vox--2020-09-06--Jacob Blake speaks out about being shot by a police officer: “It’s nothing but pain”

Reclining in a hospital bed , Jacob Blake addressed being shot seven times by a Kenosha , Wisconsin , police officer in late August for the first time Saturday night .
In a video posted on Twitter by his family ’ s lawyer , civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , Blake spoke about the constant pain he experiences due to the shooting , which left him paralyzed from the waist down .
“ I got staples in my back , staples in my damn stomach , ” Blake said .
“ You do not want to have to deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... it ’ s nothing but pain.
” He added that even basic tasks like eating and sleeping hurt him .
“ There ’ s a lot more life to live out here , man .
Your life — and not only just your life , your legs , something that you need to move around and move forward in life — can be taken from you like this , man , ” he said with a snap of his fingers .
And he ended the short message by urging his supporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t experience his pain firsthand .
“ Please , I ’ m telling you .
Change your lives out there , ” Blake said .
“ We can stick together , make some money , make everything easier for our people out there .
Because there ’ s so much time that ’ s been wasted.
” Blake was shot by white Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey on the evening of August 23 .
Police were responding to a domestic incident in which a woman said her “ boyfriend was present and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premises.
” Multiple witnesses have said Blake was trying to break up a verbal dispute between two women .
Three officers arrived initially , including Sheskey .
The shooting that followed went viral due to two videos showing officers attempting to force Blake to the ground , and later , Blake attempting to enter a grey van before Sheskey shoots him seven times .
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into Blake ’ s shooting , which has fanned the flames of one of the largest civil rights movements in American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the recent killings of other Black men — have stoked ongoing protests The videos reinvigorated nationwide protests against police brutality , which have been ongoing for months after the killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Multiple nights of uprisings followed in Kenosha , during which buildings were set on fire and police and protesters clashed .
Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers called in the state National Guard on the second night .
On the third night , a white teenager who had proclaimed his support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , killing two .
Protests against police brutality have been unfolding in US cities almost daily since Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis in late May .
Some of those have turned into full-on uprisings involving conflict between protesters and police , looting , and the burning of buildings and cars .
And they continued over Labor Day weekend , quickened by the police killings of Deon Kay in Washington , DC , on Wednesday ; Dijon Kizzee in Los Angeles on August 31 ; and the Wednesday release of new video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York .
On Saturday , hundreds protested in Louisville — the city in which Breonna Taylor was killed — ahead of the Kentucky Derby .
Counter-protesters came into contact with the protesters near the city ’ s Metro Hall , leading to tense confrontations , but no violence .
Members of both groups were seen carrying firearms .
Black Lives Matter protesters marched to Churchill Downs , where the derby was taking place .
The evening ended with outdoor dancing in at least one corner of the city .
In Rochester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest Prude ’ s death by suffocation .
In March , police put a hood over Prude ’ s head and pressed his face to the ground for two minutes .
Around 1,500 people marched Saturday evening , calling for the resignation of city leaders .
They faced off with police outside City Hall , and some reportedly began throwing rocks and fireworks at police officers , who fired tear gas and pepper balls back .
In Washington , DC , Kay ’ s aunt addressed protesters , telling them , “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deon had a problem with each other .
He never liked Deon or the young boys that be down there on Mellon Street , ” and saying her nephew likely spent his final moments “ afraid.
” Several hundred people marched throughout the city , including near the site of Kay ’ s death and near the White House , demanding greater transparency from leaders and police reforms .
In Portland , Oregon — where a Trump rally led to clashes between the president ’ s supporters and protesters , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests began calmly .
Later in the evening , a group of around 500 protesters marching toward a police precinct were met with officers who declared it a riot .
Police released tear gas and shot rubber bullets , and a protester threw a Molotov cocktail which police said hit another demonstrator .
While the deaths of Taylor , Floyd , Kay , Prude and others are memorialized by protests , the underlying issue of inequities in policing continue , as Vox ’ s Aaron Ross Coleman has written .
Since Taylor was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Black people have been killed by police , according to data compiled by the Washington Post .
Other organizations like Mapping Police Violence estimate that number is even higher .
And while more white Americans are killed by police annually , Black Americans face an outsized number of deaths compared to their population .
Black people are killed by police at twice the rate of white Americans .
Almost no police killings result in officers charged with a crime , according to Mapping Police Violence .
That ’ s one thing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country seeks to change .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Even when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work , and helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Reclining in a hospital bed, Jacob Blake addressed being shot seven times by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer in late August for the first time Saturday night.
In a video posted on Twitter by his family’s lawyer, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, Blake spoke about the constant pain he experiences due to the shooting, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.
“I got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach,” Blake said. “You do not want to have to deal with this shit, man — 24 hours ... it’s nothing but pain.” He added that even basic tasks like eating and sleeping hurt him.
#JacobBlake released this powerful video message from his hospital bed today, reminding everyone just how precious life is. #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/87CYlgPDBj — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 6, 2020
“There’s a lot more life to live out here, man. Your life — and not only just your life, your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life — can be taken from you like this, man,” he said with a snap of his fingers.
And he ended the short message by urging his supporters to action in order to ensure they don’t experience his pain firsthand.
“Please, I’m telling you. Change your lives out there,” Blake said. “We can stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people out there. Because there’s so much time that’s been wasted.”
Blake was shot by white Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey on the evening of August 23. Police were responding to a domestic incident in which a woman said her “boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.”
Multiple witnesses have said Blake was trying to break up a verbal dispute between two women. Three officers arrived initially, including Sheskey.
The shooting that followed went viral due to two videos showing officers attempting to force Blake to the ground, and later, Blake attempting to enter a gray van before Sheskey shoots him seven times.
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into Blake’s shooting, which occurred amid ongoing unrest across the country.
Blake’s shooting — and the recent killings of other Black men — have stoked ongoing protests
The videos reinvigorated nationwide protests against police brutality, which have been ongoing for months after the killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Multiple nights of uprisings followed in Kenosha, during which buildings were set on fire and police and protesters clashed. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called in the state National Guard on the second night. On the third night, a white teenager who had proclaimed his support for police on social media shot three people, killing two.
Protests against police brutality have been unfolding in US cities almost daily since Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in late May. Some of those have turned into full-on uprisings involving conflict between protesters and police, looting, and the burning of buildings and cars.
And they continued over Labor Day weekend, quickened by the police killings of Deon Kay in Washington, DC, on September 2; Dijon Kizzee in Los Angeles on August 31; and the release of new video of Daniel Prude’s killing in Rochester, New York.
On Saturday, hundreds protested in Louisville — the city in which Breonna Taylor was killed — ahead of the Kentucky Derby. Counter-protesters came into contact with the protesters near the city’s Metro Hall, leading to tense confrontations, but no violence. Members of both groups were seen carrying firearms. Black Lives Matter protesters marched to Churchill Downs, where the derby was taking place. The evening ended with outdoor dancing in at least one corner of the city.
Words became blows as militia groups and supporters for BLM, Breonna Taylor faced off. Some people from both sides tried to talk things out — a few shook hands — but one worried woman said ‘Our city has never been divided like this before.’ https://t.co/p6bYwnPbmm pic.twitter.com/j3xnV0y4rm — Matt Stone (@mattstonephotog) September 5, 2020
In Rochester, New York, demonstrators gathered to protest Prude’s death by suffocation. In March, police put a hood over Prude’s head and pressed his face to the ground for two minutes. Around 1,500 people marched Saturday evening, calling for the resignation of city leaders. They faced off with police outside City Hall, and some reportedly began throwing rocks and fireworks at police officers, who fired tear gas and pepper balls back.
Tear gas dispersed at protesters in Rochester NY, police are pushing and telling everyone to disperse #rochesterprotests #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/jtQzFI7krv — @SCOOTERCASTER (FNTV) (@ScooterCasterNY) September 6, 2020
In Washington, DC, Kay’s aunt addressed protesters, telling them, “The officer that shot Deon, him and Deon had a problem with each other. He never liked Deon or the young boys that be down there on Mellon Street,” and saying her nephew likely spent his final moments “afraid.” Several hundred people marched throughout the city, including near the site of Kay’s death and near the White House, demanding greater transparency from leaders and police reforms.
In Portland, Oregon — where a Trump rally led to clashes between the president’s supporters and protesters, as well as the shooting of a right-wing activist — protests began calmly. Later in the evening, a group of around 500 protesters marching toward a police precinct were met with officers who declared it a riot. Police released tear gas and shot rubber bullets, and a protester threw a Molotov cocktail which police said hit another demonstrator.
While the deaths of Taylor, Floyd, Kay, Prude, and others are memorialized by protests, the underlying issue of inequities in policing continue, as Vox’s Aaron Ross Coleman has written. Since Taylor was killed in mid-March, at least 83 other Black people have been killed by police, according to data compiled by the Washington Post. Other organizations like Mapping Police Violence estimate that number is even higher.
And while more white Americans are killed by police annually, Black Americans face an outsized number of deaths compared to their population. Black people are killed by police at twice the rate of white Americans.
Almost no police killings result in officers charged with a crime, according to Mapping Police Violence. That’s one thing the massive civil rights movement unfolding across the country seeks to change.


vox--2020-09-06--The police shooting of Jacob Blake, explained

Amid America ’ s summer of protests against police brutality and racism , another police shooting of a Black man has gone viral : that of 29-year-old Kenosha , Wisconsin , resident Jacob Blake .
Blake survived the shooting , and said in a video taken at the hospital where he is receiving treatment that he has been in “ nothing but pain.
” “ Your life , and not only just your life , your legs … can be taken from you like this , ” Blake said in the video , snapping his fingers .
Blake ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is paralyzed from the waist down .
Rusten Sheskey , a white officer who is a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department , reportedly shot Blake in the back at close range seven times on August 23 .
The shooting sparked local protests ( during which a 17-year-old vigilante killed two people ) , reignited national unrest , prompted professional athletes to strike , and has become a central talking point for Democrats and Republicans as each party attempts to use it as evidence of the other side ’ s inability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting , in conjunction with an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice .
And both Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , have called for Blake ’ s shooter to face criminal charges .
Sheskey and the other two officers on the scene — Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek — have been placed on administrative leave .
Arenas and Sheskey both shot Blake with Tasers before the latter fired on him with a handgun ; Meronek was at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their impact on Blake and his family have been eclipsed by a national conversation about what Blake ’ s shooting means , and what the resultant protests say about the state of America .
Blake ’ s shooting , captured on video by a bystander , quickly went viral and further stoked the ongoing national protests against police brutality and for civil rights that began following the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd .
In Kenosha , protesters were quick to respond to the video .
Hours after the shooting took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the resulting uprising , buildings and car lots were set on fire and protesters who launched fireworks clashed with police officers in riot gear who fired tear gas .
Immediately following that uprising , Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers called in the state National Guard to bolster the ranks of local law enforcement and to enforce the city ’ s curfew .
More National Guard members were deployed during the third night of uprisings — a night that saw armed citizens standing guard outside local businesses .
One of those citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested and charged with murder in the shooting of three people , two of whom died .
That shooting , in turn , has led to an even greater National Guard presence — and to Evers accepting a deployment of federal law enforcement officers amid pressure from President Donald Trump to do so .
Trump has cast the uprisings in Kenosha and in other cities as symptoms of mismanagement and has attempted to use them to argue that he is the presidential candidate who will bring “ LAW & ORDER !
” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden have attempted to place the blame for violence adjacent to uprisings at the feet of the president .
Blake ’ s mother , Julia Jackson , has pleaded for politicians to “ fix our country ” while condemning the destruction that happened during the early uprisings in Kenosha .
“ As his mother , please don ’ t burn up property and cause havoc and tear your own homes down in my son ’ s name , ” she said on CNN after the first two nights of protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s request but have continued their demonstrations .
And across the US , Blake ’ s shooting has given new urgency to demonstrations in other cities and towns , sharpening the calls of protesters who say Americans must continue to take to the streets to fight the harmful cycle of police brutality and put pressure on lawmakers to defund the police .
Police were called to the scene of a domestic incident at 5:11 pm on Sunday in the Wilson Heights neighborhood of Kenosha , according to a police report .
The Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called to the neighborhood by a woman who requested assistance because “ her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.
” In dispatch audio of the incident , a dispatcher can be heard saying , “ Jacob Blake isn ’ t supposed to be there and he took the complainant ’ s keys and is refusing to give them back.
” Following the shooting , several witnesses told Kenosha News that Blake was trying to break up a “ verbal altercation ” between two women just after 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three officers on the scene , with one requesting more officers be sent .
Two videos of the officers ’ interaction with Blake have emerged .
The first , which went viral , depicts Blake ’ s shooting ; the second shows some of what happened in the seconds immediately prior .
In that second video , Blake , wearing a white tank top and black shorts , can be seen attempting to stand as two officers struggle to force him to the ground ; various bystanders shout throughout .
After about 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and walking around the front of a gray van .
All three officers on the scene have weapons trained on him ; two follow him around the van .
This is where the first video picks up .
Blake can be seen walking around the front of a gray van , coming from the passenger ’ s side and heading toward the driver ’ s side .
Two officers follow closely behind Blake .
Both officers have their weapons pointed at Blake ’ s back .
Many people can be heard yelling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one officer snatches the tail end of Blake ’ s tank top .
It stretches out as Blake attempts to enter the vehicle ; seven shots are fired at Blake ’ s back .
No other officer opened fire .
The van ’ s horn blares , the officer continues to hold on to Blake ’ s shirt , and a woman screams at the side of the vehicle where Blake was shot .
One of the officers pushes the woman away , and the 19-second video comes to an end .
Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced doctors to remove most of Blake ’ s colon and small intestines ; his kidneys , liver , and arm were also seriously damaged .
A statement from the state Department of Justice notes that officers tried to arrest Blake ; following the shooting , Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said Blake is currently under arrest “ for an outstanding warrant for third-degree sexual assault.
” It is not clear whether the officers who were called to Wilson Heights were attempting to arrest Blake due to this warrant .
It is clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apprehend him ; the Wisconsin DOJ statement says the nonlethal weapon “ was not successful at stopping Blake.
” The police department said in a statement that Blake received immediate aid and was airlifted to the hospital in Milwaukee .
The state attorney general , Josh Kaul , has said Blake noted he had a knife in his possession when the shooting occurred .
Officials from the department recovered the knife from the driver-side floorboard of Blake ’ s vehicle .
The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of the incident , according to the statement .
Jacob Blake ’ s family retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , who also represents the family of George Floyd .
According to a statement from Crump , Blake was shot by police in front of his three young sons , who were inside the vehicle .
“ We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back several times by Kenosha police , ” Crump said in the statement .
“ Even worse , his three sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with bullets .
Their irresponsible , reckless , and inhumane actions nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident .
It ’ s a miracle he ’ s still alive.
” Meanwhile , both Biden and Harris have called for the officer who shot Blake to face charges .
“ I think that there should be a thorough investigation and , based on what I ’ ve seen , it seems that the officer should be charged , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And when asked on September 2 if he agreed with her , Biden said that “ there ’ s a minimum need to be charged ” and “ we should let the judicial system work its way.
” Nights of unrest — and the shooting of three people — in Kenosha Protests began the night after Blake was shot on August 23 , leading to a number of uprisings and escalating tension with local police .
Following the shooting , videos on social media showed protests that included garbage trucks being set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and near the courthouse being smashed , and crowds clashing with police dressed in riot gear .
In response , county officials instituted a curfew , and Wisconsin ’ s governor began to deploy members of the Wisconsin National Guard to Kenosha .
The city grew more tense in the following nights as organized marches outside the Kenosha County Courthouse gave way to uprisings after the 8 pm curfew .
Fires burned in much of Kenosha ’ s Black business district , according to Reuters , and protesters used bats to break traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people reached 1,000 at a park near the courthouse , police shot small beanbags and used “ ear deafening audio ” to disperse the people who refused to move , according to the Washington Post .
The unrest has since spread to other cities including Madison , Portland , Los Angeles , Minneapolis , New York , and Seattle .
On August 25 , violence erupted at the protests in Kenosha when a group of men with guns who said they were protecting the property clashed with protesters .
Online video footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the armed men , identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse , in an attempt to capture him and seize his AR-15-style rifle .
During the chase , Rittenhouse trips and falls to the ground , where he shoots at a few of the people who were following him .
After the shooting , he gets up and walks toward law enforcement officials , who do not detain him , despite bystanders screaming that he had just shot people .
Two of three people were fatally hit , with the other taken to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening injuries , ” according to the Kenosha Police Department .
Rittenhouse is a self-proclaimed militia member , has ties to law enforcement as a former member of various law enforcement youth training programs , and was front row at a Trump rally in January .
Rittenhouse ’ s Facebook profile , which is no longer publicly accessible , revealed that he is a committed Blue Lives Matter supporter : In a press conference on the Rittenhouse incident , Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis tried to shift the blame of the shootings onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot , saying that if protesters had stayed inside , the shootings would perhaps not have taken place .
“ Everybody involved was out after the curfew .
I ’ m not going to make a great deal of it , but the point is that the curfew is in place to protect .
Had persons not been out in violation of that , perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened , ” he said .
At the same press conference , Kenosha Sheriff David G. Beth responded to the concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he walked past them .
“ I ’ ve been in a shooting before .
In situations that are high stress , you have such incredible tunnel vision .
You have no idea what ’ s outside right here if you ’ re looking right here , ” Beth said , holding his hands up to gesture .
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian , meanwhile , said he does not want militia members at protests .
“ I don ’ t need more guns on the street , in the community , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep people safe , ” he said .
“ Law enforcement is trained .
They ’ re the ones who are responsible .
They ’ re the ones we have faith will do their job and make sure it gets done .
That is why the curfews are there.
” On the national level , Republicans are trying to paint the unrest in Kenosha as a preview of Joe Biden ’ s America , even though the shooter was a Trump supporter and the protests are happening during Trump ’ s presidency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very policies that are leading to violence in American cities .
The hard truth is you will not be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America , ” Vice President Mike Pence said during the Republican National Convention .
Trump went on to tell Americans that the protests show “ no one will be safe in Biden ’ s America.
” Biden has rebutted these attacks , saying in a speech in Pittsburgh , “ These are not images of some imagined Joe Biden America of the future — these are images @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
...
He keeps telling you , if he was president , you ’ d feel safe .
Well , he is president — whether he knows it or not.
” Police violence is not uncommon in Wisconsin The ongoing protests continued those that began after Floyd ’ s death and underscored the fact that police shootings of unarmed Black civilians are not new occurrences in Wisconsin , a state in which Black people make up just 6.7 percent of the population .
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , the Milwaukee region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-profile police shootings — particularly of Black and Latinx men — in the past two decades , in which officers were not charged .
One of the victims , 22-year-old Adam Trammell , died in 2017 after officers from the West Milwaukee Police Department broke down the door of his apartment and repeatedly Tased him as he showered .
The 2019 police shooting of Ty ’ Rese West in Racine County , just north of Kenosha County , also resulted in no charges against the police .
A police sergeant stopped West one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his bicycle .
A struggle ensued after the sergeant thought West had a gun .
The incident ended when the sergeant fatally shot West .
The death sparked protests across Racine County , and West ’ s family has not stopped issuing calls for justice .
Years of grassroots organizing after the police shooting of 21-year-old Kenosha County resident Michael Bell in 2004 led to the passing of a Milwaukee law in 2014 that prevents police officers from conducting their own investigations of officer-involved shootings .
As in Blake ’ s case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in to lead the investigation .
But in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death , criminal justice reform advocates have argued that law doesn ’ t go far enough , and protesters have demanded state legislators make changes to the criminal justice system .
Some local officials across the state responded to these demands by terminating school district contracts with police officers .
In June , Evers announced a legislative package that included banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants , adding the requirement that officers take deescalation training , and putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-violence programs , according to Wisconsin Public Radio .
However , lawmakers likely won ’ t vote on any of the proposals until next year .
And the package of bills from the state ’ s Democratic governor has received little support from the Republican lawmakers who control the state ’ s legislature .
Evers has used Blake ’ s shooting to call for a renewed focus on race and policing in his state , saying , “ We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.
” But the governor ’ s statement — and proposed initiatives — have garnered pushback .
Pete Deates , president of the union representing Kenosha police officers , denounced the governor ’ s statement , calling it “ wholly irresponsible and not reflective of the hardworking members of the law enforcement community.
” Deates asked that people “ withhold judgment ” about the shooting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and impartially.
” Despite this response , protesters in Kenosha and across the country are still demanding systemic change .
Michael Bell Sr. , the father of shooting victim Michael Bell , told the New York Times following the shooting of Blake , “ The system is broken .
The system here is broken.
” Correction , August 26 : Due to an editing error , an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Jacob Blake was fatally shot .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work , and helping everyone make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Amid America’s summer of protests against police brutality and racism, another police shooting of a Black man has gone viral: that of 29-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin, resident Jacob Blake.
Blake survived the shooting, and said in a video taken at the hospital where he is receiving treatment that he has been in “nothing but pain.”
“Your life, and not only just your life, your legs … can be taken from you like this,” Blake said in the video, snapping his fingers.
Blake’s father told the Chicago Sun-Times his son is paralyzed from the waist down. Rusten Sheskey, a white officer who is a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, reportedly shot Blake in the back at close range seven times on August 23.
The shooting sparked local protests (during which a 17-year-old vigilante killed two people), reignited national unrest, prompted professional athletes to strike, and has become a central talking point for Democrats and Republicans as each party attempts to use it as evidence of the other side’s inability to govern.
Now, the FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting, in conjunction with an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. And both Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, have called for Blake’s shooter to face criminal charges.
Sheskey and the other two officers on the scene — Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek — have been placed on administrative leave. Arenas and Sheskey both shot Blake with Tasers before the latter fired on him with a handgun; Meronek was at the scene. But these developments and their impact on Blake and his family have been eclipsed by a national conversation about what Blake’s shooting means, and what the resultant protests say about the state of America.
Blake’s shooting, captured on video by a bystander, quickly went viral and further stoked the ongoing national protests against police brutality and for civil rights that began following the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
In Kenosha, protesters were quick to respond to the video. Hours after the shooting took place, demonstrators gathered in downtown Kenosha; in the resulting uprising, buildings and car lots were set on fire and protesters who launched fireworks clashed with police officers in riot gear who fired tear gas.
Immediately following that uprising, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called in the state National Guard to bolster the ranks of local law enforcement and to enforce the city’s curfew.
More National Guard members were deployed during the third night of uprisings — a night that saw armed citizens standing guard outside local businesses. One of those citizens, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois, was arrested and charged with murder in the shooting of three people, two of whom died.
That shooting, in turn, has led to an even greater National Guard presence — and to Evers accepting a deployment of federal law enforcement officers amid pressure from President Donald Trump to do so. Trump has cast the uprisings in Kenosha and in other cities as symptoms of mismanagement and has attempted to use them to argue that he is the presidential candidate who will bring “LAW & ORDER!” to the United States. Democrats like presidential nominee Joe Biden have attempted to place the blame for violence adjacent to uprisings at the feet of the president.
Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, has pleaded for politicians to “fix our country” while condemning the destruction that happened during the early uprisings in Kenosha. “As his mother, please don’t burn up property and cause havoc and tear your own homes down in my son’s name,” she said on CNN after the first two nights of protests.
In Kenosha, protesters heeded Jackson’s request but have continued their demonstrations. And across the US, Blake’s shooting has given new urgency to demonstrations in other cities and towns, sharpening the calls of protesters who say Americans must continue to take to the streets to fight the harmful cycle of police brutality and put pressure on lawmakers to defund the police.
Police shot and severely wounded a Black man in broad daylight
Police were called to the scene of a domestic incident at 5:11 pm on Sunday in the Wilson Heights neighborhood of Kenosha, according to a police report. The Wisconsin Department of Justice notes the police were called to the neighborhood by a woman who requested assistance because “her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.”
In dispatch audio of the incident, a dispatcher can be heard saying, “Jacob Blake isn’t supposed to be there and he took the complainant’s keys and is refusing to give them back.”
Following the shooting, several witnesses told Kenosha News that Blake was trying to break up a “verbal altercation” between two women just after 5 pm. By 5:15, there were three officers on the scene, with one requesting more officers be sent.
Two videos of the officers’ interaction with Blake have emerged. The first, which went viral, depicts Blake’s shooting; the second shows some of what happened in the seconds immediately prior.
In that second video, Blake, wearing a white tank top and black shorts, can be seen attempting to stand as two officers struggle to force him to the ground; various bystanders shout throughout. After about 15 seconds, Blake can be seen standing and walking around the front of a gray van. All three officers on the scene have weapons trained on him; two follow him around the van.
This is where the first video picks up. Blake can be seen walking around the front of a gray van, coming from the passenger’s side and heading toward the driver’s side. Two officers follow closely behind Blake.
Both officers have their weapons pointed at Blake’s back. Many people can be heard yelling. As Blake opens the driver-side door, one officer snatches the tail end of Blake’s tank top. It stretches out as Blake attempts to enter the vehicle; seven shots are fired at Blake’s back. No other officer opened fire. The van’s horn blares, the officer continues to hold on to Blake’s shirt, and a woman screams at the side of the vehicle where Blake was shot. One of the officers pushes the woman away, and the 19-second video comes to an end.
Blake remains hospitalized. The bullet damage reportedly forced doctors to remove most of Blake’s colon and small intestines; his kidneys, liver, and arm were also seriously damaged.
A statement from the state Department of Justice notes that officers tried to arrest Blake; following the shooting, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said Blake is currently under arrest “for an outstanding warrant for third-degree sexual assault.”
It is not clear whether the officers who were called to Wilson Heights were attempting to arrest Blake due to this warrant. It is clear that they first used Tasers to try to apprehend him; the Wisconsin DOJ statement says the nonlethal weapon “was not successful at stopping Blake.”
The police department said in a statement that Blake received immediate aid and was airlifted to the hospital in Milwaukee. The state attorney general, Josh Kaul, has said Blake noted he had a knife in his possession when the shooting occurred. Officials from the department recovered the knife from the driver-side floorboard of Blake’s vehicle.
The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, so the officers were not wearing any at the time of the incident, according to the statement.
Jacob Blake’s family retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who also represents the family of George Floyd. According to a statement from Crump, Blake was shot by police in front of his three young sons, who were inside the vehicle.
“We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back several times by Kenosha police,” Crump said in the statement. “Even worse, his three sons witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets. Their irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane actions nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
Meanwhile, both Biden and Harris have called for the officer who shot Blake to face charges. “I think that there should be a thorough investigation and, based on what I’ve seen, it seems that the officer should be charged,” Harris said in an August 28 interview. And when asked on September 2 if he agreed with her, Biden said that “there’s a minimum need to be charged” and “we should let the judicial system work its way.”
Nights of unrest — and the shooting of three people — in Kenosha
Protests began the night after Blake was shot on August 23, leading to a number of uprisings and escalating tension with local police.
Following the shooting, videos on social media showed protests that included garbage trucks being set on fire, windows of buildings at and near the courthouse being smashed, and crowds clashing with police dressed in riot gear. In response, county officials instituted a curfew, and Wisconsin’s governor began to deploy members of the Wisconsin National Guard to Kenosha.
The city grew more tense in the following nights as organized marches outside the Kenosha County Courthouse gave way to uprisings after the 8 pm curfew. Fires burned in much of Kenosha’s Black business district, according to Reuters, and protesters used bats to break traffic signals and signs. When the crowd of people reached 1,000 at a park near the courthouse, police shot small beanbags and used “ear deafening audio” to disperse the people who refused to move, according to the Washington Post. The unrest has since spread to other cities including Madison, Portland, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle.
On August 25, violence erupted at the protests in Kenosha when a group of men with guns who said they were protecting the property clashed with protesters. Online video footage shows that people were chasing after one of the armed men, identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, in an attempt to capture him and seize his AR-15-style rifle. During the chase, Rittenhouse trips and falls to the ground, where he shoots at a few of the people who were following him. After the shooting, he gets up and walks toward law enforcement officials, who do not detain him, despite bystanders screaming that he had just shot people.
Two of three people were fatally hit, with the other taken to the hospital with “serious, but non-life threatening injuries,” according to the Kenosha Police Department.
Rittenhouse is a self-proclaimed militia member, has ties to law enforcement as a former member of various law enforcement youth training programs, and was front row at a Trump rally in January. Rittenhouse’s Facebook profile, which is no longer publicly accessible, revealed that he is a committed Blue Lives Matter supporter:
[...] a 2018 post on Rittenhouse’s page shows that he asked his followers to donate to the police advocacy nonprofit organization Humanizing the Badge on his birthday. “I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me,” Rittenhouse wrote.
In a press conference on the Rittenhouse incident, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis tried to shift the blame of the shootings onto the protesters and the people who were shot, saying that if protesters had stayed inside, the shootings would perhaps not have taken place. “Everybody involved was out after the curfew. I’m not going to make a great deal of it, but the point is that the curfew is in place to protect. Had persons not been out in violation of that, perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened,” he said.
At the same press conference, Kenosha Sheriff David G. Beth responded to the concern that police officers did not apprehend Rittenhouse when he walked past them. “I’ve been in a shooting before. In situations that are high stress, you have such incredible tunnel vision. You have no idea what’s outside right here if you’re looking right here,” Beth said, holding his hands up to gesture.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, meanwhile, said he does not want militia members at protests. “I don’t need more guns on the street, in the community, when we are trying to make sure we keep people safe,” he said. “Law enforcement is trained. They’re the ones who are responsible. They’re the ones we have faith will do their job and make sure it gets done. That is why the curfews are there.”
On the national level, Republicans are trying to paint the unrest in Kenosha as a preview of Joe Biden’s America, even though the shooter was a Trump supporter and the protests are happening during Trump’s presidency. “Joe Biden would double down on the very policies that are leading to violence in American cities. The hard truth is you will not be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” Vice President Mike Pence said during the Republican National Convention. Trump went on to tell Americans that the protests show “no one will be safe in Biden’s America.”
Biden has rebutted these attacks, saying in a speech in Pittsburgh, “These are not images of some imagined Joe Biden America of the future — these are images of Donald Trump’s America today. ... He keeps telling you, if he was president, you’d feel safe. Well, he is president — whether he knows it or not.”
Police violence is not uncommon in Wisconsin
The ongoing protests continued those that began after Floyd’s death and underscored the fact that police shootings of unarmed Black civilians are not new occurrences in Wisconsin, a state in which Black people make up just 6.7 percent of the population. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Milwaukee region has been home to a number of high-profile police shootings — particularly of Black and Latinx men — in the past two decades, in which officers were not charged. One of the victims, 22-year-old Adam Trammell, died in 2017 after officers from the West Milwaukee Police Department broke down the door of his apartment and repeatedly Tased him as he showered.
The 2019 police shooting of Ty’Rese West in Racine County, just north of Kenosha County, also resulted in no charges against the police. A police sergeant stopped West one evening for not having the proper lights on his bicycle. A struggle ensued after the sergeant thought West had a gun. The incident ended when the sergeant fatally shot West. The death sparked protests across Racine County, and West’s family has not stopped issuing calls for justice.
Years of grassroots organizing after the police shooting of 21-year-old Kenosha County resident Michael Bell in 2004 led to the passing of a Milwaukee law in 2014 that prevents police officers from conducting their own investigations of officer-involved shootings. As in Blake’s case, an outside law enforcement body must step in to lead the investigation.
But in the wake of George Floyd’s death, criminal justice reform advocates have argued that law doesn’t go far enough, and protesters have demanded state legislators make changes to the criminal justice system. Some local officials across the state responded to these demands by terminating school district contracts with police officers. In June, Evers announced a legislative package that included banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, adding the requirement that officers take deescalation training, and putting $1 million in grants toward community-based anti-violence programs, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
However, lawmakers likely won’t vote on any of the proposals until next year. And the package of bills from the state’s Democratic governor has received little support from the Republican lawmakers who control the state’s legislature.
Evers has used Blake’s shooting to call for a renewed focus on race and policing in his state, saying, “We stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites. ... In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.”
But the governor’s statement — and proposed initiatives — have garnered pushback. Pete Deates, president of the union representing Kenosha police officers, denounced the governor’s statement, calling it “wholly irresponsible and not reflective of the hardworking members of the law enforcement community.” Deates asked that people “withhold judgment” about the shooting and let the investigation “play out fairly and impartially.”
Despite this response, protesters in Kenosha and across the country are still demanding systemic change. Michael Bell Sr., the father of shooting victim Michael Bell, told the New York Times following the shooting of Blake, “The system is broken. The system here is broken.”
Correction, August 26: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Jacob Blake was fatally shot.


vox--2020-09-06--The Trump administration began scaling back the census count. A judge stopped it — for now.

A federal judge ruled Saturday that the Trump administration must stop plans to halt in-person census counting early — at least temporarily .
The long-term fight over the administration ’ s efforts to shorten the census data collection period will continue under the decision , which resulted in a temporary restraining order from US District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California .
Koh ’ s order requires the administration to stop scaling back counting efforts until at least September 17 , when another court hearing will help determine when counting will end .
The potential consequences are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the number of representatives each state gets in Congress , but how much federal funding each state receives — and how voting district lines are drawn for the next decade .
Ahead of the coronavirus pandemic , census data collection was scheduled to conclude on August 15 ; however , it was extended until October 31 given the challenges the pandemic created , particularly around in-person outreach — a key way of ensuring hard-to-count populations are included in the final tally .
In early August , the bureau announced it would end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing doing so was necessary to meet the December 31 deadline to send the final numbers to Congress .
Work to wind down counting is already underway , according to the associate director of the census , who said in court filings that the agency had already started firing temporary employees in some areas .
A number of civil rights groups , local governments , and the Navajo Nation — among others — sued over the new deadline , and Koh determined communities would likely experience irreparable harm if the census count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count would not be remedied for another decade , ” Koh wrote .
That “ would affect the distribution of federal and state funding , the deployment of services , and the allocation of local resources for a decade.
” The consequences of an undercount would hit low-income and minority communities the hardest If the census count is ended sooner than planned , it could bring lasting consequences .
As of now , around 35 percent of households haven ’ t responded to the census .
But the impact of that isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country lag behind the 2010 response rate , according to a research initiative led by the Center for Urban Research at the CUNY Graduate Center .
Rural areas in Montana , Texas , Oregon , New York and elsewhere remain more than 10 percentage points behind their response rate a decade ago .
Renters , low-income people , young children , and immigrants are among those who are the hardest to count .
Overall , about 20 percent of homes were counted through a “ followup , ” which involves Census Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families using other records .
But Rob Santos , vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute and president-elect of the American Statistical Association , told Vox ’ s Nicole Narea that method relies in part on reports from neighbors , which aren ’ t as accurate , and on Social Security and IRS data .
The federal government is less likely to have reliable administrative data on hard-to-count households than others .
For example , unauthorized immigrants who do not have Social Security numbers may be less likely to file taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending the census count early could leave immigrant and rural communities , as well as communities of color , without the financial , educational , and political resources their true populations would state they are due .
Latino advocates in particular have been particularly vocal in raising the alarm about how an undercount could undercut the political power of Latino voters .
But it ’ s not just civil rights advocates who are concerned .
Four former census directors have asked the Trump administration to push the deadline to respond to the census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump is no stranger to politicizing the census .
He sought to include a question on citizenship status in the 2020 census ; several states challenged it in court , arguing it would depress response rates .
The Supreme Court ruled in their favor in 2019 because the administration had lied about why it had pushed to include the question .
Instead of fighting that ruling , Trump issued an executive order that required the Census Bureau to use administrative records to create estimates on citizenship , and allowed the agency to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enforcement , Customs and Border Protection , and Citizenship and Immigration Services .
In July , it became clear why the administration hoped to get that data .
Trump issued a memo excluding unauthorized immigrants from being included in the counts for congressional districts in 2021 .
That , too , has been challenged in court .
More will become clear about the schedule for ending the census on September 17 .
But for now — with money and power on the line — the count will continue .
Help keep Vox free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

A federal judge ruled Saturday that the Trump administration must stop plans to halt in-person census counting early — at least temporarily.
The long-term fight over the administration’s efforts to shorten the census data collection period will continue under the decision, which resulted in a temporary restraining order from US District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California. Koh’s order requires the administration to stop scaling back counting efforts until at least September 17, when another court hearing will help determine when counting will end.
The potential consequences are vast: The census count influences not only the number of representatives each state gets in Congress, but how much federal funding each state receives — and how voting district lines are drawn for the next decade.
Ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, census data collection was scheduled to conclude on August 15; however, it was extended until October 31 given the challenges the pandemic created, particularly around in-person outreach — a key way of ensuring hard-to-count populations are included in the final tally.
In early August, the bureau announced it would end counting at the end of September instead, arguing doing so was necessary to meet the December 31 deadline to send the final numbers to Congress. Work to wind down counting is already underway, according to the associate director of the census, who said in court filings that the agency had already started firing temporary employees in some areas.
A number of civil rights groups, local governments, and the Navajo Nation — among others — sued over the new deadline, and Koh determined communities would likely experience irreparable harm if the census count was cut short.
“An inaccurate count would not be remedied for another decade,” Koh wrote. That “would affect the distribution of federal and state funding, the deployment of services, and the allocation of local resources for a decade.”
The consequences of an undercount would hit low-income and minority communities the hardest
If the census count is ended sooner than planned, it could bring lasting consequences.
As of now, around 35 percent of households haven’t responded to the census. But the impact of that isn’t shared equally.
Large swaths of the country lag behind the 2010 response rate, according to a research initiative led by the Center for Urban Research at the CUNY Graduate Center. Rural areas in Montana, Texas, Oregon, New York and elsewhere remain more than 10 percentage points behind their response rate a decade ago. Renters, low-income people, young children, and immigrants are among those who are the hardest to count.
Overall, about 20 percent of homes were counted through a “followup,” which involves Census Bureau employees visiting homes in person or counting families using other records.
But Rob Santos, vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute and president-elect of the American Statistical Association, told Vox’s Nicole Narea that method relies in part on reports from neighbors, which aren’t as accurate, and on Social Security and IRS data. The federal government is less likely to have reliable administrative data on hard-to-count households than others. For example, unauthorized immigrants who do not have Social Security numbers may be less likely to file taxes with the IRS.
These complications mean ending the census count early could leave immigrant and rural communities, as well as communities of color, without the financial, educational, and political resources their true populations would state they are due. Latino advocates in particular have been particularly vocal in raising the alarm about how an undercount could undercut the political power of Latino voters.
But it’s not just civil rights advocates who are concerned. Four former census directors have asked the Trump administration to push the deadline to respond to the census even further out, until April 2021.
Trump is no stranger to politicizing the census. He sought to include a question on citizenship status in the 2020 census; several states challenged it in court, arguing it would depress response rates. The Supreme Court ruled in their favor in 2019 because the administration had lied about why it had pushed to include the question.
Instead of fighting that ruling, Trump issued an executive order that required the Census Bureau to use administrative records to create estimates on citizenship, and allowed the agency to collect more data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services.
In July, it became clear why the administration hoped to get that data. Trump issued a memo excluding unauthorized immigrants from being included in the counts for congressional districts in 2021. That, too, has been challenged in court.
More will become clear about the schedule for ending the census on September 17. But for now — with money and power on the line — the count will continue.


vox--2020-09-05--Trump orders federal anti-racism training to be ended, calling it “a sickness”

President Donald Trump directed federal agencies Friday to end diversity training programs , calling them on Saturday “ a sickness that can not be allowed to continue.
” Trump ’ s decision to eliminate the anti-racism training — featuring “ critical race theory ” and discussions of “ white privilege , ” according to the directive — comes amid a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice the president has firmly opposed .
The change was announced in a memo sent to the heads of federal agencies from Russell Vought , director of the Office of Management and Budget .
Vought wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning federal agencies are spending millions of dollars training employees in “ divisive , anti-American propaganda.
” Those trainings taught workers that “ virtually all White people contribute to racism ” or benefit from it , the memo claims , adding that some of the trainings have stated there is “ racism embedded in the belief that America is the land of opportunity or the belief that the most qualified person should receive a job.
” These teachings “ engender division and resentment ” within the federal workforce and contradict the “ fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed , adding that is why Trump has asked him to stop “ these divisive , un-American propaganda training sessions.
” The memo repeatedly cites “ press reports ” as having illuminated the substance of the trainings .
While it doesn ’ t identify what those reports are , a New York Post opinion piece on the subject was published Tuesday and picked up by Fox News , which the president watches almost religiously .
Agencies have been told to begin identifying trainings related to critical race theory or white privilege , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US is “ an inherently racist or evil country ” or “ that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil , ” and to investigate ways to end their contracts with those providing the instruction .
Following reporting on the memo , Vought tweeted , “ the days of taxpayer funded indoctrination trainings that sow division and racism are over.
” Trump , too , celebrated the decision on Twitter , highlighting the positive reactions of some supporters through retweets , and by asking people to “ report any sightings ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly extinguish !
” The decision is particularly salient , given that it comes amid one of the largest civil rights movements in American history , which has seen ongoing anti-racism protests that have sparked conversations about racial inequities in a number of industries .
Critical race theory aims to examine the systemic racism people are currently protesting Trump ’ s decision seeks to root out trainings on critical race theory , framing it as an insidious idea that conceptualizes white people and institutions as inherently racist .
This is not accurate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school of thought that examines how race and racism is perpetuated through existing legal and cultural systems .
It supposes that examining and critiquing social institutions — and creating spaces for people of color to share their experiences — can help create a fairer world .
Examining the advantages white people enjoy in social , economic , and political areas ( also known as white privilege ) is a part of understanding and challenging those systems .
But the Trump administration has long pushed back on that concept , which has been thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with racial fault lines exposed by the coronavirus pandemic — which has disproportionately killed people of color — and continued shootings of Black people by police .
Trump has said the Black Lives Matter movement is a “ symbol of hate ” and has called those protesting police brutality “ thugs.
” He ’ s threatened to end protests by sending US troops into American cities , saying ongoing anti-racism protests amount to “ domestic terror.
” Throughout his presidency , Trump has vehemently opposed protesters ’ and officials ’ efforts to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote a “ law and order ” campaign message that has included a racist dog whistle pledge to protect “ suburban housewives ” from “ inner city ” crime .
And the president has consistently declined to condemn brazenly racist comments or actions .
For instance , when a supporter in a retirement community was filmed shouting “ white power ” while driving a golf cart bedecked with Trump memorabilia in June , he retweeted it .
Amid the pandemic , he ’ s called the coronavirus the “ Chinese virus ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his critics say has been connected to an increase in racist slurs and jokes against Asian Americans .
He ’ s recently resurfaced birther conspiracy theories against Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris that echo the lies he repeatedly spread about former President Barack Obama .
The American public has responded in kind .
Around half of Americans say the president has made race relations in the country worse since he took office , according to a Pew study — a number that has remained fairly steady since the start of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also found confusion , as well as a deep partisan divide , over what the ongoing anti-racism protests are about .
Despite Vought claiming otherwise , it is these sorts of divisions that diversity trainings — including those that feature critical race theory — are meant to bridge .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work , and helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

President Donald Trump directed federal agencies Friday to end diversity training programs, calling them on Saturday “a sickness that cannot be allowed to continue.”
Trump’s decision to eliminate the anti-racism training — featuring “critical race theory” and discussions of “white privilege,” according to the directive — comes amid a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice the president has firmly opposed.
The change was announced in a memo sent to the heads of federal agencies from Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought wrote that Trump ordered the sessions canceled after learning federal agencies are spending millions of dollars training employees in “divisive, anti-American propaganda.”
Those trainings taught workers that “virtually all White people contribute to racism” or benefit from it, the memo claims, adding that some of the trainings have stated there is “racism embedded in the belief that America is the land of opportunity or the belief that the most qualified person should receive a job.”
These teachings “engender division and resentment” within the federal workforce and contradict the “fundamental beliefs” of the nation, Vought claimed, adding that is why Trump has asked him to stop “these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions.”
The memo repeatedly cites “press reports” as having illuminated the substance of the trainings. While it doesn’t identify what those reports are, a New York Post opinion piece on the subject was published Tuesday and picked up by Fox News, which the president watches almost religiously.
Agencies have been told to begin identifying trainings related to critical race theory or white privilege, as well as any training that suggests the US is “an inherently racist or evil country” or “that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil,” and to investigate ways to end their contracts with those providing the instruction.
Following reporting on the memo, Vought tweeted, “the days of taxpayer funded indoctrination trainings that sow division and racism are over.” Trump, too, celebrated the decision on Twitter, highlighting the positive reactions of some supporters through retweets, and by asking people to “report any sightings” of the trainings “so we can quickly extinguish!”
Trump Orders Purge of ‘Critical Race Theory‘ from Federal Agencies https://t.co/ygXcTXRHsQ via @BreitbartNews This is a sickness that cannot be allowed to continue. Please report any sightings so we can quickly extinguish! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2020
The decision is particularly salient, given that it comes amid one of the largest civil rights movements in American history, which has seen ongoing anti-racism protests that have sparked conversations about racial inequities in a number of industries.
Critical race theory aims to examine the systemic racism people are currently protesting
Trump’s decision seeks to root out trainings on critical race theory, framing it as an insidious idea that conceptualizes white people and institutions as inherently racist. This is not accurate, however.
Critical race theory is a school of thought that examines how race and racism is perpetuated through existing legal and cultural systems. It supposes that examining and critiquing social institutions — and creating spaces for people of color to share their experiences — can help create a fairer world. Examining the advantages white people enjoy in social, economic, and political areas (also known as white privilege) is a part of understanding and challenging those systems.
But the Trump administration has long pushed back on that concept, which has been thrown into the spotlight as the US grapples with racial fault lines exposed by the coronavirus pandemic — which has disproportionately killed people of color — and continued shootings of Black people by police.
Trump has said the Black Lives Matter movement is a “symbol of hate” and has called those protesting police brutality “thugs.” He’s threatened to end protests by sending US troops into American cities, saying ongoing anti-racism protests amount to “domestic terror.”
Throughout his presidency, Trump has vehemently opposed protesters’ and officials’ efforts to take down Confederate statues and has begun to promote a “law and order” campaign message that has included a racist dog whistle pledge to protect “suburban housewives” from “inner city” crime.
And the president has consistently declined to condemn brazenly racist comments or actions. For instance, when a supporter in a retirement community was filmed shouting “white power” while driving a golf cart bedecked with Trump memorabilia in June, he retweeted it.
Amid the pandemic, he’s called the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and the “kung flu,” which his critics say has been connected to an increase in racist slurs and jokes against Asian Americans. He’s recently resurfaced birther conspiracy theories against Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris that echo the lies he repeatedly spread about former President Barack Obama.
The American public has responded in kind. Around half of Americans say the president has made race relations in the country worse since he took office, according to a Pew study — a number that has remained fairly steady since the start of Trump’s tenure. And Pew has also found confusion, as well as a deep partisan divide, over what the ongoing anti-racism protests are about.
Despite Vought claiming otherwise, it is these sorts of divisions that diversity trainings — including those that feature critical race theory — are meant to bridge.


vox--2020-09-07--Do you really have to wash your mask after every use? Short answer: Yes.

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic , face masks have become a necessity , like keys or your wallet — you can ’ t leave home without them .
For the reusable cloth masks popular with so many people , that means a lot of laundry .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) recommends wearing masks in public settings , mainly to protect others from carriers of the virus .
Many states , restaurants , bars , grocery stores , and major retailers also require patrons to wear masks in order to reduce the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a controversial touchpoint of the pandemic , with some Americans complaining and even having outbursts about wearing them .
But science shows that masks are essential to preventing the spread of the virus .
“ We know the effectiveness of face masks already .
There is the evidence base out there , ” said Dr. Simon Kolstoe , a senior lecturer in evidence-based health care at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom .
But there ’ s one question that dogs mask-wearers : Do you really have to wash them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes .
“ It ’ s definitely recommended to wash that mask every day , ” said Dr. Ravina Kullar , an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist .
Kullar points out that the purpose of the mask is to prevent the virus from spreading , so if there are virus particles on yours , wearing an unwashed mask is counterproductive .
“ It ’ s definitely recommended to wash that mask every day ” Still , despite this advice , surface transmission is not thought to be a major vector of coronavirus spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact .
The recommendation to wash your mask comes out of an abundance of caution , as well as the object ’ s close proximity to respiratory output .
The CDC also recommends washing masks : “ Masks should be washed after each use .
It is important to always remove masks correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask , ” the website says .
According to the CDC , taking off your mask correctly means handling it only by the ear loops or ties , folding it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and washing your hands immediately after .
Cloth masks can be washed by hand or in a washing machine .
Surgical masks , another popular option , can not be washed and should be discarded after one use .
There is very little “ peer-reviewed ” information about how to wash an N95 mask .
Some potential options include vaporized hydrogen peroxide , using dry heat , or UV light — methods that aren ’ t really suitable for experimentation at home .
For cloth masks , if you ’ re using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular detergent and “ the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the mask.
” If you ’ re washing your mask by hand , you should prepare a bleach solution and soak your mask in it for five minutes , then rinse in cool or room-temperature water .
Mask filters should be washed by hand .
There are also certain practices to ensure you wash your mask effectively without wearing down the fabric too much .
Patric Richardson , the self-styled Laundry Evangelist , said that a cloth mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t run through the dryer , and 50 if it is .
He also explained that the elastic parts of the mask are likely to wear down more quickly than the actual cloth .
“ Depending on the fabric , and of course that ’ s the million-dollar question with a handmade mask , but most fabrics are very durable for about 100 washes if they ’ re not in the dryer , ” he said .
Richardson also recommends wearing face masks made of cotton , which he said is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silk or even using bandannas are popular , they are often less effective and don ’ t last as long .
In addition to picking a good material , Richardson stressed using detergent sparingly .
“ The skin on your face is pretty sensitive so you want to make sure that you don ’ t use very much detergent because you want to rinse it 100 percent clean , ” he said .
In addition to maintaining good washing practices , the type of face mask you use matters , too .
Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kinds of masks by attempting to blow out a lit match .
If you can blow out the match , the mask is ineffective .
And if you can ’ t , it works .
“ If you ’ re wearing this mask to stop you blowing your breath over other people , it makes sense that if you could blow a match out [ or ] blow a candle out that ’ s directly in front of you then the mask isn ’ t being particularly effective , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more porous and lose its usefulness .
When that happens , it ’ s time to get some new masks , either by buying them or making your own .
Whichever you choose , just be sure you clean them after each use .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
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In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, face masks have become a necessity, like keys or your wallet — you can’t leave home without them. For the reusable cloth masks popular with so many people, that means a lot of laundry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing masks in public settings, mainly to protect others from carriers of the virus. Many states, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and major retailers also require patrons to wear masks in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Protective face masks have become a controversial touchpoint of the pandemic, with some Americans complaining and even having outbursts about wearing them. But science shows that masks are essential to preventing the spread of the virus.
“We know the effectiveness of face masks already. There is the evidence base out there,” said Dr. Simon Kolstoe, a senior lecturer in evidence-based health care at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.
But there’s one question that dogs mask-wearers: Do you really have to wash them after every use?
The answer is yes.
“It’s definitely recommended to wash that mask every day,” said Dr. Ravina Kullar, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist. Kullar points out that the purpose of the mask is to prevent the virus from spreading, so if there are virus particles on yours, wearing an unwashed mask is counterproductive.
“It’s definitely recommended to wash that mask every day”
Still, despite this advice, surface transmission is not thought to be a major vector of coronavirus spread. The primary transmission mode is person-to-person contact. The recommendation to wash your mask comes out of an abundance of caution, as well as the object’s close proximity to respiratory output.
The CDC also recommends washing masks: “Masks should be washed after each use. It is important to always remove masks correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask,” the website says. According to the CDC, taking off your mask correctly means handling it only by the ear loops or ties, folding it to be placed in the washing machine, and washing your hands immediately after.
Cloth masks can be washed by hand or in a washing machine. Surgical masks, another popular option, cannot be washed and should be discarded after one use. There is very little “peer-reviewed” information about how to wash an N95 mask. Some potential options include vaporized hydrogen peroxide, using dry heat, or UV light — methods that aren’t really suitable for experimentation at home.
For cloth masks, if you’re using a washing machine, the CDC recommends regular detergent and “the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the mask.” If you’re washing your mask by hand, you should prepare a bleach solution and soak your mask in it for five minutes, then rinse in cool or room-temperature water. Mask filters should be washed by hand.
There are also certain practices to ensure you wash your mask effectively without wearing down the fabric too much.
Patric Richardson, the self-styled Laundry Evangelist, said that a cloth mask can sustain around 100 washes if it isn’t run through the dryer, and 50 if it is. He also explained that the elastic parts of the mask are likely to wear down more quickly than the actual cloth.
“Depending on the fabric, and of course that’s the million-dollar question with a handmade mask, but most fabrics are very durable for about 100 washes if they’re not in the dryer,” he said.
Richardson also recommends wearing face masks made of cotton, which he said is most durable. While other materials like silk or even using bandannas are popular, they are often less effective and don’t last as long. In addition to picking a good material, Richardson stressed using detergent sparingly.
“The skin on your face is pretty sensitive so you want to make sure that you don’t use very much detergent because you want to rinse it 100 percent clean,” he said.
In addition to maintaining good washing practices, the type of face mask you use matters, too. Dr. Kolstoe made a video, testing different kinds of masks by attempting to blow out a lit match. If you can blow out the match, the mask is ineffective. And if you can’t, it works.
“If you’re wearing this mask to stop you blowing your breath over other people, it makes sense that if you could blow a match out [or] blow a candle out that’s directly in front of you then the mask isn’t being particularly effective,” he said.
Eventually, an overwashed mask could become more porous and lose its usefulness. When that happens, it’s time to get some new masks, either by buying them or making your own. Whichever you choose, just be sure you clean them after each use.


vox--2020-09-07--The 2020 election calendar

The 2020 election calendar

Share All sharing options for : The 2020 election calendar Vox answers your biggest questions about the 2020 US presidential election , which could be one of the most consequential of our lifetimes .
This story is part of a group of stories called The 2020 presidential election is ramping into high gear .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced his chosen running mate : California Sen. Kamala Harris , and Democrats held their first virtual convention in mid-August ; the week after brought the Republican one .
Biden and President Donald Trump have accepted their parties ’ official nominations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season is upon us .
The presidential debates will begin September 29 and run through October , though Trump has pushed for changes to the debate schedule .
Election Day itself , of course , will fall on Tuesday , November 3 .
Read on for the important events of the 2020 election cycle and bookmark this page to refer back to .
You can also add it to your Google Calendar by clicking the plus sign on the bottom right of this page , or subscribe through a calendar app of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscriptions will be updated as dates and information change .
And check out our guides on how to vote early and by mail .
• First presidential debate in Cleveland , Ohio , at the Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Clinic joint campus • Vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah • Third presidential debate in Nashville , Tennessee , at Belmont University Read all of our coverage from the June debates here .
Read all of our coverage from the July debates here .
Read all of our coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second town hall on climate change on MSNBC Read all of our coverage from the October debate here .
Read all of our coverage from the November debate here .
Read all of our coverage from the December debate here .
Read all of our coverage from the Iowa caucuses here .
Read all of our coverage from the New Hampshire primaries here .
Read all of our coverage from the South Carolina primary here .
Read all of our coverage from Super Tuesday here .
Read all of our coverage from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our coverage from the March 17 primaries here .
• Wisconsin primaries ( D , R ; April 7 is the election date and mail-in vote postmark deadline following court rulings , as of 8 pm ET on April 6 ) • Alaska primary ( D ; vote-by-mail only ; results will be available no later than 11:59 pm on April 11 ) • Hawaii primary ( D ; vote-by-mail only ; results will be available “ late May , ” according to interim Hawaii Democratic Party Chair Kate Stanley ) Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our coverage of the Republican convention here .
Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work , and helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Share All sharing options for: The 2020 election calendar
Vox answers your biggest questions about the 2020 US presidential election .
This story is part of a group of stories called
The 2020 presidential election is ramping into high gear.
Joe Biden announced his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, and Democrats and Republicans held their first virtual conventions this summer. Biden and President Donald Trump accepted their parties’ official nominations for president, and the fall campaign season is upon us.
The presidential debates began September 29 and run through October, including the vice presidential debate on October 7. The second presidential debate, scheduled for October 15, was canceled after Trump tested positive for Covid-19, then refused to agree to debate virtually. One more debate is scheduled for October 22.
Election Day itself, of course, will fall on Tuesday, November 3.
Read on for the important events of the 2020 election cycle and bookmark this page to refer back to. You can also add it to your Google Calendar by clicking the plus sign on the bottom right of this page, or subscribe through a calendar app of your choice. This page and the calendar subscriptions will be updated as dates and information change.
And check out our guides on how to vote early and by mail.
September 2020
September 29
Presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Clinic joint campus
October 2020
October 7
Vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah
October 22
Presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, at Belmont University
November 2020
November 3
Election Day
Past 2020 election coverage
June 2019
June 26-27
Read all of our coverage from the June debates here.
July 2019
July 30-31
Read all of our coverage from the July debates here.
September 2019
September 4
September 12
Read all of our coverage of the September debate here.
September 19-20
October 2019
October 15
Read all of our coverage from the October debate here.
November 2019
November 20
Read all of our coverage from the November debate here.
December 2019
December 19
Read all of our coverage from the December debate here.
January 2020
January 14
February 2020
February 3
Iowa caucuses
Read all of our coverage from the Iowa caucuses here.
February 7
February 11
New Hampshire primaries
Read all of our coverage from the New Hampshire primaries here.
February 19
February 22
Nevada caucuses
February 25
February 29
South Carolina primary
Read all of our coverage from the South Carolina primary here.
March 2020
March 3 (Super Tuesday)
Alabama primaries (D, R)
American Samoa caucuses (D)
Arkansas primaries (D, R)
California primaries (D, R)
Colorado primaries (D, R)
Maine primaries (D, R)
Massachusetts primaries (D, R)
Minnesota primaries (D, R)
North Carolina primaries (D, R)
Oklahoma primaries (D, R)
Tennessee primaries (D, R)
Texas primaries (D, R)
Utah primaries (D, R)
Vermont primaries (D, R)
Virginia primary (D)
Democrats Abroad primary (through March 10)
Read all of our coverage from Super Tuesday here.
March 10
Idaho primaries (D, R)
Michigan primaries (D, R)
Mississippi primaries (D, R)
Missouri primaries (D, R)
North Dakota caucuses (D)
Washington primaries (D, R)
Read all of our coverage from the March 10 primaries here.
March 12
Virgin Islands caucuses
March 14
Guam caucuses (R)
Northern Marianas convention (D)
March 15
March 17
Arizona primary (D)
Florida primaries (D, R)
Illinois primaries (D, R)
Northern Marianas convention (R)
Read all of our coverage from the March 17 primaries here.
March 24
American Samoa caucuses (R)
April 2020
April 7
Wisconsin primaries (D, R; April 7 is the election date and mail-in vote postmark deadline following court rulings, as of 8 pm ET on April 6)
April 10
Alaska primary (D; vote-by-mail only; results will be available no later than 11:59 pm on April 11)
April 17
Wyoming caucuses (D; vote-by-mail only)
April 28
Ohio primaries (D, R; vote-by-mail only)
May 2020
May 2
Kansas primary (D)
Guam caucuses (D)
May 7-9
Wyoming state convention (R)
May 12
Nebraska primaries (D, R)
May 19
Oregon primaries (D, R)
June 2020
June 2
Delaware primaries (D, R)
District of Columbia primaries (D, R)
Indiana primaries (D, R)
Maryland primaries (D, R)
Montana primaries (D, R)
New Mexico primaries (D, R)
Pennsylvania primaries (D, R)
Rhode Island primaries (D, R)
South Dakota primaries (D, R)
June 6
Virgin Islands caucuses (D)
June 7
Puerto Rico primary (R)
June 9
Georgia primaries (D, R)
West Virginia primaries (D, R)
June 23
Kentucky primaries (D, R)
New York primaries (D, R)
July 2020
July 7
New Jersey primaries (D, R)
July 11
Louisiana primaries (D, R)
August 2020
August 11
Connecticut primaries (D, R)
August 17-20
Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Read our coverage of the Democratic convention here.
August 24-27
Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina
Read our coverage of the Republican convention here.


vox--2020-09-08--This week in TikTok: Everybody wants to be “Heather”

Hello from The Goods ’ twice-weekly newsletter !
On Tuesdays , internet culture reporter Rebecca Jennings uses this space to update you all on what ’ s been going on in the world of TikTok .
Is there something you want to see more of ?
Less of ?
Different of ?
Email rebecca.jennings @ vox.com , and subscribe to The Goods ’ newsletter here .
Someday , when historians write about the year 2020 , there will be an entire chapter devoted to the TikToks students are making while at Zoom School .
I think it was a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the internet for PE class that finally caused me to lose it ( the account that posted it seems slightly dubious so I can ’ t confirm whether it ’ s from a real school , but the image will remain lodged in my brain forever ) .
But that ’ s just one of the many videos on TikTok over the past two weeks depicting the unbearable awkwardness of remote learning .
There ’ s one depicting the bored silence of a breakout room with your fellow classmates , one about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re messing around , and one where a kid is fake-kidnapped in his dorm room .
Each one shows how strange and uncanny the phenomenon of internet school is , and how much all of our efforts to make it better have failed .
Beyond making me grateful I ’ m no longer in school , these videos are fascinating .
Nobody knows what the effect of a year or more of social distancing will be on young people — students in 2020 are literally guinea pigs in an experiment none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many kids will end up sick or worse due to the financially driven insistence on forcing them to live on campus .
What we do know is that Zoom School has bred a new type of gallows humor , and it ’ ll likely only get bleaker .
• Talks of a TikTok sale have slowed due to a new Chinese law limiting technology exports .
Nobody has any idea what ’ s happening !
• People who have signed up for TikTok ’ s Creator Fund claim it ’ s causing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund , which TikTok announced this summer , requires applicants to be 18 or older and have at least 10,000 followers , but many applicants are now saying they ’ ve been “ shadowbanned ” and are accusing the company of intentionally hiding videos so as not to have to pay per view — one popular audio about the app said that TikTok pays $ 1 per every 30,000 views .
The audio continues : “ Guys , the only people profiting from this are already profiting from TikTok from sponsorships and partnerships.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing a book on how to navigate social media as a teenager and how to “ stay positive in the face of cyberbullying.
” There is , as is often the case on the internet , yet another new word to describe a specific kind of beautiful woman .
That word is “ Heather , ” as in , “ you ’ re Heather , ” or “ she ’ s such a Heather.
” The name comes from the Conan Gray song “ Heather , ” in which Gray croons about an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love with someone else , named Heather ( “ But you like her better/I wish I were Heather ” ) .
The song is extremely sad , obviously , with Gray both yearning to be Heather but also sort of hating her , a very relatable feeling for anyone who has been to high school .
When the song blew up on TikTok earlier this year , so too did the shorthand of what a “ Heather ” is ; many girls started making videos of the Heather in their lives and lamenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often starring happy-looking girls lying in a field of sunflowers on Instagram .
Others have made videos like “ my mom was the original Heather ” with family photographs from the ’ 70s and ’ 80s .
Sometimes , the Heather is their past self .
Over the past few weeks , “ Heather ” has become less about the inherent sadness of the meme and more of a TikTok trope , like VSCO girls or e-boys .
And while many of these types of labels have historically been used to categorize thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is now a favorite term for any woman ; comments sections on videos of body-positive TikTokers and users who don ’ t fit the stereotypical “ happy-go-lucky Brandy Melville model ” are full of encouragements that they are , in fact , Heathers .
It ’ s all very cute and melancholy , just like the song itself , and just like this summer in general .
But mainly , I personally love that a name that peaked in 1975 is suddenly shorthand for a hot girl in 2020 .
Presenting : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Spoiler : It ’ s short for “ waffles and pancakes.
” Help keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work , and helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world .
Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

Hello from The Goods’ twice-weekly newsletter! On Tuesdays, internet culture reporter Rebecca Jennings uses this space to update you all on what’s been going on in the world of TikTok. Is there something you want to see more of? Less of? Different of? Email rebecca.jennings@vox.com, and subscribe to The Goods’ newsletter here.
Someday, when historians write about the year 2020, there will be an entire chapter devoted to the TikToks students are making while at Zoom School. I think it was a video of dozens of kids doing jumping jacks over the internet for PE class that finally caused me to lose it (the account that posted it seems slightly dubious so I can’t confirm whether it’s from a real school, but the image will remain lodged in my brain forever).
But that’s just one of the many videos on TikTok over the past two weeks depicting the unbearable awkwardness of remote learning. There’s one depicting the bored silence of a breakout room with your fellow classmates, one about how teachers basically always know when you’re messing around, and one where a kid is fake-kidnapped in his dorm room. Each one shows how strange and uncanny the phenomenon of internet school is, and how much all of our efforts to make it better have failed.
Beyond making me grateful I’m no longer in school, these videos are fascinating. Nobody knows what the effect of a year or more of social distancing will be on young people — students in 2020 are literally guinea pigs in an experiment none of them signed up for — or how many kids will end up sick or worse due to the financially driven insistence on forcing them to live on campus. What we do know is that Zoom School has bred a new type of gallows humor, and it’ll likely only get bleaker.
TikTok in the news
Talks of a TikTok sale have slowed due to a new Chinese law limiting technology exports. Nobody has any idea what’s happening!
People who have signed up for TikTok’s Creator Fund claim it’s causing a major drop in view counts. The fund, which TikTok announced this summer, requires applicants to be 18 or older and have at least 10,000 followers, but many applicants are now saying they’ve been “shadowbanned” and are accusing the company of intentionally hiding videos so as not to have to pay per view — one popular audio about the app said that TikTok pays $1 per every 30,000 views. The audio continues: “Guys, the only people profiting from this are already profiting from TikTok from sponsorships and partnerships.”
Charli D’Amelio is writing a book on how to navigate social media as a teenager and how to “stay positive in the face of cyberbullying.”
Here’s a very wholesome story about Dungeons & Dragons TikTok.
Meme watch
There is, as is often the case on the internet, yet another new word to describe a specific kind of beautiful woman. That word is “Heather,” as in, “you’re Heather,” or “she’s such a Heather.” The name comes from the Conan Gray song “Heather,” in which Gray croons about an unrequited love for someone who is in love with someone else, named Heather (“But you like her better/I wish I were Heather”). The song is extremely sad, obviously, with Gray both yearning to be Heather but also sort of hating her, a very relatable feeling for anyone who has been to high school.
When the song blew up on TikTok earlier this year, so too did the shorthand of what a “Heather” is; many girls started making videos of the Heather in their lives and lamenting what they don’t have, often starring happy-looking girls lying in a field of sunflowers on Instagram. Others have made videos like “my mom was the original Heather” with family photographs from the ’70s and ’80s. Sometimes, the Heather is their past self.
Over the past few weeks, “Heather” has become less about the inherent sadness of the meme and more of a TikTok trope, like VSCO girls or e-boys. And while many of these types of labels have historically been used to categorize thin, attractive white people, “Heather” is now a favorite term for any woman; comments sections on videos of body-positive TikTokers and users who don’t fit the stereotypical “happy-go-lucky Brandy Melville model” are full of encouragements that they are, in fact, Heathers.
It’s all very cute and melancholy, just like the song itself, and just like this summer in general. But mainly, I personally love that a name that peaked in 1975 is suddenly shorthand for a hot girl in 2020.
One Last Thing
Presenting: the Kidz Bop version of “WAP.” Spoiler: It’s short for “waffles and pancakes.”