vox--2020-12-03--Ethiopia’s unfolding humanitarian crisis, explained by a top aid official

Nearly 50,000 refugees from Ethiopia have fled to Sudan in recent weeks , according to the United Nations .
They are crossing the border from Ethiopia ’ s Tigray region , which has been engulfed in fighting and violence since early November , when Ethiopia ’ s government deployed troops to the region .
Ethiopia ’ s prime minister , the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Abiy Ahmed , sent government forces to Tigray after claiming there had been an attack on a federal military base by the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) , the region ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics until Abiy took power in 2018 .
The TPLF denied playing a role in the attack , and accused Abiy of making up a story to bring the restive region closer under his control .
Tensions between Abiy ’ s government and the TPLF have been boiling for months , but Abiy ’ s offensive escalated the conflict dramatically .
Abiy has claimed that federal forces were “ fully in control ” of Mekelle , the Tigrayan capital .
But the TPLF has vowed to keep fighting , threatening to become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regional conflagration , potentially drawing in neighboring Eritrea .
What ’ s happening on the ground is extraordinarily difficult to track .
A government-imposed communications blackout cut off the internet and phone lines , limiting access for journalists and humanitarian groups .
But firsthand accounts of violence have been trickling out from the tens of thousands of refugees who have fled across the border to Sudan — an average of 3,000 per day , according to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees .
The humanitarian situation within Tigray is also worrisome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longstanding refugee camps in the region have been cut off from food and other aid for weeks due to the fighting .
This is a refugee and humanitarian crisis unfolding in real time , amid a pandemic and a hunger crisis exacerbated by drought and locusts .
To find out more , I spoke to Jan Egeland , the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council , which is providing aid to the refugees who have fled to Sudan .
Egeland had just visited Um Rakuba , a refugee camp in the eastern part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhat shaky connection — he shared what he ’ d seen there and his concerns about the potential for a deepening catastrophe in the region .
Our conversation , edited for length and clarity , is below .
How are you ?
Um Rakuba is the camp [ in eastern Sudan ] close to the border [ with Ethiopia ’ s Tigray region ] , where there are now 10,000 — I think we ’ re growing every single day — 10,000 Tigrayans .
And , of course , we are overburdened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups operational here .
But much is now happening .
In only five days , my NRC colleagues have created an entire school with five classrooms , now 10 .
They go in two shifts , so two shifts , with students from 1st to 10th grade .
And it ’ s very moving .
I attended some of the classes because refugee teachers are now teaching the refugee children in Tigrayan , and they are now recreating the curriculum with our help .
They were doing subtraction and addition and multiplication today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a sign that there is hope of better times .
So there are about 10,000 people in this camp .
And are more people arriving ?
People come every day , but fewer now than a couple weeks back , when there were more people coming to Sudan than a European country would get in a year .
Sudan received more people in three weeks from Tigray than the United States is willing to take as its quota of refugees in a year .
It just goes to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly all refugees come from one poor country to another poor country .
It ’ s the poor countries that give protection , give safe havens to refugees in our time and age .
And what are you hearing from the people who ’ ve arrived at the camp ?
There was no doubt that the people in the camp have fled from violence , or fled because they fear violence .
The stories are uniform of that .
Their towns , their villages , and their communities are being attacked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with so many men .
A normal refugee camp has around 80 percent women and children , with at maximum 15 to 20 percent men .
This one , the majority of the people are men .
That ’ s because they are targeted for killing and repression because they are supposed to be associated with the Tigrayan fighting forces .
But most of the people whom I met were students of mechanical engineering and from places outside even of Tigray .
They were teachers , they were nurses , they were farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that violence has to end , and that there must be effective protection of civilians for people to contemplate return .
What we seem to have is yet another longer-term refugee crisis — which we really should not have in Sudan , which already has 2 million internally displaced people from violence , and a million refugees , and a tremendous economic crisis .
Are those in the camp who fear violence , are they being targeted by Ethiopian government forces , specifically ?
It ’ s very hard to know what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Exactly , it ’ s often unclear exactly who attacked , and I would be very careful to convey here any of these allegations .
We are humanitarians , we ’ re neutral , and we are seeking access to Tigray .
The NRC is one of the few organizations that were active in Tigray .
We were serving the Eritrean refugees in Tigray .
Now we can not even communicate with our own staff there , many of whom have also fled .
We have nearly 100 aid workers in south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled the fighting that has been fierce in many parts .
Is there any sense that those Eritrean refugees in Tigray who ’ ve been there for a long time , since before this recent outbreak of violence , are also fleeing ?
Or any sense of their safety and status in terms of access to resources ?
It ’ s likely that they are also being displaced .
There are allegations of Eritrean forces within Tigray , and these are people who fled from Eritrea .
But , again , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access .
We need to be able to send in supplies to our aid workers , and supplies to the Eritrean refugees that we serve , and we need to link up with our local Tigrayan aid workers .
We need access , and we haven ’ t gotten that so far .
We don ’ t refugees to have to wait to come to us in Sudan for aid .
We want to have them in Tigray , and we ’ re willing and able to scale up our work inside Tigray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What kind of additional precautions or concerns exist around the pandemic ?
We are now giving cash assistance to each and every refugee family , with funding from the European Union .
So they get the equivalent of $ 24 for a single person and $ 48 for a family , which is a very substantive donation that the family themselves can decide to use for what they need the most .
Now , as we do that , of course , we wear masks , my colleagues wear masks , social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so on .
The refugees do not have masks , and there are few signs of Covid among the refugees so far .
But there is increasing coronavirus spread in Sudan at large .
So we have to be extremely careful ourselves to not spread the virus to vulnerable communities that live very crowded in here .
Is the risk now that this becomes , as you say , a more permanent refugee crisis ?
These children now in our school [ at the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan ] , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be there when they have grown up ?
I sincerely hope not .
So we will want to discuss with the Sudanese possibilities for durable solutions so that they can get opportunities for work in Sudan .
But the long-term solution is , of course , that they can return voluntarily , assisted and protected safely , to Tigray .
But that would need a peaceful settlement to the conflict .

Nearly 50,000 refugees from Ethiopia have fled to Sudan in recent weeks, according to the United Nations. They are crossing the border from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which has been engulfed in fighting and violence since early November, when Ethiopia’s government deployed troops to the region.
Ethiopia’s prime minister, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Abiy Ahmed, sent government forces to Tigray after claiming there had been an attack on a federal military base by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s ruling party that had also controlled Ethiopian politics until Abiy took power in 2018.
The TPLF denied playing a role in the attack, and accused Abiy of making up a story to bring the restive region closer under his control. Tensions between Abiy’s government and the TPLF have been boiling for months, but Abiy’s offensive escalated the conflict dramatically.
Abiy has claimed that federal forces were “fully in control” of Mekelle, the Tigrayan capital. But the TPLF has vowed to keep fighting, threatening to become a full-on insurgency. It also risks becoming a regional conflagration, potentially drawing in neighboring Eritrea.
What’s happening on the ground is extraordinarily difficult to track. A government-imposed communications blackout cut off the internet and phone lines, limiting access for journalists and humanitarian groups.
But firsthand accounts of violence have been trickling out from the tens of thousands of refugees who have fled across the border to Sudan — an average of 3,000 per day, according to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. The humanitarian situation within Tigray is also worrisome: Some 100,000 Eritreans who live in longstanding refugee camps in the region have been cut off from food and other aid for weeks due to the fighting.
This is a refugee and humanitarian crisis unfolding in real time, amid a pandemic and a hunger crisis exacerbated by drought and locusts.
To find out more, I spoke to Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, which is providing aid to the refugees who have fled to Sudan. Egeland had just visited Um Rakuba, a refugee camp in the eastern part of Sudan, and — over a somewhat shaky connection — he shared what he’d seen there and his concerns about the potential for a deepening catastrophe in the region.
Our conversation, edited for length and clarity, is below.
Jen Kirby
How are you?
Jan Egeland
I’m doing good. I’m just leaving Um Rakuba.
Jen Kirby
Um Rakuba? That’s the refugee camp in Sudan?
Jan Egeland
Um Rakuba is the camp [in eastern Sudan] close to the border [with Ethiopia’s Tigray region], where there are now 10,000 — I think we’re growing every single day — 10,000 Tigrayans. And, of course, we are overburdened and overstretched as one of the few aid groups operational here.
But much is now happening. In only five days, my NRC colleagues have created an entire school with five classrooms, now 10. They go in two shifts, so two shifts, with students from 1st to 10th grade. And it’s very moving. I attended some of the classes because refugee teachers are now teaching the refugee children in Tigrayan, and they are now recreating the curriculum with our help. They were doing subtraction and addition and multiplication today, it must have been third grade. It’s a sign that there is hope of better times.
Jen Kirby
So there are about 10,000 people in this camp. And are more people arriving?
Jan Egeland
People come every day, but fewer now than a couple weeks back, when there were more people coming to Sudan than a European country would get in a year. Sudan received more people in three weeks from Tigray than the United States is willing to take as its quota of refugees in a year.
It just goes to show that, in our time and age, nearly all refugees come from one poor country to another poor country. It’s the poor countries that give protection, give safe havens to refugees in our time and age.
Jen Kirby
And what are you hearing from the people who’ve arrived at the camp?
Jan Egeland
There was no doubt that the people in the camp have fled from violence, or fled because they fear violence. The stories are uniform of that. Their towns, their villages, and their communities are being attacked.
I’ve never seen a camp with so many men. A normal refugee camp has around 80 percent women and children, with at maximum 15 to 20 percent men. This one, the majority of the people are men. That’s because they are targeted for killing and repression because they are supposed to be associated with the Tigrayan fighting forces. But most of the people whom I met were students of mechanical engineering and from places outside even of Tigray. They were teachers, they were nurses, they were farmers.
So it’s very clear that violence has to end, and that there must be effective protection of civilians for people to contemplate return. What we seem to have is yet another longer-term refugee crisis — which we really should not have in Sudan, which already has 2 million internally displaced people from violence, and a million refugees, and a tremendous economic crisis.
Jen Kirby
Are those in the camp who fear violence, are they being targeted by Ethiopian government forces, specifically? It’s very hard to know what’s going on with the communications blackout.
Jan Egeland
Exactly, it’s often unclear exactly who attacked, and I would be very careful to convey here any of these allegations. We are humanitarians, we’re neutral, and we are seeking access to Tigray. The NRC is one of the few organizations that were active in Tigray. We were serving the Eritrean refugees in Tigray. Now we cannot even communicate with our own staff there, many of whom have also fled. We have nearly 100 aid workers in south Tigray, many of them also have fled the fighting that has been fierce in many parts.
Jen Kirby
Is there any sense that those Eritrean refugees in Tigray who’ve been there for a long time, since before this recent outbreak of violence, are also fleeing? Or any sense of their safety and status in terms of access to resources?
Jan Egeland
It’s likely that they are also being displaced. There are allegations of Eritrean forces within Tigray, and these are people who fled from Eritrea. But, again, the most important point here is that we need access. We need to be able to send in supplies to our aid workers, and supplies to the Eritrean refugees that we serve, and we need to link up with our local Tigrayan aid workers. We need access, and we haven’t gotten that so far.
We don’t refugees to have to wait to come to us in Sudan for aid. We want to have them in Tigray, and we’re willing and able to scale up our work inside Tigray.
Jen Kirby
How does Covid-19 factor in? What kind of additional precautions or concerns exist around the pandemic?
Jan Egeland
We are now giving cash assistance to each and every refugee family, with funding from the European Union. So they get the equivalent of $24 for a single person and $48 for a family, which is a very substantive donation that the family themselves can decide to use for what they need the most.
Now, as we do that, of course, we wear masks, my colleagues wear masks, social distancing, a lot of hand sanitation, and so on. The refugees do not have masks, and there are few signs of Covid among the refugees so far. But there is increasing coronavirus spread in Sudan at large. So we have to be extremely careful ourselves to not spread the virus to vulnerable communities that live very crowded in here.
Jen Kirby
Is the risk now that this becomes, as you say, a more permanent refugee crisis?
Jan Egeland
These children now in our school [at the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan], you know, will they [still] be there when they have grown up? I sincerely hope not. So we will want to discuss with the Sudanese possibilities for durable solutions so that they can get opportunities for work in Sudan. But the long-term solution is, of course, that they can return voluntarily, assisted and protected safely, to Tigray. But that would need a peaceful settlement to the conflict.


vox--2020-12-03--WarnerMedia’s CEO explains why he’s blowing up the movie business

Last month , WarnerMedia announced that HBO Max subscribers would be able to watch Wonder Woman 1984 at home on Christmas Day — the same day it would debut in movie theaters .
That was a very big deal for the movie industry .
So this is a much bigger deal : On Thursday , WarnerMedia said it will use the same “ day and date ” strategy for all of the 17 movies — including would-be blockbusters like Dune , and a new Matrix sequel — that it plans on releasing in 2021 .
Hollywood thrives on hyperbole .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe this move as unimaginable less than a year ago .
While some moviegoers and studios have wanted for a long time to make it easier to see movies at home , the movie theater industry has hated that idea and has been able to prevent it from happening .
The pandemic changed that dynamic .
The big movie theater chains have lost their leverage , and now WarnerMedia is taking advantage of it — and , crucially , giving HBO Max , its would-be Netflix competitor , a giant boost .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thinking and timing behind his decision , some of the financial repercussions , and what all this means for movies in a post-pandemic world .
What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation .
When did you start thinking about doing this ?
Since you started your job last spring ?
Or only in the last few weeks ?
Longer than the last few weeks , but it certainly wasn ’ t on day one .
I would say over the latter half of this year .
As the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the fans and partners and exhibitors — there were a lot of different concerns that we have .
So that ’ s really when things started — late summer and into the fall .
The more and more we spent time thinking about it , the more and more we felt very good about what we first announced with Wonder Woman 1984 and what we ’ re announcing today .
When you announced the Wonder Woman deal , a Warner PR rep told me that you had not struck any special deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to offer them the movie on the same terms you always do .
Is that the same for the 2021 slate ?
On that one I ’ m going to have to defer , but if I can , we will get back to you .
I just want to make sure I get you the proper answer .
So I apologize for not answering your question directly .
[ A WarnerMedia PR rep followed up with this statement : “ We are in ongoing conversations with theater owners.
” ] Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the exhibitors told you about your plan ?
I ’ ll answer the question I would have preferred you ask .
Putting myself in the shoes of a theatrical distributor : Right now , one of the things I believe could be most helpful to them and their business is a steady stream of new , great movies — and that ’ s what we ’ re stepping up to do .
Which , by the way , not everybody is stepping up to do .
I think that has weighed very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do to serve a number of different constituents ?
First and most importantly , the fans .
But also , exhibitors ; also talent — directors , actors , storytellers , etc ; and a host of other considerations .
And we think a lot about exhibition , because really , 10 years from now , 15 years from now , we are going to be in the exhibition business .
Because customers want it , and it ’ s a great experience .
I do it a lot myself .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out is that giving a steady stream of big-budget , great movies to movie theaters over the next 12 months can be very , very helpful to their businesses .
It sounds like what you ’ re saying is that what you ’ ve told distributors is , “ This isn ’ t what you want , but it ’ s better than nothing.
” Is that a fair summary ?
I would say that if you were choosing between three possible scenarios , of course anyone is going to choose the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The current environment that we ’ re living in , in the pandemic — there are no choices like that .
So I think your assessment is fair , but I think that ’ s just human nature .
Of course , I ’ d like many things that are just not realistic in the middle of a pandemic .
But I ’ m very grateful for some of the things that are available in a pandemic .
Like being able to deliver a year ’ s film slate to theaters , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all going through , I think is a really good thing .
This only applies to theaters and viewers in the US , and HBO Max isn ’ t available yet outside the US .
When will it be available internationally ?
We ’ re working really hard on that .
How much is this about the pandemic and a one-time opportunity , and how much is about you jump-starting HBO Max , which has brand confusion and hasn ’ t had a compelling pitch to consumers ?
[ Laughs ] That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense to the premise .
I hope you and I can talk more about this soon , where we can have a deeper conversation about HBO Max and how it ’ s doing .
Because I think you ’ d be quite surprised at the results .
With that said , this very much started from a function of having a pandemic , first and foremost ; having a situation where we have 17 amazing films we ’ re excited about , and thinking about fans , and what could we do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and HBO Max will benefit materially from this decision .
But that wasn ’ t the only consideration by any means .
It really started with a ) the fans , b ) the pandemic , and then HBO Max being able to play a central role in what I think is a very innovative solution .
Some of the talent involved in your movies can receive payouts based in part on theatrical revenues .
Are you going to have to redo those deals , or compensate them in some way because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a material license fee for the period of time that HBO Max is able to exhibit these films .
So that absolutely plays into this .
And the talent who participate in the films will be able to participate in that way as well .
So there ’ s absolutely economic consideration for what ’ s going on here .
Obviously , none of us can wave a wand and cause non-pandemic box office to suddenly show up in 2021 .
But the HBO Max exhibition comes at a price .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get participation get to participate in that .
To spell that out : HBO Max , a unit of WarnerMedia , will pay Warner Bros. , a unit of WarnerMedia , and the talent in these movies will get a slice of that , in the same way that they ’ d get a slice of theatrical distribution dollars ?
Big picture : This is exciting for consumers , and something many of us have wanted to see for a long time .
How do you give it to consumers in 2021 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottle after we ’ ve got a widely distributed vaccine ?
If I could predict the next 30 days , I could probably give you a better answer of what 13 months from now is going to be like .
But when it comes to what we think is the right thing to do , right now — you should read my blog post , because it has some extra things that you didn ’ t see in the press release — we ’ re really happy with it .
In terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know .
I think your question is very fair , but I don ’ t have an answer for you , beyond , “ We should obviously check in this time next year ” .
But you are a long-term thinker .
And you don ’ t have to think far out to think about 2022 .
Should I expect , as a consumer , that I ’ ll be able to do variations on this going forward ?
I have no grand pronouncements .
I appreciate that you ’ re in search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a more tactical question : When is HBO Max coming to Roku ?
[ Laughs ] Feel free to call Roku .
I can give you their number , and you can ask that question .
We are talking to them daily , and they are talking to us daily .
But other than that tidbit , I think it ’ s better for those conversations to remain private until there ’ s something worthy to share .
I will say , something that I said before about Amazon : It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roku , and WarnerMedia , to find common ground here .
It benefits both companies — and , even more importantly , fans want it .
Usually when you have those dynamics at play , things get figured out .
We ’ re investing a lot of time and energy and thoughtfulness in this one .
Is it technically possible that this could happen in time for Wonder Woman ?
I am under the impression that it would be hard to flip a switch at this point and make that timing work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The technical aspects of this are not difficult .
We signed an agreement with Amazon , and days later we were live with our app on all the Fire devices .
The technology is not the constraint .
Okay .
What ’ s the question you wanted me to ask ?
The question I wanted to ask you is — did you like our video ?
I haven ’ t had time to watch the video .
You got ta watch it .
I hope when you watch it that you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
I got a kick out of those 43 seconds and I hope you do too .

Last month, WarnerMedia announced that HBO Max subscribers would be able to watch Wonder Woman 1984 at home on Christmas Day — the same day it would debut in movie theaters. That was a very big deal for the movie industry.
So this is a much bigger deal: On Thursday, WarnerMedia said it will use the same “day and date” strategy for all of the 17 movies — including would-be blockbusters like Dune, and a new Matrix sequel — that it plans on releasing in 2021.
Hollywood thrives on hyperbole. But it would have been right to describe this move as unimaginable less than a year ago. While some moviegoers and studios have wanted for a long time to make it easier to see movies at home, the movie theater industry has hated that idea and has been able to prevent it from happening.
The pandemic changed that dynamic. The big movie theater chains have lost their leverage, and now WarnerMedia is taking advantage of it — and, crucially, giving HBO Max, its would-be Netflix competitor, a giant boost.
I talked to WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar about the thinking and timing behind his decision, some of the financial repercussions, and what all this means for movies in a post-pandemic world. What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation.
Peter Kafka
When did you start thinking about doing this? Since you started your job last spring? Or only in the last few weeks?
Jason Kilar
Longer than the last few weeks, but it certainly wasn’t on day one. I would say over the latter half of this year. As the pandemic wore on, as we started thinking about the fans and partners and exhibitors — there were a lot of different concerns that we have. So that’s really when things started — late summer and into the fall. The more and more we spent time thinking about it, the more and more we felt very good about what we first announced with Wonder Woman 1984 and what we’re announcing today.
Peter Kafka
When you announced the Wonder Woman deal, a Warner PR rep told me that you had not struck any special deals with the exhibitors — that you were going to offer them the movie on the same terms you always do. Is that the same for the 2021 slate?
Jason Kilar
On that one I’m going to have to defer, but if I can, we will get back to you. I just want to make sure I get you the proper answer. So I apologize for not answering your question directly. [A WarnerMedia PR rep followed up with this statement: “We are in ongoing conversations with theater owners.”]
Peter Kafka
Let me try it another way: What have the exhibitors told you about your plan?
Jason Kilar
I’ll answer the question I would have preferred you ask.
Putting myself in the shoes of a theatrical distributor: Right now, one of the things I believe could be most helpful to them and their business is a steady stream of new, great movies — and that’s what we’re stepping up to do. Which, by the way, not everybody is stepping up to do.
I think that has weighed very heavily on this decision — what can we do to serve a number of different constituents? First and most importantly, the fans. But also, exhibitors; also talent — directors, actors, storytellers, etc; and a host of other considerations. And we think a lot about exhibition, because really, 10 years from now, 15 years from now, we are going to be in the exhibition business. Because customers want it, and it’s a great experience. I do it a lot myself.
With that in mind, where we netted out is that giving a steady stream of big-budget, great movies to movie theaters over the next 12 months can be very, very helpful to their businesses.
Peter Kafka
It sounds like what you’re saying is that what you’ve told distributors is, “This isn’t what you want, but it’s better than nothing.” Is that a fair summary?
Jason Kilar
I would say that if you were choosing between three possible scenarios, of course anyone is going to choose the one that is most favorable to them. The current environment that we’re living in, in the pandemic — there are no choices like that. So I think your assessment is fair, but I think that’s just human nature. Of course, I’d like many things that are just not realistic in the middle of a pandemic. But I’m very grateful for some of the things that are available in a pandemic. Like being able to deliver a year’s film slate to theaters, in the middle of what we’re all going through, I think is a really good thing.
Peter Kafka
This only applies to theaters and viewers in the US, and HBO Max isn’t available yet outside the US. When will it be available internationally?
Jason Kilar
We’re working really hard on that.
Peter Kafka
How much is this about the pandemic and a one-time opportunity, and how much is about you jump-starting HBO Max, which has brand confusion and hasn’t had a compelling pitch to consumers?
Jason Kilar
[Laughs] That is a leading question, and I take offense to the premise. I hope you and I can talk more about this soon, where we can have a deeper conversation about HBO Max and how it’s doing. Because I think you’d be quite surprised at the results.
With that said, this very much started from a function of having a pandemic, first and foremost; having a situation where we have 17 amazing films we’re excited about, and thinking about fans, and what could we do. HBO Max is a part of that, and HBO Max will benefit materially from this decision. But that wasn’t the only consideration by any means. It really started with a) the fans, b) the pandemic, and then HBO Max being able to play a central role in what I think is a very innovative solution.
Peter Kafka
Some of the talent involved in your movies can receive payouts based in part on theatrical revenues. Are you going to have to redo those deals, or compensate them in some way because of the reduced theatrical revenue?
Jason Kilar
There’s a material license fee for the period of time that HBO Max is able to exhibit these films. So that absolutely plays into this. And the talent who participate in the films will be able to participate in that way as well. So there’s absolutely economic consideration for what’s going on here. Obviously, none of us can wave a wand and cause non-pandemic box office to suddenly show up in 2021. But the HBO Max exhibition comes at a price. And talent and the behind-the-scene folks that get participation get to participate in that.
Peter Kafka
To spell that out: HBO Max, a unit of WarnerMedia, will pay Warner Bros., a unit of WarnerMedia, and the talent in these movies will get a slice of that, in the same way that they’d get a slice of theatrical distribution dollars?
Jason Kilar
That’s exactly right.
Peter Kafka
Big picture: This is exciting for consumers, and something many of us have wanted to see for a long time. How do you give it to consumers in 2021 and then put the genie back in the bottle after we’ve got a widely distributed vaccine?
Jason Kilar
If I could predict the next 30 days, I could probably give you a better answer of what 13 months from now is going to be like. But when it comes to what we think is the right thing to do, right now — you should read my blog post, because it has some extra things that you didn’t see in the press release — we’re really happy with it. In terms of beyond 2021, we don’t know. I think your question is very fair, but I don’t have an answer for you, beyond, “We should obviously check in this time next year”.
Peter Kafka
But you are a long-term thinker. And you don’t have to think far out to think about 2022. Should I expect, as a consumer, that I’ll be able to do variations on this going forward?
Jason Kilar
I have no grand pronouncements. I appreciate that you’re in search of one.
Peter Kafka
Okay, here’s a more tactical question: When is HBO Max coming to Roku?
Jason Kilar
[Laughs] Feel free to call Roku. I can give you their number, and you can ask that question. We are talking to them daily, and they are talking to us daily. But other than that tidbit, I think it’s better for those conversations to remain private until there’s something worthy to share.
I will say, something that I said before about Amazon: It’s very clearly in the interest of Roku, and WarnerMedia, to find common ground here. It benefits both companies — and, even more importantly, fans want it. Usually when you have those dynamics at play, things get figured out. We’re investing a lot of time and energy and thoughtfulness in this one.
Peter Kafka
Is it technically possible that this could happen in time for Wonder Woman? I am under the impression that it would be hard to flip a switch at this point and make that timing work, even if you reached a deal tonight.
Jason Kilar
The technical aspects of this are not difficult. We signed an agreement with Amazon, and days later we were live with our app on all the Fire devices. The technology is not the constraint.
Peter Kafka
Okay. What’s the question you wanted me to ask?
Jason Kilar
The question I wanted to ask you is — did you like our video?
Peter Kafka
I haven’t had time to watch the video.
Jason Kilar
You gotta watch it. I hope when you watch it that you’ll use it when you write about this. I got a kick out of those 43 seconds and I hope you do too.
Peter Kafka
Duly noted.


vox--2020-12-03--The UN now says medical weed is a less dangerous drug

A United Nations commission has voted to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug , acknowledging the plant ’ s medical value and paving the way for further therapeutic use of the drug internationally .
The 27-25 vote by the Vienna-based UN Commission for Narcotic Drugs was based on 2019 recommendations by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , which provides technical expertise on drugs to the UN .
The decision removes cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs , where it was listed alongside drugs such as heroin as having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the vote does not remove cannabis or related products from the list of drugs requiring strict international controls .
The United States , Canada , Mexico , and the United Kingdom were among the countries that voted to approve the measure ; countries including Russia , China , Brazil , and Japan voted against it .
Morocco was the only nation from the Middle East and North African region to support the reclassification .
The 1961 convention was established to bolster international cooperation for ending drug abuse through two methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use , possession , sale , and distribution to the purposes of science or medicine , while the second sees collaboration to intercept and demoralize drug traffickers .
The UN system for classifying controlled drugs lists 250 substances in four “ schedules , ” or categories , according to their health risks , dangers , addictiveness , and medical value .
Schedule IV , which is what cannabis has been listed as for decades , is reserved for the most dangerous substances that are of “ extremely limited medical or therapeutic value.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reclassifying cannabis as less dangerous , the UN commission “ has opened the door to recognizing the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the commonly-used but still largely illegal recreational drug ” internationally , the UN said in a news item on the vote .
A press release from an international group of drug policy organizations welcomed the changes , which they say will give the international community more incentive to invest in cannabis-based medicines .
“ This is welcome news for the millions of people who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes and reflects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannabis-based medicinal products , ” the statement said .
However , the advocates also said the changes do not go far enough because cannabis will remain listed under Schedule I along with more serious drugs like heroin and cocaine .
This is despite the WHO finding that cannabis was not as harmful as other drugs listed in the same schedule .
Cannabis and its derivatives are still subject to strict international controls , and the commission ’ s vote against the other four cannabis-related measures , including one to remove cannabis extracts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prone to abuse , shows that broader international legalization is still a long way off .
But the trend is moving in that direction , and this latest vote certainly helps .
The movement toward legalization of medical marijuana is catching on Although proponents have much work to do to improve international access to medical marijuana , recent developments suggest the movement is gaining steam .
In January , Uganda ’ s health ministry issued guidelines for the cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes , bringing the country in line with other African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zimbabwe that are easing restrictions on growing medical marijuana .
Earlier this year , Thailand , which has harsh drug penalties , became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize the use of medical marijuana for patients .
And in late November , the Thai government announced plans to allow the use of cannabis — minus its most addictive elements , like the flowers — in cosmetics and cooking .
On November 26 , the Mexican Senate overwhelmingly voted to legalize marijuana , and Canada legalized marijuana back in 2018 .
The US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four more states voted to legalize it in the 2020 election , bringing the total to 15 .
This week , the US House of Representatives is set to take up the Marijuana Opportunities , Reinvestment , and Expungement ( MORE ) Act , which will be the first time federal decriminalization of marijuana has been considered by either chamber of Congress .
If it passes , the bill , sponsored by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , will also expunge marijuana convictions , which have long disproportionately plagued communities of color .

A United Nations commission has voted to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, acknowledging the plant’s medical value and paving the way for further therapeutic use of the drug internationally.
The 27-25 vote by the Vienna-based UN Commission for Narcotic Drugs was based on 2019 recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides technical expertise on drugs to the UN. The decision removes cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, where it was listed alongside drugs such as heroin as having little to no medical or therapeutic value.
However, the vote does not remove cannabis or related products from the list of drugs requiring strict international controls.
The United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom were among the countries that voted to approve the measure; countries including Russia, China, Brazil, and Japan voted against it. Morocco was the only nation from the Middle East and North African region to support the reclassification.
The 1961 convention was established to bolster international cooperation for ending drug abuse through two methods of intervention. The first restricts drug use, possession, sale, and distribution to the purposes of science or medicine, while the second sees collaboration to intercept and demoralize drug traffickers.
The UN system for classifying controlled drugs lists 250 substances in four “schedules,” or categories, according to their health risks, dangers, addictiveness, and medical value. Schedule IV, which is what cannabis has been listed as for decades, is reserved for the most dangerous substances that are of “extremely limited medical or therapeutic value.”
Now, though, with this vote reclassifying cannabis as less dangerous, the UN commission “has opened the door to recognizing the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the commonly-used but still largely illegal recreational drug” internationally, the UN said in a news item on the vote.
A press release from an international group of drug policy organizations welcomed the changes, which they say will give the international community more incentive to invest in cannabis-based medicines.
“This is welcome news for the millions of people who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes and reflects the reality of the growing market for cannabis-based medicinal products,” the statement said.
However, the advocates also said the changes do not go far enough because cannabis will remain listed under Schedule I along with more serious drugs like heroin and cocaine. This is despite the WHO finding that cannabis was not as harmful as other drugs listed in the same schedule.
Cannabis and its derivatives are still subject to strict international controls, and the commission’s vote against the other four cannabis-related measures, including one to remove cannabis extracts and tinctures from the list of substances most prone to abuse, shows that broader international legalization is still a long way off.
But the trend is moving in that direction, and this latest vote certainly helps.
The movement toward legalization of medical marijuana is catching on
Although proponents have much work to do to improve international access to medical marijuana, recent developments suggest the movement is gaining steam.
In January, Uganda’s health ministry issued guidelines for the cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes, bringing the country in line with other African nations including Zambia, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe that are easing restrictions on growing medical marijuana.
Earlier this year, Thailand, which has harsh drug penalties, became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize the use of medical marijuana for patients. And in late November, the Thai government announced plans to allow the use of cannabis — minus its most addictive elements, like the flowers — in cosmetics and cooking.
On November 26, the Mexican Senate overwhelmingly voted to legalize marijuana, and Canada legalized marijuana back in 2018. The US has not federally legalized marijuana, but four more states voted to legalize it in the 2020 election, bringing the total to 15.
This week, the US House of Representatives is set to take up the Marijuana Opportunities, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, which will be the first time federal decriminalization of marijuana has been considered by either chamber of Congress. If it passes, the bill, sponsored by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, will also expunge marijuana convictions, which have long disproportionately plagued communities of color.


vox--2020-12-03--Obama said “defund the police” is a bad slogan. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Former President Barack Obama is getting pushback from progressive leaders in his party after saying in an interview Wednesday that political candidates who use “ snappy ” slogans such as “ defund the police ” could jeopardize their campaign goals on police reform and even lose support from their base .
“ You lost a big audience the minute you say it , which makes it a lot less likely that you ’ re actually going to get the changes you want done , ” Obama told Peter Hamby , who hosts Good Luck America , a Snapchat political show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you want to actually get something done , or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with ?
” Obama ’ s remarks are in line with other Democrats like House Rep. Jim Clyburn and Sen. Mark Warner , who see the phrase as damaging to the party , arguing Republicans weaponized the slogan against Democrats during the election , leading to losses in the House .
However , more progressive members of Congress , including newly elected Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notion .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — without mentioning the former president ’ s name — also countered in a tweet that messages like “ defund the police ” have actually been effective .
“ The thing that critics of activists don ’ t get is that they tried playing the ‘ polite language ’ policy game and all it did was make them easier to ignore , ” Ocasio-Cortez wrote .
“ It wasn ’ t until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction to do ANYTHING even if it wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , the words “ defund the police ” could be seen on protesters ’ signs and heard in chants in America ’ s streets , with the idea being to move money away from big police budgets and toward social and other community services .
Although Americans seem more supportive of the idea behind defunding than the wording itself , according to several polls , demands to change policing still led to the passage of a slew of police reform ballot measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defund the police isn ’ t going anywhere , and its future in — and impact on — the Democratic Party ’ s platform remains to be seen , what many find disappointing about Obama ’ s comments is his downplaying of “ a policy demand , ” as Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested , when “ we lose people at the hands of police.
” However , given Obama ’ s messaging and stance on policing historically , his current critique of defunding shouldn ’ t come as a surprise .
The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the moderate side of his party — condemning police shootings of Black people , while simultaneously speaking highly of the hard work police officers do .
Obama ’ s record on race and policing in America President Obama ’ s recent comments , made while promoting his recent book , fall in line with what he said earlier this summer .
In his May 29 statement after the death of George Floyd , Obama said that the solution “ the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment ” involves everyone regardless of race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job , the right way , every day.
” This sparked criticism from a number of activists .
In a letter to Obama , published in The Intercept , Chenjerai Kumanyika — a researcher and assistant journalism professor at Rutgers University — wrote a rebuttal saying that the former president ’ s statement unveils a “ fundamental misunderstanding ” when it comes to the role that law enforcement plays in American society .
“ By presenting things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assume you are trying to avoid alienating police officers who see themselves and their work as a force for good , ” Kumanyika wrote .
“ But it is frustrating to see you , an extremely influential African American public figure , refusing to grapple in a more serious , historical , and political way with what the job of the police actually is — and how it contributes to our oppression.
” Obama tends to walk a fine line when it comes to race and policing , gaining critics from both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging and dangerous work that police officers perform , while also pointing out systemic and racial inequities baked into the fabric of the criminal justice system .
When Trayvon Martin was shot in Florida in 2013 , Obama delivered a personal and moving speech highlighting the unfortunate reality that he and the rest of the Black community face each day .
“ Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago , ” he said in the White House briefing room that year , adding that if Martin had been a “ white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different.
” He echoed the same message in the killings of other Black men in the years to come .
And yet after a grand jury rejected a criminal indictment in the death of Michael Brown in 2014 , Obama said , “ our police officers put their lives on the line for us every day.
” Weeks later , after a New York grand jury also declined to bring charges against the police who killed Eric Garner , Obama echoed again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job.
” He made the same statement again in 2015 after violence erupted in Baltimore , following the death of Freddie Gray .
Meanwhile , some of his more conservative critics claim that all Obama does is “ hate on cops ” and didn ’ t do enough to support police while in office , even though his actions prove otherwise .
For instance , when five police officers were killed in Dallas , Texas , in 2016 , Obama , in his speech at a memorial , criticized activists calling for police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame the entire law enforcement for the irresponsible actions of a few police officers .
The Obama administration did seek to implement some police and prison reforms .
For instance , in 2014 , after the fatal shooting of Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , and the fatal choking of Eric Garner in New York City , Obama launched the President ’ s Task Force on 21st Century Policing , which demanded that all police killings be investigated by independent prosecutors .
The task force also called for an end to “ stop-and-frisk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police — which presents a much harder implementation .
While Obama ’ s recent remarks have garnered critiques from the left , the former president has at least stayed consistent with his messaging .
But some may still have expected a change , now that he doesn ’ t have to court all sides of the American public from the presidential office .

Former President Barack Obama is getting pushback from progressive leaders in his party after saying in an interview Wednesday that political candidates who use “snappy” slogans such as “defund the police” could jeopardize their campaign goals on police reform and even lose support from their base.
“You lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you’re actually going to get the changes you want done,” Obama told Peter Hamby, who hosts Good Luck America, a Snapchat political show. “The key is deciding, do you want to actually get something done, or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with?”
Obama’s remarks are in line with other Democrats like House Rep. Jim Clyburn and Sen. Mark Warner, who see the phrase as damaging to the party; they argue that Republicans weaponized the slogan against Democrats during the election, leading to losses in the House. However, more progressive members of Congress, including newly elected Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York, pushed back against this notion. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — without mentioning the former president’s name — also countered in a tweet that messages like “defund the police” have actually been effective.
“The thing that critics of activists don’t get is that they tried playing the ‘polite language’ policy game and all it did was make them easier to ignore,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “It wasn’t until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction to do ANYTHING even if it wasn’t their full demands.”
The whole point of protesting is to make ppl uncomfortable.
Activists take that discomfort w/ the status quo & advocate for concrete policy changes. Popular support often starts small & grows.
To folks who complain protest demands make others uncomfortable... that’s the point. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 2, 2020
In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the words “defund the police” could be seen on protesters’ signs and heard in chants in America’s streets, with the idea being to move money away from big police budgets and toward social and other community services. Although Americans seem more supportive of the idea behind defunding than the wording itself, according to several polls, demands to change policing still led to the passage of a slew of police reform ballot measures in November.
While the movement to defund the police isn’t going anywhere, and its future in — and impact on — the Democratic Party’s platform remains to be seen, what many find disappointing about Obama’s comments is his downplaying of “a policy demand,” as Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested, when “we lose people at the hands of police.”
However, given Obama’s messaging and stance on policing historically, his current critique of defunding shouldn’t come as a surprise. The former president has a record of placing himself on the moderate side of his party — condemning police shootings of Black people, while simultaneously speaking highly of the hard work police officers do.
Obama’s record on race and policing in America
President Obama’s recent comments, made while promoting his recent book, fall in line with what he said earlier this summer. In his May 29 statement after the death of George Floyd, Obama said that the solution “the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment” involves everyone regardless of race or class, and that includes “the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job, the right way, every day.”
This sparked criticism from a number of activists. In a letter to Obama, published in the Intercept, Chenjerai Kumanyika — a researcher and assistant journalism professor at Rutgers University — wrote a rebuttal saying that the former president’s statement unveils a “fundamental misunderstanding” when it comes to the role that law enforcement plays in American society.
“By presenting things this way during this time, I assume you are trying to avoid alienating police officers who see themselves and their work as a force for good,” Kumanyika wrote. “But it is frustrating to see you, an extremely influential African American public figure, refusing to grapple in a more serious, historical, and political way with what the job of the police actually is — and how it contributes to our oppression.”
Obama tends to walk a fine line when it comes to race and policing, gaining critics from both sides of the aisle. He acknowledges the challenging and dangerous work that police officers perform, while also pointing out systemic and racial inequities baked into the fabric of the criminal justice system.
When Trayvon Martin was shot in Florida in 2013, Obama delivered a personal and moving speech highlighting the unfortunate reality that he and other Black Americans face each day. “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago,” he said in the White House briefing room that year, adding that if Martin had been a “white teen” that “from top to bottom both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different.” He echoed the same message in the killings of other Black men in the years to come.
Damn, Mr. President.
Didn’t you say “Trayvon could’ve been my son?”
In 2014, #BlackLivesMatter was too much.
In 2016, Kaepernick was too much.
Today, discussing police budgets is too much.
The problem is America's comfort with Black death -- not discomfort with slogans. https://t.co/DJUSZebgW5 — Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) December 2, 2020
And yet after a grand jury rejected a criminal indictment in the death of Michael Brown in 2014, Obama said, “our police officers put their lives on the line for us every day.” Weeks later, after a New York grand jury also declined to bring charges against the police who killed Eric Garner, Obama echoed again, “law enforcement has an incredibly difficult job.” He made the same statement again in 2015 after violence erupted in Baltimore, following the death of Freddie Gray.
With all due respect, Mr. President—let’s talk about losing people. We lost Michael Brown Jr. We lost Breonna Taylor. We’re losing our loved ones to police violence.
It’s not a slogan. It’s a mandate for keeping our people alive. Defund the police. https://t.co/Wsxp1Y1bBi — Cori Bush (@CoriBush) December 2, 2020
Meanwhile, some of his more conservative critics claim that all Obama does is “hate on cops” and didn’t do enough to support police while in office, even though his actions prove otherwise. For instance, when five police officers were killed in Dallas, Texas, in 2016, Obama, in his speech at a memorial, criticized activists calling for police reform, underscoring that advocates tend to blame the entire law enforcement for the irresponsible actions of a few police officers.
The Obama administration did seek to implement some police and prison reforms. For instance, in 2014, after the fatal shooting of Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the fatal choking of Eric Garner in New York City, Obama launched the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which demanded that all police killings be investigated by independent prosecutors. The task force also called for an end to “stop-and-frisk” or all racial profiling by the police — which presents a much harder implementation.
While Obama’s recent remarks have garnered critiques from the left, the former president has at least stayed consistent with his messaging. But some may still have expected a change, now that he doesn’t have to court all sides of the American public from the presidential office.


vox--2020-12-03--Federal watchdog says “substantial likelihood of wrongdoing” at US broadcasting agency

In June , a Steve Bannon ally and conservative filmmaker appointed by President Donald Trump took over running the US Agency for Global Media ( USAGM ) , a vast international network of news agencies funded and operated by the US government .
Within hours of introducing himself to employees , the new CEO , Michael Pack , purged four top officials .
He then went on to ban visas for certain foreign reporters and began investigating journalists at the agency for suspected anti-Trump bias .
In October , he announced he was eliminating the agency ’ s regulatory “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at protecting the editorial independence of journalists at the agency from political interference from the government .
Critics accused Pack of abusing his power to turn America ’ s state-run news organizations , whose mission is to disseminate factual , unbiased news to people who live in countries where freedom of the press is either strongly curtailed or nonexistent , into Trump-friendly propaganda outlets .
While Pack and his team haven ’ t achieved a pro-Trump project , a federal watchdog has found accusations of gross mismanagement to be credible .
In letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Office of Special Counsel ( OSC ) — an investigative and prosecutorial government body — revealed that it had found “ a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing ” at the USAGM , which oversees four media organizations : Voice of America , Middle East Broadcasting , Radio Free Asia , and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
With help from the Government Accountability Project ( GAP ) , which represents more than 20 current and former staffers at the USAGM , 11 whistleblowers sent specific complaints to the OSC over the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership “ repeatedly violated the Voice of America ( VOA ) firewall ” and “ engaged in gross mismanagement and abuse of authority.
” Further , the whistleblowers claimed leadership “ pressured career staff to illegally repurpose … congressionally appropriated funds and programs without notifying Congress.
” On Wednesday evening , the OSC replied to these and other allegations , noting that what the whistleblowers alleged seemed to be true .
“ OSC has found a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing based on the information you submitted in support of your allegations , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OSC ’ s Retaliation and Disclosure Unit .
However , OSC gives any offending agency — in this case , UASGM — 60 days to conduct its own probe and respond to the complaints .
It ’ s not until that investigation ends that OSC makes a final determination .
“ This remains an open matter under investigation until the agency ’ s final report is forwarded to the President and Congress , ” Tanenbaum concluded .
Still , GAP senior counsel David Seide , who represents the whistleblowers , believes the letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The conduct by [ USAGM ] is shocking , and we ’ re glad an independent agency agrees with us , ” Seide told me in an interview .
It ’ s unclear whether Pack and other agency leaders will face any real penalties while in office , though .
President-elect Joe Biden has promised to fire Pack , and the 60 days that USAGM has to respond exceeds the remaining time until Biden ’ s inauguration .
It ’ s therefore likely that Pack and his team will leave government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his clients feel this is more than just misbehavior on Pack ’ s part .
This is about protecting the culture of an agency with the tough task of reporting news independently and fiercely while on the federal payroll .
“ There ’ s an accounting to be done here for lessons learned , ” said Seide .
“ This is very much a work in progress.
” What may come out of all this , then , is a bunch of congressional hearings on how best to oversee the USAGM and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden selects to replace Pack .
In the interim , the whistleblowers sense imminent victory .
“ We ’ re all very encouraged by the OSC response and hope USAGM will take it seriously , ” a whistleblower , who spoke on the condition of anonymity for privacy reasons , told me .

In June, a Steve Bannon ally and conservative filmmaker appointed by President Donald Trump took over running the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a vast international network of news agencies funded and operated by the US government.
Within hours of introducing himself to employees, the new CEO, Michael Pack, purged four top officials. He then went on to ban visas for certain foreign reporters and began investigating journalists at the agency for suspected anti-Trump bias. In October, he announced he was eliminating the agency’s regulatory “firewall” — longstanding internal policies aimed at protecting the editorial independence of journalists at the agency from political interference from the government.
Critics accused Pack of abusing his power to turn America’s state-run news organizations, whose mission is to disseminate factual, unbiased news to people who live in countries where freedom of the press is either strongly curtailed or nonexistent, into Trump-friendly propaganda outlets.
While Pack and his team haven’t achieved a pro-Trump project, a federal watchdog has found accusations of gross mismanagement to be credible.
In letters to 11 whistleblowers on Wednesday night, the US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) — an investigative and prosecutorial government body — revealed that it had found “a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing” at the USAGM, which oversees four media organizations: Voice of America, Middle East Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
With help from the Government Accountability Project (GAP), which represents more than 20 current and former staffers at the USAGM, 11 whistleblowers sent specific complaints to the OSC over the last few months.
They included allegations that USAGM leadership “repeatedly violated the Voice of America (VOA) firewall” and “engaged in gross mismanagement and abuse of authority.” Further, the whistleblowers claimed leadership “pressured career staff to illegally repurpose … congressionally appropriated funds and programs without notifying Congress.”
On Wednesday evening, the OSC replied to these and other allegations, noting that what the whistleblowers alleged seemed to be true.
“OSC has found a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing based on the information you submitted in support of your allegations,” wrote Karen Tanenbaum, an attorney with OSC’s Retaliation and Disclosure Unit.
However, OSC gives any offending agency — in this case, UASGM — 60 days to conduct its own probe and respond to the complaints. It’s not until that investigation ends that OSC makes a final determination. “This remains an open matter under investigation until the agency’s final report is forwarded to the President and Congress,” Tanenbaum concluded.
Still, GAP senior counsel David Seide, who represents the whistleblowers, believes the letters signal an early victory for his clients. “The conduct by [USAGM] is shocking, and we’re glad an independent agency agrees with us,” Seide told me in an interview.
It’s unclear whether Pack and other agency leaders will face any real penalties while in office, though. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to fire Pack, and the 60 days that USAGM has to respond exceeds the remaining time until Biden’s inauguration. It’s therefore likely that Pack and his team will leave government before receiving any reprimands.
But Seide and his clients feel this is more than just misbehavior on Pack’s part. This is about protecting the culture of an agency with the tough task of reporting news independently and fiercely while on the federal payroll. “There’s an accounting to be done here for lessons learned,” said Seide. “This is very much a work in progress.”
What may come out of all this, then, is a bunch of congressional hearings on how best to oversee the USAGM and a tough Senate confirmation battle over who Biden selects to replace Pack.
In the interim, the whistleblowers sense imminent victory. “We’re all very encouraged by the OSC response and hope USAGM will take it seriously,” a whistleblower, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for privacy reasons, told me.


vox--2020-12-03--What happened to department stores?

What happened to department stores?

Department stores , once a symbol of the American middle class , have been declining for years , along with the shopping malls they anchor in communities across the US .
Just last year , both the high-end Barneys and the country ’ s oldest department store , Lord & Taylor , went bankrupt and announced plans to close all their locations .
Then came the coronavirus pandemic , which shocked the economy , hitting lower- and middle-income Americans the hardest by forcing them out of work and deeper into debt , with little or no relief in sight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical retail stores and kept people at home for months , giving them more reasons than ever before to shop online at e-commerce giants like Amazon or from the smaller direct-to-consumer brands whose ads follow us all around the internet .
As we near the end of 2020 , the prognosis for the American department store is grimmer than it ’ s ever been .
The reasons extend far beyond Covid-19 or even the continued rise of online shopping , and have more to do with trends in the American economy that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the already wealthy .
That ’ s why the decline of these retail giants is something to pay attention to .
They employ hundreds of thousands of people and occupy an outsize space in our communities ; their gradual disappearance , as well as what is replacing them , tells us something about where we ’ re headed .
The death of the department store and the American middle class The collapse of America ’ s middle class crushed department stores .
Amazon and the pandemic are the final blows .
Pop culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to want The death and rebirth of America ’ s department stores , in charts What one of Amazon ’ s biggest critics thinks the future of the retail industry means for workers How retailers track your every move in exchange for coupons and convenience | coming Friday

Department stores, once a symbol of the American middle class, have been declining for years, along with the shopping malls they anchor in communities across the US. Just last year, both the high-end Barneys and the country’s oldest department store, Lord & Taylor, went bankrupt and announced plans to close all their locations.
Then came the coronavirus pandemic, which shocked the economy, hitting lower- and middle-income Americans the hardest by forcing them out of work and deeper into debt, with little or no relief in sight. The crisis also temporarily shuttered most nonessential physical retail stores and kept people at home for months, giving them more reasons than ever before to shop online at e-commerce giants like Amazon or from the smaller direct-to-consumer brands whose ads follow us all around the internet.
As we near the end of 2020, the prognosis for the American department store is grimmer than it’s ever been. The reasons extend far beyond Covid-19 or even the continued rise of online shopping, and have more to do with trends in the American economy that have been shrinking the middle class while enriching the already wealthy. That’s why the decline of these retail giants is something to pay attention to. They employ hundreds of thousands of people and occupy an outsize space in our communities; their gradual disappearance, as well as what is replacing them, tells us something about where we’re headed.
—Samantha Oltman, editor of Recode
The collapse of America’s middle class crushed department stores. Amazon and the pandemic are the final blows.
by Jason Del Rey
by Constance Grady
by Rani Molla
by Shirin Ghaffary
by Sara Morrison


vox--2020-12-03--Rudy Giuliani’s bizarre legal strategy, in two clips

“ What ’ d you guys do — take it and do something crazy to it ?
” That ’ s just one of many absurd claims in a clip that has reached more than 13 million views already , where Melissa Carone — one of Rudy Giuliani ’ s star witnesses at a hearing where he asked Michigan legislators to overturn the state ’ s presidential election results — veers from accusation to accusation .
In a testy exchange , Carone accuses Republican state representatives of tampering with state voting records when one official tells her the poll book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The exchange is comically hard to follow , but it ’ s illustrative of the sputtering , slapdash , and conspiracy theory-driven nature of Trumpworld ’ s flailing attempts to discredit and overturn the results of the 2020 election .
Carone ’ s testimony was part of a hearing scheduled on December 1 when Michigan House Oversight Chair Matt Hall ( R ) invited Rudy Giuliani , President Donald Trump ’ s personal lawyer , to “ speak to the committee on election irregularities in Michigan.
” Hall said in his statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency.
” That ’ s not what Michigan got .
According to MLive , the Trump legal team mostly spent their time calling up Michigan Republicans to testify against the election process in Wayne County .
Many of them rehashed baseless claims of voter fraud and misconduct “ made at a Senate Oversight Committee hearing Tuesday and in affidavits included in various legal challenges to the election results ... none of those challenges have been successful in court.
” This hearing came two days after Attorney General Bill Barr told the Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud could have altered the result of the 2020 presidential election .
Michigan Republicans did not allow testimony under oath , restricted Democrats from calling witnesses , and prohibited cross-examination , leading Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to call the hearings a “ state sponsored disinformation campaign geared toward undermining our electoral system.
” Carone ’ s testimony was , if not emblematic , at least fairly in step with the rest of the hearing .
Her testimony went too far for even Giuliani , who at one point leaned over , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after she laughed derisively at a request to stop interrupting the official asking her to clarify her claims of fraud .
It ’ s unclear what Giuliani expected — Carone ’ s accusations had been aired on Fox when she was interviewed on November 11 .
In the interview with Lou Dobbs , she insinuated that vans providing food to poll workers were in fact carrying illegitimate votes instead .
Days later , a Wayne County judge stated that these allegations “ simply are not credible , ” according to reporting by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then voter suppression attempts — the Michigan hearings followed a well-trodden path Multiple witnesses focused their criticisms on Detroit , a city that is 79 percent Black and that Giuliani referred to as “ corrupt , ” saying “ don ’ t scratch your head about what happens in Detroit .
They steal elections in Detroit.
” MLive reported that Detroit activists have been alarmed by the Trump campaign ’ s claims of voter fraud in their city .
Activist Branden Snyder told MLive that it “ reeks of racism ... that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t count their own votes.
” Nessel echoed these claims , saying “ the themes we see , that persist here , are this : Black people are corrupt , Black people are incompetent , and Black people can ’ t be trusted.
” At Wednesday ’ s hearing , one Michigan woman used racist language to argue in favor of instituting a voter ID requirement .
Accusations of voter fraud are inextricable from the long history of restricting the right of people of color to vote .
A January brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains : Of course , Michigan does have a voter ID requirement .
You have to present a valid form of identification or sign an affidavit .
In the November 2016 election , only around 18,000 people opted to sign an affidavit instead of providing identification , according to Bridge Michigan , a nonpartisan , nonprofit news source .
President-elect Joe Biden received over 150,000 more votes than Trump in the state .
One Republican official ’ s reaction to the hearing pretty much sums it up — state Rep. Aaron Miller castigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He made wild and broad partisan insults for several minutes that had nothing to do with the election , and it was frankly unacceptable , shameful , and pathetic and distracts from any evidence that we might hear .
I ’ m utterly embarrassed .
”

“What’d you guys do — take it and do something crazy to it?”
That’s just one of many absurd claims in a clip that has reached more than 13 million views already, where Melissa Carone — one of Rudy Giuliani’s star witnesses at a hearing where he asked Michigan legislators to overturn the state’s presidential election results — veers from accusation to accusation. In a testy exchange, Carone accuses Republican state representatives of tampering with state voting records when one official tells her the poll book is not off by 30,000 votes.
The exchange is comically hard to follow, but it’s illustrative of the sputtering, slapdash, and conspiracy theory-driven nature of Trumpworld’s flailing attempts to discredit and overturn the results of the 2020 election.
This is like pretty much the trumpiest thing I’ve ever seen
pic.twitter.com/2NgXi3vVvB — Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) December 3, 2020
Carone’s testimony was part of a hearing scheduled on December 1 when Michigan House Oversight Chair Matt Hall (R) invited Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, to “speak to the committee on election irregularities in Michigan.” Hall said in his statement that he was hoping for “clarity and transparency.”
That’s not what Michigan got.
According to MLive, the Trump legal team mostly spent their time calling up Michigan Republicans to testify against the election process in Wayne County. Many of them rehashed baseless claims of voter fraud and misconduct “made at a Senate Oversight Committee hearing Tuesday and in affidavits included in various legal challenges to the election results ... none of those challenges have been successful in court.”
This hearing came two days after Attorney General Bill Barr told the Associated Press that there was no proof that widespread voter fraud could have altered the result of the 2020 presidential election.
Michigan Republicans did not allow testimony under oath, restricted Democrats from calling witnesses, and prohibited cross-examination, leading Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to call the hearings a “state sponsored disinformation campaign geared toward undermining our electoral system.”
Carone’s testimony was, if not emblematic, at least fairly in step with the rest of the hearing. Her testimony went too far for even Giuliani, who at one point leaned over, seemingly to try to restrain his witness after she laughed derisively at a request to stop interrupting the official asking her to clarify her claims of fraud. It’s unclear what Giuliani expected — Carone’s accusations had been aired on Fox when she was interviewed on November 11. In the interview with Lou Dobbs, she insinuated that vans providing food to poll workers were in fact carrying illegitimate votes instead.
Days later, a Wayne County judge stated that these allegations “simply are not credible,” according to reporting by the Washington Post.
First voter fraud claims, then voter suppression attempts — the Michigan hearings followed a well-trodden path
Multiple witnesses focused their criticisms on Detroit, a city that is 79 percent Black and that Giuliani referred to as “corrupt,” saying “don’t scratch your head about what happens in Detroit. They steal elections in Detroit.”
MLive reported that Detroit activists have been alarmed by the Trump campaign’s claims of voter fraud in their city. Activist Branden Snyder told MLive that it “reeks of racism ... that Black folks and in a majority-Black city can’t count their own votes.” Nessel echoed these claims, saying “the themes we see, that persist here, are this: Black people are corrupt, Black people are incompetent, and Black people can’t be trusted.”
At Wednesday’s hearing, one Michigan woman used racist language to argue in favor of instituting a voter ID requirement.
“I think Chinese all look alike. How can you tell? If some Chow shows up, you can be anybody and you can vote.” -one of Rudy Giuliani’s witnesses yesterday insisting there must have been voter fraud in Michigan
Yes, it’s an actual quote.pic.twitter.com/nsM0Hc2LE7 — Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) December 3, 2020
Accusations of voter fraud are inextricable from the long history of restricting the right of people of color to vote. A January brief published by the Brennan Center for Justice explains:
Like their Jim Crow predecessors, strict voter ID laws are often defended by reference to a racially neutral need to defend the ‘integrity’ of elections...but study after study has shown that voter impersonation fraud is vanishingly rare. Many also claim that these laws impose little burden because everyone has the requisite ID — but the reality is that millions of Americans don’t, and they are disproportionately people of color.
Of course, Michigan does have a voter ID requirement. You have to present a valid form of identification or sign an affidavit. In the November 2016 election, only around 18,000 people opted to sign an affidavit instead of providing identification, according to Bridge Michigan, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. President-elect Joe Biden received over 150,000 more votes than Trump in the state.
One Republican official’s reaction to the hearing pretty much sums it up — state Rep. Aaron Miller castigated Giuliani, telling the Detroit News: “He made wild and broad partisan insults for several minutes that had nothing to do with the election, and it was frankly unacceptable, shameful, and pathetic and distracts from any evidence that we might hear. I’m utterly embarrassed.”


vox--2020-12-03--What one of Amazon’s biggest critics thinks the future of the retail industry means for workers

Share All sharing options for : What one of Amazon ’ s biggest critics thinks the future of the retail industry means for workers As major department stores across the US have shut their doors or teetered closer to bankruptcy , the hundreds of thousands of workers employed by these chains have also suffered .
Many have lost their jobs or seen their hours drastically reduced .
At the same time that department stores have slashed positions , the e-commerce industry has exploded in growth .
That ’ s made up for some of these job losses in retail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are other replacements : discount stores , for example , are one .
Some big-box retailers like Walmart are also growing their workforces , particularly during the pandemic . )
But new jobs at cutting-edge e-commerce retailers haven ’ t always translated into a better life for the growing class of workers who are no longer working cash registers or stocking department store shelves .
In particular , Amazon — the e-commerce industry leader that now , after Walmart , is the nation ’ s second-largest employer with more than 1 million employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety standards and working conditions .
Some employees have complained that work at the company can be grueling and enforced with an impersonal management style .
At the same time , Amazon pays its workers a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour — which is higher than many comparable entry-level positions in retail , whether you ’ re looking at department stores like Macy ’ s or big-box retailers like Walmart .
( Walmart ’ s starting hourly wage is $ 11 for retail positions , although it is testing a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores ; Target only recently increased its minimum wage from $ 13 to $ 15 an hour ; and Macy ’ s average wage for a sales associate is around $ 11 an hour , according to self-reported salaries on Glassdoor .
Beyond that , many Amazon workers say the company can offer a more promising career path for high achievers .
So , overall , what does the shift toward e-commerce in retail mean for the thousands of Americans who are now finding work fulfilling and delivering online orders ?
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who became a leader of the e-commerce labor rights movement after Amazon fired him during the pandemic this spring , there are significant trade-offs .
While Smalls never worked at a department store , he started his career in brick-and-mortar retail at Walmart and Target .
When he compares the two types of labor , he acknowledges that working at Amazon can offer advantages — but these upsides come at a different cost : namely , he said , the stress of constantly trying to hit rates for the number of packages sorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon defends its use of rates and performance metrics as a way to measure employees ’ ability to do their jobs .
“ Like most companies , we have performance expectations for every Amazonian — whether they work in a corporate office or a fulfillment center — and we measure actual performance against those expectations , ” said a spokesperson for Amazon in a statement responding to criticism that its performance rates are too demanding .
“ Expectations for fulfillment center employees are evaluated over a long period of time because we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone ’ s work in any given day or hour .
We want our team to succeed , so if someone isn ’ t able to meet expectations at first , we support them with dedicated coaching to help them improve.
” Here are insights from Smalls into what the changing future of retail means for the people whose livelihoods depend on the industry .
His comments have been edited for length and clarity .
On joining Amazon and what it was like working there The funny thing is , I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By that time , I had a full-blown family — three kids — to take care of .
And I did see that they paid pretty well .
And they offered good benefits — health insurance and vacation time , things that you would want to see as an employee .
It wasn ’ t hard working at Amazon , the job was pretty easy .
But I had to get adjusted to the long hours .
The 10-hour shifts were a struggle .
And mentally and physically being prepared for the job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In retail , the work is nowhere near as intense .
Of course you have to do your job in a timely manner .
But it ’ s not micromanaged .
At Amazon it ’ s outrageous — it ’ s timed to the second .
When you are clocked in , you have seven seconds to pick an item .
Imagine being under that scrutiny 10 hours a day .
[ Editor ’ s note : A spokesperson for Amazon said that when Amazon workers log in , they are given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the seven-second countdown is not a quota . ]
In retail , you move at the pace of customers .
But Amazon moves at its own pace .
The entire thing ran off metrics .
They know what they want you to hit before you even clock in .
In our pre-meetings , they give us a plan for our entire day .
If you don ’ t meet that quota , they ’ re gon na get you out of there .
Even in my position as a supervisor at Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your team .
If your team looks weak , it doesn ’ t help you when you go up for your promotion On how working at Amazon compared to past jobs in retail Working at Amazon was more family-oriented .
Your coworkers became your best friends .
You spend 40 , 50 , 60 hours a week with these people .
You see them four or five days out the week , you start to get familiar .
It was good to have an environment where everybody was looking out for everybody ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart , where you ’ re on your own .
Your individual work ethic will get you recognized .
Compared to Amazon [ where ] it ’ s a lot of team recognition .
Your whole department gets rewarded for doing a good job .
It wasn ’ t just one person .
So it was good to see that I was being recognized for doing hard work , often .
At Target or Walmart , you ’ re not lifting heavy items all day long .
You ’ re pretty much trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you check them out in a timely manner .
But Amazon is more physical , you ’ re doing calisthenics .
So that was the biggest obstacle — trying to adjust to it .
[ Editor ’ s note : A spokesperson for Walmart said the company has invested more than $ 5 billion over the past five years for training , education , and higher pay for its store workers , and that the company is testing out a new program to make its retail staff more team-oriented .
Target shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We provide store team members with a minimum starting hourly wage of $ 15 in addition to competitive benefits , merchandise and wellness discounts , flexible schedules , and hands-on training so they can build their skills to grow professionally .
We regularly survey our team members , find that our team member engagement is well above the retail industry average , and encourage team members to have open dialogue with their leaders if they have concerns.
” ] At Target , Black Friday was like a mad rush .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any employee working that day because you ’ re dealing with a massive amount of customers — compared to Amazon , where you ’ re in the warehouse , you don ’ t deal with the customers .
But when you ’ re on the spot , that is a tough position to be in , when you ’ re trying to deal with hundreds of thousands of people that are coming in .
There ’ s so many people .
It ’ s just you and maybe a coworker , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there to help you .
Even as a cashier , you got a massive line .
And your job is to make sure you ’ re doing it as efficiently as possible , but you can ’ t make mistakes on people ’ s orders as well .
You can ’ t ring up the wrong amount .
So you still have to be careful .
But at the same time , you ’ ve got a line of 50 people looking at you like , “ what ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” At Amazon , they just kill you with the mandatory overtime .
Like I said , it ’ s the physicality of it .
Your days are longer — it ’ s 10-hour shifts and sometimes even 12-hour shifts throughout the holiday season .
What Amazon does right : Rewarding hard work At Target , I wasn ’ t recognized for hard work often at all , pretty much it was like I didn ’ t really exist .
That ’ s how I felt from time to time .
As far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognition really for doing a good job for the day .
It ’ s just like , “ Oh , thank you , see you next day coming in.
” At Amazon , you get recognized for doing a good job either by yourself or as a collective for your department .
They ’ ll say , “ Today — everybody gets rewarded.
” They ’ ll hand out a pizza party , or they ’ ll do a Thanksgiving meal , or do a “ clock in to win ” where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prize like a PS4 , Xbox , Echoes , or an Amazon gift card if you show up to work on time .
On unions , and why not all union jobs are good jobs You know , when we talk about unions nowadays , we only talk about the real big trade unions .
You don ’ t talk about the small unions anymore .
That ’ s why unions have a bad rep. And that ’ s what Amazon uses itself .
Like , “ We [ Amazon employees ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we offer the same amount of protection.
” No , they don ’ t .
They do similar things as a union .
But there ’ s no protection for workers .
That ’ s how they fired me as well .
So we do need , if not a union , we still need some type of contract that protects us workers .
So that ’ s what I ’ m working for .
On why Amazon paying slightly more than competitors isn ’ t enough I hate when Amazon says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are compared to a competitor.
” It makes me cringe every time because it ’ s like , “ Yeah , we know.
” It ’ s not all about money .
It ’ s about the treatment .
And , yes , money [ would ] play a factor , if Amazon paid , like , $ 35 an hour .
So they ’ re doing a slightly better job [ than competitors ] .
This is something that you should be doing , and you could still do better .
Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Editor ’ s note : It ’ s estimated that Bezos increased his wealth by around $ 90 billion from March through October . ]
You can ’ t give your workers two dollars more ?
I don ’ t understand that .

Share All sharing options for: What one of Amazon’s biggest critics thinks the future of the retail industry means for workers
As major department stores across the US have shut their doors or teetered closer to bankruptcy, the hundreds of thousands of workers employed by these chains have also suffered. Many have lost their jobs or seen their hours drastically reduced.
At the same time that department stores have slashed positions, the e-commerce industry has exploded in growth. That’s made up for some of these job losses in retail, in a comparable industry. (There are other replacements: discount stores, for example, are one. Some big-box retailers like Walmart are also growing their workforces, particularly during the pandemic.)
But new jobs at cutting-edge e-commerce retailers haven’t always translated into a better life for the growing class of workers who are no longer working cash registers or stocking department store shelves. In particular, Amazon — the e-commerce industry leader that now, after Walmart, is the nation’s second-largest employer with more than 1 million employees — has come under scrutiny for its safety standards and working conditions. Some employees have complained that work at the company can be grueling and enforced with an impersonal management style.
At the same time, Amazon pays its workers a minimum wage of $15 an hour — which is higher than many comparable entry-level positions in retail, whether you’re looking at department stores like Macy’s or big-box retailers like Walmart. (Walmart’s starting hourly wage is $11 for retail positions, although it is testing a $12 per hour starting wage in some stores; Target only recently increased its minimum wage from $13 to $15 an hour; and Macy’s average wage for a sales associate is around $11 an hour, according to self-reported salaries on Glassdoor. Beyond that, many Amazon workers say the company can offer a more promising career path for high achievers.
What happened to department stores? The fates of the American middle class and American department stores have always been intertwined.
So, overall, what does the shift toward e-commerce in retail mean for the thousands of Americans who are now finding work fulfilling and delivering online orders? According to Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee who became a leader of the e-commerce labor rights movement after Amazon fired him during the pandemic this spring, there are significant trade-offs. While Smalls never worked at a department store, he started his career in brick-and-mortar retail at Walmart and Target. When he compares the two types of labor, he acknowledges that working at Amazon can offer advantages — but these upsides come at a different cost: namely, he said, the stress of constantly trying to hit rates for the number of packages sorted in a given period of time.
Amazon defends its use of rates and performance metrics as a way to measure employees’ ability to do their jobs.
“Like most companies, we have performance expectations for every Amazonian — whether they work in a corporate office or a fulfillment center — and we measure actual performance against those expectations,” said a spokesperson for Amazon in a statement responding to criticism that its performance rates are too demanding. “Expectations for fulfillment center employees are evaluated over a long period of time because we know that a variety of things could impact someone’s work in any given day or hour. We want our team to succeed, so if someone isn’t able to meet expectations at first, we support them with dedicated coaching to help them improve.”
Here are insights from Smalls into what the changing future of retail means for the people whose livelihoods depend on the industry. His comments have been edited for length and clarity.
On joining Amazon and what it was like working there
The funny thing is, I didn’t know anything about the company. By that time, I had a full-blown family — three kids — to take care of. And I did see that they paid pretty well. And they offered good benefits — health insurance and vacation time, things that you would want to see as an employee.
It wasn’t hard working at Amazon, the job was pretty easy. But I had to get adjusted to the long hours. The 10-hour shifts were a struggle. And mentally and physically being prepared for the job every day, that was a struggle.
In retail, the work is nowhere near as intense. Of course you have to do your job in a timely manner. But it’s not micromanaged.
At Amazon it’s outrageous — it’s timed to the second. When you are clocked in, you have seven seconds to pick an item. Imagine being under that scrutiny 10 hours a day. [Editor’s note: A spokesperson for Amazon said that when Amazon workers log in, they are given a countdown before they start working and that the seven-second countdown is not a quota.]
In retail, you move at the pace of customers. But Amazon moves at its own pace. The entire thing ran off metrics. They know what they want you to hit before you even clock in. In our pre-meetings, they give us a plan for our entire day.
If you don’t meet that quota, they’re gonna get you out of there.
Even in my position as a supervisor at Amazon, you were only as good as your team. If your team looks weak, it doesn’t help you when you go up for your promotion
On how working at Amazon compared to past jobs in retail
Working at Amazon was more family-oriented. Your coworkers became your best friends. You spend 40, 50, 60 hours a week with these people. You see them four or five days out the week, you start to get familiar. It was good to have an environment where everybody was looking out for everybody’s best interests compared to Target or Walmart, where you’re on your own. Your individual work ethic will get you recognized. Compared to Amazon [where] it’s a lot of team recognition. Your whole department gets rewarded for doing a good job. It wasn’t just one person. So it was good to see that I was being recognized for doing hard work, often.
At Target or Walmart, you’re not lifting heavy items all day long. You’re pretty much trying to deal with customers and make sure that you check them out in a timely manner.
But Amazon is more physical, you’re doing calisthenics. So that was the biggest obstacle — trying to adjust to it.
[Editor’s note: A spokesperson for Walmart said the company has invested more than $5 billion over the past five years for training, education, and higher pay for its store workers, and that the company is testing out a new program to make its retail staff more team-oriented. Target shared the following statement about its working conditions: “We provide store team members with a minimum starting hourly wage of $15 in addition to competitive benefits, merchandise and wellness discounts, flexible schedules, and hands-on training so they can build their skills to grow professionally. We regularly survey our team members, find that our team member engagement is well above the retail industry average, and encourage team members to have open dialogue with their leaders if they have concerns.”]
On holiday seasons
Holiday seasons are tough at retail companies.
At Target, Black Friday was like a mad rush. It definitely can be an overwhelming day for any employee working that day because you’re dealing with a massive amount of customers — compared to Amazon, where you’re in the warehouse, you don’t deal with the customers. But when you’re on the spot, that is a tough position to be in, when you’re trying to deal with hundreds of thousands of people that are coming in.
There’s so many people. It’s just you and maybe a coworker, if you’re lucky to have somebody else out there to help you. Even as a cashier, you got a massive line. And your job is to make sure you’re doing it as efficiently as possible, but you can’t make mistakes on people’s orders as well. You can’t ring up the wrong amount. So you still have to be careful. But at the same time, you’ve got a line of 50 people looking at you like, “what’s going on; what’s the hold-up?”
At Amazon, they just kill you with the mandatory overtime. Like I said, it’s the physicality of it.
Your days are longer — it’s 10-hour shifts and sometimes even 12-hour shifts throughout the holiday season.
What Amazon does right: Rewarding hard work
At Target, I wasn’t recognized for hard work often at all, pretty much it was like I didn’t really exist. That’s how I felt from time to time.
As far as I remember, there was no recognition really for doing a good job for the day. It’s just like, “Oh, thank you, see you next day coming in.”
At Amazon, you get recognized for doing a good job either by yourself or as a collective for your department.
They’ll say, “Today — everybody gets rewarded.” They’ll hand out a pizza party, or they’ll do a Thanksgiving meal, or do a “clock in to win” where they put your name in a drawing for a prize like a PS4, Xbox, Echoes, or an Amazon gift card if you show up to work on time.
On unions, and why not all union jobs are good jobs
You know, when we talk about unions nowadays, we only talk about the real big trade unions. You don’t talk about the small unions anymore. That’s why unions have a bad rep. And that’s what Amazon uses itself. Like, “We [Amazon employees] don’t need a union because we offer the same amount of protection.”
No, they don’t. They do similar things as a union. But there’s no protection for workers. That’s how they fired me as well.
So we do need, if not a union, we still need some type of contract that protects us workers. So that’s what I’m working for.
On why Amazon paying slightly more than competitors isn’t enough
I hate when Amazon says, “Oh, look how good we are compared to a competitor.”
It makes me cringe every time because it’s like, “Yeah, we know.”
It’s not all about money. It’s about the treatment. And, yes, money [would] play a factor, if Amazon paid, like, $35 an hour.
So they’re doing a slightly better job [than competitors]. This is something that you should be doing, and you could still do better. Jeff Bezos made $88 billion. [Editor’s note: It’s estimated that Bezos increased his wealth by around $90 billion from March through October.] You can’t give your workers two dollars more? I don’t understand that.