vox--2020-10-30--A 7.0 earthquake struck near Greece and Turkey, killing at least 14 and injuring hundreds

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday afternoon local time , killing at least 14 people , and injuring hundreds more in Turkey and Greece .
The earthquake caused the most damage in Izmir , Turkey ’ s third-largest city , with a population of nearly 3 million people .
More than 20 buildings collapsed , the city ’ s governor said , and at least 70 people had to be pulled from the rubble .
There were no reported injuries to the 100 US military personnel currently stationed in Izmir , a spokesperson for NATO Allied Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted to social media after the earthquake ended showed residents in the streets assessing the damage .
The extent of the wreckage seems commensurate with the size of the earthquake .
According to the US Geological Survey , an agency that monitors seismic activity around the world in real time , the quake started six miles below ground and triggered extensive flooding in Izmir .
In an interview with local media outlet NTV , Izmir Mayor Ismail Yetiskin said sea levels had risen following the quake : “ There seems to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daily Sabah , a Turkish news agency , showed floodwaters in a town near Izmir washing away furniture and other debris .
Turkey wasn ’ t the only nation hit .
The impact of the earthquake was also felt in nearby Greece , where two teenagers lost their lives on the Greek island of Samos after a wall fell in on them .
Samos was also inundated with flooding .
Fortunately , it doesn ’ t look like the island or the country has suffered any further deaths .
Greek Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdoğan to offer his condolences .
“ Whatever our differences ” — a reference to Greece and Turkey ’ s decades-long history of conflict — “ these are times when our people need to stand together , ” he said .
France has also offered immediate aid to both countries .
Pakistan , Italy , Germany , and Canada also offered words of support .
Turkey and Greece are located on or near many active fault lines , so earthquakes are fairly common in the region .
The area within 150 miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen more than 29 earthquakes of a 6.0 or greater magnitude in the past 100 years .
As Vox ’ s Umair Irfan has explained , earthquakes can quickly arise on faults like these : An earthquake occurs when massive blocks of the earth ’ s crust suddenly move past each other .
These blocks , called tectonic plates , lie on top of the earth ’ s mantle , a layer that behaves like a very slow-moving liquid over millions of years .
That means tectonic plates jostle each other over time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of each other , a phenomenon called subduction .
The places on the planet where one plate meets another are the most prone to earthquakes .
The specific surfaces where parcels of earth slip past each other are called faults .
The most recent major earthquake to hit Turkey occurred in January in the country ’ s eastern province of Elzaig , killing more than 30 people .
The last earthquake of a similar strength to today ’ s quake to hit Greece occurred in the Ionian Sea in October 2018 , causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
But while Turkey and Greece are unfortunately used to dealing with natural disasters , that doesn ’ t make Friday ’ s earthquake , or the recovery efforts still underway , any easier .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday, killing at least 80 people, and injuring nearly 1,000 in Turkey and Greece.
The earthquake caused the most damage in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, with a population of nearly 3 million people. So far, there have been 79 deaths reported in Turkey and more than 100 people have been rescued alive from fallen debris, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday.
Responding to the destruction from the quake, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said 26 badly damaged buildings would be demolished in Izmir. “It’s not the earthquake that kills but buildings,” he said.
An elderly man was pulled alive from the rubble on Sunday. That same day, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said there was “no clear number on how many people are still under rubble. Hard to give a number. There is an estimation, but I cannot share.”
There were no reported injuries to the 100 US military personnel currently stationed in Izmir, a spokesperson for NATO Allied Land Command told the Military Times on Friday.
Videos posted to social media shortly after the earthquake ended showed residents in the streets assessing the damage.
Scenes from Izmir earthquake pic.twitter.com/lTZQf8L7NG — Ouzo Papadopoulos (@DIAS) October 30, 2020
VIDEO — Footage shows building destroyed by powerful tremor that struck western Turkeyhttps://t.co/ZQDw7t0GU3 pic.twitter.com/OiSkUnm1Cj — DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) October 30, 2020
The extent of the wreckage is commensurate with the size of the earthquake. According to the US Geological Survey, an agency that monitors seismic activity around the world in real time, the quake started six miles below ground and triggered extensive flooding in Izmir.
In an interview with local media outlet NTV on Friday, Izmir Mayor Ismail Yetiskin said sea levels had risen following the quake: “There seems to be a small tsunami.” A video posted by the Daily Sabah, a Turkish news agency, shortly after the earthquake hit showed floodwaters in a town near Izmir washing away furniture and other debris.
VIDEO — A small-scale tsunami floods streets in the town of Sığacık in Izmir’s Seferihisar district after earthquakehttps://t.co/ZQDw7t0GU3 pic.twitter.com/Y21tXDMzDD — DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) October 30, 2020
Turkey wasn’t the only nation hit. The impact of the earthquake was also felt in nearby Greece, where two teenagers lost their lives on the Greek island of Samos after a wall fell in on them, bringing the combined death toll for the two countries to 81. Samos was also inundated with flooding. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like the island or the country has suffered any further deaths.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday to offer his condolences. “Whatever our differences” — a reference to Greece and Turkey’s decades-long history of conflict — “these are times when our people need to stand together,” he said.
France offered immediate aid to both countries. Pakistan, Italy, Germany, and Canada also offered words of support Friday.
I just called President @RTErdogan to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries. Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together. — Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 30, 2020
Turkey and Greece are located on or near many active fault lines, so earthquakes are fairly common in the region. The area within 150 miles of where Friday’s quake struck has seen more than 29 earthquakes of a 6.0 or greater magnitude in the past 100 years.
As Vox’s Umair Irfan has explained, earthquakes can quickly arise on faults like these:
An earthquake occurs when massive blocks of the earth’s crust suddenly move past each other. These blocks, called tectonic plates, lie on top of the earth’s mantle, a layer that behaves like a very slow-moving liquid over millions of years. That means tectonic plates jostle each other over time. They can also slide on top of each other, a phenomenon called subduction. The places on the planet where one plate meets another are the most prone to earthquakes. The specific surfaces where parcels of earth slip past each other are called faults.
The most recent major earthquake to hit Turkey occurred in January in the country’s eastern province of Elzaig, killing more than 30 people. The last earthquake of a similar strength to Friday’s quake to hit Greece occurred in the Ionian Sea in October 2018, causing damage to buildings; no injuries were reported.
But while Turkey and Greece are unfortunately used to dealing with natural disasters, that doesn’t make Friday’s earthquake, or the ongoing recovery efforts, any easier.


vox--2020-10-30--89,000 new Covid-19 cases per day. And the worst may be yet to come.

The United States has reached a new terrible milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic .
This past week , the country saw , on average , 75,561 new cases per day — the highest on record in a pandemic full of atrocious records .
On Thursday , 89,000 Americans received a positive test result .
From north to south , east to west , the virus is spreading uncontrolled again .
This is not a peak .
We ’ re in the midst of a climb .
Next week , we can expect yet another record : leaping from more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in a matter of a few days .
The number of people in hospitals across the country is ascending , too , hitting 46,000 on Thursday .
And this will likely be followed by rising numbers of deaths in the coming weeks .
Why ?
Because this is the pattern we ’ ve seen in every Covid-19 surge during the pandemic .
It ’ s not going to change now .
There ’ s a momentum to this virus .
Cases incubate silently for days in a human body , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be tested , and more to find out the results .
Next week ’ s record number of cases is already festering in the population now , waiting to be uncovered .
All the while , the infected can continue spreading this very contagious virus exponentially , especially in places that don ’ t have mask mandates or restrictions on bars and restaurants being open for indoor dining .
Yet the disconnect between this grim reality and President Donald Trump ’ s words has never been greater .
The president wants the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something of a mirage , based solely on expanded testing .
“ We ’ re rounding the turn , ” Trump told his supports at a rally on Monday .
“ Our numbers are incredible.
” A rise in Covid-19 cases means we ’ ll see a spike in hospitalization .
Again .
While part of the increase in cases can indeed be explained by more testing , that ’ s far from the whole story .
Look no further than the test-positive rate to understand why .
The national rate has climbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks , reaching 6.3 percent .
That average obscures far higher test positive rates in states with some of the worst-controlled outbreaks : This means a growing number of Americans being tested have the virus — and health officials aren ’ t keeping up with the rising demand for testing , nor are they keeping on top of outbreaks .
Covid-19 hospitalizations are also rising again , following a sharp drop through August and early September .
Over the past month , the number of US patients in hospitals with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the COVID Tracking Project , surpassing 46,000 on October 29 .
As Vox ’ s Dylan Scott reports , this has already forced radical measures across the country : Wisconsin and Texas are building field hospitals ; Idaho is planning to transfer patients out of state ; Utah is ready to ration care .
“ Although we are not yet close to the hospitalization peaks of almost 60,000 that we observed in the spring and summer , ” the editors at the Covid Tracking Project observed , “ the average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 42,621 , a very substantial increase from the lows of about 30,000 that we saw just a month ago.
” If cases keep rising — as they ’ re expected to with the cold weather and more indoor gathering — this means we ’ re on track for a new hospitalization record .
And , again , that will be followed by a new surge in deaths .
People with the disease are more likely to survive today .
But the gains doctors have made treating critically ill patients could rapidly be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Each hospital ’ s overwhelmed point is different now than it was in April , but there is a point that ’ s too much for any hospital , ” Theodore Iwashyna , a professor of critical care medicine at the University of Michigan who has been treating Covid-19 patients , told Vox .
“ There are only so many hands .
You can only be in so many rooms.
” This was not a surprise , nor was it inevitable What makes this moment so frustrating is that researchers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a fall and winter spike in Covid-19 cases was looming .
“ There ’ s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through , ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told the Washington Post in April .
“ And when I ’ ve said this to others , they kind of put their head back , they don ’ t understand what I mean.
” We were warned , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no going back to normal life until community transmission of the virus had been suppressed .
We were warned that any successes achieved through business closures and social distancing would have to be replaced by equally effective public health measures if we were to take steps toward returning to life as normal .
In many parts of the country , those alternative strategies never came .
Scientists also told us that we ’ d be living with the pandemic for potentially years without a vaccine .
That ’ s still true .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state reopenings were coming too soon , and that case spikes , and later hospitalizations and deaths , would follow .
And they did .
Over the summer , we were warned that falling temperatures in the autumn , along with continued lax precautions , might lead to another surge .
And here we are .
Yet earlier this month , as it became more apparent that the United States was on track for a major increase in Covid-19 cases , states like Florida were relaxing restrictions , allowing bars and restaurants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar pattern emerged this summer as cities and states relaxed restrictions even as cases were rising , fueling a spike in new infections in June . )
The current rise in cases is starting from a much higher baseline , with the added element of increased transmission in winter conditions .
As people spend more time indoors in the cold weather , and as lower humidity makes it easier to transmit a respiratory virus , the air is fertile for viral spread .
That means the next Covid-19 surge could break more records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be this way .
“ Through comparative analysis and applying proportional mortality rates , we estimate that at least 130,000 deaths and perhaps as many as 210,000 could have been avoided with earlier policy interventions and more robust federal coordination and leadership , ” researchers at Columbia University reported this month .
Other parts of the world have also done a far better job of containing the spread of the virus .
Officials in Taiwan reported this week that the island has gone 200 days without local transmission of Covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 case on the same day as the US , managed to keep its per capita infections far lower throughout the pandemic .
Even with a recent rise in cases , South Korea ’ s infection rate remains much lower .
The country also reported that its economy is even starting to grow .
These countries maintained much more aggressive restrictions on movement , while investing far more in testing for Covid-19 and tracing contacts of the infected .
They also embraced mandatory face masks .
These lessons have been repeatedly emphasized throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world .
But these are lessons the US has still failed to learn .
America is still struggling with basic pandemic control measures like social distancing .
And now , with the days getting shorter , the country is facing the darkest stretch of the pandemic yet .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

The United States has reached a new terrible milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic. This past week, the country saw, on average, about 79,000 new cases per day — the highest on record in a pandemic full of atrocious records. On Friday, more than 98,000 Americans received a positive test result.
From north to south, east to west, the virus is spreading uncontrolled again. This is not a peak. We’re in the midst of a climb. Next week, we can expect yet another record: leaping from more than 9 million total cases to 10 million cases in a matter of a few days.
The number of people in hospitals across the country is ascending, too, hitting 46,000 on Thursday. And this will likely be followed by rising numbers of deaths in the coming weeks.
Why? Because this is the pattern we’ve seen in every Covid-19 surge during the pandemic. It’s not going to change now. There’s a momentum to this virus.
Cases incubate silently for days in a human body, and it can take several days for a person to be tested, and more to find out the results. Next week’s record number of cases is already festering in the population now, waiting to be uncovered. All the while, the infected can continue spreading this very contagious virus exponentially, especially in places that don’t have mask mandates or restrictions on bars and restaurants being open for indoor dining.
Yet the disconnect between this grim reality and President Donald Trump’s words has never been greater. The president wants the public to believe the recent spikes are something of a mirage, based solely on expanded testing.
“We’re rounding the turn,” Trump told his supports at a rally on Monday. “Our numbers are incredible.”
A rise in Covid-19 cases means we’ll see a spike in hospitalization. Again.
While part of the increase in cases can indeed be explained by more testing, that’s far from the whole story. Look no further than the test-positive rate to understand why. The national rate has climbed more than a percentage point over the past two weeks, reaching 6.3 percent. That average obscures far higher test positive rates in states with some of the worst-controlled outbreaks:
Virus 49, US States 1
Off-the-chart test positivity extends beyond Midwest
South Dakota 46.3%
Idaho 34.0%
Wyoming 31.8% (down from 55%)
Iowa 30.6%
Kansas 27.6%
Alabama 25.9%
Nebraska 23.8%
Nevada 23.3%https://t.co/I9lw9nAtaQ pic.twitter.com/T3KQVXIUL2 — Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 30, 2020
This means a growing number of Americans being tested have the virus — and health officials aren’t keeping up with the rising demand for testing, nor are they keeping on top of outbreaks.
Covid-19 hospitalizations are also rising again, following a sharp drop through August and early September. Over the past month, the number of US patients in hospitals with the disease increased by more than 50 percent, according to the COVID Tracking Project, surpassing 46,000 on October 29.
As Vox’s Dylan Scott reports, this has already forced radical measures across the country: Wisconsin and Texas are building field hospitals; Idaho is planning to transfer patients out of state; Utah is ready to ration care.
“Although we are not yet close to the hospitalization peaks of almost 60,000 that we observed in the spring and summer,” the editors at the Covid Tracking Project observed, “the average number of people hospitalized this week rose to 42,621, a very substantial increase from the lows of about 30,000 that we saw just a month ago.”
If cases keep rising — as they’re expected to with the cold weather and more indoor gathering — this means we’re on track for a new hospitalization record. And, again, that will be followed by a new surge in deaths.
.@IHME_UW now projects 399,000 #COVID19 cumulative deaths by February 1. If states do not react to rising
numbers by re-imposing mandates, cumulative deaths could reach 514,000 by the same date. pic.twitter.com/3XoIV9YOt7 — Ali H. Mokdad (@AliHMokdad) October 30, 2020
People with the disease are more likely to survive today. But the gains doctors have made treating critically ill patients could rapidly be undone as hospital wards become overwhelmed again.
“Each hospital’s overwhelmed point is different now than it was in April, but there is a point that’s too much for any hospital,” Theodore Iwashyna, a professor of critical care medicine at the University of Michigan who has been treating Covid-19 patients, told Vox. “There are only so many hands. You can only be in so many rooms.”
This was not a surprise, nor was it inevitable
What makes this moment so frustrating is that researchers and health officials have been warning for months that a fall and winter spike in Covid-19 cases was looming.
“There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told the Washington Post in April. “And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.”
We were warned, as early as March, that there would be no going back to normal life until community transmission of the virus had been suppressed. We were warned that any successes achieved through business closures and social distancing would have to be replaced by equally effective public health measures if we were to take steps toward returning to life as normal. In many parts of the country, those alternative strategies never came.
Scientists also told us that we’d be living with the pandemic for potentially years without a vaccine. That’s still true.
In May, we were warned that state reopenings were coming too soon, and that case spikes, and later hospitalizations and deaths, would follow. And they did.
Over the summer, we were warned that falling temperatures in the autumn, along with continued lax precautions, might lead to another surge. And here we are.
Yet earlier this month, as it became more apparent that the United States was on track for a major increase in Covid-19 cases, states like Florida were relaxing restrictions, allowing bars and restaurants to reopen for indoor patrons. (A similar pattern emerged this summer as cities and states relaxed restrictions even as cases were rising, fueling a spike in new infections in June.)
The current rise in cases is starting from a much higher baseline, with the added element of increased transmission in winter conditions. As people spend more time indoors in the cold weather, and as lower humidity makes it easier to transmit a respiratory virus, the air is fertile for viral spread. That means the next Covid-19 surge could break more records.
Scientists say it didn’t have to be this way. “Through comparative analysis and applying proportional mortality rates, we estimate that at least 130,000 deaths and perhaps as many as 210,000 could have been avoided with earlier policy interventions and more robust federal coordination and leadership,” researchers at Columbia University reported this month.
Other parts of the world have also done a far better job of containing the spread of the virus. Officials in Taiwan reported this week that the island has gone 200 days without local transmission of Covid-19. South Korea, which confirmed its first Covid-19 case on the same day as the US, managed to keep its per capita infections far lower throughout the pandemic. Even with a recent rise in cases, South Korea’s infection rate remains much lower. The country also reported that its economy is even starting to grow.
These countries maintained much more aggressive restrictions on movement, while investing far more in testing for Covid-19 and tracing contacts of the infected. They also embraced mandatory face masks.
These lessons have been repeatedly emphasized throughout the pandemic, in the US and around the world. But these are lessons the US has still failed to learn. America is still struggling with basic pandemic control measures like social distancing. And now, with the days getting shorter, the country is facing the darkest stretch of the pandemic yet.


vox--2020-10-30--You don’t have to love Star Wars to dig The Mandalorian

Most people have likely seen at least one Star Wars film , if not all nine episodes of the Skywalker Saga ( the original trilogy , the prequel trilogy that kicked off in 1999 , and the new trilogy that wrapped up in 2019 ) .
But when it comes to delving into the deeper lore , that ’ s when the mainstream viewer may get lost .
Which may make The Mandalorian , the first TV drama set in the Star Wars canon , seem intimidating .
The Disney+ series is based almost entirely on new characters from planets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t any Wookiees or Skywalkers for the most base-level Star Wars viewer to point at and get stoked about .
Instead , our hero is a bounty hunter who refuses to ever remove his helmet , which means that we unfairly don ’ t get to enjoy the face of the actor beneath it , the beautiful Pedro Pascal .
Along the way , the Mandalorian works alongside other bandits and bounty hunters of all stripes .
Aside from the Child — a.k.a .
Baby Yoda , the painfully cute , tiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alien — there aren ’ t any immediately familiar faces or characters for the cursory Star Wars viewer to latch onto .
But The Mandalorian is fascinating for what it adds to the Star Wars universe , while also being accessible to the more rudimentary viewer because it doesn ’ t rely so much on preexisting storylines or characters .
Instead , the show takes the semantics of Star Wars — space battles , unique creatures , a Big Bad that a Morally Gray Good Guy needs to vanquish — and applies them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The result is something very fun , engaging , and just Star Wars-y enough .
In case the cuteness of Baby Yoda and the age-old desire for new TV to watch is somehow not the only sell you need on the show , perhaps its awards track record can offer impetus .
The Mandalorian ’ s first season was nominated for 13 Emmys , including the top trophy , Outstanding Drama Series — a huge deal for a streaming-exclusive genre show on a new streaming service .
The Mandalorian ultimately took home seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the strength of its fantastic world-building and stylish look .
If you ’ re thinking of watching The Mandalorian but still haven ’ t checked it out , here ’ s a brief guide to get you started on the show just in time for season two , which debuted Friday , October 30 .
In-depth knowledge of the Star Wars movies is not required There ’ s no need to have watched any of the previous Star Wars films to make sense of The Mandalorian ’ s first season .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show takes place five years after Star Wars : Episode VI — Return of the Jedi , released back in 1983 .
Return of the Jedi ends with Luke Skywalker and company having thwarted Darth Vader and his evil Empire , so Vader is well out of the picture when we meet Mando ( as he ’ s lovingly known ) .
Since the galaxy is so dang big , it ’ s totally plausible that Mando has no interaction with any of our main Star Wars heroes .
So , for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
Instead , Mando is an independent bounty hunter who does jobs for questionable dudes in exchange for cash .
The most important gig he ’ s taken on so far has been to deliver an ultra-powerful , very rare creature ( the cooing , precious Child/Baby Yoda ) to someone who clearly has some evil plans for it .
By season one ’ s midpoint , Mando and Baby Yoda become a father-and-son pair , and Mando decides he ’ s not going to hand over his new charge to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise him as his own .
The bad guys don ’ t like this .
Fighting ensues .
The Mandalorian is thus far divorced from the main Star Wars canon , but the contours of Star Wars are there .
It ’ s an engrossing plot — can Daddy Mando keep super-strong Baby Yoda safe from the bad guys ?
And what ’ s Baby Yoda ’ s whole deal , anyway ?
— but it ’ s also breezily episodic .
This aspect might change some in season two , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established Star Wars lore .
Still , season one should get you comfortable with the world to the point that you ’ ll be able to embrace it even if you haven ’ t been a huge Star Wars fan in the past .
The Mandalorian is a super-easy TV drama to watch In contrast to something like Succession or The Handmaid ’ s Tale , The Mandalorian is rarely too layered or overly dense .
There ’ s the overarching “ Protect the Child ” plot , but otherwise , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first handful of episodes play out like acts in their own mini-Star Wars movie , as Mando nearly delivers the Child , decides not to , and escapes the consequences of shirking his duties .
It ’ s gripping and quick enough to watch in one sitting .
Then the rest of season one unfurls , and nearly every episode feels like a stand-alone story .
Mando goes on new jobs that take him to exciting locations around the galaxy .
There ’ s an adorable episode where Mando and Baby Yoda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to settle in , a village where everyone loves and dotes upon Baby and Mando reunites with an old friend/love interest .
Then the next episode is one guest-starring Amy Sedaris that is almost entirely forgettable .
So it goes with The Mandalorian ’ s first season : It ’ s a little uneven , a little slow , but who cares !
Almost nothing specifically matters from episode to episode , and the episodes run between 30 and 45 minutes long .
There are only eight of them .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little active thinking required and plenty to enjoy along the way .
There are lots of big names attached , and they ’ re all great Jon Favreau co-created The Mandalorian and serves as its showrunner ; he also wrote most of the episodes of both seasons .
If you ’ re a fan of his Marvel work ( Iron Man , Spider-Man : Homecoming ) or his Disney adaptations ( The Jungle Book , The Lion King ) , then you know what to expect .
Favreau has an eye for combining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps The Mandalorian from ever feeling grim or plodding .
Behind the camera , Bryce Dallas Howard and Taika Waititi each took a turn in the director ’ s chair during season one ( as did Star Wars : The Clone Wars writer-director Dave Filoni , which is a huge deal for Star Wars nerds ) .
But in front of the camera is where the real magic happens : Giancarlo Esposito , Werner Herzog , and Carl Weathers all play recurring characters .
Herzog is only briefly jarring to see as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mando ; he fits in really well to the Star Wars universe otherwise .
Esposito is intense and horrifying as the show ’ s major villain , recalling his days on Breaking Bad .
And Carl Weathers is Carl Weathers .
You have to love Carl Weathers .
Taika Waititi also voices a character in the season one premiere and the season one finale , a very funny , ultimately heartbreaking droid .
Baby Yoda alone makes the whole show worth it Everything you ’ ve heard about Baby Yoda is true .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for Disney , Baby Yoda is so cute that he will absolutely make you cry .
He will leave your heart so full of love and affirmation that , for at least a short while , you ’ ll wonder if the world is perhaps less dreadful and harrowing than it often seems .
I never understood why people liked babies so much until I saw Baby Yoda and his tiny hand stretching weakly toward his Daddy Mando .
His powers are a little bit scary — there ’ s a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force to almost choke someone , which is a lot , especially for a character depicted as a baby — but all babies are unpredictable .
At least this one is solidly the most precious one in any galaxy .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Most people have likely seen at least one Star Wars film, if not all nine episodes of the Skywalker Saga (the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy that kicked off in 1999, and the new trilogy that wrapped up in 2019). But when it comes to delving into the deeper lore, that’s when the mainstream viewer may get lost.
Which may make The Mandalorian, the first TV drama set in the Star Wars canon, seem intimidating. The Disney+ series is based almost entirely on new characters from planets untraveled in the movies. There aren’t any Wookiees or Skywalkers for the most base-level Star Wars viewer to point at and get stoked about. Instead, our hero is a bounty hunter who refuses to ever remove his helmet, which means that we unfairly don’t get to enjoy the face of the actor beneath it, the beautiful Pedro Pascal. Along the way, the Mandalorian works alongside other bandits and bounty hunters of all stripes. Aside from the Child — a.k.a. Baby Yoda, the painfully cute, tiny version of the beloved, sagely green alien — there aren’t any immediately familiar faces or characters for the cursory Star Wars viewer to latch onto.
But The Mandalorian is fascinating for what it adds to the Star Wars universe, while also being accessible to the more rudimentary viewer because it doesn’t rely so much on preexisting storylines or characters. Instead, the show takes the semantics of Star Wars — space battles, unique creatures, a Big Bad that a Morally Gray Good Guy needs to vanquish — and applies them to the classic TV Monster-of-the-Week model. The result is something very fun, engaging, and just Star Wars-y enough.
In case the cuteness of Baby Yoda and the age-old desire for new TV to watch is somehow not the only sell you need on the show, perhaps its awards track record can offer impetus. The Mandalorian’s first season was nominated for 13 Emmys, including the top trophy, Outstanding Drama Series — a huge deal for a streaming-exclusive genre show on a new streaming service. The Mandalorian ultimately took home seven statuettes, all in creative categories, on the strength of its fantastic world-building and stylish look.
If you’re thinking of watching The Mandalorian but still haven’t checked it out, here’s a brief guide to get you started on the show just in time for season two, which debuted Friday, October 30.
In-depth knowledge of the Star Wars movies is not required
There’s no need to have watched any of the previous Star Wars films to make sense of The Mandalorian’s first season. What you need to know is that the show takes place five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi, released back in 1983. Return of the Jedi ends with Luke Skywalker and company having thwarted Darth Vader and his evil Empire, so Vader is well out of the picture when we meet Mando (as he’s lovingly known). Since the galaxy is so dang big, it’s totally plausible that Mando has no interaction with any of our main Star Wars heroes. So, for the purposes of the show, he does not.
Instead, Mando is an independent bounty hunter who does jobs for questionable dudes in exchange for cash. The most important gig he’s taken on so far has been to deliver an ultra-powerful, very rare creature (the cooing, precious Child/Baby Yoda) to someone who clearly has some evil plans for it. By season one’s midpoint, Mando and Baby Yoda become a father-and-son pair, and Mando decides he’s not going to hand over his new charge to the bad guys and instead protect him and raise him as his own. The bad guys don’t like this. Fighting ensues.
The Mandalorian is thus far divorced from the main Star Wars canon, but the contours of Star Wars are there. It’s an engrossing plot — can Daddy Mando keep super-strong Baby Yoda safe from the bad guys? And what’s Baby Yoda’s whole deal, anyway? — but it’s also breezily episodic. This aspect might change some in season two, as the season premiere leans a bit more into established Star Wars lore. Still, season one should get you comfortable with the world to the point that you’ll be able to embrace it even if you haven’t been a huge Star Wars fan in the past.
The Mandalorian is a super-easy TV drama to watch
In contrast to something like Succession or The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mandalorian is rarely too layered or overly dense. There’s the overarching “Protect the Child” plot, but otherwise, most of the first season feels very self-contained. The first handful of episodes play out like acts in their own mini-Star Wars movie, as Mando nearly delivers the Child, decides not to, and escapes the consequences of shirking his duties. It’s gripping and quick enough to watch in one sitting.
Then the rest of season one unfurls, and nearly every episode feels like a stand-alone story. Mando goes on new jobs that take him to exciting locations around the galaxy. There’s an adorable episode where Mando and Baby Yoda find what might be a perfect place to settle in, a village where everyone loves and dotes upon Baby and Mando reunites with an old friend/love interest. Then the next episode is one guest-starring Amy Sedaris that is almost entirely forgettable. So it goes with The Mandalorian’s first season: It’s a little uneven, a little slow, but who cares! Almost nothing specifically matters from episode to episode, and the episodes run between 30 and 45 minutes long. There are only eight of them. It’s super-easy to blitz through, with very little active thinking required and plenty to enjoy along the way.
There are lots of big names attached, and they’re all great
Jon Favreau co-created The Mandalorian and serves as its showrunner; he also wrote most of the episodes of both seasons. If you’re a fan of his Marvel work (Iron Man, Spider-Man: Homecoming) or his Disney adaptations (The Jungle Book, The Lion King), then you know what to expect. Favreau has an eye for combining eye-catching action with strong humor, and keeps The Mandalorian from ever feeling grim or plodding.
Behind the camera, Bryce Dallas Howard and Taika Waititi each took a turn in the director’s chair during season one (as did Star Wars: The Clone Wars writer-director Dave Filoni, which is a huge deal for Star Wars nerds). But in front of the camera is where the real magic happens: Giancarlo Esposito, Werner Herzog, and Carl Weathers all play recurring characters. Herzog is only briefly jarring to see as the guy who hands over Baby Yoda to Mando; he fits in really well to the Star Wars universe otherwise. Esposito is intense and horrifying as the show’s major villain, recalling his days on Breaking Bad. And Carl Weathers is Carl Weathers. You have to love Carl Weathers. Taika Waititi also voices a character in the season one premiere and the season one finale, a very funny, ultimately heartbreaking droid.
Baby Yoda alone makes the whole show worth it
Everything you’ve heard about Baby Yoda is true. On top of being a lucrative merchandising opportunity for Disney, Baby Yoda is so cute that he will absolutely make you cry. He will leave your heart so full of love and affirmation that, for at least a short while, you’ll wonder if the world is perhaps less dreadful and harrowing than it often seems.
I never understood why people liked babies so much until I saw Baby Yoda and his tiny hand stretching weakly toward his Daddy Mando. His powers are a little bit scary — there’s a moment in season one where he uses the Force to almost choke someone, which is a lot, especially for a character depicted as a baby — but all babies are unpredictable. At least this one is solidly the most precious one in any galaxy.


vox--2020-10-30--Join the Vox Book Club!

Join the Vox Book Club!

The Vox Book Club is linking to Bookshop.org to support local and independent book sellers .
Here ’ s how the Vox Book Club works : Every month , we pick a book .
Throughout the month , we publish discussion posts containing thoughts and questions from Vox book critic Constance Grady , but we also have comments turned on and moderated so you can share your thoughts , too .
Talk among yourselves !
Post your opinions and questions !
Or use our discussion posts as a jumping-off point for ( socially distanced ) discussions with your own friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month , we gather on Zoom for a virtual live discussion .
Our pick for November is Susan Choi ’ s Trust Exercise .
Trust Exercise , which won the National Book Award in 2019 , is one of Constance ’ s favorite books of that year .
“ It starts off as a love story between two kids at a high-achieving performing arts high school , ” Constance writes .
“ Then it spins off from there with a vicious act two twist that I won ’ t spoil for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly what you ’ re reading is such a kick that I wouldn ’ t dare do anything to jeopardize it.
” To close out the month , Constance will host a live discussion of Trust Exercise on Monday , November 30 , with the author herself , Susan Choi .
Come join us !
Sign up here to be notified about new book selections , discussions , and related live events .
Monday , November 30 : Virtual live event with author Susan Choi .
Subscribe to the newsletter , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as it ’ s available .

The Vox Book Club is linking to Bookshop.org to support local and independent booksellers.
Here’s how the Vox Book Club works: Each month, we pick a book. Around the middle of the month, we publish a discussion post containing thoughts and questions from Vox book critic Constance Grady, but we also have comments turned on and moderated so you can share your thoughts, too. Talk among yourselves! Post your opinions and questions! Or use the conversation as a jumping-off point for your own conversations with friends and family. And at the end of the month, we gather on Zoom for a virtual live discussion.
Our pick for November 2021 is Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. It’s a witty and biting debut novel that also contains one of the cringiest Thanksgiving scenes ever committed to the page. We’ll have plenty to discuss here on the site, and at the end of the month, we’ll meet with Reid herself live on Zoom to discuss the whole thing. RSVP here to join the fun, and in the meantime, subscribe to the Vox Book Club newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Here’s the full Vox Book Club schedule for November 2021:
Friday, November 19: Discussion post on Such a Fun Age published to Vox.com
Tuesday, November 30, 5 pm Eastern: Virtual live event with author Kiley Reid. RSVP here. Reader questions are encouraged!


vox--2020-10-30--Why many Americans refuse to participate in contact tracing

Reluctance to share information about coronavirus infections or contacts seems to run deep in the US — all the way to the White House , where an investigation into the spread of the virus there was called off soon after the outbreak was discovered .
According to results from a survey released Friday by the Pew Research Center , 41 percent of adults surveyed said they would be “ not at all ” or “ not too likely ” to talk to a public health official by phone or text message about the coronavirus .
The survey of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trends Panel was conducted in mid-July , and its results align with earlier findings and anecdotal reports of contact tracers unable to reach or extract information from many individuals they tried to get in touch with .
“ We get a variety of responses , from yelling and hanging up to those telling us that they have already contacted all of their friends and will not give us those names , ” Jen Freiheit , the health director of Kenosha County , Wisconsin , told Reuters this summer .
To help reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be most infectious in the days before someone feels sick , contact tracers first reach out to people who have tested positive to advise them to isolate and to obtain the names of people they might have been in close contact with during their infectious period , including the two days before they started feeling symptoms .
Contact tracers then try to reach these people to instruct them to quarantine so they do not spread the virus to others in case they have contracted it .
The Pew survey found that people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general reported being more likely to participate .
Of those who had heard “ a great deal ” about contact tracing , 63 percent were “ very or somewhat comfortable or likely to ” comply with contact tracing — compared to 29 percent of people who were “ not at all ” familiar with it or 35 percent who had heard “ not too much ” about it .
Other challenges in getting people to participate in contact tracing are habit-based .
Much of this work is currently being conducted by phone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not answer the phone if they get a call from an unknown number .
Those ages 18 to 29 were most likely ( 25 percent ) to say they would answer a call from an unknown number .
This group , though , was also the least likely to say they would talk with a contact tracer , with nearly half of them ( 49 percent ) saying they were not at all or not too likely to do so .
Willingness to help with contact tracing also followed political party affiliation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About two-thirds of Democrats said they would be likely or somewhat likely to talk with a contact tracer by phone or text , but only about half of Republicans said they would .
Why are people in the US so reticent to help contact tracers , thus undermining a key strategy for stopping the spread of the virus ?
Many seem to be concerned that somehow their data will be compromised .
About 40 percent of poll respondents said they were “ not at all confident ” or “ not too confident ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their records.
” Others are unclear about what contact tracing entails or that a public health official asking for their name and date of birth is really who they say they are .
And many people of color are justifiably mistrustful of public health workers and the medical establishment after centuries of embedded racism and unethical experimentation .
“ When a segment of the population is so systematically excluded ... it becomes really hard to reach out and to be able to have this coordinated response , ” Kathleen Page , an infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Medicine , told Katelyn Esmonde , a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics , in a June piece for Vox .
Insufficient staff and a distrust in apps are also hindering contact tracing The difficulties in effective contact tracing , however , do not lie entirely on the shoulders of those screening calls or hanging up on tracers .
Although states have been scaling up the number of contact tracers they have on staff , the country still does not seem to have enough overall .
A recent survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Security and NPR found that there are now more than 50,000 contact tracers in the US , but that is just half the number experts have suggested we need .
And this sort of effort is incredibly labor-intensive , as Jahnavi Curlin , a volunteer contact tracer , wrote for Vox in early October : Unlike many other countries , the US has been relying on manual contact tracing instead of widespread apps .
More than a dozen states , however , have now rolled out Apple ’ s Exposure Notification System @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts .
It was launched , for example , to Colorado iPhone and Android users last weekend , notifying them they could opt into the program .
The state hopes that even just 15 percent of people will participate .
At that level , a September preprint study found that new infections could be reduced by 8 percent and deaths by 6 percent .
Other research looked more closely at the technology ( at least as it worked in a commuter light rail car ) and cast doubt on the efficacy of Bluetooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for contact tracing data , at least by some European countries ’ standards .
And when coupled with results about people mistrusting the security of their data and 50 percent of Pew respondents saying they are not at all or not very comfortable sharing the location data from their cellphones with a local health official , whether or not these apps end up being a major tool in fighting the pandemic in the US remains to be seen .
Some , like public opinion reporting company Ipsos ’ president of US public affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctance to contribute to an ethos of individual control over personal information — even if that information could help prevent further illnesses or deaths .
He sees centralized contact tracing efforts as essentially counter to the concept of individual liberties , as he noted in Axios earlier this year .
In the meantime , in an effort to take some fuel off the pandemic ’ s latest nationwide flare-up , it might be an excellent time to add a fourth “ W ” to the standard list of three : wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance — and work with contact tracers .
Katherine Harmon Courage is a freelance science journalist and author of Cultured and Octopus !
Find her on Twitter at @ KHCourage .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Reluctance to share information about coronavirus infections or contacts seems to run deep in the US — all the way to the White House, where an investigation into the spread of the virus there was called off soon after the outbreak was discovered.
According to results from a survey released Friday by the Pew Research Center, 41 percent of adults surveyed said they would be “not at all” or “not too likely” to talk to a public health official by phone or text message about the coronavirus.
The survey of more than 10,200 adults from the nationally representative American Trends Panel was conducted in mid-July, and its results align with earlier findings and anecdotal reports of contact tracers unable to reach or extract information from many individuals they tried to get in touch with.
“We get a variety of responses, from yelling and hanging up to those telling us that they have already contacted all of their friends and will not give us those names,” Jen Freiheit, the health director of Kenosha County, Wisconsin, told Reuters this summer.
To help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, which can be most infectious in the days before someone feels sick, contact tracers first reach out to people who have tested positive to advise them to isolate and to obtain the names of people they might have been in close contact with during their infectious period, including the two days before they started feeling symptoms. Contact tracers then try to reach these people to instruct them to quarantine so they do not spread the virus to others in case they have contracted it.
The Pew survey found that people who were more familiar with contact tracing in general reported being more likely to participate. Of those who had heard “a great deal” about contact tracing, 63 percent were “very or somewhat comfortable or likely to” comply with contact tracing — compared to 29 percent of people who were “not at all” familiar with it or 35 percent who had heard “not too much” about it.
Other challenges in getting people to participate in contact tracing are habit-based. Much of this work is currently being conducted by phone, but 80 percent of respondents said they do not answer the phone if they get a call from an unknown number. Those ages 18 to 29 were most likely (25 percent) to say they would answer a call from an unknown number. This group, though, was also the least likely to say they would talk with a contact tracer, with nearly half of them (49 percent) saying they were not at all or not too likely to do so.
Willingness to help with contact tracing also followed political party affiliation to some extent, Pew found. About two-thirds of Democrats said they would be likely or somewhat likely to talk with a contact tracer by phone or text, but only about half of Republicans said they would.
Why are people in the US so reticent to help contact tracers, thus undermining a key strategy for stopping the spread of the virus? Many seem to be concerned that somehow their data will be compromised. About 40 percent of poll respondents said they were “not at all confident” or “not too confident” that public health organizations could “protect their records.”
Others are unclear about what contact tracing entails or that a public health official asking for their name and date of birth is really who they say they are. And many people of color are justifiably mistrustful of public health workers and the medical establishment after centuries of embedded racism and unethical experimentation.
“When a segment of the population is so systematically excluded ... it becomes really hard to reach out and to be able to have this coordinated response,” Kathleen Page, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told Katelyn Esmonde, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, in a June piece for Vox.
Insufficient staff and a distrust in apps are also hindering contact tracing
The difficulties in effective contact tracing, however, do not lie entirely on the shoulders of those screening calls or hanging up on tracers. Although states have been scaling up the number of contact tracers they have on staff, the country still does not seem to have enough overall. A recent survey conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and NPR found that there are now more than 50,000 contact tracers in the US, but that is just half the number experts have suggested we need.
And this sort of effort is incredibly labor-intensive, as Jahnavi Curlin, a volunteer contact tracer, wrote for Vox in early October:
“We are not permitted at any time to share privileged health information, but contact tracing requires that individuals be notified of exposure to a confirmed case. It is almost like playing a reverse game of Clue, where you as the tracer know the time, the place, and the person, but you are never allowed to say it directly.”
Unlike many other countries, the US has been relying on manual contact tracing instead of widespread apps. More than a dozen states, however, have now rolled out Apple’s Exposure Notification System, which uses Bluetooth to detect possible contacts. It was launched, for example, to Colorado iPhone and Android users last weekend, notifying them they could opt into the program. The state hopes that even just 15 percent of people will participate.
At that level, a September preprint study found that new infections could be reduced by 8 percent and deaths by 6 percent. Other research looked more closely at the technology (at least as it worked in a commuter light rail car) and cast doubt on the efficacy of Bluetooth distance detection to be a reliable source for contact tracing data, at least by some European countries’ standards.
And when coupled with results about people mistrusting the security of their data and 50 percent of Pew respondents saying they are not at all or not very comfortable sharing the location data from their cellphones with a local health official, whether or not these apps end up being a major tool in fighting the pandemic in the US remains to be seen.
Some, like public opinion reporting company Ipsos’ president of US public affairs Cliff Young, chalk up the general reluctance to contribute to an ethos of individual control over personal information — even if that information could help prevent further illnesses or deaths. He sees centralized contact tracing efforts as essentially counter to the concept of individual liberties, as he noted in Axios earlier this year.
In the meantime, in an effort to take some fuel off the pandemic’s latest nationwide flare-up, it might be an excellent time to add a fourth “W” to the standard list of three: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance — and work with contact tracers.
Katherine Harmon Courage is a freelance science journalist and author of Cultured and Octopus! Find her on Twitter at @KHCourage.


vox--2020-10-30--Lean into uncertainty with Trust Exercise, the Vox Book Club’s November pick

The Vox Book Club is linking to Bookshop.org to support local and independent booksellers .
Something monumental is going to happen in November , and as of this moment we have no idea what it is .
There is a chance we won ’ t know for certain for several weeks .
So in the spirit of embracing and exploring our current state of deeply vexed uncertainty , the Vox Book Club is going to spend November reading Susan Choi ’ s wicked and vexing Trust Exercise .
Trust Exercise won the National Book Award in 2019 , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year .
It starts off as a love story between two kids at a high-achieving performing arts high school .
Then it spins off from there with a vicious act two twist that I won ’ t spoil for you , because the moment you realize exactly what you ’ re reading is such a kick that I wouldn ’ t dare do anything to jeopardize it .
What ensues is an extended meditation on trust : the trust between lovers , between student and teacher , between actor and director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is implicit and unspoken in novels themselves , that lies between the author who writes the novel , the characters who enact the novel , and the readers who read the novel .
It ’ s the perfect book to read as we try to make our way through this period of deep and profound uncertainty .
And I have confidence that together , if we all try hard enough , we ’ ll be able to figure out what the hell is happening at the end .
Subscribe to the Vox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t miss anything , and let ’ s get started .
Monday , November 30 : Virtual live event with author Susan Choi .
Subscribe to the newsletter , and we ’ ll send you an RSVP link as soon as it ’ s available .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

The Vox Book Club is linking to Bookshop.org to support local and independent booksellers.
Something monumental is going to happen in November, and as of this moment we have no idea what it is. There is a chance we won’t know for certain for several weeks.
So in the spirit of embracing and exploring our current state of deeply vexed uncertainty, the Vox Book Club is going to spend November reading Susan Choi’s wicked and vexing Trust Exercise.
Trust Exercise won the National Book Award in 2019, and it was one of my favorite books of that year. It starts off as a love story between two kids at a high-achieving performing arts high school. Then it spins off from there with a vicious act two twist that I won’t spoil for you, because the moment you realize exactly what you’re reading is such a kick that I wouldn’t dare do anything to jeopardize it.
What ensues is an extended meditation on trust: the trust between lovers, between student and teacher, between actor and director. But Trust Exercise also covers the trust that is implicit and unspoken in novels themselves, that lies between the author who writes the novel, the characters who enact the novel, and the readers who read the novel. It’s the perfect book to read as we try to make our way through this period of deep and profound uncertainty. And I have confidence that together, if we all try hard enough, we’ll be able to figure out what the hell is happening at the end.
Subscribe to the Vox Book Club newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything, and let’s get started.
Here’s the full Vox Book Club schedule for November 2020
Friday, November 20: Discussion post on Trust Exercise
Monday, November 30: Virtual live event with author Susan Choi. Subscribe to the newsletter, and we’ll send you an RSVP link as soon as it’s available.


vox--2020-10-30--More people have already voted in Texas than did in 2016 overall

With one day of early voting left , more people have now cast ballots in the presidential election in Texas , a once reliably red state with historically low levels of turnout , than they did in the 2016 general election overall .
Texas is the first state to surpass its 2016 vote totals , leading the country in turnout among young voters in particular .
In 2016 , 8,969,336 Texans cast their ballots , but by Friday morning , more than 9 million had done so , according to the Associated Press .
It ’ s a surprising result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to make it harder to vote this year despite the challenges presented by the pandemic .
While many states have allowed all voters to submit their ballots by mail , Texas has prohibited anyone but people who are 65 or older , disabled , out of their home county , or in jail from doing so .
Texans who have Covid-19 as the election approaches even need to present a certified doctor ’ s note in order to vote by mail .
Republicans have also limited the number of ballot drop-off locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties from sending mail-in ballots applications to all registered voters , sought to curtail drive-thru voting and challenged the extension of the early voting period by six days .
The record-level turnout is a testament to the efforts of grassroots organizers in the state , from the Texas Organizing Project to MOVE Texas , who have been working for years to register more voters and encourage them to turn out .
It ’ s not clear whether the surge in turnout this year will favor Democrats or Republicans since voters don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It won ’ t become clear until the state starts counting ballots .
But the polls would suggest that turnout could give Democrats an edge : the candidates are neck and neck , according to FiveThirtyEight ’ s polling average , whereas Trump won the state by 9 points in 2016 .
Texas has historically low turnout , especially among Hispanic voters .
In 2016 , only 51 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls , the fifth-worst turnout among all states .
That ’ s been a major obstacle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat Beto O ’ Rourke , who ran for Senate in Texas in 2018 , has often said that Texas isn ’ t a red state , but rather a “ nonvoting state.
” Turnout among eligible voters jumped significantly in 2018 , spurred largely by enthusiasm for O ’ Rourke ’ s campaign to unseat Cruz , but it was still almost 4 points behind the national average , putting Texas ahead of just 10 states .
In 2014 , under a third of eligible voters cast a ballot .
History shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As soon as post-Civil War Reconstruction began , the Texas state government , like many other former Confederate states , sought to disenfranchise Black and Mexican American voters in the form of a poll tax and Jim Crow laws imposing racial segregation , which persisted through the 1950s .
In 1923 , the legislature instituted “ white primaries ” for the Democratic Party , the controlling party at the time , that excluded Black voters — a practice that the US Supreme Court finally struck down more than two decades later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black voters off the rolls , the legislature enacted a law in 1966 requiring voters to register to vote annually , which remained in effect until 1971 .
Modern voter suppression in Texas has taken the form of racial gerrymandering ( at times by both Democrats and Republicans ) .
Most recently , Republicans were accused of diluting the power of nonwhite voters with their plans to redraw congressional districts in 2003 and 2011 , spurring protracted legal battles .
The redistricting process next year , which will begin after the results of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely be similarly contentious .
Texas has also adopted the nation ’ s strictest voter ID law and began closing polling sites in the wake of the Supreme Court ’ s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder .
That decision vacated a key provision in the Voting Rights Act that had required that jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory voting practices , including Texas , get the federal government ’ s approval before changing their election rules .
Within hours of the decision , Texas implemented a law substantially restricting the kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present at the polls in order to cast a ballot .
Some 600,000 registered voters in the state were estimated to lack acceptable ID under the law , which lower courts had previously prevented from going into effect on the grounds that it could discriminate against African American and Latino voters .
The state also started closing polling sites in a way that disadvantaged minority voters .
Texas has closed about 750 polling sites since 2012 , including 542 sites in 50 counties where African American and Latino populations have significantly grown in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait times at some polling sites in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods during the Democratic primaries earlier this year .
“ That shit is not accidental , ” O ’ Rourke told Vox in August .
“ Republicans have been really good at shrouding this racist voter suppression by saying , ‘ That ’ s just the way shit happens in Texas , ’ and it isn ’ t the way that they designed it to happen.
” Will you help keep Vox free for all ?
The United States is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans are able to access clear , concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That is our mission at Vox .
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With one day of early voting left, more people have now cast ballots in the presidential election in Texas, a once reliably red state with historically low levels of turnout, than they did in the 2016 general election overall.
Texas is the first state to surpass its 2016 vote totals, leading the country in turnout among young voters in particular. In 2016, 8,969,336 Texans cast their ballots, but by Friday morning, more than 9 million had done so, according to the Associated Press.
It’s a surprising result in a state where Republican officials have sought to make it harder to vote this year despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. While many states have allowed all voters to submit their ballots by mail, Texas has prohibited anyone but people who are 65 or older, disabled, out of their home county, or in jail from doing so. Texans who have Covid-19 as the election approaches even need to present a certified doctor’s note in order to vote by mail.
Republicans have also limited the number of ballot drop-off locations to just one per county, banned counties from sending mail-in ballots applications to all registered voters, sought to curtail drive-thru voting and challenged the extension of the early voting period by six days.
The record-level turnout is a testament to the efforts of grassroots organizers in the state, from the Texas Organizing Project to MOVE Texas, who have been working for years to register more voters and encourage them to turn out.
It’s not clear whether the surge in turnout this year will favor Democrats or Republicans since voters don’t register by party affiliation in Texas. It won’t become clear until the state starts counting ballots.
But the polls would suggest that turnout could give Democrats an edge: the candidates are neck and neck, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, whereas Trump won the state by 9 points in 2016.
Texas has a long history of voter suppression
Texas has historically low turnout, especially among Hispanic voters. In 2016, only 51 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls, the fifth-worst turnout among all states. That’s been a major obstacle to Democratic hopes of flipping the state.
Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who ran for Senate in Texas in 2018, has often said that Texas isn’t a red state, but rather a “nonvoting state.” Turnout among eligible voters jumped significantly in 2018, spurred largely by enthusiasm for O’Rourke’s campaign to unseat Cruz, but it was still almost 4 points behind the national average, putting Texas ahead of just 10 states. In 2014, under a third of eligible voters cast a ballot.
History shows that this dismal turnout is by design.
As soon as post-Civil War Reconstruction began, the Texas state government, like many other former Confederate states, sought to disenfranchise Black and Mexican American voters in the form of a poll tax and Jim Crow laws imposing racial segregation, which persisted through the 1950s.
In 1923, the legislature instituted “white primaries” for the Democratic Party, the controlling party at the time, that excluded Black voters — a practice that the US Supreme Court finally struck down more than two decades later. And in yet another attempt to keep Black voters off the rolls, the legislature enacted a law in 1966 requiring voters to register to vote annually, which remained in effect until 1971.
Modern voter suppression in Texas has taken the form of racial gerrymandering (at times by both Democrats and Republicans). Most recently, Republicans were accused of diluting the power of nonwhite voters with their plans to redraw congressional districts in 2003 and 2011, spurring protracted legal battles. The redistricting process next year, which will begin after the results of the 2020 census comes in, will likely be similarly contentious.
Texas has also adopted the nation’s strictest voter ID law and began closing polling sites in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. That decision vacated a key provision in the Voting Rights Act that had required that jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory voting practices, including Texas, get the federal government’s approval before changing their election rules.
Within hours of the decision, Texas implemented a law substantially restricting the kind of identification documents voters were required to present at the polls in order to cast a ballot. Some 600,000 registered voters in the state were estimated to lack acceptable ID under the law, which lower courts had previously prevented from going into effect on the grounds that it could discriminate against African American and Latino voters.
The state also started closing polling sites in a way that disadvantaged minority voters. Texas has closed about 750 polling sites since 2012, including 542 sites in 50 counties where African American and Latino populations have significantly grown in recent years. That led to long wait times at some polling sites in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods during the Democratic primaries earlier this year.
“That shit is not accidental,” O’Rourke told Vox in August. “Republicans have been really good at shrouding this racist voter suppression by saying, ‘That’s just the way shit happens in Texas,’ and it isn’t the way that they designed it to happen.”


vox--2020-10-30--Beauty businesses are struggling without us

When the world shut down , many were faced with a difficult choice : risk their health or take beauty matters into their own hands .
Box dye flew off the shelves , at-home dip powder nail kits grew in popularity , and many people put their faith in DIY YouTube and TikTok tutorials .
Besides that , there was not much else we could do .
Roots grew in gray , body hair took over , and filler began to melt away with time .
It felt vulnerable but almost peaceful to exist without the pressure of seeing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway — who had time to care about beauty when everything was so ugly ?
But between the boredom of the everyday and the horror of the news cycle , some people , myself included , missed the familiarity of having someone else make you look and feel better .
The concern , of course , is whether it ’ s safe to receive beauty services — all of which involve physical contact and happen largely indoors .
While many restaurants have transitioned to outdoor dining , beauty services generally can not operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urges that ventilation is a key safety precaution , although that alone can not protect people from the coronavirus and improved ventilation systems are a huge cost for facilities that previously did not have to be concerned about them .
Forced closures and slowed business have threatened the livelihoods of many beauty business owners .
Reopening regulations for personal care services have varied from state to state and county to county .
As of October 23 in Los Angeles County , personal care services have opened indoors at limited capacity and with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salons and barbershops opened in June with modifications as the city entered phase 2 .
Masks are key in these environments — a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study determined that in the case of two Missouri hairstylists who were positive for Covid-19 , 67 of their clients tested negative because they all wore masks .
Some salons lack a track record of safety , and all the people I talked to have weighed health concerns against their desire to go back to their typical upkeep routine .
It can be difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary .
The nagging feeling persists , even and maybe even especially on Zoom .
It ’ s nice to work from home in pajama pants , but the trade-off is that it puts the emphasis on people ’ s faces .
The fear is that someone might catch flaws that they wouldn ’ t have even noticed in person .
Many clients rely on beauty services , even in quarantine At first , Danielle Spencer , a small-business owner who works from home in Toronto , gave up on her usual manicures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very cautious throughout the pandemic , ordering in groceries and even skipping out on festivities for their child ’ s first birthday .
But , she said , “ I ’ ve always had this notion my nails always had to be done , or I wasn ’ t professional , ” adding , “ Maybe it ’ s a weird internalized sexism thing.
” Searches for how to do your own nails shot up this past March in the height of the virus , like many other beauty-related DIY tasks , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to try having a nail technician come to her house .
“ But as soon as I got them done , I went back to that same mentality of ‘ I need to upkeep them , ’ ” she says .
Eventually her fiancé grew uncomfortable with the arrangement , and Spencer went back to the salon .
“ The guilt is definitely there , because a lot of people don ’ t see it as essential ” In an attempt to increase the life span of her manicures and limit her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colors and French manicures .
“ It is the make and break in our careers and relationships , ” she said , explaining that the pressure remains despite the restrictions and fears of the virus .
“ The guilt is definitely there , because a lot of people don ’ t see it as essential .
But when you feel like what you have comes down to the way you look , it does feel essential .
You never want to feel like you missed an opportunity because you didn ’ t look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who wear makeup are women , and not all women wear makeup , professionalism can come into question for women who choose not to wear it .
In a study cited by Inc. , one-third of women said they were treated at work in relation to their appearance .
It seems that this belief has survived , even as workplaces go remote .
“ During quarantine , it became more acceptable for men to grow out facial hair , but you can ’ t show up to a Zoom call with a messy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hair appointment , or without a little bit of blush and bronzer , ” Spencer said .
If a woman feels that the market demands she look a certain way , that doesn ’ t change overnight , even in a pandemic .
Appearance comes even further into play when you ’ re a Black woman .
Racial discrimination is an unfortunate reality in many American workplaces , and Black women are judged even more harshly on their appearances at work — particularly on their hairstyle choices .
While haircuts have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , with arguably the most vocal protesters of restrictions being middle-class white people — Black hair care can demand more labor is generally more socially fraught .
Studies show that common hairstyles like braids , twists , and Afros can affect job prospects .
Across the United States , plenty of people have filed workplace and school-related discrimination lawsuits after being told that their natural hair was “ unprofessional.
” Alyssa Bourne-Peters , a 23-year-old account executive in New York , took a classic quarantine plunge in March and cut her hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played with headbands , but by August , she wanted out .
She looked for a stylist on Instagram who was taking one-on-one appointments , and went in for shoulder-length passion twists .
Several weeks later , she got knotless braids done .
“ I needed a protective style .
She required a mask , and used gloves and had hand sanitizer , ” Bourne-Peters said .
Both styles last around a month , give or take , and don ’ t require much home upkeep besides moisturizing .
“ If I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] every day of the week , just to be on Zoom ?
No thank you !
” she said .
“ There ’ s only so much I can do at home ” For some , taking this risk is quite literally a job requirement .
Lola Chél , a 25-year-old full-time model in South Florida , knows all too well how important professionally done makeup can be .
During the pandemic , she kept working , which meant she had to continue her usual beauty services .
She ’ s had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massages .
For her , they ’ re a necessary business expense .
“ There ’ s only so much I can do at home , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t show up to a shoot looking any kind of way , and I can ’ t be too tense.
” Chél gets tested at least twice a week , and tries to get services done in one-on-one environments .
“ My family was concerned , as I ’ m helping out with my grandmother , ” Chel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I go to the grocery store , but explaining that as far as my nails ?
It took them a while .
But once they understood that everyone I ’ m around is wearing a mask and has all the necessary safety measures in place , they felt reassured.
” For beauty service providers , the pandemic means lost opportunity and new innovation The culture of guilt and shame around these services weighs most heavily on providers , who want to provide a safe atmosphere as well as stay in business .
Nidah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Peel Connection in Beverly Hills , says she has recognizable celebrity clientele who have been coming in undercover , for fear of being judged .
“ They don ’ t want people to know they ’ re getting things done during a pandemic .
They don ’ t want the backlash of people thinking they ’ re doing things they ’ re not supposed to , ” she said .
“ It ’ s become so political .
A lot of my celebrity clients are not posting and promoting me like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety protocol has been similar to that of many other beauty business owners : ventilated rooms , frequent hand sanitation , temperature-taking , PPE with shields , and contactless payment .
When businesses started to lock down , Barber-Raymond started bottling her chemical peels as a way to keep her salon afloat .
Quarantine is actually a good time to do a chemical peel , she said , because it requires limited sun exposure .
And even though her business has reopened lawfully ( due to the fact that her location has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the at-home peels has stayed strong .
“ It brought an opportunity to me I never saw coming .
It completely changed my business plan , ” she said .
“ I was literally scared to go to work .
I have a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old , and I definitely don ’ t want to bring this [ virus ] into my house.
” She says that in the future , she plans to do in-person chemical peels less and less , even when the threat of the coronavirus diminishes .
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse than Barber-Raymond ’ s .
You can do a chemical peel at home if you have access to the right supplies , or , say , touch up your own roots , but it ’ s impossible to do something as technical as apply eyelash extensions if you are not already trained in it .
In Los Angeles County , lash extensions are considered an esthetician service , meaning that they have been locked down since July , reopening just recently in late October .
However , lockdown didn ’ t stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When I spoke to Britni Bionca , the owner of BB Lash Boutique in Santa Monica , lockdown was still in place , and she told me that many lash businesses had gone underground as a means of survival .
In fact , she says some lash artists were actually doing better than ever before .
“ I know people who are doing two knocks at the back door .
I still get calls and tell people yes , we ’ re still closed .
But they ’ ll say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still open.
’ ” Yet she believes these customers are still taking precautions where they can .
Bionca says she ’ s heard that some higher-end clientele even use “ coronavirus concierge ” services like ModMD at their homes .
The company uses registered nurses to test workers coming into private homes .
Bionca says many lash artists feel they have been unfairly hung out to dry and forced to make these kinds of tough decisions — after all , storefront rent and expenses didn ’ t just stop when the pandemic began.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry are frustrated with the government , because why are they singling us out ?
” Bionca said .
She compares the rigorous training and safety measures her industry requires to other businesses .
“ In order for us to operate , we have always had to take those precautions .
We are constantly cleaning doorknobs and windows and things like that .
You don ’ t see that at restaurants or shopping at a boutique.
” In anticipation of reopening , Bionca had purchased plastic table covers and practiced doing lashes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too worried — she said she ’ s heard from many women of color that they can ’ t wait to come and support her , which she credits to the solidarity coming out of a summer full of racial protests .
But in the meantime , some of her clients have grown restless .
“ It ’ s almost like brushing your teeth , a way of feeling like you ’ re ready to take on the world .
It ’ s a self-care identity for them , ” she told me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of serious strategy .
The pandemic has just exposed the extremes of it all : We protect ourselves , and businesses die in our absence .
We give in to a desire that ’ s been ingrained into us , and we put ourselves at risk and subject ourselves to shame .
It ’ s a losing game , but even the country ’ s biggest timeout didn ’ t stop the play .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

When the world shut down, many were faced with a difficult choice: risk their health or take beauty matters into their own hands.
Box dye flew off the shelves, at-home dip powder nail kits grew in popularity, and many people put their faith in DIY YouTube and TikTok tutorials. Besides that, there was not much else we could do. Roots grew in gray, body hair took over, and filler began to melt away with time. It felt vulnerable but almost peaceful to exist without the pressure of seeing a soul. The world was in disarray anyway — who had time to care about beauty when everything was so ugly? But between the boredom of the everyday and the horror of the news cycle, some people, myself included, missed the familiarity of having someone else make you look and feel better.
The concern, of course, is whether it’s safe to receive beauty services — all of which involve physical contact and happen largely indoors. While many restaurants have transitioned to outdoor dining, beauty services generally cannot operate that way. The Environmental Protection Agency urges that ventilation is a key safety precaution, although that alone cannot protect people from the coronavirus and improved ventilation systems are a huge cost for facilities that previously did not have to be concerned about them. Forced closures and slowed business have threatened the livelihoods of many beauty business owners.
Reopening regulations for personal care services have varied from state to state and county to county. As of October 23 in Los Angeles County, personal care services have opened indoors at limited capacity and with some modifications. In New York, hair salons and barbershops opened in June with modifications as the city entered phase 2. Masks are key in these environments — a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study determined that in the case of two Missouri hairstylists who were positive for Covid-19, 67 of their clients tested negative because they all wore masks. Some salons lack a track record of safety, and all the people I talked to have weighed health concerns against their desire to go back to their typical upkeep routine.
It can be difficult to shake the feeling that beauty is necessary. The nagging feeling persists, even and maybe even especially on Zoom. It’s nice to work from home in pajama pants, but the trade-off is that it puts the emphasis on people’s faces. The fear is that someone might catch flaws that they wouldn’t have even noticed in person.
Many clients rely on beauty services, even in quarantine
At first, Danielle Spencer, a small-business owner who works from home in Toronto, gave up on her usual manicures. She and her fiancé have been very cautious throughout the pandemic, ordering in groceries and even skipping out on festivities for their child’s first birthday. But, she said, “I’ve always had this notion my nails always had to be done, or I wasn’t professional,” adding, “Maybe it’s a weird internalized sexism thing.”
Searches for how to do your own nails shot up this past March in the height of the virus, like many other beauty-related DIY tasks, but Spencer typically gets gel manicures. She decided to try having a nail technician come to her house. “But as soon as I got them done, I went back to that same mentality of ‘I need to upkeep them,’” she says. Eventually her fiancé grew uncomfortable with the arrangement, and Spencer went back to the salon.
“The guilt is definitely there, because a lot of people don’t see it as essential”
In an attempt to increase the life span of her manicures and limit her salon visits, Spencer opts for neutral colors and French manicures. “It is the make and break in our careers and relationships,” she said, explaining that the pressure remains despite the restrictions and fears of the virus. “The guilt is definitely there, because a lot of people don’t see it as essential. But when you feel like what you have comes down to the way you look, it does feel essential. You never want to feel like you missed an opportunity because you didn’t look the part.”
While not all those who wear makeup are women, and not all women wear makeup, professionalism can come into question for women who choose not to wear it. In a study cited by Inc., one-third of women said they were treated at work in relation to their appearance. It seems that this belief has survived, even as workplaces go remote. “During quarantine, it became more acceptable for men to grow out facial hair, but you can’t show up to a Zoom call with a messy bun because you haven’t had a hair appointment, or without a little bit of blush and bronzer,” Spencer said. If a woman feels that the market demands she look a certain way, that doesn’t change overnight, even in a pandemic.
Appearance comes even further into play when you’re a Black woman. Racial discrimination is an unfortunate reality in many American workplaces, and Black women are judged even more harshly on their appearances at work — particularly on their hairstyle choices. While haircuts have become a flashpoint across the country during the pandemic, with arguably the most vocal protesters of restrictions being middle-class white people — Black hair care can demand more labor is generally more socially fraught. Studies show that common hairstyles like braids, twists, and Afros can affect job prospects. Across the United States, plenty of people have filed workplace and school-related discrimination lawsuits after being told that their natural hair was “unprofessional.”
Alyssa Bourne-Peters, a 23-year-old account executive in New York, took a classic quarantine plunge in March and cut her hair short. She gelled it back and played with headbands, but by August, she wanted out. She looked for a stylist on Instagram who was taking one-on-one appointments, and went in for shoulder-length passion twists. Several weeks later, she got knotless braids done.
“I needed a protective style. She required a mask, and used gloves and had hand sanitizer,” Bourne-Peters said. Both styles last around a month, give or take, and don’t require much home upkeep besides moisturizing. “If I had to have a defined wash-and-go [hairstyle] every day of the week, just to be on Zoom? No thank you!” she said.
“There’s only so much I can do at home”
For some, taking this risk is quite literally a job requirement. Lola Chél, a 25-year-old full-time model in South Florida, knows all too well how important professionally done makeup can be. During the pandemic, she kept working, which meant she had to continue her usual beauty services. She’s had facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages. For her, they’re a necessary business expense. “There’s only so much I can do at home,” she said. “I can’t show up to a shoot looking any kind of way, and I can’t be too tense.” Chél gets tested at least twice a week, and tries to get services done in one-on-one environments.
“My family was concerned, as I’m helping out with my grandmother,” Chel said. “It’s essential if I go to the grocery store, but explaining that as far as my nails? It took them a while. But once they understood that everyone I’m around is wearing a mask and has all the necessary safety measures in place, they felt reassured.”
For beauty service providers, the pandemic means lost opportunity and new innovation
The culture of guilt and shame around these services weighs most heavily on providers, who want to provide a safe atmosphere as well as stay in business. Nidah Barber-Raymond, a peel expert and owner of the Peel Connection in Beverly Hills, says she has recognizable celebrity clientele who have been coming in undercover, for fear of being judged. “They don’t want people to know they’re getting things done during a pandemic. They don’t want the backlash of people thinking they’re doing things they’re not supposed to,” she said. “It’s become so political. A lot of my celebrity clients are not posting and promoting me like they did in the past.” Her safety protocol has been similar to that of many other beauty business owners: ventilated rooms, frequent hand sanitation, temperature-taking, PPE with shields, and contactless payment.
When businesses started to lock down, Barber-Raymond started bottling her chemical peels as a way to keep her salon afloat. Quarantine is actually a good time to do a chemical peel, she said, because it requires limited sun exposure. And even though her business has reopened lawfully (due to the fact that her location has an on-site medical director), demand for the at-home peels has stayed strong. “It brought an opportunity to me I never saw coming. It completely changed my business plan,” she said. “I was literally scared to go to work. I have a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, and I definitely don’t want to bring this [virus] into my house.” She says that in the future, she plans to do in-person chemical peels less and less, even when the threat of the coronavirus diminishes.
Unfortunately, other beauty businesses have fared much worse than Barber-Raymond’s. You can do a chemical peel at home if you have access to the right supplies, or, say, touch up your own roots, but it’s impossible to do something as technical as apply eyelash extensions if you are not already trained in it.
In Los Angeles County, lash extensions are considered an esthetician service, meaning that they have been locked down since July, reopening just recently in late October. However, lockdown didn’t stop some lash artists from doing their jobs. When I spoke to Britni Bionca, the owner of BB Lash Boutique in Santa Monica, lockdown was still in place, and she told me that many lash businesses had gone underground as a means of survival. In fact, she says some lash artists were actually doing better than ever before.
“I know people who are doing two knocks at the back door. I still get calls and tell people yes, we’re still closed. But they’ll say, ‘Oh, really? Because so-and-so are still open.’” Yet she believes these customers are still taking precautions where they can. Bionca says she’s heard that some higher-end clientele even use “coronavirus concierge” services like ModMD at their homes. The company uses registered nurses to test workers coming into private homes.
Bionca says many lash artists feel they have been unfairly hung out to dry and forced to make these kinds of tough decisions — after all, storefront rent and expenses didn’t just stop when the pandemic began.“A lot of people in the industry are frustrated with the government, because why are they singling us out?” Bionca said. She compares the rigorous training and safety measures her industry requires to other businesses. “In order for us to operate, we have always had to take those precautions. We are constantly cleaning doorknobs and windows and things like that. You don’t see that at restaurants or shopping at a boutique.”
In anticipation of reopening, Bionca had purchased plastic table covers and practiced doing lashes with gloves on. She wasn’t too worried — she said she’s heard from many women of color that they can’t wait to come and support her, which she credits to the solidarity coming out of a summer full of racial protests. But in the meantime, some of her clients have grown restless. “It’s almost like brushing your teeth, a way of feeling like you’re ready to take on the world. It’s a self-care identity for them,” she told me.
And so aesthetic upkeep remains a matter of serious strategy. The pandemic has just exposed the extremes of it all: We protect ourselves, and businesses die in our absence. We give in to a desire that’s been ingrained into us, and we put ourselves at risk and subject ourselves to shame. It’s a losing game, but even the country’s biggest timeout didn’t stop the play.