usatoday--2020-12-11--Will COVID-19 vaccine shipments delay your holiday gifts? Prepare for Shipageddon 2020 by sending pa

Will COVID-19 vaccine shipments delay your holiday gifts? Prepare for Shipageddon 2020 by sending packages ASAP

Rushing to ship your holiday gifts to far-flung loved ones to beat Shipageddon 2020 ?
No pressure , but the shipments of coronavirus vaccines may make deliveries even slower than you thought .
Observers are calling it a perfect storm , walloping shoppers who are making more online purchases than ever before because of the pandemic and fewer people traveling this Christmas .
“ Every mode of shipping is already under tremendous pressure due to COVID-19-related and holiday shopping constraints , and vaccine delivery just adds another element of disruption to the already fragile mix , '' said Sean Maharaj @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of AArete , a global consulting firm .
'We are talking about people ’ s lives ' : Dire warnings of public health crisis as COVID vaccine misinformation rages COVID-19 vaccine : Are there side effects ?
What are the 'ingredients ' ?
The cost ?
Answers to your vaccine questions Under FDA rules , a vaccine can not be shipped to administration sites until it has been either licensed or authorized .
Operation Warp Speed , the White House-led initiative to develop and distribute vaccines , plans to begin the first vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shipments of vaccine are expected to start within the next few days .
Aaron Terrazas , director of economic research for Convoy , told USA TODAY that the timing of the first wave of vaccine distribution complicates holiday shipments and makes matters more complicated `` particularly since the major vaccine distribution contractors are also major parcel delivery firms . ''
`` These distribution contractors are having to simultaneously grapple with a record e-commerce holiday season and this once-in-a-lifetime national emergency , '' Terrazas said .
Convoy utilizes technology to make the trucking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoppers to shop early and rolling out the season 's sales earlier than in past years , shoppers are still clicking add to cart .
According to Adobe Analytics , online holiday sales are expected to trounce previous records , leaping 33 % over 2019 to $ 189 billion in the U.S. And with Americans being encouraged to limit travel and in-person gatherings due to the pandemic , Adobe predicts they will send presents directly to 18 % more people this year , increasing the pressure on delivery pipelines .
Adobe recommends buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipping costs will begin to rise after that date , “ erasing some of the value consumers are getting from holiday deals.
” Dec. 15 is the deadline for ground shipping for UPS , FedEx and the U.S .
Postal Services , almost identical to 2019 deadlines .
Cheaper by the dozen : Krispy Kreme celebrates 'Day of the Dozens ' 2020 with $ 1 doughnuts deal Saturday Naveen Jaggi , president of retail advisory services at brokerage firm JLL , said difficulties with supply chains and logistics with volumes are expected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before mid-December , then we can expect orders will not be delivered in time for the holidays , ” Jaggi said , adding more shoppers are expected to use curbside pickup and buy-online-pickup-in-store options more than ever before this year .
Stores have added expanded curbside and in-store pickup along with more same-day shipping options using services like Instacart , DoorDash and Postmates .
Although the options get gifts into consumers ' hands faster , they are n't expected to make a big difference in the number of gifts being shipped .
Rob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insights for retail and consumer goods , said the platform had predicted up to 700 million packages face potential shipping delays as orders exceed shipping capacity by 5 % .
`` Now we are seeing a surge upon surge that is significantly impacting shipping this holiday season , '' Garf said .
`` The combination of unprecedented online orders with the race to distribute the vaccine will strain an already strained supply chain.
” FedEx and UPS have expanded weekend deliveries and hired more workers .
They 've also enforced limits on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and introduced steep holiday surcharges .
“ UPS is running one of the most successful peak holiday shipping seasons ever , ” said UPS CEO Carol Tomé in a statement to USA TODAY .
“ With great discipline and precision , we are delivering industry-leading on-time delivery performance – all part of our focus on ensuring we maintain a reliable delivery network that all of our customers can depend on . ''
State COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans : Every state has its own plan .
Find the one for yours here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 vaccine puzzle researchers Could more delays be coming ?
Satish Jindel , the president and founder of ShipMatrix , which analyzes shipping package data , predicts a record 3 billion packages could be shipped this holiday season and 7.1 million packages a day through Christmas could face delays .
The vaccine , he said , is `` going to put additional pressure on the other deliveries taking place next week and the week after .
What was already a bad situation in terms of capacity will likely get tighter and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vice president of transportation for global technical consulting firm Capgemini North America , said companies were preparing for the surge .
`` We 've seen even two to five-day normal shipping take closer to four , seven and maybe 10 days , '' Brooks said , adding the good news is `` it 's not shifting out weeks and months , it 's just a matter of hours or days . ''
Tardy shoppers may have to sacrifice packages arriving on time for swift vaccine shipments as COVID-19 surges and the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see their Christmas gifts get delivered on time , the nation has to put priority for the vaccine over Christmas gifts because people ’ s lives are at risk , '' Jindel said .
More unexpected delays could be brewing , which are more reasons consumers should act fast .
`` There will be packages that don ’ t make it and there can be more if we end up with a bad snowstorm on the final days before Christmas , '' Jindel said .
`` But no one can predict that far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ship as soon as possible this holiday season , experts say .
Here are key deadlines to keep in mind if you want your packages to arrive by Christmas .
Here are the deadlines for packages to arrive before Christmas in the 48 contiguous states : The following deadlines are within the U.S. :

Will COVID vaccine shipments delay your Christmas gifts? Prepare for Shipageddon 2020 by sending packages ASAP
Show Caption Hide Caption Pandemic expected to fuel holiday shipping surge As the pandemic pushes shoppers online, retailers and carriers are preparing for a holiday shipping surge that could delay deliveries. FedEx and UPS are ramping up hiring, while stores are expand curbside pickup and urge customers to shop early. (Nov. 12) AP
Rushing to ship your holiday gifts to far-flung loved ones to beat Shipageddon 2020? No pressure, but the shipments of coronavirus vaccines may make deliveries even slower than you thought.
Observers are calling it a perfect storm, walloping shoppers who are making more online purchases than ever before because of the pandemic and fewer people traveling this Christmas.
“Every mode of shipping is already under tremendous pressure due to COVID-19-related and holiday shopping constraints, and vaccine delivery just adds another element of disruption to the already fragile mix," said Sean Maharaj, managing director in the logistics practice of AArete, a global consulting firm.
Christmas shipping delays 2020: Target, Postal Service, others warn of high volume nationwide amid COVID-19
'We are talking about people’s lives': Dire warnings of public health crisis as COVID vaccine misinformation rages
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's vaccine Friday.
Under FDA rules, a vaccine cannot be shipped to administration sites until it has been either licensed or authorized. Operation Warp Speed, the White House-led initiative to develop and distribute vaccines, plans to begin the first vaccine deliveries within 24 hours of FDA authorization. Shipments of the vaccine are expected to start within the next few days.
Aaron Terrazas, director of economic research for Convoy, told USA TODAY that the timing of the first wave of vaccine distribution complicates holiday shipments and makes matters more complicated "particularly since the major vaccine distribution contractors are also major parcel delivery firms."
"These distribution contractors are having to simultaneously grapple with a record e-commerce holiday season and this once-in-a-lifetime national emergency," Terrazas said. Convoy utilizes technology to make the trucking industry more efficient.
Shop and ship early
Despite retailers urging shoppers to shop early and rolling out the season's sales earlier than in past years, shoppers are still clicking add to cart.
According to Adobe Analytics, online holiday sales are expected to trounce previous records, leaping 33% over 2019 to $189 billion in the U.S. And with Americans being encouraged to limit travel and in-person gatherings due to the pandemic, Adobe predicts they will send presents directly to 18% more people this year, increasing the pressure on delivery pipelines.
Adobe recommends buying gifts before Friday, saying it predicts shipping costs will begin to rise after that date, “erasing some of the value consumers are getting from holiday deals.”
Dec. 15 is the deadline for ground shipping for UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Services, almost identical to 2019 deadlines.
Home Depot expands inventory: Home Depot adds furniture, more home decor as shoppers redecorate amid COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccine: Are there side effects? What are the 'ingredients'? The cost? Answers to your vaccine questions
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Naveen Jaggi, president of retail advisory services at brokerage firm JLL, said difficulties with supply chains and logistics with volumes are expected.
“If online orders are not in before mid-December, then we can expect orders will not be delivered in time for the holidays,” Jaggi said, adding more shoppers are expected to use curbside pickup and buy-online-pickup-in-store options more than ever before this year.
Stores have added expanded curbside and in-store pickup along with more same-day shipping options using services like Instacart, DoorDash and Postmates. Although the options get gifts into consumers' hands faster, they aren't expected to make a big difference in the number of gifts being shipped.
Rob Garf, Salesforce vice president of industry insights for retail and consumer goods, said the platform had predicted up to 700 million packages face potential shipping delays as orders exceed shipping capacity by 5%.
"Now we are seeing a surge upon surge that is significantly impacting shipping this holiday season," Garf said. "The combination of unprecedented online orders with the race to distribute the vaccine will strain an already strained supply chain.”
FedEx and UPS have expanded weekend deliveries and hired more workers. They've also enforced limits on how many packages companies can send out a day and introduced steep holiday surcharges.
“UPS is running one of the most successful peak holiday shipping seasons ever,” said UPS CEO Carol Tomé in a statement to USA TODAY. “With great discipline and precision, we are delivering industry-leading on-time delivery performance – all part of our focus on ensuring we maintain a reliable delivery network that all of our customers can depend on."
State COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans: Every state has its own plan. Find the one for yours here.
'Very inconsistent': 2 allergic reactions in the UK to COVID-19 vaccine puzzle researchers
COVID-19 vaccine concerns: You Asked, We Answered We asked you to tell us your biggest questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers. USA TODAY
Could more delays be coming?
Satish Jindel, the president and founder of ShipMatrix, which analyzes shipping package data, predicts a record 3 billion packages could be shipped this holiday season and 7.1 million packages a day through Christmas could face delays.
The vaccine, he said, is "going to put additional pressure on the other deliveries taking place next week and the week after. What was already a bad situation in terms of capacity will likely get tighter and a little more challenging."
Bill Brooks, vice president of transportation for global technical consulting firm Capgemini North America, said companies were preparing for the surge.
"We've seen even two to five-day normal shipping take closer to four, seven and maybe 10 days," Brooks said, adding the good news is "it's not shifting out weeks and months, it's just a matter of hours or days."
Tardy shoppers may have to sacrifice packages arriving on time for swift vaccine shipments as COVID-19 surges and the death toll climbs
"While consumers would rather see their Christmas gifts get delivered on time, the nation has to put priority for the vaccine over Christmas gifts because people’s lives are at risk," Jindel said.
More unexpected delays could be brewing, which are more reasons consumers should act fast.
"There will be packages that don’t make it and there can be more if we end up with a bad snowstorm on the final days before Christmas," Jindel said. "But no one can predict that far out."
Christmas shipping deadlines 2020
The best bet is to ship as soon as possible this holiday season, experts say. Here are key deadlines to keep in mind if you want your packages to arrive by Christmas.
UPS deadlines for Christmas delivery
Ground: Dec. 15
3-Day Select: Dec. 21
2nd Day Air: Dec. 22
Next Day Air: Dec. 23
U.S. Postal Service deadlines
Here are the deadlines for packages to arrive before Christmas in the 48 contiguous states:
Retail Ground: Dec. 15
First-Class Mail: Dec. 18
Priority Mail: Dec. 19
Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23
FedEx shipping deadlines
The following deadlines are within the U.S.:
FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground: Dec. 15
FedEx Express Saver, FedEx 3Day Freight: Dec. 21
FedEx 2Day: Dec. 22
FedEx 1Day Freight, FedEx Extra Hours, FedEx Overnight: Dec. 23
FedEx SameDay: Dec. 25
Contributing: Charisse Jones, Adrianna Rodriguez, Grace HauckElizabeth Weise, Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY; Max Garland, The Commercial Appeal
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


usatoday--2020-12-11--12 of our top columns this week: ICYMI

12 of our top columns this week: ICYMI

In today 's fast-paced news environment , it can be hard to keep up .
For your weekend reading , we 've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week 's top USA TODAY Opinion pieces .
As always , thanks for reading , and for your feedback .
1 .
Backstory : Why do people deny the seriousness of COVID-19 ?
I asked them .
Here 's what they said .
`` Many said they believe the virus is real but are worried about their jobs and their bills and how shutdowns have been handled inconsistently .
Others are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home but then get spotted at events .
They do n't deny the severity of the virus , they are frustrated with the country 's response . ''
2 .
Get ready to change the channel and stop giving Donald Trump the attention he craves '' For years , Trump has labeled the news media the “ enemy of the people , ” but what has been painfully transparent is that he desperately craves the attention and the acceptance of the very news outlets he routinely assails . ''
`` Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Transportation Department , airlines will no longer be required to carry support animals in their cabins .
It ’ s about time .
The rule , which goes into effect early next year , is a hard-won compromise designed to solve a sensitive problem that has plagued the industry for years .
It ’ s also one of the few sensible last-minute regulations among a gaggle the Trump administration has issued in its waning days . ''
4 .
New emotional support animal rule is unfair to Americans with disabilities '' Regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transportation ( DOT ) will limit service animals to dogs , require advance notice and documentation to travel with a service animal , and open the door for airlines to ban emotional support animals .
These changes will only make the experiences of travelers with disabilities worse .
Considering the airlines ’ abysmal record of mistreating people with disabilities — passengers filed nearly 31,000 disability-related complaints against U.S. carriers in 2018 — I have no faith that they will administer this new system fairly . ''
5 .
Barr finally met a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a watershed in the 2020 election saga .
`` Under normal circumstances , there would be nothing shocking about Attorney General William Barr 's statement that the Department of Justice has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election .
Indeed , we just witnessed and participated in what ’ s been termed the most secure contest in modern American history . ''
6 .
Mom voted Trump , son voted Biden .
Their conversation is an inspiration for a divided nation .
`` So when Deborah Homeister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's policies , contracted COVID-19 weeks before the election and had to recover at the home of her son , Ryan Spahn , a gay Democrat and Joe Biden voter , their relationship could have fallen apart . ''
`` It was a thrill for Democrats to carry Georgia in the presidential election for the first time since 1992 , even though it didn ’ t change the outcome .
But now Georgians have something most of us never get : an opportunity to determine the fate of a president and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigotry of anti-racist expectations is damaging to Black and white kids alike '' Despite these facts , school districts across the country are adopting the narrative that racial disparities in academic outcomes pose today ’ s greatest educational challenge .
Such tunnel vision towards problems is usually accompanied by an equally narrow vision towards causality .
These educators are reinforcing the flawed belief that every racial disparity must be due to white supremacy and systemic racism , regardless of other factors like declines in stable families or lack of school choice , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in impeding the development of children of all races .
The resulting 'anti-racist ' policies are becoming the unintended , modern day version of the soft bigotry of low expectations . ''
9 .
As Biden Defense secretary , Austin would shatter norms and inspire Black Americans like me '' The United States Senate should confirm Lloyd James Austin III of Mobile , Alabama , to be the 28th United States Secretary of Defense .
He is not only the best person to ensure our country is safe and secure , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next generation of Black Americans — like me . ''
10 .
I helped put an 18-year-old Black teen on federal death row .
I now think he should live .
`` Brandon was convicted and sentenced to death in Waco , Texas , 20 years ago ; I was the federal prosecutor who defended that death verdict on appeal .
Brandon did not shoot either of the victims , but he was convicted on speculative evidence that he lit the victims ’ car on fire while they were inside , contributing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote briefs arguing that Brandon had a fair trial according to the law and that his sentence was justified , even though he was only 18 at the time of the crime . ''
11 .
What to do about that pardon Trump will grant himself '' Though some people insist that self-pardons are impossible , that ’ s more of a fervent hope than a legal certainty .
While , not surprisingly , the issue has never really come up , the language of the Constitution seems to allow for it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagined that any president might try such a thing .
Certainly , philosophical concerns about being a judge in your own cause aren ’ t going to deter President Trump from giving it a try and he ’ s already mused about the possibility . ''
12 .
Pence 's political future hinges on how he leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force '' As COVID-19 infections and deaths continue to surge nationally , I ’ ve been looking for Pence , the man tasked with guiding America through this public health crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Task Force .
Sure , I ’ ve seen him honor our nation 's fallen soldiers during a Veterans Day ceremony .
He made a cameo at a campaign rally in Georgia , stumping to secure Republican seats in the Senate .
I also watched him swear in Arizona ’ s newest U.S. senator on Wednesday .
What I ’ ve been looking for is public-facing leadership from Pence as America grapples with an out-of-control pandemic .
Just because President Donald Trump wo n't do it does n't mean that Pence should n't @ @ @ @ @

12 of our top columns this week: ICYMI From Biden's Defense pick, to COVID, emotional support animals, and Trump's potential self-pardon, here are some of our top columns you may have missed.
In today's fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week's top USA TODAY Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback.
— USA TODAY Opinion editors
By Nicole Carroll
"Many said they believe the virus is real but are worried about their jobs and their bills and how shutdowns have been handled inconsistently. Others are angry at politicians who plead for people to stay home but then get spotted at events. They don't deny the severity of the virus, they are frustrated with the country's response."
By Kurt Bardella
"For years, Trump has labeled the news media the “enemy of the people,” but what has been painfully transparent is that he desperately craves the attention and the acceptance of the very news outlets he routinely assails."
By The Editorial Board
"Under a new rule issued last week by the Transportation Department, airlines will no longer be required to carry support animals in their cabins. It’s about time. The rule, which goes into effect early next year, is a hard-won compromise designed to solve a sensitive problem that has plagued the industry for years. It’s also one of the few sensible last-minute regulations among a gaggle the Trump administration has issued in its waning days."
By Curt Decker
"Regulations issued last week by the Department of Transportation (DOT) will limit service animals to dogs, require advance notice and documentation to travel with a service animal, and open the door for airlines to ban emotional support animals. These changes will only make the experiences of travelers with disabilities worse. Considering the airlines’ abysmal record of mistreating people with disabilities — passengers filed nearly 31,000 disability-related complaints against U.S. carriers in 2018 — I have no faith that they will administer this new system fairly."
By William Weld, Norman Eisen and Joanna Lydgate
"Under normal circumstances, there would be nothing shocking about Attorney General William Barr's statement that the Department of Justice has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Indeed, we just witnessed and participated in what’s been termed the most secure contest in modern American history."
By Kelsey Bloom
"So when Deborah Homeister, a Republican who voted for President Donald Trump's policies, contracted COVID-19 weeks before the election and had to recover at the home of her son, Ryan Spahn, a gay Democrat and Joe Biden voter, their relationship could have fallen apart."
By Jill Lawrence
"It was a thrill for Democrats to carry Georgia in the presidential election for the first time since 1992, even though it didn’t change the outcome. But now Georgians have something most of us never get: an opportunity to determine the fate of a president and a nation."
By Ian Rowe
"Despite these facts, school districts across the country are adopting the narrative that racial disparities in academic outcomes pose today’s greatest educational challenge. Such tunnel vision towards problems is usually accompanied by an equally narrow vision towards causality. These educators are reinforcing the flawed belief that every racial disparity must be due to white supremacy and systemic racism, regardless of other factors like declines in stable families or lack of school choice, which may play a far more powerful role in impeding the development of children of all races. The resulting 'anti-racist' policies are becoming the unintended, modern day version of the soft bigotry of low expectations."
By Timothy Berry
"The United States Senate should confirm Lloyd James Austin III of Mobile, Alabama, to be the 28th United States Secretary of Defense. He is not only the best person to ensure our country is safe and secure, but he is a trailblazer who will inspire the next generation of Black Americans — like me."
By Angela Moore
"Brandon was convicted and sentenced to death in Waco, Texas, 20 years ago; I was the federal prosecutor who defended that death verdict on appeal. Brandon did not shoot either of the victims, but he was convicted on speculative evidence that he lit the victims’ car on fire while they were inside, contributing to one death by smoke inhalation. I wrote briefs arguing that Brandon had a fair trial according to the law and that his sentence was justified, even though he was only 18 at the time of the crime."
By Chris Truax
"Though some people insist that self-pardons are impossible, that’s more of a fervent hope than a legal certainty. While, not surprisingly, the issue has never really come up, the language of the Constitution seems to allow for it, probably because none of the founders ever imagined that any president might try such a thing. Certainly, philosophical concerns about being a judge in your own cause aren’t going to deter President Trump from giving it a try and he’s already mused about the possibility."
By Suzette Hackney
"As COVID-19 infections and deaths continue to surge nationally, I’ve been looking for Pence, the man tasked with guiding America through this public health crisis as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Sure, I’ve seen him honor our nation's fallen soldiers during a Veterans Day ceremony. He made a cameo at a campaign rally in Georgia, stumping to secure Republican seats in the Senate. I also watched him swear in Arizona’s newest U.S. senator on Wednesday. What I’ve been looking for is public-facing leadership from Pence as America grapples with an out-of-control pandemic. Just because President Donald Trump won't do it doesn't mean that Pence shouldn't. He must."


usatoday--2020-12-10--Lawyer tracks down first-grade teacher to thank her

Lawyer tracks down first-grade teacher to thank her Ana has wanted to thank her first-grade teacher for four decades .
@ @ @ @ @ Kentucky Department of Education , she tracked her down .

Lawyer tracks down first-grade teacher to thank her
Ana has wanted to thank her first-grade teacher for four decades. With the help of the Kentucky Department of Education, she tracked her down.
Humankind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-12-11--How to host a hot cocoa party outside

How to host a hot cocoa party outside

How to host a hot cocoa party outside Throw a hot cocoa party outside for a festive and safe Christmas @

COVID-19 safety: How to host a hot cocoa party outside
Throw a hot cocoa party outside for a festive and safe Christmas.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-12-11--Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered: What are the side effects? Can you still get sick? Is it

Your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered: What are the side effects? Can you still get sick? Is it safe during pregnancy?

Vaccine authorization in the U.S. may come as soon as this week , and distribution could begin within 24 hours of authorization .
Two companies – Pfizer and Moderna – have applied for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for their two-shot vaccine candidates , and more companies are expected to apply in the coming months .
Meanwhile this week , Canada and the United Kingdom authorized the widespread use of Pfizer 's vaccine .
As vaccines are being produced in record time , what do we know about these shots ?
What are the side effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will you have to take the vaccine once or every year ?
We know you have questions , and we ’ re here to help .
Ask us your vaccine questions through this online form , and we 'll speak with public health experts to answer them below .
Here 's what we know : Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus ?
There are more than 200 vaccine candidates under development , with 52 in clinical trials , according to the World Health Organization .
As of late November , Phase 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned for five vaccines in the U.S. , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The United Kingdom and Canada have authorized the use of a vaccine developed by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech .
China and Russia began rolling out their own vaccines before completing late-stage clinical trials .
Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine : Key committee endorsement paves way for clearance by FDA and vaccinations in US to begin The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released a 53-page report summarizing data from Pfizer and BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data supports earlier findings that the vaccine is safe and will prevent 95 % of people from becoming sick with COVID-19 .
Read more .
Will the vaccine be safe for children and pregnant people ?
Historically , major vaccines have not been tested during pregnancy because of concerns that both the pregnant person and fetus would be at risk for complications .
Pregnant and nursing people were not included in the Pfizer/BioNTech study , so there is no data to suggest whether they should avoid vaccination .
In a Dec. 1 meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines should be allocated , several expert members said they expected the vaccine would be safe for mothers who are nursing because the virus itself does not seem to pass through the mother ’ s milk .
The Pfizer trial data only included children ages 16 and up , though the study has since been extended to age 12 , and will include younger children as soon as the company decides what dose it wants to test in this group .
Read more .
Related : No , the COVID-19 vaccine doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine ?
Americans will likely experience at least one side effect from the COVID-19 vaccine , but doctors say that ’ s normal and you should still get vaccinated .
For the vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech , many trial participants endured side effects for a day or two after getting their shots , particularly the second one .
The most commonly reported side effect among vaccine recipients under age 55 was a sore arm , followed by fatigue ( 60 % after the second shot ) ; headache @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) ; other muscle aches ( 37 % ) ; and chills ( 35 % ) .
About 28 % took pain medication after the first shot and 45 % after the second shot .
Read more .
Can you get one dose from one vaccine and the second from another ?
The Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines both require two doses , given 21 and 28 days apart , respectively .
Since the vaccines differ in composition , storage and time between the two doses , experts say people must take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the level of immunity after one shot ?
The vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech was 52 % effective after the first dose , according to a recent FDA report .
However , because everyone received a second dose three weeks after the first , there ’ s no evidence of protection lasting longer than a few weeks after the first dose .
Read more .
How long will a COVID-19 vaccine be protective ?
There is no data on how long a vaccine will be protective .
FDA officials were expected to authorize Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic because it is safe and at least transiently effective , rather than withholding it for two years to await the typical long-term results required for a full approval .
Vaccine companies intend to follow trial participants for two years and submit a full application when they have that data .
Read more .
Once you get vaccinated , can you still get sick or spread the virus ?
Yes , it 's possible .
The potential vaccines are not 100 % effective , so there ’ s a small chance you could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It also typically takes `` a few weeks '' for the body to build immunity after vaccination , meaning a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick , according to the CDC .
Even after vaccination , it 's not clear whether someone could catch the virus that causes COVID-19 and pass it on to someone else , even without becoming ill .
The studies designed to test the candidate vaccines only examined symptomatic infections , not whether vaccinated people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people who are vaccinated can be pretty sure that they won ’ t develop COVID-19 themselves , but they could still pass it on to others without knowing they are infected .
Future studies will explore this .
Read more .
There has been concern that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus might cause a subsequent COVID-19 infection , as some dengue vaccines have been shown to do for that disease .
The FDA concluded that use of the vaccine has not been widespread enough to know for certain , but that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccine-enhanced disease , and conversely suggest effectiveness against severe disease within the available follow-up period . ''
The risk does remain over time as immunity against the disease wanes , the FDA said , and `` needs to be evaluated further in ongoing clinical trials . ''
Read more .
Which vaccines will be only one shot ?
Johnson & Johnson is developing a single-dose vaccine .
The company 's chief scientist said last month that the company expects to have all the data it needs to file for authorization by February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , should you still get vaccinated ?
People who have had COVID-19 `` may be advised '' to get the vaccine , `` due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible , '' according to the CDC .
If you 've had COVID-19 and recovered , you have what 's called natural immunity .
Studies have shown natural immunity to COVID-19 may last months to years .
Immunity from a vaccine is called vaccine-induced immunity , and it 's unclear how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 vaccine 'ingredients ' ?
None of the vaccines in development in the U.S. use the `` live '' virus that causes COVID-19 , according to the CDC .
Most of the vaccines under development introduce the `` spike '' protein found on the surface of the virus .
They train the immune system to recognize this protein and attack in case of infection .
But both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines depend on a technology never before used in a commercial vaccine : mRNA , or messenger ribonucleic acid .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines made ?
Pfizer has two plants making its COVID-19 vaccine , one in Kalamazoo , Michigan , and one in Puurs , Belgium .
The company has a distribution site in Pleasant Prairie , Wisconsin , where its vaccine is being stored .
There may also be other sites around the nation where the vaccine will be stored prior to authorization .
Moderna has started producing vaccine at its plant in Norwood , Massachusetts , and it will ramp up production in the next month with help from contract manufacturer Lonza Biologics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Hampshire .
How will the vaccine be shipped ?
The vaccine is shipped in glass vials , five-dose vials for Pfizer and 10-dose vials for Moderna .
The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at minus 94 degrees or below ; Moderna 's at minus 4 degrees .
Because of the ultracold storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine , it is being stored either at Pfizer production facilities or what are known as `` freezer farms , '' storage sites filled with row upon row of ultracold freezers about the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship its vaccine using UPS and FedEx as its main distributors .
Moderna 's vaccine distribution is being coordinated by McKesson , the nation 's largest medical supply distributor .
Read more .
What is the vaccine delivery schedule ?
Once the initial doses have shipped , the system will begin regular deliveries .
Each Thursday , Operation Warp Speed , the White House 's coronavirus vaccine initiative , will ask vaccine producers how much vaccine they have made during the week , Paul Ostrowski , who leads supply , production and distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speed , who walked USA TODAY through the process .
On Friday , staff will meet and decide how many doses can be allocated .
States will put in their orders on Saturday and deliveries will happen on Monday morning .
UPS , FedEx and McKesson all have 24-hour hotlines sites can call if there are delivery troubles .
In addition , Operation Warp Speed officials said they will have staff available at two operations centers , one in Washington and one in Atlanta , both with 24-hour hotlines .
Read more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Tiberius that allows states and local jurisdictions to order and track vaccine .
It records all allocations of COVID-19 vaccines to states , territories , cities and federal entities , said Col. Deacon Maddox , OWS Chief of Plans , Operations and Analysis .
It works in conjunction with the CDC 's Vaccine Tracking System , known as VTrckS , which has been distributing vaccine for children for a decade .
Read more .
How much does the vaccine cost ?
Both Moderna and Pfizer have agreed to provide the U.S. with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through federal support of manufacturing and distribution .
Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost , according to the CDC .
`` However , vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving or administering the shot to someone .
Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient ’ s public or private insurance company or , for uninsured patients , by the Health Resources and Services Administration ’ s Provider Relief Fund , '' the CDC says on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how vaccines are authorized , approved and monitored ?
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn answers questions here .

Adrianna Rodriguez, Grace Hauck, Elizabeth Weise and Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY

Your vaccine questions, answered: I had COVID, should I still get vaccinated? What are the side effects? What are its 'ingredients?'
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 vaccine concerns: You Asked, We Answered We asked you to tell us your biggest questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers. USA TODAY
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the first coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, and distribution of Pfizer's vaccine was underway over the weekend.
Moderna has also applied for emergency use authorization for its two-shot vaccine candidate, and more companies are expected to apply in the coming months. Meanwhile this week, Canada and the United Kingdom also authorized the widespread use of Pfizer's vaccine.
As vaccines are being produced in record time, what do we know about these shots? What are the side effects? Will you be immune? And will you have to take the vaccine once or every year?
We know you have questions, and we’re here to help. Ask us your vaccine questions through this online form, and we'll speak with public health experts to answer them below.
Here's what we know:
Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus?
There are more than 200 vaccine candidates under development, with 52 in clinical trials, according to the World Health Organization. As of late November, Phase 3 clinical trials were in progress or being planned for five vaccines in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S., United Kingdom and Canada have authorized the use of a vaccine developed by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech. China and Russia began rolling out their own vaccines before completing late-stage clinical trials.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine: Key committee endorsement paves way for clearance by FDA and vaccinations in US to begin
Is the vaccine safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released a 53-page report summarizing data from Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 candidate vaccine trial. The data supports earlier findings that the vaccine is safe and will prevent 95% of people from becoming sick with COVID-19. Read more.
If you already had COVID-19, should you still get vaccinated?
People who have had COVID-19 "may be advised" to get the vaccine, "due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible," according to the CDC.
If you've had COVID-19 and recovered, you have what's called natural immunity. Studies have shown natural immunity to COVID-19 may last months to years. Immunity from a vaccine is called vaccine-induced immunity, and it's unclear how long that may last.
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Will the vaccine be safe for children and pregnant women?
Historically, major vaccines have not been tested during pregnancy because of concerns that both the pregnant person and fetus would be at risk for complications. Pregnant and nursing people were not included in the Pfizer/BioNTech study, so there is no data to suggest whether they should avoid vaccination.
Dr. Peter Marks, who directs the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, said Saturday that pregnant people, children and those who are immunocompromised should discuss vaccination with their providers and "will need to consider on an individual basis."
In a Dec. 1 meeting of a CDC group that determines how vaccines should be allocated, several expert members said they expected the vaccine would be safe for mothers who are nursing because the virus itself does not seem to pass through the mother’s milk.
The Pfizer trial data only included children ages 16 and up, though the study has since been extended to age 12, and will include younger children as soon as the company decides what dose it wants to test in this group. Read more.
Related: No, the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t cause infertility in womenmen
What about 16- and 17-year-olds?
Although there's not as much data for this age group as others, officials believe they know enough to conclude the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks, Marks said.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds rarely get severely ill with COVID-19, but they do transmit it easily, often without showing symptoms. And some in that age group work jobs in which they interact with the public, such as check-out clerks.
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
Americans will likely experience at least one side effect from the COVID-19 vaccine, but doctors say that’s normal and you should still get vaccinated. For the vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech, many trial participants endured side effects for a day or two after getting their shots, particularly the second one.
The most commonly reported side effect among vaccine recipients under age 55 was a sore arm, followed by fatigue (60% after the second shot); headache (52% after the second shot); other muscle aches (37%); and chills (35%). About 28% took pain medication after the first shot and 45% after the second shot. Read more.
Can you get one dose from one vaccine and the second from another?
The Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines both require two doses, given 21 and 28 days apart, respectively. Since the vaccines differ in composition, storage and time between the two doses, experts say people must take the same vaccine for both doses.
What is the level of immunity after one shot?
The vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech was 52% effective after the first dose, according to a recent FDA report. However, because everyone received a second dose three weeks after the first, there’s no evidence of protection lasting longer than a few weeks after the first dose. Read more.
How long will a COVID-19 vaccine be protective?
There is no data on how long a vaccine will be protective. FDA officials were expected to authorize Pfizer's vaccine in the midst of the pandemic because it is safe and at least transiently effective, rather than withholding it for two years to await the typical long-term results required for a full approval. Vaccine companies intend to follow trial participants for two years and submit a full application when they have that data. Read more.
Once you get vaccinated, can you still get sick or spread the virus?
Yes, it's possible. The potential vaccines are not 100% effective, so there’s a small chance you could encounter the virus and still get sick. It also typically takes "a few weeks" for the body to build immunity after vaccination, meaning a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick, according to the CDC.
Even after vaccination, it's not clear whether someone could catch the virus that causes COVID-19 and pass it on to someone else, even without becoming ill. The studies designed to test the candidate vaccines only examined symptomatic infections, not whether vaccinated people could still be contagious. This means that people who are vaccinated can be pretty sure that they won’t develop COVID-19 themselves, but they could still pass it on to others without knowing they are infected. Future studies will explore this. Read more.
Could the vaccine make subsequent infections worse?
There has been concern that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus might cause a subsequent COVID-19 infection, as some dengue vaccines have been shown to do for that disease.
The FDA concluded that use of the vaccine has not been widespread enough to know for certain, but that "available data do not indicate a risk of vaccine-enhanced disease, and conversely suggest effectiveness against severe disease within the available follow-up period." The risk does remain over time as immunity against the disease wanes, the FDA said, and "needs to be evaluated further in ongoing clinical trials." Read more.
Which vaccines will be only one shot?
Johnson & Johnson is developing a single-dose vaccine. The company's chief scientist said last month that the company expects to have all the data it needs to file for authorization by February or sooner.
What are the COVID-19 vaccine 'ingredients?'
Experts say the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech looks pretty standard for a vaccine. They can be organized into four basic categories: the active ingredient (messenger RNA, in this case), fats, sugars and salt. Read more on ingredients.
None of the vaccines in development in the U.S. use the "live" virus that causes COVID-19, according to the CDC. Most of the vaccines under development introduce the "spike" protein found on the surface of the virus. They train the immune system to recognize this protein and attack in case of infection. But both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines depend on a technology never before used in a commercial vaccine: mRNA, or messenger ribonucleic acid. Read more on mRNA.
What if I have had an allergic reaction in the past?
About 1.6% of the population has had a severe allergic reaction to food or something in the environment, but they are eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Marks said. Only people who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one of its components should not receive the vaccine. Sites where the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are administered will be able to treat allergic reactions, Marks said.
Two British people with severe allergies apparently had reactions to Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine this week. Allergic reactions were not a significant problem in the U.S. trial, in which more than 20,000 people received two doses of the vaccine. The U.S. trials kept out subjects who have had severe allergic reactions.
Where are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines made?
Pfizer has two plants making its COVID-19 vaccine, one in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and one in Puurs, Belgium. The company has a distribution site in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where its vaccine is being stored.
Moderna has started producing vaccine at its plant in Norwood, Massachusetts, and it will ramp up production in the next month with help from contract manufacturer Lonza Biologics, which has a facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
How will the vaccine be shipped?
Shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine involves Pfizer personnel taking five-dose glass vials of vaccine out of subzero freezers and packing them into specially designed shipping containers, Wes Wheeler, president of Global Healthcare at UPS, told USA TODAY.
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped in insulated containers that hold between 195 and 975 five-dose vials and are about the size of a carry-on suitcase. The vials are stored in flat, pizza box-sized compartments, each of which holds 195 vials. A fully loaded thermal container, which is reusable, contains five of these and weighs about 70 pounds.
Pfizer will ship its vaccine using UPS and FedEx as its main distributors. Moderna's vaccine distribution is being coordinated by McKesson, the nation's largest medical supply distributor. Each carton will have a GPS tracker allowing it to be located in real-time anywhere in the world, as well as a Bluetooth tracker that can locate it within 10 feet inside a UPS facility, said Wheeler. Read more.
How much vaccine is there?
Approximately 2.9 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be distributed across the 50 states in the next few days, Gen. Gustave Perna, co-leader of Operation Warp Speed in charge of logistics, said Saturday. Another 2.9 doses are being held back to distribute later for the second shot, plus reserves.
More vaccine will be rolled out in the weeks and months to come, with Pfizer and Moderna expected to deliver a combined 300 million doses of their vaccines by the middle of next year, enough to vaccinate nearly half the population of the U.S.
What is the vaccine delivery schedule?
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be sent to to 636 hospitals, clinics and public health systems nationwide this week, with 145 sites receiving doses Monday, 425 on Tuesday and the final 66 on Wednesday, Perna said.
Once the initial doses have shipped, the system will begin regular deliveries. Each Thursday, Operation Warp Speed, the White House's coronavirus vaccine initiative, will ask vaccine producers how much vaccine they have made during the week, Paul Ostrowski, who leads supply, production and distribution for the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, who walked USA TODAY through the process. On Friday, staff will meet and decide how many doses can be allocated. States will put in their orders on Saturday and deliveries will happen on Monday morning, he said.
UPS, FedEx and McKesson all have 24-hour hotlines sites can call if there are delivery troubles. In addition, Operation Warp Speed officials said they will have staff available at two operations centers, one in Washington and one in Atlanta, both with 24-hour hotlines. Read more.
How does Operation Warp Speed track doses?
Operation Warp Speed created a software system called Tiberius that allows states and local jurisdictions to order and track vaccine. It records all allocations of COVID-19 vaccines to states, territories, cities and federal entities, said Col. Deacon Maddox, OWS Chief of Plans, Operations and Analysis. It works in conjunction with the CDC's Vaccine Tracking System, known as VTrckS, which has been distributing vaccine for children for a decade. Read more.
How much does the vaccine cost?
Moderna has agreed to provide the U.S. with 200 million doses and Pfizer at least 100 million by the middle of next year, have agreed to provide the U.S. with 100 million doses apiece, already funded through federal support of manufacturing and distribution. Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost, according to the CDC.
"However, vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving or administering the shot to someone. Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund," the CDC says on its website.


usatoday--2020-12-12--Facing Electoral College vote, Trump continues election attack, but without risks to him, experts sa

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump shows no sign of ending his assault on the results of the November presidential election , even with his legal options dwindling and the Electoral College just days away from sealing his fate .
In yet another move aimed at overturning a democratically held election he lost , Trump blasted out a barrage of messages on Twitter on Friday calling into question the election results and urging the Supreme Court to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states – a move the court rejected Friday evening .
“ Follow the Constitution and do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump implored justices on the nation ’ s highest court .
But beyond the usual rage and ridicule such tweets elicit on social media , Trump likely faces no real consequences – legally or politically – for his constant attacks on one of democracy ’ s most basic tenets .
“ For Trump , there may be little fallout save for his legacy as president , which will undoubtedly be stained by his conduct , ” said Lauren Wright , a political scientist at Princeton University .
Top honors : Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Kamala Harris as Person of the Year The newest front in Trump ’ s attack on electoral process opened on Wednesday , when his attorneys asked the Supreme Court to let him intervene in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and endorsed by 17 other Republican state attorneys general .
The lawsuit claimed that four battleground states – Pennsylvania , Michigan , Georgia and Wisconsin – illegally expanded mail-in balloting that helped his Democratic opponent , President-elect Joe Biden .
The lawsuit asked that votes cast in those states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to appoint new electors .
Legal experts said the lawsuit lacked legal merit , just like more than four dozen lawsuits Trump or his supporters have filed since the election – and that have been dropped or rejected in the courts .
The court agreed in its brief order : `` Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections . ''
Analysts said Trump does not face any substantial legal consequences for continuing to pursue court challenges and suggested that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts is closing quickly .
“ Unless the Supreme Court acts on the Texas case , which I think is highly unlikely , there are no legal avenues left for President Trump and his supporters , ” said Erwin Chemerinsky , dean of the Berkeley Law School at the University of California .
“ After ( the Electoral College ) votes , it is inconceivable that a court would overturn its decision.
” 'The moment of truth ' : The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept Chemerinsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump then would be for Congress to refuse to recognize electors from particular states .
“ But that would take agreement of the House and the Senate , and that obviously won ’ t happen , ” Chemerinsky said .
The president or his attorneys could face sanctions if they continue to pursue lawsuits after they ’ ve been rendered meritless , or file new ones making the same baseless claims , said Jon Greenbaum , chief counsel and senior deputy director of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against attorneys or parties if they file frivolous claims by ordering them to pay for the other party ’ s expenses .
While sanctions may very well be warranted , they ’ re unlikely to happen , experts say .
Judges rarely issue such sanctions and may not want to do so in the current political environment because of the risk of being perceived as partisan , said Paul Smith , vice president of litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center .
And defendants that Trump sued in several swing states don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions , which would only lead to more proceedings in which they must prove , again , that the president ’ s claims are frivolous , Smith said .
Such sanctions are more common in commercial cases , where private parties are more inclined to make sure the other side pays everything it owes , he added .
“ These are government defendants .
They don ’ t have a lot of ( personal ) incentive to start the case all over , ” Smith said .
“ Does the secretary of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to another whole process of litigating for a relatively small amount of money ?
I think they ’ ll probably just let the matter drop and let this whole controversy boil over once we have a new president.
” Running out of time : An important Electoral College deadline has passed .
Here 's why that 's bad news for Trump On Monday , the nation will edge closer to getting a new president when members of the Electoral College convene in statehouses across the country and cast their votes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular votes in their states .
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are set to end the day with 306 electoral votes , topping Trump 's 232 , giving the Democratic ticket a comfortable margin for victory .
The Electoral College vote effectively forecloses any further legal challenge to overturning the election , said Edward Foley , director of Ohio State University ’ s election law program .
“ After Monday , the forum moves to Congress , ” Foley said .
Foley characterized the president ’ s continuing election challenges as akin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He certainly shouldn ’ t be pursuing litigation , if he had an ounce of patriotism in him , ” Foley said .
“ Elections are to be decided by the will of the people .
Everything he is doing is antithetical to that.
” While Foley said he was not aware of any meaningful legal consequences for Trump ’ s pursuit , it should not absolve him of potential political risk .
“ The kind of conduct he has engaged in , I believe , is an abuse of office more egregious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment ) , ” Foley said .
“ It should be perceived as disqualifying in 2024.
” Politically there are few risks for Trump in relentlessly attacking the election results , analysts say .
“ I do n't think that this hurts Trump with his most ardent supporters , ” said Jennifer Mercieca , a historian of American political rhetoric and an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A & M University .
Trump ’ s diehard supporters tend to think the democratic rules of the game already have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more democratic for Trump to break them than to follow them , ” said Mercieca , author of `` Demagogue For President : The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump . ''
“ They like him because he fights for them , and in fighting for his reelection he 's really fighting for them , for the chance to keep fighting for them , ” she said .
“ He 's promised them that he 'd never stop fighting for them , so for them , he 's just fulfilling his promises .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been doing as the actions of a sore loser and a would-be authoritarian who violates democratic norms.
” Cases dismissed : A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden 's election win While Trump himself may face no fallout , the immediate and future consequences for the Republican Party are “ material and substantial , ” Wright said .
“ In the short term , baseless claims about election fraud could very well suppress enough votes to cost the GOP two sorely needed Senate seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , referring to two Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5 .
The races pit Republican incumbents , Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Rev .
Raphael Warnock .
If Democrats win , the Senate will be split 50-50 , with Vice President-elect Harris having the power to cast a deciding vote .
A Democrat in the White House would typically be a rallying cry for Republicans , who could easily point to the importance of winning the two Georgia seats to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ election-trutherism makes this more difficult , ” she said .
“ Trump 's voters are asking an understandable question : If this is all rigged like you say , why would we bother to vote ?
” Trump ’ s relentless attacks on the election process could further undermine Americans ’ faith in the institutions of government , Mercieca said .
Trump , who became a political figure with his `` birther '' conspiracy against President Barack Obama , circulates and amplifies fringe content from conspiracy websites and messaging boards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has served his interests very well , ” she said , “ but it 's corrosive for democratic stability.
” Trump set the stage for his current attacks on the democratic process all summer long , essentially priming his followers to believe that the election would be corrupted so that , when he later claimed that it was rigged , they would believe him , Mercieca said .
“ His followers do believe him , ” she said , “ and even though legal scholars have explained that his legal challenges have offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thus , have no merit , his followers either do n't get those messages or do n't believe them.
” Conspiracy theories pose risks to public safety , weaken democratic institutions and make Americans vulnerable to threats from foreign adversaries , Wright said .
Trump ’ s assault on the elections process may not hurt him personally , she said , but there are consequences for the country as a whole – “ the scale of which we may not yet perceive.
” Policy shift : After years of denial under President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confront domestic extremism

Michael Collins, Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Facing Electoral College vote, Trump continues election attack, but without risks to him, experts say
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden and Kamala Harris named Time's Person of the Year for 2020 President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were collectively chosen as Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2020. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump shows no sign of ending his assault on the results of the November presidential election, even with his legal options dwindling and the Electoral College just days away from sealing his fate.
In yet another move aimed at overturning a democratically held election he lost, Trump blasted out a barrage of messages on Twitter on Friday calling into question the election results and urging the Supreme Court to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states – a move the court rejected Friday evening.
“Follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done,” Trump implored justices on the nation’s highest court.
“Show great Courage & Wisdom,” he demanded.
But beyond the usual rage and ridicule such tweets elicit on social media, Trump likely faces no real consequences – legally or politically – for his constant attacks on one of democracy’s most basic tenets.
“For Trump, there may be little fallout save for his legacy as president, which will undoubtedly be stained by his conduct,” said Lauren Wright, a political scientist at Princeton University.
Top honors: Time magazine names President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as Person of the Year
The newest front in Trump’s attack on electoral process opened on Wednesday, when his attorneys asked the Supreme Court to let him intervene in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and endorsed by 17 other Republican state attorneys general.
The lawsuit claimed that four battleground states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Wisconsin – illegally expanded mail-in balloting that helped his Democratic opponent, President-elect Joe Biden. The lawsuit asked that votes cast in those states be tossed out and that state legislatures be allowed to appoint new electors.
Legal experts said the lawsuit lacked legal merit, just like more than four dozen lawsuits Trump or his supporters have filed since the election – and that have been dropped or rejected in the courts.
The court agreed in its brief order: "Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections."
Analysts said Trump does not face any substantial legal consequences for continuing to pursue court challenges and suggested that the window for winning any relief in the courts is closing quickly.
“Unless the Supreme Court acts on the Texas case, which I think is highly unlikely, there are no legal avenues left for President Trump and his supporters,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the Berkeley Law School at the University of California. “After (the Electoral College) votes, it is inconceivable that a court would overturn its decision.”
'The moment of truth': The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept
Chemerinsky said the “only remaining avenue” for Trump then would be for Congress to refuse to recognize electors from particular states.
“But that would take agreement of the House and the Senate, and that obviously won’t happen,” Chemerinsky said.
The president or his attorneys could face sanctions if they continue to pursue lawsuits after they’ve been rendered meritless, or file new ones making the same baseless claims, said Jon Greenbaum, chief counsel and senior deputy director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
Under federal rules, judges may impose sanctions against attorneys or parties if they file frivolous claims by ordering them to pay for the other party’s expenses. While sanctions may very well be warranted, they’re unlikely to happen, experts say.
Judges rarely issue such sanctions and may not want to do so in the current political environment because of the risk of being perceived as partisan, said Paul Smith, vice president of litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center.
And defendants that Trump sued in several swing states don’t have an incentive to seek sanctions, which would only lead to more proceedings in which they must prove, again, that the president’s claims are frivolous, Smith said. Such sanctions are more common in commercial cases, where private parties are more inclined to make sure the other side pays everything it owes, he added.
“These are government defendants. They don’t have a lot of (personal) incentive to start the case all over,” Smith said. “Does the secretary of state or the governor of a state want to go to another whole process of litigating for a relatively small amount of money? I think they’ll probably just let the matter drop and let this whole controversy boil over once we have a new president.”
Running out of time: An important Electoral College deadline has passed. Here's why that's bad news for Trump
'Electoral McCarthyism'
On Monday, the nation will edge closer to getting a new president when members of the Electoral College convene in statehouses across the country and cast their votes for either Trump or Biden, reflecting the popular votes in their states.
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are set to end the day with 306 electoral votes, topping Trump's 232, giving the Democratic ticket a comfortable margin for victory.
The Electoral College vote effectively forecloses any further legal challenge to overturning the election, said Edward Foley, director of Ohio State University’s election law program.
“After Monday, the forum moves to Congress,” Foley said.
Foley characterized the president’s continuing election challenges as akin to “electoral McCarthyism."
“He certainly shouldn’t be pursuing litigation, if he had an ounce of patriotism in him,” Foley said. “Elections are to be decided by the will of the people. Everything he is doing is antithetical to that.”
While Foley said he was not aware of any meaningful legal consequences for Trump’s pursuit, it should not absolve him of potential political risk.
“The kind of conduct he has engaged in, I believe, is an abuse of office more egregious than (the conduct resulting in his impeachment),” Foley said. “It should be perceived as disqualifying in 2024.”
Politically there are few risks for Trump in relentlessly attacking the election results, analysts say.
“I don't think that this hurts Trump with his most ardent supporters,” said Jennifer Mercieca, a historian of American political rhetoric and an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University.
Trump’s diehard supporters tend to think the democratic rules of the game already have been broken, “and so it is more democratic for Trump to break them than to follow them,” said Mercieca, author of "Demagogue For President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump."
“They like him because he fights for them, and in fighting for his reelection he's really fighting for them, for the chance to keep fighting for them,” she said. “He's promised them that he'd never stop fighting for them, so for them, he's just fulfilling his promises. Others, of course, see what he's been doing as the actions of a sore loser and a would-be authoritarian who violates democratic norms.”
Cases dismissed: A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden's election win
'Election-trutherism'
While Trump himself may face no fallout, the immediate and future consequences for the Republican Party are “material and substantial,” Wright said.
“In the short term, baseless claims about election fraud could very well suppress enough votes to cost the GOP two sorely needed Senate seats in a close race,” Wright said, referring to two Senate runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.
The races pit Republican incumbents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. If Democrats win, the Senate will be split 50-50, with Vice President-elect Harris having the power to cast a deciding vote.
A Democrat in the White House would typically be a rallying cry for Republicans, who could easily point to the importance of winning the two Georgia seats to protect Trump-era policies, Wright said.
But, “election-trutherism makes this more difficult,” she said. “Trump's voters are asking an understandable question: If this is all rigged like you say, why would we bother to vote?”
Trump’s relentless attacks on the election process could further undermine Americans’ faith in the institutions of government, Mercieca said.
Trump, who became a political figure with his "birther" conspiracy against President Barack Obama, circulates and amplifies fringe content from conspiracy websites and messaging boards, Mercieca said.
“All of this has served his interests very well,” she said, “but it's corrosive for democratic stability.”
Trump set the stage for his current attacks on the democratic process all summer long, essentially priming his followers to believe that the election would be corrupted so that, when he later claimed that it was rigged, they would believe him, Mercieca said.
“His followers do believe him,” she said, “and even though legal scholars have explained that his legal challenges have offered no compelling evidence of voter fraud and, thus, have no merit, his followers either don't get those messages or don't believe them.”
Conspiracy theories pose risks to public safety, weaken democratic institutions and make Americans vulnerable to threats from foreign adversaries, Wright said.
Trump’s assault on the elections process may not hurt him personally, she said, but there are consequences for the country as a whole – “the scale of which we may not yet perceive.”
Contributing: Joey Garrison and Tom Vanden Brook
Policy shift: After years of denial under President Trump, experts expect Joe Biden to confront domestic extremism


usatoday--2020-12-12--Trump signs spending bill pushing government shutdown deadline by one week

WASHINGTON – The Senate unanimously passed a stopgap funding measure Friday to avoid a government shutdown for one week while lawmakers work to close a deal on government funding .
Trump signed the spending bill into law Friday evening .
The White House made the announcement just minutes after the Supreme Court rejected a Trump-backed election protest filed by the state of Texas .
The bill , which keeps the government open at current funding levels , was already passed by the House earlier this week .
The prospect of a government shutdown loomed Thursday evening as Sen. Rand Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage of the funding measure over his objections to provisions in a defense authorization bill .
But by Friday morning , Paul lifted his objection , telling reporters on Capitol Hill he would allow the government funding measure to proceed .
Negotiations over a comprehensive government funding bill have stalled , with lawmakers unable to close the gap on several issues , including border wall funding and funding for detention beds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
Another stumbling block is Democrats ' attempt to incorporate language on police reform after a summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of Black people , including George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Sen. Richard Shelby , R-Ala. , the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee , told reporters Thursday that senators were close on a spending deal but `` there are a few things out there '' to resolve .
Electoral College : 'The moment of truth ' : The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept Live politics updates : Trump refers to the 'Biden administration ' as Electoral College prepares to vote Monday While both sides of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdowns have n't been rare over the last several years .
Since Trump took office , the government has shut down three times , including for 35 days in 2018 – the longest-ever shutdown in modern U.S. history .
It stemmed from a standoff between Congress and the White House over funding for a wall along the southern U.S. border .
If Congress and the White House are n't able to come to an agreement , thousands of government workers considered nonessential would again be furloughed or forced to work without pay until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the economy touching everything from agencies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to air travel .
National parks may close , airport operations could slow and the paralysis could affect the economy , which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic .
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated tax revenue was down $ 2 billion in 2019 because the IRS had halted some operations during the 2018 shutdown .
At the same time they try to close a deal on a spending bill , lawmakers have continued a monthslong attempt to pass another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve potentially billions of dollars for critical programs and renew aid programs that have already lapsed or are set to expire after Christmas .
Some senators think the stimulus legislation could be included in a government funding deal , assuming deals on government funding and stimulus come together in time .
`` The fact is , we 're not going to have a standalone COVID-19 bill .
It will be part of the omnibus if it 's there at all , '' Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , told reporters Wednesday , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it 's probably not going to be as expansive as many of us would like . ''
More : Tulsi Gabbard introduces bill that ties Title IX protections for female athletes to 'biological sex' Despite months of negotiations , lawmakers have a short amount of time left to pass a deal before they leave for Christmas , and with competing proposals on Capitol Hill , it remains unclear if lawmakers will be able to come together on a compromise .
Democrats have staked their hopes on a bipartisan group of lawmakers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the group has not yet reached a final agreement on the language of their proposal .
Senate Republican leaders and the White House , on the other hand , have pitched a new relief proposal that includes $ 600 stimulus payments but cuts a boost to federal unemployment benefits .
For months , the largest sticking points in negotiations have remained liability protections for businesses , a Republican priority , and aid for state and local governments , which Democrats want in any deal .

Trump signs spending bill pushing government shutdown deadline by one week
Show Caption Hide Caption Health care professionals can decline COVID-19 vaccine for now As the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, people are wondering if they will be required to take it to go back to work. History provides some clues. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Senate unanimously passed a stopgap funding measure Friday to avoid a government shutdown for one week while lawmakers work to close a deal on government funding.
Trump signed the spending bill into law Friday evening. The White House made the announcement just minutes after the Supreme Court rejected a Trump-backed election protest filed by the state of Texas.
The bill, which keeps the government open at current funding levels, was already passed by the House earlier this week.
The prospect of a government shutdown loomed Thursday evening as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., threatened to hold up passage of the funding measure over his objections to provisions in a defense authorization bill. But by Friday morning, Paul lifted his objection, telling reporters on Capitol Hill he would allow the government funding measure to proceed.
Negotiations over a comprehensive government funding bill have stalled, with lawmakers unable to close the gap on several issues, including border wall funding and funding for detention beds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Another stumbling block is Democrats' attempt to incorporate language on police reform after a summer of protests over systemic racism and the killing of Black people, including George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters Thursday that senators were close on a spending deal but "there are a few things out there" to resolve.
Electoral College: 'The moment of truth': The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept
Live politics updates: Trump refers to the 'Biden administration' as Electoral College prepares to vote Monday
While both sides of the aisle have promised a deal, shutdowns haven't been rare over the last several years. Since Trump took office, the government has shut down three times, including for 35 days in 2018 – the longest-ever shutdown in modern U.S. history. It stemmed from a standoff between Congress and the White House over funding for a wall along the southern U.S. border.
If Congress and the White House aren't able to come to an agreement, thousands of government workers considered nonessential would again be furloughed or forced to work without pay until the shutdown ends, with ripple effects across the economy touching everything from agencies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to air travel.
National parks may close, airport operations could slow and the paralysis could affect the economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated tax revenue was down $2 billion in 2019 because the IRS had halted some operations during the 2018 shutdown.
At the same time they try to close a deal on a spending bill, lawmakers have continued a monthslong attempt to pass another COVID-19 relief bill. Congress hopes to approve potentially billions of dollars for critical programs and renew aid programs that have already lapsed or are set to expire after Christmas.
Some senators think the stimulus legislation could be included in a government funding deal, assuming deals on government funding and stimulus come together in time.
"The fact is, we're not going to have a standalone COVID-19 bill. It will be part of the omnibus if it's there at all," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters Wednesday, referring to a comprehensive spending bill. " And so it's probably not going to be as expansive as many of us would like."
More: Tulsi Gabbard introduces bill that ties Title IX protections for female athletes to 'biological sex'
Despite months of negotiations, lawmakers have a short amount of time left to pass a deal before they leave for Christmas, and with competing proposals on Capitol Hill, it remains unclear if lawmakers will be able to come together on a compromise.
Democrats have staked their hopes on a bipartisan group of lawmakers who have continued meeting to negotiate a deal, but the group has not yet reached a final agreement on the language of their proposal. Senate Republican leaders and the White House, on the other hand, have pitched a new relief proposal that includes $600 stimulus payments but cuts a boost to federal unemployment benefits.
For months, the largest sticking points in negotiations have remained liability protections for businesses, a Republican priority, and aid for state and local governments, which Democrats want in any deal.
Contributing: Christal Hayes, John Fritze


usatoday--2020-12-11--FBI agents seek records in probe of Texas attorney general Ken Paxton

AUSTIN — Federal agents served at least one subpoena Wednesday on the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an ongoing investigation into allegations that Paxton abused his authority by helping a friend and campaign donor .
Three sources confirmed to the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV that FBI agents delivered the request for information to the agency ’ s headquarters on West 14th Street .
The sources did not immediately know how many subpoenas were issued or what information FBI agents sought .
Federal authorities are investigating claims by former top Paxton aides that he used his position to aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were raided by the FBI last year .
FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee said Thursday that she could not comment , and the bureau has not publicly confirmed an investigation .
Paxton said in a statement Thursday evening : `` At all times , as in every matter , I ask my staff only to search for the truth , wherever it leads .
That 's my responsibility as Attorney General of Texas . ''
The issuance of a federal subpoena on a state agency , and especially involving the state ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that likely would have required higher level approval from the U.S. Justice Department .
It came as Paxton has received national attention this week after filing a lawsuit to overturn presidential election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden .
The visit from federal agents also came the day before Paxton was among a dozen state attorneys general to meet with President Donald Trump in what officials described as a previously scheduled meeting to discuss a range of topics .
The allegations about Paxton surfaced in October when the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence , abuse of office , bribery and other potential crimes .
READ MORE : AG Ken Paxton on misconduct allegations : ‘ I make no apologies ’ The group contended that Paxton , against their recommendation , hired an outside attorney to investigate claims by Paul that the FBI violated his constitutional rights during the raid .
Paxton 's staff have said they had already reviewed Paul ’ s complaint and closed the matter after finding no wrongdoing .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Paxton , including calls for his resignation by some fellow Republicans , and led to the launch of the federal investigation .
FBI agents and federal prosecutors in the weeks since have conducted interviews with anyone who might have information about Paxton ’ s involvement with Paul .
Four of the agency executives last month filed a whistleblower lawsuit that expanded upon their claims , saying that Paxton also improperly advocated for the release of investigative records to Paul and ordered staff to issue a legal opinion limiting foreclosure sales during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The suit claimed that Paxton ’ s actions benefited himself and a woman with whom he was reportedly having an affair and had recommended for a job with Paul , according to the suit and an anonymously sourced report by The Associated Press .
The whistleblowers have since either left or been fired from the agency and accused Paxton of retaliation .
Paxton has said in a series of public statements that he denies violating any law .
He said that he is a “ fierce investigator and defender of individual rights in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions.
” Paxton remains under indictment on 2015 charges after a Collin County grand jury indicted him on two counts of securities fraud and one count of failing to register with state securities regulators based on private business deals from 2011 and 2012 .
Paxton has accused prosecutors of overzealous pursuit of the charges , particularly the fraud accusations — first-degree felonies that carry a maximum punishment of 99 years in prison .

Tony Plohetski, Austin American-Statesman

FBI agents seek records in probe of Texas attorney general Ken Paxton
Show Caption Hide Caption AP Debrief on Trump election lawsuits AP Debrief on Trump election lawsuits AP
AUSTIN — Federal agents served at least one subpoena Wednesday on the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an ongoing investigation into allegations that Paxton abused his authority by helping a friend and campaign donor.
Three sources confirmed to the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV that FBI agents delivered the request for information to the agency’s headquarters on West 14th Street. The sources did not immediately know how many subpoenas were issued or what information FBI agents sought.
Federal authorities are investigating claims by former top Paxton aides that he used his position to aid Austin investor Nate Paul, whose offices were raided by the FBI last year.
FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee said Thursday that she could not comment, and the bureau has not publicly confirmed an investigation.
Paxton said in a statement Thursday evening: "At all times, as in every matter, I ask my staff only to search for the truth, wherever it leads. That's my responsibility as Attorney General of Texas."
The issuance of a federal subpoena on a state agency, and especially involving the state’s top attorney, is a highly unusual move that likely would have required higher level approval from the U.S. Justice Department.
It came as Paxton has received national attention this week after filing a lawsuit to overturn presidential election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden. The visit from federal agents also came the day before Paxton was among a dozen state attorneys general to meet with President Donald Trump in what officials described as a previously scheduled meeting to discuss a range of topics.
The allegations about Paxton surfaced in October when the former top officials issued a letter to Paxton saying they asked federal law enforcement authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes.
READ MORE: AG Ken Paxton on misconduct allegations: ‘I make no apologies’
The group contended that Paxton, against their recommendation, hired an outside attorney to investigate claims by Paul that the FBI violated his constitutional rights during the raid. Paxton's staff have said they had already reviewed Paul’s complaint and closed the matter after finding no wrongdoing.
Their complaint touched off weeks of political fallout for Paxton, including calls for his resignation by some fellow Republicans, and led to the launch of the federal investigation.
FBI agents and federal prosecutors in the weeks since have conducted interviews with anyone who might have information about Paxton’s involvement with Paul.
Four of the agency executives last month filed a whistleblower lawsuit that expanded upon their claims, saying that Paxton also improperly advocated for the release of investigative records to Paul and ordered staff to issue a legal opinion limiting foreclosure sales during the pandemic — allegedly to help Paul. The suit claimed that Paxton’s actions benefited himself and a woman with whom he was reportedly having an affair and had recommended for a job with Paul, according to the suit and an anonymously sourced report by The Associated Press.
The whistleblowers have since either left or been fired from the agency and accused Paxton of retaliation.
Paxton has said in a series of public statements that he denies violating any law. He said that he is a “fierce investigator and defender of individual rights in the face of potentially unreasonable and authoritarian actions.”
Paxton remains under indictment on 2015 charges after a Collin County grand jury indicted him on two counts of securities fraud and one count of failing to register with state securities regulators based on private business deals from 2011 and 2012.
Paxton has accused prosecutors of overzealous pursuit of the charges, particularly the fraud accusations — first-degree felonies that carry a maximum punishment of 99 years in prison.