vox--2020-04-23--What the new stimulus money means for small business loan programs

As of last week , the Paycheck Protection Program — which offers forgivable loans for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns to cover their payroll costs — has run out of money .
This week , Congress is set to approve an additional $ 310 billion for the program , as well as $ 10 billion to cover administrative costs .
It ’ s a significant amount , though it , once again , will likely fall short .
In the near term , what it means is that banks , fintech companies like PayPal , and other lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications and continue to process the ones they ’ ve put on hold .
Banks anticipate that they ’ ll be swamped , but businesses are encouraged to apply as quickly as they can if they haven ’ t already .
And even if banks aren ’ t able to process applications just yet , experts recommend that businesses get in touch with their lenders immediately .
“ Small businesses should make sure they are in the queue now with their bank for the new round of PPP funding , ” says Payson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fintech company that works with small businesses .
Similarly , with the approval of these new funds , the Small Business Administration will be able to take new applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan ( EIDL ) program , which enables businesses to apply for grants of up to $ 10,000 .
( For a more detailed guide about how to apply to either of these programs , check out our explainer . )
Businesses are eligible for both programs as long as they meet the size requirements and can demonstrate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus .
Those that have applied already should be in line for both programs and don ’ t need to reapply , according to the Wall Street Journal .
The Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) enables businesses to apply for a loan of up to 2.5 times their monthly payroll costs , up to $ 10 million .
These loans are fully forgivable if businesses use 75 percent of the funds for payroll and can prove that they met certain conditions like rehiring laid off workers .
The EIDL , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also enables businesses to take out low-interest loans of up to $ 2 million .
The process for applying to these programs is pretty much the same as it has been thus far , although Democrats have pushed for some additional conditions for the money , which are intended to make it more accessible to minority-owned businesses and rural businesses .
The broader concern about these funds is similar to what it was for the first wave : There ’ s an overwhelming worry that it won ’ t be enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money — though loopholes remain The new bill makes some changes aimed at increasing the accessibility of these loans , but it does not close a major loophole that ’ s enabled corporations to benefit from the small business programs as well .
The key update the legislation includes is one that guarantees funds to community-based lenders .
As laid out in the bill , $ 30 billion of the $ 310 billion in new PPP funds will go to credit unions and lenders that have less than $ 10 billion in assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to institutions with between $ 10 billion and $ 50 billion in assets .
This means that such money will be specifically set aside for smaller institutions , rather than larger ones , which scooped up much of the money in the initial round of PPP funding .
The set-aside of this funding is important because it guarantees that customers who are more likely to frequent smaller banks and community lenders will have a source where they can apply for funding .
Minority business owners and rural business owners are typically less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major bank , so they were initially shut out of the application process at several of the larger lenders .
“ Our smallest businesses who rely on their community partners for support and service now have a greater chance at accessing the capital they need to remain open , ” Gregg Bishop , New York City ’ s Commissioner of Small Business Services , told Entrepreneur .
The bill , however , doesn ’ t do anything to further restrict large corporations like Shake Shack and Potbelly from applying to the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because restaurants and hotels that have fewer than 500 employees at their individual locations are eligible to apply , major publicly traded companies have been able to benefit from these loans .
“ At the end of the day , we ’ re still concerned about small businesses getting left behind .
We ’ re concerned about larger businesses being able to tap the funds out again , ” says Awesta Sarkash , government affairs manager at Small Business Majority , an advocacy group dedicated to fighting on behalf of small businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The biggest issue with this round of funding is similar to the problems that emerged with the first round , too .
In both cases , neither included enough money .
According to a LendingTree survey of over 1,200 small business owners , 60 percent had previously applied for PPP funding , but just 5 percent received it .
As the Chicago Tribune reports , there ’ s likely a total of 6 million small businesses that are eligible for the PPP , and only 1.6 million have received loans so far .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 310 billion into the PPP , on top of the original $ 350 billion allocation .
Bank of America economists estimate , however , that the program would need $ 650 billion in new funds in order to fulfill the entirety of the need that ’ s out there .
These figures suggest that the programs could well require another increase in funding in the next stimulus package .
Funding for small businesses has been among the rare priorities that Republicans and Democrats have both championed in the past — though some GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another expansive legislative proposal .
Banks , for now , are steeling themselves for the upcoming rush .
“ This is going to go within , at most , 72 hours , ” Consumer Bankers Association President Richard Hunt told Politico .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

As of last week, the Paycheck Protection Program — which offers forgivable loans for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns to cover their payroll costs — has run out of money. This week, Congress is set to approve an additional $310 billion for the program, as well as $10 billion to cover administrative costs.
It’s a significant amount, though it, once again, will likely fall short. In the near term, what it means is that banks, fintech companies like PayPal, and other lenders will be able to accept new PPP applications and continue to process the ones they’ve put on hold. Banks anticipate that they’ll be swamped, but businesses are encouraged to apply as quickly as they can if they haven’t already.
And even if banks aren’t able to process applications just yet, experts recommend that businesses get in touch with their lenders immediately.
“Small businesses should make sure they are in the queue now with their bank for the new round of PPP funding,” says Payson Johnston, CEO of Crowdz, a fintech company that works with small businesses.
Similarly, with the approval of these new funds, the Small Business Administration will be able to take new applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which enables businesses to apply for grants of up to $10,000. (For a more detailed guide about how to apply to either of these programs, check out our explainer.)
Businesses are eligible for both programs as long as they meet the size requirements and can demonstrate that they’re facing economic uncertainty because of the coronavirus. Those that have applied already should be in line for both programs and don’t need to reapply, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) enables businesses to apply for a loan of up to 2.5 times their monthly payroll costs, up to $10 million. These loans are fully forgivable if businesses use 75 percent of the funds for payroll and can prove that they met certain conditions like rehiring laid off workers. The EIDL, in addition to the grants it provides, also enables businesses to take out low-interest loans of up to $2 million.
The process for applying to these programs is pretty much the same as it has been thus far, although Democrats have pushed for some additional conditions for the money, which are intended to make it more accessible to minority-owned businesses and rural businesses.
The broader concern about these funds is similar to what it was for the first wave: There’s an overwhelming worry that it won’t be enough.
There are some new conditions on this money — though loopholes remain
The new bill makes some changes aimed at increasing the accessibility of these loans, but it does not close a major loophole that’s enabled corporations to benefit from the small business programs as well.
The key update the legislation includes is one that guarantees funds to community-based lenders. As laid out in the bill, $30 billion of the $310 billion in new PPP funds will go to credit unions and lenders that have less than $10 billion in assets, while another $30 billion will go to institutions with between $10 billion and $50 billion in assets. This means that such money will be specifically set aside for smaller institutions, rather than larger ones, which scooped up much of the money in the initial round of PPP funding.
The set-aside of this funding is important because it guarantees that customers who are more likely to frequent smaller banks and community lenders will have a source where they can apply for funding. Minority business owners and rural business owners are typically less likely to have an existing relationship with a major bank, so they were initially shut out of the application process at several of the larger lenders.
“Our smallest businesses who rely on their community partners for support and service now have a greater chance at accessing the capital they need to remain open,” Gregg Bishop, New York City’s Commissioner of Small Business Services, told Entrepreneur.
The bill, however, doesn’t do anything to further restrict large corporations like Shake Shack and Potbelly from applying to the program and receiving loans in the future. Because restaurants and hotels that have fewer than 500 employees at their individual locations are eligible to apply, major publicly traded companies have been able to benefit from these loans.
“At the end of the day, we’re still concerned about small businesses getting left behind. We’re concerned about larger businesses being able to tap the funds out again,” says Awesta Sarkash, government affairs manager at Small Business Majority, an advocacy group dedicated to fighting on behalf of small businesses.
The money could run out quickly again
The biggest issue with this round of funding is similar to the problems that emerged with the first round, too. In both cases, neither included enough money.
According to a LendingTree survey of over 1,200 small business owners, 60 percent had previously applied for PPP funding, but just 5 percent received it. As the Chicago Tribune reports, there’s likely a total of 6 million small businesses that are eligible for the PPP, and only 1.6 million have received loans so far.
This latest stimulus bill infuses another $310 billion into the PPP, on top of the original $350 billion allocation. Bank of America economists estimate, however, that the program would need $650 billion in new funds in order to fulfill the entirety of the need that’s out there.
These figures suggest that the programs could well require another increase in funding in the next stimulus package. Funding for small businesses has been among the rare priorities that Republicans and Democrats have both championed in the past — though some GOP leaders have begun signaling their opposition to another expansive legislative proposal.
Banks, for now, are steeling themselves for the upcoming rush. “This is going to go within, at most, 72 hours,” Consumer Bankers Association President Richard Hunt told Politico.


vox--2020-04-23--How the coronavirus pandemic will affect an entire generation of students

Every morning , Michelle Martin-Sullivan rises with her toddler and begins her biggest task of the day : making contact with all her students , who are scattered among the foothills of rural eastern Kentucky .
Some she calls by phone , others she chats with over text , and some she sees in class on Zoom .
Like teachers across the US , Martin-Sullivan is working remotely , and the transition has proved difficult almost everywhere .
Rollouts of online portals have been plagued with technical issues in many districts , while others have struggled to distribute devices like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For Martin-Sullivan , though , the issues often go deeper than teaching itself .
Many of her students are essential workers at stores like Walmart and have begun picking up extra shifts to support their families .
Other students , as well as some teachers , don ’ t have internet access at all .
“ Teachers … have been conducting their phone calls and check-ins with students from random parking lots , like church parking lots , the Walmart parking lot , [ or ] just anywhere that you can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results of these struggles with distance learning will remain unclear for some time .
Many standardized tests have been delayed or canceled , which means school districts won ’ t get data on their students ’ progress .
On this episode of Reset , we explore how the pandemic might affect students going forward , and how long those effects could last .
According to Matt Barnum , a national reporter for the education news site Chalkbeat , traumatic effects have big impacts on students ’ lives , both on how much they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates and income .
“ There ’ s this idea that children are resilient .
They ’ ll just bounce back from whatever you throw at them .
And from a research perspective , that ’ s just not the case , ” he says .
“ We know that things can affect students , both good or bad .
We know that early trauma can affect students for bad .
We know that a high-quality teacher or access to early childhood education can affect students for good in the long term .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unreasonable to think that this is going to have long-run negative effects.
” Still , there are ways that policymakers can decrease these negative impacts , as Barnum explained .
Research shows that one easy way to help students catch up is to add extra instructional time to the end of the school day or make the school year longer .
“ We have evidence from research : There is a study in Florida that when low-performing schools extended the school day , students did better on state tests .
We have another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps students who are struggling in reading , ” he says .
“ And so it just makes a whole lot of sense that if you want to make up for missed instruction , you should just make up for missed instruction.
” For students who have struggled more than their peers , some experts have suggested that the federal government should fund an “ army ” of recent college graduates to tutor students — with the added benefit of helping prop up a dismal job market .
Finally , students will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to school .
Aside from the interruption to their education , they may know people who got sick or died from Covid-19 .
“ If schools want to hit the ground running academically , they also probably need to be thinking about addressing the trauma that students may have faced .
Presumably the best way to deal with that is to have trained professionals in schools , who can work with students to talk this through and support them in this , ” Barnum says .
Whether government officials will take any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But policy options that can help students through the pandemic exist .
The question is mostly whether governments — especially during a massive economic downturn — will make them happen .
Subscribe to Reset on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Every morning, Michelle Martin-Sullivan rises with her toddler and begins her biggest task of the day: making contact with all her students, who are scattered among the foothills of rural eastern Kentucky. Some she calls by phone, others she chats with over text, and some she sees in class on Zoom.
Like teachers across the US, Martin-Sullivan is working remotely, and the transition has proved difficult almost everywhere. Rollouts of online portals have been plagued with technical issues in many districts, while others have struggled to distribute devices like laptops and iPads amid shortages from suppliers.
For Martin-Sullivan, though, the issues often go deeper than teaching itself. Many of her students are essential workers at stores like Walmart and have begun picking up extra shifts to support their families. Other students, as well as some teachers, don’t have internet access at all.
“Teachers … have been conducting their phone calls and check-ins with students from random parking lots, like church parking lots, the Walmart parking lot, [or] just anywhere that you can get wifi,” she says.
The results of these struggles with distance learning will remain unclear for some time. Many standardized tests have been delayed or canceled, which means school districts won’t get data on their students’ progress.
On this episode of Reset, we explore how the pandemic might affect students going forward, and how long those effects could last.
According to Matt Barnum, a national reporter for the education news site Chalkbeat, traumatic effects have big impacts on students’ lives, both on how much they learn and long-term factors like college enrollment rates and income.
“There’s this idea that children are resilient. They’ll just bounce back from whatever you throw at them. And from a research perspective, that’s just not the case,” he says. “We know that things can affect students, both good or bad. We know that early trauma can affect students for bad. We know that a high-quality teacher or access to early childhood education can affect students for good in the long term. So I think it’s not unreasonable to think that this is going to have long-run negative effects.”
Still, there are ways that policymakers can decrease these negative impacts, as Barnum explained. Research shows that one easy way to help students catch up is to add extra instructional time to the end of the school day or make the school year longer.
“We have evidence from research: There is a study in Florida that when low-performing schools extended the school day, students did better on state tests. We have another study in Louisiana showing that summer school helps students who are struggling in reading,” he says. “And so it just makes a whole lot of sense that if you want to make up for missed instruction, you should just make up for missed instruction.”
For students who have struggled more than their peers, some experts have suggested that the federal government should fund an “army” of recent college graduates to tutor students — with the added benefit of helping prop up a dismal job market.
Finally, students will also likely need emotional support when they go back to school. Aside from the interruption to their education, they may know people who got sick or died from Covid-19.
“If schools want to hit the ground running academically, they also probably need to be thinking about addressing the trauma that students may have faced. Presumably the best way to deal with that is to have trained professionals in schools, who can work with students to talk this through and support them in this,” Barnum says.
Whether government officials will take any of these actions remains to be seen. But policy options that can help students through the pandemic exist. The question is mostly whether governments — especially during a massive economic downturn — will make them happen.
Subscribe to Reset on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.


vox--2020-04-23--Ask a Book Critic: Books to read when you’re tired of being alone

Welcome to the latest installment of Vox ’ s Ask a Book Critic , in which I , Vox book critic Constance Grady , provide book recommendations to suit your very specific mood : either how you ’ re feeling right now , or how you ’ d like to be feeling instead .
This week I ’ ve been dipping in and out of The Moment of Tenderness , a new collection of Madeleine L ’ Engle ’ s early short stories ( some of which have never been published ) .
It ’ s interesting to me mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it provides a look at her early take on some of the themes that animated her later writing : isolated and lonely children , glamorous mothers , and absent or emasculated fathers .
In these stories , though , those themes are mundane and miserable , with none of the magic and escape that L ’ Engle ’ s later books have .
I ’ m not at all sure it ’ s making me feel better about the world , and I think I might send myself off on a quest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , something that might better fit my mood .
In the meantime , I ’ d like to help you find something to read that will fit your mood .
Let ’ s get started .
The recommendation requests below , submitted to me via email and on Twitter , have been edited for length and clarity .
I generally swing between big literary books or crazy-funny fantasy ( with a bit of quirky for good measure ) , but right now I need something less difficult .
I ’ d like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plague/death/sick children .
I have a few possibilities for you , and I ’ m going to list them in order of how dense the prose is , lightest to heaviest .
• Roisin Meaney , Life Drawing for Beginners .
A group of strangers in a small town in Ireland take drawing classes together .
Super-accessible and lovely .
• Nancy Mitford , Love in a Cold Climate .
Mid-century romantic comedy that strongly does not believe in romance .
Very funny , very smart , breezy and light .
• Stella @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Love in a Cold Climate but a bit more under the radar .
Funny and warm mid-century British satire .
• A.S. Byatt , Possession .
This one ’ s a little dense , but you also mentioned in your email that you like Donna Tartt , and Byatt ’ s vibe is similar .
It ’ s an absolutely beautiful book involving two Romantic poets and the 20th-century English professors researching them .
I just got out of a mental hospital — I am dealing with my first episode of psychosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to spend more of the day reading , but I can only read 15 or so pages at a time .
That sounds extremely difficult , and I am very sorry you are dealing with this .
What I would try right now is one of M.F.K .
Fisher ’ s essay collections , maybe The Gastronomical Me .
Fisher is a food writer and a truly brilliant stylist , so you ’ ll get lots of really visceral , sensual detail to help ground you in the world she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and short , too , so you don ’ t have the pressure of a long novel .
I find I can only read Anthony Trollope now .
Is there something else , something like Trollope , that is discursive , gently humorous , encompassing , wise , and never above the specificity of money — the want of it , the loss of it , the getting of it ?
The best Trollope pastiche I know of is Jo Walton ’ s Tooth and Claw , which is Trollope but with dragons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit ( dragons are traditionally interested in the acquisition of wealth and the formalities of etiquette ) , but I have to say that I ’ ve never found it to be a very gentle read — it always makes me feel as though I am trapped inside the skull of an alien creature , and the skull is the wrong shape .
Give it a try , and if it does not work for you , I would move on to Zadie Smith ’ s On Beauty .
She ’ s riffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but she ’ s a bit warmer and funnier than Forester in a way that ’ s reminiscent of Trollope .
There ’ s a lot about race and class and money , and it ’ s gently satirical the whole way through .
I would like to read a book about a college-aged lesbian because I am a college-aged lesbian .
But not a shitty book .
There are so many shitty lesbian books .
I will endeavor to avoid the shitty ones !
The obligatory classics here are Oranges Are Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I believe The Well of Loneliness has some college stuff too , but I will not inflict it on you ; it is depressing as fuck .
Contemporary options I have heard good things about include We Are Okay by Nina LaCour and Cottonmouths by Kelly J. Ford .
I am so tired of being alone .
I ’ m interested in hearing your suggestion .
The first book that made me feel less alone in all of this was Emma .
It was very soothing to watch Emma navigate the social world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austen is the best company you could ask for : arch and funny , but always at the expense of other people .
It worked for me , and I hope it works for you too !
If you ’ d like me to recommend a book for you , email me at constance.grady @ vox.com with the subject line “ Ask a Book Critic.
” The more specific your mood , the better !
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 this moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Vox today .

Welcome to the latest installment of Vox’s Ask a Book Critic, in which I, Vox book critic Constance Grady, provide book recommendations to suit your very specific mood: either how you’re feeling right now, or how you’d like to be feeling instead.
This week I’ve been dipping in and out of The Moment of Tenderness, a new collection of Madeleine L’Engle’s early short stories (some of which have never been published). It’s interesting to me mostly as a L’Engle completist, because it provides a look at her early take on some of the themes that animated her later writing: isolated and lonely children, glamorous mothers, and absent or emasculated fathers. In these stories, though, those themes are mundane and miserable, with none of the magic and escape that L’Engle’s later books have. I’m not at all sure it’s making me feel better about the world, and I think I might send myself off on a quest for a different book to read soon, something that might better fit my mood.
In the meantime, I’d like to help you find something to read that will fit your mood. Let’s get started.
The recommendation requests below, submitted to me via email and on Twitter, have been edited for length and clarity.
I generally swing between big literary books or crazy-funny fantasy (with a bit of quirky for good measure), but right now I need something less difficult. I’d like to be engaged and amused, with NO plague/death/sick children.
I have a few possibilities for you, and I’m going to list them in order of how dense the prose is, lightest to heaviest.
Roisin Meaney, Life Drawing for Beginners. A group of strangers in a small town in Ireland take drawing classes together. Super-accessible and lovely. Nancy Mitford, Love in a Cold Climate. Mid-century romantic comedy that strongly does not believe in romance. Very funny, very smart, breezy and light. Stella Gibbons, Nightingale Wood. Similar vibes as Love in a Cold Climate but a bit more under the radar. Funny and warm mid-century British satire. A.S. Byatt, Possession. This one’s a little dense, but you also mentioned in your email that you like Donna Tartt, and Byatt’s vibe is similar. It’s an absolutely beautiful book involving two Romantic poets and the 20th-century English professors researching them.
I just got out of a mental hospital — I am dealing with my first episode of psychosis at 37. I just want to be able to spend more of the day reading, but I can only read 15 or so pages at a time.
That sounds extremely difficult, and I am very sorry you are dealing with this. What I would try right now is one of M.F.K. Fisher’s essay collections, maybe The Gastronomical Me. Fisher is a food writer and a truly brilliant stylist, so you’ll get lots of really visceral, sensual detail to help ground you in the world she’s evoking. The essays are nice and short, too, so you don’t have the pressure of a long novel.
I find I can only read Anthony Trollope now. Is there something else, something like Trollope, that is discursive, gently humorous, encompassing, wise, and never above the specificity of money — the want of it, the loss of it, the getting of it?
The best Trollope pastiche I know of is Jo Walton’s Tooth and Claw, which is Trollope but with dragons. It’s a surprisingly good fit (dragons are traditionally interested in the acquisition of wealth and the formalities of etiquette), but I have to say that I’ve never found it to be a very gentle read — it always makes me feel as though I am trapped inside the skull of an alien creature, and the skull is the wrong shape. Give it a try, and if it does not work for you, I would move on to Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. She’s riffing off Howards End in that one, but she’s a bit warmer and funnier than Forester in a way that’s reminiscent of Trollope. There’s a lot about race and class and money, and it’s gently satirical the whole way through.
I would like to read a book about a college-aged lesbian because I am a college-aged lesbian. But not a shitty book. There are so many shitty lesbian books.
I will endeavor to avoid the shitty ones! The obligatory classics here are Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and Fun Home. I believe The Well of Loneliness has some college stuff too, but I will not inflict it on you; it is depressing as fuck. Contemporary options I have heard good things about include We Are Okay by Nina LaCour and Cottonmouths by Kelly J. Ford.
I am so tired of being alone. I’m interested in hearing your suggestion.
The first book that made me feel less alone in all of this was Emma. It was very soothing to watch Emma navigate the social world of her little village, and Jane Austen is the best company you could ask for: arch and funny, but always at the expense of other people. It worked for me, and I hope it works for you too!
If you’d like me to recommend a book for you, email me at constance.grady@vox.com with the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” The more specific your mood, the better!


vox--2020-04-23--It’s actually very reasonable for Florida to open its beaches

In March , as awareness spread about the novel coronavirus and the necessity of social distancing , scenes from spring break vacationers crowding the beaches of Florida horrified Americans .
It was eventually reported that some of the spring breakers contracted the coronavirus , and a few even died of it .
The state closed nonessential businesses ( including its beaches ) on April 1 , much later than many other states .
Now , only a few weeks later and with the outbreak still uncontrolled , parts of Florida are reopening beaches on a county-by-county level , after Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave the decision to local officials .
Unsurprisingly , this has gone over poorly in the national news , with beachgoers who have returned to shore being criticized as # FloridaMorons .
In the early days of the US outbreak , the beachgoers came to symbolize American recklessness in the face of the coronavirus , and the reopening of beaches is being cited as an example of how ignorant and reckless policymaking will prolong America ’ s coronavirus crisis .
But that criticism isn ’ t entirely fair .
While there are definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states too early — Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) is proceeding with a ridiculous plan to open hair and nail salons and bowling alleys , indoor businesses where close contact between and among employees and customers is unavoidable — there ’ s a good case for limited reopening of Florida beaches .
Just like parks and open spaces , beaches provide an important opportunity for people to stretch their legs , get fresh air and sunlight , and exercise .
Amid the coronavirus outbreak , many states have cut off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overcrowding .
But it ’ s a better idea to figure out how to ration open spaces like beaches and parks so that people can use them safely .
If a state has a way to make low-risk outdoor activity available , it should take advantage of it — while monitoring to make sure there are minimal negative impacts on public health .
New data could change all of this , but right now beaches don ’ t look like a grossly unreasonable bet .
We ’ re looking at months — maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed life because of the coronavirus .
During that time , we have a tough job ahead of us : figuring out which activities are low-risk enough to proceed cautiously , so that social distancing is sustainable for everyone and transmission rates remain low .
That might mean opening sites like Florida ’ s beaches , and at the very least , it means that people elsewhere shouldn ’ t scorn Florida for considering it .
Fresh air and exercise are good for you .
Exercise and vitamin D have been shown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including respiratory illness ; evidence from the 1918 flu pandemic suggests that treating flu patients outside rather than inside saves lives .
And there ’ s some tentative evidence that getting people outside keeps them safer from the novel coronavirus , too .
There ’ s still a lot we don ’ t know about the spread of the coronavirus .
But some research suggests that most transmission happens indoors .
One study from China ( which has not yet been peer-reviewed ) examined 318 outbreaks with three or more people across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and only two people got sick : Every outbreak with three or more cases happened indoors .
A different study ( also not peer-reviewed ) in Japan found that “ the odds that a primary case transmitted COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7 times greater compared to an open-air environment.
” It ’ s a better idea to figure out how to ration open spaces like beaches and parks so that people can use them safely There are some caveats , of course .
Indoor transmission is easier to trace than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tougher time tracing outdoor outbreaks .
China , outside the province of Hubei , didn ’ t have widespread community transmission during the time the study took place , and beaches are probably a lot more dangerous if hundreds of people there have the virus instead of just one .
Still , this suggests that shutting down outdoor recreation perhaps shouldn ’ t be the highest priority — people are mostly getting each other sick indoors .
And there is some reason to worry that banning people from going outside leads to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tufekci argued in the Atlantic last week , banning young people from meeting friends outdoors looks good — no embarrassing photos of crowds — but it probably doesn ’ t prevent them from meeting at all : Of course , ideally people would not be meeting at all with anyone who doesn ’ t live with them ; any meeting creates risk , and the smartest thing you can do ( and the right thing to do for other people ) is to stay away from people you don ’ t live with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule-breaking won ’ t end all rule-breaking , and it might mean the rule-breaking that does happen is 20 times riskier .
Marc Lipsitch , who studies infectious disease at Harvard , has also argued that it ’ s important to let people go outside .
“ The benefits of getting outside vastly outweigh the risk of getting infected in a park , ” he co-wrote ( with Ned Friedman and Joseph Allen ) in a Washington Post op-ed last week .
Closing open spaces “ should be a temporary , last-resort measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we should prefer to have them open with social distancing .
Does that apply to Florida ’ s beaches , I asked him ?
“ Yes , ” Lipsitch wrote back in an email , “ as long as people maintain distances.
” So in general , authorities should be working to help their population access the outdoors and open spaces safely , not fighting to keep them cooped up inside .
Opening Florida ’ s beaches during a pandemic : Not as bad as you think The decision about whether to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials , DeSantis announced last week .
Many counties kept their beaches closed , but a few — including Jacksonville , on which most of the national coverage focused — opened them .
The cities that did open their beaches have taken measures to ensure that beachgoers stay safe and practice social distancing .
In Jacksonville , for example , beaches are open from 6 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm , under significant restrictions — activities such as sunbathing and picnicking are not allowed ; nor are beach towels or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet between themselves and others .
Jacksonville parks are also open , but public restrooms and other facilities ( which could be grounds for virus transmission even if people are socially distancing appropriately outdoors ) are shut .
Florida ’ s stay-at-home order closing nearby bars and restaurants remains in effect .
There is police enforcement on the beaches .
Other counties have opened beaches but not parking lots , so only people who live nearby are likely to visit .
You may have seen pictures implying that Florida ’ s beaches have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past few days .
But many of those are misleading , and residents say there is widespread compliance with social distancing .
National news has shown pictures that make it look like Floridians are being irresponsible .
But it ’ s not easy to judge from a picture whether people are social distancing appropriately .
The lenses commonly used for images like this Associated Press photo of a Jacksonville beach make it hard to tell ; the impression can easily be that a beach is crowded even if everyone is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Jacksonville journalist Vic Micolucci explained in a Facebook post , the beach looks crowded in some images but nearly deserted in drone shots , which make it clearer how spaced-out people are .
“ If you take the miles of beaches up and down Duval County , there were indeed thousands of people .
However , most kept their distance .
And there was a lot of sand , ” he writes .
It takes more than a glance at a picture to know whether Floridians are being safe .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the beach reopenings sufficient ?
That remains to be seen .
If the Jacksonville area sees a surge of cases in the next few weeks , public health authorities may conclude that even this limited approach creates too much risk .
But at this point , that ’ s not obvious .
To be clear : Tourism to Florida to play on the beach is utterly unacceptable right now .
If you live far enough away that you ’ d have to make an extended trip , you should stay home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live .
You should stay away from people and wear a mask when you go out .
And personally , I would still stay home as much as you possibly can .
But there ’ s a case to be made that Florida ’ s reasonable , limited actions here are being condemned out of proportion .
When it comes to social distancing , there are no easy answers .
Measures that are desperately needed for public health come at a high human cost in terms of unemployment , isolation , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are real costs associated with opening beaches in Florida , or parks and recreation spaces everywhere else .
But there are real benefits , too .
As we try to figure out how to navigate the months ahead , we should acknowledge that there are degrees of risk here , and that opening Florida ’ s beaches is not necessarily a reckless act of ignorance , but a difficult act of balancing many crucial human needs .
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 .
Sign up for the Future Perfect newsletter and we ’ ll send you a roundup of ideas and solutions for tackling the world ’ s biggest challenges — and how to get better at doing good .
Future Perfect is funded in part by individual contributions , grants , and sponsorships .
Learn more here .

In March, as awareness spread about the novel coronavirus and the necessity of social distancing, scenes from spring break vacationers crowding the beaches of Florida horrified Americans. It was eventually reported that some of the spring breakers contracted the coronavirus, and a few even died of it. The state closed nonessential businesses (including its beaches) on April 1, much later than many other states.
Now, only a few weeks later and with the outbreak still uncontrolled, parts of Florida are reopening beaches on a county-by-county level, after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would leave the decision to local officials.
Unsurprisingly, this has gone over poorly in the national news, with beachgoers who have returned to shore being criticized as #FloridaMorons. In the early days of the US outbreak, the beachgoers came to symbolize American recklessness in the face of the coronavirus, and the reopening of beaches is being cited as an example of how ignorant and reckless policymaking will prolong America’s coronavirus crisis.
But that criticism isn’t entirely fair. While there are definitely some ignorant and reckless policymakers reopening their states too early — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is proceeding with a ridiculous plan to open hair and nail salons and bowling alleys, indoor businesses where close contact between and among employees and customers is unavoidable — there’s a good case for limited reopening of Florida beaches.
Just like parks and open spaces, beaches provide an important opportunity for people to stretch their legs, get fresh air and sunlight, and exercise. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, many states have cut off access to these areas in response to overcrowding. But it’s a better idea to figure out how to ration open spaces like beaches and parks so that people can use them safely. If a state has a way to make low-risk outdoor activity available, it should take advantage of it — while monitoring to make sure there are minimal negative impacts on public health. New data could change all of this, but right now beaches don’t look like a grossly unreasonable bet.
We’re looking at months — maybe more than a year — of dramatically changed life because of the coronavirus. During that time, we have a tough job ahead of us: figuring out which activities are low-risk enough to proceed cautiously, so that social distancing is sustainable for everyone and transmission rates remain low. That might mean opening sites like Florida’s beaches, and at the very least, it means that people elsewhere shouldn’t scorn Florida for considering it.
The case for outdoor spaces
Fresh air and exercise are good for you. Exercise and vitamin D have been shown to help protect against all kinds of illness, including respiratory illness; evidence from the 1918 flu pandemic suggests that treating flu patients outside rather than inside saves lives.
And there’s some tentative evidence that getting people outside keeps them safer from the novel coronavirus, too.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the spread of the coronavirus. But some research suggests that most transmission happens indoors. One study from China (which has not yet been peer-reviewed) examined 318 outbreaks with three or more people across the country. Only one happened outdoors, and only two people got sick: Every outbreak with three or more cases happened indoors. A different study (also not peer-reviewed) in Japan found that “the odds that a primary case transmitted COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7 times greater compared to an open-air environment.”
It’s a better idea to figure out how to ration open spaces like beaches and parks so that people can use them safely
There are some caveats, of course. Indoor transmission is easier to trace than outdoor transmission, meaning authorities likely had a tougher time tracing outdoor outbreaks. China, outside the province of Hubei, didn’t have widespread community transmission during the time the study took place, and beaches are probably a lot more dangerous if hundreds of people there have the virus instead of just one.
Still, this suggests that shutting down outdoor recreation perhaps shouldn’t be the highest priority — people are mostly getting each other sick indoors.
And there is some reason to worry that banning people from going outside leads to people instead congregating indoors. As Zeynep Tufekci argued in the Atlantic last week, banning young people from meeting friends outdoors looks good — no embarrassing photos of crowds — but it probably doesn’t prevent them from meeting at all:
Keeping parks open could even be seen as a form of harm reduction for congregating youth. If a group of 10 young people goes to a park like Brockwell and is kept six feet away from every other group, the police shooing them away may end up being pandemic theater that might increase the risk of transmission among the group members if they instead spend that time socializing anyway in a cramped, poorly ventilated apartment.
Of course, ideally people would not be meeting at all with anyone who doesn’t live with them; any meeting creates risk, and the smartest thing you can do (and the right thing to do for other people) is to stay away from people you don’t live with. But shutting down the most visible rule-breaking won’t end all rule-breaking, and it might mean the rule-breaking that does happen is 20 times riskier.
Marc Lipsitch, who studies infectious disease at Harvard, has also argued that it’s important to let people go outside. “The benefits of getting outside vastly outweigh the risk of getting infected in a park,” he co-wrote (with Ned Friedman and Joseph Allen) in a Washington Post op-ed last week. Closing open spaces “should be a temporary, last-resort measure,” and whenever we can, we should prefer to have them open with social distancing.
Does that apply to Florida’s beaches, I asked him? “Yes,” Lipsitch wrote back in an email, “as long as people maintain distances.”
So in general, authorities should be working to help their population access the outdoors and open spaces safely, not fighting to keep them cooped up inside.
Opening Florida’s beaches during a pandemic: Not as bad as you think
The decision about whether to reopen Florida beaches should be made by local officials, DeSantis announced last week. Many counties kept their beaches closed, but a few — including Jacksonville, on which most of the national coverage focused — opened them.
The cities that did open their beaches have taken measures to ensure that beachgoers stay safe and practice social distancing.
In Jacksonville, for example, beaches are open from 6 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm, under significant restrictions — activities such as sunbathing and picnicking are not allowed; nor are beach towels or chairs, and residents must keep 6 feet between themselves and others. Jacksonville parks are also open, but public restrooms and other facilities (which could be grounds for virus transmission even if people are socially distancing appropriately outdoors) are shut.
Florida’s stay-at-home order closing nearby bars and restaurants remains in effect. There is police enforcement on the beaches. Other counties have opened beaches but not parking lots, so only people who live nearby are likely to visit.
You may have seen pictures implying that Florida’s beaches have been packed with people as they reopened in the past few days. But many of those are misleading, and residents say there is widespread compliance with social distancing.
National news has shown pictures that make it look like Floridians are being irresponsible. But it’s not easy to judge from a picture whether people are social distancing appropriately. The lenses commonly used for images like this Associated Press photo of a Jacksonville beach make it hard to tell; the impression can easily be that a beach is crowded even if everyone is, in fact, following social distancing rules.
As Jacksonville journalist Vic Micolucci explained in a Facebook post, the beach looks crowded in some images but nearly deserted in drone shots, which make it clearer how spaced-out people are. “If you take the miles of beaches up and down Duval County, there were indeed thousands of people. However, most kept their distance. And there was a lot of sand,” he writes.
PERSPECTIVE: Jacksonville area journalists are being accused of lying to the public about the images shown of the... Posted by WJXT4 Vic Micolucci on Sunday, April 19, 2020
It takes more than a glance at a picture to know whether Floridians are being safe. The big question: Are the restrictions tied to the beach reopenings sufficient? That remains to be seen. If the Jacksonville area sees a surge of cases in the next few weeks, public health authorities may conclude that even this limited approach creates too much risk. But at this point, that’s not obvious.
To be clear: Tourism to Florida to play on the beach is utterly unacceptable right now. If you live far enough away that you’d have to make an extended trip, you should stay home and use outdoor spaces closer to where you live. You should stay away from people and wear a mask when you go out. And personally, I would still stay home as much as you possibly can. But there’s a case to be made that Florida’s reasonable, limited actions here are being condemned out of proportion.
When it comes to social distancing, there are no easy answers. Measures that are desperately needed for public health come at a high human cost in terms of unemployment, isolation, and the risk of domestic violence.
And there are real costs associated with opening beaches in Florida, or parks and recreation spaces everywhere else. But there are real benefits, too. As we try to figure out how to navigate the months ahead, we should acknowledge that there are degrees of risk here, and that opening Florida’s beaches is not necessarily a reckless act of ignorance, but a difficult act of balancing many crucial human needs.
Sign up for the Future Perfect newsletter and we’ll send you a roundup of ideas and solutions for tackling the world’s biggest challenges — and how to get better at doing good.
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vox--2020-04-23--Trump’s executive order to stop issuing green cards temporarily, explained

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday night temporarily suspending the issuance of green cards to immigrants abroad , saying it ’ s needed to protect American jobs amid an unemployment crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
Earlier drafts of the executive order would have also suspended the issuance of new visas .
But the New York Times reported that Trump ultimately decided against it after pushback from business groups that rely on foreign workers , particularly in the tech sector .
Under the executive order , American citizens are still able to apply for green cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spouses , and immigrants residing in the US can convert their existing visas into green cards .
But immigrants living abroad , including the family members of green card holders and adult children of US citizens , won ’ t be granted green cards for a period of 60 days unless they are seeking to enter the US to perform an essential job in the health care sector .
Roughly 358,000 green card applications could be affected .
“ As we move forward , we ’ ll examine what additional immigration-related measures should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , ” Trump said during a press conference on Tuesday .
“ We want to protect our US workers and I think as we move forward , we will become more and more protective of them.
” Trump had already shut down many parts of the immigration system prior to announcing the executive order : Migrants on the southern border are being turned away , and foreign consulates are no longer processing visas .
Travelers from China and Europe are banned from entering the US .
But on Monday night , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy , as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens , I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States !
” Trump tweeted .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed in a statement on Tuesday that the action was necessary “ at a time when Americans are looking to get back to work.
” As the coronavirus pandemic and the associated economic fallout has worsened , the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing issues with testing and shortages of medical equipment .
It has been much less reluctant to crack down on immigration — seizing the opportunity to advance the restrictionist policies the president has pursued for years .
The Trump administration had already restricted immigration amid the pandemic .
The executive order goes a step further in curtailing legal immigration .
In March , the State Department suspended routine visa processing at its consulates and embassies abroad , which has significantly slowed legal immigration .
Some 9.2 million visas were issued at consulates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s borders with Canada and Mexico are closed to nonessential travel .
The Trump administration has also implemented a system to swiftly turn away migrants arriving on the southern border during the pandemic .
Migrants from Mexico , Guatemala , El Salvador , and Honduras are processed in the field rather than inside US Border Patrol stations , and without so much as a medical exam , they ’ re sent back to Mexico in an average of 96 minutes , the Texas Tribune reported .
The administration had further postponed all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrants in the “ Remain in Mexico ” program who have been sent back to Mexico while they wait for the outcome of their asylum applications in the US .
Their applications will now be delayed .
Trump also restricted travel from China and Europe , which he has repeatedly touted as key to keeping the coronavirus at bay in the US .
The US , however , now has more reported coronavirus cases than any other country in the world , and testing capacity is still well below that of some other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken together have already made it much more difficult for legal immigrants applying for visas abroad , asylum seekers at the southern border , and citizens of China and Europe to come to the US .
Trump ’ s executive order will now block , at least for the next two months , those looking to settle in the US permanently , if they ’ re applying for green cards abroad .
Essential industries can still rely on immigrants Workers in essential fields will still be able to obtain visas under the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given concerns about labor shortages in health care and agriculture .
As patient demand continues to increase nationwide and with more health care workers unable to show up for work , either because they contract the virus or because they have to self-quarantine , many hospitals are facing staff shortages .
The US health system already relies heavily on immigrants , who make up 17 percent of all health care workers and more than 25 percent of all doctors .
And some states have sought to increase staff by waiving licensing requirements for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute to the coronavirus response .
Farmers have also been voicing concerns about potential labor shortages that could threaten the food supply .
They rely on seasonal agricultural workers , many of whom come to the US from Mexico on H-2A visas .
The US State Department recently eased restrictions on these workers , who numbered more than 250,000 in 2019 , eliminating requirements that they show up for in-person interviews .
This means that farms should still be able to access these workers , despite the fact that the agency shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Homeland Security also announced last week that it would allow H-2A workers to more easily switch employers and stay in the US beyond the three-year period their visas remain valid .
Still , farmers worry about visa processing delays and the prospect that fewer workers may want to risk coming to the US this year amid 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 that has the power to save lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Vox today .

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday night temporarily suspending the issuance of green cards to immigrants abroad, saying it’s needed to protect American jobs amid an unemployment crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier drafts of the executive order would have also suspended the issuance of new visas. But the New York Times reported that Trump ultimately decided against it after pushback from business groups that rely on foreign workers, particularly in the tech sector.
Under the executive order, American citizens are still able to apply for green cards on behalf of their minor children and spouses, and immigrants residing in the US can convert their existing visas into green cards. But immigrants living abroad, including the family members of green card holders and adult children of US citizens, won’t be granted green cards for a period of 60 days unless they are seeking to enter the US to perform an essential job in the health care sector. Roughly 358,000 green card applications could be affected.
“As we move forward, we’ll examine what additional immigration-related measures should be put in place to protect US workers,” Trump said during a press conference on Tuesday. “We want to protect our US workers and I think as we move forward, we will become more and more protective of them.”
Trump had already shut down many parts of the immigration system prior to announcing the executive order: Migrants on the southern border are being turned away, and foreign consulates are no longer processing visas. Travelers from China and Europe are banned from entering the US.
But on Monday night, he signaled that he wanted to go further: “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” Trump tweeted.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed in a statement on Tuesday that the action was necessary “at a time when Americans are looking to get back to work.”
As the coronavirus pandemic and the associated economic fallout has worsened, the Trump administration has shied away from aggressive action on addressing issues with testing and shortages of medical equipment. It has been much less reluctant to crack down on immigration — seizing the opportunity to advance the restrictionist policies the president has pursued for years.
Trump has already significantly restricted immigration
The Trump administration had already restricted immigration amid the pandemic. The executive order goes a step further in curtailing legal immigration.
In March, the State Department suspended routine visa processing at its consulates and embassies abroad, which has significantly slowed legal immigration. Some 9.2 million visas were issued at consulates and embassies abroad in 2019.
The US’s borders with Canada and Mexico are closed to nonessential travel.
The Trump administration has also implemented a system to swiftly turn away migrants arriving on the southern border during the pandemic. Migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras are processed in the field rather than inside US Border Patrol stations, and without so much as a medical exam, they’re sent back to Mexico in an average of 96 minutes, the Texas Tribune reported.
The administration had further postponed all court dates prior to April 22 for migrants in the “Remain in Mexico” program who have been sent back to Mexico while they wait for the outcome of their asylum applications in the US. Their applications will now be delayed.
Trump also restricted travel from China and Europe, which he has repeatedly touted as key to keeping the coronavirus at bay in the US. The US, however, now has more reported coronavirus cases than any other country in the world, and testing capacity is still well below that of some other developed countries.
All of these restrictions taken together have already made it much more difficult for legal immigrants applying for visas abroad, asylum seekers at the southern border, and citizens of China and Europe to come to the US. Trump’s executive order will now block, at least for the next two months, those looking to settle in the US permanently, if they’re applying for green cards abroad.
Essential industries can still rely on immigrants
Workers in essential fields will still be able to obtain visas under the executive order. That’s particularly critical given concerns about labor shortages in health care and agriculture.
As patient demand continues to increase nationwide and with more health care workers unable to show up for work, either because they contract the virus or because they have to self-quarantine, many hospitals are facing staff shortages.
The US health system already relies heavily on immigrants, who make up 17 percent of all health care workers and more than 25 percent of all doctors. And some states have sought to increase staff by waiving licensing requirements for foreign medical school graduates so they can contribute to the coronavirus response.
Farmers have also been voicing concerns about potential labor shortages that could threaten the food supply. They rely on seasonal agricultural workers, many of whom come to the US from Mexico on H-2A visas.
The US State Department recently eased restrictions on these workers, who numbered more than 250,000 in 2019, eliminating requirements that they show up for in-person interviews. This means that farms should still be able to access these workers, despite the fact that the agency shut down visa processing across Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security also announced last week that it would allow H-2A workers to more easily switch employers and stay in the US beyond the three-year period their visas remain valid.
Still, farmers worry about visa processing delays and the prospect that fewer workers may want to risk coming to the US this year amid the pandemic.


vox--2020-04-23--Why Babylon Berlin should be your next Netflix watch

Some small part of me wants to take everybody who makes so-called “ prestige ” American television and force them to watch Babylon Berlin , a megabudget German series that is so much better than just about any other major drama being produced today .
Across three seasons , the series — which is available in the US on Netflix — tells complicated stories about police officers solving twisty , noir-inflected cases driven by strange and hidden conspiracies in 1929 Berlin .
The German democracy is on its last legs , about to be swept aside by Hitler and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this already , while the characters think their system of government is shaky but fundamentally salvageable .
Unlike a lot of stories set in Germany during this era , it takes several episodes for Hitler to even be mentioned ( and only once across the first two seasons ! )
, and then a seemingly eternal stretch of time after that for a swastika to show up .
And yet the overall sweep of the show is vintage film noir : The heroes , Gereon Rath ( Volker Bruch ) and Charlotte Ritter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the bad guys they can capture or sideline , all the while being forced by those above them in the chain of command to let the real villains walk .
Broadly speaking , Babylon Berlin is about the challenge of ever stopping the slow slide into fascism , because the full picture is often hard to see , and those who scream about it are written off as paranoiacs .
But even Gereon and Charlotte do awful things in the name of their own self-interest .
It ’ s a nervy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also screamingly funny .
( And sometimes it ’ s a musical ? )
The long , slow-burn flirtation between Gereon and Charlotte is one of the best will-they/won ’ t-theys I ’ ve ever seen .
Plus , did I mention that every episode is under 50 minutes ?
And paced like a lightning bolt ?
Oh , and the dream sequences , how did I not mention the dream sequences ?
Or the incredibly impressive and elaborate stunt work !
If you called Babylon Berlin “ Germany ’ s Game of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be wrong The series I keep wanting to compare Babylon Berlin to is Game of Thrones .
Like the HBO behemoth , Babylon Berlin is based on a popular book series that became megapopular after the TV show was a hit .
( The Gereon Rath books , by Volker Kutscher , are even being translated into English now ! )
The two series are similarly expensive , with Babylon Berlin being the most expensive TV production in German history .
They ’ re also similarly complicated .
Babylon Berlin follows dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then lets their storylines collide and crash into each other in fascinating ways .
Every time a character in one storyline opens their door to suddenly see characters from another storyline , it gives me the giddy thrill I felt when , say , Tyrion met Daenerys on Game of Thrones all those years ago .
But where Game of Thrones too often let those meetings descend into circuitous games of realpolitik , Babylon Berlin uses its storyline collisions to keep moving things forward .
That momentum is what I wish I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see in Babylon Berlin .
How many times have you watched an American TV drama that dragged on well past the point of your engagement ?
Across the show ’ s first 28 episodes , only one installment of Babylon Berlin runs over 50 minutes long , and it ’ s the third season finale — a wholly acceptable time to have a longer-than-usual episode .
The storytelling is marvelously efficient , too .
A fantasy dance sequence in one episode turns out to teach you the geography of a location that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around a house trying not to be detected ” sequence in a later episode .
Every moment of character development is a moment of plot development and vice versa .
To some degree , the Babylon Berlin team ( which includes highly acclaimed German filmmaker Tom Tykwer , among others ) has an unfair advantage here over other prestige dramas .
Kutscher ’ s series of novels will eventually number nine in total , and he ’ s already completed seven , with an eighth on the way .
Thus , the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and plot development together in a way that speaks to the source material .
Character growth happens slowly — as it would in real life — but plot development can speed by more quickly , with a new major mystery each season ( though the mysteries in seasons one and two , which both adapt the first book in the series , are highly linked ) .
Even without the books , Babylon Berlin has the benefit of real-world history to draw from .
We know where all of this is heading , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer Gereon and Charlotte get to the truth , the more they miss the forest for the trees .
We know the shape of that forest , and we know the monsters that hide within it .
But at every turn , Babylon Berlin insists that just as its characters are blind to what is coming , so too might we be .
Thinking you can ’ t be living through something dark and terrible is a privilege of those who don ’ t realize how easy it is to stray from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the depths of the woods .
Also , c ’ mon , how can you not watch a show featuring this ( non-spoilery ) sequence in its second episode ?
The first three seasons of Babylon Berlin are available in the US and many other territories on Netflix .
The fourth season is supposed to go into production in late 2020 or early 2021 , but who knows if that will happen .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 this moment requires .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .

Some small part of me wants to take everybody who makes so-called “prestige” American television and force them to watch Babylon Berlin, a megabudget German series that is so much better than just about any other major drama being produced today.
Across three seasons, the series — which is available in the US on Netflix — tells complicated stories about police officers solving twisty, noir-inflected cases driven by strange and hidden conspiracies in 1929 Berlin. The German democracy is on its last legs, about to be swept aside by Hitler and the Nazis. Crucially, the audience knows this already, while the characters think their system of government is shaky but fundamentally salvageable. Unlike a lot of stories set in Germany during this era, it takes several episodes for Hitler to even be mentioned (and only once across the first two seasons!), and then a seemingly eternal stretch of time after that for a swastika to show up.
And yet the overall sweep of the show is vintage film noir: The heroes, Gereon Rath (Volker Bruch) and Charlotte Ritter (Liv Lisa Fries), take down the bad guys they can capture or sideline, all the while being forced by those above them in the chain of command to let the real villains walk. Broadly speaking, Babylon Berlin is about the challenge of ever stopping the slow slide into fascism, because the full picture is often hard to see, and those who scream about it are written off as paranoiacs. But even Gereon and Charlotte do awful things in the name of their own self-interest.
It’s a nervy, complex drama. But it’s also screamingly funny. (And sometimes it’s a musical?) The long, slow-burn flirtation between Gereon and Charlotte is one of the best will-they/won’t-theys I’ve ever seen. Plus, did I mention that every episode is under 50 minutes? And paced like a lightning bolt? Oh, and the dream sequences, how did I not mention the dream sequences? Or the incredibly impressive and elaborate stunt work!
If you called Babylon Berlin “Germany’s Game of Thrones,” you wouldn’t be wrong
The series I keep wanting to compare Babylon Berlin to is Game of Thrones. Like the HBO behemoth, Babylon Berlin is based on a popular book series that became megapopular after the TV show was a hit. (The Gereon Rath books, by Volker Kutscher, are even being translated into English now!) The two series are similarly expensive, with Babylon Berlin being the most expensive TV production in German history.
They’re also similarly complicated. Babylon Berlin follows dozens of characters in and around 1929 Berlin, then lets their storylines collide and crash into each other in fascinating ways. Every time a character in one storyline opens their door to suddenly see characters from another storyline, it gives me the giddy thrill I felt when, say, Tyrion met Daenerys on Game of Thrones all those years ago. But where Game of Thrones too often let those meetings descend into circuitous games of realpolitik, Babylon Berlin uses its storyline collisions to keep moving things forward.
That momentum is what I wish I could force prestige TV makers in the US to see in Babylon Berlin. How many times have you watched an American TV drama that dragged on well past the point of your engagement? Across the show’s first 28 episodes, only one installment of Babylon Berlin runs over 50 minutes long, and it’s the third season finale — a wholly acceptable time to have a longer-than-usual episode. The storytelling is marvelously efficient, too. A fantasy dance sequence in one episode turns out to teach you the geography of a location that becomes very important for a “sneaking around a house trying not to be detected” sequence in a later episode. Every moment of character development is a moment of plot development and vice versa.
To some degree, the Babylon Berlin team (which includes highly acclaimed German filmmaker Tom Tykwer, among others) has an unfair advantage here over other prestige dramas. Kutscher’s series of novels will eventually number nine in total, and he’s already completed seven, with an eighth on the way. Thus, the show’s creative team can layer character and plot development together in a way that speaks to the source material. Character growth happens slowly — as it would in real life — but plot development can speed by more quickly, with a new major mystery each season (though the mysteries in seasons one and two, which both adapt the first book in the series, are highly linked).
Even without the books, Babylon Berlin has the benefit of real-world history to draw from. We know where all of this is heading, and it’s horrifying. The closer Gereon and Charlotte get to the truth, the more they miss the forest for the trees. We know the shape of that forest, and we know the monsters that hide within it. But at every turn, Babylon Berlin insists that just as its characters are blind to what is coming, so too might we be. Thinking you can’t be living through something dark and terrible is a privilege of those who don’t realize how easy it is to stray from the path and end up lost somewhere in the depths of the woods.
Also, c’mon, how can you not watch a show featuring this (non-spoilery) sequence in its second episode?
The first three seasons of Babylon Berlin are available in the US and many other territories on Netflix. The fourth season is supposed to go into production in late 2020 or early 2021, but who knows if that will happen.