buzzfeed--2020-10-26--The Coronavirus Is Pushing Women Out Of Work And Away From Trump

WEST ALLIS , Wisconsin — Lexie Higgins has done the math , and it doesn ’ t work .
Higgins lost her job in entertainment in the middle of March , the same week that a statewide stay-at-home order shut down her entire industry along with a huge swath of the state ’ s economy .
For seven months now , she has been at home caring for her two young children .
It ’ s not that Higgins hasn ’ t been looking for work .
But starting at the bottom rung of another industry would mean paying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest expense , on a much lower salary .
When she sat down to figure out the numbers , Higgins realized that a $ 15 an hour job would net her an additional $ 30 a week .
“ I ’ ve kind of been stuck between a rock and a hard place , ” Higgins said .
Across the country , the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately driven women out of the workforce — hitting female-dominated industries like Higgins ’ s or forcing couples to choose between higher and lower wage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just days from the next presidential election , there is another yawning gap between men and women : support of Donald Trump .
In Wisconsin , women favor Joe Biden over Trump by a 17-point margin .
White women with college degrees like Higgins have shifted their allegiances to Democrats ; in Wisconsin , they back him by 18 points .
“ Suburban women , please vote for me , ” Trump has begged them , a line he says is a joke but one he has repeated at nearly every campaign rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suburban women , you ’ re supposed to love Trump.
” Since 2016 , suburban women have been driven from Trump for many reasons : his sexist and racist comments , his divisiveness , his style .
But the pandemic , and its disproportionate effects , are standing clearly in Trump ’ s way of winning those women back .
His strength among voters has always been the economy .
But for many women , far more than men , the economy has become inextricable from the virus .
“ My world has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was pre-pandemic , ” said Higgins .
“ I have never not had a job , not since I was 16 , ever .
And now I ’ ve been unemployed for seven months.
” Trump ’ s campaign has acknowledged that he does best among voters who are thinking about anything other than the coronavirus pandemic , an issue on which the majority of voters think he has failed .
Trump has tried to do everything he can to distract voters — with law and order , with judges , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exurbs of Milwaukee , a part of the country that will play a vital role in the presidential election , nearly a dozen well-educated white women spoke to BuzzFeed News of the virus as an inescapable force in their daily lives .
For them , there is no distraction .
And the worries — particularly about their children — are ever present .
In Wisconsin , as the election nears , the virus has only gotten worse , with cases climbing precipitously and record increases in deaths .
In Sheboygan , a county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 16 points in 2016 , schools reopened in early September , a sign of hope for parents .
But as cases rose and the district faced a shortage of substitute teachers willing to take on the risk of teaching , Sheboygan ’ s schools were forced to return to virtual learning in mid-October .
And the bitter pandemic winter is on the mind of many of the state ’ s residents , bringing with it increased isolation , especially over the holidays .
On a chilly fall day this past week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elementary School was empty , the blue and yellow playground unused .
Many of the trees were bare .
On the other side of the state , it was already snowing .
“ I think about it every day , ” said Anne , a lawyer in a Milwaukee suburb who asked to be identified only by her middle name because of her job .
“ It ’ s part of our everyday life now .
Even just stuff like trick-or-treating — having to tell my kids , ‘ No , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
No , you can ’ t go see your friends.
’ It ’ s horrible.
” Anne , an independent , said she voted for Trump in 2016 , drawn by the promise of a political outsider who would drain the swamp .
She was already disillusioned with him by the time the pandemic arrived .
But his handling of the virus “ made the decision a lot easier ” : Anne is certain she won ’ t vote for Trump again .
“ I think Biden definitely would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Anne said .
“ He would be able to reach across the table more effectively than Trump .
If anyone can do it , he ’ s probably the best person to get that done .
That ’ s why I ’ m leaning toward thinking I will vote for him.
” She ’ s still weighing whether or not to vote for Biden , whose fiscal liberalism concerns her .
She didn ’ t vote for Tony Evers , Wisconsin ’ s Democratic governor , in 2018 .
But she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , especially in the face of Republican opposition to restrictions .
“ I ’ m very happy he ’ s our governor right now , ” she said .
“ He ’ s doing the best that he can.
” Anne ’ s world has been tightly constricted because of the virus .
A year and a half ago , her younger son fell critically ill and was intubated for three weeks .
The memory of it has not left her , and it has made her extremely cautious about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrifying to my family , ” she said .
She found out she was pregnant with her third child in February and spent much of her pregnancy worried about how the virus might impact her and the baby .
Anne said she plans to return to work full-time after maternity leave , even with her oldest son in virtual kindergarten .
She has childcare help from her parents and her nanny , a flexible work schedule , and an understanding office .
But a stunningly high number of women in the corporate world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing careers , cutting hours , or leaving the workforce altogether because of the pandemic , according to a recent study by McKinsey and the advocacy group Lean In .
Women , the study found , have disproportionately taken on the burden of childcare , housework , and virtual school .
In Thiensville , a suburb north of Milwaukee , Mary Helbick has been weathering the pandemic nearly alone with her 5-year-old son , trying to balance his virtual school with her full-time job .
She ’ s a single mother and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who live two hours away .
Helbick has considered cutting back her hours so that she can spend more time with her son , who has behavioral and learning challenges .
She worries about him constantly .
It ’ s painful , she said , to have to turn him away when she ’ s working , how often she has to reward him with time on her phone .
Even working three fewer hours a week , Helbick thinks , “ Would be a big difference .
It would not be good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth a lot.
” At first , when the pandemic began , Helbick ’ s boss was flexible .
But his children have returned to preschool , and for him , she said , it can sometimes seem like the virus has mostly passed .
Helbick occasionally has to go into the office , a struggle with childcare .
She ’ s had to return to working normal hours , handling her son ’ s school in the mornings and on lunch breaks and weekends .
“ Right now , I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and piling on .
The last few weeks have been really hard .
It ’ s — I need a break .
I need some sort of change.
” In Wauwatosa , Susannah Lago runs a group called Working Moms of Milwaukee , where women including Helbick , Higgins , and others have leaned on each other heavily for support throughout the pandemic .
Lago ’ s husband works in person , so she has handled “ almost 100 % ” of virtual schooling for her son while running her own corporate hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone is having a very , very hard time , ” Lago said of the women in her group .
Most of the women in Lago ’ s group have taken the virus seriously , practicing social distancing and masking and choosing virtual schools for their children over in-person schooling .
For Wisconsin women who are skeptical of the coronavirus ’ s seriousness , though , the economic problem is not Trump — it ’ s Democrats .
“ I would call this insanity , ” said Alexandra , a voter in Sheboygan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
“ Kids need to be in school .
Businesses need to be open .
It ’ s a total control operation .
I think it ’ s asinine.
” Kelsey , a voter in Cedar Grove , said that more than the rising case counts across the state , she was worried about another lockdown closing her children 's school .
She and her husband both worked full-time , and she said she didn ’ t know what she ’ d do about childcare .
“ I ’ m not sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to the virus , Kelsey said ; she ’ d seen conflicting data , and said she didn ’ t trust testing numbers .
“ It ’ s just really tough on working families.
” These voters , who spoke with BuzzFeed News outside of polling places and supermarkets in Sheboygan this past week , are the types of voters on whom Trump has focused his appeal .
In the final presidential debate last week , he railed against lockdowns , saying businesses needed to reopen and that the country was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Carol , who voted early in Sheboygan , said she was far more concerned about violent protesters than the virus , which she thought had likely been exaggerated .
She was furious about the decision to shut down the city ’ s schools .
“ I ’ m just over it , ” Carol said of the virus .
For Lexie Higgins , in West Allis , there have been good things about losing her job .
“ I always thought I was missing out on my kids being babies , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially , has been thriving , though she ’ s struggled with separation anxiety .
In some ways , Higgins knows , this would be harder if she was working .
Higgins has thought about leaving the workforce to do a part-time job or to try to find something around her husband ’ s job , so that they won ’ t have to pay for childcare .
She knows , though , that she can ’ t stay out of work forever .
“ Financially , our budget is not set for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ I honestly have no idea what the breaking point is going to be.
” Higgins doesn ’ t identify with either political party .
But recently , she ’ s shifted from a more conservative viewpoint toward “ the moderately liberal side ” because of social issues and things like maternity leave .
She got fewer than three weeks of paid time off when her daughter was born last year , and it still left her without a single sick day the rest of the year .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Higgins said of the election .
“ I think we ’ re not in a good place .
I hear people saying , ‘ Keep America great , ’ and I ’ m like , Really ?
This is great ?
” Higgins has already voted , as have more than a million Wisconsinites .
She said she did not vote for Trump .
Meanwhile , cases of COVID-19 across the state are rising precipitously , raging through colleges and nursing homes and forcing schools that once opened to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we take one step forward , and then several steps back , ” Higgins said .

WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin — Lexie Higgins has done the math, and it doesn’t work.
Higgins lost her job in entertainment in the middle of March, the same week that a statewide stay-at-home order shut down her entire industry along with a huge swath of the state’s economy. For seven months now, she has been at home caring for her two young children.
It’s not that Higgins hasn’t been looking for work. But starting at the bottom rung of another industry would mean paying for childcare again, by far her family’s biggest expense, on a much lower salary. When she sat down to figure out the numbers, Higgins realized that a $15 an hour job would net her an additional $30 a week.
“I’ve kind of been stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Higgins said.
Across the country, the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately driven women out of the workforce — hitting female-dominated industries like Higgins’s or forcing couples to choose between higher and lower wage earners in order to provide childcare.
Just days from the next presidential election, there is another yawning gap between men and women: support of Donald Trump. In Wisconsin, women favor Joe Biden over Trump by a 17-point margin. White women with college degrees like Higgins have shifted their allegiances to Democrats; in Wisconsin, they back him by 18 points.
“Suburban women, please vote for me,” Trump has begged them, a line he says is a joke but one he has repeated at nearly every campaign rally in the last two weeks. “Suburban women, you’re supposed to love Trump.”
Since 2016, suburban women have been driven from Trump for many reasons: his sexist and racist comments, his divisiveness, his style. But the pandemic, and its disproportionate effects, are standing clearly in Trump’s way of winning those women back. His strength among voters has always been the economy. But for many women, far more than men, the economy has become inextricable from the virus.
“My world has taken a complete 180 shift from where I was pre-pandemic,” said Higgins. “I have never not had a job, not since I was 16, ever. And now I’ve been unemployed for seven months.”
Trump’s campaign has acknowledged that he does best among voters who are thinking about anything other than the coronavirus pandemic, an issue on which the majority of voters think he has failed. Trump has tried to do everything he can to distract voters — with law and order, with judges, with Hunter Biden.
In the suburbs and exurbs of Milwaukee, a part of the country that will play a vital role in the presidential election, nearly a dozen well-educated white women spoke to BuzzFeed News of the virus as an inescapable force in their daily lives.
For them, there is no distraction. And the worries — particularly about their children — are ever present. In Wisconsin, as the election nears, the virus has only gotten worse, with cases climbing precipitously and record increases in deaths.
In Sheboygan, a county north of Milwaukee that voted for Trump by 16 points in 2016, schools reopened in early September, a sign of hope for parents. But as cases rose and the district faced a shortage of substitute teachers willing to take on the risk of teaching, Sheboygan’s schools were forced to return to virtual learning in mid-October.
And the bitter pandemic winter is on the mind of many of the state’s residents, bringing with it increased isolation, especially over the holidays.


buzzfeed--2020-10-26--Mike Pence's Top Aide Tested Positive For The Coronavirus And Pence Will Keep Campaigning

Vice President Mike Pence 's chief of staff tested positive for the coronavirus , but Pence still plans to keep his travel schedule in the closing days of the presidential race , his office announced late Saturday night .
`` Today , Marc Short , Chief of Staff to the Vice President , tested positive for COVID-19 , began quarantine and assisting in the contact tracing process , '' the vice president 's press secretary Devin O'Malley said in a statement .
Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative for COVID-19 on Saturday , according to Pence 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers have recently tested positive , the New York Times and ABC News reported Saturday night .
`` While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short , in consultation with the White House Medical Unity , the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel , '' the statement said .
Pence is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Sunday , after campaigning in Florida on Saturday .
The CDC defines a `` close contact '' as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person infected with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes within two days of either the start of someone 's symptoms beginning or a positive COVID-19 test .
The CDC generally advises anyone who has been in close contact with a person who tests positive to quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with that person .
Pence 's office is working around that step by declaring Pence `` essential , '' though his planned travel this week , including to North Carolina and South Carolina on Tuesday , is for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Saturday night statement did not specify when Pence and Short were last in close contact , and Pence 's office did not immediately respond to questions when asked by BuzzFeed News .
Karen Pence is also scheduled for a campaign trip , to North Carolina on Monday .
The vice president is the head of the White House 's coronavirus task force , though he has not always stuck by common guidelines to prevent the virus 's spread .
The Trump campaign , with 10 days to go before the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , as the country sees a booming growth in cases and hospitalizations .
President Donald Trump , who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month , has been holding large rallies across the country in recent days , including in states like Wisconsin where virus rates are surging .
Earlier Saturday , at a rally in Ohio , Trump complained about media coverage of the pandemic , which he has generally insisted is fading , despite reality .
`` The news , the CNN , all they talk about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump told the thousands of supporters .

Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff tested positive for the coronavirus, but Pence still plans to keep his travel schedule in the closing days of the presidential race, his office announced late Saturday night.
"Today, Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, tested positive for COVID-19, began quarantine and assisting in the contact tracing process," the vice president's press secretary Devin O'Malley said in a statement.
Pence and second lady Karen Pence both tested negative for COVID-19 on Saturday, according to Pence's office. At least two other Pence staffers have recently tested positive, the New York Times and ABC News reported Saturday night.
"While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unity, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel," the statement said. Pence is scheduled to appear at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Sunday, after campaigning in Florida on Saturday.
The CDC defines a "close contact" as someone who was within 6 feet of a person infected with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes within two days of either the start of someone's symptoms beginning or a positive COVID-19 test. The CDC generally advises anyone who has been in close contact with a person who tests positive to quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with that person.
Pence's office is working around that step by declaring Pence "essential," though his planned travel this week, including to North Carolina and South Carolina on Tuesday, is for the presidential campaign, not for official business. The Saturday night statement did not specify when Pence and Short were last in close contact, and Pence's office did not immediately respond to questions when asked by BuzzFeed News.
Karen Pence is also scheduled for a campaign trip, to North Carolina on Monday.
The vice president is the head of the White House's coronavirus task force, though he has not always stuck by common guidelines to prevent the virus's spread.
The Trump campaign, with 10 days to go before the election, is consistently downplaying the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, as the country sees a booming growth in cases and hospitalizations. President Donald Trump, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, has been holding large rallies across the country in recent days, including in states like Wisconsin where virus rates are surging.
Earlier Saturday, at a rally in Ohio, Trump complained about media coverage of the pandemic, which he has generally insisted is fading, despite reality.
"The news, the CNN, all they talk about, COVID! COVID, COVID, COVID," Trump told the thousands of supporters.


buzzfeed--2020-10-26--The Pandemic Election Has The Two Presidential Campaigns Living In Different Universes

CLEVELAND — Kamala Harris paced joyfully down the middle of East 30th Street .
Masked and holding a cordless microphone , she addressed a line of early voters that had backed up for blocks past the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and spilled onto a freeway off-ramp .
“ It ’ s Kamala , and I came to Cleveland to say thank you !
” the Democratic nominee for vice president began .
“ Thank you for voting and voting early .
Your vote is your voice , your voice is your vote .
There is so much at stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take your power.
” There were maybe a few hundred people within earshot .
It would be the largest audience she addressed during her five-hour visit here Saturday — and a sign of how carefully Joe Biden ’ s campaign is proceeding through coronavirus protocols .
Most of the voters in line to cast ballots in this overwhelmingly Democratic county cheered Harris ’ s presence .
And the sight of this on social media worked at least one of President Donald Trump ’ s allies into a competitive lather .
“ When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a Trump senior adviser from Ohio snarked on Twitter .
One campaign follows best pandemic practices .
The other doesn ’ t .
It ’ s not that Biden and Harris can ’ t draw a big crowd .
It ’ s that they ’ re choosing not to .
And scenes Saturday from both campaigns clarified the divergent and disorienting state of the presidential race 10 days from Election Day .
As Harris was leaving Ohio , Trump was arriving for his own visit , to Circleville near Columbus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its annual pumpkin show , a five-day festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people .
Saturday would have been the closing night , but the pandemic forced organizers to cancel this year ’ s event .
Circleville got a Trump rally instead .
“ The energy is off the charts , ” Michael Hartley , a Republican strategist who lives in Circleville , told BuzzFeed News when asked if locals were disappointed to trade pumpkins for Trump .
“ It ’ s like its own festival .
Vendors and carnival food .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do wear a mask and you do your best to stay 6 feet apart , a Trump event can feel an awful lot like gaslighting .
When Vice President Mike Pence campaigned last week in Columbus , most in the outdoor , but closely smooshed together , crowd were maskless as they sat , stood , shook hands , and hollered .
The exceptions were those seated directly behind Pence , in the TV shot .
And they didn ’ t put their masks on until soon before Pence took the stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic that has killed more than 224,000 Americans is treated , and understood by his supporters , as a problem Trump has already fought and won .
`` The news , the CNN , all they talk about , COVID !
COVID , COVID , COVID , '' Trump said in Circleville .
`` You have to lead your life .
And you have to get out .
You have to be vigilant , be careful , socially distance .
Get too close , put the mask on , put it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , '' he said soon after to a crowd of supporters who largely were not doing those things .
Biden and Harris have made the coronavirus — and their criticism of the president ’ s response to it — the dominant focus of their campaign .
After deplaning Saturday at Burke Lakefront Airport , Harris took a question about the electoral importance of Ohio into an opportunity to hit that message .
`` First of all , ” she responded , “ Ohio is going to help determine the outcome of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But also you look at the challenges that Ohioans are facing … we 've had the highest number in Ohio of hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic .
”

CLEVELAND — Kamala Harris paced joyfully down the middle of East 30th Street. Masked and holding a cordless microphone, she addressed a line of early voters that had backed up for blocks past the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and spilled onto a freeway off-ramp.
“It’s Kamala, and I came to Cleveland to say thank you!” the Democratic nominee for vice president began. “Thank you for voting and voting early. Your vote is your voice, your voice is your vote. There is so much at stake. Don’t let anyone ever take your power.”
There were maybe a few hundred people within earshot. It would be the largest audience she addressed during her five-hour visit here Saturday — and a sign of how carefully Joe Biden’s campaign is proceeding through coronavirus protocols. Most of the voters in line to cast ballots in this overwhelmingly Democratic county cheered Harris’s presence. And the sight of this on social media worked at least one of President Donald Trump’s allies into a competitive lather.
“When you can’t draw a crowd...” a Trump senior adviser from Ohio snarked on Twitter.
One campaign follows best pandemic practices. The other doesn’t. It’s not that Biden and Harris can’t draw a big crowd. It’s that they’re choosing not to. And scenes Saturday from both campaigns clarified the divergent and disorienting state of the presidential race 10 days from Election Day.
As Harris was leaving Ohio, Trump was arriving for his own visit, to Circleville near Columbus. The city of roughly 14,000 is known for its annual pumpkin show, a five-day festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people. Saturday would have been the closing night, but the pandemic forced organizers to cancel this year’s event. Circleville got a Trump rally instead.
“The energy is off the charts,” Michael Hartley, a Republican strategist who lives in Circleville, told BuzzFeed News when asked if locals were disappointed to trade pumpkins for Trump. “It’s like its own festival. Vendors and carnival food. Small town America showing out.”
The outdoor rally drew thousands, many maskless.
If you do wear a mask and you do your best to stay 6 feet apart, a Trump event can feel an awful lot like gaslighting. When Vice President Mike Pence campaigned last week in Columbus, most in the outdoor, but closely smooshed together, crowd were maskless as they sat, stood, shook hands, and hollered. The exceptions were those seated directly behind Pence, in the TV shot. And they didn’t put their masks on until soon before Pence took the stage. At Trump and Pence events, the pandemic that has killed more than 224,000 Americans is treated, and understood by his supporters, as a problem Trump has already fought and won.
"The news, the CNN, all they talk about, COVID! COVID, COVID, COVID," Trump said in Circleville.
"You have to lead your life. And you have to get out. You have to be vigilant, be careful, socially distance. Get too close, put the mask on, put it on, you know, lots of different things," he said soon after to a crowd of supporters who largely were not doing those things.
Biden and Harris have made the coronavirus — and their criticism of the president’s response to it — the dominant focus of their campaign. After deplaning Saturday at Burke Lakefront Airport, Harris took a question about the electoral importance of Ohio into an opportunity to hit that message. "First of all,” she responded, “Ohio is going to help determine the outcome of this election, there's no question. But also you look at the challenges that Ohioans are facing … we've had the highest number in Ohio of hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic.”


buzzfeed--2020-10-26--While Texans Brace For Another COVID Spike, Healthcare Is Defining Their Senate Race

At the same time , Texans are less likely than people in any other state to have health insurance — and that was before the sweeping job losses that they endured as a result of the pandemic .
One study found that just between March and May , even before the COVID-19 spike hit Texas in late July , around 1.6 million Texans likely lost health insurance after losing their jobs .
Texans account for close to 10 % of all COVID-19 cases in the US , and about 12.5 % of recorded COVID-19 deaths , according to the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some 898,000 of the 8.5 million people in the US who have had COVID-19 were Texans , and 17,800 of the 223,948 Americans who have died of the virus came from Texas .
In recent days , cases are beginning to rise sharply again in parts of the state .
Texas hasn ’ t been considered competitive in presidential elections in decades — the last time a Democratic nominee won the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976 .
But the state is changing , diversifying and getting younger , and after Democrat Beto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss in 2018 , Democrats think the state ’ s 38 electoral college votes and Cornyn ’ s Senate seat could both be theirs to win , shifting the Senate and the White House to Democrats along the way .
What ’ s happened in Texas in the last ten months could be a big part of why .
“ A lot of people are one illness or injury away from bankruptcy , ” she added .
“ Some people might say the economy .
I say that healthcare is the economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BuzzFeed News this week .
“ Number one , healthcare provides jobs in rural areas .
Number two , healthcare is a small business barrier where people do n't want to quit their jobs and lose their health insurance to start a small business.
” This time around , against the backdrop of a pandemic that ’ s devastated his state and a deeply unpopular president , he ’ s facing a centrist Democrat who ’ s focusing squarely on healthcare — air force veteran and former healthcare worker MJ Hegar .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both fundraising and polls in recent weeks .
John Cornyn ’ s place in the Senate was supposed to be safe .
Until recently , it was a sure bet that the Republican would hold onto the seat he ’ s easily held onto in Texas for the past 18 years .
Sen. John Cornyn puts on his mask as Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett participates in her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 12 .
The Supreme Court case challenging the Affordable Care Act , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , was filed by Texas Republicans .
Cornyn took on a central role advocating for the Senate GOP ’ s ACA repeal bill in 2017 , which narrowly failed to pass .
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee , he has also played an important part in Trump ’ s court nominee Amy Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation process this month .
The fight in the Senate over Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation comes to a head next week , providing Hegar with another clear line of attack over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her campaign for months : healthcare , the Affordable Care Act , and how Texans have suffered from COVID .
Although Hegar said she thinks healthcare and the economy are generally more pressing issues for Texas voters than what ’ s happening with the Supreme Court , healthcare is central to what ’ s at stake with SCOTUS .
As a result , there ’ s a third figure whose influence in the race neither candidate can ignore : Coney Barrett .
“ It ’ s ACA vs. ACB , I guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing for Coney Barrett last week , suggesting that Democrats were raising the Affordable Care Act in the hearings without a real basis for concern .
Hegar ’ s campaign clipped the remark and tweeted , “ Your little line isn ’ t cute , John , it ’ s potentially deadly for 5 million Texans with pre-existing conditions.
” “ People clearly see that it 's about tearing down the Affordable Care Act , ” Hegar said this week , of the Senate GOP push to confirm Coney Barrett .
Senate Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed further stands in contrast to how they ’ ve resisted passing a new COVID-19 relief bill , Hegar said .
“ I wish that they would show some urgency , the same type of urgency they are around the Supreme Court , around getting us , you know , relief for small businesses and getting the pandemic under control , ” she said .
Hegar , who is trying to turn out Texas Democrats but also draw moderate Republicans and independents away from Cornyn , has been making unexpected gains both in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hegar ’ s fundraising in the first two weeks of October propelled her past Cornyn , with $ 3.7 million to Cornyn ’ s $ 1.3 million , leaving her with $ 6.9 million cash on hand to Cornyn ’ s $ 3.8 million .
But Texas has been here before .
Two years ago , O ’ Rourke came close to ousting Ted Cruz from the Senate seat he ’ s held since 2013 , but ultimately lost out .
Part of what ’ s different this time , Hegar argues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have hovered around 38 % in recent months , lower than Cruz ’ s 52 % at election time in 2018 .
Cornyn has recently tried to distance himself from the president and his flailing approval ratings : In one University of Texas at Austin poll this month 43 % of Texans said they strongly disapprove of how Trump has handled the pandemic , while 27 % strongly approve .
In a separate interview with BuzzFeed News in July , before she won the runoff primary election , Hegar said the question she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear more likely to approve of Ted Cruz than John Cornyn .
“ The answer lies in the independent voters , and the independent voters are not moderate , they are not between the two parties .
They have removed themselves from the system and they are looking for someone who is going to put them first , ” Hegar said at the time .
She added this week that she thinks the outcome in Texas on Election Day could be key to a smooth transition of power if Trump loses the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state has limited mail voting — one point Republicans are already using to attack the veracity of the election — and because the results are likely to be in relatively early .
“ I feel like Texas is the key to healing the nation and to moving on quickly and having an election result that is n't easy to challenge in the courts from some sort of conspiracy theory without evidence , because our votes have been so suppressed in Texas .
We 're one of only six states that has n't eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ So if we can work , people working our tails off , to give our 38 electoral votes to Biden which would mean there 's not a mathematical victory for Trump , then that ’ s really the key to kind of moving on .
”

The Supreme Court case challenging the Affordable Care Act, which will be the first case justices hear after the election, was filed by Texas Republicans. Cornyn took on a central role advocating for the Senate GOP’s ACA repeal bill in 2017, which narrowly failed to pass. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has also played an important part in Trump’s court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation process this month.
The fight in the Senate over Coney Barrett’s confirmation comes to a head next week, providing Hegar with another clear line of attack over an issue that’s been central to her campaign for months: healthcare, the Affordable Care Act, and how Texans have suffered from COVID.
Although Hegar said she thinks healthcare and the economy are generally more pressing issues for Texas voters than what’s happening with the Supreme Court, healthcare is central to what’s at stake with SCOTUS.
As a result, there’s a third figure whose influence in the race neither candidate can ignore: Coney Barrett.
“It’s ACA vs. ACB, I guess,” Cornyn joked during one confirmation hearing for Coney Barrett last week, suggesting that Democrats were raising the Affordable Care Act in the hearings without a real basis for concern.
Hegar’s campaign clipped the remark and tweeted, “Your little line isn’t cute, John, it’s potentially deadly for 5 million Texans with pre-existing conditions.”
“People clearly see that it's about tearing down the Affordable Care Act,” Hegar said this week, of the Senate GOP push to confirm Coney Barrett.
Senate Republicans’ push to get Coney Barrett quickly confirmed further stands in contrast to how they’ve resisted passing a new COVID-19 relief bill, Hegar said.
“I wish that they would show some urgency, the same type of urgency they are around the Supreme Court, around getting us, you know, relief for small businesses and getting the pandemic under control,” she said.
Hegar, who is trying to turn out Texas Democrats but also draw moderate Republicans and independents away from Cornyn, has been making unexpected gains both in fundraising and polls in recent weeks. Hegar’s fundraising in the first two weeks of October propelled her past Cornyn, with $3.7 million to Cornyn’s $1.3 million, leaving her with $6.9 million cash on hand to Cornyn’s $3.8 million.
But Texas has been here before. Two years ago, O’Rourke came close to ousting Ted Cruz from the Senate seat he’s held since 2013, but ultimately lost out. Part of what’s different this time, Hegar argues, is that Cornyn’s approval ratings have hovered around 38% in recent months, lower than Cruz’s 52% at election time in 2018.
Cornyn has recently tried to distance himself from the president and his flailing approval ratings: In one University of Texas at Austin poll this month 43% of Texans said they strongly disapprove of how Trump has handled the pandemic, while 27% strongly approve.
In a separate interview with BuzzFeed News in July, before she won the runoff primary election, Hegar said the question she was asking herself was why Texas voters appear more likely to approve of Ted Cruz than John Cornyn.
“The answer lies in the independent voters, and the independent voters are not moderate, they are not between the two parties. They have removed themselves from the system and they are looking for someone who is going to put them first,” Hegar said at the time.
She added this week that she thinks the outcome in Texas on Election Day could be key to a smooth transition of power if Trump loses the presidential election to Joe Biden, because the state has limited mail voting — one point Republicans are already using to attack the veracity of the election — and because the results are likely to be in relatively early.
“I feel like Texas is the key to healing the nation and to moving on quickly and having an election result that isn't easy to challenge in the courts from some sort of conspiracy theory without evidence, because our votes have been so suppressed in Texas. We're one of only six states that hasn't eased restrictions to vote by mail,” she said.
“So if we can work, people working our tails off, to give our 38 electoral votes to Biden which would mean there's not a mathematical victory for Trump, then that’s really the key to kind of moving on.”


buzzfeed--2020-10-27--Philadelphia Police Shot And Killed A Black Man Who Officials Say Was Carrying A Knife

Police officers in Philadelphia shot and killed a Black man as he walked toward them in the street on Monday afternoon .
Police said the man was carrying a knife .
Footage of the shooting circulated on social media .
It shows two officers with their guns drawn walking backwards as the man approached them .
The police fired multiple times , and the man , who the Philadelphia Inquirer identified as William Wallace Jr. , crumpled to the ground .
The Inquirer reported that Wallace died of his injuries at a nearby hospital .
Wallace 's father , William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son suffered from mental health problems .
`` Why did n't they use a Taser ? ''
the father asked .
`` His mother was trying to defuse the situation . ''
Philadelphia , like many other cities across the country , was the site of major protests this summer after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Thousands of peaceful protesters marched through Philadelphia 's downtown ; some people burned police vehicles , ransacked stores , and clashed with police .
Between 100 and 200 protesters gathered after Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a neighborhood where people had demonstrated over Floyd 's death , the Inquirer reported .
Early Tuesday morning , a speeding truck ran over a police officer who was on duty at the protests .
Philadelphia 's local Fox TV station reported that the officer is in the hospital with a broken leg .

Police officers in Philadelphia shot and killed a Black man as he walked toward them in the street on Monday afternoon. Police said the man was carrying a knife.
Footage of the shooting circulated on social media, showing two officers with their guns drawn walking backward as the man approached them. The police fired multiple times, and the man crumpled to the ground. He died of his injuries at a nearby hospital, the Inquirer reported.
Officials identified the man as Walter Wallace Jr., 27, according to the Associated Press.
Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr., told the newspaper that his son had mental health problems. "Why didn't they use a Taser?" the father asked. "His mother was trying to defuse the situation."
Wallace had recently gotten married, was a dad, and "didn't deserve what he got," his family said in a statement, according to NBC Philadelphia.
"Walter was a nice man he would do anything and everything for anybody," the family said. "No matter what the favor was or what time it was he would always come through. And, he was a family man, he just recently got married to Dominique and he got seven kids plus one due any day."
The shooting prompted protests Monday night in Philadelphia, which turned violent and, according to police resulted in 30 officers being injured.
On Tuesday, Lt. Col. Keith Hickox confirmed to BuzzFeed News News that "several hundred members" of the Pennsylvania National Guard were being deployed to the city in anticipation of more protests and civil unrest.
Later that night, as a second night of protests were underway in the city, Wallace's father pleaded with demonstrators not to turn violent in his son's name.
"I hope people show my family and the city some sort of respect," he told reporters. "I ain't got time to loot and destroy where I live. It's uncalled for, and the people that are doing that, they're not helping me and my family."
Relatives of Wallace and an attorney representing the family blasted the officers' response during a press conference Tuesday night, saying the family had called for assistance due to Wallace's mental health.
Wallace was taking Lithium, attorney Shaka Johnson said, and despite the family's request for medical assistance it was police officers who responded.
"The ambulance never made it," Johnson said. "[Officers] didn't have the training and the tolls to do the job effectively and, as such, a man was murdered."
The city's district attorney called video of the shooting "concerning."
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner said at a press conference that, according to information received by his office so far, family members made a call requesting medical assistance in connection to Wallace.
Instead of medical assistance, Krasner said, the family received a "response that was police as opposed to an ambulance, as opposed to medical service."
"When I saw the widely released video, I thought it was concerning," he told reporters. "I would have to agree with both the police commissioner and the mayor that it presents some very serious questions that need to be answered."
Krasner said the district attorney's office was continuing to review evidence, including body camera video, in connection to the shooting.
"It's way too early for me to speculate what was going on in the minds of the officers at the moment when they fired their shots," he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement that he had been in touch with the young man's family and that the incident would be undergoing an investigation.
“My prayers are with the family and friends of Walter Wallace," Kenney said. "I have watched the video of this tragic incident and it presents difficult questions that must be answered."
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw confirmed there would be an investigation.
"I recognize that the video of the incident raises many questions," Outlaw said in a statement. "Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation."
In a statement, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier called for body camera footage of the incident to be released.
“We must acknowledge that things did not need to play out this way," Gauthier said. "Resorting to the use of a service weapon should be the absolute last resort for any officer. Had these officers employed de-escalation techniques and non-lethal weapons rather than making the split-second decision to fire their guns, this young man might still have his life tonight.
"Had these officers valued the life of this Black man — had they treated him as a person experiencing mental health issues, instead of a criminal — we might be spared our collective outrage at yet another injustice at the hands of police."
Krasner said it was his hope body camera footage from the incident would be released to increase transparency with the public.
Early Tuesday morning, a speeding truck ran over a police officer who was on duty at the protests. Philadelphia's local Fox TV station reported that the officer is in the hospital with a broken leg.
Philadelphia, like many other cities across the country, was the site of major protests this summer after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Thousands of peaceful protesters marched through Philadelphia's downtown; some people burned police vehicles, ransacked stores, and clashed with police.
Between 100 and 200 protesters gathered after Wallace's death on Monday night, in a neighborhood where people had demonstrated over Floyd's death, the Inquirer reported.
Krasher said 91 people were arrested by police during the protests Monday night. Of those arrest, 27 cases have been reviewed so far in connection with second-degree burglary charges.
Police told the district attorney's office 11 cases connected with suspected assault of a police officer would be filed, but prosecutors have not received those cases as of Tuesday evening, he said.
The killing of Wallace also prompted former vice president Joe Biden to respond, calling the shooting another painful incident of a Black man killed by police.
"Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr., and for all those suffering the emotional weight of learning about another Black life in America lost," Biden said in a statement. "We cannot accept that in this country a mental health crisis ends in death."
He also said criticized the violence that erupted during the protests.
"No amount of anger at the very real injustices in our society excuse violence," he said. "Attacking police officers and vandalizing small businesses, which are already struggling during a pandemic, does not bend the moral arc of the universe closer to justice."
Wallace left behind nine children, Johnson said, including his eldest son, Zamir, who spoke to reporters Tuesday night.
"We always go places and we used to always play around," he said. "And white racist cops got my own dad. And Black lives still matter."


buzzfeed--2020-10-27--The Supreme Court Gave Republicans A Win In Wisconsin, Ruling That Ballots That Arrive After Electio

The Supreme Court Gave Republicans A Win In Wisconsin, Ruling That Ballots That Arrive After Election Day Won’t Count

WASHINGTON — Republicans won the latest fight to reach the US Supreme Court over how Americans cast ballots during the pandemic , with the justices voting 5-3 to block an extended timeline for Wisconsin to accept absentee ballots in the November election .
Monday ’ s order means that absentee ballots must arrive at local election offices in Wisconsin by 8 p.m. local time on Nov. 3 in order to be counted .
The court ’ s order came down just as the Senate was preparing to vote on now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to fill the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the court .
But Republicans in Wisconsin didn ’ t end up needing her vote to prevail — the court ’ s five conservative-leaning members stuck together , and the three remaining liberal-leaning justices dissented .
The separate opinions that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh wrote explaining their votes also offered insight into how they ’ ll consider any future election-related fights that go up to the court — they each wrote in favor of robust deference to state legislatures when it comes to how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow role for courts to second guess those decisions .
It ’ s a position that Republicans in Wisconsin and other states have argued for in legal fights to limit the expansion of mail-in voting during the pandemic .
Kavanaugh even explicitly invoked the specter of the Supreme Court deciding the winner of this year ’ s presidential race , citing the Bush v. Gore decision in December 2000 that stopped ballot recounts in Florida ordered by the state Supreme Court and effectively handed George W. Bush the win .
A federal district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September that extended the deadline for the state to accept absentee ballots from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9 as long as they were postmarked by Election Day , concluding that leaving the original deadline in place would unconstitutionally burden people ’ s right to vote .
He cited the fact that many more voters were expected to avoid the polls and apply to vote-by-mail because of the pandemic , and the risk of overwhelming the US postal system and local election officials , leading to potentially thousands of ballots arriving too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision on Oct. 8 , however , the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit stopped that order from taking effect , leaving the Election Day deadline intact .
The judges in the majority — which featured two of the court ’ s conservative-leaning members , Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judge Amy St. Eve , one of President Donald Trump ’ s nominees — wrote that the Wisconsin judge had tried to change the rules too close to the election and that it should be up to the state ’ s elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic .
Judge Ilana Rovner dissented , noting that an absentee ballot deadline extension in Wisconsin for the primary election earlier in the year had prevented an estimated 80,000 ballots from being rejected .
She wrote that her colleagues in the majority had adopted “ a hands-off approach to election governance that elevates legislative prerogative over a citizen ’ s fundamental right to vote.
” “ Good luck and G-d bless , Wisconsin .
You are going to need it , ” Rovner wrote .
Democrats in Wisconsin petitioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wisconsin judge ’ s injunction that extended the deadline until Nov. 9 .
Roberts had joined with the court ’ s liberal-leaning justices in a 4-4 vote earlier this month that kept in place a later absentee ballot deadline for Pennsylvania , rejecting Republicans ’ challenge to a decision by the state Supreme Court .
Roberts wrote in a one-paragraph concurrence on Monday that the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin cases were different — the former involved a state court interpreting a state constitution , while the latter involved “ federal intrusion on state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concurring opinion , which Kavanaugh joined , that “ no one doubts ” the challenges of holding an election during a pandemic , but that didn ’ t mean judges could “ improvise ” election rules and replace what state legislatures had adopted .
“ The clamor for judges to sweep in and address emergent problems , and the temptation for individual judges to fill the void of perceived inaction , can be great , ” Gorsuch wrote .
“ But what sometimes seems like a fault in the constitutional design was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ensuring that any changes to the status quo will not be made hastily , without careful deliberation , extensive consultation , and social consensus.
” Kavanaugh also wrote his own concurring opinion .
He wrote that the Wisconsin judge had tried to change the rules too close to an election in violation of what ’ s known as the Purcell principle , and also echoed Gorsuch and Roberts ’ in saying that the lower court judge had “ misapprehended the limited role of the federal courts in COVID–19 cases.
” “ Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests simply because the federal courts believe that later deadlines would be better , ” he wrote .
Although the Wisconsin case didn ’ t involve a state court decision , Kavanaugh cited the Bush v. Gore case from 2000 in a footnote to make clear that he believed state courts , as well as federal courts , should have a limited role in interfering with state election laws .
He also wrote that states had an interest in avoiding “ the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue if thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potentially flip the results of an election.
” In a dissenting opinion joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor , Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority ’ s decision “ will disenfranchise large numbers of responsible voters in the midst of hazardous pandemic conditions.
” “ On the scales of both constitutional justice and electoral accuracy , protecting the right to vote in a health crisis outweighs conforming to a deadline created in safer days , ” Kagan wrote .
Kagan responded to Kavanaugh ’ s warnings that post-Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ suspicions of impropriety , ” writing in a footnote that “ nothing could be more ‘ suspicio [ us ] ’ or ‘ improp [ er ] ’ than refusing to tally votes once the clock strikes 12 on election night .
To suggest otherwise , especially in these fractious times , is to disserve the electoral process.
” The dissenting justices also accused Kavanaugh and Gorsuch of ignoring the Wisconsin judge ’ s findings based on the record about the risks that in-person voting posed to voters in the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ serious problem , ” but disagreed with the Wisconsin judge and his colleagues ’ “ speculative predictions ” about what would happen if the Election Day deadline remained .
“ The facts , as found by the district court , are clear : Tens of thousands of Wisconsinites , through no fault of their own , may receive their mail ballots too late to return them by Election Day .
Without the district court ’ s order , they must opt between ‘ brav [ ing ] the polls , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ‘ los [ ing ] their right to vote , ” Kagan wrote .
“ The voters of Wisconsin deserve a better choice.
“

WASHINGTON — Republicans won the latest fight to reach the US Supreme Court over how Americans cast ballots during the pandemic, with the justices voting 5–3 to block an extended timeline for Wisconsin to accept absentee ballots in the November election.
Monday’s order means that absentee ballots must arrive at local election offices in Wisconsin by 8 p.m. local time on Nov. 3 in order to be counted.
The court’s order came down just as the Senate was preparing to vote on now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to fill the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the court. But Republicans in Wisconsin didn’t end up needing her vote to prevail — the court’s five conservative-leaning members stuck together, and the three remaining liberal-leaning justices dissented.
The separate opinions that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh wrote explaining their votes also offered insight into how they’ll consider any future election-related fights that go up to the court — they each wrote in favor of robust deference to state legislatures when it comes to how to run an election, and a narrow role for courts to second guess those decisions. It’s a position that Republicans in Wisconsin and other states have argued for in legal fights to limit the expansion of mail-in voting during the pandemic.
Kavanaugh even explicitly invoked the specter of the Supreme Court deciding the winner of this year’s presidential race, citing the Bush v. Gore decision in December 2000 that stopped ballot recounts in Florida ordered by the state Supreme Court and effectively handed George W. Bush the win.
A federal district judge in Wisconsin had entered an injunction in September that extended the deadline for the state to accept absentee ballots from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9 as long as they were postmarked by Election Day, concluding that leaving the original deadline in place would unconstitutionally burden people’s right to vote. He cited the fact that many more voters were expected to avoid the polls and apply to vote-by-mail because of the pandemic, and the risk of overwhelming the US postal system and local election officials, leading to potentially thousands of ballots arriving too late to be counted.
In a 2–1 decision on Oct. 8, however, the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit stopped that order from taking effect, leaving the Election Day deadline intact. The judges in the majority — which featured two of the court’s conservative-leaning members, Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judge Amy St. Eve, one of President Donald Trump’s nominees — wrote that the Wisconsin judge had tried to change the rules too close to the election and that it should be up to the state’s elected officials to decide how best to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Judge Ilana Rovner dissented, noting that an absentee ballot deadline extension in Wisconsin for the primary election earlier in the year had prevented an estimated 80,000 ballots from being rejected. She wrote that her colleagues in the majority had adopted “a hands-off approach to election governance that elevates legislative prerogative over a citizen’s fundamental right to vote.”
“Good luck and G-d bless, Wisconsin. You are going to need it,” Rovner wrote.
Democrats in Wisconsin petitioned the Supreme Court to step in and reinstate the Wisconsin judge’s injunction that extended the deadline until Nov. 9.
Roberts had joined with the court’s liberal-leaning justices in a 4–4 vote earlier this month that kept in place a later absentee ballot deadline for Pennsylvania, rejecting Republicans’ challenge to a decision by the state Supreme Court. Roberts wrote in a one-paragraph concurrence on Monday that the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin cases were different — the former involved a state court interpreting a state constitution, while the latter involved “federal intrusion on state lawmaking processes.”
Gorsuch wrote in a concurring opinion, which Kavanaugh joined, that “no one doubts” the challenges of holding an election during a pandemic, but that didn’t mean judges could “improvise” election rules and replace what state legislatures had adopted.
“The clamor for judges to sweep in and address emergent problems, and the temptation for individual judges to fill the void of perceived inaction, can be great,” Gorsuch wrote. “But what sometimes seems like a fault in the constitutional design was a feature to the framers, a means of ensuring that any changes to the status quo will not be made hastily, without careful deliberation, extensive consultation, and social consensus.”
Kavanaugh also wrote his own concurring opinion. He wrote that the Wisconsin judge had tried to change the rules too close to an election in violation of what’s known as the Purcell principle, and also echoed Gorsuch and Roberts’ in saying that the lower court judge had “misapprehended the limited role of the federal courts in COVID–19 cases.”
“Federal courts have no business disregarding those state interests simply because the federal courts believe that later deadlines would be better,” he wrote.
Although the Wisconsin case didn’t involve a state court decision, Kavanaugh cited the Bush v. Gore case from 2000 in a footnote to make clear that he believed state courts, as well as federal courts, should have a limited role in interfering with state election laws. He also wrote that states had an interest in avoiding “the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue if thousands of absentee ballots flow in after election day and potentially flip the results of an election.”
In a dissenting opinion joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority’s decision “will disenfranchise large numbers of responsible voters in the midst of hazardous pandemic conditions.”
“On the scales of both constitutional justice and electoral accuracy, protecting the right to vote in a health crisis outweighs conforming to a deadline created in safer days,” Kagan wrote.
Kagan responded to Kavanaugh’s warnings that post–Election Day deadlines for absentee ballot could lead to “suspicions of impropriety,” writing in a footnote that “nothing could be more ‘suspicio[us]’ or ‘improp[er]’ than refusing to tally votes once the clock strikes 12 on election night. To suggest otherwise, especially in these fractious times, is to disserve the electoral process.”
The dissenting justices also accused Kavanaugh and Gorsuch of ignoring the Wisconsin judge’s findings based on the record about the risks that in-person voting posed to voters in the state. Kavanaugh wrote that he agreed COVID-19 was a “serious problem,” but disagreed with the Wisconsin judge and his colleagues’ “speculative predictions” about what would happen if the Election Day deadline remained.
“The facts, as found by the district court, are clear: Tens of thousands of Wisconsinites, through no fault of their own, may receive their mail ballots too late to return them by Election Day. Without the district court’s order, they must opt between ‘brav[ing] the polls,’ with all the risk that entails, and ‘los[ing] their right to vote,” Kagan wrote. “The voters of Wisconsin deserve a better choice.“


buzzfeed--2020-10-27--Republicans Have Succeeded In Putting Amy Coney Barrett On The Supreme Court

Barrett will also join the Supreme Court just in time to hear arguments on Nov. 10 in the latest major legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act .
Republican state attorneys general , with the support of the Trump administration , are arguing that the individual mandate to have insurance is unlawful after Congress eliminated the financial penalty and that as a result , the entire law must fall .
Asked about the case in a recent interview with 60 Minutes , Trump said , “ I hope that they end it .
It ’ ll be so good if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be just days for Barrett ’ s influence to manifest — legal fights over how states are handling mail-in voting are pending before the court a week out from Election Day , and Trump has said he is “ counting on ” the Supreme Court to “ look at the ballots.
” Trump and former vice president Joe Biden have amassed teams of hundreds of lawyers and million-dollar legal budgets in anticipation of an election that winds up before the courts .
Barrett ’ s confirmation just a week before the election brings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 to dramatically reshape the federal judiciary with young , conservative judges .
The court ’ s conservative-leaning members now outnumber the liberals 6–3 .
Justices now routinely serve into their eighties , setting the stage for the 48-year-old Barrett to shape American law for decades .
Barrett will take a separate oath , known as the `` Judicial Oath , '' on Tuesday during a private ceremony at the Supreme Court with Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. After she takes that oath , she can officially start particpating in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas swore Barrett in on Monday night at a Rose Garden ceremony outside of the White House .
Trump announced Barrett ’ s nomination at a similar event in September , a likely superspreader event , after which Trump and several other White House staffers , top Republican politicians , and others tested positive for the coronavirus .
A few hundred people attended Barrett ’ s swearing-in Monday night , according to a pool report , with most attendees wearing masks .
The vote came less than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett ’ s nomination to the floor on Oct. 22 , in a vote that took place despite a boycott by all of the committee ’ s Democratic members .
McConnell began the final confirmation process the following day , keeping the Senate in session over the weekend to set up Monday ’ s final vote .
The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Barrett , with one Republican , Maine Sen. Susan Collins , breaking ranks to join Democrats in opposing her nomination .
The vote was a crowning achievement for Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nomination through the Senate at a record pace to deliver on a pledge he made to fill the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s seat just hours after her death was announced on Sept. 17 .
Barrett will join the nation ’ s highest court amid an election dominated by legal fights over how Americans vote during the coronavirus pandemic ; the justices are currently considering cases affecting mail-in voting in North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
She ’ ll also be sworn in two weeks before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affordable Care Act .
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Monday to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court , capping off a month of frantic activity by Republicans to seat President Donald Trump ’ s third nominee for the court just days before the election and cementing an even deeper conservative majority that could last for decades .
At her confirmation hearings last week , Barrett tried to avoid taking firm positions on how she would rule in any election-related cases as well as on other hot button issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion , the Affordable Care Act , gun rights , and LGBTQ discrimination .
Her answers did nothing to win over Democrats already wary of her solidly conservative record , first as a law professor and most recently as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit .
The court ’ s docket this fall also includes other blockbuster cases , including challenges to Trump ’ s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from census data used to decide how many seats in Congress each state receives ; his effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction ; and congressional Democrats ’ fight to get grand jury materials from the Mueller investigation .
Barrett on Monday night reiterated that her personal views would not impact her work as a justice .
She said that her Senate confirmation hearings , in which Democrats challenged her particularly on her views on Obamacare and abortion , had highlighted the difference for her between the elected and judicial branches of government .
`` It is the job of a senator to pursue her policy preferences .
In fact , it would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy goals aside .
By contrast , it is the job of a judge to resist her policy preferences .
It would be a dereliction of duty for her to give into them , '' Barrett said .
`` Federal judges do n't stand for election .
Thus they have no basis for claiming that their preferences reflect those of the people . ''
Trump 's campaign celebrated Barrett 's confirmation in a statement , calling it `` a reminder to millions of Americans why they voted for President Trump in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid , conservative Justice appointed to the Supreme Court by the President and she will apply the Constitution and not turn the Court into a super legislature . ''
In her remarks at the White House after Trump announced her nomination on Sept. 26 , Barrett made clear that her approach to judicial decision-making aligned with her mentor , the late justice Antonin Scalia , who was generally a stalwart vote in favor of Republicans in the big political fights that reached the court .
She has embraced a legal theory known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpret the Constitution based on what the “ original ” public meaning of a particular passage or phrase was when it was adopted .
“ I clerked for the justice more than 20 years ago but the lessons I learned still resonate .
His judicial philosophy is mine , too , ” she said of Scalia .
“ A judge must apply the law as written .
Judges are not policymakers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold . ''
Testifying before the Senate , Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s judicial philosophy did not mean she would rule exactly the same way that he would have — she noted that Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas did not always agree even though they both subscribed to originalism .
If Biden wins the White House , Barrett ’ s confirmation ramps up pressure on his new administration to respond to calls from a growing number of liberal activists and congressional Democrats to explore structural changes to the Supreme Court to try to undercut the power of a 6–3 conservative majority .
Democrats fear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and both houses of Congress , the court will stand in the way of any major policy moves by a Biden administration .
Biden has resisted proposals for court-packing , which would involve expanding the number of justices , although in recent weeks he ’ s refused to take a firm position , saying he ’ ll wait to see what happens with Barrett ’ s nomination .
Legal scholars and court watchdogs have also proposed imposing term limits on justices , although that would take longer to practically change anything at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s earliest federal appeals court nominees .
The Senate voted 55–43 to confirm her to the 7th Circuit in late October 2017 , mostly along party lines .
She previously had spent the bulk of her career in academia , where her work focused on constitutional law and how courts go about interpreting federal laws .
Her focus on originalism , her stated opposition to abortion and the Affordable Care Act , and her bona fides within conservative legal circles — from her Scalia clerkship to her membership in the Federalist Society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the start .
Trump announced her as an addition to his nominee shortlist just over two weeks after she was confirmed to the 7th Circuit .
Born in New Orleans , Barrett earned her bachelor ’ s degree in English from Rhodes College in Memphis before landing at Notre Dame Law School .
She came back to Notre Dame as a law professor in 2002 following prestigious clerkships and a few years working at private law firms and teaching .
She is the only current justice who didn ’ t earn a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans repeatedly made a point of emphasizing Barrett ’ s Catholic faith , even as they preemptively criticized anyone who might make an issue of it during her confirmation fight ; Democrats largely stayed away from it .
Before becoming a judge , she ’ d signed public statements organized by her faith communities opposing abortion and marriage for same-sex couples .
At her confirmation hearing , she said she would set aside her beliefs in deciding cases .
“ For any issue that comes up , abortion or anything else , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett said .

At her confirmation hearings last week, Barrett tried to avoid taking firm positions on how she would rule in any election-related cases as well as on other hot button issues that will come before the court, including abortion, the Affordable Care Act, gun rights, and LGBTQ discrimination. Her answers did nothing to win over Democrats already wary of her solidly conservative record, first as a law professor and most recently as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
The court’s docket this fall also includes other blockbuster cases, including challenges to Trump’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from census data used to decide how many seats in Congress each state receives; his effort to divert defense dollars for border wall construction; and congressional Democrats’ fight to get grand jury materials from the Mueller investigation.
Barrett on Monday night reiterated that her personal views would not impact her work as a justice. She said that her Senate confirmation hearings, in which Democrats challenged her particularly on her views on Obamacare and abortion, had highlighted the difference for her between the elected and judicial branches of government.
"It is the job of a senator to pursue her policy preferences. In fact, it would be a dereliction of duty for her to put policy goals aside. By contrast, it is the job of a judge to resist her policy preferences. It would be a dereliction of duty for her to give into them," Barrett said. "Federal judges don't stand for election. Thus they have no basis for claiming that their preferences reflect those of the people."
Trump's campaign celebrated Barrett's confirmation in a statement, calling it "a reminder to millions of Americans why they voted for President Trump in the first place. She is now the third solid, conservative Justice appointed to the Supreme Court by the President and she will apply the Constitution and not turn the Court into a super legislature."
In her remarks at the White House after Trump announced her nomination on Sept. 26, Barrett made clear that her approach to judicial decision-making aligned with her mentor, the late justice Antonin Scalia, who was generally a stalwart vote in favor of Republicans in the big political fights that reached the court. She has embraced a legal theory known as originalism, which says that judges should interpret the Constitution based on what the “original” public meaning of a particular passage or phrase was when it was adopted.
“I clerked for the justice more than 20 years ago but the lessons I learned still resonate. His judicial philosophy is mine, too,” she said of Scalia. “A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold."
Testifying before the Senate, Barrett insisted that her alignment with Scalia’s judicial philosophy did not mean she would rule exactly the same way that he would have — she noted that Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas did not always agree even though they both subscribed to originalism.
If Biden wins the White House, Barrett’s confirmation ramps up pressure on his new administration to respond to calls from a growing number of liberal activists and congressional Democrats to explore structural changes to the Supreme Court to try to undercut the power of a 6–3 conservative majority. Democrats fear that even if they control the White House and both houses of Congress, the court will stand in the way of any major policy moves by a Biden administration.
Biden has resisted proposals for court-packing, which would involve expanding the number of justices, although in recent weeks he’s refused to take a firm position, saying he’ll wait to see what happens with Barrett’s nomination. Legal scholars and court watchdogs have also proposed imposing term limits on justices, although that would take longer to practically change anything at the court.
Barrett was one of Trump’s earliest federal appeals court nominees. The Senate voted 55–43 to confirm her to the 7th Circuit in late October 2017, mostly along party lines. She previously had spent the bulk of her career in academia, where her work focused on constitutional law and how courts go about interpreting federal laws.
Her focus on originalism, her stated opposition to abortion and the Affordable Care Act, and her bona fides within conservative legal circles — from her Scalia clerkship to her membership in the Federalist Society — made her a Supreme Court frontrunner from the start. Trump announced her as an addition to his nominee shortlist just over two weeks after she was confirmed to the 7th Circuit.
Born in New Orleans, Barrett earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Rhodes College in Memphis before landing at Notre Dame Law School. She came back to Notre Dame as a law professor in 2002 following prestigious clerkships and a few years working at private law firms and teaching. She is the only current justice who didn’t earn a law degree from Harvard or Yale.
Republicans repeatedly made a point of emphasizing Barrett’s Catholic faith, even as they preemptively criticized anyone who might make an issue of it during her confirmation fight; Democrats largely stayed away from it. Before becoming a judge, she’d signed public statements organized by her faith communities opposing abortion and marriage for same-sex couples. At her confirmation hearing, she said she would set aside her beliefs in deciding cases.
“For any issue that comes up, abortion or anything else, I’ll follow the law,” Barrett said.


buzzfeed--2020-10-28--This Groomer's "Things We Don't Tell You" Video Is Something All Dog Owners Need To Know

BuzzFeed spoke to Vanessa , who said she made the video to show that an `` end of life '' @ @ @ @ @ day at the spa .
Her video is a message to owners of all dogs @ @ @ @ @ weak to be groomed — not just those getting their very last groom .
`` @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve had to inform three clients that their pet can no longer handle @ @ @ @ @ very hard time coming up with the words and courage to tell the owners that @ @ @ @ @ a client they can longer groom their pet , it is essentially us telling them @ @ @ @ @ the end of their life .
It ’ s not an easy thing to tell @ @ @ @ @ time to end their pet 's suffering , and as a groomer , I don @ @ @ @ @ ’ s my right to do that , '' explained Vanessa .

BuzzFeed spoke to Vanessa, who said she made the video to show that an "end of life" groom is not a relaxing day at the spa. Her video is a message to owners of all dogs who are too old and weak to be groomed — not just those getting their very last groom. "Over this last month, I’ve had to inform three clients that their pet can no longer handle grooming. I had a very hard time coming up with the words and courage to tell the owners that. When a groomer tells a client they can longer groom their pet, it is essentially us telling them that their pet is at the end of their life. It’s not an easy thing to tell someone that it’s time to end their pet's suffering, and as a groomer, I don’t always feel it’s my right to do that," explained Vanessa.


buzzfeed--2020-10-27--Chadwick Boseman's Costar Taylour Paige Thinks He Deserves An Oscar For Keeping His Cancer A Secret

And like many other actors who 've had the privilege to work with Chadwick during these recent years , Taylour @ @ @ @ @ thestar was sick while they were on set .

And like many other actors who've had the privilege to work with Chadwick during these recent years, Taylour admitted she didn't know the Black Panther star was sick while they were on set.


buzzfeed--2020-10-27--13 Horrific Period Moments You'll Only Understand If You've Had One

You ever run out of tampons when your period has just started and you need to do bleeding+walking/driving math to @ @ @ @ @ and try to calculate just how much toilet paper you need to fashion into a @ @ @ @ @ s not easy shit .

You ever run out of tampons when your period has just started and you need to do bleeding+walking/driving math to get to the nearest store and try to calculate just how much toilet paper you need to fashion into a makeshift pad/wad? That’s not easy shit.


buzzfeed--2020-10-28--Coronavirus Cases Are Now Rising In Almost Every State In The US

The difference between the previous spikes in cases and the one we ’ re in now ?
COVID-19 cases are now rising almost everywhere .
On the campaign trail , President Donald Trump has taken to calling COVID-19 a “ fake news media conspiracy.
” But the numbers don ’ t lie : Daily new cases are running at record levels and climbing fast , we ’ re well into a third wave of hospitalization , and there are worrying signs that deaths may be starting to rise once again .
What ’ s more , unlike the spikes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which hit hardest in the Northeast and the Sun Belt respectively , the current surge is happening nationwide : COVID-19 cases are currently rising in almost every state .
As cold weather forces people inside , where transmission of the virus is more likely , experts fear that we are heading into a perilous winter when it will be even harder to shut down its spread .
“ What we ’ re seeing right now is not only worrisome with such widespread transmission and high case counts , ” Saskia Popescu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a member of the Federation of American Scientists ’ Coronavirus Task Force , told BuzzFeed News by email .
“ But with impending holidays , likely travel , and people moving indoors due to colder weather , I ’ m increasingly concerned that this will be a rather steep and long third wave.
” Last week saw a record number COVID-19 cases , as the daily count of new cases spiked above 80,000 and the 7-day rolling average , which helps smooth out daily variation in case reporting across the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already higher than the peak of the summer surge in July .
And worryingly , the number of people dying of COVID-19 may also be starting to rise , after running at an average of 750 deaths per day for about a month .
As COVID-19 surged across Sun Belt states like Arizona and Texas this summer , Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned the Senate that things could get much worse .
“ I would not be surprised if we go up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this does not turn around , ” Fauci testified on June 30 .
At the time , governors seemed to heed his call .
In July , many of the states with surging cases were able to turn things around by reversing their moves to reopen businesses including gyms , cinemas , and bars and restaurants with indoor dining .
But , facing huge economic and social pressures to return to something like normality , states have once again been relaxing controls .
“ We are stepping back from control measures in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an epidemiologist at Princeton University , told BuzzFeed News .
Baker has also modeled the effects of winter weather on viral transmission .
Although the coronavirus doesn ’ t yet seem to be seasonal to the same extent as flu , the virus can spread more easily in cold , dry air , making it even harder to control the current surge .
“ Cold weather could drive people indoors , ” Baker told BuzzFeed News .
“ If you ’ re just on that boundary of having control , then climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another difference between the current surge and the second wave in the summer is that cases are now rising across almost the entire nation .
On Jun .
30 , when Fauci testified to the Senate , the map above showed many states with sharply rising cases but some with declining numbers , including several in the Northeast , including New York , plus Nebraska and South Dakota .
As Trump has tried to divert attention from the worsening situation , his COVID-19 denial has extended even to the unfounded claim , made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , that hospitals are inflating COVID-19 death counts to profit from the pandemic — prompting outraged responses from doctors ’ groups .
It was a “ reprehensible attack on physicians ’ ethics and professionalism , ” Jacqueline Fincher , president of the American College of Physicians , said in a statement .
The rise in hospitalization has so far so been slower than in the previous two spikes .
But hospitals in several states , including Utah and Wisconsin , are now nearing capacity , forcing state governments to make emergency plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greg Abbott announced the opening of an alternate care facility at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center with an initial capacity of 50 beds , following earlier moves to deploy hundreds of additional medical personnel to the region to respond to surging COVID-19 cases .
“ The alternate care site and auxiliary medical units will reduce the strain on hospitals in El Paso as we contain the spread of COVID-19 in the region , ” Abbott said .

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump has taken to calling COVID-19 a “fake news media conspiracy.” But the numbers don’t lie: Daily new cases are running at record levels and climbing fast. We’re well into a third wave of hospitalizations, and there are worrying signs that deaths may be starting to rise once again.
What’s more, unlike the spikes in the US in the spring and summer, which hit hardest in the Northeast and the Sun Belt, respectively, the current surge is happening nationwide: COVID-19 cases are currently rising in almost every state.
As cold weather forces people inside, where transmission of the virus is more likely, experts fear that we are heading into a perilous winter when it will be even harder to shut down its spread.
“What we’re seeing right now is not only worrisome with such widespread transmission and high case counts,” Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at the University of Arizona and a member of the Federation of American Scientists’ Coronavirus Task Force, told BuzzFeed News by email. “But with impending holidays, likely travel, and people moving indoors due to colder weather, I’m increasingly concerned that this will be a rather steep and long third wave.”


buzzfeed--2020-10-28--It’s Basically Too Late To Vote By Mail Now

In many states , Tuesday was the last recommended day by which to drop your ballot in a mailbox .
From now , voters are being encouraged to leave them in official drop boxes or vote in-person .
Today is exactly one week before Election Day on Nov. 3 , which in many states means it is the deadline by which the US Postal Service has recommended that voters put their ballots in the mail .
As a result , everyone from former US attorney general Eric Holder to John Legend is urging people not to vote by mail after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be somewhat confusing .
In some states , such as Massachusetts , the deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot hasn ’ t even passed yet , while in others like New York , votes postmarked as late as Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10 are supposed to be counted .
( The secretary of state in New York still suggests dropping your ballot in the mail by today . )
Postal workers say they will be checking home mailboxes for ballots to pick up and deliver throughout the next week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to BuzzFeed News after receiving those instructions from their superiors .
But with the USPS reporting mail delays in some regions , and the Supreme Court ruling Monday that Wisconsin ballots arriving after Election Day won ’ t be counted due to that state ’ s laws , voting advocates and officials are now urging people to prioritize using an official drop box or to bring their mail ballots to the polls to vote provisionally in person on Election Day .
“ We are too close to Election Day , and the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely on the Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots on time , ” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on Tuesday .
Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis also tweeted Tuesday that it is `` too late to put your ballot in the regular mail ” and suggested that people now use drop boxes .
Bob Shrum , who directs the Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California , said many voters are already finding alternative ways to get their ballot in , concerned about postal delays .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the Kavanaugh decision , which upheld a rule in Wisconsin that ballots had to be received by the close of polls on Election Day .
So people are saying , OK , I ’ m going to worry about what the courts might do , so I ’ m going to walk my ballot to a drop box or into a polling place.
” The rules for voting by mail are different in every state , which makes blanket advice difficult .
“ It does vary state by state and sometimes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change certain deadlines , ” said Trey Hood , a political science professor at the University of Georgia .
“ It ’ s really contingent on the voter to do a little checking and figure out what ’ s what in their state.
” “ There are states where the postmark is what matters , ” said John Fortier , director of governmental studies at the Bipartisan Policy Center .
“ It varies … If you need to get it in by three days , you may still want to think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s more likely it will get there .
But it still might be pushing it . ''
The USPS , which warned of possible election mail delays earlier this year after a tumultuous summer under President Donald Trump ’ s new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , has been urging people to vote as early as possible .
But a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that their “ number one priority between now and the November election is the secure , timely delivery of the nation ’ s Election Mail.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots would be counted was extended from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 last month , which Republicans are now asking the Supreme Court to review once more .
Shrum , the Center for the Political Future director , said he believes new Justice Amy Coney Barrett might be the key vote that could swing the decision to the GOP .
“ That ’ s why I think people who hold the ballots now should walk into a voting center or a polling place or put them in a drop box , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , make sure you put first-class stamps on them if you can ’ t do anything else.
” One mail carrier in Pennsylvania — who , like others in this story , requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press — said he ’ s delivered a lot of ballots in the last few weeks , as well as political mailers , which have made the workload heavy .
People in Pennsylvania technically had until Oct. 27 to request mail-in ballots , and mail carriers there have been instructed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mailboxes through this week .
But this postal worker said at this point that could be pushing the limits .
“ They will still be processed as normal , ” he said .
“ [ It ’ s ] just not as guaranteed to arrive back at the county seat to be counted.
” For mail votes to be counted in Massachusetts , ballots have to be postmarked by Nov. 3 .
One mail carrier there still advised , “ The faster everyone can get them in , the better , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The last few weeks have also been stressful for mail carriers as the USPS is dealing with ongoing staffing challenges , due to both long-term issues and to some related to COVID-19 , as well as an influx of parcels due to Amazon Prime Day sales and the approaching holiday season .
That exacerbates the additional workload created by ballots and political flyers which , as election mail , both require extra work for postal workers .
As a result , on-time delivery for mail is down in some regions , USPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some places say they ’ ve been working past 10 or even 11 p.m. to get all the day ’ s mail delivered .
“ You can tell there 's way more early voting than before .
I feel like every house on my route got a ballot this year , ” said an Arizona-based mail carrier who has been working as late as 10 p.m. For months now , President Trump has been fanning concerns that voting by mail is not reliable , claiming without evidence that widespread voter fraud is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote in person .
While mass intentional tampering with mail ballots is highly unlikely , any mail delays or issues with voting by mail could add to the confusion .
Some postal workers have personally been feeling the effects of Trump ’ s rhetoric about the mail .
“ I 've had customers recently ask me about ballots in a very worried tone , ” said the Arizona-based postal worker .
“ [ The ] same customers I 've seen for two years , no problems with the 2018 mail-in ballots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am I going to protect their ballots when they show up ?
Trump has made us look bad .
”

Today is exactly one week before Election Day on Nov. 3, which in many states means it is the deadline by which the US Postal Service has recommended that voters put their ballots in the mail.
As a result, everyone from former US attorney general Eric Holder to John Legend is urging people not to vote by mail after today.
That advice, however, can be somewhat confusing. In some states, such as Massachusetts, the deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot hasn’t even passed yet, while in others like New York, votes postmarked as late as Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10 are supposed to be counted. (The secretary of state in New York still suggests dropping your ballot in the mail by today.)
Postal workers say they will be checking home mailboxes for ballots to pick up and deliver throughout the next week, according to two such workers who spoke to BuzzFeed News after receiving those instructions from their superiors.
But with the USPS reporting mail delays in some regions, and the Supreme Court ruling Monday that Wisconsin ballots arriving after Election Day won’t be counted due to that state’s laws, voting advocates and officials are now urging people to prioritize using an official drop box or to bring their mail ballots to the polls to vote provisionally in person on Election Day.
“We are too close to Election Day, and the right to vote is too important, to rely on the Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots on time,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on Tuesday.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also tweeted Tuesday that it is "too late to put your ballot in the regular mail” and suggested that people now use drop boxes.
Bob Shrum, who directs the Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California, said many voters are already finding alternative ways to get their ballot in, concerned about postal delays. “I think people are worried, especially after the Kavanaugh decision, which upheld a rule in Wisconsin that ballots had to be received by the close of polls on Election Day. So people are saying, OK, I’m going to worry about what the courts might do, so I’m going to walk my ballot to a drop box or into a polling place.”