buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Joe Biden's Quiet Moment Inside A Frightening Hurricane Of News

GETTYSBURG , Pa. — On the first day , President Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
On the second , America woke up to the news , suddenly full-body submerged in a bewildering mix of chaos and confusion and a succession of more positive tests ( his wife , his campaign manager ) .
On the third day and the fourth , his doctors obfuscated and misled the public , flooding Twitter with hour-by-hour updates on supplemental oxygen levels , on lung scans , on steroids and proper nouns like dexamethasone and Regeneron , until the president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
On the fifth day , a Tuesday , which is today , the deluge kept coming : Trump reportedly wanted to return to the Oval Office ; he walked away from coronavirus relief talks on the Hill ; the market tanked ; more White House staffers tested positive ; Facebook banned QAnon ; and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior Pentagon officials announced they would be quarantining after the vice commandant of the Coast Guard tested positive for coronavirus .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long after the S & P 500 plummeted to a session low , the man asking America to return to normal touched down near Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , climbed into the back of a black SUV , and set off for a historic Civil War battlefield , clutching a slender black binder .
The campaign plans inside were on Tuesday dedicated to a somber , 27-minute speech — an appeal for “ the spirit of bipartisanship ” and the tradition of “ soul and honor ” in the face of division — set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Battle of Gettysburg .
“ As I look across America today , I 'm concerned , ” Biden said .
“ The country is in a dangerous place.
” The noise in Washington , still too much to track , tweets whizzing by , did not reach Gettysburg on Tuesday , giving Biden ’ s speech the feel of a desperate call during a desperate and baffling time — an alternate vision , delivered from his own alternate version of America .
It was personal , too .
Biden , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an online fundraiser earlier on Tuesday that he had “ worked on this speech very , very , very hard.
” He seemed nervous that people would n't get the full picture of what he had in mind — “ I do n't know how it ’ s gon na sound to you , ” he said — but he trusted that they would .
“ You ’ ll see it and know it — I mean every word of it , ” Biden said .
On stage , he quoted Abraham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a visit to the Civil War battlefield here by Lyndon B. Johnson , another vice president : “ Our nation found its soul and honor in these fields of Gettysburg.
” Biden said , quoting Johnson in 1963 .
“ It must not lose that soul in dishonor on the fields of hate.
” Biden spoke not far from Gettysburg National Military Park , at the Lodges at Gettysburg , on a stage dressed in black with a placard that read , `` BATTLE for the SOUL of the NATION.
” It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group of supporters and reporters .
He made a long walk across the property to the stage in silence , before a woman in the small , socially distanced audience let out a small cheer .
“ Why ca n't we yell ?
” she said to no one in particular , prompting some hesitant cheers from the other supporters around her .
“ That 's what we 're here for right ?
To yell !
” the woman said .
They weren ’ t visible from the podium , but outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 Trump supporters lined the perimeter of the property , dressed in a small sea of red , white , blue , and pink , and wielding Make America Great Again signs and American flags .
Four weeks before Election Day , Biden ’ s speech was in large part a return to the themes with which he began his campaign : his horror at the Nazis and white nationalists that descended on Charlottesville in 2017 , his view of the race as a “ battle for the soul of the nation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition of Great Presidents .
“ We need to revive the spirit of bipartisanship in this country , the spirit of being able to work with one another , ” Biden said on Tuesday , in a speech that balanced his wistfulness for old-school civility with an acknowledgement of the pain and injustice , and particularly racial injustice , of the past and present .
“ I think about what it takes for a black person to love America .
That is a deep love for this country that has for far too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ What we need in America is leadership that seeks to deescalate tensions , to open lines of communication , to bring us together , to heal , to hope .
As president , that 's precisely what I will do . ''
He ’ s been aware for two years now , he said , that people might think of that view as “ naive ” — “ I 'm told , ‘ Maybe that that 's the way things used to work , Joe , but they ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he still disagreed .
“ I 'm here to tell you they can and they must if we 're going to get anything done , ” he said .
“ I 'm running as a proud Democrat — but I will govern as an American president .
I 'll work with Democrats and Republicans .
I 'll work as hard for those who do n't support me as those who do .
That 's the job of a president — the duty to care for everyone . ''
In the speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis , or the news of the day .
His one remark about the pandemic — “ Let 's end the politics and follow the science ” — was itself a call for de-escalation and unity .
“ Wearing a mask is not a political statement .
It ’ s a scientific recommendation , ” he said .
Later in the evening , he briefly spoke with reporters about the prospect of another debate with Trump , not long after news broke that yet another senior White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ Well , uh , I think if he still has COVID , we shouldn ’ t have a debate , ” Joe Biden told reporters , before adding that his decision would be “ guided ” by the Cleveland Clinic , the Ohio hospital serving as the health adviser to the Commission on Presidential Debates , and “ what the docs say is the right thing to do.
” During his fundraiser on Tuesday , a Zoom call with Black supporters and business leaders , Biden told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotion and significance .
“ We have to unite this nation and I 've decided to do it from Gettysburg , ” he said , citing Frederick Douglass ’ s response to President Lincoln ’ s second inaugural address .
“ He said it is a 'sacred try . '
We have to have the sacred try to get this right.
” Exactly one week ago , Biden appeared at the first presidential debate in Cleveland .
Onstage that night , he cut through the disorder by yelling back at Trump , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fool , ” and at one point shouting , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” Biden later said he regretted his choice of the word , “ clown.
” “ Folks , duty and history call presidents to provide for the common good , ” he said on Tuesday .
“ And I will .
It wo n't be easy .
It wo n't be easy .
Our divisions today are longstanding — economic and racial inequities have shaped us for generations .
But I give you my word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Two hours after his speech , Biden stuck around the hotel to film some promotional material for his campaign .
Around 6:15 p.m. , when his motorcade finally pulled out of the driveway headed for the airport , the Trump supporters were still outside , waving and smiling .

GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania — On the first day, President Donald Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
On the second, America woke up to the news, suddenly full-body submerged in a bewildering mix of chaos and confusion and a succession of more positive tests (his wife, his campaign manager). On the third day and the fourth, his doctors obfuscated and misled the public, flooding Twitter with hour-by-hour updates on supplemental oxygen levels, on lung scans, on steroids and words like dexamethasone and Regeneron, until the president, still contagious, checked himself out of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
On the fifth day, a Tuesday, which is today, the deluge kept coming: Trump reportedly wanted to return to the Oval Office, he walked away from coronavirus relief talks on the Hill, the market tanked, more White House staffers tested positive, Facebook banned QAnon, and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior Pentagon officials announced they would be quarantining after the vice commandant of the Coast Guard tested positive for the coronavirus.
And then there was Joe Biden.
Not long after the S&P 500 plummeted to a session low, the man asking America to return to normal touched down near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, climbed into the back of a black SUV, and set off for a historic Civil War battlefield, clutching a slender black binder.
The campaign plans inside were on Tuesday dedicated to a somber 27-minute speech — an appeal for “the spirit of bipartisanship” and the tradition of “soul and honor” in the face of division — set at a hotel overlooking the storied fields of the Battle of Gettysburg.
“As I look across America today, I'm concerned,” Biden said. “The country is in a dangerous place.”
The noise in Washington, still too much to track, tweets whizzing by, did not reach Gettysburg on Tuesday, giving Biden’s speech the feel of a desperate call during a desperate and baffling time — an alternate vision, delivered from his own alternate version of America.
It was personal too. Biden, the 77-year-old former vice president, told supporters during an online fundraiser earlier on Tuesday that he had “worked on this speech very, very, very hard.” He seemed nervous that people wouldn't get the full picture of what he had in mind — “I don't know how it’s gonna sound to you,” he said — but he trusted that they would. “You’ll see it and know it — I mean every word of it,” Biden said. Onstage, he quoted Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He recalled a visit to the Civil War battlefield here by Lyndon B. Johnson, another vice president: “Our nation found its soul and honor in these fields of Gettysburg,” Biden said, quoting Johnson in 1963. “It must not lose that soul in dishonor on the fields of hate.”
Biden spoke not far from Gettysburg National Military Park, at the Lodges at Gettysburg, on a stage dressed in black with a placard that read "BATTLE for the SOUL of the NATION.” It was a quiet event, attended by a small group of supporters and reporters. He made a long walk across the property to the stage in silence before a woman in the socially distanced audience let out a solitary cheer.
“Why can't we yell?” she said to no one in particular, prompting some hesitant cheers from the other supporters around her. “That's what we're here for, right? To yell!” the woman said.
They weren’t visible from the podium, but outside the hotel a group of about 40 Trump supporters lined the perimeter of the property, dressed in a small sea of red, white, blue, and pink, and wielding "Make America Great Again" signs and American flags.
Four weeks before Election Day, Biden’s speech was in large part a return to the themes with which he began his campaign: his horror at the Nazis and white nationalists who descended on Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, his view of the race as a “battle for the soul of the nation,” his promise to return to a tradition of Great Presidents.
“We need to revive the spirit of bipartisanship in this country, the spirit of being able to work with one another,” Biden said on Tuesday in a speech that balanced his wistfulness for old-school civility with an acknowledgment of the pain and injustice, and particularly racial injustice, of the past and present.
“I think about what it takes for a Black person to love America. That is a deep love for this country that has for far too long never been recognized,” Biden said. “What we need in America is leadership that seeks to deescalate tensions, to open lines of communication, to bring us together, to heal, to hope. As president, that's precisely what I will do."
He’s been aware for two years now, he said, that people might think of that view as “naive” — “I'm told, ‘Maybe that that's the way things used to work, Joe, but they can't work that way anymore’” — but he still disagreed.
“I'm here to tell you they can and they must if we're going to get anything done,” he said. “I'm running as a proud Democrat — but I will govern as an American president. I'll work with Democrats and Republicans. I'll work as hard for those who don't support me as those who do. That's the job of a president — the duty to care for everyone."
In the speech, Biden made no direct mention of Trump, the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis, or the news of the day. His one remark about the pandemic — “Let's end the politics and follow the science” — was itself a call for de-escalation and unity. “Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It’s a scientific recommendation,” he said.
Later in the evening, he briefly spoke with reporters about the prospect of another debate with Trump, not long after news broke that yet another senior White House official, Stephen Miller, had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Well, uh, I think if he still has COVID, we shouldn’t have a debate,” Joe Biden told reporters, before adding that his decision would be “guided” by the Cleveland Clinic, the Ohio hospital serving as the health adviser to the Commission on Presidential Debates, and “what the docs say is the right thing to do.”
During his fundraiser on Tuesday, a Zoom call with Black supporters and business leaders, Biden told supporters he viewed the setting with deep emotion and significance.
“We have to unite this nation, and I've decided to do it from Gettysburg,” he said, citing Frederick Douglass’s response to Lincoln’s second inaugural address. “He said it is a 'sacred try.' We have to have the sacred try to get this right.”
Exactly one week ago, Biden appeared at the first presidential debate in Cleveland. Onstage that night, he cut through the disorder by yelling back at Trump, calling him a “clown,” a “fool,” and at one point shouting, “Will you shut up, man?”
Biden later said he regretted his choice of the word “clown.”
“Folks, duty and history call presidents to provide for the common good,” he said on Tuesday. “And I will. It won't be easy. It won't be easy. Our divisions today are long-standing. Economic and racial inequities have shaped us for generations. But I give you my word. I give you my word."
Two hours after his speech, Biden stuck around the hotel to film some promotional material for his campaign. Around 6:15 p.m., when his motorcade finally pulled out of the driveway and headed for the airport, the Trump supporters were still outside, waving and smiling.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Facebook Has Banned QAnon

Facebook Has Banned QAnon

Facebook is banning all pages , groups , and accounts associated with QAnon , the company announced on Tuesday , in the most significant action taken against the mass delusion that has seeped into the highest level of American politics .
“ Starting today , we will remove Facebook Pages , Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon , ” the company said in a press release .
“ We ’ re starting to enforce this updated policy today and are removing content accordingly , but this work will take time and will continue in the coming days and weeks.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced in August that it would attempt to disrupt the ability of QAnon and other militarized movements to organize on Facebook and Instagram .
That enforcement action led to the removal of 1,500 QAnon pages and groups , though individual accounts tied to the collective delusion remained on the network .
As of Tuesday , however , Facebook said it would remove any pages , groups , and Instagram accounts representing Qanon , even if they had no association with violent content .
QAnon is a set of outlandish beliefs that first came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board .
It was an outgrowth of another conspiracy theory , Pizzagate , which falsely claimed that prominent Democratic politicians were running a child trafficking operation in the basement of a DC pizzeria .
( The pizzeria didn ’ t have a basement . )
QAnon followers believe a cabal of satanic elites rules the world .
They ’ re also largely — though not wholly — supporters of President Donald Trump and believe he is fighting against the so-called deep state .
Trump has praised QAnon , which the FBI called a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know much about the movement other than I understand that they like me very much , which I appreciate.
” He went on to say they were “ people who love our country ” and claimed they ’ re “ saving people from the radical left.
” Since its emergence , QAnon has been promoted by other high-profile political figures and commentators .
Current frontrunners in congressional races have also pushed the delusion , with one posting a picture on Facebook of a gun alongside members of the `` Squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to condemn the mass delusion last week .
In that vote , 17 Republicans voted against the resolution , while one voted “ present.
” QAnon supporters have perpetrated violence in the past .
Most recently a member of Congress has faced death threats after believers falsely accused him of protecting sexual predators .
Experts have said that their attempts to prevent child trafficking have actually had the opposite effect , hindering investigations and work on the matter .
Facebook ’ s action against QAnon came the same day the company was under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subcommittee investigating antitrust in the technology sector , and after months of criticism that the company was not acting quickly enough to counter the mass delusion .
At weekly all-hands meetings in recent months , employees , on more than one occasion , asked CEO Mark Zuckerberg what the company would do to prevent the spread of misinformation and discord associated with QAnon .
The company did not signal the change in its policy to employees before it was announced to the public .
Previously , Facebook banned some QAnon groups and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not allowed .
After those bans were announced , leaders of the movement tried to rebrand and use different key terms to skirt platform rules .
“ We expect renewed attempts to evade our detection , both in behavior and content shared on our platform , so we will continue to study the impact of our efforts and be ready to update our policy and enforcement as necessary , ” Facebook said in its press release .
The company said it would rely on its Dangerous Organizations Operations team to actively find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just relying on reports from Facebook users .

Facebook is banning all pages, groups, and accounts associated with QAnon, the company announced on Tuesday, in the most significant action taken against the mass delusion that has seeped into the highest level of American politics.
“Starting today, we will remove Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon,” the company said in a press release. “We’re starting to enforce this updated policy today and are removing content accordingly, but this work will take time and will continue in the coming days and weeks.”
The move comes after the social network announced in August that it would attempt to disrupt the ability of QAnon and other militarized movements to organize on Facebook and Instagram. That enforcement action led to the removal of 1,500 QAnon pages and groups, though individual accounts tied to the collective delusion remained on the network.
As of Tuesday, however, Facebook said it would remove any pages, groups, and Instagram accounts representing Qanon, even if they had no association with violent content.
QAnon is a set of outlandish beliefs that first came together in 2017 on an anonymous message board. It was an outgrowth of another conspiracy theory, Pizzagate, which falsely claimed that prominent Democratic politicians were running a child trafficking operation in the basement of a DC pizzeria. (The pizzeria didn’t have a basement.)
QAnon followers believe a cabal of satanic elites rules the world. They’re also largely — though not wholly — supporters of President Donald Trump and believe he is fighting against the so-called deep state.
Trump has praised QAnon, which the FBI called a domestic threat, saying, “I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand that they like me very much, which I appreciate.” He went on to say they were “people who love our country” and claimed they’re “saving people from the radical left.”
Since its emergence, QAnon has been promoted by other high-profile political figures and commentators. Current frontrunners in congressional races have also pushed the delusion, with one posting a picture on Facebook of a gun alongside members of the "Squad." The House of Representatives voted to condemn the mass delusion last week. In that vote, 17 Republicans voted against the resolution, while one voted “present.”
QAnon supporters have perpetrated violence in the past. Most recently a member of Congress has faced death threats after believers falsely accused him of protecting sexual predators. Experts have said that their attempts to prevent child trafficking have actually had the opposite effect, hindering investigations and work on the matter.
Facebook’s action against QAnon came the same day the company was under fire in a report by a House subcommittee investigating antitrust in the technology sector, and after months of criticism that the company was not acting quickly enough to counter the mass delusion. At weekly all-hands meetings in recent months, employees, on more than one occasion, asked CEO Mark Zuckerberg what the company would do to prevent the spread of misinformation and discord associated with QAnon.
The company did not signal the change in its policy to employees before it was announced to the public.
Previously, Facebook banned some QAnon groups and said advertisements from them or from militia organizations were not allowed. After those bans were announced, leaders of the movement tried to rebrand and use different key terms to skirt platform rules.
“We expect renewed attempts to evade our detection, both in behavior and content shared on our platform, so we will continue to study the impact of our efforts and be ready to update our policy and enforcement as necessary,” Facebook said in its press release. The company said it would rely on its Dangerous Organizations Operations team to actively find QAnon accounts and content as opposed to just relying on reports from Facebook users.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Trump Returned To The White House And Took His Mask Off While Infected With COVID-19

President Donald Trump takes off his face mask after he arrives at the White House upon returning from Walter Reed Medical Center , Oct. 5 , 2020 .
Marine One touched down on the White House 's South Lawn at around 6:54 p.m. , after which Trump walked up the South Portico stairs , removed his face mask , and stood on the balcony overlooking the lawn for photos .
Trump did not respond to questions from reporters as he exited the hospital and got into an SUV , saying only `` thank you very much '' while giving an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the White House on Monday , just hours after doctors admitted they are in `` uncharted territory '' because of the COVID-19 treatments he 's received .
`` I know there 's a risk , there 's a danger , but that 's OK , '' he said .
`` And now I 'm better , and maybe I 'm immune , I do n't know . ''
He also reiterated his message of not letting the coronavirus `` take over your lives '' while defending his decision to relocate to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , Trump posted a video message on Twitter , insisting , `` I could have left two days ago .
Two days ago I felt great , like better than I have in a long time . ''
Physician Sean Conley , who has delivered a series of muddled and contradictory statements about the president ’ s health in recent days , claimed that his patient “ met or exceeded all standard hospital discharge criteria.
” Trump ’ s doctors justified his departure on Monday after the president tweeted from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should not “ be afraid of Covid ” or let it “ dominate your life , ” referring to a disease that has killed more than 210,000 Americans and more than 1 million people worldwide .
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M .
Feeling really good !
Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no doctors caring for the president or White House staffers voiced concerns about Trump returning home on Monday .
At several turns , the physician declined to answer because he said the information was confidential under patient privacy laws — even though he relayed positive updates about the president ’ s health .
Conley ducked questions about whether chest scans showed damage to the president ’ s lungs and when he had last tested negative for COVID-19 , which would help establish where Trump is in the course of his illness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defy signs that Trump 's case of COVID-19 may in fact be severe .
Over the weekend , Conley disclosed that Trump ’ s oxygen levels had dropped at least twice and that he ’ d been prescribed a steroid that the National Institutes of Health has said is recommended for only severe cases of COVID-19 .
In addition , clinical knowledge suggests that infections can rapidly intensify in the second week of illness .
Brian Garibaldi , another doctor treating Trump , said the president will receive a fourth dose of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discharged and will receive the fifth dose at home , in addition to continuing to receive the steroid , dexamethasone .
For Trump to leave less than 72 hours after being hospitalized runs the risk of being discharged just when his illness could ramp up most dangerously .
Even as Trump was preparing to board Marine One on Monday , he tweeted : `` Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon !
!
! ''
But the CDC has warned that some patients can rapidly deteriorate a week after their illness starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain cautiously optimistic and on guard , because we 're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course , ” said Conley , who said the president would be surrounded by “ 24/7 world-class medical care ” in the White House .
“ We 're looking to this weekend .
If we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving , better yet , then we will all take that final deep sigh of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neurological issues from his illness or medications , Conley denied that there were any , replying , “ He ’ s back.
” Medical experts told BuzzFeed News that even if Trump is feeling well enough right now to go home , that may not last .
Krutika Kuppalli , an infectious diseases physician at the Medical University of South Carolina , said she found the decision to discharge “ curious ” and potentially concerning .
She has had patients with COVID-19 who were seemingly doing well before suddenly deteriorating around day seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hasn ’ t hit the point in his illness where that could happen , ” she said , conceding that “ this is difficult to know since there is a lot we have not been told about his illness . ''
Megan Ranney , an emergency medicine physician and researcher at Brown University , said that doctors generally try to discharge patients once their vital signs and laboratory tests have normalized .
But that is not normally an option for patients receiving remdesivir , which is administered intravenously .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough judgment call to make , ” she said .
She added that it is uncommon for a person to get sick as quickly as Trump did .
“ The thing that makes me concerned isn ’ t that they ’ re discharging him so quickly — it ’ s that the worst is potentially yet to come , ” she said .
The doctors also noted that , for Trump , going home is by no means equivalent to most people ’ s experience going home from the hospital .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to care and constant monitoring .
As Ranney put it , he is “ having the most VIP of VIP treatments.
” While the president may be clear to go home , that doesn ’ t mean he has a green light health-wise to hit the campaign trail .
“ We need to remember he ’ s still a patient , ” said Carlos del Rio , an infectious disease expert at Emory University .
“ He ’ s still infectious .
He needs to be in isolation for a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president is one of a growing cluster of at least 14 politicians and White House staffers who were infected with the virus .
Just hours before his tweet , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed she too tested positive for COVID-19 .
Although it is not known when exactly Trump was first infected , he is likely to still be in the earlier stages of the disease , given that he tested positive on Thursday .
Infection from SARS-CoV-2 consists of roughly three stages .
First is the virus ’ s incubation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t show any symptoms , which typically lasts from four to five days but sometimes up to 14 .
Next is the stage in which the virus is detectable and the person experiences symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For those who don ’ t recover at that point , the virus can then cause severe respiratory problems that may require supplemental oxygen or ventilation .
The immune system can go into overdrive , at worst creating a “ cytokine storm ” that spirals out of control and sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the lungs .
Since checking into Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday night , Trump , his White House staff , and Conley have blanketed the airwaves with contradictory messages about the state of the president ’ s health .
In a series of videos tweeted out from the hospital , Trump has repeatedly insisted that he is doing well .
An anonymous source told reporters Saturday that the president ’ s vitals were “ very concerning ” — and then , when media outlets revealed that source to be White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffer said on the record that “ doctors are pleased with his vital signs.
” At back-to-back press conferences over the weekend , Conley maintained a relentlessly positive tone as he ducked key questions about his patient ’ s health .
He described Trump on Saturday as having mild symptoms ( “ a mild cough and some nasal congestion and fatigue ” ) , then on Sunday as having “ continued to improve.
” It was then that the president ’ s medical team said that Trump could be discharged as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cheerful portrayal — an attempt to “ reflect the upbeat attitude ” of the president , Conley admitted under questioning Sunday — there were a few clear signs that Trump ’ s condition was worsening rather than improving .

Brian Garibaldi, another doctor treating Trump, said the president will receive a fourth dose of the antiviral drug remdesivir this evening before being discharged and will receive the fifth dose at home, in addition to continuing to receive the steroid, dexamethasone.
For Trump to leave less than 72 hours after being hospitalized runs the risk of being discharged just when his illness could ramp up most dangerously.
Even as Trump was preparing to board Marine One on Monday, he tweeted: "Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!"
But the CDC has warned that some patients can rapidly deteriorate a week after their illness starts.
“That's why we all remain cautiously optimistic and on guard, because we're in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course,” said Conley, who said the president would be surrounded by “24/7 world-class medical care” in the White House. “We're looking to this weekend. If we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving, better yet, then we will all take that final deep sigh of relief.”
Asked whether the president had neurological issues from his illness or medications, Conley denied that there were any, replying, “He’s back.”
Medical experts told BuzzFeed News that even if Trump is feeling well enough right now to go home, that may not last.
Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician at the Medical University of South Carolina, said she found the decision to discharge “curious” and potentially concerning. She has had patients with COVID-19 who were seemingly doing well before suddenly deteriorating around day seven. “I would be worried that he hasn’t hit the point in his illness where that could happen,” she said, conceding that “this is difficult to know since there is a lot we have not been told about his illness."
Megan Ranney, an emergency medicine physician and researcher at Brown University, said that doctors generally try to discharge patients once their vital signs and laboratory tests have normalized. But that is not normally an option for patients receiving remdesivir, which is administered intravenously. “This is just an unprecedented situation and a really tough judgment call to make,” she said.
She added that it is uncommon for a person to get sick as quickly as Trump did. “The thing that makes me concerned isn’t that they’re discharging him so quickly — it’s that the worst is potentially yet to come,” she said.
The doctors also noted that, for Trump, going home is by no means equivalent to most people’s experience going home from the hospital. In the White House, he will have unusual access to care and constant monitoring. As Ranney put it, he is “having the most VIP of VIP treatments.”
While the president may be clear to go home, that doesn’t mean he has a green light health-wise to hit the campaign trail.
“We need to remember he’s still a patient,” said Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University. “He’s still infectious. He needs to be in isolation for a total of 10 days after the diagnosis.”
The president is one of a growing cluster of at least 14 politicians and White House staffers who were infected with the virus. Just hours before his tweet, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed she too tested positive for COVID-19.
Although it is not known when exactly Trump was first infected, he is likely to still be in the earlier stages of the disease, given that he tested positive on Thursday.
Infection from SARS-CoV-2 consists of roughly three stages. First is the virus’s incubation period, in which the infected person doesn’t show any symptoms, which typically lasts from four to five days but sometimes up to 14. Next is the stage in which the virus is detectable and the person experiences symptoms, such as fever and cough.
For those who don’t recover at that point, the virus can then cause severe respiratory problems that may require supplemental oxygen or ventilation. The immune system can go into overdrive, at worst creating a “cytokine storm” that spirals out of control and sends immune cells to attack vital organs such as the lungs.
Since checking into Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday night, Trump, his White House staff, and Conley have blanketed the airwaves with contradictory messages about the state of the president’s health.
In a series of videos tweeted out from the hospital, Trump has repeatedly insisted that he is doing well. An anonymous source told reporters Saturday that the president’s vitals were “very concerning” — and then, when media outlets revealed that source to be White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, the staffer said on the record that “doctors are pleased with his vital signs.”
At back-to-back press conferences over the weekend, Conley maintained a relentlessly positive tone as he ducked key questions about his patient’s health. He described Trump on Saturday as having mild symptoms (“a mild cough and some nasal congestion and fatigue”), then on Sunday as having “continued to improve.” It was then that the president’s medical team said that Trump could be discharged as soon as the following day.
Despite the doctor’s cheerful portrayal — an attempt to “reflect the upbeat attitude” of the president, Conley admitted under questioning Sunday — there were a few clear signs that Trump’s condition was worsening rather than improving.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--The CDC Finally Acknowledged That The Coronavirus Can Spread Through Air

Officials at the CDC said Monday that the coronavirus can spread via particles in the air , a long-delayed acknowledgment of what is increasingly seen as a key form of virus transmission .
On Monday , a new section added to a CDC webpage called `` How COVID-19 Spreads '' stated that `` COVID-19 can sometimes be spread by airborne transmission . ''
The update stated that infections can occur as a result of viruses present in small droplets suspended in the air for minutes to hours .
`` These viruses may be able to infect people who are further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is infected or after that person has left the space , '' the agency 's guidance says .
The addition comes less than two weeks after a similar guidance was posted and then abruptly removed from the website , raising concerns of possible political interference .
In response to the incident , the CDC 's webpage was updated to say that `` a draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error . ''
The new guidance comes months after scientists began pushing the world 's top health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus could be spread via small particles in the air .
In July , the World Health Organization issued a scientific finding that indicated that airborne transmission was possible , suggesting the virus could spread in large crowds and indoors in poorly ventilated buildings .
The CDC 's new guideline follows similar lines , citing documented instances of transmission in `` poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces that often involved activities that caused heavier breathing , like singing or exercise . ''
Scientists welcomed Monday 's long-awaited update from the CDC .
Jose-Luis Jimenez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Colorado at Boulder , told BuzzFeed News that it was `` a move in the right direction . ''
The bottom line is that `` we can get infected if we breathe someone else ’ s exhaled air , '' he said .
`` We have to think that everyone we cross that ’ s not in our bubble , they 're exhaling smoke , like a smoker .
How we reduce contagion is breathing as little of that 'smoke ' as possible . ''
Jimenez added that he found some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to `` small droplets '' and `` particles , '' whereas he said that the more precise scientific term would be `` aerosols . ''
He also thought that the agency 's description of airborne transmission `` sometimes '' happening likely understated its frequency .
The CDC 's change comes as a large cluster of COVID-19 cases spreads in the White House , tied to large , unmasked outdoor gatherings and indoor events .
Scientists have also expressed concerns that such guidance did not come earlier due to political interference .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House forced the CDC to remove guidelines suggesting that the virus could spread via choirs and music ensembles in religious gatherings .
The White House has also interfered with other CDC guidance , most notably on the ability of the virus to spread from children .
The new CDC guidance indicates that close contact with a person who has been infected is still believed to be the primary route of infection .

Officials at the CDC said Monday that the coronavirus can spread via particles in the air, a long-delayed acknowledgment of what is increasingly seen as a key form of virus transmission.
On Monday, a new section added to a CDC webpage called "How COVID-19 Spreads" stated that "COVID-19 can sometimes be spread by airborne transmission."
The update stated that infections can occur as a result of viruses present in small droplets suspended in the air for minutes to hours. "These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space," the agency's guidance says.
The addition comes less than two weeks after a similar guidance was posted and then abruptly removed from the website, raising concerns of possible political interference. In response to the incident, the CDC's webpage was updated to say that "a draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error."
The new guidance comes months after scientists began pushing the world's top health officials to acknowledge the growing consensus that the virus could be spread via small particles in the air. In July, the World Health Organization issued a scientific finding that indicated that airborne transmission was possible, suggesting the virus could spread in large crowds and indoors in poorly ventilated buildings.
The CDC's new guideline follows similar lines, citing documented instances of transmission in "poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces that often involved activities that caused heavier breathing, like singing or exercise."
Scientists welcomed Monday's long-awaited update from the CDC. Jose-Luis Jimenez, a chemistry professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, told BuzzFeed News that it was "a move in the right direction."
The bottom line is that "we can get infected if we breathe someone else’s exhaled air," he said. "We have to think that everyone we cross that’s not in our bubble, they're exhaling smoke, like a smoker. How we reduce contagion is breathing as little of that 'smoke' as possible."
Jimenez added that he found some of the language confusing: The CDC makes reference to "small droplets" and "particles," whereas he said that the more precise scientific term would be "aerosols." He also thought that the agency's description of airborne transmission "sometimes" happening likely understated its frequency.
The CDC's change comes as a large cluster of COVID-19 cases spreads in the White House, tied to large, unmasked outdoor gatherings and indoor events.
Scientists have also expressed concerns that such guidance did not come earlier due to political interference. In May, the Washington Post reported that the White House forced the CDC to remove guidelines suggesting that the virus could spread via choirs and music ensembles in religious gatherings. The White House has also interfered with other CDC guidance, most notably on the ability of the virus to spread from children.
The new CDC guidance indicates that close contact with a person who has been infected is still believed to be the primary route of infection.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Here's A Running List Of False And Misleading Information About Trump's Coronavirus Diagnosis

One rumor suggested a Trump video was edited to cut out a cough , but six experts said they saw no definitive signs of manipulation .
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus , they announced early Friday morning .
In light of the diagnosis , false information , fake screenshots , and deceptively edited videos have been circulating online .
We 're keeping a running list .
Before passing on any online rumor to your friends and family , take the time to verify it .
This can be done by checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , keeping a close eye on information from news outlets , or searching online to find another source .
How to read this post : UNVERIFIED : Claims that have no concrete evidence either confirming or refuting them .
This type of claim has either no sources or no evidence , and is based on conjecture with no original reporting behind it .
Treat this kind of information with healthy skepticism and wait to see how it develops .
MISLEADING : Posts that take a real event out of context , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protests .
This can also include images that are presented at a deceptive angle or descriptions that cherry-pick facts .
Avoid spreading or engaging with this type of post .
FALSE : Reporters or reliable sources with direct knowledge have contradicted this information on the record , or it is refuted by unimpeachable evidence .
Examples include images or videos filmed at a different time or location but presented as recent , demonstrably false claims , and websites masquerading as news outlets publishing untrue information .
At about 1:05 minutes into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 3 , the president seemed to have hiccuped .
Many people online speculated that this was a sign that the video had been edited .
BuzzFeed News spoke with six different video analysis experts who all said that without a high-quality version of the video or access to its metadata , it ’ s impossible to make definitive conclusions , but each of them said that they saw no evidence of manipulation .
Logan Williams , a data scientist with investigative outlet Bellingcat , said he “ did n't see any indication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams analyzed both the audio and the camerawork .
“ You can tell that it 's handheld and stabilized , because there 's some camera drift throughout .
I analyzed the amount of camera drift over time , but did n't see any indication that it was n't a single take , ” Williams said .
What the experts did see was likely a hiccup .
Grant Fredericks , a certified forensic video analyst , said the moment is “ consistent with a hiccup , perhaps a very brief reflux response .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard.
” Part of the difficulty , the experts said , is the low quality of the video , which was likely compressed by the social media networks after being posted .
Catalin Grigoras , the director of the National Center for Media Forensics at the University of Colorado , said , “ I could n't find any unexplainable artifact on the entire recording.
” Grigoras qualified his analysis , saying that the social media “ recompressions mask most of the editing traces.
” For Hany Farid , a professor at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on digital forensics and image analysis , there 's no way of knowing whether anything had been edited out of the video .
“ No , I am not confident that this is a sign of an edit , ” he said .
“ This could have been something as simple as a hiccup , or if it was an edit , it was an edit to splice out a misspoken word.
” Some online said the video was edited using an Adobe tool called fluid morph , which smoothes out edits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at best.
” Max Rizzuto , a research assistant at DFRLab who focuses on manipulated video , said that although he was sure the video was stabilized using software after it was recorded , “ my attempt at a closer look turns up inconclusive results.
” Steve Hoeg , a former director of engineering at Adobe who managed the team that developed Adobe 's Morph Cut tool , said it 's not possible to know for sure whether or not there was an edit to the video because Twitter compresses the quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he doubted it .
`` My best guess is this video was not manipulated , '' Hoeg said .
`` If it was edited , it was n't terribly well done , which makes me think it probably was n't .
There is clearly a suppressed cough or hiccup , but if that was followed by an actually removed cough why not remove the suppressed one as well ? ''
To illustrate his point , Hoeg himself applied that Adobe tool to Trump ’ s video .
In the version that Hoeg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seamlessly edited out .

At about 1:05 minutes into a video of President Donald Trump posted on Oct. 3, the president seemed to have hiccuped. Many people online speculated that this was a sign that the video had been edited.
BuzzFeed News spoke with six different video analysis experts who all said that without a high-quality version of the video or access to its metadata, it’s impossible to make definitive conclusions, but each of them said that they saw no evidence of manipulation.
Logan Williams, a data scientist with investigative outlet Bellingcat, said he “didn't see any indication that the video has been edited.” Williams analyzed both the audio and the camerawork.
“You can tell that it's handheld and stabilized, because there's some camera drift throughout. I analyzed the amount of camera drift over time, but didn't see any indication that it wasn't a single take,” Williams said.
What the experts did see was likely a hiccup. Grant Fredericks, a certified forensic video analyst, said the moment is “consistent with a hiccup, perhaps a very brief reflux response. A short audio ‘gasp’ can be heard.”
Part of the difficulty, the experts said, is the low quality of the video, which was likely compressed by the social media networks after being posted.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Trump's Doctor Said The President Now Has Antibodies, Leaving Out The Fact That He Was Just Given A

Trump's Doctor Said The President Now Has Antibodies, Leaving Out The Fact That He Was Just Given A High Dose Of Antibodies

President Donald Trump 's physician , Sean Conley , issued the latest notice about his COVID-19 patient 's progress on Wednesday with a positive update : The president 's lab results from Monday indicated that he had `` detectable levels '' of antibodies in his blood .
`` The president this morning says , ' I feel great ! '
'' Conley 's statement said .
But doctors and scientists have since pointed out that the president having detectable antibodies could be meaningless , since he was administered a very high dose of an experimental antibody treatment on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s deceptive to present it like it is n't , '' Eric Topol , a cardiologist and clinical trial expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute , told BuzzFeed News .
`` Why would you test for antibodies when you ’ ve given someone such a high dose of antibodies ?
That wouldn ’ t have been a good test to do .
I don ’ t know how much it cost them , but they should get their money back . ''
`` My response after I read that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibodies — because he was just given a massive infusion of antibodies by his own doctor .
So I would be shocked if he didn ’ t , '' said Megan Ranney , associate professor of emergency medicine and public health at Brown University .
On Friday , Conley reported that Trump received 8 grams of a two-antibody cocktail made by the biotechnology company Regeneron .
The cocktail , which remains an experimental treatment , is comprised of a type of antibody called immunoglobulin G ( or IgG ) typically produced in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president was also given two other drugs , the antiviral drug remdesivir on Friday , and the steroid dexamethasone on Saturday , according to doctors .
The Regeneron synthetic antibodies are `` the same IgG antibodies that patients make on their own , '' Topol said .
`` They ’ ve basically been cloned .
But these are the powerful ones — not the junk or ornamental ones .
These are the most potent neutralizing antibodies . ''
Patients typically start producing IgG antibodies from 7 to 10 days after infection , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people can develop IgG antibodies as early as 2 to 4 days after symptoms first appear .
It is possible that the White House administered a type of antibody test that could distinguish between the antibodies produced by Trump 's immune system and the ones administered via Regeneron 's experimental antibody cocktail , said Angela Rasmussen , a virologist at Columbia University .
The White House did not disclose what type of test it used .
But on Wednesday afternoon , Regeneron released a statement saying that the antibodies detected were most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the standard assays for IgG would not distinguish between endogenous ( self-made ) antibodies and the ones delivered by our therapy .
However , given the volume of IgG antibodies delivered in our therapy , and the timing of these tests , it is likely that the second test is detecting REGN-COV2 antibodies . ''
`` There 's a good chance they are '' from the antibody cocktail , said Rasmussen .
`` My main takeaway is suspicion .
The president 's physician has been releasing information selectively , and has stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spin on it . ''
She added , `` They have not released other information relevant to his condition , including the results of his chest scans or his viral loads or any other lab results . ''
Conley 's statement added that Trump 's `` physical exam and vital signs , including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate , all remain stable and in normal range .
He 's now been fever-free for more than 4 days , symptom-free for over 24 hours , and has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But both doctors that BuzzFeed News spoke with warned that the president 's immune response will be important to monitor as he approaches 7 to 10 days after he developed the infection , a dangerous period when a small subset of COVID-19 patients suddenly get very sick after their immune systems go into overdrive , causing organ failure and possible death .
`` The fact that he remains fever-free and feels great are just as likely to be effects of the dexamethasone as they are to be signs that his illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But the fact that someone has done well up until this point does not necessarily imply that they will continue to do well .
We know that this seven-to-10-day period is when we see the immune system go wild , severe lung problems , strokes , and clotting problems — all of these really well-established serious clinical effects of COVID . ''
Both doctors said that the latest statement from Trump 's physician indicated a continuing lack of transparency that was troubling .
`` It ’ s the rose-colored glasses view of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We don ’ t get the truth , '' said Topol .
`` In his press conferences , there was deception and obfuscation and evasiveness — this one is just fallacy . ''

President Donald Trump's physician, Sean Conley, issued the latest notice about his COVID-19 patient's progress on Wednesday with a positive update: The president's lab results from Monday indicated that he had "detectable levels" of antibodies in his blood.
"The president this morning says, 'I feel great!'" Conley's statement said.
But doctors and scientists have since pointed out that the president having detectable antibodies could be meaningless, since he was administered a very high dose of an experimental antibody treatment on Friday.
"It’s meaningless, and it’s deceptive to present it like it isn't," Eric Topol, a cardiologist and clinical trial expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told BuzzFeed News. "Why would you test for antibodies when you’ve given someone such a high dose of antibodies? That wouldn’t have been a good test to do. I don’t know how much it cost them, but they should get their money back."
"My response after I read that is I am sure he does have detectable antibodies — because he was just given a massive infusion of antibodies by his own doctor. So I would be shocked if he didn’t," said Megan Ranney, associate professor of emergency medicine and public health at Brown University.
On Friday, Conley reported that Trump received 8 grams of a two-antibody cocktail made by the biotechnology company Regeneron. The cocktail, which remains an experimental treatment, is comprised of a type of antibody called immunoglobulin G (or IgG) typically produced in the later course of an infection. The president was also given two other drugs, the antiviral drug remdesivir on Friday, and the steroid dexamethasone on Saturday, according to doctors.
The Regeneron synthetic antibodies are "the same IgG antibodies that patients make on their own," Topol said. "They’ve basically been cloned. But these are the powerful ones — not the junk or ornamental ones. These are the most potent neutralizing antibodies."
Patients typically start producing IgG antibodies from 7 to 10 days after infection, while studies have suggested that in rarer cases, people can develop IgG antibodies as early as 2 to 4 days after symptoms first appear.
It is possible that the White House administered a type of antibody test that could distinguish between the antibodies produced by Trump's immune system and the ones administered via Regeneron's experimental antibody cocktail, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University. The White House did not disclose what type of test it used.
But on Wednesday afternoon, Regeneron released a statement saying that the antibodies detected were most likely from their treatment: "Most of the standard assays for IgG would not distinguish between endogenous (self-made) antibodies and the ones delivered by our therapy. However, given the volume of IgG antibodies delivered in our therapy, and the timing of these tests, it is likely that the second test is detecting REGN-COV2 antibodies."
"There's a good chance they are" from the antibody cocktail, said Rasmussen. "My main takeaway is suspicion. The president's physician has been releasing information selectively, and has stated that he tries to put a positive spin on it." She added, "They have not released other information relevant to his condition, including the results of his chest scans or his viral loads or any other lab results."
Conley's statement added that Trump's "physical exam and vital signs, including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, all remain stable and in normal range. He's now been fever-free for more than 4 days, symptom-free for over 24 hours, and has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization," the physician said.
But both doctors that BuzzFeed News spoke with warned that the president's immune response will be important to monitor as he approaches 7 to 10 days after he developed the infection, a dangerous period when a small subset of COVID-19 patients suddenly get very sick after their immune systems go into overdrive, causing organ failure and possible death.
"The fact that he remains fever-free and feels great are just as likely to be effects of the dexamethasone as they are to be signs that his illness is improving," Ranney said. "But the fact that someone has done well up until this point does not necessarily imply that they will continue to do well. We know that this seven-to-10-day period is when we see the immune system go wild, severe lung problems, strokes, and clotting problems — all of these really well-established serious clinical effects of COVID."
Both doctors said that the latest statement from Trump's physician indicated a continuing lack of transparency that was troubling.
"It’s the rose-colored glasses view of how the patient is doing each day. We don’t get the truth," said Topol. "In his press conferences, there was deception and obfuscation and evasiveness — this one is just fallacy."


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--This Woman With Dyslexia Challenged People On TikTok To Read Like Her And It's Eye Opening

BuzzFeed also spoke to Lindsay , who said that whenever she posts about her dyslexia , her DMs get flooded @ @ @ @ @ she gives them hope .
`` It was clear to me that they feel how @ @ @ @ @ used to think there was no way I could be successful because I can ’ @ @ @ @ @ feel that it is important that I help them , and others , understand how @ @ @ @ @ dyslexic in our school system .
I want to shed light on how resilient and @ @ @ @ @ , '' she explained .

BuzzFeed also spoke to Lindsay, who said that whenever she posts about her dyslexia, her DMs get flooded with people telling her that she gives them hope. "It was clear to me that they feel how I used to — I used to think there was no way I could be successful because I can’t even spell. I feel that it is important that I help them, and others, understand how hard it is to be dyslexic in our school system. I want to shed light on how resilient and successful people with dyslexia are," she explained.


buzzfeed--2020-10-08--10 Small But Effective Things You Can Do To Impact The Election This Year (Besides Vote)

Another surprisingly effective way to increase voter turnout is sending letters—and with organizations like Vote Forward , it 's just @ @ @ @ @ template , coming up with a simple reason people should vote , and sending out @ @ @ @ @ It 's also a great way to have a ( socially-distant ) hang with your @ @ @ @ @ together .
You can sit far apart in a park or all do it at @ @ @ @ @ .

Regardless of your party or top political priorities, one thing everyone can agree on is the fact that our system is in need of repair. RepresentUs is one of the main groups trying to put a stop to the gerrymandering and lobbyism that negatively affect our democracy. You can volunteer to work on their Anti-Corruption Act campaigns and make a difference on a local (and eventually, national) level.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Wisconsin Is Opening A 530-Bed Field Hospital As Coronavirus Cases Continue To Surge

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has put a strain on health care facilities across Wisconsin , Gov .
Tony Evers announced Wednesday that the state will open a 530-bed field hospital for the first time since the pandemic began .
`` We obviously hoped this day would n't come , but unfortunately Wisconsin is in a much different and more dire place today and our health care systems are being overwhelmed , '' Evers said during a news briefing .
Over the past month , the state 's COVID-19 hospitalizations have nearly tripled — from just 289 Sept. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
This week alone , statewide hospitalizations have increased 26 % compared to last week and the number of patients in intensive care units has increased 27 % since last week .
In the Fox Valley , northeast , and southeast regions of the state , hospitals are operating at or above 90 % of their ICU capacity , state Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said .
The facility at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis outside Milwaukee will be used to treat COVID-19 patients who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery .
Palm said of the 530 patient spaces , nearly 300 are equipped with inline oxygen , but that the facility , due to open next week , is `` designed for a lower level of care '' and is meant to take pressure off hospitals so they can focus on patients with more severe illness .
Overall , Wisconsin has reported nearly 139,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,415 deaths as of Wednesday , according to DHS data .
The Badger state has emerged as a new hot spot for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during September .
Wisconsin , which has a population of about 5.8 million , currently ranks third behind the Dakotas for the most cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days , according to the New York Times .
On Oct. 3 , the state reported 2,892 new COVID-19 cases — the second record single-day count in as many days ( the state reported 2,887 cases on Oct. 1 ) .
The rapid rise in cases and hospitalizations have also stretched the state 's healthcare workforce and contact tracing efforts , Palm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals reporting `` current or imminent '' staffing shortages due to workers getting sick or having to quarantine because of what she described as `` intense community spread . ''
`` To be clear , this is going to get worse before it gets better , '' Palm said , adding that the need for the alternative care facility is a direct result of the surge in cases and that hospitalizations will continue to rise .
`` We are one of only a few states in the country to need to open an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list we ever wanted to be on . ''
She and Evers urged individuals to stay home as much as possible , wear face coverings , practice social distancing , and to get tested and quarantine if they experience any symptoms .
`` We 're in crisis in Wisconsin , '' Palm said .
`` A crisis calls for drastic measures and I 'm calling on every single one of us to do all that we can to protect each other . ''
Wednesday 's announcement comes as officials enact new measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday , Palm issued an emergency order limiting indoor public gatherings in restaurants , bars , and other businesses to no more than 25 % of a room or building ’ s total occupancy beginning Thursday through Nov. 6 .
The order does not apply to child care settings , schools , health care facilities , polling locations , or places of worship .
Evers also announced more than $ 100 million in grants for small businesses and other industries , citing a lack of federal support .
On Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations on a new coronavirus relief bill until after the election .
“ Small businesses , including the tourism and lodging industries , are the backbone of our Wisconsin communities , ” Evers said .
“ Our communities are in desperate need of additional federal support , but we can ’ t wait a moment longer to do what we can here in Wisconsin.
” Statewide efforts to keep the virus at bay have been hamstrung by a Republican-controlled legislature , which has repeatedly challenged efforts by Evers , a Democrat , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In May , the state 's Supreme Court struck down Evers ' statewide stay at home order after Republican lawmakers sued , lifting all restrictions on businesses and gatherings .
A ruling is expected soon on a similar challenge to a statewide mask mandate Evers issued in August , according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .
The new order on public gatherings is expected to be challenged in court as well .
Regardless of whether that order , which does not apply to private gatherings in people 's homes , will stand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slow the spread of the coronavirus depend on individuals heeding public health guidance and acting responsibly .
`` People 's lives are at stake here , the ability for healthcare workers to do their work is at stake here , and if we just blatantly ignore that issue we ’ ll still be sitting here counting the numbers and it will get worse and worse , '' Evers said .
`` We need people to respond in the best way possible . ''

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has put a strain on health care facilities across Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday that the state will open a 530-bed field hospital for the first time since the pandemic began.
"We obviously hoped this day wouldn't come, but unfortunately Wisconsin is in a much different and more dire place today and our health care systems are being overwhelmed," Evers said during a news briefing.
Over the past month, the state's COVID-19 hospitalizations have nearly tripled — from just 289 Sept. 7 to 853 as of Tuesday — officials said. This week alone, statewide hospitalizations have increased 26% compared to last week and the number of patients in intensive care units has increased 27% since last week. In the Fox Valley, northeast, and southeast regions of the state, hospitals are operating at or above 90% of their ICU capacity, state Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said.
The facility at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis outside Milwaukee will be used to treat COVID-19 patients who have been hospitalized but are on their road to recovery. Palm said of the 530 patient spaces, nearly 300 are equipped with inline oxygen, but that the facility, due to open next week, is "designed for a lower level of care" and is meant to take pressure off hospitals so they can focus on patients with more severe illness.
Overall, Wisconsin has reported nearly 139,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,415 deaths as of Wednesday, according to DHS data. The Badger state has emerged as a new hot spot for the virus in recent weeks as cases skyrocketed during September. Wisconsin, which has a population of about 5.8 million, currently ranks third behind the Dakotas for the most cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, according to the New York Times. On Oct. 3, the state reported 2,892 new COVID-19 cases — the second record single-day count in as many days (the state reported 2,887 cases on Oct. 1).
The rapid rise in cases and hospitalizations have also stretched the state's healthcare workforce and contact tracing efforts, Palm said, noting that every region has hospitals reporting "current or imminent" staffing shortages due to workers getting sick or having to quarantine because of what she described as "intense community spread."
"To be clear, this is going to get worse before it gets better," Palm said, adding that the need for the alternative care facility is a direct result of the surge in cases and that hospitalizations will continue to rise. "We are one of only a few states in the country to need to open an alternative care facility. This is not a list we ever wanted to be on."
She and Evers urged individuals to stay home as much as possible, wear face coverings, practice social distancing, and to get tested and quarantine if they experience any symptoms.
"We're in crisis in Wisconsin," Palm said. "A crisis calls for drastic measures and I'm calling on every single one of us to do all that we can to protect each other."
Wednesday's announcement comes as officials enact new measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Palm issued an emergency order limiting indoor public gatherings in restaurants, bars, and other businesses to no more than 25% of a room or building’s total occupancy beginning Thursday through Nov. 6. The order does not apply to child care settings, schools, health care facilities, polling locations, or places of worship.
Evers also announced more than $100 million in grants for small businesses and other industries, citing a lack of federal support. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he was ending negotiations on a new coronavirus relief bill until after the election.
“Small businesses, including the tourism and lodging industries, are the backbone of our Wisconsin communities,” Evers said. “Our communities are in desperate need of additional federal support, but we can’t wait a moment longer to do what we can here in Wisconsin.”
Statewide efforts to keep the virus at bay have been hamstrung by a Republican-controlled legislature, which has repeatedly challenged efforts by Evers, a Democrat, to slow the spread of the disease.
In May, the state's Supreme Court struck down Evers' statewide stay at home order after Republican lawmakers sued, lifting all restrictions on businesses and gatherings. A ruling is expected soon on a similar challenge to a statewide mask mandate Evers issued in August, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The new order on public gatherings is expected to be challenged in court as well.
Regardless of whether that order, which does not apply to private gatherings in people's homes, will stand, Evers reiterated on Wednesday that any efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus depend on individuals heeding public health guidance and acting responsibly.
"People's lives are at stake here, the ability for healthcare workers to do their work is at stake here, and if we just blatantly ignore that issue we’ll still be sitting here counting the numbers and it will get worse and worse," Evers said. "We need people to respond in the best way possible."


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--Donald Trump Is Canceling TV Ads In Midwest States That Made Him President

President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign is slashing television spending in the Midwest , canceling millions of dollars in advertising in states that carried him to victory in 2016 .
He ’ s been off the local airwaves completely in Iowa and Ohio .
The campaign also has given up at least $ 2 million worth of reservations in both Michigan and Wisconsin since early September .
And in Minnesota , a state Trump almost won four years ago and has expressed confidence in flipping , his team already has chopped about $ 5 million from its projected fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the media firm Advertising Analytics , reflect a race where Democrat Joe Biden has gained a fundraising advantage over Trump and where polling suggests these states are competitive toss-ups or tipping toward Biden .
The Trump campaign , meanwhile , according to data shared by Democratic ad trackers , has in recent weeks boosted its TV presence in the Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona , Florida , and Georgia — and Nevada , a state Trump lost in 2016 .
As Trump ’ s retreat in Iowa and Ohio became more pronounced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a sign of strength , despite polls that show him essentially tied with Biden in both states .
And Biden ’ s campaign has accelerated its advertising in Ohio , which at the beginning of the 2020 cycle many Democrats did not believe would be a top-tier swing state .
“ I don ’ t think the spin is in any way congruent with the reality , ” Nicholas Everhart , an Ohio-based Republican ad maker , told BuzzFeed News .
“ There ’ s no reason why [ Trump ] would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air in those states , particularly Ohio , at this moment .
Clearly there are some unpleasant financial realities impacting the strategic decisions they are making . ''
Biden and the Democratic National Committee outraised Trump and the Republicans by more than $ 150 million in August .
Neither side has yet released September fundraising totals .
Trump still has millions of dollars in TV time reserved for each of the five Midwest battlegrounds through Election Day , but he could cancel those commitments in the remaining three weeks .
He also could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though that ’ s not been the trend .
“ If overspending on TV ads determined the outcome of elections , Hillary Clinton would be president — but it ’ s cute that Joe Biden and his campaign think buying ads in these states makes up for years of Democrats viewing them as flyover country , '' Samantha Zager , the Trump campaign 's deputy national press secretary , said in a statement to BuzzFeed News .
`` Biden can try to buy votes , but President Trump and his campaign will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airwaves — and come November , we ’ ll be celebrating victory while Biden binge watches his TV ads from his basement.
” Biden ’ s campaign , like Trump ’ s , has shifted money in and out of states to address the changing dynamics of the race .
A Biden spokesperson said the campaign ’ s ad spending has increased overall and in the Midwest but did not disclose where or by how much .
`` We 're building the widest possible path to 270 electoral votes in November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have been battered by Trump 's historic mishandling of our response to COVID-19 and by his disastrous economic policies that put manufacturing into recession , cost us millions of jobs , and have left working families falling further and further behind , ” said the spokesperson , Mike Gwin , in a statement to BuzzFeed News .
Trump ’ s chances of a second term are trickier without two or more of the Midwest battlegrounds — he ’ d have to make up for losses there by holding the South and perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire .
Losing Iowa or Ohio , in particular , could signal problems in Pennsylvania or Nebraska ’ s 2nd Congressional District , which awards one electoral vote .
The tightened race in Ohio has Biden officials and their allies particularly optimistic that Democrats are well positioned to win back places Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 .
Sen. Sherrod Brown told BuzzFeed News this week that modest late-summer ad buys in Toledo and Youngstown — seen by many at the time as a shrewd move to also reach voters in neighboring Michigan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expand its effort in the state .
This week , with Trump still off the air there , the campaign placed its largest Ohio ad buy of the fall .
“ They did some experimental TV in Youngstown and Toledo , and I think they saw movement in polls , they saw what we were telling them is actually true — that there is great enthusiasm for Biden , and some Trump voters are regretting their vote , ” Brown , who for weeks had privately been urging Biden to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a telephone interview .
“ So , the experiment there worked .
It gave them an indication that good things can happen.
” Republicans also see the state as a tipping point .
“ I think Ohio is kind of the head and neck of the Midwest , ” Michael Hartley , a Republican strategist in Ohio , told BuzzFeed News “ In 2016 [ Trump ] won by 8 , and I think there was carryover into neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Michigan .
It ’ s the same type of folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , Michigan , and Wisconsin have very similar people , particularly when you get into the working class .
Shave a couple percentage points off that , and that could matter .
If I see Trump winning Ohio by 6 to 8 points , then I think it means he ’ s winning nationally .
Obviously if he loses Ohio , it ’ s Bad News Bears all around.
” This story was updated to include the response from the Trump campaign .

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is slashing television spending in the Midwest, canceling millions of dollars in advertising in states that carried him to victory in 2016.
He’s been off the local airwaves completely in Iowa and Ohio. The campaign also has given up at least $2 million worth of reservations in both Michigan and Wisconsin since early September. And in Minnesota, a state Trump almost won four years ago and has expressed confidence in flipping, his team already has chopped about $5 million from its projected fall TV budget.
The numbers, confirmed by the media firm Advertising Analytics, reflect a race where Democrat Joe Biden has gained a fundraising advantage over Trump and where polling suggests these states are competitive toss-ups or tipping toward Biden. The Trump campaign, meanwhile, according to data shared by Democratic ad trackers, has in recent weeks boosted its TV presence in the Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona, Florida, and Georgia — and Nevada, a state Trump lost in 2016.
As Trump’s retreat in Iowa and Ohio became more pronounced this week, his advisers dismissed it as a sign of strength, despite polls that show him essentially tied with Biden in both states. And Biden’s campaign has accelerated its advertising in Ohio, which at the beginning of the 2020 cycle many Democrats did not believe would be a top-tier swing state.
“I don’t think the spin is in any way congruent with the reality,” Nicholas Everhart, an Ohio-based Republican ad maker, told BuzzFeed News. “There’s no reason why [Trump] would not be wanting to be on the air in those states, particularly Ohio, at this moment. Clearly there are some unpleasant financial realities impacting the strategic decisions they are making."
Biden and the Democratic National Committee outraised Trump and the Republicans by more than $150 million in August. Neither side has yet released September fundraising totals.
Trump still has millions of dollars in TV time reserved for each of the five Midwest battlegrounds through Election Day, but he could cancel those commitments in the remaining three weeks. He also could buy more time in the states, though that’s not been the trend.
“If overspending on TV ads determined the outcome of elections, Hillary Clinton would be president — but it’s cute that Joe Biden and his campaign think buying ads in these states makes up for years of Democrats viewing them as flyover country," Samantha Zager, the Trump campaign's deputy national press secretary, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "Biden can try to buy votes, but President Trump and his campaign will continue earning them on the ground and on the airwaves — and come November, we’ll be celebrating victory while Biden binge watches his TV ads from his basement.”
Biden’s campaign, like Trump’s, has shifted money in and out of states to address the changing dynamics of the race. A Biden spokesperson said the campaign’s ad spending has increased overall and in the Midwest but did not disclose where or by how much.
"We're building the widest possible path to 270 electoral votes in November, and that includes states across the Midwest that have been battered by Trump's historic mishandling of our response to COVID-19 and by his disastrous economic policies that put manufacturing into recession, cost us millions of jobs, and have left working families falling further and further behind,” said the spokesperson, Mike Gwin, in a statement to BuzzFeed News.
Trump’s chances of a second term are trickier without two or more of the Midwest battlegrounds — he’d have to make up for losses there by holding the South and perhaps flipping states such as Nevada or New Hampshire. Losing Iowa or Ohio, in particular, could signal problems in Pennsylvania or Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which awards one electoral vote.
The tightened race in Ohio has Biden officials and their allies particularly optimistic that Democrats are well positioned to win back places Hillary Clinton lost in 2016. Sen. Sherrod Brown told BuzzFeed News this week that modest late-summer ad buys in Toledo and Youngstown — seen by many at the time as a shrewd move to also reach voters in neighboring Michigan and Pennsylvania — helped convince the Biden team to expand its effort in the state. This week, with Trump still off the air there, the campaign placed its largest Ohio ad buy of the fall.
“They did some experimental TV in Youngstown and Toledo, and I think they saw movement in polls, they saw what we were telling them is actually true — that there is great enthusiasm for Biden, and some Trump voters are regretting their vote,” Brown, who for weeks had privately been urging Biden to make a bigger play in Ohio, said in a telephone interview. “So, the experiment there worked. It gave them an indication that good things can happen.”
Republicans also see the state as a tipping point.
“I think Ohio is kind of the head and neck of the Midwest,” Michael Hartley, a Republican strategist in Ohio, told BuzzFeed News “In 2016 [Trump] won by 8, and I think there was carryover into neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. It’s the same type of folks, the demographics are similar. Western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin have very similar people, particularly when you get into the working class. Shave a couple percentage points off that, and that could matter. If I see Trump winning Ohio by 6 to 8 points, then I think it means he’s winning nationally. Obviously if he loses Ohio, it’s Bad News Bears all around.”
Kadia Goba contributed reporting.
This story was updated to include the response from the Trump campaign.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--ICE Is Planning To Fast-Track Deportations Across The Country

The new policy will give agents the ability to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants without a hearing in front of a judge .
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have started to implement a policy that allows officers to arrest and rapidly deport undocumented immigrants who have been in the US for less than two years , according to internal emails and documents obtained by BuzzFeed News .
The Trump administration ’ s effort — to expand quick deportations to undocumented immigrants across the US who can not prove they have been in the country continuously for two years before they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal court judge soon after the policy was first announced in 2019 .
But in June , the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted the preliminary injunction , opening the door for ICE officers to use expedited removal across the country , a policy that will allow the agency to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants without a hearing in front of an immigration judge .
The previous policy only allowed officials to use expedited removal within 100 miles of the border and for those who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
Currently , officers typically arrest immigrants and place them into deportation proceedings .
These include a hearing before an immigration judge — a process that can take years .
In practical terms , the expanded policy gives ICE officers more power to determine who can be quickly deported , although it ’ s unclear exactly how fast the process will be .
The shift could allow the Trump administration to increase deportations while circumventing a court system that is severely backed up and short on resources , but advocates for immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process rights .
The latest push to implement the quick deportations comes after years of President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to restrict immigration to the US and expand enforcement .
It also comes during the tail end of a divisive presidential election season .
In an email to ICE employees on Friday , Tony Pham , the acting head of the agency , said that officers and agents need to finish a training course on the policy by Oct. 16 , after which they can begin using the new powers to quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by Bloomberg Government .
A separate email obtained by BuzzFeed News indicates that ICE attorneys will initially review all cases in which deportation officers aim to use the new policy before immigrants are quickly removed from the country .
An internal email sent on behalf of head ICE attorney Michael Davis said that his staff must confirm that the undocumented immigrant was eligible for the policy and that the implementation guidance was followed .
The ICE guidance on the new policy , according to the email , allows for some areas of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICE officers not revisiting cases of immigrants who are already in deportation proceedings , and officers not applying the quick deportations to people who can prove they were in the US before the policy was first issued last July .
Officers can decide not to use expedited removal in cases in which an immigrant has “ mental competency ” issues , is the sole caregiver of a US citizen or lawful permanent child , has some chance at obtaining legal status through deportation proceedings , or if they are a crime victim or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptions .
“ In conducting their review of these cases , OPLA attorneys should be mindful of how a court would view the available evidence of physical presence in the United States , '' the email to ICE attorneys states .
In a separate memo also obtained by BuzzFeed News , Pham laid out the realities of how the policy will be used .
“ As a practical matter , I anticipate that the July 23 , 2019 designation will be primarily used by ICE in the Criminal Alien Program and Work Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have been arrested by another law enforcement agency for criminal activity or when Special Agents encounter unlawful workers at worksites targeted for enforcement action based on investigative leads , ” he wrote .
Undocumented immigrants who claim to be fearful of persecution in their home country will be referred to an asylum officer for an initial interview , the guidance states .
Undocumented immigrants can use bankbooks , leases , school records , employment records , or other materials to prove their presence in the country , according to the memo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents immediately , they will be given a “ brief but reasonable opportunity ” to get them .
The presidential election in November will decide whether the policy will continue to be implemented .
It ’ s unlikely that former vice president Joe Biden would allow ICE officers to continue enforcing the expanded use of expedited removal .
Experts , such as Sarah Pierce , an analyst at Migration Policy Institute , have noted that the expedited removal proposal would likely do more to instill fear in the immigrant community than profoundly alter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The vast majority of unauthorized immigrants have lived in the United States for more than two years — over 60 % have lived here for 10 years or more — making them ineligible for expedited removal , ” she said when the policy was first issued .
“ But no doubt , removal without due process is a terrifying prospect.
” Immigrants , however , could find it difficult to prove that they have been in the country for at least two years while they are in detention .
In the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of immigrants released from local custody in Pennsylvania , an attempt to strike back at cities with so-called sanctuary policies .
Some within the agency , however , see the billboards as an attempt to help Trump ’ s reelection efforts .
Agency officials also held a press conference to highlight an operation targeting areas of California with similar policies .

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have started to implement a policy that allows officers to arrest and rapidly deport undocumented immigrants who have been in the US for less than two years, according to internal emails and documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.
The Trump administration’s effort — to expand quick deportations to undocumented immigrants across the US who cannot prove they have been in the country continuously for two years before they are picked up — was blocked by a federal court judge soon after the policy was first announced in 2019. But in June, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted the preliminary injunction, opening the door for ICE officers to use expedited removal across the country, a policy that will allow the agency to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants without a hearing in front of an immigration judge.
The previous policy only allowed officials to use expedited removal within 100 miles of the border and for those who have been in the country for up to two weeks.
Currently, officers typically arrest immigrants and place them into deportation proceedings. These include a hearing before an immigration judge — a process that can take years. In practical terms, the expanded policy gives ICE officers more power to determine who can be quickly deported, although it’s unclear exactly how fast the process will be.
The shift could allow the Trump administration to increase deportations while circumventing a court system that is severely backed up and short on resources, but advocates for immigrants have said it would destroy their due process rights.


buzzfeed--2020-10-07--The Republican Texas Supreme Court Ruled Almost 2 Million Voters Can't Be Sent Mail-In Ballot Applic

The Republican Texas Supreme Court Ruled Almost 2 Million Voters Can't Be Sent Mail-In Ballot Applications

The eight Republican justices of the Texas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the clerk of the state 's most populous county can not send out applications for mail-in ballots to all 2.4 million registered voters .
The court ruled that Chris Hollins , the Democratic clerk of Harris County , had overstepped his legal authority by seeking to send applications to all registered voters , even if they were not eligible to vote by mail under state law .
Texas law only allows people to vote by mail if they are older than 65 , if they will be absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disability , if they are in jail , or if they are crime victims with confidential addresses .
Hollins had sent out applications to voters over 65 in Harris County , which covers the city of Houston and is considered an important Democratic stronghold , but had been trying to send them to all voters — an estimated 1.7 million more applications — in case they too were eligible .
Two lower courts had ruled he could do so , but the highest court in Texas disagreed .
`` Mass-mailing unsolicited ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail can not be said to be necessary or indispensable to the conduct of early voting , '' the court ruled .
The court previously ruled in May that a lack of immunity to the coronavirus does not qualify a voter as disabled under state law .
`` This year ’ s election process is occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic , '' the justices wrote Wednesday , `` but Hollins has not explained why or how the pandemic has rendered inadequate the usual distribution of ballot applications on request , much less made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or indispensable to voting by mail . ''
In a statement , Hollins said the court had ruled in favor of voter suppression .
“ It is disappointing that the Court has sided with political forces seeking to limit voter access this November , ” said Hollins .
“ Placing limitations on non-partisan outreach that educates citizens about their Constitutional right to vote should not be acceptable in a democracy .
Democrats in Texas decried the decision as anti-democratic and urged supporters to vote out the four justices up for reelection this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' any which way to serve their purpose : maintain power for Republicans no longer supported by a majority of the state , '' state party chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement .
Last week , Gov .
Greg Abbott , a Republican , issued a proclamation to shutter all but one drop-off location for completed mail-in ballots in each of Texas 's 254 counties , making it more difficult to securely vote by mail .
In Harris County , that meant the closure of 11 drop-off locations the county had set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have waged a broad legal battle against voting by mail during the pandemic .
For the first time in decades , Texas appears to be a swing state , with one poll on Wednesday showing President Donald Trump tied with Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke , who made an unsuccessful run for his party 's nomination , has urged Biden to campaign aggressively there before Election Day .
`` If Texas turns blue that night , and its 38 electoral votes go to Biden , then Trump would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the election would be over that night , '' O'Rourke wrote this week for the Washington Post .
Harris County clerk staff said Monday they had so far sent out almost 230,000 mail ballots , of which almost 2,200 had already been returned .

The eight Republican justices of the Texas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the clerk of the state's most populous county cannot send out applications for mail-in ballots to all 2.4 million registered voters.
The court ruled that Chris Hollins, the Democratic clerk of Harris County, had overstepped his legal authority by seeking to send applications to all registered voters, even if they were not eligible to vote by mail under state law.
Texas law only allows people to vote by mail if they are older than 65, if they will be absent on Election Day, if they have a disability, if they are in jail, or if they are crime victims with confidential addresses.
Hollins had sent out applications to voters over 65 in Harris County, which covers the city of Houston and is considered an important Democratic stronghold, but had been trying to send them to all voters — an estimated 1.7 million more applications — in case they too were eligible.
Two lower courts had ruled he could do so, but the highest court in Texas disagreed.
"Mass-mailing unsolicited ballot applications to voters ineligible to vote by mail cannot be said to be necessary or indispensable to the conduct of early voting," the court ruled.
The court previously ruled in May that a lack of immunity to the coronavirus does not qualify a voter as disabled under state law.
"This year’s election process is occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic," the justices wrote Wednesday, "but Hollins has not explained why or how the pandemic has rendered inadequate the usual distribution of ballot applications on request, much less made mass mailings of unsolicited ballot applications necessary or indispensable to voting by mail."
In a statement, Hollins said the court had ruled in favor of voter suppression.
“It is disappointing that the Court has sided with political forces seeking to limit voter access this November,” said Hollins. “Placing limitations on non-partisan outreach that educates citizens about their Constitutional right to vote should not be acceptable in a democracy.
Democrats in Texas decried the decision as anti-democratic and urged supporters to vote out the four justices up for reelection this year.
"Republicans will bend the 'law' any which way to serve their purpose: maintain power for Republicans no longer supported by a majority of the state," state party chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued a proclamation to shutter all but one drop-off location for completed mail-in ballots in each of Texas's 254 counties, making it more difficult to securely vote by mail. In Harris County, that meant the closure of 11 drop-off locations the county had set up.
At the national level, Republicans have waged a broad legal battle against voting by mail during the pandemic.
For the first time in decades, Texas appears to be a swing state, with one poll on Wednesday showing President Donald Trump tied with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who made an unsuccessful run for his party's nomination, has urged Biden to campaign aggressively there before Election Day.
"If Texas turns blue that night, and its 38 electoral votes go to Biden, then Trump would have no viable path to victory, and the election would be over that night," O'Rourke wrote this week for the Washington Post.
Harris County clerk staff said Monday they had so far sent out almost 230,000 mail ballots, of which almost 2,200 had already been returned.