vox--2020-04-23--Coronavirus is changing some high school seniors’ college plans

Most high school seniors have resigned themselves to the fact that their senior spring — once full of milestone events like grad night , prom , and graduation — will be spent indoors .
For those planning to head off to college in the fall , the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and what lies beyond summer is a cause for concern .
Hundreds , if not thousands , of college campuses have closed , truncating not just the academic year but also the opportunity for prospective students to tour campus , attend admitted student events , and get an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and the District of Columbia have now mandated or recommended the closure of public and private schools .
Campus visits are an essential aspect of the decision-making process for many students , including those with the financial means to tour or scholarship recipients who have been flown out by the colleges themselves .
Most admissions offices have transitioned to hosting events online , but virtual tours and Zoom sessions can only do so much to acquaint students with a college ’ s environment .
With National Decision Day around the corner on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most students to accept admissions offers — many students are worried about committing to a campus they haven ’ t set foot on .
About two-thirds of nearly 5,000 high school seniors surveyed by the education marketing firm Carnegie Dartlet found the May deadline to be unreasonable .
And although many colleges have extended the deadline to June 1 or later , some students don ’ t believe an extra few months of deciding time will ultimately make a difference , especially if most of the country is still on lockdown .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing a college is the campus atmosphere and what the students there are like , ” said Rachel Kedem , a senior from Sacramento County , California .
Kedem is deciding between UC Santa Cruz , Boston University , and Emerson College , and says “ it ’ s really difficult ” since two of her top-choice colleges are in Boston .
She ’ d visited Boston University before and would feel more comfortable committing to the school , she said , “ but it ’ s hard to tell what the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kedem ’ s family had planned to tour colleges in the spring after she received all her offers and financial aid packages .
The virtual tours and webinars have been semi-helpful when it comes to hearing professors and student leaders speak , Kedem said , but she said she was banking on the campus visit to be sure of her decision .
“ Is the atmosphere more competitive academically ?
Is there a strong school spirit ?
Is there a tradition students really care about ?
These are things I won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless I go there and talk to current students , ” she told me .
Current college students — many of whom acknowledge that their admissions offices are doing the best job they can to aid prospective students — are trying to solve the social disparity Kedem described .
Justin Thach , a freshman at Stanford University , had initially created a spreadsheet of current students ’ contact information , intended to help high school seniors in the Coca-Cola scholarship program he was part of .
Since Thach decided to make the sheet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document has grown vastly .
More than 650 students across hundreds of schools have posted their information for prospective students to reach out , he said .
“ I ’ ve talked to about 10 students so far , and with talking to someone individually , I can give more direct answers to their questions , and they can get a sense of the individual people and how they interact with others on campus , ” Thach told me .
He added that he sympathized with the seniors and wanted to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help low-income or first-generation college students .
Education experts say some first-generation students struggle with social isolation , due to a lack of family support or the need to work extra hours in college .
Therefore , figuring out whether a campus offers sufficient social support is crucial for many .
“ It ’ s just answering questions on our part , ” Thach said .
“ A lot of what I ’ m doing is dispelling or addressing stereotypes , and I ’ m trying to address those preconceived notions as best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influential those impressions can be when you ’ re deciding.
” “ A lot of what I ’ m doing is dispelling or addressing stereotypes ” Already , various universities have considered the possibility that campuses won ’ t reopen in the fall .
In this scenario , many first-year students could enroll in classes without even setting foot on campus until 2021 — something that ’ s led students of all ages to reassess their finances and plans for the coming year .
On social media , some students are actively considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s usually associated with people from more affluent backgrounds , since many colleges don ’ t offer financial aid for the period out of school .
While studies have found that a gap year or time off from school decreases the likelihood of college completion , some students might not have a choice in delaying college , especially if their finances have been upended by Covid-19 .
About 70 percent of 1,100 students surveyed by the ed-tech company Cirkled In said Covid-19 will likely affect their financial situation , and more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ultimate college choice .
Many families are rethinking whether their children should even start college in 2020 , or if they should enroll in a school closer to home to reduce costs .
Andrea Boyack , the mother of a high school senior in Kansas , told me her son is leaning toward taking a semi-gap year , in which he would take a few online classes at a local community or state college and transfer to his first-choice campus in 2021 .
Boyack ’ s son has Asperger ’ s syndrome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students with special needs has been very difficult ” with virtual webinars , she said .
The family had planned to tour campuses before deciding on the best fit , but that might have to be pushed to next year .
“ It was a big development when he finally agreed to the possibility of taking a gap year , since he was really looking forward to going to college , ” Boyack said .
However , Boyack and her son ultimately decided there was too much uncertainty and risk to getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to have him potentially relocate home .
Even if campuses did remain closed , Boyack said it didn ’ t make sense to pay the same amount of tuition for online courses when there are other cost-effective options nearby .
Institutions , from Ivy League schools to community colleges , are already projecting losses of more than $ 100 million and bracing for more revenue decline in the fall , if enrollment numbers are down .
“ Yeah , I just don ’ t know if I ’ m down to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one student tweeted .
In anecdotes posted online and in national surveys , students say they prefer in-person learning , and the likelihood of starting fall semester online has led some seniors to consider a gap year or , for returning college students , a leave of absence .
“ I know two students who ’ ve taken a leave of absence during spring quarter out of financial concerns , ” Thach said .
“ The people I ’ ve talked to , some are concerned about paying full tuition when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re approaching fall quarter the same way and might consider taking a leave of absence.
” High school graduates from lower-income backgrounds are more likely to delay their college enrollment than their wealthier peers , according to multiple studies .
They also experience longer breaks in their education and are less likely to graduate .
Due to many families ’ precarious financial situation , low-income students are significantly at risk with the pandemic-induced recession — particularly if they don ’ t have enough money for an enrollment deposit or if their family ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic not only disrupts many students ’ educational trajectory but also exacerbates existing barriers to access , such as college advisement resources and technology to study from home .
Carrie Warick , director of policy and advocacy for the National College Attainment Network , told Politico that “ the longer [ students ] are out of school , the more dire the impact is going to be .
“ The biggest concern is that you might have students who weren ’ t previously low income , who now are , ” Warick said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that loss of income , but if they ’ ve already done their FAFSA , they now need to contact the financial aid office to let them know there ’ s been a change and ask for an updated financial aid package.
” “ The biggest concern is that you might have students who weren ’ t previously low income , who now are ” Diane Klein , a law professor at the University of La Verne , published a blog post on Medium advising parents and students of all income levels to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can .
“ The upheaval most people are experiencing right now is incredibly difficult , and any honest educator has to admit those are the worst possible conditions to try and carry out education , especially for those making the transition to college , ” she told me .
Even if campuses do open up by August or September , Klein said parents should plan for the possibility that a second coronavirus outbreak could occur in the fall , especially if there isn ’ t a vaccine by then .
“ For people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids into a dorm or apartment hundreds of miles away , and find out a few weeks or months later that they have to go home again , that ’ s an unreasonable demand , ” she told me .
While some students ’ enrollment decisions are contingent on their financial aid package , Klein thinks it ’ s not too soon to ask to see whether a student could defer a semester or two to get the full experience they ’ ve signed up for : “ Many of these students have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to get a full-value higher education — whether they ’ re paying for it , borrowing for it , or recipients for a lot of aid.
” Some high school seniors feel like they ’ re stuck at a crossroads .
Many can ’ t afford a gap year in a struggling job market and feel constrained by the choices they have to make in quarantine — a reality that has only begun to sink in .
College , for some students , is a four-year commitment , and like many other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big decision .
“ I have to weigh my options as best as I can , ” she said , “ and a part of me is really worried I might make a decision I ’ ll later regret.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Most high school seniors have resigned themselves to the fact that their senior spring — once full of milestone events like grad night, prom, and graduation — will be spent indoors. For those planning to head off to college in the fall, the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and what lies beyond summer is a cause for concern.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of college campuses have closed, truncating not just the academic year but also the opportunity for prospective students to tour campus, attend admitted student events, and get an in-person feel for the school. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have now mandated or recommended the closure of public and private schools. Campus visits are an essential aspect of the decision-making process for many students, including those with the financial means to tour or scholarship recipients who have been flown out by the colleges themselves. Most admissions offices have transitioned to hosting events online, but virtual tours and Zoom sessions can only do so much to acquaint students with a college’s environment.
With National Decision Day around the corner on May 1 — the traditional deadline for most students to accept admissions offers — many students are worried about committing to a campus they haven’t set foot on. About two-thirds of nearly 5,000 high school seniors surveyed by the education marketing firm Carnegie Dartlet found the May deadline to be unreasonable. And although many colleges have extended the deadline to June 1 or later, some students don’t believe an extra few months of deciding time will ultimately make a difference, especially if most of the country is still on lockdown.
“One of the most important things when choosing a college is the campus atmosphere and what the students there are like,” said Rachel Kedem, a senior from Sacramento County, California. Kedem is deciding between UC Santa Cruz, Boston University, and Emerson College, and says “it’s really difficult” since two of her top-choice colleges are in Boston. She’d visited Boston University before and would feel more comfortable committing to the school, she said, “but it’s hard to tell what the right decision for me is at this point.”
Kedem’s family had planned to tour colleges in the spring after she received all her offers and financial aid packages. The virtual tours and webinars have been semi-helpful when it comes to hearing professors and student leaders speak, Kedem said, but she said she was banking on the campus visit to be sure of her decision. “Is the atmosphere more competitive academically? Is there a strong school spirit? Is there a tradition students really care about? These are things I won’t be able to certainly find out unless I go there and talk to current students,” she told me.
Current college students — many of whom acknowledge that their admissions offices are doing the best job they can to aid prospective students — are trying to solve the social disparity Kedem described. Justin Thach, a freshman at Stanford University, had initially created a spreadsheet of current students’ contact information, intended to help high school seniors in the Coca-Cola scholarship program he was part of. Since Thach decided to make the sheet a public resource, however, the document has grown vastly. More than 650 students across hundreds of schools have posted their information for prospective students to reach out, he said.
congrats to the class of 2024! since college visits are cancelled, we compiled this spreadsheet (https://t.co/3rE5p3QQp8) of contacts at colleges across the country to answer some of your questions and to help you make your decision. twitter, do your thing <3 — justin (@thejustinthach) March 27, 2020
“I’ve talked to about 10 students so far, and with talking to someone individually, I can give more direct answers to their questions, and they can get a sense of the individual people and how they interact with others on campus,” Thach told me.
He added that he sympathized with the seniors and wanted to create a resource anyone can use, especially to help low-income or first-generation college students. Education experts say some first-generation students struggle with social isolation, due to a lack of family support or the need to work extra hours in college. Therefore, figuring out whether a campus offers sufficient social support is crucial for many.
“It’s just answering questions on our part,” Thach said. “A lot of what I’m doing is dispelling or addressing stereotypes, and I’m trying to address those preconceived notions as best as I can because I know how influential those impressions can be when you’re deciding.”
“A lot of what I’m doing is dispelling or addressing stereotypes”
Already, various universities have considered the possibility that campuses won’t reopen in the fall. In this scenario, many first-year students could enroll in classes without even setting foot on campus until 2021 — something that’s led students of all ages to reassess their finances and plans for the coming year. On social media, some students are actively considering a gap year — a privilege that’s usually associated with people from more affluent backgrounds, since many colleges don’t offer financial aid for the period out of school. While studies have found that a gap year or time off from school decreases the likelihood of college completion, some students might not have a choice in delaying college, especially if their finances have been upended by Covid-19.
About 70 percent of 1,100 students surveyed by the ed-tech company Cirkled In said Covid-19 will likely affect their financial situation, and more than 25 percent said it’ll affect their ultimate college choice. Many families are rethinking whether their children should even start college in 2020, or if they should enroll in a school closer to home to reduce costs.
If y’all try making me spend my first semester of college in zoom classes I’m not going. I’m not spending THOUSANDS of dollars just to hear people say “can you hear me “a 100 times a day. I can’t do it and I won’t. I will be taking a gap year, mark my word. — london (@dejarnette8) April 21, 2020
Andrea Boyack, the mother of a high school senior in Kansas, told me her son is leaning toward taking a semi-gap year, in which he would take a few online classes at a local community or state college and transfer to his first-choice campus in 2021. Boyack’s son has Asperger’s syndrome, and “getting information about support for students with special needs has been very difficult” with virtual webinars, she said. The family had planned to tour campuses before deciding on the best fit, but that might have to be pushed to next year.
“It was a big development when he finally agreed to the possibility of taking a gap year, since he was really looking forward to going to college,” Boyack said. However, Boyack and her son ultimately decided there was too much uncertainty and risk to getting him settled in a different state, only to have him potentially relocate home. Even if campuses did remain closed, Boyack said it didn’t make sense to pay the same amount of tuition for online courses when there are other cost-effective options nearby. Institutions, from Ivy League schools to community colleges, are already projecting losses of more than $100 million and bracing for more revenue decline in the fall, if enrollment numbers are down.
“Yeah, I just don’t know if I’m down to pay over $42,000 for Zoom classes,” one student tweeted. In anecdotes posted online and in national surveys, students say they prefer in-person learning, and the likelihood of starting fall semester online has led some seniors to consider a gap year or, for returning college students, a leave of absence.
“I know two students who’ve taken a leave of absence during spring quarter out of financial concerns,” Thach said. “The people I’ve talked to, some are concerned about paying full tuition when we just have online classes. They’re approaching fall quarter the same way and might consider taking a leave of absence.”
High school graduates from lower-income backgrounds are more likely to delay their college enrollment than their wealthier peers, according to multiple studies. They also experience longer breaks in their education and are less likely to graduate. Due to many families’ precarious financial situation, low-income students are significantly at risk with the pandemic-induced recession — particularly if they don’t have enough money for an enrollment deposit or if their family’s financial picture entirely changes.
The pandemic not only disrupts many students’ educational trajectory but also exacerbates existing barriers to access, such as college advisement resources and technology to study from home. Carrie Warick, director of policy and advocacy for the National College Attainment Network, told Politico that “the longer [students] are out of school, the more dire the impact is going to be.
“The biggest concern is that you might have students who weren’t previously low income, who now are,” Warick said. “Not only are they facing that loss of income, but if they’ve already done their FAFSA, they now need to contact the financial aid office to let them know there’s been a change and ask for an updated financial aid package.”
“The biggest concern is that you might have students who weren’t previously low income, who now are”
Diane Klein, a law professor at the University of La Verne, published a blog post on Medium advising parents and students of all income levels to consider taking a gap year if they can. “The upheaval most people are experiencing right now is incredibly difficult, and any honest educator has to admit those are the worst possible conditions to try and carry out education, especially for those making the transition to college,” she told me.
Even if campuses do open up by August or September, Klein said parents should plan for the possibility that a second coronavirus outbreak could occur in the fall, especially if there isn’t a vaccine by then.
“For people to go into debt, move their kids into a dorm or apartment hundreds of miles away, and find out a few weeks or months later that they have to go home again, that’s an unreasonable demand,” she told me. While some students’ enrollment decisions are contingent on their financial aid package, Klein thinks it’s not too soon to ask to see whether a student could defer a semester or two to get the full experience they’ve signed up for: “Many of these students have worked so hard, and I want them to get a full-value higher education — whether they’re paying for it, borrowing for it, or recipients for a lot of aid.”
Some high school seniors feel like they’re stuck at a crossroads. Many can’t afford a gap year in a struggling job market and feel constrained by the choices they have to make in quarantine — a reality that has only begun to sink in. College, for some students, is a four-year commitment, and like many other students, Kedem is stressed about such a big decision. “I have to weigh my options as best as I can,” she said, “and a part of me is really worried I might make a decision I’ll later regret.”


vox--2020-04-23--Louisiana’s longest-serving incarcerated woman is supposed to be free. Instead, she has Covid-19.

Gloria Williams has been in prison for nearly 50 years .
In 1971 , she and several others robbed a grocery store with a toy gun after a struggle with the store owner , who was armed , someone in her group shot the owner with his own gun .
She was 25 years old , the mother of five kids , and sentenced to prison for the rest of her life .
She is currently Louisiana ’ s longest-serving incarcerated woman .
At the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women , Williams has become a mentor for the younger women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mama Glo.
” She has also been a member of the prison ’ s drama club for two decades .
“ Everyone knew and loved Mama Glo and really called on her as the matriarch of the prison , ” said Fox Rich , who served time alongside Williams and is now a criminal justice advocate .
Last year , Williams ’ s large family worked tirelessly to help her put together a clemency application , which , if approved , would allow her to go free .
About 30 members of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , mostly from Houston and Beaumont , Texas , to tell the judge in person the things they included in letters to the Louisiana Board of Pardons — her hard work to change herself over the years from a domestic abuse survivor who “ took a wrong turn ” in life , as her sister Mary Smith-Moore put it , into a woman others looked up to and relied on .
The Board of Pardons unanimously approved her clemency application that same month .
“ I spoke at her clemency hearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was indeed positive , and we were grateful that they heard us — they read our letters , and they recognized all the efforts she put in to become a different version of who she was.
” Williams got to meet her grandchildren for the first time at the hearing .
The mood was bright — like a family reunion , fitting in the big missing piece — and Williams began to plan for her return .
Instead , the clemency application has sat on the desk of Louisiana ’ s governor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for his signature .
“ They said , ‘ Wait till the election.
’ We had family friends out in droves voting for this person because supposedly he was going to grant her petition , ” Smith-Moore said .
“ And then there was a runoff , and ‘ Wait till the runoff.
’ And it still hasn ’ t happened .
When the coronavirus outbreak started reaching the US ... we have been on pins and needles.
” Over the weekend , Smith-Moore and the rest of Williams ’ s family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t about her release .
They were told through Rich , who helped them work on Williams ’ s clemency application , that Mama Glo was hospitalized in critical condition and having trouble breathing .
Days later , Williams ’ s attorney was able to confirm that she tested positive for Covid-19 and was receiving oxygen and antibiotics to fight pneumonia in both her lungs .
“ We are just devastated , ” Smith-Moore said .
“ We ’ ve been calling , leaving voicemails at the governor ’ s office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a look at this and get her out of there because of her age , and what is she gon na do at her age ?
She ’ s not a danger to society or to anyone .
And she ’ s at the most vulnerable age [ for serious complications from Covid-19 ] .
It ’ s just inhumane almost , really.
” Jails and prisons are in crisis around the country Prisons and jails are hotbeds for the spread of Covid-19 due to the number of people in tight quarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of adequate medical care , visits from the outside population , and a staff that enters and leaves each day — all potential factors leading to the rapid spread of this disease .
On top of that , prison and jail populations experience preexisting conditions that leave them particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 — including heart problems , high blood pressure , tuberculosis , and asthma — at a much greater rate than the general population .
Thousands of incarcerated people and corrections staff have been stricken with the disease .
As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 844 staff , 239 incarcerated people , and 35 parolees had tested positive for Covid-19 ; 12 have died .
At Rikers Island in New York City , 93 of every 1,000 inmates have tested positive as of April 21 ; in the rest of the city ’ s population , that number is 16 of every 1,000 .
In Ohio , 2,011 incarcerated people at the Marion Correctional Institution , more than three-quarters of its population , have tested positive for the virus as of April 22 ; one has reportedly died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive and another has died .
In Cook County Jail in Chicago , nearly 400 incarcerated people have tested positive for Covid-19 , and six have died as of April 21 .
As these outbreaks continue and intensify , public health officials , advocates , and some district attorneys and sheriffs have called for thinning out jail and prison populations .
“ This is a public health crisis that threatens to become a humanitarian disaster , ” warned the Brooklyn DA , the former health commissioner , and the president of the Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last month .
Many advocates say the officials who have the power to release people in prisons and jails are generally moving too slow and releasing too few to mitigate the spread of the disease .
In Texas , an attempt to reduce the number of people in the Harris County Jail in Houston was met with a state-level resistance from Governor Greg Abbott ; in the meantime , at least 151 jail staff and 99 incarcerated people have tested positive for Covid-19 .
Governors have a range of tools to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , giving more credit for time served , and temporarily furloughing prison populations .
In some states , governors are using those powers fairly aggressively : California ’ s governor , Gavin Newsom , ordered the early release of 3,500 people from prisons over the next two months .
Iowa has released 811 people from prison since March 1 and recently announced releasing 482 more .
But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he had no plans to release anyone early from the state ’ s prisons , although he announced that 1,100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released ” with community supervision .
In Louisiana , the governor is not going far enough to help ease the Covid-19 cases among the incarcerated In early February , the Advocate reported that Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards commuted the sentences of 34 incarcerated people since taking office in 2016 , an increase from former Governor Bobby Jindal ’ s three individual sentence commutations over the course of his two terms in office .
But Edwards ’ s number is still only 16 percent of the more than 200 approved clemency applications he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Pardons and Parole .
In mid-April , the Louisiana Department of Corrections announced its plan to review about 1,000 prisoners who are scheduled for release in the next six months over whether to give them a temporary medical release during the crisis — a plan advocates say does not go nearly far enough .
“ Subjecting people who are already within six months of their release date to a cumbersome , one-sided review process does not go nearly far enough to avert a prison pandemic that would disproportionately impact people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , ” Alanah Odoms Hebert , executive director of the Louisiana ACLU , told the Advocate .
“ We urge Governor Edwards to heed the advice of public health experts and use his executive power to reduce our prison population — before it ’ s too late.
” “ This is a public health crisis that threatens to become a humanitarian disaster ” Williams ’ s lawyer , Mercedes Montagnes , said that instead of fighting for her life in the hospital , Williams should be home right now with her family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going by after her clemency application was approved by the board , Williams never lost hope for that reunion .
“ Gloria is a compassionate and thoughtful woman .
She ’ s a religious woman , and she ’ s very patient , ” Montagnes said .
“ She has a huge , vibrant , loving family .
She was just so eager to get home to them.
” Now that she ’ s in the hospital , Montagnes said her family is unable to reach her even by phone .
“ One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor to grant clemency immediately is so that her family could have access to her in the ways that others could have access to their family members , ” she said .
“ The humanity of our clients and the people we serve is real , and the current system is not treating incarcerated people as humans.
” Smith-Moore said the family has started a phone chain , each giving each other pieces of news and trying to lift each other ’ s spirits .
They ’ re praying for Gloria to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I believe that with all of my heart , ” Smith-Moore said .
Still , she and her family are terrified for her sister and frustrated that she isn ’ t home safe with them in the midst of this crisis .
“ This is senseless for her to be in this predicament , ” Smith-Moore said .
And about the governor , “ I don ’ t know what ’ s so important that you got all these people in your office that you can ’ t take a look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get it , I don ’ t understand it.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Gloria Williams has been in prison for nearly 50 years. In 1971, she and several others robbed a grocery store with a toy gun; after a struggle with the store owner, who was armed, someone in her group shot the owner with his own gun. She was 25 years old, the mother of five kids, and sentenced to prison for the rest of her life. She is currently Louisiana’s longest-serving incarcerated woman.
At the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, Williams has become a mentor for the younger women there, who affectionately call her “Mama Glo.” She has also been a member of the prison’s drama club for two decades. “Everyone knew and loved Mama Glo and really called on her as the matriarch of the prison,” said Fox Rich, who served time alongside Williams and is now a criminal justice advocate.
Last year, Williams’s large family worked tirelessly to help her put together a clemency application, which, if approved, would allow her to go free. About 30 members of her family traveled to her clemency hearing in July, mostly from Houston and Beaumont, Texas, to tell the judge in person the things they included in letters to the Louisiana Board of Pardons — her hard work to change herself over the years from a domestic abuse survivor who “took a wrong turn” in life, as her sister Mary Smith-Moore put it, into a woman others looked up to and relied on.
The Board of Pardons unanimously approved her clemency application that same month.
“I spoke at her clemency hearing,” Smith-Moore said. “The experience was indeed positive, and we were grateful that they heard us — they read our letters, and they recognized all the efforts she put in to become a different version of who she was.”
Williams got to meet her grandchildren for the first time at the hearing. The mood was bright — like a family reunion, fitting in the big missing piece — and Williams began to plan for her return.
Instead, the clemency application has sat on the desk of Louisiana’s governor, John Bel Edwards, for nine months waiting for his signature. “They said, ‘Wait till the election.’ We had family friends out in droves voting for this person because supposedly he was going to grant her petition,” Smith-Moore said. “And then there was a runoff, and ‘Wait till the runoff.’ And it still hasn’t happened. When the coronavirus outbreak started reaching the US ... we have been on pins and needles.”
Over the weekend, Smith-Moore and the rest of Williams’s family finally got news — but it wasn’t about her release. They were told through Rich, who helped them work on Williams’s clemency application, that Mama Glo was hospitalized in critical condition and having trouble breathing.
Days later, Williams’s attorney was able to confirm that she tested positive for Covid-19 and was receiving oxygen and antibiotics to fight pneumonia in both her lungs.
“We are just devastated,” Smith-Moore said. “We’ve been calling, leaving voicemails at the governor’s office, getting no answer. Asking him to take a look at this and get her out of there because of her age, and what is she gonna do at her age? She’s not a danger to society or to anyone. And she’s at the most vulnerable age [for serious complications from Covid-19]. It’s just inhumane almost, really.”
Jails and prisons are in crisis around the country
Prisons and jails are hotbeds for the spread of Covid-19 due to the number of people in tight quarters, inaccessible cleaning and grooming supplies, lack of adequate medical care, visits from the outside population, and a staff that enters and leaves each day — all potential factors leading to the rapid spread of this disease.
On top of that, prison and jail populations experience preexisting conditions that leave them particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 — including heart problems, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, and asthma — at a much greater rate than the general population.
Thousands of incarcerated people and corrections staff have been stricken with the disease. As of April 22, New York state reported 844 staff, 239 incarcerated people, and 35 parolees had tested positive for Covid-19; 12 have died. At Rikers Island in New York City, 93 of every 1,000 inmates have tested positive as of April 21; in the rest of the city’s population, that number is 16 of every 1,000. In Ohio, 2,011 incarcerated people at the Marion Correctional Institution, more than three-quarters of its population, have tested positive for the virus as of April 22; one has reportedly died. Among staff, 154 have tested positive and another has died. In Cook County Jail in Chicago, nearly 400 incarcerated people have tested positive for Covid-19, and six have died as of April 21.
As these outbreaks continue and intensify, public health officials, advocates, and some district attorneys and sheriffs have called for thinning out jail and prison populations. “This is a public health crisis that threatens to become a humanitarian disaster,” warned the Brooklyn DA, the former health commissioner, and the president of the Ford Foundation in a New York Times op-ed late last month.
Many advocates say the officials who have the power to release people in prisons and jails are generally moving too slow and releasing too few to mitigate the spread of the disease. In Texas, an attempt to reduce the number of people in the Harris County Jail in Houston was met with a state-level resistance from Governor Greg Abbott; in the meantime, at least 151 jail staff and 99 incarcerated people have tested positive for Covid-19.
Governors have a range of tools to help toward this aim, including granting clemency, giving more credit for time served, and temporarily furloughing prison populations. In some states, governors are using those powers fairly aggressively: California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, ordered the early release of 3,500 people from prisons over the next two months. Iowa has released 811 people from prison since March 1 and recently announced releasing 482 more. But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he had no plans to release anyone early from the state’s prisons, although he announced that 1,100 people across the state “may be released” with community supervision.
In Louisiana, the governor is not going far enough to help ease the Covid-19 cases among the incarcerated
In early February, the Advocate reported that Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards commuted the sentences of 34 incarcerated people since taking office in 2016, an increase from former Governor Bobby Jindal’s three individual sentence commutations over the course of his two terms in office. But Edwards’s number is still only 16 percent of the more than 200 approved clemency applications he’s been given from the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Parole.
In mid-April, the Louisiana Department of Corrections announced its plan to review about 1,000 prisoners who are scheduled for release in the next six months over whether to give them a temporary medical release during the crisis — a plan advocates say does not go nearly far enough. “Subjecting people who are already within six months of their release date to a cumbersome, one-sided review process does not go nearly far enough to avert a prison pandemic that would disproportionately impact people of color and further strain our health care system,” Alanah Odoms Hebert, executive director of the Louisiana ACLU, told the Advocate. “We urge Governor Edwards to heed the advice of public health experts and use his executive power to reduce our prison population — before it’s too late.”
“This is a public health crisis that threatens to become a humanitarian disaster”
Williams’s lawyer, Mercedes Montagnes, said that instead of fighting for her life in the hospital, Williams should be home right now with her family. Montagnes said that despite the months going by after her clemency application was approved by the board, Williams never lost hope for that reunion. “Gloria is a compassionate and thoughtful woman. She’s a religious woman, and she’s very patient,” Montagnes said. “She has a huge, vibrant, loving family. She was just so eager to get home to them.”
Now that she’s in the hospital, Montagnes said her family is unable to reach her even by phone. “One of the reasons we’re asking the governor to grant clemency immediately is so that her family could have access to her in the ways that others could have access to their family members,” she said. “The humanity of our clients and the people we serve is real, and the current system is not treating incarcerated people as humans.”
Smith-Moore said the family has started a phone chain, each giving each other pieces of news and trying to lift each other’s spirits. They’re praying for Gloria to come home. “God hears prayers. I believe that with all of my heart,” Smith-Moore said.
Still, she and her family are terrified for her sister and frustrated that she isn’t home safe with them in the midst of this crisis. “This is senseless for her to be in this predicament,” Smith-Moore said. And about the governor, “I don’t know what’s so important that you got all these people in your office that you can’t take a look at a paper. I just don’t get it, I don’t understand it.”


vox--2020-04-23--Trump just mused about whether disinfectant injections could treat coronavirus. Really.

With his hype for hydroxychloroquine in the rearview mirror , President Donald Trump used Thursday ’ s White House press briefing to muse about whether disinfectants and sunlight might be the new miracle coronavirus cures of the moment — much to the bewilderment of Dr. Deborah Birx .
At the briefing , William Bryan , under secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) , discussed preliminary government research indicating that “ heat and humidity suppress Covid-19 ” and “ commonly available disinfectants work to kill the virus.
” After Bryan ’ s presentation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a deeply bizarre inference .
“ Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous , whether it ’ s ultraviolet or just very powerful light ... and then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body , which you can do either through the skin or in some other way .
And I think you said you ’ re gon na test that , ” Trump said , addressing Bryan .
“ And then I see disinfectant , where it knocks it [ coronavirus ] out in a minute — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way we can do something like that by injection inside , or almost a cleaning .
Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs , so it ’ d be interesting to check that .
So , that you ’ re going to have to use medical doctors with , but it sounds interesting to me.
” While there is a lot we don ’ t yet know about the coronavirus , it is highly unlikely that injecting humans with disinfectants will turn out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But if his ill-fated push for hydroxychloroquine wasn ’ t already proof , Trump made it abundantly clear during Thursday ’ s briefing that he has no qualms about making huge leaps of faith to sell some hope .
And he didn ’ t stop there .
At the same time that his own government is urging people to stay in their homes to slow the spread of coronavirus , Trump seized upon DHS ’ s preliminary finding that sunlight helps kill the virus and said , “ I think a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the sudden.
” He then attacked Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker after Rucker advised him , “ People tuning into these briefings — they want to get information and guidance and want to know what to do .
They ’ re not looking for rumors.
” “ I ’ m the president and you ’ re fake news , ” Trump said , adding that his comments “ are just a suggestion.
” There are indications that people do take Trump more seriously than they should .
For instance , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine at every opportunity , an Arizona man died after he tried to self-medicate with chloroquine phosphate .
The man ’ s wife told NBC that she took the drug with her husband because they were thinking , “ Hey , isn ’ t that the stuff they ’ re talking about on TV ?
” At another point during Thursday ’ s briefing , Trump told Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator of the coronavirus task force , “ I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply light and heat to cure [ coronavirus ] ...
I ’ m not a doctor , but I ’ m , like , a person who has a good you know what.
” The ensuing expression on Birx ’ s face was akin to a parent trying to stay patient with a child as they spout complete nonsense .
Watch : While the totality of Trump ’ s comments suggest he ’ s hoping to find new potential miracles to take the place of hydroxychloroquine — an anti-malarial drug whose potential as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week after a study of coronavirus patients at US Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals found it ’ s not only not beneficial but also potentially dangerous — Trump wants you to believe that there ’ s actually been no shift in his attitude .
Asked by Rucker why he stopped promoting hydroxychloroquine , Trump claimed he “ hasn ’ t at all.
” But CNN has receipts proving that ’ s not true .
Trump told even bigger lies on Thursday .
At one point he claimed , “ statistically we are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you look , Germany and ourselves are doing very well.
” But Germany has had just over 5,500 coronavirus deaths as of April 23 ; the United States , by contrast , leads the world with over 49,600 .
The news moves fast .
To stay updated , follow Aaron Rupar on Twitter , and read more of Vox ’ s policy and politics coverage .

With his hype for hydroxychloroquine in the rearview mirror, President Donald Trump used Thursday’s White House press briefing to muse about whether disinfectants and sunlight might be the new miracle coronavirus cures of the moment — much to the bewilderment of Dr. Deborah Birx.
At the briefing, William Bryan, undersecretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), discussed preliminary government research indicating that “heat and humidity suppress Covid-19” and “commonly available disinfectants work to kill the virus.”
After Bryan’s presentation, Trump took to the podium and made a deeply bizarre inference.
“Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light ... and then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you’re gonna test that,” Trump said, addressing Bryan. “And then I see disinfectant, where it knocks it [coronavirus] out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
"The disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. It gets in the lungs" -- Trump seems to suggests that injecting disinfectant inside people could be a treatment for the coronavirus pic.twitter.com/amis9Rphsm — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 23, 2020
While there is still a lot we don’t about the coronavirus, it is highly unlikely that injecting humans with disinfectants will turn out to be a safe or effective treatment.
But if his ill-fated push for hydroxychloroquine wasn’t already proof, Trump made it abundantly clear during Thursday’s briefing that he has no qualms about making huge leaps of faith to sell some hope.
And he didn’t stop there.
At the same time that his own government is urging people to stay in their homes to slow the spread of Covid-19, Trump seized upon DHS’s preliminary finding that sunlight helps kill the virus and said, “I think a lot of people are gonna go outside all of the sudden.”
He then attacked Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker after Rucker advised him, “People tuning into these briefings — they want to get information and guidance and want to know what to do. They’re not looking for rumors.”
“I’m the president and you’re fake news,” Trump said, adding that his comments “are just a suggestion.”
"I'm the president and you're fake news" -- Trump to @PhilipRucker after he asks him if it's responsible to make all sorts of wacky and unproven suggestions about possible coronavirus treatments pic.twitter.com/8ag4izDrGj — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 23, 2020
There are indications that people do take Trump more seriously than they should. For instance, during the weeks in which Trump was pushing hydroxychloroquine at every opportunity, an Arizona man died after he tried to self-medicate with chloroquine phosphate. The man’s wife told NBC that she took the drug with her husband because they were thinking, “Hey, isn’t that the stuff they’re talking about on TV?”
At another point during Thursday’s briefing, Trump told Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, “I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there’s any way that you can apply light and heat to cure [coronavirus] ... I’m not a doctor, but I’m, like, a person who has a good you know what.”
The ensuing expression on Birx’s face was akin to a parent trying to stay patient with a child as they spout complete nonsense. Watch:
Get a load of Dr. Birx's demeanor after Trump tells her, "I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there's any way that you can apply light and heat to cure [coronavirus]." pic.twitter.com/TP0QoSzkYl — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 23, 2020
While the totality of Trump’s comments suggests he’s hoping to find new potential miracles to take the place of hydroxychloroquine — an anti-malarial drug whose potential as a coronavirus treatment was further diminished this week after a study of coronavirus patients at US Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals found it’s not only not beneficial but also potentially dangerous — Trump wants you to believe that there’s actually been no shift in his attitude.
Asked by Rucker why he stopped promoting hydroxychloroquine, Trump claimed he “hasn’t at all.” But CNN has receipts proving that’s not true.
Trump says "I haven't at all" stopped promoting hydroxychloroqunie as a #COVID cure. That's a lie. This chart shows all the times he mentioned it at his daily briefings and on Twitter as well. More context here --> https://t.co/d74WOMk1VO pic.twitter.com/00R7ehHZSy — Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) April 23, 2020
Trump told even bigger lies on Thursday. At one point he claimed, “statistically we are doing phenomenally, in terms of mortality ... when you look, Germany and ourselves are doing very well.” But Germany has had just over 5,500 coronavirus deaths as of April 23; the United States, by contrast, has over 49,600.


vox--2020-04-23--The House just passed another $480 billion in coronavirus relief aimed at small businesses

The House has passed a $ 480 billion funding bill aimed at tiding over small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic .
It now heads to President Donald Trump ’ s desk , where he ’ s expected to sign it .
The bulk of the bill is dedicated to replenishing funds for the Paycheck Protection Program , a critical new program that provides small businesses with forgivable loans to cover payroll costs .
While lawmakers allocated $ 350 billion to PPP in the March stimulus package , those funds were ultimately far from enough to address the need of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thus far , 1.6 million small businesses have received funding from PPP , according to the Small Business Administration , but hundreds of thousands are still waiting to hear on their application status after money for the program ran out last week .
Millions of dollars have also gone to large corporations because of a loophole in the original bill .
The House ’ s passage of another spending package infuses $ 310 billion into PPP , with an added $ 10 billion set aside to cover administrative costs .
There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans Program , which covers forgivable grants for small businesses .
The remainder of what lawmakers are calling an “ interim ” spending bill contains $ 75 billion for hospitals to cover growing revenue shortfalls and $ 25 billion for coronavirus testing .
The final version of the legislation , however , does not meaningfully address the loophole that has allowed publicly traded companies to hoover up large amounts of the relief funds .
It ’ s also missing several key Democratic priorities , such as more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as additional money to expand SNAP benefits .
Because of this — and other shortcomings — progressive groups have come out against the bill , and argued that it once again pushes debates about more funding to the next package , which could face serious opposition from Senate Republicans .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said she opposes this interim bill as well .
“ If we ’ re going to say that this new bill is going to give us $ 5 , and then Congress is going to peace out for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here to say that ’ s not going to help our communities , ” Ocasio-Cortez said earlier this week .
What the bill contains Due to Democratic pressure , the “ interim ” funding bill has expanded notably since Senate Republicans ’ initial proposal .
The original Republican offer , announced roughly two weeks ago , was limited to $ 250 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program , which provides forgivable grants to businesses and nonprofits .
The newer version includes $ 320 billion for PPP , and $ 60 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of the $ 320 billion allocated for PPP , there ’ s also a $ 60 billion carve-out for community-based lenders , as well as mid-sized banks , which can better serve smaller businesses and minority-owned firms .
These businesses are less likely to have an existing relationship with a larger bank and were more likely to get shut out in the first round of funding as a result .
Additionally , the deal contains $ 75 billion for hospitals , which have been overwhelmed by the simultaneous costs of preparing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have resulted as elective procedures are postponed .
Another $ 25 billion in the legislation is intended to help ramp up the country ’ s testing capacity , a development that experts view as vital to determining when to reopen the economy more fully .
Those funds include $ 11 billion specifically allocated to states for test supplies , contact tracing efforts , and staffing .
Much of the remainder of these testing funds are spread across different federal agencies working on testing , including the National Institutes of Health .
The main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this deal is the additional funding that lawmakers would like to see go to cities and states , many of which are facing incredible financial strain given reductions in tax revenue .
Mnuchin signaled that this would be addressed as part of negotiations for the next funding bill , though Congressional Republicans have indicated that they ’ re likely to push back on this provision .
“ The president has heard from the governors and he ’ s prepared to discuss that in the next bill , ” Mnuchin said during an appearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union last weekend .
Trump ’ s reluctance to consider state funding in the current bill is the result of a couple of factors , according to Politico .
Among them : The administration is concerned that it would have less leverage over the states regarding when they reopen their economies if they had more funding to help them weather this period .
Senate Republicans , it appears , are also concerned about the impact of more stimulus spending on the national debt .
In a radio interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wary of approving more aid for states and cities .
“ I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated , ” he said .
Given the evident disagreements between the two parties on next steps , it could be a while before the next stimulus package is approved .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The House has passed a $480 billion funding bill aimed at tiding over small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. It now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk, where he’s expected to sign it.
The bulk of the bill is dedicated to replenishing funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, a critical new program that provides small businesses with forgivable loans to cover payroll costs. While lawmakers allocated $350 billion to PPP in the March stimulus package, those funds were ultimately far from enough to address the need of millions of small businesses in the US.
Thus far, 1.6 million small businesses have received funding from PPP, according to the Small Business Administration, but hundreds of thousands are still waiting to hear on their application status after money for the program ran out last week. Millions of dollars have also gone to large corporations because of a loophole in the original bill.
The House’s passage of another spending package infuses $310 billion into PPP, with an added $10 billion set aside to cover administrative costs. There’s also $60 billion allocated in the legislation for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans Program, which covers forgivable grants for small businesses.
The remainder of what lawmakers are calling an “interim” spending bill contains $75 billion for hospitals to cover growing revenue shortfalls and $25 billion for coronavirus testing.
The final version of the legislation, however, does not meaningfully address the loophole that has allowed publicly traded companies to hoover up large amounts of the relief funds. It’s also missing several key Democratic priorities, such as more funding for states and cities, as well as additional money to expand SNAP benefits.
Related The case for a massive federal aid package for states and cities
Because of this — and other shortcomings — progressive groups have come out against the bill, and argued that it once again pushes debates about more funding to the next package, which could face serious opposition from Senate Republicans.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said she opposes this interim bill as well. “If we’re going to say that this new bill is going to give us $5, and then Congress is going to peace out for another month-long recess, I’m here to say that’s not going to help our communities,” Ocasio-Cortez said earlier this week.
What the bill contains
Due to Democratic pressure, the “interim” funding bill has expanded notably since Senate Republicans’ initial proposal.
The original Republican offer, announced roughly two weeks ago, was limited to $250 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable grants to businesses and nonprofits. The newer version includes $320 billion for PPP, and $60 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Of the $320 billion allocated for PPP, there’s also a $60 billion carve-out for community-based lenders, as well as mid-sized banks, which can better serve smaller businesses and minority-owned firms. These businesses are less likely to have an existing relationship with a larger bank and were more likely to get shut out in the first round of funding as a result.
Additionally, the deal contains $75 billion for hospitals, which have been overwhelmed by the simultaneous costs of preparing for the coronavirus and the revenue declines that have resulted as elective procedures are postponed.
Another $25 billion in the legislation is intended to help ramp up the country’s testing capacity, a development that experts view as vital to determining when to reopen the economy more fully. Those funds include $11 billion specifically allocated to states for test supplies, contact tracing efforts, and staffing. Much of the remainder of these testing funds are spread across different federal agencies working on testing, including the National Institutes of Health.
The main Democratic demand that has been omitted from this deal is the additional funding that lawmakers would like to see go to cities and states, many of which are facing incredible financial strain given reductions in tax revenue. Mnuchin signaled that this would be addressed as part of negotiations for the next funding bill, though Congressional Republicans have indicated that they’re likely to push back on this provision.
“The president has heard from the governors and he’s prepared to discuss that in the next bill,” Mnuchin said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union last weekend.
Trump’s reluctance to consider state funding in the current bill is the result of a couple of factors, according to Politico. Among them: The administration is concerned that it would have less leverage over the states regarding when they reopen their economies if they had more funding to help them weather this period.
Senate Republicans, it appears, are also concerned about the impact of more stimulus spending on the national debt. In a radio interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show this week, McConnell said that he was wary of approving more aid for states and cities. “I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated,” he said.
Given the evident disagreements between the two parties on next steps, it could be a while before the next stimulus package is approved.


vox--2020-04-23--Did Amazon lie to Congress? Top antitrust lawmakers want to know.

Two US members of Congress overseeing an antitrust investigation into Amazon want to know if a top official for the company lied while giving congressional testimony about whether or not the e-commerce giant unfairly competes against smaller , independent sellers on its marketplace .
The representatives are reacting to a report from the Wall Street Journal that revealed Amazon employees have at times accessed data from individual marketplace sellers to help decide which products Amazon would create and sell under its own brand names , known as private-label brands .
The report appears to contradict statements made under oath by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who stated at a congressional hearing led by one of the lawmakers that Amazon does not use data from individual sellers — and only uses data aggregated from multiple sellers — to create its own products .
In a statement sent to Recode on Thursday , Rep. David Cicilline ( D-RI ) , who leads the House antitrust subcommittee that is investigating Amazon and other tech giants , said , “ At best , Amazon ’ s witness appears to have misrepresented key aspects of Amazon ’ s business practices while omitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At worst , the witness Amazon sent to speak on its behalf may have lied to Congress.
” House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler ( D-NY ) added , “ We plan to seek clarification from Amazon in short order , in light of this troubling report.
” An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately respond when Recode questioned them about the politicians ’ remarks , but previously said in a statement , “ It ’ s simply incorrect to say that Amazon was intentionally misleading in our testimony .
As we told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony , we strictly prohibit employees from using non-public , seller-specific data to determine which private label products to launch .
While we don ’ t believe these claims made by the Wall Street Journal are accurate , we take these allegations very seriously and have launched an internal investigation.
” The question of whether Amazon unfairly competes with the hundreds of thousands of sellers who help line the virtual shelves of The Everything Store has been an area of focus for the congressional antitrust investigation that launched last year , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Trade Commission .
Amazon both acts as a platform on which small and mid-sized merchants can sell directly to Amazon shoppers — these sellers make up nearly 60 percent of all Amazon retail sales — as well as a retailer that competes against these sellers through the sale of its own brands like Amazon Basics , as well as by reselling popular national brands .
Other retailers like Walmart and Target also sell successful in-house brands , but politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) have argued that Amazon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a retailer allows it to unfairly compete against its own sellers .
Warren last year outlined a plan to separate Amazon ’ s own lines of brands from the rest of its business in the case that she became president .
The Wall Street Journal , citing former and current employees , reported on Thursday that in “ one instance , Amazon employees accessed documents and data about a bestselling car-trunk organizer sold by a third-party vendor .
... Amazon ’ s private-label arm later introduced its own car-trunk organizers.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising the third-party seller spent on Amazon for each unit it sold .
Amazon told the Journal that such behavior would violate its policies , but it is not clear what , if any , safeguards Amazon had put in place to prevent employees from accessing such data .
An Amazon spokesperson also told Recode that there was more than one seller of the original car-trunk organizer — meaning the company used data aggregated from multiple sellers — though the Journal reported that the one additional seller sold just 17 units over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House antitrust subcommittee overseen by Cicilline originally planned to file a report on its investigation into Amazon , as well as Apple , Google , and Facebook , by the end of March .
The coronavirus pandemic has delayed the completion of the report , but Cicilline has said it will still be released , though he didn ’ t say when .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Two US members of Congress overseeing an antitrust investigation into Amazon want to know if a top official for the company lied while giving congressional testimony about whether or not the e-commerce giant unfairly competes against smaller, independent sellers on its marketplace.
The representatives are reacting to a report from the Wall Street Journal that revealed Amazon employees have at times accessed data from individual marketplace sellers to help decide which products Amazon would create and sell under its own brand names, known as private-label brands. The report appears to contradict statements made under oath by a top Amazon lawyer, Nate Sutton, who stated at a congressional hearing led by one of the lawmakers that Amazon does not use data from individual sellers — and only uses data aggregated from multiple sellers — to create its own products.
In a statement sent to Recode on Thursday, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), who leads the House antitrust subcommittee that is investigating Amazon and other tech giants, said, “At best, Amazon’s witness appears to have misrepresented key aspects of Amazon’s business practices while omitting important details in response to pointed questioning. At worst, the witness Amazon sent to speak on its behalf may have lied to Congress.”
House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) added, “We plan to seek clarification from Amazon in short order, in light of this troubling report.”
An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately respond when Recode questioned them about the politicians’ remarks, but previously said in a statement, “It’s simply incorrect to say that Amazon was intentionally misleading in our testimony. As we told the Wall Street Journal and explained in our testimony, we strictly prohibit employees from using non-public, seller-specific data to determine which private label products to launch. While we don’t believe these claims made by the Wall Street Journal are accurate, we take these allegations very seriously and have launched an internal investigation.”
The question of whether Amazon unfairly competes with the hundreds of thousands of sellers who help line the virtual shelves of The Everything Store has been an area of focus for the congressional antitrust investigation that launched last year, as well as an informal probe by regulators at the Federal Trade Commission. Amazon both acts as a platform on which small and mid-sized merchants can sell directly to Amazon shoppers — these sellers make up nearly 60 percent of all Amazon retail sales — as well as a retailer that competes against these sellers through the sale of its own brands like Amazon Basics, as well as by reselling popular national brands. Other retailers like Walmart and Target also sell successful in-house brands, but politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have argued that Amazon’s unique role as both a platform and a retailer allows it to unfairly compete against its own sellers. Warren last year outlined a plan to separate Amazon’s own lines of brands from the rest of its business in the case that she became president.
The Wall Street Journal, citing former and current employees, reported on Thursday that in “one instance, Amazon employees accessed documents and data about a bestselling car-trunk organizer sold by a third-party vendor. ... Amazon’s private-label arm later introduced its own car-trunk organizers.” The data included nonpublic information like how much advertising the third-party seller spent on Amazon for each unit it sold.
Amazon told the Journal that such behavior would violate its policies, but it is not clear what, if any, safeguards Amazon had put in place to prevent employees from accessing such data. An Amazon spokesperson also told Recode that there was more than one seller of the original car-trunk organizer — meaning the company used data aggregated from multiple sellers — though the Journal reported that the one additional seller sold just 17 units over the period of time in question.
The House antitrust subcommittee overseen by Cicilline originally planned to file a report on its investigation into Amazon, as well as Apple, Google, and Facebook, by the end of March. The coronavirus pandemic has delayed the completion of the report, but Cicilline has said it will still be released, though he didn’t say when.


vox--2020-04-23--The rumors of Kim Jong Un’s “grave” illness, explained

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has become a visible global presence over the last few years .
But in the last week , he ’ s completely disappeared from public view — and rumors have started to swirl that he may be seriously ill , or even dead .
On April 15 , Kim didn ’ t appear at a celebration commemorating North Korea ’ s most important holiday , which honors the founder of the country , Kim ’ s late grandfather Kim Il Sung .
State-run media oddly hasn ’ t published any photos of a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader watching in approval .
And official statements from the country have curiously lacked any direct comments from Kim himself .
All of this has led to rampant media speculation that the 36-year-old Kim is recovering from major surgery , or gravely ill , or dead , and a flurry of activity by US intelligence to figure out what , if anything , is really going on .
Meanwhile , North Korean media outlets have kept mum about the swirling rumors and continue to act as if life in the Hermit Kingdom is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publish old ( or undated ) statements from Kim about the economy and other topics , the gist is that there ’ s nothing to see here and everything is fine .
That could be true .
Kim has disappeared for weeks before , only to show up in public as if nothing had happened .
The coronavirus has also impacted the country , and the dictator may be taking precautions to avoid infection .
Plus , North Korea ’ s culture of secrecy means rumors can run rampant regardless of how farfetched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known to be in poor health ; he ’ s obese , he ’ s a cigarette smoker , and he ’ s believed to have severe gout .
So when a South Korean outlet run by North Korean defectors insinuated Kim ’ s absenteeism might be because of post-surgery complications , the plausibility helped make it a global story .
“ The possibility that he ’ s sick in some way is something we have to keep in mind , ” Mintaro Oba , a former State Department official who worked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important to note that no country — including the two Koreas , China , or the US — has officially confirmed the status of the dictator ’ s health one way or the other .
Still , it ’ s worth understanding how the speculation started , what we do and don ’ t know , and what an incapacitated ( or worse ) Kim would mean for North Korea and the world .
How rumors of Kim Jong Un ’ s sickness got started April 15 is an important day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the birthday of Kim Il Sung , North Korea ’ s revered founder and grandfather of Kim Jong Un .
Every year , the country stops to honor the elder Kim during the “ Day of the Sun ” , as he ’ s viewed by many in the country as a deity .
He ’ s also an incredibly important figure in the younger Kim ’ s reign , as he has tried to emulate his grandfather ( to the point of even dressing like him ) as a way of legitimizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim ’ s absence at the celebration raised so many eyebrows .
“ For Kim Jong Un not visiting the Kumsusan Palace on April 15 is all but unthinkable in North Korea .
It ’ s the closest thing to blasphemy in the North , ” Cheong Seong-chang , a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute in South Korea , told the New York Times .
It was also odd that , just the day before , North Korea had conducted several missile tests .
That in itself isn ’ t unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests around major holidays or important political events ( South Korea ’ s parliamentary elections were also being held the next day ) .
It was strange , though , that North Korean media was absolutely silent about the tests .
Normally , within just a few hours of such tests , North Korean state-run media publishes photos of the test that show Kim smiling approvingly at the explosions .
But the rumors that something funky was going on intensified on Monday ( April 20 ) , when a South Korean news outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story — citing “ multiple sources ” — saying that Kim had recently undergone heart surgery and was recuperating “ at a villa outside of Pyongyang.
” The South Korean outlet later ran a correction explaining that , actually , their report was based on a single ( unnamed ) source inside North Korea — not “ multiple sources.
” But the international news service Reuters still picked up the story , citing the tabloid ’ s report .
And then CNN upped the ante , publishing a story that cited an unnamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ grave danger ” following the surgery .
CNN later updated the story to include additional information from other anonymous US officials saying the US was “ closely monitoring ” intelligence reports about Kim ’ s health .
It ’ s unclear what CNN ’ s sources meant by “ monitoring ” intelligence reports .
It could mean the US has actual information about Kim ’ s health , or it could simply mean spies were reading the same news stories everyone else was .
Either way , experts say that the CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a global obsession .
In an effort to confirm the reports , I called officials in the US and South Korea .
White House and State Department staff said the only information they had was from the news , and leaders in South Korea didn ’ t respond with any sense of alarm .
That Monday night , South Korean officials repeatedly played down the reports of Kim ’ s health complications , as did some in the Chinese government .
Then on Tuesday , President Donald Trump acknowledged the US had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North Korean leader ’ s health .
“ I just hope he ’ s doing fine , ” Trump said during a White House news conference .
“ I ’ ve had a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un .
And I ’ d like to see him do well .
We ’ ll see how he does .
We don ’ t know if the reports are true.
” As of Thursday , there remains no official confirmation from inside North Korea or anywhere else that something is wrong with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean the world is just going to wait around to find out .
Why the US needs to know about Kim ’ s health Jung Pak , a former top CIA analyst on North Korea and author of a forthcoming book on Kim , wrote a series of tweets on Monday explaining why no one should discount the rumors of Kim ’ s health .
“ Kim Jong Un ’ s health status is difficult to report on and corroborate because of the regime ’ s information environment and the sensitivity of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she wrote .
“ Reliability of the info depends on access , while corroboration would boost confidence level of an assessment .
So having one source doesn ’ t mean that we should ignore it but it should be weighed with what we know and appropriately caveated.
” South Korea and China “ downplaying of the reports does not mean that they have more access to Kim , ” she continued .
“ Often they too are scrambling for info.
” The US is scrambling , too .
Two anonymous US intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no evidence that Kim is in grave danger , though one said that analysts are “ continuing to monitor reports from regional partners and Korean press.
” But it looks like US intelligence is doing more than just reading reports : Vice on Thursday reported that US surveillance planes have been flying over North Korea to try to suss out what ’ s going on with Kim .
It ’ s unclear what the aircraft might even be able to find , but some experts believe it ’ s a purposefully public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about Kim ’ s status .
There are also some signs of trouble inside North Korea .
According to North Korea-focused website NK News , there ’ s been a lot of “ panic buying ” at Pyongyang ’ s grocery stores .
Vegetables , flour , and sugar are flying off the shelves , a source told the outlet .
Whether or not that ’ s connected to the Kim rumors is unclear .
It ’ s just as possible that North Koreans are stocking up on food after the regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-epidemic steps ” to combat the coronavirus .
It makes sense , then , that the US would want to know exactly what ’ s going on instead of just relying on media speculation .
First , it ’ s just generally a good idea for America to have the most up-to-date information on other countries and their leaders — not just their policies and palace intrigue , but also their state of being .
Having that intelligence helps the US government prepare to make decisions today and into the future .
Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim ’ s health has significant implications for America .
If Kim is healthy but just wants to stay out of sight , it could mean all sorts of things — maybe he ’ s hunkering down to avoid getting the coronavirus , or perhaps he ’ s planning some kind of dramatic move .
It was shortly after Kim ’ s long 2014 absence that North Korea launched the massive cyberattack against Sony Pictures for producing the comedy film The Interview , which depicted a CIA plot to kill Kim .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the benefit of doubt .
When the top leader is out of public for an extended period , I assume he ’ s up to serious planning or cramming for the next strategic move instead of bed-ridden or partying all night every night , ” said Sung-Yoon Lee , a North Korea expert at Tufts University ’ s Fletcher School .
If Kim is gravely ill , that ’ s also really , really important for the US to know , as it immediately raises the question of who exactly is running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he is technically ‘ alive ’ or there is litigation amongst potential successors as for whether he is alive or dead ?
Who can legally issue orders ?
What if there are contravening orders ?
” said Vipin Narang , an expert on North Korea ’ s nuclear program .
And if it turns out Kim is dead , then there would likely be a succession crisis in the country .
Kim Yo Jong , the supreme leader ’ s sister , is the current odds-on favorite to take over .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent role in the country , even putting out her own statements and meeting foreign leaders face to face .
But Sheena Greitens , a North Korea expert at the University of Missouri , noted in the Washington Post on Wednesday , is more skeptical of this possibility .
“ Female inheritance in modern dictatorships is essentially unheard of , and North Korea watchers debate whether and how North Korea ’ s political culture might adapt to a female ruler , ” she wrote .
Another possibility , according to the Victoria University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the country ’ s armed forces take over .
“ That ’ s generally bad ” for the US , he told me , especially because North Korea ’ s military “ tends to be the most predictably hawkish toward the US.
” To consolidate power and legitimacy , there ’ s a chance the ruling general would take provocative actions , such as launching a missile closer to the US than ever before .
At that point , any remaining goodwill between Pyongyang and Washington would wither away .
Again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kim could be just fine , smoking a cigarette in one of his palaces right now , biding his time before he shows his face in public again .
In fact , this isn ’ t even the first time this sort of thing has happened .
In 2014 , Kim wasn ’ t seen in public for five weeks , during which he missed a major holiday commemorating the founding of the ruling party .
At the time , speculation about why he was absent ranged from him nursing a hangover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been overthrown in a coup .
And earlier this year , as the coronavirus raged in China and South Korea , the dictator kept inside for three weeks before showing up in February to honor his late father Kim Jong Il ’ s birthday .
But he could also be so ill that the future of his country — and the future of US policy toward it — are in serious flux .
After all , in 2011 , it took two days before North Korean officials finally announced that Kim Jong Il @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US and world officials want to confirm or dispel the rumors for themselves .
Certainty in tumultuous times is helpful , and there ’ s little more troubling than a rogue nuclear state without someone in charge .

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has become a visible global presence over the last few years. But in the last week, he’s completely disappeared from public view — and rumors have started to swirl that he may be seriously ill, or even dead.
On April 15, Kim didn’t appear at a celebration commemorating North Korea’s most important holiday, which honors the founder of the country, Kim’s late grandfather Kim Il Sung. State-run media oddly hasn’t published any photos of a recent weapons test, which typically show the leader watching in approval. And official statements from the country have curiously lacked any direct comments from Kim himself.
All of this has led to rampant media speculation that the 36-year-old Kim is recovering from major surgery, or gravely ill, or dead, and a flurry of activity by United States intelligence to figure out what, if anything, is really going on.
Meanwhile, North Korean media outlets have kept mum about the swirling rumors and continue to act as if life in the Hermit Kingdom is proceeding as usual. Even as they publish old (or undated) statements from Kim about the economy and other topics, the gist is that there’s nothing to see here and everything is fine.
That could be true. Kim has disappeared for weeks before, only to show up in public as if nothing had happened. The coronavirus has also impacted the country, and the dictator may be taking precautions to avoid infection. Plus, North Korea’s culture of secrecy means rumors can run rampant regardless of how far-fetched they may be.
But Kim is known to be in poor health; he’s obese, he’s a cigarette smoker, and he’s believed to have severe gout.
In my book "The Great Successor," I wrote that Kim Jong Un's biggest risk factor was his obvious poor health -- and in particular the risk of cardiac problems.
Kim Jong Un is five feet, seven inches tall, and weighs about three hundred pounds = BMI of 45, or "extremely obese" pic.twitter.com/04EsZfuues — Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 21, 2020
So when a South Korean outlet run by North Korean defectors insinuated Kim’s absenteeism might be because of post-surgery complications, the plausibility helped make it a global story.
“The possibility that he’s sick in some way is something we have to keep in mind,” Mintaro Oba, a former State Department official specializing in North and South Korea, told me.
It’s important to note that no country — including the two Koreas, China, or the US — has officially confirmed the status of the dictator’s health one way or the other.
Still, it’s worth understanding how the speculation started, what is and isn’t known, and what an incapacitated (or worse) Kim would mean for North Korea and the world.
How rumors of Kim Jong Un’s sickness got started
April 15 is an important day in North Korea. It’s the birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s revered founder and grandfather of Kim Jong Un.
Every year, the country stops to honor the elder Kim during the “Day of the Sun,” as he’s viewed by many in the country as a deity. He’s also an incredibly important figure in the younger Kim’s reign, as the leader has tried to emulate his grandfather (to the point of even dressing like him) as a way of legitimizing his rule.
That’s why Kim’s absence at the celebration raised so many eyebrows.
“For Kim Jong Un, not visiting the Kumsusan Palace on April 15 is all but unthinkable in North Korea. It’s the closest thing to blasphemy in the North,” Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, told the New York Times.
It was also odd how, just the day before, North Korea had conducted several missile tests. That in itself isn’t unusual, as the regime often conducts such tests around major holidays or important political events (South Korea’s parliamentary elections were also being held the next day).
It was strange, though, that North Korean media was absolutely silent about the tests. Normally, within a few hours of such tests, North Korean state-run media publishes photos of the test that show Kim smiling approvingly at the explosions.
But the rumors that something funky was going on intensified on Monday, April 20, when a South Korean news outlet run by North Korean defectors published a story — citing “multiple sources” — saying Kim had recently undergone heart surgery and was recuperating “at a villa outside of Pyongyang.”
The South Korean outlet later ran a correction explaining that, actually, their report was based on a single (unnamed) source inside North Korea — not “multiple sources.”
But the international news service Reuters still picked up the story, citing the tabloid’s report.
And then CNN upped the ante, publishing a story that cited an unnamed US official saying Kim was in “grave danger” following the surgery. CNN later updated the story to include additional information from other anonymous US officials saying the US was “closely monitoring” intelligence reports about Kim’s health.
It’s unclear what CNN’s sources meant by “monitoring” intelligence reports. It could mean the US has actual information about Kim’s health, or it could simply mean spies were reading the same news stories everyone else was.
Either way, experts say that the CNN story is what turned a small rumor into a global obsession.
Kim Jong Un's health condition is deteriorating rapidly, from Daily NK to Reuters to CNN to my entire Twitter feed. — John Delury (@JohnDelury) April 21, 2020
In an effort to confirm the reports, I called officials in the US and South Korea. White House and State Department staff said the only information they had was from the news, and leaders in South Korea didn’t respond with any sense of alarm.
My sources in South Korea are...let’s say “unmoved”...by rumors of Kim Jong Un’s death.
So far, they don’t seem to be buying anything. Definitely waiting for something concrete. — Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) April 21, 2020
That Monday night, South Korean officials repeatedly played down the reports of Kim’s health complications, as did some in the Chinese government. Then on Tuesday, President Donald Trump acknowledged the US had no reliable information on the state of the North Korean leader’s health.
“I just hope he’s doing fine,” Trump said during a White House news conference. “I’ve had a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un. And I’d like to see him do well. We’ll see how he does. We don’t know if the reports are true.”
As of Thursday, there remains no official confirmation from inside North Korea or anywhere else that something is wrong with Kim. But that doesn’t mean the world is just going to wait around to find out.
Why the US needs to know about Kim’s health
Jung Pak, a former top CIA analyst on North Korea and author of a forthcoming book on Kim, wrote a series of tweets on Monday explaining why no one should discount the rumors of Kim’s health.
“Kim Jong Un’s health status is difficult to report on and corroborate because of the regime’s information environment and the sensitivity of such close-hold information about the top leader,” she wrote. “Reliability of the info depends on access, while corroboration would boost confidence level of an assessment. So having one source doesn’t mean that we should ignore it but it should be weighed with what we know and appropriately caveated.”
South Korea and China’s “downplaying of the reports does not mean that they have more access to Kim,” she continued. “Often they too are scrambling for info.”
The US is scrambling, too. Two anonymous US intelligence officials told Newsweek Tuesday that America has no evidence that Kim is in grave danger, though one said analysts are “continuing to monitor reports from regional partners and Korean press.”
But it looks like US intelligence is doing more than just reading reports: Vice on Thursday reported that US surveillance planes have been flying over North Korea to try to suss out what’s going on with Kim. It’s unclear what the aircraft might even be able to find, but some experts believe it’s a purposefully public move to pressure Pyongyang into offering up information about Kim’s status.
There are also some signs of trouble inside North Korea. According to North Korea-focused website NK News, there’s been a lot of “panic buying” at Pyongyang’s grocery stores. Vegetables, flour, and sugar are flying off the shelves, a source told the outlet. Whether or not that’s connected to the Kim rumors is unclear. It’s just as possible that North Koreans are stocking up on food after the regime on Monday announced “tougher state emergency anti-epidemic steps” to combat the coronavirus.
It makes sense, then, that the US would want to know exactly what’s going on instead of just relying on media speculation.
First, it’s just generally a good idea for America to have the most up-to-date information on other countries and their leaders — not just their policies and palace intrigue, but also their state of being. Having that intelligence helps the US government prepare to make decisions today and into the future.
Second, and relatedly, the state of Kim’s health has significant implications for America.
If Kim is healthy but just wants to stay out of sight, it could mean all sorts of things — maybe he’s hunkering down to avoid getting the coronavirus, or perhaps he’s planning some kind of dramatic move. It was shortly after Kim’s long 2014 absence that North Korea launched a massive cyberattack against Sony Pictures for producing the comedy film The Interview, which depicted a CIA plot to kill Kim.
“I give the Kim regime maximum respect, the benefit of doubt. When the top leader is out of public for an extended period, I assume he’s up to serious planning or cramming for the next strategic move instead of bed-ridden or partying all night every night,” said Sung-Yoon Lee, a North Korea expert at Tufts University’s Fletcher School.
If Kim is gravely ill, that’s also really, really important for the US to know, as it immediately raises the question of who exactly is running the country right now.
“What if he is technically ‘alive’ or there is litigation amongst potential successors as for whether he is alive or dead? Who can legally issue orders? What if there are contravening orders?” said Vipin Narang, an MIT expert on North Korea’s nuclear program.
And if it turns out Kim is dead, then there would likely be a succession crisis in the country.
Kim Yo Jong, the supreme leader’s sister, is the current odds-on favorite to take over. She’s recently taken on a more prominent role in the country, even putting out her own statements and meeting foreign leaders face to face.
But Sheena Greitens, a North Korea expert at the University of Missouri, noted in the Washington Post on Wednesday, reason to be more skeptical of this possibility. “Female inheritance in modern dictatorships is essentially unheard of, and North Korea watchers debate whether and how North Korea’s political culture might adapt to a female ruler,” she wrote.
Another possibility, according to the Victoria University of Wellington’s Van Jackson, is that the country’s armed forces take over. “That’s generally bad” for the US, he told me, especially because North Korea’s military “tends to be the most predictably hawkish toward the US.”
To consolidate power and legitimacy, there’s a chance the ruling general would take provocative actions, such as launching a missile closer to the US than ever before. At that point, any remaining goodwill between Pyongyang and Washington would wither away.
Again, all of this is complete speculation. Kim could be just fine, smoking a cigarette in one of his palaces right now, biding his time before he shows his face in public again.
In fact, this isn’t even the first time this sort of thing has happened. In 2014, Kim wasn’t seen in public for five weeks, during which he missed a major holiday commemorating the founding of the ruling party. At the time, speculation about why he was absent ranged from him nursing a hangover, suffering from gout, or having been overthrown in a coup.
And earlier this year, as the coronavirus raged in China and South Korea, the dictator kept inside for three weeks before showing up in February to honor his late father Kim Jong Il’s birthday.
But he could also be so ill that the future of his country — and the future of US policy toward it — are in serious flux. After all, in 2011, it took two days before North Korean officials finally announced that Kim Jong Il had died.
That’s why US and world officials want to confirm or dispel the rumors for themselves. Certainty in tumultuous times is helpful, and there’s little more troubling than a rogue nuclear state without someone in charge.