buzzfeed--2020-08-05--Joe Biden Won't Travel To Milwaukee For The Democratic National Convention

Former vice president Joe Biden will not travel to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee to accept the party 's presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus , the party announced Wednesday .
The decision , made with guidance from public health experts , effectively moves all of the convention 's signature events online , after years of planning for a giant event in Wisconsin .
No speakers will attend the convention in Milwaukee , though the party still plans to hold at least some events in the city .
Speeches from speakers who have not yet been announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live from locations across the country .
`` While we wish we could move forward with welcoming the world to beautiful Milwaukee in two weeks , we recognize protecting the health of our host community and everyone involved with this convention must be paramount , ” Joe Solmonese , CEO of the 2020 Democratic National Convention , said in a statement .
The party conventions , traditionally some of the biggest political events of presidential years , have been radically upended by the coronavirus pandemic .
The DNC has been scaling back its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump announced in late July that the Republican National Convention would no longer feature events and speeches in Jacksonville , Florida , instead leaving official business to events in Charlotte , North Carolina .
Trump has not yet announced where he will give his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination , but on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning , he suggested he may try to give the speech at the White House .
Biden had signaled for months that the Democratic convention may ultimately be mostly virtual .
In April , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats may need to do a “ virtual convention ” after the convention 's date was moved from July to August as coronavirus cases continued to surge around the country .
“ We may not be able to put 10 , 20 , 30,000 people in one place , ” Biden told Stephanopoulos .
In June , organizers for the Democratic National Convention encouraged state delegations not to travel to Milwaukee for the convention and moved the event to a smaller venue .
The Biden campaign told USA Today at the time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination in Milwaukee , but did not guarantee it .
“ Vice President Biden intends to proudly accept his party 's nomination in Milwaukee and take the next step forward towards making Donald Trump a one-term president , '' Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement to USA Today .
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin on Aug. 17 and end Aug. 20 and will air two hours of programming each night .
The Republican National Convention is due to begin the following week .

Former vice president Joe Biden will not travel to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee to accept the party's presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, the party announced Wednesday.
The decision, made with guidance from public health experts, effectively moves all of the convention's signature events online, after years of planning for a giant event in Wisconsin. No speakers will attend the convention in Milwaukee, though the party still plans to hold at least some events in the city. Speeches from speakers who have not yet been announced will instead be streamed online, some live from locations across the country.
"While we wish we could move forward with welcoming the world to beautiful Milwaukee in two weeks, we recognize protecting the health of our host community and everyone involved with this convention must be paramount,” Joe Solmonese, CEO of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, said in a statement.
The party conventions, traditionally some of the biggest political events of presidential years, have been radically upended by the coronavirus pandemic. The DNC has been scaling back its presence in Milwaukee for months. President Donald Trump announced in late July that the Republican National Convention would no longer feature events and speeches in Jacksonville, Florida, instead leaving official business to events in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Trump has not yet announced where he will give his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, but on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, he suggested he may try to give the speech at the White House.
Biden had signaled for months that the Democratic convention may ultimately be mostly virtual.
In April, Biden told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that Democrats may need to do a “virtual convention” after the convention's date was moved from July to August as coronavirus cases continued to surge around the country.
“We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place,” Biden told Stephanopoulos.
In June, organizers for the Democratic National Convention encouraged state delegations not to travel to Milwaukee for the convention and moved the event to a smaller venue. The Biden campaign told USA Today at the time that Joe was still planning to accept his nomination in Milwaukee, but did not guarantee it.
“Vice President Biden intends to proudly accept his party's nomination in Milwaukee and take the next step forward towards making Donald Trump a one-term president," Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement to USA Today.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin on Aug. 17 and end Aug. 20 and will air two hours of programming each night. The Republican National Convention is due to begin the following week.


buzzfeed--2020-08-05--Instagram Has Launched Reels, Its TikTok Rip-Off

Facebook ’ s TikTok competitor Reels was made available in the United States on Wednesday .
Just like TikTok , @ @ @ @ @ clips , sync them with music or audio effects , and share them with the @ @ @ @ @ .
But there is a crucial difference : Reels isn ’ t a separate app @ @ @ @ @ right into Instagram .
“ Reels gives people new ways to express themselves , discover @ @ @ @ @ on Instagram , and help anyone with the ambition of becoming a creator take center @ @ @ @ @ Instagram blog post announcing the launch .
What Instagram 's announcement doesn ’ t say @ @ @ @ @ is to TikTok .
Last month , the Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram offered @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of dollars ” to start using Reels .

Facebook’s TikTok competitor Reels was made available in the United States on Wednesday.
Just like TikTok, Reels lets people record 15-second clips, sync them with music or audio effects, and share them with the world or privately with friends. But there is a crucial difference: Reels isn’t a separate app — it’s built right into Instagram.
“Reels gives people new ways to express themselves, discover more of what they love on Instagram, and help anyone with the ambition of becoming a creator take center stage,” said an Instagram blog post announcing the launch.
What Instagram's announcement doesn’t say is just how similar Reels is to TikTok. Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram offered popular TikTok creators “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to start using Reels.


buzzfeed--2020-08-05--Young Latino Voters Say They’re Excited To Vote. But They’re Nervous Trump Supporters Will Cheat.

In a new national survey of Latino voters between the ages of 18 and 34 , a majority of respondents said that they would definitely be voting in the upcoming election and that they ’ re fired up but nervous about the outcome of the race between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden .
The survey conducted by Telemundo and BuzzFeed News found that 64 % of young Latino voters said they would definitely vote in the upcoming election .
The voters told surveyors that they ’ re feeling enthusiastic and nervous about the upcoming race — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were feeling “ fired up ” about the race and 52 % said that they were feeling nervous .
The poll also found that nonwhite young voters overwhelmingly support Biden ’ s campaign .
Sixty percent of young Latino voters , 75 % of young non-Hispanic Black voters , and 72 % of young non-Hispanic Asian voters said that they would vote for Biden , compared to the respective 19 % , 12 % , and 16 % who said they would vote for Trump .
Forty percent of young non-Hispanic white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to the 48 % who said they would vote for Biden .
While young Latino voters said that they were more likely to vote for Biden in the upcoming election , they are still unsure about what the result will be .
Biden and Trump are separated by just 1 % when the voters were asked who is likely to win the presidential election — 53 % of voters said they believe Biden will win and 52 % said that they think Trump will be reelected .
A large majority — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters said they believed that Trump supporters would cheat to win the election , while 51 % of Trump supporters said Biden supporters would cheat to win the election .
The poll also asked young Latino voters to name a politician who had “ shown up ” for the Latino community .
The most consistent answer to the question was “ nobody , ” with 33 % , followed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Biden , and Sen. Bernie Sanders each at 6 % .
The survey questioned 638 people who identified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ages of 18 and 34 and was conducted from June 5 to June 22 .

The poll also found that nonwhite young voters overwhelmingly support Biden’s campaign. Sixty percent of young Latino voters, 75% of young non-Hispanic Black voters, and 72% of young non-Hispanic Asian voters said that they would vote for Biden, compared to the respective 19%, 12%, and 16% who said they would vote for Trump. Forty percent of young non-Hispanic white people said they would vote for Trump, compared to the 48% who said they would vote for Biden.
While young Latino voters said that they were more likely to vote for Biden in the upcoming election, they are still unsure about what the result will be. Biden and Trump are separated by just 1% when the voters were asked who is likely to win the presidential election — 53% of voters said they believe Biden will win and 52% said that they think Trump will be reelected. A large majority — 73% — of young Latino Biden supporters said they believed that Trump supporters would cheat to win the election, while 51% of Trump supporters said Biden supporters would cheat to win the election.


buzzfeed--2020-08-05--A Woman's Obituary For Her Husband Who Died From The Coronavirus Is Going Viral

David W. Nagy did n't usually like it when his wife talked politics , but when he died last month from COVID-19 she channeled her devastation and anger into his short obituary , blaming his death on President Trump , the governor of Texas , and `` the many ignorant , self-centered and selfish people '' who refuse to wear a mask .
`` Dave did everything he was supposed to do , but you did not , '' Stacey Nagy , 72 , wrote in the six-paragraph tribute to her 79-year-old husband , who died on July 22 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and may Karma find you all ! ''
David had a list of medical conditions that increased his risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 , Stacey told BuzzFeed News , including diabetes , heart problems , and early signs of dementia .
As the pandemic spread through the US , Stacey and her husband tried to take every single precaution possible to stay safe , but they never could have accounted for the politicization of the pandemic and basic health recommendations .
`` We were married for 20 years and now I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` It 's just been devastating for me .
It pisses me off because he did n't need to die .
Had people been following the recommendations , things would have been different .
But people do n't . ''
Published in the Jefferson Jimplecute newspaper on July 30 , the obituary has been shared widely in social media , where Stacey lays blame on the Trump administration and Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott .
`` Family members believe David 's death was needless , '' the obituary reads .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all other innocent people , on Trump , Abbott and all of the other politicians who did not take this pandemic seriously and were more concerned with their popularity and votes than lives . ''
Stacey said she believes Trump and Abbott dismissed early recommendations like wearing face masks , helping to fuel anti-mask movements across the country .
`` Also to blame are the many ignorant , self-centered and selfish people who refused to follow the advice of the medical professionals , believing their 'right ' not to wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she wrote .

David W. Nagy didn't usually like it when his wife talked politics, but when he died last month from COVID-19 she channeled her devastation and anger into his short obituary, blaming his death on President Trump, the governor of Texas, and "the many ignorant, self-centered and selfish people" who refuse to wear a mask.
"Dave did everything he was supposed to do, but you did not," Stacey Nagy, 72, wrote in the six-paragraph tribute to her 79-year-old husband, who died on July 22. "Shame on all of you, and may Karma find you all!"
David had a list of medical conditions that increased his risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, Stacey told BuzzFeed News, including diabetes, heart problems, and early signs of dementia.
As the pandemic spread through the US, Stacey and her husband tried to take every single precaution possible to stay safe, but they never could have accounted for the politicization of the pandemic and basic health recommendations.
"We were married for 20 years and now I'm not with him," she said. "It's just been devastating for me. It pisses me off because he didn't need to die. Had people been following the recommendations, things would have been different. But people don't."
Published in the Jefferson Jimplecute newspaper on July 30, the obituary has been shared widely in social media, where Stacey lays blame on the Trump administration and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
"Family members believe David's death was needless," the obituary reads. "They blame his death and the deaths of all other innocent people, on Trump, Abbott and all of the other politicians who did not take this pandemic seriously and were more concerned with their popularity and votes than lives."
Stacey said she believes Trump and Abbott dismissed early recommendations like wearing face masks, helping to fuel anti-mask movements across the country.
"Also to blame are the many ignorant, self-centered and selfish people who refused to follow the advice of the medical professionals, believing their 'right' not to wear a mask was more important than killing innocent people," she wrote.


buzzfeed--2020-08-05--Trump Vaccine Adviser Warns That Scrutiny Of Him Will Delay Arrival Of Coronavirus Vaccine

The chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed , the Trump administration ’ s program investing billions of dollars into discovering a coronavirus vaccine , says media scrutiny of his stock ownership may delay a vaccine or make its discovery less likely because it is distracting him from his work .
Moncef Slaoui made the remarks on the official Health and Human Services podcast , released Friday , while being interviewed by Michael Caputo , HHS assistant secretary of public affairs .
The interview quickly descended into a lengthy rant about the media .
“ The American people need to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them because they don ’ t want a vaccine , in order to defeat Donald Trump , ” Caputo said at one point .
The two men took extensive issue with news stories about Slaoui .
He is working as a contractor voluntarily , drawing payment of only $ 1 .
As news reports have outlined , this exempts him from ethics rules that would apply to federal employees .
Slaoui worked for 30 years in senior roles at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline .
He still holds significant stock in the company .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can continue to own stock in the pharmaceutical industry and is exempt from disclosure rules that would apply if he joined the government .
After introductions , the podcast interview pivoted to the media ’ s treatment of Slaoui .
Caputo said that by joining Operation Warp Speed , Slaoui put a target on his back .
Slaoui agreed and said he was naive .
He said the media attention has distracted him and hurt the development of a vaccine .
“ I ’ m amazed that I ’ m being attacked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frankly distracts my energy and the energy of all the teams we ’ re working together with to deliver , and therefore decreases our chances or the speed with which we try to help humanity and the country resolve and address this issue , ” he said .
Slaoui said he is convinced the press has only one objective , which is “ to distort information in a way that allows them to shape an opinion.
” Caputo then praised Slaoui for working for free and ridiculed the notion of him trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t recognize the media anymore , ” he said .
“ I ’ m convinced that the reporters don ’ t want a vaccine , sir .
They don ’ t. ” As of Monday , 4.7 million Americans have tested positive for COVID and over 155,000 people have died .
There has recently been an average of about 1,200 new deaths every day .
Slaoui said on the podcast that the news stories have been “ insulting to the deepest of my personal fibers ” and challenged the media on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
Caputo singled out one reporter who wrote about Slaoui in particular , Noah Weiland of the New York Times .
“ I can tell you , sir , I will not speak to Noah Weiland .
He calls my phone , I don ’ t answer it .
It ’ s unethical reporting.
” Caputo then turned to Democrats who have questioned Slaoui ’ s contract arrangement , saying they do not want there to be a vaccine until after the Nov. 3 election .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Caputo said before adding “ they don ’ t want a vaccine now because of politics.
” Slaoui said he also didn ’ t want to talk about politics and is focused on discovering a vaccine .
“ I am resentful for actions that knowingly or unknowingly curtail that effort .
That ’ s inappropriate , that ’ s wrong , that ’ s unethical , ” he said .
Caputo then outlined his theory that the media are writing stories about Slaoui to try to get him to leave Operation Warp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reporters are doing this because they are “ so deeply unethical and so filled with hatred.
” Lest anyone think he was merely being hyperbolic , Caputo stressed that he believes this worldview “ all the way in my aorta.
” Patients Over Pharma is one of the progressive groups that has questioned whether former pharmaceutical executives should oversee a project that will dispense billions of dollars to the industry .
Spokesperson Eli Zupnick said Monday that everyone wants Slaoui to succeed , but there ’ s no reason he can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ethics guidelines .
“ Dr .
Slaoui doesn ’ t seem to understand that what he perceives as attacks aren ’ t personal and they aren ’ t ‘ fake news , ’ ” said Zupnick .
“ They are about making sure that the public can trust that Operation Warp Speed is operating in the best interests of patients and public health and not engaging in the cronyism and corruption that is so pervasive through the Trump administration .
”

The chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s program investing billions of dollars into discovering a coronavirus vaccine, says media scrutiny of his stock ownership may delay a vaccine or make its discovery less likely because it is distracting him from his work.
Moncef Slaoui made the remarks on the official Health and Human Services podcast, released Friday, while being interviewed by Michael Caputo, HHS assistant secretary of public affairs. The interview quickly descended into a lengthy rant about the media.
“The American people need to understand that the media often times are lying to them because they don’t want a vaccine, in order to defeat Donald Trump,” Caputo said at one point.
The two men took extensive issue with news stories about Slaoui. He is working as a contractor voluntarily, drawing payment of only $1. As news reports have outlined, this exempts him from ethics rules that would apply to federal employees.
Slaoui worked for 30 years in senior roles at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. He still holds significant stock in the company. The HHS inspector general ruled that he can continue to own stock in the pharmaceutical industry and is exempt from disclosure rules that would apply if he joined the government.
After introductions, the podcast interview pivoted to the media’s treatment of Slaoui. Caputo said that by joining Operation Warp Speed, Slaoui put a target on his back. Slaoui agreed and said he was naive. He said the media attention has distracted him and hurt the development of a vaccine.
“I’m amazed that I’m being attacked on a personal basis in a way that frankly distracts my energy and the energy of all the teams we’re working together with to deliver, and therefore decreases our chances or the speed with which we try to help humanity and the country resolve and address this issue,” he said.
Slaoui said he is convinced the press has only one objective, which is “to distort information in a way that allows them to shape an opinion.”
Caputo then praised Slaoui for working for free and ridiculed the notion of him trying to enrich his former company. “I don’t recognize the media anymore,” he said. “I’m convinced that the reporters don’t want a vaccine, sir. They don’t.”
As of Monday, 4.7 million Americans have tested positive for COVID and over 155,000 people have died. There has recently been an average of about 1,200 new deaths every day.
Slaoui said on the podcast that the news stories have been “insulting to the deepest of my personal fibers” and challenged the media on what they are doing to help during the pandemic. Caputo singled out one reporter who wrote about Slaoui in particular, Noah Weiland of the New York Times. “I can tell you, sir, I will not speak to Noah Weiland. He calls my phone, I don’t answer it. It’s unethical reporting.”
Caputo then turned to Democrats who have questioned Slaoui’s contract arrangement, saying they do not want there to be a vaccine until after the Nov. 3 election. “I don’t want to talk about politics here,” Caputo said before adding “they don’t want a vaccine now because of politics.”
Slaoui said he also didn’t want to talk about politics and is focused on discovering a vaccine. “I am resentful for actions that knowingly or unknowingly curtail that effort. That’s inappropriate, that’s wrong, that’s unethical,” he said.
“It’s inhumane,” said Caputo.
Slaoui responded, “I agree.”
Caputo then outlined his theory that the media are writing stories about Slaoui to try to get him to leave Operation Warp Speed because they want it to fail. Reporters are doing this because they are “so deeply unethical and so filled with hatred.”
Lest anyone think he was merely being hyperbolic, Caputo stressed that he believes this worldview “all the way in my aorta.”
Patients Over Pharma is one of the progressive groups that has questioned whether former pharmaceutical executives should oversee a project that will dispense billions of dollars to the industry. Spokesperson Eli Zupnick said Monday that everyone wants Slaoui to succeed, but there’s no reason he can’t do that while adhering to transparency and ethics guidelines.
“Dr. Slaoui doesn’t seem to understand that what he perceives as attacks aren’t personal and they aren’t ‘fake news,’” said Zupnick. “They are about making sure that the public can trust that Operation Warp Speed is operating in the best interests of patients and public health and not engaging in the cronyism and corruption that is so pervasive through the Trump administration.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--Instagram Displayed Negative Related Hashtags For Biden, But Hid Them For Trump

“ A technical error caused a number of hashtags to not show related hashtags .
We 've disabled this feature while we investigate.
” For at least the last two months , a key Instagram feature , which algorithmically pushes users toward supposedly related content , has been treating hashtags associated with President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in very different ways .
Searches for Biden also return a variety of pro-Trump messages , while searches for Trump-related topics only returned the specific hashtags , like # MAGA or # Trump — which means searches for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those for Trump do not .
Earlier this week , a search on Instagram for # JoeBiden would have surfaced nearly 390,000 posts tagged with the former vice president ’ s name along with related hashtags selected by the platform ’ s algorithm .
Users searching Instagram for # JoeBiden might also see results for # joebiden2020 , as well as pro-Trump hashtags like # trump2020landslide and # democratsdestroyamerica .
A similar search for # DonaldTrump on the platform , however , provided a totally different experience .
Besides showing 7 million posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Instagram did not present any related hashtags that would have pushed users toward different content or promoted alternative viewpoints .
The difference between these two results , which an Instagram spokesperson told BuzzFeed News was a “ bug , ” prevented hashtags including # Trump and # MAGA from being associated with potentially negative content .
Meanwhile , Instagram hashtags associated with the Democratic presidential candidate — # JoeBiden and # Biden , for example — were presented alongside content that included overtly pro-Trump content and attacks on the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates are treated by the platform raises more questions about how prepared Instagram and its parent company Facebook are for a pivotal US presidential election this November .
After acknowledging it hadn ’ t done enough to prevent election interference during the 2016 presidential race , Facebook has invested heavily in security and get-out-the-vote initiatives for 2020 , an election that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said will “ be unlike any other.
” The Instagram bug , which was first noticed by the Tech Transparency Project , a nonpartisan tech watchdog group , suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidates have been treated differently since at least June .
In most cases , algorithmically derived related hashtags are displayed to people who search for or click on a given hashtag , pointing them to more content that Instagram believes they might be interested in .
“ What we ’ ve seen with the related hashtags with Biden is that there is so much vitriol , that it appears to be benefitting President Trump , ” said Katie Paul , a director with the Tech Transparency Project .
The fact that related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump-related phrases also “ removes any possibility that negative hashtags could be associated with his name or campaign slogans , ” she added .
Instagram spokesperson Raki Wane described the issue as a bug on Tuesday .
She pointed out that thousands of hashtags including # artofdrinks and # menshair had also been prevented from populating with related hashtags .
She did not explain why the issue affected Trump hashtags and not those associated with Biden , or how long the problem had persisted .
“ A technical error caused a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wane said in a statement Tuesday afternoon .
“ We 've disabled this feature while we investigate.
” Hashtags , which are used regularly on Instagram posts , allow users to group posts into easily searchable categories that can also be followed as one would an account on the platform .
An examination by BuzzFeed News found that Instagram prevented related hashtags from populating for # Trump , which had been used on 14.6 million posts ; # Trump2020 , which had 2.5 million posts ; and # MAGA , which had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hashtag # JoeBiden , which has been used on 390,000 posts , appeared alongside negative hashtags including # creepyjoebiden and # neverbiden , as well as seemingly pro-Biden content like # joebidenforpresident .
A spokesperson for the Biden campaign declined to comment .
While Instagram shielded many Trump-focused hashtags from surfacing related content , some lesser-used hashtags , including # MAGA2020 , which has been placed on 373,000 posts , did bring up related hashtags , among them # trumpderangementsyndrome .
Some Democrat-related hashtags , including # democrats and # pelosi , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although # NancyPelosi did have related hashtags — including # clintonbodycount and # qdrops , two taglines associated with known conspiracy theories .
Reached for comment , a Trump campaign spokesperson used the bug as an opportunity to lambaste social media platforms for alleged anti-conservative bias .
“ Social media companies ’ biases consistently make the strongest arguments for the President ’ s Executive Order on Section 230 reform , ” said Ken Farnaso , a Trump 2020 deputy national press secretary , referring to the president ’ s push to end a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for what users post to their platforms .
“ It ’ s preposterous that Silicon Valley , the bastion of diversity and liberalism , is terrified of intellectual diversity and conservative voices.
” Nina Jankowicz , a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars who studies disinformation , said Instagram ’ s admission of a bug shows the company understands its suggestion algorithm impacts the content people consume .
Related hashtags have also been used to spread conspiracy theories on the platform , and has been gamed by bad actors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just benignly increase engagement , ” she said of related hashtags .
“ It can lead to a tipping of scales in terms of equitable discourse.
” Instagram is believed to have been the target of foreign influence campaigns in the past .
In 2018 , third-party researchers compiled two reports for the Senate outlining the yearslong campaigns used by Russia ’ s Internet Research Agency to spread disinformation and sow discord .
“ Instagram was perhaps the most effective platform for the Internet Research Agency , ” one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a key battleground on an ongoing basis.
” While Facebook and Instagram have ramped up investment to protect against election interference and check for disinformation , researchers like Jankowicz believe there ’ s still more to be done .
She advocated for more human review , particularly around political hashtags .
“ In times of crisis or volatile times ahead of an election , this stuff should be going under constant human review , ” she said .
“ It shouldn ’ t be left up to a computer code to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time like this .
”

The difference between these two results, which an Instagram spokesperson told BuzzFeed News was a “bug,” prevented hashtags including #Trump and #MAGA from being associated with potentially negative content. Meanwhile, Instagram hashtags associated with the Democratic presidential candidate — #JoeBiden and #Biden, for example — were presented alongside content that included overtly pro-Trump content and attacks on the former vice president.
The difference in how the presidential candidates are treated by the platform raises more questions about how prepared Instagram and its parent company Facebook are for a pivotal US presidential election this November. After acknowledging it hadn’t done enough to prevent election interference during the 2016 presidential race, Facebook has invested heavily in security and get-out-the-vote initiatives for 2020, an election that CEO Mark Zuckerberg said will “be unlike any other.”
The Instagram bug, which was first noticed by the Tech Transparency Project, a nonpartisan tech watchdog group, suggests that hashtags associated with the two main presidential candidates have been treated differently since at least June. In most cases, algorithmically derived related hashtags are displayed to people who search for or click on a given hashtag, pointing them to more content that Instagram believes they might be interested in.
“What we’ve seen with the related hashtags with Biden is that there is so much vitriol, that it appears to be benefitting President Trump,” said Katie Paul, a director with the Tech Transparency Project. The fact that related hashtags didn’t surface for many Trump-related phrases also “removes any possibility that negative hashtags could be associated with his name or campaign slogans,” she added.
Instagram spokesperson Raki Wane described the issue as a bug on Tuesday. She pointed out that thousands of hashtags including #artofdrinks and #menshair had also been prevented from populating with related hashtags. She did not explain why the issue affected Trump hashtags and not those associated with Biden, or how long the problem had persisted.
“A technical error caused a number of hashtags to not show related hashtags,” Wane said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “We've disabled this feature while we investigate.”
Hashtags, which are used regularly on Instagram posts, allow users to group posts into easily searchable categories that can also be followed as one would an account on the platform.


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--Young Latino Voters Say They’re Excited To Vote. But They’re Nervous Trump Supporters Will Cheat.


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--A Woman's Obituary For Her Husband Who Died From The Coronavirus Is Going Viral


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--Trump Vaccine Adviser Warns That Scrutiny Of Him Will Delay Arrival Of Coronavirus Vaccine


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--19 Celebrities Who Are Brutally Honest About How Hard Breastfeeding Is

`` [ I ] felt so lucky to be so close to her and give her that start .
I know many women are not able to and for that I am sympathetic and very grateful that I could .
For six wonderful months , '' Hilary wrote on Instagram about breastfeeding her daughter , Banks .
`` But I needed a break .
I was going to break .
With the stress of a dropping milk supply and a baby that was getting bored or not caring about nursing when I was available to , I was sad and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the time .
When really I ’ m a badass rock star ...
I wasn ’ t myself at all .
Something scary was hovering over my brain and my heart ... the part of me that I know is smart and rational .
The lows felt horrible ...
I am happy to say that I haven ’ t fed or pumped in three days and it ’ s crazy how fast you can come out on the other side .
I feel fine and happy and relieved and silly that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Banks is thriving and I get even more time with her and daddy gets to do more feeds !
And mommy gets a tiny bit more sleep ! ''

For many, the image of breastfeeding is one of total serenity: a glowing mom peacefully feeding her baby with a smile. But, in reality, it's a lot less pretty, at least most of the time, and especially in the beginning. Breastfeeding can be really, really hard — and it doesn't help that the stigma of "breast is best" is still rampant over the thought that "a fed baby is a well-fed baby." So it might be reassuring that even the moms with every resource at their disposal can struggle.


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--Selena Gomez Opened Up About How Quarantine Has Affected Her Mental Health After Revealing She Was D

Selena Gomez Opened Up About How Quarantine Has Affected Her Mental Health After Revealing She Was Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder

`` I had gone to treatment a few times for anxiety and for depression , and for other stuff that @ @ @ @ @ , '' Selena said during an appearance on Miley 's Brightminded talk show .
She @ @ @ @ @ I went to one of the best mental hospitals in America — McLean Hospital — @ @ @ @ @ after years of going through a lot of different things , I realised that I @ @ @ @

"I really thought [the show] would be something lighthearted because I was getting, definitely, down," she went on. "Of course, there are more important things going on, but this was an opportunity to make something that could make people smile."


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--It Will Be Very Difficult For Trump To Rush A Vaccine Before The Election, Even If He Tries

There ’ s growing concern among health experts and Democrats that President Donald Trump will rush a potentially faulty coronavirus vaccine before the election to save his presidency .
But it ’ s highly unlikely even the bare minimum of clinical trial data from the administration ’ s “ Operation Warp Speed ” candidates will be available by November , making any possible attempt to speed up a vaccine before the election extremely difficult .
“ I think there is a sense among many people on the inside that this is such a tempting thing to do , to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pull out one or two vaccines and say , ‘ Look , these are safe , ’ ” vaccine expert Paul Offit of Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia , who sits on the FDA vaccine advisory committee , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I can not imagine that you would have data that shows efficacy and in a period of time that would be over the next few months.
” On Monday , Moderna began its first injections of 30,000 people as part of its Phase 3 clinical trial for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence visited two of the 89 vaccine development sites across the country , where Moderna will monitor for signs that people who receive the vaccine are less likely to get infected or have severe illness than those injected with a placebo .
The vaccine is one of five Operation Warp Speed candidates , so far supported by around $ 6 billion in federal funding .
In May , Trump unveiled the new effort promising that vaccines would be available by the end of the year .
“ We ’ re all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have them — and that ’ s going to be very soon , ” Trump said at a press briefing on Thursday .
Trump ’ s emphasis on speed and his public fixation on vaccines as his reelection campaign falters has raised concern among public health experts and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden that the administration will jump safety guardrails .
Biden has in the last week repeatedly called for transparency in showing vaccine candidates are proven safe and effective before they are rolled out to the public .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of providing that .
“ The development of a new vaccine requires a dedication to science , coordination , transparency , truth , and fairness to all — and we have a President who stands for none of these things , ” Biden said in a statement from his campaign .
The vaccine safety guardrails that do exist may be too high for Trump to get around , though , even if he tries to ignore them .
Trump administration officials , including Anthony Fauci and FDA chief Stephen Hahn , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be the determining factor for releasing a vaccine to tens of millions of people .
In June , Fauci told McClatchy News there would be “ no chance ” he would agree to a vaccine that he doesn ’ t think passes muster .
At a press briefing on Monday , Fauci said a rushed timeline would only work if there were big outbreaks in areas where people were already being administered the test vaccines , which would quickly make clear whether they were effective .
He added that he doubted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , has already cut medical corners during the coronavirus pandemic .
Public health experts have pointed to the administration ’ s handling of hydroxychloroquine — which was rushed as a COVID-19 treatment under public pressure by Trump but ultimately found to be ineffective — to raise questions about the FDA ’ s role in safeguarding the public .
“ I think anyone who is listening and anyone who has watched how he has dealt with the pandemic since the beginning has pause about whether politics plays in this , ” Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate ’ s Health Committee , told BuzzFeed News when asked if there ’ s a question about the president rushing a vaccine for political purposes .
“ If there is not confidence in having this vaccine , we will be where we are today with this virus two , three , four years from now , ” she said .
The hydroxychloroquine saga has given a glimmer of optimism for some public health experts , however .
Although the administration steamrolled the FDA to authorize hydroxychloroquine in March , the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has withstood Trump ’ s continued public complaints about the decision and evangelism for the drug since then .
“ I feel a little better now , as the FDA has made clear they will handle this in the right way , ” infectious disease expert Carlos del Rio of Emory University told BuzzFeed News .
Del Rio had previously raised alarm about the possibility of an October vaccine shortcutting safety steps .
Early release of an unvetted vaccine could lead to a public health fiasco similar to the October 1976 release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election , which had side effects that included cases of a paralytic syndrome , and spurred the anti-vaccine movement .
And as Democrats have argued , a faulty vaccine could cripple the country ’ s ability to ultimately defeat the coronavirus by destroying Americans ’ remaining faith in vaccination .
“ If a vaccine or any medication is pushed out there and you find out 6 or 12 months later that there are health consequences or that it doesn ’ t work , we will lose the confidence in our scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on anything in the future , ” Murray told BuzzFeed News .
“ There is high stakes on this .
We ’ ve got to get it right.
” Murray published a report on July 13 that expressly asked the administration to set rigorous standards for vaccine development and scientific review .
The report calls on , among other things , the administration to protect the clinical review process from “ political interference ” and “ require inclusive clinical trial designs , and engage with the international community.
” Murray ’ s hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus stimulus package Congress is currently negotiating .
On Tuesday , Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said he asked the administration for a vaccine distribution plan by Oct. 1 , with or without a proven vaccine .
Murray thinks that ’ s too late .
“ You need to plan now , ” Murray told BuzzFeed News .
“ If a vaccine is available and it ’ s safe and effective in October , you have to have a supply chain ready .
You have to have the distribution points in place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People need to know who can take and who gets it first .
We need to have the plan in place and we need to have a transparent process of this vaccine and what ’ s going on .
”

There’s growing concern among health experts and Democrats that President Donald Trump will rush a potentially faulty coronavirus vaccine before the election to save his presidency.
But it’s highly unlikely even the bare minimum of clinical trial data from the administration’s “Operation Warp Speed” candidates will be available by November, making any possible attempt to speed up a vaccine before the election extremely difficult.
“I think there is a sense among many people on the inside that this is such a tempting thing to do, to put your hands in the Warp Speed bucket, pull out one or two vaccines and say, ‘Look, these are safe,’” vaccine expert Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who sits on the FDA vaccine advisory committee, told BuzzFeed News. “I cannot imagine that you would have data that shows efficacy and in a period of time that would be over the next few months.”
On Monday, Moderna began its first injections of 30,000 people as part of its Phase 3 clinical trial for its mRNA vaccine candidate. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited two of the 89 vaccine development sites across the country, where Moderna will monitor for signs that people who receive the vaccine are less likely to get infected or have severe illness than those injected with a placebo.
The vaccine is one of five Operation Warp Speed candidates, so far supported by around $6 billion in federal funding. In May, Trump unveiled the new effort promising that vaccines would be available by the end of the year. “We’re all set to deliver them as soon as we have them — and that’s going to be very soon,” Trump said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Trump’s emphasis on speed and his public fixation on vaccines as his reelection campaign falters has raised concern among public health experts and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden that the administration will jump safety guardrails.
Biden has in the last week repeatedly called for transparency in showing vaccine candidates are proven safe and effective before they are rolled out to the public. And he has cast doubt on whether Trump is capable of providing that. “The development of a new vaccine requires a dedication to science, coordination, transparency, truth, and fairness to all — and we have a President who stands for none of these things,” Biden said in a statement from his campaign.
The vaccine safety guardrails that do exist may be too high for Trump to get around, though, even if he tries to ignore them.
Trump administration officials, including Anthony Fauci and FDA chief Stephen Hahn, have repeatedly said that safety rather than speed would be the determining factor for releasing a vaccine to tens of millions of people. In June, Fauci told McClatchy News there would be “no chance” he would agree to a vaccine that he doesn’t think passes muster. At a press briefing on Monday, Fauci said a rushed timeline would only work if there were big outbreaks in areas where people were already being administered the test vaccines, which would quickly make clear whether they were effective. He added that he doubted that scenario would happen.
The Trump administration, though, has already cut medical corners during the coronavirus pandemic. Public health experts have pointed to the administration’s handling of hydroxychloroquine — which was rushed as a COVID-19 treatment under public pressure by Trump but ultimately found to be ineffective — to raise questions about the FDA’s role in safeguarding the public.
“I think anyone who is listening and anyone who has watched how he has dealt with the pandemic since the beginning has pause about whether politics plays in this,” Sen. Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate’s Health Committee, told BuzzFeed News when asked if there’s a question about the president rushing a vaccine for political purposes.
“If there is not confidence in having this vaccine, we will be where we are today with this virus two, three, four years from now,” she said.
The hydroxychloroquine saga has given a glimmer of optimism for some public health experts, however. Although the administration steamrolled the FDA to authorize hydroxychloroquine in March, the agency subsequently withdrew the emergency authorization in June and has withstood Trump’s continued public complaints about the decision and evangelism for the drug since then.
“I feel a little better now, as the FDA has made clear they will handle this in the right way,” infectious disease expert Carlos del Rio of Emory University told BuzzFeed News. Del Rio had previously raised alarm about the possibility of an October vaccine shortcutting safety steps.
Early release of an unvetted vaccine could lead to a public health fiasco similar to the October 1976 release of a hurried swine flu vaccine ahead of the election, which had side effects that included cases of a paralytic syndrome, and spurred the anti-vaccine movement. And as Democrats have argued, a faulty vaccine could cripple the country’s ability to ultimately defeat the coronavirus by destroying Americans’ remaining faith in vaccination.
“If a vaccine or any medication is pushed out there and you find out 6 or 12 months later that there are health consequences or that it doesn’t work, we will lose the confidence in our scientific ability — not just on this but on anything in the future,” Murray told BuzzFeed News. “There is high stakes on this. We’ve got to get it right.”
Murray published a report on July 13 that expressly asked the administration to set rigorous standards for vaccine development and scientific review. The report calls on, among other things, the administration to protect the clinical review process from “political interference” and “require inclusive clinical trial designs, and engage with the international community.” Murray’s hoping Congress will introduce similar language in the coronavirus stimulus package Congress is currently negotiating.
On Tuesday, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said he asked the administration for a vaccine distribution plan by Oct. 1, with or without a proven vaccine. Murray thinks that’s too late.
“You need to plan now,” Murray told BuzzFeed News. “If a vaccine is available and it’s safe and effective in October, you have to have a supply chain ready. You have to have the distribution points in place. People need to know where to go. People need to know who can take and who gets it first. We need to have the plan in place and we need to have a transparent process of this vaccine and what’s going on.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-07--Mark Zuckerberg Says A Ban On TikTok Would Set “A Really Bad Long-Term Precedent”

In his answer , Zuckerberg said he never comments on the company ’ s merger and acquisition strategy during company-wide meetings , but he did talk about what he called TikTok ’ s “ extraordinary circumstance.
” Speaking at the social network ’ s all-hands meeting , the billionaire Facebook founder was asked to address the acquisition talks between TikTok , the popular video app owned by Chinese company ByteDance , and Microsoft .
President Donald Trump has threatened to ban the app from the United States unless an acceptable company purchased it .
Facebook ’ s employees wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in acquiring the short-form video app , which Zuckerberg had previously identified as a competitor .
“ I am really worried…it could very well have long-term consequences in other countries around the world . ''
“ I just think it ’ s a really bad long-term precedent , and that it needs to be handled with the utmost care and gravity whatever the solution is , ” Zuckerberg said .
“ I am really worried…it could very well have long-term consequences in other countries around the world.
” Any deal between ByteDance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the date of the Trump administration ’ s proposed ban .
While Zuckerberg noted that TikTok , banned in India in June , was being hit now , he alluded to the idea that a Facebook product could become a target for another country later .
He did , however , sympathize with the Trump administration 's national security concerns .
“ I certainly think that there are valid national security questions about having an app that has a lot of people ’ s data that follows the rules of another country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of seen as a competitor , ” Zuckerberg said .
His comments come after Facebook has all but given up hope of bringing the world ’ s largest social network to the world 's most populous country .
While Zuckerberg had spent years wooing President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government to allow Facebook to expand inside the Great Firewall , those attempts have stopped as Zuckerberg aims to cast his company as an American success story to stave off regulators .
As for competition , Zuckerberg , who had previously considered acquiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a ban on the app would only be moderately beneficial .
On Wednesday , Facebook-owned Instagram launched Reels , its TikTok clone , in the United States .
“ A lot of people are out there saying that this helps Facebook and my reaction to that is only in the most narrow sense , ” he said .
“ Yes , they are a competitor this year , and this month , next month maybe our engagement will go up .
Maybe it will make Reels a little bit easier just to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t run a company for the next month or the next quarter.
” Zuckerberg ’ s comments clashed with the company ’ s past statements about TikTok .
In July 2019 , during a House Judiciary Committee hearing , a Facebook representative said TikTok was one of its main competitors .
“ And the competition we face is not just here in America , '' Facebook head of global policy development Matt Perault explained at the time .
`` We have competitors all around the world , notably in China , including companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was launched less than three years ago , has been downloaded more than a billion times and was the most downloaded iOS app in the world in 2018.
” Last month , during a hearing with members of the House antitrust subcommittee , which was also attended by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Apple CEO Tim Cook , and Google CEO Sundar Pichai , Zuckerberg held up TikTok as a reason why Facebook didn ’ t have a monopoly on social networking .
“ The most popular messaging service in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his opening remarks .
`` The fastest-growing app is TikTok .
The most popular app for video is YouTube .
The fastest-growing ads platform is Amazon .
The largest ads platform is Google .
”

“I just think it’s a really bad long-term precedent, and that it needs to be handled with the utmost care and gravity whatever the solution is,” Zuckerberg said. “I am really worried…it could very well have long-term consequences in other countries around the world.”
Any deal between ByteDance and Microsoft must conclude before Sept. 15, the date of the Trump administration’s proposed ban.
While Zuckerberg noted that TikTok, banned in India in June, was being hit now, he alluded to the idea that a Facebook product could become a target for another country later. He did, however, sympathize with the Trump administration's national security concerns.
“I certainly think that there are valid national security questions about having an app that has a lot of people’s data that follows the rules of another country, a government that is increasingly is kind of seen as a competitor,” Zuckerberg said.
His comments come after Facebook has all but given up hope of bringing the world’s largest social network to the world's most populous country. While Zuckerberg had spent years wooing President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government to allow Facebook to expand inside the Great Firewall, those attempts have stopped as Zuckerberg aims to cast his company as an American success story to stave off regulators.
As for competition, Zuckerberg, who had previously considered acquiring Musical.ly, TikTok’s predecessor, said a ban on the app would only be moderately beneficial. On Wednesday, Facebook-owned Instagram launched Reels, its TikTok clone, in the United States.
“A lot of people are out there saying that this helps Facebook and my reaction to that is only in the most narrow sense,” he said. “Yes, they are a competitor this year, and this month, next month maybe our engagement will go up. Maybe it will make Reels a little bit easier just to roll out. But you don’t run a company for the next month or the next quarter.”
Zuckerberg’s comments clashed with the company’s past statements about TikTok. In July 2019, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, a Facebook representative said TikTok was one of its main competitors.
“And the competition we face is not just here in America," Facebook head of global policy development Matt Perault explained at the time. "We have competitors all around the world, notably in China, including companies like WeChat and TikTok. TikTok, which was launched less than three years ago, has been downloaded more than a billion times and was the most downloaded iOS app in the world in 2018.”
Last month, during a hearing with members of the House antitrust subcommittee, which was also attended by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Zuckerberg held up TikTok as a reason why Facebook didn’t have a monopoly on social networking.
“The most popular messaging service in the US is iMessage," Zuckerberg said in his opening remarks. "The fastest-growing app is TikTok. The most popular app for video is YouTube. The fastest-growing ads platform is Amazon. The largest ads platform is Google.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-06--"I Had Hit The Lottery”: Inmates Desperate To Get Out Of Prisons Hit Hard By The Coronavirus Are Rac

"I Had Hit The Lottery”: Inmates Desperate To Get Out Of Prisons Hit Hard By The Coronavirus Are Racing To Court

With little legal precedent for a global pandemic , judges are deciding on a case-by-case basis how to weigh the risks of COVID-19 in prisons .
WASHINGTON — Ernest Boykin III watched as the coronavirus pandemic spread this spring through the federal prison in North Carolina where he was serving a 15-year sentence .
There weren ’ t any confirmed cases in his unit yet , but he was afraid he would die if there were .
Boykin filed an emergency request in court for compassionate release in May , arguing he has underlying medical conditions — obesity , asthma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that even the prosecutor acknowledged put him at risk of a severe case of COVID-19 .
The government opposed his release , however .
Having served less than half of his sentence for drug and weapons crimes , Boykin thought it was a long shot .
When his lawyer called in mid-July to tell him that the judge had agreed to release him to home confinement , “ it was like everything was in slow motion , ” he said .
“ This was like the best day of my life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Boykin , a 41-year-old father of five , told BuzzFeed News , speaking by phone from his parents ’ house in Washington , DC .
Boykin ’ s comparison to the lottery isn ’ t far off .
A BuzzFeed News review of more than 50 cases filed in the federal district court in DC showed that with little precedent for a flood of release requests during a pandemic , decisions about who gets out of prison and who does not can appear arbitrary .
Prisoner advocates and defense lawyers say these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the draw , with some judges proving to be more sympathetic than others .
Judges are making medical assessments about how much of a threat COVID-19 poses to an individual inmate and then deciding how to balance that against the public safety risk of sending that person back into the community ; inmates are usually released to home confinement or under the supervision of a probation officer .
And judges are reaching different conclusions about how to measure an inmate ’ s risk of exposure in state and federal prisons , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 cases nationwide .
Boykin is one of more than 800 inmates who have been granted compassionate release by a federal judge since March , according to data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons .
Another 7,000 federal inmates have been released by the BOP to home confinement in the same period , after Attorney General Bill Barr directed the bureau to prioritize using its own release power for eligible inmates to minimize the spread of COVID-19 .
More than 150,000 federal inmates remain incarcerated .
Thousands of inmates are still exploring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandatory Minimums , just one of the groups that connect inmates with pro bono legal assistance , has fielded more than 3,000 requests for help since the start of the pandemic .
They ’ ve been able to match approximately 1,200 inmates and family members with lawyers .
“ We were hoping ... that judges would not want to be a party to this ongoing , slow massacre in the prisons .
And they ’ re not , and that ’ s good , ” said FAMM President Kevin Ring .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how judges are analyzing release requests , “ it ’ s not consistent across jurisdictions — there are some judges who have been stricter and some who have been more lenient.
” In the meantime , COVID-19 cases in prisons and jails continue to rise .
As of Aug. 5 , more than 100 federal inmates have died , and 1,807 have confirmed cases .
Nearly 9,000 federal inmates , as well as more than 750 BOP employees , have recovered from the disease .
There have been severe outbreaks in state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Marshall Project , there have been nearly 80,000 reported cases among federal , state , and local prisoners in the United States .
“ Everybody ’ s terrified , ” said Deborah Golden , a prisoners ’ rights lawyer .
“ Inside prisons , people know generally that illnesses spread really fast .
Your garden-variety cold or the seasonal flu usually whips through a facility quickly because people are packed together ; sanitation is tough .
People have a lot of preexisting health conditions .
And so in the places where I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re just scared for their lives.
” Most of the cases reviewed by BuzzFeed News involved compassionate release petitions filed by people who were already convicted but also included requests for temporary release in pending criminal cases .
Inmates with medical conditions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said increase the risk of catching COVID-19 or having a severe case of the disease — asthma , obesity , or high blood pressure , for instance — faced varying outcomes when they ’ ve gone to court , case records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests relied on the fact that there weren ’ t any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at a particular prison or jail , and sometimes that wasn ’ t a barrier .
Some judges insisted inmates meet a threshold of having served at least half of their sentence , and other judges didn ’ t , as was the case for Boykin .
Nearly all judges required proof of a specific medical condition — but in one case a judge approved pretrial release without it , noting that his pre-pandemic decision to jail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
In two cases reviewed by BuzzFeed News , inmates serving multiple sentences related to different cases received conflicting decisions , with one judge granting their release and another denying it .
In late May , a federal judge in Virginia approved Arnold Jackson ’ s request for home confinement , finding that his health condition , which included diabetes , asthma , and obesity , put him at a high risk of a severe case .
The Virginia jail where Jackson was being held pending transfer to a BOP facility didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , but Chief US District Judge Michael Urbanski wrote that he was “ concerned by the spread of the disease throughout prisons in Virginia.
” Less than a month later , a federal judge in DC , where Jackson had a separate conviction , ordered him to stay behind bars .
In denying Jackson ’ s release request , US District Judge Trevor McFadden noted that the crime he was convicted of in DC — possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute — was more serious than the supervised release violation he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McFadden also disagreed with Urbanski ’ s assessment of the health risks at stake .
“ As several judges have observed , a defendant is at risk of contracting COVID-19 whether he is in prison or not , ” McFadden wrote .
“ Indeed , Jackson ’ s request to be released from [ the Central Virginia Regional Jail ] where he reports no COVID-19 cases — to home confinement in Washington , D.C. — where there are many — is particularly unpersuasive.
” Jackson is appealing McFadden ’ s decision .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending case .
In compassionate release cases , judges have to decide if an inmate ’ s situation presents “ extraordinary and compelling reasons ” to reduce their prison sentence .
In some cases reviewed by BuzzFeed News , judges found that an inmate ’ s medical conditions met the standard given the pandemic , but public safety and other factors outweighed the health risks .
US District Judge Emmet Sullivan , the judge who granted release to Boykin , denied release to Tony John Evans , who was convicted in a multimillion-dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented medical conditions , including obesity , high blood pressure , and sleep apnea , that cleared the “ extraordinary and compelling ” standard .
The judge also noted that the federal prison where Evans was being held in Danbury , Connecticut , was experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak ; as of August , 89 inmates had recovered from the disease , and one had died .
But Sullivan wrote that Evans ’ participation in a “ manipulative and sinister ” extortion scheme , lack of family support , minimal employment history , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a danger to the community weighed in favor of keeping him in prison .
Sullivan wrote that the 60-month sentence he originally imposed was still necessary .
Older inmates were more likely to win release — judges have relied on the CDC ’ s guidance that people over 65 are at a higher risk — but age wasn ’ t always a guarantee of a certain outcome .
A 78-year-old man convicted of drug trafficking crimes who presented evidence that he had a range of ailments , including chronic heart failure , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t present evidence of any underlying medical conditions was approved for home confinement while waiting for sentencing on his conviction for distribution of child pornography .
Inmates who had served less than 50 % of their sentence were less likely to win release , but there were exceptions , like Boykin ’ s case .
US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in May agreed to release Morris Johnson to home confinement , even though he ’ d only served 29 % of a 41-month sentence for weapons-related offenses .
The judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wasn ’ t a flight risk or danger to the community and had a “ good track record ” of complying with release conditions when she allowed him to remain free pending trial .
Johnson ’ s lawyer declined an interview request .
Some judges who granted release wrote that they thought the risk of being sent back to prison as COVID-19 continued to spread would give those who were released an incentive to stay out of trouble .
Some judges who denied release focused on the greater risk of exposure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates on home confinement or supervised release .
Prisoner advocates have tried class actions as a way to get larger groups of inmates released through a single case , or at least moved to facilities with fewer confirmed COVID-19 cases ; the lawsuits have focused on inmates with medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of contracting the virus .
So far those efforts have been largely unsuccessful .
“ Judges are very hesitant to release people who are incarcerated prior to the end of their sentences , particularly in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other ways of helping — and I think that ’ s probably true of most of the judges , that they would like to make this a better situation — but they are concerned about actually letting people out , ” said Maria Morris , a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union ’ s National Prison Project .
In April , US District Judge James Gwin ordered the BOP to immediately review if “ medically vulnerable ” inmates at the Elkton , Ohio , prison were eligible for release , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t eligible to a facility with a lower risk of COVID-19 exposure .
Gwin wrote that the BOP was fighting a “ losing battle ” to contain the disease at Elkton , which by April had 59 confirmed cases among inmates and six deaths .
He issued another decision in May finding prison officials had failed to fully comply with his first order .
But on June 4 , the US Supreme Court put Gwin ’ s orders on hold while the Justice Department appealed .
Five days later , the 6th Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inmates failed to show the BOP was “ deliberately indifferent ” to the risks of COVID-19 at Elkton .
As the situation worsens in some BOP facilities , some inmates who lost their first attempt at a release are renewing their requests .
BuzzFeed News identified at least one case where a judge is revisiting his previous decision .
US District Judge Paul Friedman in June denied compassionate release to Sheila Scutchings , who is serving a 54-month sentence for her role in a fraud conspiracy .
When Scutchings first filed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two confirmed COVID-19 cases at Federal Medical Center Carswell , a prison facility in Fort Worth , Texas .
Friedman , a federal judge in DC , noted the small number of cases in his ruling .
But by mid-July , there were more than 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases at Carswell .
Scutchings renewed her request , and Friedman issued an order on July 27 saying he ’ d reconsider .
The spread of the virus at the facility was “ of concern , ” he wrote .
He ordered the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily infection rates at the facility .
As of Aug. 5 , there were 150 inmates with the disease and 392 who had recovered ; four inmates have died .
Scutchings ’ lawyer , Joseph Conte , declined to comment .
Prisons and jails were predictable hot spots for outbreaks of COVID-19 .
Incarcerated individuals live , eat , and sleep in communal spaces .
Even if masks , cleaning supplies , and hand sanitizer are available — and Golden said that isn ’ t always the case — inmates can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Inmates with limited access to the outside world have struggled to get up-to-date information about the disease and what ’ s happening in their own prison , advocates told BuzzFeed News .
Prisons have restricted in-person visits , including with lawyers , and that can make it harder for inmates to pursue release .
Boykin was serving his sentence at Rivers Correctional Institution , a privately operated federal prison .
When the pandemic first hit in the spring , he said he didn ’ t think prison staff took it seriously ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , he said .
Even after the facility started taking precautions and distributing masks , enforcement was “ kind of lax , ” he said .
“ I was really , really scared that I was going to die in prison , ” he said .
Rivers has been on the low end of confirmed cases ; 20 inmates have recovered , and none have died so far .
Five inmates currently have confirmed cases , according to the BOP .
But other federal prisons have had hundreds of cases .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks across the Bureau of Prisons to date ; nearly 800 inmates have recovered from the disease , and 25 have died , according to BOP .
Seventy-five inmates at the facility currently have the disease .
“ One of the things that we ’ ve heard at Butner , which is where a lot of our information has come from , is that people will be lying in their beds , and no one really knows how sick they are until they collapse and have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which point who knows how many people around them have been infected , ” Morris said .
BOP spokesperson Justin Long declined an interview request , and emailed BuzzFeed News an overview of how the agency has responded to the pandemic .
To try to stop the disease from getting into prisons , Long said , officials limited inmate transfers between facilities , suspended in-person visits and staff travel , and limited access for contractors and volunteers .
As of mid-June , Long added , all new inmates have been tested for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days before going into the general population .
To contain the spread of COVID-19 within facilities , Long said , prison officials have limited how much inmates can move around and congregate .
Inmates who test positive are placed in isolation .
Soap and cleaning supplies are available , and all inmates and staffers have received masks .
Long said that UNICOR , the government-owned company that operates federal prison factories , is producing cloth face masks and distributing them to reserve surgical masks for medical procedures .
“ We are deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those inmates who are entrusted to our care , and for our staff , their families , and the communities we live and work in .
It is our highest priority to continue to do everything we can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities , ” Long wrote .
The incarcerated individuals who continue to petition federal judges for release argue the BOP has failed to do enough to protect inmates and staffers during the pandemic , however , especially those who are older and those who have preexisting medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , passed by Congress in 2018 , inmates could not petition for compassionate release on their own ; only the BOP could file a request in court .
Of the 1,168 compassionate release orders issued by judges since it became law in December 2018 , 829 have been granted since March this year , according to BOP data .
By comparison , from 2013 to 2017 , the bureau approved 312 applications for compassionate releases , according to an analysis of data by the Marshall Project and the New York Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a pandemic is developing in real time , which creates challenges for lawyers and judges who are used to looking to past cases for guidance .
Deborah Golden , who unsuccessfully argued for compassionate release for a 63-year-old federal inmate , said judges want information that changes what they knew when a person was sentenced — evidence of an outbreak at a prison , for instance , or underlying health conditions that present a specific risk related to COVID-19 .
“ You really do have to show something , from what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Golden said .
One area where federal judges nationwide haven ’ t agreed is whether inmates have to first petition the BOP to seek compassionate release on their behalf before they can go directly to a judge .
The First Step Act says inmates are supposed to first apply to the warden , and then either go through an appeal process if that official denies their request or wait 30 days from when they applied before going to court .
Judges in the DC federal court have allowed cases to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 30-day waiting period , but judges elsewhere haven ’ t .
In April , the US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit , which covers Pennsylvania , Delaware , and New Jersey , called an inmate ’ s failure to go through the BOP process a “ glaring roadblock ” to their release .
Ernest Boykin said the compassionate release process seemed designed to discourage inmates from pursuing it all the way to court .
He said he had friends at the Rivers prison facility with medical issues that put them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of COVID-19 , such as asthma and obesity , but they didn ’ t have the family and legal support that he did to press their case .
“ The way they have the system set up , they know that people are not going to follow through , ” he said .
Many inmates are turning to the compassionate release process because few other legal avenues are available .
They can file a lawsuit arguing that conditions in a particular prison are unlawful or unconstitutional , but the federal Prison Litigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and requires inmates to first exhaust an internal grievance process .
Katie Chamblee-Ryan , a senior attorney with the Civil Rights Corps who has been working on prisoner release litigation during the pandemic , said the PLRA has placed “ needlessly cruel ” restrictions on prisoners ’ ability to get relief from the courts in a dangerous and fast-moving situation .
“ This law has a vice grip on federal courts , ” Chamblee-Ryan said .
“ It allows extremely narrow , extremely circumspect measures only , and really hampers their ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , prisons and jails fail to protect the rights of the people inside of them.
” Although prisoner advocates and federal inmates haven ’ t been able to use class actions to secure large-scale releases , they have had some success convincing judges to order prison officials to adopt policies to make prisons and jails safer during the pandemic .
The Civil Rights Corps filed a class action in April in federal court in Maryland seeking the release of “ medically vulnerable ” inmates at the Prince George ’ s County jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring officials to take steps to protect inmates against the spread of COVID-19 , such as providing individual supplies of soap and other cleaning products , creating social distancing policies , and increasing access to phones so prisoners didn ’ t have to crowd together while they waited to make calls .
The Civil Rights Corps filed dozens of firsthand accounts from inmates who described a lack of social distancing and inadequate or inaccessible medical care .
In May , US District Judge Paula Xinis entered an injunction ordering county officials to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , providing personal protective equipment , and educating staff about how to care for sick inmates .
She declined to order the release of inmates , however .
In June , the judge declined to extend her injunction , finding state officials had come up with a “ reasonable ” response to the pandemic .
The organization is still litigating the case but is also trying to pressure state officials to intervene .
It launched a project in July called “ Gasping for Justice , ” recruiting actors and artists , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alec Baldwin , as well as prisoners ’ rights advocates and other volunteers to record themselves reading the inmates ’ statements out loud .
“ The people who have been there since the pandemic began saw a huge outbreak at the jail and no response from jail officials .
They basically feel like sitting ducks , ” Chamblee-Ryan said of the inmates she ’ s representing .
On Aug. 5 , the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to halt an injunction entered in a federal class action in California that required heightened public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county jail in Santa Ana , California .
The court ’ s four more liberal justices disagreed with the decision , with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that the court was “ leaving to its own devices a jail that has misrepresented its actions to the District Court and failed to safeguard the health of the inmates in its care.
” Boykin said he ’ s in touch with friends at the Rivers prison , and they ’ re still worried about the disease spreading there .
He ’ s enjoying his freedom ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distanced visits with his kids , who live with their mother , and savored the ribeye steak he had for dinner when he first arrived back in DC , but he said he wants to find ways to help those who are still in prison .
“ People are being left to die , ” he said .
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WASHINGTON — Ernest Boykin III watched as the coronavirus pandemic spread this spring through the federal prison in North Carolina where he was serving a 15-year sentence. There weren’t any confirmed cases in his unit yet, but he was afraid he would die if there were.
Boykin filed an emergency request in court for compassionate release in May, arguing he has underlying medical conditions — obesity, asthma, and high blood pressure, especially — that even the prosecutor acknowledged put him at risk of a severe case of COVID-19. The government opposed his release, however. Having served less than half of his sentence for drug and weapons crimes, Boykin thought it was a long shot.
When his lawyer called in mid-July to tell him that the judge had agreed to release him to home confinement, “it was like everything was in slow motion,” he said.
“This was like the best day of my life, like I had hit the lottery,” Boykin, a 41-year-old father of five, told BuzzFeed News, speaking by phone from his parents’ house in Washington, DC.
Boykin’s comparison to the lottery isn’t far off. A BuzzFeed News review of more than 50 cases filed in the federal district court in DC showed that with little precedent for a flood of release requests during a pandemic, decisions about who gets out of prison and who does not can appear arbitrary. Prisoner advocates and defense lawyers say these cases can come down to the luck of the draw, with some judges proving to be more sympathetic than others.
Judges are making medical assessments about how much of a threat COVID-19 poses to an individual inmate and then deciding how to balance that against the public safety risk of sending that person back into the community; inmates are usually released to home confinement or under the supervision of a probation officer. And judges are reaching different conclusions about how to measure an inmate’s risk of exposure in state and federal prisons, which have seen some of the worst clusters of COVID-19 cases nationwide.
Boykin is one of more than 800 inmates who have been granted compassionate release by a federal judge since March, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Another 7,000 federal inmates have been released by the BOP to home confinement in the same period, after Attorney General Bill Barr directed the bureau to prioritize using its own release power for eligible inmates to minimize the spread of COVID-19. More than 150,000 federal inmates remain incarcerated.
Thousands of inmates are still exploring options to get out. Families Against Mandatory Minimums, just one of the groups that connect inmates with pro bono legal assistance, has fielded more than 3,000 requests for help since the start of the pandemic. They’ve been able to match approximately 1,200 inmates and family members with lawyers.
“We were hoping ... that judges would not want to be a party to this ongoing, slow massacre in the prisons. And they’re not, and that’s good,” said FAMM President Kevin Ring. However, he said, when it comes to how judges are analyzing release requests, “it’s not consistent across jurisdictions — there are some judges who have been stricter and some who have been more lenient.”
In the meantime, COVID-19 cases in prisons and jails continue to rise. As of Aug. 5, more than 100 federal inmates have died, and 1,807 have confirmed cases. Nearly 9,000 federal inmates, as well as more than 750 BOP employees, have recovered from the disease. There have been severe outbreaks in state and local jails as well; according to the Marshall Project, there have been nearly 80,000 reported cases among federal, state, and local prisoners in the United States.
“Everybody’s terrified,” said Deborah Golden, a prisoners’ rights lawyer. “Inside prisons, people know generally that illnesses spread really fast. Your garden-variety cold or the seasonal flu usually whips through a facility quickly because people are packed together; sanitation is tough. People have a lot of preexisting health conditions. And so in the places where I’ve talked to people, they’re just scared for their lives.”