vox--2020-05-16--The fake “Obamagate” scandal shows how Trump hacks the media

We ’ ve been introduced to a new conspiracy theory this week : “ Obamagate.
” There ’ s no point in unpacking this theory here because it ’ s bullshit and everyone knows it .
( If you need an explainer , my Vox colleague Jen Kirby has you covered . )
But for the sake of a reference point , here ’ s the simplest version possible : “ Deep state ” holdovers from the Obama administration allegedly spearheaded the prosecution of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn as part of a broader scheme to undermine the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to offer any more details because , again , this is a bullshit story .
( Trump , despite promoting it endlessly , couldn ’ t even explain it when asked by a reporter . )
The important thing here is not that this theory is false .
The important thing is that we ’ re talking about it at all , and we ’ re only talking about it because the president wants us to talk about it .
Talking about this non-story means we ’ re talking less about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died so far from the coronavirus or the impending recession .
Watching the media pounce on this story like greyhounds chasing mechanical rabbits has been painful , but also deeply familiar .
It ’ s a pattern we ’ ve seen unfold countless times .
The president unleashes a tweetstorm , millions of people retweet it , right-wing media boosts the signal , and then mainstream media outlets cover it , often breathlessly .
Consider this Axios tweet stating that “ Biden ’ s presence on the list could turn it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document itself does not show any evidence of wrongdoing.
” But Biden ’ s name on a document is only an election issue if the press treats it like one .
And if the “ document itself does not show any evidence of wrongdoing , ” why the hell are we talking about it ?
Again , we ’ re talking about it because Trump talked about it and now it ’ s a legitimized “ story.
” This is the latest example of zone-flooding , a phenomenon I described at length back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articulated ( in America , at least ) by Steve Bannon , the former head of Breitbart News and chief strategist for Donald Trump , who in 2018 reportedly said : “ The Democrats don ’ t matter .
The real opposition is the media .
And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.
” This is a new form of propaganda tailored to the digital age and it works not by creating a consensus around any particular narrative but by muddying the waters so that consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all the more difficult because even the most scrupulous , well-intentioned coverage can easily fall into the trap of flooding the zone .
My concern in February was that zone-flooding had created a media environment in which the facts of Trump ’ s impeachment trial would be utterly meaningless .
No matter how the trial played out , no matter what was uncovered , no single version of the truth would be accepted .
And that , sadly , is how it played out .
With Obamagate , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zone , in which it ’ s increasingly obvious that Trump ’ s strategy will be to keep throwing into the media ecosystem stories designed to divert attention away from his record .
The goal of zone-flooding is simple : introduce bullshit stories into the information bloodstream , sit back while the media feverishly covers them ( from all sides ) , and then exploit the chaos that results from the subsequent fog of disinformation .
It ’ s an approach that thrives on conventional journalistic norms around objectivity and fairness .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sharp observer of this process , explained it well in a recent piece .
His point , like mine , is that reporting on deliberately misleading stories in ostensibly objective ways serves only to reward the bad-faith actors spreading the nonsense in the first place .
The AP , for example , ran an article with the headline : “ Flynn case boosts Trump ’ s bid to undo Russia probe narrative.
” The word “ boosts ” appears neutral , but it isn ’ t .
The Flynn case is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything .
But saying it does , even in such an impartial fashion , is self-fulfilling .
At the very least , it cements the impression that there ’ s something here when , in fact , there isn ’ t .
This is a subtle but instructive example .
As with Axios , there ’ s an air of objectivity .
But here , as elsewhere , the act of communicating the “ information ” has the effect of normalizing it .
To cover something is always to dignify it , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the end , all it does is propel a false conversation on false terms to the great delight of the purveyors of the misinformation .
Thus , the zone is flooded with shit .
The press , admittedly , has a difficult job to do , especially in this information landscape .
But that ’ s the thing : The landscape has changed .
The digital media ecosystem overwhelms people with information .
Some of that information is true , some of it is false , and much of it is deliberately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story , every batshit claim , is a fool ’ s errand .
The end result of so much noise is what I ’ ve called “ manufactured nihilism , ” a situation in which people are so skeptical about the possibility of truth that they give up the search .
And the zone-flooders , like Trump , maintain an enormous advantage because they ’ re not seeking to persuade anyone of anything .
They don ’ t even need to have a strong case — Obamagate is so obviously flimsy .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relentless enough to spread an obviously flimsy non-story .
And they just have to introduce enough doubt to ensure that people won ’ t mobilize around a coherent narrative .
In a world with weakened gatekeepers , where no one can control the flow of information , this is remarkably effective .
Here ’ s how I distilled it in February : So now we find ourselves engaged in an endless game of whack-a-mole , debunking and explaining one false claim after another .
And false claims , if they ’ re repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often they ’ re shared , something psychologists have called the “ illusory truth ” effect .
The media , then , is caught in a loop .
Trump — or one of his supporters — says something we all know is absurd and false .
The rest of the right-wing media and members of the GOP establishment add to the cacophony .
And then we dignify the absurdity with coverage that treats it as worthy of rebuke .
And in the process , we amplify the false narrative we ’ re debunking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more shit .
That leaves people confused and exhausted , unable to discern fact from fiction and inclined to disengage altogether or , even worse , retreat further into partisan bubbles .
The press has always sought to conquer lies by exposing them .
But that doesn ’ t work anymore .
There is too much misinformation , too many claims to refute , too many competing narratives .
And because the decision to cover something is almost always a decision to amplify it , the root problem is our very concept of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what doesn ’ t .
We still haven ’ t fully reckoned with the 2016 election and the incessant coverage of Hillary Clinton ’ s emails .
That was another bullshit story elevated by journalists who felt it was their duty to “ objectively ” report it .
That impulse for fairness and proportionality might have tipped the election — in any case , it was hugely consequential .
And the whole saga demonstrates how even the attempt to disprove a false or exaggerated claim can contribute to zone-flooding .
My critique , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is of journalism , not journalists .
Most reporters are doing their best to cover the news as it unfolds in real time , and they ’ re doing it the way it ’ s always been done .
The problem is that the old model of journalism — often called “ the view from nowhere ” approach — has been hacked , and we simply haven ’ t adapted to it .
Obamagate is another example of this systemic failure .
Here we have — and I can ’ t say this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no “ there ” there .
It ’ s pure misinformation .
But we ’ re still talking about it .
And I ’ m writing this piece about it .
This is a massive problem .
Even though I ’ m trying to point up a flaw in our system , I ’ m still somehow participating in the mess I ’ m hoping to clean up .
This is the paradox we ’ re all up against .
The diagnosis is always easier than the cure , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prevailing norms of journalism and the political economy of media are driving these dynamics .
But we should see Obamagate for what it is : Trump ’ s reelection strategy for November and the latest test of our hackable media system .
And if the past few days are any indication , we ’ re screwed .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

We’ve been introduced to a new conspiracy theory this week: “Obamagate.”
There’s no point in unpacking this theory here because it’s bullshit and everyone knows it. (If you need an explainer, my Vox colleague Jen Kirby has you covered.) But for the sake of a reference point, here’s the simplest version possible: “Deep state” holdovers from the Obama administration allegedly spearheaded the prosecution of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn as part of a broader scheme to undermine the Trump presidency.
I really don’t want to offer any more details because, again, this is a bullshit story. (Trump, despite promoting it endlessly, couldn’t even explain it when asked by a reporter.)
The important thing here is not that this theory is false. The important thing is that we’re talking about it at all, and we’re only talking about it because the president wants us to talk about it. Talking about this non-story means we’re talking less about, say, the nearly 85,000 Americans who have died so far from the coronavirus or the impending recession.
Because it was OBAMAGATE, and he and Sleepy Joe led the charge. The most corrupt administration in U.S. history! https://t.co/PTzFvvITh3 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2020
Watching the media pounce on this story like greyhounds chasing mechanical rabbits has been painful, but also deeply familiar. It’s a pattern we’ve seen unfold countless times. The president unleashes a tweetstorm, millions of people retweet it, right-wing media boosts the signal, and then mainstream media outlets cover it, often breathlessly.
Consider this Axios tweet stating that “Biden’s presence on the list could turn it into an election year issue, though the document itself does not show any evidence of wrongdoing.” But Biden’s name on a document is only an election issue if the press treats it like one. And if the “document itself does not show any evidence of wrongdoing,” why the hell are we talking about it? Again, we’re talking about it because Trump talked about it and now it’s a legitimized “story.”
This is the latest example of zone-flooding, a phenomenon I described at length back in February. The strategy was best articulated (in America, at least) by Steve Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News and chief strategist for Donald Trump, who in 2018 reportedly said: “The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.”
This is a new form of propaganda tailored to the digital age and it works not by creating a consensus around any particular narrative but by muddying the waters so that consensus isn’t possible. And it’s all the more difficult because even the most scrupulous, well-intentioned coverage can easily fall into the trap of flooding the zone.
My concern in February was that zone-flooding had created a media environment in which the facts of Trump’s impeachment trial would be utterly meaningless. No matter how the trial played out, no matter what was uncovered, no single version of the truth would be accepted. And that, sadly, is how it played out.
With Obamagate, we’re entering a new cycle of flooding the zone, in which it’s increasingly obvious that Trump’s strategy will be to keep throwing into the media ecosystem stories designed to divert attention away from his record.
Obamagate proves the media hasn’t adapted
The goal of zone-flooding is simple: introduce bullshit stories into the information bloodstream, sit back while the media feverishly covers them (from all sides), and then exploit the chaos that results from the subsequent fog of disinformation.
It’s an approach that thrives on conventional journalistic norms around objectivity and fairness. The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent, a sharp observer of this process, explained it well in a recent piece. His point, like mine, is that reporting on deliberately misleading stories in ostensibly objective ways serves only to reward the bad-faith actors spreading the nonsense in the first place.
The AP, for example, ran an article with the headline: “Flynn case boosts Trump’s bid to undo Russia probe narrative.” The word “boosts” appears neutral, but it isn’t. The Flynn case is a nothingburger and doesn’t inherently boost anything. But saying it does, even in such an impartial fashion, is self-fulfilling. At the very least, it cements the impression that there’s something here when, in fact, there isn’t.
This is a subtle but instructive example. As with Axios, there’s an air of objectivity. But here, as elsewhere, the act of communicating the “information” has the effect of normalizing it. To cover something is always to dignify it, to deem it worthy of rebuttal. And in the end, all it does is propel a false conversation on false terms to the great delight of the purveyors of the misinformation.
Thus, the zone is flooded with shit.
The press, admittedly, has a difficult job to do, especially in this information landscape. But that’s the thing: The landscape has changed. The digital media ecosystem overwhelms people with information. Some of that information is true, some of it is false, and much of it is deliberately diversionary. Trying to cover every crazy story, every batshit claim, is a fool’s errand. The end result of so much noise is what I’ve called “manufactured nihilism,” a situation in which people are so skeptical about the possibility of truth that they give up the search.
And the zone-flooders, like Trump, maintain an enormous advantage because they’re not seeking to persuade anyone of anything. They don’t even need to have a strong case — Obamagate is so obviously flimsy. They just need to be shameless enough and relentless enough to spread an obviously flimsy non-story. And they just have to introduce enough doubt to ensure that people won’t mobilize around a coherent narrative.
In a world with weakened gatekeepers, where no one can control the flow of information, this is remarkably effective. Here’s how I distilled it in February:
The role of “gatekeeping” institutions has also changed significantly. Before the internet and social media, most people got their news from a handful of newspapers and TV networks. These institutions functioned like referees, calling out lies, fact-checking claims, and so on. And they had the ability to control the flow of information and set the terms of the conversation. Today, gatekeepers still matter in terms of setting a baseline for political knowledge, but there’s much more competition for clicks and audiences, and that alters the incentives for what’s declared newsworthy in the first place. At the same time, traditional media outlets remain committed to a set of norms that are ill adapted to the modern environment.
So now we find ourselves engaged in an endless game of whack-a-mole, debunking and explaining one false claim after another. And false claims, if they’re repeated enough, become more plausible the more often they’re shared, something psychologists have called the “illusory truth” effect.
The media, then, is caught in a loop. Trump — or one of his supporters — says something we all know is absurd and false. The rest of the right-wing media and members of the GOP establishment add to the cacophony. And then we dignify the absurdity with coverage that treats it as worthy of rebuke. And in the process, we amplify the false narrative we’re debunking and flood the zone with more and more shit. That leaves people confused and exhausted, unable to discern fact from fiction and inclined to disengage altogether or, even worse, retreat further into partisan bubbles.
The press has always sought to conquer lies by exposing them. But that doesn’t work anymore. There is too much misinformation, too many claims to refute, too many competing narratives. And because the decision to cover something is almost always a decision to amplify it, the root problem is our very concept of “news” — what counts and what doesn’t.
We still haven’t fully reckoned with the 2016 election and the incessant coverage of Hillary Clinton’s emails. That was another bullshit story elevated by journalists who felt it was their duty to “objectively” report it. That impulse for fairness and proportionality might have tipped the election — in any case, it was hugely consequential. And the whole saga demonstrates how even the attempt to disprove a false or exaggerated claim can contribute to zone-flooding.
My critique, to be as clear as possible, is of journalism, not journalists. Most reporters are doing their best to cover the news as it unfolds in real time, and they’re doing it the way it’s always been done. The problem is that the old model of journalism — often called “the view from nowhere” approach — has been hacked, and we simply haven’t adapted to it.
Obamagate is another example of this systemic failure. Here we have — and I can’t say this enough — a complete non-scandal. There’s no “there” there. It’s pure misinformation. But we’re still talking about it. And I’m writing this piece about it. This is a massive problem. Even though I’m trying to point up a flaw in our system, I’m still somehow participating in the mess I’m hoping to clean up. This is the paradox we’re all up against.
The diagnosis is always easier than the cure, and I don’t have any solutions. The prevailing norms of journalism and the political economy of media are driving these dynamics. But we should see Obamagate for what it is: Trump’s reelection strategy for November and the latest test of our hackable media system.
And if the past few days are any indication, we’re screwed.


vox--2020-05-16--What it’s like to interpret for coronavirus patients remotely

Health care interpreter Helen Sweeney is used to acting as a phone-based go-between for doctors and patients , translating intense discussions about people ’ s medical care into and out of Russian .
Now , many of those conversations are about the novel coronavirus , which has also brought novel challenges to her profession .
Sweeney , who works for the remote interpreting service Certified Languages International , says one recent Covid-19 patient was so burdened by a breathing device that he couldn ’ t speak back in a conversation about the possibility of intubation .
“ We just kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up or thumbs down for ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no.
’ And we just simplified the communication , ” Sweeney told Recode .
Sweeney is one of many interpreters now working remotely to ensure that patients and family members who don ’ t speak English fluently — a significant portion of the US population — can still access vital health care information amid the coronavirus pandemic .
While some interpreters have for years used phone calls and video calls to communicate with patients , others are still adjusting .
CSA Research , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language services industry , found in a recent survey that interpreters who do at least some work in health care saw a 40 percent decline in revenue from on-site interpretation .
Meanwhile , phone-based interpreting has more than doubled , and video-based interpreting has more than tripled , though CSA cautions that the pre-pandemic baseline for remote interpreting was very low .
While many of these interpreters anticipate returning to work at their hospitals and other health care facilities , not all of them will .
Thanks to the rapid transition to telehealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely be needed as long as patients continue to seek medical care online .
Interpreters are at the front lines of the pandemic from afar Remote interpreters have found themselves in the middle of some of the pandemic ’ s most sensitive , stressful , and heartbreaking moments .
They ’ re frequently called upon to share the results of a Covid-19 test , and if it ’ s positive , the interpreter must communicate the next steps , including the rules of social isolation .
Interpreters can be asked to help patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hospital or discussing the scenario of going onto a ventilator .
More rarely , they can be called upon to interpret the news from a doctor that a family member has died of Covid-19 .
But communication can be difficult .
Speaking to patients and doctors over the phone or video chat can make it hard to understand those wearing protective masks or breathing devices .
Interpreters may also lack full awareness of other stressors affecting Covid-19 patients , including the isolation of those who aren ’ t allowed to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , we need to remember every patient does not have the support of a family member next to them , ” Sweeney said .
“ They don ’ t have anybody to bounce off ideas for support , for help with the decision-making in real time.
” The result of this physical and emotional distance can be especially tough for interpreters working through the most difficult moments .
Kristin Quinlan , the CEO of Certified Languages Institute , said one of her company ’ s interpreters , who works with Cantonese-speaking patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wife that he had died of Covid-19 .
The interpreter was struck by the frigidness of the interaction .
“ It was absolutely matter-of-fact , ” Quinlan recalled , “ and the only question they wanted answered is ‘ where do you want the body ?
’ ” In some cases , maintaining a steely exterior is part of the job .
One of the most important norms that medical interpreters must preserve is the relationship between the patient and the health care provider .
“ You don ’ t want the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , outgoing person , ” explains Lynn McDermott , who also works as a remote , medical interpreter .
“ Probably the hardest thing about interpreting in medicine is that you ’ re trying to [ make sure ] the essence of the doctor-patient relationship has to be maintained , even though there is an interpreter.
” This is just as true in the positive moments on the job .
Lourdes Caban , an English-Spanish interpreter who works with New York ’ s Mount Sinai Hospital , says she ’ s now being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerging from sedation after being on a ventilator .
Those conversations can involve checking a patient ’ s mental state when the patient may not know or remember that they had Covid-19 or that they were intubated .
Some discussions involve walking the patient through what recovery will look like , including what it will be like to sit up for the first time .
This also represents a step toward victory in defeating the virus .
“ I hear from the voices of the [ health care ] providers , the care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patients , and how happy they are that they have reached that stage in their recovery , ” says Caban .
“ I feel extremely excited every time I ’ m listening to them.
” Remote interpreting will likely remain popular following the pandemic John Shaklee , a Spanish-English interpreter based in Ohio , said he hadn ’ t worked on any Covid-19-related calls , but the pandemic has impacted him in another way .
While he ’ s also worried about finances , Shaklee ’ s not sure whether it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital goes back to live interpreting , so he may opt to keep working remotely .
He notes that he ’ s in his 60s and that the idea of returning to in-person interpretation in the middle of a pandemic worries his husband .
But there has been some opposition to remote interpretation , says Barry Slaughter Olsen , a professor who teaches interpretation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies .
Many interpreters prefer to work in person , where they can pick up other cues about what a patient or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpretation , he says , can come off as cold , and not all types of interpretation — or health care conversations — should be done remotely .
But there are some advantages , Olsen explains .
It can be quick to call up an interpreter on a phone or video call , if needed , rather than sending the same interpreter back and forth in a large hospital system .
A remote interpreter might be an easier way to get someone who interprets for a less widely spoken language .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s usually any language other than Spanish .
Then again , hospitals and health care facilities might see such on-demand interpreting services as a way to reduce costs , potentially to the displeasure of interpreters .
To some extent , this has already happened .
Some hospitals started to make the switch long before the pandemic hit , and the trend will likely continue .
As Walmart scales up its drive-through Covid-19 testing sites , for example , Certified Languages Institute will offer remote interpreting services to patients who don ’ t feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote interpreting can preserve the most human elements of these often difficult interactions .
Sweeney recalls a call with an older , Russian-speaking woman who was stressed about her health care and had symptoms of Covid-19 .
Later , she ended up being put back on the call with the same woman , who she says remembered her instantly .
“ It ’ s very rarely that you ’ re interpreting for someone in a very dark situation , and then you ’ re able to catch them again , ” said Sweeney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by my face , but by my voice.
” Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network .
All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Health care interpreter Helen Sweeney is used to acting as a phone-based go-between for doctors and patients, translating intense discussions about people’s medical care into and out of Russian.
Now, many of those conversations are about the novel coronavirus, which has also brought novel challenges to her profession. Sweeney, who works for the remote interpreting service Certified Languages International (CLI), says one recent Covid-19 patient was so burdened by a breathing device that he couldn’t speak back in a conversation about the possibility of intubation.
“We just kind of had him do like a thumb up or thumbs down for ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ And we just simplified the communication,” Sweeney told Recode.
Sweeney is one of many interpreters now working remotely to ensure that patients and family members who don’t speak English fluently — a significant portion of the US population — can still access vital health care information amid the coronavirus pandemic. While some interpreters have for years used phone calls and video calls to communicate with patients, others are still adjusting.
CSA Research, a firm that does research on the language services industry, found in a recent survey that interpreters who do at least some work in health care saw a 40 percent decline in revenue from on-site interpretation. Meanwhile, phone-based interpreting has more than doubled, and video-based interpreting has more than tripled, though CSA cautions that the pre-pandemic baseline for remote interpreting was very low.
While many of these interpreters anticipate returning to work at their hospitals and other health care facilities, not all of them will. Thanks to the rapid transition to telehealth during the pandemic, remote interpretation will likely be needed as long as patients continue to seek medical care online.
Interpreters are at the front lines of the pandemic from afar
Remote interpreters have found themselves in the middle of some of the pandemic’s most sensitive, stressful, and heartbreaking moments. They’re frequently called upon to share the results of a Covid-19 test, and if it’s positive, the interpreter must communicate the next steps, including the rules of social isolation. Interpreters can be asked to help patients in tough times, like being admitted to the hospital or discussing the scenario of going onto a ventilator. More rarely, they can be called upon to interpret the news from a doctor that a family member has died of Covid-19.
But communication can be difficult. Speaking to patients and doctors over the phone or video chat can make it hard to understand those wearing protective masks or breathing devices. Interpreters may also lack full awareness of other stressors affecting Covid-19 patients, including the isolation of those who aren’t allowed to see visitors.
“With the visitor policies restrictions, we need to remember every patient does not have the support of a family member next to them,” Sweeney said. “They don’t have anybody to bounce off ideas for support, for help with the decision-making in real time.”
The result of this physical and emotional distance can be especially tough for interpreters working through the most difficult moments. Kristin Quinlan, the CEO of CLI, said one of her company’s interpreters, who works with Cantonese-speaking patients, had to tell a patient’s wife that he had died of Covid-19. The interpreter was struck by the frigidness of the interaction.
“It was absolutely matter-of-fact,” Quinlan recalled, “and the only question they wanted answered is ‘where do you want the body?’”
In some cases, maintaining a steely exterior is part of the job. One of the most important norms that medical interpreters must preserve is the relationship between the patient and the health care provider.
“You don’t want the interpreter to be especially a very gregarious, outgoing person,” explains Lynn McDermott, who also works as a remote, medical interpreter. “Probably the hardest thing about interpreting in medicine is that you’re trying to [make sure] the essence of the doctor-patient relationship has to be maintained, even though there is an interpreter.”
Related 6 things to know about telehealth
This is just as true in the positive moments on the job. Lourdes Caban, an English-Spanish interpreter who works with New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, says she’s now being called in to speak to Covid-19 patients emerging from sedation after being on a ventilator. Those conversations can involve checking a patient’s mental state when the patient may not know or remember that they had Covid-19 or that they were intubated. Some discussions involve walking the patient through what recovery will look like, including what it will be like to sit up for the first time. This also represents a step toward victory in defeating the virus.
“I hear from the voices of the [health care] providers, the care and the love that they feel for the patients, and how happy they are that they have reached that stage in their recovery,” says Caban. “I feel extremely excited every time I’m listening to them.”
Remote interpreting will likely remain popular following the pandemic
John Shaklee, a Spanish-English interpreter based in Ohio, said he hadn’t worked on any Covid-19-related calls, but the pandemic has impacted him in another way. While he’s also worried about finances, Shaklee’s not sure whether it’s safe to return to work when the hospital goes back to live interpreting, so he may opt to keep working remotely. He notes that he’s in his 60s and that the idea of returning to in-person interpretation in the middle of a pandemic worries his husband.
But there has been some opposition to remote interpretation, says Barry Slaughter Olsen, a professor who teaches interpretation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Many interpreters prefer to work in person, where they can pick up other cues about what a patient or health care worker is communicating. Remote interpretation, he says, can come off as cold, and not all types of interpretation — or health care conversations — should be done remotely.
But there are some advantages, Olsen explains. It can be quick to call up an interpreter on a phone or video call, if needed, rather than sending the same interpreter back and forth in a large hospital system. A remote interpreter might be an easier way to get someone who interprets for a less widely spoken language. In the US, he says, that’s usually any language other than Spanish.
Then again, hospitals and health care facilities might see such on-demand interpreting services as a way to reduce costs, potentially to the displeasure of interpreters. To some extent, this has already happened. Some hospitals started to make the switch long before the pandemic hit, and the trend will likely continue. As Walmart scales up its drive-through Covid-19 testing sites, for example, CLI will offer remote interpreting services to patients who don’t feel comfortable speaking English.
The shift to remote interpreting can preserve the most human elements of these often difficult interactions. Sweeney recalls a call with an older, Russian-speaking woman who was stressed about her health care and had symptoms of Covid-19. Later, she ended up being put back on the call with the same woman, who she says remembered her instantly.
“It’s very rarely that you’re interpreting for someone in a very dark situation, and then you’re able to catch them again,” said Sweeney. “She recognized me, not by my face, but by my voice.”
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vox--2020-05-17--The fake “Obamagate” scandal shows how Trump hacks the media


vox--2020-05-16--Read Obama’s inspiring commencement address to 2020’s high school graduates

In his second commencement speech of 2020 , former President Barack Obama implored graduating high schoolers to be brave in the face of the coronavirus pandemic , and to reject old ways of doing things while working together to solve pressing problems , from economic inequality to the climate crisis .
“ If the world ’ s gon na get better , it ’ s gon na be up to you , ” Obama said during the television special , “ Graduate Together ” on Saturday .
“ Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greed .
And set the world on a different path.
” The speech followed one Obama delivered to graduates of historically black colleges and universities in which he offered both pointed criticisms of the Trump administration — specifically that “ this pandemic has fully finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they ’ re doing ” — and his signature optimistic rhetoric .
Saturday evening ’ s remarks also contained a few gentle rebukes of the Trump administration , with the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have all the answers .
A lot of them aren ’ t even asking the right questions , ” and that “ things are so screwed up ” because “ a lot of so-called grownups — including some with fancy titles and important jobs ” do “ what ’ s convenient , what ’ s easy ” rather than what is right .
But its focus was on inspiring the graduates to use the pandemic as an opportunity to improve both themselves and their countries .
“ Your graduation marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , noting that passage can be frightening , but arguing that with adulthood comes new agency .
“ With all the challenges this country faces right now , nobody can tell you , ‘ No , you ’ re too young to understand.
’ Or , ‘ This is how it ’ s always been done.
’ Because with so much uncertainty , with everything suddenly up for grabs , this is your generation ’ s world to shape.
” Read the full rush transcript of Obama ’ s speech below : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you for that beautiful introduction .
I could not be prouder of everything you ’ ve done in your time with the Obama Foundation .
And , of course , I couldn ’ t be prouder of all of you in the graduating class of 2020 .
As well as the teachers , and the coaches , and most of all , parents and family who guided you along the way .
Now , graduating is a big achievement under any circumstances .
Some of you have had to overcome serious obstacles along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness , or a parent losing a job , or living in a neighborhood where people too often count you out .
Along with the usual challenges of growing up , all of you have had to deal with the added pressures of social media , reports of school shootings , and the specter of climate change .
And then , just as you ’ re about to celebrate having made it through , just as you ’ ve been looking forward to proms and senior nights , graduation ceremonies , and — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole bunch of parties , the world has turned upside down by a global pandemic .
And as much as I ’ m sure you love your parents , I ’ ll bet that being stuck at home with them and playing board games or watching Tiger King on TV is not exactly how you envisioned the last few months of your senior year .
Now , I ’ ll be honest with you .
The disappointments of missing a live graduation , those will pass pretty quick .
I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduation .
I know that not having to sit there and listen to a commencement speaker isn ’ t all that bad .
Mine usually go on way too long .
Also , not that many people look great in those caps .
Especially if you have big ears like me .
And you ’ ll have plenty of time to catch up with your friends once the immediate public health crisis is over .
But what remains true is that your graduation marks your passage into adulthood .
The time when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
It ’ s when you get to decide what ’ s important to you — what kind of career you want to pursue .
Who you want to build a family with .
The values you want to live by .
And given the current state of the world , that may be kind of scary .
If you planned on going away to college , getting dropped off at campus in the fall , that ’ s no longer a given .
If you were planning to work while going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be tougher .
Even families that are relatively well-off are dealing with massive uncertainty .
Those who were struggling before , they ’ re hanging on by a thread .
All of which means that you ’ re going to have to grow up faster than some generations .
This pandemic has shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country ’ s deep-seated problems .
From massive economic inequality , to on-going racial disparities , to a lack of basic healthcare for people who need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of young people up to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don ’ t work .
And it doesn ’ t matter how much money you make , if everyone around you is hungry and sick .
And that our society and democracy only work when we think not just about ourselves , but about each other .
It ’ s also pulled the curtain back on another hard truth , something that we all have to eventually accept once our childhood comes to an end .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think were in charge and knew what they were doing ?
Turns out they don ’ t have all the answers .
A lot of them aren ’ t even asking the right questions .
So , if the world ’ s gon na get better , it ’ s gon na be up to you .
That realization may be kind of intimidating , but I hope it ’ s also inspiring .
With all the challenges this country faces right now , nobody can tell you , “ No , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Or , “ This is how it ’ s always been done.
” Because with so much uncertainty , with everything suddenly up for grabs , this is your generation ’ s world to shape .
Since I ’ m one of the old guys , I won ’ t tell you what to do with this power that rests in your hands .
But I ’ ll leave you with three quick pieces of advice — first , don ’ t be afraid .
America ’ s gone through tough times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famine , disease , the great depression , and 9/11 .
And each time , we came out stronger .
Usually because a new generation — young people like you — learn from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better .
Second , do what you think is right .
Doing what feels good — what ’ s convenient , what ’ s easy — that ’ s how little kids think .
Unfortunately a lot of so-called grownups — including some with fancy titles and important jobs — still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things are so screwed up .
I hope that instead , you decide to ground yourself in values that last .
Like honesty , hard work , responsibility , fairness , generosity , respect for others .
You won ’ t get it right every time , you ’ ll make mistakes like we all do .
But if you listen to the truth that ’ s inside yourself — even when it ’ s hard , even when it ’ s inconvenient — people will notice .
They ’ ll gravitate towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the solution instead of part of the problem .
And finally , build a community .
No one does big things by themselves .
Right now , when people are scared , it ’ s easy to be cynical and say , “ Let me just look out for myself or my family or people who look or think or pray like me.
” But if we ’ re gon na get through these difficult times , if we ’ re gon na create a world where everybody has opportunities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we ’ re gon na save the environment and defeat future pandemics , then we ’ re gon na have to do it together .
So be alive to one another ’ s struggles .
Stand up for one another ’ s rights .
Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — sexism , racial prejudice , status , greed .
And set the world on a different path .
When you need help , Michelle and I have made it the mission of our foundation to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support to lead in your own communities .
And to connect you with other young leaders around the country and around the globe .
But , the truth is , you don ’ t need us to tell you what to do , because in so many ways , you ’ ve already started to lead .
Congratulations , class of 2020 .
Keep making us proud .

In his second commencement speech of 2020, former President Barack Obama implored graduating high schoolers to be brave in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, and to reject old ways of doing things while working together to solve pressing problems, from economic inequality to the climate crisis.
“If the world’s gonna get better, it’s gonna be up to you,” Obama said during the television special “Graduate Together” on Saturday. “Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed. And set the world on a different path.”
The speech followed one Obama delivered to graduates of historically black colleges and universities in which he offered both pointed criticisms of the Trump administration — specifically that “this pandemic has fully finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing” — and his signature optimistic rhetoric.
Saturday evening’s remarks also contained a few gentle rebukes of the Trump administration, with the former president telling the graduates that adults “don’t have all the answers. A lot of them aren’t even asking the right questions,” and that “things are so screwed up” because “a lot of so-called grownups — including some with fancy titles and important jobs” do “what’s convenient, what’s easy” rather than what is right. But the speech’s focus was on inspiring the graduates to use the pandemic as an opportunity to improve both themselves and their countries.
“Your graduation marks your passage into adulthood,” Obama said, noting that passage can be frightening, but arguing that with adulthood comes new agency. “With all the challenges this country faces right now, nobody can tell you, ‘No, you’re too young to understand.’ Or, ‘This is how it’s always been done.’ Because with so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up for grabs, this is your generation’s world to shape.”
“This is your generation’s world to shape.”—@BarackObama to graduating high school seniors #GraduateTogether
Join us at https://t.co/aGSLPSDtgE. pic.twitter.com/3OOnbPa3Gu — The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) May 17, 2020
Read the full rush transcript of Obama’s speech below:
Hi, everybody! Aniyah, thank you for that beautiful introduction. I could not be prouder of everything you’ve done in your time with the Obama Foundation. And, of course, I couldn’t be prouder of all of you in the graduating class of 2020. As well as the teachers, and the coaches, and most of all, parents and family who guided you along the way.
Now, graduating is a big achievement under any circumstances. Some of you have had to overcome serious obstacles along the way. Whether it was an illness, or a parent losing a job, or living in a neighborhood where people too often count you out. Along with the usual challenges of growing up, all of you have had to deal with the added pressures of social media, reports of school shootings, and the specter of climate change. And then, just as you’re about to celebrate having made it through, just as you’ve been looking forward to proms and senior nights, graduation ceremonies, and — let’s face it — a whole bunch of parties, the world has turned upside down by a global pandemic. And as much as I’m sure you love your parents, I’ll bet that being stuck at home with them and playing board games or watching Tiger King on TV is not exactly how you envisioned the last few months of your senior year.
Now, I’ll be honest with you. The disappointments of missing a live graduation, those will pass pretty quick. I don’t remember much of my own high school graduation. I know that not having to sit there and listen to a commencement speaker isn’t all that bad. Mine usually go on way too long. Also, not that many people look great in those caps. Especially if you have big ears like me. And you’ll have plenty of time to catch up with your friends once the immediate public health crisis is over. But what remains true is that your graduation marks your passage into adulthood. The time when you begin to take charge of your own life. It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you — what kind of career you want to pursue. Who you want to build a family with. The values you want to live by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary.
If you planned on going away to college, getting dropped off at campus in the fall, that’s no longer a given. If you were planning to work while going to school, finding that first job is going to be tougher. Even families that are relatively well-off are dealing with massive uncertainty. Those who were struggling before, they’re hanging on by a thread. All of which means that you’re going to have to grow up faster than some generations.
This pandemic has shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country’s deep-seated problems. From massive economic inequality, to ongoing racial disparities, to a lack of basic health care for people who need it. It’s woken a lot of young people up to the fact that the old ways of doing things just don’t work. And it doesn’t matter how much money you make, if everyone around you is hungry and sick. And that our society and democracy only work when we think not just about ourselves, but about each other.
It’s also pulled the curtain back on another hard truth, something that we all have to eventually accept once our childhood comes to an end. You know all those adults that you used to think were in charge and knew what they were doing? Turns out they don’t have all the answers. A lot of them aren’t even asking the right questions. So, if the world’s gonna get better, it’s gonna be up to you. That realization may be kind of intimidating, but I hope it’s also inspiring. With all the challenges this country faces right now, nobody can tell you, “No, you’re too young to understand.” Or, “This is how it’s always been done.” Because with so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up for grabs, this is your generation’s world to shape.
Since I’m one of the old guys, I won’t tell you what to do with this power that rests in your hands. But I’ll leave you with three quick pieces of advice — first, don’t be afraid. America’s gone through tough times before. Slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression, and 9/11. And each time, we came out stronger. Usually because a new generation — young people like you — learned from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better.
Second, do what you think is right. Doing what feels good — what’s convenient, what’s easy — that’s how little kids think. Unfortunately a lot of so-called grownups — including some with fancy titles and important jobs — still think that way, which is why things are so screwed up. I hope that instead, you decide to ground yourself in values that last. Like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others. You won’t get it right every time, you’ll make mistakes like we all do. But if you listen to the truth that’s inside yourself — even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient — people will notice. They’ll gravitate towards you, and you’ll be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
And finally, build a community. No one does big things by themselves. Right now, when people are scared, it’s easy to be cynical and say, “Let me just look out for myself or my family or people who look or think or pray like me.” But if we’re gonna get through these difficult times, if we’re gonna create a world where everybody has opportunities to find a job and afford college, if we’re gonna save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we’re gonna have to do it together.
So be alive to one another’s struggles. Stand up for one another’s rights. Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us — sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed. And set the world on a different path. When you need help, Michelle and I have made it the mission of our foundation to give young people like you the skills and support to lead in your own communities. And to connect you with other young leaders around the country and around the globe. But, the truth is, you don’t need us to tell you what to do, because in so many ways, you’ve already started to lead.
Congratulations, class of 2020. Keep making us proud.


vox--2020-05-18--Eric Trump used his latest Fox News appearance to push an absurd conspiracy theory about Covid-19

The seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic is evident , particularly in the US , where the death toll is approaching 100,000 .
This reality , however , is not consistently reflected by President Donald Trump in his public remarks — and increasingly , Fox News ’ s Covid-19 coverage has begun to revert to the dangerously flippant tone it had in February and early March , when numerous anchors on America ’ s top-rated cable network characterized the situation as a “ hoax ” or “ scam ” being sensationalized by Democrats to hurt Trump .
This can be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gotten in a number of the network ’ s top-rated shows recently — as I ’ ve detailed , the public health crisis has started to take a back seat to the bogus “ Obamagate ” conspiracy theory — but also in how coverage of Covid-19 has been framed .
For instance , during an appearance on Jeanine Pirro ’ s Saturday night Fox News show , Eric Trump accused Democrats of conspiring to make a big deal out of the coronavirus — all so his dad won ’ t be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
“ They think they ’ re taking away Donald Trump ’ s greatest tool , which is being able to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every single time , ” Eric Trump began .
“ You watch — they ’ ll milk it every single day between now and November 3 .
And guess what ?
After November 3 , coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen .
They ’ re trying to deprive him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing back on Trump ’ s claim , Pirro echoed Trump ’ s conspiratorial mode of thinking by suggesting Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to expand mail-in voting and thereby steal elections from Republicans .
( Never mind that the only evidence of large-scale mail-in election fraud occurring in recent history happened in 2018 on behalf of a Republican congressional candidate in North Carolina . )
“ There ’ s a picture that should ’ ve been used of people in line at Walmart — we ’ ve all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re six feet away .
You could do the same thing to vote , ” Pirro said .
“ It ’ s a fear that ’ s being instilled .
Are people buying it , though ?
” This exchange came the same weekend that the US ’ s official coronavirus death toll surpassed 90,000 , and as other countries that haven ’ t been hit nearly as hard continue to curtail large public gatherings .
If there is a conspiracy to use the coronavirus to prevent Trump to hold rallies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are straightforward reasons holding Trump rallies right now would be a bad idea .
Coronavirus can be spread by asymptomatic people , and if even one such carrier were to attend such a gathering , it could turn into a “ superspreader ” event .
Nonpartisan experts within Trump ’ s government recognize this reality and have advised against large gatherings .
Eric Trump and Pirro , however , opted for wild conspiracy theories aimed at weaponizing the pandemic against the president ’ s perceived political foes .
Fox News ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump — and so the network is back to conspiracy theories The Pirro-Eric Trump exchange reflects how Fox News has echoed President Trump ’ s coronavirus rhetoric and changed its approach to its coverage to support the president ’ s messaging du jour .
From January through early March , Fox News hosts were downplaying the threat Covid-19 posed , running segments dismissing it as a “ hoax ” and less deadly than the flu .
Of course , at that time , Trump was also downplaying the coronavirus .
To cite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on February 27 that the virus would go away on its own “ like a miracle ” without any Americans dying ; then at a rally the next day , he dismissed Democratic criticisms of his administration ’ s response as “ their new hoax.
” But in mid-March , as it became clear that the virus had already spread across the country and draconian measures would be needed to prevent as many as 2.2 million Americans from dying , Trump ’ s tone changed .
Fox News changed along with him — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fire anchor Trish Regan following her widely criticized monologue about the “ Coronavirus Impeachment Scam.
” Trump has now swung back in the other direction .
Even without the per-day number of cases and deaths yet showing a clear downward trend , he ’ s urging states to ignore the guidance provided by his administration ’ s coronavirus task force and open businesses in time to resuscitate the economy ahead of November ’ s election .
Once again , Fox News is right there with him .
Instead of focusing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus coverage is increasingly focused on the small numbers of protesters who have agitated against stay-at-home orders and business owners who want to reopen as soon as possible .
And in a string of recent , lengthy interviews , the network has allowed the president a friendly forum to advance his campaign to distract from problems with the economy and the federal government ’ s coronavirus response — like those in which Trump has been allowed to expound on conspiracy theories featuring his political rivals .
So now , Fox News and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — dismissing the coronavirus as a hoax that Democrats are weaponizing against Trump .
The big difference this time around is they now have more than 90,000 reasons to know better .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic is evident, particularly in the US, where the death toll is approaching 100,000. This reality, however, is not consistently reflected by President Donald Trump in his public remarks — and increasingly, Fox News’s Covid-19 coverage has begun to revert to the dangerously flippant tone it had in February and early March, when numerous anchors on America’s top-rated cable network characterized the situation as a “hoax” or “scam” being sensationalized by Democrats to hurt Trump.
This can be seen in the lack of coverage the coronavirus has gotten in a number of the network’s top-rated shows recently — as I’ve detailed, the public health crisis has started to take a back seat to the bogus “Obamagate” conspiracy theory — but also in how coverage of Covid-19 has been framed.
For instance, during an appearance on Jeanine Pirro’s Saturday night Fox News show, Eric Trump accused Democrats of conspiring to make a big deal out of the coronavirus — all so his dad won’t be able to hold rallies before November’s election.
“They think they’re taking away Donald Trump’s greatest tool, which is being able to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every single time,” Eric Trump began. “You watch — they’ll milk it every single day between now and November 3. And guess what? After November 3, coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen. They’re trying to deprive him of his greatest asset.”
After saying Biden can’t go on stage without making a horrible blunder, Eric Trump accuses Democrats of manufacturing Coronavirus shut downs to prevent Trump from holding rallies. He goes on to claim after Election Day, “Coronavirus will magically disappear” like it’s a hoax pic.twitter.com/nytfmbVN8I — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) May 17, 2020
Instead of pushing back on Trump’s claim, Pirro echoed Trump’s conspiratorial mode of thinking by suggesting Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to expand mail-in voting and thereby steal elections from Republicans. (Never mind that the only evidence of large-scale mail-in election fraud occurring in recent history happened in 2018 on behalf of a Republican congressional candidate in North Carolina.)
“There’s a picture that should’ve been used of people in line at Walmart — we’ve all been there, Home Depot — you’re six feet away. You could do the same thing to vote,” Pirro said. “It’s a fear that’s being instilled. Are people buying it, though?”
This exchange came the same weekend that the US’s official coronavirus death toll surpassed 90,000, and as other countries that haven’t been hit nearly as hard continue to curtail large public gatherings. If there is a conspiracy to use the coronavirus to prevent Trump to hold rallies, it is apparently international.
Of course, there are straightforward reasons holding Trump rallies right now would be a bad idea. Coronavirus can be spread by asymptomatic people, and if even one such carrier were to attend such a gathering, it could turn into a “superspreader” event.
Nonpartisan experts within Trump’s government recognize this reality and have advised against large gatherings. Eric Trump and Pirro, however, opted for wild conspiracy theories aimed at weaponizing the pandemic against the president’s perceived political foes.
Fox News’s coronavirus coverage is taking cues from Trump — and so the network is back to conspiracy theories
The Pirro-Eric Trump exchange reflects how Fox News has echoed President Trump’s coronavirus rhetoric and changed its approach to its coverage to support the president’s messaging du jour.
From January through early March, Fox News hosts were downplaying the threat Covid-19 posed, running segments dismissing it as a “hoax” and less deadly than the flu. Of course, at that time, Trump was also downplaying the coronavirus. To cite a couple of notorious examples, he vowed on February 27 that the virus would go away on its own “like a miracle” without any Americans dying; then at a rally the next day, he dismissed Democratic criticisms of his administration’s response as “their new hoax.”
But in mid-March, as it became clear that the virus had already spread across the country and draconian measures would be needed to prevent as many as 2.2 million Americans from dying, Trump’s tone changed. Fox News changed along with him — the network even went as far as to fire anchor Trish Regan following her widely criticized monologue about the “Coronavirus Impeachment Scam.”
HANNITY, March 9: "This scaring the living hell out of people -- I see it, again, as like, let's bludgeon Trump with this new hoax."
HANNITY, March 18: "By the way, this program has always taken the coronavirus seriously. We've never called the virus a hoax." pic.twitter.com/yLKpojA7BI — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 19, 2020
Trump has now swung back in the other direction. Even without the per-day number of cases and deaths yet showing a clear downward trend, he’s urging states to ignore the guidance provided by his administration’s coronavirus task force and open businesses in time to resuscitate the economy ahead of November’s election.
Once again, Fox News is right there with him. Instead of focusing on the public health crisis, the network’s coronavirus coverage is increasingly focused on the small numbers of protesters who have agitated against stay-at-home orders and business owners who want to reopen as soon as possible.
Fox & Friends is banking on a live confrontation this morning between a New Jersey gym owner and the state police. pic.twitter.com/uVUsH0EbO4 — Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) May 18, 2020
And in a string of recent, lengthy interviews, the network has allowed the president a friendly forum to advance his campaign to distract from problems with the economy and the federal government’s coronavirus response — like those in which Trump has been allowed to expound on conspiracy theories featuring his political rivals.
So now, Fox News and Trumpworld are basically back where they started — dismissing the coronavirus as a hoax that Democrats are weaponizing against Trump. The big difference this time around is they now have more than 90,000 reasons to know better.


vox--2020-05-18--Trump says he’s taking hydroxychloroquine

On Monday afternoon , President Trump told the press that he ’ s taking a drug called hydroxychloroquine as a preventative to ward off the coronavirus — a practice for which there is no evidence and that could , in theory , have negative side effects as serious as hallucinations and heart failure .
“ I take it , ” Trump said .
“ So far , I seem to be okay.
” Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug that a non-randomized study from a French lab , publicized in March , initially suggested could be used as a treatment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump frequently touted the drug , calling it “ one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.
” But further studies have concluded that it is not effective in many cases and should not be routinely used to treat patients .
Trump seems to be taking it not as a treatment for Covid-19 — he ’ s apparently tested negative — but as a preventative to protect himself from contracting it .
There ’ s no medical evidence supporting the idea that this would work , and the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are serious , would likely strongly outweigh any ( hypothetical ) benefits .
Nevertheless , Trump claims to be taking the drug anyway .
“ I get a lot of positive calls about it , ” he told a gaggle of astounded reporters .
“ What do you have to lose ?
” I ’ m of two minds on how to think about this declaration .
On the one hand , if Trump — a notorious liar — is telling the truth about taking the drug , it ’ s certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous medication for no good reason .
It would not only speak to his judgment and fitness for office but also suggest a risk to his health and mental competence .
On the other hand , Trump may be trying to goad the media into getting bogged down in an issue that ’ s less important than the actual outbreak and Trump ’ s failed response to it .
At the press conference , he told reporters , “ I was just waiting for your eyes to light up when I said this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicating he ’ s perfectly aware that he ’ s starting a controversy .
Ultimately , the president is either doing something irresponsible or lying irresponsibly .
Either way , it ’ s terrible behavior that reflects poorly on the man in charge of our country — just one more example of the wild unfitness for office that ’ s been on display throughout the pandemic .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to @ @ @

On Monday afternoon, President Trump told the press that he’s taking a drug called hydroxychloroquine as a preventative to ward off the coronavirus — a practice for which there is no evidence and that could, in theory, have negative side effects as serious as hallucinations and heart failure.
“I take it,” Trump said. “So far, I seem to be okay.”
Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug that a non-randomized study from a French lab, publicized in March, initially suggested could be used as a treatment in fighting the coronavirus. In March, Trump frequently touted the drug, calling it “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.” But further studies have concluded that it is not effective in many cases and should not be routinely used to treat patients.
Trump seems to be taking it not as a treatment for Covid-19 — he’s apparently tested negative — but as a preventive measure to protect himself from contracting it. There’s no medical evidence supporting the idea that this would work, and the risk of potential psychiatric and cardiac side effects, which are serious, would likely strongly outweigh any (hypothetical) benefits.
Nevertheless, Trump claims to be taking the drug anyway.
“I get a lot of positive calls about it,” he told a gaggle of astounded reporters. “What do you have to lose?”
I’m of two minds on how to think about this declaration.
On the one hand, if Trump — a notorious liar — is telling the truth about taking the drug, it’s certainly newsworthy that the president is taking a dangerous medication for no good reason. It would not only speak to his judgment and fitness for office but also suggest a risk to his health and mental competence.
On the other hand, Trump may be trying to goad the media into getting bogged down in an issue that’s less important than the actual outbreak and Trump’s failed response to it. At the press conference, he told reporters, “I was just waiting for your eyes to light up when I said this, when I announced this,” indicating he’s perfectly aware that he’s starting a controversy.
Ultimately, the president is either doing something irresponsible or lying irresponsibly. Either way, it’s terrible behavior that reflects poorly on the man in charge of our country — just one more example of the wild unfitness for office that’s been on display throughout the pandemic.


vox--2020-05-18--Why Attorney General Bill Barr is mad at Apple

Months after claiming that the FBI needed Apple ’ s assistance to unlock a suspected terrorist ’ s iPhones , Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Monday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) managed to unlock the phones on its own .
In a statement that could serve as a harbinger of government-mandated privacy invasions to come , Barr harshly criticized Apple and called for a “ legislative solution ” to its obstinance .
“ Thanks to the great work of the FBI — and no thanks to Apple — we were able to unlock Alshamrani ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a press release .
The phones belonged to Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani , who killed three people on a naval air station in Pensacola , Florida , in December .
During its investigation into Alshamrani ’ s possible links to terrorist groups , the FBI uncovered two locked iPhones .
As it did in 2016 during the investigation of another person with possible terrorist ties , the Department of Justice demanded that Apple unlock the phones for them .
Apple has repeatedly said that it does not currently have the ability to unlock passcode-protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow the company to access locked devices would compromise the security and privacy on which its customers rely .
In this most recent case , Apple was not able to unlock the phones , although the company said that it gave the FBI access to any and all information related to Alshamrani that it had , including iCloud backups of Alshamrani ’ s phones .
“ The false claims made about our company are an excuse to weaken encryption and other security measures that protect millions of users and our national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Recode .
“ It is because we take our responsibility to national security so seriously that we do not believe in the creation of a backdoor — one which will make every device vulnerable to bad actors who threaten our national security and the data security of our customers.
” Apple added , “ There is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys , and the American people do not have to choose between weakening encryption and effective investigations.
” While stating that the information uncovered by unlocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and showed that Alshamrani did indeed have links to al-Qaeda , Barr stressed that Apple ’ s refusal to change its business practices cost precious time and money .
“ If not for our FBI ’ s ingenuity , some luck , and hours upon hours of time and resources , this information would have remained undiscovered , ” Barr said .
“ The bottom line : Our national security can not remain in the hands of big corporations who put dollars over lawful access and public safety .
The time has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislative solution specter is well-timed .
A bipartisan bill called the EARN IT Act , which would essentially force platforms like Facebook , Reddit , and even end-to-end encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal to give the government a backdoor to any and all customer information is currently making its way through the Senate .
There ’ s also the bill reauthorizing the Patriot Act , for which a painfully close Senate vote defeated an attempt to exclude web search history and browser information from warrantless surveillance by the FBI .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate , will go to President Trump ’ s desk to sign .
Forcing Apple to create a backdoor would perhaps make investigations easier and quicker for the FBI , but it ’ s not absolutely necessary to conduct investigations .
The FBI didn ’ t say how it was able to gain access to the phones , but the agency clearly didn ’ t need Apple ’ s help to do so .
This has been the case in past investigations as well .
The Department of Justice is asking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a vulnerability in millions of its customers ’ devices for what amounts to a shortcut .
“ Every time there ’ s a traumatic event requiring investigation into digital devices , the Justice Department loudly claims that it needs backdoors to encryption , and then quietly announces it actually found a way to access information without threatening the security and privacy of the entire world , ” ACLU senior staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman said in a statement to Recode .
“ The boy who cried wolf has nothing on the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made possible by Omidyar Network .
All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Months after claiming that the FBI needed Apple’s assistance to unlock a suspected terrorist’s iPhones, Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Monday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) managed to unlock the phones on its own. In a statement that could serve as a harbinger of government-mandated privacy invasions to come, Barr harshly criticized Apple and called for a “legislative solution” to its obstinance.
“Thanks to the great work of the FBI — and no thanks to Apple — we were able to unlock Alshamrani’s phones,” Barr said in a press release.
The phones belonged to Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, who killed three people on a naval air station in Pensacola, Florida, in December. During its investigation into Alshamrani’s possible links to terrorist groups, the FBI uncovered two locked iPhones. As it did in 2016 during the investigation of another person with possible terrorist ties, the Department of Justice demanded that Apple unlock the phones for them. Apple has repeatedly said that it does not currently have the ability to unlock passcode-protected phones and that creating a backdoor that would allow the company to access locked devices would compromise the security and privacy on which its customers rely.
In this most recent case, Apple was not able to unlock the phones, although the company said that it gave the FBI access to any and all information related to Alshamrani that it had, including iCloud backups of Alshamrani’s phones.
“The false claims made about our company are an excuse to weaken encryption and other security measures that protect millions of users and our national security,” Apple said in a statement to Recode. “It is because we take our responsibility to national security so seriously that we do not believe in the creation of a backdoor — one which will make every device vulnerable to bad actors who threaten our national security and the data security of our customers.”
Apple added, “There is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys, and the American people do not have to choose between weakening encryption and effective investigations.”
While stating that the information uncovered by unlocking the phones proved valuable to the investigation and showed that Alshamrani did indeed have links to al-Qaeda, Barr stressed that Apple’s refusal to change its business practices cost precious time and money.
“If not for our FBI’s ingenuity, some luck, and hours upon hours of time and resources, this information would have remained undiscovered,” Barr said. “The bottom line: Our national security cannot remain in the hands of big corporations who put dollars over lawful access and public safety. The time has come for a legislative solution.”
Barr raising the legislative solution specter is well-timed. A bipartisan bill called the EARN IT Act, which would essentially force platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and even end-to-end encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal to give the government a backdoor to any and all customer information is currently making its way through the Senate. There’s also the bill reauthorizing the Patriot Act, for which a painfully close Senate vote defeated an attempt to exclude web search history and browser information from warrantless surveillance by the FBI. The bill, once resolved by the House and Senate, will go to President Trump’s desk to sign.
Forcing Apple to create a backdoor would perhaps make investigations easier and quicker for the FBI, but it’s not absolutely necessary to conduct investigations. The FBI didn’t say how it was able to gain access to the phones, but the agency clearly didn’t need Apple’s help to do so. This has been the case in past investigations as well. The Department of Justice is asking a company to change its business practices and create a vulnerability in millions of its customers’ devices for what amounts to a shortcut.
“Every time there’s a traumatic event requiring investigation into digital devices, the Justice Department loudly claims that it needs backdoors to encryption, and then quietly announces it actually found a way to access information without threatening the security and privacy of the entire world,” ACLU senior staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman said in a statement to Recode. “The boy who cried wolf has nothing on the agency that cried encryption.”
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.


vox--2020-05-18--A TV show that proves being good doesn’t mean you can’t be funny

Joe Pera Talks With You is good .
Good as in good quality , yeah .
As an episodic , 11-minute comedy series , it is very , very good .
But Joe Pera Talks With You is also ambitiously “ good ” in the sense of being moral , and well-intentioned , and caring , and considerate .
When you were a kid and your parents told you to “ be good ” to people , they meant that you should do as Joe Pera Talks With You does .
It can be difficult to convey how a TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provocative nighttime programming block Adult Swim can evoke almost nostalgic feelings of kind-heartedness .
The premise of Joe Pera Talks With You is so simple as to almost be beside the point : Comedian Joe Pera plays a lightly fictionalized version of himself as a sweet Michigander , a middle-school chorus teacher with small and specific passions .
Joe likes breakfast food , obscure trivia , beans , trips to the grocery store , and his grandma .
He greets every day with a contented smile , stands beneath a pale blue sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no surprises .
( A turkey sandwich with cheese and a tomato , a banana , some trail mix , and as a treat , some cookies . )
Joe , more than anything , is satisfied .
His greatest joy is sharing these small pleasures with you , the viewer who exists on the other side of the fourth wall he has cleanly dismantled , often speaking quietly to the camera like he ’ s sharing a secret , just between you two .
That he ’ s talking “ with ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crucial distinction in the show ’ s title : Joe never lectures nor rhapsodizes .
Instead , he waxes poetic about what he loves and who he cares for and how he leads his life , telling his stories from a vulnerable position of welcoming you into his daily existence .
There ’ s a community of folksy characters in Joe ’ s world who are also jogging through life at a slow and steady clip .
( If you prefer your TV to be faster-paced , this might not be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them all through Joe ’ s point of view , and Joe is not the type to dwell on whatever anxieties or relationship problems or bad attitudes for which the rest of the world may ding them .
In the background of Joe ’ s life , his neighbors ( one played by Conner O ’ Malley , Pera ’ s frequent collaborator and a creator of excellent , idiosyncratic outsider art ) are going through serious marital problems .
Joe ’ s best friend , Gene ( played by Gene Kelly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers ; Kelly ’ s primary gig is as a cameraman ) , is struggling to connect with his sons .
Joe ’ s girlfriend , Sarah , is another teacher at Joe ’ s school ; she has agoraphobia and a long list of other anxieties , including how to reveal to the rest of the faculty that she and Joe are dating .
Joe ’ s position in all of these situations is often peripheral .
He reflects upon each one from a place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beautiful to watch him in thought , listening intently to the people we see him encounter to make sense of each word that is said and what it tells us about the person who ’ s saying it .
I think a lot about scenes like the one below , from an episode right after Joe ’ s grandmother dies in an abrupt and shocking way .
Joe and Gene are on a trip to Wisconsin to visit Gene ’ s fashion designer sons ( the kind of ironic detail this show is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car , Gene talks of his disdain for the fashion industry .
He ’ s not quite ranting ; Gene isn ’ t disposed to such heightened emotion .
But his opinions are strong enough that it feels important to watch an introspective Joe in the passenger seat , absorbing Gene ’ s slightly absurd speech .
But true to the show ’ s title , Joe Pera is always talking with you , whether the “ you ” in question is the one he addresses by looking at the camera , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the others , who play against Joe ’ s perfectly buttoned-up straight man with their hilarious mundanities .
The result is that the show is both the embodiment of wholesomeness and an exposure to the comedy that can be found in the calmest , simplest lifestyles .
The way I ’ m describing Joe Pera Talks With You might make it sound like a kids ’ cartoon that aims to share generic life lessons with its viewers .
And a huge part of the show ’ s appeal is in Joe asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the smallest , weirdest details we might otherwise ignore .
But while the show once aired an animated holiday special , it ’ s certainly not for children .
Joe Pera , the real-life comedian , comes from an alternative comedy scene whose players indulge in experimental jokes , political and cultural commentary with an absurdist bent , and even anti-humor .
Pera is the quietest and homiest of those in his circle , but it isn ’ t shocking or uncommon to hear Pera say the word “ fuck ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the character , would never say “ fuck.
” There ’ s no need for that from him , or from anyone else in this easy-going comedy .
Joe sees everyone in his life for the good ( if neurotic ) people they are , even if they can ’ t see it for themselves .
And to be shown that as the viewer — to be told sweetly , almost musically , that there ’ s some hidden good in everyone — is touching .
Especially when those good people are children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antarctica and now live in middle-of-nowhere America and explain their life story to everyone they meet .
That ’ s the pitch-perfect mix of purity and comedy that Joe Pera Talks With You does best .
Joe Pera Talks With You is available to stream on Adult Swim .
One Good Thing is Vox ’ s recommendations feature .
In each edition , find one more thing from the world of culture that we highly recommend .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contribution to Vox today .

One Good Thing is Vox’s recommendations feature. In each edition, find one more thing from the world of culture that we highly recommend.
Joe Pera Talks With You is good.
Good as in good quality, yeah. As an episodic, 11-minute comedy series, it is very, very good. But Joe Pera Talks With You is also ambitiously “good” in the sense of being moral, and well-intentioned, and caring, and considerate. When you were a kid and your parents told you to “be good” to people, they meant that you should do as Joe Pera Talks With You does.
It can be difficult to convey how a TV show airing on Cartoon Network’s provocative nighttime programming block Adult Swim can evoke almost nostalgic feelings of kind-heartedness. The premise of Joe Pera Talks With You is so simple as to almost be beside the point: Comedian Joe Pera plays a lightly fictionalized version of himself as a sweet Michigander, a middle-school chorus teacher with small and specific passions. Joe likes breakfast food, obscure trivia, beans, trips to the grocery store, and his grandma. He greets every day with a contented smile, stands beneath a pale blue sky, packs a balanced lunch that contains no surprises. (A turkey sandwich with cheese and a tomato, a banana, some trail mix, and as a treat, some cookies.) Joe, more than anything, is satisfied.
His greatest joy is sharing these small pleasures with you, the viewer who exists on the other side of the fourth wall he has cleanly dismantled, often speaking quietly to the camera like he’s sharing a secret, just between you two. That he’s talking “with” and not “to” you is a crucial distinction in the show’s title: Joe never lectures nor rhapsodizes. Instead, he waxes poetic about what he loves and who he cares for and how he leads his life, telling his stories from a vulnerable position of welcoming you into his daily existence.
There’s a community of folksy characters in Joe’s world who are also jogging through life at a slow and steady clip. (If you prefer your TV to be faster-paced, this might not be the show for you.) We meet them all through Joe’s point of view, and Joe is not the type to dwell on whatever anxieties or relationship problems or bad attitudes for which the rest of the world may ding them. In the background of Joe’s life, his neighbors (one played by Conner O’Malley, Pera’s frequent collaborator and a creator of excellent, idiosyncratic outsider art) are going through serious marital problems. Joe’s best friend, Gene (played by Gene Kelly, whom Pera met in real life during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers; Kelly’s primary gig is as a cameraman), is struggling to connect with his sons. Joe’s girlfriend, Sarah, is another teacher at Joe’s school; she has agoraphobia and a long list of other anxieties, including how to reveal to the rest of the faculty that she and Joe are dating.
Joe’s position in all of these situations is often peripheral. He reflects upon each one from a place of patient empathy. It’s beautiful to watch him in thought, listening intently to the people we see him encounter to make sense of each word that is said and what it tells us about the person who’s saying it.
I think a lot about scenes like the one below, from an episode right after Joe’s grandmother dies in an abrupt and shocking way. Joe and Gene are on a trip to Wisconsin to visit Gene’s fashion designer sons (the kind of ironic detail this show is full of), and in the car, Gene talks of his disdain for the fashion industry. He’s not quite ranting; Gene isn’t disposed to such heightened emotion. But his opinions are strong enough that it feels important to watch an introspective Joe in the passenger seat, absorbing Gene’s slightly absurd speech.
But true to the show’s title, Joe Pera is always talking with you, whether the “you” in question is the one he addresses by looking at the camera, or a “you” as in Gene and the others, who play against Joe’s perfectly buttoned-up straight man with their hilarious mundanities. The result is that the show is both the embodiment of wholesomeness and an exposure to the comedy that can be found in the calmest, simplest lifestyles.
The way I’m describing Joe Pera Talks With You might make it sound like a kids’ cartoon that aims to share generic life lessons with its viewers. And a huge part of the show’s appeal is in Joe asking us to take a minute and learn from the smallest, weirdest details we might otherwise ignore. But while the show once aired an animated holiday special, it’s certainly not for children. Joe Pera, the real-life comedian, comes from an alternative comedy scene whose players indulge in experimental jokes, political and cultural commentary with an absurdist bent, and even anti-humor. Pera is the quietest and homiest of those in his circle, but it isn’t shocking or uncommon to hear Pera say the word “fuck” in a stand-up set.
Joe Pera, the character, would never say “fuck.” There’s no need for that from him, or from anyone else in this easy-going comedy. Joe sees everyone in his life for the good (if neurotic) people they are, even if they can’t see it for themselves. And to be shown that as the viewer — to be told sweetly, almost musically, that there’s some hidden good in everyone — is touching.
Especially when those good people are children with unplaceable accents who grew up in Antarctica and now live in middle-of-nowhere America and explain their life story to everyone they meet. That’s the pitch-perfect mix of purity and comedy that Joe Pera Talks With You does best.
Joe Pera Talks With You is available to stream on Adult Swim.