buzzfeed--2020-07-29--A Judge Blocked Trump's "Public Charge" Policy On Immigrants During The Pandemic

People line up at a food distribution site in Chelsea , Massachusetts , which has a large immigrant population hit hard by the coronavirus , July 10 .
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A federal judge in New York on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy during the coronavirus pandemic that allows the government to deny permanent residency to immigrants who officials believe are likely to use public benefits .
The ruling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the latest in the back-and-forth legal saga over the “ public charge ” policy .
“ Doctors and other medical personnel , state and local officials , and staff at nonprofit organizations have all witnessed immigrants refusing to enroll in Medicaid or other public funded health coverage , or forgoing testing and treatment for COVID-19 , out of fear that accepting such insurance or care will increase their risk of being labeled a public charge , ” Daniels wrote in his ruling .
“ As a direct result of the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible choice between jeopardizing health and personal safety or their immigration status.
” Daniels said the block is in effect for any period during which there is a “ national health emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
” The New York attorney general ’ s office had gone to the Supreme Court in April with a request to block the public charge rule in light of the pandemic .
The request , which was denied , came several months after the conservative Supreme Court justices voted to allow the Trump administration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued in the federal courts .
“ We secured an injunction to block the Public Charge rule from taking effect during the # COVID19 pandemic and while our legal challenge is pending , ” New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted .
“ This is a major victory to protect the health of our communities across New York and the entire nation.
” The Immigration and Nationality Act has long allowed the government to reject granting permanent residency to immigrants who were determined to be a financial burden on society , or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dependent on the government for financial support .
The Trump administration ’ s rule , however , altered how the government decides if someone is a public charge , allowing officials to deny green cards to those who are determined likely to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) , Section 8 housing vouchers and assistance , public housing , or most forms of Medicaid .
Experts have said that the policy will change the face of immigration and discourage people from seeking public benefits .
The policy was implemented in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevention due to the public charge rule are not speculative or hypothetical , the attorneys argued , citing multiple declarations from doctors , attorneys , and community advocates .

A federal judge in New York on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy during the coronavirus pandemic that allows the government to deny permanent residency to immigrants who officials believe are likely to use public benefits.
The ruling, issued by US District Judge George Daniels, is the latest in the back-and-forth legal saga over the “public charge” policy.
“Doctors and other medical personnel, state and local officials, and staff at nonprofit organizations have all witnessed immigrants refusing to enroll in Medicaid or other public funded health coverage, or forgoing testing and treatment for COVID-19, out of fear that accepting such insurance or care will increase their risk of being labeled a public charge,” Daniels wrote in his ruling. “As a direct result of the rule, immigrants are forced to make an impossible choice between jeopardizing health and personal safety or their immigration status.”
Daniels said the block is in effect for any period during which there is a “national health emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
The New York attorney general’s office had gone to the Supreme Court in April with a request to block the public charge rule in light of the pandemic. The request, which was denied, came several months after the conservative Supreme Court justices voted to allow the Trump administration to implement the policy as a legal challenge continued in the federal courts.
“We secured an injunction to block the Public Charge rule from taking effect during the #COVID19 pandemic and while our legal challenge is pending,” New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted. “This is a major victory to protect the health of our communities across New York and the entire nation.”
The Immigration and Nationality Act has long allowed the government to reject granting permanent residency to immigrants who were determined to be a financial burden on society, or a public charge, meaning they’re dependent on the government for financial support.
The Trump administration’s rule, however, altered how the government decides if someone is a public charge, allowing officials to deny green cards to those who are determined likely to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Section 8 housing vouchers and assistance, public housing, or most forms of Medicaid. Experts have said that the policy will change the face of immigration and discourage people from seeking public benefits.
The policy was implemented in late February.
The effects on COVID-19 prevention due to the public charge rule are not speculative or hypothetical, the attorneys argued, citing multiple declarations from doctors, attorneys, and community advocates.


buzzfeed--2020-07-29--Facebook Bought Instagram To Neutralize A Competitor, Emails Show

“ These businesses are nascent but the networks are established , the brands are already meaningful , and if they grow to a large scale they could be very disruptive to us , ” Zuckerberg wrote .
In an email sent in late February 2012 , Zuckerberg told Ebersman he was thinking about how much Facebook should pay to acquire smaller competitors like Instagram and Path , which were then upstart social networks .
Facebook would eventually acquire Instagram in April that year for $ 1 billion .
The hearing came after the subcommittee spent roughly a year investigating possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As part of the process , the committee gathered records from the companies , including the emails sent between Zuckerberg and Facebook ’ s former CFO , David Ebersman .
Along with Zuckerberg , the top executives of Amazon , Google , and Apple appeared via videoconference to be questioned about the market power of and consumer harm caused by their companies .
Republican members of Congress also pressed Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai about alleged anti-conservative bias on their platforms .
The emails , which were first published by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler while questioning Zuckerberg at a Capitol Hill hearing into antitrust .
When Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was considering buying Instagram in 2012 , he told his company ’ s CFO that it would neutralize a competitor , according to emails obtained by the House Antitrust Subcommittee and released Wednesday .
Documents from the Hearing on “ Online Platforms and Market Power : Examining the Dominance of Amazon , Apple , Facebook and Google '' Ebersman replied that it typically made sense to acquire another company for one of three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talent , or integrating products .
Zuckerberg said it was a combination of the first and third reasons .
“ There are network effects around social products and a finite number of different social mechanics to invent .
Once someone wins at a specific mechanic , it ’ s difficult for others to supplant them without doing something different , ” the CEO wrote .
He added that acquiring one of these companies would buy Facebook time to ward off other competitive threats .
“ Even if some new competitors springs up [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Foursquare , etc now will give us a year or more to integrate their dynamics before anyone can get close to their scale again , ” he added .
Zuckerberg emailed Ebersman again 45 minutes later to walk back talk of “ neutralizing a competitor.
” “ I didn ’ t mean to imply that we ’ d be buying them to prevent them from competing with us in any way , ” he wrote .
But Nadler seized upon the email exchange as evidence of anticompetitive behavior .
“ Facebook saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siphon business away from Facebook .
So instead of competing with it , Facebook bought it , ” he said .
“ This is exactly the type of acquisition the antitrust laws were designed to prevent .
It should never have been permitted to happen and can not happen again.
” Zuckerberg disagreed .
“ I 've always been clear that we viewed Instagram both as a competitor and as a complement to our services , ” he said , adding that the FTC did not block the acquisition at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had all these documents and reviewed this and unanimously voted at the time not to challenge the acquisition .
I think it looks obvious Instagram would have reached the scale it has today , but at the time it was far from obvious.
” After Zuckerberg cited the FTC in his answer , Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island , the subcommittee chair , weighed in to say the FTC ’ s decision was irrelevant .
“ I would remind the witness that the failures of the FTC in 2012 , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chairman [ Nadler ] described , ” he said .
House Democrats released additional internal Facebook communications about the Instagram acquisition , including one from late January 2012 in which an unnamed employee said “ Instagram is eating our lunch.
” Months later , on the day its acquisition of Instagram was made public , Zuckerberg wrote to the employee to acknowledge that “ Instagram was our threat.
” “ You were basically right , ” he said .
“ One thing about startups , though , is you can often acquire @ @ @

Ebersman replied that it typically made sense to acquire another company for one of three reasons: neutralizing a competitor, acquiring talent, or integrating products.
Zuckerberg said it was a combination of the first and third reasons.
“There are network effects around social products and a finite number of different social mechanics to invent. Once someone wins at a specific mechanic, it’s difficult for others to supplant them without doing something different,” the CEO wrote.
He added that acquiring one of these companies would buy Facebook time to ward off other competitive threats.
“Even if some new competitors springs up [sic], buying Instagram, Path, Foursquare, etc now will give us a year or more to integrate their dynamics before anyone can get close to their scale again,” he added.
Zuckerberg emailed Ebersman again 45 minutes later to walk back talk of “neutralizing a competitor.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that we’d be buying them to prevent them from competing with us in any way,” he wrote.
But Nadler seized upon the email exchange as evidence of anticompetitive behavior.
“Facebook saw Instagram as a threat that could potentially siphon business away from Facebook. So instead of competing with it, Facebook bought it,” he said. “This is exactly the type of acquisition the antitrust laws were designed to prevent. It should never have been permitted to happen and cannot happen again.”
Zuckerberg disagreed. “I've always been clear that we viewed Instagram both as a competitor and as a complement to our services,” he said, adding that the FTC did not block the acquisition at the time.
“Congressman, I think the FTC had all these documents and reviewed this and unanimously voted at the time not to challenge the acquisition. I think it looks obvious Instagram would have reached the scale it has today, but at the time it was far from obvious.”
After Zuckerberg cited the FTC in his answer, Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, the subcommittee chair, weighed in to say the FTC’s decision was irrelevant.
“I would remind the witness that the failures of the FTC in 2012, of course, do not alleviate the antitrust challenges the chairman [Nadler] described,” he said.
House Democrats released additional internal Facebook communications about the Instagram acquisition, including one from late January 2012 in which an unnamed employee said “Instagram is eating our lunch.”
Months later, on the day its acquisition of Instagram was made public, Zuckerberg wrote to the employee to acknowledge that “Instagram was our threat.”
“You were basically right,” he said. “One thing about startups, though, is you can often acquire them.”


buzzfeed--2020-07-29--Federal Officers Are Leaving Portland — But Heading To Other Cities

The Trump administration has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland , Oregon , officials announced Wednesday , following weeks of controversy about their presence in the city .
But the announcement came shortly after the Justice Department said it would send agents to Cleveland , Detroit , and Milwaukee in what it described as a bid to fight violent crime , but which detractors of the administration have dubbed stunts designed to help the President Donald Trump campaign for reelection on a message of law and order .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown , a Democrat , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had with Vice President Mike Pence about the presence of the officers in Portland , who were ostensibly sent by Trump to restore order to a city besieged by `` anarchists , '' but who Brown and many locals say are themselves an occupying force .
`` They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence , '' Brown said in a tweet Wednesday .
`` Starting tomorrow , all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland . ''
The governor said local state police would still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the peace '' and allow demonstrations to continue .
Chad Wolf , acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security , said in a news release that an `` augmented '' force would remain in Portland to protect the federal courthouse that had been at the center of protests , but he added that `` should circumstances on the ground significantly approve due to the influx of state and local law enforcement , we anticipate the ability to change our force posture . ''
Wolf later told reporters that agency law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ assured ” that the courthouse will not be attacked nightly and that officers would remain “ in the area ” in case they get any indication that the plan with Oregon officials is not working .
Wolf said Brown reached out to him recently and offered the use of Oregon State Police .
“ It ’ s what we ’ ve been asking for , ” he said .
The state police , according to Wolf , will deploy a robust force in the streets surrounding the courthouse along with Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradict comments made by Trump just hours earlier outside the White House , where he told reporters federal agents were in the city to protect a federal building from `` nasty and vicious people . ''
`` Either they clean out Portland — the governor and the mayor , who are weak — either they clean out Portland or we 're going in to do it for them , '' he said .
For weeks , the presence of the more than 100 agents — many wearing camouflage uniforms without any form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vans — has sparked anger both locally in Portland and nationally .
Both the offices of the inspector general for the departments of Homeland Security and Justice are now investigating the actions of the federal law enforcement officers there .
The federal crackdown on crime in several states , dubbed Operation Legend , has already seen federal officers sent to Kansas City , Missouri , as well as to Chicago and Albuquerque , New Mexico .
As part of what the Justice Department said were efforts to combat gun violence , violent gangs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 federal investigators with the FBI , DEA , and ATF will now be sent to Cleveland , while another 42 will be sent to Detroit and 25 more will go to Milwaukee .
All three cities are run by Democratic mayors , with Trump previously denouncing `` Democrat-run '' cities .

The Trump administration has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland, Oregon, officials announced Wednesday, following weeks of controversy about their presence in the city.
But the announcement came shortly after the Justice Department said it would send agents to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee in what it described as a bid to fight violent crime, but which detractors of the administration have dubbed stunts designed to help the President Donald Trump campaign for reelection on a message of law and order.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, said the withdrawal in her state came after discussions she had with Vice President Mike Pence about the presence of the officers in Portland, who were ostensibly sent by Trump to restore order to a city besieged by "anarchists," but who Brown and many locals say are themselves an occupying force.
"They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence," Brown said in a tweet Wednesday. "Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland."
The governor said local state police would still patrol the city's downtown to "keep the peace" and allow demonstrations to continue.
Chad Wolf, acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a news release that an "augmented" force would remain in Portland to protect the federal courthouse that had been at the center of protests, but he added that "should circumstances on the ground significantly approve due to the influx of state and local law enforcement, we anticipate the ability to change our force posture."
Wolf later told reporters that agency law enforcement personnel will remain in Portland until they are “assured” that the courthouse will not be attacked nightly and that officers would remain “in the area” in case they get any indication that the plan with Oregon officials is not working.
Wolf said Brown reached out to him recently and offered the use of Oregon State Police. “It’s what we’ve been asking for,” he said.
The state police, according to Wolf, will deploy a robust force in the streets surrounding the courthouse along with Portland police officers.
The development seemed to contradict comments made by Trump just hours earlier outside the White House, where he told reporters federal agents were in the city to protect a federal building from "nasty and vicious people."
"Either they clean out Portland — the governor and the mayor, who are weak — either they clean out Portland or we're going in to do it for them," he said.
For weeks, the presence of the more than 100 agents — many wearing camouflage uniforms without any form of identification as they detained people in unmarked vans — has sparked anger both locally in Portland and nationally. Both the offices of the inspector general for the departments of Homeland Security and Justice are now investigating the actions of the federal law enforcement officers there.
The federal crackdown on crime in several states, dubbed Operation Legend, has already seen federal officers sent to Kansas City, Missouri, as well as to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
As part of what the Justice Department said were efforts to combat gun violence, violent gangs, and drug trafficking, more than 25 federal investigators with the FBI, DEA, and ATF will now be sent to Cleveland, while another 42 will be sent to Detroit and 25 more will go to Milwaukee.
All three cities are run by Democratic mayors, with Trump previously denouncing "Democrat-run" cities.


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--This Mom Shared Her Teenage Daughter's Pregnancy Story And Her Advice Is So Important

Nicole sat down with Angelina to help her make an informed decision about her options .
`` Angelina is the @ @ @ @ @ with whatever decision she makes .
Our life is like our own personal story , @ @ @ @ @ be up to me .
My job is to educate her and give her facts @ @ @ @ @ herself , '' said Nicole , adding , `` I told her I would support @ @ @ @ @ told her I ’ m sorry that the first real adult decision you will ever @ @ @ @ @ hardest . ''

Nicole sat down with Angelina to help her make an informed decision about her options. "Angelina is the one who has to live with whatever decision she makes. Our life is like our own personal story, her next chapter should not be up to me. My job is to educate her and give her facts so she can think for herself," said Nicole, adding, "I told her I would support whatever she decides and I told her I’m sorry that the first real adult decision you will ever make is one of the hardest."


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--Washington State’s Attorney General Prepped In March To Sue If Trump Tried To Delay The Election. Tr

Washington State’s Attorney General Prepped In March To Sue If Trump Tried To Delay The Election. Trump’s Campaign Called It “The Dumbest Thing.”

WASHINGTON — When the coronavirus pandemic was just starting to upend life in the United States in March , Bob Ferguson , attorney general for Washington state , sent an email to supporters warning President Donald Trump might use the pandemic to try to delay the November presidential election .
Republicans denounced the message as grandstanding by Ferguson and scoffed that there was any threat of Trump trying to interfere with the Nov. 3 election date .
A local Fox affiliate in Seattle , Q13 News , quoted Trump campaign spokesperson Marc Lotter as saying at the time that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election was ” the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
” But Ferguson took it seriously enough that he directed lawyers in his office to draft a memo analyzing how Trump might try to claim legal authority to change the date , and how they could sue to stop it , something his office has done before with presidential threats , Ferguson told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Thursday .
Now that Trump has publicly floated the idea of a delay — something he lacks legal authority to do on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dusting off the memo for a refresh .
“ We do n't wait for something bad to happen , we anticipate what [ Trump is ] going to do , and try to prepare , ” Ferguson said .
“ I have no doubt that if the president actually tries to move the election , my team would be ready to file a legal challenge in 24 hours.
” Trump kicked off Thursday morning with the following tweet : “ With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history .
It will be a great embarrassment to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
?
” The president can not take action on his own to delay a presidential election , BuzzFeed News explained in March when there was speculation about whether Trump would try to do so .
Conservative and liberal election law experts agree on this .
Under the US Constitution , Congress is responsible for setting the election date , and Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the first Monday in November , in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President .
”

WASHINGTON — When the coronavirus pandemic was just starting to upend life in the United States in March, Bob Ferguson, the attorney general for Washington state, sent an email to supporters warning President Donald Trump might use the pandemic to try to delay the November presidential election.
Republicans denounced the message as grandstanding by Ferguson and scoffed at the idea that there was any threat of Trump trying to interfere with the Nov. 3 election date. A local Fox affiliate in Seattle, Q13 News, quoted Trump campaign spokesperson Marc Lotter as saying at the time that the suggestion that Trump would try to delay the election was ”the dumbest thing I have ever heard.”
But Ferguson took it seriously enough that he directed lawyers in his office to draft a memo analyzing how Trump might try to claim legal authority to change the date, and how they could sue to stop it, something his office has done before with presidential threats, Ferguson told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview on Thursday. Now that Trump has publicly floated the idea of a delay — something he lacks legal authority to do on his own — Ferguson said his office is dusting off the memo for a refresh.
“We don't wait for something bad to happen, we anticipate what [Trump is] going to do, and try to prepare,” Ferguson said. “I have no doubt that if the president actually tries to move the election, my team would be ready to file a legal challenge in 24 hours.”
Trump kicked off Thursday morning with the following tweet: “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
The president cannot take action on his own to delay a presidential election, BuzzFeed News explained in March when there was speculation about whether Trump would try to do so. Conservative and liberal election law experts agree on this. Under the US Constitution, Congress is responsible for setting the election date, and Election Day is held on “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President.”


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--An Anti-Mask Lawmaker Took A Statement About Transphobia And Replaced "LGBTQ" With "Unmasked"

A member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives put out a statement on Wednesday that criticized `` hateful comments toward [ the ] unmasked community , '' but which also subtly mocked a transgender state health official .
Republican Rep. Russ Diamond , who is vehemently opposed to wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus despite overwhelming medical advice to the contrary , said in his statement that he feels he `` must personally respond to the multiple incidents of harassment and specifically hate and intolerance directed at me . ''
`` Your actions perpetuate a spirit of intolerance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like myself who are outspoken about it . ''
Diamond 's language was almost identical to a statement given Tuesday by Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine , a trans woman .
In her remarks on Tuesday , Levine spoke out about the numerous anti-trans incidents she has recently experienced in her role .
At a fair earlier this July , a man dressed up as Levine to sit in the dunk tank , according to CBS Pittsburgh .
In May , a reporter repeatedly called Levine `` sir '' at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell him `` please do n't misgender me , '' PennLive reported .
`` I want to emphasize that while these individuals may think they are only expressing their displeasure with me , they are in fact hurting the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians who suffer directly from these current demonstrations of harassment , '' Levine said in her statement .
“ In addition , the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer including , LGBTQ individuals of color , LGBTQ youth and seniors , and LGBTQ immigrants , '' Levine said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be not only harassed but are more likely to suffer violence and even murder .
We have not made progress unless we have all made progress .
It is in this space that these acts of intolerance live and where we need to continue to work against intolerance and discrimination . ''
Diamond 's statement was nearly an exact copy-and-pasted version of Levine 's , but with `` unmasked '' replacing `` LGBTQ . ''
“ In addition , the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer including , unmasked individuals of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasked immigrants , '' Diamond said .
`` We have not made progress unless we have all made progress .
It is in this space that these acts of intolerance live and where we need to continue to work against intolerance and discrimination . ''
Diamond and Levine did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News .
Gov .
Tom Wolf condemned Diamond 's statement on Thursday , calling it a `` thinly veiled attack '' on both Levine and the LGBTQ community .
He urged Republican House leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , disrespectful , dangerous , '' Wolf said .
`` There are no words that adequately describe my disdain for the antics Rep. Diamond displayed in his latest missive . ''
Gov .
Wolf also spoke out against opposition to masks , saying `` virtually no thinking person disputes mask-wearing as an effective means to stop the spread of COVID . ''
`` Proud non-mask-wearers such as Rep. Diamond are not displaying their freedom , but rather their ignorance and lack of respect for themselves , their families , neighbors and communities when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and are likely leading to more spread of this dangerous virus , '' he said .
“ To equate any disrespect for those not wearing masks to the decades of disrespect , threats and violence against our LGBTQ community goes far beyond the hallmarks of a decent society , '' he added .
`` For these actions to come from a legislator elected to fairly represent all his constituents is simply unforgivable . ''
Diamond responded to Wolf on Thursday , again mirroring the statement 's language , calling Wolf `` abhorrent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He also called on Wolf to resign `` right after you fire Levine . ''

“In addition, the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer including, LGBTQ individuals of color, LGBTQ youth and seniors, and LGBTQ immigrants," Levine said. “Transgender women of color continue to be not only harassed but are more likely to suffer violence and even murder. We have not made progress unless we have all made progress. It is in this space that these acts of intolerance live and where we need to continue to work against intolerance and discrimination."
Diamond's statement was nearly an exact copy-and-pasted version of Levine's, but with "unmasked" replacing "LGBTQ."
“In addition, the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer including, unmasked individuals of color, unmasked youth and seniors, and unmasked immigrants," Diamond said. "We have not made progress unless we have all made progress. It is in this space that these acts of intolerance live and where we need to continue to work against intolerance and discrimination."
Diamond and Levine did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.
Gov. Tom Wolf condemned Diamond's statement on Thursday, calling it a "thinly veiled attack" on both Levine and the LGBTQ community. He urged Republican House leaders to formally censure him.
"Abhorrent, disrespectful, dangerous," Wolf said. "There are no words that adequately describe my disdain for the antics Rep. Diamond displayed in his latest missive."
Gov. Wolf also spoke out against opposition to masks, saying "virtually no thinking person disputes mask-wearing as an effective means to stop the spread of COVID."
"Proud non-mask-wearers such as Rep. Diamond are not displaying their freedom, but rather their ignorance and lack of respect for themselves, their families, neighbors and communities when they don’t wear a mask, and are likely leading to more spread of this dangerous virus," he said.
“To equate any disrespect for those not wearing masks to the decades of disrespect, threats and violence against our LGBTQ community goes far beyond the hallmarks of a decent society," he added. "For these actions to come from a legislator elected to fairly represent all his constituents is simply unforgivable."
Diamond responded to Wolf on Thursday, again mirroring the statement's language, calling Wolf "abhorrent, unlawful, political, and deadly."
He also called on Wolf to resign "right after you fire Levine."


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--Mike Pompeo Defended His State Department In A Senate Hearing After Democrats Blasted Him For “Decim

Mike Pompeo Defended His State Department In A Senate Hearing After Democrats Blasted Him For “Decimating” It

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fiercely defended his management of the State Department in a combative Senate hearing on Thursday , two days after a Democratic report said his leadership had left the department “ decimated and demoralized.
” Pompeo ’ s appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was his first on Capitol Hill in more than a year and it got off to a combative start when ranking Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said the State Department was “ at risk of catastrophic failure ” due to the secretary ’ s management .
“ Under your watch , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the world stage , ceding leverage and influence to our stated adversaries , ” Menendez told Pompeo .
Democratic lawmakers grilled the top US diplomat on several issues .
Among them : Pompeo ’ s decision in May to fire the State Department ’ s inspector general , who was investigating whether he misused department resources and his push to sell arms to Saudi Arabia , and the Trump administration ’ s decision on Wednesday to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany .
Menendez said the reduction “ abetted ” Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo detailed what he said were several Trump administration achievements .
“ We are the toughest administration ever on Russia , ” Pompeo said .
“ We ’ ve supplied Ukraine with lethal military hardware .
We ’ ve sanctioned more than 360 Russian targets for everything from human rights abuses , to supporting the murderous Assad regime , to operating mercenaries and proxy forces around the world .
“ Most importantly , on China , we see the Chinese Communist Party also for what it is : the central threat of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praising the closure of China ’ s consulate in Houston , which he called “ a den of spies.
” But Menendez argued that Pompeo ’ s policies toward China had not stopped its “ march in the South China Sea ” or its “ suppressing and oppressing its own people ” in Hong Kong .
The stated purpose of Thursday ’ s hearing was to discuss the proposed spending cuts in the fiscal year 2021 State Department budget .
But Democratic senators , in particular , mostly pressed him on an array @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pompeo said he and his team had warned Russian officials , including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov , about threats from Russia against Americans in Afghanistan , Libya , Syria , Ukraine , and elsewhere .
But he refused to say whether he had specifically raised allegations that Moscow was paying bounties to Taliban fighters to kill US troops in Afghanistan .
“ We ’ ve made very clear our expectations , ” he said .
Sen. Tim Kaine , a Democrat , pressed Pompeo to explain his decision to recall former US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him whether he believed she was effective in her role and a valuable part of the State Department .
But Pompeo declined to comment on the issue , saying the decision was Trump ’ s to make and that he carried out the order “ appropriately.
” When Pompeo cracked a smile and dismissed the questioning , Kaine responded : “ It may be just a big joke .
I mean hey , look at you smiling and laughing — I don ’ t think it ’ s silly to Marie Yovanovitch and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo said he hoped Keith Dayton , a retired US Army lieutenant general and Trump ’ s nominee US ambassador to Ukraine , would soon be confirmed .
He also addressed the firing of Steve Linick , the State Department inspector general who was ousted in May while leading two investigations into the secretary ’ s potential misuse of department resources and his effort to push billions of dollars worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia .
The secretary denied knowing about the investigations and said they were not part of his decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostile toward Pompeo .
Senate Republicans defended him and the foreign policy record of the Trump administration .
Sen. Ron Johnson said that under Trump , “ We ’ ve started no wars .
We ’ ve destroyed ISIS.
” Johnson blamed Russia ’ s annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine on the Obama administration .
One exception among Republicans was Sen. Mitt Romney .
He criticized the president for praising China President Xi Jinping and ordering the withdrawal of troops in Germany .
Romney said he had heard “ from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that the pullout was seen as an insult to a key European ally .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fiercely defended his management of the State Department in a combative Senate hearing on Thursday, two days after a Democratic report said his leadership had left the department “decimated and demoralized.”
Pompeo’s appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was his first on Capitol Hill in more than a year and it got off to a combative start when ranking Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said the State Department was “at risk of catastrophic failure” due to the secretary’s management.
“Under your watch, the United States has faced setback after setback on the world stage, ceding leverage and influence to our stated adversaries,” Menendez told Pompeo.
Democratic lawmakers grilled the top US diplomat on several issues. Among them: Pompeo’s decision in May to fire the State Department’s inspector general, who was investigating whether he misused department resources and his push to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, and the Trump administration’s decision on Wednesday to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany. Menendez said the reduction “abetted” Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(On Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that “the fewer US soldiers are on the European continent, the calmer it is in Europe.”)
In his opening statement, Pompeo detailed what he said were several Trump administration achievements.
“We are the toughest administration ever on Russia,” Pompeo said. “We’ve supplied Ukraine with lethal military hardware. We’ve sanctioned more than 360 Russian targets for everything from human rights abuses, to supporting the murderous Assad regime, to operating mercenaries and proxy forces around the world.
“Most importantly, on China, we see the Chinese Communist Party also for what it is: the central threat of our times,” Pompeo added, also praising the closure of China’s consulate in Houston, which he called “a den of spies.”
But Menendez argued that Pompeo’s policies toward China had not stopped its “march in the South China Sea” or its “suppressing and oppressing its own people” in Hong Kong.
The stated purpose of Thursday’s hearing was to discuss the proposed spending cuts in the fiscal year 2021 State Department budget. But Democratic senators, in particular, mostly pressed him on an array of other issues.
Questioned by senators, Pompeo said he and his team had warned Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, about threats from Russia against Americans in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
But he refused to say whether he had specifically raised allegations that Moscow was paying bounties to Taliban fighters to kill US troops in Afghanistan.
“We’ve made very clear our expectations,” he said.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, pressed Pompeo to explain his decision to recall former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and asked him whether he believed she was effective in her role and a valuable part of the State Department. But Pompeo declined to comment on the issue, saying the decision was Trump’s to make and that he carried out the order “appropriately.”
When Pompeo cracked a smile and dismissed the questioning, Kaine responded: “It may be just a big joke. I mean hey, look at you smiling and laughing — I don’t think it’s silly to Marie Yovanovitch and the people who work for you.”
Pompeo said he hoped Keith Dayton, a retired US Army lieutenant general and Trump’s nominee US ambassador to Ukraine, would soon be confirmed.
He also addressed the firing of Steve Linick, the State Department inspector general who was ousted in May while leading two investigations into the secretary’s potential misuse of department resources and his effort to push billions of dollars worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The secretary denied knowing about the investigations and said they were not part of his decision to oust Linick.
Not everyone was hostile toward Pompeo. Senate Republicans defended him and the foreign policy record of the Trump administration.
Sen. Ron Johnson said that under Trump, “We’ve started no wars. We’ve destroyed ISIS.” Johnson blamed Russia’s annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine on the Obama administration.
One exception among Republicans was Sen. Mitt Romney. He criticized the president for praising China President Xi Jinping and ordering the withdrawal of troops in Germany.
Romney said he had heard “from the highest levels of the German government” that the pullout was seen as an insult to a key European ally.


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--Top Republicans Aren’t Backing Trump’s Idea To Delay The Election

WASHINGTON — Top Republican leaders want no part of President Donald Trump ’ s suggestion to delay November ’ s election , a move he does not have the power to make on his own .
“ With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good ) , 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history , ” Trump tweeted Thursday morning to his 84 million Twitter followers .
“ It will be a great embarrassment to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an argument the president has been making against mail-in voting , which has been widely instituted across the US because of the coronavirus .
Trump , who voted by mail this year , has baselessly argued that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud .
Last week , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the long delays in the New York mail-in ballot process in the state 's primary an “ absolute catastrophe , ” confirming the fears of voting experts and political strategists that Trump will use any mail-in delays to question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several Republicans pushed back against Trump 's idea to delay the November vote , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who told a WKNY-TV reporter the Nov. 3 election date is set in stone .
Sen. Rick Scott , a staunch supporter of the president , also isn ’ t keen on the idea .
“ Senator Rick Scott does not support postponing the election , ” a spokesperson for the Florida Republican told BuzzFeed News Thursday .
Close Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham echoed a similar sentiment to reporters in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t believe we should delay the elections .
Delaying the election probably wouldn ’ t be a good idea.
” But he added , “ I think we can be able to safely vote in person in November.
” BuzzFeed News reported on the possibility of Trump trying to delay the election back in March and found the president can ’ t legally do so on his own , not even amid a national emergency .
Congress sets the times and dates of all federal elections , as written in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution , which , if they voted to do so , could in the most unique scenario push the election no further than Dec. 14 .
But even a short delay is highly unlikely without the support of Democratic-led House of Representatives , not to mention the Republicans who have come out against the idea in the House and Senate .
“ Election dates are set by Congress .
And I will oppose any attempts to delay the # 2020Election , ” tweeted Rep. Adam Kinzinger , who has been critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Murkowski , an Alaska Republican who is often critical of the president , also dismissed the idea of bumping the election .

WASHINGTON — Top Republican leaders want no part of President Donald Trump’s suggestion to delay November’s election, a move he does not have the power to make on his own.
“With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning to his 84 million Twitter followers. “It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
The tweet is part of an argument the president has been making against mail-in voting, which has been widely instituted across the US because of the coronavirus. Trump, who voted by mail this year, has baselessly argued that mail-in voting is ripe for fraud. Last week, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the long delays in the New York mail-in ballot process in the state's primary an “absolute catastrophe,” confirming the fears of voting experts and political strategists that Trump will use any mail-in delays to question the legitimacy of November's election.
Several Republicans pushed back against Trump's idea to delay the November vote, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who told a WKNY-TV reporter the Nov. 3 election date is set in stone.
Sen. Rick Scott, a staunch supporter of the president, also isn’t keen on the idea. “Senator Rick Scott does not support postponing the election,” a spokesperson for the Florida Republican told BuzzFeed News Thursday.
Close Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham echoed a similar sentiment to reporters in the Capitol, saying, “I don’t believe we should delay the elections. Delaying the election probably wouldn’t be a good idea.” But he added, “I think we can be able to safely vote in person in November.”
BuzzFeed News reported on the possibility of Trump trying to delay the election back in March and found the president can’t legally do so on his own, not even amid a national emergency. Congress sets the times and dates of all federal elections, as written in the US Constitution. Congress would have to rewrite the Constitution, which, if they voted to do so, could in the most unique scenario push the election no further than Dec. 14.
But even a short delay is highly unlikely without the support of Democratic-led House of Representatives, not to mention the Republicans who have come out against the idea in the House and Senate.
“Election dates are set by Congress. And I will oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election,” tweeted Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who has been critical of the president in the past.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who is often critical of the president, also dismissed the idea of bumping the election.


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--Former Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Has Died From The Coronavirus At 74

Herman Cain , a former pizza company executive turned Republican presidential contender , died Thursday morning almost a month after he was hospitalized with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
He was 74 .
Cain 's death — which was first reported by the conservative website Newsmax , where Cain hosted a show — was confirmed on his official website soon after .
`` You 're never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning , '' website editor Dan Calabrese wrote .
`` But we have no choice but to seek and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal . ''
`` Herman Cain has gone to be with the Lord . ''
President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he had telephoned Cain 's family to express his condolences .
`` Herman had an incredible career and was adored by everyone that ever met him , especially me , '' Trump tweeted .
`` He was a very special man , an American Patriot , and great friend . ''
Cain attended the president 's June 20 indoor rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , sharing photos of himself not wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several others who attended the rally subsequently became sick , including Kimberly Guilfoyle , the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. Six Trump campaign staffers who were part of the advance team for the event tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the rally .
The director of the Tulsa City-County Health Department later said it was `` more than likely '' the rally contributed to a surge in cases there .
When news of Cain 's hospitalization was announced 12 days later , Cain 's staff said there was no way of knowing where @ @ @ @ @ @

Herman Cain, a former pizza company executive turned Republican presidential contender, died Thursday morning almost a month after he was hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. He was 74.
Cain's death — which was first reported by the conservative website Newsmax, where Cain hosted a show — was confirmed on his official website soon after.
"You're never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning," website editor Dan Calabrese wrote. "But we have no choice but to seek and find God's strength and comfort to deal."
"Herman Cain has gone to be with the Lord."
President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he had telephoned Cain's family to express his condolences. "Herman had an incredible career and was adored by everyone that ever met him, especially me," Trump tweeted. "He was a very special man, an American Patriot, and great friend."
Cain attended the president's June 20 indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sharing photos of himself not wearing a mask while at the event. Several others who attended the rally subsequently became sick, including Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. Six Trump campaign staffers who were part of the advance team for the event tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the rally. The director of the Tulsa City-County Health Department later said it was "more than likely" the rally contributed to a surge in cases there.
When news of Cain's hospitalization was announced 12 days later, Cain's staff said there was no way of knowing where he had contracted the virus.


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--A Judge Blocked Trump's "Public Charge" Policy On Immigrants During The Pandemic


buzzfeed--2020-07-30--Facebook Bought Instagram To Neutralize A Competitor, Emails Show


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--Here's Exactly What I Cook And Eat While Working From Home

When Jazzmine started getting more into fitness a few years ago , she had to make adjustments to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ flow of energy to support all that activity .
`` Before I started working out @ @ @ @ @ because I either was n't hungry or I would have an event after work , @ @ @ @ @ , following a schedule not only helps Jazzmine eat well even on the busiest of @ @ @ @ @ also helped her maintain her structure when she started working from home in March because @ @ @ @ @ I use meal times to help punctuate my days and keep up that structure , @ @ @ @ @ I try to eat around the same time every day and eat things that I @ @ @ @ @ do n't run together . ''
Jazzmine says her day job as a diversity and @ @ @ @ @ company allows her some wiggle room with grocery spending .
Still , she always follows @ @ @ @ @ weekly trip to H-E-B to stay within budget .

Cooking is a passion of hers, but Jazzmine says her daily food habits — especially now, at home — are based on practicality. She sees the food she eats as the fuel she needs to get through the day.


buzzfeed--2020-08-01--This Mom Shared Her Teenage Daughter's Pregnancy Story And Her Advice Is So Important


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--The Trump Administration Will Start Charging Immigrants Fees For Applying For Asylum

An immigrant looks on with his children as they wait to hear if their number is called to apply for asylum in the United States at the border in Tijuana , Mexico , Jan. 25 , 2019 .
The US will become just one of just four countries to charge asylum-seekers a fee to apply for protections , according to a finalized policy announced Friday .
The move is just the latest by the Trump administration to target and restrict protections for those fleeing their home countries .
The US now joins the ranks of Iran , Fiji , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US , asylum-seekers will be charged $ 50 on asylum applications starting in October .
“ A $ 50 fee is in line with the fees charged by these other nations , ” the US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) explained in the final rule posted Friday .
However , one asylum officer who spoke with BuzzFeed News on condition of anonymity said the fee was discouraging .
“ The larger problem is that humanitarian applications by their nature should be free , ” the officer said .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and not helping if they do n't pay up — is disgusting.
” Another asylum officer said it will cost the agency more to collect the fee than $ 50 , “ which doesn ’ t come close to covering the cost of adjudicating an asylum application.
” “ This is a penalty against asylum applicants , ” the officer added .

The US will become just one of just four countries to charge asylum-seekers a fee to apply for protections, according to a finalized policy announced Friday.
The move is just the latest by the Trump administration to target and restrict protections for those fleeing their home countries. The US now joins the ranks of Iran, Fiji, and Australia in charging a fee. In the US, there will be a $50 charge on asylum applications starting in October.
“A $50 fee is in line with the fees charged by these other nations,” the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explained in the final rule posted Friday.
However, one asylum officer who spoke with BuzzFeed News on condition of anonymity said the fee was discouraging.
“The larger problem is that humanitarian applications by their nature should be free,” the officer said. “The idea of charging people who are fleeing — and not helping if they don't pay up — is disgusting.”
Another asylum officer said it will cost the agency more to collect the fee than $50, “which doesn’t come close to covering the cost of adjudicating an asylum application.”
“This is a penalty against asylum applicants,” the officer added.


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--Trump Just Stacked A Fetal Cell Research Panel With Abortion Opponents

On Friday , a Trump administration panel erected to judge the ethics of federally funded research relying on fetal stem cells met more than a year after it was first announced .
Just hours before the meeting , the panel was revealed to be stacked with abortion opponents hostile to such research .
Human fetal cells are widely used in medical research to develop vaccines — notably in at least a half dozen current candidate coronavirus vaccines — as well for studying diseases including AIDS .
The National Institutes of Health Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board was initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting a hold on grant applications for medical research involving human fetal cells .
It followed the Trump administration ’ s moves to cancel related federal research contracts and audit human fetal cell research .
“ The committee was carefully constructed to block funding , ” bioethicist R. Alta Charo of the University of Wisconsin Law School , who spoke during the one-hour open session of the meeting , told BuzzFeed News by email .
The next five hours of the meeting will be closed to the public to review federal grants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical research grant applications already approved for possible funding that include use of fetal cells , reporting directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar , and bypassing NIH chief Francis Collins .
The first meeting was quietly announced earlier this month in the Federal Register , and its membership was not made public until 8 a.m. on Friday morning .
The panel will be headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham , interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana , the home state of Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponent in the Trump administration .
Its 15 members include David Prentice of the Charlotte Lozier Institute , known for his opposition to human embryonic stem cell research during the Bush administration , and other opponents who have previously testified against fetal cell research to Congress .
NIH official Lawrence Tabak , who opened the meeting , noted that the committee ’ s role was not to review the science of the proposed research , which had already been approved for NIH grant funding , but to comment on its ethics for Azar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to a consensus in its views .
The yearlong wait for the ethics board meeting had stalled research on HIV , Down syndrome , and diabetes , the Washington Post reported in January .
The cells , grown from induced abortion tissues collected decades ago , serve as a “ gold standard ” in research , according to a Wednesday statement signed by more than 90 major medical universities and scientific organizations .
“ Research using human fetal tissue has been essential for scientific and medical advances that have saved millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resource for biomedical research , ” said the letter .
During the coronavirus pandemic , the use of fetal research tissue has emerged as a flashpoint in the Trump administration ’ s handling of the epidemic , noted Stanford University researcher Irving Weissman , who spoke during a public comments session .
NIH blocking fetal cell research has already shut down academic research aimed at testing coronavirus vaccines and treatments in mice grafted with human fetal lung cells , he said .
That notably could include intranasal inoculations that could block coronavirus infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throat .
`` They are withholding therapies for the rest of us , including their own families , '' Weissman told BuzzFeed News .
In April , the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and other abortion opponents told the Trump administration that it should “ incentivize ” the development of coronavirus vaccines made without human fetal cells , but did not oppose two “ Operation Warp Speed ” vaccines that did .
Whether coronavirus vaccine research proposals would be reviewed by the ethics board on Friday was unknown , due to confidentiality rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethics of the Moderna mRNA vaccine , whose Phase 3 clinical trial launched on Monday is the first US vaccine to undergo wide testing in people .
While the vaccine itself does not involve fetal cells , some of its development work may have involved them , John Di Camillo , an ethicist with the National Catholic Bioethics Center , told BuzzFeed News .
The balance of the ethics panel ’ s membership , whether research supporters or abortion opponents , will largely determine what opinions are delivered to Azar , added Di @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board is required to contain a balance of viewpoints , but during the group ’ s introductions , numerous members of the panel identified themselves by affiliation with a religious institution or faith while describing their scientific or medical credentials .

On Friday, a Trump administration panel erected to judge the ethics of federally funded research relying on human fetal cells met more than a year after it was first announced. Just hours before the meeting, the panel was revealed to be stacked with abortion opponents hostile to such research.
Human fetal cells are widely used in medical research to develop vaccines — notably in at least a half dozen current candidate coronavirus vaccines — as well for studying diseases including AIDS. The National Institutes of Health Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board was initially announced in June of last year, putting a hold on grant applications for medical research involving human fetal cells. It followed the Trump administration’s moves to cancel related federal research contracts and audit human fetal cell research.
“The committee was carefully constructed to block funding,” bioethicist R. Alta Charo of the University of Wisconsin Law School, who spoke during the one-hour open session of the meeting, told BuzzFeed News by email. The next five hours of the meeting will be closed to the public to review federal grants.
The ethics panel will review all NIH medical research grant applications already approved for possible funding that include use of fetal cells, reporting directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar, and bypassing NIH chief Francis Collins. The first meeting was quietly announced earlier this month in the Federal Register, and its membership was not made public until 8 a.m. on Friday morning.
The panel will be headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham, interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana, the home state of Vice President Mike Pence, widely seen as the leading abortion opponent in the Trump administration. Its 15 members include David Prentice of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, known for his opposition to human embryonic stem cell research during the Bush administration, and other opponents who have previously testified against fetal cell research to Congress.
NIH official Lawrence Tabak, who opened the meeting, noted that the committee’s role was not to review the science of the proposed research, which had already been approved for NIH grant funding, but to comment on its ethics for Azar. The board is not required to come to a consensus in its views.
The yearlong wait for the ethics board meeting had stalled research on HIV, Down syndrome, and diabetes, the Washington Post reported in January. The cells, grown from induced abortion tissues collected decades ago, serve as a “gold standard” in research, according to a Wednesday statement signed by more than 90 major medical universities and scientific organizations.
“Research using human fetal tissue has been essential for scientific and medical advances that have saved millions of lives, and it remains a crucial resource for biomedical research,” said the letter.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the use of fetal research tissue has emerged as a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s handling of the epidemic, noted Stanford University researcher Irving Weissman, who spoke during a public comments session. NIH blocking fetal cell research has already shut down academic research aimed at testing coronavirus vaccines and treatments in mice grafted with human fetal lung cells, he said. That notably could include intranasal inoculations that could block coronavirus infections in the mouth, nose, and throat.
"They are withholding therapies for the rest of us, including their own families," Weissman told BuzzFeed News.
In April, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and other abortion opponents told the Trump administration that it should “incentivize” the development of coronavirus vaccines made without human fetal cells, but did not oppose two “Operation Warp Speed” vaccines that did. Whether coronavirus vaccine research proposals would be reviewed by the ethics board on Friday was unknown, due to confidentiality rules.
Abortion opponents are split on the ethics of the Moderna mRNA vaccine, whose Phase 3 clinical trial launched on Monday is the first US vaccine to undergo wide testing in people. While the vaccine itself does not involve fetal cells, some of its development work may have involved them, John Di Camillo, an ethicist with the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told BuzzFeed News.
The balance of the ethics panel’s membership, whether research supporters or abortion opponents, will largely determine what opinions are delivered to Azar, added Di Camilo. By its charter, the board is required to contain a balance of viewpoints, but during the group’s introductions, numerous members of the panel identified themselves by affiliation with a religious institution or faith while describing their scientific or medical credentials.


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--The Trump Administration Won A Legal Fight To Slash Federal Payments To Hospitals During The Coronav

The Trump Administration Won A Legal Fight To Slash Federal Payments To Hospitals During The Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration did n't violate federal law when it scaled back a billion-dollar drug reimbursement program that benefitted public and not-for-profit hospitals serving patients with low incomes .
The legal fight predated the coronavirus pandemic , but the stakes of the case became higher this year as hospitals have lost tens of billions of dollars as nonessential services and elective surgeries were put on hold .
Starting in 2018 , the Department of Health and Human Services slashed the reimbursement rate paid to certain hospitals for outpatient drugs prescribed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Medicare program .
Under what 's known as the 340B program , these hospitals buy drugs at a discounted rate , and then file claims with the federal government for reimbursement .
Hospitals participating in the program collectively have earned billions of dollars annually through the program because of the difference between what they paid and the higher reimbursement rate paid out by the government .
The Trump administration argued hospitals should n't be earning a windfall from the discounted drug rates and approved a plan to cut the reimbursement rate by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Congress intended to give hospitals a way to put the money they saved by paying a discounted rate for drugs back into services for poor and underserved communities .
A federal district judge in Washington , DC , sided with the hospitals , writing in a December 2018 opinion that the rate cut 's “ magnitude and its wide applicability inexorably lead to the conclusion ” that the agency “ fundamentally altered ” what Congress intended .
The lower rate has been in effect notwithstanding the judge 's decision , though — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ litigation was pending , writing that forcing the government to pay back hospitals in the meantime was `` likely to be highly disruptive . ''
HHS estimated that the rate change would save the Medicare program $ 1.6 billion in 2018 alone , and that money would be distributed back to hospitals through increases in other Medicare-related reimbursements .
Hospitals that participated in the 340B program argued they would still lose money even if the agency redistributed the money .
Some hospitals filed affidavits in court saying they would lose millions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written by Judge Sri Srinivasan , the DC Circuit on Friday reversed the district judge 's decision , finding that the Trump administration 's decision to reduce the rate `` rests on a reasonable interpretation of the Medicare statute . ''
Congress gave HHS two options for how to set the rate , using either an average of what hospitals were actually paying for drugs , or what the drugs cost in the marketplace .
HHS had been using the average drug cost information because it did n't have survey data on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued the law did n't allow HHS to use that data to make such a substantial cut .
The hospitals also argued that a 30 % cut was too big to qualify as an `` adjustment '' under the law .
Srinivasan wrote that Congress had n't `` unambiguously '' prohibited HHS from using average drug costs to come up with a reimbursement rate to match what hospitals were paying for the drugs , even if they did n't have the actual purchase data .
The hospitals ' position would make Congress 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to calculate the reimbursement rate `` superfluous , '' the judge wrote .
Srinivasan was joined by Judge Patricia Millett .
Judge Nina Pillard dissented , writing that she agreed with hospitals that the Medicare law could only adopt `` large reductions '' if it had the specific survey data of what hospitals were paying for the drugs .
She also wrote that the record showed Congress anticipated hospitals would earn revenue through the program .
`` The net effect of HHS ’ s 2018 and 2019 OPPS rules is to redistribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit safety-net hospitals serving vulnerable populations — including patients without any insurance at all — to facilities and individuals who are relatively better off .
If that is a result that Congress intended to authorize , it remains free to say so .
But because the statute as it is written does not permit the challenged rate reductions , I respectfully dissent , '' Pillard wrote .
Representatives of HHS and the Justice Department , as well as the American Hospital Association , one of the hospital groups that led the challenge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration didn't violate federal law when it scaled back a billion-dollar drug reimbursement program that benefitted public and not-for-profit hospitals serving patients with low incomes.
The legal fight predated the coronavirus pandemic, but the stakes of the case became higher this year as hospitals have lost tens of billions of dollars as nonessential services and elective surgeries were put on hold.
Starting in 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services slashed the reimbursement rate paid to certain hospitals for outpatient drugs prescribed to elderly and disabled patients covered by the Medicare program. Under what's known as the 340B program, these hospitals buy drugs at a discounted rate, and then file claims with the federal government for reimbursement.
Hospitals participating in the program collectively have earned billions of dollars annually through the program because of the difference between what they paid and the higher reimbursement rate paid out by the government.
The Trump administration argued hospitals shouldn't be earning a windfall from the discounted drug rates and approved a plan to cut the reimbursement rate by approximately 30%. The hospitals argued that Congress intended to give hospitals a way to put the money they saved by paying a discounted rate for drugs back into services for poor and underserved communities.
A federal district judge in Washington, DC, sided with the hospitals, writing in a December 2018 opinion that the rate cut's “magnitude and its wide applicability inexorably lead to the conclusion” that the agency “fundamentally altered” what Congress intended. The lower rate has been in effect notwithstanding the judge's decision, though — he declined to block it while the litigation was pending, writing that forcing the government to pay back hospitals in the meantime was "likely to be highly disruptive."
HHS estimated that the rate change would save the Medicare program $1.6 billion in 2018 alone, and that money would be distributed back to hospitals through increases in other Medicare-related reimbursements.
Hospitals that participated in the 340B program argued they would still lose money even if the agency redistributed the money. Some hospitals filed affidavits in court saying they would lose millions of dollars each year.
In a 2–1 decision written by Judge Sri Srinivasan, the DC Circuit on Friday reversed the district judge's decision, finding that the Trump administration's decision to reduce the rate "rests on a reasonable interpretation of the Medicare statute."
Congress gave HHS two options for how to set the rate, using either an average of what hospitals were actually paying for drugs, or what the drugs cost in the marketplace. HHS had been using the average drug cost information because it didn't have survey data on what hospitals were paying, and the hospitals argued the law didn't allow HHS to use that data to make such a substantial cut. The hospitals also argued that a 30% cut was too big to qualify as an "adjustment" under the law.
Srinivasan wrote that Congress hadn't "unambiguously" prohibited HHS from using average drug costs to come up with a reimbursement rate to match what hospitals were paying for the drugs, even if they didn't have the actual purchase data. The hospitals' position would make Congress's decision to give the department an alternative way to calculate the reimbursement rate "superfluous," the judge wrote.
Srinivasan was joined by Judge Patricia Millett. Judge Nina Pillard dissented, writing that she agreed with hospitals that the Medicare law could only adopt "large reductions" if it had the specific survey data of what hospitals were paying for the drugs. She also wrote that the record showed Congress anticipated hospitals would earn revenue through the program.
"The net effect of HHS’s 2018 and 2019 OPPS rules is to redistribute funds from financially strapped, public and nonprofit safety-net hospitals serving vulnerable populations — including patients without any insurance at all — to facilities and individuals who are relatively better off. If that is a result that Congress intended to authorize, it remains free to say so. But because the statute as it is written does not permit the challenged rate reductions, I respectfully dissent," Pillard wrote.
Representatives of HHS and the Justice Department, as well as the American Hospital Association, one of the hospital groups that led the challenge, did not immediately return a request for comment.


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--WWF Says It Is “Troubled” By An Alleged Human Rights Violation At A Park With A History Of Violence

The week before Kumar ’ s death , he and his friends were briefly detained by the army for collecting Ghongi , a type of snail considered a delicacy , the Post reported .
His father told the newspaper that Kumar complained of “ physical discomfort ” after the army released him and later in the week went to the hospital , where he died .
Police said they are waiting on the autopsy report which will confirm the cause of death .
Raj Kumar Chepang died on July 22 after he was allegedly tortured by army personnel who help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The case bears striking resemblance to another alleged killing in Chitwan , highlighted in a 2019 BuzzFeed News investigation into the beloved megacharity ’ s funding of guards accused of human rights abuses .
The series led WWF to overhaul its human rights policies , commission a sweeping internal review of its practices , and promise to take “ swift and appropriate action ” to address any “ shortcomings uncovered by the review.
” After guards at a wildlife park funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature were accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the leading conservation charity said it will `` advocate for diligence '' in the investigation .
A friend who said he was also detained told the newspaper the soldiers had beaten them , and also forced them to carry heavy wooden logs and do 100 push-ups .
The Nepal army denied torturing or beating them .
WWF is `` very troubled by these reports '' and has “ reached out to government authorities to understand the events that took place and urge that they are properly investigated , ” a spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government of Nepal has commenced such an investigation.
” “ In our ongoing dialogue with government officials , WWF has emphasized that conservation should never come at the expense of human rights and well-being , ” the WWF spokesperson added .
“ WWF has been and intends to remain in close contact with the Government of Nepal and advocate for diligence as they investigate these events and take appropriate steps to bring any perpetrators to justice.
” Chitwan National Park did not respond to a request for comment .
Multiple human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will also probe the park ’ s alleged involvement in the forceful eviction of an Indigenous settlement living near its borders .
Chitwan officials set fire to two huts , one of the organizations said in a statement , and destroyed eight others using elephants , leaving villagers homeless in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ WWF must investigate this case seriously and ensure family justice , ” said Praveen Kumar from THRD Alliance , one of the groups investigating Kumar ’ s death .
“ The army only cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chair of the Tharu Cultural Museum and Research Center .
“ They are also supposed to support local people , but they are not serious about supporting marginalized communities.
” BuzzFeed News has previously detailed WWF ’ s decadeslong support for the armed guards that fight poaching at Chitwan National Park .
During that time , Indigenous villagers have accused the guards of beatings , torture , sexual assaults , and killings .
Park officials have confiscated their firewood and vegetables , they allege , and forced them into unpaid labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guards were charged with murder after they arrested Shikharam Chaudhary without evidence and allegedly tortured him to death .
Afterward , WWF ’ s staff on the ground in Nepal leaped into action — not to demand justice , but to lobby for the charges to disappear .
When the Nepalese government dropped the case months later , the charity declared it a victory in the fight against poaching .
WWF Nepal continued to fund the park and work closely with the rangers who were accused of his killing .
WWF Nepal later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charity .
It handed a second , Kamal Jung Kunwar , a special anti-poaching award .
By then Kunwar had written a tell-all memoir that described in detail how he used waterboarding as an interrogation technique .
Kunwar ’ s photo appeared in a January 2020 WWF Nepal blog post about the ongoing work the charity is doing to help fight poaching .
WWF removed the post after BuzzFeed News reached out for comment .
WWF Nepal ’ s website says Chitwan National Park is funded in part by the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to a request for comment by press time .
The charity doesn ’ t disclose how much money it spends on paramilitary anti-poaching forces and law enforcement .
American taxpayers have spent millions of dollars financing WWF-backed forces in areas where guards have been accused of rape and murder , according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News .
Some of the funds have gone to parks where WWF knew guards were accused of brutal abuses against local villagers — not the international poaching kingpins the charity says are its target .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abuses in national parks not just in Nepal but across Asia and Africa .
Top executives at the World Wide Fund for Nature had personally reviewed detailed evidence that anti-poaching forces funded by the charity raped and tortured innocent people , but continued to support those forces .
The series spurred a bipartisan investigation and legislation that would prohibit the government from awarding money to international conservation groups that fund or support human rights violations .
It also prompted reviews by the Government Accountability Office and the Interior Department , and separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In April 2019 , WWF appointed Navi Pillay , the former UN high commissioner for human rights , to chair its own inquiry into alleged abuses .
The panel originally planned to publish its findings by the end of 2019 but did not do so .
The panel did not respond to a request for comment .

A friend who said he was also detained told the newspaper the soldiers had beaten them, and also forced them to carry heavy wooden logs and do 100 push-ups. The Nepal army denied torturing or beating them.
WWF is "very troubled by these reports" and has “reached out to government authorities to understand the events that took place and urge that they are properly investigated,” a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. “We understand the Government of Nepal has commenced such an investigation.”
“In our ongoing dialogue with government officials, WWF has emphasized that conservation should never come at the expense of human rights and well-being,” the WWF spokesperson added. “WWF has been and intends to remain in close contact with the Government of Nepal and advocate for diligence as they investigate these events and take appropriate steps to bring any perpetrators to justice.”
Chitwan National Park did not respond to a request for comment.
Multiple human rights groups have launched their own investigations, which will also probe the park’s alleged involvement in the forceful eviction of an Indigenous settlement living near its borders. Chitwan officials set fire to two huts, one of the organizations said in a statement, and destroyed eight others using elephants, leaving villagers homeless in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
“WWF must investigate this case seriously and ensure family justice,” said Praveen Kumar from THRD Alliance, one of the groups investigating Kumar’s death.
“The army only cares about animals,” said Birendra Mahato, the chair of the Tharu Cultural Museum and Research Center. “They are also supposed to support local people, but they are not serious about supporting marginalized communities.”
BuzzFeed News has previously detailed WWF’s decadeslong support for the armed guards that fight poaching at Chitwan National Park. During that time, Indigenous villagers have accused the guards of beatings, torture, sexual assaults, and killings. Park officials have confiscated their firewood and vegetables, they allege, and forced them into unpaid labor.
In 2006, several Chitwan anti-poaching guards were charged with murder after they arrested Shikharam Chaudhary without evidence and allegedly tortured him to death. Afterward, WWF’s staff on the ground in Nepal leaped into action — not to demand justice, but to lobby for the charges to disappear. When the Nepalese government dropped the case months later, the charity declared it a victory in the fight against poaching. WWF Nepal continued to fund the park and work closely with the rangers who were accused of his killing.
WWF Nepal later hired one of them to work for the charity. It handed a second, Kamal Jung Kunwar, a special anti-poaching award. By then Kunwar had written a tell-all memoir that described in detail how he used waterboarding as an interrogation technique.
Kunwar’s photo appeared in a January 2020 WWF Nepal blog post about the ongoing work the charity is doing to help fight poaching. WWF removed the post after BuzzFeed News reached out for comment.
WWF Nepal’s website says Chitwan National Park is funded in part by the United States Agency for International Development. USAID did not respond to a request for comment by press time. The charity doesn’t disclose how much money it spends on paramilitary anti-poaching forces and law enforcement.
American taxpayers have spent millions of dollars financing WWF-backed forces in areas where guards have been accused of rape and murder, according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News. Some of the funds have gone to parks where WWF knew guards were accused of brutal abuses against local villagers — not the international poaching kingpins the charity says are its target.
The BuzzFeed News investigation found a pattern of abuses in national parks not just in Nepal but across Asia and Africa. Top executives at the World Wide Fund for Nature had personally reviewed detailed evidence that anti-poaching forces funded by the charity raped and tortured innocent people, but continued to support those forces.
The series spurred a bipartisan investigation and legislation that would prohibit the government from awarding money to international conservation groups that fund or support human rights violations. It also prompted reviews by the Government Accountability Office and the Interior Department, and separate government probes in the UK and Germany.
In April 2019, WWF appointed Navi Pillay, the former UN high commissioner for human rights, to chair its own inquiry into alleged abuses. The panel originally planned to publish its findings by the end of 2019 but did not do so. The panel did not respond to a request for comment.


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--An Anti-Mask Lawmaker Took A Statement About Transphobia And Replaced "LGBTQ" With "Unmasked"


buzzfeed--2020-07-31--Former Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Has Died From The Coronavirus At 74


buzzfeed--2020-08-01--19 Reasons Why There's Absolutely Zero Reason To Not Wear A Mask If You Can

These people yell about how it 's their `` right '' to not wear a mask in a store , @ @ @ @ @ it is to wear a mask , etc .
Just spouting off a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ pixelated Facebook post shared by a fake Ted Nugent account or a page called something @ @ @ @ @ — The People Deserve to Own Proximity Mines ! ''

These people yell about how it's their "right" to not wear a mask in a store, about how "dangerous" it is to wear a mask, etc. Just spouting off a bunch of nonsense they saw in a pixelated Facebook post shared by a fake Ted Nugent account or a page called something like "Tell Governor Whitmer — The People Deserve to Own Proximity Mines!"


buzzfeed--2020-08-01--Trump Said He Plans To Ban TikTok From The US

President Trump on Friday said he plans to ban the popular app TikTok from operating in the US .
Traveling aboard Air Force One , Trump told reporters he could take action as soon as Saturday .
`` As far as TikTok is concerned , we 're banning them from the United States , '' he said according to a pool report .
Trump has been threatening to ban the popular video-sharing app citing national security concerns that its parent company , Chinese-owned ByteDance , could be misusing American consumer information .
The president , however , has made threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has not ultimately arrived .
When asked on Fox News earlier this month whether Americans should download TikTok on their phones , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said : “ Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.
” ByteDance has said that the company stores user data entirely in the US and Singapore and that it does not have to send user data to China .
But skeptics point to a 2017 law in China that requires Chinese companies to comply with government requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Investment in the United States opened a national security review into ByteDance last year .
Trump on Friday said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to ban the app in the United States , though it is not immediately clear how that would work or what the specific legal rationale would be .
A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment when asked if the company would take legal action against the Trump administration .
However , in a statement , they said millions of Americans have flocked to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their data `` is stored in the US , with strict controls on employee access . ''
`` We are committed to protecting our users ' privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform , '' the spokesperson added .
The New York Times on Friday reported that Microsoft and other companies are in talks to buy TikTok .
But Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was not in favor of a US company buying the app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source familiar with conversations between the administration and TikTok told BuzzFeed News that Trump is looking for a win , and trying to force one by ensuring the company 's US operations would be 100 % US-owned .
TikTok evolved from another popular app Musical.ly , which ByteDance bought in 2017 .
Ryan Mac and Mat Honan contributed additional reporting to this story .

President Donald Trump on Friday said he plans to ban the popular app TikTok from operating in the US.
Traveling aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters he could take action as soon as Saturday.
"As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States," he said according to a pool report.
Trump has been threatening to ban the popular video-sharing app, citing national security concerns that its parent company, Chinese-owned ByteDance, could be misusing American consumer information. The president, however, has made threats in the past or announced planned action that has not ultimately arrived.
When asked on Fox News earlier this month whether Americans should download TikTok on their phones, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
ByteDance has said that the company stores user data entirely in the US and Singapore and that it does not have to send user data to China. But skeptics point to a 2017 law in China that requires Chinese companies to comply with government requests for intelligence gathering.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States opened a national security review into ByteDance last year.
Trump on Friday said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to ban the app in the United States, though it is not immediately clear how that would work or what the specific legal rationale would be.
A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment when asked if the company would take legal action against the Trump administration. However, in a statement, they said millions of Americans have flocked to the app during the coronavirus pandemic and that their data "is stored in the US, with strict controls on employee access."
"We are committed to protecting our users' privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform," the spokesperson added.
In a TikTok posted on Saturday morning, the app's US General Manager Vanessa Pappas thanked the app's American users for an "outpouring of support."
"We're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas said. "When it comes to safety and security, we're building the safest app because we know it's the right thing to do."
The New York Times on Friday reported that Microsoft and other companies are in talks to buy TikTok. But Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was not in favor of a US company buying the app's American operations.
However, a source familiar with conversations between the administration and TikTok told BuzzFeed News that Trump is looking for a win, and trying to force one by ensuring the company's US operations would be 100% US-owned.
TikTok evolved from another popular app Musical.ly, which ByteDance bought in 2017.
Ryan Mac and Mat Honan contributed additional reporting to this story.


buzzfeed--2020-08-01--The Trump Administration Won A Legal Fight To Slash Federal Payments To Hospitals During The Coronav