usatoday--2020-10-05--Super spreader events: How do they cause COVID-19 outbreaks and is the White House now a hot spot?

Signs point to the ceremony to nominate Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court on Sept. 26 as the source of the coronavirus infections afflicting President Donald Trump and many members of his inner circle , including wife Melania , former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Trump adviser Chris Christie , former governor of New Jersey .
Though the activity was held outside at the Rose Garden , the majority of the 180-plus people in attendance sat close to each other for an extended period , and most didn ’ t wear masks .
There were smaller indoor gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination may have resulted in a super spreader event , the type that leads to a cluster of infections .
Others at the ceremony who tested positive for the virus include GOP Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina ; John Jenkins , president of Notre Dame University ; and a reporter covering the announcement .
Several other persons who have been around the president but did not attend the Rose Garden ceremony also tested positive for the virus last week .
They include senior adviser Hope Hicks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other journalists who cover the president .
Here ’ s what you should know about super spreaders : There ’ s no precise definition , but generally speaking , it ’ s a gathering that results in a much larger rate of transmission than the norm .
As few as 10 % -20 % of the carriers may be responsible for up to 80 % of new transmissions , according to some studies .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these events “ are associated with both explosive growth early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later stages.
’ ’ The Nebraska Medical Center lists three “ V ’ s ” as common factors in super spreaders : •Venue : Almost always inside , where research indicates transmission is 18 times more likely than outdoors .
In the case of the nomination announcement , the indoor gatherings and close conversations at the Rose Garden among attendees without masks might have been the primary culprits .
•Ventilation : Lack of circulating fresh air makes it easier for the virus to be inhaled .
•Vocalization : Talking , especially loudly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do these events happen ?
Dr. George Rutherford , an infectious disease specialist at the University of California-San Francisco who heads the state ’ s contact tracing program , said they ’ re mostly a matter of people being in the wrong place at the wrong time .
“ Anyone with SARS-CoV-2 infection is most infectious for a relatively short period of time – like 3-4 days , starting one day before symptom onset ( or roughly 4 days after exposure ) , ” Rutherford said via e-mail .
“ If someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into close contact with someone who is susceptible , there can be transmission .
Superspreading is where someone who is infectious comes into close contact with lots of susceptible people in a relatively short time.
” What other super spreader events do we know of ?
Perhaps the most notorious one was a motorcycle rally Aug. 7-16 in Sturgis , South Dakota , which drew about 462,000 enthusiasts despite warnings from public health experts .
There have been conflicting reports about the number of cases that emanated from the rally .
A widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego State University pegged the figure at 260,000 cases .
South Dakota officials said in September that 124 state residents tested positive , a figure that doesn ’ t count those from out of state or whomever they infected .
The Associated Press reported finding 290 cases nationally from the rally .
Regardless , the 10-day activity was a major source of infections .
Other well-known super spreaders include a choir practice in March in Washington state linked to 52 cases , a wedding in August in Maine that led to 170 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June in Georgia tied to at least 260 positive tests .
Several outbreaks have been connected to fraternity and sorority parties around college campuses .
How to prevent them ?
Since the beginning of the pandemic , public health officials have warned against large gatherings – even at outdoor venues – which is why sporting events , concerts and similar mass activities were canceled .
Research has shown that even smaller get-togethers such as weddings and barbecues can provoke an outbreak , and experts suggested socializing should be done in limited numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with masks , which are obviously impractical when eating and drinking are involved .
From a public health perspective , the CDC says “ prevention and mitigation depends , first and foremost , on quickly recognizing and understanding these events .
This recognition and understanding enables implementation of control measures specific to the incident and identification of measures , which can reduce the risk for future SSEs.
” Is the White House now considered a hot spot ?
Yes .
Even if Hicks and other White House regulars who have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure to the virus for other workers is worrisome , and they should quarantine for 14 days .
That ’ s the recommendation of Dr. Sunil Sood , infectious diseases specialist at Northwell Health ’ s South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore , New York .
“ All symptomatic persons should not be present at any workplace location in or outside of the White House , ’ ’ said Sood , adding that sanitizing surfaces doesn ’ t help much in preventing spread .
“ It is being close to others indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not 100 % eliminated by distancing and masking .
’ ’

Super spreader events: How do they cause COVID-19 outbreaks and is the White House now a hot spot?
Show Caption Hide Caption Study shows Sturgis motorcycle rally was a COVID-19 'super-spreader' The study's goal was to estimate the impacts of a single "super-spreader" event on the spread of COVID-19. USA TODAY
Signs point to the ceremony to nominate Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court on Sept. 26 as the source of the coronavirus infections afflicting President Donald Trump and many members of his inner circle, including wife Melania, former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Trump adviser Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey.
Though the activity was held outside at the Rose Garden, the majority of the 180-plus people in attendance sat close to each other for an extended period, and most didn’t wear masks. There were smaller indoor gatherings as part of the occasion.
That combination may have resulted in a super spreader event, the type that leads to a cluster of infections. Others at the ceremony who tested positive for the virus include GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina; John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame University; and a reporter covering the announcement.
Several other persons who have been around the president but did not attend the Rose Garden ceremony also tested positive for the virus last week. They include senior adviser Hope Hicks, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien and two other journalists who cover the president.
Here’s what you should know about super spreaders:
What’s a super spreader event?
There’s no precise definition, but generally speaking, it’s a gathering that results in a much larger rate of transmission than the norm. As few as 10%-20% of the carriers may be responsible for up to 80% of new transmissions, according to some studies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these events “are associated with both explosive growth early in an outbreak and sustained transmission in later stages.’’
The Nebraska Medical Center lists three “V’s” as common factors in super spreaders:
•Venue: Almost always inside, where research indicates transmission is 18 times more likely than outdoors. In the case of the nomination announcement, the indoor gatherings and close conversations at the Rose Garden among attendees without masks might have been the primary culprits.
•Ventilation: Lack of circulating fresh air makes it easier for the virus to be inhaled.
•Vocalization: Talking, especially loudly, and singing can aerosolize the virus.
How do these events happen?
Dr. George Rutherford, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California-San Francisco who heads the state’s contact tracing program, said they’re mostly a matter of people being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Anyone with SARS-CoV-2 infection is most infectious for a relatively short period of time – like 3-4 days, starting one day before symptom onset (or roughly 4 days after exposure),” Rutherford said via e-mail. “If someone who is in this infectious period comes into close contact with someone who is susceptible, there can be transmission. Superspreading is where someone who is infectious comes into close contact with lots of susceptible people in a relatively short time.”
What other super spreader events do we know of?
Perhaps the most notorious one was a motorcycle rally Aug. 7-16 in Sturgis, South Dakota, which drew about 462,000 enthusiasts despite warnings from public health experts. There have been conflicting reports about the number of cases that emanated from the rally.
A widely questioned study led by researchers at San Diego State University pegged the figure at 260,000 cases. South Dakota officials said in September that 124 state residents tested positive, a figure that doesn’t count those from out of state or whomever they infected. The Associated Press reported finding 290 cases nationally from the rally. Regardless, the 10-day activity was a major source of infections.
Other well-known super spreaders include a choir practice in March in Washington state linked to 52 cases, a wedding in August in Maine that led to 170 infections and seven deaths and a sleepaway camp in June in Georgia tied to at least 260 positive tests. Several outbreaks have been connected to fraternity and sorority parties around college campuses.
How to prevent them?
Since the beginning of the pandemic, public health officials have warned against large gatherings – even at outdoor venues – which is why sporting events, concerts and similar mass activities were canceled.
Research has shown that even smaller get-togethers such as weddings and barbecues can provoke an outbreak, and experts suggested socializing should be done in limited numbers, outdoors and ideally at a distance and with masks, which are obviously impractical when eating and drinking are involved.
From a public health perspective, the CDC says “prevention and mitigation depends, first and foremost, on quickly recognizing and understanding these events. This recognition and understanding enables implementation of control measures specific to the incident and identification of measures, which can reduce the risk for future SSEs.”
Is the White House now considered a hot spot?
Yes. Even if Hicks and other White House regulars who have been infected are isolated elsewhere, the level of exposure to the virus for other workers is worrisome, and they should quarantine for 14 days.
That’s the recommendation of Dr. Sunil Sood, infectious diseases specialist at Northwell Health’s South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York.
“All symptomatic persons should not be present at any workplace location in or outside of the White House,’’ said Sood, adding that sanitizing surfaces doesn’t help much in preventing spread. “It is being close to others indoor that transmits the virus, which is not 100% eliminated by distancing and masking.’’


usatoday--2020-10-05--Trump COVID-19 diagnosis reveals yet another way he has corrupted our national life

When news broke that President Trump had been infected with COVID-19 , Twitter announced they ’ d be suspending anyone who tweeted that they hoped Trump would die from the disease .
A few hours later , apparently realizing they ’ d have to suspend half their user base , they clarified that “ death wishing ” tweets wouldn ’ t , in most cases , be punished by suspension after all .
One of the worst aspects of Donald Trump has been his ability to corrupt our national life .
Not only does he suck the integrity from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to live down to their worst instincts .
We all know that it ’ s wrong , even shameful , to hope someone dies from a horrible disease .
The decent thing to do is what both Barack Obama and Joe Biden have done , recognize our shared humanity and express hope for the president ’ s recovery .
It 's wrong to hope Trump dies from COVID So Twitter is right .
It ’ s wrong for us to hope that Trump dies from the coronavirus .
But this isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d be unlikely to return the favor — it ’ s for ours .
As any Star Wars fan can tell you , we damage ourselves when we give in to the Dark Side .
The essence of civilization is that we master our strongest urges and do what we know is right instead .
But foreswearing our worst impulses does n't mean we ca n't luxuriate in the irony .
Nor does it mean we ca n't recognize that Trump has done this to himself .
First , the irony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ super spreader ” event that has , so far , infected President Trump , the First Lady , at least three Republican senators , Chris Christie , Kellyanne Conway , Donald Trump ’ s campaign manager , and multiple members of Trump ’ s staff , was the September 26 spike-the-ball event in the Rose Garden launching Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court bid or inside events related to the Rose Garden ceremony .
Had Republicans stood by their own “ Garland Rule ” and decided not to try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks before the election , none of this would have happened .
What ’ s left of Trump ’ s campaign is now in tatters with the next debate likely to be cancelled , the president unable to campaign , and his campaign itself decapitated .
Depending on how many Republican senators get sick and how badly , Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court nomination may even end up on hold .
This accelerated karma is about as close as you can come to irrefutable proof that God exists and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark , sense of humor .
It is also correct for us to take note of the facts that brought us here .
Acknowledging those facts and learning from them is the way we give meaning to tragedy .
Feeling sympathy for someone who is suffering doesn ’ t preclude us from recognizing that they brought it on themselves .
This fiasco wasn ’ t “ bad luck.
” It was bad judgement , even foolishness , on a grand scale .
Trump 's case of COVID-19 : On President Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people Images of the Rose Garden super-spreader event reveal no masks and no social distancing .
But that has been par for the course with Donald Trump .
Trump has repeatedly mocked mask-wearing , even taunting Joe Biden about it at Tuesday ’ s debate and claiming that there had never been any adverse consequences from his flaunting the coronavirus rules laid down by his own CDC .
At the debate itself , the First Family refused to wear masks even though they were required to do so .
To her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely infectious at that point .
“ National embarrassment ” doesn ’ t begin to cover it .
Pence should be protected to avoid constitutional crisis On top of that , we ’ ve avoided a constitutional crisis by an accident in the seating arrangement .
Pictures from the Rose Garden event show Vice-President Pence sitting directly across the central aisle from Melania Trump with KellyAnne Conway immediately behind her .
Had Pence been seated in a slightly different place , he might now be infected .
There is no formal mechanism for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Pence become severely ill , literally no-one will be in charge .
And yet , the president and his advisors have learned absolutely nothing .
When the president is known to be at risk , America must protect the vice-president 's health and safety at all costs .
To do otherwise risks an unprecedented disaster .
Pence should be in a bunker at an undisclosed location .
Instead , he ’ s scheduled to hold a live , no doubt crowded and maskless , rally in Arizona on Oct. 8 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ raging and an infected president in the hospital is an act of sabotage against both the American government and the Constitution .
This isn ’ t just bad judgement .
It ’ s completely reckless .
Who cares about safeguarding America ’ s chain-of-command when you ’ ve got an election to win ?
Policies are important , up to a point .
When that 3 a.m. call comes , you want someone with intelligence and good judgement picking up the phone , regardless of their opinion on Obamacare .
Donald Trump — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has neither .
This Thanksgiving , there could well be over a quarter of a million empty seats at family tables all across America .
Some of those may now be in Trump ’ s own inner circle .
Every one of them deserved better .
Sympathy is not absolution .
Hold President Trump in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from the coronavirus .
Hold him accountable on Nov. 3 .
Chris Truax , an appellate lawyer in San Diego and CEO of CertifiedVoter.com , is a member of USA @ @ @ @ @ @

Trump COVID-19 diagnosis reveals yet another way he has corrupted our national life Foreswearing our worst impulses doesn't mean we can't luxuriate in the irony. Nor does it mean we can't recognize that Trump has done this to himself.
When news broke that President Donald Trump had been infected with COVID-19, Twitter announced it would be suspending anyone who tweeted that they hoped Trump would die from the disease. A few hours later, apparently realizing it would have to suspend half its user base, Twitter clarified that death-wishing tweets wouldn’t, in most cases, be punished by suspension after all.
One of the worst aspects of Trump has been his ability to corrupt our national life. Not only does he suck the integrity from his supporters, he encourages those who oppose him to live down to their worst instincts. We all know that it’s wrong, even shameful, to hope someone dies from a horrible disease. The decent thing to do is what both former President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have done, recognize our shared humanity and express hope for the president’s recovery.
If the president becomes incapacitated, what happens next? We explain If the president dies or is unable to continue their duties, what's next? The 25th amendment lays out the rules and line of succession. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
It's wrong to hope Trump dies
Twitter is right. It’s wrong for us to hope that Trump dies from the coronavirus. But this isn’t for Trump’s benefit — he’d be unlikely to return the favor — it’s for ours. As any "Star Wars" fan can tell you, we damage ourselves when we give in to the Dark Side. The essence of civilization is that we master our strongest urges and do what we know is right instead.
But foreswearing our worst impulses doesn't mean we can't luxuriate in the irony. Nor does it mean we can't recognize that Trump has done this to himself.
First, the irony. It is now fairly clear that the superspreader event — that has infected the president, the first lady, at least three Republican senators, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who helped prepare Trump for the presidential debate, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager and multiple members of Trump’s staff — was the Sept. 26 spike-the-ball event in the Rose Garden launching Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court bid and inside events related to the Rose Garden ceremony.
Had Republicans stood by their own “Garland rule” and decided not to try to force through a Supreme Court nomination a few weeks before the election, none of this would have happened.
What’s left of Trump’s campaign is now in tatters with the next debate likely to be canceled, the president unable to campaign and his campaign itself decapitated. Depending on how many Republican senators get sick and how badly, Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination may even end up on hold. This accelerated karma is about as close as you can come to irrefutable proof that God exists and that he has an excellent, if slightly dark, sense of humor.
It is also correct for us to take note of the facts that brought us here. Acknowledging those facts and learning from them is the way we give meaning to tragedy. Feeling sympathy for someone who is suffering doesn’t preclude us from recognizing that he brought it on himself. This fiasco wasn’t “bad luck.” It was bad judgment, even foolishness, on a grand scale.
Our View: On President Donald Trump and COVID-19, just tell the truth to the American people
Images of the Rose Garden superspreader event reveal no masks and no social distancing. But that has been par for the course with Trump.
He has repeatedly mocked mask wearing, even taunting Biden about it at Tuesday’s debate and claiming that there had never been any adverse consequences from his flaunting the coronavirus rules laid down by his own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the debate in Cleveland, the first family refused to wear masks even though the audience was required to do so. To her undying shame, Melania Trump was very likely infectious at that point. “National embarrassment” doesn’t begin to cover it.
Protect Vice President Pence
On top of that, we’ve avoided a constitutional crisis by an accident in the seating arrangement. Pictures from the Rose Garden event show Vice President Mike Pence sitting directly across the central aisle from the first lady with Conway immediately behind her. Had Pence been seated in a slightly different place, he might now be infected.
And yet, Trump and his advisers have learned absolutely nothing. When the president is known to be at risk, America must protect the vice president's health and safety at all costs. To do otherwise risks an unprecedented disaster. Pence should be in a bunker at an undisclosed location. Instead, he’s scheduled to hold a live, no doubt crowded and maskless, rally in Arizona on Thursday. Allowing Pence to campaign with a pandemic raging and an infected president in the hospital is an act of sabotage against both the American government and the Constitution. This isn’t just bad judgment. It’s completely reckless. Who cares about safeguarding America’s chain of command when you’ve got an election to win?
Trump: Presidential illness is a recurring concern in American politics
If we need further evidence of Trump’s invincible ignorance, there’s his Sunday joyride accompanied by Secret Service agents. No photo op can possibly justify putting people sworn to protect you at risk of catching a deadly disease, regardless of what protective gear they’re wearing. At a minimum, they’re now facing quarantine. Whether this is catastrophically poor judgment or a complete disregard for the men and women who serve under him hardly matters.
Policies are important, up to a point. When that 3 a.m. call comes, you want someone with intelligence and good judgment picking up the phone, regardless of his opinion on Obamacare. Donald Trump — and events — have demonstrated that Donald Trump has neither.
This Thanksgiving, there could well be over a quarter of a million empty seats at family tables all across America. Some of those might now be in Trump’s own inner circle. Every one of them deserved better. Sympathy is not absolution. Hold President Trump in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from the coronavirus. Hold him accountable on Nov. 3.
Republican Chris Truax, an appellate lawyer in San Diego and CEO of CertifiedVoter.com, is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors.


usatoday--2020-10-05--Alec Baldwin defends portraying Donald Trump on 'SNL' while president is hospitalized

Alec Baldwin says he would n't have reprised his role as President Donald Trump on `` Saturday Night Live '' while the president was hospitalized if Trump was `` truly , gravely ill. '' Speaking in a nearly 15-minute Instagram video shared Sunday , Baldwin decried `` the perception that we 're mocking him while he 's sick , '' alluding to comments he recieved from viewers who criticized the show , which returned for its 46th season over the weekend , for poking its usual fun at the president after Trump was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains in the hospital as of Monday morning but greeted supporters Sunday from a car outside the hospital .
`` ( 'SNL ' and NBC ) know that they do n't want to sink the ship , so if there was ever the suggestion that Trump was truly , gravely ill ... really in trouble , then I would bet you everything I have that we would n't even get near that in terms of the content of the show , '' Baldwin said .
`` They would have done something else .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Baldwin said the show turned down a lot of material `` because it was deemed inappropriate '' and the show 's writers understood where to draw the lines .
`` We only have the words of the White House itself and the people who work there themselves to go on and all of them have been saying he is not in any danger .
We only have their word to go by .
If their word had been that he was in serious trouble , then we would n't have done it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
'My heart goes out to COVID ' : Chris Rock addresses Trump COVID diagnosis in 'SNL ' monologue Saturday 's opening sketch poked fun at last week 's presidential debate and made vague nods to Trump 's COVID-19 diagnosis .
`` Did you take the COVID test you promised to take in advance ? ''
asked Beck Bennett playing moderator Chris Wallace .
`` Absolutely , scouts honor , '' said Alec Baldwin 's Trump with his fingers crossed .
`` The China virus is a hoax – and that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week . ''
Later , Carrey 's Biden said , `` Imagine if science and karma could somehow team up to send us a message how dangerous this virus could be .
I 'm not saying I want it to happen , but just imagine it did . ''
During host Chris Rock 's opening monologue , he addressed the `` elephant in the room '' head-on : `` President Trump is in the hospital due to COVID , '' he said , `` and my heart goes out to COVID .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was something topical , '' Baldwin said Sunday .
`` We did n't have anything with him in the hospital , but we thought the debate was something that would be – you 'd have to have a very good reason to avoid that , topicality-wise .
Nobody thought that they were mocking somebody 's illness by doing that . ''
He added : `` If you did n't like the sketch , I 'm sorry .
I thought we kept the gloves on . ''

Alec Baldwin defends portraying Donald Trump on 'SNL' while president is hospitalized
Show Caption Hide Caption 'SNL' returns with Chris Rock as host; Jim Carrey debuts as Joe Biden Alec Baldwin returned to play President Donald Trump, and Maya Rudolph portrayed Kamala Harris in the "Saturday Night Live" Season 46 premiere. USA TODAY
Alec Baldwin says he wouldn't have reprised his role as President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live" while the president was hospitalized if Trump was "truly, gravely ill."
Speaking in a nearly 15-minute Instagram video shared Sunday, Baldwin decried "the perception that we're mocking him while he's sick," alluding to comments he recieved from viewers who criticized the show, which returned for its 46th season over the weekend, for poking its usual fun at the president after Trump was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital on Friday after testing positive for COVID-19. He remains in the hospital as of Monday morning but greeted supporters Sunday from a car outside the hospital.
"('SNL' and NBC) know that they don't want to sink the ship, so if there was ever the suggestion that Trump was truly, gravely ill... really in trouble, then I would bet you everything I have that we wouldn't even get near that in terms of the content of the show," Baldwin said. "They would have done something else. I've seen that happen before."
Baldwin said the show turned down a lot of material "because it was deemed inappropriate" and the show's writers understood where to draw the lines.
"We only have the words of the White House itself and the people who work there themselves to go on and all of them have been saying he is not in any danger. We only have their word to go by. If their word had been that he was in serious trouble, then we wouldn't have done it, but that's not the case."
'My heart goes out to COVID': Chris Rock addresses Trump COVID diagnosis in 'SNL' monologue
Saturday's opening sketch poked fun at last week's presidential debate and made vague nods to Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis.
"Did you take the COVID test you promised to take in advance?" asked Beck Bennett playing moderator Chris Wallace.
"Absolutely, scouts honor," said Alec Baldwin's Trump with his fingers crossed. "The China virus is a hoax – and that will probably come back to haunt me later this week."
Later, Carrey's Biden said, "Imagine if science and karma could somehow team up to send us a message how dangerous this virus could be. I'm not saying I want it to happen, but just imagine it did."
During host Chris Rock's opening monologue, he addressed the "elephant in the room" head-on: "President Trump is in the hospital due to COVID," he said, "and my heart goes out to COVID."
"We thought that the debate was something topical," Baldwin said Sunday. "We didn't have anything with him in the hospital, but we thought the debate was something that would be – you'd have to have a very good reason to avoid that, topicality-wise. Nobody thought that they were mocking somebody's illness by doing that."
He added: "If you didn't like the sketch, I'm sorry. I thought we kept the gloves on."
Contributing: Kelly Lawler
More: Jim Carrey makes shaky Joe Biden debut on 'SNL,' Maya Rudolph's Kamala Harris cracks a 'WAP' joke


usatoday--2020-10-05--A shadowy figure, an 'ambush': Officers give jumbled accounts of night Breonna Taylor died

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — Police interviews of Louisville officers who were part of the failed drug raid that ended in Breonna Taylor 's death show their recollections were jumbled and at times mistaken .
Transcripts of the interviews were obtained on Friday by The Louisville Courier Journal of the USA TODAY Network and were part of the presentation to the Jefferson County grand jury in the Taylor case .
A Courier Journal analysis shows Louisville Metro Police investigators often failed to press the officers on inconsistencies in their statements .
The interviews were conducted by the department 's internal Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke down Taylor 's door shortly before 1 a.m. March 13 while searching for drugs and cash as part of a larger narcotics operation .
That search quickly went awry when Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , fired a shot , saying he thought someone was trying to break in .
Officers fired more than 30 rounds in response , striking Taylor six times and killing her .
The chaos of that night was reflected in the statements officers later gave to investigators .
The Courier Journal review also shows investigators did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what officers knew or did n't know about who and what they were shooting at in the apartment .
Because the case is still open , LMPD declined to comment .
Related : Listen to the recordings from the Breonna Taylor grand jury proceedings In one interview , Public Integrity Unit sergeants accept the disjointed recollection of Detective Myles Cosgrove — one of two officers whose rounds struck and killed Taylor — who said he vaguely remembered shooting at a `` distorted shadowy '' figure he said he saw inside Taylor 's home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor 's family , said the interviews were `` loaded with softballs . ''
`` When somebody gives you an answer that causes more questions , you have to ask those questions , '' he said .
`` They didn ’ t do it .
It ’ s almost like they were checking boxes.
” Attorney Steve Romines , who represents Taylor 's boyfriend , who has sued for false arrest , said the interviews show police took a conciliatory approach with their colleagues that they would never use with civilian suspects .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way if it ’ s an ordinary citizen they conduct this investigation in any way close to this , '' Romines said .
`` They know that their statements are contradicted by one another , they know they ’ re contradicted by the evidence , yet they never even question them about it . ''
“ Sgt .
( Jonathan ) Mattingly and Det .
Cosgrove gave voluntary statements to both the PIU investigators and to the Attorney General ’ s investigators , ” their attorney , Kent Wicker , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they answered every question asked to them , fully and truthfully.
” Two of the officers who fired their guns , Mattingly and Cosgrove , were not charged in Taylor 's death because Attorney General Daniel Cameron office told a grand jury they acted in self-defense after Walker fired at them first .
Ex-Detective Brett Hankison was charged with wantonly endangering three neighbors when some of his bullets went into their apartment next to Taylor 's .
He was fired in June for `` blindly '' firing into the apartment .
Cameron has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Hankison to have endangered her life .
Still , the police interviews present the first picture of what the officers saw and felt during those frenetic , harried minutes when gunshots rang out and an unarmed woman lay dead in her own home .
More on this : Grand jury recordings reveal chilling scene of chaos , misinformation Here 's what police officers told investigators — and what they were not asked : Interviewed 12 days after Taylor 's March 13 death , Cosgrove spoke of a “ distorted shadowy figure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment .
In an hourlong interview he gave to the Public Integrity Unit , Cosgrove , who fired what the FBI later determined was the fatal shot , told Louisville investigators he shot at a `` distorted shadowy mask.
” In the March 25 interview conducted by Sgt .
Amanda Seelye and Sgt .
Jason Vance , Cosgrove made conflicting statements that were not challenged by either sergeant .
Cosgrove said at one juncture he never heard any gunfire , but at another point told Seelye and Vance he was “ deafened ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used a high-powered flashlight to illuminate the apartment but he was “ immediately overwhelmed with darkness.
” Cosgrove described how “ this darkness in front of me '' was `` followed by — and this is hard for me to explain — this distorted shadowy mask , this figurine , this figure in front of me that is just … coming and going due to the flash fog light.
” But the interviewers don ’ t ask him if the figure was male or female , Black or white , or if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one .
They also don ’ t ask about the shot fired from the apartment , which Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Walker , had already told police he fired because he thought someone was breaking in .
In his account , Cosgrove described seeing “ vivid white flashes ” and “ blackness at the same time . ''
But Cosgrove responded clearly when attorney Steve Schroering , then his counsel , asked him at the end of the interview : “ At the time you were in that doorway with Mattingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your mind that your all 's lives were in danger ?
” “ Absolutely not , ” Cosgrove replied .
“ I knew for a fact that we were in danger of being killed or seriously injured . ''
Aguiar , who helped Taylor 's estate win a $ 12 million settlement with the city of Louisville for her wrongful death , said Cosgrove 's statement was too vague to say he acted justifiably , especially given that he fired 16 times .
`` If he couldn ’ t see , couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how can we say that you were justified ?
” Aguiar said .
Trump 's doctors say he could go home Monday : Other COVID-19 physicians say that seems early Hankison : ' I thought they were being executed' Hankison , the former detective fired in June , told investigators in a March 25 interview he was by the front door when officers broke it down and saw a person inside with “ an AR-15 or a long gun , a rifle-type gun.
” Immediately , he said , he realized officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the breezeway , toward the parking lot .
He described hearing “ rapid fire from — from like an AR-15 ” and seeing flashes .
No long gun was ever found , the department said .
And the investigation determined Walker was armed with a legally owned Glock 9 mm handgun that he fired once .
Police say that round hit Mattingly in the thigh , severing his femoral artery .
“ I thought they were just being executed , because I knew they were helping Jon ( Mattingly ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost under the impression at the time that they were either all getting sprayed with bullets or , as they were trying to move him out of that breezeway , he was shooting at us through the wall.
” “ My only option was to return fire , ” he said , “ and I did that to the muzzle flashes.
” Hankison said he could see “ muzzle flash , or I could see the intense , like , fire flashing through — and the curtains or blinds , I think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I could see it lighting up the room.
” He said he “ returned fire through that window ” and the flashing stopped .
Investigators did n't press Hankison on whether the flashes he saw came from fellow officers ' weapons , since Walker only fired once .
Related : Hankison pleads not guilty to charges related to Breonna Taylor shooting Hankison also stated he was “ 100 % sure ” the person inside was armed with a long gun : “ I ’ m kinda familiar with shotguns from hunting as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a shotgun .
Um , one , ‘ cause shotguns don ’ t shoot that fast and don ’ t shoot with the same — the same percussion.
” He was not challenged on that point .
Investigators did ask where Hankison went before going to the Public Integrity Unit office .
He said he went to the hospital where Mattingly was .
But the interview gives no indication investigators pressed the former detective on anywhere else he may have gone .
Attorneys for Taylor 's family have argued Hankison was unaccounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers that he entered the apartment after the shooting — despite it being an active crime scene .
In the March 25 interview , Hankison told investigators he was involved in the search warrant execution because a sergeant had requested a K-9 dog at each location .
According to Hankison , his police dog stayed in the kennel inside his car as the search transpired .
He explained he didn ’ t “ know anything about the specifics of the investigation … other than they just needed a dog , which I have.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ large conference room before the search and told the warrants would be executed “ simultaneously or just after ” connected warrants elsewhere in the city , he said .
He also later stated he believed the no-knock warrant designation was sought “ because of the propensity for violence.
” However , he didn ’ t know if the home had kids or pets .
White House doctor announced Trump is being treated with dexamethasone : Here 's what we know about the drug .
Mattingly : 'We did n't do any of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first released in May by Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Tom Wine during a press conference , and his full interview with LMPD became public in July .
Mattingly described Taylor ’ s apartment being a “ soft target ” with minimal threats .
`` We did n't write ( the warrant ) , ” he told investigators .
“ We did n't do any of the investigation .
We did none of the background.
” But that has been called into question when an internal LMPD report found that months earlier , Mattingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Postal Service about any packages going to Taylor ’ s address for Jamarcus Glover .
Glover , Taylor ’ s ex-boyfriend , was the main suspect in the larger narcotics investigation that led police to her door .
Shively officers told Mattingly that Glover wasn ’ t getting packages at her South Louisville apartment .
But when investigators asked Mattingly on March 25 what he was told in the pre-operational briefing on March 12 , he said , “ their main target , ( Glover ) , had packages sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , she held , possibly held , dope for him , received the packages and held his money.
” About 12 minutes into the interview , after recounting knocking on the door , being shot and getting out of the line of fire , Mattingly asked investigators if that ’ s all they needed from him .
Shawn Hoover : 'In my opinion , we were ambushed' From the start of the interview on March 13 , LMPD investigators told Lt. Shawn Hoover he was not the target of the criminal investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to have been taken from 4 to 4:50 a.m. in the aftermath of the shooting .
“ You don ’ t have to give us a statement at this time … if you don ’ t want to , ” they told him .
“ You still got ta do what ’ s best for you and what ’ s right for you.
” Hoover has been with LMPD for about 18 years and was the ranking officer on-scene at Taylor ’ s apartment during the warrant execution .
Of the seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only one not under internal investigation for his role .
He recalled the night beginning with a briefing from Detective Wes Barton of the Place-Based Investigations unit , which conducted the investigation that led to the warrant at Taylor ’ s apartment and four other locations .
Officers knocked on Taylor 's door repeatedly and announced themselves , he said , before Hoover ordered them to use a battering ram .
From inside the dark apartment , Hoover said he immediately “ hears gunshots comin ’ outta that apartment.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When he went down , he was goin ' down , he was returnin ’ fire while he was layin ' on the ground , '' Hoover said .
He dragged Mattingly away from the gunfire and tended to his bleeding leg for the next several minutes , he said , until police were able to get the injured sergeant into an ambulance .
See also : Witness who said police announced themselves changed story After Taylor 's boyfriend , Walker , left the apartment , Hoover said , “ none of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident .
SWAT was the only one to go in there.
” “ So you guys never actually made entry ?
” an investigator asked .
“ We never made it in , ” Hoover said .
“ We were , in my opinion , we were ambushed .
They knew we were there .
I mean , hell , the neighbors knew we were there upstairs , you know , they were comin ’ out , see what was goin ’ on and they were , they were waiting.
” Investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of serving the warrant — a checklist to determine the possible danger inside .
Hoover said he thought so , but he didn ’ t see it .
“ I guess that ’ d be an error on me for not askin ’ that question , ” he said .
“ I assume they did it.
” Investigators noted that Hoover had been involved with serving “ umpteen ” warrants over his career and that he ’ d have a good idea of the risks in certain situations .
“ It sounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an approach of try to be more cautious and also tryin ’ to mitigate the higher risk that the no-knock caused , ” one asked him .
“ Would you say that you felt like it was safer for everybody to do it that way ?
” they asked .
“ I assumed somebody would come and answer the door , ” he said .
“ That was our intention .
… It ’ s after midnight .
You ’ re breakin ’ down somebody ’ s door and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bed , startled.
” Since Taylor 's death , Mayor Greg Fischer has said he wants to shift responsibility for investigations of LMPD shootings to the Kentucky State Police .

Andrew Wolfson, Tessa Duvall and Darcy Costello, Louisville Courier Journal

A shadowy figure, an 'ambush': Officers give jumbled accounts of night Breonna Taylor died
Show Caption Hide Caption Breonna Taylor case: Grand jury recordings of decision released A previous version of this video misstated the total length of recordings based on initial information provided by Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron. USA TODAY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police interviews of Louisville officers who were part of the failed drug raid that ended in Breonna Taylor's death show their recollections were jumbled and at times mistaken.
Transcripts of the interviews were obtained on Friday by The Louisville Courier Journal of the USA TODAY Network and were part of the presentation to the Jefferson County grand jury in the Taylor case.
A Courier Journal analysis shows Louisville Metro Police investigators often failed to press the officers on inconsistencies in their statements.
The interviews were conducted by the department's internal Police Integrity Unit roughly two weeks after officers broke down Taylor's door shortly before 1 a.m. March 13 while searching for drugs and cash as part of a larger narcotics operation.
That search quickly went awry when Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a shot, saying he thought someone was trying to break in. Officers fired more than 30 rounds in response, striking Taylor six times and killing her.
The chaos of that night was reflected in the statements officers later gave to investigators.
The Courier Journal review also shows investigators didn't ask follow-up questions that would pinpoint what officers knew or didn't know about who and what they were shooting at in the apartment.
Because the case is still open, LMPD declined to comment.
Related: Listen to the recordings from the Breonna Taylor grand jury proceedings
Taylor attorney: Interviews were 'loaded with softballs'
In one interview, Public Integrity Unit sergeants accept the disjointed recollection of Detective Myles Cosgrove — one of two officers whose rounds struck and killed Taylor — who said he vaguely remembered shooting at a "distorted shadowy" figure he said he saw inside Taylor's home.
Sam Aguiar, an attorney for Taylor's family, said the interviews were "loaded with softballs."
"When somebody gives you an answer that causes more questions, you have to ask those questions," he said. "They didn’t do it. It’s almost like they were checking boxes.”
Attorney Steve Romines, who represents Taylor's boyfriend, who has sued for false arrest, said the interviews show police took a conciliatory approach with their colleagues that they would never use with civilian suspects.
“I mean, there’s no way if it’s an ordinary citizen they conduct this investigation in any way close to this," Romines said. "They know that their statements are contradicted by one another, they know they’re contradicted by the evidence, yet they never even question them about it."
“Sgt. (Jonathan) Mattingly and Det. Cosgrove gave voluntary statements to both the PIU investigators and to the Attorney General’s investigators,” their attorney, Kent Wicker, said in a statement. “Both times, they answered every question asked to them, fully and truthfully.”
Two of the officers who fired their guns, Mattingly and Cosgrove, were not charged in Taylor's death because Attorney General Daniel Cameron office told a grand jury they acted in self-defense after Walker fired at them first.
Ex-Detective Brett Hankison was charged with wantonly endangering three neighbors when some of his bullets went into their apartment next to Taylor's. He was fired in June for "blindly" firing into the apartment.
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Cameron has suggested Taylor died too "quickly" for Hankison to have endangered her life.
Still, the police interviews present the first picture of what the officers saw and felt during those frenetic, harried minutes when gunshots rang out and an unarmed woman lay dead in her own home.
Breonna Taylor case investigation: Daniel Cameron's statement Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke about the grand jury's decision and outlined the findings. Michael Clevenger, Louisville Courier Journal
More on this: Grand jury recordings reveal chilling scene of chaos, misinformation
Here's what police officers told investigators — and what they were not asked:
Cosgrove: I fired at a 'distorted shadowy mask'
Interviewed 12 days after Taylor's March 13 death, Cosgrove spoke of a “distorted shadowy figure” he said he fired at in her apartment.
In an hourlong interview he gave to the Public Integrity Unit, Cosgrove, who fired what the FBI later determined was the fatal shot, told Louisville investigators he shot at a "distorted shadowy mask.”
In the March 25 interview conducted by Sgt. Amanda Seelye and Sgt. Jason Vance, Cosgrove made conflicting statements that were not challenged by either sergeant.
Cosgrove said at one juncture he never heard any gunfire, but at another point told Seelye and Vance he was “deafened” by it.
He also said he used a high-powered flashlight to illuminate the apartment but he was “immediately overwhelmed with darkness.”
Cosgrove described how “this darkness in front of me" was "followed by — and this is hard for me to explain — this distorted shadowy mask, this figurine, this figure in front of me that is just … coming and going due to the flash fog light.”
But the interviewers don’t ask him if the figure was male or female, Black or white, or if he saw only one person, or more than one.
They also don’t ask about the shot fired from the apartment, which Taylor’s boyfriend, Walker, had already told police he fired because he thought someone was breaking in.
In his account, Cosgrove described seeing “vivid white flashes” and “blackness at the same time."
But Cosgrove responded clearly when attorney Steve Schroering, then his counsel, asked him at the end of the interview: “At the time you were in that doorway with Mattingly, did you have any question in your mind that your all's lives were in danger?”
“Absolutely not,” Cosgrove replied. “I knew for a fact that we were in danger of being killed or seriously injured."
Aguiar, who helped Taylor's estate win a $12 million settlement with the city of Louisville for her wrongful death, said Cosgrove's statement was too vague to say he acted justifiably, especially given that he fired 16 times.
"If he couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t feel, how can we say that you were justified?” Aguiar said.
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Hankison: 'I thought they were being executed'
Hankison, the former detective fired in June, told investigators in a March 25 interview he was by the front door when officers broke it down and saw a person inside with “an AR-15 or a long gun, a rifle-type gun.”
Immediately, he said, he realized officers were poorly positioned, so he ran out of the breezeway, toward the parking lot. He described hearing “rapid fire from — from like an AR-15” and seeing flashes.
No long gun was ever found, the department said. And the investigation determined Walker was armed with a legally owned Glock 9 mm handgun that he fired once. Police say that round hit Mattingly in the thigh, severing his femoral artery.
“I thought they were just being executed, because I knew they were helping Jon (Mattingly),” Hankison said. “I was almost under the impression at the time that they were either all getting sprayed with bullets or, as they were trying to move him out of that breezeway, he was shooting at us through the wall.”
“My only option was to return fire,” he said, “and I did that to the muzzle flashes.”
Hankison said he could see “muzzle flash, or I could see the intense, like, fire flashing through — and the curtains or blinds, I think, were closed in that room also, but I could see it lighting up the room.”
He said he “returned fire through that window” and the flashing stopped.
Investigators didn't press Hankison on whether the flashes he saw came from fellow officers' weapons, since Walker only fired once.
Related: Hankison pleads not guilty to charges related to Breonna Taylor shooting
Hankison also stated he was “100% sure” the person inside was armed with a long gun: “I’m kinda familiar with shotguns from hunting as a kid and I knew it was not a shotgun. Um, one, ‘cause shotguns don’t shoot that fast and don’t shoot with the same — the same percussion.”
He was not challenged on that point.
Investigators did ask where Hankison went before going to the Public Integrity Unit office. He said he went to the hospital where Mattingly was.
But the interview gives no indication investigators pressed the former detective on anywhere else he may have gone. Attorneys for Taylor's family have argued Hankison was unaccounted for hours that night.
Hankison additionally volunteers that he entered the apartment after the shooting — despite it being an active crime scene.
In the March 25 interview, Hankison told investigators he was involved in the search warrant execution because a sergeant had requested a K-9 dog at each location. According to Hankison, his police dog stayed in the kennel inside his car as the search transpired.
He explained he didn’t “know anything about the specifics of the investigation … other than they just needed a dog, which I have.” A team was briefed in a large conference room before the search and told the warrants would be executed “simultaneously or just after” connected warrants elsewhere in the city, he said.
He also later stated he believed the no-knock warrant designation was sought “because of the propensity for violence.” However, he didn’t know if the home had kids or pets.
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Mattingly: 'We didn't do any of the investigation'
Some comments made by Mattingly were first released in May by Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine during a press conference, and his full interview with LMPD became public in July.
Mattingly described Taylor’s apartment being a “soft target” with minimal threats.
"We didn't write (the warrant),” he told investigators. “We didn't do any of the investigation. We did none of the background.”
Breonna Taylor shooting: Kenneth Walker, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly speak Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine announced his office will move to dismiss all charges against Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend. Louisville Courier Journal
But that has been called into question when an internal LMPD report found that months earlier, Mattingly asked the Shively Police Department to check with the Postal Service about any packages going to Taylor’s address for Jamarcus Glover.
Glover, Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, was the main suspect in the larger narcotics investigation that led police to her door. Shively officers told Mattingly that Glover wasn’t getting packages at her South Louisville apartment.
But when investigators asked Mattingly on March 25 what he was told in the pre-operational briefing on March 12, he said, “their main target, (Glover), had packages sent to (Taylor's) location, her name, she held, possibly held, dope for him, received the packages and held his money.”
About 12 minutes into the interview, after recounting knocking on the door, being shot and getting out of the line of fire, Mattingly asked investigators if that’s all they needed from him.
Shawn Hoover: 'In my opinion, we were ambushed'
From the start of the interview on March 13, LMPD investigators told Lt. Shawn Hoover he was not the target of the criminal investigation, according to the transcript, which seems to have been taken from 4 to 4:50 a.m. in the aftermath of the shooting.
“You don’t have to give us a statement at this time … if you don’t want to,” they told him. “You still gotta do what’s best for you and what’s right for you.”
Hoover has been with LMPD for about 18 years and was the ranking officer on-scene at Taylor’s apartment during the warrant execution. Of the seven officers who served the warrant, Hoover is the only one not under internal investigation for his role.
He recalled the night beginning with a briefing from Detective Wes Barton of the Place-Based Investigations unit, which conducted the investigation that led to the warrant at Taylor’s apartment and four other locations.
Officers knocked on Taylor's door repeatedly and announced themselves, he said, before Hoover ordered them to use a battering ram. From inside the dark apartment, Hoover said he immediately “hears gunshots comin’ outta that apartment.” He realized Mattingly had been hit.
"When he went down, he was goin' down, he was returnin’ fire while he was layin' on the ground," Hoover said.
He dragged Mattingly away from the gunfire and tended to his bleeding leg for the next several minutes, he said, until police were able to get the injured sergeant into an ambulance.
See also: Witness who said police announced themselves changed story
After Taylor's boyfriend, Walker, left the apartment, Hoover said, “none of us stepped foot in that apartment, with the incident. SWAT was the only one to go in there.”
“So you guys never actually made entry?” an investigator asked.
“We never made it in,” Hoover said. “We were, in my opinion, we were ambushed. They knew we were there. I mean, hell, the neighbors knew we were there upstairs, you know, they were comin’ out, see what was goin’ on and they were, they were waiting.”
Investigators asked if a risk-assessment matrix was done ahead of serving the warrant — a checklist to determine the possible danger inside.
Hoover said he thought so, but he didn’t see it.
“I guess that’d be an error on me for not askin’ that question,” he said. “I assume they did it.”
Investigators noted that Hoover had been involved with serving “umpteen” warrants over his career and that he’d have a good idea of the risks in certain situations.
“It sounded like you guys were usin’ more of an approach of try to be more cautious and also tryin’ to mitigate the higher risk that the no-knock caused,” one asked him.
Hoover agreed.
“Would you say that you felt like it was safer for everybody to do it that way?” they asked.
Again, Hoover agreed.
“I assumed somebody would come and answer the door,” he said. “That was our intention. … It’s after midnight. You’re breakin’ down somebody’s door and it’s dark, and if they’re in bed, startled.”
Since Taylor's death, Mayor Greg Fischer has said he wants to shift responsibility for investigations of LMPD shootings to the Kentucky State Police.
Follow Darcy Costello, Tessa Duvall and Andrew Wolfson on Twitter: @dctello, @TessaDuvall, @adwolfson.


usatoday--2020-10-05--MLB playoffs: Which teams have the clearest path to a title? Ranking contenders 1-8

All that noise and revenue , signifying nothing , is behind us .
It feels like Major League Baseball ’ s playoffs are ready to truly commence .
Certainly , the wild-card round provided highlight-reel moments in addition to shoveling additional cash into the league ’ s coffers in a year ravaged by a pandemic .
Yet the eight series , fortunately , did not endanger the league ’ s best teams and provided only mild surprises and middling revelations , such as the entirety of the National League Central ’ s inability to hit the baseball .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division Series , eight teams each with a legitimate stake to reach the finals and perhaps claim a championship .
Running this gauntlet should put to rest any notions of an asterisk for the team left standing .
With that , let ’ s break down the remaining octet and their chances at holding aloft the trophy in Texas ’ Globe Life Park three weeks from now : Collectively , they may be Sisyphus , but Sisyphus never had a pair of MVPs helping him push that boulder up the hill .
Fool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but c ’ mon , can you honestly place another team ahead of the Dodgers as they bid for their first title since 1988 ?
The bats looked a little tight in a two-game sweep of Milwaukee , save for Mookie Betts , who socked three doubles and is playing with the security of a man with a $ 365 million contract and a World Series ring already in tow .
He seems unstoppable , and slowly , the other bats and well-placed platoon pieces will fall in place .
Despite Clayton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pitching feels too unsettled for a pennant favorite .
Walker Buehler ’ s blister remains disconcerting .
Will anyone among Julio Urias , Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May seize a role as a No .
3 starter ?
If they require “ piggybacking ” with another arm , will that stretch the pitching too thin without off days for two rounds ?
Whither Kenley Jansen ?
That all rates somewhere between nitpicking and actual concern .
It ’ s challenging to distill the precision and potency that make these Rays so challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rays were among the best at suppressing the home run , and Rays pitchers strike out three times as many batters as they walk .
Petco Park should also help neutralize the Bronx-less Bombers in their ALDS matchup , which ultimately will come down to Rays manager Kevin Cash ’ s command of his lineup and bullpen vs. an opponent overly bound to the book , yet lacking the precision relievers to fulfill the manifesto .
While Blake Snell , Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton provide an enviable 1-2-3 , the totality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength as the ALDS and ALCS roll on without off days .
With any luck , baseball fans beyond Pinellas County will figure out which infielder is Lowe As in Woah ( Nate ) , and Lowe As in Wow ( Brandon ) .
Commissioner Rob Manfred says people love their brackets and we ’ ll say this for the Braves : They got a nice draw .
The offensively erratic Reds were a perfect match for their overwhelming bullpen and 1-2 starter punch .
While Ian Anderson has just seven career starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings – including nine in six against the Reds – create the impression he ’ s going to join Livan Hernandez , Michael Wacha and others who followed abbreviated rookie years with dominant postseason runs .
Atlanta won six of 10 against Miami and scored at least nine runs in three of those wins .
It will be more challenging to prevail in best-of-seven settings , but leaning on a lineup with three MVP candidates in Freddie Freeman , Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna is not a bad way to live , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a ballot drop box in Harris County than it is to find anyone outside of the 713 rooting for these guys .
Yet those who live for Astros schadenfreude may want to hibernate until 2021 .
First off , they made it look way too easy going into Target Field and thoroughly submitting a good Twins team , playoff history aside .
It should be a little disconcerting to opponents that Zack Greinke is starting Game 3 of the ALDS .
Why ?
Because Cristian Javier , Framber Valdez and Jose Urquidy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 1/3 innings ( 0.73 ERA ) in the wild-card series , and Lance McCullers Jr. is frothing to take the ball .
They can afford to push the $ 200 million guy back a bit .
And here ’ s another fun theme for this Astros run : How unsatisfying is it to root against players who weren ’ t even around for the 2017 sign-stealing scandal ?
Certainly , Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa and George Springer will figure into any Astros advancement .
But if the heroes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Valdez and Javier , do you even get a decent hate-watch out of it ?
Gerrit Cole was worth every pro rata penny , no doubt about it .
Be it DJ LeMahieu , Luke Voit , Gio Urshela or the majestic Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge , the Yankees ’ offense is a glorious machine to behold .
Yet it will always come down to a starter such as J.A .
Happ or Jordan Montgomery who couldn ’ t get deep enough to save an extended bullpen , a reliever such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luis Cessa asked to get one out too many , a matchup that on paper looks great but unfortunately goes awry .
This has been the Yankees ’ exit plan the past two Octobers .
And while there ’ s so many things that will go right with this team , there ’ s just too many spots things can go sideways – especially over a potential 12 games in 13 days .
Anyone out there still foolish enough to bet against America ’ s Team ?
It ’ s true : There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t overcome , be it the first and worst COVID-19 outbreak in baseball history or an offense that ranked in the lower third of baseball in OPS , home runs and weighted on-base average .
Perhaps rookie Sixto Sanchez and Sandy Alcantara ’ s 1-2 rotation punch can continue creating the breathing room needed for the offense to cook just enough .
The back-end starters – some combo of Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers , most likely – shouldn ’ t be slept on , either .
But the Braves and Dodgers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the Cubs , along with the ability to win close , low-scoring games .
There ’ s a path for the Marlins , but it ’ s narrowed considerably .
It ’ s a question that seems to dog every A ’ s playoff team : Can they hit elite pitching ?
Oakland finished in the bottom half of the big leagues in almost every offensive category and survived the wild card round only because the White Sox walked nine batters in eight innings in Game 3 .
Those free passes will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to topple the Astros , the Yankees-Rays winner and the NL champ .
Meanwhile , while Game 1 ALDS starter Chris Bassitt and the bullpen are outstanding , there are far too many questions surrounding the Nos .
2-5 starters , compounded by the no-days-off format .
Even if top starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger were healthy , any path that begins with the Dodgers is daunting .
San Diego went 4-6 against its northern nemesis this year , with Lamet striking out 11 in one of those wins .
But both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least , with arm injuries .
Meanwhile , the Dodgers have posted a 1.092 OPS against second-year righty and likely Game 1 starter Chris Paddack , and the Padres ’ whole-staff approach that won Game 3 of the wild-card series will only get less sustainable with each round .

MLB playoffs: Which teams have the clearest path to a title? Ranking contenders 1-8
Show Caption Hide Caption Who faces more 'World Series or bust' pressure: Yankees or Dodgers? SportsPulse: Coming into the season, shortened or not, both the Yankees and Dodgers had 'World Series or bust' labels. Our MLB writers debate which team faces more pressure to win it all this season. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
All that noise and revenue, signifying nothing, is behind us. It feels like Major League Baseball’s playoffs are ready to truly commence.
Certainly, the wild-card round provided highlight-reel moments in addition to shoveling additional cash into the league’s coffers in a year ravaged by a pandemic.
Yet the eight series, fortunately, did not endanger the league’s best teams and provided only mild surprises and middling revelations, such as the entirety of the National League Central’s inability to hit the baseball.
So we meander into the more familiar and meritorious Division Series, eight teams each with a legitimate stake to reach the finals and perhaps claim a championship. Running this gauntlet should put to rest any notions of an asterisk for the team left standing.
YANKEES-RAYS PREVIEW: Bad blood runs deep in this series
ASTROS-ATHLETICS PREVIEW: A showdown between rivals
With that, let’s break down the remaining octet and their chances at holding aloft the trophy in Texas’ Globe Life Park three weeks from now:
1. Dodgers
Collectively, they may be Sisyphus, but Sisyphus never had a pair of MVPs helping him push that boulder up the hill. Fool us 32 times, shame on us, but c’mon, can you honestly place another team ahead of the Dodgers as they bid for their first title since 1988?
The bats looked a little tight in a two-game sweep of Milwaukee, save for Mookie Betts, who socked three doubles and is playing with the security of a man with a $365 million contract and a World Series ring already in tow. He seems unstoppable, and slowly, the other bats and well-placed platoon pieces will fall in place.
Despite Clayton Kershaw’s Game 2 masterpiece, the pitching feels too unsettled for a pennant favorite. Walker Buehler’s blister remains disconcerting. Will anyone among Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May seize a role as a No. 3 starter? If they require “piggybacking” with another arm, will that stretch the pitching too thin without off days for two rounds? Whither Kenley Jansen?
That all rates somewhere between nitpicking and actual concern.
2. Rays
It’s challenging to distill the precision and potency that make these Rays so challenging to vanquish. For one, the Rays were among the best at suppressing the home run, and Rays pitchers strike out three times as many batters as they walk. Petco Park should also help neutralize the Bronx-less Bombers in their ALDS matchup, which ultimately will come down to Rays manager Kevin Cash’s command of his lineup and bullpen vs. an opponent overly bound to the book, yet lacking the precision relievers to fulfill the manifesto.
While Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton provide an enviable 1-2-3, the totality of their staff will only become a greater strength as the ALDS and ALCS roll on without off days. With any luck, baseball fans beyond Pinellas County will figure out which infielder is Lowe As in Woah (Nate), and Lowe As in Wow (Brandon).
3. Braves
Commissioner Rob Manfred says people love their brackets and we’ll say this for the Braves: They got a nice draw. The offensively erratic Reds were a perfect match for their overwhelming bullpen and 1-2 starter punch. While Ian Anderson has just seven career starts, his 50 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings – including nine in six against the Reds – create the impression he’s going to join Livan Hernandez, Michael Wacha and others who followed abbreviated rookie years with dominant postseason runs.
Atlanta won six of 10 against Miami and scored at least nine runs in three of those wins. It will be more challenging to prevail in best-of-five settings, but leaning on a lineup with three MVP candidates in Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna is not a bad way to live, either.
4. Astros
It’s easier to find a ballot drop box in Harris County than it is to find anyone outside of the 713 rooting for these guys. Yet those who live for Astros schadenfreude may want to hibernate until 2021.
First off, they made it look way too easy going into Target Field and thoroughly submitting a good Twins team, playoff history aside. It should be a little disconcerting to opponents that Zack Greinke is starting Game 3 of the ALDS. Why? Because Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez and Jose Urquidy combined to allow one earned run over 12 1/3 innings (0.73 ERA) in the wild-card series, and Lance McCullers Jr. is frothing to take the ball. They can afford to push the $200 million guy back a bit.
And here’s another fun theme for this Astros run: How unsatisfying is it to root against players who weren’t even around for the 2017 sign-stealing scandal? Certainly, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa and George Springer will figure into any Astros advancement. But if the heroes are ultimately Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley and Valdez and Javier, do you even get a decent hate-watch out of it?
5. Yankees
Gerrit Cole was worth every pro rata penny, no doubt about it. Be it DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela or the majestic Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ offense is a glorious machine to behold.
Yet it will always come down to a starter such as J.A. Happ or Jordan Montgomery who couldn’t get deep enough to save an extended bullpen, a reliever such as Chad Green or Adam Ottavino or Luis Cessa asked to get one out too many, a matchup that on paper looks great but unfortunately goes awry.
This has been the Yankees’ exit plan the past two Octobers. And while there’s so many things that will go right with this team, there’s just too many spots things can go sideways – especially over a potential 12 games in 13 days.
6. Marlins
Anyone out there still foolish enough to bet against America’s Team?
It’s true: There’s nothing the Marlins can’t overcome, be it the first and worst COVID-19 outbreak in baseball history or an offense that ranked in the lower third of baseball in OPS, home runs and weighted on-base average.
Perhaps rookie Sixto Sanchez and Sandy Alcantara’s 1-2 rotation punch can continue creating the breathing room needed for the offense to cook just enough. The back-end starters – some combo of Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers, most likely – shouldn’t be slept on, either. But the Braves and Dodgers or Padres will pose far greater offensive threats than the Cubs, along with the ability to win close, low-scoring games. There’s a path for the Marlins, but it’s narrowed considerably.
7. Athletics
It’s a question that seems to dog every A’s playoff team: Can they hit elite pitching?
Oakland finished in the bottom half of the big leagues in almost every offensive category and survived the wild card round only because the White Sox walked nine batters in eight innings in Game 3. Those free passes will be harder to come by when trying to topple the Astros, the Yankees-Rays winner and the NL champ.
Meanwhile, while Game 1 ALDS starter Chris Bassitt and the bullpen are outstanding, there are far too many questions surrounding the Nos. 2-5 starters, compounded by the no-days-off format.
8. Padres
Even if top starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger were healthy, any path that begins with the Dodgers is daunting. San Diego went 4-6 against its northern nemesis this year, with Lamet striking out 11 in one of those wins. But both right-handers remain doubtful for the NLDS, at least, with arm injuries.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have posted a .944 OPS over two seasons against second-year righty and likely Game 1 starter Chris Paddack, and the Padres’ whole-staff approach that won Game 3 of the wild-card series will only get less sustainable with each round.


usatoday--2020-10-05--Here's where you can buy Lysol, Clorox, and other cleaning wipes

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
While previously sold-out products like hand sanitizer , toilet paper , and tissues have returned in stock , cleaning wipes and spray are still in limited supply—more specifically , Lysol products .
Not only has it been reported that Lysol spray and Clorox wipes would be in low supply through the end of June , but Lysol products were also approved by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) for protecting against coronavirus , putting these products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that catching coronaviruses from surfaces is unlikely , it 's always good to have these disinfecting products on hand .
Luckily , the stock of these sought-after cleaning wipes and spray has started to trickle in at select retailers .
For example , you can find a few Lysol and Clorox products at Amazon , but they come seriously price-hiked , but it 's an option if you 're really desperate for these products .
Even if you 're ca n't find Lysol products , you can still get your hands on quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While we 'll be updating this list daily , supplies are selling out extremely fast , so add to your cart ASAP and do n't buy more than you need .
Here 's where you can buy cleaning wipes and spray online right now .
Need help finding products ?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter .
It ’ s free and you can unsubscribe at any time .
Where to buy cleaning wipes and spray Cleaning wipes that actually disinfect surfaces are one of the hardest things to find right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cleaning sprays at the following retailers : • Get the Honest Company Disinfecting Spray at Amazon for $ 6.99 • Get the Clorox Clean-Up All Purpose Cleaner at Amazon for $ 12.99 • Get the Seventh Generation Hard Surface Cleaner at Amazon for $ 18.99 • Get the Rescue One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer Wipes at Amazon for $ 26.89 • Get the Lysol All Purpose Cleaner Disinfectant , 3-count at Amazon for $ 37.99 • Get the Windex Multi-Surface Disinfectant Cleaner , 12 Pack at Amazon for $ 70.33 • Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pack , 5 Pack at Amazon for $ 79.99 • Get the Mold Armor Mold Remover and Disinfectant Pro-Strength at Home Depot for $ 8.97 • Get the Comet Lemon Fresh Disinfectant Bathroom Cleaner at Target for .95 • Get the Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner at Target for $ 3.99 • Get the Microban 24 Hour Bathroom Cleaner and Sanitizing Spray at Target for $ 3.99 • Get the Pledge Multi Surface Antibacterial Everyday Cleaner at Target for $ 5.49 • Get The Honest Disinfecting Spray at The Honest Company for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Honest Company , 2-pack for $ 13.95 • Get The Honest Disinfecting Spray at The Honest Company , 4-pack for $ 26.79 • Get the Perk Disinfecting Wipes at Staples for $ 3.59 • Get the Perk Disinfecting Wipes , 6 Count at Staples for $ 26.99 • Get the Perk Disinfecting Wipes , Lemon , 6 Count at Staples for $ 26.99 • Get the Comet Disinfecting Cleaner with Bleach , 8 Pack at Staples for $ 66.99 • Get the Scrubbing Bubbles Disinfecting Restroom Cleaner , 12-pack at Staples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bleach Germicidal Cleaner , 8 Pack at Staples for $ 114.81 • Get the Windex Multi-Surface Disinfectant Sanitizer Cleaner at Office Depot for $ 5.29 • Get the Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner With Bleach , 128-Ounce Bottle at Office Depot for $ 15.39 • Get the Windex Multi-surface Disinfectant Ready-To-Use Spray , 12 Pack at Office Depot for $ 63.09 • Get the Comet Disinfecting Cleaner Spray With Bleach , 8 Pack at Office Depot for $ 82.09 • Get the Soft Scrub With Bleach at Walmart for $ 3.88 • Get the Clorox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 7.37 • Get the Clorox Clean-Up Disinfectant Cleaner with Bleach at Walmart for $ 12.99 • Get the In-Cide Disinfectant Spray , 2-Pack at Walmart for $ 18.15 • Get the Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes at Walmart for $ 18.49 • Get the Comet Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner , 8-Pack at Walmart for $ 57.48 Make your own disinfectant wipes instead Despite the current shortage of Lysol and Clorox wipes , you can also make your own CDC-approved wipes right at home using a precise balance of bleach or alcohol .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so .
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time .

Here’s where you can buy Lysol, Clorox, and other cleaning wipes
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
While previously sold-out products like hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and tissues have returned in stock, cleaning wipes and spray are still in limited supply—more specifically, Lysol products.
Not only has it been reported that Lysol spray and Clorox wipes would be in low supply through the end of June, but Lysol products were also approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for protecting against coronavirus, putting these products in high demand. While data suggests that catching coronaviruses from surfaces is unlikely, it's always good to have these disinfecting products on hand.
Luckily, the stock of these sought-after cleaning wipes and spray has started to trickle in at select retailers. For example, you can find a few Lysol and Clorox products at Amazon, but they come seriously price-hiked, but it's an option if you're really desperate for these products.
Even if you're can't find Lysol products, you can still get your hands on quality disinfecting supplies at select online retailers. While we'll be updating this list daily, supplies are selling out extremely fast, so add to your cart ASAP and don't buy more than you need. Here's where you can buy cleaning wipes and spray online right now.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Where to buy cleaning wipes and spray
Cleaning wipes that actually disinfect surfaces are one of the hardest things to find right now, but you can occasionally get them along with cleaning sprays at the following retailers:
Amazon
Target
The Honest Company
Staples
Office Depot
Walmart
Make your own disinfectant wipes instead
Despite the current shortage of Lysol and Clorox wipes, you can also make your own CDC-approved wipes right at home using a precise balance of bleach or alcohol. We put together comprehensive instructions on how to do so.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.


usatoday--2020-10-05--New Google Nest Audio speaker packs a huge punch for $99

The old Google Home that looked like an air freshener has been reinvented , renamed and redesigned to rock out .
Now known as Nest Audio , the new editions look more like a tiny , traditional speaker , this time in a multitude of colors ( pink , blue , green , white and black ) , sell for less than the original Home ( $ 99.99 versus $ 129.99 ) and the big news is a major sound upgrade .
Nest Audio , available today , is still being sold as a personal assistant to run your smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminders , get news updates , translate languages and , of course , play music and podcasts .
But the speaker , which runs on the Google Assistant , still lags Amazon 's Echo speakers and the Alexa system in doing many obvious tasks that various Google help pages claims it can do , but either ca n't or require so much setup that consumers will be stymied .
But let 's start with what does work well : playing music .
For $ 99 , you get a speaker with vastly improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly larger body .
I frankly did n't expect it to sound as good as it did .
It 's a $ 99 speaker .
How good could it sound ?
In my subjective , non-scientific tests , I 'm giving it a 6 out of 10 , compared to a 7 out of 10 for the most expensive $ 199 Sonos One , which has been the gold standard for higher fidelity audio in a smart speaker .
We put both speakers back to back for the test .
But spend $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and pair them like many used to in traditional stereo setups , with the left speaker on one side of the room and the right speaker on the other , and this trumps them all , with not just stellar bass and treble , and volume that rocks , but separation of the instruments and vocals the way they 're supposed to sound .
Google calls this the `` ultimate listening experience , '' and while I wo n't go that far .
The Sonos system with multiple speakers still has way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonos speakers are very pricey , at around $ 1,000 for two `` Five '' speaker . ''
Still for $ 200 and two Nest Audio speakers , you can jam your socks off at home .
Of course , Google is using the improved music as one selling point .
The other is to put the Google Assistant to work .
One quibble : You would think that , after three years of marketing a speaker to take on Alexa , Google would finally have found a way for its speaker to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest text message or ( Google ! )
e-mails .
Or to let you compose a text or e-mail with your voice and send it out .
Alexa can do it .
( There 's setup involved , but it can be done . )
But say `` Hey , Google , read my latest e-mails , '' and the voice responds , `` Sorry , I ca n't help with e-mail yet . ''
( But of course , it can , on any Android phone , using the Assistant . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims this can be done on Google speakers .
And on and on .
I had trouble even adding potatoes to a shopping list initially .
The Assistant says we need to change the permissions in the Google Assistant smartphone app , but good luck finding where to do that , because it does n't tell you .
Here 's what you have to do : Open the Google Assistant app ( not the Google Home app , which is where you might expect to go ) , click on the icon with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top right , and click `` Devices '' and then the device you want to change , like Nest Audio .
Make sure `` Personal Results '' is selected .
Once you 've worked out the kinks , you 'll go back to music listening .
You 'll need to subscribe to a music streaming service to get the most of the experience , and if you 're a fan of Amazon Music or Apple Music , you 're out of luck .
Google 's choices includes its own YouTube Music , Spotify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a smart speaker have to ask themselves how they feel about having Google in the home , listening to everything you say .
Google says it listens ( and records you ) only when you use the `` Hey Google , '' or `` OK Google , '' wake word , and in its promotional website , reminds that you can delete your history by saying , “ Hey Google , delete what I just said.
” However , that 's only for what you just said .
Google has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and beyond the inane questions , it also picks up snippets of your conversation that are n't questions .
Earlier this year , we tracked how dummy phrases read aloud were transcribed by Google , word for word .
The phrase : `` We are told that Google only records you if you first use the wake word .
Then how to explain this , huh ? ''
It recorded and transcribed every other query as well .
Google invites you to delete your recordings and keystrokes manually , or automatically every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy violations are n't any worse than Alexa and Amazon , which dominates smart speakers .
However , if you want a convenient , small speaker with fantastic sound that can run your smart home and help with trivia , that 's a decision you 'll have to make .

New Google Nest Audio speaker packs a huge punch for $99
The old Google Home that looked like an air freshener has been reinvented, renamed and redesigned to rock out.
Now known as Nest Audio, the new editions look more like a tiny, traditional speaker, this time in a multitude of colors (pink, blue, green, white and black), and sell for less than the original Home ($99.99 versus $129.99). And the big news is a major sound upgrade.
Nest Audio, available Monday, is still being sold as a personal assistant to run your smart home, answer trivia questions, set reminders, get news updates, translate languages and, of course, play music and podcasts.
But the speaker, which runs on the Google Assistant, still lags Amazon's Echo speakers and the Alexa system in many obvious tasks that various Google help pages claims it can do but either can't or require so much setup that consumers will be stymied.
But let's start with what does work well: playing music.
For $99, you get a speaker with vastly improved sound than the original, in a slightly larger body. I frankly didn't expect it to sound as good as it did. It's a $99 speaker. How good could it sound?
In a word, fantastic.
In my subjective, nonscientific tests, I'm giving it a 6 out of 10, compared with a 7 out of 10 for the most expensive $199 Sonos One, which has been the gold standard for higher fidelity audio in a smart speaker. We put both speakers back to back for the test.
But spend $200 to buy two Nest Audio speakers, and pair them like many used to in traditional stereo setups, with the left speaker on one side of the room and the right speaker on the other, and this trumps them all, with not just stellar bass and treble and volume that rocks but separation of the instruments and vocals the way they're supposed to sound.
Google calls this the "ultimate listening experience," and while I won't go that far – the Sonos system with multiple speakers still has way richer and fuller sound – those Sonos speakers are very pricey, about $1,000 for two "Five" speaker." But for $200 and two Nest Audio speakers, you can jam your socks off at home.
Of course, Google is using the improved music as one selling point. The other is to put the Google Assistant to work.
One quibble: You would think that after three years of marketing a speaker to take on Alexa, Google would finally have found a way for its speaker to do simple things like read back your latest text message or (Google!) e-mails. Or to let you compose a text or e-mail with your voice and send it out.
Alexa can do it. (There's setup involved, but it can be done.) But say "Hey, Google, read my latest e-mails," and the voice responds, "Sorry, I can't help with e-mail yet." (But of course, it can, on any Android phone, using the Assistant.) And Google online promos for the Assistant claims this can be done on Google speakers.
And on and on.
I had trouble even adding potatoes to a shopping list initially. The Assistant says we need to change the permissions in the Google Assistant smartphone app, but good luck finding where to do that, because it doesn't tell you.
Here's what you have to do: Open the Google Assistant app (not the Google Home app, which is where you might expect to go), click on the icon with your picture in a circle at the top right, and click "Devices" and then the device you want to change, like Nest Audio. Make sure "Personal Results" is selected.
Once you've worked out the kinks, you'll go back to music listening. You'll need to subscribe to a music streaming service to get the most of the experience, and if you're a fan of Amazon Music or Apple Music, you're out of luck. Google's choices includes its own YouTube Music, Spotify and Pandora.
Consumers who don't have a smart speaker have to ask themselves how they feel about having Google in the home, listening to everything you say. Google says it listens (and records you) only when you use the "Hey Google," or "OK Google," wake word, and in its promotional website, reminds that you can delete your history by saying, “Hey Google, delete what I just said.”
However, that's only for what you just said. Google has a history of your queries going back 18 months, and beyond the inane questions, it also picks up snippets of your conversation that aren't questions.
Earlier this year, we tracked how dummy phrases read aloud were transcribed by Google, word for word.
The phrase: "We are told that Google only records you if you first use the wake word. Then how to explain this, huh?"
It recorded and transcribed every other query as well.
Google invites you to delete your recordings and keystrokes manually, or automatically every three or 18 months.
Google's privacy violations aren't any worse than Alexa and Amazon, which dominates smart speakers. However, if you want a convenient, small speaker with fantastic sound that can run your smart home and help with trivia, that's a decision you'll have to make.
Follow USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham (@jeffersongraham) on Twitter