usatoday--2020-04-30--Trump's social distancing guidelines quietly expire as the administration shifts focus to reopening

WASHINGTON – The deadline to lift social distancing guidelines quietly passed on Thursday as the White House pushed a new set of suggestions designed to reopen the U.S. economy now decimated by the coronavirus pandemic .
The White House is sunsetting the federal guidelines , once a central tenet of its coronavirus response and the focus of the administration 's message , in the latest sign of the president 's eagerness to revive the once booming economy upended by the coronavirus crisis .
The Trump administration is under economic pressure to shift its strategy from battling the coronavirus to pressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he hopes will help secure his reelection in November .
The administration has pivoted to a three-phase plan that leaves the decision to states , creating a patchwork strategy that some health experts warn could undermine the progress that has been made in stemming the spread of coronavirus .
The social distancing recommendations , released in mid-March and extended from two weeks to span 45 days , called on Americans to work from home and avoid nonessential travel as well as public spaces like restaurants and bars in order to `` flatten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people infected with COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump came under fire for floating the idea of lifting social distancing restrictions as early as April 12 , which was Easter Sunday .
He changed his tune after he was confronted with a projected death toll of 100,000 to 240,000 if people were allowed to return to public spaces too early .
But as April came to a close this week , Trump said he has no plans to extend the federal recommendations after they expire Thursday , even as his own task force coordinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would exist in some form through the summer .
`` They 'll be fading out , because now the governors are doing it , '' Trump said of the guidelines during a meeting with Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards on Wednesday .
Mapping the coronavirus outbreak : All of the COVID-19 cases in the US Despite the number of U.S. coronavirus cases surpassing 1 million , with a grim death toll of more than 60,000 , the White House has been eager to paint an optimistic outlook of Americans returning to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence told reporters Thursday that most governors have embraced the federal guidelines and have incorporated them into their plans to reopen their states .
The president 's son-in-law and senior adviser , Jared Kushner , told `` Fox and Friends '' on Wednesday that Americans will return to their normal routines as early as June .
`` I think what you 'll see in May , as the states are reopening now , is May will be a transition month . ''
he said .
`` And I think you 'll see by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be back to normal and the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again . ''
Reopening the economy : Trump to travel to Arizona Honeywell facility next week amid push to lift coronavirus restrictions While the president and his aides have suggested that some governors are ready to allow people to go back to work and reopen schools , his health experts have stressed that states need to meet the requirements of the new `` Opening Up America Again '' guidance .
The new federal plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , outlines three stages that stagger the end of social distancing based on a two-week period of `` downward trajectory '' of coronavirus cases .
But the plan is largely predicated on benchmarks including the availability of widespread testing , which governors say is not yet available .
Health experts and state and local officials have expressed concern that opening too soon poses the threat of a deadly second wave of virus spread that would shut down much of the country and choke an already battered economy .
Lifting coronavirus lockdowns : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moves to reopen .
See the list '' We have no really effective drugs or vaccines , what we have is our behavior , '' said Joshua Sharfstein , director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health .
`` That communication that leads people to take action to protect themselves is the best medicine right now .
And when they muddle the message , we dilute the medicine . ''
More than half of states have announced plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions under the encouragement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance .
Republican Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp was one of the first to enact aggressive plans to ease stay-at-home orders , despite criticism from the president that it was `` too soon , '' allowing gyms , tattoo parlors , salons and massage therapists to reopen April 24 .
The president has praised other governors such as Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott , who unveiled his plan to reopen all retail stores , restaurants , movie theaters and malls at a 25 % capacity level on Friday – a week after Kemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , including Tennessee and Missouri , have also announced plans to return to business as usual on Monday even as they have n't yet met the requirements under the new reopening guidance .
Wendy Parmet , a Northeastern University law professor who specializes in health care and bioethics , said the expiration of the guidelines does n't change much as states are already calling the shots on when to lift restrictions .
But some people could read the president 's decision not to renew social distancing rules as a declaration that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume .
`` More people may pressure their state and local leaders to lift their own orders , and more people may stop practicing social distancing , '' she said .
`` That 's dangerous because much of the country has not met the criteria for reopening that the White House set forth in its own Guidelines for Opening Up American Again that were issued . ''
The federal guidelines still encourage people to limit social gatherings to fewer than 10 people through May 15 while several states are pushing a more gradual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordination with neighboring states : California is moving forward in coordination with Washington , Oregon , Colorado and Nevada ; governors from Connecticut , Delaware , New Jersey , New York , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island and Massachusetts have also announced plans to form a joint task force .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned states that do n't have the capability to test people and conduct contact tracing to `` go very slowly . ''
`` You can ’ t just leap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where you ’ re really tempting a rebound .
That ’ s the thing I get concerned about .
I hope they do n't do that , '' he told NBC 's `` TODAY '' show on Thursday .
Fauci cautioned that new cases are bound to occur as states begin opening up public spaces .
`` There will be blips , '' he added .
`` There 's no doubt .
When you pull back , there will be cases , and what we need to do is make sure ( states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identifying , isolating and contact tracing individuals . ''
Even as governors weigh reopening schools and businesses against public safety , most Americans say staying at home to combat the coronavirus is more important than jump-starting the economy .
`` There 's good evidence that most people wo n't resume normal parts of their lives until they feel safe doing so , '' said Andy Slavitt , former director of Medicare and Medicaid in the Obama administration .
`` They do n't want to feel like these five weeks are wasted . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not : As states reopen , Americans more comfortable with small steps , survey shows A CBS News poll released last week found that 70 % of respondents believe the top priority should be `` to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus by keeping people home and social distancing , even if the economy is hurting in the short term . ''
Even if states begin lifting social distancing restrictions , that does n't mean the economy is going to improve , Slavitt adds .
`` If you think about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring again , small businesses to feel comfortable opening and consumers to feel comfortable spending , that 's going to require a level of public health results that we have n't delivered yet . ''

Courtney Subramanian and Michael Collins, USA TODAY

Trump’s social distancing guidelines quietly expire as the administration shifts focus to reopening
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump and Florida Gov. DeSantis discus reopening the state President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis discussed the re-opening of Florida's businesses during a White House meeting. Associated Press, Wochit
WASHINGTON – The deadline to extend social distancing guidelines quietly passed on Thursday as the White House pushed a new set of suggestions designed to reopen the U.S. economy now decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House is sunsetting the federal guidelines, once a central tenet of its coronavirus response and the focus of the administration's message, in the latest sign of the president's eagerness to revive the once booming economy upended by the coronavirus crisis. The Trump administration is under economic pressure to shift its strategy from battling the coronavirus to pressing ahead with a message of economic revival that he hopes will help secure his reelection in November.
The administration has pivoted to a three-phase plan that leaves the decision to states, creating a patchwork strategy that some health experts warn could undermine the progress that has been made in stemming the spread of coronavirus.
The social distancing recommendations, released in mid-March and extended from two weeks to span 45 days, called on Americans to work from home and avoid nonessential travel as well as public spaces like restaurants and bars in order to "flatten the curve" of the number of people infected with COVID-19.
President Donald Trump came under fire for floating the idea of lifting social distancing restrictions as early as April 12, which was Easter Sunday. He changed his tune after he was confronted with a projected death toll of 100,000 to 240,000 if people were allowed to return to public spaces too early.
But as April came to a close this week, Trump said he has no plans to extend the federal recommendations after they expire Thursday, even as his own task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx suggested that social distancing would exist in some form through the summer.
"They'll be fading out, because now the governors are doing it," Trump said of the guidelines during a meeting with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Wednesday.
Mapping the coronavirus outbreak: All of the COVID-19 cases in the US
Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Despite the number of U.S. coronavirus cases surpassing 1 million, with a grim death toll of more than 60,000, the White House has been eager to paint an optimistic outlook of Americans returning to work by this summer. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters Thursday that most governors have embraced the federal guidelines and have incorporated them into their plans to reopen their states.
The president's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, told "Fox and Friends" on Wednesday that Americans will return to their normal routines as early as June.
"I think what you'll see in May, as the states are reopening now, is May will be a transition month." he said. "And I think you'll see by June, a lot of the country should be back to normal and the hope is that ... by July the country is really rocking again."
Reopening the economy: Trump to travel to Arizona Honeywell facility next week amid push to lift coronavirus restrictions
While the president and his aides have suggested that some governors are ready to allow people to go back to work and reopen schools, his health experts have stressed that states need to meet the requirements of the new "Opening Up America Again" guidance.
The new federal plan to restart the economy, launched earlier this month, outlines three stages that stagger the end of social distancing based on a two-week period of "downward trajectory" of coronavirus cases. But the plan is largely predicated on benchmarks including the availability of widespread testing, which governors say is not yet available.
Health experts and state and local officials have expressed concern that opening too soon poses the threat of a deadly second wave of virus spread that would shut down much of the country and choke an already battered economy.
Lifting coronavirus lockdowns: More than half of states are making moves to reopen. See the list
"We have no really effective drugs or vaccines, what we have is our behavior," said Joshua Sharfstein, director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "That communication that leads people to take action to protect themselves is the best medicine right now. And when they muddle the message, we dilute the medicine."
More than half of states have announced plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions under the encouragement of the president and the new federal guidance. Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was one of the first to enact aggressive plans to ease stay-at-home orders, despite criticism from the president that it was "too soon," allowing gyms, tattoo parlors, salons and massage therapists to reopen April 24.
The president has praised other governors such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who unveiled his plan to reopen all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls at a 25% capacity level on Friday – a week after Kemp's plan went into effect. Other states, including Tennessee and Missouri, have also announced plans to return to business as usual on Monday even as they haven't yet met the requirements under the new reopening guidance.
Trump upbeat on economy, orders meat plants open Donald Trump paints a rosy picture of the US economy despite the coronavirus pandemic sending it into a collapse. Trump also said his executive action to order meat processing plants to stay open had been welcomed by the companies involved. (April 29) AP
Wendy Parmet, a Northeastern University law professor who specializes in health care and bioethics, said the expiration of the guidelines doesn't change much as states are already calling the shots on when to lift restrictions. But some people could read the president's decision not to renew social distancing rules as a declaration that the problem is over and public life can resume.
Safety first: Reopening small businesses after COVID-19
"More people may pressure their state and local leaders to lift their own orders, and more people may stop practicing social distancing," she said. "That's dangerous because much of the country has not met the criteria for reopening that the White House set forth in its own Guidelines for Opening Up American Again that were issued."
The federal guidelines still encourage people to limit social gatherings to fewer than 10 people through May 15 while several states are pushing a more gradual approach. Some governors have relied on coordination with neighboring states: California is moving forward in coordination with Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada; governors from Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have also announced plans to form a joint task force.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned states that don't have the capability to test people and conduct contact tracing to "go very slowly."
"You can’t just leap over things and get into a situation where you’re really tempting a rebound. That’s the thing I get concerned about. I hope they don't do that," he told NBC's "TODAY" show on Thursday.
Fauci cautioned that new cases are bound to occur as states begin opening up public spaces.
"There will be blips," he added. "There's no doubt. When you pull back, there will be cases, and what we need to do is make sure (states) have in place the capability of identifying, isolating and contact tracing individuals."
Even as governors weigh reopening schools and businesses against public safety, most Americans say staying at home to combat the coronavirus is more important than jump-starting the economy.
"There's good evidence that most people won't resume normal parts of their lives until they feel safe doing so," said Andy Slavitt, former director of Medicare and Medicaid in the Obama administration. "They don't want to feel like these five weeks are wasted."
Haircut? Sure. Flying? Maybe not: As states reopen, Americans more comfortable with small steps, survey shows
A CBS News poll released last week found that 70% of respondents believe the top priority should be "to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus by keeping people home and social distancing, even if the economy is hurting in the short term."
Even if states begin lifting social distancing restrictions, that doesn't mean the economy is going to improve, Slavitt adds.
"If you think about what it takes for employers to feel comfortable hiring again, small businesses to feel comfortable opening and consumers to feel comfortable spending, that's going to require a level of public health results that we haven't delivered yet."
Contributing: Joel Shannon and Lorenzo Reyes


usatoday--2020-04-30--Survey: Ohio and Kentucky governors are the most popular during the pandemic

CINCINNATI – In the eyes of their constituents , no governors have handled the novel coronavirus outbreak better than the governors of Ohio and Kentucky , according to a survey of 22,000 Americans conducted by Harvard , Northeastern and Rutgers Universities .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine and Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear ranked one and two in the survey released Thursday .
In Ohio , 84 % of the Ohio respondents said they approved of DeWine 's handling of the pandemic .
Beshear came in a close second , with 81 % of Kentuckians in the survey approving of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , residents approved of their governor 's handling more than they did President Donald Trump 's .
While Trump easily won Ohio and Kentucky in the 2016 presidential election , he lagged more than 30 percentage points behind their governors in approval when it came to his COVID-19 response .
Study : Americans trust Fauci more than Trump or their own governors In Ohio and Kentucky , 51 % of the respondents approved of the president 's handling of the pandemic .
Overall across the country , 44 % of the respondents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while 66 % approved of their governor 's response .
`` There is substantial agreement that the state governments of respondents are reacting properly , '' the researchers in the study noted .
The survey was conducted April 17-26 .
Ohio 's results had a 4 percentage point margin of error , Kentucky 's was 5 percentage points .

Survey: Ohio and Kentucky governors are the most popular during the pandemic
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus Conversations: Disinfecting groceries and wearing masks Reporters and experts from across the country and the USA TODAY Network talk about America's most urgent questions on disinfection and reinfection. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
CINCINNATI – In the eyes of their constituents, no governors have handled the novel coronavirus outbreak better than the governors of Ohio and Kentucky, according to a survey of 22,000 Americans conducted by Harvard, Northeastern and Rutgers Universities.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear ranked one and two in the survey released Thursday.
In Ohio, 84% of the Ohio respondents said they approved of DeWine's handling of the pandemic. Beshear came in a close second, with 81% of Kentuckians in the survey approving of his COVID-19 response.
In all 50 states, residents approved of their governor's handling more than they did President Donald Trump's. While Trump easily won Ohio and Kentucky in the 2016 presidential election, he lagged more than 30 percentage points behind their governors in approval when it came to his COVID-19 response.
'We're winging this': Coronavirus protests tout independence as national groups eye election
Study: Americans trust Fauci more than Trump or their own governors
In Ohio and Kentucky, 51% of the respondents approved of the president's handling of the pandemic.
Overall across the country, 44% of the respondents said they disapproved of Trump's response while 66% approved of their governor's response.
"There is substantial agreement that the state governments of respondents are reacting properly," the researchers in the study noted.
The survey was conducted April 17-26. Ohio's results had a 4 percentage point margin of error, Kentucky's was 5 percentage points.


usatoday--2020-04-30--Haircut? Sure. Flying? Maybe not. As states reopen, Americans more comfortable with small steps, sur

WASHINGTON – While some states are preparing to reopen after locking down for the coronavirus , less than half of Americans say they are ready to engage in several activities that would signal a return to normal life or have a large-scale economic impact , according to a new survey .
Both Republicans and Democrats showed hesitation when it came to sending children back to school , going to a concert or even riding public transportation , according to findings from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project .
But there are some activities that the majority of Americans say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which are more personal or have a smaller economic impact .
In every instance , Republicans were more likely to participate than their Democratic counterparts in those activities .
A combined 44 % of Americans said if restrictions were lifted on the advice of public health officials , they probably or definitely would not send their child to school .
A combined 54 % probably or definitely would not ride public transportation , while 57 % would n't fly on an airplane .
More : Americans say the economy is getting worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the least likely event for Americans to attend ?
A combined 60 % of Americans probably or definitely would not join tens of thousands of other people for a stadium concert .
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate .
Throughout the 2020 election cycle , the researchers aim to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates .
This survey was conducted between April 16 and 23 , with 5,997 Americans surveyed .
There is a margin of error of plus or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes as several states , including Texas , Georgia , Alaska and South Carolina , are beginning to allow restaurants to serve customers in their buildings and some other businesses to open with social distancing guidelines .
The economic impact of social distancing has been the subject of protests around the country demanding states reopen , and President Donald Trump has suggested most states could begin reopening by Friday .
Robert Griffin , research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group , said the survey shows that Americans are more willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's social life .
But that as things like sporting events begin to restart , `` it 's not clear right now that the American public is going to have a full embrace of this . ''
More : Nearly one-third of Americans believe a coronavirus vaccine exists and is being withheld , survey finds Overall , however , Griffin noted that the majority of people who were already engaging in these activities normally `` are saying 'Yeah , I 'm not going to do that right away .
That 's not something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' `` Other activities that the majority of Americans say they aren ’ t ready to participate in include : • A movie .
A combined 58 % said they definitely or probably would not go .
• A professional sporting event .
A combined 57 % said they definitely or probably would not attend .
• Going to the mall .
A combined 54 % said they definitely or probably would not .
• Weddings .
A combined 53 % said they definitely or probably would not attend .
But attending smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans are on board with some those things .
A combined 57 % of Americans said they definitely or probably would go to dinner at a friend 's house — including 66 % of Republicans and 52 % of Democrats .
Would you get a haircut ?
A combined 52 % said they definitely or probably would ; 59 % of Republicans to 48 % of Democrats .
Lifting coronavirus lockdowns : More than half of states are making moves to reopen .
See the list .
A combined 50 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funeral .
Again Republicans were more likely to attend , with 58 % saying they definitely or probably would , compared with 46 % of Democrats .
A combined 45 % of Republicans said they definitely or probably would attend a religious service , compared with 29 % of Democrats .
However , 26 % of Democrats said they would not have done attended a religious service before the coronavirus pandemic , compared with 18 % of Republicans .
In addition , there ’ s a 15 percentage point gap between Democrats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would eat at a restaurant , with Republicans at 55 % and Democrats at 40 % .

Haircut? Sure. Flying? Maybe not. As states reopen, Americans more comfortable with small steps, survey shows
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: People flock to reopened public places during pandemic Visitors flocked to Utah's Sand Hollow State Park and barber shops in Georgia after some states reopened some public places. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – While some states are preparing to reopen after locking down for the coronavirus, less than half of Americans say they are ready to engage in several activities that would signal a return to normal life or have a large-scale economic impact, according to a new survey.
Both Republicans and Democrats showed hesitation when it came to sending children back to school, going to a concert or even riding public transportation, according to findings from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
But there are some activities that the majority of Americans say they would likely participate in, many of which are more personal or have a smaller economic impact. In every instance, Republicans were more likely to participate than their Democratic counterparts in those activities.
A combined 44% of Americans said if restrictions were lifted on the advice of public health officials, they probably or definitely would not send their child to school. A combined 54% probably or definitely would not ride public transportation, while 57% wouldn't fly on an airplane.
Infectious disease expert on states reopening: 'It's a risky time' Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, talks with USA TODAY's Jayne O'Donnell about isolation, reopening and COVID-19 vaccines. Jarrad Henderson, USA TODAY
More: Americans say the economy is getting worse in much larger numbers than weeks ago
And the least likely event for Americans to attend? A combined 60% of Americans probably or definitely would not join tens of thousands of other people for a stadium concert.
The Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project is a large-scale study of the American electorate. Throughout the 2020 election cycle, the researchers aim to conduct 500,000 interviews about policies and the presidential candidates.
This survey was conducted between April 16 and 23, with 5,997 Americans surveyed. There is a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2. percentage points.
The survey comes as several states, including Texas, Georgia, Alaska and South Carolina, are beginning to allow restaurants to serve customers in their buildings and some other businesses to open with social distancing guidelines. The economic impact of social distancing has been the subject of protests around the country demanding states reopen, and President Donald Trump has suggested most states could begin reopening by Friday.
Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, said the survey shows that Americans are more willing to engage in activities that deal with one's social life. But that as things like sporting events begin to restart, "it's not clear right now that the American public is going to have a full embrace of this."
More: Nearly one-third of Americans believe a coronavirus vaccine exists and is being withheld, survey finds
Overall, however, Griffin noted that the majority of people who were already engaging in these activities normally "are saying 'Yeah, I'm not going to do that right away. That's not something that I feel confident about yet.' "
Other activities that the majority of Americans say they aren’t ready to participate in include:
A movie. A combined 58% said they definitely or probably would not go.
A professional sporting event. A combined 57% said they definitely or probably would not attend.
Going to the mall. A combined 54% said they definitely or probably would not.
Weddings. A combined 53% said they definitely or probably would not attend.
But attending smaller, more intimate gatherings? The majority of Americans are on board with some those things.
A combined 57% of Americans said they definitely or probably would go to dinner at a friend's house — including 66% of Republicans and 52% of Democrats.
Would you get a haircut? A combined 52% said they definitely or probably would; 59% of Republicans to 48% of Democrats.
Lifting coronavirus lockdowns: More than half of states are making moves to reopen. See the list.
A combined 50% of Americans definitely or probably would attend a funeral. Again Republicans were more likely to attend, with 58% saying they definitely or probably would, compared with 46% of Democrats.
Trump upbeat on economy, orders meat plants open Donald Trump paints a rosy picture of the US economy despite the coronavirus pandemic sending it into a collapse. Trump also said his executive action to order meat processing plants to stay open had been welcomed by the companies involved. (April 29) AP
A combined 45% of Republicans said they definitely or probably would attend a religious service, compared with 29% of Democrats. However, 26% of Democrats said they would not have done attended a religious service before the coronavirus pandemic, compared with 18% of Republicans.
In addition, there’s a 15 percentage point gap between Democrats and Republicans who say they definitely or probably would eat at a restaurant, with Republicans at 55% and Democrats at 40%.


usatoday--2020-04-30--'Someone's life could depend on it': Two congressmen donate plasma after COVID-19 recovery

WASHINGTON – Two congressman announced Thursday that they will be donating their blood plasma , since they have recovered from COVID-19 , to those who are sick with the virus .
The technique of using plasma from people who have recovered from a disease to treat others with the same disease goes back more than a century and has been successful in stemming outbreaks of poliomyelitis , measles , mumps and influenza .
Plasma from those who have recovered from the coronavirus is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for patients battling the virus and as a possible step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell not to reconvene Senate : 'No way to do this without increased risk' Reps. Joe Cunningham , D-S.C. , and Mario Diaz-Balart , R-Fla. , are among six lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have tested positive for coronavirus so far .
`` I was incredibly fortunate to only have extremely mild # COVID19 symptoms and now I 'm grateful for the chance to help out someone who is critically ill , '' Cunningham wrote on Twitter .
`` If you 've recovered from coronavirus , I encourage you to do the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his plasma while his wife , Tia , donated blood `` to help those with critical health conditions . ''
`` I strongly encourage people who have recovered from COVID-19 to become a plasma donor – someone ’ s life could depend on it , '' he said .
More : Karen Pence says Mike Pence did not find out about Mayo Clinic mask policy until after visit Early results of using blood plasma around the country have shown some positive results in the fight against the coronavirus .
As discussed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects are not coming from an official clinical trial but from patients who have been treated under the U.S. government 's expanded access program .
The program is meant to help patients now , before rigorous , time-consuming clinical trials have been completed .
More : Spike in US deaths and cases flagged as pneumonia suggests even greater COVID-19 impact No definitive studies looking at outcomes in patients who either did or did not get the plasma have been released .
However , a report on a series of cases from China that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show the possibility of positive outcomes .
Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Red Cross have encouraged those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating their blood plasma .
Donors must meet certain requirements , including having a prior , verified diagnosis of COVID-19 .
Dr. Liise-anne Pirofski , professor of biomedical research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine , said the donor must have documentation , such as a positive PCR test or an official isolation order , and can donate up to 28 days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus lockdowns : More than half of states are making moves to reopen .
See the list .
COVID-19 cases have topped 1 million and the death toll has passed 60,000 in the United States .

'Someone’s life could depend on it': Two congressmen donate plasma after COVID-19 recovery
Show Caption Hide Caption Potential COVID-19 treatment: Convalescent plasma, antibodies Why a treatment used for over a century on diseases like measles, mumps and influenza could work to treat the new coronavirus strain. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Two congressman announced Thursday that they will be donating their blood plasma, since they have recovered from COVID-19, to those who are sick with the virus.
The technique of using plasma from people who have recovered from a disease to treat others with the same disease goes back more than a century and has been successful in stemming outbreaks of poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and influenza.
Plasma from those who have recovered from the coronavirus is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for patients battling the virus and as a possible step toward creating a vaccine.
Feinstein urges McConnell not to reconvene Senate: 'No way to do this without increased risk'
Reps. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., are among six lawmakers on Capitol Hill who have tested positive for coronavirus so far.
"I was incredibly fortunate to only have extremely mild #COVID19 symptoms and now I'm grateful for the chance to help out someone who is critically ill," Cunningham wrote on Twitter. "If you've recovered from coronavirus, I encourage you to do the same!"
I was incredibly fortunate to only have extremely mild #COVID19 symptoms and now I'm grateful for the chance to help out someone who is critically ill. If you've recovered from coronavirus, I encourage you to do the same! https://t.co/BrNNV7WCTD — Rep. Joe Cunningham (@RepCunningham) April 30, 2020
Diaz-Balart wrote that he donated his plasma while his wife, Tia, donated blood "to help those with critical health conditions."
"I strongly encourage people who have recovered from COVID-19 to become a plasma donor – someone’s life could depend on it," he said.
More: Karen Pence says Mike Pence did not find out about Mayo Clinic mask policy until after visit
Yesterday, my wife Tia and I visited @my1blood where I donated my plasma and she donated blood to help those with critical health conditions. I strongly encourage people who have recovered from COVID-19 to become a plasma donor— someone’s life could depend on it. pic.twitter.com/ZSxmodjkeR — Mario Diaz-Balart (@MarioDB) April 30, 2020
Early results of using blood plasma around the country have shown some positive results in the fight against the coronavirus.
As discussed with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, some blood plasma projects are not coming from an official clinical trial but from patients who have been treated under the U.S. government's expanded access program. The program is meant to help patients now, before rigorous, time-consuming clinical trials have been completed.
More: Spike in US deaths and cases flagged as pneumonia suggests even greater COVID-19 impact
No definitive studies looking at outcomes in patients who either did or did not get the plasma have been released. However, a report on a series of cases from China that was published on March 27 also seemed to show the possibility of positive outcomes.
Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Red Cross have encouraged those who have fully recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating their blood plasma.
Donors must meet certain requirements, including having a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19. Dr. Liise-anne Pirofski, professor of biomedical research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said the donor must have documentation, such as a positive PCR test or an official isolation order, and can donate up to 28 days after the resolution of their symptoms.
Lifting coronavirus lockdowns: More than half of states are making moves to reopen. See the list.
COVID-19 cases have topped 1 million and the death toll has passed 60,000 in the United States.
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, Adrianna Rodrigue, Grace Hauck, USA TODAY; Mark Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


usatoday--2020-05-01--Trump says new FBI notes exonerate Michael Flynn, analysts say that's not the case

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that newly released FBI notes exonerate former national security adviser Michael Flynn , even though he pleaded guilty to charges of lying about contacts with a Russian ambassador .
The notes have given Trump and his allies new ammunition to argue that the FBI unfairly targeted him and his aides during the Russia investigation .
Legal analysts said the president and his people are distorting the contents of the notes , which focus on a 2017 interview in which Flynn apparently lied to agents about his contacts with Sergey I. Kislyak , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They tormented him – dirty cops tormented Gen. Flynn , '' Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday while suggesting he would pardon his ex-aide if he is unable to withdraw his guilty plea .
`` If you look at those notes from yesterday , that was total exoneration , '' Trump said .
Less a month after taking office in 2017 , Trump fired Flynn as national security adviser .
Trump and his aides said the former military officer lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his talks with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked a federal judge to allow him to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI .
Flynn claims he was coerced into making that plea , and that the FBI framed him as part of an effort to embarrass Trump .
While seeking to withdraw his guilty plea , Flynn ’ s case has been stalled in federal court for more than two years as his defense team alleges a government conspiracy to frame him .
Four pages of emails and documents , unsealed Wednesday , show FBI officials preparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
The documents show investigators mulling over what to tell Flynn and how to handle the investigation into Flynn ’ s communications with the Russian ambassador weeks before Trump took office .
“ What is our goal ?
Truth/Admission or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
” according to a page of handwritten notes .
“ We regularly show evidence , with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing.
” The notes also show that investigators predicted Flynn would lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond if he did .
“ If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act , give facts to DOJ & let them decide , ” according to the notes , which referred to the law forbidding private citizens from corresponding with foreign governments .
“ Or , if he initially lies , then we present him ( redacted ) & he admits it , document for DOJ & let them decide how to address it.
” “ If we ’ re seen as playing games , WH will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to the White House .
In another email , former FBI lawyer Lisa Page asked if officials should advise Flynn at the beginning of the interview that lying to the FBI is a crime – or if that warning should come after Flynn gave a false statement .
“ Does the policy speak to that ?
” Page asked in an email sent to former FBI agent Peter Strzok and other officials whose names were redacted .
A second batch of documents unsealed Thursday shows that investigators were prepared to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crossfire Razor – but decided to keep the probe open .
Documents dated Jan. 4 , 2017 , show that investigators did not find `` derogatory '' information on Flynn and the probe `` did not yield any information on which to predicate further investigative efforts . ''
Communications among investigators show that Strzok told other FBI officials that same day not to close Crossfire Razor .
Strzok told officials , whose names were redacted , that the `` 7th floor '' – referring to the FBI leadership – is involved in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawyers for former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe , Strzok and Page did not comment .
James Baker , former FBI general counsel , also declined to comment .
Flynn 's defense team , led by conservative lawyer and Fox News commentator Sidney Powell , has declared his innocence , accusing investigators of forcing him to admit to crimes he didn ’ t commit and hiding evidence that would ’ ve exonerated him .
A federal judge has rejected those claims .
More : Feds recommend prison sentence of up to six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : Barr appoints outside prosecutor to review criminal case against Michael Flynn The documents were released as a result of a Justice Department review of the criminal case against Flynn .
Attorney General William Barr tapped Jeffrey Jensen , the chief federal prosecutor in St. Louis nominated by Trump in 2017 , to look into concerns raised by Flynn 's attorneys about the FBI 's investigation of the former Army general .
`` Mr. Jensen obtained and analyzed these documents during the course of his ongoing review and determined they should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's defense counsel , '' Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said .
Last week , the U.S. Attorney 's Office in Washington , D.C. , disclosed that prosecutors have turned over documents to Flynn 's attorneys as part of Jensen 's review .
In court records filed shortly after , Flynn 's attorneys said prosecutors had just given the defense team “ stunning ” evidence that proves he was “ deliberately set up and framed ” by FBI agents .
Legal analysts called the FBI notes run-of-the-mill , and said FBI agents had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly about his conversations with Kislyak .
`` They were debating how to approach him about the lie , '' said Bradley Moss , a national security lawyer .
`` Law enforcement does this kind of thing on a routine basis .
The only difference is it ’ s usually not with a powerful White House staffer . ''
Renato Mariotti , a former federal prosecutor , said the notes reflected preparation for an interview , and are not unusual at all .
`` Michael Flynn was treated like thousands of other subjects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` If you don ’ t like how Flynn was treated , change the rules for everyone .
Because this is how it works . ''
A foreign policy adviser to Trump 's presidential 's campaign , Flynn contacted Kislyak shortly after Trump won the 2016 election Flynn initially denied that he spoke about the prospect that the Barack Obama administration would sanction Russia over its interference in the 2016 elections .
Later , he acknowledged that the topic of sanctions did come up , and pleaded guilty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired Flynn , Trump has frequently expressed sympathy for his ex-aide 's legal plight .
Trump has described Flynn as a pawn in what he has called a `` hoax '' FBI effort to tie him to Russians who hacked Democratic emails and pushed fake news during the 2016 election .
The office of special counsel Robert Mueller , who prosecuted the Flynn case , found that the Russian government undertook a “ sweeping and systematic ” campaign to help Trump win the White House in 2016 , believing it would benefit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released in 2019 , Mueller ’ s team said it did not find evidence that Trump or his associates conspired with Russians to sway the election , though investigators found that the then-candidate and his campaign aides were eager beneficiaries of Russia ’ s help .
Flynn is one of half a dozen former Trump aides and associates who either pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes such as lying to Congress and fraud as a result of the Mueller investigation .
Roger Stone , a longtime Trump confidant , was sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lost a bid for a new trial , is appealing his conviction .
Paul Manafort , Trump ’ s former campaign chairman , is serving more than seven years in prison .
Michael Cohen , Trump ’ s former personal attorney , is serving three years and was granted an early release as the coronavirus pandemic spreads in the federal prison system .

David Jackson and Kristine Phillips, USA TODAY

Trump says new FBI notes exonerate Michael Flynn, analysts say that's not the case
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump claims Michael Flynn exonerated by FBI notes President Trump says newly released FBI notes show that Gen. Michael Flynn was unfairly ousted. During a White House event, Trump fielded questions. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that newly released FBI notes exonerate former national security adviser Michael Flynn, even though he pleaded guilty to charges of lying about contacts with a Russian ambassador.
The notes have given Trump and his allies new ammunition to argue that the FBI unfairly targeted him and his aides during the Russia investigation. Legal analysts said the president and his people are distorting the contents of the notes, which focus on a 2017 interview in which Flynn apparently lied to agents about his contacts with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States.
"They tormented him – dirty cops tormented Gen. Flynn," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday while suggesting he would pardon his ex-aide if he is unable to withdraw his guilty plea.
"If you look at those notes from yesterday, that was total exoneration," Trump said.
Less than a month after taking office in 2017, Trump fired Flynn as national security adviser. Trump and his aides said the former military officer lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his talks with the Russians. Now, Flynn has asked a federal judge to allow him to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI. Flynn claims that he was coerced into making that plea and that the FBI framed him as part of an effort to embarrass Trump.
More: Michael Flynn's sentencing collapses amid a judge's 'disgust' over former national security adviser's conduct
More: Michael Flynn withdraws guilty plea, accuses prosecutors of acting in 'bad faith'
While seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, Flynn’s case has been stalled in federal court for more than two years as his defense team alleges a government conspiracy to frame him.
Four pages of emails and documents, unsealed Wednesday, show FBI officials preparing for an interview with Flynn in January 2017. The documents show investigators mulling over what to tell Flynn and how to handle the investigation into Flynn’s communications with the Russian ambassador weeks before Trump took office.
“What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” according to a page of handwritten notes. “We regularly show evidence, with the goal of getting them to admit their wrongdoing.”
The notes also show that investigators predicted Flynn would lie to the FBI and mulled over how to respond if he did.
“If we get him to admit to breaking the Logan Act, give facts to DOJ & let them decide,” according to the notes, which referred to the law forbidding private citizens from corresponding with foreign governments. “Or, if he initially lies, then we present him (redacted) & he admits it, document for DOJ & let them decide how to address it.”
“If we’re seen as playing games, WH will be furious,” according to the notes, referring to the White House.
In another email, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page asked if officials should advise Flynn at the beginning of the interview that lying to the FBI is a crime – or if that warning should come after Flynn gave a false statement.
“Does the policy speak to that?” Page asked in an email sent to former FBI agent Peter Strzok and other officials whose names were redacted.
A second batch of documents unsealed Thursday shows that investigators were prepared to close the investigation on Flynn – code named Crossfire Razor – but decided to keep the probe open.
Documents dated Jan. 4, 2017, show that investigators did not find "derogatory" information on Flynn and the probe "did not yield any information on which to predicate further investigative efforts." Communications among investigators show that Strzok told other FBI officials that same day not to close Crossfire Razor. Strzok told officials, whose names were redacted, that the "7th floor" – referring to the FBI leadership – is involved in the decision to keep the investigation open.
Lawyers for former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, Strzok and Page did not comment. James Baker, former FBI general counsel, also declined to comment.
Flynn's defense team, led by conservative lawyer and Fox News commentator Sidney Powell, has declared his innocence, accusing investigators of forcing him to admit to crimes he didn’t commit and hiding evidence that would’ve exonerated him. A federal judge has rejected those claims.
More: Feds recommend prison sentence of up to six months for ex-Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn
More: Barr appoints outside prosecutor to review criminal case against Michael Flynn
The documents were released as a result of a Justice Department review of the criminal case against Flynn. Attorney General William Barr tapped Jeffrey Jensen, the chief federal prosecutor in St. Louis nominated by Trump in 2017, to look into concerns raised by Flynn's attorneys about the FBI's investigation of the former Army general.
"Mr. Jensen obtained and analyzed these documents during the course of his ongoing review and determined they should be provided to the court and Mr. Flynn's defense counsel," Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said.
Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., disclosed that prosecutors have turned over documents to Flynn's attorneys as part of Jensen's review. In court records filed shortly after, Flynn's attorneys said prosecutors had just given the defense team “stunning” evidence that proves he was “deliberately set up and framed” by FBI agents.
Legal analysts called the FBI notes run-of-the-mill, and said FBI agents had good reason to believe Flynn had lied repeatedly about his conversations with Kislyak.
"They were debating how to approach him about the lie," said Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer. "Law enforcement does this kind of thing on a routine basis. The only difference is it’s usually not with a powerful White House staffer."
Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said the notes reflected preparation for an interview, and are not unusual at all.
"Michael Flynn was treated like thousands of other subjects who were interviewed by FBI agents," he said. "If you don’t like how Flynn was treated, change the rules for everyone. Because this is how it works."
A foreign policy adviser to Trump's presidential's campaign, Flynn contacted Kislyak shortly after Trump won the 2016 election
Flynn initially denied that he spoke about the prospect that the Barack Obama administration would sanction Russia over its interference in the 2016 elections. Later, he acknowledged that the topic of sanctions did come up, and pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
Though he fired Flynn, Trump has frequently expressed sympathy for his former aide's legal plight. Trump has described Flynn as a pawn in what he has called a "hoax" FBI effort to tie him to Russians who hacked Democratic emails and pushed fake news during the 2016 election.
The office of special counsel Robert Mueller, who prosecuted the Flynn case, found that the Russian government undertook a “sweeping and systematic” campaign to help Trump win the White House in 2016, believing it would benefit from his presidency.
In a voluminous report released in 2019, Mueller’s team said it did not find evidence that Trump or his associates conspired with Russians to sway the election, though investigators found that the then-candidate and his campaign aides were eager beneficiaries of Russia’s help.
Flynn is one of half a dozen former Trump aides and associates who either pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes such as lying to Congress and fraud as a result of the Mueller investigation.
Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidant, was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Stone, who lost a bid for a new trial, is appealing his conviction. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, is serving more than seven years in prison. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, is serving three years and was granted an early release as the coronavirus pandemic spreads in the federal prison system.


usatoday--2020-04-30--Trump's name will stay above Biden's on Florida's 2020 ballot, appeals court rules

A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at overturning a Florida law that puts President Donald Trump and other Republicans in the top positions in November 's ballot .
Democrats have argued the law gives Republican candidates an unfair advantage in the closely contested swing state .
Last year , U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker ruled that the 1951 law , which says a candidate 's position on the ballot is determined by the party of the governor in office , is unconstitutional because it allows `` a state to put its thumb on the scale and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power . ''
Walker said the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Florida election officials from designing the ballot according to the existing statute .
`` Florida ’ s ballot order statute ensures one party ’ s candidates receive that advantage in every race , all down the ballot , in every election , '' Walker wrote .
But on Wednesday a three-judge panel for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Walker 's ruling and dismissed the lawsuit .
The appeals court said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic National Committee – that brought the suit against the Florida secretary of state lacked standing because `` none of them proved an injury in fact . ''
`` A citizen is not injured by the simple fact that a candidate for whom she votes loses or stands to lose an election , '' Judge William Pryor wrote for the majority .
Election 2020 : Meet the team who will help Joe Biden pick his vice presidential running mate Florida has not had a Democratic governor since January 1999 , which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first on the ballot for each race in the state .
The plaintiffs said that gave Republicans an edge in those races because of `` position bias '' or `` primacy effect . ''
According to the primacy effect theory , a small number of people tend to vote for whoever appears first on the ballot .
Sometimes referred to as a `` donkey vote , '' that phenomenon swayed Florida elections from 1978 to 2016 by an average of 5 % , according to a study by Stanford University professor Jon Krosnick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The primacy effect is more pronounced in down-ballot races , where voters tend to know less about the candidates .
A 2019 study by Sam Houston State University associate economics professor Darren Grant found the primacy effect in Texas elections was small for high-profile races , but could exceed 10 % in down-ballot races .
In a report he submitted to the court , Krosnick said there were two main explanations for the behavior .
The first is that some voters feel compelled to cast their ballots in every race , even when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates , because they see it as a civic duty .
In those cases , `` If people simply settle for the first listed contender when they have no information at all about a race , primacy effects will occur , '' Krosnick said .
And in cases where voters do know about the candidates , such as in a presidential race , ambivalence about their choices can lead voters to go with the first option .
`` Consider a voter who has devoted great effort to learning about candidates competing for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an array of reasons to vote for and against each one , '' Krosnick wrote .
`` When he or she finally walks into a voting booth , making a choice between the candidates might be very difficult , because their pros and cons nearly balance out .
`` As a result , when under pressure to make a choice and move on with life , the voter again might seek to choose arbitrarily , and in such situations , name order might again constitute a nudge , yielding a bias toward the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the margin of victory has been less than 3 % in four of the last five presidential elections .
If the primacy effect plays out as studied , the ballot positioning could mean the difference in Trump 's quest to win the state a second time .
And , as the most valuable battleground state with 29 electoral votes , the election outcome could hinge on the result in the Sunshine State , as it famously did in 2000 .
George W. Bush appeared first on the ballots in Florida that year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had rotated the order of the candidates on the ballots as states such as Ohio do , `` the nation would have had a different President in 2001 . ''
And Krosnick found a similar result when he looked at the 2016 election in Florida , which Trump won by 1.2 % .
If Trump , Hillary Clinton and the four other presidential candidates had been rotated in order that year , so that each would be first on one-sixth of the ballots , `` Secretary Clinton would have won Florida by 1.48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll : Six months out , Biden jumps to lead over Trump amid coronavirus concerns

Trump's name will stay above Biden's on Florida's 2020 ballot, appeals court rules
Show Caption Hide Caption Bernie Sanders supporters not backing Joe Biden A new poll from USA TODAY and Suffolk University shows that nearly a quarter of Bernie Sanders supporters haven't turned over to support Joe Biden. USA TODAY
A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at overturning a Florida law that puts President Donald Trump and other Republicans in the top positions in November's ballot. Democrats have argued the law gives Republican candidates an unfair advantage in the closely contested swing state.
Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker ruled that the 1951 law, which says a candidate's position on the ballot is determined by the party of the governor in office, is unconstitutional because it allows "a state to put its thumb on the scale and award an electoral advantage to the party in power."
Walker said the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Florida election officials from designing the ballot according to the existing statute.
"Florida’s ballot order statute ensures one party’s candidates receive that advantage in every race, all down the ballot, in every election," Walker wrote.
But on Wednesday a three-judge panel for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Walker's ruling and dismissed the lawsuit. The appeals court said the voters and six organizations – which includes the Democratic National Committee – that brought the suit against the Florida secretary of state lacked standing because "none of them proved an injury in fact."
"A citizen is not injured by the simple fact that a candidate for whom she votes loses or stands to lose an election," Judge William Pryor wrote for the majority.
Election 2020: Meet the team who will help Joe Biden pick his vice presidential running mate
Florida has not had a Democratic governor since January 1999, which means for 20 years GOP candidates have come first on the ballot for each race in the state. The plaintiffs said that gave Republicans an edge in those races because of "position bias" or "primacy effect."
According to the primacy effect theory, a small number of people tend to vote for whoever appears first on the ballot. Sometimes referred to as a "donkey vote," that phenomenon swayed Florida elections from 1978 to 2016 by an average of 5%, according to a study by Stanford University professor Jon Krosnick, who testified for the plaintiffs.
The primacy effect is more pronounced in down-ballot races, where voters tend to know less about the candidates. A 2019 study by Sam Houston State University associate economics professor Darren Grant found the primacy effect in Texas elections was small for high-profile races, but could exceed 10% in down-ballot races.
In a report he submitted to the court, Krosnick said there were two main explanations for the behavior. The first is that some voters feel compelled to cast their ballots in every race, even when they do not know much about the candidates, because they see it as a civic duty.
In those cases, "If people simply settle for the first listed contender when they have no information at all about a race, primacy effects will occur," Krosnick said.
And in cases where voters do know about the candidates, such as in a presidential race, ambivalence about their choices can lead voters to go with the first option.
"Consider a voter who has devoted great effort to learning about candidates competing for President of the United States and has discovered an array of reasons to vote for and against each one," Krosnick wrote. "When he or she finally walks into a voting booth, making a choice between the candidates might be very difficult, because their pros and cons nearly balance out.
"As a result, when under pressure to make a choice and move on with life, the voter again might seek to choose arbitrarily, and in such situations, name order might again constitute a nudge, yielding a bias toward the first-listed name."
In Florida, the margin of victory has been less than 3% in four of the last five presidential elections. If the primacy effect plays out as studied, the ballot positioning could mean the difference in Trump's quest to win the state a second time. And, as the most valuable battleground state with 29 electoral votes, the election outcome could hinge on the result in the Sunshine State, as it famously did in 2000.
George W. Bush appeared first on the ballots in Florida that year. Krosnick's analysis found that if Florida had rotated the order of the candidates on the ballots as states such as Ohio do, "the nation would have had a different President in 2001."
And Krosnick found a similar result when he looked at the 2016 election in Florida, which Trump won by 1.2%.
If Trump, Hillary Clinton and the four other presidential candidates had been rotated in order that year, so that each would be first on one-sixth of the ballots, "Secretary Clinton would have won Florida by 1.48 percentage points," Krosnick predicted.
USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll: Six months out, Biden jumps to lead over Trump amid coronavirus concerns


usatoday--2020-04-30--Sexual assault reports in the military rise 3%, defying Pentagon efforts to eliminate the crime

WASHINGTON – Reports of sexual assault in the military increased 3 % in 2019 , continuing a disturbing trend despite Pentagon efforts to combat the problem , the Defense Department reported Thursday .
The annual survey compared reports of sexual assault in fiscal year 2019 , which ended last September , with the same period in 2018 .
There were 6,236 reports in 2019 compared with 6,053 in 2018 .
The Pentagon said it does not consider the 3 % increase in reports to be the most reliable indicator of the problem in the military because sexual assault is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Pentagon 's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office , said he was `` cautiously optimistic '' that the 3 % increase indicated that efforts to eradicate sexual assault were paying off .
The more comprehensive survey on sexual assault was released last year .
That report , usually done every other year , is based on detailed surveys of troops .
It found a 38 % increase in assaults from 2016 to 2018 and came after years of focused effort and resources to eradicate it .
Military was to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a halt .
Nonetheless , Thursday 's news of an increase in reports shows sexual violence continues to be a major problem for the Pentagon .
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and chief of staff Gen. James McConville , in a statement , called sexual assault in the ranks `` deliberate fratricide that tears at the fabric of our organization and erodes readiness '' and must be stamped out .
“ Our work to eliminate sexual assault reflects our ongoing commitment to advance a culture of trust , respect , and inclusion within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon 's executive director for force resiliency , said in a statement .
“ We are acutely aware of the high cost of not succeeding , not only for the readiness of our country ’ s defense , but for the individual Americans who step forward and volunteer to serve our nation . ''
The 2019 report surveyed Army , Navy , Air Force and Marine personnel .
That survey found an estimated 20,500 instances of unwanted sexual contact – an increase over the 14,900 estimated in the last major survey in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rape .
Enlisted female troops ages 17 to 24 were at the highest risk of being assaulted .
More than 85 % of victims knew their assailant .
Alcohol was involved in 62 % of the total assaults .
“ One of our prevention efforts over the past year focused on preparing leaders at all levels to better reach our youngest service members who are most at risk , ” Galbreath said in a statement .
“ Helping our newest enlisted leaders and supervisors create healthy unit climates will benefit our military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation was even worse at the nation 's premier military educational institutions .
Sexual assault at military academies rose 50 % , according to another report released last year .
Reports of unwanted sexual contact totaled 747 in the 2017-18 academic year , compared with 507 in 2015-16 , according to anonymous surveys of cadets and midshipmen .
Pentagon spending on sex assault programs quadruples , yet incidents creep back up in latest report Senior Pentagon officials vowed changes to combat sexual assault : seeking a stand-alone military crime of sexual harassment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , launching a program to catch serial offenders , improving assessments of the character of military applicants , training for junior officers and junior enlisted leaders and focusing on prevention .
One program initiated in 2019 seeks to catch serial offenders by tracking confidential information provided by victims .
There have been 239 reports to the program that have matched five different offenders who may have assaulted multiple victims , Galbreath said .

Sexual assault reports in the military rise 3%, defying Pentagon efforts to eliminate the crime
Show Caption Hide Caption Pentagon study reveals sexual assault cases in military on the rise A study by the Pentagon reveals that cases of sexual assault in the military ranks has increased 38% from 2016 to 2018. Buzz60
WASHINGTON – Reports of sexual assault in the military increased 3% in 2019, continuing a disturbing trend despite Pentagon efforts to combat the problem, the Defense Department reported Thursday.
The annual survey compared reports of sexual assault in fiscal 2019, which ended last September, with the same period in 2018. There were 6,236 reports in 2019, compared with 6,053 in 2018.
The Pentagon said it does not consider the 3% increase in reports to be the most reliable indicator of the problem in the military because sexual assault is an under-reported crime.
Nate Galbreath, acting director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, said he was "cautiously optimistic" that the 3% increase indicated that efforts to eradicate sexual assault were paying off.
The more comprehensive survey on sexual assault was released last year. That report, usually done every other year, is based on detailed surveys of troops. It found a 38% increase in assaults from 2016 to 2018 and came after years of focused effort and resources to eradicate it.
Military was to cut healthcare workers: Coronavirus brought that to a halt.
Nonetheless, Thursday's news of an increase in reports shows sexual violence continues to be a major problem for the Pentagon.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and chief of staff Gen. James McConville, in a statement, called sexual assault in the ranks "deliberate fratricide that tears at the fabric of our organization and erodes readiness" and must be stamped out.
“Our work to eliminate sexual assault reflects our ongoing commitment to advance a culture of trust, respect, and inclusion within the force.” Elizabeth Van Winkle, the Pentagon's executive director for force resiliency, said in a statement. “We are acutely aware of the high cost of not succeeding, not only for the readiness of our country’s defense, but for the individual Americans who step forward and volunteer to serve our nation."
The 2019 report surveyed Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine personnel. That survey found an estimated 20,500 instances of unwanted sexual contact – an increase over the 14,900 estimated in the last major survey in 2016. Unwanted sexual contact ranges from groping to rape.
Military sexual assaults rise by 38%: Highest for young women
Enlisted female troops ages 17 to 24 were at the highest risk of being assaulted. More than 85% of victims knew their assailant. Alcohol was involved in 62% of the total assaults.
“One of our prevention efforts over the past year focused on preparing leaders at all levels to better reach our youngest service members who are most at risk,” Galbreath said in a statement. “Helping our newest enlisted leaders and supervisors create healthy unit climates will benefit our military and all those who serve.”
The situation was even worse at the nation's premier military educational institutions. Sexual assault at military academies rose 50%, according to another report released last year. Reports of unwanted sexual contact totaled 747 in the 2017-18 academic year, compared with 507 in 2015-16, according to anonymous surveys of cadets and midshipmen.
Senior Pentagon officials vowed changes to combat sexual assault: seeking a stand-alone military crime of sexual harassment, developing new measurements to gauge the problem, launching a program to catch serial offenders, improving assessments of the character of military applicants, training for junior officers and junior enlisted leaders and focusing on prevention.
One program initiated in 2019 seeks to catch serial offenders by tracking confidential information provided by victims. There have been 239 reports to the program that have matched five different offenders who may have assaulted multiple victims, Galbreath said.


usatoday--2020-05-01--Haircut? Sure. Flying? Maybe not. As states reopen, Americans more comfortable with small steps, sur


usatoday--2020-05-02--North Korean media says Kim Jong Un appeared in public, though there was no independent confirmation

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump declined to comment on the health of Kim Jung Un Friday as North Korea 's state news agency claimed the country 's leader made his first public appearance in weeks .
North Korea 's state-controlled news agency reported that Kim attended a public ceremony at a fertilizer plant on Saturday , North Korean time , amid rampant speculation that he was ill and possibly even near death .
Independent news agencies could not confirm the North Korean report .
The news outlet later released photos from the event , but the images could not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health on Friday , Trump said : `` I 'd rather not comment on it yet .
... We 'll have something to say about it at the appropriate time . ''
When asked if he knew whether Kim was alive , Trump responded : `` I do n't want to talk about it . ''
Pandemic related ?
: South Korean official says Kim Jong Un may be avoiding public due to 'coronavirus concerns' Kim did not attend an April 15 celebration of his grandfather 's birthday , an important national holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rise to power in 2011 .
Last week , a Seoul-based website called Daily NK reported that the North Korean leader had undergone heart surgery on April 12 and was recuperating at a villa outside the capital , Pyongyang .
The Daily NK 's story was based on a single source inside North Korea .
Other media outlets , including CNN , have reported that Kim 's health may be in `` grave danger .
``  South Korean government officials dismissed those accounts , and one minister suggested Kim might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
Other North Korea experts echoed that assessment amid the news of Kim 's reported reemergence .
 '' He most likely was taking steps to ensure his health or may have been impacted in some way personally by the virus , '' said Harry Kazianis , senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest , a foreign policy think tank .
Trump has teased reporters in recent weeks amid reports that Kim was near death , but has never publicly declared what his intelligence services are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump told reporters he knew how Kim was doing but could n't divulge that information : `` I do have a very good idea , but I ca n't talk about it now .
I just wish him well . ''
' A near impossibility ' : Experts doubt North Korea 's claim of zero coronavirus cases Told by a reporter that Kim made some kind of statement last Saturday , Trump replied : `` He did n't say anything last Saturday .
Nobody knows where he is so he obviously could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking news that Kim Jong Un made a statement on Saturday .
I do n't think so . ''
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the U.S. was preparing for a transition in case Kim 's health was in jeopardy .
`` We know we ’ ve not been able to identify a public appearance of his for now a little over two weeks – not unheard of , but unusual , '' Pompeo told a radio interviewer on Thursday .
`` But beyond that , I don ’ t have much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are working to make sure we ’ re prepared for whatever eventuality there is . ''
Where is he ?
: Kim Jong Un 'alive and well , ' South Korean official says amid new reports North Korean leader is ill

Deirdre Shesgreen, David Jackson and Michael Collins, USA TODAY

North Korean media says Kim Jong Un appeared in public, though there was no independent confirmation
Show Caption Hide Caption Kim Jong Un: Mixed reports on the North Korean leader's health Media reports say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to be in "grave danger" after surgery, but officials in South Korea believe otherwise. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump declined to comment on the health of Kim Jung Un Friday as North Korea's state news agency claimed the country's leader made his first public appearance in weeks.
North Korea's state-controlled news agency reported that Kim attended a public ceremony at a fertilizer plant on Saturday, North Korean time, amid rampant speculation that he was ill and possibly even near death.
Independent news agencies could not confirm the North Korean report. The news outlet later released photos from the event, but the images could not be independently verified.
Asked about Kim's health on Friday, Trump said: "I'd rather not comment on it yet. ... We'll have something to say about it at the appropriate time."
When asked if he knew whether Kim was alive, Trump responded: "I don't want to talk about it."
Pandemic related?: South Korean official says Kim Jong Un may be avoiding public due to 'coronavirus concerns'
Kim did not attend an April 15 celebration of his grandfather's birthday, an important national holiday that he had not previously missed since his rise to power in 2011.
Last week, a Seoul-based website called Daily NK reported that the North Korean leader had undergone heart surgery on April 12 and was recuperating at a villa outside the capital, Pyongyang. The Daily NK's story was based on a single source inside North Korea. Other media outlets, including CNN, have reported that Kim's health may be in "grave danger."
South Korean government officials dismissed those accounts, and one minister suggested Kim might be isolating himself to avoid infection amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Other North Korea experts echoed that assessment amid the news of Kim's reported reemergence.
"He most likely was taking steps to ensure his health or may have been impacted in some way personally by the virus," said Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest, a foreign policy think tank.
Trump has teased reporters in recent weeks amid reports that Kim was near death, but has never publicly declared what his intelligence services are saying about the situation.
On Monday, Trump told reporters he knew how Kim was doing but couldn't divulge that information: "I do have a very good idea, but I can't talk about it now. I just wish him well."
'A near impossibility': Experts doubt North Korea's claim of zero coronavirus cases
Trump: 'Very good idea' on Kim Jong Un's health Rumors have been circulating for days about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. President Donald Trump says he has a “very good idea" about Kim's health, but couldn't talk about it. (April 27) AP
Told by a reporter that Kim made some kind of statement last Saturday, Trump replied: "He didn't say anything last Saturday. Nobody knows where he is so he obviously couldn't have said it. This is breaking news that Kim Jong Un made a statement on Saturday. I don't think so."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested the U.S. was preparing for a transition in case Kim's health was in jeopardy.
"We know we’ve not been able to identify a public appearance of his for now a little over two weeks – not unheard of, but unusual," Pompeo told a radio interviewer on Thursday. "But beyond that, I don’t have much that I can share. ... We are working to make sure we’re prepared for whatever eventuality there is."
Where is he?: Kim Jong Un 'alive and well,' South Korean official says amid new reports North Korean leader is ill
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-05-01--Kayleigh McEnany holds first briefing as White House press secretary

Kayleigh McEnany , who was appointed White House press secretary earlier in April , holds her fist on-camera press briefing @

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany holds first briefing
Kayleigh McEnany, who was appointed White House press secretary earlier in April, holds her fist on-camera press briefing.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-05-01--Trump plans to attend Mount Rushmore fireworks July 3

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
– President Donald Trump plans to see the fireworks over Mount Rushmore in person this year .
Trump told conservative podcast host Dan Bongino on Friday that he plans to attend the July 3 event .
`` For 20 years or something it hasn ’ t been allowed for environmental reasons .
You believe that one ?
It ’ s all stone , '' Trump told Bongino .
Gov .
Kristi Noem praised the news and thanked Trump for helping making the event happen .
`` Thank you @ POTUS for working with us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .
`` There 's truly no better place to celebrate America 's birthday .
Trump told Noem in January that he would try to attend the fireworks , which will be held this year for the first time since 2009 .
The South Dakota Legislature also passed a resolution this year inviting him to attend the fireworks .
Trump has previously said that no one knows why the fireworks were stopped a decade ago .
`` I said , 'What can burn ?
It 's stone , ' '' Trump said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They just said environmental reasons . ''
Concerns about the pine beetle infestation 's impact on the forest ended the fireworks display after 2009 , but Noem announced last year that improvements in the forest and fireworks technology mean the display will be safe .
The National Park Service announced earlier this week that it found no significant impact if the fireworks event goes ahead as planned .
An environmental impact assessment determined that the fireworks would n't `` constitute an impairment of the resources or values of Mount Rushmore National Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several plans are being developed for the fireworks event , including wildfire response and a `` Go/No Go checklist . ''
Trump , who has been holed up in the White House for more than a month , has been eager to get back on the road as states begin to ease coronavirus restrictions that have crippled the U.S. economy .
On the road again : Trump to travel to Arizona Honeywell facility next week The White House announced this week that he will travel Tuesday to Phoenix , where he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding its production to meet the demand for the critical N-95 respirator masks needed for health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump said he also plans to travel soon to Ohio .
He did not offer any details .
Trump last visited South Dakota in September 2018 , when he took part in a campaign fundraiser for Noem in Sioux Falls .
Former President George W. Bush is the last president to visit Mount Rushmore .
He visited the memorial in 2002 .

Trump plans to attend Mount Rushmore fireworks July 3
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – President Donald Trump plans to see the fireworks over Mount Rushmore in person this year.
Trump told conservative podcast host Dan Bongino on Friday that he plans to attend the July 3 event.
"For 20 years or something it hasn’t been allowed for environmental reasons. You believe that one? It’s all stone," Trump told Bongino.
Gov. Kristi Noem praised the news and thanked Trump for helping making the event happen.
"Thank you @POTUS for working with us to make this a reality," Noem tweeted. "There's truly no better place to celebrate America's birthday.
This year, we're bringing fireworks back to Mt. Rushmore to celebrate Independence Day. Great news: @realDonaldTrump is coming to enjoy the show with us!
Thank you @POTUS for working with us to make this a reality. There's truly no better place to celebrate America's birthday. https://t.co/pMhS2XihEe — Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) May 1, 2020
Trump told Noem in January that he would try to attend the fireworks, which will be held this year for the first time since 2009. The South Dakota Legislature also passed a resolution this year inviting him to attend the fireworks.
Trump has previously said that no one knows why the fireworks were stopped a decade ago.
"I said, 'What can burn? It's stone,'" Trump said in January. "So nobody knew why. They just said environmental reasons."
Concerns about the pine beetle infestation's impact on the forest ended the fireworks display after 2009, but Noem announced last year that improvements in the forest and fireworks technology mean the display will be safe.
The National Park Service announced earlier this week that it found no significant impact if the fireworks event goes ahead as planned. An environmental impact assessment determined that the fireworks wouldn't "constitute an impairment of the resources or values of Mount Rushmore National Memorial," according to the park service. Several plans are being developed for the fireworks event, including wildfire response and a "Go/No Go checklist."
Trump, who has been holed up in the White House for more than a month, has been eager to get back on the road as states begin to ease coronavirus restrictions that have crippled the U.S. economy.
On the road again: Trump to travel to Arizona Honeywell facility next week
The White House announced this week that he will travel Tuesday to Phoenix, where he will visit a Honeywell aerospace facility that is expanding its production to meet the demand for the critical N-95 respirator masks needed for health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump said he also plans to travel soon to Ohio. He did not offer any details.
Trump last visited South Dakota in September 2018, when he took part in a campaign fundraiser for Noem in Sioux Falls.
Former President George W. Bush is the last president to visit Mount Rushmore. He visited the memorial in 2002.
Contributing: David Jackson and Michael Collins, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-05-01--Analysis: Biden's denial was unequivocal. That doesn't mean he's put this issue to rest.

That does n't mean he put this controversy to rest .
In his first interview about accusations by a former Senate staffer , Biden repeatedly declared that he never sexually assaulted Tara Reade and he asked that the National Archives search his official personnel records for a harassment complaint she says she filed at the time in 1993 .
`` It never happened , period , '' he said .
But the former vice president seemed thrown off balance when Mika Brzezinski , co-anchor of MSNBC 's Morning Joe , pressed him on whether he would also order a search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Delaware .
And he struggled to explain directly why the supportive words he said about accuser Christine Blasey Ford during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 should n't apply to Tara Reade today .
In the interview , Biden needed to tackle the accusations personally and directly .
He did that , and in words that left him no wiggle room – stating flatly that it did n't happen , not that he did n't recall , or that this might the result of some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Senate to order a search of his personnel records conveyed his confidence that he had nothing to hide .
Biden also needed to square his denials with the standards of the # MeToo movement , including the assertion by some that women who come forward with accusations of harassment deserve to be believed .
One irony is this : President Donald Trump 's election even after he had been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women , and after he could be heard bragging about sexual assault in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the changed landscape on which Biden is now being judged .
That was a more difficult line for the former vice president to walk , and one he did with less comfort and less success .
Although he repeatedly refused to speculate about Reade 's motives in leveling the accusation , when asked what message he would have for her , he simply repeated : `` This never , ever happened . ''
What we know : Tara Reade says Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 .
Fairly or not , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his brand is empathy .
In a USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll released Monday , 57 % of those surveyed said Biden was someone who `` cares about people like me ; '' just 39 % said that of Trump .
What 's more , the energy in the Democratic party , including its gains in the 2018 midterm elections , have come from women voters .
In a head-to-head contest in the USA TODAY Poll , men supported Trump , 49 % -41 % .
Women overwhelmingly supported Biden , 60 % -32 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % -40 % nationwide lead .
Biden has been boosted by the continued support of some of the highest-ranking women in Democratic politics .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday cut short a question about Reade and said she had a `` great comfort level '' in the former vice president .
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , a leader on combating sexual harassment , said Wednesday , `` Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden . ''
But a negative can be hard to prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can prove stubborn .
Remember Barack Obama 's birth certificate ?
Hillary Clinton 's emails ?
Both were case studies in political weaponization .
Even debunked allegations , like the false suggestion that former President Obama was born in Kenya , can dog public officials and raise questions they are forced to spend time and effort to battle .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump made criticism of Clinton 's decision to use a private email server while she was secretary of state not only a matter of her judgment but also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she might have been trying to shield .
In surveys of voters leaving the polls on Election Day , nearly two-thirds said her use of private email bothered them , including one in four Clinton voters .
Her attempts to ignore the issue , to criticize reporters for covering it , to dismiss it with sarcasm did n't succeed .
Those are lessons the Biden camp was trying to apply with his efforts Friday to directly and seriously refute this brewing controversy .
That said , the first interview that Biden did about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last .
Tara Reade may make sure of that .
So will the Republicans .
Picking a VP : Meet the team that will help Joe Biden pick his running mate

Analysis: Biden's denial was unequivocal. That doesn't mean he's put this issue to rest.
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden denies Tara Reade sexual assault allegation Former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden addressed the sexual assault allegation made against him for the first time on MSNBC. USA TODAY
Joe Biden's denial was unequivocal.
That doesn't mean he put this controversy to rest.
In his first interview about accusations by a former Senate staffer, Biden repeatedly declared that he never sexually assaulted Tara Reade and he asked that the National Archives search his official personnel records for a harassment complaint she says she filed at the time in 1993.
"It never happened, period," he said.
But the former vice president seemed thrown off balance when Mika Brzezinski, co-anchor of MSNBC's Morning Joe, pressed him on whether he would also order a search of his Senate papers archived at the University of Delaware. And he struggled to explain directly why the supportive words he said about accuser Christine Blasey Ford during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 shouldn't apply to Tara Reade today.
Read the statement: Joe Biden's full statement on Tara Reade's assault allegation
In the interview, Biden needed to tackle the accusations personally and directly. He did that, and in words that left him no wiggle room – stating flatly that it didn't happen, not that he didn't recall, or that this might the result of some sort of misunderstanding. His request to the secretary of the Senate to order a search of his personnel records conveyed his confidence that he had nothing to hide.
Biden also needed to square his denials with the standards of the #MeToo movement, including the assertion by some that women who come forward with accusations of harassment deserve to be believed. One irony is this: President Donald Trump's election even after he had been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women, and after he could be heard bragging about sexual assault in an Access Hollywood recording, helped create the changed landscape on which Biden is now being judged.
That was a more difficult line for the former vice president to walk, and one he did with less comfort and less success. Although he repeatedly refused to speculate about Reade's motives in leveling the accusation, when asked what message he would have for her, he simply repeated: "This never, ever happened."
What we know:Tara Reade says Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993.
Fairly or not, her allegations carry particular peril for Biden because his brand is empathy.
In a USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll released Monday, 57% of those surveyed said Biden was someone who "cares about people like me;" just 39% said that of Trump. What's more, the energy in the Democratic party, including its gains in the 2018 midterm elections, have come from women voters. In a head-to-head contest in the USA TODAY Poll, men supported Trump, 49%-41%. Women overwhelmingly supported Biden, 60%-32%. They gave him his current 50%-40% nationwide lead.
Biden has been boosted by the continued support of some of the highest-ranking women in Democratic politics. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday cut short a question about Reade and said she had a "great comfort level" in the former vice president. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a leader on combating sexual harassment, said Wednesday, "Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden."
Supporting Biden: Prominent Democratic women stand by Biden amid sexual assault claim
But a negative can be hard to prove, and the residue of an accusation can prove stubborn. Remember Barack Obama's birth certificate? Hillary Clinton's emails?
Both were case studies in political weaponization. Even debunked allegations, like the false suggestion that former President Obama was born in Kenya, can dog public officials and raise questions they are forced to spend time and effort to battle.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump made criticism of Clinton's decision to use a private email server while she was secretary of state not only a matter of her judgment but also a way to raise questions about what secrets she might have been trying to shield. In surveys of voters leaving the polls on Election Day, nearly two-thirds said her use of private email bothered them, including one in four Clinton voters.
Her attempts to ignore the issue, to criticize reporters for covering it, to dismiss it with sarcasm didn't succeed. Those are lessons the Biden camp was trying to apply with his efforts Friday to directly and seriously refute this brewing controversy.
That said, the first interview that Biden did about this issue isn't likely to be the last. Tara Reade may make sure of that. So will the Republicans.
Picking a VP: Meet the team that will help Joe Biden pick his running mate


usatoday--2020-05-01--Trump urges Michigan Gov. Whitmer to talk to protesters, who he called 'very good people'

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump , who has called to `` liberate '' states currently in lockdown over the coronavirus , expressed support Friday for armed protesters who packed the Michigan statehouse this week .
`` The Governor of Michigan should give a little , and put out the fire , '' Trump said in a reference to Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
`` These are very good people , but they are angry . ''
He added : `` They want their lives back again , safely !
See them , talk to them . ''
Critics , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the door of the Michigan governor 's office , said it may be difficult to compromise with people carrying weapons .
`` At the point of a gun ?
Hell no , '' tweeted Democratic strategist Jim Manley .
Protesters who entered the Michigan statehouse demanded that Whitmer end the lockdown immediately , chanting `` let us work . ''
Whitmer , whose state has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus , said opening up Michigan at this time will only increase the number of cases and deaths .
Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been encouraging protesters in Michigan and elsewhere for weeks , at one point urging them to `` liberate '' their states .
His list of states to be liberated included Michigan .
More : Trump to Mike Pence : 'Do n't call the woman in Michigan , ' aka Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer After the liberate tweets , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee told ABC News that it was dangerous to `` have a president of the United States basically encourage insubordination , to encourage illegal activity . ''
Historian Joshua Zeitz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office in New Jersey , said protesters with guns should not be accorded the kind of respect advocated by Trump .
`` You make an appointment to see the governor or staff , '' Zeitz tweeted .
`` You don ’ t storm the State House with assault rifles and barricade the door to the Gov ’ s office .
Doing so makes you a thug and a terorrist , not a 'good person . '
''

Trump urges Michigan Gov. Whitmer to talk to protesters, whom he called 'very good people'
Show Caption Hide Caption Michigan anti-lockdown protesters crowd inside state capitol The Michigan protestors yelled “free the people” and chanted “let us in” inside the state capitol during an ongoing legislative session. USA TODAY, Storyful
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, who has called to "liberate" states currently in lockdown over the coronavirus, expressed support Friday for armed protesters who packed the Michigan statehouse this week.
"The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire," Trump said in a reference to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "These are very good people, but they are angry."
He added: "They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them."
Critics, some tweeting pictures of men with rifles posted near the door of the Michigan governor's office, said it may be difficult to compromise with people carrying weapons.
"At the point of a gun? Hell no," tweeted Democratic strategist Jim Manley.
The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2020
Protesters who entered the Michigan statehouse demanded that Whitmer end the lockdown immediately, chanting "let us work."
Whitmer, whose state has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus, said opening up Michigan at this time will only increase the number of cases and deaths.
Trump, who has attacked Whitmer previously, has been encouraging protesters in Michigan and elsewhere for weeks, at one point urging them to "liberate" their states. His list of states to be liberated included Michigan.
More: Trump to Mike Pence: 'Don't call the woman in Michigan,' aka Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
After the liberate tweets, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told ABC News that it was dangerous to "have a president of the United States basically encourage insubordination, to encourage illegal activity."
Historian Joshua Zeitz, noting he once worked in a governor's office in New Jersey, said protesters with guns should not be accorded the kind of respect advocated by Trump.
"You make an appointment to see the governor or staff," Zeitz tweeted. "You don’t storm the State House with assault rifles and barricade the door to the Gov’s office. Doing so makes you a thug and a terorrist, not a 'good person.'"