buzzfeed--2020-10-04--What Happens If A Presidential Candidate Dies Near The Election? The Supreme Court Predicted “Turmoi

What Happens If A Presidential Candidate Dies Near The Election? The Supreme Court Predicted “Turmoil” And Had No Answers.

WASHINGTON — Back in July , the US Supreme Court briefly considered what was , at the time , a far-off hypothetical scenario that the justices acknowledged could lead to “ turmoil ” : the death of a presidential candidate within weeks of Election Day .
The actual case was about when states can punish Electoral College members who cast their vote for someone who isn ’ t one of the party nominees .
It was n't about what electors should do if the popular vote winner in their state died , but the justices touched on that exact scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't resolve the question , though , leaving it to a footnote .
This apparent gap in US election law has suddenly become much more relevant after President Donald Trump was hospitalized Friday after testing positive for the deadly COVID-19 .
Election Day is still technically a month away , but voting is already underway , with many more Americans casting absentee ballots this year to avoid in-person contact at the polls .
The election is already mired in court fights over state efforts to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has killed more than 200,000 Americans has raised new questions about what the Constitution and federal law say — and what they don ’ t — about what happens if a major party candidate is incapacitated or has died and whether ballots already cast for them would count .
Trump ’ s physician has continued to give evasive answers about the president ’ s health but said Sunday that Trump had been put on a steroid recommended for severe cases of COVID-19 after his oxygen levels dropped twice since his diagnosis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own White House chief of staff have painted very different pictures of the president ’ s health .
Presented with the hypothetical of a candidate dying shortly after Election Day but before the Electoral College met , Justice Elena Kagan wrote in July in Chiafalo v. Washington : “ We do not dismiss how much turmoil such an event could cause.
” If Trump became incapacitated or died in office , the 25th Amendment of the Constitution makes clear that Vice President Mike Pence would step in as president .
The 20th Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president-elect will be sworn in as president if the president-elect dies before the start of their term .
What ’ s less settled — and could end up in court — is what happens if a candidate dies before the Electoral College meets to officially choose a president-elect , which is scheduled to take place on Dec. 14 .
Normally if a candidate leaves the race before Election Day , their political party can choose a new nominee , but ballots with Trump and former vice president Joe Biden ’ s names on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters in a number of states .
With 30 days left before the election , it ’ s very unlikely there would be enough time for many states to change their ballots .
If Trump could no longer serve , it ’ s not clear if votes for him would automatically transfer to Pence ( or whichever candidate is chosen by the Republican Party to take his place ) or if electors could be in a position to select other candidates .
Not all states are clear on those questions .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election law expert Richard Pildes posed the hypothetical of a state where the popular vote went for Trump , who was then unable to serve , and some Republican electors then went rogue and voted for candidates other than the RNC ’ s choice .
If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes , the election goes to the House of Representatives to decide — the House can choose from the three candidates who received the most votes in the Electoral College , Pildes noted .
In that scenario , someone who isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viable candidate .
Political parties nominate their own electors and states then appoint electors to participate in the Electoral College based on which party ’ s nominee wins the popular vote in that state .
In the 1952 decision Ray v. Blair , the Supreme Court ruled that political parties could require electors to cast their vote for the nominee who won the popular vote in their state , as opposed to having the freedom to choose someone else .
The justices concluded that electors didn ’ t have a special right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue of so-called faithless electors came to a head again this year , when the justices considered a related question : whether states could penalize electors ( including fines in some states ) for breaking that pledge .
In a unanimous decision in Chiafalo v. Washington , which involved a challenge brought by electors from the 2016 presidential election , the court ruled that states did have that power .
( Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch agreed with the outcome , but wrote separately to say they came to that conclusion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court did not do , however , was resolve what electors could do if a candidate died before the Electoral College voted .
Kagan , who wrote the main opinion in Chiafalo , noted that some states , including California and Indiana , included language in their elector pledges that allowed for flexibility if a nominee died , but others did not .
“ [ W ] e suspect that in such a case , States without a specific provision would also release electors from their pledge .
Still , we note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nothing in this opinion should be taken to permit the States to bind electors to a deceased candidate , ” Kagan wrote .
Kagan wrote that only a fraction of a percent of electoral votes had been cast for someone who wasn ’ t a political party ’ s nominee in US history , and most of those were during the election of 1872 , when Democratic nominee Horace Greeley died less than a month after Election Day .
The votes for Greeley didn ’ t affect the outcome , since it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost to then-president Ulysses Grant , who was up for reelection .
In a recent article for the legal blog Take Care , lawyer Josh Harrow wrote that if Kagan was wrong about states releasing electors from their pledges in the event a nominee died , there was a good chance the issue would quickly wind up before the Supreme Court again .
The Supreme Court heard arguments in two “ faithless elector ” cases last year , Chiafalo and Colorado v. Baca ; Harrow argued for the electors in the Colorado case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our constitutional universe .
If something goes awry in this coming election or any other , the Framers thought that electors could vote with discretion , ” Harrow had argued in May .
Election law expert Rick Hasen gamed out other complications that could end up in court in an article for Slate after the White House announced Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis .
For instance , state lawmakers could argue that because a candidate who died was still on the ballot , voters didn ’ t actually have a choice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to choose electors instead of basing it on the popular vote result .
“ In short , ” Hasen wrote , “ there would be a ton of uncertainty if we faced such a tragedy as a presidential candidate dying or becoming incapacitated during this period.
” With eight justices on the bench since the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the possibility of a 4-4 tie hangs over any constitutional uncertainty that could come up between now and when the Electoral College meets ; when the court ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue stands and there is no new precedent set .
Notwithstanding Trump ’ s diagnosis and the fact that at least three Republican senators have also tested positive in the past week — including two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will continue the push to confirm Trump ’ s latest Supreme Court nominee , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , as quickly as possible .
The court has already weighed in on several election-related cases over the summer , with the conservative majority siding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has said he expects the justices to play a role in resolving legal fights around the election .
If the Senate confirms Barrett , it would deepen the court ’ s conservative arm to 6-3 .

WASHINGTON — Back in July, the US Supreme Court briefly considered what was, at the time, a far-off hypothetical scenario that the justices acknowledged could lead to “turmoil”: the death of a presidential candidate within weeks of Election Day.
The actual case was about when states can punish Electoral College members who cast their vote for someone who isn’t one of the party nominees. It wasn't about what electors should do if the popular vote winner in their state died, but the justices touched on that exact scenario in the court's opinion.
They didn't resolve the question, though, leaving it to a footnote.
This apparent gap in US election law has suddenly become much more relevant after President Donald Trump was hospitalized Friday after testing positive for the deadly COVID-19. Election Day is still technically a month away, but voting is already underway, with many more Americans casting absentee ballots this year to avoid in-person contact at the polls. The election is already mired in court fights over state efforts to expand mail-in voting during the pandemic. Trump’s hospitalization with a disease that has killed more than 200,000 Americans has raised new questions about what the Constitution and federal law say — and what they don’t — about what happens if a major party candidate is incapacitated or has died and whether ballots already cast for them would count.
Trump’s physician has continued to give evasive answers about the president’s health but said Sunday that Trump had been put on a steroid recommended for severe cases of COVID-19 after his oxygen levels dropped twice since his diagnosis. Trump’s medical team and his own White House chief of staff have painted very different pictures of the president’s health.
Presented with the hypothetical of a candidate dying shortly after Election Day but before the Electoral College met, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in July in Chiafalo v. Washington: “We do not dismiss how much turmoil such an event could cause.”
If Trump became incapacitated or died in office, the 25th Amendment of the Constitution makes clear that Vice President Mike Pence would step in as president. The 20th Amendment, meanwhile, says that the vice president-elect will be sworn in as president if the president-elect dies before the start of their term.
What’s less settled — and could end up in court — is what happens if a candidate dies before the Electoral College meets to officially choose a president-elect, which is scheduled to take place on Dec. 14. Normally if a candidate leaves the race before Election Day, their political party can choose a new nominee, but ballots with Trump and former vice president Joe Biden’s names on them have already gone out to absentee voters in a number of states. With 30 days left before the election, it’s very unlikely there would be enough time for many states to change their ballots.
If Trump could no longer serve, it’s not clear if votes for him would automatically transfer to Pence (or whichever candidate is chosen by the Republican Party to take his place) or if electors could be in a position to select other candidates. Not all states are clear on those questions.
In a recent article for the Washington Post, election law expert Richard Pildes posed the hypothetical of a state where the popular vote went for Trump, who was then unable to serve, and some Republican electors then went rogue and voted for candidates other than the RNC’s choice. If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes, the election goes to the House of Representatives to decide — the House can choose from the three candidates who received the most votes in the Electoral College, Pildes noted. In that scenario, someone who isn’t Trump or Biden could become a viable candidate.
Political parties nominate their own electors and states then appoint electors to participate in the Electoral College based on which party’s nominee wins the popular vote in that state. In the 1952 decision Ray v. Blair, the Supreme Court ruled that political parties could require electors to cast their vote for the nominee who won the popular vote in their state, as opposed to having the freedom to choose someone else. The justices concluded that electors didn’t have a special right to vote for whomever they wanted.
The issue of so-called faithless electors came to a head again this year, when the justices considered a related question: whether states could penalize electors (including fines in some states) for breaking that pledge. In a unanimous decision in Chiafalo v. Washington, which involved a challenge brought by electors from the 2016 presidential election, the court ruled that states did have that power. (Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch agreed with the outcome, but wrote separately to say they came to that conclusion for different reasons.)
What the Supreme Court did not do, however, was resolve what electors could do if a candidate died before the Electoral College voted. Kagan, who wrote the main opinion in Chiafalo, noted that some states, including California and Indiana, included language in their elector pledges that allowed for flexibility if a nominee died, but others did not.
“[W]e suspect that in such a case, States without a specific provision would also release electors from their pledge. Still, we note that because the situation is not before us, nothing in this opinion should be taken to permit the States to bind electors to a deceased candidate,” Kagan wrote.
Kagan wrote that only a fraction of a percent of electoral votes had been cast for someone who wasn’t a political party’s nominee in US history, and most of those were during the election of 1872, when Democratic nominee Horace Greeley died less than a month after Election Day. The votes for Greeley didn’t affect the outcome, since it was already clear that he had overwhelmingly lost to then-president Ulysses Grant, who was up for reelection.
In a recent article for the legal blog Take Care, lawyer Josh Harrow wrote that if Kagan was wrong about states releasing electors from their pledges in the event a nominee died, there was a good chance the issue would quickly wind up before the Supreme Court again. The Supreme Court heard arguments in two “faithless elector” cases last year, Chiafalo and Colorado v. Baca; Harrow argued for the electors in the Colorado case.
“That rigidity has no place in our constitutional universe. If something goes awry in this coming election or any other, the Framers thought that electors could vote with discretion,” Harrow had argued in May.
Election law expert Rick Hasen gamed out other complications that could end up in court in an article for Slate after the White House announced Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis. For instance, state lawmakers could argue that because a candidate who died was still on the ballot, voters didn’t actually have a choice, so the state legislature should have the power to choose electors instead of basing it on the popular vote result.
“In short,” Hasen wrote, “there would be a ton of uncertainty if we faced such a tragedy as a presidential candidate dying or becoming incapacitated during this period.”
With eight justices on the bench since the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the possibility of a 4–4 tie hangs over any constitutional uncertainty that could come up between now and when the Electoral College meets; when the court ties, whatever lower court ruling was at issue stands and there is no new precedent set. Notwithstanding Trump’s diagnosis and the fact that at least three Republican senators have also tested positive in the past week — including two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will continue the push to confirm Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, as quickly as possible.
The court has already weighed in on several election-related cases over the summer, with the conservative majority siding with states seeking to restrict mail-in voting. Trump has said he expects the justices to play a role in resolving legal fights around the election. If the Senate confirms Barrett, it would deepen the court’s conservative arm to 6–3.


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--Trump And The Coronavirus Are Dividing Black And White Churches In Georgia

An attendee stands with his arms raised at an Evangelicals for Trump event in Georgia last month But overall , Georgians told BuzzFeed News , more often than not , Black churches are the ones most cautious about the pandemic .
When BuzzFeed News reached out to The Redeeming Love Church of God the Bibleway ’ s Facebook messenger , someone responded with a number to contact their attorney .
After a brief conversation , Kevin Gough , a lawyer for the church did not give an on-record comment about the situation , despite several requests from BuzzFeed News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Black pastors .
Law enforcement disbanded at least one Black church ’ s service in April , for instance , according to a USA Today report .
Based on The Redeeming Love Church of God the Bibleway ’ s Facebook page , the church resumed services soon after — without requiring face coverings while maskless church leaders addressed a small maskless congregation .
State data shows the statistics mirror other parts of the country : Seniors and Black people have disproportionately died of the coronavirus .
Data in June showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 were Black .
“ I would be overwhelmingly reckless and irresponsible to put 6,500 people in my sanctuary while COVID numbers in Georgia are still escalating , ” Pastor Jamal Bryant told BuzzFeed News , who added that the divide on masks wearing is that of a political nature , and nothing to do with theology .
Gov .
Brian Kemp reopened the state on April 24 ; a month later , Trump declared places of worship essential , settling a nationwide dispute as to what category they fell under during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon after , many evangelical churches led by white ministers with predominantly white congregations in Georgia were opening their doors .
Many Black churches , some of which had been closed since March 15 , continued digital services and one-on-one Zoom meetings with members of their congregation .
It ’ s a common difference between the churches in Georgia right now who are grappling with the coronavirus .
More than 7,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the state and those numbers have deterred many of the most vulnerable — churches with large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity .
Onwuchekwa publicly left the the Southern Baptist Convention this summer because he felt the organization was slow-walking racial justice reform .
And since the spring , his church has been online only .
“ The day that the NBA said 'we 're done , ' that next day ” in-person services ceased , he told BuzzFeed News “ For us , it was just like ... for one , we just do n't know what this is . ''
In Georgia , where White recently rallied Trump supporters ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white and Black church is increasingly bitter and transparent .
Part of it is just Trump , who has polarized religious communities along racial lines , and who faces a real risk of losing Georgia in November .
But the divide has become even more explicit in the day-to-day during the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed more than 200,000 Americans , and resulted in the hospitalization of the president himself .
Before the call ended , McBride told BuzzFeed News he gave White one last piece of advice : “ You should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing worse than a White person telling Black people what somebody has done for us.
” White , a televangelist from Florida who also chairs Trump ’ s Faith and Opportunity Initiative , phoned McBride from an unlisted number last year to , as McBride puts it , “ tell me all the good that the president has done.
” To McBride , White ’ s comments were “ blasphemous ” and he told her so during a direct message exchange on Instagram .
Their Instagram exchange , screenshots of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an hour-long conversation between the two religious leaders , according to McBride .
White reached out to McBride trying to refute him and scold him for not reaching out to her first — a message that opened , “ Hello sir !
” “ Looks like the “ FALSE PROPHET @ paulamichellewhite is back at her dirty tricks to deceive the naive and uninformed , ” Pastor Mike McBride wrote .
McDONOUGH , Georgia — When Paula White , President Donald Trump 's spiritual adviser , said last year that Christians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable before God , ” one Black pastor shot back , on Instagram .
The scene was very different at a September faith-focused Trump event in the state .
In Cumming , Georgia , more than 300 mostly white attendees gathered to hear Eric Trump and the president ’ s spiritual adviser , White , speak at an Evangelicals for Trump event .
The church band , speakers , and almost all attendees went maskless during the three-hour outdoor event at Reid Barn in Forsyth County .
While the state of Georgia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( indoor spaces are particularly risky ) , face coverings were regarded as optional as people roamed the enclosed space with their masks in their hands or simply left them atop their chairs .
“ When I ’ m in a building I ’ ve got my mask on all the time , ” Sharon Swanepoel of God ’ s Glory Ministries International told BuzzFeed News .
“ We ’ re outside now , it ’ s different.
” That attitude has been relatively typical of recent events supporting Trump , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usefulness of masks to combat it — a situation whose danger has been put on display with the wide spread of coronavirus among Trump and others who attended recent events at the White House , or traveled with the president .
Trump has been politically investing in Georgia , though , which is home to a competitive presidential race and two Senate races .
In 2018 , Stacey Abrams ’ s narrow loss to Kemp set the stage for Georgia , a historically conservative state , to become a potential swing state in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elect the state ’ s first Black or woman governor mobilized Georgia ’ s growing Black population , which has increased steadily from 19 % in the 1990s to its current 32 % .
The state is also home to the kind of suburban voters who ’ ve turned on Republicans in the Trump era , and instead voted for Democrats like Rep. Lucy McBath , who represents part of the Atlanta area .
That same drive is propelling Democrat Raphael Warnock , a Black man , in what has become a four-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican appointed by Kemp last year .
In May , Joe Biden ’ s campaign announced it would target Georgia among other historically red states , including Texas and Arizona .
The Trump campaign has been less forthcoming about which states they ’ ll focus on .
But Eric Trump and his brother , Donald Trump Jr. , have traversed Georgia for multiple events , and the president himself came for a recent rally , signaling Republicans understand the state is at play , along with the sought after religious vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cumming , Eric Trump spoke of his father in the context of divine intervention .
“ I really believe my father was put here for a reason , ” he told attendees at the Trump for Evangelicals event .
“ I believe that it was because of a higher deity and entity.
” That idea is out-of-place in the state ’ s churches with larger Black congregations who are keeping focus on the pandemic .
Some people who ’ ve gone back to church , “ see COVID differently , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McBride , and pastor of a church in Georgia .
“ First of all , a lot of people don ’ t think it ’ s real.
” McBride pointed to a church ’ s congregation he ’ d visited the other day to see how they were operating amid the pandemic .
“ A lot of them don ’ t even have a mask.
” “ Their culture is we do n't make you do anything you do n't want to do , ” McBride said of most white evangelical churches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks and you do n't have to sit far apart , you know , that kind of stuff.
” The 46-year-old pastor sat behind a large wooden desk in the office wing of his church wearing , upside down , a black mask that bore the name of his church : Tabernacle of Praise Church International .
The empty halls of the 64,000 square-foot compound lead to a large sanctuary where rows upon rows of chairs fill the area , and flags representing countries from which some of the parishioners hail line the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new except for the burgundy and green tassel drapes that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows , left over from the time another church occupied the space .
McBride closed his church doors mid-March and has since conducted online services , except for the time he was admitted to the hospital for double pneumonia and suspected to have the coronavirus .
The Stockbridge hospital , at the time , did not have COVID-19 tests or enough beds to keep him , he said .
So he relied on the doctor ’ s “ very possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and out of Henry Piedmont Hospital ultimately shaped how he runs his 3,000-member congregation today .
“ We haven ’ t physically met since [ March 15 ] , so we ’ ve just been meeting virtually , online , ” McBride said .
“ And then I ’ ve been meeting with members on Zoom calls ... and checking in on them .
Then our leadership team — which is composed of around 30 individuals — they take around 50 people and they stay in touch with them.
” McBride described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as he forgoes the rituals of shaking hands , giving hugs , and praying with people .
Conversely , Pastor Michael Turner reopened Turning Point Church on July 12 limiting attendance capacity to 30 % , but has since lifted those guidelines .
As a white pastor , Turner ministers to 98 % Black members at his Jonesboro location and 30 % at his McDonaugh location .
He too has said he notices the divide between with larger Black memberships or led by Black ministers , but doesn ’ t think opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger .
“ I don ’ t , ” Turner , 50 , said .
“ Number one , our services aren ’ t that long .
Our services are only an hour and we have plenty of space .
We clean in between services .
We clean before the services .
No , I think we ’ ve done everything we can to make sure people are protected and then still being able to come together to worship God and hear the word.
” No one from his congregation has died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell sick because of the disease and were then hospitalized , he said .
There ’ s no indication anyone contracted the disease from attending church .
There are no altar calls , the pastor doesn ’ t go out into the foyer to interact with the congregation , and he ’ s installed touchless sinks and touchless toilets .
On the floor are little stickers that say “ love thy neighbor six feet apart.
” Masks , however , are not required to enter either building .
“ We ’ ve kinda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left that up to the person , you know , whether they want to wear a mask or not but definitely encourage the distance part and washing your hands .
We ’ ve just been really clear — ‘ Hey , there ’ s no judgment here.
” At his Jonesboro location , where Black members make up nearly 100 % of the congregation , only 80 people of the 500 members have returned to in-person services amid the pandemic .
“ I think they ’ re some people who are concerned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think there 're some that are just complacent and comfortable .
Honestly , they ’ ve readjusted their life where they just catch church at their leisure versus coming outside , ” Turner said .
Currently , he ’ s ministering to 3,500 people online versus 300 in-person .
But Black pastors who BuzzFeed News spoke for this article said they ’ ve encouraged their parishioners to stay home while they ’ ve continued with online services .
Their decision is rooted in the fear that Black people disproportionately die of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooted in the division he says Trump has sowed .
“ I think what has happened , the country was already kind of divided with Trump that when he stood on this side it automatically made us stand on this side , ” McBride said .
McBride also suggested Trump supporters , and especially those in the church , are “ just wired ” to follow the president ’ s lead , in an interview weeks before Trump ’ s diagnosis .
“ If Trump would put on a mask , everybody would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just whatever this dude says , they ’ re gon na do it , ” he said .
Others are less optimistic and paint a dismal outlook on the splintered group whose religious beliefs have been upended by politics in the Trump era .
`` I really do n't think we , we serve , or believe in the same God , ” Onwuchekwa told BuzzFeed News last month .
`` I think there 's a group of folks who find themselves not practicing Christianity but this weird blend of Christian nationalism that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that 's foreign from anything historically Christian and anything that the Bible outlines . ''

The scene was very different at a September faith-focused Trump event in the state.
In Cumming, Georgia, more than 300 mostly white attendees gathered to hear Eric Trump and the president’s spiritual adviser, White, speak at an Evangelicals for Trump event. The church band, speakers, and almost all attendees went maskless during the three-hour outdoor event at Reid Barn in Forsyth County.
While the state of Georgia’s health department recommends mask-wearing outdoors (indoor spaces are particularly risky), face coverings were regarded as optional as people roamed the enclosed space with their masks in their hands or simply left them atop their chairs. “When I’m in a building, I’ve got my mask on all the time,” Sharon Swanepoel of God’s Glory Ministries International told BuzzFeed News. “We’re outside now. It’s different.”
Another attendee simply told BuzzFeed News, “I’m over it.”
That attitude has been relatively typical of recent events supporting Trump, who has often downplayed the coronavirus and questioned the usefulness of masks to combat it — a situation whose danger has been put on display with the wide spread of the coronavirus among Trump and others who attended recent events at the White House or traveled with the president. Trump has been politically investing in Georgia, though, which is home to a competitive presidential race and two Senate races.
In 2018, Stacey Abrams’ narrow loss to Kemp set the stage for Georgia, a historically conservative state, to become a potential swing state in the 2020 election. The push to elect the state’s first Black or woman governor mobilized Georgia’s growing Black population, which has increased steadily from 19% in the 1990s to its current 32%. The state is also home to the kind of suburban voters who’ve turned on Republicans in the Trump era, and instead voted for Democrats like Rep. Lucy McBath, who represents part of the Atlanta area.
That same drive is propelling Democrat Raphael Warnock, a Black man, in what has become a four-person Senate race to unseat Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Republican appointed by Kemp last year. In May, Joe Biden’s campaign announced it would target Georgia among other historically red states, including Texas and Arizona.
The Trump campaign has been less forthcoming about which states they’ll focus on. But Eric Trump and his brother, Donald Trump Jr., have traversed Georgia for multiple events, and the president himself came for a recent rally, signaling Republicans understand the state is at play, along with the sought-after religious vote.
More than once during the rally in Cumming, Eric Trump spoke of his father in the context of divine intervention.
“I really believe my father was put here for a reason,” he told attendees at the Trump for Evangelicals event. “I believe that it was because of a higher deity and entity.”
That idea is out of place in the state’s churches with larger Black congregations who are keeping a focus on the pandemic.
Some people who’ve gone back to church, “see COVID differently,” according to T.J. McBride, brother to Mike McBride, and pastor of a church in Georgia. “First of all, a lot of people don’t think it’s real.” McBride pointed to a church’s congregation he’d visited the other day to see how they were operating amid the pandemic. “A lot of them don’t even have a mask.”
“Their culture is we don't make you do anything you don't want to do,” McBride said of most white evangelical churches. “You don't have to wear masks and you don't have to sit far apart, you know, that kind of stuff.”
The 46-year-old pastor sat behind a large wooden desk in the office wing of his church wearing, upside down, a black mask that bore the name of his church: Tabernacle of Praise Church International. The empty halls of the 64,000-square-foot compound lead to a large sanctuary where rows upon rows of chairs fill the area, and flags representing countries from which some of the parishioners hail line the walls. Most of the construction is new except for the burgundy and green tassel drapes that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows, left over from the time another church occupied the space.
McBride closed his church doors mid-March and has since conducted online services, except for the time he was admitted to the hospital for double pneumonia and suspected to have the coronavirus. The Stockbridge hospital, at the time, did not have COVID-19 tests or enough beds to keep him, he said. So he relied on the doctor’s “very possible” for COVID diagnosis. Two weeks in and out of Henry Piedmont Hospital ultimately shaped how he runs his 3,000-member congregation today.
“We haven’t physically met since [March 15], so we’ve just been meeting virtually, online,” McBride said. “And then I’ve been meeting with members on Zoom calls...and checking in on them. Then our leadership team — which is composed of around 30 individuals — they take around 50 people and they stay in touch with them.”
McBride described the unconventional way of ministering “difficult” as he forgoes the rituals of shaking hands, giving hugs, and praying with people.
Conversely, Pastor Michael Turner reopened Turning Point Church on July 12 — initially limiting attendance capacity to 30%, but he has since lifted those guidelines. As a white pastor, Turner ministers to 98% Black members at his Jonesboro location and 30% at his McDonough location. He too has said he notices the divide between white churches and those with larger Black memberships or led by Black ministers, but doesn’t think opening his two locations puts his members in danger.
“I don’t,” Turner, 50, said. “Number one, our services aren’t that long. Our services are only an hour and we have plenty of space. We clean in between services. We clean before the services. No, I think we’ve done everything we can to make sure people are protected and then still being able to come together to worship God and hear the word.”
No one from his congregation has died from the coronavirus, but a “handful” fell sick because of the disease and were then hospitalized, he said. There’s no indication anyone contracted the disease from attending church.
There are no altar calls, the pastor doesn’t go out into the foyer to interact with the congregation, and he’s installed touchless sinks and touchless toilets. On the floor are little stickers that say “love thy neighbor six feet apart.” Masks, however, are not required to enter either building.
“We’ve kinda not made that a huge issue and left that up to the person, you know, whether they want to wear a mask or not but definitely encourage the distance part and washing your hands. We’ve just been really clear: ‘Hey, there’s no judgment here.'”
At his Jonesboro location, where Black members make up nearly 100% of the congregation, only 80 people of the 500 members have returned to in-person services amid the pandemic.
“I think they’re some people who are concerned, still, about the virus, but I think there're some that are just complacent and comfortable. Honestly, they’ve readjusted their life where they just catch church at their leisure versus coming outside,” Turner said. Currently, he’s ministering to 3,500 people online versus 300 in-person.
But Black pastors who BuzzFeed News spoke for this article said they’ve encouraged their parishioners to stay home while they’ve continued with online services. Their decision is rooted in the fear that Black people disproportionately die of COVID-19, and for T.J. McBride, it’s rooted in the division he says Trump has sowed.
“I think what has happened, the country was already kind of divided with Trump that when he stood on this side it automatically made us stand on this side,” McBride said.
McBride also suggested Trump supporters, and especially those in the church, are “just wired” to follow the president’s lead, in an interview weeks before Trump’s diagnosis.
“If Trump would put on a mask, everybody would change their mind. It’s just whatever this dude says, they’re gonna do it,” he said.
Others are less optimistic and paint a dismal outlook on the splintered group whose religious beliefs have been upended by politics in the Trump era.
"I really don't think we, we serve, or believe in the same God,” Onwuchekwa told BuzzFeed News last month. "I think there's a group of folks who find themselves not practicing Christianity but this weird blend of Christian nationalism that seeks to wed God and country, in a way that's foreign from anything historically Christian and anything that the Bible outlines."


buzzfeed--2020-10-04--White House Officials Flouted Coronavirus Guidance At Their Supreme Court Celebration. It Was Likely

White House Officials Flouted Coronavirus Guidance At Their Supreme Court Celebration. It Was Likely A Superspreader Event.

“ I hope this serves as an important reminder that the virus doesn ’ t discriminate , that you can catch it whoever you are , and it ’ s a risk and it ’ s real , ” one expert said of the White House cluster .
The White House gathering on Sept. 26 to introduce Amy Coney Barrett as President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to serve on the Supreme Court has emerged as a likely superspreader event in the growing cluster of COVID-19 cases surrounding the president .
So far , the majority of the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden gathering and associated events , including individuals whose schedules would otherwise not obviously have brought them together .
And the timing of their reported positive tests fits with the date of the event .
It was also surrounded by other meetings with key Republicans to discuss the coming confirmation hearings .
Trump ’ s wife , Melania , former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , who had prepped Trump for Tuesday ’ s debate , Kellyanne Conway , the former counsellor to Trump who left the White House in late August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis , members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will consider Barrett ’ s nomination , and Rev .
John I. Jenkins , president of Notre Dame University , where she is a law professor .
( Barrett herself was reportedly infected with the coronavirus earlier this year and tested negative on Friday . )
Far from shifting the narrative away from the president ’ s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis , as his supporters would have hoped , the event has turned into an emblem of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice of holding largely maskless gatherings without social distancing .
“ I find this to be one of the single most appalling things that has happened in the past few months , ” Kate Grabowski , an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University , said of the spectacle of repeated Trump rallies and other gatherings with few precautions to reduce viral transmission .
“ I hope this serves as an important reminder that the virus doesn ’ t discriminate , that you can catch it whoever you are , and it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photos and videos from the Supreme Court nomination event show attendees mingling and hugging .
While Barrett was formally introduced , more than 150 people sat packed together in rows of chairs on the White House Rose Garden lawn , with very few wearing masks .
The Rose Garden event was accompanied by indoor gatherings where the risk of viral transmission is especially high .
Before Barrett was introduced , Trump and at least eight others , including his wife , Christie , Lee , and Tillis , reportedly met with her inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of indoor receptions , the Washington Post reported .
Experts told BuzzFeed News that it may not be possible to uncover the exact chain of viral transmission within Trump ’ s circle — nor to determine how the president himself became infected .
“ There ’ s a ton of unknowns and it ’ s hard to figure out , ” said Carl Bergstrom , a theoretical biologist at the University of Washington in Seattle .
But research has shown that some people are particularly likely to transmit the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ published on Sept. 17 , for instance , estimated that 19 % of the people infected were responsible for 80 % of local viral transmission .
It only takes one of these “ superspreaders ” at an event like Barrett ’ s nomination to seed a series of cases .
“ One of the critical things to keep in mind here is that a lot of people are going to events with a lot of other people who may have the coronavirus , ” Grabowski said .
“ This is part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings in the middle of a pandemic.
” Those who attended the Sept. 26 White House gathering were tested beforehand .
The White House seems to rely on a rapid testing device developed by Abbott Laboratories that can deliver results within 15 minutes .
But there ’ s a problem with using the Abbott test for screening in this way : It has only been authorized for use on patients showing symptoms and is thought to deliver a high number of false negatives .
In one study published in July of tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Langone Hospitals ER , it gave negative results in up to 45 % of cases in which a rival test produced a positive result .
As more cases emerge , contact tracers will be racing to test all those who attended the Barrett event , encouraging them to self isolate , and identifying their social contacts .
“ For people at the Rose Garden , I would want to see them tested and minimizing their contacts with other people in the interim , ” Bergstrom said .
On Saturday , the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical unit in conjunction with , in collaboration with CDC and local state and health departments , are conducting all contact tracing per CDC guidelines.
” Those in close proximity to the president and his entourage throughout this time include members of the White House press corps , three of whom have so far tested positive for the coronavirus .

Far from shifting the narrative away from the president’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis, as his supporters would have hoped, the event has turned into an emblem of the dangers posed by Trump’s practice of holding largely maskless gatherings without social distancing.
“I find this to be one of the single most appalling things that has happened in the past few months,” Kate Grabowski, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, said of the spectacle of repeated Trump rallies and other gatherings with few precautions to reduce viral transmission. “I hope this serves as an important reminder that the virus doesn’t discriminate, that you can catch it whoever you are, and it’s a risk and it’s real.”
Photos and videos from the Supreme Court nomination event show attendees mingling and hugging. While Barrett was formally introduced, more than 150 people sat packed together in rows of chairs on the White House Rose Garden lawn, with very few wearing masks.
The Rose Garden event was accompanied by indoor gatherings where the risk of viral transmission is especially high. Before Barrett was introduced, Trump and at least eight others, including his wife, Christie, Lee, and Tillis, reportedly met with her inside the White House. The celebrations included a series of indoor receptions, the Washington Post reported.
Experts told BuzzFeed News that it may not be possible to uncover the exact chain of viral transmission within Trump’s circle — nor to determine how the president himself became infected. “There’s a ton of unknowns and it’s hard to figure out,” said Carl Bergstrom, a theoretical biologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.


buzzfeed--2020-10-04--Politicians In Line Behind Trump Say They’re Coronavirus-Free. But It May Be Too Soon To Know If Tha

Politicians In Line Behind Trump Say They’re Coronavirus-Free. But It May Be Too Soon To Know If That’s True.

On Friday , the White House asserted that Pence was healthy .
The vice president ’ s physician said in a statement that he “ does not need to quarantine ” and was “ free to go about his normal activities , ” and Pence said he will continue campaigning .
He did not have any events scheduled on Friday , but on Thursday he attended a campaign event in Iowa where a crowd of about 600 people , few of them wearing masks , sat indoors at large tables , the Des Moines Register reported .
Pence is due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris in person next Wednesday .
Under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution , Pence is next in the line of succession , followed by Pelosi and then Chuck Grassley , the Senate president pro tempore ( a position generally given to the most senior senator in the majority party ) .
Grassley had not come into contact with the president as recently as the others , but he did attend a hearing this week with Sen. Mike Lee , who tested positive Friday .
Grassley , who has said he will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state , Pompeo , and then the Treasury secretary , Mnuchin .
“ There ’ s no single test that you can give someone and have absolute certainty they don ’ t have COVID , ” Bill Morice , chair of laboratory medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic , told BuzzFeed News .
For anyone who spends more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person , the CDC recommends quarantining for two weeks .
On Friday , Pence , Pelosi , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had tested negative .
Pence was the most recent of the group known to have seen Trump , at a coronavirus briefing in the White House Rose Garden on Monday evening .
Pence had also seen Trump on Saturday and Sunday at other events , including the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
In this highly unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation , with Trump checking into Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday evening for an unspecified number of days , the health of each of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the safety measures they adopt , will be under close scrutiny .
What happens next will depend on not just how the president ’ s condition progresses , but who around him stays healthy or gets infected and potentially infects others .
But negative results , especially in the first few days of being infected , are not as conclusive as they may seem .
Medical experts caution that they can ’ t be taken as a definitive sign that people are not infected , and operating under a false assumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put others at risk .
Since President Donald Trump announced he had the coronavirus , several of the leaders who would step in if he ’ s incapacitated , from Vice President Mike Pence to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , have been releasing their own negative test results .
If the president was to become so ill as to need to step down either temporarily or permanently , the 25th Amendment provides four separate measures that outline what a transfer of power would look like .
The first two deal with what happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave office — Pence would become president .
Through the third part of the amendment , Trump could temporarily hand over power to Pence , who would serve as acting president .
The fourth section , which has not previously been invoked , allows the vice president and cabinet to declare Trump “ unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
” That fourth measure has a high bar — it includes the ability for the president to force a congressional vote on whether or not he should be declared unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majorities required in both houses .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was onstage with Trump , neither of them wearing masks , during the presidential debate three days ago .
Biden announced that he and his wife had tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday morning , but rather than quarantining , continued with a planned visit to Grand Rapids , Michigan , on Friday afternoon .
The former vice president has no other travel scheduled in the next few days , but his wife , Jill Biden , is traveling to several campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s orbit who said they tested negative include Attorney General Bill Barr , Ivanka Trump , Jared Kushner , Barron Trump , and Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee , Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
( Barrett was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this summer and recovered . )
First lady Melania Trump and Hope Hicks , a top aide to the president , have both tested positive .
Whether leaders in the line of succession and other members of Trump ’ s administration got infected would depend on factors such as how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive , whether they were indoors or outdoors , and whether they were masked and keeping a distance from one another .
But whether a test would pick up on that infection depends on when they got infected .
A safe bet is to quarantine for at least 7 to 10 days to see if symptoms develop , which usually happens by then , experts say .
If no symptoms emerge , and a test at that point still comes up negative , then their quarantining period could probably safely end .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get tested too early on , like within the first one or two days of an exposure , when the amount of virus in the body is too low to be detected .
A person could get an inaccurate negative result and then , falsely believing they are healthy , possibly spread it to others .
“ A negative test early after exposure tells you nothing about whether you ’ re infected or not , ” said Ashish Jha , dean of the Brown University School of Public Health , in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now and coughs in my face and I get the virus , it ’ s going to take a while for the virus to infect the tissues and replicate .
A test today would be 100 % negative .
A test tomorrow would be close to 100 % negative .
A test on Sunday might be positive .
But I would probably turn positive three to five days after exposure.
” He added that anyone who interacted with Trump , his wife , or Hicks over the past week should be quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows , testing is not a bulletproof tool to keep the disease from spreading .
To protect the president , the White House has relied predominantly on frequent testing while eschewing other measures known to reduce transmission , such as limiting crowds and wearing masks , much to the bewilderment of infectious disease experts .
“ You can ’ t just pick one and do that and neglect the others , ” said Saskia Popescu , an epidemiologist at the University of Arizona .
“ This is a really unfortunate example of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
If you told me that a random person was being tested daily and not following masking protocols or social distancing , and was in a lot of close-quarter meetings with dozens of other people , I would say it ’ s not surprising ” that they got infected .

Since President Donald Trump announced he had the coronavirus, several of the leaders who would step in if he’s incapacitated, from Vice President Mike Pence to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have been releasing their own negative test results.
But negative results, especially in the first few days of being infected, are not as conclusive as they may seem. Medical experts caution that they can’t be taken as a definitive sign that people are not infected, and operating under a false assumption of a clean bill of health could put others at risk.
In this highly unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation, with Trump checking into Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday evening for an unspecified number of days, the health of each of the people in line to take over if necessary, and the safety measures they adopt, will be under close scrutiny. What happens next will depend on not just how the president’s condition progresses, but who around him stays healthy or gets infected and potentially infects others.
On Friday, Pence, Pelosi, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin all said they had tested negative. Pence was the most recent of the group known to have seen Trump, at a coronavirus briefing in the White House Rose Garden on Monday evening. Pence had also seen Trump on Saturday and Sunday at other events, including the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
For anyone who spends more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person, the CDC recommends quarantining for two weeks.
“There’s no single test that you can give someone and have absolute certainty they don’t have COVID,” Bill Morice, chair of laboratory medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic, told BuzzFeed News.
Under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Pence is next in the line of succession, followed by Pelosi and then Chuck Grassley, the Senate president pro tempore (a position generally given to the most senior senator in the majority party). Grassley had not come into contact with the president as recently as the others, but he did attend a hearing this week with Sen. Mike Lee, who tested positive Friday. Grassley, who has said he will not be tested, is followed by the secretary of state, Pompeo, and then the Treasury secretary, Mnuchin.
On Friday, the White House asserted that Pence was healthy. The vice president’s physician said in a statement that he “does not need to quarantine” and was “free to go about his normal activities,” and Pence said he will continue campaigning. He did not have any events scheduled on Friday, but on Thursday he attended a campaign event in Iowa where a crowd of about 600 people, few of them wearing masks, sat indoors at large tables, the Des Moines Register reported. Pence is due to debate Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris in person next Wednesday.


buzzfeed--2020-10-04--Here's A Running List Of False And Misleading Information About Trump's Coronavirus Diagnosis

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus , they announced early Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis , false information , fake screenshots , and deceptively edited videos have been circulating @ @ @ @ @ a running list .
Before passing on any online rumor to your friends and family @ @ @ @ @ verify it .
This can be done by checking how recently an account has been @ @ @ @ @ eye on information from news outlets , or searching online to find another source .

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


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--A Senator Wrote An Impassioned Letter To Her Colleagues About Her IVF Treatment And Trump’s Supreme

A Senator Wrote An Impassioned Letter To Her Colleagues About Her IVF Treatment And Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee

Following reports that Amy Coney Barrett , President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee , supported an anti-abortion group that opposes in vitro fertilization , Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois wrote an impassioned letter to her colleagues Friday , citing her own experience with IVF and the conception of her 2-year-old daughter , Maile .
“ I write to each of you today , and especially to my Republican colleagues who cooed and cuddled Maile when she first visited the Capitol , in the hope that you will fully consider the very real impact your vote on this unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start families of their own , ” Duckworth wrote .
“ I urge you to fully consider the message a vote in favor of a Supreme Court nominee who appears to believe that my daughters shouldn ’ t even exist sends not only to me as a mother and as your colleague , but to parents-to-be around this country struggling with infertility and whose dreams may only be achieved through IVF or other technologies.
” The letter , which was obtained by BuzzFeed News , is in reaction to a report from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Barrett was a law professor at Notre Dame , she publicly signed an advertisement in support of an anti-abortion organization that believes life begins at fertilization and that the IVF process amounts to abortion and should be criminalized .
The group — then called the St. Joseph County Right to Life but now named Right to Life Michiana — took out a two-page advertisement in the South Bend Tribune , a local paper for the Michiana region of Indiana .
The ad reads , “ We , the following citizens of Michiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to life from fertilization to natural death .
Please continue to pray to end abortion.
” Barrett signed this letter along with her husband Jesse , and hundreds of other supporters of the group , the Guardian reported .
While the advertisement itself did not explicitly address IVF , the group is openly opposed to the procedure .
“ We support the criminalization of the doctors who perform abortions .
At this point we are not supportive of criminalizing the women , ” Jackie Appleman , the group ’ s executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Guardian .
“ We would be supportive of criminalizing the discarding of frozen embryos or selective reduction through the IVF process.
” Barrett has repeatedly indicated that she does not support abortion , both in the personal views she expressed while a law professor at Notre Dame , and in her rulings on the issue .
When asked if Barrett signing on to the ad was reflective of her views and if she believes IVF should be criminalized , White House spokesperson Judd Deere provided BuzzFeed News with a quote from Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination : “ A judge must apply the law as written .
Judges are not policymakers , and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold , ” Barrett said .
In 2018 , Duckworth made history by becoming the first senator to give birth while in office , and she spurred on a change in Senate rules to allow senators to bring their children onto the Senate floor for a vote , which she , adorably , did .
She has two daughters and has been very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ While my two beautiful little girls are unique , my story of struggling with fertility is not , ” Duckworth wrote to colleagues Friday .
“ Assisted reproductive technology ( ART ) , including IVF treatment , has enabled thousands of Americans to safely start families in red and blue states alike.
” “ I fear that , if confirmed to the nation ’ s highest court , Judge Barrett would be unable to resist the temptation of overturning decades of judicial precedent in an effort to force every American family to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Duckworth continued .
“ I fear that if a case involving ART were to be brought before the bench , families like mine would not be able to trust that her opinions would be based on facts , laws , and the Constitution rather than swayed by her personal beliefs.
” The opposition to , and especially the criminalization of , IVF is a controversial opinion , even by anti-abortion standards .
When Alabama passed a near-total ban on abortion in 2019 ( which has since been blocked in court ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barrett ’ s views on abortion have quickly become a flashpoint for Democrats since her nomination was announced .
The second page of the ad Barrett signed explicitly addressed Roe , though the signatures were only on the first page .
“ It ’ s time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade and restore laws that protect the lives of unborn children , ” the ad read .
Deere pointed BuzzFeed News toward several other quotes and rulings from Barrett in which she reiterated that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not their personal beliefs , including one from a 1998 law review article about whether Catholic judges like herself should recuse themselves from cases involving the death penalty , which the Catholic church is opposed to .
In that article , Barrett wrote , “ It is never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge ’ s personal convictions , whether they derive from faith or anywhere else , on the law , ” Deere pointed out .
However , in the article ’ s conclusion , she also wrote , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to — align our legal system with the Church 's moral teaching whenever the two diverge .
They should , however , conform their own behavior to the Church 's standard .
Perhaps their good example will have some effect . ''

Following reports that Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, supported an anti-abortion group that opposes in vitro fertilization, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois wrote an impassioned letter to her colleagues Friday, citing her own experience with IVF and the conception of her 2-year-old daughter, Maile.
“I write to each of you today, and especially to my Republican colleagues who cooed and cuddled Maile when she first visited the Capitol, in the hope that you will fully consider the very real impact your vote on this unprecedented nomination could have on those Americans hoping to start families of their own,” Duckworth wrote.
“I urge you to fully consider the message a vote in favor of a Supreme Court nominee who appears to believe that my daughters shouldn’t even exist sends not only to me as a mother and as your colleague, but to parents-to-be around this country struggling with infertility and whose dreams may only be achieved through IVF or other technologies.”
The letter, which was obtained by BuzzFeed News, is in reaction to a report from the Guardian revealing that in 2006, when Barrett was a law professor at Notre Dame, she publicly signed an advertisement in support of an anti-abortion organization that believes life begins at fertilization and that the IVF process amounts to abortion and should be criminalized.
The group — then called the St. Joseph County Right to Life but now named Right to Life Michiana — took out a two-page advertisement in the South Bend Tribune, a local paper for the Michiana region of Indiana. The ad reads, “We, the following citizens of Michiana, oppose abortion on demand and defend the right to life from fertilization to natural death. Please continue to pray to end abortion.”
Barrett signed this letter along with her husband Jesse, and hundreds of other supporters of the group, the Guardian reported. While the advertisement itself did not explicitly address IVF, the group is openly opposed to the procedure.
“We support the criminalization of the doctors who perform abortions. At this point we are not supportive of criminalizing the women,” Jackie Appleman, the group’s executive director, said in an interview with the Guardian. “We would be supportive of criminalizing the discarding of frozen embryos or selective reduction through the IVF process.”
Barrett has repeatedly indicated that she does not support abortion, both in the personal views she expressed while a law professor at Notre Dame, and in her rulings on the issue. When asked if Barrett signing on to the ad was reflective of her views and if she believes IVF should be criminalized, White House spokesperson Judd Deere provided BuzzFeed News with a quote from Barrett herself, from the day of her nomination:
“A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold,” Barrett said.
In 2018, Duckworth made history by becoming the first senator to give birth while in office, and she spurred on a change in Senate rules to allow senators to bring their children onto the Senate floor for a vote, which she, adorably, did. She has two daughters and has been very open about her conception through IVF.
“While my two beautiful little girls are unique, my story of struggling with fertility is not,” Duckworth wrote to colleagues Friday. “Assisted reproductive technology (ART), including IVF treatment, has enabled thousands of Americans to safely start families in red and blue states alike.”
“I fear that, if confirmed to the nation’s highest court, Judge Barrett would be unable to resist the temptation of overturning decades of judicial precedent in an effort to force every American family to adhere to her individual moral code,” Duckworth continued. “I fear that if a case involving ART were to be brought before the bench, families like mine would not be able to trust that her opinions would be based on facts, laws, and the Constitution rather than swayed by her personal beliefs.”
The opposition to, and especially the criminalization of, IVF is a controversial opinion, even by anti-abortion standards. When Alabama passed a near-total ban on abortion in 2019 (which has since been blocked in court), the legislators inserted an exception for IVF. Barrett’s views on abortion have quickly become a flashpoint for Democrats since her nomination was announced.
The second page of the ad Barrett signed explicitly addressed Roe, though the signatures were only on the first page. “It’s time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade and restore laws that protect the lives of unborn children,” the ad read.
Deere pointed BuzzFeed News toward several other quotes and rulings from Barrett in which she reiterated that a judge should rely on the law, not their personal beliefs, including one from a 1998 law review article about whether Catholic judges like herself should recuse themselves from cases involving the death penalty, which the Catholic church is opposed to.
In that article, Barrett wrote, “It is never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else, on the law,” Deere pointed out.
However, in the article’s conclusion, she also wrote, “Judges cannot — nor should they try to — align our legal system with the Church's moral teaching whenever the two diverge. They should, however, conform their own behavior to the Church's standard. Perhaps their good example will have some effect."


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--This Woman's Viral Story Of How COVID Devastated Her Family Is A Must-Read For Anyone Who Doesn't Ta

This Woman's Viral Story Of How COVID Devastated Her Family Is A Must-Read For Anyone Who Doesn't Take The Pandemic Seriously

A young woman 's comment posted on Reddit , in which she describes the horrific toll COVID-19 has taken on @ @ @ @ @ viral across the internet .
And while her story is heartbreaking , it 's a @ @ @ @ @ n't understand just how serious the coronavirus pandemic really is .

A young woman's comment posted on Reddit , in which she describes the horrific toll COVID-19 has taken on her family, is going viral across the internet. And while her story is heartbreaking, it's a must-read for anyone who doesn't understand just how serious the coronavirus pandemic really is.


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--What Happens If A Presidential Candidate Dies Near The Election? The Supreme Court Predicted “Turmoi


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--17 Republicans Voted Against Condemning QAnon After A Democrat Got Death Threats From Its Followers

WASHINGTON — The House voted to formally condemn QAnon — a collective delusion that alleges President Donald Trump is fighting a Satan-worshipping cabal of elites who abuse children — on Friday , three days after its followers targeted Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski with death threats .
The resolution , which passed the House 371–18 , also comes as at least one avowed QAnon believer is expected to be elected to Congress next month .
Marjorie Taylor Greene , who has also posted a photo of herself holding a gun next to images of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican primary for a Georgia seat earlier this year and is very likely to win in November .
Several other QAnon followers have won Republican primaries .
Malinowski coauthored the bipartisan resolution condemning QAnon with Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman back in August , two weeks after Greene won her primary and after Trump called her a “ future Republican Star.
” Trump has praised QAnon , despite Q ’ s frequent anti-Semitism , the fact that their followers have a history of turning their beliefs into real-world violence , and that the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat .
Seventeen Republicans voted against the resolution on Friday , as did Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash .
One member , Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland , voted “ present.
” On Tuesday , Malinowski was targeted in a “ Q-drop ” — one of the self-proclaimed US government insider ’ s conspiracy-filled posts on message boards .
As BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday , the post mentioned Malinowski ’ s resolution , but it also included a screenshot of a false attack from the National Republican Campaign Committee alleging that Malinowski “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false attack — which the NRCC also included in a debunked TV ad in which a narrator says , “ Tom Malinowski chose sex offenders over your family ” — echoes a core belief of QAnon followers : that powerful Democrats and global elites are engaged in child trafficking .
Adherents have actually hindered law enforcement going after child trafficking by overwhelming them with false conspiracy theories .
Malinowski quickly started getting death threats after Q ’ s post went up Tuesday , which his office reported to the Capitol Police .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republicans , has only doubled down on the false attack since then .
The NRCC is currently run by Rep. Tom Emmer , who voted for the resolution Friday .
Malinowski told BuzzFeed News that he spoke to Emmer about the NRCC attacks and how they could play into QAnon 's hands before the Q drop targeted him .
“ He said , ‘ I don ’ t know what Q is ’ and walked away .
… He said , ' I can ’ t be responsible for , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know what that is , ' ” Malinowski said .
( Emmer traveled with Trump on Air Force One on Wednesday before the president tested positive for the coronavirus and was tested Friday , according to his office .
He voted in person on Friday and has not announced any test results . )
The Republicans who voted against the anti-QAnon resolution are Reps. Jodey Arrington , Michael Burgess , Bill Flores , and Brian Babin of Texas ; Rob Bishop of Utah ; Mo Brooks of Alabama ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Warren Davidson of Ohio ; Jeff Duncan and Ralph Norman of South Carolina ; Paul Gosar of Arizona ; Mike Kelly and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania ; Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin ; Daniel Webster of Florida ; and Steve King of Iowa .
King , a racist , lost the Republican primary for his seat this summer and will not return to Congress next year .
Republicans removed King from his committee assignments in 2019 after he questioned why `` white nationalist '' and `` white supremacist '' are `` offensive '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress did not , however , attempt to expel King from the House or even censure him .
Instead , Democrats passed a resolution condemning white supremacy that only mentioned King once ; even King voted for it .
The anti-QAnon resolution passed Friday is n't binding law ; it expresses the sentiment of the House as a whole .
In addition to condemning QAnon , it calls on the FBI and other federal law enforcement to “ strengthen their focus on preventing violence , threats , harassment , and other criminal activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories.
” It also “ encourages ” the intelligence community to investigate whether QAnon is getting financial support or online amplification from foreign actors and if it is coordinating with any “ foreign extremist organizations or groups espousing violence . ''
Amash , who left the Republican Party in 2019 , said in a statement that he voted no because the resolution `` threatens protected speech '' and argued that it `` may make things worse '' by encouraging the intelligence community and the FBI to go after QAnon , which would confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that 's fighting against them . ''
Arrington said in a statement that he also voted against Friday 's resolution because of First Amendment concerns .
`` There is a world of difference between conspiracy and criminal - one is protected by the First Amendment ; the other should be condemned in all forms , '' he said .
But Arrington added that he also voted against it because the resolution made no reference to Antifa `` and other radical Leftist groups . ''

WASHINGTON — The House voted to formally condemn QAnon — a collective delusion that alleges President Donald Trump is fighting a Satan-worshipping cabal of elites who abuse children — on Friday, three days after its followers targeted Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski with death threats.
The resolution, which passed the House 371–18, also comes as at least one avowed QAnon believer is expected to be elected to Congress next month. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has also posted a photo of herself holding a gun next to images of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the "Squad," won the Republican primary for a Georgia seat earlier this year and is very likely to win in November. Several other QAnon followers have won Republican primaries.
Malinowski coauthored the bipartisan resolution condemning QAnon with Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman back in August, two weeks after Greene won her primary and after Trump called her a “future Republican Star.” Trump has praised QAnon, despite Q’s frequent anti-Semitism, the fact that their followers have a history of turning their beliefs into real-world violence, and that the FBI has labeled the group a domestic terror threat.
Seventeen Republicans voted against the resolution on Friday, as did Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash. One member, Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, voted “present.”
On Tuesday, Malinowski was targeted in a “Q-drop” — one of the self-proclaimed US government insider’s conspiracy-filled posts on message boards. As BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday, the post mentioned Malinowski’s resolution, but it also included a screenshot of a false attack from the National Republican Campaign Committee alleging that Malinowski “lobbied to protect sexual predators.”
The false attack — which the NRCC also included in a debunked TV ad in which a narrator says, “Tom Malinowski chose sex offenders over your family” — echoes a core belief of QAnon followers: that powerful Democrats and global elites are engaged in child trafficking. Adherents have actually hindered law enforcement going after child trafficking by overwhelming them with false conspiracy theories.
Malinowski quickly started getting death threats after Q’s post went up Tuesday, which his office reported to the Capitol Police. And the NRCC, the campaign arm of House Republicans, has only doubled down on the false attack since then. The NRCC is currently run by Rep. Tom Emmer, who voted for the resolution Friday. Malinowski told BuzzFeed News that he spoke to Emmer about the NRCC attacks and how they could play into QAnon's hands before the Q drop targeted him. “He said, ‘I don’t know what Q is’ and walked away. … He said, 'I can’t be responsible for, you know, how people use our stuff and I don’t know what that is,'” Malinowski said.
(Emmer traveled with Trump on Air Force One on Wednesday before the president tested positive for the coronavirus and was tested Friday, according to his office. He voted in person on Friday and has not announced any test results.)
The Republicans who voted against the anti-QAnon resolution are Reps. Jodey Arrington, Michael Burgess, Bill Flores, and Brian Babin of Texas; Rob Bishop of Utah; Mo Brooks of Alabama; Buddy Carter and Drew Ferguson of Georgia; Warren Davidson of Ohio; Jeff Duncan and Ralph Norman of South Carolina; Paul Gosar of Arizona; Mike Kelly and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania; Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin; Daniel Webster of Florida; and Steve King of Iowa.
King, a racist, lost the Republican primary for his seat this summer and will not return to Congress next year. Republicans removed King from his committee assignments in 2019 after he questioned why "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" are "offensive" in a New York Times interview. Congress did not, however, attempt to expel King from the House or even censure him. Instead, Democrats passed a resolution condemning white supremacy that only mentioned King once; even King voted for it.
The anti-QAnon resolution passed Friday isn't binding law; it expresses the sentiment of the House as a whole. In addition to condemning QAnon, it calls on the FBI and other federal law enforcement to “strengthen their focus on preventing violence, threats, harassment, and other criminal activity by extremists motivated by fringe political conspiracy theories.” It also “encourages” the intelligence community to investigate whether QAnon is getting financial support or online amplification from foreign actors and if it is coordinating with any “foreign extremist organizations or groups espousing violence."
Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019, said in a statement that he voted no because the resolution "threatens protected speech" and argued that it "may make things worse" by encouraging the intelligence community and the FBI to go after QAnon, which would confirm followers' fears of a "deep state that's fighting against them."
Arrington said in a statement that he also voted against Friday's resolution because of First Amendment concerns. "There is a world of difference between conspiracy and criminal - one is protected by the First Amendment; the other should be condemned in all forms," he said.
But Arrington added that he also voted against it because the resolution made no reference to Antifa "and other radical Leftist groups."


buzzfeed--2020-10-05--Chris Evans Just Slammed Trump On Twitter For Telling People "Don't Be Afraid Of COVID"

His own chief of staff , Mark Meadows , told press that his COVID symptoms were `` very concerning .
@ @ @ @ @ — after initially dodging the issue in a press conference — admitted yesterday that the @ @ @ @ @ on oxygen .
His doctor also revealed that Trump has been given dexamethasone , which @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization , is recommended for patients “ with severe and critical COVID-19 . ''

His own chief of staff, Mark Meadows, told press that his COVID symptoms were "very concerning." And Trump's doctor — after initially dodging the issue in a press conference — admitted yesterday that the POTUS needed to be put on oxygen. His doctor also revealed that Trump has been given dexamethasone, which, according to the World Health Organization, is recommended for patients “with severe and critical COVID-19."


buzzfeed--2020-10-06--Trump Returned To The White House And Took His Mask Off While Infected With COVID-19

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

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