vox--2020-05-24--Trump spent Memorial Day weekend tweeting conspiracy theories and petty attacks

Memorial Day weekend is meant to be a somber occasion for commemorating the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the United States military — and it ’ s a particularly tragic one in light of the rapidly mounting death toll from the coronavirus in the US , which is fast approaching 100,000 lives .
But President Donald Trump spent the weekend tweeting conspiracy theories and deriding his political opponents ’ physical appearance .
And in the few tweets he sent addressing the coronavirus pandemic , Trump shared misleading information .
He did all this while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months — something he mocked former president Barack Obama for doing during the Ebola outbreak , which claimed two lives in the US .
Trump ’ s tweets about the coronavirus pandemic attempted to paint a positive picture of the situation in the US .
On Sunday morning he tweeted , “ Cases , numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country !
” But in reality , the data doesn ’ t show this sort of broad improvement .
While it ’ s true that new cases and deaths have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear if the situation is improving .
In several Southern states , there ’ s been a reported rise in cases .
Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson said Saturday his state is seeing a “ second peak ” in infections , and North Carolina reported its biggest one-day increase of confirmed cases this weekend .
Ohio saw more than twice as many deaths Saturday as it did Friday .
And of course , the national death toll continues to increase — it is expected to reach 100,000 on Monday or Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ better , many areas of the country are far from out of the woods .
In other words , now is not exactly a time for celebration , particularly given that the effects of relaxed stay-at-home orders have yet to be fully determined .
Saturday night , Trump retweeted a Twitter user who claimed that hydroxychloroquine “ Is Most Effective EARLY ” for treating Covid-19 .
Trump also added a comment to his retweet , saying , “ Many physicians agree with you .
Also , some very good studies !
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has explained , only poorly conducted studies have drawn this conclusion about the drug , which Trump claims he took as a preventive measure .
Citing more rigorous studies , public health officials have long said hydroxychloroquine has not been clinically proven to be a treatment for the coronavirus , that there ’ s no evidence it can prevent Covid-19 — and that it can cause serious side effects that should discourage casual use based on the hope that it might work .
And a recent study published in the premier medical journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who received hydroxychloroquine had a significantly higher risk of death compared with those who did not take it , and also were more likely to develop a type of irregular heart rhythm that can cause sudden cardiac arrest .
“ It ’ s one thing not to have benefit , but this shows distinct harm , ” Eric Topol , a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute , told the Washington Post in regard to the study .
“ If there was ever hope for this drug , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared ugly attacks and made baseless accusations of murder Given that it ’ s Memorial Day weekend , the norm for a president would be to show deference to tradition and offer fairly apolitical remarks about the sacrifices made by American soldiers .
But Trump instead spent most of it politicking in his usual adversarial , paranoid style , retweeting ugly attacks on Democratic women and promoting conspiracy theories about his foes .
He continued to push the bizarre — and as Vox ’ s Aaron Rupar has explained , evidence-free — claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of murdering a former staffer during his tenure in the US House of Representatives .
“ A blow to her head ?
Body found under his desk ?
Left Congress suddenly ?
” Trump tweeted Saturday .
“ Big topic of discussion in Florida ... and , he ’ s a Nut Job ( with bad ratings ) .
Keep digging , use forensic geniuses !
” The president followed this tweet with one Sunday in which he said he believes there is “ a lot more to this story ” than is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reporting on the subject .
Beyond suggesting there is some conspiracy around Scarborough , the president also tried to advance his ongoing and incorrect argument that mail-in ballots lead to voter fraud .
There is absolutely no evidence that this is true or that mail-in voting poses a serious risk .
But that fact did not stop Trump from railing against the idea of expanding the ability of Americans to use mail-in ballots in November ’ s election , claiming without evidence that it would cause “ the greatest Rigged Election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and people stealing ballots from mailboxes .
Those sorts of things have , of course , not happened in previous elections heavily reliant on mail-in ballots .
As Sen. Mitt Romney has pointed out , most of Utah ’ s elections are done fairly and by mail .
And as Rupar has written , “ the only instance of large-scale mail-in election fraud possibly swaying an election in recent history is a Republican scheme in North Carolina in 2018 .
Other states with mail-in systems , such as Oregon , have safeguards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The president ’ s retweets contained some similar distortion of reality — for instance , sharing an old video of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden describing his role in relaying a message to Ukraine as evidence of corruption — as well as cruel attacks on women Democrats .
He retweeted a Twitter user who made fun of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams ’ s appearance ; took issue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s facial features , teeth , and joked about taping her mouth shut ; and who called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ skank.
” These tweets are petty and misogynistic .
But the fact that they are not out of the ordinary for the president is a reminder of how Trump has worked to change the standards to which presidents are held , and by which they are judged .
And that they come amid a pandemic makes them particularly striking — as does the fact that Trump spent time golfing this weekend — the first time he ’ s done so in months .
While it ’ s not unusual for a politician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is noteworthy that in 2014 Trump panned Obama for golfing during the outbreak of a virus that killed two people in the US .
“ There are times to play and times that you can ’ t play .
It sends the wrong signal , ” Trump declared at the time .
And giving some advice to his predecessor he has clearly chosen not to take himself , Trump added , “ You know when you ’ re president you sorta say , like , ‘ I ’ m gon na give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ m really gon na focus on the job.
’ ” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Memorial Day weekend is meant to be a somber occasion for commemorating the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the United States military — and it’s a particularly tragic one in light of the rapidly mounting death toll from the coronavirus in the US, which is fast approaching 100,000 lives. But President Donald Trump spent the weekend tweeting conspiracy theories and deriding his political opponents’ physical appearance.
And in the few tweets he sent addressing the coronavirus pandemic, Trump shared misleading information. He did all this while playing golf for the first time in months — something he mocked former president Barack Obama for doing during the Ebola outbreak, which claimed two lives in the US.
Trump’s tweets about the coronavirus pandemic attempted to paint a positive picture of the situation in the US. On Sunday morning he tweeted, “Cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country!”
Cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020
But in reality, the data doesn’t show this sort of broad improvement.
While it’s true that new cases and deaths have started trending downward overall, it’s unclear if the situation is improving. In several Southern states, there’s been a reported rise in cases. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Saturday his state is seeing a “second peak” in infections, and North Carolina reported its biggest one-day increase of confirmed cases this weekend. Ohio saw more than twice as many deaths Saturday as it did Friday. And of course, the national death toll continues to increase — it is expected to reach 100,000 on Monday or Tuesday. So while the national situation is looking better, many areas of the country are far from out of the woods. In other words, now is not exactly a time for celebration, particularly given that the effects of relaxed stay-at-home orders have yet to be fully determined.
Saturday night, Trump retweeted a Twitter user who claimed that hydroxychloroquine “Is Most Effective EARLY” for treating Covid-19. Trump also added a comment to his retweet, saying, “Many physicians agree with you. Also, some very good studies!”
But, as Vox’s Umair Irfan has explained, only poorly conducted studies have drawn this conclusion about the drug, which Trump claims he took as a preventive measure. Citing more rigorous studies, public health officials have long said hydroxychloroquine has not been clinically proven to be a treatment for the coronavirus, that there’s no evidence it can prevent Covid-19 — and that it can cause serious side effects that should discourage casual use based on the hope that it might work.
And a recent study published in the premier medical journal Lancet on Friday found that coronavirus patients who received hydroxychloroquine had a significantly higher risk of death compared with those who did not take it, and also were more likely to develop a type of irregular heart rhythm that can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
“It’s one thing not to have benefit, but this shows distinct harm,” Eric Topol, a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told the Washington Post in regard to the study. “If there was ever hope for this drug, this is the death of it.”
Trump also shared ugly attacks and made baseless accusations of murder
Given that it’s Memorial Day weekend, the norm for a president would be to show deference to tradition and offer fairly apolitical remarks about the sacrifices made by American soldiers. But Trump instead spent most of it politicking in his usual adversarial, paranoid style, retweeting ugly attacks on Democratic women and promoting conspiracy theories about his foes.
He continued to push the bizarre — and as Vox’s Aaron Rupar has explained, evidence-free — claim that MSNBC host Joe Scarborough is guilty of murdering a former staffer during his tenure in the US House of Representatives.
“A blow to her head? Body found under his desk? Left Congress suddenly?” Trump tweeted Saturday. “Big topic of discussion in Florida...and, he’s a Nut Job (with bad ratings). Keep digging, use forensic geniuses!”
The president followed this tweet with one Sunday in which he said he believes there is “a lot more to this story” than is contained in police reports and the wealth of reporting on the subject.
A lot of interest in this story about Psycho Joe Scarborough. So a young marathon runner just happened to faint in his office, hit her head on his desk, & die? I would think there is a lot more to this story than that? An affair? What about the so-called investigator? Read story! https://t.co/CjBXBXxoNS — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020
Beyond suggesting there is some conspiracy around Scarborough, the president also tried to advance his ongoing and incorrect argument that mail-in ballots lead to voter fraud. There is absolutely no evidence that this is true or that mail-in voting poses a serious risk.
But that fact did not stop Trump from railing against the idea of expanding the ability of Americans to use mail-in ballots in November’s election, claiming without evidence that it would cause “the greatest Rigged Election in history” featuring “thousands of forgeries” and people stealing ballots from mailboxes.
The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and “force” people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2020
Those sorts of things have, of course, not happened in previous elections heavily reliant on mail-in ballots. As Sen. Mitt Romney has pointed out, most of Utah’s elections are done fairly and by mail. And as Rupar has written, “the only instance of large-scale mail-in election fraud possibly swaying an election in recent history is a Republican scheme in North Carolina in 2018. Other states with mail-in systems, such as Oregon, have safeguards preventing that sort of fraud from happening.”
The president’s retweets contained some similar distortion of reality — for instance, sharing an old video of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden describing his role in relaying a message to Ukraine as evidence of corruption — as well as cruel attacks on women Democrats. He retweeted a Twitter user who made fun of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’s appearance; took issue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s facial features, teeth, and joked about taping her mouth shut; and who called former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton a “skank.”
These tweets are petty and misogynistic. But the fact that they are not out of the ordinary for the president is a reminder of how Trump has worked to change the standards to which presidents are held, and by which they are judged. And that they come amid a pandemic makes them particularly striking — as does the fact that Trump spent time golfing this weekend — the first time he’s done so in months.
While it’s not unusual for a politician to take time off from work, it is noteworthy that in 2014 Trump panned Obama for golfing during the outbreak of a virus that killed two people in the US.
“There are times to play and times that you can’t play. It sends the wrong signal,” Trump declared at the time.
And giving some advice to his predecessor he has clearly chosen not to take himself, Trump added, “You know when you’re president you sorta say, like, ‘I’m gonna give it up for a couple of years and I’m really gonna focus on the job.’”


vox--2020-05-24--Hong Kong demonstrators defy lockdowns to protest a sweeping new national security law

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Sunday , defying social distancing protocols to protest Beijing ’ s announcement of a sweeping new national security law that could unravel many of the civil liberties residents enjoy in the semi-autonomous region of China .
Police used water cannons , tear gas , and pepper spray to disperse protesters , and there were reports of protesters throwing objects like plastic bottles and umbrellas at the police .
At least 120 people were arrested .
The protest — the largest in the territory since the spread of coronavirus-caused lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longstanding tensions between pro-democracy protesters and the Chinese government at a critical political moment in the region .
The demonstrations came as Beijing has announced plans to bring Hong Kong further under its control using a forthcoming national security law — one experts say could be used to quash dissent and end many liberties Hongkongers have that those living in mainland China do not , like freedom of the press .
The ruling Communist Party has long endeavored to bring Hong Kong more fully under its control , and has signaled it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the city ’ s special status expires — to do so .
In light of the local government ’ s failure to pass legislation giving the national government that control , it now appears Beijing is taking matters into its own hands , as Vox ’ s Jen Kirby has explained — and that it is moving to bring a lively protest movement that gained serious momentum in 2019 to heel .
Members of the protest movement — which had a major success in defeating pro-Beijing legislation in 2019 — returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local officials into taking a stand against the new national security law .
Despite not being given official authorization by the government , and social distancing restrictions banning gatherings of more than eight people , several thousand demonstrators gathered in the shopping district of Causeway Bay , alongside heavy police presence .
There , they reportedly chanted many slogans , including “ Fight for freedom , Stand with Hong Kong , ” “ Revolution of our time .
Liberate Hong Kong , ” and “ Hong Kong independence , the only way out.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-independence flags .
But the Guardian reports the atmosphere was unusually strained : “ In contrast to marches and rallies last year , demonstrators had been visibly tense in anticipation of a harsh police crackdown.
” And a crackdown did indeed come .
According to CNN , when challenged by law enforcement officials , some protesters claimed the gathering was an authorized “ health talk , ” but the police were unpersuaded , and quickly declared the protests illegal .
When crowds began peacefully marching up Hennessy Road , police shot tear gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police and the arrests that followed , many protesters said the demonstration was worth the risk , arguing that Hong Kong ’ s semi-autonomous status is in serious jeopardy .
“ I witnessed several decades of the Chinese Communist party ’ s misdeeds , I escaped to Hong Kong [ from mainland China ] 40 years ago , ” a 75-year-old protester who called himself Mr. Hui , told the Guardian .
“ Now they have completely ruined Hong Kong .
I am here to protect my home .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party.
” This law means Hong Kong could look very different soon The National People ’ s Congress announced a forthcoming national security law on Thursday .
According to CNN , the law is expected to “ ban sedition , secession and subversion against Beijing ” and will for the first time allow mainland Chinese national security agencies to deploy in Hong Kong .
Notably , the law is expected to pass through “ a rarely used constitutional method ” that circumvents Hong Kong ’ s government altogether .
Experts say Beijing ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow to the “ one country , two systems ” rule under which Hong Kong has operated since the British returned the city to China in 1997 .
The rule has allowed Hong Kong certain liberties , like a greater right to free expression and an independent judiciary , not extended to most of China ’ s population .
Dennis Kwok , a pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong , said China ’ s new national security law would spell “ the end of ‘ one country , two systems.
’ ” “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong ; it ’ s nothing less than that , ” Alvin Y. H. Cheung , an affiliated scholar at NYU ’ s US-Asia Law Institute , told Vox earlier this week .
As Vox ’ s Jen Kirby has explained , the law ’ s approval could have a number of effects on Chinese political life : The law could have the chilling effect on dissent that China desires , snuffing out all but the most extreme protests .
The opposite also seems possible : that China ’ s actions — proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to continue to protest — might escalate tensions even more .
Hong Kong had already been divided between two camps : “ blue ” ( those who support the police ) and “ yellow ” ( those who support the protesters ) .
But many of those “ yellow ” backers disagreed with some of the Hong Kong protesters ’ more radical tactics , like storming the Legislative Council or occupying a university campus .
But China ’ s incursions may make it harder for pro-democracy Hongkongers to advocate for a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be pushed to become either totally pro-Beijing agenda or pro-confrontational protesters , ” [ Ho-Fung ] Hung , [ professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins ] , noted .
“ It ’ s the disappearance of the middle ground and really will become more polarized.
” Beijing has made it clear it hopes the law will indeed end the protests .
But Sunday ’ s demonstration suggests the movement may not dissolve as quickly as party officials might hope .
The movement gained strength during Hong Kong ’ s 2019 demonstrations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , which would have allowed Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to mainland China .
Over time , however , the demonstrations evolved into a broader call for greater political freedoms in the city , such as universal suffrage to elect Hong Kong ’ s leaders .
Those protests occurred regularly and sometimes were massive — at their height , they involved millions of demonstrators .
And while largely peaceful , they became increasingly violent over time .
The protests garnered international attention , and managed to convince Hong Kong ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kicked off the unrest .
Now it appears Beijing hopes to avoid local political considerations and use the power of the national government to both reshape its relationship to Hong Kong and fundamentally change the landscape of dissent in the territory .
China ’ s government has defended the new national security law as necessary , saying protests last year posed a national security threat to the country .
On Sunday China ’ s foreign minister , Wang Yi , said the law should pass “ without the slightest delay , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crack down on a “ very narrow category ” of acts , not any anti-government dissent .
But many experts and critics outside of China see the law as a way to justify broad crackdowns , and as a blatant power grab by Beijing .
And the Trump administration has condemned the announcement of the law in strong terms .
“ The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal , abide by its international obligations , and respect Hong Kong ’ s high degree of autonomy , democratic institutions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to preserving its special status under US law , ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday .
That special status is now governed by the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act , which was approved by Trump in 2019 .
According to the act , the State Department needs to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy from mainland China to maintain its special trading partner status with the US .
Trump ’ s national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now in danger — and that it is likely “ there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China ” if the law passes .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Sunday, defying social distancing protocols to protest Beijing’s announcement of a sweeping new national security law that could unravel many of the civil liberties residents enjoy in the semi-autonomous region of China.
Police used water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray to disperse protesters, and there were reports of protesters throwing objects like plastic bottles and umbrellas at the police. At least 120 people were arrested.
The protest — the largest in the territory since the spread of coronavirus-caused lockdowns across China — reflects an intensification of longstanding tensions between pro-democracy protesters and the Chinese government at a critical political moment in the region.
The demonstrations came as Beijing has announced plans to bring Hong Kong further under its control using a forthcoming national security law — one experts say could be used to quash dissent and end many liberties Hongkongers have that those living in mainland China do not, like freedom of the press.
The ruling Communist Party has long endeavored to bring Hong Kong more fully under its control, and has signaled it would prefer not to wait until 2047 — when the city’s special status expires — to do so. In light of the local government’s failure to pass legislation giving the national government that control, it now appears Beijing is taking matters into its own hands, as Vox’s Jen Kirby has explained — and that it is moving to bring a lively protest movement that gained serious momentum in 2019 to heel.
Members of the protest movement — which had a major success in defeating pro-Beijing legislation in 2019 — returned to the streets Sunday, hoping to pressure local officials into taking a stand against the new national security law.
Despite not being given official authorization by the government, and social distancing restrictions banning gatherings of more than eight people, several thousand demonstrators gathered in the shopping district of Causeway Bay, alongside heavy police presence. There, they reportedly chanted many slogans, including “Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong,” “Revolution of our time. Liberate Hong Kong,” and “Hong Kong independence, the only way out.” Some of them displayed blue, pro-independence flags.
But the Guardian reports the atmosphere was unusually strained: “In contrast to marches and rallies last year, demonstrators had been visibly tense in anticipation of a harsh police crackdown.”
And a crackdown did indeed come. According to CNN, when challenged by law enforcement officials, some protesters claimed the gathering was an authorized “health talk,” but the police were unpersuaded, and quickly declared the protests illegal. When crowds began peacefully marching up Hennessy Road, police shot tear gas at them.
Despite this resistance from the police and the arrests that followed, many protesters said the demonstration was worth the risk, arguing that Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status is in serious jeopardy.
“I witnessed several decades of the Chinese Communist party’s misdeeds, I escaped to Hong Kong [from mainland China] 40 years ago,” a 75-year-old protester who called himself Mr. Hui, told the Guardian. “Now they have completely ruined Hong Kong. I am here to protect my home. We’re the real patriots, not the Communist party.”
This law means Hong Kong could look very different soon
The National People’s Congress announced a forthcoming national security law on Thursday. According to CNN, the law is expected to “ban sedition, secession and subversion against Beijing” and will for the first time allow mainland Chinese national security agencies to deploy in Hong Kong. Notably, the law is expected to pass through “a rarely used constitutional method” that circumvents Hong Kong’s government altogether.
Experts say Beijing’s new policy could deal a lethal blow to the “one country, two systems” rule under which Hong Kong has operated since the British returned the city to China in 1997. The rule has allowed Hong Kong certain liberties, like a greater right to free expression and an independent judiciary, not extended to most of China’s population.
Dennis Kwok, a pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong, said China’s new national security law would spell “the end of ‘one country, two systems.’”
“It is an official death sentence for Hong Kong; it’s nothing less than that,” Alvin Y. H. Cheung, an affiliated scholar at NYU’s US-Asia Law Institute, told Vox earlier this week.
As Vox’s Jen Kirby has explained, the law’s approval could have a number of effects on Chinese political life:
The law could have the chilling effect on dissent that China desires, snuffing out all but the most extreme protests. The opposite also seems possible: that China’s actions — proof positive of why many Hongkongers felt they had to continue to protest — might escalate tensions even more. Hong Kong had already been divided between two camps: “blue” (those who support the police) and “yellow” (those who support the protesters). But many of those “yellow” backers disagreed with some of the Hong Kong protesters’ more radical tactics, like storming the Legislative Council or occupying a university campus. But China’s incursions may make it harder for pro-democracy Hongkongers to advocate for a more moderate stance. “They will eventually be pushed to become either totally pro-Beijing agenda or pro-confrontational protesters,” [Ho-Fung] Hung, [professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins], noted. “It’s the disappearance of the middle ground and really will become more polarized.”
Beijing has made it clear it hopes the law will indeed end the protests. But Sunday’s demonstration suggests the movement may not dissolve as quickly as party officials might hope.
The movement gained strength during Hong Kong’s 2019 demonstrations that began in opposition to a controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to mainland China. Over time, however, the demonstrations evolved into a broader call for greater political freedoms in the city, such as universal suffrage to elect Hong Kong’s leaders.
Those protests occurred regularly and sometimes were massive — at their height, they involved millions of demonstrators. And while largely peaceful, they became increasingly violent over time. The protests garnered international attention, and managed to convince Hong Kong’s legislature to formally scrap the extradition bill that kicked off the unrest.
Now it appears Beijing hopes to avoid local political considerations and use the power of the national government to both reshape its relationship to Hong Kong and fundamentally change the landscape of dissent in the territory.
China’s government has defended the new national security law as necessary, saying protests last year posed a national security threat to the country. On Sunday China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said the law should pass “without the slightest delay,” and promised it would be used to crack down on a “very narrow category” of acts, not any anti-government dissent.
But many experts and critics outside of China see the law as a way to justify broad crackdowns, and as a blatant power grab by Beijing.
And the Trump administration has condemned the announcement of the law in strong terms.
“The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under US law,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday.
That special status is now governed by the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was approved by Trump in 2019. According to the act, the State Department needs to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy from mainland China to maintain its special trading partner status with the US.
Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien said Sunday on Meet the Press that certification is now in danger — and that it is likely “there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China” if the law passes.


vox--2020-05-24--Trump reportedly wants to restrict visa programs for skilled workers

President Donald Trump has said he wants to halt immigration while Americans face staggeringly high unemployment levels as a result of the coronavirus pandemic — including temporary visas for skilled foreign workers and for foreign students who went to college in the US .
More than 85,000 immigrants get H-1B visas for skilled workers annually , including more than 1,000 apiece for workers at tech giants such as Google and Amazon .
The demand for these visas consistently outstrips the supply .
But the New York Times reported Trump is considering barring the issuance of new visas in certain employment-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as ending the Optional Practical Training program , or OPT , which allows foreigners on student visas to work in the US for up to three years post-graduation depending on their field of study .
If Trump moves forward with that plan , it would disrupt the job search for immigrant workers who rely on these programs and who , for the most part , have no other avenue of pursuing a career in the US .
Many employers would face challenges filling positions requiring specialized skills , particularly in STEM fields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that help drive economic expansion and create jobs for native-born workers .
Republican lawmakers are pushing Trump to suspend the H-1B and OPT programs for a year or until the unemployment rate , which has reached almost 15 percent , returns to a normal level .
“ Given the extreme lack of available jobs for American job-seekers as portions of our economy begin to reopen , it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment , ” Sens .
Ted Cruz , Tom Cotton , Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to the White House on May 7 .
The programs have their flaws , but shutting them down likely won ’ t help the vast majority of job-seeking Americans during this crisis .
There have been cases of employers exploiting the programs to displace American workers , usually in IT fields , which haven ’ t seen relatively high job losses compared to other industries .
Lawmakers in both parties agree that practice should be prohibited through reforms .
But ending the programs entirely would create uncertainty for employers who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the Americans they employ .
US universities , research institutions and the business community , which all rely on these programs , have consequently lobbied against Republicans ’ proposal , but it ’ s not clear whether the White House will heed their concerns .
Trump ordered the administration to publish an interagency report on these visas , which was due Friday and may help justify any action he plans to take .
Still , congressional aides say they ’ re skeptical that this administration , which has historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will follow through on shutting down the H-1B and OPT programs entirely .
Experts say that amending the programs to ensure foreign workers don ’ t displace Americans is preferable to ending them .
Lawmakers in both parties have sought such reforms to the H-1B program for more than a decade , and Sens .
Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley reintroduced related legislation on Friday .
Since his 2016 campaign , Trump has both railed against the H-1B program — which he said suppresses American wages and employment rates and is rife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a brain drain of foreign graduates .
“ They ’ ll go to Harvard , they ’ ll go to Stanford , they ’ ll go to Wharton , as soon as they ’ re finished they ’ ll get shoved out , ” he said in 2016 .
“ They want to stay in this country .
They want to stay here desperately , they ’ re not able to stay here .
For that purpose , we absolutely have to be able to keep the brain power in this country.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating a “ merit-based ” immigration system that would favor the same kind of immigrants who currently benefit from the H-1B and OPT programs — those with valuable skills , offers of employment , advanced degrees , and higher wages — over those with family ties to the US .
But he also signed the “ Buy American and Hire American ” executive order in April 2017 that increased scrutiny of H-1B applicants and resulted in a spike in denials , and has been considering a regulation ending the OPT program for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s desire to simultaneously satisfy both the anti-immigration and pro-business wings of Republican party , which are often on opposite sides of the debate over high-skilled immigration .
At the outset of the pandemic , Trump proposed halting the issuance of all work visas , but the New York Times reported he ultimately decided against it after pushback from business groups .
The US needs high-skilled foreign talent The H-1B and OPT programs are pipelines for foreign talent , particularly in the fields of computer science , engineering , education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H-1B visas is expensive , costing about $ 10,000 per worker , usually paid by an employer .
But without these visas , many companies argue they would face difficulty filling jobs that require specialized skills or degrees .
The business community has consequently lobbied Congress to increase the cap on H-1B visas in recent years .
Post-graduate training through OPT can be a stepping stone to an H-1B for many foreign graduates of US universities , particularly in STEM fields .
In 2019 , the government received a record 220,000 requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Citizenship and Immigration Services .
For foreign students deciding to attend American universities , the prospect of being able to work in the US post-graduation is a major draw .
According to the National Science Foundation , most foreign students on OPT choose to remain in the US and become contributing members of the scientific workforce .
“ It ’ s especially important to safeguard international experts and students and scientific research during a public health emergency that requires experts to constructively work together to ensure the safety and health of people everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , said in a statement .
Absent the ability to work post-graduation , foreign students might decide against choosing to attend school in the US , which would be devastating to American universities who rely on their tuition .
Universities were already feeling the pinch in recent years with a decline in enrollment among foreign students , who tend to pay more in tuition than Americans , generating a total of $ 39 billion in revenue .
That could hurt the quality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have argued .
H-1Bs and OPT are vulnerable to abuse While many businesses are facing a legitimate gap in their workforce and pay their skilled foreign workers a fair wage , some employers have used H-1Bs and OPT to fill positions cheaply — sometimes at the expense of American workers .
Federal guidelines say the H-1B program should not “ adversely affect the wages and working conditions ” of Americans .
The question of whether H-1B workers are generally underpaid and drive down American wages has proved difficult to answer , spurring disagreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that employers have , in fact , been able to use the H-1B program to displace Americans .
Most employers aren ’ t required to show that they have advertised a job to Americans and that there are no qualified Americans available to fill the position before hiring an H-1B worker .
That has allowed companies ranging from Disney to the electric utility Southern California Edison to the coronavirus antibody test producer Abbott Labs to lay off US workers and replace them with H-1B workers with lower salaries — in some cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train their replacements .
Often , companies will use outsourcing firms that bring in employees , primarily from India , on H-1Bs to fill IT positions .
The largest of these firms , Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys , consistently receive more H-1Bs than even the largest US tech companies .
These practices are all perfectly legal .
But they have ignited a debate over whether the H-1B program is operating as it was intended and complementing rather than competing with the American workforce .
“ The H-1B is an important pathway to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Costa , director of immigration law and policy research at the Economic Policy Institute , said .
“ But I do think that the way it ’ s used is one big corporate loophole .
We should regulate it in a way that ’ s fair to both the US workers who should have a shot at applying and then the migrant workers who are coming in through no fault of their own , being underpaid and used as pawns.
” The OPT program has even less regulation .
There is no set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which means that a foreign graduate could be working a full-time job but paid nothing or close to nothing .
Employers similarly don ’ t have to show there are no qualified Americans available before hiring someone on OPT , though a 2019 National Foundation for American Policy study by economist Madeline Zavodny found “ no evidence that foreign students participating in the OPT program reduce job opportunities for U.S. workers.
” In fact , the study found that the more foreign students approved for OPT in STEM fields , the lower the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fields .
Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced reform efforts Grassley and Durbin reintroduced a bill on Friday that would clamp down on outsourcing companies that rely on H-1Bs and ensure that companies have to look for qualified American candidates before hiring H-1B workers .
The bill , identical to one they introduced in 2017 , is being cosponsored by Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal and has a companion in the House .
The first version of the bill was introduced in 2007 .
The bill would prohibit replacing American workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laying off American workers for 180 days before and after hiring an H-1B worker .
It would also change how H-1B visas are allocated , eliminating the lottery system by which recipients of the visas are currently selected and creating a “ preference system ” in its place .
Foreign graduates of US universities , advanced degree holders , those with high salaries and those with valuable skills would be prioritized .
It would also require that all employers show they have made good-faith efforts to recruit Americans and that none were available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job — a requirement that employers hiring students on OPT should also face , Costa said .
These restrictions would make it much harder for outsourcing firms to dominate the H-1B program and free up visas for good-faith employers who have been shut out of the program , Grassley and Durbin have argued .
“ [ These reforms ] improve access to the best and brightest foreign workers , guard against exploitation of foreign workers and prevent more American jobs from being shipped overseas , ” Grassley wrote in Fortune in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans first — a common refrain from President Trump.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

President Donald Trump has said he wants to halt immigration while Americans face staggeringly high unemployment levels as a result of the coronavirus pandemic — including temporary visas for skilled foreign workers and for foreign students who went to college in the US.
More than 85,000 immigrants get H-1B visas for skilled workers annually, including more than 1,000 apiece for workers at tech giants such as Google and Amazon. The demand for these visas consistently outstrips the supply.
But the New York Times reported Trump is considering barring the issuance of new visas in certain employment-based categories, including H-1B visas, as well as ending the Optional Practical Training program, or OPT, which allows foreigners on student visas to work in the US for up to three years post-graduation depending on their field of study.
If Trump moves forward with that plan, it would disrupt the job search for immigrant workers who rely on these programs and who, for the most part, have no other avenue of pursuing a career in the US. Many employers would face challenges filling positions requiring specialized skills, particularly in STEM fields where there are well-documented labor shortages, that help drive economic expansion and create jobs for native-born workers.
Republican lawmakers are pushing Trump to suspend the H-1B and OPT programs for a year or until the unemployment rate, which has reached almost 15 percent, returns to a normal level.
“Given the extreme lack of available jobs for American job-seekers as portions of our economy begin to reopen, it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment,” Sens. Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, and Josh Hawley wrote in a letter to the White House on May 7.
The programs have their flaws, but shutting them down likely won’t help the vast majority of job-seeking Americans during this crisis. There have been cases of employers exploiting the programs to displace American workers, usually in IT fields, which haven’t seen relatively high job losses compared to other industries. Lawmakers in both parties agree that practice should be prohibited through reforms.
But ending the programs entirely would create uncertainty for employers who are facing a legitimate gap in their workforce, as well as the Americans they employ. US universities, research institutions and the business community, which all rely on these programs, have consequently lobbied against Republicans’ proposal, but it’s not clear whether the White House will heed their concerns.
Trump ordered the administration to publish an interagency report on these visas, which was due Friday and may help justify any action he plans to take. Still, congressional aides say they’re skeptical that this administration, which has historically deferred to business interests on immigration issues, will follow through on shutting down the H-1B and OPT programs entirely.
Experts say that amending the programs to ensure foreign workers don’t displace Americans is preferable to ending them. Lawmakers in both parties have sought such reforms to the H-1B program for more than a decade, and Sens. Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley reintroduced related legislation on Friday.
Trump’s mixed record on high-skilled immigration
Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has both railed against the H-1B program — which he said suppresses American wages and employment rates and is rife with employer abuse — and warned about a brain drain of foreign graduates.
“They’ll go to Harvard, they’ll go to Stanford, they’ll go to Wharton, as soon as they’re finished they’ll get shoved out,” he said in 2016. “They want to stay in this country. They want to stay here desperately, they’re not able to stay here. For that purpose, we absolutely have to be able to keep the brain power in this country.”
Once in office, Trump advocated for creating a “merit-based” immigration system that would favor the same kind of immigrants who currently benefit from the H-1B and OPT programs — those with valuable skills, offers of employment, advanced degrees, and higher wages — over those with family ties to the US. But he also signed the “Buy American and Hire American” executive order in April 2017 that increased scrutiny of H-1B applicants and resulted in a spike in denials, and has been considering a regulation ending the OPT program for years.
This inconsistency might be explained by Trump’s desire to simultaneously satisfy both the anti-immigration and pro-business wings of Republican party, which are often on opposite sides of the debate over high-skilled immigration. At the outset of the pandemic, Trump proposed halting the issuance of all work visas, but the New York Times reported he ultimately decided against it after pushback from business groups.
The US needs high-skilled foreign talent
The H-1B and OPT programs are pipelines for foreign talent, particularly in the fields of computer science, engineering, education, and medicine.
The application process for H-1B visas is expensive, costing about $10,000 per worker, usually paid by an employer. But without these visas, many companies argue they would face difficulty filling jobs that require specialized skills or degrees. The business community has consequently lobbied Congress to increase the cap on H-1B visas in recent years.
Post-graduate training through OPT can be a stepping stone to an H-1B for many foreign graduates of US universities, particularly in STEM fields. In 2019, the government received a record 220,000 requests for OPT, according to data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
For foreign students deciding to attend American universities, the prospect of being able to work in the US post-graduation is a major draw. According to the National Science Foundation, most foreign students on OPT choose to remain in the US and become contributing members of the scientific workforce.
“It’s especially important to safeguard international experts and students and scientific research during a public health emergency that requires experts to constructively work together to ensure the safety and health of people everywhere,” Benjamin Corb, public affairs director for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, said in a statement.
Absent the ability to work post-graduation, foreign students might decide against choosing to attend school in the US, which would be devastating to American universities who rely on their tuition. Universities were already feeling the pinch in recent years with a decline in enrollment among foreign students, who tend to pay more in tuition than Americans, generating a total of $39 billion in revenue. That could hurt the quality of US higher education more broadly, universities have argued.
H-1Bs and OPT are vulnerable to abuse
While many businesses are facing a legitimate gap in their workforce and pay their skilled foreign workers a fair wage, some employers have used H-1Bs and OPT to fill positions cheaply — sometimes at the expense of American workers.
Federal guidelines say the H-1B program should not “adversely affect the wages and working conditions” of Americans. The question of whether H-1B workers are generally underpaid and drive down American wages has proved difficult to answer, spurring disagreement among researchers. But it’s clear that employers have, in fact, been able to use the H-1B program to displace Americans.
Most employers aren’t required to show that they have advertised a job to Americans and that there are no qualified Americans available to fill the position before hiring an H-1B worker. That has allowed companies ranging from Disney to the electric utility Southern California Edison to the coronavirus antibody test producer Abbott Labs to lay off US workers and replace them with H-1B workers with lower salaries — in some cases, even ordering the US workers to train their replacements.
Often, companies will use outsourcing firms that bring in employees, primarily from India, on H-1Bs to fill IT positions. The largest of these firms, Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys, consistently receive more H-1Bs than even the largest US tech companies.
These practices are all perfectly legal. But they have ignited a debate over whether the H-1B program is operating as it was intended and complementing rather than competing with the American workforce.
“The H-1B is an important pathway to bring skilled people here,” Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the Economic Policy Institute, said. “But I do think that the way it’s used is one big corporate loophole. We should regulate it in a way that’s fair to both the US workers who should have a shot at applying and then the migrant workers who are coming in through no fault of their own, being underpaid and used as pawns.”
The OPT program has even less regulation. There is no set minimum wage level for OPT workers, which means that a foreign graduate could be working a full-time job but paid nothing or close to nothing.
Employers similarly don’t have to show there are no qualified Americans available before hiring someone on OPT, though a 2019 National Foundation for American Policy study by economist Madeline Zavodny found “no evidence that foreign students participating in the OPT program reduce job opportunities for U.S. workers.” In fact, the study found that the more foreign students approved for OPT in STEM fields, the lower the unemployment rate among US workers in those fields.
Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced reform efforts
Grassley and Durbin reintroduced a bill on Friday that would clamp down on outsourcing companies that rely on H-1Bs and ensure that companies have to look for qualified American candidates before hiring H-1B workers.
The bill, identical to one they introduced in 2017, is being cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal and has a companion in the House. The first version of the bill was introduced in 2007.
The bill would prohibit replacing American workers with H-1B recipients and bar companies from laying off American workers for 180 days before and after hiring an H-1B worker.
It would also change how H-1B visas are allocated, eliminating the lottery system by which recipients of the visas are currently selected and creating a “preference system” in its place. Foreign graduates of US universities, advanced degree holders, those with high salaries and those with valuable skills would be prioritized.
It would also require that all employers show they have made good-faith efforts to recruit Americans and that none were available prior to offering an H-1B recipient a job — a requirement that employers hiring students on OPT should also face, Costa said.
These restrictions would make it much harder for outsourcing firms to dominate the H-1B program and free up visas for good-faith employers who have been shut out of the program, Grassley and Durbin have argued.
“[These reforms] improve access to the best and brightest foreign workers, guard against exploitation of foreign workers and prevent more American jobs from being shipped overseas,” Grassley wrote in Fortune in 2017. “And most importantly, they put Americans first — a common refrain from President Trump.”


vox--2020-05-25--The problem with comparing health care workers to soldiers on Memorial Day

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , more than 90,000 health care workers have been infected with the virus , and many have died .
To name a few , these have included : a beloved doctor who came out of retirement , a patient transporter in Illinois , a pharmacist in upstate New York , and a nursing home worker .
And those are just the deaths from physical illness and don ’ t take into account mental health consequences .
If you follow the news , you ’ ll read and hear over and over again that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and that physicians like us , along with other essential workers , are soldiers in battle .
The term “ front-line workers , ” which has been used to describe those in health care during this pandemic , comes from the military , describing people putting their bodies at the front of the battalion , facing down the enemy .
“ Redeployment ” has been used for physicians and nurses being asked to practice in areas outside of their specialty in response to the demands of the pandemic .
Even President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying health care workers are “ running into death just like soldiers run into bullets in a true sense , I see that with the doctors and the nurses and so many of the people that go into those hospitals , it ’ s incredible to see , it ’ s a beautiful thing to see.
” Using this analogy is understandable .
War metaphors are frequently used to describe diseases .
Wartime physicians have compared the actual daily work , the frenetic environment , and the sheer volume of death , code @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing to the chaos and trauma of combat .
All this makes it tempting , this Memorial Day , to hold front-line workers we ’ ve lost in this pandemic up against the sacrifices of fallen soldiers .
But comparing doctors and nurses to troops is not a fair or helpful comparison .
Though both soldiers and health care workers prioritize duty and service to others , health care workers do not enter their jobs with the expectation that they will be asked to put their own lives ( not to mention the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line to care for patients .
Medical students , who must train in hospitals in order to graduate on time , did not expect that they would risk exposure to Covid-19 as a part of their training ( and even have to waive liability for it ) .
This is not business as usual .
Just as it would be unwise to go into war without weapons and appropriate armor , we do not usually go to work without effective treatments for our patients or protection for ourselves .
We still do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , we also need gloves , gowns , and hair and eye protection .
We still do not have enough testing or even hand sanitizer .
We also do not have any preventative measures or therapies for a health care worker who contracts the coronavirus , thereby forcing some to isolate from their families and put themselves at risk indefinitely .
There is little guidance as to how to protect people from catching the coronavirus , and we are still sorely lacking reliable data on how best to care for patients who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground as a health care worker is ever-changing as the science is evolving .
This leads to significant uncertainty as to what optimal medical care is .
Should we place patients on a ventilator early or wait as long as we can ?
Should we put them on blood thinners or does that lead to too much bleeding ?
Should we treat them with tocilizumab or remdesivir or the latest drug of the week ?
Everyone is desperate for a solution but no one knows what to do .
Yet , often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science for guidance .
On top of worrying about treating the patients we have in the hospital , we also worry that many people listen to the off-the-cuff recommendations of government officials and either begin taking the wrong medication for the wrong reasons , or inject something like a disinfectant , which is dangerous .
This is all happening against the background of an uncoordinated federal public health strategy .
Moving forward , we have , at best , vague plans for “ safe ” reopening .
Even masks , which are safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely accepted , partly because there is no unity among our leaders on their utility .
As if this were not already enough to rattle even the most serene among us , many hospitals have also implemented pay cuts and furloughs , even for front-line staff .
While images of health care workers running into death may seem “ beautiful ” to some , frequently hailing health care workers as heroes and praising our sacrifices suggests that our lost colleagues were expected to be human collateral damage in the fight .
As if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code blue to save a patient and died from lack of PPE is a martyr whose tragic death should be celebrated .
In reality , as we ’ ve argued before , none of us chose to be in this position .
Rather , we have been thrust into roles where we have to risk ourselves and our families , largely because leadership has failed , and continues to fail , to protect us .
With stressor after stressor compounding , it feels more useful , in a sense , to compare health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While some have suffered from physical illnesses , not all of our scars are visible .
Working without adequate PPE , with few tools at our disposal to treat patients , and feeling unsupported by the government has taken a toll on our mental health .
So has all the tragedy we ’ ve witnessed .
Just as you can ’ t see what soldiers have experienced , you don ’ t see a health care worker ’ s memory of a patient ’ s son ’ s crying face as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone .
You don ’ t see her memory of being unable to touch her wife or children , even in her own home .
And you don ’ t see the images of those patients taking their last breaths before leaving this world .
But that is what many of us are carrying with us , everywhere we go .
These patients and their families are with us at the grocery store .
They are with us when we try to sleep .
And they are there , reminding us of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend time with our own loved ones .
Health care workers may not have enlisted , and we may not be in a real war , but we have served .
Like soldiers , we are traumatized by our experiences in a way that those who haven ’ t been on the front lines with us can really understand .
And what everyone needs , really , is to be seen and supported for our respective lived experiences .
This Memorial Day , instead of praising the sacrifice of essential workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could just protect each other .
Arghavan Salles , MD , PhD , is a scholar in residence at Stanford University School of Medicine .
She is also a surgeon frequently found on Twitter @ arghavan_salles or Instagram @ arghavansallesmd .
Jessica Gold , MD , MS , is an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis .
Find her on Twitter @ drjessigold .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 90,000 health care workers have been infected with the virus, and many have died. To name a few, these have included: a beloved doctor who came out of retirement, a patient transporter in Illinois, a pharmacist in upstate New York, and a nursing home worker. And those are just the deaths from physical illness and don’t take into account mental health consequences.
If you follow the news, you’ll read and hear over and over again that we are at “war” with the virus and that physicians like us, along with other essential workers, are soldiers in battle.
The term “front-line workers,” which has been used to describe those in health care during this pandemic, comes from the military, describing people putting their bodies at the front of the battalion, facing down the enemy. “Redeployment” has been used for physicians and nurses being asked to practice in areas outside of their specialty in response to the demands of the pandemic. Even President Donald Trump has made this comparison, saying health care workers are “running into death just like soldiers run into bullets in a true sense, I see that with the doctors and the nurses and so many of the people that go into those hospitals, it’s incredible to see, it’s a beautiful thing to see.”
Using this analogy is understandable. War metaphors are frequently used to describe diseases. Wartime physicians have compared the actual daily work, the frenetic environment, and the sheer volume of death, code blues, and tragedy we are currently experiencing to the chaos and trauma of combat.
All this makes it tempting, this Memorial Day, to hold front-line workers we’ve lost in this pandemic up against the sacrifices of fallen soldiers. But comparing doctors and nurses to troops is not a fair or helpful comparison.
Though both soldiers and health care workers prioritize duty and service to others, health care workers do not enter their jobs with the expectation that they will be asked to put their own lives (not to mention the lives of their families) on the line to care for patients. Medical trainees, who must train in hospitals in order to graduate on time, did not expect that they would risk exposure to Covid-19 as a part of their training (and some even have to waive liability for it). This is not business as usual.
Just as it would be unwise to go into war without weapons and appropriate armor, we do not usually go to work without effective treatments for our patients or protection for ourselves. We still do not have enough personal protective equipment; beyond masks, we also need gloves, gowns, and hair and eye protection. We still do not have enough testing or even hand sanitizer. We also do not have any preventative measures or therapies for a health care worker who contracts the coronavirus, thereby forcing some to isolate from their families and put themselves at risk indefinitely.
There is little guidance as to how to protect people from catching the coronavirus, and we are still sorely lacking reliable data on how best to care for patients who have it. The day-to-day decision-making on the ground as a health care worker is ever-changing as the science is evolving. This leads to significant uncertainty as to what optimal medical care is. Should we place patients on a ventilator early or wait as long as we can? Should we put them on blood thinners or does that lead to too much bleeding? Should we treat them with tocilizumab or remdesivir or the latest drug of the week? Everyone is desperate for a solution but no one knows what to do.
Yet, often the public chooses not to turn to science for guidance. On top of worrying about treating the patients we have in the hospital, we also worry that many people listen to the off-the-cuff recommendations of government officials and either begin taking the wrong medication for the wrong reasons, or inject something like a disinfectant, which is dangerous. This is all happening against the background of an uncoordinated federal public health strategy. Moving forward, we have, at best, vague plans for “safe” reopening. Even masks, which are safe and lower risk, are not currently widely accepted, partly because there is no unity among our leaders on their utility. As if this were not already enough to rattle even the most serene among us, many hospitals have also implemented pay cuts and furloughs, even for front-line staff.
While images of health care workers running into death may seem “beautiful” to some, frequently hailing health care workers as heroes and praising our sacrifices suggests that our lost colleagues were expected to be human collateral damage in the fight. As if the California nurse who ran into a code blue to save a patient and died from lack of PPE is a martyr whose tragic death should be celebrated. In reality, as we’ve argued before, none of us chose to be in this position. Rather, we have been thrust into roles where we have to risk ourselves and our families, largely because leadership has failed, and continues to fail, to protect us.
With stressor after stressor compounding, it feels more useful, in a sense, to compare health care workers instead to the walking wounded. While some have suffered from physical illnesses, not all of our scars are visible. Working without adequate PPE, with few tools at our disposal to treat patients, and feeling unsupported by the government has taken a toll on our mental health.
So has all the tragedy we’ve witnessed. Just as you can’t see what soldiers have experienced, you don’t see a health care worker’s memory of a patient’s son’s crying face as he said goodbye to his unconscious father through the phone. You don’t see her memory of being unable to touch her wife or children, even in her own home. And you don’t see the images of those patients taking their last breaths before leaving this world. But that is what many of us are carrying with us, everywhere we go. These patients and their families are with us at the grocery store. They are with us when we try to sleep. And they are there, reminding us of our own fragility, when we try to spend time with our own loved ones.
Health care workers may not have enlisted, and we may not be in a real war, but we have served. Like soldiers, we are traumatized by our experiences in a way that those who haven’t been on the front lines with us can really understand. And what everyone needs, really, is to be seen and supported for our respective lived experiences. This Memorial Day, instead of praising the sacrifice of essential workers, it would be really nice if we could just protect each other.
Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD, is a scholar in residence at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also a surgeon frequently found on Twitter @arghavan_salles or Instagram @arghavansallesmd.
Jessica Gold, MD, MS, is an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. Find her on Twitter @drjessigold.