vox--2020-06-13--Fauci and the CDC caution against large gatherings as Trump hypes his campaign rally

President Donald Trump boasted about the size of the crowd at his upcoming Tulsa , Oklahoma , campaign rally on Friday , as Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) issued strong warnings about congregating in large groups .
“ We have already had ticket requests in excess of 200,000 people , ” the president wrote on Twitter , as he announced the event would be postponed by a day to keep it from falling on Juneteenth .
“ I look forward to seeing everyone in Oklahoma !
” Trump ’ s presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of registrations had topped 300,000 people , calling the rally “ the hottest ticket ever.
” But hours before , Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the top scientist on the federal coronavirus task force , reminded the public that large crowds are inherently “ risky ” and a “ danger ” for coronavirus transmission .
And the CDC also released guidance cautioning against congregating in groups , among other things , on Friday .
The divergence between Trump ’ s campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the wisdom of joining a crowd is familiar territory : the president has consistently encouraged the public to disregard federal guidelines and scientific consensus on avoiding exposure to the coronavirus .
While in the past it was part of an agenda to encourage people to begin participating in the economy again , in this instance it appears that Trump ’ s campaign is eager to use the spectacle of an excited crowd to whip up excitement for his reelection bid .
Fauci warned against such gatherings in an interview with ABC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any form pose a risk to the public — including recent protests .
“ It ’ s a danger to the people who are trying to control the demonstration , and it ’ s a danger to the people who are demonstrating , ” Fauci said .
“ So at the end of the day , it is a risky procedure.
” When asked if what he said applied to Trump ’ s decision to start campaign rallies again next week , Fauci said yes , telling Karl , “ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say.
” “ [ The ] best way that you can avoid — either acquiring or transmitting infection — is to avoid crowded places , to wear a mask whenever you ’ re outside , ” Fauci said .
“ And if you can do both , avoid the congregation of people and do the mask , that ’ s great.
” The expert also suggested Americans should be in crowds only when there is no other choice : “ If you ’ re going to be in a situation where , beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people around you , make sure you wear a mask , ” Fauci added .
Fauci ’ s advice followed the CDC ’ s release of new guidelines on Friday meant to help people manage exposure to the coronavirus as states reopen businesses and relax social distancing protocols across the nation .
The guidelines note that taking part in group activities for extended periods of time around people who aren ’ t wearing masks or social distancing increases the risk of infection , and of spreading Covid-19 .
But this guidance appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is set to resume densely packed campaign rallies next week .
The only acknowledgement of the risks involved with attending the rally is in the sign-up form for tickets .
That form includes a disclaimer that releases the Trump campaign and the event ’ s hosts from liability for exposure to coronavirus : “ By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. ; BOK Center ; ASM Global ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officers , employees , agents , contractors , or volunteers liable for any illness or injury , ” the statement says .
Parscale , Trump ’ s campaign manager , has pushed aggressively on social media for people to sign up for seats for Trump ’ s rally at an arena in Tulsa next week , promising an “ epic ” event .
He also said the campaign is contemplating a second event in the city to allow “ more people to be with ” Trump .
It ’ s unclear how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arena , which has a listed seating capacity of over 19,000 , or how large a second venue might be .
It ’ s also unclear what kind of measures will be taken to reduce the risks that accompany being in a crowd .
Thus far , campaign officials have discussed providing hand sanitizer on-site .
Epidemiologists have pointed out that chanting and shouting are among the activities most likely to increase the likelihood of transmission , particularly if people aren ’ t wearing masks .
Trump himself has declined to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , polls have shown Republicans are far less likely to wear masks in public than Democrats or independents .
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 .

President Donald Trump boasted about the size of the crowd at his upcoming Tulsa, Oklahoma, campaign rally on Friday, as Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued strong warnings about congregating in large groups.
“We have already had ticket requests in excess of 200,000 people,” the president wrote on Twitter, as he announced the event would be postponed by a day to keep it from falling on Juneteenth. “I look forward to seeing everyone in Oklahoma!”
Trump’s presidential campaign manager Brad Parscale later boasted that the number of registrations had topped 300,000 people, calling the rally “the hottest ticket ever.”
But hours before, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the top scientist on the federal coronavirus task force, reminded the public that large crowds are inherently “risky” and a “danger” for coronavirus transmission. And the CDC also released guidance cautioning against congregating in groups, among other things, on Friday.
The divergence between Trump’s campaign manager and his top federal public health official on the wisdom of joining a crowd is familiar territory: the president has consistently encouraged the public to disregard federal guidelines and scientific consensus on avoiding exposure to the coronavirus. While in the past it was part of an agenda to encourage people to begin participating in the economy again, in this instance it appears that Trump’s campaign is eager to use the spectacle of an excited crowd to whip up excitement for his reelection bid.
Fauci warned against such gatherings in an interview with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl, saying crowds in any form pose a risk to the public — including recent protests.
“It’s a danger to the people who are trying to control the demonstration, and it’s a danger to the people who are demonstrating,” Fauci said. “So at the end of the day, it is a risky procedure.”
When asked if what he said applied to Trump’s decision to start campaign rallies again next week, Fauci said yes, telling Karl, “I am consistent. I stick by what I say.”
“[The] best way that you can avoid — either acquiring or transmitting infection — is to avoid crowded places, to wear a mask whenever you’re outside,” Fauci said. “And if you can do both, avoid the congregation of people and do the mask, that’s great.”
The expert also suggested Americans should be in crowds only when there is no other choice: “If you’re going to be in a situation where, beyond your control there’s a lot of people around you, make sure you wear a mask,” Fauci added.
Fauci’s advice followed the CDC’s release of new guidelines on Friday meant to help people manage exposure to the coronavirus as states reopen businesses and relax social distancing protocols across the nation. The guidelines note that taking part in group activities for extended periods of time around people who aren’t wearing masks or social distancing increases the risk of infection, and of spreading Covid-19.
But this guidance appears to have been disregarded by the president, who is set to resume densely packed campaign rallies next week. The only acknowledgement of the risks involved with attending the rally is in the sign-up form for tickets.
That form includes a disclaimer that releases the Trump campaign and the event’s hosts from liability for exposure to coronavirus: “By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury,” the statement says.
Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager, has pushed aggressively on social media for people to sign up for seats for Trump’s rally at an arena in Tulsa next week, promising an “epic” event. He also said the campaign is contemplating a second event in the city to allow “more people to be with” Trump.
Correction now 300,000! Going to be epic! https://t.co/36wBjA7duT — Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 12, 2020
It’s unclear how many people will actually be allowed into the arena, which has a listed seating capacity of over 19,000, or how large a second venue might be. It’s also unclear what kind of measures will be taken to reduce the risks that accompany being in a crowd. Thus far, campaign officials have discussed providing hand sanitizer on-site.
Epidemiologists have pointed out that chanting and shouting are among the activities most likely to increase the likelihood of transmission, particularly if people aren’t wearing masks. Trump himself has declined to wear a mask in public; in general, polls have shown Republicans are far less likely to wear masks in public than Democrats or independents.


vox--2020-06-13--The most powerful person in the White House not named Donald Trump

Jared Kushner ’ s portfolio of duties is already the stuff of legend — overseeing the US-Mexico border wall , ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , solving the opioid crisis , managing the nation ’ s medical stockpile amid the coronavirus crisis , overhauling the Republican Party platform , and on and on .
It would be an impressive list of responsibilities for President Trump ’ s senior adviser and son-in-law — were it not for the fact that Kushner is manifestly unskilled and unsuited to take on any one of them .
But that hasn ’ t stopped the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kushner from answering the call .
It ’ s a bewildering blend of confidence and ignorance that has unfortunately had real consequences on American lives .
For that reason , I wanted to know more about Kushner — his background , his politics , his relationship with Trump — and why he ’ s so eager to punch above his weight .
I reached out to Andrea Bernstein , who wrote a profile of Kushner for the New Yorker earlier this year .
Bernstein ’ s piece was drawn from her book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader look at the partnership between the Trumps and the Kushners .
We discussed Kushner ’ s ideological core ( or lack thereof ) , why he keeps failing upward , and how he became the most powerful person in the White House not named Donald Trump .
We also talk about the irony of Kushner , a Jewish person descended from Holocaust survivors , embracing Trumpist ethnonationalism .
A lightly edited transcript of our conversation follows .
Something that comes across pretty quickly in your writing is that Jared thinks very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overarching themes after talking to dozens , maybe hundreds , of people who knew Jared was that he was very , very confident in himself and his own abilities , even when he didn ’ t have information .
I heard this over and over again .
I heard it as it applies to his real estate business , to his work in the publishing industry , and to his work in politics .
People assumed , based on his demeanor , that they would go in and have a discussion with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one who always thought he was right , and he understood things and he knew how to do things even when he clearly didn ’ t .
I don ’ t know smart or dumb Jared Kushner is , so I ’ ll ask this question as charitably as I can : Is he as incompetent as he appears to be ?
I think that Jared Kushner ’ s fatal flaw is he doesn ’ t see having no information as a flaw .
And yet , even though I say it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have propelled him to one success after another .
Well , it ’ s funny how being extremely rich and privileged allows you to fail upward so often , but the troubling thing about Kushner is that he embodies this absurd union of ignorance and confidence and he just keeps taking on more power and more responsibilities — But it keeps working , right ?
Had the Trump campaign gone the other way , which as we all know it almost did , he could have come away with a different lesson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same lesson as always , which was that people doubted him and he did things in an unorthodox way and they won .
So far , that has been a successful strategy for Donald Trump .
We ’ ll see what happens next , but it has worked for him .
He has managed to rebuff investigations , he ’ s managed to be acquitted in his impeachment trial , he ’ s managed to disrupt all kinds of norms , and the administration survives .
I think Jared sees all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing things right .
What surprised you the most in reporting on him ?
I don ’ t know if it was a surprise , but I feel like the pathos of his family ’ s story had such a profound effect on me .
To understand the story of his grandparents who had survived in these incredibly brutal conditions , I went really deep on Holocaust studies , which was not something I had ever done .
So I really got into studying the history of Poland in the war , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I listened to his grandmother ’ s testimonies and I listened to her sister ’ s testimonies and I went to the Holocaust Center and I asked for all of the testimonies that they had collected from people who lived in the same village .
It ’ s an incredible story of human resilience and survival and family love that could be transmuted in two short generations to what we ’ re seeing now .
What do you mean ?
I mean we have this amazing story of a family that escaped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jared Kushner has fully embraced this idea that there ’ s an “ us ” and there ’ s a “ them , ” and the “ us ” will be taken care of and the “ them ” will be kept out .
This is a guy whose father went to prison for illegal campaign contributions to Democrats , who has been a Democrat himself for most of his life , and now he ’ s working for an ethnonationalist president whose administration has presided over a rise in anti-Semitism , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that circle ?
He ’ s dodged these sorts of questions in the past , but do you know what he really thinks about this ?
How does he justify it ?
This is living with the contradictions of history , right ?
I mean , when I started writing this book , I thought , “ Okay , if you have lived through the Holocaust , if your family lived through the Holocaust , you are going to be sympathetic to the plight of refugees and immigrants and are going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those who were in a situation that your family was once in , ” and I think that that was something I assumed was a direct line , but it clearly wasn ’ t .
Understanding why that was the case was a big project of my research .
Is there any indication that he ’ s even aware of these contradictions , that he ’ s introspective about it ?
All I can see is that he backs his father-in-law by instinct .
He comes from this family where loyalty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not even loyalty to the family in general , but loyalty to immediate family .
But you can ’ t get him to reflect on this stuff .
There ’ s a part in my book where I talk about the exchange he had with Dana Schwartz , a writer at the Observer , who said , “ ‘ America First ’ was Charles Lindbergh ’ s campaign slogan , and he was explicitly anti-Semitic .
Don ’ t insult me .
You went to Harvard and have two graduate degrees .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Jared would say is that that ’ s the “ Twitter throngs ” talking and that he knows his father-in-law better than anyone else .
Does he have any deep ideological commitments ?
I think he ’ s really committed to the “ Make America Great Again ” campaign .
I ’ ve no reason to believe otherwise .
Something I noticed when I started reporting on Jared is that people in New York , especially , had this impression of him — and his family — as center-left Democrats , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to Democrats over the years .
So there was a sense that he was this vaguely Democratic guy who was in the mainstream of New York society .
And a lot of people who know him told me they felt betrayed and shocked when they went to Jared to try to explain what they thought was an error in Trump ’ s policies and the response they got was , “ I believe my father-in-law .
I am not going to listen to you.
” But I think this shock comes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what his family was about .
Sure , they were massive Democratic donors , but they ’ re real estate developers and a lot of that is just transactional politics , not a reflection of deep ideological commitments .
I don ’ t think Kushner was ever a Democrat in any meaningful sense .
But I think he ’ s found meaning in political engagement through his father-in-law ’ s campaign and subsequently his presidency .
What ’ s that relationship like between Trump and Kushner ?
I mean , they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said on many occasions that he thinks Jared is a brilliant guy , a successful guy , and of course he ’ s married to his daughter , Ivanka .
A lot of people in the administration don ’ t like Jared and keep waiting for him to get his comeuppance .
But it never happens .
Jared ’ s office is right next to Trump ’ s in the Oval Office and he can go into the East Wing as well as the West Wing .
So when everybody else leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family dinner with the president and that gives him enormous power .
Trump also likes the sense that the family is running the business , and he trusts Ivanka and he trusts Jared .
Here ’ s the thing I keep wondering : Why is he doing this ?
Jared doesn ’ t have to take all this heat ; he doesn ’ t have to accept all these jobs for which he ’ s grossly ill-prepared .
He could just as easily enjoy the fruits of power and privilege without exposing himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to walk away from power in that way .
It ’ s incredibly hard to walk away from power .
You could have a less troubled life , but there is an allure to being at the center of power and I think he enjoys it .
Right , but I ’ m saying he could wield influence in a more clandestine way .
He doesn ’ t have to be out front like this .
I know what you ’ re saying , but I think there ’ s an allure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an impulse that goes all the way back to the Greeks and to Shakespeare , right ?
People want to be at the center of power .
But I ’ d also stress , again , that Kushner seems to really think he ’ s contributing to the country .
What ’ s the most important thing people should know about Jared Kushner ?
I don ’ t think people understand how powerful he is .
I really don ’ t .
People underestimate his proximity to power and his willingness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moment of real crisis and real uncertainty , and this guy is at the center of it with no training whatsoever .
He ’ s just experimenting as he goes .
Is he the most powerful person in the White House not named Donald Trump ?
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 .

Jared Kushner’s portfolio of duties is already the stuff of legend — overseeing the US-Mexico border wall, ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, solving the opioid crisis, managing the nation’s medical stockpile amid the coronavirus crisis, overhauling the Republican Party platform, and on and on.
It would be an impressive list of responsibilities for President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law — were it not for the fact that Kushner is manifestly unskilled and unsuited to take on any one of them.
But that hasn’t stopped the president from continuing to turn to him — and Kushner from answering the call. It’s a bewildering blend of confidence and ignorance that has unfortunately had real consequences on American lives.
For that reason, I wanted to know more about Kushner — his background, his politics, his relationship with Trump — and why he’s so eager to punch above his weight. I reached out to Andrea Bernstein, who wrote a profile of Kushner for the New Yorker earlier this year. Bernstein’s piece was drawn from her book, American Oligarchs, which took a broader look at the partnership between the Trumps and the Kushners.
We discussed Kushner’s ideological core (or lack thereof), why he keeps failing upward, and how he became the most powerful person in the White House not named Donald Trump. We also talk about the irony of Kushner, a Jewish person descended from Holocaust survivors, embracing Trumpist ethnonationalism.
A lightly edited transcript of our conversation follows.
Sean Illing
Something that comes across pretty quickly in your writing is that Jared thinks very, very highly of Jared.
Andrea Bernstein
One of the overarching themes after talking to dozens, maybe hundreds, of people who knew Jared was that he was very, very confident in himself and his own abilities, even when he didn’t have information. I heard this over and over again. I heard it as it applies to his real estate business, to his work in the publishing industry, and to his work in politics.
People assumed, based on his demeanor, that they would go in and have a discussion with him, but that he was the one who always thought he was right, and he understood things and he knew how to do things even when he clearly didn’t.
Sean Illing
I don’t know smart or dumb Jared Kushner is, so I’ll ask this question as charitably as I can: Is he as incompetent as he appears to be?
Andrea Bernstein
I think that Jared Kushner’s fatal flaw is he doesn’t see having no information as a flaw. And yet, even though I say it’s a flaw, it seems to have propelled him to one success after another.
Sean Illing
Well, it’s funny how being extremely rich and privileged allows you to fail upward so often, but the troubling thing about Kushner is that he embodies this absurd union of ignorance and confidence and he just keeps taking on more power and more responsibilities —
Andrea Bernstein
But it keeps working, right? Had the Trump campaign gone the other way, which as we all know it almost did, he could have come away with a different lesson. But instead, he came away with the same lesson as always, which was that people doubted him and he did things in an unorthodox way and they won. So far, that has been a successful strategy for Donald Trump.
We’ll see what happens next, but it has worked for him. He has managed to rebuff investigations, he’s managed to be acquitted in his impeachment trial, he’s managed to disrupt all kinds of norms, and the administration survives. I think Jared sees all of this as confirmation that they’re doing things right.
Sean Illing
What surprised you the most in reporting on him?
Andrea Bernstein
I don’t know if it was a surprise, but I feel like the pathos of his family’s story had such a profound effect on me. To understand the story of his grandparents who had survived in these incredibly brutal conditions, I went really deep on Holocaust studies, which was not something I had ever done.
So I really got into studying the history of Poland in the war, which I hadn’t really understood, and I listened to his grandmother’s testimonies and I listened to her sister’s testimonies and I went to the Holocaust Center and I asked for all of the testimonies that they had collected from people who lived in the same village. It’s an incredible story of human resilience and survival and family love that could be transmuted in two short generations to what we’re seeing now.
Sean Illing
What do you mean?
Andrea Bernstein
I mean we have this amazing story of a family that escaped Nazism, and a couple generations later Jared Kushner has fully embraced this idea that there’s an “us” and there’s a “them,” and the “us” will be taken care of and the “them” will be kept out.
Sean Illing
This is a guy whose father went to prison for illegal campaign contributions to Democrats, who has been a Democrat himself for most of his life, and now he’s working for an ethnonationalist president whose administration has presided over a rise in anti-Semitism, among other things.
How does he square that circle? He’s dodged these sorts of questions in the past, but do you know what he really thinks about this? How does he justify it?
Andrea Bernstein
This is living with the contradictions of history, right? I mean, when I started writing this book, I thought, “Okay, if you have lived through the Holocaust, if your family lived through the Holocaust, you are going to be sympathetic to the plight of refugees and immigrants and are going to be willing to reach out a helping hand to those who were in a situation that your family was once in,” and I think that that was something I assumed was a direct line, but it clearly wasn’t. Understanding why that was the case was a big project of my research.
Sean Illing
Is there any indication that he’s even aware of these contradictions, that he’s introspective about it?
Andrea Bernstein
All I can see is that he backs his father-in-law by instinct. He comes from this family where loyalty to family is the primary thing, and not even loyalty to the family in general, but loyalty to immediate family. But you can’t get him to reflect on this stuff.
There’s a part in my book where I talk about the exchange he had with Dana Schwartz, a writer at the Observer, who said, “‘America First’ was Charles Lindbergh’s campaign slogan, and he was explicitly anti-Semitic. Don’t insult me. You went to Harvard and have two graduate degrees. I know that you know this.” And all Jared would say is that that’s the “Twitter throngs” talking and that he knows his father-in-law better than anyone else.
Sean Illing
Does he have any deep ideological commitments?
Andrea Bernstein
I think he’s really committed to the “Make America Great Again” campaign. I’ve no reason to believe otherwise.
Something I noticed when I started reporting on Jared is that people in New York, especially, had this impression of him — and his family — as center-left Democrats, because of all the money their family had given to Democrats over the years. So there was a sense that he was this vaguely Democratic guy who was in the mainstream of New York society. And a lot of people who know him told me they felt betrayed and shocked when they went to Jared to try to explain what they thought was an error in Trump’s policies and the response they got was, “I believe my father-in-law. I am not going to listen to you.”
But I think this shock comes from a misreading of who Jared Kushner is and what his family was about. Sure, they were massive Democratic donors, but they’re real estate developers and a lot of that is just transactional politics, not a reflection of deep ideological commitments. I don’t think Kushner was ever a Democrat in any meaningful sense. But I think he’s found meaning in political engagement through his father-in-law’s campaign and subsequently his presidency.
Sean Illing
What’s that relationship like between Trump and Kushner?
Andrea Bernstein
I mean, they get along in a family way. Trump has said on many occasions that he thinks Jared is a brilliant guy, a successful guy, and of course he’s married to his daughter, Ivanka.
A lot of people in the administration don’t like Jared and keep waiting for him to get his comeuppance. But it never happens. Jared’s office is right next to Trump’s in the Oval Office and he can go into the East Wing as well as the West Wing. So when everybody else leaves for the night, he can have family dinner with the president and that gives him enormous power. Trump also likes the sense that the family is running the business, and he trusts Ivanka and he trusts Jared.
Sean Illing
Here’s the thing I keep wondering: Why is he doing this? Jared doesn’t have to take all this heat; he doesn’t have to accept all these jobs for which he’s grossly ill-prepared. He could just as easily enjoy the fruits of power and privilege without exposing himself in this way.
Andrea Bernstein
Nobody really actually wants to walk away from power in that way. It’s incredibly hard to walk away from power. You could have a less troubled life, but there is an allure to being at the center of power and I think he enjoys it.
Sean Illing
Right, but I’m saying he could wield influence in a more clandestine way. He doesn’t have to be out front like this.
Andrea Bernstein
I know what you’re saying, but I think there’s an allure to being at the podium. It’s an impulse that goes all the way back to the Greeks and to Shakespeare, right? People want to be at the center of power. But I’d also stress, again, that Kushner seems to really think he’s contributing to the country.
Sean Illing
What’s the most important thing people should know about Jared Kushner?
Andrea Bernstein
I don’t think people understand how powerful he is. I really don’t. People underestimate his proximity to power and his willingness to use it. And this is a moment of real crisis and real uncertainty, and this guy is at the center of it with no training whatsoever. He’s just experimenting as he goes.
Sean Illing
Is he the most powerful person in the White House not named Donald Trump?
Andrea Bernstein
Yes.


vox--2020-06-13--Trump postpones his MAGA rally planned for Juneteenth

After much outcry , President Donald Trump has postponed the Make America Great Again Rally that was scheduled in Tulsa , Oklahoma , on Juneteenth — a location and date that are conspicuously linked to key events in black American history .
Juneteenth , on June 19 , marks liberation for black Americans , while Tulsa is the site of one of America ’ s deadliest racial massacres .
The optics around the president ’ s event — a large gathering of supporters who often turn Trump ’ s racist tweets into chants like “ send her back ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country battles two crises : one against racism and police violence and the other against the novel coronavirus .
For the past two and a half weeks , anti-racism protests have swept the country , set in motion by the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man whose brutal killing by a white police officer was captured on video .
The protests have set off a larger movement to hold businesses , media , and institutions accountable for discriminatory and racist practices and for white Americans to re-examine their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the rally on Wednesday , two weeks after Floyd ’ s death , and by Thursday , officials were rebutting accusations that the rally ’ s timing and location signal that black lives don ’ t matter to the administration .
In an interview with Fox News host Harris Faulkner that aired on Friday , Trump said he did not deliberately choose the date , though his administration has highlighted the Juneteenth holiday when speaking about the rally .
“ Think about it as a celebration .
My rally is a celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Give me the biggest stadium and we fill it up every time .
We ’ ve never had a vacancy.
” Trump ’ s critics argued the rally would celebrate the wrong things .
“ Tulsa was the site of the worst racist violence in American history .
The president ’ s speech there on Juneteenth is a message to every Black American : more of the same , ” wrote US Rep. Val Demings on Twitter .
California Sen. Kamala Harris said Trump ’ s decision “ isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s throwing them a welcome home party , ” in a tweet .
Others , including The Root ’ s Michael Harriot , suggested that Trump is trying to incite a race war .
Late Friday night , Trump said he would move the rally to the following day , June 20 .
“ Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday , and in observance of this important occasion and all that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday , June 20th , in order to honor their requests.
” The mounting pressure for Trump to change course — and the fact he actually did so — reflects a country grappling with the 400 years of racism and oppression faced by black Americans .
It also shines a light on events that have shaped the country ’ s racist foundation , like the massacre in Tulsa , often erased in textbooks , and Juneteenth , long seen as a shadow holiday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his first rally in months would be held in Tulsa , the historic significance wasn ’ t lost on many black Americans .
In 1921 , a white mob destroyed the affluent Greenwood District of the city , known as Black Wall Street , burning down 35 blocks , including 1,200 homes , and killing 300 black people in the process .
As Vox ’ s Emily Stewart reported , it ’ s still unknown where they buried the bodies of the victims .
After decades of missing records and little attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an Oklahoma commission called the incident “ the worst civil disturbance since the Civil War.
” Other records show that the massacre sparked when black people gathered to protect a black teenager from getting lynched .
The teenager , Dick Rowland , was arrested for allegedly attacking a white woman .
The white mob had gathered outside the courthouse where he was being held .
This all occurred during a post-World War I period when anti-black violence was high across the country , as Stewart noted .
Firsthand accounts of that evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to endure for generations .
After city officials called the massacre “ race riots ” for decades , the commission ’ s report called for “ redemption , historical correctness , and repair.
” It ’ s this continued call for “ historical correctness and repair ” that critics suspect will be desecrated when Trump descends with his Make America Great Again crowd in Tulsa , even if his rally has been postponed by a day .
Trump has exacerbated this concern , like when he recently suggested that black people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same .
“ They love African American people .
They love black people .
MAGA loves the black people , ” he said when asked about national Black Lives Matter protests .
Further calling into question Trump ’ s decision to hold his first campaign rally since the pandemic hit in the state is that fact that Oklahoma is very red .
In every presidential election since 1968 , a Republican has carried Oklahoma .
Trump won Oklahoma in 2016 by 65.3 percentage points and is expected to win the state this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why he would feel a need to rally supporters there .
Juneteenth marks how liberation has historically been delayed for black people There is a push to make Juneteenth a national holiday because the date signifies the moment when enslaved black people in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy became aware of emancipation .
The Confederacy surrendered in April 1865 , but it wasn ’ t until more than a year later , on June 19 , 1866 , that enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom , making them the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At a time when the country takes to the streets to defend the humanity of black lives lost to white violence , the holiday means so much more .
Activists are planning Juneteenth marches across the country to highlight the enduring fight for liberation .
The gatherings will stand as a counter to Trump ’ s inaction on several crises , from police violence and racism to the coronavirus pandemic .
Even though Trump is no longer holding his rally on Juneteenth , many still question hosting such a large event while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic that requires people to keep their distance from each other to stay safe and healthy .
The BOK Center , where the event will be held , can hold almost 20,000 people .
A disclaimer on the rally ’ s registration page reads , “ By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree to not hold Donald J. Trump for President ... liable for any illness or injury.
” Onlookers have noted that with coronavirus disproportionately impacting black communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put people at risk is reckless — particularly in a place that has a significant black population ; Tulsa County is about 11 percent black , according to the Census Bureau .
“ If your rallies come with a liability waiver , you shouldn ’ t be holding them , ” Hillary Clinton tweeted on Friday afternoon .
There is another week , and a lot of tweets , between now and Trump ’ s rally ; it remains to be seen if the president will change course again .
Every day at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 — 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

After much outcry, President Donald Trump has postponed the Make America Great Again Rally that was scheduled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Juneteenth — a location and date that are conspicuously linked to key events in black American history.
Juneteenth, on June 19, marks liberation for black Americans, while Tulsa is the site of one of America’s deadliest racial massacres. The optics around the president’s event — a large gathering of supporters who often turn Trump’s racist tweets into chants like “send her back” — were being called out for insensitivity as the country battles two crises: one against racism and police violence and the other against the novel coronavirus.
For the past two and a half weeks, anti-racism protests have swept the country, set in motion by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man whose brutal killing by a white police officer was captured on video. The protests have set off a larger movement to hold businesses, media, and institutions accountable for discriminatory and racist practices and for white Americans to re-examine their own innate biases.
The Trump administration first announced the rally on Wednesday, two weeks after Floyd’s death, and by Thursday, officials were rebutting accusations that the rally’s timing and location signal that black lives don’t matter to the administration.
In an interview with Fox News host Harris Faulkner that aired on Friday, Trump said he did not deliberately choose the date, though his administration has highlighted the Juneteenth holiday when speaking about the rally. “Think about it as a celebration. My rally is a celebration,” Trump said in the interview. “Give me the biggest stadium and we fill it up every time. We’ve never had a vacancy.”
Trump’s critics argued the rally would celebrate the wrong things.
“Tulsa was the site of the worst racist violence in American history. The president’s speech there on Juneteenth is a message to every Black American: more of the same,” wrote US Rep. Val Demings on Twitter.
California Sen. Kamala Harris said Trump’s decision “isn’t just a wink to white supremacists — he’s throwing them a welcome home party,” in a tweet. Others, including The Root’s Michael Harriot, suggested that Trump is trying to incite a race war.
Late Friday night, Trump said he would move the rally to the following day, June 20. “Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents,” he tweeted. “I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests.”
We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal. Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
The mounting pressure for Trump to change course — and the fact he actually did so — reflects a country grappling with the 400 years of racism and oppression faced by black Americans. It also shines a light on events that have shaped the country’s racist foundation, like the massacre in Tulsa, often erased in textbooks, and Juneteenth, long seen as a shadow holiday in the American collective.
The Tulsa Massacre, briefly explained
When Trump announced that his first rally in months would be held in Tulsa, the historic significance wasn’t lost on many black Americans. In 1921, a white mob destroyed the affluent Greenwood District of the city, known as Black Wall Street, burning down 35 blocks, including 1,200 homes, and killing 300 black people in the process. As Vox’s Emily Stewart reported, it’s still unknown where they buried the bodies of the victims.
After decades of missing records and little attention on the massacre, a 1990s report from an Oklahoma commission called the incident “the worst civil disturbance since the Civil War.”
Other records show that the massacre sparked when black people gathered to protect a black teenager from getting lynched. The teenager, Dick Rowland, was arrested for allegedly attacking a white woman. The white mob had gathered outside the courthouse where he was being held. This all occurred during a post-World War I period when anti-black violence was high across the country, as Stewart noted.
Firsthand accounts of that evening chronicle the trauma that black victims have had to endure for generations. After city officials called the massacre “race riots” for decades, the commission’s report called for “redemption, historical correctness, and repair.”
It’s this continued call for “historical correctness and repair” that critics suspect will be desecrated when Trump descends with his Make America Great Again crowd in Tulsa, even if his rally has been postponed by a day. Trump has exacerbated this concern, like when he recently suggested that black people and the MAGA crowd are not one and the same. “They love African American people. They love black people. MAGA loves the black people,” he said when asked about national Black Lives Matter protests.
Further calling into question Trump’s decision to hold his first campaign rally since the pandemic hit in the state is that fact that Oklahoma is very red. In every presidential election since 1968, a Republican has carried Oklahoma. Trump won Oklahoma in 2016 by 65.3 percentage points and is expected to win the state this year, so it’s unclear why he would feel a need to rally supporters there.
Juneteenth marks how liberation has historically been delayed for black people
There is a push to make Juneteenth a national holiday because the date signifies the moment when enslaved black people in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy became aware of emancipation. The Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, but it wasn’t until more than a year later, on June 19, 1866, that enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, making them the last to be officially freed from slavery.
At a time when the country takes to the streets to defend the humanity of black lives lost to white violence, the holiday means so much more. Activists are planning Juneteenth marches across the country to highlight the enduring fight for liberation. The gatherings will stand as a counter to Trump’s inaction on several crises, from police violence and racism to the coronavirus pandemic.
Even though Trump is no longer holding his rally on Juneteenth, many still question hosting such a large event while the country remains in the midst of a pandemic that requires people to keep their distance from each other to stay safe and healthy. The BOK Center, where the event will be held, can hold almost 20,000 people.
A disclaimer on the rally’s registration page reads, “By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree to not hold Donald J. Trump for President ... liable for any illness or injury.”
Onlookers have noted that with coronavirus disproportionately impacting black communities, the campaign’s willingness to put people at risk is reckless — particularly in a place that has a significant black population; Tulsa County is about 11 percent black, according to the Census Bureau.
“If your rallies come with a liability waiver, you shouldn’t be holding them,” Hillary Clinton tweeted on Friday afternoon.
There is another week, and a lot of tweets, between now and Trump’s rally; it remains to be seen if the president will change course again.


vox--2020-06-14--The police killing of Rayshard Brooks at a Wendy’s drive-through, explained

On Friday night , a police officer shot and killed a 27-year-old black man , Rayshard Brooks , outside an Atlanta Wendy ’ s drive-through .
The shooting followed a struggle that began after Brooks failed sobriety tests .
His death — caught on video from multiple sources , including a witness ’ s cell phone —triggered a new wave of demonstrations against police brutality in the city , and ultimately resulted in the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields Saturday afternoon .
The police officer who killed Brooks , Garrett Rolfe , has been fired , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Devin Brosnan , has been placed on administrative duty .
The incident has further galvanized anti-racism and police brutality protests in Atlanta , which had already seen large demonstrations in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly three weeks prior .
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ( GBI ) , Atlanta police officers were called to the scene around 10:30 pm after receiving a complaint of a man sleeping in his vehicle , which was blocking the drive-through and forcing other cars to drive around it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field sobriety test , and he failed , according to investigators .
The GBI claimed in an initial statement released Saturday — based on body camera footage and police and witness accounts — that this is what transpired following the testing : The GBI later reported in an update that it had obtained surveillance from Wendy ’ s and reviewed a viral video captured by a witness ’ s cell phone that was posted to social media , saying video evidence showed Brooks grabbing the Taser and pointing it at an officer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physical struggle with officers , Brooks obtained one of the officer ’ s Tasers and began to flee from the scene , ” the statement reads .
“ Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase , Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer .
The officer fired his weapon , striking Brooks.
” Taken together , that viral video , body camera footage , dash cam clips , and video from one of the restaurant ’ s surveillance cameras provide a more complete picture of the incident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the encounter .
Brosnan , an officer who joined the police department in 2018 , is the first law enforcement official on the scene .
His body camera shows him going up to Brooks ’ s car and banging on the window until Brooks wakes up and opens the door .
Brooks tells Brosnan he doesn ’ t need medical attention , and is just tired — Brosnan tells him to park and take a nap .
Brosnan returns to his squad car , saying , “ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now.
” When he returns , Brooks tells the officer he is in the area visiting his mother ’ s grave and also marking a series of birthdays , including his own and his girlfriend ’ s .
Throughout the encounter , he appears slightly disoriented , unsure of exactly where he is .
When Rolfe arrives and takes over the interview , Brooks said , “ Mr .
Rolfe , I couldn ’ t focus , ” after telling the officer that he ’ s not feeling well and suggesting he rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a field sobriety test .
Rolfe then tries to get Brooks to agree to a breathalyzer test , as Brooks repeatedly offers to leave his car parked and walk to his sister ’ s home , which he says is nearby .
After a few minutes of discussion , Brooks agrees to the test , saying , “ I don ’ t want to refuse anything.
” That test showed Brooks had a blood alcohol level of about .02 above the legal limit , according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
After looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think you ’ ve had too much to drink to be driving , ” and tells Brooks to put his hands behind his back .
Brooks begins to do so , then leans forward — Rolfe and Brosnan grab his arms , and he begins to twist away from them .
It is difficult to tell what happens next from the officers ’ body cameras ; but dash camera clips show both officers tackling Brooks to the ground , then piling on top of him .
Brooks continues to wiggle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting , stop fighting , ” and “ You ’ re going to get Tased !
” Brooks says , “ Mr .
Rolfe , ” as the men roll on the ground ; the viral video shows this part of the struggle , and what appears to be an exchange of blows .
The dash cam video shows Brooks standing after a time , a Taser in his hand .
Rolfe appears to discharge his Taser ; Brooks then turns and runs .
Surveillance camera video slowed down by the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail : Brooks , still running , begins to turn , the hand holding the Taser raised .
He fires his Taser , but it does not connect with Rolfe , who draws his handgun and fires three shots .
Brooks falls to the ground , not moving .
The officers seem to stand over the body as witnesses film with their phones .
After about two minutes , one officer jogs back to the squad car as more police arrive .
That officer returns with a bag and crouches next to Brooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambulance arrives and takes Brooks to a hospital , where he died after surgery , according to the GBI .
Brooks ’ s death has sparked new protests — and change in the Atlanta Police Department Ahead of the release of the body camera footage , Brooks ’ s family had challenged the official account of what happened .
Saturday , an attorney for the family , L. Chris Stewart , said according to interviews his office conducted with witnesses , Rolfe and his partner did not give Brooks a sobriety test .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did indeed have two sobriety tests , but back up another claim Stewart made — that the encounter began with Brooks in “ civil ” conversation with law enforcement outside his car .
At a Saturday press conference , Stewart also stressed that Brooks was unarmed until he took the Taser , and noted the weapon is a nonlethal one , saying , “ [ Rolfe ’ s ] life was not in immediate harm when he fired that shot.
” And the lawyer said that video of the officers near Brooks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not show them checking on him , but collecting bullet casings — Stewart claims that it was not until an officer returned from his squad car with a bag , roughly two minutes after the shooting , that Brooks had his pulse checked .
The lethal shooting comes amid weeks of nationwide protests that began after a now-former Minneapolis police officer killed an unarmed black man , George Floyd , by placing his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly nine minutes .
And it follows a series of police shootings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the 48th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been called upon to investigate so far this year .
Ahead of his death , protesters gathered in the city as part of that nationwide movement ; early Saturday , they gathered outside the Wendy ’ s where Brooks was killed , chanting , “ No justice , no peace.
” Protests continued throughout the day Saturday , and at the Wendy ’ s , Decatur Redd , a relative of Brooks , expressed shock to reporters .
“ I ’ ve watched this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd situation , to us coming together like we ’ re doing — and this whole thing landed on my doorstep with my little cousin , ” Redd said , according to CNN .
“ I thought Atlanta was higher than that .
I thought Atlanta was bigger than that.
” Rev .
James Woodall , state president of the Georgia NAACP , called for Shields to be fired .
“ This is not the first time a black man has been killed for sleeping , ” Woodall said , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is often called ‘ the Black Mecca , ’ the Atlanta Police Department has a continued history of antagonizing our communities.
” Shields responded to this demand , and those of other activists , by tendering her resignation Saturday afternoon .
“ Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country , Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief so that the city may move forward with urgency and rebuilding the trust that is desperately needed throughout our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference Saturday evening .
Stacey Abrams , a former gubernatorial candidate in Georgia , also called for action .
“ The killing of # RayshardBrooks in Atlanta last night demands we severely restrict the use of deadly force , ” Abrams tweeted .
“ Yes , investigations must be called for — but so too should accountability .
Sleeping in a drive-thru must not end in death.
” Bottoms said she agreed Saturday — shortly after she called for Rolfe ’ s firing , he was terminated .
Brosnan has been placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that termination , with a gathering on an interstate and about 1,000 people protesting near the site of Brooks ’ s killing , according to the Atlanta Fire Department .
During that protest , a fire broke out at the restaurant after agitators broke windows and threw fireworks inside , according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution .
The fire was put out by the department , and officers made a number of arrests , with protests expected to continue throughout the week .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 — 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

On the evening of Friday, June 12, a police officer shot and killed a 27-year-old black man, Rayshard Brooks, outside an Atlanta Wendy’s drive-through. The shooting followed a struggle that began after Brooks failed sobriety tests.
Brooks’s death — caught on video from multiple sources, including a witness’s cellphone —triggered a new wave of demonstrations against police brutality in the city, and ultimately resulted in the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields Saturday afternoon. The police officer who killed Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, has been fired, and the other officer involved in the shooting, Devin Brosnan, has been placed on administrative duty. On Wednesday, June 17, the Fulton district attorney announced that Rolfe will face 11 charges, including felony murder; Brosnan will face three charges, including aggravated assault. Brooks’s death had been ruled a homicide by a county medical examiner.
The incident has further galvanized anti-racism and police brutality protests in Atlanta, which had already seen large demonstrations in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly three weeks prior.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Atlanta police officers were called to the scene around 10:30 pm after receiving a complaint of a man sleeping in his vehicle, which was blocking the drive-through and forcing other cars to drive around it.
The police officers gave Brooks sobriety tests, and he failed, according to investigators. The GBI claimed in an initial statement released Saturday — based on body camera footage and police and witness accounts — that this is what transpired following the testing:
After failing the test, the officers attempted to place the male subject into custody. During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser. Witnesses report that during the struggle the male subject grabbed and was in possession of the Taser. It has also been reported that the male subject was shot by an officer in the struggle over the Taser.
The GBI later reported in an update that it had obtained surveillance from Wendy’s and reviewed a viral video captured by a witness’s cellphone that was posted to social media, saying video evidence showed Brooks grabbing the Taser and pointing it at an officer.
“These new videos indicate that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene,” the statement reads. “Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks.”
What videos show about Brooks’s shooting
Taken together, that viral video, body camera footage, dash cam clips, and video from one of the restaurant’s surveillance cameras provide a more complete picture of the incident.
The body camera clips show the first part of the encounter. Brosnan, an officer who joined the police department in 2018, is the first law enforcement official on the scene. His body camera shows him going up to Brooks’s car and banging on the window until Brooks wakes up and opens the door. Brooks tells Brosnan he doesn’t need medical attention and is just tired; Brosnan tells him to park and take a nap.
Brosnan returns to his squad car, saying, “I don’t want to deal with this dude right now.” When he returns, Brooks tells the officer he is in the area visiting his mother’s grave and marking a series of birthdays, including his own and his girlfriend’s. Throughout the encounter, he appears slightly disoriented, unsure of exactly where he is. When Rolfe arrives and takes over the interview, Brooks said, “Mr. Rolfe, I couldn’t focus,” after telling the officer that he’s not feeling well and suggesting he rest more in his car.
Brooks takes a field sobriety test. Rolfe then tries to get Brooks to agree to a breathalyzer test, as Brooks repeatedly offers to leave his car parked and walk to his sister’s home, which he says is nearby. After a few minutes of discussion, Brooks agrees to the test, saying, “I don’t want to refuse anything.”
That test showed Brooks had a blood alcohol level of about .02 above the legal limit, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
After looking at the test results, Rolfe says, “I think you’ve had too much to drink to be driving,” and tells Brooks to put his hands behind his back. Brooks begins to do so, then leans forward — Rolfe and Brosnan grab his arms, and he begins to twist away from them.
It is difficult to tell what happens next from the officers’ body cameras, but dash camera clips show both officers tackling Brooks to the ground, then piling on top of him. Brooks continues to wiggle, and the officers yell, “Stop fighting, stop fighting,” and “You’re going to get Tased!”
Brooks says, “Mr. Rolfe,” as the men roll on the ground; the viral video shows this part of the struggle, and what appears to be an exchange of blows. The dash cam video shows Brooks standing after a time, a Taser in his hand. Rolfe appears to discharge his Taser; Brooks then turns and runs.
Surveillance camera video slowed down by the New York Times shows what happens next in exacting detail: Brooks, still running, begins to turn, the hand holding the Taser raised. He fires his Taser, but it does not connect with Rolfe, who draws his handgun and fires three shots. Brooks falls to the ground, not moving.
The officers seem to stand over the body as witnesses film with their phones. After about two minutes, one officer jogs back to the squad car as more police arrive. That officer returns with a bag and crouches next to Brooks; after about 10 minutes, an ambulance arrives and takes Brooks to a hospital, where he died after surgery, according to the GBI.
Brooks’s death has sparked new protests — and change in the Atlanta Police Department
Ahead of the release of the body camera footage, Brooks’s family had challenged the official account of what happened. Saturday, an attorney for the family, L. Chris Stewart, said according to interviews his office conducted with witnesses, Rolfe and his partner did not give Brooks a sobriety test. The recently released clips show that Brooks did indeed have two sobriety tests, but back up another claim Stewart made — that the encounter began with Brooks in “civil” conversation with law enforcement outside his car.
At a Saturday press conference, Stewart also stressed that Brooks was unarmed until he took the Taser, and noted the weapon is nonlethal, saying, “[Rolfe’s] life was not in immediate harm when he fired that shot.”
And the lawyer said that video of the officers near Brooks in the first few minutes after the shooting does not show them checking on him, but instead collecting bullet casings — Stewart claims that it was not until an officer returned from his squad car with a bag, roughly two minutes after the shooting, that Brooks had his pulse checked.
The lethal shooting comes amid weeks of nationwide protests that began after a now-former Minneapolis police officer killed an unarmed black man, George Floyd, by pinning his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. And it follows a series of police shootings in Georgia — Brooks’s killing is the 48th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been called upon to investigate so far this year.
Ahead of his death, protesters gathered in the city as part of that nationwide movement; early Saturday, they gathered outside the Wendy’s where Brooks was killed, chanting, “No justice, no peace.”
HAPPENING NOW: Dozens of people have gathered at a scene where Atlanta Police along with GBI are investigating an officer involved shooting. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/OqaZBJY7XQ — Aiun Nettles (@godfamilytravel) June 13, 2020
Protests continued throughout Saturday, and at the Wendy’s, Decatur Redd, a relative of Brooks, expressed shock to reporters.
“I’ve watched this on the internet, from the whole George Floyd situation, to us coming together like we’re doing — and this whole thing landed on my doorstep with my little cousin,” Redd said, according to CNN. “I thought Atlanta was higher than that. I thought Atlanta was bigger than that.”
Rev. James Woodall, state president of the Georgia NAACP, called for Shields to be fired.
“This is not the first time a black man has been killed for sleeping,” Woodall said, according to the Washington Post. “While Atlanta is often called ‘the Black Mecca,’ the Atlanta Police Department has a continued history of antagonizing our communities.”
Shields responded to this demand, and those of other activists, by tendering her resignation Saturday afternoon.
“Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief so that the city may move forward with urgency and rebuilding the trust that is desperately needed throughout our communities,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said at a press conference Saturday evening.
Stacey Abrams, a former gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, also called for action.
“The killing of #RayshardBrooks in Atlanta last night demands we severely restrict the use of deadly force,” Abrams tweeted. “Yes, investigations must be called for — but so too should accountability. Sleeping in a drive-thru must not end in death.”
Bottoms said she agreed Saturday — shortly after she called for Rolfe’s firing, he was terminated. Brosnan has been placed on administrative duty.
Demonstrations continued following that termination, with a gathering on an interstate and about 1,000 people protesting near the site of Brooks’s killing, according to the Atlanta Fire Department. During that protest, a fire broke out at the restaurant after agitators broke windows and threw fireworks inside, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The fire was put out by the department, and officers made a number of arrests.
Sunday, the Fulton County Medical examiner released a report on Brooks’s death that ruled his killing a homicide. The examiner stated that Brooks died after being shot in the back by two bullets, causing “organ injuries and blood loss.”
On Wednesday, Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard announced that Rolfe will be charged with felony murder, and Brosnan with aggravated assault. Both men have been asked to surrender by Thursday. Brosnan has also agreed to be a state’s witness, Howard said.


vox--2020-06-14--Democrats are grappling with calls to “defund the police”

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn ( D-SC ) explicitly rejected the “ defund the police ” slogan that has emerged among progressive activists fighting against police brutality and racism in recent weeks , saying on CNN ’ s State of the Union Sunday that “ nobody is going to defund the police.
” Later on the same program , Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN ) embraced the term .
She suggested defunding efforts are often misunderstood , and argued that they do not mean “ that the community is not going to be kept safe.
” The disconnect between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police ” is emerging as a wedge issue between the activist left flank of the party and its more moderate leadership .
And the nature of the debate is also bringing to the fore that advocates and critics are struggling to communicate precisely what the phrase “ defund the police ” means as they go about adopting or rejecting it .
In an interview with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper , Clyburn firmly opposed embracing the concept amid Democrats ’ push for criminal justice reform legislation .
“ I would simply say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody is going to defund the police , ” he said .
“ We can restructure the police forces , restructure , reimagine policing .
That is what we are going to do .
The fact of the matter is , the police have a role to play .
What we have got to do is make sure that their role is one that meets the times , one that responds to these communities that they operate in.
” Clyburn went on to say that growing up he didn ’ t fear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sudden now I do fear police.
” “ The fact of the matter is this is a structure that has been developed that we ’ ve got to deconstruct .
So I wouldn ’ t say defund .
Deconstruct our policing , ” he said .
Clyburn did not define what exactly he meant by “ deconstruct , ” but there are some measures that would achieve some of the goals he described included in police reform legislation unveiled by Democratic lawmakers last week .
That bill includes measures that make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to demilitarize police departments .
It also would end qualified immunity , a policy that gives police officers and other public officials immunity from civil lawsuits .
Clyburn has previously suggested that he opposes defunding the police because he believes it is a phrase that is vulnerable to opposition messaging from the GOP .
“ You know all that will do is give Donald Trump the cover he needs , ” Clyburn told CNN ’ s Ana Cabrera Saturday in a separate discussion about the slogan .
“ I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ If you allow yourself to play the opponent ’ s game , you ’ re going to lose and the opponent will win.
’ Let ’ s not play his game.
” Omar ’ s outlook on police reform is different .
When speaking to Tapper , she argued forcefully that the Minneapolis Police Department — whose officers killed George Floyd — was in need of a fundamental overhaul .
“ A new way forward can ’ t be put in place if we have a department that is having a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department that ’ s led by a chief who ’ s sued for racism , if we have a department that hasn ’ t solved homicide — half of the homicides in Minneapolis police department go unsolved , ” Omar said .
“ There have been cases where they ’ ve destroyed rape kits .
And so you can ’ t really reform a department that is rotten to the root .
What you can do is rebuild.
” She pointed to San Francisco ’ s proposed measures for narrowing the range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model .
“ And just like San Francisco did — right now , they ’ re moving towards a process where there is a separation of the kind of crimes that solicit the help of , you know , officers , and the kind of crimes that we should have someone else respond to.
” She also argued that criticism of “ defund the police ” was based on a misunderstanding about what it really meant .
“ I think that ’ s really where the conversation is going wrong , because no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to be kept safe , ” she said .
“ No one is saying crimes will not be investigated .
No one is saying that we are not going to have proper response when community members are in danger.
” Omar said that what ’ s needed is “ dismantling [ policing infrastructure ] and then looking at what funding priorities should look like as we reimagine a new way forward , is what needs to happen.
” Both Clyburn and Omar used sweeping language about taking apart policing as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement that overlapped significantly .
Where they appear to disagree is how far the reform process should go , and what it should be called — a disagreement at the heart of the debate around defunding the police .
The meaning of defunding the police isn ’ t widely understood yet — but it ’ s polarizing As Vox ’ s Matt Yglesias has explained , “ defund the police ” isn ’ t a firmly defined concept just yet : The latter perspective — a focus on spending priorities and narrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — seems to be gaining more traction among left-wing elected officials .
Consider , for example , self-described socialist and New York state Sen. Julia Salazar ’ s take on the matter : Polling so far indicates that a strong majority of the public opposes the ideas represented by the slogan .
An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 64 percent of Americans oppose calls for defunding police departments , while 34 percent support the efforts .
The opposition decreases but remains strong even when defunding the police is framed as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically oppose reducing the budget for police to reallocate it to other public health and social programs , while 39 percent support that move , ” said ABC News .
The poll did find 57 percent of black Americans support defunding the police , however .
Overall , the slogan “ defund the police ” appears unpopular today .
But it has entered public consciousness in a matter of weeks — and people ’ s relative unfamiliarity with the concept could mean public opinion on it will change over time .
For now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for public protests against racism and police brutality .
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 — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) explicitly rejected the “defund the police” slogan that has emerged among progressive activists fighting against police brutality and racism in recent weeks, saying on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday that “nobody is going to defund the police.”
Later on the same program, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) embraced the term. She suggested defunding efforts are often misunderstood, and argued that they do not mean “that the community is not going to be kept safe.”
The disconnect between the two prominent Democrats symbolizes how “defund the police” is emerging as a wedge issue between the activist left flank of the party and its more moderate leadership. The nature of the debate also brings to the fore advocates’ and critics’ struggle to communicate precisely what the phrase “defund the police” means as they go about adopting or rejecting it.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Clyburn firmly opposed embracing the concept amid Democrats’ push for criminal justice reform legislation.
“I would simply say, as I have always said, nobody is going to defund the police,” he said. “We can restructure the police forces, restructure, reimagine policing. That is what we are going to do. The fact of the matter is, the police have a role to play. What we have got to do is make sure that their role is one that meets the times, one that responds to these communities that they operate in.”
Clyburn went on to say that growing up he didn’t fear the police, but that “all of a sudden now I do fear police.”
“The fact of the matter is this is a structure that has been developed that we’ve got to deconstruct. So I wouldn’t say defund. Deconstruct our policing,” he said.
Clyburn did not define what exactly he meant by “deconstruct,” but there are some measures that would achieve some of the goals he described included in police reform legislation unveiled by Democratic lawmakers last week. That bill includes measures that would make it easier to prosecute and regulate police misconduct and to demilitarize police departments. It would also end qualified immunity, a policy that gives police officers and other public officials immunity from civil lawsuits.
Clyburn has previously suggested that he opposes defunding the police because he believes it is a phrase that is vulnerable to opposition messaging from the GOP.
“You know all that will do is give Donald Trump the cover he needs,” Clyburn told CNN’s Ana Cabrera Saturday in a separate discussion about the slogan. “I’ve been saying to people all the time, ‘If you allow yourself to play the opponent’s game, you’re going to lose and the opponent will win.’ Let’s not play his game.”
Omar’s outlook on police reform is different. When speaking to Tapper, she argued forcefully that the Minneapolis Police Department — whose officers killed George Floyd — was in need of a fundamental overhaul.
“A new way forward can’t be put in place if we have a department that is having a crisis of credibility, if we have a department that’s led by a chief who’s sued for racism, if we have a department that hasn’t solved homicide — half of the homicides in Minneapolis police department go unsolved,” Omar said. “There have been cases where they’ve destroyed rape kits. And so you can’t really reform a department that is rotten to the root. What you can do is rebuild.”
She pointed to San Francisco’s proposed measures for narrowing the range of issues that police respond to as a model. “And just like San Francisco did — right now, they’re moving towards a process where there is a separation of the kind of crimes that solicit the help of, you know, officers, and the kind of crimes that we should have someone else respond to.”
She also argued that criticism of “defund the police” was based on a misunderstanding about what it really meant. “I think that’s really where the conversation is going wrong, because no one is saying that the community is not going to be kept safe,” she said. “No one is saying crimes will not be investigated. No one is saying that we are not going to have proper response when community members are in danger.”
Omar said what’s needed is “dismantling [policing infrastructure] and then looking at what funding priorities should look like as we reimagine a new way forward, is what needs to happen.”
Both Clyburn and Omar used sweeping language about taking apart policing as we know it — and language about re-envisioning law enforcement that overlapped significantly. Where they appear to disagree is how far the reform process should go, and what it should be called — a disagreement at the heart of the debate around defunding the police.
The meaning of defunding the police isn’t widely understood yet — but it’s polarizing
As Vox’s Matt Yglesias has explained, “defund the police” isn’t a firmly defined concept just yet:
The “defund” slogan dances ambiguously between abolition-type schemes and just saying officials should spend less money on policing at the margins. The Black Lives Matters #DefundThePolice explainer page argues that “law enforcement doesn’t protect or save our lives. They often threaten and take them.” By contrast, a Justin Brooks op-ed at the Appeal titled “Defund the Police Now” is an extended argument for spending somewhat less money on crime control and somewhat more on social services, as a win-win resulting in less crime, less punishment, and less police violence against civilians.
The latter perspective — a focus on spending priorities and narrowing law enforcement’s portfolio of responsibilities — seems to be gaining more traction among left-wing elected officials. Consider, for example, self-described socialist and New York state Sen. Julia Salazar’s take on the matter:
I think we need to consider a divest/invest model. When we look at their resources, and how they’re deploying them violently and recklessly, it makes the case even stronger for reducing their budget, and then using those funds for social services, and specifically for things that New Yorkers would want the police to do but the police are not currently doing: harm reduction, community-based public safety.
Polling so far indicates that a strong majority of the public opposes the ideas represented by the slogan. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 64 percent of Americans oppose calls for defunding police departments, while 34 percent support the efforts.
The opposition decreases but remains strong even when defunding the police is framed as a spending reallocation program: “Sixty percent specifically oppose reducing the budget for police to reallocate it to other public health and social programs, while 39 percent support that move,” said ABC News. The poll did find that 57 percent of black Americans support defunding the police, however.
Overall, the slogan “defund the police” appears unpopular today. But it has entered the public consciousness in a matter of weeks — and people’s relative unfamiliarity with the concept could mean public opinion on it will change over time. For now, it elicits far less sympathy than support for the protests against racism and police brutality.


vox--2020-06-14--China is reporting the biggest coronavirus outbreak it has seen in two months

China reported on Sunday that the country had 57 new confirmed cases of coronavirus as of midnight on Saturday — the highest number of infections it has reported in two months .
The spike in cases — which appear to have originated in a wholesale food market in Beijing — has caused Chinese authorities to selectively lock down at-risk areas , highlighting how countries seeking a return to normalcy after reducing transmission of the virus are still at risk of new outbreaks .
For nearly two months , there had been almost no new cases of coronavirus reported in Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was reported , a number that rose dramatically on Saturday .
Contact tracing suggests that the cases originated at Xinfadi , one of the largest food markets in Asia .
How the coronavirus came to Xinfadi is unclear ; however , government officials have begun to blame travelers for the new infections .
“ Our preliminary assessment is the virus came from overseas , ” Yang Peng , a government epidemiologist , told state media , according to Reuters .
“ We still can ’ t determine how it got here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seafood or meat , or spread from the feces of people inside the market.
” The capital quickly took measures to alert the public and control virus spread with what officials have described as a “ wartime ” approach .
“ Beijing has entered an extraordinary period , ” city spokesman Xu Hejian said at a conference , per Reuters .
Authorities closed Xinfadi , locked down nearly a dozen residential communities near the market , and installed a fence to block a road leading to a group of apartment buildings , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Beijing have been deemed to be at medium risk for the spread , and at least 10 Chinese cities have told residents to not visit the capital .
But despite these precautions , the virus has already spread beyond Beijing : there are two confirmed cases in the neighboring province of Liaoning that have been traced back to contact with people infected in the city .
It ’ s unclear how reliable the numbers are , and how accurate the claims about the outbreak ’ s origin are .
Experts like Isaac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Asia Society ’ s Center on U.S.-China Relations , have raised concerns that “ Chinese statistics are growing more and more untrustworthy ” over the course of the global pandemic , and that the government has an interest in downplaying statistics that cast China ’ s management of the virus in a negative light .
That being said , it is noteworthy that China has openly acknowledged a spike in cases — and spread beyond one city .
As lockdowns ease , some countries are seeing new spikes in infections China is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in countries around the world , in which eased lockdowns have been followed by new upticks in confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
South Korea , which began opening nonessential businesses in early May , is reporting an increase in cases linked to churches , nightclubs , warehouses , and door-to-door salesmanship .
In the US , coronavirus cases are surging across the Sunbelt and the West after states in those regions opened up businesses and relaxed social distancing protocols .
According to the New York Times ’ s Julie Bosman and Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant factor in the acceleration of new cases : “ There is ample reason to tie the latest surge of infections to relatively early reopenings .
Clusters of infections in food processing facilities , jails and nursing homes continue to create hot spots in some places , but they do not explain the broader pattern.
” Unlike China and South Korea , however , the US did not — and does not — apply an aggressive top-down approach to curbing the spread of the virus .
China employs sweeping lockdowns and surveillance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing and quarantining regimes to isolate hot spots .
The US , in contrast , has encouraged state and local governments to handle lockdowns as they wish to , and developed no comparable method for rapidly identifying and isolating infected communities .
This has led to concerns that outbreaks like the one in Beijing won ’ t necessarily be dealt with quickly by authorities in the US , and that surges in cases could exact a greater toll .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 — 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider making a contribution to Vox today .

China reported on Sunday that the country had 57 new confirmed cases of coronavirus as of midnight on Saturday — the highest number of infections it has reported in two months.
The spike in cases — which appear to have originated in a wholesale food market in Beijing — has caused Chinese authorities to selectively lock down at-risk areas, highlighting how countries seeking a return to normalcy after reducing transmission of the virus are still at risk of new outbreaks.
For nearly two months, there had been almost no new cases of coronavirus reported in Beijing. But on Friday, one new case was reported, a number that rose dramatically on Saturday.
Contact tracing suggests that the cases originated at Xinfadi, one of the largest food markets in Asia. How the coronavirus arrived at Xinfadi is unclear; however, government officials have begun to attribute the new infections to foreign travelers.
“Our preliminary assessment is the virus came from overseas,” Yang Peng, a government epidemiologist, told state media, according to Reuters. “We still can’t determine how it got here. It might’ve been on contaminated seafood or meat, or spread from the feces of people inside the market.”
The capital quickly took measures to alert the public and control the spread of the virus with what officials have described as a “wartime” approach. “Beijing has entered an extraordinary period,” city spokesman Xu Hejian said at a conference, per Reuters.
Authorities closed Xinfadi, locked down nearly a dozen residential communities near the market, and installed a fence to block a road leading to a group of apartment buildings, according to the Associated Press. Other neighborhoods in Beijing have been deemed to be at medium risk for the spread, and at least 10 Chinese cities have told residents to not visit the capital.
But despite these precautions, the virus has already spread beyond Beijing: There are two confirmed cases in the neighboring province of Liaoning that have been traced back to contact with people infected in the city.
It’s unclear how reliable the numbers are, and how accurate the claims about the outbreak’s origin are. Experts like Isaac Stone Fish, a senior fellow at the Asia Society’s Center on US-China Relations, have raised concerns that “Chinese statistics are growing more and more untrustworthy” over the course of the global pandemic, and that the government has an interest in downplaying statistics that cast China’s management of the virus in a negative light. That being said, it is noteworthy that China has openly acknowledged a spike in cases — and spread beyond one city.
As lockdowns ease, some countries are seeing new spikes in infections
China is just one example of a phenomenon seen in countries around the world, in which eased lockdowns have been followed by new upticks in confirmed coronavirus cases.
South Korea, which began opening nonessential businesses in early May, is reporting an increase in cases linked to churches, nightclubs, warehouses, and door-to-door salesmanship.
In the US, coronavirus cases are surging across the Sunbelt and the West after states in those regions opened up businesses and relaxed social distancing protocols. According to the New York Times’s Julie Bosman and Mitch Smith, reopenings appear to be a significant factor in the acceleration of new cases: “There is ample reason to tie the latest surge of infections to relatively early reopenings. Clusters of infections in food processing facilities, jails and nursing homes continue to create hot spots in some places, but they do not explain the broader pattern.”
Unlike China and South Korea, however, the US did not — and does not — apply an aggressive top-down approach to curbing the spread of the virus. China employs sweeping lockdowns and surveillance, while South Korea uses highly sophisticated contact tracing and quarantine regimes to isolate hot spots.
The US, by contrast, has encouraged state and local governments to handle lockdowns as they wish, and developed no comparable method for rapidly identifying and isolating infected communities. This has led to concerns that outbreaks like the one in Beijing won’t necessarily be dealt with quickly by authorities in the US, and that surges in cases could exact a greater toll.