usatoday--2020-11-19--'Cake Boss' star Buddy Valastro on if he'll bake again after injury: 'Only time will tell'

`` Cake Boss '' star Buddy Valastro is giving fans a health update after suffering a gruesome hand injury earlier this year .
In an interview with ET published Wednesday , the reality TV chef said he 's `` trying to look at the glass half full '' as his hand continues to recover .
In September , Carlo 's Bakery spokesperson Michael Ciullo told USA TODAY that the famed pastry chef 's hand was repeatedly impaled by a `` metal rod '' during a `` malfunction with the bowling pinsetter '' at the bowling alley in his New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm in good spirits , '' Valastro said .
`` I 'm taking it day by day and cake by cake . ''
The chef added that he 's `` on surgery number three , '' though it 's possible this procedure wo n't be his last .
`` We think potentially another one , maybe two or three , '' Valastro said , when asked if he 'll need more surgeries in the future .
`` The swelling could take a year to go down .
I 'd say I 'm probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strength I used to have . ''
Though Valastro said he 's `` not ready to be on the sidelines yet , '' he added his future as a baker is uncertain .
`` I do n't know how much I 'm gon na be able to do , '' he said , when asked if he 'll still be able to make cakes .
`` I might be like a boxer who 's got the heart , but ai n't got the tools any more .
Whether I have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm gon na try to do it with all my heart and only time will tell . ''
Valastro also spoke about an upcoming TLC special that will document the injury as well as his road to recovery , revealing that he recently returned to the bowling alley for the first time since his injury .
`` I actually went for the first time with a camera crew last week , '' he said .
`` It was emotional . ''
In late September , Valastro gave his first interview since the injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bowling machine `` just blew out half of my hand . ''
`` I thought I was going to faint , '' he continued .
`` I looked at my hand and there was blood everywhere . ''
According to Ciullo , Valastro was trapped in the bowling machine for five minutes before the chef 's teen sons , Buddy Jr. and Marco , used a reciprocating saw `` to cut through the metal rod and relieve ( their ) father from the machine . ''
`` After trying to release the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit , '' Ciullo said in a statement .
`` Unable to remove his hand , he can see a 1½ ( inch ) metal rod slowly and repeatedly impale his hand three times between his ring finger and middle finger . ''

'Cake Boss' star Buddy Valastro on if he'll bake again after injury: 'Only time will tell'
Show Caption Hide Caption 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro details gruesome hand injury 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro gets teary-eyed on the "Today" show describing how his family helped him after an accident led to a gruesome hand injury. Entertain This!, USA TODAY
"Cake Boss" star Buddy Valastro is giving fans a health update after suffering a gruesome hand injury earlier this year.
In an interview with ET published Wednesday, the reality TV chef said he's "trying to look at the glass half full" as his hand continues to recover. In September, Carlo's Bakery spokesperson Michael Ciullo told USA TODAY that the famed pastry chef's hand was repeatedly impaled by a "metal rod" during a "malfunction with the bowling pinsetter" at the bowling alley in his New Jersey home.
"I feel like I'm in good spirits," Valastro said. "I'm taking it day by day and cake by cake."
The chef added that he's "on surgery number three," though it's possible this procedure won't be his last.
"We think potentially another one, maybe two or three," Valastro said, when asked if he'll need more surgeries in the future. "The swelling could take a year to go down. I'd say I'm probably at like 10 or 15 percent of the strength I used to have."
Though Valastro said he's "not ready to be on the sidelines yet," he added his future as a baker is uncertain.
"I don't know how much I'm gonna be able to do," he said, when asked if he'll still be able to make cakes. "I might be like a boxer who's got the heart, but ain't got the tools any more. Whether I have to do it left-handed at 30 percent, I'm gonna try to do it with all my heart and only time will tell."
Valastro also spoke about an upcoming TLC special that will document the injury as well as his road to recovery, revealing that he recently returned to the bowling alley for the first time since his injury.
'Cake Boss' star Buddy Valastro's gruesome hand impaling detailed in upcoming TLC special
"I actually went for the first time with a camera crew last week," he said. "It was emotional."
In late September, Valastro gave his first interview since the injury to "Today," describing how the bowling machine "just blew out half of my hand."
"I thought I was going to faint," he continued. "I looked at my hand and there was blood everywhere."
According to Ciullo, Valastro was trapped in the bowling machine for five minutes before the chef's teen sons, Buddy Jr. and Marco, used a reciprocating saw "to cut through the metal rod and relieve (their) father from the machine."
"After trying to release the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit," Ciullo said in a statement. "Unable to remove his hand, he can see a 1½ (inch) metal rod slowly and repeatedly impale his hand three times between his ring finger and middle finger."
'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro's hand impaled during 'terrible accident' at home bowling alley


usatoday--2020-11-19--In meeting with Biden, emergency workers plead for equipment, testing to combat 'skyrocketing' coron

As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office in two months , he heard Wednesday from a firefighter , nurses and a caregiver who described chronic shortages of protective equipment , tests and contact tracing to combat the coronavirus pandemic .
The virus , combined with rebuilding the economy , is the biggest challenge facing Biden .
The online roundtable came as the number of cases nationwide grows rapidly , with more than 11 million cases nationwide and nearly 250,000 deaths so far .
Mary Turner , an intensive-care nurse who is president of Minnesota Nurses Association , began crying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dying patient or caring for a colleague who had fallen ill. She said earlier in the pandemic , nurses were using single-use masks for 10 shifts .
While caring for COVID-19 patients since February , Turner said she still hasn ’ t been tested .
“ You ’ re kidding me , ” Biden said during the roundtable from The Queen theater in Wilmington , Delaware .
More : 'Compromised position ' : Dr. Anthony Fauci on why he thinks he has n't heard from Joe Biden 's team The virtual meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president held in the past week , to demonstrate his preparation for the presidency , even as President Donald Trump continues to fight election results in court and asked for a partial recount in Wisconsin .
On Friday , Biden met with members of his COVID-19 Advisory Board , including Dr. Vivek Murthy , a former surgeon general ; Dr. David Kessler , former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration ; and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith of the Yale School of Medicine .
On Monday , Biden met virtually with corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely rebuild the economy .
On Tuesday , Biden met with military , intelligence and foreign-affairs experts outside government to hear about the biggest national security challenges facing the country , despite the Trump administration refusing to provide security briefings as part of the transition .
To combat the pandemic , Biden has urged a national requirement for everyone to wear masks for at least two months and to practice social distancing .
But governors –rather than the president – are responsible for those kinds of orders .
Biden said more state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks and practice social distancing as the number of deaths is projected to hit 400,000 by his inauguration Jan. 20 .
“ This has reached a proportion that is way , way , way out of whack , '' Biden said .
`` It is skyrocketing with no real end in sight . ''
“ What I ’ m hoping is we don ’ t have to have any more suffering to convince the public at large that this requires some very significant action , '' he added .
Most of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment and paid sick leave for frontline workers depend on rescinding much of Trump 's tax cut for corporations and wealthy individuals .
But congressional Republicans who control the Senate reacted skeptically to more spending , which Biden said could change when Trump leaves office .
More : Poll : More Americans happy Donald Trump lost than are happy Joe Biden won '' Hopefully when he ’ s gone , they ’ ll be more willing to do what they know needs to be done , what has to be done , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4416 in Hamilton County , Indiana , told Biden that face masks are being reused despite being intended for single use .
He said hospitals were given priority for protective equipment , leaving firefighters , emergency medical technicians and paramedics to fend for themselves .
“ That puts our patients at risk , ” Murray said .
Turner , the ICU nurse , urged greater distribution of protective equipment , testing and tracing the contacts of people who are infected .
She said nurses have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
“ There is something seriously wrong when nurses have to take to the street to beg for protection in the middle of a pandemic .
“ We ’ re not being given the protection that we need . ''
More:6 lawmakers in 5 days : New COVID-19 infections put spotlight on Congress ’ loose guidelines Patricia Forrai-Gunter , a school nurse in Cleveland who sits on the executive board of the American Federation of Teachers , said when schools closed in her city in March 20 , workers drove their emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide when and how to reopen , she said schools don ’ t have any equipment and in some cases have poor ventilation .
“ We ’ re ready to help , if we could just have some more boots on the ground , ” she said .
The General Services Administration hasn ’ t approved a formal transition for Biden to prepare for office .
He said that prevented him from learning about the size of stockpiles of protective equipment .
“ We know there ’ s not much at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also eager to learn about the plan for delivering potential vaccines to more than 300 million Americans : who is first in line , how will they be distributed .
“ There ’ s a whole lot of things not being made available to us , ” Biden said .

In meeting with Biden, emergency workers plead for equipment, testing to combat 'skyrocketing' coronavirus cases
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden urges Americans to limit Thanksgiving plans President-elect Joe Biden is urging all Americans to follow the advice of health and medical professionals when making their Thanksgiving plans amid the ongoing pandemic. Biden says he and his wife Jill are having the same discussions. (Nov. 16) AP
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office in two months, he heard Wednesday from a firefighter, nurses and a caregiver who described chronic shortages of protective equipment, tests and contact tracing to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The virus, combined with rebuilding the economy, is the biggest challenge facing Biden. The online roundtable came as the number of cases nationwide grows rapidly, with more than 11 million cases nationwide and nearly 250,000 deaths so far.
Mary Turner, an intensive-care nurse who is president of Minnesota Nurses Association, began crying as she described holding the hand of a dying patient or caring for a colleague who had fallen ill. She said earlier in the pandemic, nurses were using single-use masks for 10 shifts. While caring for COVID-19 patients since February, Turner said she still hasn’t been tested.
“You’re kidding me,” Biden said during the roundtable from The Queen theater in Wilmington, Delaware.
More: 'Compromised position': Dr. Anthony Fauci on why he thinks he hasn't heard from Joe Biden's team
The virtual meeting was one in a series that the former vice president held in the past week, to demonstrate his preparation for the presidency, even as President Donald Trump continues to fight election results in court and asked for a partial recount in Wisconsin.
On Friday, Biden met with members of his COVID-19 Advisory Board, including Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former surgeon general; Dr. David Kessler, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration; and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith of the Yale School of Medicine.
On Monday, Biden met virtually with corporate and labor leaders to discuss how to safely rebuild the economy. On Tuesday, Biden met with military, intelligence and foreign-affairs experts outside government to hear about the biggest national security challenges facing the country, despite the Trump administration refusing to provide security briefings as part of the transition.
Biden also named nine White House aides Tuesday.
To combat the pandemic, Biden has urged a national requirement for everyone to wear masks for at least two months and to practice social distancing. But governors –rather than the president – are responsible for those kinds of orders.
Biden said more state and local leaders have begun urging people to wear masks and practice social distancing as the number of deaths is projected to hit 400,000 by his inauguration Jan. 20.
“This has reached a proportion that is way, way, way out of whack," Biden said. "It is skyrocketing with no real end in sight."
“What I’m hoping is we don’t have to have any more suffering to convince the public at large that this requires some very significant action," he added.
Most of Biden's proposals for federal spending to provide protective equipment and paid sick leave for frontline workers depend on rescinding much of Trump's tax cut for corporations and wealthy individuals. But congressional Republicans who control the Senate reacted skeptically to more spending, which Biden said could change when Trump leaves office.
More: Poll: More Americans happy Donald Trump lost than are happy Joe Biden won
"Hopefully when he’s gone, they’ll be more willing to do what they know needs to be done, what has to be done," Biden said.
Tony Murray, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4416 in Hamilton County, Indiana, told Biden that face masks are being reused despite being intended for single use. He said hospitals were given priority for protective equipment, leaving firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics to fend for themselves.
“That puts our patients at risk,” Murray said.
Turner, the ICU nurse, urged greater distribution of protective equipment, testing and tracing the contacts of people who are infected. She said nurses have walked picket lines to plead for more equipment.
“There is something seriously wrong when nurses have to take to the street to beg for protection in the middle of a pandemic.
“We’re not being given the protection that we need."
More: 6 lawmakers in 5 days: New COVID-19 infections put spotlight on Congress’ loose guidelines
Patricia Forrai-Gunter, a school nurse in Cleveland who sits on the executive board of the American Federation of Teachers, said when schools closed in her city in March 20, workers drove their emergency equipment to hospitals. But as officials decide when and how to reopen, she said schools don’t have any equipment and in some cases have poor ventilation.
“We’re ready to help, if we could just have some more boots on the ground,” she said.
The General Services Administration hasn’t approved a formal transition for Biden to prepare for office. He said that prevented him from learning about the size of stockpiles of protective equipment.
“We know there’s not much at all,” Biden said.
He’s also eager to learn about the plan for delivering potential vaccines to more than 300 million Americans: who is first in line, how will they be distributed.
“There’s a whole lot of things not being made available to us,” Biden said.


usatoday--2020-11-19--President Trump is seeking a recount in two Wisconsin counties, but what he's really doing is prepar

President Trump is seeking a recount in two Wisconsin counties, but what he's really doing is preparing for a lawsuit.

MADISON - President Donald Trump for now is seeking a recount in two Wisconsin counties , but what he ’ s really doing is preparing for a lawsuit .
Why ?
Trump could see a long-shot chance of getting multiple states to change their vote totals .
Or , a legal challenge could provide Trump fodder to keep his base revved up for a 2024 run , alleging the long-standing process of electing presidents that delivered former Vice President Joe Biden a victory was unfair .
The recount petition he filed Wednesday asked to throw out broad swaths of votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic areas — something the county clerks there are sure to reject .
But by pursuing the recount , Trump has given himself a vehicle for a lawsuit that would likely go before a judge by early December .
It could quickly get to the state Supreme Court , where conservatives hold a 4-3 majority .
More : Biden won , but technically the election 's not over : What to expect in the next 60 days The influence of the high court would be felt from the start .
Under state law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get to choose which judge initially hears a recount lawsuit .
She will also get to select the court that hears any appeals .
Democrats called Trump 's arguments against counting some ballots baseless and said clerks were unlikely to accept his claims when they begin recounting votes on Friday .
But they also expressed worries that the state ’ s high court , with its history of siding with Republicans , could go along with a request to toss ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties and shift the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A court changing the result of an election that was decided by more than 20,600 votes would be extremely rare , and there is no guarantee the justices would agree with Trump .
Even if they did , changing Wisconsin 's results wouldn ’ t be enough to take away the presidency from Biden because of his victories in other states .
At a late-night meeting Wednesday to authorize the recount , Democrats and Republicans on the state Elections Commission could agree on little — other than that the recount is headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP legislative leaders to meet with Trump at White House amid election fight “ This is going to be for the courts to decide .
I don ’ t believe it ’ s for us to decide , ” Republican Commissioner Dean Knudson told his colleagues .
Kyle Kondik , managing editor of Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics , said even if Wisconsin judges took the rare action of reversing the state ’ s election outcome , Trump would need two more states to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second term .
“ Let ’ s say they could say they could get a lawsuit in the Wisconsin Supreme Court that would flip the election … that would , to me , be unprecedented in modern times — something like that happening given the number of votes involved , ” he said .
“ They would not only need that in one state they would need that in multiple states.
” Kondik said the Wisconsin effort could be about laying the groundwork for a 2024 campaign , but Trump would likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fraud regardless .
`` He ’ s behaving exactly the way I expected him to behave .
… You could see it coming from a mile away .
He questioned the integrity of the last election that he won , ” Kondik said of the 2016 race .
“ He already is alleging those things and whether there ’ s a recount in Wisconsin or not wouldn ’ t change that sort of rhetoric .
… I think the president ’ s rhetoric is irresponsible and not based in reality in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other losing candidate he has the right to abide by the rules.
” Jeffrey Mandell , a Madison attorney who has represented Democrats in election cases , said he thought Trump 's arguments lacked merit .
Judges may quickly find that Trump took too long to file a legal challenge if he ’ s focused on practices that have been in place for years , Mandell said .
But he noted no one ever knows what will happen when a case , especially a high-stakes political one , is put before a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things to the court , you ’ re putting things into the hands of a small number of individual people who could do almost anything and I think that ’ s part of what ’ s going on ( with Trump ’ s legal strategy ) , ” said Mandell , who last month launched Law Forward , a legal center focused on election issues .
Barry Burden , director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , said the recount effort is clearly not actually about changing the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , Trump ’ s goals could be to put a cloud over the election results , raise suspicions , and to lay groundwork for the future .
“ He ’ s soothing his ego , he ’ s shaping his legacy .
I think he ’ s protecting his brand also — he wants to leave office and do something , ” Burden said .
“ So you can see why he would want to leave and not be deemed a loser ... but why other people in his party in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really mysterious.
” Wisconsin Republicans have at least endorsed the idea of a recount and some have supported Trump ’ s allegations of fraud or irregularities without evidence .
Burden said the allegiance , despite evidence debunking Trump ’ s allegations , is likely because Trump still has a significant influence in the Republican Party .
“ There are a lot of voters out there who are enthusiastic about Trump so Republicans need to keep winning those votes to win their seats , ” he said .
Trump has raised three main arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Sen. Lindsey Graham faces ethics complaint over call to top election official in Georgia about ballots To be valid , absentee ballots in Wisconsin must come in an envelope that is signed by the voter and a witness and include the witness ’ address .
In cases where witnesses don ’ t provide their addresses , clerks have been allowed to fill the addresses in if they know that information from talking to the voter , talking to the witness or looking at voter rolls , tax databases or other information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ under guidance pushed by Republicans on the Elections Commission at the time , including Stephen King , who Trump later named as the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic .
Trump didn ’ t dispute the state ’ s witness policy when he narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 , but he now says it is illegal .
He argues only the voter or witness can write in the address .
Clerks say witnesses often forget to fill out their address or fail to supply a part of it , such as the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the witness is the spouse of the voter and lives at the same address .
Most voters must provide a photo ID to get an absentee ballot , but those who identify themselves as indefinitely confined do not .
This spring , Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell and Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson suggested voters could label themselves as indefinitely confined if they were staying at home because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The state Republican Party sued and the state Supreme Court found the advice was faulty .
The clerks rescinded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Elections Commission that noted it ’ s up to voters to determine for themselves whether they are indefinitely confined .
About 215,000 voters statewide called themselves indefinitely confined from the Nov. 3 election — up from 72,000 in a lower-turnout election for state Supreme Court last year .
Trump argues the ballots should be thrown out for voters who said they were indefinitely confined if they don ’ t meet the criteria .
He hasn ’ t said how that would be determined for thousands of voters .
State law requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who vote in person early to apply for absentee ballots in writing .
In an apparent reference to those who voted early in person in Milwaukee , Trump contends more than 60,000 voters in the state ’ s most populous county didn ’ t submit written applications .
Those voters signed a statement on their ballot envelope that is labeled “ absentee ballot application/certification.
” That document has been treated as an application for an absentee ballot for more than a decade around the state , according to elections officials .
The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unlikely to give Trump much ground as they recount the vote .
Their review is expected to change the totals slightly , but not enough to change the outcome .
A 2016 recount in the presidential contest resulted in a shift of 131 votes — nowhere near what Trump would need this time .
But during or after the recount , Trump can head to court if he doesn ’ t like the determinations of the canvassers .
Allies of Trump have compared the 2020 election outcome to the 2000 contest between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican who ultimately was named the winner of the contest .
But the situations are different .
The 2000 presidential race was decided by fewer than 600 votes in Florida , where Bush was leading by a small margin when a recount was called .
Gore was ahead in the popular vote nationally .
Now , Biden is ahead in both electoral votes and by nearly 6 million votes nationally .
In 2000 , a recount of the presidential vote in Florida ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that race by halting the Florida recount .
Trump ’ s focus is on two counties In Wisconsin , Trump is trying to eliminate ballots in two Democratic counties while leaving ballots unexamined in the other 70 counties .
If he were to prevail , clerks would have to toss aside ballots for Biden while letting stand ballots for Trump that were cast in the same manner in other counties .
It comes as Trump 's campaign argues in court that Pennsylvania 's election system is unfair because voters there are n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , he contends absentee voters and in-person voters should n't be treated differently .
Mark Thomsen , a Democrat on the Elections Commission from Milwaukee , called it unfair for Trump to allege clerks across the state conducted the election illegally but try to change votes in only two counties .
“ I ’ ve never felt so attacked by — to say that it ’ s all unfair and then just pick out our county , ” Thomsen said .
After the recount is complete , Biden can ask to conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
He hasn ’ t said whether would do that , and time is against him because of the need to finalize the state ’ s vote .
The initial recount must be completed by Dec. 1 , the deadline for the state Elections Commission to certify the state ’ s vote .
If Biden were to ask for an additional recount , the state couldn ’ t meet that deadline .
Other , more pressing deadlines come soon after the state deadline .
Wisconsin has until Dec. 8 to certify its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safe-harbor date for determining its results .
The Electoral College meets six days later , on Dec. 14 , to determine the presidency .
Congress counts the electoral votes on Jan. 6 .
Missing the safe-harbor deadline would create the possibility that Congress , rather than Wisconsin officials , would determine the results of the state 's election .
Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley @ jrn.com .
Follow him on Twitter at @ patrickdmarley .

Patrick Marley and Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

President Trump is seeking a recount in two Wisconsin counties, but what he’s really doing is preparing for a lawsuit.
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump supporters defiant in support of president Defiant supporters of President Trump held a rally in Washington on Saturday a week after the presidential race was called for Joe Biden. (Nov. 14) AP
MADISON - President Donald Trump for now is seeking a recount in two Wisconsin counties, but what he’s really doing is preparing for a lawsuit.
Why? Trump could see a long-shot chance of getting multiple states to change their vote totals. Or, a legal challenge could provide Trump fodder to keep his base revved up for a 2024 run, alleging the long-standing process of electing presidents that delivered former Vice President Joe Biden a victory was unfair.
The recount petition he filed Wednesday asked to throw out broad swaths of votes in the state’s two most Democratic areas — something the county clerks there are sure to reject.
But by pursuing the recount, Trump has given himself a vehicle for a lawsuit that would likely go before a judge by early December. It could quickly get to the state Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 4-3 majority.
More: Biden won, but technically the election's not over: What to expect in the next 60 days
How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The influence of the high court would be felt from the start. Under state law, Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack will get to choose which judge initially hears a recount lawsuit. She will also get to select the court that hears any appeals.
Democrats called Trump's arguments against counting some ballots baseless and said clerks were unlikely to accept his claims when they begin recounting votes on Friday. But they also expressed worries that the state’s high court, with its history of siding with Republicans, could go along with a request to toss ballots in Milwaukee and Dane counties and shift the state’s 10 electoral votes from Biden to Trump.
A court changing the result of an election that was decided by more than 20,600 votes would be extremely rare, and there is no guarantee the justices would agree with Trump. Even if they did, changing Wisconsin's results wouldn’t be enough to take away the presidency from Biden because of his victories in other states.
At a late-night meeting Wednesday to authorize the recount, Democrats and Republicans on the state Elections Commission could agree on little — other than that the recount is headed to court.
More: Michigan's GOP legislative leaders to meet with Trump at White House amid election fight
“This is going to be for the courts to decide. I don’t believe it’s for us to decide,” Republican Commissioner Dean Knudson told his colleagues.
Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said even if Wisconsin judges took the rare action of reversing the state’s election outcome, Trump would need two more states to follow suit for the effort to deliver him a second term.
“Let’s say they could say they could get a lawsuit in the Wisconsin Supreme Court that would flip the election … that would, to me, be unprecedented in modern times — something like that happening given the number of votes involved,” he said. “They would not only need that in one state they would need that in multiple states.”
Kondik said the Wisconsin effort could be about laying the groundwork for a 2024 campaign, but Trump would likely make the case the election was rife with fraud regardless.
"He’s behaving exactly the way I expected him to behave. … You could see it coming from a mile away. He questioned the integrity of the last election that he won,” Kondik said of the 2016 race. “He already is alleging those things and whether there’s a recount in Wisconsin or not wouldn’t change that sort of rhetoric. … I think the president’s rhetoric is irresponsible and not based in reality in a lot of ways, but just like any other losing candidate he has the right to abide by the rules.”
Jeffrey Mandell, a Madison attorney who has represented Democrats in election cases, said he thought Trump's arguments lacked merit. Judges may quickly find that Trump took too long to file a legal challenge if he’s focused on practices that have been in place for years, Mandell said.
But he noted no one ever knows what will happen when a case, especially a high-stakes political one, is put before a court.
“Any time you take things to the court, you’re putting things into the hands of a small number of individual people who could do almost anything and I think that’s part of what’s going on (with Trump’s legal strategy),” said Mandell, who last month launched Law Forward, a legal center focused on election issues.
Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the recount effort is clearly not actually about changing the election result given the margin.
Instead, he said, Trump’s goals could be to put a cloud over the election results, raise suspicions, and to lay groundwork for the future.
“He’s soothing his ego, he’s shaping his legacy. I think he’s protecting his brand also — he wants to leave office and do something,” Burden said. “So you can see why he would want to leave and not be deemed a loser ... but why other people in his party in leadership are aiding and abetting this is really mysterious.”
Wisconsin Republicans have at least endorsed the idea of a recount and some have supported Trump’s allegations of fraud or irregularities without evidence. Burden said the allegiance, despite evidence debunking Trump’s allegations, is likely because Trump still has a significant influence in the Republican Party.
“There are a lot of voters out there who are enthusiastic about Trump so Republicans need to keep winning those votes to win their seats,” he said.
Trump has raised three main arguments against counting votes in Wisconsin.
More: Sen. Lindsey Graham faces ethics complaint over call to top election official in Georgia about ballots
Witness addresses
To be valid, absentee ballots in Wisconsin must come in an envelope that is signed by the voter and a witness and include the witness’ address. In cases where witnesses don’t provide their addresses, clerks have been allowed to fill the addresses in if they know that information from talking to the voter, talking to the witness or looking at voter rolls, tax databases or other information.
That policy was set four years ago under guidance pushed by Republicans on the Elections Commission at the time, including Stephen King, who Trump later named as the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic. Trump didn’t dispute the state’s witness policy when he narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, but he now says it is illegal. He argues only the voter or witness can write in the address.
Clerks say witnesses often forget to fill out their address or fail to supply a part of it, such as the city or ZIP code. In many cases, the witness is the spouse of the voter and lives at the same address.
Indefinitely confined voters
Most voters must provide a photo ID to get an absentee ballot, but those who identify themselves as indefinitely confined do not. This spring, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell and Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson suggested voters could label themselves as indefinitely confined if they were staying at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The state Republican Party sued and the state Supreme Court found the advice was faulty. The clerks rescinded their advice and pointed voters to guidance from the Elections Commission that noted it’s up to voters to determine for themselves whether they are indefinitely confined.
About 215,000 voters statewide called themselves indefinitely confined from the Nov. 3 election — up from 72,000 in a lower-turnout election for state Supreme Court last year.
Trump argues the ballots should be thrown out for voters who said they were indefinitely confined if they don’t meet the criteria. He hasn’t said how that would be determined for thousands of voters.
Absentee ballot applications
State law requires those who vote by mail and those who vote in person early to apply for absentee ballots in writing. In an apparent reference to those who voted early in person in Milwaukee, Trump contends more than 60,000 voters in the state’s most populous county didn’t submit written applications.
Those voters signed a statement on their ballot envelope that is labeled “absentee ballot application/certification.” That document has been treated as an application for an absentee ballot for more than a decade around the state, according to elections officials.
Court fight likely
The Democratic county clerks and their boards of canvassers are unlikely to give Trump much ground as they recount the vote.
Their review is expected to change the totals slightly, but not enough to change the outcome. A 2016 recount in the presidential contest resulted in a shift of 131 votes — nowhere near what Trump would need this time.
But during or after the recount, Trump can head to court if he doesn’t like the determinations of the canvassers.
Allies of Trump have compared the 2020 election outcome to the 2000 contest between Democrat Al Gore and George W. Bush, a Republican who ultimately was named the winner of the contest.
But the situations are different.
The 2000 presidential race was decided by fewer than 600 votes in Florida, where Bush was leading by a small margin when a recount was called. Gore was ahead in the popular vote nationally.
Now, Biden is ahead in both electoral votes and by nearly 6 million votes nationally.
In 2000, a recount of the presidential vote in Florida ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court — a case that left Bush as the winner in that race by halting the Florida recount.
Trump’s focus is on two counties
In Wisconsin, Trump is trying to eliminate ballots in two Democratic counties while leaving ballots unexamined in the other 70 counties. If he were to prevail, clerks would have to toss aside ballots for Biden while letting stand ballots for Trump that were cast in the same manner in other counties.
It comes as Trump's campaign argues in court that Pennsylvania's election system is unfair because voters there aren't treated the same way. In that case, he contends absentee voters and in-person voters shouldn't be treated differently.
Mark Thomsen, a Democrat on the Elections Commission from Milwaukee, called it unfair for Trump to allege clerks across the state conducted the election illegally but try to change votes in only two counties.
“I’ve never felt so attacked by — to say that it’s all unfair and then just pick out our county,” Thomsen said.
After the recount is complete, Biden can ask to conduct a recount in the rest of the state. He hasn’t said whether would do that, and time is against him because of the need to finalize the state’s vote.
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The clock is ticking
The initial recount must be completed by Dec. 1, the deadline for the state Elections Commission to certify the state’s vote. If Biden were to ask for an additional recount, the state couldn’t meet that deadline.
Other, more pressing deadlines come soon after the state deadline.
Wisconsin has until Dec. 8 to certify its results under a federal law that establishes a safe-harbor date for determining its results. The Electoral College meets six days later, on Dec. 14, to determine the presidency. Congress counts the electoral votes on Jan. 6.
Missing the safe-harbor deadline would create the possibility that Congress, rather than Wisconsin officials, would determine the results of the state's election.
Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.


usatoday--2020-11-20--Schools are closing for millions of kids as teachers get sick and COVID cases surge. Some districts

Schools are closing for millions of kids as teachers get sick and COVID cases surge. Some districts are holding out.

The dominos are beginning to fall at America 's schools .
After weeks or months of operating in person , schools are shifting students back to remote learning as the nation grapples with soaring COVID-19 infections .
Starting Monday , millions more students will be connected to their teachers only by whatever internet or phone connection they can secure .
In many cases , schools are closing because too many teachers are quarantined or infected with COVID-19 .
Others are responding to high rates of virus transmission in their communities .
Kentucky 's governor announced a statewide closure of schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that followed Michigan closing all high school classrooms and New York City schools — the largest district in the country — moving back to all-remote learning .
Already , just over 40 % of schoolchildren are attending only virtual classes , a figure that 's risen from 36.9 % Sunday , according to Burbio , a company that aggregates school calendars .
Adding to the confusion and stress of the moment : The metrics used for closure , and the scope of the shutdowns , diverge wildly , sometimes even within the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one town or state and ordered closed in another , even though that area has less community spread of the virus .
Many of the closure announcements are facing political pushback , including from the White House and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
That 's in addition to parent gripes about rearranging work schedules or again subjecting children to the subpar experience of virtual learning .
Underscoring it all are doubts about whether school closures actually work — or cause even more harm .
Kentucky 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and private schools to shutter classrooms starting Monday , a move that drew criticism from the Republican leader of the state Senate .
Also this week , Michigan 's Democratic governor ordered all high school and college classrooms to close for three weeks — along with bars and indoor dining .
Kentucky 's governor also halted indoor services at bars and restaurants until at least Dec. 13 .
New York City 's schools shifted to all-remote learning Thursday because the rate of positive tests for COVID-19 hit the 3 % threshold set locally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did n't make sense to close schools when bars and gyms could stay open .
What 's more , the virus rate transmission within New York City 's public school buildings had stayed very low , around 0.22 % according to the latest in-school testing results .
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio , a Democrat , defended the decision .
But he also said he 'd be meeting with the state to revise those standards for closure and would make a new announcement before Thanksgiving , according to an interview Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as COVID-19 cases skyrocket , some East Coast governors — including New York 's — are hoping to keep schools operating in person , as long as rates of transmission within schools themselves stay low .
The governors of New York , Pennsylvania , Delaware , Connecticut , Rhode Island and Massachusetts released a joint , bipartisan statement Thursday backing the importance of continuing in-person education with the appropriate safety protocols , even in the face of rising rates of community transmission .
`` In-person learning is the best possible scenario for children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from low income families , '' it said .
`` There is also growing evidence that the more time children spend outside of school increases the risk of mental health harm and affects their ability to truly learn . ''
Vice President Mike Pence and CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday they do not recommend closing schools .
Infections identified in schools were not acquired there .
“ They were actually acquired within the community and the household , ” Redfield said during the White House coronavirus task force briefing , the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
Support for keeping schools open has come from outside the U.S. as well .
With basic safety measures in place , the benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the cost of closing them , as schools are not a main place of transmission , child humanitarian aid organization UNICEF said in a new report Thursday .
Children are more likely to get infected outside of the classroom , the report noted .
Kids were headed back to school : They were in class at majority of nation ’ s biggest districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , schools have lacked consistent guidance about how rates of virus transmission should affect decisions to hold in-person classes .
That 's part of why there 's so much debate among parents and politicians , and why , in many cases , superintendents and individual school leaders have made the calls on their own .
New York City is an outlier in using such a stringent rate of community transmission — a 14-day average of 3 % in positive tests for the virus — to trigger schools to move to remote learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization have recommended schools could operate safely in person with virus positivity rates at around 5 % or less .
And Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease specialist , once said districts should n't bring people together if the rate of local positive virus cases exceeds 10 % .
But some states and districts have been operating schools with different rates in mind .
In Iowa , the Republican governor and Department of Education set 15 % and 20 % virus positivity thresholds , calculated over 14 days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online-only learning .
Arizona set three different benchmarks to trigger school closures , but they 're all optional .
`` The school ( rate of infection ) tends to be lower than the community rate , '' Noelle Ellerson Ng , associate director for the School Superintendents Association , said last month .
Others insist school reopenings are risky , especially amid community outbreaks .
`` Our schools are a part of the community , and if the community is not taking seriously getting their infection rates down , it 's going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Becky Pringle , president of the National Education Association , the largest labor union in the U.S. Schools want to end online classes : But COVID-19 cases may send everyone home Some school closure decisions have come down to one factor : whether there 's enough staff to operate classrooms .
Districts are experiencing staffing shortages because of employees being out sick themselves or quarantining because of exposure to other infected people .
In Indiana , Hamilton Southeastern Schools , a suburban Indianapolis district of nearly 22,000 students , started last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-learning for the rest of the semester .
The district planned to redirect some staff and substitutes to lower grades to keep those schools open .
By Tuesday , after more than 90 staffers needed substitutes and more than 20 of those were unfilled , the Hamilton Southeastern school board voted to move lower grades to virtual learning through Dec. 4 .
It 's the only school district in Hamilton County to make that move .
A few miles south , all school buildings are closing .
The health department in Indianapolis has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both public and private , to shift to virtual learning by Nov. 30 .
That move will affect roughly 200,000 students .
Parents ' guide to online school:9 questions to help vet your school 's virtual learning In Pennsylvania , health officials in the state 's third-most populous county have ordered all public and private schools to shift to virtual learning for two weeks starting next week — a move that some parents in the suburban Philadelphia community have protested .
One district could n't hold out that long .
Cases were rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hatboro-Horsham School District , which serves about 5,000 students , said on Monday he had `` operational and functional concerns '' about staying open .
At that time , 141 students and 31 staff members were in quarantine .
By Thursday , the district had flipped to all-virtual learning .
`` The numbers are rapidly increasing and entering a really concerning area , '' Eveslage said during a school board meeting .
Only time will tell if other schools can stay the course on in-person learning as the nation enters what some are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One potential bellwether could be in the state of Oregon .
On Oct. 30 , Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown announced that the daily cases in the state topped 600 — a record at the time .
At the same time , she relaxed metrics for school reopening that would allow up to 130,000 students statewide to return to class .
`` With adherence to safety protocols – wearing face coverings , handwashing , physical distancing – what is really clear is that schools are not superspreaders , '' Brown said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,200 Thursday , and Brown has ordered a two-week statewide freeze on businesses , forcing bars and restaurants to takeout-only and closing gyms .
Oregon 's schools , however , can continue to operate under the previous rules .
At least for now .

Erin Richards and Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY

Schools close for millions of kids as teachers get sick and COVID-19 cases surge: Some districts are holding out
Show Caption Hide Caption De Blasio: NYC schools to close again as city fights COVID-19 spread New York City, the nation's largest public school system, will stop in-person learning to slow the spread of COVID-19, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. Associated Press, USA TODAY
The dominos are beginning to fall at America's schools.
After weeks or months of operating in person, schools are shifting students back to remote learning as the nation grapples with soaring COVID-19 infections. Starting Monday, millions more students will be connected to their teachers only by whatever internet or phone connection they can secure.
In many cases, schools are closing because too many teachers are quarantined or infected with COVID-19. Others are responding to high rates of virus transmission in their communities. Kentucky's governor announced a statewide closure of schools to take effect Monday, a move that followed Michigan closing all high school classrooms and New York City schools – the largest district in the country – moving back to all-remote learning.
Already, just over 40% of schoolchildren are attending only virtual classes, a figure that's risen from 36.9% Sunday, according to Burbio, a company that aggregates school calendars.
Adding to the confusion and stress of the moment: The metrics used for closure, and the scope of the shutdowns, diverge wildly, sometimes even within the same county. Schools can be considered safe in one town or state and ordered closed in another, even though that area has less community spread of the virus.
Many of the closure announcements are facing political pushback, including from the White House and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's in addition to parent gripes about rearranging work schedules or again subjecting children to the subpar experience of virtual learning. Underscoring it all are doubts about whether school closures actually work – or cause even more harm.
Political leaders making the call
Kentucky's Democratic governor on Wednesday ordered all public and private schools to shutter classrooms starting Monday, a move that drew criticism from the Republican leader of the state Senate. Also this week, Michigan's Democratic governor ordered all high school and college classrooms to close for three weeks – along with bars and indoor dining. Kentucky's governor also halted indoor services at bars and restaurants until at least Dec. 13.
New York City's schools shifted to all-remote learning Thursday because the rate of positive tests for the coronavirus hit the 3% threshold set locally to trigger a shutdown. Critics said it didn't make sense to close schools when bars and gyms could stay open. What's more, the virus rate transmission within New York City's public school buildings had stayed very low, around 0.22% according to the latest in-school testing results.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, defended the decision. But he also said he'd be meeting with the state to revise those standards for closure and would make a new announcement before Thanksgiving, according to an interview Thursday on "CBS This Morning."
Still, as COVID-19 cases skyrocket, some East Coast governors – including New York's – are hoping to keep schools operating in person, as long as rates of transmission within schools themselves stay low. The governors of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts released a joint, bipartisan statement Thursday backing the importance of continuing in-person education with the appropriate safety protocols, even in the face of rising rates of community transmission.
"In-person learning is the best possible scenario for children, especially those with special needs and from low income families," it said. "There is also growing evidence that the more time children spend outside of school increases the risk of mental health harm and affects their ability to truly learn."
Vice President Mike Pence and CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday they do not recommend closing schools.
Infections identified in schools were not acquired there. “They were actually acquired within the community and the household,” Redfield said during the White House coronavirus task force briefing, the first public address the unit has made since July.
Support for keeping schools open has come from outside the U.S. as well. With basic safety measures in place, the benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the cost of closing them, as schools are not the main place of transmission, child humanitarian aid organization UNICEF said in a new report Thursday. Children are more likely to get infected outside of the classroom, the report noted.
Kids were headed back to school:They were in class at majority of nation’s biggest districts – just as COVID cases surged
What threshold should trigger a school closure?
For months, schools have lacked consistent guidance about how rates of virus transmission should affect decisions to hold in-person classes. That's part of why there's so much debate among parents and politicians, and why, in many cases, superintendents and individual school leaders have made the calls on their own.
New York City is an outlier in using such a stringent rate of community transmission – a 7-day average of 3% in positive tests for the virus – to trigger schools to move to remote learning. The CDC and the World Health Organization have recommended schools could operate safely in person with virus positivity rates at around 5% or less. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease specialist, once said districts shouldn't bring people together if the rate of local positive virus cases exceeds 10%.
But some states and districts have been operating schools with different rates in mind.
In Iowa, the Republican governor and Department of Education set 15% and 20% virus positivity thresholds, calculated over 14 days, for determining whether districts should shift to online-only learning. Arizona set three different benchmarks to trigger school closures, but they're all optional.
Some education experts defend those higher virus thresholds.
"The school (rate of infection) tends to be lower than the community rate," Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate director for the School Superintendents Association, said last month.
Others insist school reopenings are risky, especially amid community outbreaks.
"Our schools are a part of the community, and if the community is not taking seriously getting their infection rates down, it's going to bleed over into our schools," said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the U.S.
Schools want to end online classes: But COVID-19 cases may send everyone home
Without staff, schools can't operate
Some school closure decisions have come down to one factor: whether there's enough staff to operate classrooms. Districts are experiencing staffing shortages because of employees being out sick themselves or quarantining because of exposure to other infected people.
In Indiana, Hamilton Southeastern Schools, a suburban Indianapolis district of nearly 22,000 students, started last week by moving middle and high schoolers to e-learning for the rest of the semester. The district planned to redirect some staff and substitutes to lower grades to keep those schools open.
By Tuesday, after more than 90 staffers needed substitutes and more than 20 of those were unfilled, the Hamilton Southeastern school board voted to move lower grades to virtual learning through Dec. 4. It's the only school district in Hamilton County to make that move.
A few miles south, all school buildings are closing. The health department in Indianapolis has ordered all schools in Marion County, both public and private, to shift to virtual learning by Nov. 30. That move will affect roughly 200,000 students.
Parents' guide to online school: 9 questions to help vet your school's virtual learning
In Pennsylvania, health officials in the state's third-most populous county have ordered all public and private schools to shift to virtual learning for two weeks starting next week – a move that some parents in the suburban Philadelphia community have protested.
One district couldn't hold out that long.
Cases were rising so fast, the superintendent of the Hatboro-Horsham School District, which serves about 5,000 students, said on Monday he had "operational and functional concerns" about staying open. At that time, 141 students and 31 staff members were in quarantine.
By Thursday, the district had flipped to all-virtual learning.
Important announcement about the need to shift to a completely virtual instructional model beginning on Thursday, November 19. We thank the community for the support and flexibility during these challenging times.https://t.co/aKqVnWhGmc — Hatboro-Horsham SD (@HH_Schools) November 17, 2020
"The numbers are rapidly increasing and entering a really concerning area," Scott Eveslage said during a school board meeting.
Only time will tell if other schools can stay the course on in-person learning as the nation enters what some are calling the third wave of the pandemic.
One potential bellwether could be in the state of Oregon.
On Oct. 30, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown announced that the daily COVID-19 cases in the state topped 600 – a record at the time. At the same time, she relaxed metrics for school reopening that would allow up to 130,000 students statewide to return to class.
"With adherence to safety protocols – wearing face coverings, hand-washing, physical distancing – what is really clear is that schools are not superspreaders," Brown said in an Oct. 29 news conference.
Oregon's daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,200 Thursday, and Brown has ordered a two-week statewide freeze on businesses, forcing bars and restaurants to takeout-only and closing gyms.
Oregon's schools, however, can continue to operate under the previous rules.
At least for now.
Contributing: MJ Slaby and Arika Herron, Indianapolis Star.


usatoday--2020-11-20--Cowboys QB Andy Dalton still hasn't fully regained sense of taste, smell after COVID-19 bout

FRISCO , Texas — Sixteen days after landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list , Andy Dalton ’ s sense of taste and smell still elude him .
“ You can tell things are sweet , ” the Cowboys quarterback said Thursday from the Star .
“ You can tell things are salty .
You just don ’ t get the flavor with it.
” After a whirlwind month battling a concussion and then the novel coronavirus , Dalton will settle for that .
The Cowboys signed Dalton in May as insurance for four-year starter Dak Prescott .
When Prescott suffered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced him to complete Dallas ' 34-31 win over the Giants .
But two games later , a vicious head-to-head hit from Washington linebacker Jon Bostic left a helmetless Dalton sprawled on the grass of FedEx Field .
He relies on others to tell him what happened next .
“ I remember deciding to slide and then there ’ s a little bit there that I don ’ t remember , ” said Dalton , who had avoided a concussion diagnosis through his first 140 career games .
“ In the moment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then the aftermath of it all , kind of going back , you realize you ’ re missing some of your memory of stuff that ’ s happened .
“ I mean , that ’ s definitely something you don ’ t want to have happen.
” 'WE 'RE A GOOD TEAM ' : Why 2-7 Cowboys still believe in 2020 chances Dalton was cleared to fly back from Washington with the team .
He went through NFL concussion protocol the final week of October , unable to practice but allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rookie seventh-rounder Ben DiNucci prepared to start at Philadelphia .
Dalton was at the facility and in the Cowboys ’ quarterbacks meeting Oct. 31 just before the team left town without him .
His headaches and concussion symptoms had alleviated as the week elapsed .
Dalton was hopeful he could be cleared to play the undefeated Steelers the following week .
Then , Dalton ’ s headaches returned .
They felt different from his earlier-week concussion aftermath .
Dalton tested positive for COVID-19 , landing on the Cowboys ’ reserve list Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive a “ couple of days after ” while their daughter and older son did not appear to contract it .
Quarantining at the Dalton home ensued .
Dalton could lift weights and text Garrett Gilbert as the journeyman prepared to be the Cowboys ’ fourth quarterback in five weeks .
But Dalton needed to delay any visit to the Star for workouts or meetings , as well as to clear himself from the concussion protocol .
“ It hit me hard the first day I had it , ” Dalton said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smell and taste .
Early on that ’ s not what I had .
But by the end of it , I did lose my smell and taste and am still trying to get that back.
” By last Thursday , Dalton returned to the Star to throw and ensure his timing was sharp during Dallas ’ bye week .
He was able to fully participate in the Cowboys ’ walkthrough on Monday , officially shaking the concussion and COVID-19 protocol restrictions by Wednesday .
Head coach Mike McCarthy declined to publicly name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s visit to Minnesota but has lauded the veteran 's performance in his return .
“ I thought he was decisive , and he threw the ball very well , ” McCarthy said Thursday morning .
“ That 's the biggest thing , as long as the ball is coming out on time and so forth .
I thought he was in rhythm .
Andy has excellent command of the whole operation .
I thought Andy had a good practice yesterday .
It 's great to have him back.
” Gilbert , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Pittsburgh , is expected to be Dalton 's backup .
But McCarthy and Cowboys management have consistently touted a healthy Dalton as their best option right now , Dalton ’ s experience in nine seasons with Cincinnati giving him defensive read capabilities superior to teammates with one or zero starts .
Dalton also has the best repertoire to maximize offensive chemistry , coaches believe .
Dalton took reps behind Prescott beginning in training camp while Gilbert signed with the team in October .
DiNucci ’ s developmental year was intended not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ben and Garrett did n't have the opportunity to have that bank account of reps , ” McCarthy said .
“ It 's definitely a larger menu to pick from.
” With Dalton at the helm and defensive improvement their last two games , the 2-7 Cowboys approach the 4-5 Vikings with more confidence than they ’ d publicly shown in recent weeks .
They ’ re last in the division , yet no team boasts a better record than Philadelphia ’ s 3-5-1 .
The Cowboys await the easiest upcoming schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24-39-2 .
Yes , it ’ s “ crazy , ” players admit , but the Cowboys smell a route to an unlikely postseason berth .
Dalton , meanwhile , is appreciating “ a little bit of a blessing ” that he went three weeks without taking hits after his first concussion , “ if you want to find the positive in it.
” And one other sweet note ?
“ I can eat really healthy right now , ” Dalton laughed , “ and it does n't matter , ’ cause I @ @ @ @ @ @

Cowboys QB Andy Dalton still hasn't fully regained sense of taste, smell after COVID-19 bout
Show Caption Hide Caption Still alive? Here’s how Troy Aikman believes the 2-7 Cowboys should view NFC East race SportsPulse: At 2-7 most teams would be playing out the string. For the Cowboys they're in the thick of a division race. Jori Epstein connected with Troy Aikman to gets his perspective on how the Cowboys should view the rest of their season. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
FRISCO, Texas — Sixteen days after landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Andy Dalton’s sense of taste and smell still elude him.
“You can tell things are sweet,” the Cowboys quarterback said Thursday from the Star. “You can tell things are salty. You just don’t get the flavor with it.”
After a whirlwind month battling a concussion and then the novel coronavirus, Dalton will settle for that.
The Cowboys signed Dalton in May as insurance for four-year starter Dak Prescott. When Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury Oct. 11, Dalton replaced him to complete Dallas' 34-31 win over the Giants. But two games later, a vicious head-to-head hit from Washington linebacker Jon Bostic left a helmetless Dalton sprawled on the grass of FedEx Field. He relies on others to tell him what happened next.
“I remember deciding to slide and then there’s a little bit there that I don’t remember,” said Dalton, who had avoided a concussion diagnosis through his first 140 career games. “In the moment, you don’t realize it. But then the aftermath of it all, kind of going back, you realize you’re missing some of your memory of stuff that’s happened.
“I mean, that’s definitely something you don’t want to have happen.”
NFL WEEK 11 PICKS: Can Cowboys score a win on road vs. Vikings?
'WE'RE A GOOD TEAM': Why 2-7 Cowboys still believe in 2020 chances
Dalton was cleared to fly back from Washington with the team. He went through NFL concussion protocol the final week of October, unable to practice but allowed to participate in some meetings that week as rookie seventh-rounder Ben DiNucci prepared to start at Philadelphia. Dalton was at the facility and in the Cowboys’ quarterbacks meeting Oct. 31 just before the team left town without him. His headaches and concussion symptoms had alleviated as the week elapsed. Dalton was hopeful he could be cleared to play the undefeated Steelers the following week.
Then, Dalton’s headaches returned. They felt different from his earlier-week concussion aftermath. Dalton tested positive for COVID-19, landing on the Cowboys’ reserve list Nov. 3. His wife and younger son tested positive a “couple of days after” while their daughter and older son did not appear to contract it.
Quarantining at the Dalton home ensued. Dalton could lift weights and text Garrett Gilbert as the journeyman prepared to be the Cowboys’ fourth quarterback in five weeks. But Dalton needed to delay any visit to the Star for workouts or meetings, as well as to clear himself from the concussion protocol.
Cowboys QB Andy Dalton suffered concussion 10/25 at Washington. He lost memory after the hit. Headaches ensued.
Then, nature of his headaches shifted. He, wife and a son got COVID-19. He still doesn't have full taste and smell senses back. — Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) November 19, 2020
“It hit me hard the first day I had it,” Dalton said of the virus. “I eventually lost smell and taste. Early on that’s not what I had. But by the end of it, I did lose my smell and taste and am still trying to get that back.”
By last Thursday, Dalton returned to the Star to throw and ensure his timing was sharp during Dallas’ bye week. He was able to fully participate in the Cowboys’ walkthrough on Monday, officially shaking the concussion and COVID-19 protocol restrictions by Wednesday. Head coach Mike McCarthy declined to publicly name Dalton the starter for this weekend’s visit to Minnesota but has lauded the veteran's performance in his return.
“I thought he was decisive, and he threw the ball very well,” McCarthy said Thursday morning. “That's the biggest thing, as long as the ball is coming out on time and so forth. I thought he was in rhythm. Andy has excellent command of the whole operation. I thought Andy had a good practice yesterday. It's great to have him back.”
Gilbert, who kept Dallas competitive in a 24-19 loss to Pittsburgh, is expected to be Dalton's backup. But McCarthy and Cowboys management have consistently touted a healthy Dalton as their best option right now, Dalton’s experience in nine seasons with Cincinnati giving him defensive read capabilities superior to teammates with one or zero starts. Dalton also has the best repertoire to maximize offensive chemistry, coaches believe. Dalton took reps behind Prescott beginning in training camp while Gilbert signed with the team in October. DiNucci’s developmental year was intended not to feature much more than scout-team contributions.
“Ben and Garrett didn't have the opportunity to have that bank account of reps,” McCarthy said. “It's definitely a larger menu to pick from.”
With Dalton at the helm and defensive improvement their last two games, the 2-7 Cowboys approach the 4-5 Vikings with more confidence than they’d publicly shown in recent weeks. They’re last in the division, yet no team boasts a better record than Philadelphia’s 3-5-1. The Cowboys await the easiest upcoming schedule, their remaining opponents combining to be 24-39-2. Yes, it’s “crazy,” players admit, but the Cowboys smell a route to an unlikely postseason berth.
Dalton, meanwhile, is appreciating “a little bit of a blessing” that he went three weeks without taking hits after his first concussion, “if you want to find the positive in it.” And one other sweet note?
“I can eat really healthy right now,” Dalton laughed, “and it doesn't matter, ’cause I can't taste it.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein.


usatoday--2020-11-19--The counties that flipped their states for Biden

President-elect Joe Biden flipped five states from red to blue this election — Michigan , Wisconsin , Arizona , and Pennsylvania — and is expected to flip Georgia , where he leads Trump .
Out of the counties in these states that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 , Biden won only eight of them .
While some red counties shifted to the left , larger margins of victory than Clinton in already-blue counties was the primary force that drove Biden to victory .
Biden did n't flip any counties in Georgia .
In fact , the only Georgia county that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , then Trump in 2020 .
Biden 's projected win in the state was fueled by significant gains in already-blue counties , including Atlanta ( Fulton County ) and its suburbs .
Three Michigan counties flipped from red to blue .
However , as in Georgia , the majority of Biden 's gains came from larger vote margins in counties that also voted Democratic in 2016 .
Biden won Dane and Milwaukee counties by far larger margins than Hillary Clinton , pushing him to victory in Wisconsin .
Dane County is home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin .
With the exception of Maricopa County ( Phoenix ) , Trump won all the Arizona counties that voted for him in 2016 by even greater margins in 2020 .
However , the combination of higher vote margins than Clinton in Tucson ( Pima County ) and Maricopa 's flip from red to blue meant Biden still prevailed in the state .
Biden won Maricopa with just over 50 % of the vote , a large increase compared with Clinton 's 45 % in 2016 .
Biden won by larger margins than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her except for Philadelphia , where he won by about 4,000 fewer votes than Democrats had in 2016 .
Two counties flipped from red to blue : Erie , in Pennsylvania 's northwestern corner , and Northampton , in eastern Pennsylvania .
Mitchell Thorson , Kevin Crowe , Dian Zhang , and Dan Keemahill contributed to this report .

President-elect Joe Biden flipped five states from red to blue this election — Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Pennsylvania — and is expected to flip Georgia, where he leads Trump. Out of the counties in these states that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, Biden won only eight of them. While some red counties shifted to the left, larger margins of victory than Clinton in already-blue counties was the primary force that drove Biden to victory.
Georgia
Biden didn't flip any counties in Georgia. In fact, the only Georgia county that flipped — Burke — voted Clinton in 2016, then Trump in 2020. Biden's projected win in the state was fueled by significant gains in already-blue counties, including Atlanta (Fulton County) and its suburbs.
Michigan
Three Michigan counties flipped from red to blue. However, as in Georgia, the majority of Biden's gains came from larger vote margins in counties that also voted Democratic in 2016.
Wisconsin
Biden won Dane and Milwaukee counties by far larger margins than Hillary Clinton, pushing him to victory in Wisconsin. Dane County is home to Madison, the second-largest city in Wisconsin.
Arizona
With the exception of Maricopa County (Phoenix), Trump won all the Arizona counties that voted for him in 2016 by even greater margins in 2020. However, the combination of higher vote margins than Clinton in Tucson (Pima County) and Maricopa's flip from red to blue meant Biden still prevailed in the state. Biden won Maricopa with just over 50% of the vote, a large increase compared with Clinton's 45% in 2016.
Pennsylvania
Biden won by larger margins than Clinton in every county that voted for her except for Philadelphia, where he won by about 4,000 fewer votes than Democrats had in 2016. Two counties flipped from red to blue: Erie, in Pennsylvania's northwestern corner, and Northampton, in eastern Pennsylvania.
Mitchell Thorson, Kevin Crowe, Dian Zhang, and Dan Keemahill contributed to this report.


usatoday--2020-11-20--'You've got to have trust.' The strategy Joe Biden hopes will lead to agreement in a post-Trump era

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden and John McCain were having it out on national television nearly thirty years ago , bitterly debating U.S. involvement in the conflict in Bosnia , when the dispute veered into the kind of personal exchange common in today ’ s politics .
“ John , are you saying air strikes would not help the people in Srebrenica right now ?
Is that what you 're telling me ?
” Biden , then a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , said as he pressed McCain , the Arizona Republican who died in 2018 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to what – ” McCain said before Biden cut him off .
It was the kind of verbal brawl that , in 2020 , might blow up on Twitter , feature in a fundraising email and leave a bruise .
But a longtime confidant of McCain said the 1993 bout with Biden on CBS – and others like it over the years – weren ’ t as personal as they seemed , largely because of the relationship the two colleagues had forged .
More : A spiraling COVID-19 crisis will confront Biden on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan ?
Now President-elect Biden hopes the relationships he built during a career in the Senate will help him transcend partisanship and push an ambitious agenda through Congress – a coronavirus stimulus , an investment in infrastructure , a comprehensive immigration bill and changes to the U.S. health care system .
Skepticism runs high about whether the former vice president 's history can translate to the post-Trump era .
But even veteran political hands from both parties say they haven ’ t given up entirely on the idea that relationships still matter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the doubt , ” said Mark Salter , the longtime McCain aide .
“ People will still go to their corners on ideological issues but when you ’ re trying to get stuff done that has to get done I think that ’ s still a real asset that Biden has.
” Biden is beginning to build a wish list for Capitol Hill even as President Donald Trump is disputing the election results with a series of challenges legal experts describe as questionable .
Trump ’ s unfounded claims of victory – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia in January – have muddied Biden ’ s chances of moving legislation .
Underscoring the current landscape , it ’ s not clear whether Biden and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have even spoken since the election .
The two were able to broker deals together during the Obama administration , but McConnell has so far declined to publicly acknowledge Biden ’ s win while Trump continues his fight .
More : Biden , McConnell have brokered deals in the Senate : Can they do so again ?
Former Sen. Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed Biden , said McConnell 's silence is predictable given the pressure he 's under from his own GOP caucus and constituency back in Kentucky .
`` There are political realities and currents that McConnell 's got to deal with , '' Hagel said .
`` But I do n't think any of this will affect what happens after Jan. 20 when Biden and McConnell and other leaders in Congress have the responsibility to govern .
A Biden transition official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy acknowledged aides are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's first 100 days in office , one in which Democrats claim control of the Senate after the runoffs in Georgia , and a less ambitious plan if they do not .
Biden himself acknowledged as much in a call this week .
“ We ’ re going to run into some real brick walls initially in the Senate unless we ’ re able to turn around Georgia and pick up those two seats , but even then it ’ s going to be hard , ” Biden said during a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But I believe , I believe I know the place .
I believe we can ultimately bring it together.
” Some Democrats in Congress share the concern .
`` I 'm unfortunately pessimistic on seeing a lot of bills move because of Mitch McConnell , just based on past experience , ” said Rep. Mark Pocan , D-Wis. co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus .
Like other progressives , Pocan predicted Biden would have to rely on executive orders to accomplish at least some of his goals .
Both Trump and President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders when they couldn ’ t get Congress to take up their priorities .
That often meant judges – not lawmakers – had the final say on the policies .
But before Biden can even get to legislation , he ’ ll have to win Senate confirmation for his Cabinet – a process that could serve as an early test of his ability to maneuver in Washington .
'You ’ ve got to have trust' Supporters say Biden has an advantage his recent predecessors did not .
While neither Trump nor Obama relished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill , Biden made a career out of it .
It ’ s how he was able to cut deals with McConnell during the 2013 fiscal cliff crisis , the debt-ceiling crisis of 2011 and the battle over Bush tax cuts in 2010 .
Ted Kaufman , a longtime Biden ally who is leading the president elect ’ s transition , said the former vice president ’ s fundamental approach to making deals hasn ’ t changed , and predicted the recipe would be effective even if Republicans retain control of the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told USA TODAY , rests on walking through legislation – line by line , if needed – and building trust , including with political adversaries .
More : Biden picks for top White House jobs draw contrast with Trump on style “ You ’ ve got to have trust to get these things done , ” Kaufman said .
“ Sometimes people will negotiate and then there will be implications in a bill that they did not understand and may be hard for them back home .
You have to have kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you make a deal , it ’ s a deal .
Joe Biden – that ’ s the way he ’ s always been.
” As part of that trust building , Kaufman predicted that the incoming Biden administration wouldn ’ t look to spring unexpected policy proposals on Capitol Hill .
Instead , Kaufman said , transition officials are building out a policy agenda based on Biden ’ s campaign promises , which included a focus on COVID , immigration and infrastructure .
Kaufman brushed aside a question on whether McConnell 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory this month could harm the atmosphere for bipartisan deal making .
It ’ s been a little over a decade since Biden played a pivotal role in helping Obama get a $ 787 billion economic stimulus through Congress in 2009 , a deal that helped pull the nation out of the Great Recession .
But much has changed in the Senate since then .
Biden , then vice president , managed to convince Sen. Arlen Specter , a Pennsylvania Republican who would switch to the Democratic Party months later , to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine .
Since then , many of the centrists from both parties have left , often complaining that the incentives and personal relations that made deals possible were beginning to ebb .
Hagel , who also served as defense secretary from 2013 to 2015 under the Obama administration , said the president-elect 's deal-making ability is more relevant in the post-Trump era .
Biden 's leadership will improve on the partisan environment that has marked the Trump administration , Hagel said , and restore the relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think you 're going to find Biden getting in his presidential limousine and going up to the Hill and meeting with members of Congress , '' he said .
`` I just do n't know anybody who would be better equipped at a time like this to handle these kind of things .
I am biased , yes , but I 'm also a realist and I 'm still Republican . ''
More : Facing fire from the right and left , Collins beckons voters to political center Phil Schiliro , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Biden has the “ skills and a real commitment ” to finding the kind of bipartisan compromise that used to be possible .
But , he added , it takes two to negotiate .
“ That ’ s going to be the key question , ” he said .
“ Will Republicans want to meet him halfway , or want to meet him at all ?
”

John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY

'You’ve got to have trust.' The strategy Joe Biden hopes will lead to agreement in a post-Trump era
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden: 'More people may die' if Trump resists smooth transition President-elect Joe Biden said "more people may die" without cooperation from the Trump administration on COVID vaccine distribution. Associated Press, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Joe Biden and John McCain were having it out on national television nearly thirty years ago, bitterly debating U.S. involvement in the conflict in Bosnia, when the dispute veered into the kind of personal exchange common in today’s politics.
“John, are you saying air strikes would not help the people in Srebrenica right now? Is that what you're telling me?” Biden, then a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said as he pressed McCain, the Arizona Republican who died in 2018.
“I have not the foggiest notion as to what – ” McCain said before Biden cut him off.
“I know you don't.”
It was the kind of verbal brawl that, in 2020, might blow up on Twitter, feature in a fundraising email and leave a bruise. But a longtime confidant of McCain said the 1993 bout with Biden on CBS – and others like it over the years – weren’t as personal as they seemed, largely because of the relationship the two colleagues had forged.
More: In meeting with Biden, emergency workers plead for COVID equipment
More: A spiraling COVID-19 crisis will confront Biden on day one. What’s his plan?
Now President-elect Biden hopes the relationships he built during a career in the Senate will help him transcend partisanship and push an ambitious agenda through Congress – a coronavirus stimulus, an investment in infrastructure, a comprehensive immigration bill and changes to the U.S. health care system.
Skepticism runs high about whether the former vice president's history can translate to the post-Trump era. But even veteran political hands from both parties say they haven’t given up entirely on the idea that relationships still matter in Washington.
“He gets the benefit of the doubt,” said Mark Salter, the longtime McCain aide. “People will still go to their corners on ideological issues but when you’re trying to get stuff done that has to get done I think that’s still a real asset that Biden has.”
Biden v. McConnell
Biden is beginning to build a wish list for Capitol Hill even as President Donald Trump is disputing the election results with a series of challenges legal experts describe as questionable. Trump’s unfounded claims of victory – as well as two Senate runoff elections in Georgia in January – have muddied Biden’s chances of moving legislation.
Underscoring the current landscape, it’s not clear whether Biden and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have even spoken since the election. The two were able to broker deals together during the Obama administration, but McConnell has so far declined to publicly acknowledge Biden’s win while Trump continues his fight.
More: Biden, McConnell have brokered deals in the Senate: Can they do so again?
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Republican who endorsed Biden, said McConnell's silence is predictable given the pressure he's under from his own GOP caucus and constituency back in Kentucky.
"There are political realities and currents that McConnell's got to deal with," Hagel said. "But I don't think any of this will affect what happens after Jan. 20 when Biden and McConnell and other leaders in Congress have the responsibility to govern.
McConnell aides declined to answer questions about Biden's agenda.
A Biden transition official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy acknowledged aides are developing two different visions for the incoming president's first 100 days in office, one in which Democrats claim control of the Senate after the runoffs in Georgia, and a less ambitious plan if they do not.
Biden himself acknowledged as much in a call this week.
“We’re going to run into some real brick walls initially in the Senate unless we’re able to turn around Georgia and pick up those two seats, but even then it’s going to be hard,” Biden said during a private call, according to multiple reports. “But I believe, I believe I know the place. I believe we can ultimately bring it together.”
Some Democrats in Congress share the concern.
"I'm unfortunately pessimistic on seeing a lot of bills move because of Mitch McConnell, just based on past experience,” said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis. co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Like other progressives, Pocan predicted Biden would have to rely on executive orders to accomplish at least some of his goals. Both Trump and President Barack Obama also leaned heavily on those orders when they couldn’t get Congress to take up their priorities. That often meant judges – not lawmakers – had the final say on the policies.
But before Biden can even get to legislation, he’ll have to win Senate confirmation for his Cabinet – a process that could serve as an early test of his ability to maneuver in Washington.
'You’ve got to have trust'
Supporters say Biden has an advantage his recent predecessors did not. While neither Trump nor Obama relished wading into the personal politics of Capitol Hill, Biden made a career out of it. It’s how he was able to cut deals with McConnell during the 2013 fiscal cliff crisis, the debt-ceiling crisis of 2011 and the battle over Bush tax cuts in 2010.
Ted Kaufman, a longtime Biden ally who is leading the president elect’s transition, said the former vice president’s fundamental approach to making deals hasn’t changed, and predicted the recipe would be effective even if Republicans retain control of the Senate.
Biden’s playbook, Kaufman told USA TODAY, rests on walking through legislation – line by line, if needed – and building trust, including with political adversaries.
More: Biden picks for top White House jobs draw contrast with Trump on style
More: Biden names top White House appointees, including Rep. Cedric Richmond
“You’ve got to have trust to get these things done,” Kaufman said. “Sometimes people will negotiate and then there will be implications in a bill that they did not understand and may be hard for them back home. You have to have kind of the inner ability to realize that once you make a deal, it’s a deal. Joe Biden – that’s the way he’s always been.”
As part of that trust building, Kaufman predicted that the incoming Biden administration wouldn’t look to spring unexpected policy proposals on Capitol Hill. Instead, Kaufman said, transition officials are building out a policy agenda based on Biden’s campaign promises, which included a focus on COVID, immigration and infrastructure.
Kaufman brushed aside a question on whether McConnell's reticence to acknowledge Biden’s election victory this month could harm the atmosphere for bipartisan deal making.
“He doesn’t hold grudges,” Kaufman said of Biden.
Shift in the Senate
It’s been a little over a decade since Biden played a pivotal role in helping Obama get a $787 billion economic stimulus through Congress in 2009, a deal that helped pull the nation out of the Great Recession. But much has changed in the Senate since then.
Biden, then vice president, managed to convince Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican who would switch to the Democratic Party months later, to vote for the bill along with GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine. Since then, many of the centrists from both parties have left, often complaining that the incentives and personal relations that made deals possible were beginning to ebb.
Hagel, who also served as defense secretary from 2013 to 2015 under the Obama administration, said the president-elect's deal-making ability is more relevant in the post-Trump era. Biden's leadership will improve on the partisan environment that has marked the Trump administration, Hagel said, and restore the relationship between a president and Congress.
"I think you're going to find Biden getting in his presidential limousine and going up to the Hill and meeting with members of Congress," he said. "I just don't know anybody who would be better equipped at a time like this to handle these kind of things. I am biased, yes, but I'm also a realist and I'm still Republican."
More: Facing fire from the right and left, Collins beckons voters to political center
Phil Schiliro, a former director of legislative affairs for Obama, said Biden has the “skills and a real commitment” to finding the kind of bipartisan compromise that used to be possible. But, he added, it takes two to negotiate.
“That’s going to be the key question,” he said. “Will Republicans want to meet him halfway, or want to meet him at all?”
Contributing: Christal Hayes, Phillip M. Bailey, Ledyard King, Maureen Groppe