vox--2020-02-12--Democratic Party officials don’t want Iowa and New Hampshire to go first anymore

It appears Iowa ’ s days as the first-in-the-nation caucus may be numbered — particularly now that several high-profile Democrats , including Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , have publicly criticized the current process for choosing a presidential nominee .
Perez — who has signaled support for reevaluating the caucus system in recent days — explicitly called for reform in an interview with CNN Wednesday morning .
In particular , he expressed concern over the lack of racial diversity in Iowa and New Hampshire .
“ I think the time is right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I want to make sure that we reflect the grand diversity of our party in everything we do.
” The early voting calendar has drawn criticism from Democrats who point out that though black voters make up the heart of the party ’ s voter base , Iowa and New Hampshire are both overwhelmingly white .
Perez reiterated that point Wednesday morning .
“ The candidate who is going to win this race ... is the candidate who does the best job bringing together this entire diverse coalition of the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American voters are the backbone of the Democratic Party.
” Which candidate can best rally Democrats of all backgrounds remains an open question .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday and the popular vote in the Iowa caucuses , while former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg received the most state delegates in Iowa last week .
But neither state provided a test of candidates ’ backing among voters of color , something the upcoming Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primary will do .
Because Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first contests , they carry an outsize influence on who ends up the party ’ s nominee , despite awarding just 65 of the 1,990 party convention delegates needed to win the nomination , as explained by Vox ’ s Dylan Matthews : By putting Iowa and New Hampshire first , the Democratic and Republican parties are effectively saying that disproportionate power and influence should go to a small group of overwhelmingly white people in rural areas and small cities .
That influence shouldn ’ t go to a state or region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t go to a state or region with a large black population .
It shouldn ’ t go to a state with large cities and a strong interest in urban issues .
It should go to these people instead .
That does a profound disservice to the millions of Americans living in diverse , densely populated areas .
Or , to put it more bluntly , it gives white people outsize power in determining nominees and disenfranchises black , Hispanic , Asian Americans , and Native Americans relatively speaking .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Economists Brian Knight and Nathan Schiff estimated in 2011 that an Iowa or New Hampshire voter carried the same influence in determining her party ’ s ultimate nominee as five voters from Super Tuesday states put together .
While there have been calls for reforming the calendar before , several issues in this year ’ s cycle — particularly a delay in reporting the results of Iowa ’ s caucuses — have given added life to calls for reform .
In the past , appeals to change the order of Democratic contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be different this time , particularly given that Perez is not the only party leader calling for reform .
Reporting issues in Iowa have added pressure for reform The Iowa Democratic Party struggled to report complete results for much of the past week after the state caucused last Monday .
Precinct chairs reported having difficulties with an app they were supposed to use to report results and struggled to call in the caucus totals as well .
Also , confusion over new rules may have led some errors to be introduced into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reporting vote totals , which weren ’ t officially finalized until Sunday .
Iowa ’ s issues renewed calls to reform the entire early caucus and primary system .
And the latest Monmouth University 2020 poll , released Tuesday , revealed Democratic voters are highly dissatisfied with how the system currently works .
Just over 1 in 4 voters think the current system results in the best candidate being chosen for the nomination , and only 7 percent said New Hampshire and Iowa should continue to go first .
Perez has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reevaluated , and he has been joined in this by another powerful Democrat : Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid .
“ Iowa has forfeited its chance to be number one .
I don ’ t think that ’ ll happen anymore , ” Reid told Vice News Tuesday .
In Iowa ’ s place , Reid suggested that his home state , Nevada , should have the first choice , pointing to the state ’ s Latinx population and racial diversity .
“ Since the debacle in Iowa , [ pundits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the first state .
Why ?
Because we ’ re a state that ’ s heavily diverse , ” he said .
“ It ’ s really a state that represents what the country is all about .
So I think that Iowa really was an embarrassment to everybody.
” About 28 percent of Nevada ’ s population ( and 17 percent of its eligible voters ) are Latinx , a far cry from the overwhelmingly white populations in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Nevada has the next crack at the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 .
Only time will tell if pressure to change the electoral calendar will endure as the 2020 Democratic primary churns toward Super Tuesday .
Perez has previously said the DNC will address the issue once the primary is over .
But if critics of the system , like Perez and Reid , get their way , there may well be a new calendar in place for the party ’ s presidential nomination race in 2024 or 2028 .

It appears Iowa’s days as the first-in-the-nation caucus may be numbered — particularly now that several high-profile Democrats, including Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have publicly criticized the current process for choosing a presidential nominee.
Perez — who has signaled support for reevaluating the caucus system in recent days — explicitly called for reform in an interview with CNN Wednesday morning. In particular, he expressed concern over the lack of racial diversity in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“I think the time is right for that conversation,” he said. “I want to make sure that we reflect the grand diversity of our party in everything we do.”
The early voting calendar has drawn criticism from Democrats who point out that though black voters make up the heart of the party’s voter base, Iowa and New Hampshire are both overwhelmingly white.
Perez reiterated that point Wednesday morning. “The candidate who is going to win this race ... is the candidate who does the best job bringing together this entire diverse coalition of the Democratic Party,” he said. “African American voters are the backbone of the Democratic Party.”
DNC Chairman Tom Perez says he wants to discuss caucus reform and reexamine the order of the primary cycle: “I think the time is ripe for that conversation. ... I want to make sure that we reflect the grand diversity of our party in everything we do” https://t.co/esqH2W0gWq pic.twitter.com/et69VokERd — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 12, 2020
Which candidate can best rally Democrats of all backgrounds remains an open question. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday and the popular vote in the Iowa caucuses, while former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg received the most state delegates in Iowa last week. But neither state provided a test of candidates’ backing among voters of color, something the upcoming Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primary will do.
Because Iowa and New Hampshire provide the primary’s first contests, they carry an outsize influence on who ends up the party’s nominee, despite awarding just 65 of the 1,990 party convention delegates needed to win the nomination, as explained by Vox’s Dylan Matthews:
By putting Iowa and New Hampshire first, the Democratic and Republican parties are effectively saying that disproportionate power and influence should go to a small group of overwhelmingly white people in rural areas and small cities. That influence shouldn’t go to a state or region with a large Hispanic population. It shouldn’t go to a state or region with a large black population. It shouldn’t go to a state with large cities and a strong interest in urban issues. It should go to these people instead. That does a profound disservice to the millions of Americans living in diverse, densely populated areas. Or, to put it more bluntly, it gives white people outsize power in determining nominees and disenfranchises black, Hispanic, Asian Americans, and Native Americans relatively speaking. The size of the bias is truly staggering. Economists Brian Knight and Nathan Schiff estimated in 2011 that an Iowa or New Hampshire voter carried the same influence in determining her party’s ultimate nominee as five voters from Super Tuesday states put together.
While there have been calls for reforming the calendar before, several issues in this year’s cycle — particularly a delay in reporting the results of Iowa’s caucuses — have given added life to calls for reform. In the past, appeals to change the order of Democratic contests have come to naught, but things may be different this time, particularly given that Perez is not the only party leader calling for reform.
Reporting issues in Iowa have added pressure for reform
The Iowa Democratic Party struggled to report complete results for much of the past week after the state caucused last Monday. Precinct chairs reported having difficulties with an app they were supposed to use to report results and struggled to call in the caucus totals as well. Also, confusion over new rules may have led some errors to be introduced into the results. This led to delays in reporting vote totals, which weren’t officially finalized until Sunday.
Iowa’s issues renewed calls to reform the entire early caucus and primary system. And the latest Monmouth University 2020 poll, released Tuesday, revealed Democratic voters are highly dissatisfied with how the system currently works.
Just over 1 in 4 voters think the current system results in the best candidate being chosen for the nomination, and only 7 percent said New Hampshire and Iowa should continue to go first.
Perez has made it clear he believes the system should be reevaluated, and he has been joined in this by another powerful Democrat: Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
“Iowa has forfeited its chance to be number one. I don’t think that’ll happen anymore,” Reid told Vice News Tuesday.
In Iowa’s place, Reid suggested that his home state, Nevada, should have the first choice, pointing to the state’s Latinx population and racial diversity.
“Since the debacle in Iowa, [pundits] have been talking about Nevada should be the first state. Why? Because we’re a state that’s heavily diverse,” he said. “It’s really a state that represents what the country is all about. So I think that Iowa really was an embarrassment to everybody.”
About 28 percent of Nevada’s population (and 17 percent of its eligible voters) are Latinx, a far cry from the overwhelmingly white populations in Iowa and New Hampshire. Nevada has the next crack at the Democratic field, holding its caucuses on February 22.
Only time will tell if pressure to change the electoral calendar will endure as the 2020 Democratic primary churns toward Super Tuesday. Perez has previously said the DNC will address the issue once the primary is over. But if critics of the system, like Perez and Reid, get their way, there may well be a new calendar in place for the party’s presidential nomination race in 2024 or 2028.


vox--2020-02-12--Apple’s malware problem is getting worse

Think your Apple product is safe from malware ?
That only people using Windows machines have to take precautions ?
According to cybersecurity software company Malwarebytes ’ latest State of Malware report , it ’ s time to think again .
The amount of malware on Macs is outpacing PCs for the first time ever , and your complacency could be your worst enemy .
“ People need to understand that they ’ re not safe just because they ’ re using a Mac , ” Thomas Reed , Malwarebytes ’ director of Mac and mobile and contributor to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still dominate the market share and tend to have more security vulnerabilities , which has for years made them the bigger and easier target for hackers .
But as Apple ’ s computers have grown in popularity , hackers appear to be focusing more of their attention on the versions of macOS that power them .
Malwarebytes said there was a 400 percent increase in threats on Mac devices from 2018 to 2019 , and found an average of 11 threats per Mac devices , which about twice the 5.8 average on Windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mac threats hitting a population that still believes that ‘ Macs don ’ t get viruses , ’ ” Reed said .
“ I still frequently encounter people who firmly believe this , and who believe that using any kind of security software is not necessary , or even harmful .
This makes macOS a fertile ground for the influx of new threats , whereas it ’ s common knowledge that Windows PCs need security software.
” Now , this isn ’ t quite as bad as it may appear .
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increase in threats could be attributable to an increase in Mac devices running its software .
That makes the per-device statistic a better barometer .
In 2018 , there were 4.8 threats per Mac device , which means the per-device number has more than doubled .
That ’ s not great , but it ’ s not as bad as that 400 percent increase .
Also , the report says , the types of threats differ between operating systems .
While Windows devices were more prone to “ traditional ” malware , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what are known as “ potentially unwanted programs.
” Adware typically redirects users to websites with ads on them or throws pop-up ads in front of their intended internet destination .
Those may not be as “ dangerous , ” as the report says .
They are becoming a “ noticeable nuisance , ” and some of them are able to track your activity , making them a privacy issue as well .
Potentially unwanted programs are apps that are often downloaded along with software you actually want or come pre-installed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these came in the form of “ system optimizers ” that , ironically enough , often pitch themselves to Mac users as adware removers ( for a price ) .
Even though Google is a relative newcomer in the operating system business , it has its own set of problems .
Malwarebytes found malware pre-installed on some phones running its Android operating system as well as third-party apps that came infected with adware .
This is a known issue with Android phones , although as we ’ ve pointed out before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t always entirely in Google ’ s control , since Android is an open source platform .
As for Apple ’ s iOS platform , which is used in its mobile devices , the new Malwarebytes report noted that there is currently “ no way ” to scan for malware but that it is known to exist — mostly in targeted attacks by nation-states , which is not something the average user has to worry about .
What can you do about malware if you ’ re a Mac user ?
A few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ re not safe just because they ’ re using a Mac , ” Reed said .
“ They need to exercise care about what they click on , what apps they download — and from where — and who they allow to have access to their computers.
” A big factor in the Mac malware increase might be down to one piece of adware called NewTab .
As 9to5 Mac pointed out , there were almost 30 million downloads of the NewTab adware app on Mac devices in 2019 alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by posing as an app or browser extension that will track package deliveries or flights .
Reed also recommended against installing Adobe Flash Player .
“ Fake Flash installers are one of the top methods for getting malware installed on a Mac , ” he said .
In general , if you ’ ve downloaded malware , you can try removing it manually or , if you ’ re less comfortable messing around with your computer ’ s settings , get a security program that will do it for you .
As always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one machine was infected because the hacker gained remote access by using a password that was exposed in a password breach .
That ’ s one of many reasons to use different passwords for your accounts and change them on a regular basis .
Of course , downloading anti-virus software never hurts .
Malwarebytes will sell you some of that , as will many other companies .
Just make sure the one you choose is a trusted source .
And always be wary of free software — it ’ s never really free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omidyar Network .
All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists .

Think your Apple product is safe from malware? That only people using Windows machines have to take precautions? According to cybersecurity software company Malwarebytes’ latest State of Malware report, it’s time to think again. The amount of malware on Macs is outpacing PCs for the first time ever, and your complacency could be your worst enemy.
“People need to understand that they’re not safe just because they’re using a Mac,” Thomas Reed, Malwarebytes’ director of Mac and mobile and contributor to the report, told Recode.
Windows machines still dominate the market share and tend to have more security vulnerabilities, which has for years made them the bigger and easier target for hackers. But as Apple’s computers have grown in popularity, hackers appear to be focusing more of their attention on the versions of macOS that power them. Malwarebytes said there was a 400 percent increase in threats on Mac devices from 2018 to 2019, and found an average of 11 threats per Mac devices, which about twice the 5.8 average on Windows.
“There is a rising tide of Mac threats hitting a population that still believes that ‘Macs don’t get viruses,’” Reed said. “I still frequently encounter people who firmly believe this, and who believe that using any kind of security software is not necessary, or even harmful. This makes macOS a fertile ground for the influx of new threats, whereas it’s common knowledge that Windows PCs need security software.”
Now, this isn’t quite as bad as it may appear. First of all, as Malwarebytes notes, the increase in threats could be attributable to an increase in Mac devices running its software. That makes the per-device statistic a better barometer. In 2018, there were 4.8 threats per Mac device, which means the per-device number has more than doubled. That’s not great, but it’s not as bad as that 400 percent increase.
Also, the report says, the types of threats differ between operating systems. While Windows devices were more prone to “traditional” malware, the top 10 Mac threats were adware and what are known as “potentially unwanted programs.”
Adware typically redirects users to websites with ads on them or throws pop-up ads in front of their intended internet destination. Those may not be as “dangerous,” as the report says. They are becoming a “noticeable nuisance,” and some of them are able to track your activity, making them a privacy issue as well.
Potentially unwanted programs are apps that are often downloaded along with software you actually want or come pre-installed on your device. The most frequently detected of these came in the form of “system optimizers” that, ironically enough, often pitch themselves to Mac users as adware removers (for a price).
Even though Google is a relative newcomer in the operating system business, it has its own set of problems. Malwarebytes found malware pre-installed on some phones running its Android operating system as well as third-party apps that came infected with adware. This is a known issue with Android phones, although as we’ve pointed out before, the security of these devices isn’t always entirely in Google’s control, since Android is an open source platform.
As for Apple’s iOS platform, which is used in its mobile devices, the new Malwarebytes report noted that there is currently “no way” to scan for malware but that it is known to exist — mostly in targeted attacks by nation-states, which is not something the average user has to worry about.
What can you do about malware if you’re a Mac user? A few things.
“People need to understand that they’re not safe just because they’re using a Mac,” Reed said. “They need to exercise care about what they click on, what apps they download — and from where — and who they allow to have access to their computers.”
A big factor in the Mac malware increase might be down to one piece of adware called NewTab. As 9to5 Mac pointed out, there were almost 30 million downloads of the NewTab adware app on Mac devices in 2019 alone. This is typically downloaded onto devices by posing as an app or browser extension that will track package deliveries or flights. Reed also recommended against installing Adobe Flash Player. “Fake Flash installers are one of the top methods for getting malware installed on a Mac,” he said.
In general, if you’ve downloaded malware, you can try removing it manually or, if you’re less comfortable messing around with your computer’s settings, get a security program that will do it for you.
As always, practice good password hygiene, as one machine was infected because the hacker gained remote access by using a password that was exposed in a password breach. That’s one of many reasons to use different passwords for your accounts and change them on a regular basis.
Of course, downloading anti-virus software never hurts. Malwarebytes will sell you some of that, as will many other companies. Just make sure the one you choose is a trusted source. And always be wary of free software — it’s never really free.
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.


vox--2020-02-13--What Klobmentum says about women running for president

At least , that ’ s one narrative coming out of the New Hampshire primary , where the senator made an impressive showing , coming in third behind Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg — and beating one-time frontrunners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren .
The result capped a week of good news for the Minnesota senator , including a post-debate fundraising haul of $ 2.5 million in just two days .
Klobuchar ’ s path to the nomination is still uncertain , and her dismal support among black voters is likely to hurt her in other early primary states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and the ways she ’ s been able to point out gender bias without triggering backlash — may say something about what it takes to win favor as a woman running for president in America today .
In the runup to 2020 , an enormous amount of the Democratic primary conversation has focused on who can beat President Trump .
That ’ s led to a lot of questions in the media and among some voters about whether female candidates are “ electable ” or not .
Many political scientists say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flawed — after all , Trump was widely seen as unelectable until he got elected .
Still , the fear that women can ’ t win keeps coming up .
“ Perhaps we ’ re so risk-averse right now that it becomes harder for people to think that a woman is electable , ” Farida Jalalzai , a political science professor who studies women leaders , told Vox .
Research also shows that American voters “ believe that women candidates are more liberal than their male counterparts , ” Jalalzai said .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among those worried about nominating someone who ’ s too far to the left .
Klobuchar ’ s centrism , by contrast , may work in her favor .
Meanwhile , Klobuchar has also shown a facility for pointing out sexism on the campaign trail in a way that hasn ’ t backfired on her — yet .
If she ’ s able to actually hang onto frontrunner status , Klobuchar will face a level of scrutiny that ’ s hitherto been reserved for the top contenders in the race .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism that has held other female candidates back .
Klobuchar is surging ( though it may not last ) Just a few weeks ago , Klobuchar was seen as a decidedly second-tier candidate , finishing fifth in the Iowa caucus .
But she impressed many at Friday ’ s debate in Manchester , New Hampshire , coming out swinging at Buttigieg for his lack of experience on a national stage and closing out the evening with a pledge to Americans : “ If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will fight for you.
” Strong polls and fundraising numbers had people talking about “ Klobmentum ” going into Tuesday night ’ s primary , and the senator didn ’ t disappoint , coming in third with nearly 20 percent of the vote .
Meanwhile , Warren , the female candidate once considered a frontrunner for the nomination , posted a disappointing fourth-place finish in New Hampshire amid a broader sense that her campaign is faltering .
That doesn ’ t mean Warren is out , or that the Klobmentum won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a national poll conducted earlier this month , the Minnesota senator had the support of precisely 0 percent of black voters .
A possible reason , Elie Mystal writes at the Nation , is that while she leans heavily into her Midwestern roots on the campaign trail , “ her version of the Midwest is heavy on the salt-of-the-earth stories about the white working class , and light on the unique challenges facing black and brown voters living in downtowns from Cleveland to Milwaukee.
” Iowa and New Hampshire are heavily white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada , and elsewhere , Klobuchar will have a lot of work to do convincing voters of color that she ’ s the best candidate for them .
And she may not be able to do so with the tactics she ’ s used so far .
No matter what happens , the contrast between Warren ’ s path and Klobuchar ’ s is notable Still , it ’ s notable that Klobuchar seems to be surging when Warren is struggling .
Among Democrats , there seems to be a palpable fear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitive , ” Jalalzai explained .
That fear could be hurting Warren .
Even though the Massachusetts senator is , to some degree , more centrist than Sanders , it ’ s possible that “ some people may support a more liberal man for the job , versus a more liberal woman.
” Warren ’ s difficulty finding a foothold in the race so far is about more than her gender .
She ’ s competing for progressive voters with Sanders , whose appeal is “ sticky , ” as Debbie Walsh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women and Politics at Rutgers University , put it to Vox .
“ Once people are with him , they ’ re really with him , ” she said , and “ peeling people away from him is tough.
” But since she ’ s running as a moderate , Klobuchar isn ’ t competing with Sanders in the same way .
She ’ s also less likely than Warren to be seen as too liberal to win .
Then there are the ways in which the two candidates and their campaigns have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren faced intense backlash after it was reported — and she confirmed — that Sanders had , in a 2018 meeting , told her he didn ’ t think a woman could win in 2020 ( Sanders denies this ) .
Klobuchar hasn ’ t gotten the same kind of blowback when she ’ s noted , multiple times , that a female former mayor would be unlikely to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in the way Buttigieg has been .
“ Pete is qualified to be up on this stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing next to him , ” Klobuchar said during a November debate .
But , she added , “ women are held to a higher standard .
Otherwise we could play a game called name your favorite woman president , which we can ’ t do because it has all been men.
” The comment simply didn ’ t get as much attention as Warren ’ s account of the Sanders meeting , in part because Klobuchar wasn ’ t a frontrunner at the time .
But it also showed that Klobuchar has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetorical acrobatics that experts say are unfortunately often necessary to point out sexism without being penalized for it .
Women in positions of power are often forced to carefully calibrate their behavior to avoid being perceived as too authoritative and therefore “ unlikable , ” Joan C. Williams , a law professor and expert on gender in the workplace , wrote at the New York Times last year .
They “ must often do a masculine thing ( which establishes their competence ) in a feminine way ( to defuse backlash ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out sexism displayed a similar fine calibration : She called out her competitor but was sure to praise him while doing so ( “ I am honored to be standing next to him ” ) .
And she has used the conversation about Buttigieg ’ s lack of experience to lift up her own credentials , noting that she has won multiple statewide races and carried districts Trump won in 2016 , Walsh said .
That ability to bring up gender bias while also making the conversation about her own strengths — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might stand her in good stead in a time when , as Walsh put it , female candidates who call out sexism are still perceived as playing “ the gender card.
” But it ’ s also possible that , if Klobuchar is able to solidify her frontrunner status for any length of time , she ’ ll face the same kind of scrutiny Warren has .
And it ’ s unsettling but true that to continue bringing up sexism could hamper her rise .
The senator could “ end up losing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been able to build up lately , if she then talks to a large extent about the discrimination women face , ” Jalalzai said .
There ’ s also a dynamic infamous among people who cover gender in politics , in which voters say they want “ a woman , just not that woman.
” To some degree , any woman who vies for the presidency becomes “ that woman , ” someone who ’ s too flawed and too “ unlikable ” to succeed .
In 2016 , some voters were dissatisfied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run instead .
But now that Warren is running , she has faced some of the same “ likability ” questions Clinton did .
Despite early reports that she mistreated staff members , Klobuchar hasn ’ t yet faced the likability question in the same way Warren has .
But if she becomes a true frontrunner in the race , she ’ ll be “ that woman.
” And only time will tell how she , and the American people , will handle it .

The Klobmentum is real.
At least, that’s one narrative coming out of the New Hampshire primary, where the senator made an impressive showing, coming in third behind Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg — and beating onetime frontrunners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren.
The result capped a week of good news for the Minnesota senator, including a post-debate fundraising haul of $2.5 million in just two days. Klobuchar’s path to the nomination is still uncertain, and her dismal support among black voters is likely to hurt her in other early primary states, like South Carolina. But her rise — and the ways she’s been able to point out gender bias without triggering backlash — may say something about what it takes to win favor as a woman running for president in America today.
In the runup to 2020, an enormous amount of the Democratic primary conversation has focused on who can beat President Trump. That’s led to a lot of questions in the media and among some voters about whether female candidates are “electable” or not. Many political scientists say the whole concept of “electability” is flawed — after all, Trump was widely seen as unelectable until he got elected. Still, the fear that women can’t win keeps coming up. “Perhaps we’re so risk-averse right now that it becomes harder for people to think that a woman is electable,” Farida Jalalzai, a political science professor who studies women leaders, told Vox.
Research also shows that American voters “believe that women candidates are more liberal than their male counterparts,” Jalalzai said. That bias may be hurting Warren, especially among those worried about nominating someone who’s too far to the left. Klobuchar’s centrism, by contrast, may work in her favor. Klobuchar has also shown a facility for pointing out sexism on the campaign trail in a way that hasn’t backfired on her — yet.
If she’s able to actually hang on to frontrunner status, she will face a level of scrutiny that’s hitherto been reserved for the top contenders in the race. And that scrutiny may include a level of gendered criticism that has held back other female candidates.
Klobuchar is surging (though it may not last)
Just a few weeks ago, Klobuchar was seen as a decidedly second-tier candidate, finishing fifth in the Iowa caucuses. But she impressed many at Friday’s debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, coming out swinging at Buttigieg for his lack of experience on a national stage and closing out the evening with a pledge to Americans: “If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent, I know you. I will fight for you.”
Strong polls and fundraising numbers had people talking about “Klobmentum” going into Tuesday night’s primary, and the senator didn’t disappoint, coming in third with nearly 20 percent of the vote.
Meanwhile, Warren, the female candidate once considered a frontrunner for the nomination, posted a disappointing fourth-place finish in New Hampshire amid a broader sense that her campaign is faltering.
That doesn’t mean Warren is out, or that the Klobmentum won’t be short-lived. For one thing, in a national poll conducted earlier this month, the Minnesota senator had the support of precisely zero percent of black voters. A possible reason, Elie Mystal writes at the Nation, is that while she leans into her Midwestern roots on the campaign trail, “her version of the Midwest is heavy on the salt-of-the-earth stories about the white working class, and light on the unique challenges facing black and brown voters living in downtowns from Cleveland to Milwaukee.”
Iowa and New Hampshire are majority-white states, but in South Carolina, Nevada, and elsewhere, Klobuchar will have a lot of work to do convincing voters of color that she’s the best candidate for them.
And she may not be able to do so with the tactics she’s used so far.
No matter what happens, the contrast between Warren’s path and Klobuchar’s is notable
Still, it’s striking that Klobuchar seems to be surging when Warren is struggling. Among Democrats, there seems to be a palpable fear of nominating someone “too liberal to be competitive,” Jalalzai explained. That fear could be hurting Warren. Even though the Massachusetts senator is, to some degree, more centrist than Sanders, it’s possible that “some people may support a more liberal man for the job, versus a more liberal woman.”
Warren’s difficulty finding a foothold in the race so far is about more than her gender. She’s competing for progressive voters with Sanders, whose appeal is “sticky,” as Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, put it to Vox. “Once people are with him, they’re really with him,” she said, and “peeling people away from him is tough.”
But since she’s running as a moderate, Klobuchar isn’t competing with Sanders in the same way. She’s also less likely than Warren to be seen as too liberal to win.
Then there are the ways the two candidates and their campaigns have pointed out sexism in the race. Warren faced intense backlash after it was reported — and she confirmed — that Sanders had, in a 2018 meeting, told her he didn’t think a woman could win in 2020 (Sanders denies this).
Klobuchar hasn’t gotten the same kind of blowback when she’s noted, multiple times, that a female former mayor would be unlikely to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in the way Buttigieg has been.
“Pete is qualified to be up on this stage, and I am honored to be standing next to him,” Klobuchar said during a November debate. But, she added, “women are held to a higher standard. Otherwise, we could play a game called name your favorite woman president, which we can’t do because it has all been men.”
The comment simply didn’t get as much attention as Warren’s account of the Sanders meeting, in part because Klobuchar wasn’t a frontrunner at the time. But it also showed that Klobuchar is able to perform the kind of rhetorical acrobatics that experts say are unfortunately often necessary to point out sexism without being penalized for it.
Women in positions of power are often forced to carefully calibrate their behavior to avoid being perceived as too authoritative and therefore “unlikable,” Joan C. Williams, a law professor and expert on gender in the workplace, wrote at the New York Times last year. They “must often do a masculine thing (which establishes their competence) in a feminine way (to defuse backlash).”
Klobuchar’s efforts to point out sexism displayed a similar fine calibration: She called out her competitor but was sure to praise him while doing so (“I am honored to be standing next to him”). And she has used the conversation about Buttigieg’s lack of experience to lift up her own credentials, noting that she has won multiple statewide races and carried districts Trump won in 2016, Walsh said.
That ability to bring up gender bias while also making the conversation about her own strengths — and praising her opponent into the bargain — might stand her in good stead in a time when, as Walsh put it, female candidates who call out sexism are still perceived as playing “the gender card.”
But it’s also possible that if Klobuchar is able to solidify her frontrunner status for any length of time, she’ll face the same kind of scrutiny Warren has. And it’s unsettling but true that to continue bringing up sexism could hamper her rise. The senator could “end up losing some of the momentum that she’s been able to build up lately, if she then talks to a large extent about the discrimination women face,” Jalalzai said.
There’s also a dynamic infamous among people who cover gender in politics, in which voters say they want “a woman, just not that woman.” To some degree, any woman who vies for the presidency becomes “that woman,” someone who’s too flawed and too “unlikable” to succeed. In 2016, some voters were dissatisfied with Hillary Clinton and wished Warren would run instead. But now that Warren is running, she has faced some of the same “likability” questions Clinton did.
Despite early reports that she mistreated staff members, Klobuchar hasn’t yet faced the likability question in the same way Warren has. But if she becomes a true frontrunner in the race, she’ll be “that woman.” And only time will tell how she, and the American people, will handle it.


vox--2020-02-13--“No handshakes, please”: The tech industry is terrified of the coronavirus

One of the most prestigious venture capital firms in Silicon Valley , Andreessen Horowitz , recently put up a sign on its door , cautioning eager startup founders and business partners who walk into its offices : “ Due to the Coronavirus , no Handshakes please .
Thank you.
” It ’ s unclear how long Andreessen Horowitz — an investor in the likes of Facebook , Airbnb , and Slack — has been greeting visitors with the sign .
The move by the firm to put it up , however , is just one example of how some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech industry are taking measures to protect themselves from the deadly virus .
The new coronavirus , now officially known as Covid-19 , has taken the lives of more than 1,357 people so far — most of them in the Hubei Province of China , where the outbreak started .
So far , out of 13 total in the United States , four confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the Northern California region , including Silicon Valley .
Public health officials in the area have said there ’ s currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cases , they say , have been contained to those who have recently traveled to Wuhan and their direct family members .
But in tech ’ s de facto capital , there ’ s a growing sense of anxiety about the virus quickly spreading out of control .
Recode spoke with several employees at major tech companies who were glad that their companies were taking precautionary measures , such as halting employee travel to the region .
Those concerned also pointed to the high rate of travel between the San Francisco Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can be infected — and contagious — but show no symptoms for up to two weeks , and that government officials in China downplayed the virus ’ s initial impact .
Some , however , said that a few of the industry restrictions — and the comments by some tech VCs on Twitter — have gone too far .
Aside from the institutional precautions major tech companies like Apple and Google are taking by restricting employee travel and halting operations in China , some tech professionals are taking individual measures to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P100 mask on all my Ubers , CalTrains , and on MUNI , ” Andre Watson , CEO of SF-based gene therapy technology startup Ligandal , told Recode .
If they ’ re used correctly , P95 and P100 face masks can reduce the likelihood of being exposed to coronavirus by blocking contaminated air particles .
Currently , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) advises against people in the US using face masks because most people who aren ’ t trained medical professionals may not know how to fit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure in the US is so low to begin with .
Regardless , Watson said he thinks it ’ s a good idea for more people in the Bay Area to use face masks — and for a venture capital firm like Andreessen Horowitz , which takes many meetings a day with people from around the world , to institute a no-handshake rule .
“ While the probability is low that any individual will have [ coronavirus ] , the higher up you go in terms of a person ’ s wealth or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are to have interacted with someone who is much higher risk , ” said Watson , who added that most people in the Bay Area are , to his dismay , “ very relaxed right now.
” Watson also said he sees an opportunity for tech companies to help diagnose the virus or come up with a vaccine — a problem he said he ’ s interested in solving .
In some ways , Silicon Valley elites have been preparing for this moment .
Tech billionaires and other wealthy Americans have long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global pandemic that could disrupt societal stability .
Some are building out elaborate refuges as far away as New Zealand .
“ It ’ s striking because in the midst of all this wealth , there ’ s this kind of deep , paranoid fear about bodies and disease , ” said Tim Hwang , a technology researcher and editor of essays about Silicon Valley visual culture .
“ I think in classic Silicon Valley fashion , they ’ re responding to a genuine problem , but it ’ s unclear these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , scientists believe , is primarily transmitted through droplets of bodily fluids , such as saliva or mucus , that are dispersed through the air with a cough or sneeze .
The CDC says that transmission most often happens in close contact of six feet or less , although simply standing next to someone who has the virus doesn ’ t guarantee the infection would spread .
The virus can also be transmitted by hand-to-hand contact ( like a handshake ) , but that ’ s a secondary method of transmission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious disease physician at Stanford Health Care .
Right now , public health officials say there ’ s little known risk of anyone in Northern California encountering someone with the new coronavirus in public in the first place , since the four confirmed cases are under quarantine .
Deresinski said he doesn ’ t think the risk is “ anywhere near sufficient ” to warrant reduced contact with people in the Silicon Valley area , even given their relatively high level of travel to and from China .
“ The chances are astonishingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a coronavirus infection ” at work or in a public setting , Deresinki told Recode , but acknowledged that there ’ s “ always a risk.
” A spokesperson for the Silicon Valley ’ s Santa Clara County public health department said that reducing handshakes is recommended generally to prevent the spread of colds and flu , but not specifically for coronavirus .
A public relations firm representing Andreessen Horowitz declined to respond to Recode ’ s request for comment about the no-handshake sign .
Given the high volume of regular travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus in China , there ’ s been a significant disruption to the normal flow of business .
Flights from China to Silicon Valley ’ s major airport , San Jose International , have been halted until at least March .
All travelers returning from Hubei Province , China , where the outbreak started , into several major airports including San Francisco are being placed in quarantine with public health monitoring until 14 days after they left China .
And the CDC is running “ enhanced screenings ” of international passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their temperatures and looking for coronavirus symptoms .
In recent weeks , tech companies and others in the industry have taken swift action in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Google , Facebook , and Apple have restricted employee travel to China .
The companies told employees who have recently traveled to China not to work at the office for up to two weeks .
Recode has also learned that the Stanford Graduate School of Business — arguably the world ’ s most elite training ground for budding tech executives and venture capitalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students at Tsinghua University in China .
The school says the program was canceled one day after it started ; Stanford stopped short of expressing concern about its students becoming infected on the trip .
“ This was a programmatic decision made due to the changes in air travel to and from China and our concern for the Tsinghua students ’ ability to get home , not based on health concerns , ” Kristin Harlan , Stanford Graduate School of Business ( GSB ) director of strategic communications , told Recode in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech VCs are describing some of their coronavirus anxieties in personal detail and describing additional steps of protocol beyond public health and government recommendations .
One VC , David Ulevitch , a partner at Andreessen Horowitz , posted an Amazon order screenshot showing protective health purchases like a hazmat suit and respirator .
Ulevitch also announced that he won ’ t be taking in-person meetings with anyone who ’ s recently traveled to China .
It ’ s unclear if Ulevitch was kidding .
A communications representative for Ulevitch from Andreessen Horowitz declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Balaji S. Srinivasan , questioned in a series of tweets whether the city of San Francisco should cancel its annual Chinese New Year Parade — a beloved tradition — over concerns about the virus ’ s potential spread .
Srinivasan shared concern that the virus could be spread through feces spreading on the streets of downtown San Francisco .
( There ’ s been recent evidence that the virus is secreted in human feces , but whether it ’ s transmitted that way is still unclear . )
There are currently no known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have originated in San Francisco itself .
Two patients from San Benito County , California , are being treated at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center just south of Golden Gate Park .
Meanwhile , San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other city officials publicly reaffirmed their commitment to carrying on with the parade , saying that it posed no public health risk — and the parade went off as planned on Saturday .
Deresinski told Recode that the worry about feces doesn ’ t make too much sense , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of epidemic are always of concern.
” Still , he wouldn ’ t go so far as to recommend canceling the parade .
Srinivasan did not respond to Recode ’ s inquiry for more context about his comments on Twitter .
One Google employee found the company asking coworkers who visited China recently , regardless of which region , to stay home for over a week to be overreach .
They especially took issue with the company sending people from places like Beijing , outside the center of the outbreak in Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the office .
“ That ’ s like saying you can ’ t come in if you visited Chicago because of the flu outbreak in New York City , ” the employee told Recode .
Some have criticized comparing the coronavirus to the flu because it has a far higher fatality rate and that it distracts from the new virus ’ s severity .
But the fact remains that , so far , the flu has impacted far more people .
The CDC estimates that 10,000 people have died from the flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the US having experienced flu illness .
Data from the CDC suggests that the flu is a greater threat to Americans than the coronavirus .
Yet unlike the flu , the coronavirus is new and not well understood , which makes it especially scary to the public , including Silicon Valley ’ s elite .
The threatening uncertainties surrounding the global health crisis have also fueled racist sentiment in California .
Asian Americans have reported being discriminated against , everywhere from college campuses to retail stores .
In Santa Clara County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sara Cody , said in a public video that “ it ’ s disturbing to hear that discrimination is happening toward people of Asian descent.
” And at UC Berkeley , another feeder school for the tech industry , school officials were criticized after its Department of Health Services published a now-deleted post on Instagram saying that bigotry and bias toward people from Asia are “ normal ” and “ common ” reactions to the coronavirus outbreak .
The University ’ s health services department apologized amid the backlash and deleted the post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fine line between general concern about the virus and targeted xenophobia toward Asian immigrants and Asian Americans .
As Vox ’ s Nylah Burton explained after the outbreak of the new coronavirus , xenophobia toward East Asian immigrants has long “ been intertwined with public health discourse ” about cleanliness and the spread of disease .
The public concern from Silicon Valley leaders or companies has not been discriminatory , but the extreme caution some are taking does raise questions about the appropriate level of response .
There ’ s always a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of control in tech ’ s backyard , but to a large extent , people ’ s individual power to control that is limited , and some may see measures like no-handshake rules as a step too far .
“ There ’ s an essential tension between public health and individual freedom , ” said Deresinski .
“ And that ’ s where the balance has to be found .
”

One of the most prestigious venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Andreessen Horowitz, recently put up a sign on its door, cautioning eager startup founders and business partners who walk into its offices: “Due to the Coronavirus, no Handshakes please. Thank you.”
It’s unclear how long Andreessen Horowitz — an investor in the likes of Facebook, Airbnb, and Slack — has been greeting visitors with the sign. The move by the firm to put it up, however, is just one example of how some of the most powerful institutions and figures in the tech industry are taking measures to protect themselves from the deadly virus. The new coronavirus disease, now officially known as Covid-19, has taken the lives of nearly 1,400 people so far — most of them in the Hubei province of China, where the outbreak started.
So far, out of 13 total in the United States, four confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the Northern California region, including Silicon Valley. Public health officials in the area have said there’s currently a low risk to public health; the cases, they say, have been contained to those who have recently traveled to Wuhan and their direct family members.
But in tech’s de facto capital, there’s a growing sense of anxiety about the virus quickly spreading out of control. Recode spoke with several employees at major tech companies who were glad that their companies were taking precautionary measures, such as stopping employee travel to the region. Those concerned also pointed to the high rate of travel between the San Francisco Bay Area and China, the fact that people can be infected — and contagious — but show no symptoms for up to two weeks, and that government officials in China downplayed the virus’s initial impact. Some, however, said that a few of the industry restrictions — and the comments by some tech VCs on Twitter — have gone too far.
Aside from the institutional precautions major tech companies like Apple and Google are taking by restricting employee travel and halting operations in China, some tech professionals are taking individual measures to protect themselves.
“I personally wear a P100 mask on all my Ubers, CalTrains, and on MUNI,” Andre Watson, CEO of SF-based gene therapy technology startup Ligandal, told Recode.
If they’re used correctly, P95 and P100 face masks can reduce the likelihood of being exposed to coronavirus by blocking contaminated air particles. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against people in the US using face masks because most people who aren’t trained medical professionals may not know how to fit them properly, and the risk of exposure in the US is so low to begin with.
Regardless, Watson said he thinks it’s a good idea for more people in the Bay Area to use face masks — and for a venture capital firm like Andreessen Horowitz, which takes many meetings a day with people from around the world, to institute a no-handshake rule.
“While the probability is low that any individual will have [coronavirus], the higher up you go in terms of a person’s wealth or socioeconomic status, the more likely they are to have interacted with someone who is much higher risk,” said Watson, who added that most people in the Bay Area are, to his dismay, “very relaxed right now.” Watson also said he sees an opportunity for tech companies to help diagnose the virus or come up with a vaccine — a problem he said he’s interested in solving.
In some ways, Silicon Valley elites have been preparing for this moment. Tech billionaires and other wealthy Americans have long been gearing up for Doomsday scenarios like a global pandemic that could disrupt societal stability. Some are building out elaborate refuges as far away as New Zealand.
“It’s striking because in the midst of all this wealth, there’s this kind of deep, paranoid fear about bodies and disease,” said Tim Hwang, a technology researcher and editor of essays about Silicon Valley visual culture. “I think in classic Silicon Valley fashion, they’re responding to a genuine problem, but it’s unclear these are effective solutions for the real issue.”
Covid-19, scientists believe, is primarily transmitted through droplets of bodily fluids, such as saliva or mucus, that are dispersed through the air with a cough or sneeze. The CDC says that transmission most often happens in close contact of six feet or less, although simply standing next to someone who has the virus doesn’t guarantee the infection would spread. The virus can also be transmitted by hand-to-hand contact (like a handshake), but that’s a secondary method of transmission, according to Dr. Stanley Deresinski, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Health Care.
Right now, public health officials say there’s little known risk of anyone in Northern California encountering someone with the new coronavirus in public in the first place, since the four confirmed cases are under quarantine. Deresinski said he doesn’t think the risk is “anywhere near sufficient” to warrant reduced contact with people in the Silicon Valley area, even given their relatively high level of travel to and from China.
“The chances are astonishingly low that you would come into contact in a coronavirus infection” at work or in a public setting, Deresinki told Recode, but acknowledged that there’s “always a risk.”
A spokesperson for the Silicon Valley’s Santa Clara County public health department said that reducing handshakes is recommended generally to prevent the spread of colds and flu, but not specifically for coronavirus.
A public relations firm representing Andreessen Horowitz declined to respond to Recode’s request for comment about the no-handshake sign.
Given the high volume of regular travel between Silicon Valley and areas most impacted by the coronavirus in China, there’s been a significant disruption to the normal flow of business.
Flights from China to Silicon Valley’s major airport, San Jose International, have been halted until at least March. All travelers returning from Hubei province, China, where the outbreak started, into several major airports including San Francisco are being placed in quarantine with public health monitoring until 14 days after they left China. And the CDC is running “enhanced screenings” of international passengers at San Francisco International Airport by taking their temperatures and looking for coronavirus symptoms.
In recent weeks, tech companies and others in the industry have taken swift action in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Google, Facebook, and Apple have restricted employee travel to China. The companies told employees who have recently traveled to China not to work at the office for up to two weeks.
Facebook cancelled a global marketing summit it had planned to host in March for over 5,000 attendees around the world in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we cancelled our Global Marketing Summit due to evolving public health risks related to coronavirus,” Anthony Harrison, a Facebook spokesman sent in a statement to Recode.
Recode has also learned that the Stanford Graduate School of Business — arguably the world’s most elite training ground for budding tech executives and venture capitalists — has canceled its exchange program with students at Tsinghua University in China. The school says the program was canceled one day after it started; Stanford stopped short of expressing concern about its students becoming infected on the trip.
“This was a programmatic decision made due to the changes in air travel to and from China and our concern for the Tsinghua students’ ability to get home, not based on health concerns,” Kristin Harlan, Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) director of strategic communications, told Recode in a statement.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, tech VCs are describing some of their coronavirus anxieties in personal detail and describing additional steps of protocol beyond public health and government recommendations. One VC, David Ulevitch, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, posted an Amazon order screenshot showing protective health purchases like a hazmat suit and respirator. Ulevitch also announced that he won’t be taking in-person meetings with anyone who’s recently traveled to China. It’s unclear if Ulevitch was kidding. A communications representative for Ulevitch from Andreessen Horowitz declined to comment.
I’m not canceling any of my pitches next week due to corona virus. But I am upgrading my HealthSecOps from Purell wipes to Zombiemode. I can still sign checks through the 6mil gloves.
But, seriously, if you’ve been to China in the last two weeks we are moving to Zoom. pic.twitter.com/57DGhZqB1t — ☁ David Ulevitch ☁ (@davidu) January 30, 2020
Another tech investor, Balaji S. Srinivasan, questioned in a series of tweets whether the city of San Francisco should cancel its annual Chinese New Year Parade — a beloved tradition — over concerns about the virus’s potential spread. Srinivasan shared concern that the virus could be spread through feces spreading on the streets of downtown San Francisco. (There’s been recent evidence that the virus is secreted in human feces, but whether it’s transmitted that way is still unclear.)
There are currently no known cases of coronavirus in the city that have originated in San Francisco itself. Two patients from San Benito County, California, are being treated at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center just south of Golden Gate Park. Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other city officials publicly reaffirmed their commitment to carrying on with the parade, saying that it posed no public health risk — and the parade went off as planned on Saturday.
Deresinski told Recode that the worry about feces doesn’t make too much sense, but that “mass gatherings at a time of epidemic are always of concern.” Still, he wouldn’t go so far as to recommend canceling the parade.
Srinivasan did not respond to Recode’s inquiry for more context about his comments on Twitter.
One Google employee found the company asking coworkers who visited China recently, regardless of which region, to stay home for over a week to be overreach. They especially took issue with the company sending people from places like Beijing, outside the center of the outbreak in Wuhan, to work from home instead of coming into the office.
“That’s like saying you can’t come in if you visited Chicago because of the flu outbreak in New York City,” the employee told Recode.
Some have criticized comparing the coronavirus to the flu because it has a far higher fatality rate and that it distracts from the new virus’s severity. But the fact remains that, so far, the flu has impacted far more people. The CDC estimates that 10,000 people have died from the flu this season, with some 19 million people in the US having experienced flu illness. Data from the CDC suggests that the flu is a greater threat to Americans than the coronavirus. Yet unlike the flu, the coronavirus is new and not well understood, which makes it especially scary to the public, including Silicon Valley’s elite.
The threatening uncertainties surrounding the global health crisis have also fueled racist sentiment in California. Asian Americans have reported being discriminated against, everywhere from college campuses to retail stores. In Santa Clara County, the public health officer, Dr. Sara Cody, said in a public video that “it’s disturbing to hear that discrimination is happening toward people of Asian descent.”
And at UC Berkeley, another feeder school for the tech industry, school officials were criticized after its Department of Health Services published a now-deleted post on Instagram saying that bigotry and bias toward people from Asia are “normal” and “common” reactions to the coronavirus outbreak. The University’s health services department apologized amid the backlash and deleted the post.
These examples show there’s a fine line between general concern about the virus and targeted xenophobia toward Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. As Vox’s Nylah Burton explained after the outbreak of the new coronavirus, xenophobia toward East Asian immigrants has long “been intertwined with public health discourse” about cleanliness and the spread of disease.
The public concern from Silicon Valley leaders or companies has not been discriminatory, but the extreme caution some are taking does raise questions about the appropriate level of response. There’s always a chance that the coronavirus could get out of control in tech’s backyard, but to a large extent, people’s individual power to control that is limited, and some may see measures like no-handshake rules as a step too far.
“There’s an essential tension between public health and individual freedom,” said Deresinski. “And that’s where the balance has to be found.”


vox--2020-02-12--Larry Ellison is doing an unthinkable thing for a tech titan: Hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump

Larry Ellison , the founder of Oracle and one of the world ’ s richest men , is throwing a fundraiser for Donald Trump — the most significant display of support from a major tech titan for the president , by far .
Ellison is hosting Trump at his estate in California ’ s Coachella Valley next week for a “ Golf Outing and Reception , ” according to a copy of the invitation obtained by The Desert Sun , a local newspaper .
Tickets run as high as a quarter million dollars .
While Ellison has consistently backed Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major donor to a super PAC backing Marco Rubio in 2016 — the fundraiser is sure to expose the flamboyant 75-year-old billionaire to a new wave of political and corporate scrutiny .
Silicon Valley workforces are , in general , deeply oppositional to the Trump administration , and it will be revealing to see whether Ellison encounters any pushback or activism from Oracle ’ s 136,000 employees , who have already expressed frustration with even lesser ties from Oracle to the administration .
Oracle has not been known to have a particularly restless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the age of Trump and have sought to minimize ties between their employers and the Trump administration .
Companies like Google and Github have encountered employees who want the corporations to end their work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement , for instance .
Ellison though has long been one of Silicon Valley ’ s most eccentric and independent-minded leaders , and so he might care little about the blowback .
Ellison is no longer Oracle ’ s CEO but is its chief technology officer and executive chairman .
Recode asked Ellison ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he planned to back the president for reelection , but his spokespeople declined to comment .
Ellison ’ s personal and Oracle spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday .
The event will be held at Ellison ’ s private estate in Rancho Mirage next Wednesday , according to a copy of the invitation , on a golf course where he once played with Barack Obama .
Ellison — far more comfortable with displays of opulence than many other tech billionaires — is a prodigious acquirer of property in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been , up until now , is a major Trump donor .
The most significant tech billionaire to back Trump to date has been early Facebook investor and board member Peter Thiel .
Ellison has not made a political contribution of any type since the end of 2017 , and he has never before donated to Trump or any Trump-backed group , according to federal records .
That makes this decision to host a major , high-profile event for Trump all the more unusual .
But it ’ s also a major coup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after all , the country ’ s fifth richest person , with a net worth of almost $ 70 billion .

Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and one of the world’s richest men, is throwing a fundraiser for Donald Trump — the most significant display of support from a major tech titan for the president, by far.
Ellison is hosting Trump at his estate in California’s Coachella Valley next week for a “Golf Outing and Reception,” according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Desert Sun, a local newspaper. Tickets run as high as a quarter million dollars.
While Ellison has consistently backed Republicans in the past — he was a major donor to a super PAC backing Marco Rubio in 2016 — the fundraiser is sure to expose the flamboyant 75-year-old billionaire to a new wave of political and corporate scrutiny. Silicon Valley workforces are, in general, deeply oppositional to the Trump administration, and it will be revealing to see whether Ellison encounters any pushback or activism from Oracle’s 136,000 employees, who have already expressed frustration with Oracle ties to the current administration.
Oracle has not been known to have a particularly restless workforce, but tech workers are organizing in the age of Trump and have sought to minimize ties between their employers and the Trump administration. Companies like Google and Github have encountered employees who want the corporations to end their work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for instance.
Ellison, though, has long been one of Silicon Valley’s most eccentric and independent-minded leaders, so he might care little about the blowback. He is no longer Oracle’s CEO but its chief technology officer and executive chairman.
Recode asked Ellison’s team last September about whether he planned to back the president for reelection, but his spokespeople declined to comment. Ellison’s personal and Oracle spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
The event will be held at Ellison’s private estate in Rancho Mirage next Wednesday, according to a copy of the invitation, on a golf course where he once played with Barack Obama. Ellison — far more comfortable with displays of opulence than many other tech billionaires — is a prodigious acquirer of property in Southern California.
What he has not been, up until now, is a major Trump donor. The most significant tech billionaire to back Trump to date has been early Facebook investor and board member Peter Thiel. Ellison has not made a political contribution of any type since the end of 2017, and he has never before donated to Trump or any Trump-backed group, according to federal records.
That makes this decision to host a major, high-profile event for Trump all the more unusual. But it’s also a major coup for the Trump team: Ellison is, after all, the country’s fifth-richest person, with a net worth of almost $70 billion.


vox--2020-02-13--“This fundraiser is a slap in the face to all of us”: Oracle employees are furious over Larry Elliso

“This fundraiser is a slap in the face to all of us”: Oracle employees are furious over Larry Ellison’s support of Trump

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison ’ s decision to host a fundraiser for Donald Trump next week has awakened the usually passive workforce at his company , angering some employees who are privately sharing their disgust with each other over Ellison ’ s actions .
Their reaction reflects how toxic Trump remains in Silicon Valley — and the ire that top tech executives can draw when they align themselves with the president .
And it ’ s revealing that it ’ s happening at Oracle , which employees say has a conservative culture that has not been touched by the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies .
“ It signals what I and many others have always feared , ” one current Oracle employee told Recode .
“ Culturally , Oracle is the type of place where you ’ ll work with many lovely people who you share common ideals with , but those ideals have to be left at the door in service of the company.
” Oracle declined to comment for this story .
Recode spoke with one former and five current employees who , in sum , described bubbling frustration at Oracle on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues in their offices and sharing links about the fundraiser to friends on Facebook Messenger .
But while many say that their coworkers , too , are upset , assessing the full scale of their anger is difficult because of Oracle ’ s culture : It discourages employees from talking about politics .
That ’ s also why there are not any current plans to protest Ellison in a meaningful way .
Ellison , the fifth-richest person in the US , surprised the tech industry on Wednesday when news broke that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his estate in California ’ s Coachella Valley next week .
The event is , by far , the most significant public display of support for Trump 2020 by a tech titan .
Or as another Oracle employee , granted anonymity like others because they were candidly discussing their boss , told Recode : “ Oracle is not supposed to be political but yet our CEO is doing something very political , no ?
” “ This fundraiser is a slap in the face to all of us , especially as Larry champions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” this employee said , referring to Ellison ’ s personal philanthropy .
“ This shows that he cares about money over all else .
And that is what matters .
But what is the average employee to do ?
” Indeed , the average employee at Oracle has done nothing much .
Companies like Google are famous for fostering an open culture that leaves room for rabble-rousers and vigorous political debate during the workday .
Other tech giants have proven much more outspoken about Trump policies like the ban on immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letting DREAMers stay in the United States .
But Oracle , from C-suite on down , is basically the anti-Google , some current and former employees say .
Politics rarely comes up in the office .
And there is very limited cross-team communication on internal forums about political matters ; plus , employees are concerned that any posts critical of management would be monitored .
Compared to other tech companies , employees at the business-to-business software company say their colleagues skew older and more conservative ( although Oracle ’ s workforce relies heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US on H-1B visas , a program that Trump has cracked down on . )
That explains why despite some employees ’ frustrations with Ellison , they are mostly keeping their concerns private and discussing them with like-minded colleagues over text messages ( and with reporters ) .
Plus , some employees say they feel resigned because they believe that Ellison will do whatever he likes — regardless of his employees ’ frustrations .
“ Everyone I spoke to had the general attitude of , ‘ It sucks but we can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one former employee , who recounted his conversation with five of his colleagues on Thursday .
“ There ’ s a thoroughly defeatist culture within Oracle , ” one current employee said .
“ Won ’ t be any institutional challenge internally.
” It is not as though Ellison ’ s support for Republicans is a total shock .
Oracle has been one of the Silicon Valley giants that has worked hardest to cultivate ties to the Trump administration .
Other tech giants have tried to keep at least some distance from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reportedly been under consideration to take senior roles within the White House , and she has hired several former senior Trump aides at Oracle .
Oracle ’ s ties to the administration led one executive in 2016 to resign from the company and blast it on the way out — but he was an exception to the rule .
And not all of Oracle ’ s workforce is upset over Ellison ’ s plans to fundraise for Trump .
One current employee told Recode that he was proud of Ellison ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellison is willing to stand up for what he believes in even though it goes against the grain of what most people in the field and employees at his company believe politically , ” this employee said .
But one of the ironies of Ellison ’ s public display of support for Trump is that he is not a dyed-in-the-wool Trump backer .
Ellison was particularly close to Bill Clinton , once attending a ritzy dinner fundraiser in Silicon Valley for the Clinton campaign ’ s reelection race for about a dozen of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He once joked that the Constitution should have been amended to give Clinton a third term .
He was backing Democrats like Harry Reid as recently as 2013 .
In 2015 , he hosted Barack Obama at the same golf course that Donald Trump will visit next week .
Ellison didn ’ t even donate to Trump in 2016 .
( He was a major donor to a super PAC backing Marco Rubio in the primary . )
That ’ s what makes Ellison ’ s decision perplexing to at least one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He is a huge , huge liberal Democrat , ” said this person , who described Ellison , a registered Democrat , as , in the past , “ so proud of the fact that he was one of the few [ Fortune 100 ] CEOs who didn ’ t put greed before everything.
” “ Larry looked down on Republicans of all stripes — especially the conservative evangelical ones , ” the person said .
“ This Trump stuff makes no sense .
”

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s decision to host a fundraiser for Donald Trump on Wednesday has awakened the usually passive workforce at his company, angering some employees who are going public with their disgust over Ellison’s actions.
On Thursday, some Oracle employees announced plans to stop working for a few hours in order to protest their boss’s fundraiser, Recode has learned, part of a push described as “No Ethics / No Work.” A group of activists at Oracle are calling on employees to spend their afternoons volunteering with community or advocacy groups, technically part of a “log off” since so many employees work remotely.
Having failed to pressure Ellison into canceling the event, these workers are now calling on Ellison and Oracle’s board to “host a fundraiser or commit funds to a humanitarian cause of their choice” and to issue a statement “denouncing the administration’s reckless, divisive political tactics, reaffirming our company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and committing to diversifying the Board of Directors.”
The Oracle employees’ reaction reflects how toxic Trump remains in Silicon Valley — and the ire that top tech executives can draw when they align themselves with the president. And it’s revealing that it’s happening at Oracle, which employees say has a conservative culture that has not been touched by the current bouts of workforce activism sweeping major tech companies.
“It signals what I and many others have always feared,” one current Oracle employee told Recode. “Culturally, Oracle is the type of place where you’ll work with many lovely people who you share common ideals with, but those ideals have to be left at the door in service of the company.”
Employees in touch with Recode in recent days have described bubbling frustration at Oracle. They said they were privately complaining to colleagues in their offices and sharing links about the fundraiser to friends on Facebook Messenger and slowly began to organize in a Slack channel over the holiday weekend. But while many say that their coworkers are also upset, assessing the full scale of their anger is difficult because of Oracle’s culture: It discourages employees from talking about politics. That’s also why it is unclear how substantial the plans to protest Ellison will become.
On Friday, employees began circulating a petition addressed to Ellison that now has almost 6,000 signatures, although non-Oracle employees can sign it as well. The petition calls on him to cancel the fundraising event. Oracle employees are also adding the link to the petition in their email signatures and are publicizing it in internal Oracle forums, trying to drum up pressure in a company not known for activism.
“Larry Ellison’s personal implicit endorsement and financial support of Donald Trump not only damages our brand perception and misrepresents the diverse views of our company, but it adversely affects the morale of the individuals and communities who comprise Oracle,” said the group behind the petition, called Oracle Employees for Ethics. “We are signing this petition because we want our voices heard and we refuse to be complacent and complicit in Larry Ellison’s support of such a divisive person.”
Oracle has repeatedly declined to comment on this new activism. But employees who have complained to an internal integrity helpline have received this message:
“Oracle employees, including its executives, are permitted to personally participate in the political process and support candidates they choose,” the return message reads. “Oracle as a company does not endorse any particular candidates.”
Ellison, the fifth-richest person in the US, surprised the tech industry last week when news broke that he would host Trump for a golf-filled fundraiser at his estate in California’s Coachella Valley. The event on Wednesday is, by far, the most significant public display of support for Trump 2020 by a tech titan, and was expected to raise $7 million for the president.
Or as another Oracle employee, granted anonymity like others because they were candidly discussing their boss, told Recode: “Oracle is not supposed to be political but yet our CEO is doing something very political, no?”
“This fundraiser is a slap in the face to all of us, especially as Larry champions the environment and is building a hospital,” this employee said, referring to Ellison’s personal philanthropy. “This shows that he cares about money over all else. And that is what matters. But what is the average employee to do?”
The petition and the walkout are small but bold steps for employees at Oracle. Companies like Google are famous for fostering an open culture that leaves room for rabble-rousers and vigorous political debate during the workday. Other tech giants have proven much more outspoken about Trump policies like the ban on immigrants from Muslim countries and the debate over letting DREAMers stay in the United States.
But Oracle, from C-suite on down, is basically the anti-Google, some current and former employees say. Politics rarely comes up in the office. And there is very limited cross-team communication on internal forums about political matters; plus, employees are concerned that any posts critical of management would be monitored.
Compared to other tech companies, employees at the business-to-business software company say their colleagues skew older and more conservative (although Oracle’s workforce relies heavily on immigrants who have come to the US on H-1B visas, a program that Trump has cracked down on.)
That explains why despite some employees’ frustrations with Ellison, they have been slow to mobilize en masse.
Plus, some employees say they feel resigned because they believe that Ellison will do whatever he likes — regardless of his employees’ frustrations.
“Everyone I spoke to had the general attitude of, ‘It sucks but we can’t tell Larry anything,’” said one former employee, who recounted his conversation with five of his colleagues.
“There’s a thoroughly defeatist culture within Oracle,” one current employee said. “Won’t be any institutional challenge internally.”
It is not as though Ellison’s support for Republicans is a total shock. Oracle has been one of the Silicon Valley giants that has worked hardest to cultivate ties to the Trump administration. Other tech giants have tried to keep at least some distance from the administration, but Oracle CEO Safra Catz has reportedly been under consideration to take senior roles within the White House, and she has hired several former senior Trump aides at Oracle.
Oracle’s ties to the administration led one executive in 2016 to resign from the company and blast it on the way out — but he was an exception to the rule.
And not all of Oracle’s workforce is upset over Ellison’s plans to fundraise for Trump. One current employee told Recode that he was proud of Ellison’s decision.
“I personally love that Ellison is willing to stand up for what he believes in even though it goes against the grain of what most people in the field and employees at his company believe politically,” this employee said.
But one of the ironies of Ellison’s public display of support for Trump is that he is not a dyed-in-the-wool Trump backer. Ellison was particularly close to Bill Clinton, once attending a ritzy dinner fundraiser in Silicon Valley for the Clinton campaign’s reelection race for about a dozen of Clinton’s top California donors. He once joked that the Constitution should have been amended to give Clinton a third term.
He was backing Democrats like Harry Reid as recently as 2013. In 2015, he hosted Barack Obama at the same golf course that Donald Trump will visit on Wednesday. Ellison didn’t even donate to Trump in 2016. (He was a major donor to a Super PAC backing Sen. Marco Rubio in the Republican presidential primary.)
That’s what makes Ellison’s decision perplexing to at least one person who was once close to him.
“He is a huge, huge liberal Democrat,” said this person. They described Ellison, a registered Democrat, as having been “so proud of the fact that he was one of the few [Fortune 100] CEOs who didn’t put greed before everything.”
“Larry looked down on Republicans of all stripes — especially the conservative evangelical ones,” the person said. “This Trump stuff makes no sense.”