for coordinator positions .
Wide receivers coach , Giants : Wide receivers coach for five different NFL teams since 2003 .
Defensive line coach , Bills : The defense has done well against some of the NFL 's best offenses .

Don't think there are enough NFL head coaching candidates of color? Here are 20.
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Three best bets to consider for NFL Week 13 SportsPulse: Week 12 was a nightmare for bettors. Lorenzo Reyes is here to provide an oasis and the three best bets for Week 13 in the NFL. USA TODAY
It's almost that time. Time when teams fire head coaches and look for new ones, and time when teams say privately: There aren't enough candidates of color to fill the positions.
This has long been false but it's still a narrative that won't die. It's like a zombie.
But make no mistake about it. There are plenty of candidates, and teams really don't have to look far.
One other important point. Another narrative is the reason some coaches of color don't get head coaching positions is because they were never NFL coordinators. Last year, however, the Giants hired Joe Judge who was a special teams and wide receivers coach. Never a coordinator. While Panthers coach Matt Rhule was a college head coach at two different programs, the highest position he reached in the NFL was assistant offensive line coach.
The list below isn't close to a complete one, and only includes several college coaches. The point is they are there, and there are lots of choices.
Maybe this is the year the zombie finally dies.
Teryl Austin
Senior defensive assistant, Steelers: He coaches perhaps the smartest and most aggressive secondary in football.
Eric Bieniemy
Offensive coordinator, Chiefs: He could roll into a meeting with an owner and just show a DVR of Kansas City's offense. The criticism will be how much of the offense is Bieniemy, and how much is coach Andy Reid?
Todd Bowles
Defensive coordinator, Buccaneers: Failed as head coach of the Jets, and is reborn in Tampa.
Jim Caldwell
Most recently assistant head coach, Dolphins: The Lions fell apart after he left Detroit. In five seasons as head coach of the Lions, he went 36-28 with two postseason appearances. His replacement, Matt Patricia, went 13-29-1 before being fired last week.
Romeo Crennel
Interim head coach, Texans: Has a small chance of removing the interim tag.
Tony Elliott
Offensive coordinator, Clemson: Few would be shocked if he had several head coaching interviews this offseason.
Leslie Frazier
Defensive coordinator, Bills: Went 3-13 as Vikings head coach in 2011 season and then 10-6 with a playoff appearance in 2012.
Harold Goodwin
Assistant head coach, Buccaneers: Mainly coordinates the running game; he'll be asked if he can run an entire offense.
COLLINSWORTH APOLOGY: Announcer sorry for comment about being 'blown away' by female fans' NFL knowledge
NO NFL BUBBLE: Goodell says NFL not planning on single playoff bubble environment
Pep Hamilton
Quarterbacks coach, Chargers: He's done solid work with rookie Justin Herbert.
Vance Joseph
Defensive coordinator, Cardinals: Former head coach of the Broncos.
Byron Leftwich
Offensive coordinator, Buccaneers: The Tampa Bay offense is inconsistent, but Leftwich is still seen as having a promising future.
Thomas McGaughey
Special teams coordinator, Giants: Highly experienced and respected.
Raheem Morris
Interim head coach, Falcons: The team has gone 4-2 under Morris after it started 0-5 under Dan Quinn.
Andre Patterson
Co-defensive coordinator, Vikings: One of the more experienced of the candidates, Patterson started coaching in the NFL in1997.
Kris Richard
Former Cowboys assistant: Was once a hot coaching candidate. Will likely still draw interest.
Robert Saleh
Defensive coordinator, 49ers: Cornerback Richard Sherman issued a passionate plea for Saleh to get the Lions head coaching job.
Duce Staley
Assistant head coach and running backs coach, Eagles: The offense has been putrid, but Staley has a lot of backers inside the organization.
Brian Stewart
Defensive backs coach, Baylor: Coached the Lions' defensive backs from 2018-19.
Eric Studesville
Running backs coach, Dolphins: He's on the radar of several NFL teams for coordinator positions.
Tyke Tolbert
Wide receivers coach, Giants: Wide receivers coach for five different NFL teams since 2003.
Eric Washington
Defensive line coach, Bills: The defense has done well against some of the NFL's best offenses.